What started as a request for £500 funding turned into a passionate debate about the future of Rye Bowls Club at the town hall on Monday July 1. Rye Town Council’s meeting was dominated by the worries that the sports club was “dead in the water” if decisions are not made quickly by Rother District Council (RDC), with Rye councillors vowing to help.
Ian Scott from Rye Bowls Club also told the meeting how he feared the town could be left with a “building falling into disrepair and a patch of grass nobody cares about”. To save money, RDC has cancelled the current grounds maintenance contract that supports both the bowls and cricket clubs on The Salts.
Whilst Rye Cricket Club is continuing to discuss working with RDC, Rye Bowls Club sees the current offer of support as unworkable. Ian Scott says the finances and restrictions make no sense. “They’ve offered us a lease that gives us nothing. We want to use the club for more events and to make it play a greater role in the community. None of that can happen without a more flexible licence from RDC. It’s financially unviable.” The club has been given a deadline of the end of November to reach an agreement.
Councillors praised Rye Bowls Club for doubling its membership and the recent publicity drive. This weekend Rye Chamber has organised a fundraiser on Saturday July 6, with an open day taking place at the club on July 27.
The restrictions in the lease suggested by RDC also include a ban on advertising at Rye Bowls Club – both on the club house and around the ground. Ian Scott told the meeting without promotion the club can’t succeed. “We need to have something that announces we are here. Every week when people see us playing it brings us new members.”
Councillors noted a ban on adverts at the bowls club seemed at odds with other organisations being allowed to put up boards and hoardings without prosecution in Rye. “Ridiculous,” said Cllr Bernadine Fiddimore. “Why on earth is the bowls club being treated differently?” said Cllr Jo Kirkham.
Earlier in the year a spokesperson for RDC told Rye News: “To support clubs in continuing their sports, we have offered peppercorn licences or leases of the land they use so they can manage the grounds maintenance themselves.”
After a vote to agree the extra funding, Mayor Andy Stuart – himself a member – told Rye Bowls Club it had the enthusiastic support of Rye Town Council: “We wish you well!”
The meeting then turned – inevitably – to discuss Rye’s public toilets. Cllr Andi Rivett was praised for his hard work in ensuring the toilets on the Strand were able to re-open last week. Councillors voted for work to begin on re-opening the toilets in the Gun Garden, with a longer-term solution to be explored as part of ongoing budget discussions. Both sets of toilets were closed last November because of cost cutting at RDC.
