High Street retail closures

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In light of the recent announcement from the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) of branch closures, it perhaps comes as no surprise that the Rye branch NatWest Bank is to close next year.

In a letter to customers, advising effective date of June 21 2018, NatWest sets out alternative ways to bank, including the provision of ‘a mobile branch service in your local area’. Customers can also use the Post Office for paying-in and drawing cash, using their debit card.

Following on the closure last year of the HSBC Bank at 12 High Street, Rye still has three High Street banking facilities, including Nationwide, Lloyds, and Barclays (though Barclays is closed on Tuesdays) and there is also the Post Office now relocated within the Jempsons superstore. The uptake of online banking is having its effect in reducing customer demands on bank counter staff. There appears, however, no reduction in vehicle access to ATM dispensers in the High Street.

Rye Health Store

Another retail outlet, expected to change hands shortly is the Rye Health Store  at 90A High Street , where the owner has announced retirement. Potential purchasers are likely to need substantial funding to purchase the existing stock and to meet the annual outgoings for rent and rates.

The pace of change in the High Street has accelerated over the last year or two, with the loss of greengrocers and bakery and the opening of gift shops catering more  for tourists. Residents who can look back over 30 years can remember the thriving cattle market and food shops in the High Street. Now, the status and function of  Rye as a market town is becoming all but lost, particularly with the difficulty of access and parking.

The commercial life of the town now depends largely upon the influx of visitors and tourists – it has been estimated that over a million people visit Rye each year. They are drawn not only by its historic character, but also by the lively festivals, and cultural events that regularly take place here, such as Toyland this Saturday.

 

 

 

 

Photos: Kenneth Bird

Photos: Kenneth Bird

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Poor Rye – it’s sad decline in local facilities means people like me who live outside
    the town will no longer need to visit and will have to use Hastings for banking, bakers etc. This will also affect the local eateries and shops as we always stop for coffee or lunch and pick up greetings cards etc in the shops. We are not “once a year” tourists or “second homers”. We live here all year round and it’s people like us who should be catered for.

    Using the Post Office is not an option. Long queues and the dubious practice of putting a cheque in an envelope without a proper receipt in the hope that it reaches your bank account is taking us back to the dark ages.

    How many more candle and cushion shops will there be? We’re already saturated with useless shops. It’s a great shame.

  2. It is a great shame that we have lost the butchers and greengrocers in the High Street but we are still fortunate to have an excellent greengrocers and butchers shop in Cinque Ports Street so all is not lost.

  3. It not all gloom, the Lazy Baker now resides in the White House and fresh artisan bread is available most days of the week in a High Street location.

  4. Market forces drive what or who trades in Rye or any other town in the country. If there is a demand, generally it will be met. Rye these days is full of gorgeous ‘high end’ shops which draw visitors year round, visitors who have for decades supported the economy of our town, eating, drinking, spending and therefore helping to provide jobs and opportunities. Where demand drops, it becomes non viable for certain trades and services to thrive and that is why they are lost, banks included. I regularly use the Post Office facility at Iden Stores for business cheque banking and find it fantastic. I am always provided with a receipt and could never describe the process as dubious. It is always a shame when day-to-day shopping providers fail and leave, but Rye is really not doing so badly. And it’s brilliant for Christmas shopping!

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