Local Winter 2010

LOCALwww.tunbridgewells.gov.uk

The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council magazine

Winter 2010

Inside:Consultation on the Civic ComplexNew Pembury Hospital

Council grants support local charities

You’ve heard the rumours – now read the facts

2 SUMMER 2010 LOCAL2 WINTER 2010 LOCAL

Front page featuresConsultation on the Civic Complex Find out what it’s about and how to have your say p11–13

New Pembury Hospital About the new flagship hospital p24

Council grants support local charities How funding has supported those in need p18–19

Things to do this winter:Museum & Art Gallery Activities and Christmas gift ideas p4 & 11Talking Turkey Delicious offerings at the Christmas Farmers’ Markets p5Santa and more… Where to find Father Christmas p5Tourist information Now available from the Gateway p9Cinderella comes to the Assembly Hall Theatre p15Scores on the Doors How we’ll rate hygiene in your favourite restaurant p22Christmas at Trinity Theatre What’s on over the festive period p27

Keep safe and warmCommunity Safety How we’re working together to keep you safe p6–7Beat the burglar Security advice p10Five ways to wellbeing Coping with stress p14Helping the homeless How you can help the homeless this winter p20Keep warm this winter Advice on how to stay warm and save money p21Winter roads Keeping roads safe in harsh weather p26

CommunityMayor’s Toy Appeal How you can make a child’s Christmas p9Royal Tunbridge Wells In Bloom Prizes awarded p16Gang wins prize Horticultural prize-winning in Cranbrook p16Junior Sports Achievement Awards And the winners are... p25

Plus:What would you cut? We ask for savings suggestions p10Green Christmas Recycling and composting p17

LOCAL WINTER 2010 3

Published by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

tel: 01892 526121 website: www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk e-mail: [email protected]: 07870 526121 fax: 01892 534227

Personal callers should visit the Gateway at 8 Grosvenor Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells.

For postal enquiries please contact:Town Hall Royal Tunbridge WellsKent TN1 1RS

If you would like to comment about any article in Local, or make suggestions for any that should be included, we’d love to hear from you.

In the first instance contact:Estelle Hudson, Democratic and Community Engagement Manager, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RS

estelle.hudson @tunbridgewells.gov.uk tel: 01892 554064

Advertising enquiries: Space Marketing Ltd 01892 677742 [email protected] information in this publication was correct at the time of going to print. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors, omissions or subsequent changes.

Photography by David Hodgkinson – www.sweetmoon.com

Season’s greetingsIt may be cold outside but there’s plenty of advice in here about how to make the most of winter. Plus, exciting consultation on the future of the Civic Complex. Don’t miss out, make sure you have your say.Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

If you require this information in large print, on audiotape or in any other format please contact us in any of the above ways.

Index

What’s happening this winter...Friday 5 November – Thursday 23 DecemberArtisan: Lose yourself in art at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art GalleryAn exhibition of high quality ceramics, jewellery, paintings and prints for sale.

17 December, 10.30–11.30amFriday Fun! – Christmas Time at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art GalleryFree art, craft and story-telling sessions for 2-5 year olds with an accompanying adult.

Christmas ClosingThe Museum & Art Gallery will be closed from Saturday 25 – Tuesday 28 December 2010 and from Saturday 1 January – Monday 3 January 2011.

Friday 14 January – Saturday 5 MarchReCollections: Artists and writers join together to explore the collections at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art GalleryAn exhibition sharing a unique collaboration between four local artists and four writers.

21 January, 10.30–11.30amFriday Fun! – The Shoemaker at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art GalleryFree art, craft and story-telling sessions for 2–5 year olds with an accompanying adult.

Tuesday 25 January, 12 noon–1pm Art Stroll – ReCollectionsA free event for adults to find out more about the current exhibition in a gallery talk followed by coffee.

Wed 26 January, 7.45pmEvening talk – Wealden Echoes of the Crimean WarAn illustrated evening talk given by expert Mike Hinton. Tickets £5, available from Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery.

Saturday 5 February, 11am–4pmChinese New YearFree family fun day for all ages to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Friday 18 February, 10.30–11.30amFriday Fun! – Dragons! at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art GalleryFree art, craft and story-telling sessions for 2–5 year olds with an accompanying adult.

22-25 February, 10.30am–12.30pm or 2–4pmHoliday HappeningsFree drop-in art and craft activities for all ages during the school holidays.

Wed 23 February, 7.45pmEvening talk – A Cut Above the Rest: Georgian and Regency waistcoatsAn illustrated evening talk given by expert Jo Wiltcher. Tickets £5, available from Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery.

4 WINTER 2010 LOCAL

Eventsws

Unique gifts‘Artisan’ at Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, is a brand new selling exhibition showcasing the best contemporary art and craft on offer from around the south east and beyond. It opened to the public on Friday 5 November and will run until Thursday 23 December 2010.‘Artisan’ will feature a host of the area’s most exceptional artists and creators. The exhibition will be packed with unique items, including high quality ceramics, jewellery, paintings, prints and glassware. Work from artists like Matt Smith, ceramicist; Alison Haddon, jeweller; Justin Weeks, painter; Graham Carter, print artist; and Stuart Akroyd, glass artist, will all be on display and available to buy. There will be special late night shopping on Thursday 16 December from 6 – 8pm.

Paddock Wood Running ClubThe Run In England Beginners’ Group ‘Take A Step’ meets every Monday and Wednesday evening in Paddock Wood, Kent.The group meets outside Waitrose Supermarket, Church Road in Paddock Wood at 7pm and finishes by 8pm.The last session before Christmas will be 20 December and the group will start up again on 3 January 2011.These sessions are aimed at people who would like to take up or try running for the first time, and UKA Level 2 Coach and Run In England Group Leader James Davies will be giving individual and group guidance throughout each session to help everyone understand the basics. It is advised that anyone interested should contact James beforehand by e-mailing [email protected].

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Feature

Talking turkeyTunbridge Wells Farmers’ Market will be having its pre-Christmas markets on Saturday 11 December from 9am–2pm and Wednesday 22 December from 12 noon–6pm. This market, which is now in its 11th year, is a lovely venue for buying all the trappings for a real Christmas. Locally-grown Christmas trees and wreaths to decorate your home, mince pies for Father Christmas, stocking fillers such as preserves and fudge, free range turkey, game and meat, Christmas puddings and chocolate-covered cob nuts are perfect as gifts or to enjoy yourself this festive season. Have fun filling a basket with goodies to last throughout the coming year.Please don’t forget many of our stalls offer free tasters of their products; just watch out for the extra hot chilli jam! Find us in Mount Pleasant Road (outside the Town Hall).

Santa and more...Christmas wouldn’t be the same without Father Christmas, and he is due to make several appearances in the Tunbridge Wells area this year.Santa Specials on the Spa Valley Railway in Royal Tunbridge Wells are a treat the whole family can enjoy. Travel from the West Station through to High Rocks and Groombridge and meet Father Christmas in his Magic Grotto. Santa Specials run on various dates throughout December and tickets can be booked from the Railway direct.Award-winning Lapland UK returns to Bewl Water from 4 December until Christmas Eve and offers an enchanting winter experience for families in a snowy woodland setting. Now in its fourth year, Lapland UK has become the essential destination for families seeking the ultimate Father Christmas experience in the UK, and it’s all right on our doorstep. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.laplanduk.co.uk.No Christmas is complete without a visit to the pantomime. Performances of ‘Cinderella’ start at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Royal Tunbridge Wells on 11 December and run through to 2 January. Step into the magical world of Narnia at Hever Castle (from 2 – 24 December 2010) when the castle will be decorated for Christmas with sparkling lights and traditional log fires, and the gardens transformed at

dusk into an illuminated wonderland lit by thousands of fairy lights. A true Christmas atmosphere awaits with Father Christmas in his snowy grotto, donkey rides, carols, brass bands and elves. Tickets can be pre-booked by contacting Hever Castle direct. Hever is also opening for a series of Christmas Evening Specials taking place on 9, 10, 16 and 17 December from 5–9.30pm. Father Christmas also makes a visit to Penshurst Place two weekends on11–12 and 18–19 December at 10.30am–12.30pm and 1.30–3.30pm. Father Christmas has a special gift for children who have been good! Tickets cost £5. The Gift Shop at Penshurst Place is a treasure trove of unique gift ideas, the perfect place to do some peaceful Christmas shopping. On Late Night Shopping Nights (8 and 15 December at 4.30–8pm) customers can also enjoy seasonal refreshments and a 10% discount on purchases.Santa’s Magical Kingdom at the Hop Farm Family Park offers a Christmas experience all children will enjoy, including the opportunity to meet Father Christmas and receive a gift. A Victorian Carousel, 4D cinema, and thousands of twinkling lights are all part of the experience. Open until 24 December. For further information on things to see and do in the Tunbridge Wells area over the Christmas period, contact the Royal Tunbridge Wells Tourist Information Centre on 01892 515675, [email protected] or log on to www.visittunbridgewells.com.

