Third blaze in three days at town's derelict cinema
Fire crews have been called to three separate incidents in as many days at the former ABC Cinema site in Tunbridge Wells.
Last night, shortly before 10pm, firefighters tackled a blaze on the second floor of the derelict building in Mount Pleasant Road.
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The site of the former ABC Cinema in Tunbridge Wells
On Saturday at 10.50pm three vehicles attended a fire there.
Firefighters were called out again on Sunday night shortly after 11pm to deal with a fire on the ground floor.
The cinema shut in October 2000 and its redevelopment has become a deeply controversial issue in the town.
See this week's Courier for full story.
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by STEVE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Friday, July 31 2009, 3:34PM
“IN ANSWER TO SEAN'S COMMENT I'M SORRY THAT IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.YOU OR I IF WE WERE DEVELOPING A PROPERTY AND LEFT IT UNSECURE OR IN A TERRIBLE STATE OF REPAIR WE WOULD NOT BE ALOUD TO GET AWAY WITH IT .
THIS HAS NOT BEEN GOING ON FOR JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS ITS NOW NINE YEARS !! THE COUNCIL HAVE MANY POWERS THEY CAN USE ONE OF THEM IS PRESSURE ! THIS BUILDING IS DANGEROUS AN EYE SORE AND PROBABLY INSIDE AN ENVIROMENTAL ISSUE. THE COUNCIL FROM THE BEGINING SHOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED THIS BUILDING TO GET IN TO SUCH A STATE THE SHOPS THAT HAVE NOW CLOSED SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO TRADE RIGHT UP TO TH 11th HOUR THAT IN ITSELF WOULD HAVE KEPT THE SIGHT SERCURE. THE OWNERS MUST BE PRESSURED AND TOLD THAT IF WORK IS NOT CARRIED OUT IN A REQUIRED AMOUNT OF TIME THEY WILL FACE POSSIBLE FINES. THIS IS OUR TOWN AND THE CENTRE PART IS A DISGRACE LETS NOT FORGET THAT WE ARE ""ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS"" I REST MY CASE”
by Sean, Southborough
Friday, July 31 2009, 2:10PM
“I totallly argee with vicki earlier comments. The Council are powerless, they have already agreed the development should go ahead...now it is down to the developer to sort his act out!!!
People forget that TWBC collects approx. 12p in every pound that goes towards Council Tax. Most of the lion's share goes to KCC!
I'm sure the Council is trying to faciltate the development, however they have no power to enforce it to happen at present. Just remember the Council organised a design competition for the site to which the developer signed up to.
In TWBC defence recently acquired an excellent rating for its service, so for comment made by the likes of Selwyn, Rose etc should wind their neck in! Equally as a TWBC taxpayer myself, we pay one of the lowest Council Tax rates within Kent.
Enough said!”
by Brian Elliott, Tunbridge Wells
Friday, July 31 2009, 1:47PM
“I am sure the money the greedy Tunbridge Wells Council makes from car parking in the town for a year would enable them to compulsory purchase the old cinema/wreck/eyesore. Do they not realise what tourists think? Someone should be accountable. Sack the lot of them and start afresh!!”
by Brian Elliott, Tunbridge Wells
Friday, July 31 2009, 1:41PM
“Is that why most of the Tunbridge Wells Council departments have moved to the Gateway, because they themselves cannot stand the eyesore?”
by Concerned of Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge Wells
Friday, July 31 2009, 1:09PM
“If you want to know who owns the site then speak to Sean Timms at the Land Registry he will help you I'm sure,”