Hundreds of people have joined a campaign group opposing the demolition of a town’s leisure centre.

Tonbridge and Malling borough councillors have already taken the “in principle” decision that the Angel Centre in Angel Lane, Tonbridge, must go, as they seek to make their facilities carbon neutral by 2030.

The council looked at the centre, which is expected to lose £265,000 this year, and said it would be too expensive to bring it up to modern energy efficiency standards.

Instead, they have committed to building a new centre elsewhere while promising that the Angel will remain open until a new centre is ready to move into.

But Steve Thorne is one of many users of the existing centre who opposes its closure.

He said: “I only found out about it by accident. As far as I am aware, there’s been no public consultation.”

Mr Thorne, 36, who visits the centre twice a week with his two young children, said: “I don't consider they have properly taken into account the carbon cost of demolishing the centre early, before the end of its life.”

Mr Thorne is also one of many who believes that the centre is not being used to its full potential.

He said: “I actually worked at the centre for 12 years. I joined as an operative at 16 and ended up as a duty manager.

“The Angel used to offer far more facilities, but even when I was there, it was being gradually run down.

“My great fear is that even though the council says it will build a new facility, I suspect that the new facility will only cater for the activities that go on at the Angel now, which is basically the gym and some children’s events.

“It won’t include the cinema, the theatre, the bar or the cafe that we used to have.”

Another former staff member is Gary Frost. He was of exactly the same opinion. He said: “It has just not been managed correctly.

“In the past, you could go and see live bands there, or go to the cinema.

“But when the projectionist who used to show the reel-to-reel films retired, they never invested in the technology to switch to digital films.”

Mr Frost, 50, has lived in Tonbridge all his life.

He said: “As a child, I did judo at the Angel and played in the five-a-side league – but that has also gone.

“I worked there for 19 years – I was also a duty manager.

“Things were constantly run down. The bar went; the cafe went. They stopped putting on the pantomimes.

“But this is a fantastic facility right in the heart of Tonbridge – just where you need it.”

He added: “Councillors go on about how much better the Larkfield Leisure Centre is, but that’s only because they’ve invested in it.”

Mr Frost has set up a Facebook page for those interested in saving the centre called Keep the Angel Centre For The Tonbridge Community. It already has 640 members.

Among the comments posted was one from Sue Elgar, who said: “What an absolute travesty this decision to demolish the Angel Centre would be.

“So many people have benefited from the facilities and services it provided.”

“I have never known a community leisure centre to offer such a generous variety of services: football, gymnastics, roller skating, acting, dancing of all types from modern sequence dancing, flamenco and salsa.

“The Angel is not just a leisure centre, it is a community hub that is so very important to the welfare of the people of Tonbridge.

“Please hear our voices; we know it can be great again! Please let the people of Tonbridge decide its fate.”

Another contributor, Lee Athwal, said: “My worry is the Angel Centre is only being seen as a gym – because that’s the bit that makes money.

“We need a civic centre where groups can meet, pantos can be staged, music nights return and a cinema.”

“If the Angel is knocked down, I think we’ll just get a gym, and a huge amenity that serves our community will be lost.

“This can’t just be about money. It must be about a flexible, affordable space for the huge number of community groups that used to use it.

“It used to be ‘ours’ - I want to reclaim it!”

Caroline Simpson said: “The location of the Angel Centre definitely needs to stay where it is, which is convenient with plenty of parking and good access.

“It's a shame there are not more activities and facilities for teenagers at the Angel Centre. When I was a teen growing up in the town there was a roller disco every week and regular 'balls' we all used to attend.”

Residents of Tonbridge should have a say in what happens

“An onsite cafe or even a bar and some pool tables would be great too. Perhaps a youth club based here too.

“There is very little in the town for our teenagers currently.”

There are two separate online petitions set up to save the Angel Centre, one by Gary Frost on change.org which you can sign here.

The other has been set up by Tonbridge resident Harold Tait, 78, a retired domestic appliance repairer.

