Local Summer 2013

7/28/2019 Local Summer 2013

1/28

LOCALTunbridge Wells Borough Council magazine

www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk

Summer 2013

inside:

Priorities for2013/14

Summeractivities

News, views

and muchmore


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2


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This yearsbudget4

Recyclingcollection9

Family summer fun13

Mayors charity15

Planning matters16

Tourist informationhas moved17

FairtradeTunbridge Wells

18Love Where We LiveAwards22

Aliens Love

Underpants 26

TunbridgeWellsBoroughCouncil

RECYCLINGCOLLECTIONWEEKS

Dearresident,Yourrecyclingiseithercollectedon a blue

ororangeweek.Wearenotmakingany

changessopleasecontinuetofollowthe

cycleforyourroadasyouhavealwaysdone.

Wehopeyoulikeyournewstylecalendar.

PeelmeremovefrombackerKeepmesticktoacleanindoorsurface

Removemeleavesnomess,residueordamage

Needa reminderaboutwhetheryourroadisablueor

orangeweekorwhichdayisyourcollectiondue?

CheckourwebsiteAskaneighbourTelephoneuson01892526121

orvisittheGateway/WealdInformationCentre

JULY2013AUGUST2013

SEPTEMBER2013OCTOBER2013

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr SaSu Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa


1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 31 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5

7 8 9 10 11 12 134 5 6 7 8 9 10

8 9 10 11 12 13 146 7 8 9 10 11 12

14 15 16 17 18 19 2011 12 13 14 15 16 17

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

21 22 23 24 25 26 2718 19 20 21 22 23 24

22 23 24 25 26 27 2820 21 22 23 24 25 26

28 29 30 31

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30

27 28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER2013DECEMBER2013

JANUARY2014FEBRUARY2014

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa

1 21 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4

1

3 4 5 6 7 8 98 9 10 11 12 13 14

5 6 7 8 9 10 112 3 4 5 6 7 8

10 11 12 13 14 15 1615 16 17 18 19 20 21

12 13 14 15 16 17 189 10 11 12 13 14 15

17 18 19 20 21 22 2322 23 24 25 26 27 28

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

24 25 26 27 28 29 3029 30 31

26 27 28 29 30 3123 24 25 26 27 28

MARCH2014APRIL 2014

MAY2014JUNE2014



1

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 31 2 3 4 5 6 7

2 3 4 5 6 7 86 7 8 9 10 11 12

4 5 6 7 8 9 108 9 10 11 12 13 14

9 10 11 12 13 14 1513 14 15 16 17 18 19

11 12 13 14 15 16 1715 16 17 18 19 20 21

16 17 18 19 20 21 2220 21 22 23 24 25 26

18 19 20 21 22 23 2422 23 24 25 26 27 28

23 24 25 26 27 28 2927 28 29 30

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30

30 31

JULY2014AUGUST2014

SEPTEMBER2014OCTOBER2014



1 2 3 4 5

1 21 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4

6 7 8 9 10 11 123 4 5 6 7 8 9

7 8 9 10 11 12 135 6 7 8 9 10 11

13 14 15 16 17 18 1910 11 12 13 14 15 16

14 15 16 17 18 19 2012 13 14 15 16 17 18

20 21 22 23 24 25 2617 18 19 20 21 22 23

21 22 23 24 25 26 2719 20 21 22 23 24 25

27 28 29 30 31

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30

26 27 28 29 30 31

31

DetailsofChristmas/new

yearcollections

availableonourwebsite

tunbridgewells.gov.ukfrommidNovember

Pleaseputyourbins/boxesoutby7amon yourusualcollectionday

As ever, Local magazine is full of news, tips andinformation for our residents. There are plenty of activitiesto enjoy over the summer months have a look at some ofthe free ones for families to attend (p1213).

Get a glimpse of your new bin calendar that will be landingon your doormat next week its bright green! (p9).

As youll know from previous editions, weve been busyworking on how to improve our services despite budgetaryrestraints and an increasing lack of resources. Find outmore about our budget and priorities for the coming year(p45).

Enjoy the magazine and have a great summer.

Lizzie GoodwinEditor

We produce Local to keep you up-to-date about

council services and news. If you have any

comments about the magazine, wed love to hear

from you. Contact us by:

Phone 01892 526121

E-mail [email protected]

Post Lizzie Goodwin, Communications and

Engagement Team Leader, Tunbridge Wells

Borough Council, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge

Wells, Kent TN1 1RS

To advertise, contact Space Marketing Ltd,

01892 677721

or e-mail [email protected]

Advertising helps to keep our costs down. We do

not endorse the external products and services

advertised in Local.

The information in this publication was correct at the time of going to print. Tunbridge

Wells Borough Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or

subsequent changes.

If you require Local magazine in large print or audio CD please phone01892 554273

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In this age of austerity sometimes

we have to focus on what we

can achieve rather than what we

would like to achieve.

With this in mind, we have

selected 24 community projects

which we feel condent that we

can deliver in 2013/14.

Two main priorities are to

continue to deliver the scheme

aimed at relieving congestion

on the North Farm retail park

and ensuring that the councils

presentation to the A21 inquiry

achieves the result that most of us

would wish for.

Matters outside our direct

control include the cinema site

and it is hoped that the developers

are moving closer to producing a

viable solution to the eyesore.

We are already pushing forward

with our Energy Deal scheme,

Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom,

and working more closely with the

parishes and town councils so it

looks like a busy year ahead.

Cllr David Jukes

Leader, Tunbridge Wells

Borough Council

Our funding from the government has alwaysbeen among the lowest in the country and thisis set to continue. So far we have managed a 30per cent reduction in funding and this looks likelyto increase to 40 per cent or 2.4 million by2014/15.

Most of us would struggle with a reduction in income ofthis size and we will face signicant pressures and toughdecisions ahead. Despite these tough times we have madesome signicant achievements when setting our budget forthis year.

These include:

No reduction to any major services and we continue toprovide a much wider range of services than many localcouncils

A freeze on existing car parking charges and residentspermits

Not using any general reserves to balance the budget

Continuing to have the 12th lowest Council Tax in thecountry which means you pay just 42p per day

We will continue to look at new ways to generate incomeand to deliver cost savings. This will help to protect thefrontline services and ensure we use your money wisely.If you have any ideas how to do this, please contact uson [email protected]

Our budget

What we can achieve

Didyouknowthatlastyearwemadecostredu

ctionsandefciency

savingsofover600k?

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A CONFIDENTBOROUGH: supportingour communities,encouraging an activerole in services;improving road safety

and our culturalfacilities

19. Work with KCC andour other partners locallyto deliver the KentTroubled Familiesprogramme

20. Develop a toolkit toassist community groupsto deliver local events

21. Encourage all partsof the community tobecome more involved

in service design byagreeing a frameworkfor the communityright to challenge,encouraging morecommunity involvementin neighbourhoodplanning and theengagement of parish

councils

22. Encourage parishand town councils todevelop communityfacilities

23. Continue the TWITAcampaign and workwith the CommunitySafety Partnership todeliver a range of roadsafety campaigns in theborough

24. Develop the

concept of a culturaland learning hub inthe centre of RoyalTunbridge Wells

A PROSPEROUSBOROUGH: promotingemployment, improvinginternet connections,our roads and thevitality of the borough.

