West Kent Local NewsYour trusted source for local news and community updates
Council decisions, crime, planning rows and community life in Tunbridge Wells - covered as it happens.

New voting options, including weekend voting hubs, will be trialled in Tunbridge Wells during the May 2026 local elections to make voting more flexible and accessible.

Plans have been submitted for a major new leisure club near Tunbridge Wells, featuring pools, tennis courts, a gym and spa facilities on a 21-acre site.

Fuel prices across West Kent have risen sharply following tensions involving Iran, with increases of tens of percent in recent weeks. The rise is already affecting daily costs and could soon impact travel and wider prices, with no clear sign of improvement yet.

Royal Victoria Place car park is being refurbished until July 2026, with upgrades including repairs, resurfacing, and solar panels. New wider parking bays are already making parking easier for drivers.

The Marks & Spencer store at Fountains Retail Park in Tunbridge Wells has reopened after a three-month, £4.1m refurbishment.

A shopping trolley dumped in a stream in Higham Wood highlights growing concerns about littering and environmental neglect across Tonbridge and West Kent.

A public consultation has opened on major plans to reorganise councils across Kent and Medway, which could replace the current system with a smaller number of new unitary authorities delivering all local services.

A suspect has been charged with more than 30 burglary-related offences following a wide-ranging investigation by Kent Police.

West Kent is inviting residents to share their views to help guide future community funding and support projects across the area.