Busy Time For Planners
May and June are proving to be busy months for planning applications and there is a deal of controversy concerning a few of them. On a positive note the Martello arts development at Rock Channel where the old auction rooms were has been agreed subject to a number of conditions set by Rother and public agencies.
Our Planning Report for June can be accessed by clicking on this Link
The future of the Rye Creative Centre which is the workplace of more than 30 local artists has been secured in a deal brokered by East Sussex County Council. Management of of Rye Creative Centre has been transferred today (1 June) to a local firm who have agreed to run it as a community asset on a long-term lease.The agreement struck with Martello Rye Creative Centre Limited means the firm commits to run the centre as a community arts centre, investing in the building infrastructure to ensure it continues to provide community services including workshops and exhibitions.
The centre has been closed since March because of the outbreak of Covid-19.
East Sussex County Council has been managing and maintaining the centre since the former head tenant, a charity, went into liquidation in 2018. The new management team will be upgrading the building ahead of its re-opening and working with tenants to agree a plan for them to return as soon as possible.The deal also includes an option for Martello to take over the freehold of the site in New Road after the first five years of the lease.Councillor Keith Glazier, leader of East Sussex County Council and member for Rye and Eastern Rother, said: ‘It’s excellent news that we’ve managed to secure the future of Rye Creative Centre for the artists who work there and for the whole community. It’s a valuable part of cultural life in this part of the world and I’m looking forward to seeing it continue to flourish under this new arrangement.’
A spokesman for Martello said: ‘We’re confident that the planned works will improve everyone’s experience of the centre and we look forward to more great work from the artists at the upgraded Rye Creative Centre.’
A proposal to build a garage with studio above next to the Globs has met with serious opposition from neighbours although the Conservation Society has not seen fit to object to the new scheme as East Sussex have not objected on traffic grounds. Nonetheless if you look at the planning application RR/2020/493/P, you can see that there is considerable local opposition.
The proposed extension to the Globe on the other hand has not provoked such opposition even though it could similarly put pressure on the limited parking facilities, which is
There is also opposition to build six units next to the railway line at Mill Lane. The RCS objected to the original plans in January and see no reason to change their mind. It is an example of how developers will squeeze houses into small spaces to maximise profits. In this case to the detriment of the environment and traffic flows while building two metres from the railway.