With reference to the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) recently issued by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for the purpose of enabling the Council’s project to build a new theatre and office block, together known as the Calverley Square project, objection is made as follows:

The project, which can only be built at great cost to the Council tax payers, is not in the public interest.  No convincing evidence is available to show that there is either a need or a want for a new theatre, or that such a theatre could or would be financially viable.

Although some benefits may eventually arise from the theatre project, the Council has not adequately demonstrated that these would outweigh the significant disbenefits, such as the escalating cost of construction, the likely cost of future subsidies, and the consequent reduction of other council services, already demonstrated by changes to the Council’s waste collection programme.

This CPO is likely to seriously disrupt or jeopardise one of only two major department stores in Tunbridge Wells as well as causing significant problems and inconveniences to other businesses and residents.

This petition and those linked is written on behalf of those named below to register our objection to the above Order on the following grounds

• The proposed scheme is not in the public interest because the harms it will cause outweigh its likely benefits such as forcing established businesses to close that have been in the town for many years and forcing many people out of work 
• The development is not part of a coherent town plan. 
• There is no evidence that the project as proposed is wanted by the residents and taxpayers of Tunbridge Wells.  Indeed, what evidence there is, strongly suggests that the great majority do not want it.
• The financial plan for the theatre is based on unrealistically optimistic assumptions for future revenue.
• The budgeted capital cost significantly understates the likely actual cost.
• No allowance has been made for the costs associated with wear and tear on the public realm from the anticipated additional 250,000 visitors or more each year.
• The assessments of traffic generated by the development, both during construction and in subsequent operations, grossly underestimate their impacts.
• The design for the theatre lacks the flexibility likely to be needed to accommodate the future demands of the performing arts.
• There is no informed independent evidence that the cultural elements of the project are capable of delivering the Council’s Cultural Strategic Objective.
• There has been inadequate consideration of alternatives for the provision of new office space, adequate Council offices, or ways of making the Borough ‘recognised nationally for its vibrant cultural provision’.
• Considerable amounts of information likely to be critical for a proper assessment of the development has not been published by the Council, preventing the public from properly engaging with the Council’s plans.
• The noise mitigation package offered to nearby residents is inadequate.
• The Council wishes to acquire rights of way that will materially negatively impact residents in the immediate area.
• Council tax payers have not been made fully aware of the financial risks that the Council will be taking, the costs of servicing the necessary loan, and the actual and likely further reduction in other Council services that will result.
• What’s more, the provision for compensation and associated costs in respect of the CPOs is woefully inadequate.
• The annual subsidy initially set at £350k may increase if 400,000 tickets are not sold annually.
• Alternative plans for achieving the Council’s objectives have not been fully evaluated, including the potential refurbishment of the existing civic buildings and Assembly Hall
• The Council has held inadequate discussion with the public in general; such consultations as have taken place have been merely presentations with Q&A sessions, and the Council has steadfastly ignored or not responded to valid objections raised by the Public.

https://www.change.org/p/save-calverley-grounds-from-the-council-s-70m-civic-complex-before-it-s-too-late?recruiter=91008502&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition

 https://www.change.org/p/william-benson-david-jukes-and-all-tunbridge-wells-borough-councillors-grant-the-residents-of-tunbridge-wells-borough-a-referendum-on-the-93m-civic-complex

Please encourage friends, family and neighbours to do the same.  Together, we can stop this ill-conceived development.