Group formed to tackle illegal parking in Rye

A group will be set up to tackle illegal parking in Rye after a productive but emotive meeting with police officers.
Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne, mayor Bernadine Fiddimore, Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly and Chief Inspector Paul Phelps at Rye Community Centre. Photo by Ray PrewerSussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne, mayor Bernadine Fiddimore, Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly and Chief Inspector Paul Phelps at Rye Community Centre. Photo by Ray Prewer
Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne, mayor Bernadine Fiddimore, Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly and Chief Inspector Paul Phelps at Rye Community Centre. Photo by Ray Prewer

Chief Superintendent Di Roskilly and Chief Inspector Paul Phelps were joined by Sussex police and crime commissioner (SPCC) Katy Bourne and Rye Town Councillors at Rye Community Centre on Thursday, March 3.

The group will be formed by representatives from police, the council and the public to change parking behaviours.

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“It was a very open and useful meeting and we welcome these opportunities to talk face-to-face with communities and hear their concerns,” Ch Supt Roskilly said.

“The matter of parking enforcement in Rye is an important issue for the community at the moment and there is a real desire to work together to tackle the problem.

“Following the meeting, we are forming a small group that will comprise volunteers from the meeting, partners and police, working together to identify solutions; focusing not only enforcement options, but also other ways of persuading people, both local and visitors, to accept social responsibility and change their parking behaviour in the town.”

Ms Bourne supported the efforts to find a solution to the problem of illegal parking.

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“I am grateful to the mayor of Rye for the opportunity to listen to local people and also to explain the benefits of Rother District Council adopting civil parking enforcement,” she said.

“I am pleased that, as a result of this meeting, residents will now be asking their councillors to progress this and that they also supported Rye Town Council’s offer to lead a small group, which will include the police, in order to find an interim solution.”

Another development from the meeting was that East Sussex County Council (ESCC) may be willing to help Rother District Council introduce civil parking enforcement without needing Wealden District Council to do the same.

Rother is coming under increasing pressure to take control of parking enforcement. The authority was initially told by the county council that Wealden would have to change as well, which Cllr Lord Ampthill said is unlikely.

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But it seems this is no longer the case as Rye mayor Bernadine Fiddimore said ESCC is willing to let Rother go alone.

Commenting on the meeting, she said: “I found the police really very helpful before, during and since the meeting.

“They realise there is a huge issue, not just in Rye, but fortunately Rye had taken the initiative.”

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