Ready to serve
Five people have put themselves forward to fill the vacancy on Rye Town Council left by the resignation of Cllr Rebekah Gilbert. Candidates had until late on Monday night, August 18 to put in their application.
The new councillor will be chosen at a special meeting of the council on Monday, September 15.
Rye News will be publishing opinion pieces from the candidates in our edition on Friday, September 5. We’re asking all those standing to tell us more about themselves, why they think they would make a good councillor, and what their priorities are for Rye.
Tagging offenders
A project to electronically tag prolific shoplifters has been announced by Sussex police and crime commissioner, Katy Bourne.
Writing in The Telegraph on Saturday she action was urgently needed. “What on earth has happened to our high streets? Why do some people feel they can rob shops with impunity and abuse and assault staff without any fear of retribution?”
Sussex will now be a pilot area for electronic tagging of persistent offenders, although it is unclear when it will start.
The pilot scheme will be run by Detective Inspector Martin Harmer who explained how the tags could help. “My previous roles in safeguarding and intervention projects have shown me the positive impact that targeted support can have in reducing offending and encouraging engagement. The addition of GPS tagging will further strengthen the incentives for people to stop offending and provide additional methods to enforce compliance.”
Lottery cash
Rother Voluntary Action (RVA) which helps over 100 groups across the district has been awarded £134,000 of National Lottery funding. The money will be used help tackle poverty and health based inequalities.
Kim Richards, RVA’s CEO, said the extra funding would benefit rural areas. “We will be able to press on with our plans to develop our offer to local communities across Rother and help communities become more resilient and more empowered.”
Volunteers needed
It’s just over a week until the Green Waves Festival at Tilling Green. Volunteers are still needed to help out on Saturday and Sunday August 30 & 31. There’s music, food stalls, a dog show and loads more.
If you have some spare time to help out get in touch with Dan Lake on email daniellake8@hotmail.com or call 07584 435732.
Time for jazz
Final preparations are taking place for this weekend’s Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival.
There are seven headline concerts in St Mary’s church featuring acts Ruby Turner, James Taylor Quartet, Courtney Pine and Nubian Twist. Venues across Rye will be hosting events from Thursday to Monday, but unlike in previous year’s there is no stage at Rye Kino. Free music events will still be taking place at the Buttermarket at the town hall.
You can read more about the line up and where to get tickets here.
A busy bank holiday
On Saturday, August 23 the Winchelsea Garden Society hold their summer show. There will be several categories on display including roses, fuchsias, sedums and ferns; dahlias have their own section, as does floral art.
In addition, it wouldn’t be a summer show without fruit, vegetables, art and crafts. All of this takes place in Winchelsea New Hall at 2pm.
Also on Saturday, and running through until bank holiday Monday, the Winchelsea Millennium Artefacts Society hold their 27th annual art exhibition.
This year, the exhibition’s curator Geraldine l’Anson, has found ten new artists to show, as well as ceramics and pottery. There are also five pieces from pupils at St Thomas Primary School.
The doors of The Court Hall will be open from 10am.
Also this weekend it’s the Brede Flower Festival, the Pett Independent Rescue Boat Open Day, the Jempson’s Boot Fair at Peasmarsh, and the Beckley church fete.
Image Credits: Rye jazz festival , Stuart Harland , Sussex Police , Kt bruce , Dan Lake , Rye Jazz Festival , Sally Rhodda , Natasha Robinson , Geraldine l'Anson .
I’m glad to note the tagging scheme for prolific shoplifters in the area. A few months ago, I was in the Hastings branch of M&S, when a scuffle between the food hall manager and a customer took place. The ‘customer’ was a well known shoplifter and she had been seen putting a bag full of items under her coat. She fought against the manager – which he should not have been subjected to – and he eventually persuaded her to hand the bag over, she was then asked to leave the store. Incredulously, I asked a member of staff why she was allowed to leave, rather than detained? The store only prosecutes if the goods amount to over £400, I was informed. What a shambolic system.