Roads, crossings...and parking

Monday evening found me at the Town Hall for a meeting of the Joint Transportation Committee - a gathering of County and and Borough councillors and officials to review progress on various transport issues across the Tunbridge Wells area.

The good news for Pembury is that work on the crossings outside the Primary School and at Bull's Place (the funding for which my predecessor, Kevin Lynes, had worked hard to obtain) is due to start shortly.  Other good news is that the County Council has found money to go ahead with re-surfacing the Pembury Road this Financial Year.  Hopefully, the work can be carried out quickly and with the minimum of disruption.  I also put in a pitch in support of replacing, rather than tarmacing, red brick paving.

The meeting also considered views, both for and against, the trial residents' parking scheme in Clifton, Brook, and Oak Roads, before deciding to proceed.  Much of the concern stems from what appear to be inadequate parkign space at High Brooms station.  I made the point that there is a case for looking at making unused land close by (e.g. the gas holder site) available for additional parking for commuters.
 

  

Frustrated of Tunbridge Wells - trying to find a parking space in Clifton Road

Less satisfactory was the discussion that followed on parking policy across Tunbridge Wells.  I know from my own experience, this can be a neuralgic issue.  There is a need for a conshistent and fair policy across Tunbridge Wells.  Unfortunately, not enough thought has gone into devising one, with one or two local councillors preferring to play to the gallery rather than do the hard work in coming up with satisfactory solutions.  I fully sympathise with anyone wanting to be able to park outside (or at least near) their house.  But in popular areas - particularly in the town centre and around High Brooms stations -  there is an enormous demand for parking space.  How much space should be reserved for local residents?  How many permits should be issued per household?  And there is the question of who pays?  £60 seems a lot of money.  But I am told that it costs more than £80 to issue a permit - and many other Boroughs - Bromley, Kingston, Wandsworth etc - seek to recoup costs fully.  Is it right for a parking permit scheme in, say, St James's, to be subsidised by Council tax payers in Sherwood, Pembury and other parts of Tunbridge Wells?   I would be interested in local views.

A local success story - The Skinners' Kent Academy

I was at the Skinners' Kent Academy for the topping out ceremony for its new building on 28 June.  The Academy, under the dynamic and inspirational leadserhip of its Principal, Sian Carr, has made enormous progress in the three years since it opened.  Earlier this year, Ofsted commended its relentless and successful focus on raising attainment and there has been strong improvement in GCSE results.  Pupil numbers have risen to well over 300 with children coming from as far away as Edenbridge, and the aim is for there to be over 1000 when the school reaches full capacity.  The £21m new building programme should provide superb classrooms for the children - and the associated sports facilities will benefit the whole community.

The progress that Sian and her team have made demonstrates that the academies can lead to real improvement, offering local children the opportunity to benefit from a great education. I am keen to see the programme extended elsewhere in Kent as part of the Council's efforts to improve school standards.

A big thank you

First, a big thank you to everyone in Pembury, Sherwood and St James's for electing me as your County Councillor on 14 June. It is a great honour to have the opportunity to serve the local community and I am looking forward to working with you in the coming months to make Tunbridge Wells East a better place to live.

I grew up in Sevenoaks Weald and have known Tunbridge Wells since I was a child. After spending 25 years working as a diplomat, mainly in the Middle East and Africa, I had no hesitation in coming to live here when I decided to settle down. I am deeply attached to the area and want to use my experience of working in Government to ensure that the County Council provides the services it needs.

As a parent, I am passionately committed to ensuring that local schools offer the best education available. I am a strong supporter of both the grammar school system and academies. We are lucky in St James's, Sherwood and Pembury to have excellent schools. I will do what I can to ensure that they receive the resources they need to continue to thrive.

Roads are another priority.  I am delighted that the Conservatives have committed to funding the improvement of the A21 at Castle Hill.  I will also press for early action to ease congestion at North Farm and to improve roads, pavements and verges across the division, and intend to carry on the sterling work of my predecessor, Kevin Lynes, to secure funding for improving the safety of our roads, including for a crossing at Bull's Place in Pembury. And although not strictly a County Council matter, I want to see residents' concerns about parking addressed in a fair and practical manner, including a trial of the parking permit scheme in Clifton Road and a review of parking permit charges across Tunbridge Wells.

I also want to do what I can to get Kent County Council address your concerns – from the need to create more jobs for local people to opposing unsuitable developments, such as that proposed at Penn's Yard in Pembury, which impinge on the green belt and threaten to disrupt local communities.

Above all, I am committed to keeping Council Tax down. I am very conscious that the Council is spending your hard earned money. In these straitened times, there can be no excuse for inefficiency or unnecessary spending in any part of Government. I will use my experience of 25 years' working in Government to ensure your money is focused on providing front line services.

I am here to represent you, and am always keen to hear your views about how to make Tunbridge Wells a better place to live. If you are concerned about any issues, please don't hesitate to get in contact with me at the following e-mail address:

James.Tansley@kent.gov.uk

With my very best wishes,

James Tansley