times of tonbridge 25th may 2016

By Neill Barston

TOWN traders and businesses have high hopes that the reopening of Tonbridge High Street to two-way traffic will provide a valuable economic boost to the town.

Although companies are still counting the cost of losses suffered during the nine months it has taken to complete the 2.65million scheme, it is still being seen as a key element of the areas regeneration.

Speaking to the Times last week, Terry Hill, manager of Castle Cars, said he had lost thousands because of the roadworks and was disappointed that Kent County Council is refusing to pay any compensation.

However, the taxi company owner believes the scheme will have a positive impact on the town.

His views are shared by a number of businesses,

including Finch House cafe, located within the heart of the works taking place in the High Street.

I think the work will make a difference for businesses, though it has caused traffic flow problems for those vis-iting the town, said the venues managing director Daron Goldfinch, who explained his company had flour-ished in Tonbridge since setting up four years ago.

Julie Reeves, of Gorgeous George gifts, added: We are relieved that the High Street is open again and hope that it does bring more trade, as many of our customers come from outside the area.

Tonbridge & Malling MP Tom Tugendhat, who had

criticised Kent County Council over delays to the High Street works, said he was pleased the project was finally nearing completion.

He said: Its great news that the High Street is finally open. The traffic is flowing again, and Ive spoken to a lot of people who have said the work is going to make a difference.

I think county councils should always ensure road-works are done as quickly as possible to ensure the impact is minimal. It is great that it has finally been done here.

Howard Porter, chairman of Tonbridge Town Team, felt the works, which include a second phase later this summer to improve River Walk, will benefit the town.

He said: Its a shame the work has taken this long, but the 2.65million invested will make an impact and we hope that it will encourage business to invest in the town.

Tonbridge Castle

All the news that matters Local, National and InternationalWednesday, May 25 2016

O F T O N B R I D G E

INSIDE

YOUR FREE

PAPER

LIFE SAVERNew defibrillator unveiled in town

PAGE 3

FOLLY FOR SALE Famous 19th Century landmark goes on the market

PAGE 3New look town on highway to recovery despite the delays

NEW RVP CINEMA Council is poised to invest 7million in shopping centre

PAGE 6-7

MUSICAL WEEKENDBank Holiday Unfest still goingstrong after two decades

PAGE 98-99

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Thousands of people fl ocked to the fi rst Tonbridge Food and Drink

Festival over the weekend. For a full story and more photographs

turn to pages 78 & 79

Councils should always ensure roadworks are done as quickly as possible

ACADEMY GIVESPUPILS LONGER

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Page 4

CAFE OWNER GIVES FOOD TO

HOMELESSPage 3

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NEW MAYOR TAKES OVER FROM HIS

LIFELONG FRIENDPage 2

CIDER WITH PHIL AT THE OLD FIRE

STATIONPage 2

CAFE OWNER GIVES FOOD TO


NEW MAYOR TAKES

LIFELONG FRIEND

NEW MAYOR TAKES

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Thursday

17CFriday

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18CMonday

17CTuesday

17C

Wednesday May 25, 2016

13CVisibility: Good Pollution: Low Humidity: 79%

Sunrise: 04.55am Sunset: 20.58pm Wind: 8mph

Cloudy with the odd spot of rain. Most parts staying dry, with some brighter spells

Weather

By Neil Barston

TAKING over as Mayor of Tonbridge & Malling from his lifelong friend Owen Baldock is a challenge Mark Rhodes is keenly anticipating.

The two have known each other since their schooldays and Cllr Baldock was also best man at Cllr Rhodes wedding.

Having represented Hildenborough for nearly 30 years on Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, Cllr Rhodes is proud to have been chosen by his colleagues for his latest role.

The research engineer, who works at QinetiQ in Sevenoaks, took on his first mayoral duties last weekend when he officially opened the Tonbridge Food and Drink Festival. Praising the organisers for a great job, he said it had provided a fine start to his year.

He admitted he would be exceptionally busy. I know it sounds a clich, but it really is a privilege and an honour to be doing this, explained the 59-year-old on his appointment.

I dont have a particular theme I will be working to, but Ive served on community boards and thats become a real area of interest, so I will focus on issues bringing people together in the borough. I think that it is going to

be hard work communicating that to people, but its going to be enjoyable, he explained.

Cllr Rhodes and his wife Julie have made time to be part of the community around them. The couple have two children, and they are now proud grandparents which is also something that has seen them extremely occupied outside

of their working lives. In what spare time he has, Mark enjoys photography, sea fishing and being a local flood warden.

He added: Owen is going to be a tough act to follow, but as for the task in hand as Mayor, if the first week is anything to go by its going to be something special.

Wednesday 25th May 2016

2 LOCAL NEWS

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Mayor: I will bring the people together

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LAST MAN STANDINGThe cows predicted last

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Photo by Sarah Grant

CONTACTS

TWELVE-year-old Dan Brice and ten-year-old Caitlin Ebbage were Tonbridge Swimming Clubs two representatives at the fi rst weekend of the South East Regional 14 & Under Swimming Championships (SER).

The event at the long course pool at K2, Crawley, saw them compete in a tough age group against some of the top talent in the country.

Caitlin swam fi rst in the girls category 100m backstroke making it through to the fi nal where she took fi fth place.

Dan was taking part in the next event in the boys 11/12 years 50m backstroke. He swam a personal best (PB) time of 34.75sec, beating his previous PB by 1.31sec, and fi nished in tenth place overall.

Town swimming duo competeagainst top talent at champs

ALL YOURSOwen Baldock (left)

hands over the Mayors chain to Mark Rhodes

A taste of cider at Old Fire Station

WHILE the towns fi rst Food and Drink Festival was taking place at Tonbridge Castle (see pages 78-79), another event was making its

debut just around the corner at the Old Fire Station in Castle Street.

The Tonbridge Cider Festival offered tastings

of more than 40 vintages, including several developed for the venue by Phil Turner of Marden-based Turners Cider.

Old Fire Station spokesperson Sam Goode said: The festival just came out of a conversation we had with Phil Turner and it has turned out to be a really popular event.

Weve found that around 90 per cent of people say they are not actually cider drinkers, but this festival has proved that people do like it once they have had the chance to try it. Our elderfl ower, medium and dry ciders went down really well.

Mr Turner said: It has been a brilliant festival, and it has made a real difference that the Old Fire Station has its own cider.

It has taken a while to get our business going, including actually making the cider, but over the past six months we have reached the point where it is a full-time venture now and it is great fun.

A TOUCH OF GLASSOld Tonbridge Fire Station

owner Richard Collins with Alice Churchwood and Phil Turner

POOL VIEWDan and Caitlin at the K2 in Crawley

LOCAL NEWS 3


NEWS IN BRIEF

Police hunt park attackersPOLICE are still appealing for witnesses to come forward after a 16-year-old boy was left with blood pouring from his head after being severely beaten with hammers by a gang of men in Tonbridge Park.

The victims mother Nicki Rogers, from Southborough, was so shocked by the state her son Harry Diamond had been left in, that she posted pictures of his facial injuries on Facebook in the hope of fi nding those responsible.

According to Police, offi cers were called to the scene at

Tonbridge Park just before 7pm on Sunday May 15, after receiving reports of a disturbance involving a large group of people, but could fi nd no one at the scene.

Soon after this, offi cers were alerted to reports of a teenager receiving hospital treatment, claiming that he had been assaulted in the park that evening.

At the time Detective Chief Inspector Neill Parker said: We are carrying out a number of enquiries including reviewing CCTV, and if you have any

information that can help us please get in touch.

After more than a week no descriptions of the attackers have been released but there have been reports circulating locally that the attackers may have come from Maidstone.

Anyone with information should call West Kent appeals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference YY/10338/16. Alternatively call Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Cafes unsold food gives homeless hope for future

By Neill Barston

A POPULAR venue in Tonbridge has joined up with a community scheme supporting young homeless people in the town by offering them unsold food supplies.

