# Local Authority > Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories. No ads, no clickbait. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### Independent journalism for Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/about/ Last updated: 2026-07-06T15:52:22.000Z No clickbait. No endless advertising. Just original reporting, investigations, interviews and analysis covering the stories that shape Medway. Every week we publish two free email editions: a big original story every Tuesday and a Friday briefing that brings together the week’s biggest news, planning, events, and more. ## ****Get Medway in your inbox** Two free email editions every week. A big original story every Tuesday, plus a Friday briefing covering everything happening across Medway. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free forever. Paid membership is optional. ### A better way to do local news We reject the idea that local journalism has to mean clickbait headlines, endless advertising, and rewriting press releases. We’d rather publish fewer stories and make them worth your time than chase every passing headline. Our journalism is funded almost entirely by our readers. That independence allows us to focus on the stories that matter rather than the ones most likely to generate clicks. We think Medway deserves ambitious, independent journalism, and that’s what we’re trying to build. ### What you'll receive Every free subscriber receives: - A major original story every Tuesday. - A Friday briefing covering the biggest stories from across Medway, alongside planning, culture, events and more. - Access to our growing library of free journalism. - Occasional updates about our reporting and events. If you enjoy what you read, you can also become a member. Members unlock every story we publish, receive additional interviews and essays throughout the week, and help fund independent journalism in Medway. ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!gyC-!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb2875df2-d2be-4077-9ba5-706dbf292445_1862x1040.png) ### Who we are *Local Authority* was founded by Ed Jennings and Steven Keevil. Long before launching the publication in 2021, we spent our evenings sitting through council meetings, live-posting local politics online, and discovering there was far more happening in Medway than anyone was reporting. Eventually, we decided to stop complaining about local journalism and start building the kind of publication we wanted to read. Since then, Local Authority has become one of Kent’s leading independent news organisations. Our journalism reaches more than 45,000 readers each month and is read by politicians, public officials, business owners, journalists, campaigners, artists and thousands of Medway residents who simply want better local news. ### Selected recognition Since launching in 2021, *Local Authority* has been recognised repeatedly for its journalism, including: - Winner, Kent News Website of the Year, 2023 - Winner, Columnist of the Year, 2023 - Highly Commended, Story of the Year, 2026 - Highly Commended, Print & Online Journalist of the Year, 2024 - Finalist, Kent News Website of the Year, 2024, 2025 and 2026 We’ve also been recognised by the A Better Medway Awards, Rainbows Over Medway Awards and Pride in Medway. ### New here? Start with these. [Farage football shirt offered as essay prize in Medway schoolPlus Medway MP gets promoted and hears from the worst people, news in brief, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--76361001-60b8-4932-b8ae-7eca7be89733.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f462d7d9a-e521-4184-be42-7b43cfa47e4e_1500x1000-e7da0ebb-7d7e-44f4-872b-a105e426cb06.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/farage-football-shirt-offered-as/) [“I’ll stand on my track record of decades of service”What Steven asked Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council at the halfway point of his Labour administration.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--d7613e6e-063a-49e2-90b3-2e29f2bde6bd.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd654252a-88e2-4f66-a3ac-dee1713c1a8d_2240x1680-6bf9248d-6b2c-4a16-9f98-ce28be590cea.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) [Does Medway exist?Medway was created after a bitter 1990s battle over whether the towns were one place at all. Nearly 30 years later, that argument is back.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--7803183e-8c85-4209-896d-76cf3528eac1.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/AdobeStock_467530117-1-bd9fc8d2-a4f5-4737-bed3-02d17bf21489.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/does-medway-exist/) ### What readers say “Heroic and trailblazing .. doing a great job filling the gap left by legacy media across its coverage of local politics, planning, culture and well, everything else you’d want from a local news publication.” - [James O’Malley](https://takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/local-journalism-is-killing-itself?ref=localauthority.news) “Better than the Observer and cheaper too.” - Medway Council Leader Vince Maple “Informative and funny! .. If you live in Medway and aren't reading Ed's weekly email you're missing out.” - [Carl Jeffrey](https://twitter.com/fellowcreative/status/1436309665130876931?ref=localauthority.news) “The first one was quite okay.” - Ed’s mum ## Join thousands of Medway readers Independent local journalism delivered free to your inbox every Tuesday and Friday. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Already a subscriber? Membership unlocks every story and directly funds our journalism. ### Support independent journalism Thousands of readers receive Local Authority for free. Our members go further. Membership unlocks every story we publish, along with our exclusive interviews, essays and events. More importantly, it directly funds original reporting that holds power to account and tells the stories that matter across Medway. Membership costs **£6 per month** or **£60 per year**. ### Our standards ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jcgO!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F72c2bba0-838f-4595-9535-e604e48e8636_1418x438.png) *Local Authority* adheres to the [Standards Code](https://www.impressorg.com/standards/impress-standards-code/our-standards-code/?ref=localauthority.news) adopted by [Impress](https://www.impressorg.com/?ref=localauthority.news), which serves as the independent regulator of our work. If you wish to make a complaint about anything we have published, you can find details of how to do so [here](https://www.localauthority.news/complaints/). ### Get in touch Have a story tip, feedback, or just want to say hello? **hello@localauthority.news** *Local Authority is published by Authority Media Ltd, Valiant Suite, Second Chance Community Centre, Brompton Hill, Chatham, ME4 4XL.* ### Complaints URL: https://www.localauthority.news/complaints/ Last updated: 2025-01-23T11:13:47.000Z We can look into complaints about items we have published which are in our control. We adhere to the Standards Code adopted by Impress and can only deal with complaints which relate to an alleged breach of the standards set out [in this Code](https://www.impressorg.com/standards/?ref=localauthority.news). We can only deal with your complaint if you are: - personally and directly affected by an alleged breach of the Code - a representative group affected by an alleged breach of the Code, where there is public interest in your complaint - a third party seeking to ensure accuracy of published information We are also regulated by Impress, but initial complaints must be made to us using the following details: Email: hello@localauthority.news (please use subject line ‘Complaint’) Address: Local Authority, Valiant Suite, Second Chance Community Centre, Brompton Hill, Chatham, ME4 4XL. We will acknowledge your complaint by e-mail or in writing within seven calendar days and will normally respond to your complaint with a final decision letter within 21 calendar days. If we uphold your complaint, we will tell you the remedial actions we have taken. If you are not satisfied with the final response to your complaint, or if you do not hear from us within 21 calendar days of submitting your complaint, then you can [refer your complaint to our independent regulator Impress at this link](https://www.impressorg.com/complaints?ref=localauthority.news) or by contacting them directly using the following information: W: [impressorg.com/complaints](https://www.impressorg.com/complaints?ref=localauthority.news) E: [complaints@impressorg.com](mailto:complaints@impressorg.com) T: 020 3325 4288 ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6MHD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4af97eb2-6d30-4980-8315-721676209d18_1418x438.png) ### Events URL: https://www.localauthority.news/events/ Last updated: 2026-09-11T11:37:38.000Z *Our curated list of the most interesting events happening in Medway over the coming months.* ✉️ **To inform us about an interesting event happening in Medway, email* ***hello AT localauthority DOT news** *. We can’t guarantee we can include everything, but we’ll do what we can.* **September 2026** 🛍️ Sat 12 Sep - [**Art Flea Fair**](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/whatson/art-flea-fair-2/2026-09-12/?ref=localauthority.news) // Indoor market of art, craft, handmade, and vintage finds. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 💬 Sat 12 Sep - [**Sangat: We are, Other** ](https://www.ticketsource.com/mlt/sangat-we-are-other-adipat-virdi-presents-an-immersive-workshop-experience/e-olbolj?ref=localauthority.news)// Adipat Virdi presents an immersive workshop exploring Sikh stories of identity, heritage and belonging in Medway. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Free. 🎸 Sat 12 Sep - [**The Would-Be-Goods + Railcard**](https://wegottickets.com/event/696867?ref=localauthority.news) // Double bill of indiepop bands. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. 🖼️ 17 - 30 Sep - [**Simon Mills: In Your Face**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition of portraits by local artist. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. 🐺 Sat 19 Sep - [**Stewart Lee vs The Man-Wulf**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/Stewart-Lee-vs-The-Man-Wulf?ref=localauthority.news) // Comedian returns to Chatham and tries to unleash his new edgy alter-ego. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets £31. 🎨 19 Sep - 15 Nov - [**In Turner’s Wake**](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/in-turners-wake-contemporary-visions-by-jake-wood-evans/?ref=localauthority.news) // Largest display of original JMW Turner works yet staged at the Dockyard, shown alongside contemporary paintings by Jake Wood-Evans. Historic Dockyard, Chatham. Tickets £29, including Dockyard entry. 🛍️ Sun 20 Sep - [**Rochester Farmers' Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Stalls selling fresh produce, street food, gifts, and more. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 💬 Tue 22 Sep - [**The Psychology of Fetish & Kink**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-psychology-of-fetish-kink-tickets-1990314884397?ref=localauthority.news) // Talk exploring factors that drive fetish and kink behaviours. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets from £13.50. 🎭 24 Sep - 3 Oct - [**Emma**](https://www.ticketsource.com/mlt/emma-by-michael-bloom-based-on-jane-austens-classic-novel/e-zpdvra?ref=localauthority.news) // Amateur production of Jane Austen's classic novel. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £12. 🤼 Sat 26 Sep - [**UKPW**](https://www.fatsoma.com/e/nqj8wcag/ukpw-live-pro-wrestling-in-chatham-historic-dockyard?ref=localauthority.news) // Wrestling action returns with an even bigger show. Chatham Historic Dockyard. Tickets from £12. **October 2026** 🗣️ Thu 1 Oct - [**Medway Matters Live**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medway-matters-live-tickets-1989922312203?ref=localauthority.news) // Chance to put questions directly to council leader and Chief Executive. Strood Sports Centre. Free. 🎸 Sat 3 Oct - [**Adam Ross + The Love Family**](https://wegottickets.com/event/696865?ref=localauthority.news) // Scottish indie-folk singer-songwriter returns to Medway, supported by Medway legends. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. 🤼 Sun 4 Oct - [**UKPW**](https://www.fatsoma.com/e/nqj8wcag/ukpw-live-pro-wrestling-in-chatham-historic-dockyard?ref=localauthority.news) // Wrestling action returns to its spiritual home in Medway. Parkwood Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. 💬 Wed 14 Oct - [**Kieran Poole: Shopping List Guy**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/Wigmore-Lectures-Shopping-List-Guy?ref=localauthority.news) // Eco artist talks about his work transforming discarded things. Wigmore Library, Rainham. Tickets £5. 💔 Sat 17 Oct - [**Broken Heart Bazaar**](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/whatson/broken-heart-bazaar/2026-10-17/?ref=localauthority.news) // Medway's alternative market of curios, gothic designs, and pagan wares. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🎸 Sat 17 Oct - [**The Real People**](https://www.ticketsource.com/platform3club/t-ejjypmp?ref=localauthority.news) // Acoustic show from Oasis-influencing band, with support from the Pastel Waves. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £18. **November 2026** 🖼️ 19 - 25 Nov - [**Can you feel me in the swells?**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Solo exhibition from interdisciplinary visual artist Lux Orion. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. **December 2026** 🎸 Fri 18 Dec - [**Swansea Sound + support**](https://wegottickets.com/f/26756?ref=localauthority.news) // Careful Now Promotions Christmas bash with multiple excellent bands. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. ## Sign up for Local Authority Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Privacy Policy URL: https://www.localauthority.news/privacy-policy/ Last updated: 2026-07-20T16:44:37.000Z **Authority Media customer privacy notice** This privacy notice tells you what to expect us to do with your personal information. ### Contact details **Email** hello(AT)authoritymedia(DOT)news **What information we collect, use, and why** We collect or use the following information to **provide services and goods, including delivery**: - Names and contact details - Addresses - Purchase or account history - Payment details (including card or bank information for transfers and direct debits) - Account information We collect or use the following information for **the operation of customer accounts and guarantees**: - Names and contact details - Payment details (including card or bank information for transfers and direct debits) - Purchase history - Account information, including registration details We collect or use the following information for **service updates or marketing purposes**: - Names and contact details - Marketing preferences - Purchase or viewing history We collect or use the following information to **comply with legal requirements**: - Name - Contact information - Any other personal information required to comply with legal obligations We collect or use the following personal information for **dealing with queries, complaints or claims**: - Names and contact details - Payment details - Account information - Purchase or service history - Customer or client accounts and records - Correspondence **Lawful bases and data protection rights** Under UK data protection law, we must have a “lawful basis” for collecting and using your personal information. There is a list of possible [lawful bases](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-for-small-organisations/getting-started-with-gdpr/data-protection-principles-definitions-and-key-terms/?ref=kentcurrent.news#lawfulbasis) in the UK GDPR. You can find out more about lawful bases on the ICO’s website. Which lawful basis we rely on may affect your data protection rights which are set out in brief below. You can find out more about your data protection rights and the exemptions which may apply on the ICO’s website: - **Your right of access** \- You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information. You can request other information such as details about where we get personal information from and who we share personal information with. There are some exemptions which means you may not receive all the information you ask for. [Read more about the right of access](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-for-small-organisations/privacy-notices-and-cookies/create-your-own-privacy-notice/your-data-protection-rights/?ref=kentcurrent.news#roa). - **Your right to rectification** \- You have the right to ask us to correct or delete personal information you think is inaccurate or incomplete. [Read more about the right to rectification](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-for-small-organisations/privacy-notices-and-cookies/create-your-own-privacy-notice/your-data-protection-rights/?ref=kentcurrent.news#rtr). - **Your right to erasure** \- You have the right to ask us to delete your personal information. [Read more about the right to erasure](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-for-small-organisations/privacy-notices-and-cookies/create-your-own-privacy-notice/your-data-protection-rights/?ref=kentcurrent.news#rte). - **Your right to restriction of processing** \- You have the right to ask us to limit how we can use your personal information. [Read more about the right to restriction of processing](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-for-small-organisations/privacy-notices-and-cookies/create-your-own-privacy-notice/your-data-protection-rights/?ref=kentcurrent.news#rtrop). - **Your right to object to processing** \- You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data. [Read more about the right to object to processing](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-for-small-organisations/privacy-notices-and-cookies/create-your-own-privacy-notice/your-data-protection-rights/?ref=kentcurrent.news#rto). - **Your right to data portability** \- You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you. [Read more about the right to data portability](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-for-small-organisations/privacy-notices-and-cookies/create-your-own-privacy-notice/your-data-protection-rights/?ref=kentcurrent.news#rtdp). - **Your right to withdraw consent** – When we use consent as our lawful basis you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. [Read more about the right to withdraw consent](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-for-small-organisations/privacy-notices-and-cookies/create-your-own-privacy-notice/your-data-protection-rights/?ref=kentcurrent.news#rtwc). If you make a request, we must respond to you without undue delay and in any event within one month. To make a data protection rights request, please contact us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice. **Our lawful bases for the collection and use of your data** Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information to **provide services and goods** are: - Consent - we have permission from you after we gave you all the relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. To be clear, you do have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. - Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object. - Legitimate interests – we’re collecting or using your information because it benefits you, our organisation or someone else, without causing an undue risk of harm to anyone. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to portability. Our legitimate interests are: - We might need to collect certain information reasonably expected as part of running our business, that will not have a material impact on your rights, freedom or interests. Examples could be your address, so that we know where to deliver something to, or your name, so that we have a record of who to contact moving forwards. For more information on our use of legitimate interests as a lawful basis you can contact us using the contact details set out above. Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for **the operation of customer accounts and guarantees** are: - Consent - we have permission from you after we gave you all the relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. To be clear, you do have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. - Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object. - Legitimate interests – we’re collecting or using your information because it benefits you, our organisation or someone else, without causing an undue risk of harm to anyone. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to portability. Our legitimate interests are: - We might need to collect certain information reasonably expected as part of running our business, that will not have a material impact on your rights, freedom or interests. Examples could be your address, so that we know where to deliver something to, or your name, so that we have a record of who to contact moving forwards. For more information on our use of legitimate interests as a lawful basis you can contact us using the contact details set out above. Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for **service updates or marketing purposes** are: - Consent - we have permission from you after we gave you all the relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. To be clear, you do have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. - Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object. - Legitimate interests – we’re collecting or using your information because it benefits you, our organisation or someone else, without causing an undue risk of harm to anyone. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to portability. Our legitimate interests are: - We might need to collect certain information reasonably expected as part of running our business, that will not have a material impact on your rights, freedom or interests. Examples could be your address, so that we know where to deliver something to, or your name, so that we have a record of who to contact moving forwards. For more information on our use of legitimate interests as a lawful basis you can contact us using the contact details set out above. Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for **legal requirements** are: - Legal obligation – we have to collect or use your information so we can comply with the law. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to erasure, the right to object and the right to data portability. Our lawful bases for collecting or using personal information for **dealing with queries, complaints or claims** are: - Consent - we have permission from you after we gave you all the relevant information. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to object. To be clear, you do have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. - Contract – we have to collect or use the information so we can enter into or carry out a contract with you. All of your data protection rights may apply except the right to object. - Legal obligation – we have to collect or use your information so we can comply with the law. All of your data protection rights may apply, except the right to erasure, the right to object and the right to data portability. **Where we get personal information from** - Directly from you - Publicly available sources **Optional cookies and advertising measurement** We use the Meta Pixel to measure the effectiveness of advertising placed on Facebook and Instagram and to help us improve future campaigns. The Meta Pixel is optional and will only load after you choose to accept advertising cookies. If enabled, it may collect information about your browser or device, the pages you visit and actions such as completing a newsletter registration. Meta Platforms Ireland Limited processes information received through its business tools in accordance with its own terms and privacy policy. You can reject advertising cookies without affecting your access to our website or newsletters. You can also withdraw your consent at any time by selecting Cookie settings on our website. More information is available in the [Meta Privacy Policy](https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/) and [Meta Cookies Policy](https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policies/cookies/). **How long we keep information** We will only retain your data for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for. ### Data processors we share information with **Stripe** This data processor does the following activities for us: Stripe is our payment processor, who collect and processes payment and transaction information. **Others we share personal information with** - Relevant regulatory authorities - Organisations we’re legally obliged to share personal information with **How to complain** If you have any concerns about our use of your personal data, you can make a complaint to us using the contact details at the top of this privacy notice. If you remain unhappy with how we’ve used your data after raising a complaint with us, you can also complain to the ICO. The ICO’s address: Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Helpline number: 0303 123 1113 Website: [https://www.ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint](https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/?ref=kentcurrent.news) Last updated 1 April 2025 ### Advertise with Local Authority URL: https://www.localauthority.news/advertise/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T14:11:27.000Z Reach an engaged Medway audience through a trusted, award-winning local publication. *Local Authority* offers exclusive print and digital advertising opportunities for businesses, organisations and events that want to get in front of people who actually pay attention to what is going on locally. ### Why advertise with us? *Local Authority* is an independent, award-winning publication covering Medway’s politics, culture, communities and public life. We report seriously on the area, write like actual humans, and have built a loyal readership in the process. That matters if you are advertising. It means your organisation appears in a publication people choose to spend time with, rather than wedged between clickbait and assorted internet sludge. We are rooted in Medway, and so is our audience. That makes *Local Authority* a strong fit for businesses, venues, organisations and events that want to reach people with a real connection to the area. **Trusted** A respected independent local title **Exclusive** Exclusive newsletter sponsorship and sole advertiser presence on each sponsored print page **Local** A publication squarely focused on Medway and the people who live, work and spend here ### Print advertising **Exclusive page sponsorship in print** Our print edition is built around page sponsorship. That means each advertiser has sole presence on their page, rather than fighting for space alongside a clutter of other ads. Premium positions are also available on the front and back cover. In other words, if you advertise in print with us, you are not disappearing into the void. It is a clean, high-visibility way to appear in a distinctive local publication with a strong identity and a readership that cares about where it lives. **Print advertising options** - Inside page sponsorship - Front cover sponsorship - Back cover sponsorship - Multi-issue bookings - Combined print and newsletter packages Artwork specifications, booking deadlines and availability are available on request. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-03-25-at-09.16.24-1.png) ### Digital advertising **Exclusive newsletter sponsorship** *Local Authority* also offers exclusive sponsorship of individual newsletter editions, putting your organisation directly in front of one of Medway’s most engaged local audiences. Only one sponsorship slot is available per newsletter, so your brand is the sole sponsored presence in that edition. Our free newsletters currently reach over 3,000 Medway subscribers, with a typical open rate of 58%. That gives advertisers a direct route into readers’ inboxes through a product they actively choose to receive and support, which is a better place to be than most of the internet. **Digital advertising options** - Exclusive sponsorship of individual newsletter editions - Sole sponsored presence within that edition - Combined print and newsletter packages ### Advertising pack Our full advertising and sponsorship pack includes more details on print and digital opportunities, rates and booking information. [LA advertising guide September 2026LA advertising guide Sep2026.pdf10 MBdownload-circle](https://www.localauthority.news/content/files/2026/08/LA-advertising-guide-Sep2026.pdf "Download") ### Contact **Interested in advertising with *Local Authority*?** To discuss print sponsorship, newsletter sponsorship or a tailored package, get in touch. **Steven Keevil** steven@authoritymedia.news Discounted rates are available for multi-issue bookings and combined print and newsletter packages. ### Independent Medway journalism, now available in print URL: https://www.localauthority.news/print/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T14:51:34.000Z *Local Authority* began as a digital publication because that was the fastest way to start covering Medway properly. Since 2021, we have published hundreds of stories on local politics, public services, culture, planning, transport, housing, elections, council meetings, odd local disputes, and the stranger corners of life across the towns. Now, we are bringing some of that work into print. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-4-1.png) Our print edition is a free newspaper for Medway, featuring a selection of our reporting, interviews, features, local culture and original photography. It is designed for regular readers, new readers, and anyone who might come across a copy in a café, pub, community space, workplace, or waiting room across Medway. **What’s inside?** Each edition of *Local Authority* in print brings together some of the best of our recent work, including: - Original reporting on Medway Council and local public life - Features and interviews from across the towns - Local culture, history, sport and community stories - Sharp, independent analysis of what is happening in Medway - Photography and design from the *Local Authority* team The print edition does not replace our online work. Our reporting still appears first here at localauthority.news, where readers can subscribe to receive our stories by email. The newspaper gives us another way to reach people across Medway, especially those who might not be on BlueSky, Facebook, Instagram, or whichever platform is currently pretending it has not made everything worse. **Where to find it** **Chatham** - **Art Junction** // *13 Military Road, ME4 4JG* - **The Bohemian** // *2 High Street, ME4 4EP* - **Cafe Nucleus** // *272 High Street, ME4 4BP* - **Chatham Community Hub** // *Dock Road, ME4 4TX* - **Chatham Football Club** // *Bournville Avenue, ME4 6LR* - **Cleopatra's Legacy** // *25 Military Road, ME4 4JG* - **Dragon Coworking** // *7-8 New Road Avenue, ME4 6BB* - **Drill Hall Library** // *Universities at Medway, 54 North Rd, ME4 4TB* - **General At Sea**// *1 Lansdowne Road, ME4 6LH* - **Gurkha Fire** // *New Cut, ME4 6AD* - **The Hub** // *Universities at Medway, North Rd, ME4 4AG* - **Lordswood Library** // *Kestrel Road, ME5 8TH* - **Luton Library** // *2 Nelson Terrace, ME5 7LA* - **Mrs Sourdough Bakery** // *74 High Street, ME4 4DS* - **No 64 Coffee & Brunch** // *64 High Street, ME4 4DS* - **Poco Loco** // *58-60 High Street, ME4 4DS* - **Second Chance Community Centre** // *Brompton Hill, ME4 4XQ* - **Ship & Trades** // *Chatham Maritime, ME4 3ER* - **Sotto Lounge** // *Unit A, Dockside Outlet Centre, ME4 3ED* - **St John's Church** // *18 Railway Street, ME4 4JT* - **Sun Pier House** // *Medway Street, ME4 4HF* - **Walderslade Hook Meadow Library** // *King George Road, ME5 0TZ* - **Walderslade Village Library** // *Walderslade Road, ME5 9LR* - **Waterstones** // *182 High Street, ME4 4AS* - **Wisdom Hospice Shop** // *207 High Street, ME4 4BG* **Cliffe** - **Six Bells** // *181 Church Street, ME3 7QD* **Cuxton** - **Cuxton Library** // *95* *Bush Road, ME2 1EY* - **The White Hart** // *Rochester Road, ME2 1AD* **Gillingham** - **Cataclysm Games** // *45 Canterbury Street, ME7 5TR* - **Gillingham Community Hub** // *3 High Street, ME7 1BG* - **Glassbox Theatre** // *MidKent College, Medway Road, ME7 1FN* - **Mast & Rigging** //*Gillingham Gate Road, ME4 4FT* - **Medway Learning & Skills Hub** // *Arden Street, ME7 1AZ* - **Medway Maritime Hospital** // *Windmill Road, ME7 5NY* - **Medway Record Centre** // *36 Canterbury Street, ME7 5TX* - **Old Ash Tree** // *136 Rainham Road, ME5 7EN* - **Past & Present** // *15 Canterbury Street, ME7 5TP* - **Pup Planet** // Pier Road Industrial Estate, ME7 1RZ - **Strum & Bass** // *95-97 Watling Street, ME7 2YX* - **Sunlight Centre** // *105 Richmond Road, ME7 1LX* - **Twydall Community Hub** // *13-15 Twydall Green, ME8 6JY* **Grain** - **Grain Library** // *29 Chapel Road, ME3 0BZ* **Halling** - **The Homeward Bound** // *72 High Street, ME2 1BY* - **Moot Brew Co** // *Court Farm, Pilgrims Road, ME2 1HR* **Hoo** - **The Chequers** // *26 Church Street, ME3 9AL* - **Hoo Library** // *24 Church Street, ME3 9AL* **Lower Stoke** - **The Nags Head** // *Stoke Road, ME3 9RA* **Rainham** - **Cafe Nucleus** // *35A High Street, ME8 7HS* - **The Greedy Banker** // *89-93 High Street, ME8 7HS* - **Hempstead Library** // *197 Hempstead Road, ME7 3QG* - **Mackland Arms** // *213 Station Road, ME8 7PS* - **Nutmegs Patisserie** // *67B High Street, ME8 7HS* - **Rainham Library** // *1 Birling Avenue, ME8 7LR* - **The Rose Inn** // *High Street, ME8 8DR* - **Wigmore Library** // *208 Fairview Avenue, ME8 0PX* **Rochester** - **12 Degrees Micropub** // *352 High Street, ME1 1DJ* - **Analogue Music** // *70A High Street, ME1 1JY* - **Austen's of Rochester** // *92 High Street, ME1 1JT* - **Beantown** // *126A Maidstone Road, ME1 3DT* - **The Cheese Room** // *74 High Street, ME1 1JY* - **Get Ready Comics** // *119 High Street, ME1 1JN* - **The Hangar** // *6 Lankester Parker Road, ME1 3QU* - **Hilary's Electrolysis** // *331 High Street, ME1 1DA* - **Intra Arts** // *337-341 High Street, ME1 1DA* - **Playopolis** // *2 Star Hill, ME1 1UX* - **Rochester Community Hub** // *Eastgate, ME1 1EW* - **The Ship Inn** // *347 High Street, ME1 1DA* - **Store 104** // *104 High Street, ME1 1JT* - **The Royal Crown** // *2 High Street, ME1 1PT* - **Three Sheets to the Wind** // *173 High Street, ME1 1EH* - **The Two Brewers** // *113 High Street, ME1 1JS* - **The Who'd Ha Thought It** // *9 Baker Street, ME1 3DN* - **Wisdom Hospice Shop** // *75 High Street, ME1 1LX* - **Wolfe & Castle**// *44 High Street, ME1 1LD* **Strood** - **Aliko's Cafe Lounge** // *Michael Gill Building, Tollgate Lane, ME2 4TG* - **The Bloom Room** //*84A High Street, ME2 4AR* - **Medway Archives** // *32 Bryant Road, ME2 3EP* - **Strood Library** // *133 High Street, ME2 4TJ* **Upnor** - **Bunny & Bear** // *72 Ordnance Yard Road, ME2 4UY* - **No Bad Days** // *12 Magazine B, Ordnance Yard Road, ME2 4UY* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-6-1.png) We are always interested in hearing from places that would like to stock *Local Authority*. You do not need to be a shop. Our print edition can work well in cafés, pubs, restaurants, libraries, cultural venues, community spaces, offices, waiting rooms, independent businesses, colleges, charities, and larger local employers. If you have a space where people pass through, sit down, browse, wait, work, drink coffee, or quietly wonder why Medway is like this, we would like to hear from you. Stocking *Local Authority* is free. We supply copies, and you make them available to your visitors, customers, staff, or members. To request copies, contact **steven@authoritymedia.news**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-7-1.png) **Print advertising** *Local Authority*’s print edition gives businesses, organisations and institutions a way to reach an engaged Medway audience through a free, widely distributed local newspaper. Advertising opportunities are limited in each edition, with page sponsorships available. For details, including formats, availability and how to enquire, visit our [advertising page](https://www.localauthority.news/advertise/). ### Stay ahead of what’s happening in Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/start/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T16:34:33.000Z ## ****Medway explained.** **Local Authority* is independent local journalism for Medway. We report on the decisions, developments and debates shaping the area, then explain what they actually mean. No clickbait, no noise. Just useful reporting on the place we live. ## Understand what’s happening in Medway. Get a major original story every Tuesday and a clear Friday briefing covering the news, politics, planning, culture and events shaping the area. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Join more than 3,000 Local Authority readers. Free to join. Paid support is optional. ## What you’ll find in *Local Authority* From council meetings and planning applications to regeneration projects, public services and local politics, we cover the stories shaping Medway. Alongside breaking developments, you’ll find long-form reporting, interviews, investigations and analysis designed to help you understand not just what happened, but why it matters. A free subscription gives you two useful emails each week, plus access to registration-only stories across the site. - Tuesday’s major story – Original reporting, investigation or analysis on an issue shaping Medway. - Friday’s briefing – The biggest local stories, alongside planning, culture, events and more. - Member access – Sign in to read registration-only stories across the *Local Authority* website. - Context – Not just what happened, but what it means for Medway. ## Recent stories A few of the stories we’ve recently covered, from fire cover and planning battles to public services, politics and the future of Medway’s towns. [Medway’s future is North KentWhat the government’s decision means for Medway, plus a chaotic council meeting, HMS Saxifrage’s departure, planning, events, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--fd87927f-dcca-485d-be0b-5b51ea2861f2.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/4b_KL_1024x768px-2048x1536-206908d3-9efd-4f75-878c-cfad75689ea7.png)](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-future-is-north-kent/) [Theatres Trust calls Royal Function Rooms plans ‘unserious’Heritage bodies say the case for conversion has not been made, and the final stop for Medway’s missing rail monument![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--4b3f34e4-8481-42dd-8527-014f79e12bea.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/rfr-1-7a94497f-aff6-41cb-ac56-d70aaf3955e0.png)](https://www.localauthority.news/theatres-trust-calls-royal-function-rooms-plans-unserious/) [He defected to Reform. Eight months later, he wants outA prominent local recruit leaves Reform with questions about what the party is becoming![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--493e9c86-b15a-460b-be58-3d534f815ca6.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/WhatsApp-Image-2026-06-15-at-08.19.19-1-5765bd56-747e-4e13-96de-d5bff0f1636e.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/he-defected-to-reform-eight-months-later-he-wants-out/) [“It’s a constant battle to pay everything”What Steven asked Jody Carrington, general manager of Poco Loco and project manager for the Intra Community Trust![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--b426d5bd-94a7-4288-aa4a-0351b196b749.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/279950848_4906548322797251_1971901001094124957_n-a04f8f45-6779-417d-80d7-bc703e2b0191.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-constant-battle-to-pay-everything/) [Upnor Castle was open six days a week. Now it opens once a monthThe cost of thinning out public access, plus school exclusion data, and a new Kent-branded party![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--e7d732fc-c277-4dce-a85c-481ce6e5a36c.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/AdobeStock_717652216_Editorial_Use_Only-2-1-2140f5b1-a84b-4e30-9e3b-58c4c332b3f7.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/upnor-castle-was-open-six-days-a-week-now-it-opens-once-a-month/) [The Rochester pub that kept getting it rightAfter surviving bankruptcy, covid and everything else thrown at the trade, the Who’d Ha Thought It has taken CAMRA’s top local award![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--3cf67cec-391c-4078-96b8-6de0bf7f5744.webp)Local AuthorityChris de Coulon Berthoud![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/image-1-1--1--3872c92e-fdca-417d-bf63-9343ef382f2c.png)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-rochester-pub-that-kept-getting-it-right/) If it affects Medway, we probably have questions about it. ## What you'll get A free subscription gives you regular reporting and analysis from across Medway, without needing to chase council papers, social feeds or half-heard rumours. - **News briefings** \- The main local stories, decisions and developments explained clearly. - **Original reporting** \- Stories dug out properly, not rewritten from press releases. - **Interviews** \- Conversations with the people making decisions, challenging them, or affected by them. - **Context** \- Not just what happened, but what it means for Medway. ## Why we exist Medway is too big, too complicated and too important to be covered only when something goes badly wrong. Councils spend public money. Developers reshape towns. Services change. Decisions are made that affect people’s lives long before most residents hear about them. *Local Authority* exists to keep watching. ## Independent, local, accountable Local Authority has covered Medway since 2021, is read by thousands of local residents, and has won multiple awards for its journalism. We are regulated by Impress and are a member of the Public Interest News Foundation. ### Editorial Policy URL: https://www.localauthority.news/editorial-policy/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T11:38:01.000Z Trust is central to what we do. Local journalism only works if readers believe we have done the work, separated fact from opinion, treated people fairly and put mistakes right. This policy applies to *Local Authority* and the *Kent Current*, both published by Authority Media Ltd. It covers our websites, newsletters, official social media accounts and other editorial material for which we are responsible. Both publications are independently regulated by Impress. We follow the [Impress Standards Code](https://www.impressorg.com/standards/impress-standards-code/our-standards-code/?ref=localauthority.news). If anything in this policy conflicts with the Code, the Code takes precedence. ## Our approach We aim to produce independent, non-partisan and evidence-led journalism about Kent and Medway. That does not mean approaching every story without judgement or giving every argument equal weight. We will scrutinise decisions, challenge people and organisations with power, and reach conclusions where the evidence supports them. We will not manufacture balance between a well-supported position and an unsupported claim simply to appear neutral. Our reporting should be accurate, fair, informative and clear about what is known, what is disputed and what remains uncertain. Editorial decisions are made by our editors. Political parties, public bodies, businesses, commercial partners and paying members do not decide what we cover or how we cover it. ## Accuracy We take reasonable steps to ensure that everything we publish is accurate. Depending on the story, this can include checking primary documents, reviewing data, speaking to people directly involved, seeking corroboration and testing claims against other reliable evidence. We distinguish clearly between fact, allegation, analysis and opinion. Opinion or commentary will be presented in a way that makes its nature clear. Where we cannot independently verify a relevant claim, we will attribute it and explain what we have and have not been able to establish. Headlines, captions, photographs, graphics, newsletters and social media posts must fairly represent the underlying reporting. Accuracy is not limited to the body of an article. ## Corrections and updates If we publish a significant inaccuracy, we will correct it at the earliest opportunity and with prominence equal to the original material. We will not quietly remove a significant error. Where a correction materially changes the meaning of a story, we will add a note explaining what was changed and why. Minor spelling, grammar, formatting or typographical errors may be corrected without a note where they do not alter the meaning of the article. Developing stories may be updated as new information becomes available. Where an update substantially changes or adds to the original account, we will make that clear to readers. ## Fairness and right of reply Anyone who is the subject of significant criticism, an allegation of wrongdoing or another potentially damaging claim will normally be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before publication. We will provide enough information for the person or organisation to understand the substance of what is being put to them. The time allowed will depend on the seriousness and complexity of the claims, the amount of material involved and any genuine urgency around publication. We will fairly reflect relevant responses, but we are not required to publish them in full or verbatim. If someone declines to comment or does not respond within a reasonable deadline, we may still publish and will normally make their position clear. A right of reply does not provide a right to approve, delay or prevent publication. ## Interviews, quotations and copy approval We identify ourselves and the publication we represent when conducting interviews. We do not normally offer interviewees approval of a finished article. We may check individual facts or quotations where doing so would improve accuracy, particularly when dealing with complex or sensitive subjects. Direct quotations will not be changed in a way that alters their meaning or context. They may be shortened or lightly edited for clarity, provided the speaker’s meaning and natural tone are preserved. The final decision about what is published rests with the editorial team. ## Sources and attribution We identify sources as clearly as circumstances allow. Information originating from another publication, journalist, photographer, researcher or organisation will be properly credited and linked where appropriate. We do not present somebody else’s reporting, words, photographs or other work as our own. We do not fabricate sources or quotations. We do not pay public officials for information, except in exceptional circumstances where there is an overriding public interest. We do not normally pay other sources for information. ## Confidential and anonymous sources People sometimes need to speak without being publicly identified. We may grant anonymity where the information is important, the source has credible reasons to require protection and the story could not reasonably be reported in another way. Where possible, the editor will know the source’s identity, and we will seek supporting documents, independent corroboration or other evidence. We will describe an anonymous source as precisely as we safely can so readers can assess the basis of their knowledge. When we agree to protect a source’s identity, we take that commitment seriously. Before making such an agreement, we will explain any practical or legal limits to the protection we can offer. ## Public interest Some reporting may justify an intrusion into privacy, the use of confidential material or another step we would not ordinarily take. Such decisions require a clear public-interest justification. Public interest can include exposing crime, dishonesty, abuse of power, serious incompetence or threats to public health or safety; protecting the public from being misled; and contributing meaningfully to an important public debate. Something being interesting to the public is not automatically the same as being in the public interest. We will consider the likely harm, the strength of the evidence and whether the information could reasonably be obtained by less intrusive means. ## Privacy and personal information We respect people’s reasonable expectation of privacy. We do not publish private information, precise addresses or other identifying details without a legitimate editorial reason. People in public life can reasonably expect scrutiny of their public duties and the exercise of their power. That does not remove their right to privacy in matters unrelated to those responsibilities. We take additional care when reporting on people who may be vulnerable, including victims of crime, people experiencing trauma and those at risk of harm if identified. ## Harassment and reporting methods Our journalists must not intimidate, harass or persistently pursue anyone. If somebody reasonably asks us to stop contacting or following them, we will respect that request unless continued contact is justified by a clear public interest. A person declining to comment does not prevent us from continuing to investigate or publish a story. Journalists will normally identify themselves and the publication they represent. Deception, covert recording or other forms of subterfuge may be used only where there is a strong public interest, the information cannot reasonably be obtained through open methods, and an editor has approved the approach. ## Photography, video and illustrations Photographs, video and other visual material must be obtained and used lawfully and with appropriate regard for privacy, vulnerability and context. Images and other material created by somebody outside our organisation will be credited where the creator can reasonably be identified. Material alterations, montages, reconstructions, illustrations and AI-generated images will be clearly labelled where they could otherwise be mistaken for an authentic record of events. Routine adjustments such as cropping, exposure correction and colour balancing must not mislead readers. ## Editorial independence and funding We are principally funded by our readers. Paying for membership supports our journalism but does not buy coverage, influence, favourable treatment or the suppression of a story. No advertiser, sponsor, business or other commercial partner may require positive editorial coverage or exercise advance approval over our journalism. Any paid-for, sponsored or reciprocal content that could otherwise be mistaken for editorial work will be clearly labelled. Relevant financial relationships will be disclosed. Editorial considerations take priority over commercial interests. ## Conflicts of interest Anyone working on our journalism must disclose significant financial, political, family, personal or business interests that could affect, or reasonably appear to affect, their work. Depending on the circumstances, the journalist may withdraw from the story, another editor may oversee it, the conflict may be disclosed to readers, or we may decide not to publish. Any failure to disclose a significant conflict will be corrected promptly and transparently. ## Gifts, hospitality and access Press access or complimentary admission may be accepted where it enables legitimate reporting. It does not guarantee coverage or favourable treatment. We will not accept gifts, hospitality, travel or other benefits that could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, our independence. Any unusual or significant arrangement relevant to a published article will be disclosed to readers. ## Artificial intelligence A human editor is accountable for everything we publish. Artificial intelligence tools may be used to assist with tasks such as transcription, searching documents, organising information, analysing data, checking spelling or developing research leads. Their output is not treated as a reliable source and must be checked by a journalist. Routine administrative uses that do not materially generate published editorial content may not be individually disclosed. Sensitive or confidential source material will not be entered into a public AI service without proper consideration of privacy, security and source protection. ## Contributors and reader submissions Freelancers, guest writers and other contributors are expected to follow the same standards as our staff. Opinion and contributed articles will be identified where necessary. Contributors must disclose relevant interests, and publication remains subject to editorial review. Comments and other reader-submitted material for which we are responsible may be moderated or removed if it is unlawful, seriously harmful or in breach of the Impress Standards Code. ## Complaints If you believe we have made a mistake or breached the Impress Standards Code, please tell us. Complaints are considered on their merits and handled in accordance with our published complaints procedure. We aim to acknowledge a complaint within seven calendar days and provide a final decision within 21 calendar days. If we uphold a complaint, we will explain any corrective or remedial action taken. If you are dissatisfied with our final response, or have not received one within 21 calendar days, you may refer the matter to Impress. - [*Local Authority* complaints procedure](https://www.localauthority.news/p/complaints) - [*Kent Current* complaints procedure](https://www.kentcurrent.news/complaints/?ref=localauthority.news) - [How to complain to Impress](https://www.impressorg.com/standards/complaints/how-to-complain/?ref=localauthority.news) ## Posts ### Medway Council is staying. Nobody knows for how long URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-is-staying-nobody-knows-for-how-long/ Last updated: 2026-09-15T18:53:43.000Z **Medway Council was supposed to disappear in April 2028\. Now it will survive past that date, hold another election next May, and keep planning for the future, while remaining ready for local government reorganisation to start again. So what happens now?* ### Medway Council is staying. Nobody knows for how long Last Monday, Medway Council was told to stop preparing for its own abolition. So of course, some of the work is continuing. The government suddenly halted plans to replace Medway, Dartford, and Gravesham with a new North Kent authority last week, a mere 47 days after confirming that the new council would be created. Voters were supposed to elect their first North Kent representatives next May, but instead they will elect another Medway Council, which will now remain in place beyond its previous 2028 abolition date. What no one can say is for how long. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/101422222-290901-o-2-1.jpg) Gun Wharf will remain the headquarters of Medway Council. For now. When the news first broke, [we reported](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-will-stay-as-government-withdraws-reorganisation-plans/) that the plans were being withdrawn and that Medway Council would stay. That described the immediate outcome, but the government's position is more qualified. On paper, the plans for Kent and Medway have been paused and placed under review rather than formally abandoned, even if we know what such 'reviews' often mean. Local Government Minister Jim McMahon has [instructed councils](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-programme-review-and-decisions-withdrawal-letter-to-council-leaders/local-government-reorganisation-programme-review-and-decisions-withdrawal-letter-to-council-leaders?ref=localauthority.news) to 'cease work on implementing' the four Kent authorities selected in July, but ministers have not ruled out returning to the same map later. That leaves Medway facing two contradictory futures. It must now hold a normal council election in May, continue delivering every local service and plan beyond April 2028\. At the same time, its leadership believes reorganisation will return and wants to preserve as much of the prep work as possible. More bluntly, after spending a year figuring out how to abolish itself, Medway Council must now carry on as if it will survive while remaining ready for if it doesn't. ## ****Finding this useful?** Stay on top of what’s happening in Medway with independent local journalism delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Medway Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-got-more-to-offer/) told *Local Authority* that he supported the government's decision to pause after ministers received mysterious new legal advice. “I think it’s frustrating, it’s disappointing,” he said. “But if you get legal advice that tells you you should be taking a different approach, it would be the wrong decision to not listen to that legal advice very carefully.” The advice is not publicly available because the government considers it legally privileged. As such, councils cannot assess the precise problem or how much of the process ministers may need to reconsider. For fans of such things, [we examined the legal and political background in more detail over on the *Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/kent-had-a-plan-for-its-councils-it-lasted-47-days/?ref=localauthority.news). [Kent had a plan for its councils. It lasted 47 daysAfter 18 months of work, staff recruitment and millions in planned spending, ministers have put the county’s future back under review![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/KC-NEW-LOGO-SQUARE-e24a974d-277b-46aa-906c-d57ce305382f.png)Kent CurrentEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/KC_whatnow-1-033d1cef-7eb7-44b6-8556-34af2e17789f.jpg)](https://www.kentcurrent.news/kent-had-a-plan-for-its-councils-it-lasted-47-days/?ref=localauthority.news) Maple told us that he has attended a couple of meetings with Communities Secretary Angela Rayner and McMahon since the announcement. He said ministers had repeatedly indicated that the review would be completed quickly. “Weeks, not months, is what I’ve heard on a couple of occasions, which I really welcome,” he said. “People don’t want this decision to be hanging around longer than it necessarily has to.” Despite this, no formal deadline has been set. Even if ministers return quickly and retain the same map, Maple does not believe the original timetable is salvageable. The earliest plausible scenario, in his view, would involve elections to new authorities in May 2028, with a go-live date in April 2029. This is, of course, Maple's expectation, not confirmed policy. Government could choose a different timescale, a different map or no reorganisation at all. ****So Medway Council is staying. Probably.** The government has stopped the reorganisation it approved 47 days earlier, but hasn't abandoned it, Medway is preparing for elections to a council that may still eventually disappear, and millions of pounds of planning now sits in limbo. If you're wondering what any of that actually means, you're in the right place. ****Register for free to keep reading our attempt to make sense of it.** _This post is for subscribers only._ ### “Just because it's not the norm doesn't mean we shouldn't be doing it” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/just-because-its-not-the-norm-doesnt-mean-we-shouldnt-be-doing-it/ Last updated: 2026-09-13T06:00:42.000Z [*Esme Michaela*](https://www.instagram.com/esmemichaela/?ref=localauthority.news) *is an actor, producer and founder of* [*Evulve Productions*](https://www.evulveproductions.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*, recently named a finalist in the UK Startup Awards. Steven met her at Store 104 to talk about making the film industry more accessible, growing up around Medway, training in New York, and why some of the most annoying advice given to aspiring filmmakers is unfortunately true.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/Esme-Michaela-Headshot-1.webp) Esme Michaela. **What is your official occupation?** Actor, producer, founder of [Evulve Productions](https://www.evulveproductions.com/?ref=localauthority.news). **What does your role within Evulve Productions entail?** Directing the whole company, overseeing all of the projects creatively and logistically. Sometimes I work with other people, and they might have more of a creative say, and I let them do their thing, and then I work with the logistics. Sometimes it's the other way around, and I get someone who's better at it. I'm not very good with numbers. If the logistics is heavy on budget, then someone else will step in and do that while I do the creative stuff. We do theatre, film, podcasts, trying to bridge the gap between creatives and access to the industry through all mediums. **The company name is spelt in a unique way. Is there a reason behind that?** When I was coming up with the name, I was trying to work out what it is that I'm doing with the company. I think it is hard to know what you're going to do with a company when you're first making it, because we've evolved a lot. But I want people to learn. I want people to evolve. And then also, we create feminist stuff. At the time, it was predominantly about female health. That’s why we used the U. **What films are you making now, or are you in the process of making?** We're in post-production for a lot of short films. All social-led work. I'd like at least one person to be able to watch something that I've worked on and take something from it or learn from it or be bettered in a way. Ideally, about something that is normally missed in traditional education or media, even though we are getting better at talking about more inclusive topics. We've got a film called [*Blurred Lines*](https://www.evulveproductions.com/blurred-lines?ref=localauthority.news), which is about queer women, young women on county lines. I grew up as a fostered child and then was a support worker in Chatham in my early twenties. I used that knowledge, and that was provided finishing funds by Stevenage Borough Council, and it's going to be having a screening at Parliament. So that's cool. Then we've got a queer film called [*Love Wins*](https://www.evulveproductions.com/love-wins?ref=localauthority.news) that's in post-production. A couple of films are currently on the festival circuit, [*Slag Offers*](https://www.evulveproductions.com/slag-offers?ref=localauthority.news) and [*It's a Bitch*](https://www.evulveproductions.com/its-a-btch?ref=localauthority.news). **With *Blurred Lines*, what is the connection with Stevenage?** We got the finishing funds there purely because I ended up having a contact, which for any filmmaker is the most annoying piece of advice to hear, but unfortunately that's how it works a lot. I am also a freelance producer, and I was on the producing team of a film called [*The Orphan*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5VYaTepAQA&ref=localauthority.news), that won best scripted single at Royal Television Society East. Leo Powell, the lead creative, had done a load of work with Stevenage Council. He works with young people in schools, facilitating, and they'd done a lot of work with him. They were up for giving him funding for his film, and then I worked with them and said, because that film was about county lines, “I've got another film with my company that has similar themes. Do you want to get in on that one too?” Which is frustrating advice as a filmmaker. I hate hearing that. “How did you do that?” and “Oh, I just knew them.” It's not just about the chances. It’s how you take advantage of those chances. > I don't think the film industry is accessible **What is a feminist production company?** I would say a company that wants to better its audiences through their work. I'm an intersectional feminist, so the company is intersectionally feminist. **What does that mean for the readers?** Feminism for all, equality for all, for everyone. There's no group that wouldn't benefit in my view. Equality in all areas. **Within Evulve or within bringing intersectionality into production opportunities, what's an unpopular opinion you have?** I don't think that we should be expected to be working 12 to 14-hour days. I don't think the film industry is accessible. I have a chronic illness. One of the reasons why I started making my own stuff is because I can't stand on set for 14-hour days. I think it's Christopher Nolan who has a rule, 'No chairs on set. As soon as you sit down, you lose your concentration,' and my partner thought, 'He doesn't have any disabled people on his set?' I thought, 'I bet he does. And I bet they just push through because they're on a Christopher Nolan set.' Unfortunately, that change comes right from the people with power who have these big productions. But I think all of our sets should be more accessible and inclusive. Just because it's not the norm doesn't mean we shouldn't be doing it. **Where, in that intersection, where you are in terms of disability or challenges with being on set?** I have mobility issues because of chronic illness. I have endometriosis, potentially. It's a long road to diagnosis. I get pain sometimes just sitting down, let alone standing up. And that doesn't mean I can't be on set, regardless of whether I'm producing it or if I'm running on that set. It means that I get some mitigations in place. Everyone does, and everyone should. I don't think that should be controversial. But unfortunately, it is. Things like getting call sheets last minute. People send call sheets out the night before because you can, because it's normal, but it doesn't mean you have to. You could send it two days before, so no one is anxious the night before, and they can plan their travel, their breakfast, their sleep, and all of that. **What is** [**Popcorn and Patriarchy**](https://www.evulveproductions.com/popcorn-patriarchy?ref=localauthority.news)**?** That is our brand-ish new podcast. We're a few months in. We launched in May. It is a film review podcast where we review films through a feminist lens. At the moment, films with feminist themes, but the ideal is to get to films without feminist themes and really push that boundary. **What films have you covered?** Our first film was [*Barbie*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25r-NsYaEgA&ref=localauthority.news). The most recent episode was about [*Sinners*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuE%5FXTYTSpQ&ref=localauthority.news). We shoot a little bit in advance, and we recently shot our episode for *Parasite*. We also have a creative hang-up hotline where people can send in their thoughts and concerns about either the industry or next steps to create what they want to create. My co-host will do a creative challenge inspired by the film and make something silly and wonderful, and then we'll talk about what that was like for him, especially when it's something new. > If you don't share your opinions, then you're never going to know if anyone agrees either **You launched a Substack?** That's [our newsletter](https://evulveproductions.substack.com/), our new online magazine where I talk about my controversial opinions about the industry, just in a more candid way. If something's happened, like Edinburgh bringing in the tourist tax right before Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I'll do some research about that and really unpick what it means for people going to Edinburgh, either as a performer or audience. But do that for film, theatre, and anything that comes up in the industry. **Are you at all concerned about developing a reputation early in your career as 'difficult' or 'challenging'? I'm not saying you should be, but that kind of reputation can be read very differently depending on gender, especially given how patriarchal double standards still shape who gets praised for being assertive and who gets penalised for it.** No, because I think if we want to change the industry, someone's got to do it. And if they're not doing it in the massive budget films, I may as well start doing it down the bottom. And if you don't share your opinions, then you're never going to know if anyone agrees either. I think a lot of people do have these opinions. They're just too scared to say it. ****From Chatham to New York.** Esme’s route into film has taken her from Spotlites Theatre to training in New York, with plenty of unexpected connections along the way. ****Register for free** to continue the interview, as she talks about bringing Femi Fest to Medway, being told she would bring down her grammar school’s grades, finding her way back to Spotlites, losing her faith, and the advice she has for young women who want to break into film or theatre. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Medway Hospital could lose almost 15% of its workforce under NHS plan URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-hospital-could-lose-almost-15-of-its-workforce-under-nhs-plan/ Last updated: 2026-09-11T15:25:26.000Z **Medway Maritime Hospital could lose almost 15% of its workforce under draft NHS plans that assume more patients can be cared for by GPs, community services, and at home. We look at the proposed loss of 861 full-time equivalent roles, the £143.8m savings target behind it and the rather important question of whether Medway has enough services outside the hospital to make any of this work. Elsewhere, recording Medway’s Sikh history proves unexpectedly difficult, Local Plan hearings begin, thousands of EV chargers are proposed, and Rochester could be getting a nanobrewery.* ### Medway Hospital could lose almost 15% of its workforce under NHS plan Hundreds of posts could be lost from Medway Maritime Hospital under a draft plan to reduce its workforce by almost 15% The changes could see Medway NHS Foundation Trust remove 861 full-time equivalent roles by 2030/31. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/image-5.png) Medway Maritime Hospital. The scale of the proposed reduction was [first reported](https://www.hsj.co.uk/finance-and-efficiency/icb-plan-says-trust-must-cut-staff-by-15/8124226.article?ref=localauthority.news) by Alison Moore in the *Health Service Journal*. Full-time equivalent roles measure the workforce by hours worked rather than individual employees. For example, two people working half-time would count as one full-time equivalent role. As a result, there is no suggestion that 861 people could be made redundant. Jobs could also disappear as people leave, vacancies remain unfilled, or work transitions to other parts of the NHS. The draft plan does not say which services or staff groups could be affected. The reduction forms part of a five year plan that would require the trust to cut £143.8m from its annual running costs by 2030/31\. This is more than a quarter of its current costs. Nothing has been finalised, but the direction of travel appears clear. Less money and fewer staff at the hospital, with more patients treated at home or through GPs, neighbourhood teams and community services. 'Care closer to home' is an appealing phrase, but it also requires enough care closer to home. [Medway Hospital board papers](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/meeting-papers-trust-board-in-public-september-2026.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) suggest that it is some way from being guaranteed. Patients who are medically ready to leave hospital are often stuck in beds because there is not enough support, social care or rehabilitation in the community. The trust asserts that limited community capacity remains one of the main barriers to discharging patients. For some groups, it said there was still no solution across the wider NHS and care system. Those shortages feed back into the hospital as beds remain occupied, new patients cannot be moved to appropriate wards, and pressure builds in A&E. During the 90 days covered in the latest hospital board report, an average of 28 patients each day received care in corridors or unsuitable areas. At the same time, demand continues to rise, with A&E seeing a 9% increase in attendance in July compared with the previous year. The trust's concern is simple. If hospital staff and funding are removed before replacement services are available, patients still need care in hospital. They point to comparatively low levels of community healthcare in Medway and Swale, alongside ongoing issues in recruiting enough GPs. NHS Kent and Medway, the organisation behind the plan, [acknowledges the difficulty](https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/download/appendices-commissioning-intentions.pdf?doc=docm93jijm4n4083.pdf&ver=7031&ref=localauthority.news) in rapidly expanding community services. It has identified £50m that could be used for additional community services in 2027/28, but proposed holding back nearly £20m because spending the full amount in one year would be too difficult. Still, £31m could be available for community investment across Kent, but the strategy does not set out how much would be for Medway and Swale, or what it could potentially pay for. Against that uncertain expansion, there is a much firmer assumption that almost 15% of Medway's workforce can go. Medway has been given the largest savings target of any hospital provider in Kent. It starts from a particularly poor financial position. The trust had a deficit of £74.6m in 2025/26, roughly 13.5% of its income. Even with the proposed workforce reduction and other savings, balancing the books still remains challenging. Under the most optimistic version of the plan, Medway would reach financial stability in 2030/31\. Under a more modest scenario, it would still carry a deficit of £61.7m. The trust describes its existing deficit, reduced financial support and proposed workforce reduction as a 'disproportionate risk.' The proposals for Medway sit within efforts to deal with a similar problem across the wider NHS Kent and Medway network. Organisations are being asked to find nearly £900m in savings over five years. The area had the [largest NHS deficit](https://www.hsj.co.uk/finance-and-efficiency/icb-declares-very-serious-200m-deficit/7041022.article?ref=localauthority.news) in England during 2025/26, ending £190.2m in the red. Questions also remain about how transparent this process has been. [Medway Council's health scrutiny committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=6637&ref=localauthority.news) considered the NHS commissioning plans in August. Councillors were told about the ambition to move care from hospitals into community services and invited to comment. They were not shown the number of hospital posts that could disappear along the way. The financial implications were described more generally as moving money away from hospitals to community care and sharing financial risks. Councillors asked for more time to consider the proposals, and requested another session once plans had been finalised. Jonathan Wilson, chief finance officer at NHS Kent and Medway, said the figures remained draft assumptions which were still subject to discussion, analysis and approval. He said, “Our focus is on improving care for patients by investing more in prevention, primary care, community services, and mental health support, helping people get the care they need closer to home whenever it is safe and appropriate and in line with national requirements.” Rob Clarke, interim chief finance officer at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said it was working with other organisations to refine the plan. Its current assumptions included a possible efficiency requirement of about 5% each year. Those statements leave the central question unanswered. The plan assumes the hospital can lose almost one in seven full-time equivalent posts while services outside it expand quickly enough to take the pressure. The coming years will establish just how optimistic that is. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Catch Up This week involved a new political party, a debut novelist and a familiar attempt to work out whether Gillingham are brilliant or terrible. Andrew Lawrence left the Conservatives on Monday and is already trying to build something of his own. [Medway First](https://www.localauthority.news/why-a-former-medway-conservative-is-building-a-party-of-his-own/) has a constitution, branding and ambitions to stand candidates across Medway next May. What it does not yet have is registration, other councillors, or much time. [Why a former Medway Conservative is building a party of his ownAndrew Lawrence has spent months preparing Medway First. Now he needs candidates, supporters and votes before next May![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--f098fe45-4467-4fb4-8f94-a5b9e1edeea0.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/Cllr-lawrence_0-2-1-3ed3c4f1-af70-4aa5-8b2d-4f3563c4fdbc.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/why-a-former-medway-conservative-is-building-a-party-of-his-own/) Fiona Goggin has taken a rather longer route to where she is now. The Medway library assistant has published her debut Victorian Gothic novel, *The Silver Bones of Frances Winter*, after winning a place on a Curtis Brown writing course. [Steven spoke to her](https://www.localauthority.news/i-still-think-theres-beauty-in-rambling/) about body snatching, repression, returning to Medway and what it feels like to walk into a bookshop and find your own novel on the shelf. [“I still think there’s beauty in rambling”What Steven asked Fiona Goggin, debut author of The Silver Bones of Frances Winter![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--f94ccb9b-7ca7-4947-a863-d4c2e5142bd2.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/Fiona-Goggin--no-credit--2-1-6c51eeb3-58b8-49e0-9f7b-b3f63797488c.webp)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-still-think-theres-beauty-in-rambling/) And then there are Gillingham, who have spent the opening weeks of the season looking incredible, terrible and, occasionally, absolutely fine. [Ben Hopkins tries to make sense of it all](https://www.localauthority.news/gills-are-incredible-gills-are-terrible-gills-are-fine/), from heavy defeats and frustrating draws to an emphatic win at Rochdale and the dangerous temptation to draw conclusions from any of it in September. [Gills are incredible. Gills are terrible. Gills are… fineBen Hopkins surveys a mixed opening month of spectacular goals, frustrating results and an increasingly achy Gillingham squad![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--b1e2d4a4-4d77-4f14-acaa-9cb2df45bdbf.webp)Local AuthorityBen Hopkins![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/Luton-2-1-0821545f-b860-43da-acdc-f546a0d5ec59.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/gills-are-incredible-gills-are-terrible-gills-are-fine/) ### Medway’s Sikh history proves difficult to record Immersive storyteller Adipat Virdi set out to map the history and cultural contribution of Medway’s Sikh community. After speaking to almost 50 people, he ran into a fundamental problem. “Most were eager to share their stories, but almost none were happy to have them recorded,” he said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/SANGAT-POSTER-IMAGE-ADIPAT-VIRDI-PRESENTS.png) The £8,000 project was originally intended to preserve oral histories through digital storytelling and an interactive map. It has now also produced *Sangat: We Are, Other*, a participatory performance built around the experiences of Sikh families in Medway. Rather than simply watching, the audience will hear recorded accounts, share their own stories of Medway and help create an artefact together. Virdi describes it as an “immersive documentary”, presenting stories about “people who happen to be Sikh, but are Medway residents, born and brought up in the area.” “The whole point is that we’re all residents, we’re all human beings,” he said. “Anyone can come along, as long as they come with an open mind and are happy to participate.” *Sangat: We Are, Other* takes place at Medway Little Theatre in Rochester tomorrow, Saturday 12 September, from 3pm to 5pm. It is free, with advance booking preferred. ### In brief 📍 Our sister title, the *Kent Current*, has a full story of the [unravelling of Kent's local government reorganisation](https://www.kentcurrent.news/kent-had-a-plan-for-its-councils-it-lasted-47-days/?ref=localauthority.news). 🗄️ Public hearings on Medway's new Local Plan [begin next week](https://futuremedway.co.uk/public-hearings-to-begin-into-medway-councils-local-plan-proposing-over-24500-new-homes/?ref=localauthority.news). ⚡ Medway is set to get [nearly 2,500 on-street electric vehicle chargers](https://futuremedway.co.uk/medway-to-get-almost-2500-on-street-electric-vehicle-chargers-over-next-15-years/?ref=localauthority.news) over the next 15 years. 🗳️ MPs [voted against proceeding](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/sep/11/mps-vote-against-legalising-assisted-dying-in-england-and-wales?ref=localauthority.news) with Lauren Edwards' assisted dying bill, 286 to 270, today. 🏗️ Construction has started on a [new SEN school](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/construction-begins-on-new-sen-school-to-meet-rising-demand-344552/?ref=localauthority.news) on Cornwallis Avenue in Gillingham. 🚔 Kent Police [will run live facial recognition](https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/policing-news/live-facial-recognition-in-medway/?ref=localauthority.news) technology in Chatham today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) if you'd rather avoid it. 🪊 [Madness have been announced](https://rochestercastlelive.com/whats-on/?ref=localauthority.news) as the first act for next year's Rochester Castle Live. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Thursday:** [Employment Matters Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=135&MId=6767&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss the latest gender pay gap, workforce report, and more. **New planning applications:** - Conversion of former Raj of India restaurant on Rochester High Street into [nanobrewery and taproom](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TKQRNYKNKUU00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news). - [Outdoor seating area](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TL5FFVKNM2C00&ref=localauthority.news) for McDonald's at Chatham Dockside. - Conversion of upper floor of former Barclays in Chatham High Street into [five flats](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TKZJWSKN03300&ref=localauthority.news). - HMO on [Montfort Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TKSMCDKNLZI00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Strood. ### Property of the week The Saddlery in Rainham looks like someone has converted an old barn into a very expensive house. Apparently not. This four-bedroom property in the Rainham Conservation Area is merely 'barn style', although with its timber exterior, vaulted spaces and general commitment to looking considerably older than it is, the distinction feels increasingly academic. For £650,000 to £700,000, you get a huge open-plan living area, three bathrooms, an office, a double garage, and a wraparound garden, plus a substantial summerhouse for anyone needing somewhere separate to recover from all that open-plan living. The little development even has its own pond, although maintaining the communal niceties will cost you another £60 a month. It is essentially all the aesthetic benefits of owning a barn without having to discover what 200 years of agricultural use has done to the foundations. [Check out this Barn for sale on RightmoveBarn for sale in The Saddlery, Seymour Road, Rainham, Guide Price £650,000 - £700,000, ME8 for £650,000\. Marketed by Jacksons Estate Agents, Rainham![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-1c77f508-3943-440e-ad36-6e8be969e5ab.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/6aa4208233661fd1955aeb722b66daa3-0f3ed71b-b39c-4eb7-a6f7-be37f1408840.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92987295?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🛍️ Sat 12 Sep - [**Art Flea Fair**](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/whatson/art-flea-fair-2/2026-09-12/?ref=localauthority.news) // Indoor market of art, craft, handmade, and vintage finds. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 💬 Sat 12 Sep - [**Sangat: We are, Other** ](https://www.ticketsource.com/mlt/sangat-we-are-other-adipat-virdi-presents-an-immersive-workshop-experience/e-olbolj?ref=localauthority.news)// Adipat Virdi presents an immersive workshop exploring Sikh stories of identity, heritage and belonging in Medway. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Free. 🎸 Sat 12 Sep - [**The Would-Be-Goods + Railcard**](https://wegottickets.com/event/696867?ref=localauthority.news) // Double bill of indiepop bands. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. 🖼️ 17 - 30 Sep - [**Simon Mills: In Your Face**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition of portraits by local artist. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… ### Gills are incredible. Gills are terrible. Gills are… fine URL: https://www.localauthority.news/gills-are-incredible-gills-are-terrible-gills-are-fine/ Last updated: 2026-09-10T11:04:05.000Z *What’s it like when Gills are smashing Rochdale? Oh, it’s incredible. And what’s it like when you get battered at home and lose a key player to injury? Oh, it’s terrible, it’s horrible. And what’s it like when you’re in the middle of the table? It’s, erm, you know, it’s fine. *Ben Hopkins* rounds up a month at Gillingham FC...* **Kick-off** The season started much like a pre-season friendly. No one expected much from a Carabao Cup game against a strong League One side in the shape of Luton, and that’s what we got: a straightforward 0-3 defeat, notably one for featuring last-minute emergency on-loan goalkeeper Owen Mason. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/Luton-1.jpg) Summer sun v Luton Seven days later, the league season commenced at home at Walsall. Mason had moved on, so a second emergency ‘keeper, Ashley Maynard-Brewer, replaced him. And for 75 minutes, aided by the industry of young midfielder Zane Albarus, Gillingham looked convincing and probably should’ve been in front, perhaps even out of sight. But an 81st-minute Walsall goal ignited the total capitulation that we saw so often last season, eventually ending 0-3 yet again. 0-0 away to Fleetwood saw Gills create the better chances despite the stats suggesting otherwise, before a first professional goal from Conor McManus took the lead at home to Northampton. They equalised with a rare opportunity, and while Gills huffed and puffed, clear goal-scoring opportunities were close to absent. Given Northampton’s poor showing, post-game chat boiled down to: well, we did okay… but if we’re not going to win that, when are we going to win? It wouldn’t be away to Chesterfield, where Gills somehow scrapped a 1-1 draw. The answer came away to Rochdale. James Brophy took the lead for Gills with a goal of the season contender, followed early in the second half by a close range finish from Omar Beckles and then a pinpoint header from Lamin Sillah. Already cruising, the day was effectively over when Rochdale’s Edward Francis was dismissed for a second yellow card. And then Brophy took possession on the halfway line, ran and ran, danced and jinked and then… [EAT MY GOAL!](https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc-vZ1diEAO/?ref=localauthority.news) *That* will be the goal of the season. Ordinarily you’d complain about the marking for Rochdale’s consolation, but everyone was more than happy to celebrate a day in which supporting Gills actually made sense. So five games in, six points, neutral goal difference and 13th place. Clearly, Gills still need to create and score far more to have even an average season. But you could say it’s softly encouraging. There’s a huge reliance on youth - of the 18-man Northampton match squad, eight have less than a season’s worth of experience to their name. So it’s likely we’ll have weeks where they look full of potential and others where they seem collectively clueless. Gills may finally have found the imaginative midfielder they have been missing, but an alarming injury list is already testing the squad. ****Register free** to continue reading. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Why a former Medway Conservative is building a party of his own URL: https://www.localauthority.news/why-a-former-medway-conservative-is-building-a-party-of-his-own/ Last updated: 2026-09-15T18:53:57.000Z **A Medway councillor has left the Conservatives and created Medway First, a new locally controlled party he hopes can win at least ten seats next May. We met him to find out why he thinks Medway needs another political party, what it will stand for, and whether he can build one in eight months.* ### Why a former Medway Conservative is building a party of his own In Starbucks at Chatham Dockside, [Andrew Lawrence](https://www.localauthority.news/maybe-im-a-serial-opposition-councillor/) is explaining why Medway needs another political party. The Hempstead and Wigmore councillor left the Conservatives a few hours before our conversation, and is now launching Medway First, a locally controlled party which he intends to lead into the Medway Council elections next May. [Medway First](https://medwayfirst.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is Lawrence’s answer to what comes next. He presents it as something substantial, with its own constitution, branding, candidate process and developing manifesto. “We’re not a group of independents,” he says. “We will be a properly constituted party.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/Cllr-lawrence_0-1.jpg) Cllr Andrew Lawrence. Lawrence wants Medway First to recruit across the area and be run entirely by people who live here. Its principal selling point is that it will be free to set its own priorities without reporting to a national headquarters or reproducing policies decided elsewhere. The party was initially being developed for a different election. Medway had been due to join Dartford and Gravesham in a new North Kent authority, with its first councillors elected in May 2027, [a future *Local Authority* examined](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-prepares-for-life-after-medway-council/) back in July. Local government reorganisation helped shape Lawrence’s plans and the party’s emphasis on protecting Medway’s identity. On Monday, however, the government [paused and placed under review the reorganisation of Kent and Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-will-stay-as-government-withdraws-reorganisation-plans/) following updated legal advice. It confirmed that elections in May 2027 will instead take place using the existing council boundaries. Medway voters will therefore elect a new Medway Council next year, rather than a shadow North Kent authority. Lawrence says Medway First will contest those elections and that the change does not undermine the party's case. “I still think the founding principles of what I want to achieve with Medway First stand,” he says. “Looking at how Medway is run, how we spend our money, and what we are trying to achieve here in Medway.” The Medway Conservatives said Lawrence informed the party and council group of his departure on Monday morning. A spokesperson for the Medway Conservative Group said: “This morning Cllr Andrew Lawrence informed the Conservative Party of his decision to leave the Party and the Conservative Group at Medway Council.” “Cllr Lawrence no longer holds the Conservative whip, and accordingly the Leader of Medway Conservatives terminated his Shadow Cabinet appointment this morning.” “The Leader of Medway Conservatives will make a further statement at the appropriate time.” Lawrence was elected to Medway Council in 2023, after serving two terms as a councillor in Lewisham during the 1990s. An insurance broker and chair of a primary school academy trust, he moved to Medway in 2000 and has lived in Hempstead since 2007. His separation from the local Conservative organisation has been developing for some time. On his personal website, Lawrence continued to describe himself as a lifelong Conservative while accusing the Gillingham and Rainham association of becoming “toxic”. He published [a lengthy account entitled “A Culture of Fear”](https://awjlawrence.com/the-culture-of-fear/?ref=localauthority.news), in which he wrote that “there is a culture of fear in the Association” and put much of the blame at the feet of former Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti. The immediate starting point for Medway First was Lawrence’s failure to secure reselection in Hempstead and Wigmore. “This process started when I was deselected,” he says. Lawrence appealed against that decision but concluded the constituency association would retain control over individual candidate selections. He was left to decide whether to continue seeking a Conservative candidacy, stand as an independent or establish something new. His eventual choice was the most ambitious of the three. Lawrence insists Medway First is not an act of retaliation. If revenge were the objective, he says, he could simply have stood as an independent in Hempstead and Wigmore, divided the Conservative vote and potentially allowed Reform to win. “My view is that I’ve got a higher set of principles and a bigger vision for Medway, and that requires a proper party network,” he says. Asked whether Medway First would exist had he been reselected, Lawrence does not give a direct answer. He says he had hoped the ideas he was developing might form the basis of a future Conservative manifesto, but concluded that the party did not have the right answers for Medway. He also sees an electoral opportunity. The Conservatives are under pressure from Reform, while the growth of four-party politics creates more room for a smaller local party to gain influence. Although Medway First is only now being launched publicly, Lawrence says he began putting the project together in May. The domain was registered in June, his residents’ survey followed in July, and by August the website and manifesto were being developed. Throughout that period, Lawrence remained a Conservative councillor and served as the group’s shadow cabinet member for regeneration, community and housing at Medway Council. He says he has written the party’s constitution, established a candidate application process and prepared a set of principles to which prospective candidates will be expected to subscribe. For the moment, Medway First is not registered as a political party. Nobody else is currently involved, no candidates have been confirmed, and an application has not been submitted to the Electoral Commission. Lawrence expects to apply for registration in October or November. He intends to complete the process in time for the party’s name and logo to appear on ballot papers next May. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/image-4.png) Medway First branding. “We won’t have any central office or party HQ that we’ll be reporting to,” he says. “It will be a Medway-based party that will recruit from within Medway and be run by Medway residents.” He is funding the project himself and expects to spend around £10,000 getting it to the election. That will include paid leaflet delivery and digital campaigning rather than relying principally on the traditional association model. “We’re not going to have loads of 70-year-olds trudging the streets,” he says. Lawrence says candidates will not need previous political experience, but should be able to demonstrate what they have contributed through family life, business, public service or their community. “I’m less worried about diversity, equity and inclusion,” he says. “I’m more worried about you as an individual, what you bring.” Finding enough of those individuals will be the first test. Medway’s 59 councillors represent 24 wards, with all seats contested together. A campaign across the whole area would require Lawrence to recruit and vet dozens of candidates within the next eight months, preferably with people living in or near the wards where they stand. What would Medway First do with power? ****Register for free** to continue reading about Lawrence’s policies, who he could work with and whether his one councillor project can become a serious political force. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Medway Council will stay as government withdraws reorganisation plans URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-will-stay-as-government-withdraws-reorganisation-plans/ Last updated: 2026-09-11T15:25:59.000Z Plans to abolish Medway Council and replace it with a new North Kent authority are being withdrawn The government had only confirmed in July that Medway would be merged with Gravesham and Dartford as part of a wider reorganisation of local government across Kent. *Local Authority* understands that it will now not go ahead. The most immediate consequence is that Medway will face normal council elections next May, rather than elections to a new North Kent authority. Medway Council had been due to disappear on 1 April 2028, ending almost 30 years as a standalone unitary authority. Instead, the existing council will remain in place. The original plan would have seen Medway, Gravesham and Dartford combined into one new authority responsible for services across a much larger area of north Kent. It was one of four new councils due to replace Kent County Council, Medway Council and all 12 district and borough councils across the county. Shadow elections for those new authorities had been expected in May 2027, with the new councils then spending almost a year preparing to take over. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/image-3.png) The reorganised map that has now been put on hold. For Medway, that would have meant voters choosing representatives for an authority that did not yet formally exist, rather than electing a new Medway Council. That is no longer happening, nor will any of the changes across Kent. Instead, residents will vote next May in the usual Medway Council elections, with all seats expected to be contested for another full term. The withdrawal is a remarkable reversal less than two months after ministers settled on the reorganisation plan following more than a year of uncertainty. Medway had already been preparing for the transition, including work around how staff, services, assets and responsibilities would eventually be transferred into the new North Kent authority. Questions will now follow over how much work and money has already gone into that process, and whether ministers intend to return with any alternative plans for local government reform. But for Medway, the central point is much simpler. The council residents were told would disappear in 2028 is now staying, and voters will elect it again next year. We will update this story as more information becomes available. ## Get the latest Medway news straight to your inbox. Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### “I still think there's beauty in rambling” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-still-think-theres-beauty-in-rambling/ Last updated: 2026-09-06T06:00:42.000Z *Fiona Goggin is the author of her debut novel, the Victorian Gothic fiction The Silver Bones of Frances Winter. Appropriately, Steven met her in Leonards Cafe at Store 104 in Rochester, where they discussed winning a place on the course that helped her to write the novel, what brought her back to Medway and if working in a library helps you to write a novel.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/Fiona-Goggin--no-credit--1.webp) Fiona Goggin. **What is your official occupation?** I'm a library assistant. **What does that entail?** Normally just being on the front desk at one of the Medway libraries. Everything you'd expect, like issuing books, returning books, organising events, and helping people with computers and printing and things like that. It's a varied job, which I like. **How did you come into it?** We were living in London for quite a long time, and I was working there. I worked for a charity called Listening Books, and they do audiobooks for people with print impairments. I worked there for about ten years and loved the work. Then we moved back to Medway, when we had our eldest daughter, and I ended up being a stay at home mum for quite a long time, for various reasons. When I was looking to get back into work, this was something that came up, and I thought I'd always wanted to work in a library. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/9781911427483.jpg) The Silver Bones of Frances Winter by Fiona Goggin. **What are the** [**Silver Bones of Frances Winter**](https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-silver-bones-of-frances-winter/fiona-goggin/9781911427483?ref=localauthority.news)**?** So, they're Frances' bones. She is a young woman of extraordinary height. The title Silver Bones initially came from a line I wrote: ‘Like my long white toes shone like silver birches’. I think it was my agent who suggested the actual title. Frances is involved with these seedy, underhanded people who are looking to take advantage of her, and they want to sell her bones. It’s set in Victorian London, coming into an era where there was a lot of body snatching and things like that. What I had in my mind was [Charles Byrne](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles%5FByrne%5F%28giant%29?ref=localauthority.news), the Irish giant, and his story where people were looking to make a profit from his bones before he was even dead. That's a sad tale that had a lot of influence. > I’m really interested in repression, what that can do to somebody, and how it can force them into acting in certain ways **Why did you set it in the Victorian period?** I think the character of Frances came first with her extraordinary growth, and then I chose to set it in Victorian London because I wanted to look at how it feels to be a woman of such a big size when you're dealing with a society that's obsessed with tiny, corseted waists, little dainty feet, and things like that. I think we're not a million miles away from that still, but people were insanely obsessed with that back in Victorian times. The idea of such an interesting period of history in terms of social change and technological advancements is that feeling of things happening quickly and almost running out of control. I think that's how Frances feels about her own growth and her own body, like it's going at such a pace that she can't stop it, and that's terrifying. **Is Victorian Gothic something that's of interest to you?** Yes, definitely. I think from early on I was thinking of things like The Secret Garden book I read as a kid, that was published just after the Victorian era but that's got little elements of that in there. Studying Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights at school and university. I’m really interested in repression, what that can do to somebody, and how it can force them into acting in certain ways. **Who is Curtis Brown and what was the three-month novel writing course?** [Curtis Brown](https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is a literary agency. They're huge. They looked after Margaret Atwood in the UK. They run a novel writing course, and you can apply for a place. It's done by merit. It's quite hard to get a place on there, and I did it back in 2021\. **What do you do as part of the course?** I did it at home because it was 2021, still covid time. It was all online. Normally, I think they meet in person. You're working on your own novel, you're submitting pieces to the tutor and then to your classmates for feedback. That was a terrifying experience, but invaluable getting that feedback, putting your work out there. It's quite brutal. Other writers don't hold back. **Can you remember any feedback you got that helped the novel?** Definitely. I tend to overwrite a fair bit. I love description of sensory details. I think that can go on a bit too long. I've always been great at character, emotion, imagery, but never that good on plot and structure, anything that requires logic. I'm somebody who, even if I'm telling a story in person, I'll go from A to G to C and then back to Z. I do ramble on a bit and the course helped teach me the art of telling a story, going from A to B, beginning, middle, end. It was helpful, and without making me lose the essence of the story or who I am as a writer, I was able to hone those skills and stay true to what I wanted it to be. **Did working in the library and seeing the reading habits of people up close affect how you wrote or what you wrote for this novel?** I don't think it did, to be honest. It gives you a better idea of what's popular and what does well commercially. Hopefully my book might do well commercially one day, but it's not why I'm in it. I don't think I could ever write a book just for it to be commercially successful. As a reader, it's definitely influenced what I read, but not what I write. **What was it like the first time you walked into a bookshop and your book was there?** It was only last week! It’s exciting, and a bit surreal. You grow up with this grand idea of what a writer is, and then you see your own book in there and realise that, oh, they're just people. ****There’s beauty in rambling** Fiona’s debut novel might finally be on the shelves, but there was a long road to get it there. ****Register for free** to continue the interview, as she talks about returning to Medway, discovering Gothic fiction at university, why writing a second novel might actually be harder, and why she spent years thinking she wasn’t the sort of person allowed to write a book. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Medway briefly opens its doors URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-briefly-opens-its-doors/ Last updated: 2026-09-07T18:36:40.000Z **For all Medway talks about its heritage, much of the interesting stuff is normally difficult or impossible to access. Heritage Open Days changes that for ten days, with more than 40 free events opening everything from the Six Poor Travellers’ House and Dickens’ precarious chalet to Chatham Masonic Hall, a medieval bridge chapel and the National Maritime Museum’s hidden ship model store. Elsewhere, Medway bids £9.25m for its tunnel, a very large rat causes trouble for KFC, Condimaniac has plans for the floors above its Rochester shop, and we catch up on what happened while we were supposedly taking a week off.* ### Medway briefly opens its doors Medway is extremely proud of its heritage, as long as nobody asks how much of it they can actually go inside. Some of the area’s most interesting buildings are closed, privately occupied, accessible only by appointment or simply easy to overlook. Others are open in theory, but remain sufficiently mysterious that most residents would hesitate before trying to visit. For ten days from Friday 11 September, this changes slightly. [Heritage Open Days](https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/whats-on/printable-area-lists/medway.html?ref=localauthority.news) will bring more than 40 free events to Medway, including several opportunities to enter buildings generally kept closed to the public. Cllr [Nina Gurung](https://www.localauthority.news/i-feel-it-is-my-primary-role-to-promote/), Medway Council’s portfolio holder for heritage, called it “a brilliant chance to peek behind the curtain and discover stories that are not immediately visible.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/AdobeStock_1956716030_Editorial_Use_Only-1.jpeg) Six Poor Travellers' House. Perhaps the most compelling example is the [Six Poor Travellers’ House](https://www.visitmedway.org/events/six-poor-travellers-house-open-day-166721/?ref=localauthority.news) on Rochester High Street. It has been closed for several years but will reopen for four hours on Saturday 12 September. The house was established following the death of Rochester benefactor Richard Watts in 1579\. For centuries it provided free overnight accommodation to poor travellers passing through the city, remaining an almshouse until shortly after the Second World War. The building contains a museum room and three of the original travellers’ rooms, while its courtyard garden is hidden behind one of the busiest parts of Rochester High Street. Richard Watts Charities intends to reopen it permanently as a museum in 2027\. Until then, residents have a four hour window to see inside before the door closes again. A short walk away, the small chapel beside Rochester Bridge has had an even more varied existence. The medieval [Bridge Chapel](https://www.visitmedway.org/events/explore-a-medieval-bridge-chapel-and-victorian-bridge-chamber-164230/?ref=localauthority.news) was commissioned in 1393 as a stopping place for travellers along Watling Street. It was restored in 1937 and is now cared for by the Rochester Bridge Trust. The adjoining Victorian Bridge Chamber contains historic furniture and pieces from the trust’s art collection, along with views across the river towards the castle. This year, the Bridge Chamber will display a work by Tracey Emin, created while she was studying at Maidstone College of Art. It is the first time the work has been shown since the trust acquired it. Next door, the chapel itself has previously served as a pub, house and fruit and sweet shop. Heritage does not always follow an obvious path. Rochester’s connection with Charles Dickens, by contrast, has rarely been allowed to remain hidden. The council has spent many years ensuring nobody passes through the town without encountering his name, face or fictional characters. His Swiss chalet in Eastgate Gardens is harder to explore. Dickens used it as a study during the final years of his life and worked there on The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which remained unfinished when he died. Most of the time, visitors must look through the windows. During Heritage Open Days, they can [enter the ground floor](https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/charles-dickens-chalet-open-day.html?ref=localauthority.news), although the building is not currently structurally sound. The external staircase and balcony are supported by props, leaving the upper floor inaccessible. Downstairs, space is restricted by a large wooden and steel brace preventing the Grade I listed chalet from leaning any further. This is presumably not what Dickens had in mind when he received it as a gift, but it does make peering inside considerably more interesting. The festival is not confined to Rochester’s approved selection of Dickens, medieval charity and attractive old stone. Chatham Masonic Hall on Manor Road is taking part for the first time, allowing the public to enter on Saturday 12 September. [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/), the local coordinator for Heritage Open Days, said in a [Medway Council press release](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2136/discover%5Fmedways%5Fhidden%5Fstories%5Fthis%5Fseptember%5Fwith%5Fheritage%5Fopen%5Fdays?ref=localauthority.news) that the Masons have promised that “no question will go unanswered.” This is a confident commitment from an organisation not generally associated with explaining everything it does. We suspect somebody will eventually discover its limits. The [Medway Towns Gurdwara Sabha](https://www.visitmedway.org/events/medway-towns-gurdwara-sabha-166539/?ref=localauthority.news) in Lankester Parker Road behind Rochester Airport is joining the programme for the first time. Medway’s first Sikh place of worship was established in a hired Catholic church during the early 1960s. The community later spent more than 40 years in Cossack Street before moving into its current building in 2011. The Gurdwara will welcome visitors on Friday 11 September. Shoes must be removed and heads covered, with coverings supplied at the entrance. Free vegetarian food and drink will be served. Its inclusion expands Medway’s definition of heritage beyond buildings that are very old, made of timber or connected to Charles Dickens. The communities which arrived and established themselves here during the last century are also part of the area’s history. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/AdobeStock_598258266.jpeg) Temple Manor. Across the river, [Temple Manor](https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/temple-manor.html?ref=localauthority.news) will briefly reopen while its management transfers from Medway Council to English Heritage. Built by the Knights Templar in the 13th century, it now sits somewhat incongruously beside an industrial estate in Strood. It retains traces of medieval wall paintings, despite everything built around it during the intervening 800 years. Frindsbury contains another unlikely survivor. [Manor Farm Barn](https://www.visitmedway.org/events/manor-farm-barn-164245/?ref=localauthority.news) was built by monks from Rochester around 1403 and is one of the country’s longest surviving medieval wooden structures. It will open on both Saturdays of the festival. Medway’s concealed history is not confined to buildings. The National Maritime Museum is opening its usually inaccessible [ship model store](https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/behind-the-scenes-tours-at-the-national-maritime-museum-s-ship-model-store.html?ref=localauthority.news) inside No.1 Smithery at the Historic Dockyard, while visitors can board the Thames sailing barge Cambria at Chatham Intra. Hard-hat tours of the Brook Theatre restoration have already proved so popular that they quickly sold out. Apparently, closing a public building for several years is an excellent way to make everybody want to get inside it. The full programme runs until Sunday 20 September. Every event is free, although opening dates, booking arrangements and accessibility vary. The [complete Medway programme](https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/whats-on/printable-area-lists/medway.html?ref=localauthority.news) contains the practical details. Medway has no shortage of history. The problem is that much of it is normally locked, propped up, privately occupied or hidden behind a building doing something else. For at least ten days, some of us will be able to get in and have a look around. ### Catch Up We took a week off from the usual news cycle, but apparently failed to stop publishing. So if you missed anything while we were supposed to be quieter, there is quite a lot to catch up on. Chris de Coulon Berthoud went digging through the [lost bookshops of Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/lost-bookshops-of-medway/) and found rather more than dusty shelves. One unassuming address in Luton was, at different points, home to a British Union of Fascists bookshop, a Communist Party headquarters and a print shop that helped produce a local fanzine. Medway’s book trade, it turns out, contained multitudes. Elsewhere, our [August Culture Review](https://www.localauthority.news/the-august-culture-review/) ranged across murder mysteries in Brompton, Art on the Delta at Rochester Cathedral, books, theatre, food and more. It remains our monthly attempt to prove that considerably more is going on around Medway than you might assume from looking at Facebook. We also met [artist Jonathan Ash](https://www.localauthority.news/i-see-them-as-my-superpowers/), whose path has somehow taken in colour-blindness, carpentry, Scooby Doo, Medway’s music scene, and teaching in Poland. He talks about the breakdown that pushed him towards art, why he sees colour-blindness and autism as “superpowers”, and the unlikely series of events that made him Head of IT and a karaoke regular in Warsaw. Then there was [Roy Smith](https://www.localauthority.news/i-trust-a-16-year-old-to-make-a-good-decision-as-much-as-i-trust-a-30-year-old/), who has spent 25 years working with young people in Medway and has strong views on the idea that political maturity suddenly arrives at 18\. We spoke to him about Medway’s unusually resilient youth service, votes at 16, extremism, experimental music and why good youth work should be about considerably more than trying to fix problems. This week brought us back rather more firmly to the news. [Rodney Chambers, Medway Council’s longest-serving leader, died](https://www.localauthority.news/the-man-who-ran-medway/) after almost half a century in local government. Rather than simply repeat the tributes, we looked at the 15 years he dominated the authority, the huge regeneration ambitions of that era, what actually happened, and what Medway is still waiting for. His record is debatable, but his significance really is not. And finally, [*Local Authority* turned five](https://www.localauthority.news/five-years-of-local-authority/). What began as a slightly improvised newsletter sent to 154 people is now a newsroom reaching thousands, producing print editions, and holding events. We looked back at the past year, why we still think Medway needs this kind of journalism, and what we need to make the next five years possible. ### In brief 📄 Independent councillor Chris Spalding has once again found himself [in breach](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/councillor-only-allowed-to-speak-to-one-officer-after-miscon-344363/?ref=localauthority.news) of the councillor code of conduct. 🚇 Medway Council has submitted a [£9.25m bid](https://highways-news.com/medway-tunnel-system-overhaul-plan-submitted/?ref=localauthority.news) to the government to modernise the Medway Tunnel. 🏗️ 16 modular homes [will be built](https://futuremedway.co.uk/unanimous-approval-for-16-new-houses-on-fly-tipping-hotspot-near-samuels-towers-in-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news) on a flytipping hotspot on the edge of the Great Lines. 🐀 KFC at Horsted Retail Park had to carry out a [deep clean](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/kfc-carries-out-deep-clean-after-big-rat-jumping-in-a-bin-344659/?ref=localauthority.news) after a massive rat went viral on TikTok. 🏆 Nominations are [now open](https://www.prideinmedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) for the 2027 Pride in Medway awards if you can think of any deserving community champions. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Thursday:** [Kent and Medway Police](https://democracy.kent.gov.uk:9071/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=10020&x=1&&ref=localauthority.news) and Crime Panel will question Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott. **New planning applications:** - [Replacement of deck](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TJNVNDKNKF500&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) to lower pier platforms under Rochester Bridge. - [Extension of medical centre](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TK0M0RKNKFE00&ref=localauthority.news) in Halling. - Condimaniac in Rochester High Street have applied to convert the floors above their shop into an [events space](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TKOLW4KNJJC00&ref=localauthority.news), offices, and podcasting facilities. - Conversion of Grade II listed barn in Cooling into [two homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TK9N0JKNI6F00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news). - Construction of [three new homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TKGW3ZKNML800&ref=localauthority.news) on Wigmore Road in, er, Wigmore. - HMOs on [Byron Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TK9N1FKNI6K00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham and [James Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TK0M0ZKNKFH00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester. ### Property of the week The Old Bakery in Cliffe is a Grade II-listed five-bedroom house on the market for £650,000, and unusually for somewhere called The Old Bakery, there is fairly compelling evidence that it was actually a bakery. Believed to date from 1789, its original bread oven survives in the kitchen with the year still marked on it, alongside exposed beams, old fireplaces and enough other period features to make the name feel earned. The house itself is enormous, with two reception rooms, a conservatory, three bathrooms, a little bar and a detached double garage with an office above, while the garden stretches back towards gated parking at the rear. There is even an Aga next to the old bread oven, meaning the kitchen has apparently spent the past 237 years refusing to move on. [Check out this 5 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove5 bedroom detached house for sale in The Old Bakery, Cliffe, Rochester, ME3 for £650,000\. Marketed by eXp UK, South East![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-2d17df4e-3244-4143-8cda-7634f4501a6d.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/af44bcd2d0b28bed7b091360f072b1b9-1a8f0d41-ccbd-4d6e-9551-6bd29f157c67.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92640213?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🌾 Sat 5 Sep - [**Medway’s Marshes**](https://www.medway.gov.uk/events/event/1064/saturday%5Fdrop-in%5Fmedways%5Fmarshes?ref=localauthority.news) // Drop in to learn about Medway’s low-lying wetlands and why they matter. Medway Archives Centre, Strood. Free. 🔦 Sun 6 Sep - [**Fort Borstal Tunnel Tours**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fort-borstal-guardian-of-kent-rampart-and-tunnel-tour-10am-tickets-1996252768769?ref=localauthority.news) // Explore the 19th century tunnels in a guided tour. Nucleus Winery, Rochester. Tickets £27. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### Five years of Local Authority URL: https://www.localauthority.news/five-years-of-local-authority/ Last updated: 2026-09-03T08:23:39.000Z Today marks five years to the day since *Local Authority* launched. Five years ago, this was a slightly improvised newsletter sent to 154 people. There was no grand plan, no office, no marketing budget and no real certainty that anyone would want it. The basic idea was simply that Medway deserved better local journalism than it was getting. Far more was happening in these towns than was being reported properly, and too much of what was covered elsewhere seemed reduced to a press release, clickbait, or whatever had kicked off on Facebook that day. So we decided to try and build the kind of publication we wanted to read. Five years on, *Local Authority* now reaches thousands of subscribers, alongside many more people who find our work on the web and social media. We have published hundreds of editions, held events, launched a print edition and somehow made local council meetings a regular part of our lives. More importantly, we have built a community of readers who care about Medway. People who want to know what is being decided in their name, what is changing in their neighbourhoods, and what is going on beyond the usual doomscrolling version of local life. That is still what *Local Authority* is for. **The past year** It has been another busy year. We have reported on some of the biggest questions facing Medway. What local government reorganisation could mean for the towns, whether the council’s Local Plan can survive the scrutiny it faces, the proposed £46m purchase of hundreds of homes, and difficult decisions around public services, fire cover, health and transport. We have kept trying to turn complicated reports, consultations and council meetings into something that makes sense outside the room. We have asked what the promises about regeneration, growth and investment mean in practice, and followed the details that are easy to miss but often have the biggest consequences. There have been plenty of smaller stories that matter just as much. We have covered the future of the Royal Function Rooms, the pressures facing Medway’s music scene, planning applications across the towns, changes to local high streets, and the occasionally very strange details of public life here. Steven has continued to sit down with the people making Medway what it is: artists, community organisers, business owners, politicians and others with stories worth hearing. Our Culture Reviews, interviews, features and columns are a reminder that this place is more than its problems, even when we spend a fair bit of time writing about those too. This year also saw us take *Local Authority* fully into [print](https://www.localauthority.news/print/). The newsletter will always be at the heart of what we do, but there is something satisfying about seeing our reporting out in the world on a counter, in a café or picked up by someone who might never otherwise have come across us. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/image-2.png) It is an attempt to reach beyond the people who already know *Local Authority*, and to make the case that a publication like this should be part of the life of these towns. We are still learning what the print edition can be, but we are proud of where it has started. Some of our journalism has travelled well beyond Medway too. Our reporting on the school offering a Nigel Farage football shirt as an essay prize was picked up by national outlets. I was also honoured to be Highly Commended in the Kent Print & Online Journalist of the Year category at the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards. Awards and national attention are gratifying, obviously, but the real value is that good local reporting can make people outside Medway pay attention to things happening here. There is a tendency to talk about local journalism as though it is only there to expose wrongdoing. Holding power to account is essential, and it will always be central to what we do. But local journalism should also help people understand where they live, introduce them to parts of their community they might not otherwise encounter, and reflect a place back to itself. That is the job we are trying to do. **Why it matters** It has not got any easier. Local news is in a worse state than it was five years ago, and there are fewer reporters with the time to sit through the meetings, chase the unanswered questions and make sense of complicated issues. During Indie News Week in June, we held a panel discussion at Sun Pier House with our friends Rhys Griffiths of the Folkestone Dispatch and Christine Rayner of Bygone Kent about the state of local news and the challenges facing independent publishers. It was a candid conversation about the pressures on the sector, why this work matters, and what it takes to keep it going, which you can listen to here: Local Authority x Indie News Week panel 0:00 /4265.01907 1× The need for this work has not gone away. If anything, it has become more urgent. Five years in, we are still here. We are still reporting, still asking questions, still trying to make *Local Authority* useful, interesting and worth your time. But we need more people who value that work to support it. The free editions are an important part of *Local Authority*. We want as many people as possible to read our reporting, and we are genuinely glad you are here. Paid subscriptions, though, allow us to do the deeper work: go beyond the press release, attend meetings, follow the paper trail, and publish stories that would otherwise not get written. To mark our fifth birthday, we are offering our strongest paid-membership offer of the year: [**40% off your first annual subscription**](https://www.localauthority.news/la40). That means you can get a full year of Local Authority for **£36** (usually £60), which works out to 69p a week. The offer ends at midnight on Sunday 6 September, after which membership returns to its usual annual price. If *Local Authority* helps you understand the place you live, and you are in a position to support it, we would genuinely love to have you with us. [Become a paid supporter for £36](https://www.localauthority.news/la40) One last thing: we are holding a small fifth birthday gathering for paid supporters tomorrow evening. Upgrade today, and we will send you an invitation with all the details. Thank you for reading, sharing, replying, sending us stories and generally being part of this strange little project. It means a great deal to us. Here is to the next five years. Ed. Editor ### The man who ran Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-man-who-ran-medway/ Last updated: 2026-09-07T13:11:49.000Z **Rodney Chambers helped shape Medway Council through its formative years. We look back at his 15 years as leader, alongside a Chatham boxer’s near miss at a world title and the Pentagon’s new community supermarket.* ### The man who ran Medway For much of its history, Rodney Chambers was simply the man who ran Medway. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/image-1-1.png) Rodney Chambers. [Chambers died last week](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2134/tribute%5Fto%5Fcouncillor%5Frodney%5Fchambers%5Fobe%5Fjp?ref=localauthority.news) after spending nearly half a century in local government. He served on Kent County Council in the 1970s, Gillingham Borough Council from 1987 and Medway Council from the moment it came into existence. Most significantly, he led Medway Council for 15 years, from 2000 to 2015\. No one else has come close. The council’s announcement naturally focuses on the tributes. Conservative group leader George Perfect praised Chambers’ commitment, vision and determination. Labour council leader Vince Maple recalled that the pair could disagree agreeably, while working together against proposals for an airport in the Thames Estuary and, earlier, the loss of the Royal Navy from Chatham. All of that is true, but 15 years in charge of a council deserves something more than a procession of kind words. Chambers became leader while Medway Council was still trying to establish what it was. The unitary authority had been created only a few years earlier from the former boroughs of Rochester upon Medway and Gillingham. It had a new name, uncertain identity and five towns that did not necessarily regard themselves as parts of one coherent place. Much of the political culture which developed around the new authority did so under Chambers. The Conservatives became firmly established as Medway’s dominant party, while the council embarked on an ambitious attempt to reshape the area through regeneration. The plans were enormous. A [regeneration framework](https://www.medway.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/67/medway%5Fregeneration%5Fframework.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) published during his leadership envisaged billions of pounds of investment, thousands of new homes and a succession of transformed waterfronts. Rochester Riverside, Chatham town centre, Strood Riverside, Temple Waterfront and Gillingham waterfront were all presented as parts of a new Medway emerging from its industrial past. Some of that happened. Medway Park was redeveloped, Gillingham station was improved, and substantial public money was spent preparing Rochester Riverside for construction. Chatham acquired its new road system and bus station, whatever anyone may think of either. Other parts moved considerably more slowly. The gap between Medway’s glossy regeneration documents and what appeared on the ground became a recurring feature of local politics. At a [scrutiny meeting in 2012](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=5941&nobdr=2&ref=localauthority.news), Chambers was challenged over projects said to be running late or over budget. He replied that officers had assured councillors they remained on time and within budget. More than a decade later, several of the sites at the centre of those early plans are still being developed, reconsidered or discussed. Regeneration in Medway has always required a fairly elastic understanding of time. Chambers nevertheless remained closely associated with it. When he stepped down as leader in 2015, he did not leave the cabinet. He instead became the portfolio holder responsible for economic regeneration, remaining in the role until he and his wife Diane retired from the council in 2023. The council’s tribute does not mention another side of his life. For years, Chambers owned and ran Card Galleries at Twydall Green. It is an oddly important detail. While directing billion-pound regeneration strategies and arguing over the future of Medway, its most powerful politician could also be found running a greeting card shop in Twydall. That did not automatically make his decisions correct, or insulate his administration from criticism. But it made him unusually rooted in the everyday life of the place he governed. Long before social media made every councillor permanently contactable and before council leaders began speaking in the polished language of regional partnerships, residents could encounter Chambers in an ordinary local shop. A [short Guardian biography from 2009](https://www.theguardian.com/profile/rodney-chambers?ref=localauthority.news) described him as running his own retail business, serving as a magistrate and sitting on the court of the Rochester Bridge Trust. That combination of shopkeeper, councillor and local establishment figure now feels drawn from another political era. He received an OBE for services to local government in 2011\. He also led repeated attempts to secure city status for Medway and became one of the most prominent opponents of plans to build an airport on the Hoo Peninsula. These campaigns were not always successful, but they reflected the central idea running through much of his public life: that Medway should be regarded as something larger and more important than a collection of overlooked towns. Whether his administration ever succeeded in creating that shared identity is more difficult to answer. Medway still argues with itself about what it is, while many of the regeneration projects intended to transform it remain unfinished. His record can therefore be debated, as the record of any leader who holds power for 15 years should be. His significance cannot. Rodney Chambers did not merely serve on Medway Council. For most of its formative years, he was Medway Council. ### Chatham’s almost world champion *Local Authority* knows almost nothing about boxing. Until this weekend, this hadn't presented much of a problem. But when a 21-year-old raised in Chatham steps into the ring with a chance to become heavyweight champion of the world, it seems churlish not to pay attention. [Moses Itauma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses%5FItauma?ref=localauthority.news) faced Filip Hrgović at the O2 on Saturday night for the vacant IBF heavyweight title. Victory would have made Itauma one of the youngest heavyweight world champions in history. For much of the contest, that looked entirely possible. Itauma knocked Hrgović down in the second round and built a substantial lead. Hrgović would later acknowledge that he had lost the first eight rounds. Things then went badly wrong. Itauma tired, Hrgović began landing more regularly, and the referee stopped the fight during the ninth round. Itauma was given oxygen before leaving the ring on a stretcher and was taken to hospital as a precaution. The result ended an unbeaten record stretching back through Itauma’s amateur career. He had won his first 14 professional contests, most without requiring anything like Saturday’s sustained effort. Precisely what went wrong is best left to people who understand boxing. Hrgović attributed it to Itauma’s inexperience and failure to pace himself across a 12-round fight. He nonetheless described the young boxer as the most talented in the division and predicted that he would eventually become world champion. Itauma’s journey to Saturday’s fight began some distance from the lights of the O2\. Born in Slovakia to a Slovakian mother and Nigerian father, he joined his family in Chatham as a young child. He started boxing at St Mary’s Amateur Boxing Club in Luton aged nine and developed into one of the most highly regarded young fighters in the country. The rise was not straightforward. [Speaking to the Guardian earlier this year](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/mar/28/moses-itauma-jermaine-franklin-heavyweight-boxing?ref=localauthority.news), Itauma described living with his brother in a house on Luton Road when he was 15, with only £7 per week available for food. His coach began helping him after noticing his dramatic weight loss. Less than six years later, he was fighting for a world title. His first defeat does not erase the considerable distance travelled between those two points. Itauma’s connection with Chatham is no longer confined to the boxing club where it began. He is also one of the founders of Club Eight³, a new private members’ gym replacing TruGym at Chatham Maritime. TruGym closed on 4 July after its operator was acquired. Existing memberships were cancelled, and the building is undergoing a complete refurbishment before reopening under its considerably more elaborate new identity. Anyone expecting much the same gym with a new sign may need to adjust their expectations. [Club Eight³ describes itself](https://www.clubeight3.co.uk/about/?ref=localauthority.news) as an 'elevated fitness and recovery destination', bringing together advanced training, lifestyle medicine, premium hospitality and a private community. The marketing language is closer to a luxury hotel crossed with a private clinic than anything previously found above Dockside. Planned facilities include a sauna, ice baths, red-light therapy, blood testing, IV drips, cryotherapy and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. There will also be a café suitable for coworking, a quiet room and equipment supplied by brands including Nike Strength and Bang & Olufsen. The club says every partnership has been selected to help members pursue better health. How a very expensive speaker contributes to longevity is not explained. Membership starts at £79 per month for the basic tier. Paying £134 adds access to the cryotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen chambers, while £199 brings a monthly appointment with an IV therapy specialist and a 'tailored vitamin injection protocol.' The website asks prospective customers, 'How much is your health and your future self worth?' This is perhaps a more effective sales pitch when the answer is not £2,388 per year. *Local Authority* is no better qualified to assess the claimed benefits of IV drips and red-light beds than it is to explain heavyweight boxing tactics. It is, at the very least, quite a transformation for a building previously occupied by a conventional budget gym. It also brings Itauma’s story back to where it began. Whatever happens after the first defeat of his career, the boxer developed in a small Chatham club has returned as the face of one of Medway’s most ambitious, and certainly most extravagantly described, new fitness businesses. ## ****Finding this useful?** Stay on top of what’s happening in Medway with independent local journalism delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Between Sainsbury’s and a food bank At the other end of Chatham’s rapidly expanding wellness market, £1 will soon buy a bag of fruit and vegetables. [A new community supermarket is due to open](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2130/improving%5Faccess%5Fto%5Faffordable%5Fand%5Fhealthy%5Ffood?ref=localauthority.news) on the first floor of the Pentagon in October, offering groceries and household essentials at reduced prices. Unlike most food banks and community pantries, customers will not require a referral, membership or evidence that they are struggling. If you live in Medway, you can shop there. Social Enterprise Kent will operate the store, which already runs similar shops in Ashford and Ramsgate. [Those branches sell seasonal groceries at reduced prices](https://sekgroup.org.uk/support/support-for-people/se-kitchen-social-supermarket/?ref=localauthority.news) alongside food that would otherwise go to waste. The Chatham shop will occupy a unit next to the [James Williams Healthy Living Centre](https://www.localauthority.news/can-a-15m-health-centre-help-chatham-live-longer/), which opened earlier this year. Medway Council says residents will be able to buy cheaper food while accessing help with budgeting, benefits, household bills, employment, digital skills and energy costs. In other words, it is intended to be more than a cheaper place to purchase vegetables. [The council’s original specification](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007336-2026?ref=localauthority.news) called for a supermarket that would provide food and essential items below average market prices, while also offering support intended to address some of the reasons people end up requiring emergency help. The council awarded Social Enterprise Kent a £260,000 contract to establish and operate the shop. The initial agreement runs until March 2028, with an option to extend it for another year. Funding comes from the government’s new Crisis and Resilience Fund, which has provided Medway with £4.59m this year. The scheme replaces the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments, bringing several different forms of emergency and preventative support together. When councillors [approved their plans for the money in March](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=87249&ref=localauthority.news), they were told that the community supermarket would open 'within three months.' October is closer to seven months later, but the project has at least progressed beyond the entirely theoretical stage. The council has even published a photograph of the future shop, although at present it remains a largely empty room. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/09/image.png) Insert cheap vegetables here. The decision to allow anybody to shop there is significant. Food banks usually require a referral, while many community pantries restrict access to members or people receiving particular benefits. These checks can help target limited supplies, but they also require people to demonstrate that their circumstances are sufficiently desperate. Social Enterprise Kent’s existing shops operate differently. Anyone can enter, buy what they need and pay at the till without explaining themselves. Customers who are relatively comfortable can still reduce food waste and generate income for the project, while those under greater pressure are not visibly separated from everybody else. The model does not remove every complication. Stock will partly depend on what supermarkets, suppliers and food redistribution organisations have available. [The manager of the Ramsgate shop has previously said](https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2023/11/02/se-kitchen-in-ramsgate-a-one-stop-shop-for-affordable-food-and-host-of-support-services/?ref=localauthority.news) that reductions in supermarket surplus also affect what the social supermarket can obtain. It is therefore unlikely to offer the complete or predictable range of a conventional supermarket. Nor will a £1 vegetable bag do much to resolve the wider causes of food insecurity. It does, however, provide something between an ordinary shop and emergency food aid, without requiring customers to prove their poverty before being allowed through the door. The Pentagon has spent much of the past decade losing traditional retailers. Its first floor now contains the James Williams Healthy Living Centre and [Ascend, a publicly funded workspace for start-up businesses](https://ascendcoworking.com/?ref=localauthority.news). The community supermarket will add another use that looks rather different from the shopping centre of old. A GP surgery, coworking space and publicly funded discount supermarket may not have been the future imagined when [Medway Council bought the Pentagon for £35m in 2019](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=49932&ref=localauthority.news). But in a town where more residents need help affording basic groceries, an inexpensive shop with no questions asked may prove more useful than another empty unit. ### Footnotes ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### “I trust a 16-year-old to make a good decision as much as I trust a 30-year-old” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-trust-a-16-year-old-to-make-a-good-decision-as-much-as-i-trust-a-30-year-old/ Last updated: 2026-08-30T06:00:32.000Z *Roy Smith is the Service Manager for Youth Service at Medway Council. He talks to Steven about local democracy, studying for a PhD and the musical experimentation of Minimus.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/IMG_4467-1.jpeg) **What is your official occupation?** My profession is youth work, but I'm the Service Manager for Medway Council's Youth Service. **What does that role entail?** That involves working with young people across Medway. From people as young as eight years old, up to 18 and up to 25 for young people with additional needs and disabilities. That involves developing, supporting and running a whole range of services, from youth clubs, targeted youth support, work in Medway Hospital, youth participation work with young people to get their voices heard and supported, as well as activities and ways for young people to be able to express themselves and become part of their community. **There are lots of reports about the lack of youth clubs and youth facilities. Is there still something to manage in Medway?** Absolutely. In many ways, Medway has bucked the national trend. We got called out recently. I attended a meeting in London with the [National Youth Agency](https://nya.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) where the CEO called out Medway as one of the best youth services in the country. I think when you live in Medway, you hear a lot of people saying things about there's not enough of this and that, but a lot of people aren't looking outside in terms of what it's like elsewhere, and I'm aware of an uneven national picture around the youth sector. Medway has retained a strong local youth offer, delivering both universal and targeted work, as well as a strong provision that happens in the voluntary sector as well. That combines to make what we call the Local Youth Offer. You'll have the youth service from the council, but we'll also have a range of different providers from scouts, cadets, guides, as well as faith-based providers, small community voluntary providers and we try and work across those as well as our direct work with young people to support what goes on across the board. We had a peer review last year in July where we had people from various different places, including young reviewers, to look at our provision. There are things to develop and to grow on. A lot of places, it's been a hard time over 20 years in terms of finances. I'm proud to say we've held on to a strong provision. We deliver around 40 sessions a week worth of direct youth work, which for an area this size, if you look at other places, that's quite unusual. **Is Medway Youth Council part of it?** Yeah, [Medway Youth Council](https://youngmedway.org/medway-youth-council/?ref=localauthority.news) is a youth-led organisation. We support them, but they have a level of independence. That is around young people organising together to get their voices heard on issues that are important to them. They also work with the local authority and its partners, NHS, police, health services, different organisations, education, to be able to inform policy and decision-making. They not only take consultation from those partners, but also campaign on the things they care about. **How political is the Youth Council?** It depends what you mean by political. That's a big word. They're not party political. They try and avoid being party political, because they recognise they've got to talk to people from a lot of different backgrounds. But they are political in the sense that politics is about the local community. It's about the decisions that are made. They have views and perspectives about what should happen, how things should change. I don't think you can do that without being political. **What was the focus of your PhD?** My PhD was around young people's democratic socialisation, particularly the role of youth participation workers, youth workers, and I take a wide range. That could include teachers, youth workers, it could be people working with young people around their democratic involvement, and the role those adults play working with those young people that supports their growth of their political awareness, understanding and engagement. Again, that's not about party politics specifically, although it doesn't run away from that. Some young people have strong party-political views. What I wanted to explore was what the work of people doing that looks like, how they see their role, how young people understand that role, and also what they could do to make it better. How could they improve the work they do? How could they better support young people? We're at a time at the moment where we're looking at votes at 16\. It's particularly pertinent. Young people are going to be voting younger than they ever have done before. Some of this is about what work prepares young people effectively to engage in democracy. Some of that's about strengthening. I've worked in a local authority most of my life. People being involved in democracy is important for strengthening it, for its management, its understanding, for people to have a say and feel like they have a stake in their community. > There isn't a magical switch that flicks in your brain that suddenly means that you're capable of voting or behaving politically responsibly at 18 **You mentioned votes for 16-year-olds. Having worked with young people, do you think giving them the vote is a good idea?** I would say it's as good an idea as giving it to anyone. I've had this conversation a lot, and the young people I've worked with over the years haven't always thought giving votes to 16-year-olds is a good idea themselves. I think they have come to that conclusion themselves, but I think one of the things that I've thought about a lot, and I've spent a lot of time thinking about this, is that there isn't a magical switch that flicks in your brain that suddenly means that you're capable of voting or behaving politically responsibly at 18\. You don't suddenly become politically mature just because you've turned a particular age. Young people at 16 are fundamentally affected by political decision-making more than anyone else. Particularly because they've got to live with the consequences more. They're in full-time education. They're affected by a lot of decisions about their lives, about what they can and can't do, where they can and can't go. I think it's only right they should have decision-making ability within that. My view on it is I don't think they're any better or worse placed, or any better or less educated than most adults to vote at that age, if I'm totally honest. That's been my experience of young people over the last 25 years. Does that mean that some of them will make bad decisions? Yes, so do some adults. I trust a 16-year-old to make a good decision as much as I trust a 30-year-old, 50-year-old, or 70-year-old. ****Local journalism worth sticking around for** Roy has spent 25 years working with young people in Medway, giving him a particular perspective on who gets heard and who gets overlooked. ****Register for free** to continue the interview, as we talk about his unlikely route to becoming Dr Roy Smith, extremism and radicalisation, experimental music, and why good youth work should be about more than fixing problems. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The August Culture Review URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-august-culture-review/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T06:00:14.000Z *Once a month, we bring together reviews of Medway’s cultural highlights in a single round-up, produced exclusively for our paid supporters. This month, our team of intrepid cultural reviewers present theatre, talks, books, food, and drink from across our towns...* --- **Murder For Breakfast** *Tracie’s Cafe, Brompton, 26 Jul* Tracie’s Cafe in Brompton was given a 1980s makeover for this fun, 30 minute interactive comedy murder mystery. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/20260726_182146-1.jpg) Each table was equipped with vinyl LPs and chalk markers for noting down clues, and I soon overcame my feelings of outrage at the sacrilege of defacing Dana with my jottings. Seated around the cafe’s tables, we were encouraged to meet new people and share our ideas as the key suspects in the murder of Dr Blackpudding were introduced and questioned by Sergeant Egg (Adam Rhys-Davies) and DI Chips ([Nic Lamont](https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-breaking-down-barriers-that-keep-people-socially-isolated/)). Taking it in turns to play each of the main suspects, in a series of outlandish wigs, Rhys-Davies and Lamont packed in the breakfast-themed puns and 80s references and dropped salient clues as well as a few red herrings, with frequent nods to the parochial eccentricity of Midsomer Murders. The plot included a Neighbourhood Watch meeting, an inheritance, secret trysts, messages from the beyond, and the despoiling of a herbaceous border (surely reasonable grounds for acquittal?). Audience members were invited to contribute and many helpful, or at least entertaining comments were forthcoming. The performances were spirited and supremely tongue-in-cheek; we were there for a lighthearted show and not a baffling brainteaser. Everyone was invited to cast their vote for the likeliest culprit at the end, before the big reveal of the denouement and a tantalising hint of romance between Egg and Chips. An amusing evening, bringing people together in an entertaining and novel way. - *Moira Mehaffey* ****Register free** to continue reading the August Culture Review, including Art on the Delta at Rochester Cathedral and the rest of this month’s picks for theatre, books, food and more. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Lost bookshops of Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/lost-bookshops-of-medway/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T10:14:56.000Z Number 48 Luton High Street, Chatham, is an unassuming terraced house with a potent history, a place where some of the more penumbral ideas of the Twentieth Century were mulled over. In the Kelly’s Directory of 1939, it is listed as the bookshop for the Medway Branch of the British Union of Fascists, run by H Dore. It is only listed in 1939, unsurprisingly, because on the 1st September of that year the Second World War commenced and Mosley’s fascists immediately became targets of suspicion. By May of 1940 members of the BUF began to face arrest and internment as potential 'fifth columnists,' and the shop was closed down. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2Fb9a8725f-7581-49ce-891f-bfef6e939f0b_280x460.png) 48 Luton Road, the drab little terrace where the tumult of twentieth-century politics was encapsulated under one unassuming roof. On May 19th 1962 it opened again as a bookshop selling “Literature of the left and peace movements.” It was called the Kent Bookshop, and also operated as the headquarters for the Communist Party of Great Britain. It later became a print shop, called the Oldham Press. Local poet Philip Kane recalled, “The shop was actually used as a commercial print shop in its latter days, run by a Communist Party member who was a retired head teacher. I can’t recall his name, but he printed all but the very first issue of our Deserted Streets fanzine so his name might be inside the covers of those. I honestly don’t recall the Kent Bookshop ever stocking a single book, let alone selling any!” “The print shop moved in there around 1980 when Bill - I think that was his name - retired from teaching and set up his printing business. Until that point, the shop itself was generally an empty space, at least from my first knowledge of the place in 1976\. There was an office upstairs, as the building was meant to be the admin HQ for the Kent District of the Communist Party, but frankly it was chaotic, even to my eyes, with files and documents scattered all over the place, so I don’t know how they managed to actually administer anything there. The basement was used for meetings and sometimes for social events, fundraisers and the like.” ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e_Gl!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F03da9ded-aa4b-4725-a305-68010b933d75_1456x972.png) Evening Post - 9 February 1971. Another of the lost bookshops of Medway was also at number 48, this time a second-hand and antiquarian bookshop at 48 Rochester High Street. This shop, operating a decade earlier than the one in Luton, was also short-lived, open only between 1929 and 1930\. By 1933 it was back to being a bookshop under the proprietorship of FL Alloway, Secondhand and New Bookseller, and in 1938 it is listed in Kelly’s as WA Wanstall, Second-Hand Bookseller. ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!4zGy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F893cb59a-e55e-42a6-a835-2fdc3921cff5_768x1024.jpeg) 48 Rochester High Street. The story of Medway’s other number 48 is stranger still. ****Register for free to keep reading**. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### “I see them as my superpowers” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-see-them-as-my-superpowers/ Last updated: 2026-08-23T06:00:12.000Z [*Jonathan Ash*](https://jonathanashart.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *is an artist based at Nucleus Arts, known for his distinctive use of colour and occasionally dressing up as Scooby Doo. Steven met him ahead of his current exhibition, Gargoyles of Medway, to discuss how colour-blindness shaped his art, why he sees it as a superpower, and how he somehow became Head of IT at a school in Poland.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/2018112-1.jpeg) Self portrait by Jonathan Ash. **Are you known by any other names?** I am, yes. **How did you come to be known as Jonathan Ash?** I needed an artist name. It just sounded better. I think you need something with more than one syllable in your first name. It's almost like a rhythm, isn't it? **At what age did you make that decision?** It came about because I was starting the business. That would be in 2018. **What is your official occupation?** I don't know, suppose I'm an artist. It took me a while, because obviously I spend quite a lot of time doing other things as well. > My head was full of wire wool, all twisted together, and I couldn't really focus on anything **What has being an artist entailed?** Questions like this I really struggle with. Drink coffee and network. No, that's not true. Art for me comes from a place of… It was a bit of a therapy for me. I had a rather large breakdown basically, and I just needed something that was to focus me because my brain was absolutely full. Almost like the Black Dog scenario. My head was full of wire wool, all twisted together, and I couldn't really focus on anything. I ended up doing an NVQ in Art ten years ago. It made me realise that actually I could focus on art for hours and hours every day. I suddenly realised that, you know... Oh, no, sorry, I didn't realise. The person that ran the course realised that I had a bit of a way of capturing people's expressions when I was only using pencil at the time. She encouraged me to focus on portraits, it went from there. I was doing a few pictures for friends and family. **Do you have any other roles?