Lucky Tunbridge Wells couple win big on lottery scratchcard
A COUPLE from Tunbridge Wells has won a quarter of a million-pound prize on a National Lottery £250,000 Gold Scratchcard, with the winning ticket bought from a newsagent on Camden Road. After scooping the jackpot, teacher Michelle Newton and her husband, school caretaker, John Simpson are now planning to pay off the mortgage, house renovations, […]
First Kidical Mass bike ride takes place with more to follow
INSPIRED by various successful A26 mass rides organised by Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Bicycle Users Group, Bicycle Mayor of Tonbridge, Alice Thomas decided to host the first ever Kidical Mass ride in Tonbridge in a bid to campaign for safer roads in the town for cyclists. Kidical Mass is a global movement designed to promote […]
Traffic ban debated at Council meeting
AN E-PETITION received by Kent County Council (KCC) regarding the Public Realm 2 restriction in the centre of Tunbridge Wells was discussed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) on Monday January 15 at the Joint Transportation Board meeting. Following the petition, which received 754 electronic signatures and 331 signatures on a paper petition, KCC and […]
Charity CEO gets ‘surprise of her life’
LAST week, local charity CEO Suzi Mitchell was surprised on national television. Suzi, CEO of Taylor Made Dreams (TMD), a charity which supports children with life-limiting illnesses, appeared on BBC The One Show’s ‘One Big Thank You’ a weekly feature of the programme which celebrates people who go the extra mile to help others in […]
TWBC appoints new Cabinet finance chief
TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council (TWBC) Leader Ben Chapelard has appointed Councillor Mark Ellis (Lib Dem, left) to the position of Cabinet Member for Finance and Governance with immediate effect. Finance and Governance had been Councillor Chapelard’s responsibility following the resignation of Councillor Christopher Hall in December 2023 following his vote against the Local Plan. Councillor […]
Hospital parking income increase sparks criticism
AN increase in hospital trusts’ gross income from car parking fees across England has sparked criticism from the Liberal Democrats. Locally, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s (MTW) car parking revenue increased by over 60 per cent between 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The Times spoke to two local politicians about the issue. Mike Martin, Prospective Liberal […]
TWBC welcomes applications for £100k Community Support Fund
WITH the cost-of-living crisis continuing to directly impact many of the most vulnerable households in the Borough, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) hopes to provide financial assistance to organisations within the community after setting aside £100,000 to create a Community Support Fund. The Council plans to use the fund to offer five one-off grants of […]
Town’s first ‘pay-as-you-feel’ café to open this week
Charlie’s Angels Kitchens, a ‘surplus with purpose’ café tackling food waste and food insecurity, opens its doors on January 5 at 86, Camden Road. It will be Tunbridge Wells’ first ‘pay-as-you-feel’ ethical eatery that’s turning surplus food into meals for the whole community. The not-for-profit café was set up by Rusthall resident, Charlie Moore, who […]
Local dog trainer offers advice to XL Bully owners
As of last weekend (December 31), laws were introduced to muzzle the American Bully XL or ‘XL Bully’ and keep the dogs on a lead. It will also be illegal to breed, sell and abandon these dogs. Owners of an XL Bully have less than four weeks (until February 1) to apply for an exemption […]
ABC Cinema site development design sparks online criticism
Members of a local Facebook group shared their strong views on the social media site about the proposed design of the retirement village, ‘Thrive Living’ set to be constructed on the former ABC Cinema site on Mount Pleasant Road. The discussion came after resident Patrick Gillan shared his views on the development plans in the […]
