Local, National and International
OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
SURVEY REVEALS PEOPLE WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY NEW THEATRE By Jonathan Banks THE people of Tunbridge Wells believe it’s a good place to live. They feel safe on its streets, are happy with all the amenities and think the council is doing ok… but they want more offstreet parking and they won’t pay for any new theatre. That’s the outcome of a borough-wide survey carried out by independent researchers on behalf of the council. They interviewed, face to face, more than 1,000 residents. The study is the first since 2012 and cost just under £19,000. Head of Policy and Governance Jane Clarke said: “The borough survey forms part of our evidence base for the decision we will be making as a council going forward. In December the council agreed in principle to the development of a new theatre to replace the Assembly Hall. One of the survey questions asked if people would be willing to pay an extra 19p a week in council tax for a significant project ‘such as a new theatre worthy of the borough.’ More than half (55%) of those asked gave a thumbs down with just 32% offering to contribute. The ‘don’t knows’ amounted to 13%. When asked about off-street parking nearly half (48%) of those polled want more while one in three (33%) believe there are enough car parks.
See page 4
r ur Yo EE pe a FRwsp
All the news that matters
Ne
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
AXA admits Brexit would INSIDE not put local jobs at risk COUNTRY LIFE
Police chief takes ‘cheap shot’ at people’s gun hobby
Reassurance comes after an open letter stated an EU exit would ‘threaten jobs’ HAWKENBURY OFFICES Group Chief Executive of AXA UK Paul Evans
Adam Hignett
adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE biggest employer in the town, AXA, has reassured staff it is ‘unlikely’ a British exit from the European Union would have an impact on their jobs. The statement follows a reference to the insurance giant by MP Greg Clark, who in an article written for this newspaper two weeks ago quoted the head of AXA claiming a Brexit would, ‘deter investment, threaten jobs and put the economy at risk’. Mr Clark made the reference as part of his reasoning on why the country should remain within the European Union. The quote he referenced was part of a joint open letter signed by nearly 200 of the UK’s largest companies which included BT, Shell and Marks & Spencer, alongside AXA. The letter attracted widespread media attention.
Mr Clark wrote: “For us here in Tunbridge Wells, I believe we have benefitted particularly from this engagement with Europe. Many of our local employers operate across Europe.
Britain would be stronger, safer and better off remaining in EU “The head of AXA – the biggest private sector employer in Tunbridge Wells – said that Britain leaving the EU would ‘deter investment, threaten jobs and put the economy at risk’.” The Times sought clarification from the company, which employs over 2,000 people in Tunbridge Wells. AXA acknowledged the Chief Executive of AXA UK, Paul Evans, was one of the 197 business leaders who signed the letter. But a spokesman said while the company
believed the UK ‘as a whole’ was better off inside the EU, the impact on AXA’s operations in the country would be limited. He said: “The Group Chief Executive of AXA UK, Paul Evans, was one of one hundred and ninety seven business leaders who signed a letter published in The Times [national] newspaper which indicated that Britain would be stronger, safer and better off remaining a member of the EU. “At a macro-economic level the business leaders concluded that leaving the EU would deter investment and put the economy at risk. “While our own UK businesses, and the people we employ, are unlikely to be impacted if the UK voters elect to leave the EU, AXA’s position is clear that the UK as a whole would be best served by remaining in the EU.” He added the company ‘already’ operates across a ‘number of countries and currencies’, and the UK market ‘remains attractive to the shareholder’. Collin Bullen, a spokesman for the Grassroots Out campaign in Kent, said the apparent contradiction between the wording of the signed letter and AXA’s statement to the Times ‘rather undermines their case.’ However, he also suggested that the company may have been ‘pressurised’ into signing. He said: “This does rather undermine their case, and it has since come out that some of those who signed the letter felt pressurised to do so.
PAGE 5
FOOD AND DRINK
The new gin bar in town has to be the perfect tonic
PAGES 70-71
EDUCATION
Parents advised about rugby tackles at school
PAGES 17-19
BUSINESS
From corporate fun guy to successful life coach
PAGES 8-9