1. Provide space toencourage businessstart-ups

2. Work with localorganisations topromote opportunitiesforapprenticeships,

new graduates and theunemployed

3. Implement a towncentre Wi-Fi networkand encourage hi-techbusinesses

4. Continue to campaignto improve rural

broadband speeds

5. Encourage and supportKCC and the HighwaysAuthority to bring forwardimprovements to the A21and congestion at NorthFarm

6. Consult on the future ofRoyal Tunbridge Wellstown centre through theLocal Plan

7. Work with the owners ofthe Cinema Site to ensurea suitable developmentscheme

8. Work with the ownersto implement an approvedscheme for the Kent &Sussex Hospital site

9. Develop a strategy formarketing TunbridgeWells borough as adestination

10. Continue to make bestuse of land and propertyassets forthe benet ofall residents

A HEALTHY BOROUGH:

encouraging residentsto lead healthier livesand working with ourpartners on housingregeneration

16. Work with our partners(including GPs) to delivera programme ofpublichealth promotion

17. Offer all residentsaccess to a healthassessment andassistance in reaching

a healthy weight

through general healthassessments, advice,

providing a weight loss

programme and smoking

cessation programme

18. Support the residential

regeneration ofSherwood,

Ramslye and CranwellRoad through the re-

housing of all affected

tenants

Ourprioritiesfor2013/14

A GREEN BOROUGH:improving ourenvironment, cuttingwaste levels and

reducing energyconsumption.

11. Run enforcementcampaignson droppinglitterand dog fouling

12. Improve theappearance of RoyalTunbridge Wells by runninga successful Royal

Tunbridge Wells inBloom and exploring

the enhancement of the

Millennium Clock area

13. Develop the Stage 2

application for Heritage

Lottery Fund supportto

enhance Grosvenor &Hilbert recreation ground

14. Explore the introduction

of a kerbside glass

recycling collection

service

15. Implement the Green

Deal Scheme and run

a collective switchingcampaign

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6/28

Well done to Aiden Thomas, a year five pupil at St

Matthews School, High Brooms. Aiden producedthe winning entry in a competition to design aposter to promote recycling across the borough,organised jointly by the council and CoryEnvironmental, the councils waste contractor.

The competition for primary schools was part of acampaign to raise awareness of recycling among youngpeople. The campaign also saw council staff visitingschools to talk to young people about recycling and litteringand how they can help the environment in their local area.

Aiden won a prize for the school and his design has beenused on Corys recycling vehicles.

In March Councillor Paul Barrington-King, cabinet member

and portfolio holder for Sustainability, and RichardCooper, Cory Environmentals contract manager, visitedSt Matthews to present them with a cheque for 500 andto give Aiden a framed copy of his winning design. CoryEnvironmental staff also took along one of the trucks usedto collect recycling so that Aiden and his classmates couldsee how his design looked on the vehicle.

The school has used the prize money to create a willowstructure on their playing eld tting in neatly with the

environmental theme which will provide some welcomeshelter and shade for pupils on hot, sunny days.

Full information about recycling in the borough and thekerbside collection service can be found on the councilswebsite tunbridgewells.gov.uk.

Ready, steady, grow!

What a summer it is going to be for the town,representing our region in the Britain in BloomFinals for the first time ever.

The campaign was launched on 19 and 20 April in RoyalTunbridge Wells, supported by the Mayor at the time,Cllr John Smith, local MP Greg Clark and our sponsors,Sodexo Land Technology, Cory Environmental andCoolings Nursery.

Stalls were busy and the goody bags and vouchers fromour key sponsor Coolings Nursery certainly proved popular.

ContactHelenTimmson01892554031helen.timms@

tunbridgewells.gov.ukformoreinformationor

toenter

Working hard behind the scenes all year, the Bloom

Group are organising our best campaign yet andare delighted that three new local groups TheGrove, Calverley Grounds and Dunorlan Park havejoined the campaign.

The local competition means that you dont haveto be a gardening expert to enter; you will winsomething and get free tips.

We have loads of opportunities to get involved,meet people, learn new skills and help organisecommunity corporate volunteering too.

Pupil sees winning design on recycling vehicles

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7/28

The safest borough in Kent and (third) bestplace to live in the country ...officially

Its always good to be the bearer of positive news,so the Tunbridge Wells Community Safety Unit(CSU) is very pleased to be able to tell you thatour borough is officially the safest place to live inKent.

The gures reveal that between 1 April 2012 and 31March 2013, Tunbridge Wells recorded fewer crimes per1,000 residents than any other borough in the county, andwe were also lowest for offences such as vehicle crime,robbery and criminal damage. Overall we experienceda 3.8 per cent reduction in crime compared to last year.Our residents also come top in terms of feeling safe aboutwhere they live.

In case youre unaware of the CSU, we are a partnershipof local organisations including Kent Police, TunbridgeWells Borough Council, Kent County Council and otheragencies, dedicated to helping keep you and yourproperty safe. We have a wealth of safety informationand resources available and your local KCC CommunityWardens, Police Community Safety Ofcers (PCSO) andNeighbourhood Watch Coordinators are on hand to offeryou help and advice (see below for contact details).

In light of the recent gures, PaulBarrington-King, Councillor for Pembury andportfolio holder for Sustainability, said: In the faceof challenging economic times, this is an enormousachievement for Tunbridge Wells. I am extremelyproud of the Community Safety Unit in helping tomake our borough one of the best places to live inthe country.

Its also great to hear that, despite a slight increase

nationally, the most recent local labour marketstatistics conrm another decrease in unemploymentrates in our borough for the last quarter. TunbridgeWells showed the biggest fall across the whole ofLondon and the Home Counties.

To top off all this excellent news, in December 2012the Halifax announced the results of its seventhannual Quality of Life survey. Based on factorssuch as residents health, life expectancy, earnings,

employment, crime rate, weather, trafc ow andeven broadband internet access, Tunbridge Wellswas rated the third best place to live in the UK.

All the more reason to Love Where We Live.

Keep up to date about crime and safety and the CSU by subscribing to our newsletterat tunbridgewellscsu.org.uk/csunews, or follow @twbc_safe on Twitter.

For information specic to your area, sign up to the Neighbourhood Watch newsletter, E-watch,

at e-watch.co/register.php.To contact your local PCSO or your local Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator, call 101. Get in touch with a CommunityWarden on 07696 584175 .

If a crime is in progress call the police on 999, or 101 for non-urgent police matters.

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What is it?

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping ofrubbish or bulky items on land thatis not licensed to receive it. It can befound anywhere, such as roadsides,in lay-bys or on private land, without

the permission of the land owner.

Why is it illegal?

Fly-tipping can be dangerous.Dumping waste can be hazardous tothe public, especially when the wasteconsists of drums of toxic material,asbestos sheeting, clinical waste and

ThoseconvictedataMagistratesCourtcanfaceaneupto50,000oraprisonsentenceuptoayear,orboth!