New unit boosts safetyThe Tunbridge Wells Community Safety Unit (CSU) was launched on 28 September. Chief Constable of Kent, Ian Learmonth; Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Cllr Roy Bullock; TWBC Chief Executive, William Benson; and Chief Inspector Martin Wilson, Borough Commander for Tunbridge Wells, were all in attendance to mark a big step forward into closer partnership working.The CSU brings together officers from a number of agencies, all working from an office within the Town Hall. This co-location allows for easy sharing of information and ideas on how to combat crime and anti-social behaviour.Staff based in the CSU include officers from Kent Police, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (Community Safety) and Kent County Council (Youth and Community Safety). The Safe Town Partnership are also based in the CSU, and the Domestic Abuse Services Co-ordinator and Power Project Worker work out of the unit on a part-time basis. Short briefings are held each morning to discuss recent reports of crime and anti-social behaviour. These briefings are attended by officers from the CSU as well as representatives from other TWBC services, such as Environmental Protection, Parking and Licensing, and external partners such as Town and Country Housing. Because of the wide range of partners attending briefings, the CSU is able to provide a range of responses to crime and anti-social behaviour in addition to traditional police tasking. In the short time that these briefings have been running, this has included sending detached youth workers into areas affected by anti-social behaviour, requesting visits from housing officers, informing Civil Enforcement Officers of abandoned vehicles and problem parking issues, tasking KCC Community Wardens to focus on specific areas, and making referrals to alcohol services. The CSU is not open to the public, however if you would like advice on community safety issues such as crime reduction or support services please refer to our website, www.twellscommunitysafety.org.uk or call 01892 526121 and ask for Community Safety.

Double

discount until

2012 of 20% Off

Cameras fight crimeThe Tunbridge Wells CCTV Control Room had one of its most successful months ever during September, assisting with a total of 77 arrests, 47 in Tunbridge Wells and 30 in Tonbridge and Malling and hence contributing significantly to making the borough an even safer place to live and work.One of the biggest reasons for this achievement is the close partnership working with other agencies, including Kent Police, various Pubwatch and Shopsafe Schemes, Community Safety Teams, Wardens and many more.September also saw the launch of the new Community Safety Unit, based in the Town Hall. CCTV’s involvement in the unit, including attendance at daily partnership briefings, will enhance partnership working still further.

Feature


Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent Police continue to work together to deal with reports of crime and anti-social behaviour. The Council and police also join forces with other agencies to share information and combine resources to deal with community issues raised through Tunbridge Wells Community Safety Partnership. The partnership aims to reduce crime and build safer neighbourhoods in the borough.

YOU SAIDYou were concerned about motorists exceeding the speed limit on Birling Road.

WE DIDPCSO Keith Farmer arranged for a team of officers to conduct a speed check on 6 September. Prior to the speed check, officers spoke to residents to let them know why they were there and to allay concerns. Ten motorists were stopped, of which four were given fines and six were given advice.YOU SAIDYou were concerned about people riding motorbikes in an anti-social way on the fields between Knight’s Park and Sherwood Park estate.

WE DIDOfficers carried out motorcycle patrols in the area. Two people who were seen riding motorbikes in an anti-social way, and had previously been issued with warnings, had their motorbikes seized.YOU SAIDYou were concerned about an off-road motorbike being ridden in Marshley Harbour Wood, behind Pembury Recreation Ground.

WE DIDPCSO Nicholas Brown spoke with the concerned residents to find out more about the nuisance rider. Patrols were carried out and officers stopped a man riding an off-road motorbike. The rider was warned that if he is caught causing a nuisance again, his bike would be seized. Neighbourhood officers

advised residents of the action taken and no more reports of anti-social riding have been received. YOU SAIDYou were concerned about people riding mini-motos in Lamberhurst. The issue was reported by the parish council.

WE DIDNeighbourhood officers carried out patrols and identified three nuisance riders who were subsequently issued with formal warnings. If they are caught riding anti-socially again, their bikes will be seized. Since this action was taken, there have been no further reports of the problem.YOU SAIDYou were concerned about people acting suspiciously near a cash machine on Calverley Road on Friday 3 September.

WE DIDOfficers attended the scene and arrested two men. A card-retaining device was found near the cash machine. The men, from London and Surrey, were given police bail. The investigation is ongoing. YOU SAIDYou were concerned about graffiti in several areas across Tunbridge Wells and reported the issue to Tunbridge Wells Community Safety Partnership.

WE DIDOffenders on Kent Probation’s Community Payback scheme removed graffiti from problem areas. The offenders, who have been sentenced to carry out supervised unpaid work, used wipes and paint to remove graffiti from a cricket ground, a hand car wash in Southborough and a shop in Southborough.

Changing Place at Tunbridge Wells Gateway

Tunbridge Wells Gateway at 8 Grosvenor Road has an important facility available to all visitors and residents of Tunbridge Wells. Standard disabled toilets do not meet the needs of everyone with a disability or their carers. For people of all ages with profound physical and multiple learning disabilities or other serious challenges such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis or an acquired brain injury, fully-equipped Changing Places can meet this need. Changing Places provide those extra facilities that allow people to use a toilet in comfort and safety.

Each Changing Place includes: � a height adjustable adult-sized changing

bench with shower � a tracking hoist system, or mobile hoist if

this is not possible � adequate space in the changing area for the

disabled person and up to two carers � a centrally placed toilet with room either

side for the carers � a screen or curtain to allow the disabled

person and carer some privacyFor full details of the equipment specifications please visit www.changing-places.org.

LOCAL WINTER 2010 7

Information

Never miss an online consultation again! At Tunbridge Wells Borough Council we are committed to ensuring that our residents are able to take part in and influence the way in which we decide and deliver our priorities, budgets, strategies and services. Through the ‘Do it Online’ box on the homepage of our website, you can access the Council’s Consultation Portal. You will be able to:

� see all online consultations in one place � read and take part at a time that suits you –

it’s easy to save your comments and come back at a later time if you need to

� register for updates – so you’ll always be notified about the things you find interesting

� see what others in the borough have to sayYou only register once and will be sent your own unique password.

8 WINTER 2010 LOCAL

Information

Rusthall brandThe draft proposals on whether or not Rusthall should be parished have been submitted to the Communities and Partnerships Select Committee, the Cabinet and Full Council for decision. The second consultation period commenced on 1 November and residents and interested parties have until 31 December to comment. So if you haven’t already expressed your views log on to www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/rusthall and follow the links and have your say. The draft proposals include information on the creation of a parish council, the proposed name of the parish and the number of councillors to be elected. After 31 December, final proposals will be prepared and submitted again to the above committees in January and February 2011 and they will also appear on the website. If the final proposals recommend that Rusthall becomes a parish and has a parish council, the next step would be to for the Council to make a reorganisation order, a legally binding document. Preparation will then take place to coincide the first parish council election with the Borough election and national referendum taking place on 5 May 2011.For further information, contact Nicola Timms, Electoral Services Team Leader on 01892 554106 or by e-mail [email protected].

