Times of Tunbridge Wells 19th August 2020

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

Student who took his life over exam fears got top mark

TRIBUTES Flowers in Dunorlan Park where Mathew Mackell [inset] died in May

TEENAGER Matthew Mackell took his own life because he feared his chances of getting a good A-level score would be hit by lockdown.

But when results were announced last week it emerged that he got a top mark.

The body of Matthew was found by police in Dunorlan Park on May 7.

The Skinner’s Academy pupil had hanged himself over fears lockdown would mean his schooling would suffer and he would ‘end up in a dead-end job’.

But the father of the 17-year-old has told the Times that his son’s fears were groundless as he received an A grade for one of his subjects.

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LATEST figures show that Tunbridge Wells is among the districts in Kent with the lowest reported cases of coronavirus.

It is also significantly below the national average per head of the population.

Just three people tested positive for the virus that causes Covid-19 in figures released last Friday [August 14].

The figures, for the seven days to August 11, are based on tests carried out in laboratories (pillar one of the Government’s testing programme) and in the wider community (pillar two).

Only Swale had fewer cases in Kent, with just one positive test.

So far, around 501 people in Tunbridge Wells have tested positive for coronavirus, or 422 people per 100,000 head of population – well below the national

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average of 488 per 100,000.

As of Friday, there have been 8,347 positive cases in Kent so far, or 527 for every 100,000 people.

Tonbridge & Malling saw seven people test positive for the virus, double the pre-

‘We appeal to residents to follow the guidance should they be contacted’ vious seven days, according to last week’s figures – although the borough has the lowest levels of positive tests in the county, with just 372 cases – or 281 per 100,000 people.

Across the UK, a total 318,484 people have tested positive for coronavirus.

Northampton has the highest rate of

infections, thanks to an outbreak at the Greencore sandwich factory in the town.

A total of 260 new cases were recorded in Northampton in the seven days to August 11, the equivalent of 115.8 per 100,000 people – up from 34.7 in the previous seven days to August 4.

Kent County Council’s Director of Public Health, Andrew Scott-Clark, said testing in the county had been ‘ramped up’ but urged people in the area to still be mindful of the virus.

He said: “We have increased our testing capacity so that we are able to identify and confirm cases in our community and support the NHS Test and Trace programme.

“We appeal to residents to follow the guidance should they be contacted by NHS trace. This will hall help us control the spread of the virus.”

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

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A’s reinstated following A-level chaos

By Richard Williams A TUNBRIDGE WELLS student who wrote to two MPs when she had her A-level results downgraded, says she is ‘so happy’ that the government has reversed its decision about predicted grades.

Lara Etheridge was predicted to get three As in Chemistry, Biology and English Literature, but was ‘appalled’ on Thursday to discover her results had been downgraded to a BCC. The Bennett Memorial pupil said the results – generated by a computer algorithm supposedly to prevent ‘grade inflation’ – would have dashed her hopes of studying Biochemistry at Southampton University.

She told the Times: “I actually took an extra year so I have been studying for my A-levels for three years. I worked so hard and got straight As throughout the three years, only to have this

Continued from front page

Matthew’s top mark

WELL BEING: New project supports young people impacted by Covid-19 crisis P15 NEW BLOOD: Find out why Linda Lewis feels it is time for her to move on from the Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival P32

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Michael Bond said he has been ‘left heartbroken’ following the death of his son, and that other young people struggling after receiving their A-level results should ‘stick with it’.

Speaking last Thursday, when thousands of pupils Matthew’s age received their results, Mr Bond said: “I have just received Matthew’s results for finance today, and he received an A. It is the only result I have received, but it shows he did not realise he was doing so well.”

He said the teenager had written in his suicide note that he feared his A-level chances would be affected by lockdown.

“He said that he didn’t want to end up in a dead-end job. He’d lost contact with his friends in lockdown and just couldn’t handle it all,” Mr Bond said.

The single father, who has two other children, Christopher, 18, and Daniel, 13, discovered Matthew had been contemplating seeking help through suicide charity Papyrus.

“I went through his phone and found he had visited their site two or three times but there’s nothing on his phone to suggest he reached out to them,” he said.

Chris Munday, CEO of West-Kent based Crossways Community, says many people Matthew’s age will be feeling the strain at the moment.

“A-levels are always stressful, but this year young people will find they have had no control over their grades, and control is something that is important for good mental health. And on top of several months of lockdown they will need support,” he said.

He added that teenagers who haven’t achieved what they had hoped would need time to reflect.

“Parents and teachers will need to help them rethink their options and help them come up with a plan B,” he said.

TWO MORE UNDER INVESTIGATION Two more members of staff at Kent Police are being investigated over Matthew’s death.

The Independent Office of Police Conduct [IOPC] launched an investigation in the May after Kent Police failed to turn up to Dunorlan Park, despite the teenager telling a call handler he was going to kill himself.

A police officer and two members of staff were initially under investigation but now a further two members of Kent Police staff have been served notices by the police watchdog.

The investigation was triggered following a mandatory referral to the IOPC by the force.

Young people needing help can reach out to Papyrus-uk.org or call them on 0800 068 4141

happen. I just couldn’t understand it.”

Lara, whose parents are separated and live in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, wrote to both local MPs, explaining the situation.

Greg Clark wrote back to say he would write to Gavin Williamson the Education Secretary, ‘to convey the urgency of the need to give confidence to students’.

Angry On Monday, Gavin Williamson reversed his decision and allowed predicted grades to be used for university placements.

Lara says things are ‘still up in the air’ as to whether she will get her place at Southampton due to oversubscription, and added: “Saying I am angry at the government is an understatement. This should never have happened.”

She says she believes she may have been the victim of her mother’s Kings Hill postcode, as most of her peers in Tunbridge Wells were not downgraded.

Indeed, the controversial results algorithm had little effect to the grades of most schools in Tunbridge Wells, despite around 40 per cent of grades across the country being downgraded.

At Skinner’s Academy, headteacher Edward Wesson told the Times he believes the results for their cohort were downgraded but only by around five per cent.

Benenden School headmistress Samantha Price said the results were ‘consistent’ with previous years and 64 per cent of grades were at A* or A, up from 56 per cent in 2019.

While at Mayfield School, Headmistress Miss Antonia Beary said despite the ‘unprecedented disruption’ the school received a 100 per cent pass rate, with 66 per cent at A* or A.

Administration over for colleges as transfer secures their future MOVING ON West Kent and Ashford College in Brook Street, Tonbridge

By Robert Forrester HADLOW College and West Kent and Ashford College are under new management, ending an 18-month spell in educational administration.

Last year the two colleges became the first in the UK to have ever been placed into educational administration following an investigation into the finances of the Hadlow Group, which ran both colleges.

Now, the joint education administrators say they have concluded a contract with North Kent College for the transfer of the further education establishments, effectively ending the administration process.

Troubles The transfer of Hadlow College and the Tonbridge campus of West Kent and Ashford College took effect from Saturday [August 15].

Students who have not yet completed their studies at the colleges have now been transferred to the new education provider.

Combined, both colleges have around 4,700 students enrolled and studying during most academic years.

Graham Morley, who was drafted in as Interim Principal of both colleges following the troubles with Hadlow Group’s finances, said: “This transfer of Hadlow College, including its Equestrian Centre in Greenwich, and the Tonbridge site of West Kent and Ashford College to North Kent College, has successfully secured their future as valuable community assets.

“It has preserved both colleges’ long-standing heritage, ensured that specialist land-based education remains within the Garden of England and positively concluded a process that started in February 2019 with the FE Commissioner’s intervention and subsequent publication of his report.

“On a personal note, this transfer also brings to a close my involvement with both colleges. It is

therefore with sadness that I say goodbye to all the valued colleagues I’ve worked with these last 18 months.”

Tonbridge & Malling MP, Tom Tugendhat, said he was ‘delighted’ the future of the two colleges has been secured.

He added: “Hadlow and West Kent College leaving administration is not just important to us locally, but it is of national significance. It is a new beginning for the Colleges which can thrive under new leadership.

“I would like to pay tribute to Graham Morley and his team who have steered the Colleges through some difficult times over the past 18 months. They have helped keep students learning and have made a huge difference to so many in their studies.

“I am delighted to help deliver on the commitment to save Hadlow and West Kent College I made at the General Election.

“This is only possible following changes to national legislation allowing the Education Administration process, putting students first. I look forward to working with North Kent College to keep Hadlow and West Kent Colleges as some of the very best further education facilities in the area.”

David Gleed, Chief Executive and Executive Principal of North Kent College, welcomed the arrival of the two new campuses.

He said: “As we move into this exciting new chapter it brings with it a wealth of opportunities.

We’ve secured course provision for all current and new learners and this is the outcome we have worked exceptionally hard to achieve.

“The union will strengthen the breadth of our curriculum offer and our training provision across Kent and equip students with the skills and knowledge to prepare them for successful careers and further studies.

“We will continue to serve all local communities and build working relationships across the County, striving to ensure a strong and consistently reliable offer.”

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

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Pembury bypass crash leaves one man dead

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A MAN who died in an apparent hit and run incident in Tonbridge has been named.

Anthony Gower was found dead on the Pembury Road on August 6 at around 9.15pm.

He had injuries consistent with a road traffic accident but no vehicle had stopped at the scene.

The 52-year-old had been walking his dog at the time of the incident. The dog was unharmed.

A 30-year-old man, who has not been named, is currently on bail after being arrested on suspicon of causing death by dangerous driving.

A damaged hatchback was also found by police in Darenth Avenue.

PC Jamie Woodhams of Kent Police said they are still appealing for information.

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THE return of The Pantiles’ popular Jazz night was an ‘unbelievable success’, organisers have said.

There were fears throughout the day that thunderstorms predicted to break during the heatwave would put a dampener on last Thursday’s [August 13] Jazz on The Pantiles return.

But the storm clouds missed Tunbridge Wells, and more than 400 revellers were able to enjoy a night of music and food.

Due to Covid-19, Jazz on The Pantiles has had to become a pre-booked, all-seater event, and organiser Julian Leefe-Griffiths was concerned that people may turn up unaware of the changes.

But he told the Times: “Normally lots people turn up, and last week with A-level results released on the same day, we thought we might have to manage a lot of young people wanting to join in.

“But we had none of that. It was a really safe, well-attended event and an absolute pleasure to run.”

He continued: “All the restaurants were busy but there was no mess, no noise, and it was just lovely to see so many people in Tunbridge Wells come out to enjoy a good time.”

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Jazz night return hailed a success after escaping thunderous downpours

ALL THAT JAZZ Revellers enjoying a Covid safe night out

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a four-vehicle crash last week that saw the A228 Pembury Northern bypass closed for most of a day and left one man dead.

The incident happened around noon on Tuesday, August 11, when a Mercedes, a Mini, a Land Rover and a lorry collided between the junctions with Tonbridge Road and Old Church Road.

A 50-year-old man from the Tunbridge Wells area, who has not been named, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kent Police say they are appealing for any witnesses and are particularly keen to trace the driver of a white van who was near the scene at the time.

Anyone with information should call 01622 798538 quoting DS/DJ/70/20.

TUNBRIDGE Wells High Street became one-way yesterday [Tuesday] as an order was placed by Kent Highways prohibiting traffic from entering the road from Mount Pleasant.

Traffic will only be permitted to run up the hill. The order is to last 18 months.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council say they will now widen the pavement on the Castle Street side of the road to enable social distancing in the wake of Covid-19. The work is expected to be completed by mid-September.

Local News

County Hall refuses to accept any more unaccompanied asylum seeking children

By Richard Williams THE leader of Kent County Council [KCC] has called for other local authorities to take in unaccompanied migrant children as it can no longer care for the ‘significant numbers’ arriving.

In an ‘unthinkable’ move, Roger Gough, who is a county councillor for Sevenoaks, said yesterday [Tuesday] that Kent was now ‘unable to accept new arrivals’.

Challenge He appealed for support from other UK Local Authorities to take in unaccompanied asylumseeking children [UASC] because Kent had reached the limit of safe capacity.

The county has taken more than 1,500 migrant children since 2014, but 13 arrivals in the last two days had ‘tipped the balance’.

Cllr Gough said that the current discretionary National Transfer Scheme to fairly distribute the care of these young people to local authorities throughout the UK was a ‘failure’ and that the burden of the migrant children was putting an

‘impossible strain’ on KCC resources.

“I am deeply disappointed and concerned that, despite our many efforts to avoid this unthinkable situation, it has been necessary to make this announcement today,” he said.

“This is a huge challenge for Kent, but a relatively small challenge to solve nationally, and should have been resolved before now.

“Since the arrival of significant numbers of UASC at the port of Dover in 2014/15, KCC has cared for and found homes for over 1,500 UASC in Kent, and is currently responsible for 589 under 18 year-old and 945 (18-25 year-old) care leavers, whilst still sustaining our focus on delivering high-quality services to citizen children in care.

“The stark reality today is that, despite my conversations with the Home Office alerting them that Kent expected to reach safe capacity to meet its statutory duty of care

this weekend, 13 new arrivals in the last 2 days has now tipped the balance and the council simply cannot safely accommodate any more new arrivals at this time.”

In May this year, KCC made a direct appeal for support to the Home Secretary Priti Patel but ‘promised actions had not materialised’.

Sue Chandler, Cabinet member for Integrated Children’s Services said: “KCC will continue to review the situation and stay in contact with the Home Office and other UK local authorities for support.”

She added that the current voluntary National Transfer Scheme needed to be made mandatory.

“If every other local authority in the UK were to immediately accept two or three (under 18 year-old) UASC from Kent into their care, Kent’s numbers would reduce to the council’s ROGER GOUGH safe allocation.”

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Flying start to our campaign to help business bounce back LAST WEEK, this newspaper launched its own initiative called Back in Business to help local companies trying to bounce back from the ravaging impact of Covid-19.

We offered to start profiling them on these pages by way of support and free of charge. Here are the first of these profiles and we would urge readers to support them along with all other local businesses – together we can get through all of this.

If you would like your business highlighted, particularly if you are a smaller independent, then see the details on this page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Airport chauffeur service is back in driving seat BACK IN BUSINESS: A LUXURY private hire firm that saw its revenue plunge to just five per cent when lockdown was announced, has bounced back.

Airport Car Services [ACS] was formed in 2006 to provide an exemplary chauffeur driven service for the people of Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding villages.