Those

convictedata

CrownCou

rtcan

faceanun

limited

fneorapr

ison

sentenceu

pto

fveyears,

orboth!

syringes. Fly-tipping can also pollutesurrounding land and waterways,damage wildlife and ecosystemsand costs the tax payer signicantamounts of money to clear away.

In the UK, waste is disposed of under

laws that impose a duty on producersand transporters of waste to ensurethat it is disposed of properly. Onlyholders of a Waste Carriers Licencecan recover, transport, deposit ordispose of waste. Waste can only bedeposited at ofcially authorised sites.Anyone caught y-tipping waste iscommitting a serious criminal offence.

What we are doing?

Tunbridge Wells Borough CouncilsStreet Scene Enforcement Ofcersare on the frontline in the ght to

tackle y-tipping within our borough,and have been very successful inbringing offenders to justice. It is ourpolicy to seek to prosecute for eachoffence of y-tipping, where sufcientevidence is found, and it is in the

public interest to do so.As well as reacting to y-tippingthat has already occurred, theStreet Scene Enforcement Ofcersalso carry out regular campaigns,with Kent Police such as Stop &Search initiatives where any vehiclesuspected of carrying waste isstopped and searched for waste or

stolen property. Ofcers also checkthat any person carrying waste hasthe correct documentation, andsearch loads are photographed alongwith the vehicle to identify any loadbeing subsequently y-tipped.

This image shows a very large y-tipin the middle of a quiet rural lane,again an area of outstanding naturalbeauty. This y-tip caused majordisruption, blocking off the road toemergency vehicles and causingproblems for other road users. A

large quantity of evidence was foundwithin this y-tip, leading to a complexinvestigation, with Street SceneEnforcement Ofcers interviewingmany suspects and witnesses under

caution, viewing CCTV and building acase for prosecution. The y-tipper issoon to have his day in court. StreetScene Enforcement currently havea further ve cases awaiting a courthearing.

Every y-tip that is reported isthoroughly investigated, with everylead, however small, being followedup, so please, if you see a y-tipreport it on 01892 526121 or [email protected].

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9/28

About your bins wereimproving how you receiveyour informationLook out for your new style calendar that will be arriving on yourdoormat from Monday 1 July. Weve changed the format so youhave complete flexibility where you keep it; on a fridge door, theback of a cupboard door, or simply inside a kitchen drawer thefilm attaches to most surfaces and will be easy to peel off when itexpires.

As with previous years, the information about your waste and recycling canalso be found on our website or by contacting our Customer Service team.

It seems like a long way off, but information about changes that may affectyour collections during the Christmas period will be available on our websitefrom mid-November. More information about Christmas recycling will availablein the autumn and winter editions of Local magazine too.

TunbridgeWellsBoroughCouncilRECYCLINGCOLLECTIONWEEKS

Dearresident,Yourrecyclingiseithercollectedonablueororangeweek.Wearenotmakingan

y

changessopleasecontinuetofollowthecycleforyourroadasyouhavealwaysdone.

Wehopeyoulikeyournewstylecalendar.

PeelmeremovefrombackerKeepmesticktoacleanindoorsurface

Removemeleavesnomess,residueordamage

Needareminderaboutwhetheryourroadisablueor

orangeweekorwhichdayisyourcollectiondue?

CheckourwebsiteAskaneighbour Telephoneuson01892526121orvisittheGateway/WealdInformationCentre

JULY2013AUGUST2013 SEPTEMBER2013 OCTOBER2013


1 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 71 2 3 4 5

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 146 7 8 9 10 11 12

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

28 29 30 31

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30

27 28 29 30 31

NOVEMBER2013 DECEMBER2013JANUARY2014 FEBRUARY2014

Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa SuMo Tu We Th Fr Sa

1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4

1

3 4 5 6 7 8 98 9 10 1

1 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 112 3 4 5 6 7 8

10 11 12 13 1415 16 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31

26 27 28 29 30 3123 24 25 26 27 28

MARCH2014APRIL2014

MAY2014JUNE2014


11 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

2 3 4 5 6 7 86 7 8 9 10 11 12

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

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30 31

JULY2014AUGUST2014

SEPTEMBER2014 OCTOBER2014


1 2 3 4 5

1 21 2 3 4 5 6

1 2 3 4

6 7 8 9 10 11 123 4 5 6 7 8 9

7 89 10 11 12 13 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 1314 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

27 28 29 30 3124 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30

26 27 28 29 30 31

31

DetailsofChristmas/new

yearcollections

availableonourwebsite

tunbridgewells.gov.ukfrommidNovember

Pleaseputyourbins/boxesoutby7amonyourusualcollectionday

Yourcollection

service remainsunchanged your

collection will beon the day it

usually is

Householders

If you are disposing of waste thatcannot be taken away using yourdomestic waste collection, or ifyou cannot take it to a controlledwaste site such as the North Farm

Household Waste Recycling Centreand you are thinking of payingsomeone to take it away, make surethat you see their Waste CarriersLicence. This must be an originaland not a photocopy, and get areceipt for your waste, as you areresponsible under law for checkingthat contractors are correctly licensedto dispose of waste correctly.

How to report y-tipping

If you witness a y-tipping incident it isimportant to follow these guidelines:

Do not approach the person y-tipping they are committingan offence and could becomeaggressive

Do make notes of the date andtime of the incident

Do make notes of the descriptionsof any persons and/or vehiclesinvolved in the incident and inparticular it is essential to obtainthe correct Vehicle Registration

Mark details, without which it maynot be possible to correctly identifythe potential offender

Do not touch any of the wastedumped it may containhazardous waste, such as syringes

If you have evidence that may lead tothe conviction of a y-tipper and you

are willing to assist the investigationof the offence by acting as a witnessfor the prosecution in any subsequentlegal proceedings, you can reportthese details by calling us on01892 526121 or [email protected].

9


10/28

Do you live in parking zone Bin Royal Tunbridge Wells?Following the recent changes that meanSunday daytime parking is no longerallowed on single yellow lines on some ofthe main roads accessing the town centre,there is now a proposal to change theparking bay restrictions in zone B to alsoinclude Sunday.

The residents parking zone was introduced in 1999and since then there has been a signicant increasein on-street parking close to the town centre onSundays. Residents are competing for spaces withvisitors to the town and there have been requeststhat the residents priority bays should now includeSunday.

The parking bays affected by this change arelocated in the following roads: Albert Street, Albion

Road, Avon Street, Beech Street, Belgrave Road,Beulah Road, Chandos Road, Commercial Road,Dale Street, Dukes Road, Goods Station Road,Granville Road, Hill Street, Kirkdale Road, MercerStreet, Norman Road, Quarry Road, St JamesRoad, Stanley Road, Stone Street, Stratford Street,Tunnel Road, Western Road and Wood Street.

A Trafc Regulation Order is needed to make thechanges to the parking bay restrictions in zone Band this will be advertised in the next few weeks.Public notices will be placed in each affected roadand in the local press advertising the proposedchanges. If you wish to support or object to theproposal, you should write to the parking managerin the three weeks following publication of the publicnotice. You can nd full details about how to dothis on our website tunbridgwells.gov.uk and on thepublic notices.

