Another debate about toilets
There’s still no clarity about plans to turn the public toilets at Winchelsea Beach into a sauna after another debate at Rother District Council. The proposals are part of a plan to lease 12 of the district’s public toilets commercially.
In Rye, the toilets in the Gun Garden and on the Strand are expected to be partly turned into coffee shops, with the building on The Salts leased in part as a cycle hub. Work is due to start from September this year.
On Monday July 13, a meeting of the full council voted to refer the plans for the toilets at Winchelsea Beach (and Sedlescombe) back to further discussion at the council’s cabinet on Monday July 21. It was a unanimous vote although with many abstentions and follows a lengthy two-hour debate at the council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee the previous week.
Councillors heard the Winchelsea Beach plans should be “called-in” for more discussions after a vociferous campaign from Icklesham Parish Council. The toilets in Rye are unaffected by the decision.
It was not possible to confirm at the full Council meeting with absolute certainty that the decision taken was contrary to the Council’s policy framework. By referring the matter back to Cabinet this allows for a detailed examination to take place and for officers to report back to Cabinet at this meeting.
Not long now
There are just a few days left to request an election to fill the vacancy on Rye Town Council caused by the resignation of Cllr Rebekah Gilbert. If enough requests are made plans will start for a ballot, if not the council will begin the process of co-opting a new councillor.
Up for sale
One of Rye’s pubs has gone on sale. The Cricketers on Fishmarket Street has a freehold guide price of £495,000.
The pub is being marketed by agents Sidney Phillips who handled its last sale in December 2023 when it was called Bedford Arms says Regional Valuations Manager Robert Cockayne. “It has been transformed from a closed and run-down public house into one of the town’s best watering holes, which is well utilised by the local community as those visiting the town for events such as cricket matches and fireworks night.”
When you have two of the finest town criers on the planet, International Town Criers Day on Friday July 11 was never going to pass without a special cry in in Rye. From the steps of the Buttermarket at Rye Town Hall, at the appointed hour of 1.00pm, Rye’s town crier Paul Goring and deputy crier Arabella Ansar let rip with a display of masterful bell ringing followed by a two-hander that was brilliantly crafted, entertaining, instructive and easily audible.
It was a well-timed visit for MP Helena Dollimore to the Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat on Thursday July 10.
Image Credits: James Stewart , Nick Forman , Dena Smith-Ellis , Jo O'Hara .