Thu, 08 May 2008 22:07:32 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/ The Hawkinge Gazette is a PostNuke powered site en-gb http://www.localrags.co.uk/images/logo.gif http://www.localrags.co.uk/ admin@localrags.co.uk http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4974 Top grass track riders from across the country will be coming to East Kent to battle it out at the Astra Champion of Champions meeting at Swingfield on Sunday (11 May). Local riders Mitch Godden, Martyn Sturgeon, Tom Cooper and Gareth Hickmott will be giving top rider, former World under-21 speedway champion Joe Screen from Belle Vue, Manchester some fierce competition. The event at Smersole Farm was scheduled for last month but postponed due to a waterlogged track. Practice starts at 11.00am with the first of 38 races beginning at 1.00pm. Thu, 08 May 2008 22:07:32 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4973 May certainly started with some glorious weather and gave a real “feel good” factor for the meeting. This meeting deals with the debate on the resolutions that may or may not be adopted by the National Federation of WIs at the Annual General Meeting due to take place in June.This year it is being held in Liverpool and Wendy Bell is attending as our delegate. It is traditional to hold a luncheon on this day in order to attract a good attendance for the meeting proper so that as many ladies as possible can join in the discussions. Thirty three ladies were seated for lunch and I’m pleased to report that afterwards two of our newest members volunteered to do the washing up! Thanks go to Beryl and Christine. Now a little digression – in September we will celebrate 80 years since the formation of our WI and have decided to have a plaque made listing past Presidents, to be hung in the village hall – so funds need to be raised to pay for it! Therefore it was decided to make the luncheon a “fund raiser” and a tidy sum was made to start the ball rolling – well done “ladies who lunch”). By 2pm our numbers had swelled and after opening the meeting with Jerusalem, a very fine rendition I have to say, Madame President wished Happy Birthday to Mesdames Jefferson, Bell, Cole, Bailey and Marshall. There were two resolutions for consideration: “This meeting asks H.M. Government to urge the E.U. to ban bottom trawling which causes catastrophic loss of marine life” and “In view of the adverse effect on families of the imprisonment of people with severe mental health problems this meeting urges HM Government to provide treatment and therapy in a more appropriate and secure residential environment.” Both resolutions caused lively debate and both were passed by a majority vote. The monthly competition was for “A Picture of Self when Young” and this attracted sixteen entries. It was decided that it would be turned into a mini competition by asking our ladies to identify as many of the mug shots as possible which proved an extremely difficult task; especially when one was of a baby in a layette! However, Audrey Godden was up to the challenge and won with eight correct answers. Although another general knowledge competition had been prepared the consensus was that after all that debate and every one feeling rather warm a nice cup of tea and a chat were preferable and so the afternoon ended on a very pleasant informal note. The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 3rd June, starting at 2pm in Hawkinge Village Hall when Liz Holt will give a talk on “Quilts” – we are reliably informed that she is very good and so if you are free and would like to join us please do come along. For more information please contact Carole Seabrook on 01303 891420. Linda Barnes Committee Member HAWKINGE, ACRISE & PADDLESWORTH WI Thu, 08 May 2008 21:50:06 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4972 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH - LATEST NEWS Neighbourhood Watch Force Watch Liaison Officer PC Mick Wright gives some tips to help avoid becoming a victim of summer crime. I have today been made aware of a TV item this morning talking about Garden and Shed crime. To put things into perspective 'Yes' there is a general increase in this type of crime at this time of year, with the usual outlet for stolen property being local boot fairs. A few simple steps could help prevent you from becoming a victim of crime. 1. If you buy any packaged garden implement do not leave the box out to be disposed of with your normal rubbish collection. It advertises that you have a new product usually in your shed or outbuilding. 2. Make sure you have a good quality lock on your shed or outbuilding door. 3. A real favourite is the theft of hanging baskets, these are very easily disposed of, to prevent this, consider securing the hanging basket to the wall bracket with a small chain and padlock, this should not be visible when your flowers are in bloom. It most certainly stops the opportunist thief. I hope this helps you to have a crime free garden this summer.   