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LET PLANNERS HAVE YOUR VIEWS  Re: Bring some sanity to Hawkinge planners 

Dear Ed

Could I just add, that with the latest confusion over Public Notification on this Planning Proposal, it is not too late to let Shepway District Council have your views on this subject. There is still a notice pinned to a telegraph pole that details 'deadline for comments' is now the 10th November.

Whilst I appreciate that most letters will have similar objections, I believe that every letter counts and Shepway District Council need to know the strength and level of feeling that exists on this very emotive matter.

For those of you that don't already have the details.......Y05/1226/SH . 

If you don't have the time to write a letter, you can comment online at www.ukplanning.com/shepway 

Stuart Hall

BRING SOME SANITY TO HAWKINGE PLANNERS

Dear Ed,

I cannot believe the Hawkinge Parish and Shepway District Council councillors have passed plans for the construction of a public house and a Lidl's Supermarket on the new estate at Terlingham but have not allowed for any land to be free for a Doctors’ Surgery! 

Where do their priorities lie?

They are quite happy to pass plans for roughly 2000 new houses, but with no thought for these newcomers welfare. Many of them will have to cross two main roads and walk or drive on congested roads to the 'SURGERY IN THE WOODS' which brings me to another point.

Why do the only woods in Hawkinge have to be bulldozed to place a Doctors’ Surgery when there is land that has not yet been built on i.e. the Employment Land and the area by the Community Centre? 

Surely an essential service should come before a Pub and Lidls! Perhaps the powers that be will re-think their plans and priorities and save the woods at the same time. 

I have recorded 22 species of birds in my garden which is very close to the woods, including a Barn owl, foxes and a badger. Some thought should be given to wildlife, especially as there is land on the new estate which has not yet been built on.

If it has been already designated the plans should be altered to adjust this oversight. Furthermore, Mill Lane is congested at school time and dangerous with the sharp ‘dog leg’ bend and The Street is impossible to have a ‘flow of traffic’ with the parked cars and bus service, plus the speed at which some drivers use on these two roads. 

The site of the Community Centre would be ideal for a Surgery as it is the centre point of the village and community with plenty of parking space.

Why are The Street and Mill Lane so congested when there is a perfectly easy answer to the flow of traffic by removing the bollards in Webster Way and leading directly to the traffic lights thereby easing traffic through the village centre. 

This is common sense to me, or is the reason for the bollards being in place because we have a class distinction between the more expensive houses! 

Please, someone, bring some sanity to the planners of Hawkinge, get a sensible infrastructure put in place and get rid of some of the lunatic ideas that are in hand at the moment, including pulling down the Leisuredrome when the youngsters of the village are crying out for somewhere to use for sports and leisure time instead of hanging about outside Tescos!!

Yours very, very sincerely

Sonia V. Clark

Editors comment:

The employment land off Haven Drive has outline planning permission for a Health Centre, but as I  understand the position, neither the Primary Health Care Trust nor the Hawkinge Health Centre wish to build in that area.

Just because there happens to be outline planning permission does not make it compulsory for them to build there. 

They are free to choose where they wish the Health Centre to be sited, bearing in mind that the necessary planning permission will need to be obtained.

THICK SKINNED COUNCILLOR

Dear Ed,

Re: Help us to grow

In view of the worthy and timely comments of Patrick Lawrence, recently in these pages,  isn't councillor Trice rather thick skinned? 

Should he not just offer resignation from o­ne or all of the posts he currently fills instead of continuing to promote the Football club from a position of distinct interest?

Lazarus

DECISION HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE! 

Dear Ed

re: Confusion over dates for Health Centre plans

May I suggest that reference your last point Stuart, the decision has already been made!

Linda Barnes

HELP US TO GROW

Dear Ed

The Hawkinge Football Club is growing and to help us continue to provide soccer for the villagers, we are urgently looking for more helpers.

The Club was formed in 2002 and is Affiliated to the Kent Football Association.

We coach all age groups both boys and girls, most training takes place on Saturday morning

We raise money by collecting subs,donations and sponsorship, and after paying Pitch fees to the Parish Council along with paying the Ref we are always struggling to buy balls etc.

Our home matches are played on the Parish Council pitches with other Clubs such as Folkestone Invicta youth teams.

Along with other football clubs, local schools and Shepway Council we are supporting the Parish Council bid to the Football Association for funding for a Pavilion, and if successful this will become another facility for the village.

At the moment we have a small group giving up their time to give the young a sport they all enjoy, so if you can spare a couple of hours just get in touch either

Phone 01303 893499 or email soccer@hawkingefc.co.uk

Thank you

Cyril Trice
Secretary
Hawkinge FC

SHEPWAY PRIMARY CARE TRUST BOARD MEETING

Dear Ed

I though that the readers might be interested in knowing about the forthcoming board meeting of the Shepway Primary Care Trust. 

It is due to be held in the Hawkinge Community Centre on Wednesday October 26 at 2.00pm.

Stuart Hall
Chairman - Hawkinge Civic Society

CONFUSION OVER DATES FOR HEALTH CENTRE PLANS

Dear Ed

You may recall an earlier article, where I announced that the plans for the Health Centre would go before the Development Control Committee at Shepway District Council on the 8 November.

Today, whilst passing the site of the proposal, I noticed that another public planning notice had been posted to a telegraph pole. (One had been posted a few weeks prior, only to be removed by persons unknown).

The new notice says that objections will be heard until 10 November, two days after the proposed Committee meeting.

This will be the fourth date that has been given as a deadline for objections. Two sets of letters were sent to residents, one letter said the 7 October and another said the 14 October.

Two different public notices have been posted. The first said the 10 October was the last date for objections, and now it is the 10 November.

The case officer has been contacted this afternoon and she still insists that the date for the Committee hearing is the 8 November, but objections will be noted until 10 November.

Am I to assume that those who make representation on the 9 or 10 November will not get a voice? Or am I to assume that the Development Control Committee will not reach a decision on 8 November?

Stuart Hall
Chairman - Hawkinge Civic Society

STANDARDS BOARD DRAWN INTO LEISUREDROME FIGHT

Dear Ed

I read this week in the Folkestone Herald that the Hawkinge Youth and Community Sports Council (HYCSC) has made a formal complaint  to the Standards Board of England about certain Hawkinge Parish Councillors, and it all seems to be over that wretched redundant Leisuredrome building.

Who are the HYCSC, what do they do, or what have they done?

A search of the Charity Commission website revealed that their objects are: 'The promotion of community participation in healthy recreation for the benefit of the inhabitants of Hawkinge, Folkestone and its environs by the provision of facilities for playing sports'.

If that is so, then why are they griping about the Parish Council spending money on the popular local football club? Surely that is providing sports facilities.

I wondered why Peter Smith was not on the list of Parish Councillors included in the formal complaint to the Standards Board, but then I hadn't noticed that the Hawkinge Youth and Community Sports Council Charity correspondent is listed as Cllr Peter Smith.

J Cullen

LOVE HER, HATE HER - Re: Haven Drive roundabout - a disgrace

Dear Ed,

Love her, hate her!

I'm afraid that Caroline witnessed the effect of o­ne of Thatcher's "red tape" hates.  She was the o­ne who had the proper control of building site access removed from statute.

Lazarus 

AM I SURPRISED? Re: Disaster for Rock'n'Roll club after Community Centre loses licence

Dear Ed,

Is Lazarus surprised?

Is Lazarus surprised that the licence has expired?  Lazarus is surprised; about as surprised as when he found out that Terry Wogan is Irish.

Lazarus