Finch House Cafe and Bakery in the High Street has linked up with Kent charity Porchlight to offer its users a range of sandwiches, pastries and other

dishes which would otherwise have gone to waste. The company, which set up in Tonbridge four years ago, is also advertising for apprentices, which could be open to applicants using Porch-lights services.

Daron Goldfinch, managing director of Finch House, said: We make a lot of our products fresh on site and realised we had some gourmet food stock left at the end of the day which would just go in the bin.

We wanted to do something about it and after a few months of looking for a worthwhile cause we found Porchlight, which is a brilliant charity that has a hostel for young people in the Tonbridge area.

Weve been working with them for the past few weeks, with people from the charity making regu-lar collections, explained the director, who hopes its apprenticeship campaign could potentially offer further help through job prospects.

Since launching in Tonbridge, the company has opened a second cafe in Orpington.

It has also been named for the third year running as a finalist in the countywide KEIBA business awards.

Mr Goldfinch added: The scheme we have set up is helping young college-age people who are clients of Porchlight. In having some extra sand-wiches or pastries, it means they are able to save what limited budgets they have towards other things like attending job interviews and it seems to be working well for them so far.

Porchlight staff member Zara Hamid agreed the initiative had been of real benefit.

She said: Were really grateful to Finch House. The companys generosity allows us to put on a spread and invite the people staying with us to come together for a chat and a bite to eat. Some-times we work with people who feel isolated and things like this help them to engage.

Its also great to hear Finch House is looking into apprenticeships and work experience oppor-tunities. At Porchlight, we believe employment is the best route out of poverty and homelessness.

POLICE APPEALTonbridge Park

FOOD TRAYKaya Cadwallader of Porchlight collects a donation of unsold goods for the charity from Daron Goldfi nch at Finch House

Another lifesaverinstalled in townA POTENTIALLY life-saving piece of medical equipment has been installed near Tonbridge High Street.

Medischeme insurance, which is based at the Old Fire Station, has provided a defi brillator that could prove vital in cases of suspected heart attacks.

Tonbridge & Malling MP Tom Tugendhat unveiled the new kit, which requires professional training to operate.

Richard Collins, managing director of Medischeme Health Ltd, said: We hope that its something that doesnt have to be used, but it could defi nitely save lives.

Hadlow Tower for sale ONE of the Tonbridge areas most recognisable landmarks, the Hadlow Tower, has been placed on the market.

The striking building was formerly owned by the Vivat Trust, which won a 2.6million Heritage Lottery award for its full restoration in 2008.

But since the organisation went into liquidation last month, the 19th century building, which had occasionally been open to the public, has remained closed.

The Grade I listed property is now for sale through property specialists Eddisons, which has not released a guide price, due to its unique design.

The tower was built in 1839 by wealthy businessman Walter May to house his wife, who he suspected was cheating on him.

New principal named THE Hayesbrook School in Tonbridge has appointed Daniel Hatley as its new principal.

He joins having previously been a head at an academy within the Ark Schools Network.

Mr Hatley said: When I first visited the academy, I was struck by the dedication and commitment of the staff. The students are superb ambassadors for their school, which indicated to me how engaged they are and how much they believe in and appreciate all that goes into ensuring they achieve their best.

Mr Hatley started his career as an English teacher in an inner-city co-educational community school in Birmingham before becoming part of the leadership team in schools in both Surrey and Sussex.

We believe employment is the best route out of poverty and homelessness


4 LOCAL NEWS

Jon Platt argued that the fi ne he was told to pay for taking his daughter to Disney World for a week in April 2015 was not legal because she has a good overall attendance rate at school.

The Department for Education reacted with dismay to the judgment, stating childrens attendance at school is non-negotiable, and insisting it would seek to change legislation in order to eradicate the loophole in the law.

The 60 fi ne was doubled when Mr Platt refused to pay it within three weeks, but he was let off when the case went to the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court last October.

The local council appealed against the deci-sion but Justice Lloyd Jones and Mrs Justice Thirlwall ruled that the magistrates had not erred in law in arriving at their judgment.

THE RULING

PARENTS in Chiddingstone have flown off for some early summer sun after the villages primary school embarked on its revolutionary two-week long half-term on Friday, a week earlier than other pupils.

The academy schools decision to add 20 minutes to every school day in order to reduce the length of its terms has given parents hope of finding cheaper holiday deals.

Booking a vacation during school holidays has come to seem markedly more expensive in recent years when compared to the huge discounts on offer at other times of year. Such an imbalance has seen parents defying the rules by removing their children from school during school time.

Chiddingstones extended break comes a week after a High Court ruling that saw the ban on parents in England taking term-time holidays lifted.

Ground-breaking school schemelets parents book cheap holidays

Chiddingstones ingenious strategy means the Church of England school, which became an academy in 2011, can allow its 209 pupils to take a longer half-term holiday in May and October without reducing their attendance.

In the maintained sector, pupils must be in school for 190 days. Adding a short period at the end of each day gives Chiddingstone School an extra 60 hours; this equates to two weeks.

The headteacher Rachel Streatfeild said: In con-sultation with parents and in response to parental

feedback, the school has restructured its academic year. It has added an additional week on to the October and May half-terms, enabling some parents to take advantage of cheaper holidays.

The move is also designed to reduce fatigue in the classroom, which she said had become a problem during last years summer term. We do not have a problem with our parents taking their children out of school during term time, but we noticed that after last years term six the children were exhausted.

The extended day ensures we deliver the curriculum more effectively and meaningfully. It

also means that no term is longer than six to seven weeks, preventing children from becoming too tired at the end of a seven or eight-week term.

The changes took effect from January this year and the new structure will be in place on a trial basis for 12 months before a review is undertaken. The staff are also considering holiday clubs.

Mrs Streatfeild, who took pupils on a school trip to Barcelona before the holiday, insisted: The school enjoys a very positive relationship with our parents and we will continue to work

in partnership with them to review the effectiveness of the changes implemented, to ensure that our educational standards remain outstanding.

This month, Jon Platt from the Isle of Wight won a victory for parents after the High Court decided he did not have to pay a fine for taking his daughter to Florida during term time.

Online travel website sunshine.co.uk reported an 88 per cent increase in family

holiday bookings in term time.

Academy headteacher adds 20 minutes to each day in order to reduce term time The Department for Education has said it intends

to ensure the new legal loophole is rapidly closed. The rules state that children can only be taken out of school in exceptional circumstances.

Parents face a 60 fine, which rises to 120 if it is not paid within three weeks. Those who still refuse to pay face prosecution, and a maximum fine of 2,500 or up to three months in prison.

Academies such as Chiddingstone can decide their own term times because they are no longer under the control of local education authorities.

There is no likelihood of the state sector following suit because children from the same family might be attending schools with different holiday dates.

The new formula comes hot on the heels of the Governments U-turn on compulsory academy status for all state schools earlier this month.

Conservative MPs had voiced fears that small rural primaries could close if they lose the support of local authorities and are run instead by distant education charities.

SCHOOLS OUT Chiddingstone pupils are already on their half-term

The extended day ensures we deliver the curriculum more effectively


LOCAL NEWS 5

WITH the Alps as the backdrop, the team representing The Chapel hairdressing salon prepare to set off on their epic 1,000-mile charity bike ride from Switzerland back home to Tunbridge Wells. They hope to raise 50,000 for Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre and Cancer Research UK. Five staff from the salon were diagnosed

with cancer in the last couple of years. Three of them, aged between 26 and 34, passed away. The team is headed by salon co-founders Toby and Amanda Dicker with son Bert taking part in the fi nal leg of the eight-day cycle. If you would like to help them reach the 50,000 fi nishing line, go to www.c4c4cc.co.uk

Charity riders cross six countries in memory of their colleagues

Chilled family festival to put Hop Farm back on music mapFESTIVAL fever returns to the Hop Farm near Paddock Wood this summer with the arrival of the award-winning Chilled in a Field.

