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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.

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All the news that matters

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.

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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

HAPPY DIAMONDS

By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen Jeweller G Collins & Sons Limited Royal Tunbridge Wells

<!?. <!Collins & ~ons ~~~~~~~~~++~~~~~~~~~

63 High Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TNl lXU Tel. 01892 534018 I Fax. 01892 510536 Email. info@gcollinsandsons.com I www.gcollinsandsons.com

4 ■ LOCAL NEWS

Weather Wednesday Wet and very windy, with winds probably easing later.

March 9, 2016 Tunbridge Wells

Visibility: Moderate

Pollution: Low

Humidity: 80%

Sunrise: 06.25am

Sunset: 17.55pm

Wind: 12mph

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

8ºC

10ºC

11ºC

Monday

Tuesday

12ºC

11ºC

Poll reveals stark differences in areas where lone walkers feel unsafe after dark

N INDEPENDENT survey of residents has found significant differences in attitudes across the borough when it comes to safety. A total of 1,053 residents were interviewed face-to-face in all 20 wards, with each person asked, ‘how safe do you feel in your local area… walking alone after dark?’ Overall, one in five people feel to some degree ‘unsafe’ when alone at night, a third of which feel ‘very unsafe’. However, this figure disguises a range of opinions which differ from ward to ward.

Residents of Pembury feel the most secure with just 3% feeling ‘unsafe’. In contrast, over a third (36%) of those living in Southborough North felt ‘unsafe’. The survey found almost twice as many men polled (61%) than women (32%) felt ‘very safe’ after dark. In addition just over half of those aged 16-34 claiming to feel ‘very safe’ during the night, compared to exactly half (50%) of those aged 35-54 and 36% of over 55s. The survey also highlighted a perceived lack of adequate street lighting as significant cause for concern.

How safe do you feel walking alone in the area where you live after dark? ‘Don’t knows’ have been excluded.

Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your local area as a place to live? Satisfied: 92% (55% ‘very’ satisfied – 37% ‘fairly’ satisfied) Neither satisfied or % dissatisfied: 3% Satisfied Fairly dissatisfied: 4% Very dissatisfied: 1%

Do you think there is enough off-street car parking in the town centre or would you support more off-street car parks? There are enough car parks: 33% % More off-street car parks: Not enough 48% Don’t know: 19%

To what extent do you agree or disagree that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council provides value for money? Agree: 67% Neither agree nor disagree: 11% % Tend to disagree: 13% Satisfied Strongly disagree: 5% Don’t know: 4%

There are around 1,000 free on-street car parking spaces in the town centre. Do you think the council should review this to provide more on-street permit parking % for local residents only? Yes: 39% More spaces No: 33% Don’t know: 28%

AREA

‘UNSAFE’

‘SAFE’

Pembury

97%

Benenden

89%

Capel

85%

St John’s

15%

83%

Hawkhurst

20%

80%

St James

17%

79%

Culverden

17%

77%

Speldhurst

21%

75%

Frittenden

28%

72%

Southborough and High Brooms

24%

71%

Pantiles

26%

71%

Sherwood

27%

70%

DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com

Goudhurst

33%

67%

Brenchley

29%

67%

SALES GEMMA HAK ghak@markerstudy.com | 01892 779624

Paddock Wood West

14%

66%

GENERAL INQUIRIES newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Park

28%

62%

Broadwater

21%

62%

Paddock Wood East

11%

61%

Rusthall

26%

60%

Southborough

36%

59%

Snowdrops at Groombridge Place taken by: Craig Matthews Send your weather pictures into... newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615

FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timesoftunbridgewells timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timesoftw IF YOU HAVE A STORY WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. Contact details above

16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times of Tunbridge Wells we strive to deliver fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections. If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU, or email newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Markerstudy Leisure is a trading name of One Media and Creative UK Limited registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960 with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.

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QUOTE UNQUOTE ‘When I was young I thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I know that it is.’

Oscar Wilde

Wednesday 9th March 2016

How satisfied/dissatisfied are you with the way the council runs things? Satisfied: 70% Dissatisfied: 16% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied: 11% Don’t know: 3%

7O% Satisfied

How satisfied are you with the range of services and amenities in the town centre? Satisfied: 86% Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied: 7% % Fairly dissatisfied: 4% Very dissatisfied: 1% Satisfied Don’t know: 2%

PROPOSAL Possible site for any new theatre

Would you be willing to pay a bit more in council tax (for example £10 a year or 19p a week) if this would allow the council to deliver a significant project such as a new theatre worthy of the borough? % Yes: 32% Unwilling No: 55% Don’t know: 13%

58% Disagree

Do you agree or disagree you can influence decisions affecting your local area? Agree: 29% Disagree: 58% Don’t know: 13%

WHY OPINION POLLS ARE A USEFUL COUNTER TO THE ‘DOG IN A PRAM’ APPROACH THERE’S a certain amount of suspicion about surveys of public opinion especially after the General Election. For those of you who were asleep at the time (and who could blame you) pollsters predicted a neck and neck race between the Conservatives and Labour. Dave the Tory romped home. The point is: Can you trust/rely on surveys? The boxes are: ‘probably’, ‘maybe’, ‘who knows’ or even ‘who cares’? Well, you actually should care because your council has just spent almost £19,000 of your money paying people to chat face to face with other residents to find out their views on a whole range of topics, from parking to feeling safe walking alone at night. The council will harvest those views and put them into the mix when taking decision over the

coming couple of years. The last poll, by the way, was undertaken in 2012. There will invariably be those who will moan about ‘wasting all that money.’ They will let us all know that for £19,000 you could have half another doctor working at the hospital. (That’s NHS not council.) Sorry, but they’re wrong. In my book it’s money well spent; we should probably see a survey every other year. Why? Because it is something that gives people a voice, enables them to express an opinion. That’s particularly important in a town like Tunbridge Wells, a town where one single party dominates the Council Chamber. Has done almost since time began apart from a brief dalliance with the Lib Dems and a hung chamber. (If that’s wrong the postbag will be huge.)

One accepts all the members of the council are democratically elected but as someone once told me: “You could put a dog in a pram in Tunbridge Wells and so long as the pram was blue it would get elected.” Not that I, of course, adhere to that view. I do, however, know that some people are uneasy when one political party holds so much power. Which brings us back to our opening comments about surveys. They are at least, as in this case, an attempt at taking the public pulse, an opportunity for opposing views to be aired, a nod towards democracy. And that has to be a good thing. Mind you, with polls it all depends on what questions are asked and how they are put. So, who decides the questions then…? Richard Moore, Editorial Director

LOCAL NEWS 

Taxpayers’ money being used to subsidise people’s gun hobby Some say: ‘It’s a cheap shot… and the figures are wrong’ By Simon Holden THE owner of a country sports shop has accused the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner of taking a ‘cheap shot’ at gun users and field sports fans. Taxpayers in Kent are subsidising gun lovers by £338,556 a year so they can obtain licences, the Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes believes. There are more than 70,000 licensed guns in the county which includes 50,971 shotguns and 20,905 other firearms. Processing 70,000 licences a year is essential to ensuring public safety but the money spent on it could be spent on putting an extra eight officers on the street, says Ann Barnes. She said: “Having these guns kept here in Kent does pose a real public safety risk so it’s entirely right that they are properly accounted for, licensed to sensible people and locked away when not in use – it’s a matter of public safety. “What I take issue with is Kent Police money – taxpayers’ money – being used to subsidise someone’s hobby. No-one subsidises a gym membership, a fishing licence or a season ticket to watch the Gills. “Last financial year, even after collecting the licence fees, firearms licensing cost the force an extra £338,556 and it’s on course to cost about the same again this year. Frankly, I’d rather that money was spent putting an extra eight police officers on our streets. “Kent is predominately a rural county so it is inevitable that we have more firearms applications to deal with than some other areas. If you’re a farmer and you need a gun to do your job, you can claim the cost of the application back through our tax system, and rightly so. “I first wrote to the Prime Minister about this in 2014 and I was pleased when the cost of applying for a licence went up last year, but Kent Police is still out of pocket and I’d much rather the Chief Constable was able to recruit extra police officers to keep us safe.” Applying for a five-year firearms licence costs the

NEWS IN BRIEF

Police operation sees 5o taxi drivers quizzed MULTIPLE law enforcement agencies swooped on Tunbridge Wells railway station on Saturday afternoon carrying out spot-checks on taxi drivers to ensure they were being compliant with the terms of their licenses. The combined operation involved the British Transport Police, Home Office Immigration Enforcement and the Borough Council. More than 50 drivers were questioned with most found to be fully compliant, although some were spoken to for minor infringements.

NHS Trust must improve THE POLICE They are not running at a loss applicant £88, or £79.50 for a shotgun licence. Renewals cost £62, or £49 for a shotgun. The amounts paid fall far short of the amount Kent Police spends on processing each application and doing background checks. But Chris Potter, who owns Chris Potter Country in Grover Street, said: “Her figures are wrong. We believe there are only 30,000 gun licence holders in Kent and that means they have a budget of £2.4million. “We do not believe they are running at a loss. It’s a cheap shot at people who shoot for competition or pleasure. “A gamekeeper or farm labourer cannot claim

‘What I take issue with is Kent Police money taxpayers’ money - being used to subsidise someone’s hobby’ Police and Crime Commissioner, Ann Barnes

the money back against tax. A farmer can. But it will hurt people disproportionately. “They are also issuing lots of temporary licences at the moment, not new ones? It takes just as long to issue a temporary one as a new one. Why not issue new ones. They need someone to make the system run more efficiently.” A spokesman for the Crime Commissioner said: “It costs £180 for each type of weapon. The ballpark figure is that on average Kent police are £100 out of pocket per renewal. Some applicants need more background checks than others. “People who are in conservation or farming can claim back the fee. But why should those who use guns as a hobby or sport leave taxpayers out of pocket? “The next step is for the Government and Home Office to decide. They would consult and it’s not a decision we expect to be taken overnight. “The background is that over the last five years there are 500 fewer officers and 600 fewer staff. They have left and not been replaced.”

MAIDSTONE and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, that runs Pembury hospital, was among 30 to meet regulators last week to discuss how to hit A&E targets by ‘sharing innovation’ and ‘good practice’. The trust, the best performing in Kent, is hitting the target that A&E patients are treated within four hours, 87.7% of the time. It should be 95 %. Only 13 out of 130 trusts nationwide recently succeeded in hitting the 95 %.

Mayfield murder suspect THE 17-year-old boy arrested in connection with the murder of Paul Jefferies at his home in Mayfield has been remanded in custody until May. The youth from Crowborough, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear before Lewes Combined Court for a hearing. Mr Jefferies, 52, had worked at HMRC for 20-years before moving to his home in Coggins Mil Lane.

Injured woman dies A WOMAN who was taken to hospital in London after being hit by a car outside of the Robin Hood pub has died of her injuries. The death of Marion Bond, 56, has seen an outpouring of grief on social media. Kent police have yet to establish who was driving the vehicle when the incident

Have you got a question on the referendum you’d like answered?

IN Greg Clark, MP

Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark and Wealden MP Nus Ghani have agreed to respond to questions from our readers. Mr Clark is in favour of remaining in the EU. Ms Ghani is in favour of coming out. Each will answer the same identical questions. If you have a particular point you’d like them to respond to, then send us an email or letter setting out your question in no more than 40 words. You may email us at: Newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk The subject line should read: EU Debate

Or you can write to us: EU Debate, Times of Tunbridge Wells, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1NU Questions and answers will be published in the newspaper. You may submit only one question. If it is more than 40 words long it might be edited or rejected. No correspondence will be entered into regarding any question or any answer. The Editor’s decision on what is published is final. The closing date to receive questions is Tuesday March 29, 2016.

OUT

Nus Ghani, MP

Wednesday 9th March 2016

6  COUNCIL COMMENTARY

Panto Mayor jibe was just a load of rubbish

ADAM HIGNETT’S VIEW FROM THE GALLERY

You can call me ‘Dave’ if I can call you ‘John’

SUGGESTION by former Mayor and councillor John Smith, who has now been relegated to the public gallery, to save the council some cash by enacting a four-day week in the Town Hall failed to fly. His proposal was made through a ‘question’ aimed at the Leader of the Council, although it really sounded like a helpful observation. Mr Smith said council spending was ‘unsustainable’ and would lead to financial ruin in the long term unless the council ditched its ‘reactionary’ budgets and set about doing something ‘radically different.’ His radical solution to cut costs involved unconsulting the council’s consultants ‘which only tell you what you already know’ and a rather vague suggestion they take an axe to the ‘fluffy stuff’. But his suggestions were not going to go uncontested, with Council Leader David Jukes at the ready. “I don’t quite know how to address you these days, Mr Smith. Can I call you John?” He asked in a jovial manner, making everyone brace themselves. “Well John, you were here for, what was it, 12 years? It was only eight months ago that you left us, so why

didn’t you do something about it while you were here?” There was the briefest of pauses to let that sink in before he continued: “Anyway, we have suffered a 50 per cent cut to our budget, as you are probably aware. “And we have been taking a leaf out of your book to run this place in a more business-like manner,” he said, before listing the efficiencies made by the council. Unbowed, Mr Smith said the current measures did not go far enough, and unveiled his best idea. “Thank you. I can call you Dave can’t I?”, a response which generated laughter among those present, “I know there is a lot of good work going on but I fear it is not enough. “Has the council considered a fourday working week to save money?” Mr Smith was told the council ‘could not imagine’ the public would welcome a four-day week council as it would disrupt services which the council have been trying at great lengths to carry on as normal. The council staff will surely be disappointed by the news.

‘Has the council considered a four-day working week to save money?’ Former Mayor John Smith

AYOR David Elliott was forced to sit through an uncomfortable few minutes at the Full Council after one of his own party criticised the amount of money spent on the ceremonial role. Conservative Cllr Sean Holden, of Benenden and Cranbrook, courted murmurs of ‘low blow sir’ when is proposed amendment to cut the Mayor’s budget by £16,000 descended into a polemic.

‘Mayor in a panto costume in Tunbridge Wells’ Cllr Sean Holden

Unable to defend himself, the Mayor sat in silence as fellow Conservative Cllr Holden proposed what he referred to as his ‘Dick Whittington amendment’. Cllr Holden argued some of the £63,000 Mayor’s budget should be spent on rubbish collection, following a halving of the civil amenities budget. However, what sympathy he had among colleagues about the ‘double taxation’ of residents, an issue no Conservative is ever comfortable with, was lost when he criticised the mayoral pantomime. He said: “If you ask people in Benenden and Cranbrook if they think their taxes should go on a reclaimed rubbish collection or to a Mayor in a pantomime costume in Tunbridge Wells you will get some pretty fruity answers. “We have heard the very praiseworthy fact the Mayor has raised over £25,000 for charity. “I have to point out many taxpayers might say it will save them £40,000 if we got rid of the costly civic pantomime and just wrote a cheque for the

Mayor’s chosen charity.” This attack stirred murmurs of discontent among colleagues, with even one Labour councillor later admitting it had gone ‘a bit far’. Leaping to the defence of Cllr Elliott, who looked as if he would rather be elsewhere by this point, Council Leader David Jukes rallied the troops and elicited laughter when he hit back, jokingly calling Cllr Holden ‘a miserable b****r’. Cllr Jukes then set about dissecting Cllr Holden’s argument that the current situation was being imposed by the borough council. He said it was ‘unfortunate’ that some of the parish council chairmen did not turn up for meetings with their peers and borough councillors, adding that if they did they would have been consulted on the cuts. The rallying call inspired Cllr Jane March, of equally rural Brenchley and Horsmonden, to give an impassioned defence of the Mayor: “I would like to mention Cllr Holden does not speak for my parish and should not give the implication that all parishes are against this. “I also wonder who Cllr Holden is actually speaking for? From what I know, the people from Benenden and Cranbrook – when the mayor went down there – they came out in force. “They were extremely positive about the Mayor and Mayoress and I just think that, possibly, you may have got your wires crossed.” The amendment was roundly defeated.

Uncomfortable few minutes for Mayor at the Full Council meeting Mayor David Elliott

We don’t want the council to become an exclusive rich club

T WAS third time unlucky for Liberal Democrat Cllr Ben Chapelard in his bid to cut council allowances by ten per cent through an amendment to the budget. Softening up a sceptical council, dominated by his former coalition partners, Cllr Chapelard said that among the positives

in the budget was an ‘attempt’ to balance the books and the freezing of car park charges. But it didn’t take long for Cllr Chapelard to resume his political raison d’etre, to be a thorn in the side of the Tory council. The budget isn’t really balanced at all, he said, as it relies on the use of reserves, a situation which

‘If you broke down the number of hours of good hard work councillors do and how much they get paid at the end of the day it certainly isn’t a career move’ Cllr Paul Barrington-King

Wednesday 9th March 2016

has come about through an ‘artificially low’ council tax at a time when the government grant was being halved. Fortunately, Cllr Chapelard and his colleagues have come up with a partial solution to the problem… cutting councillors’ allowances. “We cannot support this budget in its current form, not when the only ring-fenced part of this budget is councillors’ allowances. We must all share the pain.” Defending the status quo was never going to be easy, but Cllr Paul Barrington-King was ready by pointing out allowances had fallen ‘in real terms’ over the past four years. In addition, a cut may deter those without the financial means standing for election he said, adding: “We do this because

we love Tunbridge Wells. I don’t want this becoming an exclusive rich club. “If you broke down the number of hours of good hard work councillors do and how much they get paid, at the end of the day it certainly isn’t a career move and certainly isn’t for the money.” Unsurprisingly, his colleagues agreed and the amendment was soundly defeated 40 votes to three.

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT ALLOWANCES? Borough councillors currently receive an annual basic allowance of £5,500, with cabinet members gaining £11,000 a year, and the leader receiving a sum of £19,250. A ten per cent allowance cut would save the council £36,000 a year.

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

Post Office closure would hit village life and the rural area

Survey shows 650 people use the service on a regular basis Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk GROOMBRIDGE is in danger of losing the village Post Office with the news that the Postmistress is retiring. Closure would also impact several surrounding villages whose residents rely on the service. Parish councillors are now looking at ways to keep the service running, following a decision by Rosie Wyatt to retire later this year. Mrs Wyatt, 77, has served in the role for 27 years but her departure means more than just finding her replacement. The Post Office itself takes up a portion of Mrs Wyatt’s house, a situation she wants to reverse by applying to convert the store into residential accommodation. However, Mrs Wyatt has been co-operating with the parish council, the postal network and a local retailer to find a solution. Mrs Wyatt said: “Post Office Ltd are changing the way post offices are run and I am on a traditional Sub Post Office contract.”

She explained this form of contract was being phased out in favour of a ‘local post office contract’, which means more services are offered with an additional retail counter. This would require a new outlet for the Post Office to be found. She said: “If a suitable outlet cannot be found then, unfortunately, the village will not have a Post Office.” Parish Council Chairman Diana Kelly said: “We are exploring the options, one of which is to run the Post Office in another shop.” One possibility is Angel House Stores, a newsagent and convenience shop located almost next to the current Post Office. “We have been in talks with the store owner and with the Post Office ‘network transformation’ team. “The Post Office want to expand the range of services on offer but it will mean the owner will have to find staff for longer hours. The parish has been doing its own research to work out how viable it will be for a new Post Office by surveying those who currently use the services. Cllr Diana Kelly said: “Our survey found around 648 people use the Post Office and many of them also use Angel Stores. “Many of the people come from surrounding villages which have lost their own post offices, such as Wythyham and Langton Green.

RETIRING Postmistress Rosie Wyatt

NEWS IN BRIEF

Landlords offered free advice and networking HOUSING landlords are invited to attend a free event on Monday (March 14) to share good practice. The West Kent Landlord Forum will take place at the Town Hall from 5.00pm. Topics include: ‘Right to Rent’ update, landlord insurance and residential investment following tax changes announced in the Budget Marion Money, Kent Representative for the National Landlords Association, said: ‘Being a landlord can be quite a lonely experience and events such as this allow local landlords to meet and network with their fellow professionals and share their knowledge and understanding of the sector.’ Places are limited so landlords are asked to book in advance by emailing landlordsforum@tunbridgewells.gov.uk or phoning the Housing Needs team on 01892 526121.

New parish magazine “If a suitable outlet can’t be found then we will lose the service. “We have seen what happens in other places that have lost their post office, the heart of the village dies.” Since 1981, the number of post offices has nearly halved from around 22,000 to 11,696 last year. The steepest declines were between 1999 and 2009 when 2,334 rural branches were closed, almost a third of the total.

RUSTHALL is to get its own parish magazine in April which it hopes will be a ‘cut above’ similar publications. The 24 page, ‘full colour’ magazine is to be launched by the current owners of Langton Life following a ‘very successful’ 12 years’ operating in the village. Named Rusthall life, the publication is the brainchild of Ian Campbell who will be working closely with the local parish.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

8  LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

How corporate partying turned People at first thought it was strange and some wondered why I Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk BACK in the early 1990s Sean O’Leary defied the gloom and doom of a country that was still feeling the after effects of recession to launch one of the leading accountancy firms in Tunbridge Wells. An ‘enthusiastic participant’ of the corporate lifestyle of drinking and partying, the successful businessman, who founded Ward Mackenzie in 1992 aged just 29, was content with his success. Today, 23 years down the line, he has laid aside the excesses of the corporate life and become a teacher of yoga and a life coach who now prefers meditation and philosophy to ‘partying’. Speaking to the Times, Sean O’Leary explains how his life as a ‘deeply unhappy’ and ‘out of condition’ accountant was transformed by the ancient discipline which has him ‘hooked’. “The 80s was a time of heavy drinking and lots of partying and I had done my fair share of the corporate fun stuff,” he says. “By the time I founded the company the 80s were over and so was most of the corporate excess as money was tighter but I was an enthusiastic participant of the corporate life.” Despite enjoying a career as a serial entrepreneur who went on to found, direct or invest in a range of new companies since leaving Ward Mackenzie in 1998, Mr O’Leary said the lifestyle he led was ‘extraordinarily stressful.’ “I drank too much and had go to a point where I would look down and couldn’t see my toes and 30

Wednesday 9th March 2016

per cent of my body mass was fat. “I just thought there must be more than this, there must be another way of living and making a contribution than just making money.” It was following an injury to his knee that he sustained during a game of five-aside football, and which needed surgery, that Mr O’Leary stumbled upon yoga. He came across Yoga Tree of Life run by Nick Barrett while browsing online, and decided to give it a go. “I went to a session and I just loved it. It helped with the flexibility in my knee and to relieve the stress. “He is quite focused on the spiritual side of it which I like as it opened my eyes to meditation, and the philosophy and psychology of yoga.” He also began training with a second

‘I drank too much and had got to a point where I would look down and couldn’t see my toes and 30 per cent of my body mass was fat’

practitioner, Mark Freeth, an ‘ex punk rocker’ who had made his living in the music industry and who ran the Freestyle Yoga project, a class which opened Mr O’Leary’s eyes to how wide the discipline really is. “I thought I was quite advanced at yoga but I

turned up and Mark said if I needed a rest to say so, which at the time I thought was quite an odd thing to mention. “But after ten minutes I was knackered. There is no spiritual side to his type of yoga, it is more like gymnastics and gets you very fit.”

