The speed limits on the main road into Rye from the east could become permanent later this year, says National Highways.
Road signs marking new 40mph and 30mph limits appeared on the A259 between East Guldeford and Rye earlier this year.
A National Highways spokesperson said, “Safety is our top priority, and a temporary reduced speed limit is in place to improve the safety of traffic travelling into Rye. This was done with the support of councillors and the police, and we hope to make the limit permanent later this year.”
Meanwhile, National Highways has confirmed there are unlikely to be any improvements making the A259 safer for cyclists, with no work similar to the A27 between Eastbourne and Lewes which has seen the construction of dedicated paths next to the main road in recent years. “Rye is a very difficult location to put in a suitable facility for cyclists without considerable cost,” said Peter Phillips, a National Highways route manager.
He also confirmed there are no plans to revisit a new road bypassing Rye. “There’s no plans for a bypass here at this moment in time. It would be an awful, awful long way off, if at all.”
You can read more about the A259, including plans to police illegal parking on Rye’s South Undercliff, in these Rye News articles from January.
Image Credits: David McLoughlin .
In Rye News this week is an article about Rye written by Andrew Salmon from the Washington Times, he was brought up in Iden and recently returned to Rye after many decades.
Andrew Salmon points to the shabby infrastructure in relation to accessing Rye from elsewhere. Potential visitors being deterred by there being no good main road to Rye, B class roads being honeycombed with potholes, and trains expensive and frequently cancelled. He did not mention the bus services to Rye, maybe he didn’t see one.
Sometimes it takes someone with a different aspect on a problem to bring it to the fore.
In the same edition of Rye News there is a report of a recent local meeting with National Highways where it was confirmed there are unlikely to be any improvements to make the A259 safer for cyclists. It was confirmed that there will be no work similar to the A27 between Eastbourne and Lewes, which in recent years has seen the construction of a dedicated path next to the main road between the two towns. Peter Phillips, a National Highways route manager, is quoted as saying “Rye is a very difficult location to put in a suitable facility for cyclists without considerable cost.”
He also confirmed there are no plans to revisit a new road bypassing Rye. “There’s no plans for a bypass here at this moment in time. It would be an awful, awful long way off, if at all.”
So the money was found to build the cycle path alongside the A27 between Eastbourne and Lewes, the East Sussex county town, that also has a by-pass and a major reconstruction at the Beddingham level crossing, with similar at Drusilla’s roundabout, but, as usual, there is no money available for improvements in Eastern Rother.
Rye News also carries a report of a celebration of the opening of the railway line from Ore to Ashford 150 years ago – and it is still only a single track with a passing place at Rye Station. There has been no improvement for a century and a half, that absolutely typifies the lack of investment and official interest in this area.
The BID was turned down by the majority of the the local businesses that would have had to pay for it. Had it gone ahead, with the intention of attracting more visitors to Rye and the surrounding area, it would not have been able to overcome the access problems encountered by people using personal and public transport, which must deter many from visiting the area.
Rye and the surrounding villages are doing a grand job of keeping their heads above water, mainly due to the efforts of volunteers who keep their halls and local activities going. There is very little financial assistance from councils above Parish level. Eastern Rother is treated by District and County councils like a pariah area which is best ignored, probably in the hope that it will fade from the public conscience.
I do not expect any improvement in the local situation, in fact the opposite, when Sussex becomes a unitary authority in a few years time.
I would like to respond to your report on “Slow Down On The Main Road”.
The idea off slowing the traffic down on the A259 introducing new 40mph and 30mph signs when entering Rye from East Guldeford is a great idea but I am mystified by this idea.
National Highways spokesperson states “safety is our top priority”, so my question to National Highways is, if this new proposal goes ahead how would it HELP speeding traffic leaving Rye? Surely this new proposal should be applied down both sides of this very dangerous A259 carriageway incorporating the section off road between Monkbretton Bridge to East Guldeford.The 30mph road marking signs in New road are very outdated and need to be replaced.