The Labour government has announced that Kent will not be “fast-tracked” for a mayor and devolution.

The Kent County Council elections are now set to go ahead as planned in May.

Reacting to the news, the leader of Kent County Council, Roger Gough said: “I am astonished by this decision and bitterly disappointed that residents and businesses of Kent have been let down by the Government and will not be able to benefit from the increased monies, powers and opportunities promised through devolution”.

The Kent County Council election will see people in Southborough voting in the Tunbridge Wells North ward, which elected Conservative Peter Oakford by a margin of 80 votes over Labour in May 2021.

Neighbouring counties of Surrey, Sussex and Essex were all put in the “fast track” which means that their county elections this year will be cancelled, as they would be for authorities due to be quickly abolished in favour of new authorities.

When they eventually happen, residents in Southborough are expected to have one “unitary” authority for West Kent to provide all the services now provided by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council.

That includes social care, transport, education, planning and refuse.  Southborough Town Council will continue to look after Southborough’s parks and common land.

The 16th Century “Weavers” building which was most recently a tea room, pub and restaurant is set to be converted into a family home.

A planning application has been made to refurbish the original parts of the grade II listed building, while demolishing 20th Century additions and building two new semi-detached houses.

The building on the main road through Southborough was recently a Thai restaurant and then a Turkish restaurant called Imli.

But from June 2023, it has been empty and was in danger of falling into disrepair.

Developer Larkhall Lane Property Limited put in the application in December 2024.

The former hall house is timber-framed. 

According to a Southborough and High Brooms history book by Chris McCooey: “In Victorian times the building was tile hung, but the original Tudor woodwork was revealed again when a Mr Bridges bought the house in 1926.  It became the Weavers Tea Room in 1930”.

One high roofed room built on the back of the building is believed to have constructed so it could accomodate the looms of the Huguenot weavers. Weaving was an important industry in Tonbridge.

Chris McCooey’s source also states: “A chalybeate spring rises underneath the Weavers…visitors could take the water just like they could at the more famous spring on the Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells”.

Inside the building retains much of its original character.

There are more details on the West Kent Radio website.

https://www.westkentradio.co.uk/news/west-kent-news/weavers-southborough-homes/

The Conservative controlled Kent County Council has voted to ask the Labour government to cancel the county elections set to be held in May.

The decision was taken by the cabinet of the County Council on Thursday afternoon.

Kent Conservatives have also applied for a “fast track” path which would mean the abolition of Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling Borough Councils.

The Conservatives argue that faster cooperation with Labour’s scheme will unlock desperately needed cash for the county more quickly.

The Conservatives say voting for a new County Council this May would be a waste of resources (given that it will be abolished under the Labour plans) as well as leading to delays while new people get into post.

But there were demonstators outside County Hall on Thursday (shown below) who called the Kent Conservatives’ decision the “death of democracy.”

Some opposition politicians believe the biggest overhaul of local government for 50 years is being rushed.

Cancelling the May elections would also mean the Conservative reign at County Hall could be extended from 4 years to 6 years – the party had been expected to lose control of the county at the vote.

The final decision on cancelling the elections will rest with the Labour government.

Repairs to the clock of St Peter’s Church in Southborough mean it is partially back in action after falling silent for many months.

The clock that looks out over the famous cricket pitch has again been striking every hour since it was repaired on Thursday.

St Peter’s is the oldest church in Southborough and was designed by Decimus Burton.

The church still lacks the funds to restore the quarter and half hour chimes and donations are still gratefully received.

An appeal has raised only £ 2,000 of the £ 5,000 needed to complete the clock repairs and improvements. 54 people have contributed, according to the Just Giving website.

One plan is to purchase new equipment so that the bells can be silenced overnight.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/st-peters-bells

Many residents have expressed their disappointment about the recent removal of the dedicated recycling areas for bottles and cans in the Tonbridge Sainsbury’s car park, while a spokesperson for the UK Glass industry has also expressed regret.

The decision was taken by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, which says it hopes to save £100,000 a year by not having to empty the car park recycling bins.

The glass industry says bottle banks generate high quality glass, ideal for ensuring all glass gets reused for new bottles.

Shortly after the removal of the bottle banks, one frustrated West Kent resident told this reporter: “I have just come to drop off some glass and all the bins have gone. The bins were always there and useful.”

The resident said: “I think the situation is being very poorly handled.  I want to recycle the glass. I know of no other place to go – other than taking it to the tip, but that involves registering and making appointments. Just for glass – that’s pointless.”

Bottle banks remain in areas controlled by Sevenoaks District Council such as Edenbridge, Underriver and Chiddingstone.

Matthew Kay is the packaging policy lead for British Glass, which represents glass manufacturers and reprocessors. Mr Kay said: “It is a shame when “bring sites” – as they are known – are removed because they do bring in a high quality of glass recyclate”.

Matthew Kay continued: “Through various pieces of legislation that are going through from the old government, local authorities will be required to collect glass from the kerbside, so we can understand cost implications from the local authorities point of view.  However, if there are (bring) sites that are very well used, it is a shame if they can’t be maintained.”

In both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, the councils emphasise that glass bottles can be placed in the mixed recycling wheelie bins collected from homes every fortnight. On the other hand, not all residents are happy with broken glass in mixed recycling bins full of plastic and foil.

Matthew Kay from the Glass industry says if glass is collected from the home it should ideally be separated from other types of recyclable materials as happens throughout Wales, where the government incentivises local authorities to improve separate recycling.

Mr Kay says: “It is absolutely amazing what has been happening in Wales. We do advocate for kerbside collection where ideally glass is collected separately from other materials.”

Cllr Dennis King from Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council said the “relatively large cost” to council tax payers of maintaining the recycling units at Sainsbury’s and other sites couldn’t be justified when glass collections were already taking place from residents’ driveways.

The council also doesn’t like the ability of some local businesses to dispose of glass at the sites, as then the local firms would pay smaller waste collection fees to the council.

More than 20% of glass collected by the Tonbridge and Malling council in the kerbside mixed recycling is currently not in a state that it can be separated out from other waste. So that glass is used in concrete blocks and lost to the glass industry.

That’s a problem as making new glass from raw materials (rather than reusing old glass) is much more energy intensive and releases carbon into the atmosphere.

The ideal is a fully closed loop whereby 100% of used glass is constantly recycled as new bottles. The new arrangements in Tonbridge seem unlikely to help with progress towards that goal.

(You can hear my full report on this story by going to the West Kent Radio website. Thanks to Julia Neal for her help in compiling this story.)