Green Councillors Champion Clean Air and Community Health in Tonbridge

The Tonbridge & Malling Green Party has been at the forefront of local efforts to improve air quality and protect the environment, with councillors Mark Hood and Paul Stepto leading the charge. Their work over the past year highlights the party’s commitment to creating a healthier, greener, and more sustainable community.

One of the key initiatives backed by Green councillors is the installation of air quality monitoring equipment at five schools across the borough. Funded by a £37,000 government grant, the campaign aims to tackle the harmful effects of idling car engines, which are a major source of air pollution. Every minute, an idling car produces enough exhaust emissions to fill 150 balloons with harmful chemicals, contributing to heart and lung disease, strokes, and cancer. Children, who are particularly vulnerable, stand to benefit most from this initiative.

The campaign, launched to coincide with Clean Air Day on 16 June, also includes anti-idling road signs at schools and hotspots like taxi ranks. Specialist council officers will work with schools to educate children and parents about the dangers of air pollution and encourage greener travel options, such as walking or cycling.

A Wider Series of Actions

This initiative is just one example of how Green Party councillors are working to improve the lives of Tonbridge and Malling residents. From protecting green spaces to advocating for better transport and housing, the Green Party is dedicated to addressing the issues that matter most to the community.

However, not all decisions align with these goals. Green councillors recently challenged the borough council’s plan to expand the Upper Castle Fields car park, arguing that it contradicts the council’s own policies on climate change, air quality, and the Tonbridge Centre Area Action Plan (TCAAP). The proposed 28-space car park would replace a carbon sink with tarmac, increasing flood risk and air pollution in an area already designated as an Air Quality Management Area.

The Green Party has consistently argued that the decision undermines the council’s commitment to achieving Carbon Zero by 2030 and ignores the health of vulnerable residents, including children at Slade Primary School and elderly residents in Castle Fields. Instead of expanding car parks, Green councillors have called for better signposting and live monitoring of car park capacity to direct motorists to available spaces. They argue that the council’s own consultants have shown there is no urgent need for additional parking, with only a projected shortfall of 14 spaces by 2039—a gap that could easily be managed without sacrificing green space.

Why It Matters

The Green Party’s approach is rooted in the belief that environmental and social issues are deeply interconnected. By addressing both, Green councillors are helping to create a borough that is not only more sustainable but also more inclusive and resilient.

Cllr Hood emphasised, “Our work is about more than just policies—it’s about people. We’re here to listen, to act, and to make sure that Tonbridge and Malling remains a place where everyone can thrive.”

A Call for Smarter Solutions

The Green Party’s vision for Tonbridge and Malling is one where clean air, green spaces, and sustainable transport are prioritised. By investing in education, better infrastructure, and community-focused policies, the party aims to create a borough where everyone can thrive.

This is part of a wider series highlighting the work of Green Party councillors in Tonbridge and Malling. From protecting trees and green spaces to fighting for affordable housing and better public transport, the Green Party is showing up, not just during elections.

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