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Councillor Clare Escombe, Chairman of Hawkhurst Parish Council, said “It is with great delight that we are bestowing the title of Honorary Freewoman of the Parish of Hawkhurst to Mrs. Norma Long who is 100 years young and counting on the 1^st March 2021.”

Norma has spent her whole life living and working in Hawkhurst. She is an independent woman who is everything good about Hawkhurst.

Due to the current circumstance Norma’s extended family cannot get to celebrate this fabulous day so our thoughts are with them all.

The residents of Hawkhurst have stepped up to an appeal on social media and have sent numerous birthday cards to the Parish Office and we were delighted to drop them off to Norma along with some flowers and a certificate “Bestowing to her the Freewoman of the Parish of Hawkhurst.”

Norma has been a very loyal and enthusiastic member of Hawkhurst Local Historical Society, probably the longest serving member. She is known for her cheese straws which are to die for, as anyone who has attended the social evenings can testify.

Norma is the first person to have the honour of Freewoman of the Parish of Hawkhurst and it is well deserved.

Councillor Martin Taylor-Smith, Vice Chairman of Hawkhurst Parish Council, said

“The Council have been supporting the Hawkhurst Community Support Group since the pandemic started and we have decided to contribute £2,650 “Hardship Fund” to HCSG to support the community, especially the Food 4 Families fund in Hawkhurst.

Food 4 Families are working with more than 20 families in Hawkhurst and we hope this will go some way to helping them.

It is important to support those less fortunate, especially at this time of the year.

The Parish Council also wants to thank all those who have voluntarily worked tirelessly for HCSG during the COVID 19 pandemic.

stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives –

Hawkhurst residents are pulling together to celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of VE Day. Councillor Clare Escombe, chairman, Hawkhurst Parish Council said:

“In Hawkhurst, as elsewhere, we are getting used to “lockdown” but it has only been 5 weeks – image how you would feel after 5 years! That’s how long we worked together in World War II.

So let’s celebrate the collective effort of grandparents, parents, relatives and indeed some of the older members of our community on Friday 8^th May 2020.” There are a range of activities to enjoy;

• Decorate your house in Red, White and Blue
• Hold a front garden “Garden Party” – 3pm
• Enjoy a community sing-along – 9pm
• Art Competition

For further information contact carisbaba@yahoo.co.uk or karenmackelden@gmail.com

or phone 07444837029.

In addition, HCSG are also doing a VE Day Children’s Art competition – closing date 5^th May 2020 – visit www.hawkhurstcommunitysupport.com/about-10

Councillor Escombe continued “The VE Day events were celebrating ordinary people making extra-ordinary efforts in a common cause, and that is what we as a community are doing now by “staying in, protecting the NHS and saving lives”

ENDS: For further information, please contact Richard the Parish Clerk on 01580 752058 or Email parish.clerk@hawkhurst-pc.gov.uk

Hawkhurst residents are pulling together and creating a model for community support that is spreading across the county.

Commenting on the establishment of a community support group, Councillor Clare Escombe, chairman, Hawkhurst Parish Council said:

“In Hawkhurst, as elsewhere, there has been a wonderful community response to the coronavirus crisis from people eager to help their neighbours and recognising that we are all in this together.  Given the scale of the support needed over the coming weeks, it was important to establish robust systems to ensure that everyone in Hawkhurst can access the support they require and that volunteers are co-ordinated and properly supported.  The Parish Council, working with local volunteers, set up Hawkhurst Community Support Group.”

Clare explained:

“The Community Support Group matches volunteers with people needing support – whether that is shopping, collecting prescriptions, or simply arranging telephone calls to check on people and combat loneliness.

Hawkhurst is a traditional village, yet is fully utilising digital technology in order to support the residents.  An on-line form enables people to register as a volunteer; and, those who need support can nominate themselves or you can suggest someone who might need support who will then be contacted.” 

The Group’s co-ordination team have access to the bespoke online database, which is automatically populated when help is requested or offered through the online platform.  This form can be found on the new HCSG website www.hawkhurstcommunitysupport.com and from links in our Parish website and community social media pages.

There is also a dedicated telephone line 01580 453015 which is answered between 9am and 6pm with messages taken out of hours.  To ensure no-one is left out the Council has produced leaflets that are being delivered by volunteers to houses in the Parish.

As well as the registered volunteers we know that many people are informally helping neighbours.  This is great, but it is important for them to register with the Community Scheme to ensure that the person they are helping is supported if anything happens to the volunteer.

Cllr Escombe concluded:

“Hawkhurst is blessed with goodwill, enthusiasm and talent and we have been incredibly fortunate with the offers of help.  We have amazing local talent – our operating procedures were written by a resident with experience in emergency planning and our on-line system created by a leading tech-entrepreneur.  This model has been shared locally with the other parish councils and with the National Association of Local Councils.  

As well as responding to local needs, HCSG will also deliver support to residents by acting as the Hawkhurst hub for the county-wide response.  HCSG’s Co-ordination Group have worked tirelessly over the past week to get HCSG up and running. 

We already have more than 100 volunteers and I want to pay tribute to this community spirit, which we very are proud to support.

ENDS.

