📰 House Prices Beat Inflation
And So Much Changed On this day in 2016, the Panama Papers were published after nearly 12 million confidential documents from law firm Mossack Fonseca revealed fraud, tax evasion and international law violations by some of the world's richest.
In this week's TW Life:
- Easter Egg Hunts!
- Local MP's Sexual Harassment Bill moves to the Lords
- House Prices Beat Inflation
On to the letter!
Jamie
⛅ Weather
Today - 10°C - Sunny and a gentle breeze
Tomorrow - 11°C - Sunny and light winds
Wednesday - 11°C - Sunny and light winds
📸#TWLifeToday
April 2nd 2023
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📰 The Quick Hits
Street Sexual Harrassment to be Criminalised
A bill introduced to the Commons by Tunbridge Wells MP, Greg Clark that aims to correct a loophole in harassment law has now cleared its third reading in the House of Commons and will be debated in the House of Lords. Clark said, "My Bill corrects a loophole in the law in which it is not a specific offence to harass someone in public on the grounds of their sex but it is on, for example, the grounds of their race."
The bill has received cross-party support and backing from the Government. The bill aims to make it easier for the police to use the law to enforce consequences for sex-based harassment, with street sexual harassment to carry a two-year jail term.
Property Developer Says Affordable Housing Not Viable
A property developer with permission to build 44 new homes in Tunbridge Wells has asked the council if it can ditch its requirements to build to affordable housing as part of the development. The current permission requires that 30% of the new properties would be affordable housing - 10 flats for affordable rent and four for shared ownership.
The developer, Silverleaf Group has said that increasing building and labour costs as well as the uncertain broader economic and political climate means the development is no longer viable if the affordable housing quota is enforced. Silverleaf's initial planning application did not include any affordable housing but was queried by the council and later amended to include the 14 affordable properties.
The comments on the KentLive article some of the public's cynicism towards the developer's claims.
House Prices Outpace Inflation
KentLive has looked at the HM Land Registry data to see how house prices have changed during the twelve months between January 2022 and January 2023. Despite the economic uncertainty and large increases in interest rates, overall property prices have risen by 9.8% in the year.
The data above show that Semi-Detached houses saw the largest increase at 10.9% whilst Flats 'only' rose by 7.7%. The Real Change column displays the price rise after accounting for UK inflation which was 8.8% over the same time period.
Bus Gateway Fines Begin to be Handed Out
Many people are still confused by the changes to driving restrictions in the centre of town. From March 20th, £70 fines started to be issued to drivers who violated the town centre traffic ban. Between 09:00 and 18:00, all traffic except buses and taxis is banned on Mount Pleasant Road between the York Road and Church Road/Crescent Road junctions i.e. no driving past the war memorial.
The new rules were initially ready to be put in place in 2020 but the Covid pandemic delayed their introduction. KentLive has helpfully listed all of the new rules and their implications.
🔔 Don't Forget
Remember you'll now need to take some form of ID to vote in the upcoming local elections. Head to the council website to find out more.
🎫 What’s On
Monday 3rd April
- Senior Cinema: Grease / 10:30 / £5 / Trinity Theatre
- Kelly Richardson - Leviathan (Exhibition) / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- Spring Discovery Days - Bee Wild / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- The Great Bunny Trail / All Day / Free / Around Tunbridge Wells
- Easter Egg-stravaganza / 10:00 to 16:00 / £7.50+ / Scotney Castle
- Bewl Water Easter Fun / 09:30 to 16:00 / £7+ / Bewl Water
Tuesday 4th April
- Allelujah (Film) / 14:00 & 20:00 / £11 / Trinity Theatre
- Train Rides / Details / Spa Valley Railway
- Kelly Richardson - Leviathan (Exhibition) / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- Spring Discovery Days - Bee Wild / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- The Great Bunny Trail / All Day / Free / Around Tunbridge Wells
