Wednesday September 19 | 2018
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Shops snub Rotary window-dressing competition for Christmas Festival THE town’s Rotary Club, which organises the Christmas Festival, had an ‘extremely disappointing’ reaction to its latest venture, a window-dressing competition. The club, which has run the popular yuletide event for the last five years, has ‘endeavoured to provide additional ideas to enhance the event as a community service for the public’. One successful innovation was to increase the number of stalls along the High Street to bring an element of the Christmas market to the showpiece.
Negative This year the Rotary Club approached shops, cafes and other businesses to enlist their support for a ‘best-dressed Christmas window display’ event. Gordon Court, Chairman of the Christmas Festival Committee, said: “All the shops were visited at least once to try and drum up support for the competition but the response has been almost completely negative. “We had hoped it would improve the atmosphere in the High Street for the event. Entry would have required a nominal fee [£25] to support the competition. “But the disinterest shown by businesses, many of whom benefit significantly from the event with a public attendance in excess of 5,000 on the day, has been extremely disappointing.” The event on Sunday November 25 will see the Christmas lights switched on, followed by live music and fireworks at the Castle.
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THE ROAD TO RUIN
Riding along Western Front in honour of the fallen Page 2
FAIRWAY TO HEAVEN Young golf sensation Alexander Dunmall on the famous Swilcan Bridge at St Andrews. Full story, see Page 4
STREETS AHEAD...
TBUG wants our town to be more cycle-friendly Page 26
Call for MP to justify building on Green Belt at Haysden Park By Andy Tong andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk COUNCILLORS have called on local MP Tom Tugendhat to justify the construction of almost 500 houses on Green Belt land around Haysden Country Park. Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council [TMBC] says it is building on such protected areas in parts of the borough while creating new Green Belt land elsewhere. The new Local Plan was passed at a full council meeting on September 12. It is now being put forward for public consultation before being presented to the Secretary of State in January. The document calls for 480 homes to be built between Hayesbrook School and the dual carriageway in south Tonbridge. Green Belt is a planning term which specifies a buffer zone between towns
and surrounding countryside, with tight controls over development. The land between the Upper and Lower Haysden roads from their intersection to the A21 flyover is protected by the status, but has been set aside for housing.
‘Many members shared our concerns and voted with a heavy heart’ Cllr David Cure has written to Mr Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge & Malling, calling for ‘a clear policy from Government in respect of the importance’ of Green Belt. The councillor, who represents Judd ward in that area of town along with Peter Bolt, mentions ‘the Prime Minister’s concerns regarding the importance
of Green Belt in her own constituency of Maidenhead’. He says of the council meeting: “Peter Bolt and I proposed a motion against acceptance of the Borough’s Local Plan primarily on the issue that this Green Belt is adjacent to the Country Park. “The 480 new homes would create additional traffic on Brook Street and roundabout, which is always blocked at key times, creating additional pollution.” Cllr Cure points out: “When the motion to adopt the plan was made by the Council Leader [Nicolas Heslop], it was opposed by seven members. “Therefore it was passed, but with many members sharing our concerns at the loss of pockets of Green Belt across the borough. Many members voted ‘For’ with a heavy heart.”
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GREEN WITH ENVY
How to grow giant vegetables on your humble plot Page 49
ANGELS ON A HIGH
McKimm’s men go six points clear at top of league Page 78