Tunbridge Wells Conservatives have launched a town-wide petition, calling on the Chief Executive and Board of Directors of Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc to take urgent action on their derelict Vale Road site.
The campaign was launched jointly by Greg Clark MP and Cllr Bob Atwood, both of whom signed the petition outside the empty store. (photo above)
Volunteers from the Tunbridge Wells Conservative Association will be delivering 20,000 petition postcards to homes across the town over the coming weeks. Further postcards will be distributed to town centre shoppers and commuters.
Residents are being invited to sign the following statement:
“We the undersigned, being residents of Tunbridge Wells, support this petition calling upon the Chief Executive and Board of Directors of Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc, to make, and then keep, a commitment to either re-open the disused Tunbridge Wells store, or to assign the lease to another retailer who will renovate this town centre eyesore.
We believe the empty building is depriving the local community of a much needed amenity and is inflicting on our Town an eyesore which is detrimental to our quality of life and the local economy.”
Speaking at the launch, Greg Clark MP said:
"Since Morrisons closed its Tunbridge Wells store in 2006 the empty site has
been a blight on our town. Not only have residents been deprived of a buildingthat was designed to meet their needs, but its boarded up doors and windows
directly opposite the railway station has been a bleak and depressing sight for
visitors arriving to our beautiful town as well as an eyesore for residents using the
station"
Borough Council and Conservative Group Leader Bob Atwood added:
"Over the last years we have all had to put up with a number of derelict or
deserted buildings which blight out town. One of these is the Morrisonssupermarket site which is in a key position next to our mainline railway station
and close to our historic High Street. I call upon Morrisons to stop
procrastinating and to deal with this site as soon as possible, so that Tunbridge
Wells can benefit from its re-use and the blight can be lifted."
What next? A sit in at the former Odeon site?
See also: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council press release:
I think Morrisons' 11/8 response to Mr Clark's 8/8 letter, assumes we are all fools!
ReplyDeleteMorrisons are clearly stalling for time by putting TW residents and Mr Clark into a 'holding pattern' until further notice.
The game needs to be raised!
Morrisons should not be allowed to hold HM Government or indeed the residents of Tunbridge Wells to ransom.
I await executive action -
Hopefully it will re-open. See my post above dated 24th September.
ReplyDeleteJH