News

HAWKINGE BY-PASS COMPENSATION

The following letter has been delivered to residents who live close to the new Hawkinge by-pass/ link road.

The Gazette has spoken to Shepway District and  Kent County Councillor Susan Carey for her comments in order that residents can be advised of what course of actions are open to them.

Cllr Carey has written the following reply:-

The Hawkinge Gazette has asked me to comment on a letter that some residents of Hawkinge have recently received from B. Wood Consultancy suggesting that they may be able to claim for compensation when the final stage of the Hawkinge Relief Road is completed. 

I have spoken to Officers of the County Council who have advised me that this is a legitimate firm but that they are not acting with any authority of the County Council and that there are several other established firms that operate in this particular area of compensation.

As the letter rightly says, legislation does allow any house owner who feels that the value of his property has been devalued as a result of noise, fumes or artificial lighting arising from use of a new or altered road to make a claim for depreciation against the County Council. However, claims cannot be made until one year after a road has been opened to traffic and you then have another six years within which to make a claim. 

It therefore makes sense to judge if you are affected and to what degree after the road has been open a year. Perception of noise levels will be different in summer with windows open, prevailing winds and weather conditions will also make a difference and traffic levels may change once the new road is open a few months. 

You can also be sure that the County Council and Shepway District Council will be making sure that all the planning conditions for the landscaping and safety of the new road are fulfilled.' 

Susan Carey
County Councillor

We hope this clarifies the matter.