Men and women wanted!On 27 March 2011 all residential households in the United Kingdom will be taking part in the census.In the ten years since the last census, people will have come and gone, families will have grown, expectations and lifestyles will have shifted and so the face of local communities will have changed. The census is vital in measuring these changes and helping decision-makers improve and develop public services to provide for these communities.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is now recruiting people to help ensure the smooth running of the census. Census jobs offer people a unique chance to get involved in a national project that has the potential to deliver real benefits to them and their local community.The ONS are looking for people who can spare some time in a variety of roles to help gather information in their area and earn some extra money, while helping to change things for the better.Census collectors and census coverage survey staff will go out into

the community and encourage people to fill in the questionnaires. Roles are full or part time, for a few weeks or months and require a range of skills. There could be something for you. For more information about census jobs, visit www.censusjobs.co.uk.

Are you on it?The new Register of Electors has now been published and is in force from 1 December 2011 until the end of November 2012. If you have returned your form or used the telephone or internet service, your name should appear on the register.This register will be used for the Borough and Parish elections and the National Referendum on 5 May 2011, and for any other elections or referendums held during this time.If you have moved since the publication of the register, you can amend your details simply by completing a form which can be obtained from our website www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk or by telephoning Electoral Services on 01892 554025, and from receipt of the form we can update our records and ensure you don’t lose your right to vote.To check you are on the Electoral Register or if you need assistance, contact Electoral Services on 01892 554025.

Mayor’s Christmas Toy AppealThe Mayor of Tunbridge Wells sponsors the Christmas Toy Appeal each year, which is run in conjunction with St George’s Community Children’s Project Ltd. Last year 279 children had a happier Christmas thanks to the generosity of Tunbridge Wells residents and this year we’d like to reach even more children.All the toys donated are distributed by St George’s to needy families in the borough, as determined through working with Social Workers and Health Visitors.The collection sites have been open for donations since Saturday 20 November and will remain open until Saturday 11 December. If you’d like to donate some toys please do so at any of the following locations:

� Assembly Hall Theatre, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells � AXA/PPP Healthcare, Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells � Baldwin’s Travel Agency, 27 Grosvenor Road,

Tunbridge Wells � Barsley’s Department Store, 16 Commercial Road,

Paddock Wood � Big Yellow Self Storage, Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells � The Courier, Longfield Road, Tunbridge Wells � Cranbrook Police Station, Wheatfield Drive, Cranbrook � Hotel du Vin and Bistro, Crescent Road,

Tunbridge Wells � Jempsons-Budgens, Rye Road, Hawkhurst � Johnsons of Sandhurst, Back Road, Sandhurst � NatWest Bank, Mount Pleasant, Tunbridge Wells � NatWest Bank, 85 London Road, Southborough � NatWest Bank, St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells � NatWest Bank, 4 High Street, Pembury � Pembury Library, The Hop House, Henwood

Green Road, Pembury � J Sainsbury Plc, Linden Park Road, Tunbridge Wells � Southborough Library, Yew Tree Road, Southborough � St George’s CC Project, 7 Chilston Road, Tunbridge Wells � The Camden Centre, Market Square, Royal Victoria Place,

Tunbridge Wells � The Giving Tree, Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells � The Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells � Tourist Information Centre (Fridays and Saturdays), The Pantiles,

Tunbridge Wells � Town & Country Housing Group, Monson House, Monson Way,

Tunbridge Wells � Trinity Theatre, Church Road, Tunbridge Wells � Tunbridge Wells Gateway, 8 Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells � Tunbridge Wells Fire Station, Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells � Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells � Weald Information Centre, The Old Fire Station, Cranbrook

Look no further

Tourist information for visitors to Royal Tunbridge Wells is now based at a new location in the Tunbridge Wells Gateway, 8 Grosvenor Road.

The new service is offered four days a week from Monday to Thursday, during which time the Tourist Information Centre in the Pantiles will be closed. However, on Fridays and Saturdays the Tourist Information Centre in the Pantiles will be open for business as usual.The new opening hours are being operated on a pilot basis until Easter 2011 to try out the service as part of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s one-stop customer service offices at the Gateway in the northern part of the town. The Gateway opened two years ago and offers a range of public sector and voluntary services. All TWBC enquiries are dealt with at Gateway.A review of how the tourist information service has performed in its new location will be undertaken in the spring and presented to Borough Councillors in June 2011, so that a decision about the long term future of the Tourist Information Centre can be made.Commenting on the pilot, Cllr Tracy Moore, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, said:‘The future of the tourist information service is very important to the health of the many tourism businesses in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area. The Council wants to be sure that it reaches the right decision on its future. This pilot is one way of finding out how the service could be offered to visitors in the long term and best support this important industry.’During the pilot, residents and visitors to the area can continue to contact the tourist information service as usual on the existing telephone number 01892 515675; and e-mail [email protected].

LOCAL WINTER 2010 9

Information

What would you cut?The Council wants to know how you think they should reduce spending while protecting the quality of public services.Central Government undertook a Comprehensive Spending Review in October.Councillors have already had a much harder time setting the budget this year – a situation mirrored in public organisations up and down the country. They have had to fund those services that you need, but with no extra money to do it. Some things have to be provided by law – bus passes for the over 60s and waste collection, for example. Like you, we have to pay our utility bills and they are going up too, so overall this means there’s less money for us to do what you want.The only way we can continue to provide you with the services you need is if we can either stop doing some things, or maybe charge for those that we currently provide for free. We therefore welcome your ideas and concerns – from both the public and local businesses – as to how this should be done.All ideas received will be grouped together and put forward to Cabinet for consideration when the draft budget is set on 16 December 2010.You can send us your views by e-mail to [email protected], by filling in the online form at www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/reducespending or by filling in the form below and sending it to the Head of Finance.

PLEASE RETURN TO: Head of Finance, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RSYour comments:

Your postcode (for monitoring purposes only):

Your e-mail address (if you want feedback on this consultation):


Consultation

Beat the burglarShed security advice

� Position your shed as near to the house as possible and ideally where it is visible.

� Avoid storing valuable garden tools and other items such as push bikes in the shed. If you can’t store them inside the house or in a secure garage, ensure your shed is adequately locked.

� An effective way to secure shed doors is to use a hasp and staple (also called a ‘padbar’). Secure this with coach bolts as these cannot be undone with a screwdriver or spanner. Lock the hasp over the staple with a closed shackled padlock.

� An additional way to protect your shed is to install ‘shed bars’ and to make items more secure inside, such as a push bike. A ‘shed shackle’ is recommended by the Home Office.

� Shed hinges can be secured with ‘clutch head’ or ‘coffin’ screws – when fitted they can only be removed using a special tool.

Garage security advice � If you have an alarm system for

your home, you might wish to consider extending the cover to include the garage.

� Stand-alone systems are also available, such as: ♦ a passive infra-red detector, or ♦ a door contact system – both available from local DIY stores

� ‘Up and over’ garage doors are normally fitted with a central locking device that are often quite vulnerable. These doors can be fitted with a hasp and staple, and padlock.

� It is good practice to fit British Standard approved locks to external doors and this includes integral garage doors.

Unique eventAn innovative new exhibition is coming to Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery in January. The exhibition combines words, poetry, prints, paintings, photographs and drawings in a medley of work inspired by the Museum’s collections.The exhibition was the brainchild of local professional artists Ellen Montelius and Lizzie Clayman. Ellen and Lizzie were keen to develop a new approach for an exhibition in which the artists and writers would respond not only to the collections but also to the works of the other participants. The two artists shared their ideas with other visual artists and some creative writers from across Kent and Sussex. They then established a collective of four visual artists and four writers to work on this innovative project. Back in November 2009, each artist and writer chose a particular object

FREE SESSIONSDid you know that Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery offers free outreach sessions to groups in many of the rural areas of the borough? Sometimes it’s tricky for groups to get into central Tunbridge Wells to visit the Museum and Art Gallery, so the Museum offers tailored sessions for groups in their own space. These sessions ensure that all of the borough’s residents can enjoy and be inspired by the incredible collections that the Museum holds. A key part of this work involves visiting residential care homes with historic objects to spark memories and conversation amongst the residents. Favourite topics include a look at some old fashioned toys and discussions on holidays in the past. These popular, hands-on sessions stimulate lots of interest and some fantastic tales from the participants.Museum staff also take objects out for work with local schools, preschools, youth groups and other community groups. If you work with or are a member of a group who would be interested in this service, please contact the Museum on 01892 554171 or visit www.tunbridgewellsmuseum.org.

from the Museum as their source of inspiration. They then created a new piece of work based on that object. This new work was then passed on to another writer or artist to use as a further piece of inspiration.

