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Lots of NYE events this week. Tunbridge Wells station plans to build 46 cast iron, anti-ram bollards, local trusts make millions from parking charges and a dance class for young adults with Down's Syndrome celebrates its 1st anniversary.

It's been a big year for TW Life, the newsletter's readership has over doubled and I have a couple of exciting announcements for January! Thank to all of you for reading and sharing.

Happy New Year! 🍾

WEATHER

Monday: 7°C 🌡️ 9°C | 🌫️

Tuesday: 10°C 🌡️ 11°C | ☁️

Wednesday: 6°C 🌡️ 11°C | 🌧️

MAIN STORY

What Happened: Southeastern Rail plans to replace seven bollards at Tunbridge Wells Train Station with 46 cast iron anti-ram bollards. This follows two crashes where vehicles mounted the curb. In 2022, a car hit the station's canopy and almost struck a woman at a cash machine. In 2023, another vehicle crashed into a flower stall, trapping a customer by the legs. The new bollards will improve safety and protect the station’s frontage from accidents or deliberate impacts.

More Context: Tunbridge Wells Train Station, built in 1846, is a Grade II-listed building with well-preserved historical features. Original canopies and design elements from previous eras remain intact. The 1986 electrification included station refurbishment and is in good condition. Some minor weathering is visible. It serves 7,779 passengers daily, making it the 179th most-used station in Great Britain. The bollard installation plan includes detailed safety and heritage assessments.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS IN NUMBERS

£2.1 Million

Is what the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust earned in car parking charges in the year to March 2024

THE BRIEF

Dance Class Anniversary: A dance class in Langton Green for young adults with Down's syndrome, has celebrated its first anniversary. Michelle Clark of Happy Me Dance founded the class in 2023. She took inspiration from Sarah Wheatley and funding from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. Project Wave aims to provide a safe space for participants to express themselves through dance. The initiative has empowered attendees like Clara, who describes it as "my life." It's also fostered connections among parents. Rosa Monckton praised its impact and advocated for expansion to support other disabilities.

Asbestos Appeal: A man has launched an appeal to locate former students of Tunbridge Wells Technical High (now Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys) from the 1960s. Doctors diagnosed the 72-year-old alumnus with mesothelioma, a terminal asbestos-related cancer. The man attended from 1963-1968 and believes his exposure to asbestos happened while playing truant in the basement of the school. A Freedom of Information request identified the school as containing asbestos. The man hopes classmates information could support a compensation claim for private treatment.

NHS Park-and-Ride: Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust will start a free park-and-ride service on 1st January. People can park for free in designated spaces and take buses to the Trust's hospitals. Buses will run every 30 minutes, Monday to Friday, from 06:40 to 21:00. The trust says this is a greener way to reach the hospitals. Free hospital parking stays available for blue badge holders, cancer and renal patients, and parents of babies in the neonatal unit.

Scrap Night Doorman Rule: The owner of a Subway in Tunbridge Wells, has applied to remove the costly late-night door supervisor rule. Khyati Singh says the expense of £120 to £150 a night is unsustainable for her small business. The store is still struggling post-Covid. Singh notes the store has few late-night customers and already uses CCTV and alarms for security. She trains her staff to handle drunk customers, and alcohol is not allowed on the premises. She proposes adjusting the late-night licence hours from 5am to 4am.

Road Closures: Drivers in Tunbridge Wells face three A21 road closures in the coming weeks, all causing slight delays under 10 minutes.

• One closure, from Lamberhurst to Flimwell, runs nightly from 8pm to 6am until 11th January for horticulture work.
• On 6th January, a northbound lane from Pembury to Vauxhall Interchange will close overnight for maintenance.
• From 6th to 18th January, both directions from Kippings Cross to Goudhurst Road will close nightly for horticulture work.

THIS WEEK

New Year's Eve at the Pantiles | 31st Dec | Head to the Pantiles for live music, DJs, fireworks, food and drinks | £20​

New Year's Masquerade Party 2025 | 31st Dec | The Manor House is hosting a sparkly New Year bash! | £11.25+​

Pat Pope's Art of Reinvention | Until 12th Jan | The work of BritPop photographer, Pope is featuring in an exhibition at the Pantiles Cafe | Details​

Christmas At Hever | Mon to Fri | A Christmas trail, fairground rides, food & drink and shopping | £23.50+​

Christmas at Bedgebury | Mon to Wed | With a trail created by award-winning producers, Christmas at Bedgebury is always unmissable. | £22.50​

SKATE | Mon to Sun | Ice skating, Curling and the Wheel return to Calverley Grounds | Details​

Aladdin | Mon & Tues | Panto starring Ore Oduba, Stewart McCeyne and James Peake | £30​

Sleeping Beauty | Mon & Tues, Thurs to Sun | Trinity Theatre's panto continues this week! | £28+​

Spa Valley Railway | Sat & Sun | Historic Diesel Unit 1317 | Details​

Back to Black | Sat, 6:30pm | The life of music of Amy Winehouse is playing at Rusthall Community Cinema | £5​

NYE at The Forum | Tues, 8pm | Celebrate NYE with Baby Dave & more at the Forum | £26.50​

Bowie Night | Fri, 7:30pm | The house band and an array of guest vocalists are celebrating Bowie at The Forum | £16.50​

NYE at The Grey Lady | Tues, 7pm | Ring in the New Year at the Grey Lady | £80+​

New Year, New You | Thurs, 7pm | Head to the Camden Centre for a Bionic Breathwork session | £10​

Apple Howling | Sat, 2pm | Wake the trees in the Community Orchard! | Free​

NYE Gala Dinner | Tues, 7pm | The Spa Hotel have their popular NYE dinner this Tuesday | £150​

NYE at the Guinea | Tues, 10pm | Late entry only remaining | £15​

Big Sale & Craft Destash | Sat, 10am to 2pm | Arts & crafts studios will be selling off their materials in Crowborough | Details​

For more events head to Plan My Event App (iPhone / Android)

FURTHER OUT

Treasure Island | 17th to 19th Jan | Southborough Community Pantomime are performing Treasure Island for 3 nights in January | £14​

Murder:Staged | 25th Jan | Find out if you could get away with murder at the Assembly Hall | £24.25​

Adam Kay: Undoctored | 31st Jan | Fresh from his Edinburgh and West End runs, Adam Kay comes to the Assembly Hall | £31.75​

STIPE: A Celebration of REM | 18th Jan | Celebrate REM at the Forum | £20​

Learn to Lindy Hop | 9th Jan | Head to Frant Memorial Hall to learn this dance | £8​

Tunbridge Wells Brick Festival | 9th Feb | Celebrate all things LEGO this February! | £5+​

Hans Zimmer Candlelight Experience | 14th Feb | Lumos Live brings this enchanting concert to St Marks Church | £20​

For more events head to Plan My Event App (iPhone / Android)

SPORT

⚽ FOOTBALL

28th Dec - Tunbridge Wells vs. Sutton Athletic - POSTPONED

4th Jan - Bearsted vs. Tunbridge Wells

🏉 RUGBY

4th Jan - Wimbledon vs. Tunbridge Wells

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THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

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