All the news that matters Local, National and InternationalWednesday, October 28, 2015

OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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EXCLUSIVE by Eleanor Joneseleanor@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THE company that owns Rusthall common Targetfollow wants to charge residents hundreds of pounds to walk over its land to reach their homes or to access gas, electricity and water underneath it.

The Times can reveal that legal letters were sent earlier this month to a number of homeowners near the common.

The company is the current owner ofthe title Manor of Rusthall, which gives it control over the 256 acres that make up Rusthall and Tunbridge Wells commons.

The letter from EMW solicitors inMilton Keynes on behalf of Targetfol-low said: We understand that you, members of your household and yourvisitors cross over our clients property to access your property, by foot, vehiclesor both.

It goes on to explain that relevantresidents will in future require formal licences to cross the common and will have to pay an annual fee. Anyone who already has a licence will be exempt.

When asked about the annual fee,Targetfollow spokesman George Craig said it was none of anyones business and that he would be very disappointed if the Times wrote anything about figures.

But the Times understands some Rust-hall residents have been quoted an annual figure of 350, as well as a one-off cost of 300 to set up the licences.

The commons taxTargetfollow charges residents to walk to their own front doors

Ten categories recognising excellence in local businesses which of these new awards do you deserve? Full details on page 11

bawardssiu ness

THE ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS business awards 2016

A MAJOR expansion of the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre has been unveiled, with an eight- screen cinema forming a central part of the 70 million scheme.

Shoppers were asked to give feedback on the plans which are intended to breathe new life into the town centre and will also see more cafs as well as the complete redevelopment of the Ely Court area.

Planning permission for the project is expected to be submitted in November.

The Santa Express is set to return to the town this year following talks between the borough council and Markerstudy Leisure.

The group operated the land train in the town centre for the last two years with a total of 17,000 people hopping aboard. It will once again shuttle shoppers between The Pantiles and the Assembly Hall in the lead up to Christmas.

Markerstudy Leisure commercial director Nick Moore said: Reports last week that there would be no train were premature and ill-informed. We have been working with the borough council and other parties to make the train happen.

RVP gets big boost with a 70m revamp

Charities benefi tfrom return ofChristmas train

CONCERNED Residents and councillors

from left, Ann Hughes and Suzy Phillips, parish councillor Maria

Simmons, Linda and Bruce Towner and county councillor John Davies

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Wednesday 28th October 2015

4 NEWS

TWO things have happened in the past week that refl ect the story and fabric of our town.

The fi rst was a gathering of fund managers brought together by a local company called Wellian Investment Solutions. Who be they, you might ask. Well, these are the folks who help make the most of cash boxes owned by the likes of high net worth individuals ie people with more than 1million in disposable income. Im sure they also take care of many others, but you get the point.

Wellian is typical of so many

businesses today that operate out of Tunbridge Wells. It is largely below the local radar and yet contributes so much to the welfare and credibility of the town.

In this case, Wellian hosted an event that attracted 50 fund managers who between them control investment funds running into billions of pounds. The fact that they happily responded to the invite refl ects well on Wellian and the town and is the way forward.

That, then, is the fi rst thing that happened. The next takes us back to our roots and the way our

town began, grew and developed, centred round the 256 acres that make up Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons, which fi rst emerged in history in Saxon times and, until 1538, were owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Today, they are owned by the Manor of Rusthall, which in turn is owned by Targetfollow. (The Pantiles is also in its portfolio.) Someone at Targetfollow has been reading up on the rights of the Lord of the Manor, because letters have gone out to people with homes near Rusthall Common announcing

that they are going to be charged, probably hundreds of pounds, for the right to walk or drive across the common to their front doors. And if your gas, electricity or water run underneath the common, thats also chargeable.

Targetfollow has won few friends with this move, which could have huge signifi cance if it goes ahead and is then extended to other properties under the rule of the Manor of Rusthall.

Watch out for a peasents revolt. Richard Moore,Editorial director

EDITORS COMMENT

Markerstudy Leisure is a trading name of One Media and Creative UK Limited, registered in England and Wales under company number 5398960, with registered office at 45 Westerham Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2QB.

CLARIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONSHERE at the Times of Tunbridge Wells we strive to deliver fair, accurate and balanced reports. When we dont meet our own high standards, we will accept the responsibility and publish clarifications and corrections.

If you would like to make a comment on any aspect of the newspaper, please write to the editor, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU, or email newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

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16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU

The adjective modern, when applied to any branch of art, means designed to evoke

incomprehension, anger, boredom or laughter.Philip Larkin, poet

QUOTE UNQUOTE

By Eleanor Jones eleanor@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

ANYONE who can prove they have had access to a property over Rusthall Common for at least 20 years does not have to take out a licence.

Although a letter sent on behalf of Targetfollow to a resident of Sunnyside Road only mentions formal legal rights to cross the land, a spokesman admit-ted this includes prescriptive rights, which become legally established or accepted by long usage or the passage of time.

When questioned by the Times, company spokes-man Stuart Gray said: If people already have access rights, they dont need new ones.

Whether thats access from a formal licence or prescriptive rights, they then wont need anything new from us.

Asked why prescriptive rights were not specifi-cally mentioned in the letter seen by the Times, Mr Gray said: Prescriptive rights are still formal rights.

People have come back to us and demonstrated that a previous owner of the property has used the access for 20 years or more and weve accepted that.

If people can prove that, they wont have to pay.A Tunbridge Wells solicitor, who asked not to be

named, thought the wording of the letter could be misconstrued.

She said: Prescriptive rights are very important. People need to make sure they dont give them

up by sending money and entering into a licence agreement.

Thats where the confusion lies. The majority of people will have prescriptive rights. Its whether they realise that or not.

People should take individual legal advice.Mr Gray said a large number of households and

businesses already had similar licences in place, a lot of them since before Targetfollow owned the commons, and that the company had initiated the most recent scheme in response to requests.

He added: We were contacted by a number of parties asking us to formalise their access rights. Having received the requests, we extended the opportunity to the residents of these roads.

In particular, when people come to sell their houses, purchasers want to see appropriate access rights so this is an opportunity for those without formal rights, to put them in place to make their properties more saleable.

Well be extending the opportunity to anyone who has access across the commons, it will be rolled out over a period of time.

Mr Gray said the amount charged for licences was in line with existing arrangements and those in place for similar commons elsewhere inthe country.

Lawyers warning about existing common accessPaying for licence could negate any rights

Thursday

13CFriday

14CSaturday

15CSunday

13CMonday

13CTuesday

13C

Wednesday October 28, 2015 Tunbridge Wells

13CVisibility: Moderate Pollution: Low Humidity: 91%

Sunrise: 06.44am Sunset: 16.41pm Wind: 8mph

Many thanks to John Hamilton for sending in this well observed shot of autumnal leaves from his window

weather

A changeable period with spells of rain likely each day and strong winds at times.

the country.

A letter sent by Targetfollows lawyers to

a resident of Sunnyside Road:

We understand that you, the members

of your household and your visitors

cross over our clients property to access

your property, by foot, vehicles or both.

Likewise, we understand that services

(gas electric, water etc) may be being run

from your property underneath our clients

property.If you believe that you alre

ady benefi t

from formal legal rights in respect of access

and services over our clients property,

please provide evidence of the same by

providing a copy of the relevant deed or

licence. Otherwise, we are instructed to

regularise the position by putting a formal

licence in place. This would roll from year

to year, subject to payment of an annual

licence fee.Please confi rm how you w

ish to proceed

by ticking either Box A or Box B over the

page and returning it to ourselves as

soon as possible and in any event by 10

November.soon as possible and in any

event by 10

Continued from page 1

County councillor John Davies, who represents Rusthall, said he had been approached by a number of concerned residents adding: This is an exorbitant charge. Ive told people, for goodness sake, dont pay, and Ill do everything I can to help.

Targetfollow has tried to pick people off by writing to them like this, putting pressure on, its wrong.

A Tunbridge Wells solicitor, who asked not to be named, said: If people start to pay, they may immediately lose any prescriptive rights they could have acquired by using the land for years.

