What now for the future of Rye?

New powers over tax, spending and welfare are on their way to Scotland. Understandably there is now a clamour from the rest of the United Kingdom for it too to receive more devolved powers, equal to that being offered to Scotland. The unfairness of Scotland receiving more than England is at the forefront of the argument. Our Prime Minister is hoping to address this anomaly by agreeing to a time table to ensure there is a fair settlement for all. Leaving aside the other matter of “English votes for English laws”, which it is agreed is an equally important issue, the subject of further devolvement in England, which represents 85% of the population of the United Kingdom, has to be given greater attention. Devolution is not just for nations either. Power can and must be devolved more locally. Hence my question – what now for the future of Rye?

There is a need for greater power to be devolved from the government to local authorities, and devolvement to be filtered down to the town and parish councils. The Campaign for a Democratic Rye still has as its aspiration the creation of an Area Committee structure for the District whereby it would be divided into three or four areas each having complete control with fiscal direction and planning.

However, the CDR has agreed that the priority for the moment has to be supporting the Rye Neighbourhood Plan, which it is hoped will be accepted by the electorate in the referendum to be held in Rye next year. It is generally agreed this Plan will go a long way to achieving greater localism for Rye. At a meeting on the 21st July 2014 Rother District Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee agreed as part of the Council’s “resetting agenda” to devolve assets throughout the district to Parish and Town Councils. The obvious purpose was to remove the costs of administering and maintaining the assets from the Council’s budget. Rye has much to gain from these negotiations provided it is properly costed, and does not bear heavily on the Rye tax payer. There is now a powerful incentive for Rye Town Council to push for greater devolution, however it may be achieved. It is time for change!

The clamour among those who live in the town for some drastic action to curb the chaos which continually ensues with illegal parking has reached fever pitch following the incidents of heavy lorries unable to exit Lion Street from the works in progress at the cinema site, and elsewhere. All the parking schemes in the world to resolve the traffic problems in the town will never be of any use without proper enforcement. The proposed loading bay outside the “George Hotel” is a prime example of a scheme which will no doubt be abused by motorists unless there is someone of an official capacity to enforce the law. I have suggested the appointment of a Community Warden in the absence of the Police or a Traffic Warden, neither of which, I am told by Chief Inspector Warren Franklin of Sussex Police, will be available to enforce parking offences due to the lack of financial resources.

It is a sad situation that Rye should suffer this way and not have an adequate police presence in the town for the purposes of clamping down on the offenders.

I am still hopeful that Rye Town Council will see a way of at least providing a Community Warden. I have asked for this to be further considered at the forthcoming Policy and Resources Committee meeting on the 13th October.

The Rye Festival is back and this year with a scintillating programme of events for all tastes. It is good to see that the organizers have been embracing input from local schools and colleges. Rye Studio School students particularly have been very much involved working with artists and productions which surely must increase the prestige of both the School and the Festival. Whilst on the subject of the involvement of young people it is wonderful to hear that the Rye Scouts are finally moving into their new purpose built Scout Hut.

This will hopefully encourage more young people to join the scout movement and enjoy all the many varied challenges it offers.