Times of Tunbridge Wells 29th January 2020

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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Alliance implodes after in-fighting sees three key members walk out CALVERLEY SQUARE Alliance officials are said to have lost interest in politics after blocking theatre complex

CHAIRMAN RESIGNS Dr Robert Chris

By Richard Williams THE Tunbridge Wells Alliance party that successfully campaigned to block the Calverley Square theatre project is itself this week battling for survival following the surprise departure of three of its leading voices.

Party members have been left stunned after two councillors quit following a leadership row that forced their controversial chairman to step down.

Park Ward councillors Christian Atwood and Becki Bruneau, who was the party’s leader, walked out of the Alliance last week. The new theatre was to be built in Park Ward.

Their decision to quit came just a week after the chairman of the party, Dr Robert Chris, also stepped down from his role.

Yesterday [Tuesday], in an interview with the Times, Cllr Atwood explained

LEADER QUITS Becki Bruneau

how the Alliance:  Totally lost interest in politics as soon as the Calverley Square vote was won.  Had no ‘forward plan and no policies’ in place.  The then leader Cllr Nick Pope announced he was quitting to take a six week holiday.

‘This was not a political party but a group of people with one aim – stopping Calverley Square’.

CLLR Christian Atwood The breakup of the Alliance is understood to have been the consequence of a meeting earlier this month, when several members of the party demanded Chris’s resignation by threatening to form a breakaway group.

COUNCILLOR DEFECTS Christan Atwood

Tensions had arisen over a decision made by Chris just before Christmas to make Cllr Bruneau party leader. It’s claimed the decision was taken without any consultation with other members of the group.

Cllr Atwood, who is the son of former Alliance chairman and previous Conservative Leader at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Robert Atwood, is also said to have felt mounting public resentment to the party after his father was ousted from his position last year.

In a statement, the Alliance said: “The appointment of the Group Leader was organised by the Chairman, and both the process and the pre-determination of the new Group Leader did not go down well with most of the councillors.”

The statement continued “Feeling that she was not achieving what she intended, Becki Bruneau decided to quit, with Christian, who believed his

father had been forced to resign as Chairman, seizing the opportunity to do so at the same time.”

Cllr Atwood has left to join the Conservatives who accepted his membership to the group yesterday [Tuesday], while Cllr Bruneau has said she will now sit on the Council as an independent councillor and insists she ‘will continue working for my lovely residents and retailers. Something I have done since day one’.

The rift in the Alliance comes three months after the Council voted to drop the £108million Calverley Square project in October, which took more than four years to plan with a cost to taxpayers of nearly £11million.

Support for the Tunbridge Wells Alliance, who now only have four councillors on the 40-seat Council, has waned

Continued page 2

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this week… ‘Why I decided to walk away from Alliance’

MARKET VALUE: Winkworth’s Natasha Firman on why the local housing market is about to rapidly improve pg8

KING OF KENT: Former KCC Chair John Davies is honoured with top award pg12

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ON TOP FORM: Tonbridge School students mark a record year of impressive grades and fundraising events pg21

In his interview with the Times Cllr Christian about the sale of fireworks I thought they would Atwood explained why he decided to walk away be behind it, but I emailed the group about it from the Alliance Party and join the and nobody answered. There was just no Conservative Group on the Borough Council. cohesion.”

“I thought long and hard about leaving the He added that he is defecting to the Conservative Alliance, there were many factors that influenced group on TWBC because he believes that without my decision, some known and some private.” a national party behind them, members of groups He described the Alliance party as having ‘lost like the Alliance have nothing in common. their way’ after Calverley Square with no ‘forward plan and no policies’ in place.

Canvassing The party was formed in 2016 but was registered as a political party in 2018, and “I initially liked the idea of an independent secured their first councillor, Nick Pope, who local group. But I realised they are just a group became leader. Cllr Pope was unable to vote on of people not a political group. I feel that Calverley Square, which was knowledge he kept national politics do play a part in local politics. from both the voters and members of the party.

“Whilst canvassing for my seat last year, I split in the party became apparent, but denies “I had no knowledge that Nick Pope couldn’t never made any secret of the fact that on a claims by the Alliance that chairman Robert vote on Calverley Square. I joined the party national level my politics were and always have Chris had appointed the new leader unilaterally. been Conservative.” because I always felt Calverley Square was in “Two people wanted to be leader, David the wrong place,” Cllr Atwood said.

His decision to defect has not gone down well Hayward [Pembury councillor] and Becki He described how after their successful bid to with some Alliance supporters, some of which Bruneau. There was a vote, I know there was, stop Calverley Square, he expected the Alliance have turned to social media and branded him a because I voted for Becki, but the ballot was to be buoyant and start developing new policy ‘traitor’ and ‘rat’. split with three for Becki and three for David, ideas, but the leadership appeared to have ‘no Others insist he should call a by-election in who decided to pull out.” interest’. the ward, calls which Cllr Atwood says he will Once the new leader was installed, Cllr “After the vote, they did nothing. They did not resist.

Atwood says the party’s lack of interest in even publicise it. They just stayed quiet – the “I knew I would receive a backlash and indeed producing any policies became obvious. other opposition parties made a lot of noise but I have,” he said, adding: “My priority is to help “Becki tried to come up with new policies but the Alliance was quiet. the residents and I feel I can best do that with nobody was behind her.”

“Then Nick announced he was going to be on the Conservatives.

He continued: “We even had one councillor say holiday for the six weeks before the elections so “The local Conservatives are changing their that they will not let anybody tell them what to do. it was decided he should step down as leader.” attitudes and are becoming more open and Wednesday September 18 | 2019 All the news that matters Local, National and International “When I tried to bring a motion to Full Council Cllr Atwood explained how this was when the willing to work with the local community.”

The controversial figure behind the Alliance…

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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FORMER Alliance Chairman Dr Robert Chris, who has in the past been labelled ‘aggressive’ by fellow party members, has been at the centre of a number of controversies that have See embarrassed the group since it formed in 2016. page 48 As a resident whose house borders Calverley for more Grounds, Dr Chris was among thedetails first objectors to the Council’s theatre and civic complex scheme.

In 2016 he was branded a ‘misogynist’ by a female councillor over his use of language in the Town Hall. He subsequently complained to the ombudsman, who threw out his complaint.

In 2017, after demanding the Council conduct an external audit of Calverley Square, he wrote to auditors Grant Thornton attacking them for giving the project a clean bill of health.

The former occult and New Age bookseller has also made numerous baseless allegations about the Council, among which was the suggestion

Alliance implodes Continued from page 1 considerably since then, with the party struggling to find direction amid accusations it was just ‘a single issue party’.

During the Culverden by-election in November, the party managed only fourth, securing just 180 votes, causing further tensions in the group.

and spread lies and ‘fake news’ about the last year that the authority was covering up the Council. fact that they owned the police station in And last October during the Calverley Square Tunbridge Wells – a claim dismissed by the debate, Dr Chris was involved in a scuffle outside Council, Kent Police andwww.oakleyfitness.co.uk the Land Registry. the Town Hall where he was seen snatching and In August, the Times reported on attempts by FREE OAKLEY FITNESS TUNBRIDGE EVENTS DAYbelonging to aFOR ONE of destroying a placard supporter Dr Chris to silence this newspaper following WELLS 21ST SEPTEMBER the theatre project, behaviour thatDAY was ONLY! widely allegations he had SATURDAY been orchestrating a social NOW FROM ONLY £19.99opponents PER MONTH atcondemned oakleyfitness.co.uk by members of his own party. mediaJOIN campaign to ‘smear’ political

Alliance dirty tricks stifle freedom of speech and taint local politics

Tories must hold their nerve on theatre vote that could boost economy

Times LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

EDITORIAL COMMENT

TODAY this newspaper publishes background details on the campaigning tactics of the Tunbridge Wells Alliance, the political party launched with one aim stopping the £108million theatre and civic complex project.

Such a move would mean more than £10million of taxpayers’ money has been wasted; some of it spent on unsubstantiated Alliance objections.

Pressing ahead with the development would leave the council with around £250million in saleable assets and provide an estimated £35million in additional economic benefit to the area.

The three people leading the theatre protests, and driving a campaign of intimidation against anyone who dares not share their views, are all so called ‘NIMBYS’ living on the doorstep of the planned site of Calverley Square.

Alliance Cllr Nick Pope was in favour of the scheme until his wife bought a nearby apartment. He has named the Tory councillors he will attack at the May elections if they do not back him.

Alliance social media activist Francis Harris has been banned from a community website for his comments. He claims to have worked at the Courier newspaper although no one remembers him.

And then there’s Alliance Chairman Robert Chris whose arguments have been repeatedly dismissed by inde-

pendent experts. He even wrote to auditors Grant Thornton attacking them for not finding fault with the council plans for the new theatre and branded their actions ‘utterly disgraceful’ and likely to cause ‘severe embarrassment.’

Those who publicly support the theatre immediately incur the wrath of the Alliance and its supporters.

Last week the Times carried a story quoting the Managing Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra James Williams on the benefits of a new theatre. Within days he received a letter taking him to task and warning his stance would

‘Resident bombarded political party The Alliance has denied they are a single-issue the borough, and not for national with 200 hate messages party with no forward direction or new policy interests.” after coming out in It is understood Cllr Nick Pope, who stepped ideas. support of new theatre’ A spokesman for Alliance said: “The need down as leader after the Calverley Square vote to sages including one that said heRobert should has replaced to clarify that we are not a single issue party is ‘pursue other commitments’ ‘just go and die’. Alliance Chairman Robertwhile Chris suggested Mr Elesmore Pembury counparamount and the successes in bringing about Chris as interim Chairman, ‘might want to reconsider’ his opinions. theTimes new group change in areas other than Calverley Square cillor, David Hayward, is The is aware of otherleader. local business people who have been targeted by the Cllr Hayward insists the party remains ‘fiercely should be highlighted.”

Alliance. Most do not want to be named. At least one subsequently withdrewto hispush pub‘will continue He continued: “We have shown we can work committed and united’ and DECISION working with for a better run council working with councillors together to improve the council, Continued on pages 2/4/5/6 and 22 Calverley Square is the Council’s biggest investment in a generation councillors from other parties, for the people of across the council’.

Parents of Skinners’ pupil call for change in law

By Richard Williams

The Skinners’ prefect had been

with his girlfriend when he WILL THE THE SHAKE UP MEAN A celebrating CHANGE OF APPROACH? parents of a Crowborough teenager ordered the item from the restaurant at are calling for a change in the law

THERE was much fanfare amid the hope of a new style of local politics when Tunbridge Wells Alliance was launched around four years ago.

Indeed this newspaper carried a front page story in support of the move believing that diversity of opinion on any council has to be good for democracy.

The main objective of the party was to stop the planned £108million Calverley Square theatre complex. Which was fair enough. What the party failed to mention was the fact the driving forces behind the initiative lived on the doorstep of the planned site - they were NIMBYS. Again nothing wrong with that but it demonstrated from day one a lack of transparency from those wooing

do ‘very little for his reputation.’

Former banker Richard Powell was also attacked for his pro-theatre views and had an Alliance supporter contact his employer suggesting he was setting a poor example to young people.

Another target for the protestors was touring theatre manager Matt Elesmore who was bombarded with 200 hate mes-

the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London.

He had told staff about his allergy but following the death of their son who potential voters.his 18th birthday was not informed the burger contained died while celebrating milk products, and was ‘reassured’ by after eating a chicken burger.

This was compounded bynoamention social media of the allergic ingredient on Owen Carey collapsed and died on the menu.

April 22, 2017 after suffering a fatal campaign that targeted, often with hate mail The A-level student, who had been reaction to buttermilk that had been offered a place atspeak Swansea University, coated on to the meat at upmarket from supporters, anyone who dared out collapsed next to the London Eye less burger chain, Byron. against the Alliance. The party succeeded in taking council politics to a new low.

At one point readers and advertisers were urged to boycott this newspaper because we had the temerity to disagree with the aggressive tactics of the Alliance that smothered free speech. It didn’t work because we’re still here but it was typical of the atmosphere of intimidation created by the Alliance.

For the record, the Times would have opposed the Alliance’s tactics if it had used them to block

ALLERGY Owen Carey

than an hour after eating the burger and was rushed to St Thomas’ Hospital where he was pronounced dead after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Following an inquest last week [Friday September 13] in which a coroner ruled the restaurant had met industry standards in terms of the wording on the menu, the teenager’s parents called for a change of food legislation under

a zebra crossing. It was not just about a new theatre.

The departure of Chairman Robert Chris is long overdue and will be mourned by few who are Continued on page 2 unbiased, moderates.

Will the Alliance survive? Maybe, but hopefully in a new form that is more transparent and free from the abusive invective that became its trademark.

Democracy benefits from evidence based scrutiny... not hard-nosed threats and smear tactics that deter good people from playing any role in local decision making.

Richard Moore, Editorial Director

NEWS IN BRIEF

Abattoir in the clear over animal rights A SLAUGHTERHOUSE that was the subject of undercover footage filmed by an animal rights group has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Forge Farm Meats, in Powder Mill Lane, Southborough, which last year had to call police after a group of protestors broke into their premises, was facing 14 charges for contravening EU rules on animal cruelty, after another animal rights group secretly filmed work at the abattoir over three days in 2017.

But last week, magistrates in Sevenoaks dismissed the footage taken by Animal Aid because the protestors obtained it illegally before closing the case against the abattoir citing a ‘lack of evidence’. Two workers have also had criminal charges against them dismissed.

Animal Aid said it was ‘disspointed’ by the verdict.

Pantiles van accident A WOMAN was taken to hospital after being hit by a van near to The Pantiles yesterday [Tuesday].

The accident near to the busy island joining the A26 and Frant Road. Police had to temporarily close the A26 in both directions, while ambulance crews attended to the woman.

A force spokesman said: “Kent Police was called to a collision involving a van and a pedestrian in The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells at around 6.15am on Tuesday (January 28).

“Officers attended the scene along with the South East Coast Ambulance Service where the pedestrian was taken to a local hospital for treatment.”

Into the sloe gin spirit THIS Saturday February 1 The George Inn at Frant hosts its 11th annual Sloe Gin competition.

Judges for this year’s charity event include Josh and Matt Blackmore from JonoMade Gin and Alistair Harlow of the Gin Box Shop, both located in Tunbridge Wells.

Independent gin makers from all over the UK as well as Germany and Canada are taking part in the competition which has two categories: homemade and professional. Anyone can submit their sloe gin creation so if you’d like to take part simply turn up on the day. Judging begins at 3pm.

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A ‘not unusual’ performer comes to the Hop Farm

By Richard Williams GLOBAL singing sensation Tom Jones is set to perform at the Hop Farm this summer.

The superstar and judge of hit BBC and ITV talent show, The Voice, is coming to the venue near to Paddock Wood on Sunday, July 5.

With his distinctive voice and iconic records, Sir Tom, who was knighted in 2016, is among the UK’s best loved artists to emerge from the 60s.

With hits that include It’s Not Unsual, The Green, Green Grass of Home, Sexbomb, and cover of the Prince classic, Kiss, the Welsh crooner has a career spanning more than 50 years.

Thrilled The Welsh superstar celebrates his 80th birthday in June and is celebrating with a new tour, including his show at the Hop Farm, which will feature a collection of the star’s most popular hits across the decades, and those from his latest albums.

Promoter of the event, Liz Doogan-

Hobbs, from LHG Events, said, “We are of course thrilled to be working with Sir Tom Jones once again, having promoted and produced concerts with him across the country for several years.

“Tom remains one of the most popular artists in the industry and we have seen first-hand how he truly captivates an audience.

“Fans in Kent are in for a treat with an evening filled with Tom’s most recognisable and popular hits.

“We are looking forward to seeing you all there and would urge you to buy your tickets early!”

Miguel Fenton from the Hop Farm added: “The Hop Farm is delighted to host this very special concert of a true music legend whose appeal is multigenerational.

Over the years, The Hop Farm has seen performances by The Eagles, Prince, Bob Dylan and Elton John.

Tickets are priced at £39.50 [excluding booking fee] and go on sale on WHAT’S NEW Friday [January 31] from PUSSYCAT? 9.00am at: Sir Tom Jones who lhgtickets.com will be 80 in June

Rower breaks Atlantic record A TUNBRIDGE WELLS rower who nearly died attempting to cross the Atlantic in 2017, has set a new world record for the fastest crossing of the ocean in a two-man vessel.

Max Thorpe, a former Judd and Sevenoaks School pupil, and rowing partner Dave Spelman, completed the 3,000 mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge on January 19.

The pair travelled from the Canary Islands to Antigua in just 37 days 7 hours and 54 minutes.

The previous world record was 40 days 4 hours and 3 minutes.

It was Max’s second attempt at crossing the Atlantic.

In 2017, the rower nearly died when he and then partner Chris Williams capsized after being hit by a rogue wave, which

FINISH LINE Max Thorpe and Dave Spelman PHOTO: Lane 4 Performance

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

caused the boat to catch fire.

The pair were left to fend for themselves for more than 16 hours in a Force Nine gale before finally being saved by a passing oil tanker but had to climb up ropes dangling down

the side of the massive vessel.