The not-for-profit event, which was named as one of the UKs top small festivals, has moved to West Kent after a successful period in East Sussex. Running from July 29 to 31, it is described as a festival for ex-ravers and their kids and has a family-orientated flavour with activities all day long.

There will be three stages, including a secret woodland one which showcases acoustic talent and a silent disco until dawn, since the music ends at 11pm. Crowds are limited to 750 a day.

There will also be a real ale festival bar, with local beer and cider, street food, a not-for-profit shop,warm showers, glamping and camper van pitches with electric hook-up.

The farm ran its own music festival from 2008 to 2012, and again in 2014 after a cancellation for poor ticket sales. Then the company staging the show, Hop Farm Music Festival Ltd, went into liquidation.

A host of world-famous acts rocked up to the rural location including Bob Dylan, Prince and Neil Young. Despite hiring new promoters it signed off two

years ago with Grace Jones and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

More recently the venue has been struggling, and last weekends Silent Disco with Radio 1 DJ Greg James in aid of breast cancer charity CoppaFeel! had to be cancelled.

It also hit the headlines in April after an online clip went viral showing two men trading punches in what appeared to be a semi-official bare knuckle fight at a boot fair.

The line-up for Chilled In A Field will feature the likes of The Egg, Tankus The Henge, She Drew The Gun and Cocos Lovers.

Miguel Fenton, head of marketing at the Hop Farm, said: We are delighted. Music festivals are the heart and soul of the Hop Farm. This one is particularly fitting as it is a family festival.

Chilled in a Field Festival began in 2010 and director Sophie Randles-Dunkley explained that it has grown from small beginnings, with just 120 people in a field in Hawkhurst.

She added: We are also a not-for-profit social enterprise, entirely run by volunteers, so you can really feel the love. The festival is a great opportunity to have fun in a safe and happy environment. www.chilledinafieldfestival.co.uk

FIELD OF VISION Last years Chilled in a Field Festival was held at Halland in East Sussex

would need to exceed either the cost of capital, when the council is using its own assets, or the cost of bor-rowing if we thought doing so would be more advan-tageous for that purpose.

We are very mindful of the important role that the shopping centre plays in the town.

6 LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS


By Adam Hignett [email protected]

THE 70million expansion of Royal Victoria Place shopping centre will be one of the most significant developments for Tunbridge Wells in decades.

When polled by the centre, almost 90 per cent of respondents expressed enthusiasm for the scheme, which will add an additional 140,000 sq ft of retail space alongside a new multiplex cinema.

However, few people realise that right now within the council discussions are being held on whether or not to invest up to 7million into the project.

Council is poised to spend 7million on the shopping centres new cinemaPloughing money into a private enterprise might appear controversial the reality is more complexSince this newspaper was launched last year it has featured numerous local businesses from small to medium enterprises to multimillion-pound operations. This week we focus on a business that impacts all of our lives on a daily basis Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

The idea of the council ploughing public money into a private enterprise scheme is likely to appear controversial to many people but the reality is more complex.

With government cuts to local authority grants hitting the borough council particularly hard, it has become ever more important for it to derive income through investment.

Regarded by the council as its greatest asset, its ownership of Royal Victoria Place freehold currently yields hundreds of thousands of pounds a year for the public purse.

But by making the investment, the council will have the opportunity to renegotiate the terms of its lease, which have not changed since 1992, to make them even more favourable.

These original terms state the council will be paid either ten per cent of net rents or a minimum ground rent of 837,000 per year, whichever is greater.

This means the council has received approximately 11.7million since the centre opened in 1992; a sig-nificant income stream for a local authority, but one with the potential to become even more lucrative.

We have a number of options available and if we do decide to go ahead with the investment then, quite rightly, we would be looking for a return, explained Lee Colyer, the councils Director of Finance and Corporate Services.

This would be a commercial type of return that

Because we have been told that Hermes (who are the leaseholders) are willing to invest 70mil-lion, that is really compelling evidence that the pri-vate sector is comfortable with putting money into Tunbridge Wells.

This reflects a vibrant and well-run economy and we want to be part of that.

The decision on whether or not to make a contri-bution is just one of many which the council has to make when looking at how it can ensure taxpayers money is well utilised.

Like many businesses, the council has two budgets; one for revenue and another for capital expenditure.

As was widely reported in the Times at the start of the year, the councils revenue budget, the one which deals with day-to-day spending on services, salaries and benefits, is facing a series of significant cuts in the coming years.

In order to avoid cutting services to the bone, and with only a minimal increase in council tax avail-able, the council is looking to its capital budget of approximately 20million to deliver an income it can then use to plug the shortfall.

Investing in Royal Victoria Place is just one exam-ple of how turning capital investment into income works.

As our grant from government disappears we will find ourselves in two years time with no central

The private sector is comfortable with putting money into Tunbridge Wells

NEW VISIONArchitects view of

how a revamped RVP might look

HOW WOULD TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL LOOK IF IT WERE A COMPANY?

WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PARKING FEES? THEY GO BACK INTO THE PUBLIC PURSE

200MILLION IN TAXPAYERS MONEY AND 95MILLION IN AN ARRAY OF ASSETS


LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS 7

Parking is perhaps one of the most contentious issues in the borough, with revenue from the

councils major car parks and off-street car parking is expected to be around 3.1million this fi nancial year.

However, Mr Colyer said that although car parking provided revenue, this goes back into the council to provide services that dont cover their cost. He added: We are quite fortunate in this town that the council controls many of the car parks. This helps us manage supply and demand because we can set the tariffs appropriately. Also, if they were run by private operators, the income would not be reinvested into providing services, but would instead go to shareholders or offshore companies, which is a loss to the local economy.

We are frequently advised by members of the borough council that they run it as a business, and that if it actually were one, it would be a sizeable enterprise.

Each year it handles around 200million in taxpayers money and controls an array of assets

Those councillors in cabinet would be the equivalent of the board, elected by shareholders to represent their interests. They would be headed by Council Leader David Jukes as Chairman.

The Chief Executive (same title) would be William Benson currently the most senior local government offi cer in the council. He would be tasked with overseeing the delivery of the boards vision, a role similar to what he does now.

government support and will need to be self-sufficient. What we do is invest capital in order to derive income, and we either fund this through reserves, through heritage lottery grants, developer contributions or borrowing, said Mr Colyer.

A second example of how this method has been employed is the Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, run by Fusion Lifestyle.

Mr Colyer said the council has been lending money to Fusion at favourable rates for them to reinvest into the sports centre, the freehold of which is also owned by the council.

The council owns three leisure centres, he said. The one in St Johns, one in Paddock Wood and one in Cranbrook. Only the centre in Tunbridge Wells actually makes any money, while the other two require a sub-sidy so what we do is pool all the income from them together and share it out so we can provide consistent service across them.

Fusion wanted to make improvements not only to the service but also to the building in St Johns, so we entered a commercial arrangement where we loaned them 1.6million to invest.

The benefit for the council is that we have the return from that loan, which is higher than if we had invested it elsewhere, and at the same time the money is invested in a council asset, extending its lifespan and raising its value.

We also get a greater share of any uplift in activity from people using the centre due to the improvements.

He explained that it was an example of where the council looks to benefit from its investments in many ways while also supporting the services provided to the people of Tunbridge Wells.

Not every investment is going to have an immediate financial benefit for the council, but will instead pro-vide other benefits for the town.

Mr Colyer said one example was the councils approved spending of 1.5million for a refurbishment of the Assembly Hall Theatre, money which will never be made back.

Although the council would like to operate in as

business-like a manner as possible, our overarch-ing purpose is civic responsibility.

The Assembly Hall is cherished by many people, so sometimes we have to spend a substantial amount of money for no direct financial return.