Im going to call local solici-tors. They need to be aware this is happening and maybe come up with a joint approach. The problem could be, if one person tries to fight it alone, it might undermine others efforts.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Targetfollow have written to some but not all houses in Upper Street, Apsley Street, Sunnyside Road and Common View. The company said it does not know how many have been contacted, and that it would be offering the same opportunity for licences to those living near other parts of the commons.

Ann Hughes, who lives in Upper Street, described Target-follow as awful people.

She added: It says a lot about a company if it writes letters to the owner without bothering to find out peoples names.

Its a money-making thing and should be exposed.

Spokesman Mr Craig said: As the landlord of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons, the Manor of Rusthall is look-ing to formalise the rights of all individuals who use the com-mons. EMW Law is instructed to investigate where rights exist and do not exist. This is beneficial to both parties as it ensures continued use of land is formally documented and will prevent any title disputes in the future.

LOCAL NEWS 5

Wednesday 28th October 2015

NEWS IN BRIEF

New eight-screen cinema aspart of RVP refurbishment part of RVP refurbishment

Shopping centre plans 70m expansion

By Adam Hignettadam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

ROYAL Victoria Place is to build an eight-screen cinema as part of a 70million expansion.

The project will also include the creation of new premises for fashion retailers and a com-plete redevelopment of the Ely Court area.

The proposals were unveiled at a public exhi-bition at the centre last Friday and members of the public are invited to have a say before a formal planning application is submitted.

RVP manager Nicky Blanchard said: For Tun-bridge Wells to thrive it needs to retain a vibrant retail and leisure offer that meets the needs of local people as well as the many tourists.

The centre was designed in 1986 and built in 1993 and obviously retail has changed a huge amount in that time and there are a number of areas in the centre that are not as strong as others, which we are trying to address.

CustomersWe believe our plans focus on offering the

type of space required to attract the type of stores our customers want to see.

The new state of the art eight-screen digital cinema will be located in the roof of the shopping centre.

Plans to rejuvenate the Ely Court area involve demolishing and replacing the row of shops on the corner of Calverley Road and Camden Road, and creating a new entrance to the centre.

Mrs Blanchard believes this will help drive footfall to that area of town. She said: This

redevelopment should help Camden Road, because at the moment it suffers.

We want to play a leading role in supporting the town centre by encouraging more people to visit more often.

The plans were on display over the weekend to allow people to give feedback, but anyone who missed out is encourage to submit views via email on concierge@royalvictoriaplace.com

Mrs Blanchard said: I hope as many people as possible view the plans and tell us what they think.

Its hoped the expansion will be completed by spring 2019.

Five new shops will open in the centre before Christmas, it has been announced.

Swarovski, Fuel Juice bar, independent jeweller Silvermine, Bluebird Tea and toyshop Whirligig are all moving in.

Nicky Blanchard said: These demonstrate the breadth of offer for shoppers.

The mix of international brands such as Swarovski and independent retailers like Silvermine and Whirligig continue to strengthen the appeal of the town centre as a destination unlike any other.

What you say

More than 11m watch online crash fi lm clip MORE than 11 million people have now watched the a video depicting the final moments of two young men who lost their lives in April after the car they were in smashed into a churchyard wall a 90 miles an hour.

Uploaded on October 12 by Sussex Police with the permission of the families, the video shows driver Kyle Careford, 20, and his friend Michael Owen, 21, speeding through the roads near Crowborough in the early hours of April 12.

The pair, both of whom were heavily intoxicated, died on impact when their Renault Clio hit the churchyard wall in Jarvis Brook.

Free blood pressure tests TUNBRIDGE Wells Hospital is marking World Stroke Day by offering free blood pressure tests between 10am and 3pm today, Wednesday.

High blood pressure is a leading factor behind about half of all strokes, and about a quarter of people in the southeast have the condition.

Tara Galloway of the Stroke Association said: Getting tested is simple, quick and painless. We hope to see lots of people when they can learn about how to help prevent stroke.

Clown mask girl sorry A TEENAGER has been forced to write a letter of apology after she was cautioned by police for sparking public concern by scaring schoolchildren while dressed up as a clown.

The 18-year-old was given a caution on Monday, having been questioned last week on the incidents which took place in the Tonbridge area three weeks ago and her letter is due to be shared among those who were affected by the incident.

Chief Inspector Dave Pate stressed there was no link between the reported suspicious incidents involving vans in Tunbridge Wells and the clown incidents.

Times pop-up newsroom ITS that time of the week again.

If you fancy a coffee, a cake or a chat, or all of the above, come to Ismail caf on Mount Pleasant Road today, Wednesday.

Whether you have a story to tell, an event to promote or a business to advertise, a reporter will be on hand between 9am and 5pm.

Van fi re suspected arson KENT Fire and Rescue Service has alerted police to suspected arson after crews were called to a burning van in Mill Lane, Frittenden, on Sunday night.

A crew was on the scene fighting the fire, which KFRS believes was started deliberately, from 9.30 until 10:30pm.

THREE Tunbridge Wells residents visiting the centre when the plans were unveiled were overwhelmingly supportive.

Vicky Mitchel, 32, said: I think its a very good idea, especially the cinema which will be benefi cial for people in town.

At the moment you have to drive to Knights Park which can be diffi cult especially if you have children. I am also hoping it will bring more affordable clothing retailers to the centre like an adults H&M.

Hannah Maxwell, 35, agrees the new plans will be benefi cial for Tunbridge Wells.

She said: I think the regeneration will be excellent. It should make this part of town more of an evening place and will hopefully result in higher quality dining places than there are currently.

Adam Parr, 42, said: It is a positive thing for the town centre. It will also be good for the town by creating a place which more people will want to come to. With additional shops and hopefully more parking, it will extend the amount of time people spend here and drive footfall towards the smaller retailers of Camden Road.

Millie Mansaion, the manager of Camden Road pet shop, Pets in Town believes any plans to drive footfall towards that part of Tunbridge Wells would be a good thing.

She said: It would be great to get more people down to Camden Road but I am a bit worried about any disruption during the redevelopment. But in the long term it is welcome as most of the shops in the Ely Court area are empty anyway.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES Nicky Blanchard

THE FUTURE? An artists impression of

the Camden Road end

Wednesday 28th October 2015

6 LOCAL NEWS

By Adam Wellsnewsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THE tragic decision to approve a controversial housing development has sparked fears 12,000 more homes will be built in the borough than pre-viously planned.

Last week a government planning inspector allowed an appeal over the development of 62 houses on a greenfield site on Highgate Hill, Hawkhurst, although he admitted it would cause significant harm to the area.

The appeal, which was heard last month, was launched by Countryside Properties in Novem-ber 2014 after Tunbridge Wells Borough Council rejected its initial application, following fierce opposition from Hawkhurst Parish Council.

Chairman Peter Dartnell told the Times: Hawkhurst has been dealt a severe blow.

Its distressing, considering the amount of effort we put into opposing these proposals and putting alternatives forward.

We feel we had very good grounds to have it refused. Its unjustified. We cant believe there arent other sites.

The inspector is obviously under pressure to meet housing numbers in the southeast.

I see this as a test case and others will come for-ward thinking they can build on greenfield land anywhere. Its tragic.

During the six weeks following the ruling, a High Court challenge can be mounted, but Mr Dartnell says that would be expensive and discussions are

needed before any steps are taken. Part of any challenge could be the dismissal of

a similar appeal 18 months ago. A development of 120 homes at Fowlers Park, Hawkhurst, was rejected largely because it conflicted with policy seeking to protect the character of localities and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The inspector in the Highgate Hill case allowed the appeal while stating the proposals are con-trary to the objectives of these policies.

In justifying the decision, he labelled TWBCs target of 300 new homes per year, between 2006 and 2026, as out of date, saying a recent council assessment suggested 648 will be needed per year until 2033.

Borough councillor Linda Hall said: He admits on one hand the AONB is important and needs protecting, but on the other gives the game away.

Its government pressure for new houses and he has to give way to that.

When Greg Clark was developing the National Planning Policy Framework, a number of us were nervous and asked him about constraints.

He made it very clear that if you have con-straints, like green belt, AONB or flood plains, you cannot build there the constraints will protect you.

We had even removed Highgate Hill from our core strategy, so the inspector has overruled the council, not just planning policy.

The reason he gave is that we havent met our five-year housing supply. But we have, going by the 6,000 new homes agreed in our local plan.

