Times of Tunbridge Wells 14th September 2016

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Wednesday, September 14, 2016

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Rail operator must be held to account in franchise process

By Jonathan Banks RE-TENDERING for the Southeastern franchise begins in November and should be used as an opportunity to hold the current rail operator to account.

That’s the message from MP Greg Clark, who has asked for a meeting with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. The request follows another spate of delays and disruptions for commuters.

Mr Clark accepts that signal failures can happen – ‘though after a major upgrade they are remarkably frequent’.

He went on to write: “But the poor response in terms of information, staff availability and general management of the disruption has caused real frustration.”

Mr Clark also said the franchise re-tendering should be used to ‘make it clear’ that the rail operator’s record will play a major part in deciding the outcome. He told Mr Grayling about the ‘dire’ service provided

by Southeastern, which he describes as a ‘daily diet’ of ‘overcrowding, cancellations, poor – and sometimes nonexistent – communications with passengers’. The reopening of London Bridge platforms had led to worse overcrowding and the new timetable had not provided the expected relief, he added.

A Southeastern spokesman admitted there were times when passengers experienced ‘frustration’ with the service, but said the operator was ‘committed’ to bringing about improvements.

Refugee crisis hits home Flow of unaccompanied children pushes county to the limit

INSIDE

BOUNDARY CHANGES Face of constituency could change dramatically Page 3

DESPERATE Young people hoping for a new life in the UK

RESTAURANT PLAN

Army friends take over old bank on The Pantiles Page 3

TRAFFIC EXPERIMENT Pilot scheme with 20mph limit planned for St John’s Page 6

By Adam Hignett adam@thetimesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE ongoing refugee crisis has left the county council close to ‘breaking point’ as it struggles to cope with the flow of unaccompanied children arriving on the south coast.

The warning comes from the Cabinet Member for Specialist Children’s Services, Cllr Peter Oakford, who represents Tunbridge Wells North on the county council.

He told the Times that currently the council has 1,400 unaccompanied asylumseeking children (UASC) in its care, that includes 550 aged over 18.

In total, Kent spent £33million looking after the youngsters last year, of which

£31million was reimbursed by central government, leaving local taxpayers to foot the £2million bill – a figure forecast to rise by up to 50 per cent this year.

The figure does not include additional costs incurred by the authority in providing such things as healthcare and education.

‘Kent’s current situation is unsustainable’ Many of the young people arrive here with the help of people smugglers. Once ashore, or rescued from a boat, the county council is obliged to take them into its care.

Most are aged 15 or over and can apply for asylum when they reach the age of 18.

Under certain circumstances if it’s granted their family members are entitled to come and live in the UK. Kent is currently responsible for one quarter of all unaccompanied child asylum seekers in the UK, a situation the council believes is unsustainable, and which Cllr Oakford is lobbying central government to rectify.

“I have been campaigning for 18 months to get the Government to trigger a mandatory dispersal programme, but thus far they have been very reluctant to do so.”

Despite legislation on mandatory relocation of UASC, the Government has instead been relying on voluntary relocation, an approach Cllr Oakford thinks has failed as the county is still seeing a net growth in UASC.

Continued on page 2

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Times Portfolio Show 2016 takes place next week See inside

2 ■ LOCAL NEWS

Weather Wednesday Any early mist clearing to leave a dry, hot and humid day with plenty of long sunny periods

September 14, 2016

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‘Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence’ Vince Lombardi

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Kent demands mandatory relocation

By Adam Hignett Continued from page 1 “We are seeing unprecedented pressure on schools, the health system and even the police,” Cllr Oakford said, adding the police are often required to find children who go missing from the system. Those children that do go missing are often at the mercy of criminal gangs, he said.

“As a number of the young people have been smuggled in, they have been told by the smugglers to make contact with them upon arrival. If they don’t, they threaten their families back home.

“About 70 per cent of them are aged 15 or over. By law we have to treat them like we would any other child in our services, so they go out and hang around in town or play football like most people their age. But this can make them vulnerable.”

Tunbridge Wells is currently home to 48 UASC, while Tonbridge accommodates 15.

The number each district can take into care is determined by the resources available.

London councils put their children into care in Kent

Kent has effectively run out of foster carers to look after the 850 refugee children still under 18.

The lack of carers means the council is forced to look further afield to accommodate the children.

“Kent is at breaking point to the degree that we have had to place 248 children outside of the county but we are still having to support them,” explained Cllr Peter Oakford.

The council is currently looking after children as far away as South Gloucestershire and Portsmouth. This adds to the burden on support staff travelling to look after them, resulting in the children themselves getting less help. The situation is compounded by an additional 1,300 children in care placed in Kent by other local authorities.

“Many London authorities find it too expensive to look after the children in their care within the capital, so look to Kent where it is cheaper, even though guidance suggests children should be no further than 20 miles from their homes.

They use the county’s independent foster agencies, and although they pay for the direct costs we have to find the resources to accommodate them within the wider community. So effectively we are being forced to house some children outside of the county while accommodating others from London. It is unsustainable.”

Youngsters taught life skills and cultural differences

Although Syria makes the headlines, the main epicentres of unaccompanied refugee children (UASC) are countries in or around the Horn of Africa – particularly Eritrea – alongside Afghanistan.

ALL SMILES One of a number of refugee camps in France Children from Iran, Iraq, Albania and Algeria, along with Syria, make up much of the rest. The cultural differences between the UK and these countries mean extra care has to be taken assimilating the males, he added.

Those males between 16 and 18, unlike females, do not go straight into care, but instead spend around six to eight weeks in specialist centres where they can be assessed.

Part of this is to ensure they genuinely are the age they claim, but also to check their mental health, asses their grasp of English and, importantly, educate them in the customs of the country.

“We teach them English and life skills but also about our culture. Many of them have a different view of females, and their place in society, from what we would consider the norm,” Cllr Oakford said.

Need for refugees to blend in more with the local community

Having around a quarter of all the UK’s unaccompanied refugee children concentrated in Kent can also lead to friction within the communities in which they are based.

“We have mixed reactions from people, with certain areas welcoming and others more hostile,” said Cllr Peter Oakford.

“There have been some rather unpleasant experiences with the young people being made not to feel very welcome at all.

“If there was mandatory dispersal, we would have, say, ten UASC per area, meaning they would blend in more. Instead, we have 50 in each area.”

Cllr Oakford said their natural reaction is to group together, but this leads to community ten-

sion, although he has great sympathy for why they choose to do so.

“If you were one of just ten English people in the Sudan and did not know the language and customs, you would naturally stick with the other English.”

There has been some relief as the number of new arrivals has fallen dramatically over the summer, thanks to tighter security around the channel. Last year, 200 UASC arrived in July. This year it was around 60, which Cllr Oakford said was ‘extremely fortunate’.

“If arrivals had not fallen we would have been in big trouble,” he admits.

Other overstretched services are in need of money

Cllr Peter Oakford also warned: “We have lost £600million from our budget in the last five years due to central government cuts, and now on top of that we have to pay this additional money [£3million this year] to care for these children. This is money we could be spending on school, roads or whatever other overstretched services badly need it.”

Alison O’Sullivan, President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said any system put in place to disperse child refugees should acknowledge local capacity and expertise, but making it compulsory is not the answer.

“We need a system that shares the responsibility in a fair way, but is also capable of being flexible enough to take into account particular local circumstances. Councils with experience of working with refugees may CONCERN be better equipped, so Cllr Peter it’s not a one-size-fitsOakford all situation.”

WHY THIS COUNCIL TEAM DESERVES A PAT ON THE BACK... NOT A KICKING SOMETIMES in public life you just can’t win.

Take the case of Gary Stevenson, who happens to be the Head of Environment and Street Scene Services at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. No, we didn’t make that up.

Last week he featured on our pages when he announced that the pedestrian-friendly Fiveways in the town centre would be dug up and partly closed for up to eight weeks while remedial work is carried out.

The council, i.e. Mr Stevenson, had decided it was not happy with parts of the work undertaken by the contractor of the £750,000 project, and was withholding money until everything was completed to its satisfaction.

Our story was taken up by other parts of the media, and one disguntled businessman – clearly upset at further disruptions to Fiveways – was quoted as saying: “It is pathetic that Gary Stevenson and his team at the council cannot do a better job. We are demanding compensation…”

Now this newspaper is always ready to hold those in public office to account – witness our story last week on the Chief Constable taking almost three months’ holiday while getting rid of officers because of budget cuts. But there is such a thing as being fair-minded.

So, the contractor fell down on the job and Mr Stevenson and his team held them

accountable. What would have happened had the team simply turned a blind eye?

We will tell you what would have happened: There would have been a public outcry over the shoddy work and the council would have been criticised for doing nothing to get value for taxpayers’ money.

All of us are unhappy with the disruption that the remedial work will cause. But at the end of the day the town, its people and its businesses will benefit from a more attractive environment that looks right.

If people have a problem, maybe they should focus on the contractor?

Richard Moore, Editorial Director

LOCAL NEWS 

NEWS IN BRIEF

Chinese restaurant shut due to food safety fears THE Cosmo restaurant on Grosvenor Road was shut on Monday morning after it was deemed to pose ‘an imminent and significant risk to food safety.’

A visit from the Borough Council’s environmental health team resulted in the immediate closure of the all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant.

An application has now been filed to the magistrates’ court for a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order. This can be lifted when the court or enforcing authority is satisfied that suitable steps have been taken to ensure the health risks are no longer present.

Cosmo is part of a national chain and was awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of 5 (Very Good) in September 2014.

BGT comes to town BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT auditions arrive in Tunbridge Wells on Friday (September 16) as part of their search for anyone, of any age, with a talent to share. The Assembly Hall Theatre will be open between 4pm-11pm.

Executive producer, Amelia Brown, said: “Anyone who feels they may have a special star quality can attend.”

Aspiring acts can also register online at www.itv.com/talent for a later audition date this year or alternatively send a video audition to the same address.

Army friends open Pantiles restaurant they can bank on

CIVILIAN LIFE (L-R) Tom Walker, Ed McAdam and Sam Westlake run the restaurant THE PANTILES will see a new addition to its burgeoning night life after planning permission to turn the former Barclays bank into a bar and restaurant was granted.

Framptons Café Bar & Kitchen will open before Christmas and create around 30 jobs, whilst providing a

Top cut for butchers PETER SPEAIGHT BUTCHERS have been awarded membership of the National Butchers Q Guild.

The Chapel Place business joins an exclusive group of 120 award-winning independent butchers across the UK, with the guild’s describing their brand as a ‘seal of excellence’.

Peter Speaight said: “It gives us an opportunity to network with like-minded butchers at the very top of their game.”

THE constituency of Tunbridge Wells faces a dramatic redrawing if proposed boundary changes go ahead.

Under nationwide proposals to reduce the number of constituencies from 650 to 600, each with an electorate within 5 per cent of 74,769 voters, the current boundaries that make up MP Greg Clark’s seat will

AXA picks up award

‘locally-influenced menu’.

It is the second restaurant to be launched by three ex-military entrepreneurs, Tom Walker, Ed McAdam and Sam Westlake, who opened their first establishment of the same name in Ringwood, Hampshire, in 2012.

Face of the constituency could change dramatically

By Adam Hignett

THE International Managing Director for AXA PPP, Tom Wilkinson, said he was ‘thrilled’ by the company’s recent achievement of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

The award – which recognises a substantial and sustained increase in export earnings over three consecutive 12-month periods – was presented on September 9, in the form of a crystal bowl, by Viscount De L’Isle, the Lord-Lieutenant of Kent.

Guests at the celebration for the award included the Tunbridge Wells Mayor David Neve and Deputy Lieutenant of Kent George Jessel.

Mr Wilkinson said: “We are thrilled to receive The Queen’s Award for Enterprise. It would not have been possible without the support of our teams at AXA PPP International.

3

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

The views of all residents need to be heard by the Boundary Commission be significantly altered by the time the 2020 General Election gets underway.

Proposals released by the Boundary Commission show the borders of the constituency being pushed further westwards to incorporate Chiddingstone, Edenbridge, Leigh and Fordcombe – all of which are currently part of the Tonbridge and Malling constituency.

To the east, numerous rural villages, stretching from Lamberhurst to Linkhill, are being lost to a vast new constituency called High Weald. Paddock Wood, Capel and Brenchley, and Horsmonden will remain within the constituency.

Changes to the constituency boundaries will not have an impact on the area controlled by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council which already contains parts served by the MP for Maidstone Helen Grant. Her part of the borough will be transfered to High Weald instead.

It is also highly unlikely that the changes will impact on Mr Clark’s ability to retain his seat as all surrounding constituencies are held by other Conservatives who account for all but five of the South East MPs. It is highly improbable that he will face an internal challenge to represent the seat at the next General Election from a displaced Conservative MP as only two out of the 83 constituencies which make up the South East are being scrapped.

Commenting on the changes, Mr Clark said: “It is a great privilege to represent villages such as Goudhurst, Hawkhurst, Kilndown, Lamberhurst and Sandhurst, and I would obviously be sad to lose them.

“These are initial proposals and I will work with neighbouring MPs and local councillors to make sure the views of all residents are heard by the independent Boundary Commission. Whatever the final decision, I will always work hard to serve all my constituents.”

To view the proposed changes visit www.bce2018.org.uk

Plans for a change of use were originally submitted on August 17 with the application accepted by the council on September 5.

Mr Walker said the three former Officers of Parachute Regiment – who have 21 years’ experience in the army between them – were ‘excited’ to transform the former bank into their second site.

He added: “We’ve worked hard since we started our new venture earlier this year and we’re looking forward to hiring a new team and developing a locally-influenced menu in Tunbridge Wells.”

The directors said their experience of ‘uninspiring’ salaried office roles after leaving the military had led them to opening their first restaurant.

“It’s often a challenging time when

you leave the army to transition into a civilian job and we all decided that we really wanted to set up our own business,” said Mr McAdam.

Matthew Sankey, head of the Association of Pantiles’ Traders said: “The Pantiles is fast becoming the destination for foodies and this will be a great addition. The more independents the better.”

PURE JOY Will Bayley celebrates his victory

Table topping champion wins Rio gold and cheers VILLAGERS in Groombridge were celebrating yesterday after local table-tennis hero, Will Bayley, took gold in Rio. He won Great Britain’s 24th gold medal of the Paralympic Games with a 3-1 Class 7 singles final victory over Brazil’s Israel Stroh.

Will (28) could not contain his emotion, jumping up onto the table which attracted boos from a mainly Brazilian crowd as well as a yellow card from the umpire.

He reacted by embracing the

umpire: “I just gave her a little hug, because she was a little uptight.”

His victory was met with a combination of pride and amazement from Groombridge residents.

“The whole village is aware of how much hard work he has put in and we are all very proud of him. To see him go one better than he did in London is amazing,” said Harry Powney.

Will has arthrogryposis, a rare congenital disorder that affects all four of his limbs. He won silver in London 2012.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

4  LOCAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

EID-AL-ADHA Three hundred Muslims attend

Patients give hospital top marks in survey TUNBRIDGE WELLS hospital was given a clean bill of health during this year’s Patient-Led Assessment of the Care Environment.

Scoring above the national average in every category, the hospital ranked particularly highly for its cleanliness (99.8 per cent), appearance and maintenance (96.5 per cent) and Food (94 per cent).

Other categories included dementia friendliness (88.6 per cent) and disability friendliness (89.5 per cent).

Avey Bhatia, Chief Nurse, said: “We have put in a tremendous amount of work since last year’s inspection and are delighted to have made so many positive improvements for our patients.”

Open air celebrations break new ground Murray Jones murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THE local Islamic community celebrated Eid-al-Adha, or the ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’ in Calverley Grounds on Monday.

Hundreds of Muslims from Tunbridge Wells and surrounding towns attended the event, which saw group prayers and preaching from the Imams.

The event honours the sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim, who proved his devotion when he was willing to sacrifice his

son after instructions from God. This is the first year that local celebrations have been held in an outdoor public space, although borough Cllr Zulhash Uddin, who helped organise the gathering, is keen to turn it into an annual event: “We are really excited that we are able to do this in the Calverley Grounds. We are particularly grateful to the council and the Friends of Calverley Grounds for helping us put on the event at such short notice.”

In between prayers, Cllr Uddin addressed the audience, emphasis-

Churchill’s Blue Plaque

ing the importance of taking time out to reflect: “We are so busy in this country that we often don’t find the time to all come together like this. I think it is crucial to take time out of work, wherever possible, to take time to reflect and be truly grateful for what we have.”

WHAT IS EID-AL-ADHA? It‘s the holiday to celebrate the end of ‘Hajj’ which is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. The date falls according to the Lunar Cycle when

the New Moon is first seen in relation to the Islamic calendar. Sometimes different mosques and regions celebrate slightly varied days. However, this year all Muslims celebrated on the one day as ruled by Arabia’s Supreme Cour.

Muslims around the world sacrifice cows, goats, lambs, sheep and camels, as they honour the Prophet’s tradition, although sacrifice in the UK can only take place in a licensed slaughterhouse. The meat is distributed, one third for family, another for friends and another for the poor.

Kent County Council in decision to open a new boys’ grammar annexe

Prosecution drops the case against lorry driver in Southborough crash

A QUESTION mark hangs over which boys’ grammar will be selected to support a new Sevenoaks extension after the controversial decision to allow the county council to open a girls’ annexe was granted last month.

Council Leader Paul Carter said the authority was now also ‘working on a boys’ annexe’ at the former Wilderness site in Sevenoaks. He hopes a relaxing of regulations will enable the new initiative to go ahead.

Although the council has not disclosed which school will host the boys’ annexe, it must be associated with an existing grammar, the likely options are thought to be The Judd School in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys or The Skinner’s School.

However, Skinner’s headmaster Edward Wesson said there was ‘no truth’ in any suggestion they will run the annexe, while a spokesman for Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys said that the Headmaster John Harrison ‘does not wish to comment’ on the development.

The Judd School had not replied at the time of going to press last night.

THE driver whose HGV was involved in Southborough’s 13-car pileup last year will not face prosecution. No one was seriously hurt.

Mariusz Sudol was arrested in April after the accident and charged with two offences of dangerous driving and one of failing to stop.

However, in June Maidstone Crown Court was told that Mr Sudol, 34, had suffered ‘a medical episode of some sort’ at the time of the incident.

Last month, the prosecution confirmed a medical report had concluded the Polish driver, who lives in Nothfleet, had suffered seizures as a result of hyperglycaemia or epilepsy, or both.

This provided a defence of ‘non-insane automatism’, meaning his actions were classed as involuntary, leaving three sentencing options possible; a hospital order, supervision or an absolute discharge.

Danny Moore, for the prosecution, said the findings left a question mark over whether or not the case was in the public interest.

Last week the prosecution said they proposed to offer no evidence against the driver but could not do so due to a technicality stemming from the fact

Wednesday 14th September 2016

he had so far not entered any pleas to the charges.

The case has been adjourned until Friday when Mr Sudol is expected to deny the charges and a not guilty verdict will be entered.

Since the incident Mr Sudol has had his driving licence revoked by the DVLA and will not see it returned until he is certified as fit.

THE first Kent Town and Country Housing Blue Plaque has been awarded to 20-21 Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, following the work of local historical researcher, Michael Tuffley.

Mr Tuffley discovered the link between the property and former Prime Minister, Winston Churchill- learning that Churchill’s grandmother lived at the address, with numerous visits from her famous grandson.

Town and Country Housing have agreed to present a Blue Plaque for the property, deeming it ‘important to recognise the history surrounding one of our buildings’.

Summer heatwave TEMPERATURES in Tunbridge Wells reached the highest levels in at least 20 years yesterday, peaking at 82°F (28°C).

It surpasses the highest recorded temperature in the town for the two decades (79°F).

After cooling slightly on Wednesday (77°F), the hot weather is expected to continue until Friday, when the sun will be blocked out by clouds, with a fair chance of rain.

The current weather is being attributed to a large area of high pressure centred over northern Europe. This has brought southerly winds, which have drawn warm air northwards, reaching our shores yesterday.

Salon’s great hair day

PILE-UP The crash in April 2015

THE Gallery Hair and Beauty Salon in Southborough has been named as ‘Salon of the Year’ at an awards ceremony in London.

The award, was based on their high levels of customer care, notable promotional and marketing activity as well as offering their staff extensive training.

Owner Lorenzo Colangelo said: “We’ve now won this award three times, so getting a hat-trick feels phenomenal! It’s a dream come true and is a result of a combined vision and hard work.”

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6  LOCAL NEWS

Homegrown tourists help unlock the heritage gems

By Murray Jones murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THOUSANDS took advantage of the Heritage Open Days last week, allowing them the chance to ‘be a tourist’ in their own town.

The event, organised locally by the Civic Society, opened up historically significant locations in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area.

It allowed visitors free access to properties that are not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee, as well as giving the public a chance to try their hand at historical activities, such as bell ringing.

Heritage Open Days have been running for 14 years, since the Civic Society revived the tradition in 2002.

This year was the biggest so far, with 42 places and events opened up to the public.

Tours included behind-the-scenes access to locations that included the Assembly Hall and the Opera House.

Further afield saw the first public opening in ten years of Mabledon House, the childhood home of Decimus Burton – the celebrated 19th-century architect who designed much of Tunbridge Wells.

A local organiser from the Civic Society, John Cunningham, hailed the success of the event, adding: “We had a great turnout. It tends to get bigger and bigger every year.

This time, nearly every event was fully booked – especially Mabledon House, where we had over 400 people attend.

“We will certainly be putting it on next year and let’s hope for such fantastic weather again.”

Past and present One of the most popular events was the Past and Present Tunbridge Wells exhibition, which presented a collection of hundreds of photos of the town. It was inspired by the popular Facebook group New Old Tunbridge Wells Photos, which currently has 7,860 members.

Held in Tunbridge Wells Library on Saturday, more than 100 people visited throughout the day to catch a glimpse of days gone past, reminiscence, and share their own memories of the town.

Collections Development Manager of the Museum and Art Gallery Liz Douglas, who helped organise the exhibition, enjoyed spending

the day talking to people about the town’s history: “Connecting with local history is really important. It gives people a greater sense of their own town and a deeper connection to where they live,” she said.

“Also people quite enjoy trying to spot themselves or their parents in lots of shots.”

EARLIER DISRUPTION Goats stage a Fiveways sit-in in 1902 Photos: Tunbridge Wells Library, Museum & Art Gallery

GAS WORKS The High Brooms plant in 1879

READY TO DEPLOY Soldiers gather on Tunbridge Wells Common in 1914

Wednesday 14th September 2016

St John’s set for most ambitious traffic experiment in the county KENT’S largest go-slow zone could be in place across a swathe of Tunbridge Wells by the end of the year.

A public consultation on reducing the speed limit on around 100 roads in the St John’s area to 20mph was launched on Friday [September 9].

The initiative, which is expected to cost £40,000 to implement, has the support of county councillor Peter Oakford, who represents Tunbridge Wells North. He believes the changes are necessary to make the roads surrounding the three schools situated in the St John’s ward safer.

Approximately half of the cost is to be met through Cllr Oakford’s members’ grant fund. This is a sum of money he can draw upon in his capacity as the representative of Tunbridge Wells North at Kent County Council, which can be directed towards local projects.

A further £15,000 will be met by the county council itself as the authority responsible for implementing the changes, while the remaining funds will be provided by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Campaign group claims initiative is ‘really big news’ Cllr Oakford, who also represents the town’s St John’s and High Brooms ward at the borough level, said that ‘to his knowledge’ this was the most ambitious scheme of its kind and, if successful, may be copied elsewhere.

He said: “I had a 20mph zone created around St Matthew’s in High Brooms – but I believe this is the first scheme on this scale, and locally will most certainly be used as a test bed for further large schemes within residential areas.”

Police will be involved in the consultation and speed enforcement, while some streets – such as Newlands Road – will see traffic-calming installed.

The area affected is bound by St John’s Road to the west, Powder Mill Lane and High Brooms Road to the north, and Upper Grosvenor Road to the east running southwards.

Schools within this area include The Skinners’ School, St John’s Church of England Primary School and St Augustine’s Roman Catholic Primary School.

A spokesman for the Tunbridge Wells branch of the campaign group 20’s Plenty congratulated Cllr Oakford for the plans, which they described as ‘really big news’, adding that they hoped the initiative will spread further in the future.  To take part in the consultation, visit www.consultations.kent.gov.uk

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

‘Rio’ challenge lands big cheque for charity STAFF from Tunbridge Wells law firm Cripps have raised nearly £4,500 for the Alzheimer’s Society by walking, swimming, running and cycling 7,000 miles in their ‘Get Cripps to Rio’ challenge.

The original target was to cover 5,767 miles – the equivalent distance from Tunbridge Wells to Rio de Janeiro – between July 22 and August 21, but so keen was the response that they topped that by a large margin, taking them far beyond ‘Rio’.

The challenge was supported throughout

by Tunbridge Wells cycling café The Velo House, which hosted an evening reception during which a cheque was presented to Jenny-Louise Connolly, the Alzheimer’s Society’s Community Fundraiser for Kent & East Sussex.

Top hire at law firm A SENIOR London IT specialist has been poached by Thomson Snell & Passmore in a strategic move aimed at bolstering its intellectual property and information technology practice.

Gina Bicknell has joined the Tunbridge Wells-based law firm as a partner in the corporate and commercial team after previously being employed as a Senior Associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in London.

Celebrating success TELECOMS firm MF Communications is celebrating 16 years in business serving the local economy.

Based in High Brooms, the firm has recorded strong growth throughout its years of trading and collaborates on many projects with neighbouring businesses.

Managing Director Fraser Young said: “Supporting the local economy is not just about shopping on the high street.

“There are hundreds of independent businesses outside of town centres which provide great customer care, high-quality products and services and competitive prices. Being local no longer means being expensive.”

Digital envoy predicts a post-Brexit boost for Tunbridge Wells

By Murray Jones

Murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk CREATIVE industries in Tunbridge Wells have shrugged off the post-referendum blues and are well-placed to seize the ‘great opportunities’ that may arise from Brexit, the town’s Digital Envoy has said.

Tom Chown, whose company Digitom develops online video content, is one of 15 Digital Envoys for Kent Connects – a partnership comprising of public sector organisations aiming to boost digital infrastructure and understanding throughout the county.

‘For the first few weeks we were definitely a bit shell-shocked’ Describing Tunbridge Wells as a ‘fantastic hub of creativity’, Mr Chown believes the town has many advantages which will make it an attractive place to invest post-Brexit.

He said: “Large corporations in London are looking to their budgets with a keener eye and Tunbridge Wells can service them, since it is only 45 minutes away by train. With lower overheads and great connectivity to London, the channel OPTIMISTIC Tom Chown

ports/Europe and Gatwick, for projects further-afield the future’s bright for the town and its creative industries.”