The exhibition, ReCollections, which opens on 14 January 2011, brings together all those pieces of work and the unique journey involved in creating them. Starting with objects like a box of broken dolls or an old cobbler’s chest, the artists have created prints and photographs of incredible beauty and intricacy, which have then been brought alive by powerful words and inspiring phrases.This unique exhibition invites the visitor to follow the process of creating the work as well as to marvel at the end result. The exhibition is designed to inspire and delight creative people of all ages – and with opportunities to meet the artists and take part in special workshops during the course of the show, this is an exhibition not to be missed.ReCollections is at Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery from Fri 14 Jan – Sat 5 March. The Museum & Art Gallery is open 9.30am–5pm Mon–Sat, 10–4pm Sundays, closed on Bank Holidays. Admission is free.

LOCAL WINTER 2010 11

Leisure

These are: � to provide a theatre

at least as good as the Assembly Hall

� to provide a more accessible central museum, library and art gallery

� to ensure that the police retain a presence in the town

� to provide a venue for civic occasions

� to ensure that any redevelopment of the Civic Complex is undertaken to the highest standards of design

We urge you to join in the consultation to find out more and voice your opinion. Your views are important, so please don’t rely on someone else to speak for you – get involved, make up your own mind and have your say.

Councillor Glenn Hall, of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and one of the people who represents the Council on the Board of Directors of the Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company says:

‘I would encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and to express their views about the future of the Civic Complex’.

Consultation on the Civic ComplexWho is carrying out the consultation? M&N Communications is carrying out a public consultation on the future of the Civic Complex. M&N Communications is a professional and independent specialist consultation and communications organisation. It has considerable expertise in facilitating the involvement of local people and in ensuring everyone’s views are heardM & N has been appointed by the Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company which is an equal partnership between the Borough Council and John Laing – a specialist developer of public sector infrastructure assets (including the new hospital at Pembury). Feedback from the consultation will be reported back to the Regeneration Company and to the Council.

Why have we set up a regeneration company?The Council felt it should be more engaged in the process of ensuring the continued development of the borough, try to develop new potential income streams and, crucially, to make sure it safeguards and improves services for the local community. For this reason we entered into an innovative and exciting partnership with John Laing to explore these possibilities.The Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company was set up in December 2008.The Borough Council wanted to find out if some of its land in the Borough had potential for redevelopment

which could deliver improvements for residents at minimum cost to them. Setting up a joint venture company has advantages: the Council has greater control of any development, can ensure that it proceeds in a timely fashion and also benefits from any profit made by the development. It is also less costly to use one developer for several sites, rather than working with a new developer for each one. The Council has put in place significant controls to safeguard both its financial and legal position and any decision to sell council land in the Civic complex will only be made by the full Council. Half of the Regeneration Company board Members are appointed by the Borough Council.Cllr Mrs Catherine Mayhew says:

‘As a Director of the Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company I am clear that my role is to represent the interests of the Borough Council and our residents. Along with the other Tunbridge Wells Borough Council directors I own no shares in the company and receive no remuneration or perks, so there is no question of us favouring the developer’s view’.

Not all the buildings on the Civic complex are owned by the Borough Council but the Council will not sell its own buildings unless a suitable scheme has been developed which is found to be financially viable and acceptable to the people of the Borough. This consultation is the first stage in determining whether or not to proceed to further and more detailed consideration of a redevelopment. Despite

Cllr Glenn Hall

This consultation is asking those who live, work and visit here if you want us to see how we could enhance and improve facilities on the Civic Complex – which includes the Town Hall, Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells Library, Museum and Art Gallery, and the Police Station. If from this first consultation there emerges a view that change is something we should explore in greater detail then much more work will be required over a number of years and further consultation and engagement will be undertaken. This initial consultation will establish whether you would like more work to be done to look at redeveloping the Civic Complex, and if so, what facilities would be important to you for the future.The Leader of the Council has made a number of commitments about any redevelopment of the town centre.

Consultation is underway about the Civic complex in Royal Tunbridge Wells. We want your views about what you would like to have in the centre of the town.

12 WINTER 2010 LOCAL

Consultation: www.tunbridgewellsregenerationco.org

some rumours, the Council has not made a decision about moving from the Town Hall site.

Why consider changes to the Civic Complex?There is a considerable risk to the future success of Royal Tunbridge Wells posed by increased competition from other centres. We want people to spend money within our Borough rather than elsewhere. A shortage of appropriate accommodation for businesses forces them to move out of the town, taking with them employment opportunities. Retailers wish to move to the town centre but do not do so because there is no suitable retail space for them, in particular

for larger stores. Recently they have been going to out of town locations or outside the borough, threatening the future of the town centre. Recent examples have included the Marks and Spencer and John Lewis at Home stores at North Farm. We are clear that the most sustainable location is within the town centre.The Assembly Hall Theatre, Museum, Art Gallery and Library are well used, but were all built some time ago when customer needs were very different. The Regeneration Company has advised the Council that there is a once in a generation opportunity to create greatly improved facilities, making them better for users as well as

much more accessible and flexible. There is also scope to introduce new amenities, retail space and public areas. Clearly any redevelopment would need to be sensitive to the town’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.We want to safeguard the future of the town by ensuring it has facilities fit for the future, protecting and creating jobs and ensuring the town centre thrives. The Council has asked the Regeneration Company to look at how this can be achieved in the heart of our well loved town centre, which could enhance its overall attraction now and safeguard its long term future, and we would like to hear your views.Another key issue is the fact that the town is currently split into two halves, with the historic Pantiles and High Street areas at one end and the more modern Calverley Precinct at the other, separated in the middle by the Civic complex. This could be a chance to join these areas together, incorporating your views from both this current and future consultations.A constantly changing worldTunbridge Wells has a rich history of which we are all proud. This has evolved over time, and continues to do so. The question is can the town centre stand still while the world around us

How to get involved: � go to the website and fill in the questionnaire

www.tunbridgewellsregenerationco.org

� fill in the questionnaire that was distributed with the newsletter in November

� find us on Facebook – TWRegen

� come to one of the town centre drop-in sessions

� register for and attend one of the January workshops

� call, e-mail or write to M&N Communications

You can find details for all of the above at

www.tunbridgewellsregenerationco.orgor by contacting M&N Communications (who will also be able to answer your questions and provide more newsletters and questionnaires) on:tel: 020 7760 7529e-mail: [email protected] House, 15 Fulwood Place, London WC1V 6HUJo Sistern, who is running the consultation campaign at M&N Communications, said: ‘Since starting in November, we have already met many of you at the events we’ve held around the town. But if you haven’t yet got involved, don’t worry; there are still plenty of opportunities available, including workshops, drop-in sessions, the website, the questionnaire and Facebook. I strongly encourage you to get involved in any way you can, as it’s about the future of your town centre.’

Cllr Mrs Tracy Moore

changes and moves on? The choices we make today will shape the legacy for future generations. The assets owned by the Borough Council are for the local community, and we need to ensure that they continue to meet changing needs, both now and in the future. We must consider the economic vitality of our town centre, and ensure that the growth of other retail and employment centres do not result in decline for Tunbridge Wells. It is equally important to strengthen the cultural activities of the borough through the provision of high quality facilities, by supporting local organisations and enriching experience of the arts. Our public services should be fit for purpose, a source of pride and accessible to all. Councillor Mrs Tracy Moore says

‘I want to ensure that Royal Tunbridge Wells will be a thriving town centre with facilities that meet the needs of our children as they grow up and of their children in the future’.


Consultation: www.tunbridgewellsregenerationco.org

The Borough Council’s role as Local Planning AuthorityThe Council’s planning function remains completely separate to the regeneration process. This was a key consideration in establishing the Tunbridge Wells Regeneration Company, because the Council would not compromise its responsibility as Local Planning Authority. In its capacity as the Local Planning Authority, the Borough Council is responsible for preparing a Local Development Framework (LDF), which provides a long-term strategy for development in the Borough, allocates sites for development; and provides detailed policies for determining planning applications.One document currently being prepared as part of the Local Development Framework is the Town Centres Area Action Plan Development Plan Document (TCAAP). It will consider all the development opportunities together, rather than on a site by site basis and will provide a comprehensive planning framework for the town centre.Preparation of the TCAAP (and other LDF documents) includes consultation. You may have been involved in the recent stage of public consultation which ran from 14 June to 31 August 2010. The views received during this consultation will be taken into account as preparation of the TCAAP progresses and there will be a further opportunity to comment before proposals are finalised. This should not be confused with the current consultation being run by the Regeneration Company.

