I have somewhat belatedly come across the planning proposals to obliterate the riverside walk opposite the recently converted arts centre (on the right in photo above) beyond St Margaret's Terrace in Rye.
I am a retired chartered surveyor and Incorporated Member of the Chartered Institute of Building.
I cannot see any merits in this scheme whatsoever. Why relocate the road? Why relocate the riverside walk with its interesting command of the boating scene? What on earth is the point of the proposed footpath which appears to run behind the white elephant new houses and goes nowhere.
In my experience the only reason for messing with year upon year of public footpath access is to create more land for greedy developers and Rother District Council. The grand open space apparently destined for outdoor performing arts is to be gobbled up by housing which if the same modus operandi is repeated will produce more white elephants. I understand that only one of the new dwellings is owner occupied and that this was as a result of a land swap/deal.
I am not opposed to development, in fact I worked in the sector for most of my working life, but I cannot see how RDC can support a developer whose track record so far shows that they have got it abysmally wrong.
I have been a Rye resident for 25 years or so and I am not able to condone the monkey wagging the tail of RDC and they should stand up and be counted and not allow an inexperienced developer to dictate the future of areas of Rye.
