Times of Tunbridge Wells July 19 2023

impact at both regional and national levels. This week, the Times proudly celebrates several of those who help to make our town exceptional.

The gardens and green spaces of Tunbridge Wells are serious fields of contention, not just for gardeners but also for towns themselves.

One competition going on yearround is the Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘Britain in Bloom’ competition, for which a town

can only qualify after winning the Having been awarded a gold medal

Local suppliers are holding their own, producing regionally and nationally recognised food and drink.

In the recent Taste of Kent Awards (ToKA), judges awarded a silver medal to High Brooms-based Pig & Porter brewery for its ‘Caravan’ bitter.

in the South & South East In Bloom competition last September, Royal Tunbridge Wells is now in the 2023 Britain in Bloom competition, in the small city category.

All finalists will be visited by a pair of Britain in Bloom judges this summer, and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in autumn.

Now back to pre-pandemic levels of trade, Pig & Porter is still growing, with plans to establish a permanent tap room and retail/event space at the brewery in Chapman Way, says founder Robin Wright.

“We were hugely honoured to be in a room with so many other terrific, local businesses,” he added.

The Muddy Stilettos website is a

EDITOR

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MICHELLE WOOD michelle.wood@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 240626

DEPUTY EDITOR

EILEEN LEAHY eileen.leahy@onemediauk.co.uk | 01892 576037

NEWS EDITOR

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More strike action to affect rail passengers, patients and pupils

By Alice Reece

FURTHER disruption is expected for thousands across Tunbridge Wells this week as rail workers, doctors and teachers prepare for more strike action whilst public sectors unions deliberate the Government’s “final offer”.

Public sector unions are planning to go on strike this week, with more planned for July and into August and September.

The Prime Minister announced a new pay offer on July 13. Increases of between five and seven per cent have been offered to teachers, police officers, prison guards, armed forces as well as doctors and consultants.

While some of the offers have been deemed generous, some unions say it is not enough. Rail workers were offered nothing.

RAIL

From tomorrow, commuters travelling from Tunbridge Wells have been advised to make other travel arrangements owing to a limited service, with some routes cancelled and no rail replacement bus services.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union announced further strike action on Thursday July 20, Saturday July 22, and Saturday July 29 in their continued dispute over pay and conditions. The latest dispute also involves the closing of ticket offices across the county.

Meanwhile ASLEF continues its overtime bans this week, which means train drivers will not be working over their scheduled hours from July 17 to July 22.

Southeastern said it expects to continue running services as normal but some

Southern and Thames link services will be affected.

The union announced earlier this week that further overtime bans will be taking place from July 31 to August 5.

DOCTORS

Patients at Tunbridge Wells Hospital will be impacted further this week as consultants are expected to walkout tomorrow for 48 hours, from 7am on Thursday 20 July to 7am on Saturday 22 July.

According to the British Medical Association (BMA), the consultant strike will be based on “Christmas Day levels of cover, meaning emergency care will still be provided”.

Following just a day after the 120-hour junior doctor strike, consultants will be taking over the picket lines in what is expected to be the longest period of walkouts from the NHS, in the same month it celebrated its 75th anniversary.

Last week the government made its “final offer” to the public sector, offering doctors a 6.5 per cent pay rise, but the BMA has rejected this offer, calling it a “derisory,

sub-inflation pay award of less than 6 per cent for consultants”.

In the same announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, police officers and prison guards were offered a seven per cent pay rise.

In response to the government, the medical union announced further consultant strike days on August 24 and 25.

“We anticipate and are planning for the action to have a significant impact on services provided across all areas of the NHS,” said NHS Kent and Medway’s Chief Medical Officer Kate Langford. “This includes our hospitals, Accident and Emergency departments, primary care (GP practices) and mental health services.”

TEACHERS

Last week the Government offered teachers a 6.5 per cent pay rise, an extra 3.5 per cent on top of their previous offer.

This extra £900m funding per year will not be taken from the school or college budgets, but come from the Department of Education. However, this DfE funding only covers the extra 3 per cent rise from the original 3.5 per cent offer, which will come from internal funding.

This partially funded pay rise has been recommended by the NEU and NASWAT to accept the offer.

But it is the members who will have the final say as unions opened an electronic ballot, which will run from July 18-28.

While this looks like a promising end to the teacher strikes in Tunbridge Wells, teachers’ union, the NASUWT voted in favour of industrial action last week (July 13), but will also be putting the new offer to its members.

MP demands fines cancellation after bus gate rakes in almost £600,000 in three months

By Lilly Croucher

LOCAL MP Greg Clark has called for all fines from the bus gate in Tunbridge Wells to be refunded and for the cameras to be turned off after it was revealed that fines totalled £591,000 in just three months. It is estimated that the figure could rise into the millions.

According to the Borough Council, the bus gate on Mount Pleasant Road issued 25,373 fines between April 1 and July 3, with more than 200 motorists a day still contravening the restrictions.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) told the Times that since enforcement began on March 20, it had taken £591,000 from fines.

However, the number of PCNs issued over that period suggests the final total could be somewhere between £888,055 and £1.77million, based on all fines being paid in the first two weeks at £35, and all fines being paid at the full £70.

Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells said: “Traffic cameras should not be used as an income generator and the people of

Tunbridge Wells are not inclined to habitually break the law.”

“Over £200,000 worth of fines in a single month only goes to show how confusing the scheme and signage is.

“Even the Council now admits that its own signage could be illegal and has referred the matter to the Department for Transport for clarification.

“Therefore, I think it’s only fair the fines are refunded and that the enforcement in front of the Town Hall is turned off.”

At a Joint Transport Board meeting on July 3, councillors from TWBC and Kent County Council (KCC), along with members of the public, met to discuss the highlycontentious bus gate.

Some attendees echoed Mr Clark’s call for the scheme to be scrapped. Sally Atkinson, who started a petition on Kent County Council’s (KCC) website, asked that the bus gate be reviewed as soon as possible.

The KCC petition to scrap Public Realm 2 has now reached over a thousand signatures.

“The Ministry of Transport recommends ongoing regular communication with the households in the area, yet neither council has actually done this,” she said.

Phillipa Collard, a York Road resident, called the bus gate a ‘council cash cow’. She conducted her own information request and found an average of 350 cars a day were going through the bus gate in April.

During the meeting, there was a debate over responsibility for the bus gate. Cllr Paul Roberts (Con) claimed: “TWBC act as the agents of KCC in carrying out enforcement and KCC has given notice they will take enforcement in-house themselves from April 1, 2024.”

Mr Clark disputes this. He maintains the bus gate is TWBC’s responsibility and they have the ‘right’ to turn the cameras off.

“TWBC have the right to... refund the fines, they should do so while considering how to improve this road scheme that clearly isn’t working.”

GREG CLARK MP

NEWS IN BRIEF

SE Water hosepipe ban set to continue

THE HOSEPIPE ban imposed by South East Water on June 26 is set to continue, the company said last week.

Answering customer questions on Twitter, a spokesperson for the company said: “There currently isn’t a set date for when the ban will be lifted.

“It will likely continue until we are confident that the demand for water has reduced back to manageable levels. We will keep the position under constant review.”

TWBC issues ‘Call for Sites’ for development

TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council is looking to identify suitable development sites to be considered to deliver the strategy and vision for Tunbridge Wells Town Centre over the next 15 years.

It invites landowners, developers and other parties to submit potential sites within the town centre to the Council for consideration.

If you have any questions or want to find out more about the Call for Sites or the Town Centre Plan email: RTWTownCentrePlan@tunbridgewells. gov.uk

The ‘Call for Sites’ closes on Friday August 18 2023.

Appeal for witnesses to High Street assault

OFFICERS are appealing for witnesses after two men were assaulted in Tunbridge Wells.

Police were called to the High Street at 3am on Sunday July 9, following a disturbance close to the train station.

A man was allegedly punched to the ground, where he was assaulted again. The suspect reportedly then assaulted a second man in a similar location. The first victim was taken to a local hospital and has since been discharged.

The second victim left the scene when police arrived. They are keen to identify him and check on his welfare.

A 19-year-old man from Sevenoaks was arrested on suspicion of assault. He is currently on bail.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference 46/121533/23.

Vehicles seized after catapult incident

TWO cars have been seized in the Tunbridge Wells area.

On Thursday July 13 officers from the town’s Neighbourhood Task Force responded to reports of criminal damage using catapults in Cranbrook, when a Ford Focus and Honda CRV were seen to avoid patrols in Frythe Way.

The vehicles were later located, and were seized as they were uninsured.

The constables also recovered catapults from inside the Focus.

Fuller inquiry enters second phase

By Grace Corcoran

THE Independent inquiry investigating how serial killer and necrophile David Fuller was able to carry out his crimes undetected, has entered its second phase, which will examine how the dead are looked after around the country.

Fuller, jailed in 2021 for double murder, sexually abused the bodies of at least 101 women and girls in Tunbridge Wells mortuaries between 2005-2020.

Arrangements

The second phase seeks to understand current arrangements for the care and protection of the deceased and is calling on funeral directors and employees of private mortuaries, funeral parlours, and private ambulance services to get in touch.

To this end, the Inquiry has published a response form to complete for those working in these sectors on arrangements for safeguarding the deceased.

The questionnaire covers a range of questions, including security measures,

access to the deceased, changes to the sector following Fuller’s crimes, and relevant information to the Inquiry.

Chair of the Inquiry, Sir Jonathan Michael, announced the beginning of the second phase after “making good progress with the first phase of the Inquiry”.

The first phase asked for staff members of Kent and Sussex Hospital or the old Pembury Hospital from the mid-1990s onwards to come forward following new “allegations of inappropriate behaviour”.

Sir Jonathan said: “We have received a wealth of evidence, during the first phase of the Inquiry, which relates specifically to

the crimes committed by David Fuller in Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

“We are grateful to all the witnesses who have come forward to assist with this stage of the Inquiry, particularly the brave families who have shared their stories.”

The investigation into these allegations is “still ongoing” and a number of witnesses have come forward since the appeal. These investigations will continue alongside phase two.

It is expected the phase one report will be published by the end of 2023.

As part of phase two, the Inquiry would also like to hear from people on what they think should be done to prevent such crimes from ever happening again.

People working in the traditional and direct funeral sector, private mortuaries and private ambulances, are invited to complete a response form available to download at: fuller. independent-inquiry.uk/announcements/ by 4pm on Friday August 11, 2023.

Anyone with information can contact the inquiry via email: contact@fuller. independent-inquiry.uk.

Celebrating business success stories

Continued from front page

However, other Tunbridge Wells locals are receiving national recognition, too.

Nail business owner Erin Esty was named ‘Nail Technician of the Year’ in the English Nails Brows Lashes (ENBL) Awards. Not only did she beat eight other nail technicians in the South East, but across England as well.

stalwart champion of local producers and shops, and this year’s Kent awardS were no exception, highlighting the importance of farming and the land to the local economy.

On the High Street in Tunbridge Wells, The Cove came up roses in the ‘florist’ category. The company also sells wines, spirits and scents.

Hearing her name called at the ceremony in Manchester was a shock to Erin because nails are such a competitive sector in which it is hard to stand out, she told the Times. Little Mount Sion-based salon Hidden Hair has carried off the Southern regional prize in the prestigious L’Oréal Colour Trophy, topping a shortlist of 20. Entrants for the 67-year-old industry award compete to create a ‘colour look’, taking inspiration from current trends as well as anticipating future fashions.

The nine-month-old business received its trophy in a day-long show-cum-ceremony in London on July 10.

Making Tunbridge Wells proud, Salomons Estate, situated just two miles outside town, has taken first place in the ‘Heritage Wedding Venue of the Year’ category at the Kent Wedding Awards .

Now in its 10th year, the Kent Wedding

Awards celebrate the best wedding professionals and services that the county has to offer.

As reported in the Times last week, the accolade from the Good Food Guide is something to celebrate.

Although reader nominations get eateries on to the list, Good Food Guide editors and inspectors visit every restaurant themselves. They also should offer regularly changing, seasonal menus at affordable prices and demonstrate being rooted in the local community, maintaining strong relationships with local suppliers.

Southborough restaurant Tallow has been on that list since 2022, the year after it opened, when it made it to number 91. This year, it made it all the way to the top, when it was named ‘Britain’s Best Local Restaurant’ earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Groombridge Farm Shop was named best farm shop/deli in the county. The Kent portal of the popular family and lifestyle website said 77,000 businesses had been nominated and users cast 800,000 votes for the 2023 award.

According to the judges’ summation: “This is the perfect neighbourhood restaurant, embodying everything we champion.

“‘Faultlessly wonderful” is how one loyal follower describes Tallow, and we can’t argue with that,” said the judges.

THE COVE

ROBIN WRIGHT OF PIG & PORTER

DAVID FULLER

SALOMONS, WINNERS OF THE HERITAGE WEDDING VENUE OF THE YEAR

Dunorlan parking charges inch one step closer

By Lilly Croucher

CONTROVERSIAL plans to introduce parking charges at Dunorlan Park are set for approval after councillors endorsed the proposals.

At a Cabinet Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday July 11, councillors voted four to three in favour of motorists being charged to park in the car parks.

If approved by the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) Cabinet at a meeting on July 27, parking enforcement will start on October 16.

While most councillors approved of the scheme, half of those residents who answered the Council survey last year firmly voiced their opposition to the ending of the “only free car park” in the town.

Of the 1,008 replies from residents, 50 per cent said they wanted the parking to be free, while 34 per cent wanted a period of free parking followed by charges.

In response to the residents who voted for no parking charges, Councillor David Osborne (Lib Dem) called the results “complete rubbish” and likened the respondents to “turkeys voting for Christmas”.

Cllr Osborne said: “Most of the data that comes out of the survey is just complete rubbish, all the stuff about how much people want to pay, who wants to pay, is nonsense, it’s like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas.”

He went on to say: “It seems quite perverse to have a situation where people

who can’t afford to own a car are being asked to subsidise those that have cars who wish to drive to the park.”

