Parking key election issue for high street

Businesses in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, have called for changes to parking in the town centre to attract more visitors.

Several traders told the BBC that confusing restrictions, high charges and traffic measures were discouraging customers.

The comments come ahead of elections on 7 May for a third of the seats on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

"What concerns me is the accessibility of the town and parking restrictions," TN1 Bar and Kitchen owner Murat Askin said.

Matt Jenner, manager of Whirligig Toys, said: "We always hear complaints about the car park charges and places to park as well."

Askin said that parking was "not so easily understandable" in the town, particularly for older people, and that it was "not very clear" how to pay to park.

He called for a short-term parking option on the road outside his restaurant "so that the customers can come and pick up their items very quickly" from neighbouring shops.

He added that traffic restrictions were driving customers away as they "don't want to come to the town centre with their cars".

Andrew Collins, owner of Brittens Music, said it was "expensive to get into Tunbridge Wells and park".

"You've got to take away as many obstacles to people coming into the town as you can," he told the BBC.

He called for "more parking, cheaper parking and more facilities for attracting people into the town".

Whirligig manager Jenner said that footfall was something "that we have a big struggle with at the moment".

"Definitely more things to do for younger children as well," he said.

"I've got two kids myself and always finding it a struggle to find something to do with them in town."

Business owners also highlighted the impact of recent South East Water supply issues on footfall, particularly the supply failure in late 2025, which lasted multiple days.

About 24,000 properties in and around the town lost water, most for multiple days, and then were told for nine days to boil their supply before drinking it.

Collins said: "Who was going to come into Tunbridge Wells when there were no loos, no coffee, no restaurants?

"Even when those were back up and running you've got the situation where people have lost confidence."

Askin estimated that TN1 had lost about £60,000 due to the problems and had so far received £1,300 of compensation from the water company.

"I have managed to get some money out of my insurances but it's nowhere near this amount," he said.

He told the BBC that the borough council "did what they could do" but have not got power over South East Water.

South East Water's customer services director Tanya Sephton, said the company wanted to "ensure that every single customer and business receives exactly what they are entitled to".

The company said it had paid compensation to TN1's water retailer and it would urge businesses that had not received compensation to contact intermediary companies.

Sephton said: "On top of the GSS guided payments, we are establishing a separate fund for businesses that faced specific financial losses."

• The Green Party said it was "cracking down on corporations" to give small businesses "an equal playing field", while funding decarbonisation and investing in public transport links.
• Reform UK said it would cut business rates, energy bills and red tape, as well as tackling anti-social behaviour "so local shops can thrive again".
• Labour said it was reforming licensing rules and "tackling anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and vacant premises". The party said it was also "supporting local bus services".
• The Conservative Party said it would offer business rates relief of up to £110,000 to high street businesses, "delivering substantial savings that can then be reinvested in better premises, more staff and lower prices".
• The Liberal Democrats said that it would cut VAT by 5% for hospitality, provide emergency CCTV funding to help small businesses deal with shoplifting and give councils the power to designate areas for independent shops.
• According to the Tunbridge Wells Alliance manifesto, the party will "simplify car park fees while avoiding borough-wide subsidies" and progress licensing for a market in the town centre.

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