Proposed expansion of the Recreation Ground
By now, many of you may have seen the notices that have gone up to expand the Recreation Ground.
The old bowling green site at the back of the Recreation Ground is to be converted into a youth pitch measuring 73x45m. In addition, the council intend purchasing the land between the current cricket pitch and Cleeve Avenue and this will be converted into 6 new football pitches. There will be 1 standard pitch, 1 “4G” pitch (likely to be all weather and lit), 3 additional youth pitches and 1 Under 9/10 pitch. Along with the pitches, there is the associated ‘ball stop’ nets, additional parking space and a proposed new toilet / changing block, all accessed via High Woods Lane.
We face a dilemma here. If we oppose the current recreational plans and the land is not zoned for recreational facilities, then we run the risk that the site could be earmarked for further housing development. This area is roughly half the size of the Hawkenbury Farm development and could potentially accommodate 100 homes. The council hopes to have this earmarked as recreational facilities to protect our open spaces.
Both options have the issues of traffic, drainage, house prices and a number of other factors that will influence the decision.
The Hawkenbury Village Association would rather see the site developed for recreational facilities, than be saddled with another large scale housing development.
We do have a number of concerns about the current plans and would welcome feedback from our members.
Our concerns are:
- There is an overemphasis on football. We should look at expanding the Recreation Ground and not turn it into a football ground.
- We are losing the disused bowling green. This green fell into disuse because it did not provide disabled access. We have an opportunity to create a new outdoor bowling green adjacent to Sherbourne Close. A large percentage of Hawkenbury residents are elderly and they would welcome a facility catering to their needs.
- Should we provide alternative pitches for other sport, such as netball or rugby?
- Will any of the pitches be floodlit? Installing a ‘4G’ all weather pitch is expensive and lighting would be an obvious way to extend the playing hours and recoup any investment made. This will have an impact on the surrounding neighbourhood with bright lighting until 10pm every night.
- Will the ‘4G’ pitch and the standard pitch be fenced in the same way as the current all weather pitch?
- How will the council address the anti-social behaviour demonstrated by the current users of the all weather pitch? We currently have to tolerate vulgar language and swearing before, during and after matches. There is the ongoing issue of players urinating in the hedges.
- Will there be dedicated changing facilities for these new playing fields? As a minimum, a suitable toilet block would need to be provided to try and alleviate some of the anti-social behaviour mentioned earlier.
- The plan shows footpaths between the 2 parking areas. Will these be tarmacadam and lit?
- How noisy will the ‘ball stop’ nets be? This is particularly of importance to the residents of Sherbourne Close.
- Will adequate drainage be implemented to prevent the ditches flooding and the fields being waterlogged in the winter months.
Overall, the Hawkenbury Village Association is in favour of having this area designated for recreational facilities. However, we believe that far more consideration needs to go into what recreational facilities are provided.
The third alternative is that local residents and members fundraise and purchase the land in trust for future generations. Worth considering?
Please comment so that we can have a united conversation with the council on the proposals. You can see the full application here.
I am the executor of my late Mother’s will and am in the process of selling her house in Hawkenbury Mead which is an unadapted Road. The purchasers solicitors have raised the question of ongoing maintenance of this roadway. There is a Bond and Deed of Covenant between the developers, Galliford Sears Homes Ltd, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Lloyd’s Bank Plc drawn up in 1989 securing a sum of money for the future maintenance of the road and the issue now is whether this sum is sufficient. The developers held on to ownership of this road as a potential valuable asset should permission be given in future for the development of Hawkenbury recreation ground. We have established that Galliford Sears ceased trading in 2016 and have been taken over by Persimmon Homes and my solicitors are now trying to get a response from them on the issue of Hawkenbury Mead.
I have posted this because of any possible relevance to the future of the recreation ground and it’s proposed expansion. I live near to Claremont School and my daughters live in Maryland Road and Lambourn Road
I assume that there is a higher demand for football pitches rather than for facilities for other sports, though it does seem to be football heavy. Local people would benefit from informal facilities such as a perimeter path to walk or jog round, and space for children, and the odd dog to run about. I would definitely like the boundary hedge between the existing and proposed facilities to be retained to break the area up and retain the atmosphere of the existing rec..which benefits from the informal areas under the mature standard trees (probably indicating former woodland). One would hope that landscaping will include planting to generate some visual character for the future. Otherwise it will be football pitch desert. It will definitely impact on nearby residents, so aspects of the development should give some clear benefit to neighbours who don’t play football.
Not overly impressed
People move to Hawkenbury for a quiet life. It used to be known as the sort of village with a large aging population hence the appeal to live here. It’s starting to get out of control with everything that happening.
When the all weather sports pitch was redeveloped, we who live opposite are constantly having grief from people just dumping there cars in front of our houses and in our residential parking spaces.
Also the new school and houses being built will bring its own problems.
It’s destroying this village, it’s becoming a small town
I’m sure many people will agree.
Great and better than housing and although I have a football mad son other sports need to be accommodated.
I agree with the principle that extension of leasure facilities is infinitely preferable to further housing development- the immediate area will already have overburdened local services, traffic density etc. etc. I also agree that, in terms of providing balanced leisure facilities for everyone, the current proposal is too heavily biased on football. I would like to see yes, maybe an all weather football pitch but also provision for though sports – extra tennis court(s); outdoor bowls; golf driving range or maybe even a “crazy golf course” which kids absolutely love and can lead to interest in the real thing! Such a great opportunity needs VERY careful thought and, as the football lobby can be quite compelling, some resistance might be needed. I live in Halls Hole Road.