But even this will prove vital for the long-term health of the local economy, he believes.

This town is thriving and successful and a lot of that is on the back of being well run.

If you pick up one of the glossy brochures of developers attracting people to the town, one of those pages is an aerial photograph showing all the benefits of coming here.

All of those attractions have something in common, added Mr Colyer. They are either pro-vided by, or funded by, the council the theatre, the museum, the award-winning parks and the shopping centre.

If the council didnt have the right financial resources, then it would be very difficult to sustain these services.

Sometimes we have to spend money for no direct fi nancial return

worth 95million, which consists of nearly 200 properties and 300 plots of land.

Combined with the employment of 239 full-time and 65 part-time staff, as a business it far exceeds the European Commissions defi nition of a medium-sized enterprise.

But perhaps the most important position would be that of Chief Financial Offi cer, which would be Lee Colyer. His current title is Director of Finance and Corporate Services.

With a statutory obligation to ensure that shareholders money was well spent and invested, Mr Colyer would have the power to veto any board decisions if he felt it breached these obligations much as he does now.

MONEY MANLee Colyer, TWBCs Director of Finance

and Corporate Services


Artisan craft store finds its Voice by celebrating anniversary relocation

THE VOICE finalist Charley Blue was on hand to celebrate the first anni-versary of one of towns most artisan stores, which marked the occasion by throwing a party for loyal customers.

Relocating to Monson Road from its original pop-up in Ely Court last month, due to increasing demand for its products, The Silver Sheep has proved a hit among local consumers.

Founded by Caroline Smith and Sylvia Kus, The Silver Sheep was orig-inally intended as a place to show-case their handmade silver jewellery and woollen clothes.

But the popularity of the store was also due to their extensive range of products, all of which are handmade within the south east.

Co-owner Mrs Smith said: We have had a terrific response to our shop in Ely Court.

People loved that everything was handmade and they could even see us making jewellery or knitting a sweater as they browsed. It was a workshop, a gallery and a shop rolled into one.

Weve always given other local crafters and makers a chance to sell wares at The Silver Sheep too from handmade chocolates to ceramicists and glassware.

Mrs Kus added: We had a brilliant opening party, Charley Blue, a finalist from the BBCs The Voice, did a fan-tastic set and the wine was flowing it was a real party atmosphere.

We thank our established custom-ers for helping us celebrate and our new location means that lots of new people will discover us, too.

None of us would want to live in a place where we just drive to an out-of-town supermarket to buy everything. Supporting local shops and talented makers is something that will keep the town thriving.

OPENING PARTY(L-R) Caroline Smith,

singer/violinist Charley Blue, guitarist Steve

McCormack and Sylvia Kus

Solicitor tipped for prestigious Law Society CHRISTINA BLACKLAWS of Tunbridge Wells law firm Cripps is set to break the glass ceiling in the legal profession after being elected as Deputy Vice-President of the Law Society.

Ms Blacklaws, who was appointed as Cripps Chief Operating Officer this month, will now become the Societys President in 2018, making her only the fifth woman to hold the office in its 193-year history.

She said: I am honoured, delighted and humbled to be elected. These are challenging times.

Depots global awardA LOCAL depot in Paddock Wood has achieved the Gold Standard Investors in People accreditation, making it one of the top seven per cent of Investors in People organisations worldwide.

The national award is the highest accolade in terms of people management. The depot, run by the leading foodservice provider Bidvest Foodservices, employs 343 people.

Buy-out helps firm adapt

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

Silver Sheep hires Charley Blue for Monson Road opening party

8 LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS

TUNBRIDGE WELLS telecommunications firm Adept Telecom has announced its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Comms Group UK Limited. The firm said the strategic rationale behind the 3.5million offer was the extension of Adepts IT installation and support team capability. Chief Executive Ian Fishwick said: We are delighted to have acquired such a high quality and profitable business.

www.lifestyleford.co.uk Tunbridge Wells 01892739131 KentTN48AG

Tonbridge 01732 758 726 KentTN9 lTN

Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/lOOkm) for the Ford S-Max range: urban 30.l (9.4) - 47.9 (5.9), extra urban 48.7 (5.8) - 57.6 (4.9), combined 39.8 (7.1) - 54.3 (5.2). Official C02 emissions 17l-l22g/km.

The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results, are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience. Based on limited stock vehicles only and must be ordered and registered between 01.04.16 and 30.06.16. *Finance example shown available over a finance period of 48 months with 4,095.74 customer deposit. Amount of credit 22,899.26. Charge for credit 1,932.74. Finance Facility fee 10. Purchase Fee 10. Total amount payable 28,947.74. Optional final payment 10,480.00. 2.9% APR, 6,000 miles per annum, excess mileage charged at Bp per mile. When financed with Ford Credit. Finance subject to status. Other charges for metallic paint and extra factory options. Must be over 18 and a full UK resident. Guarantees/indemnities may be required. Freepost Ford Credit. Prices correct at time of going to print and are subject to change without notice. Subject to availability at Lifestyle Ford. Lifestyle Ford reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time and without notice. Lifestyle Ford Head Office 3 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 BAG. Images for illustration purposes only, metallic paint available at an extra cost.

Tunbridge Wells I Edenbridge I Lewes I Associated London Office

Zoopla ~

12 BUSINESS AWARDS


Today we reveal the winners of the ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS BUSINESS AWARDS from the glittering gala dinner on Thursday

12 BUSINESS AWARDS

bawardssiu ness

MAIN SPONSORS:

Awards night was a winnerLocal businesses and individuals stand out at the inaugural eventBy Adam [email protected]

BUSINESSES large and small came together last week at the Royal Tun-bridge Wells Business Awards 2016. And it was an event that on the evening was described on social media by those who attended as a fun night that was great for local businesses.

Around 200 people, representing 40 companies, went along to Salo-mons and enjoyed a champagne reception and a gala dinner at the Decimus Burton country home.

The atmosphere was one of excite-

ment and anticipation as nominees for the awards mingled with spon-sors and organisers swapping sto-ries and socialising.

They were finalists in a process that kicked off last year when plans for the awards, organised by this news-paper, were unveiled.

Prior to the start of the awards din-ner the audience heard from Editorial Director Richard Moore, who was also one of the six judges on the panel.

Mr Moore said he had been taken aback by the enthusiastic response to the idea of the awards from local business and congratulated all thosecompanies and entrepreneurs who

GUEST OF HONOUREdwina Currie

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avid

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BUSINESS AWARDS 13


We are thrilled to have been recognised at the inaugural business awards. We were very humbled, especially as all of the entries across each category were outstanding in their

own way. It is always nice to be recognised and its a credit to the hard-working team, both at our shop and headquarters. None of this could have been possible without their continued energy and supportMichele Harriman Smith, owner of Childrensalon winner of the Outstanding Business of the Year award

OUTSTANDINGChildrensalons Chief

Creative Offi cer George Smith with Edwina Currie

14 BUSINESS AWARDS


had been nominated for the awards.He said: Just the fact you have made it

this far is a real achievement.Explaining why the paper had decided

to host its own awards, he said: Before we launched the newspaper just over a year ago, we had taken the decision that

in order to set us apart and fill a void in the printed media we needed to

be business orientated. Every week we feature stories on local

companies and individuals and it was a natural step

for us to follow through on that commitment and recognise the business community with

its own awards.What we had not

expected was the fan-tastic response the

idea has received and the enthu-

siasm with which people right across the business spectrum have embraced the initiative.

Following the meal Mr Moore introduced the guest of honour for the evening and the person invited to present the actual

awards, Edwina Currie. Addressing the audience, the former Junior Health Minister during the Thatcher government recalled her expe-riences as a politician, then spoke of her life after politics and of the importance of entrepreneurism.

