Twitter campaign to tackle poor parking in Rye

The man, who calls himself @RyeScarecrow, launched the Rye Parking Fiasco Twitter account in a bid to highlight the problem.

He told the Observer: “My frustration was really started with the completion of the loading bay outside the George Hotel, or as a I call it, the ‘nipping to Boots bay’.

“It is in theory a great idea, a space intended for delivery vehicles to unload and load. However as its not monitored or controlled it seems to make no difference at all.”

He added: “I have on many occasions heard and seen arguments between delivery drivers and selfish car parkers who think it’s okay to leave their car there.

“There have been times when people have nearly come to blows over it.”

And the abuse of the loading bay is becoming a safety issue, as ‘Rye Scarecrow’ discovered first hand.

He said: “I was nearly mowed down by a long wheelbase Mercedes Sprinter. The loading bay was blocked by cars, and the delivery driver had to mount the kerb to park on the pavement to unload - just missing me in the process.

“He apologised profusely.”

He said that if it happened to an elderly person, or someone hard of hearing or in a wheelchair, the outcome could have been different.

He added: “There’s a real chance that someone will get hurt or killed.”

Cars on double yellow lines, or abandoned on pavements, is also a common sight, especially outside the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

He said: “It is supposed to be kept clear to allow vehicles to swing out wide to turn right down Market Road.

“But this area is regularly used by lazy selfish people to park. One incident concerned a blue Nissan, that was left there for two whole days causing an obstruction and danger, as large vehicles had to drive up the kerb to get round the corner for Market Road. It would just take one child, running to the top of that road, at the precise time a van or large car was driving up the pavement, and you have a tragedy.”

Sussex Police is responsible for on-street parking enforcement, but has previously stated it wishes to hand responsibility over to the council.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RyeandBattleObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @RyeObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Rye and Battle Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.