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Good morning!

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has approved a £73 million budget for 2026-27, raising council tax by 2.8%, while also greenlighting increased borrowing limits for a potential £68 million Royal Victoria Place regeneration. Separately, a charity is racing to bring Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons into public ownership before a developer's sale deadline closes.

On the events front, local schoolchildren take to the stage at the Assembly Hall Theatre for the Primary Schools' Singing Festival (2–3 March), while TEDxRoyal Tunbridge Wells returns on 8 March with ten local speakers exploring the theme of Momentum.

WEATHER

Monday: 5°C 🌡️ 13°C | ☀️

Tuesday: 6°C 🌡️ 14°C | ☁️

Wednesday: 5°C 🌡️ 15°C | ☀️

SPONSORED BY TEDX ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

This Sunday 8th March, TEDxRoyal Tunbridge Wells 2026 returns to the Assembly Hall Theatre for a full day of bold local ideas under the theme Momentum.

From financial psychology to education, curiosity, health and intentional living, 10 speakers will take to the stage to share ideas designed to stay with you long after the applause. With networking, speaker meet-ups and 900+ seats filled with engaged locals, this is one of the town’s most energising annual events.

Tickets start from £35, with group discounts available.

And if you’ve been reading TW Life closely - we’ve already given away three tickets to our readers.

Now it’s your turn.

If you want to be in the room where Tunbridge Wells’ next big conversations begin, secure your seat before they’re gone.

​Join us on 8 March - and keep the momentum going.​

THE BRIEF

👑 Council Meeting Updates: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council approved a £73 million budget for 2026-27 at its February meeting, raising council tax by 2.8% - adding £5.90 to annual bills for a Band D property. The budget passed 21 votes to 12, with Liberal Democrats voting in favour and both Conservative and Labour groups opposing it.

The most charged debate of the evening centred on Southeast Water. Councillor Matthew Sankey exposed a stark contradiction: the company had formally assured the council during the local plan process that planned housing growth would cause "no deficit in service" - yet its chief executive has since publicly admitted the network "undoubtedly needs more resilience." An inquiry led by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was unanimously approved, tasking it with examining Southeast Water's failures during the Christmas water crisis, assessing the financial damage to local businesses, and scrutinising whether planning assurances still hold water.

Council also approved plans for Royal Victoria Place, with borrowing limits raised from £40 million to £108 million to accommodate a potential regeneration costing up to £68 million. Officers stressed this does not commit the council to borrowing the full amount.

A motion urging cabinet to reconsider spending £50,000 on tree planting, brought by Conservative councillor Hugo Pound, was defeated 17 to 14, with two abstentions. Pound argued the funds should be redirected toward priorities like women's safety and business support following the water crisis. The Liberal Democrat administration held firm, citing a manifesto pledge made to residents at the 2024 election.

In a striking moment, council leader Ben Chapelard revealed that women in St James's Ward die on average ten years earlier than women in Paddock Wood - citing health inequality as a key argument for local government reorganisation, expected to create a new West Kent unitary authority by 2028.

❤️‍🩹 Private Cancer Clinic: A private cancer treatment centre will open in Tunbridge Wells this autumn. It will be the second GenesisCare facility in Kent and the seventh in the country. The centre will sit within Century Place in Lamberts Road. It will offer chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and cellular therapy. Patients can attend with private health insurance or pay for their own care.

Two doctors will lead the service. Dr Russell Burcombe is a clinical oncologist who has worked at the firm's Kings Hill centre since it opened ten years ago. Dr Joel Newman is a haematologist who treats leukaemia, myeloma, and lymphoma patients across Kent and the South East. The centre will also offer a device called Hilotherm, which cuts treatment side effects. Exercise medicine and sleep support will be available on-site. GenesisCare opened its first Kent centre at Kings Hill in 2015. The company says the new site will cut journey times for patients in West Kent. Read more here.

🌳 Commons Countdown: A charity is racing against the clock to bring Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons into public ownership for the first time in its history. Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons (FTWRC) has under a month to submit a bid for the 256-acre site after owner TargetFollow listed the land for sale at an undisclosed price.

