Big lorry + small Rye streets = problems. Michael Camier was caught up in traffic on the A259 through Rye and wonders why nothing is done to keep things moving.
On Wednesday 26 November, just after 9am, I followed a large lorry loaded with a static caravan along Fishmarket Road.
The first hazard it encountered was stopping at the traffic lights (no evidence of any work). The driver had to leave his cab and physically move bollards to allow sufficient width for his truck and load to proceed.
The second hazard was the incessant illegal parking in South Undercliff after 8am, with four vehicles causing an obstruction. Having safely negotiated past two of the cars, and as he tried to negotiate past another of the parked vehicles, the driver then caught his load on an overhanging tree, ripping off part of the gutter and downpipe of the static caravan.
This in turn broke off a bough from the tree blocking the road even further. My wife had to jump out of our car and remove the obstacle from the road to allow not only us to proceed, but the traffic building up behind and coming in the opposite direction. The poor truck driver then had a further parked car to negotiate before reaching a wider section of the road on The Strand.
I phoned 101 and reported the illegal parking, however the call centre at Sussex Police were not particularly helpful and not interested in sending a patrol to investigate (probably not one within 20 miles!). They stated that they had not received any other complaints about the parking obstruction. How many calls or complaints does it take? Oh for the days of a functioning Rye Police Station and regular local patrols.
This perhaps raises two questions.
Firstly, illegal parking in South Undercliff, part of the A259 trunk road, surely there should be NO parking along this road with the current volume of traffic.
Secondly, should there be a width restriction through Rye on the A259 for wide loads diverting these trucks onto wider roads? Even with an escort vehicle as was evident here.
If there were no parking on South Undercliff the truck could have made it through without incident or damage. However, do these wide loads have to file a route plan with Highways or the police?
The direct impact is further and unnecessary traffic congestion on the main through road and a hazard to the emergency service vehicles that potentially could be caught up in an incident putting lives at risk.
The lorry finally made its way out of Rye toward Winchelsea.
An interview with a spokesperson for National Highways, who maintain the A259, will be published soon.
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Why are there not double yellow lines on BOTH sides of South Undercliff?
I’m sure I recall a fair few years ago, it was mentioned in Rye News that the clerk of Rye Town Hall had confirmed to the councilors that double yellow lines should actually be on the south side of South Undercliff, but that they had never been implemented. At the same time the police, from Rye Police Station, stated that they were happy with the status quo as the parked cars helped limit speeding along that section of road. I apologize if my memory of these facts are incorrect
This is not an isolated incident, it happens every day sometimes up to 5 or 6 times .
There is already a single yellow line denoting no parking between 8 nd 6 p.m.
There are regularly 4 or 5 cars illegaly parked, some all day commiting up 4 offences.
1) parking on a yellow line
2) parking on the footpath
3) causing an obstruction
4) parked facing oncoming traffic on an ‘A’ road
No action is taken regarding these offences
Sadly this serious illegal problem has been going on for years,and nobody in authority is interested in resolving it, and if this results in a tragedy, I wonder will it be highways agency, or Rye town council, passing the buck to each other.
Rye Town Council don’t have the power to control illegal parking on the A259, how are they passing the buck?
You’re absolutely right Steve. Parking is now a civil matter and on South Undercliff it is the sole responsibility of Highways. However, the police could act where vehicles are causing an obstruction ( difficult to define); Rye Town Council could lobby Highway’s repetitively; residents, visitors and tradesmen could all act responsibly – it’s all too easy to say “it’s not our problem” which isn’t “passing the buck” but it takes less effort ! Perhaps our pro-active MP could demand an on site meeting with Highways ?
I’m not aware that one of 16 councillors hasn’t been contacted?
‘ Passing the buck’ infers that RTC seem to responsible for policing illegal parking and are no longer interested in the problem . Has anyone of the people posting on here done anything to contact the Police? It’s not RDC’s responsibility either but law enforcement, the Police.
Yes, Steve, I have spoken to Sussex police about parking on South Undercliff and on the Kettle of Fish roundabout. That’s where I got my information from about the police not being able to act re parking enforcement as it’s a civil offence, not criminal. They can act where a criminal offence has been committed and in fact they have prosecuted at least one delivery driver at the roundabout for inadequate insurance and bald tyres and have seized at least one vehicle for lack of insurance. They seem reluctant however to act on the matter of obstruction, presumably because the burden of proof is too onerous
RDC are responsible for parking enforcement. Call them, you will usually get an answering machine. Sussex Police do not want to know. If a vehicle is blocking access for emergency vehicles like the fire brigade, they will tell you, the emergency services will move the vehicle if necessary.
RDC are not responsible for Trunk roads like the A259 – that’s National Highways. Sussex police have no jurisdiction over parking violations-it’s a civil offence. I stand by my point
The powers-that-be will probably wake up when emergency vehicles caught up in the bottlenecks are prevented from attending fires and other incidents resulting in loss of life.
Again, another situation where those who should be doing their paid job, are not. In this case the Police and those who should be implementing yellow lines. Bad management.
Rye town councillors were elected to our town, to look and investigate all aspects and criminality going on in this town, they are supposed to represent us all,they may not have the power for change,but they have voices, and as Simon says it’s so easy for others to say it’s not our problem, but at the end of the day, it’s time ignoring and passing the buck to others, is not solving this serious ongoing problem
John, Rye Town Council regularly make representations to Rother, to East Sussex County Council and to National Highways about local issues, including parking, but ultimately they are just ‘representations’.
If the responsible authority chooses not to act on those representations, then there is little that Rye Town Council can do – it simply have the legal authority to enforce such matters as parking restrictions.
So if this is the case, who does one turn to for support? If no local entity is prepared to take responsibilty for the smooth running of the transport infrastructure in Rye and its environment, what is the point of yellow lines and parking restrictions especially on a main trunk road? I am sure back in the past the redoubtable Stan Shepherd, Peter Ellis or other redoubtable members of the local constabulary ocer the years (when Rye had an effective local pressence) would be knocking on doors and having a quiet word.
You’re right Michael – you’re referring back to a time of proactive governance, 1979 saw the gradual introduction of reactive governance which is now almost universal.
The ongoing illegal parking problems will not go away at Strand Quay roundabout, and the only solution to stop this madness and destruction of the pavement and illegal parking in front of the fish and chips shop,and the adjacent new flats is for a metre high metal barrier,similar to the one at the bottom of Ypress steps,l hope all authorities engage in this serious problem, before someone gets seriously injured,due too their constant inaction to resolve this serious issue.
This is why we need a single Unitary Council. Rother is not responsible for parking tickets other than in its car parks but that hasn’t stopped me asking E Sussex Cllrs to raise these problems at ESCC parking Cttee meetings as well as contacting the Police. The mosaic of responsibility between the County Council, Police and Highways England is confusing and encourages slopey shoulders, we need one authority who can act with authority on issues like these.