Following months of disruption the road works in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells have been completed and buses are running again between Goods Station Road and Monson Road via Fiveways.
Traffic priorities have been changed at the junction of Mount Pleasant Road and Monson Road. There is no right turn out of Monson Road. Traffic coming from Fiveways must now give way to traffic travelling in either direction on the Mount Pleasant Road/Monson Road axis.
One effect of the changes is that traffic is moving faster from Mount Pleasant to Monson Road and visa-versa. There is heavy footfall across Monson Road at the junction with Mount Pleasant Road and I fear there will be accidents involving pedestrians.
TYKE IN KENT'S THEOLOGICAL RAMBLINGS
Tuesday, 26 May 2015
Tunbridge Wells Council: wrong again.
From the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council website:
Councillor Podbury was elected to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to represent Rusthall but she is not an elected member of Rusthall Parish Council. She is an elected member of Speldhurst Parish Council.
Friday, 15 May 2015
EDP results
The English Democrats are dishing out a fair old bashing to UKIP in the context of the leadership dispute within the latter party. I suppose it deflects attention away from the abysmal performance of the English Democrats.
Wales
London and SE
English
Democrats
|
||
Maggi
Young – Bexleyheath and Crayford
|
151
|
0.3
|
Robin
Tilbrook – Brentwood and Ongar
|
173
|
0.3
|
Kim
Gandy – Dagenham and Rainham
|
71
|
0.2
|
Steve
Uncles – Dartford
|
211
|
0.4
|
Graham
Moore – Erith and Thamesmead
|
188
|
0.4
|
Gary
Butler – Faversham and Mid Kent
|
158
|
0.3
|
Charles
Vickers – Stevenage
|
115
|
0.2
|
Yorkshire and Humber
Ian
Sutton – Barnsley Central
|
477
|
1.3
|
Kevin
David Riddiough – Barnsley East
|
440
|
1.1
|
Therese
Hirst – Bradford West
|
98
|
0.2
|
Louise Dutton
– Don Valley
|
242
|
0.6
|
David
Burnett – Doncaster Central
|
309
|
0.8
|
David
Allen – Doncaster North
|
448
|
1.1
|
Colin
Porter – Penistone and Stocksbridge
|
500
|
1.1
|
Sharon
Pilling – Rother Valley
|
377
|
0.8
|
Dean
Walker – Rotherham
|
116
|
0.4
|
Elizabeth
Breed – Sheffield Central
|
68
|
0.2
|
Matthew
Roberts – Sheffield South East
|
141
|
0.3
|
Justin
Saxton – Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
|
171
|
0.4
|
Steve
Clegg – Sheffield Hallam
|
167
|
0.3
|
David
Haslett – Sheffield Heeley
|
122
|
0.3
|
Alan
England – Wentworth and Dearne
|
309
|
0.7
|
North East
|
||
English
Democrats
|
||
Neil
Humphrey – Berwick-upon-Tweed
|
88
|
0.2
|
North West
|
||
English
Democrats
|
||
Valerie
Morris – Bury South
|
170
|
0.4
|
Wales
English Democrats
Stephen Morris - Monmouth 100 0.2
Saturday, 9 May 2015
Liberal Democrat Claptrap in Tunbridge Wells.
In 2010 the general election result in Tunbridge Wells was as follows:
Con 28,302 (56.24%) Lib Dem 12,726 (25.29%) Lab 5,448 (10.83%) UKIP 2,054 (4.08%)
Green 914 (1.82%) BNP 704 (1.40%) Ind 172 (0.34%)
In the Lib Dem election address for 2015 the following statement caught my eye:
James MacCleary: The choice to beat the Tories here
The General Election here in Tunbridge Wells constituency will be a close fight between hard working Lib Dem campaigner and the Conservatives.
At the last general Election Labour finished a distant third place, more than 7000 voted behind the Liberal Democrats.
More and more Labour supporters are switching to back local Lib Dem James MacCleary this time - the only candidate that can hold the Conservatives and UKIP to account here.
Sadly for Mr MacCleary the election contest turned out to be anything but a close fight between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems nosedived to fourth.