And Cllr Hall fears there could be worse news

to come, with a planning inspector due to review TWBCs core strategy this winter.

She said: Some people are worried hell tell us we need to triple that number. That would be the straw that broke the camels back.

See also page 8 for more on housing issues.

From Greg Clarks speech to the House of Commons introducing the National Planning Policy Framework

One of the three fundamental objectives of the NPPF is to put unprecedented power in the hands of communities to shape the places in which they live.

Too much development in recent years has been mediocre, insensitive and has detracted from the character of the areas in which we live and work.

Too many of our habitats have been degraded and nature driven out.

The planning system takes on the chal-lenge of enshrining the local plan produced by local people as the keystone of the plan-ning system.

Relevant policies such as those protect-ing green belt, Sites of Special Scientifi c Inter-est, national parks and other areas cannot be overridden by the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

This week Greg Clark declined to comment on the latest developments.

Granting housing appeal could lead to thousands more homes Inspector admits development will cause harm to area

NEWS IN BRIEF

Two services will mark HMS Hythe centenary TWO services marking a century since the sinking of HMS Hythe take place this week.

A drumhead service will take place on Civic Way today, Wednesday. It will begin at 7.30pm with music from 7pm, and those attending are advised to bring torches.

On Saturday, a service will be held at St Matthews Church, High Brooms Road, at 3pm. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the church centre, where there will also be a display of information about the disaster by the Southborough Society.

For catering purposes, anyone planning to attend the Saturday service is asked to call 01892 618108 or email offi ce@stmattschurch.org.uk

Gatwick review meeting HUNDREDS of people turned up to a public meeting in Crowborough to question leaders of the review of air traffi c around Gatwick, and submit their views.

Wealden MP Nusrat Ghani attended with Bo Redeborn, who is heading the review, and Graham Lake, the reviews technical advisor.

Mrs Ghani said: A huge number of my constituents feel very strongly that Gatwick Airport has not been doing enough to respond to their concerns about noise pollution.

Hundreds of consultation forms were fi lled in, which I hope will inform the conclusions of this review so we can reach a mutually benefi cial solution for all concerned.

Cost of traveller camps TUNBRIDGE Wells Borough Council has asked parish and town councils to stump up 500 each towards a fund for clearing up after illegal traveller camps.

Paddock Wood Town Council is set to be the fi rst to contribute towards the fund from the public purse.

THE co-founder of Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre was among honoured guests at the 2015 Women of the Year lunch in London.

Polly Taylor, pictured here with Nicole Kidman and Sandi Toksvig, joined more than 400 others at the 60th anniversary lunch last week.

Each specially invited guest is regarded as a woman of the year.

Mrs Taylor said: It was an absolutely amazing day and was more about recognising the work of our charity than anything to do with me.

The Tunbridge Wells charity supports about 2,500 people a year whose lives are touched by cancer.

Hollywood meets Polly at Women of Year lunchCELEBRATION

From left, Sandi Toksvig, Polly Taylor and Nicole

Kidman, with other Women of the Year guests

LOCAL NEWS 7

Wednesday 28th October 2015

NEWS IN BRIEF

Town becomes a banking hotspotBy Adam Hignettadam@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE Wells has been labelled a bank-ing hotspot after research found the number of people employed in the industry increased from 486 to 5,425.

The British Bankers Association (BBA) fig-ures show Tunbridge Wells tops a list of 77 boroughs which have experienced higher growth in the creation of related jobs than London and far exceeds the number two hot-spot Babergh, Suffolk, which had 197 per cent.

ContrastIn total 5,425 jobs in Tunbridge Wells were in

banking-related industries, including support services such as IT, last year, up 1,016 per cent from 2013, when only 486 jobs were identified. By contrast, the city of London saw growth of just 8 per cent.

On the report, titled Banking on British Jobs, chief executive of the BBA Anthony Browne said: These figures show that a strong bank-ing industry benefits the whole country, not just the capital.

Data highlights that banks are increasingly

creating jobs and apprenticeships right across Britain as part of a shift away from London.

The industry is playing a crucial role in helping young people get a foot on the careers ladder and providing highly skilled jobs for local communities.

The report added: From Broadland to Tunbridge Wells to South Gloucestershire, it is positive to see new local hubs for jobs in banking.

One of the first Metro Bank branches outside London opened in Tunbridge Wells in May, helping to cement the towns reputation as a hotspot for financial services.

Iain Kirkpatrick, managing director of regional banking at Metro Bank said: We were delighted to open our 35th store in Tun-bridge Wells earlier this year, creating more than 15 jobs for local people.

We search for the best sites in every town and invest heavily to ensure our stores exceed our customers expectations and we are delighted with our store, right in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.

Tunbridge Wells is a strong and diverse community with great links into London and the surrounding areas and we look forward to meeting even more local residents and busi-nesses as we become more established in the local community.

THREE top pupils from Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar were invited to an economics symposium to glean a valuable insight into the world of fi nance.

Miriam Ahmed, Beth Moffat and Freya Hempleman, who are all studying economics A-level, joined the Wellian Investment Solutions event last Wednesday.

Beth said: Although there was quite a lot of fi nancial terms and jargon it was quite easy to understand.

Her friend Freya agreed, adding: We want to study economics because it is so relevant to today and its quite a broad subject.

For more on the symposium, turn to pages 18-19.

TWO teenagers from London who took over a vulnerable womans home as a base for selling class A drugs have been jailed.

Illias Chellali and Kamal Hussain, both now 18, were found sitting on a sofa with a large ball of herbal cannabis on the table in front of them when police visited the Upper Grosvenor Road fl at in April 2015, having been alerted to suspicious activity.

Hussain fl ed the property but was pursued by an offi cer and detained in nearby Tunnel Road. During the pursuit, Hussain dropped a package that was later found to contain 73 individual wraps of heroin and crack cocaine with an estimated street value of 2,000.

Chellali was searched at the property and found to be in possession of 275 cash and two mobile telephones.

Both were arrested and charged the following day, and later pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a class A drug with intent to supply.

They appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on October 15, when Hussain was sentenced to three years and three months detention in a young offenders institution, and Chellali to two-and-a-half years.

Tunbridge Wells district commander Chief Inspector Dave Pate said: This is yet another fantastic result for us in our ongoing efforts to rid Tunbridge Wells of the drug dealers who bring misery to peoples lives.

On this occasion, Illias Chellali and Kamal Hussain manipulated a vulnerable woman into allowing them to use her home as a base for their criminal activity. We will continue to target such offenders and drive home the message.

Teenagers join fi nance symposium

Prison for drug dealing teens Youths arrested over

town knife robbery OFFICERS investigating a knifepoint robbery during which a cigarette lighter was stolen have arrested three people.

It was reported that a group of three people were targeted by three others, one of whom was carrying a knife, at about 2.10am on Monday, October 19.

Following the incident, during which the lighter was reportedly stolen, it is alleged that the suspects stole from a nearby shop.

A 19-year-old man from Tunbridge Wells, a 19-year-old woman from Southborough and an 18-year-old man from Southborough have been bailed until Friday, December 4.

Night road closures ROAD closures will be in place this week as a result of ongoing works.

There will be a lane closure on the Longfi eld Road roundabout between 8pm and 6am, from today for three nights. One lane will remain open.

The A21 junction with Half Moon Lane will be closed overnight, between 8pm and 6am, from tomorrow, Thursday, for two nights. Access will be via Pembury Hall Road.

DO YOU HAVE A STORY?

email: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

BRIGHT From left, Miriam Ahmed, Beth Moffat and Freya Hempleman

TWO local charities are set to benefit this Christmas with the return of the Santa Express which shuttles shoppers around Tunbridge Wells.

The land train will be paid for by Markerstudy Lei-sure and the news comes after discussions between the company and the borough council.

Markerstudy Leisure, which operated the train in 2013 and 2014, is working with the council to ensure it can be securely parked at night, and has all the necessary permits for it to operate between The Pantiles and the Assembly Hall, via the High Street. It will run for 13 key days in the lead-up to Christmas.

For the first time, passengers will be asked to make donations to travel, with the money shared between Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre, and Bridge Trust, which supports single homeless peo-ple in west Kent.

