Hawkinge Parish councillor Nick Hilditch told last week's monthly meeting (14 September) he would have to resign if councillors didn't agree to change the start time of their monthly meetings to 7.30pm.

The Parish Council had been trialling a start time of 7.00pm to bring them in line with District, Town and other Parish councils across the district, and together with the practice of allowing members of the public to ask questions at the beginning of meetings, it meant that the start time could be nearly 30 minutes later.

After voting to abandon the 7.00pm start the council members voted in favour of 7.30pm for future meetings.

Former Chairman and long serving councillor John Heasman was furious over the decision.

He told the Hawkinge Gazette: "I am not happy with the Council's decision.

"I have been a councillor for 31 years and have lost hundreds if not thousands of pounds by being on the council.

"I have given up holidays and being an FA referee I have sometimes had to give up football matches.

"For me, serving the community on the council comes first.

"I think Cllr Hilditch should be prepared to give up one day a month for the Parish Council meeting."

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©