She used an example of

Such admiration for those here tonight

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Richard Moore

WHAT YOU SAID ON TWITTER:

First Offi ce Systems @FirstOffi ceSyst Thanks ever so much for the Event - great for local businesses and a lovely evening!#TWBizAwards Cripps @crippslaw Congratulations to all of tonights winners:@larrytechuk @Fullers_Butcher@MonitaCheung @Fox_Mark_Serv @yoyodesign @Childrensalon

ThomsonSnellPassmore @pragmaticlawyer Congratulations to @Fullers_Butcher on winning family business of the year

Fullers Butchers @Fullers_Butcher Thank you @timeslocalnews for hosting a great night, what a fab night

TWKidsOnTheGo @TWKidsOn-TheGo We LOVE Fullers!! Many, many congrats!

QueenFromage @QueenB_Belinda A fun night thank you! Very well organised :)

Monita Cheung Design@MonitaCheung Over the moon to have won #BusinessOfTheYear Award

easistore @easistoreCongratulations to the winners of

last nights #TWBizAwards, and @timeslocalnews for putting on such a great event!

Mrs P @Love_TunWellsWell done to all the worthy winners & to @timeslocalnews for organising their fi rst #TWBizAwards

Adrian JonesAnd its been a great night - thank you. See you next year! @MWSolicitors

Thanks to@timeslocalnews for a great night Tunbridge Wells business awards @SiggersGeorgie Jo Brett & Lou Whitehorn

Childrensalon@timeslocalnews @PCSolicitors Thank you very much!

Digitom Ltd @DigitomTVDrinks on @larrytechuk as winners of Creative Business of the Year, well done chaps!

Generating Interest @generating_intCongratulations to all the worthy winners at the #TWBizAwards last night. An exceptional evening thank you

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had been nominated for the awards.He said: Just the fact you have made it

this far is a real achievement.Explaining why the paper had decided

to host its own awards, he said: Before we launched the newspaper just over a year ago, we had taken the decision that

in order to set us apart and fill a void in the printed media we needed to

be business orientated. Every week we feature stories on local

companies and individuals and it was a natural step

for us to follow through on that commitment and recognise the business community with

its own awards.What we had not

expected was the fan-tastic response the

idea has received and the enthu-

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Richard Moore

siasm with which people right across the business spectrum have embraced the initiative.

Following the meal Mr Moore introduced the guest of honour for the evening and the person invited to present the actual

awards, Edwina Currie. Addressing the audience, the former Junior Health Minister during the Thatcher government recalled her expe-riences as a politician, then spoke of her life after politics and of the importance of

She used an example of

Such admiration for those here tonight

Phot

os: D

avid

Bar

thol

omew

BUSINESS AWARDS 15


Toyota setting up a new factory in her constituency of South Derbyshire during the 1980s, after the collapse of the coal industry, as an example of how business drives progress.

She said: If I had said, upon being elected, that within ten years there would be no coal mines and those workers would be making Japanese cars and selling them to Germany, they would have thought I was mad.

But almost overnight, due to the educational requirements to work at the Toyota factory, the rate at which young people stayed on after 16 at school rose from 30 per cent to over 70 per cent, as everyone wanted to work there.

Likewise, if we had said five years ago there would be a million more businesses set up in this country and we would have record numbers in

employment, everyone would have thought we were mad.

Mrs Currie said the lesson from all this is that you can never predict what the future might hold, but: If you do your best, be optimistic, take a chance and make the effort almost anything is possible. That is why I have such admiration for those gathered here tonight. Chair of the panel of

judges for the awards was Jo James, Chief Executive of the

Kent Invicta Chamber Of Com-merce, who took to the stage to introduce the categories and those on the shortlist.

Mrs James spoke of her delight at being asked to host the event, adding: The calibre of entries has been excep-tionally high, which further enforces the entrepreneurial reputation of the local business community.

Of course, this made our job on the judg-ing panel exceptionally difficult. We had a number of very good potential finalists for each category and selecting the eventual winners was not an easy choice.

All awards have to have a winner. But to be selected as a finalist is itself worthy

of congratulations, because in our minds all the finalists are winners.

After Mrs James read out the three names on the shortlist it was left to Edwina Currie to open the traditional envelope and declare the winners.

To much fanfare and applause, each was invited on stage together with the category sponsor to receive the award itself.

The evening ended in celebratory style, with the band Violet Jive providing enter-tainment late into the night.

CHAMPAGNE RECEPTIONGuests gather before the gala dinner

educational requirements to work at the Toyota factory, the rate at which young people stayed on after 16 at school rose from 30 per cent to over 70 per cent, as everyone wanted to work there.

Likewise, if we had said five years ago there would be a million more businesses set up in this country and we would have record numbers in

employment, everyone would have thought we were mad.

Mrs Currie said the lesson from all this is that you can never predict what the future might hold, but: If you do your best, be optimistic, take a chance and make the effort almost anything is possible. That is why I have such admiration for those gathered here tonight. Chair of the panel of

judges for the awards was Jo James, Chief Executive of the

Kent Invicta Chamber Of Com-merce, who took to the stage to introduce the categories and those on the shortlist.

EASISTORE TEAM(L to R) Paul Glenister, Stacey Bird and Simon Bidgway


16 EU DEBATE

DAVID CAMERON will be ousted in the event of a Brexit and face murder within the Conservative Party even if he wins, warned the renowned political journalist and commentator Matthew Parris.

The former Conservative MP made the remarks while speaking at a sixth-form dinner at Benenden School last week.

He said that whichever way the vote went, the Prime Minister would endure a tough time from his party.

The bitterness towards him from those campaigning for a Brexit means Cameron would struggle to hold his party together in the aftermath of a vote to stay in.

Mr Paris added: There will be murder within the Conservative Party to get rid of Cameron as a revenge for winning the vote.

On the allegations of Project Fear the accusations that the Remain

side, in particular, are using scare tactics to win the referendum he said: Project Fear stops you falling off a cliff. Its not necessarily wrong to warn people of the consequences that affect them.

He was also critical of Boris Johnsons credentials as a future Prime Minister and said he would prefer the Chancellor George Osborne to succeed Mr Cameron.

Perhaps his most controversial analysis was that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, despite the largely negative media coverage he has received, stood a chance of winning the next General Election.

Benenden Headmistress Samantha Price said: He was a marvellously entertaining speaker who was incredibly thought provoking and offered us first-hand insight into the fascinating world of politics.

Shadow minister tells why Labour now loves the EU

Brexit would lead to Tory murders

Adam [email protected]

LABOUR MPs backing Brexit were branded insignificant by the shadow Europe minister on her recent visit to Tunbridge Wells.

Pat Glass made the remark during her tour of the town with local party members, which saw her speak to pupils at St Gregorys Catholic School, view the new Childrensalon warehouse and meet volunteers providing aid to refugees.

The shadow minister insisted her party was united on the issue of Europe and dismissed suggestions that Jeremy Corbyn had been forced to back Remain by pressure from his cabinet.

I personally think Jeremy is closer to what most of the public think than many politicians, she said. He is not ideologically committed to the EU in the way someone like (Peter) Mandelson is. He is pragmatic about it and can see its benefits, he is not a reluctant supporter at all.

These benefits are quite different from those in the Conservative Party who want to remain in, she said, which is why Labour will not be sharing a platform with the government.

We are looking for structured reform within the EU, which is quite different from the Tories. They are talking about big business but were talking about jobs because we want the EU to become a much more social union.

So we want to see the EU take further action on things like exploitative zero-hour contracts and support for part-time workers, who are mainly women.

The EU can also help us with things we cannot do well alone, such as tackle tax avoidance from the Googles of this world, fight climate change and protect against terrorism.

In addition, Labour will focus

on the emotional issues rather than just economics, with an emphasis on the peace dividend. Since I started this job I have realised how large the EU role is in conflict resolution and Britain often leads the union on it from within, Ms Glass said. But regarding David Camerons warning that

Brexit could trigger World War Three, she said: I wouldnt have put it like that.