BALANCING ACT Sean O’Leary in the kitchen

LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 

me into a life coach

wouldn’t be joining them down the pub Mr O’Leary began training with both methods before deciding to qualify as a practitioner himself in 2014 in order to teach. His new direction in life did not go unnoticed. “People at first thought it was strange and some wondered why I wouldn’t be joining them down the pub any more. “Some relationships haven’t endured the change, but I made others through their interest in yoga.” He has no regrets, feeling far more at ease with himself now he has found a new way of dealing with life, comparing it unfavourably to how he had lived before. “I just wasn’t happy about me as a person. From the outside all the aspects of my life looked fine. I was successful and have a wonderful family but many of my relationships were superficial and based on business. “I was quite athletic in my youth but by the time I had found yoga my default at the rugby club was a glass of wine or a pint. “Then one year I embarrassed myself when I got a bit too drunk before a family party around Christmas. It was a bit of a wake-up call.” And while he is proud of his business successes and describes being an accountant as a ‘smart move’ at an intellectual and analytical level, he believes that on an emotional level it was ‘not so smart’. “We go through life not consciously questioning why we are doing what we do. “I had enjoyed my career but I was not fully aware why I was doing it and I realised I had

become an accountant simply because my parents had suggested it would be a good job. “It left me feeling unfulfilled and a bit of an impostor.” Although he still derives income from his company MacKenzie Byrne Ltd, which sources funding for large scale commercial and residential investment portfolios, it is through yoga, not business, that he derives his satisfaction. “Truly I have enjoyed a yoga transformation. Yoga helped me become lean, strong and flexible in my mind, body and emotions and guided me back to my authentic self.” As a practitioner and teacher of yoga Mr O’Leary has a lot of empathy and understanding for his main clientele. “My cohort are generally guys in their 40s and 50s who are directors, managers and business owners dealing with the stress of their jobs. “But they realise that without a doubt setting aside time for some yoga can help you be a better businessman.”

FAIR TRADE TEAM L-R Mandy FlashmanWells, Paul Snow (Co-op), Linda Wishart and Jane Clarke

OLD DAYS Corporate man Sean O’Leary

Fair Trade food favours foreign farmers TUNBRIDGE WELLS celebrated Fair Trade Fortnight last week at a special breakfast hosted by the Mayor, Cllr David Elliott. Taking place on Thursday in the Council Chamber, the event – titled ‘Sit Down For Breakfast Stand Up For Farmers’ – was attended by a cross-section of residents, from schoolchildren to business leaders. Guests heard Mandy FlashmanWells, of the Tunbridge Wells Town Group, explain how Tunbridge Wells had come to be awarded its title as a fair trade town in 2007. She said: “The campaign to promote fair trade started about 12 years ago in the local churches and has since spread to business, charities and the schools. “Being a fair trade town means we have an understanding of the moral and ethical issues of those

who supply our food.” There are roughly 600 fair trade towns in England, and to gain that status the local council must pass a resolution supporting Fair Trade, and agree to serve Fair Trade tea and coffee at its meetings and in its offices and canteens. She explained the farmers from poorer nations benefitted from the scheme because it ensures they are guaranteed a reasonable minimum price for their crop regardless of market demand. The whole farming community also benefits through a ‘premium’ which is paid out for projects to help everyone within the area, for example by building bridges and providing wells. “How we choose to buy our food and how we choose to support those who grow the food is very important,” she said.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

10  LOCAL NEWS

Flower power needed to add those colourful touches for spring launch

Call to action as town gets ready for RTW In Bloom competition

By Sarah Bond TUNBRIDGE Wells is set to become a blooming lovely place again with the news that the town is once again entering the Royal Horticultural Society’s regional In Bloom competition. And to get it off to a great start, volunteers planted 800 bulbs in three rows on the long strip of grass beside the war memorial statue. The plan is for the plantings to appear one after the other, with crocuses first, daffodils second and finally tulips, adding an array of colour outside the Town Hall. “Green shoots are starting to appear, but with the strange weather we have been having we are not quite sure when the flowers will appear, or if they will pop up in the right order, so everyone will have to keep watching them,” says Royal Tunbridge Wells In Bloom committee member Katharina Mahler-Bech. Tunbridge Wells has always done well in the annual RHS South and South Eastern In Bloom competition, which the committee – headed by Mayor David Elliott – hopes to maintain.

There is also a separate local competition open to residents and business to enter with a variety of categories ranging from Best Basket or Allotment to Best Café/Pub/Club and Best Shop Front. The more who take part, the prettier the town will look before it enters the RHS competition as a whole in April, with the judges arriving in July. Sponsors are needed, too, but donations need not just be monetary, says Mrs Mahler-Bech,

‘With the strange weather we have been having we are not quite sure when the flowers will appear’ who revived the competition in 2010 with her late husband Daniel. “The more sponsorship the better, but it can be in kind, too,” she says. “Businesses could donate a room for an event, or provide catering, or anything else that would be helpful. “Royal Victoria Place is kindly giving us space for a stall for the launch, for instance.

“We are all volunteers so all donations go straight to the competition entry, and it is a big community effort. “We build up a portfolio showing the blooms through the spring and summer, and all the projects people have been involved in,” says Mrs Mahler-Bech. “Our Facebook page provides a running archive. “You can get sponsorship forms from our website, or our Facebook page, or from various places around town, such as Gateway.” Anyone can get involved with anything from a plant pot outside the door to massive lawns surrounded by colourful borders. “The rebirth of the RTW In Bloom competition came just after the 2008 recession, and the thinking was that if people don’t have the money for painting their houses, maybe they do have enough for a pot or a basket on the balcony or windowsill,” says Mrs Mahler-Bech.

CIVIC GOLD Town Hall

Working in conjunction with the Council’s Parks Department, Royal Tunbridge Wells In Bloom also thrives through the valuable involvement of all the ‘Friends’ groups around town, such as Friends of Grosvenor and Hilbert Park, Friends of Calverley Grounds and Friends of Woodbury Park Cemetery, who help provide floral ‘hotspots’. FLORAL DANCE Upper Pantiles

BATHED IN BLUE Calverley Grounds

YELLOW FEVER Lower Pantiles

For more information on RTW In Bloom, visit: www.royaltunbridgewellsinbloom.org.uk

Wednesday 9th March 2016

NATIONAL NEWS 

Thousands of operations to be cancelled MORE than 5,000 operations and procedures across England have been cancelled ahead of a 48-hour strike by junior doctors. Medics will go on strike from 8am today [Wednesday] in a row with the Government over a new contract. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced he will impose the contract on junior doctors – everyone up to consultant level – after months of talks with the British Medical Association (BMA) failed to reach a resolution. Junior doctors will provide emergency care only on Wednesday and Thursday, with two further 48-hour strikes planned from 8am on April 8 and and April 26. New figures from NHS England from 228 organisations, of which 154 are acute hospital trust, show that 2,077 inpatient procedures have been cancelled due to Wednesday and Thursday’s industrial action alongside 3,187 day-case operations and procedures. Hundreds more routine clinics and appointments are likely to be affected. Dr Anne Rainsberry, national incident director for NHS England, said: “This is clearly going to be a difficult couple of days. A 48-hour strike will put significantly more pressure on the NHS and the cumulative effect of these recurring strikes is likely to take a toll. “The safety and care of patients is always our number one priority and staff across the NHS are doing all they can to minimise the impact on patients of the action. “We will closely monitor events as they unfold to ensure plans to deal with the pressures are robust and people are ready to respond to any emerging difficulties.” Urgent and emergency care services will be available as normal but hospitals are expected to be under extra pressure, NHS England said.

Sharapova pays a high sponsor price SHAMED Russian fails drugs test

NEWS IN BRIEF

Solider will not face charge over shooting THE British soldier who shot a teenager dead in Londonderry in 1972 will not be prosecuted, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said. Daniel Hegarty, 15, was hit during Operation Motorman on July 31 1972, an army surge aimed at reclaiming “no go areas” in the city from the IRA. The labourer was shot twice in the head by a soldier close to his home in Creggan. His cousin Christopher, 16, was shot in the head by the same soldier but survived. An inquest into his death said they posed no risk but the PPS has decided to take no action.

Bullying wife gets life

THE cost to Maria Sharapova of her failed drug test became clearer as three major sponsors distanced themselves from the tennis superstar. The Russian dropped the bombshell at a press conference in Los Angeles on Monday and is now waiting to find out what sanction she will face. Nike acted swiftly, suspending its contract with the five-time grand slam champion, while watchmaker Tag Heuer and luxury car brand Porsche followed suit. A statement from sportswear giant Nike read: “We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova. “We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues. We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Tag Heuer has severed ties altogether, with a statement reading: “Maria Sharapova was under contract with TAG Heuer until December 31, 2015. We had been in talks to extend our collaboration. “In view of the current situation, the Swiss watch brand has suspended negotiations, and has decided not to renew the contract with Ms Sharapova.” Porsche signed Sharapova as its first global endorser in 2013, and said in a statement: “We are saddened by the recent news announced by Maria Sharapova. “Until further details are released and we can analyse the situation, we have chosen to postpone planned activities.” The Russian has been the highestearning female athlete in the world

for the last 11 years, with her off-court endorsements dwarfing her income from prize money. According to Forbes, the 28 year old earned £21million in 2015. Among her other sponsors, Evian ostensibly stuck by her, saying in a statement: “We were surprised by the announcement of Maria Sharapova during her press conference. “Evian has been a partner of Maria Sharapova for many years and until now we have maintained a trustworthy professional relationship. “Evian attaches great importance to health, to integrity and to transparence, and we will follow closely the development of the investigation.” Cosmetics firm Avon declined to comment.

A “bullying and violent” new bride has been convicted of murdering her solicitor husband and jailed for a minimum of 20 years. Sharon Edwards, 42, stabbed to death criminal defence lawyer David Edwards, 51, at their home in Chorley, Lancashire, just two months after they married in Las Vegas. Jailing her at Manchester Crown Court for a minimum of 20 years, Mr Justice William Davis told the defendant she had “robbed people of a decent man.”

Star rabbit rehomed THE giant rabbit who became a celebrity after an appeal by the Scottish SPCA to find him a new home is now living happily in North Ayrshire. The rabbit, who was handed over to the SPCA when his original owner could no longer look after him, is as big as a dog and called Atlas. He is now being cared for by 43-year-old Jen Hislop. “I burst into tears when I got the phone call saying I had been chosen to rehome Atlas” she said. “I cried again when I collected him. Animals are just pets to some people but my rabbits are family members.”

Wednesday 9th March 2016

12 � NATIONAL NEWS

Policeman hit by a truck used as murder weapon A POLICE officer’s widow wept as a court was shown the final moments of her husband’s life before he was allegedly murdered by a teenage car thief in a “cowardly and merciless act”. Jen Phillips watched as the video footage of her husband, PC Dave Phillips, was played to Manchester Crown Court, showing him being hit by the stolen Mitsubishi pickup truck driven by Clayton Williams. PC Phillips, 34, was shown crouching to deploy a stinger device but the father of two stood “no chance” as he was hit by the vehicle, used as a “weapon” by Williams, the jury heard. The Merseyside Police officer was tossed into the air before falling lifeless on to the roadway. His injuries were not survivable, the court heard. The defendant, 19, wearing a white T-shirt and blue North Face tracksuit, sat in the dock listening as Mrs Phillips and other family wept in the public gallery. Williams told officers he had smoked cannabis before stealing the truck in a burglary then leading police on an 80mph chase through Wallasey, Merseyside, in October last year. But he denies a charge of murder, saying he did not intend to injure or kill the officer. The jury was shown a series of slowed-down video recordings, frame by frame, showing the Mitsubishi approaching PC Phillips as he crouches down to

deploy the stinger. Grainy images taken at a distance show him going over the truck and his colleague running out of the way. Mrs Phillips dissolved into tears along with other members of PC Phillips’s family as the recording was played over. Earlier Ian Unsworth QC, prosecuting, told the jury of nine women and five men that at around 1am on October 5 last year Williams, of Wallasey, and another man, Philip Stuart, 30, of Prenton, Wirral, had burgled

Oxton Estates, a shop in Birkenhead, stealing keys to the Mitsubishi. It was spotted in Birkenhead by police but made off at speed followed by an unmarked police BMW and a liveried police Volvo, which began recording the chase on a dashboard camera. Williams clocked 80mph as he drove over several miles through Wirral during the 10-minute pursuit, at one point hitting a parked Ford Fiesta, the court heard. TRAGEDY PC Dave Phillips was killed in a hit and run

Sunderland football boss finally quits SUNDERLAND AFC has said it was “so very sorry” for letting down a 15-year-old fan who was groomed and sexually exploited by ex-player Adam Johnson. It followed chief executive Margaret Byrne’s resignation from the club after she admitted “a serious error of judgment” in advising the board

Wednesday 9th March 2016

that the star winger could carry on playing after he was initially suspended last March. Johnson, a £10 million signing, helped the Wearside team to narrowly avoid relegation from the Premier League last year under veteran Dutch boss Dick Advocaat. Johnson was allowed to carry on playing until his trial at Bradford Crown Court where last month he stunned the club by admitting two charges of grooming the girl and kissing her. He went on to be convicted of one further charge of sexual activity with a child. During the trial, it emerged that on May 4, the chief executive met Johnson and Orlando Pownall QC, and she had social media messages exchanged and transcripts from police interviews in which the player admitted kissing the schoolgirl. Pressure mounted on the club after the trial, with fans angry about what the club knew about Johnson, regardless of his stated intention to deny all charges. Ms Byrne announced her resignation in a statement, and took full responsibility for what happened. And the club responded saying Ms Byrne was “accountable for the actions taken by the club” and although she acted in its best interest, investigations found decisions were taken “in error”.

Rolling Stone Bill Wyman reveals he has prostate cancer FORMER Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The 79-year-old musician, who is expected to make a full recovery, joined the rock band in late 1962. A spokesman said: “He is undergoing treatment and is expected to make a full recovery as it was caught in the early stages. “The Wyman family has asked for their privacy during this time.” Born William Perks, Wyman joined the Rolling Stones shortly after the band’s formation when they were beginning to play small gigs around London. He left in 1993, and in 1997 founded his own band - Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, who last toured in 2014. The Stones gained their first UK number one in 1964 with It’s All Over Now, and went on to achieve success with hits including Gimme Shelter, Satisfaction, and Jumpin’ Jack Flash. The band has continued to record, tour and perform since Wyman’s departure, and last week announced a free concert in Havana, Cuba - the first open-air concert in the country by a British rock band. Wyman has published two autobiographical accounts of his time in the band, Stone Alone (1997) and Rolling With The Stones (2002). The musician was pictured on Saturday at the wedding of Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall, alongside his third wife, Suzanne Accosta. In 1989, the musician also courted controversy when he married his 18-year-old girlfriend, the model Mandy Smith - who he had been dating since she was 14. The musician, who was 52 at the time, had divorced his first wife in 1969. But he and Smith split by 1991, and divorced two years later. Wyman went on to marry Accosta, with whom he has three daughters. He also has one son by his first wife. Wyman last played with the Stones at the 50th anniversary shows at the O2 Arena in 2012.

DIAGNOSIS Bill Wyman and his wife Suzannne Accosta last week

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Wednesday 9th March 2016

14  BUSINESS NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF

Top female bosses earn the same as men NEW research from the leading international business school EMYLON has found that the 2% of CEOs who are female in the UK are paid equally to their male counterparts, despite perceptions to the contrary. The research revealed there is no real fiscal discrimination against women at the top level of business but there is in the salaries of female executives below the CEO. The latter can expect to earn 23% less than their male counterparts.

Brexit threat could force businesses out of London WARNING Bank of England Governor Mark Carney

Pension power CONSUMER group Which? wants the introduction of a pensions dashboard in next week’s Budget after it found almost half (47%) of people over 50 who are employed and have a personal pension are not confident about the money they have saved for their retirement. A dashboard system would mean savers can see all their retirement and savings pots information in one place.

Burberry in takeover SHARES in Burberry surged as the fashion house prepares to defend itself against a potential takeover bid, according to market reports. An unknown investor has built up a stake of close to 5% in the brand famous for its trench coats, prompting senior management to seek help from its financial advisers. Shares lifted as much as 5% while stocks were up from 64p to 1435p, raising the firm’s value to £6.4 billion.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

A NUMBER of major financial sector firms are “contingency planning” to move headquarters out of the City of London if Britain votes to leave the European Union, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has told MPs. Mr Carney said the City of London would “without question” lose business if it failed to negotiate the continuation of existing mutual recognition agreements within the financial sector following a vote for Brexit. He warned that negotiations of this kind “in general take a very long time to achieve” and may involve ceding some measure of the UK’s sovereignty. Giving evidence to the House of Commons Treasury Committee, the Governor stressed that the Bank was not making a formal recommendation on whether voters should opt to Remain or Leave in the June 23 poll.

The Bank will only look at the impact on its ability to meet its remit to safeguard financial and monetary stability in the UK and will take action to mitigate any risks from the vote, he said. It had already announced on Monday night that it would pump emergency cash into the system to ward off any threat to banks. In the event of a vote for Brexit, Mr Carney said the Bank “will do everything in our power to discharge our responsibility to achieve monetary stability and financial stability”. But he added that he could not “provide a blanket assurance that there would not be issues in the short term with respect to financial stability and that potential reduction in financial stability could be associated - and normally would be associated - with poor economic outcomes, as we have seen in the past”.

Energy giant to cut 2,400 UK jobs FOLLOWING heavy financial losses, the energy company npower has ended days of speculation by announcing it is to cut 2,400 jobs in the UK. This means that its 11,500 strong workforce will be reduced by almost a fifth. The job cuts will be spread across offices and are not ‘site specific.’ There will be no job cuts at any of npower’s power stations. The company, owned by German group RWE, also announced a two year recovery plan to deliver a ‘robust business’ built on lower costs, simplicity, high quality customer service and to be ready for the challenges of the future. Paul Coffey, chief executive of RWE npower said: “npower results continue the trend seen earlier in 2015, but they are nonetheless extremely disappointing and we are starting a two-year process to fix them.’ The two main RWE businesses in the UK made an aggregate loss of £154 million in 2015 - £99 million at npower and £55 million at RWE Generation. A statement said: “npower takes its responsibilities to its employees seriously and will consult fully with affected employees and with unions over its proposals for the future of the business.” Dave Prentis, General Secretary of Unison, one of the UK’s largest trade unions said: “These huge job losses will come as a devastating blow to the workforce.” He continued: “npower has been in trouble for some time thanks to poor decision making at the very top, and workers are now paying the price. The company’s failure to invest properly in new systems has left it with one of the worst customers service records in the business.

WORLD NEWS 

Trump denies raising right hand was a Nazi salute DONALD Trump is defending a gesture he makes at his rallies at the request of supporters in which he raises his right hand that has been compared by some to the Nazi salute. Speaking to US broadcaster NBC’s Today programme, Mr Trump called the accusations “ridiculous” and said his supporters call on him to make a gesture as if he is swearing in for the presidency. “Until this call, I didn’t know it was a problem,” Mr Trump said. “Sometimes we’ll do it for fun.” He continued: “Sometimes they’ll scream at me, ‘Do the swear-in, do the swear-in’.” At the rally in Florida last week, Mr Trump raised his hand, with his elbow bent, and led the crowd in the oath. “Can I have a pledge - a swearing? Raise your right hand,” Mr Trump said. “I do solemnly swear that I, no matter how I feel, no matter what the conditions of the hurricanes or whatever ... will vote on or before the 12th for Donald J Trump for president.” Florida’s Republican primary is March 15. Mr Trump has faced past accusations that his rhetoric veers toward far-right nationalism or fascism.

Talks pave the way for EU migrant deal with Turkey BREAKTHROUGH Settlement close on migrant issue

EUROPEAN Union leaders have hailed a potential breakthrough in talks with Turkey aimed at stemming the flow of migrants streaming into the continent. Negotiations in Brussels broke up on Tuesday after more than 12 hours of discussions without a final agreement. But leaders said a Turkish proposal to return all migrants who make it across the Aegean sea to Greece could provide the basis of a settlement that would finally close the refugee trail through the Balkans. In return for taking back the

refugees, Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu wants the EU to resettle an equal number of Syrian refugees direct from his country - although Britain would not be affected as it is outside the Schengen area. He also called for a doubling of EU aid - to more than £4 billion - to support the more than 2.5 million refugees in Turkey as well as faster progress on easing visa restrictions on Turkish nationals and talks on Turkey’s application for EU membership. Prime Minister David Cameron

said: “It has been a long and difficult evening but I think we do have the basis for a breakthrough which is the possibility that in future, all migrants who arrive in Greece will be returned to Turkey. “That would, if implemented, break the business model of the people smugglers and end the link between getting in a boat and getting settlement in Europe.” European Council president Donald Tusk described the talks as the ‘most promising moment’ in the effort to find a way of deterring migrants - many fleeing the conflict in Syria - making the perilous sea crossing to Europe. “All of us are aware that in fact we have a breakthrough now. The new proposal of our Turkish friend is a real chance to make progress in all aspects of our joint venture,” he said. The UN refugee agency however is expressing concern about a possible deal between the European Union and Turkey including the prospect of “blanket returns” of refugees from the bloc to Turkey. EU leaders will resume discussions on the proposals when they meet again in the Belgian capital for further summit talks later this month.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Boston bombing victim killed in Dubai car crash NEARLY three years after sustaining severe injuries in the Boston Marathon bombing, Victoria McGrath, 23, a student at Boston Northeastern University has died in a car crash in Dubai. Ms McGrath was travelling with her university roommate Priscilla Perez Torres who was also killed in the accident on Sunday. The pair were set to graduate this spring. The car crash also killed Canadian boxer Cody Nixon.

Pakistan will prioritise FOREIGN Secretary Philip Hammond has been assured by Pakistan’s interior minister that Islamabad is still supporting a fragile peace process in neighbouring Afghanistan. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s comments came days after the Taliban announced they would not participate in proposed peace talks with the Afghan government until foreign forces stop attacking their positions and leave the country.

Ukrainian pilot held HUNDREDS of people have marched from Ukraine’s Defence Ministry to the Russian Embassy in Kiev to demand that Russia releases Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko. Savchenko was captured in June 2014 while fighting with a Ukrainian volunteer battalion in eastern Ukraine.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

16 � LETTERS

And another thing… The Times of Tunbridge Wells always wants to hear your feedback, whether on reports we have printed or any other issues you think we should know about. Email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or write to the editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Roundabout: Time of the essence

I was delighted to read the council have taken the decision to examine the validity of installing a roundabout on the Halls Hole Road junction with the A264. It is especially heartening to hear there is actually the money to proceed with the project, which I hope will start very soon. As a commuter from Matfield, I have spent many tortuous hours this year alone sitting in a queue, both entering and exiting Tunbridge Wells. The situation is only likely to get worse once the housing development adjacent to Knights Park is completed, as this will probably result in hundreds of extra cars on the road.