** Weirdly enough, they've all come out of me being an artist. All of these opportunities have come out of people knowing me for my art. One of the things is that I do a lot of handyman work. I'm a qualified carpenter as well. That started off when I was at [Nucleus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news). I started doing odd jobs for Nucleus Arts. One of the best jobs I had was when Nucleus Arts bought the conservancy in Rochester. They needed someone to do the internal demolition. I was there with Mr Sledghammer, and there's a great picture of me in the boardroom upstairs, and I've got all of my PPE on. That was great fun. The other good thing about that was I got to research the Conservancy's history as well, because it was a Grade II listed building. We needed to know what we could and couldn't do in there. We needed pictures of the original plans and everything. I went to the archives in Strood and I got the original George Bond plans, actually water-coloured hand-done by Bond and it was wonderful, a really good experience. Anyway, that led to them realising they could save quite a lot of money. Rather than getting contractors in every time they needed to change a tap, they could get me to do it. That's led on to a lot of private jobs as well. Somehow I've got into gardening as well. One of the funny things about being an artist was that it's how I met the person that runs [Rainbows Over Medway](https://www.facebook.com/rainbowsovermedway/), and she was looking for somebody to do the Christmas card for, at that time, [Medway Pride Radio](https://medwayprideradio.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I said, “Yeah, I'll do that.” She said, “Well, how much do you want for that?” Very flippantly, I said, “Just give me a radio show.” So, she did. While I'm a little less frequent with that, it's been good. I've been doing that for five years. **You can also occasionally be seen dressed up as Scooby Doo?** Yes, that was at [Medway Pride](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I was helping with the Medway Pride Radio stall, and it seemed a bit boring just to go dressed normally, so yes I ended up in Scooby Doo outfit. We had been threatened that the Christian Alliance were going to come and protest outside Medway Pride. I basically did an A1 sign that said Scooby Dooby Doo on it. If they were protesting, I was going to nip round the back, and as they were taking a photo, I was going to put my sign up. That's how it started. Most of these things come from very silly places. **What are the Gargoyles of Medway?** The Gargoyles of Medway is an exhibition that's going to be on [Analogue Music](https://www.instagram.com/analoguemusicrochester/?ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester, an absolutely brilliant record shop run by two wonderful people. I have recently been working with [Stuart Turner](https://www.localauthority.news/i-cant-really-write-music-that-goes/), and he's released a new album called [Gargoyles at the Memoir Club](https://stuartturnerandrobgrigg.bandcamp.com/album/gargoyles-at-the-memoir-club?ref=localauthority.news). This album they've been working on for, goodness me, at least five years I think it is, and Stuart's always said to me that he would really like me to do cover art for one of his albums and it just sort of all came together at the same time. I painted the front cover and it's basically a club in Soho from around the 1920s. I've got four women on the front, all dressed in the 1920s party outfits. I found a picture of the wallpaper from the inside of the club in Soho, and turned that into a patterned wallpaper. That's the background as well. I'm going to be showing two original paintings, the ones that are the front cover of the album and then, kindly Alistair and Hannah at Analogue said I could pop up some more paintings. Over the last eight years I've done a lot of paintings of people to do with music in Medway, poets as well, there's going to be depending on space about 30 prints going up. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/GARGOYLES-OF-MEDWAY.pages.jpg) Poster for Gargoyles of Medway exhibition **Is there going to be someone involved in that scene who's going to turn up and go, 'Why am I up there?'** Yes. I've said many times, in fact Stuart was in that position about three years ago. I'd painted every other member of one of his bands, and he went, “Well, where am I?” His 50th birthday came, and I went, “Okay, that's your 50th birthday present. I'm painting you.” There's some of the bands that I used to know in the 80s, because my brother used to be in a band around the same time, the Prisoners and Milkshakes and the Dentists. He was in the band called The Pressure. They used to play the MIC club and places like that. I only went to the MIC once. I think I was 13, and he needed help getting his drum kit up the stairs, and then he got kicked out. Then my sister was very good friends with the Prisoners, and she went out with one of the Milkshakes as well. She used to be a roadie for the Dentists, and at the time Del Amitri, because obviously Del Amitri were supporting the Dentists back in the 80s. I was the little shit brother. I was a little annoying kid. A couple of the members of The Prisoners used to come around to the house and I'd stick cardboard boxes on their heads. Honestly, I was such an irritating shit. I actually apologised to Allan Crockford a few years ago. **When's the exhibition on?** The exhibition is from Friday the 14th of August, and it's going to be until Sunday the 13th of September. Absolutely free and you fancy having a little rummage through the records while you're there, there's some brilliant stuff, so it's all fine. **Will any of the exhibits be available for purchase?** Yes, they are. There'll be the prints. There's larger prints, smaller prints. The two originals for the album cover, I've given those to Stuart. Hopefully there'll be some prints and cards if I can get my backside in this gear and get them done. It's the usual Jonathan Ash fodder I suppose. ****From colour-blindness to karaoke in Warsaw.** There’s plenty more to Jonathan Ash than Gargoyles and Scooby Doo. ****Register for free** to continue the interview, including how colour-blindness shaped his distinctive art, why he regards it and autism as his “superpowers,” and the unlikely sequence of events that led him to become a teacher, Head of IT, and karaoke king in Warsaw. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Medway Council cannot say what Rainham regeneration plan will deliver by March URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-cannot-say-what-rainham-regeneration-plan-will-deliver-by-march/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T12:47:20.000Z **Rainham has a 52-page regeneration plan, 39 possible interventions and a promise that “several improvements” will be completed by next March. What Medway Council cannot yet say is which ones. We dig into Rainham Reimagined, while elsewhere Medway faces another year of financial support, rubbish piles up in Rochester, the council lends out litter-picking equipment, and we look ahead to Medway Pride, next week’s council meetings and a Cliffe Woods house with some questionable herringbone flooring.* ### Medway Council cannot say what Rainham regeneration plan will deliver by March Rainham now has a 52-page vision for a brighter town centre, complete with murals, illuminated trees and approximately seven painted bollards. What it lacks is a confirmed list of improvements to be delivered. Medway Council has told residents that “several improvements” will be completed by 31 March 2027, but says it is still assessing which projects can realistically meet that deadline. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-21-at-17.06.21.png) Part of the Rainham Reimagined plan. The council published the claim on its [Rainham Reimagined webpage](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200177/regeneration/1972/rainham%5Ffeasibility%5Fstudy%5F2025%5Fconsultation?ref=localauthority.news) after launching the delivery plan last week. Asked by *Local Authority* which improvements would be completed, the council said it was “not yet in a position” to identify any. “Medway Council is currently assessing which interventions can realistically be delivered before March 2027, alongside the associated costs, funding requirements and delivery timescales,” a council spokesperson said. “Further details will be provided as proposals are developed and funding arrangements are confirmed.” Rainham Reimagined is the latest stage of a regeneration project that began with a feasibility study published last year. Its centrepiece is Orchard Square at Rainham Shopping Centre, described as a new “civic heart” for the town. Proposals include removing fixed planters and street furniture, painting the square's surface, installing signs and lighting, illuminating existing trees, and adding electricity points for markets and pop-up traders. A mural could be installed at the Station Road entrance, while part of the shopping centre car park could eventually be used for occasional markets and community events. Along the High Street, the plan proposes painted crossings, improved pavements, signs, lighting or bunting and a better connection to the Cricketers car park and St Margaret’s Millennium Centre. Three walking routes would link the town centre with Rainham station, the conservation area, the Oasthouse Theatre, Rainham Library and Cozenton Park. A Heritage Trail could include plaques, signs, a digital history trail, trees and artistic lighting. Station Road could receive murals, painted bollards, planting and an illuminated Oast House. Vacant shopfronts could display temporary artwork along the route towards Cozenton Park. In total, the document lists 39 possible interventions across Orchard Square, the High Street and the three trails. Some are categorised as quick wins that the council could deliver directly. Others require agreements with landowners and businesses, while the longer-term projects depend on additional funding and partnerships. The document describes itself as a “practical, costed programme of projects.” However, the council told *Local Authority* that detailed costings were still being developed and the overall budget had not been finalised. “As detailed costings for all elements of the Delivery Plan are not yet complete, we are unable to confirm how much of the overall programme is fully funded,” its spokesperson said. The council expects to draw on its own resources, developer contributions, future grants, sponsorship and private investment. A £75,000 Rainham Reimagined Enablement Fund was included in the council’s budget for 2026/27\. An attempt to remove it and transfer the money to additional road repairs on the Hoo Peninsula was [rejected by councillors in February](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=38532&ref=localauthority.news). The council did not confirm how much of that £75,000 remains available, has been committed or has already been spent. Its public webpage also says the projects will be partly funded through Section 106 contributions paid by developers. The council has not stated how much is available from those contributions or which projects the money would support. The simplified public version of the plan contains no project prices. It says indicative costs based on comparable schemes have been shared with the council, but are intended to assist funding bids rather than commit it to particular expenditure. There is a further complication around Orchard Square. The plan describes the square as being owned by Medway Council. It calls this “a rare opportunity for a council to directly shape its town centre’s civic core,” while a later section says its ownership puts most early work into the council-led quick wins category. But the council [sold the freehold of Rainham Shopping Centre](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=85746&ref=localauthority.news) for £1.5 million in December 2025\. The sale was completed several months before work began on the new delivery plan. Asked whether it had retained ownership of Orchard Square, the council said the square was designated public highway. It did not expressly say who owns the square’s freehold. The council did confirm that it retains ownership of the public toilets inside the shopping centre. The civic heart itself received a less direct answer. “We are engaging with managers of the Shopping Centre regarding the proposed improvements in this area to help inform the development and delivery of the project proposals,” the spokesperson said. “As work on the Delivery Plan progresses, the council will continue to engage collaboratively with relevant stakeholders and landowners to support the delivery of future improvements.” The plan was developed between March and July this year. It says two community workshops, 47 responses to a digital survey, youth engagement and discussions with Southeastern and Network Rail produced more than 170 project ideas. These followed the wider consultation behind last year’s feasibility study, which received more than 1,000 responses. The resulting plan offers a clear picture of the sort of town centre Rainham might eventually have. It is less clear about the town centre residents will see next March. None of that makes the individual proposals bad ideas. Rainham residents have repeatedly asked for better public spaces, greenery, safer walking routes and more reasons to spend time in the town centre. But the council has launched a delivery plan before completing the delivery work behind it. No final programme has been published, no overall budget has been set, and no specific improvement has been confirmed for completion by the date being advertised to residents. By next March, the council says Rainham will have seen several improvements. For now, it cannot say what any of them will be. ### Catch Up This week has involved a fair amount of looking forwards, backwards and occasionally sideways at what Medway might become. William Burvill has only been a councillor for a few weeks, but he has already become deputy leader of Reform’s group on Medway Council. In [our latest interview](https://www.localauthority.news/what-you-hear-about-reform-i-shouldnt-fit-the-brief/), he talks about why the party keeps winning in Rochester and Strood, his long career working with disabled children and adults, the decidedly local issues filling his inbox, and why he does not think the usual image of a Reform politician particularly fits him. [“What you hear about Reform, I shouldn’t fit the brief”What Steven asked William Burvill, the new deputy leader of the Reform group on Medway Council and newly elected councillor for Cuxton, Halling and Riverside![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--ac4f0f2f-ff56-4984-831c-7d03e6cb4276.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_1877-2-1-35ebf1b7-926e-431e-ae65-35ce0710f827.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/what-you-hear-about-reform-i-shouldnt-fit-the-brief/) He will not have long to get used to Medway Council in its current form. The authority disappears in April 2028, and this week [we asked the leaders](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leaders/) of Labour, the Conservatives, Reform and the Independent Group what they make of the decision to merge Medway with Dartford and Gravesham. There is some agreement that the argument over the map is now over. There is rather less agreement about what happens next, who is to blame for getting here and whether residents are about to get a better deal or simply a much bigger council. [Voice of the LeadersThe leaders of Medway’s political groups on the local government reorganisation decision and what it means for Medway.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--ae71c057-85df-4b7e-8fd3-2bb83ebcbc80.webp)Local AuthorityLocal Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/Untitled-design--28--1-3cb44d46-2aeb-45d8-8241-80a8328de184.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leaders/) And if all that talk of Medway’s future sounds ambitious, it is worth remembering that we have been here before. A speculative tram map posted online [sent us digging](https://www.localauthority.news/from-medway-metro-to-tbc/) through the 2003 Local Plan, where we found plans for light rail, a dockside railway loop, river buses, park and ride sites and something called the 'Medway Metro.' Most of it never happened, obviously. But the scale of what was once envisaged makes today’s transport network look rather less inevitable. ### In brief 💷 Medway faces a [fourth year of Exceptional Financial Support](https://www.room151.co.uk/funding/medway-faces-fourth-year-of-efs/?ref=localauthority.news), after plans to balance the budget this year crashed into reality. 🗑️ Medway Council are offering [free litter-picking equipment from libraries](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xayty42?ref=localauthority.news) if you'd like to do their job for them. 🚛 Rubbish built up [for 12 weeks](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/it-stinks-bins-at-block-of-flats-left-uncollected-for-12-344001/?ref=localauthority.news) at a block of flats in Rochester due to a dispute over who was responsible between Medway Council and Orbit. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/print2.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/print/) It’s here! The latest print edition of **Local Authority* is out now, with copies arriving at stockists across Medway and more landing over the next few days. You can also pick up a copy from us at Medway Pride this Saturday. Come and say hello! [Find your nearest copy ](https://www.localauthority.news/print/) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Cabinet](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6550&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss school places, fostering, temporary accommodation, building a new SEN school, and more. - **Wednesday:** [Planning Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6645&ref=localauthority.news) will meet, where officers recommend rejecting 100 new homes in Cliffe but approving five new HMOs. **New planning applications:** - [Extension of DT block](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TJNF0LKNK4G00&ref=localauthority.news) at Holcombe Grammar School. - [Demolition of Brook car park](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TJM6KJKNJDN00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news). - [HMO](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TJV20CKNH1U00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) on Kingswood Road in Gillingham. ### Property of the week This three-bedroom detached house in Cliffe Woods is on the market at a guide price of £425,000 to £475,000 and offers a fairly polished version of modern family living. There is a large kitchen/diner opening onto the garden, a separate lounge, three double bedrooms, an en suite, a downstairs loo, and parking, with shutters fitted to seemingly every available window. Most of it is smart and straightforward, although the ground floor appears to have been laid by someone who understood that herringbone involves diagonals but stopped reading the instructions shortly afterwards. Beyond that, there is a decent-sized garden, plenty of space and relatively little demanding explanation. A practical family house, provided you can resist the urge to start rearranging the floorboards. [Check out this 3 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove3 bedroom detached house for sale in Round Top Close, Cliffe Woods, Rochester, Kent, ME3 for £425,000\. Marketed by Robinson Michael and Jackson, Strood![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-ebcb7e7f-ca80-461c-ae15-3e37c1a86822.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/7131c5388b86ebffde9a0fac6af282b5-537bc076-d64e-4715-8705-2ac233aaa7ee.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92102958?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🏳️‍🌈 Sat 22 Aug - [**Medway Pride**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) // Parade, live entertainment, stalls and more in Kent's largest LGBT+ event. Rochester Castle Gardens. Tickets £10. 🌿 Sat 22 Aug - [**Sticks ’N’ Stones Festival**](https://theparamountfoundation.org/sticks-n-stones/?ref=localauthority.news) // Free festival exploring wellbeing, creativity, healthy living, and mindfulness. University of Greenwich Medway Campus, Chatham. Free. 📷 From 28 Aug - [**National Historic Ships Photography Exhibition**](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/national-historic-ships-photography-exhibition/?ref=localauthority.news) // Winning and shortlisted photographs celebrating Britain’s historic vessels. Chatham Historic Dockyard. Tickets £26 (includes Dockyard entry). 🪐 28 - 29 Aug - [**Professor Brian Cox: Emergence**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/Professor-Brian-Cox-Emergence?ref=localauthority.news) // The space Brian Cox, not the acting one, tours an elaborate new show. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £37.50. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### Voice of the Leaders URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leaders/ Last updated: 2026-08-20T16:00:10.000Z **Editor's note*: As local government reorganisation approaches, we approached the leader of each political group on Medway Council to get their views on the* [*recent decision to merge Medway with Dartford and Gravesham*](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-future-is-north-kent/)*.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/Untitled-design--28-.jpg) Medway Council group leaders Vince Maple, George Perfect, Michael Pearce, and David Finch. [**Vince Maple**](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-got-more-to-offer/)**, Labour leader of Medway Council, and ward councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton** The Government has now set out its preferred option for the future structure of local government in Kent and Medway. Whilst from the very start I have been a strong advocate of four unitary councils for Kent and Medway, I do believe that the option chosen represents a missed once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to be bold and shape services around communities and the way people live, work and travel today, as we put forward in our proposal last November. Places like Walderslade and Faversham will be stuck with the same problems and confused geographies created by previous processes over the past 50 years. Nonetheless, our collective focus now must be on ensuring that the government’s preferred option is implemented and is delivered in the most efficient, professional and responsible way possible. We will work constructively with colleagues in Gravesham, Dartford and Kent County Council to support a smooth transition. It does mean that the current Medway Council population will be more than 50% of the population of the new council. I have already reached out to the leaders of Dartford and Gravesham Councils, and we will be catching up together very soon. We will also continue to collaborate closely with our council colleagues and partners across the whole of Kent and support our brilliant council staff through this period of change, as they are the people delivering day‑to‑day services for Medway residents, and their professionalism and commitment remain central to everything we do. I want to reassure *Local Authority* readers that, in the meantime, nothing changes. Medway Council remains fully responsible for delivering its services to residents, and that will continue as normal, particularly ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our communities are cared for up to and including the final day of March 2028 before the safe and legal handover to North Kent Council. We have an ambitious agenda to be getting on with and are committed to delivering that in the coming two years. One other thing I have been repeatedly saying is the only thing losing the name Medway on the 1st April 2028 is the council. Everything else, from the Medway Mile to Medway Maritime Hospital, Citizens Advice Medway to the River Medway, MedFringe to Medway Rugby Club and so much more will continue to be Medway. Government has said it is important that community identity isn’t lost in this process, so I’m clear the five unique towns of Medway, the Hoo Peninsula of Medway, the communities like Twydall, Luton and Borstal – all part of Medway. And for the avoidance of doubt on the 1st April 2028 and forever more I will be Proud to be Medway. Of course, all of those elements will be important parts of the North Kent Council and absolutely the residents of Dartford and Gravesham and the communities within will also be proud of their communities too as they become part of North Kent Council. Finally, government was always clear that devolution was difficult to bring forward with two upper tier authorities of such population differences between Kent and Medway Councils. LGR now means that progress can be made on moving forward with devolution – all 14 existing councils support proceeding to a foundation strategic authority and with the very recent announcements from central government, the collective desire to move even further, even faster to ensure residents here in Medway and across the region of Kent & Medway can benefit the powers and resources that are going to be available to regions across England coming down from central government is strong. We can see from other parts of the country, from improvements in the skills agenda to public transport which works for everyone – devolution genuinely improves quality of life. I agree with Andy Burnham we need good growth in every postcode, and I’m very clear to help people with an ME postcode, we need those combined authority powers and resources. I have committed to holding a number of sector briefings on this latest milestone in the LGR and Devolution roadmap, and if any readers have specific questions on LGR or Devolution, I would encourage you to email [lgr@medway.gov.uk](mailto:lgr@medway.gov.uk). --- [**George Perfect**](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/)**, Conservative leader of the opposition, and ward councillor for Rainham North** I am pleased to be writing in the first edition of the *Voice of the Leaders* following the biggest announcement to local government in Kent since the conception of Medway Council in 1998\. Both the Medway Conservatives and I have made clear our support for the administration’s decision to not bring forward any legal challenge following the 4B announcement. It would not be constructive for Medway’s strongest opposition party to reject the inevitable and force extra costs on the taxpayer, a liberty our administration so often enjoys. While our preferred option remains Option 3A, we recognise that the government has now made its decision, and it is important that everyone focuses on making the new arrangements work for the people we represent. We believe a four-council model can build the foundation for a flourishing Kent, but the next twenty months of development must be keenly watched and acutely scrutinised. We particularly welcome the rejection of Option 4D, which we consistently opposed. 4D would have been disastrous for Kent, this has been clear from the outset. For the Labour and Co-operative administration, failed participation in a debate was worth the cost of £105,000 to you, the taxpayer. In a council that cannot balance a budget without relying on the support of the government through exceptional financial support, they thought it reasonable to waste £105,000\. I must question their capacity to make sound financial decisions. This is also the second occasion on which the administration has failed to secure support from its own government for a major reorganisation proposal. First, Medway was unsuccessful in its bid to join the Devolution Priority Programme, and now Option 4D has been rejected. If Medway had not embarked on this solo endeavour, costs could have been spread, opinions shared, and Medway could have proposed or supported a viable option. Looking ahead, Option 4B means Medway will join with Dartford and Gravesham to form a new North Kent Authority, serving a population of more than 528,000 residents. While this was not our first-choice model, it does provide an opportunity to create a strong North Kent capable of delivering high-quality public services and providing a stronger strategic voice for our area. In May 2027, the residents of Dartford, Gravesham and Medway will come together and vote for the North Kent Council. These new members will work together to ensure the upcoming change will not derail the lives of our residents during the implementation process. There is much of the process that is unknown, but I can assure the people of the future North Kent that there is a strong Conservative team ready to serve you. Our focus will be on ensuring that Medway thrives as part of a strong and united North Kent Authority. We hope that this is a sentiment shared by all the political groups in Kent. --- [**Michael Pearce**](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/)**, leader of the Independent Group, and ward councillor for Hoo and High Halstow** The Independent Group has mixed views on Local Government Reorganisation, and group members are free to take their own position. However, we are united in our concern about the cost and the lack of direct public consent. The proposed reorganisation across Kent is expected to cost taxpayers £130.9 million to implement. This money could instead be spent on improving the services residents rely on. It could also take more than 14 years for these costs to be recovered. The business case for Option 4B states that the new North Kent Council would begin with a £76.6 million budget gap. This could lead to service cuts, facility closures and higher council tax. The Independent Group is particularly concerned that harmonising services across the new council area could mean scrapping weekly kerbside collections of general waste and recycling. Residents in the existing Medway Council area could also face substantial council tax increases, as they currently pay among the lowest rates in Kent. Whatever people think about Local Government Reorganisation, residents are once again being asked to accept major changes to local government and public services without a direct public vote. The creation of Medway Council in 1998 caused considerable upset in Rochester, Strood and on the Hoo Peninsula. The way those changes were handled continues to contribute to dissatisfaction and a lack of trust in Medway Council today. --- [**David Finch**](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/)**, leader of the Reform Group, and ward councillor for Rochester East and Warren Wood** The decision’s been made and the maps drawn. We respect that decision. Now comes the part that really matters: making sure Option 4B delivers for Medway. Will services really improve? Will decisions be taken closer to the people they affect? Will taxpayers get a better deal for their money? Residents shouldn’t be asked to pay more to get less. If this massive undertaking ends up costing taxpayers more, they deserve much better services in return. Most people don’t care what the council’s organisation chart looks like or where the new boundaries are. They care whether the potholes outside their home get fixed, whether vulnerable people get the support they need, whether planning decisions are fair and whether the council spends their money wisely. Residents have heard promises before. This time they’ll judge the outcome, not the promise. Now comes the hard part. Everyone responsible for delivering this new authority will be judged on results. If Option 4B delivers simpler services, stronger accountability and better value for taxpayers, we’ll support it. If it creates more bureaucracy, higher costs or pushes decisions further away from local communities, we’ll say so. Reform UK believes councils exist to provide good local services, spend taxpayers’ money responsibly and be accountable to the people they serve. The people of Medway didn’t elect us to admire new maps, no matter how Labour spins this. They elected us to improve services, challenge waste and stand up for their communities. The maps may have changed, but our priorities haven’t. --- ## ****Don’t miss what’s next.** Join thousands of Medway readers receiving independent reporting on the stories shaping where they live, work and spend their time. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. *If you have a question you would like us to put to the group leaders of Medway Council, email* [*Steven*](mailto:steven@kentcurrent.news)*.* ### From Medway Metro to TBC URL: https://www.localauthority.news/from-medway-metro-to-tbc/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T16:31:09.000Z A speculative tram map looks fanciful until you discover how closely it resembles the public transport network Medway once intended to build _This post is for subscribers only._ ### “What you hear about Reform, I shouldn't fit the brief” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-you-hear-about-reform-i-shouldnt-fit-the-brief/ Last updated: 2026-08-16T06:00:02.000Z *Following the recent Cuxton, Halling and Riverside by-election, Steven met the new councillor (and new deputy leader of the Reform group), William Burvill, in the White Hart pub in Cuxton. They discussed William's work in social care, his working relationship with his fellow ward councillor, how he intends to keep things local, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/IMG_1877-1.jpg) Cllr William Burvill. **Which ward are you the councillor for?** Cuxton, Halling and Riverside. **Why that ward?** To be fair, I'm the chair of Reform in Rochester and Strood. The election came up, and the branch decided to put me forward. I've worked here before. I've got friends here and I also used to look after a disabled child here. My first ever job was at Diggerland, which is up there. **Since becoming a councillor for the ward, have you had an interaction with *\[fellow ward councillor\]* Councillor Fearn?** No, I've not heard from him, but then that doesn't shock me because neither have the residents. **Which political parties have you been a member of?** Reform. I’ve never been a member of any other party. **When did you join?** Oh gosh, I joined a few years ago. I think it was just after the general election. That was the first meeting I went to. **Was there an event or an issue that led to you joining?** No, I've always been into politics. I've never belonged to a certain party. I've always read the manifestos and seen what party would support the family and me as a person. Then I went along to the meeting. I didn't know what to expect, you hear things. It was nice. I just took the time. I've enjoyed every single moment of it. **When did you become chair?** A few months ago. I was first secretary, then deputy chair, and then chair of the branch. **The general election candidate, Daniel Dabin, wasn’t selected to be a local election candidate. Were you involved in that decision?** No, I had nothing to do with that. **Amongst Reform, what is an unpopular opinion you have? What is it you disagree with your other members about?** We don't really disagree. I'm not going to say we agree with everything because we don't. But that's normal. **Can you give me an example?** I think if anything it's probably I'm one of them people, like marmite, I'm not there to please people. Now we're not going to have the same views, and I want to be one that says let's chat and air it out. > People need to know that Reform does know local **Nationally and regionally, Reform have lost a number of high-profile by-elections. Yet you keep winning in Rochester and Strood. Why is that?** We have a very good team. I think we do it a little bit differently down here. A lot of people who work with Reform are more of a national party, and we really focus on local issues because I think that's what's important. People need to know that Reform does know local. I think that proved it. We did local, we aimed it at local, and we won. I think that's what we are focusing on now. Local issues, listening to the residents. I think that's key, and delivering something different for the people. **Can you give us an example of the local issues?** In Cuxton, I've had the bus routes, I've had parking, both at Cuxton and Halling, school parking. Crime, be that anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, and I think overall people are starting to see that their village's standards are starting to fall, and they want someone to get a grip of that and start delivering services. I've had someone talk with me this week about hedges. It might not have been very important to people, but it is important because that's upsetting them and that's my job is to find out why it is not being cut and looking into it for them. I think it's about communication, not ignoring them. > This is what I class as traditional Britain **What makes Cuxton, Halling and Riverside so interesting to you?** I think it's got a lot. It's got beautiful local pubs. If you want to come for Sunday dinner, the [White Hart](https://www.whitehartcuxton.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) do a great Sunday dinner. The community, it's very traditional. It is an odd feeling. When I campaign, people know me, and they stop, and they talk. It is a community. This is what I class as traditional Britain. It's lovely. It's a lovely countryside. People should come down here, go to the local pubs, the beautiful farm shop. **What is your official occupation?** I'm officially a special needs carer. **What does that entail?** I look after one lad who's severely disabled. I teach him his independent skills, I take him shopping. I might have to give him personal care. I try and encourage him to be as independent as possible. It's not easy. He has challenging behaviour. It's my job to make sure he has a decent life, and he's involved in the community. **You represent the party on council committees. Which committees are you on?** I'm on children and young people, and then on adult social care. Since I left MidKent College, I have always studied childcare, and I've always worked at special needs schools with complex children. I've done that for 15-plus years. The children are severely disabled, life-limited conditions, complex children of Medway. I've done that all my life. I worked at a complex special needs school. I think I've got good experience, and at the moment, with all the pressure on that, the party thought it would be great for me to go and do that. Then adult social care is what I do now. I look after disabled adults. Again, with that experience, you have a good understanding of what services are needed and how people struggle. **Can you give us an example of a Reform policy in that area?** Well, everyone's heard Richard Tice. Everyone's heard that. I think at the moment they're coming up to a committee and they're talking about the complexity, and I think that's the key part here. There is complexity, and we need to prioritise. The complex children definitely need it. We need to prioritise services that need it first and then others after. I'm not saying that children don't need it, but we do have to look at children that are non-verbal, challenging behaviours. Medical conditions need to be prioritised first because obviously we know the budget's not going to stretch to everything. We do need to prioritise services first. That'll be our job to look at that and scrutinise it. The key part is to scrutinise, not just stop it, but to scrutinise and deliver a better service. **You've been made deputy leader of the group. What does that entail?** I've only just been given it, so I'm still learning the job. We are a small party. It's three of us. You've got your chair and your deputy. I think it's about supporting each other. Supporting the party and actually listening to the residents and delivering. That's my thing as a deputy. I know it's all titles, and some people love having a title. People keep calling me councillor. It's William. It's about doing the job. My job is to support [Dave](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/) *\[Finch, Reform group leader\],* and he's doing really well to support the residents. ****Keep reading** William Burvill is only a few weeks into life as a Medway councillor, but there is plenty more to ask. Register for free to continue the interview, including his thoughts on Robbie Lammas leaving Reform, his encounters with the Conservatives, local government reorganisation and whether Cuxton and Halling risk being overlooked in the new North Kent authority. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Government misplaces nearly 1,000 Medway residents URL: https://www.localauthority.news/government-misplaces-nearly-1-000-medway-residents/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T16:18:19.000Z **The government has revised last year’s population estimate and, in the process, removed 964 Medway residents who were apparently never here in the first place. We look at what the latest figures actually tell us about how Medway is changing, including why births are driving most of its population growth, why more people are leaving for elsewhere in the UK than arriving, and how international migration fits into the picture. Elsewhere, Medway Council seeks government help with a £43m adult social care overspend, Kent Police pay up for a poor licensing objection, and you can pay £114 to study the Pentagon Centre.* ### Government misplaces nearly 1,000 Medway residents The government has misplaced 964 Medway residents. Nobody appears to have gone anywhere. The [Office for National Statistics](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationestimatesforenglandandwales/mid2025?ref=localauthority.news) has instead revised its estimate of how many people lived in Medway last year. It previously put the population in mid 2024 at 292,655\. It now believes the figure was 291,691 after [incorporating improved international migration data](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationestimatesforenglandandwales/mid2025?ref=localauthority.news#revisions-to-population-data). That makes it the second largest downward revision among the south east’s 64 local authority districts by headcount. With the correction made, Medway’s current estimated population stands at 292,697. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/image-4-1.png) That is an increase of 1,006 during the year to mid 2025, representing growth of 0.34%. The south east grew by 0.55% during the same period, so Medway is still getting bigger, just not particularly quickly. The figures do not provide one especially tidy explanation for why. Medway had 3,088 births and 2,447 deaths during the year. That added 641 people to the population before anyone moved into or out of the area. More people left Medway for elsewhere in the UK than came in the opposite direction. There were 15,878 arrivals from other parts of the country and 16,899 departures, producing a net domestic loss of 1,021 residents. International migration more than offset that decline. An estimated 3,515 people arrived in Medway from another country and 2,208 left, producing a net increase of 1,307. The ONS defines international migration as people [moving between countries for at least a year](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationestimatesforenglandandwales/mid2025?ref=localauthority.news#definitions). It is not a measure of nationality and can include British people returning to or leaving the country. Combined, domestic and international migration added 286 people to Medway’s population. A further 79 came from changes involving armed forces personnel and other statistical adjustments. Add those 286 people to the 641 gained through births and deaths, along with the remaining adjustments, and the overall increase comes to 1,006. Neither the idea that everyone is leaving nor that migration is driving Medway’s growth quite survives contact with the figures. Births accounted for almost two-thirds of the increase. That reflects a Medway population that remains younger than much of the south east. The median Medway resident is 39.1 years old, compared with 42.2 across the region. There are an estimated 60,143 children under 16 in Medway and 49,047 residents aged 65 or over. Children therefore outnumber older residents by more than 11,000\. Across the south east, the position is reversed, with people aged 65 or over outnumbering children. The difference is also reflected in the balance between births and deaths. Medway recorded 641 more births than deaths during the year, while the south east as a whole recorded 559 more deaths than births. The ONS [warns that local population figures are subject to statistical uncertainty](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/populationestimatesforenglandandwales/mid2025?ref=localauthority.news#how-to-use-these-statistics) and will be revised again as its data and methods improve. Removing almost 1,000 residents from last year’s estimate rather makes the point for it. The figures show Medway still growing, just not particularly quickly. Births are doing most of the work, while international arrivals are offsetting the fact that more residents are moving elsewhere in the UK than coming here. The 964 residents were never lost from Medway. They were lost from a spreadsheet, which is what happens when an estimate is treated as an exact figure right up until it is replaced by another one. ### Catch Up The latest national GP Patient Survey contains some good news: satisfaction with Medway’s surgeries is improving. But dig beneath the average, and the differences are extraordinary. Five Rainham practices have satisfaction scores above 90%, while three surgeries elsewhere fail to reach 50%. We went through the results for all 32 practices to see where patients are happiest, where getting an appointment remains a struggle, and which surgeries are moving in the right direction. [Medway’s GP services are improving. Depending on where you liveWe dig into the latest patient survey to see which Medway GP practices are improving and where patients are still struggling![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--e66a5ec4-389a-4fc5-9d11-5133243842f2.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbc12bc85-62b7-4997-b5a3-5f92df2b95a9_1920x1050-721168a0-d0d8-4efe-9198-9256d09191ec.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-gp-services-are-improving-depending-on-where-you-live/) For Rachel Lowrie, Medway is less a collection of performance tables and more something to write songs about. The singer-songwriter behind the Ashen Keys and South Shore spoke to us about the new Chatham Skies album, the unlikely origins of the Ashen Keys and the River Medway itself, which became such a source of comfort that talking to it began to feel entirely natural. [“I will talk to the river”What Steven asked Rachel Lowrie, songwriter-singer with the Ashen Keys and South Shore![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--c06872c6-3790-4b29-a7a5-7c008cb17125.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/742581423_122261961212761161_2272075486422414100_n-ca76b3dc-2f09-45ad-a39e-3aa9060a56d0.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-will-talk-to-the-river/) ### In brief 📱 Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan has [started highlighting](https://www.instagram.com/p/DbwCzWeOLaL?ref=localauthority.news) the racist bullshit she receives on social media. 💷 Medway Council has [requested support](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yvrx3vv3do?ref=localauthority.news) with adult social care from the government after running up an overspend of nearly £43m. 👮 Kent Police have had to [pay £13,000](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/kent-police-forced-to-pay-10k-to-shopowner-over-failed-stor-343663/?ref=localauthority.news) to Medway Council and a Gillingham shopowner for a lazy licence objection. 🧂 Haus of Condiments is [now open](https://www.instagram.com/p/DcA8kf4Ah2W/?ref=localauthority.news) on Rochester High Street. 🛍️ Property firm Revo are offering '[study tours](https://revocommunity.org/event/coming-soon-pentagon-chatham-study-tour/?ref=localauthority.news)' of the Pentagon in Chatham, with tickets costing up to £114. 🪧 Some vaults in Chatham are [up for sale](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91965543?ref=localauthority.news) for £50,000 if you'd like to start construction of your supervillain lair. 🔶 Shout out to the Medway Liberal Democrats, who breathlessly sent out a press release this morning angry about Southern Water's hosepipe ban. The only problem? Southern Water doesn't have one in place at the moment. Funnily enough, our sister publication, the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), [published a piece this morning](https://www.kentcurrent.news/kents-drought-and-hosepipe-bans-expose-a-messy-water-map/?ref=localauthority.news) on how messy Kent's water map is, meaning that restrictions can vary from town to town. [Kent’s drought and hosepipe bans expose a messy water mapFive drinking water suppliers, disconnected supply areas and decades of mergers leave neighbouring Kent households subject to different hosepipe rules![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/KC-NEW-LOGO-SQUARE-0927c4a2-4602-4856-8ec5-3071782e55a5.png)Kent CurrentEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/KC_drought-1-06acb43e-4de3-4227-90b4-5df40f9d2529.jpg)](https://www.kentcurrent.news/kents-drought-and-hosepipe-bans-expose-a-messy-water-map/?ref=localauthority.news) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Licensing Hearing Panel](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6600&ref=localauthority.news) will decide the fate of a virtual golf centre at Chatham Waters. - **Wednesday:** [Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=131&MId=6637&ref=localauthority.news) will meet to discuss NHS services, mental health services, emergency case, and safety issues at Medway NHS Foundation Trust. - **Thursday:** [Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=585&MId=6666&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss the budget situation and local government reorganisation. **New planning applications:** - Scoping opinion for [360 homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TJK3BLKN04M00&ref=localauthority.news) north of Rede Court Road in Strood. - Conversion of a shop in Station Road, Rainham to a [pharmacy](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TJEP3WKNMJL00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news). - Increase the number of Greenfields boot fairs in Upnor from [14 to 21](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TIZROWKN02X00&ref=localauthority.news). ### Property of the week This four-bedroom Grade II-listed terrace on Ordnance Terrace in Chatham is on the market for offers over £450,000, complete with a self-contained basement flat and a reported former resident by the name of Charles Dickens. Quite what Dickens would make of returning to find his old home decorated with Live, Laugh, Love-adjacent quotations across the walls is sadly lost to history, although presumably he could get several chapters out of it. Beyond the literary connection, it is a substantial period house with tall windows, high ceilings, and plenty of original character, while the separate one-bedroom flat downstairs adds a useful extra dimension. Dickens-related property is hardly unusual around Rochester and Chatham, but this one at least appears to have a rather more direct claim than most. [Check out this 4 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom terraced house for sale in Ordnance Terrace, Chatham, ME4 for £450,000\. Marketed by haart, Strood![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-7a05f617-b93c-4416-b12c-1ee0c55a1205.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/acd906546beee7cd1fa9c179d939b595-511ca810-7b07-4064-b379-5e8ba1166f08.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91843935?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎮 15 - 16 Aug - [**Medway Gaming Festival**](https://fixr.co/event/medway-gaming-festival-tickets-440397336?ref=localauthority.news) // Gaming halls, VR, robots, and lots more. Medway Park, Gillingham. Tickets from £20. 🥕 Sun 16 Aug - [**Rochester Farmers' Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Stalls selling fresh produce, hot food, drinks, and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🏳️‍⚧️ Wed 19 Aug - [**Not Born Tip to Toe**](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/whatson/medway-pride-fringe-not-born-tip-to-toe-an-evening-with-medway-prides-hilary-cooke-friends/?ref=localauthority.news) // An evening with Hilary Cooke of Medway Pride and friends, sharing stories and challenging anti-trans myths. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### Medway’s GP services are improving. Depending on where you live URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-gp-services-are-improving-depending-on-where-you-live/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T18:50:43.000Z **Patients' experience of GP services across Medway is improving, but the average hides enormous differences between individual surgeries. We analysed the latest national patient survey to find out which practices patients rate most highly, where getting an appointment remains a struggle, and why living only a few miles apart can mean receiving a very different service.* ### Medway’s GP services are improving. Depending on where you live On the face of it, patients’ experience of GP services in Medway is improving. Across the area’s 32 GP practices, 64.6% of respondents to this year’s national GP Patient Survey described their overall experience as good. That is up from 61.9% last year. Unfortunately, the improvement conceals rather more than it reveals. At five surgeries in Rainham, more than nine in ten respondents reported a good overall experience. At three practices elsewhere in Medway, fewer than half said the same. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbc12bc85-62b7-4997-b5a3-5f92df2b95a9_1920x1050-1.jpg) Patients tended to rate their experience with GPs better in Rainham than anywhere else. Maidstone Road Rainham Surgery recorded Medway’s highest score, with 94.8% rating their experience positively. At Thorndike Partnership in Rochester, the figure was 42.7%. The practices are only a few miles apart. On the evidence of the survey, they might as well belong to different health systems. Medway’s combined result also remains well behind the rest of England. Nationally, 76.7% of patients reported a good overall experience of their GP practice, leaving Medway 12 percentage points below the country as a whole. The annual [GP Patient Survey](https://www.gp-patient.co.uk/latest-survey/results?ref=localauthority.news) is carried out for NHS England and asks patients about contacting their surgery, obtaining appointments and what happens once they receive care. Some 3,393 responses were received from patients registered with Medway practices during fieldwork between January and April. The results present a remarkably uneven picture of general practice across the towns. The five highest overall experience scores all came from Rainham practices. Maidstone Road Rainham was narrowly ahead on 94.8%, followed by Pump Lane Surgery on 94.7%, Thames Avenue Surgery on 93.8%, Orchard Family Practice on 92.8% and Waltham Road Medical Centre on 91.2%. The Glebe Family Practice in Gillingham came next on 89.9%, followed by Riverside Medical Practice in Halling on 88.3%. The bottom of the table is more geographically dispersed. Thorndike Partnership in Rochester recorded Medway’s lowest result on 42.7%. Reach Healthcare, which operates across Gillingham, Lordswood and Walderslade, was on 45.0%, while Woodlands Family Practice in Gillingham recorded 46.1%. ****How did your GP practice perform?** Register for free to see the results for every Medway practice, where patients report the greatest problems getting through, and which surgeries have improved or fallen back since last year. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### “I will talk to the river” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-will-talk-to-the-river/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T06:00:09.000Z *Following the successful release of the first* [*South Shore*](https://www.facebook.com/p/South-Shore-of-the-Medway-61572834842299/) *single,* [*Ballad of Rats Bay*](https://southshoreofthemedway.bandcamp.com/track/ballad-of-rats-bay?ref=localauthority.news)*, Medwayish are now supporting their crowdfunder, where the band will sing your name, for their first album,* [*Chatham Skies*](https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/south-shores-1st-album?ref=localauthority.news)*. Steven met singer-songwriter Rachel Lowrie at her home to discuss how the band came together, what an Ashen Key is, and what her relationship is with the River Medway.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/image-2.png) Rachel Lowrie. Also pictured: bandmates. Photo: Nikki Price. **What bands are you a member of?** At the moment, the [Ashen Keys](https://www.theashenkeys.com/?ref=localauthority.news) and [South Shore](https://www.facebook.com/p/South-Shore-of-the-Medway-61572834842299/). I do my solo stuff, just me and my ukulele, and there is a [little EP on Bandcamp](https://rachellowrie.bandcamp.com/album/home-town?ref=localauthority.news) under my name. I did some singing with [Stuart Turner](https://www.localauthority.news/i-cant-really-write-music-that-goes/) on Scow,. and with These Guilty Men on The Quiet One and with The Senior Service on A Little More Time. **What instruments do you play?** Singing is my main instrument. I play guitar. I say ‘play'. It's loosely self-taught, both guitar and ukulele. I had saxophone lessons, and I got to grade three on the flute. I've had a go on a cornet and try to learn the bass now as well. **All of the projects you mentioned, with the exception of the Ashen Keys, are part of the Stuart Turner Venn diagram. How did you first come to work with Stuart?** I love that, the Stuart Turner Venn diagram. That was through Roy Smith. He used to put a night on with different lineups, and then there was a bit of an open mic bit called Seasonally Affected. I did talk my way in, or I got invited to do a joint thing with Stuart? It worked. It was really fun. Stuart's an amazing person to work with, or, because it's not work, to play with. He’s so positive, and I know that I owe a lot to him for the experiences that I've had. **What can you tell us about the new album Chatham Skies?** I'm really incredibly proud. It is nine songs written by me, about my Medway stories, and when we perform the songs live, it's like going on a journey through Medway. Walk us through the streets. The tenth song is a song that [Nick *\[Rice\]*](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-been-able-to-do-some-really-cool-things-because-i-play-bass/) wrote. Nick had most of this song already, and then we had a bit of a songwriting session together and finished it. It felt so lovely, and it's different. Nick has such a good indie pop sensibility that adds in so nicely. Then the 11th song is Dance Me to the End of Love, which is only going to be on the digital release because it won't fit on the vinyl. That's the song that I've sung for years, in various bits and bobs. But we did it in December at The Ship when we were supporting the [*\[Singing\]* Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/) and various people came up to Stuart and said, “You've got to record that.” So we did, and I really love it. The arrangements are very much done by the band. I write the lyrics and the melody and the chords, but the arrangements are very much band arrangements, which is fun. Dark Way was really exciting. I wrote that on the ukulele and Stuart totally rearranged that. Now it starts with bass and him playing like this [EBow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBow?ref=localauthority.news) line on guitar. It's fucking wild. That's why it’s interesting working with people in a band, because I would never have come up with that at all. [**Ballad of Rats Bay**](https://southshoreofthemedway.bandcamp.com/track/ballad-of-rats-bay?ref=localauthority.news) **has become quite anthemic.** Yes! [Ballad of Rats Bay, by South Shoretrack by South Shore![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/a3134569277_3-35c2433f-9aac-48a5-8cd3-3a1c36863072.jpg)South ShoreBandcamp New & Notable Jul 16, 2026![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/a3134569277_5-540fc54a-1764-490f-b3fe-44263e902c4a.jpg)](https://southshoreofthemedway.bandcamp.com/track/ballad-of-rats-bay?ref=localauthority.news) **Why was that selected as your first release?** Hannah in the Ashen Keys. I played it solo at an Ashen Keys gig, and she said, “If you ever do a solo project, that would be your single.” I played it before South Shore played it, and it definitely felt like it had weight to it. And then out of the songs on the album, we just all agreed that that one, in my memory, it feels very much a collective decision that had a weight, had a certain energy, that felt like it wanted to go out front first. > The river has the potential to bring in wisdom and knowledge from distant lands **When you present the song, you talk about the whole idea of the song is about you having a conversation with the river. Where did that come from?** I remember really distinctly in 2012, I was in a period of my life where if I went to the river, the river would comfort me. My kids were quite small, three and six. And, you know, it's fucking… It's hard. Single parenting, it's hard. It's amazing, and it's hard, especially when I was having moments of feeling quite restless and unsettled and me and the kids would go for walks quite often. We'd really often go to riverside. I remember for myself walking down by Wouldham and down by Borstal and just really having a sense for... I want to say the personhood of the river. It became very automatic for me to have a conversation with the river. That was not a stretch. And I will talk to the river. I really like that part of Sun Pier and round there. Maybe it's because we were doing the River Sessions there, but just being there had a real magnetic weight to it for me. And I felt almost like the layers of history of the river has, how much has come in on the river. The river, she flows. She flows so far. It's so easy to get a real narrow perspective and think, 'Oh my God, this is all it is.' But the river has the potential to bring in wisdom and knowledge from distant lands. So it makes sense to ask her, to have a conversation with them when things feel like they're not working or they're really difficult. **Has faith played a part in your life?** That's a very interesting question. So, yes, it has. My parents were both… I would describe growing up as very much fundamentalist Christianity, and from when I was three to when I was eight, I went to a quote-unquote private Christian school, called The Cedars, which was unique, and I only realised that I wasn't going to hell in my 20s. That that was even a possibility. It was so there, and I had a lot of curious experiences with faith, and I have a lot of respect for people of faith. My uncle and aunt are Salvation Army people. For me, there was a lot of difficult stuff about faith. My dad was bipolar, and I was told that the devil came to visit my dad at night. Faith is really challenging, interesting, but also wonderful. **When you're writing a song, other than if it's about Medway, what defines whether it's an Ashen Keys song or a South Shore Song?** No, because one of the songs that we're doing in the Ashen Keys is about St. Mary's Church in Higham. One of the songs, Hold My Bones, I did that in South Shore, and then it clearly worked as an Ashen Keys song. I think the songs that have gone to the South Shore album felt like a real cohesive collection. But yeah, it's weird. I'll take a song to the Ashen Keys, and I'll say, “Do you want to do it?” or “What do you think?” because Vicky will write songs and each one is an absolute blinder. She definitely goes for quality. Whereas I'm often writing and sometimes it goes somewhere and sometimes it doesn't. > It's interesting to have been seen at your worst and then something good to come out of that **How did the Ashen Keys come to be?** Well, that was really fun. I met Vicky in 2021 at Chatham Reach Festival, and she was compering, and I did a little spot and over lockdown I was so happy in my garden that I really thought I might not do music again. But then I did this gig, and it was really nice, and I met Vicky, and we just got on straight away. Interestingly, and I don't know if you want to put this in or not, but I had a proper nervous breakdown in February 2022\. I went to the studio (Ranscombe), and I was beside myself, couldn't function, crying, couldn't do the thing. They were all there, Nick, Stuart, Vicky and [Jim *\[Riley\]*](https://www.localauthority.news/digital-hasnt-surpassed-analogue/), and now I'm in a band... It's interesting to have been seen at your worst and then something good to come out of that. Vicky and I were just going to have a bit of a jam, the two of us. Around that time, we started putting on the River Sessions, which came from the indie folk sessions that Ani Graves and I did pre-covid. We were hanging out, spending more time together. The Flowing, the band with Dave Pickett, or that iteration that included Hannah and Vicky, came to a stop in the summer of ‘22, and then we picked up as a three. Vicky and I played Chatham Reach in September of '22, just as a duo, and we were trying to lure Hannah in. We were called ELP, Ellerby, Lowrie, Price. Because we really wanted to be a collective, free, each person an equal part. Which is non-hierarchical, which is what we work and aspire to. It's lovely. We ended up being called the Ashen Keys, because there's already ELP and that was ridiculous. But it was quite fun. **What is an Ashen Key?** An Ashen Key is an ash tree seed. They hang and look like a bunch of keys, and we came across the name. We decided at a Man of Kent gig we were going to give people homework and help us choose a name. We put post-its out on the table, and we had three options. Two of the options came from an encyclopaedia of Kentish dialects. Another one was Anthony Pig. An Anthony Pig is the beloved runt of a litter. We loved that term of endearment. The other one was the name of one of the Medway barges. We asked people to vote at the gig. It was overwhelmingly the Ashen Keys. There’s plenty more to come from Rachel, including growing up in Medway, the day job that puts her voice expertise to rather practical use, her verdict on whether Medway music has actually improved, and some admirably concise songwriting advice. Register for free to continue reading the full interview. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Nucleus building to be sold following Rochester fire URL: https://www.localauthority.news/nucleus-building-to-be-sold-following-rochester-fire/ Last updated: 2026-08-14T16:54:20.000Z **The building best known as the home of Café Nucleus is going up for sale after remaining closed since a fire in April, raising questions about the future of both the restaurant and Nucleus Arts in Rochester. We look at what has happened to the Grade II-listed former Conservancy Building, why its history makes the latest sale particularly interesting, and what its loss could mean for a town that has already seen several permanent arts spaces disappear.* ### Nucleus building to be sold following Rochester fire The Rochester building occupied principally by [Café Nucleus](https://cafenucleus.uk/welcome-to-cafe-nucleus-rochester/?ref=localauthority.news) is to be sold after a fire left it closed for more than three months. The Halpern Conservancy Building has been shut since a fire in its kitchen on 30 April. [The Halpern Charitable Foundation](https://www.nucleusarts.com/about-us?ref=localauthority.news), which owns the Grade II-listed property, says it will place it on the market once necessary restoration work has been completed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/468504196_18021682127543348_6246138215239057006_n-1.jpg) The Conservancy Building in Rochester. For most visitors, the building was Café Nucleus. The café and restaurant occupied the majority of the property and had become one of the better places to eat in Rochester, drawing customers to that end of the High Street independently of the arts activity elsewhere in the building. Café Nucleus operates from the building as a tenant and the foundation’s announcement does not say what, if any, arrangements are being made for it. The property was also the permanent Rochester base of Nucleus Arts. Alongside the restaurant were artists’ studios, the Lightbox digital classroom and the Halpern Pop, a small gallery used for temporary exhibitions. Artists working from the building have been displaced, while exhibitions booked for the gallery have been affected. Nucleus Arts staff have also been unable to use the property. Some activities have moved elsewhere. Digital Teen Art and Digital Art sessions are now being held at the Nucleus Arts Centre in Chatham. The [Medway Art Box](https://www.nucleusarts.com/medwayartbox?ref=localauthority.news), housed in the former telephone box beside the Conservancy Building, remains open because it sits outside the property. The foundation has not given a timetable for the restoration work or sale. It has also not announced whether Nucleus Arts will seek another permanent base in Rochester. The Halpern Pop was modest in size, but its closure matters when placed alongside the gradual disappearance of other dedicated places to see and buy art in the town. Nucleus Arts previously operated a shop and gallery on the High Street before concentrating its Rochester activity at the Conservancy Building. Francis Iles closed its physical gallery and shop in 2023, after more than 60 years in business. Medway Council has since closed Rochester Art Gallery. The gallery shared Eastgate House with the town’s Visitor Information Centre, which the council shut in response to its difficult financial position. Closing the information centre meant the gallery closed with it. Rochester still has artists, temporary exhibitions and places selling local work. What it has less of is permanent space devoted to exhibiting it. The history of the Conservancy Building gives the latest sale additional significance. The property was completed in 1909 as the headquarters of the Medway Conservancy Board, which oversaw navigation on the river. Designed by George Edward Bond, it includes a large bowed window which originally lit the boardroom and a brick tower at the rear. It later became part of the neighbouring Guildhall Museum. The building held exhibitions, educational facilities and parts of the council’s collection until Medway Council declared it surplus to requirements in 2018. That decision was controversial. An online petition opposing the sale attracted hundreds of signatures, while objections were raised by the Friends of the Guildhall Museums and the City of Rochester Society. The Friends told a council scrutiny meeting that more than 7,000 people visited the Conservancy section of the museum each year. It described the building as an important cultural hub and said it contained the museum’s only step-free accessible learning space, which was used by community groups. Opponents argued that the sale was taking place without a wider plan for Rochester’s cultural and heritage buildings. They also questioned what would happen once the money raised by disposing of the property had been spent. Council officers said the museum collections were more important than the particular building in which they were displayed and could be moved elsewhere. They argued that selling the property would release money for work at the Corn Exchange and the remainder of the Guildhall Museum. Officers also said its listed status would protect the building. That protection applied to its historic fabric rather than continued public access. An attempt to send the decision back to the council’s Cabinet was defeated, and the sale went ahead. Under the Halpern Charitable Foundation, the building returned to public use in a different form. Most of it became Café Nucleus, with the small gallery, studios and digital teaching space operating alongside the restaurant. That combination gave the arts activity a visibility it might not otherwise have had. Most customers came through the doors to eat or drink, but the same building provided somewhere for artists to work, exhibit and hold classes. The prospective sale consequently has two distinct effects. Rochester has lost a substantial independent restaurant, while Nucleus Arts is losing the collection of smaller spaces which made up its permanent presence in the town. The immediate circumstances are different from those surrounding the council’s decision in 2018\. The current closure followed a fire, and the property is now owned by an independent charity. There is no indication yet of who might buy it or how it could be used. The result is nevertheless familiar. A prominent Rochester building used by the public is being sold, while the town is left with one fewer permanent home for its artists. ### Catch Up From politics to football to one particularly unpleasant smell, this week took us in some unexpected directions. If you missed any of these stories, they're well worth catching up on. First, the football. Gillingham have rebuilt heavily after last season’s cull, bringing in a string of new faces ahead of the new campaign. But our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins [still has questions](https://www.localauthority.news/new-season-familiar-questions/), particularly about where the goals are coming from, whether the squad has enough experience and why one of the new kits makes him look like a tube of toothpaste. [New season, familiar questionsGillingham have rebuilt their squad, but concerns over goals, experience and injuries remain as the opening games approach![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--b593b3ad-1999-422e-bada-740283b9c0a4.webp)Local AuthorityBen Hopkins![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_20260731_203605-1-6dbc98dd-4746-4e36-8954-f0c0d247735e.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/new-season-familiar-questions/) Then there is Vince Maple, who would like you to know that he is technically unemployed and, by his own assessment, “quite boring.” [Part two of our interview](https://www.localauthority.news/im-quite-boring/) with Medway Council’s leader gets into his record in office, voter turnout, brown envelopes, conspiracy theories, Chatham High Street and what happens as Medway Council enters its final stretch. [“I’m quite boring”What Steven asked Vince Maple in the second of our two-part interview with the Leader of Medway Council![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--b264e8ea-6616-4098-86a4-dc2e63fcbb33.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-31-at-16.08.08-2-1-dddbf824-bb18-422a-9c64-33f38ddb9f47.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/im-quite-boring/) And finally, we tackled the question that seemed to dominate Medway this week: [why does it smell like crap](https://www.localauthority.news/why-does-medway-smell-like-crap/)? We investigated the annual mystery pong, why it appears at roughly the same time every summer and why the answer is rather more agricultural than apocalyptic. [Why does Medway smell like crap?The annual mystery pong returns, Medway’s finances are already under pressure, and the former St John Fisher School is finally coming down![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--63b0c603-7b33-4080-a125-03048f874dbd.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/AdobeStock_529515792-1-916e8736-4949-4e67-8408-7d124e72b929.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/why-does-medway-smell-like-crap/) ### In brief 🚒 Ten fire engines are currently fighting a [wildfire on the Isle of Grain](https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/incident/medway/close-windows-and-doors-isle-grain-rochester?ref=localauthority.news), with nearby residents asked to keep their windows and doors closed. 🧑‍🚒 So it was probably for the best that Kent Fire Authority [blocked the proposed closure](https://www.kentcurrent.news/kents-fire-cuts-defeated-as-politicians-fight-for-credit/?ref=localauthority.news) of Cliffe fire station among others across Kent this week. 🏥 Staff at Medway Maritime Hospital are not in love with the idea of [paying £15 per day to park](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2dp10gpndo?ref=localauthority.news). 🚑 Medway is also set to receive a [new mental health unit](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/they-will-be-a-lifeline-for-so-many-new-emergency-mental-343597/?ref=localauthority.news) that staff won't be able to afford to park at. 🐁 There are once again [mice in the Odeon](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/cinema-goers-flee-spider-man-screening-after-mice-spotted-r-343576/?ref=localauthority.news). 🚧 The main bridge on and off St Mary's Island [will be closed 24-28 August](https://www.cmtrust.co.uk/hms-chatham-bridge-closure/?ref=localauthority.news). Fortunately (or unfortunately), residents won't be trapped as there's now a second bridge by the marina. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Wednesday:** [Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=378&MId=6655&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss adoptions, fostering, and changes to ADHD and autism assessments. - **Thursday:** [Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=437&MId=6631&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss the Wigmore traveller site, nuisance vehicles, the budget, and more. **New planning applications:** - Screening opinion for [1,300 home mixed-use development](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TJ8NKDKN02X00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) south of Halling. - [New signage](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TJALWOKNK1G00&ref=localauthority.news) for Asda in Chatham. ### Property of the week If you've ever sat in Cafenetics on Chatham High Street and wondered what on earth was upstairs, here's your answer. The café itself is included in the £750,000 asking price, along with what is effectively an entire building behind and above it, with six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a self-contained annex and around 4,500 sq ft of space. It's less a house than a sizeable slice of Chatham High Street, offering the chance to own both a local business and the maze of rooms hidden beyond its shopfront. [Check out this 6 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove6 bedroom terraced house for sale in High Street, Chatham, ME4 for £750,000\. Marketed by haart, Strood![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-84b75aa7-25d3-497c-86ae-2b3ba2d2b508.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/470c137f77dc9e9b66cf4d12da387c55-9741cf27-7fef-4184-9268-af857fa0a542.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91654716?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎉 Sat 8 Aug - [**Medway Culture Club Carnival**](https://www.medwaycultureclub.co.uk/free-events?ref=localauthority.news) // Family fun day celebrating diversity in our community. Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham. Free. 🎸 Sat 8 Aug - [**Little Storping in the Swuff present Hassle Olympics**](https://www.ticketsource.com/mlt/little-storping-in-the-swuff-present-hassle-olympics/e-zpdavo?ref=localauthority.news) // Acclaimed Medway band plays show to mark release of second album. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £10. 🎸 Sat 8 Aug - [**KimboFest**](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1572613359728254) // Day of music in aid of the Alzheimer's Society headlined by the Pastel Waves. Poco Loco, Chatham. Recommended donation £5. 🎸 Tue 11 Aug - [**Hurry + US Highball**](https://wegottickets.com/f/20069?ref=localauthority.news) // Philadelphia indie band supported by Scottish indie folkers. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously.** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### New season, familiar questions URL: https://www.localauthority.news/new-season-familiar-questions/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T14:00:26.000Z *Terrible news, complains our Gillingham FC columnist Ben Hopkins: the football season is almost back. As the countdown to kick-off approaches, here are his thoughts on what to expect.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/image-1-1.png) Gillingham playing away at Ebbsfleet. Photo: Ben Hopkins. **New faces** After the savage curtain call cull that ended last season, it was inevitable that there would be an influx of new signings. The arrivals of Kadeem Harris and James Brophy were both encouraging: players who are not only well proven at this level, but that also provide fresh options for the wide positions which were a particular weakness last season. Another impressive signing was goalkeeper Ollie Wright on loan from Southampton, who won two of Accrington’s Player of the Year awards last season - albeit a move tempered by him missing pre-season with injury. Defender Liam Gordon seems like a commanding presence too, having moved down from Scottish Premiership side Motherwell. Yanked out of the box marked gamble is striker Will Goodwin. Goals have been an issue for Gills for years - no-one has hit double figures since 2021-22! Two years ago, he was rated high enough for Oxford to spend a reported £400,000 on him, but his career appears to have stagnated since. His time on loan at Colchester received positive appraisals from fans despite few goals and, more importantly, he looks as if he’ll be a suitable partner for Ronan Hale should a two-striker strategy be deployed more regularly this season. Gareth Ainsworth is familiar with another new boy, Nick Freeman, having worked with him at Wycombe. That said, the central midfield positions are pretty congested, his versatility seems to cover the exact same positions as Robbie McKenzie, and he wasn’t a regular last season at fellow strugglers Shrewsbury. My guess is that he’ll be shunted between midfield, right-back and the bench for much of the season. A bit like Robbie McKenzie. Can Gillingham’s young recruits step up, and has the club done enough to fix its familiar problems? ****Register for free** to keep reading Ben’s verdict on the rebuild, the goalkeeper shortage and a kit that makes him look like a tube of toothpaste. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Why does Medway smell like crap? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/why-does-medway-smell-like-crap/ Last updated: 2026-08-12T10:29:42.000Z **Three stories from around Medway today, as we investigate the mystery smell drifting across the towns, examine a growing £27m budget gap at Medway Council, and end at the former St John Fisher School, where demolition has finally begun after years of fires.* ### Why does Medway smell like crap? A familiar farmyard fragrance has been drifting through the towns, leaving residents asking one slightly awkward question: Why does Medway smell like that? A powerful and distinctly excremental aroma has been drifting through parts of Medway, prompting residents from Gillingham to Rochester and our villages to reach for their phones, and possibly close their windows. Facebook groups have been littered with posts about the mystery pong. Descriptions range from the diplomatic to the unprintable, but the prevailing diagnosis is manure. Residents may well be on the right scent. (We're so sorry.) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/08/AdobeStock_529515792.jpeg) Medway Council has received reports about the smell, although the number is consistent with previous years and is not considered unusual. Nor is there necessarily one enormous cloud hanging over the towns, as odours reported in different neighbourhoods may have come from separate locations. Smells can travel considerable distances in the right weather, while Medway contains rather more countryside than anyone crawling along the A2 during rush hour might reasonably suspect. Agricultural work taking place across its rural areas is thought likely to be behind the annual assault on local nostrils. Manure, slurry and other fertilisers are commonly spread on farmland at this time of year. The recent spell of hot and dry weather may also have made the resulting smells more noticeable and helped carry them further. The good news for anyone currently keeping their windows firmly shut is that the aroma should be temporary. It is likely to fade as work on the fields progresses and the weather changes. So why does this happen at roughly the same time every summer? There is no official muck-spreading season, and farmers do not collectively choose a day on which to offend the nostrils of Medway. The smell instead follows a familiar farming timetable. Late summer brings the harvest of crops including barley, oilseed rape and wheat. Once they have been cut, farmers have clear fields which machinery can cross before the soil is cultivated and the next crop planted. That creates a useful opportunity to apply manure and other organic fertilisers. These materials return nutrients and organic matter to the soil, support future crops and can reduce the amount of manufactured fertiliser required. In other words, what smells appalling through an open bedroom window may be doing an excellent job in a nearby field. Exactly what residents are detecting with such confidence is harder to establish. The word “muck” covers a surprisingly broad and largely unappealing menu. It can mean traditional farmyard manure, liquid slurry or poultry litter, the last of which can be particularly pungent. It may also refer to digestate, the nutrient-rich material left after food, crops or manure have been broken down in an anaerobic digester. Treated sewage sludge, commonly known as biosolids, can also legally be recycled for use on farmland. Several of these substances release similar combinations of ammonia, sulphur compounds and other gases, meaning a smell confidently identified as sewage may have come from something else entirely. Medway might feel overwhelmingly urban, but working farmland is rarely far away. The Hoo Peninsula contains the largest continuous stretch of agricultural land in the area, while fields can also be found around Rainham, Capstone and the Medway Valley, as well as between Strood and the A289. An older agricultural study commissioned by Medway Council estimated that about 52% of the area consisted of agricultural habitat. That leaves plenty of places from which an unfortunately positioned breeze can deliver the full countryside experience directly into people’s homes. Weather plays an important part in deciding who receives that experience. Warm conditions can make freshly spread material smell stronger, while wind direction determines whose garden, washing line or barbecue benefits from the regional bouquet. Still air can leave smells lingering close to the ground. People are also more likely to notice them in summer, when windows are open, and they are attempting to enjoy the outdoors. There is no indication that anyone has done anything wrong. Agricultural businesses are expected to follow the relevant regulations and government guidance, while some activities are also controlled through Environment Agency permits. Reports received by the council have not suggested the odour is severe or persistent enough to amount to a statutory nuisance. It has also received no reports of manure being stockpiled for lengthy periods without an agricultural purpose. For now, there is no single culprit at whom Medway can point an accusing finger. Several farms and contractors may simply be carrying out similar work during the same brief post-harvest window. So the answer to the mystery is considerably less dramatic than the smell. It is August, the surrounding countryside is busy, and the wind is pointing in Medway’s direction from some particularly busy farms. Until either the farming work or the weather moves on, residents may simply have to breathe through their mouths. ## ****Finding this useful?** Stay on top of what’s happening in Medway with independent local journalism delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Medway already facing a £27m budget gap Adult social care has driven Medway Council towards its largest recalled opening overspend, raising the prospect of another request for government support. Six months after Medway Council [set a balanced budget for 2026/27](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-budget-holds-the-line-for-another-year/), it is already forecasting an overspend of nearly £27m. The council’s [first revenue monitoring report of the financial year](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=90802&ref=localauthority.news) identifies £42.8m of additional pressure across its services. Officers have proposed actions intended to reduce that figure by £16.1m, but even if every one of them succeeds, the authority would still be £26.7m over budget. It is believed to be the largest opening forecast overspend Medway has recorded. Early monitoring figures do tend to start high before being brought down as the year progresses. Spending restrictions are introduced, vacancies are held open, and services find ways to delay or avoid costs. The council is confident the latest figure will also fall. Even so, £26.7m is quite a starting point, particularly as it already assumes more than £16m of corrective action will work. ****Local government finance is rarely simple.** We try to make it make sense. Register for a free **Local Authority* account to keep reading this analysis of Medway's growing budget pressures, along with more reporting on the decisions shaping the towns. Registration is free, takes less than a minute, and helps support independent journalism for Medway. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### “I'm quite boring” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/im-quite-boring/ Last updated: 2026-08-02T06:00:50.000Z *Last week featured our specific conversation with Councillor Vince Maple about local government reorganisation and the new Labour Prime Minister. This week is part two, where we find out how much the unemployed councillor has made through brown envelopes and the sale of council property, the state of Chatham High Street, and how much Medway Labour have spied upon Local Authority Towers.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/WhatsApp-Image-2026-07-31-at-16.08.08-1.jpeg) Cllr Vince Maple. **What is your official occupation?** My official occupation is, I guess, technically, nothing, because I'm not employed by anybody. **Are you not an employee of the council?** No councillor is an employee, which is why we get an allowance and not a salary. The allowance is treated as a salary. I'm taxed on it. I've always paid all of my taxes in my entire life. I've always been on PAYE. I guess therefore, technically I've been unemployed for over a decade. I think I have been filling my time with a few bits and pieces though. I am leader of the best unitary authority in the region of Kent at the time of speaking. There will be four great councils in the future. I also happen to be the chair of [Labour in Local and Regional Governments](https://labour.org.uk/resources/the-llrg-executive/?ref=localauthority.news). That's the national voice within the party for elected mayors, police and crime commissioners, and of course, councillors. I've also recently taken on a new role, which is chair of [Key Cities](https://keycities.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which is exciting, being the voice for 22 different cities across the country, particularly in England and Wales. That's a cross-party organisation. I also serve on effectively the European LGA *\[Local Government Association\]* as well. I've done that for a few years. I'm not employed, but I have a boss, and that boss is the people of Medway. > As many people have said, Medway is a city in all but name **To clarify, how are you the chair of Key Cities? What is your city-based criteria?** As many people have said, Medway is a city in all but name. I'm not having a dispute with the Advertising Standards Agency, unlike my predecessors, but Medway has been a member of that organisation for some time. If we were a city, we'd be the 17th biggest city in the country. We function as a city. We've applied for city status many times. There are a handful of places that are cities in all but name, and we're one of them. **What does your portfolio cover?** I've got responsibility for strategic overview of the council. I've also got responsibility for finance. That happens to have been the same as my predecessor. That is not the norm in most councils. The normal is you'd have a separate person, but for the last nearly a decade now, my predecessor and I both had both portfolios. It does happen in other places. It's not unique to Medway. I've also got responsibility for democracy, for procurement, for governance, democratic services and also welfare, particularly things like the [Crisis and Resilience Fund](https://www.medway.gov.uk/CrisisAndResilienceFund?ref=localauthority.news). **As leader you get to decide who has what portfolio. Could you have decided, ‘I'm the leader, I'm going to sit here and wave?’** Yes, and that happens. Some councils have council leaders who effectively have just got the strategic overview for the council. If that works for them, that's perfectly fine. I think it's more difficult in a unitary, because there's so much for us to do, particularly these days with things like public health. It's more challenging. By law we're not allowed to have a cabinet bigger than ten. From that perspective, with everything we're now doing, that's what we have. And most councils, of all political persuasions, have the maximum ten on their cabinet, including leader. **What would you like to be listed as your greatest achievement as leader of Medway Council?** I guess it will depend on the individual. For me, some of it is around opening up democracy. I think that's important to me. I think anyone who takes an interest can say that Medway, both the place and the council, has got more accessible. It has more transparency than it had in April 2023\. James Williams Healthy Living Centre, blimey, that's a project. There'd be loads of reasons why it wouldn't have succeeded. I wish we didn't have to name it after James *\[Williams, Medway’s Director of Public Health, who died aged 57\].* His death was one of the biggest losses in our time, and we all still think about James a lot. We talk about trying to reduce health inequalities, front and centre, that's happening. Whether it is the retention of the Green Flags, whether it is the Ofsted ‘Good’ rating for children's services for the first time ever. All of those things will be important to different people. I guess it will ultimately be up to 292,000 people to decide. > You inspire people both by your track record, but also what you're going to offer in the future **You have the democracy brief. When we look at the turnout for local elections, could you have done more to get Medway invested in local politics?** This is not a Medway issue by itself. I'd rather lose an election with a 90% turnout. From a democratic perspective, that gives that further legitimacy, but we are where we are. We don't have compulsory voting. I'm not completely convinced by that. I think people can legitimately say, 'My democratic process is not going to vote.' I think you inspire people both by your track record, but also what you're going to offer in the future. Our track record as an administration is just over three years old. When people vote for North Kent, of course, they're not going to be voting for Dartford or Gravesham or Medway, but part of their thought process will be on how the council, and of KCC for colleagues outside of Medway, have performed, as well as what's being offered by the relevant political parties. **Chatham Central has low voter turnout. Does that mean you've not been particularly inspiring?** Well, who knows? You'd have to ask the 12,000 people. I think you always try and encourage people to go out and vote. One of the things you will see, particularly from the 2023 results, is that where elections are closer, there is a higher turnout. Chatham Central and Brompton, or indeed Hempstead and Wigmore, have returned the same flavour of councillor effectively since Medway Council was formed. Maybe that's part of it, but ultimately I guess the people who are not inspired to go and put a cross in the box will tell you the reasons why that is. ****You've reached the halfway point of our conversation with Vince Maple.** Register for free to continue reading as we discuss conspiracy theories, brown envelopes, the future of Chatham High Street, Medway's final months as a council, and much more. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Medway tried to evict Wigmore travellers. Now it wants to make their site permanent URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-tried-to-evict-wigmore-travellers-now-it-wants-to-make-their-site-permanent/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T17:01:50.000Z **Just over a year after Medway Council went to court arguing that travellers should leave the former park and ride site in Wigmore, it is now proposing to borrow up to £2.7m to turn it into a permanent council-run facility. We examine why the council's position has changed, alongside our weekly round-up of Medway news, council business, planning, property and events.* ### Medway tried to evict Wigmore travellers. Now it wants to make their site permanent Medway Council is proposing to borrow up to £2.7 million to turn a traveller site in Wigmore into a permanent council-run facility, little more than a [year after it went to court](https://www.localauthority.news/travellers-win-right-to-remain-on/) to remove the families living there. The former park and ride site on Maidstone Road would be rebuilt with eight pitches accommodating up to ten touring caravans, alongside permanent water, sewerage and electricity connections, utility blocks, landscaping and a communal or play area. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/image-9-1.png) The current traveller site in Wigmore. A future second phase could add another six pitches on neighbouring land. It represents quite the change in direction for Medway Council, which previously insisted the former car park was unsuitable for permanent occupation and pursued possession proceedings against the families. The site has not moved, but the council’s view of what should happen there very much has. [Cabinet will be asked on Tuesday](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=90735&ref=localauthority.news) to back the scheme and recommend that Full Council adds £2.684 million to Medway’s capital programme, initially funded through prudential borrowing. The figure is described as a worst-case estimate for the first phase and assumes no external funding. Officers hope to secure money from Homes England, although no grant has been agreed and the papers do not estimate how much might be available. The possible six-pitch expansion is also not included in the figure. Councillors are effectively being asked to approve the principle of extending the site later, with the bill for that particular ambition left for another day. The proposed first phase would include site clearance, groundworks, roads and hardstanding, utility buildings, lighting, fire-safety measures and noise barriers. Renewable technology including solar panels and heat pumps would also be explored. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-31-at-16.02.36.png) Medway Council proposals for the traveller site in Wigmore. The site is currently occupied by the same Romani Gypsy family group which moved there in July 2023 under a three-month agreement granted because of urgent welfare concerns. When that agreement expired in October 2023, the families remained, and Medway Council began proceedings to recover the land. 15 adults and 14 children were living there by the time the case reached Canterbury County Court. Several residents had serious physical or mental health conditions, while children from the site had enrolled at nearby schools. The council argued that it needed possession of the land and maintained that the former car park was not suitable for permanent occupation. It pointed in particular to the absence of mains water and sanitation. The court rejected the possession claim in May last year, finding that removing the families would amount to a disproportionate interference with their rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The judge found that the council had not demonstrated any urgent need for the land, which had sat unused for years, or provided a viable alternative for the residents. The court was also critical of Medway’s failure to properly explore relatively straightforward improvements. These included installing a standpipe or providing temporary facilities to address the lack of water and sanitation. Responding to the judgment at the time, Cllr [Louwella Prenter](https://www.localauthority.news/a-yimby-doesnt-mean-youre-ruining/), Medway Council’s portfolio holder for housing and homelessness, said granting use of the site had only ever been intended as a temporary measure. “The car park is not deemed to be suitable as a long-term site for permanent occupation,” she said. Cllr Prenter is now one of the two portfolio holders presenting the permanent site proposal to Cabinet. The council can reasonably argue that there is a difference between accepting the site in its current state and spending millions of pounds to make it compliant. It has no permanent water, drainage or electricity infrastructure, no defined pitches and no formal licensing arrangements. The council says this prevents it from controlling capacity, enforcing standards or ensuring safe distances between caravans. Residents currently pay £24 per caravan each week towards rubbish collection and toilet facilities, but the council receives no rent. A permanent site would allow it to issue licences, introduce a fee structure and formally manage who occupies the land. Even so, the contrast with the council’s previous position is difficult to miss. Having spent time and public money arguing that the former car park was unsuitable and should be returned to its control, Medway now describes it as “suitable in principle” for permanent development. A feasibility study points to the site’s access to Maidstone Road, proximity to local facilities, relatively flat ground and existing hardstanding as reasons it can be developed. These features were presumably present during the possession case. The families also secured planning permission on appeal in June last year for the land to be used as a traveller site accommodating up to ten touring caravans. Any substantial rebuilding or expansion would require a new planning application. The change is not solely the result of the failed court action. Medway is also under considerable pressure to show government inspectors that its emerging Local Plan makes adequate provision for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. The council’s own assessment identified a need for 56 Gypsy and Traveller pitches and eight Travelling Showpeople plots between 2022 and 2041. Recent planning permissions have provided 26 pitches, leaving a remaining requirement for 30, alongside all eight Travelling Showpeople plots. Local Plan inspectors have questioned Medway’s failure to identify enough specific, deliverable sites. They have also raised concerns about its reliance on expanding existing provision rather than formally allocating new land. Council officers now warn that failing to develop Wigmore could put progress and adoption of the entire Local Plan at risk. Formalising a site that already has residents and planning permission therefore offers Medway one of its clearest routes towards satisfying the inspectors. What began as a temporary welfare arrangement has become an increasingly important part of the council’s long-term planning strategy. The project would not happen quickly. Preparing a planning application, appointing designers and running the procurement process is expected to take between 12 and 18 months before construction could begin. The current residents would then need to leave the site while work takes place. The Cabinet papers do not say where they would be accommodated, how long construction might last or how much the temporary move would cost. Those details are particularly significant given that the earlier court case turned partly on the lack of suitable alternative accommodation. The council’s financial modelling, including anticipated income and running costs, is contained in a confidential appendix. The public papers therefore do not reveal what residents might eventually pay, whether fees would cover the site’s operating costs or what the borrowing would cost Medway over its lifetime. Leaving the site in its present condition is estimated to cost approximately £50,000 each year. Officers have also decided that no public consultation is required for the Wigmore development because, according to the report, “the site is not near a residential area.” This is likely to be one of the more contested sentences in the papers, particularly after local residents became involved in the court proceedings. Cabinet is not being asked merely to install the water supply that was discussed during the possession case. It is being asked to begin transforming an informal encampment into a designed, licensed and potentially much larger council facility. Whether that is a pragmatic response to a court defeat, overdue provision for families who have now established themselves in Wigmore, a solution to Medway’s Local Plan problems or some combination of all three will be for councillors to explain. ***Local Authority** ****is now on WhatsApp.** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for **Local Authority*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ### Catch Up Elsewhere at Local Authority, [the July Culture Review](https://www.localauthority.news/the-july-culture-review/) took us from The Libertines in Rochester Cathedral to a safari on the Hoo Peninsula, via railway arch beer, Turkish grills and the search for Medway’s second best lamb chops. From Medway’s culture to its uncertain political future, we also looked at how [Medway is preparing for life after Medway Council](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-prepares-for-life-after-medway-council/). Gun Wharf is already being readied for a new North Kent authority, despite nobody knowing who will run it or quite what North Kent is supposed to be. That looming reorganisation formed part of [our latest interview with council leader Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-got-more-to-offer/). He discusses whether North Kent risks becoming Greater Medway, his intention to stand for the new authority and why, after nearly two decades as a councillor, he believes he still has more to offer. ### In brief 🏥 An independent review of Medway Maritime Hospital found a '[nothing to see](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg93w4gnn4o?ref=localauthority.news)' attitude toward patient safety concerns. 🧑‍💻 IT issues once again meant GPs [couldn't access records](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/gps-unable-to-access-records-as-it-issues-hit-kent-surgeries-343237/?ref=localauthority.news) properly this week. 🚌 Children can [ride buses for free](https://www.medway.gov.uk/summerbuses?ref=localauthority.news) throughout August on all main Medway bus operators. 🚧 The Brook car park in Chatham will [close on 6 September](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2118/brook%5Fcar%5Fpark%5Fto%5Fclose%5Fahead%5Fof%5Fnew%5Fhomes%5Fplan?ref=localauthority.news) ahead of its potential redevelopment into housing. ☕ Starbucks inside Chatham rail station is [set to close](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/starbucks-at-town-s-mainline-railway-station-to-close-343292/?ref=localauthority.news). 🎬 Spider-Man: Brand New Day [filmed multiple scenes](https://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/filmed-in-kent/2026/07/spider-man-brand-new-day-2026/?ref=localauthority.news) in locations across Chatham Historic Dockyard. 📚 A lovely [review of Store 104](https://www.thebookshoparoundthecorner.co.uk/2026/07/memories-of-past-joy-for-present.html?ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Licensing Hearing Panel](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6599&ref=localauthority.news) will debate an extended licence for the Cricketers in Gillingham, which local residents are rather unhappy about. - **Tuesday:** [Cabinet](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6549&ref=localauthority.news) will meet to discuss finances, the Wigmore traveller site, climate change, ICT upgrades, and lots more. - **Wednesday:** [Councillor Conduct Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=404&MId=6696&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss two complaints against councillors, but we can't tell you anything about them because these things happen behind closed doors. - **Thursday:** [Licensing and Safety Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=139&MId=6620&ref=localauthority.news) will talk about, well, licensing. **New planning applications:** - Replacement of existing outdoor tennis courts at former Avenue Tennis with [outdoor pool, extended hospitality, padel courts, and additional hospitality](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TIVPSBKNIP300&ref=localauthority.news). - Conversion of GP surgery on Bryant Street, Chatham into [9 studio flats](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TIXOCKKN02X00&ref=localauthority.news). - Installations of [electric vehicle chargers](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TIW980KNJ1600&ref=localauthority.news) at Morrisons in Strood. - HMO in [Pretoria Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TIVK8AKNILO00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), Gillingham. ### Property of the week Rochester's former St Bartholomew's Hospital is now one of the town's most distinctive places to live. This one-bedroom duplex makes the most of the conversion, spreading more than 800sqft across two floors beneath vaulted beams, with sweeping views across the Medway to the castle and cathedral from both the apartment and its communal terraces. At offers over £220,000, it also comes with a 294-year lease and peppercorn ground rent. The only obvious compromise is the lack of parking, but opportunities to live in one of Rochester's best-known historic buildings don't come along every week. [Check out this 1 bedroom apartment for sale on Rightmove1 bedroom apartment for sale in St, Bartholomews Place, New Road, Rochester, Kent. ME1 for £220,000\. Marketed by Moxy Property Consultants, Rochester![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-16b9d4ff-c35a-4a45-baa3-7f9ddaee2d79.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/94ef1ac13c265ca1ebdca42f14b9d66a-0bfd3313-6844-4334-bf07-c8da03308d07.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/91439430?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week ⛳ Until 8 Aug - [**Adventure Golf**](https://www.facebook.com/TheRochesterBridgeTrust/posts/pfbid0n9Z59yGUinQkqQvthLrw8udSApTBQNPg7XAnSLqsDujfsH95oNFnuupXq5CMXgYl) // Bridge-themed indoor course pitches up in Chatham. St John's, Chatham. Free. ✈️ Sat 1 Aug - [**Rochester Airport Family Fun Day and Air Display**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rochester-airport-family-fun-day-and-air-display-tickets-1991233320464?ref=localauthority.news) // Air displays, fun fair, food and drink, and live entertainment. Rochester Airport. Tickets £17.50. ⛪ 1 - 29 Aug - [**Art on the Delta**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/art-on-the-delta?ref=localauthority.news) // Medway's creative scene takes over the cathedral with contemporary art, activities, and more. Rochester Cathedral. Free. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### The July Culture Review URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-july-culture-review/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T10:06:02.000Z *Once a month, we bring together reviews of Medway’s cultural highlights in a single round-up, produced exclusively for our paid supporters. This month, our team of intrepid cultural reviewers present music, festivals, books, food, and drink from across our towns...* --- **The Libertines** *Rochester Castle Gardens, 4 July* Someone once said, somewhere in the dusty annals of history, that each and every summer of your life should be bookmarked by at least one good memory. Paddling pools, holiday romances, even finding that long-forgotten electric fan in the back of the airing cupboard - it’s all good. It’s highly likely that a Rochester Castle park full of Libertines fans found their defining summer 2026 neural memento on a divine July evening. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/TheLibertines-RochesterCastle-04-July-2026-92-1.jpg) The Libertines. Photo: Rickee Palmer. The fact that the return to Medway of the noughties premier rock ‘n’ roll rapscallion collective was on American Independence Day was one which should raise a wry smile. Very much like their cherished idols of another time, The Clash, Messrs Doherty, Barat, Hassall, and Powell are, and always have been, sooooooo bored with the USA. Such fierce pride in all things Albion was always deeply ingrained into their DNA, as perfectly displayed by the projected backdrop behind the band as they took the stage at 8.45pm: Their Margate HQ, The Albion Rooms. This is the band after all that gave us the lyric “There’s fewer more distressing sights than that of an Englishman in a baseball cap,” perfectly encapsulating the Libertines longstanding appeal: clipped, crisp, rhythmically punchy. Apt terms also to describe their performance in Rochester. Although the initial quadrant of their 1 hour 15 minute set was taken up largely with newer material, they proudly and bombastically paid homage to their past, with considerable aplomb. A particularly rousing moment was when Pete Doherty strapped on an acoustic guitar, and we were serenaded with a blissful, Beatles-esque ‘Music When The Lights Go Out,’ from their eponymous second album. The way that Pete and Carl’s voices interlocked in haunting harmony, just at the point that the sky turned red with the setting sun, was a moment of universally diffused sublime serenity. And all of us felt it very, very deeply. The British Invasion-meets-Doo Wop influenced ‘What Katie Did’ was also a rendition underscoring the fact that this was absolutely no “Three chords and RAA! RAA! RAA!” act. The Libertines always had, at their nucleus, possession of that holiest of grails in music: genuine songwriting and performance genius. The final 15 minutes or so of their set was what the world was waiting for – ‘Up the Bracket’, ‘What A Waster’, ‘Run Run Run’, and set closer – what else? – ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun.’ If you expected a frenzied, shambolic performance, seeped in the chaotic narcotica of days long gone by, you would have been sorely disappointed. But if what one required of the evening was an utterly first-class, tight, well-rehearsed presentation of some of the most blood-heating and passionate, witty songs of the last thirty years, which left one skipping the cobbles of Rochester afterwards, hand-in-hand with one’s significant other, humming the catchy, Reeperbahny bassline from ‘Can’t Stand Me Now,’ while awaiting an Uber carriage back down to Earth - mission well and truly accomplished. - *Simon Gray* --- **Chatham & District Model Railway Show** *Chatham Historic Dockyard, 18 Jul* This is the second year the [Chatham & District Model Railway Club](https://www.chatham-mrc.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) have held a show inside what feels like the post-industrial cathedral of the covered slipway car park of Chatham Historic Dockyard. It is the second time I have taken my teenage train enthusiast son to the event, and for the true believer this does have a church-like quality. The congregation gathers from far and wide, for a welcoming mixture of trade show, craft fair, repair shop and art gallery. Aisles are set up row upon row, bearing travelling layouts, whole worlds in miniature, interspersed with sales stalls offering new and used model rolling stock across a variety of scales and gauges, scenery, buildings (flat-packed and otherwise) and accessories, including at least three stalls selling 00 gauge Count Binface’s. The show opened at 10am, and there was a queue for the opening and not just for the pick of the used train bargains. There is a real sense of community and the people have gathered to be in amongst it, across more of an age range than the Dockyard’s resident NAAFI tea wagon would suggest, although people who used steam power for practicality rather than nostalgia are in attendance. In keeping the magic in life, they are so lucky. Last year, feeling rather more timid, my son restricted himself to shopping. But this year he found that if he talked to the assembled stallholders he was able to get a long broken locomotive repaired and a new engine airbrushed into a distressed finish while he watched. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/20260718_113118-1.jpg) Count Binface at the Chatham & District Model Railway Show. From my more spectator-like position, it was the layouts, the models of life as seen from the passing windows of miniature rolling stock that were the real joy here. Model clubs from round the country packed up hills and dales, snow scenes and forest, allotments and factories, illustrations of children’s stories and even cyberpunk dystopias, all with accompanying populations and rolling stock across 0, 00 and TT scales and reassembled them in the sun-dappled dockyard. Last year there was more emphasis on the more portable TT (tabletop) scale layouts, but this year there was an impressive array of large scale 0 gauge tracksides. My personal favourites were the harbour scene from Bristol and the Abbey Light Railway in Leeds, complete with woodland and ruins, but all were impressive in the extreme. A surprisingly broad and welcoming church I will be happy to attend again next year, as the show is already booked for a return to the Dockyard on the 17 and 18 July 2027\. - *Stuart Turner* --- **WHOOP Heritage Festival** *Hoo Peninsula, 17 May* Now in its second year, mid-May’s [WHOOP Heritage Festival](https://whoop.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) was a sublime showcase of how to celebrate the rich natural, historical and cultural heritage woven across the Hoo Peninsula. Spread over multiple sites, this annual community event, produced by Medway-based cultural organisation LV21 in collaboration with local community partners, brings together engaging stories, imaginative people and inspiring places. An eclectic programme stretched from Higham in the west to the Isle of Grain in the east, and from Hoo St Werburgh in the south to Allhallows in the north, offering something for every curious wanderer. WHOOP forms part of the Whose Hoo partnership project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, reflecting the vision that heritage really is for everyone: a powerful catalyst for imagination ignition, community connection and pride in place. Full disclosure: I was working the Saturday at Hoo Village Hall, full of artists and community groups sharing their knowledge about birdlife. Fortunately, no feathers flew at this family-friendly event, but much fun was had in the arts and crafts, walks and talks and immersive installations. You could even throw some shapes at the silent disco, light-up headphones and all. I was disappointed not to make it to all the sites, in particular the Grain Coast Crafty Alpaca Farm where visitors were spoiled for choice with The Lonely Avocet interactive puppet show and other live performances, artistic alchemy in action and the chance to weave the residents’ soft wool into a personal souvenir of an engaging day. For me, however, the best was left to last as, on the Sunday evening, I joined the Hoo safari in search of the great Hooley, a mythical bird said to bestow great fortune on those lucky enough to encounter it in the wild. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/The-Hoo-Safari-audience.jpeg) WHOOP Heritage Festival safari. Before the sun set, there was no time to waste in hunting down the elusive Hooley. On arrival, we were efficiently greeted by Major Murmuration, who kitted us out with safari hats, camouflage binoculars and bird-inspired aliases to make sure we looked the part and took our assignment seriously. For the duration of this top secret mission, I would only answer to Duck Norris. Other memorable monikers included Cleopecktra, Justin Beaker and, naturally, it would be remiss of Medway me not to mention Charles Chickens. Tinged with a tally-ho and 40s vibe, our ragtag gang of intrepid explorers bundled onto minibuses and followed clues to three secret destinations. Along the way, we learned fascinating facts about the Peninsula, played bird bingo (kazoos provided to signify success) and listened to Jane Pitt’s gorgeous soundscape. I genuinely didn’t know that Hoo had been mentioned in the Domesday Book, that woodpeckers’ beaks hammer at speeds of up to 20 times a second or that the peninsula is home to the largest heronry in the UK. Every day really is a school day! It’s fair to say that we experienced the peninsula at its finest, all the while being treated to highly entertaining immersive theatre and delicious delicacies at each of the three beautiful stops. First up was the gorgeous Grain Coastal Path, offering spectacular views across the estuary, retro ice-cream (lemon curd, thank you very much) and the first of Play On Words Theatre’s spiffing performances. After uncovering key coordinates, we hotfooted it to the fabulous Fenn Bell, which provided the backdrop for a rather dramatic vignette involving a wooden horse, some elongated intestines and a subsequent miraculous recovery, all accompanied by a beautiful cacophony of birdsong and some tasty chips and dips to keep our pecker up. En route to our last location, we learnt a rhythmic clap designed to help lure the Hooley out of hiding. It was also the moment to write heartfelt wishes on the back of the luggage tag which bore our bird names. Eternal Lake Nature Reserve provided a stunning venue for the Hooley’s reveal, an iridescent coloured creature soaring high above us, entrancing and enchanting all who looked on. Afterwards, we channelled our inner Charleston flapper and, in a moving denouement, our written wishes were tossed into the firepit, their embers dancing dizzily into the warm night sky. It really was a safari like no other, and I take my (safari) hat off to everyone involved as I can only imagine how much hard work went on behind the scenes to ensure we had such a hoot during the seamless search for the great Hooley. After such a wondrous weekend, there were whoops of delight all round to hear next year’s dates have already been announced. Needless to say, 15 and 16 May are firmly in the diary. - *Anne Marie Jordan* ****Don’t wander off just yet.** We’ve still got alpacas, crocheted jellyfish, railway arch beer, Medway’s second-best lamb chops and a local debut novel ahead. Register for free to read the rest. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Medway prepares for life after Medway Council URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-prepares-for-life-after-medway-council/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T15:47:22.000Z **Medway Council will disappear in 2028, but its systems, headquarters and political influence may prove harder to abolish. We examine how Chatham is positioning itself at the centre of the new North Kent authority, and the uncertain contest to control it...* ### Medway prepares for life after Medway Council North Kent does not yet have a permanent name, an elected leader or much in the way of a shared civic identity. It may, however, already have a council chamber. Medway Council is spending more than £22 million repairing and refurbishing Gun Wharf in Chatham. [The work began with the discovery of troublesome concrete in the roof](https://www.localauthority.news/the-plaque-that-couldnt-survive-medway/), but has since developed into a comprehensive overhaul of the building, including new offices, public spaces and a council chamber capable of accommodating 100 members. [The official paperwork says](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=87624&ref=localauthority.news) the chamber will help make Gun Wharf suitable as a council headquarters up to and beyond local government reorganisation. The proposed North Kent authority is currently expected to have 81 councillors, leaving room for 19 more than it needs. Subtle, it is not. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/gun-wharf-la-hero-styled.png) Gun Wharf 1.0. The headquarters decision has not formally been made. Neither has the permanent name of the authority. But Medway is already making a fairly substantial claim about where it believes the centre of gravity should be. This is the curious position Medway now finds itself in. Its preferred model for reorganising Kent was rejected by the government and Medway Council will cease to exist in April 2028\. Yet it could emerge from the process as the political, administrative and civic centre of an authority considerably larger than the one it currently runs. [The government announced](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-future-is-north-kent/) on 16 July that Medway will be combined with Dartford and Gravesham as part of a wider replacement of Kent’s existing councils with four new unitary authorities. Elections to shadow councils are [expected on 6 May next year](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200894/about%5Flocal%5Fgovernment%5Freorganisation%5Fin%5Fkent%5Fand%5Fmedway?ref=localauthority.news), with the new councils assuming responsibility for services on 1 April 2028. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/Kent_LGR_map_option_4b.jpg) The government’s chosen Option 4B places Medway with Dartford and Gravesham in the new North Kent authority. North Kent is the geographic label used in the business case rather than a guaranteed permanent name. This is probably just as well, because naming the place may be one of the easier arguments still to come. [The proposed electoral arrangements](https://kentcouncilleaders.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/large/Kent-Local-Government-Reorganisation-Business-Case-Option-4B.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) would create an 81 councillor authority. Medway’s 24 wards would each return two councillors, producing 48 members from this side of the boundary. Dartford and Gravesham would share the remaining 33. A majority would require 41 seats. Councillors elected from Medway would therefore constitute a majority of the entire authority if they ever chose to act together. That possibility does require Medway politicians to agree with one another, which is where the tidy arithmetic begins to encounter local politics. Even so, this is no merger of equals on the numbers. Nearly 60% of the councillors would come from Medway. It has the largest population of the three areas, an existing unitary administration and, if events proceed as Medway plainly hopes, the headquarters as well. The strange thing is that none of the councils being combined actually chose this precise arrangement. The successful proposal, known as Option 4B, was submitted by Dover, Swale and Thanet councils. None will be part of the new North Kent authority they helped design. [Medway backed a different four-unitary model](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-shrinks-its-democracy/), which would have kept most of Medway with most of Swale and included portions of Dartford and Gravesham. [Dartford and Gravesham supported a five-authority arrangement](https://www.localauthority.news/what-medways-licensing-decisions-say-about-its-priorities/) that would have placed Strood, the Hoo Peninsula, Cuxton, and Halling with them while leaving the rest of Medway in a separate Mid Kent council. Kent County Council wanted one enormous authority for almost the entire county, presumably on the basis that if local government reorganisation was going to be unpopular, it might as well be spectacular. Ministers instead selected the option proposed by three councils outside the future North authority. Medway, Dartford and Gravesham are now required to implement a structure none of them submitted. The government’s consultation does not suggest the winning arrangement inspired an outbreak of popular enthusiasm either. [There were 3,038 responses](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a5f456a929d28e5cd7604aa/Kent%5Fand%5FMedway%5Fsummary%5Fand%5Fanalysis%5Fof%5Fconsultation%5Fresponses.pdf?ref=localauthority.news). Across the scored questions, the three-unitary proposal attracted 48% positive responses and 40% negative ones. Under that model, North Kent would have included Swale alongside Dartford, Gravesham and Medway. The selected four-unitary proposal received 32% positive responses and 50% negative ones. It still performed better than some of the alternatives, but this was not exactly a tidal wave of public affection. These figures require some care. The consultation was self-selecting, respondents could assess more than one proposal, and it was not a referendum. Nevertheless, it offers little evidence that residents were clamouring for the particular North Kent they are now getting. More awkwardly, [the identity assessment prepared as part of the reorganisation process](https://democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s131452/Appendix%203%20-%203.%20Democracy%20and%20Local%20Identity%20assessment%20report%20and%20appendices.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) concluded that the three-unitary model would be the most reflective of local identity. That model kept Swale and Medway together and placed the wider Thames Estuary area within one northern authority. The assessment found important connections between Medway and Swale. Swale’s most common destination for residents working outside the borough was Medway, while emergency hospital admissions also showed a strong relationship between the two areas. Sittingbourne and Sheppey already sit within the same health partnership as Medway. The four-unitary models broke that connection. The assessment warned that some combinations could hinder the construction of local identity and concluded that four authorities would be less representative of how people travel for work, education and healthcare. Having spent years linking Medway and Swale through planning, health and economic language, local government has now turned Medway around and pointed it west. ****North Kent has been decided. Who gets to control it is another matter.** Register for a free **Local Authority* account to continue reading our analysis of how Medway could shape the new council, which party is best placed to run it, and why Gun Wharf may already be the headquarters of an authority that does not yet exist. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### “I've got more to offer” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/ive-got-more-to-offer/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T11:27:22.000Z *Vince Maple has been the leader of Medway Council since 2023, and we have interviewed him in the* [*run-up to the 2023 local elections*](https://www.localauthority.news/the-man-who-wants-to-run-medway/)*, having* [*won the local elections*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-believe-in-socialist-values-some/)*, after* [*100 days of running the council*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-could-easily-fill-4-or-5-days-worth/) *and at the* [*halfway point of this administration*](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/)*. Having agreed to an interview in the final year of this administration, this was delayed whilst we waited for the LGR announcement.* *Finally meeting up at the St George's Centre in Chatham, a mixture of new local government, a new Labour leader and Vince's inability to give a short answer means we present this interview in two parts. This first part focuses on local government reorganisation and the change in National Labour leadership.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/vincemaple-1.jpg) Vince Maple. **In politics, life moves fast.** Blimey, we're testing that at the moment. **When we booked this interview, we had one Prime Minister, and now we've got another.** That's true. Sir Keir Starmer has left the role. > I could deal with no more changes for the foreseeable future, please **Where do you think history will rate him in the history of Labour Prime Ministers?** Obviously, readers will know, I was the parliamentary candidate in 2019\. If you'd said to me at that point that in the middle of 2026 we would have a Labour government, three Labour MPs for Medway and the Labour-run council, I would have questioned your judgement. But we've got all of those things, and I think a huge part of that is down to Keir Starmer, and his ability to get the Labour Party back into a position of being ready for government, both locally and nationally, under his leadership. Clearly, he took the decision to resign. I wanted him to stay. I think he did a good job, but he's taken that decision, and I'm very supportive of Andy Burnham. There's this joke around: Burnham goes everywhere politically. He's loyal to the Labour Party leader, as am I, and I think that's a good thing. Nobody votes for Labour because they're having a huge internal row with itself. I've been a councillor since May 2007\. I've had everybody from Tony Blair up to, and including, Andy Burnham. I could deal with no more changes for the foreseeable future, please, but I have supported every one of those leaders. I will be on the record saying I support the leader, because that's what you should do. You should back your leader. **Do you back your leader when he says we need electoral form and proportional representation?** Well, I don't necessarily agree with him on that. It depends when you're looking at that in the round. One of the things I want to see is bigger changes to the House of Lords. I don't think we've been brave enough there. We should get on with that. I think most people who take an interest in politics say, “How is this still a thing in 2026?” This is where I do give some ground on PR. I'd have a system not too dissimilar to the European elections, if you remember them, where you had a regional basis and elected representatives. Some people say with the changes to local government you're not getting that far away from where actually that may be a strong part of that. I think having a PR type system for the second chamber and retaining first past the post for the primary chamber is my preferred option. But as I've said before, I know in the Labour Party that is a minority view. The majority of my friends and colleagues take a different view, and that may well be where we end up as a country, depending on how much of a priority electoral reform is. **The new Prime Minister's first statement, and you've had a good couple of hours to think about this now, is ending rough sleeping. Which member of the cabinet would that fall under?** That would be [Louwella *\[Prenter\]*](https://www.localauthority.news/a-yimby-doesnt-mean-youre-ruining/). At 4.30 tomorrow morning, I'm going out with the rough sleeping team from Medway. I have to say that was already in the diary, but it's helpful timing. What it does show is that Andy Burnham, not least because of his time as mayor, has got his finger on the pulse of some quite granular issues, because there's not a simple solution to fix that. From that perspective, the ability to have that conversation and see what's happening on the ground will help inform me further. I'm expecting we'll hear stuff probably over the next few weeks around some priorities. People know that we've taken a priority to say we want to move away from paying ridiculous amounts of taxpayers' funding for not very good services with temporary accommodation. We're already in that place. I have to say, Louwella Prenter is a passionate supporter of council housing and tackling housing inefficiency, which we have at the moment because we have large levels of people having to use temporary accommodation. ****Medway Council is entering its final chapter, but the decisions being made now will shape what replaces it.** Register for free to continue reading Vince Maple on whether North Kent risks becoming 'Greater Medway', his plans to stand for the new authority, the future of council tax and debt, and his strained relationship with Kent County Council. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Reform wins Medway by-election and takes its first seat from the Tories URL: https://www.localauthority.news/reform-wins-medway-by-election-and-takes-its-first-seat-from-the-tories/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T15:12:02.000Z **Reform has won its first council seat from the Conservatives in Medway, taking Cuxton, Halling & Riverside with a first-time candidate and reinforcing the party's growing presence on the authority. We were at the count as the result came in and examine what it tells us about local politics, alongside our catch up on this week's reporting, council business, planning, events, and more.* ### Reform’s Medway advance reaches the Conservatives Reform has gained a seat from the Conservatives in Cuxton, Halling & Riverside after first-time candidate William Burvill won Thursday’s by-election by 112 votes. Burvill received 838 votes, defeating Conservative Richard Thorne on 726\. Turnout was 37.5%, up from 30.9% when the ward was first contested at the 2023 local elections. The by-election was called following the [death of Conservative councillor Phil Filmer](https://www.localauthority.news/long-serving-medway-councillor-phil-filmer-dies/). Burvill will now represent the ward alongside its remaining Conservative councillor, Matt Fearn. Burvill, a private carer who has also worked with children with special needs in Medway schools, had never previously appeared on a ballot paper. ****Cuxton, Halling & Riverside by-election result** ➡️ William Burvill (Reform) - 838 - Elected 🌳 Richard Thorne (Conservative) - 726 🟢 Trish Marchant (Green) - 482 🌹 Iain Childs (Labour) - 269 🔶 Ron Gillett (Liberal Democrat) - 35 “Unreal. I’m speechless,” he said, speaking to *Local Authority* moments after the result. “I’m shocked. It’s amazing.” He attributed the victory to focusing on local issues and knocking on doors across the ward. “I think I was honest,” he said. “I focused on the local issues. Me and my team went round and knocked on as many doors as we could.” Burvill claimed residents had told his campaign that Reform was the only party to have knocked on their doors. He also promised to represent those who had supported other candidates. “Not everyone did vote for me, but the people who didn’t vote for me, I’m representing them,” he said. “I’m still there to work for them.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/image-5-1.png) New Medway councillor William Burvill. Reform now has three members on Medway Council. [David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/) and [John Vye](https://www.localauthority.news/we-live-rent-free-in-their-heads/) took two seats from Labour when they were elected together in the Rochester East & Warren Wood by-election in February 2025\. Burvill’s victory is the party’s first gain from the Conservatives on the authority. Despite the group’s modest size, Burvill said the result sent a message to both of Medway’s larger parties. He accused the Conservatives of taking residents for granted and claimed the party was now “on life support” in an area it had regarded as its heartland. The result confirms the volatility identified in our [pre-election analysis](https://www.localauthority.news/a-perfect-storm-gathers-over-the-cuxton-halling-riverside-by-election/), although not by the route that had appeared most plausible. The Greens came within 44 votes of winning the ward’s second seat in 2023, creating the prospect that Reform could divide the right-wing vote and allow Trish Marchant through the middle. Instead, Reform went straight to the front. Burvill finished 356 votes ahead of Marchant, while the Conservatives held second place by 244 votes. Direct comparisons with the 2023 vote shares need some caution. That election filled two seats and allowed electors to vote for two candidates, while Thursday’s by-election offered each voter a single choice. What is unambiguous is that Reform persuaded more people to vote for Burvill than either of the ward’s established challengers managed. The defeat will be particularly uncomfortable for the Conservatives because Thorne was neither a political novice nor unfamiliar with the area. He has lived in Halling for nearly 40 years and represented Strood South between 2019 and 2023. Thorne had briefly been a UKIP member in 2015 before becoming disillusioned and moving to the Conservatives. A decade later, he has lost to the latest party seeking to displace the Conservatives on their right. For all the national political significance being attached to the result, the candidates were remarkably consistent about what residents had raised with them. Congestion on the A228, traffic using Bush Road, overdevelopment and inadequate infrastructure appeared repeatedly in our conversations. Candidates also mentioned buses, potholes, fly-tipping, pedestrian crossings and access from the growing Medway Gate and Riverside developments. Burvill said residents felt their villages were losing their identity and were tired of being taken for granted. Marchant described the ward as a collection of distinct communities connected by the A228, while Thorne said development was placing infrastructure under increasing strain. Labour candidate Iain Childs was more direct, expressing concern about “that flipping A228”. All five candidates attended the count with their agents and supporters, although Reform, the Conservatives and the Greens had rather more reason to watch each bundle of votes closely. A Labour activist reported detecting a “Burnham bounce” during the campaign. It did not bounce far enough to lift Childs above fourth place. The Liberal Democrats brought a degree of honesty to proceedings. Ron Gillett described himself as a paper candidate and acknowledged that he had not been campaigning. His 35 votes did little to complicate that assessment. Two ballot papers were rejected, one because the voter supported too many candidates and another because it contained an identifying mark. A further ballot featured a vote for Marchant and a drawing of a penis beside Burvill’s name. It was accepted as a valid Green vote. The voter’s choice, if not their opinion of the eventual winner, was considered sufficiently clear. For Reform, the victory provides further evidence that it can take council seats from both Labour and the Conservatives in Medway. For Burvill, the less theatrical work begins now. Campaigning as the voice of residents who feel ignored has proved successful. Getting the A228 moving may be rather more difficult. ![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/image-7-1--3-.png) ****Want your business in our next print edition?** We're putting the finishing touches to our next issue, with 5,000 copies heading to more than [70 locations across Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/print/). If you'd like to advertise, we still have a handful of spaces available at very reasonable rates. Take a look at our [advertising page](https://www.localauthority.news/advertise/) or drop Steven an email via [****steven@authoritymedia.news**](mailto:steven@authoritymedia.news), and he'll happily talk you through the options. ### Catch Up In case you missed it, we went inside the Brook Theatre to see why a planned £6.8m refurbishment has become a £21.5m restoration and a two-year closure has stretched to five. The answer involves five miles of scaffolding, trapped damp, failing drains, a wall removed decades ago that left the building pulling itself apart, and 126 years of accumulated problems. It also involves staircase tiles, wartime graffiti, a Morse code machine and what may be Medway’s most historically significant toilet. [Why restoring the Brook Theatre became a £21.5m detective storyFive miles of scaffolding and 126 years of problems stand between Chatham and its theatre![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--c6794de4-22d5-4acc-991d-e63756b2ba09.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/IMG_2024-1-da7d139f-cb9e-4830-80a2-1bcea0b2b686.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/why-restoring-the-brook-theatre-became-a-21-5m-detective-story/) We also published the first part of our interview with photographer and researcher Nikki Price, whose PhD explores the creativity people turn to after a death. She speaks about grief, estrangement, photography as a way of expressing what words cannot, and the Weetabix tin found in her father’s house that contained fragments of a family life she thought had been lost. [“I had no compass with which to navigate my life after my family members died”What Steven asked Nikki Price, PhD student, creative tutor and photographer![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--57431e5c-eb9b-4496-be2e-b2327ab769ef.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/nikki.price-1-321852c7-50f3-498b-9299-e6f8b5f508d2.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-had-no-compass-with-which-to-navigate-my-life-after-my-family-members-died/) ### In brief 🏚️ Foot Locker, Coffee Republic, and Select [have all closed](https://futuremedway.co.uk/foot-locker-select-and-coffee-republic-shut-in-pentagon-centre-chatham-with-british-heart-foundation-next-to-close/?ref=localauthority.news) at the Pentagon Centre in Chatham, with the British Heart Foundation due to follow shortly. 🏥 A disabled man spent [19 hours stuck in a wheelchair](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sheerness/news/wheelchair-bound-dad-left-stranded-for-19-hours-in-hospital-343034/?ref=localauthority.news) at Medway Hospital after transport services failed to collect him and take him home following an appointment. 🚫 Gillingham Football Club's new food and drink policy is [proving very popular](https://www.gfcsc.co.uk/post/the-gfcsc-reacts-to-the-new-gills-food-drinks-policy?ref=localauthority.news). ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - [**Planning Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6644&ref=localauthority.news) meets on Wednesday to decide on three HMOs in Gillingham, a betting shop, and the details of the 450 home Gibralter Farm development. - [**Audit Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=121&MId=6671&ref=localauthority.news) meets on Thursday to do audit committee things. **New planning applications:** - [35 bed care home](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TGQ3WJKNI4F00&ref=localauthority.news) on Walderslade Road adjacent to the village centre. - [9 self-build homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TI4CB9KNHHZ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) on Sharnal Street in High Halstow. - Conversion of three shops into [eight flats](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TIIODBKN03000&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) on King Street in Gillingham. - Change of use from educational to [offices](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TIH5EDKNHJR00&ref=localauthority.news) at the Joiners Shops in Chatham Dockyard. ### Property of the week From the street, this architect-designed 1950s house on St Margaret's Street almost looks as though someone forgot to finish building it. Then you step inside and discover one of Rochester's more intriguing homes. On the market for £900,000, the detached Modernist house embraces light, space and river views rather than period flourishes, with generous reception rooms opening onto terraces and mature gardens overlooking the Medway. It somehow manages to feel both unmistakably of its time and surprisingly timeless. Then there's the wine cellar. Not a cupboard under the stairs or a few racks in the garage, but a spiral cellar capable of holding around 1,000 bottles, disappearing beneath the house like the entrance to a particularly middle-class Bond villain's lair. Even if your budget falls some way short of the asking price, it's worth a look simply because there aren't many houses like this in Medway. [Check out this 4 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom detached house for sale in St. Margarets Street, Rochester, ME1 for £900,000\. Marketed by Machin Lane LTD, Rochester![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-fd61b6b6-8eb5-43a4-be94-0841d5c33ead.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/8ebaf5b008f7dde5a7196979216c0e9d-c7b4ff75-a041-454a-9bdd-67340b692c4b.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/175005836?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 💬 Mon 27 Jul - [**The History of Folk Horror**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-history-of-folk-horror-tickets-1988554569247?ref=localauthority.news) // Talk exploring how folk horror blends history, myth and imagination. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets from £13.50. 🎙️ Thu 30 Jul - [**Iain Lee: Imposter Syndrome**](https://www.facebook.com/threesheetspub/posts/pfbid037VE4fwsBEYVHonjQMAko8YhkJEx8Xz4zoHN9hLPowTxi93fpX7id8oL93dSHvkBql) // Broadcaster shares stories of his 30 years in showbusiness. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Tickets £16. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### A perfect storm gathers over the Cuxton, Halling & Riverside by-election URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-perfect-storm-gathers-over-the-cuxton-halling-riverside-by-election/ Last updated: 2026-07-22T11:47:52.000Z *Tomorrow, voters in Cuxton, Halling & Riverside will choose a successor to the late Conservative councillor Phil Filmer. The Conservatives won both seats when the current ward was first contested in 2023, but this by-election arrives in a very different political climate. In this guest analysis,* [*Medway Elects*](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *founder *Alan Collins* explores whether Green momentum and Reform UK’s impact on the Conservative vote could turn an apparently safe hold into Medway’s next electoral upset...* Tomorrow, voters in [Cuxton, Halling & Riverside](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=wards&id=2023.cuxtonhallingandriverside&ref=localauthority.news) will head to the polls to elect a successor to the late councillor [Phil Filmer](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=councillors&id=filmer.philip&ref=localauthority.news). On paper, it should be a fairly safe Conservative hold in a ward which has been long-held by the party. However, looking deeply into the rapidly fragmenting political landscape across Kent and Medway, this race is shaping up to be a battle involving the insurgent forces currently rewriting the rules of local elections. It is therefore important to explore how recent electoral shockwaves in Cliftonville, Tunbridge Wells, and elsewhere in Medway have altered expectations. The traditional two-party system is breaking down, setting the stage for a potential political earthquake in the ward. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/AdobeStock_795726967-2-1.jpeg) The newly expanded ward now includes large numbers of new build homes. **A History of Cuxton and Halling (and Riverside)** To understand the upcoming by-election, we must first look at the history of the ward itself. While recent memory might paint the Cuxton and Halling area as an impenetrable fortress of Conservative dominance, its deeper electoral history reveals a community that has been willing to vote for other parties. When the area was [first established](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&select=rochestercc&id=19730607R&ward=rcc.1973.cuxtonandhalling&ref=localauthority.news) as a three-member ward in 1973, the electorate actually favoured Labour, with the Conservatives coming fourth behind an independent candidate and the Liberals. The political winds shifted quickly, and [in 1976](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&select=rochestercc&id=19760506R&ward=rcc.1973.cuxtonandhalling&ref=localauthority.news), the Conservatives gained all three seats on a 10% swing. For nearly two decades, the Conservatives maintained a grip on the area across subsequent [boundary changes](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=wards&select=rochestercc&id=rcc.1979.cuxtonandhalling&ref=localauthority.news), with their lowest vote share during the period being [50.2%](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&select=rochestercc&id=19910502R&ward=rcc.1979.cuxtonandhalling&ref=localauthority.news). However, the ward was not immune from the [Conservative wipeout](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&select=rochestercc&id=19950504R&ref=localauthority.news) in 1995, a spectacular [25.9% swing to Labour](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&select=rochestercc&id=19950504R&ward=rcc.1979.cuxtonandhalling&ref=localauthority.news) handing both seats to the opposition with a 60.6% vote share - higher than the Conservatives had ever managed. When the first elections to Medway Council were held [in 1997](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=19970501&ward=1997.cuxtonandhalling&ref=localauthority.news), Labour took both seats on the new authority, albeit with a lower 49.2% vote share. The modern era of Conservative dominance returned in 2000, when Anthony Cawte and Jane Etheridge regained the ward on a 16.5% swing. This marked the beginning of 23 years of dominance for the Tories, solidified during [the single-member ward](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=wards&id=2003.cuxtonandhalling&ref=localauthority.news) era by [Ray Maisey](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=councillors&id=maisey.raymond&ref=localauthority.news) (2003–2015) and his successor [Matt Fearn](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=councillors&id=fearn.matthewjames&ref=localauthority.news) (2015–2023). During that period, their vote share peaked at 63.4% and never fell below 50%. The ‘Riverside’ element of the ward was carved out of part of the former [Strood South](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=wards&id=2003.stroodsouth&ref=localauthority.news) ward, specifically (and unsurprisingly), the eastern part of the ward bordered by the River Medway. Within the old ward as a whole, the Conservatives had a narrower hold between 2003 and 2023, polling as low as 30.5% [in 2019](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=20190502&ward=2003.stroodsouth&ref=localauthority.news) (while still taking all three seats). They were beaten to first place by Labour [in 2003](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=20030501&ward=2003.stroodsouth&ref=localauthority.news), and by Ukip [in 2015](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=20150507&ward=2003.stroodsouth&ref=localauthority.news), but despite Labour winning a seat in 2003 and 2011, and Ukip winning two seats in 2015, the Tories had won at least one seat in every election under those boundaries. Prior to 2003, the area formed part of Temple Farm on both [Medway Council](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=wards&id=1997.templefarm&ref=localauthority.news) and [Rochester-upon-Medway City Council](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=wards&select=rochestercc&id=rcc.1979.templefarm&ref=localauthority.news). In the Medway Council years, Labour won both elections and held all three seats, while before the birth of the unitary authority, the Conservatives only came out on top [in 1987](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&select=rochestercc&id=19870507R&ward=rcc.1979.templefarm&ref=localauthority.news) and were pushed back to second, retaining just one of the three seats they had won in the previous election, [in 1991](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&select=rochestercc&id=19910502R&ward=rcc.1979.templefarm&ref=localauthority.news). Labour had otherwise kept a tight grip on the ward. When the newly drawn, two-member Cuxton, Halling & Riverside ward was contested for the first time [in 2023](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=20230504&ward=2023.cuxtonhallingandriverside&ref=localauthority.news), the Conservatives therefore expected to take both seats with ease, and indeed Matt Fearn and Phil Filmer were elected for the party. Yet, the 2023 election also showed the first cracks in the Tories’ newly-enlarged fortress. The Green Party, who had first stood in Cuxton and Halling [in 2019](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=20190502&ward=2003.cuxtonandhalling&ref=localauthority.news) and came last on 10.2%, came knocking very loudly on the Conservatives’ door. The party came second, polling an impressive 31.9% and even coming within 44 votes of securing their first councillor in Medway. That makes the Greens’ Trish Marchant an immediate threat to the Conservatives’ hold on the ward. Recent results elsewhere in Kent show how quickly old political certainties can collapse. Register for free to discover what those electoral shocks could mean for Cuxton, Halling & Riverside. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Why restoring the Brook Theatre became a £21.5m detective story URL: https://www.localauthority.news/why-restoring-the-brook-theatre-became-a-21-5m-detective-story/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T06:57:59.000Z **A tour inside the Brook Theatre reveals why a planned £6.8m refurbishment became a £21.5m restoration, what three years of work have uncovered behind the walls, and why the project team now describes the building as a "detective story."* ### Why restoring the Brook Theatre became a £21.5m detective story When the Brook Theatre closed in April 2023, the plan was for audiences to return two years later. The seats should already be occupied. The dance studios should be busy. Shows should be taking place in a building that has served Chatham, first as a town hall and later as a theatre, since 1900. Instead, the Brook is not expected to reopen until spring 2028\. What began as a refurbishment has grown into a £21.5m restoration. By the time the doors open again, a planned two-year interruption will have become a five-year closure. The original funding package was £6.8m, made up of £6.5m from the government's Levelling Up Fund and £300,000 from the Future High Streets Fund. In July 2023, Medway Council approved a further £14.7m capital allocation as surveys exposed structural problems beyond the scope of those original improvements. *Local Authority* was invited inside the Grade II-listed building to see how the project had grown and what three years of work had uncovered. