Times of Tunbridge Wells 5th April 2017

Local, National and International

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

2017 Marquess loses out in the country’s most exclusive election THE Marquess of Abergavenny has missed out on his chance to sit on the gilded red benches in the House of Lords after failing to win election by his peers last month.

Christopher Nevill, whose 3,000-acre Eridge Park estate stretches across the Wealden countryside just south of Tunbridge Wells, threw his ermine into the ring after a vacancy became available in the Upper House following the death of Lord Lyell in January.

The old Harrovian, who became the 6th Marquess of Abergavenny following the death of his uncle, Lieutenant Colonel John Nevill, in 2000, is one of around 800 members of the nobility entitled to sit in the Lords.

However, since Tony Blair’s reform of the house at the turn of the century, only 92 places are now automatically reserved for those with a hereditary title, meaning competition for a place can be fierce.

In a strange democratic twist, these are the only kind of peers elected to the House of Lords – albeit with a tiny electorate which consists exclusively of those already in the House at the The Marquess moment.

Continued on page 2

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See page 57

Warning that businesses could INSIDE be hit as hotel gets green light IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Local band supports rock legends The Who on tour Page 64

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk OPPONENTS of the £7million Premier Inn hotel to be built on London Road lost their fight last week when planning permission was granted.

They claimed the development would be ‘overscaled, overdominant, and grossly under-parked’. There was also a warning it could push other local hotels and businesses ‘below sustainable levels’.

The 110-bed budget hotel was given the green light at the end of a heated debate at the Town Hall, where members of the public were invited to speak.

‘This development will, without question, be overscaled, overdominant, and grossly under-parked’ Those calling for the committee to reject the Planning Officer’s recommendation to give approval focused arguments on three areas: Parking, the economic downsides, and the sheer bulk of the building and its impact on neighbouring properties.

Ellen Kent is a resident of Richmond Terrace, and her property overlooks the former courthouse where the hotel is to be built.

She said the proposed building was ‘simply too big’ and took up almost the entire footprint of the site, unlike the current building.

Mrs Kent pointed out the council’s own Conservation Officer had described the five-storey development as ‘intrusive’ and ‘bland’, and had voiced concerns over its ‘resultant bulkiness’.

“This development will, without question, be overscaled, overdominant, and grossly under-parked,” she said, before

PREMIER PROTESTS (l-r) Ellen Kent, Robert Hogben and Alan Godwin ending with a plea to committee members not to approve the scheme ‘merely for fear of an appeal’.

Dr Alastair Tod, representing the Civic Society, which opposed the development, said there ‘really is so much wrong with this scheme’.

He pointed out that council policy when assessing proposed developments was to do so within the context of a master plan for

the area as a whole, and alluded to an Act of Parliament making this a requirement.

But he said council documents related to the proposal state ‘there is no indication a master plan will come forward in the future’.

“Why ever not if this is what your policy requires?” he questioned, adding: “It is not an answer to say this scheme will not prejudice future development. How can anyone know that?”

Neighbour Alan Godwin, of Clarence Lodge, focused on parking as the proposal will see the number of spaces on site fall from 77 to 20.

He said the council’s own Transport Manager has acknowledged the ‘substantial shortfall’ in parking spaces, adding: “I am perplexed as to why the report says that increased parking pressures shouldn’t matter in this decision when parking and the sheer weight of traffic is at a critical level.”

Continued on page 2

FOX IN THE BOX

17-year-old Sammie McLeod signs for Leicester City Page 70

A GOOD ROASTING

Celebrate UK Coffee Week by buying the best beans Page 53

THE OLD COURTHOUSE Former Merevale House will become a Premier Inn

CAPTURE THE CASTLE See Hever in full swing for spring this Easter Page 67

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When is a Lord not a Lord?

Continued from page 1 On March 21 a by-election took place in which the Marquess, stood as a Conservative against 27 other Lords of the Realm.

In a short manifesto, Lord Nevill explained why he should be chosen to become a member of the legislature.

He said: “The second son of a second son, I forged a career in shipbuilding, broking and finance in Hamburg, Marseilles, the City and Wall Street. I offer my hands-on experience of urban regeneration; rural diversification (expanding the Eridge Estate from three residential tenants into a home for 100 businesses, 400 jobs and apprentices); insights from two terms as a district councillor; experience with charities.”

But he was unable to secure enough support in the alternative vote system, making it to round 23 out of 25 and winning 38 votes in total. He was beaten by the 2nd Earl of Stockton, who took 62 votes; the 5th Baron Bethell (108 votes) and the eventual winner with 143 votes, the Sevenoaks based-peer 4th Baron Colgrain.

WHO IS THE MARQUESS OF ABERGAVENNY? THE Nevill family have an illustrious lineage, having first been ennobled in 1450 when Sir Edward Nevill was made Baron Bergavenny.

In 1784, the 17th Baron Bergavenny, George Nevill, was made 1st Earl of Abergavenny and the family climbed the social hierarchy yet again in 1876 when Queen Victoria made William Nevill the first Marquess of Abergavenny.

Christopher Nevill is the 6th Marquess of Abergavenny and also carries the titles of 10th Earl of Abergavenny and 6th Earl of Lewes. Born in 1955 and educated at Harrow, the Marquess is a former stockbroker who now runs the 3,000-acre family estate, which includes The Lower Pantiles and the Corn Exchange. The original family seat, Eridge Castle, was replaced by a Neo-Georgian mansion in the 1930s.

PECKING ORDER: Duke/Duchess, then Marquess/Marchioness, Earl/Countess, Viscount/Viscountess, Baron/Baroness CONTACTS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR RICHARD MOORE richard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 779615 CHIEF REPORTER ADAM HIGNETT adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk | 01892 576051 DESIGN/PRODUCTION LEE SMITH lsmith8@markerstudy.com SALES ENQUIRIES sales@onemedia.co.uk | 01892 779580 FIND US ONLINE facebook.com/timeslocalnews timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk twitter.com/timeslocalnews IF YOU HAVE A STORY WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU Contact details above

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

More carriages, longer platforms to stop crowding – but no extra trains bridge Line Commuters, commented: “Longer trains are certainly a high priority but some Tonbridge line trains already have 12 cars.

“More will need to be done, especially in view of proposals to build more houses along the Tonbridge to Ashford corridor.

“Extending platforms will be necessary at many stations including Waterloo East, along with the short platforms at Charing Cross and Cannon Street. This will speed up getting on and off trains.”

He added: “The tunnels between Tonbridge and Hastings must be widened and converted to double track in order to reduce delays and make the timetables more robust.”

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk NETWORK RAIL has admitted that it is ‘almost impossible’ to run more trains up to Charing Cross from Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge during peak hours.

Instead it is focusing on expanding stations in London so they can cope with longer trains, and updating the signalling system.

The rail owner and manager is currently asking the public to help find solutions to the chronic overcrowding on trains from Kent into the capital.

It has drafted a Kent Area Route Study to address the problems faced by the county’s creaking infrastructure – and plan ahead for the next 30 years.

Passenger numbers on local lines connecting to the capital are forecast to rise by 47 per cent by 2044, and there is also set to be a huge increase in freight.

Network Rail admits: “Routes to and from Cannon Street and Charing Cross stations are already completely full at peak times, with no more space for additional trains.”

It claims that current growth can be met through lengthening trains to 12 carriages but says: “More radical and challenging solutions will be needed in the longer term.

This includes expanding central London stations, most notably Charing Cross.”

With a new passenger train franchise for Kent due to start next year, a three-month consultation period is now open to allow local people to contribute.

Network Rail’s Route Managing Director for the South East, John Halsall, said: “A

Premier Inn go-ahead Continued from page 1 Mr Godwin asked for the project to be scaled back to 85 rooms, which would reduce the height by one floor and not necessitate a side-extension.

His argument on parking was met with some sympathy by several committee members, notably Cllrs Joy Podbury, David Reilly and Godfrey Bland. However, committee member Cllr Lawrence Heasman rejected the idea there was not enough parking and said his own research showed that at nearby Torrington Car Park there were 224 empty spaces by 6pm each evening.

Commons resident Robert Hogben questioned the economic validity of the scheme, stating that existing hotels were

bigger, better and more reliable railway is absolutely vital to support jobs, housing and economic growth in Kent and southeast London in the decades ahead.

“Our plan sets out how we will cater for forecast passenger growth up to the mid2020s, primarily through longer trains at the busiest times of day.

“Beyond that, we need to look at more radical options to enable more frequent ser-

‘Routes to and from Cannon Street and Charing Cross stations are already completely full at peak times’

The options include: 1. Lengthening Kent commuter peak time trains to 12 carriages.

2. Building platform extensions to allow for the longer trains.

3. Increasing capacity at Cannon Street by creating a siding for parked trains.

4. Installing new signalling systems to maximise train performance. kentroutestudy@networkrail.co.uk See also MP Greg Clark’s column page 22.

vices and changing service patterns across the region.”

Passenger growth is calculated from the numbers of new households according to local authority figures. By 2031 Tonbridge is predicted to have 13,300 more homes, while Tunbridge Wells will have 6,000.

John Reynolds, Vice-Chairman of Ton‘extremely anxious’ over the plans.

He said a study by Tunbridge Wells Hotel Managers found average occupancy in the town was only 70 per cent and that 110 extra rooms would push occupancy in many establishments ‘below sustainable levels’.

“We are calling for this council to support existing hotel businesses and their suppliers,” he warned. “Many smaller establishments use local food and drink suppliers and these businesses will be affected by potential closures too.”

His arguments were countered by Cllr Jane March, speaking as a member of the public, who said the council’s Hotel Needs Study identified ‘a lack of choice and star rating’ in the area, which was dominated by four-star accommodation.

She said an additional 40 jobs will be generated and the hotel will help boost local tourism, which in 2015 was worth £251 million.

Her arguments were cited by committee

TRACKS OF YOUR TEARS PUNCTUALITY on Britain’s rail network is at its lowest in over a decade.

More than one in 10 (12.3 per cent) trains failed to reach their destinations on time last year, the worst performance since 2006.

Only 81 per cent of customers were satisfied with rail services, the lowest figure since 2007. member Bob Backhouse as to why he would vote for the proposal.

Steve Davies, representing the Whitbreadowned hotel chain, said it was a ‘major project for the town’: “There are three goals; the enhancement of the site, the provision of good quality accommodation and the generation of significant income for Tunbridge Wells.”

He said the extra spend in the town arising from the project would be between £1.7million and £2million per year.

Traffic resulting from the hotel would mainly be during off-peak times, early morning and late evening, and would not add to rush hour traffic or key parking times.

Alan Legg, the Council’s Urban Design Officer and non-voting panel member, also voiced approval of the scheme as being in keeping with its surroundings.

The proposal was passed by nine votes to four with one abstention.

Premier Inn declined a request for comment.

A TALE OF TWO BOROUGHS, HOW PLANNING PITS NEIGHBOUR AGAINST NEIGHBOUR 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS HERE at the Times of Tunbridge Wells we strive to deliver fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we don’t meet our own high standards we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections.

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PLANNING. If there is one thing that can cause even the most apathetic member of the public to take a slight interest in council affairs it is this.

Everyone has an opinion on it and most people feel they will be affected by its outcome whether it is in a positive or negative way. Stories on what will be built where get some of the highest number of clicks on our website and, as someone whose second office is in Town Hall, planning meetings draw the largest crowds from the public.

This week the Times, unescapably, runs three stories on topic. These range from the acceptance of a single application to build a Premier Inn on London Road, to proposals for

entire Garden Villages in one borough and a decision to curtail all construction in another.

What all three stories have in common is their incredibly divisive nature.

Take the decision by neighbouring Wealden District Council to ban all development, for the time being, in an effort to preserve the Ashdown Forest. This extreme step was described as ‘significant and far reaching’ by one estate agency which also pointed out it was an approach that was unique among local authorities.

Many people will cheer this on. People love their countryside and nobody wants more housing in their backyard. But this approach

has caused a great deal of problems for many others who have seen their planning applications suspended. It also looks like Wealden will insist on far more stringent rules on what can and cannot be built.

On completely the opposite tack, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council are grasping the nettle early and are preparing to ask residents where they think the next 13,000 homes in the borough should go. This may prove even more contentious than what is going on across the border but at least there will be some debate on it.

Chief Reporter, Adam Hignett

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Wednesday April 5 | 2017

NEWS IN BRIEF

Kent Police warning after burglary spree

A MAN who hurled racist abuse at a Muslim taxi driver outside Tunbridge Wells station was jailed for six months on Friday (March 31).

Richard Nolan, 42, of High Brooms Road, was inebriated after celebrating his birthday on August 30 2015 when he went to take a taxi. But when the unidentified taxi driver confirmed he was Muslim, Nolan launched his expletive tirade which witnesses described as ‘vile and appalling’.

He was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court after Recorder Brian Argyle rejected the option of a suspended sentence, saying society demanded severe punishment for such behaviour.

Candidates announced KENT Conservatives have released the names of the six candidates they are putting forward to contest divisions within Tunbridge Wells borough at the county council elections on May 4.

Cllr Peter Oakford (North) and Cllr Sean Holden (Cranbrook) will be hoping to retain their seats, while Sarah Hamilton (Rural) Catherine Rankin (South) and James McInroy (West) will be looking to replace existing Conservative members.

Only Paul Barrington-King will be challenging an opposition incumbent when he goes up against UKIP’s Chris Hoare in Tunbridge Wells East.

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TEDx sets out on a path of discovery LAUNCHPAD TEDx supporters gathered at The Forum

POLICE have warned households to be extra vigilant after a spate of burglaries in the local area.

Officers of the West division, which covers Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks are investigating a high number of thefts reported last week.

Acting Det Sgt Suzanne Basford said: “In some of the reports burglars appear to have entered through a backdoor which had been left open or unlocked – possibly due to the weather getting warmer. Unfortunately, this does create opportunities for opportunistic offenders.”

To assist in recovering stolen items, police are encouraging people to register their valuables on www.immobilise.com

Racist sentenced

NEWS

ORGANISERS of this summer’s TEDx promised to ‘showcase Royal Tunbridge Wells to the world and bring the world to Royal Tunbridge Wells’ as they officially announced the first six speakers for the June 10 event.

TEDx Tunbridge Wells is an independently organised version of the world famous TED talks – where people share their inspirational stories and ideas.

The first event in 2015 attracted an audience of 100. This year, organisers hope to draw a 1,000

Four years for Tunbridge Wells wine fraudster

By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A WINE broker who defrauded the elderly out of hundreds of thousands of pounds through his Tunbridge Wells-based company has been jailed for more than four years.

Harry Mosley was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court last week after he had previously changed his not guilty pleas to guilty to two offences of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.

He also admitted two other fraud conspiracy charges on ‘a limited basis’.

The 25-year-old wine broker duped investors out of about £420,000 through his company Optimum

capacity crowd to the Assembly Hall.

Speaking at The Forum launch last Thursday [March 30], organiser Dan Foreman said: “When we first started, never did we imagine we would be in this position.

Imagine “This year we have chosen the theme of the talks to be ‘discovery’, which I think represents Tunbridge Wells beautifully.”

Fine Wine which operated from Wellington House, Church Road.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC, described Mosley’s actions as: “A sustained, planned multiple victim fraud, also a heartless and cruel one which greatly damaged a number of lives.”

The first speakers to be announced include Dame Kelly Holmes on reinventing herself, travel writer Joaquim Bretcha with his take on Tunbridge Wells and Henry Rose Lee on living with face blindness - a condition which means she does not recognise people’s faces, even her husband’s.

Anyone is eligible to speak at TEDx but with over 100 applications so far, Mr Foreman said it would be ‘extremely difficult to whittle it down to 12-15’.

To find out more visit: www.tedxroyaltunbridgewells.com/

However, his victims – two of whom are now dead – received little or no money from the sale of their wine, or in some cases found their portfolios had disappeared.

In total fifteen customers were duped between 2012 and 2014.

Mosley spent the proceeds of his crime on ‘high living’, lavishing around £100,000 at bars, restaurants and hotels, gambling away High living just under £60,000 and spending Detective Constable Joanna around £23,000 on his girlfriend.

Hunt, the investigating officer The judge said the scheme was ‘a for this case said Mosley’s fraud GUILTY: Harry Mosley widespread fraud’ adding, “The has caused his victims ‘a signifonly mitigation is your youth at icant amount of harm financially and emotion- the time, 22, and remorse. This is high culpability ally’. fraud.” He sentenced Mosley to four years and The court heard how Mosley, currently of Wester- four months and banned him from conducting ham Road, Keston, would cold-call customers on any business activities for five years. behalf of Optimum Fine Wine. He would then Mosley’s co-accused Bradley Deadman, 23, of promise to make them a significant profit in return Lodge Road, Tonbridge, and Lewis Hearson, 22, for buying, swapping or selling wine through the of Dowgate Close, Tonbridge, were acquitted by company. the jury.

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Bus stop bust up over route PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT The Ashdown Forest

Council bans all new builds in bid to protect the forest

By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk WEALDEN Council has taken the unprecedented decision to impose a ban on all new development within the district.

It has done this on the perceived threat to the Ashdown Forest from nitrogen levels caused by any additional traffic arising from new developments.

Wealden District Council state that as a planning authority they cannot guarantee that new vehicle movements, resulting from development anywhere in the district, will not involve routes near or through the Ashdown Forest and lead to environmental damage.

The neighbouring authority also states that once compensation measures are in place, new development will be allowed to come forward.

Wealden’s preferred option for compensation is for developers to provide comparable habitat which can be restored to lowland heath. But until such times as the compensation is in place, the council is unable to determine any planning applications for development, regardless of whether they can demonstrate no additional vehicle movements.

Far reaching The estate agents Batcheller Monkhouse have written an analysis on implications of Wealden’s decision, which was made following a meeting of the full council on March 22.

They claim there is undersupply of housing in Wealden District that is ‘worse than originally thought’ and will be exacerbated by the council’s plans to reduce the number of dwellings it plans to build

by 2028 from 14,101 to 11,456.

“Wealden take the view that the protection of the Ashdown Forest trumps issues of housing need,” the agency states, adding: “This is not an approach taken by any of the other Local Authorities.”

