A map showing Blue Bell Hill commuter car park

Neighbour complaints and fewer commuters prompt decision

A council-owned car park which has lost most of its users and become a hot spot for anti-social behaviour is to close, councillors have agreed.

The 278-space Blue Bell Hill car park was used by commuter coach services prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, a drop in commuter numbers and increased home working have seen all bus services to London cease operating. Currently there are only around 40 regular users.

The car park has also been the subject of more than 100 complaints to Kent Police about anti-social behaviour in the last six months. Following a spate of car meets in the car park, the council installed lockable gates to restrict out of hours access at weekends. However, quad bikes and motorbikes can still gain entry to the site and have caused an ongoing nuisance for nearby residents.

A report to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s cabinet said: ‘The current operating model for the car park is not an efficient use of our resources and is considered to be unsustainable. There is no indication of any return of the commuter bus services which would generate an increase in the number of users to pre-pandemic levels.’

The car park, which costs approximately £50,000 a year to operate, is expected to close within the next three months. The remaining users will be notified of the specific date and have season tickets refunded. Future use of the site will be subject to agreement with Kent County Council, which holds a covenant on the land.

See the report to TMBC’s cabinet on 4 April 2023.

Watch the meeting on YouTube.

 

Published: Wednesday, 5th April 2023