Sign up to our daily newsletter for all the latest Kent stories and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters The Lib Dems had cause to celebrate the 2025 Local Election results in Tunbridge Wells as the party took five of the boroughs six seats from the Conservatives who are now the second largest party on Kent County Council Tunbridge Wells South and Tunbridge Wells West from the Tories The Conservatives did manage to hold onto their Cranbrook seat but by a margin of just 17 votes Overall on Kent County Council Reform UK now has overall control and holds 57 out of the 81 seats the Lib Dems are the second largest party with 12 councillors The final two seats are taken by Labour councillors down from the five the party held before the election Full results for Tunbridge Wells borough are listed below: Tunbridge Wells East - LIB DEM GAIN FROM CON Tunbridge Wells North -LIB DEM GAIN FROM CON Tunbridge Wells Rural-LIB DEM GAIN FROM CON Tunbridge Wells South-LIB DEM GAIN FROM CON Tunbridge Wells West-LIB DEM GAIN FROM CON For a full list of results from across Kent click here: Kent Local Election results full list For detailed results from the other 11 Kent County Council areas Ashford Canterbury Dartford Dover Folkestone and Hythe Gravesham Maidstone Sevenoaks Swale Thanet Tonbridge and Malling Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right ROYAL Tunbridge Wells has been voted one of the top places to live in the UK The town in Kent was listed by Garrington Property Finders as the 17th best place to live in the UK It scored highly for natural beauty, wellbeing, heritage and culture, schools and jobs as well as value for money Royal Tunbridge Wells was formerly called Tunbridge Wells and is still commonly known as that today The prefix "Royal" was granted to the town in 1909 by King Edward VII; it is one of only three towns in England with the title It was awarded the title to celebrate its popularity over the years among members of the royal family It's a Georgian colonnade formerly known as 'The Walks' and the 'Parade' It's a popular shopping area for locals and tourists with lots of independent shops, from jewellery boutiques to galleries, pubs and cafes The area was developed following the discovery of a Chalybeate spring in 1606. The fresh, clean mineral-rich spring water contains exceptionally high levels of iron, magnesium, zinc and calcium. a person who historically served the water For any train enthusiasts, Royal Tunbridge Wells is home to Spa Valley Railway Throughout the year, steam and heritage trains operate through the town to Eridge You can hop onboard the trains that host various themed journeys from murder mystery evenings to fish and chip trains, or the wine train that stops at local vineyards Surrounding the town are six vineyards, and Kent is the perfect place to produce wine because a portion of Wealden soil mirrors that of the Champagne region in France History buffs can stop in at Scotney Castle It's a ruined medieval castle with rolling parks and gardens The Natural Trust property sits on its own moated island and welcomes visitors through the grounds and inside too Royal Tunbridge Wells is also home to an incredible looking Wetherspoons pub It's found in the Opera House, which was built in 1902, before being converted to a cinema in 1931 and a bingo hall in the 70s Inside are lots of its original features from grand chandeliers and booths Guests can even choose tables that are right on the stage, surrounded by the opera boxes. Once a year, it remembers its roots with a live opera show inside For anyone wanting to visit Royal Tunbridge Wells It's 34 miles down the line from London Charing Cross - which you can get to in one hour Plus, another Kent town nicknamed the ‘jewel of the region’ with seven beaches and award-winning pubs And from historic Canterbury to cultural Margate, here are Kent’s most appealing towns and attractions Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey says she's not surprised Folkestone is a top destination in the UK.. Folkestone has been named the top destination to visit by Time Out. The Kent town featured on their 15 best places to visit in the UK in 2025 list. Citing it as a "once under-the-radar" seaside town it since undergone a huge revamp in recent years Time Out said: "In recent years the Kentish town has cemented its rep as a top-tier seaside spot sweeping beach and surrounding areas of natural beauty." There are some exciting new changes coming to the seaside town, which as someone who lives there, am excited about. There is the long awaited Leas Lift, one of the UK's last funicular railways it hopes to reopen this year and connect tourists from the clifftop to Folkestone Beach The Lower Leas Coastal park - one of the largest free adventure parks in the UK - is also laying the groundwork for a huge renovation And returning this year is the Folkestone Triennial for the first time since 2021 will see international artists create new structures and artwork to the town Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Voters across Tunbridge Wells borough will head to the polls on Thursday (May 1) to elect six councillors to represent them on Kent County Council Residents in Tunbridge Wells borough including in the towns of Tunbridge Wells have the chance to use their vote to influence policies on issues such as roads Tunbridge Wells borough has 41 candidates standing across six wards with each ward electing one councillor to county hall the six Tunbridge Wells seats are held by five Conservatives and one Heritage Party councillor Becki Bruneau was origonally elected as a Conservative 425 candidates are standing for your votes in 72 wards across the 12 boroughs and districts that make up the Kent County Council region Medway Council does not have elections scheduled in 2025 Kent County Council currently has a Conservative majority with the Lib Dems as the next largest party on six Labour and the Green Party hold five seats each three members for Reform and one each for the Heritage Party and the Swale Independents Elections in Kent are going ahead this year despite the ongoing devolution process that is set to see the county’s current councils abolished to be replaced with a smaller number of unitary authorities A full list of candidates for all of the Tunbridge Wells borough seats in the 2025 Kent County Council elections are listed below: For a full list of candidates standing in ever area of Kent in the 2025 Local Elections click here. For a detailed list of Ashford candidates click here For a detailed list of Canterbury candidates click here For a detailed list of Dartford candidates click here For a detailed list of Dover candidates click here For a detailed list of Folkestone and Hythe candidates click here For a detailed list of Gravesham candidates click here For a detailed list of Maidstone candidates click here For a detailed list of Sevenoaks candidates click here For a detailed list of Swale candidates click here For a detailed list of Thanet candidates click here For a detailed list of Tonbridge and Malling candidates click here Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Liberal Democrats’ leader Sir Ed Davey told volunteers the Tories were “on the run” as he signed “magic spatulas of victory” during an election visit in Kent Accompanied by MP Mike Martin in the shade of Grove Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells Sir Ed said his party stood for “traditional British values” The Lib Dems are targeting “big gains” from the Conservatives in the south in seats which he described as “two-horse races” while in the north they are “fighting” Reform Sir Ed said: “We’re optimistic we can make real gains from the Conservatives here in Tunbridge Wells across many of the areas that are being contested “They’re close run fights between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives “Reform isn’t really present in most of the areas that we are fighting We are fighting against Reform in the north of England.” “The vast tracts of the country where we’ve made big gains from the Conservatives “We are gaining votes from lifelong Conservatives who are really worried about how extreme the Conservatives have become.” He repeatedly mentioned Tory leader Kemi Badenoch describing the Lib Dems as “people who fix church roofs”, but said it did not bother him. “She meant it in a disparaging way, we’re wearing it as a badge of honour, we’re the sorts of people from the community, local champions, who do things like fix problems in the local area,” he said. He described “massive improvements” in the finances of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council since the Lib Dems took control in 2024. Sir Ed pointed to the “huge debt” run up by the Tories in Kent County Council, of which the Conservatives risk losing control for the first time since 1997, on Thursday. He said: “We’ve seen the finances in much better shape, thanks to good management from the Liberal Democrats, “That compares to the Conservatives on Kent County Council with the elections tomorrow where the Conservatives have run up a huge debt and managed the finances very badly. Sir Ed thanked the Tunbridge volunteers for their work and signed a bundle of spatulas for them. Despite his optimism he also said he does not make predictions for fear of taking voters for granted. “We’ve got the Conservatives on the run haven’t we,” Sir Ed said, to cheers from his supporters. Designer of the “magic spatulas”, councillor Martin Brice, of Culverden, Tunbridge Wells, said they ensured volunteers did not lose fingers to a dog, or crumple a leaflet on its way through a letter box. Cost of living support More in cost of living support Bins and recycling More in bins and recycling Council Tax More in council tax Parking and roads More in parking and roads Planning and building control More in planning and building control Benefits and support More in benefits and support Housing More in housing The Council More in the council Business Portal More in business portal Licensing and permits More in licensing and permits Community and leisure More in community and leisure Environment issues More in environment issues The Council’s new Strategic Plan 2024-2032 been approved At the meeting of Full Council on Wednesday 26 February 2025 The Strategic Plan sets out our ambition for the borough of Tunbridge Wells to be ‘a place where all generations can live healthy and fulfilling lives in vibrant and connected communities’ This ambition is supported by four priorities: In the plan ‘Making it Happen’ identifies the projects and activities that will be undertaken by the Council to contribute towards the achievement of the priorities Following the meeting Council Leader Ben Chapelard said: ‘I want to thank every resident who supported the process of creating the new Strategic Plan by contributing to the consultations we held We listened to what was said and made adjustments to the plan ‘Now that the plan has been agreed by members the Council can move forward with the work of delivering the projects that support our priorities that we believe will make Tunbridge Wells an even better place to live work and play.’ The Strategic Plan replaces the interim Building a Better Borough plan 2022-24 Read a copy of the Strategic Plan on our Plans and strategies page Take a look at our short animation to find out more about the Strategic Plan: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council can send you a weekly email packed full of interesting news and features The email also includes a reminder for your bin collection day and tells you when new planning applications have been submitted near your house You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security Article by Index Digital Team | 28th March 2025 yet it is also vibrant town with delightful places to eat and drink shops to explore and lots of exciting events – making it a town that really offers something for everyone Whether you are looking to move to the town simply want to explore what Tunbridge Wells has to offer on a day or weekend away there is much to discover about the past and present of this Kent tourist spot Royal Tunbridge Wells has the distinction of being one of the few towns in England to be given a royal title. The town itself was born in the 17th century when looking to improve his health by getting some country air in the local area King James I’s courtier Dudley Lord North came across the Chalybeate spring Having seen his health improve following drinking the water he believed that it had healing properties and convinced his friends to visit and try for themselves – which then saw the area established as a spa retreat But it was not until the 1680s that the town really began to form with the construction of The Pantiles and from there it went on It was in 1909 that the town was named ‘royal’ by King Edward VII because of his mother Queen Victoria's patronage of the spa Alongside the spring, the town is also well known for its crops of sandstone rocks – you can take a stroll at High Rocks across the town’s common or a little further afield at Eridge Rocks on the edge of town Tunbridge Wells has several venues at which to enjoy music Located in the heart of the town, the Assembly Hall Theatre is a 1,000-seat multi-purpose venue offering an exciting and eclectic variety of theatre Just across the road you will find Trinity Theatre – a vibrant cultural hub It has been established as an arts hub since 1982. Having welcomed 90,000 people through its doors each year it is best known for theatrical productions for example its art gallery supports local artists and is used by colleges and art schools alike for their end of year shows The Forum has had many a famous face perform on stage as their careers started to take off An independent music venue which opened in 1983 it has the rather unusual history of being a former public toilet The brainchild of four friends – Michael Oyarzabal and Mark Davyd – in 2012, NME voted the venue as Britain's Best Small Venue Every summer the popular Live on The Pantiles (formerly Jazz on The Pantiles) offers the opportunity to dine outdoors while listening to live music in an amazing atmosphere Music fills the air with performances from numerous acts every Thursday You can either book a table at one of the participating venues and enjoy a delicious meal as you listen to the acts perform or you can buy a spectator space and get yourself a drink from the pop-up bar There is also an annual Boules on the Pantiles event offering businesses the chance to network while enjoying the traditional French game Pantiles Markets: Running on Saturdays and Sundays enjoy the wares of local traders selling food & drink, jewellery, art, flowers, gifts, fashion and vintage. Visit thepantiles.com Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival is set to “enthral and engage whether you love books or simply have a curious mind” Events will be staged at various locations across town (Council Chamber Tunbridge Wells Forum and Trinity Theatre) with names including Martin Clunes Live at The Pantiles will take place every Thursday evening from 15th May to 11th September This annual event filled with a diverse line-up of great live music drawing crowds of music enthusiasts from far and wide Live at The Pantiles: Soul Train will also be taking place periodically through the season while The Pantiles are also partnering with Essence for a Live at The Pantiles: Bollywood evening on 28th June The popular Local & Live festival which saw its early years being homed on The Pantiles is coming back to Calverley Grounds this year Local & Live’s mission is to help more people discover local grassroots music as well as their own voices It takes place over the August Bank Holiday and is a four-day celebration of the best live music and culture.  