Fake news
Rye News has confirmed with the Home Office that the rumours about a planned detention centre in Rye are NOT true.
There are no proposals for a new secure accommodation building for 300 people on Rye Harbour Road and the “press release” that has been widely shared on social media announcing new facilities is fake.
A date with the King
Rye was well represented as the King met people from across the Cinque Ports at an event at Walmer Castle on Thursday June 10. Voluntary groups and members of the fourteen towns that make up the Confederation of the Cinque Ports took part in a day celebrating service to the community.
The King was hosted by The Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, The Lady Colgrain, and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, Admiral Sir George Zambellas.
Rye News will have a full report – and hear from some of the people from Rye who met the King – in next week’s paper.
.New on the High Street
An award winning independent tea store opens its 26th shop in the UK on Rye High Street next week. Bird & Blend Tea Co opens for business at number 106 on Sunday July 13, the home of the Purdie Gallery until recently.
Six jobs have been created, along with a blend of tea exclusive for Rye -‘Sussex Sea Swim’.
Mike Turner, Co-Founder & Managing Director of Bird & Blend Tea Co, looked forward to the store opening in Rye. “Alongside the fast growth of the digital side of our business, we’re proudly continuing to invest in local high streets too. We see our stores as not just retail spaces, but as community hubs where customers can come to make connections with one another and our team, and enjoy interacting with our teas. We’re delighted to be arriving in Rye.”
Councillor vacancy
As we reported last week, Rye Town Council is looking for a new councillor following Rebekah Gilbert’s resignation.
Unless ten or more eligible electors write to the returning officer by the deadline of July 22 calling for an election, the council will use its co-opting procedure to select a new councillor. Under this procedure people can put their names forward and make their case to be selected as a councillor directly to the council.
Nearby, a councillor vacancy at Battle Town Council was uncontested. Peter Morley from Reform UK was elected to represent Telham Ward on July 31 without a vote. There are thirteen councillors at Battle, compared to sixteen at Rye Town Council.
Guilty
A Northiam man who raped a woman he met in a Hastings bar has been jailed. 26 year old Marcus Page from Spring Hill met his victim – a woman in her 20s – at a bar in George Street in May 2022.
He was charged with rape and, following a trial at Hove Crown Court, convicted on April 25 this year. At Guildford Crown Court on Thursday, June 19, he was jailed for five years and given a 10-year restraining order against the victim.
Detective Sergeant Auryn Liddiard from Sussex Police said: “This young woman made it explicitly clear that she did not consent to sexual activity, which Page ignored for his own vile gratification. She has shown incredible bravery, in the face of extreme trauma, to report the incident to police.”
For advice and support if you are a victim of sexual offending, visit Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences | Sussex Police
Ministerial visit
Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling and Heritage was in town at the end of June on a tour of heritage attractions in the area organised by Hastings and Rye MP Helena Dollimore.
She met with Simon Parsons, manager of the Rye Heritage Centre and trustee, Chris Hoggart along with Sarah Broadbent from the Rye Chamber of Commerce and destination marketing organisation, 1066 Country.
The Baroness enjoyed the Story of Rye show and commended the team of volunteers who keep the Heritage Centre going, and acknowledged the challenges of maintaining tourist attractions on the strength of volunteer staff alone in a town that relies on the visitor economy.
Anchor refresh
Rock Channel Marine and volunteers have completed stage one of the renovation of the anchor outside the Rye Heritage Centre and are due to complete it with a last coat of paint this week.
Image Credits: KT Bruce , Gina Young , Bird & Blend , Stuart Harland , Sussex Police , Sarah Broadbent , Sue Hassall .