Where were all those Labour supporters switching to to the Lib Dems? The Labour vote was up, both in numbers and as a percentage.
2015 Result:
Con 30,181 (58.69%) Lab 7,307 (14.21%) UKIP 6,481 (12.60%) Lib Dem 4,342 (8.44%)
Green 2,659 (5.17%) Ind 458 (0.89%)
The electorate was not fooled by this Lib Dem nonsense.
Con 28,302 (56.24%) Lib Dem 12,726 (25.29%) Lab 5,448 (10.83%) UKIP 2,054 (4.08%)
Green 914 (1.82%) BNP 704 (1.40%) Ind 172 (0.34%)
In the Lib Dem election address for 2015 the following statement caught my eye:
James MacCleary: The choice to beat the Tories here
The General Election here in Tunbridge Wells constituency will be a close fight between hard working Lib Dem campaigner and the Conservatives.
At the last general Election Labour finished a distant third place, more than 7000 voted behind the Liberal Democrats.
More and more Labour supporters are switching to back local Lib Dem James MacCleary this time - the only candidate that can hold the Conservatives and UKIP to account here.
Sadly for Mr MacCleary the election contest turned out to be anything but a close fight between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems nosedived to fourth.
Where were all those Labour supporters switching to to the Lib Dems? The Labour vote was up, both in numbers and as a percentage.
2015 Result:
Con 30,181 (58.69%) Lab 7,307 (14.21%) UKIP 6,481 (12.60%) Lib Dem 4,342 (8.44%)
Green 2,659 (5.17%) Ind 458 (0.89%)
The electorate was not fooled by this Lib Dem nonsense.
Good election results for Tories in Tunbridge Wells
The Conservatives held the Tunbridge Wells parliamentary seat. Nothing newsworthy, however the other parties positions merit consideration. Labour came second and UKIP third. Many had expected the positions to be reversed. The Liberal Democrats finished fourth having previously been second. At least we might be spared from having to feast our eyes on the stupid bar charts which feature in Lib Dem election literature. The bar charts are intended to show that the only way to beat the Conservatives in Tunbridge Wells is to vote Lib Dem.
The Tories gained four seats on the borough council: two from UKIP, one from Labour and one from the only Independent.
The Tories gained four seats on the borough council: two from UKIP, one from Labour and one from the only Independent.
Friday, 8 May 2015
UKIP crushed in Rusthall
Election results for Rusthall
Borough Election, May 2015 - Thursday, 7th May, 2015
Thursday, 7 May 2015
Election Day
Toddled off to the polling station and voted for a parliamentary and two borough council candidates. Not a single teller in sight. Most unusual, in the past at least two parties have had tellers present to ask for voters' electoral numbers. The Labour Party's general election candidate and one of its two borough election candidates were lurking outside the polling station.
Wednesday, 6 May 2015
All over soon
I am suffering from election fatigue. Bombarded by election literature and television programmes I have withdrawn to my Facebook page to read and comment on anything so long as it is not about the election.
The decision has been taken in respect of the candidate I intend to vote for at the general election. The local election is rather more problematic. I do not vote for 'paper' candidates as such candidates have no intention of being councillors. Nor do I vote for candidates who live many miles away from the ward they are contesting.
The decision has been taken in respect of the candidate I intend to vote for at the general election. The local election is rather more problematic. I do not vote for 'paper' candidates as such candidates have no intention of being councillors. Nor do I vote for candidates who live many miles away from the ward they are contesting.
Tuesday, 5 May 2015
NHS safe under Labour (so they say).
Patients were not safe the previous time there was a Labour government. Just ask the people of Staffordshire within the catchment area of the Mid-Staffordshire Hospital. Hundreds died unnecessarily at the hospital. Labour mismanaged the NHS (as have the Tories) and has no claim to be better than the Tories.
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
More election literature.
So far twelve items put through our letter box. The worst by far is the Liberal Democrats parliamentary candidate's leaflet. The best is from the Green Party's general election candidate. The Labour Party's leaflet is not a patch on the local elections leaflets.