Echoing Cllr Osborne’s views was Cllr Martin Brice (Lib Dem) who explained how the 50 per cent is not representative of the whole town.

He said: “When we talk about the consultation, it is 50 per cent of respondents, not 50 per cent of residents.

“These people who responded were far more likely to be car drivers, and if you say to a car driver, do you want to park for nothing, they will always say: ‘Yes, please.’ Meanwhile, everyone else has to pay for it.” According to the consultation, 76 per cent of the respondents travelled to the park by car. Yet some Councillors raised questions about the point of a public consultation if the Council is not going to listen to its respondents.

Cllr Siobhan O’Connell (Alliance) said: “An important issue is at stake here. How do we as a Council consult residents

effectively and how do we respond to their views?

“It is important that residents’ views are given due weight in our decision making, otherwise consultation becomes an exercise in box-ticking.”

The Friends of Dunorlan Park have voted to reject the plans for parking charges, and note that there is no guarantee that the money generated will be put back into the park’s maintenance.

Majority

Peter Russell, Chairman of the group told the Times: “The Friends of Dunorlan Park are disappointed with the majority vote of the Finance Committee to introduce parking charges in the park and with the resulting proposal that will go forward to Cabinet for decision.

“In particular, there was no indication that any of the money raised would directly benefit Dunorlan Park.

“The same applies to renting land out for events such as Pub in the Park.

“We also note that the budget to run the park is currently £175,000 per annum, but no further information on the breakdown of this figure has been forthcoming, although we have requested it.”

He added: “The Friends note that 50 per cent of respondents in the TWBC survey did not want car parking charges to be introduced but this seems to have been ignored in the current round of voting.”

Any income made by the scheme has been earmarked towards shrinking the Council’s deficit, which currently sits at £943,000 for 2023/24.

The Council has two options for charging to choose from, which could generate from £41,000 to over £95,000.

One option proposes having the first hour free, two hours for £2 and then an additional £1 an hour, which is estimated to generate £41,610 per year.

The other option would be to charge £1 an hour up to five hours, then £5 all day, which is estimated to generate approximately £95,206 per year.

Cllr John Francis (Labour) said in response to the options that he finds the idea of charging for parking “distasteful” but admitted the Council needs the money.

If approved by Cabinet next week, parking charges will apply to both the Pembury Road and Hall’s Hole Road car parks from 8am-6pm, each with 40 spaces including two disabled spaces which will be free of charge.

PEMBURY ROAD CAR PARK

Tunbridge Wells village will be decided at a Planning Committee meeting tonight.

Located on the western edge of Horsmonden village, plans for a residential development were submitted by Rosconn Strategic Land, which they hope will receive approval at the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) Planning Committee meeting today (July 19).

The plans propose 68 new dwellings of one -, two- and three-bedroom houses to be built on a field currently used as grazing land, next to Brenchley Road.

In order to keep the new houses reasonably priced for all residents, 27 of the dwellings 40 per cent will be affordable homes.

The new homes will be “high-quality, well-designed new homes of mixed sizes and tenures in a sustainable location”.

Alongside the houses, the development will also become home to a new community village hall in the northeast corner of the site, to meet the “aspirations of the Parish Council”.

It will have “sufficient parking” and “proposed pedestrian access” to promote walking and cycling.

The village hall’s position has been strategically chosen to maximise its accessibility to the residents and the wider community of Horsemonden.

The rest of the development will

Road closures and traffic disruptions to start this week in Tunbridge Wells

By Grace Corcoran

THE start of the school summer holidays will see several road closures and roadworks causing delays around Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area. Included in the series of disruptions is the closure of the A264 Pembury Road for nearly six weeks to allow for new plastic piping to replace the old gas mains between Blackhurst Lane and the A228 Pembury Road.

Gas network operator SGN has said that diversion routes will be in place and access will be maintained for both residents and businesses.

Road closures across Tunbridge Wells include:

outside Broomlands Cottage North.

• Powder Mill Lane, Tunbridge Wells, July 24-26.

A series of roadworks will also likely cause traffic issues in the following areas:

• High Brooms Road, Tunbridge Wells, multi-way signals from July 19-20.

Brenchley Road, opens up to four new individually named streets.

There will also be a 25-metre buffer of woodland bordering the scheme so as not to impact on the countryside that continues westward.

Strategy

Rosconn Strategic Land said the development “will provide a high-quality and sustainable extension to the edge of Horsmonden, creating a distinctive sense of place that will be carefully integrated into the existing natural and built environment.”

However, TWBC has received a number of objections concerning the woodland buffer zone and with regard to safety concerns on Brenchley Road.

Zoe Patten Ferguson from Horsmonden asked that the 25 metres of woodland be doubled “in accordance with the nowadopted Horsmonden Neighbourhood Plan, wherein it states that a buffer zone adjacent to Ancient Woodland needs to be 50 metres.”

The safety of the increased number of pedestrians was also highlighted by residents and the Horsmonden Parish Council, which refused the application, citing concerns over the “inadequate” footpath width on the main road and the woodland impact.

• A264 Pembury Road and Cornford Lane, Tunbridge Wells, July 24-September 1.

• A21 both directions from Morley’s roundabout to Vauxhall Lane until 24 Jul from 8pm-6am. Carriageway, slip road and lane closures will be in place due to structural works.

• Broom Lane, Langton Green, will be closed until July 21 due to gas works

• Yew Tree Road, Southborough July 19-23.

• Forest Road, Tunbridge Wells multi-way signals from July 19-23.

• Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells July 19-24.

• Eridge Road, Tunbridge Wells, July 22-23. For further information on travel disruptions in the area, visit: kent.gov. uk/roads-and-travel

Cross Keys pub set to reopen

A POPULAR pub in Tunbridge Wells has teased that it will be “opening soon” after it was closed back in April when the landlady passed away.

The Cross Keys pub on St John’s Road is set to reopen within the next month.

In a social media post on Sunday July 9, the pub said: “Who’s excited… The Cross Keys opening soon.”

Responding to a comment under the

post, which asked when they will be reopening, the pub confirmed: “Hopefully within the next 2-3 weeks.”

Of its relaunch, the pub also responded by saying there will be a “big do” for opening day and more details were to follow soon.

According to its latest application on July 14, the licensing supervisor is currently being transferred over to Matthew Hoy who also runs The Fish Works in Camden Road.

The Cross Keys was closed on March 26 after the death of its previous landlady, Julie Wilson, who had managed the pub since 2017.

Customers from St John’s and Southborough knew and loved the familyfriendly pub for its regular events, good food, and community focus, which many hope will return once it reopens.

CONCERNS: The Horsmonden development plans

Reading for the love of it

By Sharon Bruce

MORE than 200 children from Royal Tunbridge Wells have recently been enjoying storytelling sessions organised by Royal Victoria Place (RVP), aimed at helping them fall in love with reading. The event, designed to encourage children to read outside the classroom, afforded children the opportunity to listen to stories from professional storyteller Vanessa Woolf as part of the Young Readers Programme, an award-winning initiative sponsored by Royal Victoria Place’s owner, British Land, and run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust.

Events

During the literacy-focused events, pupils from St Barnabas’ CofE Primary School, Temple Grove Academy and Broadwater Down Primary School took part in a range of fun activities including a ‘clean up the oceans’ activity with cosmetics retailer Lush, and were able to take home a book of their choice.

This marks the twelfth year of British Land’s partnership with the National Literacy Trust, and since the programme launched at Royal Victoria Place, it has supported almost 2,300 schoolchildren and seen more than 7,000 books donated across Tunbridge Wells. Research by the National Literacy Trust has shown that owning a book means

children are more likely to say they enjoy reading and are more inclined to read in their free time. However, 6.5% of children in the UK do not own a book, which equates to half a million children across the country. This rises to one in 10 (9.7%) children from disadvantaged backgrounds, which is the demographic this partnership aims to reach.

Martin Galway, Head of School Programmes at the National Literacy Trust, said: “The right book, at the right moment, can change a child’s life.

“That’s what the Young Readers Programme has been doing with British Land for the last 12 years – giving children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to experience enchanting storytelling events, and to choose books that speak to their interests and passions.

“Our goal is to spark a love of reading that will last them a lifetime, which in turn will empower them with the literacy skills they need to succeed.”

WINNER:

International Earth Photo exhibition comes to Bedgebury National Pinetum

FORESTRY England’s outdoor exhibition showing images from Earth Photo shortlisted works is set to open in Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest from July 7 to October 13 2023.

Created in 2018 by Forestry England, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and Parker Harris, Earth Photo is a world-leading programme engaging with still- and movingimage makers to showcase the issues affecting the climate and life on our planet. The Bedgebury Pinetum exhibition will

display 30 of the 50 final shortlisted entries by 55 photographers and filmmakers, allowing visitors to view the stunning images in a beautiful forest setting. They include a dramatic image by award winner Filippo Ferraro of olive trees ablaze in southern Italy, their sculptural silhouettes lit up by flames, showing the vulnerability of the olive groves and the livelihoods they support. For more information visit: forestryengland.uk/bedgebury/events

ECO

‘Wooden Diamonds’ by Filippo Ferraro

Wadhurst man switched on to electrical career

By Sarah Carter

A FORMER telecoms engineer from Wadhurst has beaten hundreds of applicants to win a spot on a prestigious regional technical training scheme.

Nearly 700 people applied for the UK Power Networks (UKPN) two-year apprenticeship run by the network provider, but Michael Willcocks gained one of the 26 places.

The 33-year-old is to train as a cable jointer in Tunbridge Wells.

Fantastic

He said: “I will be fixing cables and keeping power on for our customers. It was fantastic to get the job.

“I have always been drawn to the electricity industry. I worked in telecoms beforehand, and this felt like a natural progression.

“I played with electronics when I was younger. Engineering always interested me, so supposedly ‘boring’ stuff interested me. I like testing and diagnosing things and I’m used to working outside in all weathers. This sector has always resonated with me and for me, it’s the perfect job.”

A total of 54 apprentices will be taken on this year, learning traditional skills to rigorous standards, to help maintain the network for the 8.5 million homes and businesses served by UKPN.

The utility maintains the power network across London, the South East and East of England.

Apprentices train as electrical linespeople, fitters or jointers, learning to repair, maintain and connect overhead lines, substations or underground cables, all helping to keep the lights on.

The utility company estimates that its infrastructure will support an estimated 4.3 million electric vehicles and 650,000 heat pumps by 2030.

Michael said: “By 2030 they will stop the sale of petrol cars and our infrastructure will support customers moving to electric vehicles. It will be good to be part of that.”

UKPN Engineering Trainee Manager Charlie Aston said: “We are investing in training local talent to make sure we have the pipeline of essential skills necessary to continue providing a great service to our customers.”

He added: “UK Power Networks is recognised as a great place to work and successful apprentices can look forward to secure jobs, exciting career development and good training prospects.

“We would also like more women to apply, and reap the rewards of these exciting career opportunities.”

Students to make a splash with charity Channel swim

By Victoria Roberts

SWIMMING the English Channel without a wetsuit in September is all in a day – and night’s – work for a group of Year 12 students raising funds for two charities that support those with disabilities.

The team of five teenagers from Kent, including Sam Martin-Young from Lamberhurst and Joey Ajayi from Wadhurst – with teammates Mac Johnston, Daniel Oliver and Esmee Stanley – will set out from Dover on the 21-mile (18.2 nautical miles) sea crossing in September.

Operating by relay – swimming one hour at a time, with a five-minute changeover – the teenagers will dodge shipping and jellyfish in cold water with no wetsuits. The five were all stung on a recent swim, said Sam.

“It was a bit of a panic moment when I was stung – it felt like sharp stinging nettles,” he said. “The pain lasted around 10-15 minutes but then gradually subsided.

“You’ve just got to keep telling yourself to keep swimming. The worst bit is knowing you’ve got to get back in the water for a second hour’s swimming when there are blooms of them in the water!”

Despite the challenges, the team is determined, according to team captain Daniel, who said: “We are supporting Level Water who help disabled children to learn to swim as we wanted to help other children to be able to enjoy and benefit from swimming as much as we do.

“We’re also supporting Brains Matter, a local charity in Tunbridge Wells who help people who have suffered from acquired brain injuries.”

MICHAEL WILLCOCKS

CHANNELLING FUNDS: The team of swimming students

What’s on in and around Tunbridge Wells

The Hever Festival at Hever Castle continues until August 30, with music, theatre, comedy, dance and history. Highlights include comedy with the ‘Grinstock’ Comedy Club on August 23 and the Last Night of the Hever Proms on August 27, featuring the traditional crowdpleasers of Pomp and Circumstance and Rule, Britannia! – without traipsing up to the Royal Albert Hall. Children are well-catered to, with the ‘Wizard of Oz’ on July 25, the ‘Wimpy Kid Show’ on August 2, ‘Peter Pan’ on August 12, Horrible Histories’ ‘Barmy Britain’ on August 14, ‘The Jungle Book’ on August 20 and David Walliams’ ‘Bad Dad’ onstage on August 30 Programme at: heverfestival.co.uk. Tickets from 07379 488 477 or boxoffice@ heverfestival.co.uk

July 23 (Sunday) from 12 noon to 6pm in Calverley Grounds – Tunbridge Wells Mela celebrates music, visual arts, food and dance from around the world while showcasing cultural diversity. Free entry. The event will run from 12.30pm to 6pm. Tunbridge Wells Mela is organised in partnership with Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council, supported by Arts Council England, Royal Tunbridge Wells Together and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Highlights include local groups: a Ukrainian Choir made up of those of who have fled the war-torn country, local favourite The Paul Dunton Orchestra and community group the Kent Keralites, who will be showcasing Keralan culture. They will be joined by Baja Beats, a fusion brass band act who perform pop classics and

Bollywood hits, and the UK’s finest Dhol Drumming ensemble, Kings of Dhol. DJ Amit will also be bringing his signature summer sound. To add to the atmosphere, spectacular street acts will be performing off-stage. The headline act, Midnight Soul Sisters will then bring the house down with their blend of Motown, Pop and Soca.