But when Covid hit, the firm had to lay off its self-employed drivers and its call operators were stood down.

Startling Owner Ian Dolwin told the Times: “In the last three years we had gone from strength to strength with a very strong client base of large businesses, such as AXA in Tunbridge Wells, as well as a number of private individuals.

“With 70 per cent of our business coming from airport transfers, obviously the pandemic had a startling impact.

“We went from around six to eight airport runs a day to virtually nothing for three months. I did one or two jobs a week for four months.

“Covid-19 reduced our revenue to just five per cent, and there was no work for the part time and full-time drivers, and I was answering the phone myself.”

He continued: “But now people are allowed to travel again we are back.

“We’ve only just started up again and there is still a long way to go before the business returns to pre-Covid levels, but it is good to be back in business.”

WHO ARE THEY? Airport Car Services WHAT DO THEY DO? First class private hire HOW TO CONTACT THEM: www.airport-carservices.co.uk or 01892 640 641

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

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Here’s how to sign up for our initiative aimed at helping businesses, particularly smaller independents, bounce back. Just send us the background details of your company, in no more than 400 words, telling us: Who you are ... where you are... what you offer... and how you believe raising your profile in the Times might help. Relevant images of you and your product will also be appreciated.

We’ll do our best over the coming weeks to profile your business along with your website site, at no cost to you.

Details to: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Tutor quits stop gap supermarket job to return to teaching language BACK IN BUSINESS: THE Les Puces language learning method was launched by Mandie Davis from Tunbridge Wells in 2015.

Based in St James’ Road, it taught French to school children across the South East during after-school and curriculum classes, including at SKPS, Bishop Chavasse, and Brenchley and Matfield.

business that can provide important language lessons for children,” explained Mandie.

“Every two months, children receive an exciting parcel in the post, with a bilingual book, project, worksheets, progress card and stickers.

“Children then go onto the members only area of the website where they hear the book being read in both languages, as they turn the pages themselves, before having a go at reading the French version.”

While it is ‘early days’ Mandie no longer has to work at Sainsbury’s and is back to focusing on doing what she does best.

“We also now offer Zoom classes, in private or in small groups. Families from Kent to California have already signed up and Les Puces would love to welcome more families to help them bounce back,” she said.

Cancel Les Puces was all set to expand with a new area manager joining in May 2020, but Covid-19 put the brakes on when all schools closed on March 17 and the company’s income was completely lost.

Faced with a lack of teachers and no prospect of schools reopening to outside contractors, Mandie was forced to cancel expansion plans and had to find another job. She applied at Sainsbury’s in Tunbridge Wells where she got a job as a food packer for online deliveries.

Back in May, she told the Times: “I get up at 3:15am, five mornings a week and work from 4am to around 10 or 11, depending on the amount of

work and how exhausted I’m feeling.”

Due to the Covid lockdown, Mandie had to make a full-time member of staff redundant and has lost all but a handful of teachers, but is bouncing back with a new business model teaching children French remotely.

“The reformed Les Puces is a lockdown-proof

Photographer diversifies thanks to creative grant BACK IN BUSINESS: A TUNBRIDGE WELLS photographer has managed to diversify thanks to a grant from South East Creatives.

Professional photographer Rose Bainbridge, who also takes pictures for the Times, was in the process of growing her business when Covid struck.

With weddings cancelled, she found herself on the verge of having to sell her camera just to survive but the grant helped her diversify and allowed her business to survive the pandemic.

“It’s been a tough year. Three months ago, I thought I would have to sell all my equipment to get through coronavirus.

“I knew I had to diversify but financially, there was no way I could afford to do this, every time I saved, something more urgent than a new camera system would pop up, but South East Creatives came along like a Fairy Godmother and made my dream a reality.

“Being back doing what I love is an indescribable feeling.”

The South East Creatives project, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, has helped to support over 160 businesses throughout the pandemic.

Companies from Kent, Essex and East Sussex can still apply for grants, workshops, mentoring

WHO ARE THEY? Les Puces WHAT DO THEY DO? French language school for children HOW TO CONTACT THEM: bonjour@lespuces. co.uk, via website: www.lespuces.co.uk or 01892 457135

Mentor gets back to meeting clients BACK IN BUSINESS: A BUSINESS COACH has gone back to meeting clients face to face after months of using online platform Zoom.

Neil Williams has been an accredited coach for 15 years, but when lockdown bit he was unable to meet those needing his help other than over the internet. Now he is back giving business mentoring face to face.

Redundant

or internships, and South East Creatives is offering 35 per cent grant funding for businesses in the digital, creative and cultural sector.

Rose added: “Without their financial support, I wouldn’t have been able to shoot and stream my first lock down wedding. I’m so grateful” WHO ARE THEY? Rose Bainbridge Photography WHAT DO THEY DO? Freelance photographer and videography HOW TO CONTACT THEM: Use her contact form on rosebainbridgephtography.com

He said: “I am based in Tunbridge Wells and I have been working virtually with my clients. Now I can meet for a coffee or outside the Forum in the fresh air.

“I focus on executive or leadership coaching, business mentoring, retirement coaching and career transition.

“There may be people made redundant in the next few months and I want the people of Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas to know that I exist and can support them.”

WHO ARE THEY? NVW Solutions WHAT DO THEY DO? Business mentoring and coaching HOW TO CONTACT THEM: nvwsolutions.co.uk or 01892 521 871

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

Town centre flagship project spirals £6million over budget

By Richard Williams THE Amelia Scott cultural centre currently under construction in Tunbridge Wells has gone over budget by around £6million from its original estimate.

The replacement for the museum and art gallery that will also contain the town’s Gateway services was originally set to cost £13.4million when Council first gave the greenlight for the project in 2015.

By October last year, the cost of the development had increased to £16.1million, but a report being presented to the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee next week will show the project is now set to cost more than £19.3million.

RISING COST The Amelia Scott currently under construction

Among them include an unexpected gas main that was not in the original plans, more asbestos than was expected, contaminated soil and the

impact of Covid and Brexit on supply chains.

There has also been more than six-fold increase in the costs to prop up the interior and exterior of the building while it is being renovated, from £51,000 to £300,000.

The project is being jointly funded between TWBC, who were expecting to pay £8million; Kent County Council who are now providing £1.7million; Arts Council England, who are contributing £886,000; and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, who it is hoped will increase their original £4.6million contribution to provide nearly £5million.

External fundraising was also expected to generate about £1.4million but due to Covid there are doubts this will be achieved.

Councillors are expected to vote on whether to approve the extra funding on September 23.

Cllr Jane March, the Cabinet’s head of Culture, Leisure and Economic Development says failing to acquire the extra money would result in the project being suspended and lead to more costs.

She said: “We have Arts Council funding on the understanding that it will be completed, so we would be under severe pressure to pay the money back if we don’t complete it.

“There is a fair amount of cross-party support for the Amelia Scott, and I’ve spoken to the parties and they have given no negative feedback and overwhelming support to get it completed.”

She insisted that completion of the cultural hub, which it is hoped will attract 500,000 visitors a year, will not affect the Council’s other obligations.

“Services will not be affected and the offer of the Amelia when it is finished will benefit the whole community,” said Cllr March, adding that the museum’s 60,000 objects, which include the Camden collection, Tunbridge Ware and a Victorian costume collection were ‘nationally important’.

Scrapped The rising price tag means Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC], which is already facing a £8million black hole in its finances due to the Covid crisis, will have to ask councillors to approve at least £2million in additional funding in the next full council meeting in September.

In October last year, the Council’s Calverley Square development was scrapped at a cost of £10million when councillors refused to approve an additional £18million in spending on the project when its cost also spiralled from £90million to £108million The reason for the increase in costs for The Amelia Scott, which is scheduled to be completed on time in December 2021 and be open by April 2022, is due to a number of challenges faced by builders Willmott Dixon.

ARTIST’S IMPRESSION How the Foyer inside the Amelia Scott will look

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Paddock Wood man jailed for ramming police car during high speed chase A VAN driver who deliberately rammed a police car several times in an attempt to avoid arrest near Tunbridge Wells has been jailed for 15 months.

On May 23 this year, officers were on patrol on the A264 Langton Road at Langton Green when they saw a Ford Transit van with defective rear lights.

After requesting the driver stop using their blue lights and siren, the van being driven by David Jordan, of Paddock Wood, sped away towards Rusthall, before stopping and reversing in an attempt to ram the police vehicle.

While the officers lost sight of the van, a police dog handler later saw it on the A26 Eridge Road.

Police say Jordan was pursued through Frant into East Sussex where the he sped dangerously through rural roads and reversed a number of times into the dog handler’s vehicle.

A stinger device finally brought the van to a halt in Turnden Road, Cranbrook, where Jordan got out of the driver’s door and ran from the scene through residential gardens.

He was finally found hiding in a bush by a police dog.

He was arrested and charged with criminal damage to a police vehicle, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, failing to stop for a police officer when required to do so and possession of cannabis.

CONTROVERSIAL The proposed community centre in Memorial Field

Protestors to continue fight against centre as contractors are appointed

By Richard Williams A COMMUNITY centre in Paddock Wood has moved a step closer with the town council awarding a contract to a local construction company.

The ‘pre-construction’ contract will allow Baxalls Construction, who are also building the Southborough Hub in Tunbridge Wells, to draw up building designs for the £3.2million community hub ear-marked for Memorial Field.

Town Council leader, Cllr Meryl Flashman said she was ‘delighted’ at the appointment of a contractor.

She added: “A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work to enable the project to progress to this stage. A Community Centre is something that

Paddock Wood desperately needs to serve its expanding population and it is particularly pleasing that we have been able to appoint a local firm, Baxalls, to do this work for us.”

Opposition The move means the community centre, which is to encompass a 300 seat theatre and hall, as well as a pre-school, café and office space, is likely to go ahead, despite opposition to the project.

Protest group, Friends of Memorial Field, set up in an attempt to block the development, say the project will deprive the town of green space.

Last year, the group tried to have Memorial Field designated as a village

green, which would have seen it protected from development, but they had their application rejected by Kent County Council.

A non-binding local referendum was held in the area that showed a majority of residents opposed the plans.

Jeremy Thompson, chairman of Friends of Memorial Field, said they were going to go ‘hammer and tongs’ to continue their attempts to stop the development.

“With Covid-19, there is more reason than ever for the council to look again at this development. With social distancing, a 300-seat theatre makes no sense. We are not going to lie down.”

He added that the group has now engaged the services of a lawyer.

Jordan of Ringden Avenue pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, [August 10], and the 25 year old was handed a prison sentence of one year and three months.

Acting District Commander for Tunbridge Wells, Chief Inspector Rachael Cumberland said: “Jordan drove in a disgraceful manner without thought for the danger he posed to other road users or the police officers who had directed him to stop.

“My officers tenaciously continued the pursuit while seeking to minimise the risks, and once PD Cliff started tracking it was only a matter of time before he was arrested.”

“It is only right that Jordan is now serving a prison sentence.”

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BUSINESS

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Local News

Pop-up shop for local independents A POP-UP shop in Royal Victoria Place is being made available to local independent businesses throughout September.

The space – formerly occupied by Dassie Artisan, will be open from August 31 through to 11th October, will operate on a ‘rent a shelf’ system to support small independent businesses as they weather the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Businesses wishing to take part will pay £120 for a shelf for the week.

The pop-up store is being organised by events company Support Local.

Founder, Hope Marshall, said the pop-up enables these small firms to promote their products without worrying about the costs of running a physical store.

She continued: “I had hundreds of messages from small businesses wanting to rent a shelf for their products.”

To find out more about the scheme, visit: www.supportlocalpopup.co.uk

Law firm recognised TUNBRIDGE WELLS law firm, Cripps Pemberton Greenish has been recognised by a popular online listing for being one of the UK’s leading solicitors in family law.

Website eprivateclient has listed the firm in its Top Family Firms 2020 guide.

The guide, now in its fifth year, assesses law firms across the country and ranks them based on a range of factors.

Alex Davies, Cripps’ family law team, said: “We are delighted to continue to be recognised by eprivateclient as one of the UK’s leading firms.

“It is a fantastic testament to the commitment and dedication the team exhibits on a daily basis, ensuring that we always deliver the highest quality legal advice to our clients.”

Restaurant reopens despite closure fears that saw 125 branches shut

By Richard Williams TUNBRIDGE WELLS’ Frankie & Benny’s has reopened even though the company that owns the chain has closed more than 100 other branches.

During lockdown it was feared that the popular American-style diner in Knight’s Park would have to shut after owners The Restaurant Group (TRG) admitted it was planning to permanently close 125 of its outlets, with the loss of around 3,000 jobs.

But the company, which had already shut the majority of its Chiquito Mexican-style outlets, as well as its Food & Fuel chain of pubs in London, announced last month that the Tunbridge Wells branch was not going to be among those that have shut.

Advantage However, the branch has remained closed despite restaurants being given the all-clear by the government to reopen on July 4.

2,000 jobs losses are expected as TRG accelerates plans to restructure under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.

But last week, Frankie & Benny’s finally reopened along with 28 other UK branches and welcomed its first diners in nearly five months – in time for customers can take advantage of the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which offers 50 per cent off meals – up to a maximum of £10 – during Mondays-Wednesdays in August.

The restaurant chain says they have strict guidelines to ensure they are Covid compliant, including clear social distancing signage,

REOPENED Frankie & Benny’s in Knight’s Park enhanced cleaning practices, mandatory health screening for team members and increased hand washing.

The menus are also now single use and diners will be asked to book in advance and hand over their details to be stored as part of the government’s track and trace programme.

Mark Chambers, CEO, said: “We are delighted to be reopening more Frankie & Benny’s restaurants and very much look forward to welcoming back our guests.

Greg Clark MP’s

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28 AUG

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11:30–12:30

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Kilndown – Outside the Village Hall

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Ashurst – In front of the Village Hall

If weather is bad, please call to find out alternative venue gregclark.org

“Our priority will be to ensure the health and safety of our teams and guests whilst providing a first-class experience. We are very pleased with the feedback we have received from returning guests so far and we will be monitoring feedback very closely to ensure we continue to deliver a great and safe experience.

“We are also thrilled to participate in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. This is a much-needed boost for our sector, and we thank the Government for their support.”