Despite Corbyn opposing EU membership prior to becoming Labour leader, his views like many in the party have evolved since the days of Tony Benn and Michael

Foot, she insisted.Like them, I actively campaigned during the 1975 referendum to leave the European

Economic Community [forerunner to the EU].

At the time it was an issue which divided our household, with my father and I wanting out while my mother and brother campaigned to remain. But it is totally different now, the Labour party has evolved alongside the EU and this is what Jeremy has done.Whos to say either Michael Foot

or Tony Benn would still be in favour of leaving

today?There are just

five Labour MPs campaigning for an Out vote, which is so insignificant. No matter what problems we have as a party, on this issue we are united.

The Labour Party has evolved

LABOUR UNITEDPat Glass

BOLD PREDICTION Matthew Parris

ONE WARWICK PARK HOTEL

18 NATIONAL NEWS


ANTI-FRACKING campaigners have called for a nationwide response to fight the controversial gas extraction technique after a landmark decision to allow the process to start in North Yorkshire.

Groups opposed to the development outside the village of Kirby Misperton, near Pickering, have launched a Peoples Declaration in a bid to stop fracking. Frack Free Ryedale, which led the campaign against the application by the UK firm Third Energy, launched the declaration along with Friends of the Earth.

It said in a statement: We urge and will support the Government to develop a balanced long-term energy policy that will achieve our globally agreed climate change targets.

Today we resolve to continue to fight to remain free from fracking, to protect our communities, our beautiful countryside, our air and water, and to protect the future of the planet. We ask people across the country to join us by supporting this declaration.

Councillors in Northallerton voted by 7-4 on Monday to give the green light to the first fracking operation in the UK for five years.

The controversial decision has been condemned as a travesty by those opposed to the move, but a victory for pragmatism by those in favour.

The vote allows Third Energy to frack for shale gas using an existing two-mile deep well called KM8 drilled in 2013.

The fracking application is the first to be approved in the UK since 2011, when tests on the Fylde coast, in Lancashire, were found to have been the probable cause of minor earthquakes in the area.

Since then, two high-profile applications to frack in Lancashire have been rejected by councillors and are now the subject of appeals.

One of the councillors who voted for the application, Tory Cliff Trotter, confirmed he had received intimidating emails. In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live he defended his decision by saying: We tried to look to the future, the best for the people of England.

Friends of the Earth said it will look at whether the decision can be challenged, and campaigner Simon Bowens said: This is an absolute travesty of a decision but the battle is very far from over.

Planners had recommended the application be approved, despite acknowledging that the majority of representations received in consultation were objections.

Opponents fear fracking in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture rock and release gas can cause problems including water contamination, earthquakes and noise and traffic pollution.

Environmentalists also warn that pursuing new sources of gas - a fossil fuel is not compatible with efforts to tackle climate change.

Rasik Valand, Chief Executive of Third Energy, said work would not start at the site for months and months and would initially be an exploration.

BRITISH expats have lost their battle in the Supreme Court for the right to vote in the EU referendum.

The highest court in the land upheld decisions of both the High Court and Court of Appeal that they are not eligible to vote on June 23 because they have lived outside the UK for more than 15 years.

The test case ruling was a defeat for London-born war veteran Harry Shindler, 95, who has lived in Italy for 35 years, and solicitor Jacquelyn MacLennan (pictured), aged 54, from Inverness, who has lived in Belgium since 1987.

They argued that the 15-year rule, contained in Section 2 of the EU Referendum Act 2015, was an unjustifi ed restriction on their EU right to freedom of movement and an infringement of their common law right to vote.

Expats have no right to vote in EU referendum

Battle is far from over sayanti-fracking campaigners

CONTROVERSYFracking has been given the go ahead in North Yorkshire

Today we resolve to continue to fi ght to remain free from fracking and to

protect the future of the planet

TEST CASEJacquelyn MacLennan

NATIONAL NEWS 19


NEWS IN BRIEF

Duchess given insight into female prison lifeTHE DUCHESS of Cambridge has held a behind-the-scenes meeting to learn about the support offered to women in prison.

Kate met representatives from non-governmental organisations to hear about the addiction and mental health programmes helping female prisoners in the UK.

The private meeting took place at Kensington Palace on Monday ahead of the Duchesss appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show.

Troops stay on drug THE MINISTRY of Defence is to continue issuing Lariam, a controversial anti-malarial drug, to troops on overseas operations, despite it being associated with depression, hallucinations and panic attacks. The Commons Defence Committee said there was strong anecdotal evidence that stringent conditions laid down by the manufacturers for issuing Lariam had been ignored by the armed forces.

Police investigation THE Independent Police Complaints Commission is investigating claims that a fan was seriously injured when he was struck on the head by a police baton after the first leg of the League Two semi-final clash between Portsmouth and Plymouth Argyle at Fratton Park on May 12.

A 30-year-old Portsmouth supporter has alleged he was hit by a Devon and Cornwall Police officer as he was walking with his wife after becoming involved in an altercation with a Plymouth fan.

Cool shack for sale AN ICE cream kiosk in a tourist hotspot made famous by hit TV drama Broadchurch is to go under the hammer. The Shack at West Bay, near Bridport, Dorset, is expected to fetch between 55,000 and 65,000 when it is sold at auction on June 17. Stars are currently filming the third and final series of Broadchurch nearby on the picturesque beach, cliffs and busy harbourside.

BURT KWOUK, best known for playing Cato Fong in the Pink Panther films, has died peacefully at the age of 85.

Even though he is most recognisable for his big-screen role as Inspector Clouseau's manservant in the popular Pink Panther films, Kwouk was also a familiar fixture on the small screen.

He was born in Manchester in 1930 but was raised in Shanghai, China, until he was 17, when he moved to the United States. He returned to Britain in 1954 and began pursuing a career in acting.

Kwouk has three James Bond credits to his name, in Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice and the 1967 spoof Casino Royale. His best-known TV work includes shows like The Avengers and Danger Man.

In 1964 he was cast as the servant Kato, the spelling of which was later changed to Cato, in the first Inspector Clouseau film, A Shot In The Dark.

The character became a hit with fans as the quirky friendship between the policeman and his servant and sometimes attacker developed.

Kwouk continued in the role following the death of Clouseau actor Peter Sellers in 1980.

He starred in seven films in the Pink Panther franchise, appearing alongside Sellers, Roger Moore and Roberto Benigni in their incarnations of the inept French detective Inspector Clouseau.

Later in his career, Kwouk would join Harry Hill's eponymous TV show and become the face of Channel 4's gaming show Banzai!

But he memorably returned to the small screen in BBC's Last Of The Summer Wine as Chinese electrician Entwistle, from 2003 until its end in 2010.

He was honoured with an OBE for his services to drama in the 2011 New Year's Honours list.

LONDON Underground maintenance and engineering workers have voted to go on strike in a row linked to the new night Tube.

Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union backed walkouts by 85 per cent, with a bigger majority in favour of other forms of industrial action.

The union is in dispute over pay, staffing and pensions for workers employed by Tube Lines, linked to the night Tube, which is due to start on August 19.

The union's executive will consider the result of the ballot before deciding its next move.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said: RMT members have now shown their anger at the way that Tube Lines have attempted to tie in attacks

on pensions with the offer on pay and night Tube. There are also major unresolved issues over the Tube Lines staffing arrangements for the night Tube and over performance-related pay.

The ballot result will be considered by RMT's executive and, now that the members have shown their anger, it is absolutely essential that there is the earliest possible resumption of serious and meaningful talks on these issues and the union is ready to engage in those talks.

The all-night service was due to be launched last year but no agreement was reached with unions, leading to strikes.

New London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced on

Monday that the night Tube will start on two lines at weekends from August 19.