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/IMG_2024.jpeg) Scaffolding inside the main auditorium. The explanation is more physical than any revised programme or committee report. The auditorium is filled with five miles of scaffolding. Walls and floors have been opened. Historic features sit beside temporary supports and modern engineering. The Brook has been carefully unpicked. Colin Graham, senior project manager at Sinden, the construction firm leading the works, describes the process of understanding the Brook as a "detective story." That phrase makes sense before the tour has gone very far. Every generation appears to have left something behind, whether a decorative feature, a practical alteration or a problem for somebody else to solve decades later. There was no single defect. There were 126 years of things accumulating. Water, worn-out infrastructure, alterations whose consequences only became clear when later layers were removed, and structural issues that could not be ignored once they were exposed. A major structural problem found around Christmas was a decisive moment in the move to the 2028 timetable. The most serious problem was traced to the building's conversion from town hall to theatre. A wall had been removed to create the stage, placing the building under severe strain and pulling it apart. The discovery helped the team make sense of why the Brook had been behaving as it was. Graham believes that stage may finally be ending. "We think we've stopped finding problems," he says. It is a cautious milestone in a building that has repeatedly resisted certainty. It does not recover the three years added to the original reopening date, but it suggests the team may finally be moving from finding the job to finishing it. ## ****Finding this useful?** Stay on top of what’s happening in Medway with independent local journalism delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Some of the most damaging problems were caused not by dramatic failure but by water and the materials used in previous attempts to look after the building. Downstairs, non-porous paint prevented historic walls from breathing. Moisture became trapped, and the damp grew worse, out of sight, over years. The drainage system is being replaced in its entirety. New heating and ventilation will be installed across the building. Structural repairs, upgraded fire protection and new services have to be threaded through a civic building designed before any of them were imagined. There have also been protracted efforts to persuade Southern Water and UK Power Networks to move infrastructure standing in the project's way. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/IMG_2007.jpeg) The main staircase of the Brook. These are not the parts of a theatre restoration that make an attractive announcement. They are where much of the money and time go. The project team estimates the public will never see between 70% and 80% of the work once the Brook is finished. It will be beneath floors, above ceilings and behind restored surfaces. The Brook was well used before it closed, and the original expectation was not that Medway would lose it for half a decade. The building deteriorated sharply in the two years before restoration began, but the scale of what lay behind its walls was only understood once the work was under way. The Brook’s reopening has slipped by three years and its cost has more than tripled. Register for free to continue inside the theatre and see what contractors have uncovered, where the money is going and what Medway is expected to get back in 2028. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### “I had no compass with which to navigate my life after my family members died” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-had-no-compass-with-which-to-navigate-my-life-after-my-family-members-died/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T09:58:27.000Z *Steven met with* [*Nikki Price*](https://nikkipricephotography.wordpress.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *at a local pub as part of our infrequent series that talks to people about their PhD studies. Nikki is studying self-directed creativity after a death, so we spoke about that as well as her photography and what was in a mysterious Weetabix tin.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/nikki.price.jpg) Nikki Price. **What is your official occupation?** My official occupation is a researcher. I'm also a creative tutor. I do a bit of sessional work in the local area, and I am a photographer based in Medway. **What are you researching?** At the moment, a variety of things. **What is the creative work that you do?** I work with young people aged between 11 and 25 to give them tasters in creative practices, covering photography, collage and wellbeing. I think that's slipped out of the curriculum a bit. Arts funding is sparse, and going out as part of my creative tutor role is good because it keeps me in with the group of people I really want to support creatively as a photographer, and as part of my research. **Where do you do that?** All over Kent really. Mainly based in Medway and Canterbury. It's with schools and youth groups. **How would you describe your photography?** I think at the moment my photography is related to the research I do. I use it as a research tool. I use something called [photo elicitation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo%5Felicitation?ref=localauthority.news) a lot. Which basically means using photography to elicit responses from people and to evoke memories and connections. **What is the focus of your PhD?** In a nutshell, looking at self-directed creativity after a death. **Why specifically after a death?** I had the experiences of the deaths of my nan, my grandad and my dad, all within this space of three years. I wanted to see what other people were doing, creatively, after a death. Obviously, my work was focused primarily on photography, but it wasn't just that. I connected to sketching, I volunteered at a memorial garden, I did a whole host of other things after a death, and I wondered ‘Is this something that other people are doing?’ I had no compass with which to navigate my life after my family members died. That was part of the reason for me doing my PhD research. **Did you find that death changed people's creativity?** In some ways, yes. I had 13 participants with me on this journey, which was great. If anyone knows, for a PhD that's a pretty fair number of people to work alongside for 18 months. Yes, it changed. Some people connected to creativity for the first time after a long time, after the death of their person. It could have been 40 years. It could be four years. Some people completely changed the way that they approached creativity. They diverged in their practice. They connected to something new, connected to something different, or they approached it for the first time. **Did their creativity improve because of death?** Oh, that's a great question. It’s something I didn't look at specifically, but the participants were saying, ‘I trusted in myself to do this’. It didn't matter if it was a Van Gogh painting or anything like that, but actually the process of doing it was very impactful for them. > I think that I lost my way a bit throughout it and lost my connection to my own creativity because I was so absorbed in everybody else’s stories **Is your creativity different now having done the PhD?** Again, another good question. I write about this a lot in my thesis. I think that I lost my way a bit throughout it and lost my connection to my own creativity because I was so absorbed in everybody else's stories. I was a bit like, 'Nikki, you've forgotten yourself in it'. I've obviously got a bit more time because my PhD thesis is submitted. I'm not completed, but it's submitted. I’m booking myself onto workshops and courses, using some wonderful artists we've got in the local area in Medway and having a bit more 'me time', making sure I'm making time to be creative. **Are you looking forward to being Dr Nikki Price?** Yes, definitely. We haven't spoken about this, so I might need you to cut this, but we *\[Nikki and her partner, Roy Smith\]* had our civil partnership whilst doing our PhDs. And one of the questions was, are you going to be Mrs Smith? I'm like, “No, that's my mother-in-law.” Sorry I've gone off at a tangent. I look forward to being a doctor. At senior school, when I failed my A-level in Art, I was actually devastated, and I thought, ‘What am I going to be doing?’ That was my everything. I wanted to study Art at university, and now I'm looking to get a doctorate in Media and Cultural Studies. That's completely cool. When I’m tutoring, I explain that just because it isn't a particular straight path to get where you want to get, you might need to take some different routes either side of it, but you will get there if you've got the passion and the support. I'm really happy to get the doctorate. I'm nearly there. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. **Will you be taking part in** [**Medway Open Studios**](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news) **this year?** I won't be, no. I missed the deadline, and I was in my writing up stage. I only submitted my PhD for examination at the end of May, so I thought that was a bit of a tight squeeze, but I will be going and seeing all the lovely open studios in people's homes and in galleries. I do miss it. I'll probably get back to that at some point. **How have you found that experience of having people come into your studio in the past?** I open my front room. Some people might get a bit strange about that, thinking, ‘You can't invite people into your house,’ but I love it. Especially the last two years when I was involved in Open Studios, it was very much related to my PhD. I was testing out some photographs and inviting people who came into my house to talk about their own experiences as well as my photographs, in that spirit of photo elicitation. I think it's important to have different spaces to talk about after a death experiences and death, because I think there's still perhaps a bit of a taboo about talking about it. For Nikki, the research is not only about what creativity can do after a death, but also about what it means to make private experiences public. Continue reading as she talks about estrangement, the stories contained in a Weetabix tin, and why photography can sometimes express what words cannot. [Upgrade to keep reading ](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/Nikki-Price-Session-photo.jpg) Photography by Nikki Price. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s future is North Kent URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-future-is-north-kent/ Last updated: 2026-07-24T11:16:22.000Z **The government has confirmed Medway Council will disappear in April 2028, becoming part of a new North Kent authority alongside Dartford and Gravesham. We look at what the decision means for Medway, how local politicians have responded, and what happens over the next 20 months, alongside a chaotic council meeting, the departure of HMS Saxifrage, planning, the week’s events, and more.* ### Medway’s future is North Kent There are now fewer than two years left of Medway Council. On Thursday, the government confirmed it had chosen Option 4B for local government reorganisation in Kent, meaning Medway Council, Kent County Council and the county’s 12 district councils will all cease to exist on 1 April 2028\. In their place will come four new unitary authorities. For Medway, that means joining with Dartford and Gravesham to create a new North Kent council serving around 530,000 people. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/image-4.png) If you’re looking for a full breakdown of why ministers chose Option 4B, how it beat the competing proposals and what the new map means across Kent, we’ve [examined all of that in detail over at the *Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/four-new-councils-and-a-lot-of-unanswered-questions/?ref=localauthority.news). Here, we’re focusing on what the decision means for Medway itself. In one sense, Thursday represented a partial victory for Medway Council. In another, it marked the beginning of the end for the authority that has governed the towns as a unitary council since 1998. From the outset of the reorganisation process, Medway leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) argued that if the government genuinely wanted new councils serving populations of around half a million people, Kent’s numbers pointed towards four authorities rather than three. “Two million divided by half a million is four,” he told *Local Authority* after the government’s announcement. On that point, ministers ultimately agreed. Where they diverged was over the geography. Medway’s preferred Option 4D would have redrawn several long-standing boundaries in an attempt to create what the council argued were more coherent communities. Instead, ministers opted for Option 4B, preserving the existing district boundaries while still creating four authorities. Maple said he remained disappointed by that decision, arguing his proposal would have resolved “some absolute anomalies that we’ve had in place for, in some cases, 50 years,” but he was equally clear that the argument over the map itself was now finished. “I think challenging this process would be a complete waste of taxpayers’ money,” he said, adding that he would urge any other authority considering a judicial review to think again. That pragmatic approach appears to have won out across Medway politics. While the Conservatives maintain that their preferred option remained the three-authority model and have criticised Labour’s unsuccessful 4D proposal, they too have accepted the government’s decision and are now looking ahead to the creation of the new North Kent authority. Within hours of Thursday’s announcement, Maple had already contacted the leaders of Dartford and Gravesham to begin informal discussions about the council they will now have to build together. “We’ll be having a first informal catch-up between the three leaders in due course,” he said. Until now, much of the conversation among Kent’s council leaders has focused on competing business cases and rival maps. Almost overnight, it has become about how three existing councils can be merged into a single organisation. For residents, very little changes immediately. Medway Council will continue delivering services until April 2028, and the bins, planning decisions and road repairs are unlikely to look any different for some time yet. Behind the scenes, however, the work has already begun. Shadow elections are due in May next year, giving the new authority around a year to prepare before formally taking over. Electoral arrangements still need to be confirmed, governance structures agreed, senior leadership appointed and thousands of staff, services, assets and systems brought together. Questions over council tax harmonisation, debt, office accommodation and the eventual shape of the new authority remain unanswered, with further detail expected through the government’s structural change order over the coming months. For almost three decades, Medway has been unusual in Kent. While the rest of the county operated under a two-tier system of county and district councils, Medway stood apart as a unitary authority responsible for virtually every local service. That arrangement will soon come to an end, as every area switches to the unitary model. The biggest political argument in Kent local government for a generation is now settled, but the much harder task is only just beginning. Drawing lines on a map was the easy part. Over the next 20 months, Medway, Dartford and Gravesham have to turn those lines into a functioning council. ***Local Authority** **is now on WhatsApp.** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for **Local Authority*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ### Broken microphones, fire station rows and the end of Medway dominate council meeting There was perhaps some unfortunate symbolism to Medway Council’s first meeting after ministers confirmed the authority would cease to exist. The meeting began late due to technical issues with the livestream. Once councillors finally got underway, the chamber’s microphone system began to fail too, forcing an adjournment while officers tried to determine whether proceedings could continue. One person involved offered a blunt diagnosis to *Local Authority*: The technology was “proper fucked”. Another councillor remarked privately that it seemed appropriate for Medway Council to be “falling apart” on the same day the government had confirmed the authority itself would disappear. The livestream was eventually restored, but the microphones were not. Instead, the meeting resumed with a single handheld microphone, carried at speed between councillors and members of the public by a council officer who spent much of the evening hurrying around the St George’s Centre. The arrangement was not entirely seamless. At one point, the officer carrying the microphone forgot to take it to Cllr [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/) for his response to a public question, prompting another dash across the chamber. It also created a more serious accessibility problem. Councillors with hearing difficulties were left without their usual support, with Cllr [George Crozer](https://www.localauthority.news/what-i-detest-is-that-kind-of-bickering/) appearing to follow the meeting on a tablet via headphones to keep up. All of this came during what was already likely to be a long evening. The Mayor agreed to double the time available for the Leader’s Report after the government’s local government reorganisation decision earlier that day, giving councillors more room to discuss the plan to abolish Medway Council in April 2028 and replace it with a new authority covering Medway, Dartford and Gravesham. Before that, councillors dealt with a motion calling for the protection of fire stations at Cliffe, Hoo and Grain. Cllr [Elizabeth Turpin](https://www.localauthority.news/a-bad-local-plan-is-worse-than-no/)’s original motion warned against changes to fire cover on the Hoo Peninsula, with Cllr [Ron Sands](https://www.localauthority.news/i-just-want-them-to-realise-what/) pointing to population growth and the role played by on-call firefighters during a recent fire at Hoo Marina. An amendment from Cllr [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/), seconded by Cllr [David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/), argued that the motion did not go far enough. It was defeated 47 votes to 2, with only the proposer and seconder supporting it. A second amendment from Cllr [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/) took a more cautious approach, calling for further consideration of the proposals rather than outright opposition. It was seconded by Conservative leader Cllr [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) and passed by 48 votes to five, before the amended motion was adopted. The government’s decision inevitably dominated the Leader’s Report. Council leader Cllr Vince Maple said he was “pleased” ministers had chosen a four-council model for Kent, but “deeply disappointed” that the new boundaries would not correct what Medway has long regarded as mistakes made when the current authority was created. He said he had already been in contact with the leaders of Dartford and Gravesham and told councillors the council’s focus would now turn to supporting staff through the transition. The Conservatives were rather less restrained about the fate of Medway’s own proposal. Cllr Perfect described the council’s preferred Option 4D as a “disaster” and said its development had been a “shameful way” to approach local government reorganisation. Cllr [Gary Hackwell](https://www.localauthority.news/a-lot-of-people-wont-be-able-to-tell/) said more than £100,000 of public money had been spent on a “vanity project”, while Cllr [Habib Tejan](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enjoy-solving-problems/) called the rejected plan a “reckless, artificial experiment”. “We don’t need more artificial boundaries,” he said, during a debate about replacing one set of council boundaries with another. Cllr [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) used his contribution to continue his public break with Reform UK, declaring that he had been “wrong to join Reform” and acknowledging that Cllr Perfect had warned him. He then listed Conservative achievements to laughter around the chamber before moving on to the work of a longstanding school crossing patrol officer. Cllr Finch used much of his response to remember former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe, while Cllr Spalding appeared to argue for retaining a Medway mayoralty even after Medway Council itself had been abolished. Elsewhere, Labour formally introduced its proposal to scrap the points system used to determine who becomes Medway’s ceremonial mayor. Cllr Mark Prenter said the council was living through “exceptional times,” while Cllr Dan McDonald described the proposal as a “sensible, pragmatic change”. The motion will return for debate at the next Full Council meeting in October. By then, the microphones may even be working again. ### In brief 🏥 Over 1,300 patients [waited longer than 12 hours](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx23x5x241yo?ref=localauthority.news) at Medway Hospital's A&E during May. 💉 Measles is on the rise in Kent and Medway, with [9 new cases](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2d8vd8e19o?ref=localauthority.news) this month. ⚓ Work to remove the masts from the SS Montgomery, a shipwreck in the Thames Estuary laden with 1,400 tonnes of explosives, will [begin in September](https://www.kentcurrent.news/taking-apart-kents-most-famous-wreck/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏃‍➡️ TruGym at Chatham Dockside has closed, and a very expensive 'premium health club' is [set to replace it](https://futuremedway.co.uk/chatham-boxer-moses-itauma-to-launch-premium-health-complex-club-eight-3-in-chatham-maritime/?ref=localauthority.news). 📰 Medway's finest gig promoters, [Colin Chapman and Robin Halls](https://www.localauthority.news/cnp-did-their-first-gig-at-riverside/) of Careful Now Promotions, managed to get themselves [interviewed by a local paper](https://www.ialesund.no/sport/colin-og-robin-gleder-seg-til-kamp-blant-nordmenn/156312?ref=localauthority.news) while in Norway. 🚢 As we've been following for a few weeks, HMS Saxifrage (or HMS President) was tugged out of Chatham Docks this morning, on the way to be scrapped. ### Council matters **By-elections:** - Voters go to the polls in [Cuxton, Halling & Riverside](https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/local.medway.cuxton-halling-riverside.by.2026-07-23/cuxton-halling-riverside/?ref=localauthority.news) on Thursday. The candidates are William Burvill (Reform), Iain Childs (Labour), Ron Gillett (Liberal Democrat), Trish Marchant (Green), and Richard Thorne (Conservative). **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Licensing Hearing Panel](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6598&ref=localauthority.news) will decide on an optimistic licence application for a convenience store on New Road in Chatham. - **Tuesday:** [Kent and Medway Crime Panel](https://democracy.kent.gov.uk:9071/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=9668&x=1&&ref=localauthority.news) will question the Police and Crime Commissioner. **New planning applications:** - Five-storey block of [six flats](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=THV01VKNJTO00&ref=localauthority.news) in the Intra area of Chatham High Street. - Conversion of a Betfred into a [restaurant](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TE8TTTKNHWN00&ref=localauthority.news) on Rainham Road in Gillingham. - Conversion of takeaway into [convenience store](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=THZ00ZKNLZF00&ref=localauthority.news) on Richmond Road in Gillingham. - HMOs on [Franklin Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TI40YVKNHAS00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Ingram Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TI40ZRKNHAV00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), and [King Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=THQQT1KNH7X00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. ### Property of the week This newly built two-bedroom detached house on Capstone Road is on the market for offers in excess of £325,000 and arrives as an almost entirely white void waiting for someone to make a decision. Beyond that, it is a practical little house with a bright open-plan kitchen and living space featuring a roof lantern and bi-fold doors, two double bedrooms, a utility room, a downstairs WC, allocated parking, and a garden designed to require almost no maintenance. It is chain-free, close to Capstone Farm Country Park, and unlikely to contain any alarming discoveries beneath the wallpaper, mainly because there does not appear to be any wallpaper. [Check out this 2 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove2 bedroom detached house for sale in Capstone Road, Chatham, Kent. ME5 for £325,000\. Marketed by Moxy Property Consultants, Rochester![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-1be9ce17-a36d-472c-b5f1-f9ecc9a489b3.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/ecb989a074836256e54efbbac98e0a47-67d33583-2090-421d-8fd7-fe79bde3bdcb.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174652946?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🚂 18 - 19 Jul - [**Chatham & District Model Railway Show**](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/model-railway-show/?ref=localauthority.news) // One of the south east's largest model railway events. Chatham Historic Dockyard. Tickets £10. 🎉 Sun 19 Jul - [**Love Gillingham Big Day Out**](https://www.facebook.com/events/850574201431468/) // Stalls, entertainment, and music. Gillingham High Street. Free. 🥕 Sun 19 Jul - [**Rochester Farmers' Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Stalls selling fresh produce, drinks, gifts, and more. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🎞️ Thu 23 Jul - [**I Swear**](https://luma.com/jtgdaks4?ref=localauthority.news) // Electric Medway film night, with the BAFTA-award-winning film on the life story of Tourette's Syndrome campaigner John Davidson. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Tickets £5 ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### Voice of the Opposition URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-opposition-4/ Last updated: 2026-07-16T17:12:38.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, for our latest Voice piece, we welcome Medway Council Leader of the Opposition George Perfect, who talks about the upcoming Cuxton, Halling & Riverside by-election.* --- ### Voice of the Opposition **by Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/image-3.png) Cllr George Perfect. I wanted to take the opportunity in this Voice of the Opposition to talk about the upcoming by-election in Cuxton and Halling. But first, a moment to reflect on our late friend Cllr Phil Filmer. Cllr Filmer leaves big boots to fill; he was an exceptional councillor and friend. A member of my Shadow Cabinet, and the front-bench of every Medway Conservatives Leader, Phil leaves a huge hole in Medway’s public life. He served not only the Council, but also the Rochester Bridge Trust, and believed in giving back to his community. I thank people from across Medway for their support of Phil’s family and friends over recent months. In our new candidate Richard Thorne, we have sought someone who will bring fresh energy, local understanding, and a clear commitment to continue the work already underway, working alongside our brilliant Cllr Matt Fearn. This by‑election comes at a pivotal moment for our community. As Local Government Reorganisation starts, Medway is entering a new phase of governance, one where steady and reliable leadership in the council will be essential to create a thriving Kent. While the by-election is, on the surface, a competition for a single seat, the residents of Cuxton and Halling will be making an incredibly important decision when they vote. It is an opportunity for residents to reflect, not only about who represents them locally, but about maintaining the stability and progress the community has seen in recent years. For the Conservatives, this is a seat we are proud to have held and a seat we hope to continue to hold. Under the current Labour and Co-Operative administration, our high streets continue to struggle, our public spaces are being let down, council borrowing is rampant, and many residents feel that their concerns are not being heard with the urgency they deserve. While challenges such as this are a real problem for many councils, the response to those challenges has not been as residents have a right to expect. However, we know from our experience at County Hall that electing a Reform councillor won’t change that. This by‑election is not just about replacing one councillor. It is about making sure the council’s opposition is made up of resilient and strong members, who are ready to put their residents at the forefront – not debates about national issues. We believe the Medway Conservatives have chosen the right candidate for the job. A strong opposition will argue for change, offering realistic alternatives, consistent and rigorous scrutiny and a willingness to take responsibility for difficult decisions. A weak opposition of populists will call for change without offering credible or deliverable alternatives. I ask that the residents of Cuxton and Halling turn to Richard Thorne instead of investing in a high-risk, low-reward candidate. Our new candidate represents both continuity and renewal. Richard Thorne understands the priorities of residents, from the importance of reliable services and the desire for a strong local economy. He is the current chairman of Halling Parish Council and had previously served on the council. This is a candidate who knows Cuxton and Halling having lived in the ward for 40 years, a candidate that understands Medway Council and a candidate who can be trusted to represent you. While bringing a fresh perspective and a determination to engage actively with the community, ensuring that residents feel heard and represented. Residents have seen what can be achieved through steady and responsible opposition. This by‑election is an opportunity to continue that progress, with a new representative ready to work hard for the community from day one. *Cllr George Perfect is the Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council and Conservative councillor for Rainham North.* ### Theatres Trust calls Royal Function Rooms plans ‘unserious’ URL: https://www.localauthority.news/theatres-trust-calls-royal-function-rooms-plans-unserious/ Last updated: 2026-07-21T15:10:02.000Z **Plans to turn Rochester’s historic Royal Function Rooms into housing would preserve much of the old theatre space while permanently ending its public use. Now, the Theatres Trust and a growing collection of heritage bodies are questioning whether anyone has properly demonstrated that a cultural or community future for the building is no longer viable.* ### Theatres Trust calls Royal Function Rooms plans ‘unserious’ When [plans were submitted to convert Rochester’s Royal Function Rooms into housing](https://www.localauthority.news/the-long-goodbye-of-the-royal-function-rooms/), the applicants considered other uses the building could serve. A cinema was apparently considered. So was a swimming pool. Indoor and outdoor sports were ruled out too. The possibility of the theatre possibly being used as a theatre or venue received rather less attention. The national body responsible for protecting theatres has now noticed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/rfr.png) The Royal Function Rooms. The Theatres Trust has [formally objected](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/845383E4FBF50F124263281D9AAF16D9/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-STATUTORY%5F-%5FTHEATRES%5FTRUST-6697281.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) to plans to convert the historic venue on Star Hill into housing, describing the applicant’s consideration of alternative uses as an “unserious attempt” and its case for losing the venue as “wholly inadequate.” The application has also been called into Medway Council’s Planning Committee at the request of ward councillors in Rochester West and Borstal. That means its fate will ultimately be decided by a panel of councillors rather than planning officers. When we first reported on the plans in May, the proposal looked relatively straightforward. The Royal Function Rooms had been empty since the end of 2022\. The building is Grade II listed and needs a viable future. Medway needs housing. [The long goodbye of the Royal Function RoomsPlans have been submitted to turn the Rochester venue into housing![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--d6ab4286-3fab-4f2d-9bc4-99dcb61909ee.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2026-05-22-at-11.21.22-1-f6f7227e-9c81-4cce-b074-4c49af80fb10.png)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-long-goodbye-of-the-royal-function-rooms/) The plans would convert the site into eight homes. Five would be created within the existing buildings, with three new townhouses constructed at the rear of the site on Victoria Street. The 20th-century extension would be demolished, while the historic theatre volume, stage and proscenium arch would largely survive. They just would not be available to the public. Instead, the old performance space would become part of a large private home, preserving the theatre's physical features while permanently ending its use as a venue. The applicants argue that the scheme would secure the long-term future of the listed building, bring a vacant site back into use and retain important historic features. The problem is how the building became vacant in the first place. The Royal Function Rooms and the smaller Billabong Club were still hosting events until the end of 2022, when their operators were given notice to leave. Ranscombe Studios, which operated beneath the venue, also had to relocate. When we first looked at the application, one claim stood out. The planning statement suggested the site had remained empty since an earlier pre-application submission in 2019. It had not. The Royal Function Rooms and Billabong continued operating for another three years. The application also considered alternative leisure uses for the building, including cinemas, swimming pools and indoor and outdoor sports. These were deemed infeasible due to the site's size and the significance of the theatre space and stage. As we noted at the time, nobody was seriously arguing that the Royal Function Rooms should be converted into a swimming pool. What appeared to receive considerably less attention was whether a building containing a theatre space and stage could continue to be used for performances. The Theatres Trust has now reached much the same conclusion. The Trust is the national advisory public body for theatres and a statutory consultee on planning applications involving theatre sites. Its response to the Royal Function Rooms application is unusually direct. It says the venue “closed only because the operator was given notice, not because it failed.” The building, it argues, had already been in a “long-standing and seemingly viable use” compatible with its form and function, and no evidence has been provided to demonstrate that this could not continue. It describes the planning statement as “wholly inadequate” in demonstrating why the cultural use should be lost. Then it gets to the swimming pool. The Trust notes that the applicant considered alternative uses, including cinemas, swimming pools, and indoor and outdoor sports, but did not properly test the continued use of theatre or live performance. “Having recognised the form and significance of the theatre space, it is challenging to comprehend why that sort of use could not have been considered first,” it says. “The reference to swimming pools and outdoor sports areas in this context suggests an unserious attempt by the applicant to conduct this exercise.” It also takes issue with the suggestion that the venue had been empty since 2019, saying the wording could be “construed as misleading.” The Theatres Trust has formally objected to permission being granted unless the applicant provides “detailed and robust evidence” demonstrating that all efforts to return the building to theatre or live performance use have been exhausted. If that were the only specialist body raising concerns, it might be possible to dismiss the objection as the organisation responsible for protecting theatres doing its job. It isn’t. ## ****Finding this useful?** Stay on top of what’s happening in Medway with independent local journalism delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. The Council for British Archaeology [says](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/D2DC0A793582AB2E5ED42BF552DF1CE8/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-OBJECTION%5F-%5FCOUNCIL%5FFOR%5FBRITISH%5FARCHAEOLOGY-6697997.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) the proposed conversion would harm the building’s historic and architectural significance, including by reducing the legibility of its historic use and internal form. More importantly, it says the applicant has not adequately demonstrated that continued recreational or theatre use is not a viable and sustainable option. It recommends that the application is withdrawn to allow a detailed options appraisal into retaining the building in its current use. If it is not withdrawn, the CBA recommends refusing it. The Georgian Group has [also called](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/AA294D302FD0CF96A4245D12B91FDF34/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-STATUTORY%5F-%5FTHE%5FGEORGIAN%5FGROUP-6698613.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) for the proposals to be withdrawn. It describes the building as having “exceptional significance” because of its historic role as one of England’s earliest purpose-built provincial theatres, with that significance still evident in the surviving theatre space. The group concludes that the current proposals would harm the significance of the listed building and recommends that both the planning application and a separate application for listed building consent be withdrawn while the applicant re-engages with statutory consultees. Historic Buildings & Places [says](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/B2775A87FF5FDC622650653B79467477/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-STATUTORY%5F-%5FHISTORIC%5FBUILDING-6688740.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) there is “no evidence or justification” for the change of use or to demonstrate that there is no demand for a community or entertainment space. The fact that the venue was in regular use until only a few years ago, it argues, makes that an essential question before a change of use can be justified. The wording varies. The underlying problem does not. None of these organisations is convinced that the case has been made for permanently ending the building’s public and cultural use. Historic England takes a [more measured position](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/3134023C64FB32EDF6C18268AB9660FE/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-STATUTORY%5F-%5FHISTORIC%5FENGLAND-6693343.pdf?ref=localauthority.news). It describes the former Theatre Royal as a rare surviving 18th-century theatre space and an important part of Rochester’s cultural heritage. Its changing uses over more than two centuries, most recently as a live music and events venue, represent a long history of public and community use. It considers that converting the auditorium into housing would cause some harm to the listed building and says it is “not currently clear” whether other uses have been properly considered. Rather than insisting the building must return to use as a theatre, it suggests another possibility: the auditorium could be retained in its entirety as a publicly accessible café or community space, allowing its historic use to remain legible while maintaining public access. If residential conversion is really the only viable option, Historic England says the resulting harm would need a clear and convincing justification. The City of Rochester Society has [also objected](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/F49920423BEDFAEFC606E83A3ABE8AA5/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-OBJECTION%5F-%5FCITY%5FOF%5FROCHESTER%5FSOCIETY-6697257.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) to the change of use, saying the site was a valued performance and studio space until the applicant closed it. It raises further concerns about alterations to the listed building, the proposed new homes on Victoria Street and the safety of the new vehicle access. Then there is Dr Jean Baker, who knows rather more than most about how the building came to exist in the first place. Baker is the author of [Sarah Baker and her Kentish Theatres 1737-1816: Challenging the Status Quo](https://www.str.org.uk/product/sarah-baker-and-her-kentish-theatres-1737-1816-challenging-the-status-quo/?ref=localauthority.news). Sarah Baker established the original Rochester theatre on the site in 1791, as part of a remarkable career that saw her build and operate theatres across Kent at a time when women were not generally expected to do anything of the sort. [According to Jean Baker](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/3BE27AFEF7C52B2569DBF8E9F646A15C/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-OBJECTION%5F-%5FJ%5FBAKER-6701742.pdf?ref=localauthority.news), Rochester was the last of Sarah Baker’s four Kentish theatre sites to remain in use as a performance venue until the Royal Function Rooms closed. She argues that the building should continue to “serve and enrich the lives of the Rochester community as it has, through all the trials and tribulations of the last 235 years.” Rochester and Strood MP [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) has [also objected](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/B10E2B8797C22C8FDC536FC3583121BF/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-OBJECTION%5F-%5FMP%5FL%5FEDWARDS-6696163.pdf?ref=localauthority.news), describing the Royal Function Rooms as one of Medway’s few medium-sized performing arts venues and arguing that community organisations should be given time to pursue Asset of Community Value status. That process is now moving forward. The City of Rochester Society is backing a request submitted by [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/) to designate the Royal Function Rooms as an Asset of Community Value. Meanwhile, a [Change.org petition](https://www.change.org/p/save-the-royal-function-rooms?ref=localauthority.news) started by [Grace Duffy](https://www.localauthority.news/i-think-the-time-is-right-for-medway-to-elect-its-first-green-councillor/) of Medway Greens has attracted 804 signatures. Duffy says campaigners ultimately want the Royal Function Rooms brought back into use as a community-run cultural space. None of this means that refusing the planning application or securing Asset of Community Value status would magically reopen the doors. A venue needs an operator and money. A 235-year-old site needs maintenance, and almost certainly rather a lot of it. Asset of Community Value status would not hand the building to campaigners, nor would it force the owner to reopen it. There is also no guarantee that, after a serious attempt to find a sustainable cultural or community use, the answer will ultimately be that none can be found. Refusing eight homes does not, by itself, produce a functioning venue. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-05-22-at-11.21.22-2.png) Plans for the Royal Function Rooms. But those are questions about what happens next. The question currently before the planning system is whether the opportunity for any future public use should be permanently removed. With the main consultation deadlines now passed, the application is expected to come before the Planning Committee at a future meeting, although no date has yet been set. When it reaches them, councillors will have to weigh the case for eight homes and the long-term future of a vacant listed building against the objections and the concerns raised by organisations specifically responsible for understanding theatres and historic buildings. But before councillors decide to allow its public use to disappear permanently, a more basic question remains. Has anyone actually proved that the Royal Function Rooms can no longer be used as a venue? ### Medway’s exiled rail monument finally makes it to York Back in May, [we revealed](https://www.localauthority.news/the-plaque-that-couldnt-survive-medway/) that the monument near Cuxton marking the UK rail speed record had not been stolen, as its sudden disappearance might have suggested. Instead, after years of repeated vandalism, the whole thing had been removed and sent to the National Railway Museum in York. [The plaque that couldn’t survive MedwayA rail mystery near Cuxton, a useful budget chart, and the latest Gun Wharf shuffle![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--cb3765db-210a-4708-bda7-93a80a2d7f52.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/geograph-3930201-by-Chris-Whippet-2-873291f5-b5d6-4c79-b30a-26d09652826e.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-plaque-that-couldnt-survive-medway/) Getting it there turned out to be slightly more complicated than expected. The monument was due to arrive at the museum in May, but a low bridge on the approach meant a road closure was required to transport the plinth to its new home. That delayed the move by several weeks. It has now finally been installed alongside the museum’s Eurostar exhibit, next to a Class 373 power car of the type that set the record in 2003. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/image-2.png) The plaque at the National Rail Museum. Photo: National Rail Museum. Rob Scargill, Lead Curator at the National Railway Museum, said, “Throughout history, some of the most exciting innovations and record-breaking moments have come from rail travel and engineering. The Eurostar speed record of 2003 showcased that innovation, ambition and engineering excellence that continue to define Britain’s railways.” “By bringing this plaque into our collection and displaying it alongside the Class 373 power car, we can help ensure this important moment in railway history is preserved and accessible to millions of visitors for years to come.” There are currently no known plans to return the monument to Medway or to create a replacement near the line where the record was actually set. The monument is now safe, visible and sitting beside a Eurostar. It is just doing all of those things in York. ## ****Don’t miss what’s next.** Join thousands of Medway readers receiving independent reporting on the stories shaping where they live, work and spend their time. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### “We don’t have to impose ourselves on people” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/we-dont-have-to-impose-ourselves-on-people/ Last updated: 2026-07-12T06:00:47.000Z *Marie-Claire Delbroque is the CEO of* [*MHS Homes Group*](https://mhs.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, the largest independent landlord in Kent. Steven sat down with her and talked about what brought her to Medway, how MHS is different to all other housing providers, and what the future might hold for the organisation.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/marie-claire-1-1.jpg) Marie-Claire Delbrouque. **What is your official occupation?** CEO of MHS. **What does that role entail?** It's my job to lead MHS as a group. We've got 10,000 homes. We've got our group. Our parent company, [MHS](https://mhs.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), is a charity. Underneath that, we've got a registered housing provider subsidiary, [Heart of Medway](https://mhs.org.uk/heart-of-medway/?ref=localauthority.news). I oversee the leadership team of both of those organisations. I work alongside the board to set our strategy, to make sure that we're delivering for our customers. I help set where the investment goes, how we spend our money. I look after the team, I create the future, I make sure we did a good job today and everything else that's thrown into the mix. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** I was a board member for the NHS but stepped down last month because it was difficult to try and give my time to both. The intersection between health and housing is important. I did that for a couple of years but stepped away. I'm a board member for the [Medway Place Board](https://www.wearemedway.org/our-board-members?ref=localauthority.news). We are [Medway Champions](https://www.wearemedway.org/medway-champions?ref=localauthority.news). We are part of a whole host of different kinds of civic groups that mean that we are collectively contributing to what life in Medway looks like for the people that live in our communities. > Living in a brilliant home, a safe home, a warm home means you're far more likely to be in good health **What is that intersection between health and housing?** Well, if you live in poor housing, unsafe housing, or you might not have a home, or it might be damp, mouldy or in disrepair, then it will have huge consequences on your physical health. Home has an important part to play in our mental health. That feeling of safety and security, psychological safety, the place we go to stay safe, to keep our family safe, to help them thrive. When your home is not a place that you love or that you look forward to going to, we can expect that there will be health outcomes there. Conversely, living in a brilliant home, a safe home, a warm home means you're far more likely to be in good health. You're far more likely to be able to study well, to secure a job, to stay in that job, to be in a good relationship. I prefer to focus on what happens when we give people a great home from a health perspective. **What effort does MHS put into ensuring that there is positive housing and health connection?** Lots, I think. MHS is an interesting structure. I think it makes us only interesting to us, but I think it is interesting to other people because at MHS level we're not regulated by the [Regulator of Social Housing](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/regulator-of-social-housing?ref=localauthority.news). Things like [Awaab’s Law](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awaabs-law-guidance-for-social-landlords/awaabs-law-guidance-for-social-landlords-timeframes-for-repairs-in-the-social-rented-sector?ref=localauthority.news), the legislation passed to make sure that people aren't living in social housing that has long-standing damp and mould concerns. Technically, at MHS, we wouldn't have to comply with Awaab’s Law because we're not a registered social housing provider, but we opt in because we know it's an important indicator of how well somebody is living in that home. This year we will invest just over £25 million in replacing roofs, upgrading doors, windows, upgrading kitchens, bathrooms. That's probably our biggest investment ever in the history of MHS in terms of providing upgrades that matter to customers. We would do 27,000 repairs to our homes every year. I would see that as 27,000 opportunities for us to spend time with customers in their home, making sure that they are living in a safe home for them and their family. On top of that, we have crisis support funds, tenancy sustainment teams, people that will go out and do that extra above and beyond type stuff to make sure that people are claiming the benefits they're entitled to, so that they can afford to pay their rent, keep their heating on. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. **How big is MHS's housing stock?** We've got just over 10,000 homes. About eight-and-a-bit thousand of those would be in and around Medway. The others would be only just outside of the Medway area. Somebody told me that one in every 12 homes in Medway would be an MHS home. That gives you an idea of context of our size and scale. **Why aren't you a registered social housing provider?** That's a huge question. That just dates back to where we began. In 1990, we were set up. There was no such thing as Medway Council in 1990\. It would have been Rochester-upon-Medway, and they took the decision to create a slightly different model to other local authorities at the time when people were transferring what we called council houses into housing providers. We have never registered since because we think it affords us some opportunity to do things slightly differently for our customers and also because we made a commitment back in 1990 and it's written black and white in our constitution. It was a promise we made to our customers. Some of those customers still live in our homes, and I think it's important that we, as a landlord, are true to our word. That's the promise we made, and we've stuck to it. We have got Heart of Medway, which is a registered housing provider, and that gives us flexibility. It means we can choose which hat we need to wear based on the outcome we're trying to deliver for our customers. The best example would be back when bedroom tax was introduced. MHS being non-registered meant that MHS customers were not compelled to pay bedroom tax, and colleagues, way before me, stood up against that and managed to get that money back for our residents, which I think was hugely important for them. **What is your involvement with Heart of Medway?** Heart of Medway doesn't employ any staff. It essentially accesses staff and services from MHS, and MHS provide those services to Heart of Medway. There's only two people that play a direct role in Heart of Medway from MHS, which is me and our company secretary. > One of the things that I absolutely love, genuinely love about Medway, is there's such a sense of partnership and collaboration **How does MHS improve housing for Medway as a whole?** One of the things that I absolutely love, genuinely love about Medway, is there's such a sense of partnership and collaboration. When I got here, I thought that would look like it's looked like other places I've worked. Then I got here and realised it's different here and people mean it. I can't quite get to the bottom of how it's been created. Everybody that I ask tells me it's just who we are, it's just what we do. But it's not replicated everywhere. We will always have a charity of the year. This year it's [Demelza](https://www.demelza.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), and that's about how we make a positive contribution to the charities and communities that we work in. We have a program called Days for Kent, where we encourage staff to give up some of their time to volunteer locally for issues or matters that are important to our customers or people living in Medway. We sponsor various things. We have a presence at [Medway Pride](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). From a staff perspective, we employ 360 people. About 65% of our staff live in Medway. When we talk about community, we always say we don't just serve the community. We are the community. **What for you are the biggest challenges coming up in the year ahead?** The biggest challenge for us, and we're not alone here at all, and that's why we're seeing quite a lot of consolidation in the sector, is we have a finite pot of money. Our income comes from customers' rent money, and there's a set amount of that. That has to go as far as being able to invest, upgrade, and repair our existing homes. There are still thousands of people on the housing waiting list here in Medway, and it's our absolute fundamental responsibility to be housing as many people as we can. That constant balance between investing enough in our existing homes so people are in safe, affordable homes, but also trying to make sure we can develop is harder each year. The last couple of years we've seen a lot of changes in legislation of social housing, all coming from a really good place intended to make sure that we are raising the bar for the people that live in our homes but there is a cost to it. Making sure we've got enough staff that we can oversee that safely whilst also trying to make sure that there's enough set aside to develop new homes, and that's a really tough one for us. **What is your target for how many new houses to be building?** We don't have a target. What we have is a business plan that sets aside as much as we can. We have had to lower our development program intentionally over the next three years because the level of investment needed in our existing homes is higher than it has been in the past, and that has to be our primary responsibility. **Why is that?** It's a number of things. Because our homes came over from stock transfer in 1990, it means lots of things like roofs, for example, will be due to be replaced at a similar time. Cost of labour, cost of materials has gone up, cost of using subcontractors to help the specialist works has gone up, cost of living is higher, so our wage bill is higher. Where we happen to be in the life cycle of components means we've got more to repair or replace over the next few years. They're important because if we don't get something like roofs, windows, doors right, they turn into leaks, damp and mould, and we end up paying much more in a responsive repairs budget to just keep going back repairing something. Part of it's a data issue. We have good data, but it's not perfect. It makes assumptions on when somebody's boiler, windows or kitchen is due for replacement. The only way we know that is by getting out there, working with customers and seeing it for ourselves. We've invested a million pounds this year in trying to get into every single one of our homes to make sure that we are clear on what's needed. We hope in terms of development we'll be able to increase development numbers from 2030 onwards. **With local government reorganisation and Medway Council coming to an end, will you become NKHS?** Well, if we follow the model of Heart of Medway, we'd be Heart of North Kent, which might make our acronym HoNK. I don't think we had a huge appetite for that. All of that is up for discussion at the moment. The thing that matters far more than the name for us is that what we have got around us is partners that we can work with. Whatever the outcome is from the local government reorganisation, we will work with whoever our partners are to do the very best we can. But yes, there's some naming stuff there to be unpicked. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Labour wants to scrap the mayoral rules it restored two years ago URL: https://www.localauthority.news/labour-wants-to-scrap-the-mayoral-rules-it-restored-two-years-ago/ Last updated: 2026-07-17T15:40:36.000Z **Labour wants to scrap Medway’s mayoral points system, two years after restoring it. The change would stop the Conservatives from nominating the council’s final Mayor, while the wording of the motion appears to suggest Medway won't be holding local elections next year after all. We look at what the proposal means, why it matters, and what it may reveal about the final year of Medway Council, alongside an urgent update on HMS Saxifrage, council business, news in brief, events, and lots more.* ### Labour wants to scrap the mayoral rules it restored two years ago If you want to sneak news into a council agenda, burying it in a constitutional motion is certainly one way of doing it. A [proposal to scrap Medway’s mayoral points syste](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=90469&ref=localauthority.news)m appears to do two things at once. Firstly, it would stop the Conservatives from nominating the council’s final Mayor. Secondly, it appears to indicate that the current Medway Council will remain in office for an extra year, with no elections to the existing authority in 2027. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-10-at-12.34.39.png) Current Mayor Douglas Hamandishe and Deputy Mayor Sharon Jackson. Labour backbencher Mark Prenter has tabled a motion to abolish the points system used to decide which political group nominates the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Under the current calculations, the Conservatives would be next in line for the 2027/28 municipal year. Prenter instead wants to return to a system in which the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the full council, following nomination by the largest political group. Labour has a majority in the chamber, so the practical effect is obvious enough. The motion’s justification is equally revealing. It says that “in light of the extension of Medway Council’s term ahead of local government reorganisation, there will now be one final additional year before the Council is abolished.” It goes on to argue that, because the points system was designed to operate over the long term, it should not apply to that final year. That wording appears to assume something that has not been publicly confirmed until now. The expectation has long been that local government reorganisation would ultimately result in Medway Council being abolished and replaced by a new authority from 2028\. What has been less clear is what happens in the meantime. The current council was elected in 2023 and, under normal circumstances, would face the electorate again in 2027. Prenter’s motion instead proceeds on the basis that those councillors will continue for one additional year, with Medway Council surviving until 2028 before finally disappearing. If that is correct, it would mean there are no ordinary Medway Council elections in 2027\. Instead, voters would likely elect members of a shadow authority covering north Kent preparing to take over the following year. That may prove entirely accurate. It is, however, the first time that expectation appears to have found its way into a formal Medway Council document. It also explains why Labour suddenly wants to revisit a constitutional argument it believed it had settled only two years ago. The points system is designed to spread the mayoralty between political groups over time. Each group accumulates points according to the number of councillors it has. When it reaches the top of the table, it gets to nominate the Mayor and Deputy Mayor before having its points reduced, and the cycle begins again. Under that calculation, Labour’s turn ends with the current Mayor, Cllr [Douglas Hamandishe](https://www.localauthority.news/my-baptism-to-life-was-seeing-mankind/), and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Sharon Jackson. The Conservatives would then be next in line for 2027/28. Labour would rather that did not happen. Instead, Prenter proposes deleting the entire points system and replacing it with election by the council. Since Labour controls the council, it would continue to choose the Mayor until Medway Council itself ceases to exist. There is, to be fair, a genuine constitutional argument behind that. The points system assumes there will always be another year for another party to have its turn. Local government reorganisation has rather ruined that assumption. If only one final year remains, Labour argues that it makes more sense for the largest political group to nominate the Mayor than to continue a rotation that will never be completed. Reasonable people can disagree. The awkwardness comes from who is making that argument. Medway’s points system originally operated between 1999 and 2009 before being abolished by the Conservative administration. Labour spent years arguing that decision was wrong, unsuccessfully attempting to restore the system in 2019 before finally doing so after taking control of the council in 2023\. The officer report accompanying that decision noted that the points system had originally been adopted because it was considered “the fairest and most appropriate system”. Two years later, the fairest and most appropriate system has apparently become considerably less fair and appropriate. There is another curiosity in the way this change is being proposed. When Labour restored the points system, the administration asked officers to prepare a formal constitutional review. That report explained the history, legal position and implications before councillors voted on the changes. This time, the proposed constitutional rewrite has arrived through a motion from a Labour backbencher. The route is perfectly legitimate. Council rules require that any proposal to amend the constitution be automatically referred to the next ordinary council meeting before it can be debated. Even so, it is an unusual way to initiate a constitutional change of this significance. Asked why the proposal had been brought forward in the first place, a spokesperson for the Labour Group said only, “The introduction to the motion lays out the rationale.” The Conservatives have no intention of letting the irony pass unnoticed. Opposition leader [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) accused Labour of making “yet another u-turn.” He said, “Yet another u-turn, after spending years berating the Conservative Group for using the same system, demonstrates their complete inability to take decisions and then stick to them.” “I am, of course, disappointed for our group not to have the chance of electing a Mayor and Deputy for the final municipal year,” he said. “This change says more about the state of the current Labour and Co-operative Group and their group leader’s lack of control of his group than anything else, and we will be voting against this motion.” By then, councillors should also know whether the motion is right to assume that Medway voters will not elect a new council in 2027. If so, it would be an unusual way for residents to learn that next year’s expected local elections are not happening. Constitutional housekeeping does have a habit of hiding the interesting bits in the small print. ***Local Authority** **is now on WhatsApp.** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for **Local Authority*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ### HMS Saxifrage set to leave Medway for dismantling The end may finally be approaching for the First World War warship hidden inside Chatham Docks. Last week, *Local Authority* [reported](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-hidden-first-world-war-ship-faces-uncertain-future/) that campaigners feared HMS Saxifrage, also known as HMS President, could be forced to leave its berth in Basin 3 unless a new home could be found. Since then, the situation has deteriorated sharply. [Medway’s hidden First World War ship faces uncertain futureThe campaign to save HMS Saxifrage, plus care home for Innovation Park site, active travel proposals and a busy events weekend![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--c0166a53-d70d-47f1-905d-5c1a18cd27a9.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/494354068_613903188370062_5257682490224423902_n-1-2dfab574-9efc-42ef-b097-83aec2308e4c.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-hidden-first-world-war-ship-faces-uncertain-future/) The vessel is now due to be towed to Erith and dismantled later this month after the company that has effectively been keeping it afloat said it had run out of alternatives. ArcelorMittal Kent Wire has told the Q-Ship Society that the ship must be removed as the company closes its Chatham operation and prepares to leave the docks. It says an independent survey found the vessel to be in very poor condition, with extensive deterioration and asbestos throughout, making any long-term restoration highly complex and prohibitively expensive. The letter also reveals quite how precarious the arrangement has become. ArcelorMittal agreed to berth HMS Saxifrage at its premises in 2016, with the approval of the port authority. But according to the company, the ship’s owner failed to meet the costs involved. “The owner of the ship did not pay the mooring fees they were obliged to pay,” the letter said. ArcelorMittal says it has instead covered the mooring fees itself, as well as the installation and ongoing operation of bilge pumps needed to keep the vessel safely afloat. For much of the past decade, in other words, one of Britain’s rarest surviving warships appears to have remained above water because a wire manufacturer was paying the bills. The company announced in December that it would close its Chatham site because of what it described as the severity and scale of the challenges facing the business. It is now in the final stages of leaving and says it would breach its lease and statutory obligations if HMS Saxifrage remained behind. ArcelorMittal says it explored several options, including discussions with the port authority and the landlord, but was unable to find a viable way to relocate the ship. It now intends to have HMS Saxifrage towed to a specialist facility in Erith, where it will be dismantled in accordance with safety and environmental regulations. “This is an outcome we regret,” the company said. “We recognise the strength of feeling that many people have towards HMS President.” It added that, after considering the alternatives, dismantling was “the only responsible course of action within our control.” The Q-Ship Society has responded with what amounts to a final appeal. The group has spent several years campaigning to preserve HMS Saxifrage, one of only three surviving Royal Navy warships built during the First World War. It had hoped to secure a permanent berth at Collier Wharf in Gillingham, where the ship could become the centrepiece of a maritime heritage attraction. That proposal never progressed, and the society is now urgently seeking a temporary or permanent home to prevent the move to Erith. It is appealing to museums, maritime organisations, heritage trusts, councils, private benefactors and members of the public for facilities, expertise, sponsorship or financial support. The society says the ship may be only days away from being lost. “The clock is ticking,” it said. “Once this vessel is gone, it can never be replaced.” Unless a credible alternative emerges within days, HMS Saxifrage will be towed from Chatham to Erith and dismantled later this month. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Thursday:** [Council](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6714&ref=localauthority.news) meets to discuss fire station closures, budget amendments, councillor allowances, and the aforementioned changes to the mayoral system. **New planning applications:** - Conversion of a storage building into a [gym](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=THLTQFKNLZJ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Luton. - New HMO applications for [Charter Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TH52VFKNJIP00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), as well as two different applications next door to each other on [Copenhagen](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=THJYZHKNKUL00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) [Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=THJYZ7KNKUJ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. ### In brief 🟢 Almost a year after [we revealed the bitter infighting that tore through the Medway Green Party](https://www.localauthority.news/infighting-resignations-and-a-coup/), its former chair Matthew Broadley has found himself back in the news. [The Telegraph this week reported](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/07/08/polanski-ally-cautioned-assaulted-teenager/?ref=localauthority.news) that Broadley received a police caution for common assault following an incident involving teenagers at the 2018 Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The newspaper says the Green Party was aware of both the caution and the wider allegations before Broadley was selected as a candidate in last year’s Kent County Council elections. Broadley disputes significant elements of the allegations, while the Green Party said it had “previously considered issues relating to past allegations” and continued to ensure “relevant processes are checked.” We approached the Medway Green Party for comment but received no response before publication. 🗣️ ITV decided to ask voters in Gillingham [what they thought of Andy Burnham](https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2026-07-03/what-will-the-king-of-the-north-mean-for-labours-landslide-launchpad-in-kent?ref=localauthority.news). 🗄️ The Independent Group has shared that the planning appeal by the developer of a proposed 800 homes north of Wainscott [has been dismissed](https://www.facebook.com/TheIndependentGroupOnMedwayCouncil/posts/-richborough-planning-appeal-dismissed-800-houses-proposed-in-wainscott-the-inde/1001594179152069/). 🪧 The Independent Group has also had a [change of leadership](https://www.facebook.com/TheIndependentGroupOnMedwayCouncil/posts/pfbid02RNKdonKRBvnsiWM3tvLnxX1BB1WAkMXaYxFgrnfhZEXdJcVzCjBgjFBqioHfzsqpl), with leader George Crozer standing down from running the group. The new leader is Michael Pearce, with Elizabeth Turpin as deputy. 📞 Bellway Homes has been told to [stop phoning members of Medway's planning committee](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/developer-told-to-stop-ringing-up-councillors-ahead-of-housi-342485/?ref=localauthority.news) ahead of votes on one of their developments. 🗳️ Medway Council leader Vince Maple has been elected as the new Chair of [Key Cities](https://keycities.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a cross-party network representing 22 of the UK's largest and most economically significant urban areas outside the major metropolitan centres. 🚌 Kent Country have launched a new [Cliffe to Bluewater bus service](https://kentcountrybuses.co.uk/plan-your-journey/?ref=localauthority.news). ### Property of the week This Grade II listed end-terrace on Mansion Row in Brompton is on the market for offers in excess of £475,000 and is doing quite a lot at once, with four bedrooms, four floors, two bathrooms, two reception rooms, a courtyard garden, and the general air of a house that has seen several versions of Medway come and go. It has the period fundamentals you’d want from this sort of place, with sash windows, tall rooms, old proportions, and enough character to justify its listing status, but the layout still looks practical rather than precious. There’s a kitchen and dining room on the ground floor, a lounge and bedroom above, another bedroom and dressing room below, and two more bedrooms at the top with rooftop views. Parking is the less romantic bit, with residents’ permits and the option to rent a rear garage, but that is part of the deal when you buy into one of Brompton’s older terraces. Lots of character, plenty of space, and just enough everyday usefulness to keep it from feeling like a museum piece. [Check out this 4 bedroom end of terrace house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in Mansion Row, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 for £475,000\. Marketed by Springbok Properties, Nationwide![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-8b2d07c8-e4d3-45fe-b259-59815a2ac76f.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/7717ecd096aef0739d76f830b32a07e7-002ecd5f-23a7-4e9b-a25d-2e1a47023a37.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/90690747?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🍒 Sat 11 Jul - [**Vines Cherry Picnic**](https://friendsofthevines.co.uk/events/?ref=localauthority.news) // Bring a picnic and enjoy local cherries and family activities. The Vines, Rochester. Free. 🎭 13 - 18 Jul - [**Duncan Rand One Act Play Festival**](https://www.ticketsource.com/mlt?ref=localauthority.news) // 53rd edition, bringing theatre groups together in friendly competition. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £11. 🎶 Thu 16 Jul - [**Arts and Harmonies**](https://medway-can-sing-cic.sumupstore.com/product/arts-and-harmonies-the-games-edition?ref=localauthority.news) // Music and arts themed games night with prizes organised by Medway Can Sing CIC. Holcombe Sports Club, Rochester. Tickets £8. 🎸 Fri 17 Jul - [**Space**](https://www.facebook.com/threesheetspub/events) // Pioneering English indie rock band from Liverpool. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Tickets £23.50. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### Medway’s university dream becomes a skills strategy URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-university-dream-becomes-a-skills-strategy/ Last updated: 2026-07-14T18:27:02.000Z **For more than 20 years, Medway has had a university campus, thousands of students, and ambitions that stretched well beyond simply training the local workforce. A new strategy for Universities at Medway offers a chance to look at what became of that original vision, and what role higher education now plays in Medway’s future.* ### Medway’s university dream becomes a skills strategy There are around 8,000 university students in Medway, which is the sort of fact that feels as though it should be more obvious than it is. On any weekday, thousands of students are heading to lectures, seminars and laboratories on the Chatham campus. They are studying engineering, pharmacy, nursing, business, and science. Some are carrying out research with an international reputation. Others will eventually become the nurses, pharmacists, and engineers working across Kent. Yet somehow, twenty years after the first students arrived, Medway still doesn't really feel like a university town. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/drill-hall-library_1920w-1.jpg) The Drill Library, Universities at Medway. This week, the organisations behind Universities at Medway unveiled [Vision 2035](https://www.wearemedway.org/vision2035highereducation?ref=localauthority.news), a new strategy setting out how higher education should help shape north Kent over the next decade. Like most strategy documents, it contains healthy doses of collaboration, innovation, partnerships and growth. It also contains a perfectly reasonable ambition to make higher education a driving force for the local economy. But reading it also prompts a different question. What actually happened to the university Medway thought it was building? Back in the late 1990s, Medway was one of the largest urban areas in England without a university. Chatham Dockyard had closed little more than a decade earlier, the surrounding area was being redeveloped, and the Thames Gateway programme promised a new economic future for north Kent. A university was part of that story, but the ambition was never just to train the workforce local employers needed. It was to give Medway the sort of institution that could change how a place thought about itself. The idea was genuinely unusual. Rather than creating a brand new University of Medway, four existing institutions would work together on a shared campus. The University of Kent, the University of Greenwich, Canterbury Christ Church University and MidKent College would each bring different specialisms while sharing facilities and creating something larger than any one institution could achieve alone. It was called the 'multiversity,' which is exactly the sort of awful word regeneration people used to enjoy saying in the early 2000s, but it was a serious civic idea. For a while, it felt exactly that. The campus grew around engineering, pharmacy, business, journalism, music, fine art and health. The [Drill Hall Library](https://campus.medway.ac.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) became one of the largest shared academic libraries in Europe. The [Medway School of Pharmacy](https://msp.ac.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) was the first new pharmacy school to open in Britain for two decades. The [Natural Resources Institute](https://nri.org/?ref=localauthority.news) gave the campus genuine international research credentials. There were television and radio studios, industry-standard newsrooms, music rehearsal spaces and fine art studios. Journalists, musicians, artists and business students mixed with engineers, pharmacists and scientists. It was not Canterbury, but it was never meant to be. The point was to create something distinctly Medway. Looking back, it is easy to forget quite how broad the offer once was. People often remember Universities at Medway as somewhere engineers and nurses study, which is true but incomplete. The original promise was wider than that. It was about bringing higher education into a place that had long lacked it, raising aspirations, attracting investment, and giving local young people more reasons to stay. It was also about culture, identity and confidence, even if those things are harder to fit into a strategy document. Then, almost without anyone really noticing, the campus started to change. There was no dramatic announcement that Universities at Medway was heading in a different direction. Instead, the changes arrived one at a time. The [School of Music and Fine Art closed](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/kent-university-department-could-close-116731/?ref=localauthority.news). [Journalism disappeared](https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/university-of-kent-journalism-centre-closing/?ref=localauthority.news). Other humanities courses quietly went with it. Outside the shared campus itself, the [University for the Creative Arts left Rochester altogether](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-57001439?ref=localauthority.news), removing another significant part of Medway’s higher education and creative landscape. Kent later announced a broader reshaping of its academic portfolio, with subjects including anthropology, art history, health and social care, music and audio technology, and philosophy and religious studies being phased out. Some of those losses were part of wider decisions made by the university rather than decisions specific to Medway, but in Medway they added to the same feeling that the broad campus had become narrower. The University of Kent’s footprint also appeared to shrink, with the transfer of the Gillingham Building to Greenwich seeming symbolic of an institution gradually concentrating its activity elsewhere, even if the subsequent merger between Kent and Greenwich ultimately made the point - apologies - academic. Spend enough time around the campus during those years, and you could feel it happening. There were still students. Laboratories were still busy, and pharmacy and engineering continued to thrive. But the place somehow felt narrower than it once had. That is not necessarily a criticism. Universities across the country have spent the past decade making difficult choices as financial pressures, changing student demand and government policy forced institutions to decide what they could realistically sustain. Medway was never going to be insulated from that. Nor is this simply a story about decline. In some respects, the campus has become more confident about what it is. Health has expanded, engineering remains one of its defining strengths, and the Natural Resources Institute continues to conduct world-leading research. MidKent College has established the [Medway School of Arts](https://www.midkent.ac.uk/courses/subjects/medway-school-of-art?ref=localauthority.news) following UCA’s departure, while the University of Kent is preparing to open the [Docking Station](https://www.kent.ac.uk/institute-cultural-creative-industries/dockingstation?ref=localauthority.news) as a new creative and digital hub. Vision 2035 estimates the campus now supports around 8,000 students and 600 staff, with an annual economic impact of around £100 million. ## ****Finding this useful?** Stay on top of what’s happening in Medway with independent local journalism delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. That shift is reflected throughout Vision 2035\. Read the [document](https://72b41a54-0cd6-4b60-874d-4e26438e4f84.filesusr.com/ugd/30442a%5F4770548acb44439c88f86b9805a4f0b5.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) and one thing becomes immediately obvious: The language has changed. Today’s priorities are advanced engineering, life sciences, public services, workforce shortages, industrial strategy, employer partnerships and economic growth. None of those things are wrong. In fact, Medway Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) makes exactly that case when he says the authority remains proud of the higher education provision offered locally and its role in providing opportunities for residents, “as well as a skilled workforce.” He is probably right. North Kent has a real skills problem. The Vision document says that by 2035, about 57% of jobs in Kent and Medway are expected to require qualifications at degree level or above, while only around 40% of north Kent’s workforce is currently qualified to that level. If Medway wants better jobs, stronger public services and an economy that does more than build flats and hope for the best, it needs higher-level skills. But it is also strikingly different from the ambition that first brought universities to Chatham Maritime. Back then, the university was not simply part of an economic strategy. It was part of a civic one. The idea was not only that Medway needed more graduates, but that Medway deserved the sort of institution that changes how a place sees itself. That original promise remains important because one of the founding aims was to broaden access to higher education. Vision 2035 suggests there is still some way to go, with fewer than 30% of Medway’s 16-18 study leavers entering higher education in 2022/23, compared with around 36% across the wider south east. Professor Jane Harrington, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich, perhaps comes closest to capturing that original spirit when she says she believes “it is the civic duty of a university to give back to the community it thrives in, making the lives of those who live on its doorstep better.” That is a bigger ambition than supplying skilled workers. It is about creating a place that feels different because a university is part of it. And that remains the curious thing about Universities at Medway. Walking around Chatham Maritime, the campus feels substantial, busy and successful. Walk up Dock Road to Chatham town centre, and it is surprisingly easy to forget it is there at all. Perhaps that is because there was never a University of Medway. Students identify with Kent, Greenwich or Canterbury Christ Church rather than the place itself. Perhaps it is because the campus has always sat slightly apart from the surrounding towns. Perhaps it is because many students commute in and out, meaning the campus can be full during the day without Medway feeling especially student-shaped in the evening. Or perhaps the original dream was simply harder to realise than anyone imagined. The next decade may make the answer clearer. The merger between Kent and Greenwich should, in theory, put Medway in a more central position between London and Canterbury. It could simplify a campus that has often been hard to explain. It could bring new investment, clearer leadership and a stronger sense of what Universities at Medway is supposed to be. Or, less excitingly, it could simply mean another round of governance charts, refreshed logos, and new ways of saying 'partnership.' Vision 2035 also proposes a new Strategic Board for Higher Education in Medway, facilitated by Medway Council and meeting at least twice a year. This may prove useful. It may even produce tangible work. But Medway has rarely suffered from a shortage of boards, strategies or people sitting around tables agreeing that collaboration is important. The more difficult task will be making the campus matter beyond the campus. That is made more complicated by the fact that Medway itself may not exist in its current form for much longer. Local government reorganisation is expected to replace Medway Council and Kent’s district councils with larger unitary authorities, while a new strategic authority is also expected to take on wider economic responsibilities. The civic map around Universities at Medway is about to change, just as the universities themselves are changing. In that context, higher education could become more important to Medway’s identity, not less. What is clear is that the campus being mapped out in Vision 2035 is no longer trying to become the broad university quarter imagined in the early years after the dockyard closed. It is becoming something else, a specialist partnership built around the skills, research and industries north Kent needs most. That may prove to be the right decision. But it is also a reminder that places change in ways nobody quite expects. The university Medway ended up with is not the one it first imagined. And that says as much about the last twenty years of Medway as it does about the universities themselves. ### Also... 🚒 The fight over fire cover on the Hoo Peninsula has now reached the 'motions at full council' stage, which is usually what happens when a decision is both important and not entirely in Medway Council’s hands. The latest twist is that Cllr [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/), the independent councillor for All Saints, says Grain Fire Station has been removed from the closure list, leaving Cliffe as the immediate focus of concern. Under the original proposals, both Grain and Cliffe faced closure, with Hoo retained as a strategic on-call station as part of wider changes to Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority’s estate. Spalding says he submitted 20 pages of representations about Grain and now wants to work with the fire service and Fire Authority to keep it open, while turning his attention to Cliffe. Meanwhile, two motions have been submitted ahead of next week’s Medway Council meeting: one from Spalding opposing any reduction in fire cover affecting Medway, and another from the Independent Group seeking to make it the council's formal position that Cliffe, Hoo, and Grain should all be protected. Both still need to survive the usual procedural obstacle course before councillors actually get to debate them. ## ****Don’t miss what’s next.** Join thousands of Medway readers receiving independent reporting on the stories shaping where they live, work and spend their time. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### “I'm fascinated by the figure of Jesus as a disrupter” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/im-fascinated-by-the-figure-of-jesus-as-a-disrupter/ Last updated: 2026-07-05T06:00:03.000Z *Adrian Bawtree is the Director of Music at* [*Rochester Cathedral*](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *and the Musical Director of the* [*Rochester Choral Society*](https://www.rochesterchoral.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Ahead of a Rochester Choral Society performance of '*[*Make More Sail*](https://www.rochesterchoral.co.uk/tickets-concerts/?ref=localauthority.news)*', a piece he wrote about HMS Victory, Steven sat down with him to talk about how you can become a member of the Rochester Choral Society, the differences between organs at Canterbury and Rochester Cathedrals, and why getting a silver medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians is as good as it gets...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/Adrian-Bawtree-1.jpg) Adrian Bawtree. **What is your official occupation?** I'm currently the Director of Music at [Rochester Cathedral](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/?ref=localauthority.news) and the Musical Director of [Rochester Choral Society](https://www.rochesterchoral.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I suppose that makes me a musician. **What is the Rochester Choral Society?** The Rochester Choral Society is one of the older choral societies in the country. It's got about a membership of about 90 singers, and we meet weekly on Tuesday nights. We perform three to four concerts a year, and we take on some of the really big repertoire that's out there. We're a group of amateur singers who like to come together and work really hard on exciting music. **How long have you been involved with the Society?** Coming to the end of my second year. **Do you take on new members?** Oh yes, getting in touch through [our website](https://www.rochesterchoral.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) would be the best way to get involved. The easiest way would be to come to one of our concerts and say to one of the singers, “I want to join the choir,” and meet one of the committee members, and they can take that forward. It is an audition, a gentle audition. I tend to call them more voice appreciations. What we're looking for is people who have got a voice who like to sing. Reading music is helpful. It's not essential. If you don't read music, it's how quickly you can pick things up. That can be quite challenging if you're not singing the top line, because everyone hears the top line and sings along with the tune, but singing the harmony can be more challenging. This is something you can learn to do while you're with us. > I'm always interested to hear from sopranos and tenors **Is there any particular area of the chorus you are looking for members for?** I'm always interested to hear from sopranos and tenors, who historically are the rare species. We're not closed to any vocal group at the moment. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/Rochester-Choral-Society-formal-The-Creation-2025-1.jpg) Adrian and the Rochester Choral Society. **You've got an upcoming performance, what can you tell us about that?** We're singing two pieces, one by Francois Poulenc, and that's his [Gloria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloria%5F%28Poulenc%29?ref=localauthority.news), which is quite a challenging little number. It's about 25 minutes long and great fun. It's quite modern-sounding. It's got amazing melodies in it. It's one of the classics, one of the common pieces that choirs like to perform, but it's a challenge. The second piece is a piece that I wrote the music for with a friend of mine who wrote the words. We’ve written it about HMS Victory, Admiral Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. I wrote it 25 years ago for the 200th anniversary of Trafalgar, when we did performances down in Portsmouth and a little performance in the MOD in London. What I didn’t realise was that HMS Victory was actually built in Chatham Dockyard. I think that’s really significant that we’re doing that piece. Make More Sail, the title of the piece, is one of the signals he sent to the fleet once they’d spotted the Spanish and French ships leaving port. We incorporate letters that Nelson wrote to Emma and vice versa. Perhaps the most amazing bit of history is told through the eyes of his signal lieutenant, John Pascoe, who basically hoisted up the flags when Nelson said, ‘I want you to make a signal to the fleet.’ Nelson’s actual original signal was England confides that every man will do his duty. Signal Lieutenant John Pascoe goes to Nelson and says, ‘We don’t have a flag for confides. I could spell it letter for letter, or we could substitute the word expects for confides, and that’s just one flag.’ Actually, the famous signal that Nelson sent that everyone says was his, originated from his Signal Lieutenant. I think that’s a great bit of history. **Where and when do people go to see the performance?** The performances in [St Augustine's Church](https://staugchurch.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham, and that's at six o'clock on Saturday the 11th of July. It's a nice big church. We've got six professional musicians, two soloists and myself. It should be really good. **It's a cantata rather than a musical. What does that mean?** Well, it's a sung story, a cantata. Cantatas generally are often religious storytellings. This is not religious, although it has a spiritual dimension to it. **Why is a Rochester Choral Society event being put on in Gillingham?** We were looking for a big church to do it. We do one concert in the Cathedral and that's our Easter concert, but we like to get out into the community, and we need a good flexible space to work from. I'd known St Augustine's Gillingham, and that we can get a big choir in there, and we can hopefully get a big audience as well. It's nice also to move around the area. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s hidden First World War ship faces uncertain future URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-hidden-first-world-war-ship-faces-uncertain-future/ Last updated: 2026-07-10T11:41:07.000Z **One of Britain’s rarest surviving First World War warships has spent almost a decade hidden away inside Chatham Docks. HMS Saxifrage, later known as HMS President, is now facing an uncertain future, with the Q-Ship Society warning that it must leave its current berth by mid-July. We look at the ship’s history, the campaign to move it to Collier Wharf in Gillingham, and what its situation says about heritage, ownership and the changing Medway waterfront.* ### Medway’s hidden First World War ship faces uncertain future For almost a decade, one of Britain’s rarest surviving warships has sat quietly inside Chatham Docks, hidden behind security fences and warehouses, unseen by almost everyone who passes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/image-1.png) HMS Saxifrage at Chatham Docks. Photo: Q-Ship Society. Built during the closing months of the First World War, [HMS Saxifrage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS%5FPresident%5F%281918%29?ref=localauthority.news) later spent more than 90 years on the Thames as HMS President before arriving in Medway in 2016\. Today, it is one of only three surviving Royal Navy warships built during the conflict. Now, campaigners fear its future on the Medway is in doubt. The [Q-Ship Society](https://q-shipsociety.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) says HMS Saxifrage must leave its current berth at Chatham Docks by mid-July and is calling for the vessel to be relocated to nearby Collier Wharf in Gillingham, where it hopes to establish a permanent heritage attraction. Without another home, the society fears the ship could ultimately be lost altogether. HMS Saxifrage was launched in January 1918 as one of the Royal Navy’s Flower-class sloops. During the First World War, German U-boats posed a growing threat to Britain’s merchant shipping. One response was the development of Q-ships, naval vessels disguised as harmless cargo ships. The idea was to tempt submarines into surfacing before revealing concealed guns and opening fire. Although officially a sloop, Saxifrage was built to undertake Q-ship duties before later serving in more conventional naval roles. Following the war, it was renamed HMS President and converted into a Royal Naval Reserve drill ship, beginning a second career that would last far longer than its wartime service. For generations of Londoners, HMS President was a familiar sight on the Thames. Moored close to Blackfriars, it served as the headquarters of the Royal Naval Reserve in London for decades before eventually leaving the capital in 2016 during works associated with the Thames Tideway project. The vessel’s relocation to Chatham marked another chapter in its long history. Yet despite arriving in one of Britain’s most important historic dockyard towns, it has remained almost entirely out of public view. Unlike HMS Caroline in Belfast or HMS M33 in Portsmouth, both preserved as museum ships, HMS Saxifrage sits inside a working commercial dock. Visitors cannot simply walk aboard. Many people living in Medway are unlikely even to know it is there. That, says the Q-Ship Society, is precisely the problem. The organisation has spent the past four years trying to secure a permanent public home for the vessel, arguing that one of Britain’s most significant surviving naval ships should be accessible rather than hidden away inside an operational port. For years, that arrangement attracted little attention. But as the future of Chatham Docks has come under increasing scrutiny, so too has the future of the vessel moored inside it. The vessel is currently berthed in Basin 3, part of the commercial dock estate that forms the focus of Peel Waters’ regeneration plans. Peel has spent several years pursuing plans to regenerate large parts of the site, arguing that redevelopment could deliver new homes, employment space and public access to the waterfront while retaining maritime employment elsewhere on the estate. Those proposals have proved among the most contentious planning debates Medway has seen in recent years. Business owners and dock operators have argued the commercial port should continue to operate, while supporters of redevelopment have pointed to the economic opportunities offered by opening up previously inaccessible waterfront land. For the Q-Ship Society, HMS Saxifrage has now become part of that unresolved wider story. Daniel Broom, the society’s chair, said members had spent years trying to find a permanent Medway home for the vessel before learning it would soon have to leave its existing berth. “We only found out by chance that the ship was leaving Basin 3,” he told *Local Authority*. He said the society had approached Peel about relocating the vessel to Collier Wharf when it became aware arrangements were being made for the ship to move. The society now believes Collier Wharf offers the best long-term solution. Located a short distance from Chatham Docks, the riverside site is seen by campaigners as an opportunity not simply to relocate HMS Saxifrage but to create a new heritage destination focused on Medway’s maritime history. Their vision extends beyond the vessel itself. The society wants to create a museum telling the story of Britain’s Q-ships and the campaign against German submarines during the First World War. It believes the attraction could work alongside existing heritage destinations such as Chatham Historic Dockyard and the Medway Queen, bringing additional visitors into Gillingham while giving the ship the permanent public home it has lacked since leaving London. “If a new berth can’t be found, the vessel is scrapped, and the last Flower-class sloop from World War One and one of three Royal Navy warships from World War One is gone forever,” Broom said. With what it believes is little time remaining, the society has launched a [public petition](https://www.change.org/p/request-medway-council-to-stop-peel-l-p-s-destruction-of-historic-collier-wharf?ref=localauthority.news) calling on Medway Council to become involved in efforts to secure the vessel’s future. The authority confirmed it has been approached by the Q-Ship Society. However, it said it has not held discussions about the possible use of Collier Wharf because the site is privately owned and no invitation to do so had been received from its owners. As a result, it declined to comment on whether it would support the principle of creating a heritage berth there. Peel Waters was approached for comment but did not respond before publication. For now, HMS Saxifrage remains behind the security fences of Chatham Docks, largely unnoticed despite its remarkable history. Whether the vessel remains part of Medway’s waterfront, or quietly slips away from it after almost a decade, may become clear in the coming weeks. ****Local Authority is now on WhatsApp** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for Local Authority](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Licensing Hearing Panel](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6597&ref=localauthority.news) will convene to decide on a premises licence for a new private hire venue at Chatham Waters. **New planning applications:** - [80 bed care home and 11 adult social care units](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=THHNCFKNJF500&ref=localauthority.news) on the former Innovation Park Medway South site near Rochester Airport. - Conversion of Clock Tower Building at Chatham Historic Dockyard to [staff facilities and commercial offices](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TH2TWGKNI5700&ref=localauthority.news). ### In brief 🚓 Kent Police [dispersed two car meets](https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/kent/news/medway-car-meets-police-fines?ref=localauthority.news) last week, issuing nearly 50 fines in Rainham and Hoo. 🚲 Medway Council is [consulting on walking and cycling improvements](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2093/have%5Fyour%5Fsay%5Fon%5Fwalking%5Fand%5Fcycling%5Fimprovements%5Fin%5Fmedway?ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham and Chatham. 🥘 Gurkha Fire have [submitted a licence application](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) for a new venue called 'Canteen' next to Burger King on Chatham High Street. ### Property of the week This three-bedroom modern family home is the sort of listing that makes a virtue of not being strange, which in Medway property terms can feel almost refreshing. It is arranged over three floors, with a bright living room, kitchen/dining room, three double bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a top-floor landing that has been turned into a study area because modern life now requires every spare corner to be a workspace. The rear garden is low-maintenance, the driveway handles parking, and the private roof terrace gives it one genuinely showy feature without pretending the whole thing is a lifestyle concept. It looks practical, tidy and ready to move into, which may not be the most romantic pitch in the world, but is probably what quite a lot of people are actually looking for. [Check out this 3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale on Rightmove3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in Khartoum Parade, Chatham, Medway, ME4 for £400,000\. Marketed by Island Homes, Kent![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-e700f652-ee17-48c2-aae7-af8c64bbe0ae.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/6b19693e6ff791888e5d6931a364a8dd-3b304bed-79d6-4fac-a16d-ac3b155d9130.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/90333888?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🏰 3 - 5 Jul - [**Rochester Castle Live**](https://rochestercastlelive.com/?ref=localauthority.news) // Three days of outdoor concerts, headlined by Ministry of Sound Classical, The Libertines, and McFly. Rochester Castle Gardens. Tickets from £32.50. 🎸 Sat 4 Jul - [**The Libertines pre-show party**](https://www.facebook.com/threesheetspub/events) // The Missing Persons List, Spider Baby, and Angered Kenneth perform ahead of big Medway show. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Free. 🎉 Sat 4 Jul - [**Chatham Carnival**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/chatham-carnival?ref=localauthority.news) // Entertainment, exhibitions, live music, stalls, and more. Chatham High Street. Free. 🧑‍🎨 4 - 19 Jul - [**Medway Open Studios**](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news) // Free trail of art with dozens of venues and hundreds of artists. Various locations. Free. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### Voice of the Leader URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-2/ Last updated: 2026-07-01T17:12:36.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Medway Council leader Vince Maple, who discusses Labour Party leadership, local government reorganisation, and Medway's charities.* --- **Voice of the Leader** **by Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/07/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f41f84158-bc76-45d3-a860-bfdb380b584f_2240x2240-1.jpg) Cllr Vince Maple. Part of the challenge when writing a column like Voice of the Leader is events keep happening which you feel you need to include – so let’s start with the small matter of the leadership of my party and our country. As long-time readers of *Local Authority* will know, we have welcomed Keir Starmer to Medway on five different occasions – all of which sit vividly in my mind. The most recent was launching the General Election campaign at Priestfield Stadium, with Labour colleagues from around the country there on the hallowed turf in ME7\. Previous to that, Keir launched one of our five missions – to break down barriers at every stage – an important mission to ensure vocational education is given parity of esteem. The other three visits were all at key points of our historic 2023 local campaign, at our campaign launch at Gillingham Labour Club, at the Sunlight Centre with Angela Rayner on the eve of poll and probably most famously on the morning of our victory, where I welcomed “Keir on the Pier” to Labour-controlled Medway. Keir Starmer has been a strong supporter of our mission to increase pride in our community, not least through the programme which meant our three MPs securing £60 million for Medway in the Pride in Place Programme. I take this opportunity to thank Keir for his service to our party and the country, and although I have said previously I didn’t want to see a change of Prime Minister, I respect the decision he has taken. At time of typing, the leadership contest hasn’t formally begun, but what is increasingly clear is that Andy Burnham will be our next Labour Party Leader and Prime Minister. It’s interesting to recall that Andy made more visits than any other shadow minister to the Rochester and Strood by-election back in 2014, with the NHS a key campaigning issue. Since then, of course, he has served as an outstanding Greater Manchester Mayor, bringing forward dramatic changes to issues like skills, tackling homelessness and improvements in public transport. I am hopeful he will continue and enhance the matter of devolution so communities like Medway can access those key areas and resources we most definitely need. I look forward to working with him and his new cabinet members to bring improvements to our community here. This will be the last Voice of the Leader published before the publication of the outcome from MHCLG for Local Government Reorganisation for the region of Kent and Medway. As readers will know Medway, alongside Ashford and Canterbury, submitted option 4D alongside 4 other options. As I have said elsewhere, I am hopeful about government choosing our bold vision, but if that is not the case, I won’t be spending taxpayers' money on any judicial review. I believe this has been a fair and open process and to waste taxpayers' money on what would be, in my opinion, an unsuccessful challenge seems flawed. Clearly, there is plenty of work to do, and, of course, from a democratic perspective, residents will be able to vote for the leadership of the new council in May 2027, ahead of the official launch day on 1st April 2028. One of the biggest pleasures I get as council leader is to see amazing charity and not-for-profit organisations doing outstanding things for our community. In one single week recently I got to see many different examples. On the Saturday I joined [Medway Samaritans](https://www.samaritans.org/branches/rochester/?ref=localauthority.news) for their 60th anniversary celebrations – who knew that they started their existence in what is now the Central Theatre? With their home now in Strood, it was great to speak to some of the volunteers who have given decades of service. From an organisation with six decades of history to a charity which is very young in comparison, as on the Sunday I was honoured to speak at the unveiling of [Sofia’s Throne](https://www.thebluebellcircle.org/?ref=localauthority.news) in Halling – remembering Sofia who passed away at just seven years old of a rare brain tumour. The whole village of Halling had been there to support the family not just on this day but on every day of this journey. I have no doubt their next phase of this project will be a success. On Tuesday I visited two charities who are making a difference. [Thrift and Thrive](https://www.thriftandthrivemedway.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) have taken on the former Gray's site in Intra that previously hosted Gillingham Street Angels, which has now closed down. The Thrift and Thrive team are moving forward with a number of projects and, importantly, having a focus on collaborative partnership working, which is a great approach. I also visited the new main site for [One Big Family](https://www.helpingthehomeless.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), speaking to staff, volunteers and service users – they are a trusted local organisation who are there for those without a permanent home. They are bringing back their London to Medway overnight walk fundraiser this autumn. At the last Medway Matters Live, one of the volunteers from [Medway Street Angels](https://msahomeless.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) said I should come along and see what is happening with their weekly work. I was pleased to join them on the Wednesday night to lend a hand with the food kitchen in the car park in Chatham and chat to volunteers and guests who made use of the services. It was good that the manager from the council’s Crisis and Resilience fund was also there speaking to the organisational leaders to see what additional support may be available. Unsurprisingly, they were at pains to say they were not anything to do with the former charity mentioned above with a similar name, and I’m pleased to reiterate that here. In all these cases across this particular week, I wish these charities didn’t have to exist, but Medway is a stronger, more resilient and compassionate place for them existing, and I’m grateful to all of them sparing time with me and sharing their experiences. A huge thank you to the volunteers and leaders of these organisations and all charities making a difference across Medway every single day. *Cllr Vince Maple is the Leader of Medway Council and Labour councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton.* ### Five theories of local politics URL: https://www.localauthority.news/five-theories-of-local-politics/ Last updated: 2026-07-08T10:58:20.000Z **The Cuxton, Halling and Riverside by-election should be a small contest caused by a sad vacancy. Instead, it has become a useful little stress test for Medway politics, with the Conservatives defending old ground, the Greens chasing a historic breakthrough, Reform trying to turn visibility into votes, Labour keeping strangely quiet, and the Liberal Democrats technically involved. Here’s what each campaign thinks it is proving...* ### Five theories of local politics Somewhere in Halling, probably not far from a doorbell with a 'no cold callers' sign, a political activist is preparing to explain why this is the by-election that matters. That is the first absurdity of local campaigning. Everyone involved believes this is a vital democratic exercise, while many residents would rather not have their dinner interrupted by it. Still, on 23 July, one of five candidates will be elected to Medway Council in a ward that has suddenly become one of the most interesting political tests in Medway. The Cuxton, Halling and Riverside by-election follows the [death of Conservative councillor Phil Filmer](https://www.localauthority.news/long-serving-medway-councillor-phil-filmer-dies/), one of the longest-serving figures in Medway politics. Filmer had been a councillor since the days of Rochester-upon-Medway City Council, later becoming one of the fixtures of the Conservative administration that ran Medway for most of the authority’s existence. His portfolios were rarely glamorous but always visible, like roads, bins, street lights, buses, the Medway Tunnel. [Long-serving Medway councillor Phil Filmer diesPlus a Chatham shop faces questions, and Medway Council talks about what comes next![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--8cebf274-c902-479f-9153-23fd958326bf.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/PLPMEDCON-210924-4-2-1-c3276934-d794-4ff3-b3b0-bfc0feda6f87.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/long-serving-medway-councillor-phil-filmer-dies/) His death has left the Conservatives defending a seat that suddenly looks much less comfortable than it once might have done. [In 2023, the party held both seats](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=20230504&ward=2023.cuxtonhallingandriverside&ref=localauthority.news) in the newly created ward, with Matt Fearn topping the poll with 880 votes and Filmer taking the second seat with 685\. Just behind him was Green candidate Matt Nightingale on 641 votes. 44 votes separated the Conservatives from what would have been the first Green councillor ever elected to Medway Council. That number, unsurprisingly, has become the foundation stone of the Green campaign. The party has repeated it so often that it may need its own imprint. The Greens are not merely telling voters they would like to win. They are telling them they nearly did, and that this time they can finish the job. It is a sensible message, and one that contains just enough truth to be powerful, though it does require ignoring some of the more awkward details of a two-member ward election where the Conservatives still topped the poll comfortably. The difficulty for the Greens is that 2026 is not 2023, and the missing force in the last local elections now looms over the whole contest. Reform did not stand in Cuxton, Halling and Riverside last time. This time, it has become the party everyone else appears to be organising themselves around. The Conservatives warn that a vote for anyone else risks letting Reform in. The Greens insist Trish Marchant is the best candidate to defeat Reform. The Liberal Democrats have somehow managed to describe both Reform and the Greens as dangerous populists. Labour, in its own way, talks about unity rather than division. Reform, meanwhile, has mostly been busy taking photographs of itself campaigning. The Conservatives have selected Richard Thorne, which is about as straightforward a local Tory candidate as they could have found. Thorne lives in Halling, has been in the ward for more than 40 years, works locally, chairs Halling Parish Council and previously served as a Medway councillor between 2019 and 2023\. On the [nomination papers](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/9694/notice%5Fof%5Fpoll%5Fand%5Fpersons%5Fnominated%5Ffor%5Fcuxton%5Fhalling%5Fand%5Friverside%5Fby-election%5F2026?ref=localauthority.news), Thorne is the only candidate to publish an address in the ward. Trish Marchant lists an address in Gillingham, while the other three candidates are identified only as having an address somewhere in Medway. Thorne’s campaign is built around local rootedness, continuity and experience. He talks about congestion on the A228, the Lower Thames Crossing, housing development, infrastructure and the need for an accessible councillor. The Conservatives talk about him as someone who understands the villages. [Kelly Tolhurst](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-involved-in-politics-because/), the former Rochester and Strood MP, has endorsed him as someone who knows the local issues and would be a “vocal campaigner” for the ward. [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/), leader of the Medway Conservatives, has framed the contest more sharply, warning voters that anything other than a Conservative vote risks Reform winning the seat. That is where the Conservative campaign becomes more interesting. Thorne is being sold as the rooted local candidate, but his political history is not quite as simple as the leaflet version suggests. Before becoming a Conservative councillor for Strood South in 2019, he stood in the same ward for UKIP in 2015\. He then lost after contesting Fort Pitt in Chatham for the Conservatives in 2023\. None of that is especially scandalous. Plenty of right-of-centre politicians moved from UKIP into the Conservatives after Brexit, but it does add a certain texture to a campaign where the Conservatives are now trying to stop their own voters drifting right again. Visibly, the Tory campaign has been more traditional than spectacular. There are canvassing photos with clipboards, blue rosettes and activists on pavements, but not the constant stream of content Reform has produced. The impression is of a local association doing the usual things of knocking doors, asking residents to complete surveys, and trusting that Thorne’s name and Halling connections will carry weight. There has also been the occasional local Facebook oddity. In one exchange, a resident called Kizzi asked for the riverside to get some TLC, only for a reply to appear from a Karen Thorne, apparently posting on his behalf. “Hi Lizzy,” it began, before promising: “You’ll certainly get that tlc from me. Just need you to vote for me.” It is unlikely to make the campaign literature. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-12-1.png) Tories campaigning. Photo: Medway Conservatives. The Conservatives’ survey is standard local election machinery dressed as community engagement. It begins by asking about housing, green spaces, GP services and Medway Council’s management of local services and finance, before wandering into the more spiritually honest territory of local campaigning. How did you vote last time, who might you vote for next, can you deliver leaflets, would you like a postal vote, and might you one day want to become a Conservative councillor? That is not unusual. It is just the strange charm of electoral politics that the road from 'What matters to your family?' so often ends at 'Can we put you on a database?' ## ****Finding this useful?** Stay on top of what’s happening in Medway with independent local journalism delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. If the Conservatives are running on familiarity, the Greens are running on viability. Trish Marchant is not the candidate who came within 44 votes in 2023\. That was Matt Nightingale, now Vice-Chair of Cuxton Parish Council, who has endorsed her instead. Marchant has an [electoral history](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=candidates&id=marchant.trish&ref=localauthority.news) so extensive that it almost becomes a feature of the campaign in its own right. She was the Green parliamentary candidate for Gillingham and Rainham in 2010, before standing for Medway Council in Rochester West in 2011, Gillingham North in 2015, Strood North in 2019, Rainham North in 2023 and Gillingham South in a 2025 by-election. Cuxton, Halling and Riverside therefore gives her something approaching a clean sweep of Medway on the Green Party candidate bingo card. That line should not obscure the fact that she is a serious candidate. The Greens present Marchant as a chartered electrical engineer with 18 years of experience in the NHS and health, ten years in local government, 12 years in the water industry and more than 30 years as a Green Party member. She has campaigned on anti-austerity causes, against racism and the far right, and on environmental issues including the fight against new coal at Hoo. The point the Greens are trying to make is clear enough is that this is not a paper candidate or a protest name. It is someone who has spent decades putting the work in. The Green campaign has been by far the most prolific online. It has produced graphics about Marchant’s biography, her support for LGBTQ+ rights, her plans to hold accessible surgeries, her desire to work with parish councils and community groups, her support for better bus services, and her belief that residents across a ward of villages, houseboats, new builds and traveller communities need a councillor who understands all parts of it. The tone is relentlessly earnest, occasionally slick, and sometimes magnificently homemade. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-14-1.png) Greens get in on the bar chart game. Photo: Medway Greens. [One Green graphic](https://bsky.app/profile/medwaygreens.bsky.social/post/3mpgor2ml3c2t?ref=localauthority.news) attempts to reduce the entire election to a bar chart, a skill usually deployed by the Liberal Democrats. It shows the 2023 result, places a 'Can’t win' over Labour and the Liberal Democrats, and gives Reform a pale box marked with three question marks. It is both a tactical voting argument and the sort of thing local democracy produces when someone has opened Canva with a point to prove. The message is obvious. Labour cannot win, the Lib Dems cannot win, Reform are the unknown danger, and the Greens are the only realistic challenger. It may be right. It may not. But it tells you exactly what the Greens think this election is about. What the Green campaign has not shown, at least publicly, is much evidence of old-fashioned ground campaigning. There may well be canvassing, leaflet rounds and resident conversations happening beyond the view of social media, but the party’s public campaign has been dominated by graphics, endorsements and values statements rather than teams on the doors. That contrasts sharply with Reform, which has treated campaigning almost as a spectator sport. William Burvill’s Reform campaign began with slick national branding and a polished launch graphic. He was introduced as a Medway resident who had worked with vulnerable people, SEND children, adults and foster care. His stated priorities were infrastructure before development, road safety, public transport, village character, green spaces and accountability. If you removed the Reform logo, much of it could have been issued by the Conservatives, the Greens or Labour without anyone calling the police. But as the campaign has developed, Reform has found a more distinctive rhythm. Its central pitch is not really policy. It is presence. Burvill is shown at markets, at community events, on pavements with leaflet teams, at a dance night in cowboy attire, and standing solemnly beside a pile of fly-tipping on Pilgrims Way like a man who has discovered the body in the first act of a detective drama. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-11-1.png) A pile of rubbish. And Reform candidate William Burvill. Photo: Reform Rochester and Strood. The fly-tipping material is probably Reform’s strongest local issue so far. One post showed Burvill reporting dumped waste to Medway Council after coming across it on his way to a community event. Another said he had submitted a Freedom of Information request showing that since 2021 there had been no fixed penalty notices, no prosecutions, and no CCTV cameras in the ward related to fly-tipping. The figures appear accurate, making it more than a photo opportunity. It is a clever piece of local campaigning, turning a pile of rubbish into an argument about enforcement, accountability and whether anyone has been taking the issue seriously enough. Reform has also shown the greatest organisational muscle. Burvill has been photographed with leaflet teams, local activists and supporters. [Linden Kemkaran](https://www.kentcurrent.news/i-think-theres-a-lot-gone-wrong-with/?ref=localauthority.news), Reform leader of Kent County Council, joined the campaign and declared the party “in it to win it.” For a single Medway Council by-election, that is a notable show of force. That visibility has produced friction. In one Halling Facebook group, an administrator complained that Reform campaigners had ignored a 'no cold callers' sign. Other residents replied with similar complaints. One said they were undergoing chemotherapy and suffering severe fatigue, and had not appreciated campaigners ignoring the sign when they called previously. Another claimed a canvasser apologised but said: “Sorry but we have to do this, it’s a democracy,” before being told that democracy did not require ringing that particular doorbell. A Reform supporter responded that Reform supporters were “good people” who were fed up with Labour and the Conservatives locally and nationally, and only wanted to talk to residents. “We are human beings,” they wrote. “We only want the best for our country.” It was a perfect distillation of local democracy. Campaigners want to be seen as visible and accessible. Some residents would like visibility and accessibility to stop at the front gate. Then there is Labour, which runs Medway Council and yet somehow feels like the quietest serious campaign in the contest. Iain Childs was announced as Labour’s candidate only after nominations had closed, which is rarely the sign of a party hurling itself into battle with total conviction. Childs stood in Rainham South East in 2023 and is now asking voters in Cuxton, Halling and Riverside to elect him as someone who can work closely with the Labour-run council. That is not a bad argument. In fact, it is probably Labour’s strongest one. Everyone else is campaigning against Medway Council in one form or another. Labour can say that if residents want something done, electing a Labour councillor gives them a direct line into the administration already running the place. Childs has said he stands for “unity, not division” and wants to focus on roads, public transport, NHS services and green spaces. The problem is that nearly everyone else also wants to focus on roads, public transport and green spaces, while managing to sound louder about it. Even Labour’s selection prompted a small burst of petty party needling. Green activist Matthew Broadley said he had expected Labour to select Stephen McCormack, a parish councillor in the ward and Labour’s best-placed candidate there in 2023\. Labour councillor Joanne Howcroft-Scott replied politely that members had selected Childs, while fellow councillor David Field observed that this was “almost as surprising as the Green candidates who came close last time not deciding to throw their hats in the ring.” This is the sort of exchange that will not change a single vote but does reveal the strange little ecosystem of Medway politics, where everyone is watching everyone else’s candidate selection and pretending not to enjoy it. Finally, Ron Gillett also exists. He stood for the Liberal Democrats in the ward in 2023 and received 76 votes. He is standing again. The Lib Dem campaign, such as it is, has produced a graphic calling for clean water, an end to the “stealth tax” on high streets and better street cleaning around Medway. The [accompanying post](https://www.facebook.com/mymedway/posts/pfbid0VSKXRgF95MX8f576ribeqixbbBR4jVbHe391C3AoPKpiVytcJYJmYkXQW4YLZK6Ql) urged voters to reject the “dangerous populism” of Reform UK and the Greens, which is certainly one way of describing a party whose local campaign has mainly consisted of bus services, councillor surgeries and a woman from Gillingham with a very long electoral CV. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-13-1.png) Graphic design is my passion. Credit: Medway Liberal Democrats. It would be unfair to say the Liberal Democrats are not campaigning. It would be more accurate to say that if they are, they are doing so with impressive discretion. Gillett is on the ballot, and that may be the main point. Every by-election needs someone keeping the orange flame alive, however faintly. There was nearly another name in the mix. Graham Sergeant, who runs the Restore Britain Kent Facebook group, floated the idea of standing a candidate in June, asking members whether they should “find a candidate for the Cuxton, Halling and River by election on July 25th.” The post was accompanied by a photograph of his dog. They did not, in the end, find a candidate. Nor will the election be on 25 July. So where does all of this leave the race? The 2023 numbers make the Greens look like the obvious challengers. The 2026 campaign makes Reform look like the party with momentum. The Conservative candidate looks well fitted to the ward, but the party he represents is trying to defend old ground in a political climate that no longer naturally favours it. Labour runs the council but has not made this ward a priority. The Liberal Democrats are present, which is something. The real question is not whether the Greens can add 44 votes. It is where the Conservative vote goes. Filmer won the second seat with 685 votes, but that was before Reform stood here. If Thorne holds enough of the traditional Conservative vote, his local roots may be enough. If Reform pulls heavily from the right, the seat could fragment in unpredictable ways. If anti-Reform voters coalesce behind Marchant, the Greens may finally get the breakthrough they have been chasing across Medway for years. If the Lib Dems surge from 76 votes, we will all need to sit quietly in a dark room and reassess everything we know. Cuxton, Halling and Riverside is not just choosing a councillor. It is testing five theories of local politics. The Conservatives believe local roots and an old campaign machine can still hold. The Greens believe persistence, values and tactical voting can finally get them over the line. Reform believes relentless visibility can turn national momentum into a third Medway seat. Labour believes, perhaps, that being the party in charge ought to count for something. The Liberal Democrats believe in standing, which is not nothing. By the morning of 24 July, one of those theories will have been vindicated. The others will be explaining on Facebook that they were only a few hundred votes away, that the campaign was really about building for the future, and how national factors were what swung things against them. ## ****Don’t miss what’s next.** Join thousands of Medway readers receiving independent reporting on the stories shaping where they live, work and spend their time. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### The June Culture Review URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-june-culture-review/ Last updated: 2026-06-29T18:05:50.000Z *Once a month, we bring together reviews of Medway’s cultural highlights in a single round-up, produced exclusively for our paid supporters. This month, our team of intrepid cultural reviewers present music, talks, food, and drink from across our towns...* --- **Nigel Kennedy: Virtuoso** *Central Theatre, Chatham 24 May* My expectations for this evening did not extend much beyond being pretty sure there would be a spiky haircut, some Vivaldi, and Aston Villa branding on prominent display. True to form, the Villa scarf was on stage before the musicians, and when Nigel Kennedy appeared, if the vertical hair had become less fulsome, it was more than compensated for by the Villa away kit and matching shoes, glowing neon yellow under the lights and the sipping from a Villa mug. So far, so good. Kennedy introduced us to the “mini philharmonic” accompanying him – musicians of world-class calibre and pedigree. On cello is Peter Adams, principal with the Oxford Philharmonic and Sir Alec Dankworth on bass – his lineage as the son of Cleo Laine and John Dankworth is sufficiently impressive to draw its own round of applause. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/20260524_192043-1.jpg) Pausing to chat to an audience member he has spotted with blue and claret hair. “That’s for us, right, not West Ham?” Kennedy introduces the programme for the first half. 'Firecracker' by Ryuichi Sakamoto, some of his own compositions and a sprinkling of Bach and Paganini. 'Firecracker' is full of verve, the synchronicity between the musicians is mesmerising to watch, and the audience is fully engaged from the outset. We now have a taste of how eclectic and full of surprises this performance will be as Kennedy switches with ease from skeletal electric to acoustic violin and speaks of the “circuit of energy” between audience and performers, growing more comfortable and assured as this becomes increasingly tangible. I have never met anyone else who shares my favourite Elvis song and am caught off guard when the trio play this – Danny O’Keefe’s 'Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues' with Kennedy peerlessly playing the melody I have heard Presley sing a thousand times. It is staggeringly beautiful and defies all expectations. Gershwin’s 'The Man I Love' exhibits how jazz is the genre in which this trio’s inventive fluidity best moves and gels. At one point, Kennedy is simultaneously playing violin and grand piano – his piano playing is also dazzling, complex and expressive. In the second half, the away kit has been embellished with a neon acid smiley shirt, and Kennedy exudes confidence and commands attention. The sheer breadth of his musical experiences and references is remarkable. A highlight of this set is a triptych of pieces inspired by Krzysztof Komeda’s scores for Polanski’s films, which opened full of Slavic melancholy and menace and developed into a less moody jazz epic. The timekeeping between the trio is precise and intuitive. Tribute is also played to the Romanian and Serbian violinists Kennedy has played with in a selection of Romany folk music. The Vivaldi does come up, as the official last piece of the second set, with Kennedy acknowledging the debt he owes to this composer before playing part of the Four Seasons with an expression of pure contentment. The audience is unanimous in standing ovation as the music keeps coming in the encore. Just when it seems it can’t get any better, the unmistakable first bars of 'Danny Boy' stun the applauders back into silence and then a groundswell of humming from those who aren’t holding their breath. And it is truly breathtaking finale to a stunning evening of music. - *Moira Mehaffey* --- **IntraFest** *Intra, Chatham, 13 Jun* Back in the dim and distant past of 2025, I made plans for Saturday the 13th of June, and it was with some small regret that I read the announcement of IntraFest, a one-day event happening across the Chatham Intra (the area between Chatham and Rochester high streets) on Saturday the 13th of June. I had a train to catch and what, if anything, could I make of the day from my limited availability? Quite a lot as it happened. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/20260613_134224-1.jpg) The Pastel Waves at IntraFest. Under a fairly cloudless sky, proceedings got underway with speeches from the organisers and [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) from Medway Council. From the off, even these were being captured by resident artists in situ across both the main stage, in the car park of the Gray's car centre and the second stage, in the car park of the Decktronix record shop: hats off to [Dave Frankum](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-the-flowers-of/) and Curtis Tappenden. Both stages seemed to provide ample crowd space and, weirdly, sound insulation, with little to no sound bleed between the stages only a few meters apart. Kicking things off on the Decktronix’s stage were the Burtwick Smugglers, getting to be veterans of the local scene in more ways than one. True to their roots, first-generation punk songs played in a punk style by first-generation punks. After a couple of numbers, I drifted across to the main stage to see what was occurring. En route, I passed a David Bowie impersonator holding court appropriately in semi-drag style in the porch of the Featherstone and a wandering Lulu with inflatable instruments. Rounding the corner, I was suddenly aware of the uncompromising sound of youth in the form of MidKent College band Kamikaze. Self-assured beyond their years, they delivered a tight set of down-tuned riff-based, hip hop adjacent metal, the bassist strap at the longest possible extension. Particularly effective was the track with additional guest vocals from Ava, adding a male-female dynamic to the Marshall-stacked presentation. It was hard to see how local indie stalwarts The Love Family would follow this, with their stripped back fan favourite acoustic set. But follow it they did, with aplomb. They closed with a dreamlike acoustic rendition of Joy Division's ‘Transmission’ with hints of folk drones. It sat well in the sunshine, which you can’t often say about Joy Division. Elsewhere, around the main stage, Electric Medway had an interactive VR space set up in a portacabin, and there were photo and art exhibitions surrounding the stage area, featuring many local artists and visitors to the Medway Towns from the last 70-odd years. It felt, well, like a festival. Drifting back to the second stage, I found Pastel Waves mid-set, playing their well-honed Britpop and shoegaze-influenced soundscapes, but hampered slightly by a dodgy microphone. Lead singer Joe always sells it, and this was no exception. A quick changeover, with the slightly incongruous DJ set up in front of the stage (it is the car park of a dance music specialist) acting as continuity, saw Spider Baby take the stage. Fronted by Oli Allen, who, at 18, is a veteran of the local music scene due to his performances in [The Singing Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/), this band has more swagger and self-assured drama than is probably good for them. You can’t play a flying-V without it though I guess. Ending with the Jack the Ripper-esque ‘The Breaking Man’, they are a band I will see again. The drummer stayed on stage for Mitchell Lane, another bright young hope of the indie faithful. With complex musicianship, instrument swapping and more microphone issues, they proved the soundman’s festival challenge. But they were worth the challenge, with melodic, 80s influenced guitar pop that begged for Ray-Bans and an open road. Before I had to get my train, there was just time to take in The Flowing on the main stage, essentially at this stage the vehicle for Dave Pickett's gentle sounding, but lyrically complex storytelling songs, and featuring his young daughter on trumpet at one point. He finished with a blistering solo electric number with what more than approached a guitar solo. It filled the car park, itself in turn filled with bodies and an eager queue of people getting in to pack the place as I had to leave to the strains of the effervescent (and award-winning) R’n’B of the Zac Schulze Gang. As I went, it was all going on and all going off. It was a shame to have to leave. *\- Stuart Turner* --- **Rainham Poetry Festival** *St Margaret's Church, Rainham, 6 Jun* _This post is for subscribers only._ ### “I decided I'm going to be a painter and that's it” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-decided-im-going-to-be-a-painter-and-thats-it/ Last updated: 2026-07-02T09:17:44.000Z *With* [*Medway Open Studios*](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *around the corner, Steven met* [*Simon Mills*](https://www.instagram.com/simon%5Fmills%5Fartist/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Bronach Rae*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-hate-having-to-do-what-anybody-else-has-ever-done/) *at their home studios to discuss their art, why they open their home to strangers and how autobiographical their work is. This is part two of a two-part interview. The first part, focused on* [*Bronach, was published last week*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-hate-having-to-do-what-anybody-else-has-ever-done/)*.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/att.ORIbTDPJKome2UHd0myg-TVGkn9o37xVapO1bZ5pJz0-1.jpeg) Simon Mills (left). **What is your official occupation?** Artist and have been for the past nearly 60 years. I've done other things. I was a photographer at Sotheby's for a few years, and I painted scenery for the theatre. I don't do any of those things now. I paint. > There's a huge difference in my world between beauty and prettiness **What does that entail?** Mostly, it entails paint on canvas. I've used oil paint most of my life, but I've shifted over to acrylic, partly because when I first moved here with [Brónach](https://www.localauthority.news/i-hate-having-to-do-what-anybody-else-has-ever-done/) it quickly became clear that she was allergic to the fumes of white spirit itself. Now my studio is at the bottom of the garden, I can use whatever I like, but I got stuck in the acrylic thing, which is fine. I can make acrylic paint look like oil paint. They're mostly landscapes, but I've painted everything in my life. I paint townscapes. Quite a big series of Chatham Intra, mostly at night-time, streetlights reflected in wet pavements and things like that. I'm more interested in that part of town than Rochester High Street, because there's a bit of an edge to it. I'm in the middle of working through a series of heads. This started over a year ago. We were in Kythera, a little island off the Peloponnese in Greece, sitting in a village square and kept noticing these interesting Greek guys going around. Grey hair, ponytails, dark glasses on their heads, driving motorbikes, no crash helmets of course. I said to Brónach, “What amazing faces.” I said, “I'd really like to do a series of heads of, for want of a better word, older people.” I hate the words old or elderly applied to people, but I quite like the word elder. People of our generation, I see as elders. There's a huge difference in my world between beauty and prettiness. Prettiness is skin deep. Real beauty goes much deeper. When you've got the wrinkles, they show that they're laughter lines. Somebody who hasn't got them has not done a lot of laughing. If you've been doing a lot of laughing, you've had a good life, whatever you've been up to. These heads are intended to be shown in September. One other project that I'm working on at the moment is from the end of last year. We were in Naples, and these paintings are just over two-foot-wide, but six-foot-long. They're on rolls of hessian with the edges very rough, and they'll hang on the walls, and it's these strips of bright blue sky in amongst all this grimy darkness and then splashes of light coming down. I’m really excited about it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/IMG_3651.jpg) Work by Simon Mills. **What, for you, is it about landscapes?** Oh God. That's a very difficult question. I think I'm fascinated by the relationship that human beings have with what we call nature. I don't know that's the right term, because we refer to nature as something being separate from us. Of course, we are part of nature. If I'm out in the landscape and I see a light effect and it lifts my spirit, I think, yeah, I want to paint that. But there's part of me that feels separate from it. I think my relationship with landscape is to do with that. That sounds a bit pretentious, but I think that I'm trying to explore my relationship with the landscape I live in. **How autobiographical is your art?** People say, “Why aren't there any people in your landscapes?” I always say, “Well, there are, it's me, I'm there, I'm there in all of these.” It's my response to the place. It's interesting you use the word, because, of course, I have written the first half of my autobiography. The second half's due out. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Councillors halt consultation on Grain and Cliffe fire station closures URL: https://www.localauthority.news/councillors-halt-consultation-on-grain-and-cliffe-fire-station-closures/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T08:19:01.000Z **Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s plan to consult on closing five on-call fire stations, including Grain and Cliffe, has been paused after members of the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority agreed to examine the proposals in more detail. We look at why the Hoo Peninsula stations have become the centre of a wider argument about risk, demand and geography, alongside next week’s council diary, planning, news in brief, and more.* ### Councillors halt consultation on Grain and Cliffe fire station closures The plan was supposed to be straightforward. Kent Fire and Rescue Service wanted [permission to begin a public consultation](https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/news/kent-fire-and-rescue-service-announces-proposals-upcoming-public-consultation?ref=localauthority.news) on a major review of emergency cover. Buried within it were proposals to close five on-call fire stations, including Grain and Cliffe, two small Medway stations that suddenly found themselves at the centre of a much bigger argument about risk, money, geography and what happens when public services decide a place is too quiet to keep covering in the same way. By the end of a meeting this week, the consultation had not been approved. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/AdobeStock_294065564_Editorial_Use_Only.jpeg) Instead, members of the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority agreed to give themselves more time before deciding whether the proposals should be put to the public. A cross-party working group will now examine the plans in more detail before an extraordinary meeting, where members will vote again on whether to launch the consultation. For the Hoo Peninsula, Grain and Cliffe fire stations have been saved, at least for a little bit longer. The proposals have not been rejected. The fire service still believes they are necessary. The financial pressure has not disappeared. The review will come back. But the authority had been expected to send the plan out to consultation this week. Instead, after pressure from firefighters, Medway councillors and Medway Council itself, members told the service to pause. Medway Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) proposed the delay, arguing that the authority had been offered a “pretty binary choice” between launching the consultation or not launching it. His proposal created a third route. Do not start the consultation yet, set up a cross-party working group, and spend more time testing whether any credible alternatives exist before the public is formally asked to respond. After the meeting, Maple described the decision as a “pragmatic pause.” “The original proposal today was pretty binary, either start consultation or not,” he said. “My proposal gives additional time for consideration on a cross-party basis of other potential options before any public consultation.” The review requests a significant change in fire cover. KFRS is proposing to close five standalone on-call fire stations at Grain, Cliffe, Wye, Chilham and Westerham. It also wants to remove on-call sections from four other stations at Herne Bay, Deal, Tunbridge Wells and Faversham, while changing shift patterns and moving resources towards daytime cover. The fire service argues this is not simply about cuts. It says the proposals would lead to an overall improvement in response times and an increase in daytime emergency cover. It also faces around £2m in savings due to changes in government funding and rising costs. Its case is that resources should move to where they are most needed, not where they have historically been based. Before the meeting, Medway Council had already made a formal intervention over one of the proposed closures. Medway Council chief executive [Richard Hicks](https://www.localauthority.news/anything-that-impacts-negatively/) wrote to the fire authority asking it to remove Grain from the closure proposals. The letter did not reject the wider review. In fact, it acknowledged the pressures facing the service and the reasons for revisiting resources. But Hicks argued that Grain needed to be treated differently. He pointed to the Isle of Grain’s geography, its industrial risk, its major energy infrastructure, international electricity interconnectors, Black Start power generation capability and the possibility that the village could become isolated from the mainland during a major incident. It was not a noisy letter. It was the chief executive of Medway Council saying, in fairly sober emergency-planning language, that the fire service may be underweighting the risk of one of the most strategically sensitive parts of Medway. That argument sits at the heart of the dispute. KFRS is looking at demand. Its critics are looking at the consequences. On paper, Grain and Cliffe may not be among the busiest fire stations in Kent. On the ground, they sit on and around one of the more unusual pieces of Medway, a rural peninsula with isolated communities, one main access route, major industry, flood risk, coastal settlements, quarries, pools, wildfires, and large bits of nationally significant infrastructure that most residents probably only think about when something goes wrong. Chief Executive Ann Millington made the fire service’s case forcefully in a letter to authority members before the meeting, after Peninsula councillor [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) challenged the proposals. She said the review had involved more than 60 professionals, external scrutiny of operational data and conversations at every fire station. She also dismissed the idea that critics had produced a workable alternative. “Not one person, including the FBU, can offer any alternative that doesn’t cost more money,” she wrote. Millington said the current model no longer matches demand, arguing that moving two fire engines from night-time cover would allow the service to make three additional engines available during the day. She acknowledged that response times in some low-demand on-call areas may increase slightly, but said the countywide effect would be better overall cover. “This is a rebalancing of resource to follow demand, not a reduction in resource,” she wrote. Pearce’s letter was more direct. He argued that approving a consultation would place the closures on an “official path” and said the review underestimated the Hoo Peninsula’s geography and risk profile. He challenged the idea that a fire engine based at Strood for 12 hours a day would be an adequate replacement for local stations at Grain and Cliffe, particularly when access to the peninsula depends so heavily on the A228. He also pointed to the sums involved. According to figures in the review, closing Grain would save £94,497 a year, while closing Cliffe would save £122,052\. Between them, removing two of the peninsula’s three local fire stations would save a little over £216,000. That figure makes the argument feel less abstract. For KFRS, the closures sit inside a much larger countywide rebalancing of resources. For local councillors, it looks like two rural Medway stations are being put at risk for relatively modest savings. [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/), the independent Medway councillor for All Saints ward which covers Grain, also lobbied authority members before the meeting. He said he had read the full review and had sent a 20 page objection to the members, arguing that the proposals contained errors and omissions. One of his central complaints was that he had asked for blue light response times from Strood and Chatham to Grain St James school, but had not received them. After the meeting, Spalding described the outcome as “saved for now,” saying he had argued for the consultation to be refused and for new proposals to be developed using fuller information. He credited Medway councillors [Barry Kemp](https://www.localauthority.news/this-is-probably-my-last-stint/) and Vince Maple, along with KCC councillor Richard Palmer, for supporting his arguments in the chamber. The authority did not accept Spalding’s case and throw out the review altogether. It did not accept Pearce’s case and remove Cliffe and Grain from the plan. It did not accept Medway Council’s request to take Grain off the closure list. It decided it was not ready to put the proposals to the public. Consultations are often presented as neutral exercises. They rarely feel that way to the communities facing closure proposals. Once an organisation formally consults, it has already decided which option it wants to test. By delaying the consultation, authority members have kept the debate one stage earlier, allowing alternative approaches to be examined before residents are asked to respond. The Fire Brigades Union will see that as a partial victory. More than 200 union members marched to fire service headquarters in Maidstone before the meeting, and the union continues to warn that 76 jobs could be at risk if the review proceeds. Regional chair Tim Green said the delay was not the result firefighters wanted, because the union wanted the proposals rejected outright. But he accepted it was better than the consultation starting immediately, and warned that strike action remains on the table. KFRS is now presenting the delay as an opportunity for authority members to spend more time with the data. In a [statement after the meeting](https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/news/kent-fire-and-rescue-service-announces-proposals-upcoming-public-consultation?ref=localauthority.news), the service said its governing body had voted for “additional time” before launching public consultation. Millington said there was a significant amount of data for members to consider and that KFRS would work closely with the cross-party group to support its analysis. The next few weeks will test whether the fire service can hold the argument together. Fire services cannot ignore changes in demand, crewing, prevention work, funding and the decline of the traditional on-call model. Millington is right that rejecting this proposal does not remove the need to find savings. But Grain and Cliffe are not just dots on a demand map. They are places where the argument about fire cover becomes more complicated than call volume. The Hoo Peninsula is awkward, isolated and industrial. It contains communities that already feel remote from decision-making and infrastructure that matters far beyond Medway. The fire service says it is following the evidence. Its critics say the evidence is too narrow. An extraordinary meeting will now decide whether the closure plans finally go out to public consultation. In other words, Grain and Cliffe have not been saved in the long term. They have been given a stay of execution. ****Local Authority is now on WhatsApp** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for Local Authority](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Cabinet](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6548&ref=localauthority.news) meets to discuss developer contributions, a mobile home policy, and the disposal of the Innovation Park Medway northern site to a mystery company that might want to take on a message plot of land right next to an ever-expanding BAE Systems. - **Wednesday:** [Planning Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6643&ref=localauthority.news) is set to refuse an application for 150 new homes east of Rainham and approve three new HMOs. **New planning applications:** - Removal and relocation of [Gordon Road turnstiles](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TH32IVKNIAH00&ref=localauthority.news) at Priestfield Stadium. - Installation of [two golf simulators](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TGHAPLKNKHQ00&ref=localauthority.news) in Hoo. - HMO application for [Cleave Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TGOK40KNH6E00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. ### In brief 🌊 Scientists have warned that salt marshes in the Medway estuary are [under threat](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr5j2grpzmqo?ref=localauthority.news). 🚧 A vehicle [crashed into the Medway Tunnel](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/tunnel-partially-closed-following-lorry-accident-341916/?ref=localauthority.news), damaging lighting and forcing its closure yesterday. 🎭 The reopening of the Brook Theatre has been [delayed until 2028](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/theatre-s-reopening-date-delayed-again-341785/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏰 Rochester Castle [reopened this week](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnv9rqezmmno?ref=localauthority.news) after staircase repairs were completed. ✍️ £240,000 has been awarded by the National Lottery to [restore Charles Dickens' writing chalet](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2089/charles%5Fdickens%5Fswiss%5Fwriting%5Fchalet%5Fsaved%5Ffor%5Fgenerations%5Fto%5Fcome?ref=localauthority.news). 