LOCAL CONTACTS... Sally Coleman, Parish & NHW Liaison Officer 07870 999892  PCSO Sarah Wallace  07772 226229 Village Warden Tanya Clark 07811 271303 Wed, 07 May 2008 23:10:22 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4971 Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP.  8 May 2008   The Bank Holiday weekend started very appropriately when I visited Garden Lodge Hotel in Densole. Garden Lodge is owned by Sue Cooper, who tragically lost her brother in the Bali bombing, and Sue has devoted a huge amount of care, love and money to the hotel. Last Friday it was playing host to Hotel Inspector, a TV programme that covers hotel makeovers. I was there to add my words of praise to a venture that, like many others, plays an important part in our local mix of tourist facilities. I firmly believe that tourism has great potential to boost the local economy. The revamped Garden Lodge should certainly help. On Saturday I was at the Buzzlines Stadium in Folkestone to watch the Kent League Senior Cup Final in which Hythe Town were trying to win the trophy for the first time. Unfortunately they were unable to cap what has been a remarkable season with victory in their final game, so completing a week of football misery for me. First, Folkestone Invicta was relegated from the Premier Division of the Ryman League. Then Liverpool was knocked out of the Champions League by Chelsea. And then, Hythe’s failure to win the cup. Ah well, there’s always next season! The high point of the weekend was the offering of the Freedom of Sandgate to the Royal Gurkha Rifles. On a glorious day a sizeable crowd gathered at the Sandgate Esplanade in front of the memorial to Sir John Moore to watch the ceremony. Later, at Shorncliffe Barracks, a new Standard was dedicated by The Royal British Legion. It was a fitting way of marking the high regard in which the Gurkhas are held by our local community. As I watched the Parade, in which almost every Gurkha chest was covered with an array of medals, I reflected on the great debt of gratitude we owe to these remarkable men. They truly do us proud. Wed, 07 May 2008 20:02:11 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4970 The Prosser Perspective.... a weekly column from Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser 8 May 2008 There’s no denying that last weekend was a very bad few days for Labour but that didn’t stop our local Constituency Labour Party for Dover & Deal turning out in numbers on Saturday morning to hold one of our scheduled street stalls in the High Street. To some extent the exercise lifted the gloom cast by the results of the local elections because we found the passing public as friendly and receptive as on any other Saturday and those that stopped for a chat were nearly all supportive. That’s not to say we haven’t got problems or that local support for the Government is as strong as it’s been over the last eleven years. By the time the next general Election is called we will have been in office for thirteen years and the simple mantra - ‘time for a change’ can have a lot of resonance under those circumstances. The political journalists are working overtime in their search for the underlying cause of the huge swing of support away from Labour but the reality is that our popularity has been dented by a combination of issues and the idea being put around by some pundits - that it’s all down to Gordon Brown’s premiership - is simplistic and wrong. After all, this is the same Gordon Brown who has been acknowledged as the best Chancellor Britain has known in modern times and over the last decade, his minimum wage, child credits and pension credits have allowed us to do more than any Government in the last century to tackle poverty, help low-income families and deliver a fairer society. It’s true that the opinion polls and the local results make pretty grim reading for the Prime Minister at the moment and his approval rating is low but these days public opinion is becoming more and more volatile and let’s not forget this is the same Gordon Brown who only a few months ago was enjoying a public approval of 32% when David Cameron was scoring minus 8% - and those responses came from Tory, Liberal and Labour voters. Some of my colleagues have been panicked into calling for a change in policy direction and a dramatic swing to the left but I disagree with them too, because if Labour loses its ability to attract the middle of the road middle England voters who have supported us since 1997 it loses its ability to be re-elected. If we are to continue appealing to our core voters while retaining the trust of those who switched to Labour in 1997, the Government has to be more careful in its policy planning and listen more carefully to its back benchers when they pre-warn them about bad misjudgements like the 10p tax fiasco. The modern Labour Party has to convince people it is still on their side, that it is committed to delivering its core value of social justice and that the best way to achieve this is continued growth based on sound economic efficiency – and that all three are wholly compatible. Wed, 07 May 2008 19:51:14 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4969 Dear Editor, Re: Parish Council should support village youth There is an IT Cafe at Hawkinge Community Centre. Young people can use it and it's free. During school term time it's open for young people from 3.30 to 5.30 on Tuesdays and 5.00 to 7.00 on Thursdays. During school holidays it's open 11.30 to 1.30 on Tuesdays and 1.00 to 3.00 on Thursdays. Just turn up. Older adults can also drop in and use the facilities between 1.30 to 3.00 on Tuesdays and 3.00 to 5.00 on Thursdays. Alan Haines Hawkinge Partnership Wed, 07 May 2008 16:14:21 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4968 Fewer than 10% of people in Dover feel unsafe in the town according to a Fear of Crime Survey. Successful partnership working has also helped to achieve a 15% reduction in reported crime over the last year. The performance of the Dover District Community Safety Partnership has been congratulated by the Government Office for the South East, (GOSE). These figures are taken from the results and performance of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership