Campaign to Protect Hawkhurst Village
SAVE HAWKHURST VILLAGE - help us stop the building of a major new road and hundreds of houses planned to be built on Hawkhurst Golf Club
Background
Hawkhurst is a village on the Kent and East Sussex border, and in the middle of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
In July 2019, the owners of the Hawkhurst Golf Club submitted a planning application for a so-called "relief road" plus around 400 houses to be built on the Golf Course. The Club, of around 45 acres, was in operation for over 50 years and was a much-loved course, clubhouse and squash club, which held many community and fundraising events.
Opposition from residents and environmental groups has been significant: amongst others, Natural England, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the Weald of Kent Protection Society have all objected. Hundreds of emails and letters have been submitted to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) in opposition.
It is significant that TWBC has removed the site as an allocation from the Draft Local Plan, currently under review, and has also stated that they would have refused the developer’s application.
Why we need your help
The developers have now appealed to the Planning Inspectorate and a full Planning Inquiry is being held in September. The result of the Inquiry could have a dire effect on the outcome of other past, present and future applications to build in Hawkhurst.
The Planning Inspector’s decision is final – if the developer’s application is allowed, there will be no further means of appeal (unless by judicial review).
We need to stop this application in its tracks and we need your support.
If we can do this successfully, it could well halt all other major developments within the village. Hawkhurst’s Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) sets out the areas that have been identified as suitable for housing and the Golf Club site does not meet those policies.
The intention is not to stop ALL development, but to resist major developments that will cause significant harm to the AONB and add further congestion to the village crossroads.
What you can do
The Campaign to Protect Hawkhurst Village has joined forces with Hawkhurst Parish Council to secure Rule 6 status at the Inquiry. This means that they will be considered a main party to the proceedings and be professionally represented.
This expert representation does not come cheap!
Some funding has already been secured from pledges from local residents, and Hawkhurst Parish Council has very generously agreed to donate a sizable amount towards the legal and expert witness costs. As a result, the Parish Council are drawing on funds that were earmarked for other community projects.
In order to reduce the Parish Council’s contribution, we are appealing for donations towards the funding of the professional costs for the Inquiry in September.
If donations are received totalling more than the Parish Council’s agreed allocation, the excess will be ring-fenced and used by the PC to protect Hawkhurst from further inappropriate development.
Please see our website: https://www.savehawkhurst.com for further information.
Thank you for your support.
Campaign to Protect Hawkhurst Village