Among the sponsors on the record-breaking boat were local creative agency Southpaw, who backed the attempt following Max’s ‘inspirational’ TEDx talk in Tunbridge Wells in 2018.

JAMES MARTIN TO HOST PUB IN THE PARK 2020 TV CHEF, James Martin, has been confirmed as the host for this year’s Pub in the Park food festival.

The former presenter of BBC’s Saturday Kitchen will host the festival at Dunorlan Park, which runs from Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12. The Yorkshireman and cooking supremo will be joined at this year’s festival by local food favourites The Small Holding, The Kentish Hare, The Compasses Inn, Tim Allen Flitch of Bacon, The Churchill Arms, The Star Inn and The Half Moon Inn. Pre-sale tickets go on sale on Wednesday, February 5 and general release on Friday, February 7.

KITCHEN STAR James Martin

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KCC losses from collapsed equity fund may be as high as £60million

By Richard Williams KENT County council may have lost nearly a quarter of its £260million investment in an equity fund that has collapsed.

The local authority could see losses of more than £60million when the Woodford Equity Fund is liquidated by administrators.

Link Fund Solutions, which took over the fund after Woodford ran into liquidity problems, is trying to sell off its assets.

FOLDED Stock-picker Neil Woodford whose fund is being liquidated

Recoup They have told investors to expect returns of around 46p and 59p per share – depending on the type of shares they hold. Based on the fund’s value before its troubles, this means KCC would recoup less than 80 per cent of its money.

The £3billion fund run by renowned stockpicker Neil Woodford was closed last year, after KCC asked to remove its investment.

The authority’s request caused Mr Woodford to immediately suspend withdrawals from the fund

to prevent a run from 300,000 other investors.

KCC was among the largest investor in the Woodford Fund, having ploughed more than a quarter of a billion of its pension money into it.

The money belonged to its 135,000 pension fund members, including frontline staff such as police officers and firefighters.

The Council maintains that the investment represents just 4 per cent of its total £6.8billion investment fund and will have a minimal impact on members.

But KCC Green Party Cllr, Martin Whybrow, has said that the Council’s 23 per cent loss, was not ‘small change’.

He told Sky News: “We are looking at a loss from our pension fund of around £60m, 23 per cent of the overall investment.

“The party line from here is that it’s a small percentage of the total pot but mention that to average pension fund holder on the street they won’t see it as small change.

“A copious amount of salt has been rubbed into the wound by learning how much money he took out before this all hit, that certainly has to be looked at, there are questions about his conduct and the sector as a whole, there are lessons for Kent County Council and other local authorities, and for the sector as a whole.”

Lest we forget… the Holocaust remembered NEARLY a hundred people braved the weather at 11am on Monday to remember the millions that died in the WW2 Holocaust.

Despite the torrential rain, the Major, Cllr James Scholes, who laid a wreath at the War Memorial was joined by dozens of people wanting to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, which this year fell on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27, 1945.

Auschwitz was a collection of concentration and extermination camps in occupied Poland. An estimated six million Jews were killed by the German Nazis in Auschwitz and similar death camps, along with millions of other ethnic and minority groups.

Joining the Mayor was John Cohen from the Royal British Legion who gave a short address centred on this year’s theme of ‘Stand Together’, and also reminded people of other campaigns of genocide that have occurred since World War II, including atrocities in Darfur, Bosnia and Rwanda.

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

MP seeks new role as committee chair

GREG Clark MP has thrown his hat into the ring to become Chairman of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, which is being voted on today [Wednesday].

Select Committees are made up of back bench MPs whose job is to scrutinise the work of government departments.

Mr Clark, a former Business Secretary, is understood to be against Stephen Metcalf, the backbench Conservative MP for Basildon and East Thurrock who held the post prior to the 2017 General Election.

Six House of Commons Select Committee posts being decided by MPs, with Tom Tugendhat, the member for Tonbridge & Malling standing again for Foreign Affairs Select Committee Chairman, having held the post from 2017. He is up against former Reigate MP, Crispin Blunt, as well as Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely.

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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Crime falls across the board after police recruitment drive pays off

By Richard Williams

BOOTS ON THE GROUND Matthew Scott meeting new recruits

CRIME in Tunbridge Wells has fallen by 6 per cent with the latest figures showing a drop in nearly all types of criminal activity in the borough.

Across Kent, the latest ONS [Office for National Statistics] figures also show a fall in reported crime, following a drive by the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner for more officers.

Kent PCC Matthew Scott has recently come under fire after figures for the first half of last year showed Kent had the seventh highest number of recorded crimes per population in the UK, and had topped the list in the south, beating even London.

Surge This was despite Mr Scott putting up Council Tax by around £24 per household in the county last April in order to recruit 180 new officers.

Last month, the Conservative PCC told the Times that he expected that the next raft of ONS figures, which show reported crime numbers from October 2018 – September 2019, would show his recruitment drive was working.

He had said: “Communities are starting to see the benefits of these officers. I anticipate that the next ONS data, when it is published in January, will show that recorded crime decreased in Kent over the 12 month period to September 2019.”

The figures, which were released last Thursday [January 23], indeed show a county-wide fall in crime, with the total number of incidents down by 3 per cent on the previous year, with 6,160 fewer crimes reported.

Included in the latest ONS data is also a fall of 3 per cent in knife crime in the county, despite a surge in the national figures, with incidents rising by 7 per cent, along with increases in robbery, fraud and vehicle theft.

The ONS statistics shows Kent to be one of only four force areas across England and Wales to record a decrease in overall recorded crime for 2019.

In Tunbridge Wells, the figures show that across the borough, total reported crime fell by 6 per cent.

There were 8,450 crimes reported in Tunbridge Wells in the 12 months leading to September last year, down from 8,964 in 2018.

Violent crime in the borough fell 7 per cent,

with just 3,200 reports of violence over the year, compared to 3,455 the year before.

There was also a 19 per cent fall in sexual offences, and an 8 per cent drop in burglaries, although theft and fraud offences have risen.

No homicides were reported in Tunbridge Wells in 2019 (and there was only one the year before).

It is a similar picture in Tonbridge & Malling where the number of reported incidents is falling across most crime types with 9,643 offences reported last year – down 3 per cent on 2018 when 9,895 crimes were reported.

However, there was a 7 per cent rise in reports of violence in Tonbridge, with 3,838 violent incidents recorded last year compared to just 3,586 the year before.

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ADDITIONAL POLICE HAVING ‘POSITIVE IMPACT’ AS PCC ASKS FOR TAX RISE POLICE Commissioner Matthew Scott has announced he intends to increase Council Tax to pay for even more new officers this year.

Mr Scott, who is standing for election as PCC again in May, says he wants a further £10 a year from taxpayers in April.

He said: “My last Annual Policing Survey attracted a record number of responses. What I heard loud and clear was residents were prepared to pay a little bit more for additional resources focused on neighbourhood policing, and on preventing crime and anti-social behaviour.

“With that mandate I am planning to add £10 to the annual bill of an average household, or 83p a month, in order to raise an extra £8.4million for policing in Kent.”

He said Kent will have 3,813 police officers

by March 2021, with 181 more being recruited thanks to funding from the Home Office, up from 3,181 when he took office in 2016.

He will present his precept proposal to the Police and Crime Panel on February 6.

Commenting on the latest ONS figures, he said: “Burglary is down in Kent, criminal damage is down in Kent, and violence with injury is down in Kent. The drive to recruit additional police officers through increases in council tax is having a positive impact. I hope to see this trend continue.

“Some other crime types like stalking, drugs offences, and possessions of weapons continue to show year-on-year increases.

“This is evidence of additional support being provided to more vulnerable victims, and of Kent Police’s proactive efforts targeting gangs and violent offenders.”

But he added that crime data does not reflect the work police forces do where no crime has taken place , such as searching for missing people or crime revention.”

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BUSINESS

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Hotel reshape sees new event space come to centre of town

By Richard Williams

INVENTIVE Hotels like One Warwick Park are learning to be flexible

A TUNBRIDGE WELLS hotel is opening a new event space to take advantage of the changing demands in the hospitality industry.

One Warwick Park Hotel in the town centre has created a new function space to cope with a burgeoning demand for more events, networking and private functions.

The change comes amid a growing shift in the hospitality industry where hotels are attempting to tap into the growing events sector, which they have been losing out to from new co-working spaces and business centres.

AXA PPP boss tells of her rags to riches story FEMALE entrepreneurs were left ‘spellbound’ at a networking event in Tunbridge Wells, as the Chief Executive of AXA PPP Healthcare told how she went from a council estate to the boardroom.

Tracy Garrad, who took over the reins at AXA PPP last year, was speaking at the not-for-profit initiative Make It Your Business [MIYB], which aims to inspire women entrepreneurs.

Struggles At the event, which was held at the Hotel du Vin in Tunbridge Wells, Ms Garrad told the audience of her struggles as a teenager after the break-up of her family forced her out of school to care for younger siblings at the age of 17.

She said she owed her career – which includes having been CEO of HSBC Channel Islands and Isle of Man, and CEO for leading UK bank First Direct before joining AXA PPP last year – to a single manager who saw her potential.

She told the audience: “Noticing a spark in someone can make a huge difference. That’s why events like this are so important for personal and professional development.

“You need supporters that can push you through your self-doubt. As women, we can often feel self-doubt much more than others.

“Find out what ignites the passion, and the rewards will be reaped.”

Innovative Kate Nicholls head of UK Hospitality, the leading trade association in the sector, says hotels are increasingly becoming ‘inventive and flexible’ to make best use of the changing landscape.

“Hotels are innovative businesses, so it’s no surprise to see them utilise space when customer tastes change. Particularly in Royal Tunbridge Wells, which has a wealth of culture,” she said.

One Warwick Park, which is situated near to The Pantiles, says their new ‘Event Room’ will replace its Seventeen restaurant, as the hotel has plenty of other in-house dining areas.

A spokesperson for the hotel told the Times: “As a result of significant customer demand, we have taken the strategic decision to open a new function space at One Warwick Park Hotel as part of our collection of multi-purpose events spaces for private and business events.

“The new function room will occupy the space

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

HOW TO MAKE IT TO THE TOP Tracy Garrad that was formally home to Seventeen restaurant, which has now closed.”

She continued: “Guests at One Warwick Park Hotel continue to have a range of dining options, including our in-house dining area The Terrace, where we serve a seasonally changing

menu; The Bar & Snug, a casual dining space which serves lighter meals, snacks and the One Warwick Park Afternoon Tea; and we will continue to offer room service.

“We also have a range of bespoke private dining options for groups of eight or more.”

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BUSINESS

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Sellers warned to act now as surveyors predict a boom in the housing market

By Richard Williams THOSE thinking of buying or selling a house have been warned to act now as sales across the UK increase for the first time in seven months.

The latest housing market report from The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors [RICS], for December 2019, shows a surge in house sales since the General Election, with some analysts forecasting a boom in 2020 following three years of Brexit uncertainty.

SEE THE According to the RICS, agreed home sales rose for the first time since BIGGEST May, and expectations of future PROPERTY sales have jumped.

N IN

A GREAT START TO THE YEAR Natasha Firman of Winkworths

house sales would be premature, but it certainly seems as if 2020 SECTIO will yield more sales for all agents M WN FRO O T than the past few years.

Upbeat “The latest report from the Knight PAGE 23 Frank research department says that The report predicts a rebound in both we should see a one per cent rise in the market in London and in the South East which will start to put up prices, with 61 per cent prices in 2020 and an 11 per cent rise in prices over the next 5 years.” of surveyors expecting prices to increase over Other estate agents agree. Natasha Firman, the next 12 months.

Director at Winkworths, based in the High The Chief Economist at the RICS, Simon Street, added: “The market has got off to a great Rubinsohn, said: “The signals from the latest start this year, with properties priced correctly RICS survey provide further evidence that the going under offer quickly. housing market is seeing some benefit from the “We believe increased activity will improve greater clarity provided by the decisive election liquidity for many properties, particularly outcome. the larger ones, which more often are subject “The sales expectations indicators clearly to chains. point to the prospect of a more upbeat trend She continued: “As there has been a shortage in transactions emerging, with potential of properties for some time, demand is high and purchasers being more comfortable in following there are many buyers out there keen to move. through on initial enquiries.”

“There is a lot of positive sentiment in the Local property experts say the market in market with spring just around the corner, and Tunbridge Wells and West Kent has ‘got off to a we’d strongly encourage anyone thinking of great start’ in 2020. moving to get their properties on the market Ross Davies, Partner at London and Tunbridge now instead of waiting until March/April time.”

Wells-based Knight Frank, said: “The early “Don’t procrastinate, if you want to move then signs are encouraging as we see greater buyer get on and sell and buy,” added Mr Davies. engagement. To say that we are seeing a rise in

Alison calls time on PR AN ACCOUNT director for one of Tunbridge Wells’ most established PR firms is retiring after 25 years at the company.

Alison Hardy, a former Daily Mail journalist, was the first employee at Maxim, joining directors Philip Jones and Andrew Metcalf only months after the firm was founded in the town in 1995.

Over the years she has worked on many accounts, including food and drink companies, tourist attractions, professional practices, vineyards – where she oversaw the launch of the Manchester United Champagne – and many others.

“I have loved my time in PR

RETIRING: Alison Hardy, of Tunbridge Wells PR firm Maxim

but the time has come to move on to other things,” she commented.

“I have seen so many changes in the way we communicate our clients’ messages, which has been incredibly exciting – if not hard to keep up with!”

Maxim Director Philip Jones added: “Alison has been a wonderful colleague and friend over the past quarter of a century.

“Her expertise was instrumental in helping to get Maxim established.

“We wish her all the best for the future and a very happy retirement with her husband, children and growing number of grandchildren.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Aldi’s market-leading pay Young networking event TUNBRIDGE WELLS’ newest supermarket has increased the hourly wages for its staff, maintaining its position as the UK’s highestpaying such store.

From February 1, staff at the German budget retailer’s stores will earn a minimum hourly rate of £9.40 nationally and £10.90 inside the M25, up from £9.10 and £10.55 per hour.

This rises to £10.41 per hour for store staff outside of London with more than three years’ service, while their colleagues in the capital with more than two years’ service will earn £11.15 per hour.

The rates exceeds the Living Wage Foundation’s recommended £9.30 per hour for those outside the M25 and £10.75 per hour for those workers inside.

A NETWORKING group aimed at young professionals living or working in Tunbridge Wells begins tomorrow [Thursday January 30].

Sharp Futures Networking is open to all professionals in the borough aged 18 to 30 regardless of academic qualification.

The first meeting will take place from 5.30pm to 7pm at Sankey’s Seafood Kitchen & Bar on Mount Ephraim.

The meeting is free, with a complementary welcome drink. It is being sponsored by marketing and PR agency Sharp Minds Communications.

“There isn’t currently a group specifically for young professionals in this area of Kent,” said event organiser Siobahn Stirling, of Sharp Minds.

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

10

BUSINESS

Local News

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk MOVING UP The Buss Murton team outside their new office

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

Local unemployment rises despite a 45-year UK low THE latest jobless figures have risen for both Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge & Malling despite unemployment across Britain being at a 45-year low and employment being at record levels.

The latest figures released by Tonbridge Jobcentre, which serves both boroughs, shows that in Tunbridge Wells unemployment rose during the last 12 months.

There were 136 more claimants of job-seeking benefits in the borough as of the end of November 2019 compared to the same month in the previous year, up 14 per cent. There were 1,140 people claiming some form of jobless benefit up from 1,104 the year before.

Opportunities

Another local law firm on the move to new office following years of continued growth

By Richard Williams ONE of Tunbridge Wells’ most respected law firms has moved premises to accommodate its continued growth.

Buss Murton Law, which can trace its roots in Tunbridge Wells back to 1713, has vacated its Wellington Gate offices in Church Road in favour of Wallside House, a detached office building in Mount Ephraim Road.

The firm, which has 11 partners, says the relocation comes as a result of continued growth over the last few years.

The move brings together more than 40 staff specialising in offering legal services to both indi-

viduals and businesses in Tunbridge Wells and the South-East of England.

The new offices offer additional meeting space and parking for clients, are easily accessible from the train station, and also offer staff a large openplan working environment.

Benefit Andrew Linton, Managing Partner at Buss Murton Law, said: “Our aim has always been to offer the best possible service to our clients and to support our experienced team in delivering that service.

“Our new surroundings will not only benefit our clients and staff but will also provide an ideal

space for hosting events and seminars, and allow us to carry on our work in supporting other local businesses and charities on our doorstep.”

Buss Murton Law, which also has additional offices in Cranbrook and East Grinstead, is only the latest in a number of moves amid the thriving Tunbridge Wells legal sector.

At the end of last year, Thomson Snell & Passmore moved from its offices in Lonsdale Gardens to the 28,000 sq ft newly refurbished Heathervale House in Vale Avenue.

Three years earlier, Cripps (now Cripps Pemberton Greenish) moved from five separate buildings in the town into a 40,000 sq ft new office block on Mount Ephraim.

In Tonbridge & Malling there was a similar picture, with 65 more claimants compared to a year before, with 1,080 on a type of unemployment benefit.

Nationally, the number of people who are claiming unemployment benefit has dropped by 7,000 to just below 1.31 million in the three months to November, putting the UK’s unemployment rate at just 3.8 per cent.