Enjoy live music featuring Reef and One Night In Nashville, plus the UK’s best tributes and very special guests Big John Bosh! and Barrioke at the Sausage and Cider Festival in Eridge Park plus of course 30 ciders and 20 sausage flavours There will also be a children’s stage with character meet and greet There will be a great range of independent outlets but if sausage isn’t your thing there will be a number of vendors offering other tasty food selections.  Summer in Nashville will be coming to town on 20th July. For more details, visit summerinnashville.com Tunbridge Wells Food and Drink Festival will this year be held on 27th-28th September in Calverley Grounds  For mnore information on this free event, visit facebook.com/TunbridgeWellsFoodandDrinkFestival there have been many new developments recently in Tunbridge Wells most notably the new apartments you pass as you enter the town from the south Pantiles 1887 is made up of two-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom mews homes ideally located on the edge of the iconic Pantiles just a five-minute walk from the train station The former site of the Kent & Sussex Hospital has also been developed a sought-after neighbourhood at the top of town And the Knights Wood development on the edge of Tunbridge Wells saw all its homes reserved highlighting the popularity of the town Work is also underway on the site of the former ABC cinema at the crossroads of the town The The Amelia building in the town centre opened in 2022 and houses a range of arts heritage culture and wellbeing services with the aim becoming recognised as a centre for high quality cultural experiences It is also the new home for the town’s library The building is named after social reformer and campaigner for women’s suffrage Amelia Scott These sessions are aimed at three to four-year-olds – listening to stories is a great way to encourage young children to read books Bounce & Rhyme is held every Tuesday at 10am or 11am and Thursday at 10am offering a fun and noisy singing session for those aged up to four with their parents/carers The Amelia is one of the locations in the town for events taking place during Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival The town centre is home to a great spot to get some fresh air – Calverley Grounds as well as it being home to the town’s croquet club It has also been the venue of the annual ice skating rink to celebrate Christmas festivities And this summer will also once again host Local & Live The town’s first public park, Grosvenor Recreation Ground, was opened in 1889. Now called Grosvenor and Hilbert Park the Green Flag Award-winning venue is home to play areas Historic features include Marnock Lake and dripping wells For train enthusiasts, head to the Spa Valley Railway which runs across the wonderful High Weald Countryside from Tunbridge Wells through High Rocks and Groombridge and on to Eridge station With a host of themed days out there is plenty to experience from afternoon tea or fish and chip suppers to real ale and cider trains or even A Taste of Faulty Towers Tunbridge Wells is also home to Royal Victoria Place shopping centre which offers a variety of outlets through Chapel Place and on to the Pantiles offers even more variety of shopping opportunities Even more shopping facilities can be found on the edge of town on North Farm Industrial Estate On the edge of town is RSPB Broadwater Warren Nature Reserve Enjoy a walk through the reserve's heathland and woodland where you might just get to see a variety of wildlife including previously threatened bird species For those looking for a cultural day out, The Fairfax Gallery on the Pantiles exhibits original contemporary paintings and sculptures from established Visitors can view original artworks in the spacious listed building creating a perfect setting to see paintings and sculptures.  Also make a trip to where the town itself began at The Chalybeate Spring which is situated on the Pantiles and is open 24 hours a day After your visit you can ‘Take the waters’ from a selection of infused or naturally bottled water Tunbridge Wells has a wide variety of options when it comes to eating and drinking in the town. There is a relaxed vibe on The Pantiles where in warmer weather revellers sit out on the walkway enjoying drinks from The Duke of York Moving nearer to town up the High Street there is The Ivy in the town centre you will find places such as Giggling Squid and Cote And then heading down Camden Road at the top of town there is Hattusa While further afield there is also the delights of The Mount Edgcumbe and The Beacon With a history going back nearly 450 years, The Parish Church of King Charles the Martyr which can be found in the town centre of Tunbridge Wells was designed by Thomas Neale and opened in 1676 It was the first substantial building in Tunbridge Wells built as a chapel of ease for those visiting The Pantiles This Grade I listed building is one of the finest examples of early English Baroque architecture and is noted for its “spectacular ornate ceiling plasterwork of the highest quality”. Other points of interest are the stained glass in the east window which dates from 1901 and shows the Easter scene with the three Marys at the tomb the 17th-century oak-panelled galleries on three sides of the chapel and the sundial on the south wall of the church The Church of England Parish Church for the Broadwater Down area of Tunbridge Wells, St Mark’s is a Grade II listed building built in the 19th Century by Robert Lewis Roumieu The building has a French Gothic Revival style with a 130ft spire and its stained glass windows were a memorial to the Earl of Abergavenny who instigated the building of the church The church had a set of chimes and bells installed in the clock tower funded by public donations in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria which were first used in 1898. Although it has no cemetery there are cenotaphs and lots of plaques and memorials in the church including WWI and WWII memorials drink or soak up some of the town’s rich history The Pantiles is a key draw for tourists and locals alike With a relaxed vibe and beautiful architecture you can make a visit to the Chalybeate spring and try its water head there on market day for some local or international wares or enjoy one of the many events it hosts such as Live on The Pantiles the Food Festival or celebrate New Year’s Eve in style There are a variety of lovely places to stay in Tunbridge Wells whether you are looking for overnight accommodation for a holiday business trip or somewhere for your visitors to spend the night The Royal Wells Hotel blends Victorian charm with the contemporary and famously hosted Queen Victoria in her younger years as a princess the elegant hotel has recently undergone extensive refurbishment offering the latest facilities without losing its lovely period style The Spa Hotel can be found on the edge of town set in 14 acres of picturesque grounds the historic 4-star venue was built in 1766 and offers contemporary comfort and elegance on a stay in one of its 70 individually-designed bedrooms Take the chance to relax at the spa or dine in the restaurant on a visit to explore historic Tunbridge Wells.  Set on The Pantiles you will find the beautifully restored Georgian building housing The Tunbridge Wells Hotel. In an ideal location to soak up the culture of the town it is also a great spot for accessing the town’s other points of interest You can enjoy a meal in its relaxed informal dining room – The Eating House – open for English and continental breakfasts light lunches and afternoon tea to romantic formal dining experiences A stay at One Warwick Park Hotel in Tunbridge Wells offers the chance to be based in the heart of the town with a choice of 39 beautiful bedrooms at the venue which also has an Art-Deco style bar and stylish restaurant There is also the option to book a stay in its self-catering townhouse which is set over three floors offering lots of home comforts a warm and inviting restaurant whose menus change with the season using ingredients from local suppliers A converted Grade II Listed mansion, Hotel Du Vin is “one of this beautiful spa town’s architectural landmarks” it makes a great base from which to explore Tunbridge Wells With 34 timelessly styled bedrooms and suites to choose from once you have settled in you can enjoy a delicious meal in the calming French-styled Bistro Du Vin either before or after wandering around the town There are also a plethora of other hotels to choose from as well as B&B and Airbnb options throughout the town These are just a few ideas for things to see and do in Tunbridge Wells whether it’s a day out or a break away there is lots to explore in Tunbridge Wells #VisitTunbridgeWells #RoyalTunbridgeWells #FamilyDaysOutInKent #IndexDigital Index Digital is a lifestyle informative web site covering the needs of online visitors in Kent and Sussex not the dodgy one from the BBC crime series with Sarah Lancashire— this is just outside Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent It may have acquired its name thanks to the pleasure gardens and spring-fed cold baths that gained popularity here in the 18th century Or perhaps it’s just a reference to the splendour of the surrounding hills and woodland which has relaunched as a restaurant with rooms on the edge of the forest could well claim to have put the “happy” back in the valley it later hosted Basque survivors of the bombing of Guernica and Jewish Kindertransport children when it was rented by a refugee committee before the Second World War then it became a pub; and most recently it was the family home of Pete and Viv Cornwell What a place they’ve turned it into — with food rooms and service far exceeding what you’d expect for the price Become a subscriber and along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners six newly decorated rooms in the main house joined the higher-end Summerhouse cabin intended as a bridal suite for the dozens of weddings held here The latter comes with a walk-in rain shower and a bathtub on its own private terrace but the rooms in the main house are just as luxurious has a round bath tucked into a turret window The Tunbridge Wells-based studio SGS Design has done a clever job of blending vintage features such as velvet curtains and framed embroidery with contemporary touches including red mushroom lamps and Pols Potten zigzag stools You’ll have a hard time dragging yourself away from the gigantic cushions — especially when the views are as good as they are in Eyebright which has enormous windows for admiring the scenery • 100 of the Best Places to Stay in the UK LOTTIE TOPPINGScore 8/10Much like the other Kent hangouts run by the Cornwells (Kingdom in Penshurst and the Swan at Chapel Down in Tenterden) the Beacon is all about the food; the Hearth Restaurant with original stained glass and a wood-panelled fireplace offers a prix fixe set menu of two or three courses plates up unusual combinations such as Skrei cod saké and dill (delicate and delicious) and asparagus sablé and smoked egg puree — a Mondrian painting in food form accessed through a fake “wine cellar” door is a good spot for a pre-dinner drink and does a hearty breakfast (the full English comes with the winning additions of potato rösti and a fennel seed roll) • More great hotels in Kent• The best of the UK But make sure to wander the 17 acres of wooded grounds It’s not advised to go near the three lakes (presumably this warning is aimed mainly at drunken wedding attendees) but consider taking binoculars: regular visitors include roe deer and all manner of birdlife Score 8/10It’s on the outskirts of Royal Tunbridge Wells so if you’re taking the train — regular services run from Charing Cross and take just under an hour — go for a half-hour walk across Tunbridge Wells Common and along Nevill Park The great appeal of the Beacon is that it’s a relaxing place to kick back and do nothing but you should at least wander down the Pantiles a beautifully preserved Georgian colonnade in town and a craft and food market every other weekend Price B&B doubles from £153Restaurant set menu from £45Family-friendly YAccessible NDog-friendly N Huw Oliver was a guest of the Beacon (the-beacon.co.uk) • Best affordable short breaks in the UK• Best UK pubs with rooms Sign up to the travel newsletter for weekly inspiration, advice and deals here There is a public consultation on the Local Plan for Tunbridge Wells with just days for people to have their say on proposed