Tonbridge & Malling Green Party’s Mark Hood Calls Out Failing Water Companies & Heathrow Expansion on KMFM

In a recent interview with West Kent Radio, Green Party councillor Mark Hood strongly criticised the mismanagement of the UK’s water infrastructure, following days of supply failures that left residents in Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, and Bidborough without access to clean water.

Speaking on the Friday Drivetime programme, Hood highlighted the failures of South East Water, stating that the company should have alerted people sooner so that households could have taken action to conserve what little water remained. Instead, the system drained down completely, leading to airlocks, making it even harder to restore supply. He also criticised the poor organisation of bottled water stations, which left vulnerable people struggling to access drinking water during the crisis.

This latest water shortage comes just as water companies announce price hikes of up to 20%, claiming that the extra money will go towards fixing infrastructure. However, as Hood pointed out, this isn’t the first time they’ve made this promise—and every time, they fail to deliver.

Despite years of customer bill increases, water companies have allowed the infrastructure to crumble, prioritising shareholder profits over essential repairs. Meanwhile, the government has failed to hold them accountable, leaving residents to suffer the consequences of corporate negligence.

Listen to the interview

Green Party Demands Accountability

Hood and the Tonbridge and Malling Green Party are demanding:

• Immediate improvements to water infrastructure to prevent further crises.
• Tighter regulations to stop water companies from funnelling money into executive bonuses instead of fixing failing systems.
• A halt to price hikes until companies can prove they are investing in long-term solutions rather than short-term profits.

While Labour’s government is pushing forward with massive infrastructure projects, including a £10 billion Thames Crossing and expanding Heathrow and Gatwick airports, the real infrastructure crisis—our failing water system—is being ignored.

“It is madness to be going down this route,” said Hood, referring to Labour’s deregulation of planning laws in the name of economic growth. Instead of investing in sustainable solutions, the government is paving the way for corporate greed while failing to provide basic necessities like clean water to its citizens.

The Green Party is calling for real investment in public services, not just empty promises and price hikes. The recent water shortages are just the latest example of a broken system that puts profit before people—and unless action is taken now, crises like this will only become more frequent.

Comments on Labour’s “Bonfire of Regulations” Over Heathrow Expansion

Hood also strongly criticised the Labour government’s push for airport expansion and major road projects, calling it a reckless attack on environmental protections. Speaking live on West Kent Radio’s Friday Drivetime programme, Hood warned that the government’s infrastructure plans, including a third runway at Heathrow and expansion at Gatwick, would worsen the climate crisis and fail to deliver long-term benefits.

“Madness to Go Down This Route”

Labour argues that big infrastructure projects will boost economic growth and generate higher tax revenue to fund public services. However, Hood dismissed this justification, stating that the government’s priorities are misaligned with the urgent need to reduce emissions.

“It is madness to be going down this route. Instead of expanding airports, the government should be tackling the root causes of excessive emissions by taxing frequent flyers and reducing demand for aviation,” Hood said.

Aviation Expansion: False Solutions and Climate Risks

Under Labour’s plans, Heathrow would push forward with a third runway, despite long-standing concerns about emissions and local pollution. Gatwick would see a significant increase in flights by upgrading a standby runway. The government has also indicated its support for a £10 billion Lower Thames Crossing, which would further entrench car dependency.

Hood rejected Labour’s argument that these expansions could be offset through “sustainable aviation fuels” derived from crops. He warned that this approach would put even more pressure on food security.

“We already have a crisis in food production and land use. We can’t afford to waste crops on aviation fuel when people are struggling to afford basic food,” Hood said.

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