“Who the h*** does Herr Ober Fuehrer Bullock think he is? He is a (supposedly) elected councillor who seems to have delusions of grandeur. Clean your ears out Bullock and listen to the people who pay your overinflated salary. WE ALL want the bandstand looked after, at least until such time as it can be properly restored. The present financial climate does somewhat restrict things at the moment, especially as this useless council (who should all be dumped) has already lost us ratepayers a fortune by their squandering of money on themselves, instead of doing some urgent jobs such as repairing our abismal roads. The condition of our roads is truly appalling and not just due to the recent bad weather - I have watched council workers spray-mark the same holes year after year without ever repairing them all around the Broadwater area. As for Ober Leutnant Cottrill, who has decided he needs to abandon the present council offices (front page of March 6th Courier), as "they are a barrier between the top of TW and its other areas", I would like to know how this barrier is formed. Indeed, I think us ratepayers should DEMAND a full and detailed explanation of such a stupid and futile remark. In my opinion, what he really means is that he wishes to waste more of our rates on nice, new, luxurious offices - I certainly want to know what the "barrier" is comprised of. How dare either of these arrogant, puffed up individuals dare to impose their pathetic views on us, the ratepayers, who unfortunately keep them in their cushy little jobs! This council is easily the worse pack of idiots we have ever had to endure, especially when we read that one third of our rates go into paying their highly inflated (and undeserved) pensions. Less spoken c*** please and more democratic action from those people who have unfortunately been elected, although certainly not by me. Over the years we have seen them deliberately destroy the Pantiles and all its associated events and themes, even to the extent of not buying it when the chance arose. The "Day at the Wells" was closed as soon as it started to make a profit and they wish to remove the Tourist Information Office from the very area where it is most needed - in the tourist area! They only wish to advertise our somewhat limited shopping centre - what should have been done years ago was to have provided free shuttle-bus services between the Pantiles and the centre of town. I have heard, on many occasions, people coming out of the Victoria centre, only to say amongst themselves " there doesn't look like there's much down there" as they look down Mount Pleasant, unaware of the Pantiles existence! Why don't we throw out this (universally accepted) useless council and start again? Many other councils around the country are renovating their bandstands, older buildings etc. with help from lottery grants and the like - why can't we? I acknowledge the fact that a bandstand is unlikely ever to be used by a brass band anymore, but it could have many other uses as I'm sure many people would soon point out. Anyway, it is part of the town's heritage - if we keep throwing it all away, what's left? A similar stupid decision has been made about M & S in Longfield Road! What madness - you can't move there now, and as for the ludicrous A21 roundabout - well, that just beggars belief that anybody on this earth could be so stupid! Do we wait until somebody dies in an ambulance stuck in the traffic before something is done? Castle Hill was due for dualling over 35 years ago, after the "Sevenoaks bypass" and "Tonbridge bypass" (as they were then called) were completed. The mind just boggles at such utter incompetence of the local councils and Highway authorities.”

“Virgin space? The mind boogles!”

“I note from an item on the Royal Tunbridge Wells town forum website that the council is going to spend £12000 on new town signs with the tacky slogan"Love where we live"!Surely this money would be better spent on projects that will benefit everybody such as the regeneration of the bandstand.”

“Thanks Peter. Note also the party in the park on Saturday April 11 on facebook.”

“Please publish this comment.
There are nearly 1700 members of the Facebook group 'Save The Bandstand'.
I know you are not 'allowed' to publish a link but at least allow your readers to be aware that this group exists and is looking for positive ways to address this current situation.
Thanks.”

“I was outraged to read the glib, patronizing comments by Mr Bullock about people not wanting to listen to music in the park any more. Tunbridge Wells has benefited enormously from the delightful outdoor events put on in the past, and my family has always loved looking at or playing on the bandstand while we sit at the cafe. What about something positive from our politicians for a change: take the £20,000 put aside to demolish our beloved bandstand, organise a talent competition or another event to raise the remaining £6000 needed to restore it and make sure community is not lost! It is so easy to be defeatist, but it is our town's heritage. It is more than just a structure: it allows people of all ages to meet, play, listen to each other and enjoy the outdoors. It is clear by the reaction shown by the public that there would be plenty of support for a concert or family event to save our bandstand.”

“What's all this about the bandstand being a monolithic monstrosity!? It is time for people in this town who wish to preserve our past and build for the future to stop voting Tory.”

“As one of the organisers of the march against the Israeli attack in Gaza, I have to raise concerns that the demolition of the bandstand may in part be motivated by an attempt to prevent there being an obvious focal point for such demonstrations in future. I was at primary school at the time of the anti poll tax movement, but I believe that some of the local marches also ended in a rally on the bandstand.

Maybe I am paranoid, but during the 1980s and early 90s I believe that even CND were banned from running stalls in Calverley Road, and some councillors have long memories.

In contrast, Nottingham has just opened a Speaker's Corner, the first outside London. Possibly this suggests that the local authority in that city are more in favour of the right of freedom of speech.

P.S. I can't see how anyone can seriously link the EU with this proposed demolition! However, the sentiments expressed in the European Convention on Human Rights, a pre-EU and EEC example of pan-European cooperation signed by that well known communist, Winston Churchill, in 1950, should give the council pause for thought.”

“Mr Thomas,
In your comment you mentioned that it has not been considered what the youth of the town think. At seventeen, and with siblings of varied ages i reckon i've got a pretty good idea of what the youth of the town wants and needs. you refer to the bandstand as something that is simply aesthetic, as if there is no other use for such a construction other than to look at it. You refer to the bandstand as if its some useless piece of history, unecessary in modern times. If this were true, then why would the parades of brownies and scouts etc end their march in Calverley Park, swarming round the band stand to hear speeches and thanks given? If this were true then why would it be thought of so fondly by the residents of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas? I'm only seventeen yet i have memories of bands playing on that bandstand and my family enjoying the music and eating ice creams whilst watching. If this bandstand were as useless and impractical as you make out then its certainly only recently become like that because seventeen years is not a long time on the scale of things.

The reason money is paid to the council is to keep the town in a condition that makes people proud to live here and be a resident. Surely to do that you have to take into account the WANTS of the town, not just the needs? We want a bandstand. According to you, modern society suggests that we do not need one and there are other options, but have you considered the fact that such reasons don't always matter? As a town we want a bandstand because it holds memories, its shelter for people when it rains or shines, its a mark of a town that has a history not just a future.

As for your remark about the people who have signed the petition not living in the town, should we get rid of the pantiles then? No one bathes there any more and most of its charm appeals to people outside the town, and they don't pay for its upkeep with taxes so maybe we should rid ourselves of it?

Sarah Little.”

“Mr Bullock. Your report says that you do not have funds for this sort of project. What about the proposal to re-site the Town Hall Offices, this will eventually cost a small fortune. We the ratepayers are obviously not worth considering.

Whilst on the subject of the Town Hall I suggest that you sort out the mess of the old cinema opposite before considering your own comforts!!!!”