Tag: justine-rutland

Victorian Snooker Hall Still Set for Demolition

On By southboroughnewsLeave a comment

The owners of the snooker centre in Tunbridge Wells have spoken for the first time about how they were “devastated” to find the Borough Council wanted to knock down their home, the Friendly Societies’ Hall.

Construction of the ornate Friendly Societies’ Hall (pictured below) began in 1877 after a royal visit by one of Queen Victoria’s daughters, who laid the foundation stone.

A person-to-person meeting finally took place in August between the snooker club and the council which wants to demolish the hall to make way for a three screen “boutique cinema” funded by £68 million of borrowing.

Co-owner of the Victoria Snooker Centre, Graham Martin, (pictured below) told Southborough News: “If it’s knocked down, there’s a lot of community being taken away. What they’re gonna do. I don’t know. I really don’t know, because we are a bit of a meeting place.”

Graham Martin continued: “We do serve the underprivileged…and community groups…it’s just devastating, and it hurts me to the bottom of my stomach, to be fair.”

Graham says the snooker hall has had celebrity visits from all the biggest names in snooker from Jimmy White and Steve Davis to John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

You can watch a 5 minute video report from the snooker club by clicking here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/WXFbpdU6d3s

The Tunbridge Wells Civic Society has applied to the government for the Friendly Societies’ Hall to be listed to prevent demolition. A decision is expected in September.

The Civic Society has also suggested an alternative scheme that would allow the council to continue with its plans for a 3-screen boutique cinema (pictured below) but without demolishing the snooker hall.

The meeting with the council in August was said by the snooker club owners to be “productive”.

But the council is still adamant it wants to knock down the Victorian hall, leaving only a refurbished facade on Camden Road, including the elephants on the doorway. (see below)

Graham’s son, Liam is another co-owner of the Victoria Snooker Centre. Liam’s family used to live in a flat which is part of the building. The flat is no longer usable because of a leaking roof.

Liam Martin (pictured below) said: “I’ve been here for 16 years, so half of my life, I’ve raised my children here. So to have the thought of losing the building itself, let alone the business that we’ve built and is thriving, the only word we could use is devastating.”

Liam is also critical of the financial thinking behind the entire council scheme. The council’s debt would add another £5 million a year to the council costs, which is a big rise on the £20 million a year the council spends at the moment on all its services.

The £68 million debt is designed to fund the demolition of a large area on the corner of Camden Road, cinema construction and other refurbishment of the council-owned shopping centre.

The debt means the council needs to extract an EXTRA £5 million a year in car park fees, rents and business rates to cover the debt servicing costs of the loan.

Liam Martin says he doesn’t think it is a viable scheme: “I think it’s a massive risk to spend 68 million pounds of us taxpayers’ money. I really don’t see the logic in putting in this massive cinema and increasing the leisure industry and dining, fine dining, because I don’t think it will attract many more people.”

Scott (pictured below) is a member of the snooker club, the Victoria Snooker Centre.

Scott has been perfecting his shots at the hall for 15 years. He says: “It gets me away from reality. I’ll forget everything, and all I can look at is just a ball, and that’s all I need.”

Scott continues: “It’s like, gives me peace and it gives me comfort, somewhere to escape from real life problems. It’s like a family. A lot of the same people that have been coming 20 years, even before I was here. They’re still coming now. So that’s how I like it.”

Support worker Ray (pictured below), brings a group of adults to the club every Tuesday from the Crossways Community at the Moxham House residential home.

Ray says: “The support…it’s been immense here. Without having something like this to come to, there’s nothing local. We’d almost have to quit. We can’t go to Maidstone. We can’t go to miles away.”

Ray continues: “So having the facilities here, and having, like, somewhere here that actually makes us feel welcome, which is the number one key, somewhere where people can come, and actually feel safe, and the response here is just fantastic.”

Ray says the residents he supports have a “great time” at the Friendly Societies’ Hall (pictured below from Camden Road) and he concludes: “I just think it would be a crying shame, if anything ever happened here.”

You can watch a 30 minute video report from the snooker club here, including parts of my earlier interviews with Justine Rutland, who’s the Liberal Democrat councillor behind the scheme plus the views of the local MP, Liberal Democrat Mike Martin.

