Here is a selection of stories in this week’s Times of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. For more stories and the latest news, make sure to visit our sister site theknow.guide
NEW BAR THE COMMON ROOMS TO OPEN IN FORMER SCALLYWAG CLUB
The former Scallywag club on Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, is to reopen as a trendy bar under new ownership.
Business partners Alex Macnutt and Chris Gane have bought the venue, which is set to open under new name The Common Rooms later this month. But unlike Scallywag, which moved out earlier this year, it will not offer live music.
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‘BIG CONVERSATIONS’ INTO FUTURE OF BUSES TO START THIS MONTH
Consultations on rural bus routes, which could result in traditional ones being replaced by taxi-style services, begin in Kent this month.
The county council is holding this series of public meetings just months after a U-turn on their controversial proposal to end subsidies to 78 services, including a combined 23 in the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge areas.
By following this through, County Hall could have saved £2.25million in their 2018/19 budget.
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HEATHROW RUNWAY IS NOT ALL GOOD NEWS FOR ANTI-GATWICK GROUP
A campaigner opposed to Gatwick expansion is not celebrating news that the airport has not been chosen to provide a second runway.
Instead, Cabinet ministers voted yesterday [Tuesday] for a third runway at Heathrow Airport to go ahead.
Protestors in West Kent have long opposed development at Gatwick, with Tunbridge Wells often being in the flight path.
Sally Pavey, Chair of Campaign Against Gatwick Noise Emissions [CAGNE], said the announcement was a ‘bad day for climate change’.
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WARNING KENT SCHOOLS COULD CLOSE UNLESS GOVERNMENT CHANGES POLICY
The Leader of Kent County Council Paul Carter has issued an urgent appeal to the Government for greater school funding.
This follows the release of data which shows how county halls are needing to dip into funds reserved for state schools to pay for supporting children with special educational needs.
In the past four years Kent County Council has transferred £28million to make up for the shortfall, one of the highest amounts in the country.
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TONBRIDGE’S FIRST ART FAIR HERALDS OPENING OF 35 LOCAL STUDIOS
HUNDREDS of visitors enjoyed the first ever Tonbridge Art Fair on Saturday [June 2] as the pipe opener for a month of Artists’ Open Studios.
River Walk provided a suitably scenic setting for stalls displaying paintings, drawings, jewellery, ceramics and photographs created by local artists.
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MP CALLS ON HEALTH SECRETARY TO KEEP WEST MALLING SURGERY OPEN
THE MP for Tonbridge & Malling, Tom Tugendhat, has questioned the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt in Parliament about the future of GP surgeries in small communities like West Malling.
The practice, which has 20,300 people on its books, will move the majority of its operation to Kings Hill next year.
There has been a surgery on the High Street for 70 years, but the current building was put up for sale by the partners at the West Malling Group Practice.
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