Residents band together to save beloved bell tower

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Bromley residents have saved the bell tower of a historic listed building from being demolished. 

The council has stepped in to delay plans to knock down the bell tower cupola of Community House in Bromley town centre.

The building, in South Street in the town centre, was the former magistrates court for the area. 

Community House reportedly dates back to 1939 and is now used as a community centre to host local groups. 

Peter Martin, vice-chairman of the Bromley Civic Society, said plans to knock down the bell tower on the building broke on May 2.

He said: “We were alerted to the fact that the new owners of Community House were proposing to knock down the tower on the top of the building, the bell tower cupola. They were proposing to knock it down that Saturday [May 4].”

Mr Martin said the council’s planning department then took measures to prevent the tower’s demolition and a Building Preservation Notice was put up on the front door. 

He said the building was constructed alongside the former town hall to form a municipal complex in the town centre.

He added: “This is one of those distinctive features of Bromley, so it would be really sad to see it go. People were very upset when they heard that it was likely to be removed.”

A Deco Investments Limited spokesman said:: “Deco Investments Limited purchased the site in the knowledge that Bromley council were intending to remove the cupola.

“It is in an extremely poor state of repair and is considered dangerous, hence the need to have full scaffolding supporting the entire cupola. It is our intention that the cupola does not pose a safety risk to the public and we are seeking further discussions with the council on this matter.”

Conservative Councillor Colin Smith, leader of Bromley council, said  that it was untrue that the council had intended to solely remove the tower from the building. 

He said that the authority instead planned to detach the tower for the purposes of restoring it and to then replace it.

 He said scaffolding had been placed around the tower to protect it before the new owners had purchased the building.

He added: “We have issued a Building Preservation Notice, with this action designed to give additional protection to Community House and the cupola bell tower in particular, which is already a locally listed building in the conservation area. 

“While the preservation notice is in effect, changes or proposed works to the Community House building need consent, with national listing also being applied for.”

Pictured top: Community House in South Street, Bromley (Picture: Joe Coughlan)