WEST KENT NEWS

Hundreds of primary school children in Sevenoaks have been told they cannot return to classes after the summer holidays end on 2nd September.

More green fields are to be replaced by housing under a plan for the north west of Hadlow.

The Tunbridge Wells Park Run is marking a major milestone on Saturday 30th August.

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The leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has said he will "fight very hard" any attempt by the government to house asylum seekers in local hotels.

A disused historic building in Sevenoaks is to be restored and made the centrepiece of a new housing estate.

Plans have been unveiled for 500 more homes on farmland to the west of Paddock Wood.

There are virtually no rivers left in Kent with a good rating for their water quality, according to the latest Environment Agency report.

The Conservative leader of Tonbridge and Malling Borough has accused Labour-run Medway Council of being "disrespectful" for its ideas on carving up Kent's existing councils.

The idea of a new town council for Tonbridge has been approved by 72% of those who responded to a consultation.

One of West Kent’s major landmarks, Hadlow Tower, is being sold.

Car parking charges are to rise steeply in Tunbridge Wells from the start of October.

The inside of the Tonbridge Castle building has reopened to the public after essential restoration work.

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An 11 year old girl from Tunbridge Wells, who has a brain tumour, has now raised £36,000 for charity by crocheting triangles.

A Conservative Party councillor in Tunbridge Wells has said he's "disappointed" that a leading figure in the Kent Conservative party has defected to Reform UK.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has upgraded the rating of maternity services at The Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury from inadequate to good.

Former Kent Conservative MP Adam Holloway has defected to Reform UK, taking a furious swipe at his old party on the way out.

Campaigners opposing a plan to build 500 homes to the south of Tunbridge Wells have welcomed news that part of the site has been designated an Asset of Community Value.

People need to avoid contact with the water in the River Medway at Tonbridge due to toxic blue-green algae, with pets also at risk.

A street cleaning machine has destroyed a historic brick and tile shelter put up in 1922 on the River Walk next to the Medway in Tonbridge.

Kent County Council's Reform UK leader has issued a report favouring the county being divided into three new large unitary authorities.

The leader of Kent County Council has called on the government to reconsider new restrictions on using care workers from overseas.

The deadline is looming on Friday for residents to respond to a consultation on the future of Southborough.

Councillors in Tunbridge Wells have given approval for Uber drivers to work in the Borough.

Details have been revealed on how Tonbridge town centre might look when a replacement leisure centre, 122 new homes and a new doctor's surgery are built.

Reform UK's leader of Kent County Council says her administration will save £14 million by abandoning plans to move staff to a new building.

The Tunbridge Wells Town Forum is asking the public to support a new Town Council in a consultation that's currently open.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells, Mike Martin, says he's appointed a local councillor to tackle poorly co-ordinated roadworks in the town.

Three local MPs have described the Royal Mail’s letter delivery performance in the TN postcode area as “unacceptable".

A request by Reform UK for a delay to the first stage of Kent's local government reorganisation has been turned down.

A consultation on whether to have a new Town Council for Tonbridge closes soon, with supporters arguing that it would enable local people to create the best outcomes for the town.

A banking hub has opened at Tonbridge castle.

The MP for Tunbridge Wells, Mike Martin, has started a petition to urge the government to fund a big investment at High Brooms railway station.

The Amelia Scott cultural centre in Tunbridge Wells has welcomed a six day old baby as its millionth visitor.

It's emerged that taxpayers are helping to fund the building of around 500 homes on protected countryside south of Tunbridge Wells.

Reform UK councillors have rejected criticism of their first month running Kent County Council.

A new bus service has begun linking High Brooms with Southborough and Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

A consultation has begun on whether Tunbridge Wells should have its own Town Council.

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The Conservatives have lost their overall majority on Sevenoaks District Council after a revolt by their own councillors.

The founder of the West Kent Youth Theatre, Diana Edwardes, who inspired hundreds of young people over several decades, has died aged 98.

The cabinet of Tonbridge and Malling Council has applied for Village Green status to prevent development of the "River Lawn" in the heart of Tonbridge.

Lighting is to be installed along a riverside path in Tonbridge.

