THE TELEPHONE HOUSE NEIGHBOURS ASSOCIATION
37 Church Road
Royal Tunbridge Wells
TN1 1JT
e-mail: telephonehouse@aol.com
internet: http://uk.geocities.com/telephonehouse

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
FAO Duncan Haynes, Esq.
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Town Hall
TN1 1RS

9 May 2002

Dear Mr Haynes

Telephone House Development - Environmental Issues

Arthur Mann from CALA Homes (South) Ltd writes to us on 22 April 2002:
- Demolition
“….. it has been brought to our attention by the local authority that the building is neither safe nor secure at present and there is concern that trespassers/vandals and the homeless will only help to make the building more dilapidated and encourage anti-social behaviour. As you can imagine we will do everything within our powers once we purchase the site on the 30th April 2002 to ensure that the site is properly secured and of course safe. ……”

In the light of this statement, why have we received no replies to our previous queries with regard to safety and environmental hazards regarding this site?

Arthur Mann continues: “I have in the meantime written to Mr Ken Munday at Crest Homes to request that he ensures that the building is secure prior to CALA taking ownership.“

Almost two weeks after CALA Homes is the new owner, why have the gates remained open and why is no security in place?
The site remains exposed to anti-social behaviour; we look at its further deterioration and as you know, there is always the possibility of accidents in such an environment.

Please inform us in writing by e-mail or letter of the action you intend to take in this matter.

Yours sincerely
Katherine Quinnell
Founder Member

cc: e-mail: Arthur Mann, CALA Homes (South)

07.06.02 - REPLY: Mr Duncan Haynes, Environmental Health Officer, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
- Environmental Protection Team -
- Stephen Collins - Head of Environmental and Housing Services -

Dear Mrs Quinnell.

TELEPHONE HOUSE CHURCH ROAD

Thank you for your letter received on the 13/5/02.

This service has been in communication with the Planning Department in relation to the above issue. This Service is currently involved in establishing a scheme of works for the demolition on redevelopment of the site so as to cause the minimal disturbance to the Local Residential area. While it is of course not possible to undertake such an operation with no effects to the locality, it is intended, that by working with the developer in this way any problems can be identified and resolved as efficiently as possible.

This Service and the Local Authority Planning Department will of course monitor the situation as work progresses in order ensure that the developers and their contractors employ all measures, which are reasonably practicable to reduce any impact on the residential amenity of the area.

Should you have any queries or wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me on the above telephone extension.

Is CALA Homes really going ahead with THAT scheme?

Whom are we dealing with? - The developers of Telephone House, Tunbridge Wells