The first services will run on the Central and Victoria lines. Night services on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines will follow in two separate phases later in the autumn as new Tube drivers complete their training and final preparations are made.

Around 200 part-time drivers are currently taking part in a 14-week training programme for the new service.

The engineers strike ballot result is the first faced by the new mayor since he took over from Boris Johnson earlier this month. The strike dates are yet to be announced.

Tube workers to strike over new night service

Pink Panther film actor passes away

FAMILIAR FACEBurt Kwouk appeared in three Bond films

20 BUSINESS NEWS

Doubt still hanging over Hinkley Point decision


NEWS IN BRIEF

Record lottery sales despite controversyNATIONAL Lottery annual sales have hit a record 7.5billion, despite controversial changes that signifi cantly decreased the chances of winning the Lotto jackpot.

Operator Camelot said overall sales for 2015/16 were up 317million on the previous year, although sales of draw-based games were down 6.2million to 4.6billion.

Scandal hits CYBG CLYDESDALE Bank has revealed another 450million hit from the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal. But the group offi cially known as CYBG as it also includes Yorkshire Bank said only 44million of the additional bill had an impact on its bottom line, because of cash set aside to cover issues such as PPI.

Beurden gets pay dealSHAREHOLDERS in Royal Dutch Shell have voted overwhelmingly in favour of chief executive Ben van Beurdens 4.3million pay packet as part of the companys remuneration report at the oil giants annual general meeting.

Shareholders in BP recently voted to reject its remuneration report, which included a pay deal of $19.6million (13.8million) for chief executive Bob Dudley.

Screwfi x sales surge B&Q OWNER Kingfi sher has seen sales at its trade outlet Screwfi x rise after it bolstered its product range and opened new stores. This saw shares surge by nearly 2 per cent.

THE Chief Executive of French energy giant EDF has said he is confident the multibillion-pound Hinkley Point nuclear power station will go ahead despite a fresh delay in making a final investment decision.

Vincent de Rivaz told MPs on the Energy and Climate Change Committee that money was in place and no project had been better prepared. But the company is consulting French trade unions after some of them called for a delay of two to three years because of concerns over the impact of the firms finances on pressing ahead with the development in Somerset.

The consultation started on May 2, and could take 60 days to complete.

Mr de Rivaz told the committee in March that Hinkley Point would definitely go ahead, pointing to a speech by French economy minister Emmanuel Macron that the final investment decision would be made in early May. But Mr Macron later said the green light may not be given until September.

The French authorities remain fully behind Hinkley, said Mr Macron, adding: I can appreciate that a certain amount of impatience may be creeping in as the project is key for the UKs energy and climate policy.

It is also necessary, in the interest of all, that EDF follows due process before committing itself to an investment of this magnitude. I have every confidence that a final investment decision can be made rapidly after the end of the consultation.

Mr de Rivaz told MPs there was a difference of opinion with some French unions over Hinkley.

He said: We hope those differences will be resolved during the consultation.

He insisted the project was not on hold, and everything was set for power to be generated by 2025.

Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom told the MPs

that the Government was fully confident that the Hinkley project will go ahead.

She said there was no cost to UK billpayers until Hinkley starts producing electricity, so there was no question of the Government issuing a blank cheque.

BRITAIN saw borrowing fall last month, but offi cial fi gures showed that Chancellor George Osborne missed his target for the full year by more than previously thought.

The Offi ce for National Statistics (ONS) said public sector net borrowing excluding banks had dropped by 0.3billion to 7.2billion in April, compared with the same month last year.

But in a blow to the Chancellor, the ONS said public sector net borrowing excluding banks for the complete fi nancial year ending in March was 76billion which is 2billion higher than its previous estimate.

The Offi ce for Budget Responsibility had forecast borrowing to hit 72.2billion for 2015/16, meaning the Chancellor has overshot his borrowing target by 3.8billion.

The ONS said public sector net debt excluding banks

rose by 49.6billion to 1,596billion in April compared with 2015

equivalent to 83.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Economists had pencilled in borrowing to fall to 6.4billion in April and the worse-than-expected

results come despite Government tax

receipts hitting

55.9billion last month, up 2.7 per cent compared with April 2015, as it was boosted by rises in VAT receipts, income tax, stamp duty and National Insurance contributions.

However, corporation tax dropped by 5.1 per cent to 0.3billion over the period, according to the offi cial fi gures.

The ONS said the fall in borrowing was triggered in the main by a 0.7billion drop in local government borrowing, offset by a 0.5billion jump in central government net borrowing.

A Treasury spokesman said: Today's fi gures show further progress in fi xing the record post-war defi cit we inherited: borrowing is falling and we have the lowest April monthly defi cit since the great recession.

But the fi scal repair job is not fi nished and it would be dangerous to put this at risk.

As uncertainty ahead of the (EU)referendum weighs on our outlook, Treasury analysis has shown that if the UK votes to leave the EU on June 23, we would be tipped into a year-long recession and receipts could fall by 36billion in the long term, unwinding years of hard work.

MAKING A POINTEDF Chief Executive

Vincent de Rivaz

Osborne overshootshis borrowing target

TAXING TIMES Chancellor

George Osborne

WORLD NEWS 21

NEWS IN BRIEF

Another FIFA director fired over financesFIFA, footballs international governing body, has fired Deputy Secretary General Markus Kattner after allegedly uncovering financial wrongdoing during an internal investigation.

Mr Kattner, who joined FIFA as director of finance in 2003, has been temporarily filling the top administrative job of world footballs governing body since Jerome Valcke was suspended last year before being fired himself.Mr Kattner handled the 2011 request to pay Michel Platini two million Swiss Francs (1.4m) which led to the UEFA President being banned from football for four years. FIFA recently appointed its first female Secretary General, Senegals Fatma Samoura, to replace Valcke.

Passionate embrace DONALD TRUMP and Boris Johnson have been pictured kissing in a 15ft-high mural painted on to a building in Bristol. It portrays the US and UK politicians, who both want Britain to exit the EU, engaged in an embrace.

The image is reminiscent of the Berlin Wall graffiti artwork of a kiss between ex-Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and East Germanys Erich Honecker

Refugees forced to move out of campGREEK authorities have sent in more than 400 riot police to evacuate the countrys largest informal refugee camp at Idomeni on the Macedonian border.

The camp, which sprang up at an informal pedestrian border crossing for refugees and migrants heading north to Europe, housed an estimated 8,400 people including hundreds of children mostly from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.

In recent weeks the camp had begun taking on an image of semi-permanence, with refugees setting up small makeshift shops selling everything from cooking utensils to falafel and bread. Beer from the past A BREWERY kit for beer-making dating back 5,000 years has been discovered among artefacts from an archaeological site in northern China.

Yellowish remnants found inside wide-mouthed pots, funnels and amphora jars suggest that the vessels were used for making, filtering and storing beer, say scientists. The brewery was uncovered in two pits at Mijaya, near a tributary of the Wei River.


FRENCH police dislodged protesters blocking a key fuel depot in southern France this week, as petrol shortages spread around the country amid increasingly tense strike action.

The CGT union reacted angrily to the overnight police action which saw them tear down barricades outside the depot at Fos-sur-Mer.

This enabled delivery lorries and other vehicles to get in and out, although they still had to manoeuvre between the remains of the barricades used by striking workers to block the entrance at the refinery

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Europe-1 radio that the site was liberated after days of blockades.

The striking workers want the government to abandon a reform that extends the working week, and are blocking refineries and fuel depots around the country.

Petrol stations throughout France are facing shortages and unions are threatening to stop production at all of Frances eight refineries.

Panic buying has already started and long queues of vehicles have been forming at petrol stations which still have fuel.

Drivers have been pushing their cars on to the forecourts rather than letting them idle while they wait, sometimes up to several hours, to fill up.