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Kent Wildlife Trust is trying to raise half a million pounds from the public to restore nightingales and other wildlife to land near Scotney Castle.

The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, has announced that Kent is the first county to see the party's specialist team arrive to search for wasteful council spending.

The Conservatives’ 28-year rule at Kent County Council is over.

The Liberal Democrats have triumphed in Tunbridge Wells as Reform UK took control of Kent County Council.

The Green Party has won both seats it was defending in Tonbridge town at the final Kent County Council elections.

Graffiti vandals have undone hours of restoration work by volunteers at Spa Valley Railway.

Reform UK's new leadership of Kent County Council has announced the creation of a new post to find savings.

The Post Office in Frant has been officially reopened offering seven-day opening.

The new Conservative leader on Kent County Council is Harry Rayner, who represents Malling West division including voters in Hildenborough.

Linden Kemkaran, who lives in Headcorn, has been named as the new Reform UK leader of Kent County Council.

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The Chair of the Southborough Cricket Club, David Smith, has spoken about the huge growth in interest in playing cricket locally.

A major redevelopment of Sevenoaks town centre is set to include a new swimming pool and 264 new homes.

There's strong local resistance to plans for 120 new homes on farmland next to Capel Primary School.

The boss of an Academy Trust that runs two secondary schools in Tonbridge has warned it could make teachers redundant.

Councillors have rejected plans to build 44 homes on the redundant AXA office site in Tunbridge Wells.

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The boss of a local construction firm says he sees growing interest in apprenticeships from young people.

Councillors have approved the building of 120 new homes in the village of Horsmonden.

Leading Tunbridge Wells hospitality businesses have teamed up with the local MP Mike Martin to highlight cost rises which they say are "potentially ruinous".

Councillors have agreed on a central Tonbridge location for the replacement for the Angel Leisure Centre.

Sainsbury’s in Tunbridge Wells wants to install solar panels, prompting complaints from some local residents.

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Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin of the Liberal Democrats has said local government changes in Kent will overall be "a good thing."

The leaders of Kent's local authorities have sent the government four options for how they want the county's political map to look after reorganisation.

A banking hub will open in Tonbridge within three months.

Two Liberal Democrat Borough Councillors in Tunbridge Wells have resigned and are leaving the council.

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A Labour Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor has called the mass tree planting scheme of the ruling Liberal Democrats "an expensive distraction."

Annual school bus passes in Kent will go up to £580 a year, prompting more parents to consider driving their children to classes.

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A Conservative councillor has warned that a plan for 3,000 new homes near Capel, which was dropped last year, could be considered again by the council.

The historic clock chimes of St Peter's Church in Southborough are ringing out once again over the common every quarter hour.

The Tonbridge MP, Tom Tugendhat, has said he will continue to campaign against what he calls "damaging expansion" at Gatwick Airport.

The Organic Village Market grocery store in Tonbridge has improved its food hygiene rating after an earlier inspection found rotting food there.

Kent County Council is putting up council tax by 5 per cent from April.

Seventy motorists are still being fined every day for straying into the prohibited traffic zone in the centre of Tunbridge Wells.

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Tonbridge is to get its own Town Council if most voters in the Tonbridge town area want one.

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The Green Party Councillor, Mark Hood, has attacked what he called Labour's "bonfire of regulations" after news of plans for a new Heathrow runway.

Local Liberal Democrats say a tree planting scheme which was promised at the last local elections has got underway.

The Labour government has announced that Kent will not be "fast-tracked" for a mayor and devolution.

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The Tunbridge Wells heritage railway has begun running events to raise £300,000 to replace a corroded bridge.

The suffragettes are among those to be honoured in a new set of heritage plaques for Tunbridge Wells.

The MP for Tonbridge, Tom Tugendhat, has said South East Water's handling of the break down of drinking water supplies has been "unacceptable. "

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The Liberal Democrat Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Ben Chapelard, has welcomed as "exciting" aspects of the radical changes planned for Kent's local government.

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The Green Party County Councillor for Tonbridge, Mark Hood, has attacked the government's planned council changes as a "concentration of power".