The Southborough Hub Planning Application has been approved by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, despite the objections of Sport England to the loss of recreation space. The decision of Mr Javid (pictured below) was expected as central government generally only intervenes in cases of "national significance". Mr Javid could have overruled …

Continue reading Southborough Hub Gets Final Planning Approval from Government

Voters in the north of Southborough will have a chance to give their verdict on the ruling Conservative Party's plans for  a modern "Hub" building in the town in a by-election, which is likely to be held on February 9th. Meanwhile the Liberal Democrat on Southborough Town Council, Trevor Poile, has told Southborough News it …

Continue reading By-election Vote Called as Councillor Condemns “Outrageous” Secrecy

I have just posted a video update to youtube (click below) recapping the key debate over whether the Royal Victoria Hall should be refurbished or demolished, as part of the development plans. Cllr Peter Oakford insists an actual wall of the RVH is "bowed", making a new build the only option. Meanwhile Cllr Nick Blackwell …

Continue reading Are Any of the Walls of the Royal Victoria Hall Collapsing?

Labour's Cllr Nick Blackwell has said the Conservative promises to quickly eliminate all council taxpayer subsidies to the planned new theatre in Southborough are "very unrealistic". Mr Blackwell also says the Conservatives leaders have: "gone out of their way to pretty much alienate and hack off everybody who has ever been associated with the Royal …

Continue reading Cllr Blackwell 2: Plans for Hub Theatre are “Very Unrealistic”

The Head of the Labour Party group on Southborough Town Council, Nick Blackwell, has  said the Royal Victoria Hall is "fit for purpose" and he rejected the argument made by the Conservatives that refurbishing it would not be viable. Mr Blackwell, who's a former Town mayor, said that Cllr Oakford of the Conservatives was "categorically …

Continue reading Cllr Blackwell 1: Cllr Oakford is “incorrect” on State of Victoria Hall

The local estate agent Bill LeGrys resigned yesterday from the Town Council saying he was fed up with the infighting in the council over the proposed Southborough Hub. There will now be a by-election in Southborough North before the end of January. Mr LeGrys, who is a Conservative, told Southborough News: "The Hub is being …

Continue reading Shock Resignation of Conservative Town Councillor

The Southborough Town Councillor who's been driving the Hub project says he hopes the Assembly Hall theatre in Tunbridge Wells will run the replacement for the old Royal Victoria Hall in Southborough for at least three years. Cllr Peter Oakford repeatedly insisted that the Victoria Hall was "not viable" and that last winter's official consultation …

Continue reading Cllr Oakford 2: Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall “to Run Hub Theatre”

Councillor Peter Oakford, who's been the main driving force behind the Southborough Hub project, says he is now "100 %" confident that the scheme will happen, despite the fact that central government is now considering whether to set up a public inquiry. Cllr Oakford (below) was speaking to Southborough News just as the statutory body …

Continue reading Cllr Oakford 1: “Confident” of Overcoming Sport England Objection

Another dispute over basic facts has erupted between supporters and opponents of Southborough Council's Hub plans - this time over the shape of the Ridgewaye fields. The Borough's Planning officer, Lynda Middlemiss, told the planning committee on Wednesday that there was a "hill" in the centre of the northern part of the Ridgewaye fields, which …

Continue reading Is it a “Hill” or a “Slope” on the Northern Ridgewaye Fields?

Central government planners are set to decide the fate of the Southborough Hub after the planning committee of Tunbridge Wells council voted by 11 to 0 with one abstention to approve the plans. Councillors usually follow advice of planning officers who argued strongly for the scheme at Wednesday night's meeting. Speakers from the Stag theatre in …

Continue reading Hub plans win over Tunbridge Wells Planning Committee