They say the implications of this approach ‘are significant and far reaching’ for anyone considering making an application, is preparing an application, or those whose applications are currently in the system.

Councillor Ann Newton, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development at Wealden, explaining the council’s development ban, said: “It is a fundamental principle set out in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework that a Local Plan must balance housing and economic growth with protection and enhancement of the environment. As a designated competent authority it is our statutory duty to do so.”

THE alteration of a Pembury bus route has become political after the local borough councillor accused the local county councillor of ‘an appalling lack of representation’.

Conservative Paul Barrington-King made the comments about UKIP’s Chris Hoare shortly after changes to the routes were introduced on Sunday (April 2). Bus operator Arriva blamed low passenger numbers for its decision to scale back on routes 6 and 6A which have led to parts of Pembury being cut off from the network. Outlying areas, such as Colts Hill and Five Oak Green have seen services on the 6A discontinued altogether.

In addition, the length of route 6, which previously ran between Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone town centres now terminates at East Peckham, except for school bus services which will continue to run the entire route. Evening buses are also being axed.

Cllr Barrington-King, who represents Pembury ward at borough level, said his counterparts at Kent County Council (KCC) were told of the changes almost a year ago but claims Cllr Hoare had denied this.

He said: Cllr Paul “These Barrington-King changes

would have been made known to KCC councillors via the results of a consultation last May and the confidential briefing where they were told that residents would not like it.

“Ergo our Councillor cannot say he did not know as there were emails and telephone calls informing him from residents.

“My view on this is that many Pembury residents who depend on this service will be left waiting at bus stops for a bus that will never arrive.

It is unforgivable that we have lost this service through an appalling lack of representation at County level.”

However, Cllr Hoare, who represents Tunbridge Wells East – a county council division that covers Pembury – hit back, saying he has forwarded ‘seven emails to KCC and Arriva’ regarding complaints by residents.

He added; “I have emailed and spoken with Arriva head office. The issue is viability of routes as these were proven to be financially unviable.”

Cllr Hoare also showed correspondence to the Times that he has had from Steve Pay, Planning and Operations Manager, in which Mr Pay says KCC is ‘not in a position to resolve’ every issue arising from the numerous route changes made

by Arriva.

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Wednesday April 5 | 2017

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Campaigner hopes for PM’s petition support

TEAM EFFORT Several local schools participated in the project

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk A TUNBRIDGE WELLS woman has collected more than 40,000 names on a petition calling for higher standards of palliative care and improved pain relief within the NHS. Joanne Fowler launched her Change Not Blame petition after her father died at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury in June 2014. She claims he was ill-treated and denied pain relief.

An independent investigation found that Frank Foster received appropriate levels of support but acknowledged there were three hours where he could have been given more medication.

Children get creative to mark ten years as a Fairtrade Town

By Murray Jones murray@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk PUPILS from 19 local schools have collaborated to recreate one of the world’s most famous photographs with a special Fairtrade message.

The finished artwork is made up of 250 individually hand-painted tiles which were then put together like a jigsaw puzzle to make the iconic Lunch Atop a Skyscraper by Charles Clyde Ebbets.

The image was chosen as an entertaining way to illustrate the theme of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight – ‘It’s time to put Fairtrade in your break’.

The painting was on display in Royal Victoria Place until March 31. It is hoped the work will find a permanent site to be displayed.

Phoebe Andrews of Rose Hill School won a hamper of Fairtrade goods, donated by Marks and Spencer, for correctly identifying the image.

The project was coordinated by the town’s Fairtrade Group, who campaign for local retailers and

consumers to embrace the ethical trading scheme.

The group celebrated a decade as a Fairtrade Town this year. Chair Mandy Flashman-Wells said: “Fairtrade is about real people, real lives.

When we buy products with the Fairtrade mark we can be sure we are helping other people to live a better life with dignity and respect, because they are paid a fair price for the goods they produce.

“As a Fairtrade town, we can say that we support these ethical principles that give other communities choices and hope.”

Protection Mrs Fowler met Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark on March 24, and is now hoping that he will raise the petition with Prime Minister Theresa May. “I promised my dad when he died that his suffering would not be in vain, but used and debated for the protection of others,” she said.

“No one should beg and plead for pain relief at the end of a precious life. Daily I receive messages from all over the UK of the same suffering – I know people are suffering right now as my dad did.”

Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust has admitted that its communication with families in distressing situations could be improved.

A spokesman said: “End-of-life care has changed significantly through a new holistic approach.

“Individual care plans are developed to meet the needs and wishes of the dying person and those closest to them.”

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Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Proposals to change borough forever

By Adam Hignett

adam@timesoftonbridgewells.co.uk RESIDENTS OF Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding villages will have a chance to shape the future of the borough next month, when a consultation is launched on where to build 13,000 houses within the next 15 years.

Five options are on the table, ranging from concentrating development into a few key areas – notably in Tunbridge Wells itself – to developing a brand new ‘garden village’ within the Weald, an idea first reported in the Times.

Nothing has yet been set in stone, but one thing members of the council are certain of is that the option to do nothing is not on the table. Failure to meet central government expectations could lead to planning decisions being taken away from the borough and handed to technocrats elsewhere.

Pressure has been mounting on councils across the country to formulate up-to-date ‘local plans’ that comprehensively spell out how local authorities will meet their development commitments over the next decade and a half.

‘Evidence gathering’ by council officers has been ongoing for the past 18 months, including a ‘call for sites’ which has allowed residents and developers to identify areas of land they feel are suitable to be built on.

“We have gone out and conducted various studies and gathered information in order to have the most up-to-date statistics on the borough,” explained Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Planning Policy Manager, Kelvin Hinton.

“The evidence falls into distinct groups. On the one hand is a set of studies which tells you how much development you have to accommodate.

On the other side you have to balance this with studies to do with the landscape, the green belt or flooding, etc.”

The result is a recently published document titled ‘Issues and Options’. And while Mr Hinton recognises options on how to meet the growing demand for housing will grab the most attention, he stresses aspects such as the local economy and jobs market are also considered.

“What I am keen to stress to the public is that while this Issues and Options document is produced as part of the local plan process, it is not itself a plan. It is completely open to people for comment, and will pose as many questions as it answers, but what it is intended to show is a direction of travel.”

THE CONTEXT: The council states it will need to accommodate 13,000 houses within the borough by 2033.

Alongside the provision of housing there will need to be the creation of accompanying job opportunities, meaning development is not going to be residential in nature.

Housing is becoming increasing unaffordable, with an average house price in Tunbridge Wells borough of £351,000 in 2015. This has led to entry-level house prices 11 times the earnings of households, compared to 6.5 nationally. Rents have also increased ‘above inflation’ since 2008.

Economically, it is recognised that while the town remains an attractive place to do business, a key issue is the lack of available land and premises, following the ‘significant loss’ of office floorspace in recent years – a trend set to continue.

Improvements to transport and infrastructure are also required.

However, the document notes there is ‘likely to be no single way or option to deliver the development needed in Tunbridge Wells borough’.

While a number of locations throughout the borough could potentially accommodate ‘some, or all, of the development required’ in terms of physical space, many face constraints.

These factors include highway capacity and congestion and landscape sensitivity – with 70 per cent of the 126 square miles that make up the borough designated as the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Flooding and the nature of the existing built environment are also considerations.

‘We want to positively plan for our borough’s future, providing for needed development and associated infrastructure while retaining the quality of our local environment’ CLLR ALAN MCDERMOTT Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation

THE SUGGESTED CATEGORISATION OF SETTLEMENTS IN THE BOROUGH GROUPING Main Urban Area

SETTLEMENT Royal Tunbridge Wells and Southborough

Group A

Cranbrook, Paddock Wood, Hawkhurst (Highgate and The Moor), Rusthall, Pembury

Group B

Goudhurst, Brenchley, Lamberhurst, Five Oak Green

Group C

Speldhurst, Sandhurst, Benenden, Langton Green, Horsmonden, Sissinghurst

Group D

Frittenden, Bidborough, Matfield

Group E

Iden Green, Kilndown

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Wednesday April 5 | 2017

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS? Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has listed five broad options to consider, each of which have merits and pitfalls. Council officials also believe it is likely different aspects of the various options may end up being applied.

“We have to foresee the strategy going forward.

But we recognise that the nature of Tunbridge Wells means there won’t necessarily be one option as the silver bullet. It could be a combination of these,” said Planning Policy Manager Kelvin Hinton.

OPTION 4 Developing along the A21 ‘growth corridor’

Option 1 FOCUSED GROWTH Effectively, the status quo choice as based on the council’s existing strategy of concentrating the majority of development in the town and Southborough. A smaller proportion is focused on three main settlements from Group A: Cranbrook, Paddock Wood and Hawkhurst, and development is limited within the villages and rural areas.

PROS:  Focuses development on the current most sustainable locations with access to services  Access to public transport facilities and opportunity to enhance provision  Limited rural housing development and reduced impact of development in a large part of the borough CONS:  Increases already high levels of congestion  The number of brownfield sites available is running out, so green belt development may be unavoidable  Could result in ‘settlement coalescence’ – merging Tunbridge Wells into neighbouring villages

Option 2 SEMI-DISPERSED GROWTH In effect, this is option 1 but with a slightly larger percentage of development directed to some of the larger villages in groups A-B. Smaller villages will still be spared from most of the development.

PROS:  Limited development in the smaller villages and rural areas  Opportunity to contribute to the viability of the rural economy  Potential to increase provision of affordable housing in rural areas CONS:  Some villages are not well served by public transport, with resulting increased reliance on vehicle use

 Continues to place pressure on the historic environment and character of Royal Tunbridge Wells  Does not provide for the full potential of rural housing development

Option 3 DISPERSED GROWTH Development distribution proportional across all of Tunbridge Wells borough’s settlements.

The amount of new development would be apportioned to reflect the size of each settlement and its existing facilities.

PROS:  Possible opportunities for higher densities in larger town/village centre locations, especially where there is good access to public transport, services and jobs  Potential to enhance the sustainability of rural settlements by housing development supporting local services/facilities and enhanced public transport  Seeks to provide for the full potential of rural housing development CONS:  Could necessitate some development within locations designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, green belt, or areas prone to flood risk  The scale of development in some villages may not be sufficient to ensure services are viable  Some villages are relatively remote from a comprehensive range of facilities and services

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Option 4

Option 5

GROWTH CORRIDOR-LED APPROACH Development distribution focused around the A21, close to Tunbridge Wells town and Pembury as a new ‘growth corridor’, in the light of the soon to be completed road dualling programme.

NEW SETTLEMENT New freestanding ‘Garden Village’ settlement. There is no location identified in this option. A new settlement could be located anywhere within the borough.

This option is based on a potential settlement of between 5,000 and 7,000 homes, plus other business, community and leisure uses.

The council would expect any development of a new settlement to be planned and delivered on the basis of established and accepted ‘Garden City’ principles.

PROS:  Limits allocated development in other parts of the town and Southborough, as well as in other larger villages, such as Paddock Wood, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst and broader rural area  Locates growth close to established employment locations and services, which would help to minimise the need to travel  Supports existing upgrades to infrastructure with the potential to secure additional infrastructure improvements CONS:  Directs significant development to the northern part of the borough around Tunbridge Wells town and Pembury  Does not provide for the full potential of rural housing development  Could necessitate some development within locations designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and green belt

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? A consultation on the options will be launched on May 2 to run until June 12. Feedback will be fed into a draft of the council’s new Local Plan, which will be submitted to the government for

PROS:  The potential to plan holistically and enable comprehensive master planning, including provision of transport infrastructure, community facilities and green infrastructure  May allow for greater delivery of affordable housing  Greater scope for opportunities for mixed use development and range of employments CONS:  Likely to require large greenfield land take  The infrastructure requirements would be considerable and may have implications for timely delivery  Consideration of development in other parts of the borough is still likely to be necessary to meet identified development needs in the short/medium term

examination in 2018. If it passes inspection by the government, and examination by an independent planning inspector, the council will formally adopt the Local Plan in 2019 and aim to ensure development starts later that year.

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BUSINESS

Local Business News

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Millen declared bankrupt after high court hearing

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

City accolade goes to local wealth manager THE head of Brooks Macdonald’s Tunbridge Wells office has been crowned Best Female Wealth Manager of the Year at an awards ceremony.

Pam Beith, who received the accolade at London’s Guildhall on March 30 during the City of London Wealth Management Awards, spoke of her ‘delight’ at winning, and acknowledged the ‘hard work and successes’ of her team. The awards are highly valued as it is investors themselves who vote to determine the winners in each category.

AdEPT dividend hike SHARES in AIM-listed telecoms company AdEPT surged almost 14 per cent yesterday [April 4] after it released a trading update saying profits will beat market expectations.

The Tunbridge Wells firm said it anticipates earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to increase by 26 per cent when it reports its end of year results in July, as opposed to the 18 per cent expected by the City. Shareholders will be rewarded with a 19 per cent hike in their dividend to 7.75p.

MF spins off telecoms STRONG growth at Chapman Way-based MF Communications has led the firm to announce it is launching MF Telecom Services.

The new subsidiary has been set up to support UK businesses with their telecommunication requirements, including maintenance, broadband and mobile solutions.

NEW PARTNERSHIP Barrie Whipp (second from left) with representatives of Mobilise IT

Crimson Tide capitalises on rapid global growth

By Adam Hignett adam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk GLOBAL demand for its mpro5 software has seen profits at the Tunbridge Wells-based firm Crimson Tide more than double in a year.

Profit before tax increased by over 100 per cent in the year ending December 31, 2016, rising to £352,000 from £168,000 in 2015. Turnover also climbed 33 per cent to £1.86m during the same period.

Much of the growth was from orders overseas, with three new deals signed in the Middle East, a new partnership with Australian firm Mobilise IT, and ongoing collaboration with US pharmaceutical companies.

Crimson Tide’s main product, mpro5, is an extremely versatile piece of mobile software. It effectively helps streamline a company’s back office functions by feeding through real-time data from staff on the ground that can be quickly analysed.

Organisations as diverse as the Metro Newspaper, St James’s Hospital in Dublin, Nestlé and local councils utilise the mobile-compatible software to track orders, file audits or monitor medication. It is now in use in over 100,000 locations.

Speaking to the Times, Executive Chairman Barrie Whipp said: “We have had a tremendous year, with progress in all areas of the business. We have doubled our workforce from 14 to 28 people as we invest in our expansion activities, which are being financed by our existing profitability and cash.”

He added the company was working on an updated version of mpro5, which would have an improved user interface.

Mr Whipp also has a contingency plan if Brexit ends up making business harder for Crimson Tide in Europe, where it has a significant presence, which will involve moving his European billing address to its division in Ireland.

“We don’t particularly want to, but we will if we have to. For now we are just getting on with it.”

WORLD-FAMOUS fashion designer and Kent businesswoman Karen Millen was declared bankrupt at the High Court last week.

The 55 year old, who lives in Wateringbury, was reportedly unable to pay an outstanding £6million tax bill, and now faces the loss of her £3million mansion.

A former student of fashion design at Medway College of Art [now UCA], Miss Millen founded her eponymous brand in 1981 with an initial investment of only £100, but was soon enjoying success.

She sold the chain, which was jointly run with her ex-husband, Kevin Stanford, to the Icelandic corporation Baugur in 2004 for around £95million.

However, the mother of three lost much of her fortune in 2008 when the Icelandic bank Kaupthing collapsed, and has remained in a legal battle with the organisation ever since.

She was also in trouble in 2010 after her accountants had advised her to use a tax planning scheme, the validity of which was successfully challenged

by HMRC. RICHES TO RAGS Karen Millen

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NEWS

Community News

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

TABLES TURNED TS Brilliant enjoy their renovated hall

All hands on deck as Round Table helps the sea cadets get shipshape

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk TUNBRIDGE WELLS Round Table has been helping the Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadet Corps, named TS Brilliant, to refurbish their hall as one of its community projects.

TS Brilliant is made up of around 30 sea cadets, Royal Marine cadets and a naval band, all aged 10-18, and is based in Albion Road.

The local unit is named after the destroyer HMS Brilliant, which was adopted by the borough of Tunbridge Wells during Warship Week in 1945.

Built in 1931 and weighing in at 1,360 tons, it served with the 18th Destroyer Flotilla in the South Atlantic during the Second World War. HMS Brilliant also served in the Falklands conflict, when the cadets’ President, Commodore Barry Bryant, was the ship’s flight commander.

There are 400 community groups across

the UK, each with charitable status. The Tunbridge Wells Unit was founded in 1935 by the late Captain WA Cable of the Royal Indian Navy.

The local corps has taken part in the town’s Remembrance Day Parade every year since the end of the war.

The Sea Cadets were set up to celebrate Britain’s maritime heritage and contribute to its future development by supporting young people.

James Rose, who managed the project on behalf of Round Table, explained why they have helped the community group.

“We decided to choose TS Brilliant because of its locality and its assistance in developing young people into leaders for life,” he said.

“Many cadets won’t become sailors or marines, but it helps them to become a well-balanced individual ready for adult life.”

He added: “Our goal was to provide TS Brilliant with a newly renovated, fresh-looking hall that could be used for many years to come.

“Now the hall is an uplifting place to be, providing a fantastic environment for people to learn and develop.”

Mr Rose said the Round Table also wanted to ‘show the community that this is what volunteering is all about and, with good organising skills and support from local tradesmen, this is what we can achieve for our community’.

The following companies assisted with the project: Brewers for supplying the paint free of charge; Finishing Touches for decorating and providing a plasterer; The Perfect Painting Company for painting equipment; and Sussex Wood Floors.

Tunbridge Wells Sea Cadets was inspected by Commander Trevor Price on March 23 and he voiced his approval of the developments.

During the evening, Lieutenant Brenda Hide officially passed command of the unit to Sub-Lieutenant Matthew Vanns.

Lieutenant Hide has served the Sea Cadets for 45 years, the last 12 of which she had been the unit’s Commanding Officer.

Stephen takes on quest to support two charities STEPHEN SUTTON will be running his fifth London Marathon this month, on April 23 and is raising money for the Quest School, Paddock Wood, and Scope, which supports people with cerebral palsy.

