Positive response toproposals for Rye’sfuture Town Plan

The plan will give local people a greater say on important issues affecting the town such as planning and transport infrastructure.

Group vice chairman Anthony Kimber said he was encouraged by the attendance of a recent public meeting to unveil the plan.

He said: “I am delighted that 120 interested citizens attended .

“We underscored the need for some holistic and joined up thinking to tackle development issues around Rye.

“For their part many participants welcomed the opportunity to get involved.

“The consultation was valuable with many interesting points being made both verbally and in a mini survey of participants. The community is not short of ideas and proposals, which will help the Steering Group develop a list of key issues to drive the planning process.

“I welcome the early indication that young people will get involved, including the students of Rye College and the Scouts.

“Predictably there was some heated debate about some aspects of local government, but importantly for the plan, there was a call to consider a wide variety of issues, including the need to tackle traffic and parking problems; to give higher priority to pedestrians and cyclists; to develop so called derelict sites and improve key areas of Rye where future land use was not yet decided; to encourage business, tourist facilities and culture; to consider energy and green issues, but above all to conserve the unique and historical nature of Rye.

“The meeting also provided some important lessons for how to handle future consultative events.”

Rye Mayor Shaun Rogers, who chaired the meeting, said: “There is much work to do but we need to set out a plan for Rye for our children and grand children.”