THE MONEY has been raised for a new cricket net and tennis court in Hawkley.

Planning permission was granted for the new facilities in November, and significant progress has been made since then to help make the plan a reality.

A public meeting was held in Hawkley in January, and a fundraising race night was held in the village last month.

A committee has also been formed to help bring the project to fruition.

Antony Caesar, who is one of the trustees of Hawkley Village Hall, said: “The fundraising race night was very successful.

“People got very carried away at the race night even though they didn’t know what horse was going to win.

“The night raised about £1,700, and we have now raised all of the money for the project.

“The cost of the project is about £43,000, and the village needed to raise about £12,000 to £13,000.

“The social club and the village hall put in the rest of the money, and we have now reached our target.

“The order has gone in and they are hoping to start the work at the end of May.

“The cricket pitch is too damp at the moment and they need to take heavy vehicles round the cricket pitch, so they will start at the end of May when it is a bit drier to protect the cricket pitch.

“They hope to finish the work and start using the facilities in July.”

Antony also paid tribute to the community spirit of the villagers after they raised the money so quickly.

He said: “Everyone puts their hands in their pockets and the village is on an up at the moment.

“The race night is a perfect example of that as the ticket sales started slowly, but in the last ten days it picked up and it sold out.

“We had 90 people there, which out of about 300 people in the village is very good.

“The village hall was only refurbished about five years ago, and that is at the nucleus of the village as people use it for various events.”

A tennis club has been set up to help manage the court when it is up and running, and Philip Chippindale has been appointed chairman of the tennis club committee.

The tennis club is affiliated to Hawkley Sports Club, which also includes Hawkley Cricket Club, the darts club and the table tennis club.

Anyone who would like to view the approved application for the tennis court and cricket net should visit www.southdowns.gov.uk/planning and search for the planning reference number SDNP/15/04436/FUL.