His optimism partly stems from his own experience since the referendum result, in which a majority of voters opted to leave the EU. “For the first few weeks we were definitely a bit shell-shocked, but you quickly realise that business always continues. No summer had been that quiet before, but then everything picked up again. September and October are looking really good,” he said, adding that Theresa May’s caution when it comes to triggering Article 50 has brought ‘a sense of security’.

Mr Chown has also found that the vote has led to new potential projects.

“It’s really interesting – since the referendum, we’ve seen the Government pumping money into keeping the UK on the map. They’ve put out an £80,000 contract for the creation a promotional film intended to attract global businesses to hold events in the UK. This is something we haven’t seen for about five years.”

His comments coincide with the announcement that the Tunbridge Wells Creative Hub on Monson Road should be open by the end of the month, giving a further boost to the fast-growing sector.

The project – the result of a partnership between Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Kent County Council and private companies – will provide around 65 desks for start-ups and micro-businesses in the creative sector.

Simon McArdle, a partner behind the project and founder of the web development company WebScript Designs, confirmed it has been business as usual since the Leave vote.

He said: “We’ve not seen any demand change in the industry. No impact on our clients or our sales.

“Our financial clients were unhappy [about the referendum result] but it hasn’t changed their orders with us.”

7

Black hole at Turners will leave creditors out of pocket THE collapse of Turners Fine Foods has revealed a £10.9million shortfall in its accounts, leaving creditors scrambling to recover debts.

Silverstar Foods, the parent company of Turners, went into administration in July with the loss of 374 Kent-based jobs.

However, whilst the employee wage bill of £171,200 and holiday pay of £305,225 will be paid to the former members of staff, who are listed as preferential creditors, question marks hang over £152,584 in pension liabilities and PAYE areas of £269,487.

In a statement of liabilities by KPMG, which is overseeing the administration of the Goudhurst-based firm, the auditor said it expects to make £4.6million from the sale of the company’s assets, a little over half of their nominal book value of £8.6million.

The company, which also had sites in Tonbridge, Christchurch in Dorset and Earby in Lancashire, alongside the Camden Quarter restaurant in Tunbridge Wells, ran up debts of over £4million through its bank’s invoice financing facility.

It owes a further £3.6million to the venture capital business Agon Holdings Five which is co-owned by William de Laszlo, who is also Chief Executive of Agathos Management, a London private equity investor.

Agathos Management had invested ‘significant sums’ of money into the company in April, and had overseen a change of management by appointing Sean Cooper as Chairman.

However, despite their ‘best efforts’ they were unable to put the company, which was founded in 1995, on a firmer financial footing.

News of the collapse took many by surprise due to a strong set of results in 2015, which had seen turnover increase by almost 30 per cent to £41million compared to the previous year, while operating profits surged by almost a third to £1.5million.

KPMG declined to comment on the ongoing administration.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

8 ■ COMMUNITY NEWS

Gallery owner’s paintings help make Rwandan school dream come true…

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THE owner of an art gallery in Tunbridge Wells is donating 140 paintings to an auction in order to raise money for an African school.

Nick Hills, who has run the Redleaf Gallery in Castle Street for almost 20 years, was inspired to raise funds for the project after he visited Rwanda last year.

He and his wife Machteld and two sons, Frank and Charlie, went out to see the mountain gorillas at Kinigi.

They decided to take some clothes for the descendants of those who were killed during the genocide in 1994.

“There are a lot of orphans out there, and a real problem with displaced people,” says Mr Hills.

“We weren’t sure what the best place would be to take the clothes, but our driver said he knew just the thing.

“We were eating dinner that night when out of the darkness emerged a lady who said, ‘Hello, I’m Faith’.

‘You can buy a painting as a lasting reminder of this heartwarming tale’ “She told us that there were a fantastic number of simply hopeless, unschooled children with no prospects.

“And we had seen them wandering along the side of the road. She said, ‘These are the people I have taken as my calling’.”

Faith Uwantege had started a school, which was based in a private house, and had used up all her own savings for the project.

“She told us was looking for a

ART AND SOUL Andrew Vicari’s Patha Patha

plot of land, and I told her I would help with that,” says Mr Hills. “I’ve been there three times now, and I will keep going back.”

The school is due to open in January, but the funds are required to complete the construction and help to recruit teachers.

“We are hoping to raise at least £10,000,” added Mr Hills, who lives in both Holland and Tunbridge Wells.

“As well as the auction, there will be a talk in Amsterdam. In addition, Karel Bracas, who is known as the Storyteller of Amsterdam, will tell his tale about the children under threat in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation in 1943, and how they were rescued by fantastically brave people.

He will link it in with Faith and the rescue operation during the genocide in Rwanda.”

SELF SACRIFICE Faith Uwantege put all her savings into the school Mr Hills believes the pick of the paintings is Andrew Vicari’s Patha Patha, a colourful street scene. “It has a tremendous vitality and energy, and it’s not unreasonable that it was previously valued at around £20,000 to £25,000.”

Vicari is known as ‘the king of painters and painter of kings’ for his lucrative commissions to capture heads of state and royalty on canvas.

His subjects have included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sophia Loren, Mao Tse-tung and François Mitterrand.

The sale will be handled by Grand Auctions, and their 20th-century paintings expert Jonathan Riley said: “We immediately and enthusiastically agreed to be involved when we heard of Nick’s dedication to helping Faith to turn the dream of building a school into

a reality.

“We are determined to do everything we can to make the sale a success and have waived our usual seller’s charges. Rather than just give a donation, you can buy a painting as a lasting reminder of this heartwarming tale.

He added: “There’s something here to suit most tastes, from works by 17th-century artists to the present day. And you can buy a painting safe in the knowledge that money raised goes straight to Faith’s school without any intermediaries taking a cut, a rarity indeed in Africa.”

The sale will be held at Grand Auctions in Folkestone on September 19. For more information, visit www.grandauctions.co.uk and www.faithfoundation.rw

Malachi takes Archbishop on grand tour of Demelza

CONFIDENT Malachi Tyler and the Archbishop

Wednesday 14th September 2016

BRAVE eight-year-old Malachi Tyler from Tunbridge Wells made a deep impression on the Archbishop of Canterbury when he showed him round Demelza Hospice Care for Children at Bobbing in Kent.

The Most Rev Justin Welby, a patron of the charity, and his wife admired the ease and confidence shown by Malachi, who is blind and suffers from hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid on the brain.

The Archbishop, who took part in music therapy with some of the children and tried out the soft play area, computer and sensory rooms, said he had been ‘blown away’ by the experience.

For more information visit www.demelza.org.uk

TOP TEAM Tunbridge Wells T20 XI team

Tunbridge Wells prove a big hit TUNBRIDGE WELLS were thwarted in their bid to achieve national glory in this season’s NatWest Club T20 competition.

They reached the last four of the nationwide competition and attended finals day at Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s 3aaa ground in Derby last week. It’s the first time that a side from Kent has even reached the regional heats, let alone

gone all the way to finals day.

But they lost their semi-final against Swardestone from East Anglia, who went on to win the competition later the same day.

Tunbridge Wells did well to restrict them to 167 for 9 off their 20 overs, with left-arm spinner Fred Florry taking 4 for 26. But they were bowled out for 144 in reply, falling 23 runs short.

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10  LOCAL NEWS

‘We want to hear what women want’ The leader of the UK’s fastest-growing political party visits Tunbridge Wells as part of an ‘unprecedented canvassing project’

By Murray Jones

Murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE leader of the Women’s Equality Party (WEP), Sophie Walker, believes that all too often the political conversation is being led by a small group of men, who see the issue of women’s equality as ‘simply a tick-box exercise.’

Speaking at the Camden Centre, as we reported last week, she launched the ‘What Women Want 2.0’ campaign, stating: “We are determined to do politics differently, to actually listen.”

In a passionate half-hour speech to the 50-strong audience, she emphasised the straightforwardness of the party’s goals: “Our aim is simple – to put what women want at the heart of British politics.”

This is the motivation for the relaunching of the 1996 campaign, in which the Women’s Communication Centre distributed postcards in banks, libraries, cafes and community centres across the UK asking women ‘What do you want?’

POPULAR VOICE Ms Walker expects many Sophie Walker of the same responses as 20 years ago, condemning the ‘failed attempts of other parties’ to solve the issues

Wednesday 14th September 2016

of equal pay, equal and affordable childcare and domestic violence.

Citing the frustration and disenfranchisement women felt at the options in the last general election, she was fiercely critical of the current political landscape: Describing WEP as the ‘first non-partisan party in the UK’, Ms Walker encouraged everyone in the room to become a member, regardless of which party they support.

The WEP has over 65,000 members in 70 branches, with 161 of them in Tunbridge Wells.

After her speech, the floor opened up for a Q&A, with one audience member asking why WEP had decided to form a political party rather than a campaign group.

“Because there are hundreds of those already,” she exclaimed, slamming her hands down on the table.

“These organisations are brilliant, but if you are a campaign group you only get so far, you’re offered a cup of tea, a ‘thank you very much’ but then the door is shut in your face.

“As a party we can say ‘do it or lose your seat’. That is the only way to ensure effective change in this country, by threatening the other parties’ vote.”

HISTORY  WEP was founded by journalist Catherine Meyer and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig in March 2015, opening for membership in July that year  On July 22, 2015, Sophie Walker was unanimously voted to lead the party  In the London Mayoral election, Ms Walker received 5.2 per cent of the total votes (251,755), just behind UKIP’s 6.6 per cent  They currently have over 65,000 members in 70 branches nationwide. The Tunbridge Wells branch currently has 161 members.

OBJECTIVES Equal Representation – in business, the judiciary and politics  Equal Pay & Opportunity – End the current disparity, where women earn 81p of every pound earned by men  Equal Parenting and Caregiving – Give more men the opportunity to care for and enjoy time with their children  Equal Education – Free gendered expectations about the life children should lead  Equal Media Treatment – Challenge reporting and advertising that demeans women and perpetuates gender stereotypes.  End Violence Against Women – From being molested on public transport to domestic violence at home, millions of women feel unsafe every day of their lives 

‘Women I talk to find it really hard to be picked for senior positions within companies’ Amanda Turner – Chair, Tunbridge Wells branch

‘I really think women’s issues do not get a fair amount of representation – in politics or the media’ Kate Sims – Committee member, Tunbridge Wells branch

‘I work with women who are victims of domestic violence and in schools to educate on healthy relationships’ Derek Cuff – Member of Tunbridge Wells branch If you wish to join the party, visit: www.womensequality.org.uk

NATIONAL NEWS 

NEWS IN BRIEF

Sindy back on the street with a new body shape THE Sindy doll is back on sale in the UK after an almost ten-year absence, and with a healthy new body shape.

Sindy, who claimed 80 per cent of the fashion doll market at her peak in 1985 after she was launched as a more demure rival to the glamorous American Barbie, has been given a makeover by Tesco, which has licensed the brand from Exeter-based owner and creator Pedigree Toys.

She is now seven inches taller, but her once long and skinny legs and arms have been remodelled into a more realistic body.

The £19.95 doll sports 11 ‘on-trend’ outfits created by Tesco’s own fashion designers, boasts an extensive shoe and accessories collection and has three friends – Zoe, Kate and Laura.

September sun sizzles IT’S official – yesterday [Tuesday] was the hottest September day in almost 70 years after the Met Office recorded a temperature of 32.2°C at London’s Heathrow just before lunchtime. The last time it reached 32°C in September was in 1949.

Museum goes virtual USING a range of Google technology, it is now possible to go on virtual tours of more than 300,000 specimens in the Natural History Museum in London from home by using the web, or via the Google Arts & Culture app.

Rail union says changes to timetable are ‘pitiful’ SOUTHERN Railway is to restore more train services next week and has issued a fresh apology to passengers for disruption caused by an industrial dispute and staff shortages.

The operator announced it will reinstate the full timetable from Tonbridge and Reigate to Redhill and London Victoria/ London Bridge next Monday, and restore the full service between Redhill and London.

Inner London and West London line services were reinstated last week, and more services will be added in the coming weeks.

Alex Foulds, Southern’s Passenger Services Director, said: “I want to apologise again to our passengers who have suffered ever since the RMT began their unnecessary action against our plans to improve customer service on our trains.

“The temporary revised weekday timetable has been delivering a more consistent, reliable service. Now, as promised, we are steadily reintroducing trains and will continue to do so until the entire timetable is back in place.”

A temporary timetable with a

BACK ON TRACK Southern is reinstating more services reduced service was introduced in July following a spate of strikes in a long-running row over the role of conductors, and ‘unprecedented’ levels of train crew sickness.

Mick Cash, General Secretary

‘This is due to gross managerial incompetence’ of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union said: “These are pitiful changes to the Southern timetable, and the

fact that passengers are still paying through the nose for a vastly reduced service is solely due to the gross managerial incompetence and profiteering of this basket-case rail operator.

“Yet again, Southern are blaming their staff for their own systemic failures while the parent company is sitting on profits of £100million.

“The fact that they are still unable to run the service the taxpayer is paying for, and the fact that the Government are letting them get away with it, is a national disgrace.”

11

Both houses must approve Article 50 insists committee PARLIAMENT should be given a vote on triggering formal negotiations to take the UK out of the European Union, a committee of peers has concluded.

It would be ‘constitutionally inappropriate’ and set a ‘disturbing precedent’ for Prime Minister Theresa May to kick off the talks by invoking Article 50 of the EU treaties without first obtaining the approval of both Houses of Parliament, said the House of Lords Constitution Committee.

Although Downing Street has indicated that MPs will have ‘a say’ on Article 50, Mrs May has made clear she believes she can press ahead without a vote by using her prerogative powers.

In a report on Article 50, the Constitution Committee challenged this procedure, arguing that Parliament must ‘play a central role’ in the decision to launch negotiations, either by passing an Act of Parliament or approving resolutions tabled in both Commons and Lords.

And the committee said MPs and peers should also have a key role in scrutinising the Brexit negotiations – due to take two years – and approving the final deal reached between the UK and the remaining 27 EU states.

It is unclear whether the UK can unilaterally halt Article 50 talks once they have been triggered, if it changed its mind about wanting to leave the EU, warned the committee.

Parliament should therefore act on the assumption that the Article is ‘irreversible’ and should allow it to be invoked only when it is in the UK’s best interests to begin negotiations, said the report.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

12 � NATIONAL NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

BAKED OFF Popular presenters Mel and Sue

Travellers could see blue passports return THE traditional blue British passport could be reintroduced following Brexit, the Home Office has suggested.

Responding to a written question from Conservative MP Julian Knight asking about it, the department said it is looking again at the issue.

Home Office minister Robert Goodwill said: “We are considering potential changes to the UK passport after the UK has left the European Union.

Trump charge deal MICHAEL Sandford, of Dorking, Surrey, who is accused of attempting to shoot US presidential candidate Donald Trump, at a Las Vegas casino will plead guilty to lesser charges when he appears in court on Tuesday. His mother said her 20 year old son has signed a plea agreement.

Safety drill tragedy ONE crew member has died and four others were injured during a safety drill on Harmony of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise liner. The Royal Caribbean ship was docked in the French port of Marseille.

E-types go on tour A PARADE of Jaguar E-type cars has set off from Goodwood in West Sussex on a 3,600mile coastal tour of Britain to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Bake Off duo Mel and Sue rule out move to Channel 4 GREAT British Bake off presenters Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc will not return to host the popular show when it moves to Channel 4, a spokeswoman confirmed.

The duo have fronted the show since it first aired on BBC2 in 2010, alongside judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.

A joint statement said: “We were very shocked and saddened to learn yesterday evening that Bake Off will be moving from its home. We made no secret of our desire for the show to remain where it was.

“The BBC nurtured the show from its infancy and helped give it its distinctive warmth and charm, growing it from an audience of two million to nearly 15 million at its peak.

“We’ve had the most amazing time on Bake Off, and have loved seeing it rise and rise like a pair of yeasted Latvian baps.

“We’re not going with the dough. We wish all the future bakers every success.”

Channel 4, which purchased the rights to the Great British Bake Off after the BBC fell £10m short of the amount of money required to keep the programme, had promised not the change the format when it goes on air in 2017.

But the announcement by Perkins and Giedroyc will raise fears among Bake off fans, especially as it is still not clear whether the show’s judges, Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry, will still be part of the new set-up as negotiations over new contracts have yet to begin.

An announcement that the BBC has lost the show, one of the jewels in its crown, was made on Monday after it refused to pay a reported £25million a year to keep it.

Channel 4 has signed a three-year agreement with Love Productions, the producers of the popular baking programme, for the format.

Plans are already being made for the first Great British Bake Off on Channel 4. It will be a celebrity special in aid of Stand Up To Cancer.

House prices continue to rise despite market cooling down THE average UK house price has climbed by £17,000 in a year, continuing a strong run of growth, according to an official report.

The typical property value was around £217,000 in July, marking an 8.3 per cent year-on-year increase, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Property values have also increased by £1,000 compared with the previous month.

While the 8.3 per cent rate of annual growth is a slowdown compared to a rate of 9.7 per cent recorded in June, it continues ‘the strong growth seen since the end of 2013’, the report said.

The average house price in England now stands at £233,000, while in Wales it is £145,000, in Scotland it is £144,000 and in Northern Ireland it is £123,000.

Across the regions of England, London continues to have highest average house price at £485,000, followed by the South East and the East of England, where house prices stand at £313,000 and £274,000 respectively. The lowest average price continues to be in the North East at £130,000.

The UK house price index said that despite the strong growth, there have been signs that some of the heat has been taken out of the market, with several indicators pointing towards weaker housing demand and supply in recent months.

Recent reports have pointed to a recent stamp duty hike for buy-to-let investors as well as the EU referendum leading to a quieter housing market.

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14  BUSINESS NEWS BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Transfer deal talks over Football Pools THE Football Pools is to be sold to its management team in a deal worth nearly £100million.

The owner of the world’s oldest football gaming company, Sportech, has entered into exclusive talks with private equity firm Burlywood Capital, which has proposed setting up a new AIM-listed company that will then buy the Pools for £97.25million.

Football pools began in 1923 in Manchester, but the firm has struggled since the National Lottery was launched in 1994.

2,500 weekly frauds AROUND 2,500 fraudulent insurance claims worth £25million collectively are being foiled every week, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). More than 130,000 fraudulent claims were detected during 2015, marking a 6 per cent increase on 2014.

Inflation still stable INFLATION was unchanged at 0.6 per cent last month as rising food and transport prices were offset by a slip in the cost of clothing, wine and hotels. Economists had been expecting a rise of 0.7 per cent.

Synthetic money A NEW plastic £5 note that features Sir Winston Churchill and can survive a spin in the washing machine entered circulation yesterday [Tuesday].

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Mayor draws up action plan Bank announces to shut 50 to support black cab drivers plan more branches UBER has accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of ‘piling extra costs and red tape’ on to the private hire trade in London.

It follows the publishing of an action plan by Mr Khan which highlights his intention to push ahead with new rules for private hire drivers in the city.

The regulations, which will affect drivers using apps such as Uber, include a requirement to pass an English test and more robust insurance regulations.

The mayor also called for a new law giving a statutory definition of plying for hire and pre-booked services to ‘clearly define the difference between taxi and private hire services’.

A number of measures to support London’s black cab trade in the face of growing competition from Uber also featured in the Mayor’s proposals.

He wants to boost the number of taxi ranks in the city from 500 to 600 over the next four years, open up 20 more bus lanes for use by cabbies and ensure Transport for London (TfL) features taxi information in its online journey planners by summer 2017.

Mr Khan also announced that grants worth up to £5,000 will be available to black cab drivers who scrap the oldest and most

polluting taxis, while £3,000 will be provided towards the cost of buying the first 9,000 zeroemission capable taxis.

Uber claimed that it was not consulted on any of the new measures, although a spokesman for the Mayor said Deputy Mayor for Transport Val Shawcross has met directly with Uber to discuss a wide range of issues.

Tom Elvidge, General Manager of Uber in London, said: “These proposals favour black cabs and discriminate against drivers who use apps like Uber.

“While black cabs will get £65million from the taxpayer, the Mayor is piling extra costs and red tape on to licensed private hire drivers.

“This plan will cost drivers who use Uber hundreds of pounds, and thousands may lose their livelihoods as a result.

RANK OUTSIDER Uber claims proposals favour black cabs

THE Clydesdale and Yorkshire banking group signalled more potential job losses after it confirmed around another 50 branches will close as it ramps up cost-cutting.

Glasgow-based CYBG, which was spun off from former owner National Australia Bank in February, said it will trim its branch network from 248 to less than 200 over the next three years as it looks to slash costs by a further £100million.

CYBG’s latest cost-cutting moves come after it recently announced plans to shut 26 branches nationwide by the end of September and reduce its workforce, with nearly 500 jobs axed over the past 18 months.

It will deliver the new cost savings by the end of September 2019 to help it meet performance targets earlier than planned.

The challenger bank said its ‘refreshed’ strategic plan also takes into account revised expectations for the UK economy after the Brexit vote.

But alongside the cost savings, it is investing more than £350million over the next two years to overhaul the group, by improving its online banking offering and boosting technology platforms.

David Duffy, Chief Executive of CYBG, said: “Delivering our strategy will provide an improved branch experience, supported by a strong digital offering, reflecting the new face of banking and putting customers at the heart of what we do.”

The group has already trimmed costs to around £730million in the current year to the end of September, which is 4 per cent more than originally targeted. It has cut its branch numbers by nearly a quarter – 23 per cent – since 2013, from 323 to around 248 this year.

WORLD NEWS �

SPORT IN BRIEF

Cricketers stay united for Bangladesh tour ENGLAND’S cricket players may be divided on the issue of whether to tour Bangladesh, but new one-day Captain Jos Buttler is adamant it will not tear apart a harmonious dressing room.

A series of matches next month will not feature either Eoin Morgan or Alex Hales after the pair withdrew themselves from team consideration due to security concerns.

Sharapova’s doping date FIVE-time grand slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova will learn the result of her appeal against a two-year doping ban in October.

The ban was imposed in June, backdated to January, after the 29-year-old Russian tested positive for meldonium at January’s Australian Open. She has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking a reduction.

European comeback LEICESTER make their Champions League debut against Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Belgium tonight [Wednesday] after last season’s shock Premier League title win.

The Foxes have not played in Europe for 16 years after losing 3-1 to Red Star Belgrade (4-2 on aggregate) in the UEFA Cup first round in 2000.

Rugby double-header THE 2017 women’s Rugby League World Cup will be staged alongside the men’s competition for the first time. The finals will form part of a double-header in Brisbane on December 2.

15

US flexes its muscles after North Korean nuclear test THE US has flown two nuclear-capable supersonic bombers over its ally South Korea in a show of force aimed at North Korea after its recent nuclear test.

The B-1B bombers, escorted by US and South Korean jets, flew over Osan Air Base, which is 75 miles from the border with North Korea, before returning to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

Such flyovers are common when tension rises on the Korean Peninsula, which is technically in a state of war as there has never been a peace treaty to officially end the 1950-53 Korean War. South Korea does not have nuclear weapons and relies on the US ‘nuclear umbrella’ as a deterrent to North Korea. Washington also stations more than 28,000 troops in the country, and tens of thousands more in Japan.

North Korea is keenly aware of the US presence on the peninsula and of what it considers the US nuclear threat.

It uses such flyovers and the American military influence in the south in its propaganda as alleged proof of the US hostility that it claims as the reason it needs a nuclear bomb programme.

Last week’s nuclear test, the north’s fifth, was its most powerful to date.

North Korea’s claim that it used ‘standardised’ warheads in the detonation makes some outsiders worry that it is making headway in its push to develop small, sophisticated warheads that can be mounted on missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.

FLYPAST US bombers over South Korea International diplomatic efforts to rid the north of its bombs have been stalled since the last round of meetings in late 2008.

Since then, officials in the country’s capital city, Pyongyang, have ramped up both its ballistic missile and nuclear bomb development, despite an increasing list of sanctions.

After the test, the north’s nuclear weapons institute said it will take unspecified measures to further boost its nuclear capability, which analysts suggested hinted at a possible sixth nuclear test.

South Korea’s Defence Ministry spokesman, Moon Sang Gyun, said South Korean and US intelligence authorities believe North Korea has the ability to detonate another atomic device

at any time at one of its tunnels at its main Punggye-ri nuclear test site, where the five previous atomic explosions took place.

The south’s Yonhap news agency reported on Monday that there were signs the north had finished test preparations at one tunnel that has never been used.

The capital cities of Seoul and Washington and their allies have vowed to apply more pressure and sanctions after the test, the second this year.

“The United States and South Korea are taking actions every day to strengthen our alliance and respond to North Korea’s continued aggressive behaviour,” said General Vincent Brooks, Commander of US Forces Korea.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

16  LETTERS

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Grammar schools: Prime Minister’s commitment might actually help to stabilise our house prices IT IS a pity that Mr Sharp [Chairman of Tunbridge Wells Constituency Labour Party: September 7] is so doctrinaire that he cannot see the wood for the trees. Rent controls may or may not be needed, but given that there are always unintended consequences to such actions, there may well be simpler and more effective, though indirect, ways of tackling the exponential growth of house prices in the TWells borough, which I agree is a serious problem.

Rugby club: Volunteers deserve a cheer

How nice to read [September 7] about the Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club and everything that has to happen behind the scenes to make any sporting club a success.

Most people simply turn up on a Saturday, stand on the touchline and cheer on their favourite team.

They probably have no real idea of all the belowthe-radar activity.

The club apparently has a two-year investment programme to upgrade facilities that will cost around £110,000. Something like £45,000 will have to be spent on pitch drainage alone. The money will come from the borough council, the Rugby Football Union and the club itself.

Happily it seems the club has a number of willing volunteers, including a plumber, a lawyer and an electrician, who will give up their time and energy to help out. Those are the people who deserve a round of applause.

Hope you have another great season.

Reginald Thornton Via email

Rebel vicar: Remarks extend to women

Thanks for your attempt to attend an exclusive Sunday service with Dr Sanlon [September 7].

Unfortunately, his offensive remarks also extend to women. A cursory search on Google revealed quotes in which Dr Sanlon said he was against women priests as they might be softer on supporting gay clergy in the church.

From someone who has a sackful of theology degrees, this implies that women are the equivalent of a gateway drug in their role in the church.

I am therefore surprised he has any congregation at all with such muddled and woolly thinking and narrow beliefs.

Dr Alan Bullion Via email

One of our recent mayors, on an official visit to a London borough, was told by his counterpart there that she was planning to move to the town because of our grammar schools and that she knew many such people in her locality that had the same idea.

