Bromley Conservatives vote against making Borough more Age-Friendly

Conservative councillors have voted against a Liberal Democrat proposal to work towards making Bromley an Age Friendly Community – a move slammed by the Lib Dems as showing a lack of care and concern for the borough’s older population.

The Liberal Democrat motion – tabled at a meeting on 7 April and supported by Labour and Chislehurst Matters – called for the Council to join the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities, an initiative supported by the Centre for Ageing Better which helps local authorities create inclusive, supportive environments for older people. Bromley’s growing proportion of older residents is the highest of any London borough, but despite this the Conservatives refused to support the plan to make everyday life safer, more accessible, and more welcoming for them.

Speaking at the meeting, Lib Dem councillors highlighted the very real challenges many older residents face, including fear of crossing roads due to speeding; uneven pavements; lack of public toilets and step-free access; poor lighting and unreliable public transport; and digital exclusion and social isolation.

One opposition councillor shared the heartbreaking story of an older resident too frightened to cross the road to her local post box because of speeding traffic — a poignant example of how daily life in Bromley is made needlessly difficult and even dangerous for some of its most vulnerable residents. Others commented that the move would help not just older people, but other residents such as families with young children and those with disabilities.

“This isn’t about spending huge sums of money,” said Liberal Democrat Group Leader Chloe-Jane Ross. “It’s about recognising the needs of our older population and showing a willingness to do better. The Centre for Ageing Better provides practical, budget-conscious steps that councils can take to improve the lives of older people. The Conservatives were not interested, claiming they already do enough - but that is not the experience of the many residents that contact us about digital exclusion, GP access, road safety, lack of public toilets, and uneven pavements to name a few.”

Councils across the country — including Kingston, Lewisham, Southwark, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Nottinghamshire — have already joined the Age-Friendly Communities network. The motion in Bromley simply asked the Council to commit to working towards the same, using its existing influence, policy tools, and partnerships.

But by voting against this modest, compassionate proposal, Bromley’s Conservative councillors showed they are out of step not only with other local authorities, but with the needs of their own residents.

“The message from the Conservatives is clear,” the Lib Dems said. “They aren’t interested in making Bromley better for our aging residents.”