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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
People in Southborough and High Brooms were being asked vote "yes" in a vote on the town's Neighbourhood Development Plan to endorse many years of hard work by local volunteers in putting it together. The referendum took place on Thursday 18th June 2026 and 1,194 votes were cast in favour and 152 against. The turnout …
The Liberal Democrats remain in charge of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council with an increased majority. The Lib Dems have won 11 seats: Culverden, Pantiles, Paddock Wood, Park, Rusthall, Southborough (2), Sherwood (2), St John’s and St James’ all went Lib Dem. There were no victories for either the Greens or Reform. The Conservative vote share …
Continue reading Liberal Democrats Win Big in Council Vote 2026
The chief executive of South East Water, David Hinton, has resigned from his job after months of criticism of the firm's failures in Tunbridge Wells. South East Water said David Hinton (pictured below) had decided to step down but would remain in post "to allow an orderly transition over the summer period". The company said: …
The Liberal Democrat plan to take on a council debt of £68 million to finance town centre development work appears to have turned into the major local election issue for voters who make their choice tomorrow (Thursday 7th). The Conservative candidate in Sherwood, Christian Atwood, told Southborough News today: "A lot of people are against …
A new expert report has said that South East Water was wrong to blame its failures in Tunbridge Wells at the end of last year on a bad batch of chemicals and unusual fresh water supplies. A detailed report by the government agency, the Drinking Water Inspectorate or DWI, into the collapse of the supply …
Continue reading SE Water Failures were “Forseeable and Preventable”
The Liberal Democrat Borough Council plans for a new "boutique" cinema and more shops in the RVP Shopping centre is set to be a big local issue in the May elections. Leading figures from a range of political parties have spoken to Southborough News stating their outright opposition to the scale of the new council …
Continue reading Opposition Builds to Lib Dem Plan for £68 million Council Debt
