Part of a cricket club pavilion is set to be turned into an office.

Tunbridge Wells Common Conservators have approved plans for part of the Linden Park Cricket site in Linden Park, Fir Tree Road, to be let out as business space in a hope to boost revenue.

The site was previously home to New World Montessori nursery, but after it closed last year the cricket club found it difficult to find a replacement source of income.

Worried that they would no longer have funds to deal with emergencies or equipment replacement, the committee decided to approve the proposal subject to getting planning permission.

Part of the building will become an office base for European book marketing company, Durnells.

At the moment the firm has a small number of people employed in Tunbridge Wells.

Representative, Sarah Thomas, reassured conservators that they would normally only have two people in the office at a time with occasional visits from customers and other members of staff.

She also told them that most employees will walk there and the car park would only be used by two or three vehicles.

The lease will last for a year before being reviewed and, if planning permission is approved, the company will move in this July.

Secretary of Linden Park Cricket Club, Mike Taylor said that the income would meet their needs but they may have to display sponsorship material during matches in the future.

He said: "We have cut our costs quite significantly. We're not going to get as much as we did from the nursery but any revenue we get is good revenue.

"We haven't had anyone say anything negative about the move and the conservators are happy as long as they operate from the top of the pavilion."

Some of the money will go to the club's landlord, TargetFollow.

Warden for the Tunbridge Wells Common, Steve Budden said: "We are sort of concerned about it but we have had a business in there before.

"In a perfect world we would prefer not to have any commercial activity on the common but we understand that the club needs to make an income.

"If we have got to have something, this is the best thing we could have because it will just consist of two or three people sitting at computers."
The meeting also saw approval for a food festival to be held on the lower cricket pitch later in the year.

The annual event is very popular in the town and is expected to see around 3,000 people come along over the weekend it is held.

It was due to take place on September 22 but a 10km run has been booked on the same day so organisers have been forced to find another date.