The Southborough Environmental Action Movement (SEAM) has been leading the charge against development on the Ridgewaye site in Southborough and in particular plans to build a supermarket. Concerns about loss of recreational space, traffic congestion and damage to existing retailers have been to the fore.
See: http://www.seam.org.uk/
There have been expressions of concern that the vibrant High Street in Rusthall will suffer should the supermarket development be approved, although I have my doubts.
SEAM is attacking on two fronts. Southborough Town Council owns part of the land it is proposed should be developed and SEAM is promoting the opinion that the land should not be sold. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is the planning authority.
In May there is an election for one Borough Council seat in the Southborough & High Brooms ward. The seat is marginal between Labour and Conservative. The parties (along with the Liberal Democrats) give the impression of having to varying degrees reservations concerning the development of the Ridgewaye without translating that into meaningful action.
At a recent by-election in the ward for a Town Council seat the Conservatives had a famous victory over Labour. The Liberal Democrats had an exceptionally dire vote whilst an Independent standing on an anti-development platform secured double the vote of the Liberal Democrats, but was way behind the Labour and Conservative candidates.
The question to be resolved is the extent to which SEAM and the Town Council represent the views of a significant section of the people of Southborough. Poor turnout at local elections is endemic, and people who vote usually do so on party lines irrespective or local issues. One way forward may be for a candidate (or a party) to promise to press for a referendum on the future of the Ridgewaye site.
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