Fitness in the great outdoorsExercise for long-term healthy living is often aboutopportunity and consistency. Gyms and sportscentres have excellent facilities and offer a great

deal of variety.For those who dont feel comfortable in the gymenvironment or arent using their membership to its fullpotential, there are many other opportunities available,which can have just as many benets if done in the rightway. Discovering new opportunities to exercise can be a lotof fun and can add variety to your week.

Exercise equipment in our parks and green spaces isbecoming more popular and is springing up around the

borough, many of these areas are managed by your localparish council.

Facilities in the borough

Capel the large playing eld behind the village hall has aleg press and strider machine.

Paddock Wood St Andrews Field has a ve piece gymwhich includes a leg press and space walker.

Pembury the village playground has an impressiveseven station gym including a horseback rider and ashoulder press machine.

10


11/28

Pepenbury Cornford Lane has a fantastic nine stationoutdoor gym with stunning views to match, as well as aone and a half mile woodland walk. Pepenbury do not

charge people to walk in the woods or use the equipment,however, as a charity they do rely on donations if you feelsuitably inspired.

Conservation volunteering is a great idea forgetting active in the outdoors. A volunteersession could involve walking, chopping,digging and planting. With activities for allabilities its a great way of reclaiming thecountryside and your own tness. The KentHigh Weald Partnership (khwp.org.uk) operateslocally as well as the Green Gyms scheme at

Bedgebury Pinetum (tcv.org.uk).For anyone looking to achieve weight lossthrough a combination of exercise and long-termhealthy eating, Weight for It! is our free 10 weekweight loss programme. Its held at differentvenues around the borough every quarter. Toregister or to nd out more information pleasecontact the Health Team on 01892 554411 ore-mail: [email protected].

Discover the real secret to

life-changing weight loss, contact:

LighterLife Tunbridge Wells

01892 522554

[email protected]

Change your mindset,change your life

www.lighterlife.com

LighterLife UK Limited 2012. All rights reserved.

bounce

Loseweightandputthe

backinyourlife!

years oflife-changing

weight loss

20

Langton Green the recreation elds have a chin upand parallel bars for an intense body weight workout torival Team GBs Louis Smith. Not for the faint hearted!

11


12/28

Go Wild inthe WealdFor over 20 years the Kent HighWeald Partnership has beenhelping the Tunbridge Wellslocal community to discoverwildlife on the doorstep. Thissummer will be no differentwith a staggering 30 free family

events planned between nowand September.

Brilliant Bats

They will be running several bat walksat Dunorlan Park, Hilbert Woodsand Barnetts Wood, all in TunbridgeWells. Using specialist equipment youcan track the bats as they go abouttheir night-time feeding ritual.

Drop by and Dip in

Pond dipping will be at BarnettsWood in High Brooms, and Cranbrookwhere you can dip into the deep anddiscover some watery minibeastsduring their drop-in sessions. You can

also make your very own creature totake home!

Wild Child

Learn how to survive in the wildswith shelter building, re lighting andmore! This session is suitable for agesseven and upwards.

Natures Own PlaygroundIf you dont have the time to go toone of their fantastic events, thereis still plenty to do in open spacesin and around Tunbridge Wells. Forexample, Cinderhill Woods in Mateldboast spectacular views of remnantheathland.

For more inspiration and informationgo to khwp.org.uk or call 01580212972. Dont forget to bookactivities!

12


13/28

Free Family Fun Days Summer 2013!Our Family Fun Days are back

for summer 2013, taking placeat a venue near you duringthe school summer holidays inAugust!

If youre looking for things to do duringthe summer break, look no furtherthan one of the Family Fun Daystaking place across the borough come along and have fun together.

Try out sports including kwik cricket,tag rugby, football and many more.And for the more adventurous, eithera climbing wall or spider mountain willbe available at each venue! If sportsarent your thing, then how aboutcreating something amazing in thearts and crafts area?

There will be 20 Family Fun Days in

all, starting on Monday 5 August atCalverley Grounds in Royal Tunbridge

Wells, andreturningthere forthe nalday on Friday30 August. In between,events will be held all across theborough, so there is bound to be onenear you.

You do not need to book in advance just turn up on the day and registerwith the activity leaders. Pleasenote that children will need to beaccompanied by an adult at all times.

Full details of dates and venues canbe found on the our website or bycontacting Nick Green, Sports, Grants& Communities Ofcer on 01892554108, or e-mail: [email protected] There will alsobe local publicity via schools, librariesand town and parish councils.

More summeractivitiesweve beentold aboutCranbrook Parade and

Family Fun DaySunday 30 June

Capel FeteSaturday 6 July

Langton GreenVillage FeteSaturday 6 July

Rusthall Village FeteSaturday 13 July

Paddock Wood CarnivalSaturday 13 July

Check locally for startand nish times

Theyrefreeandtheresnoneedtobook!

13


14/28

The Tunbridge Wells andMaidstone shared service thatdeals with Housing and CouncilTax Benefit Fraud deliveredexcellent results in safeguardingpublic money in 2012/13.

Across the partnership 634,461 was

found in fraudulent overpayments, allof which has to be paid back to thecouncils.

Of these cases, seven fraudsterswere prosecuted, seven received

ofcial cautions and 14 receivedadministrative penalties.

166,000 of the total was from anexercise run in the summer of 2012on single person discount cases.

This was repeated at the end of theyear and results are looking equallygood. We hope to publish them next

time.

The partnership is committed tosafeguarding public money and willcontinue to be vigilant and proactive.

Fraud doesnt pay!

DOYOUTHINKSOMEONEISCOMMITTINGBENEFITFRAUD?

Ifyouhaveanyinformationyouwishtogive,incondence,

pleasephone01892554107

orvisitourwebsitetunbridgewells.gov.uk/benetfraud

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15/28

Mental Health Resource theMayors charity for the coming year

One in four of us will be

affected by a mental healthproblem in any given year. Somecall it the silent illness as thereis no bandage, you dont look illyet statistics show that more andmore people are seeking supportfor their mental ill health.

For those living with mental illness, thestigma imposed upon them by societycan possibly lead to a lack of fundingfor services and difculty in ndingemployment. Ultimately, the silenceand lack of understanding aboutmental illness encourages feelings ofshame, and discourages people fromseeking treatment or even to admit thatsymptoms they may be experiencing

may be related to a mental illness.

About the charity

Tunbridge Wells Mental HealthResource Ltd (MHR) is an independentcharity based in the heart of TunbridgeWells, founded in 1993 to providepractical and emotional support forpeople suffering from mental ill health.

Figures show that in the region of160,000 people in Kent require supportfor their mental health illnesses.Despite living in what is popularlythought to be an afuent area, manynd themselves in nancial hardshipand social isolation as a result of theirillness, sometimes losing their job,

home and family. MHR consists of

three projects: The Hub, Reachout andAssert, providing services and supportin West Kent for people aged 18 65years.

