To the meeting came Cllr. Len Price, Cllr. David Wakefield, Cllr. Kevin Lynes. Local residents from York Road, Church Road and Inner London Road turned up to make the councillors aware of the unsuitability of the proposed planning.
But when the burglar alarm went off at the Conservative Party House, the councillors decided that the meeting could not take place as planned. Cllr. Wakefield invited the residents to his house, the historic Jordan House at the corner of Church Road / London Road. Cllr. Len Price could not attend as he had hoped prior to the incident at the Party House.
The Agenda could not be followed to the points, but Cllr. Wakefield confirmed his symphathetic view to the objections of the residents and seemed astonished that the developer did 'breach' governmental guidelines with regard to density.
Residents believe that all grounds for refusal of the first planning application of 27th January 2000 are still applicable.

Development of Telephone House site (Church Road / York Road) in the town centre of Tunbridge Wells

Residents are afraid that " bulk, size and height of the existing office building " will not be reduced by the proposed planning.

- The density seeked by the developer is extremely high
Government guidelines are 30-50 per hectare.
The site is only 0.307 hectare (0.76 acres)
43 units on this land mean 140 ! units per hectare
Making the calculation at the higher limit of 50 per hectare, the developer would have to be satisfied with 16 units.

-The proposed 43 flats could provide accommodation for 2/3 of York Roads actual population. (prices for the new development at BP 250.000)

* Density

Density within the governmental guidelines 30-50 per hectare would solve many problems

* Traffic

Increased volume of traffic

Pollution & congestion

All access via York Road

All traffic directed into town centre

Road maintenance

Road safety (result of more on street parking, increased use)

Traffic studies carried out ?

* Parking

Only one space per flat

Already over crowded and much illegal parking in York Road

Public safety issues : foot path blocked

Fire Services & Ambulance access ?

Parking survey ? - only 40 car spaces exist in York Road

Will residents be able to apply for parking permits in York Road

* Sky line

York Road: higher than houses directly opposite

(height of buildings takes the light off - ancient light issue)

Church Road: far higher than immediate neighbours

Completely obliterates views from London Road and York Road (upper end) towards Trinity Church

* Habitat

Buildings not set back enough,

no front garden

Housing Block D has a ramp onto the pavement

Privacy issue: neighbourhood watch in the most negative way

Destroying the existing trees

No proper replacement for this - internal courtyard shrubs do not benefit the public

Tunbridge Wells in Bloom

* Demolition

Asbestos survey

Water spraying the site

~ 1000 lorries with spoil, where will they go ?

* Construction

Traffic via York Road too heavy

Street too narrow built

Double parking frequent

Illegal parking on yellow line / pavement

No passage for lorries - blocking the road

More logical via Church Road

Road maintenance

Structural damage to properties

Likely vehicle damage

* Services

Guarantee of mains services coping ?

Expanding of mains

Irregular usage from office in the past - not residential

43 flats = considerable strain on water electricity gas sewerage

* Suitability

No benefits to present York Road residents

Out of line & unrelated to existing York Road buildings (e.g. rendered facades - Block D is planned with bricks)

Diverse supply of housing : Housing Association v. Penthouses

Density down under 24 units: No legislation for affordable housing.

Housing at cost of amenity (neglected amenity & leisure areas)

No play areas for children

Opportunity to correct the predecessors error:

The new design needs to be congruent with existing buildings in the neighbourhood of Church and York Road:

Why not reflect the architecture of Decimus Burton?

Retirement homes could be a more suitable project, provided that density and amenity are respected.

The re-development of the Telephone House, York Road / Church Road, Tunbridge Wells