Strategy 2005-2008. Nadeem Aziz, Chairman of the Dover District Community Safety Partnership, said: “These results are excellent and whilst the partnership is justifiably proud of the results, the real measure of success is the 15% reduction in the number of victims of crime." Tue, 06 May 2008 20:08:02 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4967 The smartening up of the area in front of the shops in Canterbury Road, Hawkinge came a step nearer with today's (6th May) turf cutting ceremony to mark the start of the improvements . Hawkinge Parish Council Chairman, Dave Callahan, and Hawkinge Partnership Board Member, Anne Hutt, performing the turf cutting ceremony The scheme will replace the existing flat grassed areas with raised beds surrounded by railway sleepers enclosing robust, colourful plants and shrubs. Also included is a bench, which residents, specifically requested so that weary shoppers could rest their legs and watch the world go by. The areas that will benefit from the improvement work stretch from the Hawkinge Community Office to the Village Hall. Plans of the scheme are available to view in the Hawkinge Community Office. Dave Callahan said, “It’s the start to bringing the village back to life”. Anne Hutt added, “It will look brilliant when it’s all finished”. The scheme will take about three weeks to complete and is the result of consultation and collaboration by the Hawkinge Partnership, Hawkinge Parish Council, Kent County Council, Stagecoach East Kent and residents.   Tue, 06 May 2008 13:14:04 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4966 A Gurkha regiment based at Shorncliffe has been granted the Freedom of Sandgate. About 60 troops from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles, marked the occasion by marching through the town, accompanied by a piper, to the Sir John Moore memorial statue. Many are due to be deployed in Afghanistan in a few weeks. Sandgate mayor, Geoffrey Boot, said the honour was long overdue, and the troops were "valued members of the community". Tue, 06 May 2008 08:21:14 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4965 Dover has the highest petrol prices in the country, according to a Sunday Telegraph survey that exposes a North-South divide in fuel prices. Motorists in the south pay up to £1.98 more to fill up their cars compared with those in northern England and Scotland. Using the petrol price comparison website petrolprices.com, The Sunday Telegraph compared prices in 20 towns and cities across Britain. The highest was in Dover, where unleaded petrol costs an average of 111.4p a litre, costing a motorist with an average-sized family car £61.30 to fill its tank. In Edinburgh the cost was 108.5p a litre, or £59.70 for a tank, a difference of £1.60. Differences in diesel prices were even greater, with a litre costing an average 118.6p in Edinburgh, compared with 122.2p in Dover – a difference of 3.6p a litre, or £1.98 per tank. The pattern was repeated elsewhere in the country, with petrol in southern towns and cities costing more than towns in the north. Sun, 04 May 2008 20:27:09 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4964 By Colin Simpson A May Day maypole dance is being held in memory of Paige Brown at The Churchill School, Hawkinge, on Wednesday 7th May 2008 at 10.30am. Donations have been made for a memorial for Paige Louise Brown who died tragically on New Years Day 2008, aged 4. The memorial takes the form of a Maypole, and children from the school together Paige’s family will attend. A maypole was chosen as a fitting memorial for Paige at The Churchill School, and an inscription on the maypole will read “Paige Louise Browne 1.8.03 – 1.1.08. In memory of a little girl who loves to dress up as a princess and dance”. Children from The Churchill School in Hawkinge, Kent, a community primary school for children aged 4 to 11, will perform maypole dances whilst family and friends remember Paige’s passion for dressing up and dance. Headteacher Mrs Jennie Carter said: ”What a wonderful and meaningful memorial this will be. Music and dance with children enjoying themselves. We hope that as many people as possible will be wearing Paige’s favourite colour pink”. Sun, 04 May 2008 20:11:02 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4963 By Colin Simpson Gardeners at The Churchill School are holding an open day at the school gardens on Wednesday May 7th at 3.15pm. The children, staff and gardening volunteers have been busy growing plants and vegetables, and produce will be on display and sold by the children. Visitors will be able to see the raised garden beds established last year and “walk through” the 50ft polytunnel. With several afterschool clubs starting to work in the gardens, and the new addition of a wormery which is due to arrive soon, the gardens are becoming very popular. The children hope to enter produce in forthcoming competitions in Hawkinge and from within the school. The Deputy Headteacher Paul Newton is keen to start a pumpkin growing competition and has already claimed his patch inside the polytunnel for his class to start work. Although the school business manager, Colin Simpson, is expected to know the answers to many and numerous unusual questions, he was caught off guard when Paul Newton asked about the ideal growing conditions for large and tasty organic pumpkins. Luckily a very experienced gardening volunteer was on hand to answer the questions in detail. Further additions to the gardens will include extensive wooden staging which will be installed in the polytunnel over the next couple of weeks. Visitors are welcome to attend, and