Police liberateFrench fuel site

ROAD BLOCKThe remains of a

barricade

22 SPORTS NEWS

Murray praise for Stepanek: I couldnt do that at his age

JOSE MOURINHO could make striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic his first signing after he takes charge of Manchester United.

The Portuguese is set to be unveiled as the new manager at Old Trafford today (Wednesday) after his representatives hammered out the terms of his deal in London.

Ibrahimovic is out of contract after deciding to leave French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The 34-year-old Sweden international has received lucrative offers from clubs in China.

But he has spoken warmly about working with Mourinho in the past and United were desperately short of goals last season.

He won the Italian title with Mourinho at Inter Milan in 2009, when he was named Serie As player of the year.

He is the kind of high-profile name that the board would like to bring in to start the new era.

United can still afford to pay huge wages after posing a record turnover in excess of 500million.

But their failure to qualify for the Champions League for a second time in three years could hamper their ability to lure the big players.

United and Liverpool have both been fined 40,000 euros (30,565) each half of which has been suspended for illicit chanting by their fans during Marchs two-legged Europa League encounter between the two sides.

The clubs were fined an extra 13,000 each for setting off fireworks, throwing objects and crowd disturbances.


SPORT IN BRIEF

ANDY MURRAY paid tribute to his veteran opponent after he edged through a five-set thriller in the first round of the French Open yesterday.

The world No 2 had to come from two sets down to beat Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 3-6 3-6 6-0 6-3 7-5.

Murray, who had not gone out in the first round of grand slam for eight years, lost the first two sets to the 37-year-old qualifier when the match began on Monday but led 4-2 in the fourth when darkness caused the match to be held over.

He went on to win the fourth set yesterday but the fifth was hugely tense and at one point Stepanek was two points away from victory.

However, Murray held firm and took advantage of the first drop in his opponents level to clinch victory after three hours and 41 minutes.

The Scot, who now plays Frenchman Mathias Bourgue in the second round, said of Stepanek: Its unbelievable what hes doing. He had an extremely bad injury last year and still at 37 coming out and fighting like that, playing that way, its unbelievable.

I dont expect to be doing that myself at that age. Im just glad I managed to get through.

Hes always been extremely difficult to play. I wasnt able to dictate many of the points, I wasnt in a great rhythm, and thats credit to him and the way that he played. I fought extremely hard today and Ill get a chance to play again tomorrow.

Stepanek had been looking to become the oldest man to win a grand slam singles match since Jimmy Connors at the US Open in 1992.

After the opening game of the deciding set, the world No 128 tried to work the crowd up into a frenzy, which clearly irritated Murray.

He was able to threaten the Stepanek serve but not break it, and when the Czech held for 5-4, Murray had to serve to stay in the tournament. His opponent took him to deuce but he held on.

The effort of that appeared to affect Stepanek in his next service game, allowing Murray to break.

That left the Scot serving for the match. Still it was not straightforward and Murray double-faulted on his first match point.

But on his second Stepanek netted a volley and Murray could breathe a sigh of relief.

Ibrahimoviccan kickstartJoses reign

BACKHANDCOMPLIMENT Andy Murray clapped Radek Stepanek off court

Tuilagi to miss tour of Australia after injuryMANU TUILAGI will miss Englands tour to Australia next month with a hamstring injury he sustained in Leicesters Premiership semi-final defeat at Saracens.

A replacement will be named after Sundays Test against Wales at Twickenham. Luther Burrell or Ollie Devoto will fill the vacancy in Englands 32-man squad.

Willett worried by Zika MASTERS champion Danny Willett echoed Rory McIlroys concerns about playing at this summers Olympics in Rio due to Zika virus.

Willett won his first major at Augusta in April, 12 days after his son Zachariah was born. The Englishman is concerned about Zikas links to defects in newborn babies.

If it turns out that it would be a massive threat to myself or to Nic (his wife Nicole) or to the little man, then I probably wouldnt go, he said. Family comes first.

Barton signs for Rangers JOEY BARTON has joined Rangers on a two-year contract. The midfielder, 33, turned down a years extension to his deal with Burnley, who have been promoted to the Premier League as Championship winners.

Alcohol ban for Euro fans ENGLAND and Wales football fans will not be allowed to drink alcohol in Lens for 24 hours around their Euro 2016 game on June 16.

BY STEPHEN WILMOT

IF you are experiencing the anxiety and loss of a relationship ending and su ering sleepless nights worrying about the future, you are not alone. Almost 50% of all marriages end in divorce and for many it can be the most traumatic time in their lives. Months and sometimes years are spent deciding whether to separate and then, when the decision has been made, it can take an age to pluck up the courage to take action. Emotions run high and delays are usually down to fear of the unknown and what life will be like after the separation. Not to mention how youll cope nancially and what youll tell the kids.

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Appointments available in Tunbridge Wells, Haywards Heath, Edenbridge, London, Reading and Windsor

The right legal team is key to your emotional and nancial future. Family Law Solicitor Teresa Payne.


ADVERTISING FEATURE 23

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Hey! Were part of it too!

When families break upA young persons guide

Children should always come rst when a family separates.


24 LETTERS

And another thingThe Times of Tunbridge Wells and the Times of Tonbridge always want to hear your feedback, whether on reports we have printed or any other issues you think we should know about. Email us at [email protected] or write to the Editor at 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

CalverleyOBVIOUSLY the Times is essential reading even on holiday! Calverley extends his thanks to the undercover mole who snapped this shot of a young lady relaxing in Dubai. And shes reading the current edition of her favourite local paper.

HAIL the newly elected leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council David Jukes. Yep, you might recognise the name. Its his fourth year in the job. Not since Queen Victoria (or some such time) has anybody clung on to (sorry, held) the role for so long. And its nothing to do with his remuneration of 27,000pa. At the uncorking of a bottle of red hell tell you that if you take into account the number of hours he works in the job (he does also have a proper job) he gets less than the minimum wage. Value for money? Probably.

HES most defi nitely the oldest salesman in town. His name is Ralph Williams, he works in Moss Bross next to the station, hes 91 and featured in this very newspaper 12 months ago. Following our world exclusive he found instant fame and was featured on TV (see people do actually read us). When Calverley popped in to replace his wine-stained cummerbund (so many functions) he was informed by Ralph, who survived the Nazi concentration camps, that Hollywood is now making a 10million budgeted fi lm about his extraordinary life. Mind you, he did have a twinkle in his eyes. So is it true?

CALVERLEY is always grateful to hear from his legion of moles scattered across all levels of society. Witness the latest from one of our charity shop operatives who reports that a donor walked in and handed over a bag containing a mankini, a bottle of baby oil and a back scratcher. Thats so Tunbridge Wells.

Chin, chin readersWe do our best to publish letters in full. However, the Editor reserves the right to edit any letter. Please ensure that letters do not exceed 250 words.

How William Shakespeares twin might have viewed the Wells

ALLS WELL WITH WILL THAT ENDS IN WELLS

Imagine how different it all would have beenIf Shakespeare had had a modern-day twinMight he have settled in Tunbridge WellsWith its beautiful parks and melodic church bells? With modern technology hed be the bees kneesTwittering King Lear and then Pericles,But would sonnets and plays have been such crowd-pleasersComposed on The Pantiles with Bacardi Breezers? Though with light pollution hed never discoverEven a single doomed star-crossed lover.Ill met by moonlight indeed, it would seemTo similarly rule out Midsummer Nights Dream. And would he have built the Globe and the Curtain?Hed need Council planning permission, for certain.Maybe hed lay claim to the cinema siteFor The Tempest, Othello and even Twelfth Night. With his plays, set in Kent, wed be held in thrall Two Gentlemen of Frant and The Merchant of Rusthall.Stage directions, of course, are another affair How about Brexit, pursued by a bear?

Helen MillsVia Email

Elections: Conservatives complacent I would like to take the opportunity to reply

times of tonbridge 25th may 2016

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