The late, much missed, Daniel Bech coined the phrase grot spot to describe locations in the town in need of tender loving care. There were many places for him to express his pungent and humorous comment, none more so than the old Odeon Cinema building and the former Safeway supermarket site.
Soon the Kent & Sussex Hospital site will be vacated and, despite denials from the Town Hall junta, it is likely the Town Hall will be vacated in favour of an office block in Hawkenbury. The Town Hall has an air of desolation as the public is firmly shut out.
What is the dynamic vision for Tunbridge Wells? How will these sites develop the town? There is talk of hotels, major 'up-market' retailers and conference facilities. All activities to encourage visitors to the town. Yet at the same time the Council considers closing public conveniences and withdrawing the tourist information centre to the Gateway.
I noted with interest a comment by the General Manager of the Kent & Sussex Light Railway that the Tenterden TIC was hidden in the Gateway and visitors found the railway's own tourist information of more value.
Three questions:
1. Where is the finance coming from for the development of the four sites mentioned above? The risk is, with finance hard to come by, we will have second rate buildings.
2. How is the additional traffic that it is hoped will be generated be accommodated on the Tunbridge Wells road system?
3. Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells is a transport/economic 'hub'. How will links to other hubs be improved?
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