Residents, businesses and your readers may be aware that the parking restrictions relating to civil parking enforcement (CPE) come before East Sussex County Council (ESCC) Planning Committee on Wednesday,January 15 at County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes at 10:30am prior to it’s likely implementation in Rye in the spring.
The Chamber of Commerce will be attending, unlike our elected town, district and county councillors, supporting our representations to retain the one hour free parking which we have currently and that worked successfully when policed. This provided a clear benefit to residents, visitors and businesses and Rye’s viability.
The ‘one hour free’ remains vitally important for the vitality of our high street. ESCC proposes its removal; unlike the majority of other local authorities who have realised an element of free parking is the lifeblood of the high street. Tenterden, our nearest competitor town, has a CPE scheme with ‘one hour free parking’.
Readers might not be aware that local authorities, like ESCC, in England made a combined profit last year of £930 million from parking related charges and fines. We do not want to see our high street die as ESCC recoup the £600,000 of tax payers’ money they intend to spend on CPE across four towns in Rother.
The meeting in Lewes is open to the public and support for our town would be welcome, please come along if you can.
Our next meeting, Wednesday, January 22 at 6pm in The Ship Inn is open to members and prospective members.
Image Credits: Rye News library .