Hugo Pound, Labour Councillor for Sherwood

21/04/2026

Hoping to get full support from all councillors tonight about the decline of the Colonnade on the Pantiles. See the attached article.

A shame that I had to initiate this rather than one of the three Liberal Democrat councillors who are actually meant to represent the Pantiles!

The photos reveal this tourist attraction isn't quite as elegant as visitors might expect

18/04/2026

We were going to go out canvassing for Tina today, (Tina, our local candidate in these Tunbridge Wells local elections) but, having had some abuse on the doorstep this past week, we feel that the tone locally has been so soured by other ‘door knockers’ spreading more division and discontent as to make it an unpleasant experience!

May’s elections are about how local people can help to support and improve local areas; the only active councillors in Sherwood have been Labour ones, listening and acting on as many issues as they can.

We are not going around trying to kid people that it’s about national issues - we can’t influence them as local councillors - it’s about doing things for people in Sherwood.

Hopefully we’ll be out again this coming week when we won’t be following or being followed by those claiming to be able to change the world from Tunbridge Wells Town Hall!!

07/04/2026

Please complete the survey (link below) on local Policing issues. The more information the Police have about issues that matter to Sherwood residents and businesses, the better.

By continuing with this survey, you agree that Kent Police can record and use your information. This information will only be used to help reduce crime and improve services. Your consent is based on Kent Police complying with its duties and obligations under the Data Protection Act. View force priva...

07/04/2026

Honestly, why would you believe anything this man says - or vote for his party?

25/03/2026

Many thanks to Di, Jayne and Tina for coming out today to litter-pick on Doorstep Green, Caley, Rankine & Oak Roads. It was very cold and windy but, in a two-hour stint, we bagged ten (yes, 10) bin liners of rubbish. Smashed bottles and crockery were everywhere as well the usual plastic bottles, sweet and crisp packets, discarded vapes and larger illegal dumps we're hoping the Council might tackle.

I'll post another session for a fortnight's time - maybe around Sherwood Lake again?!

09/03/2026

ASK YOUR COUNCILLOR WHY THEY VOTED AS THEY DID.

In early 2025, the Council agreed, after a vote of all members, to grant the Liberal Democrat Cabinet £100,000 to spend progressing some of its “strategic initiatives”. Later in the year, Cabinet was given delegated powers to spend all the ‘fines’ money that had been collected from vehicle owners driving through the middle of town. There is now £96,000 in one pot and about £450,000 in the other.

Labour Councillor Hugo Pound introduced a Motion at Full Council in February 2026 urging the Liberal Democrat Cabinet to do three things:

1. Do not spend any more money on planting trees (at the cost of £50,000) in the forthcoming year when there are so many more important priorities to tackle.

2. Consult more with agencies (like schools, the food larders, the Parish Councils) about how they think money should be spent in the forthcoming year.

3. Consult more with elected Councillors of all parties about the priorities in their Wards.

The debate was pretty acrimonious.

Those supporting the motion said that more lighting, more CCTV, more money to the larders and Nourish, more dialogue with Parish Council would be a good idea. They also said that, although everyone loves trees, the world has changed in the last year, money is short and we need to address the immediate issues in our communities! And it’s only asking for a one year pause, not an end to the scheme!

Almost every Liberal Democrat argued that tree-planting is a manifesto promise they will not break – they forgot about points 2 and 3 and only argued that their spend on trees is appropriate.

The motion was lost 17 – 14 (with 2 Liberal Democrats abstaining).

17 Liberal Democrat Councillors voted AGAINST the motion. 5 Labour, 6 Conservative, 2 alliance and 1 Independent all voted FOR it.

You might like to ask any Councillor why we voted as we did. Listen to their reasoning – it’s your money, after all!

Democracy is about transparency in decision-making and we are all accountable


FOR THE MOTION

Pound
Jones
Hill
Britcher-Allan
Sharratt
Sankey
Nevill
Hayward
Attwood
Darrah
Fairweather
Knight
Somers
Dawlings



AGAINST THE MOTION

Chapelard
Ellis
Rutland
Wilkinson
Hall
Wormington
Keefe
Lowe
Birch
Brice
Brown
LePage
Munday
Obasi
Patterson
Pitts
Souper

27/02/2026

“Latest News from your Drinking Water Only Supplier” landed from SE Water in my inbox today. Three projects are listed to commence in March; Uckfield, Tudeley and Sevenoaks. Nothing about Tunbridge Wells or Pembury at all! Not a word!

The tankers have gone from Sandown Park, some of the verges have been repaired but we still haven’t heard about plans for the town or surrounding areas.

I hope everyone has taken their ‘credit’ from their account - it seems this is one way of expressing continued dissatisfaction with SEW’s performance.

26/02/2026

Difficult debate at Full Council last night. We ‘urged’ the Cabinet to reconsider how it spends our limited funds in the year ahead, arguing that more money going on CCTV, lighting on dark streets, support for Nourish and food larders, more focus on antisocial behaviour, as examples, are all more deserving of greater funding than blowing £50,000 to pay for tree planting!!

We lost the vote 17/14 - all but two LibDem Cllrs present voted against us.

When money is tight and people are struggling, is tree planting really the priority they’ve made it? The LibDems think it is.

Your thoughts?

04/02/2026

Join Nextdoor, an app for neighbourhoods where you can get local tips, buy and sell items, and more

13/01/2026

Here’s a thought! After David Hinton,much maligned CEO of South East Water, told a Parliamentary Select Committee that what his company needed to remedy its performance is investment, maybe, just maybe, the blame does not wholly reside with him but with the Board of SEW!

Where is the Chairman in all this - does he stand by his CEO, has he been advised of the need for investment, has his Board actively explored the need for more finances to address the company’s performance, has Mr Hinton been banging on about it for years but his own Board has ignored him?

The truth is we don’t know.

I felt uncomfortable when Tunbridge Wells’ MP, Mike Martin, so quickly demanded Mr Hinton’s resignation! I now wonder if our focus should move towards the Board who ultimately approve or refuse investment decisions.

Where is the Chairman? In 2022, he said “It’s a great time to join the company as we are planning for the new five year investment period with a strong ambition to further improve customer satisfaction levels, resilience and environmental outcomes”.

Where are you now, Chris Train, Chair of SEW?