The recently announced commitment of the Prime Minister [left] to reinstate the grammar school system beyond the limited areas where they exist at present will surely take such pressure off our area. Not only will her decision give opportunities to many working-class pupils that Labour has denied them, it should help to stabilise or even reduce house prices in areas where grammar schools still exist.

Cllr Dr Linda Hall TWBC Cllr for Cranbrook and Benenden

Rebel vicar: Petition for his removal

In relation to your trip to St Mark’s, I feel I should inform readers that the attitude portrayed by Reverend Sanlon there is exactly why many people left St Mark’s (including me) as I have been on the receiving end of similar treatment.

He will not accept that people have differences of opinion to him and will talk them down or ignore them as he did to the Times reporter here.

Indeed, there is hypocrisy when he supports the traditional teaching on homosexuality while opposing traditional aspects of worship such as robed choirs, genuflection (bowing) and sharing the peace.

The way he behaved towards the choir before unfairly sacking them was akin to that of a bully.

This is no doubt why, without the choir, there were only 16 at the service opposed to the 35+ who used to go to the traditional 9am choral-led Sung Communion before Reverend Sanlon imposed his personal preference on to what was previously a broad church.

His unwelcoming behaviour towards your reporter should be reported to the Bishop of Rochester with a petition for his removal from St Mark’s.

Paul Robbins Via email

The Pantiles: Jazz through the winter?

Having recently moved to the area, my family and I were delighted to stumble across the Thursday evening ‘Jazz on the Pantiles’ event.

The inclusion of the children within the event, through the outdoor set-up, provided a weekly meeting point for both friends and families of all ages and will be sorely missed through the winter months.

Having attended most of the events throughout the summer, it was clear that the evident popularity

of this event proved successful for business for the pubs and restaurants on The Pantiles. It seems a shame to lose such a valuable part of the community for the upcoming months, and instead I question if there is no way to facilitate for the colder weather and continue the event?

The continuation of the event throughout the entirety of the year would allow both friends and families to enjoy the routine of a free event to which they can also regularly bring their children, outside their usual working hours, whilst simultaneously providing local businesses with a mass of local support and custom.

Maybe they could enclose The Pantiles walkway with those glass curtains to make it available all year round?

Tanya Rogers Via email

Education: What about technical route?

With all this talk about grammar schools can someone please tell me what happened to the old style technical schools? These were establishments where pupils who just failed their 11-plus were sent as opposed to going to a secondary school with the rest of the masses. Bit of an in-between place.

Rosalind Saunders Via email

Heritage: Some things never change

I don’t normally write in, but I really wanted to share my fantastic experience with the Heritage Open Days over the weekend.

After seeing the fantastic exhibition at St Paul’s at Rusthall, I made my way down to the Library and Museum to see the ‘Past and Present’ photo collection.

To see the town throughout the ages really makes you think about the incredible developments in culture and technology that we’ve seen over recent decades, not forgetting the many mistakes we have made along the way!

As well as making me marvel at how things change, it is also quite humorous to see how many things stay the same.

There was one particular photo that made me chuckle. It was a group of six or seven people, sat in the middle of the road in their camping chairs, protesting the fact that the council was going to offer free parking along the road they live on.

Although we tend to see anger over the expense of parking rather than free parking these days, I couldn’t help but be amused by a small boy sat at the edge – he couldn’t have been older than seven or eight years old – holding up a sign declaring – ‘My Daddy thinks the Council is MAD.’ Knowing my Dad’s (and several others) view on the council, it seems like some things will never change…

Connor Gordon Via email

We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Calverley BACK in harness after bit of a break in Spain and an escape from creditors (yes, Calverley missed you too). The getaway, though, meant battling through Gatwick. EasyJet announcer fails to impress but causes much mirth when he advises that the flight to Nice is boarding. Only problem is he pronounces it ‘nice’ as in this is a ‘nice’ place. And he did it more than once. Fills one with confidence.

HOW times change. Girl turns up for local job interview last week wearing pyjamas under a fake leopard skin coat. Obviously she had to get the box ticked so she could keep claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, or whatever. Calverley would have offered her the vacancy just to see her reaction.

WRONG sign language. Calverley takes a real interest in local hostelries, as should all good citizens. Imagine his confusion then on wending his way through the town the other night when he spots the huge pub sign telling him The Bedford, next to the railway station, is actually in Tonbridge Wells and not Tunbridge Wells. That would have rattled those who get off London trains after a heavy night out.

KIDS can be so cruel, or matter of fact.

Overheard in restaurant. Grandson aged about five; “Grandma, I’m going to get a motorbike when I’m 16.” Grandma, age indeterminate: “That’ll be nice, I look forward to seeing you riding it.” Grandson: “Don’t worry Grandma, you’ll be dead by then.” Charming.

WITH football back, Calverley is reminded of his friend who begged his wife not to tell him the result of a match he was recording while he was out. Walking through the door back home he shouts to his wife that he doesn’t want to know the score. She shouts: “Don’t worry, darling, there were no goals.” They are still married.

CALVERLEY hates to upset or disappoint his incredibly bright readers and so publishes the following feedback from Ben Hardy without comment: “Call me old fashioned but I thought it was bad form to refer to oneself in the third person, so why does Calverley persist in this: is he being ironic?” Ben, you’re ‘old fashioned’. Calverley knows he promised not to comment, but then…

Chin, chin readers

Education in association with:

www.right-tuition.co.uk

EDUCATION ■

17

EDUCATION Times WITH THE

Meet the multitasking mother whose two jobs as a teacher and TV weather forecaster have given her a brighter outlook on life Nina Ridge is familiar as one of BBC South East’s weather presenters, but she recently returned to teaching maths part-time at the Weald of Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge. Here she tells the Times why she had to return to the world of education after completing my forecaster training I started presenting across BBC regional and national news channels in April 2001.

I really enjoyed my time at the BBC, but the shift work, early starts and long hours could be testing at times and they were starting to have a negative impact on my children.

I loved teaching and always thought I’d return to the classroom sooner or later, so I began to explore the possibility of becoming a teacher again. I started volunteering in SUNNY OUTLOOK primary school maths classes, as well Nina Ridge as at Weald of Kent Grammar.

As a result they offered me a part-time “TEACHING came first for me. I’m a graduate maths teaching job, and I left my permanent role at from Leeds University and qualified as a teacher the BBC in September 2015 to take it up.

For the last year my main job has been teaching in the late 1990s with maths and PE qualifications. part-time, but I am also fortunate enough to be I initially worked for two years at the Weald of able to freelance at BBC South East covering Kent Grammar School in Tonbridge before deciding to switch careers and join the Met Office. weather presenter Rachel Mackley when she has time off. The weather shift starts at 3pm, after I’ve I started working there in December 2000 and

finished teaching, so some days I do both jobs!

I have to say, there’s really nothing like teaching. I love that feeling of satisfaction you get when students enjoy your lesson, and discovering and learning is absolutely priceless.

Having an impact on the next generation is hugely rewarding.

‘I really enjoyed my time at the BBC, but the shift work could be testing’ I would advise anyone thinking about returning to the classroom to visit the Get Into Teaching website. It’s important to find that help because it gives you practical as well as emotional support. Going and getting a practical feel for teaching again is important too – even if it’s just visiting a local school for a day or two. Walking through the entrance of the school made me feel instantly at home again. I grew up in Tunbridge Wells and attended Weald of Kent from 1985-1992.

It’s fair to say classroom technology has advanced a fair bit since I left as a teacher in

2001, but I’m pleased to say I’ve adapted quite well! There are many skills that I learned at the Met Office that I’ve been able to transfer to the classroom, such as reinterpreting scientific data.

I have four children aged 12, ten, eight and seven. My eldest daughter is about to start Year 8 at Tunbridge Wells Girls ‘Grammar. One of the other reasons I returned to teaching was that the school have been very supportive with my timetable. They agreed I can finish early each day so I can collect my younger children who are still at primary school.

We moved back to Tunbridge Wells from London four years ago. It’s a great place to live and I sometimes get recognised when I’m out and about.

As a weather presenter, it is my role to reinterpret complex weather information into an interesting presentation that viewers can understand. I guess you could say I have been teaching the general public the weather for years! It’s a great privilege helping people plan their days by telling them what the weather has in store, but it isn’t an exact science – sometimes the forecast just goes wrong.”

Wednesday 14th September 2016

18  WEEKLY COMMENT

Tom Tugendhat MP for Tonbridge & Malling

Tom Tugendhat, MBE, left the British Army in July 2013 after a career in which he served on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and as the military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff. As a Territorial Army officer he worked on everything from those ops to establishing the Armed Forces Muslim Association. He also worked for the Foreign Office. He was elected as a Member of Parliament in the 2015. See www.tomtugendhat.org.uk

Joining a political party will help magnify your voice and shape the public debate…

THIS year, Britain saw one of the most dramatic examples of democratic power anywhere in the world. One vote changed the strategic direction of the UK from partnership through the European Union to a new relationship we must now negotiate.

Though the drama happened recently, it was shaped long before as the mood went from support for the EU in 1975 to rejection in June.

Many didn’t like the outcome. I campaigned for Remain. Some even reject the referendum itself and say David Cameron should not have called it. But that misunderstands where power lies in a political relationship. It is always with the people.

The decision to hold the vote and the outcome were both shaped by those who turned up, not just on the day of the poll but to the meetings that set the political direction long before.

These gatherings saw people choose candidates who shared their views, organise campaign schedules and delivery routes and, over time, change the outcome.

Political parties meet like this most weeks.

These events aren’t grand and to some may seem

Wednesday 14th September 2016

boring, but that’s how candidates are chosen and policies decided. It’s where elections are won and lost. Whether national, county, borough or parish, those who show up get a say. Selections are often public, so if you choose not to go, you can’t complain about the decision.

But many say they’re not interested in politics.

The referendum showed most are when it matters. Many say political parties aren’t for them, but like any team they are just groups of people who agree to cooperate for a common

‘Life is a team game and we only achieve things by working with others’ aim. They are coalitions with ideas as wide as the membership. Many say they don’t like to compromise, which they’d have to do to join a party, but life is a team game and we only achieve things by working with others. As Conservatives we know to compromise, but we also know democracy matters.

That’s why we’re cooperating to choose

candidates for the Kent County Council election in 2017. Those elected will decide how some £1.8billion of our money is spent each year on everything from social care to potholes, so the choice matters.

In 2018 we’ll do the same for borough councillors and, in 2019, it’s my turn to ask if Conservative Party members would like me to be their candidate to represent our community in Parliament. Party membership isn’t glamorous but it matters, it is the foundation of our democracy.

You may ask yourself, why me? Well, why not you? If there are issues you want to change, get involved. By joining a political party, any party, campaigning, leafleting, or perhaps even standing

VOLUNTEERS Making the democratic process work

yourself, you magnify your voice and shape the debate and change our community for the better.

Democracy isn’t something done to us on polling day, we do it to ourselves in the decisions we take long before we get there.

Perhaps that’s why so many people are now joining parties since the referendum – they know that only by taking part can we truly take control.

THE PANTILES NEWS 

19

IN ASSOCIATION WITH: Targetfollow Group Ltd and The Pantiles Traders Association

PANTILESNews

The

Foodies reap the gourmet benefits at this year’s super Harvest Festival

Despite the gloomy weather at the start, thousands still flocked to The Pantiles last weekend to experience a wonderful array of specialist food producers, cooking demonstrations and live entertainment. Eileen Leahy went along in order to sample a taste of this popular annual event

E

VEN though the heavens opened on Saturday afternoon, spirits were far from dampened at the Pantiles Harvest Food Festival.

A few drops of rain certainly weren’t going to deter keen foodies or the numerous stallholders from setting up shop. They simply put up their brollies and pulled down their awnings and got on with the business of what they do best – satisfying the discerning residents of Tunbridge Wells with some fantastic food and drink.

Thankfully the wet weather was a mere blip for the organisers, producers and food fans as the rest of the weekend stayed dry. On the final day, Sunday, we were treated to some magnificent sunshine and high temperatures, which resulted in lots more visitors coming along. And they clearly enjoyed all the gourmet delights on offer given the amount of

sampling and shuffling between stalls that was going on.

‘Thirsty visitors had plenty to tempt their tastebuds’ The historical area’s popular restaurants and bars were all doing good business, too, with people spilling out on to the pavements enjoying a refreshing drink or an alfresco bite to eat in the late summer sunshine. It all felt rather chic and continental – and a bit like you were a tourist in your own town.

Given the amount of producers present, there was certainly something to appeal to every palate, too – from the tasty smoked chorizo, avocado and aioli sandwiches being dished up at Hattons’ deli stand to the tempting selection of alcoholic ice creams at Boozy Udders, and the utterly delicious homemade Thomas Cookie Company’s

freshly-baked biscuits, which included dark chocolate and pistachio and lemon and lime flavours.

The Seafood Bar was another busy place selling a variety of tasty crustacean treats as well as top quality crab meat for only £14 – just half its normal price.

Thirsty visitors had plenty to tempt their tastebuds. Anno, an artisan spirits company from Marden in Kent, specialise in a range of flavoured gins and vodkas, and they had plenty of visitors hovering around their bar area, while The Cherry Berry Co was the place to go if you wanted pure, freshlysqueezed apple or pomegranate juice.

With plenty of live music, street entertainment and cooking demonstrations sprinkled into the mix over the three-day Harvest Food Festival, it was the perfect way to say goodbye to summer and give a warm welcome to autumn.

ALFRESCO ADVENTURE The Pantiles was buzzing last weekend

SOMETHING FISHY Fresh crab was very popular ALL PICTURES BY BRUCE MCMICHAEL

Wednesday 14th September 2016

20  THE PANTILES NEWS

A new interior design service that’s simply made to measure Alex Houlton opened his interiors shop specialising in fabrics, wallpapers and awnings earlier this year. Yet despite being a relatively new business, One The Pantiles is building up a loyal and local clientele who love the shop’s unique range of soft furnishings and beautiful, bespoke blinds HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RUNNING YOUR SHOP? We are a new business in Tunbridge Wells and opened our doors to the public at the beginning of May this year.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT? Quite simply, it’s to do what we love, in the way we love to do it. Our team here is passionate about soft furnishings and interior design.

We all have industry experience and have channelled our energy and passion into something quite special.

HOW MANY SHOPS DO YOU HAVE? One The Pantiles Interiors is our first one, however we are looking to open productPREMIER POSITION The shop is at the start of The Pantiles

specific showrooms in the future, such as a store that specialises in motorised blinds.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO OPEN A SHOP IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS? It’s is a wonderful place to live and work. The local demographic is a good one for the soft furnishings industry, and there has always been a gap in the market for a blinds and shutters specialist in the town.

DO YOU HAVE REGULAR, RETURNING CLIENTS? We have only been open a short while but we are already building a loyal customer base, gaining a lot of repeat business and referrals from customer recommendations. They seem to warm to our honest and relaxed approach. We

win business through offering good advice and helping people without imposing a hard sales technique. Our measure and advisory service is free of charge and we are always happy to discuss options to suit any budget – there is never an obligation to place an order.

WHICH BRANDS DO YOU SELL? We are the main Luxaflex Inspiration dealer in Tunbridge Wells, and they offer a full range of bespoke and motorised window blinds.

Wooden plantation shutters are currently very popular and we source these from the industry leaders S-Craft.

In terms of our fabrics,

we stock brands such as Ian Mankin, Voyage, Casamance, Casadeco, Camengo and James Hare.

WHAT INSPIRES YOUR BUYS? Our intention is to offer the best quality available as well as a good variety of designs.

We source fabrics from smaller mills and patterns from all around the world. This month we are introducing three French print designers with a wonderful new collection to the UK market – so watch this space!

IS YOUR APPROACH HANDS ON – DO YOU GO OUT AND MEET CLIENTS AT THEIR HOUSES? We visit customers’ homes to advise them on the best products for their schemes, both practically and aesthetically. That way we are assured to meet all their requirements.

We also offer a highly experienced and professional installation service to ensure everything is properly fitted, functional and optimally dressed.

SERVICE WITH A SMILE Alex with fabric swatches

Wednesday 14th September 2016

THE PANTILES NEWS 

21

Breathing new life into historical old building

ALL IN THE DETAIL There is a wealth of interior ideas at One The Pantiles

One of The Pantiles’ most important landmarks has been recently renovated and now has a new lease of life as a workshop which will service one of Tunbridge Wells’ oldest family-run businesses

HOW MANY STAFF DO YOU HAVE? We currently have six employed staff and a team of freelance makers and fitters. Everyone who works with us is highly experienced in the soft furnishings market and has been well trained.

HOW DO YOU LIKE WORKING IN THE PANTILES AND WHY? It is an amazing place to work. There is a wonderful community spirit amongst local traders, and it’s just a wonderful place for our customers to leisurely browse pattern books and deliberate over designs while enjoying a nice coffee or lunch at one of the many fabulous eateries nearby.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS SECRET TO SUCCESSFUL TRADING IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS? The demographic here is perfectly suited to the products and services we provide. There is a high level of home ownership in Tunbridge Wells, with the average home valued at £600K. The residents of West Kent are amongst the highest earners in the county, and we are fortunate that there is a strong demand for good quality, bespoke window treatments and interior decoration products.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY SETS YOU APART ` FROM THE REST OF THE INTERIOR SHOPS IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS? We have a different take on servicing our customers. The showroom has a contemporary, edgy vibe, and we boast a wealth of industry experience with a flair for design and deliver it in a modern way. Customer experience is always at the forefront of everything we do.

I guess you could say we are the Apple of soft furnishings!

One The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5TD Tel: 01892 549 933 info@onethepantiles.co.uk

THE former Swan Garage, so named because of its location opposite the old Swan Hotel – which now trades as The Tunbridge Wells Hotel – has undergone a complete refurbishment.

It has been transformed from a run-down parking area into a smart new workshop for one of The Pantiles’ oldest retailers, Joseph McCarthy, who specialises in fine frames and mirrors and whose main premises are just across the road.

The work was carried out by Targetfollow as part of their continued programme of investment for this historic part of Tunbridge Wells.

Work began on the building, which is now called The Pantiles Coach House, back in 2014.

Both Targetfollow and Joseph McCarthy spotted a wonderful opportunity to resurrect this derelict property and provide a home for a vibrant and highly creative workshop and showroom for Mr McCarthy, whose family business dates back to 1837.

The works were completed in June this year. Mr McCarthy told the Times: “Targetfollow have gone to great trouble and expense to produce a very high quality facility for us and we are delighted to

commit to a long-term relationship with them.”

George Craig, Senior Investment and Asset Manager for Targetfollow, added: “We’re really excited to work closely with this creative and unique British brand. We share the Tate’s view that Joseph McCarthy’s bespoke frames are a ‘National treasure’ and a truly unique asset to have in Tunbridge Wells.

“Joseph McCarthy has been a long-standing tenant of The Pantiles and we are pleased to have agreed a lease that will continue this relationship.”

Mr McCarthy has more than 35 years’ experience in designing, creating and installing luxurious feature mirrors. His clients include leading interior designers, national institutions, private customers and royalty.

Joseph McCarthy owns the historically significant Bloomsbury Collection, an exquisite library of boxwood carvings, which has been in continuous use since 1837.

This unique collection is described by the Tate in London as being ‘of national importance to the history of frame making in Britain’.

TOTAL TRANSFORMATION The old Swan Garage (left) and as it is now (bottom left)

If you run a business based in The Pantiles and would like us to feature it in our special monthly newsletter, then email info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk with your contact details. Please note, only independent traders operating in The Pantiles area can be featured in Pantiles News

Wednesday 14th September 2016

bathrooms

by

Ripples

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..

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Our new address will soon be:

65-67 St Johns Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 9TT

12 Union Square Eridge Road The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells TN4 SHE Tel 01892 617462

Award winning showrooms nationwide

www.ripplesbathrooms.com

GETTING TO KNOW There are some 592,200 people who apply to go to university every year (Ucas), and according to Which? University, students rack up a debt of around £35,000-40,000 during the average three-year course. It’s no wonder that apprenticeships, which offer school leavers a different, practical path to qualifications and employment, are proving so popular, with a record 871,800 funded apprenticeships taking place in 2014-2015 (Skills Funding Agency).

TIPS AND TRICKS - CVS A CV is the first impression a potential employer will have of you, and first impressions count.

Vicky Jackson, Head of Professional Qualifications at Markerstudy gives us some handy hints on creating a knockout CV: • Consider the role you are applying for and tailor your CV - demonstrate your passion and why you’re the best person for the job.

• Be creative with the design or format of your CV. Some of the best I’ve ever seen are those that have been different from the norm. It doesn’t have to be set out traditionally - one ALEX applicant sent us his ‘story’ – it was personal, emotional, written with feeling, and most of all, it was memorable.

• Always get a second opinion on your CV, maybe from a teacher or parent - ask them to check spelling and grammar as this can go a long way.

• Tell the recruiter a bit about you as a person - what do you do in your spare time? Think about how your hobbies and interests relate to the apprenticeship you are applying for.

Research has also shown that the job market has become highly competitive, with administrative roles attracting as many as 57 applicants per position, while customer services vacancies generate 37 (Personnel Today). As well as an opportunity to earn while learning, an apprenticeship can offer people a foot in the door to a company or industry, and potentially a long-term career.

Tunbridge Wells-based Markerstudy Group of companies has launched its own ‘Apprenticeship Learning EXperience’ (ALEX), with its first intake of apprentices starting this autumn. The company, employing nearly 4,000 people in a number of industries including insurance, publishing, aviation and leisure, will be opening applications this month for a substantial number of positions starting in September 2017.

100 Best Companies to Work For’ for the last four years running, and is known for its insurance brands. Committed to an ethos of ‘putting the fun into insurance’ for its customers, employees and the community, this year it celebrated its 15th anniversary with a festival for staff at local beauty spot, Bewl Water, which it purchased in 2015. Employing staff in locations throughout the UK, it has also been recognised for its commitment to employee’s health and wellbeing and has ‘Gold Champion’ status from Investors in People.

The ALEX programme offers a competitive salary

The ALEX programme offers a competitive salary and provides on-the-job training and intermediate and advanced NVQs in hospitality, business administration, customer service and learning and development.

It includes qualifications and accredited courses from ICS (Institute of Customer Service), ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) and ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence).

Although no previous experience or academic grades are required, Markerstudy is looking for people with ambition and the willingness to succeed, and hopes to offer full-time positions at the end of the programme.

Markerstudy Group has been listed as an ‘Extraordinary’ company in ‘The Sunday Times

TIPS AND TRICKS - INTERVIEWS Every applicant will be contacted by a member of the ALEX team and interviews will start for successful candidates from November 2016. Tom Price, e-Talent Manager at Markerstudy gives us his top tips to nail any kind of interview: Those interested in joining ALEX from September 2017 should send a CV to ALEX@markerstudy.com

• Always be yourself - never try to second guess what the interviewer is looking for and don’t be someone you’re not - remember you will need to be this person for the entire job if you are successful!

• Use the experience to show you have a ‘can-do’, positive attitude.

• Enjoy yourself as much as possible, you will perform better if you do.

• Relax and try not to be nervous! Interviewers are not trying to catch you out, they just want to see how you approach certain situations.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

WHO’S BEHIND A L E X

?

Vicky Jackson,

Tom Price,

Rhea Maughan,

Head of Professional Qualifications

e-talent Manager

Talent Assessor Leader

What was your first job?

What did you want to be when you were little?

I worked at a local greengrocer, bagging up potatoes and rabbit food! I earned just £1 an hour but the people made it a fantastic place to work after school and at weekends.

I never really had a sense of what I wanted to do, but towards the end of my school life I developed an interest in forensics.

My A-Levels aligned to a degree in it and the thought of solving crimes really appealed to me. A world away from what I do now!

Did you go to university?

I wanted to be a geophysicist, so went to university to study geography for a year. After looking at numerous cross sections of mud on slides, I took some time out and landed a job as an HR assistant. I started a second university course studying HR and psychology.

It wasn’t the rock and roll lifestyle I thought it would be and I found the lectures, exams (a fear of mine!) and endless assignments a challenge. I was extremely proud of myself when I graduated but struggled to find a job related to my degree as I had no experience.

What do you wish you knew about work before your first job?

No matter what job you do, ensure that you learn from every single experience, good or bad. This will shape you for the future, and help you to succeed and support others. Always put you heart and soul into everything you do, aim to be the best at doing it and ensure that you enjoy it! Life is too short not to.

What would you have done differently?

I realise now university wasn’t for me. If I had a time machine I would have taken the same career pathway, but studied for professional qualifications alongside.

Did you ever pursue this dream?

My school encouraged students to go to university, so I went ahead with a forensics degree and thoroughly enjoyed it. That said, I wasn’t quite prepared for the amount of time you would spend at night, in the cold, rummaging through bushes! My interest in it waned the day I finished my last exam.

What is your background?

I started as a ‘Creative’ at Apple, teaching customers how to use software and the devices they bought. I moved on to coach staff and my last role saw me train the ‘Creatives’ for the UK. After this, I was ready to further my career, so I joined Markerstudy.

What do you wish you knew about work before your first job?

I wish someone had told me you make your own path. A lot of people have ambition and an idea of where they want to end up but very rarely know how to get there or expect it to happen overnight. Be prepared to master the job you have. Show you are ready for more before making the next step.

Did you ever pursue the job of your childhood dreams?

I quickly grew out of the idea of wanting to be a vet when I realised it wasn’t all about looking after cute animals! I began a college course after school hoping it would lead to a journalism career. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite what I expected, so I didn’t continue after the first year.

What are your experiences with apprenticeships?

I completed my customer service apprenticeship during my first full-time job, as a receptionist for a large hotel chain. I quickly progressed to Lead Receptionist, Team Leader and then into management. Then I had an opportunity to work in Spain and I couldn’t refuse!

After a year living abroad, I spoke to my apprenticeship assessor about her role, which really appealed to me. After contacting the training company I used for my apprenticeship to get some careers advice, they agreed to take me on and train me to become a qualified assessor! I worked for the company for many years before joining Markerstudy.

What do you wish you knew about work before your first job?

Even as a junior member of staff, your ideas, input and contributions are still worthy. I remember holding back putting ideas forward as I felt I wasn’t senior enough.

WEST KENT’S ULTIMATE PROPERTY GUIDE – FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY A MUST READ FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUY, LET OR SELL

The Times is proud to work with:

WITH THE

Available in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks

Top of the world Towering country estate

bracketts

INSIDE

est. 1828

Edwardian home offering fabulous open-plan living

A substantial twin roundel oast ripe for improvement

A lovely updated period cottage in convenient village

Wednesday 14th September 2016

 PROPERTY SECTION

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

Your at-a-glance guide to

Mark Sparrow MNAEA Sales Manager, Wood & Pilcher, Tunbridge Wells

As I write this column in the early days of September, the temperature outside is 24 degrees with not a cloud in the sky. It won’t last though. The leaves are turning and we Estate Agents now traditionally begin to build our stock ready for autumn - one of the busiest quarters of the year - with the intention of helping our clients to move before the end of the year.

