Trench Ward Tonbridge Conservatives

04/09/2026

Local Plan update

29/08/2026

The club had previously objected to the plans...

24/08/2026

A few weeks ago a number of benches at Woodland Walk, North Tonbridge were damaged and memorial plaques removed. This picture showing one of the damaged benches was circulated widely on Tonbridge groups.

Whilst we wait for new bench fixings and memorial plaques to arrive, the Council has taken the opportunity to refurbish the benches. They will then be returned, though due to supplier lead in times this might not be until September.

The vandalism was reported to Kent Police and the TMBC Safer Neighbourhoods Team have been regularly patrolling in North Tonbridge to help prevent this happening again, whilst also reviewing CCTV.

20/08/2026

Great to secure new recycling bins for our residents on Hamble Road 👍🏼

20/08/2026

COBLANDS NURSERY PLANNING APPLICATION APPROVED

At last nights planning committee the application for 350 houses at coblands nursery was approved by Council Members.

Trench Ward Councillors Adem Mehmet and Keith Tunstall raised serious concerns on the traffic impact and local water supply. However Council officers advised that no objection had been made by either KCC Highways or South East Water, making it virtually impossible to refuse permission on these grounds without incurring substantial legal costs.

Cllr Tunstall is a member of the committee and voted against the development, but Green Party Councillors Mark Hood and Stacey Pilgrim abstained and the application was approved.

We did however secure an agreement to provide additional construction and servicing jobs for residents of Trench as a priority, and received assurances that affordable housing would be given to Tonbridge residents first. The developer would also pay to improve local schools and doctors surgeries, including around £1.5m for primary care and hospital improvements.

£1.8m would be paid to improve capacity at local schools.

Overall a disappointing outcome, but given the government’s determination to push through major housing developments regardless of local views, we have at least secured employment opportunities and infrastructure upgrades for our residents, and avoided wasted legal costs on a decision that the government would simply overrule.

19/08/2026

18/08/2026

11/08/2026

PLANNING APPLICATION AT COBLANDS NURSERY UPDATE

The planning application for 350 houses at Coblands nursery at the end of Trench Road will be considered by the Council’s planning committee on Wednesday 19th August.

Council officers recommend that the committee approves the development, which includes a new pedestrian connection into Longmead recreation ground, 50% affordable housing, a net gain in biodiversity and various upgrades to local roads including parking restrictions on Trench Road.

Kent County Council, the highways authority, have not objected to the development and say that the effect of additional traffic would not be “severe”, despite accepting that The Ridgeway junction with Hadlow Road is already over capacity.

There is also no objection from South East Water in terms of supply or Southern Water in respect of foul drainage capacity.

Despite this, we continue to have concerns over the impact of additional traffic in Tonbridge, and on water supply (particularly given recent events) and will review the officer report and make submissions to the planning committee next week on behalf of local residents.