The Quest School is an independent specialist school, registered to take pupils across the autistic spectrum aged 5-19. It was founded in 2003 by a group of parents and Applied Behavioural Analysis [ABA] professionals. It is the only ABA school in Kent.

Quest has a range of targets for its pupils, from carrying out everyday tasks to achieving nationally recognised accreditation at Key Stages 4 and 5.

Mr Sutton, from Paddock Wood, works for Tunbridge Wells jewellers G Collins & Sons, who have been strong supporters of Quest.

The company will hold an inaugural charity golf day at Dale Hill in Ticehurst, East Sussex, on June

28 to raise money for the school.

Mr Sutton, 45, a member of Paddock Wood Athletic Club, has run six marathons since 2010, and previously concentrated his fundraising efforts on Scope.

“My son Jack was born with cerebral palsy, and although his condition is mild – and we think ourselves lucky for this – it does impact on his everyday life. So it’s my way of giving those who aren’t so lucky a little help,” he said.

Jack, now 21, experiences weakness in his joints but goes to the gym regularly and has recently started running with his father: “He’s been going out on runs with me for the last month, for three or four miles at a time. He’s actually surprisingly sprightly,” said Mr Sutton. www.virginmoneygiving.com/stephensuttonrun

IN THE LONG RUN Stephen Sutton supports Quest and Scope

Community News

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Are two wheels better than four?

Arriva drivers test cycle skills EIGHT drivers of Arriva buses will be cycling in the British Heart Foundation’s London to Brighton race on June 18 to raise money for the charity.

Last year, Kyle Galloway started a social Sunday bike ride for his fellow drivers, and it has been so successful that they decided to put themselves to the test.

Mr Galloway and his colleagues are keen to make a positive contribution to charity in order to help dispel the tension surrounding recent changes to Arriva’s bus routes.

“There has been a lot of animosity around here

TICKET TO RIDE (l-r) Kyle Galloway, Robert Coleman, Daniel Grady, Marek Gottfried, Tommy James and George Greagsby. Two other riders in the team (not pictured) are Andy Bryant and Alex Butler after the loss of vital routes, which has ostracised members of the local community,” he said. “I just want people to know that it’s not our fault.” www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Buses2bikes

Nourish wants £3 a month as number of people who need feeding rises by a third

By Andrew Tong NOURISH Community Foodbank is calling on residents of Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge to help their new Meal-a-Month campaign.

Following a huge rise in applicants, the charity is seeking pledges of £3 per month – enough to provide a meal for one person in need.

In 2015-16, Nourish provided over 28,000 meals to 3,141 people in emergency situations, an increase of 34 per cent on the previous year.

In that period, it received 31.5 tonnes of food donations.

Nourish Co-Chair Paul Haines said: “The vast majority of those who receive a three-day emergency supply of food from Nourish are working people experiencing a temporary financial hardship as a result of issues such as benefit changes, domestic violence or sickness. A donation of just £3 a month is the equivalent of one meal for a person in need. That’s about the price of a takeaway coffee.

“We are continuing to see a rise in demand for our services, and this small monthly donation will enable us to carry on providing

food to people in crisis, by contributing towards food supplies and running costs, such as storage, food collections and deliveries.This £3 a month helps ensure we can keep going to provide what has become an essential service in the area.”

Each food bag contains enough food for nine meals and, for around two-thirds of people that Nourish supports, a single bag is all that is needed to help them over a hard time. As a registered charity, it has a stated aim of not encouraging dependency, and provides a maximum of 12 food bags per annum to a single household, with those who require additional support signposted to partner agencies.

The campaigning group End Child Poverty has found that the overall percentage of children living in poverty in Tunbridge Wells stood at 17.54 per cent in 2015, and in certain areas of the town it rose to 31 per cent.

Nourish has found that £3 is the cost if all food had to be purchased to provide each meal, with any food donations helping to reduce this average spending. Donations of £10 or £27 per month would provide even more food help.

To donate, visit www. nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk

Fair ways as Poult Wood begins Dementia Friendly Golf Mornings POULT WOOD Golf Club, near Tonbridge, is offering a regular Dementia Friendly Golf Morning on the second Tuesday of each month following a highly successful pilot programme.

Starting at 11am, these open sessions include a round on the nine-hole course, tuition on the driving range and hot drinks after the game.

“The scheme started after one of the club’s members who played regularly was struck down with the condition,” explained the club’s Head Pro, David Copsey.

“His wife got in contact with us and put us in touch with the charity Dementia Friendly Tonbridge, and it went from there.”

He added: “From speaking to people on the dementia side, golf is an ideal sport because it

gets people outside and walking about, but also gets them thinking.

“Our nine-hole golf course is ideal for this, too.

It only takes about an hour or 75 minutes, and there’s just one par four, the rest are par threes.

“Our short course is exceptionally good, much better than anything else in the area.

“It’s set in mature woodland with stunning surroundings, and it’s in very good condition.”

The morning costs £6 per person, with carers attending free of charge, and a Golf Buddy system is on offer.

To sign up or find out more, please contact Poult Wood’s Head Golf Pro, David Copsey, on 01732 364039. www.tmactive.co.uk/locations/poult-wood

NEWS

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14

BUSINESS

Times Awards

A big thank you to all our awards sponsors Hush Heath

OFFICIAL WINE PARTNER Hush Heath’s 400-acre estate is situated in the Garden of England – Kent. With vineyards, apple orchards, ancient oak woodlands and a state-ofthe-art winery, its visitors are able to taste and purchase the award-winning English wines and Kentish ciders. Hush Heath Estate is open to visitors seven days a week from 11am-5pm, including Bank Holidays. www.hushheath.com

Fuller’s Butchers and Farm Shop PROUD SPONSORS OF:

BEST INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR Fuller’s Butchers and Farm Shop is an awardwinning family business in Tunbridge Wells with over 40 years’ experience. Their shops have a full range of locally-sourced meats from Sussex beef and local lamb to free-range pork, all served by expert butchers who will give you all the advice you need. www.fullers-tw.co.uk

RSM

PROUD SPONSORS OF: BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

RSM is a leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services. As an integrated team, they share skills, insights and resources, as well as a client-centric, collaborative approach that’s based on a deep understanding of their clients’ businesses. www.rsmuk.com

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Bridal boutique throws bouquet into the awards ring three times The ten categories at this year’s Times Business Awards, to be held on May 18, were selected to ensure every type of enterprise across West Kent was given the opportunity to enter according to their strengths. But applicants can choose more than one category if they feel they have what it takes to win. Bridal wear designer Martine Watson has done just that with her store Miss Kay Seamstress, entering Best Small Business, New Business of the Year and Service Excellence ESTABLISHED in April 2015, Miss Kay Seamstress has already gained itself a reputation for quality bridal wear, thanks in part to three decades of experience brought to the table by founder Martine Watson.

Situated on Mount Ephraim, the dressmaking enterprise has seen considerable growth in its clientele, fitting just under 600 brides last year, while order books for 2017 suggest this will easily be exceeded.

In an industry where the product on sale can make or break the biggest day of people’s lives, Ms Watson is clear that it is her customers who are her biggest priority.

“It has always struck me how important it is that the brides’ experience is a positive one,” she said.

“Their gowns are at the centre of their aspirations. I’ve always enjoyed meeting the brides, putting them at ease, and passing on hints and tips for the big day. To welcome them to my own space at Miss Kay means I can give them the experience

that is so important to them, not only to fit or create their dream gown, but also to make them feel very special.”

Her positive approach to customers is paying off commercially, too, with turnover predicted to climb from £150,000 last year to £220,000 in 2017.

‘Our name is mentioned all over the South East in high-end bridal boutiques’ It could end up even better than this, as turnover for the first quarter of the year is already double that of the same period in 2016.

Ms Watson is also keen to acknowledge the efforts of her seven staff, and believes winning an award will be an accolade for the entire industry.

“I would like in some way to promote my industry,” she said. “Much is made of gorgeous gowns and unforgettable events, but without the expert eye and skills of outstanding seamstresses these garments would not provide their wearers with the confidence to wear them well.”

By consistently taking a genuine interest in clients, being passionate and always delivering, Ms Watson is confident her team have the winning formula to secure an honour at the upcoming awards.

“The vast majority of our customers come from the recommendation of others, either from our partners within Tunbridge Wells or our many very satisfied brides who pass our details on to their friends and family.

“Our name is mentioned all over the South East in high-end bridal boutiques as the go to destination, and we have customers from as far and wide as Canada and Hong Kong entrusting us with their special garments.”

The closing date is April 13.

To enter, visit our awards website and follow the instructions that could put you on to a winning path: www.timesbusinessawards.co.uk

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NEWS

Local News

NEWS IN BRIEF

Police warn of online scam to steal mobiles POLICE are warning residents in the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells areas to be wary of using local online auction sites to sell mobile phones and other electrical goods following a spate of reported frauds.

Kent Police has received a number of reports where people have sold items such as phones and tablets over local auction websites but have not been paid. Facebay is one example of this kind of auction site.

Sellers are instructed they will receive payment through a bank transfer. The items are delivered by the victims, who then discover no payments have actually been made.

Water complaints fall THE Consumer Council for Water [CCWater] has welcomed the latest reduction in written complaints made by customers to Southern Water after the company was challenged to improve its performance.

Figures reported to CCWater by Southern Water reveal a 53 per cent reduction in the number of written complaints the company received between October and December 2016, compared to the same period in 2015.

A five-star service THE team at Bellway’s Kent division is celebrating after being awarded five-star status by the Home Builders Federation.

Based in Kings Hill, the developer received the award after feedback from customers in the weeks after they moved into new builds.

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

‘Bedsit murder’ victim’s parents still hope the killer will be found

By Andrew Tong newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk THE parents of murder victim Wendy Knell have issued a new plea for information about the killing of their daughter in Tunbridge Wells almost 30 years ago.

Wendy Knell was found dead in her bedsit in Guildford Road on June 23, 1987. The 25-year-old had been sexually assaulted and beaten to death.

Her mother, Pam Knell, said last week that she still kisses a photo of Wendy every time she leaves her Tonbridge home.

Wendy’s father, Bill Knell, is seriously ill with cancer, and the couple are still hoping that someone will come forward with information that might lead to the arrest of the killer.

Mr Knell, now 82, said: “They say time is a healer but it’s not. It is always in the back of your mind.

“The hospital has said they can’t do any more for me. I would really like him caught before the end comes. I want to know, why did he have to kill her?”

Mrs Knell, 80, had been celebrating her birthday in the months before her daughter was killed. She added: “They all said that life begins at 50. This happened and my life finished.”

Kent Police confirmed: “Detectives remain committed to identifying her killer and bringing them to justice.”

The murder investigation at the time found there were no clear signs of a forced entry, and no one in the vicinity heard anything unusual.

A distinctive keyring and Wendy’s diary were

taxi dropped her off at her home in Grosvenor Park after a night out with friends.

She was attacked outside her home and several neighbours reported hearing screams. She was not seen alive again, and her naked body was dumped in a ditch 40 miles away.

The two notorious crimes became known as the ‘bedsit murders’. They remain formally linked

by Kent Police and under review by Cold Case detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

A full DNA profile of the prime suspect was produced in 2007, and since then more than 500 people from found to be missing. The as far afield as Australia have been keyring, a souvenir from Austria, swabbed, checked and eliminated from VICTIM consisted of a small brass cow bell the investigation.

Wendy Knell and a brass plate with the words Detective Chief Inspector Rob Vinson ‘Woman Of The Year’ engraved on it. said: “I don’t think any of us can imagine the A second young woman from Tunbridge Wells sheer horror these families have been through was found murdered five months later, and that over all these years. crime bore a close resemblance to Wendy’s death.

“I know this was 30 years ago, but someone may have had their suspicions at the time, or even just recently formed.”

‘I don’t think any of us can He added: “That may have been the obvious imagine the sheer horror these blood on hands or clothing, or it could be the disfamilies have been through’ posing of clothing, a change in behaviour, or just acting strangely around that time.”

Twenty-year-old Caroline Pierce was found naked and strangled in a ditch near the village of If you have any information to pass on to the St Mary in the Marsh in Romney Marsh. She had police, please call 01622 604100 or email also been sexually assaulted and beaten. west.division.media.appeals@Kent.pnn.police.uk, She was last seen alive in Tunbridge Wells at quoting reference SC/000068/07. You can also call around midnight on November 24, 1987, when a Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 GRIEVING PARENTS Pam and Bill Knell

Additional funding for cancer treatment RADIOTHEPARY care at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) is set to take a ‘big step forward’ after it was given £1.8million to modernise its cancer services.

This follows the announcement by NHS England in December 2016 that they would be making £130 million available to NHS Trusts across the country, over three years, to improve cancer services.

At the Trust’s Kent Oncology Centre, in Maidstone, the money has funded the replacement of one linear accelerator (LINAC) and the planning for the pre-installation works for the new equipment is advancing well.

Jim Lusby, Deputy Chief Executive at MTW, said:

“We are delighted by this funding announcement from NHS England which is a massive boost to our Kent Oncology Centre.”

David Fitzgerald, General Manager for Cancer and Haematology, added: “This funding is a big step forward for Kent Oncology and will allow us to continue to deliver the most advanced radiotherapy treatments to the population of Kent, Medway and East Sussex.”

The new LINAC will allow radiotherapy staff to target tumours which can vary in position during treatment, and will help to deliver treatment quickly and accurately while avoiding healthy tissues and organs.

National News

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Spanish navy ordered out of Gibraltar waters GIBRALTAR criticised Madrid for breaching United Nations rules after a Spanish naval vessel was ordered out of British territorial waters.

The incident off the Rock comes at a time of heightened tension between London and Madrid over the territory due to Brexit.

The patrol boat Infanta Cristina was told to move by the Royal Navy unit stationed in the British overseas territory.

A spokesman for the government of Gibraltar said: “Today’s illegal incursion by a Spanish naval vessel is a timely demonstration of the way in which Spain routinely conducts itself in breach of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is almost as if Lord Howard has unnerved someone senior in the Spanish navy.”

The naval incursion comes after Spain’s Foreign Minister, Alfonso Dastis, criticised ‘the tone of comments coming out of Britain’ after former Conservative leader Lord Howard suggested that Prime Minister

Theresa May might be ready to go to war to keep Gibraltar British, as Margaret Thatcher had done to protect the sovereignty of the Falklands.

Tensions increased after an EU document suggested that Spain would be given a veto on postBrexit agreements about the overseas territory.

The EU Brexit negotiating guidelines released by the European Council’s President, Donald Tusk, last week made no reference to Spain’s claim of sovereignty over Gibraltar.

But the decision to give Madrid a key role in deciding if a trade deal will apply to the Rock caused deep unease in Whitehall.

Meanwhile the British Ambassador to Ireland has said there are ‘specific challenges’ in allowing goods to move freely across the Irish border after Brexit.

Robin Barnett said: “We firmly believe the basis for an effective way forward is a bold and ambitious free trade agreement between the UK and the EU.”

MONKEY BUSINESS Lord Howard may have ‘unnerved’ the Spanish naval command

£24 if you drive into London ALL CHANGE Sadiq Khan described the air in London as ‘lethal’ POLLUTING cars will be forced to pay up to £24 a day to drive in central London from 2019 under plans unveiled by the capital’s Mayor Sadiq Khan.

All but the newest diesel cars will face a £12.50 charge to drive in the planned ultra low emissions zone (Ulez), which would cover the same central area as the current congestion charge zone.

Under the plans, diesel cars that are more than

four years old in 2019 and petrol cars that are more than 13 years old will face the charge 24 hours a day, year-round, in a bid to cut air pollution.

Adding in the congestion charge during weekday hours, the total fee for the most polluting cars to drive through the heart of London would be £24.

The Mayor said: “The air in London is lethal and I will not stand by and do nothing.”

Buses, coaches and HGVs that do not meet the emissions standards will have to pay £100. Ulez will apply to all types of vehicle except black taxis.

Mr Khan is consulting on plans to extend Ulez across greater London for heavy diesel vehicles like lorries from 2020, and as far as the North and South Circular roads for cars and vans from 2021.

The introduction of the Ulez charge for central London is expected to cut emissions of dangerous nitrogen oxides from traffic pollution by almost half by 2020, the mayor’s office said.

NEWS

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Night Tube strike called off as staff are reassured

Police pay £45k bill after giving mobile to burglar

A PLANNED strike by drivers on London’s Night Tube on Saturday has been called off after a ‘clarification’ over jobs.

Union members on the service, which started last August, were due to walk out in protest at being ‘blocked’ from applying for full-time jobs as well as not qualifying for overtime pay.

Talks have ended between the two sides in the long-running Southern Rail dispute over staffing and driver-only trains. The Rail Maritime and Transport union and Southern said they will now ‘consider their positions’.

NORTH WALES Police paid off a burglar’s phone bill of £44,500 accrued while he was on bail after he was handed a mobile by the force.

The phone had been given to the offender from Llangefni, Anglesey as part of a project to reintegrate criminals into the community.

When the error emerged in 2014, it was found he had been given a contract SIM rather than a pay-as-you-go.

An inquiry showed three people may have had access to the phone. Two arrests were made but no charges were brought.

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BUSINESS

National Business News

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Bank warns of resilience loss from borrowing surge GOOD TIMES The German duo look set to do well out of Brexit-induced inflation

Aldi and Lidl set to gain from inflation BRITISH consumers are facing rising prices for household staples as higher inflation continues to push up the cost of a supermarket shopping trip, further boosting discounters Aldi and Lidl.

Research from Kantar shows that grocery inflation is up 2.3 per cent versus the same time last year, with products such as butter, fish, tea and skincare all seeing price hikes.

Rising prices cost the average household an additional £21.31 at the tills in the past 12 weeks, the group said.

Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: “We expect inflation to continue to accelerate, and as a result we’re likely to see consumers looking for cheaper alternatives.”

He added that sales of supermarkets’ own label products and discounters such as Aldi and Lidl stand to benefit.

The German duo both hit record high market shares over the past 12 weeks and now have a collective 11.7 per cent share of the market.

Aldi’s market share rose from 6 per cent to 6.8 per cent in the 12 weeks to March 26, and Lidl saw its share grow from 4.4 per cent to 4.9 per cent, according to Kantar.