I await the local elections leaflets from the Conservatives, Green Party and the Liberal Democrats. Only one UKIP candidate has delivered a local election address.
I await the local elections leaflets from the Conservatives, Green Party and the Liberal Democrats. Only one UKIP candidate has delivered a local election address.
Thursday, 23 April 2015
Electionitis
Election literature is pouring though our letter box. So far the Conservatives (two), Labour and Liberal Democrats have delivered their general election material (or to be precise, the Royal Mail has delivered it).
In keeping with previous elections the Labour document is the best in terms of layout and clarity. The Conservatives literature is fussy and not easy on the eye.
The worst communication by far is the Liberal Democrats offering. Why does the party keep publishing its naff bar charts? What would possess a Labour supporter after the Coalition to vote Lib Dim to keep the Tories out?
UKIP has delivered an election address for the local elections. It makes the point that the retiring UKIP councillor had an excellent attendance record at council meetings. The other UKIP councillor who resigned after three years on the council had one of the worst attendance records.
In keeping with previous elections the Labour document is the best in terms of layout and clarity. The Conservatives literature is fussy and not easy on the eye.
The worst communication by far is the Liberal Democrats offering. Why does the party keep publishing its naff bar charts? What would possess a Labour supporter after the Coalition to vote Lib Dim to keep the Tories out?
UKIP has delivered an election address for the local elections. It makes the point that the retiring UKIP councillor had an excellent attendance record at council meetings. The other UKIP councillor who resigned after three years on the council had one of the worst attendance records.
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Charmless letter from Richard Benoy
Last Friday the Courier published a letter from Richard Benoy in which he attacked former UKIP borough councillor for Rusthall, Piers Wauchope. Fair comment much of it but Mr Benoy would do well to remember that Mr Wauchope replaced Bob Atwood at the behest of the electorate. You cannot blame Mr Wauchope: blame the electorate.
The final paragraph of Mr Benoy's letter:
I must congratulate you, Piers, for getting your photo in with your goodbye letter. I think most of the people who voted for you had forgotten what you look like.
Well, I have news for Mr Benoy. I haven't a clue what you look like and I am a Rusthall voter. Mr Benoy was co-opted onto Rusthall Parish Council in 2011 and has been returned in 2015 in an uncontested election. At least Mr Wauchope ran the gauntlet of the electorate.
Mr Wauchope did not communicate well with the electorate. However I doubt the parish councillors have much to communicate to the people of Rusthall, apart from a whopping 8% increase in the parish precept.
The final paragraph of Mr Benoy's letter:
I must congratulate you, Piers, for getting your photo in with your goodbye letter. I think most of the people who voted for you had forgotten what you look like.
Well, I have news for Mr Benoy. I haven't a clue what you look like and I am a Rusthall voter. Mr Benoy was co-opted onto Rusthall Parish Council in 2011 and has been returned in 2015 in an uncontested election. At least Mr Wauchope ran the gauntlet of the electorate.
Mr Wauchope did not communicate well with the electorate. However I doubt the parish councillors have much to communicate to the people of Rusthall, apart from a whopping 8% increase in the parish precept.
Exciting times on heritage railways (2)
My first post on this subject was posted on 9th April 2012.
A few snippets:
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Through services from Pickering to Whitby. Network Rail track used from Goathland to Whitby. New platform at Whitby for use by NYMR trains.
Swanage Railway
Now linked to Network Rail and through running possible.
Bluebell Railway
Has made it to East Grinstead and through running to Network Rail possible.
Rother Valley Railway
A great deal of development at Robertsbridge and rebuilding of bridges on the line striking out to Tenterden. Short siding connection with Network Rail at Robertsbridge. However no link yet between the Rother Valley Railway and the Kent & East Sussex Railway.
Spa Valley Railway
Opened to Eridge. No physical link to Network Rail
Great Central Railway
The two sections of the railway (Ruddington to Loughborough and Loughborough to Leicester) to be joined once the new bridge over the old Midland Railway at Loughborough is built.