July 23 (Sunday) Tour the countryside with other classic car drivers in the Tonbridge Lions Club Classic Car Tour Entry forms at tonbridgelions.org/classiccar-tour

July 24-25 (Monday-Tuesday, 12 noon11pm) Denny’s Fest charity musical festival at Denny’s Barbers (55-57 Grosvenor Rd). Local bands, acoustic acts and DJs create the atmosphere and Two Broke Chefs bring the food. Denny’s Barbers offer haircuts at £10 while 14 Arrows offer tattoo designs at £40. This 10th-anniversary event marks the passing of Denny Rowe by cancer. Funds raised go to the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre. Details at dennysplace.co.uk/ dennys-fest-2023 or on Facebook.

August 5 (Saturday) Tonbridge Pride takes place at Tonbridge Castle (12 noon to 11pm). Entertainment ranges from DJs to choirs, singers, bands, dance troupes and a drag show. Stalls include food, drink, arts, crafts, glitter makeup, kids’ activities, LGBTQIA+ merchandise, education and charity information. Entry free. Please note, the event is not family-friendly after 7pm. tonbridgepride.com

August 11-13 (Friday-Sunday) Hawkfest at King George V Playing Fields. Friday night is 80s/90s club night, hosted by a former Ministry of Sound DJ. Saturday is local, with The Dualers headlining. Sunday is family day (activities and games for children and adults). Arts and crafts, laser quest, competitions, bingo, bouncy castle

(including sandpit beach area). Tickets: Eventbrite.

August 20 (Saturday) Tunbridge Wells Pride returns to The Forum, for a day of music and performances with local DJs and artists, alongside stalls and with food and drink available.

The 18+ Pride Late Afterparty at The Forum is hosted by Miss Luna Lestrange, with performers and local DJ talent. Entry free. Please note the age restrictions on the Late Afterparty. Follow Tunbridge Wells Pride on Facebook or Instagram for programme details.

August 25-28 – Local & Live at Calverley Grounds, The Forum and The Sussex Arms. This free four-day live music festival features the best of local music, from established bands to the up-and-coming performers who are only just starting to make a name for themselves. Find the programme at localandlive.org. Free entry.

OUTDOOR THEATRE

July 25 (Tonbridge Castle) Illyria presents Twelfth Night. Bring a picnic and seating for the performance, starting at 7.30pm. Tickets through tonbridgecastle.org/events

July 27 (Tonbridge Castle) Heartbreak Productions presents David Walliams’ Bad Dad. Bring a picnic for this performance, starting at 6.30. Tickets available through tonbridgecastle.org/events

With the summer holidays upon us, the Times has compiled an essential guide to going out in the area for everyone from festival-goers and staycationers, to nature lovers, families with children, and connoisseurs of culture…

MELA FESTIVAL

LOCAL AND LIVE

August 8 (Hemsted Park, Benenden School)

Chapterhouse Theatre Company presents Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, an open-air performance in the Rose Garden at 7pm. Bring a picnic. Tickets through hemstedpark.com

August 23 (Tonbridge Castle) Heartbreak Productions presents MacHamLear, which sees Macbeth, Hamlet, and King Lear battling to persuade the audience that their tragedy should be performed that evening, in this farce by award-winning playwright Michael Davies. Bring a folding chair or blanket for this open-air production (79pm). Suitable for ages 9+. Tickets through tonbridgecastle.org/events

SUMMER CAMPS

Bright Sparks forest summer camp for 7 to 12-year-olds, run by Kent High Weald

Partnership at Bedgebury Pinetum. Every Tuesday in August at 9.30am-3.30pm. Promised are den building, fire lighting, whittling, woodland crafts and more. Prices range from £48-£50/day. More information and booking at forestryengland.uk/ bedgebury/events

Southeast Kids’ Camps at Pembury Primary School for 4 to 11-year-olds. Prices from £36/day. Hours available up to 8am-6pm. More information and booking at southeastkidscamps.co.uk/holidayclubs/ tunbridge-wells Please book through this portal. Contact your sports clubs for their summer programmes for members.

Weald Gymnastics (Tonbridge)

Full-day gymnastic sessions for school children of all different ages throughout the holidays. Full day: £40. Half-day: £21 Preschool gymnastics also available. Contact info@wealdgymnastics.com

STAYCATIONS

Bewl Water (Lamberhurst)

Camping at Bewl Water

Includes 24-hour shower and toilet access, fresh cold water taps in all camping fields, and hot-water washing stations. Booking through bewlwater.co.uk/ Glamping is also available, in one of two Mongolian Yurts. Features wood-burning stove and tea- and coffee-making facilities

and a stargazing viewing point. Each yurt sleeps up to four people (1 double, 2 singles). Minimum two-night stay. Both camping and glamping guests receive a unique 20% discount code for all activities booked directly through bewlwater.com

Caracol Camping (Groombridge)

Glamping in fully-furnished bell tents in Caracol’s wildflower meadow. Midweek prices start at £95/tent per night, weekends at £105. More details and booking at caracolcamping.co.uk

Hever Castle (Hever village)

Stay in the castle in five-star accommodation, in the Astor or Anne Boleyn wings. Or try the five-star gold-rated Medley Court holiday cottage. Tickets to Hever Castle and Gardens included with all bookings. Visit hevercastle.co.uk/stay

One Warwick Park (Tunbridge Wells)

Families and staycationers get 20% off booking directly. Adjoining bedrooms and suites available.

Book online at onewarwickpark.co.uk or call 01892 520 587, quoting code BOOK20. All guests have access to the Brasserie for lunch and dinner. Kids eat for free until the end of August when purchasing one adult meal. Afternoon tea is served in the atrium, Thursday to Sunday.

Salomons Estate (Tunbridge Wells)

Family staycations are 20% off when

booked directly with code BOOK20.

The Old Gate House (from £695/night) sleeps up to 12 in five double bedrooms (three bathrooms with shower/bath).

Fully-equipped kitchen, separate dining room, lounge and snug. Private garden. The Cottage (from £385/night) sleeps up to six in three bedrooms (two bathrooms with shower/roll-top bath). Fully-equipped kitchen, lounge. Private courtyard with outdoor dining.

The Garden Cottages (from £150/night).

These four self-catering cottages sleep from four to six guests. Open-plan living room and fully-equipped kitchen. Book online at salomons-estate.com or call 0189 251 5152 quoting the code BOOK20. Evening dining at the Bistro in the main manor house.

Bank. Trail is £3, with a prize. Bewl Water (open daily in July-September) Aqua Park Sessions at £23/person for a 50-minute session. Laser tag sessions at £15/player for a 50-minute session. Bike hire (open from 10am, last hire at 1pm, return bikes by 3pm). Adults £20, children £10. Helmets included.

Watersports: day passes available for sailing, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and windsurfing until the end of September. (£20/adult, £10/ under-18, free for 5-10 years)

All tickets through bewlwater.co.uk/ activities (EXCEPT TriSwim) Open-water swimming through TriSwim (July-August on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday). Visit triswim.org.uk/product/bewl-waterswim

Batemans (National Trust) (July 22-September 3, 10am-4.30pm)

Follow Rudyard Kipling’s classic story

The Jungle Book through Kipling’s garden this summer. Trail sponsored by Starling

Hever Castle (open daily). All activities free with ticket to the gardens or castleAnnual Summer jousting tournaments (1pm-3.30pm every weekend July 15-August 29 except August 5-6). Picnic for free or sit in the spectator stands for £2.

BRIGHT SPARKS SUMMER CAMP

HEVER FESTIVAL

GLAMPING AT BEWL WATER

FAMILY FUN

Heroes & Villains ‘school’

(daily July 22-September 3 at 11.30am, 12.30pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm). Meet on the Winter Lawn to test your heroism with these fun activities.

Falconry displays from Willows Birds of Prey at 11.30am and 3.45pm on July 22, 23, 27-30 and August 3, 4, 10-13, 17-20, 24-28

Penshurst Place (July 22-September 2).

Summer Saturday Crafts in the Craft Barn every Saturday at 11.30am-3.30pm

Falconry shows every Saturday at 11am, 2pm and 4pm. Garden stories every Sunday, with shows at 11.15am, 12.15pm, 2.15pm and 4.15pm. Join characters in the Stage Garden, to go on an interactive story adventure through the garden rooms.

All shows and activities included with entrance ticket to Penshurst Place.

Spa Valley Railway

(Tickets from: spavalleyrailway.co.uk)

Steam & Heritage Diesel Train Rides (every weekend July-October, plus some midweek days)

Jolly Roger’s Swashbuckling’ Train Ride (Thursdays in August, 2-3 sessions each) Join Jolly Roger’s crew and help him find the treasure before Captain Crook!

TN card Teddy Trail (Tonbridge) (July 28-August 25)

Details from thetncard.com/the-tn-teddy-trail

Children can pick up a free trail guide to the teddy bear trail in Tonbridge, finding out facts about these independent shops. Ten or more answers on your sheet wins a certificate and sticker. Free entry.

Children who colour in the teddy can enter a prize draw.

& THE GREAT OUTDOORS

July 26-August 30 – Wilderness Wednesdays for 8+ years (at parents’ discretion) at Penshurst Place. From 10am. Try axe-throwing, archery and smores making.

July 27 (Thursday) Kent Bat Group bat walk at Dunorlan Park. Meet at Hall’s Hole Road car park for 8.30pm start. Contact dunorlanfriends@gmail.com to book. Tickets £3/person (free to Friends). Donations gratefully received.

August 1-September 3 Free tree safari at Bedgebury Pinetum (9.30am-3.30pm). Learn how to read a tree label and identify which country a tree is from, then colour in your tree safari explorer’s map. Free with entry to Bedgebury.

Tuesdays in August at Bedgebury Pinetum (Tuesdays, 11am-3pm) ‘Hands on Cones’ – exploring these natural treasures. at the Shipwreck area on the play trail. Free with entry to Bedgebury.

August 29 (Tuesday) Bat walk at Grosvenor & Hilbert Park (6.45pm-8pm). Meet at The Hub for crafts and activities. Then join the walk around the Park on the lookout for our resident bats. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets £2/person, available from: fogh.org.uk/ tickets

BULLYING AND HARASSMENT AT WORK…OR IS IT BANTER?

By Natasha Smith, Senior Associate, Employment, CooperBurnett LLP

Given the recent headlines about a rise in workplace bullying and harassment, it may be surprising there is no legal definition of, or prohibition on, bullying in the workplace. Therefore, it is not possible for an individual to bring a standalone claim for bullying at Tribunal. However, bullying at work could give rise to other claims:

● Express Breach of Contract - Is there a contractual policy the employer has failed to follow when dealing with allegations?

● Implied Breach of Contract - Has the employer breached its implied duty to provide a suitable and safe working environment?

● Constructive Unfair Dismissal – Does the employer’s breach of an express or implied term, resulting in the employee’s resignation, amount to a fundamental breach?

● Discrimination - Could the treatment amount to harassment related to a protected characteristic (i.e. age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation etc.) under the Equality Act 2010?

Typical bullying behaviours range from unwelcome remarks and persistent unwarranted criticism to unwanted physical contact and shouting. Those on the receiving end are more likely to experience anxiety, stress and loss of confidence. As well as the damaging prospect of legal action, bullying and harassment is likely to result in increased absence, decreased productivity and management time spent handling grievances.

One of the key difficulties faced by employers when investigating bullying allegations is there is often an element of subjectivity, where the member of staff being accused of bullying considers their behaviour to be banter. The key focus for employers should be on how the recipient of the behaviour perceives it. In order to help avoid complaints and claims, employers should put in place a robust and wellcommunicated policy and guidance, that clearly states their commitment to promoting dignity and respect at work.

If you would like us to provide you with a Bullying and Harassment Policy or wish to discuss the potential legal implications for employers dealing with such complaints, please do not hesitate to contact Natasha Smith:

NATURE

AQUA PARK AT BEWL WATER

Atul Kochhar prepares to open new local restaurant COMINGSOON

THE wait is nearly over: London-based Michelin-star chef and television celebrity Atul Kochhar is almost ready to open his new restaurant, Essence, on The Pantiles.

At the recent Pub in the Park festival, the chef made the announcement via a poster outside his food stall, which read: ‘Opening winter 2023’.

Kochhar, who has restaurants in locations including Mayfair, Amersham, Marlow and Petts Wood is reportedly taking on the site of the former Woods Restaurant, which closed in early 2020.

PIG plans for 2025 opening

THE new PIG hotel looms on the horizon, and the official word is out that the PIG at Groombridge will indeed open in 2025, subject to all planning and listed building permissions.

Formerly known as Groombridge Place, the historic house was built in 1662 by barrister and architect Philip Packer with the help of his friend, Christopher Wren. Although the PIG says that plans for the historic house are ongoing, “all bedrooms will enjoy the striking views across the property’s moat, gardens and vineyard.”

COMINGSOON

Kent and Medway Business Fund offers investment loans for growth

By Victoria Roberts

A KENT County Council-backed fund, offering zero per cent loans for up to £500,000, will reopen for applications this autumn. However, applicants can register their interest now.

Aimed at funding growth, employment, and innovation, the Kent and Medway Business Fund (KMBF) offers two schemes to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 250 employees. All applicants must show that they are viable businesses not in financial difficulty, but businesses that can provide 50 per cent match funding are eligible for the standard loan scheme of £100,000 to £500,000. Security is normally required for the standard loan.

Meanwhile, Small Business Boost loans of

Guest’s Shoes Summer Sale is now on.

Guest’s Shoe Services Ltd was started by Tom Guest, after being invalided out of the Navy. Alongside work at the Post Office and Paine Smith Bakers of Southborough, Tom started repairing shoes by hand from home with the help of his wife Edna. Following praise from neighbours and friends, his first shop opened in Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells.

It was in 1957 that 23 Mount Ephraim was purchased, and he moved in with his wife, son Ian and daughter Avril. The business expanded and at one time had 9 shops, 4 in Tunbridge Wells, 2 in Tonbridge, 1 in West Malling, 1 in Rusthall and finally 1 in Crowborough in 1968. There were also 3 vans that would travel around the villages picking up and returning repairs as well as selling new shoes, including Barsleys of Paddock Wood.

