This week we thought it would be interesting to give a bit of a snapshot of some of the meetings we attend and how we used our votes to support the people of Rye and Winchelsea.
First though, who can forget the recent Southern Water fiasco when we were all left with no water, no co-ordination, precious little information and then when water did finally arrive it was in the wrong place. On Saturday, September 30, Cllr McGurk, Helena Dollimore (pictured) and 20 supporters visited households across the area listening and picking up issues for Helena to take to Labour's shadow ministers who spoke with government and senior Southern Water managers on our behalf. Please don't forget to sign up for Rother alerts (My Alerts) which is where information on extra recycling capacity was shared to help us get rid of all those water bottles.
On Monday, September 11 Cllr Simon McGurk spoke in support of the work Rother have done to represent local rail users with Southern and South Eastern Rail, asking questions about the impact of proposed ticket office changes at Rye station. Last July, Rother District Council (RDC) managed to get Southern Rail to extend the consultation period and raised the impact of proposed changes on disabled customers and older people. It is vital that any changes are discussed with local councils and community groups, Rye Chamber of Commerce has been very active already on this for example.
Southern Rail’s proposed changes to Rye Station opening times:
Current hours: weekdays 5:40am - 7:05pm, Saturdays 8:10am - 3:45pm, Sundays 8:10am - 3:45pm.
Proposed hours: weekdays 6am – 1pm, Saturdays 6am – 1pm, Sunday closed.
At September's council meeting both Cllr Creaser and Cllr McGurk voted in support of a motion brought by Cllr Mark Legg (Rother Labour Group) in support of our local threatened fire service, committing the council to engaging with East Sussex Fire Service during their review of local provision and asking the chief executive to write to local MPs to ask that government funding be sought to protect essential services for the district. Those of you who attended Cllr Creaser, Cllr McGurk and Helena Dollimore’s local public meetings back in February will remember Helena’s petition and tireless championing of this issue. I was very glad to take the opportunity to speak in support and challenge some false claims made in the debate.
Another issue of local interest is the recent consultation by Rother on restricting dogs in public spaces. Many of you will be pleased there will be few changes to current arrangements. Cllr McGurk spoke to support Rye Town Council’s (RTC) suggestion that dogs be permitted anywhere in Rye cemetery on a fixed lead. Both Cllrs McGurk and Creaser were pleased that sense won out and dogs and their owners will not be subjected to more controls.
Work continues to secure the return of timber from the Rye cemetery cedar. We have a promise that the final timber from the tree will be returned to us here in Rye and are following up on how we can use it for a lasting memorial. Sadly, as has been detailed many times, the contractor has destroyed or lost the rest of the timber. Suggestions have been made for the remaining trunk to be made into a seat however this is not viewed favourably by council officers at the moment because it is technically on a roundabout even if a very quiet one. Cllr McGurk is pushing for it to become a bench but it is far from certain at the moment.
RTC's Cllr Sue Learoyd Smith and Cllr Creaser have been working with Andy Dinsdale from Strandliners on the Three Rivers project (see article in Rye News ) for some months. Fortuitously, it turns out, as the recent events have unfolded. With your help, the Three Rivers project plans to survey and analyse pollution along the Rother, Brede and Tillingham and set up a monitoring group to oversee the rivers’ health. It is about raising awareness about our local river pollution in our community and finding solutions to clean up our waterways by making a difference together. River catchment surveys on plastic pollution and river health take place on three dates: October 25, November 11 and 12. Anyone who wants the join in can contact strandlinerscic@gmail.com for further information.
Cllr Creaser is working with RTC colleagues to progress the future management of the allotments once they are in Rye's ownership. There will be information published to inform everyone of the outcome over the next couple of months.
Have you been to the pool yet? It is open from 7:30am now but do check the website for details as hours may vary. Few things have made both of us as happy as the pool opening up again and to see it so well used. Well done everyone involved, especially the staff - there aren’t many places where you can go and see the same friendly faces day after day but the pool is one of them and we hope we can all make sure they know how much we appreciate them.
Talking of the pool, Cllr McGurk continues to use it for his monthly councillor surgery every fourth Friday and will be there again 9:30am to 10:30 am on Friday October 27. Please email cllr.simon.mcgurk@rother.gov.uk to book a slot.