Friday

26 AUG Sandhurst – Village Green

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

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Greg has been holding regular virtual advice surgeries throughout the Covid-19 crisis. As things are beginning to return to normal, he is now meeting people faceto-face. Further details about Greg’s advice surgeries can be found on his website:

gregclark.org

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Local News

BUSINESS

9

Businesses fail to claim Covid grants NEARLY 200 small businesses in Tonbridge risk missing out on grants of up to £25,000 when the government-backed scheme closes later this month.

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council [TMBC] say while they have distributed grants aimed at helping small firms during the Covid lockdown to more than 1,400 firms, around 180 eligible small companies have not yet applied.

The deadline for the grants is August 28.

TMBC was allocated £20.12million by the government to distribute to eligible businesses, 90 per cent of which has now been given out.

Relief GOING GOING GONE Laura Ashley has been holding a sale before it closes on Saturday

Tunbridge Wells fashion chain to close after selling off its stock

By Robert Forrester LAURA ASHLEY in Calverley Road is to finally close this week after holding a sale following the business’s fall into administration.

The fashion retailer, which has been trading since the 1950s, collapsed in April.

Despite efforts by chief executive Katherine Poulter to find a buyer for all 147 UK stores, the company announced in June they would all have to close.

Administrators PwC were also unable to find a

buyer for the firm’s manufacturing and logistics operation, although advisory service Gordon Brothers did buy the brand name.

Buyer Despite the closure announcement, around 70 Laura Ashley stores, including the Tunbridge Wells branch, did reopen after lockdown – but only to hold closing down sales.

The women’s fashion and homeware store in Calverley Road has been offering discounts of

more than 50 per cent of all its stock, but PwC announced after the sale last week that the Tunbridge Wells branch would close for good this Saturday [August 22].

A spokesman said: “Although the joint administrators were able to sell the Laura Ashley brand to Gordon Brothers in April, it has not been possible to secure a buyer for the business as a going concern “While the joint administrators remain open to interest in the business, a controlled closure programme has been initiated.”

A further 150 businesses benefited from a £1million discretionary grant scheme that was available to those not eligible for the main scheme. This scheme is now closed.

The Council say they have been using phone, email and address records to contact the companies which have yet to apply but have had no response.

Eligible businesses are those covered by small business rates or rural rates relief and those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors which have a rateable value of less than £51,000.

Jeremy Whittaker, Tonbridge and Malling’s Economic Regeneration Manager, said: “We have tried every way possible to reach out to these firms but unfortunately a number are not picking up business-related messages.

“I’d urge anyone who may be eligible and has not yet done so to get in touch with us.”

By comparison, in Tunbridge Wells, the grants have been distributed to more than 2,000 local business with just seven eligible firms failing to claim. More than £1.3million has also been handed out to 134 business in Tunbridge Well as part of the discretionary grant scheme.

10

NEWS

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Local News

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

Brother and sister complete epic trek

By Jerome Bowman TWO Tunbridge Wells children have raised thousands of pounds for charity by walking more than 40 miles in one day.

Brother and sister Rufus and Clara Butler took part in their epic journey for children’s charity Barnardos.

Ten-year-old Rufus walked the 27 mile circular circumference of Tunbridge Wells town – while seven-year-old Clara managed 17 miles.

Together they raised £1,250, smashing their original JustGiving target of £300.

Rufus was inspired to attempt the walk during the coronavirus outbreak, saying that: “One of the few positive things to come out of the lockdown was getting out for big walks with my family and exploring the amazing views and hills of the Kent countryside.”

He added: “I know there are thousands of children out there who are not as lucky as me, and coronavirus has only made their lives harder.

“Before I head back to school for my last year at St John’s Primary School, I wanted to attempt to walk the whole Tunbridge Wells circular walk.”

‘Bernardos supports vulnerable children in the UK, but their income during lockdown has been severlely affected’ Joined by their father Ben Butler and other family members, the pair took a route around the whole of the town, going through Groombridge, Speldhurst,

Tonbridge and Pembury. The Butler family completed the walk in 11 hours on August 1, with father Ben admitting that ‘the going was tough’ but added they were grateful for ‘all for the encouragement, sponsorship and support’.

He added: “Rufus is being rewarded with a day of PlayStation and chicken nuggets.”

Barnardos supports vulnerable children in the UK, but their income during lockdown has been severely affected.

A spokesperson said that Rufus and his family had put in ‘such an amazing effort’.

She added: “As fundraising events have been cancelled and our 700 retail shops have had to close, we have already lost a third of our monthly income.”

Remembering VJ Day 75 years on

Health walks get back on their feet THE Tunbridge Wells Health Team have restarted their Cranbrook and Calverley Grounds Health Walks.

Covid-safe control measures have been put in place, and the pre-walk briefings include a reminder about social distancing, hygiene and any potential hazards on the walk.

In Cranbrook the team offer two levels of walks, one at a slightly quicker pace and one leaving half an hour later for those who prefer a more leisurely stroll. The walks are suitable for all ages and dogs are welcome if they are kept on a lead; please wear suitable footwear.

LOCAL veterans and Army branch leaders commemorated the day Japan surrendered in the Second World War, and remembered the 16 men from Tunbridge Wells who fought in the Far East but did not return home.

August 15 maerked 75 years from when Imperial Japan announced its surrender, effectively bringing the Second World War to a close.

Calverly Grounds Join the Cranbrook Health Walks on Tuesdays at 10am and 10.30am; the Calverley Grounds Health Walk in Tunbridge Wells takes place on Thursdays at 1pm.

Numbers are limited to ensure safe social distancing measures can be followed so booking is essential. If you would like to join one of the walks, please email mark.lawrence@ tunbridgewells.gov.uk (Cranbrook walks) or andrew.bell@tunbridgewells.gov.uk (Calverley Grounds walk) to book a space.

For advice and information on getting more active, please contact the Health team on 01892 554411.

ALL ABOARD The Bulleid Pacific pulls into Tunbridge Wells West

INSPIRING: Rufus and Clara take a well earned break

‘Les is now 95 and has a very good recollection of the time he spent overseas’

PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY: Les Mortimer shows off his photographs from VJ Day

Held in the Garden of Remembrance in the Tunbridge Wells Kent and Sussex Crematorium, the ceremony was organised by The Friends of Tunbridge Wells Cemetery.

Mayor Joy Podbury, along with the President of the RTW Branch of the Royal British Legion, the President

of the RTW Branch of the Royal Air Force Association and the Chairman of the Friends of Tunbridge Wells Cemetery placed wreaths on The Cross of Sacrifice.

The event was also attended by Les Mortimer, who served in the RAF and spent three years in the Far East.

Peter Blackwell, who narrated the ceremony said: “Les was present on the airfield to which the Japanese Generals were flown in a Red Cross Plane to come and sign the Surrender Agreement.

“He had a small camera with him and took photos of the Generals without permission.

“He brought enlarged photos he had taken 75 years ago for all to see.

Les is now 95 and has a very good recollection of the time he spent overseas.”

The event was invitation only and restricted to 30 people in accordance with current government Covid guidelines.

Town on track for new trains IT IS full steam ahead as Tunbridge Wells’ heritage railway welcome two new trains at their station.

The Spa Valley Railway has teamed up with Southern Locomotives Limited to provide a permanent home in the South East for Southern’s trains.

‘Sir Keith Park’ a Bulleid Pacific steam train, will take up permanent residence at Tunbridge Wells West and become part of the Spa Valley Railway’s home fleet.

It will be joined in 2021 by Austerity locomotive ‘Norman’, which is also owned by Southern

Locomotives.

‘Sir Keith Park’ will be arriving at Tunbridge Wells West in mid-August and the locomotive will enter service later in 2020 and be a key part of the Spa Valley Railway’s 2021 operation.

Originally built at Brighton Works in 1947, the locomotive spent its working life hauling the heavy continental boat Express that would take passengers to ports such as Dover.

It was restored by Southern Locomotives between 2001 and 2008.

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National News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Public Health England replacement is named HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed Public Health England [PHE] will be replaced by a new body focused on preparing for external threats like pandemics.

Baroness Dido Harding, who runs NHS Test and Trace in England, will be the interim chief of the new National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP).

The new institute will begin work with immediate effect and will bring together Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace, as well as the analytical capability of the Joint Biosecurity Centre.

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Education Secretary resists calls to resign following A-level ‘mess’ UNDER PRESSURE Gavin Williamson has apologised to A-level students

Police close restaurant A RESTAURANT that hosted a wedding reception for more than 100 people has been closed down for breaching Covid restrictions.

Police in Blackburn – where there are extra restrictions in force due to a spike in cases – broke up the reception at Waheed’s Buffet and Banqueting Hall on Sunday evening.

Blackburn with Darwen Council said the restaurant was shut down on Monday using new powers to tackle premises that are clearly breaching restrictions.

Depression doubled THE number of adults experiencing depression almost doubled during the coronavirus lockdown, new figures suggest.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that nearly one in 10 British adults suffered some sort of depression between July 2019 and March 2020.

But when the same group was assessed again in June, the figure had risen to 19.2% – nearly one in five.

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

GAVIN Williamson has resisted calls to resign over his handling of A-level and GCSE grades in England, but he has apologised to thousands of students for the distress caused.

The Education Secretary announced a U-turn on Monday when it said students would be able to receive grades based on their teachers’ estimates following anger over the downgrading of thousands of A-level results.

But Mr Williamson has repeatedly refused to say whether he would consider resigning from his position.

Mr Williamson insisted that England’s exams regulator, Ofqual, ‘didn’t deliver’ the grading system that the Government had been ‘reassured’ would be in place.

Universities have called for urgent support from the Government to ensure A-level students

Leicester’s local lockdown to be ‘partially eased’ for businesses LEICESTER’S local lockdown will be partially eased to allow some businesses to reopen but Health Secretary Matt Hancock said coronavirus cases remain too high to ease all the restrictions in the city.

Nail bars, beauty salons and tanning booths can reopen from today [Wednesday], while guidance telling outdoor music venues and theatres to stay closed will be dropped.

But residents in the lockdown area will not be able to meet inside a private home or garden of someone they have not formed a ‘support bubble’ with.

The easing will bring the city into line with the easing of restrictions introduced for much of the nation on July 11 and 13.

Mr Hancock said: “My gratitude goes out to the people of Leicester who have all made sacrifices to keep the virus at bay and protect their local communities.

Gatherings “The rate of infection has now dropped to a safe enough level to allow further businesses including beauty salons, nail bars and some

do not miss out on their first-choice places.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday [Tuesday], the Education Secretary said: “I’d like to just start off by apologising, saying sorry to all those young people who have been affected by this.

Decision “This is something that, firstly, none of us wanted to see and none of us expected to see.”

Tory MP and chairman of the Education Select Committee Robert Halfon called the situation a ’mega-mess’.

Shadow universities minister Emma Hardy said Mr Williamson’s delay in making his decision ‘has meant that more and more places at university have been filled up’. outdoor venues to reopen in the area.”

Spas, massage and tattoo parlours will also reopen Wednesday morning.

But the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said infection rates are still too high for a full easing, so restrictions on gatherings will continue in line with Greater Manchester and parts of West Yorkshire and east Lancashire.

Shielding for the most vulnerable will continue but with easing in Leicester to allow individuals to meet in a group of up to six people outdoors while maintaining social distancing.

The DHSC said outdoor swimming pools will also be able to reopen, but the only one in Leicestershire is in Ashby de la Zouch, which is not in the lockdown area and was already open.

A spokeswoman for Leicester City Council said the announcement was the first she had heard of the move.

E AT O U T TO HELP OUT

Enjoy Summer Nights Out in Royal Tunbridge Wells #TunbridgeWells #EatLocal #EnjoyLocal #SupportLocal Funded by Tunbridge Wells Together on behalf of hospitality businesses in Royal Tunbridge Wells

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

War of words as the President hits back at Michelle Obama DONALD Trump has retaliated after former first lady Michelle Obama said he was the ‘wrong president’ for the US. In her virtual address to the Democratic convention on Monday night, she said: “If you think things cannot possibly get worse, trust me they can – and they will, if we don’t make a change in this election.

The former first lady outlined dire stakes for the election ahead, declaring Mr Trump was ‘in over his head’ and the ‘wrong president’.

Warning of possible voter suppression, she told Americans they must vote for Joe Biden ‘in numbers that cannot be ignored’ if they want to preserve the ‘most basic requirements for a functioning society’.

Delivering her remarks in a living room, with a Biden campaign sign on the mantelpiece, she

Casualties reported after earthquake rocks Philippines A STRONG earthquake jolted the central Philippines, damaging homes, roads and bridges and killing at least one person and injuring several others.

A three-storey house collapsed in the coastal town of Cataingan as the ground shook.

A retired police officer pinned in the debris died, and rescuers were looking for other members of his family who may be trapped.

More than 40 people were injured by the quake in Masbate province, according to disaster-response officials.

More than 100 people who were undergoing

said America lacked leadership.

In contrast, Mrs Obama said, Mr Biden is a ‘profoundly decent man’ who ‘knows what it takes to rescue an economy, beat back a pandemic and lead our country’.

Rescue But in a series of posts on Twitter yesterday [Tuesday], the President hit back.

“Somebody please explain to @MichelleObama that Donald J. Trump would not be here, in the beautiful White House, if it weren’t for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama,” he said.

He continued: “My Administration and I built the greatest economy in history, of any country, turned it off, saved millions of lives, and now am building an even greater economy than it was coronavirus quarantine in two damaged Cataingan government buildings were moved to school buildings to ensure their safety, the Office of Civil Defence said.

Several houses and low-slung buildings were damaged, as was a seaport.

“People should avoid returning immediately to damaged structures,” Rino Revalo, a Masbate provincial administrator, told ABSCBN network.

The 6.6 magnitude quake hit about three miles from Cataingan at a depth of about 13 miles, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

Cataingan resident Isagani Libatan said he was on his way to his aunt’s house for breakfast when his motorcycle suddenly swayed from left to right as the ground heaved.

“I thought it was my tire but people suddenly

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The president said Mrs Obama’s endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was ‘very late’ and ‘unenthusiastic’, describing him as ‘merely an afterthought’. streamed out in panic from swaying houses then we lost power,” Mr Libatan said by telephone, pausing briefly as he felt another fairly strong aftershock.

Typhoons The earthquake was set off by movement in the Philippine Fault, said Renato Solidum, who heads the government institute.

It was felt in several provinces across the central Visayas region.

