Tonight’s (Thursday April 14) meeting in the Town Hall is expected to agree to setting up a “Park Watch” for Rye, similar in principle to “Speed Watch” (like the one shown above in Winchelsea).
Speedwatchers provide the police with filmed evidence of offenders breaking speeding laws to the police; the police send a warning letter to an offender and may take stronger action with repeat offenders – and Speedwatch teams are now sharing information across the internet. “Parkwatchers” would operate on a similar basis, and in teams.
Tonight’s meeting follows an earlier public meeting in Rye with the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne and senior police officers where parking was a major issue.
Cuts in police budgets mean the police are unwilling to spend much on traffic issues and believe Rother District Council (RDC) should, like most other councils, introduce CPE (Civil Parking Enforcement) – but Bexhill residents are, apparently, opposed to this. If CPE is introduced the RDC would be responsible for parking issues and have traffic wardens.
Tonight’s meeting may also agree to a public education campaign to remind vehicle owners (including in particular those who live or work in Rye) about the significance of road markings like double yellow lines and traffic signs such as those that say “No entry” or “One way only” – and Parkwatchers may shortly be filming those who can not read, or may have forgotten, the Highway Code.
However as the election of a Police and Crime Commissioner takes place on May 5, the police and the PCC are likely to take a “softly, softly” approach on parking – and other issues – until then.
Concerns are however being raised about
- The number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) probably being halved
- The PCSOs being stationed in Battle in future, with Rye police station closing down
- The availability of transport for the PCSOs in event of emergencies
- The possible closure of Camber’s “beach station” during the holiday period leaving only RDC staff to cope with any problems among (potentially) thousands of holidaymakers when the weather is good
- How the police can deal with emergencies at peak holiday times, when large traffic jams can occur around Camber, if the nearest officer is in Battle.
Photo: Rye News Library