More than 1,000 people took part in a public survey to gather views on the proposed replacement Angel Centre in Tonbridge.
With the project in its initial design phase, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council set out a potential range of facilities that could be on offer. They include a sports hall, an expanded gym, three multi-purpose studios/meeting rooms, a dedicated spin studio, a wellness zone, soft play area and café.
Survey feedback from current users showed strong support for key aspects of the proposals. Around eight in ten respondents said an improved gym was either important or very important with around 95 per cent wanting a sports hall. There were also high levels of support for purpose built exercise studios.
New features, not available at the current centre, also proved popular with survey respondents. Around 86 per cent of people wanted a soft play area for young children and nearly 80 per cent said it was important to provide the new wellness zone featuring exercise equipment for those with limited mobility, long-term conditions or undergoing rehabilitation.
The six-week survey, which ran from 13 August, also invited non-users of the current centre to indicate facilities in the new building that might appeal to them. A café was the most popular choice chosen by 61 per cent of respondents with a larger gym (47 per cent) and flexible meeting spaces (43 per cent) among the most popular.
The new £19m centre will be built on the site of Sovereign Way Mid car park, close to the existing Angel Centre, and will be operated by the council’s leisure partner tmactive. It will use the latest in energy efficient design features to reduce carbon emissions – something nine-out-of-ten respondents felt was important.
There was also strong backing to retain the Angel Centre name for the new facility with 87 per cent of respondents wishing to see the name continue.
The survey also invited suggestions for additional features, not included in the current plans. More than 300 responses were received, with requests ranging from a swimming pool and squash courts to a flea market, cinema and library.
The next phase of the project will be to develop more detailed designs and submit a planning application later this year. If the application is approved, a contractor will be appointed with completion expected in 2028.
Cllr Adem Mehmet, who represents Trench ward in Tonbridge and is cabinet member for infrastructure and Tonbridge regeneration, said: “We are very grateful for the feedback from residents on these exciting plans to deliver a new purpose-built leisure centre for our town. I’d like to thank everyone who took part and gave us their views.
“This project will secure the future of leisure services for our residents in Tonbridge and beyond, replacing the existing Angel Centre that has reached the end of its life. It’s important that we hear the views of both existing users and potential future customers, so we can deliver the right mix of facilities.
“We’ll be analysing the feedback over the coming weeks and refining our design with the aim of providing a new centre that delivers the best possible range of sport, leisure and community facilities.”
Read more about the survey results and Angel Centre proposals