There. I’ve said it. The End of the Year.

We meet a lot of buyers and sellers looking to move by Christmas. If you want to do that you need to be selling your property just about NOW. With a few weeks marketing to get the right price and then a potential wait of two to three months between agreeing that figure and finally moving, Christmas

CROCKHURST STREET TUDELEY

£325,000

suddenly seems a whole lot closer.

I’ll avoid any references to Father Christmas being kind to us this year.

This being said, it has been a strong one with demand out stripping supply throughout. To be certain to finish on a festive high, call us agents immediately.

Also, be sure to get quotes from local solicitors and to talk to local independent financial advisors in order to be prepared in advance there too.

The last thing you’ll want to be doing is rushing around in November and December when we all know that there will be quite enough of that to look forward to already…….

Happy Autumn!

UNDER £250,000 BARDEN ROAD, TONBRIDGE

£225,000-£245,000 newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

DO YOU HAVE A STORY? Wednesday 14th September 2016

A stunning top floor flat in central Tonbridge with wonderful outlooks over Tonbridge Castle, the River Medway and the park. It is also close to Tonbridge mainline station.

This two-bedroom apartment has its own spacious balcony with

lovely views over the river, a kitchen open plan to the living/dining room, an en-suite shower room to the master bedroom and a family bathroom. Outside the property also offers parking.

CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

UNDER £450,000 HIGHFIELD ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£405,000

An extended and beautifully presented semi-detached family home close to High Brooms station.

The accommodation comprises a porch, entrance hall, sitting room, impressive kitchen/dining/family room, ground floor bathroom, three

bedrooms and a family shower room. There is also a superb home office studio in the garden. To the front is a driveway with off-road parking and to the rear is a good size garden with a lovely decked area.

CONTACT Wood and Pilcher Tunbridge Wells 01892 511211 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

PROPERTY SECTION 

great properties by price range…

UNDER £600,000 GRECIAN ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

£565,000

A well presented period townhouse close to Tunbridge Wells town centre in the sought-after ‘village’ area. It has flexible accommodation over three floors, with an entrance hall, kitchen/breakfast room and reception room on the ground floor, a further reception room, bedroom and bathroom on the first floor and two more bedrooms and a WC on the top floor. To the rear is a courtyard garden and the property has residents’ permit parking.

CONTACT Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 507000 www.savills.co.uk

UNDER £850,000 WHETSTED ROAD, FIVE OAK GREEN

£795,000-£825,000

A handsome Grade II listed farmhouse with 17th-century origins lying in a charming rural hamlet in the Tonbridge area with easy access to Paddock Wood mainline station. Inside, there is an entrance hall, drawing room, dining room, study, sitting room, cloakroom, kitchen, utility room, five bedrooms, bathroom and large attic. The property is set in beautiful gardens and has outbuildings and a driveway providing plenty of parking. It is being offered for sale with no chain.

CONTACT Jackson-Stops & Staff Tunbridge Wells 01892 521700 www.jackson-stops.co.uk

UNDER £1MILLION QUARRY BANK, TONBRIDGE

£925,000

UNDER £350,000 CROCKHURST STREET TUDELEY

£325,000 A recently renovated period cottage with far-reaching views.

This Grade II listed building has bags of character and is ready for modern living. The accommodation features a sitting/dining room with working fireplace, a kitchen, a master bedroom, a family bathroom and a top floor

bedroom. There is a gravel garden to the front and a courtyard garden to the rear with a path to a separate large grassed plot and a garage.

CONTACT Wood and Pilcher Tonbridge 01732 351135 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

A detached family home in an exclusive executive development on the south side of town. It is superbly presented, including recently fitted kitchen and bathrooms. Inside it has a hall, sitting room, study, dining room, cloakroom, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, en-suite master and guest bedrooms, three further bedrooms and a family shower room. Outside, there is driveway parking, an integral double garage and a large garden backing on to woodland.

CONTACT Bracketts Tonbridge 01732 350503 www.bracketts.co.uk

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Near Tenterden: ÂŁ5 60, OOO A delightful 3 bedroom cottage designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens

 PROPERTY SECTION

AT A GLANCE

LAUREL WOOD HOUSE CLAYGATE, MARDEN ■ Attractive Edwardian property ■ Fully refurbished and extended ■ Period features ■ Entrance hall ■ Cloakroom ■ Drawing room ■ Impressive kitchen/family/dining room ■ Utility room ■ Master bedroom with en-suite ■ Three further bedrooms ■ Box room/study ■ Family bathroom ■ Former garage used as office/den

Classy improvements mix with Edwardian elegance

L

AUREL WOOD HOUSE is a handsome Edwardian country property in Claygate, close to Collier Street and Marden.

Boasting lovely period features, and subject to a thorough and sensitive refurbishment, it has been extended to create a superb open-plan kitchen/ sitting/dining room which is the heart of the home.

The front door opens to a reception hall with cloakroom, and beyond this is the stunning drawing room, which has a magnificent fireplace with bespoke stone surround, a bay window to the front and

■ Pretty rear gardens with meadow ■ Off-road parking to the front

OIEO £900,000 For sale through Jackson-Stops & Staff Cranbrook 01580 720000 www.jackson-stops.co.uk

double doors opening to the open-plan extension to the rear.

This thoughtfully designed, bright and airy room also has French doors to the terrace, and with underfloor heating provides an exemplary family living and entertaining space all year round.

The kitchen area has further French doors to the terrace, as well as a stone floor, high quality units – including a large central island – and an adjoining utility room.

On the first floor, the master bedroom has a bay window to the front, a walk-in wardrobe and an en-suite shower room. Also on this floor are a guest bedroom, an impressive family bathroom and a box room/study. Two

further bedrooms lie on the top floor.

Flanking the rear of the house is a substantial stone-paved terrace bordered by neat, clipped box hedging.

Pretty gardens lie beyond this, well stocked with a range of flowering shrubs and mature hedges giving good levels of privacy.

There is an idyllic meadow area at the rear which backs on to open farmland. Within this is an old apple orchard, a children’s play area and mown pathways between masses of natural wildflowers.

The detached former garage is currently used as an office/den, and ample parking is provided on the gravel driveway at the front of the house.

‘Pretty gardens lie beyond, well stocked with a range of flowering shrubs and mature hedges giving privacy’ Wednesday 14th September 2016

PROPERTY SECTION ďż˝

Description: Good use of underdeveloped land Type:

Any size and number of units

Location:

Anywhere in the South East

If you have been refused planning permission for what on the face of it would seem a reasonable application, SJD Projects may be able to assist.

Through our network of developers and investors, we have been instrumental in achieving planning on sites that otherwise have not achieved their full potential.

For a no obligation assessment please contact our offices on our freephone number 0845 456 8969.

Mobile: 0773 951 4350 Website: sjd-projects.com

LAND & DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS

Freephone: 0845 456 8969 Email: steve@sjd-projects.com

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Heathfield £1,400,000 Approached by a long private lane a fine 7 bedroom detached character country house which has been substantially extended in keeping with the original character to provide superb accommodation in excess of 4,500 sq ft. In all about 40 acres. EPC: E

Tunbridge Wells £1,385,000 A stunning 4 bedroom detached former Victorian coach house which has been imaginatively converted to an exacting standard yet retaining it's original character throughout with its beautifully presented spacious interior. EPC: E

Langton Green £1,150,000 A superb 5 bedroom detached house in a secluded, tucked away position adjoining the playing fields of Holmewood House School with mature gardens extending to about 0.85 acres. EPC: E

Brenchley £985,000 An exceptional 4 bedroom Grade II listed detached barn renovated to a high standard with gardens and grounds of about 3.5 acres set in delightful rural surroundings adjoining orchards.

Cross in Hand £975,000 An outstanding, superbly presented, spacious 5 bedroom family house situated on the edge of the beautiful Possingworth Park built in the 1930s by the highly regarded Lions Green Company and subsequently been extended in keeping with the original character. EPC: C

Tidebrook £950,000 A highly individual spacious 4 bedroom detached family house arranged with the majority of the accommodation on one floor in a delightful rural setting with views in gardens including a walled garden of about 1.6 acres. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells Office Sales. 01892 597607 I tunbridgewells@hamptons-int.com

Mayfield ÂŁ1,995,000 In a delightful semi-rural position and with lovely far reaching views, a stunning 5 bedroom period home, refurbished and reconfigured to reflect sophisticated simplicity, set in grounds of approx. 3.3 acres. EPC: D

Langton Green ÂŁ1,750,000 A fine Victorian 6 bedroom detached former lodge substantially extended with partly walled gardens of just under three quarters of an acre in a rural setting with views close to both Speldhurst and Langton Green. EPC: E

Drl

Tunbridge Wells

Andrews >

andrewsonline.co.uk

Pennington Road, TN4 OSJ Guide £240,000 Former bakery shop, now a three bedroom period home set over 4 floors and which requires some updating.

Energy Efficiency Rating: F

Chenies Close, TN2 5LL £160,000 Top floor apartment to the south of Tunbridge Wells in need of modernisation.

Energy Efficiency Rating: TBC

Tunbridge Wells Sales 01892 515 11+1+

LANDLORDS WANTED

Dukes Drive, TN2 5FA OIEO £700,000 A detached house over three floors - set to the east of Tunbridge Wells on a modern development, with entrance hall, kitchen/dining room, living room, we, 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Double car port and rear garden. No chain.

Energy Efficiency Rating: B

To view more properties available from all 85 of our offices, visit andrewsonline.co.uk

Andrews

REQUIRED FOR PROPERTIES IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Contact us on: 01892 51511.tlt

lettings@andrewsonline.co.uk

PROPERTY SECTION 

LAW NEWS

Housing Market Settles Down After Brexit After the shock result of Brexit the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (rics) reports that the property market is on the up once again.

However, there is still some way to go and it is now essential than ever that those involved in the conveyancing process work closely together with one another to effectively meet clients’ expectations.

Conveyancers often have the reputation, of not cooperating with

‘With light and spacious accommodation, this property has all a growing family could need’ AT A GLANCE

estate agents, though not always deservedly so. A lack of communication between conveyancer and estate agent can lead to misunderstandings and

Extended character house in prestigious Nevill Park

potential problems for clients. This all results in extra hassle and worry for clients at what is already an extremely stressful time. The last thing clients want to be doing is chasing their lawyer to update an agent.

However, a good conveyancer will cooperate and keep the agents informed wherever possible and provide greater transparency for their client.

Clear and concise communicatiom is

NEVILL PARK TUNBRIDGE WELLS

essential, especially during complex

� Highly desirable private road setting

resolving problems and are invaluable

� Modernised and extended

for passing information up and down a

� Character features

chain quickly and sometimes agreeing

transactions. Agents can be helpful in

completion dates.

� Bright and spacious accommodation

It would appear that more than ever,

� Entrance porch and hall

open lines of communication are what

� Cloakroom

is best for the client and will provide for

� Family room

as stress free an experience as possible

� Study

and significantly assist in speeding up a

� Sitting room

transaction and providing greater clarity

� Kitchen/dining/living room � Utility room with larder and store � Master bedroom with bathroom and walk-in wardrobe � Three further bedrooms � Family bathroom � Off-road parking � Good size rear garden with terrace

£1,550,000 For sale through Brooks Peacock 01892 323030 www.brookspeacock.com

T

HIS sympathetically extended detached house is located in one of the most desirable private roads in Tunbridge Wells, and is presented in excellent decorative order.

With light and spacious accommodation, contemporary styling, well-tended gardens and plenty of off-road parking, this property has all a growing family could need.

The cleverly expanded ground floor opens through a porch to an entrance hall with a

for all concerned. cloakroom.

To one side is a cosy family room with a study off it, both with windows to the front of the house.

To the other side is a bright sitting room with a woodburning stove, which is openplan to the exceptional kitchen/ dining/living area to the rear of the house.

Here there are two sets of bifold doors to the terrace, and the superb modern kitchen has a central island. Off the kitchen area is a useful utility room with

a pantry, storeroom and external door to the side of the house.

Upstairs, the spacious, dualaspect master bedroom has windows both front and rear, a bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe. There are three further bedrooms as well as a family bathroom.

There is private parking for several vehicles to the front, and the rear garden features a new terrace and a good sized area of level lawn, with shrubs, hedges and trees to the borders.

Michael Bowen is Head of Property at Keene Marsland Solicitors, Tunbridge Wells.

Email: mjb@keenemarsland.co.uk Telephone: 01892 526 442

Wednesday 14th September 2016

IP.Knight ~Frank

. . Knight .

~Frank -

. . Knight ~Frank

 PROPERTY SECTION

MANOR FARM BRIGHTLING ROAD, BRIGHTLING

£1,995,000

Striking country property with converted oast house

M

ANOR FARM is an extensive country property in elevated and secluded Brightling village, East Sussex, but still convenient for road and rail links.

Dating from the 1930s, the vast array of rooms retain many period features, including fireplaces, wood flooring, decorative cornices and ceiling roses.

As well as the main house, the property comes with an oast house providing extra accommodation and a studio currently used as a leisure facility.

The ground floor features a drawing room with a handsome stone fireplace, a sitting room with an open fire and full height bay window, a family room, a substantial conservatory, an office and a library/bar with doors to the terrace.

The light and airy kitchen/breakfast room has a four-oven Aga and there is a utility room as well as storerooms, a cloakroom and a shower room.

From the inner hall a staircase leads to a half landing with a magnificent oriel window and on up to a galleried landing.

The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, and there are four further bedrooms (two of which share a Jack & Jill en-suite) and a family bathroom.

Adjacent to the master bedroom is a small room used for laundry, but which could be utilised as a dressing room.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Also on the first floor is a covered connecting staircase to the oast house.

A further staircase leads to the second floor which has a study, three bedrooms, a separate WC and a shower room.

The oast house is set over two floors offering a sitting room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, a shower room and a cloakroom on the ground floor, with a snooker room, a study, three further bedrooms and another shower room on the first floor.

The detached studio, at present used for yoga, features an open space, two shower rooms and two cloakrooms.

The gardens have been lovingly restored by the present owners. The wide expanses of lawn are interspersed with varieties of mature trees and shrubs, behind which are bluebell woods and a silver birch glade.

A water cascade leads from a series of small ponds to a large lake that is well stocked with fish and has an ornamental bridge and a two-storey boat house with terrace.

The 16.5 acres of grounds also feature a swimming pool, a hot tub, a tennis court and a croquet lawn.

Further outbuildings include a triple-bay garage, a single garage, storage sheds, a workshop, a machinery store and a gardener’s WC.

PROPERTY SECTION 

AT A GLANCE

‘From the inner hall a staircase leads to a half landing with a magnificent oriel window and on up to a galleried landing’

■ Substantial country home ■ Dating from 1930s ■ Period features ■ Excellent family accommodation ■ Drawing room ■ Sitting room ■ Family room ■ Library ■ Office ■ Conservatory ■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ Cloakroom ■ Utility room ■ Storerooms ■ Master bedroom with en-suite ■ Laundry/dressing room ■ Four further bedrooms ■ Two further bathrooms, one en-suite ■ Top floor with three more bedrooms, study, shower room and WC ■ Oast house with five bedrooms, sitting room, snooker room, study, two showers ■ Studio with large studio space, entrance hall, two showers, two cloakrooms ■ Ample garaging and outbuildings ■ Swimming pool and tennis court ■ Gardens with pond ■ Grounds of 16.5 acres

£1,995,000 For sale through Savills Cranbrook 01580 720161 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 14th September 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

AT A GLANCE HOPGARDEN LANE, SEVENOAKS n Desirable road n Well maintained n Reception hall n Cloakroom n Sitting room n Study n Drawing room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room n Master bedroom with en-suite shower room and dressing room n Guest bedroom with en-suite shower n Three further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Off-road parking and detached double garage n Attractive rear garden n About 0.43 of an acre

£1,395,000 For sale through Jackson-Stops & Staff Sevenoaks 01732 740600 www.jackson-stops.co.uk

‘This beautifully presented and well-maintained house is light and spacious’

Much-loved home is for sale for the first time in decades

C

OMING to the market for the first time since it was built in the late 1970s, this beautifully presented and wellmaintained house is light and spacious.

Located in a desirable part of Sevenoaks, and only a mile from the town centre, it is also a much-loved family home.

The ground floor comprises an entrance hall with a cloakroom, a sitting room with double doors to the side garden, a study with fitted bookshelves and a dining room with bifold doors to a large, triple-aspect drawing room.

The kitchen features a comprehensive range of wall and base units along with a useful fitted breakfast table and integrated appliances.

The adjoining utility room has matching units and space for your white goods.

On the first floor, the double-aspect master bedroom has built-in wardrobes, fitted cupboards, a dressing table and a window seat, as well as an adjoining dressing room with further fitted cupboards and an en-suite shower room.

The guest bedroom is also a generous size, with built-in wardrobes and en-suite shower room. There are three further double bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Outside, the property has good off-road parking with a sweeping herringbone brick driveway to the front and a detached double garage.

Iron gates provide useful access to the side terraces and the rear garden, including vehicular gates allowing for additional parking to one side of the house if required.

The garden is landscaped to provide banked terraces with an area of level lawn and a further area from which to enjoy the view over the wooded lane.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Mi{Cer

McAufey

Estate Agents

First Street

£400,000

A chance to acquire this beautiful house located in the village of Langton Green. Opening into a hallway, is a sitting/dining room. There is a spacious kitchen to the rear of the property with French doors opening onto the garden. On the first floor there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Outside, is an attractive rear garden.

Spring Farm Oast

£1,400,000

A chance to acquire this fabulous oast conversion set in approximately 12 acres of beautiful countryside. The accommodation comprises of; three reception rooms , an kitchen/breakfast room, five bedrooms - the master bedroom opening onto a veranda and three bathrooms (two en-suites).

Outside, there is a garage, natural countryside and wonderful views.

Meadow Road

£1295 pcm

A well-presented house located in the popular village of Rusthall. The 'L' shaped reception room comprises a sitting and a dining area opening onto the garden. The spacious kitchen opens off the dining area. Upstairs, there are three bedrooms with an en-suite shower room to one, plus a modern family bathroom. The property enjoys off road parking.

Mount Pleasant Avenue

£925 pcm

A stone's throw from the town centre shops and restaurants and a short stroll from the station , this stylish apartment is in a great location. The second floor property offers a large open plan living room and kitchen area. There is a good sized double bedroom and a second smaller bedroom.

The modern bathroom has a shower over the bath.

Te(: 01892 (ettin3s@mcau(eymiffer.com

Frant Road

£230,000

An opportunity to purchase this beautifully presented flat. Situated on the first floor, the apartment comprises of a spacious hallway which leads to the open plan kitchen/sitting room with a high ceiling , double bedroom with fitted wardrobes and a modern bathroom. Outside, to the front of the property there is parking and to the rear the communal gardens.

Mount Ephraim

£390,000

A chance to acquire this fabulous apartment. Presented over one level, this property comprises of; a spacious sitting room, fully integrated kitchen, two bedrooms, one with en-suite and newly fitted bathroom. Benefiting from a recent refurbishment whilst still maintaining many period features, such as: sash windows, high ceilings and coving.

Monson Colonade

£1350 pcm

A superbly refurbished spacious maisonette with views over town. The three bedrooms are to the top floor and are all good sizes. On the floor below (second floor of the building) the newly fitted kitchen, to the rear, offers ample space for living and dining and there is an elegant living room to the front. The bathroom is newly fitted and has a separate WC.

Buxted

£1750 pcm

This character home comprises of; a kitchen/ breakfast room with doors to a utillty room and a cloakroom, a bright and airy living room which opens to the garden and a dining room/study.

Upstairs, the master bedroom has both a bathroom en-suite and dressing room Three further double bedrooms, one with en-suite shower room, and a family bathroom.

614777

www.mcaureymiffer.com

sa(es@mcaureymi((er.com

Your local independent Estate Agent

1-kMJProperty

...contactable 7 days a week

ÂŁ310,000

RUSTHALL

Modern 2 bed semi-detached house with parking.

Comprising; Entrance hall, open plan lounge/diner, fitted kitchen, d/s cloakroom & conservatory, 2 bedrooms & modern upstairs bathroom. Double glazing, gas fired heating & rear garden with a high quality & insulated chalet building. EPC C

Refurbished and extended 4 bed detached family home with driveway. Entrance hall, sitting room, open plan kitchen/diner with island unit & folding doors to garden, utility room, d/s cloakroom, four bedroom & family bathroom. Oak flooring to ground floor, double glazing, gas fired heating & rear garden. EPC tbc

2 double bedroom period style end of terrace house with good size garden, driveway and garage. 2 reception rooms, modern fitted kitchen and ground floor bathroom. Good access to local shops, bus routes and schools. EPC tbc. NO CHAIN

2 bedroom terraced cottage in the heart of Rusthall village. The accommodation comprises; lounge, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms, downstairs bathroom, versatile loft room. The property also benefits from gas fired heating and a rear garden. EPC tbc

www.kmjproperty.co.uk ar::I Find us on • 111 Facebook

01892 515188

<i)nTheMarketcam

sales@kmjproperty.co.uk

NEW HOMES SUPPLEMENT 

r ou w LIC to o B e Sh PU id s E gu me TH ur Ho TO Yo w Y Ne NTR E

Portfolio Show 2016

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NEW HOMES

PROPERTY PROFILES BENEFITS OF BUYING A BRAND NEW BUILD TOP REASONS TO MOVE INTO THE AREA

24 at r e b m tem –4p p Se 0am 1 m fro

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YOUR SPECIAL 16 PAGE GUIDE TO THE BEST DEVELOPMENTS IN AND AROUND TUNBRIDGE WELLS

The Times is proud to work with:

Wednesday 14th July 2016

� NEW HOMES SUPPLEMENT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WARNERS-SOLICITORS.CO.UK

The key to your dream home On September 24 some of the UK’s top property developers will be at the first Times New Homes Portfolio Show. This event, at One Warwick Park, focuses on our area’s most impressive contemporary builds. Here our Supplements’ Editor Eileen Leahy (below) reveals who will be exhibiting and what you’ll need to succeed in securing your desired dwelling

I

T’S A wellknown fact that buying a house can be incredibly stressful but the Times aims to take all that strain away with its New Homes exhibition which will feature a wealth of successful developers gathering together in the sumptuous surroundings of One Warwick Park next Saturday, September 24.

Exhibitors will be on hand to talk to prospective buyers about their latest developments and will also be able to offer plenty of additional advice for anyone looking for a stylish, new contemporary home in and around Tunbridge Wells.

So whether you’re after a luxurious detached property which boasts a gen-

FACT

The number of new builds created in the South East rose to 23,149 in 2015

erous sized kitchen, fantastic outdoor space and close proximity to the area’s excellent schools or you want a well-appointed apartment which has all the latest technological innovations, private parking and convenient rail and road links, you’ll find it at the Times New Homes Portfolio Show.

As well as having the opportunity to look at some of the industy’s finest new developments, visitors will also be able to pick up plenty of tips and information on every aspect of buying a home.

From sourcing the right legal advice for your situation to discovering the most ecologically sound home options and flexible finance plans, all of this will be available to you under one roof.

The event, which runs from 10am to 4pm, is free to attend and will feature an impressive array of developers, agents and experts who will happily guide you to finding your next new home – whether it’s your first or somewhere you want to retire to.

There will also be plenty of inspiration for your dream décor too thanks to Teasel Fabrics & Interiors exclusive stand at the show.

From beautifully crafted furniture arrangements to colour schemes, upholstery ideas and curtain styles, their experienced team will offer you some great ideas for creating the most stylish of homes. If you want to make a grand statement, or simply have a small space that needs to impress, Teasel can help. It also offers a free of charge design visit and a professional measuring and fitting service.

But before you start looking at fabric swatches and paint colours it’s time to find your desired dwelling. Over the next few pages I profile some of the development companies who will be present at the Times New Homes Portfolio Show and reveal the benefits of buying a new property, large or small, in or around our sought after town. Look out for all the top tips too so you’re sure to make the right move for you…

PICTURE PERFECT An example of Teasel’s interior designs

The Benefits of Buying a Brand New Home:

1

You get a guarantee. These are usually the Buildmark by the National House Building Council (NHBC) which is a ten year warranty and protection scheme. However there are other companies who provide similar deals they include Premier Guarantee and LABC Warranty.

2 3

Utility bills are cheaper. New homes are constructed using greener building methods and boast energy efficient appliances and are mostly triple glazed all of which means they’re cheaper to run than many older properties.

Safety is standard. Due to the rigorous constructions rules that must be met there is a raft of securities that are included in the price of your new apartment, town house or detached property. These include window and door locks, alarms, security lighting and fire safety.

4 5 6 7 8

You’ll save money. Because all the cosmetic finishes have been done for you – including the colour of your front door and kitchen – you won’t have to spend a fortune on decorating or DIY when you move in.

No chain equals a big gain. Unlike older properties you won’t have to get caught up in the stress of a long chain which is reliant on others buying and selling their properties which could jeopardise your home.

Help is at hand. There are lots of financial schemes in place for new build homes such as the Government’s Help to Buy and Starter Homes one which aides first-time buyers in England to get on the property ladder.

You can design your own home. If you buy off-plan, i.e. before a building has been completed some developers give you the option to decide upon décor, layout and functionality of the overall space.

Finished to perfection. Included in most new build contracts is a ‘snagging’ list. This means that all the paintwork, woodwork, fixtures and fittings have to be checked by the construction company before you say you are totally happy with it. So if a crack appears in the plasterwork or a kitchen cupboard isn’t closing properly you can get it fixed.

Wednesday 14th July 2016

FACT

The National House Builders Registration Council (NHBC) reported the number of new homes registered to be built in the UK in 2015 has topped 156,000 – a continued increase of 7%

QUALITY, ELEGANCE AND STYLE AT REGENCY PLACE The latest phase of luxury homes launching Saturday 17th September at Royal Wells Park, Tunbridge Wells Regency Place is the latest collection of three, four and five bedroom family homes set within the prestigious Royal Wells Park development. Each home includes a superior specification with private parking and outdoor space. Royal Wells Park is perfect for families benefiting from green open spaces and a children's play area, as well as the brand new state-of-the-art The Wells Free School opening in September 2016. Superbly located in the heart of Tunbridge Wells, Royal Wells Park is only five minutes from the train station, providing regular services into London Bridge in just 45 minutes*.

Prices from ÂŁ715,000** To book your personal appointment at the launch please call 01892 888640 Sales and Marketing Suite open daily: 10am to 6pm Royal Wells Park, Culverden Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9QT www.royalwellspark.co.uk Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

"Journ ey tim e is approxim at e and may not be direct. So urce : www.nati onalrail. co. uk . ""Pri ce correct at tim e of go ing t o press.

