Charity 'confident' of raising funds for Commons bid

1 hour ago

Cash Murphy,South Eastand

Hannah Roe,In Tunbridge Wells

News image — The land is home to wildlife including fallow deer, badgers and bats

Hannah Roe/BBC A sign for Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons. The sign features a map of the site and outlines what wildlife can be found there. An orange poster stating that the Commons are for sale sits in the left-hand corner. A path with a walker and their dog can be seen to the left. — The land is home to wildlife including fallow deer, badgers and bats

A charity bidding to bring common land in a Kent town into public ownership for the first time is "optimistic" about its chances of success.

Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons, a 256 acres (103 hectares) site of protected woodland and heathland, has been put on the market by its owners TargetFollow.

With just under a month left to submit a bid, Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons (FTWRC) treasurer Roger Barton said "we feel confident that we'll be able to raise the necessary pledges to be able to buy it".

TargetFollow said it was not quoting a specific price but will "consider all bids received" for the site.

Hannah Roe/BBC Roger Barton, treasurer for FTWRC, pictured in the Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons. Roger is wearing a grey jumper and red/navy coat. He is bald, and is standing in front of natural sandstone formations. — Roger Barton, treasurer for FTWRC, believes a lot of hurdles have to be overcome for a housing development to go ahead at the Upper Pantiles car park

Those frequently using the Commons have backed the charity's bid to acquire the land, which according to TargetFollow, has always been privately-owned despite speculation to the contrary.

Owner of Curlyveras Coffee, Jane Killick, said she would "love to be part of the generation that re-owned it, that paid for the Commons to belong to the people again".

Tom Davis, chair of Linden Park Cricket Club which has used the space for 150 years, is hopeful that FTWRC can raise the money needed.

"It's a tiny bit worrying, the unknown," he admitted.

Hannah Roe/BBC Jane Killick pictured beside her cart, 'Curlyveras Coffee'. The cart is white and has the name emblazoned on the side. Jane has dark, curly hair and is wearing a purple coat and green jumper. — Coffee cart owner Jane Killick said that "it feels like it's the time for people to make a stand together"

Plans have been mooted to build 104 apartments, alongside over 200 parking spaces, on one of the car parks on the Upper Pantiles car park which sits on the Commons.

Former FTWRC chair, John Barber, said that "most people find this absolutely abhorrent".

Corin Thoday, chief executive officer of TargetFollow, said: "Public access to the Commons is protected by Acts of Parliament and this situation will not change if ownership changes."

Thoday added that, any development of the Commons is "likely to be subject to de-registration of land as Commons" by the secretary of state, followed by planning consent from the local authority.

Justine Rutland, deputy leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, added: "It's not really, I would say, land that's there to make a lot of money from...which is why I think the community would be the right owners."

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