The Philippines lies in the Pacific Ring Of Fire, an arc of faults around the Pacific Ocean.

It is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

A magnitude 7.7 quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines in 1990.

World News

NEWS

13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Hezbollah member guilty of killing PM A UN-BACKED tribunal has ruled that a member of the Hezbollah militant group is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of involvement in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Salim Ayyash was guilty of involvement in the suicide lorry bombing that killed Hariri and 21 others and injured 226 people in a huge blast outside a seaside hotel in Beirut on February 14 2005.

Three Hezbollah members were acquitted of involvement in the assassination.

More Belarus strikes EMPLOYEES of state-controlled companies and factories have joined the strike in Belarus as pressure increased on president Alexander Lukashenko to step down.

More workers joined the strike that began on Monday and encompassed several major tractor factories in Minsk, a huge potash factory in Soligorsk, state television and the country’s most prominent theatre.

No New Zealand ‘surge’ JACINDA Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, slapped down Donald Trump’s talk of an out-of-control coronavirus ‘surge’ in New Zealand as ‘patently wrong’.

She expressed dismay yesterday [Tuesday] after the US president exaggerated the new virus outbreak in New Zealand as a ‘huge surge’ that Americans would do well to avoid.

“Anyone who is following,” Ms Ardern said, “will quite easily see that New Zealand’s nine cases in a day does not compare to the United States’ tens of thousands.”

14

BUSINESS

National News

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

Marks & Spencer to cut 7,000 jobs AROUND 7,000 jobs are being axed at retail giant Marks & Spencer as part of a further shake-up in the face of the coronavirus crisis.

M&S said the bulk of the cuts would be made across its stores, hitting around 12 per cent of its 60,000 shop-based staff, as well as a smaller number of support centre and regional management workers.

The group’s latest jobs cull follows 950 jobs job losses announced just last month across store management and head office roles.

The roles are set to go over the next three months as M&S ramps up its overhaul, dubbed ‘never the same again’.

Review The job losses add to the many thousands already announced across the retail sector as the pandemic wreaks havoc on Britain’s high street, with department store chain Debenhams last week announcing another 2,500 staff cuts.

M&S expects a ‘significant’ number of roles will be cut through voluntary departures and early retirement while it said it will also create some jobs through investing further in online warehousing and its new ambient food warehouse.

But it insisted there were no further updates on stores closures as it ploughs on with an ongoing review of its shop estate.

It comes as M&S revealed total sales in its hard-hit clothing and home arm plunged 29.9 per cent in the eight weeks since shops reopened, with store sales tumbling 47.9 per cent and online sales surging by 39.2 per cent.

It said: “Whilst it is too early to predict with precision where a new post-Covid sales mix will settle, we must act now to reflect this change.”

Chief executive Steve Rowe added: “As part of our Never The Same Again programme to embed the

Cruise operator announces a possible customer data breach THE cruise giant behind Cunard and P&O Cruises has warned that hackers may have accessed personal details of its customers and staff after discovering a attack over the weekend.

Carnival said it had told regulators about the ransomware attack, which got into encrypted parts of its IT systems.

The Anglo-American company, which is one of the world’s largest cruise operators, said that it was still investigating the attack.

It added that hackers were able to download ‘certain of our data files’.

The hack hit only one part of one of Carnival’s brands, it said.

But the company declined to say what brand was affected and how many customers or staff have been impacted.

“We expect that the security event included unauthorised access to personal data of guests and employees, which may result in potential claims from guests, employees, shareholders or regulatory agencies,” it said.

Remediation The company has already hired lawyers and is working with ‘industry-leading cybersecurity firms’ to respond to the threat, defend Carnival’s IT systems and start remediation.

The attack was discovered on Saturday.

It comes at a difficult time for the cruise giant which has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Its many ships have been forced to stay in port for months due to travel restrictions on passengers.

Mandatory face masks are not deterring supermarket shoppers SHOPPERS are returning to supermarkets and grocers more regularly than at the height of the pandemic, despite new rules making face coverings mandatory, according to new data.

Customers spent £9.7 billion over the past four weeks, the lowest level since February, although this is higher than pre-pandemic levels with restaurants and the hospitality sector remaining significantly subdued.

Regulations Charlotte Scott, consumer insight director at Kantar, said: “The relaxing of rules across much of the country means shoppers are less inclined to stock up their cupboards with regular large trips. That has seen average spend drop below £25 for the first time since March. However, at £24, it is still a world away from the pre-Covid average of £19 per trip.”

Morrisons was the biggest winner among the Big Four – alongside Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda – in the 12 weeks to August 9. Asda saw the biggest fall in share of customers, according to Kantar.

She said the current average of 14 shopping trips per month per household is lower than it was last month but still up on April and May. Ms Scott added: “The number of supermarket trips was two million lower than would have

usually been expected in the week after the rule was adopted, and currently just over half of shoppers say they feel safe in stores.

“That suggests the public may need time to adjust to the new regulations, and they now have to plan ahead for every shopping trip.”

She also suggested the exclusion of alcohol from the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme, to encourage consumers back into restaurants, helped keep in-store sales up during the period.

Meanwhile, Asda says sales have ‘surged’ as it reported a 3.8 per cent jump in like-for-like sales for the three months to June 30.

Chief Executive Roger Burnley said that there had been a ‘structural shift’ in shopping habits.

positive changes in ways of working through the crisis, we are today announcing proposals to further streamline store operations and management structures.

Its latest trading update showed a mixed performance across stores, with those in newer out-of-town locations almost back to pre-Covid sales levels, but town centre shops and some shopping centres still “heavily impacted” by social distancing.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Former Chancellor returns to banking FORMER Chancellor Sajid Javid has accepted a job with US bank JP Morgan.

Mr Javid left as chancellor in February after refusing to sack his advisers.

The row was part of a power struggle with the Prime Minister’s chief adviser Dominic Cummings.

The bank didn’t disclose his pay or hours, but said the work wouldn’t interfere with his duties as a member of parliament. The job marks a return to banking for Mr Javid, and a return to a former employer.

He worked for JP Morgan in the 1990s in New York before moving to Deutsche Bank.

Dollar at 2 year low THE dollar extended its decline into a fifth day as yields on US Treasuries ticked lower and concerns intensified about the pace of recovery in the world’s biggest economy.

The US currency fell 0.3 per cent to a two-year low against a basket of half a dozen peers on Tuesday.

The dollar hit a five year low against the Swiss Franc and a five month low against the Yuan.

Increasing worries about the pace of the US economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis added to the pressure on the dollar.

Rail fare cuts call RAIL fares must be cut to entice travellers back on to trains after Covid-19, according to the passenger watchdog.

Transport Focus said a radical shake-up of the fares system should go beyond a fares freeze to include cut-price deals and flexible season tickets for people who may in future only be commuting part-time.

Unions and campaigners are calling on the government to revise fare policy urgently before a new hike is set for 2021.

Currently, fares are linked to the Retail Price Index [RPI] and it is expected fares will increase by one per cent in January.

Anthony Smith, the chief executive of Transport Focus, said: “The government needs to get train companies to offer a combination of cut-price deals, carnet style ‘bundles’, flexible season tickets for commuters and better value for money.”

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Local News

EDUCATION Times “We hope that we can help young people develop stronger mental and physical resilience for the future” The I Am Life Project has just launched and its aim is to improve children’s well-being as life returns to a new normal. Eileen Leahy talks to its founders WITHOUT a shadow of a doubt children have been one of the biggest groups affected by the impact of Covid-19.

In March eight million of them in the UK found themselves suddenly having to follow a limited curriculum from home, with thousands more seeing the GCSE and A Levels exams they had worked so hard towards being cancelled all together.

As a result, a group of local parents have decided to do something to help local children, who found themselves struggling through this unprecedented situation, return to school feeling stronger and more connected again.

The result is the I am Life project, a new initiative which has been set up for secondary school pupils primarily to help improve their mental and physical wellbeing.

It is launching with a series of free workshops at the end of this month in order to help bridge the gap between home life and returning to school.

The I Am Life Project group includes experts in areas as diverse as yoga, mentoring and even graffiti art to help equip them with key tools in order to adjust to life after lockdown.

The workshops, aimed at children aged 11 to 18, will be held in the grounds of Kent College Pembury and will offer a ‘safe space amongst nature to enjoy a carefully curated programme of activities.

The innovative not-for-profit organisation has been set up by PR and Tunbridge Wells Soapbox event founder Nicole Piesse Turner, Tunbridge Wells yoga guide and meditation teacher Anna Robertshaw and mentor and business entrepreneur Matt Dunford, owner of the Fine Grind café.

The project also has two ambassadors Hugh Whitaker, founder of graffiti art collective Humor Street Art, and BBC Radio Kent presenter Anna Louise.

The workshops are available to students from all schools but there will be a few places I AM LIFE Anna Robertshaw, Matthew Dunford and Nicole Piesse Turner

reserved exclusively for those who are part of the West Kent Independent State Schools Partnership.

Some of the local schools involved in this initiative include Kent College Pembury, Beechwood Sacred Heart, The Judd School, Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School, Oakley School and and Skinners’ Kent Academy.

I Am Life’s co-founder Nicole Piesse-Turner told the Times: “The stress and pressure on young people has been immense since lockdown and their concerns and mental wellbeing have sometimes been overlooked and perhaps not noticed.”

WORKSHOPS Enable students to be creative

and as a result have learnt over the years to help control stress and improve mental Adolescents wellbeing. When they do go back into school and life generally, they will be better able to Ms Piesse Turner continued: “We set up this deal with it.” exciting project with secondary school children Mentor Matt Dunford commented: “We are in mind, to offer them and their families the offering a space within nature, away from opportunity for a safe space within nature to traffic, away from noise, where there’s no share their thoughts and emotions judgement, where everyone is listened to. before returning to school.

Ultimately it’s a place in a natural “It’s a way to connect with environment for young people to connect peers and enjoy a collection of with how they are currently feeling while workshops in yoga mentorship discovering who they really are.” and graffiti art sessions to get Julie Lodrick, Headmistress of Kent their creative and expressive College, said of the project: “We are so juices flowing. pleased to be able to host this fantastic “We hope that together we can initiative to help senior school pupils help young people develop reintegrate back into life after lockdown, stronger mental and physical particularly as a member of the West resilience going forward.”

Kent Independent State Schools Anna Robertshaw added: Partnership which at its core is “I have three teenage about all working together for boys and felt very the benefit of our combined passionately that we community.” wanted to set up an The Workshops are taking initiative which could place from August 25-27 from help equip children 1-3pm daily and are and adolescents with free to attend. More some very simple tools JULIE LODRICK information can be found at – a tool kit if you like. www.theiamlifeproject.com We as adults use them

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Letters

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk or write to the Editor, Times Local News, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG Council leader needs to commit Cllr McDermott last week stated that ‘he hoped to publish a five-year town plan before next May’s elections’.

I would suggest he goes much further and gives an absolute commitment to publishing it ahead of the elections otherwise we, the electorate, will not know what we’re voting for. Furthermore, us lot out ‘ere should absolutely insist on it.

Sam Goodenough Tunbridge Wells

WRONG WAY? The High Street is to be a one-way system

Speed limit is short-sighted

The one-way system will revitalise the High Street I read a lot of criticism in last week’s [August 12] Times of the plans to introduce a one-way system into our High Street. The High Street is a Georgian design, with a beautiful parade of independent shops. It’s one of the jewels in our crown, so every effort should be made to make it attractive to shoppers. I would happily see it pedestrianised. But failing that, let’s at least cut out the rat running from people ‘cutting the corner’. A southbound one way system would not do this.

Regarding issues of pavement width, if the road is made one-way, there is nothing to stop us from using temporary barriers to widen the

The sport centre needs to reopen The government announced on 9th July that gyms and indoor swimming pools could reopen on 25th July.

The vast majority of leisure centres throughout the country have done so but we still await the reopening of Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre off St John’s Road.

Having sent an enquiry on this matter to the Borough Council last week, their reply stated that ‘Fusion and The Borough Council are currently working on plans (which are likely to be phased) to re-open the leisure centres safely’.

People of all ages are entitled to have the sports centre facilities available to them and especially at this difficult time.

The hot weather has highlighted the matter for families with young children who would have enjoyed the use of the swimming and diving pools over this weekend, Perhaps by highlighting this matter the Times of Tunbridge Wells can help speed up the reopening of the facilities.

John Sarkis Tunbridge Wells

Keep printing local infection rates I found the article on page 7 of the August 5 paper very helpful.

At my age, I need to know the current weekly infection rate in Tunbridge Wells to be able to judge the risk of coming in contact with an infected person in this area.

While the increase in infections in the week ending 26th July is disappointing, the risk is still low enough for me to feel able to pursue

narrow west-side pavement, moving vehicles over to the right.

Evidence shows that separating retail areas from traffic does not kill them - on the contrary, it changes the nature of the area, with more shoppers making smaller, more frequent purchases.

It is rare for a political party to defend their opponents, but I feel the Council leadership should be applauded for their intention here.

Tackling our town’s congestion and air pollution is something I hope all of us can get behind.

Peter Lidstone Lib Dem Councillor for St John’s

With regards 20mph speed limits in Tonbridge, this is a short-sighted idea. Causing congestion – which is what slow-moving traffic is – benefits nobody.

Cyclists won’t enjoy pedalling next to rows of idling cars which is what this idea will create.

It’ll increase emissions and pollution while not encouraging cycling. Walking won’t increase either for the same reason; it’s very unpleasant and unhealthy to walk next to a traffic jam.

Our taxes should be spent on improving road surface conditions instead of creating more frustration.

Aidan Collingwood Tonbridge

Bank of England is superstitious The latest Governor of the Bank of England continues in the footsteps of his predecessor in his predictions for the growth, or otherwise, of the UK economy.

The original estimate for economic decline of over 13% has now been “revised” to just over 9%; what is he using, chicken’s entrails? The original is 50% greater than the revised figure; I could do as well with tea leaves.

Robert Moore Tunbridge Wells

Woodford losses are no surprise something like a normal life.

But I do need to know if the number of infections rises to a point where there is a need for extra caution.

The local figures are far more useful for this purpose than the national figures.

I hope you will continue to publish this vital information every week.

Roger Temple Tunbridge Wells

The news that Kent County Council may have to write off over £70 million of its investment in the failed Woodford equity fund sadly comes as no surprise to those of us who closely followed the Icelandic banking saga over a decade ago.