Ski store: Try Camden Road

Therefore, time is of the essence to fix this bottleneck, although by itself it will only provide limited relief. Hopefully it will be stage one of a plan to dual much of the Pembury road, an idea I believe has been floated several times in the past but has never received adequate funding to proceed. However, credit where credit is due so I congratulate the council for taking a proactive approach to updating this part of our road network which is now so antiquated it cannot cope with current road capacity and will most likely come to a complete standstill once nearby development is completed. Peter Hodges Via email

Calverley

JAM-PACKED The A264 in and out of Tunbridge Wells

Your reader Karen Roberts [March 2] needs to take a walk down the independent and varied shopping street in Tunbridge Wells called Camden Road and there she will find www.snowear.co.uk which used to be located in Southborough and moved to Camden Road a couple of years ago (?). It always amazes me that people only know certain pockets of Tunbridge Wells, I enjoy all of its shopping areas. Jackie Gibbons Via Email Ed Note: I believe the reader mentioned lack of a shop selling ‘skis, boots or helmets’.

European Countries have joined, that a lot needs to change. Especially red tape. The British are well known pragmatists and could play a major role in this exercise. The EU is challenged like never before caused by the follies in the ME and need to work together. Challenged from the East by Mr Putin’s aggressions who would love to see the EU break up. Leaving the EU is exactly a leap into the unknown. No one of the Brexiters have presented a believable alternative nor has Ms Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani. Barbara Arndt Via email

EU Debate: Brexit based on emotion

Online shopping: The fightback

With interest I have read the contributions of Mr Greg Clark MP and Ms Nusrat Munir Ul-Ghani. Mr Clark’s is well presented based on facts while Ms Munir Ul-Ghani’s is based on emotions and lack of facts. How much does she actually know about the EU? Does she realise that over 2.1 million Brits live and work in the EU while having all the benefits of the citizens of the various countries? Move freely like capital and goods? Does she understand the difference between the EU Commission, the EU Council of Ministers and the EU Parliament? She says that she is not a ‘little Englander’ but she actually comes across like one. Being a daughter of Pakistani immigrants makes no difference. She certainly does not come across as a European. Bruxelles a ‘foreign’ town. The EU is more than just trade. We do and share and exchange culture and science freely. Has she ever heard of the Erasmus Program? European Youth Orchestra? Europol? For nearly 60 years we had no devastating wars on the continent of Europe (including the UK). People who are pro the EU are no dreamers or federalists and realise, especially after the Eastern

Wednesday 9th March 2016

I enjoyed reading your article on how the independent retailers of Tunbridge Wells are fighting back from the threat of cheaper goods from the internet. When I walk around the top end of town my heart sinks at the number of empty shop units so it was nice to hear that despite the recession there are many local traders in The Pantiles and High Street trying to do their best to provide their customers with an enjoyable shopping experience. It’s all too easy these days to log on and click to purchase something – not to mention very impersonal. So surely we as a town should be making an effort to support our independent shop owners and get our town back to being a hub of busy, happy shoppers? How about the town launching a proper campaign? I for one would certainly support it. Sophie Bowles Via email

Parking: End of pay and display

Being a lifelong resident of Tunbridge Wells, one of the big issues within the town has been over parking. So I was glad to read in the Times [March 2] that

Royal Victoria Place is finally set to see a pay on exit system that will really take the pressure off for residents when they are out shopping. It’s certainly caused me immense frustration over the years to have to scrabble around and find coins for parking meters, which seems very oldfashioned these days. Tunbridge Wells has some excellent shopping facilities that I’ve made use of with my family, and I’ll feel comfortable making far more visits once the new system is up and running. I noted that the system has already been successfully shown to work elsewhere in town, so the sooner it is installed at Royal Victoria Place, the better. Hilary Jones Via email

Parking: New idea is win-win

I just wanted to let you know how relieved I was to learn that Royal Victoria Place has finally arrived in the 21st century by changing its old fashioned parking system. For years I have been put off shopping there as I have found it such a bind to remember to have exact change on me for their parking charges. I don’t know about anyone else but I rarely carry cash on me thanks to the fact I can pay for pretty much everything with my debit card. To arrive in the car park and find that I didn’t have £1.40 on me for an hour’s parking just drove me round the bend so I used to park in a free one or two hour bay instead. It might have meant a longer walk into town but at least the RVP wasn’t pocketing my £2 because I didn’t have exactly £1.40 to put in the meter! Maybe the new system where you pay for the number of hours you’ve spent there on departure will mean it will attract a few more shoppers too? And we can use our debit cards for payment – surely a win-win all round? Katherine McClusky Via email

POTHOLES are now accepted as another everyday hazard for motorists, although we all live in hope that the men from County hall will one year come along and fill them in. Sadly the odds are against that happening and here’s why. My friend Kent Barker gives up his time (I know not why!) to serve on a local Parish Council. A couple of weeks ago they managed to entice a delegation from County Hall to take a tour of the potholes that are causing motoring mayhem. Part way round the assault course the main man from KCC was heard to declare: “It’s much worse where I live.” End of tour and hope. [Read the full account from Kent in Country Matters p87.] WALKING down Mount Pleasant for a midmorning pick-me-up I happened to notice a smartly dressed businessman sobbing into his mobile. Obviously Himself slowed down in passing and heard the following: “When she said the obsession with monkeys was too much and she was leaving, I thought she was joking until I saw the packed bags.” The imagination runs wild. FOR those not much travelled, Borough Green is just over the border in the parish of Tonbridge and Malling. Locals have, over the years, ranted about how the ‘large village’ is being ‘gentrified’ and is ‘going upmarket’. Proof that it is happening, at least in their minds, comes from the mouths of villagers themselves. They used to tell people that they live ‘in Borough Green near Maidstone’. Today they tell them they ‘live in Borough Green near Sevenoaks’. That’ll put another few grand on property prices then. AS PROBABLY the best local newspaper in the world, we hear from hundreds of journalists hungry to join the award-winning (well, one day) team. All set out their wares and outline their skills. One in particular catches Calverley’s eye where a young lady lists her speciality as ‘press trips’. This is where journalists are whisked away on a week-long, all expenses paid freebie to some desert island (sort of). Join the queue. ADMIRATION abounds for my colleagues who rose at the unseemly hour of 5am last week to mark this paper’s first birthday by handing out smiles and goodies at railway stations. Each proffered commuters a copy of the Times hot off the press and a cupcake covered in that sort of paper you can eat. However, one of the handerouters had to be told to moderate her sales pitch when she held out a newspaper plus cake and beamed: “Good morning, enjoy these… the paper is edible.” Strange looks she received.

EDUCATION

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W E L L S

The great rugby debate: Should tackling be banned in schools? ‘After 223 competitive matches across all age groups from U12 through to U18 we have only had five reported incidents of concussion – just three required hospital attention’ Eileen Leahy newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk AFTER 70 doctors, sports scholars and academics wrote an open letter to Government ministers and chief medical officers last week calling for a ban on physical tackling in school rugby matches it still remains to be seen whether educational policy will be changed. Here in Tunbridge Wells contact rugby is played in many of the private and state schools including Holmewood House and Skinners’. The latter has as many as 18 teams playing regularly and last week its Head of Sport, Simon Jervis, sent out a letter to parents outlining its stance on the subject. “At Skinners’ we take the safety of students very seriously. We ensure all boys are given clear and detailed coaching to ensure they are fully aware of how to tackle before they are exposed to any full contact of the game.” he said. “It is crucial that we remember the positive benefits of rugby for all ages, including increasing confidence, self-esteem and selfdiscipline, as well as getting enjoyable physical exercise while working as part of a team.” When the Times approached Mr Jervis for a comment on the risks involved he told us: “We have trained medical staff at all matches to deal with any injuries and follow the strict RFU protocols when it comes to injuries such as concussion.

“To date this year after 223 competitive matches across all age groups from U12 through to U18 we have only had five reported incidents of concussion. There have only been three incidents that have required hospital attention of which none stayed in overnight and none were long-term injuries.” Skinners’ is part of Community Rugby Injury Surveillance and Prevention (CRISP) – a Rugby Football Union (RFU) and University of Bath initiative which monitors data from community rugby matches in order to reduce the risk of injury. Critics of contact rugby, however, argue that risks for players under 18 are still high and that two thirds of injuries and concussions from the high-impact collision sport are a direct result of aggressive tackles which can, for some, mean life-changing consequences. As an alternative, concerned doctors are urging schools to play non-contact and touch rugby. These are simpler versions of the full game but there is no tackling, mauling, rucking, scrums, lineouts or kicking of the ball. Among the signatories of the letter sent to Government ministers last week was Professor Allyson Pollock, a professor of public health research and policy at Queen Mary University of London. She commented: “Parents expect the state to look after their children when they are at school. Rugby is a high-impact collision sport and given that children are more susceptible to injuries such as concussion, the absence of

injury surveillance systems and primary prevention strategies is worrying.” A spokesman for the RFU, however, said they had carried out a three-year injury prevention and surveillance study on schoolboy injuries, as well as implementing a guidance programme known as RugbySafe. He added: “We believe that high quality coaching, officiating, medical support and appropriate player behaviour in line with the core values all contribute to reducing the risk of injury occurring.” The RFU also said it took player safety

‘extremely seriously’ and that recent changes to how it is taught at junior level meant young players underwent a ‘gradual and managed’ introduction to contact rugby. The Department of Education echoes these views. In a statement issued last week a spokeswoman said: “Team sports, such as rugby, play an important role in developing character. They can help children and young people develop positive traits, such as fair play, leadership and resilience, and teach them how to bounce back from defeat, how to respect other and how to work together in teams to achieve a goal.”

SKINNERS’ Pupils are ‘fully aware of how to tackle’

EDUCATION IN BRIEF

Shine FM radio

School ties

Easter Fair

CLAREMONT Primary School has launched its own radio station – but it won’t be playing pop music to pupils. Instead Shine FM will be an innovative new way to help teach the curriculum. Staff at Claremont believe this fun, hands-on approach to learning will benefit the pupils in a number of areas. They hope recording pupils’ opinions, broadcasting them and putting together programmes will encourage children to develop new skills in ICT, teamwork and confidence building. Most of the radio shows will be created using an Apple Macbook and USB microphones. The children will be encouraged to be responsible for scripting and recording the content.

ROSE Hill School has developed a connection with Mount Ephraim House, a local residential care home, in order to provide companionship for its residents. The initiative coincides with statements made by Professor Keith Willett, NHS England’s Director for Acute Care, warning of the health risk loneliness can have on the elderly. The scheme has been set up by Year 4 form teacher, Rebecca Roberts, who hopes the children’s visits inspire them to take an interest in the older generation. Karen Cooper, manager at Mount Ephraim House, said residents seeing the children each week ‘brightens up their day’.

NEXT Saturday, (March 12), there will be an Easter Fair at St Paul’s Primary in Rusthall. The village school will be raising money for new playground equipment and outdoor classroom areas as well as various art projects to brighten up the school.

New centre BETHANY School in Goudhurst has opened a new extension to its dedicated Sixth Form Centre, The Orchard, which provides facilities in which to socialise and study. It also includes a brand new kitchen. Headmaster Mr Francie Healy said: “I look forward to it becoming the new place of camaraderie and friendship.”

Wednesday 9th March 2016

18  EDUCATION

Record numbers of final year primary pupils get their preferred place at secondary school On National Offer day last week more than half a million Year 6 children all over the country found out where they were going to school in September. In Tunbridge Wells a large percentage of pupils got their first choice - despite an increase in the number of applications AFTER months of perusing school prospectuses, attending Open Days and filling in forms, parents of final year primary school pupils in Tunbridge Wells found out last week whether they had got into the secondary school of their choice. Over 1,620 places were awarded at our nine non-independent schools last week with Kent County Council (KCC) admitting the demand for secondary school places in Tunbridge Wells is higher than ever. KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform, Roger Gough, said: “Officers have been hard at work to ensure that there is enough capacity in Kent schools to cope with another year of increased applications. The excellent work in Kent schools, coupled with KCC delivering on its school place planning provision, has meant 2016 will see the highest number of children securing their first preference school to date.” The reason behind the increase is because Tunbridge Wells’ schools continue to provide outstanding educational provisions in both the selective and all abilities educational arenas. This is reflected in the most recent national GCSE results which sees Tunbridge Wells once again at the top end of the league table. Both Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar and Skinners’ saw 99 per cent of their pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at A*- C in Maths and English last year while pupils at Tunbridge Wells Grammar

MASCALLS The school filled all of its 240 places

School for Boys gained 97 per cent. Bennett Memorial was the highest achieving non-grammar in the borough with 72 per cent of pupils gaining A*- C, followed by St Gregory’s Catholic School with 64 per cent and Skinners’ Kent Academy improving with a rise to 56 per cent. These figures far exceed the county’s average, which actually fell slightly from 58 per cent in 2014 to 57.3 per cent in 2015 due to a number of underperforming schools. Yet despite this, Kent County Council saw a big increase in the number of children applying for places in secondary schools in the county. A total of 18,797 applications were received – 600 up from last year. Yet for every overjoyed parent and child, there will always be a small minority who are not allocated the school of their choice. Cllr Gough offers the following advice: “Don’t immediately discount the schools offered and first visit the schools in question before taking any decisions.” The Government also points out that despite rising pupil numbers – mainly due to a rise in the national birth rate over the past decade – 95 per cent of parents will receive an offer at one of their top three preferred secondary schools. Parents who aren’t happy can appeal. You have a legal right to do so but always have a back-up plan in case the appeal doesn’t go your way. See panel right for what to do if your child doesn’t get their preferred place…

Wednesday 9th March 2016

‘Don’t immediately discount the schools offered and first visit the schools in question before taking any decisions’ How to appeal against your secondary school decision:  First contact the admissions authority. This

may be the Council, the academy or free school that you want to get into and ask to be put on the ‘continuing interest list’.  In the meantime, start an appeal process.

For information visit www.gov.uk  If you get your third preference you can

appeal for a place at your first or second choice; if you didn’t get any of your four choices you can appeal against all of those decisions.  The Good Schools Guide Advice Service

can advise you and guide you through the whole process. For more information visit www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk  For detailed fact sheets on appealing and

legal advice visit www.ace-ed.org.uk  For general information on appealing visit

www.childrenslegalcentre.com

EDUCATION ■

REAL CHARACTERS Pupils at St Augustine’s School, dress up for World Book Day

Entering into the spirit HUNDREDS of children across Tunbridge Wells took part in World Book Day dressing up as their favourite characters from much loved books. The annual event, now in its 19th year, took place on March 3rd. It’s the biggest celebration of authors, illustrators and reading for children and happens in over 100 countries all over the world. Pupils came to school dressed up in all manner of literary inspired fancy dress outfits. Harry Potter, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Where’s Wally all made special ‘appearances’ in the town’s primary school classrooms in order to mark the fun-filled day which aims to get more children reading and enjoying books. Fourteen million special £1 National Book Tokens are given out to schools to mark the event and encourage children to explore the pleasure of reading. Each year a variety of books are featured in order to showcase the diversity of quality writing and illustrating talent in the UK.

World Book Day books:  Kipper’s Visitor

by Mick Inkpen (Hodder Children’s Books)  Supertato: Hap-pea Ever After by Sue Hendra & Paul Linnet (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)  Daisy and the Trouble With Jack by Kes Gray (Red Fox)  The Great Mouse Plot by Roald Dahl & Quentin Blake (Puffin)  Welcome to the World of Norm by Jonathan Meres (Orchard)  Star Wars: Adventures in Space by Cavan Scott (Egmont)  The Boy Who Could Do What He Liked by

David Baddiel (HarperCollins)  Harper and the Sea of Secrets by Cerrie

Burnell & Laura Ellen Anderson (Scholastic)  Spot the Difference by Juno Dawson (Hot

Key)  Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell

(Macmillan Children’s Books) The £1 Book Token can be exchanged for one of the ten specially published World Book Day £1 books, or is redeemable against any book or audio book of their choice costing £2.99 or more at a participating bookshop or book club. The World Book Day £1 Book Token will be valid until Sunday 27th March 2016. For more information on World Book Day visit www.worldbookday.com

Local school wins £5,000 of new books THE Wells Free School has scooped second prize in the annual World Book Day Award. Schools up and down the country were asked to creatively answer the question ‘Where Does Your Reading Take You?’ so The Wells Free School responded with a clever video entry entitled ‘I Open A Book and I Am’ - and clearly impressed the judges. Their £5,000 prize money will be spent on books for the school’s library and, in line with the competition’s guidelines, must be purchased in a local bookshop. The Wells Free School has chosen Mr Books of Tonbridge. Head Teacher Ani Lawrence said: “We are thrilled to win this wonderful prize, especially so soon into our school’s history. We only opened our doors in 2013 and are still in temporary buildings but we have great ambitions and as this prize shows there is no stopping us! Reading is key to learning, and new books are always vitally needed: our pupils will be so excited when they see the wonderful new books their efforts have earned them.” World Book Day Award founder and head judge James Patterson said: “I am delighted the award will help these schools engage and excite more children. Reading is a vital life skill and it is important we encourage a love of reading in kids from a young age. This award changes lives – it is as simple as that.” Also judging the prize was Children’s Laureate and Goth Girl author, Chris Riddell who said: “As Children’s Laureate, I visit as many schools as I can, and know the differences in library facilities can be staggering.”

WITH THE

I i al T ar t nd a Impion a tod

s 73 Pen 559 26 0189

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

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Impressive family home

The Times is proud to work with:

Set in beautiful gardens within a Weald village

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‘Upside down’ barn with stream and ponds on tip of Bewl Water

Stunningly updated turn-of-the-century property near station

Wednesday 9th March 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

In my view…

BLACKHALL LANE

Andrew Jenner FRICS

SEVENOAKS

Senior Partner, Jenner Jones Chartered Surveyors

£3,250,000

Style over content? I recently surveyed a flat in a smart area of London. It was on the top floor of a lovely Victorian villa with original features (decorative brickwork, tiling, ceiling cornices) and had been refurbished to a high standard with a new kitchen and bathroom. Anyone viewing the flat would be drawn in by its smart presentation and consider it an ideal purchase. But then again... The lovely Victorian villa was once a family home and some dampness would have been expected in the loft and indeed, tolerated. But with a new home now built in the roof space, damp becomes a serious issue. On conversion, no proper dampproofing measures had been carried out to the parapet walls and chimneys. As there was damp already present within the flat (although not immediately visible due to the recent decorations), it would only be a matter of time before the five flat owners would need to pay for works to repair the chimneys, parapet walls and roof, including costly scaffolding. And there were other issues – the damp may have caused roof timbers to rot (more costly repairs) whilst the cellar had timber rot to its ceiling (the floor of the ground floor flat above). The cost of such repairs would have to be shared amongst all the owners. All in all, the problems identified in my survey (and did I mention the lack of fire doors in the flat?) were more than would normally be expected in a property of this supposed quality. So, when you look at a property, yes, go for the “gut feeling” and marvel at the new kitchen and the neutral decor, but make sure you ask a surveyor to inspect and provide you with a RICS report before you finally commit to purchase. You may decide to pull out of the purchase or, armed with information, you may renegotiate the purchase price. At the very least, you’re going into the purchase with your eyes wide open. More information about the RICS suite of surveys, together with a fee quote, can be found at homesurveys.co.uk. For more information, contact Jenner Jones at info@jennerjones.co.uk 0845 3799 100 With offices in Kent, Sussex and London

Wednesday 9th March 2016

Superb Arts and Crafts house in a desirable Sevenoaks lane

ODWINS is a fine example of an Arts and Craft property believed to date from the late 1920s. The property has been refurbished and extended, subtly blending character features with contemporary styling. The well-proportioned accommodation is finished to a high specification throughout and the property lies a little over two miles from Sevenoaks Station. The ground floor boasts a generous entrance hall with oak staircase and a cloakroom. All the principal reception rooms face the rear gardens

and provide formal entertaining areas. The drawing room has a bay window and double doors to the rear terrace, and has an excellent range of fitted bookshelves with an attractive stone fireplace. The dining room also has a bay window to the rear and there is a study and an office with fitted furniture. The spacious kitchen/breakfast/family room is a superb addition to the house. The kitchen is by Mountshill Woodcraft with integrated appliances by Miele. The breakfast and family area provide excellent informal space and have bifolding doors

to the terrace. A side lobby leads to a second cloakroom, a utility room and boiler room. Upstairs, the master suite has a large, triple aspect bedroom, an en-suite bathroom and a dressing room. There are five further bedrooms, three with en-suite shower rooms, and a family bathroom. The house is approached via electric gates over a gravelled drive which provides ample parking and leads to a triple garage with a games room over. The established gardens surround the house and provide an attractive backdrop. In total the area amounts to around an acre.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

‘The drawing room has a bay window and double doors to the rear terrace, and has an excellent range of fitted bookshelves’

AT A GLANCE � Arts and Crafts property built late 1920s

� Utility room

� Period features

� Two staircases

� Contemporary styling

� Master suite with bedroom, bathroom and dressing room

� 2.3 miles from Sevenoaks Station

� Boiler room

� Reception hall

� Five further bedrooms, three with en-suite shower rooms

� Drawing room

� Family bathroom

� Dining room � Study

� Parking and triple garage with games room over

� Office

� Established gardens

� Two cloakrooms

� One acre in all

£3,250,000 For sale through Savills 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Wednesday 9th March 2016

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

Eridge Green £1,395,000 An outstanding period former farmhouse situated in a rural yet very convenient location within about 0.25 miles of Eridge station for trains to London. Grade II Listed with a spacious refurbished interior providing excellent accommodation.

Dormans Park £1,095,000 With a premier residential location within Dormans Park, this grand period wing forms the major part of this substantial Victorian property with gardens of about 0. 75 acres including an ancient woodland. EPC:E

Frant £750,000 A detached 4 bedroom family home situated in a sought after location between Frant and Wadhurst. The property benefits from wonderful rural views to the front and rear of the property. EPC:D

Collier Street £785,000 Originally dating from about 1860 and converted in 2005, this exceptional barn conversion is Grade II Listed and is attached to the three converted oasts, creating a very typical Kent scene.