You can read a transcript of the 30 minute video here:

Snooker i:v 11.8.26 transcriptDownload


For more on the history of the Friendly Societies’ Hall, click on this story:
https://southborough-news.com/2026/03/19/heritage-group-tries-to-save-historic-snooker-hall/

The case for the demolition and the rest of the development scheme is explained at length by Cllr Justine Rutland (pictured below) in this story:
https://southborough-news.com/2026/04/04/lib-dems-push-for-big-council-debt-to-boost-shopping-centre/

Justine Rutland argues that the scheme will boost council business rates receipts in the town, car park revenues and shopping centre rents so the scheme “pays for itself.”

Justine Rutland says that the town needs a new town centre cinema: “One of the ideas is to ensure that young people can be independent..They can also turn up at the cinema in the way that I might have done when I was young and I went to the cinema in the corner and thought, oh, what’s on? And be able to go and do things spontaneously, which you can’t always do at other venues.”

Justine Rutland makes the case despite fears that a new cinema will eat into revenue from the Trinity Theatre’s film offerings and so potentially puts Trinity’s viability at risk.

Other councillors opposing the scale of the council borrowing make their views known in this story from April 2026:
https://southborough-news.com/2026/04/10/opposition-builds-to-lib-dem-plan-for-68-million-council-debt/

More information about the council scheme published by the council’s consultants is at:
https://rvpfuture.com/

The petition to save the snooker hall now has more than 6,000 signatures and is at:
https://c.org/wDcWGyb9Hv

Opposition Builds to Lib Dem Plan for £68 million Council Debt

On By southboroughnewsLeave a comment

The Liberal Democrat Borough Council plans for a new “boutique” cinema and more shops in the RVP Shopping centre is set to be a big local issue in the May elections.

Leading figures from a range of political parties have spoken to Southborough News stating their outright opposition to the scale of the new council funded building (shown below).

The plans would involve the council taking on a debt of £ 68 million, which would mean an additional £5 million a year in debt servicing costs – on top of the council’s existing spending of around £ 20 million a year.

A leading Conservative councillor said the plans needed “further scrutiny”, while a Tunbridge Wells Alliance party candidate called for the architects to be given a “lower cost brief.”

Meanwhile, a councillor from the Independents for Tunbridge Wells Party in Pembury, David Hayward, called the Lib Dem plans “a ridiculous construct.”

The deputy leader of the council, Justine Rutland of the Liberal Democrats told Southborough News last week that the council was committed to the spending in order to boost the attractiveness of the RVP and provide “experience venues” particularly for young people.

You can watch a new 3 minute version of her interview here on this link:
https://youtu.be/C-jPzKdYzzI

David Hayward, (pictured below) who is standing for re-election in May, reacted to the video by saying: “It is ridiculous that the lessons of the Calverley Square debacle have not been learned.”

David Hayward continued: “The RVP purchase was instigated by the need to stop the alternative, which was effectively asset stripping. I know, I was in the inner sanctum at the time.”

“The work done, across parties and with the officers to secure the deal was amazing. The decision to use the consultants that were brought on board was a success. Maintaining Fenwicks and bringing in Primark was nothing to do with, as claimed, the LibDem administration, it was all part of the original scheme.”

David Hayward then argued: “But now, this boutique cinema expansion for Royal Victoria Place is a ridiculous construct which will place the council in debt and destroy heritage assets. This proposal is ignoring the whole borough’s needs without proper scrutiny as to whether these plans are value for money.”

David Hayward of the Independents for Tunbridge Wells party is one of 5 candidates in the Pembury and Capel ward in the May election. He concluded: “A cynic might suggest that securing the LibDem vote in the town centre is far more important than the needs of the residents outside of the LibDem strongholds.”

Meanwhile, Thomas Mobbs, (pictured below) who’s a Conservative Councillor for Rural Tunbridge Wells said: “Further scrutiny is needed to ensure these plans are value for money and back local businesses.’’

Thomas Mobbs argued: “The decision to expand Royal Victoria Place comes with huge financial implications for council tax payers in Tunbridge Wells. It will plunge the council into debt after many years as a debt free council.”

