West Kent Talking

Martin Webber
  • 0.0 (0)
  • News

Fascinating interviews with people in the area of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells in Kent on the big topics of the moment. They are recorded by former BBC World Service journalist, Martin Webber, who delights in tracking down people passionate about improving their local community. Issues include who's running the council, safety on the streets, producing organic apples locally, cycle routes and help for electric car drivers. All the interviews were first broadcast on West Kent Radio - the volunteer OFCOM authorised community radio station on 95.5, 106.7 and 107.2 FM.

  1. Aug 15

    Episode 24: Snooker Club Fights for Survival

    Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is still aiming to demolish the town's Friendly Societies' Hall, which houses a popular snooker club. I've been speaking to the owners of the Victoria Snooker Centre to hear their case to be preserved. They reveal they last week finally met in person the key Liberal Democrat on the council who is in charge of the redevelopment plans for the area that mean borrowing £ 68 million and building a "boutique cinema". The borrowing means a bill for council tax payers in loan repayments of £5 million a year - the council says it will get this money back due to the economic boost to the town from the shopping centre improvements.00:29 Co-owner Victoria Snooker Centre Graham Martin "please have a rethink"09:47 Co-owner Victoria Snooker Centre Liam Martin (son of Graham), ends with "we bring people into the their (council) car parks and into their streets"21:45 Support worker Ray at Motson House - a residential home who does activities to get adults into the community: "We have full support here...without having something like this local, we'd almost have to quit - we can't go to Maidstone."23:17 Club member Scott: "Where I forget everything and all I can look at is just the ball..it gives me comfort, something to escape from real life problems."26:22 Justine Rutland, Deputy Leader Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (speaking in April 2026) says the Friendly Societies Hall has to be demolished to make room for a new three screen boutique cinema which will allow the council owned Royal Victoria Place shopping centre to prosper.28:55 Mike Martin, MP for Tunbridge Wells (speaking in May 2026) on why he disagrees with the Tunbridge Wells Civic Society which says the Friendly Societies' Hall should be preserved for its architectural merit and its role in the town's social history.Work on the Friendly Societies' Hall started with a ceremony attended by Princess Louise, one of the daughters of Queen Victoria in 1877. It was funded by local tradespeople for the community in an example of Victorian "self-help." It was designed by William Barnsley Hughes and features distinctive heraldic elephant emblems on the front entrance.

  2. Jun 4

    Episode 23: Southborough Votes on Neighbourhood Plan

    The people of Southborough and High Brooms are being asked to endorse several years of work that local volunteers have put into creating a framework for future development in the town. A referendum on the Southborough and High Brooms Neighbourhood Development Plan is being held on Thursday 18th June 2026. The chair of the Steering Committee, Nicholas Woollett explains why it is so important to got out and vote.

    Episode 23: Southborough Votes on Neighbourhood Plan

  3. May 21

    Episode 22: Climate & Nature Fair 2026

    The second Climate and Nature Fair was held in Calverley Grounds in Tunbridge Wells on Sunday 3rd May 2026. Visitors to the free event saw a big collection of nature and environment groups come together to explain to the public what they are trying to achieve.00:00 Mark McBennett, organiser of Tunbridge Wells Climate and Nature Fair01:10 Cally Fiddimore, Manager at Kent High Weald Partnership on volunteering on Commons (pictured)03:54 Martin Barrett, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells Beekeepers on Asian Hornet Threat07:09 Rupert Reed, keynote speaker from Climate Majority Project on preparing for shortages11:35 Upsum and list of events12:06 end

    Episode 22: Climate & Nature Fair 2026

  4. May 9

    Episode 21: Lib Dems Win Big in Vote 26

    The Liberal Democrats have consolidated their control of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, winning 11 out of the 15 seats that were at stake in the election of May 2026. Neither Reform or the Green Party got any councillors elected. Lib Dems won 38% of votes. Labour lost 2 seats. Watch the leader of the council Ben Chapelard and the Lib Dem MP for Tunbridge Wells, Mike Martin, on their success, plus they explain what the results means for the future of the RVP development which currently means the demolition of the Victorian Friendly Societies' Hall that houses the snooker club. 00:24 Daniel Dzenkowski says he will continue campaigning for residents despite losing as the Conservative candidate in Pantiles ward. 01:19 David Hayward talks about how he beat the Lib Dems by just 18 votes in Pembury & Capel.03:08 Ellen Neville talks about why voters backed her for the Tunbridge Wells Alliance in Hawkhurst ward and why not everything is yet fixed with the RVP plans. 09:02 Mike Martin, Lib Dem MP for Tunbridge Wells on adding 3 seats12:10 Reform UK's Chair in Tun Wells Rob Grindley explains his disappointment at failing to win a seat despite his candidates' hard work. 14:12 Kate Sergeant of the Green Party points to her party's four fold increase in vote in Sherwood, where the party campaigned strongly. 16:32 Ben Chapelard, Lib Dem leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough CouncilOverall, Lib Dems now have 25 seats, Conservatives 7, Labour 3, Tunbridge Wells Alliance 3 and Independents for Tunbridge Wells 1 seat.

