News. . .

[Please note that Representations made by the Tonbridge Civic Society, concerning specific 'planning' matters, can now be viewed by clicking on the underlined link labelled 'TCS representation' below the relevant news item ]

Civic Society comments on the Draft Botany Area Planning  Brief

In June, TMBC published their Draft Botany Area Planning Brief.  Although there are some reservations concerning the details, the Civic Society supports the basic proposals and agrees that the Botany area provides the best scope and opportunity for the regeneration and re-development of Tonbridge town centre. 

TCS representation

Click here for larger view of Plan

River Centre Tower - proposal

An impression of the proposed tower, shown alongside the award winning River Centre. The design has been favourably assessed by an independent architectural panel. The adjacent housing provision will include 'affordable housing' and contributions will be made to improve riverside amenity and road access.
Planning permission has been granted.

TCS representation

Civic Design Award for Tonbridge Mill

The Society's annual design award is made for the restoration of Tonbridge Mill. Only the footings and some bare ruins existed when Jon Griffin took on the task of rebuilding the mill and restored to Tonbridge a piece of its history. The mill wheel has been retained; the stream flows under house to the mill pond at the rear of the building. This can be viewed from Cannon Lane.
Certificates were presented to Tony Hicks Associates for the timber structure and design, and to Andrew Boakes Associates as the project architects.

Jon Griffin, winner of the Civic Design Award, has already placed the winner's plaque on Tonbridge Mill.

Angel County Cricket Ground commemorated

David Kemp, President of the Society, unveils the painting of the Angel County Cricket Ground - now hanging in the Angel Centre - painted by Mike Insley and based on a photograph taken in 1903. Cricket Week was an important sporting and social event in Tonbridge, which also supported a cricket manufacturing industry in the region. David Kemp has been Chairman of Kent County Cricket Club and was also a gifted cricketer.

West Kent College launch £63m redevelopment - Campus 21 

This is reputedly the largest education project in Tonbridge and one of only two major projects of this scale nationally. The society hope that the college will be given a more coherently designed set of buildings, as design features in so many of the creative courses offered by the college to its 9000 students.
Planning permission has been granted.
TCS representation

Priory Works - development proposals

A formal application has been made: TMBC ref no 07/02156/OA. The 10ha site was operated by Wallace & Tiernan and is now largely derelict. The picture shows the entrance to the former factory. The proposal to build 192 houses on the outskirt of Tonbridge represents a departure from the Local Plan. The drive to build more houses is now an over-riding issue.
This application has now been withdrawn.

Old School in St Stephens Street - demolition proposed

The society has objected to the proposed demolition of the old school buildings - erected in memory of John and Sophia Deacon by their sons in 1871. The application to build 11 flats would dwarf the exisiting Almshouses seen here to the left.
It is by this kind of characterless development that we gradually lose our town's identity and erode any sense of place - historic buildings have a virtue beyond their sometimes modest architectural merit.
This application has now been withdrawn.

TCS representation

Tonbridge Girls' Grammar School
The Area 1 Planning Committee decided to permit development of new housing (95 homes) - following a lengthy and specially convened meeting held in the Medway Hall of the Angel Centre.
Objectors listed traffic congestion as one of their main points. School governors insisted that development was the only way to obtain funding for much needed school improvements.
Rydon Homes have lodged an appeal for the earlier refusal to build even more houses (117 homes) - the developer has now withdrawn this.
A complaint about the loss of playing fields is holding up the development. The Schools at Somerhill has made available sufficient playing field space to meet the planning requirement which may now permit development to proceed.

Tonbridge Stock and Cattle Market Third Phase

Crest Nicholson's amendment to the third phase includes a change of use from office development of the Capitol site to residential use - retaining some office and retail space on the ground floor. A photographic representation of the proposed building in situ is shown in the middle of this picture. There will be offices and shops at street level.
Planning permission has been granted.

TCS representation.

Old Fire Station
The Society is preparing a list of historic buildings which are not listed, but nevertheless important to Tonbridge and the locality. This can include items such as horse troughs, telephone boxes, signs and other street furniture. This list will be subnitted for inclusion in Kent Historic Buildings Index (KHBI). This does not afford complete protection - but it will be a material planning consideration.



Star & Garter
With the demolition of the Star & Garter public house and the adjacent buildings completed, this now provides an attractive important public open space at the northern entry to the town.
The Society provided a number of mature trees using funds collected from visitors to its stand at Tonbridge Garden Show.


Conservation Area Development in Bordyke
Elmfield
A further application to remove trees from the site, opposed by the Society, has not prevented their removal.