Trench Ward Tonbridge Conservatives

28/10/2026

KENT AND MEDWAY STRATEGIC AUTHORITY

The Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget today has a very interesting section on Page 66, Paragraph 4.67.

It looks like the Government wishes to create a Strategic Authority for Kent and Medway, which may include a Mayor, but only if Councils are reorganised in a way which is 'compatible'.

To recap. Last month the Government paused the Local Government Reorganisation process which would have abolished TMBC and KCC and replaced us with a West Kent Council. They promised a 'rapid review' but nobody has asked us, or responded to our requests, about what that review looks like, how we can contribute, and when it will have finished. We still don't know.

Now this announcement indicates Local Government Reorganisation is back on. But when? Who knows! We now have the added complication of a Strategic Authority to contend with too. But we don't know what powers it will have, when it will happen, and whether we have a Mayor or not.

Answers on a postcard please.

21/10/2026

REPLACEMENT ANGEL CENTRE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY ALL COUNCILLORS

We’re delighted that the final sign off of the replacement angel centre was given unanimous cross party support at last nights full council meeting.

This represents a £20.6m investment in Tonbridge town centre by the Council, delivering new community and leisure facilities for our residents including children’s soft play, cafe, new meeting and event rooms and a large gym / fitness suite.

The project is fully funded from Council reserves, and no borrowing is required. The Council will remain one of the few authorities to be completely debt free.

Councillors agreed that a replacement centre was preferable to spending as much as £17m trying to maintain the existing building, facing significant repair costs due to the asbestos roof, deteriorating pipe work and boilers.

Trench Ward Councillor Adem Mehmet, Cabinet Member for Tonbridge Regeneration said:

“I am pleased to deliver on our election commitments to drive investment into our town and provide modern community and leisure facilities. This is not just a sports centre, but also place for residents of all ages to meet. It’s an exciting time for Tonbridge and I look forward to work starting.”

Construction of the new centre on Sovereign Way Mid car park will begin in January 2027, with opening around August 2028. The current building will remain in normal use until then. The farmers market has relocated to Angel West.

16/10/2026

Reminder - traffic lights due to roadworks at the Dry Hill Park / Shipbourne Road roundabout. No right turn onto Dry Hill Park.

Expect long delays travelling south towards town and from the Ridgeway to Hadlow Road.

If travelling west towards Hildenborough it may be quicker going north through Shipbourne then left onto Hildenborough Road and Riding Lane.

Edit: Riding Lane apparently closed as well - thanks KCC. Vine Lane and Mill Lane open for westward travel.

14/10/2026

We are aware of a felling application for some of the woods to the north of Willow Lea, adjacent to the Shipbourne Road. We have raised concerns with the Council’s tree officer due to this being ancient woodland.

They have confirmed that the felling is limited to ash trees with dieback, and that a mandatory condition of the felling licence will be to restock the woodland with new trees. Therefore, this is not a means to circumvent the protection of ancient woodland and cannot be used to facilitate development of the land.

If the felling licence is granted, then there might be quite extensive tree removal in this section of woodland. We’ll continue monitor the situation and ensure it is restocked as required.

If you have any concerns or questions on this, lets us know 👇🏼

08/10/2026

Thank you very much to everyone who has attended one of our public meetings on the Tonbridge and Malling Local Plan over recent weeks.

Tomorrow night at 7pm we will be in the Riverside Room at the Angel Centre, Tonbridge. Please come along if you're interested in the future development of Tonbridge.

01/10/2026

The councillors are frustrated with the government using the homes

29/09/2026

Woodland Walk benches back in place after vandalism

Good news for walkers, runners and residents using Woodland Walk in Tonbridge. The benches along the popular route have now been repaired and refurbished after being vandalised earlier this year, when bolts and commemorative plaques were stolen, making them unsafe.

The benches, which sit alongside the Penn Stream between Frog Bridge Sportsground and Scotched Field, are once again available for everyone to enjoy.

We've also been working on additional measures, including enhanced CCTV coverage and support from the Antisocial Behaviour Task Force, to help protect these valued community assets in the future.

Thank you to residents for your patience while the restoration work was carried out. 💚

29/09/2026

28/09/2026

There is a major water leak on the Tonbridge Road just past the BP Garage on the way to Hildenborough.

It has been reported to South East Water by Hildenborough Councillor Mark Rhodes and will likely affect traffic across the town this evening.

Let’s hope it’s repaired quickly, and even more evidence that the government’s attempts to force another 20,000 houses on the borough is ludicrous given the state of our water infrastructure.

24/09/2026

The Government have forced Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to progress to the next stage of its Local Plan, despite it being known that our water infrastructure isn't currently capable of such a large amount of development.

The Council know this. They were right not to progress with the Local Plan. The Government are wrong to force this on our community. That's why the MPs representing Tonbridge and Malling have written in support of our Council.

Over the next few weeks, the Council are holding public meetings to explain what you can do. Please head along to one if you're interested in learning more: https://www.tmbc.gov.uk/local-plan/local-plan-community-engagement-events