    Episode 21: Lib Dems Win Big in Vote 26

  5. May 5

    Episode 20: Reform UK's Challenge in Vote 2026

    Reform UK only won 1% of the votes in the last Borough Council elections in Tunbridge Wells two years ago. But Reform support soared in the County Council elections last year when the party took control of Kent County Council. Reform has strong hopes of taking seats in the Sherwood ward in the Borough elections on Thursday 7th May 2026. Oliver Kinkade is standing for Reform UK in Sherwood. He's one of the younger candidates competing for votes in this election. Martin Webber challenged him on how the party can fulfil its promises on housing and taxes. Oliver also spells out his outright opposition to the Liberal Democrat plan for the council to take on a £68 million debt to revamp the shopping centre by building a "boutique" cinema and demolishing the historic Friendly Societies' Hall in Tunbridge Wells which currently houses the thriving snooker club. For other parties see previous podcasts. Results on Southborough News website.

    Episode 20: Reform UK's Challenge in Vote 2026

  6. May 5

    Episode 19: Green Party Targets Sherwood in Vote 2026

    The Green Party is pouring its local resources into the seat of Sherwood in the hope of winning its first Tunbridge Wells Borough Council seat in the vote on Thursday 7th May. Labour faces an uphill struggle due to the party's poor national ratings - Labour is only standing for one of the two available seats in Sherwood. Listen to Kate Sergeant from the Green Party and Tina Kesterton from Labour make their pitch for votes. Reform UK also believe they can win Sherwood. Its candidate, Oliver Kinkade, features in Episode 20. The Lib Dems and Conservatives in Sherwood were not available for interview, but representatives from both parties have been on recent West Kent Talking podcasts recently.

    Episode 19: Green Party Targets Sherwood in Vote 2026

  7. Apr 25

    Episode 18: Daniel Dzenkowski on "Huge Risk" for Council

    The Borough Council Elections are coming up on 7th May in Tunbridge Wells and Conservative Daniel Dzenkowski is standing in the Pantiles ward - hoping to win the seat back from the Liberal Democrats. He says the Lib Dem plans for the RVP shopping centre in the middle of Tunbridge Wells create "a huge amount of risk" for the council. As well as the planned £68 million debt, Daniel argues there are "fundamental problems" with how the Lib Dems have engaged with the community, and particularly the Snooker Club. He says the council has shown a "dismissive attitude" towards the club. Daniel is already a well known local campaigner on protecting the environment. He says there is "no justification" for plans to build 500 new homes just south of Tunbridge Wells which mean the loss of the playing fields at St Mark's and moving Tunbridge Wells rugby club into Sussex. Other parties are being invited for interviews ahead of the 7th May vote.

    Episode 18: Daniel Dzenkowski on "Huge Risk" for Council

  8. Apr 3

    Episode 17: Council Plans £68m Debt to Boost Shopping Centre

    Should Tunbridge Wells Borough Council take on a debt of £ 68 million to boost the shopping centre it owns in the town centre? The deputy leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Justine Rutland of the Liberal Democrats, explains why she thinks the redevelopment plans are right for the town. She explains to Martin Webber how plans for a new "boutique" cinema will provide desperately needed meeting places for young people. And she defends the plan to demolish one of the town's important heritage buildings, the Victorian Friendly Societies' Hall on Camden Road. The memorial foundation stone was laid by Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise, to great excitement in the town in 1877. Justine also addresses the petition signed by 5,000 people who want the Friendly Societies' Hall to be saved - it's currently a thriving Snooker centre.

    Episode 17: Council Plans £68m Debt to Boost Shopping Centre
See All (24)

About

Fascinating interviews with people in the area of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells in Kent on the big topics of the moment. They are recorded by former BBC World Service journalist, Martin Webber, who delights in tracking down people passionate about improving their local community. Issues include who's running the council, safety on the streets, producing organic apples locally, cycle routes and help for electric car drivers. All the interviews were first broadcast on West Kent Radio - the volunteer OFCOM authorised community radio station on 95.5, 106.7 and 107.2 FM.

Information

  • Creator
    Martin Webber
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Martin Webber
  • Show Website
    West Kent Talking