if you would like to join the gardening volunteers at the school, they really would love to hear from you. . Sun, 04 May 2008 00:27:36 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4962 Dear Editor, Re: Parish Council should support village youth While I agree with most of the points raised I see one of the major problems we have in the ever growing Hawkinge is that the teens have nowhere to go and nothing to do, this point has been raised numerous times before on this site and with the PC. I agree with you, there's nothing at all for us to do up in Hawkinge, we've been promised numerous things over the years and they're still nowhere to be found. There's a lot of housing development going on and a lot of teens moving in but there is still nothing for us to do. People wonder why they graffiti and find ways to entertain themselves. The idea of an internet cafe may sound good to adults but you need to take into consideration that the majority of us have computer equipment with the internet at home, so why pay for something we already have? Then there's the fact of feeling intimidated if you were to go to somewhere like that, because no matter what, you're always going to have select groups that you won't want to socialise with. In all honesty I don't feel as though there is a solution to the problem and if there were to be, in turn it'd cause more problems to be dealt with. Call me pessimistic but coming from a teens point of view it's the way I see it. Jay Sun, 04 May 2008 00:07:09 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4961 Dear Editor, Re: Where is this big drop in village crime to be found? While I agree with most of the points raised I see one of the major problems we have in the ever growing Hawkinge is that the teens have nowhere to go and nothing to do, this point has been raised numerous times before on this site and with the PC. There is an ever growing problem with off-road bikes and quads going up and down the roads and across the fields of Hawkinge, groups of people wandering around looking for something to do the PC all complain about them but have never offered them anything else to do. We have a community centre that they cannot use, the hall in Aerodrome Road left for years by the PC so it is not in a fit state for anything (except for selling it for housing; their favourite option), if they are given nothing to do they will find their own source of entertainment. It is about time they offered them something the playgrounds that are built are for 10 and under. How about opening the community centre up as an internet cafe, it would soon fund itself and they already have the technology. RT Sat, 03 May 2008 21:16:37 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4960 Tracey Emin, Christian Boltanski and Turner Prize-winner Mark Wallinger, are just three of the internationally acclaimed contemporary artists who have been commissioned to create new works for the first Folkestone Triennial, Tales of Time and Space. The Triennial is part of a regeneration project aimed at reinvigorating the town, once a popular Victorian seaside resort, which includes Foster and Partners' masterplan for the harbour. One of the most ambitious public art projects to be presented in the UK, the Triennial is a three-yearly exhibition of works which will be specially created for public spaces throughout Folkestone. Curated by Andreas Schleiker, the Triennial will feature permanent pieces of artwork dotted throughout the Kentish town. Folkstone will become home to a 'state-of-the-art dog park for the town's dogs and their owners', courtesy of Los Angeles-based artist Pae White. Mark Wallinger, who won last year's Turner Prize, will individually number 19,240 pebbles taken from Folkestone's shingle beach, representing the number of British fatalities on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Other projects include Christian Boltanski's sound-pieces on the town's public benches, which will play recordings of letters to and from servicemen during the First World War. Much of this work is spearheaded by local businessman Roger de Hann, heir to the SAGA fortune. The Folkestone Triennial will open on 14 June and run until 14 September 2008. Sat, 03 May 2008 18:52:09 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4959 Cycling a twin-tilting-rotor helium airship across the English Channel is the latest of a long line of zany crossings which is being attempted this summer by a Frenchman, Stephane Rousson. His craft, Zeppy, is a helium-filled balloon airship that's just heavier than air. The pilot pedal-powers two propellers that operate on a tilting axis. It's the first pedal-powered airship of its kind, complete with very delicate aerodynamics that mean Rousson will need a dead calm day. The English Channel just 21 miles wide, has for centuries inspired ingenious and often ill-fated inventors to try their luck at crossing in a variety of contraptions, usually more for glory than practicality. The first air crossing was more than 300 years ago, as balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard floated from Dover to Calais. 