Across the South East, employment is also at a near record high of 4.67million – up 12,000 on the quarter and up 80,000 on the year.

Andrew Holmes, Partnership Manager for the Tonbridge Jobcentre, said that despite the small increase of benefit claimants locally, there remain plenty of opportunities for job seekers in the area.

“The new alternative claimant count figures continue to show a fall across West Kent compared to five years ago, which is very good news,” he commented.

“Although it is now showing increases compared to this time last year, there are still many job opportunities available in the local labour market.”

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Community News

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Protest over Ightham Mote’s plan for new car park on farming land

By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk PROTESTERS are trying to stop the National Trust from turning three and a half acres of farming land into a new car park at Ightham Mote.

The conservation organisation wants to relocate the existing car park to double its capacity and replace the visitor reception building and shop.

The historic attraction near Ivy Hatch, which dates from the 14th century, already has parking spaces for 232 vehicles on an entrance drive and in a walled garden.

It wants to increase capacity with 317 spaces on tarmac and gravel, allowing for an overall total of 472 cars – an increase of 240.

The Grade I-listed moated manor house lies within the Metropolitan Green Belt and the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The parking proposal is one of two formal applications that have been lodged with Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council.

The Trust also says it wants to restore the Walled Garden and North Drive ‘in order to enhance the setting of the mansion and improve the whole site visitor experience’.

It claims the existing parking provision is ‘impractical, constrained, scattered and confusing’.

A statement by DHA Planning on behalf of the Trust cited a case for ‘very special circumstances’ to overcome the ‘obstacle of inappropriate development’.

It said: “The Trust has owned Ightham Mote since 1985 and in that time has made a number of necessary and pragmatic changes that have a direct impact on the setting of this important site.

“Some of these changes have led to harm in

planning terms. However, following an extensive period of conservation of the mansion and cottages there is now an opportunity to resolve the issues, and reveal even greater and deeper significance.”

The restoration project has cost £10million and the applicant states that because of ‘growth in the popularity of the site, there is increasing pressure on the existing infrastructure’.

The applicant continues: “Under the National Trust Act, the Trust has a legal duty to both preserve and conserve such historic assets ‘For ever, for everyone’.”

Ightham Mote welcomed more than 178,000 visitors in 2018-19, compared with around 100,000 ten years ago – and the Trust predicts a rise to 225,000 over the next decade.

However, an online petition has been launched

by Nick Davey to stop the expansion project,

ROLLING HILLS The field that would become a car park

which had been signed by more than 550 people at the time of our going to press.

He said: “To all environmentalists out there, the National Trust are planning to destroy good farming land at Ightham Mote and build a fiveacre car park.

“The field is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty located in Green Belt land. This cannot be right environmentally, and particularly considering its impact on climate change.

“We should be discouraging cars rather than enticing more cars into an environmentally fragile environment such as Ightham Mote.”

In addition to the loss of countryside, concerns have been raised by local residents about an increase of traffic on Mote Road, the narrow country lane that provides access to the site.

TIMES CHANGE: The plan of the existing site (left) and how it would look after the propsed changes (right)

The petition can be found at change.org/p/tonbridge-andmalling-borough-councilcountryside-not-car-park

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

Honor for former KCC Chairman A FORMER Chairman of Kent County Council [KCC] and Tunbridge Wells county councillor has been elected as an Honorary Alderman.

John Davies was elected to KCC in 2001 as the Conservative member for Southborough, and went on to represent Tunbridge Wells West until 2017.

He chaired County Hall’s Planning Applications Committee for eight years and was an HR and PR director in the financial services industry, Mr Davies is also a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of The Clockmakers Company.

He said: “I love Kent and all that it stands for. I was the first Chairman to bestow these honours in 2009 to eight former councillors.

“When I was Chairman undertaking the citizenship ceremonies, I referred to the Kent flag as being the oldest symbol of local government in existence today. In Anglo-Saxon times we were known as the Kingdom of Kent… I would much rather have been the King of Kent rather than the Chairman!.

“You seldom achieve things on your own. I would not be here today if not for the support of my fellow councillors of all parties and the first-class officers we have in Kent – and my wife Christine.

KING OF KENT: John Davies was nominated by KCC chair Ann Allen

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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Dishing out healthy advice on eating A COOKERY course offering nutritional advice for vulnerable adults has been launched by a Community Interest Company [CIC] in Hadlow.

Clay Colour Works was set up by Maggie Blanche, director and founder of Hadlow Pottery, along with parents to provide work experience.

Now it is teaching adults who have learning difficulties and live with Down syndrome, autism and epilepsy how to cook and eat more healthily.

It has received a grant of £4,500 from Kent Community Foundation to employ a coordinator to run the healthy eating sessions and help with management and administration costs.

The sessions taught them how to use household appliances and helped them become more aware of how to handle food hygienically.

Maggie added: “I wanted to apply to Kent Community Foundation for funding to run Healthy eating sessions but I just didn’t have the confidence.

“The Foundation was fantastic and made the process so simple. They came in and helped me with my first application. I couldn’t have done it without their support.”

Popular Maggie said: “Clay Colour Works CIC know that if our vulnerable adults can prepare, cook and enjoy one good healthy meal a week at the centre, then it will help them to eat more healthily at home.

“These sessions have been incredibly popular with all our adults, and it is such a joy to see the participants wanting to learn how to prepare, cook and then enjoy a healthy meal.”

The group have been preparing dishes such as chicken goujons and sweet potato brownies.

TASTE OF SUCCESS Volunteer Jill Lark helps students in the kitchen

How foster care changes lives for both vulnerable children and their families THE children’s charity Barnardo’s is calling for more foster families as the number of children in care continues to rise.

To mark last week’s Barnardo’s Fostering Week, which ran from January 20-27, a new survey of their foster carers revealed that seven out of ten would recommend fostering to others.

Trauma More than 83 per cent said they do so because they want to make a difference to the lives of the children.

The number of children in care in England has rised to 78,150 but there are fewer fostering places available.

Barnardo’s is urgently calling for more people to help, and its Chief Executive, Javed Khan,

said: “Fostering changes children’s lives. Foster carers give children the care, love and hope they need to recover from past trauma and achieve a positive future. We urge anyone interested in becoming a foster carer to get in touch.

“Barnardo’s has more than 100 years of experience finding families for vulnerable children.

“We support our foster carers throughout the process with training, opportunities to connect with others, and advice at the end of the phone.”

To become a foster carer, you must be aged 21 or over, have a spare bedroom, and the time and commitment to care for a child or young person.

Barnardo’s Fostering South-East is based in Southborough.

For more information, call 01892 510650 or visit barnardos.org.uk/fostering-week

‘IT’S HIGHLY REWARDING BUT ALSO CHALLENGING’ Paul Beard of Tunbridge Wells was already a foster carer when he joined Barnardo’s in 2008 as a Legacy Marketing Officer. He is now a Regional Fundraising Manager for the South East. He describes how he and his partner Toni became foster carers and what it’s meant to them: Our youngest child was four – and eight years younger than his closest sibling, and we were worried he would not have the company of similar aged children. So we thought that fostering a similar aged child would be great for both our son and also a vulnerable child who needed a home and a family on a long-term basis.

At the time I wasn’t working for Barnardo’s, but I had heard that their fostering service provided good back-up and support to both foster parents and the children.

My partner Toni and I were interviewed by the service and asked to undertake a detailed analysis of our background, including our own childhoods and how we were brought up.

Our friends were also interviewed to understand how we had brought our four children up, and also to look at the strength within our relationships with our children and between ourselves.

It is a rigorous process but it has to be that way when you are dealing with vulnerable children and their lives. It took just over a year to complete all of the necessary interviews and SUPPORT NETWORK Paul Beard says Barnardo’s checks and support was ‘invaluable’ paperwork.

We undertook a number of respite requests [for other foster carers] before Mark joined us in 2002 as our first-long term placement.

Virtually all our placements were for threeplus years, and in some cases five years. Most children that we looked after were 14, 15 or 16 years old. Mark was eight and a half years old and he had ADHD as well as attachment issues.

He was incredibly active and volatile.

The support from Barnardo’s was invaluable at this time to help us manage these situations, and remaining calm became our mantra.

It was definitely a challenging placement, and as a family it took us time to adapt. But things eventually settled down and Mark became an integral part of our family.

In many ways he was an extraordinarily endearing, caring and thoughtful youngster and had a really positive impact in developing our children’s awareness of others and understanding their own privilege.

In addition to Mark we had six longterm placements in total – and each child we cared for brought their own rewards.

This was particularly the case with four asylum-seeking Afghani youngsters, who stayed with us for two to four years. They gave us a fascinating insight into their previous lives, religion and culture.

Without doubt fostering has influenced our family for the better… and I would encourage families who are considering fostering to give it a go.

Community News

NEWS

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Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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Grenfell firms Huawei is given a cautious knew cladding greenlight despite warnings would likely fail FIRMS that revamped Grenfell Tower, including Crowborough-based Harley Facades, knew the cladding would fail if exposed to fire, emails disclosed to the public inquiry into the disaster suggest.

Designers, contractors and fire safety consultants were said to have ‘expressly foreseen’ the risk that would lead to a rapidly spreading fire that destroyed the high-rise block, according to messages from March 2015, the hearing was told.

The blaze at Grenfell Tower killed 72 people.

Combustible Main contractor Rydon, external wall subcontractor Harley Facades, refurbishment architects Studio E and fire inspectors Exova, are alleged to have known the proposed cladding for which the 129-flat tower was to be encased would burn and fall off if exposed to external flames.

The email exchanges were introduced to the inquiry on Tuesday by Craig Orr QC, counsel for Celotex, which supplied the insulation used in the renovation of the 24-storey block.

They arose as a result of a debate with building control about whether cavity barriers or fire-stops were required, he said.

Built in 1974, the tower was extensively refurbished between 2012 and 2016, during which time a cladding system using flammable aluminium composite material (ACM) panels was installed.

Both the Reynobond PE cladding panels and the CelotexRS5000 insulation were combustible and found to be a key factor in the fire’s rapid spread by acting as a source of fuel.

Tonbridge & Malling MP Tom Tugendhat have BORIS Johnson has given the go-ahead for Chinese firm Huawei to play a role in the UK’s 5G also warned against the move.

In the Commons on Monday, Mr Tugendhat network, despite warnings from his own MPs urged the government not to let Huawei supply about the move. equipment for the UK’s 5G digital infrastructure.

The Government has said ‘high risk vendors’ He said he hoped ministers understood ‘the such as Huawei will be allowed a peripheral concern that this whole House feels [about] the role. idea that we should be nesting that dragon, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed that guidance should be issued by the National Cyber idea we should be letting the fox into the hen house, when really we should be guarding the Security Centre stating that high risk vendors wire’. should be excluded After Mr Johnson’s from a number of announcement, Mr aspects of the network.

Tugendhat commented: These include “This statement leaves exclusion from all many concerns and safety-related and does not close the UK’s safety-critical networks, networks to a frequently excluded from securitymalign international critical ‘core’ functions, actor. If we’re to avoid and excluded from finding ourselves in a sensitive geographic similar position with 6G locations, such as in the future, we will nuclear sites and need to act now. I will military bases.

‘It does not close the UK’s be talking to ministers Mr Johnson has also networks to a malign actor’ urgently.” said Huawei should be However, Culture limited to a minority Secretary Baroness Morgan said yesterday presence of no more than 35 per cent in the [Tuesday]: “We want world-class connectivity as periphery of the network, known as the access network, which connects devices and equipment soon as possible but this must not be at the expense of our national security. to mobile phone masts.

“High risk vendors never have been and never The move comes despite warnings from the will be in our most sensitive networks.

United States who said that British sovereignty “The Government has reviewed the supply would be put at risk by allowing the firm to play chain for telecoms networks and concluded a role in the UK’s 5G infrastructure, while senior today it is necessary to have tight restrictions on Tories have also raised concerns about the the presence of high risk vendors.” looming decision on whether to allow Huawei She continued: “This is a UK-specific solution equipment to be used.

A number of MPs, including the former chair of for UK-specific reasons and the decision deals with the challenges we face right now.” the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and

Nicholas Parsons has died aged 96 TELEVISION legend Nicholas Parsons has died after a short illness, his agent has said.

The 96-year-old broadcaster was with his family when he died yesterday [Tuesday] morning.

His agent Jean Diamond issued a statement on behalf of his family, saying: “Nicholas passed away in the early hours of the 28th of January after a short illness at the age of 96.

“He was with his beloved family who will miss him enormously and who wish to thank the wonderful staff at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital.”

Parsons was best known for Just A Minute, where panellists have to speak for one minute without hesitation, deviation or repetition. He first fronted the show on its inception in 1967.

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NEWS

National News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Trump unveils Middle East two-state plan PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s long-awaited Middle East peace plan calls for the creation of a State of Palestine with its capital in portions of east Jerusalem, ending speculation as to whether his administration would abandon a ‘twostate resolution’ to the conflict.

The plan more than doubles the territory currently under Palestinian control, although it also recognises Israeli sovereignty over major settlement blocs in the West Bank, something to which the Palestinians will almost certainly object.

The Palestinians have already rejected the proposal, in princple.

Legal challenge for Total A FRENCH climate alliance of charity groups and local authorities has launched an unprecedented legal action against Total, hoping to make the French energy company reduce greenhouse emissions.

Activists from the non-governmental organisations say it is the first time a French multinational has been taken to court over climate change.

Ex-Catalonia VP release THE former vice-president of Catalonia returned as a prisoner to the regional parliament in Barcelona.

Oriol Junqueras and five other former Cabinet members were released from prison to attend a committee session addressing the consequences of the central authorities’ temporary takeover of the region’s control at the height of the 2017 crisis.

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Wednesday January 29 | 2020

Birmingham man tested for the Coronavirus as death toll rises FEARS were raised that the Coronavirus had reached the UK yesterday [Tuesday], following a video posted online of man in Birmingham being escorted by medics in Hamzat suits.

Public Health England confirmed the man, from teh Harborne area of the city, was being tested for the disease.

A spokesperson said: “The Harborne resident returned form Wuhan on December 31, over 14 days ago; however, as he has had symptoms during that time, blood tests are being taken.”

She added that the results would be expected in the next 48 hours.

Meanwhile, Germany has confirmed its first case of the new virus that has infected thousands in China.

The health ministry in the southern state of Bavaria said late on Monday that the man from Starnberg, south of Munich, is ‘in a clinically good condition’.

Officials said the man is being medically isolated, and people who were in close contact with him are being informed about possible symptoms and hygiene measures.

Nearly all of the dozens of cases outside China are among people who recently travelled from the central city of Wuhan where the outbreak began last month.

Contain Meanwhile, China’s National Health Commission said yesterday [Tuesday] the death toll from the coronavirus has risen to 106.

Authorities reported 25 deaths on Tuesday, with all but one in Hubei province where the virus is believed to have originated.

The number of total cases has now reached more than 4,500. contain the disease, was preparing to fly its diplomats and some other

Americans out of the city.

In Hong Kong, Chief executive Carrie Lam has announced that all rail links to mainland China will be cut starting Friday as fears grow about the spread of the virus.

Lower Thames Crossing: UK’s longest road tunnel NEW images have been released showing plans for Britain’s longest road tunnel as the next phase of public consultation begins.

The Lower Thames Crossing will provide a new 14.3-mile 70mph road connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex, with the world’s third-widest bored tunnel.

It will almost double road capacity across the River Thames east of London, connecting communities, reducing delays and providing more reliable journeys.

Highways England’s public

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL: Proposed southern entrance of the Lower Thames Crossing

consultation will give people the chance to comment on the latest changes to the £6.8billion project.

The changes have been made after analysis of 29,000 responses received during the last consultation held in 2018, and new technical information following surveys and ground investigations.

The eight-week consultation began today [Wednesday] and people can respond in the consultation by visiting one of 20 events in Kent, Essex and Thurrock, or by completing an online survey.

Chris Taylor, from Highways England’s, said: “The Lower Thames Crossing is Highways England’s most ambitious project in 30 years, designed to improve journeys across the southeast and open up new connections and opportunities for people and businesses.

“Getting the views of the local community and businesses is crucial to designing a project that will offer the best value, maximise the benefits for all, while reducing the impact on local communities and the environment.”

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Supermarket boss denies he was ousted after Asda merger

“If you looked at our Annual General Meeting last year, 99.5 per cent of our shareholders voted for me to carry on what I’m doing. It’s absolutely my choice.

“It’s something I’ve promised myself throughout my career, that at the age of 60 I will stop and do something different with my life.”

Mr Coupe said he is approaching his 60th birthday and is planning to “take some time off and spend time with my family”.

He will leave the business in May after six years as chief and 15 years at the retailer, with Simon Roberts taking the helm at the UK’s second largest supermarket.

Choice Mike Coupe Mr Coupe was also asked whether he believed the competition watchdog The multibillion-pound merger has now made another large merger in the was halted by the Competition and supermarket sector ‘impossible’.

Market Authority (CMA) in April 2019 after it He said: “I think it is difficult at the moment, warned the deal could lead to higher prices for but ultimately, I have a very strong view that the customers. industry will consolidate.”

Asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme The comments came as the supermarket whether he had paid the price for the failed pledged £1billion towards making its operations merger, Mr Coupe said: “No. It was absolutely ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2040. my choice.

THE departing boss of Sainsbury’s said he has not been forced out of the supermarket for its failure to merge with rival Asda last year.

Mike Coupe, who announced his plan to step down as chief executive of the grocer last week, said his exit was planned and completely his ‘own decision’.

Mr Coupe’s exit comes amid a testing period for the retailer, which sought to merge with Walmart-owned Asda in a bid to withstand growing competition from German discount rivals Aldi and Lidl.

Just Eat signs McDonald’s deal JUST Eat has announced plans to partner with McDonald’s as the takeaway delivery business ramps up its brand-focused growth strategy.

The company, which has agreed a merger with Takeaway.com, revealed the deal as it reported trading in line with expectations for the past year.

It said underlying earnings for 2019 were around £200million, with group orders of around 254million and revnues of approximately £1billion.

The company said this means earnings will be towards the top end of its forecast range for the year. Just Eat saw UK sales jump 8 per cent during 2019 as it secured more delivery partners.

It will now work with McDonald’s in the UK and Ireland, becoming the US takeaway giant’s second delivery partner in the UK after rival Uber Eats.

Just Eat said the delivery service will be implemented during 2020 and comes after

McDonald’s hailed strong uptake since it first launched a delivery service.

The delivery group has also recently signed deals with partners including Greggs, KFC and Burger King, after previously focusing on independent takeaway operators.

Watchdog Peter Duffy, Just Eat’s interim chief executive, said: “This partnership, along with our recently announced relationship with Greggs, will require significant investment but will accelerate our growth ambitions and enhance our market position by offering our customers the widest choice available.”

The update comes days after the competition regulator announced it would investigate Just Eat’s £6billion merger with Dutch firm Takeaway.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Stocks rise despite coronavirus outbreak

Banks to explain 40 per cent overdraft charges

EUROPEAN stocks rebounded yesterday morning [Tuesday] after the markets took a hit on Monday over continued fears about the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in China.

Despite the increasing size of the outbreak, European stock markets opened in the green on Tuesday morning. The FTSE 100 was up 0.5 per cent in London, France’s CAC 40 opened at 0.4 per cent higher than Monday night, and the German DAX rose 0.3 per cent.

BANKS are being asked by the regulator to explain their overdraft pricing decisions, after a string of providers pegged their new rates at around 40 per cent.

Overdraft providers are introducing the new rates as they comply with new rules being introduced by the Financial Conduct Authority [FCA] from April 6, which will prevent providers from charging higher prices for unarranged overdrafts than for arranged overdrafts.

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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Letters

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Wednesday January 29 | 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 A child would know this new collection contract was a load of rubbish

How to mend the broken high street Our broken business rates system needs to be replaced by a tax on land values, which would be paid by landowners rather than tenants. At the Lib Dem autumn conference last year, the party passed a motion calling for a Commercial Landowner Levy [CLL].

This levy would remove buildings and machinery from calculations and tax only the land value of commercial sites, boosting investment and cutting taxes for businesses in nine out of ten English local authorities, such as Southborough and Tunbridge Wells. This policy solution should be top of the list to help save and promote our high streets with their wide range of shops, bars, cafés and restaurants.

Dr Alan Bullion Liberal Democrat Town Councillor for Southborough North

We will still be a divided nation

So, almost four months since the start of a new recycling collection commenced, the two local boroughs have egg on their faces, but are blaming the new contractor. There was nothing wrong with the previous one. A case of the cheapest quote? You only get what you pay for.

You each expected miracles of collecting double or more from the same level of infrastructure. The average child of ten could have told you that was not possible.

In the case of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, wasn’t this the same bunch of ‘experts’ who have widened the pavements in Tonbridge High Street, which automatically narrowed it, and taking account of the fact that it was already highly polluted, thought it a

Increasingly bitter about this litter I have been greatly alarmed lately by a seeming rise in littering and fly-tipping.

It’s great to hear about all the litter pickers out there doing their good deeds – and thank goodness, because it seems drivers are increasingly winding down their windows and chucking their rubbish out before speeding off. It’s always a source of astonishment to me that anyone can do such a thing, rather than just taking it home with them. It’s nothing short of a desecration of our gorgeous countryside in West Kent.

Then there’s the fly-tipping. Ever since Kent County Council started charging for depositing building materials at the area’s tips last summer, there have been more and more instances of

good idea to ignore the need to use one of the lay-bys created for unloading, thus blocking the flow of traffic by the buses, greatly increasing the pollution and traffic jams?

Worse, that there would be a 17-month period for it to bed in. It would take less than 17 seconds for that same child to realise the sheer madness of those responsible.

But was anyone punished? We all know the answer to that when we see their latest effort up at the station pedestrian crossing.

I well recall a comedian saying ‘those working in local and national government were people who couldn’t get a job anywhere else’.

No laughing matter now, though!

Colin Packman, Tonbridge large quantities of the stuff being dumped on quiet roads when no one’s looking. You can’t exactly expect litter-pickers to clear up sackfuls of old rubble and broken bathroom fittings.

It’s all so depressing – and in my opinion it’s indicative of the ‘I don’t care about other people’ attitude which is becoming a fact of life in our society. Take your rubbish home and, if you’re building or knocking something down, take responsibility for your actions, don’t just heap your misery on others.

Mind you, County Hall could also reverse their decision to charge at tips and find a more workable solution.

Theresa Russell Leigh

Greg Clark wrote emolliently last week about ‘One Nation Conservatives’ and ‘putting past divisions behind us’, whilst at the same time betraying his own reluctance to let things go when he refers to the outcome of Brexit as ‘for better or worse’.

Unfortunately, this is still a divided nation: On the one hand we have the cultural, intellectual, left-leaning elite in Westminster which must include those MPs who attempted to thwart the democratic vote to Leave and of which Mr Clark was a prominent member, along with the BBC and prominent business leaders; and then there’s the rest of us, whose trust and patience were sorely tested.

Rest your pen, Mr Clark, a quiet period of contemplative modesty would not go amiss.

Sam Goodenough Tunbridge Wells

Ask not why the bells are tolling I find it absolutely astounding that anyone in their right mind can think it’s a good idea to waste public funds on ringing the bells for Brexit day [Times issue January 22].

This vitriolic stance only emphasises how we have become a polarised nation with extremist views and is not going to help reconciliation.

Louise Harvey Tunbridge Wells

Get beyond first-past-the-post system Through most of my adult life I have voted with all three major political parties, according to their appeal and principles at the time, rather than ideological reasons.

It is abundantly clear to me that, for too long, the unrepresentative first-past-the-post system does not serve democracy well! It has produced Punch and Judy debates in Parliament and minority governments with barely 40 per cent of the national vote dictating the agenda, leaving the vast majority of voters disenfranchised.

Historically, the big two have had a vested interest in maintaining this system of voting, each waiting for their turn to come around.

Perhaps now Labour, if not the Conservatives, will wake up and join all the other minority parties and campaign for a review and, hopefully, introduce a system where each

and every vote has true worth.

Martin Dawes Tunbridge Wells

They are here, Calverley!

At the end of his rant [January 22], Calverley asks for an answer on a postcard. So here it is.

There are council elections on May 7 and one third of councillors are up for re-election.

He asks: “Where now are those with a credible vision for Tunbridge Wells?” They are waiting in the wings, Calverley – you are warned!

Penny Kift Tunbridge Wells (sent in by postcard)

A positive year ahead?

We are now well into the first month of the first year of the new decade, so are we on track with any New Year resolutions we set, or are they already forgotten? I, personally, didn’t set any except to continue pursuing the goals I’d set myself last year, so work in progress.

I was reminded of that wonderful film Dead Poets Society, starring the late Robin Williams, and the scene where he was addressing his class of secondary school pupils. He quoted that wellknown, or not so well-known, Latin phrase ‘carpe diem’, often translated as ‘seize the day’, which is used for saying people should enjoy the present.

‘Seize the day’ made me think that life can be like a relay race, and having seized the day, we should ‘grab the baton’ and run the lap for the day. Each day a new lap and each day an opportunity for a fresh start. Just for the day.

We may eventually hand over that baton to someone else, but that’s another story.

This brought to mind the article in the Times [January 15] about another day of inspirational TEDxRTW talks taking place on Saturday February 1 at the Assembly Hall Theatre.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to attend a couple of these events and found the talks most informative and certainly inspirational.

I shall be attending the next one. Here’s to a positive year ahead as our town continues its redevelopment. Looking better already.

Brian Bissell Southborough

MP ignores the dire state of our Union Greg Clark [January 22] omits too much for his propaganda to be taken seriously. He fails to mention, for example, that the majority of Tory seats still lie in southern England, and that in effect the Tories remain the English Nationalist Party.

He ignores the dire state of our Union and the fact that in the General Election some 15 million voted for Remain and another referendum parties compared to about 13.5 million for Brexit parties.

Does he believe they are just going to vanish solely to suit Tory Party convenience?

Above all, there is constitutional reform. It has been said that on this topic there are two kinds of Tory –those who deny reform is ever necessary and those who say it is, but not now.

Into which category does Greg Clark fit? Or will he vote as the party whips direct?

James Robertson Pembury

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

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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EDUCATION Times

Tonbridge pupils are on top form With the boys at Tonbridge School achieving ‘top 100’ rankings in a UK maths contest, and also celebrating a year of record fundraising, the start to 2020 has been a solid one TONBRIDGE boys put in exceptional performances in a recent national competition testing students’ mathematical ability.

In the British Maths Olympiad Round 1, seven Tonbridgians were awarded distinctions for being ranked in the top 25 per cent of all competitors – Ben Gardner, Hayden Lam, Victor Lin, Isaac King, Kevin Lee, Godwyn Lai and Sherman Yip. Four of these boys also received medals for achieving a place in the national top 100. Sherman, one of just seven students in the entire

country to gain full marks, received a gold medal; Godwyn earned a silver medal; and Isaac and Kevin were awarded bronze.

Seven distinctions equals the school’s best performance in the British Maths Olympiad, a record set just last year, and four ‘top 100’ prizes is the school’s best showing to date.

A number of other Tonbridge boys earned the right to take part in the competition by being placed in the top 1,000 across the country in an earlier contest, the Senior Maths Challenge.

Following the British Maths Olympiad Round 1, both Isaac and Sherman were invited to the UKMT [UK Mathematics Trust] New Year Training Camp in Hungary. Following another outstanding performance in this event, Sherman has been invited to represent the UK as one of a team of six at the Romanian Mathematical Masters.

Isaac also performed well and is being trained for possible future opportunities.

In being selected for the Romanian Mathematical Masters, Sherman becomes the first Tonbridgian to represent the UK in a Maths competition.

In more good news for the public boys school, Tonbridge students have also enjoyed a recordbreaking year of fundraising.

The school’s community of boys, staff and par-

IT ALL ADDS UP: Four boys with their maths medals, and (right) boys taking part in the school’s Colour Run, raising funds for the charity Child Action Lanka

Education

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ents raised more than £113,000 for charity during the academic year of 2018-19. This total, which sets a Tonbridge record for funds raised in a single year, has been donated to more than 20 local, national and international charities.

The main school fundraiser for the year raised enough to build and equip a Child Development Centre for the poorest children in Sri Lanka, and each of the school’s main annual events broke previous record totals.

Some events, such as Pink Day, which raised more than £3,000 for Breast Cancer Now, involved the whole school. Boys dressed in pink outfits and the school was adorned in pink bows and ribbons to express solidarity with all of those affected by cancer. Collections taken after concerts, plays or in chapel services supported a range of charities, including Chasing Connor’s Cure, Ellenor, Movember, Cardiac Risk in the Young and The Royal British Legion.

Success Sales of produce, such as honey from the school’s bees or apple juice produced from the orchard, supported Farm Africa, and a staff quiz night raised funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Many boys and staff also undertook their own personal challenges, such as log runs or marathons, raising funds for both local and international charities.

A particularly impressive effort came from firstyear students who braved the elements to sleep rough in the Quad for a night in early April, raising £16,726.40 for Kent-based Porchlight.

The school’s donations to Porchlight, a charity which helps homeless and vulnerable young people across Kent and the South East, amount to more than £75,000 over the past five years.

The school’s biggest success of the year was in raising more than £69,000 for Child Action Lanka [CAL], a charity which works with street children in Sri Lanka. In total, more than £82,000 has now been donated to build and equip a new Child Development Centre in Batticaloa, on the east coast of Sri Lanka.

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Weekly Comment

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Ben Chapelard Liberal Democrat councillor for St James’

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

Ben Chapelard is a Liberal Democrat councillor and Leader of the Opposition on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. He was also the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for the Tunbridge Wells constituency in the 2019 General Election.

Trust is in short supply in politics these days NATIONALLY, Boris Johnson and his Government have been elected to ‘Get Brexit done’. Will they? Possibly, over many years.

Will they deliver on all of the promises made, while maintaining the integrity of the United Kingdom? I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Locally, Tunbridge Wells residents are angry that £10.8m of their money has been spent over the past few years on Calverley Square, a project which never saw the light of day. They have questions about how this could happen, and they are entitled to answers.

Systemic To prevent similar mistakes from happening again, an independent audit of the project should be carried out. However Conservativerun Tunbridge Wells Council intend for Conservative-run Mid-Kent services to carry the audit out. The Lib Dems have a number of problems with this.

Firstly, our local leadership were determined to plough on, spending millions of taxpayers’ money on a project they knew was unpopular.

This suggests systemic problems in consultation and decision making, which needs proper investigation by a truly independent body.

The Conservative-run council will only admit to costs of £10.8m. We believe there are millions missing from this figure. Therefore to know the true cost, the audit must be conducted by a competent body wholly independent of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Residents who are paying for this failed project - deserve to know the real cost to the tax payer.

More widely, we must increase the transparency around decision-making. Our council must treat members of the public who elect us as equals who can guide our decisions, rather than passive customers. A truly independent inquiry can help us learn lessons and avoid making similar mistakes in future.

Likewise, the recent defection of Councillor Christian Atwood from the Tunbridge Wells Alliance (TWA) to the Conservatives does little to foster the faith voters place in us.

TWA was set up specifically to challenge the Conservatives’ Calverley Square project, and he was voted in by residents of Park ward with the project at the forefront of their minds – after all, Calverley Grounds, the intended site of the new complex, sits within Park ward.

For him to move camp so soon after his election will feel like a betrayal to the hundreds of people who voted for him last May. And worth

Nus Ghani

Conservative MP for Wealden

TRANSPARENCY The Liberal Democrats are calling for more openess in Town Hall decision-making bearing in mind that he is joining a Conservative council group who are trying to get away with marking their own homework.

To end with a quote from Walter Anderson: “Trust is like a vase; once it’s broken, though you can fix it, the vase will never be same again”.

Nus Ghani was first elected MP for Wealden in May 2015 and represents Crowborough, Eridge and Uckfield, among other towns and villages. She also currently serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport and is Assistant Government Whip. In 2018, Ms Ghani became the first Muslim woman to speak from the House of Commons Despatch Box.

A safer country means a more prosperous country THE prerequisite for a more prosperous, more equal, and more productive society is the security of all citizens. It is paramount that everyone feels safe to grow, work, and travel.

That is why this Government is taking a serious, comprehensive approach to our Armed Forces.

Last December, The Queen’s Speech heralded a number of strong One Nation policies, among which the Government’s commitment to maintain a world-class military shone through.

By further incorporating the Armed Forces Covenant into law and honouring our defence spending target of 2% of GDP, we make sure that our military is well-equipped to keep our country safe. By unveiling the new rail card for veterans and by enacting a policy of guaranteed job interviews for our veterans applying for public sector roles, we show the respect due to those who have put their lives on the line for this country. As a long-time campaigner for greater after-service care for our brave veterans, I praise the government’s valuable work on the matter.

We are also making sure that all personnel, past and present, are free from the threat of vexatious claims. This means that our military men and women can do their jobs without fear

of repeated and endless investigations down the line.

In my role as Maritime Minister, I am responsible for commercial shipping. Every day, I see how important security is, both at home and overseas. I work closely with the Ministry of Defence and industry representatives to make sure that our commercial ships are safe wherever they may be in the world, especially in the Strait of Hormuz, amid rising tensions in the region.

NEW RECRUITS Nus with members of the Crowborough Air Force Cadets

Vulnerable At home, we must also make sure that we offer vulnerable people the safety net they need. The Queen’s Speech announced changes to the Mental Health Act and a commitment to passing the Domestic Abuse Act. I know from helping my own constituents how struggling with mental health issues and trauma can make one feel helpless. I have taken inspiration from their hope and their courage to lobby for better mental health provisions and a bill to protect families from the devastating impact of domestic abuse. I am proud of the Government’s great strides in removing stigma from mental health

and its commitment to an extra £2.3 billion to see the provision of mental health services reach its full potential in helping every single patient, wherever they may live.

The aim of this government is clear: a country where nobody feels unsafe or left behind – a society where we prosper together, as one United Kingdom.