Nielsen figures showed that Tesco held the top spot among UK grocers, clocking only a marginal 0.5 per cent drop to capture 27.1 per cent of the market.

Sainsbury’s saw its own market share fall to 15.4 per cent, while Asda dropped to 14.1 per cent and Morrisons held on to 10 per cent.

THE RAPID rise in consumer debt fuelled by interest-free credit cards could pose a risk to the UK financial system, the Bank of England has warned.

The Financial Policy Committee (FPC) said a recent surge in consumer borrowing may leave banks exposed if their lending rules are too loose and people cannot make their repayments.

3.3million people have fallen into a persistent credit card debt spiral Consumer credit notched up its fastest expansion for 11 years in November, recording an annual growth rate of 10.9% before easing back in recent months.

The 13-strong committee said: “If recent strong growth had been driven by weaker underwriting

standards, this could reduce the resilience of lenders to shocks.”

The FPC judged that underwriting standards should be monitored closely.

It said last year’s jump in consumer borrowing was driven by credit cards and personal loans, but an acceleration in car finance was also having an impact.

The comments came after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced a raft of measures to help people in arrears, including waiving or cancelling interest and charges if customers cannot afford to curb their liabilities through a repayment plan.

A study by the FCA found that 3.3million people have fallen into a persistent credit card debt spiral, where they are forking out more on interest and charges over 18 months than they have spent on paying back their borrowing.

SPIRALLING Millions are stuck in a cycle of debt

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Diamond smashes auction sale record A 59.6 carat diamond known as the Pink Star has sold for $71.2 million (£57 million) at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong, setting a new world record for any diamond or jewel.

The oval mixed-cut diamond smashed the $60 million pre-sale estimate set by the auction house when it went on the block last night [April 4]. Sotheby’s says the gem is the largest flawless fancy vivid pink diamond ever graded by the Gemological Institute of America.

A Chinese Buffet A DRAWING of billionaire investor Warren Buffett is to feature on Coca-Cola cans in China.

The Atlanta-based drinks company, of which Mr Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is the largest single shareholder, said cans of Cherry Coke will feature the tycoon’s face in the Asian powerhouse.

Mr Buffett is a known fan of the drink and Coke said the special edition cans with his image will remain on shelves for a limited time.

Tech firm’s new power JAPANESE giant Toshiba is to take over the company planning to build a new nuclear power station in the UK. It will buy French utility company Engie’s 40 per cent stake in NuGen, which is behind plans for the new power plant at Moorside, near Sellafield in Cumbria.

Toshiba already owns 60 per cent of NuGen, which confirmed that Engie is intending to withdraw from the project.

World News

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

SPORT IN BRIEF

Yorkshire pudding on menu for Augusta gala DANNY WILLETT remained true to his Yorkshire roots as last year’s Masters winner revealed his choice of menu for the Champions Dinner at Augusta.

The 29-year-old from Sheffield selecting mini cottage pies to start, traditional Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding for the main course and apple crumble and custard for dessert, followed by Yorkshire Tea served with English cheese and biscuits.

Club stands by Moyes SUNDERLAND have given manager David Moyes their full support after he said he might slap BBC reporter Vicki Sparks.

Amid the furore about violence towards women, the club stated: “The exchange between the manager and a BBC reporter was wholly unacceptable and such actions are not condoned or excused in any way.”

But it added: “With both the BBC and the reporter agreeing that appropriate action had been taken at the time, the club continues to fully support David in his role as manager of Sunderland AFC.”

Dozens dead in alleged chemical strike in Syria MORE than 50 people have been killed in a suspected chemical attack in a town in Syria’s northern Idlib province, opposition activists have claimed.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group put the death toll at 58, saying there were 11 children among the dead.

It was the third claim of a chemical attack in just over a week in Syria. The previous two were reported in Hama province, in an area not far from Khan Sheikhoun, the site of the latest allegation.

The activists have claimed that the attack was caused by an air strike carried out either by the Syrian government or Russian warplanes.

A Turkey-based Syrian woman whose niece, husband and one-year-old daughter were among those killed said the warplanes struck early, as residents were still in their beds.

The province of Idlib is almost entirely controlled by the Syrian opposition. It is home to 900,000 displaced Syrians, according to the United Nations.

Rebels and opposition officials have expressed concerns that the government is planning to

Ford’s adieu to Toulon TOULON have announced the departure of Mike Ford as head coach by mutual agreement, with Richard Cockerill taking charge of the first team.

Cockerill will be assisted by Marc Dal Maso, and Matt Giteau will coach the backs while continuing in his playing role.

HELP ON THE WAY A victim of the alleged gas attack is taken for treatment

mount a concerted attack on the rebel province.

The reports came on the eve of a major international meeting in Brussels on the future of Syria and the region hosted by the EU’s High Representative, Federica Mogherini.

Claims of chemical weapons attacks, particularly the use of the chlorine agent, are frequent.

The UN said the use of toxic sarin gas on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta killed hundreds of civilians in August 2013.

NEWS

19

MEMORIAL Flowers at Tekhnologichesky Institute station

‘Massacre’

Subway attacked by suicide bomber from Kyrgyzstan

The Syrian Coalition, an opposition group based outside the country, said government aircraft carried out the latest air strike, which it described as a ‘horrifying massacre’.

Photos and video emerging from Khan Sheikhoun showed limp bodies of children and adults.

Some are seen struggling to breathe while others appeared to be foaming at the mouth.

A doctor said his hospital in Idlib province received three victims, all with narrow, pinpoint pupils that did not respond to light.

Pinpoint pupils, breathing difficulties and foaming at the mouth are symptoms commonly associated with toxic gas exposure.

An investigation by the UN and an international chemical weapons watchdog determined Syria’s government was behind at least three attacks in 2014 and 2015 involving chlorine gas. Islamic State was responsible for one involving mustard gas.

Human Rights Watch has also accused the government of conducting at least eight chemical attacks in Aleppo last year.

A 22-YEAR-OLD suicide bomber born in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan was behind a blast on the St Petersburg subway that killed 14 people on Monday, Russian investigators have said.

City hall officials said there were several foreign nationals among those killed and the 49 victims who remain in hospital.

The ornate Soviet-built Sennaya Square station in President Putin’s hometown, which he was visiting, is covered with red and white carnations.

Russian investigators have said the bomb was set off by the Kyrgyz-born Russian citizen Akbarzhon Dzhalilov.

The Investigative Committee said that forensic experts also found the man’s DNA on the bag with a bomb that was found and deactivated at another subway station in St Petersburg on Monday.

Migrants from Central Asian republics are a common sight in St Petersburg as they flee poverty and unemployment. While most hold temporary work permits or work illegally, thousands of them have received Russian citizenship.

20

NEWS

Letters

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

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 at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Turning down go-karts ‘beyond belief’

Those in charge of running the council are trying their hardest… but for me they have to try harder I was shocked to read your recent articles [March 15/22] about Markerstudy’s unsuccessful planning applications and why they appeared to have been denied.

I can’t help but feel it’s one rule for one and another rule for everyone else.

The owner, Kevin Spencer, whether you like him or not, has poured money into our town and I, for one, am delighted that he chose Tunbridge Wells above other places. His efforts should be celebrated not constantly lambasted.

I am actually a keen karter myself, and travel to Buckmore Park on a bi-weekly basis to compete with racers from all over Kent (and further). It’s a real draw for the area. I cannot see why Mr Spencer’s project would have been any different. I might have been a regular.

The main reason for my shock, however, is the bizarre way some projects get the green light and others don’t.

Whilst I am no planning expert, I cannot for the life of me see why a karting track in or around the North Farm industrial estate would have brought anything but jobs and increased trade to the area.

If you then take a look at some of the other projects that have gained a green light, it causes me major concern.

Projects in The Pantiles, for example.

The proposed Union Square site is to be commended. It’s an eyesore and desperately needs to change, but no provision for parking has been made for the duration of its construction, and in my opinion there is not enough parking allowed for its completion.

If you then take into account that Linden Road car park is also to be developed, all of a sudden we have no TWBC [Tunbridge Wells Borough Council] parking on the

south side of the town whatsoever.

The third nail in the coffin is the council’s proposal to reduce the hours in which people can use the free on-road parking.

Now, I must accept that TWBC have taken note of the local businesses concerns about this, and discussions are taking place.

Local businesses are due this month to see an enormous increase in their business rates – something you have written about before. We are all taking the hit, and I am sure will adapt, but what smarts is the way in which TWBC will itself be funded in the future. It’s almost entirely made up of our business rates, so why on earth do they appear to be trying to stifle local business?

It makes no sense.

And to rub salt into the wound, their own Parking Strategy document lists four objectives on page five.

Objective one reads: “To ensure that the quality and type of parking provision and kerbside space is managed to help meet current and future demands of residents, businesses and visitors.”

And don’t get me started on the proposals for Calverley Grounds. I agree that a new theatre is a great idea, but I point blank refuse to believe that we need our council offices in a prime town centre location. That’s what the Gateway is for, and it’s brilliant.

If it were me, I’d ship them all out to North Farm, where it costs significantly less to develop and has plenty of room for offices and parking. Plus this would free up the very large number of parking spaces that TWBC staff take up in our Crescent Road car park.

I am not part of TWBC, I do not know the finer workings, and I totally appreciate that it’s a hard job and those in charge are trying their hardest.

But for me they have to try harder.

Matthew Sankey Tunbridge Wells

TWBC turned down Markerstudy’s plans for a go-karting venue in Chapman Way because it would have created the ‘wrong type of jobs’. The rejection can only be sustained if TWBC is prepared to specify just what the ‘right kind of jobs’ are.

Further, the proposal was turned down because the company declined to cough-up £52,000 for ‘the review and implementation of future phases of the Masterplan for highways and improvements for the North Farm area’.

The internet reveals, for this ‘Masterplan’, only those projects that are either complete or are well developed, and I would not pay into some nebulous, but grand-sounding idea speculated sometime in the future – sounds like a bit of blackmail to me.

I see nothing planned for North Farm Road, which services Chapman Way, where the proposed business is planned.

For TWBC to let a building stand empty while an opportunity to bring employment and revenue into the area goes begging is beyond belief.

The wrong kind of jobs indeed, what nonsense.

Edward Baker Via email

The casual racism you encounter here Really, I don’t think people should be shocked to discover [March 29] that a radicalised Muslim comes from Tunbridge Wells.

Reading about Khalid Masood’s time growing up as one of only two black kids in his school, and then going to live in Northiam, when he complained about racist attitudes, makes me think of all the casual racism you encounter every day in this part of the world, especially in village pubs and the like.

It is almost a bigger shock when you come across someone who has a more enlightened view of the world. Mostly, though, you don’t know they are there because they are not stupid enough to open their mouths and get into arguments with bigots.

This is not to condone anything about the Westminster terrorist in any way, but just to understand how levels of frustration can grow. But there is obviously a quantum leap from scrapping in a pub car park to the atrocity he committed last month.

Peter Masters Via email

Council did right thing over the Commons Well done to the council for its attempt to purchase the Commons [March 29]. It is nice to know members of the council are in listening mood over what the people of Tunbridge Wells want.

For too long, the Manor of Rusthall – aka Targetfollow – have abused their position by trying to eke out every penny from residents bordering the land, and their bullying tactics and threatening letters have led to their already tarnished reputation going down like a lead balloon.

It is a shame, therefore, that the offer was rejected.

I do not think, however ‘reasonable’ it was, that Targetfollw would have accepted it anyway.

It is an enterprise driven solely by greed, and they obviously think some individual or company will be prepared to pay a premium for a bit of land that really has little commercial value beyond some revenue from a car park.

As I said, I am grateful the council at least made an offer, but I am not surprised it was ultimately a futile gesture.

Jacob Shaw Via email

How about a full-blown festival?

Spring is well and truly here – the sun is out and there’s a noticeable difference in people’s moods.

Good weather is fundamental to bringing the community together – it gives people a chance to gather outside in nature and enjoy one another’s company. There is something magical about a large crowd of people gathering and sharing an experience. This is why I think this area needs a music festival – a proper whole weekender; none of this one-day nonsense. We have the capacity for it with the sprawling, spacious fields around.

I know there was one in Eridge Park a while ago that attracted some big names, but that has ceased to be for some reason. A well-regarded, wellorganised festival would really put us on the map!

Daniel Evans Via email

High cost of A21 ‘quite alarming’ I have to say that I wasn’t surprised when I read your article [March 29] on how the new A21 project has run over budget, but to find out that it’s approximately 70 per cent higher than it should be is quite alarming – not to mention a colossal leap.

Why is it always the case with projects like this that they go over their allocated sum of money?

I understand that they hit problems when they unearthed some asbestos, but would this really make the final bill soar as high as it has? I’m sure if the councillors and construction companies were reaching into their own pockets then the final bill wouldn’t have been anywhere near this huge sum.

Finally, to find out that the project won’t even be finished on time is even more galling. As someone who drives through the industrial estate in Tunbridge Wells on a daily basis, it’s been traffic chaos for months and months, so to learn that it’s likely to continue for even longer and we, the general public, will probably eventually end up having to subsidise the extra spend, makes my blood boil, quite frankly!

Kate Darcy Via email Calverley is away this week touring vineyards

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 April 5 | 2017

EDUCATION Times

Education

NEWS

21

WITH THE

Give parents more power in schools PTA UK, the UK’s leading Parent Teacher Association membership organisation, based in Tonbridge, polled 1,000 parents to gain their views on the education system. The body’s Policy and Communications Director, Michelle Doyle Wildman, reports on the interesting findings LAST YEAR the government launched its Education Green Paper – ‘Schools that work for everyone’ – to gather views on how its policy can best address the modern-day requirements of an education system that meets the diverse needs of families around the country.

We were keen to put across parent views on education to the government as part of this consultation; so we polled over 1,000 parents.

Our findings were striking:  More than 85% of respondents wanted more of a say in their child’s education, but only 42% believed the Government listens to them when it comes to their views on their children’s education.  When we asked about specific government proposals, we found 46% of parents agreed with an

ONE SIZE MAY NOT FIT ALL How best to achieve ‘schools that work for everyone’

increase in selective [grammar] schools, while 51% agree that independent schools should sponsor state schools or set up new good schools. Also, 68% said independent schools should provide more bursaries for those who cannot afford to attend, and 59% of parents think universities should sponsor or set up new schools.  On faith schools, 28% believe these offer a better education, but parent opinion was fairly evenly split with 33% saying they’d like the opportunity to send their child to a faith school, 29% saying they were unsure and 35% disagreeing. We found that 47% believed faith schools should be more diverse and inclusive, but 32% of parents think

they should be allowed to have 100% children of that faith at the school.

These findings demonstrate to me two key issues. My first observation is that although all parents want the best educational experience for their children, parents are a diverse lot with varying desires and beliefs.

Secondly, too many parents don’t have a clear enough understanding of how schools operate, and so are therefore not well enough informed or given the opportunity to be involved in the debate.

Given that many of the decisions made by government and schools affect parents in one way or another, I feel it is only right that they should be able to contribute their views and be listened to.

As a society, I feel we need to find a more effective way of engaging parents in education policy and the future range of schools on offer to all families. But if this sounds daunting, it’s worth remembering that we can start closer to home, with schools and parents beginning to work in partnership to ensure their children – and those from all walks of life – are given the best opportunity to reach their full potential.

To find out more information on the results of this poll, as well as ideas on how to get involved at your child’s school, log on to www.pta.co.uk

Pupils join forces A Combined Cadet Force Royal Navy Section was officially launched at Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School by Captain Ellie Ablett, MBE, Royal Navy, Commanding Officer of HMS Raleigh last week [March 27].

The school, known as TWGGS, established a Combined Cadet Force [CCF] Army Section in September 2012 as part of the government’s Cadet Expansion Programme.

It is hoped the new Royal Navy [RN] Cadet section will forge links with the wider Royal Navy, and provide support and assistance to enrich the development of the cadets.

The school’s CCF already has 21 RN cadets in the new section, 148 Army cadets and 14 adult volunteers.

The principal aim of the CCFs is to develop leadership skills among young people with a military content, and in this instance to give them a wider understanding of the naval service.

TWGGS is now the only school in England with an all-female Army Section CCF, and the only school in the UK with an IN THE ARMY NOW all-female Royal TWGGS CCF pupils Navy Section.

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NEWS

Weekly Comment

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Greg Clark

MP for Tunbridge Wells

Greg Clark was elected to Parliament as a representative of Tunbridge Wells in 2005. The Conservative MP has since held a number of positions in Government and currently sits as a member of the Cabinet in his capacity as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The chance to voice your thoughts on our rail service ONE of the things that has a big impact on the quality of many people’s lives locally is the performance of the rail service.

With over six million journeys made last year from Tunbridge Wells, High Brooms and Paddock Wood stations, and considering the cost of a season ticket is more than £4,400 a year from Tunbridge Wells, it’s no surprise that it should be such a big deal.

It’s fair to say that the last few years have been pretty rough. The works at London Bridge caused major disruption to services, on too many days problems have disrupted the network, and all the while many services have become more crowded and more expensive.

That said, compared to ten years ago, we have more frequent services – every 15 minutes between Tunbridge Wells and London for much of the day – thanks to the installation of the turnback facility in 2009 that we campaigned for.

Whether you commute every day, or travel only occasionally, we all want a service that we can rely on, is comfortable and fast, and offers value for money.

For the last 11 years, Southeastern have held the rail franchise in our area. But the Department for Transport have launched a consultation to prepare for the award of a new franchise that will

run from 2018. The consultation is there to make sure the terms of the new franchise agreement reflect the priorities of passengers. So it is the best opportunity for more than a decade to say what sort of service we want, and what improvements need to be made.

I will be responding to the consultation on behalf of my constituents, and in preparing my submission I am keen to hear from everyone who uses the rail service to tell me your priorities for the next operator.

SHOWDOWN Greg Clark chairs an earlier meeting between rail bosses and commuters

‘Some constituents have supported my demands to have Wi-Fi installed’ Obviously, the level of fares will be a prime consideration for most – for many years we suffered from double digit fare increases to pay for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, even though people in our area don’t benefit from the High Speed 1 (Javelin) services.

For others, it is having flexible ticketing – to allow season tickets for part-time workers, that are currently unavailable.