Festiniog Railway and West Highland Railway
New platforms at Porthmadog to simplify through running.
A few snippets:
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Through services from Pickering to Whitby. Network Rail track used from Goathland to Whitby. New platform at Whitby for use by NYMR trains.
Swanage Railway
Now linked to Network Rail and through running possible.
Bluebell Railway
Has made it to East Grinstead and through running to Network Rail possible.
Rother Valley Railway
A great deal of development at Robertsbridge and rebuilding of bridges on the line striking out to Tenterden. Short siding connection with Network Rail at Robertsbridge. However no link yet between the Rother Valley Railway and the Kent & East Sussex Railway.
Spa Valley Railway
Opened to Eridge. No physical link to Network Rail
Great Central Railway
The two sections of the railway (Ruddington to Loughborough and Loughborough to Leicester) to be joined once the new bridge over the old Midland Railway at Loughborough is built.
Festiniog Railway and West Highland Railway
New platforms at Porthmadog to simplify through running.
New Rusthall Parish Councillors
Below is a list of the members of the Rusthall Parish Council for the period 2015-2019. Four new faces including Alex Britcher who chairs Rusthall Village Association and is one of the two Labour candidates in Rusthall for the Borough Council elections.
Also elected in June Moore who is standing as a UKIP candidate in Frittenden & Sissinghurst at the Borough Council elections!
ELECTION OF PARISH COUNCILLORS
PARISH OF RUSTHALL PARISH
Date of Election: THURSDAY
7 MAY 2015
RESULT OF UNCONTESTED ELECTION
|
I
declare the following to be elected as Parish Councillor without a contest -
NAME OF PERSONS
ELECTED
|
HOME ADDRESSES
|
Richard John
BENOY
|
Woodpeckers, Rusthall Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN4 8NP
|
Jennifer Ann
BLACKBURN
|
64 Parsonage Road,
Rusthall, TN4 8TA
|
Alex BRITCHER
|
1 Manor Road, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8UD
|
Jonathan Daniel
CLARK
|
Home Farm, 92,
Lower Green Road, Rusthall, Kent,
TN4 8TN
|
Barry John
EDWARDS
|
8 Ashley Gardens, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 8TY
|
Maggie FRASER
|
4 Redland Avenue, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8AJ
|
June MOORE
|
50, Westwood Road,
Rusthall, TN4 8TP
|
Keith Charles
PUNYER
|
75 Southwood Road, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. TN4 8SR
|
Maria Jane
SIMMONS
|
Gingerbread Cottage,
23 Upper Street, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8NX
|
Dated
10 April 2015 WILLIAM
BENSON
RETURNING OFFICER
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
Tunbridge Wells Council has not published......
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has not published the names of people nominated to stand for parish council seats in parishes (or wards of parishes) where there is no need for an election as the number of candidates equals or is below the number of vacant seats.
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has published the information in respect of parishes within its boundary.
Two e-mails from me to TWBC have not been responded to. Time for an official complaint or reference to the Electoral Commission?
UPDATE:
Response from TWBC. the information will be published later today on the Council's website.
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has published the information in respect of parishes within its boundary.
Two e-mails from me to TWBC have not been responded to. Time for an official complaint or reference to the Electoral Commission?
UPDATE:
Response from TWBC. the information will be published later today on the Council's website.
Monday, 13 April 2015
Apathy reigns in Rusthall
There will not be an election for councillors to Rusthall Parish Council. Apathy reigns, but then this comes as no surprise.Who would wish to be associated with an organisation that is unnecessary and does not provide value for money? The Council suffers from committee-itis, a bureaucratic disease Does it really need a planning committee, a finance committee and an allotments committee?
Friday, 10 April 2015
Southborough Town Council Elections
Two matters of note.
No Independent candidates contesting any of the seats on a 'Save the Royal Victoria Hall' platform.
An Independent contesting West Ward is Jacqui Jedrzjewski, a former Labour town councillor and the Labour candidate in the Tunbridge Wells constituency at the 2005 general election.
No Independent candidates contesting any of the seats on a 'Save the Royal Victoria Hall' platform.
