News

SOCIETY TOLD "YOU'RE PUSHING AGAINST AN OPEN DOOR"

Around 70 villagers squeezed into a packed village hall to attend last night's parish council meeting (12 October) and voice their concerns over plans for a new Medical Centre off Mill Lane, Hawkinge.

Hawkinge Civic Society (HCS) Chairman Stuart Hall posed the following 13 questions to councillors. 

1. In light of the fact that the Parish Council has recently rejected the current Health Centre planning proposal Y05/1226/SH, could I ask that the Parish council nominate a councillor to write formally to SDC Planning Department to request that the plans be heard in public committee.

2. If the planning application goes to a public committee I would like to be assured that a Parish Councillor will be present to object verbally, I understand that protocol allows this person to be the second in line to address the committee after the applicant.

3. I would like to ask the Parish council to comment on the fact that the local residents were not made aware of the proposal until mid September, when documentation that is in the public domain suggests that it was known of as early as July.

4. I would like to ask if the Parish council intends to make representation to SDC and any appropriate bodies over the lack of consultation with the village electorate over this proposed relocation of two major village amenities. (i.e. The Surgery and the Pharmacy)

5. Is the Parish Council aware that the Doctor’s surgery has initiated a petition that erroneously suggest that it’s (HPC) decision to oppose the plans was influenced by the local resident’s group? This is quite untrue, as many residents had not received notification of the proposed planning application by the time of the last Parish Council Meeting on the Wed 14 Sep. The Hawking Civic Society assumes they are the target of this misrepresentation and would ask the Parish council to refute the accusation.

6. If the proposal is passed could I ask the Parish Council what action they will take in light of the fact that this is a direct variation to the District Plan.

7. What progress has the Parish Council had on traffic calming measures in Mill Lane and The Street – surely relevant in relation to this project?

8. Is it in the Parish Council’s remit to suggest other locations in the village which would be more appropriate siting for this amenity? If so will they do so? If not – why not?

9. What is the Parish Councils view on the apparent attitude of the SDC to waiving any TPOs that are in place, when it suits them.

10. What action will the Parish Council take to protect the wildlife in these woodlands, such as the colony of bats that roost there?

11. In light of the fact that the Parish Council has not approved of these plans what further action will they take to ensure their decision is upheld by the Shepway Planning Department?

12. I would like to bring to the attention of the Parish Council that Smith Woolley & Perry have written to the Planning Officer in this case on behalf of their clients Pentland Homes Limited to and I quote ‘reconfirm that they (Pentland Homes Limited) are prepared to dispose of a freehold site for a doctor’s practice at a fair and reasonable price that can be agreed with the District Valuer’. I submit a copy of the said letter for the council’s perusal.

13. Does the Parish Council believe that villagers have a right know why the Shepway Primary Care Trust has dismissed the site that received planning consent under Y02/0690/SH in Jan 2003 and now seeks to build on this protected woodland instead?

The replies will be published in the minutes of the meeting. The council were in agreement with most of the points raised although some questioned posed were outside their terms of reference.

Chairman of the parish council Dave Callahan has said villagers should have been told why the Shepway Primary Care Trust had rejected the employment land site which had been given outline planning permission for a Health Centre back in January 2003. The parish council will be writing to the Primary Healthcare Trust for an answer.

The council has nominated Vice Chairman John Heasman to speak when the plans go before Shepway's Development Control. This is not expected to take place until November at the earliest.

Parish council Chairman Dave Callahan has said he is supporting the HCS and told them that so far as the parish council are concerned: " You are pushing against an open door."

He advised them all to write to every member of the Development Control Committee with their objections to the plans.