All this week, workmen have been dismantling the scaffolding over The George in the High Street. They are up there balancing like trapeze artists silhouetted against the sky. They strike balletic poses, calling cheerfully to each other as they go about the business of lowering more than 60 tonnes of metal tubing to the ground.
It has been a long 18 months since our first report in Rye News on Feb 20 2020, and it comes as a great relief to the High Street traders who have borne for the most part phlegmatically with the disruption caused to their businesses. Maybe now East Sussex Highways will move the street repairs to the top of their agenda.
Image Credits: Kenneth Bird .
It’s great that the scaffolding is coming down at last but it is beyond disappointing that the owners of the George have chosen not to enlighten the people of Rye about anything to do with the George since the devastating fire. Do they not care about the impact the disruption has had on the locals? It shows a great lack of resect and although I wish them well for the future it is their past behaviour that I will remember the most.
Chris, I expect the owners of the George – who remember had to deal with the financial and emotional trauma of such a devastating fire – were wary of giving a full itinerary of works to entitled ‘locals’ because inevitably it would need to adapt as the damage was assessed, plans were modified, and on top of all that the pandemic restrictions took hold.
The owners started out with regular updates on Instagram accompanied by photos of progress plus updates on their blog and website but there hasn’t been anything this year. Maybe it’s just been too hard. I don’t think for one minute it has to do with “do they not care ….” More likely it’s the opposite and they care too much. The psychological and emotional burden must be almost unsupportable.
I wonder what those who complain about the owners of the George not keeping them informed have done to find out about progress ? I’m sure the owners care hugely and have had to manage an incredibly difficult experience.
Not coming down fast enough for me. The High Street has been blighted for far too long.
I did not like the white roof that I saw from a window of my home..but it became part of the landscape and now I am missing it. But can see the trees again . The massive construction of the scaffolding was a wonder to behold. Amazing .I like large expanses of scaffolding . They have an engendering beauty all,of their own..
I will miss it when it has all gone..For a while at least.
And instead of moaning about the high street and shops.. for many of those months we were in various stages of Covid rules..that many business were not trading as usual..
so by George being worked on has given and still is giving many gainful employment..
And also because of the pandemic being a hotel and restaurant..during this time would not have been open for normal trading..
It is good that things are progressing for the George..and am sure they will open and thrive.
And hope they are considerate to the people actually living in the high street..and so will be socially responsible for not allowing their lives to be disrupted by loud disturbing noise levels..