Wednesday January 31 | 2018
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Council to spend £50,000 on work to ‘deter’ private car use in town
Rower recalls dramatic sea rescue: ‘I was biting the rope to keep hold’
By Jonathan Banks
andy@timesoftonbridge.co.uk
CONSULTANTS have been commissioned to explore the use of new technology to help ease traffic congestion in Tunbridge Wells and ‘deter private car use’. The £50,000 that has been allocated for the initial work will come from Altitude, the company that is developing the old cinema site. It is part of a package being negotiated with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council. Once planning permission is granted Altitude will hand over £500,000 under a Section 106 agreement, as previously reported in the Times.
ONE of the survivors of a desperate transatlantic rescue spoke yesterday [Tuesday] of the day he and his rowing partner battled for their lives after their boat capsized. School friends Chris Williams and Max
Signing
By Andy Tong
Thorpe, both 25, had to be picked up by an oil tanker in the middle of the ocean after their boat caught fire during the 3,000-mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge race three days before Christmas. Chris captains Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club’s 1st XI. Their Team Tenzing craft had been at sea for nine days and they had rowed 700 miles non-stop when it was caught HOME AND DRY Max Thorpe (left) and Chris Williams arrive back at Heathrow after their ordeal
in a severe storm and capsized under the impact of immense waves. The pair, who both attended The Judd School in Tonbridge, were left to fend for themselves for more than 16 hours in a Force Nine gale while awaiting a rescue ship. And when the tanker arrived, they had to cling on to ropes dangled down the side of the massive vessel in what Chris called ‘the most dangerous part of the whole episode’. After spending 18 days aboard the ship they reached Brazil and then flew home to their relieved families and friends. “It’s one of those funny things,” said Chris, “it feels like a distant memory when I’m walking out my front door on to the St John’s Road in Tunbridge Wells.”
INSIDE MAKING THE GRADE? Skinners’ Head criticises school leagues tables Pages 4-5
WARNED ON FRAUD Local auditor says firms are losing millions Page 10
‘Max fell off into the sea and for about 10 seconds was swimming for dear life’
The £50,000 is part of a ‘sustainable transport contribution’ for the ‘exploration of and implementation of measures to deter private car use and manage public parking’. A Borough Council spokesperson said: “KCC has commissioned consultants to explore the use of new technology to ease congestion on the radial routes into the town centre, for example intelligent signing to direct drivers to the nearest car park. This work is not yet complete.” Schools will also benefit from the 106 funding. St Gregory’s will receive around £45,000 for ‘enhancement’ with Broadwater Down Primary collecting £60,000 for an expansion.
The boys were taking part in the gruelling challenge to raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young, a charity that provides free screenings to identify heart defects. They were aiming to break the record for rowing pairs despite having no experience of the rigours of such an endurance event. “We had one extreme row on the Channel, a couple of days and a night, but you can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times we were at sea training,” admitted Chris, “We were on pace to crush the record. We were doing 80 miles a day and after nine days we were leading the pairs’ race. “We were getting a lot more accomplished and going from strength to strength. We were in a good place and in good spirits.”
Full story pages 8 and 9
Continued on page 2
SPORTING CHANCE
Wells rugby team scores a triumphant victory Page 70
LIVING THE DREAM
We have 100 tickets to win for Build it Live Pages 46-47