With the help of a third generation, Tom’s granddaughter, Jenny Rickwood who started as a Saturday assistant, looks after the Crowborough shop and

assists with the buying and running of both shops.

The retail side of the business has taken over and being independent allows us to have the variety of styles and colours in shoes, handbags and leather goods in store. Over the years trading has altered, suppliers have changed or ceased trading. The good old brands like K Shoes, Equity and Elmdale have gone but been replaced with new, modern brands like Jana, Rieker and DB Shoes.

Fashion has changed a lot since Covid, especially in footwear. The demand for formal footwear slowed, casual shoes and trainers are what we are all wearing now. This season we have become stockists of Skechers, and the new Arch Fit and Slip Ins range are proving very popular.

Social Media plays an important part in retail, now more than ever, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter #TreatYourFeet #KeepItLocal #Crowborough #TunbridgeWells

£26,000 to £99,000 are for companies that can provide 20 to 30 per cent match funding.

With both schemes, repayment is over five years, after a six-month repayment holiday, and projects must be in the local area.

Projects

KMBF said it would prioritise projects in the manufacturing, pharmaceutical, natural and life sciences, green technology, digital, media, creative and cultural industries, and tourism, food technology manufacturing and logistics and construction sectors.

However, all sectors are eligible to apply, and to receive funding.

For more information and to register interest, visit www.kmbf.co.uk

Illegal Migration Bill set to become law

AN accommodation barge has arrived at the port where it will house 500 asylum seekers as the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill is set to become law.

Bibby Stockholm was met by protestors as it pulled into Dorset’s Portland Port on Tuesday 18 July, with the proposals to use it to house migrants under Rishi Sunak’s bid to ‘stop the boats’ crossing the Channel a month behind schedule.

The barge’s arrival followed a night of drama in which the Tory frontbench saw off five further changes being sought by the unelected chamber to the Illegal Migration Bill, including modern slavery protections and child detention limits.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who has been a strident critic of the Bill, dropped his demand for a statement on tackling the refugee problem and human trafficking to the UK, after a similar proposal was rejected by MPs.

It marked a shock ending to the parliamentary tussle over the flagship reforms. The Bill now awaits Royal Assent – the final stage of its passage through Parliament when the Bill becomes a law. The reforms are a key part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s bid to deter people from making Channel crossings.

They will prevent people from claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means.

The Government also hopes the changes will ensure detained people are promptly removed, either to their home country or a

A family-friendly venture

provide a safe haven for those at risk of war and persecution.”

Locals in Dorset have raised concerns about the Portland site being used to house asylum seekers.

Downing Street defended the use of barges to house migrants, insisting it is a cheaper alternative to housing in hotels.

The first asylum seekers are expected to board the Bibby Stockholm within the next fortnight, Downing Street has said.

If you’re a regular on West Kent’s culinary circuit, you may have already come across the pair of them.

If you’re a regular on West Kent’s culinary circuit, you may have already come across the pair of them.

third country such as Rwanda, which is currently the subject of a legal challenge.

But the Bill encountered fierce opposition in the upper chamber, which was accused of trying to “drive a coach and horses” through the contentious plans.

In turn, the Government faced claims of seeking to deliver a “punishment beating” to peers for challenging the plans.

Ministers had urged the Lords to allow the Bill to become law after signalling no further concessions were planned and MPs again overturned a raft of revisions previously made by the upper chamber.

Home Office minister Lord Murray of Blidworth said the number of small boat arrivals had “overwhelmed” the UK’s

Brecknock Arms one lunchtime, the summer sun

Brecknock Arms one lunchtime, the summer sun

Digby Furneaux and Katie Bagley’s new venture.

Digby Furneaux and Katie Bagley’s new venture.

Digby Furneaux and son Barnaby

asylum system and was costing taxpayers £6million a day to provide accommodation.

Dangerous

He told peers: “With over 45,000 people making dangerous Channel crossings last year this is simply no longer sustainable.

“If people know there is no way for them to stay in the UK, they won’t risk their lives and pay criminals thousands of pounds to arrive here illegally.

“It is therefore only right that we stop the boats and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people, ultimately enabling the Government to have greater capacity to

years. been and worked

Katie has worked in bars and restaurants throughout her career, but her main experience stems from the restaurant Cau in Tunbridge Wells, where she was general manager for four

Katie has worked in bars and restaurants throughout her career, but her main experience stems from the restaurant Cau in Tunbridge Wells, where she was general manager for four

The Illegal Migration Bill amounts to an “asylum ban”, campaigners argued as they protested against the legislation outside Parliament Square on Monday 17 July. Around 50 people, including poet and author Michael Rosen, trade unionists and refugee campaigners, took part in the demonstration.

Rosen told demonstrators: “This is not the Illegal Immigration Bill. It’s the Scapegoating Bill.

“A Government in trouble is trying the old trick of hoping to shore up support by blaming migrants for its own shortcomings.

“This is playing with fire: encouraging hostility towards desperate people.

“We’ve had a glimpse of what a decent approach to migrants looks like with how Ukrainians have been welcomed. Why the difference?”

British Medical Association branch officer Kambiz Boomla said the NHS would have “fallen apart” repeatedly without migrant doctors and nurses.

years. been and worked

Other Digby’s down worked

Other Digby’s down worked

With a clear goal for what they hope to achieve, Digby , along with their young son and reinvigorated The Brecknock Arms in Bells Yew Green. discovers what they have in store…

A family-friendly venture

With a clear goal for what they hope to achieve, Digby , along with their young son and reinvigorated The Brecknock Arms in Bells Yew Green. discovers what they have in store…

Katie Bagley, Digby Furneaux and son Barnaby

FLOATING HOME: Bibby Stockholm arrives in Portland Port

Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

Victoria pulls plug on hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games

UNCERTAINTY over the 2026

Commonwealth Games looms as host state Victoria cancels due to hosting costs.

Leader of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, said projected costs had tripled and become “well and truly too much” for the state to bear.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) battled to find a host before Victoria stepped forward in April 2022.

The Games host 19 sports including athletics, gymnastics, netball and rugby and are an important part of the athletics calendar.

England had its most successful Games to date in 2022 with a record-breaking medal haul of 176, including 58 gold.

The 12-day tournament, which takes place every four years, was expected to cost more than A$6 billion. Mr Andrews said the new figure was “more than twice the estimated economic benefit” it would bring to Victoria.

He added: “I’ve made a lot of difficult calls, a lot of very difficult decisions in this job. This is not one of them.

“That is all cost and no benefit.”

Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto

said the decision is a “massive humiliation” and “hugely damaging” for its reputation as a global events leader.

The CEO of Commonwealth Games Australia agreed, saying the cited cost blowout was a “gross exaggeration” and that it would look for another Australian host for the games.

Cancelled

Australia has held the Commonwealth Games five times but all the country’s states on Tuesday ruled out hosting for 2026.

The Games have only been cancelled twice, both due to the second world war.

It’s uncertain whether a new host will be found in time, but the Games have a history of finding willing host cities at short notice.

The South African city of Durban was originally set to host the 2022 Games, but was denied hosting rights in 2017 after money troubles and missing deadlines.

Birmingham agreed to host the Games nine months later.

The task of finding a new host remains difficult.

Woman jailed for obtaining abortion tablets wins appeal bid

A WOMAN jailed for illegally obtaining abortion tablets to end her pregnancy during lockdown has won her Court of Appeal bid to reduce her sentence and will be released from prison.

Carla Foster, 45, was handed a 28-month extended sentence after she admitted illegally procuring her own abortion when she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant.

Sentencing her at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court last month, Mr Justice Pepperall said Foster would serve half her term in custody and the remainder on licence after her release.

But at the Court of Appeal in London on Tuesday, judges reduced her prison sentence.

Dame Victoria Sharp said Foster’s sentence would be reduced to 14 months and that it should be suspended.

She said: “This is a very sad case, not least because of the length of the gestation when the offence was committed.

“It is a case that calls for compassion, not punishment, and where no useful purpose is served by detaining Ms Foster in custody.”

Dame Victoria added that there was “exceptionally strong mitigation” in Foster’s case and that she should be released from prison “immediately”.

The Court of Appeal was told the prison in which Foster has spent 35 days had refused to allow her any form of communication with her three children, one of whom is autistic.

Foster was initially charged with child destruction and pleaded not guilty, before admitting an alternative charge of administering drugs or using instruments to procure abortion.

Compassion

Following the Court of Appeal’s decision, BPAS chief executive Clare Murphy said: “We echo the judges’ statements that this is a case that calls for compassion, not punishment, and are delighted with the decision”.

She added: “The Court of Appeal has today recognised that this cruel, antiquated law does not reflect the values of society today.

“Now is the time to reform abortion law so that no more women are unjustly criminalised for taking desperate actions at a desperate time in their lives.

“We urge Parliament to take action and decriminalise abortion as a matter of urgency so that no more women have to endure the threat of prosecution and imprisonment.”

FLYING THE FLAG: Katarina Johnson-Thompson at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 Picture: @birminghamcg22/Twitter

Mike Martin Liberal Democrats

Government has failed to regulate water

THE provision of tap water is, extraordinarily, an issue in 21st-century Tunbridge Wells — a town founded upon the discovery of a free source of water in the Chalybeate Spring. Last week we even had water gushing out of a burst main opposite the Millennium Clock in the centre of town. How have we got to this point in a country as affluent as Britain?

At the end of the 1980s, the water industry was privatised. Water companies were obliged to provide, by law, “a supply of wholesome water”. This model initially worked well as it encouraged private sector investment. As time has gone on, however, the water companies have loaded themselves up with debt, often to pay back the loans that their parent companies took out to buy them in the first place. This is money that could otherwise be spent on investing in our water supply and sewage networks.

Water companies have asset-stripped themselves to a point where they can no longer fulfil their statutory duty of providing “a supply of wholesome water”.

The fact that they have been allowed to do this is a huge regulatory failure by the Conservative government. Don’t just take my word for it. The Conservative Lord Michael Howard, who was actually in charge of privatising the water industry in 1989, admitted as much on the Today Programme on July 1.

Let’s have a look at the figures. South East Water paid £232million to shareholders and creditors over 2020-2022. This compares very unfavourably to the £180m that they invested in our water supply network over

the same period. South East Water could have doubled – and then some – their investment, ensuring that we have water coming out of our taps when we turn them.

Essential

This is regulatory failure on an appalling scale, and it is the Conservative government’s fault. Regulating essential utilities is in the core job description of a government. But there is literally nothing from the government on this failure even when, as evidenced by Lord Howard’s comments, they admit that they are at fault.

Conservative MPs promising to “hold their water companies to account” are hypocrites when their party has been in government for so long and the government is the organisation that sets the regulatory framework. It is simply bleating about the symptoms, rather than focusing on the cause of the problem: debt-burdened water companies, that don’t have enough money for investment, enabled by the government’s regulatory failure.

The Liberal Democrats have a plan, and the good judgement to get the right balance between market forces and the size of the government. We want to turn the water utilities – our water utilities – into public benefit companies. Far from being a nationalisation, public benefit companies must consider public benefits first –self-evidentially supplying water and protecting the environment – before considering returns to shareholders. Secondly, the debt levels of these companies must be reduced to make them more financially secure. Finally, water companies must appoint environmental representatives to their boards.

This is our plan to fix the appalling mess the Conservative Party have created of our most vital resource. We aim to treat the causes of the problem, not just the symptoms. Next time the water is off, and you see your MP wringing their hands and giving out bottles of water at Tesco for the inevitable photo-op, ask them: what is their plan to deal with debt burdened water companies?

Mike Martin is the prospective Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells constituency. He is a former army officer, a Senior Fellow at King’s College London, and the author of multiple books.

And another thing…

This is the page where you, the reader, have your chance to express your views or comments on what’s going on in our part of the world. We like to hear from you. You can email us at newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk or you can write to the Editor, Times of Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate, Tunbridge Wells TN3 0TG

On track to marginalisation?

Dear Editor...

I would be grateful if you could bring this happy fact to the notice of your readers.

Professor Michael Holman, Chairman, ‘Refresh Tunbridge Wells’ Tunbridge Wells

Count the vehicles!

Calverley

Observations on life and more important things

THE proposal by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) to close up to 105 ticket offices (Times, July 12) is one more step on the path to the marginalisation of certain sections of the community and the abandonment of any pretence of a safe and effective customer service. Reducing the means of ticket purchase to either online or from a machine significantly disadvantages the less able among us and a further reduction in the staffing levels at stations compromises the safety of everyone, particularly those who are vulnerable as a result of their age, physical ability or gender.

Beware cosy quangos

I’VE long held the view that quangos are too cosy with the organisations they are meant to be overseeing and regulating, so it comes as no surprise that the former head of [water regulator] Ofwat, Cathryn Ross, has been appointed Joint Chief Executive of Thames Water. Furthermore, another 27 senior directors and managers also now work in the water industry.

Far from looking after the consumers’ interests, they seem to be looking ahead for the next big opportunity, and where else but in the industry they know. So keep your noses clean, don’t rock the boat and Bob’s your uncle!

Edward Baker

Tunbridge Wells

End badger culls

LAST week I went to see Greg Clark at the House of Commons, Westminster, to discuss the fact that the UK Government has endorsed the killing of more than 210,000 badgers in England without any scientific evidence to support the theory that badgers play any major role in the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to cattle. In fact, multiple studies have shown that cow-to-cow transmission is the main (at least 94%) source of the spread in cattle. In 2022 an independent quantitative analysis spanning all bTB records for the entire cull policy duration found no evidence that killing badgers was effective in reducing rates of bTB in cattle.

I pointed out that badgers are a protected species and the mass killing of them is a threat to the ecosystem.