A brief history of Royal Tunbridge WellsRoyal Tunbridge Wells grew up around the Chalybeate Spring discovered in 1606. There were virtually no buildings until the late 1600s when facilities for visitors to the spring started to be developed including a colonnade of shops, later to be known as The Pantiles. Around 1735 Tunbridge Wells reached the peak of its fame and popularity as a fashionable town due to its association with Richard ‘Beau’ Nash. So from its inception Tunbridge Wells was a place for people to shop and enjoy their leisure time in pleasant surroundings – a true spa town.The prosperity of Tunbridge Wells was then threatened by newer resorts like Brighton. Its fortunes were restored in the 1830s by developer, John Ward, and

architect and town planner Decimus Burton. Burton proposed an organised street plan and designed attractive houses, along with shops and open spaces. Eventually Decimus Burton’s Market Place building in Calverley Road became the first Town Hall. In 1889 Tunbridge Wells achieved the status of a Borough, and the new Borough Council set about improving the town, introducing mains electricity, setting up Britain’s first municipal telephone system, and creating parks for an expanding population. Early mayors included scientist and inventor Sir David Salomons, who organised Britain’s first motor show on the town’s Agricultural Showground in 1895. During this period Tunbridge Wells and its Council was reckoned to be at the forefront of modern

technology and civic innovation The town became Royal Tunbridge Wells in 1909. A new Civic Centre complex, with a town hall, theatre, library and museum, began to take shape in the 1930s. This development was interrupted by the Second World War. Tunbridge Wells today is a town that has blended old and new. It has incorporated modern developments like Royal Victoria Place shopping centre without sacrificing its past. Now there is potential for a new chapter in the history of Royal Tunbridge Wells, with the opportunity to influence its future. To preserve the town there is also a need to keep it alive and to change with the times, as it has over hundreds of years. The important question is therefore how it should change, and what should it look like in the future?

The Civic Centre site in the 19th century and as it is today


Consultation

Five ways to wellbeing Are you, or someone you know, feeling down or struggling to cope with stress?Most of us know what it feels like when things get tough, whether it’s caused by money worries, family or work problems, illness or loneliness.The good news is there are things we can do to help us through those times.National research* has identified five ways to wellbeing which help people feel better and protect them against anxiety and depression. They are: 1 Connect – with the people around you.2 Be active – discover an activity you enjoy and that suits

your level of fitness.3 Take notice – be aware of the world around you and

what you are feeling.4 Keep learning – it can make you more confident as well

as being fun.5 Give – do something nice for someone, volunteer, join a

community group.

Following the launch in October of Live It Well, the strategy for improving mental health and wellbeing in Kent and Medway from 2010–2015, NHS West Kent is working with Kent County Council and other organisations in Kent and Medway to raise awareness of the five ways to wellbeing.Lauretta Kavanagh, Director of Commissioning for Mental Health for Kent and Medway, said: ‘Building the actions into our everyday lives can help us feel better in difficult times and get more out of life when everything is going well.‘We hope people who are feeling stressed – and even people who aren’t – will give them a try and see the difference they make to their health and wellbeing.’For lots of ideas about how to put them into action in Tunbridge Wells, see www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk. *The Foresight Mental Capital and Wellbeing Project 2008

Support and advice Mental Health Matters helpline 0800 107 0160 for confidential, emotional support from 5pm–9am Monday to Friday and 24 hours at weekends and bank holidays.For information, advice and ideas, see www.signpostuk.org or speak to your GP.

Potential sites There are a number of sites with potential for redevelopment over the next ten years, but each one will be assessed for its viability, therefore some may never come forward. Sites we are already looking into are:

Royal Tunbridge WellsThe Civic site, including the Town Hall, Calverley Terrace, Assembly Hall Theatre, Library, Museum and Art Gallery, Monson Road, Monson House, the Police Station, Crescent Road Car Park and Great Hall Car Park

Southborough 137 London RoadYew Tree Road Car Park

CranbrookSite of the former Council Offices

Paddock WoodThe two town centre car parks

Hawkhurst John Street Car Park


Health

Gang wins prizeCranbrook finally struck GOLD when it became the category winner of the small towns in the South and South East in Bloom Competition run by the Royal Horticultural Society. The awards were presented by Chris Collins at the Priestfield Stadium in Gillingham recently.The Mad Hatter’s Gang were awarded a Category 2 for their amazing floral alley off Stone Street in the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’. The Forge Orchard Group received a Category 3 for their sympathetic regeneration of the area in Waterloo Road as a haven for wildlife.Maureen Leah also received an Outstanding Achievement award.The judges’ summary said: ‘A well organised and enthusiastic group who have involved many parts of the community to make their town a tidy, colourful and interesting environment. From sympathetic wildflower verges to bright well-kept containers full of flowers in the streets, the group presented an excellent portfolio and a superbly run tour.’

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS IN BLOOM – The WinnersOn Friday 15 October, the winners of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom were announced and awarded their prizes at a special ceremony.

Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom has been accomplished through the partnership

of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and the Royal Tunbridge Wells

Town Forum, along with a generous donation of £1,750 towards school projects and Royal Tunbridge Wells in Bloom by KCC Cllr John Davies.The aim was to bring back the sparkle to Royal Tunbridge Wells through the imaginative use of street flower baskets, cleaning up roundabouts, replanting containers and even introducing edible

landscaping on suitable spots.Residents and businesses put their

all into creating some beautiful entries with bright displays of flowering plants

such as geraniums, begonias, petunias and busy lizzies adorning streets and front gardens. Eddie Reynolds of Dorking Road won in both the front garden and the baskets categories. The Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre came top in the planters category. In the community garden group, Transition Tunbridge Wells won for the library planting bed. Sherwood Community Centre and Rusthall Community and Youth Project came second and third. Awards were also given to entire streets with Culverden Square, Chenies Close and Calverley Park Crescent coming first, second and third respectively. The award ceremony for the schools sunflower competition was held at the Pantiles Corn Exchange and went to Broadwater Primary School.Now the organisers are looking for Bloom 2011 sponsors to provide the financial support to allow this wonderful competition to take place again. Businesses and individuals will be given the chance to have their logo or sign on the side of one of the flower troughs in the town centre.For more information visit www.royaltunbridgewellsinbloom.org.uk.


Informationn

Just do it!Anyone determined to kick-start their social life is invited to come and try out Tunbridge Wells based social and activity group West Kent Inter Varsity Club (IVC).The Inter Varsity Club is one of the UK’s leading social and multi-activities clubs with around 5,000 members across the UK. It is open to both couples and singles, in their 20s, 30s and 40s. It is a non-profit making club and is run on a voluntary basis by its members for its members.With activities ranging from the more energetic cycling, hiking and racquet sports, to the more sedate pace of pub lunches, quizzes and cinema, the club really does have something for everyone. Forthcoming events for January include bowling, Laser Quest, off-road cycling, a London comedy show, film night, and the ever popular ‘restaurant of the month’ evening.The club offers a two month trial membership for just £5, with a £35 annual membership thereafter.For more information, or to join, visit www.westkentivc.org.uk, e-mail [email protected] or call 0844 5888 482.

Green Christmas Local residents are recycling and composting nearly half of the material the Council collects every week. Thank you for doing your bit to help save money and reduce the amount of waste that is thrown away.Here is a reminder about what you can recycle and where it goes after you put it out for collection.

