WEST KENT NEWS

Reform UK councillors have had a noisy first day in the chamber running Kent County Council, as they congratulated each other on their win.

The founder of the West Kent Youth Theatre, Diana Edwardes, who inspired hundreds of young people over several decades, has died aged 98.

It's emerged that taxpayers are helping to fund the building of around 500 homes on protected countryside south of Tunbridge Wells.

Reform UK's new leadership of Kent County Council has announced the creation of a new post to find savings.

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The Conservatives have lost their overall majority on Sevenoaks District Council after a revolt by their own councillors.

The Post Office in Frant has been officially reopened offering seven-day opening.

The new Conservative leader on Kent County Council is Harry Rayner, who represents Malling West division including voters in Hildenborough.

Linden Kemkaran, who lives in Headcorn, has been named as the new Reform UK leader of Kent County Council.

The Conservatives’ 28-year rule at Kent County Council is over.

The Liberal Democrats have triumphed in Tunbridge Wells as Reform UK took control of Kent County Council.

The Green Party has won both seats it was defending in Tonbridge town at the final Kent County Council elections.

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The Chair of the Southborough Cricket Club, David Smith, has spoken about the huge growth in interest in playing cricket locally.

Graffiti vandals have undone hours of restoration work by volunteers at Spa Valley Railway.

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Kent Wildlife Trust is trying to raise half a million pounds from the public to restore nightingales and other wildlife to land near Scotney Castle.

A major redevelopment of Sevenoaks town centre is set to include a new swimming pool and 264 new homes.

There's strong local resistance to plans for 120 new homes on farmland next to Capel Primary School.

The boss of an Academy Trust that runs two secondary schools in Tonbridge has warned it could make teachers redundant.

Councillors have rejected plans to build 44 homes on the redundant AXA office site in Tunbridge Wells.

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The boss of a local construction firm says he sees growing interest in apprenticeships from young people.

Councillors have approved the building of 120 new homes in the village of Horsmonden.

Leading Tunbridge Wells hospitality businesses have teamed up with the local MP Mike Martin to highlight cost rises which they say are "potentially ruinous".

Councillors have agreed on a central Tonbridge location for the replacement for the Angel Leisure Centre.

Tonbridge Castle has announced its summer line-up of entertainment, featuring food, music, theatre and community events.

Sainsbury’s in Tunbridge Wells wants to install solar panels, prompting complaints from some local residents.

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Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin of the Liberal Democrats has said local government changes in Kent will overall be "a good thing."

The leaders of Kent's local authorities have sent the government four options for how they want the county's political map to look after reorganisation.

A banking hub will open in Tonbridge within three months.

Two Liberal Democrat Borough Councillors in Tunbridge Wells have resigned and are leaving the council.

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A Labour Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor has called the mass tree planting scheme of the ruling Liberal Democrats "an expensive distraction."

Annual school bus passes in Kent will go up to £580 a year, prompting more parents to consider driving their children to classes.

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A Conservative councillor has warned that a plan for 3,000 new homes near Capel, which was dropped last year, could be considered again by the council.

The historic clock chimes of St Peter's Church in Southborough are ringing out once again over the common every quarter hour.

The Tonbridge MP, Tom Tugendhat, has said he will continue to campaign against what he calls "damaging expansion" at Gatwick Airport.

The Organic Village Market grocery store in Tonbridge has improved its food hygiene rating after an earlier inspection found rotting food there.

Kent County Council is putting up council tax by 5 per cent from April.

Seventy motorists are still being fined every day for straying into the prohibited traffic zone in the centre of Tunbridge Wells.

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Tonbridge is to get its own Town Council if most voters in the Tonbridge town area want one.

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The Green Party Councillor, Mark Hood, has attacked what he called Labour's "bonfire of regulations" after news of plans for a new Heathrow runway.

Local Liberal Democrats say a tree planting scheme which was promised at the last local elections has got underway.

The Labour government has announced that Kent will not be "fast-tracked" for a mayor and devolution.

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The Tunbridge Wells heritage railway has begun running events to raise £300,000 to replace a corroded bridge.

The suffragettes are among those to be honoured in a new set of heritage plaques for Tunbridge Wells.

The MP for Tonbridge, Tom Tugendhat, has said South East Water's handling of the break down of drinking water supplies has been "unacceptable. "

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The Liberal Democrat Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Ben Chapelard, has welcomed as "exciting" aspects of the radical changes planned for Kent's local government.

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The Green Party County Councillor for Tonbridge, Mark Hood, has attacked the government's planned council changes as a "concentration of power".