Hawkhurst Parish Council has acted to safeguard two car parks that are important to the village.

The Fowlers car park in Rye Road is owned by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, but leased to KCC. It has 50 spaces.

The Northgrove car park in Northgrove Road has 15 spaces, with half reserved for residents' parking.

It is also owned by the borough council. Both are considered essential to maintain the viability of the village centre.

The parish has successfully applied to Tunbridge Wells to have the car parks listed as community assets.

That means that if ever there is an attempt to sell the sites, or change their use, the parish could exercise a "community right to bid" and would have six months to raise the funds to bring the asset into community ownership.

Although the parish is not aware of any immediate threat to the car parks, parish clerk Richard Griffiths said: "Every single piece of land is in danger of being looked at for building."

The parish was supported in its bid by 50 residents who wrote backing the application.

However, the parish also asked for the Oak and Ivy pub in Rye Road and the Hawkhurst Golf and Squash Club off the High Street to be given community asset status.

Both requests were denied.

The Oak and Ivy was built in the 15th century and is of significant historic interest for the village, partly due to its connections with the notorious Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers.

The golf course is popular with residents and also provides an important green lung close to the heart of the village.

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