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Drivers struggle to cope with closure of A21 and flooding
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SHELF LIFE The Beales site could become part of a new-look Sainsbury’s
andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk THE future of the Beales site is being debated by the owner of the Sainsbury’s site after it was revealed that the department store will shut in April – with 46 members of staff facing redundancy. The news comes after it was revealed last week that the Jump In trampoline park is also facing closure in May, with the loss of 60 jobs. The Beales retail chain went into administration a month ago because of ‘the ever-changing landscape and challenges of the retail market’, putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk. Accountants KPMG, who are overseeing the process, announced on February 7 that Beales would close 12 of its 23
stores nationwide – including the one in Tonbridge. A spokesperson for KPMG told the Times last week: “We haven’t yet set a date for the closure of the Tonbridge store, but it is expected to trade for approximately eight weeks.
‘It is increasingly difficult for stores like these to survive’ Cllr Matt Boughton “Staff at this store will be retained to assist with trading over the weeks ahead, and the joint administrators and their teams will continue to work closely with staff during this period. We cannot comment further at this stage around redundancy arrangements.”
THE closure of the A21 for ten days over half-term has been causing lengthy queues after traffic in both directions was diverted through Tonbridge. And motorists who tried to avoid the town by cutting through the surrounding villages found their routes blocked by floods caused by Storm Dennis. MP Tom Tugendhat has contacted Highways England to express his concerns about the impact of the diversions on communities – and on the local economy.
Problems
It is speculated that neighbouring Sainsbury’s will expand into the Beales site in a massive overhaul of the Angel Centre. The supermarket giant holds a 125-year lease on the premises. Plans were already being discussed for a redevelopment of the Angel Centre by Tonbridge & Malling Leisure Trust, part of the borough council which owns the complex. The trust runs the sport and leisure complex next to Beales and is said to have reported a 10 per cent fall in income over a three-month period last year. Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council are still feeling the financial after-effects of the decision by Sainsbury’s to pull out of a proposed £70million regeneration of
The seven-mile stretch of dual carriageway between north and south Tonbridge was shut on Friday [February 14] and will not open until 6am on Monday [February 24]. Some 35,000 cars use the bypass each day, and traffic has been diverted on a route through Hildenborough, Bordyke, Cannon Lane and the Vauxhall roundabout. However, motorists leaving at the southern exit have been entering the High Street via Pembury Road instead of going through the industrial estate. Those turning off at Sevenoaks Weald have been pouring through Leigh and heading for Haysden Lane, then using the narrow Gate Farm Road to Bidborough. Problems with the network have been exacerbated by the floods, especially with the closure of the link road between Leigh and Haysden Lane, Ensfield Road. In addition, Penshurst was cut off
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Sainsbury’s considers its options after Beales closure announced By Andy Tong
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Wednesday February 19 | 2020