This was when KCC had sunk £50million of public money in high-yielding Icelandic bank accounts which in 2008 were frozen at the height of the international financial crash.

The money was eventually recovered but it took almost a decade to do this.

Local authorities have increasingly become involved in high-risk investments across property portfolios and speculative funds.

Perhaps in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic KCC will become more cautious with public and pension fund money.

After all, if an offer looks too good to be true, then common sense should tell you it most probably is.

Dr Alan Bullion Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats

Pensioners deserve an investigation Peter Casson made an important point last week about the trusteeship of the KCC’s pension fund.

If I was a beneficiary, or a future one, of this fund I would be demanding an investigation into the lack of prudence by the investment committee and a lack of oversight by the trustees. The rules of trusteeship are very clear.

Investments in high-risk mini-bonds should be beyond the Pale.

Ralph Steerpike Tunbridge Wells

We will be flying out regardless Further to my letter last week regarding travel to the Canaries and the inappropriateness of blanket bans: We’ll be flying there soon: the flight’s halfempty and we’ll be fully masked and otherwise protected.

The Canarian authorities have required prior notice of details of: UK residence; flight numbers and dates; passport details, and place of residence on the islands. F We’ll be tested for temperature at the airport before being released into the island’s hinterland. We’ll be staying on the outskirts of a scattered village near the central west coast and our only excursions will be to go out each day to buy English newspapers. Otherwise we’ll be sitting around a pool surrounded by a high wall which is typical of the architectural vernacular.

We are in our mid-seventies: to say we will be ultra-cautious is an understatement. Given the coronavirus statistics for the islands, we’ll be less at risk than the UK. Sandra & Edward Baker Tunbridge Wells

Covid no excuses to cancel Christmas Having read that the Dunorlan fireworks display will not be taking place (Times, August 12), I wondered if TWBC will be using the Coronavirus and the government’s guidelines of public gatherings as an excuse for not putting up any Christmas decorations this year.

Although given the pathetic lighting displays in recent years it is doubtful if anyone will notice the difference.

Victor Bethell Tunbridge Wells Let’s go big and bold at Christmas What a grim year. Let’s have some super modern lights for Tunbridge Wells this year - we have to bin those g-string things.

Let’s go big and bold like Brighton or London.

Let’s show we are a creative town, where people are proud to live, work and play.

Most importantly, let’s have them all the way down Camden Road, to Quarry Road, to light up the path to this foodie mecca.

Carolyn Gray Tunbridge Wells

We do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words

CARTOON BY PEPPY (Follow her on Twitter @ Peppyscott)

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Where to eat out to help out From next Monday, many restaurants, cafes and pubs in Tunbridge Wells will be taking part in the government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme, aimed at getting the struggling hospitality industry back on its feet,VITTLE but how doesnew it work and who is taking part?

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customer’s bills and have it refunded within five working days.

There are some exemptions to the scheme.

Takeaway venues are not eligible, and the discount cannot be used on alcoholic drinks, service charges or food for a private function or event.

WHO IS TAKING PART? So far, around 32,000 businesses in the UK have signed up to the scheme, with more expected to join before it starts on Monday [August 3].

Dozens of restaurants, cafes and pubs across Tunbridge Wells are taking part in the scheme, and here are some of the venues that have already announced their participation.

THE BELL TICEHURST PHONE: 01580 200300 Just before the Covid crisis, the award-winning hotel and pub went through a £600,000 refurbishment, and has spent a further £15,000 converting a potting shed to increase capacity after lockdown ended.

The Bell’s owner, Richard Upton, said: “We felt it important to open as soon as we could, to serve those who have missed the social interaction and connection with their local community.

“Without the pub, some of our customers don’t see a soul from one day to the next. We need to open for them.”

ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES The Bell in Ticehurst has undergone a £600,000 refurbishment

WEDNESDAY 10AM TO 3PM THURSDAY TO SATURDAY 10AM TO The scheme sees the government foot 1AM half of WHEN the government put the UK into lockdown any&restaurant bills throughout themade month of on March 23 in the wake of the coronavirus Daily Deli, serving unusual cheeses charcuteries.

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The2promotion gives people a more than 1.4 million discount of up to 50 per cent hospitality workers were put when eating or drinking soft on furlough – the highest We will joining EAT OUT TO HELP OUT SCHEMEdrinks on Tuesday and in any participating proportion of anybe sector restaurant or pub. as lockdown saw 80 per Wednesdays 10am-3pm We will have a 3 course setItmenu for £20. is valid all day on cent of venues close. plus 50% of otherMondays, meals for those Tuesdays and While some were able to Wednesdays from August 3 provide a takeaway dining in to a maximum discount of to 31. service, not all were able to £10 per person.

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18

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Weekly Comment

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James Rands

Liberal Democrat councillor for Culverden

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

James Rands was born in Pembury and educated at the Skinners’ School prior to reading for a first degree at King’s and joining the Army. He moved back to Tunbridge Wells in 2018 and won Culverden ward for the Liberal Democrats in May 2020. He is now the chairman of the local party.

The borough council is run by a cabinet not just the leader RECENTLY, (and it seems for most of the last twelve months) the local Tory party have tried to depose Alan McDermott leader of the council.

Firstly, I would like to say the scheming is quite inept. It’s more Baldrick’s cunning plan than House of Cards and time spent trying to forge shady alliances or undermine others is time not spent looking after residents.

We have just started to emerge from the COVID crisis. GDP is down 20 per cent. The High Street is in crisis. Now is the time for clear and decisive leadership, but the Tories would rather spend time stabbing each other in the backs.

Complicated Look at something as basic as blocked drains.

We have lots. We’ve seen what happened to the Pantiles when it flooded so we know blocked drains are bad.

It’s a KCC responsibility and all six of our Kent County Councillors are Tories. They’re not addressing the issue, yet one of them does have time to lead a revolt at borough level.

Secondly, leadership is a bit more complicated than just good or bad leaders. Great leaders are few and far between and often moulded by events. And approaches vary and their

suitability often depends on the situation. You have to judge leaders on whether they can mobilise support behind their vision and whether they deliver results.

But the picture is not good. There is, as a conservative councillor noted, a ‘lack of vision’.

We have asked what is the plan for the Assembly Hall. The closest we have had is a comment in last week’s Times saying some Tories didn’t want it or Trinity.

The basics are either not done or done haphazardly. Getting a clear answer on anything is unjustifiably hard work. In a recent piece Cllr Bailey defended the council’s record during COVID by listing central government policies. Of course he did; there isn’t a local policy to defend.

The leader is front and centre and rightly is the focal point for criticism, but the borough council is run by the cabinet not an individual.

Great leaders invariably have really effective support staff. Even Alexander the Great had to lean on a core of loyal advisors.

We didn’t get the cabinet we have because the Tories had an embarrassment of riches to choose from. It would be hard enough to pick out a cabinet of five from the whole party, but things are much worse than that.

Matthew Scott Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent

INFIGHTING: The local Conservatives have been trying to depose their leader They’ve split themselves into at least three factions and a new leader could only select cabinet members from within their own. So you could depose the leader and still end up with a useless cabinet.

And then there is the issue of followership. Not everyone can be a leader so some have to accept their role as a follower with good grace and productive input.

I believe this an alien concept to our local Conservative party. It’s a lot easier for them to blame the leader than it is to turn the focus in on themselves and realise their own group is just dysfunctional.

Maybe a new leader would achieve some small but measurable improvement, but the time lost in-fighting and thus not governing easily outweighs any potential benefit.

Matthew Scott was elected the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent in 2016. He sets policing priorities, commissions services to support victims, sets the council tax precept, manages the force’s budget, and holds the Chief Constable to account. He serves as the national PCC lead for Mental Health, and is chair of the board for the BlueLight Commercial organisation.

Lockdown saw a ‘colossal increase’ in domestic violence calls AT MY last Performance and Delivery Board, where I hold the Chief Constable to account, we spoke about the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on domestic abuse.

I asked him whether Kent Police had been experiencing an increase in domestic abuserelated calls as lockdown had begun to ease? He said there had been a noticeable rise in demand, but gave me assurances that Kent Police had the necessary resources in place to arrest suspects and safeguard victims.

But the police response is only part of the story.

Of course I want to see offenders arrested and brought to justice – but victims, whether they choose to call the police or not, need additional specialist help and support beyond what the police and the courts can provide.

As your Police and Crime Commissioner I am responsible for funding these types of support services in the county: charities and other organisations who provide counselling and other vital forms of help.

Many of those organisations found their traditional fundraising routes dried up during lockdown, and so to help them out I provided them with almost £700,000 of emergency funding this summer.

A large portion of that money was made available to me via the Ministry of Justice. The

Government had recognised extra funding was needed right now to go to groups who support domestic abuse and sexual violence victims right across England and Wales.

It is really important for me, as part of the work I do as the PCC, to reach out to the support organisations I fund and hear their stories.

DAVSS Henu Cummins, chair of the charity that provides support for domestic abuse victims

Vulnerable They are hearing from vulnerable victims every day. It is important to understand the trends they are seeing, and to discuss how we can all work better together to support them.

So earlier this month, I hosted a panel event – virtually of course – to hear about the sorts of domestic abuse calls local charities have been receiving.

It soon became clear that victims in lifethreatening situations have been reaching out for help.

For example, as was reported in this newspaper last week, the Tunbridge Wells-based charity Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Service (DAVSS) found that within a couple of weeks of lockdown they saw a colossal increase in the number of calls to their support helpline.

Almost all of those calls were coming from victims needing urgent support.

Some were trapped in their own homes in life-threatening crisis situations. They were reaching out to DAVSS during narrow windows of opportunity such as when their abusive partners were out at the shops.

But using the extra money I had awarded them, DAVSS has been able to respond by doubling the numbers of hours its support

helpline was available. This enables it to help more and more victims as they come forward.

Similarly, Victim Support if offering its services remotely while social distancing remains necessary. They have already rolled out ‘24/7 Live Chat’ on the Victim Support website, and the extra money funding enables them to continue delivering this for the foreseeable future.

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

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Substantial 5 bedroom detached family home with garage and driveway; Entrance hall, living room open through to the dining/family room with vaulted ceiling, rooflights and bifold doors onto the rear garden, fully fitted kitchen and utility area with integrated appliances, downstairs cloakroom and guest suite. Master suite, 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom. Extensive rear garden and insulated home office. EPC D

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Would you like to live in Langton Green? Are you looking for something a bit quirky? Then this could be the property for you! In the same ownership for the past 30 years, the current owners have loved living here. Period family home with detached garage, lounge with bay window, dining room with a charming inglenook fireplace, fitted kitchen, downstairs shower room and downstairs W.C., 3 double bedrooms and a family bathroom. Pretty garden to the side with a paved patio area for alfresco dining, EPC D

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Extremely well presented detached family home with garage and driveway. Lounge, dining room, newly fitted kitchen with crushed glass worktop, conservatory, downstairs shower room, 4 bedrooms and upstairs family bathroom. Garage and driveway giving plenty of off road parking.

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Property Focus

Property Focus Charlie Collins

THREE PILLARS Setting out three pillars for the future of planning, the White Paper seeks to review how development is planned, bring a new focus to design and sustainability, and reform how infrastructure associated with development is delivered.

ZONING IN There is a move towards a zonal system with areas of England allocated as either Growth Areas, Renewal Areas or Protected Areas. Local Plans will be digitised, with increased emphasis on map-based planning to make development plans more accessible. The nature and process of public engagement will radically change, with increased interaction during plan-making.

Following this month’s publication of the Government’s new ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper, Charlie Collins, Savills’ Head of Planning in the South East, says how we should go about doing just that… country’s finances by streamlining the planning process and accelerating the delivery of new homes.

These proposals follow a series of reforms to the planning system announced in recent months.

In response, Savills estate agents, who have branches in Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook and Sevenoaks, say the changes would require an increased emphasis on ‘plan, plan plan’.

Charlie Collins, Savills’ Head of Planning in the South East, said taking care to adopt the right kind of plans, with green targets in mind, is the key: “We welcome the Government’s emphasis on improving the delivery of housing in response to the shortfall in supply across the country.

“Housing, of course, is a priority, but similar urgency exists in relation to the delivery of other forms of development to ensure a strong economic recovery and the

Times 21

A brief summary of what the White Paper says, and doesn’t say…

Why we must ‘plan, plan, plan’ to ‘build, build, build’

PRIME MINISTER Boris Johnson robustly insisted in his Economy Speech at the end of June we must ‘build, build, build’. But for this he wanted changes to our current planning systems.

On August 6, Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, duly launched the new ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper.

This consultation on the Government’s Boris proposals for reforms Johnson in England is set to close at 11.45pm on October 29, which doesn’t give us too much time to get moving – especially when it comes to the effect it may have on our towns, villages and precious countryside in this Outstanding Area of Natural Beauty.

The idea, announced before the UK officially went into recession last week, is to help solve our housing crisis and boost the

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DRILLING DOWN INTO THE DETAIL

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transfer to a greener/low-carbon economy.

“A challenge with such radical reform is ensuring it is introduced in a way that minimises the risk of consequent delays in decision-making; both on major proposals and on the progress of emerging local plans.

‘These measures need to be supported by the necessary resources’ “In addition, these measures need to be supported by the necessary resources; both in terms of planning professionals deployed at local authority level and the necessary supporting investment in technology.

“Government and local planning authorities need to support ‘plan, plan, plan’ in order to ‘build, build, build’.

• Fellow estate agents Knight Frank said the changes ‘look to be a step in the right direction’.

They added that simplifying the planning system ‘has the potential to accelerate both overall development volumes as well as investment’.

THE END OF SECTION 106 Reform of planning contributions would include the abolition of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 agreements to accelerate the delivery of development whilst continuing to provide affordable housing. A new Infrastructure levy (IL) will capture the land value uplift created by a planning approval, and use this to enhance infrastructure delivery.

Affordable homes delivered on-site would be offset against the proposed levy, with First Homes also incentivised this way and to be sold at a 30% minimum discount to market homes.

HOUSING NEED & SUPPLY The reformed approach to land supply is to ensure enough land comes into the system over the Local Plan period – which will be reduced from 15 years to ten. A revised Standard Method will establish the housing requirement for an area and local authorities will be responsible for allocating sufficient land. Adjoining authorities will have the option to prepare plans on a joint basis. The Duty to Cooperate is removed in the White Paper, although there remains an unofficial duty for agreement across local authority boundaries to address pressure on areas of greatest need.