The Hub

The Hub centre is based in GrosvenorRoad, creating opportunities for peoplewith mental health issues to meet

with a qualied team of staff who arethere to help and identify individualsneeds and support them to deal withtheir difculties. People can choosefrom a range of activities suited to theirneeds ranging from Art and Pottery tocomputer studies and Yoga, helpingto raise condence and self-esteemthus encouraging positive emotional

and physical well-being. MHR alsorun workshops in community-basedsettings with members of the publicwhich can help to break down barriersby helping people gain a betterunderstanding of problems associatedwith mental health.

Reachout

Reachout provides friendly andcondential peer support groups basedin the community for people withmental health difculties, with an aimto reducing isolation and encouragingpeople to be proactive in managingtheir own recovery. Groups are held inCranbrook, Edenbridge, Hawkhurst,Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge

Wells, offering friendly, condential

self-help support in a caring andnon-judgemental environment, whereindividuals can make friends, sharepersonal experiences, and nd theycan understand one another.

Individuals can express opinions abouttreatment and care and feed backanonymously to help improve services.They also have the opportunity to

become more involved by attendingconsultation group meetings.

Assert Advocacy

Assert Advocacy is independentof NHS and social services, andseparate from other parts of the charity.

Advocates help the clients to expresstheir own views and needs to people

who make decisions about their lives.Advocates aim to protect rights, provideinformation, and promote informedchoice. They help to dene individualsneeds around housing, benets,treatment and support.

Independent Mental HealthAdvocate (IMHA)

IMHAs help explain how the lawapplies, and how to participate in, orappeal against, the plans made forcare or treatment for people detainedunder sections of the Mental Health

Act 1983. They are also able to act inthe interests of someone who currentlylacks capacity.

The Mayor, Dr Ronen Basu said:

I have chosen MHR as my charity for my Mayoral yearbecause mental health is a major issue and yet stillremains a taboo subject. People with mental healthproblems face prejudice every day, problems canhappen to anyone at any age at any time, just like otherillnesses. Organisations like MHR need to be recognisedfor the work that they do and the support that they offerto an increasing number of vulnerable people. Throughmy year as Mayor I hope to help the charity raiseawareness of mental health issues, and work closely

with their Fundraiser Diane Bradley learning more aboutthis debilitating illness that affects so many people.

I am looking forward to supporting MHR raise theirtarget of around 15,000 this year through the manyevents planned. Some of the events taking place startwith Cricket Week at the end of May, a September ClayPigeon Shooting day, MHRs annual 5k Fun Run on6 October, a Wine Tasting evening in November and

looking forward to next year we have a Quiz Night inJanuary and a Golf Day planned for March, so plenty offundraising opportunities already in the calendar.

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Thinking of extending your home?

Is planning permission needed?

As well as requiring BuildingRegulations approval you mayalso need planning permission, soit is worth nding out as soon aspossible.

Check online Central governments Planning

Portal website explains whenplanning permission is needed.This will be updated to includeany changes to the rules that thegovernment may make.

The Planning Services pages of

our website have lots of helpfulinformation including how tocheck the planning history ofa site or address; the planningconstraints or policy designationsthat affect a site; whether yourproperty is a listed building; howto make applications and therequired fees for these.

Call in or phone the Gateway

Advice is available at the Gatewayat 8 Grosvenor Road, or by phone01892 526121.

Opening hours are 9am to 5pmMonday to Friday, late opening

until 6.30pm on Thursdays, andSaturdays from 9am to 1.30pm. Inaddition, a Duty Planning Ofceris available between 10.30am and2.30pm Mondays to Fridays.

How we can help:

Gateway staff:

how to apply for planning

permission

the planning history of a property(since 1974)

planning constraints relating toa property, such as whether itis within a conservation area oran Area of Outstanding NaturalBeauty, or whether it is a listedbuilding

Duty Planning Ofcer:

the main planning issues thatare likely to be raised by yourproposals

planning policies

the procedure and timescaleinvolved in the processing of yourplanning application

Please note: Neither Gateway staffnor the Duty Planning Ofcer will beable to conrm that your proposalsdo not require planning permissionas this can only be done by makingan application for a Certicate ofLawful Use. Nor can they advisewhether your proposals are likely toreceive planning permission, as wenow have a pre-application adviceservice for this.

What is a Lawful DevelopmentCertificate?

If you think your proposals donot require planning permissionwe would advise you to seekconrmation of this by submittingan application for a Certicate ofLawful Development. This will avoidany uncertainties if you wish to sellyour property or if your neighboursraise any concerns over any buildingworks you are doing. Informationon how make this application is

available on our website or atGateway.

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Our pre-application service

When planning permission is

required, Planning Services canprovide written pre-applicationadvice on whether yourproposals are likely to beacceptable in planning terms,although a small chargeis made for this. By takingadvantage of this service youmay save money on professional feesin preparing a planning application as wellas your planning application fees, if your proposalsare unacceptable. Also, it is likely to speed up the timetaken to get a get a decision.

Information about this service is available on ourwebsite or you may e-mail [email protected] for further guidance.

See our design guide

We have a useful design guide available on the websiteor at the Gateway on how to design your extensionso that it ts in with your house and doesnt harm thesurrounding area or spoil your neighbours amenities.

Why not

go out andexplore theborough this

summer?

Our Tourist Information Servicehas moved to a new home

You will now find theteam in Unit 2 of TheCorn Exchange, on theLower Pantiles.

The opening hours are10am-3pm, Monday-Saturday throughout thesummer season (April-

September) and Tuesday-Saturday throughout thewinter (October-March).

The Tourist InformationService can also bereached by telephoneon 01892 515675 andby e-mail on [email protected] normal ofce hours.

You can nd informationabout accommodation,attractions and eventsin the borough byvisiting our websitevisittunbridgewells.com orby downloading the freeiPhone visitor app from theApple Store.

Thisservicealsoappliesto

othertypesofdevelopmenttoo

17

id k b id ll


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New grants programme 9,600 for local groupsFrom April 2013, Tunbridge Wells BoroughCouncil is reintroducing the MemberCommunity Grants programme for small grantsunder 600.

This programme is intended to provide help for smallcommunity groups or organisations with projects orevents in their local area or neighbourhood, and givecouncil members an opportunity to support specicorganisations or projects in their wards.

Each borough council member will be allocated 200

to support voluntary and community organisations withprojects or events in their ward.

Projects seeking support should be based in a specicward of the borough and have support from at least oneborough council member for that ward. Applicants mayrequest support from more than one member in thatward if required.

Full details can be found on the councils website or bycontacting Nick Green, Sports, Grants & CommunitiesOfcer on 01892 554108, or e-mail [email protected].

Did you know Tunbridge Wellsis a Fairtrade Town?Fairtrade is a global campaign

which ensures a fair price tofarmers for their produce, plusan additional premium whichis invested in communitydevelopment.

The Tunbridge Wells FairtradeTown Campaign began in 2004 withprestigious Fairtrade Town statusnally awarded in 2007. There area number of goals which had to beachieved and maintained for this,including gaining support from theborough council, local faith andcommunity groups, schools and localbusinesses. In addition, Fairtradeproducts have to be sold and servedin a number of local shops and cafes.

