Council holds crunch meeting to change its ‘archaic’ elections
THE Council in Tunbridge Wells is set to vote tonight (Wednesday) on changing its ‘archaic’ and ‘anachronistic’ voting system that could save taxpayers more than £200,000 in costs every four years. Currently, elections are held at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) every three years out of four, with a third of councillors elected in each […]
Station passenger numbers still just 60 per cent pre-Covid levels
RAIL usage at the three main stations serving Tunbridge Wells has still not recovered from the pandemic, with total journeys at just 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Tunbridge Wells station saw 2.09 million passenger journeys – entrances and exits at the station – between March 2021 and April 2022, according to the latest figures […]
No more first class travel as timetable changes introduced
A NEW timetable is being introduced by rail company Southeastern next month that will see an end to first class travel from Tunbridge Wells to London. From December 11, there will only be standard tickets available for those travelling from Tunbridge Wells or Tonbridge to London stations. Other changes have been planned to to ease […]
Council’s cost of living fund has no money in it
A FUND setup by the Council’s new ‘Borough Partnership’ to help Tunbridge Wells’ ‘neediest and poorest’ through the cost-of-living crisis has no money in it, the Times can reveal. Back in July, the coalition Cabinet at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC), which is made up of Lib Dem, Labour and Alliance councillors, announced that it […]
By George! Royal town bucks UK trend for new baby names
GEORGE was the most common name given to baby boys by parents in Tunbridge Wells last year, while Olivia was the most popular girls’ name in both the borough and the country. According to annual figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), of the 611 boys recorded in 2021 as being born in Tunbridge […]
Police criticised for ‘serious failure’ to hand over people’s information
KENT Police was one of a number of organisations called out by a government watchdog for causing people ‘anguish and distress’ after taking too long to respond to requests about information held on file. The force has been warned by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) that it now faces ‘very significant fines’ for repeated delays. […]
Care home resident proves it’s never too late to become a published author
At the age of 91, Lucy Pope has fulfilled her lifelong wish this month to publish a book with the support of a Wellbeing Coordinator at the care home where she resides. Lucy, a resident of Birkin Lodge Care & Nursing Home since 2021, was supported by Lizzie Penman to write her first book, which […]
New resident climbs mountain to raise money for town’s foodbank
A NEWLY-ARRIVED resident to Tunbridge Wells who decided to raise money for the foodbank in his new town by climbing the highest mountain in Africa, has also broken the altimeter on his fundraising target. Jim Hawker moved to the town earlier this year when he and his wife Daisy inadvertently bought a home belonging to […]
Local Paralympian becomes ambassador for Kent charity
A TONBRIDGE athlete turned Team GB Paralympian and double European gold medallist has become an ambassador for Compaid, a disability charity in Paddock Wood. Zak Skinner was born with a genetic visual impairment called ocular albinism, and began his training at Tonbridge Athletic Club, before moving to Loughborough for further coaching. Despite its challenges, Zak’s […]
Tory MP calls for housing targets change to ensure homes are built
Annual ‘housing targets’ should be set across England to make sure planned new homes are built said a Tory MP who pointed to unused planning permissions in districts such as Wealden. Conservative MP Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) told the Commons: “The 2020 White Paper promised us a once-in-ageneration reform to planning policy. These present […]
