Welcome New Members!
Scallop Week going great guns.
Check out this collection of photos capturing some of the action so far from Rye's champion photographer KT Bruce! Remember to to sign up to her YouTube Channel Showcasing Rye to see the festival video when it drops next week.
The rather cold and damp opening weekend saw a welcome increase in footfall across the town with 26 participating venues confirmed and lots of events arranged to keep our visitors entertained and their bellies are full of scallops!
The closing weekend, whilst still chilly is forecast to be dry and sunny so we are looking forward to giving a very warm welcome to our visitors from far and wide.
Huge congratulations to all involved 👏
BID Update - Call for Task Group Members
The next step forward on our BID journey is to form a task group of representative businesses within the potential BID geography. To that end all relevant businesses have been invited to a meeting at 6pm at The George on Tuesday 4th March. The meeting will be hosted by our BID agency Mosaic who will explain the next phase of work, what it will mean for those who sign up to the Task Group and the time commitment required. Thanks to those of you who have already signed up, the sign up deadline for this event has now passed. However, we are not closing the door, as for the BID to move forward we need a strong, representative and dynamic group of business owners. If you missed the deadline but are keen to get involved, please email us on info@ryechamber.org.
Capital Levelling Up Project Update
The Chamber is moving forward with the Tourism AI project and is currently awaiting the legal agreement sign-off on this project from Rother District Council. Work with our chosen supplier will commence soon afterwards.
Pontins Update
The Chamber will be attending a meeting with Britannia Hotels, RDC and other stakeholders on 21st March. Watch this space for updates!
YOUR VIEWS ARE NEEDED!
There are several consultations live at the moment which all call for views from business owners and residents. Please take the time to provide feedback to help shape policy if you can.
1. Hospitality Businesses Poll
We soon will be contacting our hospitality members for views and feedback on the current challenges being faced, following recent reports of the number of hospitality businesses struggling as a consequence of rising costs / minimum wage increase / rise in NI etc. Please keep an eye out for this.
Transport for the South East consultation
TfSE has published its new draft Transport Strategy for consultation. The strategy sets out its vision for the South East, detailing plans to improve the transport system to grow the economy, better connect our communities and reach net zero in the decades to come. They are asking residents, businesses and interest groups in the region to take part in the public consultation to give their views on the proposals.
The consultation survey is open until 7 March 2025. More details and documents are on the TfSE website at https://transportforthesoutheast.org.uk/our-vision/transport-strategy/
Marshlink Line Chair Kevin Boorman has said he is happy to collate responses from groups on our line so please email him your comments kevin.boorman1066@outlook.com
Consultation on RDC Housing Development Strategy
Rother has opened a public consultation on their draft housing development strategy.
This strategy addresses how the council should bring forward and support more housing developments in Rother that will provide the housing needed by local people.
Although associated with the Local Plan and other strategies for homelessness and economic development, it is a separate new strategy. RDC has been working with a range of local and regional organisations in the housing sector over 2024.
They want hear from local businesses, the housing sector and organisations involved with sectors of the local population that might benefit from more local housing.
To read the draft strategy and take part in the consultation, please go to Housing Development Strategy Consultation – Rother District Council
This consultation closes on 31 March 2025.
Sussex Devolution Consultation
Further to the announcement that the government has agreed a proposal from East Sussex County Council and its neighbours for devolution across Sussex, a public consultation has been launched.
Devolution means drawing down more powers and funding to people in Sussex: allowing more decisions to be made locally rather than at a national level.
A new mayor for the whole of Sussex would be elected in May 2026.The mayor and two representatives each from East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council would form a mayoral combined county authority for Sussex.
The new combined authority would have powers for strategic issues including transport, housing, skills and employment, economy, environment and climate change, health and public safety. The combined authority would work with local councils in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove, which would continue to operate most day-to-day services.
You can complete the consultation survey here:
Town Meeting - 6th March
The annual town meeting will take place on Thursday 6th March at Tilling Green Community Centre from 6.30pm. The Chamber of Commerce will have a ‘stall’ at the event for anyone to come and ask us questions about any of the activity and strategy we are working on at the moment. We hope to see many of you there.
Second Homes / Air BnB Rother Task & Finish Group
Rye & District Chamber of Commerce attended the RDC Task & Finish Group on Second Homes & AirBnBs on the 17th February. We gave an hour-long presentation following weeks of data research and consultation with members, online travel agents, local booking agents, the town’s estate agents and the VOA. The Chamber also consulted councils in other tourism hot spots around the UK who face similar challenges.
The presentation made clear that this is a complex problem needing a balanced approach in a town that relies almost exclusively on the visitor economy but also has an affordable housing shortage. You can read our full report here.
Rye News 10th Birthday Celebration
The Chamber was delighted to attend the tenth birthday celebrations for Rye News on Friday 7th February in the Tudor Room at The Mermaid Inn.
