News

Hawkinge Parish Councillors have endorsed a written question from the editor of the Hawkinge Gazette put before them at Wednesday's monthly meeting (13 June).

The question: "In view of conversations I have had with PC Trevor Moody concerning the signage on Spitfire Way which identifies East and West Hawkinge, can the Parish Council put pressure upon Kent County Council to have these signs replaced in the interests of a united village.

PC Moody, who has considerable experience in policing, feels that the youth factions in the newly identified East and West of the village could cause problems in the future. Already, PC Moody has told me of the formation of a gang calling itself the Hawkinge West Boys.

I would ask that this matter be given your prompt attention as any delay could make the task more difficult to stop once the village has been split when the link road is finally opened.

I have been told that Spitfire Way has been signed in this way to ensure drivers passing through the village do not use Canterbury Road.

I feel the village should have had a say in this matter and that the County Council did not appear to understand the ramifications of the East/West signs.

Surely they need only have said " Through traffic" with other signs at Aerodrome Road and Swann Way roundabouts indicating for example Village Shops, Community Centre, Terlingham Village etc." "

The Parish Council Chairman David Callahan said the councillors endorsed the views and the clerk will be writing to Kent County Council Highways department, Shepway District Council and our local district and county council representatives about the points raised.

The Gazette has also spoken to our district councillor David Godfrey and county councillor Susan Carey.

Cllr Godfrey has emailed the Gazette confirming that both he and Cllr Carey have written to Gary Peak at Highways to express the concerns over use of "compass point " signage and asked him to consider alternatives.