Meet the police
The senior officer responsible for policing in Rye will be answering questions on anti-social behaviour this Friday 12 December. Chief Inspector Simon Yates is taking part in a meeting at the Tilling Green Community Centre from 5pm to 7pm.
The event is a follow up to an event in May organised by Councillor Simon McGurk.
There’s another chance to meet local police officers this Sunday 14 December in Rye. Sussex Police say they are inviting residents and businesses to speak with their local policing teams at Rye Police Station on Cinque Ports Street between 3pm and 4pm.
By-election
It’s less that a week until the Rye Town Council by-election on Thursday 18 December. Five candidates are standing to fill one councillor vacancy:
Simon Bowler
Jonathan Breeds
Lyn Dutton
Dominic Manning
Owen Thompson
Rye News has asked all five candidates to write an article telling our readers more about themselves and why they are standing. You can read their statements here.
Savings proposals
East Sussex County Council leaders are set to consider new savings proposals to address a predicted £54 million deficit in next year’s budget.
Cabinet members will receive the latest updates on the authority’s finances at its meeting on Tuesday 16 December.
New savings proposals total nearly £3.1 million, on top of the £6.3 million from ongoing savings in 2026/27. There will be a full report next week in Rye News.
What gets gritted
The weather may be wet rather than cold but a new map shows the local routes around Rye that will be gritted when temperatures drop.
All A and B roads are gritted by East Sussex Highways, along with some C roads. A spokesperson explained why you are unlikely to see the gritters doing their work. “We aim to grit the roads before frost and ice are formed by freezing temperatures. This is often in the evening or early mornings, which is why people don’t often see our gritters in action.”
Click here for the map.
There are still a few tickets available for Rye Players panto this weekend. Crazy Christmas at the Haunted Hotel is at Rye Theatre from Friday to Sunday 12-14 December. The panto is the Players’ biggest ever and is directed by Xan Kite who is promising some serious audience participation.
Running time is expected to be about 2 hours plus a 20-minute interval when the audience can purchase from a selection of wines and ales from Rye Fine Wines and the Waterworks brewery.
The box office for tickets is here. Rye News will review the panto next week.
Santa swims
Santa is visiting Rye Leisure Centre on Saturday and Sunday 20-21 December from 2pm to 4pm.
For a £2 charge children aged between two and eight will receive a present worth over £10. Spaces are limited (40 each day) and need to be booked at the centre’s reception. There will be free light refreshments for parents and children, along with craft activities and an elf hunt.
Image Credits: Sussex Police , ESCC , ES Highways , Kt bruce .