Press Release -11th March 2008:

A meeting facilitated by Peter North chairman of Cranbrook Parish Council took place last night (Monday 10th March 2008) between the Weald Community Group led by Sir Kenneth Warren, Denis East, Angley School Governor, local business man Howard Cox and the Principle of Angley School Phillip Morris, Roger Manning KCC Councillor, local Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillors Peter Davies, Eleanor North, John Smith and Linda Hall and from the Parish Council Vice Chairman, Brian Swann and Parish Clerk, Coral Kirkaldie.

The purpose of the meeting was to explore ways of persuading the Leader and Cabinet of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to place the project from the Weald Community Group to rebuild the redundant Borough Council Offices in Cranbrook as a centre for educational, community and business use on an equal footing with the current Cabinet proposal to convert the Cranbrook Library site into a local government services 'Gateway'.

It was agreed by all present that currently little or no consideration was being given by the Leader of TWBC Roy Bullock to the considerable merits of the community bid.

As a first step in the campaign it was further agreed that the Weald Community Group should seek to make a full presentation to the influential Conservative Group of the Borough Council.

Cllr North said "Cranbrook Parish Council have passed a resolution supporting the Weald Community bid, a proposition which we consider will potentially benefit the area far more than the proposals we have seen so far for a local government Gateway constructed on the KCC owned library site in Carriers Road. Thus far the Weald Community Group have not received a fair hearing from the Borough Council this had led to the distinct impression within the town that the Borough Council are determined to put profit before community needs and desires.