The commercial director for Markerstudy Leisure, Nick Moore, said: We are delighted to announce that once again we are in the position of being able to offer the town a Santa Express this Christmas.

Reports last week that there would be no train were premature and ill-informed.

We have been working with the borough council and other parties to make the train happen. Indeed we offered the train to the council free of charge if they were in a position to operate it.

Earlier this month (October 16) the council came back to us and advised they were not in a financial

position this Christmas to take up our offer. Since then we have been looking at various options, always with a view to getting the Santa Express up and running.

This week we concluded an arrangement with another independent company that specialises in running land trains such as the Santa Express. They will provide the train and the staff to operate it in Tunbridge Wells and Markerstudy will bear the full cost.

We hope that, as in previous years, it will add an extra sparkle to the festive season in our town.

Mr Moore added: Over the last two years, weve tried to spread a bit of Christmas cheer in Tunbridge Wells, and spent more than 100,000 on running the Santa Express.

If any other local businesses, want to join us and fund the trains operation on further days, and help raise more money for the two local charities, wed be very happy to hear from them.

The other big winners will be the towns retailers on the route, as well as the ice rink at Calverley Grounds.

Polly Taylor, co-founder of Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre, said: Christmas is a very difficult time for people and families having to deal with cancer. Were delighted that the Santa Express is going to be raising money for our drop-in centre and services, which make a huge difference to peo-ple living in west Kent. Thank you.

8 LOCAL NEWS

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Charities to benefit from thereturn of the Christmas train

A YOUNGSTER with an incurable brain tumour has ticked off another challenge on his personal bucket list by abseiling the 100ft water tower at Salomons Estate.

Dressed in a Spiderman outfi t from Smiffys, seven-year-old Malachi Tyler, who is blind as a result of his condition, was accompanied on his descent on Monday by Brian Bissell, who organised the adventure.

Mr Bissell said: Weve had a tremendous amount of support, including the staff at Evolution Indoor Climbing in Crowborough who donated their time to giving Malachi his training.

It is the latest achievement for the Tunbridge

Wells youngster who suffers from genetic condition neurofi bromatosis, which causes tumours to grow on his nerves.

Malachi has also been able to try driving a train, on a South West Trains simulator, and being a policeman for the day with the Metropolitan Police.

Andrew Daniells of Salomons said: It was humbling to watch someone who has already overcome so many obstacles in his short life take on a challenge that would have been too much for many other people.

We are so pleased to have been able to help make one of Malachis dreams come true.

Brave Malachis bucket list challenge

NEWS IN BRIEF

Award presented for top customer serviceA MEMBER of staff at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium has been given an award for outstanding customer service.

Katie Thompson, a bereavement services administration assistant employed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, was presented with the Wesley Media award by Cllr Jane March, on behalf of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, and Jonathan MacDonald, a council director.

Cllr March, the cabinet member with responsibility for the cemetery and crematorium, said: I was so pleased to be able to present Katie with this award. Katie is very highly thought of by her manager and colleagues, she works tirelessly and with compassion to ensure people dealing with bereavement are given as much help as possible.

Evolution of law site A TUNBRIDGE Wells law fi rm hopes its new website will show how it has evolved, and make life easier for clients.

Thomson, Snell & Passmores site, www.ts-p.co.uk, which goes live today, features client listening and a jargon-buster, as well as a new section on the fi rms history.

Marketing and business development manager Charlotte Eberlein said: We are very proud of our new website. It shows how the brand has continued to evolve as we have as a fi rm. I am excited by the user experience; it is clean, easy to use and more intuitive. I hope you like it.

Sepp Blatter on fi re?DISGRACED Fifa president Sepp Blatter is odds-on favourite to be feeling the heat at this years bonfi re night celebrations in Edenbridge.

Wiiliam Hill is offering 3-1 odds on Mr Blatter being the guy, 5-1 on Russian president Vladimir Putin and 8-1 on Stuart Lancaster. Nicola Sturgeon and Jeremy Corbyn are also in the top ten.

The winning effi gy will be revealed on November 4 and meet its demise in front of hundreds of people, having been displayed during a torchlight procession through the town.

DESCENTMalachi and Brian Bissell on the tower

The Santa Express: Launched in November 2013 Carried up to 30 people at a time Has transported 17,000 people Is expected to take thousands again this year

Reaction Among those set to benefi t from the Santa Express are retailers on the High street and The Pantiles who saw increased footfall as people took the train from the top of town.

Chris Pollard of La Roche patisserie on the corner of the High Street and London Road said the trains return was great news.

He added: By linking up the two halves of the town it helps the shops down here and it makes Tunbridge Wells stand out. It is good to have it back.

LOCAL NEWS 9

Wednesday 28th October 2015

NEWS IN BRIEFBoris Johnson backs fight to save small music venues By Adam Wellsnewsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THE Forum-led fight to save small music venues gathered steam last week when London mayor Boris Johnson threw his weight behind the cam-paign.

The people who operate The Forum also run the Music Venues Trust, a charity set up in response to the threats small venues face from housing developments, falling customer numbers and spiralling costs.

As reported by the Times this month, the char-ity chairs a taskforce launched by Mr Johnson in March charged with securing the future of these venues.

ConflictA report based on the charitys recommenda-

tions published on October 19 announced the mayors support for its proposals, including back-ing the agent of change principle, which makes developers responsible for conflicts arising from building homes near live music venues.

Forum co-owner and charity trustee Jason Dor-man said: Things look really positive with regards to the agent of change principle being adopted.

Everyone agrees that its a good idea that will go a long way to helping small venues, but its a major law change and actually putting it into prac-tice will take a bit more time.

Weve got to keep the pressure on.As well as support for the agent of change, the

report also announced plans for a night time economy champion to promote the merits of an industry worth 66 billion a year to the UK, and for a London Music Development Board to take forward the action plan to protect venues.

Though the report focuses on London, the hope is that changing attitudes in the capital will be a catalyst for change nationwide.

Mr Johnson said: The Music Venues Taskforce report makes it clear that protecting live music venues is crucial to Londons continued position as the music capital of the world.

This timely report will shape our long-term action plan to safeguard and revive Londons vital network of live music venues, ensuring the future

What is the agent of change principle?

FIGHTING THE FIGHT Jason Dormon, front,

with Forum colleagues

Do you know your wines from across the world? A FUN-FUELLED and intoxicating evening will help raise money for a childrens charity next month.

New fundraising group Rooters is hosting a wine-tasting challenge at Woods Restaurant and Bar, on Thursday, November 26 from 6pm.

Teams of four people will taste up to 12 wines from across the globe, trying to guess their countries of origin.

The evening will raise money for Tunbridge Wells-based Tree of Hope, which supports children in medical need.

The cost is 15 per person. For more information or to enter, email Rootersteam@outlook.com or call 07092 222066.

Dunorlan fi reworks TICKETS are still available for the Dunorlan Park fi reworks display on November 7.

More than 10,000 people attended the 2014 display, and organiser Royal Tunbridge Wells Round Table hopes to hit the 13,000 mark this year and raise over 25,000 for charity.

Tickets, priced 6 for adults and 4 for children, are for sale at venues including the Assembly Hall, or online at www.rtwrt.org

Admission on the day is 8 for adults and 5 for children, free for under-fi ves.

Charity autumn fair KNITWEAR, jewellery, toys, china and glass will be on sale at King Charles Hall this weekend, in aid of persecuted Christians in Syria and Iraq.

An autumn fair on Saturday from 10am to 1pm will raise money for the Barnabas Fund and Open Doors, to help those who have lost absolutely everything.

Also on sale will be toiletries, books, games and refreshments. Admission is free.

AN IDEA that has already proven successful in Australia and Canada, the agent of change principle puts the onus on a developer to mitigate against future problems, such as noise complaints, that arise from a new development arriving in an area where a live music, or any other venue, is already established.

Noise complaints are one of the most serious

threats venues face, with one from a resident sometimes enough to put it on the path to closure.

Under the agent of change principle, developers responsibilities would include footing the bill for soundproofi ng, while venues currently might have to fork out thousands of pounds if a new residential development is built nearby.

of the capitals culturally and economically impor-tant music scene.

Jason Dorman said: Through changing atti-tudes and policy in London, we can change them nationwide.

With the capital as a flagship, we can lead small venues in every town, city and county to a more secure and fairer future.