FIRST HOMES First Homes are expected to take priority over other forms of affordable home ownership. But Savills research analyst Lawrence Bowles warns this could have a serious negative impact: “Our modelling shows that shared ownership homes can offer people a route to home ownership with lower deposits and lower income requirements than First Homes. By restricting the supply of shared ownership, Government risks raising the barriers to home ownership, not lowering them.”

OMISSIONS n There is a lack of detail on how other development, such as renewable energy – which will be critical to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 – will be considered. n The changes to planning contributions are quiet on the mechanism for delivering infrastructure such as schools and GP surgeries, and it is unclear how local authorities should deliver infrastructure where values fall below the proposed threshold for the new levy. n There is also no mention of delivering housing to rent, a significant recent contributor to meeting the range of England’s housing needs.

STUNNING NEW HOMES

T U NBRID G E WELLS COMMUTE TO LONDON IN UNDER AN HOUR KNIGHTS WOOD

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FIND YOUR DREAM HOME - CONTACT US TODAY SHOW HOMES OPEN 7 DAYS - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY: KNIGHTS WOOD - Knights Park - just of Knights Way - Call: 01892 800 580 1887 - The Wells Building, Lower Pantiles, off Linden Park Road - Call: 01892 726112

For full details visit dandara.com *Available on selected plots, subject to house type and purchase price. Specification may vary subject to house type and build stage. Full details available on request. Price and details correct at time of going to print. Images shown are indicative only. Stamp duty saving dependent on purchase price. Stamp duty holiday ends 31st March 2021.

The Wellington ÂŁ600,000

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

This week’s best property buys…

Since estate agents were told they could start selling properties again after the government eased lockdown measures the housing market has experienced a bounce – both in terms of buyers and sellers. Here are our top picks of what’s on the market locally this week

Windleshaw House

Beech Green Lane, Withyham GUIDE PRICE

£2,500,000 CONTACT

Savills, Tunbridge Wells 01892 507 000 • savills.co.uk A chance to own a fascinating part of design history. Windleshaw House was built as his own country home by William Arthur Smith Benson – a leader of the British Arts & Crafts movement alongside William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones.

His stunning symmetrical design with castellated touches creates an air of theatre.

Windleshaw was a labour of love for Benson, and the interior showcases his work with metal window detail, lovely fireplaces and bespoke joinery, including a dramatic curved Japanese oak staircase.

Built between 1906 and 1908, and latterly divided into Windleshaw House and Windleshaw East, it offers the opportunity for shared occupation or restoration as a whole.

The two properties lie within extensive gardens and grounds enjoying views towards the hills of Ashdown Forest, and are on the market for the first time in 40 years.

Windleshaw House n Ground Floor: Entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, formal drawing room, kitchen/ breakfast room, cloakroom, potting shed/ storeroom n First floor: 4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one en suite) n Second floor: 2 double bedrooms (one en suite), attic sitting/dining room with kitchen/breakfast room off, shower room Windleshaw East n Ground floor: Private side entrance, study, snug, office, utility room, pantry, cloakroom, cellar n First floor: Double bedroom, further bedroom/study, kitchenette, bathroom n Second floor: Double bedroom, bathroom, dressing room Outside n Long driveway, two garages, octagonal summerhouse, outbuildings n Extensive gardens, tennis/croquet lawn, woodland, paddock, pond

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

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Bransby Cottage

Langton Road, Tunbridge Wells OFFERS IN EXCESS OF

ÂŁ475,000 CONTACT

Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells 01892 533 733 • bracketts.co.uk Sitting on the edge of Tunbridge Wells Common, this delightful Grade II-listed semi-detached cottage is well screened from the road and enjoys a pretty, well-stocked garden as well as all the wonderful walks on the doorstep.

Adding further appeal, the spacious interior offers a contemporary style while retaining many period features, including an oak staircase and inglenook fireplace.

Inside n Entrance Lobby and hall n Living room, including a fireplace with a timber bressummer and a wood burner.

Open plan to: n L-shaped kitchen with timber worktops with matching upstands, an Aga with a four-ring gas top, plus a utility room n Shower Room/WC n Timber conservatory on a low brick base with fitted window blinds, twin Veluxes, wood floor, underfloor heating and double doors to the garden n Cellar with reasonable head height n Feature first floor landing with wide oak floorboards and exposed beams n Bedroom 1 with fitted wardrobes set either side of a dressing table, plus an en-suite bathroom n Bedroom 2 is on the second floor with a dormer bay and en-suite shower room n Small hatch to loft space Outside n Surrounding gardens, including a front lawn with shingled area and a private courtyard accessed from the conservatory n About a mile from Tunbridge Wells railway station

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Property Focus

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

John Bullock

Architectural services

ARCHITECTURE

Having studied at Edinburgh College of Art and The Royal Academy of The Hague, John Bullock launched John Bullock Design in 2003. With offices in Tunbridge Wells High Street, John has won awards for his work, and is committed to delivering the best outcomes for clients

John Bullock Design is a multi-award winning architectural design consultants who have the experts to see you through your project smoothly from the start to the finish, and the proud winner of the Times Business Awards 2018 ‘Best Business 1-25 Employees’ Award

Planning Reforms Local architect John Bullock tells the Times that new planning rules may make it easier for homeowners to expand their properties

LOCKDOWN has meant that many of us have spent more time at home than ever before. It has resulted in a greater sense of community in some places, and more people are keen to have a place that they can call their own, and that meets their changing needs.

Now could be a good time to consider a development project to make the property work better for you and to maximise its potential.

At the end of June the Prime Minister unveiled radical reforms to the seven-decade old planning system in a bid to ‘build, build, build’, to kick start the construction industry and to speed up rebuilding, through an approach which the government believes will work better for our modern society and economy.

The government has started setting out new reforms to the planning system, some of which have come into effect and some which come into effect at the end of August.

The government wants to allow development of extensions, homes and community facilities to take place, including the redevelopment of derelict buildings and adaptation of unused shops to alternative uses.

SUMMARY OF REFORMS n Changes are proposed to the Use Classes Order, which will allow for further innovation and flexibility in town centres, in terms of the use of some buildings. This will allow businesses the freedom to change to a range of compatible uses reflecting changing demands on commercial business models. Certain buildings that form the heart of the community, such as pubs and village shops will be exempt from this; n Householders will not need full planning permission to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant residential buildings if they are to be rebuilt as homes; n Property owners will be able to build up to 2

additional storeys above their properties (flats or houses) without full planning permission, through a “fast track” prior approval process’.

PROS TO EXTENDING UPWARDS n Extending upwards enables you to create more floorspace using the existing footprint of the house, and therefore there won’t be a need to compromise on outdoor garden space. n In addition to maintaining and maximising the living space, it allows you to make use of the existing structure and services and can help you to increase the value of your home, making it a potential investment. n It may make your property more saleable

and boost its prospective sale price;

One additional storey will be allowed on single storey homes. This could either allow homes to be extended or new flats to be created; n Two storey extensions will be able to built above existing commercial premises to create additional housing and maximise revenue potential of the site; n Vacant and redundant free standing commercial and light industrial premises and blocks will be able to be demolished and replaced with new residential buildings;

Properties located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Conservation Area or a Listed Building will continue to require planning permission for these developments.

Other properties will be subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Local Planning Authority.

Alongside this, the government is proposing a simpler, faster, people-focused system, through the designation of land into the following zones: n for growth; n for renewal; or n for protection.

n It could allow you to introduce more green energy solutions into your home at the same time, taking advantages of grants being offered as part of the government’s commitment to a ‘green recovery’.

Further details of this, along with the timescale, are yet to be announced. In effect, it will mean that new schemes will be given ‘automatic’ planning permission in areas allocated for growth. It is likely that sites located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Conservation Area or Listed Buildings will fall within the “for protection’ zone, and will continue to require planning permission for most developments.

The new plans are geared around achieving quality design and eco-friendly homes, designed around public spaces and parks and the regeneration of existing buildings to reduce the pressure on developing within the countryside.

Focusing on what these reforms might mean for householders looking to extend their home, it may mean that you have greater opportunity and flexibility to extend your home to adapt to changing needs.

If you own a detached house and need to make a bigger home, perhaps to create an annexe for an elderly relative or more space for teenage children to chill out, but moving home is not an option for you, then you could consider whether there is any potential for making an improvement to your existing home.

In addition to this, there are already permitted development rights that allow for large single storey extensions in localities that are not protected by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Conservation Area or Listed Buildings, which may provide you with another alternative to extending your home to adapt to your changing needs.

You will still need to comply with Building Regulations and carefully consider the impact on neighbours and the appearance of the extension. Whilst local authorities will still need to consult neighbours, their powers to object and block extensions are reduced.

John Bullock Design is a multi-award winning architectural design consultants, and the proud winner of the Times of Tunbridge Wells 2018 ‘Best Business 1-25 Employees’ Award. Call 01892 525732 or visit johnbullockdesign.com It is advised that you always check whether you need to notify the Council or apply for planning permission for your development project before you start work. For further advice please contact our planning team on 01892 525732.

Discretion is the Better Part of Valour The property market has changed astronomically

At SJD we work to source the right developers for

in the past few decades, bringing in a new era

your site - all of our sales are made confidentially

of off-market and private sales.

thus protecting both your identity and your

Unlike conventional methods, we offer discreet

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marketing where details of your site are not openly marketed. Private sales generate a sense of exclusivity, boosting the likelihood of a quick and hassle-free transaction.

If you have a development opportunity that you would like to sell off-market, please contact us for a free appraisal.

Contact Stephen Donnelly on

07739 514350 or 0845 456 8969 Web: sjd-projects.com email: steve@sjd-projects.com

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020 A D V E R TIS IN G FE ATU R E

WELCOME TO OUR NEW FORTNIGHTLY COLUMN

“ASK ANDY”

“I have a set budget and only want my architect to design what I can afford. What happens if I get planning permission and then when the builders tender, I can’t afford to do the work?”

Mrs J. Tunbridge Wells Chicken and egg spring to mind.

There is nothing more disappointing than committing time and money to the planning process and then finding out you can’t afford to take on your project. Then you have to commit more time and money to additional fees and submissions, having just wasted precious funds on a project that was aborted before it even began.

All very disappointing.

I think the first thing to clear up is that industry square meterage pricing charts are a guide ONLY. Unfortunately they do not allow enough details to be entered to throw up anything other than a very loose price estimate. They have value but be mindful that they are not specific, they are a guide.

Our advice would be to meet several reputable builders, shortlist one or two based on their references and past work. If they are recommended, all the better. Do your homework, check them out.If they are local and have done similar work to your proposed project, perhaps directly in your neighbourhood, fantastic ! They may have even done very similar work on similar properties. In which case they can give you a very good idea of how much your project should cost based on real work completed on your doorstep.

Once you have established what your money can buy you, then involve your architect. At this point if you have decided which builder you are using, get your architect and builder together. Invite open communication. Work together. Use your team effectively. Never lose site of your budget and remember a sensible contingency.

We are inviting any building related queries that you may have to be directed via our contact page on our website: amann buildingcontractors. co.uk. or on 0330 128 1021.We will endeavour to answer any industry related queries that you might have.

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

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ARTS & CULTURE LIFE & STYLE FOOD & DRINK MOTORING SPORT and MORE...

IN PRINT AND ONLINE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK timeslocalnews.co.uk

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RUSTHALL CINEMA RETURNS

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FROM FARM TO FACEBOOK

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Master of Puppets

GLAMPING IN NEWQUAY

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Linda Lewis puts down the strings Page 32

LOCKDOWN LONG READS

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Out & About

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out&about 7 days of activities

Wednesday August 5 | 2020

PETAL TO THE METAL Emmett’s Garden is a great place for a summer stroll

By Jerome Bowman

Following the ongoing easing of the Coronavirus lockdown many of our favourite beauty spots, galleries, museums and places of interest are now open. Here’s where to go this week...

OUTDOOR ENTERTAIMENT The Comedy Club returns to Trinity Theatre

life back together. Tickets cost £5 and are on a first come, first served basis. For more information, go online to www.rusthallcinema. club

JAZZING THE PLACE UP The town’s favourite summer event, Jazz on the Pantiles, is back in a new socially distanced format.

You must book to attend Dinner Jazz, but at just £5 per person you get seating, service and to see the wonderful Kate Daniels Quintet. The group features the eponymous Kate and guitarist Nils Solberg, who has worked with many famous starts including Brian Ferry. The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, The Kirthon Indian and the Casa Vecchia are all taking part, so grab some dinner and enjoy the Jazz. The fun starts

at 7pm on Thursdays. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/JazzOnThePantiles TAKE ME BACK TO TEXAS Film fans will be pleased to know that cinema is back, in venues big and small. Rusthall Community Cinema are open, with social distancing measures in place, and will be showing the 1984 classic, Paris Texas on Sunday [August 23]. Travis Henderson wakes from a fugue state in the Texan desert, and he must piece his

COMEDY CAPERS The Festival Theatre is back at Hever Castle, and Friday’s show will be the Bitesize Stand Up Comedy Club. Starting at 8pm, the line-up features the bubbly Laura Lex, New Zealander Javier Jaquin and the off-kilter Gary Tro. All tickets are for open air seating, so bring a blanket to sit, and a spade if you wish to build a dug-out. Tickets cost £20 with concessions available. To book, go to www.heverfestival.co.uk GARDEN GAGS If you fancy a more local laugh, Trinity Theatre’s Friday Comedy Club has been resurrected, this time in their own secret garden (don’t tell anyone

BACK IN BLACK Hever’s Comedy Club gets hysterical

The most exciting craft event in the South East

Special Reader Offer

£10

using Discount Code

CRAFT2020*

10 – 13 September

Hever Castle & Gardens TN8 7NG

Purchase direct from the very best makers in the UK

Putting the WOW back into Craft Fairs

Advanced Booking is required as tickets are being limited due to Covid-19 precautions. See website for full details and admission costs. *Offer codes valid for adults and seniors on dates of craft fair only.

9.30am – 5.30pm Daily (Garden open until 6pm daily)

Admission to garden also gives admission to the craft fair.

Free entry for Hever Castle Annual Members but advanced booking required.

