Rye supermarket plans unveiled

Both supermarket giants gave a back to back presentation to Rye Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday night. They had earlier unveiled plans to a behind closed doors meeting of Rye Town Council. It emerged that Tesco has submitted its planning application to Rother Council this week and has tactically bought a property, 31 Ferry Road, in what it sees is a key site access area. Sainsbury’s successfully bid for the Lower School site, purchasing it for 3.4 million, but planning law allows Tesco to submit plans, even though it does not own the site. Rye Hotels and Caterers chairman John Smith accused Tesco of “gambling”. Sainsbury’s are clearly annoyed by the application with a top executive from the company describing it as “A majority landowner being frustrated by a minority landowner.” Gerald Knight, speaking for Sainsbury’s, said “This property was obviously bought to frustrate the planning process.” More key details of both company’s plans were unveiled. A Tesco store would be 15,000 square feet in size and Sainsbury’s 20,000 square feet. Sainsbury’s have pledged that their store will create 150 new jobs, which their spokesman Gerald Knight described as “a major investment in the town.” Sainsbury’s car park will have 180 spaces and Tesco’s have said there car park will be a public town car park which is free. Sainsbury’s announced a number of environmentally friendly aspects of their build including using a bio-mass boiler, rain water harvesting to flush toilets and using low energy lighting and signage. Sainsbury’s also unveiled its time table which is likely to see a wide-spread public consultation being launched in November with a planning application submitted in the early part of next year. Access to the site remains crucial with Tesco’s plans having access where the Queen Adelaide pub currently stands, close to the railway crossing and fire station, which some local people have raised safety concerns about. Sainsbury’s access is further up the hill but would require demolishing a number of homes. Tesco development manager James Harrrison said: “Access was the biggest issue at the public exhibition we held at Lion Street in September. “Our plans would require no demolition of homes and the access has passed a safety audit by East Sussex County Council. Gerald Knight, for Sainsbury’s, said: “Our access would involve demolishing 25 – 31 Ferry Road. The access we propose works better we think and is safer.” Rye councillor David Russell said: “Rye residents just want a timely end to this and will be dismayed if it drags on for months or years.”