🥵 It's a [bit warm](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4rldw9nz4o?ref=localauthority.news). ### Property of the week This three-bedroom end-of-terrace on Maidstone Road in Rochester is on the market for £500,000 and is basically the full character-house checklist in one of the parts of town where that still means something. You get the conservation area, the central Rochester location, the cellar, the exposed brick, the old fireplaces, and enough wood, beams and uneven charm to remind you that “period property” is not just something agents write when a house has one sash window left. The kitchen and dining space at the back is the modern bit, with rooflights doing the heavy lifting, while the upstairs bathroom has a pleasingly standalone bath. There’s a rear garden, an outbuilding, and the High Street and station close enough to make this feel like a very Rochester version of practical. It is not cheap, obviously, but at least this one looks like it knows why. [Check out this 3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale on Rightmove3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in Maidstone Road, Rochester, Kent, ME1 for £500,000\. Marketed by Mann, Rochester![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-80732d65-48ec-4475-98eb-724d108ff562.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/f6fbe4622fcad180775e1be652a92e9b-4746b6f1-5c07-43c6-9746-52a3525febe0.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/90060621?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Review: IntraFest *Chris de Coulon Berthoud explores Medway's newest festival...* One particular gripe I have with social media discourse these days is the relentless drumbeat of miserable gits slagging off Chatham. Perhaps the most eloquent riposte to that negativity I’ve seen to date was IntraFest on 13 June, a day of music, food, heritage, and joyful, good-natured fun. Stretching along historic Chatham Intra, the area between Star Hill in Rochester and Sun Pier in Chatham, IntraFest filled the venues, shops, restaurants, and riverside, with music, community and, mercifully, sunshine. I dressed for a much colder day, making the twelve hours I spent in tweed an endurance test. The event was anchored between two stages, the main stage at Gray's car park, and a second hosted by Decktronix and Ranscombe Studios. Throughout the day, chatting with visitors to the area, what came up again and again was a delight at finding this place and the rich creative infrastructure right here on their doorstep. It wasn’t only locals who were discovering what Intra has to offer. One man I spoke to had travelled 11 hours from Teesside with his family specifically to catch The Solarflares. He was, he said, “blown away,” by the bands, by the atmosphere, and by the sense that something real was happening in Intra. By mid-afternoon, the queues told their own story about how popular this was. [Jody Carrington](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-constant-battle-to-pay-everything/), the driving force behind the day, was emphatic. "I cannot think of a better way to spend funding than bringing a community together like we have done today. Everything we wanted to happen has happened. People have come here and seen how cool it is. We wanted to put it on the map and let people see what's here, all the artists, all the studios, the bands, the venues. We've honoured our past, the people who were here before, and we’ve shown people today that this isn’t a place that you just pass through.” I asked if anything had gone wrong, and, beaming with happiness, she laughed; “Literally nothing negative. Apart from running out of beer!” Jodie Elwin, another of the organisers, told me, “It's exceeded our expectations. It's been amazing, and there's been such a really good atmosphere along the whole High Street. There's been a whole community feel, and it's been just great to see everybody from completely different walks of life coming down here and enjoying the fun.” [The Singing Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/), a quintessential Medway band if there was ever one, singing about mermaids and dolphins, “As far as Chatham Reach,” as the sun glittered off that stretch of the river, was a moment that cemented that success. [Grace Duffy](https://www.localauthority.news/i-think-the-time-is-right-for-medway-to-elect-its-first-green-councillor/) made a passionate speech to highlight the threatened Royal Function Rooms, the Rochester former music venue facing conversion to flats, urging people to act before another venue is lost. The Solarflares summed the day up, singing as the sun lowered in the sky and the shadows lengthened, “There’ll never be a day to leave Medway…” ### Events this week 🎛️ Sat 27 Jun - [**Minimus**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/minimus-sessions-tickets-1991686209066?ref=localauthority.news) // Informal, experimental, interactive noise afternoon. Walter Burke Way, Chatham Dockside. Free. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… *Follow us elsewhere:* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and now* [*WhatsApp*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) *for new story alerts.* ### Does Medway exist? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/does-medway-exist/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T14:40:39.000Z **Nearly three decades after Medway Council was created, local government reorganisation is forcing the question of what Medway actually is. This edition looks back at the 1990s fight that brought Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham together, the arguments over identity, Kent, regeneration and city status, and whether Medway has become a real place or remains an administrative layer over older towns and villages.* ### Does Medway exist? Medway was never inevitable. Nearly three decades after the council was created, it has become established, kind of. The name on the council tax bill, the logo on the bin lorry, the place listed in school admissions forms, planning documents, regeneration strategies and every argument about potholes on Facebook. But Medway, as we now understand it, was created through a bruising political fight in the 1990s, at a time when ministers, councils, MPs and residents were arguing over whether the Medway Towns were a coherent place in their own right or merely a collection of old towns being forced into a new administrative container. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/AdobeStock_467530117.jpeg) Before 1998, there was no Medway Council. Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham had their own councils, while Kent County Council handled county-level services from Maidstone. Chatham sat within Rochester-upon-Medway, an odd quirk that still lingers on a parliamentary level. Rainham was part of Gillingham. Strood, Rochester and Chatham were formally bound together, while Gillingham remained separate. Above them all sat Kent, with responsibility for education, social services, highways and the wider strategic functions that shaped daily life in ways residents did not always see. The system was untidy, but local government usually is. More importantly, the places beneath it were real. Rochester had its cathedral, castle and city status. Chatham had the dockyard and the military history that shaped the area for centuries. Gillingham had its own civic life, football club and political identity. Rainham, Strood and the Hoo Peninsula carried their own loyalties and grievances. People did not need to be told where they lived, and few appeared to be clamouring for a new identity to sit above the old ones. The government review of local government in the 1990s challenged that arrangement. Across England, ministers were looking again at the two-tier structure of county and district councils. The argument for unitary authorities was simple enough. One council would be clearer, more accountable and less confusing for residents than dividing responsibilities between different tiers. It was the sort of argument that always sounds obvious in Whitehall and much less obvious once it starts colliding with actual places, their histories, and their deep reserves of stubbornness. Kent was initially expected to remain largely unchanged. In [March 1995](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1995-03-02/debates/66659838-7ffe-4c23-9d9e-272e61ef8ed6/LocalGovernmentReorganisation%28England%29?ref=localauthority.news), Environment Secretary John Gummer told the Commons that the Local Government Commission had recommended no change in the present structure for 17 counties, including Kent, and that he had decided to accept those recommendations with two provisos. One of those provisos was that a short list of selected districts would be reviewed again, including “the Medway Towns, that is, Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham.” In other words, Kent as a whole had escaped sweeping reorganisation, but Medway had not. Gummer presented the further review as a matter of consistency. Some large non-metropolitan towns and cities, many with previous county borough status, were being considered for unitary status elsewhere. Many also had “a significant need for economic and social regeneration,” with business, voluntary sector and service providers arguing that local government responsibilities should sit under one roof. Medway was placed in that category, partly because of its size and partly because ministers believed the area’s regeneration needs made it different from much of Kent. That did not satisfy opponents. [In the House of Lords](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1995-03-28/debates/651198cb-44b4-43f6-b505-6a2abe699f98/KentLocalGovernmentStructure?ref=localauthority.news), Lord Aldington asked why the Government had announced a further consultation on a local government structure that had already been rejected by the commission after consultation “with all concerned.” He argued that the commission had already considered the relevant option and that around 70% of people in the county were against it, with an even higher percentage opposed in the districts under review. His question was blunt: Why were ministers “flouting the expression of local opinion?” The Government’s answer revealed the divide at the heart of the whole debate. Viscount Ullswater, responding for the Department of the Environment, said the review was “more than just an opinion poll.” It was about securing “effective and convenient local government” that reflected local needs and identities. Ministers, he said, had received strong representations in favour of unitary status from north-west Kent and the Medway area, including written representations from Dartford, Gillingham and Rochester councils, the Medway Chamber of Commerce, and all four local MPs from Gillingham, Medway, Dartford and Gravesham. There was a perfectly respectable argument inside that case. The Medway Towns formed one of the largest urban areas in the south east outside London. The area had major regeneration challenges following the closure of the dockyard. The Thames Gateway was becoming one of the great planning and economic development projects of the era. Former industrial land, transport links, housing growth, and employment were increasingly being discussed at a scale that did not fit neatly within older municipal boundaries. Ministers were not entirely inventing a problem. But opponents were not inventing their objections either. They argued that the Government was taking a county that had been told it would largely remain unchanged, extracting one of its most important urban areas, and doing so against the expressed wishes of many residents. They warned of transitional costs, loss of economies of scale and weakened strategic planning across Kent. They also objected to the idea that Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham could be lifted out of Kent’s local government structure without something significant being lost. By the time the structural change order [reached the Lords in July 1996](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/1996-07-15/debates/9509bd55-9a06-44c1-8831-41f5763e403d/Kent%28BoroughOfGillinghamAndCityOfRochesterUponMedway%29%28StructuralChange%29Order1996?ref=localauthority.news), the tone had hardened considerably. Lord Aldington moved a motion asking the House to decline approval and invite the Government to reconsider. He objected that it would create “a new county, if you please,” called the County of the Medway Towns. Chatham, “with all the historic associations of its dockyards,” and Rochester, with its cathedral, would no longer be part of Kent for local government purposes. The argument was not only sentimental. Aldington said there was no evidence that local services had suffered because of the existing structure, and argued that both commissions had acknowledged the two-tier system was capable of meeting local needs. He warned that the change would cause disruption, loss of economies of scale and additional costs for both the new unitary authority and the remaining Kent. He also challenged one of the Government’s central justifications by arguing that the Thames Gateway was not sufficient reason to change local government structure, citing the commission’s own view that it was supplementary rather than central to the case for unitary status. The Government case rested on a different reading of Medway. Earl Ferrers, defending the order, argued that Gillingham and Rochester together had a population of more than 240,000 and formed “one of the largest urban areas in the south east outside London.” The two district councils, he said, had common physical, economic and community interests, and putting them under one authority would be simpler and allow local services to be provided more efficiently. He went further, saying this part of Kent was “totally different from the remainder of Kent” because it was a large urban conurbation, while the rest of the county was not. Ferrers also leaned into the rivalry point. The Local Government Commission, he said, had found that local rivalry between Gillingham and Rochester was damaging local interests and preventing the area from being recognised for what it was. That reads oddly now, partly because it sounds like Whitehall had concluded the towns were squabbling too much and needed to be made to sit together until they learned to behave. It was not quite a romantic origin story, but local government rarely is. The opposition to the proposal produced some magnificent parliamentary language. Lord Shepherd, who supported unitary authorities in principle, said the Medway proposal was a “shotgun marriage” and argued there was not enough cohesion between the areas being brought together. Lord Bancroft suggested it was not a shotgun marriage but a “Kalashnikov union,” which may be the most dramatic description of local government reorganisation ever committed to Hansard. Lord Aldington had already described the merger as a “forced marriage” between Rochester and Gillingham because, in his words, they were “squabbling too much.” For all the comedy of the metaphors, the underlying point was serious. Opponents believed Medway was being created through imposition rather than consent. They did not deny that the towns were connected, nor that there were shared challenges, but they questioned whether that was enough to override local opinion and centuries of identity. The debate was not really about whether a single council might be tidier. It was about whether tidiness was a sufficient basis for making a place. ## ****Finding this useful?** Stay on top of what’s happening in Medway with independent local journalism delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. The question of Kent identity sat awkwardly in the middle of the debate. Ferrers was forced to explain that, for local government purposes, the Medway Towns could not technically remain part of the county if they were no longer served by the county council. Yet he insisted that “in historical terms nothing has changed” and that Gillingham and Rochester would still be in Kent. The Government would ensure the new authority remained within the jurisdiction of the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of Kent. Residents, in other words, were not being expelled from the Garden of England. They were merely being administratively rearranged, which is exactly the kind of reassurance only government could think was reassuring. The Lords tried to stop the order but failed. Aldington’s motion was defeated by 60 votes to 33, and the structural change went ahead. On 1 April 1998, Medway Council came into existence, taking over functions previously divided between Rochester-upon-Medway, Gillingham and Kent County Council. The Government had won the argument in Parliament. Whether it had won the argument in Medway was another matter. The new authority inherited a problem no order could solve. It could take on services, budgets, councillors and staff. It could create committees, departments, logos and headed paper. What it could not do overnight was persuade residents that Medway was a place in the same sense that Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham or Rainham were places. Those identities had been built through centuries of history, work, religion, war, industry, transport, football, shopping and family life. Medway had been built by statutory instrument. That is not quite as stirring. The early years offered an immediate reminder that administrative change does not erase civic memory. During the transition to the new authority, Rochester lost its city status after the necessary arrangements were not put in place to preserve it. What might have been dismissed elsewhere as a procedural mishap became one of the defining wounds of modern Medway politics. The anger endured because it symbolised something much larger than a title. To many residents, Rochester had not simply joined Medway. It had been diminished by it. That resentment has never fully disappeared. Campaigns to restore Rochester’s city status have returned repeatedly, often with a sense that something precious was carelessly lost when the new authority was formed. Whether or not city status would have changed anything practical is beside the point. Local identity is rarely practical. It is made of names, symbols, stories and stubborn attachments to places that existed long before the latest government order. The same tension can still be seen across Medway. Ask residents where they are from and many will still answer with the town or village first: Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Strood, Hoo, Cuxton, Walderslade, Twydall, or whichever other place feels most like home. The answer Medway is understood, but it is not always instinctive. For many residents, Medway remains the umbrella rather than the home, the name of the authority rather than the place they feel in their bones. Yet it would be too easy to say Medway failed, because that is not true either. Over time, the new authority accumulated weight. Children grew up knowing no council other than Medway. Businesses began describing themselves as Medway-based. Schools, charities, arts organisations and sports clubs operated across the authority boundary as a matter of course. Local politics became Medway politics, even when individual wards and towns retained their own concerns. The name became useful, then familiar, then ordinary. Physical change helped, too. The Medway of 2026 is not the Medway of 1998\. Chatham Maritime, the universities at Medway, Rochester Riverside and years of waterfront regeneration have changed the way the area functions. The old municipal boundaries matter far less to daily life than roads, rail links, housing markets, schools, shops, employers and public services. People may still identify with their town, but their lives often operate across Medway. This is the strongest argument that Medway did become something real. Not because residents stopped caring about older places, but because an additional layer of identity slowly formed above them. Medway did not replace Rochester, Chatham or Gillingham. It sat on top of them, awkwardly at first, then more comfortably with time. Council branding exercises sometimes felt forced, because council branding exercises usually do, but repetition and lived experience have a way of turning administrative language into ordinary language. The result is a place that still feels unresolved. Medway is real enough for government, business, education, health, housing and politics. It is real enough for residents to complain about it constantly, which is as good a test of local identity as any. But it is not real in the same way Rochester is real, or Chatham is real, or Gillingham is real. It has not had centuries to settle into the landscape. It has had less than thirty years. ****Local Authority is now on WhatsApp** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for Local Authority](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) That is what makes the current local government reorganisation debate so strange. Kent and Medway are waiting to learn what shape the next map of local government will take, with a broad expectation that ministers will choose [one of the five competing unitary models](https://kentcouncilleaders.org.uk/lgr-consultation/?ref=localauthority.news) now on the table. If the timetable holds, new councils are expected to take over from 2028\. For Medway, that means the authority created in 1998 may not reach its 30th birthday in anything like its current form. This does not need to become another story about committee structures, vesting dates or the thrilling romance of boundary maps. The more interesting issue is that Medway’s existence is being questioned again, just as it has finally begun to feel normal. After decades of living with Medway, arguing about Medway, mocking Medway, defending Medway and occasionally pretending not to care about Medway at all, residents may soon find the institution that created modern Medway no longer survives in its current form. The risk is not that Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham or the villages disappear. They will be fine. They existed before Medway Council and will exist after whatever version of local government comes next. The more interesting question is whether Medway itself has become strong enough to survive without the structure that created it. If the council changes, merges or disappears into something larger, does Medway remain a place? Nearly thirty years ago, ministers argued that Medway was already coherent enough to govern itself. Opponents argued that this coherence was being exaggerated or imposed. Both sides were partly right. Medway was not invented from nothing, but neither was it waiting patiently to be discovered. It was built through politics, branding, economics, habit and the simple passage of time. That may be the most honest answer to the question. Medway exists, but not because it was inevitable. It exists because government created it, institutions reinforced it, and residents gradually learned to live inside it, even if they never stopped belonging to older places too. The politicians of the 1990s thought they were settling an argument about local government. They were really starting a much longer argument about place. Nearly three decades later, it is still going. ## ****Don’t miss what’s next.** Join thousands of Medway readers receiving independent reporting on the stories shaping where they live, work and spend their time. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… Follow us elsewhere: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews), [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news), [BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news), and now [WhatsApp](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) for new story alerts. ### “I hate having to do what anybody else has ever done” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-hate-having-to-do-what-anybody-else-has-ever-done/ Last updated: 2026-06-21T06:00:42.000Z *With* [*Medway Open Studios*](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *around the corner, Steven met* [*Bronach Rae*](https://www.instagram.com/bronachrae.artist/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Simon Mills*](https://www.instagram.com/simon%5Fmills%5Fartist/?ref=localauthority.news) *at their home studios to discuss their art, why they open their home to strangers and how autobiographical their work is. This is part one of a two-part interview. The second part, focused on Simon, will be published next week.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/IMG_8210-1.jpeg) Bronach Rae. **And are you known by any other names?** I dread to think. “That awful woman,” possibly. **You've never had any pseudonyms or released work under any other names?** In my life, most people have not called me by my name when they've seen it written down, because they couldn't pronounce it. I'd be called Bronwyn, Blodwyn. I'd even be called Bona. I've been called Brian. People can't... That's an alien name to them. I think it was created deliberately to annoy the English. **What is the origin of the name?** It's Irish, and it means sorrowful. I've been stuck my whole life overcoming that. **What is your official occupation?** It's a difficult one. I play the [bodhrán](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhr%C3%A1n?ref=localauthority.news) in bands. I make collage and I work for [Restoration House](https://www.restorationhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) as front of house, and managing the volunteers during the open season. That's what I do at the moment. **What is your main focus creatively?** My main focus is having a good time, and if something's not fun, I'm not doing it. **If you had to pick a main focus between the art and the music?** It depends on the time of year. **Right now?** Right now, I'm focusing on preparing work and getting my act together for [Medway Open Studios](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news). **Do you have any other roles?** You know what? I don't know. I think I'm an unofficial mother to a lot of people. I'm just one of those people that can't resist helping people. That's what I've done most of my life. I also am a person who likes to open a door for somebody. If I see an opportunity for someone to improve their opportunities in life, I will open that door for them. It's about thinking what can I do to help that person get that job or put people together that might be like-minded that could help each other. I love doing that. > Nobody wants to do what I do, and I don't think anyone can copy it **You're focused at the moment on being an artist. What does that entail?** I'm a collage artist, and I'm probably the only person I know that does what I do. I've always made things in life. I've had no training whatsoever. Didn't do art at grammar school or anything else like that, but I've always made things. I was making some collages when I met Simon. I made a collage of all the important things in his life. I was using magazines, and then I got an iPhone, and it changed my life. I know that's a ridiculous thing to say. It meant I could go out and take photographs of things that I wanted to take photographs of, like pieces of landscape, flowers, things that interested me and then Simon bought me a six-colour printer. I would come home, edit, print them off, cut them out and make up my own world. I think a lot of it is influenced by what I've read, because I read so much. Maybe in the past I could have been someone who did front covers, album covers and things like that for people as well. Nobody wants to do what I do, and I don't think anyone can copy it. It's as simple as that. It's been fantastic. When I go out, I'm looking at everything. We've been in Greece, and I've taken photographs of unusual plants, of tall buildings, and then I put them together, and whatever happens, happens. I can sometimes be quite political with them as well. I can do what I want. > I'll steal anything, and I will use it in a different context **Why do you use tiny scissors rather than a scalpel?** I can't be bothered with scalpels. I hate having to do what anybody else has ever done. This is why I think I've developed the stand I've got, because as far as I'm concerned, no one else is doing it. People tear strips of paper or put bits of whatever it is on. I don't do any of that. I spend all mytime with all the bits in my head, I'm thinking, beginning to build the thing and then I do it on canvas or I paint a canvas and then I will… with all the bits that I've cut out, I'll place them, step away and then move them, it can take quite a while. It actually takes about half an hour just to stick it all down. That's the easy bit. The imaginative bit is putting all these unusual things together, changing the scale, changing the colour, whatever it might be. I steal images. I took little bits of [John Craxton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John%5FCraxton?ref=localauthority.news)'s paintings. I've taken pictures of things in museums, churches, you name it. I'll steal anything, and I will use it in a different context. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-9-1.png) **How can your work be political?** It was about refugees and about safety. I had really interesting images of trees, and in the middle, at the end of this avenue of trees, is the light from the middle of the vines. It's the only light, and the piece is called Sanctuary? With a question mark because you think I'm going to be safe, but you don't know what you're walking into. **How would you describe Medway Open Studios?** It's an opportunity for people you've never met before to come and actually see what you're doing, because quite often, most people only see art when it's on the wall. To see something in a studio where the person works that maybe is a work in progress, and that you could have that conversation, to say how do you do that, how long does it take? Quite often, I get offered workshops for people because they find it absolutely fascinating. I think it's an opportunity for people to see what's going on in Medway, and it's a brilliant concept that people can come in. We say to people, go through the whole house, just don't touch our stuff, and anything you see on the wall is for sale. We will move stuff around. We've run out of wall space, quite frankly. **Why did you decide to take part in the first place?** It was my idea when Simon did it on his own. He was very much against. I'm used to inviting people into the house. It wasn't a big deal for me. Simon said I should be in this as well. He encouraged me to go ahead and do this because I had always done work, but it was for myself. It was brilliant to have the opportunity to do that, and there were two very different artists in the same place. We're not rivals. He can't do what I can do, and I certainly can't do that, but we can inspire each other. When people come, I say don't forget the toilet and the bathroom and people are like 'Wow!' People take in the whole house. It's great because I can talk up Simon's work. **Do you remember the moment when you realised collage was your medium?** **Bronach:** Simon must have encouraged me. **Simon:** I said to her you're an artist, because being an artist is about being able to see things. I knew Bronach was an artist even before she started. **Bronach:** I like the inventiveness of what I'm doing. I couldn't do what Simon does. I couldn't replicate or create a scene. Obviously I generate a lot of paper, coloured paper and I'm very keen not to get rid of something like that, so with all the bits that are left over, I make 3D pieces like bowls things you could put flowers in. They're all made 100 % from the paper that's left over. > For me, there's a mystery and a wonder **How autobiographical is your work?** Oh, that's a question. Most of the work I do is influenced by the amount of reading I've done, and then going out in nature. Simon very much wants to be connected with the world out there. When I was at work in the past, I worked out expeditions, and there's nothing that excites me more than the real world. I'm trying to depict that in anything that I'm doing. Beauty in the shape of old trees, the patterns that are in nature, looking at flowers, plants or whatever, or the shape of a landscape. I'm not interested in doing anything with people. Not because I hate them, but that's not my forte. I can't interpret that. For me, there's a mystery and a wonder. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Rochester and Strood MP takes on assisted dying battle URL: https://www.localauthority.news/rochester-and-strood-mp-takes-on-assisted-dying-battle/ Last updated: 2026-06-26T12:39:40.000Z **Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards has chosen to use her Private Members’ Bill slot to bring the assisted dying bill back to the House of Commons, putting herself at the centre of one of Parliament’s most divisive debates. We look at why she has taken it on, the local campaign against her decision, and the arguments now gathering around the bill, alongside the Cuxton, Halling and Riverside by-election, council matters, news in brief, property and events.* ### Rochester and Strood MP takes on assisted dying battle [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) has chosen her fight. The Rochester and Strood MP has decided to use one of Parliament’s rarest opportunities to bring the assisted dying bill back to the House of Commons, placing herself at the centre of one of the most contentious debates in the country, less than two years after she was first elected. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-8-1.png) Lauren Edwards MP. Edwards came second in this year’s ballot for Private Members’ Bills, giving her a strong chance of securing parliamentary time for a law change of her choosing. After days of speculation, she confirmed she would reintroduce the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, previously brought forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. That bill passed the Commons last year, but fell before completing its passage through the House of Lords when Parliament was prorogued ahead of the King’s Speech. In most circumstances, a backbench MP being drawn high in the ballot would be a local political gift. It gives them a chance to bring forward a bill on an issue of their choice, win attention for their constituency, and perhaps even change the law. Edwards has chosen the highest-risk version of that opportunity. Rather than a quieter local cause, she has taken up a bill that has already split Parliament, drawn in national campaign groups, and brought opponents to the door of her Rochester office before she had even announced her decision. Edwards [argues](https://laurenedwards.uk/terminally-ill-adults-bill-statement-from-lauren-edwards-mp/?ref=localauthority.news) that MPs have already considered the legislation in detail and that Parliament should be allowed to finish the job. “This long overdue change to the law was supported by MPs during the last session of Parliament and was prevented from passing only by the decision of a minority in the House of Lords to talk it out and stop it coming to a vote,” she said. For Edwards, the question is now partly about assisted dying itself and partly about whether the elected Commons should be allowed to make the final decision. “I believe it is a fundamental democratic principle that the elected chamber, the House of Commons, should decide what does and does not become law in this country,” she said. “We owe it to all those terminally ill people and their families who are depending on this Bill to ensure that Parliament can come to a final decision on the question of choice at the end of life.” The bill is next due to be considered in the Commons on Friday 11 September. Edwards has sought to head off one of the major objections raised by opponents, who argue that supporters could try to use the Parliament Act to push the legislation through without the consent of the Lords. “For the avoidance of any doubt, it is not my intention that the Parliament Acts should apply to this Bill,” she said, adding that peers would be free to amend the bill and return it to the Commons if MPs pass it again. The local campaign against her decision had already begun. On 6 June, opponents gathered outside Edwards’ constituency office in Rochester to deliver a petition signed by more than 550 residents of Rochester and Strood. The petition, organised by women’s advocacy group The Other Half and supported by disability rights campaigners from Not Dead Yet UK, urged her not to bring back what it called the “divisive assisted dying Bill” and instead use her ballot slot for legislation “that would benefit and have the support of our whole constituency.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/1.-Group-shot.jpg) Campaigners outside Lauren Edwards' office. The Other Half has argued that Edwards has no local mandate to prioritise assisted dying, pointing to polling it commissioned from Whitestone Insight, which it says found legalising assisted dying was at the bottom of a list of local priorities for Rochester and Strood voters when asked what they would want their MP to focus on if she had the chance to change the law. That finding needs a little care. Being a low priority in a list of possible issues is not the same as voters opposing assisted dying. But it does show the pressure Edwards was under before her announcement, and how opponents are trying to make this not only a moral and medical argument, but a constituency one. Fiona MacKenzie, chief executive of The Other Half, said more than 550 people in Rochester and Strood had called on Edwards to use the opportunity for a bill that would unite her community rather than reopen the assisted dying debate. The campaign has raised concerns about coercion, domestic abuse and the position of vulnerable women, while Not Dead Yet UK argued that disabled people could be placed at risk if assisted dying were legalised before social care, housing and palliative care were improved. Mike Smith, a spokesperson for Not Dead Yet UK, said the bill posed “serious risks to many disabled people all across the UK,” arguing that disabled people in other countries had chosen assisted dying because they could not access a meaningful life. Eating disorder campaigners also joined the Rochester protest, warning that the bill’s definition of terminal illness could create risks for people with severe anorexia who refuse nutrition or other life-saving treatment. The constituency campaign was not limited to the doorstep of Edwards’ office. A leaflet delivered in parts of Strood urged residents to contact her and ask her not to bring the legislation back. More unusually, it carried no visible imprint identifying who had produced, printed or distributed it, leaving voters with no obvious way of knowing who was behind the material being pushed through their doors. Supporters of the bill have been pressing just as hard in the other direction. Dignity in Dying welcomed Edwards’ decision, saying it would offer renewed hope to terminally ill people and their families. The group argues that mentally competent, terminally ill adults should be able to choose an assisted death, subject to safeguards, rather than being forced to endure suffering they would not choose or travel abroad to end their lives. Sarah Wootton, Dignity in Dying’s chief executive, said Edwards’ decision ensured the debate could continue after many supporters feared law change had been derailed. “Every day, dying people are forced to endure suffering they would not choose, while others take desperate measures because the law offers them no safe, compassionate alternative,” she said. “They deserve better.” Elise Burns, a Kent woman living with secondary breast cancer who has spoken publicly in support of assisted dying reform, also welcomed the decision. “Like so many terminally ill people, I know that time is precious,” she said. “That’s why Lauren Edwards’ decision means so much. It offers hope that Parliament has not given up on dying people.” Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision also backed Edwards’ move, arguing that the previous bill had been blocked in the Lords after nearly 1,300 amendments were tabled. Supporters call what happened a filibuster. Opponents argue that peers were properly scrutinising a flawed bill. Edwards has clearly chosen the former interpretation, saying the Lords’ role is to revise legislation rather than block it. Not every response fits neatly into the usual campaign divide. The British Association of Social Workers does not take a position for or against assisted dying in principle, but says any law would have major implications for social workers around mental capacity, safeguarding, family support, grief and bereavement. It says improvements were made to the previous bill during its Commons stages, including a multidisciplinary assessment process and opt-out protections for social workers and social care professionals, but it still wants stronger safeguards, including unanimous decision-making by assessment panels and clearer powers to access relevant records. Edwards also has backing from nearer home. Chatham and Aylesford MP [Tris Osborne](https://www.localauthority.news/im-pushy-and-i-like-people-pushing/) said he was pleased his “local colleague” would be leading on the legislation and that he would support her efforts to pass it. Osborne said he backed assisted dying in principle while also wanting to scrutinise the detail as the bill moves through Parliament. Whether Edwards can succeed where the previous bill failed is far from certain. Opponents argue that only a small number of MPs would need to change position for the bill to fall when it returns to the Commons. Supporters argue that MPs have already backed the principle after extensive debate and that the Lords should not be able to stop the elected chamber from making a final decision. For Edwards, the political stakes are obvious. She has taken one of the most valuable tools available to a backbench MP and attached her name to a bill that will bring national attention, organised opposition and intense scrutiny from people on both sides of a deeply personal argument. Rochester and Strood’s MP is no longer watching one of Parliament’s biggest debates from the edge, but has chosen to carry it. ***Local Authority** **is now on WhatsApp** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for **Local Authority*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ### By-election set for 23 July The Cuxton, Halling and Riverside by-election following the passing of Cllr Phil Filmer has been set for 23 July. The Conservatives will be defending the seat from challenges from the Greens on the left, who came second in the ward in the last local elections, and Reform on the right. The Greens were first out of the block with a candidate, [selecting Trish Marchant](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZuVNeYDZF9/?ref=localauthority.news), who must surely be thinking that her sixth attempt to win a council seat in Medway could actually be the one. The Conservatives have [selected Richard Thorne](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/medway-conservatives-announce-selection-richard-thorne-candidate-upcoming-election?ref=localauthority.news), who served as their councillor for Strood South between 2019 and 2023\. The Lib Dems have [selected Ron Gillett](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/first-candidates-for-by-election-announced-341703/?ref=localauthority.news), who apparently stood for the party in the ward in 2023\. Elsewhere, Reform haven't officially announced a candidate, but branch secretary William Burvill has updated his social media to include pictures of him hanging around Halling, while not updating his hometown from being in Australia, but you can't win them all. No word yet on who Labour will stand, and rumours that Medway Labour staffers have been furiously checking to see if Andy Burnham might be up for another challenge appear to be false. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - Cabinet Sub Committee for Medway Development Company on Tuesday and Audit Committee on Wednesday, but neither are likely to set the world on fire. **New planning applications:** - Scoping opinion for [2,000 homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TGNWI9KN04R00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and new local centre south of Halling. - Application for [six homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TGH184KN09900&ref=localauthority.news) in Upper Halling. - Division of former Poundland in Rainham to create [Banking Hub and Post Office](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TGRK5DKNJ0A00&ref=localauthority.news). - Conversion of an industrial unit to a [dementia day care centre](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TGJ31WKNLLC00&ref=localauthority.news) in Princes Park. ### In brief 🏰 Rochester Castle could be [closed for weeks](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqx1e8z783lo?ref=localauthority.news) after a part of its staircase broke away. 🏦 Lloyds will [close their last remaining Medway bank](https://futuremedway.co.uk/lloyds-bank-set-to-close-chatham-high-street-branch-amid-nationwide-cuts/?ref=localauthority.news) in October. 🏖️ Someone has turned a Rochester shop into a [sand pit](https://www.instagram.com/p/DZvNN9YoXiI/?ref=localauthority.news). 📚 King's School in Rochester has [thrown a lot of books into a skip](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/shameful-mum-s-fury-as-private-school-throws-hundreds-of-341616/?ref=localauthority.news). ****Support more reporting on Medway** Local journalism doesn’t happen by accident. It takes time, and **Local Authority* exists because readers choose to support it. For Indie News Week, we’re offering [your first year for £40](https://www.localauthority.news/indienewsweek40), reduced from the usual £60 annual subscription. In addition to helping fund our reporting, you’ll get access to our interviews, features, culture coverage, and more. [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/indienewsweek40) ### Property of the week This four-bedroom semi on Maidstone Road in Chatham is on the market for £650,000 and starts off like a large but broadly normal family house, before the listing quietly escalates. It is arranged over four floors, with a lounge, dining room, kitchen/diner, large conservatory, cellar, three first-floor bedrooms and a top-floor bedroom with study space and an en-suite. Then the garden appears, fully wheelchair friendly, heavily landscaped, and complete with a swimming pool, because this part of Chatham has decided to have a Mediterranean phase. There is also a double drive, garage and carport, plus a bar area containing one of the more unexpected property listing cameos of the year. It is less a standard Maidstone Road listing and more a private holiday compound that has somehow ended up with an ME4 postcode. [Check out this 4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME4 for £650,000\. Marketed by haart, Strood![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-0c162757-eac5-4040-900e-23a5cdd4a76a.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/596fe6757b6e84e138aee22eb1025a3a-d0c65377-908f-4008-8b52-cdd3475766df.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89875683?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎻 Sat 20 Jun - [**City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/City-of-Rochester-Symphony-Orchestra?ref=localauthority.news) // Performance of British favourites including Elgar and Parry. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £15. 🎸 Sat 20 Jun - [**Vinylglass + Mitchell Lane + Lily Maddison**](https://www.facebook.com/threesheetspub/events) // Live music. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Tickets £3. 🪕 Sun 21 Jun - [**Summer Solstice with the Ashen Keys**](https://www.seetickets.com/event/summer-solstice-with-the-ashen-keys/st-margaret-s-church/3637617?ref=localauthority.news) // Afternoon celebration of the natural world with acclaimed folk trio. St Margaret's Church, Rochester. Tickets £10. 🥕 Sun 21 Jun - [**Rochester Farmers' Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Fresh produce, drinks, treats, and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via ****hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… *Follow us elsewhere:* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and now* [*WhatsApp*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) *for new story alerts.* ### Why we’re talking about money this week URL: https://www.localauthority.news/why-were-talking-about-money/ Last updated: 2026-06-17T08:07:19.000Z Good morning, One of the strange things about local journalism is that people tend to assume it will always be there, until it isn’t. It rarely disappears in one dramatic moment. It fades. A council meeting goes uncovered, a planning application gets no proper scrutiny, or a consultation opens and closes without many people noticing. A decision affecting thousands of residents is reduced to a press release, a Facebook row, or nothing at all. Over time, people know less about the place they live. *Local Authority* exists to push against that, in our small and occasionally chaotic way. Five years ago, this publication did not exist. Today, thousands of people read it every week, and hundreds pay to support it. That support has helped us cover Medway Council, elections, planning rows, regeneration schemes, transport problems, local businesses, culture, interviews, sport, and all the strange little bits of Medway that do not fit neatly anywhere else. It has helped us report on fire station closures, council sell-offs, political defections, school controversies, and decisions being made by councils that most people will never have time to watch for themselves. It has helped us host hustings, public events and conversations that bring local politics slightly closer to the people affected by it. Mostly, it has allowed us to spend time on Medway. Not as a branch office of a national company. Not as a content operation chasing scale. Not as a place to dip into whenever something goes spectacularly wrong. Just as a place worth paying proper attention to. That does not happen by accident. *Local Authority* is funded largely by readers. That means our interests are tied to yours. We are not trying to publish as many stories as possible to satisfy an algorithm. We are not filling the site with banner ads. We are not taking instructions from a corporate owner somewhere else. The publication succeeds because readers find it useful enough to support. That is a good model, but it is also a very direct one. If enough people support *Local Authority*, it can keep growing. If they do not, it cannot. This week is [Indie News Week](https://www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/indienewsweek/?ref=localauthority.news), a national campaign run by the [Public Interest News Foundation](https://www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Its theme is 'No news is bad news,' which is blunt, but not wrong. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/INW-undated-postcard--2-.png) It also gives me a useful excuse to write the kind of email I do not particularly enjoy writing. The money side of *Local Authority* is not separate from the journalism. Reporting takes time. Interviews take time. Reading council papers takes time. Turning up, following up, checking things, correcting things, and trying to explain what is happening here all take time. Reader support is what makes that time possible. So, if you read Local Authority regularly but do not yet pay for it, please consider becoming a supporter. For this week only, we are offering [your first year for £40](https://www.localauthority.news/indienewsweek40), reduced from the usual £60 annual subscription price. The offer ends on Sunday. That works out at less than £3.50 a month to support independent local reporting on Medway. [Monthly subscriptions](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) and [one-off donations](https://www.localauthority.news/#/portal/support) are also available if those work better for you, but the big discount is on annual subscriptions. If *Local Authority* helps you understand what is happening here, if it has told you something you would not otherwise have known, or if you simply think Medway is better off with more reporting rather than less, this is a good week to join the people who make it possible. [Support independent local journalism for £40](https://www.localauthority.news/indienewsweek40) Whether you subscribe or not, thank you for reading. Ed. ### He defected to Reform. Eight months later, he wants out URL: https://www.localauthority.news/he-defected-to-reform-eight-months-later-he-wants-out/ Last updated: 2026-06-24T09:20:40.000Z **Robbie Lammas left the Conservatives for Reform last October as one of the party’s most prominent local recruits. Eight months later, he has resigned from Reform, described the move as “a huge mistake,” and is asking to return to the Conservatives. We speak to him about why he left, what he says he found inside Reform, and what his departure says about the party’s attempt to turn protest politics into local power.* ### Robbie Lammas thought Reform was the future. Eight months later, he wants out Eight months ago, [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) was exactly the kind of recruit Reform wanted. He was a sitting councillor, a former Conservative parliamentary candidate, a former special adviser, and a former chief of staff to the chairman of the Conservative Party. When [he quit the Conservatives for Reform last October](https://www.localauthority.news/princes-park-councillor-defects-to/), it was not just another councillor changing rosettes. It was proof, or at least meant to look like proof, that experienced Conservatives were beginning to see Nigel Farage’s party as their political future. This week, he apologised for it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-6-1.png) Cllr Robbie Lammas. Lammas has resigned from Reform after less than a year in the party, describing his decision to defect as “a huge mistake” and writing to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch in the hope of returning to the party he left behind. He quickly became deputy leader of Reform’s Medway group and was one of the party’s most prominent recruits in Kent. His departure is notable, but what he says about the party he is leaving is more so. Speaking to *Local Authority* this week, Lammas described a growing sense of disillusionment that began almost immediately after he joined. He says the Reform he encountered bore little resemblance to the party he thought he was signing up to. The public image was slick, disciplined and ambitious. The reality, he argues, was something very different. “I initially realised I made a mistake pretty much straight away,” he said. That is not quite the same thing as saying he wanted to leave immediately. For several months, Lammas says he tried to make it work. He enjoyed reconnecting with grassroots politics after a period away from campaigning and initially found meeting local Reform members energising. But the longer he stayed, the more convinced he became that the party was not what it claimed to be. When Lammas defected last October, he believed the Conservatives were in serious trouble. He points to debates around immigration, identity politics and the European Convention on Human Rights as issues where he felt the party had failed to understand the strength of public feeling. At the time, he could not see a route back. “I didn’t imagine after the general election defeat, the Tory party would go to that position because I was pushing for that position inside before the election as hard as I could,” he said. “I was like, I think they’re doomed.” Reform, by contrast, appeared to offer something attractive. Lammas says he was approached by figures within the party who argued it needed experienced Conservatives. The movement was growing rapidly but lacked organisational experience. He says he was told his background in politics was not a problem but an asset. “I was told very clearly they wanted me to come over as a Conservative with my Conservative values and my experience.” Looking back, he believes that was where he misunderstood what Reform actually was. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-7.png) Cllr Robbie Lammas with Cllr David Finch during his October defection to Reform. The timing of his defection, during Conservative Party conference season, was not something he wanted. He says he expected other defectors to emerge alongside him and was uncomfortable finding himself at the centre of the story. “They really made me stick my neck out there when I didn’t want to,” he said. He hoped that once the headlines faded, Reform would be interested in drawing on his experience. Instead, he says he felt largely ignored. “Pretty much from the start, they didn’t want to know afterwards.” That experience shaped much of what followed. Lammas says he joined believing Reform wanted experienced Conservatives to help build an alternative conservative party. What he found instead was a movement that often seemed deeply suspicious of the very people it was trying to recruit. One of the first surprises, he says, was the attitude towards Conservatives. “I realised very quickly that they absolutely hate Conservatives,” he said. “Some of them hate Conservatives more than they hate Labour.” Political parties often reserve their greatest hostility for rivals competing for the same voters. Labour members can sometimes sound more frustrated by the Greens than the Conservatives. Conservatives often spend more time complaining about Reform than Labour. But Lammas says what he encountered went beyond ordinary political rivalry. Rather than seeing him as someone bringing useful experience, some members viewed him as a representative of a political class they despised. When he tried to use his experience to help the party develop, he says the response was often hostile. “It was met with such savage hostility, You’re just a Tory boy,’ ‘You should atone for your sins,’ all this kind of stuff.” Asked whether he ever felt fully accepted within the party, Lammas said he did not. He believes part of the problem was that he never joined in with attacking his former colleagues. While other defectors were eager to distance themselves from the Conservatives, he remained openly proud of his past and continued speaking positively about people he had worked alongside. “I never slagged off the Conservatives,” he said. “I was not prepared to do that.” That position, he believes, marked him out. He says there was often an expectation that former Conservatives should publicly denounce the party they had left. Instead, he says, he remained largely consistent in his assessment of both Reform and the Conservatives, something he now thinks may have worked against him. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/Untitled-design--7-.png)](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) ****Come and tell us what we're missing.** As part of [Indie News Week](https://www.localauthority.news/come-behind-the-s/), we’re opening up **Local Authority* for the day this Friday. Drop in to Sun Pier House between 10am and 5pm to meet the team, ask how **Local Authority* works, suggest stories, or talk to us about the issues affecting your part of Medway. Whether you’ve been reading for years or only recently discovered us, we’d love to see you. 📅 Friday 19 June - drop in anytime between 10am to 5pm 📍 Sun Pier House, Chatham 🎟️ Free to attend, but please register so we have a sense of numbers [Visit the open newsroom ](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) The irony is that Lammas now agrees with one of the criticisms [levelled at him on social media](https://x.com/LocalHistorian%5F/status/2066436441563971871?ref=localauthority.news) by Matt Johnson, former chair of Chatham and Aylesford Reform. Johnson argued that Lammas was never really a Reformer in the first place. Asked about that assessment, Lammas responds, “I’d probably agree with that.” The difference is that Johnson sees that as evidence Lammas was a poor fit for Reform. Lammas sees it as evidence that Reform never really wanted what it claimed to want. He joined believing Reform wanted experienced Conservatives to help build an alternative conservative party. Instead, he says he discovered a movement that often seemed actively hostile to the people it was trying to recruit. Johnson’s statement also contained one stranger observation. Among the signs that Lammas was never truly Reform, he suggested, was that Lammas remained too attached to mainstream media and consumed too much BBC content rather than alternative media and podcasts. Lammas said the comment reflected a wider problem he encountered inside parts of Reform, where a political culture is shaped less by ordinary party debate than by online conspiracism and alternative media ecosystems. He “deals with untruths and online conspiracy theories,” he said of Johnson. The exchange points to a wider cultural divide that runs through much of Lammas’ criticism. He expected to find a party full of conservatives. Instead, he says he found a coalition of people united primarily by frustration. “The Conservative Party is like a family where you don’t even speak about what you have in common because it’s known,” he said. By contrast, he argues, “Reform are united by grievance alone.” That, he argues, creates problems once a party moves from opposition into power. Throughout our conversation, Lammas repeatedly returned to the distinction between identifying problems and solving them. He believes Reform is extremely effective at the former and far less interested in the latter. “The problem I had with Reform is whilst they’re good at talking to grievances, that’s what they’re good at,” he said. “They don’t care necessarily about solutions or good governance.” The criticism comes at a difficult moment for Reform nationally. The party has spent years positioning itself as a vehicle for protest. It now finds itself winning elections, controlling councils and facing questions about what governing actually looks like. Lammas believes many within the party have not fully adjusted to that reality. “They see political office as things to grasp in order to create more noise to get Farage in,” he said. “They don’t care about the job. Well, you’ve got the job now.” The argument is not entirely theoretical. Reform now runs Kent County Council. It holds two seats in Medway, and is preparing for another by-election campaign in Cuxton, Halling and Riverside. The question of whether it can transition from insurgent movement to governing party is no longer hypothetical. To be clear, Lammas is careful not to direct those criticisms at everyone in the party. He repeatedly stresses that he has no issue with Medway Reform leader David Finch or councillor John Vye. “I’ve no problem with [David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/) or [John Vye](https://www.localauthority.news/we-live-rent-free-in-their-heads/),” he said. “I think David’s a very nice guy.” In fact, he says the two remain friends and jokes that he may still end up at Finch’s house for a barbecue. His criticisms are aimed at what he sees as a broader culture within the party rather than individual councillors. That culture, he says, also exposed him to things he found increasingly difficult to ignore. Discussing his experiences inside Reform, Lammas claimed he encountered racist views among some members and supporters. “It’s not like everyone in Reform is racist,” he said. “It’s just that there are a lot of racists in Reform.” He also described encountering people advocating forms of ethnic nationalism and recalled conversations with residents who associated recent experiences of racism with Reform’s rise. One such conversation took place while helping residents affected by the long-running Taylor Wimpey vibration issues in Princes Park. A Sikh family, he says, told him they had experienced racism in England for the first time and attributed it to Reform’s growing prominence. “That made me feel very uncomfortable,” he said. “That’s not what I’m about.” Reform was asked about Lammas’ comments on racism within parts of the party, but did not address the allegation directly in its response. ****No news is bad news.** **Local Authority* exists because readers choose to support it. Without that support, there is simply less reporting on Medway. For [Indie News Week](https://www.localauthority.news/come-behind-the-s/), you can get your [first year for £40](https://www.localauthority.news/indienewsweek40), reduced from the usual price of £60. [Support independent local journalism for £40 ](https://www.localauthority.news/indienewsweek40) Having concluded that he could no longer remain in the party, Lammas has spent recent weeks trying to repair relations with the Conservatives. He jokingly refers to it as an “apology tour.” Among those he has spoken to are local councillors, party members and former Chatham and Aylesford MP [Tracey Crouch](https://www.localauthority.news/im-still-not-a-thatcherite-tory/). He says the response has been warmer than he expected. “I’ve met with local colleagues and the response has been universally positive.” He has also written to Badenoch, apologising for leaving and praising what she has achieved since becoming Conservative leader. “I would like to *\[return\]* because Kemi has done a good job. She’s turning it around.” Whether the Conservatives are willing to take him back remains an open question. The party declined to comment on individual membership applications, saying only that applications from sitting councillors are considered in line with party rules. Medway Conservative group leader [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) said Lammas deserved credit for publicly admitting he had made a mistake. “I commend Cllr Lammas on his resignation. It takes a lot to publicly admit when you make a mistake,” he said. Lammas says he understands there may be consequences for his decision. “I’ve mucked my people around,” he said. “I can’t expect everyone to forgive me.” He also accepts that he may never again hold elected office. Asked whether he would stand as an independent candidate if the Conservatives refused to readmit him, he was unequivocal. “No,” he said. “Conservative or nothing.” Reform’s response to Lammas’ departure has varied. Locally, Finch struck a conciliatory tone. He said he respected Lammas’ decision, wished him well, and insisted the Medway branch continued to grow. “At recent Reform UK Medway branch meetings, we have seen new members coming forward, previous members returning, and a real sense of energy, enthusiasm and determination for change,” he said. “Reform UK Medway is moving forward. We have a positive team, growing support, and a clear focus on standing up for residents across Medway.” The response from Reform’s national press office was rather different. Asked about Lammas’ criticisms, a spokesperson replied: “If he realised straight away, why did he keep on begging for a job in HQ? We have receipts.” The party did not provide those receipts before publication. Asked about the claim, Lammas dismissed it as “mud slinging.” “The truth is, I was offered a job, I turned it down.” Eight months ago, Reform presented Lammas as evidence that experienced Conservatives were abandoning their old party for something new. Now he says he realised almost immediately that the move was a mistake. He wants back into the Conservatives, accepts they may not take him, and says he will not stand again unless it is under their banner. For Reform, the loss of one councillor does not change the balance of power in Medway. Finch and Vye remain, the branch says it is growing, and the party will soon test that claim in the Cuxton, Halling and Riverside by-election. But Lammas’ departure leaves a more awkward question behind. If one of Reform’s most politically experienced local recruits concluded within months that the party was not what it appeared to be, what exactly is it building? ****Local Authority is now on WhatsApp.** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for **Local Authority*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us elsewhere:* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and now* [*WhatsApp*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) *for new story alerts.* ### No news is bad news URL: https://www.localauthority.news/come-behind-the-s/ Last updated: 2026-06-15T08:00:56.000Z *Local Authority* will [host an Open Newsroom](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) at Sun Pier House in Chatham on Friday as part of [Indie News Week](https://www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/indienewsweek/?ref=localauthority.news). The event will give readers and residents the chance to meet the team, ask questions, suggest stories, and discuss the issues affecting their part of Medway. Indie News Week is run by the [Public Interest News Foundation](https://www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), of which *Local Authority* is a member. This year's theme is 'No news is bad news,' which is a pretty good summary of why independent local journalism needs to exist. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/Untitled-design--7--5.png) The point of the day is simple enough. Come and tell us what we're missing. If there's something happening in your part of Medway that deserves more attention, we'd like to hear about it. We're particularly keen to hear from people in Medway's villages and more rural communities, where stories and issues can struggle to reach a wider audience. The event is free to attend, but you can register below so we have a rough idea of numbers: [Register to visit our Open Newsroom](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) ****Support** ***Local Authority** **for £40 for Indie News Week.** Local Authority is primarily funded by readers. As part of Indie News Week, we’re offering a full year of **Local Authority* for £40, reduced from the usual £60 annual subscription price. If our reporting helps you make sense of Medway, we’d be grateful for your support. [Support Local Authority for £40 ](https://www.localauthority.news/indienewsweek40) ### “I like solving problems” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-like-solving-problems/ Last updated: 2026-06-14T06:00:06.000Z *Zoë Van Dyke was first elected as a Labour councillor to represent Strood North and Frindsbury on Medway Council in a by-election in 2021 and has been a member of the cabinet since 2023\. Steven met her at Store 104 in Rochester, where they talked about mediation, her history in the Labour Party, and what role she might play in whatever council replaces Medway.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-13-at-09.13.15.png) Cllr Zoe Van Dyke. **What is your official occupation?** I'm retired. If I go back, I was a social worker in a children and families team, but then I got elected as the Kent County Council branch secretary for NALGO, which evolved into UNISON. I was seconded into that role. I was a full-time trade union official for six years, following which I became employed by Unison. I didn't become a Labour Party councillor until I retired. **What is your role in the cabinet?** I'm portfolio holder for Business Services. It's all the back-office functions, not the front-facing services to constituents. **What does that role entail?** I have a first-class degree in law as well, and qualified as a barrister, so I suppose I fitted into that role because it was part of the portfolio. I've got property, legal services, HR. **Where were you born?** West Hill Hospital in Dartford. **What brought you to Medway?** I moved to Medway when I got divorced 30 years ago. **Why did you pick Medway?** Friends and family. **What did your parents do when you were growing up?** My dad was an engineer. My dad was nine years older than my mom. My dad was involved in World War II. He was one of the first people to be deployed to France. He was a prisoner for five years in Poland at the end of the war. They had a forced march because the German army were terrified of the Russians. They headed off through the Czech mountains towards France to escape the Russians with their prisoners. They walked several hundred miles, and my dad kept a very detailed chronology of the entire experience, which is now at the Imperial War Museum. **Did you enjoy school?** Yeah, pretty much. **Did you stay for sixth form?** I started sixth form, and then I left, which was probably unwise. But then I went into higher education later. **Why did you leave?** Because I left home. I didn't get on with my mum. I got on well with my dad but not my mum. **Did you go into employment? What was your first full-time job?** Yeah. I worked for the tax office as a tax officer, and then I worked for what I thought was a commercial company in London, which turned out to be a front for a brothel, and I left. Then I got married, and I had children. What did I do next? I worked for an advice organisation. After that, I did a social work degree, and then I became a social worker and a full-time trade union official. > A long time ago, I was a member of the Socialist Workers Party **Have you ever been a member of any other party?** A long time ago, I was a member of the [Socialist Workers Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist%5FWorkers%5FParty%5F%28UK%29?ref=localauthority.news). None of the mainstream parties. **Are you a member of the Labour Party or the Labour and Co-operative Party?** Labour and Co-operative Party. I always forget that bit. **When did you join the Socialist Workers’ Party?** Back in the seventies. To be honest, I haven't really thought about it much. I joined the Labour Party in 2019\. There was a period of time when I was involved in another party, which I was invited to join by [Arthur Scargill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur%5FScargill?ref=localauthority.news). I did a lot of driving, and I chauffeured him around the country. **Which party was that?** It was the [Socialist Labour Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist%5FLabour%5FParty%5F%28UK%29?ref=localauthority.news). I got involved through having close ties with the National Union of Miners, but it unravelled quickly. **Why did you join the Labour Party in 2019?** It seemed the right thing to do. I was already a Labour Party member by then, but because I was working as a trade union official, I was so busy that I didn't get particularly actively involved until the elections came up and I was elected. **With your background, were you on the more pro-Corbyn side of the party?** I wouldn't say so. Not Corbyn, the people I was affiliated with, like [Bob Crow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%5FCrow?ref=localauthority.news), I knew very well. I actually don't really like Jeremy Corbyn. I find him not particularly friendly. It was such a shame that John Smith passed away. I was never a Blair supporter. **When was your name first on a ballot?** Well, I was a member of the Labour Party before, way back when my kids were very young. Then I became more involved in trade unions and not so much the political. I was a trade union activist, although I was a social worker. I became the branch secretary of NALGO, which then joined with other unions such as NUPE and COHSE to form UNISON. I undertook that role for several years until I took up employment as a Regional Organiser in UNISON in 1997\. Within weeks following my appointment, I found myself dealing with the [Kent Air Ambulance crash](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent%5FAir%5FAmbulance?ref=localauthority.news), which took the lives of the three crew members. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway illustrator finds new stories in Charles Dickens URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-illustrator-finds-new-stories-in-charles-dickens/ Last updated: 2026-06-19T20:13:54.000Z **Rainham illustrator Esther Johnson has created a new Charles Dickens-inspired collection through her Designed by Esther studio, focusing not just on the novels but on the details of Dickens’ life, interests and Medway connections. We talk to her to find out more about it, plus further down we have next week's council diary, planning, news in brief, property, events, and a reminder of our Open Newsroom for Indie News Week.* ### The Medway illustrator finding new stories in Charles Dickens When Rainham illustrator [Esther Johnson](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-think-weve-finished-with-waghorn/) began work on a new Charles Dickens-inspired giftware collection, she thought she had a reasonable grasp of Medway’s most famous literary figure. Like many people locally, she knew the broad story. Dickens’ links to the Medway towns are well documented and continue to shape the area’s identity more than 150 years after his death. What she didn’t expect was how much she would discover once she started digging deeper. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/NiaRosePhotography-64.jpeg) Esther Johnson and her Charles Dickens Collection. Photo: Nia Rose Photography. Over months of research, Johnson found herself learning about Dickens’ campaigning work on housing and education, his childhood jobs, the impact of an 1865 rail crash in Staplehurst, and even the fact that he switched from black to blue ink in the late 1840s. She also discovered that Dickens enjoyed performing magic tricks at parties. Those discoveries now form part of a [new collection of products](https://www.designedbyesther.co.uk/charles-dickens?ref=localauthority.news) created by Johnson’s [Designed by Esther](https://www.designedbyesther.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) studio, including tea towels, magnets, postcards, playing cards and other giftware inspired by Dickens’ life and work. For Johnson, the project was never intended to be a straightforward celebration of Dickens the author. “For this design, I wanted to focus on his life as a person,” she says. “Looking at what he liked to drink, or knowing what his favourite flower was, felt like it shaped him as a person, and not really something I had seen before in Dickens’ souvenirs.” That approach helped shape the collection from the outset. The familiar Dickens imagery is still there. References to writing, books and the places associated with his life all feature in the designs. But Johnson was equally interested in the details that often sit outside the standard version of Dickens’ story. “I learnt that he switched from black to blue ink in the late 1840s, which I thought was unusual,” she says. “There are definitely lots of things I didn’t include, but in some of the postcard designs I have tried to expand on the elements that were big in his life, for example, the rail crash in Staplehurst of 1865.” The project grew out of another exploration of local history. “I suppose it was a continuation of the [Medway Activity Book](https://www.designedbyesther.co.uk/medway-collection/p/medway-activity-book?ref=localauthority.news) that I made back in 2024,” Johnson explains. The Medway Activity Book combined illustrations, puzzles and local history for children and families. In creating it, Johnson spent considerable time researching the places, people and stories that have shaped the area. “I really enjoyed learning more about my home town - places I had been on school trips or been taken to with my grandparents,” she says. The success of the book later led to [activity book commissions](https://www.localauthority.news/activity-book-is-medways-newest-export/) for Portsmouth Cathedral and Leicester Cathedral, but it also encouraged Johnson to continue exploring historical subjects through illustration. At the same time, she had been working on a project focused on William Shakespeare. “I had also been working on a client project featuring the life and work of William Shakespeare, and there are quite a few connections between them both, so it felt like the natural next step,” she says. “However this time, I was working on it alone.” What followed was a research process that took Johnson far beyond the handful of Dickens facts most people encounter at school. “There have been so many surprises,” she says. “I was basically starting from scratch, to be honest. My knowledge of him was fairly basic, which made it all the more fun to work on.” To build the collection, she attended guided tours, listened to podcasts and spoke with historians, gradually piecing together a fuller picture of Dickens’ life. The research also took her across many of the places associated with Dickens, from Portsmouth and London to Broadstairs and Higham. For Johnson, that process of discovery became one of the most rewarding aspects of the project. Rather than beginning as a Dickens expert, she approached the subject with the curiosity of someone trying to understand why a writer who died in 1870 still commands such attention today. The result is a collection that aims to tell a broader story than Dickens’ novels alone. By focusing on the details of his daily life, interests, and experiences, Johnson hopes to present a figure who feels more human and relatable than the larger-than-life literary icon many people know. The collection also represents the latest stage in the growth of Designed by Esther. [“I don’t think we’ve finished with Waghorn yet”What Steven asked Esther Johnson, the Medway illustrator behind ‘Designed by Esther’![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--eeeada10-8e6f-4c77-9ba3-97a5c91cb024.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0b1006b8-9e5f-4c23-9050-83ddfd2cf256_2048x1364-49ba024b-e5f5-4df1-8312-0bb7fc02fd68.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-think-weve-finished-with-waghorn/) Since launching the business in 2017 with support from The King’s Trust, Johnson has produced work for more than 60 heritage organisations across the UK. Her clients have included Canterbury Cathedral, Historic Environment Scotland, the Natural History Museum and the House of Commons. Much of that work has involved finding visual ways to tell historical stories, whether through souvenirs, maps, activity books or illustrations. Asked whether she has a favourite item in the new Dickens collection, Johnson initially struggles to choose. “All of them!” If pushed, though, it's the [keyring](https://www.designedbyesther.co.uk/charles-dickens/p/keyring?ref=localauthority.news) that stands out. “It’s made from recycled leather up in Ayrshire, Scotland and is a depiction of Dickens’ bookshelf with gold foil detailing on the back.” The Dickens collection is not quite finished yet. One further product is still to be released, while Johnson is already thinking about where the idea could go next. “I hope to bring out a Christmas Carol version later on this year - a festive range specifically focused on the story.” For someone who began the project thinking she knew the Dickens story, there still appears to be plenty left to explore. [*The Charles Dickens Collection is available now from Designed By Esther*](https://www.designedbyesther.co.uk/charles-dickens?ref=localauthority.news)*.* [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/Untitled-design--7-.png)](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) ****Join us for our** [****Open Newsroom**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) Next week is [Indie News Week](https://www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/indienewsweek/?ref=localauthority.news), a national campaign run by the [Public Interest News Foundation](https://www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) highlighting the role independent journalism plays in communities across the country. As part of it, we’re opening up **Local Authority* for the day on Friday 19 June. Drop in to meet the team, find out how **Local Authority* works, tell us about stories we’ve missed, or share issues affecting your area. We’ll be hosting a panel discussion at 11am on the future of independent local news and the challenges facing the sector. We’re also particularly keen to hear from people in Medway’s villages and rural communities who may be interested in helping us strengthen our coverage of those areas. 📅 Friday 19 June - drop in anytime between 10am to 5pm 📍 Sun Pier House, Chatham 🎟️ Free to attend, but please register so we have a sense of numbers [Visit the open newsroom ](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=131&MId=6636&ref=localauthority.news) willdiscuss the merger of Medway Community Healthcare with Kent Community Health, changes to IVF provision, and more. - **Thursday:** [Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=585&MId=6665&ref=localauthority.news) looks at the Climate Change Action Plan, petitions, and debt write-off. **New planning applications:** - New HMO applications for [Rainham Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TFP2TWKNISG00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and [Trafalgar Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TFUX3PKNMC400&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. ### In brief 🏰 The new owner of Fort Darnet in the Medway estuary wants to [turn it into an events space](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8j0ezp8yeo?ref=localauthority.news). Mick Jennings (no relation) has suggested ghost hunts and wellbeing events could be held on the island. 🚗 Medway Council have [abandoned plans](https://futuremedway.co.uk/council-scraps-proposed-school-street-around-kings-pre-preparatory-school-and-nursery-rochester/?ref=localauthority.news) to introduce a School Streets scheme around King's School in Rochester. 🥘 Homeless charity Medway Street Angels is struggling with [increased demand and a drop in donations](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/really-important-homeless-charity-struggling-amid-drop-i-341401/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏥 The team behind Medway Hospital's virtual ward system have [won an award](https://www.england.nhs.uk/south-east/2026/06/11/kent-team-win-nhs-award-for-pioneering-virtual-hospital-care/?ref=localauthority.news) after freeing up the equivalent of 54 inpatient beds every month. ### Property of the week This characterful end-of-terrace home in Chatham’s Historic Dockyard is on the market for £350,000 and is doing the Dockyard thing properly, with old bones, high ceilings, period features and the useful sense that you live somewhere with a bit more going on than a standard estate road. It is arranged over three floors, with two bedrooms, an extra reception room that could work as a third bedroom or office, a large loft room, two bathrooms, a utility room and a spacious open-plan kitchen and family area. You also get allocated parking, communal gardens and the slightly surreal pleasure of living inside one of Medway’s main heritage attractions. It is not the cheapest way to buy in the towns, but it is a strong argument for choosing architectural drama over another polite grey box. [Check out this 3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale on Rightmove3 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, ME4 for £350,000\. Marketed by Freeman and Gray, Covering Medway![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-4e74ba6a-d016-466b-8401-3d3555843579.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/6a1b291153a689fa331d186c973667ca-1da0cb4f-d1cc-451b-aecd-34b48c784957.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89373087?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎸 Sat 13 Jun - [**IntraFest**](https://www.facebook.com/theoldhighst/posts/intra-community-trust-proudly-presents-intrafestfrom-music-halls-to-medway-sound/1558603046271719/) // Festival with music, street food, theatre, creative activities, and lots more. Various locations, Chatham. Free. 🛍️ Sat 13 Jun - [**Art Flea Fair**](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/whatson/art-flea-fair-2/2026-06-13/?ref=localauthority.news) // Indoor market of art, craft, and vintage finds. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🎲 Sat 13 Jun - [**Broadside Games Show**](https://www.miltonhundred.com/broadside?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition, market, and wargaming activities. Medway Park, Gillingham. Tickets £4. ****Local Authority is now on WhatsApp** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for Local Authority](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us elsewhere:* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and now* [*WhatsApp*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) *for new story alerts.* ### Can the Hoo Peninsula safely lose two fire stations? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/can-the-hoo-peninsula-safely-lose-two-fire-stations/ Last updated: 2026-06-16T10:36:15.000Z **Kent Fire and Rescue Service is preparing to consult on plans to close fire stations at Grain and Cliffe, leaving Hoo as the only remaining station on the peninsula. The service says the proposals are about matching resources to changing risk and demand, while firefighters and local councillors warn that longer journeys could put residents at risk...* ### Can the Hoo Peninsula safely lose two fire stations? Kent Fire and Rescue Service says two fire stations on the Hoo Peninsula can close without making residents less safe. Over the next few months, it will have to convince people of that. Grain and Cliffe are among five on-call stations across Kent earmarked for closure as part of a wider reorganisation of fire cover. The service says the plans are based on changing patterns of risk and demand rather than a straightforward attempt to cut costs. Firefighters warn longer journeys could put lives at risk. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-21.06.59.png) Grain fire station. If the closures go ahead, Hoo would become the only remaining fire station on the peninsula. If that appliance was already attending another incident, it could take another fire engine more than 20 minutes to make the journey from Strood. The proposal is part of a wider reshaping of fire cover across Kent. KFRS wants to close five standalone on-call stations, remove attached on-call sections from four wholetime stations, and move resources to areas where it says demand is greatest. For Medway, the debate centres on a simple question. Can two stations disappear from the Hoo Peninsula without reducing emergency cover? The answer depends partly on how you think about fire stations. For KFRS, fire cover is not supposed to be understood station by station. It is a county-wide network. Appliances move around, crews respond across station boundaries, and resources are deployed according to risk, demand and availability rather than the emotional comfort of seeing a fire station nearby. For residents, the calculation is more basic. If there is a serious incident on the peninsula, how quickly can help get there? That is the question KFRS now has to answer as it [prepares to launch a 12 week public consultation](https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/news/kent-fire-and-rescue-service-announces-proposals-upcoming-public-consultation?ref=localauthority.news) on the proposals. The plans emerged this week after details were accidentally shared with staff before being [reported by the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgldw41n19o?ref=localauthority.news). KFRS subsequently confirmed that, subject to approval by the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority, it intends to consult on closing five standalone on-call stations at Grain, Cliffe, Wye, Chilham, and Westerham. The service also wants to remove attached on-call sections from wholetime stations in Herne Bay, Deal, Tunbridge Wells and Faversham. Those stations would remain open, but would lose the additional on-call sections that currently provide a second appliance. At the same time, resources would be moved elsewhere in the county. Under the proposals, Dartford and Northfleet would each retain two fire engines during the day but reduce to one at night. KFRS says that change would allow it to create additional daytime fire engines at Strood, Ashford and Folkestone. For Medway, the proposal cuts in two directions. The Hoo Peninsula could lose two of its three fire stations. Strood could gain an additional daytime appliance. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-09-at-20.57.35.png) Fire stations in Medway, with Cliffe and Grain (in red) facing closure. That is why this is not a simple story about local cuts. It is a story about redistribution and whether it works in a place like the Hoo Peninsula. Ann Millington, the chief executive of KFRS, has repeatedly rejected the idea that the proposed closures are mainly about money. [Speaking to BBC Radio Kent](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq614ddgvryo?ref=localauthority.news), she said the risks facing the service today are very different from those around which the existing network was designed. “The nature of the risk has changed so much in the last 20 years,” she said. “What we’re facing now is not what was set up in the original on-call system.” She also said some stations now attend very few incidents. “We’ve got some stations with less than seven shouts a year,” she said. “That means that their experience isn’t equating to our ability to keep them safe.” The point is slightly counterintuitive. Most people think of a quiet fire station as a good thing. It means there are not many fires. KFRS is making a different argument. It says that very low activity can create its own problems, because firefighters need sufficient operational experience to maintain their skills and confidence. The consultation documents have not yet been published, so the detailed evidence behind the selection of Grain and Cliffe is not yet available to the public. One obvious question is whether either station is among those with fewer than seven callouts a year, or whether that figure refers to other parts of the county. It also means the debate cannot be settled by broad claims about whether fire risk is rising or falling. The wider picture is more complicated than a simple decline in demand. [Government statistics](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fire-statistics-data-tables?ref=localauthority.news) show Kent Fire and Rescue Service attended 18,326 incidents in 2025, up 7.6% on the previous year. Total fires rose by 22.7%, while primary fires were up 8.5%, and outdoor primary fires increased by 67.4%. The argument being made by KFRS is not that there is less work for firefighters. It is that the nature and location of that work has changed. Traditional building fires have fallen over the longer term, but fire services now respond to a wider range of incidents, from road crashes and flooding to welfare concerns and calls to assist other agencies. Outdoor fires and wildfires are becoming more prominent, particularly during hot, dry summers. KFRS says its proposal is based on local risk intelligence and data analysis. Critics will want to see exactly how that analysis treats the Hoo Peninsula. The published estate costs suggest the building savings alone are not especially large. KFRS property data lists annual operating costs of £15,908 for Cliffe and £13,370 for Grain, meaning the two stations together cost just under £30,000 a year to run as buildings. That does not include staffing, appliances, equipment or wider operational costs, but it does indicate that the argument is unlikely to rest on utility bills and maintenance alone. That fits with Millington’s public line. KFRS is not arguing that Grain and Cliffe are unaffordable buildings. It argues that the fire engines, crews, and money tied up at low-demand stations could be used more effectively elsewhere. The difficulty is that 'elsewhere' is doing a lot of work. From a countywide perspective, moving resources toward areas of higher demand may be logical. From the Hoo Peninsula, the same decision looks rather different. Grain and Cliffe are not suburbs tucked into a dense urban network of nearby stations. They sit at either end of a peninsula with limited road connections, spread out settlements, and a mix of rural and industrial risks. If both stations close, Hoo becomes the only remaining fire station on the peninsula. The station has one appliance. KFRS says neighbouring stations would continue to provide cover when needed, but if the Hoo appliance was already committed, the next nearest station to a village like Grain would be Strood, around 22 minutes away by road. That is not the same as saying every incident in Grain would take 22 minutes to reach. Response times depend on where appliances are at the time, whether crews are available, what type of incident has been reported and how KFRS mobilises its resources. But it is the kind of practical scenario residents will understandably test the proposal against. There is also the question of what counts as risk. The peninsula is home to nationally significant infrastructure, including the Grain LNG terminal. No one is suggesting that a local on-call station is solely responsible for protecting a site of that scale. Major industrial facilities are covered by separate emergency planning arrangements involving specialist resources, multiple agencies and pre-planned responses. Even so, the presence of Grain LNG makes the phrase 'lower risk' harder to absorb locally. KFRS may have a clear operational answer. It may be that the risks associated with major industrial sites are assessed separately from the day-to-day demand that determines local station provision. It may be that the required response would never rely primarily on Grain or Cliffe in the first place. Those are precisely the explanations the consultation will need to provide. The Fire Brigades Union has already made clear it opposes the proposals. Tim Green, the union’s South East chair, told the BBC that increased travel distances “directly reduce the chance of survival in certain types of fire and makes it harder for us to contain incidents quickly.” He said the union had opposed the proposals from the beginning, describing them as “not good news for Kent” and warning of “the possibility that lives can be put at risk.” Deputy Leader of the Independent Group, Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/), who represents Hoo and High Halstow, has written to KFRS chief executive Ann Millington, urging her to abandon any plans to close fire stations on the peninsula. In the letter, Pearce argues that Hoo, Cliffe and Grain should not be viewed as isolated stations serving “neat patches on a map”, but as “one safety net for the whole peninsula.” He says the issue is “not just how often a station is called out, but what happens when it is needed,” pointing to the peninsula’s long distances, limited main routes, rural lanes, heavy vehicle movements, congestion points and spread out communities. Pearce has invited Millington to spend a day touring the peninsula before the consultation closes, saying she should see the roads, villages, flood risk areas, industrial sites and riverside communities before any final decision is made. That is campaign language, but it captures the political challenge facing KFRS. Fire stations are not just operational assets. They are visible promises. Even people who never expect to need one often care deeply about how close the nearest one is. That does not mean the current network must stay exactly as it is. Public services change. Risks change, and some buildings and staffing models no longer make sense. On-call firefighting relies on people being able to live or work close enough to a station, drop everything when paged, and get a fire engine moving quickly. In some places, that model is becoming harder to sustain. KFRS is entitled to ask whether its resources are in the right places. But closing two of the three stations on the Hoo Peninsula is the kind of proposal that forces a public service to show its working. If Grain and Cliffe are too quiet to justify keeping them open, KFRS will need to publish the callout data. If the case is that Hoo, Strood and other neighbouring stations can cover the peninsula safely, it will need to show what that means for attendance times, appliance availability and simultaneous incidents. If the case is that industrial risks around Grain are already covered by other arrangements, it will need to explain those arrangements clearly enough for residents to understand. Without that detail, the proposal risks being heard locally in much simpler terms, with two fire stations closing, Hoo left with one engine, and the next help potentially a long way away. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/Untitled-design--7-.png)](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) ****Join us for our** [****Open Newsroom**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) Next week is [Indie News Week](https://www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/indienewsweek/?ref=localauthority.news), a national campaign run by the [Public Interest News Foundation](https://www.publicinterestnews.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) highlighting the role independent journalism plays in communities across the country. As part of it, we’re opening up **Local Authority* for the day on Friday 19 June. Drop in to meet the team, find out how **Local Authority* works, tell us about stories we’ve missed, or share issues affecting your area. We’ll be hosting a panel discussion at 11am on the future of independent local news and the challenges facing the sector. We’re also particularly keen to hear from people in Medway’s villages and rural communities who may be interested in helping us strengthen our coverage of those areas. 📅 Friday 19 June - drop in anytime between 10am to 5pm 📍 Sun Pier House, Chatham 🎟️ Free to attend, but please register so we have a sense of numbers [Visit the open newsroom ](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/local-authority-open-newsroom-tickets-1991481070491?ref=localauthority.news) ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us elsewhere:* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and now* [*WhatsApp*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) *for new story alerts.* ### The fight to save a designated heritage asset URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-fight-to-save-a-designated-heritage-asset/ Last updated: 2026-06-08T17:01:22.000Z **Editor’s note:* This is an unusual piece for us to publish, but the future of the Royal Function Rooms is an issue we have covered closely, alongside the wider loss of music venues and cultural spaces across Medway. This piece by Bob Collins, who is leading opposition to the application to convert the venue into housing. He sets out why he believes the venue should be protected, how the planning process works, and how residents can respond before the deadline.* --- As you may have seen in a recent [*Local Authority* article](https://www.localauthority.news/the-long-goodbye-of-the-royal-function-rooms/), the owners of the Royal Function Rooms in Rochester have put in a [planning application to convert it into dwellings](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TEYTSEKNI9K00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news). Like most people, I was stunned when it was suddenly closed for business in 2022, having promoted, played at and attended many gigs there over the last 20 years. There was no explanation from the owners then or since, and every time I go past the place, I think what a waste it is that a unique and valuable venue is just sitting there empty. Now, thanks to the *Local Authority* planning spotters, we know that, to probably no one’s surprise, the owners want to convert it to housing and have submitted a planning application to the council. Their proposals mean permanent and irreversible closure of this as an entertainment venue, but given its history and Grade II listing, this is absolutely not a foregone conclusion. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-5.png) The stage in the Royal Function Rooms. I have already submitted [my objection](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/0C203F8498D8BEE1CB3679624247259C/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-OBJECTION%5F-%5FB%5FCOLLINS%5FPART%5F1-6687731.pdf?ref=localauthority.news), and I would urge anyone else who feels strongly about this to do the same. The closing date to do so is Monday, 22 June, and I thought I’d put together a quick guide to explain a bit more about the details and the process. As well as my music-related activities, which you may well know about, I was also a civil servant for 40 years, and while I’m not a planning expert, I have plenty of experience in navigating this kind of process and bureaucracy. You can read the application in full [here](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TEYTSEKNI9K00&ref=localauthority.news), along with all the objections that have been submitted already, including mine. For me, the argument is not about opposing new housing. That argument is in any sense a non-starter in planning terms, and you can read [my previous article](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-difficult-housing-decision/) on that to understand why. The core of the issue here is that this is only a handful of new dwellings, and any contribution they make to housing numbers is tiny when weighed against the devastating loss of this heritage. Now, as a bit of quick background for those unfamiliar, this is a building which was established as a theatre in 1791\. It hasn’t been in constant use in all the time since then, but it has played a big part in the Medway music scene of the last 25 years, when it was the only usable hall for audiences of 150-300 people. An important thing to note is that planning decisions are governed by a legal framework. It’s not just the council deciding if they like something or not. There have to be solid legal grounds. The same goes for any public comments that go in. But while you can’t base your objection on emotion and outrage alone, the good news is that you don’t have to because the relevant legislation and guidance is also on your side. In particular, all decisions have to be made with regard to something called the [National Planning and Policy Framework](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67aafe8f3b41f783cca46251/NPPF%5FDecember%5F2024.pdf?ref=localauthority.news), or NPPF. The killer element in this case, which works in favour of preservation, is paragraph 214, which is worth quoting in full: “*Where a proposed development will lead to substantial harm to (or total loss of significance of) a designated heritage asset, local planning authorities should refuse consent.*” That seems pretty clear to me. There are two key arguments here. Firstly, in terms of the physical works, the stage and proscenium (that’s the ornate arch above the stage to you and me) will be preserved but completely enclosed in a private dwelling that will be permanently inaccessible to the public, which makes a mockery of the whole point of conserving historic assets. The second key point is the fact that this was in constant use as an entertainment venue for a couple of decades before the owners shut the doors in 2022\. This has been completely ignored in the application documents, and it is not hard to understand why. All the guidance in this is clear that preserving historic buildings is not just about the bricks and mortar, but preserving their historic use. By completely neglecting to mention the ongoing modern use of the building, a use that would be continuing were it still available for hire, they have given the completely false impression that it all went to rack and ruin years ago. Providing the planning committee with evidence that this was a well-used functioning venue until the owners themselves closed the doors is a very important piece of context that, as far as I’m concerned, tips the balance considerably. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-2.png) Plans for the Royal Function Rooms in Rochester. Here’s what you can do. 1. The most important thing is to register a formal objection to the council. You can do this in two ways, one by submitting through the planning portal [here](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=TEYTSEKNI9K00&ref=localauthority.news). You first have to register, which is fairly painless, but the online route restricts your response to 10,000 characters. You can avoid both of these things by emailing [planning.representations@medway.gov.uk](mailto:planning.representations@medway.gov.uk) quoting the case reference MC/26/0906\. Either way, the deadline for comments is 22 June. If you do this, your objection, including your name and address (but not email or phone), will be published on the portal with all the other planning application documents and objections. You can choose to remain anonymous, but your submission may be given less weight. More information on that is [here](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200133/planning/714/planning%5Fservice%5Fprivacy%5Fnotice/3?ref=localauthority.news). 2. Contact your local councillor and/or MP to urge them to speak out in support of preserving this important piece of heritage. There’s a caveat to this though. If a councillor sits on the planning committee that decides the application, they won’t be able to express a prior view, or they risk the decision being open to legal challenge. The full list of councillors is [here](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0&ref=localauthority.news), and a list of those that sit on the planning committee is [here](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=360&ref=localauthority.news). Unfortunately, two of the ward councillors in the location of the Royal Function Rooms are on the committee. The one that isn’t is Cllr Alex Paterson, so it would be worthwhile contacting him too. The council leader also has to be careful to avoid making prejudicial statements, so although he spoke out against the closure while in opposition, we have to expect Vince to keep his counsel (pun intended) until after the decision. If you are really interested in this whole probity issue, have a look at the [Local Government Association Probity in Planning Guidance](https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/34.2%5FProbity%5Fin%5FPlanning%5F04.pdf?ref=localauthority.news). 3. Contact the relevant statutory bodies, such as Historic England ([e-seast@historicengland.org.uk](mailto:e-seast@historicengland.org.uk)), The [Theatres Trust](https://www.theatrestrust.org.uk/contact-us?ref=localauthority.news) or The Georgian Group ([consult@georgiangroup.org.uk](mailto:consult@georgiangroup.org.uk)), who the council have to consult in cases like this. I have sent my response to these organisations to make them aware of the recent cultural history of the building, which was absent from the developer’s application. These bodies don’t necessarily respond to everything they’re asked to comment on, but if they do, it’s important they have this information. Incidentally, the council appear not to have consulted the Theatre Trust, which I have pointed out to them. What will happen next? Because of the high profile of this application and the objections that have already been submitted, this will almost certainly go to the full planning committee and not a delegated officer. If the planning consent is refused, then the ball is back in the court of the owners. I have no idea what their next move would be, and there’s of course no guarantee that it will be brought back into use as a venue, but it at least preserves the opportunity for any owner to do so at a future date. Another way to protect the venue if it were ever sold would be through an application to the council for it to be designated as an Asset of Community Value, which gives communities the right to bid to buy the property if it goes up for sale. There was talk of this being done in 2022 after the closure, but it doesn’t seem from the [Medway register](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/3609/assets%5Fof%5Fcommunity%5Fvalue%5Fregisters?ref=localauthority.news) that an application was ever made. Even if this planning application is approved, I believe the developers still can’t do anything unless they apply for and secure Listed Building Consent, which is separate from planning consent. The planning consent, if granted, will approve the change of use. But the Listed Building Consent is necessary before any physical alterations can take place. As far as I can see, they haven’t applied for this yet. If they do, then that will also bring a further opportunity for challenge and comment. We don’t know how long this battle will be, or if we will ever get our venue back, but for that to happen, this is the first battle we have to win. [*Bob Collins*](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-stopped-thinking-that-its-going/) *is a former civil servant and a stalwart of the Medway music scene.* ### “I've been able to do some really cool things because I play bass” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/ive-been-able-to-do-some-really-cool-things-because-i-play-bass/ Last updated: 2026-06-07T06:00:03.000Z *Medway supergroup* [*South Shore*](https://www.facebook.com/p/South-Shore-of-the-Medway-61572834842299/) *have released their first single,* [*The Ballad of Rats Bay*](https://southshoreofthemedway.bandcamp.com/track/ballad-of-rats-bay?ref=localauthority.news)*, produced by Medwayish. Steven met with bassist Nick Rice at the Mast and Rigging pub, where they talked about what brought Nick to Medway, how he came to be a member of South Shore and if he has raced a car around Brands Hatch.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/Nick-Rice--1.jpg) Nick Rice (right). **What is your official occupation?** I work in motorsport for a company that owns six race circuits in the UK and one in northern Spain. My job is to basically sell the circuit for hire. That could be track days, race testing for manufacturers, filming, or all sorts of things. I'm based at Brands Hatch. I have a small team of people there. We try to let people have fun with their cars and bikes on our circuits. **How does someone get into that line of work?** Fluke. I originally trained as a PE and English teacher. I did that for six months, then I was going to take a break from teaching in my NQT *\[Newly Qualified Teacher\]* year and go back. Applied for lots of jobs and thought, 'I've done 20 years of learning about or being in education, let's go and do something different.' Basically, I was going to do something with cars or guitars. I was going to work in a music shop, but realised that was a dead end. I got a junior track day sales assistant job 20 years ago last Monday and stayed. Evidently I didn't go back to teaching. **Have you raced the track?** Yeah, driven it loads and formally raced a Ford Ka a few times, and took motorbikes out on track. My job is essentially an office job with emails and things like that, and sorting out issues, and trying to look after customers and staff. **How many bands are you currently in?** [South Shore](https://www.facebook.com/p/South-Shore-of-the-Medway-61572834842299/), [These Guilty Men](https://www.facebook.com/p/These-Guilty-Men-100063153495479/), [Treasures of Mexico](https://www.facebook.com/thetreasuresofmexico/), my own band the [Dutch Embassy](https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Dutch-Embassy-100089067913268/). I'm playing with Mick Cocksedge, Bruce Brand, and Dan Whaley in [Honest Hal and the Buried Hearts](https://www.facebook.com/people/Honest-Hal/61584554172278/), we do the recording sessions. That's five. Think that's it for the minute. I recorded with [Groovy Uncle](https://groovy-uncle.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and played live, but Glenn *\[Prangnell\]* has drawn a line under that now, which is fine. I was part of [Pod](https://louderthanwar.com/pod-the-earths-rotation-album-review-interview-chris-broderick-posthumous-release/?ref=localauthority.news). I was in the [Deccas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FDeccas?ref=localauthority.news) with Dave Sawicki for a while. My first band was the [Effectives](https://theeffectives.bandcamp.com/album/the-paris-medway-pop-sides-project?ref=localauthority.news), which was 2007 to 2009\. That was my first proper band. But then various things have kind of come and gone. Obviously, the [Flat Earth Society](https://www.facebook.com/stuartturnerandtheflatearthsociety/). [Stuart *\[Turner\]*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-cant-really-write-music-that-goes/) and I have worked together for 14 years. I'm very lucky to be associated to that man. **How did you first meet Stuart?** I was a superfan. I think we first met when the Deccas were supporting him at the Beacon Court. That's my earliest memory of Stuart. I just loved what he did and thought he was really striking and loved his music, and then followed him around wherever there was a gig. He was playing a gig at the Nags *\[Head, pub in Rochester\]* and their bass player had some alcohol issues and turned up battered. Stuart asked Dave Sawicki if he could play. Dave couldn’t remember any of the songs. Stuart was wandering around the bar afterwards. I think he did it as a two-piece. I popped him a message and said if you want a bass player, I'd love to give it a go. I'm really lucky because Stuart's amazing and all the stuff we've done together has been brilliant. **What instruments do you play?** I learnt to be a guitarist first, but I didn't get a guitar until I was 16\. I wanted guitar lessons at school, but for whatever reason, it didn't happen, and then I just saved that money, and on my 16th birthday, New Year's Eve, I got a cheap guitar. I started playing guitar, but then I grew up in South Lincolnshire. There were only really me and my mate Graham, who I knew through a guitar teacher. We tried to get things going, and that never really happened. I played guitar and then went to uni, dabbled on bass, but didn't really do a lot. I had to play piano a bit from school. The reason I got playing bass is that Ian Snowball said, “I'm putting together a band.” I didn't really play bass. I borrowed a bass, went along, played bass badly, got into that band and then thought, 'Fuck it, I better learn how to play bass.' So fluked it, then ended up playing bass more. > If a guitarist fucks up in a band, you could probably get away with it, whereas if a bass player fucks up, you can bring the whole song down **What's the difference between playing guitar and playing bass?** Number of strings predominantly, I always say that if a guitarist fucks up in a band, you could probably get away with it, whereas if a bass player fucks up, you can bring the whole song down pretty quickly, because it affects the rhythm. You and the drummer are driving things a lot, and even if everyone else goes to pot, you can keep everything else going, and you just wait for everyone to compose themselves. There's a bit more pressure on bass. You're holding down the rhythm, driving the song, and everything else sits on top, but that sounds like you're making bass players and rhythm section sound terribly important when everyone is. **If you're not going to do it, then who will?** No, exactly. I remember thinking that I needed to play bass with my fingers to be a proper bass player. I remember bass players like Paul Moss from Billy Wears Dresses, and thinking he's a really good bass player and predominantly a finger bass player. > If you can learn how to play bass and people know you play bass, you're solid and reliable, and you've got a car, then you'll always get work **Doesn't everyone play bass with their fingers?** A lot of people play with their pick, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. You choose, but you can get a lot more feeling out of playing with your fingers, and you can soften it. McCartney, brilliant bass player, predominantly plays with the pick. Someone said that playing bass is like a trade. There's lots of guitarists out there and lots of singers, and if you can learn how to play bass and people know you play bass, you're solid and reliable, and you've got a car, then you'll always get work. That's the way I looked at it. I've been lucky that I've been able to do some really cool things because I play bass. And I normally have a big car. But if you're being reliable, you're halfway there. Because there's a lot of people that are really good at what they're doing, and they're just fucking flaky. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Developers push back as Medway tries to make growth pay for itself URL: https://www.localauthority.news/developers-push-back-as-medway-tries-to-make-growth-pay-for-itself/ Last updated: 2026-06-12T15:28:54.000Z **Medway is proposing a major update to its Developer Contributions Guide, raising expectations for infrastructure funding and lowering the threshold at which affordable housing is normally sought. Developers and planning consultants are pushing back on viability and evidence. We look at what the changes would mean and why this argument will sit beneath almost every major housing decision Medway makes next.* ### Developers push back as Medway tries to make growth pay for itself For years, one complaint has followed almost every major housing development in Medway. The homes arrive first, but the infrastructure struggles to keep up. Residents raise concerns about school places, GP appointments, traffic, parks and local services. Developers point out that many of those issues predate their schemes. Medway Council is left trying to bridge the gap. Now, the authority is proposing a significant overhaul of the system used to require developers to contribute to the cost of growth. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/AdobeStock_208139183-1.jpeg) A [new Developer Contributions Guide](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88889&ref=localauthority.news) would update rules that have remained largely [unchanged since 2008](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/2746/medway%5Fguide%5Fto%5Fdeveloper%5Fcontributions%5Fand%5Fobligations%5F2018?ref=localauthority.news), increasing expectations in several areas and lowering the threshold at which affordable housing is normally sought. The council says the changes are needed because Medway in 2026 is a very different place from the Medway of nearly two decades ago. Since then, thousands of homes have been built across the towns. Tens of thousands more are anticipated through the forthcoming Local Plan. At the same time, schools, healthcare services and social care providers are facing growing pressure. Under the proposed guidance, developers could be asked to contribute £7,449 per dwelling towards new primary school provision where required, alongside £6,351 towards secondary education and £3,035 towards nursery provision. Open space contributions would be set at £3,507 per dwelling, while healthcare contributions could reach £2,000 per home for primary care facilities and a further £400 for community healthcare services. Large developments of more than 300 homes could also be asked to contribute towards hospital capacity. The guide extends far beyond schools and healthcare. Contributions may also be sought towards social care, libraries, public realm improvements, waste and recycling infrastructure, heritage assets and environmental mitigation measures. For a sizeable housing development, the total bill can quickly run into millions of pounds. The proposed changes would also make affordable housing a more prominent feature of future developments. Under the existing guidance, affordable housing is generally sought from schemes of 25 homes or more in urban areas and 15 homes or more in rural areas. The new guide proposes a threshold of 10 homes, bringing far more developments into scope. Council officers argue the changes are necessary if housing growth is not to place additional strain on already stretched services. The guide highlights the growing demand for social care and predicts a substantial increase in the number of people living with dementia over the coming years. It also points to pressures on healthcare services and the need to ensure new communities have access to schools, open space and other infrastructure. But developers and planning consultants are far from convinced. Of the 25 responses received during [consultation on the draft guide](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88912&ref=localauthority.news), 11 came from developers, planning consultants, landowners or their representatives. Many questioned the methodology used to calculate contributions. Others argued that some of the proposed charges were too high or insufficiently evidenced. Several respondents called for the guide to be delayed until Medway’s Local Plan is completed, arguing that key planning policies are still evolving. A recurring concern was viability. Developers warned that increasing obligations could make some schemes financially unviable, particularly on more challenging sites. In their view, every additional requirement reduces the funds available to fund construction, remediation, affordable housing, and other elements of a project. It is an argument likely to be familiar to anyone who has followed planning debates in Medway over recent years. Residents often ask why new developments are approved without corresponding improvements to schools, GP surgeries or local infrastructure. Developers respond that schemes can only support so many obligations before they no longer make financial sense. The council acknowledges that tension. The report accompanying the guide notes that viability concerns remain a risk and confirms that developers will continue to be able to submit viability assessments where they believe planning obligations would make a scheme undeliverable. Those claims can then be independently reviewed. Council officers have nevertheless rejected calls to delay the document, arguing that the existing guidance no longer reflects current planning policy or the realities facing local services. The draft guide will now go before councillors for approval. Behind the technical language and contribution formulas lies a fight over how much Medway’s next phase of growth is allowed to cost. Thousands more homes are planned across Medway. The council wants those developments to carry more of the burden for the schools, healthcare, open space and local services that new communities need. Developers are warning that there is a limit to how much can be loaded onto a scheme before it stops being built. That tension will sit beneath almost every major housing decision Medway makes in the years ahead. ****Local Authority is now on WhatsApp** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for Local Authority](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Licensing Hearing Panel](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6595&ref=localauthority.news) will decide on a new premises licence for Chatham Town Football Club and a shop on Gillingham High Street. - **Wednesday:** [Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=378&MId=6654&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss looked after children, Oasis Restore Secure School, and the Medway Youth Council Conference. - **Thursday:** [Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=437&MId=6630&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss bus services, Southern Water, developer obligations, and more. **New planning applications:** - Conversion of the former rear of the Sue Ryder shop in Chatham into an [events and dining space](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TCRR2PKNGIJ00&ref=localauthority.news). - Wickes in Chatham wants to replace their two best parking spaces with a [battery for their solar panels](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TFE42VKNJV400&ref=localauthority.news). - HMO application for [Rainham Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TFOZQCKNIQG00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. ### In brief 🚒 The developer of the remarkably combustible former St John Fisher School in Chatham is [facing enforcement action](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/action-must-be-taken-anger-after-another-fire-at-derelict-341042/?ref=localauthority.news) from Medway Council after the building went up in flames for the ninth time last week. 🧑‍⚕️ The NHS in Kent and Medway have [reduced the number](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g41ypj40xo?ref=localauthority.news) of IVF treatment cycles to patients in Kent to one and lowered the age limit from 40 to 38. ⛪ The Local Democracy Reporting Service have [been to interview](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/queen-prophetess-defends-moving-church-into-newsagents-wit-341009/?ref=localauthority.news) the Queen Prophetess behind a church that opened illegally on Luton Road. 🏪 KMTV [visited Strood High Street](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xad7noe?ref=localauthority.news), which is ranked as one of the worst high streets in the country for shop closures. 🛒 Meanwhile, Aldi in Strood is [set to be upgraded](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/aldi-store-set-for-upgrade-as-part-of-300m-wider-investment-341030/?ref=localauthority.news) as part of a £300m investment from the firm across the country. 🏤 The Post Office is set to [seek a new site](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid02sYsMh4UyYrYqeqR2RMxcMZdifazRXedvWn1JLh8F4k3gpidA3mVpMkPQHTDhfEqEl&id=61561208633996) on Luton Road following the closure of the Morrisons Daily that currently houses it. 🏚️ An utterly awful sounding care home in Gillingham is [set to close](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/deteriorating-care-home-to-close-after-second-damning-insp-341145/?ref=localauthority.news). ### Property of the week This two-bedroom flat in Brompton is on the market for offers in excess of £250,000 and sits inside a former schoolhouse conversion that still looks like it knows what it used to be. The selling point is the main living space, with vaulted ceilings, huge arched windows and wall murals that make it feel more like a small private chapel for your sofa than a standard apartment. You get two double bedrooms, allocated parking, and the Dockyard and Fort Amherst nearby, which is handy if you like your local walks with a bit of cannon-adjacent history. The only reality check is the leasehold running costs, with a chunky service charge and ground rent that you’d want to be comfortable with before falling too hard for the windows. [Check out this 2 bedroom apartment for sale on Rightmove2 bedroom apartment for sale in Conway Mews, Brompton, Gillingham, ME7 for £250,000\. Marketed by Greyfox Estate Agents, Rainham![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-f587cb7a-351c-465d-9817-66e8261b8ce2.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/dd95ec3cbc9803e3e6ca94f28ee92d30-4d08051c-5095-4d89-b212-fd0832ca3e9a.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89127222?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 📜 5 - 6 Jun - [**Rainham Poetry Festival**](https://www.rainhampoetry.org/?ref=localauthority.news) // Two day festival of poetry, with special guest Lemn Sissay. St Margaret's Church, Rainham. Free. ⛪ Sat 6 Jun - [**Garden Open Day**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/new-events/2026/6/6/garden-open-day?ref=localauthority.news) // Rare chance to access the gardens around Rochester Cathedral. Tickets £10. 🛍️ Sun 7 Jun - [**The Little Market**](https://www.facebook.com/events/2494526454324743/) // Launch of new monthly market of handmade items, gifts, homewares, art, and more. Corn Exchange, Rochester. Free. 📽️ Mon 8 Jun - [**Ocean with David Attenborough**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/ocean-with-david-attenborough/HO00007087/?ref=localauthority.news) // Attenborough reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets from £6.50. 💬 Wed 1o Jun - [**Big Trouble with Imogen Wade and Jake Wild Hall**](https://www.ticketsource.com/big-trouble/t-aazqmax?ref=localauthority.news) //Long-standing poetry night, featuring open mic and performances. 12 Degrees Micropub, Rochester. Tickets £7.30. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us elsewhere:* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and now* [*WhatsApp*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) *for new story alerts.* ### Can a £15m health centre help Chatham live longer? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/can-a-15m-health-centre-help-chatham-live-longer/ Last updated: 2026-06-09T20:16:49.000Z **A £15m health centre has opened inside the Pentagon, bringing GP and community health services into one of Medway’s most deprived town centres. We look at what the James Williams Healthy Living Centre can and cannot do for Chatham, where health inequalities are measured in years of life, alongside updates on Medway’s missing rail speed record monument and the future of The Brook car park.* ### Can a £15m health centre help Chatham live longer? The first floor of the Pentagon does not look like the future of healthcare. Large stretches of it are quiet. The upper level was built for a version of Chatham that no longer exists, one where a shopping centre could expect enough footfall, tenants and purpose to justify the amount of space wrapped around it. A few businesses remain. Jesse’s Café keeps going. A Chinese medicine shop has somehow endured. Ascend’s large but quiet coworking space sits on one side. Elsewhere, the floor feels like a building waiting to be told what it is for. Then you reach the NHS signs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/1D5CEA41-C0A0-4E69-9716-CFE077D93DC1_1_102_a-1.jpeg) Inside the James Williams Healthy Living Centre, the contrast is immediate. The space is new, clean and clearly being used. It is also surprisingly warm. While the wider Pentagon felt quiet and cavernous, the newly opened centre was busy with staff, patients and guests gathering for the opening ceremony. The centre is modern and well-equipped, but remains unmistakably a health facility built inside a shopping centre. Natural light is limited, and the wider Pentagon is never far away. It is one of Medway’s biggest public health investments in years, placed inside one of the clearest symbols of Chatham’s decline. That is what makes it interesting. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/566917D4-E274-4381-9144-467823B3D85C_1_102_a-1.jpeg) The centre was formally opened today, though the real opening happened weeks ago. Bryant Healthcare moved in during March, followed by Maritime Health Partnership. By the time the speeches began, the building was already part of patients’ lives. That led to the odd scene of a ceremonial opening taking place while people continued turning up for appointments, some of them slightly puzzled by the gathering occupying part of their GP surgery. Outside, Chatham High Street was not pretending to be an easy place to fix. Within minutes of *Local Authority* arriving in town ahead of the ceremony, there was an open drug deal outside Primark. The high street remains littered with empty units, struggling shops, but also new homes, regeneration projects and the long-running question of what Chatham town centre is now supposed to become. The answer, increasingly, is not just retail. The Healthy Living Centre is not another shop trying to save the Pentagon. It is an attempt to put useful public services into a town centre that badly needs them, in a part of Medway where people die earlier than they should. Earlier this year, [*Local Authority* reported](https://www.localauthority.news/a-decade-of-life-can-depend-on-which-bit-of-medway-you-live-in/) on Medway’s Marmot Place work, which is built around a brutal fact. Men living in the most deprived part of Medway can expect to live ten years less than those in the least deprived. For women, the gap is nearly 13 years. That is the backdrop to the new health centre. [A decade of life can depend on which bit of Medway you live inA Marmot report puts a number on Medway’s health divide, plus the week ahead, news in brief, and lots more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--6e22189a-1b09-4d3e-88e7-f5ebb7c4538d.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/Marmot2-393a74db-504c-4cc0-a774-d9ef323b6669.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/a-decade-of-life-can-depend-on-which-bit-of-medway-you-live-in/) Speaking to *Local Authority* at the opening, Medway Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) described health inequality as a “really stubborn issue” and pointed to the gap between some of Medway’s more affluent communities and the centre of Chatham. “If you’ve tuned into Cabinet meetings and other meetings, people will often hear me talk about the ten year age gap between some of the outskirts of Medway and central Chatham,” he said. “So it’s about trying to say, how do we reduce that? This is one way. It’s not the only solution, but this is a really important solution.” That last part is doing a lot of work. Councils and the NHS are very good at making new buildings sound like answers. Maple was more careful. “This is not a silver bullet,” he said. “This centre, although it’s fantastic, is not the panacea for all of those statistical challenges.” He is right. A £15m health centre cannot, by itself, undo poverty, poor housing, low incomes, addiction, food insecurity, weak transport, or all the other things that shape health long before anyone speaks to a GP. But it can make services easier to reach. The centre sits just inside from Chatham bus station and around five minutes from the railway station. It brings GP practices and community health services into one building in the middle of town. Bryant Healthcare was the first GP surgery to move in. Maritime Health Partnership followed shortly afterwards, relocating its Same Day Assessment Hub, Frailty Team and Prescribing Hub alongside frontline GP and nursing services. For patients, the promise is simpler access. For the NHS, it is part of the move to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/BC0E0EAB-2C3E-4032-AD7A-F9463EB25B81_1_102_a-1.jpeg) Peter Meers, a consultant musculoskeletal physiotherapist with Medway Community Healthcare, described the centre as an “opportunity”. He said that bringing GP services, community healthcare, and other organisations together under one roof would make it easier for them to work together and develop new ways of treating patients. “Moving patients’ care away from secondary care, away from hospitals, is a big part of the NHS plan,” he said. “Being able to deliver that in such a fantastic new facility is an honour.” Some of that is visible in the technology now available on site. Meers pointed to ultrasound equipment that enables diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound-guided injections to be performed in the community rather than at a hospital. The building also includes a gym space for rehabilitation and exercise classes. The practical aim is straightforward enough. More things can now happen in Chatham that previously required a trip elsewhere. The centre has been years in development. Plans for a Healthy Living Centre in Chatham were first announced in 2021\. The £15m project was approved in 2024, with construction beginning later that year. Most of the funding came from NHS Kent and Medway, with Medway Council leading the delivery. The primary work was carried out by Bauvill, a Medway company, turning part of the Pentagon’s first floor into something very different from the retail space around it. Today’s ceremony included speeches from Medway Community Healthcare managing director Martin Riley, NHS Kent and Medway chief executive Adam Doyle, council leader Vince Maple and deputy leader [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/), as well as Mayor [Douglas Hamandishe](https://www.localauthority.news/my-baptism-to-life-was-seeing-mankind/). Rochester and Strood MP [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) then unveiled a commemorative plaque with members of James Williams’ family. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/A2E38580-91D1-407B-B13C-CB5FCA8FF744_1_102_a-1.jpeg) The centre is named after Medway’s former Director of Public Health, who died in 2024 after a short illness. Williams led public health in Medway for seven years and played a major role during the covid pandemic. Before that, he represented Great Britain in fencing at three Olympic Games. The tributes today were warm and clearly felt. Speakers returned to his commitment to tackling inequality and his belief that people’s health should not be determined by where they live. That sentiment now has a building attached to it. Whether the building lives up to the name will take much longer to judge. Maple said that in “really simple terms,” success over the next decade would mean “reducing the gap.” That is the only measure that really matters. Not the plaque, the opening event, or even the novelty of putting a major NHS facility above a shopping centre. Not even the relief of getting GP surgeries into newer rooms after years of pressure on local services. The test is whether people in central Chatham live longer, healthier lives. That will require far more than healthcare. Next door to the centre, work is continuing on a new community supermarket backed through Medway’s Crisis and Resilience Fund. Social Enterprise Kent is due to run it. That sits neatly with the council’s Marmot work, because health is not just about doctors. It is about whether people have enough money, decent food, stable housing, good work, safe streets and places that do not grind them down. Chatham has plenty of work to do on all of that. For decades, the town centre has been treated as a retail problem. Better shops would fix it. Bigger brands would fix it. A refurbished Pentagon would fix it. Another regeneration scheme would fix it. Those promises have not exactly aged well. The Healthy Living Centre points to a different version of the town centre. Less fantasy about shopping saving everything. More acceptance that places like Chatham need services people can actually use. That is less glamorous than another glossy regeneration board. But it may be more honest. The first floor of the Pentagon still feels strange. Too much space, too little life, too many reminders of what the building used to be for. But tucked inside it is now a health centre that is already seeing patients, already doing work, and already asking a harder question than whether Chatham can fill its empty units. Can it close a gap measured in years of life? ### Also... 🚄 A small update on Medway’s missing rail speed record monument, which has now managed to become even more absurd. The National Railway Museum has confirmed to *Local Authority* that the monument is indeed heading to York, where it will be installed alongside its Eurostar exhibit. It is not there yet, though, because the delivery has apparently been delayed by a low bridge near the museum, requiring a road closure to get the thing in. So, to recap, Medway’s monument to the UK rail speed record was repeatedly vandalised beside the actual high-speed line, removed from Kent, sent to Yorkshire, and has now been temporarily thwarted by a bridge. The museum says it is unaware of any plans to return it to Medway or to create a replacement marker here, which remains a question for Network Rail. [The plaque that couldn’t survive MedwayA rail mystery near Cuxton, a useful budget chart, and the latest Gun Wharf shuffle![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--9e55cb3a-c95b-4daf-90ba-7e0b19a00aa1.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/geograph-3930201-by-Chris-Whippet-2-d5b8b80c-6394-48ae-b8e6-e20e0521d736.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-plaque-that-couldnt-survive-medway/) 🏗️ [Future Medway reports](https://futuremedway.co.uk/1-5m-funding-secured-to-demolish-the-brook-multi-storey-car-park-in-chatham-for-100-flats/?ref=localauthority.news) that plans to demolish The Brook multi-storey car park in Chatham have moved a step closer after Medway Council secured £1.58m from the government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund. The money will go towards demolishing the six-storey, 469-space car park attached to the Pentagon Centre, along with utility diversions and waterproofing works, ahead of plans for around 100 flats on the site. Councillors had already agreed to put £400,000 into the scheme, with Medway Development Company expected to manage the work. The car park has been declared surplus to requirements, partly because of the cost of keeping the ageing structure open, though no closure date has yet been set. ****Local Authority is now on WhatsApp** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for Local Authority](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us elsewhere:* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and now* [*WhatsApp*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) *for new story alerts.* ### The May Culture Review URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-may-culture-review/ Last updated: 2026-06-01T21:00:25.000Z *Once a month, we bring together reviews of Medway’s cultural highlights in a single round-up, produced exclusively for our paid supporters. This month, our team of intrepid cultural reviewers present music, books, and food from across our towns...* --- **Inside Out: Selected Lyrics of the Singing Loins book launch** *Rochester Library, 3 May* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/20260503_134848-1.jpg) Four years on from the passing of Chris Broderick, prolific wordsmith and charismatic frontman of the [Singing Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/) amongst many other achievements, we are gathered in Rochester Library to celebrate the publication of a comprehensive compendium of his song lyrics and personal reflections. This was the culmination of a huge collective effort to realise the final project of one of Medway’s most beloved poets, and every contributor is represented today. Simon Mills, the co-publisher of the book, speaks first about his involvement. He credits Gary Woodhams and Graeme Jacobs’ jam night at the Man of Kent for introducing him to Singing Loins' songs and for quickly determining that they were fantastic and inspirational enough to reach out to the lyricist about the book. Chris's friend and ex-wife, Amanda Randall, speaks next to thank those who brought the project to fruition, reminding us of what a truly family affair it was as Katie, their artist daughter, helped with the layout of the book and has her own designs included. By now, the emotion in the room is palpable, and [Ian Damaged](https://www.kentcurrent.news/the-only-way-you-do-anything-in-life-is-by-failing/?ref=localauthority.news) seems visibly moved as he takes the mic to recount his personal reminiscences of meeting Chris before reading his reflections on each album released on Damaged Goods. Having played a pivotal role in boosting their profile beyond Medway, this chronological overview also pays tribute to the band’s sympathetic, productive working relationship with [Jim Riley](https://www.localauthority.news/digital-hasnt-surpassed-analogue/) at Ranscombe Studios, reminding many in the audience of just how long The Loins have been a presence in our lives. Post-Loins is covered by [Stuart Turner](https://www.localauthority.news/i-cant-really-write-music-that-goes/), picked by Chris to be his collaborator on his final musical projects, the song suite And One Red Mitten and the band Pod. Despite their processes being interrupted by covid lockdowns and Chris becoming ill, this proved to be one of his most satisfying, mutually compatible songwriting partnerships. [Bill Lewis](https://www.localauthority.news/my-parents-were-both-fictitious/) reads two poems next, one his personal tribute to Chris, blending their words together. The inclusion of the image of the girl who combs her hair with a raven’s wing makes these lyrics jump out when Chatham Girls is performed by the Singing Loins at their gigs later in the day. The core of the Loins take to the stage next for stripped down acoustic versions of some of the songs from the book - opening with Angel of the Medway is a jolt to those expecting this at the culmination of the set, but quickly establishes a feeling of community, if not family amongst everyone in room, brought together by the words of Chris Broderick initially and now sharing so many connections and experiences together. This becomes even more tangible when the band are joined on stage by [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/), who leads a spirited rendition of I Don’t Like The Man That I Am. No one can resist singing along, a wondrous moment of touching unity. Oliver Allen closes proceedings - a humble introduction leads to a stunning and emotive solo version of With All Your Blessed Heart. A beautiful conclusion to a powerfully moving occasion. - *Moira Mehaffey* --- **The Hoo Heddern: A National Dish of Hoo? community feast** *Thrift & Thrive, Chatham, 28 Mar* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/image-1.png) The Hoo Heddern Community Feast was billed as a celebration of the flavours and stories of that “almost-island” Hoo. Long tables were laid out in the rear of Thrift & Thrive in Chatham Intra, which occupies the old Gray’s of Chatham buildings, admittedly under some unlovely pigeon netting. Cherry Truluck is an artist, chef and food systems researcher whose mobile trailer, the Hoo Heddern (its name derived from the Saxon word for a storeroom), has been travelling around the Hoo Peninsula collecting food, recipes and memories. The project asked a seemingly simple question: “What does Hoo taste like?” The project investigates how communities can take care of their land and food, and how they might respond to the loss of rural knowledge and tradition by building new relationships with what they grow and eat. The meal itself seemed simple enough at first glance, with chicken and some salads. But this was an archival recipe of Potted Chicken cooked in butter with herbs, spices, ginger, and garlic, accompanied by blanched spring greens and roasted spring onions with a citrus dressing and pine nuts, a ‘pink salad’ of forced rhubarb, goats cheese, radicchio and beetroot, dressed with rapeseed oil, orange juice, and herbs, a rhubarb salad with chilli and Gala apple, and a tabbouleh with mixed vegetables, accompanied by bread baked in Hoo. All the ingredients were sourced locally or from Thrift & Thrive’s stores. Presented in a room that offered no glamour whatsoever, the quality and depth of these flavour combinations was second to none. The communal nature of the meal, with friends and strangers sitting together at a long table, meant that conversation flowed equally between people who already knew each other and strangers sitting across the way. Men with face tattoos broke bread opposite middle-class art professionals, eating together in a way that almost never happens. The shared meal is one of the most consistent ways that humans have marked belonging either to a family, a community, or a place. Research consistently shows that people who eat regularly with others report greater wellbeing, stronger social networks, and a stronger sense of identity and belonging. In communities like ours that are under pressure from poverty, isolation, rapid change, and the erosion of shared spaces, the communal table can create a place where different people can meet as equals. This feels like an experiment that should be repeated across these towns. Any niggles about why a project celebrating the foodways of Hoo was taking place in Chatham Intra were dispelled by a second course of roast chicken and roast potatoes doused in a ridiculously good vegetable-filled gravy, which stopped me from questioning any further as I concentrated on eating. Deceptively simple, and served in unprepossessing surroundings, this was food of the absolute highest quality, clearly prepared with great skill and a love of ingredients. As we left, quite stuffed, but pretending we were making room for people who were still arriving, Cherry was ladling cream on an enormous cake that I wistfully eyed on my way to the door. Whatever the Heddern project is, almanac, archive, act of community, or more likely all three at once, the queue at the door suggested it has found its people. - *Chris de Coulon-Berthoud* --- **Bez at the Platform 3 Club** *Oast Community Centre, Rainham, 9 May* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/IMG_8525-1.jpeg) The art of not knowing what to expect has, woefully, gone the same way as the diplodocus and the affordable food shop. In an age where social media and sites such as setlist.fm have made substantial inroads towards the banishment of any element of surprise when it comes to seeing an act live, we are almost resigned as a species to accepting the fact that gone is the mystery, the romance, the speeding heartbeat of not knowing what’s around the corner. An Evening with Bez in Rainham, you say? Will the Master of Mancunian maracas be regaling us with his native north-country wit, ala a stop on a sort of indie/baggy after-dinner circuit? Will he be spinning some vintage choice cuts, so influential to the Happy Mondays bacchanalian sound? And just how big a role will the maracas be playing? Like Captain Willard hot on the trail of the renegade Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now – one didn’t know what one was going to find... Support act Pastel Waves (complete with barefoot singer) took to the stage first, beneath the timbered rafters of Platform 3 at The Oast. Although well-rehearsed and tight, and certainly an apt opener, given their obvious influences (The Mondays, Kula Shaker, Weller, The Roses, Oasis), they were just the wrong side of derivative. Of course, it is a joyous experience to wear the crests of one’s heroes on one’s sleeve – provided that this doesn’t come at the expense of pushing your own identity and individuality. And then, without further ado, there he was. Once indie rock's most lauded massive caner, more recently serial reality TV journeyman, Bez took the mic, and treated us to what was effectively the most bizarre form of karaoke on historical record. MCing, they tell me it’s called, over student union Britpop classics – Rock n Roll Star, Parklife, Disco 2000\. Quite what wisdom the great man was imparting, one can only speculate, due to PA distortion, but the words “Kent” and “Rainham” were randomly audible at times. He certainly engaged excellently with the faithful, bedecked in bucket hats and Kangol cagoules, pulling salivating punters up onto the stage for a bit of a melon twist here and there – and they were, as the popular idiom goes, loving it. There were times when it felt a bit like your profoundly refreshed uncle Kevin hogging the mike before the first dance at a wedding, but few could deny that he gave the people what they wanted. And for that, beanies are doffed. There are perhaps broader discussions to be had as to how many ticket holders were there because of their love of the Happy Mondays music, or as a result of seduction by that most potent of elixirs – a celebrity reality TV star being on the plot. Ultimately, though, such post-mortem discourse is irrelevant – there was a palpable sense of euphoria permeating the room in Rainham that night. And no maraca, neither singular nor plural, was harmed in the course of the evening. - *Simon Grey* --- **Sweeps Festival** *Rochester, 3 May* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/06/20260503_141948-1.jpg) Sunday morning at Sweeps begins in the opulent surroundings of the Guildhall Museum, the room filled with portraits of royalty and local dignitaries. A fitting setting for a luminous Sally Ironmonger. Oh, and Brian is here too. The acoustics of the room are perfect for the clarity of Sally’s unamplified voice and the airy, fluid jazzy guitar accompaniment from Brian. Overt humour (Murder On My Mind) is intertwined with grittier local colour (The Ballad of Flying Isaac) in a sparkling set from a slick duo. Hungry punters heading for a Bratwurst at Three Sheets to the Wind are stopping in their tracks to listen to South Shore on the Eastgate Stage. Rob Grigg’s immaculate percussion has adapted to the festival setting with the introduction of cajon and twinkly tubular bells. Both A-sides of the band’s imminent single release (The Ballad of Rats Bay/Blanche) are sounding mighty here. The repertoire of the band has expanded to include Fading Out, which allows Nick and Rachel to swap vocals - a potent combination, and a cover of the Travelling Wilburys’ Handle With Care on which she plays bass and looks totally badass doing so. Up to the castle main stage for a fully fleshed out Singing Loins, showing no ill effects from the previous late night. Sweary Uncle Arf is on his best behaviour almost until the end of the set, when the extra playing space of the main stage gives him room for shaking that ass at the delighted crowd. Oli Allen looks less delighted. Few things all weekend are as joyous as the singalong to Big Wheel beside the real thing. Brendan’s bass has never been groovier than on the introduction to this, and Richard Moore lends his Tiggerish energy to working the crowd (“It’s imperative that we have sex! WHEN? NOW!”). Chris Grenfell’s drums on Chatham Girl have made this an anthemic call to arms. It’s a vigorous performance all round. Rob Shepherd looks like he is having a ball up there. By way of stark sonic contrast, over at Three Sheets to the Wind, The Missing Persons List are strutting their magnificent stuff. In performance, they are nowhere near as shambolic and chaotic as they look, thanks to the razor-sharp precision of Chris Garth’s drumming keeping everyone in line. They are immense fun to watch, disarmingly so, considering they are dealing with themes of mental illness and police corruption lyrically. Bob has ample opportunity to use the smoke flares and confetti cannons left over from their surprisingly family-orientated guerilla gig at “Pisshead Ledge” the day before. We finish our evening’s entertainment here with the glorious noise of The Sleepers. Frenetic, rhythmic and above all LOUD, they are somehow perfect in this evening slot. A counterbalance to the folk music on offer elsewhere in the festival, their relentless pounding edge is captivating and invigorating. Their inclusion in the Sweeps programme testifies to how the festival now has something for everyone, and they remain one of the most thrilling live bands out there. - *Moira Mehaffey* --- **South Shore: Ballad of Rats Bay** [Ballad of Rats Bay, by South Shoretrack by South Shore![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/a3134569277_3-9d643dda8a29436358bebb32b4965cf7e01e5240531823aca1b99332d7eb84d7.jpg)South ShoreBandcamp New & Notable May 20, 2026![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/a3134569277_5-743e928c24083d66d6af032a827a30ed3b1a5a21f3b5d2f2100cd4034a18fe74.jpg)](https://southshoreofthemedway.bandcamp.com/track/ballad-of-rats-bay?ref=localauthority.news) Shimmering crystals of arpeggiated Promise usher us in to the auditorium of South Shore’s ‘Ballad of Rats Bay,’ and show us warmly to our seats. The trailers don’t last long – one is immediately grabbed by the high-octane kick of singer Rachel Lowrie’s voice. While South Shore readily classify themselves as part of the indie-folk insurgence, so prevalent in Medway, her voice is much more akin to Chrissie Hynde, but with an invigorating dose of 30’s Parisian chanteuse in the mix, along with what threatens, more than once, to climax into a Bassey-belt. There are some cockle-warming backing vox in the chorus, with some celestial harmonies, and the song bobs along with a rhythm that perfectly evokes the lilting swell of our very own brown River of Dreams – the muse for the song. ‘Ballad of Rats Bay’ has an elementary but ear-wigger of a melody underpinning the verses. Lyrically, while it may not necessarily be breaking new ground to look to the natural elements for inspiration, there is some strong (and accurate) imagery at work here – “As I look at the trolley sinking in the muddy river, rusting scaffold poles, bottles and cans.” More Pretenders than Pentangle, more PJ Harvey than Peter, Paul and Mary – and hooks and dynamics so solid you could hang your jerkin on them. *\- Simon Grey* --- **Doon Delight** *Chatham High Street* Welcome to your new favourite restaurant. Spoiler alert: This might be a positive review. Based in the former Dylan's, in what may or may not be Chatham Intra, Doon Delight is a friendly, positive environment to sit and look forward to a delightful meal. A meal where they acknowledge that the food is ‘slow-cooked,’ so they bring out additional plates to tide you over. All of which are better than other venues' actual menu options. Following some delightful spicy lentil crackers, I have the chicken tikka platter starter, a selection of Chicken Tikka, Haryali Tikka and Malai Tikka, baked in a charcoal clay oven. For the main, I had Gosht Mugal, which, unlike the starter, isn’t self-explanatory. It is grilled chunks of lamb served in a spiced tomato and cashew nut masala gravy, with mushroom fried rice and a butter naan. The tikka platter successfully delivered three types of chicken that looked and tasted different, something that is not always guaranteed. The lamb curry was incredible, covered with a delightful tomato soup, and well worth the wait. For two people with drinks, the meal came to a little over £80\. - *Steven Keevil* --- **Obituary: Jamie O’Hara, 1973-2026** There were no half measures with Jamie. If he loved you, it was a full-force gale of devotion. If he wanted to argue with you, you certainly knew about it. He was connected to everyone. If he didn’t know you at the start of the evening, he did by the end of it. Hugely proud of his Irish family and heritage, he was forthright in his political views, but hidden deeper, he was spiritual too. Ferociously clever, Jamie was an autodidact. His erudition spilt from him in torrents of words and ideas. Even in our last few conversations, he ranged from the ideal Chinese meal menu to 1960s situationism, via his admiration for Angela Davis and Lisa Left Eye Lopes. “I could have saved her, Mo!” A born entertainer, a consummate yarnspinner about his million lives lived in Dublin, London, America, Vietnam and Italy, he could make you laugh like no one else. Jamie was quick-witted, quick-tempered, quicksilver. Brimful of imagination and creativity, he was a screenwriter, a poet, a lyricist, an actor, an artist, the carnival barker of Grinners. A great beginner, if not necessarily always a great finisher, of projects. His drive and force of personality were irresistible - whether you found yourself swept up in providing the soundtrack for, or acting in Pubmonkey, collaborating on a musical or getting out of bed at 10:30 on a Sunday night to knit a model of Stonehenge just because he asked you to. You were never sure how you got there, but the ride was always thrilling. You had to stand firm to stand still against his momentum. Jamie had his demons too, and faced some health concerns in his final years, throughout which he was supported by a vast circle of friends who loved him unconditionally. He was very, and I do mean very, sweary. A romantic fool, a buck eejit and far and away my most imaginary friend. *\- Mo (he was the only person who ever did, or ever got away with, calling me Mo.) - Moira Mehaffey* *A tribute has been established in memory of Jamie, which you can contribute to* [*here*](https://jamieohara.muchloved.com/?fbclid=IwdGRzaAR4Ks5jbGNrBHgqymV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnf0h3ZxswLlOUjVfzSj2TVGpksLH7yvXedYQvOliIWSgeYiAn3z8yRDscjN%5Faem%5FOKAW9i8PC7xINHeEhDDGkQ&utm%5Fid=97758%5Fv0%5Fs00%5Fe230%5Ftv2%5Ftp1%5Fa1dennhb70zyad&sfnsn=scwspwa&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “It’s a constant battle to pay everything” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-constant-battle-to-pay-everything/ Last updated: 2026-05-31T06:00:21.000Z *Jody Carrington is the general manager of Chatham music venue* [*Poco Loco*](https://pocoloco.live/?ref=localauthority.news) *and project manager for the* [*Intra Community Trust*](https://intracommunitytrust.