Sevenoaks’ crown jewels for sale: secret District Council plans threaten the Stag Theatre and Hollybush Recreation Ground

Secret plans by Sevenoaks District Council to sell or commercialise two of the town’s most cherished community assets — the Stag Community Arts Centre and Hollybush Recreation Ground — have been exposed in council papers due to be discussed at Tuesday’s Finance & Investment Advisory Committee meeting.

The papers reveal that the Conservative-run District Council is actively considering a commercial sale of the Stag Theatre freehold, despite a 4,000-signature petition calling for it to be transferred to Sevenoaks Town Council at no cost. The market value of the Stag could exceed £650,000. If the Town Council were forced to pay market value, local ratepayers could face a precept increase of over 43%.

The same papers expose plans — drawn up since 2021 but never made public — to build new homes on Hollybush Recreation Ground, impose car parking charges on sports facility users, and raise rents paid by the ground’s bowls, tennis and hockey clubs.

Both assets are community treasures. Hollybush has served the people of Sevenoaks since 1910, acting as a green lung connecting the town to Knole Park and the green belt. The Stag is the heart of Sevenoaks’ cultural life. Neither was given to the council to be sold to the highest bidder.

Cllr Alan Leaman, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sevenoaks District Council, said: “This is like selling off the crown jewels. These are priceless community assets, often gifted to the town for the benefit of local people. They were not given to the council or Conservative councillors to sell to the highest bidder. The problem with the District Council is that it appears to know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

On Hollybush, Cllr Leaman added: “It is alarming that these plans have only come to light because of the Town Council’s application to take on responsibility for the park. This is a much-loved local facility and it should be in the hands of the local community — not at the mercy of a council that has been drawing up plans to build on it in secret.”

Cllr Claire Shea, Leader of Sevenoaks Town Council, said: “We are completely shocked by the contents of these agenda papers. The District Council appears to be actively considering a commercial offer for the Stag rather than a Community Asset Transfer — which would mean the end of the Stag as a community arts centre. The market value could exceed £650,000, and if the Town Council were forced to pay that, local ratepayers would face a precept increase of over 43%. It’s outrageous for one council to try and charge another for publicly-owned assets just for them to stay the same. This is not an investment portfolio, it is stewardship of our shared heritage and facilities.”

Liberal Democrats are calling on the District Council to support the transfer of both assets to Town Council stewardship.