As of Sunday 9th October, I have calculated that there were 29 supporters and 158 opponents of the Hub planning application from named individuals or organisations visible on the Tunbridge Wells planning website. There was one neutral comment. This means 84 per cent of comments were opposed.
The people of Southborough now wait to see what the recommendation to councillors will be from the professional planning officers at Tunbridge Wells. The date of the decision by councillors is still to be announced. It is expected in the next few weeks.
The full comments are available elsewhere on this blog, but I have summarised them below, with contributors organised in alphabetical order by surname.
SUPPORTERS – 29
| Mrs Jean | Allanach | Grimsby | Some of the design is not to my taste |
| Cllr Bob | Backhouse (Con) | T Wells | RVH is not fit for 21st century while hub will provide a much needed focus for civic purposes |
| Alan | Collins | Sboro | Hub will provide improved modern facilities |
| Cllr David | Elliot (Con) | Sboro | Currently mayor of Sboro – will put heart back into town and improve its appearance |
| Alex | Green (Trinity Theatre) | T Wells | RVH would need significant upgrades to provide a venue of standard area deserves so redevelop |
| Cllr Nasir | Jamil (Con) | Sboro | We get a brand new state of the art theatre |
| Jacqueline | Jedrzejewski | Sboro | Hub will be the envy of other towns |
| Ian | Kinghorn | Sboro | Can’t wait for heart to be put back in town. We need new hall for non-theatre groups as used to happen in RVH |
| Olwyn | Kinghorn (Southboro Society committee) | Sboro | Loss of RVH offset by exciting community centre We hope for museum space in new hub |
| Benjamin | Lester | Sboro | Saddening that RVH ends but need sth new |
| Sarah | Lester | Sboro | Welcome plan to revitalise high street |
| Cllr Glenn | Lester (Con) | Sboro | Building is wonderful opportunity for Sboro |
| Cllr Mrs Leah | Markwell (Con) | Sboro | Football players will still have plenty of pitches |
| David | Marshall | T Wells | I am a patient at St Andrews medical centre and it needs a bigger building |
| Neil | Maxfield | Sboro | Object to theatre being included |
| Lindy | Maxfield | Sboro | Hub access is badly planned but supports Hub |
| Judith | Mitchell | Smarden | Hub will put heart back into Sboro |
| Gary | Mitchell | Smarden | Owns Sboro shops – Hub is truly visionary |
| Ms Nikita | Oakford | Sboro | Hub is a wonderful, new & exciting development |
| Mrs Sharon | Oakford | Sboro | Hub will be great asset & meeting place |
| Cllr Peter | Oakford (Con) | Sboro | Hub vibrant focal point & fabulous design |
| Jacqueline | Prance | Sboro | Hub provides much needed focal point |
| Judy | Rose | Sboro | Sboro in need of a facelift Hub achieves this |
| Mike | Scott | Sboro | RVH is unloved and underused hall |
| Mrs Tanya | Shaw (St Andrew’s Medical Centre) | Sboro | Hub will provide a bigger medical centre for our patients |
| Mrs Shahanara | Uddin | Sboro | Area needs investment for regeneration |
| Cllr Zulhash | Uddin (Con) | Sboro | Housing should be sympathetic to area |
| Rachel | Wilson (vicar St Thomas’ Church) | Sboro | Hub has potential to improve social cohesion but residents’ concerns need to be addressed |
| Jennifer | Wright | Sboro | Wants theatre but worried about parking/noise |
NEUTRAL – 1
| Simon | Miller | Sboro | Saddened to hear about loss of soccer pitches |
OPPONENTS – 158
| Sharon | Acton (Sboro Brownies) | Sboro | Our brownie unit have missed panto |
| Mark | Airey | Paddock Wd | My online petition had 5,000 signatures to save RVH–no mandate to demolish historic RVH |
| Jon | Alcock | Sboro | Hub is badly designed box– seats don’t face stage |
| Pauline | Alexander | Sboro | RVH is a Heritage Asset |
| Steve | Allan | Sboro | RVH has been jewel in the Sboro crown – no need for another community space |
| Barbara | Anderson | ?? * | RVH is a treasure in the community |
| Sally | Angell | Sboro | I live in Hythe Close – Hub is in my back yard – its design would make me ashamed and embarrassed to live in Sboro |
| Mrs Teresa | Baldock | Crowborough | RVH is a piece of history – listen to people |