Good communications are also very important.

Inevitably, things sometimes go wrong, but these

Cllr Tracy Moore Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor for Park Ward

situations are made much worse if passengers are kept in the dark about what is happening or given incorrect information.

Some constituents have supported my demands to have Wi-Fi installed to allow people to make better use of the time they are confined in the carriage of a commuter train.

I would encourage everyone to get in touch and let me know your top five priorities for the new

franchise. You can do this by dropping me an email at: greg.clark.mp@parliament.uk I’d be delighted to hear from you, and all responses received will help inform my evidence to the consultation.

I will use one of my Times of Tunbridge Wells columns later in the year to feed back on constituents’ views and what we want to see changed for the future.

In January, the Times carried the first images of the planned £70million civic complex and theatre in Calverley Grounds. Since then, we have published a number of letters from readers expressing criticism of the project. This is a response from a member of the council that we believe deserves to be printed in full. We are always happy to receive such considered pieces, although cannot guarantee publication

New civic complex is logical and practical I would like to respond to three common points made in letters to your paper with respect to the proposed new civic offices and theatre.

That it’s grandiose or a vanity project: The accusations that the project is grandiose implies it is overly complicated or elaborate. In fact, the new civic presence at Calverley Grounds is a logical and practical development linking the north and south of town.

The new theatre design is a deliberate material improvement that will attract modern touring productions requiring facilities not offered by the Assembly Hall. The objective is to enable residents and visitors from outside Tunbridge Wells borough to enjoy West End quality shows for a fraction of the price, making theatre, music and other events more accessible to a wider public.

The office element of the project would provide the council [TWBC] with lower maintenance and running costs in an appreciating asset. One floor of the office building would be let to provide rental income to the council, while addressing the lack of quality, modern office development in the town.*

The new Council Chamber design would be both attractive and dignified, with double height ceilings suitable for weddings and events. Heritage England have indicated the new buildings would provide an improved and attractive entrance to Calverley Grounds. A new underground car park would maintain capacity while benefitting the office and theatre at different times of day. Finally, no Grade A trees will be affected and other removed trees would be replanted.

The question of affordability: With a project of this scale, the question of affordability is a reasonable one. While at first it may seem that refurbishing the Town Hall is the cheaper option, broader economic benefits to the town must be considered. Spending up to £12m refurbishing the current Town Hall would leave us with an asset worth a fraction of that.

With the new office, the tenant element of the project would have a payback of 25.5 years, and the office component for the council would cost less than refurbishment. The £2.4m repayment per annum for the entire project assumes no external

funding for the theatre, although possible and being investigated. It is intended that the project would be fully funded at a fixed rate for 50 years from the Public Works Loan Board.

The council has been very transparent, and the project features in our corporate priorities, our five-year plan and on the TWBC website**. In addition, there have been multiple stakeholder workshops and consultations over the process.

The issue of spending priorities: The council has made a commitment that these ambitions will not be funded from a rise in council tax. TWBC currently provides high quality services with the lowest spending power in Kent. TWBC retains only 10p for every pound of council tax paid. Roads and pavements are the responsibility of KCC, which receives 72p for every pound raised.

This project is grounded not in vanity but in aspiration. It is our civic responsibility to ensure the future prosperity of the town and wider borough.

Evidence suggests the new theatre would provide between £15m and £18m of annual economic benefit to Tunbridge Wells, compared to around

£4m per annum for the Assembly Hall Theatre today.

One should not underestimate the benefits to the wider borough. Strengthening the economy of Royal Tunbridge Wells will help keep council tax low and service quality high for both urban and rural wards of the borough. Urban infrastructure underscores a town’s ability to thrive since the cultural offer and economic success are interlinked.

Culture is what makes a town appealing to people and the businesses which employ them.

Improving access to culture for our residents and visitors remains a priority for our council.

In conclusion, I would like to reassure your readers that my fellow councillors and I are not indifferent, elitist or self-regarding. We are from diverse backgrounds and represent a range of political parties. We are elected by the residents to provide both their public services and civic leadership.

It is perfectly understandable that not everyone shares the same aspirations for the town and borough, and currently there is no unanimity among councillors towards this project.

This letter explains my own position and attempts to correct some misinformation among the public.

*(As per our Economic Needs Study by Colliers & Turley, which is some of the evidence base for our emerging Local Plan document) **RIBA stage 2 reports are listed on the TWBC website under Enterprise and Regeneration – Civic Complex Development

WEST KENT’S ULTIMATE PROPERTY GUIDE – FREE EVERY WEDNESDAY A MUST-READ FOR THOSE LOOKING TO BUY, LET OR SELL

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Courting favour A country home to be loved by all

24

PROPERTY

To suit your budget

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Your at-a-glance guide to

TILLINGHAM HOLT HARTFIELD

£825,000

UNDER £250,000 HIGH STREET, RUSTHALL

£215,000

A first floor flat with two bedrooms and a view over Rusthall Common.

The accommodation comprises a double-glazed, bay-fronted lounge, a kitchen, a modern fitted bathroom and two bedrooms. The kitchen includes a range of matching units and has sash windows to the side.

The bathroom includes a wallmounted electric shower and storage cupboard, tiled floor, chrome heated hand rail and extractor fan. The property also benefits from gas-fired central heating, an entryphone system and a private entrance door.

It is being sold with no chain.

CONTACT KMJ Property 01892 515188 www.kmjproperty.co.uk

UNDER £350,000

and large conservatory, while there are three bedrooms and a modern bathroom on the first floor. There is a door in the kitchen giving access to a £305,000 single garage to the side of the This well presented, end-of-terrace property, and there is a good sized family home is located at the end of a garden to the rear. cul-de-sac and is within walking distance of the mainline station and CONTACT shopping amenities. The ground floor Firefly Properties accommodation comprises a hall, 01892 838363 sitting room, kitchen/dining room www.fireflyproperties.co.uk DIMMOCK CLOSE PADDOCK WOOD

To suit your budget

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

PROPERTY

25

great properties by price range…

Under £450,000 MEADOW ROAD, RUSTHALL

£415,000

A four-bedroom semi-detached house close to the village centre. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall, a lounge featuring a box bay window to the front and a wood burner with period surround, a dining room, and a kitchen with French doors to the rear garden. Upstairs, one of the bedrooms has a period fireplace and there is a family bathroom. outside, the front garden is bordered by a picket fence and the rear garden includes tiered decking, a paved patio area and a garden room at the rear with a shed.

CONTACT KMJ Property 01892 515188 www.kmjproperty.co.uk

UNDER £600,000 WEALD VIEW ROAD, TONBRIDGE GUIDE PRICE

£500,000-£525,000 A stunning 1930s-style four-bedroom family home with extensive views in a sought-after residential road. The property includes a 16ft 3in modern fitted kitchen/diner with bifolding doors to the garden and a large en-suite master bedroom. The hall has oak flooring, and there is a bay window in the lounge. The rear garden includes a decked area with covered pagoda, a lawn with flowers and shrubs and an additional decked area with a shed.

CONTACT Robinson-Jackson 01732 757300 www.robinson-jackson.com

UNDER £1MILLION

UNDER £800,000

TILLINGHAM HOLT HARTFIELD

HOLLY LODGE, HEATHFIELD

£725,000

£825,000 Formerly a coach house and stable, the well-arranged accommodation is predominantly on the ground floor, but includes a large en-suite bedroom on the first floor. In addition to the main house, there is also a detached annexe with two further bedrooms and a bathroom and a garage. The property lies down a

private drive and the garden is spacious and laid mostly to lawn with wellstocked borders, mature hedges and views over the countryside.

CONTACT Knight Frank 01892 515035 www.knightfrank.com

A modern detached home offering accommodation of almost 3,000 sq ft.

Constructed in 2005, the property is arranged over three floors. The ground floor includes a dining room, doubleaspect sitting room with twin doors to the garden, large kitchen/breakfast room, study and cloakroom. The first and second floors feature a master suite with dressing room, five further bedrooms and two additional bath/ shower rooms. The sheltered private drive is accessed via twin electric gates.

CONTACT Mansell Mctaggart 01892 662668 www.mansellmctaggart.co.uk

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PROPERTY

St Vincents

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

AT A GLANCE

ST VINCENTS ADDINGTON, WEST MALLING n Drawing room with fireplace n Dining room with fireplace n Double-aspect sitting room with fireplace and rear bow window n Kitchen/breakfast room with double-aspect views n Utility room n Cellar with four storerooms n Galleried first floor landing with roof domes n Two principal bedrooms with fireplaces and adjacent bathrooms n Four further bedrooms n Three further bathrooms n Second floor with minstrels’ gallery n Two more double bedrooms n Outside additional cellar

Sheer Georgian elegance in a Grade II listed country house with cottage

n Separate four-bedroom cottage n Gardens & grounds totalling 20 acres

£2,500,000 Available for sale through Savills Sevenoaks 01732 789700 www.savills.co.uk

42

PROPERTY

Poppy Meadow

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

No more hunting – an executive family home on a popular town development AT A GLANCE POPPY MEADOW PADDOCK WOOD n Part of Hunters Chase development n Detached house n Double reception room n Modern fitted kitchen n Full-width conservatory n Utility room n Cloakroom n Bedroom with luxury en suite n Two further bedrooms n Family bathroom n South-facing garden n Some air conditioning n Garage and parking for 3 cars

OFFERS IN EXCESS OF:

£475,000

Available for sale through KHP Country Homes Paddock Wood 01892 838080 www.khp.me

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PROPERTY

Advertising

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

46

PROPERTY

Stonehouse

Sussex-style country house ripe for improvement

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

AT A GLANCE STONEHOUSE HIGH HURSTWOOD EAST SUSSEX Main house: ■ Reception hall ■ Drawing room ■ Dining room ■ Sitting room ■ Conservatory ■ Kitchen/breakfast room ■ Office ■ Utility room ■ Boot room ■ Larder ■ 2 cloakrooms ■ Master bedroom with dressing room and en-suite bathroom ■ 4 further bedrooms ■ Playroom/optional bedroom 6 ■ 3 bathrooms Attached cottage:

‘ Stonehouse has full consents for significant alterations, including the creation of a superb open-plan kitchen/breakfast/family room’

■ Hall ■ Sitting room ■ Kitchen ■ Bedroom and shower room ■ Workshop/storeroom ■ Boiler room Gardens, outbuildings & equestrian facilities: ■ All-weather tennis court ■ Greenhouse and summerhouse ■ Open barn and tractor store ■ Five-box stable block with tack room ■ Floodlit manège ■ Paddocks ■ Woodland and pond ■ About 21 acres in total

GUIDE PRICE

£2,250,000 Available for sale through Savills Haywards Heath 01444 446 000 www.savills.co.uk

Interior Design

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

BY GABRIELLE FAGAN

palette of neutrals – whether taupe, sand or cream-based – can provide a serene and harmonious backdrop against which to layer the colour and activity in your life.

“I like the way they make me feel as much as they way they look.

TEXTURAL CONTRAST IS ALWAYS ABSOLUTELY KEY TO ADD RICHNESS, DEPTH AND CHARACTER “But whichever family of neutrals I choose to work with on a project, textural contrast is always absolutely key to add richness, depth and character,” she adds.

Personality abounds throughout the home. The glamorous master bathroom – “probably my favourite room” – has a marble bath set on an underlit plinth, with shapes inspired by a lotus flower.

“I also love our study, which is similar to a collector’s room, housing a history of the old auction house as well as books, art and objects,” she confides. “I still believe open-plan is essential to the way we live. I love using glass partitions if I want to create intimate areas and add depth.”

Kelly, now 57, began her career

H

ER distinctive style philosophy has won her a portfolio of A-list clients, including David and Victoria Beckham.

Now designer Kelly Hoppen reveals her decor secrets and the wisdom that's helped make her internationally renowned, in her beautifully illustrated book House of Hoppen.

“Creating a sense of theatre is essential in any living space,” she declares, and the dramatic settings in her home, a converted auction house in central London, amply prove her point.

“I bought the building as a shell with nothing but a floor, an impressively high ceiling and the structural columns,” she says proudly, gesturing at the vast open-plan living area which runs from an entrance hall at one end through to the study at the other, with living and dining areas in between.

The space is decorated in her signature shades of taupe and white. “I’m not frightened of colour, but neutrals are who I am. It’s worked as my signature colour way for 40 years and I’ll continue the Hoppen style,” she insists.

“I passionately believe a

READERS FOR SPECIAL PRICE OF £40, INCLUDING P&P www.QuartoKnows.com Enter code HOP20 (offer valid until June 30)

STYLE QUEEN Kelly Hoppen

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extraordinarily young. She was only 13 when she realised she wanted to be an interior designer, taking on her first project three years later.

“By the time I was 17, I’d bought and done up my own apartment in London’s Chelsea, as well as setting up an office there,” she recalls.

“Back then, everything came from a real intrigue and experience, rather than just opening a book and copying from it, which is what I feel people do today. My own style evolved in an organic way – it was intuitive.”

She has a cautious approach to trends, which she believes should be used as a guide rather than a rule, as if they are too slavishly followed they can easily date an interior.

“What’s important is creating timeless and understated elegance in your home, and to plan before you start designing the space.

“Times have changed and people want sustainable and modern luxury, while holding on to pieces that will last the test of time,” she says.

“The recession has had a big impact on the way people are living their lives, and their core values.

‘It’s that juxtaposition between the old and new that will play an important role in the future.” www.kellyhoppen.com

House of Hoppen by Kelly Hoppen, photography by Vincent Knapp and Mel Yates, is published by Jacqui Small, priced £50.

AVAILABLE TO

PROPERTY

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FEATURES

Food & Drink

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Prepare for a good roasting UK Coffee Week runs from April 10-16, so to celebrate Eileen Leahy talks to two of the area’s biggest coffee lovers and entrepreneurs about why the wide-awake drink is such hot stuff I not only loved drinking it, but I began to explore the stories and science behind the whole process.

“I had always wanted to create my own coffee business, and in 2013 I opened our little shop on Grove Hill Road in Tunbridge Wells. The business really took off, and it soon became apparent that it was turning from retail to wholesale. I eventually decided that the best way forward was to focus on our wholesale side of the business, and now we are about to embark on UK distribution.”

‘Coffee is the elixir of life. It is the fuel that starts the day, the buzz when meeting up with friends’ Joe is quick to dismiss those who think that just because coffee is so trendy in the UK they can get away with serving something inferior, or that doesn’t come up to scratch.

“The fact is that there are a lot of pretentious coffee brands out there charging ridiculous prices as well as cheap, and quite frankly ghastly, coffee that would strip your nostril hairs at 50 yards!

“I wanted to create great coffee that was accessible for everyone to enjoy and that’s our simple ethos at Perk & Pearl.”

He’s also full of praise for marketing initiatives such as the forthcoming UK Coffee Week.

“A whole week devoted to coffee has got to be a

thing to celebrate,” he says. “It is amazing how far we’ve come in the coffee world, but my goodness we’ve got a long way to go. To many, a cup of instant coffee is still their go-to hot drink and we need to engage people in exploring new and better ways of drinking coffee.”

Chris Stemman, the Executive Director of the British Coffee Association, agrees. In a recent statement to celebrate UK Coffee Week he commented: “In recent years we have moved from a nation of tea drinkers to a nation of coffee lovers and aficionados. Coffee culture has exploded across the UK and consumers have a breadth of choices for the coffee they enjoy drinking, both at home and on the high street.

“We in the UK love our coffee, we’re even catching up with the size of the market in Italy, so UK Coffee Week is the perfect way to celebrate it.”

Perk & Pearl will be marking the event by selling some specially imported Brazilian coffee, some of which Joe says he’ll also be giving away to a few lucky Twitter followers between April 10 and 16.

“Coffee is the elixir of life. It is the fuel that starts the day, the buzz when meeting up with friends and the motivator that is needed to drive you on!”

Henry Wilson, also from Tunbridge Wells, turned his passion for coffee into a successful business when he was travelling around Latin America. He now runs Perfect Daily Grind, the world’s leading bilingual coffee publication.

Spilling the beans on some tasty coffee facts n It takes 42 coffee beans to make an espresso n Coffee is actually a fruit. Coffee beans as we

know them are the seeds of a cherry-like berry grown on bushes n There are two main commercial types of

coffee bean, Robusta and Arabica. Robusta is associated with a more bitter taste, a higher caffeine content, and grows at lower altitudes than Arabica n 80 per cent of UK households buy instant

coffee for in-home consumption, particularly those aged 65 and older n Ground coffee and single-serve coffee

pods are becoming increasingly popular, particularly amongst millennials (ages 1634) who account for 16 per cent of all buyers n On the high street, café culture has also

continued to boom – 80 per cent of people who visit coffee shops do so at least once a week, whilst 16 per cent of us visit on a daily basis

Statistics: British Coffee Association

I

N A SATURATED market of coffee chains, both good and bad, the encouraging news is that in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and the surrounding areas there are a great variety of independents whose mission is to serve you the best possible cup of coffee – whether that’s a strong espresso, creamy latte or aromatic Americano.

Up until last year the Perk & Pearl shop was one such establishment but, given the popularity of its selection of premium coffees, owner Joe Lloyd chose to launch and solely concentrate on an online business of the same name.

“I decided to create my own coffee company because I blooming well love the stuff!” says Joe when we discuss why the beverage appears to have superseded the traditional cup of tea for many Brits.

“I guess my obsession started when I worked for the Whittard of Chelsea tea and coffee emporium.

Food & Drink

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

“I first started to learn more about coffee when I visited coffee farms in Latin America, and when I trained as a barista in Ecuador. I realised how much of an impact different coffee regions, farming, brewing and storage methods, as well as processing and roasting, have on a coffee’s taste.

You can have two coffees, both exceptional, and yet they will taste extremely different.”

But Henry’s passion to start his own coffeeinspired business wasn’t just about the taste, provenance or production methods: “I saw first-hand the power imbalance in the coffee supply chain. It’s now my company’s mission to help change that.

“We publish articles by coffee producers in both English and Spanish. We produce articles on trade systems and business for coffee producers, such as how vertical integration can increase the share of profits. We host festivals in coffee-producing countries, inviting industry leaders from around the world to present on the latest trends.”

