by James Walker

messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk

A soup kitchen that has helped the homeless for 24 years will close today.

The Soup Bowl in Crescent Street, Tunbridge Wells, was set up by volunteers from St Augustine’s Catholic Church in 1988.

It operates from a Victorian terraced house, providing soup and sandwiches for an hour each day to people in need.

An increase in the number of people using the service has forced Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to conclude the site is no longer suitable for the kitchen.

Complaints from local residents about the behaviour of people using the service have been numerous and the police had been called to the venue on several occasions.

For these reasons it was announced in February that the kitchen will have to close.

Darren Warren, a volunteer at the Soup Bowl for 15 years, said: “We will not move without a fuss. I cannot stress how bad it will be for the town and local areas if we are forced to close.”

Cllr Councillor David Jukes, property and major projects portfolio holder, said: ‘The decision to ask the Soup Bowl to vacate the property was taken after much discussion within the council.

“Voluntary groups make an important contribution to the borough. Nevertheless the council has a duty to ensure the safety of those who use council properties and to prevent others being intimidated by the actions of said users."

“It is hoped that once the property is vacated we can look at its future and hopefully bring it into use within the emergency housing portfolio,” he added.

The service has been looking for a new location for several months but their endeavours have been fruitless so far.