Core Strategy Consultation on Strategy Directions 2008

Comment

Representation ID: 19649

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Rye Chamber of Commerce

1.Rye has a strong High Street made up of a variety of business types and these should be kept. It is equally important to maintain the variety of businesses in the roads around the High Street. The local plan needs to identify these sites in order to protect them.
3.We welcome business and employment opportunities in Rye Harbour. Rye Harbour is an opportunity to bring redundant land back into use and to provide employment to people in Rye. The main problem is the junction onto the A259. Until the junction improvement becomes a reality, any substantial improvement to Rye Harbour is a pipe dream.

Comment

Representation ID: 19656

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Rye Chamber of Commerce

There are many redundant sites within Rye - Freda Gardham site, Lower School site, Rock Channel, South Undercliff, Old Garage site, library site , the Old Monastry and a number of others. These are in need of proper plans for their future. Talk about extra retail space and commercial space in the town, is not helpful if these sites remain empty or underutilised. These need a public debate to ensure that the town will benefit. The Lower School site is allocated for housing in the local plan, but there is discussion about Tesco occupying this land.

Comment

Representation ID: 19657

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Rye Chamber of Commerce

5. We note and support your plans to support tourism in the town. Tourism is extremely important to the town. However, we note that you limit yourself to green tourism initiatives. We would suggest all tourism initiatives are considered - but clearly green ones would be best.

Comment

Representation ID: 19660

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Rye Chamber of Commerce

6.Rail links are mentioned in the strategy to aim to reduce our dependence upon cars. We would support this. We would support all efforts to improve the rail links. These help reduce dependence upon cars, improve commuting and local travel, but also assist tourism by providing an economic and convenient way to get to Rye.

Comment

Representation ID: 19663

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Rye Chamber of Commerce

We note that the Chamber is not listed as one of the Lead Agencies or Partners at the end of the chapter on Rye. We would like to be included as a partner.

Comment

Representation ID: 19666

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Rye Chamber of Commerce

You therefore have an excellent mix of nature, tourism, retail, commerce and industry all set within the medieval backdrop. All strategies and plans must keep this to the fore.

Comment

Representation ID: 19675

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Rye Chamber of Commerce

The provision of a large supermarket in Rye has been the subject of considerable debate . It has split public opinion. As a minimum, we would not want the words "supermarket" within the strategy document, this would give too much credibility and support to that idea. Consultation with businesses and residents in Rye would advise what retail type is required. We believe the shopping survey was not properly carried out, and responses so limited that the views cannot be considered reliable. We would welcome further consultation. Should discussion look at more large retail space in new locations , when we have space already available? It is important that the Woolworths store is retained for retail use.

Comment

Representation ID: 19676

Received: 30/01/2009

Respondent: Rye Chamber of Commerce

The strategy discusses the additional space, but does this use that additional space that Budgens will be taking up. The current store will increase in size appreciably. Does the strategy propose another very large supermarket?
The location of new retail space needs to be considered. If a supermarket is to come to Rye, then its location is absolutely crucial. Too far out would pull shoppers away from the High Street, One in the centre of the town would only make traffic matters worse unless a road strategy was also implemented.