Landgate report still awaited

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Readers may recall our report dated September 26 2016 under the heading Landgate report imminent. It was then confidently expected that the Vision Statement setting out the options for treating this historic landmark would be published by the end of November.

Rother District Council’s (RDC) Service Manager, Brenda Mason, has recently issued an apology blaming staff sickness for not issuing the final draft of the report by commissioned architects Thomas Ford and Partners. However, it is stated that “this will be with key partners shortly for their consideration and, I hope, a joint initial approach to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their view”.

[Footnote : The Landgate, built in 1329, is the only surviving gateway of the medieval defences built to protect the town. Mary Smith, then a Town Councillor, used Freedom of Information legislation to discover in December 2014 that Rother had spent nothing on protecting the ancient monument since 2011/2012. In February 2015 Rother needed to hire water jets to clear out bird muck before architects could get in safely to report on the state of the building.

The archway goes over a road and pavement and is the main entrance to the High Street. In October 2015 the report said there was a risk to the safety of the general public, and in December 2015 local Rother District Councillor Lord Ampthill said the council might be able to find some funding for immediate repairs in order to prevent more bird damage. A summit of interested parties held the same month was told that a report on various options would be produced with the aim of finding other funding for the Landgate’s upkeep. This is the report which has yet to arrive. Many birds are still roosting on the Landgate and there is no sign of any repairs, however temporary, being done by Rother. Charles Harkness]

Photo: Rye News library

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