For further information, please contact Richard the Parish Clerk on 01580 752058 or

Email parish.clerk@hawkhurst-pc.gov.uk

Commenting on the High Court’s decision to grant permission for a Judicial Review of the White House planning permission Councillor Clare Escombe, chairman, Hawkhurst Parish Council said:

“We are pleased that the High Court considers that we have an arguable case and have granted permission to proceed with a Judicial Review of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s decision to grant planning permission for 43 apartments on the White House site. This was the first hurdle to overcome which only around 25% of all claims pass. It means the case will now be listed for a full hearing in Court later this year”  

Cllr Escombe went on:

“The decision to initiate legal proceedings was not taken lightly. We remain concerned that neither the Borough Council nor the County Council, as highway authority, have to date properly considered the cumulative traffic impact of approving numerous developments on the staggered crossroads at the centre Hawkhurst.  We are cautiously encouraged that since taking this action Kent County Council have indicated that they will be carrying out a proper cumulative assessment in order to inform their position on current and future applications.”

Clare concluded:

“We will not waiver in our pursuit of a better Hawkhurst.  Congestion in the centre of the village is significant and already adversely affects the quality of life for those who live, work and visit our Parish.” 

Note to editors:

END 

For further information, please contact Richard the Parish Clerk on 01580 752058 or Email parish.clerk@hawkhurst-pc.gov.uk

stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives –

Hawkhurst residents are pulling together and supporting local business.

Many local businesses have moved to online bookings with delivery or click and collect creating a new model for community shopping.

We want to thank all the local businesses – too numerous to mention all of them – who are helping the Hawkhurst Community Support Group (HCSG) to support the community.

Commenting on the challenges to local business, Councillor Clare Escombe, chairman, Hawkhurst Parish Council said:

“This is a crisis where a flexible approach is key. In Hawkhurst many businesses have taken this approach and the local community should try and support them. The Parish Council is at the heart of efforts to support the community during the current crisis. I have also been overwhelmed by the generosity of local firms who have been supporting the work of the HCSG”

One further aspect is that the Council is landlord for the Kino Cinema.  

As a good landlord the Council, using its emergency decision making powers vested in Cllrs Clare Escombe and Martin Taylor-Smith, has deferred their rent due for next six months.  This combined with the Government funded business rate refund means their fixed costs should hopefully be negligible until restrictions are lifted.  

Cllr Paul Green, who proposed the rent deferral said: “The Kino is a great attraction for the village and is very much part of the community, we want to see them come through the crisis and emerge as a going concern.  We are all in this together and hope that other commercial landlords are able to show similar forbearance to help save our high street for future generations.”

We have also reserved our regular bookings at the Copt Hall and King George V Sports Pavilion for when things get back to normal.

Cllr Escombe concluded “Remember the Government advice about staying in, protecting the NHS and saving lives. Only shop when you have to, but remember “social distancing” advice about staying 2 metres apart.”

For those who cannot shop for themselves then the HCSG can assist

• just register on-line htps://www.hawkhurstcommunitysupport.com/

• or phone 01580 453015

• or email hawkhurstcommunity@gmail.com

Together Hawkhurst can beat the virus.

ENDS.

For further information, please contact Richard the Parish Clerk on 01580 752058 or

Email parish.clerk@hawkhurst-pc.gov.uk

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council have reluctantly suspended, until further notice, garden waste collections and the Civic Amenity Collections, from Fowlers Car Park.

This is due to the COVID 19 crisis impacting on their resources.

The collection crews have been working very had over recent days but a reduction in the number of staff available due to sickness and self-isolation means that TWBC have had to prioritise there services to focus on refuse, food, clinical and recycling collections.

The upgrade of the Tennis Courts at King George V Playing Field started on Tuesday 17th March 2020.

However, work has temporarily been suspended due to the COVID 19 crisis and will be completed as soon as possible.

The Facilities are closed and should not be used. We appreciate your understanding.

MEDIA RELEASE

Restoration Project for Hawkhurst Cemetery

Hawkhurst Parish Council has agreed a major cemetery restoration project which will: improve the cemetery’s physical features; extend the cemetery to meet the future needs of the village; and, ensure that it remains a beautiful rural setting – peaceful for people and a haven for wildlife.

Cllr Clare Escombe, chairman of Hawkhurst Parish Council said:

“As custodians of the cemetery we want to ensure that it is not just maintained, but improved and restored.  Our cemetery project team identified a range of measures that the Council will take forward.  These include:

• restoration of the historic main gate;
• renewing the pedestrian entrance and fencing;
• new hedge planting along Hastings Road;
• work to improve the health of the trees;
• better parking;
• clearing of the public pathway down from the village;
• extending the popular woodland cemetery; and,
• improved general maintenance.”

The detailed survey of the grounds also discovered that some sets of grave kerbs had been moved about 30 years ago, and over time had become partially buried.  These grave kerbs have been rescued and will be cleaned and where necessary repaired before then being restored to their original gravesites.  Research into those graves affected has involved not just a detailed inspection of the kerbs but also searches of historic Parish records.   The Clerk has written to the last known relatives.  The missing kerbs are from part of Section C of the cemetery.

If you believe a relative was buried in Section C and want to speak to the Clerk then please contact him on parish.clerk@hawkhurst-pc.gov.uk or 01580 752058 or come to the Library on any Monday from 9:30am to 11am.

Commenting on the grave kerbs, the Parish Council Chairman, Clare Escombe commented:

“The Parish Council have operated the cemetery since it opened in 1939.  It is a peaceful and beautiful rural cemetery with generations of local families buried therein.  Our duty of care is to all those who entrust their loved ones to the Parish cemetery and the passage of time does not in any way wither that responsibility.  That is why we will do the right thing and restore the kerbs to their rightful places.  The work to put the grave kerbs back will commence after Easter.”

END 

For further information, please contact Richard the Parish Clerk on 01580 752058 or

Email parish.clerk@hawkhurst-pc.gov.uk