CIF_Hever_20_160x284.indd 1

30/07/2020 09:23

Wednesday August 5 | 2020

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site but during the summer months, part of its magnificent reservoir becomes a hive of aquatic activity courtesy of the Aqua Park it hosts. Full of fun inflatables, the good news is it’s still going ahead despite the pandemic and has some very clever social distancing measures in place. Unlike previous years you have to book in a bubble of up to six people – which can be a mix of family and friends – and the cost of the group ticket is £100.

Bewl is open daily from 8am to 7pm parking and admission costs just £5 per car.

See bewlwater.co.uk

DOWN MEMORY LANE See Paris, Texas in Rusthall

we told you about it). The club has a mystery line-up of three cracking comedians and a ticket will get you seating, table service and a delicious meal. This week, choose from two different tagines, a great summer dish, and enjoy your meal while trying not to laugh with your mouth full. Tickets cost £22.50. To book, visit www. trinitytheatre.net PARK LIFE As always there’s always plenty to discover on our doorstep here in Tunbridge Wells courtesy of our many beautiful park spaces including Dunorlan, Grosvenor & Hilbert and also Calverley Grounds’ adventure park, which is just great for little ones. Each one has the relevant social distancing in operation. There’s plenty to enjoy

Out & About

and you don’t have to pay or book.

SPRING INTO ART We have a variety of excellent galleries in Tunbridge Wells but sometimes it’s nice to venture further afield. The Artspring gallery on Tonbridge High Street is artist-run and presents a collection of high quality work from local emerging and professional contemporary artists specialising in paintings, printmaking, photography, digital art, ceramics, glass and jewellery disciplines. See www.artspringgallery. co.uk RESERVOIR DOGS Bewl Water is the perfect place to get away from it all thanks to the tranquil nature of its 800-acre

THE FRENCH CONNECTION This Saturday [August 22], pianist Alex Metcalf will be performing an exciting new experimental concert dedicated to Erik Satie. Metcalf plays as the composer himself, while narration of Satie’s own words and an experimental film will accompany the performance. Memoires D’un Amnesique has been critically lauded and will no doubt be a treat for music and film fans alike. The performance will take place on the manor lawn and starts at 8pm. All narration is in French with subtitles Tickets FULL HOUSE cost £15 and Enjoy an evening of Erik concessions are Satie at Finchcocks available. To book, visit finchcocks.com

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most places of interest though you have to book your slot before going along. Visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk to see the relevant details for the aforementioned as well as other National Trust places of interest in Kent and Sussex.

PICTURE PERFECT The Fairfax Gallery will be holding its 25th Summer Exhibition at its gallery on the Lower Walks of the Pantiles. The exhibition will feature original contemporary art by established, award-winning and emerging artists. In accordance with current Government guidelines, special care has been take to ensure that the gallery is extra clean and well ventilated, and art that invokes a strong sense of existential dread has been put away. Furthermore, they will be allowing one person, or family in at a time to maximise safety whilst enjoying the exhibition.

Attendance is free, and the gallery is open. from 11-4pm on Thursdays and Fridays and 10-5pm on Saturdays. The exhibition runs until September 8.

For more information, go to fairfaxgallery.com

PERIOD PIECES We have so many beautiful National Trust properties on our doorstep and most of their gardens and grounds are open again. Bodiam Castle, Igtham Mote and Emmetts Garden are just some of the places you can visit. Like

The Community Car Service provides a vital transport service for people that cannot use public transport... n Join this week and pay no Joining Fee n We are “Covid-19 Secure” n From just £21.99 a month n We offer a huge gym and a friendly welcome n Classes are included: face-toface and by Zoom n Free trial session available

n Can you help us to support the elderly and vulnerable people of Tunbridge Wells? n We need more drivers to take people to and from hospital, doctors’ appointments and day care centres.

Come and join our friendly team of drivers, support your local community

CALL:

01892 540131

for more information Contact via tunbridge.wells@energiefitness.com 01892 804007 or www.energiefitness.com/tunbridge-wells

n We reimburse our drivers at 45 pence per mile. n Any time you can spare will help, you choose how much or how little you do.

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Arts

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Why it’s time for someone else to pull the strings of the TW Puppetry Festival Established in 2015 this popular cultural event has grown bigger and better but its founder Linda Lewis tells Eileen Leahy it’s time to hand over the reins

T

HE Tunbridge Wells Puppetry festival takes place every two years at various venues across town including Trinity Theatre and The Pantiles.

If you’re not familiar with it then in essence it’s a celebration of the art of puppetry in its many forms including object theatre, marionettes, shadow play and kites.

Last year the festival welcomed puppeteers from all over the world, including Spanish Company Cal Y Canto, and their shows drew large crowds in the Tunbridge Well venues they performed in.

Since the first festival in 2015, its founder Linda Lewis’s aim has been to bring world-class

“To create this intimate, ‘bitesize’ season the festival is working with a small number of favourite artists on smaller shows”

PUPPET MASTER Linda Lewis

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

puppetry to the Kent community and to make it accessible to everyone.

Earlier this summer Linda announced she was stepping down from her role as its artistic director and now the search is on for her replacement.

The Times spoke to Linda to find out what the voluntary role (which could become a paid position) involves and who just might be the perfect person to start pulling the strings on this successful cultural community event from now on…

So Linda, what made you decide to step down from your role as director of the TW Puppetry Festival?

I’ve enjoyed every minute of planning and staging the past three festivals but after the 2019 festival I knew that it was time to step back and bring on board a new generation to plan and run things. With the current lack of employment opportunities in the arts, it’s really important to me to give younger professionals the chances that I had. There is such a wealth of creative talent in the puppetry industry and I know that whoever joins the team will help shape future festivals and take them in an exciting new direction.

Was it a decision that you made lightly?

I agonised over it because the festival is like my baby, but I remember an artist friend once saying to me that you’ll know when the time is right to bow out and she was completely right.

What will you miss most about your job?

Definitely meeting and working with the artists throughout the UK and Europe, the venue managers and of course our volunteers. It’s the people you meet and work with which is such a joy.

And tell us about any challenges you had running the festival?

As we spent the majority of all funding on the shows, there was not much left to pay for administration and overheads, so I had a mountain of work to do, especially writing funding applications in order to raise the money to deliver the festival. But, that said, it was

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

Arts

Advertising staged the first festival in 2015 and this is what spurs us on to make it bigger and better each time. It helps to bring the community together with shows for all tastes and ages and, as well as the festival itself, we are lucky to be able to offer interim workshops and outreach projects, working with organisations such as Age UK and local schools to give people the opportunity to learn more about puppetry in all its many forms.

But most of all, audiences have a really great and often surprising experience, with the chance to see lots of different types of live theatre that they may never have thought about coming to see before. It is great fun!

LIGHTS AND KITES Performed by Spanish company Cal Y Canto

incredibly rewarding to secure funding and these aspects would all be brilliant experiences and a stepping stone for a new Director who has ambitions to go on to greater things.

What about your festival highlights?

There have been so many but I’d say one of the highlights was definitely the 2019 festival launch party with Spanish company Cal Y Canto, who performed their amazing lights and kites show A-TA-KA in the pouring rain in the gardens of Trinity Theatre. As they say ‘the show must go on’ and it certainly did that particular evening!

The lights illuminating the rain gave the performance an additional ethereal feel and so many people braved the elements to come out and watch the show. It also included 20 young people who had taken part in a workshop earlier that day and who were integral to this amazing performance. It made me quite tearful.

Who is the ideal candidate for filling your shoes?

Someone or more likely two people who are hugely committed to what the festival stands for – bringing new, world-class and exciting

puppetry to the people of Tunbridge Wells and visitors to the town. There’s no minimum or maximum age either. It could suit a younger person starting out in their arts career and looking to build their knowledge and experience. Equally, it could suit someone working part-time or even someone retired who is looking for a challenge and has the time to invest.

What do you think they will enjoy and possibly find challenging?

They will love the artists they meet in the search for the programme and seeing the audiences laugh and enjoy themselves, especially with the outdoor shows and street theatre. However, the most challenging part of the role will be to raise the funding we need. The festival cannot operate without it and this is a critical part of the job which will ensure they can be paid and that there is a good budget for a unique, exciting and entertaining programme.

What does the TW Puppetry Festival give to the people of the town?

We have had such positive feedback since we

KITCHEN & BAR GARDENS TUESDAY- SATURDAY 10AM-4PM Possibly the best garden in Tunbridge Wells!

Given we are still in the grip of the coronavirus what thoughts have you had on staging the festival when it is due to return next year?

In 2019 we had our biggest festival with the largest amount of shows ever. For 2021, it’s tricky

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to know what will be possible by then, but my thoughts would be to make it smaller and more intimate. Depending on where we go with any further potential lockdown restrictions, we also wouldn’t rule out taking the festival completely online, with the opportunity to live stream shows for those who cannot get to venues or if live performances for large audiences are not allowed.

What will you take away with you as your TW Puppetry experience?

I have had an amazing journey with the festival and I’ll be waiting in the wings with a keen eye to see the direction it is taken in the future. Yes it’s a significant commitment for whoever takes it on, but it is well worth the investment of time and effort. I’ll be there for a detailed handover, so I would encourage anyone considering applying to give it a go and make an expression of interest.

Details for how to apply can be found on the website twpuppetryfestival.org/ vacancies If you would like to find out more about the role please email: info@twpuppetryfestival.org

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

How this local farming business sowed the seeds of change during the pandemic Watts Farm is a Kent-based family run farm that turned its traditional business into a hugely successful online outlet, which has seen a surge in sales in Tunbridge Wells. Vikki Rimmer finds out more about how repurposing has proved to be so fruitful for the farm which supplies lots of local businesses and now has the highest ranking in their category on Trust Pilot... mission for me to be able to provide a service, and delivery slots for people who were worried sick about whether they would be able to feed their families. It was incredibly important to us that people were able to order easily, have their food delivered without fuss, and their worries eased during this time.”

The home shopping delivery service has gone from strength to strength, with customers located across Kent and many getting their weekly shop delivered from farm to fork!

To date people based in and around Tunbridge Wells have been Watts Farm’s biggest customers. Word has got round mainly thanks to the fact the team have such a vibrant presence on Facebook, and it’s winning loyal clients for them. Comments range from “Thank you for keeping me sane and happy during lockdown,” to “You have brought joy back into my cooking and I look forward to

FAMILY AFFAIR Ed Gray with the next generation of farmers

T

HERE weren’t many businesses who knew, before March 2020, what the consequences of a nationwide lockdown would be.

However, come mid-March, Ed Gray, MD of Watts Farms near Aylesford in Kent, could see the writing on the wall for his family farm who usually made their income from selling to supermarkets, high end restaurants and city office caterers.

Locally they supply schools such as Hilden Grange and Fosse Bank in Tonbridge with produce, as well as The Oak Tavern and Eat N’Mess in Sevenoaks, and since they have switched to online the biggest areas of growth have actually come from private households in Tunbridge Wells.

Artisan This new virtual success is thanks to Ed focusing all his energies on turning the family business of 70 years into a home delivery food service providing local foodies with all the epicurean essentials they needed.

In the space of just a week, Ed employed a Kent web design company and created an easy-to-use online shop.

The vision for the new home delivery service was to provide vegetables and fruits picked direct from Watts Farm’s fields, and for these to be accompanied by some of the best meats, fish and desserts on the market, artisan breads, cheeses, deli foods, pantry and household items.

Ed wanted consumers to be able to buy everything they needed: a solid weekly shop in essence.

Ed told the Times: “It became a sort of personal

my weekly deliveries.”

Rewards have come via great reviews which have seen the team secure the highest ranking on Trustpilot for supermarkets and grocers in the UK. Over the years, Watts Farm has built an enviable reputation supplying top quality vegetables and fruits to five star and Michelin starred restaurants in London such as The Landmark in Marylebone.

The farm also sells herbs to supermarkets and general produce to city caterers, so providing high quality food has always been a staple for the business.

Ed says: “it’s been wonderful to be able to share the same foods with the public that we share with our five star restaurant clients in London. This is just the beginning for us – we now have a loyal customer base and we will continue to build on this and add to our high-quality range while continuing to provide easily accessible delivery slots.”

The team have designed beautiful newsletters which help share

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Wednesday August 19 | 2020

‘Watts in Season’ and have received help from top chefs who have shared their unique recipes with customers during the summer.

Variety Watts Farms are the largest growers of fresh herbs in the country so these have proved a firm favourite in customer recipes. Kentish basil for pesto, Kefir lime leaves for Thai green curry and coriander have been ordered aplenty this summer says Ed. The team are looking ahead to Christmas and are planning to extend their range further. At the heart of the farm though is the belief that if they can grow a variety in the UK then, they should grow it here rather than importing it. Ed says: “We’re interested in the whole process, how best to grow it, harvest it, pack it and transport it so that only the premium quality produce reaches our customer.” www.shop.wattsfarms.co.uk

Food & Drink

Make mine a half

It’s often said that the best things come in small packages.

At a moment when we all might need the occasional vinous indulgence at home, our Drinks Editor James Viner rounds up three bottles that are little in size (37.5 CL) but big in flavour HALF bottles are ideal for picnics and mid-week drinking when a 75cl bottle is just a bit too much, if you live alone or in a household of teetotallers.

They’re also perfect if you wish to try a different wine style, when gifting to let the recipient sample a finer wine at a lower price and when you want to pair several wines throughout a multi-course spread.

Try these three petite pours, which will also come into their own if you frequently participate, as I do, in online tastings with friends and colleagues…

1) LIGHT, BRIGHT, SAPPY, QUINTESSENTIALLY SUMMER RED FROM THE CLASSIC BISTRO GAMAY GRAPE Half Bottle of The Wine Society’s Beaujolais Villages 2018, 37.5cl The Wine Society, £4.95 France, Alc 13% With its generally modest alcohol, floral perfume, succulent drinkability and come-hither summer berry flavours, Beaujolais Villages makes for stimulating drinking in the warmer weather.

This one is refreshing, easy-going and extremely moreish, with tons of sappy and tongue-tingling

The WINE ROOMS Are Excited To Announce Our Partnership With KIKO SUSHI! We are offering our Sushi platter to you for just £10 as you take advantage of the Eat out to Help Out offer at The Wine Rooms.

Every Wednesday from 4pm until 9pm you can enjoy your pre-ordered sushi platter to go with a glass of something chilled, we shall also have our full food menu available.

