1. Protecting the natural environment in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding villages

For now and future generations: Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding villages are in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Beauty. This medieval landscape of wooded rolling hills studded with sandstone outcrops, small irregular-shaped fields, scattered farmsteads and ancient routeways are a huge draw to visitors, a basis for many livelihoods and locally produced food. In many ways, the natural environment is under attack and the Green Party will champion and protect this irreplaceable treasure.

Action areas:

• Protect our green spaces from encroaching development.
• Promote habitats, rewilding, and biodiversity.
• Support action for cleaner rivers and waterways
• Take action creating wildflower verges, tackle litter, eradicate avoidable pesticide and herbicide use

2. Sustainable transport and safer roads

Safe, sustainable travel: We need to develop an integrated approach to road planning, public transport and active travel that encourages people to exercise, and which reduces the impact of cars and other road traffic.

Action areas:

• Developing public transport networks in and around Tunbridge Wells with better rural bus services to the villages to reduce reliance on private cars; promote re-opening of railway lines where feasible.
• Promoting infrastructure for sustainable transport, such as EV charging points, dedicated cycle lanes and advocating for EV buses.
• Promoting safe and active travel: safer cycle paths and maintained footpaths; more pavements in villages and towns so people can walk safely.
• Campaigning for speed control such as 20’s Plenty speed limit in built-up areas
• Improving quality and value for money of road resurfacing and pothole repair

3. Joined-up planning and housing policies

Need not greed: Tunbridge Wells faces a crisis of affordability, not a shortage of housing. Communities are landed with unwanted developments of expensive homes, some of which encroach on protected areas. Some of these developments are badly located and lack the necessary infrastructure. We need a joined-up approach to planning, development and housebuilding that addresses the crisis of affordability and protects the local countryside and communities.

Action areas:

• Challenging housing targets imposed by central government; and supporting the council, housing co-operatives and non-profits to provide affordable and appropriate housing.
• Preventing development in protected AONBs and where there is insufficient access to public transport, amenities, and work.
• Tackling the problem of affordability and empty homes, speculative “investment” homes and second homes
• Enforcing sustainable standards for new builds, providing incentives for low energy housing and sustainable retrofits

4. Building a sustainable ‘wellbeing economy’

Beyond growth and business as usual: Our society can’t carry on with “business as usual”. We need to stop focusing on endless growth, which is unsustainable: we must prioritise wellbeing, jobs, and reducing carbon emissions and resource use.

Action areas:

• Promote wellbeing and green job creation, not endless economic “growth”; channel council spending power towards job creation, environmental sustainability and climate adaptation
• Push for the County Council pension fund to speed up the programme of divestment from fossil fuels; and support local businesses to reach net zero by 2030
• Promote ‘resource and circular economy centres’ to encourage reduction, re-use and recycling; encourage and support local Repair Cafes
• Local energy cooperatives and sustainable generation encouraged

5. Fairness in education and social care

Inclusive, affordable services: Our focus will be on ensuring equitable access to services and taking a future-facing view. In health and social care, the emphasis will be on prevention; in education in developing training in the green economy.

Action areas:

• We will champion preventative care, making changes in support provision to enable more people to live safely and independently for longer.
• We will seek to promote inclusive services, improve access for those with special educational needs, disabilities and all those who have been excluded
• We will push for investment in young people’s futures, promoting school and training opportunities in the green jobs of the future and the social care sector
• We will listen to service users, locals, and communities to make sure TWBC and KCC get it right; and we will push for better pay, status, training and management of social care workers

6. Preparing Tunbridge Wells for climate shocks

Resilience and preparedness: How would Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding villages cope with a prolonged heatwave or drought? How well are we prepared for heavy rain and flooding? What can we do now to prepare for the impact of climate change? Tunbridge Wells Borough Council declared a climate emergency and now needs to increase ambition to reach zero carbon as soon as possible.

Action areas:

• We will campaign with enhanced urgency for local government to research, plan and prepare for an uncertain future, looking at the latest evidence best practice
• We will encourage emergency preparedness structures in towns and villages
• We will engage with researchers and experts to help farmers adapt and prepare
• We will push for active preparedness for drought and flooding and other climate risks
• We will seek to encourage local and community-focused horticulture and make food security a priority
• We will encourage local farmers’ markets and produce sales to minimise food miles