To make such a proposition practicable, substantial investment will be needed to acquire additional machines at stations and ensure they are maintained to higher levels than achieved at present and undoubtedly the RDG will need to offset this by reducing expenditure on staff hence their assurances that ticket office personnel will be redeployed on customer-facing duties has to be treated with a degree of scepticism.

Jill Ruddock

SITWD Vice President Tunbridge Wells

People may be unaware that the government killing of badgers is nowhere near over. Previous plans were to end ineffective badger culling in 2025 and replace it with badger vaccination and more effective measures such as enhanced cattle biosecurity. Scotland and Wales do not cull badgers and reduce bTB more effectively than England. 94.7% of Welsh herds are TB-free without killing badgers. The most effective methods would be better cattle testing, controls on cattle movement, effective slurry movement, additional biosecurity measures and cattle vaccination.

Diana Allchorne

Five Oak Green

Frieze remains READERS of the Times of Tunbridge Wells will have been pleased to learn of the successful refurbishment of the Royal Doulton fountain in John’s Park and Meadows (Times, July 12). They will have been less pleased to read that ‘the new “tazza” bowl replaces the historic Royal Doulton frieze’.

As someone closely involved with the project, I would like to reassure your readers that the frieze has most definitely not been replaced. Quite the opposite. From the very beginning, its preservation was at the centre of our concerns.

As your more observant readers will have noted from the photograph showing the plaque with its dedication to the Platinum Jubilee, the frieze is intact, crowned with flowers and forming the base on which the new 2.5 ton ‘tazza’ rests.

COUNCILLOR Lidstone seems to view Tunbridge Wells through rose-tinted glasses, not knowing any history of it. From the 18th century Tunbridge Wells was always a crossroads for goods heading to the various ports on the coast. This is now done by juggernauts and delivery trucks that criss-cross our town. They have no option as we do not have the infrastructure in place to allow them to bypass the town. Similarly, those who work in any direction from TW also need the roads to get to their workplace. Has he ever carried out a survey of the sheer number of vehicles that go through the town and where they are headed? In an hour we could see 200-plus lorries across town.

On top of this he seems unaware that we have many schools in TW and not all the pupils are ‘local’. They travel from outlying villages and with poor transport have to come by taxi or their parents bringing them in and collecting them. As for the ‘locals’, not all are driving for leisure in TW, but going to the supermarkets for groceries and to the ever-dwindling shops in Victoria Place. How do they carry their purchases home?

So to glibly say that if 10 per cent got out of their cars, how would the above work? He champions more cycle lanes for those who contribute nothing towards their maintenance and has no concept of the narrow width of the A26. Using government dogma to ‘spend’ money, with the many potholes in town is frankly ludicrous.

Before making such statements, he needs to do some research.

John Pearce

Tunbridge Wells

PEPPY SAYS...

VAPING NIGHTMARE: It was two in the morning when the bedroom door burst open and in stumbled the teenager screaming that she was having a heart attack and needed an ambulance. Blood was pouring from her nose. Eventually she was calmed down. All quite frightening and too close to home for comfort. And why? She’d had a bad reaction to vaping. Rishi has promised to better regulate the sale of vapes. He needs to move quickly for the sake of future generations. Don’t let it be another Tory broken promise.

BARKING MAD: Banging on the front door brought Calverley face to face with two anxious-looking young ladies. “Your sausage dogs are running loose in the road”. Strange. Calverley does not own such beasts. Half an hour of detective work established the canines, no ID tags, belonged to a family visiting a neighbour. The family had gone out, leaving the slimline sausages to squeeze through the kitchen cat flap, then under the garden gate to have some fun.

LABOURING THE POINT: Surely an oxymoron, but “mega-rich leftie” Tony Blair has been going on again about the Tories failing to breathe life into the NHS. Could this be the self-same man who ran the country for 10 years as Prime Minister and totally failed to transform the NHS as promised. Selective memory, Tony.

WRITE MEDICINE: Hardly a surprise NHS consultants have been talking about a strike. The writing has been on the wall for some time. Trouble is nobody could read their scribble. (Sorry, really sorry – but it is quite funny.)

MOBILE FINGER: Calverley is learning how to scroll on his mobile using only his thumbs to tap the screen. Why? Because a survey shows mainly old folk use their index finger. Gotta get down with the kids. (He really is quite sad.)

SO ENGLISH: Nothing quite sums up England more than the two weeks of Wimbledon that finished on Sunday. Forget the strawberries and cream only in SW19 could the umpire politely ask the crowd not to pop the cork out of Champagne bottles during play as it distracts those on court. Proud moment.

FINAL THOUGHT: Those pesky Just Stop Oil protesters interrupted the first night of the proms. Such a soft target. Calverley can’t wait for them to try it on at Millwall FC this season. The London club has a reputation when it to comes to troublemakers. What an own goal.

Chin, chin dear reader…

CARTOON BY PEPPY: (Follow her on Twitter @Peppyscott)

The views of Calverley are Calverley’s own, not those of the Times, its staff or its holding company.

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‘The grades awarded to our students are testament to their unwavering dedication’

Skinners’ Kent Academy students are celebrating receiving their International Baccalaureate Results. Eileen Leahy discovers more about this innovative educational programme that focuses on career-related learning…

Students at The Skinners’ Kent Academy have been awarded their International Baccalaureate Career-related programme (IBCP) results.

The IBCP is an innovative education programme tailored to those who want to focus on career-related learning. It offers a

study a range of courses.

“These include Physics at Imperial College London, Accounting & Finance at the London School of Economics, Musical Theatre and Dance at the BIMM Institute and Law with Business at the University of Exeter,” explained the SKA spokesperson. Commenting further on this year’s

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THIS wonderful property boasts far-reaching views across Kent countryside within an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). The detached period house is believed to date from the 18th century and has benefitted from a complete renovation by the owner only 10 years ago.

The ground floor is versatile and comprises four homely reception areas, kitchen and a shower room. A spectacular central chimney breast rises through the building, affording both the drawing room and the snug, impressive inglenook fireplaces, each housing a wood-burning stove.

The stunning kitchen is equipped with a comprehensive range of painted wooden shaker style units, solid beech worktops, black enamel electric Everhot range cooker with induction hob, ceramic butler sink and integrated appliances including fridge, freezer and dishwasher. The dining room, with its vaulted ceiling and exposed beams provides the perfect harmony of contemporary and traditional.

Delightful

Upstairs are four bedrooms (three of which are doubles) one with fitted wardrobes and a family bathroom with shower accessed from the landing. Externally, a section of delightful private woodland lies to the rear, boasting an abundance of charming indigenous flora. To the front, a private gated driveway which has been recently laid could easily accommodate multiple vehicles and an oak-framed detached garage block houses two parking spaces and further benefits from a fully insulated room above with planning permission to develop a selfcontained annexe.

The historic village of Goudhurst is approximately one mile away and for a more comprehensive range of shopping facilities the towns of Cranbrook and Royal Tunbridge Wells are within five and 10 miles respectively. The Village has its own Primary School (currently rated Outstanding by Ofsted) and the property is within the much-favoured Cranbrook Grammar School catchment area. Tunbridge Wells

Grammar Schools for Boys and Girls are within easy driving distance. Independent Schools in the area include: Battle Abbey School, Bethany, Benenden, Bricklehurst Manor, Dulwich Preparatory, Kent College, Marlborough House, St. Ronan’s, Summerhill, Tonbridge and Vinehall.

For the commuter, there is a mainline rail service (London Bridge: 50 minutes) in the nearby Village of Marden, which is about a 10-minute drive away.

The A21 is less than a five-minute drive away and provides road links up to the M25, connecting to the full motorway network or, in a southerly direction, the picturesque South Coast.

Renowned walking, cycling and riding routes can be enjoyed in the sublime surrounding countryside, particularly at the Scotney Estate, Bedgebury Forest and at Bewl Water Reservoir, which also offers exceptional sailing and fishing facilities.

Tenure: Freehold

Contact Langford Russell Sevenoaks on: 01732 443 333 or visit: langfordrussell.co.uk

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MOVE TOWARDS PET-FRIENDLY RENTAL PROPERTIES

Pets can be a hot topic for both landlords and tenants. Traditionally, landlords have imposed restrictions on keeping pets due to concerns about potential damage or additional maintenance costs. However, a growing recognition of the importance of pets to individuals and families – as well as the benefits of responsible pet-owning tenants – is leading to changes in attitudes and policies. James Richards, Partner of award-winning Sales and Lettings Agent, Maddisons Residential, explains.

For tenants, finding pet-friendly rental properties can often be challenging. No pets clauses mean renters with furry, scaly or feathered friends have fewer rental options, which can create difficulties in securing suitable housing.

However, in recent years, more landlords and letting agents are recognising the benefits of attracting responsible pet owners as tenants. They understand that allowing pets can broaden the pool of potential tenants and enhance long-term occupancy rates. As a result, an increasing number of rental properties are becoming pet friendly, particularly in the Build to Rent sector, where landlords have more control over their property portfolios and can implement specific pet policies.

Additionally, the UK government has taken steps to address the issue. The Renters Reform Act seeks to change the model tenancy agreement in England to allow tenants to request a pet unless there are exceptional circumstances – different regulations apply in Wales and Scotland. This means that landlords must provide a valid reason for refusing a request to keep a pet, and blanket bans on pets are no longer enforceable. Even with such positive developments, landlords still have valid concerns about potential damage caused by pets. They may legitimately request additional pet deposits or require appropriate pet insurance to cover any damage.

Tenants can help their cause by demonstrating their responsibility as pet owners, such as providing references from previous landlords, proof of vaccinations, and evidence of obedience training.

While challenges remain, it is essential for tenants to understand that individual landlords may still have their own policies and requirements regarding pets, so it is always advisable to communicate openly and seek clarification on pet policies before entering into a tenancy agreement.

LAMONT COTTAGE

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Landlords feel effect of mortgage interest rates

By Becky Moran of TN Lettings

RECENT fast-increasing mortgage rates haven’t only affected homeowners: landlords are seeing their fixed rates coming to an end with similar dramatic rising costs.

Buy-to-let mortgages haven’t traditionally been the most competitive out there, and landlords now coming to the end of their fixed terms are struggling to find affordable mortgages. On top of that, they can no longer claim mortgage interest payments against tax, so many are being taxed substantially more, squeezing margins ever tighter.

What does this look like for the rental market?

If landlords are no longer seeing a return on their investment, and it becomes financially prohibitive for them to own rental properties, inevitably they will have to sell. And of course, this means fewer rental properties on the market where there is no reduction in demand.

What can landlords do?

We recommend starting by looking at when the fixed rate is due to end. If it is in the next 12 months, start shopping around. Don’t ignore any letters from the mortgage company as they will automatically move the mortgage to their standard product which could be extremely costly. Look at other ways to save money, such as

Dream Doors: Giving life to kitchens

changing landlords insurance and other cover, or increasing rent. Selling up may be the only viable option, which takes time. We would start by speaking to a mortgage advisor. Our go-to recommendation is Louise at Florence Mortgages. They have more insight into what’s available and can find rates not advertised on the open market. Here’s hoping landlords can find a solution, otherwise the rental market will be tougher than ever. tnlettings.co.uk florencemortgages.co.uk

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The photographs above show how this customer had an old fossil fuel aga and wanted to update it to a cleaner model. This then made them want to change their doors, worktops, flooring, reconfigure some of the units and add some new lighting. After much deliberation on their style and colour, they finally decided on a Pale cream door with Aries handles to

brighten and modernise the space. The clever rearrangement of the fridge gave them more work surface, which is now well-lit with the new under cabinet lights in a warm glow.

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The couple were absolutely delighted with the transformation, and it is evident from the photographs why!

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LANGTON GREEN

GUIDE £800,000 - £825,000

Chance to buy this stunning, substantial, semi-detached family home, with driveway, located in the highly desired area of Langton Green. Accommodation comprises; Living room, open plan kitchen/diner utility room, storage room and shower room to the ground floor, on the first floor there is 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. The second floor offers the main bedroom with en-suite bathroom. Situated on the border between Langton Green & Rusthall, this property is situated close to amenities and benefits from a substantial rear garden. EPC D, Council Tax E.

CROWBOROUGH

OIRO £625,000

A fantastic, substantial, 4/5 bedroom, semi-detached family home! Conveniently located within walking distance of the town centre, offering off road parking for several cars, electric car charging point and solar panels! The accommodation comprises; open plan kitchen/dining/snug room, plus sitting room, office/study, utility room, downstairs shower room, family room/bedroom to the ground floor and 4 bedrooms and family bathroom to the first floor. The property also benefits from a substantial garden. EPC C, Council Tax D.

HAWKENBURY

OIRO £750,000

Beautifully presented 3-bedroom semi-detached, family home in Hawkenbury with driveway. The accommodation comprises; Bay fronted lounge, open plan kitchen/ dining room with access to the garage/storage room, family room and W.C. On the first floor there are 3 double bedrooms and the family bathroom. The property benefits from a recently replaced roof, recently installed log burner and Amtico flooring. The property boasts a good size garden with an additional L-Shaped garage/outbuilding. EPC D, Council Tax D.

Challenging times are making landlords think creatively

By Stuart Killacky of Handelsbanken

LARGE portfolio professional landlords are looking to pay down debt as they focus on optimising their portfolios in the face of challenging economic conditions, new independent research conducted on behalf of local relationship bank Handelsbanken shows.

This year’s Handelsbanken Professional Landlords Survey – based on nationwide research among large UK investors – shows they are acutely aware of the risks and challenges facing the sector.

Portfolios

Around two-thirds (66%) of professional landlords disposing of assets say they are bearish about the market while 24% say they cannot afford to upgrade portfolios to comply with new sustainability regulations such as Energy Performance Certificate rules in England and Wales.

However, given market uncertainty, many investors will likely be waiting for opportunities to buy at reduced cost with a view to longer-term value creation, re-purposing assets (as Handelsbanken is seeing) and/or capitalising early on shifts in working patterns back towards more office usage.