He said: “Residents of Tonbridge should have a say in what happens to the centre, not be roughshod by the council, as we pay for this. The council has been running this down since 2013.”

You can sign his petition here.

The Angel Centre has been run since 2013 on behalf of the council, by an independent non-profit-making body, the Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust, operating as tmactive.

They consist of 11 voluntary trustees and also look after Larkfield Leisure Centre, Tonbridge Swimming Pool, Poult Wood Golf Course, The Games Hut at Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground, Kings Hill Sports Park and Leybourne Lakes Country Park.

The leader of Tonbridge and Malling, Cllr Matt Boughton (Con) was robust in the council’s defence.

With regard to complaints about a lack of consultation, he said: “Councillors who voted to support the in-principle decision to develop new facilities also agreed to keep all options on the table.

“Once we have clarity around options for the whole area we will be running a public consultation.

“I hear the passionate views from those who have used the Angel Centre. I’m looking forward to hearing more thoughts at the start of an exciting time to develop state-of-the-art leisure and community facilities for Tonbridge.

“I am proud of my record of being accessible and engaging with anyone living, working and visiting our wonderful communities in Tonbridge and Malling, and will continue to do this around the future of Tonbridge town centre.”

With regard to the allegations that the Angel Centre has been deliberately run down, he said: “The centre has not been run down. Any activities which have ceased, it’s generally because demand has reduced to a level which makes them unviable.

“Over the last 10 years the council has invested £687,000 into the Angel Centre and Tonbridge and Malling Leisure Trust which runs it, continues to invest, with new gym equipment and turnstiles arriving soon.”

With regard to allegations that the council had not properly assessed the carbon cost of pulling the building down, Cllr Boughton said: “The November 2023 report outlining the case for relocation did examine the carbon implications in some detail, noting the very high energy consumption of the current building.

“The creation of new facilities will inevitably have a carbon impact but at this stage without options to consider, it is impossible to say what they may be.

“However, if a new building is commissioned, ensuring its carbon emissions are minimised will be among the top priorities.”

But Cllr Anna Cope (Green), who represents the Cage Green and Angel ward where the centre is located, said: “I do think we need to consider all options before deciding the centre must be pulled down.

“There could be other uses for the building besides as a leisure centre.

“I do think the council is acting too hastily - taking the decision to pull down the Angel before we have given a thought to where a new centre might go.”

“RIBA (The Royal Institute of British Architects) has warned that there can be enormous carbon costs in demolishing an existing building.”

She added: “We haven’t yet asked the people of Tonbridge what they want or need.”

Martin Guyton is the chief executive of tmactve. He said: “The leisure trust welcomes the council’s commitment to investing in leisure facilities in Tonbridge and agrees that the current facilities in the Angel Centre are no longer fit for purpose.”

“One of the clear advantages of a new build rather than remodelling the existing facility is the opportunity to avoid major disruption during any build phase and the ability to continue providing services and to ‘transfer’ customers on completion of the new build.

“The trust therefore welcomes the opportunity to see proposals for a new, state-of-the-art carbon-neutral facility to replace the Angel Centre and to be consulted on where and what the proposals may include.

“The council has advised that it will engage directly with the trust over what a new facility may contain.

“Any proposals are expected to be subject to public consultation and the trust is committed to ensuring the voice of its customers is heard.

“The trust also understands that an ‘in principle’ decision means, should no suitable alternative site be found the council would revert to consideration of remodelling the existing facility.”

Normal service will continue while options are pursued.

“The trust continues to seek to deliver a range of leisure and community services based on expressed demand and will continue to accept bookings and promote leisure activities.

“Normal service will continue while options are pursued.”

Mr Guyton said that an illustration of the trust’s ongoing commitment was recent and proposed investment: an order has been placed for replacement spin bikes, new turnstiles have been installed in reception, fitness equipment in the gym will be replaced in December along with a new Box Fit unit.

Mr Guyton said he hoped and expected the trust to remain the operator of any new facility that eventually emerged.