90 years later, in 1875, Matthew Webb became the first swimmer to make it from one side to the other. The first aircraft heavier than air to cross the channel made it over in 1909, and the first hovercraft in 1959. The first purely human-powered aircraft, the Gossamer Albatross, crossed the channel in 1979, its pilot Bryan Allen pedalling the feather-light winged plane across in two hours to collect the UKP100,000 Kremer prize, and it was this attempt that caught the imagination of French cyclist Stephane Rousson. Sat, 03 May 2008 17:54:29 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4958 Dear Editor, As the police and PC do not seem that interested in stopping the illegal use of motor bikes on the roads and fields around Hawkinge at the moment, are they going to accept responsibility when someone is hurt or killed?One of the most offensive places is the cemetery grounds which is used as a race track, and although highlighted to those who should be responsible, no action is ever taken.RT Fri, 02 May 2008 23:40:08 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4957 Police sealed off part of the Bouverie Place shopping centre this morning after a woman plunged to her death from the top of the car park. The woman had been spotted and police were moving people from the scene at the new Folkestone shopping centre just after eleven o'clock this morning (2 May) when the woman fell. Police have said there are no suspicious circumstances. Fri, 02 May 2008 18:00:55 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4956 Top Folkestone photographer, Marc Christmas will be exhibiting at the Independent Photographer's Gallery between 6 May and 9 June. Fri, 02 May 2008 00:28:33 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4955 An afternoon town carnival procession which had been cancelled will now go ahead in the evening after organisers had a re-think. The annual event in Dover was cancelled after a dispute over its start time. Organisers had wanted the same start as last year at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, but the council and police objected because of previous problems with road closures. Dover Carnival Association Ltd said the cancelled event would now go ahead in July, starting at 6.00pm. Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4954 The Prosser Perspective.... a weekly column from Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser 1 May 2008 If you’ve never made a mistake it’s likely you’ve never made anything and never done very much. The Government has done lots of good things over the last 11 years to fight poverty, improve public services and create a fairer society but no one can deny that there have been some mistakes along the way and my constituents in Dover & Deal have never been slow to bring these to my attention. I don’t always agree with them of course but up until the argument over the 10p tax band I’ve always been able to put up some kind of credible defence for Ministers even when I’ve felt that they were getting it wrong. For instance, I thought Tony Blair was getting it very wrong when he wanted to support the invasion of Iraq and that’s why I felt forced to vote against my own Government and against going to war. However, despite my strong opposition I was still able to appreciate the other side of the argument - but not so with the damaging 10p decision. The consequences of abolishing the 10p tax band for low earners without countermeasures was – in my view – indefensible and it seems I’m in good company because not a single Minister has been able to offer a defence that would sound credible to those of my constituents who are already on low incomes and are now having to pay more tax. I first raised my concerns last year, as did other labour MPs and we were of the opinion that the Government would respond to our lobbying pressure and find a way of correcting or ameliorating the damage during this years Budget but no improvement was forthcoming and after raising our continuing concerns directly with the Prime Minister and having failed to solicit a favourable response, we tabled a further Parliamentary motion. I didn’t join the Labour Party to support higher taxes for lower earners, it’s not what Labour should be doing and that’s why I signed up to the motions calling for compensatory measures. When the Labour back bencher, Frank Field tabled his amendment I told the Chief Whip and the First Secretary to the Treasury that I’d be opposing the Government and voting for the rebel amendment unless Ministerial assurances were given that the problem would be redressed. I’m very pleased that the Chancellor has now seen fit to provide such assurances and my colleagues and I did not have to vote against the Government after Monday’s debate. No one expected that the 10p tax band would be reinstated and both the Tory and Lib Dem Front benches made it clear that they would not do so either. But the issue is not wholly resolved. We need to see and approve the details of the compensation package before the Finance Bill is passed and if it falls short of expectations Minister’s know that we will have another opportunity to express our opposition when the Bill comes back to the Commons in June – which is likely to focus their attention. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:52:49 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4953 Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP.  1 May 2008   Last Friday I was privileged to attend services at the Cenotaph in Whitehall and at Westminster Abbey to commemorate Anzac Day. This was the 93rd Anniversary of the landing of Allied Forces at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 which led to one of the bloodiest battled of the First World War. In that battle Australia and New Zealand forces joined together for the first time under a united command as the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, or the ANZACS. In the heroic campaign that followed the landings the casualties on both sides were heavy. Of the Allied Forces – from the United Kingdom, Newfoundland, India and France, as well as Australia