Aldi’s project to build an £8m supermarket in Rye has been handed another lifeline, after the National Highways (NH) agency extended a deadline by two months.
NH now recommends planning permission be frozen until July 29 to allow the agency time to assess revised proposals, after information was received from Aldi and its development partners’ transport consultants GTA on April 23.
It’s the third delay imposed by NH. Plans were originally submitted in 2023 for the new store on Winchelsea Road, along with proposals for homes and retirement housing.
The German supermarket giant has also lodged its updated road access plans on Rother District Council’s planning portal. The submissions appear to be a last-ditch attempt to meet NH’s requirements and allay its concerns about the impact of the supermarket’s access road on the A259 (Winchelsea Road).
In brief, the consultants’ latest safety risk assessment offers visibility of 43 metres (both ways) to drivers leaving the access road, which would be a simple priority junction. The document firmly rejects the idea of a ‘ghost island’ junction, a mini-roundabout or a traffic signal-controlled junction, owing to prohibitive costs. A simple priority junction would cost £579,554, while the other options would come in at between £6.2m and £7.9m.
The existing access side-road — currently serving the John Jempson and Son haulage yard — would be reduced in width from 8.5m to 7.7m, with 8m-radius kerbs built on both sides.
If Winchelsea Road is deemed to be a road (not a street) at this location, a visibility of 70m would be required to comply with document CD 123 in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges. But it’s within the power of NH to permit ‘relaxations’ of this rule where appropriate.
However, in order to persuade National Highways that the 43-metre visibility proposal is acceptable, GTA also argues that Winchelsea Road at this location features a “modest daily traffic flow” of only 11,000-11,500 vehicles a day, speeds consistently under 30mph and is consequently more like an urban ‘street’ than a ‘road’. If this argument is recognised, the lower visibility distance contained in the Manual for Streets might be accepted.
While Aldi, along with Decimus and McCarthy Stone, now have breathing space to resolve the issues raised by National Highways, it’s certainly not a given that the proponents will be able to overcome the access road problem, which has become the project’s main stumbling block.
Meanwhile, Rye residents continue to wait for a planning decision, with an overwhelming majority of public comments made to Rother District Council supporting a second supermarket in the town.
Image Credits: David Worwood .
I hear the calls for ‘cheap food’ and more competition loud and clear. But this site is less than ideal. The A259 at this point needs to be kept free-flowing, particularly at peak times and holiday periods.
There are two simple solutions:
A third lane really should be constructed, but as this would require the compulsory purchase of land and property, I doubt any of the parties involved would want to shoulder the financial, or political, costs.
Alternatively, if the town really needs additional shopping facilities, why has no one given thought to constructing a supermarket off the Rye Harbour road. There are empty plots in this already industrial area, and it is well away from the main coast road (the A259). For example, I would rather see a new supermarket in this area, than new housing.
Exactly! Anyway, I like Jempsons which is the ideal combination of local and national produce. Say no to Aldi.
Building a supermarket adjacent to the harbour road Edward, sadly you will be shouted down, with the usual crowd,that you will be building on a flood plains,or spoiling the view.and if that was to get passed,then the highways agency will come to their rescue, saying the junction at the top of the harbour road,cannot sustain anymore traffic.
The A259 is not free flowing through Rye right now. Vehicles park on the east side of the road at Strand Quay preventing two way traffic 24 hours a day. Hold ups can be quite lengthy with HGV’s waiting for an opportunity to get through. Additionally, vehicles park along South Undercliff causing more restrictions to traffic flow.
The Winchelsea Road is an A road and although its a good idea to develop the site but not by creating an accident spot . Traffic lights best option .
Rye harbour road looks attractive but the junction with also Winchelsea road will also need traffic lights .
I understand the traffic concerns but National Highways are being hypocritical to say the least – the lack of attention they give to ensuring free flowing traffic on the A259 through Rye is staggering with no attention to obstructive illegal parking in South Undercliff and on the Kettle of Fish roundabout. I have previously been told by PCSOs that the police have no power to act but only yesterday a police officer on traffic duty told me that if he sees obstructive or dangerous parking he will issue a penalty ticket, has done so recently and will continue to do so – limited of course by the amount of time he can spend on patrol here given the lack of resources. The parking on Strand Quay which Tony Roi raises is technically legal in the designated area for one hour only but signage has not been maintained or enforced for many years, drivers now park on the double yellow lines at each end with apparent impunity. Obstructive parking is an anti-social offence in my book and will hopefully be up for discussion at the upcoming public meeting to be held at Tilling Green
Hello Edward Thomas . I have just read your comments in the Rye News on the proposed supermarket store .
I agree with much of what you say about the traffic needing to be free flowing as it is vital that the A259 does not have any additional restrictions . Rye town has acknowledged for almost 50 years that a Rye bypass is desperately needed but was unable
to find a solution that was satisfactory. There were logistical hurdles and a wish not to blight the beautiful countrside around the town .
Rye harbour is not an option , partly because the access bridge to the harbour road is not suitable for the traffic it already
serves . It has been for many years in a desperate condition
partly due to the huge lorries carrying roadstone and other large heavy vehicles which cause massive vibration to the bridge .
It is on borrowed time and then of course there is the access
T junction with Winchelsea road which can have quite dangerous
visibility . An accident there blocks the A259 .
Re the proposed site on Winchelsea road nobody seems also to have considered that it is a very bad idea to have a shared access for cars and pedestrians in this world
where we have virtually silent electric cars .
Accidents will happen if somebody steps out in front of an electric vehicle .
As I see it the only solution would be to have a supermarket outside Rye , to alleviate traffic buildups on the A259 ,
maybe in the Udimore or Broadoak area for example ,and to have a free bus service from Rye town centre for the people of Rye .
Christopher Cooper
Part of the issue is the one-way-in-one-way-out set-up. Could Aldi purchase a strip of the farmland behind the site and create a second access road beyond the junction with Rye Harbour Road?
Hello Lawrence .
The fields behind the site are part of a protected area of outstanding natural beauty and as such could not be used .
Just for a comparison, Aldi on the side of the A259 in Ore, just a few miles away – no roundabout – one way in, one way out, no traffic problems or traffic build ups, and it’s been there for years.
Where’s the problem? Get on with it and let’s get a decent supermarket in Rye.