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PROPERTY, IN TERIORS & TOP TRENDS

INSPIRATION FOR MOVING AND IMPROVING timeslocalnews.co.uk

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TAKE A VIEW OF 1887 THE PANTILES

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SUPERB FARMHOUSE WITH PADDOCK

Scent out a dream house at Rose Meadow Page 24

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GET IN THE SWIM WITH A POOL HOUSE

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Best property buys for...

We all love to see homes with the ‘wow’ factor – which could apply to the kitchen, reception room, garden, or something else. Sarah Bond homes in some of the aspects that make these properties well worth a look…

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

Rose Meadow

Leeds Lane, Five Ashes, Mayfield GUIDE PRICE

£1,695,000 CONTACT • Hamptons International, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 516611 • hamptons.co.uk A handsome Edwardian country house dating from the early 1900s that is ideal for equestrians as it comes with grounds of 2.7 acres, including stabling and a paddock. Enjoying rural views, it has an outdoor swimming pool and annexe, too.

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

Main House n Reception hall n Drawing room n Sitting room n Kitchen/dining room, plus walk-in larder and utility room n Study n Conservatory n Cloakroom n Principal bedroom with en-suite bathroom and adjacent dressing room n 5 further bedrooms and 2 bathrooms Detached Annexe n Studio/bedroom and shower room n Boot room/garden store Outside n Garden with outdoor swimming pool, terrace and summerhouse n Stabling, hay store and paddock

The DINING ROOM…

n Icelandic chalet with power, light and fire pit n Driveway with parking plus secondary access n In total approximately 2.7 acres

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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The PRICE…

The HALLWAY…

NOW OPEN! 1887 The Pantiles Marketing Suite

1887 The Pantiles

The Wells Building Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TN PRICES FROM

£300,000 CONTACT • 1887 Sales & Marketing Suite • 01892 726112 • dandara.com

The Oast House

Nobles Wood, Bells Yew Green GUIDE PRICE

£1,300,000

The Sales & Marketing Suite at Dandara’s new landmark development on the old Union Square site opposite The Pantiles, is open for reservations while construction continues.

The suite is open seven days a week from 10am-5pm, and visitors will be able to see a show apartment and an interactive model of the development. Private viewings can be booked.

Inspired by the past and designed for the future, the development includes a multi-awardwinning collection of new one, two and three-bed apartments and two-bed mews homes.

Many apartments have far-reaching views from their terraces and balconies.

UNDER OFFER

CONTACT • Knight Frank, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 772946 • knightfrank.co.uk A character oast at the rear of an exclusive gated development of just six houses, about half a mile from Frant mainline station. It comes with a garden and double garage and adjoins woodland.

Cleveland

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

Tunbridge Wells

■ Large entrance hall with oak staircase

GUIDE PRICE

■ Sitting room ■ Drawing room with Clearview log burner and double doors to patio ■ Kitchen/dining/family room with central island and bi-fold doors to patio ■ Utility room with door to driveway

£595,000 CONTACT • Bracketts, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 533733 • bracketts.co.uk

■ Cloakroom

A Sussex barn-style family home with potential in the sought-after St James’ area of town.

■ Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom featuring Villeroy & Boch fittings and wonderful views over the woodland

MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

■ Bedroom 2 with vaulted ceiling and en-suite shower room, also with V&B fittings

■ Timber front door and spacious entrance hall ■ Dining room with double doors to:

■ 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom

■ Reception room with fireplace and sliding patio doors to garden

■ Front garden with mature topiary trees

■ Kitchen/breakfast room with door to garden

■ Landscaped rear garden with paved terrace ■ A private area of adjoining woodland, accessed via oak sleeper steps ■ Driveway, garage, workshop and ample parking ■ In all, about half an acre

■ Downstairs cloakroom ■ Master bedroom enjoying elevated views and en-suite shower room ■ 3 further bedrooms and a family bathroom ■ Lawned garden with patio ■ Parking for several cars and attached garage with rear pedestrian door

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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Pastheap Farm

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AT A GLANCE

PASTHEAP FARM HASTINGS ROAD, PEMBURY ■ A Grade II-listed farmhouse that has been annexed to the adjoining barn and boasts plenty of character ■ Period features include inglenookstyle fireplaces, exposed timber framework and polished floorboards ■ Reception hall ■ Drawing room ■ Dining room ■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ 42ft entertainment room ■ Mezzanine study ■ Cellar with utility room ■ Ground floor shower room and WC ■ Master bedroom with eaves dressing room and en-suite shower room

A wonderful listed farmhouse beaming with character which comes with paddock and views

■ 4 further bedrooms and a bathroom ■ Lawned gardens with large shed ■ Paddock of around 2 acres

GUIDE PRICE

£1,000,000£1,100,000 CONTACT • Fine & Country, Tunbridge Wells • 01892 701900 • fineandcountry.com

NORTH TONBRIDGE £495,000 GREAT OPPORTUNITY Don’t miss out on this bungalow located in favoured north Tonbridge road and situated on a large plot! Presently two bedrooms and spacious through living/ dining room but with potential to update and extend (subject to the usual consents). Super garden (134’ in length) including natural woodland area. With garage and generous off road parking this delightful property WITH NO ONWARD CHAIN really does tick all the boxes. EPC: D Apply Tonbridge

SOUTH TONBRIDGE £325,000 SUPER BAY FRONTED PERIOD HOME located just a stones throw of the mainline station and ideally placed for Sussex Road Primary School! This super period home offers sitting room with bay window and pretty fireplace, dining room and contemporary style kitchen. Bathroom and two double bedrooms with the benefit of a useful attic room. EPC: D Apply Tonbridge

CENTRAL TONBRIDGE £575,000 THIS HANDSOME, PERIOD HOME is conveniently located within a walk of the town, mainline station and renowned schools. Offering a wealth of original features, the beautifully presented accommodation has three bedrooms, bathroom, two reception rooms, stylish kitchen, utility and cloakroom. Delightful rear garden and off road parking for 2/3 cars. EPC: D Apply Tonbridge

Residential Pembury: 01892 822880 Tonbridge: 01732 771616 Sales & Lettings e: pembury@bkea.co.uk e: tonbridge@bkea.co.uk

Lettings: 01732 771616 e: lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestateagents.com

TUNBRIDGE WELLS £300,000 STUNNING VICTORIAN APARTMENT situated in the popular St James’ area, this 2 bed ground-floor property has been refurbished to a high standard throughout and oozes character alongside modern convenience. Accommodation comprises: entrance hall, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and sitting room, share of the rear garden. Share of freehold. Tunbridge Wells town centre and mainline stations are within walking distance. This gorgeous apartment would make a great first-time buy, downsize or rental investment. EPC: D Apply Pembury

PEMBURY £450,000 CONVENIENT LOCATION. OPEN HOUSE Saturday 15th February. Please call to make an appointment. Detached, immaculately presented and deceptively spacious chalet-style house in the heart of the village. Comprising: entrance hall, study/bedroom, kitchen, large sitting/dining room, conservatory, family bathroom, 2 double bedrooms and master bedroom with en-suite shower room. Driveway parking and detached garage with workshop area. Sunny, secluded courtyard garden. EPC: C Apply Pembury

PEMBURY GUIDE PRICE: £525,000 - £540,000 RURAL VIEWS. 4 Bedroom detached family home in a cul-de-sac location close to the primary school. Accommodation comprises: open-plan living with recently modernized kitchen/ dining/family room and separate sitting room, playroom, utility room, study/workshop, ground-floor shower room and first-floor bathroom. Driveway parking and bike garage. Sunny garden with patio, lawn and sunken play area. EPC: D Apply Pembury

Residential Pembury: 01892 822880 Tonbridge: 01732 771616 Sales & Lettings e: pembury@bkea.co.uk e: tonbridge@bkea.co.uk

Lettings: 01732 771616 e: lettings@bkea.co.uk

www.bkestateagents.com

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Property Focus

ARCHITECTURE

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

John Bullock

Architectural services 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

HEALTH AND BEAUTY A new fitness complex complete with pool inside a stylish orangery

Swimming into a healthy new life JANUARY is nearly over, and our New Year’s Resolutions are either still going strong or have become a distant memory. In fact, only a quarter of us who make resolutions keep them for the full year, with 22 per cent ditching theirs just six days into January. But some stand more chance of lasting than others…

Getting fit is always a popular resolution on an annual list that also tends to include eating more healthily, saving money and losing weight.

Solution Our case study this month looks at a project for clients who are self-confessed exercise fanatics.

Based just outside Tunbridge Wells, their family home provided the space to create a new building to house an indoor pool and gym, but required a sensitive design approach which would satisfy the planning department at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [TWBC].

An underused area of land to the side of the house offered the ideal location for the new fitness suite. With good natural light, suitable geology and no arboricultural issues, our design solution featured a bespoke brick and timber orangery, providing a luxurious yet functional environment.

HISTORIC SWIMMINGS FACTS • Paintings found in Egypt depict people swimming as far back as 2500 BCE • Swimming became an Olympic sport in 1896 • Women only started competing in the Olympics swimming competitions in 1912 – 16 years after men • American President Gerald Ford had an outdoor swimming pool built at the White House in 1975 • The Titanic was the first ocean liner to have a swimming pool • The first swimming race was held 2,055 years ago – in Japan

The wooden fenestration was specially designed to harmonise with the existing building, picking up subtleties in window and door designs from the original property.

Alongside the design of the structure, the success of this project required all the specialist pool areas to be planned at an early stage.

Designing and building a swimming pool and pool house is quite unlike any other building project. Indoor swimming pools consist of two major areas that require specialist design: The pool chamber/plant and management of the environment (heating, dehumidification and ventilation).

The raised gym area overlooking the pool provides an ideal space for exercise and workout. A very important aspect of gym planning is the flooring, which will protect your property and help make your gym equipment last longer. Proper gym flooring will also help reduce the sound level coming out of the area.

With planning approval secured, we partnered with an experienced swimming pool contractor HITTING THE HEIGHTS The gym area above the swimming pool

to ensure a smooth installation and build.

If you dream of having your own indoor pool, it can cost between £180,000 to upwards of £500,000 depending on size and construction quality.

It is estimated that there are nearly 250,000 UK homes with a private swimming pool, and around 2,500 are being installed every year.

So, it’s true to say that not everyone is put off by the installation and running cost of owning their own pool – and imagine the fun and convenience, as well as the fitness boost!

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.

For further advice or assistance if you are looking to extend your property, please call 01892 525732 or visit johnbullockdesign.com

LITTLE-KNOWN SWIMMING FACTS • More than half of world-class swimmers suffer from shoulder pain • The space shuttle’s turbopump could empty an Olympic pool under 25 seconds • Freedivers are able to hold their breath for over ten minutes!

• Swimmers’ ankles are so flexible they can touch the ground with their toes while laying down on their backs • Swimmers actually sweat while swimming in the pool – remember to hydrate!

• The first swimming goggles were crafted from tortoise shells • Professional swimmers often state that they are shaving their body to ‘feel the water better’ • When swimming, you are using every major muscle in your body

RANDOM SWIMMING FACTS • Swimming burns almost 40 per cent more calories than biking per hour, and almost 30 per cent more calories than running per hour • ‘Fast pool’ is a kind of swimming pool with an effective gutter system that prevents a wave being created • One in five Brits can’t swim • London will have what is reportedly the world’s first sky-high, 360-degree rooftop infinity pool this year. The pool will be built on the roof of a 55-storey building – about 656 feet in the air • The world’s largest swimming pool is in an Egyptian resort town called Citystars Sharm el Sheik. It currently holds the Guinness World Record for the largest man-made body of water, with an official measurement of 23.9 acres

ADVERTORIAL

Dip into 1887 Dandara’s long-awaited development at The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, is now accepting reservations.

During the 18th century, fashionable Georgians flocked to Royal Tunbridge Wells to sample the invigorating effects of the town’s iron-rich waters, facilitated by “Dippers” – ladies who dipped a glass into The Pantiles’ famous Chalybeate Spring for visitors to “take the waters”.

Today, you can also “dip in” to The Pantiles and view details of Dandara’s much anticipated collection of exclusive apartments and mews homes, at their stunning new 1887 Marketing Suite in the historic heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Inspired by the past and designed for the future, 1887 The Pantiles is a multi-awardwinning collection of new one, two and threebedroom apartments and two-bedroom mews homes at the south western end of The Pantiles.

Conveniently located for all the best shopping and socialising Tunbridge Wells can offer, this landmark development is only a few minutes’ walk from Tunbridge Wells station with direct services to London Bridge in just 44 minutes, making it ideal for London and City commuters.

Royal Tunbridge Wells’ thriving cultural scene also offers an eclectic combination of events and activities rarely found outside major cities – including fortnightly artisan food and craft markets and the famous annual jazz festival

– all with the added bonus of the peaceful countryside on the doorstep.

1887 The Pantiles complements its historic setting with elegant architecture that is a sympathetic interpretation for 21st century living and many of its apartments have far reaching views from their terraces and balconies.

Louise Norman, Dandara’s Head of Sales and Marketing, said: “For 1887 The Pantiles, our ambition was to create homes which offer customers the style, comfort and quality they deserve in an unsurpassed location.

“We have already taken reservations from eager purchasers who were keen to secure their new home at the historic Pantiles, and we look forward to welcoming new visitors to our sales & marketing suite and show apartment.”

Reservations are now being accepted for 1887 The Pantiles, with prices from £300,000 The 1887 Marketing Suite is adjacent to the development and located off Linden Park Road, along Sussex Mews adjacent to The Pantiles Car Park and is open 10.00am – 5.00pm, seven-days-a week.

Alternatively, telephone 01892 726 112 or visit www.dandara.com to find out more.

Dip into this landmark development at The Pantiles – you may well find it invigorating!

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Wednesday January 29 | 2020

100 pairs of tickets are up for grabs for Build It Live South East!

Now in its 8th year, the Build It Live exhibition is back at the awardwinning Kent Event Centre in the heart of The Kent Show Ground in Detling on February 8 and 9. This is the perfect chance to find out more about embarking on a self-build or a renovation project for your home, plus the first 100 readers to book get a free pair of tickets worth £24.

Visit builditlive.co.uk to book and use promo code TIMESFREE THE Build It Live exhibition aims to provide a stress-free route to creating a truly individual home, with the opportunity to meet experts who can provide invaluable advice and top tips.

Meet with architects and other independent experts for free one-to-one advice on how to turn a project into reality – including how to find land; what is possible with and without planning permission; and how to ensure you have the right design.

If you’re planning a self-build, an extension, or renovating a property, Build It Live South East will be an essential part of your preparation!

Visitors can: ■ See and touch thousands of cutting-edge and traditional products on display ■ Meet hundreds of the UK’s most innovative suppliers,

including those who offer eco-friendly building techniques ■ Attend inspiring free seminars and workshops developed to address specific problems and inspire confidence when taking on a renovation or building project ■ Benefit from free one-to-one impartial advice from a team of experts on planning and design ■ Watch some fascinating demonstrations, and hear from people about their own real-life projects ■ Find inspiration for your dream project Standard tickets are usually £12 per person and children under 16 go free with an accompanying adult (and do not require a ticket). All paying visitors will receive a copy of the latest issue of Build It Magazine, worth £4.99, when they visit the show.

For further information, visit builditlive.co.uk

Times Readers can get a pair of tickets completely free – a saving of £24.

Visit builditlive.co.uk and use promo code

TIMESFREE EXHIBITION OPENING TIMES Saturday February 8 2020 | 10am to 5pm Sunday February 9 2020 | 10am to 4.30pm

LOCATION ■ Build It Live South East will take place at Kent Event Centre at the Kent Showground ■ The Kent Event Centre is easy to reach by car ■ It is located close to the M2, M20 and M25 motorways ■ Unlimited parking is available next to the exhibition halls ■ Full address: Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone ME14 3JF

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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Food & drink special Enjoy a taste of the area’s best restaurants and bars

Don’t miss our fantastic 8-page supplement

TOUGH TIMES FOR WELLS

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Call of the wild

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

The Old Big School Gallery at Tonbridge School has just launched BEAST, its latest exhibition. Here its curator, Emily Glass (right), tells Eileen Leahy about the new show and its artists

PHOTOS: Craig Matthews

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So, Emily, how did the BEAST exhibition come about?

Our relationship with other animals is a topic that has fascinated me for a long time, and I started to examine it in more depth when studying for my MA at Goldsmiths College. It’s the subject of my own art practice and a lot of my sculpture relates to it. It seemed like a good subject for a show at the OBS Gallery in 2020 as the topic has been brought to all of our attentions with an awareness of how climate change is affecting the planet, and thousands of species are disappearing.

When you curate an art show like this, what are the challenges involved?

Making an exhibition where the works relate to each other and have elements in common but are not too similar or disparate is the challenge!

Fortunately, it’s a large space with a high ceiling, so the works can have enough space around them so they don’t feel intruded upon by any other work.

There is space to look and think about ideas as the works are almost in conversation with each other.

What do you think are the special elements to this show?

The scale of some of the works makes us really feel the presence of the beasts –

Laura Ford’s largest bear weighs 250 kilos! The variety of different perspectives and media means there’s something that everyone can enjoy and engage with.

The balance of humour and seriousness – the humour draws us in and can enable us to think more deeply about some of the subject matter.