Simply book your table at The Wine Rooms, in the notes box say you are coming for the sushi £10 offer and we will have one made up for you! The Sushi Platters are designed for 1 person for dinner, so just let us know how many you want!

Thank you for your support and we hope to see you at The Wine Rooms.

01892 522022 www.thewineroomstw.com 40 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TN

red summer-pudding berry fruit. Pop it in the fridge for thirty minutes before opening to give it a bit of extra pep. Very easy to drink and great with cold meats, coq au vin, sausage and mash or a chunk of Epoisses. The best-selling 75cl bottle costs £7.95. Good, clean – and very gluggable – summer fun.

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2) VERSATILE FULL-BODIED SHERRY, STILL POSSIBLY SPAINS’S MOST SUPREME WINE Morrisons The Best Palo Cortado Dry Sherry, Emilio Lustau, 37.5cl Morrisons, £6.25 Spain, Alc 19% Fortify yourself! Like sweet wine, sherry (which can be both sweet and, as in this case, dry) really comes into its own in a half bottle. Palo cortado is a rare, complex, nutty, full-bodied, rich-but-dry sherry that started life as a Fino or, later, an Amontillado, and is a halfway point between the latter and an Oloroso. This well-priced example from renowned producer Lustau is vibrant and tangy, all caramelised hazelnuts in a sunset of dried figs, exotic spices, tangerine rind, raisins, brown butter and brazils. Iberian charcuterie please! One also for olives, nuts, cheddar, aged Comté, fowl, game, grilled fish and meat curries. Serve coolish, around the same temperature as full dry whites (12-16 °C). Bargain A+++ that’ll keep fresh for a couple months once opened.

3) JUST THE TICKET FOR A LUXURY PICNIC OR WEEKEND BRUNCHES Taittinger Brut Réserve NV Champagne, 37.5cl Waitrose, £22 France, Alc 12.5% The increased pace at which wine ages in half bottles improves fizz, hurrying its gentle almond and glorious biscuity/brioche aromatics. This elegant NV champagne comes from the celebrated family-run Reims house Taittinger and is persistent and perfectly poised on ballet shoes of chalky acidity, which lengthen the finish and aftertaste. Its lively and fresh strawberry, white peach, lemon and apple fruit flavours are laced with toasty bottle age, providing top class hedonistic pleasure.

Aperitif champagne par excellence but also a splash-out treat with canapés, fish and chips, smoked salmon, shellfish, grilled and roasted white meats. Delicious. The 75cl bottle is down to £28 at Waitrose until August 25. Santé!

Follow James on Twitter @QuixoticWine

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travel

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BEACH LIFE Demand for staycations has seen the number of Newquay campsites rise

Travel

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

Why glamping in Newquay should

be on your staycation hit list

Thinking of booking your next trip? Gareth Cotter-Stone explains why Cornwall under canvas is a must

I

F you’re looking to take some time away from the chaotic digital world and reconnect with nature, there’s one standout option: a back-to-thewild glamping getaway.

Thwarted by travel restrictions and encouraged by good weather, a surge of holidaymakers have opted for a holiday under canvas this summer. Demand has resulted in more campsites popping up and seasons being extended; after months of uncertainty, domestic travel businesses are finally finding their feet.

‘There’s plenty to explore on foot or by bicycle, and a variety of activities – such as fishing, birdwatching and stargazing – can be enjoyed without even venturing off the grounds’ One of the latest sites to open is Fir Hill Estate, situated a 10-minute drive outside Newquay, on the edge of Porth Reservoir in Cornwall. Spread across the 62-acre historical family estate, Mongolian Gers (a type of yurt) come equipped with a traditional firepit, barbecue stove and cooking facilities.

WHAT’S THE STORY? The estate was purchased by Charlie Hoblyn in 2012, and since then, he’s worked hard to restore it from ruin. With

astonishing ambition and dogged determination, he’s completely transformed the far-reaching grounds, which now comprise of majestic woodlands, a renovated barn with cosy leisure areas, and even a beautifullyrestored orchard with over 200 fruit trees.

What’s even more special is Charlie’s approach to sustainability. The site isn’t connected to mains services; it relies solely on solar thermal panels, a biomass

generator, plus borehole and spring water supply for all its power.

There’s plenty to explore on foot or by bicycle, and a variety of activities – such as fishing, birdwatching and stargazing around the campfire – can be enjoyed without even venturing off the grounds. A seasonal highlight includes picking the estate’s cherries, apples, plums and damsons throughout May to September.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IN THE AREA? Also known as the surfing capital of the UK, Newquay offers some of the best wave-catching opportunities all year round. If you’re new to surfing, you might want to settle for either Towan, Great Western or Newquay beach, but if you’re up for more of a challenge, head for the impressive waves at Fistral.

There are plenty of spots to rent out wetsuits nearby, if you haven’t got one to SURF’S UP Newquay is the place to go to catch some waves

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

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37

but could be discarded afterwards, so the miners didn’t fall ill.

If you’re looking for a traditional, locallyproduced pasty to sample, try Morris Pasties (morris-pasties.co.uk). The recipe for their hand-crimped beauties is held secret with the family solicitor.

For bigger meals, one spot worth visiting is Bush Pepper (bushpepper.co.uk) in the heart of Newquay. Chef Chris Brookes creates Australianinfluenced cuisine using some of Cornwall’s finest ingredients. Nothing beats their delicious Dukkah Eggs on toasted sourdough, using Cornish free range poached eggs, dukkah, smashed avocado, halloumi and a wedge of lemon. A great morning fix before heading out for a surf. (Evening menu options from £17 and a bottle of wine from £18.)

After a long day of exploring, head to the Carnmarth Hotel (carnmarth.com) for one of their signature Cornish Bramble cocktails, while soaking up the stunning ocean views. (Mains from £12 and cocktails from £8.)

This cosy spot overlooks Fistral beach, whose wild waves give way to a gently lapping tide beneath the sensational Cornish sunset. A perfect end to a glorious glamping experience, in a town full of character, in a county brimming with beauty.

GLAMPING You do not have to slum it when you camp in Newquay

hand. I’d highly recommend Slide & Glide, where you can hire a wetsuit for a daily rate of £5. The friendly staff have excellent local knowledge, and also offer a range of customised surfboards, designed specifically for the surf around the area.

Need to brush up on your surf skills with the help of a friendly instructor? I’d highly recommend Newquay Activity Centre (newquayactivitycentre.co.uk) on Towan beach, which offers a range of other outdoor activities, too, including stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking and coasteering. (Taster surf lessons from £35pp.)

If lying flat against the waves is more your thing, try the incredible selection of wooden bodyboards at Dick Pearce & Friends

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(dickpearce.com). Dick and co. have been handcrafting their so-called ‘bellyboards’ for decades, using sustainable materials, and their slick design means you’re guaranteed a thrilling ride in the tide.

WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK Cornish pasties are delicious at any time of year.

The distinctive D-shaped delights come with an interesting past. Many years ago, miners in the region needed something substantial to fuel their physically demanding jobs, but the snack had to be convenient to eat, as they risked contaminating their food with poisonous chemicals on their hands.

The large crust of the Cornish pasty provided a solution: the ‘handlebar’ was easy to hold onto

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP A five-night self-catering break in a yurt (sleeping up to six people) at the Fir Hill Estate (thefirhill.co.uk; 07831 800 701) costs from £600.

A two-hour taster surf lesson with Newquay Activity Centre (newquayactivitycentre.co.uk; 01637 877722) costs from £35 per person, or book a private family surf lesson from £169 for four.

For more information on Newquay, visit newquaybid.co.uk.

We are following the Government guidelines and are Covid secure!

We are proud to be part of the “Eat Out To Help Out” scheme. Up to a maximum of £10.00 off your food and soft drinks bill Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday during August.

We Look Forward To Welcoming You!

The Bull • 01892 546089 • 79 Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5LH

38

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Books

The bookcase…

Life in lockdown has given many the chance to fall in love with reading again. Here’s our pick of this week’s top tomes to enjoy…

Summer by Ali Smith Published in hardback by Hamish Hamilton, priced £16.99 (ebook £9.99). Available now

9/10

Fans won’t be disappointed by Summer, the finale in Ali Smith’s seasonal quartet. This beautifully crafted novel brings together characters from previous books in the series, with the plot revolving around the Greenlaw family.

It’s packed with contemporary events (including Covid-19) and modern cultural references, the interplay of science and poetry, and the confusing relationship between the past and present.

Smith’s writing is sublime and her characters always colourful, so there’s plenty to enjoy as a standalone read. However, this series has seen Smith at her finest and is best enjoyed as a whole (even all four volumes back-to-back if you can), as the characters are more fleshed out and the themes threaded throughout each.

Summer is an important novel that will doubtless deliver more on every read.

(Review by Nicole Whitton)

7/10

The Wish List by Sophia MoneyCoutts Published in hardback by HQ, priced £12.99 (ebook £5.99). Available now

Wannabe author and book shop worker Florence Fairfax is a happy with her quiet life, living with her two half sisters and cat Marmalade.

However, things are turned upside down when her stepmother buys her a session with a love advisor.

She comes up with a list of the qualities she wants in

Wednesday August 19 | 2020

a boyfriend – something she doesn’t take altogether too seriously – until parliamentary advisor Rory comes onto the scene.

It’s a modern romance with more than a couple of steamy scenes (one of which could have done with an advisory warning first), and the pages practically turn themselves. Florence is so nicely rounded you can’t help but warm to her immediately, and Rory’s drippy smarm oozes from the page. A great summer read.

(Review by Rachel Howdle)

8/10

Scenes Of A Graphic Nature

by Caroline O’Donoghue

Published in hardback by Virago, priced £16.99 (ebook £6.99). Available now Everything in Caroline O’Donoghue’s new novel is messy – but in the best way. She covers important themes like family, friendship, nationality, history and health, weaving her narrator Charlie’s sense of dislocation into a broader exploration of cultural identity.

Charlie’s father, battling round two of cancer, was the only survivor when his classmates and teacher died of carbon monoxide poisoning on the fictional Irish island of Clipim.

Decades later, the film she made from his account doesn’t feel quite right, appearing to edge around an unspeakable reality, long-since buried. Broke but determined, Charlie heads to Clipim with her best friend Laura to try to deshroud the tragedy, finding the islanders hostile and reluctant. It’s an intriguing read, raising questions about what stories should be told, when, and by whom.

(Review by Jemma Crew)

7/10

Glorious Rock Bottom by Bryony Gordon

Published in hardback by Headline, priced £16.99 (ebook £7.99). Available now Journalist Bryony Gordon’s latest memoir is an honest and courageous examination of how a seemingly charmed life can be destabilised through alcoholism.

Despite a successful career and loving family, Gordon spent years masking her inner turmoil with drink.

Startling and dark tales of drunken escapades are placed alongside a frank analysis of the

madness and sorrow her illness has caused.

She candidly details how hitting rock bottom eventually pushed her towards painful rehab and recovery.

Gordon’s arduous journey away from addiction is largely a moving one of self-discovery, with the emergence of new friendships, confidence and an emotional rebuilding of her relationship with her husband and young daughter. Her writing is often humorous, breezy and conversational, making this an accessible read despite the challenging subject matter (Review by Tom Pilgrim)

Pizazz by Sophy Henn

Published in paperback by Simon & Schuster Children’s, priced £6.99 (ebook £4.99). Available now Nine-and-a-half year old Pizazz is at the centre of author and illustrator Sophy Henn’s latest book.

She comes from a family of superheroes – which actually isn’t quite as super as it sounds. Pizazz has to juggle a superhero family life battling baddies and coping with an annoying little sister, with trying to fit in at a new school – and on top of all that, she has a very embarrassing super power.

With frequent full-page illustrations, comic strip sequences, quirky typography and dramatic chapter openers, this book will appeal to keen readers alike, and draw in a few more reluctant readers too.

(Review by Sue Barraclough)

AUDIOBOOKS (FICTION AND NON-FICTION) 1. Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

3. The Stranger’s Wife by Anna-Lou Weatherley

2. The Midnight Gang by David Walliams

4. The Quiet American by Graham Greene 5. They Disappeared by Joy Ellis 6. Mythos by Stephen Fry 7. Where the Crawdads Sing

by Delia Owens 8. Becoming by Michelle Obama 9. Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence 10. Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection by Arthur Conan Doyle (Compiled by Audible)

7/10

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SPORTS COVERAGE SUSPENDED Because of restricted local sport due to Covid-19 the decision has been taken, with much reluctance, to temporarily suspend the regular sporting news that would appear on these back pages. Normal service will be resumed soon.

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Numbers are substituted for letters in the crossword grid. Above the grid is the key with two letters solved. Try to complete the first few words to give you more letters, or look for a frequent number that might reveal a common letter. As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid. Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

5 2 4

1 8

2

9 3

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To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

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1 7

9 7

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Codeword:

2 4

8 2

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★★★★

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1 2 5

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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LAST EDITION’S ANSWERS

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★✩✩

CLASSIFIEDS

Life&Times

Puzzles

In this Sudoku, the normal 3x3 boxes are now strangely odd shapes – but all the rules and logic of normal Sudoku apply.

Fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 so that each row, column and box contains every number uniquely.

Puzzle solutions will be published in a forthcoming issue

J B T OMA T S R H I D E A F R C H A O O MU T E E G A N D H D O C O R P S W E

R O D E O D

S F Q U S E F U N A A S A T I R O T F R I T Z A T N D E X P MO P E D E I E I D L R A B V E K E L V I D E E S

L E

O Y N

Sudoku:

4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 9

7 1 8 6 9 5 2 3 4

5 6 9 3 2 4 1 8 7

8 2 3 7 4 6 5 9 1

6 4 7 9 5 1 8 2 3

1 9 5 2 3 8 4 7 6

9 7 6 5 1 2 3 4 8

2 4 6 5 8 3 7 9 1

5 1 7 8 9 6 3 4 2

7 9 4 2 1 5 8 6 3

2 8 1 4 7 3 9 6 5

3 5 4 8 6 9 7 1 2

Jigsaw Sudoku:

6 5 2 4 7 1 9 3 8

8 7 9 1 3 4 5 2 6

1 3 8 7 2 9 6 5 4

9 6 5 3 4 2 1 8 7

4 8 3 9 6 7 2 1 5

3 2 1 6 5 8 4 7 9

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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