Revealed planshope to end Ryeparking chaos

A recommendation from the Highways Forum was before Rye Town Council’s planning committee on Monday night.

But there was a reluctance to publicly reveal or discuss any details until a meeting of the full council makes a final decision.

Details were released after some members of the planning committee questioned the need for secrecy and admitted they had no idea what was going on.

Cllr Heidi Foster asked: “What is so secret about this? While Mayor Cllr Shaun Rogers said: “We are all elected councillors - this is daft.”

The Highways Forum considered two schemes. The first, from the Town Council, was for a loading bay outside the George Hotel, in the High Street, intended to prevent vans and goods vehicles parking on the pavement of narrow Lion Street and causing a dangerous hazard.

The second was an alternative proposal put forward by the George Hotel which saw the loading bay being moved further along from the hotel entrance but with the loss of one public parking space.

Town Clerk Richard Farhall said: “Mr Clarke, from the George, was not happy about the positioning of the loading bay outside the hotel’s front door.

“He was concerned because it is narrow and showed that it could impede larger vehicles coming down Lion Street from turning into the High Street.”

Planning chairman, Cllr Bernardine Fiddimore, said: “ Sometimes the George needs to use a disabled ramp.

“It means losing a parking space but the gain in safety will be worthwhile.”

Chairman of the Highways Forum, Cllr Granville Bantick, said: “We have talked about looking at other areas of the town where there may be unnecessary double yellow lines, so hopefully we can create one or two extra parking spaces in the town centre.”

Full Council will make a final decision when it meets later this month.