Thomas Mobbs stated: “Although we supported initial proposals, we have growing concerns about the long-term financial sustainability of the plans ahead of local government reorganisation and do not believe residents and local businesses have been consulted enough throughout the process.”

And a former councillor from the Tunbridge Wells Alliance Party, who is a candidate this time in Park Ward, Nick Pope (pictured below) also called for a rethink.

Nick Pope said: “I have always been surprised that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council allowed the corner buildings on Camden Road and Calverley Road to fall into such a terrible state of disrepair with leaking roofs. The council owns these buildings and has failed to maintain them.”

Nick Pope continued: “It has taken several decades of neglect for them to end up in this sorry state on the busiest shopping street in Royal Tunbridge Wells. A charity bookshop had to vacate one unit around 8 to 10 years ago because of the terrible damp and mould on the walls due to a leaking roof. The buildings could be restored and turned into commercial units with flats above.”

The corner buildings on Camden Road and Calverley Road, where the “boutique” cinema is due to be built are shown below thriving in 2012 when occupied by the White Stuff chain before the area was allowed to become derelict.

Nick Pope of the Tunbridge Wells Alliance Party continued: “As for Ely Court, a relatively small amount of money could turn the space into a fantastic space for a group of small businesses with a relatively small investment. Currently, it is an unwelcoming space for customers with the wind cutting through the passageway making it cold and unwelcoming, even on sunny days, so few customers linger and many of the small businesses fail to attract business and close within a few months.”

Nick Pope stated: “The loss of the Camden Centre is a mistake. It is the community hall for the town centre. Again, this building has not been well maintained and has a leaking roof. It was only opened about 35 years ago.”

Nick Pope argued: “Personally, I think it is the wrong time to invest in a major redevelopment of this corner of Royal Victoria Place. The borough council is about to be disbanded, and a smaller investment could revitalise the existing unloved buildings owned by the council and create a hub for small businesses on the corner of Royal Victoria Place.”

Nick Pope concluded: “The architects should be given a lower cost brief that keeps the existing buildings, bringing them back into use, and makes Ely Court a much more welcoming space for customers and small businesses.”

62 candidates are standing in total in the 7th May local elections, with Conservatives, Lib Dems and Reform each contributing 13 candidates, the Green Party 12, Labour 6, Tunbridge Wells Alliance 3, Independents for Tunbridge Wells Party 1, plus one independent candidate.

These are the individual wards:
Cranbrook, Sissinghurst & Frittenden: 4 candidates (Reform, Cons, Green, LibDem)
Culverden: 6 candidates (Independent, Cons, Lab, Green, LibDem, Reform)
Hawkhurst, Sandhurst & Benenden: 4 candidates (LibDem, Alliance, Reform, Cons)

Paddock Wood: 4 candidates (Green, LibDem, Reform, Cons)
Pantiles: 5 candidates (Cons, Green, Reform, Lab, LibDem)
Park: 6 candidates (LibDem, Lab, Green, Reform, Alliance, Cons)

Pembury & Capel: 5 candidates (Reform, Independents for Tun Wells, Cons, Green, LibDem)
Rural Tunbridge Wells: 5 candidates (Reform, LibDem, Cons, Lab, Green)
Rusthall & Speldhurst: 6 candidates (Green, Reform, Alliance, Lab, LibDem, Cons)

Sherwood: 9 candidates for 2 seats (Cons 2, Reform 2, Lab, Green 2, LibDem 2)
Southborough & Bidborough: 8 candidates for 2 seats (Cons 2, English Democrats, Green, Reform 2, LibDem 2)

There is no voting in High Brooms ward, which elects just one councillor, who was voted in two years ago.

The current state of the parties is: LibDem 21, Cons 8, Labour 4, Tunbridge Wells Alliance 3, Independents for Tunbridge Wells 1, Vacant 2 Total=39

The candidates for the local elections are available to view on the Borough Council website:
https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/council/voting-and-elections/elections/thursday-7-may-2026/statements-of-persons-nominated?root_node_selection=510839&search_page_508814_submit_button=View+statement


This is a full transcript of Justine Rutland’s 24 minute interview explaining the reasons for the Lib Dem scheme:

Transcript Justine Rutland 2Apr26Download

Lib Dems Push For Big Council Debt to Boost Shopping Centre

On By southboroughnewsLeave a comment

The Liberal Democrats who run Tunbridge Wells Borough Council say a major investment in the town’s RVP shopping centre is “really crucial” despite criticism of the proposed council debt of up to £68 million needed to fund the project.

