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OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS
From EASTENDERS and CALL THE MIDWIFE
UR E ER YO E AP FR L P CA LO
Wednesday November 30 | 2022
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Charges at Dunorlan are no longer parked By Richard Williams THE Council in Tunbridge Wells could be set to introduce parking charges at Dunorlan Park in early 2023, after it had to backtrack on plans earlier this year. A consultation is currently being held to re-consider the proposals introduced by the cross-party Borough Partnership that runs Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. As the Times reported in July, the coalition had to U-turn on introducing fees at Pembury Road and Halls Hole Road car parks, but had not held any consultation on the plan, which sparked a backlash and a petition against the move. The Council also had to scrap parking charges for Paddock Wood and Southborough following a similar backlash. The charges had been planned to plug a £1million budget gap in the Town Hall’s finances, which was set to rise to more
than £2.5million next year and were announced during July’s budget review. A consultation is now up and running to ask residents and visitors to Dunorlan Park whether the Council should introduce charges for the popular beauty spot. The Council says it costs £182,000 a year to maintain Dunorlan and its car park, and charges could ‘mitigate this expenditure’.
Released Residents have taken to social media to complain about the plans, and last week, organisers of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Parkrun, which takes place at the park every Saturday, released a statement to alert its members to the plan. The group, which has scores of members who attend the weekly five-kilometre event, said it would not take an view on whether parking charges should be
introduced, but it appealed to the Council to make consideration for the Parkrun, such as waiving fees for its volunteers. Cllr Chris Hall (Lib Dem), the Council’s head of finance said: “Currently the Council spends more than it receives in revenue so we need to look at new ways of meeting costs including maintaining our beautiful parks. “I would encourage everyone to submit their views via the Council’s survey by 18th December. If car parking charges are introduced at Dunorlan we need your views on how to make it fair and workable for residents.” The consultation into charges at Pembury Road and Halls Hole Road car parks at Dunorlan Park is set to run until December 18. The consultation can be accessed at: talkingpointtunbridgewells.uk. engagementhq.com
Assembly Hall Theatre Tunbridge Wells
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