Co mputer ge nerat ed im age depict s Rege ncy Pl ace at Roya l We ll s Park and is in dica ti ve only. Ph ot ography fea tures loca l wood land.

 NEW HOMES SUPPLEMENT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WARNERS-SOLICITORS.CO.UK

Grand designs on luxury living Orchard Heights

S

AVILLS New Homes Tunbridge Wells are delighted to showcase an exciting range of fresh developments in the surrounding area.

They enjoy wonderful locations within the beautiful Kent and East Sussex countryside, with most having Royal Tunbridge Wells at their heart – a town that has everything from chic shopping to gourmet restaurants.

The dining options span the spectrum from fine European cuisine to welcoming gastro pubs and coffee shops.

Tunbridge Wells is popular with families because of its superb range of schools for all ages, including both state and independent establishments, and its easy access

Ashlin Quarter

Lillesden House

to London by train in under an hour with the commute going direct to Charing Cross or Cannon Street.

All the Savills’ developments featured here enjoy their own unique locations while being within easy reach of a town.

Wadhurst is a thriving village only eight minutes by train from Tunbridge Wells and benefits from its own excellent independent shops, including a butcher, delicatessen, chemist, café and post office, to mention but a few.

It has a choice of great local pubs and restaurants and again a variety of independent and state schools.

The local primary school and Uplands Community College both have excellent reputations.

Newcourt Residential have recently launched Wadhurst Place to the market, which features apartments in a Grade II listed manor house, four mews houses and new build five-bed family homes.

Close by in Ticehurst is The Coachworks,

Gill’s Green

with 26 apartments for the over 65s.

Hawkhurst sits within the heart of Kent, close to Cranbrook, and is home to Marlborough House School.

The local shops, including a new Waitrose on the way, make this village a popular place to live.

Close to the A21, Hawkhurst is also well-placed for easy access to Tunbridge Wells as well as Rye and the coast.

Lillesden House by Sandhill Homes is a stunning conversion of a former girls’ school into 14 apartments.

Close to the village, Simon Patience Homes have a delightful development of six houses at Gill’s Green.

Horsmonden is a traditional village surrounded by orchards and farmland.

Orchard Heights is a conversion of seven houses by Astindale Homes and is already proving popular, with two now reserved.

Ashlin Quarter is the only one of these developments located further away from Tunbridge Wells, but it sits within the

ancient village of Aylesford with its 13th-century monastery still a place of pilgrimage. Today’s village hasn’t lost its old-world charm, but it also caters for day-to-day needs.

For more comprehensive shopping, Maidstone is only six miles away, or for a more extensive shopping expedition it is only 18 miles to Bluewater.

Aylesford has its own mainline station with trains running to London’s The Coachworks

Wadhurst Place

Wednesday 14th September 2016

St Pancras station in under an hour.

All the Savills developments are in locations offering a relaxing but well-connected lifestyle that can be enjoyed by both families and people just looking to de-stress their lives with a move out of London.

■ For all developments listed please contact Savills RDS on 01892 507005 or email tunbridgewellsrds@savills.com

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PRIME PLACE SEVENOAKS

Luxury one bedroom apartments just minutes from Sevenoaks Station

BUY FROM JUST £883* PER MONTH

Luxury Concierge Foyer

I Allocated Parking I Architecturally Designed Gardens I Views of The Downs I Business Suite

ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS FROM £330,000 TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM £399,995 SALES & MARKETING SUITE OPEN DAILY I PLEASE CALL TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ON 01732 451000 primeplace.sevenoaks@countrywide.co.uk I www.primeplace.co.uk Actual photography of Sevenoaks Show Home and concierge foyer. Prices correct at time of press. *Help to Buy is subject to eligibility. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it. If you are in any doubt, seek independent financial advice. These figures are based on the respective asking prices with a mortgage term of 30 years and a typical 2 year fixed rate. Exclusive of service charges and ground rent.

,.-_-w:AMPTONS

.11

INTERNATIONAL

savills

� NEW HOMES SUPPLEMENT

PROPERTY DEVELOPER PROFILE

Bracketts BRIEF HISTORY: IN BUSINESS since 1828, Bracketts is the oldest firm of chartered surveyors and estate agents in the area. They have offices in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells and specialise in both residential and commercial sales and lettings as well as valuations, surveys and project co-ordination.

WHY CHOOSE BRACKETTS? As well as possessing in-depth knowledge of the local property market, they are a small team of approximately 40, so the customer service any potential client will receive will be very personal.

Despite being in business since the 19th century Bracketts have moved with the times and now have extensive expertise in land development and new builds as well as the traditional side of property buying and selling. As well as finding you the right property their

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WARNERS-SOLICITORS.CO.UK

highly experienced team of chartered surveyors will be able to offer advice on project co-ordination and schedules of condition.

80 St John’s Road

WHO WILL THEY BE REPRESENTING AT THE TIMES NEW HOMES SHOW? Bracketts will be showcasing their new development at 80 St Johns Road in Tunbridge Wells which comprises 12 brand new and exclusive apartments. If you’re in the market for a house they will also be able to tell prospective buyers about their new development in Lyons Crescent, Tonbridge and their stunning detached family home in Burwash.

PROPERTY PARTICULARS: n Prices start at £270,000 n Each home is uniquely decorated n Ethically and sustainably sourced materials used in the construction n Pleasant external space for some appartments n Contact: Bracketts is open daily from 10am – 6pm. To book an appointment call 01892-533-733

PROPERTY DEVELOPER PROFILE

Dandara

BRIEF HISTORY: THE company was established in 1988 with the desire to provide innovative homes and commercial properties. Their principle aim was to offer value for money without having to compromise on design, quality or durability. Dandara has offices in the South East, Scotland, the North West, Isle of Man and Jersey.

Knights Wood Park

Wadhurst Place

Wednesday 14th September 2016

WHY CHOOSE DANDRA? They are one of the country’s leading experts and largest independent property developers. Since 1988 they have built over 10,000 homes and won an impressive 70 industry awards including the What House?

Best Apartment and UK Residential Property Awards’ Best Development.

They specialise in both commercial and residential properties and offer an inclusive service overseeing every stage of the new build process from land buying and planning to building and eventual sales.

WHO WILL THEY BE REPRESENTING AT THE TIMES NEW HOMES SHOW? Knights Wood Park is their flagship

development in the South East. Set among the leafy countryside on the edge of Tunbridge Wells, it offers a selection of smart two, three and four bedroom family homes. Starting from £335,000 you can choose from a variety of designs all of which complement their surroundings.

Included in the portfolio is The Sunburst, a perfect family home made from a variety of materials include stone and The Golding which boasts a part-painted render and brick frontage and garage. Each style of property has a number of internal designs to choose from in order to complement each individual’s style of living.

PROPERTY PARTICULARS: n Prices start from £335,000 n £1000 contribution to legal fees on selected plots n Help to Buy is now available on selected plots n There is a purpose built primary school on the site which opened this September n Less than a mile to mainline train station at High Brooms n Set in an established woodland area n Contact: The Dandara Marketing Suite is open daily from 10am – 5pm.

To book an appointment call 01892 800 580

HELP TO BUY AVAILABLE AT KNIGHTS WOOD

Owning your first home should feel like a dream come true.

With just a 5% deposit now is a great time to purchase a new home at Knights Wood with Help to Buy. Knights Wood offers a variety of exceptional new homes in a peaceful woodland setting in Royal Tunbridge Wells . Our marketing suite is open daily from 10am to 5pm, so come and visit us to see how Help to Buy will get you the home you want for less.

Alternatively, call us on 01892 800580.

Two, three and four bedroom homes available with Help to Buy from £355,000 to £599,000.

KNIGHTS WOOD ROYA L TU NBR I DG E W ELL S

5°/o DEPOSIT 75°/o MORTGAGE 20°/o GOVERNMENT LOAN Example of a Victoria two bedroom house priced at £355,000

5°/o Deposit £17,750 20°/o Loan £71,000 75o/o Mortgage £266,250

Knights Wood , Tunbridge Wells TN2 3UW YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE. This example is provided for guidance only; Dandara does

Call us to discuss how Help to Buy will work with your property purchase

not offer mortgage advice. Subject to full affordability checks, you may qualify for a higher equity loan amount from the government. You should take advice from a suitably qualified adviser before agreeing to a mortgage. Prices correct at time of print and are subject to change without notice .

. . Knight ia.4111 Frank

dandara

new homes

We have a range of buying options, which make purchasing a brand new home easier than you might expect.

Our AssistedMove scheme is a great option because you can reserve the home of your dreams even if you haven't sold your own.

We'll use our expertise to help you market your existing home and we'll even pay ÂŁ3,000 towards your estate agent fees.

Make it happen - talk to our friendly sales advisor today!

Telephone: 01435 872513 Email: sales.mayfieldplace@emerson.co. uk

Ex I

WISMER, BELL ORCHARD, LONG MILL LANE, ST MARY'S PLATT, KENT TN15 8NA A charming 5 bedroom detached family home with a large garden offering a very privileged lifestyle

Open Thursday to Monday 11am to 5pm I Guide Price fl.45m I T: 01732 430771 I E: bellorchard@mdh.uk.com Follow us for updates: ~ @MillwoodDHomes

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MillwoodDHomes

� NEW HOMES SUPPLEMENT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WARNERS-SOLICITORS.CO.UK

PROPERTY DEVELOPER PROFILE Royal Wells Park

Berkeley Homes BRIEF HISTORY: BERKELEY HOMES was founded in 1976 and today is one of the UK’s best known developers of new homes. The vision has been the same since the beginning: to be a dynamic and innovative company with a passionate commitment to provide superbly designed and built homes in excellent locations in London and the South East of England.

WHY CHOOSE BERKELEY HOMES? It focuses on creating stunning homes that don’t just look good but are sustainable, too. So as well as the important aesthetics and practical aspects of their buildings they want them to chime in with their surroundings and the environment too. The Berkeley portfolio reflects the aspirations of a much broader range of home buyers, encompassing medium to large-scale developments in towns, cities and the countryside, mixed use schemes, riverside apartments, refurbished historic buildings and urban loft spaces. It has won many accolades for its work including Britain’s Most Admired Company across all industries in 2012 and 2015 as well as Housebuilder of the Year in 2015.

WHO WILL THEY BE REPRESENTING AT THE TIMES NEW HOMES SHOW? The prestigious Royal Wells Park, located just off Mount Ephriam.

These homes offer the best of both worlds – traditional architectural style with interiors thoughtfully designed specifically for the modern

lifestyle. The variety of house styles are all in keeping with the elegant Regency and Kentish-style architecture that is characteristic of the area, but also provide benefits of low maintenance, a luxury specification throughout and superior energy efficiency. Homes also come with allocated private parking and private outdoor space - features that are high in demand for such a central town location.

There is a broad choice of property styles to choose from which go from one-bedroom apartments through to six-bedroom homes. Royal Wells Park already has an established community with a thriving mix of residents from young professionals and couples to families and downsizers as it opened in 2014 and looks set to complete in 2019. The development contributes to the excellent educational facilities in the area, home to state-of-the-art primary school, The Wells Free School, which opens this term and provides 168 school places.

PROPERTY PARTICULARS: n Prices start from £1,125,000 n Full time Estate Manager n All properties have allocated parking n Stunning water features within gated pedestrian area n Walking distance to train station and high street n Contact: Berkeley Homes Marketing Suite is open daily from 10am – 6pm. To book an appointment call 01892 532 011

Millwood Steep Road

PROPERTY DEVELOPER PROFILE

Wood & Pilcher BRIEF HISTORY: LOCAL independent estate agents with offices in Tunbridge Wells, Crowborough, Southborough, Tonbridge and Heathfield Wood & Pilcher have been established since 1981.

Cubed Homes, Conghurst Lane

WHY CHOOSE WOOD & PILCHER? One of the founders, John Pilcher, is still a consultant with the company despite his retirement in January 2011, and has been involved in development land throughout his career. With this knowledge and expertise, Wood & Pilcher have become widely recognised within this particular area of the industry. Simon Ellis, one of the firm’s Managing Directors, now heads up the dedicated Land and New Homes Department acting for many local property developers, multinational builders, local and county councils, as well as private individuals.

WHO WILL THEY BE REPRESENTING AT THE TIMES NEW HOMES SHOW? There will be a number of developers under their umbrella. They include Millwood Designer Homes, Cubed Homes and Jones Homes all of whom have developments within Kent and Sussex.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Properties currently available include a 5 bedroom detached house in Crowborough at £1,295,000, a 4 bedroom detached house in Tunbridge Wells at £650,000, 2 x 4 bedroom detached houses in Southborough at £550,000 each.

There will also be new properties coming to the market shortly in Hawkhurst and Forest Row. PROPERTY PARTICULARS: n Wood and Pilcher offer a wide variety of choice when it comes to new builds n They are local and have extensive knowledge of the area and regional market n Millwood Designer Homes recreate the look and feel of local architectural styles such as the Wealden Hall House n At the heart of Cubed Homes is a dedication to sustainable design and a greener way of living n Jones Homes have been trading since 1959 and manages a commercial property portfolio worth in excess of £1 billion. n Contact: Wood and Pilcher is open from 8.30am – 6pm and is based at 23, High Street, Tunbridge Wells. Call: 01892 511211 for more information

love living homes Giving you more choice in property

Service to Landlords

Ethos: Based in the heart of Kent, with strong foundations in property construction and management, we offer a unique combination of homes and services allowing our customers to buy, rent and invest happy.

We offer a flexible, tailored service to meet your needs, using our expertise to offer as much or as little as you require. This could include finding and moving in tenants for you and the associated administration, or offering a full service from beginning to end, including a responsive repairs service.

A name you can trust Successful and financially secure, Love Living Homes is a provider of market rental, intermediate market and leasehold management to a portfolio of around 500 rental and nearly 800 leasehold properties in Kent and Sussex.

Providing quality and well designed homes throughout Kent, allows us to use our local knowledge to provide a completely tailored service.

We guide and support our customers from renting and buying their own home, to building a property portfolio with all the ongoing services that they require.

We have built a number of developments over the last few years, many selling off plan before the development is complete. Whether you are looking to purchase privately, through our flexible purchase/ shared ownership scheme or as an investor we may have a property coming soon to suit you.

Our customers know they can rely on us to provide a high level of service with flexible solutions to make their property journey a happy experience.

We have a number of small scale developments planned for 2017 to register your interest to purchase or rent visit www.lovelivinghomes.eo.uk/register2017

Looking to buy or rent in Kent?

� PROPERTY SECTION

3 The Willows is a beautifully finished 4 bedroom detached family home, set on an exclusive development of just four properties. Situated only two miles west of the historic spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, the property benefits from excellent design and specification , generous size gardens, garage and off road parking.

For more information p lease co ntact one o f our sellin g agents:

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PRICE £650,000

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WOOD & PILCHER

View ings by appointment only

01892 511211 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

01892 515188 www.kmjproperty.co. u k

Price correct at time of going to press.

W W W. C U B E D H O M E S . C O . U K

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HASSLE FREE CONVEYANCING Buying a brand new home is an exciting time Warners specialist new build conveyancing solicitors are experienced in dealing with the challenges of buying a new home and can make the process a lot easier for everyone involved.

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Our solicitors can help you with all aspects of your purchase to ensure that the strict deadlines that are often imposed by house builders are met.

For more information please contact: John McAuliffe, Partner and Head of

New Build Property on T: 01732 770660 E: john.mcauliffe@warners-solicitors.co.uk W : warners-solicitors.co.uk

WARNERS solicitors _.,-- Wednesday 14th September 2016

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PROPERTY SECTION �

Join us at the Show Home Launch on Saturday 1st October 10am-4pm

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COMING SOON AN EXCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THREE LUXURY HOMES Conghurst Lane, Hawkhurst is an idyllic setting for this exclusive development of three stunning detached homes. Situated within a mile of the village centre, all properties benefit from the excellent design and specification synonymous with Cubed Homes , together with garaging , gardens and a countryside setting.

PRICES FROM £725,000 REGISTER YOUR INTEREST NOW:

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WOOD & PILCHER

01892 511211 www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

Wednesday 14th September 2016

 NEW HOMES SUPPLEMENT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WARNERS-SOLICITORS.CO.UK

By Royal Appointment Tunbridge Wells is one of the most sought after places to live in the South East of England so no wonder it’s been so popular with everyone from kings and queens to busy commuters over the centuries THERE are many reasons why people love making this particular corner of Kent their home.

As well as the great green spaces and excellent access to the capital and the coast, there are also plenty of fabulous restaurants, gastro pubs and independent retailers all thriving in and around Tunbridge Wells.

Add to this mix a hugely impressive array of private, selective and state schools, glorious countryside, elegant architecture and a vibrant arts and culture scene and you pretty much have the recipe for the perfect place to live.

This was recently confirmed in the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Residents’ survey* for 2015 which found that 92% of people were happy living here. Overall satisfaction with the range of services and amenities here was 86% while 98% of residents said they felt safe in their local area, with 73% saying they would happily walk alone after dark.

The spa town, which dates back to the 18th century, was awarded its royal status in 1909 after

King Edward VII recognised its popularity and also the numerous trips his family, most notably his mother, Queen Victoria, had made to it.

It was first put on the map in 1606 when Lord North, a courtier to James I drank from a nearby spring – now known as Chalybeate – and declared that his poor health had improved dramatically as a result.

It quickly became the place to be thanks mainly to the restorative powers of the spring waters but also due to the fashionable Pantiles walkways that had been built which offered an array of shops and coffee and ale houses as well as the perfect vantage point to see and be seen.

But it was Queen Victoria’s visits with her husband Prince Albert that really made it fashionable. She enjoyed making Tunbridge Wells part of her regular holiday ‘sojourns’ which led the 19th century poet and historian Lord Macaulay to deem it as ‘one of the richest and highly civilised parts of the kingdom.’ How right he was!

One Warwick Park

AT-A-GLANCE FACTS AND FIGURES FOR LIFE IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS According to RightMove the average price for a flat is £252,471, a terraced house is £375,612 and a semi is £413,602  In the past year house prices in Tunbridge Wells were 12% up on the year before and 27% up on 2013 when they averaged at £335,130. 

86% of residents go into the town to shop* 59% of residents go into the town for business  58% of residents go into the town to eat and drink  You can get to London in 58 minutes by train  The cost of an average South Eastern season ticket is £4,404.00  

New Build Stats & Facts According to a recent survey carried out by the Home Owners Alliance the top three benefits of owning a new build were:  lower maintenance costs  better energy efficiency  ease of getting onto the property ladder 

The Pantiles 

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High Street Wednesday 14th July 2016

Chapel Place

NHBC found that construction firms are building the highest number of detached properties for over a decade, with semi-detached homes also at their highest level in more than 20 years.

Zoopla recently confirmed that the housing market is showing signs of rebounding following its post-referendum dip. Sales levels stabilised during August, and according to Simon Rubinsohn of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): “There are clear signs that the housing market is settling down after the initial surprise of the outcome to the EU referendum.”

The path to finding your dream new home is far smoother now since the Government introduced a raft of changes in 2011. These include putting pressure on local authorities to sell surplus land and also the introduction of Help To Buy and Starter Home schemes.

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) and the UK’s largest housebuilding construction companies have pledged to help deliver one million new homes by 2020.

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PRIME PLACE SEVENOAKS

Luxury one bedroom apartments just minutes from Sevenoaks Station

BUY FROM JUST £883* PER MONTH

Luxury Concierge Foyer

I Allocated Parking I Architecturally Designed Gardens I Views of The Downs I Business Suite

ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS FROM £330,000 TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM £399,995 SALES & MARKETING SUITE OPEN DAILY I PLEASE CALL TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ON 01732 451000 primeplace.sevenoaks@countrywide.co.uk I www.primeplace.co.uk Actual photography of Sevenoaks Show Home and concierge foyer. Prices correct at time of press. *Help to Buy is subject to eligibility. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it. If you are in any doubt, seek independent financial advice. These figures are based on the respective asking prices with a mortgage term of 30 years and a typical 2 year fixed rate. Exclusive of service charges and ground rent.

,.-_-w:AMPTONS

.11

INTERNATIONAL

savills

 NEW HOMES SUPPLEMENT

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

WARNERS-SOLICITORS.CO.UK

Complex conveyancing made simple For most people, buying a new home represents their largest single investment. This is why using an experienced property lawyer is so essential. Here Warners Solicitors explain what is involved in the business of conveyancing – the legal transferring of home ownership from the seller to the buyer

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BERKELEY HOMES

How much will it cost?

We will always supply clients with a written costs estimate for handling their conveyancing. The estimate will also set out all out of pocket expenses such as searches, stamp duty and land registry fees etc.

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REGISTRATION

Housing association and shared ownership schemes We have considerable expertise in dealing with purchases and leases from local authorities, housing associations and under shared ownership schemes.

DANDARA

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WARNERS

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SAVILLS

SHOW 2016

WOOD & PILCHER

Enfranchisement We have specialists that can advise in respect of lease extensions and/or a collective purchase of the freehold (enfranchisement).

NEW HOMES

BERKELEY HOMES

TransAction - The Conveyancing Protocol ‘TransAction’ is the name given to the conveyancing protocol operated through the Law Society, which aims to make conveyancing both simpler and quicker.

Participating solicitors use a standard and jargon-free procedure. ‘TransAction’ also breaks with traditional house-buying procedures by shifting some of the work in the conveyancing transaction from the buyer’s solicitors to the seller’s solicitors.

Contract Deposits At exchange of contracts (when the buyer becomes legally bound to buy the property), the seller will expect a deposit to be paid. However, as part of the ‘TransAction’ scheme, if you are selling another property your buyer’s deposit can usually be passed on.

Leases If property is leasehold, buyers will need to look carefully at the lease terms in order to establish the maintenance obligations for repair, level of rent and any service charges etc, in addition to any restrictions or obligations in respect of gardens, car parking and so on.

TIMES

by instructing us, you are giving yourself the very best chance of a smooth and stress free transaction.

JONES HOMES

AT WARNERS we believe in making the conveyancing process as straightforward and as informal as possible and we pride ourselves on the quality of our service. Here is some of the complicated conveyancing explained to help you through the process.

When buying and selling a property it is vital that you instruct a lawyer that has the technical capabilities, time and experience to ensure a smooth transaction. Without these qualities, the transaction can be fraught with problems and frustration.

Our team of residential property lawyers both possess and understand the importance of the above qualities and

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BRACKETTS

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Find out more at www.warners-solicitors.co.uk Sponsored by

O N E W AR W IC K PAR K H OT E L

E X H I B I T I O N S TA N D S

NEW HOMES

Show 2016 Saturday 24th September 10am - 4pm at One Warwick Park Hotel To register for your free tickets simply email property@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk with your name and the number of tickets required

See our property supplement for more details www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk Wednesday 14th July 2016

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE SWAN PLACE, WESTERHAM n Contemporary townhouse n Built 2009 n Part of a small development n Close to the centre of popular town n Accommodation over four floors n Utility room n Entrance hall n Cloakroom n Sitting/dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Master bedroom with balcony, walk-in wardrobe and en-suite bathroom n Guest bedroom with en-suite shower n Two further bedrooms n Study/bedroom 5 n Family bathroom n Integral double garage and parking n Rear terrace and low-maintenance garden

£975,000 For sale through Savills Oxted 01883 714646 www.savills.co.uk

Four-storey townhouse in a popular Westerham setting

T

HIS stylish and attractive townhouse forms part of a popular development of just six properties in Westerham, built by Portland Homes in 2009.

The contemporary interior offers versatile accommodation arranged over four floors. Points of note include engineered oak flooring to the entrance hall and sitting room, a balcony to the master bedroom suite and Juliet balconies and in-ceiling speakers to the sitting/dining room.

Steps lead up to the front door, which opens to an entrance hall with a modern cloakroom.

The raised ground floor comprises a superb sitting/dining room with a contemporary fireplace and bifold doors to the garden.

There is also a stylish kitchen fitted with a wide range of wall and base units with granite work surfaces and integrated appliances.

There are full height windows to the front, with a central sliding door opening to a Juliet balcony allowing light to flood in.

The first floor features a guest bedroom with two built-in double wardrobes, a Juliet balcony with views over the garden, and an en-suite shower room.

There is a further double bedroom currently used as an office, a study which could be used as a bedroom, and a modern family bathroom.

The master bedroom is on the second floor and has an impressive part-vaulted ceiling, walk-in

wardrobe, en-suite bathroom and doors opening on to a balcony with astro-turf.

There is a further generous double bedroom on this floor with a part-vaulted ceiling, a built-in wardrobe and views to the front.

On the lower ground floor is a utility room and an integral garage.

Swan Place is approached through electricallyoperated gates and to the front is a driveway with off-road parking and a double garage.

To the rear is a landscaped garden with an astro-turf terrace and steps leading to a large granite paved area with LED lighting.

The garden provides a low-maintenance outside space ideal for al fresco entertaining.

‘Points of note include engineered oak flooring to the entrance hall and sitting room and a balcony to the master bedroom suite’

Wednesday 14th September 2016

CROWBOROUGH,

EAST SUSSEX

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

Well presented country house in rural setting + 7 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + 5 receptions + heated pool + tennis court + about 2.3 acres + Council Tax=G + EPC Rating=D

Charming Victorian home + 5 bedrooms + bathroom + shower room + kitchen/breakfast room + garden + patio + shed + off-street parking + pets allowed + Council Tax=F + EPC=E

£3,500 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£2,850 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

MARDEN,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

KENT

New build in commuter village + 5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + reception room + kitchen/ breakfast room + utility room + rear garden + double garage + Council Tax=TBC + EPC=B

Newly refurbished + 4 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms + reception room + kitchen/breakfast room + garden + residents parking + Council Tax=D + EPC=D

£2,500 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£1,550 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee. Other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/o ccupant/guarantor reference where required. Inventory check o ut fee - charged at the end of o r early termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and whether furnished / unfurnished. For more details including example inventory fee, visit

www.savills.eo.uk/fees.