- Easter Egg-stravaganza / 10:00 to 16:00 / £7.50+ / Scotney Castle
- Bewl Water Easter Fun / 09:30 to 16:00 / £7+ / Bewl Water
Wednesday 5th April
- Goldilocks and The Three Bears / 13:00 & 16:00 / £12 / Trinity Theatre
- Train Rides / Details / Spa Valley Railway
- Kelly Richardson - Leviathan (Exhibition) / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- Spring Discovery Days - Bee Wild / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- The Great Bunny Trail / All Day / Free / Around Tunbridge Wells
- Easter Egg-stravaganza / 10:00 to 16:00 / £7.50+ / Scotney Castle
- Bewl Water Easter Fun / 09:30 to 16:00 / £7+ / Bewl Water
- Word Up / 19:30 / Details / The Forum
Thursday 6th April
- Garth Marenghi's Terror Tome / 19:30 / £23 / Assembly Hall
- Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (Film) / 10:30, 13:45 & 16:45 / £11 / Trinity Theatre
- Train Rides / Details / Spa Valley Railway
- Kelly Richardson - Leviathan (Exhibition) / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- The Birth of Tunbridge Wells (Talk) / 14:00 & 18:00 / Free / Amelia Scott
- The Great Bunny Trail / All Day / Free / Around Tunbridge Wells
- Easter Egg-stravaganza / 10:00 to 16:00 / £7.50+ / Scotney Castle
- Bewl Water Easter Fun / 09:30 to 16:00 / £7+ / Bewl Water
Friday 7th April
- In The Court of the Crimson King (Film) / 19:45 / £15 / Trinity Theatre
- Train Rides / Details / Spa Valley Railway
- Kelly Richardson - Leviathan (Exhibition) / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- The Great Bunny Trail / All Day / Free / Around Tunbridge Wells
- Easter Egg-stravaganza / 10:00 to 16:00 / £7.50+ / Scotney Castle
- Bewl Water Easter Fun / 09:30 to 16:00 / £7+ / Bewl Water
Saturday 8th April
- Comedy Club: The Good Ship Comedy / 20:00 / £20 / Trinity Theatre
- Train Rides / Details / Spa Valley Railway
- Kelly Richardson - Leviathan (Exhibition) / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- The Great Bunny Trail / All Day / Free / Around Tunbridge Wells
- Easter Egg-stravaganza / 10:00 to 16:00 / £7.50+ / Scotney Castle
- Bewl Water Easter Fun / 09:30 to 16:00 / £7+ / Bewl Water
Sunday 9th April
- Train Rides / Details / Spa Valley Railway
- Kelly Richardson - Leviathan (Exhibition) / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- The Great Bunny Trail / All Day / Free / Around Tunbridge Wells
- Easter Egg-stravaganza / 10:00 to 16:00 / £7.50+ / Scotney Castle
- Bewl Water Easter Fun / 09:30 to 16:00 / £7+ / Bewl Water
Monday 10th April
- Train Rides / Details / Spa Valley Railway
- Kelly Richardson - Leviathan (Exhibition) / All Day / Free / Amelia Scott
- The Great Bunny Trail / All Day / Free / Around Tunbridge Wells
- Easter Egg-stravaganza / 10:00 to 16:00 / £7.50+ / Scotney Castle
- Bewl Water Easter Fun / 09:30 to 16:00 / £7+ / Bewl Water
Have any upcoming events you'd like included in future newsletters? Reply to this email with details.
🎵 Live Music
Monday 3rd April
- Stable 2023 - Largo + Next to Mountains + The Other Band + Sabre Wolf / 19:30 / £6.50 / The Forum
Tuesday 4th April
- Damu The Fudgmunk & Raw Poetic / 19:30 / £17.50 / The Forum
Thursday 6th April
- The Stealers / 19:30 / £5.01 / The Sussex Arms
Friday 7th April
- God Alone / 18:30 / £10 / The Forum
Saturday 8th April
- Nick Cope Family Show / 11:00 / £12 / Trinity Theatre
- Simply Suggs / 19:30 / £5.50 / Tyber's Reggae Bar
Sunday 9th April
Monday 10th April
- Stable 2023 - Age of Aquarius + Alter Rex + Civil Complex + Franks Little Beauties / 19:30 / £6.50 / The Forum
😋 Food
Charlotte's - a new eatery and bar set to open on the Pantiles later this month.
Markets:
Tuesday 4th April
- Hildenborough Farmer's Market / 09:00 to 11:00
Thursday 6th April
- Rolvenden Crafts and Food Market / 09:00 to 12:00
- Shipbourne Market / 09:00 to 11:00
Saturday 8th April
- Pantiles Food & Craft Market / 10:00 to 16:00
- Sevenoaks Saturday Market / 09:00 to 16:00
Sunday 9th April
- Pantiles Food & Craft Market / 10:00 to 16:00
🏆Sport
♣️Poker:
Poker Night / 19:30 / 1st Time Free / The Bedford
⚽Football
Results:
- Deal Town 3 - 0 Tunbridge Wells
Fixtures:
Tuesday 4th April:
- Tunbridge Wells vs. Phoenix Sports
Saturday 8th April:
- Tunbridge Wells vs. K Sports
Thanks
As always, I hope you enjoyed the letter, have a great week!
Jamie
-Writer, TW Life
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