News in brief February 2

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Here’s a roundup of some of the other stories making the news in Rye this week.

Attempted burglary

Float Lane, Udimore

A home on Float Lane in Udimore was targeted by thieves last week. It happened at 1pm on Wednesday January 24, but was foiled after one of the burglars was disturbed by the resident in her kitchen. He ran off to a waiting car where he joined three other men in what’s described as a matt grey coupe. The car left in the direction of the Udimore Road.

Sussex Police are appealing for witnesses or any local CCTV footage. The crime reference number is 513 24/01/24.

Your thoughts on taxis

Rother District Council is asking for views on the local taxi service. It has opened an online consultation until the middle of March about both private hire taxis, and cabs that wait at taxi ranks like the one at Rye Station.

Rules for driver training on customer care, disability awareness and children’s safeguarding are changing from April this year, and the council is also seeking views on how taxis should be identified.

Another part of the consultation looks at extending the age limit for electric and hybrid taxis to fifteen years, currently all types of hire vehicles must have a maximum age of ten years.

Click here for more details.

More budget discussions

Next year’s council tax is on the agenda for Rother District Council’s Cabinet meeting this Monday February 5 at 6.30pm. Future funding of the De La Warr Pavillion in Bexhill will also be debated, currently the council supports the venue by over half a million pounds a year. Housing in the district is also on the agenda, with reports on second homes and rough sleepers.

You can read the full agenda here.

The cost of policing

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has told the Sussex Police & Crime panel that this year’s police precept, the police’s portion of the council tax bill, was “one of the most critical” she had decided since stepping into her role in 2012. The increase is roughly £13 for a band D property, writes Thomas Hanway, Local Democracy Reporter.

At the meeting on Friday January 26, Mrs Bourne said: “Looking forward, Sussex Police faces quite a big challenge. Crime is continuing to grow, the processes involved in dealing with crime are becoming more complex and like many other organisations, Sussex police has been affected by inflationary costs.”

Mrs Bourne said investment had been working to increase police visibility through additional recruiting, reducing crime in Sussex, and improving 999 and non-emergency 101 call response times.

The panel also agreed to write a letter to the Secretary of State for the Home Office, James Cleverly, and the Minister for Policing, about their ‘funding approach’ for police forces. Sussex has the seventh-lowest police precept in England, and the sixth-lowest funding per person. This increase will take it from £239.91 a year for band D households to £252.91.

Udimore Road closure

Udimore Road, Rye

Roadworks to repair the road through Udimore will mean the road will be shut for two or three days in February. Work is taking place between Monday February 12 and Wednesday February 14 in several locations in the village each day between 7am and 7pm. More information here.

If you see anything happening in and around Rye our email is info@ryenews.org.uk.

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Image Credits: N.Chadwick/Geograph https://www.geograph.org.uk/more.php?id=7572762 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/ , Robin Webster CC , RDC , Sussex Police , Natasha Robinson .

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