He also believes that a focal event such as UK Coffee Week is important for a number of reasons.

“Anything that draws attention to the issue of sustainability in coffee is a good thing. And an initiative like this, which unites the country’s coffee shops, attracts the attention of consumers and gains press coverage, will raise a great deal of awareness.”

Perfect Daily Grind also has an inspiring mentorship initiative. This includes supporting low-income female coffee producers from isolated areas for up to a week and connecting them to industry experts.

“These experts provide feedback and resources for improving their coffee quality, including analysing their samples and suggesting better connections to buyers who are interested in purchasing high-quality coffee.”

This, says Henry, can ‘significantly improve the price per pound these farmers receive for their coffee’, and the other bonus is they are able to

FEATURES

53

Top tips on how to make the best cup of coffee Joe Lloyd of Perk & Pearl – “I think the best piece of advice is about storage. Coffee loses its flavour really quickly because as soon as it mixes with oxygen the lovely oils dissipate. So keep it air tight in a kitchen cupboard and not in the fridge! Also, don’t keep it for more than ten days to a couple of weeks. So please buy little and often, preferably close to the point of roasting, which will give you the freshest flavour.” pass that information on to the other members of their community.

“We also work with select organisations and national coffee associations to promote education in coffee-producing countries, from helping to establish libraries to mentoring young entrepreneurs,” he says.

Henry Wilson of Perfect Daily Grind – “Always use freshly roasted, freshly ground coffee!

Many people forget that coffee is actually an agricultural product – it comes from a berry called a ‘cherry’ – and so the older it is, the more stale it becomes. For a flavour that really pops, only buy enough coffee to drink in the week you buy it, and only grind it right before you brew it.”

And the reason they run Perfect Daily Grind as a bilingual service is simple: “The Spanish version of our website, despite the costs involved in doing so, is because we believe it’s important that the coffee industry has this resource, so that more producers can be a part of the conversation.”

Coffee’s not just for drinking – try using it as an ingredient in your cooking CAFÉ LATTE MUG CAKE Prepare: 2 minutes, microwave: 1 minute 50 seconds, cool: 3 minutes Makes 1 What you need: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon Irish cream liqueur 25g/1 oz white chocolate, chopped into small pieces 2 teaspoons instant coffee (dissolved in

1 tablespoon boiling water) 2 tablespoons caster/ granulated sugar 1 UK medium/US large egg 4 tablespoons selfraising/rising flour Cocoa powder, to dust Large microwaveable mug

What you do: Add the butter, Irish cream liqueur and white chocolate to the mug and microwave for 20-30 seconds at 800W until the chocolate has melted.

Stir the dissolved coffee, add it to the mug and stir until smooth.

Add the sugar and mix thoroughly.

Using a fork, beat in the egg until fully combined.

Pour in the flour and mix until you have a batter –

making sure to check all around the sides of the mug for any unmixed flour.

Put the mug on a plate as this is a very liquid batter and may well drip a bit down the sides while cooking.

Microwave for 1 minute 50 seconds at 800W. The cake will rise a lot, then sink, and should still be quite wet to touch.

Leave the mug cake to cool for 3 minutes and dust with cocoa powder before eating.

Recipe courtesy of Miracle Mug Cakes and other cheat’s bakes by Suzy Pelta, with photography by Adrian Lawrence, published by Ryland Peters & Small (£9.99)

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FEATURES

Travel

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

ECHOES OF A FAR-FLUNG PAST Remnants of round houses in Kuelap

Lost city in the sky A new cable car is opening up one of Peru’s most underrated sites, set to challenge the popularity of Machu Picchu. Sarah Marshall discovers the ancient cloud forest citadel Kuelap and its wild and wonderful, sometimes spooky, surrounding areas

C

ASCADING bromeliad plants weigh heavy on near-horizontal tree trunks, like garish jewels dragging at the strained necks of stooped old ladies.

Plumes of mist wisp from imaginary chimneys in roofless houses once belonging to noble families, the rubble of stone buildings now suspended in a blank, shapeless cloud and lost in time.

Peru’s ancient civilisations had a habit of building sky-high, altitude-busting citadels, safe from enemy eyes. Machu Picchu is, of course, the most famous site of all, but further north, in the cloud forests of Amazonas, is a place far grander in age and scale. Yet few travellers even know it’s there.

Built in 500AD by the Chachapoyas people, high-walled fortress town Kuelap predates Peru’s Inca big hitter by 900 years.

Sixteenth century chronicles written by Spanish conquistadors speak of Amazonas – a region of tumbling rivers, steep gorges and mountains quilted with frog green forests – as being one of the hardest regions to reach. One modern guidebook warns: You never know what time you’ll arrive in main city Chachapoyas.

Up until now, that was the case. But the opening of an airport at Jaén, in the neighbouring Cajamarca region, has greatly eased access, with 90-minute flights operating from Lima.

A big fuss is also being made about the new 24-million-dollar cable car connecting Kuelap to

ROCK OF AGES Revash Mausoleum – a burial complex for a pre-Inca civilization

the village of Nuevo Tingo, turning a one-and-a-half hour, stomach-spinning drive around hairpin bends into an easy 20-minute glide.

The government project, designed to ease crowd pressure on Machu Picchu by opening up new archaeological areas, has brought international attention to this under-appreciated corner of Peru.

Entering through a narrow, tapering entrance, I clamber over slippery limestone rocks to find the remains of 400-plus houses – round, windowless buildings which once had conical thatched roofs.

Decorations include diamond shapes inspired by feline eyes, and the unexplained relief of a stunned face staring from a temple wall.

Slowly disintegrating bones are visible in some crevices, belonging to the 1,000-plus bodies buried in Kuelap’s walls.

Only a third of the site, eventually infiltrated by Incas in the late 1400s, has been excavated since being rediscovered in 1843.

‘Like everywhere in Amazonas, there’s a sense so much is waiting to be discovered’

Efforts are currently underway to reverse some crude reconstructions in a bid to earn UNESCO World Heritage status, and when I visit workmen are hurriedly banging nails into walkways in preparation for an influx of tourists.

Numbers are expected to rise from 40,000 per year to 120,000, compared to the million-plus visitors Machu Picchu receives.

All over Amazonas, ancient sites paint a picture of Chachapoyas life and – even more fascinating – death. Hewn into vertical cliff faces high above ground, sarcophagi (stone coffins) in the shape of giant heads, are topped with the prized skulls of warlords conquered by the warriors within.

There are more than 30 burial sites; one of the best is at Karajia, in the north. But I choose to visit the mausoleums at Revash (a two-hour drive south of Kuelap, followed by a short trek), where small triangular-roofed houses embedded in the rocks feature ruby red paintings of pumas and the Southern Cross. Only nesting vultures can flit through the T-shaped windows, but looters have still managed to pillage 80 per cent of the contents.

Sadly, it’s the same story all over the region.

More than 200 Inca and Chachapoyas mummies are safeguarded in a controlled chamber at the excellent community-run Leymebamba Museum, a 75-minute drive from Revash.

Small muslin bundles bound up with rope and daubed with simple circular faces sit on dusty shelves. Elbows and knees were broken to create the shrunken packages, and intestines removed through the rectum. Some of the compressed cadavers are exposed, saggy skin intact and surprisingly gleaming white sets of teeth lining their sunken jaws. One looks alarmingly familiar, clutching his agonised face in a resemblance to Edvard Munch’s painting ‘The Scream’.

Still relatively new to tourism, Amazonas has few high-end accommodation options. I stay at the idyllic Gocta Natura Cabins, an hour’s drive north from Chachapoyas, tracing the route of the Utcubamba River.

Leaving a job at the World Bank in Lima behind her, lithe and energetic conservationist Rocio Florez has opened an eco-lodge of five standalone cabins set within reforested terraces, attracting endemic birds to the area for the first time in decades. But even at full gusto, their joyous melodies are drowned by the roaring Gocta Falls, a gaze-grabbing sight.

Until 2005, when German Stefan Ziemendorff measured them as one of the tallest in the world

TRAVEL FACTS Sarah Marshall was a guest of The Ultimate Travel Company, who tailor a ten-day Northern Peru experience from £2,950 per person, visiting Lima, Gocta Falls, Chiclayo and Trujillo.

Most meals are included, as well as international and domestic flights, private guided sightseeing and private transfers throughout.

See www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk or telephone 020 3051 8098. (at 771m), the residents of Coachimba village were terrified of the myth-laden site supposedly filled with irresistible gold treasures.

Imaginations ran wild with tales of a beautiful siren known for wooing and destroying men with her thorn-lined vagina; another story recounted a large snail who would rip open his cloak to reveal hundreds of writhing snake heads.

“Many people are still convinced they’ll get sick if they touch certain rocks in the forest,” Rocio tells me, which perhaps explains why so many ancient sites have been hidden for so long.

A fierce, shuddering wind blows permanently at its base, and I understand how all those outrageous stories could so easily be believed.

But, overcoming their fears, local villagers have made a good business in guiding tourists.

Orange Andean cock-of-the-rock birds flit through the treetops as I head home to fresh mango juice and warm homemade bread and honey, enjoyed in the company of iridescent hummingbirds.

Rocio’s son, a respected chef in Lima, has trained some of the villagers to cook, and as a result, Gocta Natura Cabins serves easily the best food in a region rich in produce.

Along with archaeology, environment is one of the key pillars for future tourism in Amazonas, and almost half of Peru’s Private Conservation Areas can be found in the region.

Biologist Perico Heredia is an advocate of the system, which allows individuals to request government recognition of their land as an important ecosystem. Grinning boyishly beneath a tatty baseball cap, the 50-something leads me through a tangled trail of rare orchids, ancient Inca stones and newly-recognised cedar trees, while excitedly telling me of sightings of ‘small cats’ caught on his camera traps.

He’s currently extending the guest house at his Milpuj property, a few kilometers from Kuelap.

Like everywhere in Amazonas, there’s a sense so much is waiting to be discovered.

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FEATURES

Life & Style

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

CASTLE FINE ART Castle Fine Art, the UK’s leading group of retail art galleries, has launched its newest venture in Tunbridge Wells. After two months of renovation works, the gallery has officially opened to the public.

The newest addition to the town’s art scene sees contemporary meet classic in a gallery setting. Housed within an historic building, over 100 years old, traditional features meet with quirky design elements – a nod to the innovative and original offering Castle Fine Art has come to be known for. A specially designed viewing room has been created to make customers feel as at ease as they would in their own home, whilst the rest of the split level gallery will be curated with the very latest Spring 2017 limited edition collection ahead of launches later this year by a number of headline artists.

Ian Weatherby-Blythe, Group Managing Director of Castle Fine Art, says: “In its 20 year history, Castle Fine Art has been instrumental in making great art accessible – bringing work from today’s finest contemporary artists to the high street. As the business grows, we continue to evolve with our newest gallery in Tunbridge Wells set to redefine the way customers experience, view and buy art. Visitors to the gallery can expect a welcoming environment to enjoy art and an exciting programme of exhibitions and events all year round.”

www.castlefineart.com

VOLANTI IMAGING A husband-andwife drone company is soaring two years after a business idea while on a night out in the town turned into a flourishing family affair.

Alex and Caroline Ball came up with the idea for their Sussexbased drone business – Volanti Imaging – on the way home from an evening in a Tunbridge Wells pub when they stopped at an estate agents window to look at the houses on offer.

“The idea for a drone business came to us on one of those rare nights outs you have as parents of young kids,” explained Alex, who has six children between him and his wife. “We’d had a few drinks, just left a bar and started browsing an estate agents window and my wife said wouldn’t it be fantastic to have a fly-up on some of those properties – and we started chatting about it. I was in IT at the time, had a passion for photography and since my mother had recently passed away seemed like the change of direction I was looking for.”

PENSHURST VINTAGE & ANTIQUES FAIR

A NEW AND ELITE HOUSEKEEPING/CLEANING COMPANY We are a new and exciting company based in Tunbridge Wells. We offer experienced, dependable, friendly cleaners, fully trained to deal with your personal needs. The same cleaner will visit, who will become familiar with cleaning your home as thoroughly as possible and take great care of it. This will ensure that you have total peace of mind in the knowledge that your home is in safe hands. As a professional cleaning company we offer clients cleaning services for both domestic and commercial needs. We will undertake every cleaning job. No job is too big or too small for us at TW Housekeepers. Our team of devoted cleaners will always deliver a gold class job!

Every business needs to maintain a prestigious image and part of this requires a clean and tidy office environment. TW housekeepers can easily adapt all cleaning services to suit the client’s needs by working daily or weekly during or after office hours. We will achieve and maintain a superior standard of cleanliness throughout your building, including reception areas, showrooms, offices, toilets, kitchens, board rooms/meeting rooms.

Penshurst Vintage & Antiques Fair is being held at the Penshurst Village Hall, TN11 8BP, on the 15th-17th April. Trade entry is available Saturday 9.30am, with public access running from 10.30am-5pm. Entrance is £2.00 and will be opening by Fixing Dad in association with the BBC and Prudential Ride London. Come and find fashionable vintage, French brocante and decorative antiques for the home and garden in beautiful Penshurst!

As well as our regular favourites to this charming long running fair, such as Tara Franklin Antiques, Hoof Brocante from Brooklands near Rye and Barnstar Vintage Store, we have some new exciting dealers: Marina Adinolfi from Church Hill Lewes will be there with an eclectic mix of antique prints, apothecary bottles and haberdashery, Caroline Bloomfield from Midhurst with beautiful clothing and Little Wren Vintage with gorgeous antique textiles will be joining us.

Blackstem Plants from Lamberhurst and beautiful bouquets from Flowers and Daughters will be filling the forecourt with spring colour – you can also relax and enjoy delicious homemade cakes and teas from Rose & Olive. Help to raise money for the community!

Follow us on Facebook at Penshurst Vintage & Antiques Fair or on Instagram at tara.franklin_antiques. Contact Tara on 07507876637.

We specialise in providing our clients with a highly personal service. For a tailor made package for your household please contact us on 01892 540918 for an informal chat regarding your requirements.

LIFE JUST GETS EASIER WITH TW HOUSEKEEPERS

01892 540918 info@twhousekeepers.co.uk www.twhousekeepers.co.uk

DOMUS INNOVATION There are plenty of stories about technology taking over our jobs - but what about it helping out in the home for the better.

Reality is a lot closer to fact than fiction with the ongoing evolution of smart homes.

One way of utilising technology in this way is home monitoring and lighting – something that has become increasingly popular.

With hi-tech homes you can control all of this and more with the touch of a button.

Two years on since that fateful night in 2015, Volanti Imaging boasts an impressive portfolio of clients from gaming giants to building construction companies and estate agents and has taken off beyond all expectations in a fast-moving and exciting new industry.

The correct type of lighting in your home can make the difference between a space feeling warm and inviting or harsh and cold.

Instead of installing a multitude of lighting to suit different moods and needs, smart lights enable you to personalise settings depending on your mood or the occasion. For example, a brighter task light used for catching up on work can be switched to a soft relaxing light so you can read your favourite book before bed.

www.volanti-imaging.co.uk

www.domusinnovation.co.uk

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FEATURES

Motoring

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

FIRST DRIVE

Ferrari

GTC4 Lusso T WHAT’S NEW? Call this the entry-level version of the GTC4Lusso and you’ll upset some very proud Italian engineers. Ferrari’s shooting brake might now come with the brand’s turbocharged V8 – hence the ‘T’ in the name – and circa £30,000 lopped off the asking price, but there’s a lot more to it than simply offering an alternative to the naturally aspirated V12.

I’m assured that so much love and attention goes into everything the Italian carmaker does that it considers this wholly different – the ‘sixth product’ in its line-up, to be precise.

The engine, which we’re familiar with from the 488 GTB supercar, has been given new pistons and a new intercooler design, while the exhaust system has been reworked to reduce pressure.

On the face of it, the smaller engine is better suited than the V12 to GT car duties because it’ll go about 30 per cent longer between fuel stops.

The 10.25-in high-definition touchscreen, introduced with the V12 model, works like a tablet and is excellent, while the passenger’s screen gets new features, such as the ability to add navigation waypoints and take control of the music.

LOOKS AND IMAGE The GTC4Lusso is loosely based on its forebear, the FF. Only the chassis and some of the cabin shape has been retained – the rest is redesigned.

An engineer told us he would guess it’s ‘about 70 per cent new’, with a lot of the changes to the exterior coming from improving aerodynamic performance and modernising the styling.

It works, as pronounced rear haunches make the car look wide and purposeful,

while the stunning circular rear lights look like a concept car feature that wasn’t meant to make it to production.

Inside, comfort is almost excellent. The seat design is clearly geared towards sporty – a very good thing when you’re going great guns, but mile-munching isn’t quite as luxurious as it could be.

SPACE AND PRACTICALITY Before the FF, and then the GTC4Lusso, Ferrari owners who wanted to take a weekend away with the family would have had to buy a second car, or send Jeeves ahead with the luggage. Therefore, the idea of this car is to offer all the space most owners could need for everyday use. And for the most part it succeeds.

Boot space is plentiful and would easily fit numerous shopping bags or holdalls.

Perhaps the only negative space-wise is in the cabin. For front passengers there’s more than enough room, but six-foot-plus passengers in the back will suffer slightly as legroom isn’t brilliant, while the low roof could become a little claustrophobic.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET? Lift the imposing bonnet, and a 3.9-litre V8 can be seen tucked deep within the engine bay – behind the front axle to aid weight distribution. It almost looks a little lost in a bay designed to hold the 6.3-litre V12, but it’s far from lacking theatre.

Performance is suitably ballistic.

Considering the GTC4Lusso T is designed with long-distance cruising in mind – less power than the V12, but more torque – there’s enough performance to pin you to the back of your seat should you desire.

It feels a little perverse talking about fuel economy when there’s a Prancing Horse on the bonnet, but in this segment

Ferrari has added a V8 to sit alongside the V12 in the GTC4Lusso range. Dubbed ‘T’, it’s down on power but offers improved economy.

Darren Cassey went to Italy to find out if the shooting brake is still as thrilling as before

miles per gallon is just as relevant as miles per hour – official figures of 24mpg and CO2 emissions of 265g/km are impressive for a car that offers such pace.

