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CAN'T THE HAWKINGE PARTNERSHIP COUGH UP?

Dear Ed,

So it looks like the Community Centre will close, after all the hard work that went to get approved and built.

Regardless of all the arguments that the noise problem should have been foreseen and measures taken to soundproof it during the construction (poor planning on the part of someone as it is/was slightly obvious that such a centre would generate quite a bit of noise on occasion) It now looks like ineptitude will bring about it's demise.

My point is, that if the Hawkinge Partnership, which seems to be awash with funds, even after deducting the salaries of all the staff, the building and the landscaping no being carried out, if "they" could "give" £5000 to the Strange Cargo lot, in funding for the rather whimsical and some may say rather absurd, Hawkinge Giant and the so called Big Heads, surely they could cough up £7000 that will be of greater value and use to Hawkinge than a few carnival characters.

Hold on, carnival characters? no, sorry, I don't mean the Parish Councillors that Finkle seems to be alluding to, although some of them seem to qualify in their own right!

So what about it Hawkinge Partnership...let's see some of your money put to where the community really will benefit, flash the cash over to the Community Centre before it's too late.

Hopefully yours

Godot

Editor's note

As the purpose of the Hawkinge Partnership is not generally understood, I must explain that  it is not the remit of the Partnership to fund organisations and it is not a grant making body.

They have however tried to help the Centre in other ways.

• When first formed they applied to rent part of the Community Centre for the 7 years for  which they were to be operating. This would have generated a substantial regular income to the Centre.They were told however that the only room available was the ladies shower room, which was duly declined and the Partnership building next to Tesco in Canterbury Road was planned and built.
• The Partnership has worked with the Centre manager to identify sources of  funding  and has introduced the Centre to the Rural Community Council who fund rural projects.
• They hire meeting rooms at the Centre and gave support  groups who now regularly use the facility.