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Poco Loco is often cited as a positive when previous interviewees are asked about the Medway music scene, so Steven met Jody there to talk about running a venue in this economy, exactly what makes it a dive bar, and the upcoming* [*IntraFest*](https://www.facebook.com/theoldhighst/posts/pfbid0Yn9h4mfyWXXmgKTFiepxkEK39HAKv9Da3mNvQhyjpi3WRRYoXFGSZ6SsbekutEFgl)*...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-12.png) Poco Loco. **What is your official occupation?** I'm the general manager and event manager for Poco Loco, and I'm a project manager for Intra Community Trust. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** Yeah, I'm the director of [Medway Pride](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). **We're in Poco Loco. First things first, why is it called Poco Loco?** Because we were a little crazy. Yeah, it's influenced by Spanish food and our general... **And why did you decide to open a Spanish food establishment?** Actually my dad opened this side of the restaurant as Cafe Sol back in 1995\. It was just this side that we're sitting in now. Funnily enough, this was the original Medway Observer newspaper. It's been our restaurant since 1995\. We had a nightclub over the road, which I used to mainly run. **Where was that?** It was called Pulse. It was under the Gun Shop. That was me for my sins. Dad and I have always worked together. When that closed in 2007, I came back over to work in the family restaurant. I've worked here on and off for years. I think it was 2000 when dad got the other side, which is where the bar is, because it was a successful restaurant. He bought that side to expand and have a bar and more seating space. When I came over, we thought we can do some music here, and it went from one thing to the other really, and that's how music came here. **Poco Loco is one of the few positive stories among modern Medway music venues. How much time does that take up?** It's not just me. It used to be just me, but life gets busier and busier, doesn't it? Now I have Olivia Tweedale with [Hellbound Promotions](https://www.instagram.com/hellboundpromotions/?ref=localauthority.news). She does quite a lot of the booking now. We still work together closely, but she is younger than me and able to get out and about, go see gigs, and have her finger on the pulse. We started working together, collaborating, and she does a fab job, but we meet regularly, and we talk over what things we're going to book. Then there's other people involved, sound engineers, we have a whole team. We call it the Poco family. We're all passionate about what we do here. > Probably anything but pop will go at Poco **Is there a criterion for what type of music or artists will get to perform here?** The one thing about Poco, which I found with the nightclub, is that although I really enjoyed it and I was obviously passionate about dance music through that time, it was pigeonholed. It was Friday night was drum and bass, and Saturday was hard house. Every week for eight years. When we started doing music here, I really didn't want to be pigeonholed like that, but we still have that connection to more alternative and underground music. I think probably anything but pop will go at Poco. We are a grassroots music venue and support local music. We try to keep it varied and not get stuck or overplay any one genre. **I've seen you describe it as a dive bar. Why?** Yeah, dive bar is a term that came a lot from Olivia, really, but I think it does fit with Poco quite well. In the good sense, not in the bad. **What is the good sense?** Well, I think somewhere that is a late-night place, the way that it looks, that vibe with the music and the drinks we do and the people that come here, I think it gives that feel of the American dive bar. But I think in London now, a lot of the places that you would perceive as dive bars, a Camden feel, are certainly not a bad place to go. Quite a cool place to go if you're into that. > People's drinking habits have changed, and that might be good for their livers, but it's not good for pubs **How is it running a dive bar in this economy?** It's challenging. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It's a challenge from one week to the next. It has been since covid. It's a constant battle to pay everything. We keep trying, and we are doing our best to keep being relevant and a cool place. At one point, we were probably one of a few places that were still doing a good mix of local, alternative music. Now there are more. That obviously has its challenges, but that's good for Medway, and it's good for music. Also, one of the main challenges I find is that people's drinking habits have changed, and that might be good for their livers, but it's not good for pubs. You just have to keep changing and evolving. We did stop doing food for quite a few years because my dad was head chef, and he was ill at the time, and it was too challenging to keep doing that. Then post-covid we relaunched the restaurant, and it's been successful. It is hard in Intra, because you don't get a lot of passing trade, which was another reason that I got involved with what led to the Intra Community Trust. Which is to try, with our local community, to improve the place that we call Intra, and fundamentally improve our chances of surviving as a business. The restaurant is doing fairly well, but if we were slap bang in the middle of Rochester High Street, I expect it would be better. It's evolving and changing all the time, and doing different things. Even after all the years I've been doing it, I never quite know whether I've got it there or not. **What is** [**IntraFest**](https://www.facebook.com/theoldhighst/posts/pfbid0Yn9h4mfyWXXmgKTFiepxkEK39HAKv9Da3mNvQhyjpi3WRRYoXFGSZ6SsbekutEFgl)**?** One of the key things of Intra is the musical theatres and the history related to the LGBT community and all the pubs, clubs, theatres and nightlife that happened here over the last 100 years. We feel that has led to a certain Medway sound that's come through in a lot of the bands over the last 30 years. In trying to showcase Intra, celebrate the heritage and the culture, we, [Intra Community Trust](https://intracommunitytrust.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), as a group, got the funding to put on a festival as part of a community consultation for the area and a street party celebration. The theme is the music halls, the history, leading through to Medway Sounds. We're really showcasing all of those things and a lot of Medway bands, which is something I'm massively passionate about. **Who is funding it?** [The Architectural Heritage Fund](https://ahfund.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is our main supporter. The National Lottery and the [Arts Council](https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Also Medway Council. **Is it a weekend or a single day?** It's a day, but there are lead ups and lead outs to the festival with some of the art projects, working with schools and local people. Then there'll be exhibitions afterwards. The main event is one day. We hope it will turn into yearly, and possibly two days in the future. It's not the first time. There was a smaller event a couple of years ago, but this is on a much larger scale. **Where will it be?** There are two main sites. One is been generously lent to us by the Grays family, which is the Grays car lot, which is now closed. Peter Gray and his family have let us use that site. Part of their site is used by [Thrift and Thrive](https://www.thriftandthrivemedway.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). That's a large open space looking onto the river. That's a great space for an outdoor festival. The other stage will be the [Decktronix](https://www.facebook.com/decktronix/) [Ranscombe](https://ranscombestudios.com/?ref=localauthority.news) stage. Decktronix record shop and Ranscombe Studios are both there, and it's a great car park which we've got the use of for the day. **Is it solely local bands?** It's all about Medway. It is Medway bands only, and different age groups as well. For example, [Mitchell Lane](https://www.instagram.com/mitchelllaneband/?ref=localauthority.news), a fantastic up-and-coming young band. Some of the older guys, my age, [Wolf Howard](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-have-any-technique-i-never/) and [Little Storping in the Swuff](https://www.localauthority.news/its-because-ive-got-a-bag-on-my-head/) and the [Singing Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/). Really pleased they said they'll come and play for us. [Lupen Crook](https://www.kentcurrent.news/ive-got-enough-reasons-to-break-down/?ref=localauthority.news) is coming back to Medway. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway finds £7m for a council that does not exist yet URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-finds-7m/ Last updated: 2026-06-05T17:36:59.000Z **Medway Council is preparing to set aside £7m for local government reorganisation, even as reserves sit just above the minimum level and the authority is still dealing with overspends and Exceptional Financial Support. We look at what’s being proposed and what it says about trying to build the next council while still paying for the present, alongside the week ahead, news in brief, events, and more.* ### Medway finds £7m for a council that does not exist yet Medway Council is preparing to set aside £7m for local government reorganisation, even as its reserves sit just above the minimum level. A [report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88712&ref=localauthority.news) due before [Cabinet next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6547&Ver=4&ref=localauthority.news) proposes using anticipated capital receipts to fund the work needed to prepare for Kent’s biggest local government shake-up in decades. The money would cover 2026/27 and 2027/28, including £3m a year for Medway’s internal work and £1m towards a county-wide programme management office. Around 30 additional posts or consultants are expected to be needed. The report is blunt about why. No council has “latent capacity” to manage reorganisation on top of everything else it already does. That might be true, but it is landing at a difficult moment. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f52735116-24cb-49fd-8107-dbd6145e4dbb_4032x2268.jpg) Medway Council's Gun Wharf headquarters. Another Cabinet [report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88711&ref=localauthority.news) shows Medway ended the financial year with a £9.8m overspend. The council needs to draw £3.7m from general reserves to balance the position, leaving those reserves just above the £10m minimum level. The total Exceptional Financial Support needed for 2025/26 now stands at £28m. In other words, Medway is having to find money to prepare for a new council while the current one is still struggling to make the numbers work. The biggest pressure remains adult social care. The service overspent by £14.7m in 2025/26, with both demand and costs rising. Savings assumed in the budget did not fully materialise in cash terms. Children’s Services also overspent, while the dedicated schools grant deficit increased again. Borrowing rose by around £130m, about £50m more than budgeted, and debt written off during the year more than doubled, from £2.5m to £5.8m. None of this means Medway is about to collapse over tomorrow. It does mean the council is operating with very little room for error. The reorganisation bill is part of the same problem. Local government reorganisation may eventually create a more efficient structure. That is the theory. Before any of that happens, councils have to spend millions of pounds planning, staffing, modelling, merging systems, protecting services, and working out what happens to everything from bin contracts to payroll. This isn't purely a Medway issue. All Kent councils will be doing similar work at the same time. Medway will contribute to the shared countywide pot while also preparing internally. The total cost of the programme management office across Kent was put at £12m. The government is expected to announce its preferred option in July. Medway has said it will not challenge the outcome. The council is also dealing with the physical consequences of its own future planning. Its Gun Wharf headquarters is in the middle of a [£22m improvement programme](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88740&ref=localauthority.news). The work began with the discovery of dodgy concrete, but the project has since broadened to a redesign of the building, working practices, and the council’s long-term use of the site. More than 55 teams are being relocated while work takes place. The expectation is that next year’s budget meeting will be the first full council meeting held back there. That timing is hard to miss. By then, Medway should know what kind of council it is preparing to join, lead, or be folded into. The council’s position is that Gun Wharf needs investment regardless, given the condition and listed status of the building. Still, the optics are clear enough that Medway is rebuilding its headquarters while also preparing for a local government structure that has not yet been confirmed. Elsewhere in the Cabinet papers, the same tension keeps appearing. The council is trying to spend now to reduce pressure later. A £1m [parent advocacy contract](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88741&ref=localauthority.news) is intended to support mothers and fathers with children in or on the edge of care. The previous Advocacy for Mothers programme is said to have kept 29 children out of care over four years, with a claimed cost avoidance of around £7m. Given the current pressure in Children’s Services, the logic is obvious. Adult education offers another version of the same story. Medway’s [adult education service](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88748&ref=localauthority.news) says government funding has been significantly reduced, forcing a shift in its plans from “grow” to “priorities” and “ensure quality.” It says local need remains unmet, but officers say Medway has used Crisis and Resilience Funding to avoid the scale of the course cuts seen elsewhere. Medway Council draws a stark contrast with Kent County Council. There are no major waiting lists in Medway, and relatively few courses have been cancelled. Anecdotally, some learners may now be travelling into Medway from elsewhere in Kent. [Innovation Park Medway](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88708&ref=localauthority.news) now points in this direction. A scheme once wrapped in the language of innovation and economic growth is heading towards planning as an 80-bed care home, independent living accommodation, and a dozen bungalows for older people on its south site. The Innovation Park branding will likely quietly disappear into the night. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. Given the adult social care figures, it may be one of the more realistic things the council is doing. But it does underline how far the conversation has moved from glossy regeneration language to the basic pressures of an ageing population, rising care costs, and the need for somewhere suitable for people to live. That is the thread running through next week’s Cabinet papers. Medway is trying to prepare for the future while paying for the present. It needs millions for reorganisation before the new map is even confirmed. It needs millions more for its headquarters before it knows exactly what kind of authority might use it. It is spending on adult education, parent advocacy, and older persons’ housing in the hope that earlier intervention reduces future demand. Some of this is unavoidable. Some of it may prove sensible. But it leaves Medway trying to keep the current council financially steady, and build the next one before anyone has formally told it what that next one is. ****Local Authority is now on WhatsApp** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for Local Authority](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Cabinet](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6547&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss adult education, Gun Wharf's refurbishment, resources for local government reorganisation, Medway's new care home, and more. - **Wednesday:** [Planning Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6642&ref=localauthority.news) will decide on six HMO applications, with officers recommending five of them be approved. **New planning applications:** - Plans for an [artificial grass pitch](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TFNAP6KNHPB00&ref=localauthority.news) and floodlights at Lordswood Leisure Centre. - Fort Pitt Grammar School want to put [another floor](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TFLTC1KNGSS00&ref=localauthority.news) on top of their sports hall. - The Co-op at Rochester Riverside wants [signage](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TFNFG8KNHS800&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) to stop cars from parking in public spaces on a public road. - [Refurbishment and upgrades](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TFBVBUKNIHS00&ref=localauthority.news) for the Brook Theatre. - A [porch](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TF8K6NKNGGN00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) for Rochester Cathedral. ### In brief 🚧 Medway Council are considering [closing Rochester High Street to traffic](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/concerns-mount-over-plans-for-traffic-free-town-high-street-340661/?ref=localauthority.news) on Sundays and bank holidays, with traders worried that shoppers will no longer face the risk of being run over on the busy street. ⛪ A new church has opened on Luton Road [without planning permission](https://futuremedway.co.uk/probe-underway-as-church-opens-without-planning-permission-in-luton-high-street-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏪 Further along Luton Road, Morrisons Daily is [set to close](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/two-loss-making-morrisons-dailys-to-close-340803/?ref=localauthority.news), taking the Post Office with it. 🏥 Medway NHS Foundation Trust has [appointed a new Chief Executive](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/medway-nhs-foundation-trust-appoints-new-chief-executive/?ref=localauthority.news). 📱 TikTok influencers from Medway are [being blamed](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/tiktokers-deny-fuelling-kent-beach-chaos-as-residents-urge-t-340837/?ref=localauthority.news) for recent public disorder in Broadstairs. 🖋️ A museum giving historical context about the people featured in it is "[ludicrous](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/it-s-just-ludicrous-museum-criticised-over-guidance-conde-340872/?ref=localauthority.news)," apparently. 🍞 KentOnline have been [speaking to Katalin Takacs](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/people-queue-to-buy-my-bread-once-they-try-my-food-they-340651/?ref=localauthority.news) ahead of the opening of our second Mrs Sourdough outlet in Rochester. ⚽ Mister Maker has teamed up with Gillingham Football Club to reveal an [arty new third kit](https://fanbanter.co.uk/cbeebiess-mister-maker-helps-gillingham-with-unique-reveal-as-new-kit-gets-mixed-reaction/?ref=localauthority.news). ### Property of the week This four-bedroom, extended 1930s detached in Gillingham is being sold as a big, practical family house that has been steadily upgraded rather than reinvented. You get the proper bay-fronted front rooms and period touches at the front, then a more modern setup at the back, with the kitchen and conservatory overlooking a long rear garden. The selling points are the everyday ones people actually use, like a utility room, downstairs toilet, driveway with an EV charger, solar panels, and a large outbuilding that will immediately be claimed as an office, studio or storage depending on who gets there first. It’s the sort of place that feels ready for normal life, just with more space than most properties in this part of Gillingham allow. [Check out this 4 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom detached house for sale in Canadian Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 for £500,000\. Marketed by Greyfox Estate Agents, Rainham![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-4e45869ab320d0476463f4784fe5b8b2bbf6ca6ea162b6b946cb0b52db23bc98.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/71ef5c01e1f85c6921584606190d065c-4f33f2fce17a246e501bf16aec7032aa88ed589a258598db1cba32e6a9a17381.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/88920081?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎤 Fri 29 May - [**Bugeye + 10 + Angered Kenneth**](https://www.ticketsource.com/livemusicevent/bugeye-io-angered-kenneth/2026-05-29/20:00/t-glldxjp?ref=localauthority.news) // Disco punk rock night. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🎷 Fri 29 May - [**Curtis Stigers**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/curtis-stigers-tickets-1977797033167?ref=localauthority.news) // Legendary jazz singer returns to Medway. St Margaret's Church, Rainham. Tickets from £49. 🎉 Sun 31 May - [**Wesak Buddhist Festival**](https://bodhicharya-kent.org/programme/?ref=localauthority.news) // Wesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. Includes guided meditation and mantra chanting. Bodhicharya Buddhist Centre, Rochester. Free. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us elsewhere:* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and now* [*WhatsApp*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) *for new story alerts.* ### Voice of the Police and Crime Commissioner URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner-2/ Last updated: 2026-05-28T17:00:24.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who discusses his tenth anniversary in the role, police reforms, and the progress being made locally.* --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-11.png) Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott. As I write this, I am reflecting on the anniversary of my first day in Office, a decade ago. First, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has put their trust and faith in me these past ten years. Whether you voted for me or not, I have always been driven by the desire to make our neighbourhoods safer and be a champion for victims of crime. I am also very grateful to those Officers and Staff whom I have had the privilege to work alongside during this time. They go out every single day to do their very best for you and your neighbourhood, facing often difficult and dangerous circumstances. They deserve our profound thanks and appreciation. It is fair to say that the past decade has been rather tumultuous. When I was first elected, David Cameron was Prime Minister and Theresa May was Home Secretary. The Brexit referendum would not happen for another six weeks. Since then, there have been six different Prime Ministers. Nine different Home Secretaries. And at a time when the present Government is proposing the most radical and potentially dangerous reforms that policing has experienced in sixty years, there is, at the time of writing, the possibility that there will soon be another Prime Minister and Cabinet reshuffle. Policing deserves better than this instability. The Government’s police reform programme is currently rushing to write legislation on three fundamental issues. First, the creation of a National Police Service will see certain functions move into one home, including procurement, ICT strategy, standards, data and police aviation. In time, it will also become responsible for counter terrorism and organised crime. On the surface, these reforms are perhaps the most necessary and will face less resistance. Often badged as a “British FBI,” it makes sense for some of these functions to come together. The second pillar is the change to governance and accountability. Depending on where you live, policing will be governed by one of three different models; a Mayor, where there is one, a Foundation Strategic Authority where they are created, and elsewhere a Local Policing Body. The two latter models will be made up of a committee of councillors. It would be better if more Mayoralties were created, so that policing and local neighbourhoods could benefit from the single point of contact with executive powers, rather than a committee model that will suffer the same political divisions that local councils face. Finally, and the biggest risk to local policing, is the proposal to merge police forces. This could mean that Kent Police could be merged with Essex and the rest of the East of England, or our neighbours in Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Thames Valley. There is an independent review taking place at the moment, led by former Met Commissioner Lord Bernard Hogan Howe, to decide what these new, larger forces look like. However, this is not being done in consultation with the public. So please do let me know your views about force mergers here: [Police Forces Merger Consultation](https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=8Acb8%5Fmc20CWTW%5F5hql-PcQ797n7iqVOl2lSmBZFHF5UMFNXS081SFlGWDhBSEJTQUhIQ1hUUUxNOC4u&route=shorturl&ref=localauthority.news). There is no evidence to suggest that larger Police Forces are better than smaller ones. This has been a policy designed to reduce local accountability and democratic oversight, and I fear will lead to a loss of local policing, reduced crime investigation outcomes and a worse service for the public. If a Chief Constable is responsible for everything from Milton Keynes to Medway, how can they possibly get it right? In addition, the local government reform programme threatens to cause further costs and distraction for policing in Kent. I have opposed Medway Council’s plans to create four unitary authorities in the county, which would not only cost Kent Police significant amounts of taxpayers’ money, but require large scale reorganisation to meet the new boundaries. The three unitary model proposed by a collection of other local authorities would be the better fit and be less of a risk. Given the current political climate and the instability it is causing, the Government should do the right thing and pause police reform. Aside from the national situation, I am pleased to report positive progress at a local level. Kent Police was recently inspected and found to have improved its service to the public and crime investigation. It remains “Good” at prevention and is a model for how policing should work with volunteers. However, there is no complacency about this improved position. The Chief Constable and I will continue to work together to improve outcomes for victims of crime. I have maintained my focus on supporting businesses and shop workers in the fight against retail crime. Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and has a serious impact on our High Streets. Working with Kent Police, there has been a relentless focus on bearing down on the most prolific offenders, with the vast majority now subject to Criminal Behaviour Orders, which ban them from towns and retailers. The charge and solve rates are increasing faster than the rate of shoplifting, meaning that more offenders are being held to account. And finally, I am continuing to work with the rural community and policing to tackle the scourge of rural crime, waste crime and fly-tipping. The Kent Police Rural Taskforce has been doing some incredible work to tackle thefts from farms, wildlife crime and organised crime in Medway. They have been undertaking training to support call handlers and local Beat Officers to improve their understanding of rural neighbourhoods. And they have been co-ordinating efforts to tackle catapult related crime. So, I finish where I started – by thanking you all for your support. Over the past ten years, police officer numbers have increased and remain their highest ever. Crime is down. County lines drugs gangs have been rolled up. Knife crime is reducing. Burglary is lower. And more victims are getting a positive outcome. For the next two years, I will continue my mission – to cut crime, support victims and build trust.” ### Upnor Castle was open six days a week. Now it opens once a month URL: https://www.localauthority.news/upnor-castle-was-open-six-days-a-week-now-it-opens-once-a-month/ Last updated: 2026-06-03T18:15:24.000Z **Upnor Castle has gone from regular seasonal opening to two guided tours on the last Sunday of each month, following Medway Council’s decision to hand the site back to English Heritage. We also look at new figures linking hundreds of Medway school suspensions and exclusions to racist, homophobic, transphobic and disablist abuse, and at a new Kent-branded political party bringing old hard-right politics to Chatham.* ### Upnor Castle was open six days a week. Now it opens once a month For decades, Upnor Castle was simply there. You could visit on a Wednesday afternoon, take the children during the school holidays, wander around the gun platforms and look out over the river. One of Medway’s strangest and most important historic sites functioned as a place people could actually use in person, rather than just a line in a heritage strategy. Now, if you want to get inside, you need to plan rather more carefully. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/AdobeStock_717652216_Editorial_Use_Only-1.jpeg) Following Medway Council’s decision to hand Upnor Castle back to English Heritage, the site has gone from regular seasonal opening to guided tours on the last Sunday of each month. There are two tours, at 1pm and 3pm. That is, technically, still public access. It is also a very different thing from being open all day, Tuesday to Sunday. The change follows a decision by Medway Council’s Cabinet in January to end the Local Management Agreement under which the authority had managed Upnor Castle, Rochester Castle, and Temple Manor on behalf of English Heritage. Rochester Castle will remain with the council. Temple Manor and Upnor Castle are being handed back. The reason given was money. The [report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=84424&ref=localauthority.news) said the move would 'reduce running costs' and that ending the arrangement for Upnor Castle would create 'revenue and capital savings' for the council. What it did not do was publish the figure. The financial details were placed in an exempt appendix, meaning the public can see the consequence of the decision but not the savings that justified it. The saving is unlikely to be transformative. Upnor Castle was not some sprawling municipal empire. The report said two permanent members of staff were connected to its operation, with TUPE arrangements expected as responsibility moved to English Heritage. Visitor numbers had fallen from 19,000 in 2023/24 to 13,000 in 2024/25, making it a modest attraction by volume but hardly an irrelevant one. The council’s own report anticipated concerns about access. It said English Heritage had confirmed it intended to continue operating Upnor Castle for public visits on a seasonal basis, April to October, 'consistent with current arrangements.' That is not what has happened in any meaningful public sense. A castle that was open as a regular visitor attraction is now available on a handful of guided tour slots each month. The site has not closed, but it has just become far more difficult to visit. There are good reasons why English Heritage might prefer that model. A guided-tour-only site is easier to staff, easier to manage, and cheaper to run. It may make sense on a spreadsheet. It may even make sense from the perspective of protecting a Scheduled Ancient Monument with limited facilities and awkward access. But it also changes what Upnor Castle is. This is not Rochester Castle, looming over a high street and visible to everyone who passes. Upnor Castle sits in a village, down by the river, slightly tucked away from the rest of Medway’s heritage circuit. Its oddness is part of the appeal. It is a riverside fort built to protect the dockyard, best remembered for failing to stop the Dutch from sailing up the Medway in 1667\. It is one of those places that tells a very Medway story of naval power, strategic importance, national embarrassment, and a nice view at the end. For that story to work, people need to be able to get in. Medway Council’s report was full of the usual language about heritage being accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all. It talked about safeguarding historic landmarks for future generations and bringing their stories to life for communities. Then, a few pages later, it recommended handing back Upnor Castle to reduce costs. Both things can be true, up to a point. Councils are under immense financial pressure. Heritage buildings are expensive, awkward, and rarely behave as they should. Medway has to make choices about what it can afford to run directly. But choices are still choices. If the council is going to retreat from one of Medway’s key heritage sites, the public should at least be told what was saved. Was this a painful but necessary cut? Or was Medway’s access to Upnor Castle traded away for a relatively small sum in the context of a council budget? At the moment, we do not know. We only know what has been lost. English Heritage may yet improve the visitor offer. The council report said it had suggested refurbishing the shop, introducing a food and drink offer, replacing the interpretation, installing new signage, and adding CCTV. Some of that may happen. It may make the castle smarter, more branded, and more professionally packaged. But a better sign outside a locked gate is still a locked gate. There is a wider pattern here. Across local government, cultural provision is rarely abolished in dramatic fashion. It is thinned out. A building stays standing, but opens less. A service remains, but only by appointment. A public asset technically survives, but becomes harder to use unless you already know exactly when and how to access it. Upnor Castle has not vanished from Medway. It is still there, on the river, behind its walls, waiting for the last Sunday of the month. For Medway Council, that may count as a saving. For everyone else, it looks a lot like losing access to part of the towns’ history. ****Local Authority is now on WhatsApp** We’ve launched a [WhatsApp channel for Local Authority](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news), where we’ll share new stories and the occasional major Medway development directly to your phone. Council chaos, planning rows, disappearing pubs, strange licensing hearings, and the rest of life around the towns can now be available in yet another app you already check too much. [Follow Local Authority on WhatsApp ](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) ### Racist abuse linked to hundreds of Medway school exclusions Hundreds of Medway school suspensions and exclusions have been linked to racist, homophobic, transphobic and disablist abuse since the pandemic, new figures show. Department for Education data analysed by the BBC Shared Data Unit shows that between the 2020-21 and 2024-25 school years, Medway schools recorded 388 suspensions or exclusions where abuse linked to race, sexuality, gender identity or disability was cited as a reason. Most were linked to racist abuse. Across the period, Medway schools recorded 309 mentions of racist abuse among the reasons for a suspension or exclusion. A further 68 were linked to abuse over sexuality or gender identity, while 11 were linked to abuse over disability. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/AdobeStock_135975504-1.jpeg) The figures do not count individual children. They do not necessarily count individual incidents either. Schools can record up to three reasons for each suspension or exclusion, and the same pupil may be suspended more than once. But they do offer one of the few available glimpses into how often prejudicial abuse is being formally recorded in Medway’s schools. The wider picture of exclusions is striking too. Over the same period, Medway schools recorded 23,575 suspensions and 275 permanent exclusions. The rest of Kent recorded 285 permanent exclusions. Medway, with a fraction of Kent’s school population, recorded almost as many. The prejudice-linked cases were overwhelmingly concentrated in secondary schools. Of the 388 mentions, 320 were recorded in secondary schools, 43 in primary schools, and 25 in special schools. The vast majority were suspensions rather than permanent exclusions. Of the 388 mentions linked to race, sexuality, gender identity or disability, 387 were attached to suspensions. One was linked to a permanent exclusion. Nationally, the data shows a rise in exclusions linked to abuse over race, sexuality, gender identity and disability. Across England, state-run primary, secondary and special schools recorded nearly 70,000 mentions of this kind of abuse among reasons for suspensions and exclusions between September 2020 and March 2025. Between Spring term 2021-22 and Spring term 2024-25, the number of exclusions and suspensions where these reasons were logged rose by 68%. The increase was mostly driven by racist abuse. The Department for Education described the national figures as “shocking” and said racism and discrimination had “absolutely no place” in schools. There are several possible readings of the numbers. They may show schools taking discriminatory abuse seriously enough to act. They may also show classrooms, corridors, and playgrounds that reflect a harsher public mood outside the school gates. Anti-bullying charities, education specialists and unions pointed to social media, public rhetoric, cuts to preventative work, and the lack of a consistent national system for recording bullying as factors behind the rise. Martha Boateng, director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said the figures showed identity-based bullying was affecting large numbers of children. She said, “Exclusions are not a measure of how much bullying is happening, but they are a measure of how schools respond once behaviour starts to escalate, and it shows us that it’s clear identity-based bullying and issues are affecting large numbers of children.” “When bullying targets someone’s identity, it really gets to the core of who they are.” Laura Mackay, a former headteacher and chief executive of LGBT+ charity Just Like Us, described the exclusions data as “the tip of the iceberg.” She said: “That’s just where it’s become so serious that it’s led to an exclusion.” That is the problem with using exclusion data to understand bullying. It only captures the point at which something has gone far enough for a pupil to be formally sent home or removed. Everything below that line is much harder to see. England does not have a full national picture of bullying in schools. There is no legal duty on schools to record pupil-to-pupil bullying consistently. A spokesperson for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said bullying on the basis of a protected characteristic should be treated very seriously, and that schools were required to ensure they did not discriminate in how they dealt with it. The commission has previously called for better data on bullying in schools, broken down by protected characteristics. Medway Council said decisions on suspensions and exclusions are made by schools independently, under their own behaviour policies. Cllr [Tracy Coombs](https://www.localauthority.news/local-authorities-are-not-allowed/), Medway Council’s portfolio holder for education, said, “Decisions made to impose suspensions and exclusions are made independently by schools, which follow their own policies on behaviour.” “In Medway, we remain committed to supporting children to help them achieve their full potential, and we always follow procedures to place children with another school or alternative provision, in line with our statutory responsibility.” “Suspensions and permanent exclusions are reducing significantly in Medway due to the inclusive work being undertaken by schools.” The council said most schools in Medway had engaged with trauma-informed training, while funded outreach and coaching support were in place to help schools manage challenging behaviour and support children with special educational needs and disabilities. It said secondary schools had also revised the local Fair Access Process, allowing greater use of respite, intervention placements in alternative provision, and trial placements in other schools before exclusion is used. So Medway’s answer is that exclusion decisions sit with schools, that the council’s role is to ensure children are placed elsewhere when they need to be, and that local efforts to reduce exclusions are already making a difference. The data still leaves a harder question. Over five school years, racist, homophobic, transphobic and disablist abuse was formally cited hundreds of times in Medway school exclusion records. That is not the whole picture. It is just the part serious enough, and recorded clearly enough, to make it into the paperwork. ***No news is bad news.** *Local Authority is proud to be taking part in Indie News Week, highlighting the importance of independent local journalism across the country.* **As part of that, we'll be holding an* ***open newsroom** *event on Friday 19 June, between 10am and 5pm, at Sun Pier House in Chatham. Come along, meet the Local Authority team, talk to us about the stories we're covering, and the stories we're not!* **No booking is required, but if you could let us know you plan to pop along by emailing steven(AT)localauthority(DOT)news, it'll help us get a better sense of numbers.* ### A new Kent party with some very old politics A new hard-right political party founded by former Reform parliamentary candidate [Daniel Dabin](https://www.localauthority.news/youre-not-free-if-you-cant-speak/) is holding its first public meeting in Chatham next week. [GB Freedom](https://gbfreedomparty.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) says it will launch at St Mary’s Island Community Centre on Wednesday 3 June, with a two-hour meeting setting out its programme on water, housing, energy, policing, and cost of living. The party presents itself as 'Kent’s own party' and says it is 'locally rooted' and 'member-led.' It says it is focused on Kent and Medway rather than Westminster. Then you read its actual programme. GB Freedom is calling for a ten-year 'complete moratorium on immigration,' a ban on 'woke and DEI practices,' 'secure borders,' and the 'preservation of British traditions.' Its Medway section says the party would oppose 'any further immigration into Medway' and promises to 'Make Medway Safe Again.' Not exactly a neighbourhood forum arguing about bin collections. Dabin stood for Reform in Rochester and Strood at the 2024 General Election, finishing third behind Labour’s [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) and [Kelly Tolhurst](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-involved-in-politics-because/), the Conservative MP at the time. He is now listed as the founder of GB Freedom, which is registered with the Electoral Commission. The party’s pitch is that Kent needs its own political voice, particularly on issues such as housing targets, water infrastructure, local government reorganisation, and policing. But despite the Kent-first branding, much of GB Freedom’s rhetoric sits firmly in the language of national populist politics. Its first public meeting will, at least, test how much appetite there is for that in Medway. A room of 50 people is not a movement. But it is enough to mark the arrival of another small fragment in the ever-splintering politics of the British right. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us elsewhere:* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and now* [*WhatsApp*](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8BTeEDzgTKTFi4Qv3H?ref=localauthority.news) *for new story alerts.* ### “What we want to cover is the people of Rochester” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-we-want-to-cover-is-the-people-of-rochester/ Last updated: 2026-05-24T06:00:02.000Z *The* [*Rochester Radar*](https://www.brightsidepublishing.com/rochester-radar/?ref=localauthority.news) *is the exciting new magazine from the award-winning* [*Brightside Publishing*](https://www.brightsidepublishing.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Steven met its editor,* [*Rachel Woollett*](https://www.rachelwoollett.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, in the Royal Crown, where he asked her about what we can expect to see in the new publication and how she came to edit it, her background in comedy and writing, and handling OCD.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/NiaRosePhotography-43b-1.jpg) Rachel Woollett. **What is your official occupation?** Journalist. **You are also an editor. Do you see that as different or does all that come under the journalist banner?** It kind of does. It's a bit of a grey area, because sometimes I refer to myself as a writer, because I've written other things as well. The novel is currently on the go. We've all got a novel. In journalistic terms, I edit, and I write. But the specific editor role is new. > The ethos of the company is that it’s hyperlocal and everything is positive, inclusive, and community-based **Of the specific editor role, what is the Rochester Radar?** The [Rochester Radar](https://www.brightsidepublishing.com/rochester-radar/?ref=localauthority.news) is the latest magazine from award-winning publisher, [Brightside Publishing](https://www.brightsidepublishing.com/?ref=localauthority.news), who have been going for about ten years and have seven magazines all based in Kent, largely around the coast. It started with Margate ten years ago, and they're gradually moving inland. Rochester is the latest one to be launched, and it covers community, the arts, anything positive that's happening in the area. The ethos of the company is that it's hyperlocal and everything is positive, inclusive, and community-based. **How did you first become involved with Brightside?** I was between jobs, as they say, and I contacted them on spec to see if they needed anybody, and they didn't at that moment. A couple of months later, they got back to me and said, “We’ve got an opening.” Two rounds of interviews later, and I got the job. I was sub-editing, which I'm still doing on some of the other magazines. On the day of my interview, I said, “I love your magazines, you really need to do one in Rochester.” Everyone just smiled at me. But now here we are, two or three years later, and we're starting the Rochester one. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-10.png) The Rochester Radar. **What are you looking forward to in the Rochester Radar?** What we want to cover is the people of Rochester. The people who live here and work here. Rochester is obviously known for having a castle and a cathedral. It's got its strong Dickensian connections, but we want to make sure that everything else that's happening is talked about as well. There are many lovely eateries. There are many creatives locally and lovely places to shop, many charitable causes happening locally that we want to talk about, share with people, and support. **Is there anything in particular Rochester-based that you've not covered in the first edition, but you're looking forward to being able to one day cover?** There's so much happening that it's difficult to single out one thing, event or person. I think what's going to happen is that every issue, we're going to be finding out new things. I've learnt such a lot since being editor. For example, the [Whoop Heritage Festival](https://whoop.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) on the peninsula. I hadn't heard of it before, but it looks exciting. **Is that covered by the Rochester Radar?** Well, it is because, weirdly, it's still called Rochester. Logistically, it still comes under Rochester? Hoo, Grain and all those areas are still Rochester. We'll be covering things that aren't necessarily right in the middle of town, right in the high street, but that have Rochester connections. **Where were you born?** I was born in Chatham. I didn't stay here long because the family moved down to Margate. I had a fabulous childhood in Margate, going down to the seafront. I've lived in various places. I lived in Scotland for a bit. I did a bit of travelling. I lived in Australia and India. **What brought you back to Medway?** My family were here going back generations. In fact, I live quite near one of the cemeteries and my great-grandmother on both sides of my family are in those cemeteries. I walk the dog and say hello to them. My roots are in Medway. I do feel like it's my home again now. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The long goodbye of the Royal Function Rooms URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-long-goodbye-of-the-royal-function-rooms/ Last updated: 2026-05-29T20:32:43.000Z **A planning application proposes converting Rochester’s Royal Function Rooms into eight homes, keeping the stage and theatre volume as part of a private residence while ending the site’s last remaining public cultural use. We look at what is proposed, what is being lost, and what this says about how venues disappear in Medway, alongside news in brief, planning news in brief, the week's events, and more.* ### The long goodbye of the Royal Function Rooms For more than three years, the former Royal Function Rooms in Rochester has sat empty. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-9.png) The Royal Function Rooms in Rochester. The doors that once led into one of Medway’s few proper live music venues now lead to a [planning application](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TEYTSEKNI9K00&ref=localauthority.news). The building is vacant. The old operators are gone. The recording studio underneath has moved elsewhere. The public life of the place has already been stripped out. But there is still a stage inside. Under new plans submitted to Medway Council, it would not be smashed out or quietly forgotten. The proscenium arch would remain. The theatre volume would be retained. The old performance space would be 'celebrated,' in the strange language of planning documents, as part of a large private home. Which is one way to save a stage. Put it in someone’s living room. A planning application has been submitted to convert the former Royal Function Rooms site on Star Hill into housing. The proposals would see the Grade II listed building converted into five homes, with three new townhouses built at the rear facing Victoria Street. The 20th century extension would be demolished, the main historic frontage would be retained, and the old theatre hall would become a large residential unit. The application, submitted on behalf of site owner Paul Stone, seeks permission for a change of use from two existing homes and a theatre into eight homes in total. According to the application form, the scheme would result in the loss of 785 sqm of theatre space. On paper, the scheme is careful. The planning documents are full of repair, restoration, heritage, sympathetic alterations, and all the usual phrases that make old buildings sound like elderly relatives being moved into more suitable accommodation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-22-at-11.21.22.png) Plans for the Royal Function Rooms site. The applicants argue the development would secure the long-term future of the listed building, bring a vacant site back into use, retain important historic features, and repair a gap in the Victoria Street frontage. The heritage report concludes that the proposals would cause no harm to the listed building or the Star Hill Conservation Area. All of which sounds reasonable. Medway needs housing. Old buildings need viable uses. Empty venues do not magically pay for their own upkeep. But the Royal Function Rooms was not some long-dead cultural relic waiting patiently for a developer to discover it. It was a working venue until the end of 2022, when the operators of the Royal Function Rooms and the associated Billabong Club were told to leave. Ranscombe Studios, the recording studio underneath the main venue, also had to relocate. The building then sat empty. Not since 2019, as the [planning statement](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/2D814521F099A24D4BE957F5406F2B78/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-PLANNING%5FSTATEMENT-6677844.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) claims, but since the venue was cleared out at the end of 2022\. The statement says the site has remained empty since an earlier 2019 pre-application submission and is being used by the applicant for storage. That is difficult to square with reality. The Royal Function Rooms and Billabong Club were still hosting events until the end of 2022\. The building did not sit empty because the venue's use had already withered away. It became empty after a functioning venue and recording studio was removed from it. The planning statement also says that alternative leisure uses, such as cinemas, swimming pools, and indoor and outdoor sports, are not feasible because of the size of the site and the significance of the theatre space and stage. No one is seriously arguing that the Royal Function Rooms should be converted into a swimming pool. But listing implausible alternative leisure uses rather sidesteps the more obvious point that this building already had a use. It was a venue that hosted gigs, club nights, weddings, events, and the kinds of local gatherings that do not look especially significant until the places that hold them vanish. This is the neat trick. A cultural venue is emptied, and the vacancy is allowed to harden into fact. Then the fact of that vacancy is presented back to the planning system as evidence that the cultural use has run its course. The Royal Function Rooms was not perfect. Anyone who has spent time in Medway’s music scene will have their own strong and possibly tedious views about the room, the Billabong, the stairs, the sound, the bar, or the precise emotional texture of standing outside on Star Hill after a gig, wondering why all of Medway seems designed around making it hard to get home. But it did something very few local venues could do. It offered a mid-sized room in a town centre, bigger than a pub back room, smaller than a theatre, and useful for exactly the sort of events that a place of Medway’s size should be able to support. When *Local Authority* [reported on the closure](https://www.localauthority.news/requiem-for-a-scene/) in 2022, the concern was not only that another music venue was closing. It was that Medway was losing one of the few rooms capable of doing a job the remaining scene could not easily absorb. When it closed, Medway lost two live music spaces in one go. The larger Royal Function Rooms went alongside the smaller Billabong Club. That venue gap remains. The application documents do at least understand the building’s history. In fact, they lean heavily into it. The [heritage assessment](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/3F5D85E7C0AF0980E6211AA210868231/pdf/MC%5F26%5F0906-HERITAGE%5FIMPACT%5FSTATEMENT-6677819.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) traces the site back to the Theatre Royal, Rochester, established on Star Hill in 1791 by Sarah Baker, a significant provincial theatre manager who ran a circuit of theatres across Kent. The theatre was part of Rochester’s cultural life for decades, and Charles Dickens is recorded as having attended performances there. The original theatre building was demolished in 1884 and replaced by the Rochester Conservative Club. The new club included a hall used for meetings and social gatherings, with a permanent stage added in 1894\. That detail is important because one of the more romantic claims around the building has long been that it contains one of the oldest surviving stages in England. The heritage report suggests the current stage was not part of the 1791 theatre, but was added during the 1894 works. That does not make it unimportant. A 130-year-old stage is still a 130-year-old stage, which is more than can be said for most things Medway has managed to retain. By the early 20th century, the building’s Victoria Hall was being described as a substantial venue, with space for around 500 people, a stage, and dressing rooms in the basement. It hosted concerts, lectures, political meetings, dances, and public gatherings. This is the tension running through the whole application. The documents explain, at length, why the building matters as a place of performance and public gathering. Then the proposal removes the performance and public gathering. Under the plans, the Royal Function Building would be converted into a single townhouse. The front part of the theatre building would become another townhouse. The main theatre hall would become a large apartment with mezzanine bedrooms, designed to preserve the hall's volume and stage. A studio would be created on the lower ground floor level, and three new townhouses would be built on Victoria Street. The applicants say the scheme has changed in response to previous council feedback. Earlier proposals would have divided the theatre hall more heavily. The current version keeps much of the hall volume intact, retains the stage, and presents the proscenium, hammer beams and theatre space as features to be celebrated within the new home. That may be better than demolition. It probably is. Nobody sensible wants a listed building left to decay because the perfect use cannot be found. Housing is needed. Reusing old buildings is better than letting them rot. The architectural approach may well be thoughtful. But care is not the same as public value. A preserved stage inside a private home is still a lost stage. A proscenium arch over someone’s kitchen-diner is not a venue. A theatre volume retained as an impressive apartment is no longer a theatre volume in any civic sense. It becomes heritage as interior design. Culture, but behind a front door. Medway is not exactly drowning in cultural infrastructure. Since the Royal Function Rooms closed, the live music scene has continued in the stubborn way it always does here. Poco Loco in Chatham continues to do heroic work. The Oast Community Centre in Rainham hosts gigs through promoters like Careful Now and The Platform 3 Club. The Nags Head, Three Sheets to the Wind, Analogue Music and others pick up bits of the slack when they can. But that is the point. It is all bits of slack. For an urban area of more than 290,000 people, Medway has no proper mid-sized grassroots music venue. It has pubs, community halls, record shops, back rooms, upstairs rooms, downstairs rooms, and people doing ridiculous amounts with very little. It does not have enough places where bands can grow, promoters can take risks, and audiences can gather without the whole thing depending on one or two exhausted people keeping the lights on. The Royal Function Rooms somewhat filled that middle space. Its loss was not just sentimental. It removed capacity from an already thin local scene. The planning documents try to soften this by pointing to other local venues, including Medway Little Theatre and other halls available for hire. Again, that is not nothing. But it is not the same thing. A theatre is not a grassroots gig venue. A hall for hire is not a cultural ecosystem. A room where someone can technically plug in a PA is not the same as a venue with regular use, audience familiarity, operators, equipment, reputation, and the accumulated weirdness that makes a local scene work. This is where the planning system struggles. It can count homes. It can measure parking spaces. It can assess heritage fabric, window openings, bin stores, cycle spaces and whether a new brick façade has paid adequate tribute to an older brick façade nearby. What it finds much harder to measure is the loss of a place. Within the narrow world of planning, it may not need to. The building is vacant. The use is said to be unviable. Heritage features are retained, and homes are delivered. But the wider story is less tidy. If approved, the site’s long history of performance, gathering and public use will be acknowledged, polished, and folded neatly into private residential space. Medway needs homes. It also needs places to be more than a collection of homes. The question for planners is whether this application is a pragmatic rescue of a listed building that no longer has a viable public use, or whether it rewards a familiar pattern of emptying the building, waiting long enough, then presenting the loss as inevitable. Either way, the outcome is the same. Rochester keeps the facade, the stage, and the heritage language, but it loses the venue. ****We're thrilled to be nominated for multiple awards again at this year's Kent Press & Broadcast Awards.** [My story on a Rochester school offering a Nigel Farage football shirt as an essay contest prize](https://www.localauthority.news/farage-football-shirt-offered-as/), the various lines they gave, and the eventual backtracking following my reporting is up for Story of the Year. It was a good story, starting as ever with a tip from a reader, and it eventually ended up being picked up by the Daily Mail, Politico, the Telegraph, and others. Beyond that, I'm delighted that **Local Authority* is a finalist for Kent News Website of the Year for the fourth year in a row. I'm especially pleased to see recognition for Francesca Dorsa and Chris de Coulon Berthoud, who both help **Local Authority* and the **Kent Current* happen behind the scenes. So it's perhaps apt that they are both up for the Making It Happen award. This year also represents the highest number of nominations Authority Media has received in a single year. Not bad for a tiny organisation run on a shoestring. Thanks, as ever, to every single person who has read, subscribed, shared, commented, sent us tips or feedback, or come along to an event. It's no exaggeration to say that we couldn't do this without you all. [Full list of KPBA nominees ](https://www.kpbawards.co.uk/finalists?ref=localauthority.news) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Licensing Hearing Panel](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6594&ref=localauthority.news) will decide on an updated license for Walderslade Working Men's Club and Institute and an optimistic off-licence application on New Road in Chatham. - **Thursday:** [Licensing and Safety Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=139&MId=6619&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss pavement licensing. **New planning applications:** - Retrospective application for office conversion to [educational facility](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TF80B5KNG4B00&ref=localauthority.news) at Chatham Maritime. - Application for a [new outbuilding](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TELV78KNI3700&ref=localauthority.news) at the Millennium Centre in Rainham. - HMO application for [Amherst Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TF9XS7KNHAQ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester. ### In brief 🏫 The Mirror [has discovered](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/medway-council-parents-drivers-fined-37174358?ref=localauthority.news) Medway's School Streets programme. 🏪 Co-op on Medway City Estate is set to close for two weeks in June for a [refurbishment](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/petrol-station-co-op-to-close-for-revamp-and-rebrand-340503/?ref=localauthority.news). 🐔 Pepe's Piri Piri is set to [open its first chicken branch](https://futuremedway.co.uk/pepes-piri-piri-reveals-plans-for-first-medway-branch-with-new-opening-in-strood-high-street/?ref=localauthority.news) in Medway, next door to the Morley's chicken shop in Strood. 🐦 Sadly we missed this one at the time, but a Rochester teacher has [placed sixth](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy818m31gr8o?ref=localauthority.news) in the European Seagull Screeching Championship. ### Property of the week St Mary’s Hall Farmhouse is a Grade II listed Hoo Peninsula farmhouse that comes with the full rural fantasy kit and the implied threat that you will end up owning a ride-on mower. Six bedrooms, four reception rooms, an AGA, a cellar, and a serious range of outbuildings, including a substantial barn, which means you will certainly develop opinions on planning permission. It sits on the original manorial site of St Mary Hoo, and the listing takes a perfectly reasonable amount of pride in having once housed an agricultural innovator who pioneered steam ploughing and marsh drainage, meaning even the backstory is on-brand for the peninsula. It’s the kind of place where the house is only half the purchase. The other half is the land, the buildings you will swear you are going to convert, and the quiet realisation that the Medway Towns feel a very long way away. [Hall Road, St. Mary Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 8RW | Property for sale | SavillsProperty details for Hall Road. One of many properties for sale in St. Mary Hoo, Rochester, Kent, ME3 8RW from Savills, world leading estate agents.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Savills![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/CKS250356_04_l_gal-8e58b87edf357f2cf0b43fb967169bb613ec8112bced681bdca4f21312890f91.jpg)](https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gbcbrscks250356?ref=localauthority.news) ### Events this week 🍲 23 - 25 May - [**Chatham Maritime Food and Drink Festival**](https://www.cmtrust.co.uk/play/food-and-drink-festival/?ref=localauthority.news) // Annual event with stalls and dragon boat racing. Chatham Dockside. Free. 🎻 Sun 24 May - [**Nigel Kennedy - Virtuoso**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/Nigel-Kennedy-Virtuoso?ref=localauthority.news) // Distinctive and influential violinist, returns to the UK with his first national tour in over 15 years. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £45. 🦇 Mon 25 May - [**The Little Bat Alternative Spring Bazaar**](https://www.facebook.com/events/911441944556532) // Alternative art and gift market. Masonic Hall, Rochester. Entry £1. 🎤 Fri 29 May - [**Bugeye + 10 + Angered Kenneth**](https://www.ticketsource.com/livemusicevent/bugeye-io-angered-kenneth/2026-05-29/20:00/t-glldxjp?ref=localauthority.news) // Disco punk rock night. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🎷 Fri 29 May - [**Curtis Stigers**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/curtis-stigers-tickets-1977797033167?ref=localauthority.news) // Legendary jazz singer returns to Medway. St Margaret's Church, Rainham. Tickets from £49. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Medway Council is coming for your furniture URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-is-coming-for-your-furniture/ Last updated: 2026-05-27T19:00:55.000Z **Medway Council is preparing to take a tougher line on businesses placing unlicensed tables and chairs on the pavement, with new warning notices and enforcement action now being lined up. We also look ahead to IntraFest, a free festival celebrating the venues, food businesses, artists, musicians and odd corners that make Intra more than just the bit between Rochester and Chatham.* ### Medway Council is coming for your furniture Medway Council has issued only ten pavement licences across the towns, which may come as a surprise to anyone who has walked down a Medway high street and encountered rather more than ten sets of tables and chairs. The council is now preparing to take a harder line with businesses placing furniture on the street without permission. After years of verbal warnings, unclear procedures, and no local system for storing confiscated tables and chairs, officers have drafted a new warning notice and lined up an enforcement team to remove anything left behind. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/AdobeStock_669415508.jpeg) The new process is set out in a [report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88675&ref=localauthority.news) going to Medway Council’s [Licensing and Safety Committee next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=139&MId=6619&ref=localauthority.news), following councillors' previous request for details on how the authority planned to make its pavement licensing policy work in practice. Pavement licences allow pubs, cafes, restaurants, bars, coffee shops and other food and drink businesses to place removable furniture on certain parts of the highway outside their premises. They were introduced nationally in 2020 as a temporary covid measure to help hospitality businesses use outdoor space more easily, before being made permanent through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023. Medway approved [its own pavement licensing policy](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/downloads/file/895/medway-pavement-licensing-policy?ref=localauthority.news) last year. It covers a fairly broad range of businesses, including pubs, cafes, bars, restaurants, snack bars, coffee shops, ice cream parlours, supermarkets, and entertainment venues that sell food or drink. Only ten licences are currently issued across Medway. That is the number that makes this more than a comic tale of rogue bistro sets. Outdoor seating is now a familiar feature of parts of Medway, particularly in town centres and high streets where cafes, bars and restaurants spill out towards the kerb whenever the weather allows. Rochester High Street alone feels like it would require more than ten licences, never mind everywhere else. The council’s report does not say how many businesses are currently putting furniture on the highway without permission, but it does explain why the number might have stayed so low. Until now, officers have relied on visits and verbal warnings, with no written notices and no practical way to remove anything from the pavement. The result, according to the report, was that businesses, “particularly in busy high streets,” continued to put furniture out without a licence. This is not especially hard to understand. If the council tells a business to remove its furniture but has no clear way to follow through when the business does not, the furniture is likely to remain where it is. The new warning notice is intended to change that. Businesses found to be in breach of the pavement licensing scheme would be told to remove the furniture within seven days. Licensing officers would then pass the details to the enforcement team, who would carry out a follow-up visit after the deadline and remove anything still in place without permission. The council would store the furniture and notify the business, which would have three months to claim it and pay the relevant fee. Anything not collected within that period could be disposed of, sold, or auctioned, with the proceeds kept by the council. Medway has not yet approved its own removal and storage fees. The report notes that Gravesham, which shares regulatory services with Medway, has already calculated charges of £353 for the initial seizure, including the first seven days of storage, £5 per day thereafter, and £150 if the furniture needs to be dropped back. So an unlicensed table and chairs on the pavement could become quite expensive quite quickly. There is an obvious absurdity to all of this, because local government rarely shines brighter than when it has to design a formal process for confiscating a chair. But the underlying issue is not trivial. Pavements are not extra floor space for businesses. They are public spaces, and Medway’s pavement licensing policy contains a long list of conditions that exist for a reason. Licensed furniture must not block access to premises, fire exits, emergency equipment, drainage, or the highway itself. Businesses need public liability insurance of at least £5m. Customers must be seated, with no vertical drinking. Live music, singing, recorded music, or other amplified sound is not allowed in the licensed area. The most important rules are about access. The policy requires at least 1.6m of continuous, unobstructed footway to be maintained at all times, and licensed areas must be separated from the remaining highway using disability-compliant barriers with tapping rails or panel edges, colour contrast, and a continuous barrier around the area, except for the access point. The council says it ran a social media campaign in March highlighting the need for businesses to have a licence, how to apply for one, and the penalties for placing illegal furniture on the highway. After the Easter school holidays, when visitor numbers and tourist trade increase, licensing officers carried out planned days of action focused only on pavement licensing, targeting problem hotspots and areas where complaints or intelligence had been received. Any business found to be in breach during those visits was served with the new warning notice. The pavement licensing work also sits alongside a wider council attempt to get a grip on what businesses can place on the highway. Earlier this year, Cabinet approved consultation on a separate [Articles on the Highway Policy](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=87261&ref=localauthority.news), covering things like A-boards, shopfront displays, planters, decorative items and goods for sale. Tables and chairs were removed from that policy because they now sit under the pavement licensing regime. For businesses that already have a licence, little changes. They can keep their furniture outside, provided they follow the conditions. For everyone else, the position is becoming less comfortable. The unlicensed chairs are on notice. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-20-at-10.42.55-1.png)](https://www.localauthority.news/print/) We've been blown away by the response to our first regular print edition of **Local Authority, which* is out now and brings some of our reporting, interviews, and features to a free newspaper you can pick up across Medway. Copies are already in more than [70 shops, cafés, pubs, community spaces, and libraries across Medway's towns and villages](https://www.localauthority.news/print/). We're still eager to hear from more potential stockists or advertisers. If you want to learn more about what we're doing or find your nearest copy, hit the button below: [Learn more about Local Authority in print ](https://www.localauthority.news/print/) ### IntraFest celebrates the bit between the towns There are easier places to explain than Intra. It is not quite Rochester and not quite Chatham, a stretch of old high street that has often been awkward in civic terms, but useful in creative ones. It has become the bit between the towns where small venues, studios, food businesses, artists and odd little projects can spring up without needing to fit too neatly into the polished version of Rochester or the heavier town-centre expectations of Chatham. Now it is getting a festival. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-8-1-1.png) [IntraFest](https://www.facebook.com/theoldhighst/posts/pfbid0aSo9dJwK3JKHMLp84jLhMA3Bdg1YwgdY4Jvw2mkgUULKMYw5ftZu9aRCd1UwhL6Al) will take place on Saturday 13 June, bringing live music, street food, theatre, art, sailing trips, family entertainment and evening venue events to the stretch between Rochester and Chatham. It is being organised by Intra Community Trust, which describes the event as a celebration of the “unsung backbone of Medway’s fringe arts, culture, and heritage.” That is a grand way of putting it, but the idea is simple enough. IntraFest is not inventing an identity for this part of Medway. It is taking what is already there and putting it in the street for a day. The main stage will be at the former Gray’s Car Centre on the High Street, running from 11am to 9pm. A second stage at Decktronix and Ranscombe Studios will run from noon to 10pm, before evening events continue at Poco Loco, 12 Degrees Micropub, The Ship Inn and The Nags Head. The line-up reads less like a conventional festival bill than a roll call of one particular version of Medway culture. The Solarflares, Lupen Crook, [The Singing Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/), The Zac Schulze Gang, Theatre Royal, The Medway Rakes, The Shakes, Mourning Birds, The Pastel Waves, Spider Baby, The Flowing, The Burntwick Smugglers and others will appear across the day, alongside performances from Rochester Riverside Primary School, Dance Alley, MidKent College’s Hot Dog, Pretending People Theatre Company and Play On Words Theatre Company. In the evening, Poco Loco will host Bear Bones, Sheena and Upcdownc, while 12 Degrees has [Little Storping in the Swuff](https://www.localauthority.news/its-because-ive-got-a-bag-on-my-head/) and [Wolf Howard](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-have-any-technique-i-never/). The Ship Inn will host an 18+ drag show from Sandra the Whore of Hampstead Heath, and The Nags Head will have The Sultan and DJ sets from the Decktronix Collective. This is not a line-up assembled by someone trying to make Medway look slick. It is old Medway music culture, newer bands, theatre groups, DJs, drag, school performances, pubs, studios, illustrators, digital artists, an art market, and sailing trips on Thames historic barges from the restored Ship Pier, all pressed into the same day. Naturally, there will also be plenty to eat and drink. Poco Loco will bring Mexican street food, churros and cocktails. The Kiki Restaurant & Lounge will be doing smashed burgers and fries. Sweet One will be serving Caribbean BBQ. Three Sheets to the Wind will have beers, ales, cider and bratwurst sausages, while The Dead Pigeon will bring beers, ales and burgers. Medway Scouts will be providing tea and cakes, because not every cultural moment requires a cocktail. Sun Pier House will host an art market, Mess Room CIC will run arts and crafts workshops, Electric Medway will bring digital art, and illustrators Jio Butler and [David Frankum](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-the-flowers-of/) will be involved. [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/)’s Music Halls to Medway Sounds photographic exhibition gives the day a useful spine too, linking the area’s older performance history to the Medway sounds that came later. As a what’s-on listing, this is all fairly straightforward, with a free festival, a strong local bill, and enough food and drink to make movement along the high street steadily less elegant as the day goes on. The more interesting part is what it says about Intra itself. Intra has become one of the few bits of Medway where the cultural identity feels genuinely lived-in rather than invented for a strategy document. There are venues, studios, pubs, restaurants, creative businesses, old buildings, river edges, awkward corners, and enough roughness left for things to happen without being sanded smooth immediately. It is not a formal cultural quarter, which is probably for the best. Still, places like this do not look after themselves. The venues, studios, pubs and food businesses that make Intra interesting are not abstract “creative economy” assets. They are actual places with rent, bills, staff, neighbours, licensing conditions and all the usual problems of trying to keep something independent alive in Medway. That is why IntraFest is worth treating as more than a line-up announcement. It is a useful snapshot of what has gathered in this slightly awkward strip between the towns: the old Medway music scene, newer creative businesses, heritage projects, food and drink, art, theatre, river life, and enough independent activity to make the area feel like something more than the bit you pass through between Rochester and Chatham. IntraFest takes place on Saturday 13 June. Entry is free, though anyone attempting the full programme of a barge trip, eating bratwurst, taking in the Singing Loins, browsing the art market, visiting a drag show, and a late-night DJ set should probably begin training now. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “I do love being the centre of attention” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-do-love-being-the-centre-of-attention/ Last updated: 2026-05-17T06:00:18.000Z ,*Patrick Minhard is the owner of* [*Three Sheets to the Wind*](https://www.threesheetspub.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, one of Rochester's more eclectic pubs. Steven met Patrick at the pub whilst they were setting up for Sweeps festival to talk about running an independent pub in this economy, supporting local music, and why he has multiple surnames.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/32750-3-1.jpg) Patrick Minhard. **What is your name?** Minhart is my surname, but it's spelt M-I-N-H-A-R-D. **Are you known by any other names?** I'm known by Paddy Cleary. I'm known by Patrick Engelbert. I'm known by Pat Hat as well. **Where did Patrick Cleary come from?** My great granddad. He was Irish, and his name was Cleary. But I started using it when I first started in bands. It was just having that little bit of distance. When social media started, having that little bit of distance that people would look you up. I'm not saying I've ever been famous, but I did have a couple of people who got too close. It's nice to have that distance. **What is your official occupation?** Well, I own [Three Sheets To The Wind](https://www.threesheetspub.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I've been in construction for 20 years. I'm a fully qualified refrigeration and air conditioning engineer. I've been in bands for 20 years and also a promoter, and I'm starting an entertainment company as well. And the music studio as well, [Ranscombe](https://ranscombestudios.com/?ref=localauthority.news). I'm director of a few companies within hospitality, and I suppose the creative industry. **If that's not enough, do you have any other roles?** Not at the moment, but I did run for council once, and I got asked to run for council again. **Was that at Medway?** It was on the peninsula. When Mark Reckless defected, [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) called me up and said we need someone to fill in this gap, you're from High Halstow. He said to me from the outset, “You're not going to win, but we need something to run.” I've got pictures of me wearing a sash and stuff like that. It gave me a lovely insight into how local politics works. > We wanted a front room, but I wanted somewhere to do music **How did you come to own the Three Sheets?** My uncle, Matt Harrison, was always going on about a pub. Probably about eight years ago, he was going to take over [What the DickInns](https://camra.org.uk/pubs/what-the-dickinns-rochester-167833?ref=localauthority.news), which is obviously shut now. Me and my wife, who I'm not with anymore, were going to run it, but then Brexit happened, and me and her actually moved to Berlin. When covid started, my uncle was doing up a flat, and we were working on that, and after that, he went, “We should do the pub thing,” and then we just started looking for it. We looked at a few other places. We didn't really want as big a pub as this is. We wanted a front room, but I wanted somewhere to do music. Then we walked in here, and this place is amazing and we went from there really. Five years later, and we're here. **Why is there an Austrian theme to it?** Because I'm half Austrian. We opened this as a family pub as well. My mum basically, in the early eighties, went over there as a rep to work for Crystal Holidays, like a ski rep. My dad's Austrian. I was born in Austria, I lived there til I was ten years old. I grew up speaking both languages. I also speak quite a [Tyrolean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyrol%5F%28state%29?ref=localauthority.news) dialect as well, which a lot of people don't understand. My idea with that as well is that I personally think the lagers we have here, they're always European lagers. They get popular here, they get taken over, then they start getting made here, and they're not great. I think there's a lot of people who can say they would lean away from drinking lager, for me personally what I thought was [Stiegl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiegl%5FBrewery?ref=localauthority.news) is. Honestly, everyone tastes Stiegl, and if you don't like lager, you will like it. It's the most popular beer in Austria. It's still run by an independent family-owned company in Salzburg, which is not in Tyrol, where I'm from. That was my main thing. I wanted to bring really good beers and have a different slant. **You are also known as is a venue for music and supporting local music. Was that always the intent with the place?** Always. Even before we found this place, we were looking to have a place where we can put music on, whether it's going to be acoustic or not. Then we took this place on, and we've got a great garden. Then we'd done the first Sweeps without the stage out there, and then we built the stage. I've got Sam Mitchell, who's the manager. He's been fantastic with the bookings. He managed to get [Paul Foot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul%5FFoot%5F%28comedian%29?ref=localauthority.news) in. > There's a thriving scene here **You have impressive comedy bookings.** Yes, we're not just music. I'll go back to the local stuff. My idea was always to have bands on here. That was a big focus of mine. Paying artists fairly. I've been in music for 20 years while I've been in bands, and it's hard because sometimes I would go “I want that money,” but now I go “I can't pay you that.” I'm on both sides. I want to be fair, but also, I've got to say, “I can't do that. This is what I can give you.” The main thing for me is what we've done at underage gigs here. During the day, there's a really good scene again now. You've got a lot of bands. I manage two bands. [Spider Baby](https://www.instagram.com/spiderbaby.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), [Angered Kenneth](https://www.instagram.com/angeredkenneth/?ref=localauthority.news), which is my sister's band. Spider Baby, they're all young. Oliver Allen, who plays with [Singing Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/) and plays with [Billy](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) *\[Childish\]* as well. They're really good. And there's [Mitchell Lane](https://www.instagram.com/mitchelllaneband/?ref=localauthority.news). There's loads of other young bands, we're trying to support that. They're actually over 18, but a couple of years ago, I just wanted to give them a place to play, a place they can come. Sam organised an underage day during the half-term. We opened the doors at two, and they could all come in until my license expires for that. I'm trying to do that, and I'm looking at different other things I can try and do. I think I'm at a point, without sounding like a dick, I've been in music 20 years, I've been signed twice, both times it's gone wrong, whether that's my fault… But I want to advise these guys and help them, not make the same mistakes. The music industry is not what it was. There's a thriving scene here, and I want to work together with other local businesses, other venues and create our scene again. **To pick up on the comedy, you mentioned Paul Foot, you’ve also had** [**Tony Law**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony%5FLaw?ref=localauthority.news) **and** [**Sam Campbell**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam%5FCampbell%5F%28comedian%29?ref=localauthority.news)**.** Sam Campbell was literally this time last year. We're trying to get him again. We've got [Iain Lee](https://www.facebook.com/threesheetspub/posts/pfbid037VE4fwsBEYVHonjQMAko8YhkJEx8Xz4zoHN9hLPowTxi93fpX7id8oL93dSHvkBql) planned in. Paul Foot is coming back this year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/32734-1-1.jpg) Patrick outside of the Three Sheets to the Wind. **Has it been a challenge getting them to come here?** 100% yeah. What we try and do with the comedians is treat it as their warmup, because they are all doing a warmup. You see all these venues in London, and you'll get a tiny pub, and they'll have [Romesh Ranganathan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romesh%5FRanganathan?ref=localauthority.news) because they're doing a warmup. Paul Foot comes here because he's going to Edinburgh. Then once you've got Paul Foot, people go okay. Because obviously they all talk, and we spoke to Paul, and we're like, “Look, is there anything you can say?” It's showing them that one, they're going to get good money, we're not going to mug them off. We've had people ask, “What cut do you want on the merch?” Just do your merch, it's fine. I'm happy to have good people down, get known as a venue that can put this stuff on, that people from Medway can come and see, because there's not enough venues like that here, and make sure the artists are paid basically. That's pretty much it. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway's emergency briefing URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-emergency-briefing-2/ Last updated: 2026-05-22T10:35:22.000Z **Rochester Eco Hub hosted a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing, bringing together residents, Medway councillors and local campaigners to discuss the climate and biodiversity crisis and what action is possible locally. Plus the latest planning applications, news in brief, and what's happening in our towns this week.* ### **Rochester Eco Hub hosts climate screening** [The People’s Emergency Briefing](https://www.nebriefing.org/peb?ref=localauthority.news) is a film that summarises the [National Emergency Briefing](https://www.nebriefing.org/?ref=localauthority.news), a series of talks which took place last November. These were led by experts from the health sector, the military and climate science, who briefed MPs and leaders on the challenges facing the UK from climate change. The film is interspersed with Chris Packham screening the film to celebrities, industry leaders and members of the public about the film and its impact. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/AdobeStock_4790194-1.jpeg) The [Rochester Eco Hub](https://www.facebook.com/TheRochesterEcoHub/), a space focused on bringing the community together to take action to improve the local environment, screened the film at the Rochester Adult Education Centre last month. The event, hosted by Cat Jamieson, brought together members of the public and Medway Council to watch the film and discuss the issues raised. “The aim is to get the message out about the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crisis,” she said, “to start conversations about what action we can take”. [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/), Medway Council's Cabinet portfolio holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration attended the screening. He told us that, “This is such an important event. I'm really grateful to the people who've organised this.” He went on to note that a number of people at the screening felt that we were in a climate crisis already and that “I think we've got a lot of work to do.” Curry attended the screening because “I wanted to see what they had to say.” Having seen the film, he reflected that “there was nothing in that film that I disagreed with and it's all there to be seen.” The film is based upon “proper science. I think this is something that we all should spend some time watching.” Given the film showcases how climate change is a global existential crisis, we ask him what can a unitary authority do about that? “We've got our own little world in which we live where we feel that we can make a difference.” Curry suggests the old mantra of “think locally, act globally. I think that's the right way to approach it.” By acting locally, we can contribute to the bigger challenge. “There is a lot we can do more quickly, which would have huge benefits for the country and for the planet.” With the Labour administration having passed the three year mark, Curry has been in his position for all that time. What achievements can he highlight from that time? “We restructured the climate action plan first of all, and we got that published.” That highlights five priorities around energy, recycling, and nature, “all the issues that came up tonight.” Curry argues that they are looking at the challenges from two perspectives: What they can do internally at the council, and what are the external messages that they send. Curry highlights that the council has increased the fleet of electric vehicles, cut energy costs and that the refurbished Cozenton Park Sports Centre is “virtually carbon zero.” The council is also looking at how it can encourage Medway’s residents to “change the way they do things.” He concedes that is “a much more tough ask, because people have got their daily lives, embedded in the way they do things.” Also present at the event were [Habib Tejan](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enjoy-solving-problems/), Shadow Cabinet member for Business Support, Climate Change and Digital, and [Grace Duffy](https://www.localauthority.news/i-think-the-time-is-right-for-medway-to-elect-its-first-green-councillor/), Chair of the Medway Greens. We asked Tejan if there was anything he took away from the screening. “Very scary. I was saying to the group, there's so much out there we don't hear much about it in the mainstream media.” Tejan believes that the media could do a lot in sharing information. “I think if our mind was focused on the issue, we all can make our own little contribution.” With a reaction on the right of politics against net zero targets, we ask if he is happy with his party’s response to the climate crisis. “We've got a Conservative Environment Network. We have got an environmental agenda, which I'm happy with.” How does he feel that the council is doing on climate change? “I think more could be done in every respect, nationally, locally. We have got the climate change agenda. Watching this tonight, I think we need to go back to the drawing board and read it.” Grace Duffy came to the screening because “I think this really is an emergency and it's been extraordinary to see “the “frightening picture which is being presented about what happens if we continue on this path.” She says it is positive to watch the film and see “how solvable this problem is, and how much action is already underway.” Duffy finished the screening feeling “inspired that there are specific tangible actions that we can take in our lives, in our communities,” that can help to solve this crisis. With the Rochester Eco Hub’s focus on what Medway can do, she highlights community power generation. “We've been out knocking on doors, and this is something that came up because of the cost of living crisis.” With people living in fuel poverty, these are “challenges that everybody is facing.” She was also struck by the intersection of so many different factors. “We have a social media culture, a consumerist culture which is actively incentivising people to get into debt, to buy shit they don't need, which will not make them happy.” *Rochester Eco Hub are holding a follow-up discussion about the film and local actions on Monday 18 May. There is a pre-meeting screening at 6.30pm for those who were unable to attend the first time. The meeting will be at The Vines Church in Rochester at 7.30pm.* [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-7-1--2-.png)](https://www.localauthority.news/print/) Our first regular print edition of **Local Authority* is out now, bringing some of our reporting, interviews, and features into a free newspaper you can pick up across Medway. Copies are already in more than [50 cafés, pubs, community spaces, amd workplaces across Medway's towns and villages](https://www.localauthority.news/print/), with more to come. If you want to find your nearest copy and learn more about what we're doing, you can do so here: [Learn more about Local Authority in print ](https://www.localauthority.news/print/) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - None. **New planning applications:** - Conversion of Royal Function Rooms in Rochester into [eight homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TEYTSEKNI9K00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news). - Construction of a [boxing gym](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TEVQXMKNGE400&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) off Shipwrights Avenue in Chatham. - Conversion of toilet on Cuxton Recreation Ground into a [cafe](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=TEB86QKNJDC00&ref=localauthority.news). - HMO applications on [Camden Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TEVLE2KNGAM00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and [Canterbury Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TDJAOAKNHUX00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. ### In brief 📄 Medway Council's Councillor Conduct Committee will [investigate the actions](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/councillor-to-be-investigated-over-conduct-for-second-time-339906/?ref=localauthority.news) of independent councillor Chris Spalding for the second time in a year. 💷 Former Rochester restaurant Rico Sabor has been [fined £15,000](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2070/rochester%5Fbusiness%5Ffined%5F15000%5Ffor%5Ffailing%5Fto%5Fclear%5Fwaste?ref=localauthority.news) for failing to clear waste from behind its location. ⚽ Gillingham Football Club have [released the list](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/released-and-retained-list-confirmed-202526?ref=localauthority.news) of players they will keep for next year and those they will let go. 🧖 Users of the sauna at Strood Leisure Centre are [unhappy about 'secret' plans](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czj2mymxml7o?ref=localauthority.news) to replace it. In other news, apparently there's a sauna at Strood Leisure Centre. 🍻 82,000 visitors [attended Sweeps Festival](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/towns-sweeps-festival-hailed-a-success-as-it-records-best-a-340025/?ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester, the highest number in a decade. 🏪 There's a [new Nisa store](https://www.conveniencestore.co.uk/stores/nisa-moves-towards-a-new-way-of-revamping-stores-at-haven-holiday-site/718913.article?ref=localauthority.news) on the Haven holiday park in Allhallows. 🌳 Cllr Jim Gilbourne [will join the Conservative shadow cabinet](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/medway-conservatives-re-elect-leadership-team-and-appointment-new-shadow-cabinet-member-cllr?ref=localauthority.news), replacing the recently passed Phil Filmer on the planning and development brief. ➡️ Meanwhile, Reform Rochester and Strood are [outraged](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid02nZtPAyuPjkicqnnGmFAeBB4i4qL9GxUsjnNLrHRgVuDPnULCDBVexD3fFo4j9urXl&id=61577722285583) that the Green Party are preparing for a by-election in Filmer's former ward. 🤖 While we're on Reform, there's [whatever in the AI slop this is supposed to be](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid02QSzhNF2rBRK8QawD5L8qrDHT4Z8FSg6GiHSDn3B5XWRyBMW35xYn4bKFAjdgbi3Al&id=61577722285583). Quite why Theresa May has joined Medway Labour's Cabinet isn't entirely clear. 👑 Cllr Douglas Hamandishe has been [elected Mayor of Medway](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2073/new%5Fmayor%5Fand%5Fdeputy%5Fmayor%5Fof%5Fmedway%5Fannounced?ref=localauthority.news) for the coming year, with Cllr Sharon Jackson serving as Deputy Mayor. [“My baptism to life was seeing mankind at its worst”What Steven asked Douglas Hamandishe, Gillingham North Labour councillor and former Deputy Mayor![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--34.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3bc5ed19-88e5-46cd-8078-2d102eefec98_1536x1152-1.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/my-baptism-to-life-was-seeing-mankind/) ### Property of the week This detached Victorian on St Margaret’s Street is on the market for £950,000 and sits in what the agent is quite happily calling Rochester’s 'golden triangle,' which is their way of saying you are buying one of the serious houses in the serious bit of town. It was built in the 1890s and it has the kind of proportions that suggest it was always meant to impress, an imposing hallway, big front rooms with triple sash windows and working fireplaces, and bedrooms that look straight out over St Margaret’s Church as if that view is part of the deed. It feels like a house built for people with staff, or failing that, people with enough confidence to host guests under cornices and picture rails, then see them off without leaving the sofa. [Check out this 4 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom detached house for sale in St. Margarets Street, Rochester, ME1 for £950,000\. Marketed by Greenleaf Property Services Ltd, Rochester![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-17.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/b7ec5fc4399bb8ba680ac26b5b57a747.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/88419243?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎭 Until 23 May - [**God of Carnage**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news) // Real-time play about a conversation between two couples that descends into carnage. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £12. 🎸 Fri 15 May - [**South Shore**](https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/category/kgonmmldoozz?ref=localauthority.news) // Single launch for Medway supergroup. Rochester Social Club. Tickets £5. 🖤 Sat 16 May - [**Broken Heart Bazaar**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1954355018475601/) // Market of alternative art, curios, and wonders. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🥕 Sun 17 May - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🗣️ Wed 20 May - [**Folklore & Women**](https://www.ticketsource.com/midkent/t-mjjzvoj?ref=localauthority.news) // Professor Marisa Linton leads a talk on the power of folklore in reclaiming female stories. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets £14. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### End of another season for the Gills URL: https://www.localauthority.news/end-of-another-season-for-the-gills/ Last updated: 2026-05-14T16:00:44.000Z *Praise the lord, for Gillingham’s tremendously disappointing season is over, and Operation Rebuild It Better is already underway. *Ben Hopkins* looks at the latest developments at Priestfield...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/IMG_20260425_165058-1.jpg) 6-1 down away to Barnet, but there was at least time for the scant consolation of a Josh Andrews goal. Photo: Ben Hopkins. **All change!** The season ended on a relative high, when an injury time goal from Garath McCleary secured a 1-0 win versus Shrewsbury. Stuttering at 17th place on a budget that’s surely towards the upper reaches of the division was nonetheless a dire outcome, so it was no surprise that Gillingham’s retained list was announced over the following morning’s breakfast. It’s always a little distracting to watch a bloodbath when you’re munching on cornflakes, but it certainly wasn’t unexpected. The departures fall broadly into three categories: those who delivered very little relative to expectations; those who have repeatedly struggled with injuries; and those who barely had a chance to begin with. You could perhaps make a case for keeping Conor Masterson, but being one of the club’s stronger defenders becomes irrelevant when he only managed twelve appearances all season. Likewise for Glenn Morris, who even at the age of 42 would be a decent enough second choice keeper for another year. And perhaps even for Max Clark: a target for the boo boys and admittedly at times lacking both pace and strength, but able to weigh in with some much-needed assists and the goal of the season. But Elliott Nevitt, Josh Andrews, Aaron Rowe and others? Their moments of inspiration have been as rare as a dodo on Darnley Road. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway MP turns on Starmer URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-mp-turns-on-starmer/ Last updated: 2026-05-20T10:50:53.000Z **Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan has called for Keir Starmer to resign, marking the first major public break from the Prime Minister by one of Medway’s Labour MPs. Further down, we also look at the latest expansion of Medway’s School Streets scheme and another unsuccessful election outing for Mark Reckless.* ### Medway MP turns on Starmer Keir Starmer came to Medway in 2023 and stood alongside [Naushabah Khan](https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/), then Labour’s candidate for Gillingham and Rainham, as the party tried to turn a long period of Conservative dominance into something else. At the time, the direction of travel looked obvious. Labour was ahead nationally, the Conservatives were exhausted, and seats like Gillingham and Rainham were exactly the kind of places Starmer needed to win if he was going to form a government. Labour took control of Medway Council a month later and swept all three parliamentary constituencies in July 2024. Now, she is calling for him to resign as Prime Minister. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/IMG_3654-1-1.jpeg) Keir Starmer stands alongside Naushabah Khan in happier times. Khan has stepped down as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office, saying the message from last week’s elections was clear and that Starmer has “lost the confidence of the public.” It is a striking intervention from one of Medway’s three Labour MPs, not least because Khan entered Parliament in July 2024 on the same Labour landslide that put Starmer in Downing Street. Less than two years later, she has resigned from the lower rungs of his government and told him to go. Gillingham and Rainham was one of Labour’s key Kent gains at the general election. Khan took the seat from the Conservatives, becoming part of a new Medway Labour group of MPs alongside [Tristan Osborne](https://www.localauthority.news/im-pushy-and-i-like-people-pushing/) in Chatham and Aylesford, and [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) in Rochester and Strood. That made Medway go red in Westminster for the first time since 2010\. It also tied the area’s new MPs closely to Starmer’s project. Khan’s resignation now pulls one of them firmly away from it. In a statement published today, Khan said: “After a great deal of reflection, I have taken the decision to resign from my role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office. This is not a step I have taken lightly, but I believe that putting the interests of my constituents and our country first must come before any position in government.” She added, “The message from last week’s elections was clear: the Prime Minister has lost the confidence of the public. For me, this has confirmed that the Labour Party needs a clear change of direction if we are to rebuild trust and deliver the change people voted for.” Khan said she was “proud” of what Labour had achieved in government, but warned that the party was now failing to meet the moment. “I entered politics because I believe in public service, in fairness, and in the power of Labour governments to change lives. I did not enter politics to stand by while we fail.” She went on to call for “new leadership” and said Labour needed to “reset, reconnect with the public, and start delivering on the promise of change.” A Parliamentary Private Secretary is not a ministerial role, but it is one of the first rungs on the government ladder. PPS roles are usually given to MPs considered loyal and reliable enough to sit close to ministers, support the government, and act as a link between departments and the wider parliamentary party. They do not have the power or profile of ministers, but they are part of the extended government operation. That makes resigning from one different from a backbencher firing off a gloomy post on social media. It is a public break from the government machine by someone who had been inside its lower ranks. Khan had been serving as PPS to Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. Jones is one of the Labour figures being discussed in relation to the party’s future, though no formal challenger has yet emerged. Khan has also been publicly supportive of Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, who is widely seen as one of the most likely leadership contenders if Labour’s crisis turns into a contest. Starmer is fighting to stay in Downing Street after a disastrous set of elections for Labour last week. The party lost almost 1,500 councillors in England, was pushed out of power in Wales, and recorded its worst ever result at a Scottish Parliament election. The elections had been billed as a key test of Starmer’s leadership after months of poor polling and frustration inside Labour over the direction of the government. Instead, they have produced the first serious attempt by Labour MPs to force him out. Three members of the government, including Home Office minister Jess Phillips, have resigned. More than 80 Labour MPs have called for Starmer to resign immediately or set out a timetable for departure. At cabinet today, Starmer told ministers that he did not intend to quit, and challenged any potential rivals to formally move against him. Under Labour rules, a leadership challenge would require the backing of 20% of Labour MPs, currently 81 MPs. No MP has yet launched a formal challenge. That leaves Labour in the odd position of having enough public dissatisfaction to create a crisis, but not yet enough organised movement to resolve it. For Medway, Khan’s decision leaves her in a different position from the area’s two other Labour MPs. Tristan Osborne has not called for Starmer to go, instead sharing the live stream of the Prime Minister’s speech yesterday on social media. Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards has made no public comment on the leadership calls. That may change. At the current pace of Westminster, almost everything may change between us hitting publish on this edition and making a cup of tea. The number of Labour MPs calling for Starmer to quit has already been rising, and the question now is whether those calls turn into a formal challenge or remain a very loud queue of people asking someone else to go first. In 2023, Starmer came to Medway as the man Labour candidates wanted by their side. Khan is now one of the MPs telling Labour it needs to move on without him. ### Medway’s School Streets expand again Medway’s School Streets scheme is expanding again, with two new zones due to launch next month around schools in Rochester and the Davis Estate. From Monday 8 June, roads around Crest Infant School and Delce Academy in Rochester, and Horsted Primary School in Chatham, will become pedestrian and cycle-only areas during school drop-off and pick-up times. The idea is simple enough. For a short window each morning and afternoon, non-exempt vehicles are kept out of the roads around the school gates, making the school run a little less like a daily stress test for everyone involved. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-12-at-17.47.15.png) Around Crest Infant School and Delce Academy, the new zone will a raft of roads, including The Tideway, Crest Road, and Fleet Road. It will operate from 8am to 9am, and from 3pm to 3.45pm. Around Horsted Primary School, the zone will cover Barberry Avenue and Binland Grove. It will operate from 8am to 8.45am, and from 2.45pm to 3.30pm. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-12-at-17.48.16.png) The Horsted scheme is a mildly interesting one for anyone who has been following this saga longer than is strictly healthy. When the second wave of School Streets was first consulted on in 2024, the proposal appeared to cover Barberry Avenue outside Horsted Junior School while leaving Binland Grove, outside Horsted Infant School, out of the main restriction. The final version now includes both. Medway Council says School Streets are designed to reduce congestion, cut parking problems for residents, improve air quality, and create a safer environment for children and parents travelling to school. The programme has been backed by £486,000 from the government’s Active Travel Fund. Enforcement will be carried out using Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras. Medway says new School Streets will have a six-month warning period, with first-time offenders receiving a warning notice before fines begin. Vehicles entering during operating hours without an exemption may then receive a penalty charge notice. That detail matters because School Streets in Medway have never been quite as calm as the roads they are meant to create. *Local Authority* [reported last year](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-issues-over-2m-in/) that 16,950 fines were issued across the first seven School Streets in their first year, with the penalties carrying a face value of £1.1m before discounts, appeals and unpaid fines. Burnt Oak Primary School in Gillingham accounted for 7,604 of them alone, helped by the fact that Richmond Road is less a quiet school-side lane and more the kind of road plenty of drivers were already using to get somewhere else. [Medway Council issues over £2m in traffic fines in first yearNearly 35,000 fines issued in first year of School Streets and Moving Traffic Offences schemes, plus third of blue badges used wrongly, Brook Theatre to reopen two years late, news in brief, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--31.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe824e3f7-aa4b-4ff5-a8ec-019e69d8af77_4850x3233.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-issues-over-2m-in/) The same Richmond Road site later became the subject of an [overturned fine](https://www.localauthority.news/school-streets-fine-overturned-at-medways-busiest-site/) after an independent tribunal found signage there was inadequate. That ruling did not automatically invalidate other fines, but it did underline one of the recurring questions around the scheme. If a camera is catching a large number of drivers, is that proof of terrible driving, weak signage, poor design, or a very Medway combination of all three? Medway has also had to wrestle with traffic displacement. Recent council papers accepted that some schemes had pushed vehicles onto nearby roads, with the impact varying by site. In some places, the road outside the school gate got calmer while neighbouring roads picked up the pressure. Medway is still considering when to introduce a School Street around St William of Perth Roman Catholic Primary School in Rochester. The proposed zone would cover Canon Close, with additional safety measures along Maidstone Road. Feedback from the statutory consultation suggested the afternoon operating period should be changed, so Medway says it will update the Traffic Regulation Order before the scheme is introduced. The most politically awkward proposal remains The King’s Pre-Preparatory School and Nursery in Rochester, where Medway is still considering comments and has not decided whether to implement the scheme. That proposal covers Lockington Grove, King Edward Road, and St Margaret’s Street, but also includes wider changes around St Margaret’s Street and Roebuck Road. That is where School Streets stop being a small intervention. Unsurprisingly, that is also where the arguments become louder. [Medway backs School Streets as Rochester opposition growsPlus Medway watches Kent meningitis outbreak and a sign that needed another draft![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--32.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/schoolstreets.png)](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-backs-school-streets-as-rochester-opposition-grows/) School Streets can make the road outside the gate safer and calmer. What happens one street over is where the policy can get messy. ### Pour one out for Mark Reckless Spare a thought this week for Mark Reckless, the former Rochester and Strood MP whose latest attempt to return to elected office has ended in disappointment. Reckless, one of Medway politics’ more durable exports, was standing for Reform in Caerdydd Penarth in last week’s Senedd election. Reform had a decent enough night there, winning 15,525 votes and taking one of the constituency’s six seats. Sadly for Reckless, he was second on the party’s list, which meant the seat went to Joseph Martin instead. It is another twist in a political career that has now taken Reckless from Conservative MP for Rochester and Strood, to UKIP MP for Rochester and Strood, to UKIP member of the Welsh Assembly, to Welsh Conservative, to Brexit Party member, to member of the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party, to Reform candidate for the Senedd. Less a political journey than a pub crawl through every available vehicle on the right. This latest vehicle was not without its own difficulties. In the final days before polling, Nation.Cymru [reported](https://nation.cymru/news/reform-candidate-used-untaxed-van-to-campaign-in-cardiff/?ref=localauthority.news) that Reckless had been campaigning in Cardiff with what he described on social media as the 'Reform bus.' The 'bus' was, in fact, a white Vauxhall van covered in party messaging. According to the outlet, checks showed the van was untaxed, with its tax having expired in March, and subject to an outstanding vehicle recall. Reform said the van “doesn’t belong to Reform,” which is the sort of sentence that tells a full story while answering very little. Still, politics is about results, and the result here was clear enough. Caerdydd Penarth returned three Plaid Cymru members, one Green, one Labour member, and one Reform member. Reckless was not that one. For a man who has represented Rochester, Strood, UKIP, the Conservatives, Brexit, Abolish and Reform, it would be foolish to call this the end. For now, though, Medway’s most restless political export remains outside elected office, while the Reform not-bus rolls on without him. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “My main instrument is the recording studio” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/my-main-instrument-is-the-recording-studio/ Last updated: 2026-05-10T06:00:01.000Z *Richard Lightman is currently the Head of Music at the University of Kent, a department that is set to close soon. Steven met him via Zoom, where they discussed why the department is closing, Bangra, and creating flying sounds for Christopher Reeve's Superman.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/richard-lightman-1024x683.jpg) Richard Lightman. **What is your official occupation?** I am Head of Music and Audio Technology at the [University of Kent](https://www.kent.ac.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). **Do you have any additional roles,** **paid or unpaid?** I have many roles, paid or unpaid. First of all, I'd like to add that the University of Kent are closing their School of Music, and I will be made redundant at the end of July. So, I will be exploring other avenues and have already embarked on numerous projects. Nonetheless, I have in the past been the Chief Executive Officer of the [Music Producers Guild](https://mpg.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) of Great Britain. I sit on the Policy and Public Affairs Committee of [UK Music](https://www.ukmusic.org/?ref=localauthority.news), which represents music throughout the UK and music industry. I am a music producer, and a music composer for film and television. I am a guitarist as well, and I play in a band that is very popular in west London, not in this area, but in the famous area of Twickenham. **What's the name of the band?** [The Deputies](https://rickcassman.com/deputies?ref=localauthority.news). The reason it's called The Deputies is because when you're in a band, and you deputise for somebody, it means that you can replace that person. We have many guests, and we do play a lot of covers, but the covers are often of songs that have the people that come and play with us on the original records, from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. It's that kind of a band. **And why are you specifically popular in West London?** Well, west London is the home of the kind of blues in the UK, and there's the [Eel Pie Club](https://www.eelpieclub.com/?ref=localauthority.news), which is quite famous for different original artists from that era. I come from that. I used to live in that area as well. I moved to Medway 12 years ago to facilitate my position at the University of Kent. > One of the key areas that they are cutting back on is the arts, and I am a victim of that **Why is the University closing the music department down?** One of the key areas that they are cutting back on is the arts, and I am a victim of that, I'm afraid. It is endemic throughout the UK. It's not just the University of Kent. The other thing the University of Kent are doing is creating what is called the new super university, a collaboration with Greenwich University. **There's no opportunity for Greenwich to take over the music department?** They already have a music department in Greenwich. The other things I do, I'm on the executive committee of the [Musicians Union](https://musiciansunion.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) nationally, and I'm head of the Education Department of the Musicians Union. I'm no longer Chair. I'm involved in the Education Committee of the Musicians Union and involved in something called Music HE nationally for higher education because it needs bolstering and needs support from people who are hopefully in the know, and maybe I'm in the know. During this last period, I, along with [Electric Medway](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news), applied for funding from the [Paul Hamlyn Trust](https://www.phf.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). We set up an initiative called [Men in Tech](https://www.electricmedway.org/menintech.html?ref=localauthority.news). I didn't necessarily want to call it Men in Tech. I was advised that if I didn't put 'men' into the title, we wouldn't attract any funding. From my perspective, or generally, the initiative was aimed at anyone who could not facilitate technology, mainly, in my case, music technology and production, and wanted to engage with that in a non-formal atmosphere. We ran 24 weeks of events, and I trained up a load of men. It's not necessarily for employment. It's for social wellbeing and engagement. This is an idea I've had for some time, and I've been developing and I do actually want to roll it out nationally. The new name for it at the moment, the working title, is Sonic Seniors. I want to run these events as very structured events to teach people how to use music technology throughout the UK in different conurbations. But it has to be run by professionals, not volunteers or just teachers. I do have access to all the professional producers, having been the Music Producer Guild chairman as well in the past. That's the aim and target. Whether it's achievable or not, I'm not entirely sure because, of course, it requires funding. **You must have very busy days.** I do have very busy days, yes, because I also have a recording studio myself and I am in the midst of recording and finishing one album, starting another album because I produce music for film and television, what's known as library music, that film editors can draw upon. I want music for people walking down a garden path, so I might do an album of gardening music or an album of football music et cetera, et cetera. **That's not music that's been made for a specific film.** It's a catalogue of pieces that people can utilise as they see fit. I will take on commissions as well, where I will work on specific films and what have you and I have credits for some films and sound effects for Hollywood films which I've been involved with. > Music is intrinsic to culture in this country **Why is higher education cancelling music courses such a bad thing?** Music is intrinsic to culture in this country. It is part of the DNA of this country. It leads the world, certainly in popular music. It is the second biggest producer of popular music in the world. Now it's downgrading slightly because we don't have the involvement that we used to have and the enthusiasm. I could go into a long explanation of why people are now not taking music courses. That relates mainly to the economic model around streaming services, where basically no one makes any money except for the record companies on streaming. There are maybe 75 artists in the world actually making money out of streaming. A lot of people now, in order to make a living out of music, need to be performing. They can't just perform in pubs because pubs don't pay very much because they don't have much, because the whole entertainment industry, leisure industry is suffering throughout the UK, and has been dramatically since it started going downhill in 2009, 2010, and by covid it really got hammered, as it were. You can make a living by performing, but you need an audience of a thousand people, something like that, in order to make good money. A lot of people go into teaching, and there aren't actually enough teachers to facilitate. The other thing is that the government dropped music from the curriculum for children. So the applications for GCSE in this country is 50% of what it was in 2010\. They're now talking about reinstating it as a prime focus. Music is so important to wellbeing, community, to interaction. People create interaction through music. They might follow a band or whatever, and that becomes the focus for their social activity. Or they, if you play an instrument, get lost in the instrument while playing it, and it becomes very much a therapeutic exercise, and we're losing a lot of that at the moment. **What was your involvement in the music on** [**Flash Gordon**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash%5FGordon%5F%28film%29?ref=localauthority.news)**?** I wasn't involved with the music because that was Queen. Flash Gordon, I did the sound effects. All the sound of the space vehicles and all sorts of different sounds of that particular film. The film that was interesting from my point of view was [American Werewolf in London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An%5FAmerican%5FWerewolf%5Fin%5FLondon?ref=localauthority.news). It had cartilage moving and the howl of the wolf and all of that. I've done a whole presentation, in fact I did one in Ashford at the cinema there when they showed the film, on how I made the sound effects for that. It was all good fun. **And you did Foley work on the** [**Superman**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman%5F%281978%5Ffilm%29?ref=localauthority.news) **films?** Yes, all the flying noises, anything that is completely out of the ordinary, I created all of those. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Rochester pub that kept getting it right URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-rochester-pub-that-kept-getting-it-right/ Last updated: 2026-05-07T17:00:01.000Z When the [Who’d Ha Thought](https://whodha.com/?ref=localauthority.news) It was voted [Medway CAMRA](https://medway.camra.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) Pub of the Year 2026 by the branch membership, nobody should have been surprised. Nobody except perhaps Liz herself, who has spent twenty years quietly doing everything right and letting the beer do the talking. Although she must have known she was on the right track, having been included in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide for 12 consecutive years. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/image-1-1.png) The pub was nearly lost for good twenty years ago when the brewery that owned the premises went bankrupt. It came up for auction and Liz and her partner Danny, who had been drinking there since he was fourteen, decided, more or less on impulse, to go for it. They completed the purchase just six days before Christmas, arriving to find the previous tenants removing the pool table and jukebox. "What have we done?" was the thought uppermost in Liz's mind as the Christmas holidays bore down on them. Twenty years on, with a Pub of the Year award on the wall and a loyal community wrapped around the place like a warm coat, the answer is obvious. The beer is naturally where it starts. The Who’d Ha Thought It is a free house, which means Liz can source from wherever she likes, and she makes full use of that freedom. She tries to keep a pale, a dark, and an amber on, enough to cover all tastes, but beyond that framework, anything can happen. On the pumps last night were two golden ales, Wantsum Brewery’s 'St George's Ale,' and Hopback’s 'Summer Lightning,' as well as an Iron Pier 'Bitter,' made with Kentish hops. Locals have learned to walk in expecting a pleasant surprise. “I know what most people like, and I've converted quite a lot of lager drinkers over the years, usually to the pale beers rather than the more traditional bitters. Even my dad has converted to drinking pales these days.” Kent breweries feature prominently, and the pub is an active supporter of the [Kent Licensed Victuallers Association](https://www.klva.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), whose WhatsApp group doubles as a mutual aid society for members in a panic either after running out of gas mid-session or needing a hand with something at the last minute. Guest ales from further afield appear regularly too. Jaipur was on recently, doing rather better than Liz had expected. "That's never going to sell," she thought, but it shifted quickly. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Long-serving Medway councillor Phil Filmer dies URL: https://www.localauthority.news/long-serving-medway-councillor-phil-filmer-dies/ Last updated: 2026-05-15T11:25:42.000Z **Long-serving Conservative councillor Phil Filmer has died, leaving behind a council career that stretched from Rochester-upon-Medway City Council to the frontline services brief at Medway. We also report on the apology from Chatham trading card shop Eclipse Gaming after transphobic posts resurfaced online, and look ahead to Medway Council’s latest attempt to talk to residents about the future.* ### Long-serving Medway councillor Phil Filmer dies Cllr Phil Filmer, a long-serving Conservative member of Medway Council, has died. Filmer, who was 74, was the councillor for Cuxton, Halling and Riverside, having been elected to the ward in 2023\. Previously, he represented Peninsula for 20 years, and All Saints for three years before that. His political career began in the old Rochester-upon-Medway City Council, where he served as a councillor from 1991 to 1995. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/PLPMEDCON-210924-4-3-1.jpg) Cllr Phil Filmer. The Medway Conservative Group said it was “deeply saddened” to share news that Filmer had died. Cllr [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/), leader of the Medway Conservatives, said Filmer had been a “dedicated and passionate councillor” committed to serving residents across Medway. He said, “During his nearly twenty-five years’ service across both the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet, Cllr Filmer was dedicated to ensuring residents received high-quality services from the Council, whilst a member of the administration and in opposition.” “Known for his kindness and personable nature, Cllr Filmer will be missed greatly by people across the whole of Medway.” “The Conservative Group and I will miss our colleague, but also our very dear friend, dearly, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this difficult time.” Filmer was one of Medway Council’s longest-serving councillors, and spent much of that time inside the Conservative administration that ran the authority until 2023. He joined the cabinet in 2003, initially holding the highways and transport brief, before taking on the wider frontline services portfolio from 2005 until 2023. The brief covered some of the council’s most visible day-to-day work, including highways, waste collection, recycling, street lighting, public transport and the Medway Tunnel. It was not a particularly high-profile portfolio in the way that leadership, finance or regeneration can be, but it put Filmer close to many of the services residents deal with most often. After Labour took control of Medway Council at the 2023 local elections, Filmer remained on the Conservative benches. He became a member of the group’s shadow cabinet and was the opposition spokesperson on the planning committee, reflecting his long-standing interest in transport, planning and regeneration. Medway Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) said Filmer was “both respected and liked in a way which is rare to find” across the political spectrum. He said, “His dedication to local government for both Medway Council and previously Rochester-Upon-Medway City Council was clear for all to see as a ward councillor, a member of the opposition or a cabinet member.” “He will be missed by everyone across the council chamber.” “My thoughts and the thoughts of all councillors continue to be with Phil’s family and friends at this most difficult time.” Outside the council, Filmer was a local business owner and also served on the Rochester Bridge Trust. He was nominated to the trust by Medway Council in 2011, before serving as Junior Warden from May 2017 to May 2021, and Senior Warden from May 2021 to May 2023. His death creates a vacancy in Cuxton, Halling and Riverside, a ward the Conservatives held narrowly at the 2023 local elections. The ward elected two Conservative councillors at that election. Matt Fearn topped the poll with 880 votes, while Filmer won the second seat with 685 votes. Green candidate Matt Nightingale finished just behind him on 641 votes, leaving Filmer 44 votes ahead. It was the closest the Greens came to winning a seat anywhere in Medway in 2023. The timing of any by-election will be confirmed in due course. The contest will be watched closely, not least because Cuxton, Halling and Riverside would not usually be considered as one of Medway’s most obvious political battlegrounds. The 2023 result showed the ward had become far more competitive. Filmer’s death leaves the Conservatives defending a seat they held by 44 votes last time, in a ward where the Greens will see their clearest route onto Medway Council. ### Chatham gaming shop owner apologises after transphobic posts resurface A Chatham trading card shop owner has apologised after screenshots circulated online appeared to show an Eclipse Gaming account making transphobic comments, including one post describing refusing to use a customer’s pronouns in the shop. Eclipse Gaming, based on Railway Street in Chatham, sells Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Lorcana, One Piece and other trading card products online and from its town centre shop. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-05-at-16.35.51.png) Eclipse Gaming in Chatham. For those outside the hobby, that may sound like a niche retail concern. Within the trading card world, shops like this are often more than shops. They are places where people meet, trade, play, compete, learn the rules, buy things they absolutely do not need, and spend a long time being very sincere about cardboard monsters. Which, to be clear, is absolutely fine. It also means that who feels welcome in that space is an important question. Screenshots shared widely on social media over the last week appear to show comments from an account using the Eclipse Gaming name and logo rejecting trans people’s pronouns and using crude language about sex and gender. One screenshot appears to show the account saying, “I was taught biology and X/Y and male and female reproduction and what a male or female is.” The same post continues: “He is a he and she is a she. Flaps or meat. Sorry.” Another screenshot appears to show the account comparing trans people to a neutered dog, adding, “Tell this to trans people plz. Also don’t hurt me for my joke.” A further screenshot describes an interaction with a customer who had come into the shop to learn how to play Pokémon. In that post, the account says, “I refuse to call a man with a beard a ‘her’. I just acted how I normally would and called them ‘bud’.” That screenshot is particularly difficult for Eclipse to wave away as merely a bad joke in a private chat. If genuine, it appears to describe a customer’s gender identity being disregarded during an interaction connected directly to the shop. The comments were [reported last week](https://www.thegamer.com/uk-tcg-store-review-bombed-old-transphobic-posts/?ref=localauthority.news) by gaming site TheGamer, which said Eclipse had faced a wave of negative Google reviews after the screenshots were shared by members of the Pokémon trading card community. On Instagram, Eclipse Gaming owner Anthony Horn later [posted a statement](https://www.instagram.com/p/DX1JYlwjf2T/?ref=localauthority.news) accepting that he had made comments in 2024 which had now become public. Horn wrote he was “aware that comments I made in a small group chat during 2024 have recently been made public.” He said the comments had been made “before Eclipse Gaming had grown into what it has now become” and added that the shop had since become “a physical and virtual space where literally anyone could walk through the door and play their favourite game”. Horn said that “as the founder of the business, and as a person, I accept that some of the language used in the comments was insensitive. It was in poor taste. I apologise for that.” He also said, “I can say without hesitation that whatever my personal opinions or beliefs, they have never been brought into how this business is run, who is welcome, or what kind of world we have co-created.” That is where the statement gets harder to follow. Horn apologises for “language” that was “insensitive” and “in poor taste”. He does not use the words trans, transgender, pronouns, LGBT, or misogyny. He does not directly say whether the comments about trans people were wrong. He does not say whether the apparent customer interaction happened. He does not say whether Eclipse Gaming will use customers’ correct pronouns in the shop or in its online spaces. He also asks readers to accept a clean separation between personal belief and business conduct. But the screenshots circulating online appear to show the comments coming from an account using the Eclipse Gaming name and logo, rather than an obviously personal account. Other screenshots attributed to the same account appear to show hostile comments about customers or members of the shop’s wider online community. One appears to show the account complaining about people asking whether Eclipse buys certain Pokémon cards, saying: “Use the fucking Discord.” Another appears to discuss social media reporting and says: “Let’s go after him.” A further screenshot includes a threat to “punch” a named person in one of the Discord channels. *Local Authority* has not independently verified the full Discord history because the site is now inaccessible to new users. But Horn’s statement accepts that he made comments in a group chat during 2024, which have now been made public. The apology has also been delivered in a very controlled format. Comments are disabled on the Instagram post carrying Horn’s statement and other recent posts from the shop. Several social media users have said Google reviews they left after the screenshots circulated were removed, while others say they have been muted or blocked after asking questions about the posts. *Local Authority* has seen some screenshots appearing to support those claims, but has not independently verified every account. Google reviews are a messy part of any online backlash. Businesses can report reviews they believe breach Google’s rules. Google can also restrict new reviews when a listing receives a sudden surge of activity. So it is not possible to say, without further evidence, exactly who asked for which reviews to be removed or why. But the effect is clear enough. Eclipse has published an apology saying everyone is welcome, while some of the places where people might publicly respond to that apology have been limited. Older negative Google reviews of Eclipse remain visible. Many of them predate the current row and are not about trans rights, Discord posts, or online pile-ons. They are about the atmosphere in the shop. Several describe staff as rude, condescending, or unwelcoming. Some name Horn directly. Others contrast negative experiences with positive comments about other members of staff. One review says the shop has “tonnes of inventory” but criticises the owner’s conduct. Another says the shop has “decent stock” but a “very weird atmosphere”. A further review says Eclipse is “not a great example of the gaming community,” which the reviewer describes as normally friendly and enthusiastic. That does not prove every criticism being made now. It does show that the current backlash has landed on a business that already had a visible trail of complaints about how some customers felt they were treated. Eclipse’s own statement leans heavily on the idea of community. Horn writes, “We’ve built something rare and special: a place where kids, parents, collectors, players and people from every background can gather, connect and share in the joy of games and community.” He adds, “Eclipse Gaming has always been, and always will be, a place where everyone is welcome, where there is a seat at the table for anyone who wants to play.” That is a clear promise. It is also now testable. *Local Authority* asked Eclipse Gaming whether Horn accepts the comments about trans people and pronouns were transphobic, whether the business will commit to using customers’ correct pronouns in-store and online, and whether the apparent customer pronoun incident happened. We also asked how Horn reconciles his statement that his personal views had never been brought into the business with screenshots appearing to show comments from an account using the Eclipse Gaming name and logo, including one about an in-store customer interaction. We received no response from Eclipse Gaming ahead of publication. ### Medway Council would like to talk about the future Medway Council is holding another [Medway Matters Live](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200138/your%5Fcouncil/1837/medway%5Fmatters%5Flive?ref=localauthority.news) event tomorrow night, giving residents the chance to ask questions about the future of the area, local government reorganisation, and whatever else they can fit into a microphone slot. Council leader Vince Maple and chief executive [Richard Hicks](https://www.localauthority.news/anything-that-impacts-negatively/) will appear at the Corn Exchange in Rochester for the event, which the council says will focus on its 'vision and plans for Medway.' That is quite a wide brief, given Medway is currently dealing with a new Local Plan, ongoing financial pressure, questions over regeneration, housing and transport, and the small matter of the council being abolished by the time the government has finished reorganising local government across Kent and Medway. The event takes place tonight, with doors opening at 6pm, before the main session runs from 7pm to 8.45pm. As ever, it will be hosted by TV news personality Rob Smith, with residents invited to put questions and views to Maple and Hicks during the panel session. There will also be information stands from council services, including welfare and benefits, libraries, fostering, community safety, climate response and volunteering. The event is free, but places must be [booked in advance](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medway-matters-live-tickets-1980567666205?ref=localauthority.news) through the council. For anyone who has ever wanted to ask the leader of the council and the chief executive a question in person, this is the officially sanctioned version of that. Which is probably healthier than shouting at a parking machine. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “Sadly, I was the last editor of the magazine” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/sadly-i-was-the-last-editor-of-the-magazine/ Last updated: 2026-05-05T16:19:07.000Z *Matt Maytum is a film critic at the* [*Movie Wingman*](https://themoviewingman.substack.com/) *and the final editor of* [*Total Film*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total%5FFilm?ref=localauthority.news) *magazine. Once Steven got over his jealousy, he met Matt at the Nutmegs Patisserie in Rainham to talk about what happened to the magazine, why he launched a Substack newsletter, and how he overcame his fan status to interview Chris Nolan.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/Old-magazine-headshot-1.JPG) Matt Maytum. **What is your official occupation?** I'm a freelance writer and film critic at the moment. **Do you have any other additional roles, either paid or unpaid?** I'm helping out on a small independent website called [Celluloid Junkie](https://celluloidjunkie.com/?ref=localauthority.news). They cover the exhibition side of the industry. That is equivalent of one day a week. **Where can people look to find your film criticism?** I suppose the best place would be [Movie Wingman](https://themoviewingman.substack.com/) on Substack. **Anywhere else?** I'm on [Twitter](https://x.com/mattmaytum?ref=localauthority.news) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mattmaytum/?ref=localauthority.news). I also do reviews for twice-weekly and [SFX](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SFX%5F%28magazine%29?ref=localauthority.news) magazine, and a couple of other outlets **What is the Movie Wingman?** The Movie Wingman is a twice-weekly email newsletter, and it basically came about because I worked for [Total Film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total%5FFilm?ref=localauthority.news) magazine for a long time. I started there on staff in 2012, and then I worked through various roles on the website or magazine. Finally, I was the editor of the magazine, but sadly, I was the last editor of the magazine. It closed fairly shortly after I became editor. **Correlation or causation?** I like to think correlation. It was very sad. The Movie Wingman was basically a way to try and keep writing about film, quality film writing, as I hoped it would be. Exploring a new format basically. **Is the Movie Wingman just you?** It's me and a couple of colleagues from Total Film. We share it really. I brought the idea up, but we equally wanted to get into it. I didn't want there to be a real hierarchy when we got that because I kind of thought we're all investing our own time and everything into it. If they wanted to get on board, it's all equal partners. > We want there to be a place for the smaller releases to get reviewed as well **What movies do you cover?** We cover quite a spread really, another thing that was a bit of a driving force behind it. We'll always lead on the most mainstream film of the week. Basically, on Tuesdays, we have our features email. It could be anything from a think piece, an interview or coverage of a press conference, reactions to some big film news. Then Fridays, we have a review round up. We try to cover all the key releases, but we try to cover quite broadly where we can, documentary releases, foreign language and things like that. Again, that was a part of the thinking behind it. A lot of websites now, because of chasing the SEO and the traffic, they'll cover all the biggest films and TV shows. We were thinking we want there to be a place for the smaller releases to get reviewed as well. **When I first contacted you about an interview, you weren't sure whether Movie Wingman would survive. Is it doing okay?** We slightly changed. When we first started, it was paid. We did a paid tier on Substack and a free tier, and we explored different things, but it was mostly that the first half of the email was generally free, and then the second half was for paying subscribers. **I recognise the model…** To be honest, the paying subscribers never really grew that much. After a fair bit of thought, we just want to see if that's putting people off as a barrier to people joining. We thought we would rather grow the audience and make a small amount more money off it. I guess this is where maybe if you can bring it to people's eyes, people might try it out. It's all free now, you get both emails. [The Movie Wingman | SubstackFilm reviews, features and fun from the team that brought you Total Film magazine. Click to read The Movie Wingman, a Substack publication.![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)The Movie WingmanThe Movie Wingman![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fthemoviewingman.substack.com-2Ftwitter-2Fsubscribe-card.jpg%3Fv%3D-500063922%26version%3D9)](https://themoviewingman.substack.com/) **Do you still get to go to press screenings?** That was another thing that was beneficial. We thought because of having all these contacts already through Total Film and then as a member of the [London Critics' Circle film section](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London%5FFilm%5FCritics%27%5FCircle?ref=localauthority.news) as well. That provides contacts, and they do a lot of screenings when it comes to the awards season as well. I still get to go to a lot of press screenings, which is obviously good, so you can review things in a timely manner and hopefully have all the new big releases reviewed in time for that Friday edition rather than having to run the next week. **What happened to Total Film?** It was a number of things basically, because it wasn't the lowest selling magazine at Future Publishing by any means at all, but it was fairly expensive to produce. The words and use of high-end photography. That was the short answer. They deemed it too expensive to continue. I suppose I knew in my mind it wouldn't last forever, because of print being in permanent decline. But I was taken aback, because I didn't expect it to happen like it did and that quickly. We did all we could in terms of proposing budget cuts and things like that. But the higher-ups deemed it not feasible. I don't agree with the decision. It was sad because I'd been a reader since my teens. I was sad as an employee and as a reader. **As a style guide, is there a significant difference in the way you'd write a review for Total Film to now writing for NME or SFX?** Not massively, no. I suppose you always take a slight awareness of the audience into consideration. Broadly speaking, with NME and SFX, I would consider them similar audiences. If I was writing for a very different publication, maybe I would change the style, but not too much. Generally, we are writing in the third-person. Occasionally, in the Movie Wingman, we do first-person pieces, but reviews are still pretty much always third-person. **In the world of film criticism, what is an unpopular opinion that you have?** I wasn't blown away by [One Battle After Another](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One%5FBattle%5FAfter%5FAnother?ref=localauthority.news), [Sinners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinners%5F%282025%5Ffilm%29?ref=localauthority.news), [Marty Supreme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty%5FSupreme?ref=localauthority.news). I know a lot of people who were just absolutely blown away by those films. **What should have won last year?** One of my favourite films, I mean again it's tricky because there's certain types of films, but out of the best pictures, I love [The Secret Agent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FSecret%5FAgent%5F%282025%5Ffilm%29?ref=localauthority.news), which was this Brazilian film. That was maybe one of my favourites out of the selection. It was unjustly denied. A really small British film as well, that I hoped might do a bit better than it did in terms of awards. It didn't really even do much at the BAFTAs, although it got a few nominations, was [The Ballad of Wallis Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBallad%5Fof%5FWallis%5FIsland?ref=localauthority.news). I really loved that film, and it stuck with me. There are not enough people watching it. **Who is the most famous film person you are one degree of separation from?** I don’t know if I've got any that I could truly say I'm one degree of separation to. I interviewed Christopher Nolan quite a lot of times for Total Film. I sort of have ways I could try and get in contact, but I can't guarantee a response. > Generally, the giddiness comes out after you leave the room **Being such a fan, what's your advice to someone in terms of how to keep your cool in that moment of interviewing?** It's difficult. I suppose for me, how I've always felt is that you just get in the zone when you go into it, and you're thinking about the piece and making sure you do it right. And yeah, try not to embarrass yourself. Generally, the giddiness comes out after you leave the room. I don't really know to be honest. I guess it's practice as well over the years. You're unlikely to ever go straight in with your absolute favourite. You're probably going to work your way up a bit with smaller names. I guess I did that a bit and got used to it. I would say as well, I still always feel a little bit of nerves before an interview. The classic thing that if you don't feel a bit nervous, maybe it's time to stop or something. I always have that slight edginess. Obviously, a lot of the time when you interview people, or when I've interviewed people for work, it’s in quite a formal, arranged set up. You go to this hotel, and you're meeting at this time, and it's arranged by PRs. But then, I still get weirdly excited if you just bump into someone in real life. Once I’d been to Comic Con or somewhere like that, and I was flying back, and [Tom Hardy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom%5FHardy?ref=localauthority.news) was on the same plane. Then he was at the luggage carousel, and that felt more weird and more exciting than when you go and actually speak to someone in this agreed set up. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Next transport plan starts with a collective scream URL: https://www.localauthority.news/next-transport-plan-starts-with-a-collective-scream/ Last updated: 2026-05-12T17:29:10.000Z **Medway Council’s first consultation on its next Local Transport Plan has produced a familiar list of complaints about congestion, roadworks, potholes and unreliable buses, along with a broader sense that getting around without a car often feels unrealistic. We look at what respondents told the council and what it means for the plan that will shape transport policy after the current one expires, alongside the council diary for the week, news in brief, events, and lots more.