An Independent contesting West Ward is Jacqui Jedrzjewski, a former Labour town councillor and the Labour candidate in the Tunbridge Wells constituency at the 2005 general election.
Rusthall Ward Election: UKIP contests seats from Hawkhurst
TUNBRIDGE WELLS BOROUGH COUNCIL
ELECTION OF BOROUGH COUNCILLORS
THURSDAY, 7 MAY 2015 . RUSTHALL WARD.
Candidates for two seats:
AUSTEN John Oast Cottage, Stream Lane, The Moor, Hawkhurst, Kent TN18 4RD UK Independence Party (UKIP)
BISHOP Russ 2 Hope Villas Highgate Hill Hawkhurst Kent TN18 4LG UK Independence Party (UKIP)
BREWER Clive Graham 69 Ramslye Road, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8LT Labour Party
BRITCHER Alex 1 Manor Road, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8UD Labour Party
HOLTON David Charles 88 Southwood Road, Rusthall, TN4 8SP Green Party
HUGGETT Thelma Rosemary Littledene, Liptraps Lane, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3AB The Conservative Party Candidate
LEWIS Peter 26 Simmonds Court, High Street Rusthall Tunbridge Wells TN4 8BQ Liberal Democrat
MCLACHLAN Catherine Shaune 5 Erskine Park Rd. Rusthall Tunbridge Wells TN4 8UT Liberal Democrat
PODBURY Joy Shawlands, Stockland Green Rd Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TU The Conservative Party Candidate
The surprise is that the two UKIP candidates defending the only UKIP seats on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council both live in Hawkhurst! Surely they could have found candidates who live closer. Indeed one UKIP candidate who lives in Rusthall is contesting a seat miles away - Frittenden & Sissinghurst. A UKIP candidate who lives close to Rusthall is contesting Hawhurst & Sandhurst.
Admittedly political parties contest seats with 'paper'' candidates but surely UKIP has serious candidates who live closer to Rusthall than the two individuals they have put forward to contest the two seats?
The Labour Party has been active in Rusthall. Both Liberal Democrat candidates live in the ward, as does one of the Labour Party candidates. The Green Party has a Rusthall resident as its sole candidate. One of the Conservative candidates lives in Sherwood, the other close to Rusthall.
Candidates for two seats:
AUSTEN John Oast Cottage, Stream Lane, The Moor, Hawkhurst, Kent TN18 4RD UK Independence Party (UKIP)
BISHOP Russ 2 Hope Villas Highgate Hill Hawkhurst Kent TN18 4LG UK Independence Party (UKIP)
BREWER Clive Graham 69 Ramslye Road, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8LT Labour Party
BRITCHER Alex 1 Manor Road, Rusthall, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8UD Labour Party
HOLTON David Charles 88 Southwood Road, Rusthall, TN4 8SP Green Party
HUGGETT Thelma Rosemary Littledene, Liptraps Lane, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3AB The Conservative Party Candidate
LEWIS Peter 26 Simmonds Court, High Street Rusthall Tunbridge Wells TN4 8BQ Liberal Democrat
MCLACHLAN Catherine Shaune 5 Erskine Park Rd. Rusthall Tunbridge Wells TN4 8UT Liberal Democrat
PODBURY Joy Shawlands, Stockland Green Rd Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0TU The Conservative Party Candidate
The surprise is that the two UKIP candidates defending the only UKIP seats on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council both live in Hawkhurst! Surely they could have found candidates who live closer. Indeed one UKIP candidate who lives in Rusthall is contesting a seat miles away - Frittenden & Sissinghurst. A UKIP candidate who lives close to Rusthall is contesting Hawhurst & Sandhurst.
Admittedly political parties contest seats with 'paper'' candidates but surely UKIP has serious candidates who live closer to Rusthall than the two individuals they have put forward to contest the two seats?
The Labour Party has been active in Rusthall. Both Liberal Democrat candidates live in the ward, as does one of the Labour Party candidates. The Green Party has a Rusthall resident as its sole candidate. One of the Conservative candidates lives in Sherwood, the other close to Rusthall.
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