Parish Cake - Winter 2018

news
Councillor Turns his
Back on Tunbridge
Wells’ Tory Group
JAMES HANNAM
claims the
“contempt”
the borough
has shown for
villagers he
represents forced
his hand.
In his letter of
resignation. Cllr Hannam, who
is TWBC’s member for Sissinghurst
and Frittenden, said his views on
the council borrowing £91million to
build a new theatre and office block
were well known.
He has also criticised the council
for going ahead with a new refuse
contract which sees householders
paying a starting price of £52 a year
to have their garden waste collected.
This, he said, is far higher than the
previous figure of £30.
The weekend refuse service, he
wrote, will be further restricted and
will not accept garden waste.
“The result of these new
initiatives will bring in £600,000
which will go to paying off the
interest payments on the new
theatre,” he said.
“I believe that this treats the
residents of Frittenden and
Sissinghurst with contempt, making
us cash cows to fund a vanity project
many miles away that few of us will
ever use.”
His attempts at finding ways a
new waste contract could serve
the needs of residents had been
“brushed aside” and he could no
longer sit with the Conservative
group.
He said he would remain on the
council as an independent and will
not seek re-election in May. TF
Troy Scott Smith to Leave
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
AFTER 12 years at
Sissinghurst Castle – four of
them as head gardener – Troy
Scott Smith is to leave.
The announcement was
made just days after he
helped renowned garden
designer Dan Pearson present
a scheme to restore the Delos
garden to its former Greek
glory.
Mr Scott Smith had his first
encounter with Sissinghurst
more than 26 years ago
when he worked there as a
gardener.
“I had no thought then that
one day I would return and be
responsible for the garden as
head gardener,” he said.
He returned to Sissinghurst
4 years ago and has been
heading up a seven-year plan
for the future of the gardens.
He will be leaving in July next
year to take up a job as head
gardener in a private garden.
Sissinghurst’s manager
Philip Barnes said: “Troy has
been an outstanding head
GP Hours Extended
AS PART of a nationwide drive to improve
access to GPs, Weald surgeries are now
opening for longer.
To combat long waiting times to see a
doctor, a new system has been launched
which will allow people to make an
appointment between 8am and 8pm
Mondays to Friday and on Saturdays,
Sundays and Bank holidays.
Appointments can be pre-booked for
routine matters or at short notice for less
routine needs. Nurses and other health
professionals will also be available in the
evenings and on Saturdays.
gardener and has helped
shape and set direction for
the garden by introducing
the renewal project which
commenced four years ago…
“To be in charge of one
of the finest gardens in the
world has I know been a huge
privilege and one that Troy
has done with a huge amount
of professionalism and
careful consideration.”
Hard on the heels of the
resignation of Sissinghurst
Castle Garden’s head
gardener Troy Scott Smith,
his assistant Wendy
Tremenheere handed in her
notice after 20 years’ service.
Wendy said:
“Unfortunately, purely
co-incidentally, my
announcement closely
follows Troy’s. However, I am
confident the garden will be
left in good hands with an
experienced, enthusiastic and
professional team. I will miss
all of them as much as I will
miss the garden.”
Working for the National
Trust in total for 30 years
she added: “I have loved my
time with the trust, working
in some fantastic gardens
with great people but I have
been thinking about making
a change for some time now
and decided my birthday next
year in March would be an
appropriate time to leave and
follow other ventures.”
Castle manager Philip
Barnes said it was hard to
articulate how important
Wendy’s contribution has
been.
“Staff and volunteers have
a huge amount of respect for
her and a huge part of the
garden’s success must be
attributed to her dedication
and care.” TF
However, new appointments may not
always be provided at patients’ own GP
practices but full medical records will be
available at another surgery in West Kent.
Dr Bob Bowes, chairman of the NHS
West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group,
said: “We know that sometimes people
have a long wait to see their doctor and
we believe the new longer hours service
will be of particular help to commuters,
parents with young families and other
people who find it difficult to get to their
practice during normal working hours.”
Patients are being encouraged to tell the
group about their experiences of the new
system by emailing nelcsu.engagement@
nhs.net. TF
12 Parish Cake • Winter 2018