* ### Next transport plan starts with a collective scream A consultation on the Medway’s next transport plan found familiar complaints about traffic, buses, roadworks, potholes and the difficulty of getting around without a car. Medway Council asked people what was wrong with transport in the area, which is a dangerous thing to do if you have ever met anyone waiting for a bus in Medway. The answer, broadly, was traffic. And buses. And roadworks. And potholes. And the cost of getting anywhere. And the fact that almost every alternative to driving is either too unreliable, too slow, too patchy, too unpleasant, or too difficult to trust. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/AdobeStock_313100954.jpeg) The findings come from the [first stage of consultation](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/9637/local%5Ftransport%5Fplan%5Fbaseline%5Fconsultation%5F2026?ref=localauthority.news) on Medway’s next [Local Transport Plan](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200136/parking%5Froads%5Ftravel/545/travel%5Fplans%5Fand%5Fpolicies/2?ref=localauthority.news), the document that will set the council’s long-term approach to transport after the current plan expires at the end of this year. The new plan is meant to establish the council’s overall strategy for roads, buses, walking, cycling, safety, maintenance, future investment and the wider transport network. Before producing a draft, the council asked residents, workers, students, businesses, transport operators, parish councils and other groups what they thought of the current system. The report is not a huge survey of the whole population. It received 251 valid public responses, alongside a series of stakeholder workshops. But as a snapshot of Medway transport frustration, it is impressively comprehensive. It reads less like a consultation report and more like someone minuted a queue on the A2. Some of the headline numbers are striking enough on their own. More than half of the survey respondents disagreed that transport in Medway is as good as it is in other areas. Half disagreed that it is easy to travel around Medway. Nearly eight in ten agreed that travelling during peak periods is difficult. The issue raised most often in written responses was traffic congestion, followed by roadworks, road closures and poor road conditions. Unreliable buses came next. One respondent complained of “poor communication between councils regarding road works,” saying it recently took them two hours to get from Lordswood to Medway Crematorium because Medway Council and KCC works had clashed on diversion routes. Another wrote, “constant temporary road closures and very poor quality road surfaces.” A third offered perhaps the most concise diagnosis of the entire transport system. “Because the bus system is so terrible and expensive, the roads are clogged with unnecessary car journeys.” That is the central problem running through the report. Medway wants, and in policy terms needs, more people to use public transport, walking and cycling. But the consultation shows the scale of the gap between that ambition and the experience of people trying to get around the area now. Car ownership among respondents was high, with 80% saying their household had at least one car. Car use was also high, with 74% driving alone at least once a month. But the report does not read like a great love letter to the car. It reads more like a place where many people feel trapped into driving because the alternatives are not good enough. Buses are the clearest example. Just 15% of respondents agreed that travelling by bus in Medway is easy, while 51% disagreed. More than half disagreed that public transport is affordable. Only 19% agreed that they trust public transport providers in Medway. When asked what stopped them from travelling by bus more often, the most common answer was unreliable journey times, selected by 65% of respondents. Buses not running frequently enough was selected by 62%. Slow journey times, routes not going where people need to go, and cost all followed close behind. The written responses are more direct. People complained about buses being late, cancelled at short notice, or simply not turning up. Others raised poor evening services, inaccessible buses, inaccurate timetables, anti-social behaviour and the need to change in Chatham even when Chatham is not where they are trying to go. One respondent wrote, “The bus doesn’t go directly where you want to. You always have to interchange at Chatham, which wastes time.” Another said, “I didn’t need to drive before moving to Medway.” The workshops held as part of the consultation added more detail. Participants described buses arriving late or being cancelled, causing people to miss medical appointments and work. Parish council representatives raised the problem of children in outlying villages waiting at bus stops in winter when buses do not arrive. Young people were particularly blunt about safety and comfort. One said that standing alone at a bus stop, especially as a woman, could feel intimidating, especially in the dark. Another had a very clear improvement plan for Chatham bus station. “I want a new bus station, loads of flowers, comfortable chairs so people can actually wait for the bus, and security guards.” This is where the report becomes more than a list of transport grumbles. The council can talk about modal shift, active travel and sustainable transport. Those are all reasonable things for a local transport plan to address. But the consultation suggests many people are still stuck at a more basic stage of can the bus turn up, can I afford it, will it get me where I need to go, and will I feel safe while using it? Walking comes out better than buses, but not without problems. Nearly half of respondents said they felt vulnerable walking on some routes, while 44% cited poor quality pavements and footpaths. A similar proportion said needing to carry bulky or heavy items was a barrier. Cycling is even more difficult. Just 15% of respondents said they cycle at least once a month. Among those asked about barriers, the most common issues were feeling vulnerable, not owning a bike, and traffic volume or speed. The most revealing number may be about children. Four in five respondents disagreed that they would be happy for their children to cycle to school. Only 9% agreed. That is a fairly brutal verdict on how safe Medway’s streets feel to families. If parents will not let children cycle to school, the problem is unlikely to be solved by another bright poster about active travel. Even where people want to walk or cycle more, they are asking for basic infrastructure, like better pavements, better lighting, safer crossings, more secure cycle parking, quieter cycle routes and fewer vehicles parked on pavements. Then there are the roads. The biggest priority selected by survey respondents was better maintenance of the road network, chosen by 47%. The total cost of travelling came next, followed by reducing congestion, increasing the areas accessible by public transport, and reducing journey times. This is not quite the usual cars versus everyone else argument. The report suggests something messier, a place where drivers, bus users, pedestrians and cyclists are all describing different parts of the same broken system. Poor bus reliability pushes people into cars. More cars create more congestion. Congestion makes buses slower and less reliable. Roadworks make everything worse. Poor walking and cycling routes mean short journeys still end up being driven. New developments add pressure before transport infrastructure catches up. Everyone then sits in the same traffic, blaming everyone else for being there. Some respondents did offer more ambitious ideas. Trams were mentioned. So were park and ride schemes, more bus lanes, cheaper public transport, unified ticketing, better links between buses and trains, and even a ferry across the river. There were also calls for more practical fixes, such as real-time information at bus stops, bus routes to more destinations, more frequent services, better roadworks coordination, improved station parking, more public toilets, less pavement parking, and safer routes to schools. The report’s own conclusion is polite. It says residents have identified interconnected priorities around public transport reliability, affordability and coverage, traffic congestion, road infrastructure, sustainable travel, inclusivity, integration, the environment and safety. Which is one way of putting it. Another is that Medway has produced a formal document confirming that many people find getting around Medway difficult, expensive, unreliable, unsafe, or some combination of all four. That does not mean the next Local Transport Plan can fix everything. Some of this sits with bus operators, rail companies, funding settlements and national policy. Some of it is just Medway being Medway, with towns, villages, hills, a peninsula and bottlenecks bundled together and told to behave like one tidy urban area. But the consultation does give the council a useful starting point. It shows that the problem is not just persuading people to make different travel choices. It is making those choices feel realistic. Medway’s problem is not that nobody knows what is wrong. The consultation shows people know exactly what is wrong, because they sit in it, wait for it, pay for it, or walk around it every day. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Cabinet](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6452&ref=localauthority.news) meets to discuss the Article 4 Direction against HMOs, and procurement for the Innovation Park Medway project and residential care for older people. - **Wednesday:** [Planning Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6382&ref=localauthority.news) will decide on three HMO applications, where it looks set to approve two and refuse one. **New planning applications:** - Application for a block of [three flats](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TE5V20KNG4900&ref=localauthority.news) on a tiny strip of land on New Road in Chatham alongside the former Buzz Bingo site. - Just the two HMO applications this week, for [Castle Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TE7IU9KNH4600&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham and [Priestfield Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TDW05FKN04M00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. ### In brief 🚌 It's a [free bus weekend](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200161/travel/1901/medway%5Ffree%5Fbus%5Fweekend%5F2026?ref=localauthority.news), which means between Saturday and Monday, you can get on any bus in Medway for free. All operators are taking part, and all journeys are free, even if you travel outside of Medway. If you want to come back though, you'll have to pay. 🏢 Planning permission has been [granted to convert](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/gillingham-student-accommodation-block-converted-10940760?ref=localauthority.news) a 63 bedroom student housing block in Gillingham into a giant HMO. 🚒 Cafe Nucleus' flagship Rochester High Street venue is closed until further notice [following a fire](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXv3N84jcI%5F/?ref=localauthority.news) in the historic building. 🏚️ The Manor Farm Beefeater in Rainham is [set to close](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/30/last-beefeater-and-brewers-fayre-restaurants-to-close-with-loss-of-3800-jobs-premier-inn-owner-says?ref=localauthority.news), as owner Whitbread closes the remaining pubs under the brand. 🚫 Smiles Lounge, an Afro-Caribbean restaurant on Chatham High Street, has perhaps unsurprisingly had its optimistic request to open until 3am nearly every day of the week [rejected](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/restaurant-s-bid-to-stay-open-into-early-hours-rejected-over-339667/?ref=localauthority.news). ⚽ Gillingham Football Club have already [told their players](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-players-told-their-fate-ahead-of-final-game-339732/?ref=localauthority.news) who will be kept for next season and who will be released, which seems like quite the morale boost ahead of the final match of the season. 🏆 Three young boys have been named the [overall Pride in Medway winners](https://www.prideinmedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) for 2026, after they raised thousands cycling 44 miles for charity in memory of their friend. 🧑‍🎨 A lovely piece on the [murals of Luton](https://medwayshewrote.com/the-luton-murals/?ref=localauthority.news). 😶 Shout out to the poor soul at Medway Council who inadvertently revealed that the housing provider the authority is in a £46m negotiation with is indeed L&Q. While *Local Authority* has previously named the provider involved as L&Q, Medway Council has thus far insisted confidentiality agreements require it to keep the name secret. So it is perhaps not ideal that this line appeared at the end of a [report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=88497&ref=localauthority.news) on the acquisition published by the council today... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-01-at-17.09.48.png) ### Property of the week This four-bedroom townhouse in Chatham’s Historic Dockyard is on the market with no onward chain and comes with the Dockyard’s usual pitch of quiet, security and the feeling you live somewhere people pay to visit. It’s arranged over three floors, with a ground-floor bedroom that doubles as a home office, an open-plan kitchen and dining room opening onto a terrace, and a first-floor living room with its own balcony, which is a lot of separate spaces for a modern townhouse and means you can occasionally avoid the people you live with. Upstairs, the principal bedroom has an en-suite, there’s a family bathroom, and you get the practical luxuries of a utility room, downstairs loo and an integral garage that will almost certainly become storage. [Check out this 4 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom terraced house for sale in The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, ME4 for £375,000\. Marketed by Freeman and Gray, Covering Medway![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/24d07b9f415d293f4064ae6e3423e4e8.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/87829500?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🗣️ Wed 6 May - [**Medway Matters Live**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medway-matters-live-tickets-1980567666205?ref=localauthority.news) // Latest Q&A session with council leader Vince Maple and chief executive Richard Hicks. Corn Exchange, Rochester. Free. 📽️ Fri 8 May - [**I Swear**](https://www.facebook.com/rainhamchurch/posts/pfbid0UoG2vibpS1fMvnjqhuFukX54pDB2MubnY3vwbGuhDP4LP75TkX4EZDd3uYgdtLfXl) // Screening of film based on the true story of John Davidson, a man living with Tourette's Syndrome. St Margaret's Church, Rainham. Free. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Voice of the MP - Rochester and Strood URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-rochester-and-strood-2/ Last updated: 2026-05-01T08:08:30.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards, who discusses building a new green economy and Pride in Place funding...* --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Portrait--5-.jpeg) Lauren Edwards MP. The Prime Minister made the right call in keeping us out of the Iran conflict on anything more than a defensive basis. In doing so, he showed that Labour had learnt the lessons of Iraq, that the government respects international law, and will do what is in Britain’s best interests. Subsequent conversations I’ve had with a range of people show that the Prime Minister’s approach is broadly supported. The Tories and Reform seem to have realised this, and as the crisis in the Middle East veers from one extreme to the next, have started to row back on their gung-ho approach to supporting the US at seemingly any cost. While we all hope things will calm down soon and that common sense will prevail, the crisis shows us how exposed we are to international shocks. Primarily, it demonstrates our over-reliance on fossil fuels and how the price of oil doesn’t just affect what we pay at the fuel pump - it drives the overall cost of living up too, with food prices particularly affected. But this situation isn’t new. We saw similar effects when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, sending global gas prices soaring. We can also draw comparisons to the OAPEC oil crisis of 1973, when households felt the effects of distant global decisions overnight. And although we can never control global instability, we can control how resilient we are to it. The Government was already taking short-term steps to help with immediate cost of living pressures. Prescription charges and rail fares have been frozen, the energy price cap reduced until June, and minimum wage rates and the state pension increased to help people with everyday costs. It’s frustrating that the positive impact from these policies is now likely to be undermined by a war that was started apparently without any consideration for what the global impact will be, and no clear plan for how it may end. There is a lot of discussion about whether we should re-start largescale drilling in the North Sea to tap into oil reserves there. I hope it won’t come to that, as doing so would not, as some have claimed, help with either our energy security or lower prices. For a start, increasing UK-based production won’t protect UK households from global spikes because oil and gas prices are set on international markets. Renewable energy, however, isa sovereign resource: generated here, priced here, and capable of insulating us from future global shocks. The lesson from this crisis is not that we need to double-down on the limited fossil fuels that are harming our planet, but instead that we should reduce our risks by diversifying the types of energy our country runs on. It’s the longer-term investment in the transition to a green economy that will deliver the energy security – and decent quality jobs – that the UK needs. Nationally, early on in Labour’s term, we lifted the ban on onshore wind. We also established Great British Energy, a new publicly owned company, tasked with driving our transition to affordable, clean and renewable power by 2030, backed by over £8bn in investment. But there are huge opportunities right here in Medway to be part of the green energy solution too. I’ve long been of the view that the green economy is a means to bring back the jobs and opportunities that many people feel were lost when the Conservatives closed Chatham Dockyard in the 1980s. My Rochester and Strood constituency is well-placed to take advantage – particularly out on the Hoo Peninsula where existing brown-field sites around the old power station and at the Isle of Grain are being used for exciting green energy projects that capitalise on our geographical proximity to mainland Europe. Our last MP was a member of a Conservative group of climate change sceptics, but I take the impact of climate change on our environment seriously and want Rochester and Strood to be part of the solution. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/NeuConnect-1.jpg) Visiting the NeuConnect site on the Isle of Grain to meet the Chief Executive and project team building the new UK - Germany electricity link. One of our local green energy projects already under construction is the NeuConnect interconnector, a major new electricity cable linking us with Germany that will be completed in the next few years. As well as increasing our energy security by allowing us to trade clean electricity with Europe, projects like this also provide jobs and opportunities. Local people make up 60 per cent of their workforce and they are using Kent-based contractors. I also recently joined staff from NeuConnect at a school in Rochester to speak with girls who were excelling in maths and science subjects, to encourage them to consider career paths into green industries. It’s this longer-term approach of linking young people, skills, and local businesses, which will ensure our area benefits from the green transition. I’ve also brought our local universities, colleges, and green businesses together to make sure local young people coming through our education system are developing the green skills our employers need. We have some incredibly innovative green companies in my patch. Businesses like Syntech Bio-fuel, a local firm working on the Lower Thames Crossing project, which will provide locally produced biofuel to replace diesel in the construction phase of the project and cut fuel emissions by up to 93%. And Thamesport, which has established itself as a low carbon construction hub at the Isle of Grain and is leading the way on what a modern net zero port looks like. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/Syntech-Biofuel-1.jpg) Meeting staff at Syntech Biofuel to hear about their innovative green fuels and their work on the Lower Thames Crossing. The Government’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan shows that the clean energy sector currently supports around 440,000 jobs. With ongoing investment, this is expected to almost double by the end of the decade. And I want to make sure that as many of those new jobs as possible can be found in Rochester and Strood. Instead of allowing global challenges to knock us off course, we must seize the opportunity to transition to a green economy – one built on renewable energy, green jobs, and the prospect of a healthier planet. It is also the more sustainable way to bring energy costs down so that everyone can enjoy a better quality of life and feel safer in the knowledge that we’ve got more control over our energy security. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/05/Pride-in-Place---hi-res-2-1.jpg) On Darnley Road in Strood, ahead of asking local residents to take part in the Community Survey. **Long-term £20m investment announced for Strood - now help me shape how it’s spent.** I’d like to also take the opportunity to highlight some fantastic news for Strood – the awarding of £20m Pride in Place Funding over the next decade - and ask for *Local Authority* readers’ input on how it should be spent. Quite rightly, spending decisions will be led by the people who live and work in the town. There will be a Chair and Board set up with people from the community, but I’ve also launched a local survey to encourage Strood residents to share their ideas. If you live or work in Strood, please [click this link](https://buff.ly/BLSF2L2?ref=localauthority.news) to have your say. *Lauren Edwards is the Labour MP for Rochester and Strood.* ### The April Culture Review URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-april-culture-review/ Last updated: 2026-04-29T17:00:43.000Z *Once a month, we bring together reviews of Medway’s cultural highlights in a single round-up, produced exclusively for our paid supporters. This month, our team of intrepid cultural reviewers present music, theatre, and food from across our towns...* --- **Tales From the High Street: Leonard's of Rochester** *Store 104, Rochester, 3 Apr* I must confess that I had never actually heard of this iconic department store that dominated the shopping habits of many in Medway (and beyond) for almost 90 years. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure whether its story would sufficiently captivate me to fend off the inevitable post-Easter egg sugar slump. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/IMG_3148-2-1.jpg) Photo: [Danielle Butler](https://www.instagram.com/buildthebuzzsocialsandphotos/?ref=localauthority.news). However, from the moment the impeccable (in both dress and manners) Miss Honey warmly welcomed us through the door, the years melted away, and we were immediately immersed in what life would have been like for the staff and shoppers of this once beloved jewel in Rochester High Street’s crown. Staged at Store 104, the present-day shop had been evocatively transformed to reflect Leonard’s different ages and incarnations. Before the performance began in earnest, we were invited to browse the eras, guided by expertly trained staff, who gently quizzed on favourite fabrics and encouraged us to sport, with a touch of panache, a superb selection of stylish hats. Surrounded by beautiful black and white photos of bygone times, there may have even been the odd morsel of gossip thrown in for good measure, but we would be too discreet to repeat it here. From a painting found in the archives, set designer Claire Rowlands beautifully recreated the eight buildings that formed Leonards. These delightful shop fronts were the springboard for an amusing run-through by the talented cast of some potential purchases for the discerning patron: novelty breadboards, a vacuum ‘for the wife’ and ‘some lingerie, sir?’, reminiscent of a favourite Father Ted moment involving lost and increasingly terrified priests. The staff were made up of enthusiastic and energetic members of Medway Play Lab CIC improv group, but at the heart of the production were the terrific trio of Mr Leonard (David Sayers), Mrs Strout ([Kate Mechedou](https://www.localauthority.news/there-is-nothing-like-face-to-face-storytelling-in-the-world/)) and Miss Honey ([Nic Lamont](https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-breaking-down-barriers-that-keep-people-socially-isolated/)), all generating genuine moments of comedy, pathos and heartfelt emotion as we walked alongside them to witness the rise and fall of this stalwart of Rochester’s retail history. A particularly touching moment between the two women was the song *Closing Time*, poignantly written by Nic Lamont and orchestrated by Matthew Fisher, mirroring the reality that you could only have either a career or children – you couldn’t have both. The audience also enjoyed the opportunity to show off their pipes by participating in a particularly rousing rendition of *Deck The Halls* and *Our High Street History*;at this point, I think everyone was just grateful that I mimed. Other highlights included original audio from former employees, recalling the repercussions from ordering the wrong stripes for a school uniform; the recreation of the pneumatic air pressure tube payment system; and a simply fabulous vintage clothing catwalk, courtesy of Desdemona Style & Vintage, with a parasol and bathing suit to die for. The store had a well-deserved reputation – “Leonards for Quality” – and it is clear that that this richly crafted and executed production more than lives up to that legacy. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this is a stunning example of how heritage and history can continue to connect and cement communities today. - *Anne Marie Jordan* --- **Little Storping in the Swuff: Hassle Olympics** I mean, it’s brilliant. Obviously. Why beat around the bush? We’re all busy people with lives to lead, sinks to unblock, and children to pack off to school. Little Storping in the Swuff’s second album, *Hassle Olympics*, glories in a mix of swirling 60s psychedelia, 90s indie nostalgia and – but of course – lyrics about the hum and drum of life. Where its predecessor, 2024’s sublime *Baroque Anxieties*, concentrated on the internal world of [David Goggin](https://www.localauthority.news/its-because-ive-got-a-bag-on-my-head/)’s unease, this second outing sees him turn his gaze to the unnerving world of – brace yourselves – other people. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The plaque that couldn't survive Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-plaque-that-couldnt-survive-medway/ Last updated: 2026-05-06T13:03:18.000Z **A monument near Cuxton marking the UK rail speed record has disappeared from its hillside home, prompting questions about where it went and what Medway has lost in the process. We also look at a reader-made budget chart that makes the council’s finances easier to understand, and the latest messy stage of the £22m Gun Wharf refurbishment.* ### The plaque that couldn't survive Medway For a little while, this looked like a mildly ridiculous mystery. A monument near Cuxton marking the UK rail speed record on High Speed 1 had disappeared. Not just the plaque itself, but also the large plinth it sat on. Given it stood on a hillside overlooking one of the country’s most significant railway lines, that felt like the sort of thing somebody ought to have noticed. The answer, it turns out, is both less dramatic and more annoying than simple theft. The monument was removed deliberately after years of repeated vandalism and has now been transported to the [National Railway Museum](https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) in York. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/geograph-3930201-by-Chris-Whippet-1.jpg) [Photo](https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3930201?ref=localauthority.news) ****©** [****Chris Whippet**](https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/27922?ref=localauthority.news "View profile") ([cc-by-sa/2.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=localauthority.news)) So now a marker commemorating a major Medway rail moment has been packed off to Yorkshire. The monument marked the record set in July 2003, when a specially assembled Eurostar train hit 208mph on High Speed 1 through Kent. In 2013, a plaque was unveiled near Cuxton to mark the tenth anniversary of the run. It sat above the line the record had actually been set on, which was rather the point. Back then, it looked out across HS1\. Since then, the site has been allowed to become heavily overgrown. That was already a little telling. This was not exactly a monument being lovingly fussed over. It had been left to sit there, increasingly swallowed up by the landscape, until eventually it disappeared altogether. At first, there was no obvious answer as to why. When *Local Authority* started asking questions, Medway Council said it did not appear to be something it was involved with. A council spokesperson noted the plaque appeared to have been put up by Eurostar and bore old rail branding, but said the council did not seem to have any role in it. Kent Police, meanwhile, said it could find no report of any theft. That immediately narrowed things down a bit. If the whole plinth had gone and there was no sign of any theft report, then one of two things seemed likely. Either somebody had somehow managed to remove an entire monument from beside HS1 without much fuss, or somebody had removed it properly and not bothered telling anyone. It was the second one. Network Rail has now confirmed to us that the plaque had been subject to ongoing vandalism over the years and had broken at the bottom, raising safety concerns. As a result, a decision was taken by Network Rail High Speed, which maintains the HS1 railway, and HS1 owner London St Pancras Highspeed, to remove it. A contractor then carried out the work. The plaque and plinth have now been taken to the National Railway Museum in York. That is all entirely sensible, up to a point. If the monument had been repeatedly vandalised and had become damaged enough to raise safety concerns, taking it away is not some outrageous act of cultural vandalism in its own right. Better that than leaving it there until some idiot finished the job. But it is still not a great look. A monument marking one of the biggest moments on Britain’s modern railway has been removed from Medway because it apparently could no longer be trusted to remain standing in Medway. That is funny, in a bleak sort of way. It is also slightly pathetic. This was not some random decorative plaque to a person nobody remembers or an event nobody cares about. It marked the UK rail speed record, set here on the high-speed line running through Medway. That is a genuine piece of local and national history. Yet it managed to leave the area in about the most modern way possible: repeatedly vandalised, increasingly overgrown, quietly removed, and only explained after someone started asking where it had gone. Nobody is pretending this is the disappearance of some priceless national treasure. But it is still a local historic marker vanishing from public view without any public explanation. It also says something a bit dispiriting about how this sort of thing tends to work. The monument was put up with suitable ceremony to mark the tenth anniversary of a major moment on HS1\. It overlooked the line. It made sense in its setting. It was there to tell anyone who stumbled across it that something significant had happened in that spot. Over time, the site became overgrown, the monument was repeatedly vandalised, and eventually the whole thing was taken away. We have asked the National Railway Museum about its plans for the monument, including whether it will go on display, but they have not responded. For now, all we know is that the original has gone north. That leaves one obvious question behind. If the original had to be removed to preserve it, does Medway now get some sort of replacement on the site? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/geograph-6032293-by-Marathon-1.jpg) [Photo](https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6032293?ref=localauthority.news) ****©** [****Marathon**](https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/43806?ref=localauthority.news "View profile") ([cc-by-sa/2.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=localauthority.news)) That need not mean dragging the same thing back from York and hoping for a better outcome the second time around. But there is a fair argument for some sort of new marker where the record was actually set. The line runs through here. The record happened here. A monument like this is supposed to tie a place to its history. Once it is removed from the place itself, some of that point goes with it. If that sounds a little grand for what is, after all, a plaque on a plinth near Cuxton, there is still a simpler way of putting it. Medway had a monument marking one of the more unusual things ever to happen on its patch of railway. It no longer does. The original may have been saved, but Medway has still lost it. ### Finally, a budget chart normal people can understand One of the recurring small frustrations of local democracy is that councils are required to publish enormous amounts of information, much of which is then presented in ways that make you want to put your head gently through a window. So thanks to reader Phil Quinn for sending us something better. After spotting underwhelming budget diagrams in the Spring 2026 edition of Medway Matters, Phil decided to create his own [Sankey diagram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankey%5Fdiagram?ref=localauthority.news) of Medway Council’s 2026/27 budget. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Medway-Council---Budget-2026-27---Sankey-diagram.png) Sankey diagram of Medway Council's budget. For those of you who are not the kind of people who spend their evenings making public finance diagrams, a Sankey diagram shows flows of money from one place to another. In this case, it shows where Medway Council’s £687m budget comes from, and where it goes. It is not magic. It does not solve the funding gap, make adult social care cheaper, or stop anyone at the council from using the phrase 'challenging financial environment.' But it does something surprisingly rare in local government finance. It makes the budget's broad shape understandable at a glance. On the income side, the largest chunk is from specific government grants at £260m, accounting for 37.8% of the total. Then comes council tax at £184m, or 26.7%. Fees, charges and other income bring in £163m, or 23.8%. Business rates and baseline need funding account for £70m, or 10.2%. Finally, there is £10m of exceptional financial support, the formal name for the government allowing Medway Council to prop up its budget using financial flexibility it would really rather not need. On the spending side, adult social care remains the largest single area at £181m, or 26.3%. Education and SEND accounts for £134m, while children’s social care takes £91m. Housing, including benefits payments, accounts for £90m. Then come services for the environment at £67m, leisure and cultural services at £27m, and public health at £25m. Mysterious other services come in at £73m. The chart does not make Medway’s budget position any easier, but it does make it easier to see. A large share of the council’s money is locked into adult social care, children’s services, education, SEND, and housing. These are not marginal bits of the budget. They are the budget. By contrast, some of the things residents most immediately associate with councils, like parks, leisure, culture, bins, streets, and public spaces, sit much further down the list. That does not mean they are unimportant. It means the council’s room for manoeuvre is often much smaller than local politics makes it sound. Phil’s version also comes with AI-suggested emojis, because apparently even local government finance must now have a little sparkle. We are not sure whether the tiny money bag next to fees and charges improves democratic accountability, but frankly, it cannot hurt. If Medway Council ever wants to make its public finance documents a little more readable, it might want to get in touch with Phil. ### RAAC, relocation and a former Debenhams full of furniture Medway Council’s £22m Gun Wharf refurbishment has reached the point every office move eventually reaches with the timetable is starting to wobble, floor plans flying, and a surprising amount of furniture has ended up in a former Debenhams. The project began after dodgy concrete was found in the roof space of the council’s main headquarters in 2023\. Since then, it has become more than a straightforward patch-up. Gun Wharf is due to be remade over the coming decades, even if Medway Council won't make it through the next two years, with new office layouts, a new reception, improved accessibility, carbon improvements, and a new council chamber. The council says the building has not had substantial repairs or refurbishment since it opened in the late 1970s, and the works are intended to make it fit for another 40 years. Somehow, the whole project manages to be sensible, expensive, and a tad messy. An internal update sent to councillors shows the relocation phase is now well underway, with staff being moved out of parts of Gun Wharf and into temporary spaces across Medway while the building works are being prepared to begin. Some teams will remain at Gun Wharf, while others will be sent to Pembroke Court and the Compass Centre in Chatham, Strood Sports Centre, Pender House on Medway City Estate, Kingsley House in Gillingham, and various leisure sites. The former Debenhams building in Chatham High Street has also been pulled into service, not as the long-awaited revival of the town centre’s retail fortunes, but as somewhere to store furniture cleared from Gun Wharf. There are early signs of the usual project complications. Planned moves have been delayed by third-party network providers and ongoing lease negotiations. Staff have been told they will not move on the original scheduled dates, although the council expects the delay to be short. There are other loose ends. Child-Friendly Medway was due to move into a unit at the Pentagon Shopping Centre, but that is now described as “not viable,” with alternative premises still being investigated. In a project full of temporary homes, even one of the temporary homes has become temporary. None of this means the Gun Wharf project is falling apart. Large public building works are fiddly, disruptive things, and this one involves RAAC, an ageing headquarters, political offices, public-facing services, staff teams and a council trying to keep operating while the building is pulled apart and put back together. But it shows the scale of what is now underway. This is not just a roof problem being quietly fixed somewhere above the offices. It is a major reset of Medway Council’s headquarters, with staff scattered across the area, a future council chamber, and the authority’s main building being redesigned around a different way of working. For now, Gun Wharf sits somewhere between civic renewal and office-move purgatory. The council has a £22m plan for a better headquarters. The reality of this week is staff heading to temporary bases, delayed moves, an abandoned Pentagon option, and a former Debenhams full of furniture. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “I wish party politics was just for elections” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-wish-party-politics-was-just-for-elections/ Last updated: 2026-04-26T13:42:20.000Z *Mark Joy has been a parish councillor in Halling, a UKIP councillor, an independent councillor, and a Conservative councillor in Strood and is currently a Conservative councillor in Rainham. Steven met up with him to discuss that political journey, if he still talks to Mark Reckless and his time as a football referee...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/PLPMEDCON-210924-49-1.jpg) Cllr Mark Joy. **Which ward are you the councillor for?** I'm the councillor for Rainham South West. **Why that ward?** Well, it wouldn’t originally have been my first choice. But after the issues I had over in Rochester and Strood, and they decided that I wasn't suitable to be one of their candidates, Rainham wanted me. So I came over here, and my ward colleague [Barry Kemp](https://www.localauthority.news/this-is-probably-my-last-stint/) also wanted me, because he knew I worked hard. I really respect Barry, somebody I knew I could work with, and with a different perspective on things. **How much knowledge did you have of the ward before you became the councillor here?** Not a lot, but during the campaign, I actually walked every single road in the ward, and I've never done that before. Even when I had four years as a councillor in what was Strood South, there were certain back roads I still don't know. Having walked every single road, I know every single bit, and when looking for somewhere to meet up, I knew I didn't have many options. We have two secondary schools, we have a primary school, but apart from that, we don't really have a lot because everything seems to be north of the A2\. Our southern boundary is Woodside, but I don't actually have Woodside, so I miss out on the Spyglass and Kettle. I do have the Queen's Head that just makes it into my ward. But it's quite unique because, when Edwin Road was built just after the First World War, they released the land to build Edwin and Marshall Roads, and it grew from there. We've got some lovely areas, [Platters Park](https://www.medway.gov.uk/directory%5Frecord/745/platters%5Fpark%5Fand%5Fplay%5Farea?ref=localauthority.news), a little bit of a gem in the middle. We've got the woodlands that goes on to Hoath Way. We've also got quite industrialised retail units. We've got the skate park, the go-karts and the trampolining. All your normal fast foods and one of the biggest businesses. People in this ward seem to do a lot for themselves. I really enjoy the area, and it's quite strange that I can get into this ward a lot of times quicker than I can get into the middle of Strood, just down the road from me. **What is your official occupation?** I promoted myself to Operations Director. I work for a small pest control company. We cover all of Kent, Surrey, Sussex. **Do you have any other roles, paid or unpaid?** I work for the FA *\[Football Association\].* I'm an FA football referee observer. I've spent the last 32 years not just getting abused as a politician. I go out to the football pitches and do that. After getting covid, arthritis in my knees seemed to accelerate. I was refereeing at Southern Counties East Football League, the bottom of the non-league pyramid. I didn't want to go backwards, so I get paid to go and watch referees. I go to the East Midland League, the Southern Counties East Football League, and equivalent leagues in Essex and Sussex as well. I spend a lot of my Saturday afternoons at a football ground, being looked after by the club, then watching the referee, giving them some feedback, and writing a report. Other volunteer roles, I'm a chair of governors at Parkwood Primary School. For my councillor role, I'm Shadow Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education. Not surprised that the administration has two portfolio holders covering that area because it is a massive beast. I couldn't actually be happier because in Adam Price, they've got somebody that's, for me, very competent in what he does. He's passionate, and we work well together. It's really nice to be able to work with your counterpart even though we come from opposite sides of the political divide. **What does a shadow portfolio holder do?** Part of the role is to just show that if we were to become the administration next time, we're ready to step into that role. It's building relationships. It's holding to account, asking questions and challenging portfolio holders and getting the best outcome for all our children in Medway, something I've always been passionate about. I grew up in a one-parent family, and one of the rocks for us was school. I'm a Catholic by faith due to my nan. She was Belgian, a staunch Catholic. I went to an all-boys Catholic secondary school, being the first child from a one-parent family to ever go to that school, probably wasn't great because middle-class children, they're not nice to anyone that's poorer than them. It gave me my belief. It's the belief of some, but not all. If we get it right with the children, it costs less overall across their lifetime. We seem to, in government, even at local government, we keep throwing money at the other end. When things have gone wrong, instead of trying to put those solid foundations in at the start. The reason politicians do that is that kids don't vote. But they will be voters, or hopefully will be voters. **Where were you born?** I was born in King's Forest Picnic Place in Thetford Forest en route to Mid Suffolk Hospital. I'm actually registered at Bury St Edmunds, but literally, I was supposed to be born at home. The midwife thought there was some complications, called an ambulance and travelling down the road and a cold winter's night in November, it was snowing at the end of November, and I was actually born in the back of the ambulance. **Did you enjoy school?** I loved school, but going to an all-boys Catholic school from a one-parent family, the bullying was non-stop. **What age did you leave?** I stayed into what was lower sixth because I did a BTEC. My mum sacrificed a lot for me to go to that school, she was on her own, she had four kids and she sacrificed for me to go there so I had to get through it. I was doing a BTEC and decided it wasn't for me, so I went to college and did A levels for two years. I studied Maths and Statistics, I studied Business Studies and I studied Law. I got offered a place at university to study to become a teacher and my mum said to me she would find the money for me to spend another year, and I decided to leave. **What was your first full-time occupation?** I was an office administrator for a garage door company. I worked there for a number of years, and I really loved it. The only position up for me was the person who ran the unit, and he was the director of the company. There was no real progression. **Have you ever been arrested?** Once, 17 at the time. Having no money, and everyone telling me how easy it was to go in the shop and steal something. I went in the shop, and I thought I'll give it a go, and I tried, and I was in there for nearly an hour fighting with my conscience, and then I tried, I got caught, and I sat in a police cell. The police officer said to me, “People like you will always get caught, because you know what you're doing is wrong.” I got off with a juvenile caution. I got given a second chance because I went to this all-boys Catholic school. I got given that opportunity where someone else that had gone to a comprehensive probably wouldn't have done it. But I remembered that, and it stuck with me ever since. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The £46m housing plan behind Medway’s closed door URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-46m-housing-plan-behind-medways-closed-door/ Last updated: 2026-05-01T17:07:46.000Z **Medway Council voted to move a £45.95m housing plan forward, allowing officers to continue pursuing the acquisition of 791 social properties from L&Q. We report on what was decided, what was debated behind closed doors, and what this says about transparency, alongside next week's council diary, planning applications, news in brief, and more.* ### The £46m housing plan behind Medway’s closed door The biggest item at Thursday’s Medway Council meeting was not adult social care, civility in politics, local government reorganisation, the Local Plan, petitions or polling stations. It was a £45.95m addition to the council’s capital programme, allowing Medway to continue pursuing the acquisition of 791 social homes in the area from housing provider L&Q. So, of course, the press and public were removed from the room for 45 minutes while councillors discussed it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/image-11-2-1.png) Our view of the council meeting while the L&Q deal was discussed. Councillors approved adding £45.95m to the capital programme, including associated fees, so the proposed acquisition can proceed if due diligence is completed and the council remains satisfied with the deal. In plain English, officers now have the financial framework to keep the deal moving forward. The homes have not yet been bought. But the path toward buying them is now much clearer. The proposed acquisition involves 791 social properties and related assets in Medway. The council papers continue to describe the seller only as an unnamed registered provider, even though the provider is L&Q. It's one of those lovely council situations where everyone knows the thing, but the thing must not be said too loudly in the official paperwork, in case the spell breaks. The public version of the report argued the purchase would bring a large number of affordable homes under council control in one go. It said the deal could strengthen Medway’s Housing Revenue Account, increase the number of homes available to local tenants, and prevent the properties from passing to another buyer with different priorities. Cllr [Louwella Prenter](https://www.localauthority.news/a-yimby-doesnt-mean-youre-ruining/) said the housing team would increase in size to match the extra stock. Cllr [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/) said “good quality homes are essential to the health and wellbeing of our community.” Then, because we clearly cannot be trusted with too much health and wellbeing, everyone else in the room was asked to leave. The press and public were excluded while councillors debated the commercially sensitive details of the deal. We do not know exactly what was said during that section. One councillor later described the private discussion as “explosive,” which is useful only up to a point, given that by then the remaining members of the public had gone home, and three journalists were standing outside in the cold, looking at a door. When the doors reopened, council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) summarised part of the administration’s argument. He said there was a risk that if Medway did not acquire the properties, another council could do so, potentially leading to social tenants from elsewhere being housed in Medway. The council is not just presenting this as a housing acquisition. It is presenting it as a defensive move to keep a large block of social housing in Medway connected to Medway’s own housing needs. The opposition did not accept that councillors had enough oversight at this stage. A Conservative amendment, moved by Cllr [Andrew Lawrence](https://www.localauthority.news/maybe-im-a-serial-opposition-councillor/), would have deferred the £45.95m capital programme addition until councillors had received a further report setting out the full due diligence, stock condition survey, affordability position and impact on the Housing Revenue Account over the next 30 years. There is a lot of council finance language in there, but the argument is simple enough. The Conservatives wanted more proof before the money was lined up. Labour wanted the capital programme approval in place so the process could continue. The amendment was defeated behind closed doors. Once everyone was allowed back in, Conservative leader [George Perfect ](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/)said his group had proposed an amendment reflecting their concerns about the plan, but it had been voted down. Cllr Prenter then suggested the council would get a better deal for the housing than the previous Conservative administration managed when it bought the Pentagon shopping centre. Cllr Perfect responded that “Cllr Prenter needs to calm down about the Pentagon.” So after 45 minutes of private discussion on a £45.95m housing item, the public summary of the evening’s great financial debate had descended into a small argument about the Pentagon. Democracy really does give and give. The final vote split with Labour and the Independent Group voting for the capital programme addition, and the Conservatives and Reform voting against. It passed by 32 votes to 18. The deal now moves forward, subject to due diligence. Whether councillors will get another meaningful chance to stop it if that due diligence raises concerns is the obvious question. The administration would say safeguards remain in place. The opposition clearly believes that too much of the decision-making weight has already shifted to officers and private process. Either way, the public view of the night's most significant item was limited to the bit before the door closed and the bit after it reopened. The rest of the meeting offered a useful glimpse of what Medway’s full council meetings now look like under the new motion rules. There were only two motions, one from the Conservatives and one from Labour. Labour did not use its second available slot. The Independent Group and Reform had no route to bring forward their own motions. The first motion came from Cllr Perfect, who raised concerns about the local health system and its impact on Medway Council’s adult social care responsibilities. The Conservative motion pointed to leadership instability at Medway NHS Foundation Trust, financial pressure at Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, and £12m pressure on adult social care in the council’s latest budget monitoring. Cllr Perfect criticised the leadership of Medway Hospital, cuts at the ICB, and what he described as a “toxic culture.” He said the system needed “bold action and delivery.” Cllr [Elizabeth Turpin](https://www.localauthority.news/a-bad-local-plan-is-worse-than-no/) tried to add some teeth to the motion, including a formal written response from the Department of Health and Social Care and a cross-party task group to review adult social care pressures. Cllr Perfect accepted the amendment. Cross-party unity bloomed beautifully for about seven seconds until Labour voted it down. Labour then moved its own amendment through Cllr [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/). She argued that the situation was not as “apocalyptic” as the Conservative motion suggested, noting that concerns had been raised about the hospital but that new leadership should be given a chance. The Labour version kept the commitment to write to the Health Secretary, but softened the tone. Cllr Dan McDonald said health should never be an issue for party politics, as he seconded his political party’s amendment to another political party’s motion. Cllr Lawrence said he was “increasingly alarmed” by the “lack of external accountability” at Kent and Medway ICB. Cllr [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) described the ICB as “not fit for purpose.” Cllr Murray also revealed that Health Secretary Wes Streeting is coming to Medway to open the new health centre in the Pentagon. Try to remain calm. The Labour amendment passed unanimously. After the meeting, Medway Conservatives [said](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/medway-conservatives-raise-urgent-concerns-about-healthcare-medway?ref=localauthority.news) they had raised “urgent concerns about healthcare in Medway.” Cllr Perfect said that “the NHS in Medway needs reform, not just more money, and this letter will hopefully start the conversation.” The second motion, from Cllr Maple, focused on civility in public life and the legacy of Jo Cox. Cllr Maple said it is “never acceptable” to abuse elected members or council officers. He was confident the motion would receive unanimous support. It did. Cllr Maple described an incident from earlier in the day. He said that while the St George’s Day flag was being raised at Gun Wharf, a member of the public said, “I wish you were raising something for hanging councillors.” That is a bleak snapshot of where local politics now sits. Cllr Joanne Howcroft-Scott warned about “decent people being driven away from democracy.” She noted that “we can honour debate without attacking people.” We then moved on to a meeting that included the usual volume of attacking people, including a councillor question from Cllr Turpin over whether elected members should “keep well out of” areas such as potholes. Cllr [Alex Paterson](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/) called it a “dishonest attempt” and said the words quoted did not represent what he had said. Cllr Maple later said the thing councillors should stay out of is “selective using parts of a quote.” Cllr Maple’s leader’s report ranged across local government reorganisation, the Local Plan, a meningitis outbreak response, the Medway Lottery, the Slovakian ambassador, allotments, and the £60m Pride in Place funding for Medway. On local government reorganisation, he said he had confidence that the government would make the right decision and that Medway Council would not challenge it, whatever it is. Given the government is currently deciding what shape local government across Kent and Medway should take in the future, that is not a small line. Cllr Perfect said he “nearly fell off his chair” when Cllr Maple said people had faith in the process, describing it as “a complete shambles.” He described the past year as “another year of chaos under the Medway Labour administration.” Cllr [George Crozer](https://www.localauthority.news/what-i-detest-is-that-kind-of-bickering/) said the Local Plan was likely to be found unsound by inspectors. Cllr [David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/) said both main parties were offering “more of the same,” with Conservatives wanting to write letters and Labour maxing out borrowing. On the Local Plan, Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) asked whether new or materially amended documents not included in the Regulation 19 consultation would be subject to public consultation before examination hearings proceed. Cllr Maple said the inspectors’ response was normal and that the council would respond by the deadline, including on the consultation timeline. There were also the usual procedural joys. Councillors agreed to changes to polling districts and polling places. Cllr [Harinder Mahil](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-doing-this-for-the-sake-of-a-political-career/) said he would like to “speak about the Ballot Act of 1872,” but would not, because he knew when an early finish was on the cards. A proposed change to the petition scheme, which would allow petitions from third-party websites such as Change.org to be accepted by the council, was delayed until the next meeting due to the council’s own procedural rules. There was one public question, from Alan Wells of Chatham, asking whether Medway Council would commit to gradual divestment from companies linked to the international arms trade through the Kent Pension Fund. Cllr Maple said a new ethical subgroup may consider the issue in due course, but stopped short of making any commitment. Later, a spider invaded the press desk during the annual overview and scrutiny report, which was probably the most dynamic intervention during that item. But the image of the night was not the spider, or the frantic paper amendments being handed around as councillors rewrote motions in real time. It was the closed wooden door. Behind it, councillors spent 45 minutes discussing the proposed L&Q housing acquisition in private. Outside it, the public went home, and three journalists were left waiting in the cold for the official version. By the end of the night, Medway Council had moved a £45.95m housing plan forward, softened a health motion into something everyone could vote for, unanimously agreed that public life should be more civil, and demonstrated that its meeting still had room for the oldest council trick in the book. When things get interesting, close the door. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Licensing Hearing Panel](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6379&ref=localauthority.news) will decide on an updated premises licence for Smiles Kitchen in Chatham and a bold application for a temporary events licence for a shop that was previously refused a premises licence. - **Thursday:** [Employment Matters Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=135&MId=6243&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss a domestic abuse workplace policy and family leave reforms. **New planning applications:** - Construction of a [new play area](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TDHAE2KNGMR00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) on Rochester Esplanade to replace the existing one. - Conversion of a shop to a [church](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TDXPQ9KNIVZ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) on Luton High Street. - New HMO applications for [Constitution Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TDSS2MKNFWI00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham, [Copenhagen Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TDKYI9KN04R00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and [Marlborough Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TDFIJFKNFJQ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham, and [Frindsbury Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TDN5FQKNK7E00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Strood. ### In brief 🏨 A pensioner has spent six months [living in a Strood Premier Inn](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/my-half-a-year-in-hotel-room-has-taken-its-toll-why-am-i-339303/?ref=localauthority.news) after a car crashed into her bungalow. 🏪 Morrisons is [set to close](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/morrisons-close-uk-branch-july-37051199?ref=localauthority.news) its Morrisons Daily store at Parkwood Green in Rainham. 🎸 Music publication Louder Than War has a [glowing review](https://louderthanwar.com/south-shore-ballad-of-rats-bay-single-review-video-premiere/?ref=localauthority.news) for the first single from new Medway supergroup South Shore. ⚽ Dartford defeated Chatham Town 2-1 in the [Kent Women's Cup final](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/report-dartford-women-v-chatham-women-kent-women-s-cup-fina-339428/?ref=localauthority.news) last night. ### Property of the week This period terrace in Frindsbury spans three floors, with a cellar, and is being sold chain-free, clearly pitched at buyers who see a lot of rooms and start doing the HMO maths. It is close enough to the station and town centre to make that tempting, subject to the usual planning hurdles, and the listing leans hard on the idea of an investment opportunity. There is an open house in early May and a batch of virtual staging images, which is a polite way of saying it could look very different with furniture and a change of intent. The cellar is large enough to be more than a token damp afterthought, and the overall vibe is space, flexibility and a layout that could either become a slightly eccentric big home or a very tidy business plan. [Check out this 5 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove5 bedroom terraced house for sale in Frindsbury Road, Frindsbury, Rochester, Kent, ME2 for £375,000\. Marketed by Wards, Strood![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/c1295264963f607a6ed7b8886644f4b8.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174672713?ref=localauthority.news#/) ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Trees Over Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/trees-over-medway/ Last updated: 2026-04-23T17:00:40.000Z It will come as no surprise to anyone that I love trees and woodlands. I grew up in Lordswood, where I was lucky enough to be surrounded by trees and pockets of woodlands. I spent my childhood playing under trees, building camps, and collecting Sweet Chestnuts to eat. Being surrounded by trees was such an intrinsic part of my childhood that there are few of my childhood memories without them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-c01f8246-da89-417f-b7e6-e429196652e6-1.jpeg) Despite this childhood connection, it was not until I grew up and became a professional gardener that I really began to appreciate the importance of trees to our local urban environment. They provide a much needed cooling effect on our streets. Towns and cities act as heat sinks during the summer, with concrete and asphalt absorbing the heat during the day and releasing it at night. Trees reduce this by absorbing that sunlight during the day and releasing water vapour at night. A study by [Forest Research](https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications/air-temperature-regulation-by-urban-trees-and-green-infrastructure/?ref=localauthority.news) shows that this cooling effect can be up to eight degrees Celsius, which is vital for reducing the effects of climate change. Urban trees also reduce the impact of air pollution, which is a major problem in our towns and cities. Trees can catch and absorb pollutants on their leaves, acting as a natural barrier between the pollution and our most vulnerable people. [Research](https://jech.bmj.com/content/62/7/647?ref=localauthority.news) undertaken has shown that there is a lower occurrence of childhood asthma in areas with a higher density of street trees. It’s not just us that benefits from more trees in our towns. They also provide key habitats and resources for our wildlife. The English Oak can support more species of wildlife than any other native tree in the UK, with the potential to support 2,300 different species. As our wildlife continues to strain under increasing pressure, urban trees provide a protective fortress that helps maintain biodiversity. Trees don’t just help wildlife. They can help people’s own health and wellbeing. As more people begin to suffer from mental health issues and stress, trees and woodlands have an important role to play. [Research](https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/research-and-evidence/biowell-research/?ref=localauthority.news) has shown that 90% of people report improvements in their mood after sensory experiences with trees. The sound of bird song and the rustling of leaves, the smell of blossom, and the feel of a tree trunk. These sensory imports have increased people’s moods and helped relieve stress. Trees also help with our physical health, with [studies](https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/mentally-and-physically-trees-make-difference?ref=localauthority.news) showing that exposure to trees has lowered blood pressure and sped up hospital recovery times. Finally, they provide a vital tool to soak up rainwater to prevent stormwater runoff. The tree’s canopy can intercept rain as it falls, slowing the rate at which water lands and allowing it to gradually soak into the ground. And with the tree’s roots penetrating deep into the subsoil, they provide channels for the water to soak through more easily. **Medway’s canopy** With urban trees so important to our health and well-being, it’s worth checking how Medway is doing in terms of its total tree canopy. Anecdotally, it’s hard not to think that we are losing many trees every day. I have even complained about the council removing street trees and not replacing them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/data-src-image-99f0c69d-e144-4dad-84ac-c8228be4f573-1.jpeg) Luckily, some reputable organisations have conducted research on this, so we can bring a more evidence-based approach to any analysis. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s new rules face their first proper test URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-new-rules/ Last updated: 2026-04-28T20:14:59.000Z **Medway’s new full council rules face their first real test this week, with Thursday’s agenda offering an early look at what a leaner chamber now means in practice for motions, scrutiny and political space. We also report on the Court of Appeal ruling in Medway’s favour over the long-running Rainham traveller site dispute, and on a bus destination display in Rochester that could have done with a little more education.* ### Medway’s new rules face their first proper test Thursday’s [full Medway Council meeting](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6378&ref=localauthority.news) will be the first proper chance to see what Medway’s newly slimmed-down version of democracy actually looks like in practice. The answer, at least from the agenda papers, is not exactly thrilling. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/9C56C3B0-D6B0-4281-AE19-A7F362AE19D4_1_102_a-1.jpeg) November's Medway Council meeting. This is the first full council since Labour and the Conservatives [pushed through rule changes](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-shrinks-its-democracy/) that stripped smaller groups of their guaranteed right to bring motions to the chamber. Under the new setup, there can be no more than three motions on an agenda, with the number allocated annually based on the size of each group. For this meeting, the allocation was two slots for Labour and one for the Conservatives. What has that produced? [Two motions](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=87878&ref=localauthority.news). One from Conservative leader of the opposition [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) on pressures in the local health system, and one from council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) on civility in public life and the legacy of Jo Cox. So the first live demonstration of the tighter new regime is a chamber where the smaller groups have disappeared from the motions section entirely, Labour has been given two of the three available slots, and one of them has not even been used. Efficient stuff. Back in November, the Labour administration insisted the changes were about cutting marathon meetings down to size. Too many motions, too much grandstanding, too many late finishes. But what Thursday’s agenda shows is the trade-off in much plainer form than the theory. A chamber with less room for challenge also turns out to be a chamber with less in it. There is something almost elegant about the anticlimax. After the rows over democratic space, after all the talk of streamlining, after all the insistence that the old setup could not continue, the first outing for the new one arrives looking thinner, flatter and quieter. The administration got the tidy order paper it wanted. It also looks a bit anaemic. That does not mean the meeting will be dull. Full council has a habit of finding ways around that. It just means the livelier parts may come from places other than the motions themselves. One obvious candidate is the [review of Medway’s petitions scheme](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=87865&ref=localauthority.news). On paper, this is the sort of item most normal people would run a mile from. In practice, it could be one of the more revealing rows of the night. The reason is simple enough. While councillors have been busy narrowing who gets to force a debate in the chamber, they are now also being asked to consider how the public can apply pressure from outside it. Officers were asked to bring forward proposals to widen access to the petitions scheme, including accepting petitions from third-party websites and making the whole setup more accessible. Which would all sound perfectly harmless were it not for the fact that this topic has already managed to send at least one councillor into a minor ideological meltdown. Reform councillor [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) recently erupted over the issue at an overview and scrutiny meeting, taking aim at Change.org in particular and portraying online petitions as little more than a delivery mechanism for left-wing talking points. There is a broader point here, and it is not really about Change.org. It is about who gets to organise public pressure, whose voices are treated as legitimate, and how much discomfort the political class is willing to tolerate when residents use tools that cannot be neatly stage-managed. Medway has just made it harder for smaller groups to force issues into formal debate at full council. Now it is considering changes that could make it easier for the public to do something adjacent from outside the chamber. As political messages go, it is not exactly tidy. Alongside that political theatre sits the biggest formal decision on the agenda, which [we recently covered](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-eyes-46m-housing-buy-from-mystery-provider/). Full council is being asked to approve a £45.95m addition to the capital programme to enable Medway’s Housing Revenue Account to [acquire a portfolio of 791 properties](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=87867&ref=localauthority.news) from an unnamed registered provider, subject to due diligence. Cabinet has already approved it, so Thursday is the borrowing sign-off stage. The council says the deal would secure a large number of social housing units in one go and improve the HRA's long-term sustainability. The report says the portfolio includes 791 properties and related assets, and argues the acquisition is a rare opportunity to bring a large volume of affordable housing under council control at a lower cost per unit than buying on the open market or building new homes. The absurdity remains the same as when the deal first surfaced. The provider still is not named anywhere in the public papers. Medway continues to behave as if this were some sort of great state secret, despite the fact that the seller's identity is hardly a mystery to anyone paying attention. So while councillors are being asked to approve nearly £46m of borrowing, everyone else is still expected to accept a kind of pantomime confidentiality in which everyone politely avoids saying that it's L&Q out loud. There is also the usual full council furniture around it, some of it more interesting than it first appears. [Members’ Questions](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=87880&ref=localauthority.news), as ever, are where some of the sharper edges show through. Independent councillor [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/) is pressing Maple on the timetable for local government reorganisation and whether the process is becoming too rushed to run properly. Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) is asking whether any new or materially amended Local Plan documents that were not part of the Regulation 19 consultation will now be put back out for public consultation before examination hearings continue. Cllr [Ron Sands](https://www.localauthority.news/i-just-want-them-to-realise-what/) is pushing on healthcare provision for the Hoo Peninsula as housing growth continues. Cllr [Elizabeth Turpin](https://www.localauthority.news/a-bad-local-plan-is-worse-than-no/) has submitted what may be the evening’s most entertaining question, asking the leader whether, following comments that elected members should keep well out of potholes, there are any other areas his own councillors should also avoid. Then there are the more procedural items. Polling place changes are proposed in Watling, Rochester West and Borstal and Fort Pitt ahead of the 2027 elections. The council is also being asked to appoint a second Independent Person for conduct matters and senior officer dismissal panels. And the annual committees and appointments report is back again, complete with recommendations on committee structures, outside bodies and next year’s schedule of meetings. None of that will set pulses racing. Put together, Thursday’s meeting looks less like a blockbuster council session than a useful stress test. November's fight was over whether Medway should narrow the space for smaller groups and awkward debate. That argument has already been won by the administration. Thursday is where people get to see the result. So far, it looks like fewer motions, less room for smaller groups, and one of the dominant group’s newly acquired slots left empty anyway. Perhaps there will be fewer late finishes. Perhaps officers will get home earlier. Perhaps everyone will congratulate themselves on a more disciplined chamber. But if the point of full council is not just to process business but to show residents where disagreement lives, who gets heard and how power is exercised in public, Thursday’s agenda feels revealing in a different way. Medway said it wanted a leaner democracy. Now it gets to show us one. ### An awkward typo Thanks to reader Joseph Chadwick for sending in this fine example of public transport undermining itself. A bus on Maidstone Road in Rochester was spotted this week displaying this as the destination, which is a brave typo to beam across the front of a vehicle heading for some of Medway's most prestigious schools... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-21-at-17.44.17-1.png) A bus on its way to English class. Photo: Joseph Chadwick. ### Medway wins final court fight over Rainham site it cleared twice The long-running battle over a Rainham traveller site Medway Council once moved in to clear has now ended with a [Court of Appeal ruling](https://s47657.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/morancaj.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) in the council’s favour. After years of enforcement notices, planning bids, and legal arguments, the council has won what appears to be the final court fight. The case concerned land at Sharps Green, Lower Rainham Road, a site that has been rattling around Medway’s planning system for the best part of a decade. The council first served an enforcement notice in 2017 over the unauthorised residential use of the land, caravans and mobile homes on the site, and associated works, including hardstanding. When that did not resolve the matter, Medway took direct action to clear the land around October 2018\. After further breaches and another round of planning manoeuvres, the council cleared the site again in February 2022\. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Map-of-United-Kingdom.png) Location of the former traveller site in Rainham. This latest legal round was about the site owner’s challenge to Medway’s November 2023 decision not to determine a fresh planning application for residential use of the land, including caravans, mobile homes, day rooms and a stable building. The High Court backed the council last year. The Court of Appeal has now done the same. For anyone not in the habit of spending their evenings with planning legislation, the important point is fairly simple. Medway argued it should not have to keep reopening the same fight over a site it had already spent years trying to enforce against, including physically clearing it not once but twice. The Court of Appeal agreed. The judges found clear overlap between the old enforcement notice and the newer application. The original notice covered residential use of the land, the stationing of caravans and mobile homes, and hardstanding. The later application wanted permission for much the same sort of thing, and that appeared to be enough for the court to throw it out. The site owner argued that the council was stretching the law too far, particularly because the site had already been cleared and the later application was being put forward as a fresh proposal rather than an attempt to legalise what was already there. The Court of Appeal was not convinced. Clearing the site, the judges said, did not wipe the planning history clean or mean the council had to trudge back to square one and do the whole thing all over again. That is the bit Medway will care about. This was not the court telling the council it had to consider the application and then refuse it in the normal way. It was the court saying the council was entitled not to entertain it at all. In planning terms, that is not just winning the argument. It is putting the argument in a box, sealing it shut and shoving it on a shelf marked 'we have done this routine enough times already.' There is still one awkward backdrop to the whole thing. The judgment notes that Medway has an acknowledged shortfall in Gypsy and Traveller pitches, an issue that has come up more recently during Medway's Local Plan process. The council’s own assessment accepted that the shortage remained. It still argued this site was not suitable, and the courts accepted that position. That does not make the underlying shortage go away. Medway can hardly claim there is no need for more sites while its own evidence says otherwise. But it has now won a ruling confirming that this particular site next to Riverside Country Park was not one it had to keep revisiting forever. The site owner also argued that Medway had failed to take proper account of relevant matters, including site need, the absence of objections from statutory consultees and an error in the officer report about flood risk. The court accepted there had been a mistake over the flood zone, but said it did not change the outcome because the council had several other reasons for judging the site unsuitable. The position now is fairly clear. A site that drew major local attention when Medway sent in contractors to clear it has now been through the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and the council has won both times. After all the years of notices, clearances and failed attempts to reopen the question, this looks like the end of the road. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “It's because I've got a bag on my head” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/its-because-ive-got-a-bag-on-my-head/ Last updated: 2026-04-19T06:00:52.000Z *Ahead of the release of* [*Little Storping in the Swuff*](https://linktr.ee/littlestorpingintheswuff?ref=localauthority.news)*'s second album* [*Hassle Olympics*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/hassle-olympics?ref=localauthority.news)*, Steven met the man behind the project, David Goggin, at the Wolfe and Castle on Rochester High Street. Unfortunately, it was busy hosting a birthday party, so they moved on to the Jolly Knight and discussed exactly what a swuff is, what happened to his former band, Brigadier Ambrose, and why he performs wearing a paper bag.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/swuffportrait-1.JPG) David Goggin. Photo: Chris Spurr. **What is your official occupation?** My official occupation is Head of Repertoire for a music licensing company. I have done for 20 years, and the company's remit is to make sure that performers and record companies get paid whenever they get airplay, get music used in public. My department's job is to make sure we've got all the information we need to pay those people. I really enjoy it, and its not-for-profit organisation. It's all about getting money out to performers and session musicians. **How did you get into that line of work?** I did a music industry or music production degree at Canterbury, and then I was in a band. I was doing various band things and decided that it might be useful to work within the industry and see the other side of it. As various bands fell away and didn't become super successful, I found myself really enjoying what I was doing and developed from there. **What is your current role in the world of music?** [Little Storping in the Swuff](https://linktr.ee/littlestorpingintheswuff?ref=localauthority.news). I drive it, in that I write the songs, and I perform most of the instruments. I've got various band members that I work with. Matt, who I've always worked with, he was the best man at my wedding. He's a piano player and backing vocalist. He's always involved. I guess it's my vision really. > I remain moderately obsessed with 1960s culture **Why are you known as Little Storping in the Swuff?** I remain moderately obsessed with 1960s culture, and there was a television programme called [The Avengers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FAvengers%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=localauthority.news), a brilliant, eccentrically English, amusing detective drama thing. I loved it in the 90s when I first discovered it. There is a town, it's very niche this, in one episode of that programme, called Little Storping in the Swuff. **What is a Swuff?** I've never been asked that question. I've been asked lots of questions about this, but never that. I'm going to say a Swuff is like the countryside. **What is psych chamber indie pop?** I think chamber pop is a 60s term. I think the [Beach Boys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBeach%5FBoys?ref=localauthority.news)' [Pet Sounds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet%5FSounds?ref=localauthority.news) would be chamber pop. That slightly ornate pop music with the use of harpsichords and baroque classical instruments, I suppose. The psych bit and the indie bit are just the extra bits that I throw in. Psych as in 60s psychedelia. Very early [Pink Floyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink%5FFloyd?ref=localauthority.news), or [Beatles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FBeatles?ref=localauthority.news)’ [Revolver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolver%5F%28Beatles%5Falbum%29?ref=localauthority.news). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/image-10-1-1.png) Hassle Olympics by Little Storping in the Swuff. Photo: Chris Spurr. **What are the Hassle Olympics?** This is the name of the [new album](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/hassle-olympics?ref=localauthority.news). It's a phrase that came to mind. The album has lots of songs that refer to or are about domestic chores, where people find themselves competing with each other on how good they are at those things, and there's a certain mindset that you get into, which is completely absurd. If you're at a family dinner, I find it really interesting how there's this one-upmanship type thing that goes on where you might say, “I spent ages steam washing my patio.” Then the response would be, “Oh, I did that last week, you should have seen, I was there for three hours.” I just found myself reflecting on the absurdity of having to challenge others on how good you are or how much effort you put into quite mundane and silly things. That's the hassle of it, that for some reason we are invested in competing on. **Why did you half immerse yourself in the freezing shallows of the River Darent?** That was for the last album, [Baroque Anxieties](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/baroque-anxieties?ref=localauthority.news). Because it's a very silly thing to um do. The person that takes the photos, Chris Spurr, is my brother-in-law. I've worked with him for a long time on various things. We were just throwing back and forth some ideas on what we could do. I was quite keen to be submerged in water in some way, and we liked the idea of doing it in a suit, because it just looks silly, and it's getting quite absurdist. [Baroque Anxieties, by Little Storping In The Swuff11 track album![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/a0203133210_3.jpg)Spinout Nuggets\_hopskipjump![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/a0203133210_5.jpg)](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/baroque-anxieties?ref=localauthority.news) **Who was** [**Brigadier Ambrose**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigadier%5FAmbrose?ref=localauthority.news)**?** That was a made-up name for the first band that was successful that I was in. We were trying to think of a comedy name. We wanted to be called Captain Mannering, and that's the name of the guy from Dad's Army. We just started mucking about with different ways of saying Captain. Brigadier came out. And we went with Ambrose because we're all quite huge cricket fans, and Curtly Ambrose, the first fast bowler. That's literally it. **Why are you no longer in Brigadier Ambrose?** It just ran its course. That was a while ago now, late noughties. There was four of us, Matt as well, and it was fun. We were very naïve, and I'd only started working in the music industry during that process. We got quite lucky early on in that it was when MySpace was doing its thing, and we got noticed by Radio 1, and we started getting airplay a lot quicker than perhaps we thought we might. It was an interesting place because I don't think any of us really knew what to do. We had a couple of years of doing everything ourselves, festivals, loads of brilliant stuff, but just didn't know how to get to that next level, and the discussions with the industry didn't really go anywhere. I think that drive was quite important because ultimately, not everyone in the band had the same drive. If you're not all prepared to travel to Leeds on a wet Sunday night to play a gig to 15 people, then it's just going to start to fall apart, and that's what happened. > If I'm dialling up the absurdity on stage, I find it easier to do it **With Little Storping, what's with the drawn face on a paper bag?** This is your reference to me playing live with that one? A thing to consider about Little Storping in the Swuff is that I'm quite keen that it's not a forced thing, because I think it wouldn't work if it was forced. But I'm interested in trying to do things differently, I guess, and the thought of a nearly 44-year-old man, just standing on stage and playing songs, I just find that in itself quite an absurd thing to do. If you just take that out of context, what is that? Why am I doing that? Partly because I used to be in Brigadier Ambrose, one of the reasons it didn't work very well in the end was because I used to hate playing live. I really didn't like it. I made a conscious decision with Little Storping in the Swuff. Without getting too dramatic about it, if I'm dialling up the absurdity on stage, I find it easier to do it, because it's more of a character, I suppose. ## Medway, properly reported Clear, independent reporting on Medway's biggest stories without the intrusive ads or clickbait Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. **It's a bit** [**Frank Sidebottom**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris%5FSievey?ref=localauthority.news)**\-y?** Yeah, that's a good way of looking at it. I think comedy in that sense is a huge influence on what I do. I would say comedy generally is as big an influence on the band as any music is. When people come to watch us live, I quite enjoy the idea of there being this slightly different type of entertainment that's going on at the same time, some of which people will love, and some of which will really confuse people because they're there to see a band and they're not expecting what they might see. There's a whole range of things we've done along those lines, of which the bag on the head is one of them. It was an idea we had that whereby there is a particularly difficult song, which I don't find very easy to play on guitar. I thought, well, why not make it harder for yourself by putting a bag on in it?Which in itself is an absurd thing to do, but also leads me to this silly joke about if I make a mistake now, then that's why. It's not because I'm rubbish at playing it, it's because I've got a bag on my head. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s new AI search fell over almost immediately URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-new-ai-search-fell-over-almost-immediately/ Last updated: 2026-04-24T11:50:37.000Z **Medway Council’s new AI website search was meant to make finding information easier, but early testing produced wrong answers on basic democratic information and surfaced outdated civic details. We look at what went wrong, what the council says it has fixed, and what this suggests about putting AI on top of messy public websites, alongside the week's council business, the latest planning application, news in brief, and more.* ### Medway’s new AI search fell over almost immediately Medway Council’s [new AI website search](https://www.medway.gov.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is, we are assured, here to drag the council website into the 21st century. That would be more convincing if it had not immediately started rummaging around in the 20th. Launched this week as part of the council’s wider Medway 2.0 digital push, the new search bar is meant to help residents find information faster. It can take typed questions, voice commands and queries in more than 70 languages. The council says it will improve accessibility, make the website easier to use and reduce avoidable calls and emails to customer services. All of which sounds perfectly reasonable. Unless you're a local journalist, council websites are rarely anyone’s idea of a good time. If residents can get to the right answer without having to dig through six PDFs, three committee papers and a page last updated during the coalition government, so much the better. The snag is that if you slap an AI layer over a messy public website without being very sure what it is drawing from, you are not modernising anything. You are just automating the mess. And, in early testing, Medway’s new search managed to get itself into a muddle rather quickly. Some routine service questions were fine. Ask it the kind of thing residents actually use council websites for, and it often seemed to cope well enough. But move into democratic information, and things got ropey fast. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-10.55.02.png) Medway Council's website explaining how the Conservatives were back in charge again. Asked who the opposition was at Medway Council, it decided Labour were the opposition, and the Conservatives were the ruling party. Asked about Rehman Chishti, it identified him as the MP for Gillingham and Rainham, despite his losing the seat in 2024\. Asked about Nick Bowler, it returned him as a councillor, despite his death in 2021\. In another case, it surfaced former councillor Alan Jarrett’s personal contact details in response to a query about him. That is not really 'AI can make mistakes' territory. That is more 'perhaps someone should have kicked the tyres before launch' territory. Because this is the thing with council AI. It does not need to become sentient and start planning the downfall of local democracy to be a problem. It only needs to sound confident while being wrong. If a resident asks a straightforward question on the council’s own website, they should not have to wonder whether the answer has been stitched together from an old election page, an archived speaker listing and the ghosts of councillors past. To be fair to Medway, the council has acknowledged there was an issue. It told us that the tool had been pulling information from old election results pages, which led to errors when questions were phrased in certain ways or asked about specific names rather than more general topics. A fix, it said, has now been put in place. The council also said the wording of a question can influence which pages the system draws from. In other words, if you ask it one way, you get the right answer. Ask it another way, and off it wanders into the archives. That is useful as an explanation, but less helpful as a defence. Residents are not going to approach a council website as if they were trying to crack a prompt-engineering puzzle. The whole point of this sort of tool is that it deals sensibly with normal human questions. If it only behaves when the user happens to phrase something exactly right, that is not really smart search. It is just a touchy search. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-15-at-11.07.09.png) The AI very enthusiastically provided personal details for former council leader Alan Jarrett. In the Jarrett example, the council said the contact details came from the 'Find a public speaker' section of the website, where they were publicly available and included at the request of the people listed. It added that they can be removed upon request by those individuals. That is true as far as it goes. It is also slightly beside the point. Plenty of things may technically be public somewhere on a council website. That does not automatically mean an AI answer box should be enthusiastically pulling them out and sticking them front and centre. The council said the system had gone through testing before launch, including more than 1,250 questions or statements and 210 keywords, and that council services and a cross-party member group had also been involved in testing. Which is all well and good, though it does make it slightly awkward that it took no great feat of investigative genius to name former officeholders as current ones. Still, credit where it is due. We reran the same problematic queries today, and they now appear to be fixed. Medway says the system includes back-office reporting and evaluation features to monitor and improve responses, and notes that each answer includes a warning that AI can make mistakes, along with source links showing where the information comes from. A Medway Council spokesperson told *Local Authority*: “As with many launches, we have seen some initial teething problems, but remain confident that the search function is safe and reliable. All of the information returned is publicly available on our website, and where issues have been flagged, we have been able to deliver fixes within hours. We would encourage anyone who comes across a potential issue to please use the feedback form to help improve the new function over time.” That is the good news for Medway. The less good news is that this still looks like an AI tool launched before the council had done enough of the really dull but really necessary housekeeping underneath it. The issue is not that Medway has used AI. Plenty of councils are doing that or are about to. The issue is that council websites are full of historical clutter, half-forgotten pages and legacy information that make perfect sense in context but become a liability when a generative search tool starts hoovering them up. So yes, Medway moved quickly once the problems were pointed out. It deserves some credit for that. But a search tool that can be thrown off by old election pages and stale civic information was not especially well implemented in the first place. This was not a disaster. It was something more mundane and, in its own way, more council: a shiny new digital fix laid on top of untidy old systems, then patched in a hurry once someone noticed the obvious problems. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Thursday:** [Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel](https://democracy.kent.gov.uk:9071/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=9667&x=1&&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss the recent inspection of Kent Police. - **Thursday:** [Full Council](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6378&ref=localauthority.news) will debate buying hundreds of social homes, changes to the petition system, and motions on social care costs and political violence. **New planning applications:** - Outline application for [45 homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TD699DKNHMX00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) west of Formby Road in Halling. - Change of use proposal for the former Post Office on Watling Street, Gillingham, [into a takeaway](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TCUTPWKNIEK00&ref=localauthority.news), the subtly named YOU WANT BEEF? - Plans for a [new teaching block](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T8QTUPKNKDH00&ref=localauthority.news) at Leigh Academy, Rainham. - [New cash machine](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TD8HYNKNJ0G00&ref=localauthority.news) at the Nationwide in Gillingham High Street. - Just one HMO application this week, for [Blenheim Avenue](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TCTIRAKNHLO00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham. ### In brief 🍷 The former landlords of the Rising Sun in Rochester are set to open [the Bohemian](https://www.thebohemiangroup.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a new cafe and wine bar in the former Mrs Slocombe's cat cafe in Intra. 🍻 The Angel pub in Rainham has [reopened](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video/rainham-pub-sees-its-fifth-owners-in-five-years-64778/?ref=localauthority.news) with its fifth landlord in the space of five years. 🛒 Okay, it's not strictly Medway, but Costco is [consulting](https://www.costcowholesale-maidstone.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) on opening its first Kent store down the road in Aylesford. ### Property of the week This two-bedroom terrace in Cliffe is on the market for £300,000 and, judging by the photos, has been home to someone who takes reading very seriously. It’s a compact, characterful place with an open-plan living and dining space, wood floors, an open fireplace, and a kitchen that looks out onto a well-established garden. There’s a lean-to for the practical bits of life, and upstairs two double bedrooms, one with open-field views that may not last. You also get a driveway, which is never not a win, and the overall impression is of a house that has been lived in rather than staged into blandness. If you want village quiet, scenic walks and the sort of home that suits a bookshelf habit, this could be the one. [Check out this 2 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove2 bedroom terraced house for sale in Church Street, Cliffe, Rochester, ME3 7PJ, ME3 for £250,000\. Marketed by eXp UK, South East![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/9c406aa424102bc9cac81500a0752cb7.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174396728?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🥕 Sun 19 Apr - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🎸 Thu 23 Apr - [**The Love Family**](https://www.facebook.com/events/933489295993382/) // Legendary Medway band play tiny show. 12 Degrees Micropub, Rochester. Free, donations welcome. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Medway's difficult housing decision URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-difficult-housing-decision/ Last updated: 2026-04-16T08:00:39.000Z In March, Medway took two major planning decisions that exemplified the difficulties councils face over housing. The country needs more houses, and the Government has set ambitious targets. It’s easy to agree with that as a general principle, but individual planning decisions are never pain-free. [A recent article in *Local Authority*](https://www.localauthority.news/two-approvals-show-medways-growth-dilemma/) looked at these two contrasting proposals and the very different challenges they faced. There’s the greenfield development at High Halstow, which is, in theory, viable for developers but hugely unpopular locally, contrasted with the brownfield development at the Strand. This has far less opposition but is a good deal more expensive for the council because of all the land remediation work and site clearance that has to be done before a developer will even be interested. And if the council avoids taking either decision it risks planning matters being taken out of its hands and imposed from above. So, what’s the background to all this? Who says we need more houses and why, and how come is this all so difficult? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/AdobeStock_772145965-1.jpeg) Remember the first flush of enthusiasm in the very early days of the Labour Government in 2024? Within 26 days (yes, days) of their General Election victory they [announced a commitment](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/housing-targets-increased-to-get-britain-building-again?ref=localauthority.news) that 1.5 million new homes would be built in England the next five years. That’s 300,000 per year on average. Note that we’re not calling it a commitment *to build* 1.5 million new homes. We’ll come to that later. Anyway, the scale of this ambition was all very eye-catching and attracted a lot of comment, despite the fact that it was pretty similar to the previous Government’s 2019 commitment of 300,000 a year. In the four and a half years of that Government, the commitment was, prepare to be shocked, not met. Not met at all. This didn’t stop the [Conservative 2024 manifesto](https://public.conservatives.com/static/documents/GE2024/Conservative-Manifesto-GE2024.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) upping the ante by promising 1.6 million in the same period. Medway’s contribution to this target was supposed to be 1658 new homes per annum. In line with the national picture, Medway under-delivered on this, with a peak of [1305 houses delivered](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-net-supply-of-housing?ref=localauthority.news) in 2023/24. So, is this Government going to be any more successful? Like the previous Government they’ve also given each council a target based on splitting the 1.5 million between all councils in the country. But there are two key differences. Firstly, the formula they’ve used for calculating housing need is different, leading to some [wild differences](https://www.lgcplus.com/services/regeneration-and-planning/mapped-housing-targets-for-each-council-under-proposed-method-31-07-2024/?ref=localauthority.news) in some councils. But luckily not Medway, which has ended up with only a very slightly reduced annual target of 1644 houses per annum. I say luckily not just because it avoids a massive disruption of existing plans but because it means I don’t need to understand or explain the complexity of the change to the [forecasting models](https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2025-0100/CDP-2025-0100.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) (enter this link at your peril). ## Medway, properly reported. Get clear, independent journalism on Medway’s biggest stories straight to your inbox. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Anyway, Medway’s new draft Local Plan, currently with the Government for examination, sets a requirement of 1636 new homes a year, tantalisingly shy of the target of 1644, which is a bit like a footballer moving the ball a couple of millimetres outside the corner quadrant before taking the kick. We’ll see if they get away with it. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What Medway’s licensing decisions say about its priorities URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-medways-licensing-decisions-say-about-its-priorities/ Last updated: 2026-04-21T18:08:19.000Z **A new bar and restaurant in Strood has been granted a licence after a hearing the applicant did not attend, offering a revealing contrast with Medway’s much tougher approach to supermarket licences in Rochester and Chatham. We also look at how Medway and Dartford are already fighting over territory and influence before local government reorganisation has even been decided, and at Kent and Medway finally managing to relaunch a joint tourism and investment service after months of drift.* ### What Medway’s licensing decisions say about its priorities A new bar and restaurant has been granted a licence for Strood High Street, even though nobody representing the applicant turned up to the [council hearing](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6375&ref=localauthority.news) to make the decision. That was notable in itself. It was also revealing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-14-at-22.38.06-1.png) Former Lloyds Bank on Strood High Street. The venue in question is La Kod Lounge, set for the former Lloyds Bank building. On paper, it is not a bad addition at all. Medway’s own policy says Strood town centre has “little leisure provision” while also saying members are supportive of applications that would positively benefit the area. A new bar and restaurant in Strood is a perfectly normal thing to want in a town centre. The [original application](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=87711&ref=localauthority.news) was not exactly modest. It sought alcohol sales, recorded music and late-night refreshment until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, along with various seasonal and special-date extensions. By the time the hearing came around this morning, that had been negotiated down to 11pm Monday to Thursday, midnight on Sundays and 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, with the extensions dropped. Along the way, the applicant agreed to a fairly chunky set of conditions. Trading Standards got Challenge 25, signage, staff training and refusal logs. Kent Police got CCTV, incident logs, door supervisors on Fridays and Saturdays, bag checks, a dispersal policy, no re-entry after 1am apart from smokers, and restrictions on the outside smoking area. The final operating schedule also included noise control measures, sound checks, closed doors and windows, and a safeguarding policy. So far, so normal. Licensing systems are supposed to do this sort of thing. An overcooked application gets trimmed back, conditions are added, and everyone ends up somewhere more workable. What makes today interesting is what happened next. Chris Webb of the [City of Rochester Society](https://city-of-rochester.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) still turned up to object, having already raised concerns in writing about crime, disorder and nuisance linked to the original 4am proposal. The applicant, meanwhile, did not turn up at all. The panel expressed its disappointment and granted the licence anyway. That is not an argument against La Kod. Strood should have more going on, not less. The interesting bit is what this says about Medway’s willingness to find a workable middle ground, because that willingness has been much harder to spot when the application is for a supermarket. Take Tesco in Rochester. That application was for a Tesco Express at Pullman House on Corporation Street, next to Rochester station. It was not seeking late-night entertainment or 1am drinking. The application before the panel was simply for off-sales alcohol from 10am to 9pm Sunday to Thursday and 10am to 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. [Licensing hearing demonstrates why nothing gets donePlus next Medway Council could be a long one, last call for Medway Question Time, news in brief, and more![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2faef9cde9-8d0f-49c4-98cf-30054abd37d3_1000x524.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/licensing-hearing-demonstrates-why/) Tesco turned up in force. There was a solicitor, a licensing consultant, an operations manager and Tesco’s head of licensing. They answered questions, went through their procedures, and argued that alcohol made up only a small part of the offer, with policies on CCTV, staff training, age checks, and restrictions on stronger products. The panel refused the licence anyway. Its reasoning was straightforward. Because the store sat inside Rochester’s cumulative impact policy area, Tesco had to show exceptional circumstances and demonstrate that granting the licence would not add to the cumulative impact. Being well-run, being part of a large chain, selling alcohol as a small part of the business, and operating similar stores elsewhere were all explicitly treated as not exceptional. Budgens at Chatham Waterfront initially fared no better. Again, the applicant turned up. Again, there were assurances about management, restrictions on stronger products, and that this was a supermarket in a regeneration scheme rather than an off-licence. Again, the panel was unconvinced and refused the application, deciding it was not exceptional enough to justify a new licence in a cumulative impact area, although they did finally approve a revised plan a few months later. There is an obvious policy distinction here. Tesco and Budgens were cumulative impact area cases, which are held to a higher standard. La Kod was in Strood’s stress area. They are not the same thing, and Medway would be right to say so. The council’s own papers make clear that applicants in the Strood stress area are expected to carry out a risk assessment and consider mitigation, rather than overcome the near-presumption against new licences that applies in cumulative impact areas. But that does not really settle the bigger point. Medway says it wants regeneration. It says it wants active town centres. It has backed mixed-use developments in places like Corporation Street and Chatham Waterfront, where ordinary ground-floor retail would seem an obvious fit. Yet when the licensed activity in question is a supermarket selling alcohol as part of everyday shopping, the practical stance has recently been much harsher. Applicants turn up, take the questions, offer conditions, cut back their case, and still find there is no real way through. Today’s decision shows the council is perfectly capable of pragmatism when it wants to be. It can take an ambitious application, shave back the hours, add conditions and still say yes. It just does not seem to offer the same flexibility when the proposal is for a grocery store. That leaves Medway in a slightly odd place. A late-night venue in Strood can find a route through, even with the applicant absent on the day. A Tesco next to Rochester station, with much more modest hours and a much more obviously useful day-to-day offer, turns up in force and is refused. A Budgens in a council-backed regeneration scheme gets the same answer until it doesn't. Each of those decisions can be explained individually. Together, they suggest a council far more comfortable accommodating one kind of licensed activity than another. For an authority that talks a lot about regeneration and active centres, that is a peculiar way to shape a town. ### Medway and Dartford are already fighting before the wedding Medway and Dartford are not even in the same council yet, and they are already butting heads over what that future council might look like. Local government reorganisation, the grandly named process currently underway in Kent and Medway, means the existing tangle of county, district, and our sole unitary council is due to be replaced by a smaller number of much larger authorities. The government consultation on the five options closed at the end of March, and ministers are expected to choose a model this summer. Medway’s own preferred option, [4D](https://kentcouncilleaders.org.uk/lgr-consultation/?ref=localauthority.news), would redraw some existing boundaries and create four new unitaries. This proposal is backed by Canterbury and Ashford. Whatever ministers eventually pick, one thing looks hard to avoid. In most plausible outcomes, Medway and Dartford end up in the same new authority in one form or another. That is what makes the mood around all this more interesting. Two neighbouring areas are already squabbling over whose patch matters, where the centre of gravity should sit, and who gets to define north Kent before the merger has even happened. The bad blood has been there for a while. When Medway initially pushed for 4D, Dartford's objection was not simply that it preferred a different arrangement. The bigger complaint was that Medway seemed rather too relaxed about carving up somebody else’s district. Dartford instead backed Option [5A](https://kentcouncilleaders.org.uk/lgr-consultation/?ref=localauthority.news), a spite map that very deliberately broke up Medway, arguing that it offered the right balance between being big enough to run services efficiently and local enough to understand communities. Its public case for that model stressed “protecting identity,” safeguarding Dartford’s “unique heritage and character,” and keeping things “fair and sustainable” without losing the local connection. That official language was translated into something much blunter in the local political fight. Dartford Conservatives ran a 'Don’t let them divide Dartford' campaign against Medway’s plan, warning that communities including Wilmington, Darenth, Hawley and Bean could be split between successor councils. That was campaign material rather than neutral analysis, but it told you a lot about how Medway’s proposal was being received. What might look, from one angle, like boundary reform was, from another, a neighbour trying to redraw your patch for their own convenience. Dartford and Gravesham’s answer was their own five-unitary model, which would have put Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley and the parts of Medway west of the River Medway into one authority, leaving the rest of Medway elsewhere. Nobody sensible would pretend that was ever the obvious endpoint. But the point was not really whether 5A would win. The point was that Medway had tried to shape the future map to suit itself, and Dartford and Gravesham came back with a version that did exactly the same in reverse. By then, this had already stopped being a dry exercise in tidy structures and become a row about territory, identity and who gets to be in charge. Which brings us to Gun Wharf. When Medway set out plans [last month](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-eyes-46m-housing-buy-from-mystery-provider/) to spend more than £22m refurbishing its headquarters, the formal case was easy enough to follow. The building has RAAC and other longstanding issues and needs major work. But the scheme also includes a flexible chamber with room for up to 100 councillors, plus space for the press and public. That is not just a council fixing a difficult building. It is also a council making sure it has a headquarters that looks ready-made for a much larger authority if that is where reorganisation lands. From Medway’s perspective, that is practical planning. If north Kent is going to be reorganised, someone will need somewhere to run it from. From Dartford’s point of view, it looks rather different. Cllr Michael Brown, the Reform leader at Dartford Borough Council, has accused Medway of trying to lock in “a new home for the council 20 miles away from Dartford” before the shape of the future authority has even been settled. Brown is putting that in the most excitable terms possible, but the underlying complaint is easy enough to grasp. If you already think Medway has spent the past year trying to arrange north Kent around itself, then a £22m rebuild of the building it hopes might house the successor authority does not look neutral. It looks like Medway is getting its claim in early. We still do not know what model ministers will pick. But if Medway and Dartford do end up sharing a council, as looks entirely possible across a wide range of scenarios, they will not be starting from a position of warm mutual trust. They are already arguing about map lines, local identity, jobs, power and where the new centre should sit. The merger has not happened yet, but the territorial politics very clearly have. ### Medway and KCC finally manage to work together Medway Council and Kent County Council have launched a new Grow in Kent service to handle tourism and inward investment, but the real story is that this is the thing they were supposed to be doing all along. When Visit Kent and Locate in Kent [collapsed last autumn](https://www.kentcurrent.news/kents-tourism-megaphone-suddenly/?ref=localauthority.news), the two councils moved quickly to sketch out a rescue plan under the Brand Kent banner. The idea was to take the work in-house, preserve the expertise and stop the county from completely losing the organisations that had spent years trying to sell Kent and Medway to tourists, investors and businesses. It all sounded sensible enough. Then it turned into another row between County Hall and Gun Wharf. [Kent and Medway’s relationship seems increasingly strainedHow a plan to save Kent’s tourism voice became another casualty of Reform’s chaos. Plus anti-immigration march is off, news in brief, and more![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd387b59e-d1b7-4f4d-8451-57cc75ac3972_7008x3944.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/kent-and-medways-relationship-seems/) At the time, what was meant to look like a joint recovery effort instead became a neat example of how awkward the Kent-Medway relationship had become. The politics around local government reorganisation were already poisoning the atmosphere, and even something as apparently straightforward as rescuing the county’s tourism and investment machinery managed to descend into irritation and finger-pointing. Now, several months on, the replacement has finally arrived anyway. Under the new setup, the tourism side will continue under the familiar [Visit Kent](https://www.visitkent.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) name, while inward investment work will sit under a new [Invest Kent](https://www.investkent.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) brand. Kent County Council and Medway Council say the new team includes former employees of the collapsed organisations and that it has taken on Visit Kent’s assets, including its websites, branding and social media accounts. So this is less a shiny new invention than a tidied-up version of what was already happening. The official language is about continuity, partnership, and ensuring Kent remains an attractive place to live, visit, and invest. KCC says tourism and inward investment together are worth more than £4.1bn, while Medway’s regeneration portfolio holder [Harinder Mahil](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-doing-this-for-the-sake-of-a-political-career/) said he was pleased the work would continue and that the new partnership would help both residents and businesses. “The county has a lot to offer visitors, with Medway alone welcoming nearly five million visitors each year to enjoy our vast historical and cultural sites and attractions, as well as our leisure scene,” he said. The [press release](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2060/medway%5Fcouncil%5Fand%5Fkent%5Fcounty%5Fcouncil%5Flaunch%5Fnew%5Fgrow%5Fin%5Fkent%5Fservice?ref=localauthority.news) also leans on BAE Systems’ £220m investment in Rochester as an example of the kind of long-term business presence Kent and Medway want to attract and retain. All of which is fair enough, as far as it goes. But this is not some great new economic development breakthrough. It is the formal launch of a smaller replacement for two bodies that went under last year, wrapped in a new name and accompanied by the old promises about Kent’s potential. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### "A good wig is something that doesn't look like a wig” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-good-wig-is-something-that-doesnt-look-like-a-wig/ Last updated: 2026-04-15T12:18:35.000Z *Steven met mother and daughter team Desiree and Raine Nurse at Cleopatra's Beauti Spot on the corner of Military Road in Chatham. They discussed setting up their Cleopatra's Legacy CIC, the work they do for cancer patients in Medway, their journey to Medway, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/image-5-1.png) Desiree Nurse. **What is your official occupation?** **Desiree:** Officially, I'm a business owner of [Cleopatra's Beauti Spot](https://www.facebook.com/cleopatras.chatham) and co-founder and director of [Cleopatra’s Legacy CIC](https://www.cleopatraslegacy.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). **Raine:** I am the administrator for Cleopatra's Beauti Spot and the other co-founder for Cleopatra’s Legacy CIC. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** **Desiree:** At the moment, I am on the Community Health Voices for the NHS and ICB *\[Integrated Care Board\]*. I am also one of the business advisors’ team for Medway Council. I also sit on the IAG *\[Independent Advisory Group\]* for the Police, and I think that's about it. Actually, I'm on the panel for the victims support team for Kent and Medway Police. **What is Cleopatra’s Legacy?** **Desiree:** Cleopatra’s Legacy has become a hub, a hug. We have evolved into our own little ecosystem in terms of the needs that we provide, which is a lot more than a hairdressers. What we've done is listen to the needs of everybody that's come through the door and try to meet that, with the core foundation being Cleopatra and my grandmother and what she did. We try to find solutions for anybody in need. They would come into Cleopatra’s Beauti Spot to meet their hair needs, and we've evolved over time. What subsequently happened is that when we started Cleopatra’s Beauti Spot, people would come to us for wigs having dermatological issues like psoriasis and bad scarring, or being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Over time, we've evolved to meet the needs of those clients in terms of providing headwear, wigs, and installation systems. But then, having conversations with these individuals coming to meet the hair needs, we've then identified that they were struggling more than that. The ones that were diagnosed with cancer, and that was quite a lot, coming through the doors wanting wigs, we identified that they needed assistance in terms of mastectomy wear, breast forms, adhesive eyebrows and nipples and all these different things. The level of anxiety that they'd have upon diagnosis. Again, being who I am, thought, “How can we solve this problem and relieve these ladies or people going through these most trying times of their life and really struggling to get their needs met?” I'd done some research and realised that nobody's done a one-stop solution in terms of meeting the needs and not just cancer patients, but people that have different needs altogether. We embarked on training at Medway Hospital... Did I jump a step? **Raine:** I think you did. You're going back now, aren't you? **Desiree:** What happened? Before we jumped to the mastectomy wear? Firstly, you need to forgive me because I have had a stroke and I have brain damage. My memory's all over the shop floor, and I'm going through menopause. **That's why we've got Raine joining in.** **Desiree:** Yes! We had a lot of women coming through Cleopatra's Beauti Spot for the wig needs. Some of them would come from the hospital literally in tears and say, “I've just been given this wig from the hospital. It's not fit for purpose. I hate it. Can you help?” We had about eight of them coming in a month. Firstly, it's a waste on the NHS, and secondly, they're not getting the needs met, and that causes more anxiety. One day, a lady came through the doors in tears, and she was crying. “I just got this wig, I'm gonna start my chemo.” I went in the private room, fitted her with her wig. She was happy, because it looked like her hair. A few weeks later, we started a contract with the hospital providing the wigs. We started in October 2014, and that ended in 2022\. That is another story. We saw over 400 people coming through the doors diagnosed with one type of illness or the other. About 80% was cancer, of which the majority was breast cancer. The clinical staff in the hospital was doing their job, and we were bridging that gap in terms of meeting those needs, having conversations with these people. Then fast forward, we had a conversation about the anxiety levels and the mastectomy wear, and then I had the training done through that manager in the hospital. We came up with the one-stop solution. We then embarked on having further conversations with these individuals and realised that a majority had no knowledge. It was an accidental finding. Some of them have a wider history of breast cancer, they still don't know how to routinely check. Then we started working on breast cancer awareness. **Why did you decide to become a Community Interest Company?** **Raine:** Before we became a CIC, we did not have much knowledge of it. We didn't know what it was. But at the time, a business had opened next door to us, which raised a little bit of concern at the time because they were going to be seemingly replicating what we're doing right next door. We reached out to Medway Council to see if anything could be done to avoid that, and the answer was no. But they did supply us with a business advisor who came into us and was offering us support in regard to the business. We were already, as Desiree said, offering that support to the community. But we were just Cleopatra’s Beauti Spot . He said, well, they should be separated and because there's such a huge community element of that aspect, it would make more sense for you to become a Community Interest Company. We went ahead and we looked into that. We recognised that this sounds ideal. Also, we'd be able to have an umbrella that we could have them both under. So Cleopatra’s Legacy CIC was born. > I want it to be that place that will bring light and life to people **What is Cleopatra's Beauti Spot?** **Desiree:** We have created our own ecosystem, where we start by looking at somebody's image and then we... **Raine:** The question is about Cleopatra's Beauti Spot. **Desiree:** Right, okay. I can see why you're here. Cleopatra's Beauti Spot was founded in 2007, and that was on the back of the growing diverse community that was building in Medway. We had moved here from London, and we had to go back to London for hair care products and services. We started with Cleopatra's Beauti Spot, and that was in Chatham InShops in the Trafalgar Centre, in a little unit. **Raine:** What is it? **Desiree:** Oh god. **Raine:** It's a hairdresser's that supports everybody within the community. When it originally started, we were supporting the growing African-Caribbean demographic. Over time, we were able to support everybody that needed our services, and that's what we do. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/1000061834-1.jpg) Desiree (third from right) and Raine (far right), outside of their former Chatham High Street shop. **Why is it called Cleopatra's?** **Desiree:** Cleopatra was the name of my grandmother. I grew up in Trinidad, and my earlier years was with my grandmother Cleopatra. Fortunately for us, my grandfather used to work for the oil company. His work provided living accommodation for staff members, because he was senior staff. We were living in a village that had about 80 families and households. One of the core memories I have of my grandmother is that no matter what happened in that village, somebody would come to the house, whether it be financial issues, food, marital issues, children issues, whatever the case might be, and she'd always find a solution for them. That was that house in that village that everybody will gravitate to for good times or bad times. What was quite core to me is that they'll never leave that house without a smile. She was fundamental to my upbringing and core to who I am. Calling the business Cleopatra's, I want it to be that place that will bring light and life to people. **Raine, how did you come to be involved in Cleopatra's Beauti Spot? Did you have a choice?** **Raine:** Dragged in, kicking and screaming *(laughs)*. I think when I realised how passionate my mum was about it, and I also saw how beneficial it was to the community. It made sense to come on board and help support her with that. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### No denying shit season URL: https://www.localauthority.news/no-denying-shit-season/ Last updated: 2026-04-14T08:04:01.000Z *Gillingham FC’s performances since Ben Hopkins’ previous update have been mostly terrible, but early signs suggest that April has delivered a modicum of improvement...* **The games** Cambridge was the best of times and the worst of times. On a personal level, it was one of the most entertaining away days in my memory. Yet if you know a Gillingham fan, you’ll probably have been subject to the unofficial club lore that match days are brilliant… but if only you could skip the part between 3pm-5pm. Gills at least left it until 3.02pm to go a goal down. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/image-6-1.png) Cambridge, away: 4.11pm on the clock and Gills were already losing 4-0\. Photo: Ben Hopkins. Plenty of us were still waiting to filter into the stand when a cheer rang out. “I take it we’re losing already,” someone muttered. The response? “Well, we’re not likely to score this early, are we?” The match was as good as over, but Gills managed to leak a further four goals for good measure. After arguably the worst performance of the season (although there has been plenty of competition for that dubious honour in 2026 alone), a spirited but somehow also lacklustre 2-0 home defeat to Swindon was at least an improvement. Home to Bristol Rovers actually saw Gills take the lead via a slightly lucky penalty, only to return after half-time flatter than last year’s pancakes and sink to a 2-1 defeat - complete with one of the most dim-witted reasons for a red card imaginable courtesy of captain Armani Little. Another sizable away following at Crawley appeared to at least be rewarded with a boring goalless draw… only for Crawley to score twice late on, prompting the remaining Gills fans to chant, “We turn up, so why can't you?” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/image-7-1.png) Bristol Rovers, home: The first sign of summer sun… but the same old standard of football. Photo: Ben Hopkins. So naturally no one had high hopes going into April, but some strong individual performances and less emphasis on long balls saw Gills land a credible 2-2 draw at Walsall and then comfortably defeat Accrington 2-0 at Priestfield. ## Medway, properly reported Clear, independent journalism on Medway’s biggest stories. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. The scores don’t add much of interest to the league table. Last month, I predicted a finish of 13th-17th, but now I’ll downgrade a touch to 15th-19th. The last time Gillingham finished as low as 19th in the fourth tier was in 1995\. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A decade of life can depend on which bit of Medway you live in URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-decade-of-life-can-depend-on-which-bit-of-medway-you-live-in/ Last updated: 2026-04-17T17:23:23.000Z **A new Marmot report says life expectancy in Medway varies by more than a decade depending on where you live, with the biggest gaps between the most and least deprived neighbourhoods. We look at what the report finds and what Medway’s Marmot Place ambitions amount to, alongside the week's council business, news in brief, property and the week's events.* ### A decade of life can depend on which bit of Medway you live in A new report says men in the most deprived part of Medway can expect to live more than 10 years less than those in the least deprived, with an even bigger gap for women. The council says becoming a [Marmot Place](https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/taking-action/marmot-places?ref=localauthority.news) will help close that divide. When Medway Council talks about health inequalities, it is easy for the language to drift into the usual public-sector fog of partnerships, networks and strategic approaches. The new [Marmot report](https://dmscdn.vuelio.co.uk/publicitem/891fb180-012a-45ce-b34f-5f9c306c211c?ref=localauthority.news) does at least have the decency to begin with something harder to ignore. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Marmot2-1.jpg) Life expectancy can differ by over a decade between Luton and Rainham. In Medway, a man living in Luton, the most deprived part of the towns can expect to live 10.21 years less than one in Rainham South West, the least deprived. For women, the gap is 12.99 years. That is the sort of statistic that strips away the abstractions. A decade of life is not a rounding error or a slight difference in outcomes. It is the sort of gap that tells you people in the same area are living very different lives and dying very different deaths. This is the backdrop to Medway’s attempt to become an official Marmot Place, part of a wider programme linked to the UCL Institute of Health Equity and Professor Sir Michael Marmot. The basic idea behind the Marmot approach is simple enough. Health is shaped not just by healthcare but also by the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. If you want to narrow the gap, you have to think about housing, jobs, schools, income, transport and the quality of the places people live in, not just hospitals and GP surgeries. Since April 2024, Medway has been working with the institute on that basis. Its stated ambition is to halve, over the next ten years, the gap in life expectancy between Medway and England, halve the gap in life expectancy between the best and worst-off areas in Medway, and halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between Medway and England. Calling the report “an important milestone and a big step for Medway,” Deputy Council Leader [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/) said it showed how organisations across Medway were “working together on this path of improvement” and helping to create “better lifestyles and outcomes for generations to come.” Michael Marmot struck a similar note, saying Medway had set “an ambitious goal to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy over the next decade” and arguing the report offered “real optimism about what can be done” if that ambition is followed by practical action. That is certainly the upbeat version. The grimmer one is laid out in the report itself. It says Medway is more deprived than England as a whole, with sharp internal divides. It points to high levels of child poverty in parts of the towns, says premature mortality for under-75s in Medway’s most deprived areas is nearly double the England average, and notes that Medway ranks second worst among its statistical neighbours for households in temporary accommodation. It also places some of this in the context of the post-2010 squeeze on local government. According to the report, central government funding to Medway fell by 55.5% between 2010/11 and 2020/21, while overall spending power fell by 27.2% even after council tax rises. So the diagnosis is clear enough. Medway has serious internal inequality, and in some parts of the towns, that translates into people dying much earlier than in others. The harder question is what, exactly, the Marmot programme changes. At this stage, the answer is still a bit fuzzy. The report’s first practical priority is early years, childhood and young people. It talks about reducing inequalities in early development, improving family support, tackling school inequality, and focusing on young people who are not in education, employment or training. Beyond that, much of the language focuses on strengthening partnerships, identifying “anchor organisations”, improving commissioning, embedding equity in decision making, and building a wider Medway health equity network. An action plan with more detail is due later in 2026\. That does not make the exercise pointless. Plenty of local policy failures begin with councils refusing to describe the problem honestly. Medway’s report, to its credit, does describe it honestly. It is much better at setting out the scale of the divide than pretending a few good-news case studies have already solved it. Medway now has a recognised framework for talking about how where you live in towns can cost you a decade of life. The real test will be whether the Marmot Place project turns into something residents can actually feel in housing, schools, work, transport and day-to-day support, or whether it ends up as another impressive-looking badge pinned to a system that already knows it is failing too many people. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Licensing Hearing Panel](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6375&ref=localauthority.news) will decide on a premises licence for a new bar/restaurant in Strood that initially sought to open until 4am. This has been reduced, and everyone is happy with the plan except the City of Rochester Society, which continues to object. - **Wednesday:** [Councillor Conduct Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=404&MId=6376&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss a complaint against a Medway councillor. We can't tell you who it is because public complaints against elected councillors are heard behind closed doors. - **Thursday:** [Health and Wellbeing Board](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=408&MId=6374&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss various health and wellbeing issues. **New planning applications:** - Just the one new HMO application this week, for [Balmoral Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TC3CVMKNGYQ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. ### In brief 🏗️ There might finally be some [movement on the Spembley building](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/fresh-hope-for-town-s-troubled-eyesore-that-looks-like-an-a-338714/?ref=localauthority.news), the apocalyptic block of flats that looms over the skyline of Chatham. 🪦 A project has been launched to [restore](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/campaign-launched-to-restore-gravestone-of-postal-pioneer-be-338587/?ref=localauthority.news) the gravestone of Thomas Waghorn in Snodland, but it is unclear whether cones will be involved. ⚰️ St Margaret's Church in Rainham has one of the [best preserved](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crm1v7x3ynmo?ref=localauthority.news) crypts in England. 💉 It's [covid jab o'clock](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckge6kmzev0o?ref=localauthority.news) once again for those over 75, care home residents, and anyone else with a weakened immune system. 🏥 Medway Hospital is looking for its [2026 Hospital Hero](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/search-begins-for-medway-maritime-hospital-hero-2026/?ref=localauthority.news), awarded to a member of staff who made an exceptional difference to someone's care. 🏆 Nominations are [now open](https://docs.google.com/forms/u/2/d/e/1FAIpQLScMAxe86R1XR0aDnmTmhGGI4koD%5Ft%5FpjwcZ1Iw-gxsTgM8wBQ/viewform?ref=localauthority.news) for the Rainham Community Awards, the Oscars of east Medway. 📰 Our sister title, the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), turned one this week. We reflected on that first year, how things are going, and what the future might look like. [Happy birthday to usOne year of the Kent Current![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/KC-NEW-LOGO-SQUARE-8.png)Kent CurrentEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/KC_Birthday-1.jpg)](https://www.kentcurrent.news/happy-birthday-to-us/?ref=localauthority.news) ⚫ Finally, we were sad to belatedly hear of the [death of Mark Templeton](https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2025/news/journalist-who-worked-for-six-regional-dailies-dies-aged-53/?ref=localauthority.news), former Senior Press Officer at Medway Council. When we first started doing our independent journalism thing over a decade ago, Mark kindly granted us access to the press desk at Medway Council and give the same access as the ‘proper’ news organisations. It's not an exaggeration to say that part of where we are now is due to his support. [Wrexham journalist Mark Templeton dies aged 53 - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPageFormer news editor had rare incurable disease![](https://static.ghost.org/v5.0.0/images/link-icon.svg)HoldtheFrontPageDavid Sharman![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/Mark-Templeton-e1765902562523.jpg)](https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2025/news/journalist-who-worked-for-six-regional-dailies-dies-aged-53/?ref=localauthority.news) ### Property of the week This two-bedroom end-of-terrace Victorian house in Rochester is on the market for £290,000, and the listing isn't joking when it calls it tucked away. It sits at the end of a no-through cul-de-sac, set back from the road behind mature planting, with a south-facing rear garden that feels properly established rather than something assembled for Rightmove. Inside, it has the familiar Victorian layout with fireplaces, two genuine doubles and a bathroom that is unusually generous for a house of this type, plus a loft room for anyone who wants an office, a hobby space, or simply somewhere to go when the rest of the house is being loud. There is also a brick-built outbuilding doing utility duty, which is one of those small, practical perks that becomes strangely important once you have it. The listing says you can move straight in, and this looks less like a quick flip and more like a house that has been quietly looked after. [Check out this 2 bedroom end of terrace house for sale on Rightmove2 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in Clive Road, Rochester, ME1 3DA, ME1 for £290,000\. Marketed by eXp UK, South East![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-15.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/7e652d1c2e64e2f3d98a1edc8d57b96a.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/174107324?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week ✍️ Sat 11 Apr - [**Writing from Life**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-from-life-tickets-1984901167825?ref=localauthority.news) // Local writer Maria McCarthy leads writing exercises to spark inspiration. French Hospital, Rochester. Tickets from £12. 🗣️ Mon 13 Apr - [**The History of Witchcraft and Women**](https://www.ticketsource.com/midkent/t-njjvdjm?ref=localauthority.news) // Talk examining magic, rituals, and the patriarchy. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets £14. 🐦‍⬛ Thu 16 Apr - [**Hoo Sounds Walk**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hoo-spring-sounds-walk-4-tickets-1981561697379?ref=localauthority.news) // Artist Jane Pitt and local bird experts lead a walk to hear the seasonal sounds of the peninsula. Hoo Peninsula. Free. 🎭 16 - 25 Apr - [**Bouncers**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news) // Amateur production that takes the audience on a night out to a 90s disco. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £12. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Medway’s Local Plan is starting to wobble URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-local-plan-is-starting-to-wobble/ Last updated: 2026-04-15T07:49:36.000Z **Medway’s Local Plan has reached the examination stage, but the inspectors’ first letter suggests the difficult part may only just be beginning. Concerns have been raised across legal compliance, Green Belt release, traveller provision, housing delivery, consultation gaps and environmental mitigation, leaving the council facing a much broader challenge than simply defending where development should go...* ### Medway’s Local Plan is starting to wobble When Medway Council finally submitted its Local Plan at the end of last year, the obvious temptation was to treat that as the milestone. After years of delays, revisions and consultations, the thing was at last in the hands of the Planning Inspectorate. The long slog was over. The rest would just be a straightforward process. The inspectors’ [first letter](https://medway.oc2.uk/docfiles/41/MLPED5%20Inspectors'%20Initial%20Queries%20Letter%20to%20Medway%20Council%2027-03-26.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) to Chief Planning Officer Dave Harris suggests otherwise. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/AdobeStock_549535909--1--1.jpeg) This is not a polite note asking for a few loose ends to be tied up. Before any hearings have even started, the inspectors say they have identified “some areas of particular concern” and want answers across a remarkably wide stretch of the plan. Among the inspectors' concerns are: - Legal compliance - Housing delivery - Green Belt release - Traveller provision - Evidence gaps - Environmental mitigation - Whether key documents arrived too late for proper public scrutiny - Whether the plan period itself still works Phew. That does not kill the plan, but strips away any idea that this examination is starting from a position of comfort. Medway now has until 27 April to send back an initial response and a timetable for the further work the inspectors are already expecting. The letter makes it clear that this is unlikely to be dealt with in a single tidy exchange. The inspectors even flag the possibility of further consultation before hearings can even begin. For a council that has spent years trying to get an up-to-date Local Plan over the line, this is already an awkward place to be. The larger problem is timing. The plan was plainly being advanced on the basis that it would be adopted by the end of 2026 or in the early part of 2027\. If it slips much beyond that, it starts running into Medway’s May 2027 elections and the wider local government reorganisation process that will see Medway disappear in its current form. A document meant to shape the area to 2041 becomes much harder to present as settled policy if the authority trying to adopt it is heading into its final electoral cycle before abolition. Some of the things now troubling the inspectors were visible well before submission. *Local Authority* [reported in January](https://www.localauthority.news/labour-councillors-raise-red-flags-over-medways-local-plan/) that the plan had gone forward despite formal objections from within the ruling Labour group, including warnings that parts of it were unsound and not legally compliant. At the time, those looked politically awkward. The inspectors’ letter does not amount to a wholesale endorsement of them, but it does show that some of the same ground is now being fought over in the examination. [Labour councillors raise red flags over Medway’s Local PlanPlus Ofsted’s inspection of children’s services and Medway’s on alert Kent’s water network comes under strain![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--29.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/AdobeStock_795727292-2-1.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/labour-councillors-raise-red-flags-over-medways-local-plan/) One of the most contentious parts of the Local Plan is the release of Green Belt land to the west of Strood for development. That was always going to be politically difficult. It became harder when it arrived late enough in the process to look less like a long-settled strategy and more like a significant change of direction. Cllr Stephen Hubbard, Labour councillor for Strood North and Frindsbury, said in his formal representation that the residential-led allocation on Strood’s Green Belt was “the flaw in the plan.” He argued that the housing numbers were wrong, pointed to the omission of the Commissioners Road quarry development, and attacked the late-stage Green Belt case that underpinned the switch. The inspectors are now asking Medway to explain what consultation actually took place on that Green Belt release before submission, what documents were available at the time, how the methodology was applied, how parcels were defined and in some cases merged, why some land was taken forward and not other land, and how far the whole thing depends on the adjoining position in Gravesham. One of the sharpest political rows in the plan is now at the heart of the formal examination. Traveller provision is under the same kind of pressure. At the time, we also reported on Cllr Satinder Shokar’s objection to the council’s approach to Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation. He argued that the plan failed to allocate the required sites, did not properly reflect the council’s own evidence, and risked failing a protected community. The plan instead relies on a criteria-based policy and the intensification or expansion of existing sites. The inspectors say plainly that they have concerns about the soundness of that approach. They point to discrepancies between the need figures in the accommodation evidence and the lower figures quoted in the plan. They ask the council to explain why it believes a criteria-based policy is enough where there is an identified need. They also question why the plan is relying on intensification and expansion rather than making allocations. Hoo presents a different problem. The row there is not just about the scale of growth or the sensitivity of the surrounding environment, but about the shape of the process itself. In March, Richard Buxton Solicitors [wrote to the inspectors](https://medway.oc2.uk/docfiles/41/MLPED4%20Letter%20to%20the%20Inspectors%20from%20Richard%20Buxton%20on%20behalf%20of%20Cllr.%20Michael%20Pearce%20obo%20Save%20the%20Hoo%20Peninsula.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) on behalf of Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) and the Save the Hoo Peninsula campaign. Their complaint was straightforward. A substantial body of supporting evidence, including habitats work, flood risk material, transport documents, infrastructure planning and topic papers, was published when the plan was submitted in December rather than during the Regulation 19 consultation stage, effectively the final pre-submission consultation. Their argument is that these were not minor extras. They were material additions and changes to the evidential basis of the plan, and people should have had the chance to comment on them properly before submission. The inspectors have clearly taken that point seriously. In their own letter, they ask the council to clarify which submission documents were unavailable during Regulation 19 and how the council proposes to address this. They refer directly to the issues raised in the Save the Hoo Peninsula submission. That leaves the council facing something more uncomfortable than the usual fight over where homes should go. The argument is no longer only about policy choices. It is also about whether people were ever really consulted on the final evidential basis of the plan. The [Regulation 19 draft](https://medway.oc2.uk/docfiles/30/Medway%20Local%20Plan%20%28Regulation%2019,%202025%29.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) itself helps explain how the council ended up here. Read now, it contains some of the loose threads the inspectors are pulling at. The first is the plan period. This is a Local Plan to 2041\. The housing requirement is projected on that basis. The whole document is framed around that end date. That works much better if adoption happens quickly. Once delays start creeping in, the obvious question follows. If the plan is not adopted during 2026, how does a document ending in 2041 still satisfy the usual requirement that a Local Plan cover at least 15 years from the date it is adopted? The inspectors have asked exactly that.f The second is the policy structure. The plan says its policies are grouped as strategic, thematic and development management. The inspectors are now asking a question the document leaves hanging: Are the thematic policies strategic or non-strategic? It sounds dry, but it is basic plan architecture. The third is the habitats work. The Regulation 19 draft states that the Habitats Regulations Assessment supporting the plan is interim and will be updated before submission, once the air quality work is complete. In hindsight, that line carries a lot more weight than it might have done at the time. It helps explain why Hoo campaigners are so exercised about post-consultation ecological material, and why the inspectors are now asking how the submission HRA, mitigation arrangements and policy wording fit together. The fourth is housing delivery. The plan sets out overall housing supply through pipeline sites, allocations and windfalls. What it does not appear to do, in any clear way, is include the housing trajectory that inspectors would usually expect to see, setting out the likely rate of delivery over time. The inspectors now want that too. Taken one by one, some of these problems may be fixable. The inspectors even say as much in places, noting that some points could be addressed through formal changes made during examination. The accumulation is the issue. This is not one awkward query buried in the margins. It is a stack of questions about whether the plan is complete, clear, legally robust and backed by the right evidence in the right form. The clock makes that harder. If Medway can answer the inspectors quickly, keep any further consultation under control, get to the hearings without too much drift, and steer through the modifications at pace, the administration can still hope to claim that it delivered the Local Plan before the ground shifted beneath it. It would not be pretty, but it would still be theirs. If not, the calculation changes. A Local Plan still unresolved by the time Medway heads into the May 2027 elections stops being a difficult planning document and becomes campaign material. The Strood Green Belt, Hoo growth, infrastructure promises, and environmental mitigation all become available to anyone who wants to turn a planning dispute into an electoral one, which is to say most people involved in local politics. After that comes the stranger question of ownership. Medway is not moving into an ordinary next term. It is moving towards local government reorganisation and the end of the authority in its current form. Formally, that does not mean the Local Plan simply collapses if it reaches 2027\. Politically, the whole thing becomes much less neat. A document designed to shape Medway to 2041 looks rather less anchored if the council trying to adopt it is itself heading for the exit. The council can still recover this. The inspectors have not killed the plan. But the easy version of the story has gone. Submission was not the end of the hard part. On this evidence, it may have been the point where a different kind of trouble began. If that trouble lasts too long, Medway may find itself trying to adopt its most important planning document just as the council that wrote it is heading into an election, and then into history. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “I’m not doing this for the sake of a political career“ URL: https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-doing-this-for-the-sake-of-a-political-career/ Last updated: 2026-04-05T06:00:56.000Z *Harinder Mahil has been a councillor on Medway Council since 2019\. Since then, he has become portfolio holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment and the co-owner of one of Medway's best restaurants. Steven met him at his home, where they sat in the garden and talked about why he is not a doctor, redrawing political maps, how he came to co-own Gurkha Fire, and the circumstances behind a smear campaign...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/Harinder-Mahil_001-1.JPG) Cllr Harinder Mahil. **What is your official occupation?** For the sake of *Local Authority*, I guess it would be portfolio holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment. **We'll break down what that means in a bit.** **Do you have any other additional roles, paid or unpaid?** Yeah. I'm one of the owners of [Gurkha Fire](https://www.gurkhafirechatham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a restaurant in Chatham. I also sit on a few boards, but the only one outside of the council that is relevant is the [Chatham Historic Dockyard](https://thedockyard.