The brown bin is for garden and food waste. The bottom of the bin can be lined with cardboard and food waste wrapped in newspaper if necessary. Real Christmas trees can be left next to your brown bin for collection. The mixture is taken to Blaise Farm near West Malling where it is turned in to compost that is used by local farmers and landscape companies.The first of your green boxes, or communal bins

for some areas, is for collecting paper and cardboard. This includes newspapers, magazines, telephone directories, junk mail, envelopes, and all cardboard packaging. This material is bulked up at the Council’s depot and sent for reprocessing into new paper and cardboard products.Christmas wrapping paper and cards cannot be recycled in your green box. Please look out for local Christmas card recycling schemes or put them into your green bin.

The second plastic box, or communal bin in some areas, is for collecting plastic bottles, food and drink cans and aerosol cans. The cans and plastic bottles can be squashed to get more into your box. The contents of your box ARE taken to a sorting plant to separate the cans from the plastic bottles. The materials are squashed in to bales and sold to reprocessing companies to make in to

new products. We are collecting plastic bottles only because there is a strong demand for this type of material and they are easy to sort. Please put your yoghurt pots, food trays, films and other types of plastic in your green bin. Please take glass bottles and jars to your nearest recycling site where they are sorted by colour in the different banks.

As in previous years there will be changes to the collection arrangements around Christmas and New Year. This year your collection day will not change unless your bin is normally collected on a Monday. There will be no collections on Monday 27 December. Refuse collections due on this day will be made on Monday

3 January. Green box recycling collections due on Monday 27 December will be made on Monday 10 January.Please look out for the tag that will be left on your bin handle in early December for the exact details. The information will also be on the Council’s website www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk.

Christmas and New Year Refuse and Recycling Collections


Information

Number One Community CentreNumber One Community Centre is nestled in the heart of Showfields, on Rowan Tree Road, serving the residents of both Showfields and Ramslye since April 1991. It is run by the Number One Community Trust which is a registered charity, and managed by volunteers, many of whom live and work in the local community.The centre offers a range of well-used, accessible and affordable services to enhance the quality of life for residents from the two communities. The pre-school offers subsidised childcare to children locally. The KCC library offers a bright environment for library lending, resources and has eight PCs for public use. The Young at Heart group meets regularly on a Thursday afternoon for the older members of the community, providing a range of social and informative activities. The centre also hosts youth provision several evenings a week, ranging from sporting activities, music recording and a youth café. In addition, there are many other surgeries and events, provided by partner agencies, for the benefit of local residents, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Town and Country Housing Group. Whilst benefiting from these services, visitors can also pop into the café for a bite to eat or just a cup of tea.Chel Dawe, Number One Trustee, stated: ‘Although we receive substantial funding from other sources such as BBC Children In Need and Kent Youth Service, the grant from the Borough Council is extremely important. It helps us to pay for the building and the infrastructure, enabling us to offer specific services such as the pre-school and youth work. And at difficult

economic times like these, more and more people need support.’The Trust relies upon fundraising from several organisations. Trustees work hard to identify new sources of income to help pay for what it delivers, but also to pay for the upkeep of the building. This is a challenge as many funders don’t contribute towards such running costs, and the Trust will not aim to draw profit from the local community, because part of its aim is to support those most in need.Number One Community Centre can be found at 1 Rowan Tree Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5PX Tel 01892 514544 e-mail onecommunity@btconnect.

com

VSU Youth in ActionVSU Youth In Action is a project that provides activities to support young people aged between 14–25 years who are interested in getting involved in voluntary activities which benefit their local community. VSU currently runs a variety of volunteering projects, including lunch clubs, after school clubs and action groups. It was for these clubs and activities that in March 2010 VSU was awarded £6,800 by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council towards the core costs of the project.


Council helps more local charitiesTunbridge Wells Borough Council granted funding to another five local charities through its small grants fund. In March 2010 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council awarded 18 local charitable groups a total of £390,590. In the recent second stage of the Council’s community grants programme, this time for small grants, £11,520 has been awarded to a further five local organisations, making a total of £402,110 this year.Opera by Definition was awarded £3,500. The principal activity of Opera by Definition is the advancement of education in, and the promotion of the appreciation and enjoyment of, opera and music for the community of Tunbridge Wells and the immediate area.


Community Community


Cascade Dance was awarded £1,327 and offers a range of dance activities for a variety of ages, providing classes, workshops, clubs and projects to schools and voluntary and community organisations. They aim to promote dance culture, fitness and wellbeing by offering activities that are fun, exciting, creative and accessible to all.The grants will enable the charity to run a dance leadership course for 18 young people aged 14–19 years in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas. The dance leadership award is a recognised accreditation which provides young people with the skills and knowledge to become a confident leader who can deliver dance activities in a community based setting.Cllr Roy Bullock, Leader of the Council said ‘In strained financial times, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has paid out a high level of grants to voluntary organisations. This demonstrates the Council’s commitment towards supporting a strong voluntary sector of which we can be proud.’

and practice of orchestral music. The RTWSO’s season will comprise six classical music concerts given by a community orchestra comprising local amateur musicians and professional players, plus internationally famous soloists. The grant will help fund fees for professional artists, subsidised tickets for children and students and improved marketing and publicity.Kent Youth was awarded £1,693 and is an organisation supporting youth groups, clubs and organisations. They provide training, advice, support, activities and resources to affiliated youth clubs, groups and organisations as well as delivering face to face programmes with some of the harder to reach groups.The Borough Council’s grant will provide support for the nine affiliated groups in the Tunbridge Wells area and will contribute towards the cost of the Club Development Officer, provide part subsidy of the activities programme and contribute to the cost of providing the Step by Step training programme for volunteer leaders.

The grant will support a full-scale presentation of Glyndebourne Education’s The Magic Flute – a special adaptation for children to be performed at The Trinity Theatre & Arts Centre. The grant will help subsidise ticket prices, particularly targeting underprivileged children.COMPAID was awarded £2,500. The charity provides a range of practical services to enable disabled adults and children to maximise their social, creative, learning and employment opportunities.COMPAID’s design and print service provides services to many local charities and organisations, and gives disabled clients valuable work experience in design and print production. The grant will chiefly fund the purchase of a new document copier machine, which will handle larger jobs, and will be more accessible for clients to operate.The Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra (RTWSO) was awarded £2,500. RTWSO aims to promote the musical education of the people of Tunbridge Wells through the study

Since being awarded the money a number of regular activities have been able to take place, including a weekly human rights club at a local secondary school, various after school clubs, including a girls’ club at Oakley School for girls with disabilities, and two weekend fun clubs a month that provide one day or two days with an overnight stay respite for young people with disabilities, and the chance to attend mainstream activities with young volunteers.In addition to running the clubs, there has been a large number of new volunteers recruited across the locality, including a high proportion of male volunteers attending Twiglets, the after school children’s club for primary aged children. Being able to maintain two volunteers per child at the Seesaw

club has seen an improvement in the behaviour and achievements of the participants. In the time the club has been running we have helped over 100 participants and over 100 volunteers, thanks in part to the grant from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.One young volunteer said, ‘Working with the young disabled people at the weekend fun club has made me realise that there is no difference between us, we all enjoy doing the same things.’


Community

Less than zeroTunbridge Wells Borough Council will again this winter be offering help to people who are sleeping rough when the temperature drops below zero degrees centigrade.If someone with a local connection genuinely does not have anywhere to sleep other than outside, in a shed, car or garage and the Met Office predicts that the temperature will be below zero for three consecutive nights, the Council may be able to find shelter for them, at the same time offering advice and help to find a longer term solution to their housing problem.The Council does not have a statutory duty to house everyone who is homeless but it can give lots of practical advice to help people who don’t have anywhere to live. If you know someone who finds themselves in this situation, please get them to call the Council’s Housing Needs Team on 01892 554140 for advice and information on the services available. Customers can also drop in to see Housing Needs staff at the Housing Help Desk at Tunbridge Wells Gateway every weekday between 9am (10am on Tuesday) and 4pm and at the Weald Information Centre in Cranbrook on Fridays between 10am and 12 noon.

