Times
All the news that matters
Local, National and International
OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
PHOTO: Sarah Bond
Wednesday October 30 | 2019
THE TOWN’S IN A JAM: This queue, on the A26 London Road, was one of many plaguing Tunbridge Wells town centre this week
Businesses hit as the half-term roadworks cause traffic chaos By Jonathan Banks
RESIDENTS, business owners and motorists have been left fuming this week after a series of ongoing roadworks repeatedly brought traffic in the town centre to lengthy standstills. On one day alone, there were ten sets of roadworks with temporary traffic lights and closures causing long delays for those trying to get into or through Tunbridge Wells. The mile-long journey from Frant has been taking up to an hour, with many potential shoppers giving up, turning round and going home. The journey would normally take five to ten minutes. Businessman Toby Dicker, of The Chapel hairdressers in Chapel Place, said: “It’s almost as if the town is closed for business. It’s insanity. There seems no forethought or planning.”
Another business owner, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s been the worst October we can remember and it’s all down to the roadworks – who coordinates all this work?”
‘It’s almost as if the town is closed for business. It’s insanity’ Businessman Toby Dicker Responsibility for roadworks and closures rests with the Highways Department of Kent County Council, not Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Astrid Kucoussey, store manager at Pure Collection in the High Street, said: “Even though last week was half term it affected footfall. We get a lot of occasional shoppers who will stop outside
Alliance leader accused of ‘childish behaviour’ by his own party at the theatre protest By Richard Williams THE Chair of the Tunbridge Wells Alliance, Robert Chris, has been criticised by his own political party for ‘childish behaviour’ during protests that were later investigated by police. The Times understands some party members are calling on him to resign his position as head of the party. Robert Chris has lead the campaign to block plans for the new £108million theatre and civic office complex on the edge of Calverley Grounds, which is close to where he lives. Dozens of Alliance supporters gathered outside the Town Hall earlier this month [October 8] to protest against the development. A handful of people who supported the theatre plan were also outside. A number of supporters of the Calverley Square theatre said they had banners ‘ripped out of their hands’ by anti-theatre protestors – including Robert Chris.
and pop in, but that is not the case at the moment.” The delays are expected to have cost local businesses thousands as shoppers, workers and business people battled to get around town in the face of roadworks on Mount Ephraim, St John’s Road and London Road causing lengthy queues. Frustrated motorists took to social media to complain about the traffic jams. Darrell Edmondson told his Twitter followers that it took 40 minutes to travel 2.5 miles from North Farm to Major Yorks Road. Others described the road delays as ‘hideous’. Roadworks cost the national economy £4billion a year due to delayed deliveries and people being unable to get to work on time, and it is estimated that last week’s raft of repairs could have cost the
The party has confirmed the incident happened, with Alliance councillor Nicholas Pope admitting on social media: “There is clear footage that the TWA chairman snatched a banner and snapped it. It was childish behaviour that damaged someone else’s property. I do not condone this behaviour and spoke to the chairman immediately after I found out this had happened.” Several Conservative councillors reported that on the night they were jeered and sworn at by Alliance supporters and protestors as they
Continued on page 2
Continued on page 2
Snapped