Tunbridge Wells Council leader steps down
Brenchley & Horsmonden councillor, Alan McDermott, agreed to leave his position as leader of the Tory group at the Council following Wednesday’s [May 19] annual general meeting [AGM] of Conservative councillors. It will mean Cllr McDermott is likely to also step down as Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. The news follows a disastrous election […]
Peak-time weddings ditched as registrar shortage hits bookings
The news has alarmed wedding venues in the area that have had to endure more than a year of restrictions that have even seen them either unable to conduct ceremonies or limit numbers to just 15 or 30 people. Now Covid restrictions are easing, with rules expected to be relaxed even further next month removing […]
Star studded cast descends on Tunbridge Wells for BBC series
Among those starring in ‘The Cleaner’ are Helena Bonham Carter, from The Crown, Peep Show funnyman David Mitchell, plus Inbetweeners actor Greg Davies. The BBC would not confirm which of the stars were in the area for the shoot, but various locations were said to include the woods in Hawkenbury and areas in Broadwater Down. […]
Clean sweep for Tunbridge Wells Conservatives at County Hall elections
The election count on Friday [May 7] following Thursday’s vote saw the Tories keep control of County Hall. Five of the six incumbent Conservative councillors re-stood, including Peter Oakford the deputy leader of KCC and Cabinet Member for Finance, who was re-elected to his Tunbridge Wells north division seat. Sean Holden [Cranbrook] beat off competition […]
Staff shortages mean some pubs and restaurants may not reopen
Restaurants, pubs and cafes across the borough say they ‘are desperate’ for staff and many now fear they won’t be able to reopen when restrictions are lifted in two weeks’ time. One local pub saw 13 job applicants fail to even show up for interviews last week when it advertised for waiting and kitchen staff. […]
House prices go through the roof rising by more than half in ten years
PROPERTY prices in Tunbridge Wells have increased by more than 50 per cent over the last decade, analysis has shown. In the last year alone, they have risen on average £32,000. At the time of the last census in 2011, the average home in the borough cost around £257,000. Ten years on and the average […]
BID boss bids farewell to town as he switches jobs
THE head of Royal Tunbridge Wells Together has stepped down from his role after a year of leading the town’s Covid recovery. Ross Feeney took over as Chief Executive of RTW Together, which also runs the town’s Business Improvement District [BID], just as the pandemic struck the UK forcing hundreds of businesses in Tunbridge Wells […]
Treatment waiting list hits 32,000 as NHS battles record backlog
According to data from NHS England, 32,233 were in line for procedures and operations at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust [MTW] in February 2021. This is the highest level since the virus hit the UK in February 2020. And people are having to wait much longer for non-urgent procedures such as hip operations or […]
‘Comfortable win’ for Tunbridge Wells Tories predicted at local elections
Writing for the New Statesman, Political Editor Stephen Bush says that due to the postponement of the ballot last year, May 6 will be the biggest local council election held in England and Wales since 1973. Not only are a large number of borough councils up for election, but so are county councils, Police and […]
John Lewis to close Tunbridge Wells store
Staff were informed this morning [Wednesday, March 24] that the Kingstanding Business Park store is among eight that will stay closed once Covid restrictions lift, as the department store giant undergoes a major shift in strategy to adapt to changing shopping habits. The closures put nearly 1,500 jobs at risk. Advertisement Department stores in Peterborough, Aberdeen, York […]