| Mary | Banks-Murayama | Sboro | Majority of residents want RVH renovated |
| Ian | Barker | Sboro | RVH is building of great historical interest |
| Mrs Leonie | Barker | Sboro | Hub is not viable as a hall, let alone a theatre |
| Margaret | Barnes | Sboro | People in Sboro are horrified at dreadful hub |
| Joanna | Bell | Sboro | Please don’t destroy this historic venue |
| Amelia | Bell-Richards | Tonbridge* | Air pollution will worsen for my auntie |
| Letita | Bell-Richards | Tun Wells | Object to historic heritage being torn down |
| Keith | Bennett | T Wells | Keep historic amenity given by Salomons |
| Mrs Judi | Best | T Wells | Preserve RVH as a community historic asset |
| Gwendoline | Betts | Sboro | Prefer to keep RVH – new build doesn’t fit |
| Martin | Betts | Sboro | Hub is totally inappropriate in style |
| Miss Rebecca | Bing | Tonbridge* | RVH is heritage and a great venue; Hub hideous |
| Richard | Blackwell | Romney Marsh* | Former Sboro mayor who served on council for 31 years. Hub design is “a large plastic lunch box” dropped in the middle of our town. |
| Mrs Diana C | Blackwell | Romney Marsh* | Hub design is an “eyesore” |
| Ms Diana | Blackwell | Sboro | Hub design is not in keeping with street scene |
| Cllr Nicholas | Blackwell (Labour) | Sboro | Was mayor when hub tentatively first agreed, it is untrue that RVH is not fit for purpose – RVH is structurally sound & rewired recently |
| Cllr Fiona | Brown (Labour) | Sboro | As Head of a Drama college, thinks hub space falls far short of “state of the art” theatre |
| Tamsin | Brownbridge | T Wells | Hub is a disaster waiting to happen |
| Sylvia | Browning | Hounslow | We deplore demolition without reason |
| Laurie | Buckingham | Wadhurst | RVH is a gem of Victoriana |
| Chloe | Byrne | Sboro | Shocked and appalled at monstrosity |
| David | Byrne | Sboro | Looks laughably cheap and ugly |
| Jane | Carden | Sboro | RVH is an iconic landmark |
| Judy | Cave | Sboro | Hub is expensive modern monstrosity |
| Mr Leigh | Chatfield | Sboro | Objects due to loss of football pitches |
| Sophie | Chatfield | Sboro | Preserve RVH for future generations |
| Sarah | Clark | Cranbrook* | RVH should be renovated |
| Jeremy | Clarke | Sboro | RVH should be restored as part of hub |
| Charmain | Clissold-Jones | T Wells | Hub is shoddy design |
| Ms Dominique | Clothier | Sboro | New modern hub will accelerate decline of Sboro |
| Mrs Katrina | Clucas | Sboro | Hub is out of character of Sboro buildings |
| John | Clucas | Sboro | Hub is severely detrimental to local area |
| John | Cole | Ramsgate | RVH is part of rich architectural tradition |
| Alastair | Collie | Sboro | Hub is not promised “state of the art” theatre |
| Dr Arthur | Cottingham | Groombridge* | Hub is crazy thinking |
| Mrs Wil | Crittenden | Sboro | Hub looks like sea front kiosk |
| Robert | Darling | T Wells | RVH is an historic building |
| Angela | Dewar | Sboro | Ugly hub design is extremely distressing |
| Michael | Di Palma | T Wells | Losing 15% of playing fields not acceptable |
| Mrs Keren | Dibbens-Wyatt | Sboro | Not enough consultation on library |
| Jane | Dury | Sboro | Hub building is totally inappropriate |
| Mrs Rona | Dury | Sboro | Hub design is out of character |
| Brian | Dury | Sboro | Hub is poor design & out of character in town |
| Brian | Dury (Southboro Environmental Action Movement- 477 supporters) | Sboro | Hub project team have not listened to concerns. There is no state of the art theatre as was promised. Polycarbonate box is awful. Totally inappropriate. Over development on fields. |
| Ms Adele | Ebbage | T Wells* | Hub does not reflect the character of Sboro – volunteers have offered to maintain RVH |
| Tony | Egan | Pembury | New hall in the planned hub lacks many key features of existing RVH; hub will be eyesore |
| Graham | Ellis | Sboro | Lack of parking and loss of soccer pitch |
| Mrs Lisa | Everett | T Wells | Cheaper to refurbish RVH than build hub |
| Max | Figgett | Tun Wells | Hub design clumsy; robbing us of soccer pitches |