In an extended interview with Southborough News, the deputy leader of the council, Justine Rutland (pictured below) spoke about the need to regenerate the areas of the RVP which were “underutilised” and “could be housing a lot more activity than it is.”

Justine Rutland said: “Retailers are very fussy. They will want to see that their shops are successful and if they are not, they will go, so onward investment in the shopping centre is really crucial to make sure that it keeps delivering…and we make the town a better place to live.”

She continued: “It was always the idea that the shopping centre should become, more of a mix of experiences. So not just shopping… People definitely still want to go and buy things…but they also want leisure. They want to meet up with people.”

The council’s plan is for a modern “boutique” cinema to be built on the corner of Camden Road and Calverley Road that used to be occupied by White Stuff in the Victorian shops. (see below)

Justine Rutland explained: “The idea is to bring people into the centre, not just to, you know, buy some shampoo and a pair of trousers, whatever, but to have experiences and to have more of a day out, and then hopefully with a cinema, a day out – slash afternoon out – an evening out, and to start to rebuild that nighttime economy that will then support all the hospitality venues that we have.”

When asked about the estimated £ 5 million ANNUAL cost to the council of paying back the debt involved in funding the building of a new cinema and new leisure retail and space, Justine Rutland said: “The idea is that it would pay for itself eventually.”

The scheme is controversial as it involves demolishing the Friendly Societies’ Hall, which was visited to great excitement by one of Queen Victoria’s daughters in 1877 and currently is home to a thriving snooker centre (see below)

The Tunbridge Wells Civic Society has applied to the government for the Friendly Societies Hall to be listed to prevent its demolition.

Justine Rutland wouldn’t be drawn on the current income from the RVP shopping centre, which the council took full ownership of in 2023. The last published income figure from 2019 referred only to annual income of less than £1 million a year, but the council says updated figures are “confidential.”

Asked how the extra income generated by the new investment could possibly bring in as much as £5 million a year to cover the council’s debt servicing costs on its £68 million loan, Justine Rutland said: “We have plenty of data and economic studies to show that the recommended scheme is viable with economic activity growing.”

But she continued: “Well, of course, we will be looking continually at the data, and we will get updated economic impact assessments. And if we decide nearer the time that we need to make the big decisions, that it doesn’t work anymore, then we won’t proceed, but we are doing the groundwork to prepare for a scheme. We’re confident, we’ve got operator interest, and we’re confident that the wider benefits will make it a viable scheme.”

You can watch her answers on the Southborough News YouTube channel on this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E4wsVk0bRs&t=229s

Justine Rutland rejected a comparison with the Conservatives’ proposed £100 million Calverley Square project to build a new theatre, which collapsed when councillors decided the costs would have been a huge burden on council taxpayers. She said: “This is a very different scheme to Calverley Square. I think everyone has looked on at that scheme and is determined not to make the same mistakes.”

Justine Rutland was also asked about the petition signed by 5,000 people opposing the destruction of the Friendly Societies Hall housing the snooker club. And she was asked about the impact on the takings at the Trinity, which currently offers cinema three nights a week. Her answers are on the YouTube video or West Kent Talking podcast.

The interview has been watched by several hundred people already. One viewer said: “We need fewer councillors, lower council tax, and a council that lives within its means — not one taking on huge debts for speculative developments.”

Another sceptic said: “I’m afraid Justine Rutland’s responses give me no confidence that the scheme has been properly thought or could be partly financed by developing some of the excess space at RVP for housing.”

But there is still clearly interest in a new three screen cinema, with one resident commenting on the Nextdoor site: “I would love to see a cinema here. Trips to luxury and boutique cinemas (Everyman, Curzon etc) have doubled in two years. I love the cinema in Hawkhurst.”

More information about the council scheme is at:
https://rvpfuture.com/

The petition to save the snooker hall is at:
https://c.org/wDcWGyb9Hv