8 September 2021
We are absolutely delighted that – at long last – our Council agrees that we must keep River Lawn green.
This decision follows five years of campaigning by local residents that included a wide range of tactics to demonstrate just how much our community values this precious green lung in the heart of our town.
Volunteers organised numerous protest events that have been attended by hundreds of people since February 2017, when the decision to sell the site was first made, such as picnics, conker championships, maypole dancing, Halloween parties and Christmas carols. A petition that was signed by well over 3,000 residents objecting to the plans was handed to Councillors in Kings Hill in July 2017, asking them to revisit the decision. On 23 September 2017, around 450 residents stopped traffic all along Tonbridge High Street by marching with handmade banners to express their anger and frustration that the Council was not listening.
A community organisation, Keep River Lawn Green (currently chaired by Emma Hood), was formed of local residents, who raised funds in order to mount numerous legal attempts over several years to frustrate the Council’s plans. These included applying for ‘Asset of Community Value’ status for the site and applying for ‘Village Green’ status.
More recently, the group co-ordinated an application to recognise the paths that criss-cross the site as ‘Rights of Way’, which was initially approved by Kent County Council earlier this year, although Tonbridge and Malling objected and have mounted an appeal. The group also worked with the Environmental Law Foundation, which provided vital legal support and advice.
Today, an incredible u-turn by the Council comes in the form of a recommendation published in the agenda for the Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board to be held on Wednesday 15th September. Authored by the new Leader of the Council, Matt Boughton, who was elected in July this year to replace the previous incumbent who was ousted by the Conservative Group after 9 years in the role, it asks the Board to approve the withdrawal of the appeals by TMBC against the Rights of Way decision, to discontinue the proposed sale of the site, and to allow it to rewild to support biodiversity.
This change in direction is testament to the power of a community coming together, showing just what can be achieved when people stand up for what they believe in.
We look forward to hearing that local Members, residents and businesses such as Nancy’s Tea Room (directly adjacent to the site) will be part of ongoing discussions about the future of River Lawn, and how it can best serve the needs of our community.
Link to read the paper and watch the meeting on 15th September:
https://democracy.tmbc.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=156&MId=4622&Ver=4
We are excited that, following 5 years of campaigning by 'Keep River Lawn Green', Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council finance Committee, last night, voted unanimously to NOT sell River Lawn for development. The Green Party has been deeply involved in this non partisan campaign from the beginning and we keenly anticipate the final hurdle of the Cabinet confirming this decision.
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