Local Low Traffic routes awarded funding from County Hall

By Alice Reece

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) in St John’s has been awarded £25,000 in funding from Kent County Council (KCC) along with a new cycle path in Rusthall.

The money that will be given to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) will be used to create designs and plans for an ‘LTN Pilot’ to be trialled in St John’s and St James’ and a new cycle route linking Langton Green and Rusthall, via the Common, to the town centre.

The ‘LTN Pilot’ and Rusthall cycle path projects were two of three Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPS) which were put forward to KCC for funding in December 2022.

The KCC Secured £565,439 from the Active Travel England’s Capability Fund earlier this month to give local authorities grants to improve walking and cycling routes.

ATE’s objective is for 50 percent of trips in England’s towns and cities to be walked, wheeled, or cycled by 2030.

Pilot

This funding will be used to explore the feasibility and create the initial design work of the schemes but does not guarantee that these plans will go ahead.

Yet Tunbridge Wells resident, Linda Holman called the ideas ‘pet projects’ and says the money should be used to ‘fill in the many potholes on the roads’.

She said: “It is about time the council got their priorities right, and stopped wasting residents’ Council Tax, which keeps increasing, on things that are totally unnecessary at this time.” will decide what will be a priority.

LTNs are schemes aimed at reducing traffic and congestion along ‘rat-runs’ in residential areas but have been controversial in places like London.

LTNs were introduced to the capital at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and have been heavily criticised by residents with many claiming the schemes increase traffic and cause more pollution. These restricted routes could be enforced using one-way systems, changes to road layouts or physical bollards (such as plant pots).

The LCWIP suggested that the St John’s and St James’ areas would be a good place for an ‘LTN pilot’, however, the design work will go ahead with close engagement with local communities.

The planning and design work is expected to be completed by January 2024.

“Timescales will emerge as part of this process. It’s possible that some sites will stay in use and be identified for disposal at a later date.”

He added: “The Gateway building (8 Grosvenor Road) is already on the market, and has attracted quite a bit of positive interest.”

Potential

The property at 9-10 Crescent Road – marked to be ‘reviewed for development’ – already has a potential new landlord, with the Civic Society due to present plans for a Decimus Burton Museum and Study Centre this spring.

Meanwhile, 33-36 Crescent Road is also due to be reviewed for development.

In Warwick Park, council-owned land has been marked: ‘freehold to be disposed of’ – which would see the freehold being offered to the current tenant.

Tunbridge Wells Target Shooting Club was founded in 1903, just after the Boer War, by the then Lord Abergavenny.

The report also suggests surrendering the lease for TN2 in Sherwood –currently the site of Sherwood Library, the Ukraine Relief Group and Sherwood Men’s Shed.

The TWBC Asset Management Plan consultation is at talkingpointtunbridgewells. uk.engagementhq.com until February 9.

Council criticises festival as workers are left with no money after event

ORGANISERS of a popular Tonbridge Christmas event have been publicly criticised for failing to pay traders, performers and the borough council. Most of those working at the event were local. The festive fair, Castlemas, took place in December, yet Robert Styles, director of street scene at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) said organisers had not warned of any problems but ‘continued to advise that the event was performing well, and without the significant issues that have now come to light.’

Payment

In an open letter published this week he added: “As a Council we have received a high number of complaints/enquiries from suppliers, staff and performers who are unable to contact you.

“They are understandably deeply upset and anxious to know if they will receive any payment that they are due.”

There were also Council invoices outstanding from the event in December, he went on, but stressed ‘many of (the creditors) are local business and individuals.’

The Castlemas festival was first organised in 2021, to take advantage of pent-up leisure demand after the previous ‘pandemic’ Christmas.

However, Mr Styles’ letter makes clear that event had been ‘adversely affected by the Covid pandemic’ and that the council had received ‘financial reassurances’ as a result.

He told the organisers they would not be permitted to ‘use our (TMBC) land for any future events, even if you should clear your outstanding debts.’

The Times approached Bravo Productions, run by Hannah Rotchell and Oliver Tourle, for comment.

NatWest set to close Cranbrook branch

NATWEST is to close its Cranbrook branch, along with 22 others in England, saying that the branch was seeing an average of just three customers a day.

The national lender confirmed last Thursday (January 26) that the Cranbrook High Street bank would close on May 30, 2023, as part of a wider move to close 23 branches in England. The announcement comes just months after NatWest confirmed the closure of 43 banks across England and Wales.

New Council funding available for creative businesses in Kent

TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council (TWBC) is to offer new funding to creative business in the area, thanks to Government’s Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) ‘Create Growth Programme’.

InnovateUK, part of DCMS, is funding new opportunities in six regions across England, including Kent, with grants of £10,000-£30,000 available to businesses with an plan for growth.

Cabinet member Cllr Justine Rutland said: “We have a strong creative sector in the borough and it would be great to see some of this funding coming in their direction.”

The deadline for funding is 11am on February 8. Contact support@iuk.ukri.org or call 0300 321 4357 for more information.

Paperchase falls into administration

STATIONERY chain Paperchase, which trades in Royal Victoria Place (RVP), has fallen into administration, putting 106 stores at risk.

Administrator Begbies Traynor announed the news yesterday (January 31), after it failed to find any buyers for the business. Tesco has bought the brand and intellectual property, but the deal does not include any stores, and is therefore expected to impact hundreds of jobs.

Jan Marchant, managing director of home and clothing at Tesco, said: “Paperchase is a well-loved brand by so many, and we’re proud to bring it to Tesco stores across the UK. “We have been building our plans to bring more brands and inspiration to the ranges we currently offer, and this will help us take those plans further.”

The news comes four months after the retailer was bought by retail veteran Steve Curtis, who has previously backed Jigsaw and Tie Rack.

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