That belief is also reinforced by the fact that 58% of our sample said they are looking to increase their exposure to

Southborough development opportunity

commercial offices, and just over half, perhaps surprisingly, are looking to increase their exposure to retail property. The research shows that there is still strong confidence in UK property as an asset class. James Sproule, UK Chief Economist at Handelsbanken said: “In contrast to owneroccupiers, professional landlords will often have a more detached and less emotional view of property values and are more likely to act in a way that recognises market realities. That’s why we are seeing landlords sensibly paying down debt, while others are increasingly alert to opportunities in sectors such as offices.”

AT SITED we generally sell sites off-market to a select database of developers to ensure we achieve the optimum value on behalf of both seller and purchaser. Good development opportunities are a rare commodity in the UK, and need to be marketed in a discreet manner to professional parties synonymous with these types of transactions.

Marketing

While there are numerous sites confidentially available, some sites do benefit from open marketing, and this exceptional scheme in Southborough is one such example. The site is currently occupied by a substantial detached house fronting onto West Park Avenue,

Top tips to sell your home faster

WHETHER you’re a first-time buyer, in a property chain or free to move quickly, buying a property is daunting at the best of times.

And with the cost-of-living crisis and rising mortgage interest rates, potential buyers need a lot more persuasion to invest in a home these days.

House prices across the UK rose steeply by around 25% from the start of 2020 until Autumn 2022. However, according to March’s 2023 figures from the Nationwide Building Society, prices have fallen by 4.6% since the August peak.

While this may be positive for buyers, some sellers may delay putting their home on the market or see it taking a lot longer to get that all-important sale.

And if you’re in a chain, there is nothing more frustrating than finding your next perfect home but being prevented from buying it due to a lack of offers on your existing property.

House prices are expected to stabilise this year. This means it’s a great time to increase the value of your home while still living there, to get it ready for the market, according to homes expert for Saga

Exceptional, Amy Cutmore.

“Adding value isn’t just about converting the loft or landscaping the garden. Simply paying attention to easily fixable issues can be the difference between buyers putting in an offer or not.”

She continues: “Not everyone is looking for a project. In our current economic climate, most buyers are drawn to

properties that are clean, tidy and aesthetically pleasing.”

Here, Cutmore highlights the top five things to pay attention to before putting your house on the market…

1. Declutter your house

“Clutter… it’s everyone’s guilty secret. And it goes without saying that it is very distracting for viewers,” opines Cutmore.

“Buyers want to visualise the space with their own furniture and belongings in it. Clutter not only makes this difficult, but it can also make rooms look smaller than they actually are.”

She says crowded kitchen countertops and piles of clothes and toys can make viewings overwhelming and create the impression your home doesn’t have adequate storage space – pushing potential buyers to question what other problems might be lurking inside it.

2. Carry out those repairs

Poorly maintained features, such as old appliances, stained doors, or an untamed garden, can make a home feel outdated and unappealing, says Cutmore.

“Investing time into basic maintenance and DIY, such as mowing the grass or repainting peeling walls, can significantly increase appeal.

“Adding a lick of paint will make a huge difference to a space. Neutral colours are most appealing to house buyers and can go a long way to giving your home a new lease of life.”

3. Give your garden TLC

A garden is one of the top three features

potential buyers look for, according to a poll by Saga Magazine, notes Cutmore.

“So, even if you have a small outdoor space, it’s a good idea to get this into shape. Not only could this lead to a quicker sale, but it could even increase your asking price.”

It’s important to remember first impressions count.

“Having an untidy garden makes it difficult for the buyer to visualise its potential, so making sure your front garden is aesthetically pleasing will intrigue potential buyers,” says Cutmore.

“Trimming the hedge, pulling out weeds, sweeping the path and making sure your rubbish bins and recycling boxes are neatly tucked away will make a massive difference.”

4. Remove personalisation

Of course, potential buyers will love to see how you made this house into your home, but what’s more important to them is being able to picture themselves living here – too much personalisation may make viewers feel like they are intruding, suggests Cutmore.

“Temporarily take down the kids’ or grandkids’ artwork from the fridge, pare back quirky collections, and tone down the inspirational ‘word art’.”

5. Be honest about parking

“Let’s face it – most potential buyers will

Southborough with the rear of the site currently occupied by a block of garages fronting onto Springfield Road.

The site has planning permission to demolish the existing house and garages, to be replaced by three substantial detached houses each one extending to 1722 sqft and arranged over two floors. The first floor comprises a master suite with en suite wet room and dressing room, three further bedrooms and a large family bathroom. On the ground floor there is a sitting/dining room, cinema room, study and good-sized kitchen.

Each property will benefit from a goodsized plot. The site is located close to all amenities with convenient access to the A21. Further information from: 01892 579937/ steve@sited.land or visit: sited.land

have one, if not two, cars that need a parking space. So if they arrive at a viewing and can’t see an obvious place to park, it’s going to be off-putting.” She continues. “No one wants to be carrying shopping back to the house from the next street, or have young children jumping out of the car and into the road.”

Cutmore says having off-street parking could add significant value to your house, with one report stating properties with their own parking facilities can get up to 13% more than homes without.

“The appeal of off-street parking will make your property easier to sell when it goes on the market,” says Cutmore. “So maybe consider creating parking – by switching your front lawn for a permeable gravel parking space.

“Adding value to your home is vital in the current housing market,” she concludes.

Picture: Alamy/PA

STUART KILLACKY

New-builds vs older homes: pros and cons

By Vicky Shaw

SPRING is a time when the housing market gets a fresh lease of life as buyers and sellers take the plunge.

When house-hunters are weighing up different properties, there are all sorts of considerations, such as the size, location, and closeness to work or local schools. But something else which may be weighing on buyers’ minds may be whether to buy a new-build home or an older property, which has had previous owners.

To help house-hunters decide, Daniel Copley, a consumer expert at property website Zoopla, weighs up some potential advantages of both options…

Why buy a new build?

1. Save money on your bills

New-build homes can be more energyefficient, making them cheaper to heat and run. Newer homes often have better insulation, maybe double or triple glazed and also have the advantage of a more modern boiler, which can all help homeowners to save cash.

2. Peace of mind

“Most new builds come with warranties,” says Copley, so you won’t have to fork out for major structural repairs. “Remember also that all white goods will be brand new when you move into a new-build, which means they are less likely to break, be more efficient to run and will be under warranty,” he adds.

“This includes fridges, freezers, cookers,

hobs, dishwashers and washing machines – make sure you get any warranty documents from the builder when you move in.”

Copley still suggests at least carrying out a “snagging survey”, generally costing a few hundred pounds, which can be used to spot any minor defects such as chipped worktops – or to alert you to bigger potential issues such as electrics and plumbing.

3. Added extras

“Developers sometimes offer deals to help sell their homes, such as throwing in fixtures and fittings or upgraded white goods,” says Copley. “Many house builders offer even bigger incentives, especially during quieter periods, to help sell homes within their developments, helping them to hit their targets.”

4. Buying schemes

The schemes available to help you own a new-build may vary, depending on where you live in the UK. House builders may also offer their own schemes, so check out what is available from them.

5. Purchasing chain-free

“If you are a first-time buyer or not selling another property then you’re not part of an onward chain, which means you can buy a new home at your own pace,” says Copley.

6. Opportunity to customise

“A massive advantage of purchasing a new-build property is that you can tailor the property to your taste, depending on what stage the build is at when you pay your deposit,” Copley adds. This could also mean you spend less money on decorating or

renovating.

Picture: Alamy/PA

With a new-build home, it may feel hard to visualise what the property would eventually be like to live in, particularly if it is not yet completed or unfurnished. But with a “second-hand” home which already has occupants, this may be much easier.

The existing owner may also be able to tell you how the property has suited their needs, which can be useful when working out how you may want to adapt it. It may also be worthwhile carrying out a more detailed survey, though, on an older property.

4. More chance of an established garden

While new-build properties have their advantages, there are also benefits to buying pre-existing properties.

Why buy an older home?

1. More character

“Whilst a period home may require restoration and investment, the rewards of lovingly bringing original features back to life is immense,” says Copley.

2. Being able to track your property over time – and see how its price has changed

“We all like to be nosy and being able to track the history of your home allows you to see how it’s increased in value and to view old listing photos from previous sales in recent years,” says Copley. “There’s plenty of snooping you can do on older properties to see how they – and their value – (have) changed over time.”

3. Buying a ‘tried and tested’ property

Ideally, your garden will have already been well-loved and cared for by its previous owners, reducing the need to stock up on new plants and shrubs at the garden centre. Of course, if the previous owners weren’t green-fingered or neglected their outdoor space, then money may need to be spent to put right.

5. A central location

“Older properties tend to be in more central locations within towns and cities, so nearer to conveniences such as schools, shops and transport links,” says Copley.

6. Potential to add value

“This could be in the form of aesthetic improvements to give a fresh look, such as painting, or bigger-scale additions, such as knocking through walls to create bigger spaces or even extending out or up into the loft,” says Copley.

If you’re considering buying a ‘doer upper’, it may be worth getting a selection of quotes beforehand, so you can work out whether it’s worth it.

• Three/Four

• Private Woodland

• Grade II Listed

• Catchment for Highly Regarded Schools

• Oak Framed Detached Garage

• Planning Permission to Develop Garage

• Far Reaching Views

• One Mile from Goudhurst Village

Life&Times

Trinity Theatre Club kicks off its run of a play based on the P. G. Wodehouse classic ‘The Code of the Woosters’ tonight (July 19). Helen Thorpe, the director of ‘Perfect Nonsense’ tells Eileen Leahy why audiences will be in for an evening of unbeatable raucous laughs thanks to this wonderful comic farce…

Trinity Theatre Club (TTC) is a vibrant, energetic, amateur theatre company based at Trinity Theatre. It was first established in 1946 as the Tunbridge Wells Drama Club but when Decimus Burton’s Holy Trinity Church was decommissioned in 1977, the Tunbridge Wells Drama Club was at the forefront of the move to convert Trinity into a theatre.

By 1981 the club had established itself as Trinity’s own amateur theatre company and renamed itself the Trinity Theatre Club. Since then it has attained a welldeserved reputation for producing amateur drama to a professional standard.

The group puts on three plays a year and prides itself on ambitious programming, high production values and forging a reputation for excellence.

Recently, TTC has put on a variety of productions including Agatha Christie’s ‘Witness for the Prosecution’, Graham Linehan’s adaptation of ‘The Ladykillers’ and Noel Coward’s ‘Private Lives’.

For its summer production, TTC is taking to the stage with ‘Perfect Nonsense’ – an adaption of the classic P. G. Wodehouse Jeeves & Wooster caper, ‘The Code of the Woosters.’

The show, which runs until July 22, is

once again directed by Helen Thorpe, who tells the Times the reason she decided to put on ‘Perfect Nonsense’ is because she has been a fan of P. G. Wodehouse for many years, particularly the much-loved Jeeves and Wooster stories.

“It’s silliness at its absolute best, with the classic straight character digging the accident-prone, comic one out of sticky situations,” she laughs, before explaining that this particular adaptation, which is by the Goodale brothers was first performed at Richmond Theatre in 2013.

“A year later it won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. It’s easy to see why, as the play has all the bonkers antics you would expect from a Wodehouse story, with general mayhem and an array of hilarious characters. It’s the perfect summer, feel-good production.”

If you’re not familiar with the play’s plot then Helen reveals that it is a classic play-within-a-play scenario.

“It revolves around Bertie Wooster, who has decided to stage a one-man show about his recent experiences at a country house. As he is starting the show, he realises he needs help telling the story and enlists his valet Jeeves to assist, together with Seppings, the elderly butler of his

dear Aunt Dahlia. In addition to narrating, Bertie plays himself in the story. Jeeves and Seppings each play multiple characters, both male and female, leading to rapid-paced antics and a number of problems arising, which Jeeves steps in and manages to solve – almost seamlessly!

“In brief, Seppings plays Sir Watkyn Bassett, an imposing silver collector who, as a magistrate, once fined Bertie five

‘This show is silliness at its absolute best with the classic straight character digging the accident prone, comic one out of sticky situations’

pounds for stealing a policeman’s helmet as a prank. In the story, Bertie’s uncle is also a silver collector and both he and Bassett are after the same silver cow creamer, however, Bassett manages to acquire it by underhand means. Bertie’s Aunt Dahlia tells him to go and steal it, threatening to withhold her brilliant chef’s cooking if he refuses. At the same time a rift occurs between Bertie’s friend Gussie and Gussie’s fiancée Madeline, who is Sir

Watkyn’s daughter. Bertie is nervous of Sir Watkyn and his intimidating sidekick Spode, but somehow needs to obtain the treasured cow-creamer. Meanwhile, Sir Watkyn’s niece, Stiffy Byng is scheming to get her uncle’s approval to marry a penniless curate with whom she has fallen in love, whilst fending off a feud with Constable Oates over an incident with her dog.”

Phew! So far, so complicated I say…

“Well you’ll be pleased to hear all the storylines do collide and chaos ensues, both in the story Bertie is narrating and the play as it is being performed, but Jeeves is there to save the day and makes sure all ends well,” Helen assures me.

“Most people know about Bertie Wooster, the amiable young man-about-town, regularly rescued from the consequences of his idiocy by the benign interference of his trusty valet Jeeves. But in ‘Perfect Nonsense’ we are introduced to a whole new group of characters, each bonkers in their own right.”

“Seppings is Aunt Dahlia’s doddery old butler, set in his ways, and a martyr to tradition. Aunt Dahlia is a much-loved but imposing aunt with a loud-speaking voice who moves like a galleon wherever she goes. She is a lady not to be messed with,

I say old chap, this play is a load of nonsense – and it’s absolutely perfect!

Pictures: Jamie Craig Photography

but she’s also a large genial soul and all-round good egg. Sir Watkyn Bassett, is a magistrate who’s a lovable, blustery old curmudgeon.”

This, adds Helen, is in direct contrast to Bassett’s daughter Madeline whom she describes as ‘an oversentimental drippy girl.’

Nonsense’ she says it will be the traditional ‘Commedia dell’arte’ aspect of the piece.

