Leaked news

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According to a passing motorist, last Friday, September 15 was a memorable day for many drivers as they snaked their way along Udimore Road between the legitimately parked cars only to find three way lights at the bottom of the hill close to the junction with Mason Road. A local bus driver witnessed the problems worsening during the morning as a gas fault was discovered which meant the road had to be closed altogether and a diversion put in place.

Drivers had been trying to get round it by using the Old Brickyard (unadopted road) on the corner of Mason Road until a lorry carrying scaffolding got wedged there for a while and which caused temporary chaos as some of the traffic included heavy lorries which may have been trying to shortcut past Hastings to get to Dover.

An all too familiar sight on Udimore Road

Residents of Valley Park couldn’t get through to the town centre, the alternative route being Dumb Woman’s Lane off Udimore Road to join the A259 near Winchelsea Station – a road hardly designed (like the Landgate) for the heavy traffic we now get along the Udimore Road into Rye

The gas works at this same location seem to have been going on (and off) now for a few years but by mid afternoon the road was open again, the three way lights were back in operation and ‘normal’ service was resumed.

Image Credits: Nick Forman .

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14 COMMENTS

  1. Stressful for all concerned. We live in Dumbwomans Lane so know what a bad and dangerous diversion option it is. We tried to find information from local residents, ESCC, Highways networks, councillors and utility companies. No luck so far…

  2. Sunday 24 September. By all accounts the situation is far worse. The leak is such that the entire road will need to be excavated and (Facebook) reports are that the road is now closed and could remain so for another 10 days. Oh, this is not going to be fun!

  3. Just passed the work site. Seems no notice of road closure was given as it’s an emergency. It’s an emergency so clearly there is no reason for any workers to be on site to correct the problem.

  4. I live in Udimore Road and am very frustrated that this work is taking so long. It appears they only work a 4 hours shift, and that’s only if the sun is shining!!! How can it take this long? It’s the same for any other road working site. All coned off, no workers in sight! I’m sure local authorities could find utility companies for such over running inconvenience??

  5. Noticed this recently on a TV news report where local residents and businesses were complaining about day’s without water in front of the repair work site where no one was evidently working. Surely in an emergency the repair should be worked 24/7 until fixed?

  6. I live just opposite the crater in the road in which the contractors continue to look for another gas leak. This was preempted with the water being cur off and my shower unit burning out so no shower until it is replaced! I am 89 years of age and find this of great inconvenience. I have lost count on the number of times the this section of road has been dug up either for a water leak or a gas leak over the time I have lived here. I am told by the contractor that the Highways were reluctant to continue the replacement of the old and decayed pipes after completing the work with new pipes on the stretch leading to this site at the beginning of Udimore Road to Ferry Road due presumably because the additional work would be far too expensive. As usual it is down to lack of money and insufficient government funding as always with all these major projects.

  7. Too much money going to the gas boards share holders is the problem, its nothing to do with government, as British gas is private,its just lack of maintenance over the years,and now Rye and all its businesses have to suffer, with this double whammy, with southern water another private company, who many say are not fit for purpose.

    • Sorry to be picky John, but you say this is nothing to do with Government? Was it not the Government that decided to place these utilities, among others, into the private sector in the first place? Not that there is necessarily anything wrong in that, but in the case of water in particular, and energy, these are services essential to everyday life and it must surely be a function of Government to monitor and ensure their continuous effective provision, whether in public or private ownership. And judging by what is happening at the moment, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

  8. Reported on Facebook (which has been unusually accurate of late) that Udimore Road will remain closed until at least the 3rd October. And exiting Rye today was a trial with traffic lights on Rye Hill and also on New Road by Monks Bretton bridge. Traffic Lights seem to just pop up everywhere these days – yes, repairs must be done but surely somebody co-ordinates these works don’t they? It seems not. Combine this with the water problems being encountered and it begs the question what the hell is going on?

    • You appear to be the first person to mention the water problems going on this week. No warnings, water off. Came home last night, cannot wash hands, cannot flush a toilet, etc. Decided to go to The Globe to eat and use their toilets. It was closed due to no water. I have noticed a few tanker trucks around Skinners roundabout late at night the past few days with “Water For Life” (or similar) painted on them. Yes, we do need ‘water for life’, so clearly something has been going on for a few days of a serious nature, so why no warnings so people can at least try and stock up at the supermarket, and how long is this going on for? Having now called Southern Water, their answering system claims they’ve opened a Water Bank at Rye Station. That wont be a huge help to the old or disabled or those without a car trying to carry big bottles of water home.

  9. I have never seen so many sets of roadworks as there are in the area currently. Just wish I was in the business of hiring temporary traffic light systems!

  10. To be honest, I think we’re too tolerant! I’m having to cautiously negotiate Float Lane twice or three times a day, currently. I’m spending more time in reverse gear than in the other five… It is utterly crazy. And it is all about political choices. Our infrastructure is crumbling and the problems get kicked down the road for the next government or the next CEO to deal with.
    Driving past Jempson’s today, I was met with the sorry sight of Ryers queuing for water in the station car park, and all I could think of was Iraq, where that was a common experience… I don’t know if this is the latest Home Office wheeze to solve the migrant issue, but the poor folks in boats might be advised that services here are currently no better than Baghdad or Basra!!

  11. While the lack of water in the town is a great inconvenience to both residents and businesses, has any consideration been given to the now inoperable fire hydrants. Hopefully the local fire brigade is aware of this situation.

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