by Thom Morris
tmorris@thekmgroup.co.uk

A writers' group has held an emergency meeting after being told they would have to pay to use rooms in Ashford’s new Gateway Plus building.
The club had been allowed to have their monthly meets free of charge at the old library and when it moved to its previous temporary home in Park Mall.
But since the new Gateway building opened earlier this year, the group has been told it must cough up the cash to hire a room for the privilege.
Member Stefan Leader, 45, said: “I’ve been with the group for about a decade and each month we get together and share poems and stories. We’ve never had any trouble before.

"In the old library we were allowed to meet free-of-charge and when it moved to Park Mall, they’d put a couple of tables together for us.
“Since we attempted to hold a meeting at the Gateway we’ve been told we have to book a room and hire it out. They said they might consider leaving the cafe open for the group later in the evening but only if we bought food and drink.”
The £7.5 million Gateway Plus opened in July and houses the town's library, various council services, a cafe, the tourist information centre, adult education and a room for exercise classes.

Full story in the Kentish Express out on Thursday.