Tonbridge miniature railway safe from demolition but Angel Centre to make way for new leisure centre, says council

Fans of a town’s miniature railway can breathe a sigh of relief after it was announced the popular visitor attraction will not be sacrificed for a new leisure centre.

Tonbridge and Malling council has however started its search for a site for a new building to replace the Angel Centre in Tonbridge.

It has decided it is too costly to refit to make it meet the council’s aim of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030.

On Wednesday, members of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee spent around an hour and a half discussing whether the cabinet’s “in principle” decision to demolish the Angel Centre, which loses £265,000 a year, was the correct one.

In the end, they decided that it was – after adding in the word “community” to the resolution to find a replacement facility, to ensure that it would provide both sports and community facilities.

The day before, councillors had been presented with a petition gathered by the Tonbridge Model Engineering Society and signed by 2,900 people, asking that the new facility not be constructed on the site of the miniature railway, adjacent to the town’s swimming pool.

Cabinet members promised that would not happen.

Council leader Matt Boughton (Con) said: ”We confirm that the miniature railway will remain on the same site, where it has been since 1951.”

He said: “This decision gives certainty for the Model Engineering Society and a clear focus on our work to develop our new facility elsewhere in Tonbridge.”

But the decision to knock down the Angel was challenged by a number of councillors.

Cllr Anna Cope (Green) said that the Angel was a community asset, much loved by the public, who should have a say in its future. She emphasised that it was not only used for sports, but also by toddler groups and the like.

Cllr Mark Hood (Green) was angry that demolition had been decided upon before any opportunity to re-purpose the building had been considered. He suggested that if not fit for leisure purposes, the building could be used for offices or other purposes.

But others had different views.

Cllr Dennis King (Con) said: “The Angel Centre doesn’t meet modern requirements and the layout just isn’t good enough. It costs more to operate than is made in revenue - the definition of a money pit.

“I’m looking forward to hearing thoughts on alternative sites to give Tonbridge the facility it deserves.”

Council leader Matt Boughton listed the various aspects of the Angel Centre that were nearing the end of their life and would have to be renewed or replaced at considerable cost if the building were kept – from the boilers to the roof.

He said doing nothing was not an option, but taking the decision to demolish would both allow master-planning for the redevelopment of the town centre and also allow proper consideration of what should be included in a new centre.

He said: “I’ve already had a number of sports clubs contact me who are currently not catered for by the Angel, asking if their sport can be included in any new centre.”

Cllr Dan Harman (Con) said the Angel Centre had been in decline for a number of years.

He said: “There is no point in being nostalgic about what the Angel Centre used to be. It has had its time and now it must go.”

Cllr Boughton promised that the Angel Centre would stay in operation until a new centre had been built and opened.