The report was released in advance of Music Ven-ues Day on October 20, an event that celebrated smaller venues and brought together profession-als from the sector to network, share ideas and

plan for the future. Mr Dorman said: The Forum was there in

force and it was a well organised and very suc-cessful day.

Minister for culture Ed Vaizey and a lot of other prominent people from the Greater London Authority and the Arts council were there.

Its essentially a symposium to get everyone together and unite them in the fight.

Its through joined-up pressure that we have a chance of making the changes that can safeguard the future of the industrys grassroots.

ONLINEAND ONTHE GO

Latest news www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

10 HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Wednesday 28th October 2015

I WRITE about local folklore and investigate strange cases, but have never had an encoun-ter with anything ghostly.

I believe people see ghosts when they least expect it and because Im involved with folk-lore every day, I may be too immersed to expe-rience anything. While its important to have a healthy degree of scepticism, one cannot dismiss the many reports of spooks over the years.

I think some places can seem to be haunted because of, say, the age of a building or its remote location but a new building could still seem ghost-infested because of the land it has been built on.

The trouble is, many ghost-hunters and the like, prefer to visit places with ghastly his-tory or creepy looks, which fuel the imagi-nation. People often talk about The Pantiles being haunted and there is history to suggest it should be but I believe its down to per-ception.

To me, there appear to be two sorts of spir-its: residual energy, played back time and

time again; and ghosts which can interact with humans and the modern day.

The term poltergeist derives from the Ger-man noisy ghost poltergeists are rarely if ever seen but can cause disturbances such as throwing items around and in some cases inflicting wounds upon people.

However, poltergeist activity can also be unintentionally projected from a living indi-vidual which suggests such phenomena have deep, complex connections to the psyche rather than anything ethereal.

In some cases, it has been recorded that ghosts have scratched, pinched and bit-ten people. One scenario is known as sleep paralysis or old hag syndrome, in which people wake at night and report that they cannot move, or scream. Victims speak about being crushed by an unseen presence, or see-ing figures; often an old crone or hag.

Its been suggested that such manifestations are the product of stress or tiredness but even so, they affect millions of people but science has no answer.

Thats the spirit! Why are we interested in the Other Side?As Halloween approaches, acclaimed folklorist and writer on the paranormal Neil Arnold explains why we are so fascinated by ghosties and ghoulies and long-legged beasties

Neil Arnold is the author of Haunted Tunbridge Wells which is available online or signed by the author on 01634 819746

HAUNTED? Hurst Wood

HANGED MAN? Coach and Horses Passage

ARE THE PANTILES HAUNTED?The ghost of a hanged man is said to haunt Coach and Horses Passage. It is said the beam can be heard creaking under the weight of an invisible rope, and that the man was driven to suicide having been mugged for all his money.

The Pantiles is said to be haunted by at least 20 ghosts. Possibly best-known is drunken harridan Mary Jenning, who, it is documented, was seen by two women sheltering under a tree in heavy rain. There have also been reports of a female voice calling out Daniel in the and a rider dressed in mauve on a black horse.

In Friends Passage, it is believed the ghost of the wife of James Friend, the owner of the Hand and Sceptre Hotel in the 19th century, has been spotted.

New business awards to recognise outstanding achievements in town

NEWS IN BRIEF

By Richard Moorerichard@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

THE TIMES of Tunbridge Wells is a newspaper that was launched with a remit to reflect, among other things, the business life of the town. And it has done just that.

Since the first edition on March 4, the paper has carried more than 400 separate business related stories ranging from news about start-ups such as Darryl Lawson and his mobile hairdresser, to heav-yweight financial articles such as the gathering in town of fund managers, which you can read on pages 18 and 19.

To further underline the newspapers ongoing commitment to local com-panies and initiatives, it is today launching the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016. The objective is to recognise excel-lence in local business across ten award categories with the ulti-mate winners being honoured at a gala night dinner in May next year.

Jo James, chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said: This will be an excellent opportunity to celebrate many of the great businesses in the borough, but also I hope stimulate others to look at how they can become more productive and ensure that west Kents economy continues to improve.

The awards, which the Times aims to make the most prestigious in west Kent, are open to any busi-

ness or business person operating within the Borough of Tun-

bridge Wells. The formal launch of the

awards will be held on November 25, with invited guests, in Tunbridge Wells. Among those attending will be the six judges drawn from the

local business community.Full details of the catego-

ries and how to enter will be published in this newspaper and

online. Each winner of a category will automatically be put forward for the

title of Outstanding Business of the Year Award. Companies may also directly enter this category.

To register please visit: www.tunbridgewellsbusinessawards.co.uk

Christmas fair to raise money for good causeGET off to a good start for the festive season with a charity market in Penshurst next weekend.

The Penshurst Vintage Christmas Fair, which coincides with the regular farmers market, takes place in the village hall on Saturday, November 7, from 10am until 4pm.

There will be 23 vintage stalls, selling homeware, jewellery, clothes, decorations and more.

A spokesman for organisers said: With a pop-up tea parlour and music, it is a great vintage event to start the Christmas season off.

Admission is 2 and money raised will go to the Hospice in the Weald.

New species of wasp A SPECIES of wasp never before seen in Britain has been found in the Broadwater Warren nature reserve on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells, it has been confi rmed.

The parasitic wasp lymantrichneumon disparis was discovered by Tony Davis, of Butterfl y Conservation in 2013.

Expert Dr Gavin Broad said: Its not uncommon to fi nd parasitic wasps new to Britain, but to fi nd a new genus for the country that is large and showy is very unusual and good evidence of change in our fauna.

LOCAL NEWS 11

Wednesday 28th October 2015

DO YOU HAVE A STORY?

email: newsdesk@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

The categories:Best New Business AwardBest Green AwardBest Creative AwardCorporate Social Responsibility AwardBusiness Hero of the YearBest Family Business of the YearEntrepreneur of the YearYoung Business Person of the YearBest Customer Service AwardOutstanding Business of the Year

The judges:David JukesBusinessman and leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Jo JamesCEO of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce

Nigel HarperCEO of lawyers Parfi tt Cresswell

Darren AustinOwner/partner of Synergy Business Advisors

Brian WhitingOwner/MD of restaurant group Whiting & Hammond

Richard MooreEditorial director of publishers One Media

town of fund managers, which you can read on

To further underline the newspapers ongoing commitment to local com-panies and initiatives, it is today launching the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016. The objective is to recognise excel-lence in local business across ten award categories with the ulti-mate winners being honoured at a gala night dinner in May next year.

Jo James, chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said: This will be an excellent opportunity to celebrate many of the great businesses in the

Darryl Lawson and his mobile hairdresser, to heav-yweight financial articles such as the gathering in

celebrate many of the great businesses in the borough, but also I hope stimulate others to look at

ness or business person operating within the Borough of Tun-

bridge Wells. The formal launch of the

awards will be held on November 25, with invited guests, in Tunbridge Wells. Among those attending will be the six judges drawn from the

local business community.Full details of the catego-

ries and how to enter will be published in this newspaper and

online. Each winner of a category will automatically be put forward for the

town of fund managers, which you can read on

To further underline the newspapers ongoing commitment to local com-panies and initiatives, it is today launching the Royal Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2016. The

mate winners being honoured at a gala night dinner in May next year.

Jo James, chief executive of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, said: This will be an excellent opportunity to celebrate many of the great businesses in the

ness or business person operating within the Borough of Tun-

bridge Wells.

ries and how to enter will be published in this newspaper and

online. Each winner of a category

bawardssiu ness

outstanding achievements in town

is a newspaper that was launched with a remit to reflect, among other things, the business life of the town. And it has

ON THE JUDGING PANELJo James

Wednesday 28th October 2015

12 NATIONAL NEWS

KENT police and crime commissioner Ann Barnes may have committed an offence of driving with-out insurance when she was involved in a crash, according to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Mrs Barnes was involved in a collision in Princes Road, Dartford, on September 16 last year.

She was en route to a business meeting in a Mercedes CLK registered in her husbands name.

She was a named driver on the insurance policy but for social, domestic and pleasure use only, and policy stipulated by Kent Police and her own office stated she should have business mileage in place.

The matter was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided Mrs Barnes would not be prosecuted for driving without insurance.