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) Trust. I'm a trustee there. **What political parties have you been a member of?** Only the Labour Party. **Are you Labour or is it Labour and Co-operative?** Labour and Co-operative, to be specific. The Co-operative Party is a sister party, and I'm very much a paid-up member of the Co-operative Party as well. **When did your name first appear on a ballot?** That would have been 2015. **Was that as a paper candidate, or was that an active campaign?** It was very much a target at the time. It was Strood South, and for a while, it was looking like we would get it. However, there was this little thing of a defection of a certain Mark Reckless to UKIP, and then the whole world got turned upside down. It turned out Strood South was one of the bits that got turned upside down the most. **When did you join the Labour Party?** I think I've always been Labour aligned, Labour voter, but I think I actuallyjoined in late 2012\. I remember it being at university. **Was there a particular moment that led you to join at that time?** I'd say the reason is I had always been left-leaning. If you go back long enough, very left-leaning. At King's College London, it had the Department of Political Economy that has connotations with [public choice theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public%5Fchoice?ref=localauthority.news), with libertarianism, with Austrian School of Economics and so that from someone who is left leaning or even on the left as I am, actually got me. It was quite challenging, because they were putting forward really well thought out academic arguments, ones I don't agree with, but ones that really had to make me sharpen my views on what I believed in and where I stood. That ended up pushing me more into a practical political direction. At that point, I thought, I'll join the Labour Party and get involved in the club at university. I do remember that I actually got a letter from the late councillor *\[Nick\]* Bowler. It was a recruitment drive, and those two things happening at the same time got me to sign up to the Labour Party locally, and then there's a whole bunch of stuff that followed on from that. I would say the combination of good, effective local engagement from a great man, Nick Bowler, and me sharpening my academic position. **In the time you've been a member, who's been the best leader of the Labour Party?** I think I'm going to have to go with Keir Starmer because he's actually had to face being a Prime Minister and taking the decisions. I was really energised and aligned with the things that Ed Miliband was talking about in terms of pre-distribution and reforming markets away from predatory capitalism. However, the fact that Keir Starmer has practically got us the win, we've actually formed a government, just can't be underestimated how big an achievement that is, regardless of how you think he's performed as a Prime Minister. As a leader, he's got us there. **Which ward are you the councillor for?** Fort Pitt. **Why that ward?** Simply because I live here. **Fort Pitt is a new ward. How would you describe it?** I would have called it Intra, and if my submission had been accepted completely and fully, as opposed to only 95% of it, it would have been called Intra. I would say it is everything in between Chatham Maidstone Road and City Way. It also includes the Intra bit attached to the river, and it goes as far west on the northern end to the railway, the Victoria line, and on the eastern part, it cuts across some alleys, which I can show you on a map. I would love to get a map out if you're up for it. **No, it's fine.** **Where were you born?** All Saints, Chatham. **What brought your parents to Medway?** My parents arrived in 1967, but they first arrived in Gravesend. They followed my uncle. This is when there was an invitation to come to the UK and to help build what was then still the post-war economy, although it had been some time after that. There were factories in Gravesend, and so my family were originally a Gravesham family. **Where had they come from?** Oh, Punjab in India. My dad got involved in the construction industry. He then moved to Chatham in the mid 80s. **What jobs did your parents do when you were growing up?** My mum used to work in various industries around Chatham, which don't exist in the same way anymore, but they employed a lot of women at the time for a lot of manual work. My dad was in the construction industry for a long time. He then went into house renovation. He would buy houses, build them and then sell them on. He opened up a partnership with my uncle, opened up a bed and breakfast. They sold that and are retired now. **Did you enjoy school?** I loved school. I went to the Math School, and I really enjoyed it. It was the best time of my life, really. I had the benefit of a Labour government and the investment in schools. I had the benefit of being in a good grammar in Medway. I had fantastic teachers and supportive parents that wanted me to thrive. I had a model education. > I have to do something that challenges me to keep me going **What did you specialise in at sixth form?** I did Biology, Chemistry, Physics. This is where it all went wrong for me. Deciding what you want to be at that age is just a really bad idea. I was lazy. I didn't have the imagination to think beyond what my sister had done. My oldest sister, who's a doctor and was the first in our family to go to university. I actually studied medicine for two years. After the first year, I realised this isn't for me. I make a joke, where I usually say, “Then I realised I had Asian parents and I could not be a doctor.” But the truth is, my parents never forced me to be a doctor. I think I knew it would make them happy, but it was my decision. But when I was there, it was becoming obvious that it really wasn't right for me. I could learn anything. I could get good grades at anything I put my mind to. I realised then that I have to be interested in something. I have to do something that challenges me to keep me going. I then did politics at King's College London. **What role has faith played in your life?** Quite a big role. I was incredibly religious for a period of my life. I was born in a Sikh household and family. I would say my family are typically religious in that. It was a cultural thing more than a religious thing, and for me, I was always interested in either spirituality or philosophy. Growing up, I always had more questions than my parents had answers to. I got more religious. There was a period of my life where I kept a turban and a beard and was considering being baptised. Then, over that six-year period, towards the end of it, the last year, I was questioning pretty much all of it. Then there was my sister's trial, which I think precipitated a crisis in faith, if you want to call it that. Since then, I've probably described myself as agnostic or atheist. I take Sikhism as more of what is my heritage. It's something I can't let go of in terms of it's still a shared history. There are shared traumas, there are shared victories, there are shared stories that the Sikh people have that makes Sikhism. As well as just a religion, it's also a heritage that people hold on to, and for me, it plays that role. **What was your first full-time job?** My first full-time job was working in a factory stacking plastic boxes. **Have you ever worked for the national Labour Party?** After the Rochester West by-election, I then worked for the Labour Party in the data and targeting team. Campaign technology in particular, which really did help in terms of getting the strategy together and getting Medway’s campaigning ability up and running. It was a fantastic job. I didn't even think at that point in time, I thought I would leave it **Why did you?** My brother had a few months, we weren't sure at the time, left to live. I decided to hand in my notice and spend that time that I had left. I decided, following that, that I'd open up the restaurant. **You were first elected for Chatham Central in 2019\. Then, in the last local election in 2023, there was a** [**smear campaign**](https://www.localauthority.news/fear-and-loathing-on-the-campaign/)**. Why not in 2019?** Because the person orchestrating the smear campaign at that time probably thought it was better keeping me onside, because they think very instrumentally. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### When the dock stops working, who owns the plumbing? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/when-the-dock-stops-working-who-owns-the-plumbing/ Last updated: 2026-04-10T06:52:49.000Z **A popular boardwalk next to St Mary’s Island has been closed for months after Basin 2 at Chatham Maritime lost significant amounts of water, raising questions about failing dock infrastructure and who is responsible for fixing it as Chatham Docks moves towards closure. Plus, we look at the week ahead at Medway Council, planning, news in brief, and a frankly ludicrous property of the week.* ### When the dock stops working, who owns the plumbing? 📣 ****Update Tue 7 Apr:** Since this story was published, the boardwalk discussed has since reopened, but the underlying point of the story remains relevant. The boardwalk on Basin 2, next to St Mary’s Island, has been closed for several months, and the barrier has the feel of something meant to be temporary but now settling in. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/0E2A8445-1.jpg) Closed boardwalk alongside St Mary's Island. Photo: Authority Media. This is not a minor inconvenience route. It is a publicly accessible stretch of waterfront that gets used regularly, the kind of place where people take the long way round on purpose. On a good day, you can look over the edge and watch jellyfish drifting past as if Chatham Maritime is just another stop on their daily commute. It is shut now, but this is not really a story about a boardwalk. Chatham Maritime Trust says Basin 2 has lost a significant amount of water, which has created a safety risk to the infrastructure the Trust owns. It says it has carried out stabilisation works and expects the route to reopen in the coming weeks, but warns any reopening could be short-lived without a permanent fix to the underlying problem. In January, CMT announced that the boardwalk remained closed due to low water levels, “which is outside the control of Chatham Maritime Trust.” In the same post, it said Chatham Maritime Watersports Centre was temporarily closed “for the same reason,” adding, “Apologies for any inconvenience caused.” CMT has set out to *Local Authority* what it believes is happening and who it believes is responsible. CMT confirmed that it believes the fall in water levels in Basin 2 is linked to infrastructure at the interface with Basin 3 at Chatham Docks that it does not own or control. It says the water loss is occurring through the caisson between Basins 2 and 3, and that the dock owner, Peel Ports, is responsible for the caisson. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/image.png) The connection between Basin 2 at Chatham Maritime and Basin 3 at Chatham Docks. Photo: Authority Media. A basin is not supposed to quietly drain itself. If a structure meant to separate one basin from another is not watertight, the level drops. When it drops enough, the forces acting on anything built along the edge change. That is why CMT closed the boardwalk, and why it says it has had to stabilise parts of the structure. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Chatham Docks has been moving, in slow motion, towards closure. Peel Ports operates the dock and controls the port infrastructure. A separate entity, Peel Waters, leads the regeneration plans for the wider site once the operational dock has been decommissioned. This is where a closure on a nice local boardwalk starts to look like a preview of a bigger problem. In Chatham Maritime, the water, the basins, and the edges are not decorative extras. They are engineered spaces that only work if the boring, expensive infrastructure does its job. When it does not, the question becomes what happens to the bits in between. If older dock infrastructure is decommissioned, who is responsible for it thereafter? Who pays for keeping it maintained? Who becomes accountable for making sure it does not start causing knock-on problems next door? So far, this story has become a familiar triangle of people explaining that it is not them. Peel Waters told *Local Authority* that it is not responsible for the water levels issue and directed questions to Peel Ports. We approached Peel Ports for comment multiple times ahead of this story, but it has not responded, either directly or through its communications agency. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/image-3.png) Basin 2 sits alongside Chatham Docks, which is due to undergo extensive regeneration. Photo: Authority Media. Medway Council’s position is that it is not responsible either. The council told *Local Authority* this is a matter between Chatham Maritime Trust and Peel Ports, and said its role is limited to facilitating discussions between the parties, including arranging meetings. There is also a dispute about how long the council has been aware of the problem. Cllr [Habib Tejan](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enjoy-solving-problems/), the ward councillor for St Mary’s Island, said he has been seeking clear answers about the closure of the boardwalk and, crucially, who is responsible for fixing the underlying problem. He said Chatham Maritime Trust has been unequivocal in its position. “The falling water levels in Basin 2 are linked to failures in infrastructure that the Trust does not own or control,” he said. “The caisson between Basin 2 and Basin 3, and the main river locks that regulate water levels, are owned and managed by Peel Ports. The Trust has confirmed that the caisson is not watertight and has been losing large volumes of water for some time.” Tejan said the boardwalk was closed because the continued loss of water created “a real safety risk to Trust-owned infrastructure,” adding that CMT “has invested additional money to stabilise the structure and is working to reopen the route in the coming weeks.” However, he said the Trust has warned that “without a permanent fix to the port infrastructure, any reopening could be short-lived.” He also said the history of the issue matters. “What is unacceptable is that residents are caught in the middle while responsibility is disputed,” he said. “The Trust has stated that Medway Council has been receiving weekly updates for over 18 months detailing falling water levels, structural risks, ecological damage and supporting evidence. That means the problem has been known about for a long time.” Medway Council disputes that description. The council told *Local Authority* that it has not been receiving direct weekly updates from CMT, though it admitted that officers in planning have been copied on some emails between CMT and Peel Ports. For residents, this argument about who said what to whom is not academic. The route is still closed. The watersports centre has already been temporarily shut as a knock-on effect. The basin is still not behaving as it should. The organisations closest to the infrastructure involved have settled into a standoff, with one party pointing to an asset outside its control, another declining to respond publicly, and the council positioning itself as a facilitator rather than a body responsible for resolving the underlying problem. Tejan argues that this is no longer good enough. “It is now time for Peel Ports to step forward, publicly accept responsibility for the infrastructure it owns, and set out what action it will take to make the system watertight and stable,” he said. “Until that happens, local residents will continue to face disruption and uncertainty caused by assets they neither own nor control.” Chatham Maritime Trust says it is working towards reopening the boardwalk in the coming weeks, but that without a permanent fix to the caisson between Basins 2 and 3, the underlying issue will remain. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/04/image-2.png) Closed boardwalk alongside St Mary's Island. Photo: Authority Media. Unfortunately, a significant piece of public infrastructure sits beside Chatham Docks at exactly the moment the docks are heading towards closure, and the site is being lined up for regeneration. That is when questions about inherited infrastructure stop being theoretical. They become practical, expensive, and inconvenient. Right now, a well-used public route is closed because Basin 2 is losing water via a dock structure CMT says is Peel Ports’ responsibility, while little seems to be done to fix the underlying problem. So yes, the question is whether the boardwalk reopens. But the more revealing question is who is meant to take responsibility for the dock infrastructure once the dock is no longer operating, yet it still quietly controls the neighbouring waterfront. If nobody claims it now, they almost certainly won't claim it later, and this closure will not be the last. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Cabinet](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6451&ref=localauthority.news) meets to discuss borrowing £45m to buy nearly 600 homes, updates to the petition scheme, refurbishing Gun Wharf, and lots more. - **Wednesday:** [Planning Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6373&ref=localauthority.news) will virtue signal their position on 690 homes in Hoo despite the decision already being taken out of their hands. **New planning applications:** - Just the three new HMO applications this week, on [Canterbury Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TCR4ECKNG3V00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and [Linden Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TCGV51KNHJP00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham, and [Grove Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TCJYHDKNJG800&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Strood. ### In brief 🌲 Town Hall Gardens in Chatham have been given a [£300,000 refresh](https://futuremedway.co.uk/new-look-for-town-hall-gardens-in-chatham-after-323k-improvements-completed/?ref=localauthority.news), including new footpaths, benches, and an upgraded play area. 🛒 Stuart Machin, CEO of Marks & Spencer, [talks to One Million Futures](https://onemillionfutures.substack.com/p/pushing-trolleys-to-leading-m-and) about getting young people onto the employment ladder by remembering how he started out pushing trolleys at Hempstead Valley. 🚧 If you think you'd do a better job of filling Medway's potholes, the council is currently seeking a [new highways maintenance contract](https://www.highwaysmagazine.co.uk/companies-and-contracts/medway-seeking-130m-maintenance-deal?ref=localauthority.news) worth £130m. ### Property of the week Upnor Castle House is on the market, but it is not really part of the same housing market as the rest of Medway. This is a Grade II-listed former Admiralty house set in about four acres, with panoramic river views, walled gardens, a swimming pool, an orchard, a tennis court, stables with separate accommodation and even a WW2 bomb shelter, because of course it does. Inside, it has the full period checklist of big reception rooms, shutters, sash windows, working stove fireplaces and a maids' bell system, plus enough historic backstory to fill the brochure twice over. It is the sort of place where '0.8 miles from the Royal Medway Yacht Club' is presented as a normal practical detail, and the EPC rating is F, which feels about right for a house built when warmth was more of a concept than a guarantee. [Check out this 6 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove6 bedroom detached house for sale in Upnor, Rochester, Kent, ME2 for £3,950,000\. Marketed by Savills, Cranbrook![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-13.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/0f6e5db199e0be042174f404feaed7b1.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/173966219?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎭 3 - 6 Apr - [**Tales from the High Street: Leonards of Rochester**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tales-from-the-high-street-leonards-of-rochester-tickets-1985368353189?ref=localauthority.news) // Immersive performance about the rise and fall of Leonards department store in its former location. Store 104, Rochester. Tickets £10. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Voice of the MP - Chatham and Aylesford URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-chatham-and-aylesford-2/ Last updated: 2026-04-01T17:00:45.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osbourne, who discusses putting pride back into our communities.* --- #### **Voice of the MP** **by Tristan Osbourne, MP for Chatham and Aylesford** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ksTK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fabab9bff-63c8-406f-bd99-87bd6a043c7b_3000x1571.jpg) Tristan Osborne MP Every week I knock on doors in parts of my constituency, and one of the biggest issues raised when engaged in conversation is the concern around our wider environment, from potholes in the road, graffiti and flyposting, to the long-term challenges to improve housing and our health services. Rishi Sunak once admitted that his mission in government was to change the funding arrangements for communities like ours, removing money from areas like ours, and this is part of the reason why we inherited a situation in 2024 where people had lost hope in the power of politics to improve their lives. The record of rising NHS waiting lists, net migration soaring to close to 1m people, a recession in 2023 after interest rates peaked at 11%, schools with RAAC and roads left potholed and cracked. People felt communities had been neglected. It will take time to change this perception. Of course, there will be challenges that will impact, including wars of choice in Iran, and the ongoing war in Ukraine, but this should not allow us the space to reflect on some of the positive change that is happening. We recently saw the opening of the new James Williams Healthy Living Centre in Chatham. This builds on the efforts of our council to regenerate urban centres, not with business parks in the suburbs but material improvement to our town centres. This council has been laser-focused on regeneration, and we can see the building work all around us. The NHS is also seeing improvement, though challenges remain. We’ve seen waiting lists falling at Medway Maritime by almost 20%, the opening of new GP surgeries and Community Diagnostic Centres with modern scanners. We are seeing increased commitment to dentistry and the council leading on a plan for new care homes in the community. Crime numbers are also falling from peak, and this is most evident in safer urban centres, with a 17% fall in recorded Crime since the Local Election in 2023\. This is coupled with improvement in enforcement on our roads and investment in visible officers on high streets. Schools and improving outcomes for our children has also quietly seen a revolution, with free school meal expansion, expansion in nursery provision in schools, uniform cost reductions and a partnership with the council to deliver a Local Plan that will provide the context for continued expansion of schools. 90% of our schools in my area are ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding,’ and this reflects the hard work paying off. Improving housing and ensuring we build for the future is also critical. We are banning no-notice evictions and ensuring private renters get a fair deal. For many urban centres blighted by poor quality private housing and HMOs, we are moving at speed with Article 4 powers and selective licensing. That will have a profound impact on the quality of housing, including how they present to people. The £60m Pride in Place funding for Chatham, Gillingham and Strood, adding to the £1.5m allocated to improve shop fronts and commercial premises, will also have real impacts to some of our most deprived neighbourhoods. This is real levelling up, targeted in areas left behind. More needs to be done. The Labour-led council needs to focus in the next 18 months on the issues that impact residents every day in their lives, and this includes better communication and action on removing those things that make our communities look untidy. Removing litter, fly tipping, graffiti and flyposting is a campaign being led by Naushabah Khan. Fixing and repairing our roads and communicating the challenges we inherited that I am working on, and celebrating the success of investment such as the European energy inter-connector in Grain led by Lauren Edwards. As MPs, our job is to shout loud about our community. Much is changing, much is improving, but challenges remain. It is sometimes easy to focus on the drum beat of negativity, but there is much to be proud about, proud for, and proud that our community can achieve with its endless potential. *Tristan Osborne is the Labour MP for Chatham and Aylesford.* ### Medway eyes £46m housing buy from mystery provider URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-eyes-46m-housing-buy-from-mystery-provider/ Last updated: 2026-04-07T20:27:28.000Z **Medway is preparing to borrow nearly £46m to buy 569 homes from an unnamed social housing provider, in a deal that would significantly expand the council’s stock while leaving key details out of public view for now. We also look at the £22m rebuild of Gun Wharf and what it suggests about Medway’s ambitions ahead of local government reorganisation, and at two major Hoo housing schemes that have already been appealed to the Planning Inspectorate because councillors were too slow in making a decision...* ### Medway eyes £46m housing buy from mystery provider Medway Council is preparing to borrow nearly £46m to buy 569 homes from an unnamed social housing provider, in what would be one of the largest single additions to its housing stock in years. The deal, due before [Cabinet next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6451&ref=localauthority.news) and then full council because of the scale of the borrowing, also includes a wider package of non-residential and ancillary assets, taking the total portfolio to 791. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/AdobeStock_422100231-1.jpeg) Generic social housing picture. For Medway, the appeal is obvious. The council says the acquisition would bring hundreds of social and affordable homes under its control in one go, rather than relying on slower, more expensive routes such as new-build or buying properties individually on the market. Savills has been asked to assess the impact on the Housing Revenue Account business plan, and the report going to councillors says the purchase is financially viable and would strengthen the HRA over the long term. That is the official case. The harder question is how much of it can be tested in public at this stage. The provider is not named anywhere in the report. Medway says only that it was approached by an agent acting on behalf of a registered provider looking to dispose of stock as part of a wider asset rationalisation strategy. The council signed a non-disclosure agreement, initially passed because the timetable was too tight, then resumed discussions in January. *Local Authority* has approached the provider it believes to be involved for comment. There is also no public breakdown showing exactly what sort of homes Medway would be taking on. The report refers to general needs, affordable rent, sheltered housing, shared ownership, and leasehold sheltered units, and also includes leaseholders, commercial units, garages, freeholds with services, and playground or games areas as part of the overall package. However, no breakdown of the quantities of each property type is available. That matters less because of the headline number than because it goes to the nature of the job Medway would actually be buying. This is not just a bundle of straightforward council tenancies. Shared ownership brings staircasing, resales and lease administration. Leasehold interests bring service charges, consultations and disputes. Commercial units and garages are a different management task again. Some ancillary plots may also carry future development potential. The report acknowledges as much in its own way. It says extra resources will be needed to manage and maintain the enlarged portfolio. It says existing contractors and service providers may have to cope with around 20% more work. It lists risks related to borrowing rates, stock condition costs, and the possibility that rent and service charge data may not match what has been supplied so far. The council is not asking members to approve a finished transaction at this stage. It is asking them to approve the direction of travel on the basis that due diligence will fill in the harder parts later. That due diligence is doing a lot of work here. It is meant to test value for money, stock condition, arrears and income, service charges, regulatory issues, and bad debt provisions before anything is completed. The report itself notes that condition costs could prove higher than expected, and that its business case is based on assumptions that still need to be validated. None of this necessarily makes the acquisition a bad idea. Medway is right that chances to add this many homes in one go do not come along often. The council currently has around 3,000 homes in its own stock, so bringing in another 569 would be a significant expansion. The report also notes that its acquisition programme has added 169 general homes since 2016, as well as 187 temporary and supported units. By comparison, this is a much bigger leap. But it is also a more complicated one than the council’s summary presentation allows. Councillors are voting to support a large borrowing package before the public can see the full breakdown of what is being bought, the detailed financial modelling behind the claim of value for money, or the identity of the provider selling up. The timetable adds another layer to all this. On paper, the deal could be completed within months rather than dragging on for years. That still leaves it brushing up against the wider local government reorganisation process, with councils already operating in the shadow of structural change. The report itself assumes an anticipated transaction by April 2027, which gives Medway time to get the deal done, but leaves little room for the leisurely pace that local government processes often prefer. If Cabinet and then the full council sign it off, Medway will not just be buying homes. It will be taking on a large and mixed portfolio, a heavier management burden, and the task of proving that a deal sold as a rare opportunity really does stack up once due diligence is complete. ### Medway rebuilds Gun Wharf with one eye on what comes next Medway Council is about to spend more than £22m on Gun Wharf, which began as a building fix and has since developed into something more akin to a glow-up of its headquarters. The sensible bit comes first. Gun Wharf has RAAC, the pesky concrete that closed several schools a few years back. It is Grade II-listed and needs work. As a result, staff have been pushed out to temporary workplaces, including MHS Homes' Broadside and Kingsley House, and the condition of the building has been a long-running internal complaint. Nobody is pretending this is a perfectly fine office. Even so, Medway is not just fixing Gun Wharf. Cabinet papers going to councillors next week recommend awarding Apex Contractors a nearly £15m contract for the refurbishment works, with the total Gun Wharf Improvement Programme budget put at £22.263m. The plan is for work to begin in May, with the first phase due to finish in December and the second by July next year. A council spending serious money on its headquarters is one thing. A council spending serious money on its headquarters while local government reorganisation looms over the county is another. If this were just about making a problem building safe and usable again, the story would be fairly dry. Costly, yes, contentious, almost certainly, but basically straightforward. Instead, Medway appears to have looked at a building problem and decided it might as well also solve a political one at the same time. The papers make clear that the project began with RAAC but has expanded well beyond basic remediation. The scope now includes a reconfigured reception, a refurbished self-service café, replacement toilet and welfare facilities, upgraded meeting rooms, wellbeing spaces, a more flexible office layout, major mechanical and electrical replacement, and new windows and doors throughout. Some of that is plainly unavoidable. Some of it is what happens when you are already tearing a building apart and decide you may as well sort the rest while you are there. But some of it looks very much like Medway has spotted an opportunity to build itself the kind of civic base it wants for whatever comes next. The council is not especially subtle about this. The report says the refurbishment will create a flexible space that can be converted into a council chamber big enough to accommodate local government reorganisation, while also being used for hot-desking and team working when not in chamber mode. So yes, this is a refurbishment, but it is also a pitch. The details are where that really comes into focus. The new chamber is expected to have a capacity for 100 councillors (more than 40 more than Medway currently has), with room for the press and a public gallery. The hope is that next year’s budget meeting will be the first one held there. That is a council laying out the furniture for a future it would quite like to inhabit. To be fair, Gun Wharf is not fine. The building does need to be brought up to scratch, and listed buildings do not come cheap. The papers also stress the less glamorous but entirely real parts of the project, such as safety, compliance, accessibility, replacing failing systems, and future-proofing the building, so the council is not just dealing with the immediate problem and leaving the next one to fester. But there is still a fairly obvious gap between fixing a difficult building and quietly building a post local government reorganisation power base for yourself. The awkward question is how much of the £22.3m sits in the first category, and how much sits in the second. How much is essential remediation, compliance and replacement of knackered building systems? How much is chamber ambition, workplace rethink and broader civic makeover? This split hasn't been set out in a way that can be interrogated. And when you are spending this kind of money at this kind of moment, people are inevitably going to ask. The timing is impossible to ignore. The original decision to tackle Gun Wharf predates the current LGR fight. But the politics around it have changed. Medway is now pressing ahead with a large, expensive project while the whole shape of local government in Kent remains unsettled. On one reading, that is practical long-term planning. On another, it is Medway getting in first, trying to make Gun Wharf look too useful, too central and too ready-made to ignore. There is also enough in the paperwork to show this is not some neat, risk-free capital project drifting serenely toward completion. The procurement has been classified as high risk. The council says it went out to tender before reaching a fully detailed design stage because waiting longer would have left an unworkable construction timetable. Fair enough. But the report also acknowledges the trade-off, with greater risk around price, timelines, outcomes and quality. None of that means the scheme is doomed. It does mean this is a chunky, politically charged refurbishment with a lot more riding on it than whether the council gets nicer toilets and a shinier reception. What Medway is really doing here is trying to answer two questions at once. How does it handle a headquarters with genuine building issues? And how does it make sure that, when north Kent’s map is eventually redrawn, people still look at Gun Wharf and see the obvious place to run things from? ### Two Hoo housing schemes go over Medway’s head By the time Medway’s Planning Committee gets to two major housing schemes on the edge of Hoo [next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6373&ref=localauthority.news), the real argument will already be somewhere else. Both applications have already been appealed to the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds of non-determination. Put simply, the developers got fed up waiting for Medway to make a decision and went over the council’s head. So councillors will not really be deciding either scheme in the traditional sense. They will be setting out what Medway says it would have done if it had managed to determine them in time. That decision? To approve one and refuse the other. Taken together, the two outline applications would mean up to 690 homes on land to the northwest of Hoo St Werburgh. Gladman wants up to 240 homes off Ratcliffe Highway. Taylor Wimpey wants up to 450 homes on a larger site west of Hoo, along with commercial floorspace, a community building, open space and sports provision. Both sit inside the same wider picture. Medway needs housing. The emerging Local Plan points towards major growth around Hoo. Both applications come with the standard rows over roads, schools, healthcare, wildlife, countryside and whether local infrastructure is once again expected to catch up later. Despite this, officers have landed in different places. The Gladman scheme is recommended for approval, but the Taylor Wimpey scheme is recommended for refusal. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-31-at-23.38.30.png) Location of the Taylor Wimpey development, which was deemed unacceptable by officers. The split is less about whether this side of Hoo should be built on at all and more about where expansion tips into sprawl. Officers say the Taylor Wimpey scheme would fail to provide a sufficient landscape buffer between Hoo and Chattenden and would lead to the two places blurring into one. That argument is not new. A previous scheme on the same site was refused more than a decade ago and dismissed at appeal in 2016\. A Medway Design Review Panel looking at the current application late last year also backed the principle of development, but said the plans were not acceptable, described the scheme as car-dominated, and was unconvinced by the supposed green gap between Hoo and Chattenden. Yet the Gladman site next door is being waved through. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-31-at-23.37.02.png) Location for the Gladman development, which was deemed acceptable by officers. That does not make it uncontroversial. Objectors have raised the full set of usual Hoo expansion complaints, from traffic and school places to biodiversity and loss of agricultural land. Regardless, officers have concluded the 240-home scheme can be made acceptable when weighed against housing need and the site’s role in the emerging Local Plan. There is an irony in all this, too. Even while Medway says the bigger Taylor Wimpey scheme should be refused, the Gladman application is clearly being treated as part of the same wider future growth area, with links planned between the two sites. So Medway’s position is basically yes to major expansion here, but not so much that Hoo and Chattenden too obviously become one long smear of development. Whether the Planning Inspectorate agrees is another matter. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### "Movement can tell you a thousand things without even a word being said" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/movement-can-tell-you-a-thousand-things-without-even-a-word-being-said/ Last updated: 2026-03-30T13:54:30.000Z *Steven met creature movement director Paul Kasey via Zoom, where they discussed his journey from West End dancer to appearing on BBC TV as a slew of creatures in Doctor Who. Steven asked him about being in makeup for over four hours and dancing with Keira Knightley, but first, we had to get to the bottom of what Paul's official occupation actually is...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image0-1.jpeg) Paul Kasey. **What is your official occupation?** Oh, my. I've never been asked that question before. I started off as a professional dancer, singer, actor, and I could do gymnastics and contortion. Then I moved into being a creature performer, suit performer. Actually, going back to the dancing, I was also a choreographer, and I used to lecture as well. Then I moved into the creature world. Creature performer, suit performer, there's quite a few different titles for it. **How would you describe it today?** That's also quite a difficult question, because there's part of me that would want to say I’m an actor. Quite often, it's physical performance, or it's both physical and verbal. To actually pick one would be quite difficult, because some roles you are a creature performer or you're a suit performer. The higher up you go, your class is a movement actor, physical actor, character actor. There's so many different names for it. I then moved into movement choreographer, movement director. Quite often at the beginning of every job, I get asked, what credit would I like? You'd need to use quite a lot of different words to sum up the actual role is. It's choreography. **What is a creature performer?** Anything that's deemed to be in the creature realm. Anything not human, as it were, which I suppose covers aliens, lots of different things. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image1-1.jpeg) Paul Kasey (left). **Are all your roles masked?** I was in [Pride and Prejudice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride%5F%26%5FPrejudice%5F%282005%5Ffilm%29?ref=localauthority.news) with Keira Knightley. I was one of the lower-class dancers, so they made me look a little bit rougher than I look today. She needed a rehearsal partner to do all the upper-class routines because the lead actor wasn't available to rehearse. My face can be seen there. In the world of [Doctor Who](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor%5FWho?ref=localauthority.news), as well, I did an episode with Jodie *\[Whittaker\]*, I played [Harold Green](https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Harold%5FGreen?ref=localauthority.news), with makeup on. [28 Days Later](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28%5FDays%5FLater?ref=localauthority.news) and [28 Weeks Later](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28%5FWeeks%5FLater?ref=localauthority.news), it's in makeup. To be honest with you, I forget everything I've done. **How is movement choreography different to choreography?** There isn't really much difference. Its movement and choreography is more associated, I believe, with dance, but obviously any type of movement is to be choreographed because of how something moves, how a creature moves. You're going to the animal kingdom. I pull from all of that because the human eye is a very clever thing. You're wanting some association that we're aware of. I suppose choreography is a collection of movements, no matter what it is, but separating movement from dance, basically. You're creating a type of movement that a species would make, their mannerisms, their characteristics, which dips into the character role, but it's still movement. > It was a world that I wasn't personally aware of ## Unique Medway stories Clear, independent coverage from our towns. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. **Was it a conscious decision to move into playing creatures and monsters, or was it one role that led to another? How did that all start?** It just sort of happened because I was in a West End show called [Fosse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosse%5F%28musical%29?ref=localauthority.news), which was the [Bob Fosse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%5FFosse?ref=localauthority.news) tribute show. I got a call from an agent to audition for a film. They didn't say what it was. The first round was a physical movement round. There was a choreographer explaining how I was to move. Then I would just create that movement. The recall was on a Saturday, and I had two shows. I literally ended up running through Leicester Square to Pineapple Dance Studios to do the recall, in front of [Guillermo del Toro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillermo%5Fdel%5FToro?ref=localauthority.news) for [Blade II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade%5FII?ref=localauthority.news). I didn't hear anything, I didn't think I got it. They had done a lot of auditions, not only in the UK, but in Europe. I remember walking down Regent Street, and my phone rang. It was my agent, “They'd like to offer you the role as the guard reaper.” That was my first introduction, really, to four hours in the makeup chair, contact lenses, teeth, on movie sets. We filmed out in Prague. It was amazing. It was a world that I wasn't personally aware of. It truly opened my eyes. I remember one day, I'd gone through makeup, and my costume was on, and I was waiting to go on set. I was sat in the trailer, and I just thought to myself, I wonder if there's a lot more of this work. I truly enjoy it. I love that whole transformation, and then I also remember thinking to myself, what is my role looking like this? The way you look in the mirror, and you see the prosthetics. The bottom line is, it's to bring them to life the best way you can without any doubt or question. I loved it. It just so happened that before I finished the movie, another agent called me and said, [Danny Boyle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny%5FBoyle?ref=localauthority.news) had taken some auditions for a film, and I couldn't make it because I was out in Prague. My agent got me a meeting with Danny Boyle, and at the end of the meeting with him, he said, “Welcome on board, we'll get you some work,” and that was it. I was still dancing, choreographing, and lecturing. A year or so later, I get a phone call from a different agent, and they just said, “There's an audition. They're looking for people who have got experience in prosthetics and animatronics and that whole world.” They wouldn't say what the series was, it was all very hush-hush. I can't remember how long it was, but a few weeks down the line, there was a recall, which ended up being a three-and-a-half-hour workshop. After the workshop, I was meeting a friend because it was her birthday, my phone rang, and it was my agent. “Congratulations, they're offering you Doctor Who.” That was 22 years ago. Obviously, once I started Doctor Who, I didn't know how successful it was going to be and the explosion of Doctor Who back onto the screen. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image3.jpeg) Paul Kasey (left) with director Guillermo del Toro. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Age UK Kent Rivers heads for insolvency URL: https://www.localauthority.news/age-uk-kent-rivers-heads-for-insolvency/ Last updated: 2026-04-02T17:59:50.000Z **Age UK Kent Rivers says it is heading towards insolvency, with services at its Mackenney Centre in Gillingham closing today after staff and service users were given barely two days’ warning. We report on what has happened, what Medway Council is now trying to put in place, and what the sudden loss of a day centre means for service users and families, alongside our usual mix of planning, news in brief and more.* ### Age UK Kent Rivers heads for insolvency Age UK Kent Rivers says it is heading towards insolvency, with services at its Mackenney Centre in Gillingham shutting today (Friday) after staff and service users were given barely two days’ warning. The closure means the sudden loss of a day centre service for older people in Medway, with staff facing redundancy and families left waiting to learn what support will replace the loss. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-27-at-19.51.37.png) The Mackenney Centre in Gillingham. It also leaves Medway Council trying to catch up. The council has confirmed that it commissions day care support at the Mackenney Centre through Age UK Kent Rivers and is now working to ensure that residents known to adult social care are not left without provision. In a [statement](https://www.ageuk.org.uk/kentrivers/?ref=localauthority.news), the charity’s trustees said Age UK Kent Rivers had been facing “significant cash flow challenges” and that, despite efforts in recent months to address worsening financial problems, the position had become unsustainable. They said the charity’s immediate priority was to support clients, staff, volunteers, and partners through the transition. The charity has now confirmed that it is likely to enter an insolvency process as a response to mounting financial pressures. That puts formal wording around what had already become clear around the Mackenney Centre this week. Staff were told on Wednesday that the service would close today. Redundancies are expected to follow. Reports elsewhere suggest around a dozen jobs at the centre are affected. That is abrupt by any standard. Staff are having to absorb the loss of their jobs while still working through the final hours of a service many of them will have spent years helping to run. Service users, many of whom will have built routines, trust and friendships around the centre, have effectively been told that the support they expected to still be there next week will be gone before the weekend is out. This is important because day centres are not interchangeable bits of provision that can simply be swapped out on paper. For the people who use them, they are often part of the shape of daily life. They provide company, routine, familiar staff and a known setting. For families and carers, respite care can provide a degree of confidence that someone is being looked after in a place they know. When that disappears suddenly, the effect is immediate. The Mackenney Centre is not some obscure satellite site. It has long been Age UK Kent Rivers’ best-known base in Medway, long associated with support for older residents. The loss of a place like that carries weight in itself. But the public interest case here does not rest solely on its history or local profile. It rests on the fact that this was part of the wider care picture in Medway, not a standalone service operating entirely outside it. Across Medway, Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley, Faversham, and Sittingbourne, Age UK Kent Rivers ran a wide mix of services for older people and adults with learning disabilities, including day centres, meal deliveries, home care, befriending, information and advice, carers’ relief and wellbeing activities. In Medway, its day services have been described as including personal care, hairdressing, laundry, meals, trips and social activities, which gives a sense of how much everyday support could be wrapped up in the loss of one centre. Medway Council says it is working with Age UK Kent Rivers to ensure residents known to its adult social care team continue to receive the support they rely on. It has also requested a full list of service users from the charity to understand the scale of the impact. A Medway Council spokesperson said: “We are working with Age UK Kent Rivers to ensure residents who are known to our Adult Social Care team continue to receive the support they rely on. Our social care team will work closely with the residents, their families and carers to ensure appropriate care packages are put in place as soon as possible.” If the council is still having to obtain and cross-check the full list of service users to understand the impact, then this was plainly not a slow, carefully managed transition with alternatives arranged long in advance. The provider has reached the point where it cannot continue in its current form, and the state is now moving behind it. There is also a wider financial backdrop that makes the present crisis look less like a freak event and more like the point at which longer-running pressure finally became impossible to contain. Age UK Kent Rivers’ [latest filed accounts](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4048275?ref=localauthority.news) were submitted 151 days late. They showed a deficit of £761,162 for the year to 31 March 2024, while reserves fell sharply over the same period. This year’s accounts are also overdue. Those figures do not explain every decision taken this week. They do not tell you exactly when the charity concluded that its position had become unsustainable. And they do not, by themselves, map out the route from financial strain to service closure. But they do show an organisation already under plain pressure before the Mackenney Centre was suddenly pulled. That matters because institutional failure rarely arrives all at once. It builds as accounts are delayed, deficits widen, and reserves shrink. Risks that can be managed for a while stop being manageable. Eventually, the pressure spills out of the financial pages and into the services people rely on. What is happening now in Gillingham looks very much like that point. Once it reaches that stage, the consequences are no longer abstract. They land in the lives of people who may never have read a set of charity accounts and have no reason to care about insolvency language beyond what it means for whether a minibus turns up, whether a day centre opens, or whether a parent or relative still has somewhere familiar to go next week. For Age UK Kent Rivers, this is a financial crisis. For the council, it is now a care continuity problem. For the staff, it is a redundancy story. For service users and their families, it is the sudden disappearance of something much more immediate than a line in a trustee statement. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - The only meeting scheduled for next week has been cancelled, so it's all quiet at Gun Wharf. **New planning applications:** - Plans to [convert the former St John Fisher School](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TC7DJPKNJG600&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) on Maidstone Road building into 11 flats, and build a new block of 12 flats at the rear. - Moto at Farthing Corner Services intends to build a [new substation](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TC075YKNMQI00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) to facilitate electric vehicle charging. - Three HMOs are proposed this week, on [Balmoral Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TC3CVMKNGYQ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and [Shakespeare Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBSSFOKNI7V00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham and [Star Hill](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TCCXH8KNMTS00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester. ### In brief 📍 While we wait to hear how Kent might look following local government reorganisation, what can decisions about other areas tell us about our future? [We've been investigating](https://www.kentcurrent.news/whitehall-shifts-kents-reorganisation-debate/?ref=localauthority.news) over on our sister title, the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news). [Whitehall shifts Kent’s reorganisation debateMinisters reshape the argument on Kent’s future, Canterbury outbreak slows, and County Hall gets another splinter party![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/KC-NEW-LOGO-SQUARE-5.png)Kent CurrentEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/KC_KentPuzzleMap.jpg)](https://www.kentcurrent.news/whitehall-shifts-kents-reorganisation-debate/?ref=localauthority.news) 🥬 Residents in St Mary Hoo are bemused by the new green telegraph poles installed in their village. The [KentOnline report](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/they-ve-replaced-our-telegraph-poles-with-sticks-of-celery-338106/?ref=localauthority.news) features some superb photos of parish council chair Nick Craddy posing with vegetables. 🏥 Siobhan Callanan [will become](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/siobhan-callanan-appointed-interim-chief-executive/?ref=localauthority.news) Interim Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust following the sudden departure of Jonathan Wade. 🗣️ KentOnline have been [asking residents](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/bring-back-the-butchers-residents-have-their-say-on-how-338191/?ref=localauthority.news) of Twydall how they'd like £20m Pride in Place funding spent in their area, with inevitable results. 🐟 A fishmonger who really likes AI imagery is [opening](https://www.cjhooks-fishmongers.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) on Rochester High Street. 🎙️ The latest Kent Politics Podcast features a [punchy debate](https://www.kmfm.co.uk/on-air/podcasts/the-kent-politics-podcast/episode/109-council-walkout-security-measures-in-swale-and-a-heated-debate-in-the-studio/?ref=localauthority.news) between Labour councillor [Alex Paterson](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/) and Conservative councillor [Andrew Lawrence](https://www.localauthority.news/maybe-im-a-serial-opposition-councillor/) on School Streets, finances, and more. 👁️‍🗨️ All may not be well in Medway's cross-party Stand Up to Racism WhatsApp group, where we've been hearing reports of abuse and, er, racism between members. If anyone with any knowledge would like to chat to us off the record, our contact details are below. ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* ### Property of the week This six-bedroom detached farmhouse on the edge of Allhallows is on the market for £850,000 to £925,000 and is operating at a scale that most Medway houses simply do not attempt. It has six double bedrooms, three bathrooms upstairs, a boot-room cloakroom downstairs, a double garage, stables and an outbuilding, all sitting on a sizeable plot behind electric gates. But the detail that really tells you what sort of home this is comes early. Two staircases. Two! It is built for space, separation, and the ability to live alongside others without constantly being in each other’s way. Add in beams, a log burner and solar panels, and it is the full farmhouse package. Grand, private, and very much for someone who wants their next home to feel like a statement rather than a compromise. [Check out this 6 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove6 bedroom detached house for sale in Stoke Road, Allhallows, Rochester, Kent, ME3 for £850,000\. Marketed by Robinson Michael and Jackson, Strood![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-12.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/b36e054452f4505428cb2bee295fdc0e.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/173567126?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 📷 28 Mar - 31 Aug - [**Ocean Photographer of the Year**](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/ocean-photographer-of-the-year-exhibition/?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition of 116 award-winning photographs. Chatham Historic Dockyard. Tickets £29 (includes dockyard entry). 🎻 Sun 29 Mar - [**City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra: Music from the Stage**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/midkent/t-ldkojqa?ref=localauthority.news) // Longstanding orchestra perform theatre classics. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets £20. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### The March Culture Review URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-march-culture-review/ Last updated: 2026-03-27T09:19:07.000Z *Once a month, we bring together reviews of Medway’s cultural highlights in a single round-up, produced specifically for our paid supporters. This month, our team of intrepid cultural reviewers present music, theatre, and food from across our towns...* --- **The Wigmore Lectures: The History of the Royal Variety Performance** *Wigmore Library, Rainham, 18 Mar* The Wigmore Lectures are a Medway institution, unfailingly bringing local history and heritage to life in an engaging and accessible fashion. Scheduled by Medway Libraries between October and March, this season’s eclectic topics have included Gillingham-based inventor Louis Brennan, responsible for the world’s first stairlift; Kent-born clipper ship captain, William Harrison, and his maritime adventures; and the bloody reality of Matthias Hawkeslade, Captain of Horse in the King’s army during the English Civil War, with speaker Philip Barham delivering his talk in full authentic battle gear. I was lucky enough to attend the last lecture in this run, introduced by the Mayor of Medway, Cllr [Trevor Clarke](https://www.localauthority.news/the-mayoralty-has-invigoratedour-marriage-and-lives-together/), who quite rightly reminded the audience of the importance of supporting libraries, especially during this National Year of Reading, where “It’s time for the nation to go all in.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-14-1.png) The Wigmore Lecture on the History of the Royal Variety Performance Our knowledgeable speaker, Dean Caston, provided a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain of The Royal Variety Performance, a favourite fixture in the entertainment industry’s calendar. Stretching back to 1912, when music hall was at the height of its popularity, the show was initially staged at the Palace Theatre in support of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (now the Royal Variety Charity). Attended by King George V and Queen Mary, the evening had strict instructions to finish no later than 11pm so the police escort was not paid overtime on the way back to the palace. We learned that performers were not supposed to acknowledge the royal box. Nonetheless, protocol has been pushed aside as the years progressed, from Maurice Chevalier charming the Queen Mother, to the Crazy Gang joking that the royal car was illegally parked, right up to Catherine Tate ‘Is one bovvered?’ in 2005\. But it was common practice to provide acts with helpful reminders for the post-show line-up, such as pronouncing ‘Ma’am’ so that it rhymed with jam. Although many of us have grown up watching it on television (first broadcast in 1960), hearing the behind‑the‑scenes stories brought the show’s pizzazz to life, as well as shining a light on the less than glamorous reality. Backstage facilities were notoriously cramped, accounting for rather cosy conditions with up to 50 different acts scheduled. Only a handful of performers have refused to share – Dame Shirley Bassey, Bette Midler and Pavarotti – with J-Lo allegedly insisting on an all-white dressing room when appearing in 2001. There were some lovely blasts from the past in terms of household names, such as Jimmy Tarbuck, a teenage Julie Andrews, Bruce Forsyth, Cilla Black and Bob Monkhouse, to name a few. Some popular stars, however, were purposely excluded – iconic music hall star Marie Lloyd was deemed too risqué for the royals, so perfectly reasonably, she staged a sell-out rival show at a nearby theatre The Wigmore audience did not need to be asked twice to participate during the musical clips, with shoulders swaying, toes tapping and heads bobbing along to well-known songs, and Sweet Caroline remaining a particular crowd pleaser. After such an enjoyably nostalgic walk down memory lane, it came as no surprise to learn that the Royal Variety Performance, still attracting over 152 million TV viewers worldwide, remains the longest-running entertainment show in the world. - *Anne-Marie Jordan* --- **Pied Piper - A Hip Hop Musical** *Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham, 6 Mar* This touring family show opened with a new experience for me and my apprentice co-reviewer: a brief beatboxing workshop for the entire audience. We were instructed in how to make the kick drum, snare and hi-hat sounds that would be used to punctuate a later scene with, it’s fair to say, mixed results. A minimal, industrial feel was created on stage with a set composed of scaffolding and a skyline of boxes, as the main action was set in a pie factory in the town of Hamelin. On the eve of the mayoral election, the Mayor of Hamelin and pie factory owner is exploiting the labour of his young workers, who have responded by forming Rebel Clef - a beatboxing and vocal outfit who use their voices to inspire resistance to and hope within this oppressive regime, despite a city-wide ban on singing and music. But the Mayor’s main problem is a rat infestation, signified by the glowing red eyes appearing amongst the scaffolding, some imaginative glove puppet work and once, to the delight of younger attendees, by a remote-controlled creature erratically traversing the stage. Impressive vocal dexterity, soaring harmonies and a bewildering array of sounds come from the young ensemble, who seem to have boundless energy in this second show of the day. The audience is encouraged to contribute to the songs, the call of “What do rats eat?” perhaps inevitably garnering the response “A Gregg’s vegan sausage roll!” The show really livens up with the arrival on stage of the community chorus - a group of Year 9 students from Rainham Mark Grammar School, ranging from those with no previous performance experience to frequent stars of drama productions and bonus guests from the teaching staff. These students have had only three workshops and a dress rehearsal to learn the beatboxing skills and perfect the dance moves. Their commitment and gusto are impressive and literally demonstrate the main theme of the play, that art and music lift young people up, and communities flourish when freedom of expression is undiminished. A few chants of “Kids Up! Rats Down!” later, we have a Beatbox Battle, which is declared a draw, although my co-reviewer was thoroughly on the side of Team Crotchet. The duration of 75 minutes was just right for the target audience, and my young apprentice added a smiley face, five stars and the single word 'AMAZING' to my notes for this review, before rushing off to pose for a selfie with the Pie King. She loved every minute. My own beatboxing skills remain a work in progress. - *Elsie Mehaffey (11) and Moira Mehaffey (not 11)* --- **Smoqe** *Rochester High Street* Located at the Star Hill end of Rochester High Street, this American-inspired (but in a good way) venue requires advance booking. Firstly, so you are sure it is open, given its limited opening hours, and secondly, so they have the 48 hours required to prepare the ribs. Long-time readers of this column may remember my mission to find excellent ribs in Medway, and the tragic failure to date. I arrived at [Smoqe](https://www.smoqe.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) hoping that the 48 hours had ensured that the prime-cut ribs, smothered in a home-made bourbon BBQ sauce, would answer this challenge. They arrive served with Cajun fries and home-made coleslaw. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-26-at-09.19.15-1.png) Food from Smoque. The fries were so good that it soon became apparent that the portion was on the small side. The coleslaw was also well made. The seasoning was tasty enough to make me wonder how good they could make corn on the cob. But it’s not on the menu, so we may never know. The ribs answered two questions. Question 1: Is there anywhere in Medway that cooks high-quality ribs well and serves them in a delicious sauce? The answer is yes. Question 2: Can you get served two much prime-cut rib? Don’t be ridiculous. When it tastes this good, you eat until you pass out. Friendly service in a stylish venue, serving home-made food of a high quality. Ribs and sides for two, plus drinks, came to just under £100. **\-** *Steven Keevil* --- **Wild Billy Childish and CTMF: House on Fire and Keep Mojave Weird** And so, with the inevitability of a 169 bus from Chatham to Luton and beyond, come more [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) releases. This time it’s in the form of Wild Billy Childish and CTMF, which comprises the prolific artist together with Julie Hamper (bass and occasional vocals) and [Wolf Howard](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-have-any-technique-i-never/) (drums). As with many a Childish production, the songs featured on both EP and LP are at once familiar and new. Contrasting with the delivery on his William Loveday Intention records and elements of the latest outing from Thee Headcoats, the influence of Bob Dylan has been set aside in favour of the rawness of The Sonics, who have been a prominent point of reference of B. Childish Esq. since the days (at least) of the Musicians of the British Empire. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-15-1.png) House on Fire by Wild Billy Childish + CTMF Highlights from the album include the opener, 'The Magpie’s Flown,' with its gloriously searing guitar hook, which ticks both 'Childish does autobiography' and 'Childish references Chatham boxes. There’s a nod to his birthplace of All Saints’ Hospital and the Dockyard where he worked briefly – both, notably, now closed and serving as a metaphor for general decay and decline. Ever a fan of a historically themed song (think ‘The Fighting Temeraire’ from the album of the same name from his 2022 collaboration with [The Singing Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/)), Childish offers us 'Trafalgar,' a gnarly account of the famous sea battle. There’s a frantic desperation to ‘Bridge Burner’ while ‘A Surprise to You (No Surprise to Me)’ with its bluesy swagger sees the frontman in characteristic snarly form, with additional swirling organ sounds. Julie Hamper takes the limelight on a decent chunk of the record, most notably on the album’s title track, which recalls something of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These Boots are Made for Walking,’ both in melody and the quiet menace of the lyrics (“love becomes a poisoned thing”). If you’re less inclined to invest your time and money in a full fourteen songs from WBC&CTMF, you may wish to consider their four-track EP. *Keep Mojave Weird* revels in the same distortion-heavy garage rock with heavily Americanophile lyrics. The title song (which also appears on the long player) struts around a suitably arid sonic landscape with a nigh-on maniacal determination. Meanwhile, ‘Wile E Coyote’ is a bang on homage to Bo Diddley’s ‘Road Runner’. Using the most basic of blues motifs, it takes guitar and vocal distortion to the extreme with a heavy fuzziness making for a spectacularly dirty sound. It’s followed by ‘Memphis Tennessee,’ a song that bounces along with something of the rhythm of Bow Wow Wow’s ‘I Want Candy,’ despite the gloomy theme of a man missing his daughter because of a disagreement with her mother. The EP closes with ‘Thalypo Fuel Station,’ a grizzled sounding bass driven instrumental that staggers around with no little malevolence. It’s the sound of blistering heat on a scorched desert road somewhere in the middle of nowhere. It is, of course, brilliant. *House on Fire and Keep Mojave Weird are both released on* [*Damaged Goods Records*](https://damagedgoods.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *on 27 March.* \- *Stephen Morris* --- **The Lion Queen** *Oasthouse Theatre, Rainham, 19 March* I am sure I am not the first – and won’t be the last – to smugly arrive at the Oast Community Centre with plenty of time to spare before the evening’s performance…only to discover that I should actually be at The Oasthouse Theatre, a gorgeous gem of a venue “built with love and care for the arts more than 60 years ago.” Its intimacy provides the perfect setting for the series of dramatic monologues that build towards the tragic demise of teenager lion tamer, [Ellen Blight](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen%5FBlight?ref=localauthority.news), when her uncle’s travelling menagerie came to Chatham. Written and directed by Pauline Holmes, *The Lion Queen* started as a 2022 commission from Wordsmithery, with this finished version, following “four years of research and endless hours of writing and rewrites,” absolutely worth the wait. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/PXL_20260320_195703737-1.jpg) Pauline Holmes on stage before the start of the performance. Ellen was the niece of George Wombwell, proprietor of Wombwell’s Travelling Menagerie. As this was Victorian England, making money was the priority; health and safety or animal welfare systems were non-existent. However, female lion tamers – Lion Queens – were the ‘must-have’ attractions for any travelling show keen to pull in the crowds. Told through poetic monologues, we are introduced to nine characters who knew Ellen or witnessed her death, including her mother, the army medic who tried to save her and even the tiger responsible for cutting her promising career short. All the anecdotes in the play are true, though some timelines are blurred for dramatic purposes. Throughout, Holmes manages to delicately weave glimmers of humour and moments of levity, while exposing eternal themes of loss, greed and blame. However, there is no denying the tragedy behind this true tale of tamers and travelling shows, with Ellen’s cousin William (played by Richie Bassett) also meeting his maker courtesy of an elephant’s tusk just six months earlier. For me, Bassett was a standout in a strong cast. The confusion and pathos of his injured character poignantly highlighted the lack of care or concern for those caught in a dangerous profession. With a stripped back set – just a chair placed centre stage – and sparse lighting and sound effects for atmosphere, this stark staging serves to heighten the emotion, drawing the audience into the unfolding drama. It seems fitting that the tiger (played by Holmes), a captive animal forced to perform tricks, takes centre stage for the last speech of the evening. Holmes channels the capricious nature of a creature caged against its will, exploiting a moment of inattention from the inexperienced Ellen. She had briefly turned her back on the animal and then found, to her cost, that her exit was blocked. This compelling production serves up Ellen’s story with sensitivity, leaving its mark after the final monologue and a reminder of how theatre can shine a spotlight on and give heart to hidden histories. - *Anne-Marie Jordan* [*The Lion Queen*](https://www.oasthousetheatre.co.uk/upcoming-productions-new/the-lion-queen?ref=localauthority.news) *is running until 28 March.* ### The maps behind the £60m URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-maps-behind-the-60m/ Last updated: 2026-03-31T22:44:26.000Z **A tunnel closure and a fire in Strood combined to ruin Medway’s morning commute, highlighting how quickly the area’s limited river crossings can come under pressure. We also examine the detail behind Medway’s £60m Pride in Place funding, where the official maps show a much tighter set of areas than the political messaging suggests, and look at Reform’s error-filled AI-generated guide to local government reorganisation.* ### Pride in Place Three parts of Medway are now set to receive the full £20m each through the government’s Pride in Place programme, with Luton joining the two areas already being talked about in Strood and Twydall. Friday’s [initial local messaging](https://www.localauthority.news/42m-pride-in-place-funding-for-three-medway-areas/) suggested Luton was set for a smaller allocation, but it has since been clarified that all three Medway areas are due to receive the full £20m. That means Medway is in line for £60m in new Pride in Place funding over the next decade, one of the largest allocations given out nationally. That is a bigger haul than it first appeared to be when the announcements started flying around on Friday. But the more interesting wrinkle now is not the money, but the map. Because while politicians and the council have been talking about 'Strood,' 'Gillingham and Twydall' and 'Luton in Chatham,' the actual areas selected are much tighter than those labels suggest. The government did not pick whole towns or broad neighbourhoods. It picked three precise [Middle-layer Super Output Areas](https://ocsi.uk/term/middle-layer-super-output-area-msoa/?ref=localauthority.news) called Rede Common, Twydall and Luton. As a result, the three funded areas do not all line up neatly with how local people would describe them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-24-at-12.33.22.png) Luton MSOA. Luton is the least awkward of the three. On the map, it broadly looks like Luton as most Medway residents would understand it, running from Luton Arches through the heart of the neighbourhood and out towards the local centre at the eastern end. If one of the three areas can be described in simple shorthand without too much trouble, it is this one. The other two are much less straightforward. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-24-at-12.31.11.png) Rede Common MSOA. The area being presented politically as Strood is in fact Rede Common, a strip south of the A2 and west of Cuxton Road. It leaves out Strood town centre, the riverside and everything north of the A2\. It also has some odd edges, cutting through residential streets in a way that makes sense as a statistical boundary but not much sense as a place people would naturally talk about. Darnley Road and Bligh Way, for example, include both ends, while the middle section is not. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-24-at-12.31.50.png) Twydall MSOA. Twydall is similarly more limited than the shorthand being used around it. It is essentially Twydall, not 'Gillingham and Twydall' in any broader sense, and it is nowhere near Gillingham town centre. Once again, there are streets which most local people would obviously think of as Twydall that appear to fall outside the line. That does not mean the money is not real. It clearly is. Nor does it mean those areas could not still benefit more broadly from the programme. But it does mean that some of the initial political messaging risked creating a broader impression than the maps really support. Part of the explanation is that this programme starts from Whitehall’s map, not Medway’s mental one. The government’s methodology note makes clear that these areas are based on 2021 MSOAs, not broad town or neighbourhood identities. In plain English, they are statistical units first and communities second. That helps explain the awkwardness of some of the boundaries. They were not drawn to reflect how people talk about places. They were drawn because that is how the programme selected eligible neighbourhoods. There is, however, some wriggle room later. Government guidance says the Neighbourhood Boards for each area can ask the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government to alter the default boundary, as long as any new area fully contains the original one, stays contiguous and remains at neighbourhood scale. In other words, they cannot carve bits out, but they can seek to widen the area if there is a case for doing so. The guidance specifically mentions situations where a key asset or key street has been left just outside the line, though it is unclear exactly where it could benefit here. Even without a formal boundary change, the same guidance allows some interventions to extend beyond the strict programme boundary where there is a clear rationale and the main benefit remains for residents within the funded area. So the maps published now may not be the final practical footprint of what Pride in Place will ultimately touch. But it is the starting point, and it is much more precise than how the scheme is currently being discussed. That matters because expectations are already being set. If residents hear that Strood has secured £20m, many will quite reasonably picture the High Street, the riverside or the wider town centre. If they hear Gillingham and Twydall, many will picture something much broader than the Twydall patch on the official map. At least for now, that is not what has been selected. The money is at least a larger pot than it first appeared, even if the geography is smaller than some of the announcements suggest. As the Neighbourhood Boards begin to take shape, Medway’s next argument may not be over whether the funding is welcome, but over who is really inside the line. ### Two closures before breakfast ruin the morning commute One road closure is usually enough to bring Medway to a standstill. This morning, it got two. The Medway Tunnel was shut after an overnight power failure left it unable to meet the legal safety requirements needed to stay open, while a fire at Ramo’s Cafe also closed part of Strood High Street in the early hours. Between them, one of Medway’s key cross-river routes was out, and one of the main alternative routes was disrupted before breakfast. The tunnel isn't some minor bit of infrastructure. The 30 year old route under the river carries over 50,000 vehicles a day on average. This is one of Medway’s built-in weaknesses. There are only so many meaningful ways across the river, so when the tunnel is out of action, the pressure lands almost instantly somewhere else, usually Rochester Bridge and the roads around it, which already struggle on a good day. There was some early confusion over the closure after Medway Council posted on social media at around 6.20am saying the tunnel was shut in both directions, despite drivers still appearing to pass through later in the morning. The council says it put the message out as soon as it was told the tunnel would be closing, with traffic management then needing time to mobilise. A Medway Council spokesperson said, “Following a power failure in the Medway Tunnel overnight, the team followed standard procedure to reset the tunnel systems, which fixed some but not all of the safety requirements. For example, the lights started to work, but the tunnel signage did not.” “Under the Road Tunnel Safety Act 2007, tunnels have minimal operational safety requirements which have to be met in order to be open. Therefore the Medway Tunnel has had to be closed.” “Engineers are currently on site, with specialists also en route. We anticipate the tunnel will be closed for at least most of today (Tuesday, 24 March), and will update residents on our social media channels as soon as we have more information.” Happily, the tunnel reopened around 1pm, avoiding any repeat scenes on the evening commute. The council's explanation helps explain why some drivers reported seeing the tunnel lit as normal before the closure. The issue, the council says, was not that everything was dead, but that enough of the safety system remained out to make keeping it open unlawful. The disruption was then worsened by the fire in Strood. Kent Fire and Rescue Service [said](https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/incident/medway/commercial-building-fire-high-street-strood?ref=localauthority.news) it was called to a commercial building fire on High Street at around 4am, eventually sending seven fire engines and a height vehicle. The road was closed due to smoke before reopening around 7.30am, while crews continued tackling the blaze from the rear of the building. An investigation into the cause is underway. Taken separately, either incident would have caused problems. Together, they were enough to tip a fragile road network into the kind of traffic misery Medway knows all too well. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Reform's adventures in AI slop There is bad political design, and then there is this. Reform Rochester and Strood published an image on it's Facebook page last week that tries to be a guide to local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway. In practice, it is AI slop that is error strewn, half baked, and so badly put together that anyone relying on it would come away less informed than when they started. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-13-1.png) Reform Rochester and Strood shared whatever this is on local government reorganisation. The obvious problems leap off the screen. There are spelling and text failures, including “Oundlis,” “Tongbridge Well,” “Tumbrride,” and the promise that public feedback will help shape services “tor decades.” There is a strange jump in numbering, with no Option 4 at all. Even at the level of basic presentation, it looks like something churned out in minutes and posted without anyone bothering to check it. But the real issue is not that it looks ridiculous. It is that it is wrong. Most glaringly, the poster does not include the [4D option](https://kentcouncilleaders.org.uk/lgr-consultation/?ref=localauthority.news), the proposal being pushed by Medway and backed by Canterbury and Ashford. This is not some obscure side argument that can reasonably be left out of a simplified explainer. It is one of the live options in the debate. If you are asking residents to “have your say” on the future structure of local government, omitting one of the actual proposals is not a minor slip. It makes the entire graphic substantially misleading. What remains is no better. The options that do appear either leave out important information or include information that is simply incorrect. Even if a reader generously ignored the mangled text, ropey design, and obvious AI stink coming off the whole thing, they still wouldn't get a reliable guide to the choices on the table. That matters because local government reorganisation is not a trivial process point. It will shape how hundreds of thousands of people across Kent and Medway are governed, how services are run, where power sits and who makes key decisions for years to come. It is complicated enough already without political parties pumping low-grade misinformation into the discussion. This is not a cheap joke at the expense of ugly design, or an argument that nobody should ever use AI tools. It is about standards. If a party wants to posture as a serious insurgent force ready to reshape local government, the least it can do is ensure its explainer presents the real options and gets the basic facts right. Instead, Reform has produced a poster that is both visually absurd and substantively unreliable. It is AI slop masquerading as political communication. If Reform wants to be taken seriously on the future of local government, it should start by showing it understands the present debate. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “If you've got tools, use them” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/if-youve-got-tools-use-them/ Last updated: 2026-03-22T07:00:25.000Z *Steven met Alex Cameron, co-chair of the Intra Community Trust, at the Moat House Coffee shop after originally turning up a week early. They spoke about how many community* groups *Alex is involved in, how he received his MBE, and, importantly, where Chatham Intra actually is.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/IMG_20210409_144324-1.jpg) Alex Cameron **What is your official occupation?** I'm retired. **And do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** We have a list. The background is that when I came to retirement in 2000, I had to make a decision about where we were going to be and what we were going to do. When we came down to Medway in 1978, we decided to be here for two years. We're still here. Medway turns out to be a really nice place. People don't always understand it because it looks gruff and horrible, but it's a really nice place. So, we stayed. I had to decide what to do. Do I vegetate or do I do stuff? And I decided I wanted to do stuff. That leads you into things. Back then, I got involved in the City of Culture bid and that led into meeting a bunch of other people, including you. That led into the early days of the [Heritage Action Zone](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200177/regeneration/1218/heritage%5Faction%5Fzone?ref=localauthority.news) project and Intra. I got involved in that, and that's how it all started. These days, I am an elder and part of the leadership team at the [Vines Church](https://www.thevineschurch.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) just up the road here. Through that, I get involved in [Churches Together in Medway](https://medwaychurch.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I don't have a formal role there. I help out when I can, I facilitate meetings with the council and stuff like that. The Vines happens to be part of the United Reformed Church, so I tend to get involved in some of that stuff. Not as much as they would like me to. The faith element of my life is important to me. It drives everything else. The things I'm actually involved in in the wider community, I'm co-chair of what is now called [Intra Community Trust](https://intracommunitytrust.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I'm a trustee for [Ideas Test](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), another local charity which uses culture and the arts to make a difference in communities that need support and help. They do a marvellous piece of work. I'm really impressed with what the team does there. I'm chair of a small art society, [Rochester and West Kent Art Society](https://www.facebook.com/RandWKAS/), because my wife happens to be an artist, so I got dragged into that. I sit on the sidelines of creative media. I'm part of [Rochester Eco Hub](https://www.facebook.com/TheRochesterEcoHub/), which we can talk about for hours. That leads me into being part of the council. There's a [community working group](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200348/climate%5Fchange/2055/climate%5Fchange%5Faction%5Fin%5Fthe%5Fcommunity/2?ref=localauthority.news) that the climate change team have set up. We get involved in helping the climate change team do stuff. We put inputs in. That has led me into a small activity looking at how we could get some community energy projects started in Medway. We've set up a little working group called Medway Community Energy Project to try and get the beginnings of a community energy system in Medway. It's not about being it, it's about enabling it to start. I've been taking part in the [Urban Room](https://www.thosegriffins.co.uk/chathamurbanroom.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham because I care about what happens there. I try to get involved with the planning when that's relevant, because Intra has a fairly good footprint in things happening around. We now get involved in town centre board meetings. I am trying to help the town centre boards talk to each other more. What else can I tell you? That's probably enough. But I am retired. One of the things, this is just me. One of the things that you pick up, having worked 45 years in a high intensity industrial world. The aerospace industry, it sucks you in, you learn a lot of stuff, and the surprise to me when I retired was that most of that stuff is useful in other places. If you've got tools, use them. **You mentioned faith being important to you. Has that always been the case?** Yes. **In your early childhood, was faith important?** Oh no, that happened when I was a student at university. 50 years. **What happened at university that led you to faith?** That's a long story. I met my wife, amongst other things, and that led me into the Christian Union, which led me into finding out more about it, and I became a Christian at university. **Was there a reason that when you retired, you decided to focus so heavily on the community?** Yes, it's because it's that drive that you've got inside you to do stuff if you don't want to vegetate. You don't want to get old quick over the years. I watch people get to retirement and then do nothing, fade away or die. Some of my friends passed away quite quickly after retirement, and that makes you think. Go for it. One of my colleagues I worked with, a guy called George, who was based in the US in the last few years, got pancreatic cancer and died two years after retirement. Very sad. You're going to make use of the time you've got where you've got it and where you can do things, do them. Otherwise, you live in regret. **What was it that drew you or connected you to Chatham Intra**, **to become a part of that?** Back in 2020, the council got a grant from Historic England for the High Street Heritage Action Zone, and as part of that, they had to set up the Cultural Consortium. I got involved in that, and about a year or two in, the group realised they actually could do stuff. They're very good at doing stuff. An interesting mix of people who live, work, and are part of Intra. There's a lot of skills, a lot of talent, a lot of know-how. We started doing things. Little festivals, events, additional funding and finding out we could do stuff. As that three-year project started to run down, we decided we needed to do something. We got a little grant from [UKSPF](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus?ref=localauthority.news) to do a community consultation. Out of that came, let's become a registered charity. About the same time, the opportunity to bid for funding from the Architecture Heritage Fund came along. Architecture Heritage Fund had a three-year tranche of funding to create heritage development trusts around the country. We're one of 12 in this tranche. We are a brand new one. Some other ones are long established. A lot people looking to see how we do it because we are so new. That's good. That brought in funding for three years. That funding has enabled us to go through the process of becoming a a registered charity, and also pays for a couple of part-time staff, to enable us to function as a registered charity. We're going for it, basically. Does that answer your question? **Why did you get involved?** Why did I get involved? **Did you have a connection to the area?** No, I didn't. Out of the city of culture bid, I got to know the consultants the council brought in to set that up. They said, “Would you like to come and be part of this?” I was sceptical because it was a place you drive through. It isn't until you go there and then you suddenly realise it's somewhere special. They basically got me involved, and I stayed. **What was your official occupation before you retired?** I worked for BAE Systems as product manager. I looked after a product line, and it's a bit... The Rochester site of BAE Systems is a world-class aviation avionics provider. It's really good at what it does. It's got a very good team and a growing team. They're good at what they do. We were doing head-mounted displays. There are three capable companies in the world, and we're one of them, and that's out of Rochester. People don't always understand that Rochester leads the world in some technologies. It's an international business. **Is also part of it, because of non-disclosure agreements? Working with government contracts that you're not allowed to talk about?** You can't talk about some of the defence aspects, and that's just the realities of life. It's an international business. I spent my life travelling the world. You get different perspectives, because that's the nature of the business. It just happens to be here. What that means is there's a large number of talented people who have worked there over the decades. There's a legacy in Medway which we don't often realise. It's like [Shorts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short%5FBrothers?ref=localauthority.news). They left in ‘46, didn't they? There's still that long-term legacy that pervades into society today. Everybody knows somebody who worked at Shorts. **At the risk of annoying someone, where is Chatham Intra? Where does it begin? Where does it end?** Right, the historic definition would be the Chatham end of what we now call Intra, but for the purpose of Intra Community Trust, we are between Sun Pier and Star Hill along the old high street that runs there. It's not the old high street. Everything's the old high street. It goes for miles. We have an Intra Conservation Management Plan, which is adopted by the council and a development framework, which is very helpful in that it starts to tell developers what they can and can't do. Starting to manage some of the developments to be more sensible, shall we say, and more in keeping with the nature of the area. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### £60m Pride in Place funding for three Medway areas URL: https://www.localauthority.news/42m-pride-in-place-funding-for-three-medway-areas/ Last updated: 2026-03-24T15:43:30.000Z **Strood, Luton and Twydall are set to receive nearly £60m of Pride in Place funding over the next decade. We look at what the programme is, how the money will be controlled and spent, and what this selection says about these places, alongside council business, planning updates, news in brief, and lots more.* ### Medway lands £60m Pride in Place funding for three areas Three parts of Medway are set for £20m each in long-term government funding after Strood, Twydall and Luton were selected for the latest phase of the Pride in Place programme. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-12-1-1.png) Areas like Twydall are in line for significant funding. It is a significant cash injection for parts of Medway that do not often see this kind of long-term commitment. It also opens the door to a much more local argument about what this money is actually for, who gets to shape it, and whether residents will feel the benefit in any meaningful way. Under the main programme, each area will each get £20m over the next 10 years. The funding can be used on a wide range of local priorities, from pavements, public spaces and high streets to culture, green spaces and community facilities. Neighbourhood Boards will now be set up for both areas, bringing together residents, businesses, campaigners, faith leaders, local MPs and the council to decide how the money should be spent over the life of the programme. More detail on how people can get involved is due later. Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) said, “This is fantastic news and a brilliant opportunity for the residents, businesses and communities of Luton, Strood, Gillingham and Twydall to shape how this much-needed funding will be spent.” “The Pride in Place fund puts the power into the hands of local communities to shape their area as part of a partnership, which perfectly aligns with our One Medway approach.” Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for strategic regeneration and inward investment, said: “This long-term funding has the potential to make a real difference in Medway,” noting that “our high streets and shared community spaces play a vital role in people’s lives.” “We are looking forward to working closely with our partners to shape how this funding will be used, and partnership is the key word for Pride in Place, with the funding to be used to deliver improvements and projects that reflect the local community’s ambitions for the area.” Rochester and Strood MP [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) also welcomed the Strood allocation, saying she was “thrilled that Strood has been awarded £20 million through the Government’s Pride in Place Fund.” “This investment will make a big difference over the next decade and rightfully puts the power to regenerate our town into the hands of local people.” She added that she would be “inviting people from across Strood to help shape how the money is spent, whether that’s for new community facilities, greener and safer public spaces, or improvements to our high streets. Working together, we can build a stronger community for everyone in Strood.” Gillingham and Rainham MP [Naushabah Khan](https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/) struck a similar note on the Twydall funding, saying in a Facebook post that she was “proud to announce I’ve secured £20 million for our community through the Pride in Place Programme.” She added, “Years of being overlooked? That changes now. We’re talking safer streets, green spaces, youth services, and support for the brilliant local groups that make this place special.” Khan also said local residents would be “at the heart of deciding how this money is spent.” Taken together, the announcements mean Medway will see two full-scale Pride in Place programmes in Strood and Twydall, alongside a smaller allocation for Luton. That is a substantial amount of money coming into three areas over the next decade, with ministers and local politicians alike presenting it as a chance for residents to shape what happens next in places that have too often been overlooked. That still leaves plenty unresolved. For all the talk of community control, the difficult part comes next. The boards have to be formed, chairs agreed, local priorities worked through, and plans drawn up. Government guidance says these boards are meant to be community-led, but the relevant MP must sit on each one, at least one ward councillor has to be included, and the council remains the accountable body at the start of the programme. That does not make the promise of local control meaningless, but it does mean the eventual shape of the boards will matter a lot. If they feel open, representative and rooted in the neighbourhoods they are supposed to serve, this could become a genuinely important piece of long-term local investment. If they end up looking like the usual collection of political figures who often sit on these sorts of panels, people will notice that too. The other question is what this money ultimately pays for. The government’s intervention list is broad enough to cover almost anything from public realm works and parks to bus improvements, youth provision, CCTV, sports facilities, health hubs, adult learning and business support. That flexibility is part of the attraction. It also means the first real row may not be over whether the money is welcome, but over whether it is being used for visible transformation or for things residents feel should already have been happening anyway. For now, though, the shape of the announcement is straightforward enough. Medway has landed two major long-term Pride in Place allocations for Strood and Twydall, with a smaller additional pot for Luton. What that turns into on the ground will depend less on Friday’s announcement than on what happens after it. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=437&MId=6369&ref=localauthority.news) will hear from portfolio holders, and debate school streets. - **Thursday:** [Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=585&MId=6371&ref=localauthority.news) will hear from council leader Vince Maple and discuss opening up the council's petition system. **New planning applications:** - Construction of a six-storey [medical centre](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TC5R83KNIGT00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) on Gun Lane in Strood. - [GP surgery on Woodlands Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBY3OMKNLFX00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham proposes remodelling its ground floor and adding a first floor extension. - Reconstruction of lost [WW1 pathways](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBS96XKNHVG00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and fence lines around Lodge Hill. - After a quiet couple of weeks, there's a bonanza of new HMO applications. This week, we have proposals for [Ingram Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBOE1RKNFH300&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [King Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBOB9OKNN5000&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Paget Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAYGKNKNMPL00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Park Avenue](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBP0ERKNFVF00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Rainham Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TC21YPKNG6700&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), and [Roseberry Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBQ5QVKNGKE00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham, and [Wheatcroft Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBXK7YKNL4300&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Rainham. ### In brief 🧑‍⚕️ The first GP surgery has [moved into the new healthy living centre](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2r3lzyv47o?ref=localauthority.news) upstairs in the Pentagon in Chatham, with others set to follow in the coming weeks. 🏥 Jonathan Wade, who currently heads up both Medway NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, has [suddenly resigned](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/shock-as-top-health-chief-quits-amid-job-losses-and-financia-337778/?ref=localauthority.news). 🗑️ Flats across Medway are [set to have food waste collected](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2053/weekly%5Ffood%5Fwaste%5Fcollections%5Ffor%5Fflats%5Fset%5Fto%5Flaunch%5Fin%5Fapril?ref=localauthority.news) for the first time, with residents receiving kitchen caddies and bin liners ahead of the 6 April launch. 🎯 Pier Five, Shepherd Neame's pub at Chatham Dockside that isn't the Ship and Trades, has rebranded as [The Sin Bin](https://www.sinbindockside.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a garish looking sports and games bar. ☕ Slough Fort in Allhallows [now has a cafe](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid02aC1yEMUf53SWTAuu61s3gM4BpimNRSaN6kmhmPHvwPWhVzYsbUHEKfpHFSMQVhUxl&id=100064862881419). ### Property of the week This four-bedroom townhouse inside Chatham’s Historic Dockyard is on the market for £425,000 and is selling a very specific pitch. It is a modern family house in a monitored, 24/7 security bubble that feels a long way from Chatham town centre, even when it is not. It is spread over three floors with three bathrooms, including two en suites, balconies front and rear, a small low-maintenance garden, and off-road parking plus a garage. The genuinely useful feature is the self-contained ground-floor bedroom suite with its own en suite, walk-in wardrobe and utility space, which makes the layout more flexible than most townhouses in this bracket. It is not period charm. It is convenience, an unusual setting, and the appeal of living in the Dockyard without having to live in a listed building. [Check out this 4 bedroom town house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom town house for sale in The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, ME4 for £425,000\. Marketed by Greenleaf Property Services Ltd, Rochester![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-11.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/972377a9daa21fb6d36d77bf14ce8584.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/173456873?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎤 Sat 21 Mar - [**Emily Barker**](https://wegottickets.com/event/688513?ref=localauthority.news) // Intimate performance by award-winning Australian singer-songwriter. LV21, Chatham. Tickets £24. 🤼 Sun 22 Mar - [**UKPW**](https://www.fatsoma.com/e/xkj1qloi/ukpw-live-pro-wrestling-in-parkwood?ref=localauthority.news) //Action-packed wrestling entertainment. Parkwood Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. ### Sport this weekend ⚽ [**Gillingham FC vs Bristol Rovers**](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/fixture/view/9592?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 21 Mar, League Two, Priestfield Stadium*. Floundering Gills take on floundering Rovers. 🏉 [**Medway RFC 1XV vs Shelford**](https://www.mrfc.net/teams/260403/match-centre/1-17457393?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 21 Mar,Regional 1 South East, Priestfields Recreation Ground*. Bottom of the table Shelford come to Medway, who will be looking to push themselves a little bit further up the table. ⚽ [**Chatham Town Women vs Cambridge**](https://www.instagram.com/p/DV%5FgmkcCLQJ/?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sun 22 Mar, Women’s National League Division One South East, Bauvill Stadium*. Struggling Cambridge visit Chatham. **Playing away:* Chatham Town visit Burgess Hill Town (Isthmian Premier), while Invicta Mustangs go to Lee Valley (NIHL Division 2 South).* ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✏️ ***Correction:** *An earlier version of this story reported £42m in funding, as there was some initial confusion over the amount that Luton would receive.* ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Will Medway turn turquoise? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/will-medway-turn-turquoise/ Last updated: 2026-03-20T07:37:02.000Z *Medway politics used to look fairly familiar. Labour or Conservative, red or blue, with everyone else fighting over the edges. *Alan Collins* is not so sure that still holds. In this guest piece, the* [***Medway Elects***](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *founder looks at the wider splintering of British politics and what it could mean locally, including whether Reform is now better placed than any challenger party before it to break through here.* ### Will Medway turn turquoise? **by Alan Collins** In 2005, the BBC spy drama *Spooks* took on the political world with a storyline about a politician from an (unnamed) established party defecting to an upstart right-wing party and calling a by-election to seek his constituents’ approval. Sound familiar? It served as a warning of what would now be called *extreme right-wing terrorism*. Its target was the British National Party, an ideological successor to the National Front, which had started winning elections at a local level. The party in the episode was the “British Way,” with the MI5 agent embedded within the party machine taken, among other things, on a crossbow hunt in a local Asian supermarket. Comparisons with the party’s policies and 1930s Germany were rife. As a *Spooks* fan in my younger years and (even then) a political geek, I can recall the episode vividly. One of my favourite interactions was when Harry Pearce (Section D chief) and Fiona Carter (an agent) were talking to a seasoned politician considering crossing the floor. The dialogue, as always, included the occasional quip among the serious conversation: Harry: “Look, I’ve grown attached to a stable two party...” Fiona: “Three.” Harry: “What, we’re including the little Scottish chap?” Fiona: \*shrugs\* Harry: “Okay, three party system. Let’s not throw away something that’s served us so well.” The “little Scottish chap” was, of course, Charles Kennedy, then leader of the Liberal Democrats. Mere months before the broadcast, they had polled 22% and won 62 seats in [the general election](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&select=parliamentary&id=20050505P&ref=localauthority.news). Between them, Labour and the Conservatives had polled 68%. The rest of the parties fighting that election had to feed off the scraps of the remaining 10%. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Untitled-design--26-.jpg) Fast-forward 20 years, and in the recent Gorton and Denton by-election, none of those parties made it into the top two. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats each polled less than 2%, losing their deposits, while Labour had to settle for third place on 25%, half their vote share in the 2024 general election. The Green Party (winners) and Reform UK (runners up) polled 69% between them. Labour had not just lost the seat, they had fallen behind a traditionally minor party and a party which was only formed in November 2018. Government parties losing by-elections is nothing new. Smaller parties winning by-elections is also nothing new. Since the general election in 1992, there have been 116 parliamentary by-elections. 55 were in seats where the party of government was the incumbent, and in those by-elections, the governing party held onto 23 seats but lost 32 to opposition parties. In contrast, of the 61 by-elections in opposition seats, only four were gained by the governing party (although many changed hands between opposition parties). Labour have gained 11 seats while in opposition, with all but one of those gains coming in the last term of a Conservative government. The Conservatives have fared less well, gaining just four seats in by-elections: two while in opposition and, somewhat bucking the usual trend, gaining Copeland and, famously, Hartlepool from Labour while in government (in 2017 and 2021, respectively). Labour have also gained two seats while in government, but both of those were from resigning Speakers who had previously been Labour MPs. The Liberal Democrats are famous for their by-election wins: although, since 1992, they have barely outperformed Labour, as the traditional third party usually squeezed out under first past the post, their 13 gains from the governing party sees them top of the table for giving the government of the day a kicking. Their sole by-election defence while in government was, somewhat incredibly, in view of their collapse in support after entering into coalition with the Conservatives, also a hold, making them technically the only party of government since 1992 not to lose a seat in a by-election. They did, however, lose 49 seats in the 2015 general election, somewhat ironically including the seat they held onto in that by-election. ## Get our reporting in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories without the ads or clickbait Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Gorton and Denton is the Green Party’s first win in a by-election. Reform UK have also only won a single parliamentary by-election, in Runcorn and Helsby last year. Even George Galloway has won more by-elections, with his former Respect party in Bradford West in 2012 and with his new Workers Party in Rochdale in 2024. The Green Party's win in Gorton and Denton is not a game changer as far as the politics of by-elections goes, but it is part of a wider realignment of voting patterns. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway backs School Streets as Rochester opposition grows URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-backs-school-streets-as-rochester-opposition-grows/ Last updated: 2026-03-21T09:39:39.000Z **Medway is preparing to present its first School Streets as a success, but in Rochester, opposition is building around a new scheme that residents say has expanded far beyond the road outside a school gate. We also look at how fear around the Canterbury meningitis outbreak is spreading into Medway despite no confirmed local cases, and at the newly installed Gillingham Pier sign that appears not to have survived contact with proofreading.* ### Medway backs School Streets as Rochester opposition grows Medway Council is preparing to hail its first School Streets as a success. In Rochester, plenty of residents are preparing to tell it otherwise. A [report on the scheme](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=437&MId=6369&ref=localauthority.news), due to be discussed next Tuesday, says the first tranche has delivered “safer, calmer streets,” sharply reduced car use during the school run and improved air quality indicators, and asks councillors to support the continued development of the programme. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-11.png) The headline case is neat enough. The council says 68% of parents and carers and 69% of staff reported safer, calmer environments outside schools. During the restricted periods, the share of journeys made by car fell from around 28% to around 10%, while the share made on foot rose from about 68% to 86%. No collisions were recorded at any School Street site during operating hours over the monitoring period. Cllr [Alex Paterson](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/), Medway’s portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, is leaning into that case. “As well as delivering an environment outside the school gate which feels safer to those using it, this data shows a fall in school run car use, an increase in pedestrian journeys and a reduction in traffic-related pollutants being breathed in by children and their carers,” he said. That is the council’s argument in one tidy block. School Streets are making roads outside schools feel safer, cutting traffic where it matters most and improving the air children breathe. The catch is that the council’s own review also accepts a point opponents have been making all along. Some of the traffic has simply been pushed elsewhere. The scrutiny paper says displacement has shown up at some locations and varies by site, from minimal on smaller or more self-contained roads to more pronounced on roads where schools sit in messier local traffic networks. At St Thomas More Primary School in Walderslade, officers say displacement was significant, particularly along Walderslade Road. At Miers Court Primary in Rainham, they describe a “vast amount” of displaced traffic onto Nightingale Close and Harvesters Close, including pavement parking, double yellow line parking and blocked driveways. At Phoenix Junior Academy and Greenvale Primary, traffic was pushed towards the Symons Avenue and White Road crossroads, creating safety concerns for people crossing there. There is another awkward wrinkle, too. Medway has strong enough data on what happened once the schemes were in place, but baseline travel-mode data was not collected before tranche one went live. The monitoring report says officers had to rely, in part, on retrospective parent and carer responses and that, despite some movement away from single-occupancy car use, the figures suggest only limited modal shift. It explicitly recommends proper baseline surveying on future schemes. Ultimately, the road outside the school may get calmer. The roads nearby do not necessarily thank you for it. The enforcement numbers tell a similar story. Across the seven tranche one sites, 13,507 penalty charge notices were issued in the first year, with Burnt Oak Primary in Gillingham accounting for 5,888 and Phoenix 3,424\. Officers say compliance improved after the initial warning period. This may be true. But thousands of fines in year one do rather undercut any idea that this has all quietly settled down without friction. Paterson also tied the programme to a wider fall in child casualties. “Placed in the context of a 40 per cent overall reduction in child road casualties across Medway from 2023/24 to 2024/25, I am confident that schemes like these, alongside our wider road safety initiatives, are an important tool to help deliver safer, healthier streets for our children,” he said. That is a fair political case to make. But Medway’s own scrutiny report is careful on the point. It says the borough-wide drop from 109 to 65 child casualties cannot be attributed solely to School Streets and also reflects broader road safety initiatives. If that first half is Medway’s case for why School Streets are worth doing, the second half is Rochester’s case for why every new one can still turn into a neighbourhood row. The current [consultation](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200137/schools%5Fand%5Flearning/1791/school%5Fstreets%5Fscheme/4?ref=localauthority.news) around King’s Pre-Preparatory School and Nursery in Rochester runs until 27 March. On paper, it is another School Streets proposal. In reality, it is now something broader. The revised March 2026 notice covers St Margaret’s Street between Vines Lane and Roebuck Road, King Edward Road and Lockington Grove during weekday drop-off and pick-up hours. But it also adds a longer one-way section on St Margaret’s Street, a one-way restriction on Roebuck Road, a no-entry into Watts Avenue from Roebuck Road, a no-entry into King Edward Road from Maidstone Road and two new road humps in Roebuck Road. It explicitly says this notice supersedes the notices published in March and April 2025. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-17-at-18.15.27.png) Proposals for the School Street scheme in Rochester. This is no longer just a school gate restriction. It is a wider attempt to reorder how traffic moves around that patch of Rochester. Crucially, this did not come out of nowhere. Medway’s December 2025 consultation report shows King’s was already the clear trouble spot. Across the three schools subject to the extended consultation, there were 181 representations and 158 objections. King’s alone accounted for 135 representations, including 125 objections, five queries and just five letters of support. The council’s response was not to back off. It was to amend the design and go back out again. The objections raised then sound very familiar now. Residents raised concerns about traffic and congestion on neighbouring roads, longer walking distances from remote parking, access to properties, requests around one-way working on Roebuck Road and Watts Avenue, and calls for some kind of drop-off arrangement. The report says the council’s revised answer was to implement traffic management measures around the school street zone, including making Roebuck Road one-way and installing speed humps to reduce potential impacts on the surrounding area. That is what makes the Rochester row more interesting than a generic anti-traffic-management grumble. Opponents are not just saying safer school gates are a bad idea. They are saying the King’s proposal has grown into something much larger than that, and that the public case for the expanded restrictions still feels thin. Attendees of a public meeting about the plans told *Local Authority* that more than 100 people turned up to a recent public meeting on the proposal, with former South Thanet MP and now Lord Craig Mackinlay taking a leading role in the opposition. The complaints were not just that the plan is inconvenient. It was that Medway had quietly turned one proposal into something much bigger. Some attendees noted that Cllr Paterson did not attend the meeting, despite being invited. For his part, Paterson says there is a reason he did not attend a recent public meeting on the scheme. “As with a meeting convened last year during a statutory consultation on a previous iteration of the scheme, it would have been improper for me to have participated in that forum, given that I am one of the decision makers,” he said. “This time-limited restriction has not prevented me from discussing the proposals with a variety of stakeholders during the long intervening period, including during a meeting with the school senior leadership team as recently as the 27th of February.” “However when the statutory consultation closes, officers will compile a report which reflects all contributions to it and it is on this, alongside information and responses from officers, that I will base any decision.” That is a fair enough process answer. It is unlikely to do much for residents who think the council is asking them to comment on a broader, more interventionist scheme without having clearly shown its workings. Medway has enough evidence to argue that School Streets are doing something useful. The first tranche does appear to have made the roads immediately outside some schools calmer and less traffic-dominated during the restricted periods. But the same evidence also shows displacement is real, behaviour change is patchier than the headlines imply, and the politics get much nastier once a School Street stops being just about the road outside the gate and starts reshaping movement across a wider neighbourhood. For Medway, the first School Streets are proof the policy works. For one part of Rochester, the next one looks more like proof of how messy that can get. ### Medway watches Kent meningitis outbreak as social media fear spreads Two young people have died, and 15 cases of invasive meningococcal disease have now been linked to Canterbury, with health officials saying the majority of cases trace back to Club Chemistry and associated contacts. Our sister title, the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [reported yesterday](https://www.kentcurrent.news/two-deaths-as-canterbury-confronts-meningitis-outbreak/?ref=localauthority.news) on how the outbreak was already disrupting life in Canterbury. Now the concern is spreading more widely, including into Medway, where Facebook posts, WhatsApp messages and other social media chatter are filling up with unconfirmed claims about possible cases elsewhere in Kent. [Two deaths as Canterbury confronts meningitis outbreakViral outbreak reshapes life in the city, plus Cliftonville by-election latest, and the week’s other Kent stories.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/KC-NEW-LOGO-SQUARE-4.png)Kent CurrentEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/AdobeStock_841076714_Editorial_Use_Only-1.jpeg)](https://www.kentcurrent.news/two-deaths-as-canterbury-confronts-meningitis-outbreak/?ref=localauthority.news) The confirmed picture is serious, but still much narrower than the one circulating online. The UK Health Security Agency said today that 15 cases of invasive meningococcal disease had epidemiological links to Canterbury, while Health Secretary Wes Streeting told MPs that the majority of cases link back to Club Chemistry on 5-7 March “and their associated networks.” He also said the club is currently closed voluntarily. That is the backdrop to Medway Council’s response. Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) said in a statement today, “My thoughts are with the family and friends of the young people who have very sadly lost their lives to meningitis, and to everyone impacted by the outbreak. As a parent myself, I fully understand the emotions and worry caused by this evolving situation.” He added that the “public health team in Medway is working to assess any possible risks to residents and settings in Medway. If there are any specific updates affecting those who live, study or work in Medway, we will ensure to update you as soon as possible.” That feels like the right line. There is no confirmed Medway outbreak at this stage, but there is clearly a lot of local concern, not least because online speculation is now reaching well beyond the places where officials have actually confirmed cases. You can see that in how businesses are reacting to. The somehow still operating Tap n Tin in Chatham said it didn't open last night “as a precautionary measure due to the recent meningitis outbreak in Canterbury,” adding that “the safety and wellbeing of our customers and staff is always our highest priority.” That does not prove there is wider spread into Medway. It does show how quickly a serious but still only partly understood outbreak can start changing behaviour beyond the area where cases have actually been confirmed, especially once social media fills the gaps with half-heard warnings and second-hand reports. For now, Medway is left in an awkward middle ground. There are no confirmed local cases, but there is a serious outbreak nearby, a lot of understandable concern, and online fear is spreading faster than hard information. That is why the sensible response is neither panic nor shrugging it off, but keeping a close eye on the official advice as the picture develops. ### Proofreading abandoned at Gillingham Pier A new sign has appeared at Gillingham Pier, and while it is undeniably smarter than whatever was there before, it also seems to have gone up without the radical step of anyone proofreading it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/GillinghamPier2-1-1.jpeg) New signage at Gillingham Pier. The large blue sign, carrying the Medway crest and a welcome to Gillingham Pier, explains that the site is for “leisure boat moorings, historic vessel restoration and slipway facilities for launching and vessel maintenance subject to fees”, which has the distinct feel of several separate thoughts being forced to share one sentence against their will. It then notes that “Jet ski’s and hovercraft are not permitted to use the slipway”, which is bad news for apostrophes as much as personal watercraft. Best of all, anyone with further questions is invited to contact medwaypiers@meday.gov.uk. Not Medway. Meday. None of this is exactly a crisis. The pier still exists, and boats will continue to boat. But there is something wonderfully Medway Council about spending money on a smart new public sign and then immediately undermining it with the sort of mistakes that would shame a parish newsletter. We approached Medway Council for comment, but did not receive a response. ## ****Local journalism that takes Medway seriously** Free, independent reporting on the stories that matter to our towns Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “You don't come here just to die” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/you-dont-come-here-just-to-die/ Last updated: 2026-03-15T07:00:27.000Z *Martyn Reeves is the Chief Executive of* [*Wisdom Hospice Charity*](https://wisdomhospicecharity.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, a member of the Medway Voluntary Sector Leaders Network and a former car salesman. Steven met him in his office at Wisdom Hospice to find out about the work they do, opening the Hanger, and whether he checks whether a patient receiving end-of-life care has made a will...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Martyn-Kent-Charity-Trek-1.jpg) Martyn Reeves **What is the** [**Wisdom Hospice Charity**](https://wisdomhospicecharity.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)**?** It all really started with one of the teams at the Medway Hospital, a nurse and a doctor. Peter Jennings was a really good doctor, surgeon, very fed up with saying "That's all I can do for you." He mentioned this to one of his nurses, and she said, “You need to go along to St. Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham in London.” That was the first hospice that opened in 1967\. This was late 70s, early 80s. He went along on a Friday to meet the palliative care nurse trainers, and he was blown away by what the hospice did. He comes back to Medway, thinking, “Medway needs a hospice.” The nurse then said, “You need to meet one of our patients, Molly Wisdom. Meet her and just see what she has to say,” because he needs to raise money to build a hospice. He went to meet Molly, and Molly famously said to him, or infamously said to him, “You keep me alive, I’ll run you two coffee mornings, and I'll raise the money to start off your fund.” She did this, and in the two coffee mornings, she raised £2,000\. That was the start of the charity. That was the start of raising money. She raised the money, then rang Peter and said, “Well, where do we put the money now?” He said, “Put it in a bank.” “What do I call the bank account?” Which they called The Wisdom account, and that's where the Wisdom name came from. It's from Molly Wisdom, who was a sweet shop owner in Medway. I've found documents from groups like the Borstal Ladies that came together and raised £55k over three years. There was the church up the road, St Luke's Church. I did a talk there last year, and they were all in their 80s, these ladies, this church group. I'm talking about the hospice, and it's about an hour talk, and they asked the questions, and they said, “Molly Wisdom came to speak to us and asked us to do a jumble sale to raise money,” and it made me feel so good. That's Molly Wisdom, that is how Medway do things. There's a need there. This humble lady said I'll start it all off and 42 years later, here is this fantastic hospice that's built on a bit of land the NHS gave us originally. It's been operated by the health authority ever since, currently by [Community Healthcare](https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). The charity is here to support the hospice as and when we have some money, we pay a grant to them every month. **What is your official occupation?** I'm Chief Executive of Wisdom Hospice Charity. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** I sit on the [Medway Voluntary Sector Leaders Network](https://www.mva.org.uk/organisations/vcs-leaders-network?ref=localauthority.news). I'm very involved with the Transformation Academy in Medway and the Medway Voluntary Alliance as well. Then I sit with all the hospices in a group in the south east under the umbrella of Hospice UK, and there's a Kent Hospice Alliance. We meet together with hospice CEOs. There's lots of collaboration and learning that goes on in our sector. **What is the Wisdom Hospice? What do they do here?** The hospice looks after people at end of life and offers end of life care. Either through the hospice here with its 15 beds or in the community, because ultimately, people would like to remain in their home as long as possible. We cover an area from ME1 to ME12, Medway and Swale. That's just above us here towards Gravesend, and then down towards just past Teynham and out towards the island at Sheppey, encompassed by the M2, population roughly 420,000 people. **At the risk of starting off in a morbid kind of place, what does that end of life mean? Who makes that determination?** That's a good question. How do you get referred here is the question you're asking. You get referred here by any healthcare professional. It's not just cancer. > It's not just the patient that the hospice looks after **What is end of life?** Now, there are different definitions of that, but generally speaking, it's someone in the last 12 months of their life. And that's so hard to predict. This all started with the Symptom Control Team from Medway Hospital. It's not just about the last weeks, days of life, but actually controlling the symptoms towards the end of life to make that journey as comfortable as possible for that patient and their family. It's not just the patient that the hospice looks after. It’s a holistic approach, looking after all of the family through psychosocial as well as healthcare. **You've only got 15 beds. If life finds a way, and someone holds on, is there a waiting list?** Yeah, there can be, but actually, what the community teams do is manage that extremely well. The community nurses look after the patients so well, they support them at home and also the hospital team. There's a hospital team from the hospice in Medway Hospital. They're supporting patients there as well. By careful choreography, hopefully we can maintain a level of care where we can. It's always difficult with an ageing population and the increase in need, but the hospice team are just wonderful people. They do a really good job looking after their patients. **Does it occur when somebody is still terminal, but doing better, where they can go home from here?** Yeah, absolutely. Symptom control, you're in a pretty poor way. You get into the hospice and control symptoms, and people do go home. There's a great article in one of our newsletters from a patient who actually talks about coming to the hospice. They maintain, they control her symptoms, and she goes home, or they might go on to a care home. You don't come here just to die. There is the option towards the end of your journey, obviously, but that's down to the hospice team to work that out. **Is there support in place for the team that works here? Being surrounded by death the whole time...** Yeah, they have regular reflections. The team are really supportive of each other. They are quite incredible. **What is the relationship between the Wisdom Hospice and the Wisdom Hospice Charity?** There are 200 odd hospices in this country. The vast majority are independent charities. The charity runs the hospice and gets a grant from the government, around about 30%. We're an NHS hospice. This was the agreement made years ago that the charity built the hospice and gave it to the local health authority under the proviso you must provide end of life care in the hospice and the health authority at that time said “Can you still carry on raising money for the extras that we're going to need?” and that's what we're here for. We maintain a grant of about £60,000 a month at the moment, which goes towards the running costs, but equally, sometimes when there's extra facilities or equipment that are needed that are outside the NHS budget, then we can fund it. For instance, we’re relaunching a therapy centre in March, and we're funding that for the first two years, and then it becomes part of the grant from the government after that. That's the flexibility we can bring and the innovative approach we can bring to hospice care. **Who are the Friends of Wisdom Hospice?** Us. When I got here 15 years ago, we were called the Friends of the Wisdom Hospice. That was a charity that Molly set up. We were launched in 1982\. I did feel that in the modern world, as we got to raise more money, as we continue, the Wisdom Hospice Charity was a better way of reflecting how our charity, which is a business, is growing. It gives a bit wider appeal, I feel. I feel that connotations of the word friends is a little bit old fashioned, whereas we're a bit more of a growing charity and need to raise more money. **Who runs the Wisdom Hospice** [**shops**](https://wisdomhospicecharity.org.uk/wisdom-hospice-shops?ref=localauthority.news)**?** We run those. That's the separate trading company we have. We currently have five shops or six shops, including e-commerce. **What is The Hangar?** [The Hangar](https://wisdomhospicecharity.org.uk/the-hangar?ref=localauthority.news) was a bit of a dream. About four years ago, we wanted a destination shop that's different. I wanted to be on a retail estate, industrial unit that's bigger, to give customers a completely different experience. That's a dream for me. I didn't know how to make it work. We've got an amazing team supporting how that works. One of the biggest things for me is that we only sell donated goods, and we actually avoid some pre-loved clothing, for instance, going into landfill. We probably stop about 250,000 items a year going into landfill through the shops. **Outside of the shops and The Hangar, how does the charity raise money to sustain that grant for the hospice?** If you take retail as one separate income stream, we have four other income streams. You can make a regular donation to the hospice, to us, the charity. Events, you can come to one of our events, like [Walk the Night](https://wisdomhospicecharity.org.uk/events/walk-the-night-2026?ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham in June, or you might want to do your own event, like the London Marathon, and then you raise money for us. Or you might want to do a quiz and raise money for us. We run [our own lottery](https://wisdomhospicecharity.org.uk/lottery?ref=localauthority.news) as well. There are also legacies if you want to leave a gift in your will to us, which happens fairly frequently. **Just to clarify, what was the Walk the Night?** We did it the first time last year, working with [Chatham Maritime Trust](https://www.cmtrust.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). They gave us the area on St Mary's Island. We did a 10k walk to watch the sun go down and then walk the night. We raised just over £30,000 from that, with nearly 500 people coming to it. We organised this fun walk and lots of different people came along who've had experiences from the hospice or from the Medway area just to enjoy themselves. **At the risk of sounding slightly like an Agatha Christie novel, how do you avoid, because I'm appreciating that people come to you when they're end of life, a number of those people must, because of the level of care that is provided for them, leave a gift within their will for the hospice. How do you avoid accusations that the person has been taken advantage of?** Ethically, in the way we're set up. I don't have any say in how the hospice is run, because that's run by a fantastic team operated by Medway Community Healthcare. We sit separate from the hospice, and then people need to communicate with us and ask. There's no ambulance chasing. That's the ethical thing. **No one from the charity goes and sits with people in the hospice and asks if they have made a will?** Absolutely not. **How did you come to work with the charity?** Good question. I left school and joined my father's business. I was a car dealer for a long time, and I'd had to change the car business through the recessions, and I was working from home with an internet business, and then a really good friend of mine ended up with cancer. I was taking him to his appointments and got frustrated with the system and rang the hospice to say, “Can you help?” and they did. They were amazing, and it just transformed the end of his life. The journey was much more comfortable for him and also his family, especially his wife. His wife could go back to being his wife and not his carer. These aren't my own words, it was a volunteer here that told me this, and she said, and I agree with her, that the hospice wrapped a blanket of love around the family, all of us, and that was impressive. I then started raising money for that hospice, running a car business from home. I saw the advert for a Chief Executive and came here for my first ever interview, first ever CV I'd written, always been self-employed and frankly walked through the door and just got it. Fell in love with the place, and I never looked back. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Two approvals show Medway’s growth dilemma URL: https://www.localauthority.news/two-approvals-show-medways-growth-dilemma/ Last updated: 2026-03-20T08:45:05.000Z **Medway’s planning committee approved two major housing schemes this week, one a large village expansion at High Halstow and the other a major brownfield redevelopment by the Strand in Gillingham. We look at what the decisions show about the trade-offs Medway faces on growth, then round up the Hoo parish by-election result, council business, planning, news in brief, and lots more.* ### Two big housing approvals show there is no painless way for Medway to grow Medway Council’s planning committee approved two major housing schemes this week, and taken together they offered a fairly neat summary of the area’s development problem. On one side was High Halstow, where councillors signed off on a 760 home expansion that will significantly reshape one of the Hoo Peninsula’s villages and left plenty of residents furious. On the other was the former gasworks by the Strand in Gillingham, where councillors unanimously backed up to 500 homes on a contaminated brownfield site, but only with limited developer contributions and no affordable housing delivered through the planning deal. Different places with different politics and different arguments. But the same broad conclusion hung over both decisions. Medway needs more homes. Building them on greenfield land comes with obvious backlash. Building them on brownfield land comes with obvious compromises. There is no painless version of this. The more dramatic of the two was always going to be High Halstow. The public gallery was packed, ward councillors lined up to oppose the scheme, and the mood in the room made it obvious this was not being treated as just another planning application. Councillors eventually approved Redrow’s hybrid proposal by eight votes to six, allowing 270 homes in detail and a further 490 in outline, along with a new primary school, local centre, open space and associated infrastructure. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-10.png) Plans for the extension of High Halstow. The objections were not subtle. Independent Group councillor [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) described the recommendation from officers as asking councillors to “approve now and sort out all the problems later”. Cllr [Ron Sands](https://www.localauthority.news/i-just-want-them-to-realise-what/), also of the Independent Group, said the scheme would “destroy” the village. There were repeated arguments that the application was being pushed through before enough had been resolved on ecology, active travel and infrastructure, and plenty of frustration that a development of this scale was being decided before Medway’s emerging Local Plan had been fully tested. Those arguments were not frivolous. A scheme of 760 homes on the edge of High Halstow is not a minor top-up. It is the kind of development that changes how a place feels and functions. Even supporters did not pretend otherwise. Officers themselves were open that it would have a significant impact and change the character of the village. But supporters of the scheme, and ultimately the majority of the committee, were making a different argument. Their view was that, however uncomfortable the decision looked locally, Medway is in no position to keep batting away large housing applications and hoping for the best. The council is short on housing land supply, under pressure to deliver more homes, and is already staring down the risk of speculative development elsewhere. Refusing a major allocated site without robust planning grounds would not stop growth. It would more likely push decisions out of the council’s hands and into appeals it may well lose. That point was put most bluntly by Conservative councillor [Adrian Gulvin](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-going-to-be-an-interim-leader/), who broke from some of the scepticism elsewhere around the committee and addressed the bigger reality head on. Britain, he argued, has not built enough homes for decades. Medway has to meet housing need, and if it is serious about doing that, some difficult decisions will have to be made. It was not a popular line in the room, but it was probably the clearest expression of the bind facing the committee. That does not make High Halstow an easy decision, or necessarily a good one. It does make it understandable. Councillors were not weighing up a perfect scheme against a pristine status quo. They were weighing up a contentious village-edge expansion against the likelihood that refusal would cost money, achieve little and weaken the council’s hand elsewhere. The gasworks site by the Strand was much less theatrical, but in its own way just as revealing. This was the easier vote politically. A derelict former industrial site in urban Gillingham is exactly the kind of place people usually say should be built on first. Councillors duly approved the Blueberry scheme unanimously. The proposals include up to 500 homes, later living accommodation or a care home, commercial space, a supermarket (which logic suggests is an Aldi), gas facilities and arrangements to retain riverside access. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-9.png) Plans for the Gillingham gasworks site. Councillors broadly treated it as a classic brownfield redevelopment. The site is ugly, constrained, contaminated and expensive to bring back into use, but it sits in an urban location near existing roads, bus routes and the Strand. In other words, if Medway cannot make a site like this work, it is hard to complain too loudly about building elsewhere. But brownfield does not mean consequence-free. In this case, the consequences were financial. Officers were clear that the scheme's viability had been undermined by contamination and the cost of repairing the seawall. The result is a development with no affordable housing through the planning agreement and only a fairly thin immediate package of contributions compared with the scale of what is being built. That is awkward because it exposes the catch in all the easy 'brownfield first' rhetoric. Yes, councils should prioritise urban former industrial land where they can. But the more difficult and toxic the site, the more the abnormal costs start stripping away the things councils say they want from development, whether that is affordable housing, more generous infrastructure contributions or both. So while High Halstow shows the political pain of building on green fields, the gasworks scheme shows the economic pain of doing things the supposedly right way. If you want homes on brownfield sites, you often have to accept weaker returns because the land is harder to unlock. If you want stronger returns and more policy-compliant schemes, you are more likely to end up looking at easier greenfield land and all the rows that come with it. The planning committee’s other notable decision that night helped underline the point. Councillors refused a controversial 11-bed HMO in Upnor, arguing that it was in an unsustainable location with too little public transport and too little around it to support such accommodation. So this was not a meeting where councillors simply waved everything through. They were willing to say no where they felt they could justify it. That matters because it shows the distinction they are increasingly making. Smaller or more obviously unsuitable applications can still be stopped. But on major housing schemes, especially ones officers believe stack up in planning terms, councillors seem to feel their room for manoeuvre is getting narrower. That may not be a very satisfying conclusion for people who turned up hoping High Halstow would be thrown out. But it is probably the honest one. This week’s decisions did not show a council in love with development. They showed a council trying to manage housing growth through a set of trade-offs nobody really likes. Build at the edge of a village, people quite reasonably ask what happens to the place they know. Build on a contaminated brownfield site, and you discover that doing the sensible thing still comes with a bill. Medway approved both this week because, in different ways, both were judged preferable to the alternatives. ### Hoo parish by-election ends in emphatic result Graham Grice won Thursday’s Hoo and Chattenden parish council by-election comfortably, taking 823 votes to Peter Davis’ 182. Turnout was 14%, so this was not exactly a mass uprising. But among those who did vote, the verdict was clear enough. Grice took 82% of the vote in a contest that had already looked more political than the average parish race. When Steven caught up with him after the result, Grice said it was the first time he had stood for election. He also said he had previously been a member of both the Conservatives and Reform, but had stood here as an independent. Asked why he thought he had won so heavily, Grice said, “I like to get out and about around the village. I take a lot of photographs, and I post them on social media. So quite a few people know me because of that. I’m often seen out and about walking my dogs, et cetera. I think that’s helped. People know who I am.” That is probably the most parish council answer imaginable, but it is also likely true. In this kind of election, people knowing who you are can matter a lot more than whatever is going on in the background politically. Grice also said one of the parish council’s jobs was to make sure “Medway Council are held accountable for their responsibilities to us,” which is at least a sensible place to start. Cllr Michael Pearce, who had publicly campaigned with Grice during the by-election, described the result as a “tremendous endorsement” and said he looked forward to working with him on the parish council. [We covered the politics](https://www.localauthority.news/the-curious-politics-of-hoos-parish-by-election/) around this contest earlier in the week. The result now makes one thing pretty clear. Whatever support and attention sat around the Davis campaign, it did not get close to landing. [The curious politics of Hoo’s parish by-electionPlus a no-show march in Gillingham and the end of Medway’s brief Waitrose era![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--20.webp)Local AuthorityLocal Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/AdobeStock_803171115-1.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-curious-politics-of-hoos-parish-by-election/) ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Thursday:** [Audit Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=121&MId=6368&ref=localauthority.news) meets, where the committee will, perhaps unsurprisingly, look at auditing. **New planning applications:** - The great tsunami of HMO applications may finally be easing, with only one submitted this week, for [Waterloo Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TBOJNKKNFKO00&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. - Conversion of two offices to flats on [Balmoral Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBFW3VKNHZV00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. ### In brief 🚏 Real time bus information screen, the kind of thing that has existed in places like London for decades, will be rolled out to [34 bus stops in Medway](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/new-770k-digital-bus-information-screens-to-be-rolled-out-337468/?ref=localauthority.news). The £770,000 will allow passengers at roughly 2.5% of Medway's bus stops to receive accurate information on whether their bus will actually turn up. 🛒 Strood's unrelenting march towards having every supermarket in existence operating in its town centre will continue with The Food Warehouse opening in June inside the former Hobbycraft unit at Strood Retail Park. The store is a bigger version of Iceland, which also has a shop on the High Street. 🏆 Medway designer [Esther Johnson](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-think-weve-finished-with-waghorn/), who works under her Designed by Esther brand, [won the Creative Business Award](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVlUo64jBkd/?ref=localauthority.news) and was runner-up for Young Businesswoman of the Year at the Kent Women in Business Awards. 🎙️ Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan is [on the Kent Politics Podcast](https://www.kmfm.co.uk/on-air/podcasts/the-kent-politics-podcast/episode/ep107-mp-outside-interests-kcc-councillor-joins-the-conservative-party-medway-aid-fund-and-mp-asks-to-report-graffiti/?ref=localauthority.news) this week, or at least was supposed to. The podcast itself said they had MP Pinochet Aba Khan instead, which raises a couple of questions about how much AI is being used to write content at the KM Group and what their subeditors are up to. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-13-at-09.16.53-1.png) ### Property of the week This three-bedroom terrace on Maidstone Road in Rochester is on the market for £345,000 and is doing the classic ME1 pitch of being walkable to the High Street and station, with good schools nearby, and enough period charm to make it feel like a 'proper house.' It sits elevated from the road, with bay windows at the front and an extended kitchen at the back that opens onto a long rear garden. The bathroom is upstairs, as nature intended in a Victorian terrace, and the third bedroom is the flexible one. It is not a flashy listing. It is selling light, location and a garden you can actually use, which, for Rochester, is a pretty good combo. [Check out this 3 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove3 bedroom terraced house for sale in Maidstone Road, Rochester, Kent. ME1 for £345,000\. Marketed by Moxy Property Consultants, Rochester![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-10.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/9efe899176f3f824758253e1ba9962bb.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/173035475?ref=localauthority.news) ### Events this week 🛍️ Sat 14 Mar - [**Art Flea Fair**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1303996251554946/) // Seasonal market with a focus on art, craft, handmade work and vintage finds. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🥕 Sun 15 Mar - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. ### Sport this weekend ⚽ [**Chatham Town vs Canvey Island**](https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=13021&ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 14 Mar, Isthmian League Premier Division, Bauvill Stadium*. Bottom of the table Canvey Island visit the Chats. 🏒 [**Invicta Mustangs vs Lee Valley Lions**](https://www.invictamustangs.co.uk/fixtures?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 14 Mar, NIHL Division 2 South, Planet Ice*. Final home match of the season for the Mustangs. ⚽ [**Chatham Town Women vs Actonians LFC**](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVvXYXDiDHI/?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sun 15 Mar, Women’s National League Division One South East, Bauvill Stadium*. Sunday afternoon football in Medway, with Chatham welcoming fellow midtablers Actionians. 🏒 [**Invicta Dynamos vs Romford Buccaneers**](https://invictadynamos.co.uk/fixtures-standings/?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sun 15 Mar, NIHL South Division 1, Planet Ice*. The Dynamos play their last match of the season. **Playing away:* Gillingham FC visit Cambridge United (League 2), Invicta Dynamos visit Romford Buccaneers (NIHL South Division 1) on Saturday before the home game on Sunday.* ## Subscribe to our free newsletter Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories without the intrusive ads or clickbait Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### What does this mean for the table? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-does-this-mean-for-the-table/ Last updated: 2026-03-12T17:00:47.000Z *There have been six Gillingham matches since our previous update. We asked Ben Hopkins what’s been occurring at Gills since then, and his response was, “Is there a word for a dejected sigh?”* **Perfect pitch black** Everyone’s favourite diminutive Scottish redheaded football manager, Gordon Strachan, was once asked, in what areas were your team outclassed today? His response: “What areas? Mainly that big green one out there.” Which sums up the majority of Gillingham’s recent results. 1-0 away defeats to Chesterfield and Crewe? Well, they’re to be expected in the circumstances. They’re fighting to make the play-offs, and Gills have nothing left to play for. A 3-0 home defeat against Oldham, who had previously been equally as mediocre? It’s arguably not entirely fair (and we can do without the “We want four!” chants), but you can’t be too surprised when a significant chunk of the Rainham End turned on manager Gareth Ainsworth and several players. Still, at least there was a relative high all the way up north in Barrow. A dearth of quality from both sides was demonstrated by both their respective league positions (Barrow 22nd, Gills 16th) and a miserly match total of three shots on target - all of which came from Gills. And as with Newport at home, Gills left it incredibly late when Robbie McKenzie scored the game’s only goal in the 13th minute of added time. Last Saturday’s game versus Fleetwood was mixed but ultimately underwhelming. Seb Palmer-Houden looked mightily relieved to have finally scored his third goal of the season after a long punt from Max Clark, but Fleetwood equalised in stoppage time - and in all truth, they could’ve done so earlier if not for a decent performance from back-in-favour Jake Turner in goal. Ho and indeed hum. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-8-1.png) Gills at home to MK Dons. Photo: Ben Hopkins. In a classic case of save the worst for last, a makeshift Gills side plagued by absentees got torn to shreds with a 5-1 thrashing from MK Dons. Lining up five attack-minded players against one of the strongest teams in the division was obviously a mistake, but by the time changes were made, the result had already been cemented. The Rainham End would normally be furious, but so many people had already gone home or hit The Factory early that the reaction was almost apathetic. **What does this mean for the table?** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The curious politics of Hoo’s parish by-election URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-curious-politics-of-hoos-parish-by-election/ Last updated: 2026-03-10T22:49:15.000Z **A parish by-election in Hoo may be framed as an independent versus independent contest, but the politics beneath look slightly different. We also report on an anti-migrant march in Gillingham that failed to materialise, and say goodbye to Medway’s brief, slightly underwhelming flirtation with Waitrose...