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Local Liberal Democrats were cheered this week by their victory by 107 votes in a council by-election for Cranbrook, Sissinghurst and Frittenden. The Lib Dems got 37% of the votes, increasing their overall majority on the recently reprieved Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. The Lib Dems now have 26 seats against a combined opposition on the …
Continue reading Lib Dems Win Cranbrook By-Election to Cement Control of Borough Council
A development of 125 homes to the south of Tunbridge Wells at Ramslye Farm has been approved by Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillors. The decision was described as "a really, really bad step" by campaigners concerned about the shortage of water in the town. A local group also argued there were multiple errors in the application …
Continue reading Water Campaigners Dismay Over Approval for More Homes on Local Fields
Escalating costs involved in restructuring local councils in Kent could mean the changes never happen. A shock announcement last Monday 7th September by the Labour government put on "pause" plans to abolish both Kent County Council and all the existing Borough Councils - with no timetable to resume the process. Indeed, it was announced that …
Continue reading “Shambles” as Labour’s Local Council Changes “Paused”
Way back on 3rd March 2019, I published one of my most successful blogs. It was about the history of the road I live in: Pennington Road. If you missed it, do click on this link:https://southborough-news.com/2019/03/03/wanted-old-news-about-pennington-road/ I followed it up with an article about the history of Brooklands School that was once a stunning building …
Continue reading Still Wanted! Any More News About Pennington Road?
Just hours after Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council voted against taking forward a Local Plan based on Labour's new housing targets, the council were overruled by the government. The housing minister sent a letter to council leader, ordering the local council to put the plan forward for public consultation anyway. Council leader Matt Boughton said: …
A council meeting in Tonbridge and Malling has refused to progress with a plan to build the 20,000 new homes demanded by the Labour government, but the decision was then immediately overruled by the government. The vote to pause the Local Plan was described as "irresponsible" by the Liberal Democrat group. But Conservative councillor, Sarah …
The owners of the snooker centre in Tunbridge Wells have spoken for the first time about how they were "devastated" to find the Borough Council wanted to knock down their home, the Friendly Societies' Hall. Construction of the ornate Friendly Societies' Hall (pictured below) began in 1877 after a royal visit by one of Queen …
Continue reading Victorian Snooker Hall Still Set for Demolition
There's concern that no significant assets are set to be given to the brand new Town Council for Tunbridge Wells, so leaving it with little power to enhance the town. The decision to form the new Town Council was made by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council on 15th July after public consultations. The Tunbridge Wells Borough …
Continue reading Royal Tunbridge Wells to have its own Town Council
Environmental campaigners have said that the climate and the UK economy will suffer as a result of the final approval for a new £2 billion runway at Gatwick Airport. On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal rejected legal arguments of campaigners trying to block the expansion and refused permission for them to appeal. Opponents of Gatwick’s …
Elections will take place next year for a powerful new West Kent council which will replace four existing local authorities. The West Kent Unitary Authority will cover the area currently run by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Maidstone Borough, Tonbridge and Malling Borough and Sevenoaks District Council. On Thursday, the Labour government confirmed its plans to …
Continue reading Abolition of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Confirmed
