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Wednesday March 18 | 2020
Food bank is prepared for the worst By Robert Forrester THE foodbank that serves Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge is in good shape to cope with an increase in referrals and disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Nourish Community Foodbank say not only do they have plenty of stocks for the coming weeks and months, but also have the capacity to take more referrals should the current situation push people into food poverty. Dawn Stanford, Operations Manager at the foodbank, told the Times: “So far we are doing okay and have enough stocks of
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Towns reel from new rules aimed at stemming coronavirus spread By Richard Williams THE extreme measures outlined on Monday that urge people to avoid pubs, restaurants, and large gatherings are already biting hard. Boris Johnson’s radical measures to try to stop the exponential spread of the Covid-19 virus has already seen a number of businesses in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge close their doors, and many more are expected to follow suit. Shops, pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas have already announced closures, and a number of businesses have fallen into administration follow-
ing the unprecedented effects of the viral outbreak, which has so far claimed 71 lives across the UK. The elections scheduled to take place
‘In light of the situation we’ve taken the difficult decision to close’ on May 7 in Tunbridge Wells have been cancelled, as has the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner. Numerous buildings and offices have been closed to visitors, while some
firms are insisting staff work remotely. Local pubs are already feeling the brunt of the crisis with a number shutting their doors – despite the government not ordering them to do so. The Common Rooms on Mount Ephraim announced yesterday [Tuesday], that: “In light of the current situation we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily close The Common Rooms for the safety of our customers “We hope you understand and we look forward to opening again as soon as it is practical to do so.” But not all landlords and publicans intend to close immediately.
Despite measures in last week’s budget to protect pubs from the virus outbreak, including scrapping of Business Rates and an increase in the pub relief scheme from £1,000 to £5,000, publicans say this will not be enough to protect their businesses. Julian Leefe-Griffiths who runs the Tunbridge Wells Hotel in The Pantiles says he intends to stay open until Mother’s Day but will take ‘every sensible precaution’. Last night, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced a
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