Tunbridge Wells £1,295,000 A superb 6 bedroom detached house offering beautifully presented spacious and versatile accommodation including a 28ft kitchen/breakfast room and an excellent principal bedroom suite. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells £695,000 In a convenient and sought after road in the popular St. James' area, this deceptively spacious 4 bedroom Victorian semi detached house offers superb accommodation, off street parking and an 85ft rear garden. EPC: C

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

Edenbridge ÂŁ1,175,000 This exceptional detached character house is believed to date from about 1908 and has been extensively renovated, extended and beautifully refurbished to an extremely high standard with many outstanding features throughout including a very attractive oak framed home office and garage with studio above. EPC: E

Ticehurst ÂŁ875,000 This delightful detached period barn has been superbly converted and has some exceptional features. In an idyllic setting in its own beautiful gardens, off a sought after country lane on the edge of the village, close to the southern end ofBewl Water. EPC: D

DCJ

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

·"""·

THESUNDAYTIMES

T-~AMPTONS

INTERNATIONAL

THE . . . .TIMES

Shipbourne Road , Tonbridge £850,000 An attractive and spacious Georgian style five bedroom new build detached family home of over 3000 sq. ft. with the benefit of ample of road parking. EPC: B

Yew Tree Road, Dunton Green, £650,000 A stunning five bedroom beautifully presented 1507 sq. ft. semi-detached home in the Ryewood Development in Dunton Green with a garage and two parking spaces. EPC:B

Sevenoaks Office Sales. 01732 423127

sevenoaks@hamptons-int.com

Main Road, Knockholt £500,000 A three bedroom semi-detached house of just over 1140 sq. ft located in central Knockholt, with an outlook over the village green. The house benefits from a garage and potential to extend subject to planning and investigations. EPC: E

DrJ

Mi{fer

McAufey

Estate Agents

Merrion Close £325,000

Jackwood Way £219,500

• Three bedroom • End of terrace • Reception • Kitchen • Conservatory • Family bathroom • Paved patio area and lawned area. • Scope to extend on the side of the plot

• Modern new development• Two bedroom apartment • Close to town centre and MLS • Reception • Master bedroom en-suite • Family bathroom • Communal gardens • Residents parking

Tunnel Road £275,000

Hill View Road £335,000

• End of terrace • Great location close to town and station • Three floors • Kitchen • Master bedroom with en-suite • Second bedroom on second floor • Off street parking

• Rusthall location • Two double bedroom house • Reception • Dining room • Kitchen • Downstairs shower ' room • Family bathroom • Landscaped garden

Clifton Road £315,000

Erskine Park Road £275,000

• Three Bedroom • Semi-detached townhouse • Very close to MLS • Kitchen • First floor reception • Family bathroom • Integral garage • Utility area• Outside office/summer house

• Rusthall village • Two bedroom • Mid terrace • Reception • Kitchen • Family bathroom • Loft room with Velux • Garden

Monks Horton Offers over £280,000

The Grange £1,500 pcm

• Two bedroom • First floor • Converted apartment • Stylish kitchen • Modern bathroom • Period features • Garage • Communal gardens • Off street parking

• NEW • Town house to let • Three bedrooms • Reception • Kitchen opens to garden• Downstairs w/c • Master bedroom is en-suite • Family bedroom • Off street parking

Canon House £279,950

Delves Avenue £1800 pcm

• Purpose built • Two bedroom apartment • St John's area • Reception • Master bedroom en-suite • Family bathroom • Balcony • Communal gardens • Allocated parking with visitors spaces

•NEW• Detached bungalow • Immaculate condition • Three bedroom • Reception • Kitchen • Utility area • Master bedroom is en-suite • Garden with studio room • Off street parking

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

614777

www.mcaureymiffer.com

sa(es@mcaureymi((er.com

ďż˝ PROPERTY SECTION

BRAMLING CROSS JARMONS LANE, COLLIER STREET

ÂŁ785,000

Grade II listed barn has period features and covered balcony

RIGINALLY dating from around 1860 and converted in 2005, this exceptional barn conversion is Grade II listed and is attached to three converted oasts, creating a typically Kentish scene. The property is in a rural setting on the outskirts of the small village of Collier Street. Outstanding features include a superb kitchen/

Wednesday 9th March 2016

dining room, slate flooring, exposed timbers and a covered timber balcony to the first floor. On the ground floor, the accommodation comprises a large entrance hall, inner hall sitting room with wood burner, spacious and well equipped kitchen/dining room with range cooker in a feature fireplace surround, downstairs

bedroom or study, cloakroom and utility room. There are three bedrooms on the first floor, with the delightful principal bedroom boasting an en-suite shower room and the two further bedrooms sharing a family bathroom. The large covered timber balcony has stairs down to the garden. There is a detached barn-style double garage with

two pairs of double doors and first floor storage. The property is approached by a shared drive with access via a five-bar gate to its own parking and turning area. The garden is laid mainly to lawn interspersed with a variety of trees and is well screened on the outer boundaries by mature hedges and further trees. In all there is just under half an acre.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

‘The property is in a rural setting on the outskirts of the small village of Collier Street’

AT A GLANCE n Beautiful barn conversion n Converted in 2005

n Master bedroom with en-suite shower room

n Period features

n Two further bedrooms

n Reception hall and inner hall

n Family bathroom

n Sitting room

n First floor covered balcony

n Downstairs bedroom or study

n Barn-style double garage with storage over

n Vaulted kitchen/dining room n Utility room n Cloakroom

n Turning and parking area n Gardens of just under half an acre

£785,000 For sale through Hamptons 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 9th March 2016

Part Exchange to a whole new lifestyle. Final few homes remaining. Don't miss out. Prices from ÂŁ785,000 to ÂŁ1,150,000

DUKES GRANGE, BAYHAM ROAD, ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS TN2 SHU

CALL 01892 628 676 CALA.CO.UK

TWT091'MR *CALA will obtain 2 independent valuations based on achieving a sale in a 4-6 week period, part exchange considered subject to CALA's purchasing criteria, terms and conditions. Up to l 00% part exchange and other incentives available on selected plots, subject to terms and conditions and not in conjunction with each other or any other offer. Visit cala.co.uk/terms for full terms and conditions and purchasing criteria. Telephone calls within the British Isles will be charged at local rate. Telephone calls may divert to a mobile service in which case call charges may vary.

ADVERTISING FEATURE �

Thinking of moving home soon?

You’ve made the decision to move, found your dream home and your offer has been accepted. Feelings of excitement and apprehension set in and all you want is the whole process to end with you safely ensconced in your new home. So what steps can you take to ensure that the process will run smoothly and costly mistakes are avoided? Well, skimping on surveys and conveyancing can cost you dearly in the long run. So here are some top tips to help your move go as smoothly as possible. will not visit the property themselves, so should there be something you feel uncertain about bring it to their attention and they will provide you with the options available in order to try to resolve the issue.

REMEMBER TO ARRANGE BUILDING INSURANCE FROM THE DATE OF THE EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS. From exchange of contracts you will be legally responsible for the structure of the property. This is often overlooked and can potentially have serious consequences. Make sure you have buildings insurance cover in place from this date. With this being said and the potential risks of buying a home with hidden problems amounting to thousands of pounds in potential outgoings, why would you cut corners for the sake of a few pounds when the risks are so large?

For your FREE copy of The Kent Guide to Buying and Selling your Home, or for further advice regarding your buying/selling experience, contact Max Barford Solicitors in Tunbridge Wells today and speak to one of my property team on 01892 539 379 or email times@maxbarford.co.uk

DECIDE WHETHER YOU ARE HAPPY TO RELY ON THE MORTGAGE LENDER’S VALUATION OR DO YOU REQUIRE A FULL SURVEY. A lender’s valuation is an assessment carried out by and for the benefit of the lender in order to check that the property presents adequate security for its loan should you default and the property has to be sold. However, it does not report on actual faults in the property. For many, a Home Buyer’s Report, which will expose problems such as damp, dry rot and subsidence, is adequate but if you are buying an older house or unusual home a full structural survey will be a wise investment. You wouldn’t buy a car without the

E ID EERS GU FRE MOVE

GET YOUR MORTGAGE AGREED FIRST Although borrowing from banks and building societies has improved recently, it is not a given. So to avoid disappointment, check you can get the mortgage you need before starting the process. You can get a mortgage agreement in principle secured first, but remember that this is an indication and not a legal agreement.

CHOOSE YOUR CONVEYANCING SOLICITORS WITH CARE For a free copy of the Kent Guide to Buying and Selling If you take the risk of buying without Your Home or for further advice regarding your home REMEMBER TO FACTOR IN the support and guidance of an buying/selling experience just complete and cut out this THE TRUE COST OF MOVING. expertly trained legal conveyancer, you coupon and post to the address below. Alternatively call Mortgage arrangement fees, run the risk of walking into a financial or email us today quoting reference MBRTO104 survey fees, legal costs and removal booby trap which can seriously hamper costs are all substantial costs of moving. your progression up the property Telephone 01892 539 379 However, the often overlooked but most ladder. You should also make sure or Email times@maxbarford.co.uk expensive cost is Stamp Duty Land Tax you know who you are instructing (SDLT) which varies dependent on the and that the firm is registered with a Name value of the property purchased. If you regulatory body such as the Solicitors purchase a property above £125,000 Regulation Authority. There are bogus Address SDLT becomes payable. Recent changes law firms out there who will take your to SDLT have been introduced to try money and then close up shop which to make the tax fairer. Under the old means you lose the money and your regime the SDLT percentage rates dream home. That is why it is essential increased at various thresholds. Under that you get the advice and guidance the old rules SDLT was payable at a you need every step of the way from single rate on the whole transaction a known reputable law firm. They are value. From 4th December 2014, SDLT there to help you avoid the pitfalls of is payable on a sliding scale depending what can be a murky area. on the portion of the purchase price The cheapest option may not always Tel.No that falls within each rate band. There prove to be the best. Remember, this is no doubt that the SDLT changes will may well be the biggest purchase you’ll Email be of benefit to many home buyers. For make and you want to be sure that you example, under the old regime, Stamp know what you are buying. You should Duty Land Tax payable on a purchase be able to contact your conveyancer Max Barford & Co price of £350,000 would be £10,500 and fully understand what is happening 16 Mount Pleasant Road and under the new regime it would at each step of the move. If you are Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1QU be £7,500 - representing a saving not sure, ask! One further point to www.maxbarford.co.uk of £3,000. bear in mind is that your conveyancer Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480 knowledge of a service history, so why would you run this financial risk when buying a house?

M HO

BY DEBORAH MILLER

Wednesday 9th March 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

Unique apartment in Edwardian house makes a grand impression T HIS spacious and beautifully presented apartment is arranged over two floors and is understood to be the largest in this fine Edwardian country house in Matfield. Set in gardens and grounds of around 5.25 acres, the apartment has a private entrance – the original impressive arched double doors to the house. Leading off the entrance hall are a cloakroom

and a door into the main hall where the original French oak floors, panelling and magnificent original staircase create a wonderful first impression. Plenty of storage and a utility area are all discreetly located here. With its large window on the mezzanine, the bespoke study area makes full use of the floor-to-ceiling dimensions. The dining hall is on a galleried landing and leads

CRYALS COURT CRYALS ROAD, MATFIELD

£535,000 Wednesday 9th March 2016

through to a well-equipped kitchen. The double aspect drawing room features an Art Nouveau tiled fireplace and a Robert Adam frieze, plus a bay window and high ceilings. There are two bedrooms. The master has French doors to the balcony, a wood-burning stove and a large walk-in shower cubicle with a tiled underfloor heating surround. The generous

second double bedroom has a bay window overlooking the terrace. A family bathroom completes the accommodation. From the long private drive there is access to the garage and workshop. The attractive communal gardens comprise wide expanses of sweeping lawns interspersed with mature shrubs, flower beds and a wooded area.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

‘The drawing room features an Art Nouveau fireplace and a Robert Adam frieze ’

AT A GLANCE

� Large apartment over two floors � Set within a grand Edwardian country house � Period features � Stylish presentation � Entrance hall � Cloakroom � Utility area � Impressive staircase � Study � Dining hall � Kitchen � Master bedroom with balcony and shower � Second double bedroom � Family bathroom � Garage and workshop � Communal gardens and grounds of 5.25 acres � Share of freehold

£535,000 For sale through Hamptons 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 9th March 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment AT A GLANCE

ARGYLE ROAD SEVENOAKS n End of terrace Victorian home n Centrally located n Period features n Planning permission to extend n Entrance hall n Sitting room n Dining room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Cloakroom n Cellar n Master bedroom with en-suite shower room n Second bedroom n Family bathroom n Third bedroom on second floor n Pretty rear garden

£750,000 For sale through Savills 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Central Victorian property with planning permission to extend T HIS pretty Victorian end of terrace house is located in the centre of Sevenoaks and comes with planning permission to extend and remodel. Already complete with a cellar, loft extension and period features, this attractive home offers the opportunity to improve it even further. Features include some sash windows, some oak-engineered flooring, period fireplaces and far-reaching views from the second floor. On the ground floor, the principal reception rooms comprise a

Wednesday 9th March 2016

sitting room with period fireplace and a dining room with a view of the rear garden and access to the cellar storeroom. The kitchen is fitted with an attractive range of units and there are double doors opening to the rear garden. A well-appointed cloakroom completes the ground floor accommodation. Upstairs, the master bedroom benefits from fitted wardrobes, a decorative fireplace and en-suite shower room. There is a second bedroom and a family bathroom, with a third bedroom that has

useful eaves storage sited on the second floor. The front garden is gravelled and enclosed by a low brick wall with cast iron railings and a gate. The delightful rear garden has an area of lawn with well-stocked shrub borders and a shingle terrace. The suggested new layout for the house includes a utility room, cloakroom and shower room in the basement, an extended kitchen/ breakfast room with bifolding doors on the ground floor and an extra bedroom on the first floor.

Weald, Sevenoaks Attractive, extended semi-detached house set in the centre of Weald Village Entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen I breakfast room, cloakroom, access to the integral garage. Master bedroom suite, guest bedroom suite, 2 further bedrooms, family bathroom, study. Driveway. Attractive rear garden. EPC rating D.

Bessels Green, Sevenoaks A superb detached family house in a private location Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, study, kitchen I breakfast room, conservatory, cloakroom. Master bedroom suite, 4 further bedrooms, family bathroom. Driveway for multiple cars. Detached double garage. Attractive landscaped rear gardens. Swimming pool and pool house. EPC rating D. In all about 0.22 acre.

••Kn • • Fra

Langton Green An attractive and spacious family home occupying a large plot in a prime residential area Entrance hall, sitting room, family room, study, garden room, dining room, kitchen, utility room, cloakroom. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom, 4 further bedrooms, family bathroom, shower room, separate WC. Impressive rear garden. Integral garage. EPC rating D. In all about 0.95 acres.

Goudhurst An attractive family house on the edge of the village Entrance hall, study, kitchen I breakfast I family room, utility room, cloakroom, drawing room, dining room. Master bedroom with en suite bathroom and dressing room, family bathroom, 5 further bedrooms (3 en suite), 2nd floor snug. Detached annexe barn comprising: kitchen I breakfast room, sitting room, mezzanine bedroom with en suite bathroom, large basement divided into 3 rooms. Mature gardens and grounds. Swimming pool. Single garage. Double open-bay oak garage. EPC rating D. In all about 2.36 acres.

� PROPERTY SECTION

QUAKERS CHART LANE, BRASTED CHART

£2,950,000

Wednesday 9th March 2016

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE

n Attractive 1920s family house n Period features n Reception hall n Drawing room n Dining room n Sitting room n Study n Garden room n Kitchen/breakfast room n Utility room n Boiler room n Two cloakrooms n Master suite with two dressing rooms, bathroom, bedroom and balcony n Guest bedroom with en-suite bathroom n Two further first floor bedrooms n Family shower room n Four attic rooms, used as two bedrooms and two sitting/games rooms n Further bathroom n Drive and garaging n Workshop n Gym n Tennis court n Impressive gardens n 2.3 acres in all

£2,950,000 For sale through Savills 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

Room for all the family in elegant home with gym and tennis court S ET in Brasted Chart, near Westerham, Quakers is a handsome and imposing property dating from 1928. The house retains many features of the period including a portico entrance, stone pillared veranda, elegant fireplaces, oak flooring and picture rails. It offers well-proportioned accommodation over three floors.

On the ground floor there is a spacious reception hall, cloakroom, study, drawing room with marble fireplace and dining room with double doors to the rear terrace. Informal family space is provided by a further sitting room and garden room. The impressive kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with units from Rencraft and integrated appliances include an oilfired Aga. A utility room, boiler room and secondary

cloakroom complete the ground floor. On the first floor, the master suite comprises two dressing rooms, an en-suite bathroom and bedroom with a balcony. There are three further bedrooms on this floor, one with en-suite bathroom, and a family shower room. Arranged over the second floor are four more bedrooms currently arranged as two bedrooms and two

sitting/games rooms, and a bathroom. The house is approached via electric gates over a drive with ample parking and leading to a double and a single garage. To the rear of the garage is a gym with vaulted ceiling, and set within the gardens is an all-weather tennis court. The established gardens are a particular feature and in all the property lies in about 2.3 acres.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

Don't miss the first signs of spring. Now's when buyers and sellers alike come into bloom. In fact, a quarter of all property transactions take place between March and May. If you're selling, it means more buyers. If you 're buying, more properties to look at. And Strutt & Parker has the pick of both (including hundreds of buyers from overseas) . Drop by for the brightest deals and the sunniest welcome at any of our 55 offices , or at the all-new struttandparker.com.

ST RUTT -PARKER

exclusive affiliate of

CHRISTIE'S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE

15 Bank Street, Sevenoaks, TN13 lUW 01732 459900 I struttandparker.com

Leigh

Kent

Guide Price: Lot 1- ÂŁ1,750,000 I Lot 2- ÂŁ2,100,000

Penshurst 1.8 miles, Leigh 1.4 miles, Hildenborough Station 2.6 miles, Sevenoaks 6.4 miles, Tonbridge 5.3 miles, A21 / M25 interchange 9.4 miles A superbly positioned attractive period farmhouse.with stunning medieval barn, surrounded by its own land. Available in two lots. Lot 1: The house, barn and 4.66 acres. Lot 2: The whole lot. Entrance Hall I Dining Room I Sitting Room/Snug I Drawing Room I Kitchen/Breakfast Room I Utility Room I Cloakroom I Five bedrooms I Two Bathrooms I Attic Store/ Dressing Room I Detached Barn with Annexe I Established gardens Woodland Paddocks Swimming Pool I Tennis Court I Pond I 37.5 acres

Sevenoaks 01732 807801

sevenoaks@struttandparker. corn

Your local team At Strutt & Parker, we know the importance of teamwork and experience gained through local knowledge.

� PROPERTY SECTION

Best seat in the house

By Gabrielle Fagan

Sofas are one of the hearts of the home – where we slouch, lounge, surf and even snooze – and choosing the right one is all-important

A ROYAL TOUCH The Bailey velvet maxi sofa, royal blue, £1599, available from DFS

Size

Matters

MATCHING a sofa to a room can be as tricky as choosing a new partner – and it’s crucial to get it right, as you’ll have to live with your choice (or mismatch) for years. “If you’re trying to style a small space, don’t chose an oversized sofa, no matter how comfortable it looks,” advises Rick Petini, creative director at Delcor. “Slim, high legs and plenty of space between the floor and sofa base will allow light to flow around the room, and give the illusion of more space. If you have a larger space, opt for a medium or three-seater rather than a smaller sofa which may

be dwarfed by the room’s dimensions.”

£998, in a white combination which would blend into any decor scheme, but would particularly match a paredback rural or Skandi style.

SOFA SMART: Consider

SUPER SEATS: Hunker Sofa

how a sofa will be used and pick upholstery accordingly – is it a sanctuary space for adults, or will it have to cope with sticky hands and muddy paw prints? Leather’s easier to clean, but fabric adds depth and texture to a room. Stretch out in style on a Boxer Corner Sofa, from £2,982, or opt for a modern take on Seventies style with The Monaco, from £1,670, Delcor, which has bold lines and chic contrast piping. Similarly, DFS has a French Connection Slate Sofa, from

TAKE A SEAT DELCOR: 0191 237 1303/delcor.co.uk DFS: 0808 1595 535/dfs.co.uk FURNITURE CHOICE: 0800 035 0070/furniturechoice.co.uk HABITAT: 0344 499 4686/habitat.co.uk LOAF: 0845 468 0527/loaf.com SOFA.COM: 0345 400 2222/sofa.com SOFA WORKSHOP: 0808 278 8379/sofaworkshop.co.uk SOFOLOGY: 0800 140 4040/sofology.co.uk WILLOW & HALL: 0845 468 0577/willowandhall.co.uk Wednesday 9th March 2016

Willow & Hall has a classic collection, and a favourite is an Alderton Chaise Sofa which, upholstered in the gentle Dove linen cotton, from £1,572, would suit any setting.

(available March), from £1,245, and scatter cushions from £20 each, Loaf.

Buttons

& Blooms

CATWALK trends impact on decor and seating, too, and it’s important to avoid choosing a sofa that will date quickly. “Botanicals – floral patterns – continue to dominate and are in tune with our desire to ‘bring the outside in’. We’re also seeing interiors take a darker turn, with inky blue set to be one of this year’s most popular colours, and blushing pink for those who want a more feminine look,” says Philip Watkin, director at DFS. “Classic designs are set to make a comeback and the most coveted pieces are embracing button detail, which we’ve interpreted in Chesterfieldinspired silhouettes with a modern twist. “Velvet, a classic material, is still riding high in the style stakes, and to update your look be bold with vibrant colour-blocking hues, or introduce linear panels in plush velvet or high-definition devore.”

SOFA SMART: Make sure your sofa will fit into your

Mix&Match

Sofas come in an array of shapes, from curvy to boxy – and even ones that can change their form. “For me, modular sofas are probably re good for the best of all worlds, as they’re any size of home and any room within it,” says Arianne Keeler, upholstery buyer re an excellent option at Habitat. “They’re for those starting small, who want a sofa which can change and grow as their home or family expands. “For a bit of fun, you can mix up modules in different colour options to create an edgy, individual look, or go for a unified colour option but use different module styles to create a truly bespoke feature.”

SOFA SMART: Always order a fabric swatch and ‘live’ with it for a few days before confirming your choice, so you can view it in different lights and also, if it has a pile, check ve sat on it. If you’re its look after you’ve looking for a hard-wearing fabric to withstand the punishment of a family, polyester Accor fabric is particularly

LEATHER LOVERS Hendricks dark grey luxury leather 3 seat sofa, £3300, available from Habitat

durable. Several Jakob Modular Single Units, £400 each, in red or charcoal, could build into a sofa layout you desire. Or opt for a leather look; a Newman Tan Leather Corner Unit, £1,600. Alternatively, invest in a Kasha Right-arm Corner Sofa, available in a variety of upholstery colours, £1,700, all from Habitat.

home by measuring every access point – doorway, stairwell and lift that it has to pass. A template made from newspaper, or masking tape on the floor marking out the amount of space it requires, will give you a good idea of how a sofa will fit a particular room. A two-seater Pompeii Sofa, £1,299, and matching Armchair, £998, is a deepseated generous take on a Chesterfield. Fancy florals – a Chiltern Floral Grand Sofa, £1,549, available in five floral colours, could suit a cosy country cottage style interior. For a rich luxury feel, try a Bailey Velvet Maxi Sofa, in fashionable Royal Blue or Dusty Pink, £1,599, all from DFS.

SUPER SEATS: Loaf’s new

range includes a fabulous Butterbump Sofa, upholstered in velvet, from £1,495 (available March). Furniture Choice has a Rio Fabric Corner Sofa in slate, a bargain at £449.99.

SUPER SEATS: Sofa Workshop

seems to have taken inspiration from Downton Abbey with some of their sofa names – and these could certainly sit easily in a grand country pile. A Grande Dame Sofa, from £1,989, can be upholstered in an on-trend blue Moon Earth Airforce, or if you want to make a statement, plump for the Lady May three-seater, from £1,699, upholstered in the rich gold Dusky Mustard.

MELLOW YELLOW Lady May 3 seater sofa, from £1699, upholstered in Dusky Mustard, available from Sofa Workshop

Kendal Drive, Tonbridge

Guide Price £675,000 - £715,000

Surety House, Lyons Cresent

Price From £275,000

Set in a delightful and highly desirable Cul-De-Sac in central Tonbridge, this property is ideally located for access to High Street, Station and Tonbridge's prestigious state and private schools.

Surety House is a select development of newly converted apartments set in the heart of Tonbridge conveniently located for Mainline Station and High Street. Just three remaining.