modifications The consultation launched on March 17 and ends on April 30 but its contents directly affect people who live and work in the borough It earmarks land for many uses including for new homes and a "greater mix" of potential uses of the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre including homes but also recognising the opportunities in this location for additional town centre uses focused around the park and enhancements to the public realm and legibility." There is a shake-up of sports provision in the plan with this new paragraph: "The playing pitch strategy (PPS) prepared on behalf of the council looks in detail at the existing provision of sports pitches quality and configuration for providing for the future population taking into account housing and population growth and demographics to be re-provided at a new ‘sports hub’ at Hawkenbury offering two senior pitches (one of which to be 4G/Stadium quality) The strategy is reflected within the following site allocations which detail the individual sites and proposed future uses." The garden settlement at Tudeley, between Paddock Wood and Tonbridge to mark the change in development strategy and following a planning inspector's response to an earlier draft a minimum of 12,204 new homes must be built One of the ways this will be achieved is through "the major transformational expansion of Paddock Wood It says a "masterplan" will be needed for the urban expansion of Paddock Wood Also needed will be "significant transport measures" to support this growth And there will be "some reductions" in Green Belt, notably land in east Capel, next to Paddock Wood, and as already in the plan, around Royal Tunbridge Wells and Pembury Some 3.046 per cent of Green Belt in the borough has been "de-designated" The plan now says: "The council recognises the local and national importance of the Green Belt and the important role it has the council considers that there are the exceptional circumstances to alter the boundaries of the Green Belt to remove land from the designation for the proposed development at Paddock Wood (including land at east Capel) at a few sites around Royal Tunbridge Wells (particularly at North Farm/Kingstanding Way) Land which has lost Green Belt status in hectares: Total Green Belt removed - 217.272 (536 acres) and associated improvements at Badsell Road roundabout; Somerhill roundabout improvements; traffic management improvements at Five Oak Green; Hop Farm roundabout improvements; and junctions on the Pembury Road corridor including capacity improvements at Woodsgate Corner and "an appropriate junction" at Pembury Road/Halls Hole Road/Blackhurst Lane along with windfall sites and those with planning permission create around 10,605 to 11,040 homes The council said it was confident it could meet a 10-year housing land supply could be achieved following the plan's adoption For more details on this consultation and for how to comment visit the council’s website and click on the Consultation on Proposed Main Modifications webpage. Get more Tunbridge Wells news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE Article by Index Digital Team | 18th December 2024 Always looking for new ways to support and promote the town Royal Tunbridge Wells Together BID has been exploring how it can go digital – introducing not only a free App that is a one-stop shop for everything Tunbridge Wells but also setting up a new recruitment website for the town Last month RTW Together BID launched the bespoke RTW Love Local Tunbridge Wells App – a digital town hub platform which puts everything local together in one place Users can access the latest offers from business in the town centre scroll through a searchable business directory and find useful information including local news feeds The App was launched via a digital advertising and outdoor poster advertising campaign plus a fun launch weekend was held in the heart of Tunbridge Wells with performers dressed as mobile phones explaining the App to members of the general public and rewarding them with Christmas chocolate coins once they had taken the few seconds to download the App It has had a really positive reception from users – Laura commented: “This App is superb I use it to check what events are on each week I went to the Forum the other night because it showed me a gig I liked the look of and the offers have been a big part of my Christmas shopping plan!”James said: “We are new to the area and the App has been a one stop shop for us as a family I tailored my interests so it shows me family-friendly events and the offers are brilliant I also like that it shows you live train and bus times.” Alex Green, CEO of RTW Together BID said: “We are delighted that more than 1,000 people have downloaded the App already and over 150 businesses have already activated their accounts and have started to promote special offers to users The great thing about the App is that the user can completely personalise and limit the number of notifications they receive to suit their lifestyle Users can choose interests that fit their needs from food to film users will be able to receive geo alerts from businesses near to them so they can take advantage of deals and special offers.” There will also be the opportunity in 2025 for BID members to use Shop Local, an e-commerce marketplace, which will allow members to sell their goods and services to local residents and visitors through the RTW Love Local App. The developers, Loqiva, are developing this second service to answer the need for online shopping within a local economy. To download the App, visit https://qrfy.io/p/cDzo3DsTfn Tunbridge Wells can be very proud of the wide range of businesses that have made the town their home and RTW Together BID is committed to supporting businesses relocating to the area increasing  employment opportunities and ensuring staff retention One of the projects they have recently launched is a town-focused recruitment website As part of the TW Works campaign it has been designed to be relevant to all levels of roles and all types of business from retail to hospitality This will give potential employees a free platform to search for local jobs and the business community to have an affordable channel on which to advertise (BID members will have free access to the platform) the BID are delighted to be partnering with Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine to offer print advertising packages to accompany the digital platform #TunbridgeWellsWorks #RoyalTunbridgeWellsTogetherBID #KentBusinessNews #IndexDigital Breaking crime updates and news from the courts A well-known figure in Tunbridge Wells who was a long-term fundraiser the deputy town crier and who held variety performances in the town has been jailed for 16 years for child rape Brian Bissell, 82, who was a member of many groups in the town over the years, has been jailed for a series of offences committed more than 50 years ago. Bissell repeatedly abused a girl from when she was only 10 years old, during the 1960s and 1970s, said Kent Police Bissell sometimes targeted the victim in her own home by getting in and out through her bedroom window Further abuse was carried out at a flat where he lived in Ravenswood Avenue He once also raped the child after taking her to an isolated location in Brokes Wood A complex and lengthy investigation into offences started in 2018, and after Bissell denied any wrongdoing, an initial trial was held at Maidstone Crown Court in 2023 and Bissell was found not guilty of offences against a further four alleged victims of abuse A retrial was ordered for offences relating to the allegations concerning one victim where verdicts had not been reached This took place at Maidstone Crown Court during March 2025 and led to Bissell being convicted of five counts of rape Tunbridge Wells was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment He was also made the subject of an extended licence period of a year Bissell was very much a self-promoter of his involvement in good causes He was always seen out and about in the town and had been involved He twice abseiled down buildings for charity dressed as Spiderman in 2019 and then as Batman down the front of Wetherspoon's Opera House On two occasions he held a variety performance on stages in the town where he was on the stage most of the performances Detective Constable Hannah Crittenden said: "Bissell abused the trust of both his young victim and her parents in the worst possible way He quickly exerted control over a vulnerable child to satisfy his abhorrent desires making her feel the abuse was normal and ensuring her compliance so she was too terrified to tell anyone His actions have had a lasting and profound impact upon many aspects of the victim’s life who has continued to live in fear of his presence until he was remanded in custody "Bissell has clearly demonstrated the threat he poses to children having committed appalling and repeated offences over many years I do hope this sentence will at least provide some comfort and reassurance to all those who have been connected to our investigations "It is never too late to report any sexual offence and I commend the bravery of any victim that does so We have a team of specialist officers who work relentlessly to ensure that offenders like Bissell do not evade justice just because a crime may have happened a long time ago We will always treat any information with the upmost confidence and sensitivity." You can find advice and support and details of how to report rape and sexual offences to Kent Police here Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of KentLive content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice It was with great excitement that I arrived at Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun on Saturday but most of all because I was introducing another friend Tracy to parkrun as she visits from Australia Alison was persuaded to do her 4th parkrun after a two year gap too the usual perception of parkrun played out of "But I can't run!" and of course my persuasive reply was "You don't have to be a runner!" And to prove what I was saying was true I offered to be a volunteer parkwalker and walk the course with them both We listened to the first timers briefing on the course and what you need to do at the end if you've never done parkrun before all 58 of us of whom 18 of us were running/jogging/walking their first ever parkrun Welcome and I'm sure we will see you all here or somewhere else again next week gave her briefing with parkrun and volunteer milestone call outs It was a mix of hard pathway and grass field areas which in places I could see had been a water feature and mud bath Apparently we were only recently back on this course so presume they have an alternative course when needed We were encouraged all the way round at various points by the wonderful marshals giving up their time for us this morning I believe one of the marshals was celebrating her birthday today and also to a parkwalker who had come last week and did one of the two laps but had come back again to try to complete the 5k course but has now signed up and has her barcode at the ready I wonder if she'll continue on her return to Australia View the full results: www.parkrun.org.uk/royaltunbridgewells/results/480/ © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner My mother-in-law booked us all onto the Polar Express train on the Spa Valley railway for 11am on Saturday about six months ago so my choices were a) skip parkrun (HA!!) or b) be a tourist at Royal Tunbridge Wells When I had decided on this course of action I emailed the volunteer coordinator to see if a parkrun report would be welcomed from me I had a speedy and kind response warning me to "be prepared for mud".. I drove to Dunorlan Park from my home in Swanley The parking at the park itself was straightforward (but not free) and plentiful if you got there before 8.40am Relatively few people attended the First Timers briefing suggesting this parkrun is well attended by locals There were also lots of milestones mentioned in the Run Director's briefing (no milestone for me today but this was my 49th volunteer credit and I reached my 50th volunteering milestone timekeeping on Sunday at Hoblingwell Juniors parkrun) It was a mild but misty morning as we set up at the start marker but it was less pleasant to end on an uphill Never one to put in headphones during a parkrun the course was quiet with virtually no road noise That said towards the start a person had decided that 9am on a Saturday morning was the perfect time to noisily trim hedges Many people stumbled on their way round and a few took a tumble in the mud I am always impressed when I go to more "challenging" courses that the runners/joggers/walkers have a real sense of camaraderie and genuinely check in with the people around them at least not for me in late November after some very wet weekdays Parts of the park were reminiscent of high school cross country and other parts were exceptionally beautiful The marshals on the course were encouraging at times offering alternative mud-free detours to those who asked for them Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun was tame by comparison on the mud scale though I would be interested to come back in the summer to see if I can improve my time View the full results: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/royaltunbridgewells/results/461/ Esquire Developments is proposing a housing development on land south of Tunbridge Wells town This land is (almost entirely) in East Sussex which means that the Local Planning Authority for the majority of any development will be Wealden District Council TWBC will consider planning applications only on land within the borough Some of the development site is within the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council  boundary This is land currently owned and occupied by Tunbridge Wells Rugby Football Club (TWRFC) on the eastern side of Frant Road stretching over to Bayham Road Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is the Local Planning Authority for any smaller development within its boundary Wealden District Council’s draft Local