This week there is a by-election for a seat on Southborough Town Council. Not a major event in the overall scheme of things but of vital importance for the future of Southborough.
Currently the big issue in Southborough is whether Tesco (or any other supermarket chain) should be permitted to build a store on the Ridgewaye, an important open space. Local environmentalists are opposed to the scheme, as are local retail businesses. Without doubt any supermarket will have a serious adverse effect on existing shops and will add to congestion on roads already chronically over-crowded.
The political parties (UKIP, Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats) are contesting the seat.
An Independent is standing who has the splendid name of Spike Figgett. His platform is one of opposition to the development of the Ridgewaye site and also greater local accountability and participation in decision making. Localism. He asks for the support of the voters of Southborough (although whether he will get it is quite a different matter) to send a clear message to the political parties, as they all have seats on the planning authority, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. All are complicit in varying degrees for the disaster that will befall Southborough should planning consent be granted for development of the Ridgewaye.
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