Heather Walk, Tonbridge

Whitefriars Wharf, Tonbridge Guide Price £310,000 - £330,000

Guide Price £300,000 - £320,000

A well-presented and extended three bedroom semi-detached family house located in a quiet Cul-De-Sac in North Tonbridge, convenient for local amenities including schools and bus routes.

Located within walking distance of Tonbridge station is this delightful three bedroom three storey modern house set in the desirable Whitefriars Wharf offered to the market chain free.

� PROPERTY SECTION

Unusual converted barn

HIS delightful detached barn has been thoughtfully converted and boasts some exceptional features. With a wealth of exposed beams, an inglenook fireplace, vaulted ceilings, polished oak and flagstone floors and ‘upside down’ accommodation, it is charming and unique. Set on the edge of the village of Ticehurst, it is close to the southern

tip of Bewl Water. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall and all three bedrooms. The master has a dual aspect and double doors to the garden, with a good en-suite shower room. The remaining bedrooms are well served by a family bathroom. On the first floor there is an impressive sitting room with a high vaulted and beamed ceiling and

a fine inglenook fireplace with wood burner. Also on this floor is the kitchen which has a balcony with stairs down to the garden. Adjoining is the dining room and a cloakroom. A further staircase leads to a galleried study area overlooking the sitting room. The gardens are beautifully landscaped with a stream and pond flanked by a lawn at the front,

WEST BARN BIRCHETTS GREEN LANE, TICEHURST

£875,000

Wednesday 9th March 2016

providing a delightful approach to the barn. A long tree-lined drive leads to the garage block, built in keeping with the barn with two pairs of double doors and a store. To the rear of the barn are two further ponds creating a wonderful water feature overlooked by terraces on either side, one with a summer house. The grounds amount to just over an acre.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

near idyllic Bewl Water

‘The gardens are beautifully landscaped with a stream and pond flanked by a lawn at the front, providing a delightful approach to the barn’

AT A GLANCE n Converted period barn

n Kitchen

n Stunning rural location

n Dining room

n Close to Bewl Water

n Cloakroom

n Character features

n Galleried study over the sitting room

n Entrance hall n Master bedroom with en-suite shower room

n Boiler room

n Two further bedrooms

n Water features

n Family bathroom

n Landscaped gardens of just over one acre

n Superb sitting room

n Garaging

£875,000 For sale through Hamptons 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 9th March 2016

Your local independent Estate Agent

~MJProperty

...contactable 7 days a week

ase 1n us a , we are am1 y owne an run an ave so houses in Tunbridge Wells centre and many of the surrounding villages including in our office location of Rusthall, where we consider ourselves part of the community. Having lived locally all our lives we immerse ourselves in the community and support local events throughout Tunbridge Wells, whether through advertising them, helping at them, donating to them or our children 'K', 'M' and 'J' being there on duty with St John Ambulance. We are genuinely contactable 7 days a week, we don't tie clients in to a long contract and we always provide realistic market appraisals and advice and offer competitive fees.

• Selling property throughout Tunbridge Wells and surrounding villages

So if you are thinking of moving now or in the future, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01892 515188 for your free market appraisal.

www.kmjproperty.co.uk .-:I

Find us on

• • Facebook

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<e)nTheMarket.com

MORE PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED

sales@kmjproperty.co.uk

MADDISONS

- - - - R ES ID ENT I A L

Excellence is not a skill. It's an attitude.

Estate Agency of the Year Awards 2015

SOUTH EAST ESTATE AGENCY

MADDISONS

- - - R ES I D ENT I A L

pf die,

YEAR

2015 ~

THE SUNDAY TIMES

THE .JtlVI..TIMES

"Maddisons is a truly dedicated estate agent with their client's best interests at the forefront of all they do. We dealt with Deborah, who is extremely energetic, friendly and experienced, and ensured the whole "sales process" was made easy. She assessed the house, advised a sensible price I was happy with, advised on how to present the house in the best possible light, and ensured the viewings were efficiently conducted to a sensible group of potential buyers. I believe she is the best estate agent in the south-east." Mr Watson To see our five star rating in more detail and other kind words from delighted sellers and buyers, please visit www.rateragent.co.uk : the leading independent estate agency review site where you can rest assured that all testimonials have been checked and verified.

Expect the exceptional www.maddisonsresidential.co. uk Royal Victoria House, 51-55 The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TE Telephone: 01892 514100 Email: info@maddisonsresidential.co.uk

ďż˝ PROPERTY SECTION

Lovingly improved with a studio and summer house T

HIS exceptional detached house is believed to date from about 1908 and has been extended and refurbished to an extremely high standard. Set on the west side of Edenbridge, it is within a short walk of the town centre and the station. There are lovely period features throughout and the stylish open-plan kitchen/breakfast/family room makes a superb family hub.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

On the ground floor there is a large reception hall with cloakroom, a drawing room with inglenook-style fireplace, a dining room and garden room with doors to the rear terrace. The extended, L-shaped kitchen/breakfast room is well equipped and is open-plan to a stunning vaulted family area which boasts a Clear View wood burner and a wonderful sweep of oakframed windows overlooking the garden.

Upstairs, the principal bedroom suite has a bedroom with vaulted ceiling, feature oriel window and a well-fitted shower room. There is also an excellent guest bedroom suite with a shower room. The two further bedrooms are served by a family bathroom. The detached double garage has two pairs of double doors and a door at the rear to a shower room, plus a hall with stairs to a charming first

floor studio with kitchenette and Juliet balcony. To the front of the house is an in and out drive with five-bar gates and ample parking for several cars. At the rear, the garden is partly walled and has a paved terrace leading to a large lawn. There is an attractive, oak-framed home office/summer house and in all there is about 0.25 of an acre.

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

AT A GLANCE

CROUCH HOUSE ROAD EDENBRIDGE n Detached house dating from 1908 n Greatly extended and improved n Spacious family accommodation n Period features n Reception hall

n Cloakroom n Drawing room n Dining room n Garden room n Open-plan kitchen/ breakfast/family room n Master bedroom with en-suite shower room n Guest bedroom with en-suite shower room

n Two further bedrooms n Family bathroom n Outbuilding with double garage, shower room and studio with kitchenette n In and out drive with parking n Oak-framed summer house/office

£1,175,000 For sale through Hamptons 01892 516611 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 9th March 2016

� PROPERTY SECTION

Grey’s anatomy By Gabrielle Fagan

get right when it comes to decorating your home. Get it wrong and the effect can be cold and energy-sapping, but if it’s right it will look ultra chic and modern, so although it takes a bit of mastering, it’s well worth it,” says Ms Watson-Smyth. “To find the best shade, you need to consider a few key things, including which direction your room faces, what time of day you’ll be in there, the prevailing weather and, last of all, the actual shade you like! “Hopefully, by understanding grey, you’ll be spared from buying a zillion expensive sample pots, or painting a whole room in the wrong shade and finding it resembles a prison cell! I’ve done it myself. Just be warned, once you’ve gone grey, you’ll be hooked.”

Image taken from Shades of Grey: Decorating with the Most Elegant of Neutrals, by Kate Watson-Smyth, published by Ryland Peters and Small

Once upon a time, magnolia ruled in homes. The warm, peachy colour was for years apparently the only choice for walls – until out of the shadows came shades of ‘perfect neutral’ grey A NEW shades of grey has been published – in which Kate WatsonSmyth updates us on the latest in decor. Focuses on the power of a grey palette and explains in crystal clear fashion, spiced with a liberal dash of humour, how to use it stylishly. “Nowadays poor old magnolia’s a byword for all that is bland, blah and boring in interiors, even though in its heyday it was lauded as being practical because it didn’t show the dirt, and its soft colour instantly suggested homeliness.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

“Unfortunately, new lighting in the Nineties, not grey, was the real culprit, which gradually brought about its demise. The harsher, cooler, clearer light of halogen, LED and fluorescent lamps, which replaced incandescent bulbs, simply made magnolia look terrible and left the field clear for grey, which now rules the roost. Our love of all things Nordic and the popularity of grey in fashion has also played a part in our passion for this palette.” Fresh, modern and easy to match to other colours, it’s perhaps hardly surprising that elegant, sophisticated

grey is currently regarded as the perfect neutral. There’s only one snag – deciding which shade to choose. As if the names for shades weren’t baffling enough – take these: ‘Elephant’s Breath’ is actually midgrey, ‘Blackened’ is actually pale blue, bestselling ‘Down Pipe’ is dark grey while ‘Clooney’ (named after George, natch) is a bluey grey – the number on offer can induce paint chart paralysis. Fifty shades? Forget it – Dulux recently expanded its range and now offers a mind-boggling 557 greys. “Grey’s one of the hardest colours to

MAKING GREY WORK How you use a room has a bearing on the intensity of grey you should use. “If you’re in a room mainly in the evening, or always have the lights on, you can afford to opt for a dark shade,” advises Ms Watson-Smyth. “Rooms in use all day long and beyond, such as a kitchen where you also eat in the evening, require a grey which works with natural or electric light. For daylight hours, dark grey will work particularly well if you have a reasonably light room to start with. “Dark walls in a kitchen work well with a light floor and cabinets – choose warm greys for north-facing rooms and cool greys for southfacing rooms. Dining rooms, which often suffer from lack of light, can be painted in dark greys which will conjure an intimate, cosy atmosphere but if this room’s also used in the day, opt for a lighter grey. EXPERT VIEW: “Grey paint is like the chocolate on a biscuit. Just as that will bring out the flavour of the biscuit, so grey brings out the depth of the other colours it sits with,” says Marianne Shillingford, creative director of Dulux. SEE THE LIGHT Grey’s enduring popularity over the last decade is partly down to the cold, clear Northern light we enjoy in this

country – put simply, grey just looks good here – but always evaluate how much natural light a room gets and the direction it comes from. “For a small and dark north-facing room, don’t fight the space by painting it a pale colour,” says Ms Watson-Smyth. “Instead, embrace its cosiness. Pick a strong shade of grey – as near to black as you dare – and use on every wall. “The warm light of a south-facing room allows you more freedom of choice – pale greys can work as well as dark ones.” A shade to consider for east and west-facing rooms, she suggests, is Little Greene’s French Grey, warm and pale which won’t dominate or darken a space. Absolute matt emulsion, £19.25 for 1L (www.littlegreene.com). EXPERT VIEW: “I started by painting one alcove in my house grey and then fell in love with the colour and painted the whole house in dark grey. It’s the best interiors move I ever made,” enthuses interior designer Abigail Ahern. GREY MATTERS Always consider the effect your existing furniture, textiles and flooring may have on a paint shade. “Grey goes with all the other colours on the wheel, so you could throw in some pink until you feel like a change, and then maybe swap it for orange or yellow. It’s probably more affordable to swap the accessories than the wall colour,” suggests Ms Watson-Smyth. “If you’re concerned a room may look too plain painted all grey, use a textured wallpaper as a base.” EXPERT VIEW: “I love playing shades of grey off metallic, marble or handpainted silk wall coverings,” says American designer Kelly Wearstler. Shades Of Grey: Decorating with the Most Elegant of Neutrals by Kate Watson-Smyth is published by Ryland Peters and Small, priced £19.99. Available to readers for £14.99 (including p&p). Call Macmillan Direct on 01256 302 699 and quote reference: GI8

Tunbridge Wells • Detached Executive Property • 4 Bedrooms Master With En-Suite • Desirabl e South Side Locati on

Tunbridge Wells • So ught After 2 Bedroo m Home • Town Ce ntre Locati on • Doubl e Glazing, GFCH

Tunbridge Wells • 2 Bedroom Peri od Apartm ent • Open Fire in Living Roo m • Kitchen With Fitted Appliances

£925,000 - £950,000 • Studi o/Gym/Home Office • Doubl e Garage • Energy Efficiency Rating: D

£370,000 • 2 Rece ptions, 1st FI Bathro om • Permit Parking, No Chain • Energy Efficiency Rating: E

£325,000 • Popular 'Old Village' Area • Und er 1/4 Mile from Stati on • Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Tun bridge Wells Office 01892 511211 tun bridgewel ls @wooda ndpi lcher.co.u k Southborough Office 01892 511311 South boroug h@woodandpilcher.co.u k

South borough • Character Peri od House • 4 Bedro oms • We ll Prese nted

£650,000 • Ove rl oo king Southb oro ugh Co mm on • On Street Parking • Energy Efficiency Rating: E

Southborough • Terraced House • 3 Bedro oms • Popular Locati on

£350,000 • 60ft approx. Rea r Gard en • Off Road Parking • Energy Efficiency Rating: C

Tunbridge Wells • Semi Detached House • 3 Bedroo ms • We ll Prese nted

£340,000 • Co rn er Pl ot • Off Road Parking • Energy Efficiency Rating: D

~ / \ The Property ~Ombudsman

(i)nTheMarket,om

woodandpilcher.co.uk

Groombridge • 2 Doubl e Bedro oms • All ocated Parking Space • So ught Aft er Village Locati on

£900 PCM • Ava ilabl e April • Energy Efficiency Rating: E • Age nt's Fees Apply

Wadhurst • 4 Bedro oms • Private Terrace • Detached Doubl e Garage

£2,500 PCM • Ava ilable March • Energy Efficiency Rating: F • Age nt's Fees Apply

Tonbridge • 1 Bedroo m • Open Plan Living • Ce ntral Locati on

£775 PCM • Ava ilabl e April • Energy Efficiency Rating: B • Agent's Fees Apply

Other offices in Crowborough, Heathfield, Tonbridge & associated London Branch

� PROPERTY SECTION

AT A GLANCE SHERIFFS LANE ROTHERFIELD � Set in a quiet country lane � Recently extended and refurbished � Stylish interior � Open-plan living space � Drawing room � Contemporary kitchen/dining room � Utility room/cloakroom � Sitting room � Master suite with bath/dressing room and shower room � Three further bedrooms, one with en-suite bathroom, two sharing a shower room � Annexe with sitting room, kitchen area, shower room and bathroom � Driveway with parking for several vehicles � Gardens and woodland of 4 acres

‘There is also a pretty sitting room with a vaulted ceiling and a wood-burning stove set on to a stone hearth’

£1,150,000 For sale through Batcheller Monkhouse 01892 512020 www.batchellermonkhouse.com

Beautifully modernised country home with single-storey annexe S ET in a peaceful country lane close to Rotherfield, this property has been extended and substantially improved by the present owners and offers lovely open-plan living space. Beautifully presented throughout, and with features including a contemporary kitchen, fitted window shutters, a one-bedroom annexe and four acres of woodland, this charming country home is simply stunning.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

The ground floor accommodation includes an open-plan drawing room with bifolding doors to the rear gardens, as well as a fireplace and an oak staircase to the first floor. The impressive kitchen/dining room also has bifolding doors and a large central glass work surface and matching glass-topped dining area. The utility room has further space for appliances and a cloakroom. There is also a pretty sitting room with a vaulted

ceiling and a wood-burning stove set on to a stone hearth. On the first floor the superb master suite enjoys views to all sides with folding doors to a large bathroom/dressing room with a central roll-top bath. The suite leads through to another area with a walk-in glass shower, a washbasin and a WC. There are three further bedrooms, one with an en-suite bathroom and two sharing a Jack and Jill shower room.

A single storey annexe provides a sitting room and open-plan kitchen area, a shower room and a bathroom. The driveway provides off-road parking for several vehicles and there is an additional space for off-road parking for the annexe. The gardens and grounds extend to approximately four acres with lawns and woodland.

Tunbridge Wells

£845,000

An extended detached residence, with split level accommodation, situated in the popular Culverden area. 3 receptions, kit/brkfast room, 4 bedrooms, bathroom. Well stocked and screened gardens with heated swimming pool, double garage. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells

£675,000

An immaculately presented modern town house, situated on the favoured south side of town, affording generous room sizes with flexibility of use. Currently 3 receptions, kit/ family room, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Allocated parking, gardens. EPC: C

Speldhurst

Monthly Rental £1,250

A spacious 2 bedroom semi-detached Victorian cottage, with accommodation over 3 floors, completely refurbished to a very high standard. 2 receptions plus study/playroom, brand new kit and bathroom. Off road parking and good sized rear garden. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells

£819,000

A very spacious 4 bedroom detached house, plus I bedroom self-contained apartment, finished to a luxurious standard throughout. 3 receptions, kit, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Double garage with garden room/gym, landscaped tiered gardens. EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells

£550,000

A extensively refurbished ground floor duplex apartment situated in sought-after area with 3 double bedrooms, 16' I I drawing room, kit/din area, bath & shower rooms. New landscaped gardens, private parking area (space for one car). EPC: C

Tunbridge Wells

Monthly Rental £950

A well presented and spacious split level apartment situated in centre of the High Street. Large light living room, fully fitted kit, 2 bedrooms, large bathroom. Allocated parking space. Available April 2016. EPC: C

Property Owners and Landlords ~ooking to sell or let?

-----G~m-c or 01732 771616 now!

BarnesKingsnorth

Norton Road, Tunbridge Wells

TO LET £695,00 PCM

A beautifully presented ground floor apartment finished to a very high standard.

• • • •

One Double Bedroom Private Off Road Parking Space Walking distance to local amenities Available Now

Carville Avenue, Southborough • • • • • • •

Detached, Four Bedroom Family Home Occupying A Large Corner Plot Lovely Open-Plan Kitchen/Dining Room Downstairs Cloakroom En-Suite Shower Room To Third Bedroom Lovely Original Features Spacious Living Accommodation Throughout

Large Rear Garden With Spacious Outdoor Dining Area Off-Road Parking For Three Cars Separate Garage For Additional Parking/Storage In Catchment Area For Outstanding Local Primary/ Secondary/Grammar Schools • Within Walking Distance to Local Amenities and Main Line Train Station

*****LANDLORDS WE HAVE APPLICANTS WAITING**** INTRODUCTORY OFFER- HALF PRICE FINDERS FEE THROUGHOUT MARCH & APRIL 2016, properties in the Tunbridge Wells area within the past year. We intend

Edenbridge

Offers In Excess Of £350,000 Freehold

New Build Properties- Three Remaining Three Bedrooms (Two Doubles) Light & Airy Living/Dining Room Beautiful Modern Kitchen With Integrated Appliances

• 10 Year LABC Warranty • Walking Distance To Local Primary, Secondary & Grammar Schools • Chain-Free

Holden Park Road, Southborough • • • • • • •

Stunning Detached Victorian Family Home Four Large Double Bedrooms Set Across Three Floors Spacious Kitchen & Dining Area Large Living Room & Separate Dining Room Full Of Retained Period Features Downstairs Cloakroom

Guide Price £750,000 To £775,000 Freehold • • • • •

Large, Well Maintained Wrap-Around Gardens Separate Studio (Office Potential) Garage For Parking/Storage In The Heart Of Southborough Excellent Location For Local Primary/Secondary/ Grammar Schools

to meet that demand by providing a lettings & property management service built on high professional standards & personal attention.

• Whatever your letting requirements we can advise & help you

SO WHY LEGRYS LETTINGS?

• Appointing us to let & manage your property

rental process from small flats to large houses make the choice that suits you

• We offer professional advice & a friendly service with a strong presence in the South borough & Tunbridge Wells area

At LeGrys Lettings we have seen an increased demand for quality rental

Tunbridge Wells

• • • •

Guide Price £580,000 To £620,000 Freehold • • • •

The Mews, Southborough

• Our team at LeGrys have many years' experience in letting properties. We are happy to assist new Landlords through the

Lewes

Associated London Office

will guarantee you peace of mind!

Feel free to pop in and meet the team or email us at: lettings@legrys.com or please call us on: 01892 529448

Zoopla

EilllllllJ

RYE,

EAST SUSSEX

DORMANS PARK,

EAST GRINSTEAD

Luxury country living + 5 bedrooms + 6 reception rooms + 4 bathrooms + substantial garden and woodland + tennis court + Council Tax=H + EPC=F

Victorian family home + desirable location + 6 bedrooms + 4 bathrooms + 4 reception rooms + beautiful gardens + Council Tax=H + EPC=E

£7,500 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£5,250 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

FRANT,

TUNBRIDGE WELLS,

KENT

5 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + 4 reception rooms + kitchen/breakfast room + lovely gardens + superb views + triple garage + pets allowed + Council Tax=H + EPC=E

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

£3,950 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

£2,650 pcm + £282 inc VAT tenancy paperwork fee and other charges may apply* Contact: Louise Minifie

*£36 inc VAT for each additional tenant/o ccupant/gu aranto r reference where required. Inventory check o ut fee - charged at the end of o r ea rly termination of the tenancy and the amount is dependent on the property size and wh ether furnished / unfurni shed. For more details including example inventory fee, visit

www.savills.eo.uk/fees.

PENSHURST,

KENT

Picturesque setting on the village outskirts + deceptively spacious bespoke Millwood Designer Home + kitchen/dining/family room + dual-aspect sitting room + study + 4 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + cinema room + gardens to all sides + triple garage and driveway parking + 2,851 sq ft + about 1.06 acres + EPC=C

Guide £1.725 million Freehold

SPELDHURST,

Contact: Liz Devall

KENT

Stylish contemporary family home + tucked away in this popular village + sitting room + kitchen/ dining room + 4 bedrooms + 3 bathrooms + integral garage + 1,764 sq ft + about 0.25 acres + EPC=D

Guide £775,000 Freehold

MAYFIELD'

Contact: Liz Devall

EAST SUSSEX

Stylish first floor apartment with views + private gated development + 5.6 miles Wadhurst MLS + 7 miles Tunbridge Wells + 3 bedrooms + 3 bath/shower rooms + generous open plan living space + 2 parking spaces + 1,723 sq ft + EPC=B

Guide £595,000 Leasehold

Contact: Becky Card

Matfield, £1,350,000

Country Country Country Country 5* Town

Ninfield, £1,400,000

Ewhurst Green, £1,450,000

Battle, £1,495,000

Property, Head Office: 01580 211888 All viewings conducted Equestrian Property: 01892 724949 www.countrypropertygroup.com Cottages: 01892 724488 Property Group, Park Lane: 020 7409 8348 & Country Residential Lettings: 01892 7 23456

Staplecross £475,000

Collier Street, £525,000

Victims of our own success, we are desperately more Country Cottages, Character Houses, Farms and Equestrian Properties for our selection of well placed buyers and fully referenced tenants.

