Driving bans
Two local people are among the latest to be convicted after Sussex Police’s Christmas crackdown on drink and drug-driving. A total of 279 people were arrested across the county during the operation, which ran from 1 December to 1 January.
70 have been convicted so far, including Benjamin Fisher, 41, a chef from New Lydd Road in Camber. He was arrested on the A259 at Rye on 24 December and charged with driving with 50 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath. At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 4 March, he was disqualified from driving for 14 months. He was also fined £461, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £184 victim surcharge.
Natalie King, 34, a tree surgeon of Hastings Road in Northiam, was arrested in Udimore Road, Udimore, on 19 December and charged with driving with 60 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath. Her case was also up before Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 4 March when she was disqualified from driving for 17 months. She was also fined £120, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
Town Hall work
Work is taking place at the town hall in Rye, with scaffolding surrounding the building.
A spokesperson for Rye Town Council said, “We are having work done to the front chamber windows and the brickwork is being repointed and repairs made to the sash window at the side and to the rear. Repairs are also being made to the large sash window and dormer above it. It is hoped that the work will be completed by 24 April.”
The work at the front is being prioritised because of wedding bookings.
Retirement home discussions
Controversial plans for new retirement homes next to Jempson’s in Peasmarsh are being discussed next week. Ten affordable apartments for older people are being proposed for the site at Pond Cottage near the entrance to the supermarket.
The development is up before Rother District Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday 16 April, with the recommendation from officers to refuse permission because worries about the size of the building, harm to the High Weald National Landscape, and the Grade II building currently on site.
The first week of the new food waste collection service in Rye has been experiencing teething problems. The service began recently, ahead of a government deadline that has seen all local councils collect food waste. Grey and orange collection bins were delivered in March.
A spokesperson for Rother District Council explained, “We are currently experiencing slight delays with some of our food waste collections as our new crews familiarise themselves with their routes.”
Spring at last
The Easter weekend brought some much needed warm weather and blue skies. Here are a few pictures that celebrate spring in Rye, Camber and Winchelsea.
There are more pictures of spring in Rye here.
Image Credits: Juliet Duff , Sussex Police , Kt Bruce , Rother District Council , James Stewart , Carolyn Gould , Heidy Foster , Heidi Foster , Susan Benn .