Free news coverage of Southborough and Tunbridge Wells in Kent in England – 100,000 page views since 2016!
The Tunbridge Wells Town Forum has condemned a lack of consultation by the Liberal Democrat-controlled Borough Council after news that the Borough plans to abruptly stop work on forming the Town Council. A motion will be put before a meeting of the Borough Council next week to order a pause to the process. The Town …
Continue reading Shock as Lib Dems Halt Tunbridge Wells Town Council
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has given more details of the case for its £ 27 million project to update the Palm Court area of the Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre ahead of a scrutiny meeting on Monday. But concerns remain that the council will not get the returns it expects, creating a risk that council …
Continue reading First Half of Huge Council Shopping Centre Loan Nears Approval
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
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
The Borough Council says it wants to spend up to £ 68 million of taxpayers money on new buildings including a three-screen "boutique" cinema in the centre of Tunbridge Wells. The development plans would also see the end of the Victoria Snooker Centre in Camden Road which has hosted exhibition games featuring famous names like …
Continue reading Demolition Likely for Historic Corner of Camden Road
A state Grammar School in Tonbridge says it's improving access for girls whose parents can't afford to pay for tutors to coach the Kent County Council 11-plus test. Weald of Kent Grammar School is to introduce its own entrance test, which will sit alongside the Kent Test as an equally valid route of entry to …