and New Zealand – some 50,000 lost their lives. The total number of casualties on the Allied side, included those wounded or evacuated for sickness, was some 250,000. The Turkish forces list over 86,000 and also sustained a high number of wounded. The services were, as they always are, deeply moving with high level representatives from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey taking part. It may seem a far cry from Westminster Abbey on Friday morning to Hawkinge Community Centre on Monday but one theme links the two. That theme is service. I was at the Community Centre to honour and bid farewell to four of the staff at Shepway HomeStart who were leaving the charity following a reduction in Government funding which has caused it to curtail its activities. There is nothing military about HomeStart but the service and help which it provides to needy families is quite invaluable. And, like so many of those who fought so bravely at Gallipoli, the work is actually carried out by volunteers. They always need more. So if you are an experienced mum with a little time on your hands, phone 01303-244836. You will be welcomed, trained and given the opportunity to provide real help to some of those who need it most. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:44:23 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4952 Leas Lift supporter Robert Mouland is hitting the roof over the plans for an information touch screen to be fitted on the lift's Booking Hall building on the Lower Leas. He has written to Shepway District Council planners detailing his objections. Mr Mouland writes that he objects to the application to mounting the screen on the Grade 2 listed building. He states: "In my opinion, it is degrading to the Victorian architect at that time, 1885, Reginald Pope. "The peculiar sketch submitted by Strange Cargo is indeed misleading as there is no mention in their written application of shuttering needed to protect it from the winter elements which would give even more of an appalling appearance to this structure of age! "If one should have an inspiring creative thought and suddenly look above the left-hand gable end in the middle, they would notice the opening date given as 1885, and then suddenly look back to the touch screen and realise how ludicrously out of place this device is. "As one or more holes would need to be drilled through the wall for cables from the touch screen to run through into the office, surely English Heritage should be notified of such alterations. "Furthermore, seeing how the Leas Lift is only open for five months of the year, and closed for the remaining seven months, may one make a suggestion that this touch screen is more in keeping with the left end of the Coastal Park entrance or the Civic Centre directly under the coat of arms, especially as there is a constant flow of the local residents and tourists all day long! Mr Mouland points out that there are already two touch screens at the new Bouverie Place Shopping Centre which provide the same information as that at the Lower Leas Lift Building if it were installed. One is out of order and the other is covered in graffiti he writes. He urges the Planning Committee to use their 'touch', and switch off, once and for all, "this undesirable proposal put forward by the Strange Cargo Arts Group."Related information: Shepway District Council planning application ref.: Y08/0379/SH Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:28:11 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4951 Dear Editor, Re: Big drop in Hawkinge crime Ms Coleman needs to get out and about a bit more. There is much to be done concerning speeding motorists, motorists using hand-held mobile telephones, the persistent spread of litter by (probably a great proportion of) the general public, illegal parking, dog fouling and much much more....Is crime in village too difficult to deal with? Or, are these matters too difficult to deal with? It has been reported previously that KCC Warden has allegedly ignored vehicles illegally parked in the bus stop in spite of the great amount of publicity that was given to what was intended to be a clamp down on such practices and it is no surprise that such matters mentioned above receive scant attention. Pick up some kudos from going around with eyes, ears and mouth closed and all is well. Lazarus Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:52:30 +0100 http://www.localrags.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4950 More than 400 people enjoyed a day of football fun at the soccer ground off Cricketers Close in Hawkinge on Saturday (26 April). Soccer coaching for the youngsters - Photo Chris GuasconeThere were presentations to the youngsters from the Hawkinge Youth Football Club and professional soccer coaching. And for those family members who were less energetic there was fun with stalls, side shows, a barbeque and a disco in the evening. Cyril Trice, the club's development officer said enthusiastically: " We were overwhelmed with the numbers attending. I don't know where they all came from." Rob Lawford Chairman of Hawkinge Youth FC said, "The event was an enormous success with over 400 children and parents having great fun. "It was pleasing that three members of the Parish Council attended, and I would like to single out Cllr George Hodgson for special praise for all the help he provided during the day as well as throughout the year. "I would also like to thank Cllr Susan Carey for her support and kind donation toward the Clubs' purchase of new goalposts."   Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:42:24 +0100