Plan proposed site allocations: Esquire Development’s map of the sites: You can also see these maps clicking on the following links: No planning application has been submitted yet so details of the proposed development may change if an application is submitted The FAQs  below may help answer questions that you have about the project This page was last updated on 4 December 2024 All the housing development set out in Esquire Development’s proposal is on land in Wealden district Wealden District Council must have a Local Plan which allocates land for different purposes like Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has housing targets to meet and is restricted in where they can propose housing development Wealden District Council is in the process of developing their Local Plan which is currently at Regulation 18 stage – meaning it is still draft they currently propose to allocate a number of parcels of land (sites) for development which lie directly on the border with Tunbridge Wells borough and the county of Kent (see Wealden District Council map above) Esquire Developments is proposing developments in sites FR2 and FR6 of the above map their proposal is to develop the southern portion of the rugby club land (between FR2 and Frant Road) The land between FR6 and Bunny Lane is shown as an ecology area currently within the developer’s proposals The proposals also include new sports facilities for TWRFC The area of the existing rugby club land that is in Tunbridge Wells district (the northern part) does not have housing development proposed for it Esquire Development’s proposals can be seen on their consultation website The current proposals from Esquire Developments (shown in the EIA Screening request) do not cover the allocations FR5 They are currently draft allocations for development by Wealden District Council Wealden District Council’s draft Local Plan says: You can find out more about Wealden District Council’s Local Plan at: Wealden (Regulation 18) Local Plan Consultation - Wealden District Council - Wealden District Council The proposed development is in Wealden district and therefore not under the control of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has its own Local Plan (and a new Local Plan which is currently being examined) which allocates a large number of brownfield sites in addition to greenfield sites across the town and borough for housing and we anticipate that these sites will be developed in the near future The allocations that Wealden District Council has provisionally made for the land on Frant Road are part of their work to meet their district's housing targets and not linked to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Local Plan No planning applications have been submitted an Environmental Screening opinion has been requested by the Esquire Developments from both Councils to inform the process should a planning application come forward This is essentially asking Wealden District Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to decide whether under the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations the proposals are likely to have a significant effect on the environment and whether an Environmental Statement (ES) is therefore needed for the development The Councils can only decide on the necessity for an ES for the elements of the development proposed in their district Wealden District Council has already decided an ES is not necessary Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is currently considering the details of the screening request relative to the regulations The planning applications are expected to be submitted in spring 2025 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will decide upon any proposals in its area and Wealden District Council will decide upon proposals in its area Both Councils will be consulted on the application in the other district/borough but will only decide matters in their own area Government legislation expects new developments to be sustainable sustainability means that the people living in a development must have access to services (like healthcare Legislation states that payments need to be made to the planning authority where housing is built essentially to pay for the extra use that new residents will make of local infrastructure or to create new appropriate infrastructure This is organised through Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) or what are known as Section 106 payments this will be made more complicated by the fact that the housing is in Wealden district however some of the infrastructure demands may be in Tunbridge Wells borough This is something that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is already considering and discussions are ongoing with staff at Wealden District Council and Kent County Council because the housing proposals for the different parcels of land are likely to come forward separately there needs to be proper thought given to the requirements of all the potential new residents This is part of the discussions between the two Councils If the developments provisionally allocated in the Wealden Local Plan go ahead and the housing is built there may be additional demand on existing infrastructure in Tunbridge Wells Funding will need to be made available through CIL/S106 payments to increase and improve infrastructure provision Kent County Council and East Sussex County Council will need to undertake work to establish how road use will increase and what measures should be put in place to mitigate that and make existing roads better and safer These are all things which will have to be examined calculated and negotiated by the relevant authorities Kent County Council and the NHS will have to work with Wealden District Council and East Sussex County Council to ensure that facilities are provided for new residents Water supply for the higher areas of south Tunbridge Wells has been an issue for some time South East Water (SEW) which supplies water will be consulted as part of the planning process and may have to make changes to their network to provide water to the new developments It will be very important that the provision of any new supply does not worsen the supply for current residents This is something that officers in Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will be scrutinising and working on with Wealden District Council staff and SEW There are still sites that have been allocated by Wealden District Council in their Local Plan for development for which there are as yet no formal housing proposals (see Wealden draft site allocations) It is therefore critical that there is an appropriately detailed plan for how this piece of fundamental infrastructure is delivered Wealden District Council must have a Local Plan in which they allocate land for different purposes Wealden District Council is in the process of developing their Local Plan they allocated a number of sites for development (see Wealden District Council map above) which are in Wealden district but which lie directly on the border with Tunbridge Wells borough Esquire Developments has proposed development in FR2 and FR6 FR7 andFR3 are also current draft allocations for development in the draft Wealden District Council Local Plan No proposals have been made for these areas of land to date The proposals put forward by Esquire Developments are for housing development on land in Wealden district Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is only able to decideapplications for the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council area but will be consulted on any proposals in Wealden by Wealden District Council the objections were that the proposals created an effective expansion of Tunbridge Wells town and that there was a lack of planning for the provision of infrastructure These concerns remain valid and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council will continue to raise these issues Tunbridge Wells Borough Council staff are already working with staff from Wealden District Council to ensure that the process of agreeing infrastructure requirements should work effectively between the Councils and with other agencies Currently there are no planning applications in process either in Tunbridge Wells or Wealden for residents to comment on. When applications are submitted, details will be provided here. In the meantime, Wealden District Council planning department can be contacted by email planning@wealden.gov.uk Esquire Developments can be contacted at stw@esquiredevelopments.com Is there anything wrong with this page? Sign up for a weekly travel round up and all the latest breaking news from the roads rails and beyond delivered straight to your inbox The report even said in one part that "urgent health and safety works" were needed to "prop the car park up in more areas". The proposals come from the borough council which bought the shopping centre in 2023 from British Land meaning the council was then fully in control of the car park and the shopping centre It said this meant the council was "better able to manage" the car park revamp The council report said a higher standard of car park was helpful in discussions with prospective tenants and in securing them "It also supports the plans to expand the offering to evening leisure and the need to offer safe spaces at night as part of that experience," it said The improvements include wider parking bays better signs and it will be easier for drivers to pay for parking as automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are being installed The car park has 1,230 spaces and is open 7am to 11pm every day As part of the revamp, the car park will also be redecorated and resurfaced, along with structural repairs carried out. A borough council spokesperson said: "In addition we will be installing solar PV panels of the top deck of the car park to provide sustainable energy for the shopping centre and car park "The work is scheduled to take 15 months and should be completed in June 2026." but there may be fewer spaces in areas where work is underway the car park will close fully during June and July this year Baxall Construction is carrying out the work The spokesperson said: "Due to the nature of the work it will sometimes be necessary to carry out noisy operations "Baxall Construction will do their best to keep noise levels as low as possible and will take all practical precautions to contain any noise within the site." They said during June and July people could park in nearby council car parks during British Land's ownership of the centre the car park revamp was estimated in 2020 to be between £4-4.5m following a full structure report and a cost analysis by Baxall According to the December council report about the upgrade there were many reasons why that figure had shot up including British Land's consultants not picking up the extent of corrosion control needed; the costs had not included levels eight and nine of the car park; and that there are "ten times" more metres of cracked slabs on floors one to seven than had been identified previously by showing the council is serious about investing in the centre and the town" The deteriorating state of the car park had caused "areas of concern" One part says that "urgent health and safety works" were needed to "prop the car park up in more areas" It says in one of the seven bullet points as to why the costs of the project had risen considerably: "The surveys carried out by British Land consultants in 2020 were found to be fairly limited and a new survey undertaken in 2024 (almost five years later) has identified significantly more areas of concerns where the building has deteriorated." "In some cases these have resulted in urgent Health & Safety (H&S) works being required to prop the car park up in more areas." Never get stuck in a jam again with our FREE traffic and travel email for KentLive readers. Find out more here. Young people mark Commonwealth Day 2025 in Royal Tunbridge Wells welcomed young people from four local primary schools to the town hall to be part of a country-wide Commonwealth flag raising ceremony Shortly before 10am the visitors joined Nancy in reciting the Commonwealth Affirmation and they watched as the Commonwealth Flag was raised on the town hall The group then moved inside to hear Nancy read the King’s Commonwealth Day message An informal question and answer session with refreshments followed during which the young people were able to find out a little more about Commonwealth Day and the mayoralty in Tunbridge Wells Children from the following schools were in attendance: Speaking after the event Nancy said: ‘It was lovely to welcome children teachers and parents to celebrate Commonwealth Day 2025.  As the Commonwealth Flag was raised above the Tunbridge Wells Town Hall I read the Affirmation to renew our pledge to uphold and serve the values of our unique global family.  