News

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 

HAVEN DRIVE ROUNDABOUT -  A DISGRACE

Dear Ed

As a new resident to Hawkinge I am somewhat concerned that the company building the new Lidl foodstore o­n the land opposite the Churchill School is not accountable for the state of the roads surrounding this building site.

The roundabout is a total disgrace and no respect is given to the residents by these builders, who only the other day blocked the roundabout completely with deliveries and just gestured with their hands to go round it the wrong way if I wanted to go up towards Page Road.

I would also like to know what other buildings are being built o­n this piece of land as traffic will increase in the area due to this site now being developed.

It would be nice if this information was available to new residents regarding building that willplay a part on our lives.

Caroline Farnham

'IT ADDS TO THE BAD SMELL'  Re: Football club cash should not be voted by 'club' councillors

Dear Ed,

I support Mr Lawrence in his fears of the Parish Council voting - it adds to the bad smell caused by certain facets of the planning application surrounding the proposed health centre in Mill Lane.

I have to disagree about the muddled thinking - it simply demonstrates a lack of judgement either individually or collectively as the PC.

Regards to one and all,

Lazarus

FOOTBALL CLUB CASH SHOULD NOT BE VOTED BY 'CLUB' COUNCILLORS

Dear Ed,

I was interested to learn from the Minutes of the July Parish Council meeting (previously missing - now posted) that a representative of the Kent Association of Parish Council's (KAPC) attended. 

His talk obviously wasn't well received as the August minutes record receipt of a KAPC letter regretting the Council's decision to discontinue their membership. I too think it is regrettable that the benefits of membership are not considered worthy justification for the expenditure involved. The Hawkinge Parish Council have been KAPC members for as long as I can remember.

One might have thought that in such a rapidly changing environment the Parish Council would have viewed the advice and assistance provided by such bodies as the KAPC more important than ever in enabling them to be forward-looking, dynamic and entrepreneurial in tackling the challenging opportunities the ever increasing village population provides.

Presumably the annual KAPC membership was considered too high for their meager budget yet Councillors have managed to approve more than £2000 expenditure for the Football Club in the last three months! 

Hopefully at least some of the spending was made against income earned by the club or with funding from other sources. However, there appears to be no limit to which the Council will go in supporting the club with a continuing list of purchases, donations and promised expenditure to facilitate their activities, recorded in every month's minutes.

It's ironic that £564.40 was spent in June and another £742.64 last month on goal posts which, I feel certain with advice from the  Hawkinge Neighbourhood Partnership or dare I say even the KAPC, would have resulted in grant aid funding and made a large enough saving to cover the cost of KAPC membership!

But the minutes suggest that the Council does not welcome advice. The August minutes record their objection to the Hawkinge Neighbourhood Partnership proposing a form of protocol for dealings between the two parties. My own experience of dealing with the Parish Council leads me to believe that they need guidance and advice. Their statutory obligations for example, are a subject with which they appear unfamiliar and have difficulty appreciating.

It is encouraging to read of the Council's concern for the provision of sporting facilities in the village, but it makes their decision to dispose of the Spitfire Leisuredrome all the more surprising as that building is already capable of providing alternative indoor sports and their arguments against retaining it for reasons of high maintenance and heating costs have no credence at all in the self funded lease situation that was planned.

I was concerned to discover that so much of the Council's efforts are devoted to one project. involving the promotion and funding of the Hawkinge Football Club, which now takes such a major part in the council's agenda and time these days!

It is perhaps not surprising that the Council's Finance Group proposal to sell the Spitfire Leisuredrome included a statement regarding the need for funds to provide sports facilities elsewhere in the village and mentioned plans for the development of
existing football pitches and the provision of a new pavilion. 

The eventual decision to accept their recommendations was proposed and seconded by Councillors who hold positions as the Secretary and Chairman of the Football Club respectively. 

Another councillor is also an official of the club but none of them declared any special interest before entering the debate or endorsing the decision! 

I know there to be concern among Hawkinge residents about the off-hand manner in which the Parish Council have chosen to dispose of the Spitfire Leisuredrome, especially after the categorical statement made by the Council Chairman on your site in June that such a thing was not on their minds and the future of the premises would not be considered for a further 6 months! 

These councillors were appointed in an uncontested manner. They have no mandate from the villagers yet they have made no serious attempt to seek the views of the public or to consider those that have been collected and submitted.  

Your contributor LAZ expressed concern about the Parish Council's muddled thinking in his May letter. Muddled thinking is unfortunate but nevertheless excusable. 

Councillors supporting proposals without declaring an interest  is unacceptable and needs pursuing.


 Patrick Lawrence

Editors note: Parish Council Chairman Dave Callahan was against the
withdrawal of membership to the KAPC and is actively working to persuade the
Council to re-join.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORY CLAIRE

Re: What a hoot! re: recycling vehicles, fiasco 

Dear Ed, 

I believe that most politicians, whilst not having a short memory at least have a "convenient" memory. 

Claire is right to point out the shortcomings of a certain number of the local grouping. 

However, before she gets too carried away on a tide of euphoria for the section of the political grouping she praises, perhaps she should recall the Rt Hon M Howard when he made a couple of outstanding promises. 

• Promise 1 -  The Channel Tunnel site/workings would have no environmental impact on the area; 
  
• Promise 2 -  Hawkinge would have a by-pass built as part of the Channel Tunnel Enabling Bill.
  
  

Yours, as grumpy as ever,

Lazarus

NO SURPRISE

Re: Why did Peter need to supply bomb team with sandbags?

Dear Ed,

Doesn't surprise me in the least.

Cynically as ever yours,

Lazarus