Please call for a FREE MARKETING APPRAISAL

Tunbridge Wells

Andrews >

andrewsonline.co.uk

Richardson Road, TN4 9PB £295,000 Two bedroom end of terrace house in St Johns with extended living room, kitchen/dining room, upstairs bathroom and gardens to front and rear. The house is set to the end of a pathway tucked away from the main road in the popular St Johns area of town. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Cavendish Drive, TN2 5DX Guide £350,000 - £400,000 A two bedroom semi-detached chalet bungalow in need of modernisation in the popular Farmcombe Road area. Entrance hall, living room, conservatory, kitchen, shower room, 2 bedrooms, converted loft space, gardens to front & rear, parking, driveway. No chain. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

All Saints Road, TN4 9JF £475,000 Three bedroom detached house in St Johns, re-modelled and modernised to a high standard. Entrance hall, living room, kitchen/dining room, 3 bedrooms, two bathrooms, gardens front and rear and garage. No chain. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Dunstan Road, TN4 9NE £575pcm A Studio apartment with its own front door located 1.2 miles from Tunbridge Wells mainline train station and 0.7 miles from High Brooms train station. The entrance level accommodation comprises studio room with bay window and built-in storage, Shower room, kitchen with appliances including: inset gas hob, integrated oven, washing machine and fridge. The property also benefits from gas central heating. Energy Efficiency Rating: C

Lansdowne Square, TN1 2NF £1,400pcm This three bedroom house is set in a private road at the top of the town. The property comprises lounge/dining room, fitted kitchen and a downstairs WC, while upstairs there are three bedrooms all with built in storage and a family bathroom with a shower over bath. To the rear of the property there is a private garden, and there is also private off street parking. Energy Efficiency Rating: D

Tunbridge Wells Sales 01892 515 11+'+ Tunbridge Wells Lettings 01892 525 551

Boyne Park, TN4 SET £1,150pcm 0.6 miles of Tunbridge Wells station. The property is accessed via the back and there are stairs to the front door. There is an entrance hall with storage and stairs to the landing, an open plan living/dining room with double sided fireplace and Velux windows, two double bedrooms, one with access to a balcony, bathroom, separate kitchen and allocated parking to the front. Energy Efficiency Rating: C

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

TO PROMOTE YOUR PROPERTY CONTACT PATSY I<ELLY

PI<elly@markerstudy.com I 01892 774781

KNIGHTS WOOD FEELS LIKE HOME FOR THE FIRST RESIDENTS OF DANDAMS STUNNING DEVELOPMENT IN ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS As the first owners settle in, this exceptional collection of brand new homes looks a perfect fit for its tranquil woodland setting.

â€˘

.1----= 1

"Our first Dandara home" One of the new residents, Heather Rhodes, lived in South borough with her young son before moving to Knights Wood in November. Speaking of their decision to relocate, Heather said, "We had grown out of our apartment in Southborough and needed some more space and a garden for my little boy. My cousin mentioned Knights Wood and from the moment we visited for the first time to see it for ourselves, we didn't really consider moving anywhere else! "Key factors for us were the affordability of the homes at Knights Wood, plus the fact that a new primary school is being built here - that is a real draw. This is the first time we've lived in a Dandara home and the car barn and driveway are just two of the things that I've enjoyed about it so far. "Also, I work in London and despite the fact that it sometimes now feels like we're living in the countryside, I can still

use the same station, so my commute is exactly the same as before. Plus, it is great to come home to such peace and quiet. "It has been the depths of winter since moving in, so we haven't done too much exploring yet- but we're looking forward to longer, lighter days and exploring the wooded areas nearby. I do rather like having John Lewis and M&S on my doorstep though!"

From the moment we visited for the first time to see it for ourselves, we didn't really consider moving anywhere else

Popular with a wide range of buyers Speaking of the popularity of Knights Wood to date, Susie Bennett, Sales Director at Dandara said "Following on from the success of The Avenue, almost 60% of our second phase - The Lanes - is now sold, with more properties scheduled for release soon. "We have seen a real mix of people choosing to buy at Knights Wood, including families, investors, commuters and first time buyers, which highlights the fantastic range of properties available here.

"The majority of our buyers were people already living in the Tunbridge Wells area and keen to continue enjoying all that the town has to offer. However, a noticeable number of buyers have come from London - in fact, of the 38 homes released in the first phase, almost 25% were sold to buyers from SE, BR (Bromley) and CR (Croydon) postcodes. "/ think the type of lifestyle available here at Knights Wood the green open spaces, easy commute and excellent local schools - will only increase in appeal to people currently living in London."

Tunbridge Wells property market holds strong Ashley Mason - Head of Sales, Knight Frank, Residential Development South East overviews the Tunbridge Wells housing market. "During downturn in the 2008/9 Tunbridge Wells proved highly resilient and weathered the market turmoil extremely well. Since 2012 house price growth in the town has consistently outperformed other major centres in Kent and the South East Market as a whole. The vibrant town centre, excellent commuter links and on-going investment within Tunbridge Wells, including the dualling of the A21

and the Longfield Road improvements, are major factors in the strong price growth we expect to see in the next five years. As the Central London market continues to cool the key commuter belt locations are expected to attract even stronger demand and Tunbridge Wells is perfectly positioned and provisioned in order to satisfy that demand."

Skinners' Kent Primary School The proximity of Knights Wood to High Brooms station has undoubtedly been a big draw for many, as has the presence of a new school, with work progressing well on the new Skinners' Kent Primary School (SKPS) building.

Tunbridge Wells

South East

140 130 120 110 100 90 80

Woodland Management Plan

SKPS opened in September 2015 in adapted temporary premises at the nearby Skinners' Kent Academy in Blackhurst Lane, with the school set to transfer to its new purposebuilt facilities at Knights Wood for September 2016. SKPS currently has a Reception and Year One class, with an additional 30 children due to be welcomed in the next academic year. Gemma Faircloth, Head Teacher says, "Our pupils have

settled very well and are already making excellent progress this year. They all look smart in their uniform and visitors to the school have commented on this, and also how engaged they are with their learning. Feedback from parents has been extremely positive and they feel empowered by their involvement with their child's learning. All of the staff are incredibly proud of our school and our pupils are looking forward to moving into our new building at Knights Wood later this year." Enquiries please contact Skinners' Kent Primary School on 01892 553060.

Residents looking forward to exploring the ancient Kentish woodland that surrounds Knights Wood will be pleased to know that a ten-year Woodland Management Plan has been created by Dandara, in partnership with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Designed to increase the biodiversity of the woodland and improve public access, the Plan is now approved and work commenced in January this year.

Kent

£2,400,000

Lingfield

A magnificent wing with historical importance with a wealth of superbly presented accommodation with five bedroom suites, two further bedrooms, seven reception rooms & kitchen/breakfast room.

Herons Ghyll

£750,000

Hartfield

offers over

£760,000

An attractive character mews with three A rare opportunity to acquire a detached chalet bedrooms, three bathrooms, two reception rooms property in need of modernisation on a good size and kitchen/breakfast room. Communal grounds. plot enjoying fantastic far reaching views.

£345,000

Groombridge

A charming and attractive cottage within easy reach of the village centre offering well presented accommodation including living room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. Countryside views.

Cowden

£620,000

A substantial semi-detached with kitchen open to breakfast room, living room, family room, utility room, we, four bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Hartfield

£495,000

A detached property within easy reach of the village centre with two reception room, kitchen/ breakfast room, we, four bedrooms & bathroom.

savills

� PROPERTY SECTION

‘On the first floor there are four bedrooms, two of which are en-suite, and the others share a Jack and Jill bathroom’

Wednesday 9th March 2016

In association with EJ FINANCIAL LTD

Impartial Investment, Pension and Tax Planning

• Call 01892 655973 today for a FREE appointment

PROPERTY SECTION �

OAK HOUSE SHIPBOURNE ROAD, TONBRIDGE

£850,000

High-spec fittings behind a Georgian-style exterior

OMPLETED to a high standard and benefitting from a CRL warranty, this stylish new build in Tonbridge combines a Georgian-look exterior with contemporary fixtures and fittings throughout. The generous accommodation, laid out over three floors, is complemented by oak doors and floors, luxury carpets and underfloor heating. The house opens to a central entrance hall. Bay windows to the front, featuring brick detailing on the inside and the dual aspect of both the sitting room and the study flood these rooms with light. To the rear is an impressive kitchen/dining room with high-gloss cream units, integrated Neff appliances, a central island unit and two sets of bifolding doors to open the space up to the

terrace outside. Additional units and storage space, as well as access to the side of the property, is provided by a utility room. A cloakroom completes the ground floor accommodation. On the first floor there are four bedrooms, two of which are en-suite and the others share a Jack and Jill bathroom. The second floor is given over to the spacious master suite, which benefits from a versatile open plan layout with a bathroom to one corner and natural light through skylight windows. The property is approached via a driveway with off-street parking. There is ample space to build a double garage, subject to planning permission. A mature oak tree is the main feature of the rear garden, which is predominantly laid to lawn beyond a paved patio that is ideal for outside entertaining.

AT A GLANCE n Attractive detached new build n CRL warranty n Georgian-style exterior n High specification n Entrance hall n Study n Sitting room n Kitchen/dining room n Utility room n Cloakroom n Four bedrooms on first floor, two en-suite n Family bathroom n Large open-plan master suite with bathroom on top floor n Off-street parking n Rear terrace and garden

£850,000 For sale through Hamptons 01732 280801 www.hamptons.co.uk

Wednesday 9th March 2016

'f#' @MillwoodDHomes

millwooddhomes ~ MillwoodDHomes

PUZZLES 

DOUBLE CROSSWORD

WORD SPIRAL Starting from 1, fill in the grid clockwise with four-letter words. The last letter of each word becomes the first letter of the next to reveal the key word in the shaded boxes.

23. A current feature of Europe used in moderation (4) Down 1. Shell the vehicle quickly (8) 2. Upset at great occasion for sailors (7) 4. Settle on fire (6) 5. Homer acts deviously about a classical Aegean island (10) 6. Amounts payable about the end of August for carnivals (5) 7 and 21Ac. Winger not to be trusted, by the sound of it (4-4) 10. Depression - alcoholic supplies in need of replenishment? (3,7) 12. Fragrant plant to sell in real variety (8) 15. The human race will make a fellow considerate (7) 16. A call at solo whist giving the skinflint a point (6) 18. Make people pay according to obsolete law? (5) 19. It’s a bit of a jolt if friends quarrel (4) 13. Carriage providing the Frenchman with a seat (6) 14. Unlawful act near a theatre of war (6) 17. Recollection that comes from reconstructed crime in scene (12) 20. Fancies having idols around at home (8) 21. See 7 Down 22. Superstitious charms revealed if sheets are ripped apart (8)

Scribble pad

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

3 10

16 13

QUICK CLUES:

Across 1. Restaurant (4) 3. Instructive (8) 8. Close (4) 9. Early nights (8) 11. Preliminary (12) 13. Stimulate (6) 14. Powerful (6) 17. Erasure (12) 20. Aerodrome (8) 21. Travel permit (4) 22. Explode (8) 23. Unite closely (4)

Down 1. Ponder (8) 2. Distraught (7) 4. Eat ravenously (6) 5. Practical (10) 6. Further in (5) 7. Pant (4) 10. Penitence (10) 12. Criterion (8) 15. Building (7) 16. Fanatic (6) 18. Split (5) 19. Territory (4)

1. ‘Doing’ word 2. Stopper 3. Shine intensely 4. Gorse 5. No votes 6. Counterfoil 7. Prejudice 8. Cummerbund Keyword clue: A bird

9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

Foot part Public pool Solemn vow Fifty per cent Young deer Common sense Close noisily Repast

SUDOKU

Which celebrity chef gave us a Taste of Shanghai in a recent BBC2 special?

Former One Direction member Zayn recently topped the UK charts with which single?

Which actor is playing Scott, a police officer who is investigating the truth behind his partner’s death, in the new film Exposed?

In what year did the TV sitcom Only Fools and Horses, starring David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, first air?

This Is Acting is the title of the latest album from which Australian singer?

Which 1951 film starred Katharine Hepburn as a missionary and Humphrey Bogart as the captain of the titular boat during World War I?

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson have returned for a new series of The X-Files on Channel 5 – in what year were

Which new BBC1 series about motherless animals and the people devoted to saving them is hosted by zoologist Lucy Cooke and biologist Patrick Aryee?

Mulder and Scully last on our screens? 9.

What was the title of Robbie Williams’ first solo Number One hit, in September 1998?

10. Cameron Diaz made her acting debut playing the role of Tina Carlyle in which 1994 film comedy? 11.

SOLUTIONS

Sarah Lancashire and James Norton are among the cast of which crime drama, which recently returned for a new series on BBC1?

12. I Can’t Control Myself and With a Girl Like You were Top Ten hits of the 1960s for which British band? 13. Which British actress is playing Sara, who goes into Japan’s Suicide Forest in an attempt to find her twin sister, in the new horror film The Forest? 14. Which children’s TV programme is hosted by Barney Harwood, Lindsey Russell and Radzi Chinyanganya? 15. Which British actress and comedian had Top Ten hits with songs including Breakaway and They Don’t Know in the 1980s?

14 Nous; 15 Slam; 16 Meal. Keyword: SWALLOW CODEWORD: 1=D, 2=G, 3=Q, 4=A, 5=F, 6=X, 7=C, 8=Z, 9=Y, 10=P, 11=U, 12=B, 13=T, 14=L, 15=E, 16=I, 17=V, 18=K, 19=J, 20=N, 21=S, 22=H, 23=O, 24=M, 25=R, 26=W ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ: 1 Nature’s Miracle Orphans; 2 Rick Stein; 3 Pillowtalk; 4 Keanu Reeves; 5 1981; 6 Sia; 7 The African Queen; 8 2002; 9 Millennium; 10 The Mask; 11 Happy Valley; 12 The Troggs; 13 Natalie Dormer; 14 Blue Peter; 15 Tracey Ullman SUDOKU:

Codeword is the crossword puzzle with no clues. The number in each square corresponds to a letter. Work out the words in the grid using the letters provided. Fill in these known letters first, then use skill and judgement to work out the others.

2 9

ENTERTAINMENT QUIZ

CODEWORD

DOUBLE CROSSWORD: Cryptic: Across: 1 Cork; 3 Parsifal; 8 Rigs; 9 Film star; 11 Put to the test; 13 Chaise; 14 Crimea; 17 Reminiscence; 20 Imagines; 21 Bird; 22 Fetishes; 23 Oder. Down: 1 Carapace; 2 Regatta; 4 Alight; 5 Samothrace; 6 Fetes; 7 Lyre; 10 Low spirits; 12 Lavender; 15 Mankind; 16 Misere; 18 Exact; 19 Tiff. Quick: Across: 1 Cafe; 3 Edifying; 8 Near; 9 Evenings; 11 Introductory; 13 Excite; 14 Potent; 17 Obliteration; 20 Airfield; 21 Visa; 22 Detonate; 23 Weld. Down: 1 Consider; 2 Frantic; 4 Devour; 5 Functional; 6 Inner; 7 Gasp; 10 Contrition; 12 Standard; 15 Edifice; 16 Zealot; 18 Burst; 19 Land. WORD SPIRAL: 1 Verb; 2 Bung; 3 Glow; 4 Whin; 5 Nays; 6 Stub; 7 Bias; 8 Sash; 9 Heel; 10 Lido; 11 Oath; 12 Half; 13 Fawn;

CRYPTIC CLUES: Across 1. This should stop any leakage from Irish port (4) 3. Wagnerian work could create a flap, sir (8) 8. Unscrupulously handles oil installations (4) 9. One who has achieved fame by being shot (4,4) 11. Obliged to sit for an examination? (3,2,3,4)

Wednesday 9th March 2015

70 � FOOD AND DRINK

New gin bar is the perfect tonic A stylish bar near The Pantiles offers a different drinking experience thanks to its impressive variety of unique gins, artisan beers and speciality coffee – most of which are sourced locally you. Each gin comes with a suitable garnish that will enhance its individual flavours so you can expect a sprinkling of juniper berries with the ginger based Monkey 47, and a sliver of cucumber with the aromatic Hendricks. “We just want to give customers a different twist on gin,”says Andy. The couple started by selling 19 varieties, ranging from classics such as Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray, to the little known Anno Kent Dry which is distilled in Marden and boasts an intriguing bouquet of lavender, rosehips and samphire. Four months on from opening, The Chapel Place bar’s collection now comprises 45 different gins, two of which hail from Tunbridge Wells. ‘Bathtub’ is brimming with juniper, cardamom, clove and fresh citrus peel, while ‘1606’ is distilled using Chalybeate Spring waters. The latter was something Andy and Vicky just happened to stumble upon.

HAPPY HOSTS Owners Andy and Vicky

Eileen Leahy

INCE it opened its doors in November 2015, Chapel Place bar has created something of a buzz on the social scene. This small but beautiful bar is fast becoming the drinking destination of choice for people who want more than just a pint or glass of house white. Owners Andy Over and Vicky Vyner wanted to create something ‘really unique’ and on entering the stylishly decorated petite premises it’s clear they have achieved their goal. Instead of the usual run of beer pumps and spirit optics on the counter you are greeted by three wall-mounted mirrored shelves festooned with

Wednesday 9th March 2016

fairy lights. Each one glimmers with all manner of exquisitely decorated bottles containing unusual gin varieties, but there are also a few exotic rums and tempting whiskys for good measure too. Before they opened Chapel Place, Andy worked in the construction industry and Vicky as a trained reflexologist. She still manages to fit clients around her new business. “We got quite a lot of inspiration from London, Brighton and Hastings,” says Vicky. “We wanted to create something Tunbridge Wells didn’t have – something completely cool and different.” They have certainly done that as everything from the décor – think dramatic, dark walls, gilt Rococo mirrors, stripped wooden floors and funky filament lighting – to the impressive, niche drinks menu

echoes their unique vision. “The decor downstairs reflects Andy’s background with all the industrial style touches,” explains Vicky, “but then upstairs we’ve created a contemporary and luxurious social space.”

Different But why go for a gin theme? “We visited a lot of places,” continues Vicky, “and realised it was a popular thing in bars in London. It has been up and coming for a while but no one had done it in Tunbridge Wells. “Gin bottles are unlike any other bottles,”she says. “They are just really beautiful and all look completely different.” And don’t think you’ll just get a slice of lemon and a bottle of tonic served to

DRINK UP Two local gins on sale

FOOD AND DRINK �

COME ON IN Ready to serve

STYLISH Sit back and relax upstairs

‘The Chapel Place bar’s collection now comprises 45 different gins, two of which hail from Tunbridge Wells’

“A guy called Marcus who lives in Groombridge makes it,” Andy says. “He’s an airline pilot by day but hand picks oranges when he’s in Seville then infuses them. He just popped in one day and offered us a tasting.” This relaxed, keep it local, word of mouth approach is what gives Chapel Place its exclusive edge. But it’s not just the gins that are from regional artisan producers. Most of the ales, wines and delicious platters of cured meats and gooey cheese served on handcrafted olive boards are also sourced on the doorstep. “We want to keep everything local,” confirms Vicky. “We only want products from Kent and Sussex and to be as niche as possible. “We source cheese from Cheeseworks in Cranbrook, our bread is from Rusbridge Bakery in Southborough

and our meats are all home cured by Moons Green Charcuterie in Northiam.” They also sell three Chapel Down wines and two of their beers and ciders. Their coffee beans are supplied by Bean Smitten, a roasting house based in Flimwell, and Vicky is charged with making their delicious cakes at the family home just around the corner from Chapel Place. They are more than happy with how the bar is doing and have no plans to expand as they fear this would ruin its distinctive vibe. “I think when people start off small and it expands too quickly you lose that originality,” says Vicky. “We are really happy with what we have created. We want to keep the quality and to keep it unique.”

Wednesday 9th March 2016

72 ■ LIFE AND STYLE CATCHPOLE AND RYE BATHROOMS Opening Of New Workshop Premises at Saracens Dairy, Pluckley, Kent by The Hon. Damian Green MP Catchpole & Rye Limited was pleased to welcome The Hon. Damian Green MP for Ashford to the official opening of their new Workshop Facility on Friday 19th February 2016. As a leading British Bathroom Manufacturer the new premises will double the production capability at Pluckley and provide huge opportunity for growth and employment in rural Kent. The dedicated building will house engineering and polishing workshops alongside an enhanced product development facility. Allied to the imminent opening of its newest showroom in Tunbridge Wells, this represents another milestone in the companies continued commitment to business development within Kent, and its future market development both at home and overseas.

HADLOW COLLEGE LAMBING WEEKEND Sat 12th & Sun 13th March, 11am - 4pm (last admission 3:00pm) Come and celebrate the arrival of spring at Hadlow College’s popular annual Lambing Weekend, taking place on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th March. This fun family event gives visitors the chance to visit the lambing ewes and their newborn lambs, meet the llamas, pigs, ponies and goats that live at the college - and are looked after by the students - and tour the Animal Management Unit to see reptiles, invertebrates and small animals.

For more PR information or images, please contact Rita on 01233 840840 rita@catchpoleandrye.com pr@catchpoleandrye.com

Visitors can see birds of prey and vintage tractor displays, have a go at the Coppard digger challenge, test their head for heights on the climbing wall or take a tractor ride (weather permitting). Broadview Gardens, Garden Centre and Tearoom will be open, so why not treat your friends and family to lunch or afternoon tea and enjoy a fantastic day out.

ROYAL ASHDOWN FOREST GOLF CHARITY DAY BOOK NOW TO TEE OFF FOR THE HOSPICE! Tickets are now on sale for our prestigious golfing event on Wednesday 15th June at the Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club in Forest Row, East Sussex. All proceeds from the charity day will go towards the £7 million it costs to run Hospice in the Weald each and every year.