This year's theme is ‘Together We Thrive’ which celebrates the enduring spirit of the Commonwealth family – 56 independent member countries united by shared values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter and working together to create a more connected Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration observed by people all over the Commonwealth in Africa Monday 10 March marks the beginning of a week-long series of events and activities happening around the globe – including faith and civic gatherings flag-raising ceremonies and cultural events KCC has been a Conservative stronghold almost since its creation in 1974 with only a brief gap of no overall control in the 1990s Decades of near-unbroken Tory hegemony have been shattered by Reform UK KCC has been a Conservative stronghold almost since its creation in 1974 Decades of near-unbroken Tory hegemony have been shattered by Reform UK... like each of Nigel Farage’s outfits before it depends on capturing an anti-system energy: being seen to be the party against all the established ones This is a viable strategy for an insurgent opposition – but is it one for governing ...The risk of being unable to deliver on their priorities or solve KCC’s financial woes may not bode well for their general election prospects Recent polling suggests Reform would be the largest party in a general election if held now – perhaps not so if they have to govern parts of the country for the next several years.. They will soon have to vote on a leader of their group who will become leader of KCC and no doubt any number of the first-time councillors wearing Reform rosettes today see themselves potentially at the helm results have been confirmed in from up and down the county Heading into the 2025 elections Kent County Council had a Conservative majority The Conservatives suffered a terrible set of Kent results They began as the largest party and were in control of 55 of Kent County Council's 81 seats but end the election with just five councillors the Lib Dems had a positive outcome as they increased their number of councillors from six to 12 after picking up seats in Tunbridge Wells The Greens started and ended the results on five seats while the Labour party saw its number of councillors reduced from five to just two It was also bad news for independents who have been wiped off Kent County Council Follow along the blog to read every update The Kent County Council Local Elections 2025 have now come to an end It was a fabulous set of results for Reform UK who now hold a sizeable majority The Lib Dems also picked up seats and will become the main opposition party while the Greens maintained what they had they were very bad results for the Conservatives and Labour who now only have five and two seats respectively Full list of Kent County Council Local Election results 2025 For detailed results from each of the 12 Kent County Council areas click below: Ashford Canterbury Dartford Dover Folkestone and Hythe Gravesham Maidstone Sevenoaks Swale Thanet Tonbridge and Malling Tunbridge Wells Nigel Farage took aim at leaders who want to “please everybody” in favour of having opinions He told the PA news agency: “Politics is about choices you like an individual you like what they stand for and over the last few years it’s become about leaders who want to please everybody and stand for nothing in particular.” “It’s pretty straight forward where I am on nearly all issues and if people like it that’s great and if they don’t it’s called democracy.” The Reform UK leader also suggested that councils under his party’s control would look to scrap “crackpot” clean energy initiatives Mr Farage said: “We produce less than 1% of the world’s carbon dioxide consumption of coal oil and gas is going up every single year globally and will continue to do so “All we’ve done actually by crackpot policies and Kent’s got it’s issues of course with solar farms particularly which I think our chaps will deal with here in Kent don’t worry about that “All we’re doing is giving ourselves the most expensive energy in the world all I’ve ever said about this is it makes no sense.” The final results for the Kent County Council elections 2025 are in Of the 81 seats available Reform now control 57 giving them a sizeable majority at county hall The Lib Dems have also made gains and now have 12 seats twice the number they went into the election with The Greens and the Conservatives both have five seats meaning the Tories have lost 50 seats while the Greens have stayed even three fewer then it started with while independent councillors have suffered a wipe out All votes have been counted and the people of Kent have elected their new local leaders and representatives for the county council Read the full results here: Kent Local Election results full list as Reform takes control of county council and Lib Dems make gains Reform UK have won full control of Kent County Council! pic.twitter.com/wW0ZipNboG The final ballots have been counted and re-counted the results are in: it's dramatic close to a long day as Green Party candidate Stuart Jeffrey wins by just one vote ahead of Reform in Maidstone Central Reform UK's Oliver Bradshaw takes the other seat- creating an unlikely pair to represent the county ward The final result of the Kent County Council elections is in and no wonder it took a while Reform's Oliver Bradshaw took the first seat with 2,477 votes However there was just one vote seperating the Green Party's Stuart Jeffery (2,373 votes) and Reform's Peter Jarvis (2,372 votes) who just misses out in third Reports from the ground suggest there is a re-count in Maidstone central The final results have been trickling in with some last-minute wins for the Green Party Tonbridge has re-elected Mark Hood and Paul Stepto back into their seats on the county council Tonbridge. Elected: HOOD Mark Antony James. Green. & STEPTO Paul Andrew. Green. https://t.co/0mKvuTFolA #kccelection pic.twitter.com/9cq9hLbFxK Have you enjoyed KentLive's coverage of the local elections? If you want to hear more from us you can get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for freeHERE. Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Essen writes: Reform UK are ready to celebrate a historic takeover of a Conservative heartland All 5 Ashford seats won + the Weald of Kent.Thanks to all who voted for us There might be some sore heads tomorrow as the local Reform UK reps say they have "smashed" the local elections Hopefully all the pubs in Kent have stocked up on booze We smashed it. pic.twitter.com/f5MmGRcKjs Although not all the votes are in yet- Reform has at least 53 seats on KCC it is likely to be easier for councillors to make decisions and the change they want to see in Kent Reform's success in Kent builds a bigger picture in the UK where the party has gained around 282 seats in the local council and mayoral elections The results confirm what has been shown in the national polls for quite some time: Reform is more popular than Labour Will it shake Prime Minbister Kier Starmer to calling an election Will he step down over Reform's success With the next general election potentially four years away Not long left to go until all the votes have been counted and the full makeup of the council is shown You can find out the results here: Kent Local Election results full list as Reform takes control of county council and Lib Dems make gains Marc Logan hoovered up the votes in Sevenoaks North and Darent Valley and has ousted the former head of the tories in Kent Perhaps one of the worst local election cycles for the Tories in Kent so far the Conservatives only have retained 2 seats out of their previous 55 From a party that did not even exist until 2021 Reform UK has taken control over Kent County Council As the votes still trickle in- keep watch and see just how many councillors Reform UK can get There are many funding opportunities for businesses based in Tunbridge Wells Please see the resources below to find out how your business can benefit Kent and Medway Growth Hub provides details of business funding opportunities for local business across Kent who can help you locate funding available to your business Details of grants and other financial support for businesses is available to UK businesses can be found on the Government website Is there anything wrong with this page? UPDATE: FOUND: A Kent Police spokesperson said: "cA 49 year old man reported missing from Tunbridge Wells on Friday 4 April 2025 has been safely located Officers would like to thank the public for their help with this appeal." Police had asked members of the public to call the 999 emergency number if they saw a man who had gone missing from Tunbridge Wells The 49 year old was reported to be in the Grange Road area around 12.30pm Police issued a full description of him and a picture Kent Police said: "Help is sought to locate a 49 year old man reported missing from Tunbridge Wells.." He was last seen at around 12.30pm in the Grange Road area on Friday 4 April 2025 He was believed to be wearing dark blue jeans He was thought to possibly have been travelling to Sussex Anyone with information is urged to call 999 A21 - KIPPING'S CROSS - BOTH DIRECTIONS emergency repairs complete on A21 in both directions near Blue Boys Roundabout Queueing traffic due to emergency repairs on A21 in both directions near Blue Boys Roundabout The work was near the Blue Boys roundabout at just before noon There was traffic congestion to Forstal Farm roundabout Traffic monitoring site Inrix said at 11.23am: "A21 - Kipping's Cross Congestion to Forstal Farm Roundabout." Follow our blog below for the latest updates as they happen Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of KentLive content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE. Traffic easing, emergency repairs complete on A21 in both directions near Blue Boys Roundabout. Comments13:55Mary HarrisBT is understood to be carrying out the workKentLive understands, after going around the houses somewhat, that it is BT carrying out the repairs. KentLive has gone to BT for comment about what it's doing and when it will finish. BT replied later and said there was nothing on its log. National Highways and SGN said it was not their teams. Comments13:53Mary HarrisA21 still impacted by emergency repairs There is queueing traffic on the A21 due to emergency repairs on A21 in both directions near the Blue Boys roundabout. Comments12:12KEY EVENTWhen normal traffic conditions now expectedNational Highways says normal conditions on the A21 now expected between now and 12.30pm. Kent Highways says: "Slow moving traffic heading northbound between Forstal Farm Roundabout and Kippings Cross Roundabout. Expect delays." Comments12:09KEY EVENTEmergency repairs continueTraffic monitoring site Inrix saidK Queueing traffic due to emergency repairs on A21 in both directions near Blue Boys Roundabout. KentLive has contacted National Highways to find out more about the repairs. Comments12:02KEY EVENTTraffic map shows current congestionSee traffic map below: Lamberhurst, A21 Northbound: Slow moving traffic heading northbound between Forstal Farm Roundabout and Kippings Cross Roundabout. Expect delays: https://t.co/Q5Diff56Ts Location The A21 northbound between the junctions with the A262 and the A228 Return To Normal Normal traffic conditions are expected between 11:45 and 12:00 on 2 May 2025 Delay There are currently delays of 10 minutes against expected traffic Comments12:02Mary HarrisWelcome to our live coverageWelcome to our live coverage of this breaking incident We will be bringing you all the latest updates as we get them Do you have any information or photos? Email kentlivenewsdesk@reachplc.com Don't miss out on the biggest local stories.Sign up to our KentLive newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more. DON\u2019T MISS THIS YEARS ALTERNATIVE GIFT GUIDE Get the \u2018cene CULTURE SHOT straight to your inbox on each release By using this website, you agree to our T&C\u2019s, privacy policy & use of cookies. We use analytical data to provide you with an enjoyable experience and to help our website run effectively. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Visit Tunbridge Wells • Official Tourist Information• Kent•UK (@visit_tunbridgewells) The World Cup is coming home to Tunbridge Wells this Friday September 20th The famous table soccer game returning to the town of its birth Many will already know that the borough has a long association with the game which was invented in 1946 by Langton Green resident Peter Adolph and early production of Subbuteo also took place in the area Around 32 countries are expected to be represented at the international event which takes place over three days with as many as 64 games taking place simultaneously during the early stages of the tournament which will be centred around the Tunbridge Wells Leisure Centre The origins and history of the Subbuteo game will also feature in The Amelia Scott the new cultural and community facility in Royal Tunbridge Wells The Subbuteo World Cup kicks off on Friday Subbuteo World Cup – Individual Event (Old Rules Event) – Royal Victoria Shopping Centre Eland Cables FISTF World Cup – Individual Events – Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre Subbuteo World Cup – Team Event – Royal Victoria Shopping Centre Subbuteo Flats World Cup – Individual Event – Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre Eland Cables FISTF World Cup – Team Event – Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre Subbuteo World Cup Family Fun Day – Royal Victoria Shopping Centre Head to the Royal Victoria Shopping Centre and the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre for a festive atmosphere filled with Subbuteo action Witness the international stars compete and soak up the excitement The Amelia Scott, Open Subbuteo Pitches: Throughout the tournament, Amelia will be hosting open pitches where anyone can have a friendly match Subbuteo World Cup Family Fun Day: Don’t miss the chance to play on the same pitches as the champions The English Subbuteo Association will be hosting a fun day on Sunday This free event is open to all ages and abilities with expert players on hand to guide and coach newcomers Bend it like Beckham in our Subbuteo Goal Shoot game You’ll find 20 of these dotted within various businesses around Royal Tunbridge Wells this September They may even be accompanied by the opportunity to win prizes Keep an eye on our social media channels for locations dotted across the town centre Make your trip to Tunbridge Wells even more memorable with these exciting activities Keep your eyes peeled for 100 hidden Subbuteo figurines scattered around Royal Tunbridge Wells You get to keep these mini figurines as a souvenir.  