The Rye Partnership and its raison d’être have often been something of a mystery to many residents of the town. One of the reasons has been that this not for profit company, although in existence since 2003, has disseminated information primarily to its members, rather than to the community at large. A recent upgrade of their, until recently, almost defunct website, however, provides significantly more information as well as providing access to a newsletter (although not saying how often that newsletter is issued), and a more transparent application for membership.
The website also gives a suitably vague mission statement and list of primary aims and objectives
The AGM was chaired by Keith Glazier assisted by Ian Ross, the only other director to turn up to the meeting. In his report, the chairman dealt mainly with the property holdings of the partnership and made much of the new 30 year lease that had been negotiated with ESCC (of which Mr Glazier is leader) for the Tilling Green Community Centre and the attached land. This would allow planned upgrades to the building to take place, but no mention was made of development possibilities for housing – particularly social housing – on the land that had been vacant since earlier development proposals had fallen through several years ago.
In other areas, upgrades had been made to the Rye Harbour Stores, Rock Channel remains a ‘challenging area’ and the fisheries is currently fully let with further development planned. Their business plan for the future was also presented, but on the basis that nothing could be decided while negotiations for the new lease were progressing, much of it was inevitably vague. It is available to see on the website, but only by members of the partnership.
The rest of the formal part of the AGM proceeded at pace with the re-appointment of retiring directors – no alternative names being submitted – and of the accountants.
The meeting came to life briefly when, in other business, two members challenged the directors for the lack of any initiative over land development (and the uselessness of a 30 year lease in this respect) and general lack of perceived progress in most other areas over the last two years.
An impassioned, albeit unconvincing, defence came from Ian Ross, and following some further discussion over development possibilities and the chairman’s assurance that they were open to talk to anyone about anything, the meeting was closed.
Image Credits: John Minter .
Remember the debacle when we were promised a new library on the old cinque ports garage site, once the site was cleared at an estimated 100,000 cost, it was then decided to rob Rye of a large retail site,the old woolworths store,to completely refurbish,and at an estimated cost of 25k a year, is this right keith Glazier, and was the money paid back to the partnership, once the site was sold for private flats,an easy question for you Keith, YES or No.
Sadly your photo portrays a couple of workers on their lunch break rather than an AGM.
Sloppy and unprofessional springs to mind but then I suppose we should be thankful that Councillor Glazier found the time to turn up, I served on the same committee (HORAC) as him for two years and never met the man.
Yes, looks a snappy meeting- at least we all know what happened to ‘Benny’ from Crossroads now …
I live adjacent to Rye Harbour Stores and have attempted to contact the Partnership a number of times over the past 10 years with no response whatever sending photos and descriptions of work needed to be done in relationship to their ignoring the maintenance of the building!
They promised the replacement of rotting wooden framed windows with double-glazed modern units. Clearing of the guttering which is breaking down and leaking.
The old garden wall adjacent to my property which is supporting an older wall built on top of it was breaking down and threatening the collapse of the whole wall running along Holly’s garden. I have paid a builder to build an iron structure into the base of the wall and infill with new bricks.
Their drains run along the building wall in my garden. A previous tenant blocked this with wet wipes and nappies causing a flood of sewage into my garden and pond and workshop. I had to purchase a pump to empty the pond and employ drainage experts to clear the drain and to rebuild a crumbling access and put on a new drain cover. The seepage of sewage rotted my workshop and coal store and damaged contents. The workshop had to be rebuilt and refurbished and the coal store removed.
The cost has been in the region of £10,000. Not to mention all the stress and work involved by myself.
The moss also needs to be removed from the roof as it continues to overload the guttering which is still leaking and breaking down.
The garden wall is breaking down along Rye Harbour Road being pushed out by a Horse Chestnut tree.
The gross neglect is appalling. It has been reported to Rother with no apparent effect.
I presume the rents paid by the worthy hardworking tenants are commercially high!
Our Harbour Stores is such a godsend to our village and many visitors supporting residents in times of need and illness delivering groceries at these times. It is one of the main hubs of the village and there is always a smiling welcome and chance of a friendly chat however brief can be a light in a long lonely winter’s day. They have attempted to get the post office service restored which was another lifeline for the village.
Rye Harbour is resilient and independent and grateful for what we do have. The regular bus service, albeit finishing at 5pm, is excellent although the lifetime of the buses nust be curtailed by the bumpy ride through the many deteriorating potholes.