Residents save 1-3 Bank Street from the wrecking balls....

Tonbridge Blog has it on good authority that the fight to save 1-3 Bank Street from the demolition wrecking balls has finally been won. This is a huge victory for the Slade Area Residents Association (SARA) who've been dead against this from the start. A word of warning though to SARA: these developers are very canny and they've done all this a thousand times before. They often find another way of getting what they want, which is not usually what the residents want. They seem to be very patient and willing to wear planners and the public down over time. Not long ago it seemed to have been agreed that 1-3 Bank Street, which is almost opposite Mr. Books and is supposed to have been the first Tonbridge Bank, (thus giving the street its name) was destined to be redeveloped as a home for Hadlow College students; everyone seemed to be pleased with that outcome. Now that seems to have fallen through and then, surprise, surprise Marpaul, the owners, sneak through another planning application to tear down the half-delapidated building which, no doubt, they are claiming isn't fit to be saved. If it isn't fit to be saved then, it could be strongly argued, the reason for this is Marpaul's own neglect. Something needs to happen with this pigeon infested building soon or the council should have the right to compulsorily purchase it at below market price and turn it into something useful for the community. It's right in the heart of the old town centre and it's being allowed to crumble into dust, it just beggars belief. Comments below please....