The skill of the artists is phenomenal – whether that’s painting, drawing, film making or sculpture – there are some really stunning pieces.

Can you tell us what you think the audience will enjoy about seeing it?

I think they will be surprised at the questions the works raise and how thought-provoking the relationships between the different pieces are.

The gallery stewards are all very knowledgeable and happy to discuss the works and the artists’ ideas.

Will any schools be getting involved with the show – seeing it or creating work centred around it?

Lots of schools are coming, both primary and secondary, many are coming several times with different groups of students.

We have a Gallery Educator who helps students discuss the themes, ideas and artworks in the exhibition and gives them an insight into the artist’s thoughts and intentions.

She works with a wide range of different ages.

‘Seeing artists’ work “in the flesh” is such a different experience to looking at it online. I hope it inspires lots of students to create their own pieces’ Students will be making their own artwork inspired by what they have seen and heard – we are hoping to create a space on the gallery website to showcase students’ responses.

How important do you think it is to collaborate with young students on art projects like this?

I think it’s essential! We are very lucky to have the gallery at Tonbridge School, and it’s important that it’s open to everyone.

Seeing artists’ work ‘in the flesh’ is such a different experience to looking at it online. I hope it inspires lots of students to create their own pieces.

We are looking into ways that students can curate their own shows in the future… watch this space!

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

A SNAPSHOT OF THE ARTISTS’ WORK ON DISPLAY AT BEAST…

LAURA FORD is a sculptor who has exhibited internationally, so I’m thrilled that her large scale bronze 3 Bears are part of the show. We are also showing her bronze Bedtime Boy, who is part elephant and part boy, standing alone in his pyjamas and dressing gown, and her Pipe Smoking Cats, who stand rather nonchalantly up on the mezzanine surveying the show. Ford’s work explores the anthropomorphic – our desire to attribute human feelings and behaviour to animals, as well as the beast within us all.

NICKY COUTT’S work investigates human attempts to communicate with other species, and we are showing a series of her large charcoal drawings called Man Stupid. They depict Koko the Gorilla, who was taught sign language, in a video address speaking at a Paris Summit on Climate Change. ‘Man Stupid’ was one of the phrases she said, alongside ‘Nature See You’ and ‘Koko Cry’. They invite us to challenge our own assumptions about how much animals can understand and how different their ways of communicating are to ours. We are also showing her intriguing film All Rise, which was made after spending a year with Speech and Drama students. All of the animal sounds are made by humans and all of the music is made by animals! It forms a sound track to the show.

MARK FAIRNINGTON’S paintings are based on his studies of taxidermied animals in the storage areas of museums, such as the Natural History Museum and Horniman Museum in London.

They look incredibly realistic but are actually based on a number of different photographs collaged together, making us question what is true and what is not.

Although the creature’s teeth and fur are real, their eyes are in fact glass, once again blurring the boundaries between fact and fiction. I am also thrilled that we are able to show one of his lifesize paintings of a prize bull – it’s over three metres by two metres, so has an incredible presence in the gallery.

EDWINA ASHTON – we are showing four of her wonderful films. In these pieces humans dressed as strange hybrid

creatures perform domestic tasks.

For example, a bug does the ironing and a weevil waters his plant. They are made of makeshift costumes where the materials are clearly derived from everyday objects, such as a quilted sleeping bag, which adds to the sense of the absurd. The films explore human emotions such as embarrassment and failure, but are also very funny as well as poignant.

KAY WALSH – this film-maker’s piece All His Rights explores the way red deer are managed on the Holnicote Estate in Exmoor. It is the culmination of a year spent with a deer stalker and includes footage not only of the beautiful landscape and deer, but of people talking about their relationship with the animals and how best to preserve them. The title refers to the number of points on a fully grown deer’s antlers. There is a fierce trade in antlers that have been found once discarded, and they are collected and sold by a large number of locals.

BEAST is open to the general public from 12noon-4pm every weekend until February 23 and open to booked groups during the week. This Sunday, February 2, there is a free drop-in workshop for children to make their own beast, no booking required, just come along. And on Monday, February 3, at 7.30pm the painter Mark Fairnington will be talking about his work in the exhibition and the gallery from 6.45pm. The talk takes place in the Cawthorne Lecture Theatre and is free but needs to be booked via the box office at emftheatre.com For more details, see: oldbigschoolgallery.co.uk/ current-exhibition

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‘This is a production about power, love and secrets’ Having already produced two highly successful immersive theatrical dining experiences last year – A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Kingdom and A Christmas Carol at The Beacon – GOOMS is looking to push things even further with its latest production, Black Fate. Here the troupe’s theatrical director, Tobias Cornwell, reveals more about the play, its clever concept and his exciting plans for 2020

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these different gangs I came across one so she’s stuck in a moral dilemma of ET OUT OF MY SPACE self-preservation or risking everything to which caught my attention: The Forty [GOOMS] has had an Elephants. They were the only all-female help a friend. incredible time since it criminal organisation at that time and Tybalt is a well-respected fighter but launched seven months were extremely successful in Elephant isn’t trusted with secrets. How hard is it ago, and we’ve received and Castle. Once I found them and did to fight when you find out those sending some amazing feedback some research, I knew they were the you don’t trust you? for the shows we did in 2019. These perfect inspiration for Black Fate.

In the middle of all this, Friar Lawrence included A Midsummer Night’s Dream, If you decide to come along and see is trying to bring peace to the streets, The 39 Steps and A Christmas Carol, it then it’s important to know that once but his own sins are starting to surface. and each one of them was performed you enter the building you are given So you could watch a play about in the immersive sense and in a special a mask to wear and are not location, including Kingdom allowed to talk – and no one at Penshurst and The Beacon, will be telling you where Tunbridge Wells. you can or can’t go. You are As GOOMS’ Artistic Director, in complete control of your I have to thank not only the experience – it is there for hard work of all the actors and you to take with both hands. creatives who have been involved Personally, I would so far, but the audiences for encourage you to split up taking a risk on my company, and from your friends and family their continued support. as you will have a far better Our first production of 2020 time. is Black Fate, which has just There is no right or wrong, started its two-week run at The no better or worse way of Beacon. On until February 8, it experiencing it. This is YOUR is a production about power, time, there are very few love and secrets, and how the smallest actions of others can chances in this world to be have huge effects – where selfish and just do what YOU they least expect it. As with all want.

GOOMS productions, it’s key to During the show, there will remember that perspective is a be a bar area where you can powerful thing. relax if you’d like, take your Black Fate is a dynamic, mask off, and order a drink. immersive story based on Romeo At the end, I would heavily and Juliet. There are 28 scenes in encourage you to discuss with Shakespeare’s play, and I have the rest of the audience what modernised and adapted them you saw and thought of this to the context in which we have immersive experience. You’ll set Black Fate – which boasts 115 soon learn the world was far scenes. bigger than you first thought!

But I would like to point out There is clearly a demand that as an audience member you for this type of theatre thanks aren’t supposed to see all 115, the likes of Punchdrunk, but ‘Our audiences will be transported to late to you are meant to see 27 of them. usually you have to travel up 1800s’ London, where the all-female gang to London and pay excessive I have designed the show in a way that you wander around the amounts for this type of show.

The Forty Elephants rule’ space as the action unfolds as an It would be amazing if we invisible voyeur, and no matter became a hub for innovative struggling faith, young love, female which 27 scenes you choose to watch, it performance and started drawing people repression and rebellion, or any of the will all make sense. out of London. other themes Black Fate has to offer, the The bonus of this is that you will have We hope people who have seen more only thing you have to do is find them. a completely unique experience of the than one GOOMS show would agree that Each character navigates their own show compared to any other audience each one has topped the last. But I want members. There are over 10,000 different complete storylines, creating ten to keep audiences on their toes and not overlapping and interlinking narratives ways of seeing Black Fate, so you can be be able to predict what’s coming next. I – no pauses, no breaks and no offstage. confident that only you will ever see the want GOOMS to be known for the quality And no two audience members will show in this way, which is pretty cool! of shows, not the style of shows. experience the same sequence of events.

So now to the plot: Our audiences will Will we do another classic film with a The set actually spans all three floors be transported to late 1800s’ London, silly amount of actors? Maybe. Do we of The Beacon building as well as its where the all-female gang The Forty have a very stripped back one-man show surrounding grounds. There’s no set Elephants rule. Capulet, the leader of planned? Possibly. Can The Tempest route around the house, allowing every the gang, is looking to create a legacy be done with four actors and a lot of audience member to piece together their seafood? Likely. Are we crazy enough for Juliet to take over, but she seems own unique performance experience by resistant. Montague just wants to run to try and reinvent A Christmas Carol roaming wherever and however they wish. again? Who knows? the best pub in London, but the unrest The Beacon was built in 1896, and on the streets his boys cause mean And am I hinting we’ll be doing all of a lot of the original decor is still on his protection payments to The Forty these before the end of the year, or am I show, including the ceiling and the Elephants keep rising, and they’re throwing you off the scent? fireplaces. This led me to research this reaching unaffordable levels.

Now that would be telling… particular period to see if I could find any Mercutio and Benvolio think they’ve inspiration for our show. solved the money problems, but the Black Fate is on nightly at The Beacon I discovered that during this time there presence of Paris potentially ruins until February 8. Performances start was a huge influx of people into major everything. at 7.30pm and tickets, which cost £25, cities such as London, which made gang Nurse’s closeness to Juliet reveals to and more information can be found at warfare go on the rise. Researching her secrets she didn’t want to know, and gooms.co.uk/current PHOTO: Stefan Hanegraaf/stefanhanegraafphotography.com

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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Going Out

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk

goingout 7 days of activities

By Jerome Bowman

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING Hit musical Kinky Boots is on at the Odeon

WEDNESDAY Fly my pretties, fly to Picture House Uckfield for a special screening of The Wizard of Oz. The 1939 film, considered one of the greatest of all time, is a must-see due to its iconic songs, elaborate sets, and for being one of the earliest films to use technicolour. Tickets cost £9.50 per person or £14 if you would like to eat after the film in the Picture House Restaurant. For more information and to book, visit picturehouseuckfield.com

Artist Mark Scammell shows us a selection of his four-colour cross-stitch depictions of various places, spaces, nooks and crannies in his exhibition Static at Trinity Theatre. His main points of interest are the overlooked, mundane and everyday environments that surround us, and the exhibition reflects his interest in merging the traditional technique of cross-stitch embroidery with the contemporary landscape. Alongside the cross-stitch pieces, the exhibition will also

feature related works on paper. The gallery is free to attend and is open whenever the theatre is. For more information, visit trinitytheatre.net THURSDAY Join five cracking comedians at the Royal Wells Hotel for another Out of Bounds Comedy Night.

Your compères for the evening will be musical duo Brian Damage and Krysstal. Headlining the night will be the energetic Laura Lexx, whose appearances on Live at The Apollo and at the Edinburgh Fringe have garnered her much praise.

Bulgarian funnyman Martin Durchov and Rob Mulholland will also be appearing. Tickets cost £10, or £20 if you would like Steak and Chips before the main event. To book, go online to outofboundscomedy.co.uk Mountaineer Simon Yates is giving a talk titled My Mountain Life at Trinity Theatre this evening at 7.30pm. In 1985, Yates and fellow climber Joe Simpson found themselves stuck on the Siula Grande in Peru, and both men only just made it back. Their story was dramatised in the book and film Touching the Void. Yates has since gone on many expeditions and will be talking about his long and fascinating career. Tickets cost £19, with concessions available. To book, visit trinitytheatre.net

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN Explorer Simon Yates gives a talk at Trinity Theatre

SATURDAY Join master weaver Jon Waller for a Basket Weaving Workshop at The Hub in Grosvenor and Hilbert Park. You’ll learn basic basket weaving techniques and get FRIDAY to create and take home your See the Emergence Dance own basket. The day-long Triple Bill at the EM Forster course starts at 9.30am and Theatre in Tonbridge at 7.30pm. finishes at 4.30pm. For more Emergence are a post-graduate information and to book dance group who, as part tickets, which cost £45, go of their national tour, online to fogh.org.uk are bringing two Returning for its sixth new productions event at The Assembly and one of Joss Hall Theatre, TEDx Arnott’s previously Royal Tunbridge acclaimed works Wells will be to this show. Tickets providing a whole cost £16, or £14 for day of fascinating concessions. To book, go to and entertaining emftheatre.com FUNNY GIRL: Laura Lexx at the Royal Wells Hotel talks on a huge

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk MOST FOUL Murder-mystery Knives Out is on at Trinity Theatre

variety of subjects. Starting at 12noon, there will be 12 speakers with 12 minutes each, including biomedical scientist Georgina Ellison-Hughes, author Vybarr Cregan-Reid, and poet Luke Alexander Grosse. To book tickets, which cost £32.75, visit assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk SUNDAY The Pantiles Market will be offering wares from across the locale, including produce, artisanal crafts and designer clothes, from 10am to 4pm.

Guest traders, seasonal themes and a changing range of goods make sure you’ll always find something new. If you are interested in pitching your own stall at the market or for any other enquiries, you can email: markets@thepantilesevents.com Roast potatoes, gardening tips and a pleasant walk collide for another of Penshurst Place’s Roasts & Rambles. Starting at 12noon, join Head Gardener Tony Wiseman for a tour of the gardens and get some tips on preparing your own garden for the spring. You will also enjoy a carvery lunch in the Garden Restaurant. Tickets cost £11.75 and can be booked online at penshurstplace.com

MONDAY Black Fate at The Beacon is the latest immersive theatre adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The performance intertwines ten narratives that happen often simultaneously throughout the pub. As audience members you will be masked

Going Out

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and encouraged to roam the venue, seeking answers or experiencing first-hand the action as two rival crime families vie for power in Elephant and Castle, and two young lovers try to cross the divide. Tickets £25 and can be booked by visiting gooms.co.uk TUESDAY Filmed live at the Adelphi Theatre, Kinky Boots The Musical is being shown at Odeon. Starting at 7pm, this musical adaptation of the hit film tells the story of Charlie, a struggling factory owner, and fabulous entertainer Lola, who has an exciting idea that might just save the business.

The pair must learn to embrace their differences to create a high-heeled hit. Tickets cost £20.75.

To book, go to odeon.co.uk See the critically-acclaimed Agatha Christie homage Knives Out at Trinity Theatre from 8pm.

When a renowned crime novelist is found dead at his estate, Detective Benoit Blanc is enlisted to investigate, and must navigate a host of selfserving and manipulative family members to uncover the mystery. Expect twists, turns and, of course, those pesky rouge-tinted Clupeidaes.

Tickets cost £11. For more information and to book, go online to trinitytheatre.net JUST DANCE See Emergence Dance at the EM Forster Theatre

PICK OF THE WEEK Awaken Your Zen… Retreat Day

Chiddingstone Castle Saturday February 1, 9.45am-5pm Part of Chiddingstone Castle’s Year of Japan, the day will start with an introduction to Zen Buddhism that focuses on meditation and mindful living.

Following this, you can enjoy a ‘forest bathing’ walk in the grounds and a ‘wild yoga’ session in the Victorian Orangery, as well as talks and advice on wellbeing throughout the day.

Tickets cost £75, or £70 each for group bookings of six or more.

To book, telephone 01892 870347 or email: hello@chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

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Going Out

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE The Pantiles Doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7 Websites pdag.co.uk & thegreylady.co.uk Wednesday Ryan Weeks, Alana Hazzard, Gronk Friday Salsadelic Saturday Soul Avenue Sunday Jennifer Lee Ridley, Sophie Harmsworth, Move Over Dali

live music With Paul Dunton

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tonight [Wednesday], blues fans can enjoy the superb The Shaw Thing in a midweek gig at The Anchor Inn, Sevenoaks, and local singersongwriter Ryan Weeks is at The Grey Lady, with support from Alana Hazzard and Gronk.

On Thursday night, The Assembly Hall offers a wonderful 70s disco medley with Lost in Music, and The Tunbridge Wells Forum hosts the popular U18’s Open Mic night.

My top picks for Friday include The Funk City Trio at The Bull Inn, U Turn at The Bedford Pub, and The Pantiles Tap hosting their Spanish music themed Llama Lounge. Plus one gig definitely not to miss is Romeo Stodart of The Magic Numbers at The Forum.

Saturday night sees The Patinas

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

at The Beau Nash Tavern, Duch Jo returning to The Royal Oak Pub, and Marie White –a Glastonbury Festival Emerging Music winner – headlining at Trinity Theatre with support from Xavier Ralph. There is also a rockin’ night at The Sussex Arms Basement with a headline set from Maypine and support from A Night Like This.

You can close out the weekend in style on Sunday evening with G.E.M. at Verdigris in Tonbridge, while local songstress Jennifer Lee Ridley headlines at The Grey Lady with support from Sophie Harmsworth and Move Over Dali.

Looking ahead to next week, Ben Walker is the special guest act at The Tonbridge Folk Club on Monday evening, and on Tuesday night The Punch & Judy Pub in Tonbridge host The Stuka Cats.

