Lights coming to Tonbridge riverside path after contractor delay

Walkers and cyclists using the riverside path in Tonbridge will finally get lighting along the stretch between Town Lock and the retail parks at Vale Road and Cannon Lane, making the route safer and more accessible throughout the year. The scheme covers 380 metres of path alongside the River Medway, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Business Rates Pool programme, at a cost of £100,000.

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council approved the project last year. It then ran into the sort of procurement difficulty that tends to try the patience of anyone waiting in the dark — literally. A contractor has now been secured, with construction scheduled to start in November 2026 and the council aiming to have everything wrapped up before Christmas 2026.

Not your standard lamp-posts, either. The lighting will use directed column fittings angled specifically at the path rather than throwing light broadly across the river corridor, keeping light pollution down for birds and wildlife living along the route. The council consulted Kent Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency during the design process to ensure the project does not disrupt wildlife habitats.

And the wider idea is straightforward enough: better lighting might persuade a few more people to walk or cycle between the town centre, local shops, offices and homes instead of jumping in the car. Councillor Adem Mehmet, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Tonbridge Regeneration, thanked residents for their patience during the procurement process.

What happens next: Construction begins in November 2026, with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council targeting completion before Christmas 2026.