A council looks set to sell off a “little used" town centre car park earmarked for redevelopment after only one solitary voice was raised in opposition.

Tunbridge Wells council met to determine the future of 60-space Mount Pleasant Avenue car park.

The 0.46 acre site is in a prime location, close to both the town’s shops and to its premier park, Calverly Gardens.

The car park has 60 spaces, but has in recent years only been open to the public at weekends. From Monday to Friday, it was leased to Axa for use by their staff at adjacent offices.

Last week the council’s finance and governance cabinet advisory committee met to decide its fate with Cllr Lance Goodship (Con) the only councillor to oppose its sale.

He told the cabinet member for finance, Cllr Chris Hall (Lib Dem): “We shouldn't be considering the disposal of council-owned car parks until the council has formed a car park strategy, especially one that addresses EV charging throughout the entire retail spine of Tunbridge Wells.

“Selling assets without a comprehensive strategy — especially one that hasn't been consulted on with borough residents — is not in the taxpayers' best interests.

“I urge the cabinet to delay this decision until the council has fully developed – and sought feedback on – our car park strategy, town centre plan, and corporate plan."

But Cllr Hall said he regarded the Mount Pleasant car park as something of “an exception and a unique case”.

He added: “It is very little used – or even known about by the public.”

Cllr Steve McMillan (TWA) asked: “Why are we in such a rush to sell it now?”

He suggested in the current depressed market, it might be better to wait for an upturn and secure a better return.

But Peter Benfield, the council’s senior estate surveyor, explained that Axa was selling its adjacent building, and the council was using the same agents as Axa – Lambert Smith Hampton.

It was hoped that a dual sale might be more attractive to potential developers, and bring a potential increase in the sale price, whereas if the council waited, that opportunity could be lost.

Cllr Hall promised there was no intention to sell any other car parks in advance of a car parking strategy being prepared.

But neither he nor his officers could give any date when that might be ready beyond “sometime later this year.”

The committee was asked to give delegated powers to the cabinet member and senior council officers to agree a sale after the opening of sealed bids at the end of this month.

So far only one bid has been received.

Cllr McMillan sought assurances that the council was not committed to sell, if an acceptable offer was not received.

Cllr Hall said: “The decision will rest with me and the senior officers.”

“We don't have to agree a sale if we don't think we are getting fair value.”

Cllr Goodship asked for a named vote.

Those voting to endorse the sale were Cllrs Tom Dawlings (Con), Mark Ellis (Lib Dem), Chris Hall (Lib Dem), Steve McMillan (TWA) and Matthew Sankey (TWA).

Cllr Lance Goodship (Con) was the only one to oppose the sale.

Tunbridge Wells council currently provides 3,500 parking spaces in the town centre, and around 4,500 across the borough.

In March, the council said four other car parks would only be sold “in tandem with a new parking strategy” and promised “sufficient car parking will be retained to meet the future needs of Royal Tunbridge Wells”.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Goodship said: “It was clear from the officers’ statements that the Axa building and [Mount Pleasant] car park are likely to be sold to a developer to build flats, which is why they want to include the car park in with the building sale.

“This clearly highlights the false statements made by the Lib Dem and Alliance coalition back in February when they denied there was any such intention.

“It really doesn't look like a sensible decision given that the council hasn't defined either its strategy for car parks or the town centre yet.”

Speaking last month, a Tunbridge Wells council spokesman said: “We said in March that no decisions had been taken and that decisions would be made in tandem with a new parking strategy.

“That hasn’t changed. The parking strategy is being developed and was considered when the marketing for sale of Mount Pleasant Avenue car park was explored.

The decision on whether to sell Mount Pleasant Avenue will be made by full council later this year.