On the 12 th February 2019 the CPO Public Inquiry began and was held at the Mercure Hotel in Pembury. It was held by planning inspector Graham Dudley. 

It was at this public inquiry that TWBC had to make a compelling case to justifying making several CPO’s for access rights and other rights to enable them to continue to build their £94 million civic centre / theatre development.

it was during this inquiry that it came to light that the garden waste charge of £52 per bin was directly financing the civic centre/ theatre development according to Lee Coliyer Finance Officer of TWBC stated in evidence. 

It also came to light when questioned by Mr Warren for Hoopers that Mr Lee Coliyer who originally stated that there was a “ £90 million envelope and then he would call a halt to the project and seek council direction” then contradicted himself by stating “ it could go over by, £1, £2, £3 or even £4 and that the council had assets they could sell if it did and that they the council remained very determined and on course to deliver this project and that no he would not abandon it if it went over because the council were very committed to delivering this project.”

Other evidence such as the Theatre designer John Riddell admitted that this theatre was not as flexible as the current theatre we already have, that the acoustics wasn’t as good especially for something like Symphony orchestra which considering that TunBridge Wells is home to its own symphony orchestra is something quite shocking for a council who purports it wants to support local arts and communities. He also stated that the building would only have a lifespan of 50 years. It would be interesting what the overall cost plus interest, plus the £350k annual subsidy, then running costs how much this theatre will actually cost the taxpayer - which is us the residents per year?

Before it’s not fit for purpose and TWBC has to start all over on this ridiculous cycle. 

Other evidence to emerge from John Riddell is that the backstage of a a theatre has to be managed to the same health and safety standards by law equivalent to that of a building site.

How many building sites do you know that allows equal access to members of the public - reference Hoopers Car Park and then thinks this risk to public safety is acceptable? Certainly Hoopers do not. Which is why they state their very business is threatened. 

Then there is the residents of Grove Hill house who will have to have noise mitigation packages fitted in some parts of their apartments but not all. And cannot open their windows. Yet what about summer - especially like the one we just had? 

Or the Ismile dentist forced to close his business which is the only dentist disabled and elderly friendly. 

Then we learn that there wasn’t proper selection of sites. Through the DAP Commitee Calverley Grounds was a pre-determined site and everything since was made to fit the pre- determined site including the size of the theatre. If there had been a 1500 seat theatre for example there would have been no subsidy but a 1500 seat theatre would not fit on the site selected. Only a 1200 seat theatre would. But this evidence was not allowed at the inquiry. TWBC suppressed it. Only recently and rightly TWBC has featured in Private  Eye’s Rotten Boroughs section. There is something so dreadfully wrong at the heart of TWBC

Yet a 1500 sit theatre would have fit on the cinema site because the original cinema that stood there was a 1600 seat auditorium. So why was this site never compulsory purchased instead. Sources say it sold when the cinema was demolished for £14 million.Where is this claimed £40 million at least cost come from? If the current civic centre is worth only £9 million the cinema site is going to be comparable. Ask anyone in the Valuation Agency whose very job this is. 

In 2010 TWBC were advised on buying the cinema site to put a bid in “ well excess of £8 million.” They bid only £8 million. It sold then for £10 million. What a wasted opportunity. A bid is worth how much you value it and TWBC didn’t value regenerating this town enough. They let it die and therefore neglected in their duty to residents of this town. Had they had the courage and vision they do badly lack then, they could have bought the cinema site. We would not have been scarred with a grot spot of ten years and so many businesses would have been saved. 

Now they are trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted and it’s too late. 

Instead do what Eastbourne have done with the Devonshire. If necessary move the council offices elsewhere. Tunbridge Wells job centre is a good example. Century place another good location. And redevelop the whole of the civic centre buildings including buying the police station into a theatre and leisure complex with conference facilities with a marketable wedding venue too. Use the Art Deco features to enable this. 

And maybe look at the Great Hall Car Park for something else. But something that won’t damage Hoopers, or other businesses or encroach onto the park but maybe enhance the park and bring families, and people to it of all ages like a pool with lido facilities much like they have in Tonbridge. Now that would be something people would be positive about and it’s would encourage health and well-being which would fit in with the park and a better entrance into the park could still be facilitated. After all Tunbridge Wells is a spa town people came here to enjoy the waters, So why not bring the waters back to Tunbridge Wells but in a way they could be enjoyed by all. Yet in a way it does not encroach on the park in any way. 

However this idea or others were never allowed to surface.

There are only three things that can stop this development now. 

The decision of Mr Dudley the inspector of the planning inquiry. 

A complete change of leadership and loss of some Major pro-opponent Seats of the new civic centre development at the local elections. 

And finally a possible legal bid to the High Court via judicial review  if Mr Dudleys decision is not in favour of the opponents of the civic centre to appeal against a public inquiry.

The majority of Tunbridge Wells residents are waiting in Hope.

l personally have knocked on doors completing a residential survey on behalf of the major political party in opposition to the Conservative led TWBC the Liberal Democrats, and as of writing over 87% if not higher of residents if not higher are overwhelmingly AGAINST this development. In fact the anger on the doorstep about this development is tangible. 

Tunbridge Wells residents are not being listened to and as this petition is going directly to the Secretary of State and via him could get to Graham Dudley, the planning inspector I urge you if you haven’t already signed please do. 

We all speak as one community via this petition. Simply as residents as Tunbridge Wells. As a community fighting to stop this development and nothing more. 

Thank you