| RJ | Fitz-Gerald | Sboro | I despair and it makes me think long and hard about whether I will continue growing my business in Southborough |
| John | Francis | Sboro | Loss of soccer pitches for children |
| Gina | Franks | Speldhurst* | Hub hall/theatre is not fit for purpose |
| Mr Sascha | Fromeyer | Sboro | Hub will worsen existing traffic problems |
| Mrs Katharine | Fromeyer | Sboro | Hub would encourage anti-social behaviour |
| Ian | Gavin | Sboro | Planning process has not been transparent |
| Hannah | Glenville | Sboro | Will cast shadows over my garden |
| Matthew | Glenville | Sboro | Traffic problems due to 69 housing units |
| Sarah | Glover | Devon* | RVH is a fantastic place to perform as I did |
| Mrs Shelly | Goldring | Soaks | Hub design not in keeping |
| Lynn | Green | Sboro | Don’t think Sboro needs a theatre |
| Rhiannon | Grundy | Sboro | Historic theatre cannot be simply demolished |
| Ken | Hampton | Sboro | Hub theatre has not enough facilities |
| Brian | Hampton | Sboro | Hub is not a “state of the art” theatre |
| Mrs E | Harris | T Wells | RVH is an historical jewel |
| Philip | Harris | Sboro | Loss of parking for allotment holders |
| Miss Carys | Hatcher | Sboro | Hub is overdevelopment will be an eyesore |
| Ms Cheryl | Hatcher | Sboro | New housing will overlook my home |
| Ms Liz | Hatherell | Sboro | Hub is hideously ugly & out of keeping |
| Wiz | Haynes | Sboro | Noone trusts the council |
| Anya | Heilpern | Sboro | Hub is incompatible with planning policy EN1 which demands respect for “context of site” |
| Andy | Hennah | Sboro | Hub is not in keeping with Sboro architecture |
| Tabitha | Hennah | Sboro | Designs not in keeping with vicinity |
| Adam | Henry | Sboro | Loss of two 7-side & 11-side soccer pitches |
| Cllr Diane | Hill (Labour) | Sboro | I was elected to Borough Council in May with 52% of vote after I campaigned to keep RVH |
| Derek | Holland | Mayfield* | “superb theare” will be lost |
| Lucy | Ireland | Sboro | RVH is last heritage building on London Road |
| Paul | Isaacs | Kent | Why lose following of RVH? |
| Lucy | Jarrett | Pembury | The proscenium arch in RVH is very rare – dreams have been realised within walls of RVH |
| Trevor | Jary | Surrey | Historical sacrilege & loss to young people |
| Anna | Jones | Sboro | Refurbishing existing RVH is far better |
| Sarah | Jones | Sboro | As professional access consultant, plans have poorly written Design & Access Statement |
| Mrs Susie | Joyce | W Malling* | Hub is a monster that sounds vicious & cruel |
| Tun Wells | Labour Party | T Wells | Represents 800 members in TW constituency – Hub has little beauty & is not fit for purpose |
| Southboro & High Brooms | Labour Party (100 members) | Sboro | RVH is town heritage building and should be renovated and modernised sympathetically |
| Dinah | Lampitt | Battle* | RVH is a magnificent building |
| Dave | Leech | T Wells | RVH should be restored not destroyed |
| Jacky | Leman | Matfield | Hub is totally out of character for Sboro |
| Joanna | Lewin | T Wells | Save the RVH |
| Alain | Lewis | Sboro | Modernising RVH is cheaper than new build |
| Peter | Lewtas | T Wells | Hub is cultural vandalism – RVH is historic |
| William | MacDougal | Sboro | Poor quality hub – theatre design faulty |
| John | Manthorpe | Uckfield | RVH should be cherished |
| Coral | Martin | Sboro | My sons play football at Ridgewaye fields |
| Miss Eloise | Martin | Sboro | Wants to keep library & beautiful historic RVH |
| Ms Claire | Martin | Sboro | Hub fills me with dread – restore RVH instead |
| Ross | McPherson | Staplehurst* | Reconsider this preposterous plan |
| Miss Catherine | Meade | Sboro | Hub design is completely out of keeping |
| Richard | Millett | Hildenboro | Hub makes me question my decision to move to Sboro – after BREXIT, TWEXIT moment? |
| Melanie | Morris | Sboro | Hub will be an embarrassment to us all |
| Mrs Lindsey | Morris | Tonbridge | RVH is much loved & historic building |
| Cllr Graham | Munn (Labour) | Sboro | Polycarbonate cladding will look shoddy –bats live around buildings to be demolished |
| Merlyn | Neve | Sboro | RVH could be refurbished and modernised |
