Wednesday June 6 | 2018
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Campaign launched by the foodbank to help feed children through the summer holidays
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Times OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
Are these big brand names all INSIDE heading for Tunbridge Wells? NIGHT TIME MAYOR?
The Forum’s Jason Dorman could take on new role Page 3
By William Mata NOURISH Community Foodbank is appealing for support to help feed hundreds of children in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge who may otherwise go hungry this summer. The bank has launched their Pennies to Plates campaign, which encourages residents to collect small change in a special paper money box that can be downloaded. This is the second year the scheme has been run to help families provide a meal for children over the summer holiday. The youngsters would usually receive breakfast or lunch at school. Last year Nourish worked with family liaison officers across local schools to identify children who would go without over the holidays.
Picnics In total it provided 234 three-day emergency food bags to these families over the holiday period, providing enough food for 2,106 family meals. This year the charity is hoping to raise more than £6,000. Dawn Stanford, Nourish Operations Manager, said: “Almost half of people Nourish helps are children under 18 years of age. “But we were surprised at how many families needed our help over the summer because they struggle with the increased cost of feeding children who are no longer benefitting from free school meals or breakfast clubs.” Nourish is asking businesses, schools, organisations such as Guides and Brownies, and individuals to help feed hungry children by holding fundraising events or downloading a money box template from its website.
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HUB IS HAPPENING
Work to begin on controversial cultural centre Page 12
SIGN LANGUAGE: Most of the major retail brands, including those above, already have strong relationships with British Land and are likely to be approached about setting up shop in the redeveloped Royal Victoria Place
By Jonathan Banks THE new owners of Royal Victoria Place [RVP] are now in talks with leading retailers about taking space in the shopping centre and the signs are looking good. British Land plans to spend tens of millions of pounds over the next few years on a major makeover of the complex. The developer is one of the biggest in the retail sector in Europe and has strong relationships with most leading stores. These include the likes of the fast fashion retailer Zara, the department store Debenhams along with H&M, River Island, Currys/PC World, Burton and TK Maxx. All of these brands trade in other shopping centres owned by British Land. Three of these are: Meadowhall in Sheffield, Southgate in Bath and Fort Kinnaird in Edinburgh.
The low cost clothes retailer Primark also has premises at the Sheffield and Edinburgh sites and has been previously reported by the Times as showing an interest in setting up at RVP. The developer is also able to attract top cafés and restaurants, with popular, casual dining chain Nando’s top of
‘We invest in asking local people what brands and facilities they would like to see’ British Land the list along with Handmade Burger Co., Pizza Express and Pizza Hut. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, who own the centre’s freehold, announced the sale from Hermes to British Land last month. It is thought the price was £96million.
Both the borough council and British Land have declined to comment specifically on possible new stores at RVP. However, industry insiders told the Times that discussions between the developer and potential new clients would be ‘well underway by now’ and that those with existing ties to British Land would be ‘certainly among those approached’. British Land has a 98 per cent occupancy rate in their shopping centres and manage assets worth £18billion. A company spokesman said: “We actively manage our assets to ensure they are great environments, inside and out. “We invest in asking local people what they like and dislike about the asset, the brands and facilities they would like to see and use this insight to attract the right brands and decide which improvements to make.”
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NEW BAR PLANNED Former concert venue Scallywag is sold Page 3
YARD SALE SUCCESS
Joe Pasquale joins thousands at second event Page 10