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

The Patinas

THE ANCHOR INN London Road, Sevenoaks Free entry, music from 8pm till late Wednesday Blues with Bottle Presents: The Shaw Thing THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM The Common Information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Thursday U18’s Open Mic Night Friday Romeo Stodart of The Magic Numbers Monday The Stable: All Their Kings Fall, Off Topic, Renegade, Törque ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE Crescent Road All event information and tickets available at assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Thursday Lost In Music – Recreating the Magical 70s with songs by Donna Summer, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sister Sledge and many more MUSICSTATION Bank Street, Tonbridge Booking essential For information, call 01732 350629 Thursday & Friday 8pm-9.30pm Adult band workshop, all levels welcome THE BEAU NASH TAVERN Mount Ephraim Free entry, music from 8pm till late

Friday Soul Night Saturday The Patinas

Free entry, music from 8pm till late Saturday Duch Jo

THE BEDFORD PUB 2 High Street Free entry, music from 8pm till late Friday U Turn

THE SUSSEX ARMS BASEMENT Sussex Mews All event information and tickets at twforum.co.uk Saturday EMV Events Presents: Maypine, A Night Like This

THE BULL INN Frant Road Free entry, music from 8pm Friday Funk City Trio THE PANTILES TAP The Pantiles Free entry, music from 8pm Friday Llama Lounge Night TRINITY THEATRE Church Road All event information and tickets available at trinitytheatre.net Friday Bye Bye Baby (Jersey Boys Tribute) Saturday Marie White, Xavier Ralph THE ROYAL OAK PUB Prospect Road

VERDIGRIS Tonbridge Free entry, music from 6pm Sunday G.E.M TONBRIDGE FOLK CLUB Flying Dutchman, Hildenborough Hat collection with a suggested contribution of £7 (£5 concessions) Music from 8pm, all welcome More information at tonbridgefolkclub.org Monday Ben Walker THE PUNCH & JUDY PUB St Stephens Road, Tonbridge Free entry, music from 8pm Tuesday The Stuka Cats

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Restaurant

Round-Up

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Calling all foodies – sample our taster menu of places you might like to visit and enjoy in 2020

By Lottie Bulmer, Michael Scott and Debbie Saunders There are more than 250 places to eat and drink across Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge, which means that the area has long been a pilgrimage destination for foodies. From fine dining to fast

food, there’s something for everyone.

To make it easier to choose, we’ve prepared our own menu of some of those restaurants and gastro pubs that have featured in the pages of this newspaper – places you might like to visit now that January is over for a pick-me-up meal… enjoy!

COCO RETRO, Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1BS Cuisine: Classic French Mains £13.85-£17.95 cocoretro.com Opened in 2017, this restaurant has quickly become a firm favourite with lovers of good food and wine. Owners Maurizio and Ivan Di Santo passion for food stemmed from helping their grandmother to cook in their Calabrian home.

When planning the place, their intention was to offer of traditional, classic Parisian and Northern French cuisine in a comfortable and welcoming environment. They have certainly achieved their aim.

The pair have produced a tempting menu featuring firm favourites, with something to suit every discerning palate, such as escargot, frogs’ legs, hearty and delicious stewed and braised meat dishes, Parmentiere pies, duck, fish, and more interesting than average vegetarian dishes.

Regulars always say that Coco Retro has a happy and positive atmosphere, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

There is a daily lunch special, and parties of between eight and 70 can be catered for in the restaurant. La Cave can take private parties of up to 16, with a separate special menu available.

SOPRANO, High Street, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1XF Cuisine: Spanish tapas and cocktails Price Range: Starters £3.95 Mains £13.95 sopranowinebar.co.uk When you think tapas, you think of Spain. And when you think of Soprano, well it’s probably Italian-American mobsters shooting the breeze in a New Jersey trattoria.

How fitting that Soprano Tapas and Wine Bar, another restaurant owed by Maurizio and Ivan Di Santo, should offer a vibrant fusion of tastes from both those European countries – which is as refreshing as ever after 12 years in the town.

Standout dishes include the board of Serrano ham topped with shavings of manchego cheese and sliced jalapeno peppers. The ham, aged for 18 months, is a sheer delight, appealing far beyond the realm of the taste buds, while the aubergine is a revelation, subtle yet superior.

Soprano is such a Tunbridge Wells success story that Thursday to Saturday nights are for reservations only, and they are booked up to a fortnight in advance. And even after a dozen years, there is no tapas rival in the town. After all, who would dare to take on the Soprano?

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FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Restaurant Round-Up

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

THACKERAY’S, London Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1EA Cuisine: Classic cuisine with a contemporary twist Price Range: Starters £7 Mains £14 thackerays-restaurant.co.uk

THE BULL, Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5LH Cuisine: Pub cuisine with great twists Price Range: Starters £5.50 Mains £12 mains bulltunbridgewells.co.uk

Located in the 300-year-old former house of William Makepeace Thackeray, this is known as one of Kent’s most impressive eateries. A 3AA rosette holder, this upmarket restaurant offers classic cuisine with a contemporary twist.

The menus include à la carte, prixe fixe as well as gourmet tasting, meat-free and a limited edition honesty menu. The building’s charming period character, with sloping ceilings and creaking floorboards, has two sizeable dining rooms and a bar downstairs, plus numerous private dining rooms upstairs and an outside terrace.

When visiting, be sure to try the sirloin of Dexter beef, served with maple glazed sweetbread and loaded artichoke skin, Jacob’s Ladder and boulangère potato. Splashing out? A glass of Swiss wine, Gama Nera Grand Cru, complements the beef perfectly.

Familiar town favourite The Bull has been recently taken over by new owners Adam Legyel and Zordan Boni.

Unusually for a pub chain, landlord Shepherd Neame has allowed Budapest-trained Zordan free rein with the menu, ensuring that the pub’s charm and individuality has not been lost.

Despite giving the food a shake-up, the interior remains as inviting and quirky as ever. Its open fire, newspaper-covered walls and cosy, candle-lit lounge area gives it a homely feel and invites you to spend hours there.

Exceptionally executed pub favourites are on the menu, including bangers and mash and ham, egg and chips, with a selection of paninis and baguettes on offer during lunchtimes.

In addition to the traditional choices are the more exotic options of Salmon Supreme and a Cajun chicken burger.

GALAPAGOS AT THE OLD VINE, Cousley Wood, Nr Wadhurst TN5 6ER Cuisine: South American cuisine Price Range: Starters £5 Mains £12.50 galapagos-restaurant.co.uk South American-inspired restaurant Galapagos can be found a 20-minute drive out of Tunbridge Wells in Cousley Wood, East Sussex. Owner Kate Edom and her team have created a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in this popular local dining secret.

There is an eclectic mix of old-world charm and a bright and airy dining room infused with colourful painted artwork from Ecuadorian artist Alvyar Villamuga on the walls.

The South American theme continues with dishes on the menu exhibiting the finest recipes from Patagonia, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and Head Chef Andrés’ home country, Ecuador.

Our recommendation? Any fish or beef dish. Twice a week, Andrés travels to London to choose fresh fish and meat from the Billingsgate and Smithfield markets.

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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SALOMONS ESTATE, Broomhill Road, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG Cuisine: British classics Mains: £10-£19 salomons-estate.com

THE CINNAMON SQUARE, Rings Hill, Hildenborough TN11 8LX Cuisine: Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine Price Range: Starters £5.95 Mains £11.95 thecinnamonsquare.co.uk

Set amid this stunning and sprawling country estate, Salomons provides traditional British fare with enviable views of its lake.

The Pub & Dining Rooms offer a choice of places to eat, including the bright and spacious dining rooms, the conservatory overlooking the beautiful grounds, or the lounge, which is perfect for a cosy coffee and afternoon tea.

All the usual pub favourites are available on the lunch menu, including burgers and fish and chips, vegetarian options, and a few more exotic dishes for the more adventurous.

In the evening, there’s a wide range of dishes featuring all the great fresh and local ingredients that are available in our part of the world, including an array of fish and meat dishes, and vegetarian and vegan options. But don’t forget to look at the specials, which change regularly.

For Sundays, there really are few places that offer a roast dinner in such lovely surroundings. Whether it is a quick bite, a slap-up feed or a family occasion, Salomons does not disappoint.

Ideally situated next to Hildenborough’s train station, and owned by husband-and-wife team Habib and Waheda Siddiq, Cinnamon Square blends dishes from all over India and Bangladesh.

The family have been in the restaurant business for over 40 years and treat every customer like valued friends, earning them multiple awards from the Bangladesh Caterers Association.

With its light and pristine ambience, this is unlike many other Indian restaurants, and it invites you to sit and relax for a while to escape the pressures of everyday life.

The chilli fish starter is highly recommended, pan fried in a chilli and onion sauce, but make sure you save room for the Cinnamon Special – a mouth-watering meal of medium hot chicken and lamb cooked in a rich garlic and onion sauce with fresh herbs and peppers.

KONAK, Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2AS Cuisine: Turkish cuisine Price Range: Starters £3.75 Mains £9.95 konakturkishcuisine.com Stylish and contemporary Turkish restaurant Konak is both a feast for the eyes and the stomach. The team, all hailing from Izmir on the Aegean coast, have created an interior which works with almost mathematical technique to organise the Izmir-imported furniture to make clever use of the space.

Despite the high standard of the design and service, it is the food which is the star of the show at Konak.

Stand-out dishes include the vegetarian aubergine dish Saksuka to start with, and the mixed cold meze to follow, a sure-fire way of giving your taste buds a full tour of Turkish gastronomy.

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Wednesday January 29 | 2020

THE MEXICAN KITCHEN, London Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1DA Cuisine: Mexican Price Range: Starters £4.75 Mains £10.75 themexicankitchentw.com

THE MOUNT EDGCUMBE, The Common, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8BX Cuisine: British-European gastro Price Range: Starters £5.95 Mains £11.25 themountedgcumbe.com

Located in between London Road and the High Street, The Mexican Kitchen offers an authentic taste of Central America.

Decorated cleverly with green and red accessories and colourful distressed furniture, and maximising the space with the careful placement of mirrors, it transports you far away from Kent into the exoticism of Mexico.

The Mexican Kitchen is ideal if you’re looking for a midweek meal out as, along with other enticing offers, Thursday is fajita night with a buy one, get one half price deal.

The King Prawn fajitas are a favourite of our team, especially when paired with a traditional margarita cocktail.

Tucked away on The Common in Tunbridge Wells, in a beautiful Grade II-listed pub, the family-run Mount Edgcumbe is one of the area’s most popular places to dine and stay. It was refurbished in 2012 by Robert and Sally Hogben and has a rustic chic feel to its interior, with exposed brick walls and fairy lights.

Its cuisine is self-described as ‘British-European Gastro’, and with the menus changing seasonally there is always something new to try. Expect a rich variety of British pub favourites, such as fish and chips, as well as more European options, including moussaka and lamb koftas.

HOTEL DU VIN, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2LY Cuisine: French, British and local Price Range: Starters £5.50 Mains £12.50 hotelduvin.com Hotel du Vin has built a remarkable reputation across the UK, and since its arrival in the town 20 years ago, and with its traditional Gallic Epicurean food and extensive wine list, it has remained a desirable place to wine and dine.

Stepping away from the chain’s menu, Head Chef James Sherwin has pushed for more regional options and dishes use local produce, including meat from Pembury and cheese from Staplehurst, as well as the bar carrying drinks from Tenterden winery Chapel Down.

The Bistro du Vin is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a multitude of dishes.

For carnivores there is an extensive range of traditional French meat dishes, such as a classic cassoulet, moules marinières and a seafood risotto. There is also a rich variety of meat-free options, including a vegetarian risotto and vegan steak.

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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ONE WARWICK PARK HOTEL, Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TA Cuisine: Traditional British Price Range: One course £17.95 Two courses £20.05 Three Courses £24.95 onewarwickpark.co.uk

ZORBA MEZE GRILL, Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2EN Cuisine: Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine Price Range: Mezes starters £2.95 Mains £11.95 zorbamezegrill.com Zorba has been rated as Kent’s number one Turkish restaurant on Trip Advisor, and it’s easy to see why. The recently extended restaurant is always bustling, and with an open-plan kitchen dinner comes with a show.

Featuring smart and atmospheric décor – low-level lighting, exposed brick walls and hammered metal and mirrored wall hangings – its cosy ambience encourages you to stay and relax.

There is a multitude of dishes on the menu, and to make sure you get the opportunity to sample all of them they offer an enticing loyalty scheme.

For a first visit, it is worth taking advantage of the deal for five different mezes to share, ensuring you can sample as much of the menu as possible.

While the restaurant Seventeen is no longer open, One Warwick Park, the boutique hotel near to the town’s iconic The Pantiles, has plenty of dining options whether for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or afternoon tea.

The Terrace provides an ideal intimate location that serves dinner daily from a regularly changing seasonal menu, while The Bar & Snug provides a casual dining space for lighter meals and snacks as well as the renowned One Warwick Park afternoon tea. This includes speciality teas that accompany a selection of handmade finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, as well as beautifully presented cakes and sweet treats created in-house by the hotel’s talented chefs.

For dinner, the hotel makes great use of some of Kent’s best locally sourced ingredients ranging from homely favourites served with some nice twists such as the slow roast pork belly with pak choi and creamy mash, or pan fried seabass with chilli jam.

THE BOTTLE HOUSE INN, Coldharbour Road, Penshurst TN11 8ET Cuisine: Traditional and seasonal pub cuisine Price Range: Starters £5.50 Main £11 thebottlehouseinnpenshurst.co.uk Since its licensing in 1808, The Bottle House Inn has been a beloved pub for generations of West Kent dwellers. Traditionally Kentish weatherboarded on the outside, and renovated on the inside to countryside chic, it remains as charming and intimate as ever.

Now more of a destination restaurant, with manager of 34 years Paul Hammond remaining behind the bar, and the recent addition of Head Chef Mark Harkins, as with the interior there is the perfect mix of old and new.

Mark’s menu aims to differentiate from the other pubs in the area, and there are regular events which showcase his and his team’s abilities. You can’t go wrong with the Pie of the Day as a winter warmer, and the wonderfully festive turkey and cranberry sausage roll to share.

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Wednesday January 29 | 2020

THE SPOTTED DOG, Smarts hill, Penshurst TN11 8EP Cuisine: Seasonal traditional country fare Price Range: Mid-range. Menus change weekly spotteddogpub.com

RENDEZ-VOUS, Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2QP Cuisine: French cuisine Price Range: Starters £5.50 Mains £13.95 rendezvoustw.co.uk

Run by Nigel and Louise, The Spotted Dog in Penshurst is a 500-year-old typical country pub. With a roaring fire and homely feel, it serves both feelgood food and its community through their ceaseless events organising.

A cosy haven of heat in the winter, and a cool retreat in the summer, it transitions effortlessly through the seasons and is a welcome pit-stop for walkers around Penshurst as the River Eden flows through the pub garden, complementing the amazing view it has of the valley.

Louise herself cooks alongside the kitchen team and serves traditional pub grub, with fresh, local and seasonal ingredients.

If you’re struggling to choose the best time to go, the roast beef on a Sunday never fails, washed down with a pint of local ale – Larkins Traditional from Chiddingstone.

For the locals, Rendez-Vous is among the most beloved of restaurants, having been serving French cuisine in Camden Road for the last seven years, and as soon as you step inside you can understand why.

The cosy interior provides the perfect intimate setting for a romantic meal or quiet family dinner, and the menu offers some of the best prepared French dishes in town.

With an extensive dinner menu, offers during lunchtime, and a specials board that contains some truly eclectic and exciting dishes, the only problem you will encounter at Rendez-Vous is narrowing down your choice.

Whether you are in the mood for slow-braised ox cheek, roasted pork belly, guinea fowl served in a traditional velouté, classic moules-frites, or just a rib-eye steak, not only will the quality impress you, but so will the reasonable prices.

THE BOAT HOUSE BISTRO, Bewl Water, Lamberhurst TN3 8JH Cuisine: Traditional British cuisine Price Range: £21 for two courses £27 for three courses bewlwater.co.uk/food-drink/the-boat-house-bistro With nautical theming and panoramic views of Bewl Water reservoir and nature reserve, there are few restaurants that offer a more tranquil and beautiful vista than at The Boat House Bistro.

The food is all fresh and local, including trout line-caught from the reservoir itself that is served up on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

There is a wide range of starters, light bites, mains, and desserts, including traditional classics such as ham, egg and chips, fish and chips, plus roast dinners available at the weekend.

But it is the views that will keep you coming back, whether for lunch, dinner or just a cream tea or glass wine on The Terrace or a delicious meal in The Boat House Bistro.

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

FOR EVEN MORE NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.uk Restaurant

THE ROYAL WELLS BRASSERIE Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells TN4 8BE Cuisine: Contemporary cuisine Price Range: Starters £5.50 Mains £7.95 royalwells.co.uk The iconic Royal Wells Hotel’s brasserie has remained a luxurious destination for every meal of the day ever since Queen Victoria frequented the establishment.

It was refurbished in 2015 to create a more contemporary look, but the cosy, homely feel remains, together with knowledgeable, professional yet personal service.

Whether you’re visiting for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even afternoon tea, the comprehensive menus cater for every taste.

There is a variety of vegetarian and vegan options, including a Planet Burger to balance the huge offerings of locally-sourced meat options.

The steaks are a favourite and are served with a choice between house potatoes or chips and a thyme roast tomato and mushroom, all of which is perfectly complemented by a glass of the Chilean Merlot.

