LOCAL NEWS �
Call for change to ‘rip-off ’ parking permits
Bus routes change through road works
• By Julie Rae
MOUNT Pleasant Road is to remain closed for a further six weeks owing to improvement work at Fiveways. As a result, Stagecoach bus services will not stop at Mount Pleasant Road or Grosvenor Road and the 251, 252 and Hastings 254 services will be diverted away from the area. Kent County Council will be placing temporary bus stops in Church Road opposite and next to Trinity Theatre. Passengers are advised that bus stands at Meadow Road and Grosvenor Road (next to Tesco) will operate as normal. All northbound services will be use temporary stops on Church Road, while southbound will be serving the war memorial at bus stop Q. A Stagecoach spokesman said: “We regret any inconvenience caused by this closure which is completely beyond our control.”
ANGRY town centre workers are calling on the council to make “rip-off” parking season tickets more fair and flexible. Employees based in Tunbridge Wells have accused the borough council of using the permits, for council-owned car parks, as revenue raisers, and say they are not fit for purpose. The annual tickets are available either full or part-time at a cost of up to £850. But as the full-time permit covers seven days and the part-time four, neither meets many workers’ needs. Ian Jervison, 58, who lives in Tunbridge Wells and works in the town centre, said: “It’s an absolute rip-off. Who works seven days a week? It’s terrible you can’t just buy a permit for five days. People work five days not seven. “But of course we all buy the season tickets because they’re cheaper than paying the daily rate. The council’s taking liberties by charging us for seven days – they’re getting paid for two days’ parking that most of us aren’t using. And I bet those spaces are filled on weekends and being paid for again by shoppers.” Alison Thomas from Tunbridge Wells also believes the council needs to introduce a five-day permit. The 53-year-old said: “I have a full-time ticket but I only ever use it on the five days I work. Nobody works seven
Running addict’s 12-month epic charity challenge A SELF-CONFESSED running addict is planning 12 challenges in 12 months to raise £12,000 for Barnardo’s. Father of one Alex Cole, from Tunbridge Wells, ran the town’s half-marathon last month and is due to complete another such race in Kingston, London, this weekend. The 33-year-old works as a manager for John Lewis, which has been supporting the children’s charity since last year, but had not exercised regularly for ten years before he started training for his first challenge. He said: “Understanding how John Lewis has backed Barnardo’s amazing work with children really motivated me to push myself physically and raise as much money as possible. “I feel mentally and physically great and I’m doing this for such a great cause. I had a good upbringing and wanted to give something back. As a father it really strikes a chord when you know that other children really need your help.” Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “It’s fundraisers like Alex who enable us to help those children and families who need it the most. We rely on their generous commitment, creativity and motivation. Barnardo’s will be cheering Alex along all the way and hoping he reaches his fundraising target.” Mr Cole is also planning a Dirty Dozen mud run on April 18, a triathlon in Scotland in June a sky dive in the summer, an Everest base camp trek in November and a Santa run in December. For more information, search “12 months 4 charity” on Facebook or visit www.justgiving. com/12-4-Charity
days. I have colleagues who work part-time across five days and they either have to buy a seven-day season ticket or the part-time one and top it up by paying for a full day of parking at a cost of nearly £6 a time. It’s a disgrace.” Clare Mills, 28, who travels in from Hildenborough every day, thinks the permits are expensive and do not take into consideration the real needs of workers: She said: “It would be better if the permits were more flexible and they’re expensive at £850 a year for full-time parking. They should offer five-day season tickets at a slightly reduced rate to make it more flexible and suitable. “Let’s be honest, nobody works seven days week.” Sharon Woods of Colonnade Florists felt the scheme works – but she shares her permit with a colleague so it is used on all seven days. She said: “I use it five days of the week and she uses it on the other two, making it cost-effective for both of us.” Tunbridge Wells Borough Council recently rejected recommendations from the Town Forum to replace the seven-day with a five-day permit. They also ignored the forum’s recommendations to introduce parking discounts for commuters. A seven-day annual permit costs £850, while the four-day option is £486 and the buyer can select for which four days it is valid. But owning a parking permit does not guarantee a space.
In 2014, the authority made £2m from parking charges. The town centre permits are currently more expensive than those in Ashford and Sevenoaks town centres and Tonbridge and Malling car parks. A recent council report said: “The income raised from car parking is important. It is used to maintain the car parks and also helps fund key services…The council’s funding has been cut by almost half…Income from car parking plays an important role in maintaining a balanced budget and continuing the levels of service the council provides. The council wants to promote alternatives to cash, such as pay by phone and season tickets.” A spokesman for TWBC said: “Tunbridge Wells’ car parks raised £5,451,685 in total gross revenue (before costs) in 2013/14. This is an increase of nearly £35,000 on 2012/13. “We get many suggestions from many places, we didn’t ignore the Town Forum recommendations. The 2015 parking strategy is reviewing all such ideas.“We are currently asking for people’s views for the 2015 draft parking strategy. This consultation is open until March 15 and everyone is welcome to submit ideas for further consideration.” To have a say, visit consult.tunbridgewells.gov.uk julie@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk
Spring spectacular at home of best bluebells
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Golf day in aid of good cause BOOKINGS are being taken for a golf day in aid of brain injury charity Headway. The west Kent arm of the organisation, which provides support to people who have suffered head injuries as well as their parents and carers, is hosting the event, at Nizels Golf and Country Club in Hildenborough on May 22. Tickets, priced £60 or £220 for a group of four, include breakfast, a two-course lunch, the golf, a raffle, a speaker and more. To book, email info@headwaywkent.org or call 01892 619001.
FARMERS’ MARKET COMING UP BLOOMING Annabella in the bluebells
A “SPRING spectacular” at the home of some of the best bluebells in the country gets under way this weekend. Hole Park Gardens, which is also renowned for its rhododendrons and wisterias, is famous for its “spectacular” bluebell displays, with a circular walk showing them off to their best advantage. And although the flowers are not yet out, a “bluebell barometer”, which provides updates as to when they are expected to look their best, will feature on the gardens’ website from next month. Visitors to the spring spectacular, which involves the venue’s being open daily from Saturday until June 7, can also see the results of a major bulb-planting programme,
including Queen of the Night tulips, narcissus and crocuses. A spokesman said: “The bluebells at Hole Park are simply stunning with the most amazing scent. There is a very pretty circular walk through them, which takes you past a renovated ice house and back through the pretty white garlic. There are wooden benches along the way for a rest and to take in the view. The bluebells at Hole Park have featured on The One Show and on the national weather during BBC Breakfast.” The gardens are open every day from 11am to 6pm. For more information, and to see the bluebell barometer from next month, visit www.holepark.com
Monday – Friday 7:30am to 5pm Saturday 8am - 4pm
PICK up some fresh produce in the centre of town this weekend. The Tunbridge Wells Farmers’ Market runs from 9am to 2pm on Saturday in Civic Way, outside the town hall.
SHOW AREA IS OPEN
Forstal House, Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6PY 01892 833325 www.smallloads.co.uk BUY ONLINE Wednesday 11th March 2015