Hawkhurst Parish Council meeting

About 50 people came for one special item this evening - to hear what Roger Manning, County Councillor for Cranbrook and the Weald, had to say about the proposed closure of Bowles Lodge. This is an email I sent to Graham Gibbens and Margaret Howard after the meeting:

Dear Graham

I have just got home from a meeting of the Hawkhurst Parish Council which was attended by Roger Manning who addressed, under a special item, questions raised by people who live in Hawkhurst about Bowles Lodge. There were at least 50 people there as the proposed redevelopment has caused much local concern.

I am sure that Roger will provide you with his account of the meeting. If not you will probably read another version in the Courier. Roger spent about an hour outside the community hall talking with people about the proposal.

The feelings of local residents and their depth of knowledge about the high standard of care Bowles Lodge provides was electrifying.

Roger's presentation was totally unconvincing. He came over as a nice person but a very poor spokesperson for KCC. At one point he referred to the proposal as an "idea floating about" in an attempt to counter the challenge that the consultation was not genuine. He also said that "... because we are living longer and getting dementia...". Getting dementia does not always happen and I am sure he would be convinced otherwise by two 90 year-old + residents if he took the time to meet with them.

Parish councillors were totally in the dark about the proposals (!?) and had not been formally consulted by KCC - the reporter's pen was nearly on fire at that point.

There is a strong move for a public meeting and other media are now asking questions.

As a tax payer I expect a more professional approach and am shocked by Rogers' lack of preparation.