Tunbridge Wells’ brand new Gateway is opening its doors at 9am on Monday 3 November. Gateway brings together a wide range of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council services and will also develop to offer services from a range of statutory and voluntary partners, including the Citizens Advice Bureau and Voluntary Action West Kent.

As a result of great partnership working between the Borough and County Council, customers will have the opportunity to speak to skilled advisors about a range of services from council tax, parking and highways to social care, even about how to become a volunteer, and all under one roof.

The Gateway offers free internet access, an automated payment machine and private spaces for face-to-face meetings with expert advisors. There will also be a full calendar of advice sessions, including surgeries by agencies such as the NHS as well as cross-agency services, such as benefits and occupational therapy.

Kent’s Gateway initiative is a County Council scheme, which has been running for three years. It includes a mobile Gateway that serves rural areas and other town centres across the county. It is a great way of bringing local services direct to people and ties in with the aim of providing services to customers in the way that they want to receive them.

Cllr Catherine Mayhew, Deputy Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, said:

‘The new Gateway will make life much easier for the public with the integration of a wide range of services, meet and greet staff, as well as two Disability Discrimination Act compliant toilets, baby change facilities and an adult ‘changing place‘, one of the first in Kent. One of our biggest frustrations has been when people come to the Town Hall with an enquiry about a service that is not a Tunbridge Wells Borough Council service. Now that we have established the Gateway through excellent partnership working with Kent County Council, we will be able to respond straight away to a variety of customers’ needs. ‘

Alex King, Deputy Leader of Kent County Council, said:

’Local authorities and all public agencies need to find new ways to provide public access with the highest possible level of service. Bringing a wide range of agencies under one roof also gives the taxpayer better value for money. The use of technology in this new facility means that the Borough and County Councils and their partners can deal with customers in a truly 21st Century way.’

All public enquiries will be dealt with from the Tunbridge Wells Gateway from Monday 3 November, and the Town Hall will be closed. The Gateway will be offering extended opening hours as follows:

Monday - 9am to 5pm
Tuesday - 9am to 5pm
Wednesday - 9am to 5pm
Thursday - 9am to 6.30pm
Friday - 9am to 5pm
Saturday - 10am to 4pm

Tunbridge Wells Gateway -8 Grosvenor Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2AB - 01892 526121

Residents in the rural areas of the borough will still be able to visit the Weald Information Centre (WIC) in Cranbrook for all Tunbridge Wells Borough Council enquiries. The WIC is open 8.30am-5pm, Monday-Friday.