Treasurer Roger Barton expressed confidence the group can raise sufficient pledges, drawing support from local businesses and community organisations including Linden Park Cricket Club, which has used the space for 150 years. Concern centres on a proposal to build 104 apartments and over 200 parking spaces on the Upper Pantiles car park within the Commons — plans described as "absolutely abhorrent" by former FTWRC chair John Barber.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's deputy leader suggested the community would be the "right owners" of land she said wasn't suited to profit-driven development. Read more here.

SPONSORED BY CAT'S PROTECTION

MOTHER'S DAY WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP, 15TH MARCH

Join us at Crowborough Community Centre on Sunday 15th March, 13:00 to 15:00, for a hands-on, Mother’s Day Spring Wreath Making Workshop, where you’ll create your own beautiful wreath to take home.

Everything you’ll need will be supplied at the workshop, and no experience is necessary!

All proceeds will go directly to Cats Protection’s Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough branch, to make life better for cats, kittens, and the people who care for them.

Tickets are £35 (early bird) or £40 (regular).

​Click the link for more info​

TW LIFE COMMUNITY BOARD

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THIS WEEK

Tunbridge Wells Primary Schools' Singing Festival | Assembly Hall Theatre | Mon 2 Mar – Tue 3 Mar, all day | Local schoolchildren perform in annual singing showcase | See details​

Backstage Youth Theatre 2026 | Trinity Theatre | Mon 2 Mar, daytime | Weekly youth theatre sessions for young performers | See details​

NT Live: The Audience | Trinity Theatre | Mon 2 Mar | Dame Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II, NT recording | See details​

Trinity Encore: Silver Swans | Trinity Theatre | Tue 3 Mar, daytime | Ballet-inspired movement classes for the over-60s | See details​

Trinity Youth Theatre Street Dance | Trinity Theatre | Tue 3 Mar, daytime | Weekly street dance workshops for young people | See details​

Musical Theatre Fitness for Adults | Trinity Theatre | Tue 3 Mar, daytime | Fun fitness class with a musical theatre twist | See details​

Vox Pops Indie Choir | The Sussex Arms (Forum) | Tue 3 Mar, 7:30pm | Drop-in indie-song choir, all welcome | Free entry​

Othello | Trinity Theatre | Wed 4 Mar – Mon 9 Mar | NT recording with David Harewood and Toby Jones, Cert 15 | See details​

Mo Gilligan: The Mo You Know | Assembly Hall Theatre | Wed 4 Mar, 8pm | BAFTA-winning comedian on his world tour, age 16+ | See details​

World Book Day – Silent Disco | The Amelia Scott | Thu 5 Mar | Celebrate World Book Day with a silent disco | See details​

The Very Best of Frankie Valli – Starring Peter Andre | Assembly Hall Theatre | Thu 5 Mar, 8pm | Peter Andre performs Four Seasons classics live on stage | See details​

Tom Lucy: Golden Boy | Trinity Theatre | Thu 5 Mar, 7:30pm | Critically-acclaimed stand-up comedy, age 15+, 1hr 40min | From £22.00​

ARXX | The Forum | Thu 5 Mar, 7pm | Indie/rock duo performing live | See details​

Story Time | Trinity Theatre | Fri 6 Mar, daytime | Weekly story sessions for children | See details​

Baby Broadway | Trinity Theatre | Fri 6 Mar, daytime | Songs and movement for babies and toddlers | See details​

Soul II Soul Live | Assembly Hall Theatre | Fri 6 Mar, doors 6pm | Jazzie B and full band perform Back to Life, Keep On Movin' | From £65.00​

Mould | Forum Basement | Fri 6 Mar, 7:30pm | Post-punk band, live in the intimate basement venue | From £17.68​

The South | The Forum | Fri 6 Mar, 7:30pm | Classic British indie band performing live | See details​

Yarnival | The Amelia Scott | Sat 7 Mar, all day | Festival of yarn, craft stalls and artisan makers | From £5.00​

'Pop Punk Night' with All The Kewl Things | Forum Basement | Sat 7 Mar, 7:30pm | A big, loud, fun pop punk party night | From £14.73​

