BATTLE lines are being drawn after 20,000 residents received surveys which will seal the fate of a town council's future.

The Status Quo group and Hextable Residents' Association are trying to persuade the community to either keep Swanley Town Council as it is or allow Hextable to break away and form its own parish council.

Questionnaires were sent out this week by Sevenoaks District Council, asking the community served by Swanley Town Council if they want the split to happen.

If a clear majority of residents decide they want the split to go ahead, it could take place in February next year.

The Status Quo group, which is against the separation, was started by St Peter's vicar Andrew Procter in December.

It meets tonight at the church's hall, in College Road, Hextable.

The group has leafleted 2,000 homes outlining its case.

It will also be holding meetings over the next three Saturdays in Hextable Heritage Centre, College Road.

Rev Procter, 53, said: "It will be very damaging for us.

"The figures don't add up and I think a new council would go bankrupt."

The father-of-four added: "It's creating a lot of bad feeling and community spirit will be killed.

"We want to show people the folly of the proposal.

"I've never taken political action before but I had to step in."

Hextable Residents' Association member and pro-split campaign co-ordinator Jan Rexwinkel has also organised a leaflet campaign.

He is sending out 1,800 information sheets to outline what he thinks would be the financial benefits of a split.

The association held a public meeting at Hextable Dance, Egerton Road, last Saturday to outline its views.

Mr Rexwinkel, 59, said: "We are doing as much as we can to prove to the people of Hextable the split will be of benefit to them.

"Our community should be able to say how the tax it pays is spent."

He added: "Only three out of 16 councillors who sit on the town council represent Hextable.

"They have no control if they are outvoted. This is not right."

SPLIT DECISION

Swanley Town Council is part of Sevenoaks District Council, which includes three town and 26 parish councils. Hextable is currently a ward within Swanley.

Hextable Residents' Association proposed the split in May last year after 2,000 of the ward's residents signed a petition demanding it. Sevenoaks District Council agreed to consider the proposal last October.

20,000 residents have been sent a survey and information on the impact of the split this week. The questionnaire is part of a formal consultation period, ending on February 17, being independently carried out by the Electoral Reform Service (ERS).

By April the ERS will present residents' answers to Sevenoaks District Council, which will in turn pass residents' views to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) which has the final say on the split.

If the ODPM agrees a split should go ahead, it would happen in February next year in time for the next parish council elections in May of that year.