Many residents along Military Road and North Salts received a letter recently from the parking services department of East Sussex County Council (ESCC) explaining that they are responding to requests for parking restrictions to be imposed. With the letter there was a map showing a new proposed parking zone. This can be viewed online at consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/economy-transport-environment/rother-informal-2021-22 and you can also see it locally at Rye Library.
The consultation process opened on 22 July and closes on 12 August so if you have any views you wish to put forward you haven’t long to make contact via parking.escc@eastsussex.gov.uk.
In a nutshell, the proposal is that Zone C, which covers Military Road and North Salts will be divided into areas where parking restrictions will vary but will include
- No waiting at any time
- Pay and display, Monday to Saturday 8am-6pm
- Permit holders only
- Permit holders or pay and display, Monday to Saturday 8am-6pm, Maximum stay 4 hours
- Proposed no waiting at any time (double yellow lines)
The proposed pay and display parking charges range from 5p for up to 5 minutes to £1.60 for up to 4 hours.
The new proposed restrictions are in response to numerous complaints received by ESCC about the amount of cars gravitating to Military Road and North Salts who either choose not to pay to park in the town car parks or who are unable to find parking elsewhere. This in turn has caused congestion and other problems regarding access for local residents and something needs to change before there is a serious incident.
Not all affected by these proposals are purely local residents, the proposals if implemented could have an adverse effect on the Globe Inn Marsh, a very popular destination for locals and visitors alike. It is privately owned and like many other pubs and restaurants across the UK has suffered huge losses following the Covid pandemic and lockdowns. Unlike major chains who can sustain losses to a greater degree, privately owned establishments and landlords are often more financially exposed.
John Rogers is the owner of the Globe Inn Marsh and he is very concerned about how these new parking restrictions will impact on his business. So much so that not only has he written to his MP Sally-Ann Hart about his concerns, he has also written to Rye Town Council, residents of Military Road, Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council. He also wrote to us, Rye News and with his permission I have reproduced his letter to us all, giving his views and another local perspective which you can see below.
Parking Services County Hall
St Ann’s Crescent
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 1UE
For the attention of Mr Daniel Clarke Team Manager Parking
Proposed change to parking restrictions your reference 2022/PR362
Dear Mr Clarke
I am both the owner and operator of the Globe public house, 10 Military Road, Rye, East Sussex.
We have this weekend been confronted by local Residences concerned by the consequences of your proposals for both the future of the Globe and of course the wellbeing of our employees.
To date we have received no correspondence regarding this matter. My team are left to look uninformed and foolish as I am and to be quite honest, I find your actions hugely disappointing, particularly as we are the most likely if not the only business to be affected by your proposal.
Now that I have a copy of your letter provided by a Resident to whom you have written I can see that you have committed to writing to alI Residents and to Business's alike. We look forward to hearing from you. Having now been made aware of your letter of the 15th July I am responding with my comments as follows
Background
I acquired the freehold interest in the Globe Inn in 2014. The property was closed and in a dilapidated state, having previously traded as a restaurant and before that a failing public house. The property was boarded up and of uncertain future.
Substantial investment was necessary to return the Globe to good order with a new operating style, and identity, new people and a bias towards fresh food and drink, locally sourced and served by local people.
No extensions have been undertaken with the exception of a toilet for those of our guests with additional needs, but there has been some internal reorganisation in order to cater for diners as well as those who choose to drink (now a minority though very welcome). This interpretation of The Globe became an immediate success from reopening in 2014 and as a result led to more parking in Military Road which I believe to have been perfectly manageable until “ Pay and Display” parking was introduced throughout the town centre-the effect of which was to encourage more parking in Military Road by those seeking to avoid charges. I have photographic record of the street fully parked by 9am possibly by those working in Rye all day, every day, by those catching a train and, in some cases for weeks on end perhaps associated with second homes or holiday lets.
In summary I have done nothing at the Globe to increase the demand for parking, in fact to the contrary we have simply introduced an offer that appeals to a wider and more modern market. It should also not be forgotten that at the time of my purchase in 2014 the Globe had a garden three times larger than that, that currently exists, and which might have accommodated a further 80 covers making the parking issue so much worse.! Two houses have since been built in what once was the Globe Garden reducing the need for parking and our business footprint is considerably smaller than that which previously existed.
Though we are keen to continue with our modern public house values we are now a food led business with 65 to 70 percent of our sales associated with casual dining and from East Sussex county guidelines dining (restaurant) use requires one parking space for each 5 meter square of floor area where as a public house requires one space for every 2.5 metre squared of floor area and though we have no carpark what so ever we would argue that we have considerably reduced the need for parking as a result of the manner in which we choose to operate. A move away from food in favour of drink as a more traditional pub would make the parking problem much worse.
The Globe is therefore I suggest the least harmful delivery of a well-run modern public house in this location.
Your Proposals
Transport
1.I am disappointed that the location of the Globe is not identified on your drawing RR22MN002 as I believe we are the primary business in Military Road and the implications for parking could be better understood if the parking restrictions around the Globe were clear please consider this amendment to your map.
