The annual Rye town meeting was poorly attended on Thursday, March 6, with just a handful of questions raised and very little debate. Less than a hundred people were in the audience for the event at the Tilling Green Community Centre, which finished half an hour early.
Organisers Rye Town Council had tried to make the meeting more informal with fewer speeches and more time for questions. Before it officially began, representatives from local groups were on hand to take questions. Rye’s two district councillors and MP Helena Dollimore were also in attendance.
In his review of the year mayor Andy Stuart praised the town’s volunteers. “I’ve been impressed and humbled by the people who do so much for our community. The spirit of service lives on. Rye is such a wonderful place to live, work and visit.”
In particular he noted how Rye has supported the local Ukrainian community. Wearing a traditional Ukrainian shirt – a vyshyvanka – he told the meeting more help was needed. “Rye stands by our Ukrainian friends. Please continue to show whatever kindness you can, whether that’s a room in your house or by putting up a flag.”
Local government reorganisation will mean changes he said. “Everything is happening so quickly but Rye Town Council is looking at what assets we can take on from Rother District Council. We need to decide what we would like to take on and what we can afford. The timescale is very tight.” That might include the town’s public toilets which he told the meeting had also received interest from commercial companies to Rother. “Much to everyone’s surprise. We will see if it comes to anything.”
To applause, his update also included praise for the team taking over the swimming pool in April. “It’s a work of huge complexity and hard work.” He confirmed Barry Nealon, the chair of the new Rye Recreation and Wellbeing CIO, would be made an honorary freeman of Rye.
Detailing the official duties of the mayor’s role, he looked back at the Queen’s visit and the installation of the new lord warden of the Cinque Ports.
During questions from the audience there were brief discussions on the local government changes, water on Military Road, and Rye’s allotments.
Local trains services and the possible return of Eurostar trains to Ashford were also discussed. Stuart Harland from the Marshink rail action group shared his frustration on getting a meeting with Southern trains to discuss recent changes to the timetable that have led to missed connections. MP Helena Dollimore said ongoing discussions with Eurostar were also frustrating. “I’m committed to a return to services at Ashford International. It’s a ghost terminal and a white elephant funded by the taxpayer. Eurostar have washed their hands of it.”
Undertaker Jackie Richards made a passionate appeal to the town council to take on Rye Cemetery. “If we’re looking at clawing things back from Rother, the cemetery should be part of it. We pay a huge amount of money for it which should come back to Rye.”
Nick Taylor asked for an update on Little London Lane – the twitten between Landgate and the Costcutter petrol station – which he raised at last year’s meeting. “There has been no progress. The barriers are vandalised and it’s being used as a public toilet.” Cllr Mike Boyd told the meeting the alleyway was a disgrace. “Nobody wants to take it on.” District and town councillors agreed to help find a solution.
With no mention of potholes, the meeting finished at 8:15pm.
You can read more about the annual town meeting in this week’s opinions section in Rye News.
Image Credits: James Stewart , Mike Boyd .