Demolition work on the empty ABC cinema site in Tunbridge Wells is well under way with the arrival of more heavy machinery this week.

The site, often referred to as the ‘grot-spot’ of the town has been an eye-sore for local residents since it closed in 2000.

Soft stripping of the buildings began on Monday, July 14 and deconstruction of buildings including an old doctors’ surgery and a house which stand a little way away from the main building complex at the south end of the site, began on Tuesday [July 22].

Ed Bellhouse, of developers Bellhouse Joseph, said: “Work is progressing well and demolition began in earnest this week.

“Specialist machinery arrived on site and work started the southern part of the area.

“Work continues on the soft stripping of material from the old cinema itself and the shop units around it in preparation for their demolition.”

The derelict site on the corner of Mount Pleasant Road and Church Road has been a conservation area since closing and concerns had been mounting in the town about the lack of action.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council chiefs voted to take legal action against owners and issued a Section 215 notice, meaning they could be forced to demolish the building if work didn’t begin before.

Joint freeholders Carlyle Group and Bellhouse Joseph said the developments will continue to take place out of public view for as long as possible, to minimise the impact on the town.

The demolition is expected to take three months to complete and both companies are said to still be considering what will be done to develop the site once work is complete.