TEDxRoyal Tunbridge Wells 2026 | Assembly Hall Theatre | Sun 8 Mar, all day | Ten local ideas on stage around the theme of Momentum | From £25.00​

History Hour: Remarkable Women of Tunbridge Wells | The Amelia Scott | Sun 8 Mar | Talk celebrating the women who shaped local history | See details​

The Hara | The Forum | Sun 8 Mar, 6pm | Rock band performing live on the main stage | See details​

Bruise Control | The Sussex Arms | Sun 8 Mar, 7:30pm | Live music in the Forum's intimate basement space | See details​

Capturing a Queen: The Image of Anne Boleyn | Hever Castle | Mon 2 Mar – Sun 8 Mar (ongoing) | Exhibition exploring 500 years of Anne Boleyn's portraiture | See details​

Penshurst Place Weekend Opening | Penshurst Place | Sat 7 Mar – Sun 8 Mar, 10am–5pm | Grounds, house, toy museum and Victorian kitchen open | See details​

Life Through a Royal Lens | The Amelia Scott | Mon 2 Mar – Sun 8 Mar (ongoing) | Royal family photography exhibition, running until June | Free entry​

Bewl Water – Soft Play & Nature Trails | Bewl Water, Lamberhurst | Mon 2 Mar – Fri 6 Mar (weekdays) | Midweek soft play £6.50 per child, nature trail with prize | From £6.50​

Table Tennis | Sunnyside Hall | Mon & Sun | Play table tennis every week (1st session is free) | £4​

Badminton & Pickleball | Sunnyside Hall | Fri, 6pm | Play badminton & pickleball every week (1st session is free) | £5​

FURTHER OUT

2:22 A Ghost Story | Assembly Hall Theatre | Mon 9 Mar – Sat 14 Mar, evenings | West End smash thriller, seven seasons, record-breaking UK tour | See details​

Nigel Kennedy: Virtuoso | Assembly Hall Theatre | Mon 23 Mar, 8pm | Iconic violinist performs an evening of virtuosic solo music | See details​

Easter Egg Hunt at Scotney Castle | Scotney Castle | Sat 21 Mar – Sun 19 Apr, 10am–5pm | Eggcellent trail adventure for all the family across the estate | See details​

Glass Fusing Workshop | Hever Castle | Sun 8 Mar | Hands-on glassmaking workshop in the castle grounds | See details​

The Easter Bunny's Bonnet Bonanza | Penshurst Place | Sat 28 Mar – Sat 18 Apr, 10am–5pm | Quirky Easter garden trail, included in admission price | See details​

SPORT

📋 Results

⚽ 25 Feb Sutton Athletic 1–1 Rusthall SCEFL Prem [D]

⚽ 28 Feb Tunbridge Wells FC v Phoenix Sports SCEFL Prem POSTPONED (waterlogged pitch)

⚽ 28 Feb Rusthall v Hollands & Blair SCEFL Prem POSTPONED (waterlogged pitch)

🏉 28 Feb Farnham 47–29 Tunbridge Wells Regional 1 South Central [L]

🏑 28 Feb Guildford M2 1–2 Tunbridge Wells M1 SE Men's Prem [W]

🏑 28 Feb Sevenoaks W3 1–2 Tunbridge Wells W1 SE Women's Div 1 East [W]

📅 Fixtures

⚽ 3 Mar Tunbridge Wells FC v Chislehurst Glebe SCEFL Prem (7:45pm)

⚽ 3 Mar Larkfield & New Hythe v Rusthall Challenge Cup SF (7:45pm)

⚽ 7 Mar Faversham Strike Force v Tunbridge Wells FC SCEFL Prem (3:00pm)

⚽ 7 Mar Phoenix Sports v Rusthall SCEFL Prem (3:00pm)

🏉 7 Mar Tunbridge Wells v Camberley Regional 1 South Central (15:00)

🏑 7 Mar Horsham M1 v Tunbridge Wells M1 SE Men's Prem (11:30)

🏑 7 Mar Tunbridge Wells W1 v Burnt Ash (Bexley) W1 SE Women's Div 1 East (13:00)

THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

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