The location of the miniature railway in the heart of the town has been highlighted on a business plan for the relocation of the aging leisure centre
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00:00 Could this be the end of the line for Tunbridges Miniature Railway?
00:04 [TRAIN HORN]
00:06 The local attraction has been bringing tourists to the town centre for the past 70 years
00:11 but its future now in doubt.
00:13 The current site could be home to the town's new leisure centre.
00:18 The railway is next to the local pools.
00:21 And there's a second ageing centre in the town that's going to be replaced
00:26 but plans suggest, well if they're building a new leisure centre, build it next to the pools.
00:31 I think it would mean the end of the club because the structure that we've got is too old to be relocated.
00:37 We did discuss with the council the possibility of moving when they were doing the pool
00:42 and they would accept the cost but when they saw what the cost would be
00:46 their faces went white and they decided not to proceed.
00:50 They just moved the station area slightly and we remained where we are
00:54 and we're happy to have remained since 1951.
00:57 The reason for the new leisure centre is to replace the old ageing centre.
01:02 The Angel Centre was built in the 80s and Tunbridge and Morningborough Council say
01:07 it doesn't meet their net zero goals.
01:10 The site of the relocation hasn't yet been confirmed
01:14 but the leader of the council says it's early days but he denies it's the site of the railway.
01:20 So actually I think I can safely say to anyone who uses the miniature railway
01:25 that that site isn't one that we'll be going forward as one where we could put leisure facilities.
01:30 Of course we do need to look for suitable sites for alternative leisure facilities
01:36 but there are other options in the town and also in the council's ownership as well
01:41 and my anticipation is that we'll be looking at them.
01:44 A replacement to the Angel Centre could cost the council upwards of £17 million
01:51 and that decision is supported by opposition political groups.
01:55 We're very concerned. We just want the council to be clear about what is going on.
02:01 We want them to be honest. We want to give them reassurance.
02:04 So the best thing they could do in our view would be to allow them to have a 20-year licence
02:10 to operate from that site and to confer something called local green space designation on there.
02:17 So for the term of the next local plan there would be no development allowed on that space.
02:22 The club say they are meeting with the council leader next week.
02:25 They hope then there'll be more clarity on whether or not they'll be allowed to stay here or not.
02:31 Gabriel Morris for KNTV in Tunbridge.