TONBRIDGE a market town in Kent, England, on the River Medway. CIVIC adj - of or relating to a town, city or the people. SOCIETY noun - 1 human beings considered as a group 2 a group of people forming a single community with its own distinctive culture and institutions 3 the structure, culture, and institutions of such a group 4 an organised group of people sharing a common aim or interest.
Sketch from the TCS proposal for the former Beales department store to be converted into a covered market.
Tonbridge needs you!
Please come and learn more about the evolution of Tonbridge Civic Society at The Escape Arts Centre, Old Fire Station, Castle Street, Tonbridge.
Friday 18th November 5pm to 9pm
Tonbridge Civic Society is a charity that has helped guide the town’s development for nearly 60 years. During that time, it has supported new public spaces and quality design, provided people with a voice on planning decisions and ensured key historic buildings are preserved.
With a booming population and limited housing supply, it is inevitable there will be discussions in the months and years to come about how the town can and should grow.
Now the Society is refreshing its leadership and focus. We want to retain the Society’s current aims, of excellence in planning and conservation of the town’s historical buildings, but also to redouble efforts to engage with the many other groups in the town.
We also want to work with young people in the town, particularly within schools, to understand their needs and to support learning about Tonbridge’s development, both in the past and the future.
To do this, TCS wants to develop three areas alongside its oversight of planning:
Outreach
Engagement with local people and groups.
Media
Social media and digital content.
Future
Helping work on new ideas for Tonbridge.
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Outreach
What is the key aim?
To engage with the population of Tonbridge directly and via working with and directing people to other societies, associations and clubs.
Who should join?
Open to all but particularly good for people with connections with other associations and groups, eg teachers, historians, sports club committee members/volunteers, religious leaders, etc.
What is proposed?
- Arranging talks and visits
- Talking to local children / young people / older people about Tonbridge
- Supporting local schools in the preparation of educational material in relation to Tonbridge’s historic build environment and its development.
- Arranging meetings and maintaining communication with:
Clubs and other groups. Religious leaders.
Residents’ associations, WI, scouts groups, sports clubs, town team, town wardens, DofE etc. Local councillors.
TMBC. MP.
Local shops/businesses.
How could it work with local schools?
Many of the town’s schools will already be learning about the town, and so this function can support them. TCS could provide resources and activities such as the children being asked “What is your favourite building in Tonbridge (apart from the castle)? Do you know how old it is? Why do you like it?” This can also feed into the Future group’s work getting pupils to imagine what Tonbridge could look like in 25 years.
Media
What is the key aim?
To produce digital and print media for the society.
Who should join?
Writers, artists, producers, graphic designers and those with an interest in the media.
What is proposed?
- Build and maintain the new website.
- Set up and manage social media.
- Produce newsletters / regular communications.
- Prepare of print media.
- Setting up equipment. - IT support.
How could it work with local schools?
Could encourage 14-18 year olds with an interest in media studies, graphic design and social media to contribute in this area.
Establish an annual student competition to graphically redesign the TCS website.
New logo via a competition.
Sketch from the TCS proposal for the former Beales department store to be converted into a covered market.
Work.Eat.Drink.Shop.Relax.
What is the key aim?
The Future group is one for the dreamers! Blue sky, out of the box thinking about how Tonbridge could be in 10 or 25 years.
Anyone with big ideas for the town.
Working closely with the other groups of the TCS to bring together different generations to listen and learn from each other, to help create better links with our twin towns and to share knowledge and experiences.
- Collaborating with other community groups.
- Preparing presentations and ideas about the future for Tonbridge.
- Helping to create better links and exchanges between Tonbridge and its twin towns.
- Trying to establish links with other similarly sized towns in Europe and further afield, eg via engaging with people living in Tonbridge that were born
How could it work with local education institutions?
This group could reach out to local schools and colleges, universities, RIBA and other design organisations to get them to help structure design projects/competitions for urban, environmental and architectural strategies on specific sites and areas of the town.
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SEVENOAKS
MAIDSTONE
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
PECKHAM
TONBRIDGE
HADLOW EAST
WESTERHAM LONDON 20km 10km 40km District / Borough council populations: Tonbridge & Malling 132,600 Sevenoaks 121,400 Tunbridge Wells 118,900 Maidstone 173,100 Total population of Kent 1,589.100 10
What was the Civic society created for?
Tonbridge Civic Society was founded in 1963 after several historic buildings between the Chequers Inn and the Big Bridge were demolished. Since then, the society has acted as a “watchdog” to help ensure that nothing like this could happen again without the voices of local people being heard. Today we exist to support our town’s heritage, while boosting standards of design and architecture in future developments.
Who has joined?
People with a keen interest in the historic development, built environment, ecology and environmental issues. The society is apolitical and open to all.
What kind of things has it been doing?
- Reviewing and commenting on planning applications and planning policies.
- Seeking to conserve the town’s historical fabric and enhance its environment.
- Recognition design excellence.
- Maintaining a strong link to TMBC planning department.
- Maintaining a local list of historic buildings.
- Organising talks / visits.
- Maintains local list of important buildings.
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We still propose to continue our historic role
Environment Group
To compaign for excellence in local planning and development. Ensure the town is not on the back foot when developers (and central government) push forward plans - work on its own ideas and help shape how particular areas are developed.
Who should join?
People with a keen interest in the historic development, built environment, ecology and environmental issues.
What kind of things does it do?
- Reviews and comments on planning applications and planning policies.
- Promotes conservation and enhancement of the environment.
- Recognises design excellence in the town (plaques etc).
- Maintains links to TMBC planning department.
- Work with outreach group about talks / visits.
- Maintains a local list of important buildings.
- Connect with Tonbridge Historical Society.
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Some of the big stakeholders in Tonbridge we are trying to or need your help to work with
If you want the best for Tonbridge, please...
Spread the word and join us at The Escape Arts Centre, Old Fire Station, Castle Street, Tonbridge.
Friday 18th November 5pm to 9pm
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