ACCREDITED COURSES EDITORIAL Start Your Journey With Us Have you ever wanted to gain a qualification or new skills and not known where to start? Throughout life our plans change and sometimes to achieve our goals or to realise our ambitions we need a little help to get there. At Kent Adult Education we help thousands of people every year reach their full potential. Whether you left school years ago without the GCSEs you needed or you want to go after a promotion and need some extra skills to set you aside from the competition, we have a range of courses that can help you take the first step on your journey. Whether you want to improve your IT skills with one of our ECDL courses or you want a change of career and want to embark on a counselling course, a teaching assistant course or even an accounting course, we can help. It may even be that you want to start your own business but have no idea where to start! From bookkeeping to courses in floristry and interior design we can give you the qualifications to back up your passion and make your business stand out from the rest. Starting your journey doesn’t have to be a struggle. Whether you are worried about fitting it in to your normal routine or worried about how to pay for an accreditation we have options to help. Many of our accredited courses are available in the evenings or on Saturdays so you can learn at a time that’s convenient for you. Plus if you are worried about the cost of learning you can apply for a 24+ loan from the government if your course is a Level 3 or higher and this is only paid back when you earn a certain amount. If it’s below a Level 3 we offer you the chance to pay for your course in instalments, we just need a 25% deposit for you to get started. Join the thousands of people in Kent that we have helped gain a qualification or skill and reach their full potential. For more information visit www.kentadulteducation.co.uk/ accredited16, pop into your local centre or call 03000 41 22 22

Wednesday 9th March 2016

Taking its place in the top 100 courses of 2015; The Old Course is set in beautiful Sussex countryside. The forest that surrounds you as you navigate around the grounds has an extensive regal history dating back to the Norman Conquest. It now provides an impressive backdrop while you play. On the day 15 teams of four will tee off at 1pm in a Shotgun Start, racing to beat the opposing teams and win the tournament. In addition to the simultaneous start, there will be a few separate mini prizes throughout the day for ‘the longest drive’, ‘1, 2, 3 best ball’ and ‘nearest the pin’. Once completed, the groups will be welcomed back to the clubhouse for a three course dinner followed by an exciting fundraising auction. You can book tickets in teams of four or you can book individually. As this is a group tournament, single players will be allocated into a four ball prior to tee off. Join us now and ‘discover the forest’ For more information about this event including details for Corporate Sponsorship opportunities please contact Christie Monahan, Fundraising Apprentice on 01892 820536 or christie.monahan@hospiceintheweald.org.uk

Full event list for the day: • Newborn lambs, with commentary from agricultural lecturers and outdoor video screen showing live footage from the lambing shed • Tractor rides (weather permitting) • Countryside Marquee with fun interactive activities • Birds of Prey • Food stalls, including delicious local delicacies at the Produced in Kent Farmers Market. • Animal management unit tours: including reptiles, invertebrates and small animals. Plus, out in the enclosures: llamas, pigs, Shetland ponies, pygmy goats, a rhea and a range of exotic species • Climbing wall • Coppard digger challenge • Course Information, including Higher Education qualifications Tickets on sale now: Adults £6 | Concessions £3 (children age 2 to 16 years and OAP’s) Family ticket £15 (2 adults and up to 3 children) Purchase tickets here: www.wisepay.co.uk Tickets will also be available on the gate on the day (cash only) Animal Management Unit, Hadlow College, Ashes Lane, Hadlow, Tonbridge, TN11 0AN

WITH THE

THE TOWN’S TOP MOTORING GUIDE – FROM EVERYDAY DRIVES TO LUXURY SUPERCARS

O F

T U N B R I D G E

W E L L S

FIRST DRIVE: BMW M2 By Matt Joy WHAT’S NEW? The 2 Series is already offered in pretty toasty M235i form, but now there’s a fullhouse M badge version, complete with all the kudos and expectation that comes with it. Seen as a spiritual successor to the limited-run 1 Series M Coupe, the M2 receives the customary level of M Division magic. Outside there’s a tough-looking bodykit with pumped arches, air intakes that look like they could inhale small children and steamroller 19-inch wheels. Under the bonnet there’s a more powerful version of the 3.0-litre single-turbo straight six linked to a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT automatic, with uprated brakes, the electronic M differential and aluminium suspension components similar to those on the bigger M3. LOOKS AND IMAGE Controlled aggression is the name of the game when it comes to BMW M cars and the compact shape of the 2 Series translates exceptionally well into full performance guise. Dark gloss elements to the grille and wheels means contrasting colours work well, while greys and blacks give a more subtle look. While the bigger M cars might be seen as the ultimate expression of the sub-brand, the M2 still has the looks and the cache to give car enthusiasts sleepless nights. It’s also the least expensive way into an M car, which will put it on plenty of shopping lists. SPACE AND PRACTICALITY The M2 offers the same cabin space as the standard 2 Series, which is perfectly reasonable for a car of this class. Up front, the sports seats offer excellent support, although even in their lowest setting the driving position feels a fraction high. In the rear, legroom is good even for taller adults although headroom is relatively limited. The flip side is a huge boot, with 390 litres on offer. BEHIND THE WHEEL There’s a definite sense of purpose when you’re behind the wheel of the M2, even with it in the Comfort setting. The ride is firm, but not harsh and keeps the body well under control, while the easy torque of the turbo six makes short work of normal driving. Go for the DCT auto gearbox

and urban traffic is a breeze. Get on the right kind of road, however, and the M2’s real personality starts to come through. That effortless torque translates into strong acceleration right around the rev range, and with Sport mode engaged, the throttle response is sharper and more of the engaging straight six engine note comes through, too – 62mph can be despatched in 4.5 seconds. But there’s no massive turbo kick; instead, you know there's always acceleration available, but never so much that it feels edgy. But what really marks out the M2 as a fine driver's car is the handling balance. Unlike the more hooligan M4, the ratio of grip to power is just about perfect. Several laps of the challenging Laguna Seca racetrack showed the M2 to be confidence-inspiring with excellent traction out of slow corners and good grip balance between front and rear. It will play the hooligan, too, and serve up lurid powerslides when required, but only then; the rest of the time the M2 is real-world fast, capable, controlled and ultimately on your side. VALUE FOR MONEY M2 prices start at £44,070 and for that you get the higher-specification navigation system, xenon headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels and the higher grade of audio system including Bluetooth, DAB and BMW online services. The biggest option decision you'll need to make is whether to choose the impressive M-DCT dual clutch transmission, but either way the M2 is a genuine M car for less than £50k. WHO WOULD BUY ONE? If your idea of a real sports car is a frontengined, rear-wheel-drive coupe – and frankly it should be – then the M2 is a nearperfect introduction. Whether you’re already a dab hand behind the wheel or just moving up into a true performance car, the M2 is sufficiently exciting to be great fun but not so fast that novices should be worried. It also has kerb appeal to burn so even if you

FACTS AT A GLANCE PRICE: BMW M2, £44,070 ENGINE: 3.0-litre petrol unit producing 365bhp and 343lb.ft of torque TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual gearbox RWD

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 155mph, 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds FUEL ECONOMY: 33.2mpg combined EMISSIONS: 199g/km of CO2

never reach the red line, it’s a car to savour that can be enjoyed at normal speeds. THIS CAR SUMMED UP IN A SINGLE WORD: Eminent. IF THIS CAR WAS A... watch, it would be worth passing on to the next generation.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

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FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION £500*

FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION £1,000*

FIAT DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION UP TO £2,000*

THE FIAT SALES EVENT. ANY CAR IN THE RANGE. ANY NEW CAR IN THE DEALERSHIP. ANY QUESTIONS?

THAMES MOTOR GROUP TUNBRIDGE WELLS, LONGFIELD ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN2 3EV. TEL: 01892 256074 WWW.THAMESMOTORGROUP.CO.UK

5.9°/o APR

REPRESENTATIVE

Fuel consumption figures for new Fiat Range in mpg (11100km): 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 models registered from 15th February to 31 st March 2016. •£500 deposit contribution on New Fiat 500 Series 4 models, £1,000 deposit contribution on Fiat 500L models and up to £2000 deposit contribution on Fiat 500X models. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion. Retail customers only. With Fiat i-Deal you have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the final payment, subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage and being in good condition. Deposit Contribution is only available in conjunction with 'Fiat i-Deal No Pay Drive Away'. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and Conditions apply. At participating Dealers only. Fiat 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.

MOTORS n

2008 (57) Mazda MX·S I Conwrtibkl Mat, Low MIies, Metall!c Red,Alr Conditioning, Anti-Theft System, Seat Sports Seats, Power steering, ABS, CD Player,Radlo,AlloyWheels

Was £4,995 Now £3,995

Open 9am-6pm Monday • Saturday 1 Oam-3pm Sunday or by appointment FULL 6 MONTHS RAC WARRANTY WITH ALL CARS ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

22-26 Wlnchelsea Road, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7EL

01797 458007 07824 096482

2008(08) Mazda MX·S I Roadster(Conwrtible] Low Mlles(45,211), FULl MAIN DEALER SERVICE HISTORY, MOT, Electrlcretractablehardtop,AlrCond!tlonlng,lmmoblllser,Remote CentralLocklng,PowerSteer1ng,CDPlayerRad1o

2010 (60) Vauxhall lnsigniaSRi CDTi Estate 73,619 mlles,S/H, cambeltChanged,CllmateControl,AdJustablesteer1ngColumn, Cruise Control, Power Steer1ng,ABS, Child Locks,Automatlc. Electr1c Windows, Remote Central locking, CD Player

Was £7,995 Now £6,495

Was £7,695 Now £6,495

2006 (56) Subaru lmpreza WRXTllrbo Sdr 54,000 m!tes,Alr Condltlonlng,RemoteCentralLocklng,CrulseControl,Power steer1ng,ABS, Twin Air Bags, ElectrlcW!ndows, Electric Mirrors, Rad!oCOPlayer,4x4Hatchback

2005 (OS) MINI Convertible 1.6 Cooper S63,503 miles, MOT, ABS Alarm, Alloy Wheels, Drivers, Passenger and Side Alrbags PowerSteerlng,Radlo/cassetteRad!o/COMultlchanger,Reverse Parking Aid

£5,995

£4,995

£4,495

CITROEn

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This fantastic offer ends 31 March 2016 .

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FOR1BVIARSANDOVERWllllTEUMA11CS

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ORI Vt &

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~ W ii citroen.co.uk

CITROEN prefers TOTAL Offer applies to retail sales of qualifying models ordered & delivered 04/01-31/03/2016 or until such time as offers/prices may be withdrawn by Citroen at its complete discretion & include VAT, delivery to dealer & number plates, Government Registration Fee & 12 months' graduated vehicle excise duty. 'Citroen SimplyDrive 3 year Personal Contract Purchase offer available on a ll Citroen C1 models . A deposit is required fo llowed by 35 monthly payments, with an optional final payment at the end of the contract. Excess mileage charges will apply if you exceed the agreed annual mileage. A guarantee may be required . Over 18s only. Finance provided by & written quotations available on request from PSA Finance UK limited [company regist ration number 0 1024322) t/a Citroen Financial Services, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, Surrey, RH 1 1QA, UK. Citroen Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Thames Motor Group (Tunbridge Wells) Ltd is acting as a credit broker & is not a lender. To finance you r purchase we will only introduce you to Citroen Financial Services, the exclusive provider of SimplyDrive. ooThe fi rst year's Road Fund licence (RFL) is provided with the car. Vehicle tax is charged at a rate of £0 for Citroen C1 as it falls within vehicle tax band A. The customer must apply for years 2 & 3 RFL. Citroen SimplyDrive is subject to status. +Minimum age 18, maximum age 75. DRIVERS ARE REQUIRED TO INSTALL THE TELEMATICS BOX & CONSENT TO DATA CAPTURE & TRANSMISSION TO QUALIFY FOR INSURANCE. All drivers must hold a full UK licence & meet eligibility criteria including limits on driving convictions & claims. INSURANCE SUBJECT TO CANCELLATION IF YOU RECEIVE FOUR WARNINGS FOR POOR DRIVING. Excesses apply. 3 years motor insurance is provided and underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Payments will vary according to age, post code & annual mileage. The costs of insurance, servicing & Roadside Assistance are included within the monthly cost of Citroen SimplyDrive but are provided on a monthly pay-as-you-go basis & can be cancelled at any time without penalty or affecting the remainder of the Citroen SimplyDrive contract . Routine servicing included, excludes wear parts. O ffers & specification correct at time of going to press from participating Dealers . Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability.

Official Government fuel consumption figures {Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined {litres per 100km/mpg) & C0 2 emissions (g/ km); Highest: Citroen C1 PureTech 82 manual 5.4/ 52.3, 3.7/ 76.3, 4.3/ 65.7, 99. Lowest: Citroen C1 VTi 68 S&S manual 4 .5/62.8 , 3.4/83 .1, 3.8/74.3, 88. MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions.

THAMES MOTOR GROUP 01892 549766 NORTH FARM INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT, TN2 3EY www.thamestunbridgewells.citroen.co.uk

Wednesday 9th March 2016

76  MOTORING

Ford has created a special test replicating some of the world’s worst road surfaces

VW is on the Up in the city VOLKSWAGEN is to present a new Up city car at the Geneva Motor Show, with larger wheel options, a more powerful engine and a Beats Audio version with a 300-Watt stereo. While it won’t arrive in showrooms until late summer, ahead of planned September deliveries, VW has already revealed the details, starting with revised bumpers, door mirrors now with integrated indicators and LED daytime running lights. An impressive 13 paint colours will be offered, although it’s not clear at this time how many will be free. Three roof colours and 10 ‘dashpad’ designs will allow for more personalisation. Ambient lighting in high-spec models is another new feature, with white, orange and blue lights in the High Up, Cross Up and electricpowered E-Up respectively. Despite improved equipment levels, says VW, the base price of the entry-level Up will stay the same as it is now. In the UK that currently translates to £8,870. The new engine is expected to be a turbocharged 1.0-litre unit already seen in some other Volkswagen Group cars. The 89bhp unit should offer much more torque than the current normally-aspirated equivalent, while still offering potential for high efficiency.

HE Ford motor company has added a 1.2-mile ‘car killer’ section to its 50 miles of test routes within its facility in Lommel, Belgium, including obstacles inspired by Russian, French and Brazilian roads. In total the route simulates more than 100 typical worst-case hazards from 25 countries worldwide. Engineers drive the route at up to 46mph, measuring the strains on chassis and suspension with special sensors to reveal where the worst problems occur.

Surfaces as diverse as Parisian cobblestones and granite blocks from Belgium join Brazilian speed bumps and cracked, uneven Russian sections. “From a rutted traffic junction in China to a bumpy German side street, this road is a rogues’ gallery of the most bruising surfaces that our customers might encounter,” says Eric-Jan Scharlee, durability technical specialist at the Lommel Proving Ground. “By incorporating these real-world hazards into our test facilities we can develop vehicles equipped to deal with these

challenging conditions.” Off the back of this testing, Ford is developing Continuous Control Damping with Pothole Mitigation technology. It adjusts the suspension settings if it detects that a wheel has fallen into a pothole, protecting the mechanicals. Ultimately it will allow the company to save costs on its mechanical parts by using electronics to lessen the potential for damage. All Ford’s vehicles for Europe are tested at Lommel, with test drivers reportedly covering more than 3.7 million miles every year.

‘ By incorporating these real-world hazards into our test facilities we can develop vehicles equipped to deal with challenging conditions’

Queen’s classic anthem Bohemian Rhapsody has topped the charts in a survey of British drivers’ favourite motoring music THE research by Goodyear was compiled ahead of the BRIT Awards, revealing the legendary genrebusting track as a clear winner. Guns N’ Roses came in second with Sweet Child O’ Mine and Led Zeppelin took third with another air guitar winner, Stairway to Heaven. But the most interesting stats were revealed by car brand, where Seat owners were the most likely to be caught listening to Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry, while Hyundai drivers generally prefer Oasis and Live Forever.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

People in Skodas threw a curve ball with their most popular song emerging as Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash. Hondas are to be found playing RnB more often than anything else, but the single most popular song among their owners is David Bowie’s Life on Mars. Overall, rock was the most popular genre of music with 36 per cent of the vote, followed by pop at 26 per cent and RnB with seven per cent. Other songs on Goodyear’s Top 10 include Let it Be by The Beatles, Every Breath You Take by The

Police, and the 2004 classic Mr Brightside by The Killers. The firm has even turned the results into an epic road-trip Spotify playlist. “Music has the ability to make us feel good even if you’re stuck in gridlock traffic,” says Kate Rock, PR Manager for Goodyear Tyres UK. “The mix of genres in the Top 10 reveals the differing tastes of the British public, but Queen still reign on the roads when it comes to great driving tunes.”

MOTORS n

INVICTA HONDA Tunbridge Wells Business Park , Dowd ing Way, Tun bridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DS Call 01892 598875 or visit www.tunbridgewells-hond a.co.uk Fuel consumption figures for the CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC Black Edition Manual in mpg (11100km): Urban 31.7 (8.9), Extra Urban 45.6 (6.2), Combined 39.2 (7.2). C0 2 emissions: 168g/km. Fuel consumption figures sourced from official EU-regulated laboratory test results, are provided for comparison purposes and may not reflect real-life driving experience. Model Shown: CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC 4WD Manual in Crystal Black Pearl at £29,995 On The Road (OTR). Terms and Conditions: New retail CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC Black Edition ordered from 01 February 2016 to 31 March 2016 and registered by 31 March 2016. Subject to model and colour availability. Offers applicable at participating dealers and are at the promoter's absolute discretion . Not to be used along with any other offers currently available. Honda Aspirations (PCP): Minimum customer deposit 0%, maximum customer deposit 30%. You do not have to pay the Final Payment if you return the car at the end of the agreement and you have paid all other amounts due, the vehicle is in good condition and has been serviced in accordance with the Honda service book and the maximum annual mileage has not been exceeded . Indemnities may be required in certain circumstances. Finance is only available to persons aged 18 or over, subject to status. All figures are correct at time of publication but may be subject to change. lnvicta Motors (Maidstone) Limited are credit brokers, not lenders. Credit provided by Honda Finance Europe Pie. Cain Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 1HL. Honda Finance Europe Pie is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Services Register number 312541 . *5 Years Complimentary Servicing (not linked to finance) includes: All scheduled servicing, as detailed in the vehicles service book, will be covered for 5 years or 62,500 miles, whichever comes first. 5 Years Complimentary Servicing is optional. Usual value is £1,200 - £1,430 including VAT, resulting in a saving up to £1,430 for the customer) and is available to finance or non-finance customers. Please note, should you sell the vehicle during the period of cover, the package remains with the vehicle.

Our premises are lacated at Kingstanding Way Business Park in Tunbridge Wells. We invite all new and seasoned enthusiasts to visit us today to find out more about our classic car restoration services. We will use our experience to advise you on the best way to restore your classic, vintage or collectible car, and help you to revive its past glories.

• Fram full graund up restaratian ta summer check aver • Specialist mig and tig welding Full engine and gearbax rebuilds • We can lacate hard ta find parts, • In hause machining facilities • Vapaur blasting • Everything yau need ta care far yaur classic car ... • Baak yaur mDT anline ,··;'

with us

Contact details: H-Engineering Unit 12, 2, Kingstanding Way, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3UP 01892 549 042

www.h-engineering.com

Wednesday 9th March 2016

78  TRAVEL

Wonder-filled East African wasteland

By Sarah Marshall IT’S hard to imagine what the world might look like following the collapse of humanity. For astronaut George Taylor, Charlton Heston’s character in the 1968 film Planet of the Apes, it looked very much like this. Surging skyward from millennia-old riverbeds parched crisp by the sun, hundreds of steaming fumaroles and limestone chimneys served as a fitting LAKE ASSAL backdrop for the post-apocalyptic Vividly sci-fi movie. turquoise As I weave through spiralling calcareous sculptures silhouetted by a jaundiced bitter yellow sunset, a mosaic of salt flats pops and crunches underfoot. On the horizon, a woman cloaked in billowing purple silks navigates a herd of goats and donkeys through a dusty haze. There’s no sign of Taylor’s forlorn Statue of Liberty submerged in the sand, but I share the same sense of discovering a forgotten civilization from a lost period in time. I’m standing on the flamingo-streaked shores of Lake Abbe in Djibouti, a small country in the Horn of Africa, bordering Ethiopia, Somaliland and Eritrea. A charred, volcanic wasteland, it sits in the

Adventurous centre of the Afar Triangle, where three pieces of the Earth's crust are slowly shifting apart, and forms part of the Great Rift Valley, a continuous 6,400km geographic trench that's visible from space. Aside from a brief flirtation with Hollywood, the only international interest in Djibouti has been a military one. The former French colony provides a safe and stable base from which to monitor a volatile region, where civil war is

Wednesday 9th March 2016

raging 20 miles across the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in Yemen, and the threat of Somali pirates still hangs over the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Proximity to war zones, poor infrastructure (there are few roads and no hot water in the entire country) and a population that swings between inquisitive and inhospitable, hardly provide the platform for a thriving tourist industry. Yet the opportunity to explore Dali-esque

Even as I raise my camera, our driver, Ermi, shakes his head. “They won’t like it,” he says, as another rock bounces off the bonnet. It’s easy to understand why local people are so suspicious; up until now, few tourists have bothered to come this far. It’s more common for foreigners to congregate in coastal areas, attracted by pristine coral reefs and the opportunity to swim with juvenile whale sharks.

LOCALS Carefree and relaxed

landscapes plucked straight from the pages of National Geographic is too good for adventurous travellers to turn down. I’ve joined Explore Worldwide’s first escorted tour through the region and it’s completely sold out. Travelling in a convoy of 4WDs, we thump and bump over rocky, arid terrain, through deserts dotted with thorny acacia bushes and little else. It's a hostile environment, and inhabitants are suitably abrasive. As we approach a nomadic settlement of huts built from sun-bleached branches, our drivers speed up. Unruly children from the Afar tribe chase the vehicles, some throwing stones, others cheekily poking out brilliant pink tongues from jet black faces, while their shy Muslim mothers hide beneath a swirling mass of colourful fabrics.

Jason Shrewsbury from local operator Dolphin Services offers to take me out on a skiff boat in search of the gentle sea giants. Originally employed at the American military base, the blond, 20-something dive instructor developed a passion for the marine world while stationed here. “These days, everyone stays in their bases,” he laments as we leave the busy port of capital Djibouti City, which is choked with liners transporting goods to neighbouring Ethiopia. “But the best part of Djibouti really is underwater.” From November to January, whale sharks feed in these clear, warm waters and tourists have the chance to snorkel alongside them. As soon as we catch sight of a polka-dotted creature, I dive in and, like a bunny in a juggernaut’s headlights, find myself staring into a gaping, metre-wide,

pillar-box mouth. More interested in measly krill than a meaty human, the largest fish in the sea glides past and disappears into the inky depths as I frantically struggle – and never succeed – to catch up.

Tumbleweed After an hour spent swimming along the coast, where butterfly fish and manta rays lurk beneath table coral big enough to host a deep sea banquet, I agree with Jason about Djibouti’s marine merits. LANDSCAP E It would, Charred an though, be unfair d volcanic to dismiss the rest of the country. The rubbish-strewn Yemeni refugee camps surrounding Djibouti City don’t make for comfortable sightseeing material, yet they give a sobering insight into a detached, troubled world often only viewed through TV screens. (Last year, David Beckham came here as part of his project 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund.) At times life feels almost as worthless as the plastic bags rolling like tumbleweed in the dust, and there’s an unavoidable sadness about Djibouti, a sense it’s been abandoned. But beyond the rusting water canisters left here by aid workers and bottle tops moulded into the mud, is a geological wonder world comparable to nowhere else on earth. From the petrified Day Forest National Park in the Goda Mountains, to the lowest point in Africa, the vividly turquoise and heavily saline Lake Assal, there’s a wealth of natural attractions. With a bit of love, it could have so much potential. The Ethiopian government and their

TRAVEL 

Chinese investors clearly think so, and have spent several billion dollars on a train line to link Addis Ababa with the port in Djibouti City, one of Africa’s most important trade routes. Our journey to Djibouti also started in the Ethiopian capital, and Explore’s decision to combine the two countries in an itinerary is wise. With tribal groups spilling across the border, there are clear cultural similarities and a trade dependency means fortunes are inextricably linked. In contrast to its stagnant neighbour, Ethiopia, it is developing at an accelerating pace. In the last few years, several thousand kilometres of road have been asphalted, and while driving across the country, we share carriageways with wooden carts piled high with hay bales and women in burkas riding horseback.

‘The opportunity to explore Dali-esque landscapes plucked straight from the pages of National Geographic is too good for adventurous travellers to turn down’ The famine-ridden Band Aid years have been consigned to the past and a new picture of progress is emerging. Bucking perceived stereotypes, Ethiopia can be remarkably green

(and cold) as I discover on a trek through the Bale Mountains in search of endangered nyala, giant mole rats and Ethiopian wolves. Condensation rises from ponds and thick clouds suffocate the basalt landscape as we race to beat falling darkness and plummeting mercury levels. But perhaps most remarkable of all is the degree of religious harmony, with Muslims and Christians co-existing peacefully. The medieval walled city of Harar even earned UNESCO status for being ‘a city of tolerance, peace and diversity’. A high percentage of the population is addicted to chewing khat, and as I sidestep over men sprawled supine in the street, one with a bunch of hibiscus flowers wedged into his hair with an afro comb, I wonder how much the

natural stimulant is responsible for the laidback, carefree vibe. Regardless of religion or ethnic grouping, the people here share a sense of national pride. That’s one ‘good’ they might want to consider exporting to Djibouti.

TRAVEL FACTS Sarah Marshall was a guest of Explore (explore.co.uk; 01252 884 723) who offer a 12-day Addis to Djibouti Adventure trip from £2,359pp. The price includes return flights, 10 nights’ hotel and one night camping accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, most meals, transport and the services of an Explore Leader.