WADHURST,

WAD HURST,

EAST SUSSEX

EAST SUSSEX

Historic and substantial Grade II* listed country house + MLS 1.8 miles + 8 bedrooms + detached 2 bedroom coach house + further land available + 9,741 sq ft + about 5.21 acres

Bespoke family house + 2 reception rooms + kitchen/breakfast/family room + 4 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + substantial outbuildings + 3, 149 sq ft + about 2 .34 acres + EPC=C

Offers in excess of £2.5 million Freehold

Guide £1.695 million Freehold

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

Contact: Amanda Wyatt

KENT

Modern detached family house + sitting room + kitchen/ breakfast room + study + conservatory + 5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + 2,229 sq ft + about 0.66 acres + EPC=D

Spacious ground fioor apartment + drawing/dining room + kitchen/breakfast room + 2 bedrooms + private terrace + 2 parking spaces + communal garden + EPC=D

Guide £1.05 million Freehold

Guide £550,000 Share of Freehold

Contact: Liz Devall

Contact: Becky Card

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WOODLAND AVENUE ,

1811 ,

RYEWOOD

LEIGH

Development by Berkeley + launching 10th October + 1 & 2 bedroom apartments + private terraces or balconies + high quality finish throughout + excellent transport links + 1O year NHBC warranty

Development by Bellway + 2 and 3 bedroom houses + allocated parking + various incentives available marketing suite open Tue to Sat 1Oam - 5pm + move in from Sep 2016 + 1O year NHBC warranty

Prices from £310,000 Leasehold

Prices from £374,995 Freehold Computer Generate

GROVELANDS , SOUTHBOROUGH

mage

ST CATHERINES COURT, SEVENOAKS

Ready for immediate occupation + 5 bedroom detached house + open plan kitchen/family room suite with dressing room + set over three floors + private garden + garage and parking

+ master

15 new build apartments + 1 to 2 bedrooms + high specification throughout + balconies to selected plots + residents parking + 0. 3 miles to bat & ball rail station + 1O year NHBC warranty

Guide £950,000 Freehold

Price on application Leasehold

4 GORING MEADOW, WROTHAM

75 ST JOHNS , SEVENOAKS

5 bedrooms + 5 bathrooms + 3 reception rooms plus games room + over 3000 sq ft mainline station + central village location + west facing garden + gated development

+

+ 1 .5 miles from

Guide £1.125 million Freehold

Small development of 8 apartments opportunity + modern specification

+ Help to Buy available + buy with a 5% deposit + good buy to let + Bat & Ball station 0.4 miles + Sevenoaks station 1 mile

Prices from £249,950 Leasehold All prices correct at time of going to print

What can we do for you?

PROPERTY SECTION 

Opportunity to make your mark on a 17th-century Kentish oast house AT A GLANCE BAYARDS OAST HASTINGS ROAD, ROLVENDEN ■ Attractive converted oast house ■ Grade II listed ■ In need of refurbishment ■ Versatile accommodation ■ Currently separated into three sections ■ Roundel entrance hall ■ Sitting/dining room ■ Two ground floor kitchens ■ Family room ■ Utility room with spiral staircase ■ Ground floor bedroom with en-suite ■ Further ground floor bedroom ■ Cloakroom ■ Ground floor bathroom ■ First floor sitting room ■ First floor kitchen ■ Study ■ Master bedroom with en-suite ■ Two further bedrooms ■ Family shower room ■ Three-bay garage and workshop ■ Private parking ■ Gardens and grounds ■ Woodland ■ 5.44 acres in all

£965,000 For sale through Knight Frank Tunbridge Wells 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.co.uk

‘It is an attractive Grade II listed twin roundel building with its own woodland in a lovely rural position’

B

AYARDS OAST is an attractive Grade II listed twin roundel building with its own woodland in a lovely rural position on the edge of Rolvenden, and this substantial property is in need of some refurbishment.

It is believed to date back to the 17th century with later additions in 1849, and has been owned by the same family for a number of years.

The accommodation has been split into three parts to house various generations of the family, although still flows very well as one dwelling.

On the ground floor the property opens to a roundel reception hall with stairs to the first floor.

The principal reception rooms are light and roomy, with some being double aspect.

The current arrangement includes two kitchens on the ground

floor, a family room, sitting/dining room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a cloakroom and a utility room. A spiral staircase in the latter provides an interesting additional feature.

The first floor offers three bedrooms, two bath/shower rooms, a study, a large sitting room and a further kitchen.

The oast house is approached via an initially shared driveway leading to a private drive and parking area.

There is a triple garage and workshop with a hard-standing area to one side.

A small lawned garden sits to the front, with further parking and lawned gardens to the rear.

The gardens and woodland extend to approximately 4.5 acres. There is a further acre on the opposite side of the drive and in all the property totals about 5.44 acres.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

South Tonbridge

£275,000 - £300,000

Well improved and updated 2 bedroom end of terrace house in sought after and popular residential area, close to High Street, Station & Schools. EPC D

Tonbridge

£850,000 - £875,000

Extended Detached Family Homes, requiring updating sought after Cul-de-sac. 6/7 Bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms, parking & car port. EPC C

Marden

£250,000 - £275,000

3 Bedroom Semi-Detached House in this popular village. Cloakroom, 2 reception rooms, fitted kitchen, garage, garden. EPC C

Tudeley, Nr Tonbridge

£550,000

Grade II listed Modern barn conversion in a beautiful rural setting. 2 Bedrooms, but scope for a 3rd s.t.planning. Parking & shared courtyard garden. EPC C

Tonbridge

£300,000 - £3 I 5,000

Modern spacious 2 Bedroom Mid terraced house in a quiet cul-de-sac, walking distance of the High Street. Fitted kitchen, lounge, cloakroom, parking, enclosed garden EPC C

Central Tonbridge

£450,000 - £475,000

Unique Grade II listed 3 Bedroom, 3 bathroom, home in the central of the town, within a few minutes of the High Street. 2 parking spaces.

Tunbridge Wells

£I, 150,000

Tunbridge Wells

£485,000 - £499,950

Attractive, older-style, detached house, in need of some updating, situated in popular 'Lakes' area. 4 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Secluded gardens. EPC: E

Well maintained detached, modern, family house located in favoured St John's area in a quiet cul-desac. Sitting room, kitchen, 3 bedrooms, bathroom. Garage, gardens. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells

£950,000

Monthly Rental £875

Exceptional single storey detached residence, set in level south facing grounds of 0.455 acre bordering Dunorlan Park. 3 reception rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Garage. EPC: D

Spacious lower ground floor apartment with private courtyard garden, located close to town centre. Large reception room, double bedroom, bathroom. Avail from 8/ I 0. EPC: D

Bidborough

Tunbridge Wells

£725,000 - £750,000

Located in the heart of Bidborough village is this 3 bedroom detached home, with opportunity to extend/modernise. Driveway parking, garage and 99' feature rear garden. EPC: D

Monthly Rental £725

Light and spacious flat located in the centre of the town. Large living room, modern fitted kitchen, double bedroom, shower room. Residents permit parking. Avail now. EPC: C

� PROPERTY SECTION

Pretty period cottage in well liked village

M

AT A GLANCE

DOWN LANE, FRANT n Pretty period cottage n Desirable village location n Character features n Refurbished n Very well presented n Entrance porch n Sitting room n Drawing room n Kitchen n Inner hall/utility space n Dining room n Ground floor shower room n Three bedrooms and family bathroom n Driveway parking n Gardens

£675,000 For sale through Jackson-Stops & Staff 01892 521700 www.jackson-stops.co.uk

‘Located in the desirable village of Frant, the property is beautifully presented having been considerably updated by the current owners’ Wednesday 14th September 2016

ULBERRY COTTAGE is a charming period property enhanced by later additions.

Located in the appealing village of Frant, the property is beautifully presented having been considerably updated by the current owners, including rewiring in 2006.

It is traditionally built with colour-washed elevations under a pitched tiled roof and has double-glazed replacement windows throughout.

The ground floor has a doubleaspect entrance porch leading into a pretty sitting room that has an oak bressumer and a multi-fuel burner with brick surround, plus a staircase to the first floor and an understairs storage cupboard.

This opens to a lovely drawing room and also leads to an inner lobby with an oak stable door, ceramic tile flooring, a cloaks area, a utility space for a full height

fridge-freezer and built-in shelving.

To the rear of the house is a triple-aspect kitchen with solid beech worktops, cream wall and floor units, integrated appliances, ceramic tile flooring and French doors leading to a paved terrace.

A double-aspect dining room also has French doors leading out, and a ground floor shower room with space for a washing machine.

Upstairs, there is a landing with a seating area and a door to the eaves storage. There are three bedrooms along with a superb family bathroom.

Outside, the property is approached by a paved driveway and the screened, private front garden has steps up to a little seating area.

The rear garden is mainly laid to lawn with steps to a paved patio and gated access to the front garden from either side of the house.

To one side of the property there is a log store and a paved path leading to a wooden garden shed.

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TheMarket.com

~ rightmove find your happy

Flat 2, Cniylhome Hoose, 6eooon Oak Rd , Tente<den. TNJO 6RX

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APPROXGROSS!NTERNAl.fLOORAREA: 118lsq.ft. / 110sq.m

ROLVENDEN, OIRO £315,000

TENTERDEN, OIRO £318,000

LARGE 3 BEDROOM SEMI-DETACHED FAMILY PROPERTY LOCATED IN ONE OF ROLVENDENS DESIRABLE TREE LINED ROADS. This property is very well presented and maintained enabling any buyer to move straight in . the well thought out design of this home offers many spacious and naturally lit rooms throughout.

ENERGY RATING: D

A DELIGHTFUL 2 BEDROOM APARTMENT ARRANGED OVER TWO FLOORS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF TENTERDEN HIGH STREET. The apartment is part of a charming period house which has retained many original features and is offered to the market with a lease in excess of 900 years.

ENERGY RATING: C

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TENTERDEN, OIRO £399,995

KENARDINGTON, OIRO £595,000

2 BEDROOM DETACHED BUNGALOW LOCATED IN ONE OF TENTERDENS MOST DESIRABLE AVENUES, WITH PLANNING PERMISSION FOR A LOFT CONVERSION.This bungalow comprises of lounge leading onto conservatory, kitchen, utility room, bathroom and study space located in the loft area . The property benefits from a large well maintained garden with ample parking and a detached garage.

ENERGY RATING : D

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. A PARTIALLY CONVERTED BARN REQUIRING COMPLETION AND REPAIR. THIS 4 BEDROOM KENT BARN STANDS WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 13.4 ACRES OF PASTURE LAND. The property which is situated at the rear of the land was first started 16 years ago and has planning permission for a detached garage and drive giving access from the main road. The land includes two large natural ponds. Interested parties should make their own enquires regarding planning consent from Ashford Borough Council.

~ / \ The Property ~Ombudsman

It's more than our outstanding knowledge and product range that makes us so attractive.

T: 01732 350911 Unit 4 Orchard Business Centre, Sanderson Way, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1QG

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showroom@townsbathrooms.co.uk

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OPENING TIMES

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Bitchet Green, Sevenoaks

Located off of a private road in the beautiful hamlet of Bitchet Green is this stunning four bedroom property set in approximately three acres of secluded gardens, complete with stables and paddock.

Hildenborough

£575,000 - £600,000 Tudeley

Occupying a generous sized plot with !awned garden measuring approximately 280' x 105' is this unique three bedroom semi detached bungalow.

Sevenoaks

£575,000 - £600,000 Tonbridge

Situated off a peaceful country lane is this immaculate four bedroom semi detached property, offering charm and character, fantastic walks and views.

£335,000

An enchanting three bedroom semi detached period cottage offered to the market chain free and situated in the popular village of Sundridge.

£250,000 - £270,000

A two bedroom, third floor, modern apartment located in the popular Whitefriars Wharf development just off Tonbridge High Street. Offered to the market chain free.

ELLIS&CO

01732 770077 tonbridge@ellisandco.co.uk

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01892 838363

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www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

carol@fireflyproperties.co.uk

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BY CAROL PRIER

Stunning 5 bedroom detached famil y home which has been renovated to the highest specification offering open plan living space and a 200ft rear garden. The ve rsatility of this contemporary design flood s daylight into every room. In the rear garden is a vast outdoor dining space with plunge pool, wine cellar and a room which is attached to the garage. The spacious accommodation, which includes 5 Bedrooms and 4 En su ites, is beautifully presented throughout. EPC: D

Beautifully presented 4 bedroom, detached 1930s famil y property situated in the heart of Pembury village.

Accommodation comprising 2 reception rooms, large kitchen/ breakfast room, ground floor cloakroom, garage with electric door and utility area to the rear. Beautiful master bedroom with en-suite, 3 further bedrooms and famil y bathroom. Garden room to the rear which is ideal for alfresco dining. EPC: D

Arural aspect to the front and rear, standing in grounds just in excess of two acres which could lend itself to equine facilities.

Accommodation comprising three receptions, four bedrooms to include master bedroom with en suite, attached triple garage which has potential, su bject to planning, to convert to 'annexor workshop'.

Additional plans have been drawn to provide a conservatory to the rear but have not been submitted for approval. EPC: F

Stunning oast conversion set in approx. 12 acres of grounds in semi-rural location in Five Oak Green. The property offers versatile accommodation with five bedrooms and two en suites. Our clients have worked with the conservation officers to bring Spring Farm Oast back to life with specific colour schemes which would appeal to any discerning buyer. Viewing highly recommended. EPC: C

Beautifully presented, extended 4 bedroom famil y home situated in a popular location within wa lking distance of main line station and town amenities. Accommodation comprising stylish entrance hall, ground floor showe r/cloakroom, we ll fitted kitchen, 21 '6" x 20'3" Sitting/dining room and contemporary famil y bathroom to first floor. Garage and so uth facing garden. EPC: C

Beautiful 1950s famil y home offering in excess of 1 acre of grounds plus an additional 2.2 acres of communal land. 4 bedrooms all with en suite bathrooms, 3 receptions to include conservatory, kitchen/breakfast room, utility and cloakroom.

Detached annex building with services and triple bay garage.

NO CHAIN EPC: E

Beautifully presented , extended 4 bedroom famil y home situated in a popular location within wa lking distance of main line station and town amenities. Accommodation comprising stylish entrance hall , ground floor showe r/ cloakroom, we ll fitted kitchen , 21'6" x 20'3" Sitting/dining room and contemporary famil y bathroom to first floor.

Garage and so uth facing garden. EPC: C

OPEN DAY 17th SEPTEMBER 12-3pm - Immaculately presented ground floor 1 bedroom flat with modern kitchen and bathroom. Good sized sitting room, fitted kitchen to include cooker and washing machine and communal garden to the rear. There is communal car parking leading off Bullion Close, long lease, no chain. EPC: C

Beautifully extended detached family home situated in the heart of Brenchley village within walking distance of village centre. Accommodation comprising stunning kitchen/family room with oak and glass staircase, large sitting room, utility and separate shower room, large master bedroom with en-suite three further double bedrooms and family bathroom. Beautifully landscaped south/ south west facing garden principally laid to lawn with extensive artisan patio area and mature planting. Off road parking. EPC: E

An exceptional oast conversion as one part of two beautiful homes each with approximately 2,800sq ft of we ll insulated accommodation.A luxuriou s famil y home comprising of 5 bedrooms with particular attention to creating ve rsatile living space with a high specification throughout. EPC: C

� PROPERTY SECTION

Exclusive apartment with far-reaching rural views

AT A GLANCE HILDENBROOK FARM HILDENBOROUGH n Part of an exclusive development n Second floor apartment with views n Very well presented n Communal entrance hall n Entrance vestibule and hall n Drawing room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Impressive master suite with bedroom, dressing area and en-suite n Two further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Plenty of storage space n Two allocated parking spaces n Communal gardens and grounds

£525,000 For sale through Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

‘The impressive drawing room is light and airy with a dining area and attractive fireplace’

E

NJOY superb far-reaching views from this fine second-floor apartment in Hildenborough’s soughtafter Hildenbrook Farm development. The property benefits from Scandinavian light oak wood flooring to most rooms, as well as character features.

Stairs rise from the communal entrance hall to the second floor. There is a vestibule providing an ideal space for hanging coats which opens to the hall. This in turn provides access to a large loft space that is ideal for storage, always a bonus in flats.

The impressive south-facing drawing room is light and airy with a dining area and attractive fireplace. It also has a pleasant outlook over the communal gardens and countryside beyond.

The open-plan kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with a range of units and the work surfaces extend to provide a generous breakfast bar. The breakfast area has an outlook to the front and offers a pleasant space for eating.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

The well-presented master suite features a spacious bedroom with generous eaves storage cupboards, a dressing area with a bank of built-in wardrobes and a stylish en-suite shower room.

There are two further bedrooms with attractive rural views, and a well-appointed family bathroom completes the accommodation.

The property comes with two allocated parking spaces to the front, and the attractive communal gardens to the rear benefit from shingle terraces and well-stocked flower beds. Beyond the communal gardens is further communal parkland with fruit trees.

This apartment is available leasehold (999 years from 1998) and there is a maintenance charge of approximately £3,000 per annum.

we open doors for you ...

BarnesKingsnorth

£650,000

TONBRIDGE

MOST ATTRACTIVE AND SPACIOUS family home in quiet cul-de-sac position. Beautifully presented accommodation with 5 bedrooms, 2 stylish bathrooms, delightful sitting room, dining room, spacious kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom and utility room. Outside there is a garage, parking, a fully enclosed courtyard garden and also the property benefits from an additional area of garden. EPC: D

Apply Tonbridge

£645,000

TONBRIDGE

CHARMING GRADE II LISTED COTTAGE in quiet, secluded and central location just a stroll to the mainline station. Oozing style & character, this detached property offers that special something extra! On the ground floor there is a bay fronted sitting room, family room, study hall and a kitchen/ dining room. Upstairs there are 3 bedrooms, an en-suite shower room and the family bathroom. Pretty cottage gardens, potting shed and a summerhouse retreat completes the picture. NO CHAIN. OPEN DAY BY APPOINTMENT SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 11.00AM- l.OOPM. EPC: D

Apply Tonbridge

PEMBURY £470,000 PERIOD HOME IN SOUGHT-AFTER ROMFORD ROAD. A semi-detached Victorian house in the heart of the village with good sized lawned garden to the rear and gated parking to the front. The wellbalanced accommodation comprises entrance hall, sitting room with working fireplace, dining room with period fireplace, modem kitchen/breakfast room with integrated dishwasher and fridge/freezer, cloakroom we, two double bedrooms, a single bedroom, family bathroom with separate bath and shower and a useful attic room to the second floor. The garden offers a good degree of seclusion with mature shrubs and trees. There are two timber garden stores and a detached workshop. View soon to avoid disappointment! EPC: D.

Apply Pembury 'B) Primelocatior

Residential

t f rightmove.co.uk Sales & !Lettings

Pembury: 01892 822880 e.pembury@bkea. co.uk

Tonbridge: 01732 771616 e.tonbridge@bkea .co .uk

Lettings: 01732 771616

e. Lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestatea1ents.com

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WOOD & PILCHER

Tunbridge Wells

£415,000 - £435,000

Tunbridge Wells

£459,500

A spacious and well maintained four bedroom detached property in this pleasant. family friendly Tunbridge Wells cul de sac location with garage and gardens. EPC: D

Located in an extremely popular residential road this three bedroom semi detached property offers spacious family living with the added bonus of further development which the current owners have already explored. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells

Tonbridge

£650,000 - £675,000

£425,000

A spacious well presented and thoughtfully extended four bedroom detached family home in a central but peaceful St Johns location which has been sympathetically extended. EPC: D

4 Bedroom semi-detached period house. 2 bathrooms. 2 reception rooms. downstairs cloakroom. fitted kitchen. low maintenance rear garden; close to station. town and 3 outstanding Grammar schools. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells

West Kingsdown

£550,000

Open House Saturday 17th Sept 11 am - 1pm call - for an appointment to view. Two brand new contemporary four bedroom detached family homes. located in a popular residential road in Southborough offering all the benefits of a newly built property. PEA:B Tunbridge Wells Office I 01892 511211 tun brid ge w e 11 s@ w ood and pi I cher. co. u k Southborough Office I 01892 511311 south bo roug h@ w ooda nd pi lch er. co. u k Tonbridge I 01732 351135 ton brid ge@ w ood and pi I cher. co. u k

Unique 4 bedroom detached house. 2 bathrooms. plenty of parking, lovely garden. sitting room opens out onto roof terrace. great extension potential (STPP) .. .register your interest today! EPC: E

woodandpilcher. co. uk rightmove

Offers Over £595,000

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GARDENING 

79

GARDENING TIPS

Pots of pizzazz in autumn

By Hannah Stephenson

D

ON’T worry if your summer containers are now past their best – you can perk up your pots with autumn plantings that will give you colour and texture through the cooler months and beyond.

There are two approaches to autumn and winter pots says Jeremy Hall, Group Plant Buyer for Home Counties garden centres Squires, which are holding workshops on how to create an autumn colour barrel on Friday September 16.

“If you are a tonal person and like things in harmony, a good way of doing that is to match the colour of the flowers to the colour of the foliage you are using. Lamium with silver foliage and a pink flower would look great with the silver foliage of cyclamen.

“If you take an ‘I like it mixed’ approach and like rustic charm, heucheras are great at giving contrast of foliage.

I’d probably use two colours of heuchera together – go for a burgundy type with a bright yellow one.

“To get some flower colour in there, I’d use autumn flowering callunas (heathers) called Garden Girls, which come in a host of colours. Their buds swell, but never open, but they last ages.”

Other combinations he recommends include Ajuga Black Scallop – which has very dark almost black foliage – planted with white mini cyclamen or with the silver foliage of calocephalus.

For a traditional autumn feeling, try orange pansies and viola with Ajuga Burgundy Glow, which has a pink through to burgundy foliage colour. Alternatively go for a tonal effect by combining the ajuga with pink mini cyclamen.

“Lamium Beacon Silver is another great subject for tonal planting. Its silver foliage edged in green is a great foil for pinks and whites,” he says.

Permanent plantings of acid-loving plants such as azaleas will require ericaceous compost in the pot, but if you are just planting up your pots short-term to last from

autumn to spring, a multi-purpose compost with added feed should suffice, he advises.

Flowering plants such as pansies and violas which bloom in autumn become dormant in the winter months, but will re-emerge and flower again in spring.

Other autumn and winter favourites, such as heathers, skimmia, ivy and other evergreens, will give you at least some interest in the cooler months, and if you plant some bulbs underneath them in the autumn, such as dwarf narcissi or muscari, they will add colour in spring.

“In our autumn barrel we are using the miniature daffodil Tete-a-tete, which is the most popular because it is small growing and produces three or four flowers from a single bulb from February onwards,” Hall explains.

“Bear in mind the height of the plants in the

WINTER IS COMING… But Jeremy Hall has some good tips for your pots

‘In our autumn barrel we are using the miniature daffodil Tete-a-tete, which is the most popular because it is small growing and produces three or four flowers from a single bulb from February onwards’

pot versus the flowering height of the bulbs you put underneath them. You can get a pleasing effect if you put tulips in, which are clearly going to flower above the height of other plants. But if they are too tall it will look crazy.

“If you use a mixture of bulbs you’ll get a succession of flowers. Muscari are our second most popular, which flower just after the dwarf narcissi.”

Plant hellebores in pots in the autumn and they should also give you winter interest.

“I’d recommend Helleborus niger for pots.

Christmas Carol flowers really early, as does Verboom Beauty. They will flower just before Christmas if you’re lucky, and then right through to March. They prefer a slightly shadier location, but aren’t really fussy about soil.”

Put more plants in your pots when autumn planting than you do in summer, Hall advises.

“As the day length is shortening and light intensity is not so great, the growth rate is much smaller and, other than a filling out, you won’t get plants overflowing like you do in summer.”

Good specimens for permanent containers which will provide winter interest include Choisya ternata Sundance, which gives a fabulous splash of golden yellow foliage colour followed by fragrant white flowers in mid-spring.

If you want berries in winter, add Skimmia japonica subsp. Reevesiana to your display – a small, spreading female shrub with deep green leaves which produces clusters of bright red berries in winter.

Ornamental cabbages are gaining in popularity as good breeding work has helped produce more compact plants, he points out.

Curly Pink, Curly White and Curly Red are the most popular. They’ll last up until Christmas, although the best colour comes from them when the nights are colder and they are good combined with heucheras.

Ornamental grasses, such as pennisetums, are also gaining in popularity, with their seedheads giving soft, wispy movement to containers – and they will come back year after year.

Combine them with violas, hedera and callunas for further colour, he suggests.

For more information on Squires Gardening Workshop to create your own autumn colour barrel visit www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk

Wednesday 14th September 2016

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What does a former Markerstudy apprentice

T H I N K ?

What do you feel you learnt?

Tiffany Steele, Fraud & MI Analyst

I learnt a lot about employee rights and responsibilities, equal opportunities and much more. I also came to understand a lot about the way insurance works and why, making it easier to explain to customers the process for their claims. It also helped a lot with my confidence, I’ve been able to build on my strong customer service skills and use them to help others.

What did you enjoy most?

What did you want to be when you were little and why?

I dreamt of many different careers when I was younger - working on a safari, being a veterinary nurse, even becoming a model! They were all close to my heart and I wanted to be famous! In the end, I went to college to study music technology to pursue a career in live sound before hearing about Markerstudy’s insurance apprenticeship.

I most enjoyed the team building days, which took place at Markerstudy’s training and events venue, Salomons. We also had a trip to a London networking event with others in the insurance industry and a meeting with other apprentices in Markerstudy Group. It was interesting to see what they were doing and what was happening in their business areas.

Working for Markerstudy is brilliant, the company gives so much to its staff. It recognises and rewards top performers from all parts of the group, which inspires me and I’m sure it motivates others to be the best that they can be.

Markerstudy always holds amazing events for employees during the year, which make me really proud of where I work.

The variety of businesses in the group means there are many different career paths and industries to choose from - marketing, publishing, hospitality, leisure and financial services.

We have access to our own Talent Development team too, who help every single employee achieve their goals.

Why did you decide to apply for an apprenticeship?

What’s the best piece of careers/work advice you’ve ever been given?

I had no interest in going to university due to the cost, and I wanted to leave my full time job in a restaurant and find an office-based role. I was looking for data entry and receptionist jobs but it was very difficult to get my foot in the door with my lack of experience, especially as I had just finished college and had only worked in hospitality. An apprenticeship was the best way to get into the financial industry and it offered me loads more opportunities.

Always stick at it if you enjoy it, because you never know where it could take you!

What interested you about it?

The qualifications that came hand in hand with the apprenticeship and the competitive salary attracted my attention. I had no idea what the qualifications would come to mean to me at the time, but it all sounded interesting and I thought (quite rightly) it would really help me out in the future.

What’s it like working for Markerstudy?

Would you recommend apprenticeships to others?

Anything else you’d like to add?

100% yes - I have been singing the praises of apprenticeships

In my opinion, university is too expensive these days. If you’re stuck deciding on what to do or where to go, definitely consider the apprenticeship route. It offers a lot and can open many more doors for your future career. You can also begin earning your own money rather than being in a huge amount of debt when you embark on your working life.

since doing mine! It’s a great way to launch your career and can widen your prospects. You also develop a lot of skills during an apprenticeship and can find yourself excelling in some you probably didn’t even realise you had!

