News

The total proceeds of £620,000 from village land formerly occupied by the Hawkinge Activities Adventure Centre charity (HACC) will be returning from Shepway if  Hawkinge councillors have their way.

Determined councillors at Wednesday's parish council meeting unanimously agreed to write to the district council demanding the cash is ring fenced to benefit the village.

At a Cabinet meeting on 20 June which discussed the lifting of covenants on the land occupied by the HACC, Hawkinge Parish Council Chairman David Callahan asked if any of the "windfall" to Shepway District Council would be spent in the village, but was told that they (the Cabinet) could not make that decision.

The Cabinet agreed to release the covenants and to ensure the former Officers’ Mess is demolished.

It is understood a property developer agreed to pay Shepway council £467,500 to remove the restriction which had prevented the land from being used for housing.

The council had already received £154,000 for the sale of the land near Siskin Close, back in 1987.