Charity calls on public to help end county’s street homelessnessKent homeless charity Porchlight has launched a campaign asking members of the public to ‘Change a Future’ by letting its outreach team know about the location of rough sleepers. The charity conducts regular early morning street outreach sessions across the county to locate and engage with rough sleepers but hopes that extra intelligence from the public will mean they can find even more vulnerable people. Gill Bryant, Strategic Manager for the charity’s Kent Outreach Service which supports rough sleepers said: ‘Often members of the public such as those walking dogs or people in certain jobs, for example refuse collectors, will find themselves out at unusual hours and often in secluded locations. This means they are likely to spot people who are sleeping rough or perhaps the evidence of make-shift shelters.’Porchlight is asking anyone that comes across someone they feel needs the charity’s help to either call the helpline on 0800 567 7699 or complete a

form online at www.porchlight.org.uk/changeafuture. After the details have been passed on, Porchlight’s rough sleeper support team, one of the largest in the UK, will try to locate the person on the next outreach session. Gill said that this information is now vital to the charity’s work: ‘The ability of the general public to give us accurate information about rough sleepers is crucial to us being able to get people off the streets and into long term accommodation. It is particularly useful to us in large rural areas where rough sleepers tend to be very well hidden. The public really does have the power to change a person’s future for the better. When we know, we can help.’Porchlight’s Kent Outreach Service continues to see high demand with over 400 referrals in the last six months

Information

and an average of 744 calls a month to the helpline number. The charity recently conducted its annual street count across nine local authority areas finding a total of 25 rough sleepers. This figure will feed directly into government statistics. The ‘Change a Future’ campaign is initially being piloted in four areas of the county: Shepway, Ashford, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells.


Keep warm this winter – without burning money!Are you worried about how to keep your home warm this winter without paying huge fuel bills?There are some simple changes everyone can make in their homes and the way they live that will help to keep in the heat, keep out the cold – and reduce the amount of energy being wasted.

� Make sure your loft is fully insulated – it could save you up to £200 on your heating bill and will help to reduce draughts.

� Install cavity wall insulation – it could save up to £160 on your heating bill every year.

� Discounts are available for loft and cavity wall insulation. If you are over 70 years of age or receive a qualifying benefit it may even be free. Call the KASH scheme on 0800 358 6669 for current prices or to find out if you are eligible for free insulation.

� Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.

� Check for draughts around windows and doors – simple draught-proofing is easy and cheap to install.

� A dripping hot water tap wastes enough hot water in one week to half fill a bath so fix leaking taps and make sure they are turned fully off – it will save both energy, water and money.

� Use your heating controls wisely. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time. And reducing your room temperature by 1OC could cut your bills by 10% and typically saves £50 each year.

� Is your water too hot? Check the thermostat on your cylinder – it should be set to 60OC/140OF.

For further advice on how you can reduce your fuel bills call the Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012.


Information

Food Hygiene Risk Rating or ‘Scores on the Doors’ coming soon to our areaThe Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Food & Commercial Team is pleased to announce that a new Foods Standards Agency National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, sometimes referred to as ‘Scores on the Doors’, is planned to be introduced to food businesses across the Tunbridge Wells area. ‘Scores on the Doors’ is a method of informing customers about what food hygiene standards exist in their local food businesses. The score is directly linked to the businesses’ current rating for structure, cleanliness and food hygiene management, as determined at their last routine food hygiene inspection. Customers will be able to make informed choices about the places where they eat or buy food from, and local businesses will be encouraged to improve their hygiene standards. The scheme will include any retail food outlet, or other business where consumers can eat or buy food. However, some ‘low-risk’ businesses and establishments operating from private addresses, such as childminders, will be exempt.Window stickers and certificates will be issued for businesses to display, although this is not compulsory. Above is an example of how a window sticker may look for a fully compliant business. We have been contacting food businesses over the past few months to inform them that we plan to operate the scheme in our area shortly. By replacing our existing Food Hygiene Award scheme of ‘Gold’, ‘Silver’ and ‘Bronze’ with the ‘National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme’, it will increase transparency for customers and consistency for businesses.If you would like to find out more about the scheme contact The Food & Commercial Team on 01892 526121, e-mail food&[email protected] or visit the Food Standards Agency website at www.food.gov.uk/hygieneratings.

Booking now for new winter classes for absolute beginners starting in January.

Visit our website www.medwayschoolofdance.co.uk or ring 01732 358355

145 HIGH STREET TONBRIDGE KENT

Ballroom

Latin

Salsa

Rock JiveSolo salsa

Boogie boxZumba

Medway School of dancing

celebrating 40 years in Tonbridge


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More drivers neededDial 2 Drive is a community transport scheme providing vital transport for people who cannot access public transport. This can be due to age, disability or illness. Volunteers are essential for this service and we are recruiting now! The scheme offers drivers flexible hours, full training and expenses. Volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to take people to social and medical appointments, shops, day centres and groups. Volunteer opportunities also include helping with practical tasks, form filling, IT and prescription collection. Car and motorbike drivers are needed across Tunbridge Wells borough. For more information please contact Dial 2 Drive on 01892 530330 or [email protected].

Government cuts benefitsThe Government is planning to make changes to the Local Housing Allowance rules from April and October 2011. Until the new law is in place we cannot give you specific advice as to how you might be affected, but the information below is based on the advance announcements made by the Government. The changes From 1 April 2011 the Government plans to:

� end the maximum £15 weekly Housing Benefit excess that some customers can receive under the Local Housing Allowance arrangements

� remove the five bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate so that the maximum level is for a four bedroom property

� introduce absolute caps so that Local Housing Allowance weekly rates in any area cannot exceed: ♦ £250 for a one bedroom property ♦ £290 for a two bedroom property ♦ £340 for a three bedroom property ♦ £400 for a four bedroom property

From October 2011 the Government plans to: Change how the Local Housing Allowance rates are calculated so that the rates are likely to be lower than those currently used. The Government also intends to make a change to help disabled people who have a carer who stays overnight but who doesn’t normally live with them. The change means that your Housing Benefit will take into account the cost of an additional bedroom providing you rent a property which has a bedroom for your carer. To explain the changes in more detail we have set up a Local Housing Allowance [LHA] question and answer section on the Benefits pages of our website www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk.If you do not have access to a computer but would like to know more please contact us: in person at Gateway, 8 Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells; or Weald Information Centre, Stone Street, Cranbrook; by telephone on 01892 526121; or by e-mail to [email protected].

Opportunity for adventureThe South East Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (SE RFCA) offers support to the Reserve Forces and Cadets from all three services. This includes recruit marketing, the maintenance of the Territorial Army and Cadet estates and providing a vital link between the reservists, their employers and the local community. SE RFCA also has close links with units and reservists of the Royal Naval Reserves, The Royal Marines Reserve and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force.The South East of England is home to some 50 Navy, Army and Air Force reservist units with over 3,300 personnel, all with local links, and all making a real and important contribution to defence. There are also over 450 Cadet detachments throughout the region, giving young people opportunities for adventurous training and training in life skills.Defence is not just something you read about in the newspapers. It touches the lives of people throughout the South East and is at the very heart of the community.Service in the Reserve Forces is dependent upon many factors, but chiefly good character, fitness and citizenship. The minimum age is 17.5 years. The maximum age limit varies, but is generally 43 years with service open to both men and women. The Reserve Forces accept British and Commonwealth citizens and those classed as a British protected person. Some persons born in the Republic of Ireland may also be eligible. Local units can advise on individual cases. Additionally you should have lived in the UK for the last five years. The same rules generally apply to adults with the Cadet forces, with the exception that the age limit is more relaxed. Contact SE RFCA direct if you are interested in joining the Volunteer Reserve Forces or becoming an adult instructor with the Cadets or require further information on the Reserve Forces and Cadets. Call Fred Hughes (Corporate Communications Officer) on 01252 357616 or go to www.serfca.org.


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New Pembury HospitalThousands of patients will shortly be receiving their care in the area’s new flagship hospital at Pembury.Finishing touches are now being put to the new hospital – the first NHS acute hospital in Britain where every in-patient has their own en-suite room, ready for its January opening.Construction of the hospital is based on an innovative design to aid patient recovery and safety. Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW), which runs the hospital, has won applause from the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) on the design.Glenn Douglas, Chief Executive of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: ‘The design of the new hospital has two objectives – patient experience and patient safety. This can now be seen in the design of the hospital, which has nearly reached completion and we look forward to welcoming our first patients in January.’ Rooms have been designed to minimise slips, trips and falls and cut the risk of infections spreading, while ceiling-to-floor windows promote a ‘healing environment’ by revealing stunning views across surrounding woodland.The development of health care in west Kent has also attracted national and international attention.MTW is involved in a transatlantic research initiative called The Pebble Project, linking with single-roomed hospitals in North America, looking at how elements of hospital design can improve patient experience.