Follow daily hints on our social media to track them down (Subbuteo hunt starts Friday To celebrate the Subbuteo World Cup 2024, RTW Together are giving you ten chances to win a £20 Fenwick voucher! Every day between the 13th and 22nd September, the team will be hiding a giant Subbuteo figure around Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre for you to find. To enter the competition, all you need to do is take a selfie with the  figurine and post it on social media (being sure to tag @RTWTogether) The first ten people to find the figurine will be entered into a prize draw with a new randomly selected winner announced each day Instagram @Visit_TunbridgeWells and @RTWTogether Facebook Visit Tunbridge Wells independent and multi-award winning magazine which focuses on sub-cultures in-and-around the county of Kent ‘cene endorses those who use their ideas and originality to revive the creative landscape of the South-East high-quality content and an approachable tone ‘cene continues it’s drive for inclusivity in the subjects and delivery of it’s free-to-take printed magazines and online platforms Get the ‘cene culture shot for updates on local offers Also don’t miss when the latest print edition is available to pick up or buy We won’t share details with third-party companies other than the Auditing Bureau of Circulation for proof of ‘cene’s annual circulation figures We may also send interesting updates about our partner’s news Please check your inbox to verify your email address We will keep you posted on all the good stuff Kent has to offer KENT PRESS & BROADCAST AWARDSMAGAZINE OF THE YEAR 2023Magazine of the Year 2022Magazine of the Year 2020Magazine of the Year 2019Magazine of the Year 2018Design of the Year 2017 SALES : +447510 066 610EDITORIAL + STUDIO © 2017-2025 CENE MEDIA LTD | All rights Reserved | All content on this website is not to be copied or distributed | ‘cene® and KEEPITKENT® are Registered Trademarks of CENE MEDIA LTD A SPACED AGENCY WEBSITE More in cost of living support Worthy winners of the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council 2024 Love Where We Live Awards were announced at a glittering ceremony hosted by Jane Fineman (TWBC Head of Finance) in the Assembly Hall Theatre on 4 November All the finalists were presented with certificates by Cllr Astra Birch Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities The finalists and winners of the categories were: a community network of trained volunteers and expert support helping families Regional Commercial and Operations Manager volunteering in local charity shops for nine years volunteering for St George’s Childcare for over 10 years King Charles’ Old Boys’ Association avid footballer and coach for U5 and U6 teams wonderful neighbour and an amazing person who never thinks of herself Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability applies energy saving and sustainable practices to everything she does reducing food waste and repurposing surplus food in a green Is there anything wrong with this page? Scannell Properties and Royal London Asset Management Property have received detailed planning permission for TN2 Gateway a new development of prime warehouse and industrial facilities in Tunbridge Wells Construction has now started on the scheme which will deliver over 500,000 sq ft of much-needed warehousing accommodation with ancillary office space The development comprises nine flexible units which can be configured to provide occupiers with a choice of size Strategically located next to Kingstanding Business Park close to Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre it benefits from its proximity to London and the southern home counties It has immediate access to the A21 which connects to the M25 and the Channel ports of Dover and Medway In line with Scannell’s and Royal London Asset Management Property’s commitment to sustainable investment and development the scheme is targeting a BREEAM Outstanding and an EPC A+ rating Plans include provision for photo-voltaic panels on all buildings carbon-neutral heating systems and energy efficient lighting Each unit will also have its own dedicated car parking area with space for electric vehicle charging TN2 Gateway has been designed to provide a high-quality landscaped setting that enhances employee wellbeing supports biodiversity gains and helps integrate the development into the local and wider countryside new tree planting and green buffer zones will all form part of the new parkland landscape The post-development GDV is estimated at £135m UK Development Director at Scannell Properties said: “TN2 Gateway will be the only business park in the area capable of providing a range of buildings of ‘mid-box’ scale a size that has proved increasingly popular for the sector in the last few years “Its prime location and ease of transport connections alongside its strong energy saving credentials means we are already seeing interest from a range of local and national businesses keen to take space in an historically undersupplied area.” has now started with the first buildings due to be ready for occupation in Q1 2026 and final completion scheduled for later that year McLaren has been appointed as main contractor with JLL and Glenny appointed as joint letting agents for the scheme Lichfields advised on all planning matters Complete the details below to receive our daily newsletter highlighting investment and development activity: CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast 2 MAY 2025BookmarkVoters across Kent are heading to the polls for the county council elections (Image: © 2024 PA Media All Rights Reserved)Voters across Kent are heading to the polls today to have their say on how the county is run in the future However this means there are contests to be decided in the districts and boroughs of Ashford READ MORE: Kent Local Election results 2025 as votes set to be counted for county council seats - live updates The authority currently has a Conservative majority However the makeup of the council could look very different once all votes are counted which is expected to be at around 7pm on Friday (May 2) The county is a major target for Reform while the Lib Dems Greens and independent candidates will all be hopeful of picking up more seats meaning a change of governance is possible Polls opened at 7am this morning and will remain open until 10pm for residents to cast their votes For a full list of candidates standing in ever area of Kent in the 2025 Local Elections click here. For a detailed list of Ashford candidates click here For a detailed list of Canterbury candidates click here For a detailed list of Dartford candidates click here For a detailed list of Dover candidates click here For a detailed list of Folkestone and Hythe candidates click here For a detailed list of Gravesham candidates click here For a detailed list of Maidstone candidates click here For a detailed list of Sevenoaks candidates click here For a detailed list of Swale candidates click here For a detailed list of Thanet candidates click here For a detailed list of Tonbridge and Malling candidates click here For a detailed list of Tunbridge Wells candidates click here We have now switched over to our results blog which you can find here. Tomorrow, KentLive will be providing live updates from across the county as the results come in. Wherever you have been voting in Kent you will find the results here. Ballot verification and counting is expected to take please throughout the morning and results should begin to come in in the afternoon. The final decleration of results is expected at around 7pm on Friday (May 2) After polls close counting will not begin across Kent until the next morning. Each district or borough will be counting the votes from there area and reporting back the winners. It is not until 7pm tomorrow that Kent County Council is expecting to be able to announce the full results and we will know who is set to control the authority. Polls across Kent will remain open until 10pm. That means residents have just over six hours left to cast their ballots and have their say on the future of Kent County Council. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kent County Council (@kcc_kent) The only area of Kent where there are no elections going on today is Medway is a unitary authority meaning it operates seperately from Kent County Council The area last held elections in 2023 as is next due to hold elections in 2027 The state of Kent's roads is onew of the major issues facing the county council. The major parties have had their say on how they would go about improving the situation here. You do not need your polling card to cast a vote but you will need photo ID if you want to vote in person A full list of accepted photo ID can be found here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id There are 800 polling stations across the county open today for the county council elections Which one you need to visit will be on your polling card or you can put your postcode in here to find where you need to go: https://wheredoivote.co.uk/ and polls will remain open until 10pm this evening There is no overnight counting planned for this election in Kent instead ballots will begin to be counted across the county's districts and boroughs tomorrow (Friday) morning Kent is expected to be one of the last places to fully declare results with the final ones hoping to be in at around 7pm however results will start trickling in from across the afternoon KentLive has provided full candidate lists for every area of Kent see below for the people who are after your vote: For a detailed list of Ashford candidates click here For a detailed list of Canterbury candidates click here For a detailed list of Dartford candidates click here For a detailed list of Dover candidates click here For a detailed list of Folkestone and Hythe candidates click here For a detailed list of Gravesham candidates click here For a detailed list of Maidstone candidates click here For a detailed list of Sevenoaks candidates click here For a detailed list of Swale candidates click here For a detailed list of Thanet candidates click here For a detailed list of Tonbridge and Malling candidates click here For a detailed list of Tunbridge Wells candidates click here News service PA has provided this helpful round-up of how things stand on Kent County Council heading into the 2025 elections The PA news service said: "Kent is another council where the Conservatives are heading into the elections with a healthy majority (55 of 81 seats) but where they face challenges from more than one party "Reform has three councillors here and hopes to gain more "If the Greens or independent candidates also do well the Tories could lose overall control." Good morning and welcome to KentLive's coverage of the 2025 Kent County Council Elections Holocaust Memorial Day will be commemorated at the war memorial in Royal Tunbridge Wells on 27 January 2025 from 10.45am will join others gathered at the memorial from 10.45am At 11am the Mayor will lay flowers and make an address to those present The road in front of the war memorial will be closed for a short time between 10.45am and 11.15am This Holocaust Memorial Day marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau the largest Nazi concentration camp complex and the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia For a Better Future is the theme for 2025 – we can learn both from and about the Holocaust and more recent genocides Find out about the UK Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony Each Holocaust Memorial Day people from across the UK take part in the Light the Darkness national moment At 8pm you are invited to light a candle and place it safely in a window This is to remember those who were murdered for who they were and to stand against prejudice and hatred today On 25 January to begin the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day locally The Amelia Scott will host its first Human Library Visitors will be able to speak to four guests – human books – about their connections to or knowledge of individuals who came to Tunbridge Wells during World War 2 via the Kindertransport Duncan Lustig-Prean (son of Erica Lustig-Prean: a Kindertransport child) Anne Goldstein (Historian) and John and Di Cullen (former owners of The Beacon Hotel) will be in the Upper Atrium between 3.30pm and 5pm to answer your questions about how helped children escape persecution and their brave journeys Find out more about the Human Library 9 APR 2025BookmarkThe delighted team at the majorly revamped McDonald's in Kent (Image: David Bartholomew)A major Kent McDonald's restaurant has reopened following a huge revamp Tunbridge Wells shut to completely revitalise the interior of the venue As KentLive reported last week the major upgrade included a new restaurant layout and drive thru booths along with an upgraded kitchen with new equipment and better staff areas If you haven't had the chance yet to pop up It promises to be a better experience for customers and staff at the branch in Dowding Way off Longfield Road Read more: Post Office to offload 108 branches including 2 near Kent Read more: ‘Remarkable’ 17-year-old Emily Stokes who ‘loved life’ died at Margate gig where drugs were seized, inquest hears The branch is owned and operated by Franchisee who was proud to throw open the doors when it reopened at 11am It's had a redesign as a part of the fast food giant's "Convenience of the Future" programme which aims to serve up "a better customer experience for all" It should see the whole Maccy D's experience faster more efficient and with more choice when ordering food with the latest technology a big part of that who owns and operates five McDonald’s restaurants in Kent said: "I’m proud to reinvest in our Tunbridge Wells restaurant and we now have separate facilities for our dine-in customers and our couriers leading to a better experience for everyone "It’s exciting to see the fresh new look and feel of our Tunbridge Wells restaurant and I’m confident the changes will not only benefit our customers but also our restaurant team as these will help make their jobs a little easier.” Improvements have been made for restaurant crew with a redesign of the crew room which will create a more relaxing and comfortable space for them to take a well-deserved break With dedicated areas for the different ways to order along with the removal of the front counter the revamp will offer a more efficient way to order and will leave customers with more space to enjoy their meal A dedicated courier area and entrance for delivery drivers and bikers to pick up orders has also been created so customers and drivers aren't in the same waiting area Click this link to receive your daily dose of KentLive content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE. Looking good at the majorly revamped McDonald's in Tunbridge