Hundreds of people joined in the Mayday Festival on the Southborough Cricket ground on Bank Holiday Monday, with the welcome return of children dancing around the Maypole. It was the second Mayday Festival organised by Nell Price and the Southborough Street Community. Last year they revived the Maypole tradition in Southborough for the first time …

Continue reading Maypole Returns to Southborough

The government has extended the trial bus fare subsidy scheme to the end of June. Thanks to government support, the £ 2 maximum single fares apply on Arriva's routes 7 and 402 connecting Southborough with Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.  (A list of route exceptions is at the end of the blog.) Meanwhile, there is still …

Continue reading Reduced Bus Fares: £2 Single Ticket to Continue

A 24-hour strike by BBC staff in Tunbridge Wells began today as journalists protested about cuts to local radio which will see BBC Radio Kent's most popular show face the axe. The dispute is over changes proposed by BBC bosses in November which will see Radio Kent share much of its output with neighbouring BBC …

Continue reading BBC Strike Over Local Radio Cuts Takes Regional TV News Off Air

The Liberal Democrat Party's new candidate to fight the next general election, Mike Martin, says he believes "my chances are pretty good" of defeating the area's current Conservative MP, Greg Clark. Mike Martin is a former British army officer who now writes about resolving conflict. Mr Martin (pictured below) gave an extended interview to West …

Continue reading Lib Dem Mike Martin Bids to Become Local MP

A woman in Southborough says she wants more action from the authorities to combat irresponsible dog owners after she was bitten on the face and arms by a large dog. The victim was subjected to an unrelenting attack from the dog – which was not on its lead and out of control – in the …

Continue reading Dog Attack in Southborough Sends Woman to Hospital

A woman in Southborough says she wants more action from the authorities to combat irresponsible dog owners after she was bitten on the face and arms by a large dog. The victim was subjected to an unrelenting attack from the dog - which was not on its lead and out of control - in the …

Continue reading Dog Attack in Southborough (Initial Version)

The panto "Dick Whittington's Adventures in Southborough" opens tonight in the new Southborough Football Pavillion promising fun for all ages. Starring Emily Cooper (pictured below) as Dick Whittington, it runs for 3 days starting on Friday 13 January with 5 performances including matinees at Noon on Saturday and Sunday. Dick Whittington travels "all the way …

Continue reading Panto Returns to Southborough Today

Poignant tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II from three Tunbridge Wells residents have been published on my new podcast, West Kent Talking. The three interviews were with the Mayors of Southborough and Tunbridge Wells and a former magistrate, Peter Blackwell. They were recorded for West Kent Radio in the days following the monarch's death …

Continue reading Queen Jokingly Advised Kent Resident: “You Jolly Well Better Behave!”

With thousands of people in the Tunbridge Wells area still without running water, the local MP Greg Clark (below) issued a new statement on Wednesday about what he called "the ongoing appalling situation with South East Water". Greg Clark's statement on Wednesday reads: "The handling of the situation by South East Water has been, and …

Continue reading MP calls SE Water’s Crisis Planning “Bad” and “Chaotic”

The wintry scenes were spectacular on the footpath down the "Hilly Fields" from Pennington Road during the week of snow on the ground which ended abruptly with the big thaw on Monday. Most stunning were the frosted glass-like shards and crystals on top of the snow.  The pictures don't capture the full beauty of the …

Continue reading Pictures of the Snowy Hilly Fields