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TUNBRIDGE WELLS – ITS BEGINNINGS & BEYOND 017 A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
Tunbridge Wells – a lively town full of shops, bars, restaurants and local businesses. But did you know that, compared with some other places in our lovely county, Tunbridge
Wells is the new kid on the block? And this relative youngster is set for some controversial changes to the heart of its historic town when, subject to planning approval, the new Civic Development will be built at the entrance to Calverley Grounds
Vicky Hales-Dutton T
unbridge Wells Borough Council’s plans for the Civic Development in the heart of the town are not without controversy. But as Councillor Tracy Moore, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Civic Development
Communications, told INDEX: “Change is never without controversy and I realise that not everyone is going to be supportive but there are few projects, if any, that would get unanimous support from all quarters...” Thirty councillors voted for the ambitious
project – which could see a new 1,200 seat theatre, civic centre, underground car park and new offi ce space at the entrance to Calverley Grounds, 13
voted against and three abstained. The council’s vision – “a fi nancial plan to borrow £77 million has been independently audited and verifi ed by experts as being sound and prudent,” according to Councillor Moore – is to grow the town’s role as the cultural centre of the Kent and Sussex High Weald, so that by 2024 the borough of Tunbridge Wells will be nationally recognised for its vibrant cultural provision. The Civic Development project is one of a number of schemes that will see millions of pounds invested in our historic spa town, including a major development on the former ABC cinema site, expansion of Royal Victoria Place shopping centre and the development on the site of Union House on the Lower Pantiles.
IMAGE (above) David Bartholomew (
www.davidbartholomew.co.uk)
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