Two Years of Liberal Democrat Control in Tunbridge Wells

A balanced scale of time and money over two years symbolizes community decision-making priorities.

Achievements and Unanswered Questions

Since taking control of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, the Liberal Democrats have pointed to a number of achievements that they believe demonstrate effective leadership.

These include improvements to Royal Victoria Place, attracting major retailers such as Primark, increasing occupancy levels, supporting environmental projects including solar panels, investing in youth services and maintaining balanced council finances.

The administration also says it has worked to ensure infrastructure is considered alongside new housing developments.

The electorate rewarded the Liberal Democrats with an increased majority in the 2026 borough elections, suggesting many residents were satisfied with their direction of travel.

However, there are also questions that many residents continue to ask.

Have everyday services improved enough?

Many people still struggle to obtain GP appointments, experience congestion on local roads, worry about the pace of housing development and remain concerned about water supply resilience.

While not all of these issues are within the Borough Council’s direct control, they have a significant impact on local quality of life.

Questions have also been raised about the scale of investment in Royal Victoria Place

Some residents welcome the investment and believe it is revitalising the town centre, while others are concerned about financial risk and whether council priorities should focus more heavily on core local services.

The revamp of RVP is going to cost Between £42 million and £68 million (at June 2025 prices), funded entirely through external borrowing by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Do regeneration projects represent good value for money?

Residents may also ask whether enough progress has been made on affordable housing, parking, community safety and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development.

Ultimately, every voter will reach their own conclusion.
Supporters will point to a more vibrant town centre, sound council finances and environmental investment.
Critics will argue that many everyday concerns remain unresolved and that the council should place greater emphasis on roads, healthcare infrastructure, planning and public safety.

As local democracy works best when there is open debate, it is worth asking:

what do you think?