THE BRIEF
ποΈ Cinema Plan Moves Forward: The redevelopment of Ely Court at Royal Victoria Place can now go ahead. The plans include a three-screen cinema, a leisure hub and five restaurant units. The decision follows a ruling by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport not to list the former Friendly Societies Hall at 3 to 7 Camden Road. The Tunbridge Wells Civic Society had applied to protect the 150-year-old building and stop the council knocking it down.
Historic England advised against listing and recommended a certificate of immunity, which shields the building from listing for five years. The council says its plans keep the hall's frontage. A local snooker club says it faces closure as a result of the scheme. The council bought the shopping centre in October 2023 and consulted residents on its future. A
survey in spring 2025 drew 2,860 responses, and 67.8% of those who took part asked for a town centre cinema. Work at Palm Court will bring a new roof, extra retail units and a refreshed atrium. Homes at Market Square will follow later. Read more here.
π Council Plans On Hold: The plan to abolish Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is on hold. Ministers announced a rapid review of the national reorganisation programme on Monday and told councils to stop implementing the July decisions. Under those decisions, the borough would have merged with Maidstone, Sevenoaks, and Tonbridge and Malling to form a West Kent unitary authority.
Shadow elections were due in May 2027, with the new councils starting in April 2028. The government says this is a pause, not a reversal, and points to new legal advice received during a court challenge brought by Essex County Council. That advice will not be published. No timetable has been set for the next steps. Kent's four-council map has not been formally withdrawn, but the April 2028 start date now looks unlikely.
Councils across the county have spent 18 months on proposals, consultations and staff recruitment. Council leader Ben Chapelard has issued a statement on what the pause means for the borough. Read more here.β
π° Heritage Open Days: Heritage Open Days runs until Sunday 20th September, and dozens of Kent buildings are free to enter. Some sites drop their usual admission charge. Others open rooms and spaces that stay shut for the rest of the year. Sissinghurst Castle Garden is opening for free, as are Knole, Ightham Mote and Emmetts Garden on selected dates for visitors without National Trust membership.
Chartwell is running free events about the staff who worked for the Churchill family and kept the estate going. Trinity Theatre is offering an extended tour of its clocktower on Tuesday. Canterbury Cathedral has tours of its medieval monastic gardens, and visitors can go inside the towers at Reculver. The full Kent programme lists events across the county, including a large cluster in Thanet. Read more here.β
π» Radio Mourns: West Kent Radio has announced the death of Chris Reed after a short illness. He was 79. Reed began in hospital radio at Whipps Cross in 1973, while working on the production team of a BBC Radio programme. Later that year he joined the production of Tim Rice's show on the newly launched Capital Radio.
He joined Hospital Radio Tunbridge Wells in 1978 and became the charity's treasurer in 1982. He held that role until 2021, when the station became West Kent Radio. He sat on the management team and worked on many of the station's projects, including its annual Cricket Week coverage and commentary on the town carnival.
He continued to present his Classical Selection and Pure 70s shows. The station said his death leaves a big hole in its radio family and sent condolences to his wife Valerie and the family. Read more here.β
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