Fairtrade Town events have beenhugely successful, increasing

awareness and engagement in ourtown and the surrounding area.

Initiatives have included a Fairtradefashion show, a ash-dance inCalverley Precinct, and communityart projects. This March, Malawiansugar producer Henry Matenda visitedTunbridge Wells to share his storyabout how Fairtrade has beneted hislocal community, through the provisionof electricity and a well supplying

clean drinking water.Why Fairtrade? Because we can usethe money we spend on everydaygoods to ensure fairer prices, decentworking conditions, local sustainability,and just terms of trade for farmers andworkers in the developing world. Whya Fairtrade Town? Because it speaksvolumes about local people and their

commitment to the wider world.

870 million people still suffer dailyhunger

500 million smallholder farmerssupply 70% of our food but they

also comprise half the worldshungriest people

Fairtrade helps farmersthemselves to ght poverty, andbrings justice to the market place

For more informationabout the Tunbridge WellsFairtrade Town Group, visittunbridgewellsfairtradegroup.

weebly.com

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Farmers

T li b d


19/28

Now that we have saidgoodbye to our longwinter you may think that

pies are in the past, butwhat about picking upsome local ingredients atyour farmers market fora light fish pie, perfectfor a summer evening ofdining outside.

A Light Fish Pie

Ingredients

Butter just for brushingover the pastry andcooking the spinach.

300g spinach, chopped

250g skinless cod orPollock llet

250g skinless smokedhaddock llet

300g raw king prawns

Small bunch parsley,chopped

Now, these two ingredientsyou will have to pick upfrom a local shop.

3-4 large sheets lopastry

200g crme fracheor even try a half fatversion.

In a saucepan, wilt thespinach in butter. Squeezeout the excess water thenput in the bottom of anovenproof dish.

The sh needs to be cut

into chunks

then popped

in a bowl, add

the prawns,

the crmefrache with the

parsley and season well.

Mix together and spoon

over the spinach.

Brush lo sheets with

melted butter then scrunch

up and use to top the pie.

Cook at 190C/fan 170C/gas

5 for 3040 minutes.

It should look crisp and

golden and sh cooked

through.

Serve with fresh salad

leaves that you can pick up

at your farmers market.

You might also

like to try a wine

from a local

vineyard, an ideal

accompaniment toseafood:

Sedlescombe Organic

Vineyard 2011 First

Release (Biodynamic):

concentrated fresh aroma,

with tropical, zesty avours

of gooseberries, grapefruit

and lemongrass.

If you cannot wait to get

out into the sunshine then

pop along to Tunbridge

Wells farmers market and

pick up some wonderful

picnic treats such as pies,

cupcakes, soft seasonal

fruits and fresh apple juice.

Market every second andfourth Saturday

outside the TownHall, Royal

Tunbridge Wells,from 9am to

2pm

Fresher for LongerDid you know thatthrowing away unusedfood costs consumers6.7 billion a yearand the majority of usmistakenly think that fruitand vegetables will go offquicker if theyre left in thepack?

Evidence shows that if we keepfood in its packaging and storeit according to the label we will

have more time to eat it andreduce the 4.4 million tonnesof good food and drink wastedeach year.

Now theres a nationalcampaign called Fresher forLonger that is encouraging usto cut food waste and save s.The campaign was launched

at Marks & Spencer, RoyalTunbridge Wells by CouncillorPaul Barrington-King, whois chair of the Kent WastePartnership.

By following on-packinstructions for storage, we cangive ourselves more time to eatfood and reduce waste.

Fresher for Longer will help uswaste less and save more.

The best way to store breadis in its original packagingin a cool dark place not inthe fridge.

If you buy tomatoes fromthe shops it is likely theywill have been kept in thefridge before getting to you.Therefore the best way tostore them at home, to keepthem at their best for longer,is to keep them in the fridge,in their original packaging.

Keep fruit in its packaging inthe fridge. There are a fewexceptions, like bananas,which should be stored atroom temperature, so checkthe label.

Tantalise your tastebuds

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An interview with Cllr McDermottPortfolio Holder for Planning and TransportationHow long have you beenPortfolio Holder?

One year. I was appointedby David Jukes (Leader ofthe Council) in June 2012.

Are you enjoying it sofar?

Its very challenging butrewarding. Im pleased withprogress Ive made withDavid (Jukes) on NorthFarm trafc improvements.And the council recentlyagreed to move to oneplanning committee, whichwill be more efcient.

What are your areas ofresponsibility?

Basically, Im in chargeof all planning issues,including trees, andmany things to do withtransport like our carparks, on-street parkingpermits and bays, and the

safety car operation. Theexception to this is generalroad maintenance whichis carried out by KentHighways.

What have you achievedso far?

Ive reviewed the planningdepartment, which hasimproved enormouslyover the last year. Werereceiving fewer complaints

about the service andreceiving praise fromresidents, which is greatnews. The planners haveworked very hard toimprove things.

Ive also alleviated theproblem with parking onyellow lines in the town,

and launched consultationson planning proposals.

What are the plans for theborough?

We need to build 6,000houses by 2026, and haveonly built around 2,600so far. Site allocations foradditional development

are being considered now,and weve asked residentstheir views on where theremaining houses shouldgo.

Were also looking to linkthe Pantiles more with therest of the town. We haveplans to alter the main roadbetween Church Roadand Fiveways, as a sharedspace area for buses andpedestrians.

Transport improvementsto North Farm and A21dualling are set for 2015,although discussion on theA21 started in the 1930s,so were crossing ourngers on that!

Finally, weve exchanged

contracts with a developerfor a site in Cranbrookwhich could provide LaterLiving apartments forprivate sale. This will benalised as and whenthe developers achieveplanning approval.

Whats coming up that

residents should knowabout?

The introduction of aCommunity InfrastructureLevy (CIL) is being

considered. The CIL wouldbe a levy on new builddevelopment to securemoney for infrastructureimprovements. There willbe consultation on thiswith developers and thepublic on how much can

reasonably be raised, andhow it should be spent,later in the year.

In the autumn, well belaunching a consultation onour Car Parking Strategy,which we need to refreshso that its in line with theBorough Transportation

Strategy.

And can you tell us yourfavourite building in theborough?

I like the Decimus Burtondesigned crescent in town,and the Pantiles is lovely ofcourse. But I live in Mateld

and think the borough hasso many beautiful villagesthat are full of character; Ireally couldnt choose justone as my favourite.

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Ash dieb ck dise se


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Ash dieback diseaseKent Trading Standards isaware that some rogue tradersare incorrectly advising

householders that because of theash dieback disease, the ash treeon their property must be felledor pruned. Chalara diebackof ash, often referred to as ashdieback, is a disease of ash treescaused by a fungus. The diseasecauses leaf loss and dieback in

affected trees and depending onthe age of the tree can lead totree death.

Once infected, trees cannot be cured,but not all trees die of the infection.Young ash plants can be killed withinone growing season of symptomsbecoming visible, whilst older treescan survive initial attacks, although

they may die after several seasons ofinfection.

