Football club cry foul over plans for footpath

A football club is objecting to plans to install a public path on their leased land, fearing it would interrupt revenue-generating events they hold, such as weddings.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council says the 4m (13ft) wide footpath will provide access to a proposed housing development, comprising 350 homes, in Trench Road, Tonbridge.

Chairperson of Tonbridge Angels, Sophie Purves, said they have leased their land from the council, and claimed a lease extension was conditional on them accepting the footpath.

A spokesperson for Tonbridge Malling and Borough Council (TMBC) said it would "continue to engage with the club about its lease following an initial extension agreed a few years ago".

They added they "strongly valued" the role of the football club.

"The access route is being proposed to provide pedestrian access for a new housing development, should planning permission be granted, to secure and improve local access to the facilities and open space at the Tonbridge Farm," they said.

Purves told BBC Radio Kent the proposed footpath would cut through the area on which their marquee stands and it would interrupt their events.

"You don't want people taking photos during a wedding and to have a two-metre tall fence in the background," she said.

She added the marquee holds many events throughout the year, including parties, weddings and festivals, and it was one of the club's largest revenue generators.

Purves said the club was in the process of refurbishing its marquee, costing £100,000.

"We were not told a planning application was submitted. We were not consulted about the plans and we were not invited at the planning meeting. It is not acceptable," Purves said.

"We are asking for fans to object to the planning application which affects our operations here at the football club."

Purves said she hoped the local authority would "propose something sensible" and to give them an extension of their lease for 30 years, which they requested in 2023.

The leased land also includes the Longmead Stadium.

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