Historic Shelter Demolished

A street cleaning machine has destroyed a historic brick and tile shelter put up in 1922 on the River Walk next to the Medway in Tonbridge.

The accident happened on Monday 28th July, causing general distress among Tonbridge residents on social media, who were very fond of the shelter.  Joanna posted: "This is so sad."

The council's waste contractor FCC Environment was operating the machine at the time of the crash.

A spokesperson for FCC told the BBC it was unable to comment on the incident as it was currently under investigation.

The shelter can be seen before its demolition behind Tom Carradine when he performed at this year's River Walk Music Festival on the first of its summer Friday evenings.

Photo above copyright Sally Anne Low Photography.

The remains of the shelter have now been removed - this is how the site looked on Wednesday afternoon.

It's now been confirmed that the River Walk music Friday night will continue as usual.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council leader, Matt Boughton, sent this update to West Kent Radio on Wednesday. Listen here:

In a post on Monday evening on Facebook, council leader Matt Boughton explained why the shelter was known locally as the "Threepenny shelter". He wrote:

"In 1920 Tonbridge was suffering from mass unemployment at the end of World War 1. To provide meaningful employment to 330 men, everyone in employment was required to contribute threepence weekly so those without work could help construct what we now know as River Walk.

"In 1922 River Walk opened, including the penny shelter.

"This morning a terrible accident happened when a street cleaning contractor made contact with the shelter and it collapsed.

"The remains of the shelter are being taken away and put into private storage where the damage can be assessed, and we can look at what can be preserved from the current condition. We can then also assess what can be done about the space where the shelter has sat for the last 103 years".

Here is another picture of the shelter before the collision with the sweeper.

The shelter made the news in 2017 when the council removed a bench under the shelter to discourage rough sleeping.

Meanwhile, the Tonbridge Green Party discussed possible options in a Facebook post on Monday:
"The shelter is the epicentre of the River Walk Music season of entertainment every Friday at the height of Summer.

"Although we love the shelter this could be a real opportunity to replace it with a purpose-built stage with a dedicated electrical supply to upgrade the facilities here. Obviously the damage has just happened and everyone is surprised to see it in such a state.

"Rebuilding the shelter but moving it back might work but replacing it altogether is another option which would increase the space for revellers. What do you think?"