Tree owners are not required totake any particular action such asfelling the infected ash tree, unlessa statutory Plant Health Notice has

been served on the owner. A PlantHealth Notice can be issued bythe Forestry Commission or otherplant health authority. Unless youhave received such a notice, thereis no requirement to fell the tree.

The guidance at the moment isthat infected mature trees shouldbe retained so that it can be seen

if they show any genetic resistanceto the disease. Isolating resistanttrees and examining their DNAmay be important for the longterm maintenance of a population ofcommon ash in this country.

Further details on the disease areavailable at the Forestry Commissionwebsite forestry.gov.uk/chalara

If you feel you have been targetedby a rogue trader, you can callTrading Standards via Citizen AdviceConsumer Service on 08454 040506.You can also visit buywithcondence.gov.uk for a list of traders.

We are offering a prize fund of up to 9K as well as in-kindsupport to help take forward the best ideas and prototypes.

Whos eligible?

This competition is open to any UK resident. There is no agelimit, but if you are under 16 please make sure you have thepermission of a parent or guardian before getting involved.

You may participate individually or team up with otherpeople. You are also welcome to enter as many times asyou like.

Interested?

If this sounds like something youd like to be involved ingo to tunbridgewells.gov.uk/transformed-by-you to registeryour idea and it could be chosen for the developers to

look at during the competition day in the Town Hall, RoyalTunbridge Wells on Saturday 23 November. Put the datein your diary, youll be very welcome to come along. Moredetails in the next issue.

If you have any other queries, do get in touch [email protected]

Transformed by youDo you have an idea for how to improve yourlocal area? Do you want to win the chance ofgetting people to turn your idea into reality?

There are many opportunities for how the use of technologycould improve your community, whether its to stayconnected with loved ones, share skills for a good cause, oreven organise community clean-ups.

Transformed by you is a competition supported by KentConnects to stimulate collaboration between public services,entrepreneurs and communities to develop innovative waysof using technology to improve neighbourhoods.

Were looking for your ideas on a range of differentchallenges, from:

how to get people to keep t and stay healthy

how to get involved in arts and culture and

how to make it easier for people to help each other21


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Clearer, simpler, easier:try our new websiteCompletely redesigned with our residentsin mind, the website gives quicker access toyour most popular topics planning, bins andrecycling and car parking.

If you have an interest in how the council works, youllnd access to meeting agendas, decisions and minuteseasier than ever before.

For a clean, modern design, that works better whetheryou have a smartphone, tablet or computer, trytunbridgewells.gov.uk to nd out what you need toknow before picking up the phone!

Love Where We LiveAwards 2013

Go on, put a smile onsomeones face theresstill time to submit yournominations for this yearsawards.

We all know people ororganisations that make a positive

difference. Perhaps a youngperson who volunteers their timeto help others, a group of peoplethat can always be relied upon tosupport local events, someonewho has helped improve safety inyour neighbourhood, a sports teamor individual who has made greatprogress, or a coach committed tohelping young people nd focus

in their lives, a local companythat is reducing its impact onthe environment, a neighbourwho helps others with their dayto day needs, or a charity that isparticularly meaningful to you.

You can help ensure their workand extraordinary qualities are

acknowledged and celebrated.Nominate online atLoveWhereWeLive.co.uk, orpick up a nomination form atthe Gateway, Weald InformationCentre, Town & Country HousingGroup or at the Town Hall.Alternatively, call Hilary or Lizzieon 01892 554270.

Learn with Universityof the Third AgeWith about 700members and over70 interest groups,Tunbridge WellsUniversity of the ThirdAge is a self-helplearning organisationfor those no longer infull-time employment.

The groups cover awide range of interestsincluding Art, Computing,Discussion, History,Literature, Music,Photography, Languages

and Walking. Informaland friendly, their aimis learning for pleasure.

Their membership feeis modest and, as wellas providing access togroups, enables membersto take advantage ofregular talks on a varietyof topics. Visits to placesof interest are alsoarranged at extra cost.

For more information,please visit their websiteat u3atunbridgewells.pbworks.com.

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.; I

.

l

Health and Safety Advice and TrainingEC Safety Solutions are running cost-effectivetraining courses in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and

Sussex. Also available on work premises.First Aid Courses*

First Aid Courses for Mumsand Dads

Fire Warden Training

Fire Risk Assessments

Evacuation Planning

All Hazard Plans

H&S Compliance Checks

Ofce/Workplace RiskAssessments

Strategy Planning

Policies and Procedures

Disability Awarenessand Audits

COSHH Awareness

Manual Handling Training

Noise Awareness

CIEH/BSC/IOSH TrainingCourses

Safety and Security Courses

Save up to 25% on selected courses quote TW13

For more information or to book a course contact:

t 08001 930246 m 07453 [email protected]

www.ecsafetysolutions.com

18 Church Road Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1JP*All First Aid Courses are approved by the HSE and Ofqual

23


24/28

Contemporary and Traditional Services

HENRY PAUL FUNERALS

www.henrypaulfunerals.co.uk10 High Street, Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 4NY

01892 825505

24 Hour Emergency Service l Home Visits l Private Chapel of Rest l Full Fleet of Modern & Vintage Vehicles

l Floral Tributes l Catering l Memorial Masonry l Pre-paid Funeral Plans l Repatriation

HENRY PAUL FUNERALS is a traditional family owned funeral directors purposely dedicated to providing distinct

levels of service, choice, dignity and care to bereaved families in Pembury, Tunbridge Wells and surrounding areas.

Superfast broadband deal signedOne of the biggest infrastructureprojects in Kents historywill start this year as betterbroadband is delivered acrossthe county by Kent CountyCouncil and BT.

The partnership is backed by 10m ofcouncil funding, 9.87m from central

government and 19.6m from BT.

The contract follows the enormously

successful Make Kent Quicker

campaign, which saw thousands of

people sign up and say they wanted

more from their broadband. So thank

you to all our readers who took thetime to take part in the campaign.

The Make Kent Quicker project wasset up to bring broadband to everyproperty in the county and makesure that most will be able to accesssuperfast broadband services.Without this project, many ruralbusinesses and communities wouldcontinue to have either no or very

slow broadband services as thereare no market-led plans to upgradeinfrastructure in many rural parts ofthe county.

Now, the combination of publicfunding and private investment,alongside existing roll-out plans, willmake sure that at least 95 per cent

of properties in Kent will have accessto higher-speed bre broadband by

the end of 2015 (with 91 per centhaving access to superfast speedsof 24mbps and above) and everyproperty in the project area able toaccess download speeds of at least2mbps.

Surveyors will be making their wayacross Kent during the rest of thisyear, with 2014 and 2015 expectedto be particularly busy as hundredsof miles of bre are installed, helpingto keep the county connected andcompetitive.

As a result, thousands of homes andbusinesses in Kent and Medwaystand to benet and the improvement

could deliver 1.5bn to the countyseconomy each year.

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TONBRIDGE EVENTS 2013


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*These events are ticketed. Check website for prices.

