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Times OF TONBRIDGE
es s to im rd a ow T w H the s A E 8 r s G te ne E PA en usi SE B
Wednesday February 12 | 2020
New-look library is finished – and barriers taken off Avebury Avenue THE refurbishment of the town’s library has been completed - and the barriers on the pavement at the entrance to Avebury Avenue have finally been taken away. The concrete blocks were deployed across part of one lane at the junction with the High Street by Kent Highways to protect the public while sandblasting and window replacement were being carried out. Since September, this diversion has been causing confusion with pedestrians walking in the carriageway at the busy Vale Road roundabout instead of going around the barriers. UNDER THREAT: Staff and stakeholders at Jump In are hoping a new site can be found quickly for the popular trampoline park
Trampoline park needs new home after being forced out By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk A POPULAR family attraction will have to move away from the town if it cannot find an alternative location - with the loss of more than 60 jobs. Jump In Trampoline Park has been told it must leave its Morley Road premises by May 31 after the landlords gave notice to quit at the end of the current lease. The site will now be taken over by Atom, a large and highly successful drinks company which occupies both neighbouring units - and put in a better offer. Jump In has conducted what it described as ‘an exhaustive search’ of other potential sites in and around Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells but has
failed to find a local solution. It has eight other trampoline parks across the country, and this is the first one that has had to close. Both the company and the Morley Road site are profitable. Gavin Lucas, founder and Chief Executive of Jump In, said: “We have been
‘Closure would be a sad loss for the local area’ Gavin Lucas Jump In Chief Executive searching for alternative premises across the region south of London for some time, and are exploring some options for relocation. “Nevertheless, it is likely that Jump In
Guidelines
will be leaving Tonbridge if a local site is not secured.” He added: “We feel we provide a hugely popular outlet for fun physical activity for children. In the context of a childhood obesity crisis and increasingly screen-dominated daily life, this would be a sad loss for the local area.” Jump In has established strong links with the town, working with a variety of partners since it opened four years ago including schools, charities and sports groups. The third of nine Jump In parks to open across the UK, it attracted more than 100,000 visitors through its doors last year.
The works were scheduled to take three months but have overrun by six weeks. April Clark, Green councillor for Judd ward, met Kent County Council [KCC] representatives and the contractors Amey to try to find a way around the pavement problem. She said: “Apparently technical reasons prevented a break in the barrier to allow crossing at the corner of the High Street and Avebury Avenue. “There are strict guidelines relating to the work being done on the facade to the library, specifically the proximity of the scaffolding. It is important to balance Health & Safety regulations with practical solutions.” KCC’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Michael Payne, who represents the town at County Hall, was aware of the issues with pedestrians.
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