| Paul | Newton | Sboro | Loss of football pitches and green space |
| Will | Northcote | Sboro | Loss of 3 soccer pitches unnecessary – council could instead use funds from sale of Speldhurst allotments – Hub is worst of modern architecture |
| Enrique | Novella | Sboro | Highly unlikely that hub theatre will work |
| Eleanor | O’Shea | Sboro | Restore RVH to its original splendour |
| Dominic | Offord | Sboro | RVH is piece of British cultural history -my child cried when heard council were bulldozing it |
| Rebecca | Offord | Sboro | Hub will be less economically viable than RVH |
| Andrew | Perkins | T Wells | Loss of soccer pitches |
| Kathleen | Perkins | T Wells | Loss of football pitches |
| Helen | Phillimore | T Wells | Not all can afford the Assembly Hall prices |
| John | Phillimore | T Wells | This is an historic town – keep history |
| William | Phillimore | T Wells | Save the RVH |
| Andrew | Phillimore | T Wells | Enjoyed productions at RVH |
| David | Podbury | T Wells | Hub design not in keeping |
| Robert | Podbury | T Wells | Hub design not in keeping, more pollution |
| Mrs Saffron | Prentis | Sboro | RVH should be restored to former glory |
| Mrs Eryl | Rayner | T Wells | Hub hall seats at right angles won’t work |
| David | Rayner | T Wells | As a retired architect I am astonished by the lack of quality in hub plans – should modernise the RVH at much lower cost than a new build |
| Cllr Jason | Reeves (Labour) | Sboro | RVH has local heritage & cultural value |
| Mrs Mary | Richards | Sboro | Unacceptable to lose the green space |
| Douglas | Richards | Sboro | I totally object due to loss of green space |
| Alan | Round | T Wells | Proposed Hub does not respect character of town RVH clearly has local historic interest |
| Mrs Holly | Rowden | Sboro | Historic building being replaced by monstrosity |
| Nick | Shaw | Stonegate* | RVH is a unique facility for artist & audience |
| Mrs Marion | Short | Sboro | RVH is much loved – hub is not theatre |
| Matt | Spink | Sboro | Will have houses built behind my home |
| Annette | Stevens | Tonbridge* | Pse don’t knock down lovely little theatre |
| Chris | Steward | Sboro | Hub more suited to an airport terminal |
| Mandy | Strong | T Wells | Please don’t known down RVH |
| Tom | Sullivan | T Wells | Loss of football pitches & smaller pavilion |
| Donna | Swallow | Sboro | Hub not an environmental design & pollution |
| Michael | Swallow | Sboro | Plan designed by a secretive cabal |
| Andrew | Swann (Chairman LAMPS theatre group) | T Wells | Short sighted and selfish to rob your society of such a unique and historic place as RVH |
| Michael | Taylor | Sboro | RVH belongs here – it is the town’s hub |
| Susan | Taylor | Sboro | Introduce new facilities without destroying RVH |
| Suzanne | Terrasse | Sboro | Demolishing RVH for a hall is ludicrous |
| Andy | Thomson | T Wells | Hub denies chance of children to play sport |
| Scott | Towner | Sboro | RVH should stay |
| Miss Marion | Townsend | Sboro | Hub design is truly ghastly out of character |
| Mrs Norah | Traquair | T Wells | Hub not in keeping with the local area |
| Susan | Trusler | Tun Wells | Strongly object to loss of playing fields |
| Sylvia | Villa | T Wells | RVH is small jewel worth saving |
| Mrs Lisa | Ward | Sboro | Hub will look ridiculous in Sboro |
| Mat | Waugh | T Wells | Town square is unconvincing |
| Hugo | Webber | Sboro | Preserve RVH, hub contravenes planning policy |
| Ms Diane | Williams | Sboro | Design of the hub is an “eyesore” |
| Peter | Williamson | Sboro | RVH is important piece of Sboro heritage. Hub is unfit for purpose & laughable white elephant |
| Brian | Wood | Sboro | Totally out of keeping with historic character |
| Anya | Wood | Sboro | Hub will have a detrimental effect on town |
Sboro includes High Brooms;
*comment indicates they still use or have used Southbrough facilities
(Con) or (Labour) means they have been elected to Southborough Town, Tunbridge Wells Borough or Kent County Council.
Full comments at:
https://southborough-news.com/views-2016/
https://southborough-news.com/more-views-2016/
Southborough News 