Wednesday September 23 | 2020
Times
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Jack Charles
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OF TONBRIDGE
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Unemployment in the town at highest level for 26 years By Robert Forrester
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AROUND 2,500 people in Tonbridge have lost their jobs since the Covid crisis began, resulting in the highest unemployment levels since February 1994. Office for National Statistics [ONS] data released last week, show there were 3,530 people claiming out of work benefits in August. The last time unemployment was this high was 26 years ago in February 1994 when there were 3,545 people in the borough out of work.
Jobless
waste any time but get on with building it. “Design is paramount in this location. I think this building is elegant and fits well with all the different designs and materials around it. “It is not trying to copy its neighbours but compliments them in a quiet way. After consultation with residents and Historic England the Developer has produced an exciting contemporary design. “We have to create the his-
That was following the recession of the early 90s which saw interest rates hit 15 per cent and Britain crash out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism [ERM] on Black Wednesday. The current ONS figures show that since the coronavirus crisis began in March, nearly 2,500 more people in Tonbridge & Malling are out of work compared to last year. In August 2019, claimant figures stood at just 1,080. There is a similar picture across Kent. In Tunbridge Wells, the number of people claiming out of work benefits has reached 3,370 – up 2,435 from August 2019. The last time there were as many jobless people in Tunbridge Wells was in April 1993. And across Kent, there are now more than 60,000 claiming either
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PERFORMANCES RETURN Tonbridge Castle played host to its first live performances in its grounds since lockdown see page 2
Council approves 70-room hotel that promises to ‘boost to regeneration’ By Richard Williams A HOTEL development that will more than double the number of hotel beds in Tonbridge has been given the green light. Jaspar Group, a familyowned property developer, has been granted planning permission for a regeneration project that includes a 70-room hotel, a retail unit, and new apartments. To be built on the site to the rear of Poundland car park, the development will have a
‘revitalised retail unit and facade’ facing the High Street. It will increase the number of hotel rooms in Tonbridge town centre to 125. Currently, the High Street
planning permission at Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Cllr Vivian Branson, chair of the Area One Planning Committee told the Times that the hotel ‘will give
‘We have to create the history for the future and Tonbridge will be at the forefront’ has just the 55-bed Best Western Rose and Crown Hotel, which has been up for sale since 2018. Following the granting of
a boost to regeneration’ for the town. She added: “I do hope that now planning has been approved, the developer won’t
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