Planning permission for a supermarket at the rear of Hawkinge Community Centre has today (11 October) been rejected by Shepway District Council.

Hawkinge Parish Council which fought fiercely against the development has stated it is delighted that the local planning authority has refused the application and the council is very pleased that Shepway District Council  listened to the views of local people and the village as a whole.

Parish Council Chairman David Callahan said: "It's great, I am delighted with the decision.

"Local democracy has won the day.

"The Parish Council would like to thank all the groups and individuals who stood shoulder to shoulder to oppose the plan."

In July 2009 Edinburgh Land Estates submitted plans for the land but they were declared invalid.

Although the developers amended the application by reducing the original floor space of 785 square metres to just 470 square metres to accommodate an unloading bay area, which allowed vehicles to enter and exit in a forward direction, it failed to win over the protestors.

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©