BEHIND THE WHEEL Thumb the wheel-mounted on/off button and the engine barks into life with a flurry of revs. The throttle pedal takes a moment to get used to as there are a few inches of travel before anything happens, but once you’re on the move the engine’s responsiveness is otherworldly. There’s no such thing as turbo lag here.

You’ll also need a moment to adjust to the size of the GTC4Lusso, but once you find a fun road, it seems to shrink around you. The four-wheel steering makes the car super agile, particularly in tighter turns, and its hyper-alertness also helps the car dart across twisting Tarmac in a way that belies its 1.7-tonne heft.

The engine doesn’t quite sing like Ferraris of old, but there’s a deep, gravelly tone that gives the car an aggressive, purposeful demeanour.

In Ferrari’s 488 GTB supercar, the power delivery feels like a drop-kick to the back, but here that monstrous torque comes in with a surge. That’s because Ferrari manages the boost levels so they increase as revs rise – more becoming of a car with everyday sensibilities in mind.

The roads heading south from Pisa on Italy’s west coast were a true test of the GTC4Lusso T’s ride – after an hour on cruise control, I vowed never to complain about Britain’s broken road network again.

However, it was useful because it tested the car’s livability – there’s no getting away from the fact it doesn’t quite iron out crumbled tarmac like a Bentley can, though it performed well for the most

ITALIAN JOB Idyllic test drive

FACTS AT A GLANCE: MODEL: Ferrari GTC4Lusso T ENGINE: 3.9-litre V8 POWER: 602bhp TORQUE: 760Nm MAX SPEED: 199mph+ 0-60MPH: 3.3 seconds MPG: 24mpg EMISSIONS: 265g/km PRICE: as tested £199,285

part. It’s the trade-off for being arrow-sharp in the corners, so choosing between rivals will come down to needs and wants.

VALUE FOR MONEY The GTC4Lusso T might cost a tank of fuel under £200,000, but when you look at the performance figures compared with the £30,000-dearer V12 version, it does start to look like good value.

However, compared to rivals, it’s by far the pricier option. The closest is the MercedesAMG S 65 at £188,550, while the Bentley Continental GT Supersports starts at a little over £177,000. And the Porsche Panamera Turbo seems a bargain with a start price just below £100,0000. But none have the allure of a Ferrari badge, nor can they handle a back road so impressively, though all three do a slightly better job of serenely munching through miles.

WHO WOULD BUY ONE? The GTC4Lusso T is aimed at a wider profile of buyers than the brand is used to. It’s looking at 30 to 45 year olds who live in the city and need a practical car to carry passengers regularly.

Because it has rear-wheel drive rather than the V12 version’s all-wheel drive, it’s also aimed at people who live in warmer climates.

VERDICT

BALLISTIC At the gallop, the ‘Prancing Horse’ has enough performance to pin you to the back of your seat

In the GTC4Lusso T, Ferrari could easily have suffered at the hands of contradiction.

Relaxing and practical for weekends away, but sharp and agile for your favourite back roads – not usually comfortable bedfellows.

There are compromises to be had – yes, the ride is cossetting with the wheel-mounted ‘manettino’ switch turned to ‘comfort’, but it’s a little fussier than a Bentley Continental or Porsche Panamera when the roads get rough.

However, if one of those cars followed the Ferrari on to a B-road, the Prancing Horse would gallop off into the distance with sensational, logic-defying performance.

If money’s no object, spending an extra £30k on the V12 version seems like a no-brainer. But if running costs are important, fear not – the GTC4Lusso T could hardly be considered a lesser car.

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

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FEATURES

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Puzzles

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

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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.

9

9 2

6 7 6

Codeword:

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6 1

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B E A V E R A E E Z M E R C A G A R T A N Q U R A D I U M A A J U R I S T A I H A CON E R K S C R I E H F T I P O F F

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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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 next week’s paper

1 9 6 5 2 3 7 4 8

3 2 7 4 9 8 5 6 1

E R D I B B L E

OW R I A P T OW D A T Y N L E X S T

A R D E L B A I R U I N E S D E R S R N E MO D O Z A T E

Jigsaw Sudoku:

Sudoku:

8 5 4 7 6 1 3 9 2

H A U R O I L D

5 8 9 3 7 6 2 1 4

2 6 3 1 4 9 8 7 5

4 7 1 2 8 5 6 3 9

6 4 5 9 3 2 1 8 7

7 1 8 6 5 4 9 2 3

9 3 2 8 1 7 4 5 6

9 5 8 1 6 4 7 2 3

7 4 2 6 3 8 5 9 1

2 7 6 5 9 1 8 3 4

3 8 1 9 7 5 6 4 2

1 2 5 4 8 9 3 6 7

5 6 3 7 4 2 9 1 8

8 9 4 3 2 7 1 5 6

6 1 7 2 5 3 4 8 9

4 3 9 8 1 6 2 7 5

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

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DIFFICULTY RATING: ★★★I

3

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.

2

© 2016 Syndicated Puzzles

1

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SOLUTIONS (FROM LAST WEEK)

SUDOKU & JIGSAW SUDOKU

DIFFICULTY RATING: ★III

CODEWORD

61

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Wednesday April 5 | 2017

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FEATURES

Arts & Culture

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

Local three-piece rock ’n’ roll ensemble The Standard Lamps have just kicked off a tour with modfathers of music The Who. Eileen Leahy caught up with the group’s lead singer and guitarist Mike Wilton to find out how the trio ended up playing for their childhood heroes not once, but twice

Meet the bright young band WHO will be playing with rock legends

IF YOU’RE into music and enjoy going out and about in Tunbridge Wells, chances are you’ll already be familiar with distinctively named band The Standard Lamps.

The trio, which is made up of Mike Wilton on lead guitar and vocals, James Livett on bass and Matt Bennie on drums, frequently perform sell-out shows at The Forum and are regulars at local music festivals such as Unfest and Local & Live.

So far, so small-town band territory you might think, but actually that’s where the traditional trajectory of a jobbing, just getting by, unsigned band stops and the fairy-tale story of being cherry-picked by one of the world’s biggest groups to support them on tour starts.

The Standard Lamps, you see, have just kicked off a five-date UK tour with music legends The Who – and what’s more, this isn’t the first time they’ve done so.

“We first toured with them in 2014,” explains Mike, who formed the band in 2009. “We’d supported Wilko

Johnson at The Forum in early 2014.

It was around the time Wilko was very ill, but he was planning to do a one-off show with The Who’s Roger Daltrey at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

“The night of our gig at The Forum I was chatting to Wilko’s Manager, Lisa Climie, and she told me she’d liked our set, so as a joke I said: ‘Well, we’re available for next week’s Shepherd’s Bush gig if you like.’

“I thought to myself nothing will happen, then she called me two days later and said ‘you’ve got the gig’!”

Still proverbially pinching themselves, The Lamps – as they’re referred to by their fans – performed at the concert, which led them to being invited to join The Who on their 2014 tour.

“I think, genuinely, Roger Daltrey and [fellow Who member] Pete Townshend just really liked us,” explains Mike. “Roger is a very kind man but he doesn’t accept any old rubbish, so he must think quite highly of us. It’s still quite

Arts & Culture

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

WHO ARE YOU? James, Mike and Matt unbelievable: I dreamt about meeting these guys when I was ten years old, so to actually play for them is weird but obviously ultra cool.”

The current Lamps’ line-up has been in place since 2012, and although they’re still all working their various day jobs – either full or part-time in retail, the building trade and office work – the trio are still committed to writing and performing music.

When I ask Mike to describe The Lamps’ music, he says that when you see them perform it live ‘it’s rock and roll’, but in terms of the two albums they’ve released there’s a lot more diversity.

“One of my main influences is The Beatles,” continues Mike.

“When they got stuck down in the studio and stopped being a live group it allowed them lots more opportunities.”

He goes on to cite names such as Pink Floyd, Big Star and Oasis as other key musical influences.

“I’m not a fan of albums that are filled with ten songs that sound the same. When I’m writing, I like to make it as much of a journey as possible with lots of different styles and tempos, while still producing something at the end of it all that the audience can sing along to.”

The Lamps’ initial tour with The Who saw them drum up a wider fan base, which led to them playing Hyde Park’s British Summer Time festival in 2015 and to tours with Britpop band The Bluetones, whose lead singer, Mark Morriss, lives in Tunbridge Wells.

The second Who tour came after Lisa, now managing the Lamps, pitched them again.

“She just said ‘they’re available’ and so here we are.”

Why does Mike think that a huge global music phenomenon, who have sold millions of records and been around since the 1960s, have taken a relatively new group under their wing?

“I think it’s because we’re a normal band. We turn up on time and we give it our all: Every night

FEATURES

65

ROCK ROYALTY The Who’s Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend

‘Roger is a very kind man but he doesn’t accept any old rubbish so he must think quite highly of us’ I sing and play like it’s the last gig. We also talk to the audience – no matter how small or big it is.

“I’ve actually been playing gigs for nearly 20 years, and the amount of bands you meet who are not genuine is not good, it’s not the way to get ahead any more.”

Mike adds that they will be the sole support act for The Who’s latest tour, which kicked off in Liverpool on Monday [April 3] and takes in four further dates from today [Wednesday] in Manchester, Glasgow, Sheffield and Birmingham.

“We’ve got about 45 minutes, then The Who come on and do their two-and-a-half-hour set.

I think they’re playing a lot from their album Tommy. I grew up with it and was obsessed with it, so it will be really special.”

Once the tour finishes, Mike says it’ll be back to the day job and the task of finishing The Lamps’ third album. And although they’ll have had another taste of stadium success, they’re still happy to be back on the local scene.

“There are so many great young bands in Tunbridge Wells like The Crew and The Galleries – they’re amazing. Tom Williams & the Boat have also hugely inspired me over the years, and it was Tom who advised me to make albums and not just EPs. If it doesn’t go anywhere after this Who tour, then at least we’ll have our music and our core fan base.”

And that seems to be why The Standard Lamps are doing this in the first place – whether they’re playing an enormous venue or a grass roots one.

“I like the audiences – that’s the great part of it.

When you’re doing something big like this, or getting in a van touring small venues, if you play a really good gig and the audience like it then it’s the best thing.”

For more information on the band, visit www.thestandardlamps.com

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FEATURES

What’s On

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

SEVEN DAYS OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT A GLANCE WITH THE

Eileen Leahy Local events

A SONG AND DANCE See the Northern Ballet >> WEDNESDAY The Northern Ballet comes to the Assembly Hall this afternoon with two performances (at 2pm and 4pm) of their current production Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This classic fairy tale will be set to music and is the perfect opportunity for little ones to enjoy the magic of dance in a theatre setting.

Performances last approximately 40 minutes and tickets cost £8 for adults and £6 for children. See www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Staying in the town centre, Royal Victoria Place are welcoming the characters featured in the Disney Junior PJ Masks TV Show today. Catboy, Owlette and Gekko will be making appearances during the storytime sessions, which will be happening on the hour every hour from 11am until 3pm on level 1, opposite Marks & Spencer. The event is free to attend but spaces are limited, so it will be on a first come, first served basis.

TRAIN TREAT Spa Valley Railway hosts Peppa Pig

If you would like to see your events featured in our weekly What’s On pages, please email eileen@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

>> THURSDAY Easter fun for the young continues at the Assembly Hall with the arrival of the ever popular Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, which is being staged today and tomorrow. From the makers of Peppa Pig, this popular show focuses on the adventures of toddler siblings Ben and Holly and is sure to delight thanks to its content of songs, dancing and audience interaction. Tickets cost £16 for adults and £14 for children, and show times are as follows: Thursday April 6: 4.30pm and Friday April 7: 10am, 1pm and 4.30pm.

Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve are putting on an event entitled Eco Easter Birds today from 10am.

You can learn how to use stencils, make potato stamps and create collages of your own drawings in order to make your own bespoke bird. Advance tickets cost £6 and booking is essential. For more details,see www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk The ArtSpring Gallery in Tonbridge is hosting another of its late-night shopping events. Go along and enjoy a glass of Proscecco wth some of the artists from 5.30pm-8pm. Jeweller Victoria Wainwright has just joined the collective and will be displaying her experimental designs, which ‘take inspiration from daydreaming and wondering’.

Local Amateur Musical Players – or LAMPS as they are more commonly known – are putting on a performance of The Mikado every night until Saturday at the EM Forster Theatre. They are reprising this Gilbert and Sullivan piece, which they first performed 45 years ago, in order to celebrate their 90th birthday, and are returning to their original theatrical Tonbridge roots for the first time since the 1950s. There is an additional matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm. Tickets cost from £13 and can be purchased at www.boxoffice.tonbridge-school.co.uk >> FRIDAY Join the team at Grosvenor and Hilbert Park to join in a pond-dipping session and discover what lurks in the new wetland area. Sessions are one hour and run from 10.30am and 4pm. The event is free but booking is required to ensure there are enough nets for everyone. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For more

details, email steff.dagorne@tunbridgewells.gov.uk The highly successful remake of Beauty and The Beast, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, is showing every night over the Easter holidays courtesy of the Moonlight Drive-in Cinema at the Hop Farm, Paddock Wood. Tickets cost £20 per vehicle and availability and screening times can be found at www.moonlightcinema.com Celluloid entertainment of a different kind is on at Trinity Theatre this evening. Moonlight, winner of Best Film at this year’s Oscars (despite La La Land being announced by mistake initially), tells the tale of Chiron, a young black kid growing up gay in a rough neighbourhood in Miami. The film follows him through three stages in his life; as a child, a teenager and a grown man, and has been described as ‘tender and heartbreaking’, ‘bold and unique’ and as a ‘timeless story of human selfdiscovery and connection’. Tickets cost £10.50 and can be booked from www.trinitytheatre.net >> SATURDAY Spa Valley Railway puts on some Easter fun for younger ones courtesy of their Peppa Pig event today. Trains will depart from Tunbridge Wells West station from 10am and journey to Groombridge at various intervals throughout the day. There will be lots of activities for children to enjoy, including face painting, arts and crafts and a mini cinema.

Tickets cost £10 for adults and £5 for children. For more information, visit www.spavalleyrailway.co.uk The Rusthall Cinema Club will be screening The Lives of Others from 7pm at the Sunnyside Hall community club. The film, which is set in East Berlin before the wall came down and concentrates on a spy who becomes embroiled in the lives of those he is following, was the 2006 winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and also won a BAFTA in the same category. There will be a discussion after the screening. Members pay £2 and non-members £7. For more information, go to www.rusthallcinema.club The Mercure Hotel in Pembury will be hosting another of its popular Only Fools and Three Courses evenings from 7pm. Guests can expect a delicious dinner, which will be hosted by ‘Marlene’ and ‘Boycie’, followed by an evening of comedy and chaos with the arrival of Del Boy, Rodney and

Uncle Albert. Tickets cost £36, which includes a three-course meal, comedy and disco.

To book, call 0844 815 9074 or email events@mecuretunbridgewells.co.uk >> SUNDAY Funny man Omid Djalili will be bringing his latest stand-up act to the Assembly Hall this evening at 7.30pm. Entitled Schumuck for a Night, it promises to be hugely entertaining and spot on in terms of the award-winning comedian’s trademark observatory wit. Tickets cost £24 and can be booked via www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Today is your last chance to catch an exhibition by Martin and Marilyn Garwood intriguingly entitled The Road To Asda at Trinity Gallery. The couple have based their show on the physical upheaval caused by the new A21 road widening. What results is a collection of both photographs and paintings which illustrate the disrupted terrain, the historical items unearthed and the ‘emotional impact of human intervention in the landscape’.

PICK OF THE WEEK Hole Park National Garden Schemes Open Day Sunday April 9, 11am until 6pm BLUES FOR YOU See Hole Park’s beautiful bluebells Image: Stuart Kirk

WHATS ON

This delightful Wealden country house and garden near Rolvenden has just reopened for spring, and this Sunday it will be participating in a National Garden Schemes open day. This is the first of a series of days throughout the spring and summer where Hole will donate proceeds from its visitors’ tickets to charities.

Awarded Visit Kent’s Garden of the Year in 2016, it is of course a delight to stop by and visit any time – and its glorious bluebells are especially lovely to look at around this time of year. After you’ve trawled through its 16 acres of glorious gardens, why not enjoy a cream tea or light lunch in The Coach House? Admission is £7 for adults and £1 for children. For more information, visit www.holepark.com

What’s On

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

IN BLOOM Hever Castle is in full swing for spring

>> MONDAY Tunbridge Wells Royal British Legion meet every second Monday of the month apart from in August and October at Crabb Hall. Detective Peter Jones will be giving a speech entitled A Career in Fingerprints in New Scotland Yard. There is no charge and all are welcome. For more information, visit www.britishlegion.org.uk As it’s the Easter holidays, there’s plenty for your children to do. Hever Castle’s holiday fun focuses on the trail of the Lindt Gold Bunny, which children can follow in order to earn a chocolate treat. There will also be plenty of family entertainment up until April 17, including Easter bonnet craft workshops, which will be followed by a traditional Easter Parade. In the castle, meanwhile, there will be lots on the history of Easter and its traditions. For more information on activities and prices, take a look at www.hevercastle.co.uk >> TUESDAY Penshurst Place is currently hosting Rabbits, Riddles and Rhymes over the Easter holidays from 10.30am until 6pm daily. Visitors both young and old will be encouraged to seek out their sleuthing skills in order to help unravel the riddles left by the Easter Rabbit. If the weather’s not too great you can make your own pair of rabbit ears, write a riddle or colour in a giant Easter poster in The Old Coach House. For more information, visit www.penshurstplace.com

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A ROUND-UP OF THIS WEEK’S MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS

Paul Dunton Live music

Staying with Trinity, they will be showing the Oscar-nominated and highly acclaimed film Lion.

Starring Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman, it’s the true story of Saroo Brierley, who was adopted by an Australian couple after being separated from his family in India aged five. Now an adult, Saroo attempts to find his birth parents courtesy of satellite images from Google Earth, but this causes him more problems than he ever thought possible.

The film starts at 8pm and tickets cost £10.50.

FEATURES

There are so many wonderful live gigs and concerts on offer this week across the local scene, so make sure you venture out to check out some great live music.

