Piecemeal parking plans

Rye Town Council is starting to want an overall parking plan for the whole town after Monday’s two hour long Zoom meeting of councillors and residents affected by the County Council’s latest proposals to extend parking controls to some more roads in Rye.

The word used most often in the discussion was “displacement” which simply means that, if new parking controls are introduced, the motorist just moves to somewhere else where there are not any controls or charges – yet – such as Valley Park off the Udimore Road!

Parking controls also involve a number of considerations including

• the ability of motorists to provide their own parking spaces ;
• the number of cars in use per property ;
• the number of cars coming to Rye (and why) that need parking spaces ;
• and the impact of parking on traffic movement, so an over-view is always needed suggested a number of residents and councillors.

It was also clear that the provision of paid for parking spaces and car parks, said a number of speakers, did not necessarily mean that people would use them, and some motorists would continue to look for any available free parking.

Another factor in arriving at any decisions is that the County Council is the highways authority with responsibility for parking controls on most roads, except major “A” roads – and its latest limited review just covers possible new controls in the Military Road, Grove and Love Lane areas; along with some adjustments to existing parking restrictions.

The Grove and Love Lane

Residents thought these proposals could lead to their driveways being blocked as well as preventing new driveways being provided to get cars off the road, and the proposals had not been justified to residents. Town councillors said the plans were ridiculous and perplexing, while Rother councillor, Howard Norton, said he did not know why this was happening, and there seemed to be general agreement that these proposals should be put back until the next parking review.

Military Road and the “big picture”

There was also general agreement that parking displaced from the High Street, as well as  travellers from the station, and those renting holiday lets, had resulted in even more “free” parking in the Military Road area. Cllr Rebekah Gilbert said that the problem needed urgent attention. But the devil was in the detail, though most (councillors and residents) agreed any parking controls should extend right up to the town boundary and there was agreement that some visitor parking was needed in the area.

Cllr Shaun Rogers asked where the motorists displaced from Military Road would then go, and pointed out they were here on holiday, or visiting friends, or for work and the situation could just get worse and worse if random parking was displaced all over Rye.

One of the Military Road residents then stressed that just looking at bits of the town can be very divisive, and there was a need to look at a comprehensive town wide plan – “a community based approach rather than the County Council’s piecemeal Mickey Mouse approach.”

Cllr Mike Boyd said the town should insist on a public meeting for the next parking review; local resident Peter Savory said “We have to look at the bigger picture”; and Cllr Sue Learoyd Smith said a better process was needed to tackle parking issues.

Mobility issues and the Landgate

The town councillors were unclear about some of the proposals involving mobility spaces in the High Street, but the general principles were agreed. Councillors were, however, very clear about the Landgate issues, and wanted better lane marking as well as a parking bay removed which could cause traffic problems and actually encouraged dangerous parking.

Harbour Road

Parking controls here were welcomed though and councillors actually wanted them extended; they also agreed the need for a loading bay in Cinque Ports Street near the Bargain Box and the charity shops.

Cllr Cheryl Creaser then argued that an overall approach and consistency was needed on parking issues, but Cllr Jo Kirkham said that would need detailed discussion on another occasion. But there was clearly unhappiness at the County Council’s piecemeal approach which could just lead to parking being displaced to another part of the town and the mayor, Cllr Andi Rivett closed the meeting by saying “There is still clearly lots to do.”

Image Credits: Rye News library .