LOCAL NEWS
Online shopping forces historic jewellers to close By Sarah Bond ONE of the oldest luxury stores in Tunbridge Wells High Street is closing its doors for good after becoming a victim of the growth in online shopping. Jewellers Payne and Son Ltd originally started as Payne & Son (Silversmiths) in Kent in 1790 and then opened an outlet in the town 146 years ago. The jeweller’s reputation saw the business given the honour of making the Tunbridge Wells’ mayoral chain. But current owner Mr Francis Starkie decided the business is now unsustainable after a very poor Christmas and concluded he had no choice but to close the historic store.
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Bogus collectors “He just started screaming at me that he was being sexually harassed by me. I could see he was wearing a badge from The Happiness Foundation. “It left me feeling shocked. I felt intimidated, so I reported it to the police.” She described the man as wearing a beanie hat, dark jeans and fake leather coat. The Times passed on to the police information on the possible extent of the issue. A police spokesman later told us: “Kent Police was called at 12.55pm on Tuesday 16 February to reports of nuisance behaviour in Calverley Precinct, Tunbridge Wells. “A woman complained about the conduct of a man approaching people and reportedly asking for subscriptions or donations to an organisation called The Happiness Foundation.
NEWS IN BRIEF
Morrisons confirms date store will shut THE closure of Morrisons in Tunbridge Wells, with the loss of 140 jobs, is now inevitable after a 45-day consultation by the supermarket found the Vale Road site to be unviable. The final date of trading has been confirmed for April 3. A spokesman said: “We have looked at a whole range of options to make the store viable but none gave us confidence that we could run it successfully. Our aim is to reduce any job losses, where possible, by finding roles elsewhere in our organisation.”
New nightclub in town A MULTI-THEMED nightclub is to open in Newton Road on March 24. Moomoo has taken over the same venue which has hosted numerous clubs in the past, including Que Pasa, Bar Kitsch, Long Bar and Pure. The club will open Thursday to Saturday.
Villagers’ solar battle
Deep regret Sales consultant Jo Wicker said: “Footfall and spend were 25 per cent lower than last year for us. It has been caused by internet sales, lowering of Christmas spend per person, Royal Victoria Place having shops and car park under one roof, and people spending more on luxury food and drink instead of gifts.” She sent an email to customers stating: “It is with deep regret that I and my colleagues, Denise M. Haigh and Gill Lambert, have to inform you that, due to ongoing economic difficulties and a poor Christmas trading period, we have been left with no other option than to close the business. “We anticipate this happening mid-end April 2016, once we have disposed of as much stock as possible. “As one of our valued customers we want to thank you most sincerely for your continuous and valuable support over the past years, it has been much appreciated.” Payne and Sons, famous for its maroon frontage and huge clock overlooking the High Street on
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the outside wall of number 37, has had a high-class clientele in the past, with ‘many lords and ladies’ through its doors. They are known for selling clocks and watches, diamonds, vintage and contemporary jewellery and silverware, and they have a collection of world famous porcelain sculptures. The shop has also starred in a number of advertisements over the years, the most famous being one for BT’s Talking Pages, when comedian John Cleese pops his head round the door and says: “Got any antique diamond rings?” The current Mr Payne, Michael Payne, is the seventh generation of the family to still be linked to the business since it first began. He still owns “Officers attended the area and spoke to the man concerned, who presented what appeared to be valid identification. “Police have subsequently spoken to The Happiness Foundation, which has expressed concern that people may be fraudulently using its name to operate illegally. Officers will be closely monitoring the precinct area and shoppers are advised not to engage with anyone claiming to represent The Happiness Foundation and to call 101 if approached. The borough council said it had entered into a voluntary agreement with the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association over rules governing charity collectors. A spokesperson for the association said: “We want to make it clear that this individual is not a member of the association, nor do they belong to any charity that we are aware of. We would advise anyone who sees this individual to report them to the police as we believe they may be engaged in fraudulent activity.”
STAPLEHURST campaigners are celebrating after plans to build a solar panel farm on green belt land near the village were thrown out. The three-year battle against the planning application at Great Pagehurst Farm ended after it was refused by Maidstone Borough Council.
Pepenbury evacuated DEVASTATED L-R: Sales team Gill Lambert, Jo Wicker and Denise Haigh the building, but only has a limited involvement in the shop today. Breeds the Cutlers, formerly Steadman’s, was the oldest shop in Tunbridge Wells when it closed down in the High Street in 2012.
Residents back demolition of Southborough theatre A MAJORITY of residents have backed plans for creating a new building for the Southborough Hub, which would mean demolishing the historic Royal Victoria Hall. The eight-week consultation showed 58 per cent of people favoured a completely new facility, while 27 per cent of the 389 respondents supported partretaining the existing theatre. Overall, a total of 82 per cent agreed with the general principle of developing the Southborough Hub, rising to a figure of 85 per cent among residents of Southborough and High Brooms specifically. Campaigners had previously presented a 5,000-strong petition to save the 100-year-old Royal Victoria Hall. The hub plans are due to be voted on by Southborough Town Council tomorrow [Thursday], before a final decision is made by the Southborough Hub Project Board on March 1.
VULNERABLE occupants of a residential centre for adults with learning disabilities and two staff were evacuated from their bungalow at the Pepenbury care home in Cornfield Lane, Pembury following a suspected electrical fire last week. They were moved to the Tonbridge Premier Inn. No one was hurt.
Weather girl drama BBC South East thanked viewers for their messages of support after weather presenter Rachel Mackley fainted during Friday’s South East Today at the Tunbridge Wells studios. The BBC tweeted to say the presenter was ‘back on her feet’ and ‘absolutely fine’.
Register for EU vote TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council is encouraging anyone who has not registered to vote to sign up ahead of the upcoming local elections and EU referendum – or they will be unable to take part. You can register online at www.gov. uk/register-to-vote.
Our pop-up newsroom THE Times pop-up newsroom will be at Ismail Café in the Royal Victoria Place food court today [Wednesday] between 11am and 2pm. Please feel free to come and talk to us there.
Wednesday 24th February 2016