For a great midweek outing, local group Youth headline The Grey Lady this Wednesday night, and there is an early Jazz on The Pantiles this Thursday evening with Petits Bijoux taking to the Bandstand.

Friday night sees Simon Prager, Doc Stenson and Hylda Simms at The Cross Keys, while The Frog Island Jazz Band are at The Masonic Centre.

Popular Boogie Nights play The Forum.

On Saturday, catch Jemma & Paul at The Bedford and The Badflys at The King William IV. Renowned soloist Mick Mepham will be at The Beau Nash Tavern, and The Forum host a stellar line-up with Joeythin, Frost, Alex Metcalf’s Catastrophic Organ Failure and Amesbury Banks.

The Sussex Arms will be hosting their Electric Youth 70s and 80s Disco.

Closing the weekend in style on Sunday will be local rockers The Lemmings, who play The King William IV, and for fans of acoustic, local singersongwriter acts Chasing Shadows, Becky Briggs and Megan Jordan will be at The Grey Lady.

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

FRIDAY Boogie Nights SATURDAY Joeythin, Frost, Alex Metcalf’s Catastrophic Organ Failure and Amesbury Banks SUNDAY The Wytches and Weirds THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE

Crescent Road, information on times and tickets at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk SATURDAY Let’s Hang On – The Music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons THE KING WILLIAM IV

THE ROYAL OAK

Prospect Road, open all day, free entry, music from early evening onwards SATURDAY Timeless MONDAY Open Mic Night THE MASONIC CENTRE

St John’s Road, information on times and tickets at www.twjazzclub.co.uk FRIDAY TW Jazz Club: The Frog Island Jazz Band THE BEDFORD

Pembury, open all day, free entry, music from 7.30pm onwards SATURDAY The Badflys SUNDAY The Lemmings

2 High Street, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm onwards SATURDAY Night Spotlight: Jemma & Paul THE SUSSEX ARMS

THE DUKE OF YORK

The Pantiles, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm till late MONDAY – Open Mic Night

Sussex Mews, The Pantiles, open all day, music from 8.30pm till late, music cover charge may apply SATURDAY Electric Youth / 70s & 80s Disco THE BEAU NASH TAVERN

Mount Ephraim, open all day, free entry, music from 8.30pm till late SATURDAY Mick Mepham

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE

THE PANTILES BANDSTAND

The Pantiles, doors 7.15pm, entry £6/£7, websites www.pdag.co.uk + www.thegreylady.co.uk WEDNESDAY Josie Lee, Laura Lamn, Youth (headline act) FRIDAY Jazz Club Night SATURDAY Closed for a private party SUNDAY Chasing Shadows, Becky Briggs, Megan Jordan (headline act) TUESDAY Tom Williams, Rachael Stalker, Eliza Lewis

The Pantiles, open all day, music from 7.30pm, donations welcome THURSDAY Jazz on The Pantiles featuring Petits Bijoux

THE CROSS KEYS

St John’s Road, open all day, free entry, music from 8pm, website www.crosskeystw.co.uk FRIDAY Simon Prager, Doc Stenson and Hylda Simms MONDAY TWUNT: Ukulele Jam Session THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Tunbridge Wells Common Doors 7.30pm, entry price variable, event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

Youth

Sporting Times

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

NEWS

69

Title is put on hold as TJs are pushed to limit

CHARGED UP Nick Doherty scored a hat-trick of tries

Sutton & Epsom 23 Tonbridge Juddians 29

By Adam Hookway RUGBY: TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS went into this match knowing that, if they managed a bonus point win and other results went their way, they could be crowned champions of National League Three London & South-East with a couple of games to spare.

PHOTO: Bruce Elliott

Pumped up

Doherty wreaks havoc as Wells keep up chase

DOUBLE TAKE: Hugo Watson scored two tries

The hosts, though, were chasing points of their own as they looked to avoid dropping into the relegation zone.

So it turned into a much closer affair than TJs would have liked.

TJs still earned the bonus point win with a brace of tries from Hugo Watson plus one each from George Lawson and Jon McMahon.

But Sutton & Epsom never gave up in a pumped-up performance and

By Roger Clarke RUGBY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS enjoyed a day out at the seaside as they went on an eight-try romp at relegated Gosport.

Their rivals for the runners-up spot, Havant, lost narrowly at Cobham but earned two points to narrow the gap to the play-off place to three points again.

When these two sides met at St Marks before Christmas, Wells came within three points of racking up a century.

And within 18 minutes down on the

coast, Wells had scored four tries, through Nick Doherty – whose powerful running earned him two of them – Charlie Dagwell and skipper Lee Campion.

Rampant Despite a rampant back row led by the outstanding Doherty, there were to be no more scores in the first half.

But after the interval Wells upped the tempo with Doherty and Hayden Pengelly wreaking havoc as they made huge gains up the middle of the pitch.

Further tries followed from left wing Jake Jones on 42 minutes, silky running centre Dylan Barkas on 63 minutes, a hattrick score for Doherty on 69 minutes and a deserved reward for Pengelly’s strong running on 79 minutes.

The hosts breached the normally impressive Wells defence for a try wide out on the right, but the hosts were able to take their foot off the pedal and rest some players.

This could be crucial in the run-in ahead of home games against Dover and Maidstone as Wells keep pushing to secure second place in London Division One.

PHOTOS: Adam Hookway

Gosport & Fareham 5 Tunbridge Wells 52

ELBOW GREASE Cole Campbell has an arm wrestle

secured a bonus point of their own with the last kick of the game.

Second-placed Wimbledon avoided a potential banana skin in Guernsey, where they also achieved maximum points in a 29-38 win.

TJs’ title chase will carry on at least until next Saturday when they welcome Hertford to The Slade.

Rivals Wimbledon, who are five points behind TJs, face Shelford.

70

NEWS

Sporting Times

CONTACT US:

Please send your sports stories to newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or newsdesk@timesoftonbridge.co.uk

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

My boyhood dream came true and now I’ve signed for the champions Talented local footballer Sammie McLeod has been snapped up by Leicester City. He tells Andrew Tong about his rise to the giddy heights of the top flight...

SO DREAMS do come true. Aspiring young foot- playing the reserves. Jamie Vardy was there, so it ballers really can be picked to play for the champi- was all a bit overwhelming on my first day.” ons of the Premier League.

He was offered some sage advice by his mentor.

Sammie McLeod from Southborough always “The club takes on a couple of triallists a week. wanted to be a professional footballer, and now They can make a decision after the first session. he is playing alongside the likes of Jamie Vardy “If they don’t think you’re good enough, they and Riyad Mahrez. will kick you out straightaway. Ben told me to This week the 17-year-old central midfielder keep my head down and do the best I can.” signs a two-year deal with Leicester City. Soon he They practise skills like possession and running will be earning thousands of pounds a week and off the ball in small-sided games, and there’s driving around in a souped-up supercar. plenty of stretching exercises and fitness work.

His world will never be the same again. But the teenage prodigy is showing an impressive matu‘We are not allowed to go out past rity and level-headedness.

10pm. If we eat McDonald’s or Sammie attended Hayesbrook School in TonKFC, we get fined a week’s wages’ bridge until he was 16, then Maidstone Academy.

He played for Tunbridge Wells for several seasons.

Then he was spotted by an agent, Peter FinneTowards the end of the four-hour training sesgan, while playing for Kent and he was invited to sions they play eight-a-side contests – followed by undergo a trial at Aston Villa last summer. the full 11-a-side match on Saturdays.

“I was on trial at Villa for three weeks,” Sammie Sammie has discovered that he had some catchrecalls. “The Academy coach Ben Petty really ing up to do with the other boys, most of whom wanted me to stay but the manager didn’t like my are on the club’s scholarship programme. style of play.

He says: “I play in centre midfield and the “Then Ben left to take charge of the Underpitches are like carpets at the training ground, 23s at Leicester City and he told them, it’s the right facility for my style.

‘Look, you’ve got to get this guy in’.”

“But it’s a hard position to play, you Sammie was also offered terms by have to be mega-fit to cover all the another Premier League side, Bourneground. I was slightly behind the other mouth, at the start of the year. But Ben boys in that respect. Many of them have Petty leapt in first and persuaded him been there nine or ten years, and they to put the south coast club on hold. have been going to the gym every day.

His father Paul, a shoe designer and “They do an hour of education in the developer, drove Sammie up to Leicesmorning, then three or four hours of footter in January and he had a week-long ball, then an hour and a half in the gym.” trial, after which they asked him to stay.

He has been living in ‘digs’ with the scholYou might think that arriving at arship boys in a 15-room house owned the gates of the King Power by the club, where two carers cook Stadium would be a and keep an eye on them. daunting prospect for a “The guys are all far from home, especially the forteenager.

But Sammie is eigners. There’s guys from ambitious and Poland, Spain, the United possesses a States, Australia. We get composure which on really well.” could see him go far After all that training in the high pressure and fitness work, what hothouse of the does he do in the evegame’s top flight. nings when he has a lit“I’m not a nervous tle downtime? The same person, I’m pretty as any other teenager. confident and I just “After the gym we go back wanted to get the job to the digs and just chill out done and impress the really. There’s a games room people there,” he says. and we have TVs in our rooms FOX CUB “We went straight to the and Playstation.”

Sammie sports his training ground, where we Nightclubs are off limits for now.

Leicester City strip watched the first team “The carers don’t let us go out

THRILLS AND SKILLS Sammie shows his ability in a photoshoot for G-Form shinpads past 10pm, and if we eat McDonald’s or Subway or KFC we get fined a week’s wages. We get fined if we’re late for training too.”

Life is moving on apace at the club which defied all the odds and expectations last season to land the league title under manager Claudio Ranieri.

The team has struggled to keep up that form and confidence in the current campaign, and the Italian boss was fired 298 days after lifting the trophy.

“I met Claudio and we had a chat and he shook my hand. And two days later he was sacked. But that’s football, I guess,” Sammie smiles.

There is still a sense of disbelief, however, as the Foxes have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, Europe’s premier competition.

“The Champions League has been great,” says Sammie. “We have to be ball-boys for the games and I will be doing that against Atletico Madrid in the home quarter-final next month.”

He has also been busy learning his trade on the field. “I’ve been training with the first team too, and that was scary,” he admits. “I had Riyad Mahrez telling me off, it was nerve-wracking.

“He was telling me to support him when he was making runs, telling me to make angles for him

and give the ball back to him.”

Sammie is allowed to come home to Tunbridge Wells for a weekend once a month, and admits that he misses his family.

He has two brothers: Jamie, 20, who is a student at Brighton University, and Finley, 10, who plays for Tunbridge Wells Ridgewaye Under-10s.

“I can get a bit homesick – but you’ve got to make sacrifices,” Sammie says with an impressive worldliness that matches his self-possession.

“We get a four-week break in the summer, then it’s back for pre-season. It’s a job really, it’s just like going to work.” But he’s not complaining.

What do his parents, Paul and Lucinda, think of his rapid rise? “They are thrilled for me. But they want to keep me grounded and level-headed.

“They don’t want me to go off the rails like some footballers do. My mum worries, she’s always calling or texting me, asking when I’m coming home.”

He adds: “My friends are really proud of what I’ve achieved, making the move from a non-league club like Maidstone.

“I even had a couple of young boys come up to me asking for autographs, which was strange.” It may be a sensation that he will have to get used to.

‘HE’S GOT TO KEEP HIS FEET ON THE GROUND’ SAYS DAD PAUL SAMMIE’S father Paul McLeod says: “When he first kicked a football at the age of six, people’s jaws dropped. They were saying, ‘You’ve got something special here’.

“He went on a geography field trip with his school and he was up at 6am digging in the ground. He came back and said ‘I don’t want to do anything like that’.

“It made up his mind about what he wanted to do, and from that

Playing for Tunbridge Wells Foresters

moment the quality of his football improved tenfold.

“It was a case of ‘you’ve been given a gift, work hard on it and see what happens’.

“The hard work starts now. He’s got to keep his feet on the ground.

“He’s already thinking about ordering his first Mercedes but I told him, ‘no you’re not, there’s a beaten-up old VW Polo on the drive, you can have that’.”

Sporting Times

Wednesday April 5 | 2017

NEWS

71

McCollin’s goalline drama puts Angels back in mix

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS put in a much better display than they had in a crushing defeat at Hendon. But the winner only came four minutes from the end – and it was mired in controversy.

The Greens are facing their first ever relegation in their long and illustrious history and this was a huge game for them, while the Angels were desperate to get back in the play-off mix.

Tonbridge went behind after 14 minutes when a penalty was awarded for a push in the box and Matt Ball sent the keeper Jonny Henly the wrong way.

Loan signing Vas Karagiannis, who had gone straight into the first team, forced a good save from Hendon keeper Tom Lovelock round the post.

Nicky Wheeler made a fine run but his cross

deserved a better outcome, and four minutes later he produced another excellent ball into the box which was well defended.

Khale da Costa’s run and pull back was met by Kezie Ibe only for Henly to pull off a smart save.

At the start of the second half, Dave Diedhiou almost doubled Hendon’s advantage but was foiled by Henly. A minute later it was Alex Akrofi’s turn to force a good save from Lovelock.

As the half progressed the wing play of Wheeler and Karagiannis stretched the Hendon defence.

Tonbridge’s equaliser eventually came in the 68th minute with Karagiannis’s low cross diverted past Lovelock by Angels’ leading scorer, Nathan Elder.

With a draw not much use to either side the contest opened up. The decisive goal came in the 86th minute courtesy of Tonbridge’s three substitutes.

Luke Blewden and Dan Thompson combined for

PHOTO: David Couldridge

Hendon 1 Tonbridge Angels 2

MOMENT OF TRUTH Andre McCollin scores but Hendon said the ball did not cross the line Andre McCollin to poke the ball past Lovelock – but there were claims that it did not cross the line.

Angels manager Steve McKimm said: “The players have done well, they’ve worked hard, kept their concentration and constantly pressed the play.

“We have Havant next Saturday which is a huge

game for both clubs. I’m looking forward to it.”

The win sees the Angels climb from sixth to fourth and into a play-off slot. Whilst Bognor and Havant battle it out for the title, eight other clubs including Tonbridge are playing for the remaining three play-off places in the Ryman Premier League.

K Sports 1 Rusthall 4 FINISHING TOUCH Sam James hits the target

Shock as Skilton misses penalty – and the retake Tonbridge Ladies 1 Margate 2

By Jim Rowe FOOTBALL: TONBRIDGE ANGELS Ladies were denied in their bid to finish third in their first season in the South East Counties Women’s Football League by promoted Margate at Tonbridge Farm.

Margate took the lead midway through the first half with one of their typical counter-attacks, Kara Richardson scoring from the edge of the box.

Angels’ best chance came when centre-back Beth Kemp came forward and unleashed a shot from 30 yards which hit the underside of the bar.

A double substitution was made on the hour to unlock the Margate defence but another counterattack saw Beth Cooper score the visitors’ second.

The arrears were reduced in the 67th minute as good work by Abbie Skilton freed up Kemp on the right and her cross met substitute Sam James at the near post, who fired in from close range.

The Angels had a golden chance to draw level from the penalty spot after a push on Heidi Archer.

Skilton blazed it over the bar, and even when the referee ordered a retake the striker put it wide.

It was a double blow for Skilton, who has scored against every other team this season.

By Richard Smith FOOTBALL:

RUSTHALL kept up their chase for a top-two finish in Southern Counties East League Division One with a clinical demolition of K Sports and the welcome return of a prolific goalscorer after a lengthy lay-off.

With Kent Football United’s shock 1-0 home defeat to Orpington the Rustics now need four points from two games to guarantee promotion to the Premier Division and the prospect of local derbies against Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks Town and Crowborough Athletic.

Rusthall beat K Sports 6-1 in September despite having a player sent off in the first half. But the hosts had lost just one out of 14 games on their 3G surface.

However, Rusthall took the lead after 19 minutes. From Ian Parson’s corner the home side failed to clear and Jon Lord forced the ball over the line from close range.

K Sports HAPPY RETURNS relied on Dan Powell is back the long after five months out ball and it

was from this route-one approach that they drew level on 28 minutes.

A free-kick in their own half was pumped into the box and Tom Carr scored despite a valiant effort from Callum Christie, the Rusthall keeper.

On the stroke of half-time, good work down the right saw Parsons deliver an inch-perfect cross and Joe Fuller headed in at the far post.

The Rustics increased their lead on 55 minutes when a superb passing movement found Chris Stoate one on one with keeper Joe Cullip and he finished calmly for his seventh goal of the season.

The biggest cheer came on 71 minutes when Dan Powell came on.

He has been out injured for more than five months, and before that he had scored nine times in as many starts.

It took the striker just 13 minutes to remind everyone what he is all about as more excellent approach work saw Parsons play in Powell, who drilled the ball home.

Rusthall have a twoweek wait before they visit Crockenhill on Saturday April 15 and then Holmesdale on Easter Monday, April 17.

PHOTO: Brandon Begg

Powell returns to help Rusthall’s title run-in

STICK AT IT Jack Garwood scored with five minutes left

Garwood strikes late but Wells slip up again on the glory trail Ashford 4 Tunbridge Wells 3

By Brandon Begg HOCKEY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS went to Ashford knowing that a win would seal the South League Kent & Sussex Regional Division One title for them.

But the champions-in-waiting had been reminded of their fallibility when they lost an 11-goal thriller the previous weekend.

The match started off slowly but Wells gained momentum and after a slick passing move they took the lead through Kyle Mathieson.

Soon after, Matt Wilson tapped in on the far post from an excellent cross to make the score 2-0.

The visitors then let their guard down, which allowed Ashford to sneak a goal just before half-time.

A lack of communication and poor marking allowed Ashford to level the scores. This led to a poor period of play where Wells conceded another two goals in seven minutes, making the score 4-2 to the home side.

Wells managed to switch back but chances were not capitalised upon, though they did finally score again, Jack Garwood tapping in with five minutes to play.

As a last hope Wells took the keeper off and replaced him with a kicking back, but they could not draw level.

They now face a must-win game against Crawley in the last match of the season – and again victory will see them crowned champions.

The match is on Saturday at Kent College in Pembury, with a 1pm push-back.