“It’s a joyous combination of physical comedy and farce, with relatable characters, who will all be dressed in wonderful, period costume. With an element of silliness emphasising the characters’ quirky foibles.”

Helen says the audiences will have “a spiffing ride” as the story takes them through a fast-paced, boisterous adventure, all carried by the inimitable Bertie and his trio of actors.

“The quick changes are all slick and hilarious, all of which will take place on stage – the audiences really are in for a spiffing ride! The set will be the big surprise for them, too as it will not be our usual reproduction of a country house...”

“Gussie Fink-Nottle is Bertie’s friend who is engaged to Madeline, a personable, slightly dotty man who is fascinated with the study of newts. Stiffy Byng is Sir Watkyn’s niece and ward, she has a sense of entitlement which means she has no qualms about pulling the wool over her uncle’s eyes.”

Helen says that Roderick Spode is “intimidating and threatening and works closely with Sir Watkyn Bassett. He eventually gets his comeuppance”.

“The characters are as barmy as their names, each bringing another layer of silliness. The play was written with three actors taking on all of the roles, but I have thrown in one more actor which adds a sprinkling more mayhem!”

In terms of what Helen thinks audiences will enjoy most about seeing ‘Perfect

Helen states that as the play is very demanding, both mentally and physically, she is very fortunate to be working with four actors, whom she describes as being “brilliant”.

“All of them are brilliant and bring their own silliness to the production. Three of them are well known to Trinity audiences and one is new to the Trinity stage. We have had great fun rehearsing and everyone is excited to share this crazy show with Tunbridge Wells!”

Book tickets on www.trinitytheatre.net or call the box office on 01892 678 678.

Dates: Wednesday 19 July to Saturday July 22, with matinees on Friday 22 and Saturday 22.

There are special rates for schools, the opening night, matinees and for the Friends of Trinity.

Are you feeling drained, exhausted or overwhelmed by the stress of daily life?

It may be time to take a break and focus on yourself.

Join Chrissie's new Yoga class for beginners in Tunbridge Wells and let her guide you towards a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

As an experienced and fully qualified teacher, Chrissie will introduce you to a dynamic form of Yoga designed to increase flexibility, core strength and confidence.

Whether you're a complete beginner or have some experience with Yoga, this class is tailored to meet your individual needs. Yoga is an excellent way to release stress, clear your mind and

improve your physical wellbeing.

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Join Chrissie's class today and start your journey towards a healthier, happier you. Contact us now to book your place and take the first step towards a better future!

Book via: Yoga-Circle.co.uk

Dynamic lessons in Yoga for all abilities

New classes now available

10am Thurs - Introduction

10am Friday - All Abilities

Location: St Barnabas Hall, Stanley Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2RH

Book via: Yoga-Circle.co.uk

‘Most people know about Bertie Wooster, the amiable young man-about-town, regularly rescued from the consequences of his idiocy by the benign interference of his trusty valet Jeeves’

guidegig

In his fortnightly guide, Times Music Editor Paul Dunton brings us his gig highlights, which includes both a Smiths tribute act (The Smyths) and Johnny Marr himself…

THE TUNBRIDGE WELLS FORUM

Event information and tickets at www.twforum.co.uk

20/07 Feet + Strangeways + Entropy

21/07 The Smyths: 20th anniversary – a musical celebration of The Smiths

22/07 The Devout (A tribute to Depeche Mode)

23/07 Prima Queen + Red Coast +

Oscar Browne

26/07 Black Honey

27/07 Little Quirks + Two Weeks

In Nashville + Isabella Coulstock

28/07 Danny Rampling + Markosa

29/07 Boogie Nights presents

Ibiza Classics: House Music Party

30/07 Ricky Warwick & The Fighting Hearts

THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE, CRESCENT ROAD

All event Information and tickets available at www. assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

27/07 Johnny Marr

THE DEER PARK CAFE, ERIDGE

All event information and bookings available at www. thedeerparkcafeeridge.com

Open all day, free entry, live music on Saturdays and Sundays

29/07 Gian & Vicky (4.30pm-6.30pm)

30/07 James McMaster (2pm-4pm)

THE GREY LADY MUSIC LOUNGE, PANTILES

All event information and tickets available at www.thegreylady.co.uk

28/07 The Grey Lady Sessions: The Paul Dunton Orchestra

30/07 The Grey Lady Sessions: Harry Whitty Band + David

If you are a venue local to Tunbridge Wells that hosts regular live music or even if it’s a one-off event, concert or festival, contact Paul at least six weeks in advance of your event date with the following details:

• Name and address of venue

• Date and time of event

July 19 to August 1

Migden & The Twisted Roots

SQUERRYES WINERY RESTAURANT, WESTERHAM

Dining and live jazz music experience booking advised via 01959 562345 or www.squerryes. co.uk Live music from 7.30pm

21/07 Dino Baptiste

28/07 Gian & Hannah

TN1 BAR & KITCHEN, MONSON ROAD

Open all day live music usually from 8pm booking advised via 01892 513900 or visit www. tn1barkitchen.co.uk

20/07 Andy Twyman (7pm)

All event information and tickets available at www.stedithfolk. co.uk/what-s-on

22/07 Fairport Convention

(Queen’s Hall)

26/07 Phil Beer Trio (Otford Memorial Hall)

CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE, CHIDDINGSTONE

All event information and tickets at www.chiddingstonecastle.org. uk/whats-on/

23/07 Live at The OrangerySmall Island Project

THE GEORGE & DRAGON INN, SPELDHURST

Open all day, free entry, music in the garden from 4.30pm

22/07 Motor Neurone Disease

Charity Fundraiser live music from Ash Dodd + more acts tba

23/07 Reggae Afternoon with Paul Bolton

28/07 Willowisp

TYBER’S REGGAE BAR, 9 NEVILL STREET

All event information and tickets available at www.tybersreggaebar. com/events

21/07 DJs – Selector Stix

22/07 DJ – Cassy M

26/07 Tyber & Pete

28/07 Rass Don Is Mighty Vibez

DJ 29/07 Double Barrel Reggae & Ska

JAZZ ON THE PANTILES, THE PANTILES BANDSTAND

A reservation is required (entrance

£5pp). Participating restaurants : The Tunbridge Wells Hotel: 01892 530501

The Kirthon: 07592 271151, La Casa

8.30pm

22/07 Kharma & The Devil 29/07 Act tbc

THE BOTTLE HOUSE INN, PENSHURST

Open all day, free entry music from 6pm booking advised on 01892 870306 or online at www. thebottlehouseinnpenshurst.co.uk

21/07 Gian & Hannah 28/07 Ben Hills

THE GREEN DUCK EMPORIUM, 53 GROSVENOR ROAD

All event information and tickets available at www. thegreenduckemporium.com/ events

23/07 Sun & Moon Naked Courtyard Sing along! 28/07 Carradine’s Cockney Sing along!

EVEN FLOW CAFE, ST JOHN’S ROAD

21/07 Act tbc (8.30pm)

22/07 Release The Geese Duo (8.30pm)

27/07 Wojtek Godzisz (7pm)

28/07 Charlotte Lubbock Duo (8.30pm)

29/07 David Mumford Duo

ST EDITH FOLK SESSIONS, THE QUEEN’S HALL THEATRE, CRANBROOK

• Name of event and name of act(s)

• Ticket link and/or website (please state if free entry)

• 1 x high resolution (300 dpi) landscape jpeg (performer only, no posters)

• Please state photo credit if required paul@paulduntonandguests.com

29/07 Paul Malsom & Charlotte Lubbock

THE BLACK HORSE PUB, CAMDEN ROAD

Open all day, music events  – free entry (unless stated) music from 8pm - Live music on Friday nights

21/07 Friends of Reason formally Dovestock Collective

Vecchia: 01892 544700

20/07 The George Anderson Band

27/07 Dave Ital & Friends 29/07 Soul Train

THE ROYAL OAK PUB, PROSPECT ROAD

Open all day, free entry music from

All event information and tickets available at www.evenflow.co.uk

27/07 Open Mic Night

THE FORUM BASEMENT, THE SUSSEX ARMS

All event information and tickets available at www.twforum.co.uk 29/07 Dusty Grooves

THE COMPASSES, LITTLE MOUNT SION

Open all day, free entry, live music from 7.30pm 27/07 Squeeze-A-Crowd

THE GEORGE & DRAGON, LAMBERHURST

Open all day, free entry, music from 8pm     19/07 Open Mic / Jam session: all welcome

26/07 Open Mic / Jam session: all welcome

Nigel Martin Photography

DAVE MIGDEN AND THE TWISTED ROOTS

DINO BAPTISTE

DAVE ITAL

Times Chief Reporter Victoria Roberts picks three books for the week

On the bookshelf this week, historian Tom Holland returns with more epic analysis of the Roman Empire in ‘Pax’, a brilliant new book for younger readers about the importance of plants, and a Gen Z murder mystery from Eliza Clark…

Pax: War And Peace In Rome’s Golden Age by Tom Holland

Published in hardback by Abacus, priced £30

This latest volume from historian Tom Holland follows the Roman Empire’s grandest phase and greatest extent.

Starting with the death of Nero and the bloody civil war that saw four more emperors crowned within a year, Holland recounts the rule of the Flavians, Nerva, Trajan and Hadrian, with all the narrative relish that marked his earlier works. He has a talent for drawing out the character and concerns of the age, while neither omitting nor being overwhelmed by the facts and dates. His account of the eruption of Vesuvius is dramatic, moving and rivals the set-pieces of the classical historians. Sometimes a seasoned reader might want to stop and dwell, rather than continue to be swept along by Holland’s exuberant prose, but as an overarching narrative of Rome’s Golden Age, his book is a triumph.

Review by Joshua Pugh Ginn

Say

‘I do’

Plants To The Rescue! by Dr Vikram Baliga, illustrated by Brian Lambert

Published in hardback by Neon Squid, priced £12.99

This is a wonderful read, with fabulous colourful illustrations. It’s a very educational book, which although aimed at children under 10, will appeal to various ages – especially if you are interested in plants, wildlife and the environment. The author is obviously very enthusiastic about plants, bringing to light the many wonderful ways they can help us progress and hopefully reduce the effects of climate change, together with how we can use plants as alternatives to reduce waste, and increase food production and natural medicinal aides. Throughout the book, we are shown the potential for using plants as a clean source of fuel, a replacement for plastics, even hair extensions. The list goes on.

Review by Joanne Brennan

Penance by Eliza Clark

Published in hardback by Faber & Faber, priced £14.99

A 16-year-old girl is murdered in a seaside town, and her attackers are three other teenage girls. Add in some internet forums, a few insensitive podcast hosts and a former journalist in need of a bestselling book and the theories will grow.

Eliza Clark’s new novel Penance has shades of American high school films Mean Girls and Heathers, told from the viewpoint of unreliable narrator Alec Z Carelli, a hack embroiled in a phone hacking scandal with some past trauma of his own. The book is a page-turner with some insightful descriptions of the characters found in a small town. At times, it is unclear if it is seeking to make a point about society’s fascination with true crime – or just tap into it.

Review

by Eleanor

with a view at Salomons Estate

SALOMONS Estate, a popular wedding venue in Tunbridge Wells, is responding to the increasing demand for outdoor ceremonies by expanding its array of options for brides and grooms-to-be.

Nestled amongst the rolling countryside in Southborough, the Grade II listed Victorian manor house now offers the opportunity for couples to exchange their vows on the picturesque south-facing lawn, which provides stunning views of the estate’s expansive 36-acre grounds. With a track record of hosting just under 100 ceremonies, receptions, and civil partnerships each year, the venue has

become an award-winning destination for those seeking an unforgettable wedding celebration.

There’s an impressive selection of venues to choose from, catering to a variety of preferences and styles. Inside the manor house, couples have the option to say ‘I do’ in several stunning locations.

The elegant Drawing Room, with its timeless charm, provides an intimate setting for a romantic ceremony, wedding breakfast or evening reception. The lavish Victorian Theatre also offers a grand backdrop for such occasions and is the largest space, catering to 350 guests.

Additionally, the beautifully ornate Gold Room presents far-reaching views of the surrounding gardens, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor elements with direct access to the terrace for summertime nuptials.

However, it is the newly-expanded garden space that has become a favourite among couples during peak wedding season. The south-facing lawn, meticulously maintained by the estate’s dedicated groundsmen, offers an idyllic new setting for Salomons’ brides and grooms.

Picture-perfect

With a capacity to accommodate up to 160 guests, the south-facing lawn provides a wonderful backdrop for exchanging vows under the sun and is surrounded by blooming flowers and rolling views of the countryside. There’s even a lake, providing picture-perfect photo opportunities.

According to Fiona Owens, Events Manager and wedding expert at Salomons Estate, there has been a notable shift in couples’ appreciation for the outdoors. She explains, “We’ve witnessed a newfound appreciation for the beauty of nature as couples seek venues that provide a picturesque backdrop for their special day.”

“Couples are actively seeking locations that can offer the perfect setting, featuring elements such as water features, wildflowers and woodlands”.

“It’s had an impact on décor trends, too”

Barlow

she continued.

“From moon gates and floral arches to incorporating elements of the wildflowers we have on-site, we’ve noticed our couples align their wedding themes with the natural beauty of Salomons, and it really transforms the grounds into the perfect setting”.

To book a visit, couples should email leisuresales@salomons-estate.com or head to salomons-estate.com/weddings for more information.

Advertorial

Wines to buy on a French road trip

Whether you’re heading back from a wine holiday, or looking for smart buys on a trip across the Channel, these are the labels to try, says Sam Wylie-Harris

As any wine lover will agree, France has it all.

But where do you begin if you’re not sure which are the go-to appellations if you’re after a bargain, or find French labels baffling when it’s by region and not the grape variety?

Or you simply may want to stock up at Calais with something less spendy than what’s available on the other side.

“Savvy shoppers know one way is to look to lesser-known wine regions to find wines you’re guaranteed to love,” says Helena Nicklin, Ocado wine ambassador.

