Kentish Express Ashford & District
‘Wrong site’ row over plan for model railway museum
A group of residents have condemned the plans for a model railway museum in Newtown and even branded the idea ‘dangerous’.
Committee members of the Newtown and South Willesborough Community Group have attacked proposals for the Ashford International Model Railway Education Centre (AIMREC), which supporters want to build on the old Klondyke works.
Retired Jim Crabb, 74, who lives in Newtown with his wife and is a member of the residents’ group, said it was the wrong site.
He said: “We do not think the museum plans are good enough, big enough or in the right place.
Referring to the construction of flats on another part of the railway site, he added: “The building going on at the moment is already swamping Newtown and causing severe traffic problems.
“You can’t move at the weekends and it already takes a quarter of an hour to drive 300 yards in the area.
“If these plans do go ahead it’s going to be noisier, with more traffic, and it’s unfair to the res- idents who already live there.”
AIMREC have submitted a screening opinion application to Ashford Borough Council (ABC) and hope to submit a full planning application for the site by the end of October.
If successful, the team plan to build an observatory, working model railways and lecture halls.
ABC have previously confirmed their support of the plans, together with legendary The Who frontman Roger Daltrey and TV presenter Jools Holland.
But despite high- profile endorsement, the Newtown and South Willesborough community group have said they will fight to keep the museum away from the area.
Mr Crabb added: “To be honest, we didn’t think the plans were going to get this far anyway, but since they’ve reared their ugly head again we will definitely be putting objections in when the full application is submitted.
“But we are sympathetic with the AIMREC group. It’s a nice idea but it is in the wrong place because it’s going to cause a lot of problems with traffic.
“With all the issues already in the area, it could be quite dangerous.”
What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk