Old council offices are put up for sale

THE site of the old council offices in Cranbrook has been put up for sale.

However, the new leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, David Jukes, has said it was just an experiment to gauge the market.

The new chairman of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council, Francis Rook, said he had been assured plans for the site would be unveiled soon.

Putting the High Street site on the market was part of the redevelopment project which will see more detailed plans for its future use explored and presented.

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Mr Jukes, who was officially appointed new leader of the borough council on Wednesday, said: "We have an obligation to get best value for money under the 1973 Local Government Act.

"I insisted we market the site to see what the best value was."

The site has stood empty since the old offices were demolished in March last year and the community has waited with bated breath to find out if cash made from its sale could go towards an eagerly anticipated new community centre for the town.

It is thought the space could be large enough to fit nine houses on. Earlier this year Mr Jukes said he wanted to work with Cranbrook to get them a new community centre, and although unsure of the value, was hopeful the site would be redeveloped by 2015.

Mr Rook said he had been campaigning for action on the site for months.

"It is a very important site to the town. The original draft plans proposed nine houses so the sooner the money can be generated, the better.

"I have been bringing this issue up often with the borough council and I'm very concerned about it.

"I've been promised plans would be forthcoming so at least they are not sitting on their hands."