“A quick stop-off in Calais will also mean you should save on international shipping costs when going for French wines,” she explains.

So, whether a trip to France is on the horizon or not, here are some alternatives to your classics to seek out…

Provence rosé

“If you’re a fan of a light, quaffable Provence rosé, you don’t have to go far off the beaten track to find wines similar to those you love, but which offer great value for money,” says Dan FarrellWright, director at Wickhams Wines.

“Look for wines labelled IGP Méditérranée – the appellation covers

most of southern France and these wines will often be equally pale, full of red fruit and citrus flavours, and made using the same blend of grape varieties.”

Nicklin says: “Love Whispering Angel?

Provence put pink wine firmly on the map, but it often comes with a price tag to match, especially trendy ones like Whispering Angel.”

“Cote des Roses celebrates the Mediterranean lifestyle, and looking to Languedoc next door is a great way to find brilliantly priced pinks that are pale and elegant,” says Nicklin.

“Yet often with a bit more fruitiness.”

Burgundy

For those who prefer a full-bodied chardonnay from Burgundy, Farrell-Wright suggests looking for Beaujolais Blanc which he cites as an insiders’ secret.

“These wines are 100% Chardonnay and Beaujolais is just south of Burgundy. The style is similar to those found in and around Mâcon, but the name means they are much cheaper,” he adds. “And they rarely make their way out of France.”

If you can’t track down a Beaujolais Blanc, think about stocking up on chardonnay from Mâcon-Villages in

HOUSE CALLS THIS JULY IN YOUR AREA

southern Burgundy, where you’ll get more bang for your buck than a premier cru.

Sancerre

“Sancerre is the famous Loire Valley home of elegant, nettle-y sauvignon blanc, but there are other appellations around it that also produce a lighter, minerally style of the grape,” says Nicklin.

“Try an IGP version from the Loire and you’re usually looking at around half the price.”

And don’t forget seafood-loving muscadet from the western end of the Loire Valley. Certainly worth keeping an eye out for if you’re touring around, especially those labelled Sur Lie – aged on lees for more depth and complexity, with a yeasty creaminess – and a natural with oysters and shellfish.

Rhône reds

As Nicklin puts it: “Good old Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of those wine names that sticks in your head for being “one of the good ones”.

“However, many grenache or syrahbased blends will offer a similar hit of boozy figs, bramble fruit and spice.

“A Côtes-du-Rhône or Lirac red will hit the spot, or even just a juicy, southern French syrah.”

Picture: Alamy/PA

When helping vulnerable people is the reason for a Law Firm’s existence

WHEN Jane Bennett founded JE Bennett Law with husband Tom Beaufoy in 2012, it was born from frustration at a legal career where helping those in need seemed hampered by the constraints of larger, diverse firms. A decade later and she is the Managing Partner of a niche Law Firm, specialising in helping the vulnerable with Court of Protection, Powers of Attorney, Wills and Probate matters.

Like many of those who have subsequently joined her at JE Bennett Law, Jane has her own backstory - a personal drive to want to help those unable to help themselves. Several of the team have entered the field after battling to support a vulnerable loved one. In many respects the work is a calling. Consequently, an understanding and empathy with the client’s perspective is as entrenched in the firm’s values as the necessary legal expertise. JE Bennett Law has developed a culture of caring and compassion but matches this with a thorough understanding of a complex area of law - and a steely resolve to provide the best solution for the client.

The success of the model, and consistently increasing demand has dictated an expanding team and when

the premises in Sevenoaks finally became outgrown, the firm relocated to Tunbridge Wells last summer - following the same relocation path as owners Jane and Tom a few years previously.

Now a team of 30, including 8 partners, the firm still retains both its family ownership and family values, and continues to maintain a focus on helping vulnerable clients and their loved ones. The whole team shares a passion for helping the vulnerable and the resulting success of the business has not gone unnoticed. The firm, and several individual partners, are highly ranked in prestigious industry ratings and the firm is also in high demand for Expert Witness services in this field. JE Bennett Law also has the rarity of 2 (of only around 60 appointed nationwide) Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) Panel Deputies. Jane commented “Many firms offer what we do as part of their broader practice. We are relatively unique in specialising in this area of law. Our entire team is focused on helping the vulnerable with no other distractions. From a starting position as Court of Protection specialists, we’ve expanded only into legal areas that enable us to provide a full service to vulnerable clients. So, we have expertise in Powers of Attorney, and Wills and Estate Administration (Probate) because all those legal services can interconnect at some point. It means we can offer full or additional services to our clients that need it, but also if someone just needs a Will or Estate Administration advice, or an LPA (Lasting Power of Attorney) we can do that too – and you’ll receive the same level of care and service.”

Located in Linden Close, by The Pantiles, JE Bennett Law is welcoming the opportunity to

The Firm’s Business

JE Bennett Law is an industry-leading Law Firm that acts for those who:

• Are limited in their ability to manage their own financial and healthcare needs due to events in their lives/personal trauma

• Want to plan for a time when they may lack capacity

• Want to plan what will happen to their estate when they have passed

• Want assistance with the administering of an estate

Legal Services:

• Court of Protection Law

• Power of Attorney

• Wills

• Probate (Estate Administration)

• Personal Injury Trusts

make new connections in Tunbridge Wells. Jane continued “It has been fantastic opening our new office in Tunbridge Wells, which is such a vibrant town. We love it and are here to stay!”

To contact the JE Bennett Law Team Call: 01892 487746 www.jebennettlaw.co.uk info@jebennettlaw.co.uk

The Firm is Legal 500 ranked, Lexcel Accredited (the Law Society’s legal practice quality mark for practice management and client care) and SRA regulated. Individual lawyers are ranked in The Legal 500. Jane Bennett is in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame and also ranked in Chambers. JE Bennett Law has two Office of the Public Guardian panel deputies.

Court of Protection and Deputyships

JE Bennett Law act as professional deputies and provide support to lay deputies. The team acts for those who, due to events in their lives/personal trauma, are limited in their ability to manage their own financial and health/care needs. We also advise their family members, who are often going through an extremely stressful time due to

having to fight (often for a very long time), for their loved one’s rights. This requires considerable expertise, empathy, and commitment to what is a growing and ever more complex practice area.

JE Bennett Law has more than 200 professional deputyship clients. The firm has 2 (of only around 60 appointed nationwide) Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) Panel Deputies.

The firm’s core business is about helping private clients on matters regarding the Court of Protection plus Powers of Attorney, Wills and Probate.

The Firm’s Linden Close Premises

JANE BENNETT

Auctions bring a lion’s share of great finds

Our weekly sale typically boasts over 700 lots and routinely features everything from furniture to fine wine and spirits, watches and jewellery, collectibles, Asian art and much more. They say variety is the spice of life and our weekly sales provide plenty of flavour, with each of our department specialists curating their offering to combine into a really rather exciting weekly sale day.

Appeal

I rather fell in love with my first choice here because of nothing more than its decorative appeal. Here we see a gorgeously carved oak lion, standing proudly in the heraldic rampant pose –its characterful face laden with emotion, nostalgic for tales of knights and chivalry. With a sumptuous patina and warmth of colour which can only betray its age and handling, the beast clutches a shield with the later-inscribed passage ‘Reste and be Thankfall’ [sic] – a rather wonderful motto to prompt a moment’s thought delivered by this most charismatic of messengers. I shouldn’t have been surprised when many out there shared my love of the fellow, with it going on to sell for an impressive £1,375* Another charismatic beast seen recently in our weekly sales was a charming

19th-century carved burr walnut snuff box in the form of an elephant. The colour and patina again here is just wonderful – a truly tactile item, just asking to be picked up and handled, its finish bursting with warmth from centuries of being used and admired. Admired still today indeed, as it went on to achieve £2,500* at Gorringe’s – selling to a world which has long lost its taste for snuff, but clearly not for items of

decorative beauty. Staying with characterful creatures, we also saw a finely-carved work in miniature – a boxwood okimono study of a mountain ram by the celebrated contemporary artist, Nick Lamb. Completed in the Japanese style (the work okimono meaning an artistic ornament made for display), what struck me about this

work was the sheer quality of execution and minute attention to detail. Fully carved in the round, the ram is perched on a rock, with horns carved from cattle horn and inset amber eyes. At just 9cm high, it really is a masterpiece in miniature. Here also we see how examples of real quality and artistic appeal needn’t always cost a fortune, with this piece reaching just £250.*

Stylised

Finally, as the summer approaches and we either look forward to or reminisce about warm weather and summer holidays, I was rather taken with an interesting and varied collection of 20th-century railway and travel posters, which recently stopped off at our Lewes sale day station. In particular, I present Walter Ernest Spradbery’s (1889-1969), lithographic railway poster, ‘Guernsey –The Sunshine Island’ – a gentle yet wonderfully stylised view which is very much in vogue in today’s market. The collection did very well, with this piece alone achieving £1,250*

If you would like to discuss pieces you are considering consigning or would like to have valued, then please contact the team today for assistance, via: valuations@gorringes.co.uk

*Sold prices include auction fees.

Clockwise from left: Gentleman’s 18ct gold Rolex watch – £4,600 + fees. Mid 19th century ‘Grecian’ concert harp – £950 + fees. Robert Kelsey, ‘Sunny beach - Iona’ – £1,900 + fees. Gold and diamond set drop pendant – £4,000 + fees. Henry Weekes, Victorian white marble bust – £1,500 + fees.

In this week’s column, Joseph Trinder takes the reader through some of his favourite lots that have come up for sale at Gorringe’s in recent weeks…

CARVED OAK LION

Motoring News

Hit the jumps in a full-sized version of Tamiya’s iconic radio-controlled buggy

TAMIYA’S classic radiocontrolled buggy from the 1980s has gone on to spawn a road-legal full-sized version capable of travelling at speeds of up to 62mph.

Set to arrive on the road next year, the fully-built Tamiya Wild One Max – created by The Little Car Company – will start from £35,000 excluding VAT and ship in a range-topping Launch Edition specification.

Titanium

Buyers can secure their vehicle with a £3,500 deposit. The first 100 customers to place a deposit will get one of the first ‘Launch Edition’ models, which features a carbon fibre dashboard and a titanium plaque on the dashboard which highlights the specification’s limited nature. Plus, each Launch Edition model comes

with a model kit of the original Wild One for buyers to enjoy before their full-size car arrives.

The Wild One Max comes with full Cobra bucket seats and four-point harnesses, as well as a five-inch central screen accompanied by ‘marine-grade’ switches.

It also has plenty of off-road focused features, including Brembo discs all-round, adjustable Bilstein dampers and Eibach springs and 14-inch Maxxis off-road tyres.

There’s also a healthy 270mm of ground clearance to help the Wild One Max tackle rough terrain, while good approach and departure angles ensure that it can deal with steep slopes and tough descents.

Powered by eight swappable battery packs, the Wild One Max brings a range of up to 124 miles, yet tips the scales at a lightweight 500kg.

Europe’s ‘most affordable electric car’ set for UK launch next year

DACIA has announced that it is introducing its affordable compact EV – the Spring – to the UK next year, and will likely become the cheapest new electric car sold here.

plug a gap in the UK electric car market for a highly usable, quality EV that won’t break the bank and which makes electric vehicle ownership more realistic than ever.

208 gets smart new makeover and longer range for EV version

PEUGEOT has revealed a revamped version of its 208 supermini, which brings styling revisions along with an increased range in the case of the electric e-208.

The second-generation 208 was introduced in 2020 and went on to become Europe’s most popular new car in 2021 and 2022.

The new 208 adopts Peugeot’s latest lighting signature, with new ‘three-claw’ LED lights at the front, positioned low in the bumper. The front-end redesign also incorporates a new integral, colour-coded grille which is also larger than before.

Around the rear, there are new horizontal LED lights, while three are two new colours available – a bold Agueda Yellow and Selenium Grey. Various new wheel designs are also offered.

Some of the main changes are under the surface, however, with the electric e-208

getting a larger 51kWh battery and more powerful motor, as seen on Peugeot’s new e-2008 and various other Stellantis products. This sees the range increase to 248 miles – up from 224. A new 1.2-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine is also available with outputs of 100bhp and 136bhp, though regular petrol engines will also be on offer.

Inside, the new 208 features a large 10-inch touchscreen as standard, including wireless smartphone mirroring.

A 10-inch digital instrument cluster is also included from mid-spec models upwards. The wireless smartphone charging is more powerful than before as well, while there are additional USB sockets throughout the cabin.

Orders for the revised Peugeot 208 are set to open in October, with prices likely to start from around £21,000.

The Dacia Spring has been on sale in Europe since 2021. Priced from around €20,000 (£17,150) it comfortably undercuts other electric cars, and more than 120,000 have already been sold as a result. For comparison, the cheapest new EV currently available in the UK – the MG4 –costs £26,995.

Power

Despite the UK being a big market for Dacia, the firm has continued to postpone the Spring’s introduction to Britain. But the Renault-owned brand has now confirmed the introduction of an “all-new version” in 2024, which promises “significant improvements” in its design and equipment.

The current Dacia Spring can seat five, yet at 3.73m long, is smaller than a Mini Hatch. Designed for cities, the Spring uses a small 44bhp electric motor and 27kWh battery allowing for a 140-mile range. It’s expected that the next version will boast a slightly larger battery and additional power.

Luke Broad, Dacia Brand Director for the UK, said: “We are thrilled that the Dacia Spring will come to the UK in 2024. It will certainly be worth the wait! It will literally

“With over 120,000 customers already sold on the Spring’s unbeatable, ‘no-nonsense’ blend of value, efficiency and durability, UK car buyers can look forward to an EV that’s perfectly aligned to their mobility requirements and, importantly, is done the Dacia way.” Insights from the Dacia Spring’s existing users show most daily commutes in the car are less than 20 miles, and covered at an average speed of 16mph. Most drivers also charge the car at home for an average time of 3.5 hours.

Further information on the Dacia Spring’s UK introduction isn’t expected until 2024.

Picture: Tamiya/Little Car Company

Picture: Peugeot