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Is the battle to continue outside the council chamber?......

Let me talk about SSSL, not SSSI or Site of Special Scientific Interest which has been in the news recently over the Romney Marsh wind farm. No, what I'm harping on about is SSSL otherwise known as the Smiths' Saga of the Spitfire Leisuredrome. 

At the Shepway Development Control meeting this month, the planning application for the leisuredrome submitted by the Parish council so that they could get the best price for the building, should they manage to sell it, saw Cllr Peter Smith declaring a prejudicial interest and taking no part in the discussion. 

Fair enough bearing in mind the close relationship Cllr Peter Smith has had with the building, but I was told the plans were to have been rubber stamped by the officers and did not need to go before the planning committee. Why then did Cllr Smith call in the plans when he was not going to be in a position to oppose them? It was left to his wife Cllr Christena Smith, to speak at the meeting opposing the plans. 

Now I'm not an expert in these matters and maybe common sense doesn't always have much to do with bureaucracy, but surely if Cllr Peter Smith had an interest, why didn't his wife? 

Cllr Peter Smith met with the local press at the leisuredrome last week, without allegedly asking the permission of the owners (Hawkinge Parish Council), so the Chairman of the Parish Council, Cllr David Callahan informed me. 

So what is going on?  Is the battle now to continue outside the council chamber?

If the saga does go on for much longer, the leisuredrome's sell by date will far exceeded. Unfortunately as is the case with many unused buildings which deteriorate through neglect there could come a time when it is beyond repair and its value to a property developer may have fallen through the floor. Something the Parish Council  and the village as a whole cannot afford to happen

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