Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has approved the new Civic Centre plans by 30 votes to 13,  with 3 abstentions. The vote by the full council means every household in the borough takes on £1,600 of debt. New council offices and a new theatre capable of hosting "West End" productions will be built on the edge …

Continue reading Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s “Biggest Ever” project approved

The two Conservative Councillors who represent voters in Southborough North continue to take different approaches to this Wednesday's crucial Tunbridge Wells council vote on whether to take out a £77million loan to build a brand new Town Hall and Theatre. The loan would represent £ 1,600 of new debt for every household in Tunbridge Wells …

Continue reading Southborough North’s Two Conservative Councillors At Odds Over Civic Complex

The Chairman of the Friends of Calverley Grounds, Nicholas Pope, has told Southborough News that "much better options have been ignored" in the rush to build on the edge of a listed park in the centre of Tunbridge Wells. Nicholas Pope said: "The existing Town Hall and Assembly Hall theatre would make a wonderful renewed …

Continue reading Critics Say Council Services Will Be Cut to Pay Back Loans For New Civic Centre

The Tunbridge Wells Civic Society has sent a letter to all Borough Councillors outlining its concerns about the planned new Town Hall, but the Society is staying neutral on whether the project should go ahead. In a statement to Southborough News, RTWCS Chairman Brian Lippard, said: "The Society has long urged the Council to invest …

Continue reading Tunbridge Wells Civic Society Wants Changes to Design of New Town Hall

LISTEN to YouTube film of Cllr Tracy Moore making the case for local taxpayers taking on a £77million debt to build a new Tunbridge Wells Town Hall and Theatre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CZ6yrKCaJg Around 50 local people attended a presentation at Southborough Library on Saturday 4 November where Tunbridge Wells Councillors argued that the Borough's prosperity would be …

Continue reading New Tunbridge Wells Civic Centre “Will be a Place Making Cultural Investment”

The Conservative Borough Councillor for Southborough North is to vote against his own Conservative group's plans to borrow £72 million to build a new Civic Centre and theatre in Tunbridge Wells. Cllr Joe Simmons (below) called a referendum among his constituents on the Civic Centre plans and 80 per cent were against it.  The vote …

Continue reading Conservative Councillor to Vote Against His Party’s New Civic Centre Plan

The Labour Party Candidate won 51% of the vote in Thursday's by-election, taking the seat from the Conservatives, but the Conservatives will retain a clear majority on Southborough Town Council. The by-election was held in the Council ward covering High Brooms and East Southborough and followed the surprise resignation of the Conservative, Glenn Lester, who …

Continue reading Labour Celebrate Town Council By-election victory

The Liberal Democrat candidate for tomorrow's by-election (7th September) in High Brooms and east Southborough is arguing that the local environment urgently needs to be improved. In a statement to Southborough News, candidate Allen Lear (below) said: "I support the Lib Dem vision to clean up the toxic air pollution in Tunbridge Wells, through measures …

Continue reading Liberal Democrat Candidate Wants Clean Up of Our “Toxic Air”

The Labour candidate in the by-election for the vacant seat on Southborough Town Council has said he regrets the Conservative Party's decision to put up a by-election candidate who doesn't live in the Town Council area. In a statement on Saturday to Southborough News, Labour's Alain Lewis (pictured below) said: " I genuinely believe that town councillors should …

Continue reading Labour insists: “Southborough Town Councillors Should Live in the Town”

Two new managers have just taken charge of the area’s buses and they are promising to listen to what passengers are saying and make sure services are as reliable as possible. The new Area Managing Director for Arriva in Kent and Surrey, Oliver Monahan (below) told Southborough News: “We want to reset the relationship with …

Continue reading Arriva Bus Bosses Promise More Reliable Services