With the planning application for the Winchelsea Road development officially submitted, Rye News will be following the story with all the latest updates and opinion pieces written by local people. If you would like to write about the prosed new homes and Aldi do get in touch: info@ryenews.org.uk.
This week's opinion piece is by Chris Cooper.
I am writing to send you a copy of an email that I have sent to Rother District Council as I believe that the issue of adding further potential traffic problems to the A259 is of far further reaching consequence for Rye than the very localised discussion points merely focussed on to date.
What appears to be a good thing for Rye right now, e.g. a cheaper supermarket such as Aldi, masks a potential calamity for the town long term.
There would be a significant increase into the town of traffic at the very time when it is already getting worse and worse.
Inland, away from Rye, is the only workable solution for the location of a supermarket. This would draw traffic away from Rye and help to preserve the beauty of the town.
I really believe that we all need a wake up call.
This is my letter:
I am writing in connection with the the following planning applications:
RR/2024/976/P (Aldi)
RR/2024/960/P (Decimus)
RR/2024/949/P ( McCarthy and Stone )
THIS IS TOTALLY THE WRONG LOCATION
A DISASTER FOR THE A259 AND FOR RYE
I would like to raise some serious concerns about these proposed developments, relating to using a site and access on to the main road that runs through Rye, the A259.
The A259 has a problematic history that goes back more than fifty years. It is the main coastal road that unfortunately still has to pass through Rye as there is no alternative route.
Many years were spent looking for ways to bypass Rye but no viable solution could be found. As each year passes Rye suffers more and more from the traffic overload that passes through.
Why therefore add in a potential ROAD BLOCK to the A259 which will affect the entire THROUGH TRAFFIC causing backups throughout the town.
For the future of Rye this development must happen in a different location inland towards Udimore to keep extra traffic out of Rye . THIS IS A SERIOUS DECISION that could put a nail in the coffin for our beautiful town of Rye.
Also local shops will be affected and some may be driven out of business. Please can you raise my concerns through the right channels.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher Cooper (local resident)
