It seems amazing that a large district council, doubtless employing many professionals and advisers seems not only blind to the jewel in their crown that is Rye (except, of course, where taking our money is concerned), but also appears incapable of getting the basic work that they are required to do right.
Only a few months ago Rother was censured by the then local government minister for not publishing their accounts. Our rubbish collection service is a mess……and then there was the case of the Landgate. First, non-specialist cleaners were employed at considerable expense to remove the pigeon droppings, accumulated over many years of neglect, then an architect’s report on the condition of this ancient monument was commissioned but, again, not published until a freedom of information application forced Rother to make it available. And now we have the affair of the town’s successful and popular cricket club being penalised because of the inefficiency of, in this case, Rother’s building control department.
Building Control failed to follow up its own notice when the football club, predecessors of the cricket club as owners of the clubhouse and pavilion on the Salts, omitted a number of health and safety requirements when re-building after a fire. Even though an advisory notice had been issued, requiring these works to be done, Rother allowed the football club to get away without completing them for three years until the club ceased to operate last year and the cricket club took over the pavilion. The cricket club has now been left in a difficult position with half the building allowed for use and a potential large source of their income unavailable, but has Rother acknowledged their failing? Of course not.
As always, it would appear, it has adopted the attitude of never explain, never apologise (and surely an apology is the least the cricket club are entitled to). All Rother has done is to issue an anodyne statement blaming the football club and saying how it hoped to be able to resolve the situation – a situation which should never have developed in the first place.
Last week Mary Smith wrote some thoughtful advice for the new town council. Let us hope they listen to her – especially to her call to challenge more. It is long past the time when Rother District Council learnt that if they want to take Rye’s money then Rye, not just Bexhill and Hastings, is entitled to receive a proper and efficient level of service.
Oh, and another thing, possibly not the fault of Rother this time, but whose bright idea was it to close one of the main access routes into Rye for several weeks right in the middle of the tourist season and with minimal notice, thus forcing drivers onto a diversion of several miles?