Wednesday 14th September 2016

ARE YOU

looking to start your career and drive your own development to give you experience and long term opportunities? ready to gain a professional qualification thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relevant to your job role? looking to get your foot in the door of a large business and become part of the next generation of talent? confident you have what it takes to gain a role within a dynamic company?

The ALEX programme offers a variety of opportunities to join Intermediate and Advanced apprenticeship programmes WHAT DOES ALEX OFFER YOU? Learning to kick start and drive your career Realistic Apprentice living wage Bespoke learning in a non-academic way An opportunity to join a business with a personality The chance to make a difference

To register your interest please email ALEX@markerstudy.com attaching your CV and outlining why an apprenticeship is for you.

For more information visit: www.markerstudygroup.com/careers/alex-apprenticeship-learning-experience

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84 ■ FOOD AND DRINK

Two friends bringing a taste of the exotic to our doorstep The Mango Girls – aka Fiona Thorne and Fleur Kentish – have enjoyed great success since they launched their purée and juice business, based in Goudhurst. Here they tell Sarah Bond how they bottled a winning fruity formula and have set their sights on the global market…

W

HEN her father Roderick passed away Fiona Thorne was living in New Zealand. That was six years ago, and as a result she decided to return home and carry on his business of importing tropical fruit purées for commercial usage.

Roderick was one of the first to introduce the Alphonso mango as pulp in tins in the UK and his company, Thorne Produce, grew from there.

But as a single mum with a new baby, and a child about to start primary school, it wasn’t going to be easy for Fiona to run the business alone, so she got in touch with her old West FOUNDING FATHER Roderick Thorne

Kent College friend and fellow single mum Fleur Kentish, and asked her to join the enterprise.

“My father, Roderick, started the company in 1981,” Fiona explains. “As a child I used to help him with deliveries and meeting customers, so when I took it over I asked Fleur to come and help me. I said: ‘Let’s just get this going and see if we can do it’.”

Fleur continues: “I’m an avid cook. I watch nearly every single cookery show there is and read as much about food as I possibly can. It’s a passion! So I said: ‘Let’s give it 150 per cent, and if after two years it hasn’t worked then we have had a really good try. If it does work, then brilliant’.”

It was a magical pairing, and one that led them to literally bottle Thorne Produce’s exotic ingredients, and therefore massively expand the company’s prospects.

Now trading as The Mango Girls, the products include locally-sourced fruit juices, purées and crystallised ginger.

They are also the sole UK distributor for a Finnish rose petal confiture and their products are used by some of the area’s highly respected IT’S A GIRL THING chocolatiers, cocktail Fiona (left) and Fleur bars, ice cream

POET’S RASPBERRY MANGO COCKTAIL HOUR Indulge in a fruity sundowner

What you need: 75ml The Mango Girls Apple and Alphonso Mango Juice 50ml Vodka

For that raspberry layer: 35ml Chambord 10ml Simple syrup 4 Fresh raspberries

What you do: Put the Apple and Alphonso juice and vodka in a Boston Glass Shake and strain into an iced highball glass (only fill to 3/4 full). To make the raspberry layer, muddle raspberries in a Boston glass, add the Chambord, and syrup. Shake and fine strain through a tea strainer over your mango mix in the glass. Use a spoon to get all the juices through the strainer. Garnish with fresh raspberry. It’s Naughty but Healthy!

Photographs by The Poet at Matfield

Wednesday 14th September 2016

makers, bakeries and pubs, as well as Michelinstar chefs such as Ben Spalding, who regularly appears at the Old Fire Station in Tonbridge.

You’ll often see Fiona and Fleur browsing around our local markets, too – such as last weekend’s Pantiles Harvest Food Festival – because despite the fact they are rapidly growing, they still try to source as many of their traditional English ingredients from regional suppliers.

“Mango and apple juice is our hero product,” reveals Fiona. “We import Alphonso mangoes from Ratnagiri in India – which is the best place in the world to get them – but we use apple juice from Biddenden and Moor’s in Teynham, so we try to stay as local as possible.”

Obviously their more tropical ingredients have to be sourced from elsewhere, and it certainly helps to have connections.

“At the beginning of all this we went to the biggest food trade exhibition in the world, in Cologne,” adds Fiona.

“We met up with our Indian mango supplier Pratik there and said we were looking for passion fruit, and because he knew my father he took us under his wing.”

Fleur takes up the story: “He took us to meet a supplier from Ecuador and said: ‘Ricardo, I want you to meet The Mango Girls’ – and that’s how we got our name!

“Pratik was very kind and quite parental because he knew Rod, and both men were so proud that the family company was still going and that we were so enthusiastic.

“So Ricardo is now our passion fruit supplier, and we went out to Ecuador to visit the farms and plantations and learn as much as we could. We import the yellow maracuyá fruit, which is a lot hardier than the purple one.

“That enabled us to supply restaurants and other new clients, such as Ceviche’s Martin Morales, who has four Peruvian restaurants in London. They make cocktails like passion fruit pisco sours. Our juices and purées are a really good size for mixologists, so we are getting more and more into cocktails, and we will be working with Anno Distillers of Marden to create some more in the near future.”

Locally, you can find The Mango Girls’ products at The Poet in Matfield, the Rose & Crown in Mayfield, the Kino cinema at Hawkhurst and most recently The Vine at Goudhurst.

They also supply Taywell Ice Creams, Marshmallow Heaven and Simply Ice Cream as well as Brighton’s Boho Gelato.

And as the ladies look to a bright future – they’ve already increased their turnover by 50 per cent in the past year – they don’t bat an eyelid about their desire to aim for global success or worry about Brexit.

“Nobody forgets us because we refuse to be boring and stuffy. You should enjoy business and we are very passionate about it, too,” says Fleur.

“Small businesses, and women, are the backbone of the British economy and we are very proud to be part of that,” adds Fiona. “We do plan to start exporting, but it’ll be to places like Dubai and China, so Brexit is not worrying us!”

For more information visit www.themangogirls.co.uk and www.roderickthorneproduce.co.uk

FOOD AND DRINK 

85

It’s National Cupcake Week so here’s a delicious recipe to try using The Mango Girls’ favourite exotic ingredient. It’s been created by the famous Lola’s Bakery in London SWEET TREAT This mango cupcake is irresistible

MANGO CUPCAKE What you need: 200g Self-raising flour 1 easpoon baking powder 175g Butter 250g Caster sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste Grated zest from 1 orange 3 Eggs 175g Sour cream 100g Chopped ripe fresh mango

Mango purée core 150g Chopped ripe fresh mango 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice Cream cheese icing 70g Butter 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste 180g Icing sugar 400g Full-fat cream cheese

Recipes taken from LOLA’s Cupcakes Forever, photographs by Peter Cassidy. The book, which is published

by Ryland Peters and Small, is available to Times readers for the special price of £7.99 – including postage & packaging – instead of £9.99.

Call Macmillan Direct on 01256 302 699 and quote ref HS7)

To decorate 12 Raspberries 12 Blueberries 12 Small slices of mango Muffin pan lined with 12 muffin cases Piping bag fitted with a large star nozzle

What you do: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) Gas 4.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl and set aside.

Place the butter and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or use a hand-held electric whisk) and beat the mixture at medium speed for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.

Occasionally stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to make sure that all the butter and sugar is incorporated.

Add the vanilla bean paste and orange zest, and mix. Then, on low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until the eggs are fully incorporated.

Slowly add the sifted dry ingredients into the egg mixture on a low speed until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

Once the batter is smooth, add the sour cream and mix until incorporated. Do not over-mix. Fold the chopped mango through the batter.

Using an ice cream scoop, divide the mixture between the muffin cases, filling to almost two-thirds full. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until well risen and a skewer inserted into the

cakes comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the mango purée core, place the mango and orange juice into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Once the cupcakes are cool, use a sharp knife or apple corer to remove a small section from the centre of each cupcake.

Set aside 1 tablespoon of the mango purée for the buttercream, then, using a teaspoon (or disposable piping bag), fill the holes almost to the top with the remaining purée.

To make the cream cheese icing, place the butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or use a hand-held electric whisk), and beat until smooth and soft. Add the vanilla bean paste and sift in the icing sugar. Add the cream cheese and beat at medium to high speed for 30 seconds, until smooth and glossy. Do not over-mix. Carefully fold through the reserved tablespoon of mango purée; it can look very pretty if you leave this slightly rippled through the icing.

Spoon the cream cheese icing into the piping bag and pipe a swirl on to each cupcake. Alternatively, spread the icing on to each cupcake using a palette knife or metal spatula.

Decorate the cupcakes with the fresh fruit.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

86  ADVERTISING FEATURE

Tunbridge Wells travel firm launches inspirational show The first #HolidayInspirations Show at Salomons on September 25 is set to be the biggest holiday show in the south east, with more than 50 tour operators tempting potential travellers.

It has been organised by Baldwins Travel Group, which has eight branches across the region Oceania Cruises COME and meet the Oceania Cruises sales team and learn all about the finest cuisine at sea.

Oceania Cruises offer intimate and luxurious ships that cater for roughly 684 to 1,250 guests.

There are two staff members to every three guests, which results in the very best service. The cruise is elegant without pretention and boasts a variety of restaurants at no additional charge.

You may want to indulge in the Canyon Ranch Spa Club, experience the Monte-Carlo-style casino or delight in a Broadway-like show in the theatre. As well as various other events on board the Marina and Riviera, you can participate in a variety of cooking classes at The Culinary Centre - they will be delighted to speak to you about the finest cuisine at sea.

The spacious accommodation is a treat.

Enjoy a wonderful night’s sleep in the prestige tranquillity bed. Savour the added comfort of 1,000 thread-count Egyptian cotton, with

‘Our itineraries feature a refreshing mix of classic metropolis and boutique towns and villages’

Wednesday 14th September 2016

a plush down duvet and fluffy goose feather pillows. Fancy more? Enjoy all the benefits of our penthouse suite with a 24-hour butler service.

All your soft drinks, bottle waters and speciality coffees are included.

Choose from an array of gourmet restaurants with five star menus inspired by renowned Master Chef Jacque Pepin, Oceania Cruises’ Executive Culinary Director. Aboard the finest ships, you can choose from sumptuous steaks, seafood at Polo Grill, homemade Italian dining at Toscana, French cuisine at Jacques or bold flavours at Red Ginger voted ‘best restaurant at sea’.

Oceania cruises is a leader in destination cruising with a portfolio of 330 of the world’s most alluring ports of call. Including extensive overnight stays and late evening departures, guests truly experience each destination to the fullest. Our itineraries feature a refreshing mix of classic metropolis and boutique

towns and villages. One of many advantages of cruising with us, includes complimentary shuttles from ship to city centre in most ports.

Oceania guests will leave with a need to explore, and an active mind and spirit.

Their cruises travel to the Caribbean, Far East, South America, South Africa, Australia, South Pacific as well as Eastern and Western Mediterranean Baltics, Canada and New England and Alaska.

Including prices from international flights to London gateways, the O Life choice allows for customisation of on board amenities. From house beverage packages to complimentary shore excursions, our lead in prices start at £1199 with complimentary Wifi, this is your cruise your way.

They look forward to meeting you at the #HolidayInspirations show.

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Norwegian Cruise Line AT Norwegian Cruise Line we are proud of the fact that within 50 years, we have become a global cruising service, sailing to wide-reaching corners of the globe. Our continuous improvement, makes your experience on-board our ships the most memorable.

The ongoing $400 million investment ship, Norwegian Edge means our fleet remains current as well as dynamic. With enhancements and renovations from bow to stern on 8 of our ships, it empowers a sophisticated standard of superiority that embraces the complete guest experience, it’s no wonder our guests keep

coming back.

Being the ultimate cruising experience, when you’re aboard one of our ships for the fifth time, it is just as good as your first. If you’re on one of our private islands- Harvest Caye, you’re experiencing the Norwegian Edge, savouring an array of international tastes and gourmet dishes, the Norwegian way.

We take pride in knowing that Norwegian Cruise Line strives to offer you the most tailored package possible. You are free to customise your stay how you like, cruising with us has always been about endless choices. That’s why

with Norwegian’s Free at Sea offer there is no better time to make the most of your booking than now. Free at Sea is about you being able to choose what extras you most want on-board.

Whether it be the Premium drinks package or the on-board credit.

Always aiming to astound customers old and new, when you book on a Northern European cruise you can take advantage of an extra $200.

Furthermore, the new summer itineraries for 2017 unveiled that Norwegian Jade will be sailing to and from Southampton. Offering you exciting opportunities to see the Norwegian Fjords, explore Iceland, and even take a unique trip- The Path of the Vikings. Norwegian Jade will be

87

refreshed, revamped and enhanced as part of Norwegian Edge, promising that when you step on-board from Southampton, it will be the best cruising experience possible.

Having been awarded ‘Europe’s Leading Cruise Line’ for eight consecutive years at the World Travel Awards, the only way for you to truly discover why we are critically acclaimed, is to set sail on-board one of our elegant, commended ships.

Check out the limitless possibilities at our stand, headlining at Baldwins Cruise Show.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

88 n LIFE AND STYLE

MERISSA INTERIOR DESIGN

A KITCHEN FIT FOR PAUL AND MARY

Merissa Interior Design can make stunning interiors a reality for everyone.

Orbit Homes’ Oak Fields development offers a perfect blend of country and urban living, on the outskirts of the thriving village of Shadoxhurst, and just under six miles from Ashford, with its fast rail links to London and continental Europe. The spacious homes are perfectly designed to suit the needs of couples and families alike, with the show home featuring a large, fully-fitted kitchen inspired by the nation’s love of TV show The Great British Bake Off.

Professional interior design is normally only for those with big budgets, But by combining bespoke design with a complete decorating service, Merissa Interior Design can create and deliver a stunning new look without breaking the bank.

“I’ve always had a passion for interesting interiors,” says Merissa. “But without the budget to match I quickly learned that if I wanted to put my interesting ideas into reality, I needed to do the decorating a furnishing work myself. And now I’m doing the same thing for my clients, helping them get the interiors of their dreams by combining these services into one affordable price.”

Orbit Homes’ regional sales manager, Caron Hutchins, explains: “We are seeing ever increasing demand for large dining kitchens that allow families to eat together, and for baking enthusiasts to live out their Bake Off fantasies. The influence of TV shows doesn’t seem to stop at the kitchen either, with house buyers often looking for space for a hobby or sewing room. Thanks to the likes of The British Sewing Bee and Project Runway, we have had to ensure that crafters and enthusiasts can have their ideal workspace.”

In fact, you’ll be amazed at just what you can afford to achieve, because professional interior design needn’t be out of reach.

For a free initial consultation and quote, simply visit www.merissa.co.uk/quote to arrange a meeting.

HELP TO BUY IN CHARMING CHILHAM

Shadoxhurst is the perfect place to enjoy a traditional country lifestyle, without sacrificing an easy commute and plentiful metropolitan comforts.

The last eight new houses are now for sale at Orbit Homes’ Chilham Place development. For buyers who are eligible for the government’s Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme, this means that it is now possible to become a proud new home owner with a deposit as low as 5% of the purchase price.

The small, beautifully landscaped development, of two and three bedroom houses, offers a rare opportunity to buy a new build property in the charming village of Chilham, which has great transport links and a wealth of local amenities.

Orbit Homes is committed to building energy efficient homes, which are better for the environment and help to save the householder money, so all the homes at Chilham Place are fitted with solar panels, and have energy-efficient appliances in their fully-fitted kitchens and bathrooms.

The houses are available from £299.995, and with the aid of a 20% Help to Buy: Equity Loan to qualifying buyers, this could bring the combined deposit and mortgage requirement down to £240,000.

The government scheme assists with the purchase of new build homes up to the value of £600,000, and buyers will need to be qualified by an Independent Financial Advisor, who will be able to provide full details of any loans and costs that would apply.

For further information about properties available at Chilham Place, and full details of the Help to Buy: Equity Loan Scheme, please call Orbit Homes on 01227 738647, or visit www.orbithomes.org.uk

FIT4LESS Fit4Less offering the chance to win a free gym membership for a year as part of #IAMTEAMGB Gyms often offer deals and discounts, but it is not often that they give away a full year’s membership for free! That’s exactly what

More information is available by visiting www.orbithomes.org.uk or by calling 01832 730439

Fit4Less in High Brooms are doing though.

The national #IAMTEAMGB initiative aims to encourage people to take up regular exercise in the wake of the fabulous success of our athletes in Rio. Fit4Less is having an open weekend (and barbecue) over the Bank Holiday, but also launching a competition to give away a free year’s membership!

Everybody who uses a guest pass for a free trial between now and the end of September is going to be entered in a draw and one lucky winner will be presented with a full year’s membership for nothing!

Even if the winner has already joined the gym meanwhile, they will be refunded payments to date and given the rest of the year free.

Club owner, Charlie Foulkes commented “We have had such great reactions since we opened with loads of five star reviews on Facebook and brilliant testimonials from members, we want to share the “wow factor” that people get when they walk through the door. So to encourage everyone to use their free guest passes, we are now going to give one of them this great prize – worth £250! It includes full access to all classes and use of the gym whenever it is open, with no limit on the number of visits, just like all Fit4Less memberships.”

Even the trial visit to the gym that is needed to enter the draw is free and can be arranged by downloading a guest pass online or by using one of the leaflets that are being widely distributed around town.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

Oak Fields is a new development of four and five bedroom houses, available for outright purchase and also eligible for the government’s Help to Buy scheme, which means prospective buyers may only need a five percent deposit when buying a new build home valued up to £600k.

Flying Fish Properties in Running for Top National Awards Tunbridge Wells independent family estate agency Flying Fish Properties has been selected by The Negotiator magazine as finalists in two of their best in business annual awards: New Agency 2016 and South East Agency of the Year 2016.

Natalie Mackintosh said, "As a young, independent local estate agency, we are delighted to be shortlisted alongside national agencies of many years standing. We are a family business and being chosen by the prestigious judging panel from an entry list that The Negotiator says is ‘the biggest in the history of the Awards’ is fantastic.”

Flying Fish Properties opened in Tunbridge Wells on 1st June 2015 and has been providing a personalised sales and letting service to clients all over Kent and Sussex.

WITH THE

THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE – FROM EVERYDAY DRIVES TO LUXURY SUPERCARS

FIRST DRIVE

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS AND TONBRIDGE

PORSCHE PANAMERA TURBO

By Simon Davis WHAT’S NEW? Pretty much everything, really. The second-generation Panamera Turbo has been completely reworked from the ground up, with a more powerful engine, improved styling and cutting-edge technology.

The new Panamera’s proportions have increased over those of the first-generation model. The car is now 34mm longer, 6mm wider and 5mm taller, while the wheelbase has also been lengthened by 30mm.

Under the bonnet, Porsche has fitted a new 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8, which powers all four wheels through an eight-speed, twin-clutch PDK gearbox. While the Turbo’s powerplant may have shrunk in comparison with its predecessor’s 4.8-litre V8, power is up 30bhp to 543bhp.

The Panamera Turbo now has more pulling power than ever before, too, with the new car producing 770Nm compared with the old model’s 700Nm.

LOOKS AND IMAGE Despite a number of facelifts over the years, the first-generation Panamera was never much of a looker. While the new car has been dramatically improved in the this department, you would still be hardpressed to label it a properly attractive car.

Styling cues such as a new LED light bar

‘One thing rapidly becomes apparent the moment you set off in the Panamera Turbo: The huge amount of power’

Although these new controls may not be as easy to use (or find) while on the move as traditional buttons are, they certainly make for an incredibly attractive and luxurious-feeling cabin. The Panamera’s interior more than makes up for any misgivings the car’s exterior might inspire.

Those features that aren’t operated through the buttons on the centre console are controlled through the new 12.3-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dash – even the air-conditioning. Other features controlled via this large, responsive screen include the online sat nav, Apple CarPlay integration and chassis set-up controls.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY that stretches across the rear end of the car help to link the Panamera to the rest of the current Porsche range – a similar feature also adorns the new 718 Boxster and Cayman models. In addition, trapezoidal quad exhausts help differentiate the Turbo from the new 4S and 4S Diesel models.

It also features a new extendable rear wing, which splits as it deploys. Not only does this help with downforce and stability, it also looks incredibly cool.

In the new interior the majority of the traditional buttons that festooned the centre console have been done away with.

Touch-sensitive buttons housed in smartlooking black panel surfacing now control the majority of the fixtures and fittings.

Like any vehicle that caters towards the premium end of the saloon car section of the market, this one will certainly not leave you wanting for space on the inside.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that the 20mm reduction in roofline height above the rear passenger compartment has infringed on space, as Porsche claims there is now more headroom available for backseat passengers than ever before.

This is a win-win situation, as it makes the car appear longer, lower and ultimately better looking, and as you’d expect from a car of this nature, rear legroom is plentiful.

From a practicality point of view, the Panamera has been improved here, too.

Boot space is up by 50 litres over the old

FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: £113,075 MODEL: Porsche Panamera Turbo ENGINE: 4.0-litre twinturbocharged V8 producing 543bhp and 770Nm of torque TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed dual-clutch (PDK) automatic PERFORMANCE: Top speed 190mph, 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds (3.6 with optional Sport Chrono pack) ECONOMY: 30mpg combined EMISSIONS: 214g/km CO2

model, reaching 495 litres with the rear seats in place. Fold the back seats down and this is increased to 1,304 litres for luggage.

BEHIND THE WHEEL One thing rapidly becomes apparent the moment you set off in the Panamera Turbo: The huge amount of power the 4.0-litre V8 is capable of putting down on the road.

Producing 543bhp, this new engine helps shift the car from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 190mph.

In a car this vast, experiencing such acceleration feels rather surreal, yet incredibly addictive. There is the tiniest amount of turbo lag when you first plant your foot, but as soon as the turbos kick in you’ll find yourself rocketing up to speeds that certainly wouldn’t please the local constabulary.

While the V8 doesn’t make the angriest or most exciting noise in the world, at the end of the day it’s still a V8, which means it sounds good – if a little reserved.

The optional Sport Response button is also a great toy to play with, summoning the Panamera’s maximum power for 20 seconds. Once pressed, the engine’s response is dramatically sharpened, as is the shift ferocity of the PDK gearbox. This all adds up to you being thrown into the back of the comfortable, supportive seats.

Through the corners, all-wheel drive coupled with the optional active rearwheel steering system we had on our test car mean you never really feel like you’re going to run out of grip. The car’s steering is also well weighted and gives a pleasing amount of feedback.

Trundling around town, the Panamera is incredibly refined and comfortable, with road noise kept to a minimum. Put the car on the motorway and it’s much the same story. This is a great cruising machine, with wind noise being the only intrusion you may notice. That said, even at 125mph on the German autobahn you still won’t find the increased wind noise all that annoying.

VALUE FOR MONEY Compared with its closest rivals, the Panamera Turbo could almost be considered something of a bargain. Porsche throws in plenty of kit as standard for the £113,075 you’ll pay. This includes features such as full leather upholstery, satellite navigation on the large 12.3-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth and Apple Carplay for easy iPhone connectivity. You can even make your Panamera a wireless hotspot for internet access on the fly.

Considering that a Maserati Quattroporte GTS or Mercedes-AMG S63 will set you back at least £115,980 and £127,675 respectively, the Panamera does make a fairly strong case for itself. Be wary of Porsche’s infamously expensive options list, however.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE?

 See also Motoring News on page 92

The Panamera Turbo will appeal to anyone who is after a large, luxurious saloon that is both capable of ferrying them around in a composed and comfortable manner, yet powerful enough to give them a proper adrenaline rush when the mood takes them.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

90 n MOTORING 2N°-3QTH SEPTEMBER

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ZERO PAY

DRIVE AWAY

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£0 DEPOSIT* £0 FOR3 MTHS FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION £1,000*

FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION £1,000*

BUY ANY NEW CAR FROM A FIAT DEALERSHIP WITH NO DEPOSIT AND NOTHING TO PAY FOR THREE MONTHS.

FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION UP TO £1,250*

THAT'S NOTHING TO PAY UNTIL 2017. HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

THAMES MOTOR GROUP TUNBRIDGE WELLS, LONGFIELD ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN2 3EY. TEL: 01892 549766 WWW.THAMESMOTORGROUP.CO.UK

5.9°/o APR

REPRESENTATIVE

Fuel consumption figures for new Fiat Range in mpg 01100km): Urban 29.7 (9.5) - 68.9 (4.1); Extra Urban 46.3 (6.1) - 97.4 (2.9); Combined 38.2 (7.4) - 83.1 (3.4). C02 emissions 171 - 88 g/km. Fuel consumption and co, figures based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Promotion available on new Fiat 500 Family models registered from 2nd September to 30th September 2016. ·£1000 deposit contribution on new Fiat 500 Series 4 models & Fiat 500L models and £1250 deposit contribution on Fiat 500X MY16 models.

Deferred period is 3 months from date of agreement activation. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion . Retail customers only. Deposit Contribution is only available in conjunction with 'Fiat i-Deal PCP No Pay Drive Away'. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Term s and Conditions apply. At participating Dealers only. Fi at Financial Services, PO BOX 4465, Slough, SL1 ORW. All vehicle images are for illustration purposes only and may include options or body paint colours, which incur an additional cost. We work with a number of creditors including Fiat Financial Services.

Model shown is Alfa Milo 875cc TB TwinAir 105 bhp, OTR £15,135 including metallic paint at £475. Official fuel consumption figures for the Alfa Milo range: Urban 38.7 - 64.2 mpg (7.3 - 4.41/100km); Extra Urban 61.4 - 97.4 mpg (4.6 - 2.9 l/100km); Combined 50.4 - 80.7 mpg (5.6 - 3.5 l/100km) . C0 2 emissions 130 - 90 g/ km. Fuel consumpti on and co, figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accorda nce with EC di rectives/ regulations and may not be representative of real·life driving conditions. •customer deposit is £1,725. Optional Final Payment is £3,867. Contract Term is 48 months. Promotion availabl e on Alfa MiTo registered between 24th August and 30th September 2016. !Alfa Deposit Contribution only available in co njunction with Alfa Romeo Preferenza PCP. With Alfa Romeo Preferenza you have the opti on to return the vehicle and not pay the final payment, subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage (a charge of 6p per mile for exceeding 6,000 miles per annum in this example) and being in good condition. Finance subject to sta tus. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions app~. At participating Dealers only. Alfa Romeo Financial Services, PO BOX4465, Slough, SL! ORW. We work with a number of creditors including Alfa Romeo Financial Services.

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Wednesday 14th September 2016

92 ■ MOTORING NEWS

Lamborghini’s limited edition is a sell-out

LAMBORGHINI unveiled its new Centenario Roadster at the Monterey Car Week in California.

Essentially an open-top version of the Centenario, built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Ferruccio Lamborghini, just 20 examples of the Roadster will be produced.