But the IPCC report released yesterday states there is evidence which could determine an offence had been committed.

In its conclusion, the report states: It is the investigators opinion that there is evidence upon which the IPCC commissioner could determine that an offence of using a motor vehicle without insur-ance may have been committed by Mrs Barnes.

But it adds the CPS is now out of time to apply any prosecution on the matter.

The CPS statement at the time of its decision on February 23 said: Although some further investi-gation might assist in determining whether there

would be sufficient evidence to prosecute, we are not advising any further enquiries as we consider it would not be in the public interest to prosecute.

The IPCC report states the investigator accepts there was considerable confusion as to whether Mrs Barnes was covered.

It continues: Mrs Barnes has said that she believed that she had adequate insurance. Using a motor vehicle without insurance is a strict liabil-ity offence and it would not be a defence that Mrs Barnes may have believed she had insurance.

A genuine belief that she was insured might pro-vide mitigation if she was convicted.

Mrs Barnes, who drove the streets of Kent in a van she dubbed Ann Force 1, has faced a string of contro-versies since she was elected to her 85,000-a-year post in 2012.

She appointed Paris Brown, then 17, as Brit-ains first youth crime commissioner. Miss Brown resigned from the 15,000-a-year job after com-ments she made on Twitter were publicised.

Her second youth crime tsar, Kerry Boyd, faced allegations of a relationship with a married former councillor.

The position was subsequently suspended.This year, Mrs Barnes apologised for taking part in

a Channel 4 documentary.Kent officers said she made the force a laughing

stock in Meet The Police Commissioner.

FOUR of the Britons who died after a whale-watch-ing boat sank off the coast of Canada have been named.

David Thomas, 50, and his 18-year-old son Ste-phen, from Swindon, Wiltshire, were among five Britons killed when the boat overturned near Vancouver Island on Sunday, sources said.

Jack Slater, 76, and 29-year-old Katie Taylor were also killed, sources said.

Stephens mother Julie was among 21 people rescued from the stricken vessel, Leviathan II, which was carrying 24 passengers and three crew.

A 27-year-old man from Sydney is missing, while his girlfriends father is reportedly among the dead.

Tributes poured in for Mr Thomas, who worked for Microsoft, and his son.

The Downs Syndrome Association described Stephen as a very talented young man and a gifted photographer, while his father was a huge supporter of the charity.

The boat, run by Jamies Whaling Station, a local tour company, got into difficulty eight miles from the small town of Tofino, around 150 miles west of Vancouver.

The companys owner Jamie Bray said people were traumatised and in disbelief at what had happened.

He said: This vessel has operated for 20 years with an absolutely perfect safety record. This is something just totally out of the blue.

We just dont understand and we wont know the answers until the Transportation Safety Board finishes their investigations.

Kents PCC may have committed car offence

Father and son died on whale boat

NAMED DRIVERAnn Barnes

TRAGEDYDavid and Stephen Thomas

Wednesday 28th October 2015

NATIONAL NEWS 13

THE government has announced a review into the workings of parliament, after the chancellors double House of Lords defeat over plans to cut tax credits.

George Osborne insisted yesterday he will press ahead with changes to reduce the welfare bill, despite the Lords vote.

Mr Osborne faced MPs yesterday for the first time after peers backed two motions delaying the 4.4 billion cuts in working tax and child tax credits.

At Treasury questions in the House of Commons, Mr Osborne said he will announce plans to ease the tran-sition to lower tax credits in his autumn statement.

But he also said the Lords vote breached the centu-ry-old convention that the upper house does not block financial decisions made by the Commons.

And last night, Downing Street said it would exam-ine how to protect the ability of elected governments to secure their business.

It will consider how to secure the decisive role of the elected Commons in relation to its primacy on financial matters and secondary legislation.

Yesterday, Mr Osborne said: Last night, unelected Labour and Liberal peers voted down the financial measures on tax credits approved by this elected House of Commons. That raises clear constitutional issues which we will deal with.

We will continue to reform tax credits and save the money needed so Britain lives within its means, while lessening the impact on families during the transition.

We remain as determined as ever to build the low-tax, low-welfare, high-wage economy that Britain

needs and the British people want.Shadow chancellor John McDonnell told Mr

Osborne that if he came forward with measures to reverse the cuts fairly and in full, he would be applauded by Labour.

He urged the chancellor to avoid the need for the cuts by reversing inheritance tax breaks for the wealthiest few and scaling back the surplus he aims to run by the end of parliament.

He added: Can he assure us that whatever propos-als he brings forward, he will not support any that an independent assessment demonstrates will cause any child to be forced to live below the poverty line?

The chancellor said he would listen to any proposals Mr McDonnell had to help in the transition to lower tax credits, but added: If he is again promoting uncapped welfare and unlimited borrowing, I dont think the British people are going to listen to him.

Commons leader Chris Grayling had said nothing had been ruled out in the review on constitutional arrangements governing the Houses of Parliament ordered by Mr Cameron including the possibility of creating 100 or more new Tory peers to secure a majority in the upper house.

Mr Grayling said Mondays votes reflected unelected Labour and Liberal Democrat peers deciding to use their weight in the second chamber to try to wreck the Governments programme.

There will have to be change. Of course there will have to be change, he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

Real-life tractor beam levitates objects

Parliament review announced after Lords vote on tax credits

A REAL-life tractor beam that can levitate objects has been developed by British scientists.

It uses a 3D hologram of high intensity sound and is not quite up to capturing a starship.

But with targets less than a millimetre across, the device created by Bristol and Sussex university researchers performs just like its classic sci-fi counterpart.

Tiny objects can be lifted into the air, moved and rotated by adjusting 64 miniature loudspeakers.

Possible applications include moving and assembling delicate electronic components or transporting drug capsules or micro-sized surgical instruments through living tissue.

Professor Sriram Subramanian, from the University of Sussex, co-founder of the sonic technology company Ultrahaptics, said: In our device we manipulate objects in mid-air and seemingly defy gravity.

Here we individually control dozens of loudspeakers to tell us an optimal solution to generate an acoustic hologram that can manipulate multiple objects in real-time without contact.

The beam works by surrounding an object with high-pitched, high-intensity sound waves to trap it

within an acoustic force-field.Different shaped force-fields made of sound were

found to function as tractor beams, the scientists reported in the journal Nature Communications.

One resembled a pair of fingers or tweezers, another took the form of a swirling vortex, and a third enclosed the object in a cage.

PhD student and lead author Asier Marzo, from the University of Bristol, said: It was an incredible experience the first time we saw the object held in place by the tractor beam. All my hard work has paid off, its brilliant.

LEVITATIONThe beam can

lift tiny objects

OPPOSITIONJohn McDonnell said

Labour would applaud reversing the cuts

14 NATIONAL NEWS

Wednesday 28th October 2015

BRITAIN will maintain its military support mission in Afghanistan until the end of next year, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has announced.

In a Commons written statement, Mr Fallon said about 450 personnel will remain in a non-combat role to include mentoring instructors at the Afghan National Army Offi cer Academy.

The move follows the announcement by US president Barack Obama that the US is to maintain its remaining force in Afghanistan throughout 2016.

Mr Fallon said: The UK government recognised it would take time for the Afghan national defence and security forces to develop into a fully-fledged fighting force capable of providing complete security for the people of Afghanistan.

We therefore made plans to review our commitment in light of its performance over the year and the overall security situation.

Both the US and our own decisions underline Natos continued commitment to training and assisting Afghan forces as they grow stronger.

Britain to keep troops in Afghanistan until end of 2016

TB rates in parts of London arehigher than Rwanda and Eritrea

NEWS IN BRIEF

Mum facing prison over taking children to Syria A WOMAN accused of trying to take two of her children to Syria has been warned she is facing prison.

The 34-year-old mother from Bradford, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with two counts of abducting children under 16.

She appeared at Leeds Crown Court yesterday via videolink from prison.

No formal pleas were entered but she confirmed she will plead guilty to the charges and will be sentenced on November 17.

The woman is charged with taking two children out of the UK on October 10.

Judge Sally Cahill QC said: These are extremely serious offences and you are facing a custodial sentence.

Judge Cahill ordered pre-sentence reports and remanded the woman in custody.

