News

By District Councillor David Godfrey

During 2008 there has been some good partnership working between the District Council, Parish Council and the Hawkinge Partnership.

I personally have been less than satisfied with the slow progress on delivering some benefits to Hawkinge from S106 monies obtained from developers. In this respect I have been working with fellow Ward Councillors, Shepway officers and the Parish Council and am pleased to advise that at the Parish Council meeting on 10th December a list of priorities was approved with the intention of delivering some benefits for residents early in 2009.

The full list can be obtained from the Parish Clerk but among these will be an amount towards providing Allotments in Stombers Lane in which respect Shepway have sent formal lease conditions to the Parish Council solicitors.

Although the land in Stombers lane is owned by Shepway it does in fact lie within Dover District therefore any planning consents which may be required will have to be obtained from Dover District but initial conversations indicate that this should not be a problem. I believe the Allotments Society will shortly have access to the land to commence light preparatory work and look forward to first plantings next Spring.

Other proposed expenditure includes enhancement to Sports provision at the Community Centre, provision of changing facilities at the Football ground and village hall car park improvements.

Whilst we work together to improve facilities locally the Government might take heed of a quotation attributed to Cicero some 55 years BC

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance."

Seasons greetings to all