And despite the £1.7million pre-tax asking price, all 20 vehicles have been sold.

Like its hard-top counterpart, the Roadster gets a naturally aspirated V12 engine with 759bhp and a carbon-fibre monocoque construction, permitting a top speed of more than 217mph.

It is also bestowed with rear-wheel steering and a clever touchscreen infotainment system with internet access and on-board telemetry.

Even so, its lightweight construction allows a

dry weight of just 1.57 tonnes – a mere 50kg heavier than the hard top – and a power-to-weight ratio of just over 2kg per metric horsepower.

The company’s CEO, Stefano Domenicali, said: “Lamborghini prides itself on the relentless pursuit of experimentation. We are proud to unleash Centenario’s further potential in the form of a classic roadster; the perfect harmony between innovation and timeless design.

“This unique engineering achievement is a befitting tribute to Lamborghini’s extraordinary past and a preview of its brilliant future.

“Centenario Roadster embraces the cutting-edge characteristics of its coupé sibling and embraces the freedom of a true open-top supersports car for a pure drive experience.”

HOT TO TROT Only 20 Centenario Roadsters were built

Passenger comfort is key A NEW high-specification version of Volkswagen’s Transporter van has been revealed for everday use – the Sportline at a price of £36,295 plus VAT. The new trim level sits above the Transporter Highline and is designed to make the passengercarrying van sportier and more comfortable.

At launch, the new trim will be available solely on the T32 Kombi model, although further TRANSPORTED IN STYLE VW’s Sportline

variants, including a panel van, will be offered later this year in time for 2017 deliveries.

From the outside, the newcomer is set apart by 18-inch two-tone alloy wheels, lowered suspension and a sportier bumper. Inside, there’s embossed leather upholstery, along with air-conditioning, a heated windscreen and the Discover Media touchscreen satellite navigation system.

Also on board are parking sensors, LED lights and App Connect – a smartphone connectivity system that VW says allows ‘seamless’ integration.

Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre diesel engine producing 178bhp and a seven-speed automatic gearbox, a combination that emits 195g of CO2 per kilometre. A more powerful 201bhp diesel engine will join the range at a later date, as well as a six-speed manual transmission.

VW van centres are taking orders for the Sportline Kombi, with first deliveries expected this month.

The need for hybrid speed THE Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1 The 918 was their second plug-in hybrid. It hypercars are not true ‘performance utilises a naturally-aspirated 4.6-litre V8 engine hybrids’, according to Porsche 918 Spyder developing 600bhp, along with two electric project leader, Dr Gernot Dollner. motors that deliver an additional 275bhp, and He believes those flagship cars can’t can sprint from 0-62mph 2.6 seconds before be classified in the same league as the hitting a top speed around 210mph.

918, despite the fact they all utilise Dr Dollner, now Vice President of the hybrid technology. Dr Dollner said: Panamera product line, also confirmed “The Ferrari and the McLaren are the second-generation Panamera, both excellent cars, but they aren’t which goes on sale in the UK in November replacing the S E, will feature true performance hybrid cars.

“No other car manufacturer has two performance hybrid models. understood that hybrid “We learned a lot from the 918 Spyder drivetrains can be used to add programme, and from the 919 LMP car.

HYBRID HERO more performance. To this day we The hybrid systems in the new Panamera Dr Dollner have not been copied in that area.” will be true performance systems.”

Wednesday 14th September 2016

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96 � PUZZLES SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

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1) In what year did Lord North discover the Chalybeate Spring?

4 2 9 4 1 8

2) Tunbridge Wells is twinned with which city?

3) What is the motto on the Tunbridge Wells coat of arms?

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4 6

To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

8

2 5

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3 12

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Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Above the grid is the key with two letters solved. Try to complete the first few words to give you more letters, or look for a frequent number that might reveal a common letter. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

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In this Sudoku the normal 3x3 boxes are now strangely odd shapes – but all the rules and logic of Sudoku apply. Fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and box contains every number uniquely.

Puzzle solutions to be published in next week’s paper

4) Which school did Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols attend?

5) “Me, your Highness? On the whole, I wish I’d stayed in Tunbridge Wells” is a line from which film?

6) Tunbridge Wells is mentioned in which Sherlock Holmes novel?

SOLUTIONS (FROM LAST WEEK) Letter Logic:

Codeword:

S U BWA Y S C A M OMN I B U S R T L T E N O U V E A U E D H S T E M P E H J T R H O N E AM S W C O X E B B T I S L I E F A Z E D WR

I R A Q I N B N F S O S E I E R U N G S N C T S O K E I A T E U R O V U R A E L I N N T A I T H S

Sudoku:

2 1 3 8 7 5 4 6 9

7 6 8 4 9 1 3 2 5

9 4 5 3 2 6 1 7 8

A N A E M I A M A S A I

C R E S R E U I O L F O N S O F K U S S O L I N V E Z O R E S H L R J A Y T R A G I M U U P E R L A I E E N C I S O R

S A C R I L E G E

UM E O S S I A X H

E S W MO O M P

D I R MB A A Q C R I

AM U A N S S T E E R

Jigsaw Sudoku:

1 3 6 9 4 2 5 8 7

8 5 9 6 3 7 2 1 4

4 7 2 5 1 8 6 9 3

6 9 4 1 8 3 7 5 2

3 2 1 7 5 9 8 4 6

5 8 7 2 6 4 9 3 1

9 2 5 7 3 8 1 4 6

8 4 6 9 1 7 2 3 5

7 5 3 2 6 4 8 1 9

1 6 4 8 5 3 9 2 7

2 3 7 1 9 6 5 8 4

4 9 1 5 7 2 3 6 8

3 7 8 6 2 9 4 5 1

6 1 2 4 8 5 7 9 3

5 8 9 3 4 1 6 7 2

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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DIFFICULTY RATING:

5

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

4

★★★★

3

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

2

DIFFICULTY RATING:

1

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR TOWN?

ANSWERS: 1) 1606 2) Wiesbaden, Germany 3) Do Well Doubt Not 4) Sandown Court [Tunbridge Wells High School/Skinners’ Kent Academy] 5) Lawrence of Arabia 6) The Valley of Fear

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Wednesday 14th September 2016

98 ■ ARTS & CULTURE

The opera star with a unique new concert that will strike a variety of musical chords for her audiences Lesley Garrett is Britain’s most famous female soprano and she’s back with a one-woman tour that’s coming to the Assembly Hall next Wednesday evening. Here she tells Eileen Leahy all about her interactive approach to performing her latest show, which includes giving the odd impromptu singing lesson every now and again…

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT AN AUDIENCE WITH LESLEY GARRETT ENTAILS? It does what it says on the tin, really. It’s very interactive: I’ll be talking about my life and singing songs about all the wonderful and funny things that have happened to me along the way.

HOW WILL IT BE ‘INTERACTIVE’?

I’ll be inviting the audience to ask me questions and request things for me to sing, but also, if there’s anyone present who sings and they want some advice on how to improve their technique, I’m happy to give some tips. I’ll even get people coming up on stage for impromptu singing lessons! I guess it’s just an intimate chance for me to get to know my audiences, and for them to get to know me.

HOW MANY DATES ARE YOU DOING AROUND THE COUNTRY? There are 20 dates in total, and the first one starts in Hereford next week on September 19. The Tunbridge Wells concert is the second one on September 21, then the tour goes all around the country, finishing on December 8 in Yorkshire.

HAVE YOU PERFORMED IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS BEFORE? Yes, I did a few gala concert tours with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and we came to the Assembly Hall, but it was a little while ago. I have always had a lovely time here and the audiences are great. What makes a performance different is the audience, and the one in Tunbridge Wells always draws things from me and ultimately makes me raise my game.

WHEN AND WHERE DID YOUR MOST MEMORABLE PERFORMANCE TAKE PLACE? Oh goodness me, that’s a hard one as there have been so many! I have performed at

Wednesday 14th September 2016

the Bolshoi in Moscow, The Hollywood Bowl and the Sydney Opera House, but I think my favourite operatic experience was recently when I did something with Opera North.

They have been very kind and allowed me to develop a new string to my bow by doing lots more modern opera, such as La Voix Humane by Francis Poulenc. I also did Pleasure, which was written especially for me by a very talented and young composer called Mark Simpson. I loved it because it was so dramatic, powerful and quite heart-wrenching.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO OPERA IN THE FIRST PLACE? I come from a very musical family and area in South Yorkshire. I was born into a working-class household.

My mum and dad were both on the railways and everyone in the district was either doing that or going down the mines, as I grew up in a pit village. My parents were very ambitious, though, and wanted to better themselves, so they got into teaching.

My father used to study in his signal box

and gained the necessary qualification to go to college and my mum followed him. He eventually became a headmaster at a school in Sheffield and my mother worked at a school in Doncaster.

HOW DID YOUR HOME LIFE INFLUENCE YOUR LOVE OF MUSIC? Well, we were pretty hard up and the only music I knew was what we would sing at home. Folk, war songs, popular and show tunes – you name it we sang it – but for me it was opera that was the most challenging and interesting to listen to on our radio. Through my school, Thorne Grammar, I was lucky enough to have my voice trained through singing lessons they arranged for me. I decided to try for the top and received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, and that’s where my journey really began.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? I came to London with my auntie and uncle as they could see I had talent and

STRICTLY FABULOUS Lesley appeared on the first series in 2004

they took me to a different West End show and opera each night of our stay. I fell in love with it all, and that’s when I decided I wanted opera to be my life.

YOU’VE TOURED FOR YEARS, BUT DO YOU ENJOY BEING ON THE ROAD? Well this tour isn’t consecutive nights, it’s only two or three a week, which is comfortable and enough for me. If I performed every night then I would get tired and I’d be worried the show wouldn’t be as good, so I make sure I rest my voice. When I was touring with musicals like The Sound of Music and Carousel, then I would do every night because I was part of a bigger vehicle and I could get into the rhythm of performing the same show.

WHAT ARE THE UPSIDES TO TOURING? Visiting different parts of the country and being able to reach the smaller communities who wouldn’t normally have access to the big shows.

I’ve always been keen to take live music to as many different people as I can.

YOUR LAST ALBUM, A NORTH COUNTRY LASS, WAS A FOLK COLLECTION – WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO DIVERSIFY? Folk music has always been an enormous influence in my life and I have done a little bit of it on other albums. I was also keen to have different young arrangers work on it to bring their voice to these time-honoured songs. The wonderful thing about folk music – and this also applies to opera – is that it’s so robust you can’t hurt it. It’s such good, well-loved music you can afford to experiment with it, and hopefully reach another audience by doing so. It was a very creative and collaborative process that I enjoyed very much.

WHAT OTHER MUSICAL GENRES DO YOU ENJOY PERFORMING? Oh there are so many! I love the songs from

ARTS & CULTURE ■

CENTRE STAGE Lesley performing at Proms in the Park last weekend

99

‘I was born into a workingclass household. My mum and dad were both on the railways and everyone in the district was either doing that or going down the mines, as I grew up in a pit village’ Lesley Garrett will be performing at the Assembly Hall Tunbridge Wells next Wednesday ,September 21, at 7.30pm. To book tickets, which are priced at £28, please visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk the shows and particularly enjoy performing religious and sacred music.

There’s not much I won’t have a go at, to be honest! I wasn’t brought up with a lot of jazz so I haven’t done much of that, and I’m always a little anxious when opera singers suddenly declare themselves as ‘jazz artists’. I think you have to understand it well, so I’d hesitate to do it on a regular basis.

ARE THERE ANY ARTISTS YOU FIND INSPIRATIONAL? IF SO, WHO? Funnily enough, it’s mostly men. I love the opera singers Bryn Terfel and Ian Bostridge. I find their quality of tone absolutely inspiring and beautiful. The women I admire include Mirella Freni and Adele, she sings very well.

YOU’VE BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR OVER 30 YEARS, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ACHIEVE IN LIFE? I’d love to do a film score. That would be a wonderful thing to do as I feel that film and opera are very closely related.

I’d love to have worked with the late John Barry as I think he had the most wonderful talent, but I’d certainly settle for Ennio Morricone!

YOU’VE DONE LOTS OF TV WORK, TOO, INCLUDING HOSTING YOUR OWN SHOW AND APPEARING ON LOOSE WOMEN AND STRICTLY – HOW WAS THAT? I was on the first one in 2004 and was terrified, but I lost two stone and got very fit, and of course I had my

wonderful partner Anton Du Beke.

He was really lovely and we got to the semi-final!

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOUR SECRET IS TO JUGGLING A SUCCESSFUL CAREER WITH A BALANCED FAMILY LIFE? Having a wonderfully supportive and understanding husband. I couldn’t have done any of this without my lovely Peter, who is always there for me. We’ve always shared responsibility for absolutely everything.

For me equality is everything, and I think my husband is a great appreciator and supporter of feminism. He’s the reason I have been able to balance motherhood with doing other things in life.

Wednesday 14th September 2016

100  WHAT’S ON SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE

WHATS ON WITH THE

Eileen Leahy Local events

>> WEDNESDAY The Tonbridge Philharmonic Orchestra is starting its new season by offering a free trial rehearsal at 7.45pm at Tonbridge School for anyone wishing to participate in its choir or orchestra.

So if you fancy exercising your vocal chords or displaying your musicianship within the orchestra, which has just celebrated its 70th anniversary, visit its website at www.tonphil.org.uk/joinus Carmen is on at the Assembly Hall at 7.30pm, and this particular performance of Georges Bizet’s famously fiery production is being put on by the Russian State Opera.

As well as a brilliant cast who will bring this passionate plot of betrayal, jealousy and doomed romance to life, there will be a live orchestra performing with more than 30 talented musicians.

Tickets cost £32 with concessions at £29.

To book visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Alternatively, you could catch Dinosaur Park (The Jurassic Parody) which is on at the EM Forster Theatre in Tonbridge at 7.30pm. The performance is brought to you by Superbolt Theatre, which has just finished a successful run of this tale about a family and their feuds in London and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. To book tickets, which cost £12, go to www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk Local author SD Sykes will be talking about her particular style of 14th-century crime writing at Waterstone’s in Tunbridge Wells from 7pm. She

SAIL AWAY at Bart’s Bash on Bewl Water

Tunbridge Wells at 7pm. This final opera from the 19th-century composer was specially written for the Handa Opera in Sydney, which boasts an impressive external stage, and tells the story of a manipulative yet beautiful princess who challenges her many would-be lovers to a series of riddles which must be answered – or they face death. Chen Shi-Zheng directs. For ticket information visit www.odeon.co.uk

HAPPY CAMPERS Check out the Grill-n-Chill car show will be joined by fellow historical crime writer Antonia Hodgson, who will also be discussing her passion for prose. For more information please visit www.sdsykes.co.uk or pop into the bookshop where staff will be happy to help. >> THURSDAY From 10am this morning the Kent High Weald Partnership will be hosting its Reedy For Action event at Dunorlan Park. Running until 3pm, it will see volunteers will aiming to tidy up and improve the conditions in the park’s beautiful lake.

All tools, training and hot drinks will be provided for those willing to come along and help out.

Suitable dress and footwear are advised. For more details visit www.khwp.org.uk At Trinity Theatre there will be a screening of the National Theatre’s production of Terence Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea. This play has become somewhat of a cult classic and is set in west London in 1952.

Starring Peaky Blinders’ Helen McCrory and The Musketeers’ Tom Burke, it is the powerful tale of a young woman whose life dramatically unravels after a failed suicide attempt and dangerous extra marital love affair. Tickets cost from £17. To book visit www.trinitytheatre.net Another cultural offering to treat yourself to is Puccini’s Turnadot on Sydney Harbour which is being screened at the Odeon cinema in

SPANISH SIREN Carmen comes to town

Wednesday 14th September 2016

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages please email info@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

>> FRIDAY For an evening with a difference, make sure you attend ‘The tongue that Shakespeare spoke’ at the EM Forster Theatre. Hosted by Professor of linguistics David Crystal and his actor son Ben, it’s a fascinating insight into the dynamics of the English language.

Professor Crystal will be specifically focusing on Shakespeare’s work and how its meaning and delivery has altered over the centuries.

Tickets to this unique event cost £12 and can be booked at www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk Into vintage cars and alfresco eating? Then this weekend’s Chill-n-Grill event at the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood will be right up your street.

Based on the relaxed ethos of the Volkswagen family, it’s basically three days of hanging out and browsing around cool, iconic vehicles including Beetles, Camper Vans and Porsches.

Visitors will also have an opportunity to chat to experts and chill out with some tasty food and local beer. Tickets cost from £17.50. For more information visit www.chill-n-grill.co.uk.

sure you pop along to this twice-monthly event, which sees specialist producers and independent businesses gather together from all over the area.

Today at Bewl Water Bart’s Bash is taking place.

This global sailing race happens at hundreds of venues across the world, with thousands of keen sailors and their different types of boats joining in the fundraising fun. The event has been running for the past three years in memory of Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson, MBE, a double Olympic medallist who sadly died while training for the America’s Cup in 2013. As a result, the Andrew Simpson Foundation was set up to give everyone the chance to sail. For more information visit www.bewlwater.co.uk and www.bartsbash.com The English Beat, featuring the band’s original frontman Dave Wakeling, perform at The Forum.

Fans of the popular late 70s-early 80s Two-Tone group will enjoy hearing their much-loved hits – which include Hands Off… She’s Mine and Mirror in the Bathroom – as well as a raft of new recordings. For tickets and additional information visit www.twforum.co.uk

>> SATURDAY From midday until 4pm today there will be a special Ukuleles gig happening on the bandstand in The Pantiles. Maggie Lou Hannah is staging the concert in aid of the Anthony Nolan charity, which helps saves the lives of people with blood cancers and blood disorders. Maggie Lou has just celebrated her fifth year anniversary of being cancer-free since her transplant was carried out and hopes that as many people as possible will support the event, which also features seven local groups. See www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ maggielou-hannah Popular BBC comic Russell Kane comes to the Assembly Hall at 8pm with his latest show Right Man, Wrong Age. As usual, Kane presents a sharp and brilliantly observant outlook on life and all its quirky foibles. The comedian – who has appeared on BBC Three’s Live from the Electric and ITV’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! – was the first to win the Edinburgh Comedy Award and Melbourne Comedy Festival Barry Award in the same year. For tickets go to www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Over at the Mercure Hotel in Pembury, there will be an Abba Loves Charity event. Brought to you by one of the country’s leading Abba tribute acts, it aims to raise money for Breast Cancer Care and provide a lively night of entertainment.

Cost: £35 per person, per ticket. To book email events@mercuretunbridgewells.co.uk

>> MONDAY The Hop Walks continue all this week at Scotney Castle. So if you’re a beer buff, or have an interest in local history, then this is a great way to spend a couple of hours as you’ll get to see how this National Trust property picks its hops, dries and stores them. Each two-hour session finishes with a sampling of Scotney Ale. They run from 11.30am1.30pm and 2-4pm. For further information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney The Street Photographer exhibition by Andrew Mason continues all this week at Trinity. All the images are shot in black and white and capture both personal, poignant moments and more public ones, which makes for a fascinating insight into human behaviour. For more information visit www.trinitytheatre.net The Tonbridge Folk Club meets tonight at Ye Olde

>> SUNDAY The Pantiles Market is on again today. So if you want to stock up on seasonal, regional or gourmet goods and unique buys for your home then make

MAGGIE HAS PLANS… Greta Gerwig and Ethan Hawke

WHAT’S ON 

101

A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton

Chequers pub at 8pm. As usual, any keen singers and musicians are welcome to come along and join in. Steve Turner will be providing the main musical entertainment. >> TUESDAY Grunts & Grapples is the new exhibition at the Tunbridge Wells Museum. Running until January 14, it has been curated by historian Kerry Purcell and showcases the golden age of British wrestling, which ran from the 1950s to 1990s.

Profiling famous names such as Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, and with all kinds of nostalgic posters, photos and memorabilia, it promises to be an enjoyable display. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays during usual museum opening hours.

Maggie’s Plan is on at Trinity at 2pm and 8pm.

Starring Ethan Hawke, Julianne Moore and Greta Gerwig, it’s an offbeat comedy set in New York which centres around Maggie and her various ‘plans’ for creating perfect relationships. How they pan out in the real world is another thing, though… Tickets are priced from £9.50.

WORTH THE TRIP: Big Outdoor Cinema Bewl Water Friday Sept 16-Sunday Sept 18

The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com

Steve Turner

Live music There is lots to enjoy across Tunbridge Wells and the local area this week and my picks of the week are the superb Sol Guarachando at The Pantiles Thursday Jazz series. For fans of something more alternative, Raised by Raptors’ EP release at The Forum this Friday night is definitely the place to be. On Saturday, the brilliant Emily Duo will be performing a vibrant mix of pop/rock covers from the 60s to present day at The Beau Nash Inn. For folk lovers, I highly recommend Steve Turner at the Tonbridge Folk Club this coming Monday.

MUSIC ON THE PANTILES BANDSTAND

8pm-10pm, live music on the Bandstand, free to attend, donations welcomed

THURSDAY JAZZ SERIES Sol Guarachando

SATURDAY 12noon Art Fair/Record Fair; 8pm onwards Smells Like… The Noughties SUNDAY The English Beat featuring Dave Wakeling, The Aim and The Gallerys THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles, doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk

WEDNESDAY Poppy Raine and The Ackerleys FRIDAY Soul Kitchen SATURDAY Heads South TRINITY THEATRE

Church Road, information on times and tickets at www.trinitytheatre.net

FRIDAY I Got Gershwin

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

THE CROSS KEYS

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

St John’s Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk

FRIDAY Raised By Raptors’ EP Release plus Cove, Operation Kino and Eight Days

WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz THURSDAY Open Mic Night

FRIDAY Sonny’s Blues MONDAY TWUNTS Ukulele Jam Session WEDNESDAY Sonny’s Jazz THE ROYAL OAK

Sol Guarachando

Prospect Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm onwards

MONDAY Open Mic Night THE BEAU NASH INN

Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late

SATURDAY Emily Duo SCALLYWAG CAFE

Starting tonight with that celluloid classic Dirty Dancing, moviegoers can also watch Shutter Island tomorrow and Back to the Future on Sunday – whilst taking in the beautiful surroundings of Bewl.

Gates open at 6.30pm and tickets cost £11 per film. Special ticket and meal deals are available from the Boat House Bistro and One Warwick Park. To find out more information visit www.bewlwater.co.uk/whats-on

45 Mount Ephraim, open 10am-5.30pm and 7.30pm-11pm

WEDNESDAY The Naked Jazz Jam FRIDAY TWODS preview Guys & Dolls TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB

Ye Olde Chequers Inn, 122 HIgh Street, Tonbridge, 8pm-11pm £7 suggested donation, for more details go to www.tonbridgefolkclub.org

MONDAY Steve Turner

Wednesday 14th September 2016

102 ■ THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Kent Barker Country matters

After taking a leap from London, the plan was to start a new life in the countryside and a career as a famous author. Instead I acquired a dog and part-time work managing a community orchard. You can read these experiences on my blog: www.kentcountrymatters.blogspot.co.uk

Anaerobic digestion and the smell of intolerance

I

WAS most shocked when a large group walked out just as I’d been called to speak. I’m under no illusion about my (un)popularity among the protestors, nor about the (in)eloquence of my oratory, but for 45 minutes I’d had to sit and listen to their views – now I really thought they might, just possibly, have the courtesy to hear mine.

We’re in the Village Hall. It’s a special meeting of the parish council to consider just one planning application – this blasted anaerobic digester at an outlying farm.

We’ve already had public meetings on the issue, as well as any number of planning committee and full parish council discussions at which the protesters have given vent to their feelings in no uncertain terms. They even sent out anonymous leaflets to whip up opposition.

In synopsis, a farmer wants to build an anaerobic digester which will be fed by the manure from his cattle and other waste products from his and his brother’s farms. He might need to grow some crops to supplement the input. In return, it will produce about four million kW of electricity – equivalent to the annual consumption of 1,200 homes – i.e. more than our entire village – which will be sold back to the national grid. It also produces an inert

Wednesday 14th September 2016

digestate which is an excellent natural fertiliser.

The cost of the scheme runs into millions and it will be nearly a decade until it has paid for itself.

The downside – as so vigorously pointed out by the opponents – is that the plant is pretty big and would take up half an acre of pastureland in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural

‘Others barracked anyone who had the temerity to disagree with them’ Beauty. There are also fears about noise, smell and increased traffic movements down narrow lanes.

I know I go on about climate change and CO2 ‘greenhouse gas’ emissions from fossil fuel power stations, but I believe it’s an important issue. My generation, from the 1950s on, has caused huge damage to the environment, so I’m unapologetic about campaigning to do what I can for the future.

I’m pretty ashamed at what I’m passing to my son.

The Government’s target of 15 per cent of UK energy from renewable sources by 2020 is pretty modest and, given that it had only reached 8.3 per cent by last year, probably unobtainable – unless there’s a big increase in micro-generation (small-

scale wind, hydro, solar or AD plants) alongside ‘microgrids’ – where communities are encouraged to aim for self-sufficiency, sharing power round locally rather than over the more inefficient national grid.

AD plants can use almost any organic matter – so instead of your garden and kitchen waste going to a landfill site to produce damaging methane gases, we could and should all be taking it to an AD plant where the methane is burned cleanly to produce power. Plus, here in the country, instead of the smelly habit of spreading slurry (cattle waste) and chicken manure all over the fields, you can use it to feed the digester, create electricity and produce a better fertiliser which doesn’t smell.

But a sizeable group of residents who live near the plant proposed just don’t see the wider picture.

They simply refuse to believe what the applicant has said – and doubt other evidence. At the meeting they argued that it would lead to an increase in CO2 emissions; that everyone in the village would have to pay extra ‘carbon tax’ to fund it; that it couldn’t be sustained by the farm waste so more would have to be trucked in along the lanes; that it was an ‘industrial’GOING GREEN scale plant which would A farm plant that despoil the AONB, and so on. processes cow dung But they produced little or

no evidence for their assertions and some, when challenged, were either plain wrong or deliberately misleading. Plus the AONB supports the proposal.

However, it wasn’t the protesters’ views that were the real problem, it was how they expressed them. I thought they showed unpleasant personal animosity towards the farmer in question, effectively accusing him of mendacity. And they certainly didn’t like me questioning parts of their evidence.

But what I found most distressing was their apparent contempt for the democratic process.

This was an official Parish Council meeting at which four people had given notice they wanted to speak – but many others simply called out from the floor or barracked anyone who had the temerity to disagree with them or put an opposing view.

Although there are quite a number of supporters of this AD proposal in the village, I was the only one to speak in favour of it. And about ten people walked out when I started. A great demonstration of tolerance, open-mindedness and respect for others’ points of view, I thought.

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