Wednesday 9th March 2016

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PEOPLE 

Mutiny on the Bounty island ‘The place was quite bizarre and almost not of this world’ Last week we told how Martin Williams played a key role in helping staff escape from the US Embassy when it was under siege in Tehran in 1979. He was a British Foreign Office representative. The retired diplomat today lives in Yalding. This week he talks to Neill Barston about his involvement with the Pitcairn Islands

ECOMING Governor of the Mutiny On the Bounty-famed Pitcairn Islands, as part of his role as British High Commissioner to New Zealand, should have marked a celebratory final chapter in Martin Williams’ diplomatic career. But it was overshadowed by the tiny main island’s series of sexual assault cases that were investigated by Kent Police, and threatened the very fabric of this close-knit community. With its early tales of drunkenness, murder and death from tropical disease, Pitcairn has endured a chequered yet remarkable history. Its unlikely band of rebel settlers from the mutinous crew of the Bounty in 1790 somehow survived the tropical elements, and their descendants now reside in what stands as the British Government’s last remaining overseas territory within the South Pacific. Having a population of a little over 50, Pitcairn Island acquired UNESCO world heritage status in the 1980s. “The island was so far removed from anything I had been used to. It was quite bizarre and almost not of this world. It’s a fantastic community and serves as an example of how places can flourish providing they work together,” recalls Mr Williams of his initial impressions of Pitcairn, where he served between 1998 and 2001. The island’s relative isolation has counted against it, as was seen with a global appeal for new settlers last year. Just one person took up the offer of ‘living the dream’ and making the move to Pitcairn. By far the darkest chapter in its recent history came during Mr Williams’ tenure, during which he tackled a series of sexual assault cases involving under-age girls and nearly a third of the island’s male population. A decision was made that, as the islands were under British jurisdiction, officers from Kent Police would investigate allegations of sexual abuse.

Mr Williams says: “Worrying reports emerged when I was Governor, and I decided that if we were going to investigate cases of abuse then there needed to be a legal process that related to this.

‘We had to set up a complete legal system’ “So we had to set up a complete legal system, which had facilities for trials to be heard and judges that were independent. Police found that there were several men who had possibly sexually assaulted under-age girls, but the legal basis for this had to be established. “We had to be very clear with them that their behaviour needed to be dealt with – it was an extremely difficult thing to do, but it has been achieved with the legal system we set up. “In the end, seven convictions were upheld in these cases and there were appeals to the Privy Council. The case mounted by the defence collapsed – it was clear there was no basis for appeal. Some of these men were sentenced to serve time on a prison that had to be built on the island. “But because of how small it was, there were

PITCAIRN The rocky shoreline

occasions when those who had been convicted had to be let out when work needed to be done.” Mr Williams only made two visits to the island. The first was particularly memorable, as he was dropped off in its only navigable spot, Bounty Bay, where the decaying remains of the ship that inspired the location’s name is still visible to divers off the rocky shores. His remarkable experiences while serving in New Zealand and the South Pacific, which saw his artist wife design stamps for Pitcairn, are quite some contrast to their life back in Kent. These days, the 74 year old is a member of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society, and also plays an active role in Yalding village life through the parish church. He reflects that his career has proved hugely rewarding over the years, and says he wouldn’t have done anything differently. “It was a privilege to spend time in this extraordinary community, which had been very successful in many ways” he says. Martin Williams will be giving a talk on his role as Governor of the Pitcairn Islands on March 18 at St John’s Church Hall, St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells. Email geraldchew@uclub.net for information.

BOUNTY MUTINEERS The captin and members of crew who remained loyal are cast adrift

PITCAIRN EARLY HISTORY The island was named after 15-year-old Robert Pitcairn, of the British Sloop HMS Swallow, who had sighted it in 1767. Until the arrival of the mutineers from The Bounty in 1790, the tiny chain in the South Pacific did not have any permanent settlement. According to archaeological research, Polynesian islanders from the region were aware of the group of four islands, which were named Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno, though had not established a continuous community there. Many of its residents became SeventhDay Adventist Christians, with remaining artefacts from the Bounty, including one of its ship’s Bibles becoming highly treasured items. The island is regarded as the least populated national jurisdiction in the world, and presently has a population of 56, down from a peak of nearly 250 in 1930.

SOUVENIR Mr Williams’ shark was carved using wood from the Pacific islands

Wednesday 9th March 2016

84 � ARTS & CULTURE

This is a really expressive Based at Trinity Theatre and managed in association with Town & Country Foundation, Trinity Gallery works with the charity to create a space where people prosper through ideas, inspiration and action. Artist-in-residence Jane Churchill and T&C’s Rachel Branson tell Fred Latty how it all works TELL US THE BACKGROUND OF THE GALLERY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH TOWN & COUNTRY

IS THERE MORE ROOM FOR ARTISTIC EXPRESSION AND EXPLORATION?

Jane: Town & Country Foundation has been a supporter of Trinity as part of its work to support and encourage art and creativity in the town, from both professional artists and community showcases. The project, which has run for several years, has highlighted the talent and creativity of local people, as well as raising awareness and giving a creative voice to many important issues and groups who could remain hidden in our community.

Jane: You can take people on a bit of a journey, and we’ve had relationships with artists over several years seeing their work grow, so that means this is a really expressive place that has everything. All those artists who get the space get to do their body of work. They’ll then offer back to the community through a Town & Country workshop, which goes out to various groups we have other links with, or new groups that we make links with.

WHEN DID IT ALL BEGIN?

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW IT’S FUNDED?

Jane: We first started putting on shows in 2006, and there are a number of ways of working. We develop projects and then use the gallery to showcase them. We realised we were doing that an awful lot, so we suggested partnering with Trinity. At the time, Trinity had just had some of their funding cut, so they were really having to find ways of doing things differently, which I think they’ve done really successfully, and part of that was the partnership working. We talked about whether we could partner with the gallery more fruitfully, because we were doing so many projects and it was so successful. It’s so empowering for people to take what work they’ve done somewhere; there’s something about that process that’s really exciting.

Rachel: The funding comes from the partnership between Town & Country and Trinity. We hire it out for various things, so in some form or another – not just the gallery – there’s money

AND HOW HAS IT DEVELOPED SINCE?

Jane: My background’s set design, so I’ve worked with Trinity in different ways over a long association. We have 42 weeks of Trinity’s programme, and Trinity has 10 weeks in which they can hire the space out to whichever artist or corporate event, so it allowed them the flexibility to actually be able to keep a funding stream through the gallery if they needed to. HOW OFTEN DO YOU PUT ON SHOWCASES?

Jane: We have about three a year, which are quite big, and we have lots of groups working towards that, so that could be installation painting, video installation, or anything the foundation’s worked on with various groups. Around that, we have a professional artists’ programme. WHAT MAKES THE GALLERY UNIQUE AS A CHARITY?

Jane: There are very few spaces that offer sustainability to an artist. There are lots of spaces you could go and hire for a huge amount of money, or the commission rate is so big, so this space is offered to artists. They don’t have to pay for it, so they can take a risk, which means we’re quite lucky as an arts venue, because we’re not having to necessarily sell like a commercial gallery.

‘There are more and more artists producing amazing work in this area. We’ve got a lot here, but perhaps people just don’t know it’ coming in from Town & Country Foundation to put on different events and use it as a venue. Commercial galleries need to make their money all the time, whereas we can have a slightly freer, more expressive desire to see the gallery inspire people. Art cuts across all demographics. WHERE DO THE ARTISTS YOU WORK WITH COME FROM?

Jane: It could be anyone, but it’s largely local. In every season, we try to get someone from outside the venue bringing something in, so we’ve had everything from international to emerging artists. I’m really keen in almost every programme – there are three in a year – that there’s a chance for an emerging artist who has never had a show before. That’s really vital to be able to then expand, so somebody local who’s doing something for the first time, and then more established artists from Kent or the South East. We’re very open; it’s got to be of a certain quality, but the beauty of it is that we’ll look at anything. DOES THAT DIVERSITY EXTEND TO TOWN & COUNTRY’S CHOSEN CHARITIES?

MIXED MEDIA The gallery promotes internatonal and emerging artists

Wednesday 9th March 2016

Rachel: We use it as a great space for Town & Country to work with. We can work with various charities, whatever they might be, working in partnership with Jane to create the art. It gives a different dimension to the charities out there and builds awareness in a different way. For Town & Country, it’s a great medium to be able to use to support the community work we’re doing. Town & Country Foundation is all about very much community-based projects improving the lives of the people in Tunbridge Wells and it’s residents.

ART ADVOCATE Artist-in-residence Jane Churchill

ARTS & CULTURE 

place that has everything WITH SO MANY ART GALLERIES IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS, IS THERE ROOM FOR THEM ALL?

ON DISPLAY Trinity puts on three showcases a year

Jane: I always think there’s room for everything. If an artist is coming here for three or four weeks, it’s not in direct competition to someone who’s being represented by a commercial gallery. It’s set apart because the artist has a really sustainable chance to sell their work. There aren’t many spaces that artists can approach directly, so I’m really keen on nurturing people through that process of how they can exhibit what they’ve got and make a show work.

BEING BASED IN A THEATRE MUST IMPACT ON THE KINDS OF AUDIENCES YOU ATTRACT…

WOULD YOU SAY CULTURE IS THRIVING IN THE TOWN?

Jane: We get a really interesting audience in that, someone who’s coming to a comedy café isn’t the same audience that comes to a Shakespeare play or a French film. But invariably, they’ll go to that space for a while, and if there are big, big shows, the interval drinks are in there. People are going in at the interval and before the shows, which is interesting because people are coming to see other things, so they get both. The audience is often challenged by what they might find in there, and it feels like this place is a real mix and open to everyone, and I think the audience reflects that.

Jane: I think it’s huge. It’s on the rise and there are more and more artists producing amazing work in this area. We’ve got a lot here, but perhaps people just don’t know it. There are lots of things that have come in and it just feels like it’s exponentially growing. There’s a market to buy art, there’s a market to sell your work and there’s definitely room for creative industries, which produce people who are doing really amazing things with their creativity in business.

IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU GET THE WORD OUT?

Jane: Under my remit of the programming, there hasn’t been any marketing. It’s always been with the understanding that the artist will have to do their own marketing for their own particular show. The foundation has been different because it’s got an organisation behind it that has been able to get things out in a different way.

FINALLY, WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF THE GALLERY?

Jane: I would love it to be known more, which is something we’ve been talking about. So much brilliant stuff goes on here, so I’d like to see more artists coming in to do more. We need to apply for more funding to give it a much bigger profile. I want it to continue, and think there’s a response, a want and a need for exhibition space, which we’re able to provide. To find out more about Trinity Gallery, visit www.trinitytheatre.net/plus. If you would like to be invited to opening events, or find out more about Town & Country Foundation or gallery events and workshops, please contact Jane Churchill by emailing jane.visualarts@gmail.com

AS AN AFFLUENT AREA, IS THERE A RISK OF ART LOVERS GOING TO LONDON OVER TUNBRIDGE WELLS?

Jane: Attracting the wealthy to stay within their town rather than go to London and spend their money there is quite a challenge, because there’s a lot going on here. It’s about reaching the people here to come to private views or get involved in their local art scene. It might feel a bit too small for them, but it’s not; the work is of a high standard and quality. It’s not always wealth that’s the advantage – it’s where the money gets spent.

PAINTING PARTNERS Jane works closely with Town and Country Foundation

Wednesday 9th March 2016

86 � WHAT’S ON A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

SEVEN DAYS OF EVENTS AT A GLANCE

Dave Barnett of TW events Just a small selection of events available in and around Tunbridge Wells. For more details visit the website or follow me on Twitter @tw_events or find me on Facebook. >> WEDNESDAY The Forum departs from its usual musical fare tonight as Word Up! Returns for one of it's regular spoken literary events featuring poets Sophia Walker and Sea Sharp. Budding writers from Tunbridge Wells and surrounds can also take part in the Open Mic Slam. The Hollies were one of the top bands of the 60s and have been performing for over 50 years. This evening they are back at the Assembly Hall singing many of the songs that made them so popular back in the good old days. >> THURSDAY Plans for the Curzon at the Corn Exchange may have been put on hold, but the films keep coming at Trinity Theatre. Today the film is Grandma with Lily Tomlin, it's got good scores on the film rating sites so worth a look. And at the Hawkhurst Kino they are showing a film in their arthouse strand, Rams is a charming, stunningly shot drama that focuses on two Icelandic sheep farmers whose decades-long feud comes to a head when disaster strikes their flocks. The Queens Hall in Cranbrook is showing a performance of the Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde this evening. Pass me my handbag please! This production by The Pantaloons Company moves on to Trinity next week. >> FRIDAY There's more entertainment at the Stag with the monthly Close up Show; an intimate evening of closeup magic, trickery and sleight of hand. The Assembly Hall continues it's run of old, revival and tributes acts with a performance by 'ELO Again' performing the hits of, er, ELO. There's more next week with acts representing Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple and in a strange piece of scheduling a different Led Zepplin tribute act at TRinity; a great couple of weeks for music fans of a certain age! The Frant Music Festival continues with some top class jazz at St Albans church with double bassist Tim Thornton and his quartet who regularly perform at some of the top venues in London.

Paul Dunton

A selection of events in Tunbridge Wells. For more details visit: www.tunbridgewellsevents. co.uk/thisweek

>> SATURDAY There's plenty of choices for fans of classical music and choral singing today but it's all out of Tunbridge Wells. The Busch Ensemble are performing at St Saviour's church in Tonbridge with the Tonbridge Music Club, the Paddock Wood Choral Society will perform pieces by Purcell, Handel and Vivaldi at St Andrew's church with the Henham Chamber Orchestra and Royal Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Male Voice Choir will be on the road and performing at the Ship Theatre in Sevenoaks. The March play at the Oast Theatre in Tonbridge is All My Sons by Arthur Miller, set in the aftermath of the Second World War. It tells how two families deal with the part they played in the conflict. It starts tonight and runs through to next Saturday. >> SUNDAY Trinity Theatre seem to be the only venue locally that is showing the Bolshoi Spartacus, at least I've not found it anywhere else. Written by Aram Khachaturian in the 50s it follows the story of the slave uprising in Rome. If you like muscular men in tights then it starts at 3 this afternoon. This is followed in the evening by the film Spotlight, winner of this year's Oscar for Best Picture and Original Screenplay. It follows the story of how Boston Globe journalists uncovered the story of child sex abuse by numerous Catholic priests. >> MONDAY There's an exhibition of Botanical and Tribal art by Joy Adamson (of Else fame) at Pashley Manor Gardens in Ticehurst. It's open to the public from today and is open until Saturday. Fans of ballet are being spoilt this week as the Uckfield Picture House is showing the re-imagined version of Bizet's most famous opera. This version of The Car Man was choreographed by Matthew Bourne and danced at Sadler's Wells last year. >> TUESDAY The final film at Trinity for the week is Youth, this looks an interesting film as it's Italian but with a British/ American cast including Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Jane Fonda and Paul Dano. Lots of award nominations and decent reviews so worth a look. There's another dance performance today and this one is live as the Vienna State Ballet brings it's production of Coppelia to the Stag.

Live music Dare I say it… but spring seems to be on its way… in any event, come rain or shine there is a feast of fantastic live gigs and concerts to be enjoyed this week across the town and my top picks are as follows:

THE BEDFORD PUB

2 High Street | Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late THURSDAY – The Acoustic Reverb Collective - Open Mic Night

PICK OF THE WEEK…

NO.9 SMOKEHOUSE

This Wednesday evening you can catch The Hollies at The Assembly Halls and ELO tribute ‘ELO Again’ on Friday night. Some great open mic evenings to look out for are The Acoustic Reverb Collective nights at The Bedford Pub on Thursday and The Cross Keys on Sunday and Nick Wilson’s open mic night at The Duke of York on Monday eve. All comers welcome and lots of local music talent to be enjoyed! The Grey Lady has some fantastic nights ahead with blues inspired singer-songwriter Rob Picazo headlining this Wednesday evening. Popular local 4 piece, The Tar Babies will be strutting their stuff on Friday evening to get you in the dancing mood as will the funky grooves of ‘Funkin’ Function’ on Saturday night. On Sunday evening Bluetones front man Mark Morriss will be performing a solo acoustic set alongside sets from The Rox and a special guest headline. Look out for the sensational Luke Jackson on tuesday 15th and if you can get a ticket in time…Charley Blue from BBC One’s ‘The Voice’ headlines The Grey Lady next wednesday evening. This Friday evening The excellent ‘Big Easy Quartet’ will be in action at The Cross Keys Pub offering a superb repertoire of Retro Funk, Classic R&B and New Orleans Jazz and on the same night globally acclaimed Guitar virtuoso Richard Durrant will be performing at Trinity Theatre. Alex Gold will be at The beau Nash Tavern this Saturday performing a vibrant mix of covers from 60’s to present day. For Jazz lovers I recommend Tom Thorton’s Jazz Quartet performing at St. Alban's Church in Frant this Friday evening as part of the Frant Music Festival.

9 Nevill Street | Open all day, free entry music from 8.30pm till late FRIDAY – Grosvenor Road

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

45 Mount Ephraim | Open all day, music from 7.30pm, entry charge for music may apply FRIDAY – Ed Watts (Jazz Piano) WEDNESDAY – Open Mic Night with Champagne Charlie and Tom Carradine

Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk WEDNESDAY – Wordup! - A Spoken Word Event: Sophia Walker + Sea Sharp + Open Mic Poetry Slam THURSDAY – Vicar's Picnic Presents: Maker + Jay Scott + Hannigan + Thomas Ashby THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

The Pantiles | Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www. pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk WEDNESDAY - Gronk, Lucy Jarrett Alice Rose Rob Picazo FRIDAY – (9.30pm till late) The Tar Babies SATURDAY – (9.30pm till late) Funkin Function SUNDAY – The Paul Dunton Orchestra, The Rox, Mark Morriss, Special guest headline TUESDAY – Kieran Draper, Chris Pope, Luke Jackson WEDNESDAY – Charley Blue + support from Andy Twyman ticket only show, full details at www.pdag. co.uk/event/2016/03/16 TRINITY THEATRE

Church Rd | Show times and ticket information at www. trinitytheatre.net FRIDAY – Richard Durrant: Guitar Whisperer FRANT MUSIC FESTIVAL

St. Alban's Church, Frant | Tickets £12, available from Frant Stores, Brittens Music, Grove Hill Road. FRIDAY – Tim Thorton's Jazz Quartet 8pm (Doors open 7.30 pm). More details available at www.frantmusic.org THE BEAU NASH

Mount Ephraim | Open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late SATURDAY – Alex Gold

Wednesday 9th March 2016

The must-read guide to what’s on musically for the week ahead… www.paulduntonandguests.com

THE CROSS KEYS, ST JOHNS ROAD

Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk WEDNESDAY – Sonny's Jazz: Steve Gable & Jane Tuft FRIDAY – Sonny's Blues & Groove: The Big Easy SUNDAY – The Acoustic Reverb Collective - Open Mic Night MONDAY – TWURPS- Ukulele Beginners Session WEDNESDAY – Sonny's Jazz: Alex Hutton Piano Trio THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

Crescent Rd | Show times & ticket prices vary, visit www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk for more information. WEDNESDAY – The Hollies FRIDAY – ELO Again CASSIDY’S SPORTS BAR

Castle St | Open all day, free entry, music from 9pm till late FRIDAY – JEM THE DUKE OF YORK

The Pantiles | Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm till late MONDAY – Nick Wilson’s Open Mic Night SCALLYWAG

THE ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road | Open all day, free entry, music from mid afternoon onwards. SATURDAY – Broad Band MONDAY – Open Mic/Jam Session

MARK MORRISS Playing at The Grey Lady Music Lounge on Sunday

THE GREAT OUTDOORS ■

Kent Barker Country matters

The Alice in Wonderland World of Pot-holed Roads

HE answer that came back over and over again was simply “there is no money for it”. It didn’t much matter what the question was. The response was the same. We’re sitting over coffee in the newly refurbished Village Shop and Café - four members of my parish council’s Highways Committee and three people from Kent County Council’s Roads and Travel Department, two whom are officers and the third a senior elected member. Now the appalling state of the highways around here is of considerable interest to many. In fact ‘interest’ is hardly the right word. Even ‘incandescent fury’ might not be strong enough. Few can remember when any road was fully resurfaced. Patched yes, but actually planning off the top tarmac and relaying a whole new surface? Well it simply doesn’t happen any more. Hasn’t done so for years. And each winter the pot-holes get bigger, and after enough people have broken wheels or springs and have inundated the council with complaints, then a team may come along with some lose ‘blackstuff’ on the back of a lorry and chuck it in the hole and flatten it in a

desultory sort of way. Sure it evens things out for a bit. But then the telephone people or the water people turn up and dig a trench and don’t fill it in properly, or a succession of those huge ‘Chelsea tractor’ 4x4s churn it up, or the frost gets to it and, before you know it, you are not just back where you started, but worse off even than that. And just don’t get me started on what it’s like for cyclists on the national bicycle ‘route’ that runs through the parish. We used to have a joke when we were doing our cycling proficiency at school, someone showing off would say ‘look no hands’ and someone else would reply: ‘look no teeth’. Well on our designated cycle routes the pot-holes are so big that it would be more a question of “look no bike … or rider”. So we invited the people with responsibility for our roads at KCC to come and see for themselves just how bad it was. We hired a mini-bus and took them on a tour, but it didn’t begin very propitiously. As our vehicle was weaving around the holes and bucking over the sunken camber like a demented bronco, the main man from the County Council could be heard to say “It’s much worse round where I live.”

Anyway, having demonstrated as best we could the deplorable situation and demanded “something must be done”, the County Councillor began his mantra of “there is no money for it”. The roads in the county had not been properly maintained for years, and it was estimated that it would require £230 million to bring Kent’s highways up to ’standard’. So it’s simply not going to be done because “there’s no money for it”. County Hall tells him to fill in pot-holes, ignore minor roads and concentrate on the main roads. Isn’t that, we asked, a bit unfair on areas like ours where there are loads of minor and almost no major roads? Ah well, he explained, it’s all down to central government funding. Basically the Shire counties have been ‘screwed’ by central government. Whitehall recently changed the rules and now we get money depending on how well we maintain our ‘assets’. Main roads are classed as assets, minor ones are not. Put simply, the more you maintain your assets the more money you get to maintain them. We stand to lose £13 million if we don’t keep them up to scratch. Sorry, did we hear right? If the roads are well maintained, you get more money to maintain them, which you don’t really need because they are well maintained. BUT, if they are poorly maintained because you can’t afford the maintenance,

you LOOSE the money you really need to carry out that maintenance. Yep, that makes a lot of sense. And who determines if they are well maintained or not. Ah, that will be the Country Council itself. It ‘self-judges’ its own performance, and then is judged on the self-judging! By now the collective heads of the parish councillors are spinning. Perhaps we’ve fallen down one of our own potholes and emerged, Alice like, in some un-wonderland where big is small and less is more. “Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. “I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I can’t take more.” “You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.” On that basis, substituting road repair for tea, we should really be quite pleased. We can hardly be any worse off than we are.

PARISH POTHOLES Alice spies a few nasty holes

Wednesday 9th March 2016

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