Policemen stole 30kTHREE serving police officers stole 30,000 after a raid, a court heard.

Former detective sergeant Stephen Phillips and constables Philip Christopher Evans and Michael Stokes took cash from safes in a house they raided in 2011, Cardiff Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Peter Griffiths QC said more money was taken by Mr Phillips and Mr Stokes in a police station.

Phillips, 47, of Swansea, is accused of four counts of theft while Evans, 38, of Llangennech, and 35-year-old Stokes, of Glynneath, both face two charges.

All three deny the charges.

Teens phone obsessionMOST teenagers could not last more than a day without social media or smartphones, according to research.

A survey for travel rewards firm Avios of 2,000 youngsters found two out of three spend an average two hours a day on social media, more during school holidays.

A similar number admitted to texting someone in the same house.

Three out of four teenagers said they could not last a day without social media, one in seven admitted they would not last an hour.

PARTS of London have higher rates of tuberculo-sis than countries such as Rwanda, Eritrea and Iraq, according to a report.

The capital recorded more than 2,500 new cases of TB in London last year about 40 per cent of the UKs total.

The report, issued by the London Assembly, found a third of London boroughs exceed the World Health Organisations (WHO) high inci-dence threshold, with more than 40 cases per 100,000 people.

Some borough wards are recording mark-edly more areas of Hounslow, Brent, Harrow, Newham and Ealing have more than 150 inci-dents per 100,000 people.

WHO figures from 2013 show Iraq has 45 per 100,000, Rwanda had 69 and Eritrea 92. As a whole, the UK had 13 cases per 100,000.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria, which is passed on through cough-ing and sneezing. Most people who develop TB have had prolonged exposure to an infected per-son, the report said.

The report calls for Londoners be educated on the disease and the Greater London Authority to include TB services when dealing with rough sleepers.

Dr Onkar Sahota, chair of the London Assem-bly Health Committee, called the findings astounding and urged London mayor Boris Johnson to act.

Dr Sahota said: If we dont get a grip on Lon-dons TB situation now, the harder and more expensive it will be to tackle in the years to come. With pressures on health budgets, we cant afford to take our eye off the ball.

The mayor needs to take more accountability for TB control in London. He is uniquely placed to drive forward measures for TB prevention, as well as better access to treatment.

Prisoners, refugees, migrants, people with substance abuse issues and homeless people were found to be most at risk of the disease.

However, latest figures released by Public Health England showed a decrease in the num-ber of reported cases of TB in England. A total of 6,520 cases of TB were recorded, down from 7,257 in 2013.

The figures showed the London borough of Newham had the highest TB rates in the coun-try, with 107 cases per 100,000 people.

Globally nine million people fell ill with TB and 1.5 million died in 2013, according to WHO figures. Aside from HIV/Aids, it is the greatest single infectious agent killer worldwide.

Swaziland, Africa, had the highest rate of cases globally, with 1,382 cases per 100,000 people.

A spokeswoman for City Hall said: The mayor takes the issue of TB seriously and recognises it is a significant health challenge for London.

Recent figures show that, in the three years to 2014, the number of people infected in the capi-tal has fallen but the mayor remains committed to tackling TB and is assured by Public Health England that every effort continues to be made to prevent and treat the disease in London.

Britain to keep troops in Afghanistan until end of 2016STAYING PUTBritish troops in Afghanistan

KILLERTuberculosis bacteria

Wednesday 28th October 2015

WORLD NEWS 15

WORLD IN BRIEF

RESCUE efforts are being stepped up to help those affected by the magnitude-7.5 earthquake which hit remote areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday.

More than 400 people have died, and at least 2,000 were injured.

Rescue teams have been sent to remote mountain-ous areas where the effects of the disaster are still unclear.

Victims included 12 Afghan schoolgirls killed in a stampede as they tried to leave their classes.

They fell under the feet of other students, an offi-cial in Takhar said.

Reports said many people, afraid of a second quake, spent the night outside in near-freezing temperatures.

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani, in a televised address, urged those living in affected areas to help rescue efforts.

The governor of Badakhshan province, Shah Wali-ullah Adeeb, said survey teams were heading into

Earthquake rescue bid as death toll tops 300

ENDANGERED The vaquita marina

US destroyer illegallypasses disputed islandsA US Navy ship has sailed close to islands built by China in disputed waters of the South China Sea.

Guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen breached the zone China claims around Subi and Mischief reefs.

The freedom of navigation operation represents a serious challenge to Chinas territorial claims.

Beijing condemned it as illegal, adding that it would resolutely respond to any countrys deliberately provocative actions.

US defence spokesman Commander Bill Urban had said: The United States is conducting routine operations in accordance with international law.

The two submerged reefs were turned into islands by China in a dredging project which started in 2013.

Kosovos EU dealKOSOVO has signed a stabilisation and association agreement with the European Union, a historic milestone which will help the economic growth of one of Europes poorest countries.

Yesterdays signature opens the way to eventual full EU membership.

The EU has been Kosovos main supporter with about 1.3 billion euros (some 935 million) in development aid for 2007 to 2020, according to Thomas Gnocchi, of the EU office in Kosovo.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

25 sightings of endangered porpoiseSCIENTISTS in the Gulf of California have had 25 sightings of the endangered vaquita marina, the worlds smallest porpoise, in 20 days.

The monitoring team is part of an effort to save the vaquita, which is only found in the gulf.

The porpoise is threatened by gillnet fi shing for totoaba, a fi sh whose swim bladder is prized by chefs in Asia.

Only about 100 are left, according to the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita.

Scientists did not say what the sightings indicate, and

emphasised they are not taking a census and could have seen the same animals more than once.

But their plan is to estimate the density of the population as a measure for the effectiveness of government programmes to save the porpoise.

These 25 sightings are good news and give us hope, said Omar Vidal of the World Wildlife Fund.

We need, however, to be very, very clear that it is quite early to come with any conclusions on vaquita abundance.

called on aid agencies not to hold back relief sup-plies and ordered its fighters to help victims.

Most fatalities reported so far are in northern Paki-stan, where at least 230 people were killed and 1,629 injured.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, authorities said, at least 184 people died, and more than 1,400 were injured. At least another 30 died in northwestern tribal areas.

India, Iran and US forces in Afghanistan have all offered help.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earth-quake was centred in the mountainous Hindu Kush region, in Badakhshan province.

It was more than 125 miles below the surface, which meant the shaking at ground level was less severe than for a shallow earthquake.

The USGS said aftershocks, all measuring 4.0 or higher, had struck west of the quake.

Residents of Kabul and Indian capital Delhi were shaken by the earthquake, while buildings in Tajik capital Dushanbe were damaged.

The region has a history of earthquakes caused by the collision of India with Eurasia. The two plates are moving towards each other at 4 to 5cm per year.

In 2005, more than 75,000 people died in a magni-tude-7.6 quake in Kashmir.

more remote areas yesterday but rocks and landslides had blocked roads and helicopters were needed.

He said food and other essential aid were ready to go but getting there is not easy.

The Taliban, which controls parts of the province,

UK economic growth slows down more than expected

UK ECONOMIC growth slowed more than expected in the three months to September, offi-cial figures show.

The news will ease pressure on the Bank of England to raise interest rates.

Analysts had forecast that growth would slow slightly from 0.7 per cent in the second quarter

to 0.6 per cent in the third.However, figures from the Office for National

Statistics (ONS) put third-quarter growth at just 0.5 per cent.

The powerhouse services sector continued its strong performance, growing 0.7 per cent in the period, but this was partially offset by a worry-

BP SUFFERED a 40 per cent drop in third-quarter earnings as it was hampered by cheap crude oil prices, but still beat analysts estimates.

The oil giants underlying replacement cost profit was 1.819 billion US dollars (1.185 billion), compared with 3.037 billion US dollars (1.979 million) a year ago.

BP said the drop was a result of sharply lower oil and gas prices, which have more than halved to 50 dollars a barrel from 12 months ago.

BP profits drop after oil price falls

TOUGH DECISIONSChancellor George Osborne

VERY.co.uk has become the UKs fastest growing department store, according to its parent company Shop Direct, after its sales surged more than 20 per cent in its last financial year.