The event was well attended by past and present editors, sub-editors, contributors, photographers, board members, donors and supporters. Also in attendance was Rye and Hastings MP, Helena Dollimore and Rye mayor, Andy Stuart.
Helena Dollimore spoke of the importance of the paper at this time particularly with cutbacks in local reporting in the BBC and local papers across East Sussex. “Local journalism can take on issues, such as the water outages last year, and shine a spotlight on them that can be picked up at national level. It holds us to account and gives a sense of community and pride. There are so many people with stories and experiences to share.”
The MP also thanked the Rye News volunteers during a speech in the House of Commons last week.
Martello Stakeholder Event - 12th February Update
The Chamber attended the first public engagement event held by Martello Developments for its proposed plans for four sites around Rye. The event took place on the 12th February at The Winery and was attended by over 100 people. Many questions were put to the developers and their planning consultants most pressingly about the provision of affordable housing which appears to be frustratingly lacking on detail at the moment. If you’ve not yet had a chance to look at the plans or submit your comments on them please visit their website: www.readytotalkrye.co.uk
Marshlink Anniversary
The Chamber attended celebrations to mark the anniversary of the opening of the railway line between Hastings and Ashford International. The special event was held at Rye station on Thursday 13 February – 174 years to the day since the station opened. The first Marshlink services ran between Ashford and Hastings on 13 February 1851.
A group of 25 people attended the celebration including Southern Railway staff, Rye’s Mayor Cllr Andy Stuart and Rye town crier Paul Goring, community representatives, station volunteers from along the line and rail enthusiasts from across Sussex.
Old photographs of stations on the line were on display along with railway memorabilia. Marshlink Community Rail Partnership Line Chair Kevin Boorman said: “The railway line is a key feature of the area and has been since Victorian times. The coming of the railways opened up many of the communities and provided the opportunity for people to travel further afield, and for goods to be moved much more easily. We were pleased to host the celebrations and know this railway is still a vital transport link for many people for work, study and leisure.”
Very sadly a few days after this celebration Vice Chair of the Marsh Link Steering Group Mick Burgess passed away. Paul Bromley, Community Rail Line Officer, informed the group, saying, ”Mick had been an active member of the Marshlink group for many years and had been our vice-chair for the last three or four years. He was a passionate supporter of the rail route and all the communities on the line. We will miss him.” The Chamber sends its heartfelt condolences to his wife Aline and family.
Free Lunch and Learn at Littlegate Farm
Little Gate Supported Apprenticeships is very excited to have teamed up with Supplytrain CIC to deliver an online Lunch & Learn all about Supported and Flexi Apprenticeships during National Career's Week on Wednesday 5 March at 12.30pm.
Come along to find out more! You can pre-register here .
Hastings Rother Rainbow Alliance - All Welcome Project
The Chamber have been contacted by Hastings and Rother Rainbow Alliance, a volunteer-led charity that has supported the adult LGBT+ community of Hastings and Rother, since 2003. They are keen for businessess to get involved in this project to display a visual sticker designed be placed in retail, hospitality, and business spaces,in public-facing windows and in staff areas, in the towns of Hastings and Rother, including Battle, Bexhill, Hastings, Rye and St. Leonards on Sea.
Reducing hate crime by being visible.The sticker will include a QR code which directs to the HRRA website (www.hrra.org.uk). A dedicated page on the website will list the community and support organisations that are
LGBT+ inclusive and will include a list of the businesses that are proudly displaying the sticker. To get involved, contact HRRA directly.
REMEMBER ! DISC is electronic system for reporting shop theft, anti social behaviour and can also be used to report HATE CRIME! Businesses can sign up by emailing communitysafety@rother.gov
Litter Pickers - are you ready!?
Once again we are calling out for local businesses to get involved in the Chamber's Spring litter pick on Sunday 23rd March. From the countryside to the coast, the Great British Spring Clean is all about empowering people to #LoveWhereYouLive and take action to protect their local environment.
Can you spare an hour to join in the fun? sign-up here. Bring the family - All welcome! 😁
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
BID Task Group Meeting
Tuesday 4th March, 6pm at The George
Apprenticeship Lunch and Learn
Wednesday 5th March - Littegate Farm, Beckley
Rye Town Meeting
Thursday 6th March, 6.30pm - Tilling Green Community Centre
Late Night Shopping Event
Friday 21st March 5pm-9pm - The Shop, Salt Farm, Old Barn Offices (above The Salon)
Great British Spring Clean
Sunday 23rd March - Meet at The Lookout, Hilders Cliff
Rye Bowls Club Open Day Sunday 27th April from 2pm - The Bowls Club, Rye
💚 Rye Chamber & Wildlife Sussex Coast Macmillan Mighty Hike
Friday 20th - 23rd June - Ballycastle, NI
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See you next month!
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