For more details about the events listed above,visit: www.tmbc.gov.ukor call Tonbridge Gateway: 01732 770929

TONBRIDGE EVENTS 2013

Sun 9 June Summer Carnival, Carnival & Fete

Sun 23 JuneA Taste of Tonbridge

Dragon Boat Racing, Market Stalls, Live Music

Fri 5 July *Killer Queen, Tonbridge Castle

Sat 6 July *Proms Concert, Tonbridge Castle

Sun 4 August Maidstone Winds, Concert Band, Tonbridge Castle

Tue 6 August *As You Like It, Open Air Theatre, Tonbridge Castle

Sun 11 August Bells Yew Green Big Band, Tonbridge Castle

Sun 18 AugustStrictly Sinatra

Sinatra Tribute (Vocalist), Tonbridge Castle

Sun 25 August The Oxted Band, Brass Band, Tonbridge Castle

Tue 27 August *The Mikado, Open Air Theatre, Tonbridge Castle

Sat 14 / Sun 15September

Tonbridge Castle Medieval FairCombat Display, Jester, Have-a-go-Archery

& Heritage Open DaysPlease contact James Walker

to discuss your own building requirements

Tel: 01732 835333 Mob: 07970 258091

Email: [email protected]

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Aliens in Pants and Dinosaurs


26/28

A season of rib-tickling comedy and heart-stopping dramais lined up for children and young people at Kents leadinglocal theatre.

The Assembly Hall Theatre, Royal Tunbridge Wells isstaging two top shows for youngsters this autumn to bringhours of family fun entertainment, and Local magazinethought wed tell you a bit more about them

Brian McAteer, Theatre Director for the Assembly HallTheatre says: Childrens theatre is at the heart of theAssembly Hall Theatre programme. Often children are

described as tomorrows audience, but for me they are theaudience of today.

Aliens Love Underpants in every shape

and size, but there are no underpants inspace, so heres a big surprise!

Freshly arrived from outer space, the aliens arecharmed, enthralled, surprised and delightedby ... underpants. Their comedy value is captured

in simple rhyming text and wonderfulillustrations of underpants in unusual

places. Based on the best-sellingchildrens book by Claire Freedmanand illustrated by Ben Cort, this showis delightfully engaging for all children38 years. Youll laugh your PANTS off!

This fantastic rhyming story issimply pantastic! British Book Awards

Fri 20 Sun 22 September Children 3 years +

Fri 1.30pm Sat Sun 10.30am & 1.30pm 12 All,Schools 8.50

All the way from Australia, Erths Dinosaur Zoo bringsthese awesome pre-historic creatures to the stage upclose and personal! From cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants, meet the most recent addition to theDinosaur Zoo, a carnivorous theropod known as the

Australovenator, the most complete meat-eating dinosaurskeleton yet found in Australia.

This experiential theatre performance features a castof large-scale Australian dinosaur puppets brought tolife by sophisticated design, electronics and theatricalpresentation. These amazingly life-like dinosaur recreationswere developed in consultation with palaeontologists,based on current science and specialist interpretations ofdinosaur fossil evidence.

Young tyrannosaurus lovers can observe and interact withthese extraordinary life-like dinosaurs in this entertainingand highly imaginative live show. But watch out not all ofthese Jurassic giants are as tame as they seem! Childrencan watch wide-eyed from a safe distance or dare to getright up close to the creatures.

Its a rare and pleasurable work that managestechnical brilliance, cultural insight and enchantmentall in one go Sydney Morning Herald

Tue 15 Wed 16 Oct Children 3 years +

Tue 12pm Wed 10.30am & 1.30pm First three rows 15,other rows 12.50, Schools 10

A

boggle-eyed

hands-on

theatrical

experience

Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2LU

Box ofce 01892 530613/ 532072 www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

Aliens in Pants and DinosaursIts all go at the Assembly Hall Theatre

Youve seen WALKING WITHDINOSAURS, now experiencethem as youve NEVER experienced

them before.

The theatres programme has continued to develop in

recent years securing top West End musicals, quality

drama and building a strong family programme.

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Whats On at the


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What s On at theAssembly HallTheatreJuneWed 26 Jun Well Meet Again

Fri 28 Jun Buddy and the Killer

Sat 29 Jun Upbeat Beatles

JulyWed 17 Thu 18 Jul Jason Manford

AugustSat 31 Aug Michael Jackson Tribute

SeptemberSun 8 Sep Johnny Cash Roadshow

Fri 13 Sep Think Floyd

Thu 19 Sep Ukulele Orchestra ofGreat Britain

Fri 20 Sun 22 Sep Aliens Love Underpants

Sat 28 Sep Thank You for the Music

Sun 29 Sep Fusion

OctoberTue 1 Oct Essence of Ireland

Thu 3 Oct Sixties Gold

Fri 4 Oct Bon Jovi Experience

Sun 6 Oct RTWSO

Thu 10 Oct Ed Byrne

Fri 11 Oct Sandi Toksvig

Tue 15 Oct Fascinating Aida

Tue 15 Thu 17 Oct Dinosaur Zoo

Fri 18 Oct Kate Rusby

Sat 19 Oct An Evening ofBurlesque

Sat 26 Oct Fusion Final

Sun 27 Oct Royal Marines Band

Mon 28 Oct Wrestling

NovemberFri 1 Nov Rat Pack Live

Sun 3 Nov RTWSO

Sun 3 Nov Reginald D Hunter

Tue 5 Nov Ha Ha Holmes

Wed 6 Thu 7 Nov Three Phantoms

Sun 10 Nov RTW Choral Society

Sun 10 Nov Paul Mertons ImproChums

Sun 17 Nov The Nutcracker

Wed 20 Nov Show of Hands

Tue 26 Sat 30 Nov TWODS Oklahoma!

What a difference!A length of the Spa ValleyRailway embankment whichborders the Showfields estateis looking brighter thanksto the efforts of a group ofyoung people.

The teenagers, from youth groupsand churches around TunbridgeWells, volunteered their servicesfor a clear-up of the land adjacentto the rail track, as part of aproject organised by The Hub, anetwork of local Christian youthworkers.

The clear-up happened afterlocal councillor Chris Woodwardnoticed how unsightly the areawas during a walkabout of hisward soon after he was elected.

Chriss wish to do somethingabout it became a reality when hemade contact with Rosie Jones,youth worker with the Christian

charity, Tunbridge Wells Youth ForChrist (TWYFC). Rosie organisedthe project as part of a week

of volunteering activity that theyoung people were doing in thewider Broadwater area.

Work took place over two daysof the Easter holidays andaround 15 young people cleared

a huge amount of debris fromthe site. Talking about what thegroup achieved Rosie said: I amincredibly impressed, and proud,of all the hard work that this groupof young people put into the week.It was horric weather yet everymorning they were there, ready togo, whatever group they were putin, whatever the project they didit with a smile on their faces.

The council lent the group someclothing and arranged for thewaste to be removed. Spa ValleyRailway helped by providingaccess to the site and some extrahands to help with the work andrewarded everyone involved witha trip on one of their steam trainsat the end of the project a greatnish!

Honorary Freedom of theBorough March

The Princess of WalessRoyal Regiment

15 July

Royal Tunbridge Wells

Save thedate

More details willappear on ourwebsite soon.

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Documents

Local Summer 2013