Big brand and independent shops forced to close in Tunbridge Wells

By Rebecca_H | Thursday, January 19, 2012, 20:12

A spate of big retail brands have announced they've called in the administrators recently, including several who have enjoyed a presence in Tunbridge Wells.

Tunbridge Wells retailers braced for 2012

Pumpkin Patch, Past Times, Focus DIY, Jane Norman and Hawkins Bazaar are just a few of the big casualties of the UK's economic downturn.

But behind these chains making the national news, there are an ever-increasing number of small, independent businesses in the town who are being forced to close their doors.

This week, Breeds the cutler on the High Street closed down after being open for more than 100 years, despite every effort to keep going. The famous Bob's DIY on Camden Road recently closed, and we've seen other stores, including Green's menswear, also shutting their doors for good.

The leisure, drinks and food industry too has seen a number of casualties thanks to the struggling economy, and back in 2011 the popular Mount Edgcumbe pub closed and the Pantiles Hotel finally went this week.

Sad times indeed.

Many reasons for the changing face of our town centre have been given, including a chronic lack of parking, the ever-expanding North Farm retail park (with its free parking), the astronomically high cost of retail rents and of course, the recent hikes on tax on beer for landlords.

Frustrated locals are pushing for action and resolution, and have set up a page to address some of the biggest issues - including retail problems - affecting Tunbridge Wells here.

Are there any other independent stores closing that you know of?

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Comments

The Sausage Shop too can be added to the list...:(

By Rebecca_H at 16:33 on 15/04/12
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Hi Swing! All I've asked for is an explanation of, and facts behind, your adverse comments about TW (and KCC?) councillors. You don't even have to mention names; in fact it's better you don't.

Perhaps we can then analyse them and attempt to correct past mistakes? Councils, councillors, and even we residents, are not perfect, we just need to work together to find agreeable solutions or seek explanations. Mud slinging won't achieve that; in fact the reverse is true.

Look; I'm genuinely trying to help here and can't understand why you won't provide such details, particularly as you seem so angry about councillors' past performances concerning our town and borough.

By Jayaydee at 19:57 on 05/02/12
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You cant libel a council or any other corporate body.
Councillors have the right to come on here to defend their collective honour(such that it is) but prefer to get sock puppet trolls to do their dirty work for them instead.

By MrSwing at 10:18 on 05/02/12
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I think your last remarks border on being libellous, Swing. They are also far from the truth, in my experience. It's a very good job you didn't name anyone or a particular council! I would urge you to greater caution from now on.

What I will say though, is that they vary in their effectiveness, like other people do in their daily employment and social lives; as you would expect, since they reflect an, albeit limited, cross-section of society as a whole. It is therefore important that we chose our councillors on the basis of what we know about them and what we think they will do for us, rather than, as so often, in our own area, almost invariably putting a cross against a certain "bunch of broccoli" logo!

Sadly, neither of us can control what others do in their myopic ignorance! That is not to say that the "broccoli" party doesn't have some good councillors, as witnessed by our current TWB cabinet and their increasingly good performance. Have you actually met and spoken to them? Or are your views merely based on others' past performance, or equally sadly, on what you read in our main local newspaper which appears, apart from its excellent and fair chief reporter, Mary Harris, to remain partial to the previous, ousted leader, cabinet and policies and their diminishing number of supporters.

I find it sad that you - apparently and unless it's a wind-up - hold such views. Perhaps you should get to know your council and its workings better? That is, if you actually still live in the borough. If you don't then, perhaps it's best you concentrate on your own local authority? Roughly where do you live?

As I have said previously on this website, please let us have specific examples and facts of problems you have experienced. On that basis, rather than sweeping and highly damaging generalisations and accusations, perhaps we can then work together with others in analysing them and finding solutions to guide future similar events. And perhaps, optimistically, even attempt to correct past mistakes, as we are attempting elsewhere in the case of jacobrichter and his railings/barriers problem?

By Jayaydee at 09:12 on 05/02/12
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I have yet to meet one councillor who has any interest in the people they are supposed to represent other than during the run up to an election.
Being a councillor is all about greed and just another tick in the box marked
self interest along with belonging to a strange secret society and a member of the right golf club.
Everyone knows that if you want something to happen in local government its not the strength of your argument that securs it but the strength of the brown envelope.

By MrSwing at 23:07 on 03/02/12
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