About me

I am Marguerita Morton, and have been privileged to be a Councillor for St. John’s for almost 4 years.  I was previously a Town Councillor from 2003-2011.   

I have always been a champion for safer streets, less congestion and a vibrant Tunbridge Wells. 

My focus if re-elected 

I am an advocate against climate change and so would like to see:

• zero green house gas emissions throughout the Borough, 

• improvements in the air we breathe, and 

• a halt to the decline in biodiversity.  

We can do this by effecting change in what we do daily.  

I also want to make Tunbridge Wells more attractive to visitors by promoting our excellent library, museum and adult education centre at The Amelia Scott Centre, our unique music and puppetry festivals, the Trinity Arts Centre located in the town centre, historic Pantiles and the Chalybeate Springs.

St. John’s has a busy attractive shopping parade which has provided its residents with a wide variety of artisanal cafes and restaurants, making it a “foodie” paradise in its own right.  It even has the town’s only electric bicycle shop- but more can be done. This neighbourhood could be the first "liveable streets" area in the town. I promise to work for you on this innovative project and ensure that your voice is heard.  

I am proud to be councillor for such a diverse, evolving community in what can be called an “up and coming” quarter of Tunbridge Wells.

I hope you will vote for me on the 4th May.

Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats Local Elections 2023 Manifesto

As the largest party within the Borough Partnership we will work to drive through our manifesto priorities:

Green Plan for the Borough

• Double the number of electric charging points inc. on-street provision.

• Work with Lib Dems at County Council to campaign for the reinstatement of bus routes across the Borough axed by the Conservatives.

• Greening the council: e.g. more air source heat pumps to reduce council carbon footprint to net zero by 2030.

• Make residential roads safer through better cycling & walking provision, 20 mph zones, and trialling low traffic neighbourhoods.

• Deter rat running & speeding. Make cycling & walking more attractive, reduce congestion and air pollution.

Tourism to drive economic development

• Continuing to work with the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to boost our tourism spending for three years driving tourism growth within the Borough by e.g. building new itinerary for coach operators, matching up host families with tourists, and developing cultural packages / historical tours. 

• Promoting TW as Creative Tunbridge Wells – e.g. in 2024 Tunbridge Wells Borough is hosting the Subbuteo World Cup.

• Creating tourism info points throughout the Borough e.g. Cranbrook.

• Create a farmers’ market in the town centre to attract visitors.

Protecting services in a tough economic climate

• Inherited 2022/3 £944k deficit which the Borough Partnership has eliminated due to sound financial management. Services protected.

• 2023/4 budget deficit was £2.6m, now £950k after savings and charges increases. Services protected. The Borough Partnership put £100K towards a Community Support Fund this winter.

• Whilst high inflation and energy costs continue, the deficit cannot be reduced further, but work will continue to reduce it in 2024/5, once inflation abates.

• We will fight to protect the following services no matter what: refuse collection, housing services, protecting the Tunbridge Wells Commons, street sweeping, & cemeteries.

Tunbridge Wells Lib Dems

The Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats are an energetic, pro-active and growing local political party.  We are the largest party on the Borough Council.  Together with two other parties and one independent Councillor, we control the Council through the Borough Partnership which was formed in Spring 2022.

Under the leadership of Ben Chapelard, the Borough Partnership has five key objectives

1. Safeguarding finances

2. Vibrant and safer towns and villages

3. Carbon reduction

4. Genuinely affordable housing and social rental housing

5. Digital access, transparency, and local democracy

See HERE for an interview with Ben Chapelard.