Some of the services and facilities provided directly by Rye Town Council
Rye Town Steward Service
Established in 2015, Rye’s Town Steward team are employed by Rye Town Council to look after the environs of the town, undertaking maintenance where necessary. Their duties range from grass and hedge cutting in the Summer months, to repairs and repainting of benches and street furniture – along with much in between. The Town Steward team liaise with, and report problems to, outside agencies responsible for maintenance and repairs of public amenities in the town. They also undertake property maintenance on the Town Hall and other Rye Town Council-owned sites.
Regular updates on the work they undertake can be seen via Facebook and Instagram @RyeTownCouncil
Discounted Accommodation Scheme
In 2017 Rye Town Council undertook to purchase a residential property in the town, with the aim of providing a discounted rental property for a local family. The purpose of the Discounted-Accommodation-Scheme is to provide cheaper accommodation to those with a strong local connection to the Parish of Rye in order to help them stay in – or move back to – Rye. Priority is given to households with the strongest connection with the Parish. The first tenants to benefit from the initiative moved into the property in Spring 2018.
Rye Skate Park
October 2005 was a momentous month for the town’s younger residents – it saw the opening of the long-awaited Rye Skate Park on the Cricket Salts, New Road (A259).
Potential users were consulted on the design of the facility at every step of the way and were represented on the Steering Group. Delays in securing promised funding meant that only the base and main item of skateboard/bmx equipment could be installed at the outset; however, further equipment was installed as soon as the necessary finance became available.
Although the project was initiated and lead by Rye & District Council for Voluntary Services, Rye Town Council agreed readily to take over responsibility for the installation, management and maintenance of this valued facility. The Town Council has a lease from Rother District Council allowing it to occupy the site in return for the payment of an annual peppercorn rent. In addition to undertaking weekly safety inspections, the Town Council arranges an annual inspection of the facility by professional safety consultants specialising in play/sporting equipment.
A phased refurbishment of the Skate Park began in 2024.
Rye Town Hall
The Town Hall is owned and occupied by Rye Town Council. As well as being the venue for the meetings of Rye Town Council and its committees, since 2000 the Town Hall has also become one of the busiest licenced wedding venues in the area, with over 65 marriage ceremonies a year held here. As a succesful and popular wedding venue, the revenues from this business go directly towards the maintenance and upkeep costs of this Grade II listed building, reducing the burden on local Council Tax payers. In addition, the Town Hall also now houses the Rye Information Point; the Main Chamber also plays host to a variety of community and charity meetings and events.
Adjoining the Town Hall is a small cottage, owned by Rye Town Council and let at a market rent, which additionally subsidises the maintenance of the Town Hall and the provision of the Discounted Accomodation Scheme.
Freda Gardham Playing Field
In 1983, Rye Town Council gave East Sussex County Council £12,000 for a 999-year leasehold on the Freda Gardham Playing Field. Adjacent to Freda Gardham Primary School in New Road (A259), the Field has become the spiritual and physical home of Rye Rugby Football Club which secured a 25-year underlease in late 2004.
The Field accommodates two full size pitches, a small training area, car parking and a clubhouse. Rye RFC has been particularly successful in attracting younger people of all ages – and both sexes – to take up Rugby.
Ferry Road Nursery Site
The freehold of the site housing the Ferry Road Nursery was purchased by Rye Town Council from Rother District Council in 2017, to help secure the future of the facility.
Rye Heritage Centre
Rye Heritage Centre was run by Rye Town Council until Spring 2020. It is home to the Rye Town Model – a sound and light show based on a scale model of the town. The Heritage Centre building is owned by Rye Town Council, and was leased to a specially-formed local charity, who re-opened the centre in late 2020 to enable continued public access to the Model, as well as celebrating Rye’s rich heritage.
Rye’s Historic K6 Telephone Kiosks
Located at the base of Conduit Hill, the bottom of Mermaid Street and part-way up Udimore Road, Rye’s three iconic, red telephone boxes are all owned and maintained by Rye Town Council. The Udimore Road phonebox houses a public access defibrillator. In 2022 the purchase of the Conduit Hill and Mermaid Street phone boxes was completed, and a full refurbishment of each undertaken. The future function of these two phoneboxes is yet to be decided, but a range of options are being considered.
The Rye Beacon
Rye’s beacon is located at the top of Udimore Road is owned and maintained by Rye Town Council. Over the years this has been lit in commemoration of a variety of historic moments, most recently in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, with the assistance of Rye Bonfire Society.
Snow Clearance Scheme
Rye Town Council co-ordinates a team of snow volunteers in the event of moderate to severe snow-fall. These volunteers are on stand-by to clear and grit pavements around the town, ensuring safe access for residents. This scheme functions alongside the provision and maintenance of rock salt bins around the town, for use on public roads and pavements. For more information on their location, visit our Useful Information page. If you would like to volunteer with snow clearance, please contact the Town Hall.