WHITE BEAR, High Street, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1YB Cuisine: British cuisine Price Range: Starters £6.50 Mains £14.50 the-white-bear.co.uk The White Bear has been recently reborn as a quintessentially British family friendly pub, offering a mix of fine dining and pub classics.

As a Young’s pub it has cask ales, craft beer, cocktails and fine wines, which can be enjoyed in a newly designed interior.

A Hoxton-style vibe of bare brick walls, funky florals and fairy lights mixed with vintage-style seating and ornately tiled floors has earned the establishment thousands of likes on social media.

An orangery area, a garden grill kitchen and an outside bar add to its appeal.

food

NB: Prices given are guidelines and may change.

It is recommended that you check out restaurant websites for the latest information before you visit

Your chance to WIN the wines served at the EE BAFTA Film Awards

L

IGHTS, camera, action! On Sunday February 2, the great and glamorous stars of the big screen will assemble at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate the best in film with host Graham Norton, at the EE British Academy Film Awards 2020.

Champagne Taittinger and wine producers Villa Maria are passionate supporters of the arts and, to celebrate their long-standing partnerships with BAFTA, they are giving away a prize of the wonderful wines that will be enjoyed by guests at the awards.

One lucky winner will receive this wine trio: A special BAFTA-labelled bottle of Champagne Taittinger Brut Réserve NV, Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Grigio and Villa Maria Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer this question: Who will be hosting the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2020?

A) Greg James B) Dermot O’Leary C) Graham Norton Respond with your answer by emailing: competitionttw@protonmail.com

by Wednesday February 5, 2020

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Motoring News

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

This week… n Subaru’s e-news n Trimming the MG 3 n Ford doubles up

Subaru outlines its plans for future electrification SUBARU has confirmed a goal of ensuring that all of its cars feature some form of electrification technology by the mid-2030s.

This comes on top of a prediction that 40% of global sales will be electric or hybrid by 2030.

Subaru President Tomomi Nakamura said: “Even in this once-in-a-century period of profound transformation, Subaru’s strong commitment and dedication towards car manufacturing that we have cultivated throughout our history remain unchanged.

“With the aim of making Subaru different from other brands, we will further hone the distinctive qualities that make a Subaru a Subaru, maintaining the unique attributes

our customers have come to expect.

“At the same time, as we work to fulfil our social responsibilities, including the protection of the global environment, we will leverage Subaru’s unique character and technological innovation to contribute to the creation of a carbon-free society.”

The firm remains committed to its ‘boxer’ range of engines, as well as its EyeSight driver assist systems and technologies. As it aims for electrification, it will continue to develop these ‘core technologies’.

The firm has also stated a goal of reducing well-to-wheel CO2 emissions for its new vehicles by 90% for 2050 compared to 2010 levels.

Ford S-Max and Galaxy go hybrid

FORD has announced hybrid versions of its popular S-Max and Galaxy models.

This accompanies a new investment of around £35.8million in Ford’s Valencia manufacturing plant.

Acceleration

MG 3 range is bolstered with Exclusive Nav trim MG has introduced a new Exclusive Nav grade to its 3 line-up in a bid to enhance the model’s appeal.

Available to order now, this new trim sits at the top of the range, with the headline addition being a new version of the firm’s ‘iGo’ infotainment system.

Projected on an eight-inch display, it offers support for Bluetooth devices alongside Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. It also boasts a six-speaker audio set-up, DAB radio and a reversing camera.

Powering the car is the existing 1.5litre naturally-aspirated petrol unit. It delivers 105bhp and 137Nm of torque to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox, resulting in a 0-60mph time of 10.4 seconds, with a 108mph top

speed. Fuel returns of 42.3mpg on the WLTP Combined cycle are claimed, with CO2 emissions weighing in at 140g/km.

MG Head of Sales and Marketing Daniel Gregorious said: “The introduction of the MG 3 Exclusive Nav brings our smallest model in line with the rest of the MG line-up, and further solidifies our promise to offer affordability without compromising on specification or quality.

“The affordable model continues to stand out as an attractive option in the supermini market with its intelligent design and generous 7-year warranty.”

The MG 3 Exclusive Nav starts at £12,995. The firm is also launching the model with a £1,500 deposit contribution when purchased through PCP.

Two new assembly lines will mean that lithium-ion batteries can be produced for the Kuga Plug-in Hybrid, Kuga Hybrid, S-Max Hybrid and Galaxy Hybrid alongside the vehicles themselves for a more streamlined process.

Production is set to begin in September.

The President of Ford of Europe, Stuart Rowley, said: “By making it easier than ever to transition into an electrified vehicle, we expect the majority of our passenger vehicle sales to be electrified by the end of 2022.”

Both the S-Max and Galaxy Hybrid models will have a 2.5-litre Atkinson cycle petrol engine linked to an electric motor. Together, they’ll push out close to 200bhp and 210Nm of torque which, Ford claims, will make for better standing-start and in-gear acceleration than a diesel-powered model.

Both cars are also targeting an emissions figure of 140g/km CO2.

They are set to be introduced to the market next year.

CODEWORD 4

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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.

2 7 6 3 1

21

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5 9 7 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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6 7 3

1 9

Codeword:

6 3 2

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9 8 7

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

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DIFFICULTY RATING:★★★★

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© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

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

R A B B I E M E D A A C R EW O U N I P P S H O V E R N M A R I E N S T I M E

I D I E L E D I S N S K L E T I T F E A S L E Q U X

J GO U T S T Y E N T A E D A I P T

A P U Z B L H I C T I T B Y

A N A E K E R D N C E S S S I U N T Y E O I T A N

Sudoku:

1 4 7 6 2 5 8 3 9

3 5 9 8 7 1 4 2 6

8 6 2 3 9 4 1 7 5

9 2 4 7 5 3 6 8 1

5 7 1 2 8 6 9 4 3

6 3 8 1 4 9 7 5 2

4 8 5 9 6 2 3 1 7

6 5 3 1 9 8 4 7 2

5 8 2 7 4 6 3 1 9

3 9 4 8 2 1 7 6 5

2 9 3 4 1 7 5 6 8

7 1 6 5 3 8 2 9 4

Jigsaw Sudoku:

1 6 5 3 7 9 8 2 4

4 7 9 2 8 5 6 3 1

8 2 1 5 3 7 9 4 6

7 4 6 9 1 3 2 5 8

2 3 8 6 5 4 1 9 7

9 1 7 4 6 2 5 8 3

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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Sport

FOR EVENstories MOREto: NEWS VISIT: timeslocalnews.co.ukor newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk Please send sports newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

By Roger Clarke RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS ended a tough three weeks in which they played three of the top four sides in the London and South East Premier Division with a battling loss to the leaders.

The home side had to change their entire front row due to injury and unavailability and the new-look pack held up well in a scoreless first quarter.

It took until the 27th minute for Wells to get on the scoreboard with a simple penalty. But the large and physical pack from Rochford were enjoying a larger share of the ball.

In the 36th minute the pressure was finally translated into points as Wells dropped the ball behind their line and Rochford’s No 8 Harry Hudson touched down for an unconverted try.

Wells were then punished for indiscipline as first Charley Smith then Josh Hawkins were sent to the sin-bin and Wells were down to 13 as half-time approached.

But this didn’t seem to hinder them as skipper Ryan Taylor-Dennehy initiated a great run and

found Mike Doherty on his shoulder to finish off a 45-metre move with an unconverted try to give the hosts an 8-5 lead at the break.

Rochford came out in uncompromising fashion with a simple game plan, to use their physicality to maul and drive to the line.

Wells could gain little ball as Rochford camped in their half, and the maul duly rolled over the line for a try to hooker Adam Ferrier which was converted.

Now back to full numbers, Wells punched some midfield holes and on 50 minutes Frank Reynolds reduced the deficit to 12-11 with a penalty.

Scrum-half Eddie George received Wells’ third yellow card on 57 minutes and after a succession of pick-and-drives Rochford’s left wing Iain Meads scored an unconverted try in the corner, .

The home side could not find a way back at 17-11 down and although Chris Shields was sent to the bin, Mac Duaibe scored another unconverted try for the league leaders.

In seventh place, four points behind Sevenoaks, Wells now travel to play London Irish Wild Geese at Sudbury on Saturday (February 1, kick-off 2.30pm).

NO WAY THROUGH Tui Tauaika is held up for Wells

HIGH LINE TJs get ready defend against Worthing

TJs return to form and regain top spot Tonbridge Juddians 41 Worthing 14

RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS returned to winning ways - and the top of the table in National Two South - after the setback of the previous weekend’s defeat by Taunton.

The opening stages saw both sides willing to run despite the heavy pitch. Finlay Coxon-Smith, formerly of Worthing, made a fine chase-back and tackle to stop the visitors scoring early.

Then Toby May intercepted a pass well inside his own half and and found wing Hugo Watson alongside to take his off-load and score TJs’ first try in the corner, which was not converted.

For the next 25 minutes the game evened out.

Worthing had a tendency to concede penalties and Will Robinson duly slotted one to increase

the lead.

Worthing’s lock forward Jack Lee received a yellow card and from the scrum at another penalty centre Rob White showed good pace on his outside break to score, Robinson converting.

So the hosts led 15-0 at half-time but from a lineout early in the second half Worthing’s prop Henry Birch crashed over for Worthing and Matt McLean converted from the touchline.

TJs responded by turning the ball over at the ruck and lock forward Rory McHugh strode away on the counter-attack to touch down for a try, Robinson adding the extras.

Speedy wing Tom Chapman made progress for TJs and the ball was successfully recycled out to the left where Hugo Watson went over for his second try, which went unconverted.

TJs were now in fine flowing form and fly-half Robinson produced some fancy footwork to dart through and score close to the posts, then converted his own try.

Two minutes later, Chapman broke through a tackle and, well supported by Robinson and flanker Mark Davey, scrum-half Charlie Edwards scored TJs’ sixth try, Robinson converting.

The game was in the bag for TJs after that flurry of tries but visitors had the final say, centre Kieran Leeming exploiting an overlap to cross for a try which McLean converted.

The news that Henley had been beaten at Redruth meant that TJs were restored to top spot, just one point ahead of the Hawks.

Henley now entertain Tonbridge in a crunch match on Saturday (February 1, kick-off 2.30pm).

PHOTO: Adam Hookway

Tunbridge Wells 11 Rochford Hundred 22

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

Yellow fever for Wells to end tough run of games

Child’s play as Academy run in eight tries RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS Academy’s first home game of the season saw them beat Dartfordians 49-0 at The Skinners’ School.

Early into the first half, Sam Dupuy spotted space on the wing and floated a sublime pass out to Harry Child at full-back who opened up the scoring.

Dan Solomon scored under the posts and straight from the whistle Markuss Launovics made a 50-metre run to put scrum-half Innes Woodhouse back under the posts for the third try.

In the second half Euan Symonds went over for Wells, and then Dupuy made a break and showed great skill to run in a try from halfway.

Child scored again when he spotted space and received a pop-pass from Dupuy. The forwards and backs were working well together and Cam Keys went over in the corner. Then Connor Bourne on the wing scored in the last play of the game..

For more information about the Academy visit twrfc.com/team/academy

Jeffreys and Bareham start Kent title defence in style

MUD BATH Simon Howden (centre) at Parliament Hill

ATHLETICS: THE first of the year’s Kent Grand Prix Road Running events took place over 10 miles in Canterbury, with Tunbridge Wells Harriers defending both the men’s and women’s team titles from last year.

There were excellent runs by Alex Jeffreys (57min 39sec) and Patrick Bareham (57.57) to take fourth and fifth place respectively.

Mike King (63.39), Alex Holmes (66.20) and Chris Potter (66.34) were all placed in the top 100 while Ollie Smeed recorded a big personal best (PB, 75.57).

Jillian Holford was the first Harrier in the women’s category, running a fine PB of 71.09 for 175th place overall. There were also PBs for Ana-Maria Green (80.04) and Michelle Rumsey (83.06).

The South of England Cross Country Championships were held on a mudbath course at Parliament Hill in Hampstead Heath.

In a field of nearly 1,200 in the men’s race held over 15km, Dan Watt was the leading Harrier in 151st place. In the 8km women’s event, Cathy Gill ran a fine race to come home in 208th place.

ON THE CHARGE Carrick Corcoran launches an attack

Wednesday January 29 | 2020

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Powell-Downey makes the difference with late winner Bridon Ropes 2 Rusthall 3

Williams doubles up in Angels’ brave fightback Billericay Town 3 Tonbridge Angels 3

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS fought back to rescue a point in a highly entertaining game at New Lodge, having been two goals in arrears.

Angels manager Steve McKimm has assembled a team that is capable of doing the ugly stuff and then turning to a more creative style of play which can catch out the opposition.

On a questionable surface, it was a credit to both sides that they managed to serve up so much quality, though it was a relatively quite first half.

Character Billericay had a strong appeal for a penalty but the referee turned it down, choosing instead to caution the alleged victim, striker Jake Robinson.

In the 40th minute there was a genuine sight of goal for the hosts’ Ossama Ashley and his well-struck shot was on target but Jonny Henly pulled off a fine block.

Three minutes later at the other end the excellent Christ Tiehi forced Nathan Harness into a fingertip save over the crossbar.

The start of the second half saw an immediate sequence of scoring, much to the delight of the 831 spectators.

Angels started the goal rush with Jason Williams heading home after just 47 minutes.

But just two minutes later Billericay were awarded a penalty which Robinson safely dispatched.

On 54 minutes Billericay’s other impressive forward, Femi Akinwande, finished a good run down the left with a shot into the far corner of the goal.

Then a minute later the stunned Angels conceded again, Alfie Potter finding the net with the Tonbridge defence in disarray.

But the Angels showed character, determination and quality to haul themselves back into the game at a ground where they have never won.

On 73 minutes Billericay only half-cleared a Tonbridge attack, Tiehi picked up the loose ball and fired an unstoppable 25-yard effort past Harness.

Just four minutes later Williams claimed his second goal to put his side on level terms.

Both sides went for the win and chances were created at both ends. In a nail-biting conclusion Billericay were awarded three corners in quick succession but couldn’t make them count.

Manager McKimm said: “I was very pleased with the character of the team, the way they fought back to take the draw.

“Should we have been 3-1 down? Well that’s another matter but a point at this place has to be a good one.”

Angels, in 19th place in National League South, now entertain runaway leaders Wealdstone on Saturday (February 1, kick-off 3pm).

Heavy weather: Why heavy rain takes toll on Longmead THREE matches having been postponed at Tonbridge Angels’ Longmead Stadium in the wake of the heavy rain over the last month.

The local derby against Maidstone on Boxing Day fell victim to the weather, as did the National League South fixture against Hampton & RIchmond on January 18 and a Kent Senior Cup tie.

The games have been rearranged but there is a downside to the club’s cash flow since the league games must be played in midweek, which usually means a lower attendance.

The Angels chairman Dave Netherstreet explained why the ground is prone to flooding, saying: “The club is located in a low-lying area of Tonbridge and part of it is designated a flood risk area by the Environment Agency.

“This does make the pitch very susceptible to periods when there is excessive rainfall over a period of time because the river levels rise and surface water is unable to drain away through

the drainage ditches.

“When the water cannot drain away via the land drains under the pitch and more rain falls, the surface of the pitch becomes waterlogged.

“It turns into what can only be described as a sodden area of mud which, if played on, will cause injury to players. Some areas of the pitch are worse than others.”

While the surface may seem playable, under the grass and topsoil a thick layer of clay prevents the water from draining away.

Mr Netherstreet added: “In normal circumstances any rainfall will drain from the pitch in 48 hours but unfortunately this year the south east has experienced nearly continuous rain since last November and there is nowhere for the water to drain to.”

The club has said it could invest in new underground pitch drainage, though initial estimates for the work are around £20,000.

FOOTBALL: THE prolific Reuel Powell-Downey scored his 17th goal of the season three minutes from time to keep up Rusthall’s promotion hopes in the Southern Counties East League Division One. Bridon Ropes had beaten the Rustics at Jockey Farm earlier in the season and looked a better side than their second-from-bottom position would suggest.

The first half was a tight affair with chances at a premium for both sides, but three minutes before the interval Rusthall broke the deadlock with a first goal of the season for Lorenzo Cuozzo.

Scrappy The visitors’ delight was short-lived, however, with Gibson Dobson equalising for Bridon Ropes two minutes into the second half.

But four minutes later Rusthall regained the lead when Tommy Lawrence’s corner sailed straight into the net.

From this point the game became scrappy with neither side seemingly able to hold onto the ball long enough to create danger.

Then in the 66th minute Jack Kirby stunned the Rustics with an equaliser. Bridon proceeded to defend stoutly until the 87th minute when Powell-Downey took his goal well.

It is getting tight at the top of the table with just four points separating the top five sides and four to go up end of the season.

Rusthall are now at home to Sutton Athletic on Saturday (February 1, kick-off 3pm).

PHOTO: Brendan Kemp

GREAT LEVELLER Jason Williams equalises for the Angels

PHOTO: David Couldridge

By Rich Smith

OFF THE MARK Lorenzo Cuozzo scored his first goal this season

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