The site, which carries clothing ranges designed by TV and radio presenter Fearne Cotton and has signed up Immy Waterhouse as its new face, also showed its strength in mobile, with almost 60 per cent of total online sales coming from mobile devices.

The figure is 17 percentage points ahead of the wider market, the company said.

Group sales at Shop Direct, which also includes Littlewoods.com and VeryExclusive.co.uk and is owned by the billionaire Barclay brothers, were up three per cent to 1.8 billion.

Profit before tax surged 78 per cent to hit a company record of 71.7 million, as it reaped the benefits of

ditching catalogues and focusing on digital sales only.Very.co.uk and mobile have been the outstanding

performers for us, said Shop Direct chief executive Alex Baldock.

Were working hard to keep our lead in m-commerce, and Very is now the UKs fastest growing department store.

Mr Baldock also said Shop Direct was in good shape for the peak Christmas period.

He added: We expect growth, discipline and transformation to drive another record year.

Very.co.uk was formally known as Littlewoods Direct but was rebranded in 2009, shifting its focus to online retailing and a younger market.

A mobile enabled version of the site was launched a year later, upgrading to include video and images in 2011.

More than 60 per cent of Very sales on mobiles

Wednesday 28th October 2015

16 n BUSINESS NEWS

ing 2.2 per cent decline in construction output.That represents the biggest quarterly fall in

construction for three years.Manufacturing continued to struggle as it fell

by a more moderate 0.3 per cent, while mining and quarrying increased 2.4 per cent.

Annual growth figures were slightly below expectations at 2.3 per cent analysts had pre-dicted growth of 2.4 per cent.

While lower than expected, it is nevertheless the 11th consecutive quarter of growth, and chancellor George Osborne will no doubt point to the fact that the economy is now 12.3 per cent bigger than at the start of the last parliament.

Yesterdays figures are only the first estimate of quarterly growth, and may well be revised up or down in the coming months as the ONS collects more data.

Responding to the figures, Mr Osborne warned that more tough decisions would be required to keep the economy on track.

It is good news that Britain continues to out-perform other western economies, he said. But there are clear global risks and there is still much more to do to fix our economy.

In the autumn statement we will take more steps to ensure we feel the recovery right across our country, make the long-term investments for the future and, crucially, continue to make the tough decisions required so that Britain lives within its means.

The performance still exceeded analysts estimates of 1.2 billion US dollars (780 million) profit.

BP chief executive Bob Dudley said: Last year, we acted decisively to reset BP for a sustained period of lower oil prices. We are now in action

to rebalance our financial framework in this new price environment.

I am confident BPs strong and well-balanced portfolio of businesses and projects gives us the ability to grow value.

The firm said its total bill for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill has now hit 55 billion dollars (35.85 billion), and could rise further.

The total amount that will be paid will be dependent on many factors, a spokesman said.

These could have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results and cash flows.

The oil giant announced a quarterly dividend of ten cents per ordinary share, which it expects to be paid on December 18. The corresponding amount in sterling will be announced on December 7.

TECHNOLOGY

PRO

MO

TIO

NAL

FEA

TURE

Times Technology ExpertSimon Luckof Adept IT

How youre already leveraging cloud computingIf youre thinking of enjoying the benefits of cloud computing anytime soon, it may surprise you to learn that youre probably already using the cloud in some form or another.

Maybe youve got a Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo! email account? Perhaps you use online productivity tools like Office 365 or Google Apps? What about online storage facilities such as those offered by Dropbox or Google Drive?

No? Well, okay then - have you ever used Facebook, Twitter or any other social media platform?

The point is, many of us are already reaping the rewards of cloud technology without knowing it. Were talking about flexible technology thats cheaper, safer and easier to use than what weve had in years gone by.

Many global businesses, both small and large, are moving over to cloud computing because of the benefits. Theres nothing to be fearful about with the cloud. The cloud is redefining the way we do business and research seems to indicate that almost 80% of all companies will have fully moved over to cloud computing by 2020.

Business is tough in almost every industry, so its necessary to leverage your time well. Thats where the cloud comes in. Cloud computing takes the stress out of business. It gives you safe and seamless access to all your business data on computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones and other devices. Thats wherever you are and whenever you want.

With the cloud, theres no need to worry about keeping your files secure on a single computer, or with regularly backing up your important business data. Your business information has never been safer. You can manage who has access to your files at the click of a button, so if a device gets misplaced, you and your business are not at risk. But its the seamless nature of the cloud that has increased productivity in businesses.

The ability to work remotely is something thats growing in popularity. And while large businesses may use cloud computing to allow staff to work from home, there are other benefits for smaller businesses, since it means business owners can work on the move.

Its also great not being limited by the effectiveness of desktop software, as efficiency is the order of the day. The cloud combines collaboration with convenience; having a single place to store documents (such as company policies, business plans and suchlike) makes them easier to maintain. Your imagination is your only limitation, really.

If you have any questions regarding this article or anything technology related, please email: adept@timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

BY MAX BARFORD

Whatever our age or circumstances, we may be about to

embark on a new relationship

which will involve living with someone else. Quite apart from all the emotional issues that are involved and the overwhelming desire to be with one another, there are implications which can be discussed and agreed without in any way damaging a budding relationship.

There are therefore circumstances when using a specialist family lawyer can make matters so much better.

Particular issues and considerations apply when someone is moving into what has up to now been your home, sharing your belongings and frequently involving nancial commitments. If not discussed and agreed they simply give rise to arguments and problems in the future.

Many relationships can exist for months (or even years) before marriage or they can be over in such a short time that they are simply transitory. Cohabiting couples are now the fastest growing family unit. It is not unknown for partners to get engaged, live together, break o the engagement without appreciating that engagement not leading to marriage will have legal implications which arise as a result of the Married Womans Property Act 1882. If therefore you are going to live with another person, whether or not you get engaged, (which does add a level of potential complication), it is essential that you consider entering into a Cohabitation Agreement recording what the nancial arrangements will be between you, who owns what and how adjustments are made if there are any nancial changes that need to be considered in the future.

That agreement needs to cover what happens if there is a split.

With fewer people getting married, and with it being the norm for people to live with one another it is particularly important to bear in mind that Cohabitation Agreements, can if they ful l the necessary requirements be enforced by the courts.

Individuals in later life may have come from a failed marriage or relationship and may need to consider protection by entering into an agreement especially if it gives them the reassurance they need when considering the risk of living with someone else.

Just because you are married does not mean you cannot get engaged to another person and that engagement may have signi cance in relation to claims made under the Married Womans Property Act 1882. Accordingly, complications are not always obvious or logical and in some cases obscure and based upon very old law.

Basic form of Cohabitation Agreements can be prepared simply, effectively and inexpensively. Some situations may require a more sophisticated document. My dedicated team at Max Barford Solicitors are handpicked for their experience and knowledge to guide you as to what may or may not be required, so achieving the best possible outcome for you . Our service is confidential , discreet and bespoke to each client and we will never disclose your information to others.

It is essential you choose the right legal team for this specialist area, as this is key to your emotional and nancial future. Please call Max Barford Solicitors today on 01892 539379, or email times@maxbarford.co.uk

Max Barford & Co16 Mount Pleasant,Tunbridge Wells. Kent TN1 1QU www.maxbarford.co.uk

Understanding the legal implications is vital to protecting your nancial assets.

Cohabitating couples are the fastest growing family unit

Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480

ADVERTISING FEATURE 17

Wednesday 28th October 2015

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LEADING financial figures whose portfolios can be counted in billions of pounds congre-gated at the Royal Spa Hotel.

The occasion was the second annual invest-ment symposium hosted by Wellian Invest-ment Solutions, a well-established Tunbridge Wells investment firm. The main theme, in light of recent market turbulence, was risk management.

More than 50 advisors, fund managers and investors gathered last Wednesday to hear prominent speakers assess how best to man-age risk, weather financial storms and make millions in the process.

The first presentation was given by James Dowey, chief economist and chief investment officer of Neptune Investment, a firm which had over 5bn in assets under management at the start of the year.

Mr Dowey, also a PhD scholar at the London School of Economics, highlighted three main areas of risk his firm sees on the horizon: China, interest rates and technology.

He said: China is a risk but it is the least worrying. We do not expect a Lehman moment as the Chinese government has already started to bail out the most heavil