In January 2011, the first patients will be treated at the new £226 million hospital.The hospital will open in two phases. Women and children’s services, all outpatient clinics, and a range of support services currently in the old Pembury Hospital will move in early in 2011.By late summer 2011, services at the Kent and Sussex – including the town’s Accident and Emergency Department – will move into the new hospital, along with women and children’s services from Maidstone which, at the time of writing, is subject to a final decision from the Health Secretary.MTW has applied to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for outline planning permission to sell the Kent & Sussex Hospital site for mixed housing use. Money from the sale of the site will be used to fund the purchase of millions of pounds’ worth of new equipment in the new hospital.The Trust has just approved an upgrade in radiology technology for the new hospital, by agreeing to the installation of a 3 Tesla MRI scanner. The machine gives a greater depth of image and can highlight small lesions which can be a sign of cancer.Construction of the new hospital is closely linked to service improvements at Maidstone Hospital. MTW’s latest development this year saw the opening of a £3 million international training centre for laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. Surgeons from around the world are now being trained in complex procedures routinely carried out at Maidstone Hospital.

Current aerial

view of Pembury Hospital

new improved design of hospital rooms

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Proposed sketch aerial view of Pembury Hospital

Royal Victoria Hall in Southborough was host to a number of up and coming sporting stars on Wednesday 17 November 2010. The annual Tunbridge Wells Junior Sports Achievement Awards ceremony was organised by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, with trophies and medals awarded to winners in each of the 11 categories. The awards, which recognise those people who have contributed to sport in some way, either through their own sporting success or through their work assisting others involved in sport, are sponsored by Fusion Lifestyle, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership, King Charles’ School Old Boys’ Association, and Daisy Fletcher. Selected nominees also received training grants to assist them with future competition and training expenses.Representatives of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and the Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership judged the nominations which included participants from athletics, gymnastics, horse riding, cricket, table tennis, cycling, inline hockey, and judo. The individual awards and certificates were presented by the Deputy Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Cllr Elizabeth Thomas, Francois Smit, Divisional Business Manager for Tunbridge Wells Fusion Lifestyle, Ron Maggs, President of the King Charles’ School Old Boys’ Association, Daisy Fletcher, and Paul Willmott, Partnership Development Manager, Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership.

Celebrating success at the Tunbridge Wells Junior Sports Achievement Awards 2010

Fusion Individual Sports Achiever Awards:

12 years and under category

Winner: Imogen Blythe


Winner: Rose Hairs


Winner: Harry Molloy

Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership Special

School Team Award

Winners: Oakley School Rowing Team

Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership Primary School Team Award

Winners: St James’ Primary School

Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership Secondary

School Team Award

Winners: Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar

School – U14 Netball Team

Tunbridge Wells School Sports Partnership Sports Leader of the Year Award

Winner: Dannii Mills

Daisy Fletcher Award for Overcoming Adversity

Winner: Rachael Long

Outstanding Service to School Sport Award

Winner: Vic Court

Buss Murton Outstanding Service to Sport Award

Winner: Stephanie Smith

The winners were as follows:


Youth

Eight Year Five pupils from St Matthew’s High Brooms CE (Controlled) Primary School enjoyed making their own piece of history on 13 September by burying a time capsule in the entrance of the new

be available at the new shop including: an Ella Doran Silk Hearts Cushion, a cream John Lewis Retro Clock, and a Cath Kidston Crush Dotty Mug. The pupils had also written a number of letters to children of the future which they buried in the time capsule alongside the items from the shop. With the letters and items safely in the capsule, it was sealed in the wall and the children helped to fix a plaque to commemorate the day. Mandy Cebunka, headteacher, St Matthew’s High Brooms CE (Controlled) Primary School, said: ‘We’re thrilled to take part in making history at the new John Lewis at home shop in Tunbridge Wells. ‘We pride ourselves in having strong relationships with our community so it’s great to extend these links by getting involved in

John Lewis at home shop in Tunbridge Wells.The new ‘at home’ shop opened to the public on Thursday 11 November, just off Longfield Road. The new store focuses solely on furniture, furnishing accessories, homeware and home and electrical technology. The children, aged between nine and ten years, dressed in hard hats, hi–vis vests and protective glasses, buried a selection of items that will

the time capsule project at John Lewis’s new shop. The children have really enjoyed spending time writing their letters knowing that in years to come they will be discovered and people will be able to find out more about what life was like here in 2010.’Gabby Armstrong, branch manager, John Lewis Tunbridge Wells, commented: ‘We are really pleased that St Matthew’s School helped us to make history in Tunbridge Wells by burying the time capsule for future generations to find. ‘It was lovely to meet the pupils and hear what they thought life might be like for school children in Tunbridge Wells in years to come. You never know – some of the children might even find themselves working here one day!’

Working together to make our roads safer this winterAfter the harsh weather we experienced last winter, the Borough Council has been working closely with Kent Highway Services to ensure everything is in place to help you travel through the winter months.Kent Highway Services are on standby from mid October to mid April to carry out winter maintenance on our roads. If icy conditions are forecast, they are responsible for salting all main routes, such as A or B class roads, busy commuter

routes or danger spots. A map of these can be viewed at www.kent.gov.uk/saltingroutes. The Highways Agency are responsible for salting the motorways and trunk roads such as the A21. Salt bins are for the use of motorists and pedestrians to treat local roads or pathways. The salt bins are not for use on private driveways. You can purchase salt from builders’ merchants or DIY stores for private use. If you find your local salt bin is empty, please contact Kent Highway Services on

08458 247 800 and be a good neighbour; some people may need help to clear a road or pathway. For advice on clearing snow yourself, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_191868In the case of heavy snow, local farmers and plant operators (those under agreement with the County Council) are asked to use agricultural snow ploughs to clear any minor routes, to help you on your journey.

And don’t forget, keep informed about the latest conditions via your local radio or TV station or on the Kent travel pages at www.kent.gov.uk/travel.Give yourself plenty of time to make your journey and avoid any sudden actions on the road. Keep warm, keep safe and only travel if necessary.For full details of the winter service policy, please visit www.kent.gov.uk/roadsalting.

Feature

Children create their own history


Trinity is offering a sackful of entertainment this December. The 2010 Christmas programme, designed in response to customer research, offers the following festive line-up:

Christmas at Trinity Theatre

The Adventures Of Mr ToadA musical adaptation of ‘The Wind In The Willows’ Sat 11 – Mon 13 Dec Sun 19 – Fri 31 Dec 3pm or 7pm Prices from £11.50 Family ticket from £42 Age 5+ (1 in 10 free)

FILMSPolice, Adjective Wed 1 Dec 8pm £7.50 (£6)Eat, Pray, Love Thu 2 Dec 8pm £7.50 (£6)

White ChristmasSat 4 Dec 7pm £5 (£4)Brazil Sun 5 Dec 7.30pm £5 (£4)Wall Street: Money Never SleepsMon 6 Dec 8pm £7.50 (£6)Made In DagenhamTue 7 Dec 8pm £7.50 (£6)

Book tickets: 01892 678 678 www.trinitytheatre.net Trinity Theatre, Church Road,

Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1JP

CHRISTMAS COMEDY CAFESChristmas Comedy in the candlelit foyerWed 8 Dec & Thu 9 Dec 8pmTue 14 – Thu 16 Dec 8pmSupper from 7pmComedy & glass of bubbly £16Comedy, bubbly and 2-course supper £30Age guide 16+

CHRISTMAS MUSICChristmas Carol ConcertSing-along favourites and festive readingsFri 17 Dec 7pm£10 Children £5Lydian Christmas ConcertEthan Merrick conducts the Lydian OrchestraSat 18 Dec 7.30pm£12 Under 21s £6

Red Nose RocketMon 6 & Tue 7 Dec 10.30am A charming fairy-tale set to music £5 Age 4+ (1 in 10 free)


Entertainment

Local Winter 2010

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