2. You are proposing “Pay & Display” Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm in that section of Military Road immediately opposite the Globe. There are 25 dwellings in this section of road some of which have more than one car (and perhaps some do not) and if each car requires a space of 7.2 metres, then there would be no residue parking for Globe guests any evening or on a Saturday, further more like many public house Saturday is our busiest day and when the demand for parking is at its peak for us most, if not all, will be occupied by residents
3.You propose to prohibit parking entirely across the frontage of the Globe and continuously along Military Road to a point beyond the Tennis Club such prohibition will seriously limit the performance of the Globe as there is no alternative parking within sensible walking distance.
4.With regard to dedicated facilities for the Globe what provision are you proposing for
(a)the setting down of our less mobile guests including those with wheelchair's prams and pushchairs, (b) deliveries, (c ) waste collection etc (d) the parking provision marked with the blue broken line on Military Road, your drawing RR22MN022 refers, states “permit holders only’ 8am-6pm-does that means parking is unrestricted after 6pm daily and all-day Sundays. (e)A small point perhaps but in this very pretty Conservation area do we really have to have double yellow line across the frontage of these historic buildings, should your proposal be approved. (f)During peak trading periods, primarily breakfast through to close at weekends and holiday time we have 12 members of kitchen and FOH team at work at any one time, all with 8-hour (or more) shift durations.
Many travel to work by car and your proposal will prevent their parking anywhere near there place of employment- it is not an option to park somewhere else there is nowhere else, furthermore no public transport, particularly late at night. If they are unable to park in or close by to Military Road yet further unaffordable cost will be incurred by the Globe as we seek to find alternative solutions. Walking to work for most is simply not a option there are insufficient job seekers in Rye most travel up to 20miles.
5.I note that North Salts Parking is to be entirely by resident Parking Permit. Were these houses not all built each with parking/ garage provision and are they therefore each now to be favoured with parking for two vehicles or more please advise? The same information is required for Military Road and Crescent please advise.
6.Please confirm whether your Parking Permit for North Salts can be distinguished from those issued to the Residents of Military Road.
Economics
We like to believe that our popularity is almost entirely due to our 3 most important values and the patronage of the people of Rye and visitors from further afield.
These values are
We are nice, attentive people offering an enjoyable experience with a friendly smile +good service. That we source, prepare, cook, serve, and pour great food and drink locally sourced. That we are a nice place to visit.
We are of course interested in where our guests come from and why choose us, we track activity on our website each month and during the month of July we were very popular with London folk (a very big conurbation of course) followed by Hastings, Rye, Ashford, and Loughton, so we do believe we add just a little to the amenities of Rye as a contribution to the many other attractions of the town.
Unlike larger groups and pub companies we have no “central distribution “and that allows us to invest locally with people we consider to be our partners in success and from whom we buy high quality produce, we cook fresh and do not freeze.
During the last year, we spent. - Local Butcher...£85,000, Local greengrocer...£65,000, Local fishmonger...£78,000, Local brewer...£31,000, Local baker £3,000
By working with our local partners, we can ensure that meat, fruit, vegetables, fish, beer and baking travels very small distances from field, and sea to plate, helping with our sustainability credentials.
In addition to our support of these wonderful food and drink's partners we also call upon local contractors for plumbing, heating, refrigeration, and other specialist support.
Furthermore, in line with our sustainability principals and our pursuit of comfort and the quality of cooking we burn locally coppiced managed timber sources at an annual cost from our Woodsman of around £10,000
Wages
Our gross wage cost for the last year are in excess of £650,000 much of which returns back into the local economy as a result of spending by our local employees. There are currently 30 persons employed at the Globe 17 of which are fulltime. Our wage cost will be considerably higher this year as will our purchases as a result of rising supply cost delivery and disproportionately higher energy costs.
Summary
At a time when we are trying very hard to recover our losses and personal difficulties, following the dreadful Covid pandemic we simply cannot bear further cost or declining sales as a result of restricted parking in Military Road, most importantly for our guests, but also for our employees.
Unlike bigger companies we do not have resources to sustain losses over anything but a very short period particularly as a result of permanent Parking restrictions and decisions will need to be made quickly following any implementation should the impact be damaging.
We have suffered the consequences of rising cost this year in excess of 25 percent to date, and still rising, in respect of energy, food, drink, and wages and, I am afraid if the effect of your parking restrictions were to reduce our sales by as little as 10 percent, then the likelihood is the Globe would not survive under our ownership. These are the facts. The local community need to decide whether the Globe is a valued Rye amenity both for local enjoyment tourism and the economic benefit it brings. Failing that, an alternative use less dependent on the motor car for this beautiful old building that has sat proudly overlooking the terraces of Military Road as a Public House for almost 200 years will need to be found.
We too “are” residents though your proposed solution for parking seems entirely in favour of “dwellers” as ownership of motorcars continues to grow at the expense of a more balanced view of modern life.
We wait to hear of our salvation.
Yours sincerely
John Rogers