Wells CommentsBright new restaurant area at McDonald's in Tunbridge Wells CommentsBright and fresh new restaurant at McDonald's in Tunbridge Wells CommentsNew drive-thru booths at Tunbridge Wells McDonald's CommentsNew areas for courier drivers to collect orders - not in the main restaurant area with customers CommentsThe happy team at their new revamped McDonald's in Kent CommentsNew look McDonald's in Tunbridge Wells CommentsNew McDonald's in Tunbridge Wells and its "growing foodie scene" being mentioned galleries and bars were also highlighted as great things about spa town Tunbridge Wells The "exceptional schools including many prestigious grammars" were also mentioned - so far But what's it like to live here when you're not fretting about getting Jim into Judd another prestigious school in the nearby town of Tonbridge South west Kent is a charmingly rural part of Kent full of extraordinarily pretty villages and where you'll find Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells can be mistakenly referred to as Royal Tunbridge Wells and it's loosely the town centre area and the unparished bits around it The borough is overwhelmingly white - the ethnic composition from 2021 census put white at a whopping 91.6 per cent with areas of Sherwood falling in the country's most deprived category have areas which fall within the country's second most deprived category according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2019 We don't want to pour cold Chalybeate spa water on Muddy's prestigious accolade but getting around the town centre and its environs can be a headache because of congestion Tunbridge Wells has a 19th century road network labouring under 21st century traffic and this century's failure to get people out of vehicles and onto bicycles If you want to get anywhere in a vehicle in town you are almost certain to have to go 'through' rather than 'around' and you have the Nightmare Before Christmas in a traffic jam owned and managed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council They are recognised year after year as being some of the best parks in the country through the Green Flag Awards and people who live here truly appreciate them whether that's an elderly person taking their daily perambulation to large family groups spread out on rugs The number one problem mentioned by people who live here is the limited clothes shopping. The news Primark was finally coming to the former Woolworths has been welcomed There is hope this might also draw other big names and simply boost footfall There are independent boutiques and clothes shops in the High Street which is in the middle section of the linear-shaped town But there is a lack of choice of large brands for men The town has Fenwick in the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre and M&S with designer-led fashion along with beauty and homeware Tunbridge Wells is still on the whole a friendly town and are generally ready to discuss the weather with strangers at a bus stop The borough has a lower level of crime than the rest of the county and in most cases that is half the the average of other towns according to the borough council's authority monitoring report dated March 2024 Figures in the Community Safety Partnership 2023-2024 show Tunbridge Wells despite an increase of 1.8 per cent in crime had the lowest crime rate in Kent during 2022 A walk around the streets of Tunbridge Wells is a delight - you will see the variations of architecture from the honey-coloured sandstone of Decimus Burton's grand buildings to white cottage-lined streets with rainbow doors and elegant tall townhouses with iron handrails and windowboxes Homes can be breathtaking and will fill you with envy and checking out the grand streets can make for a pleasant few hours' amble There are also areas which are 'coming up' where once they were drab and dirty with crumbling gardens Now they are brightly-painted with hanging baskets and attractive doors and gardens Areas which once might have been considered undesirable are now being filled with professional couples with young families who appreciate a slower pace of life than London or larger towns such as the superb Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival and there are long-established also brilliant ones and Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival to name just a few Even one of the town's few nightspots, formerly P&P, now The Manor House has new owners who are innovating and have bags of talent It's offering so much for people of all ages If you are thinking of moving to Tunbridge Wells, you'll want to know about house prices. The average sold price during the past year was £550,860, according to Rightmove Semi-detached homes sold for an average of £547,595 with terraced properties fetching £434,543 Sold prices overall in Tunbridge Wells over the last year were 3 per cent down on the previous year Get Kent's latest breaking news and top stories on WhatsApp We were expecting Storm Lilian to come along to parkrun this week but instead of horrendous weather* we were greeted by first-time RD Liz Hawker Liz welcomed 207 participants and 40 volunteers to parkrun during a light drizzle and she had the crowd paying close attention as she called out a selection of milestone achievements and welcomed tourists from a range of different parkruns Having been a parkrunner since she moved to Tunbridge Wells in September 2017 Liz credits the event with turning sport into a positive for her adding: "My whole education experience of PE was a case of ‘could do better’ I’ve gone from actually hating running to loving it!" this is demonstrated in Liz's wealth of PBs achieved over the years having shaved around eight minutes off her initial finish time while improved times are a great achievement Liz appreciates that there's so much more to parkrun than running Liz said: "parkrun punctuates my week and has helped me put down roots in the community like a family - and you always go home buzzing." We certainly agree with her - the amazing array of people who make up the RTW parkrun family are what make Saturday mornings so welcoming and ensure so many of us keep on returning as participants and volunteers View the full results here: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/royaltunbridgewells/results/447/ *the horrendous weather chose to delay its arrival until most of us were well into the events field so ensuring we were already committed to a thorough drenching Saturdays over the past years or two in our family have been a hectic mix of various activities for the kids – swimming with a good dose of Mum’s taxi thrown in too Not to mention parkrun over the past year and a half since my oldest son turned 11 and so could take part on his own School holidays provide a break from all the usual running around and an ideal opportunity to visit new places for a spot of parkrun tourism We decided on Tunbridge Wells as it’s easy to reach from Brighton by public transport (less than £11 for all of us was a bargain!) – we even glimpsed wild deer on the way As our children weren’t too keen on a very early start we opted for a “purple palace” sleepover instead with the promise of breakfast afterwards with some of the volunteers already setting up and introduced ourselves and set to work helping to construct the start funnel It’s a job my older son George and I often help with at our home parkrun in Brighton Arthur (my younger son) and I were park walking although we did spend a lot of time in close proximity to the tail walkers as Arthur has quite short legs (he’s only 9) and I am not very fast Rebecca and Huw were the tail walkers this week and were great company Although tail walkers have been a feature of parkrun for many years to ensure that everyone is accounted for parkrun sees it as a success that the average finish time has got slower over the years particularly those who aren’t your typical running club members Having clearly identifiable and visible park walker volunteers provides very valuable company to those who are perhaps recovering from health issues or value the positive impact on your emotional health that spending time in the outdoors with others brings It also is a clear demonstration to outsiders that it is absolutely OK to take parkrun at a slower pace (a common worry for many newbies is whether they will be too slow and of course the worry they will be last) I never considered myself a long distance runner and would always dodge the cross country running where possible Children and work often get in the way of taking regular exercise as women age so I would therefore say I am exactly the kind of person that park walking targets At our home parkrun I have walked with a friend who was under medical advice not to run another parent whose son refused to walk or ride in the buggy (so I pushed the empty buggy for her!) as well as a retired woman who had a number of health issues and wanted to complete the course for the first time (to my delight she managed it) A friend of mine whom I met via parkrun used to complete it in under 20 minutes until serious injury and then an operation to his foot forced him to slow down for a year or so He discovered the joy of tail and park walking along with the value of volunteering as well – he feels his parkrun experience is far better for being part of the team that makes the magic happen each week I completely agree with him – I hope to achieve my 250 volunteer T shirt early next year and my bucket list is to reach 1,000 volunteer credits by the age of 60 At about quarter to nine we took photos beside the very large parkrun sign (my sons could just about be seen behind it!) before listening to the first timers introduction We then heard Erica the run director’s briefing before she shouted “go,” as 280 of us started on our way Arthur and I enjoyed a lovely walk around the course twice (although the hill at the end was a bit of a killer!) admiring the ornate beauty of the park – so many wonderful parks in this country are the legacy of Victorian times and provide a green escape and a place of tranquility which I think we particularly came to value in the difficult months of 2020 One of the best bits about park walking or tail walking for me is being lapped (yes really!) so you can shout encouragement to your fellow parkrunners I particularly like our home parkrun for this as the switchback after approximately one km gives the opportunity to see people running towards you and greet them – from other regular volunteers A warm welcome to all those who took the leap and did their first ever parkrun at Tunbridge Wells this week – welcome to Andrew Flett Sai Shashank Reddy Anumula and Emma Burgess-Clements In addition there were 33 of us tourists who attended Royal Tunbridge Wells for the first time this weekend Tom Blyth and Ana Raptis all reached the 25 parkrun milestone parkrun of course only happens with the volunteers Between them they have a staggering 3,994 volunteer credits Special mention to Gabriela who reached the 100 volunteer milestone this week Rory who did his first ever parkrun volunteer this week and Judy who has the most credits – with a very impressive 421 After finishing and taking a few more photos and then onwards for a post parkrun breakfast in the town We chose a vegetarian independent cafe and cocktail bar – Jon and I shared two vegan breakfasts which were absolutely epic – and Arthur tackled a pile of waffles We then headed home – we had a great trip to Tunbridge Wells – thank you for hosting a fantastic event and here’s to many more years of parkrun A note from the editor. This week we were lucky enough to receive not one but two parkrun "reports". Above is Alison's lovely introduction to her family's parkrun experience, and here's a link to a video that was put together by another parkrun tourist who visited us this week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3HHtbywapI View the full results: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/royaltunbridgewells/results/445/ Get the latest property market news straight to your inbox Construction has started on a 33-acres £135 million commercial development in Tunbridge Wells The site is called 'TN2 Gateway' and it will have warehouse and industrial facilities Scannell Properties and Royal London Asset Management Property are behind the development next to Kingstanding Business Park on the industrial estate It will create 500,000ft of warehouse accommodation and ancillary office space The first buildings are due to be ready for occupation in the first quarter of next year with completion scheduled for later in the year Scannell Properties said the site was "strategically located next to Kingstanding Business Park" and was close to Tunbridge Wells town centre It also said the site benefitted from its proximity to London and its "immediate access to the A21 which connects to the M25 and the Channel ports of Dover and Medway" There will be nine flexible units at the scheme which can be configured to give occupiers a choice of size The companies said TN2 Gateway once built would have a GDV which means the estimated value a development is expected to have once finished and sold or rented Scannell Properties UK development director Simon Borthwick said: “TN2 Gateway will be the only business park in the area capable of providing a range of buildings of ‘mid-box’ scale Its prime location and ease of transport connections means we are already seeing interest from a range of local and national businesses keen to take space in an historically undersupplied area." The two companies are "targeting a BREEAM Outstanding" and an EPC A+ They said plans included provision for photo-voltaic panels on all buildings McLaren has been appointed as the main contractor and JLL and Glenny will be the joint letting agents for the TN2 Gateway Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE. Plans for a new gym in Tunbridge Wells to make use of an empty building have been submitted The Gym Group said it would offer a "high quality but cheaper option" for health and fitness activity Its business model is as a budget operator for a local population this use means it doesn't have 'destination facilities' such as swimming pools It will have a range of cardiovascular equipment which is on the industrial estate and retail park North Farm The company said it needed around 1,200sqm and it would create a 252sqm mezzanine It's applied for change of use from retail use to indoor sport A quick look online at The Gym Group's prices show standard monthly membership is from £19.99 a month; off peak is from £14.99; and ultimate membership is from £25.99 the latter including extras such as going to other gyms and a guest pass four times a month It said the new use as a gym would not cause "a significant increase in traffic" at the location at peak times compared to the existing use "due to the type and nature of the use" It said there was sufficient parking on site and there were "non-car transport modes" to get there It said the gym would have an extensive network of CCTV cameras which covered indoor areas and outside entrances It said this CCTV was monitored 24 hours a day through a remote monitoring system "enabling operatives to identify and react to potential issues immediately" there are computer terminals in the entrance area of the gym The Gym Group says in the application that its gyms are popular with young people a demographic it said has a strong interested in joining gyms Its planners Urban Space Planning said: "The leisure market has seen significant turbulence since 2019 with large and potentially long-lasting changes in consumer behaviour the low cost sector has continued to grow at pace." "Engagement in health and fitness is high with consumers increasingly recognising the importance exercise has on both physical and mental health spending on a gym membership is no longer considered to be a discretionary item for many but value-for-money is an important factor in deciding how to engage." with more people considering joining a gym and younger generations where we perform strongly and are particularly highly engaged (86 per cent of 16-27-year-olds exercise or want to)." Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE. For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 06:34 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 it will turn increasingly cloudy from off the North Sea Some bright or sunny spells developing by evening Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places Largely dry with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells on Wednesday with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout the period Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average Article by Index Digital Team | 22nd November 2024 The Joy to the Wells campaign has launched in Tunbridge Wells thanks to RTW Together Business Improvement District (BID) Following on from a wonderful Christmas Kick Off Event on Thursday 14th November the town is bedecked in twinkling lights and decorations door wreaths and a brand new Christmas projection illumination* celebrating Joy to the Wells (*the illumination runs from 4pm-10pm every day until 5th January 2025) the Joy to the Wells campaign includes a bespoke advent calendar featuring some of the wonderful events and activities running through the festive period which will help make Royal Tunbridge Wells the destination of choice this Christmas sponsored by Berry & Lamberts Solicitors highlights 50+ beautiful festive displays across the town free opportunity to explore Tunbridge Wells you'll be able to vote for your favourite display following our Joy To The Wells Christmas Kick Off The first round of voting will close on 28th November 2024 ​Then the 12 window displays receiving the highest number of votes will be selected as finalists – and from 1st-19th December you will be able to vote for your favourite finalist with the winner being announced on 20th December. All the finalists will receive certificates with the top three receiving trophies and bespoke marketing packages to promote their businesses in 2025 There will also be a children's Christmas trail to take part in from 1st- 29th December they will be able to answer the competition questions and be in with a chance to win a new games console The winner for this will be announced in the new year • To find out more about Joy to the Wells visit joytothewells.co.uk and to find out more about The Big Reveal visit bigrevealrtw.co.uk #JoyToTheWells #BigRevealRTW #EventsInTunbridgeWells #IndexDigital The British department store group Fenwick which has an anchor department store in the Royal Victoria Place (RVP) shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells said it had "no plans" to shut the store It made the statement about all its branches following news it had hired restructuring consultants to help it shear off costs and boost its performance and has everything from men's and women's fashion Residents from time to time raise concerns about whether or not Fenwick will remain in the centre but a statement by the company should allay their fears despite it bringing in restructuring experts to help cut its costs as it looks to revive its fortunes after years of losses A Fenwick spokesperson said: "There are no plans for store closures especially in light of the tax and minimum wage increases in last October's budget." Consultancy firm AlixPartners is working with the chain Fenwick has been running at a loss since 2019 the company said trading had been difficult due to the cost-of-living crisis fuelled by inflation and high mortgage costs show the business slashed its pre-tax losses from £71.1m to £38.1m with operating losses decreased from £46.6m to £45.2m And company execs have spoken of their attempts to attract new and existing patrons to the chain's sophisticated, multi-brand offerings throughout the UK, reports Chronicle Live Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of KentLive content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. 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Royal Tunbridge Wells here are all the best things to do in Royal Tunbridge Wells very nice place – so nice that it was even given ‘Royal’ status in 1909 by King Edward VII because Queen Victoria liked it there so much and there was the thing about King James drinking from the chalybeate spring in the seventeenth century where he said it cured him of illness.  nestled away in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty surrounded by miles and miles of beautiful countryside it’s become a hot spot for day trips and for chilled-out from fabulous cafés to countryside hikes here are the very best things to do in Royal Tunbridge Wells At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines Walk along The Pantiles There’s no better way to soak up the grandeur of the town’s Georgian heyday than exploring these colonnaded walkways lined with boutique shops and cute bars and cafés Go for a stroll around the elegant, 78-acre Dunorlan Park before taking in the countryside vistas from its grassy slopes with a picnic a European fine dining spot in a 300-year-old building.  Ashdown Forest aka Winnie-the-Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood head to the little bridge and get cracking You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to cosy pubs where you can kick back with a pint of local ale. Our top pick is The Guinea for a truly old-school experience. If craft beer is more your bag, try Fuggles Beer Café It offers more than 120 European beers – as well as a gin and whisky selection that’s hard to beat Explore Scotney Castle It’s as fairytale-esque as they come with a turreted Elizabethan manor house and crumbling fourteenth-century moated castle It’s also full of secrets and stories: you can spot the ‘priest hole’ where a Catholic priest hid from persecution for seven years during the late 1500s Holidaymakers may not head to Tunbridge Wells to ‘take the waters’ these days, but if it’s peace and relaxation you’re after you’ll find it at The Spa Hotel At this eighteenth-century country mansion plus 14 acres of verdant grounds and a secluded lake where you can really get away from it all Grab a deckchair and get stuck into a book or head to the spa for a steam or sauna before enjoying a sundowner and a pizza from the outdoor oven on the terrace.  Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! About us Contact us and the sale completed on Tuesday (January 14) It will mark an end to the long-empty store with large windows on the busy corner where Crescent Road and Calverley Road meet and opposite Carrs' Corner roundabout It's also near the council-run multi-storey car park who owns The International Shop on Grosvenor Road in Tunbridge Wells And he will be opening World Food at his new property within three months Mr Patel said he had been looking for some time for a larger store and this will mean he can increase the stock he sells He will also include the produce of even more countries from around the world Stock will be similar to what is offered at his current grocery shop Mr Patel said there was a lot of work to do inside the new building which is across town from his current shop but the advantages of his new site include a basement and a first floor with Mr Patel still deciding what to do with that floor He told KentLive: "We're planning to open within three months' time We'll have food from all around the world It won't be viable to keep both open." It was £200,000 less than the guide price." As KentLive reported, a sale at auction to another customer fetched £602,000 The building was once the furniture and stationery shop, and restaurant Baldwin's, a significant part of Tunbridge Wells' history More recently it was furniture store Wesley-Barrell which left in 2018 relocating to small premises in the High Street It is commercial on the lower ground floor all of which have been sold on 150-year leases from January this year The company was founded in 1895 but sadly administrators were appointed in 2019 the business shut its factory and 10 remaining showrooms there was a busy restaurant upstairs and many people in Tunbridge Wells have fond memories of going there It had a picture of Queen Elizabeth on the wall and was one of the most popular places to go for breakfast A man has been arrested after allegedly wielding a knife and threatening people in Tunbridge Wells Police were called to the scene in Dorking Road at 7.37pm on Friday There it was reported that a man brandishing a kitchen knife had made threats towards several people The man then left the scene and a police helicopter aided in the search for the suspect A spokesperson for Kent Police said: “At around 10.40pm a further disturbance linked to the suspect was reported outside an address in Quarry Hill Road, Tonbridge Police searches then led to areas close to nearby Vauxhall Lane and at 12.50am on Saturday 12 April the suspect was taken to a local hospital for treatment to injuries The man was later taken into police custody You can see the latest crime and court news from Kent in our free newsletter here You can undertake a personal search for free using our online mapping system CON29 questions can be added for an additional fee by emailing landcharges@midkent.gov.uk Open the map in a new window Is there anything wrong with this page? Ian Payne is Leading Britain's Conversation Polls have closed in a series of elections across England which could see Nigel Farage’s Reform UK deal blows to both Labour and the Conservatives Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour faces a battle to hold on to the Runcorn and Helsby seat in the Commons, with Reform hoping to take a seat the governing party won convincingly at the 2024 general election Kemi Badenoch faces her first test as Tory leader with the party braced for a difficult set of results with both Reform and the Liberal Democrats hopeful of stealing council seats last contested in 2021 at the height of Boris Johnson’s popularity with Conservative voters The Runcorn and Helsby by-election was triggered when former Labour MP Mike Amesbury quit after admitting punching a constituent The 2024 result suggests it should be a safe Labour seat – Amesbury won 53% of the vote – but Reform’s Sarah Pochin is the bookmakers’ favourite to secure a by-election victory Read More: Keir Starmer faces growing calls to give MPs 'final say' on any UK-US trade deal Read More: With Reform knocking on the door of local politics, the Tories look set for a bloodbath, writes LBC's Natasha Clark More than 1,600 council seats are up for grabs across 23 local authorities while four regional mayors and two local mayors will be elected Mr Farage said he wanted to “smash the two-party system” But Sir Keir said voters faced a clear choice between Labour politicians “working together to bring change to Britain” or “chaos and division with parties who have no plan for change” Mrs Badenoch said the Tories would offer “better services and lower taxes” but she has acknowledged her party faces a tough set of results A Tory spokesman said: “Tonight will be the first real test of Keir Starmer’s Labour government 10 months after they won an unprecedented majority at the general election “The Conservatives have started on the process of renewing our party under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership “But we also have always been clear that these would be tough elections for the party – defending an incredibly high watermark from 2021 when we took two-thirds of all seats “If the 2024 general election was replicated on today’s battleground we would lose control of almost every single council.” Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said Mrs Badenoch faced “a reckoning at the ballot box as former Conservative voters across the home counties rally behind the Liberal Democrats” Davey was optimistic about his party's prospects as polls closed "We are expecting to see big gains against the Conservatives in their former Middle England heartlands," he said "Last year the Liberal Democrats won a record number of MPs and became the largest third party in 100 years Now we are on course for our seventh year of local election gains "Voters have delivered their verdict on a Conservative Party that broke the country and a Labour government that is too timid to fix it."