Affordable homes decision
A housing development in Iden will no longer be required to provide affordable homes after councillors agreed to amend its planning agreement, writes Hugh Oxburgh, local democracy reporter.
Rother District Council’s planning committee approved the change on 25 June for a 15-home development on land behind Conkers in Main Street. Developer Quantum Land & Planning Ltd asked councillors to remove the requirement to provide three affordable homes, arguing the scheme was no longer financially viable. An independent viability assessment supported the claim.
Planning officers told the committee refusing the request would leave the developer unable to appeal directly against the decision. However, they warned any subsequent review would be likely to overturn a refusal because planning policy allows affordable housing requirements to be reduced or removed where a development is proven to be financially unviable.
Committee members voiced frustration at the loss of the affordable homes but agreed to amend the legal agreement in line with the viability evidence. More background here.
Free music at Rye Jazz and Blues Festival needs your support
The free music at the Buttermarket during the popular Rye Jazz and Blues Festival is this year at risk due to rising costs, and reduced grant funding and sponsorship opportunities. For 14 years the free music at the festival, held over the August bank holiday, has made it accessible to everyone, entertaining both locals and visitors alike.
A crowd funder launched earlier in the year is aiming to raise £8,000 and, with only seven days left, still has some way to go to achieve this total. The money raised will go towards running the free programme including the cost of artist fees, road closures, hire of the Buttermarket, and sound, security and safety requirements.
More information and to donate visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/buttermarket2026
Planning meeting
Rye Town Council’s Planning and Townscape Committee meets this Monday 6 July.
The agenda includes an update on the Rye Neighbourhood Plan. You can read it here.
The meeting starts at 6.30pm and is open to the public
Safety survey
East Sussex County Council has launched a survey about community safety.
It’s being run by East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership and aims to help understand residents’ experiences of crime and anti-social behaviour in East Sussex. Last year 429 people took part in the survey highlighting concerns about drug and alcohol misuse, road safety and serious violent crime, as well as speeding, fly tipping and drug dealing in public spaces.
The survey is open until 15 July and can be found here.
Concert for the Lifeboat House
There’s a fundraising concert in aid of the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House at the White Rock Theatre in Hastings this Saturday 4 July.
Folk group Meet on the Ledge will be performing their song The Mary Stanford of Rye which has become an international standard. Over the years Meet On The Ledge have donated all royalties received from sales and downloads of Mary to the lifeboats, and they have been made honorary Silver Patrons of the RNLI for their fundraising efforts.
Tickets for the concert are available online or by calling the White Rock Theatre box office on 01424 462280
You can read more about the band and how they came to write Mary in this Rye News article.
News about Rye News
This week in Rye News we’re launching a new series called Three Degrees of Curiosity, put together by chief Reporter Kt Bruce. The first person featured is Chris Hoggart, the Right Worshipful Mayor of Rye. LINK
Kt Bruce says, “We often know the public face, the title, the job, the achievements but rarely the person behind them. Three Degrees of Curiosity is a chance to look beyond the headlines and discover the individual beneath the role. Through carefully chosen questions which have three answers hence the Three Degrees, this series reveals the stories, passions, memories and quirks that have shaped the people who help make our community what it is. Sometimes thoughtful, sometimes surprising, and occasionally funny, it’s an opportunity to meet the person, not just the public figure.”
Our News in Brief feature picture was taken last Wednesday 24 June. It’s the view of a sunset over Rye taken on Rye Harbour Road by Natasha Robinson. We’re always after good pictures so please send any shots you get to info@ryenews.org.uk. They don’t all have to be sunsets…
Finally, a reminder that Rye News is looking for a new editor to lead the volunteers who put together Rye’s local newspaper every week. There is also a vacancy for an editorial assistant to support the team who report on life in Rye and the surrounding villages to a weekly readership of between six and seven thousand people.
You can read more about the vacancies and how to apply here.
Image Credits: Natasha Robinson , Quantum Land & Planning Ltd , Mary & Mick Design , Kt bruce , ESCC , Meet on the ledge , Rye News .