Tunbridge Wells' Battles

Across Tunbridge Wells battle lines have been drawn, hostilities have broken out and there is no clear picture as to where it will all end.  Chaotic sums up the position.

The origin of the current problems is in the town hall.  A number of difficult and, to some, unacceptable decisions were taken: demolition of the Calverley Grounds bandstand, closure of the tourist information centre and moving operations to the Gateway, the abortive bids for the former Odean cinema and Land Registry sites and the associated funding, closure and potential future use of the Cranbrook council offices  and the formation of the Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company (TWRC). Opposition to these decisions has come from a number of sources including members of the ruling Conservative group, the Liberal Democrats and leading members of the Civic Society (although maybe not from the Society itself).

The main accusation made against the Council is one of secrecy and thereby failure to undertake appropriate consultation. It has to be said, the Council could and should have done much better. 

The flash point for the current imbroglio was the decision by the Council (or TWRC) to consider the future of the civic complex in the heart of the town.

For those of you who do not know Tunbridge Wells, the civic complex is a set of buildings within which are housed the council offices, library, museum, assembly hall (theatre), police station and the adult education centre. 

Proposals for the civic centre complex are to be developed by TWRC and in recent months rumours were  rife that the Council had decided to move and was planning demolition of the civic complex. There is an alliance of Liberal Democrats and leading Civic Society members which unfortunately or deliberately has conflated two issues, namely: the process of consultation on the future of the civic complex site and what in fact should happen on the site.

The 'save the civic centre complex' party has made the running so far, but there has been a reaction from people concerned about the future economic prosperity of the town. One individual stated in the local press that the town runs the risk of becoming a creche for the post World War 11 baby-boomers. The Civic Society (or Aspic Society as I dubbed it in the 1990s) is perceived as seeking to preserve the town for the benefit of a few, rather than grasp the need for change.  It has been pointed out (as far back as the late 1990s by the current Deputy Leader of Kent County Council) that the West Kent economy is fragile.  There are suggestions that the Society is distancing itself from the statements of some of its members.  So, a  battle line has been drawn between those who wish to conserve and those who are progressive. What is at stake is the future economic well-being of the town.

Within the Conservative Group on the Council there is a battle for the position of Leader of the Council. How much of this relates to the issues of consultation and the future of the local economy and how much of it is driven by a desire of some for political revenge or political advancement is unknown. However, what is becoming apparent is that the Group is realising that prostrating themselves before the 'save the civic centre complex' party does not make political sense.

The third battle line is between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats who view each other with loathing.  Clearly, in my opinion, the Conservatives have made a mess of the consultation process and the Liberal Democrats have been correct is their criticism. However, as this matter has been conflated with the 'save the civic complex' issue, the Liberal Democrats run the risk of being wrong-footed on their response to the economic issues facing the town.