Bid for common land to prevent future development

Common land in a Kent town has been put up for sale with a local charity bidding to bring it into public ownership for the first time.

Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons consist of 256 acres (103 hectares) of protected woodland and heathland, featuring natural sandstone formations. including Toad Rock and Wellington Rocks.

The Commons have been put on the market by its owners TargetFollow.

The Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons (FTWRC) have launched a campaign for pledges of support to allow them to acquire the Commons and have them managed for the benefit of the community.

Their former chair, John Barber, says he wants to "bring the area into community ownership as, whilst there are strong protections in place, community ownership would stop further developments forever".

The land on the edge of Tunbridge Wells town centre is home to an abundance of wildlife including fallow deer, badgers and bats and is also home to two cricket clubs, and car parks.

One of these car parks, Upper Pantiles on Major Yorks Road, has been the subject of a proposal for redevelopment into 104 luxury apartments with over 200 car parking spaces.

To allow this, owners TargetFollow are offering to swap this land with a similar sized area that is not within the Commons at Still Green on the outskirts of Rusthall.

Roger Barton, treasurer of FTWRC, says he believes this is a hurdle to be overcome if the development is to go ahead.

"It has to be shown that this is comparable land, there needs to a great deal of consultation and it needs to be approved by the secretary of state."

Barton says the sales brochure from TargetFollow shows the Commons have an annual income of approximately £150,000 per year which must be factored into the purchase price, but the listing doesn't place a value on the land.

"A large proportion of this income is from the Upper Pantiles car park which is being proposed for selling off and developed into luxury apartments," he says.

"We are looking for pledges of support to allow us to make a credible bid for the available common land."

The sale also comes with the title of the Lord of the Manor of Rusthall, an ancient feudal holding which extends from London Road in Tunbridge Wells westward to Langton Green and northward from Eridge Road to Speldhurst.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.