* ### The curious politics of Hoo’s parish by-election On paper, this week’s Hoo St Werburgh Parish Council by-election is straightforward enough. Two independents, one vacancy, with voters going to the polls on Thursday. In reality, it looks a lot more political than that. Voters in the Hoo parish ward are being asked to choose between Peter Davis and Graham Grice after a vacancy went to a by-election rather than being filled by co-option. Both are standing as independents. But that description only gets you so far. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/AdobeStock_803171115.jpeg) Look, it's just a stock image of a polling station sign. Davis is being publicly backed by Linda Atkinson, Chair of Rochester and Strood Reform, who has been urging people to vote for him in local Facebook groups. He has also publicly promoted Reform activity himself, including a recent Reform Medway event. None of that makes him the official Reform candidate. He is not standing under the party label. But it does make the idea that this is some neutral, non-political independent candidacy a bit difficult to swallow. Grice, meanwhile, is not exactly hiding where he sits either. His own leaflet says he joined Independent Group Deputy Leader [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/)’s 'Vote Yes' team during the neighbourhood plan referendum and promises he will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the area’s independent councillors. Pearce has also been out publicly campaigning with him. So while the ballot paper says independent versus independent, what voters appear to have in front of them is something closer to Pearce-backed versus Reform-backed. Parish council elections are often treated as if they sit above party politics. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they are just local political fights wearing a slightly less obvious hat. This one looks very much like the latter. Candidates in parish elections do not have to describe themselves as independent. They can leave the description blank. So if someone chooses to stand explicitly as an independent while being publicly backed by party figures, that is a decision, not an administrative necessity. None of this is especially subtle. Davis’ leaflet is drenched in colours that will look extremely familiar to anyone who has seen a Reform graphic in the past year, even if the party name never appears. Grice’s leaflet is less coy about its political home, openly tying him to Pearce and the local independent bloc. One of them looks Reform-adjacent. The other, more or less, says he is part of Team Pearce. There is a side issue with Davis’ leaflet, too. Its imprint gives his address simply as Knights Road, Hoo, rather than a full address identifying a specific contactable address as required by electoral law. Medway Council said the returning officer is not responsible for deciding whether imprint rules have been broken and said concerns about election material should instead be referred to Kent Police or the Electoral Commission. That is not the central issue here, but it is another oddity in a contest already doing quite a lot of dancing around labels. Then there is the leaflet itself, which has the unmistakable whiff of AI-generated campaign slop about it. That is not a scandal, just a depressing sign of the times. Still, the bigger point is clear enough. This is not really a story about who will bring 'fresh ideas' to the parish council or work hard for the village or any of the other standard leaflet mush. It is a story about how local politics now often works, with political backing, political tribes and political messages all carefully arranged so the ballot paper looks tidier than reality. So yes, this is only a parish council by-election. But it is also a useful little window into who is trying to build influence in Hoo and how they would prefer that effort to be presented to voters. *You can find more information about the Hoo St Werburgh parish by-election, including details on how and where to vote, on* [*Medway Council's website*](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200168/elections%5Fand%5Fvoting/2074/hoo%5Fst%5Fwerburgh%5Fparish%5Fcouncil%5Fby-election?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ## Get Local Authority in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories without the intrusive ads or clickbait Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### A protest in search of a crowd, again Last month, [we wrote about two hard-right organising efforts](https://www.localauthority.news/from-marches-to-meetups-the-playbook-is-shifting/) being pushed towards Medway by people from outside the area. One was the softer, more polished route, dressed up in the language of women’s safety. The other was the usual march theatre, often loud online, grand in its claims, and likely much smaller in real life. It turns out we may even have overestimated that. The anti-migrant march, due to take place in Gillingham on Saturday, didn't even happen after no one turned up. Which, in fairness, does rather undermine the earlier billing. The event was advertised by a Maidstone-based activist who runs a one-man micro-party primarily on TikTok, complete with claims it would be “a big march” and that “5 group’s *\[sic\]* teaming up as one” would be descending on Medway. It was never clear who the supposed five groups were meant to be, but the grand mobilisation seems to have achieved the political equivalent of leaving everyone on read. That matters partly because even a small far-right protest can still make people feel uncomfortable or unsafe. But it also matters because these people rely on the appearance of momentum. The point is not just to hold a march. It is to make it seem as though something is stirring, that anger is building, that the town is on the verge of rising up if only enough patriots can find the station exit. And yet, when this latest effort reached the crucial stage of existing outside the internet, there appears to be nothing there. That fits the pattern rather well. The same activist was behind the pitiful Rochester march [we covered last year](https://www.localauthority.news/a-protest-in-search-of-a-crowd/), which managed only single-figure attendance, as well as a string of other loudly promoted events that have either fizzled or failed to materialise. Medway, it turns out, has not become a hotbed of imported anti-migrant street politics. It has mostly become a place onto which people project that fantasy from elsewhere. [A protest in search of a crowdPlus Medway Council meeting comes to an abrupt end, the return of Rehman, news in brief, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--16.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffdc25080-ffde-4be2-a2fa-7c96e1e3c110_2500x1406-1.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/a-protest-in-search-of-a-crowd/) That should not make anyone complacent. Small hard-right organising efforts are still worth paying attention to, particularly when the more effective tactic is often not the shouty protest but the attempt to smuggle exclusionary politics into public life under softer branding. But as for this particular promised show of strength in Gillingham, the outcome seems to have been a lot simpler. ### Farewell Medway's only Waitrose, we hardly knew ye And so it ends. Three years after Medway finally, technically, got a Waitrose, it no longer has one. Long-time *Local Authority* readers may recall that this has been a bit of a thing around here. Back in 2022, we were [openly campaigning](https://www.localauthority.news/turn-the-casino-rooms-into-a-waitrose/) for Rochester’s Casino Rooms to achieve its final form and become a Waitrose. It felt like the obvious answer. Medway had plenty of supermarkets, but no proper aspirational middle-class supermarket. No place to buy overpriced olive oil while pretending this was all completely normal. [Turn the Casino Rooms into a WaitrosePlus councillors being taken in by common scams and why our bus services won’t be improving anytime soon![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--14.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbc90f6ad-d93c-47d4-8e1e-ada40514549b_1920x1080.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/turn-the-casino-rooms-into-a-waitrose/) Then, in January 2023, the dream became real. Or at least a version of it did. Waitrose took over the food hall operation inside Dobbies in Gillingham, and Medway finally got its first branch. Alright, not a full branch. Not even especially close. But there was a Waitrose logo in Medway and, for our purposes, that counted. [Medway finally gets a WaitrosePlus the Debenhams building back on the market, and a blitz in our backyard![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--15.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f66f2b477-8f38-4361-a39f-77bc1d05e608_2276x586.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-finally-gets-a-waitrose/) The problem was that the actual thing was a bit crap. This was never a proper Waitrose in any meaningful sense. It was a small Waitrose concession inside the wider Dobbies food hall, with a limited range and only a scattering of actual Waitrose products. The idea of having a Waitrose in Medway was, in many ways, more exciting than the experience of going to this one. You could tell people Medway had a Waitrose. Actually shopping there was less convincing. Now that arrangement has come to an end. Dobbies and Waitrose have ended their partnership after three years, with the garden centre chain rolling out a new food hall concept instead. So Medway is back where it started, again Waitrose-free. This is not, to be clear, some targeted corporate judgment on Gillingham. The whole Dobbies-Waitrose tie-up is ending, and the same thing has happened elsewhere. But it does mean Medway’s brief flirtation with the brand is over, and our only claim to having a Waitrose has vanished as abruptly and ambiguously as it arrived. Which leaves us once again in the familiar position of having to look elsewhere. The nearest proper Waitrose is now back to being in places like Longfield, which may or may not be a real place, or a rundown shopping centre on the outskirts of Maidstone, which is to say not really anywhere one should have to rely on for this sort of thing. The funny part is that this may not actually be bad news in practical terms. The new Dobbies food hall seems pretty good. It is expensive, yes, but then so was Waitrose, and at least this version seems to have more personality. Rather than a thin selection of branded supermarket staples, it now has some of the sort of nice, slightly indulgent items you usually only find in farm shops. So while Medway has lost the Waitrose name, it may well have gained a better actual shop. Which, if anything, feels like the most Medway outcome possible. We spent years joking that what this place really needed was a Waitrose. We finally got one, but only in the most compromised form imaginable, tucked inside a garden centre, offering a limited range, and never quite living up to the billing. And now even that has gone, replaced by something less prestigious but arguably more useful. Still, next time we get the chance, and we must believe there will be a next time, Medway should hold out for the real thing rather than a few shelves of items next to the garden furniture. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### "Everything within my work means something" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/everything-within-my-work-means-something/ Last updated: 2026-03-09T22:13:47.000Z [*Catriona Faulkner*](http://catrionafaulkner.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*'s bold and vivid artwork has been a mainstay of* [*Medway Open Studios*](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and she is a key part of* [*Mess Room Creatives*](https://www.messroom.org.uk/projects/mess-room-creatives/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Ahead of their next exhibition, Steven met her at the Deaf Cat in Rochester, where they spoke about the accident that changed Catriona's life and art, whether she will join the Green Party, Frida Kahlo, and exactly what assemblage is.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/CF-photo-1.JPG) Catriona Faulkner **What is your official occupation?** I'm an artist. **Do you have any other additional roles, paid or unpaid?** I'm in a few different textile organisations that put exhibitions on. I'm now involved with the [Mess Room](https://www.messroom.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). The rest of my time really is my business. **What is your business?** I am hand stitch assemblage artist. That's the easiest way I've ever found to explain it. Technically, I've invented what I do. That's why it's quite difficult to explain. Basically, I collect objects and I hand stitch them into what I would call a shrine. My work is inspired by... I was brought up Irish Catholic. My mum's Irish Catholic. Lots of time in churches, taught by nuns. Catholicism is very opulent and very visual. I think all of that soaked into me as a kid. My main subjects around my work are to do with chronic pain. I had an accident 25 years ago. Cut my fingers off. That's led to lots of different things. So... **Sorry, do you mind elaborating on what sort of accident when you lost your fingers?** I'd just left university. I did a textile degree. I was working as a freelance textile designer. Any fabric you ever see is always designed by someone. I was doing that during the day, and I took an evening job in a factory packing Pro Plus. The machine turned itself on, pulled me in, and took two fingers. That sounds quite simple, but it led to lots of things. I've lost the hearing in this ear. Everything that's wrong with me is all connected to that moment. Which would be daily migraines, kidney problems, bladder problems, stomach problems from medication. When you're looking at my work, you might think it's opulent and rich and beautiful. If you get a little bit closer, within there, you might see pins and needles. I constantly have pins and needles, it never goes away. I use lots of metaphors about things. Tea strainers. Tea strainers are kidneys because kidneys filter. I've got kidney problems because of medication. Everything within my work means something. As a viewer, you might not know any of that stuff. That's completely fine. [Frida Kahlo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida%5FKahlo?ref=localauthority.news) pops up quite a lot. It's not just what Frida looks like, it's because Frida had chronic pain after an accident. I'm really interested in how you live with chronic pain and filter that into being creative. That's really what it's about. Amongst all that, there's different branches to my business. When people pass away, I do a lot of memorial work. Their family might give me their stuff, we have a chat about them, and then I make something so they can put all their earrings and all these bits and pieces that people get left behind. I do quite a lot of work like that. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-5-1.png) Work by Catriona Faulkner. **What is assemblage?** It's the only way I've found at the moment to describe why objects are really important. And people try and rip me off all the time. They do not understand. > I'm really interested in how you live with chronic pain and filter that into being creative **When you say rip you off, do you mean copy what you do?** Yeah, try and copy what I do. But they might be putting a kidney tablet near a migraine tablet! There's a language! That's offensive to me. You're not understanding what I do. I had a little accident last year. This is my good hand. I stabbed my finger with a scalpel and severed a nerve. Fixed it, blah blah blah. I've had 19 hand surgeries. This is my first one on this hand. So, I'm trying to process scalpel blades. Then I went to Barcelona. Twice. I had to go twice. Top of the churches in Barcelona are the most beautiful twisty-looking stars. Mary has 12 stars around her head because of the apostles. There are always these things going on. I've been making stars from scalpel blades. You might look at it and say, “That's what has just injured me.” There's always a process. It can't just be random. I suppose that's the thing that for someone, and if that's how they're perceiving it, that's fine. But for some people, they will look at it, and it will look random because they don't know the story, they don't know the connections, they don't know the process that's gone into where these items have come from and why they've been included, and why they're important. Sometimes it's a tricky old thing what I do, because I've got quite bad PTSD, because I had a horrible accident and I've been operated on when anaesthetic wore off and things like that. There have been traumatic things. I might be showing my work, and it's really good for me to empty that into my work, but then people want to tell me the scary story, and people can get upset when I tell them what it's about. Then I make them feel bad. So, I just tell them the headlines. It's this cautionary thing. I've now started to put up a little information sheet about me with my work, which is the hope to stop traumatising people. ## Get our free newsletter Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s news and culture without the clickbait Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 450 homes proposed on former Chattenden Barracks site URL: https://www.localauthority.news/450-homes-proposed-on-former-chattenden-barracks-site/ Last updated: 2026-03-06T12:25:50.000Z **Medway has a major new housing application on the table, with Homes England seeking permission for up to 450 homes on the former Chattenden Barracks site on the Hoo Peninsula. We break down what is being proposed and why the site has become so contentious. Also in this edition, Reform doubles down on their communists-in-Chatham messaging, next week’s cabinet and planning agendas, news in brief, a fascinating property, events, and lots more.* ### 450 homes proposed on former Chattenden Barracks site Homes England has [submitted plans](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TBDFT8KNGHD00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) for up to 450 homes on the former Chattenden Barracks site, bringing one of the Hoo Peninsula’s more awkward brownfield sites back into planning discussions. In basic terms, it is an application that one can look at and instinctively think should be happening somewhere in Medway. The site is previously developed land, it has been sitting empty for years, and it lies in a part of Medway where substantial growth is already planned. The outline scheme includes up to 450 homes, open space, play provision, allotments, green corridors and the option of a small commercial unit that could become a shop or other local service. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/Screenshot-2026-03-06-at-11.45.51-1.png) Chattenden Barracks site. Chattenden Barracks appeared in earlier stages of the emerging Local Plan and was judged suitable for housing in Medway’s housing land assessments. It then fell out of the [Regulation 19 draft plan](https://medway.oc2.uk/document/28/1215?ref=localauthority.news#d1215) published last June. Homes England’s own paperwork says the reason given in the Sustainability Appraisal was 'uncertainty surrounding the potential ecological impact.' That leaves this application sitting in a more interesting place than a simple yes-no argument. Medway is already planning very substantial growth around Hoo and Chattenden, with thousands of homes, new services, and transport upgrades. As such, the argument is not over whether this part of Medway should grow. It is over whether this particular site, next to one of the area’s most sensitive ecological areas, belongs in that growth story. Homes England says it does. Its case is fairly easy to follow. The land is brownfield, it adjoins an existing settlement, and Medway is short of homes. Further ecological work, mitigation, and compensation, it says, have addressed the issue that led to the site being dropped from the draft plan. The housing shortfall point is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Homes England highlights that Medway has only a 3.1-year housing land supply and a Housing Delivery Test score of 72%. Or to put it less elegantly, the council needs homes, and applicants know that. There is a fair case for bringing forward a site like this. A vacant former military site is far easier to defend than another bite out of open countryside, especially in an authority that talks a lot about brownfield regeneration. Homes England is also offering up to 25% of the homes as affordable housing, subject to viability, with infrastructure contributions and long-term management of open space and ecology to be secured through a Section 106 agreement. The difficulty, as ever on this site, is the ecology. Chattenden Barracks sits next to the Chattenden Woods and Lodge Hill SSSI, which is why development here has been so fraught for so long. The reports in the application record reflect the RSPB’s long-standing view that the strongest protection for the SSSI and its breeding nightingales would be a 400m buffer with a presumption against new residential development, backed by wider strategic measures to address visitor pressure. Homes England does not accept the idea of a blanket 400m exclusion zone and points instead to work with Natural England, a compensation strategy and a broader mitigation package. That is where the application will be judged. Not on the sales language about placemaking, and not on whether the drawings have enough green bits on them, but on whether planners are satisfied that the ecological case has moved on far enough from where it was when the site was left out of the draft plan. Then there is the familiar Hoo Peninsula question of how much of the rest of the pitch survives contact with everyday life. The application talks up sustainable travel, better walking and cycling links and reduced car dependency, as planning applications now always do. People living on the peninsula may want to reserve judgment until they see how that matches the roads, buses and daily reality. The same healthy scepticism applies to some of the softer promises elsewhere in the scheme. The application allows for a small commercial unit if market demand and a viable occupier emerge. If not, that part of the site can be used for housing instead. None of that kills the application. It just places it where it belongs, in the category of potentially sensible brownfield schemes that still need proper scrutiny. Medway’s strategy already points toward major growth around Hoo and Chattenden. Homes England is now asking the council to go a step further and approve a site it was not prepared to allocate in the draft Local Plan, arguing that the need for homes and the case for brownfield redevelopment now outweigh the ecological concerns that derailed it last time. There is nothing especially radical about the broader case for development. Medway needs homes. Empty brownfield land should not sit around indefinitely. But if Chattenden Barracks is going to get over the line, the scheme will need to stand up on the details. Ecology is the big one, but infrastructure, traffic and the solidity of what is actually being promised sit close behind. The argument now is not whether the Hoo Peninsula changes, because that much is already baked in. It is whether this is one of the changes Medway is ready to approve. ## Subscribe to our free newsletter Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories without the intrusive ads or clickbait Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### **Reform doubles down on Chatham communists** A few weeks ago, we [reported](https://www.localauthority.news/from-marches-to-meetups-the-playbook-is-shifting/) on Reform’s Chatham & Aylesford branch turning up in the rain to campaign while declaring that “British patriots will be out defeating Communism, come rain or shine,” which raised what felt like a fairly basic follow-up question: What communists? Where are they? Reform, helpfully, has now [responded](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid02H7FmAHNKxByA2fRG4xCz1H7xc7Cqyb1fRUxz69nSgHWf6HWkGPeXgmZ5JmdSEGM2l&id=61571473048744) by taking a genuinely impressive leap and suggesting this means I was “rushing to the defence” of these “imaginary foes.” This is the political equivalent of someone announcing they’re fighting Bigfoot, you asking where Bigfoot is, and them concluding you’re on Bigfoot’s payroll. From there, the statement does not so much answer the question as attempt to leave the atmosphere entirely, pivoting to alleged spying for China, the Chinese Communist Party, Nigel Farage’s concerns about Labour, and claims that the government is following an “authoritarian playbook” including “attempting to cancel elections and now jury trials.” Which is a lot to squeeze into a reply to a Medway story about a wet campaign photo. Anyway, we remain none the wiser about who was being defeated. We can confirm the rain was real. The communists, so far, remain unlocated. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [**Cabinet**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6450&ref=localauthority.news) meets to discuss a new adult social care strategy, crisis and resilience funding, a local heritage list, developer contributions, and, most excitingly, bus information screens. - **Wednesday:** [**Planning Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6362&ref=localauthority.news) looks set to approve 500 homes and a supermarket next to the Strand in Gillingham, 270 homes in High Halstow, and a HMO in Upnor. - **Thursday:** [**Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=131&MId=6363&ref=localauthority.news) discuss the transfer of mental health services, the merger of MCH and Kent Community Health, and the stalled group between Medway NHS and Dartford and Gravesham NHS trusts. **New planning applications:** - [Two padel courts](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=TBDWCGKNGRW00&ref=localauthority.news) are proposed at Elm Court Garden Centre. - In this week's HMO news, an application has been submitted to convert a [63 bedroom](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TB9QAZKNLW900&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) student block on Jeffrey Street in Gillingham into a HMO, alongside a more conventional conversion in [Burns Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAJYI0KNLIZ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news). ### In brief 📰 Journalism training will return to Medway two years after the closure of the Centre for Journalism at the University of Kent. KMTV will now [offer](https://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2026/news/journalism-training-returns-to-county-as-new-course-is-accredited/?ref=localauthority.news) a one year accredited course from September that is focused on on-the-job training. ⛪ Gillingham councillor Dan McDonald is [not impressed](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/gillingham-councillor-says-churchs-treatment-10844485?ref=localauthority.news) by the Church of England's treatment of LGBT+ people. 🥙 Beybaba Turkish restaurant in Strood [won](https://www.facebook.com/britishkebabawards/posts/pfbid0rTUcvC21aMPQqXoSWRj9PGgCENFEaCzDDDuwAZeVxXECRBbQ4PtgyBzT2UZg1Zbhl) the best fine dining award at the British Kebab Awards. 🎸 Rochester Castle Live will be [headlined](https://rochestercastlelive.com/whats-on/?ref=localauthority.news) by the Libertines and McFly in July. ⚽ Three Football Foundation Playzones will be [installed](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2043/three%5Fnew%5Fplayzone%5Fsites%5Fto%5Fboost%5Fsport%5Fin%5Fmedway?ref=localauthority.news) in Medway, following funding from the Premier League, the FA, and the government. The outdoor pitches for football and other sports will be installed at Deangate Ridge in Hoo, the Strand in Gillingham, and Maidstone Road in Chatham. 😈 After a period of hibernation that only increased his bloodlust, Child Friendly Medway's utterly terrifying mascot, Mojo, was spotted in the wild again at last week's Chatham Chinese Festival. Nothing says 'family friendly' like a giant blue creature with the energy of a sleep paralysis demon who looks like he's being escorted away after trying to steal the lifeforce of a child. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/image-3-1.png) Mojo. Still terrifying. ### Property of the week This two-bedroom flat in the former Woodhams Brewery in Rochester is on the market for £650,000, and it is selling the pleasure of living somewhere with an actual past. It feels like a proper conversion, with big spaces, sturdy materials, and historic detail that does not need to be manufactured for a brochure. There is a private courtyard garden that makes it feel tucked away despite being central, plus gated parking in the cobbled courtyard, which is a genuine perk in the centre of Rochester. This one is for someone who likes character and weight to a place, and who would rather live in something with a backstory than something that still smells of fresh plaster. [Check out this 2 bedroom apartment for sale on Rightmove2 bedroom apartment for sale in Historic Residence, The Terrace, Rochester, ME1 for £650,000\. Marketed by Fine and Country, Maidstone, Malling and The Weald![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-9.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/a071bcfdc4c459064b16c184c409d139.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172752161?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🖼️ 6 - 8 Mar - [**Rochester Art Fair**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rochester-art-fair-2026-tickets-1746298147769?ref=localauthority.news) // Huge sale of work from artists across a range of disciplines. Corn Exchange, Rochester. Tickets £7. 🎸 Sat 7 Mar - [**The Cords + Patients + The Dutch Embassy**](https://wegottickets.com/event/685436?ref=localauthority.news) // New Scottish janglepop band taking the indie music world by storm. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. 🧑‍🎨 7 - 29 Mar - [**River Medway Journeys**](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/river-medway-journeys/?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition of creative work by local people inspired by the river. Chatham Historic Dockyard. Free. 🎤 Wed 11 Mar - [**Big Trouble**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/gwppzwjzdrqz?ref=localauthority.news) // Poetry night featuring open mic and headline performances by Laurie Eaves and Jack Nathan. Rams Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester. Tickets £7. ### Sport this weekend ⚽ [**Gillingham FC vs Fleetwood Town**](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/fixture/view/9697?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 7 Mar, League Two, Priestfield Stadium*. Fellow mid-tablers Fleetwood visit the Gills. ⚽ [**Chatham Town vs Hashtag United**](https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=12995&ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 7 Mar, Isthmian League Premier Division, Bauvill Stadium*. The Chats host struggling Hashtag United, which is definitely a real team name. 🏒 [**Invicta Mustangs vs Slough Spitfires**](https://www.invictamustangs.co.uk/fixtures?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 7 Mar, NIHL Division 2 South, Planet Ice*. Saturday night hockey in Gillingham. **Playing away:* Chatham Town Women visit Fulham Women (Division One South East), Medway Rugby Club visit Amersham & Chiltern (Sat 7 Mar)* ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Stories of the Cannon URL: https://www.localauthority.news/stories-of-the-cannon/ Last updated: 2026-03-05T20:00:58.000Z [*Chris de Coulon Berthoud*](https://www.localauthority.news/you-make-it-sound-so-romantic/) *has written before about the* [*slow disappearance of pubs in the Medway Towns*](https://www.localauthority.news/the-ghosts-of-a-working-class-landscape/)*. Not all of them are gone yet, but even the ones still standing carry the marks of what they’ve been used for. Today he turns to The Cannon in Brompton, and a run of stories that chart a place shifting from dockyard and military local to community institution to something stranger, funnier and occasionally darker than nostalgia tends to allow...* The Cannon was established sometime in the mid 19th century, close to the Volunteer Artillery Drill Hall in Garden Street, from where the pub’s name came. The Artillery unit originated in Rochester as the City of Rochester Rifle Volunteers, and in 1860, their name changed to the 12th Kent Artillery Volunteers. They were stationed at Old Brompton, where the drill hall was built to house them. The corps later became part of the 1st Kent Artillery Volunteers, remaining so until the creation of the Territorial Force in 1908\. In a further reorganisation, they became No. 1 Company, Kent Royal Garrison Artillery, which then returned to Rochester at Fort Clarence. Like many pubs in the area, The Cannon served a mixture of local dockyard workers and servicemen, and like most pubs, it was both the place of companionship and recreation after a hard day’s work, as well as a place of drunkenness, and occasionally worse. On Saturday evening of the 23 April 1859, a group of Dockyard workers were drinking at the Cannon, then one of the busiest pubs serving Chatham Dockyard labourers. Among them were John Robinson and William Moore Bensley, both employed as shipwrights. Contemporary reports say they had been drinking throughout the afternoon and evening, and everyone was 'very drunk.' An orderly from the Medical Staff Corps who was drinking with them challenged Robinson to a bare-knuckle prize fight for a stake of five shillings a side. The money was given to Bensley to hold, and the men left the pub and set off for the nearby Chatham Lines, where bare-knuckle fighting in the defensive trenches that were dug there was a well-known, if illegal, practice. After several rounds of fisticuffs, Robinson was beaten, and the winnings were handed to the soldier. Drunk and angry, Robinson then challenged Bensley to a fight. Witnesses later described Bensley as 'behaving like a madman,' and during the first round, the two men drunkenly grappled with each other and fell heavily to the ground, with Robinson underneath. As they fell, Bensley’s forehead hit the raised ground with considerable force. His head was seen to 'sink immediately,' and after three groans, he died in the arms of a bystander without speaking. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 'School wars' vs reality URL: https://www.localauthority.news/school-wars-vs-reality/ Last updated: 2026-03-03T18:46:56.000Z **A viral 'red vs blue' school rivalry graphic has been circulating across Medway, prompting warnings from schools and reassurance from police despite no confirmed incidents. We look at how these memes spread, why they generate anxiety far beyond their credibility, and what has actually happened locally. There’s also a confirmed timetable for the long-closed Gillingham level crossing footbridge, and a lighter detour to St Mary Hoo, where a roundabout has acquired some unexpected visitors...* ### Red vs Blue meme hits Medway, but police say no incidents reported On Thursday, the Thomas Aveling School in Rochester used its social media accounts for something schools normally try to avoid. It issued a public warning about something that had started on online. The school said it had been informed of a trend circulating online encouraging pupils to gather on Chatham High Street “to fight other schools,” and urged parents to make sure their child was safe and not involved. That is how this sort of story now starts. Not with a fight or an arrest, but with a screenshot. The posts themselves follow a simple formula. What began as a London meme has spread nationwide over the past week, with the same graphic style popping up in different towns as quickly as someone can swap in a new set of school names. A graphic divides local schools into two 'teams,' usually labelled red and blue, and encourages pupils to treat it like a rivalry. Sometimes it claims there will be a fight at a named place and time. Other versions are vaguer, implying a more general 'war' between schools, with pupils expected to identify which side they are on. The images are designed to look like announcements, even though they are usually anonymous and circulate as screenshots. Once a message like that is out in the wild, a familiar pattern plays out in group chats across Medway. Someone shares it “just to make people aware.” Other people share it again because nobody wants to be the person who ignored a warning about their kid’s safety. Within a few hours, a rumour that may have started on the fringes of teenagers’ feeds has been promoted into adult WhatsApp networks and local Facebook groups, where it becomes harder to verify and easier to panic about. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/MedwayWars-1-1.jpg) Medway Wars graphic circulating on social media. **Local Authority* has redacted the school names on each side. A 'Medway Wars' graphic has been shared on at least TikTok and Facebook, and likely other social media networks. It follows the same template that has been circulating nationally in the past week. A dramatic title, a year-group range, two colour-coded sides, and a list of schools. Some versions elsewhere have gone further, adding rules, point systems, or lists of supposed weapons that read more like a bored kid emptying a pencil case than anything resembling organised crime. The point is not subtle. It is designed to look local enough to worry people and simple enough to be copied, tweaked, and reposted anywhere. Kent Police say they were aware of posts encouraging violence and were in contact with schools across Medway. But they also say that nothing has actually happened. Inspector Allen Searle told *Local Authority*: “We were made aware of social media posts encouraging violence amongst school pupils. Officers were in contact with schools across Medway to offer reassurance and guidance. No incidents have been reported. Anyone considering joining any gatherings should think again as officers will respond robustly to any disorder.” That line matters because this is not just a Medway story. Similar 'red vs blue' posts have been doing the rounds across the country, prompting schools to warn parents, police forces to offer reassurance, and platforms to remove some content for breaching rules on threats and incitement. The meme works because it offers instant tribalism. Everyone gets assigned a side, whether they asked for it or not. It is the same logic as football rivalries, just with more blazers and bus passes. It also collides with something far more serious. Warnings about school violence land in a country where parents have spent years being told to be alert to knife crime, county lines, and the way social media can drag local disputes into public spaces. That backdrop is why schools feel compelled to act even when what they are looking at seems ridiculous, and why police forces end up devoting time to reassurance patrols and calls with headteachers. It is not that anyone necessarily believes a poster with a red bandana background is a credible intelligence report. It is that nobody wants to be the person who shrugged it off if something does happen. What is striking, though, is that, despite all the warnings and the energy spent managing the fear, there still appears to be remarkably little evidence of the mass fights the graphics claim to be organising. Like in Medway, in other parts of the country, there have been plenty of statements and letters, but far fewer confirmed outcomes. The anxiety travels considerably further than the reality. The graphics themselves offer some clues as to why. They look convincing at a glance, but the details often fall apart the moment you check them. One 'Rainham Wars' image that has circulated locally lists mostly schools around Rainham in Essex, but also includes Rainham Mark Grammar School. That is not a minor mix-up. It is two different Rainhams, in two different parts of the country, shoved into the same poster because the creator appears to have searched for school names rather than drawing on any real local knowledge. The Medway version has its own tells. The 'Medway Wars' graphic shared on Facebook includes multiple misspellings of local schools, including 'Robbert Nappier' and 'Hundred Off Hoo.' It is hard to square that with anything serious. If you were genuinely trying to organise a fight involving real pupils, in real places, you would probably start by getting the names right. And yet, nonsense can still have real effects. A rumour does not have to be true to cause disruption. A screenshot shared in the wrong place at the wrong time can change behaviour. Parents change pick-up plans, kids get told to go straight home, and schools feel the need to reiterate behaviour policies. The police are dragged into providing reassurance because the mere fact that a rumour is circulating becomes a safeguarding issue, regardless of whether the rumour is credible. Alongside the public post from Thomas Aveling, another screenshot has been circulating in local Facebook groups, which was claimed to come from the Howard School in Rainham. The message refers to a previous email about “organised fighting between schools,” says “further information has been received” about social media encouraging pupils to congregate at an unknown location in Rainham, and urges parents to ensure children go straight home after school. We asked Medway Council, Thomas Aveling and the Howard School for comment. None responded before publication. That lack of responses is not unusual. Schools are cautious about discussing safeguarding matters publicly, and councils often leave public order messaging to the police. But silence also leaves a vacuum, and the vacuum tends to be filled by whatever is being forwarded most aggressively that day. The provenance becomes part of the story. Not 'this came from an official source,' but 'someone said this came from a WhatsApp group,' followed by 'someone else saw it on Facebook,' followed by 'it must be real because everyone is talking about it.' This is the strange, modern twist. For decades, schools have dealt with rumours about fights, rivalries, and meet-ups. The difference now is that the rumour is packaged as a graphic that looks like an announcement, spreads at the speed of a screenshot, and is then shared by adults who are trying to be responsible. A story that would once have stayed within one school can now become a borough-wide concern in an afternoon, even if the original post was made by someone miles away who could not place Rainham on a map. For now, the most concrete line remains the one from Kent Police. Posts are circulating, officers are in contact with schools across Medway, but no incidents have been reported. What Medway has had, instead, is the other thing these memes are very good at creating: a believable atmosphere. A low-effort graphic lands in the right group chat, gets forwarded by well-meaning adults, and suddenly, schools are issuing warnings, parents are second-guessing the walk home, and everyone is talking about a fight that never materialises. If the 'red vs blue' format is meant to do anything, it’s this. It turns attention into anxiety, and anxiety into distribution, and it doesn’t need anyone to turn up anywhere for it to work. ## Get Local Authority in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories without the intrusive ads or clickbait Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Reopening date set for Gillingham level crossing footbridge The footbridge at Gillingham level crossing has been closed for months, leaving anyone crossing on foot to use the level crossing instead. That is not ideal at the best of times. It is even less ideal on a line where trains can arrive in quick succession. We have had readers asking what is going on and whether there is any plan to reopen it. Network Rail has now come back with something almost more exciting than an answer: a full schedule of works. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/DM0102-1.jpg) Previous works at Gillingham level crossing. Photo: Network Rail. Network Rail says the closure is down to refurbishment work and that it now has dates for the key stages. It says work is due to begin on site on Monday 16 March, starting with preparing the worksite and setting up a compound and welfare area. The big moment comes the following weekend. Network Rail says the main deck of the footbridge is scheduled to be removed on Sunday 22 March, with a crane and lorry positioned at the level crossing to lift it out so it can be taken away and refurbished. The letter says the steelwork will be strengthened and painted, while the main staircases will stay in place and be refurbished on site. That work has consequences for those beyond the people using the bridge. Ingram Road will be fully closed while the crane lifts take place, with diversion routes in place for the initial removal and the return of the bridge deck on Sunday 3 May. Between those two dates, Network Rail says the main refurbishment phase will run from 23 March to 1 May. The company has reached out to the site's neighbours, warning them that this is the sort of work that can be heard. It says surface preparation will involve handheld 'needle guns,' described as equipment used to remove old paint, rust and corrosion, and says residents may experience noise disturbance during that stage. Network Rail says it anticipates the footbridge will reopen to the public on Monday 4 May. Paul Prentice, speaking for Southeastern Railway, said: “We’re really sorry for the inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of the footbridge at Ingram Road in Gillingham, as we know this has been causing longer waits for pedestrians at the level crossing with the busy Chatham Main Line. The footbridge needs refurbishment work, and the good news is that we can now confirm the date for this work to begin.” ### Take us to your parish council At long last, Fenn Corner roundabout has got something in the middle of it. This is the A228 roundabout that locals have been moaning about for years. After driving through the peninsula, drivers are greeted by a giant, bare concrete disc on the main route into St Mary Hoo. It has long been treated like an afterthought, and previously compared to a flying saucer. St Mary Hoo Parish Council has even been pushing a [petition](https://stmaryhoo-pc.gov.uk/fenn-corner-roundabout-petition/?ref=localauthority.news) to get permission to turn it into something a bit less landing pad and a bit more gateway, with planting and some actual effort put into it. Now it has a visitor. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/0E2A8367-1.jpg) The visitor to Fenn Corner roundabout. Photo: Authority Media. Drivers coming up towards the village are being welcomed by a bright green alien, joined by a smaller companion, both planted slap bang in the centre of the roundabout and facing oncoming traffic like they’ve arrived to assess the place and would like to begin with the road network. If you were trying to make a joke about a roundabout that looks like a flying saucer, you would struggle to do better than adding two little green men to it. The best detail is that this is not just a one night inflatable abandon and run job. A reader told us it appeared overnight, and that since then someone has been quietly looking after it, re-inflating it when it starts to sag, and standing it back up when the wind knocks it over. The upkeep, like the original arrival, seems to happen overnight, which is either admirable commitment or exactly what you would expect from an alien visitation. Either way, it has achieved something that public realm improvements often promise and rarely deliver. It has made people smile. The reader who tipped us off said it has cheered up loads of locals, brightened up the area, and that “everyone is talking about it.” We don’t know who’s behind it. We also, honestly, don’t really want to. After two decades of staring at what is basically a landing pad, St Mary Hoo has finally got its first visitors. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/03/0E2A8398.jpg) Photo: Authority Media. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “We wanted to do local food” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/we-wanted-to-do-local-food/ Last updated: 2026-03-01T07:00:13.000Z *As well as an* [*award-winning shop*](https://www.austensgroup.com/austen-s-of-rochester?ref=localauthority.news) *on Rochester High Street, Austen's also runs a* [*fruit and veg box delivery service*](https://www.austensgroup.com/austen-s-premium-veg-box-co?ref=localauthority.news) *from Medway City Estate. Steven met owners Andy and Carol Austen at their office there to talk about the ten years they have run the business, if one end of Rochester High Street is better for business than another, and why their cherries taste so good.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/82E1F08A-425B-48AD-8F75-7E12E16B8B0E_1_105_c-2.jpeg) Andy and Carol Austen. **What is your official occupation?** **Andy:** My official occupation is basically administering and overseeing the operation of the two businesses. **Carol:** General dogsbody, cleaner, everything. I do the accounts here and the admin work here with HR. I fill in at the shop when necessary. **What are the two different businesses?** **Andy:** We've got the farm shop on the high street, and then here we've got our delivery business, which is primarily a veg box business, but we do deliver food commercially. When we first started, we did more commercial, but we quickly stopped that. It wasn’t profitable and an absolute waste of time. We started off at 137 on the high street. We started off with the small farm shop there, and we also did all the preparation for the veg box deliveries there as well, believe it or not. Then covid came. We were busy then, but then covid came, and everyone wanted deliveries. We decided we'd have a waiting list. That waiting list soon got up to 80\. We decided that we would take it out of the shop, because we just couldn't cope with it, and we moved over to here, to the pack house, as we call it, downstairs. It's mainly a morning operation, and then it's dispatched to the driver and off they go. We're doing that five days a week, around about 200 boxes or so a week. They are repeat customers. We don't do one-offs. One of the reasons it was good here was that it had the office upstairs, and because to start with, we were all in the shop working, we came over here as well, and it's nice and peaceful and quiet, and we can concentrate on the administration of it. **It's a family business?** **Andy:** Yeah. They are all involved. Jess *\[daughter\]* drifts in and out. **Carol:** We beg her to do the social media. **Andy:** Because she is good at it. Then our two boys have a knack for the delivery side and taking it to the next level. > You're always looking at new things, you're getting to learn the buying habits on the high street, and that takes several years to do that **Why did you decide to open that first farm shop?** **Andy:** We wanted to do something. I was working corporate sales in London for Canon and had been doing that for 25 years. I fancied a change from it. I got interested in this shop called Pips, which was a greengrocer, and I had an idea of what I wanted to create. Initially, that was up for sale, but they wanted stupid money for it. We made them an offer of what we thought it was worth. They didn't accept the offer. We went off and did our own thing, and the idea was to support local farms, local artisans, and to have a business that was looking to reduce single use plastics and to give people nice quality on the high street. **Carol:** Pips, family business that was there for many years, was taken over, and it went downhill. We're not slagging off Pip. It went to another owner, and they run it into the ground. **Andy:** It's been a long, labourious process, years, because you try things out. You're always looking at new things, you're getting to learn the buying habits on the high street, and that takes several years to do that. It was popular to start with, even though we were down that bottom end of the high street, people were coming down. It's an end that people don't go to. When we'd been there eight years, we moved to a new shop and people were coming in saying, “I didn't even know you were here.” The best area on the high street really is from the car park, up the high street. We moved, and we doubled our turnover, which gives you lot more options of what you can do. In the old shop, there was no appetite from the landlord to repair all the leaking ceilings. When it rained really hard, we literally had water coming down the walls into light switches. It was horrendous, and we just had enough. The girls instigated. They said, “Let's go and have a look for something else,” and that one was available. **Was there a particular thing about fruit and veg that was the hook for you?** **Andy:** It was because we wanted to do local food, and it was the most obvious choice. There's all these local farms all across Kent that are growing great food of lovely quality, but you've got to find them because in amongst them there are some pretty mundane ones. Three months before we opened, we went around as much as we could, get a look, literally visited farms, and had conversations, and it developed from there. **How long until you started doing the fruit and veg boxes?** **Andy:** We opened in the July, and then we started officially in the October of that year. We've still got dozens of customers from ten and a half years ago that still get a box every week. I did the delivering at that point. It started off, we were doing ten a week, and then it kept going up. > People will pay for quality **What would you say today is the biggest challenge with having a business based around fresh fruit and vegetables?** **Andy:** An issue that's always ongoing is supply issues. You can't avoid that. With fresh fruit and vegetables, you've got the issues of it turning up on time. We've got staff downstairs ready to start at eight o'clock in the morning, and they don't turn up till nine o'clock in the morning, so you've lost an hour. At the moment, I have to say they are very good, but then the quality of what comes in over time. They know what we expect. You still get sent some crap sometimes, which obviously we can't use, because we don't, unless it’s top quality. The main supplier we use does a lot with local farms. Things like your oranges of this world, and certain items that aren't in season during the winter. Obviously, you can't not sell them, because people still want to eat them. They go to market to get those, they then deliver everything together. So they might be late because of that, delayed at the markets, and those are the types of issues. **Carol:** They have to come up the M2, so sometimes it is traffic. They're the other side of Maidstone, they're on a farm, they have got the lanes. Then our driver has to come back and load up, and we have problems. One of the reasons we chose this place is because it's quite near. **Andy:** As the spring comes in, the summer comes in, then you've got a lot more produce. You've got the berries, and we get them from [Hugh Lowe](https://www.hughlowefarms.com/?ref=localauthority.news) in Mereworth on the other side of Maidstone. You turn up, and your order might not be ready. You might have to wait for an hour. Little things like that have a knock on effect. Those are the main issues. The one area is that you would normally expect to get problems is staff. We do get the odd issue. **Carol:** We're really, really lucky. **Andy:** We look after them. That's the thing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/56280A9A-5486-43FA-B3E4-39F6B62F5D23_1_105_c-1.jpeg) Austen's fruit and veg box operation on Medway City Estate. **Is there the potential challenge where you're dealing with local produce that has these issues meaning that someone who is getting their box on a Friday will get different fruit the person on a Monday?** **Andy:** It's really well organised. Box contents are decided on a Friday for the next week. They then go on a Saturday onto the website. Every customer then knows what they're going to get in their boxes next week, and they get those items. Occasionally, there might be a slight variation if something's not good quality, but they then get that throughout the week. They go onto the website and if they want to swap up to a couple of items for something else, we do that for them. They add extras to their boxes. Eggs, meat, dairy, all those things. We combine that with their order as well. Most of them have that on a weekly basis. We know exactly what we're ordering. Everything's pre-ordered on the Friday for the following week, even down to the exact kilo on each day. Our suppliers know exactly what that is. Everything is well organised. We've mastered that over a number of years. **Carol:** Everything comes in fresh every day. **Andy:** We deal with all the crap of the issues, of how we get it here and how we order it. The customer just receives their box, and it’s what they ordered. People will pay for quality, and our box prices, we haven't put them up for over ten years. That's about to change. It's got to change. It is a premium product at a premium price, and people will pay for that. Also, it's the experience of going to the shop. They get looked after, make us feel special and all the rest of it. It's all part of an experience, but people now, more so than they did ten years ago, the way that things have become more popular, they all carry a price, and that helps us. **Carol:** Our meat supplier, an award-winning butcher's, even though you appear to find things a bit more expensive, everyone who actually buys it then says, “They didn't shrink, they didn't waste, I ate it all.” It's much better value for money. **To pick a product, say cherries. Why do the cherries taste so different?** **Andy:** Well, the farm is fantastic. It was Henry VIII's appointed berry and cherry farm. The soil is excellent. The orchards are established. But what they do that's different is that most growers will say, “We'll pick those trees today,” and you just hope that the flavour's going to be good. What they do, they've got a lab on the farm, and I’ve actually been in there and done it with them. They know what the optimum level of sweetness and sourness should be for that cherry at its premium. They'll take them into the lab. If it doesn't hit that level, if it's not ready, they don't pick them. When it's ready, then they pick them. The cherries you're eating are being picked at the optimum time, that they are exactly at the flavour that it should be. Of course, there's not just one variety, they grow ten different varieties. Early season, mid-season, late season. They grade all of them, so we only get 31mm plus size. They just fall through the holes, and we get all the big ones, and they do that for us. That's what makes them special. There is so much thought gone into it, and I like that. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A night of big numbers and small obsessions URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-night-of-big-numbers-and-small-obsessions/ Last updated: 2026-02-27T12:14:04.000Z **Medway Council set its budget this week, with the usual speeches, amendments, and predictable vote at the end. We break down what was agreed, what the opposition groups tried to change, and what it means in practice, alongside planning, in brief, property, events, and sport...* ### A night of big numbers and small obsessions Medway Council set its budget on Wednesday night, which means we all gathered at the St George’s Centre to watch councillors do the annual ritual of telling each other they are either reckless, incompetent, or both, before voting exactly how you would expect them to vote. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-27-at-12.05.11-1.png) Cllr Vince Maple delivering his budget speech We got straight into the budget, and [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) kicked off with the administration’s proposals. Exceptional Financial Support again, council tax up again. Lots of national politics first, because apparently the best way to explain Medway’s finances is to talk about the government for a bit. Then the line he clearly wants printed everywhere, and we appear to be obliging him. The council spends £1.35m every day on adult social care, children’s services and strategic housing, mainly temporary accommodation. He said he was "supremely confident" that Exceptional Financial Support won’t be needed next year. He also argued in favour of staff pay rising by 3.5%, so that the council needs to rely less on expensive temporary staff. He talked about weekly bin collections, because Medway has decided bins are a personality trait, and he had a go at the opposition for voting against weekly bins last year, by which he means voting against the budget, which is an interesting approach. Then Maple turned his fire toward Reform. Kent County Council under Reform is "chaos," he said, and referenced the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)'s reporting about councillors [posing with neo-Nazis](https://www.kentcurrent.news/kent-reform-councillors-pictured/?ref=localauthority.news), to which Reform members in the gallery laughed. Cllr [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) replied as opposition leader and brought his own chaos theme, this time aimed at Labour. He talked about borrowing, vanity projects, local government reorganisation, and work at Gun Wharf. He also noted that "We want to see the council going harder on AI," which is possibly bold or possibly cursed. He also took a swing at Reform, calling their economic policies "left-wing" and suggesting they would be even worse than Labour. Reform wants to be treated as a main opposition force in Medway, but the Conservatives are making clear they are not going to help with that. Then we got to amendments, which is where everyone stops pretending this is all abstract and starts showing you what they actually care about. First up, the Conservatives, who earlier this month promised an alternative budget and a different vision, arrived with their big idea. Free parking. For 30 minutes. In five car parks. The amendment would drop plans for a new care home and town centre improvement schemes, and use the money for free short-stay parking and free parking at country parks. Medway Council’s budget is hundreds of millions of pounds. We then spent a weird amount of time talking about £350,000 for parking, as if it were the hinge point of civilisation. Cllr [Andrew Lawrence](https://www.localauthority.news/maybe-im-a-serial-opposition-councillor/) argued, "we don’t want money spent on PR," which is always a crowd pleaser. Labour councillors responded by pointing out that dropping the care home does not make the need for care disappear. It just moves the bill. Cllr [Douglas Hamandishe](https://www.localauthority.news/my-baptism-to-life-was-seeing-mankind/) contributed by pointing out that "there’s something to be said for deferred gratification," he said, before quickly making clear that he was definitely talking about the care home. Cllr [Gary Hackwell](https://www.localauthority.news/a-lot-of-people-wont-be-able-to-tell/) went the other way. "We can’t afford a care home, full stop," he said. So it went. The amendment failed, the dream of free parking dying once again. Next up was the Independent Group, with what Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) called his "common sense amendment," which can be loosely translated as everything should be potholes, specifically potholes on the Hoo Peninsula. To do this would require freezing salaries, removing new town centre spending, and putting the lot into resurfacing. It was not subtle. It was also not popular. Labour and Conservatives united in the rare spirit of joint mockery. Cllr [Barry Kemp](https://www.localauthority.news/this-is-probably-my-last-stint/) described it as "the most ludicrous amendment" he’d seen in decades. Maple called it "pork barrel politics." Pearce accused them of contempt for his residents, which is perhaps a fair reaction when the whole chamber is laughing at you. Unsurprisingly, that amendment also failed. Then Reform, who proposed dropping the care home, sacking climate change officers, freezing pay, blocking recruitment, and then tried to repackage the money into a flat-rate staff award, potholes, and a staff savings competition, because nothing says 'we have a plan' like turning the council workforce into contestants. Perfect described Reform’s savings ‘499 Scheme’ as sounding like "a Tesco Clubcard offer." Labour councillor [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/) said he did not know whether "to laugh or cry." Maple made the cleanest point of the night by asking how Reform’s amendment could be described as ‘not ideological,’ as group leader [David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/) had earlier claimed, when, out of the council’s workforce, they had chosen only the climate change officers for the chop. The amendment, of course, was lost. Then the main budget. More speeches, more repetition, and more councillors beginning with "I wasn’t going to speak," who probably should have listened to their instincts. The administration budget passed, as it always would, because this is Medway and Labour has the numbers. Somewhere in the middle of the debate, someone loudly farted in the chamber. We are not a culture that handles this well, so almost everyone carried on as if nothing had happened, which made it worse, and therefore better. And then, because Medway cannot help itself, Labour councillor David Field [took to BlueSky](https://bsky.app/profile/davidfield.bsky.social/post/3mfpv6bdku225?ref=localauthority.news) to clarify that he was not the farter. "To confirm I was not the farter," he wrote, adding that from where he was sitting, it sounded like it came from the other side of the chamber. He also helpfully noted that he was one of the speakers who made an important contribution, emphasising the importance of the budget. > To confirm I was not the farter, and from where I was sitting it sounded like it came from the other side of the chamber. (however I was one of the speakers referred to who made another important contribution emphasising the importance of this budget) > > — [David Field (@davidfield.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ppvxkjjto3ol24ihcsdnxvgd?ref%5Fsrc=embed&ref=localauthority.news) [2026-02-25T23:58:39.752Z](https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:ppvxkjjto3ol24ihcsdnxvgd/post/3mfpv6bdku225?ref%5Fsrc=embed&ref=localauthority.news) The budget is through, the amendments have been binned, and the councillors have all issued their press releases explaining how they were definitely right. Labour will call it stability and responsibility, the Conservatives will call it a debt disaster, and Reform will call their proposals common sense. The practical version is simpler. Council tax goes up, parking gets tweaked, the care home argument stays exactly where it was, and we all meet back here next year to do the same shouting again, just with slightly different numbers. **If Local Authority is useful to you,* ***please consider backing it** *. We’re reader-funded, which means we can focus on what matters in Medway without chasing attention. An annual subscription costs £1.15 a week and helps keep this work sustainable.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ## Subscribe to our free newsletter Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories without the intrusive ads or clickbait Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - [**Licensing Hearing Panel**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6358&ref=localauthority.news)**:** Medway Council will hear an objection from Medway Council on a new alcohol licence for a convenience store on New Road, Chatham. - [**Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=378&MId=6361&ref=localauthority.news)**:** Portfolio holders for both education and children's services will be grilled across a range of subjects. **New planning applications:** - Plans have been put forward to [demolish garages and a storage unit](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TB2S6LKNHNZ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) at the rear of Railway Street in Chatham and replace them with four flats and three houses. - An application has been submitted to convert an empty office building on Green Street into a [19 bedroom HMO](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAZ05NKNN1Z00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news). To try and get around the stigma, the project is being promoted as a 'co-living' scheme and includes, er, a podcasting studio for the residents. - This week's HMO applications include [Franklin Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAR7IKKNI9Y00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and [Paget Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAR4XGKNI8500&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham, [Institute Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAUO84KNKDN00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham, and [Gordon Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TB25YHKNH9D00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Strood. ### In brief 🗞️ The Local Democracy Reporting team took part in some [crime tourism](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/i-visited-kents-most-dangerous-10830861?ref=localauthority.news) last week, visiting Chatham to see just how bad things are. They managed to get such devastating quotes from locals as "I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation where I felt unsafe" and "I don’t feel threatened at all." 🏫 Wayfield Primary School has received a [damning Ofsted report](https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/21/143909?ref=localauthority.news), with inspectors declaring that safeguarding efforts don't keep children safe and teaching is not up to standard. 🚧 The ongoing closure of Station Road in Strood has expanded, with emergency works now affecting both ends of the street. SGN, the gas company behind the works, told us that the High Street end should be open imminently, but it was "too early to say how long repairs at Station Road’s junction with Frindsbury Road will take to complete. We sincerely apologise to the Strood community for the ongoing disruption and any inconvenience caused by our works, and we’re working as quickly and safely as possible to complete repairs." 🕌 A £4m [shortfall](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/super-mosque-project-at-standstill-due-to-4m-funding-hole-336896/?ref=localauthority.news) has delayed construction of a new mosque on Railway Street in Gillingham. 🚓 Kent Police tackled some serious crimes last weekend, [confiscating](https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/policing-news/thirty-bikes-seized-as-part-of-three-day-asb-crackdown-in-medway/?ref=localauthority.news) 23 e-scooters. 💡 Residents in St Mary Hoo are [very upset](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-don-t-want-street-lights-in-our-road-we-haven-t-even-g-336823/?ref=localauthority.news) about the prospect of streetlights being installed. ➡️ The Reform shop on Strood High Street has disappeared, after it was never really used for anything other than some signage. ➡️ Speaking of Reform, residents on St Mary's Island in Chatham were delighted to receive a leaflet from the party this week bearing the slogan 'For Medway. For Strood, For YOU.' 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 We regret to inform you that Mark Reckless is [at it again](https://nation.cymru/news/andrew-rt-davies-and-mark-reckless-cite-90-year-old-iconic-incident-in-attack-on-plaid-cymru/?ref=localauthority.news). ⚽ The Guardian [profiled](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/feb/20/womens-fa-cup-chatham-birmingham-lowest-ranked-team?ref=localauthority.news) the Chatham Town Women's team as part of their remarkable FA Cup run. ⚓ Chatham Historic Dockyard is [leading a bid](https://thedockyard.co.uk/news/chatham-charts-its-course-to-3m-prize-for-uk-town-of-culture/?ref=localauthority.news) for Chatham to become the UK's first Town of Culture, which would see £3m in cultural investment. 🧰 Medway Men in Sheds is set to [expand](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2039/how%5Fmen%5Fin%5Fsheds%5Fprogramme%5Fis%5Fopening%5Fdoors%5Fto%5Fall?ref=localauthority.news) following a new three year contract and an increase in funding. 🛍️ The Little Shop [opens](https://littleshoprochester.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) on Rochester High Street tomorrow. The new shop offers a range of unique gifts, homewares, and stationery and is located in the former Get Ready Comics shop. ***Your questions, please.** **A lot of our best stories start in the least glamorous way possible. Not with a press release or a grand announcement, but with someone emailing us a simple question. Why is this road closed again? What is going on with that building? Who actually owns it? When did this decision get made, and why does nobody seem to be talking about it?* **Those are not small questions. They are the questions that tell you how Medway actually works.* **If there is something in your town or village that has been bothering you, confusing you, or quietly getting worse while everyone shrugs and walks past, hit reply and tell us. It can be as basic as a set of cones that never seems to move, a shop unit that has sat empty for years, a planning notice that makes no sense, or a service that has become unreliable. If you have photos, emails, or documents, even better, but you do not need them. A clear question is often enough for us to start pulling at the thread.* **Send us your burning questions, and we'll try to take it from there.* ### Property of the week This period terrace on Nelson Road in Gillingham is on the market for £350,000, and it is the sort of place that sells itself on being a proper, grown-up house rather than a box with an open-plan kitchen. It has that familiar Victorian layout with rooms that are actually rooms, a bit of character, and enough odd little corners to make you think about what you would do with them. The listing also leans on the practical perks that feel faintly luxurious in parts of Gillingham, like a place to park a car without a nightly street feud, and extra space upstairs that can be an office, a hideaway, or the place you promise yourself you will finally use properly. There is also a cellar, which can be either handy storage or a future hobby, depending on your tolerance for DIY. [Check out this 3 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove3 bedroom terraced house for sale in Nelson Road, Gillingham, ME7 for £350,000\. Marketed by Robinson Michael and Jackson, Rainham![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-8.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/8820987a55253d3105462e9ba7dcd732.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172227647?ref=localauthority.news#/?channel=RES%5FBUY) ### Events this week 🐉 Sat 28 Feb - [**Chatham Chinese Festival**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/chathamchinesefestival?ref=localauthority.news) // Performances, market stalls, food, celebrating Medway's Chinese community. Chatham High Street. Free. 🇺🇦 5 Mar - 7 Apr - [**Month of Ukrainian Art in Medway**](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUYB4nuDJKD/?ref=localauthority.news) // Multiple exhibitions of art by Ukrainian artists. Halpern Gallery, Chatham and Halpern Pop, Rochester. Free. ### Sport this weekend 🏒 [**Invicta Dynamics vs Milton Keynes Falcons**](https://www.instagram.com/p/DVOZGG4CpSE/?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 28 Feb, WNIHL Division 2, Planet Ice*. Medway’s dominant women’s side host third-place MK, and entry is free. ⚽ [**Chatham Town Women vs AFC Sudbury**](https://www.facebook.com/GillinghamWFC/posts/pfbid0vqVgyF8na1KityYJQGf65m52ATfZ5prAdNUxc3gG8TXhnjgnw3FrYyjjuWHt7DQXl?locale=en%5FGB) // *Sun 1 Mar, Division 1 South East, Bauvil Stadium*. Chatham host struggling Sudbury, with free tickets for this one. 🏒 [**Invicta Mustangs vs Guildford Phoenix**](https://www.invictamustangs.co.uk/fixtures?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sun 1 Mar, NIHL Division 2 South, Planet Ice*. Second place Guildford come to town, with the Mustangs away at Alexandra Palace the day before to face Haringey. **Playing away:** Gillingham FC visit Barrow (League 2), Chatham Town visit Whitehawk (Isthmian Premier), Invicta Dynamos visit both Swindon and Cardiff (NIHL South Division 1), Medway Rugby Club visit Sudbury (Regional 1 South East). ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### The February Culture Review URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-february-culture-review/ Last updated: 2026-02-26T17:41:26.000Z *Once a month, we bring together reviews of Medway’s cultural highlights in a single round-up, produced specifically for our paid supporters. This month, we live music, theatre, and food from across our towns...* --- **European Sun + South Shore + Caleb Nichols** *Oast Community Centre, Rainham, 31 Jan* With dry January well and truly behind them, an expectant crowd returned to The Oast to welcome [Caleb Nichols](https://www.calebnicholsis.gay/?ref=localauthority.news) back to its stage. He opened with a poem, the first indicator of a magpie mind who collects language from multiple sources and scatters his treasures throughout his lyrics. We have borrowings from Welsh, and an explanation of why the more poetic 'Car Park' has been favoured for a song title over the prosaic 'parking lot.' With light, agile vocals and delicate picking on the acoustic guitar, he starts off gently with 'Hag Stone,' but the travelling players forming his backing band tonight are determined to push him from alt folk towards full-on rocking out. The final song of the set, 'Awooo!', shows that Nichols’ subtle yet powerful voice is comfortably adaptable to this punk-pop direction. ## Get Local Authority in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories without the clickbait Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### River strategy floats relocation of industry and summer transport URL: https://www.localauthority.news/river-strategy-floats-relocation-of-industry-and-summer-transport/ Last updated: 2026-02-24T18:36:08.000Z **Today's Local Authority examines Medway Council’s newly approved River Medway Strategy and what it reveals about the future shape of the river, from proposals to concentrate heavier industry further toward the estuary to the idea of seasonal river transport along the urban stretch. We also explain how Medway’s next Mayor has already been decided through the council’s points system, and what that means for the civic year ahead...* ### River strategy floats relocation of industry and summer transport Medway Council's Cabinet has signed off on a new [River Medway Strategy](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=85788&ref=localauthority.news) that appears to be trying to do something unfamiliar. It tries to decide what the river is actually for. On paper, it is the usual mix of access, ecology, regeneration and 'better connections.' That is the language you use when you want a document to be broadly agreeable. But read it for what it is doing underneath, and it is much clearer. It is trying to rationalise the river into two futures. One is the urban stretch, the bit where Medway wants people walking, cycling, lingering, spending money, and generally treating the river as a place rather than a boundary. The other is the working river, the heavier industrial and employment uses that are meant to remain, but in locations where they are not permanently at odds with riverside housing and public realm plans. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/AdobeStock_559254253--1--1.jpeg) Medway City Estate, for now. The strategy’s answer to that sorting problem is not subtle. It points towards Kingsnorth and Grain as the places where the heavier river-based uses fit best, and it signals a preference for moving that kind of activity away from the most visible, most visible frontage around Chatham and the Medway City Estate. It does this in the way strategies always do. It does not say that there is a plan to relocate from one place to the other. Instead, it lays out a logic that makes relocation feel like the reasonable option, then starts sketching out the work needed to make it possible. The document talks about relocating certain river-based businesses away from Chatham Docks due to Peel Ports' decision to redevelop the site. It also raises the prospect of major occupiers like Veetee and Scotline moving out of the Medway City Estate over time. It then suggests that policy should avoid future industrial river-based operations taking up key frontage sites in the urban stretch. That is not a neutral statement. It is a choice about what Medway wants for its most valuable waterfront. If you are a reader who has watched this area’s regeneration play out, you can probably see why the council wants that choice on the table. The river has been a gift to development. Put riverside in the brochure, and the prices do the rest. But the river is also infrastructure, habitat, and a working corridor. For years, Medway has tried to pretend all of those things can sit on the same stretch of bank without anyone making a trade-off. The result is what you would expect. Bits of attractive new development. Bits of inaccessible river edge. Bits of working river that look increasingly out of place next to new housing. The strategy is basically saying that it isn't a sustainable plan in the long term. We cannot keep piling everything into the same places and hoping it magically becomes coherent. The most headline-friendly expression of that is the idea of a new 'Medway Dock' facility in the “right location,” explicitly linked to Kingsnorth or Grain. There is no timeline for this to happen, but it is a statement of intent. If Medway wants a working river for the long haul, the strategy is to ensure it has a proper home downriver, rather than being squeezed into the centre of our towns. This is where it gets awkward, because 'relocation' is a lovely word when it is sitting in a PDF. In real life, it means someone has to move, change how they operate, or accept that the place they have been for a long time is now being discussed as 'not the right location.' That can mean negotiations, land deals, planning pressure, and the sort of slow grind that never makes for a clean announcement but can still reshape a place. The strategy does not resolve those arguments. It is doing the earlier step, the one councils often avoid because it creates enemies. It is putting in writing that Medway wants heavier river employment uses concentrated downriver, and it wants the urban frontage to behave more like a usable waterfront. That takes us neatly to the other strand that is worth paying attention to, because it is one of the few bits of the strategy you can picture without having to translate it into normal human language: river transport. **If Local Authority is useful to you,* ***please consider backing it** *. We’re reader-funded, which means we can focus on what matters in Medway without chasing attention. An annual subscription costs £1.15 a week and helps keep this work sustainable.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) Medway has a river running through it that, in day to day practical terms, often behaves like a scenic divider. River crossings are limited and clogged, and walking and cycling routes break in annoying places. The river is right there, but for most daily movement, it is something you go around, not something you use. The strategy floats the idea of assessing a regular river-based transport service during the main visitor season, roughly April to September. It suggests potential pick-up and drop-off points along the urban stretch, including Chatham Maritime, Strood riverside, and Gillingham Pier or Marina. A seasonal service is definitely not a miracle cure. It could be a nice thing for visitors that does not really change how residents move. But it is still a meaningful signal, because it treats the river as a corridor that can do work, not just a view you walk past. If you can get from one side of Medway to another along the river, even in a limited season, it changes the mental geography of our towns. The river stops being the edge of things and starts being the line that connects them. That sounds soft until you remember how many Medway frustrations come down to the same simple reality. Places that are close on a map can feel far because the connections are weak and the road network gets in the way. A journey from Chatham Dockyard to Medway City Estate can take a few minutes in a car but two hours to walk, despite being directly opposite each other. So when you put the transport idea next to the industrial relocation logic, the strategy’s overall shape becomes clearer. Toward the estuary is where the working river is to be concentrated and supported. The urban stretch is where public access and a coherent waterfront are meant to win. The river itself is meant to be treated as a route, not just a backdrop. None of this happens because Cabinet approved a document. A relocation study does not relocate anyone. But strategies still matter because they do set the direction of travel. The test now is whether this strategy becomes a thing Medway uses to make difficult choices, or whether it joins the long tradition of Medway documents that sound confident and then quietly wait for someone else to do the hard part. ### Medway's next Mayor is already decided Medway is about to do the annual civic reshuffle, and the outcome is already set. At tomorrow’s budget-setting full council meeting, Labour will put forward [Douglas Hamandishe](https://www.localauthority.news/my-baptism-to-life-was-seeing-mankind/) as its nominee for Mayor, alongside Sharon Jackson for Deputy Mayor. The formal election takes place at the Annual Council meeting in May, but the direction of travel is clear because it is no longer decided by behind-the-scenes negotiation or a last-minute stitched-together agreement. It is decided by a points table. Since 2024, Medway has returned to allocating the mayoralty using a points-based system that mirrors the council's political makeup. Each political group is allocated points each year equal to its number of councillors. The group with the highest total is invited to nominate the Mayor, and the same group nominates the Deputy Mayor. For 2026/27, Labour sits at the top of that allocation, so it is their year to choose both roles. In practice, that means the votes are still taken, but nobody needs to pretend tomorrow is a contest. The Mayor in Medway is not the political leader of the council, and does not run the administration. The Mayor is elected annually and chairs full council, promotes public involvement in council business, and carries out civic and ceremonial duties. The work is mostly public-facing. It is the school visits, the charity events, the commemorations, the civic openings, and the visits to the never-ending sequence of community organisations that want the council to notice they exist. It is also the slightly odd constitutional role of being the person who keeps full council ticking over, even when the mood in the room is trying to do the opposite. On that basis, the nominations make sense in different ways. Hamandishe is already familiar with the civic side of the job, having served as Deputy Mayor for 2024/25\. When we spoke to him last summer, he described the role as being out in the community, supporting local organisations, and using the platform to connect charities and voluntary groups that often work alongside each other without ever meeting. He talked about the mayoralty as a connector role more than a status role, and was noticeably more interested in the organisations you meet than the council mechanics that get you there. [“My baptism to life was seeing mankind at its worst”What Steven asked Douglas Hamandishe, Gillingham North Labour councillor and former Deputy Mayor![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--9.webp)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3bc5ed19-88e5-46cd-8078-2d102eefec98_1536x1152.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/my-baptism-to-life-was-seeing-mankind/) Jackson was elected as a Strood West councillor in May 2023 and has not held a significant council position. But the deputy mayoralty is a visibility job. It is turning up, being comfortable in rooms, and being able to represent Medway without sounding like you are reading from an internal briefing note. That is where her other life matters. Jackson is a visible part of Medway’s comedy scene. She has spent plenty of time working rooms and holding the attention of strangers. It is not politics, but it is public-facing in a way that council life rarely is. If the job involves spending a year being the council’s representative in community spaces, having someone who is already used to a microphone, a stage, and a mixed crowd is not a bad place to start. This also marks a handover from the current Conservative mayoral team. The Mayor is currently [Trevor Clarke](https://www.localauthority.news/the-mayoralty-has-invigoratedour-marriage-and-lives-together/), with Wayne Spring as Deputy Mayor. That does not change who runs the council or any policy positions. What it changes is the face Medway puts forward for the civic year ahead, and the pair who will be doing the rounds of local events while the actual politics continues elsewhere. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one. We've even figured out how to use Instagram again!* ### “There is nothing like face-to-face storytelling in the world” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/there-is-nothing-like-face-to-face-storytelling-in-the-world/ Last updated: 2026-02-22T07:00:30.000Z that *This is part two of our interview with the directors of Medway Play Lab, following last week's interview with* [*Nic Lamont*](https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-breaking-down-barriers-that-keep-people-socially-isolated/)*. This week, we return to the interview with both of them at Leonards Cafe in* [*Store 104*](https://www.store104.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *to focus on Kate Mechedou and find out more about the work of Medway Play Lab,* [*Mrs Baker's Medway Theatre Company*](https://www.facebook.com/bakersmedwaytc/)*, how to be better at improv, and the topic that could cause a disagreement between Kate and Nic...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/kateHS-1.jpg) Kate Mechedou **What is your official occupation?** **Kate:** If you'd asked me this a year ago, I would have said I'm a theatre maker. But I'm now officially a postgraduate researcher, with the University of Warwick, and it's a collaborative doctoral award that I'm working towards with English Heritage, through the Midlands Four Cities organisation. I also work six hours a week as a theatre maker as well. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** **Kate:** I'm also a co-director of Medway Play Lab, which is a community interest company. I'm also the sole director of [Mrs Baker's Medway Theatre Company](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571812371307). As the name implies, it works predominantly in the Medway area. Part of what it does is produce the Medway Arts Tours, costumed live interpretation tours of Medway, mostly Rochester. They're the ones that sell and we do like to make money. I'm also a co-director of the [Arches Local](https://archeslocal.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) partnership, because I live in the Luton Arches area and have done for 25 years, so I'm quite invested. I know that's not very long compared to some people, but I've thrown my lot in this area. > Don't self-censor, and we all self-censor all the time **What is an important improv lesson?** **Nic:** Oh, there's so many. I always say to people that it's important not to try to be funny. I think if you try to be funny, your brain is taken up with trying to think of jokes or how am I coming across or 'Am I working towards a punch line,' and you're not in the moment. If you just let that go, be truly spontaneous, it's going to be funny, because it's going to be surprising, and it's going to be all your own ideas that no one can predict. **Kate:** I would capitalise on that further than saying my thing would be to play. Nobody's recording you, you're not going be blackmailed later. Don't self-censor, and we all self-censor all the time, and quite often I'm pushing people to go, 'Well, what would be the extreme of it?' Because when people start with improv, they tend to be a very polite sort. If you really disagree with your opponent, you might try and slap them or murder them. You don't want to go that far in real life, but you can play it out and see where the emotion takes you. **What were the Wild Walks?** **Nic:** [Wild Walks](https://www.medwayplaylab.com/past-projects/?ref=localauthority.news) was a project we did for families, where we worked with an amazing forager called [Miles Irving](https://www.milesirving.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), who has written many books on foraging. He's just a wonderful man to hang out with because his plant knowledge is quite magical, I would say. We decided to make a show that would include elements of foraging, but also be a narrative in green spaces across Medway. **Kate:** And beyond. **Nic:** I suppose that was really the first show we put together, technically. We first performed it as part of [Gravesham Fringe](https://graveshamfringe.org/?ref=localauthority.news), and then we performed it on [Millennium Green](https://www.medway.gov.uk/directory%5Frecord/764/luton%5Fmillennium%5Fgreen?ref=localauthority.news). It's a really fun interactive family show, in the springtime, that really gets people looking at the plants around them and interested in the plants around them. Hopefully, going away from the show, thinking, 'I did not know that everything around me could be used for something in some way.' **Kate:** They get to forage as part of the show and do a bit of pressing of leaves and various other activities as well. It's something that's on our back burner now and could be revived at any moment if the park service is listening. We are happy to look at any park *(laughs)*. > Theatre, shocker, doesn't make money **Will** [**playreads**](https://www.medwayplaylab.com/workshops-/?ref=localauthority.news) **and** [**writing masterclasses**](https://www.medwayplaylab.com/writing-masterclasses/?ref=localauthority.news) **be continuing past March?** **Nic:** Oh, I hope so, because they've been so popular. We've been really enjoying bringing people together to read plays. This is a project we've been doing with funding from [UKSPF](https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/economic-growth/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-ukspf?ref=localauthority.news) and Medway Council, which means once a month, we have a group meet to read a play here in Store 104, and then the week after that, we have an expert in their field present a creative writing workshop. **Kate:** Part of the project is that we have to establish if people would be willing to pay for this going forward, and how much they would be willing to pay for it going forward. Would that cover the costs that are innately in it, which of course include the expert's fee, facilitation time, hire of the venue. We do like to make sure that a local business is properly rewarded. People are certainly enjoying it. There's a diverse collection of people come to the playreads, come to the creative writing workshops. I've absolutely adored the range of people we've had in the creative writing workshop as well. We're going to hopefully keep doing this and keep drawing them together. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/Nic-and-Kate-1.jpg) Kate Mechedou and Nic Lamont of Medway Play Lab. **What is** [**Mrs Baker's Theatre Company**](https://www.facebook.com/bakersmedwaytc/)**?** **Kate:** About 2017, I knew I had to leave the job that I was in, working across the historical palaces. Every time I was directing something, as opposed to commissioning somebody else to direct it, it was becoming more overtly theatrical. I was thinking I need to go in that direction and not stick with the purist, live historical interpretation. I wanted to have people abseiling down buildings, explosions, demons… I was also thinking it's time to leave the company. I'd been there for too long. I started looking around for funding that could make that happen because I knew I couldn't do it. I'm not from generational wealth. I knew I needed to find backing for it. I looked around, and the first thing I found was an Anglo-Japanese organisation. I've always thought about the Japanese connection with the Medway Towns that was established, and the whole Will Adams story. It'd be great to have people in the shopping centre making that story come to life. I applied. I managed to get enough funding to make sure that I could get through a year. I started Mrs Baker's Medway Theatre Company on that. Unfortunately, the timing meant that the first production was going to be part of the revived [Chatham Carnival](https://www.nucleusarts.com/chatham-carnival?ref=localauthority.news), which didn't happen because of lockdown. We moved online, we did things with Arches Local, and I was able to use my former colleagues from across the Historic Royal Palaces to do straight to camera pieces about local Medway characters, including the test pilot for the [Short Brothers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short%5FBrothers?ref=localauthority.news) aeroplanes and [William Cuffay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%5FCuffay?ref=localauthority.news). I knew that I needed one product that was going to keep generating income because theatre, shocker, doesn't make money. The [Medway Arts Tour](https://www.visitmedway.org/attractions/medway-arts-tours-100696/?ref=localauthority.news), the guided tour wing, is something I've always promoted and built up as a result. I've managed to achieve some SPF funding for training and recruitment of more historically costumed tour guides. We've now got a great little team but we need more people to speak French because we get quite a lot of bookings for French schools as well. They don't always want us to do it in French, but it's useful sometimes. And on the project side, we did the Dickens anniversary and created a piece, a two-man one-act play called The Showman and the Chartist, about William Cuffay fictionally meeting Charles Dickens. Usually, there is a small creative team and professional actors in the middle of it, surrounded by a community cast. We do not have the scale of [Icon](https://icontheatre.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *\[Theatre\]* yet, but they've been going a lot longer than we have. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway has 'bounced back.' So why doesn’t it feel like it? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-has-bounced-back-so-why-doesnt-it-feel-like-it/ Last updated: 2026-02-20T23:30:39.000Z **Centre for Cities says Medway has “bounced back” since 2013, with strong job growth and high employment. We look at why that still does not translate into everyday security, and what the data suggests about pay, skills, housing and the type of economy sitting underneath the recovery.* ### Medway has 'bounced back.' So why doesn’t it feel like it? Medway has made it onto an unexpectedly upbeat list, which is not a sentence we get to write often enough. In [Centre for Cities](https://www.centreforcities.org/?ref=localauthority.news)’ latest [Cities Outlook](https://www.centreforcities.org/publication/cities-outlook-2026/?ref=localauthority.news) analysis, Chatham is flagged as one of the small group of places that have genuinely bounced back since 2013\. Not in the vague, political sense of turning a corner, but in the measurable sense of stronger growth in economic output and rising living standards compared with the national average. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/IMG_6991-2.jpg) Chatham. Photo: Authority Before anyone emails to say “Chatham isn’t Medway” or “Medway isn’t a city,” a quick note on what Centre for Cities is actually measuring. Their reports do not use council boundaries. They use Primary Urban Areas, or PUAs. That is their way of defining a city as a real built-up urban footprint and the immediate economy around it, rather than the administrative lines we have drawn on a map. It is basically an attempt to compare functional places that behave like one urban economy, rather than comparing local authorities that sometimes look like they were designed by a committee using a ruler and a grudge. So when Centre for Cities says Chatham, it is not claiming Medway Council is secretly a city. It is using Chatham as the label for the Medway urban area in the PUA system. It will not match the Medway boundary perfectly, and it is not trying to. But it is still the closest thing in their dataset to the economy most Medway residents actually live inside, which is what matters here. And on that definition, the numbers are quietly impressive. On the basic question of whether there is work, Medway looks strong. Jobs grew by 18.4% between 2013 and 2023, placing the area in the top quarter of the cities they track. The employment rate in 2025 sits at 78.8%, again comfortably in the top group. This is not a portrait of a place drifting. It is a portrait of somewhere where, for a lot of people, the getting up and going to work part is going well. Which immediately raises the question that anyone in Medway will recognise. If the charts say we are doing that well, why does it still feel like everyone is permanently one bill away from a stress headache? This is where things get messier. The bounce-back is real, but it is not the kind that automatically shows up in your bank account. Centre for Cities’ own data puts average weekly workplace earnings at £677\. That ranking sits in the bottom half of their table. This is where the report stops being a feel-good graph and starts being a diagnosis. Centre for Cities is not just interested in whether a place has jobs. It is interested in what kind of economy sits underneath those jobs. Their argument is that places where growth translates into higher living standards tend to have more high-value private-sector activity, particularly in knowledge-intensive business services. These are the kinds of firms that tend to pay more, scale more, and bring a wider range of decent wages. On that measure, Medway is not exactly overflowing. Only 9% of local jobs are in private knowledge services, which puts the area well down the national list. When the report counts 'new economy' firms, it does not mean any new business that opened last year. It means firms in the newer, more innovation-led parts of the private sector tend to be linked to higher productivity and higher pay. Medway has fewer of those firms per head than most places in the comparison. You do not need to speak fluent economic development strategy to see what that implies. We have job growth, but too much of it is in parts of the economy that do not reliably pull wages up with them. That helps explain the emotional mismatch. If you are in work, but the pay is only middling, the bounce-back can exist while your personal version of it feels theoretical. Skills data pushes in the same direction. The share of residents with high-level qualifications sits in the lower part of the table, while the share with no formal qualifications is also uncomfortably high compared with most cities. That combination matters because it creates a ceiling and a floor. The ceiling is lower because the pipeline of higher-skilled roles and workers is not strong enough to reshape the entire local labour market. The floor is lower because a meaningful minority of residents are still being left behind by the basics. None of this is a moral judgement about Medway. It is just the shape of the local economy. Lots of people are working hard, lots of employment, but not enough high-paid opportunities spread widely enough to change the mood of the place. Then you add the cost side of the equation, which is where the 'why doesn’t it feel like it?' question becomes unavoidable. Yes, of course we're going to talk about housing. The average house price is £317,598\. The affordability ratio sits at 8.5\. That is not London, but it is not cheap either. If you are in a mid-table wage city with mid-table housing costs, the sums still do not feel friendly. You can have good employment numbers and still have many people who feel like they are running just to stand still. You could tell this story as Medway doing better than it thinks it is, and there is some truth in that. The more useful version is probably that Medway is doing better on the parts of growth that appear in economic dashboards than on those that appear in everyday security. We have work. We even have a kind of recovery. What we have not yet built, at least at scale, is the kind of business mix that turns that recovery into wages that feel like a reward rather than a survival mechanism. So yes, Medway has 'bounced back,' at least on Centre for Cities’ definition of the local economy. The awkward bit is that a bounce-back that does not lift pay and opportunity widely enough can still feel, day to day, like not very much has changed. The data does not contradict people’s lived experience. But it does explain why the good news turns up as a tidy line on a graph, while the lived version is harder to spot in the places most of us actually notice it. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Wednesday:** [**Council**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6357&ref=localauthority.news) meets for its season finale, where the budget for the coming year will be approved. **New planning applications:** - This week's bonanza of HMO applications includes [Kingswood Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAP4JFKNGZO00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Marlborough Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TALF0YKNMF900&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Park Avenue](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAJYIXKNLJ500&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), and [St George's Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAHPK1KNK5P00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham, as well as [Boundary Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAJVT2KNLHA00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and [Institute Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAJYIKKNLJ300&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham. **If Local Authority is useful to you,* ***please consider backing it** *. We’re reader-funded, which means we can focus on what matters in Medway without chasing attention. An annual subscription costs £1.15 a week and helps keep this work sustainable.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ## Subscribe to our free newsletter Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories without the intrusive ads or clickbait Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### In brief ⚖️ Despite threatening a legal challenge to Medway Council's rules restricting the participation of smaller parties, Reform has [not pursued it](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/unlawful-council-rule-change-goes-unchallenged-after-100k-336695/?ref=localauthority.news) because it would have cost them £100,000. 👷 Utility companies and Medway Council have pledged to [do better](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-can-do-better-utility-companies-pledge-to-improve-reco-336447/?ref=localauthority.news) in response to the ongoing closures on Lower Rainham Road. 🚧 Meanwhile, the 'emergency' gas works closure at Station Road in Strood has been extended until 2 March, but Southern Gas Networks continues to ignore our questions about it. [The ‘emergency’ cyclePlus new HMO applications, an Upnor property, events, and sport, and news in brief![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--8.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/AdobeStock_1739815168-2.jpeg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-emergency-cycle/) 🏆 The Pride in Medway nominations for 2026 have been [announced](https://www.prideinmedway.co.uk/news/2026-nominees/?ref=localauthority.news), with many worthy figures included, including a... checks notes... Mr Steven Keevil. 🚓 Cozenton Park Sports Centre is apparently being plagued by [anti-social youths](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/it-s-intimidating-youths-cause-outrage-at-leisure-centre-336564/?ref=localauthority.news) on e-scooters. ⛷️ The Winter Olympics have led to a [surge in bookings](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cde47593e4eo?ref=kentcurrent.news) at Chatham Snowsports Centre. 🏏 Kent Cricket has announced a new five-year [partnership](https://www.kentcricket.co.uk/news/kent-cricket-kings-school-rochester-announce-five-year-partnership/?ref=localauthority.news) with King's School in Rochester. ☕ Plans for a Costa Coffee drive-thru on Medway City Estate have been [approved](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/costa-coffee-drive-thru-plans-approved-after-nearly-two-year-336522/?ref=localauthority.news) following years of delays. 🍺 The Angel pub in Rainham has closed yet again, after cycling through several different landlords and closures over the past few years. 🪾 Flawless Cleaning Services, whose YouTube videos see them cleaning up areas for free, tackled foliage that was overrunning a Rochester pavement in their [latest video](https://youtu.be/yAMFT4mspNE?si=-Tf2jQXcXMWIBMcL&ref=localauthority.news). ### Property of the week This Victorian semi on New Road in Rochester is on the market for £800,000 and is selling a scale increasingly rare in Medway listings. It is arranged over multiple floors, with a stack of reception space, a large terraced garden, and gated parking, and from the upper levels it offers wide views across the Medway. It is the sort of house that still has rooms that exist simply because that is what Victorian houses did, which is either a delight or a warning depending on your tolerance for stairs and maintenance. This one is less about a single feature and more about the overall feeling of buying a serious house in a serious location. [Check out this 6 bedroom semi-detached house for sale on Rightmove6 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in New Road, Rochester, ME1 for £800,000\. Marketed by Yopa, South East and London![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-7.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/880469b5e4b73108556a2e47f31dc3c9.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172428593?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎸 Sat 21 Feb - [**Nigel Clark + Chris Helme**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/platform3club/t-ojgeaan?ref=localauthority.news) // Front men of Dodgy and the Seahorses play Pastel Waves club night. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £23. 🧑‍⚕️ Tue 24 Feb - [**The Science of Trauma and the Body**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/midkent/t-xdmxldv?ref=localauthority.news) // Talk and Q&A discussion on the physical impacts of trauma. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets £14. 🗑️ Thu 26 Feb - [**Rubbish Shopping Lists**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/chatham/poco-loco/rubbish-shopping-lists-kieran-poole-live/e-jzjyka?ref=localauthority.news) // Eco artist and binfluencer Kieran Poole tells stories from over 1,000 discarded shopping lists. Poco Loco, Chatham. Free. 🗣️ Thu 26 Feb - [**Medway Council budget meeting**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6344&ref=localauthority.news) // Local politicians squabble over finances. St George’s Centre, Chatham. Free. ### Sport this weekend ⚽ [**Gillingham FC vs Oldham Athletic**](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/fixture/view/9766?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 21 Feb, League Two, Priestfield Stadium*. One of those straightforward Saturday 3pm jobs where the main objective is simple: win at home and make the table look slightly less annoying. ⚽ [**Chatham Town vs Welling United**](https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2025-2026/isthmian-football-league-premier-division/chatham-town/welling-united/542249?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 21 Feb, Isthmian League Premier Division, Bauvill Stadium*. Bottom of the table Welling visit the Chats. **Playing away:** Chatham Town Women visit Birmingham City (Women’s FA Cup 5th round), Invicta Dynamos visit Solent Devils (NIHL South Division 1). ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Voice of the MP - Gillingham and Rainham URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-gillingham-and-rainham-2/ Last updated: 2026-02-19T19:23:24.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan, who talks about new restrictions on HMOs.* --- #### **Voice of the MP** **by Naushabah Khan, MP for Gillingham and Rainham** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ekIB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6a8a7c53-a2fd-4d47-8285-bebcdd4b99db_3000x2000.jpg) Naushabah Khan MP In December last year, after months of personally campaigning for tougher regulations, Medway Council approved an Article 4 Direction to enforce tighter restrictions on future Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) conversions. This was a necessary and significant step in a longer-term mission to deliver better quality housing and stronger communities across Medway. For some months now, the impact of rapid HMO expansion across our area has undoubtedly become one of the most frequently raised concerns by constituents in Gillingham and Rainham. I have had numerous meetings with residents, community groups and concerned neighbours due to the sheer scale and pace of new applications, which are unlike anything we have seen before. Throughout our community, traditional family homes are increasingly being converted into high-density accommodation. Properties are often subdivided into small, individual units designed to house seven or eight people under one roof. In reality, it is difficult to distinguish these developments from bedsits, raising understandable concerns about the quality of the housing being created and the long-term impact on neighbourhoods. The consequences of this rapid expansion, for local residents, are increasingly hard to ignore. Constituents regularly report growing volumes of on-street rubbish and worsening parking congestion, placing added pressure on straining local services. There can also be increased risks of antisocial behaviour. In many cases, these properties are being used to house vulnerable individuals relocated from outside our area, particularly to meet the temporary accommodation demands of London authorities. This practice is quietly but steadily reshaping the character of our streets, often without sufficient infrastructure, support services, or community integration in place. Unfortunately, despite the scale of development, this recent surge in HMOs has done little to address our genuine local housing needs, of which there are many. Instead, it has opened the door to opportunistic investors seeking quick financial returns, with little long-term commitment to the town or its people. I have had multiple frank exchanges with such developers, outlining the concerns of residents and my personal opposition to their motives, which are driven by profitability over community cohesion. Our home has become an explicit target for this practice, largely because it meets a specific set of commercial criteria. It offers the right type of housing stock, high demand for rental accommodation, comparatively limited regulation, and direct transport links to London. Let me be clear - I am not opposed to all developments of this nature, but when my hometown is being jokingly advertised as prime HMO real estate where the “streets are paved with gold,” it deeply angers me. Investment companies have gone so far as to market Gillingham as a “strong, low-barrier opportunity for HMO investment.” This language makes it abundantly clear that profit, rather than community well-being, is often the primary motivation. That is why obtaining stronger regulation at a local level was vital. Having lived in an HMO myself, I fully recognise that shared housing can be a legitimate and valuable option. HMOs can serve students, young professionals, and those at earlier stages of their housing journey, offering flexibility and affordability when managed responsibly. There are good examples of HMOs working locally, with responsible and decent landlords who care about their tenants' living standards and the impact of their business on the community. When effectively regulated, well-maintained, and thoughtfully integrated into the wider community, HMOs can and do play an important role within our housing system. The difficulty, particularly in Gillingham, however, lies in their sheer concentration and unchecked expansion. Prior to Article 4 Direction, HMOs were appearing at a rate far faster than our community can reasonably absorb, and this level of growth was becoming unsustainable. I have spoken to tenants, landlords and neighbours alike. All asked for reform and tighter regulations. Gillingham already faces complex social and economic challenges. Concentrating large numbers of highly vulnerable residents in one area, without the necessary planning or support, undermines social cohesion and makes it far harder to build balanced, mixed communities. Rather than alleviating existing pressures, this approach risks exacerbating them and creating environments in which problems become more entrenched and residents become more divided. This debate is not about opposing HMOs outright. It is about ensuring that the right legislative and planning frameworks are in place to manage them effectively and responsibly. During my time as a Medway councillor, I consistently called for additional and selective licensing schemes to improve standards in smaller shared rental properties that fall outside mandatory HMO regulations. Medway Council will now be implementing these new licensing restrictions going forward. While welcome, licensing alone was not enough. That is why I fought to obtain Article 4 Direction for our community, and I am glad that Medway Council have listened to residents on this issue. This planning mechanism removes automatic permitted development rights for converting family homes into HMOs, ensuring that all future proposals are subject to a fully scrutinised planning process. This gives the local authority greater control over the number and location of HMOs, helps protect much-needed family housing, and ensures that new developments genuinely reflect local housing requirements rather than speculative investment trends. The proliferation of HMOs is, ultimately, a symptom of a much deeper housing crisis affecting communities across the country. Rising costs, a shortage of genuinely affordable homes, and increasing reliance on temporary accommodation have made the dream of home ownership feel increasingly out of reach for many. For residents across Gillingham and Rainham, this is a frequent and common concern. Britain’s housing crisis is one of the biggest political challenges of modern times. That is why I back the government’s plan to build more social and affordable housing. While we have already strengthened renters’ rights, we must build the next generation of homes for the future. In turn, this will bring investment, jobs and security to our communities. However, in the process of repairing Britain’s housing system, it should not fall on towns like Gillingham and its residents to shoulder a disproportionate share of the burden. Our communities deserve thoughtful planning, fair regulation, and housing solutions that put people before profit. Article 4 Direction is an important step towards achieving this. *Naushabah Khan is the MP for Gillingham and Rainham.* ### From marches to meetups, the playbook is shifting URL: https://www.localauthority.news/from-marches-to-meetups-the-playbook-is-shifting/ Last updated: 2026-02-17T19:21:22.000Z **Today's Local Authority examines attempts by hard-right organisers from outside Medway to test different routes into public space, from a small anti-migrant march to a more polished women’s safety meeting promoted in online spaces linked to far-right politics. We also report on Medway Council selling the freehold of a Gillingham industrial estate, a Trading Standards operation that produced an impressive haul and even better dogs, and Reform’s latest contribution to local political spectacle...* ### Hard right organisers are importing their politics into Medway and testing two routes into public space Two separate hard-right organising efforts are being pushed towards Medway for next month. Neither appears to be rooted in local campaigning, with both being driven by people from outside the area. One is the familiar march theatre, loud online and likely thin on the ground. The other is more polished, wrapped in the language of women’s safety, and promoted in the same Facebook spaces that churn out anti-migrant and anti-trans rhetoric. That combination is worth paying attention to, even if it is currently small. The first strand is an anti-migrant march being promoted for Saturday 7 March from Gillingham station, with Medway Council's Gun Wharf headquarters as the final destination. It is being pushed by a Maidstone-based activist who runs a one-man micro-party primarily on TikTok. His promo material talks a big game, including one advert claiming it will be 'a big march' with '5 group’s *\[sic\]* teaming up as one.' That is, to put it gently, ambitious. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/0E2A8144.jpg) A previous march in Rochester attracted few attendees. Photo: Authority Media. [We attended](https://www.localauthority.news/a-protest-in-search-of-a-crowd/) one of his recent protests in Rochester, which did not exactly bring the county to a standstill. Another attempt to organise something similar in Maidstone earlier this month was called off hours before it was due to take place, with bad weather cited as the reason. Searchlight, which monitors far-right activity, independent promotion from other organisations, and the only sign of notice outside his TikTok output is a single post that appeared in a local Gillingham Facebook group that the cancelled Maidstone event was heavily promoted online but failed to attract sufficient support. [A protest in search of a crowdPlus Medway Council meeting comes to an abrupt end, the return of Rehman, news in brief, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--7.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffdc25080-ffde-4be2-a2fa-7c96e1e3c110_2500x1406.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/a-protest-in-search-of-a-crowd/) What’s striking about this latest push is how little evidence there is that it has travelled beyond the organiser’s own channels. We’ve seen no independent promotion from other organisations, and the only sign of notice outside his TikTok output is a single post that appeared in a local Gillingham Facebook group. This matters because if you’re trying to work out whether something is about to become a thing, one of the easiest tells is whether it starts spreading without the organiser having to drag it around the internet by the scruff of the neck. That doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Even a small march is still a public attempt to normalise hostile politics in the town centre, and it can still make people feel uncomfortable or unsafe, particularly if you are the sort of resident these movements like to talk about as a problem rather than a person. But based on what we’ve seen so far, this looks less like a wave and more like someone trying to create the impression of one. The second strand is more concerning because it is a different tactic. A group using the branding 'Kent Women First' has been promoting a meeting at the Command House pub in Chatham, presenting it as an initiative focused on women’s safety. The flyer promises a women’s circle, discussion of safety and wellbeing, and practical guidance on reporting crime. It is pitched as supportive, validating, and entirely reasonable. It also includes a line stating it is a 'Biological Female Only' event. That wording is not a neutral safeguarding measure. It is a political signal, and it sits at the heart of a strategy we have increasingly seen nationally. Wrap a hard-edged culture war agenda in the language of common sense and public safety, then use the resulting 'what, you don’t care about women?' dynamic to bulldoze past scrutiny. We’re looking at this event because the flyer is being circulated in Facebook spaces that are littered with anti-migrant and anti-trans content, alongside promotion for far-right marches. Searchlight has also reported on the same network, describing it as an attempt to present itself as a grassroots women’s safety initiative while pushing hard-right, anti-migrant politics, and identifying it as a local offshoot of a wider 'British Women First Pink Ladies' brand. Searchlight reports the national network operates largely through Facebook and TikTok, where posts repeatedly conflate women’s safety with anti-migrant narratives and portray immigration as an inherent threat. The Command House told us that the booking had been presented to them purely as a women’s safety event and that they were unaware of the wider context in which the flyer had been shared online. They added that the pub is inclusive and welcoming to everyone. This is the key point. If the march is likely to have low attendance, the women’s safety framing is the more effective route to normalising the politics behind it. It looks less like a protest and more like community organising. It asks fewer people to out themselves as extremists and more people to nod along with the soft parts until the hard parts stop feeling shocking. We approached Medway Council for comment on the march, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. In the meantime, it is worth being clear-eyed about what this is and what it isn’t. We are not looking at a mass movement about to sweep through Medway. We are looking at small, online-driven attempts to, for lack of a better term, plant flags in public space. One of them is likely to struggle to attract an audience. The other is a reminder that the most successful political organising rarely arrives wearing a fascist badge. It arrives claiming it is just keeping women safe, being reasonable, and offering support, only to become clear later who the 'safe' part of that promise is meant to exclude. **If Local Authority is useful to you,* ***please consider backing it** *. We’re reader-funded, which means we can focus on what matters in Medway without chasing attention. An annual subscription costs £1.15 a week and helps keep this work sustainable.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ## Get Medway's biggest stories in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories without the clickbait. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Gillingham industrial estate sold off for £775,000 Medway Council has sold the freehold of the Railway Street Industrial Estate in Gillingham for £775,000, completing the deal earlier this month. The estate was one of the sites put on the [sell off list](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-to-sell-off-temple/) back in October 2024, when the council set out plans to raise roughly £35m by disposing of 30 'non operational' properties to help plug the financial hole. [Medway Council to sell off Temple Manor, Gillingham Business Park, Rainham Shopping Centre, and 27 more sitesPlus a quiet change in the Labour administration, cutting down trees for vague reasons, Lower Thames Crossing delayed again, news in brief, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--6.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f264c63ed-9003-430a-b3f4-3182fd2ea1ea_7137x3737.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-to-sell-off-temple/) The crucial bit of context is the small print. This was a freehold sale, but it is subject to a long lease running until September 2104\. So if your mental picture is of a council selling an industrial estate and next week someone turns up with a glossy masterplan, that shouldn't be the case. This is an ownership change underneath an existing structure that is meant to keep running for the best part of another century. In most cases, the person with the long lease is the one with the day to day control, while the freeholder is the one holding the underlying title and waiting a very long time for the big moment. That matters because Railway Street is not some vacant plot hiding behind a hedge. It is a working estate in a prime town centre location, and it houses several car-related businesses in particular: Garages, tyres, detailing, or the kind of places that sit quietly in the background until the day you need them, at which point they suddenly become the most important part of your week. The council’s decision document says the freehold was offered on the open market and frames the deal as generating 'revenue savings and a capital receipt.' Fine, but the document does not explain what those revenue savings are in this specific case, or how big they are, or what exactly the council has stopped paying for, given the long lease. We asked Medway Council for further details of the sale and whether there are any restrictions or conditions that affect what can happen on the site in the future, but didn't receive a reply before publication. The wider point is that this is the disposal plan moving from spreadsheet to real life. Railway Street was on the list, and it has now been sold. The council says this is about savings as well as a capital receipt, but it points to a pattern in which Medway is selling off parts of its estate to make the numbers work, and asking residents to trust that the consequences will be someone else’s problem much later. ### We're only here for the dogs Medway Council has uncovered nearly 1.5 million illegal cigarettes and, yes, we understand that this is a serious story about organised crime, lost duty, and the fact some people will go to astonishing lengths to avoid paying tax. But we’re going to be honest about what has happened here. The council has issued a press release that is, in practice, a vehicle for photos of extremely good dogs. The basics, for the record. Trading Standards and Public Protection officers led a two-day operation on 12-13 February with Kent Police and a specialist sniffer dog team. They seized 1,469,640 cigarettes, 148.5kg of hand-rolling tobacco and 1,130 illegal vapes, with an estimated street value of £650,000\. Most of the haul was found at a self-storage premises, where the council says tobacco worth around £600,000 was stashed across five lockers. Now, about the dogs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/9f624106-7b28-4a40-ae1d-cbe516e8c8e8-1.jpeg) Three very good dogs. In the first photo, you have what appears to be a small committee of working animals sitting in perfect formation, staring into the middle distance like they’ve just been promised a biscuit for services rendered to the Crown. One looks like he’s halfway through a thought about whether this counts as overtime. Another is giving off a strong 'I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed' vibe. This is the kind of operational discipline Medway can only aspire to in its roadworks planning team. In the second, one of them is pictured in a van beside the seized tobacco, posing in front of a wall of illicit cigarettes like the main character in a gritty BBC One drama. There is no swagger, just quiet competence and the faint sense that he knows he’s the star of the entire operation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/1d326032-a78f-41aa-b702-aad62244d624-1.jpeg) A very good dog. The press release also includes details that feel almost unfairly cinematic. Evidence suggested some of the tobacco was smuggled into the country hidden inside deep-fat fryer units. If you’ve ever wondered what the Venn diagram overlap is between chip shop equipment and international smuggling, congratulations, Medway Council has now answered that for you, and again, we would like to stress that the dogs found it. Councillor [Alex Paterson](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/), the cabinet member responsible for enforcement, said the seizure “sends a message loud and clear” that the council will not tolerate illegal trading, and a Kent Police inspector said the trade is often linked to wider criminality and will be targeted. Those selling illegal tobacco can face penalties of up to £10,000 and prosecution in some cases. All important, all true. But the real message being sent loud and clear is that Medway has access to a specialist sniffer dog team and, frankly, should be deploying them more often. If Trading Standards want to keep seizing illegal vapes and tobacco, we fully support it. If they want to keep doing it while supplying the public with pictures of dogs who look like they’ve just solved a case and are ready for a nap, we support it even more. ### Reform starts hunting the communists Reform's Chatham & Aylesford branch took to Facebook this week to announce that 'British patriots will be out defeating Communism, come rain or shine,' which is a sentence you do not expect to read in 2026 unless you’ve accidentally opened a badly translated leaflet from 1979. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/Image-20260215-221139-1.png) Photo: Reform Chatham & Aylesford on Facebook. There is, obviously, a follow-up question here, which is: What communists? Where are they? What are we imagining in this scenario? Are they in the Rainham precinct, quietly nationalising Boyce's Bakery? Are they hiding in the queue for the 101, distributing free copies of Das Kapital to anyone who looks like they’ve given up on Arriva? Are they inside Medway Council’s procurement team, insisting that the patio furniture at the pub be brought under collective ownership? It’s also conveniently vague. No details, examples, or explanations. Just 'communism' as a sort of political swear word you deploy when you’d rather not say what you’re actually on about. Still, fair play. If you’re going to position yourself as the last line of defence against a mysterious ideological enemy, at least they are doing it properly, with umbrellas up and placards out. The revolution will be rained on. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “We are breaking down barriers that keep people socially isolated” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-breaking-down-barriers-that-keep-people-socially-isolated/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T09:54:42.000Z [*Medway Playlab CIC*](https://www.medwayplaylab.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *is focused on providing improv and performing arts opportunities for adults in Medway. Steven met with its co-directors, Nic Lamont and Kate Mechedou, at* [*Store 104*](https://www.store104.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, where they host many of their events. In this first part, we speak about their new project about Leonards Department Store, how they came to form Medway Playlab, and then focus on what brought Nic to Medway and how she came to have a crucial supporting role in a Netflix production...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/NicLamont437crop-2-1.jpg) Nic Lamont. **What is your official occupation?** **Nic:** My official occupation is an actor and theatre maker. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** **Nic:** I feel like lots! I work on and off for [Funny Women CIC](https://funnywomen.com/?ref=localauthority.news), which does a lot of work down here as well. I am the producer for Medway for their Glitter Project, which I did a lot of work with last year and hopefully will be doing a lot of work with again this year. I'm an actor where I have an agent, and I'm going up for castings all the time, and I'm doing screen work. I tend to work a lot on other friends’ projects as well. I work as a co-director of [Medway Playlab](https://www.medwayplaylab.com/?ref=localauthority.news), where I am a workshop facilitator, an events producer, a social media manager and a writer. **What is Medway Playlab?** **Nic:** Medway Playlab is a community interest company that mainly presents performing arts opportunities for the people of the Medway Towns. That includes different workshops and theatrical events as well. **Kate:** The social conscience of the organisation is that we are breaking down barriers that keep people socially isolated, we're giving opportunities to get out of the house, and this is for adults as well. A lot of people focus predominantly on children. Having said that, we do do stuff for families as well, but the majority of the stuff we do is for grown-ups to kick back and have a good time and get to know other people. **How did you come to be working together?** **Nic:** We actually met at a Funny Women event that was here, I believe. Upstairs, Was it here? *\[Store 104\]* **Kate:** I think it was, yes. **Nic:** Quite a few years ago now. We seemed to have a lot in common and be two theatre professionals living here in Medway, and we also had a lot of interests about improv, and I think we first got talking about improv. I think it was after lockdown that we started thinking seriously about starting a company. **Kate:** The improv connection was we realised we were coming at it from two different angles. Nic's background has been in comedy and improv for comedy entertainment purposes, Whose Line is it Anyway, Edinburgh Fringe-y, Showstoppers-y thing. Mine has been through the Historic Royal Palaces. If you've ever seen Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace or been to Tower of London, chances are, over the last 20 odd years, before lockdown, I've had something to do with it. I decided to work locally from 2018\. I went away from that world, but I still completely understand that world and I've led lots of trainings in it. It is a very unique skill set when you don't have a [proscenium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proscenium?ref=localauthority.news) arch, and you don't have the curtains, and you don't have the audience there. You're here, and you're creating what your performance space is. Those two things gave us a lot to talk about, and I wish I was funnier. **Nic:** You're very funny. **Kate:** I'm funny in moments. **Was there a particular moment? Who approached who about setting up Playlab?** **Nic:** That's a really good question. **Kate:** I can't remember who mentioned it first, but I suspect it was me that made it happen, like Romeo and Juliet when Romeo says, 'I love you girl,' and she says, 'Well, marry me then.' It was kind of probably a bit like that. **Nic:** I think I said, “We should definitely have improv workshops down here.” And you said, “Do you know what? We should make this a company, because we've noticed that there isn't a lot of that around here…” **Kate:** For grown-ups, fun for grown-ups, that isn't of a dodgy sort. **What is Project Leonards?** **Nic:** Project Leonards is a national heritage funded project that we started last year. It looks into the history of this building. We've got many connections to it. I have a quite big one in that [Paddy](https://www.localauthority.news/we-were-very-keen-not-to-just-replicate/), my husband, is the owner of this space. This is also where we run all of our workshops and it's been our hub for PlayLab ever since we started. What we do in this project is we research the history of Leonards department store. This shop *\[Store 104\]* itself was actually the first ever building that was part of that huge set of buildings that made up the department store. We research the history of this place, we collect artefacts, we collect people's personal memories of this shop that was a huge part of Rochester High Street. We take all of that information, and what we're going to do is create a site-specific performance, which will be taking place in April. We've got some other products of this project. We have a website we are building where we can collate everything, and we're also going to have an exhibition at the Medway Archives as well. **Kate:** Specifically, we're thinking about the Easter weekend for the performance. Across the Easter weekend, specific dates to be confirmed. > The High Street is changing radically all the time **Why is it important to remember Leonards?** **Kate:** The Heritage Lottery Fund, who are funding this project, are concerned with all aspects of heritage, and what is heritage? It's disappearing in front of our eyes all the time. The High Street is changing radically all the time. Many shops are going under, pubs are disappearing. This shop is still thriving thanks to Paddy and the good work he's done with changing the way that the configuration is and expanding the cafe and the products that he's having. It's a unique, independent shop. The idea that it happens to be in this building that has been a shop for a long time, I think is worth preserving. We know that people do have memories of coming here over many years to buy things. Maybe not when it was the cafe or the book shop and gift shop as it is now. Maybe when it was Leonards department store. Once you start thinking about what these buildings actually were used for over time, Leonards stretched right the way down to the Eagle Tavern. All the buildings between here and there, some of which are no longer there, were all part of Leonards department store and some you could go from one to the other. I just think that's fascinating. In the research we've been doing and speaking to the people who have memories, that's been the delight in their eyes when they remember. When you look at the building itself, it's got a beautiful staircase that's been there for some time. It's got some of the original cabinets. I think they call it in philosophy terms, 'the dawning of a new aspect.' When you look at something that you've seen a lot, but you suddenly are looking at it in different eyes, and that's what heritage is doing and that's what we're doing with this building. We had both thought independently, this is a beautiful building, we're really fascinated by it, but we don't really know a lot about it, and we love performing in it as well. We discovered that the upstairs room in this building in 1889, very early on in its life span, was where the family lived. They used to call the staff, because they had more than just themselves, up every morning for breakfast, and they'd sit around a big table in that room upstairs and eat breakfast. Mr Charles Leonard Senior presiding over it all, and then they start the day after they've had breakfast with a staff meeting at the top. The idea of the way that these spaces were used is something we mustn't lose and forget. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/Nic-and-Kate-3-1.jpg) Kate Mechedou and Nic Lamont. **Unusually for an interview, you have brought props.** **Nic:** We have an original paper bag from Leonards. As Kate said, this building was bought by the original Mr Leonard in the 1880s, then become a department store right up until the late 60s. Somebody has included the dress pattern and some fabric that they bought in 1965\. We also have a lovely picture of Leonards. You can see how huge it was on the high street, and then it had all of these different departments. **And The Buttery?** **Nic:** The Buttery was the name of the restaurant that was here. **Kate:** It had a drinks license at one point. **Nic:** We went to the Medway Archives and had an amazing day there, and also some ladies who had come to our Leonards tea parties to give us her memories of Leonards, also accompanied us to the Medway Archives, which was lovely. **Kate:** We've now got a little team that's working on research, and we may well use them in other projects as well. **Nic:** We found so many wonderful things. We found photo albums, found flyers from the fashion shows that they had here, we found adverts, we found the menus from the restaurant, we've got a rich source material for the performance we're going to represent what Leonards was. **Kate:** Certainly through the 40s, 50s and 60s. **Nic:** This prop here *\[an old-style dial telephone\]* is our Record Your Memories Here phone. **Kate:** Credit for which must go to [Oral History Medway](https://oralhistorymedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) because they also use this. We can charge it up, plug it in, and people pick it up, and it says, 'Hello, do you have any memories about...' probably in my voice, and then people can record their memories. **Nic:** We've been holding tea parties here, where we put out a lot of the artefacts we've found people can come and literally give us their memories. Even last time we had a lot of people come specifically for that, but there was also a lady passing who said, oh, I remember, which is a lovely thing. Obviously these are people that are a little bit older that have these memories, or they might remember when they were little, walking past the window and what they saw there, or a lady was saying she had a very affluent aunt who always shopped at Leonards. **Kate:** It definitely had snob value, it's worth saying. **Why did Leonards end?** **Kate:** That is a mystery inside an enigma wrapped up with a bow. The papers in the archives are mostly those of John Leonard, who was the last member of the Leonard family to run and manage the store. It happened very quickly. In the late 1950s, certainly from the coronation period onwards, it was thriving. Was it the modern liberation of the 1960s when society changed completely? Because it seemed to almost be overnight. There may well be members of the Leonards family reading, because he only moved to Tenterden, to run Mr Leonard's Linens as an offshoot once he'd given up the shop. There was a moment of bad management. He effectively passed it over to a gentleman that I believe we would commonly refer to today as a con man. He definitely had a background in retail. He took over the shop management, while Mr Leonard went into the background. Why did he choose to disappear? I don't know. Admittedly, the business was changing. This bloke took it over, he sold it, he sold other parts of it, because it was not just this building, it was all these buildings and made a complete pig's ear of it. And within a very short time, it had to be sold again to Chiesmans. If you've been to Lewisham, they've got a department store there. They took it over, they ran it until 1979\. They were old-fashioned by then. **Nic:** What we're doing now in improv workshops, is we're taking stories we've picked up from our research with Leonards and using that as stimulus for scenes that they might create or play games in different areas or maybe playing exercises that are shopkeeper and customer based but maybe that's taking place in the 1900s, so that we can start creating little scenes for the performance in April. We are going to be using our community performers as well. > All of a sudden, I was going for a costume fitting at Pinewood Studios. **Nic, how did you come to have a pivotal role in** [**The Thursday Murder Club**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FThursday%5FMurder%5FClub%5F%28film%29?ref=localauthority.news)**?** ****You're only part way through this conversation.** Register for free to continue reading, and receive our interviews, investigations and local reporting straight to your inbox. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The 'emergency' cycle URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-emergency-cycle/ Last updated: 2026-02-13T21:00:45.000Z **Station Road in Strood is closed again for emergency gas works, with the end date extended and no clear explanation of why the same stretch keeps failing. We examine what this recurring disruption says about infrastructure and accountability, and how it is impacting public transport and daily life in Medway, alongside the week’s planning, licensing, events, and sport...* ### Station Road is closed again, and there is no clear timeline for when this cycle will end You don't need to check a map to know when Station Road in Strood is shut. You can feel it in the town centre. Traffic backs up, often extending across the bridge into Rochester, and a straightforward trip becomes a journey that requires planning and patience. Station Road, one of the main routes through Strood, has been closed since Sunday for emergency gas leak repairs by Scotia Gas Networks (SGN). The original closure was expected to end in mid-February, but it has now been extended to 23 February. If you have been here before, that detail will sound familiar because this is not new. Station Road has been repeatedly shut for 'emergency' works over the past few years. Sometimes it is days, sometimes it is weeks. The common thread is that it arrives as an urgent disruption, drags on longer than initially promised, and leaves locals trying to piece together what is actually happening from scraps of public information. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/AdobeStock_1739815168-1.jpeg) **A pattern of inconvenience** There is a version of this story that is simply 'traffic in Strood is bad this week.' That is true, but it misses the point. The point is that when a major route keeps closing for emergency repairs, it stops feeling like a run of bad luck and starts looking like a predictable feature of local life. Repeated emergencies suggest either a network under strain, a location that keeps failing in different ways, or a system that is stuck reacting rather than fixing. Whatever the explanation, it is not a one-off. It is a pattern, and when something becomes a pattern, it becomes an accountability issue. **The missing part is the explanation** No one sensible argues that gas leaks should be ignored. Emergency repairs are obviously necessary, and safety comes first. But if you keep returning to the same stretch of road, 'it’s an emergency' stops being a complete answer. People do not need a technical lecture. They need the basics. What keeps going wrong here? Is it the same problem recurring, or a series of different faults? What is being done to stop it from repeating? And if the long-term solution is replacement rather than repair, when does that happen? Last time this happened, SGN told us that Station Road is in an area with a high concentration of gas infrastructure, and that while there had been several repairs in recent years, they were on different parts of the network rather than on the same fault recurring. They also pointed to practical complications like lots of other utility services in the same corridor, the road’s proximity to the railway line, and heavy traffic, all of which they said increase pressure on the network. We reached out to SGN for comment this time but received no response ahead of publication. **When roads close, buses break** It is tempting to treat this as a driver story because that is where the disruption is most visible. But the worst effects fall on people who cannot simply reroute by car. The closure has severely impacted the 191 bus service, with cancellations and extensive delays. That matters because the Hoo Peninsula lacks public transport options. When a service like the 191 becomes unreliable, it does not just add a bit of uncertainty to people’s days. It reduces access to work, appointments, education, and the basic ability to move around Medway without paying for a lift or taxi, echoing what [we wrote earlier this week](https://www.localauthority.news/lets-talk-about-the-bus-again/) about the state of Medway's bus network. [Let’s talk about the bus againWhy Medway’s bus network still feels fragile, plus hospital merger wobbles, and pothole politics![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--5.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2026-02-10-at-13.49.02-1.png)](https://www.localauthority.news/lets-talk-about-the-bus-again/) This is what it looks like when fragile public transport meets predictable disruption. **What should happen now?** The immediate question is whether Station Road reopens by 23 February or the closure is extended again. The bigger question is what it takes for repeated emergency closures to trigger something more than repeated emergency repairs. If SGN repeatedly digs up the same area, residents deserve a clear public explanation of why and of the long-term plan to prevent this from becoming a seasonal event. If the answer is that this stretch of infrastructure is inherently difficult, then that is precisely why the plan needs to be stated openly, with a timeline, rather than left to leak out through permit extensions and traffic. For now, Strood is gridlocked, and a familiar problem has returned with the same familiar lack of clarity. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - There aren't really any, as three have been cancelled and the remaining two have little public interest. **New planning applications:** - It's all HMOs this week, with new applications in [Copenhagen Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TAAAWTKNFMF00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Imperial Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TA4QWPKNJWL00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Priestfield Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TA1ACEKNHSH00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Rainham Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TA2W8SKNISF00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), and [York Avenue](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TA4QX6KNJWO00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. **Licensing:** - The [Tap N Tin in Chatham](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) has asked for the removal of a condition relating to no one under 18 being allowed in the venue. **If Local Authority is useful to you,* ***please consider backing it** *. We’re reader-funded, which means we can focus on what matters in Medway without chasing attention. An annual subscription costs £1.15 a week and helps keep this work sustainable.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ## Get our free newsletter Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories straight to your inbox. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### In brief 🧑‍⚖️ A man who stabbed a soldier near Brompton Barracks in 2024 has been [sentenced](https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/policing-news/life-imprisonment-for-man-behind-gillingham-attack/?ref=localauthority.news) to life in prison. 🏡 28 new houses will be [built](https://futuremedway.co.uk/plans-to-redevelop-site-in-rochester-high-street-for-28-homes-approved/?ref=localauthority.news) in the Rochester High Street end of Intra, replacing a largely abandoned site around Pizza Hut. 🏗️ Medway Council has [ringfenced £2.4m](https://futuremedway.co.uk/leaky-roof-and-neglected-shop-at-chathams-pentagon-centre-to-be-repaired-in-2-4m-project/?ref=localauthority.news) of funding to fix the leaky roof of the Pentagon and bring the former Poundworld shop in Chatham back into use. 🚧 Grain will be cut off from civilisation this weekend, as [we covered here](https://www.localauthority.news/when-the-only-road-closes/). 🛒 Dobbies in Gillingham has a [new food hall](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/much-loved-garden-centres-unveil-new-foodhalls-336014/?ref=localauthority.news), and seems to no longer stock Waitrose items, so we're back to Medway being Waitrose-free once again. 🛍️ Hobbycraft in Strood closes for good tomorrow, with all remaining stock now 90% off. 🗣️ **A lot of you got in touch to tell us about the* [**state of bus services in your part of Medway*](https://www.localauthority.news/lets-talk-about-the-bus-again/)**, which has convinced us to dig more into how the network functions (or doesn't) in towns. We'd love to hear your stories of using buses in Medway, good or bad, so please hit reply and tell us about your experiences.* ### Property of the week This two-bedroom terraced house on Upnor’s High Street is on the market for offers over £350,000 and comes with the sort of setting estate agents dream about. The house itself is modest at just under 900 sq ft, with two double bedrooms, a ground-floor bathroom, a fitted kitchen and a basement that offers useful extra space rather than luxury living. But Upnor does a lot of the heavy lifting. Step outside, and you are a short walk from the river, Upnor Castle and a line of pubs that have been doing steady business forever. It is not a big house, and it is not trying to be. It sells village charm, water views, and the feeling of being somewhere that still looks like itself. In Upnor, that tends to be enough. [Check out this 2 bedroom terraced house for sale on Rightmove2 bedroom terraced house for sale in High Street, Upnor, ME2 for £350,000\. Marketed by Freeman and Gray, Covering Medway![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-6.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/68b1ba88177a198b8eec5bf1f4bf8f6f.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172138379?ref=localauthority.news) ### Events this week 🥕 Sun 15 Feb - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🚝 Wed 18 Feb - [**The Wigmore Lectures: Louis Brennan**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/Wigmore-Lectures-Louis-Brennan?ref=localauthority.news) // Talk on Gillingham inventor who created guided missiles, monorails, and starlifts. Wigmore Library, Rainham. Tickets £5. 🎨 18 - 24 Feb - [**I Woke Up in the Woods Again**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-pop?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition by Thanet artist David Nettleingham of paintings examining social and cultural isolation. Halpern Pop, Rochester. Free. 🏳️‍🌈 20 - 25 Feb - [**Medway Pride LGBTQIA+ History Month Exhibition**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/medway-pride-lgbtqia-history-month-2026/?ref=localauthority.news) // Marks the history of pride as a celebration and a protest. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. ### Sport this weekend 🏒 [**Invicta Dynamos vs Chelmsford Chieftains**](https://invictadynamos.co.uk/event/invicta-dynamos-vs-chelmsford-chieftains-25/?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 14 Feb, NIHL South Division 1, Planet Ice*. Dynamos host one of the division’s top sides, which is a polite way of saying they’ll need to be on it. **Playing away:* Gillingham FC visit Crewe Alexandra, Chatham Town visit Cray Wanderers, Chatham Town Women visit Bromley, Medway RFC visit Letchworth Garden City.* ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Catching up with Gillingham FC URL: https://www.localauthority.news/catching-up-with-gillingham-fc/ Last updated: 2026-02-12T19:00:51.000Z *Last month’s Gillingham column was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, so there’s a lot to catch up on with fan, writer, and professional miserablist *Ben Hopkins*...* **A holiday horrorshow** At the start of December, all I wanted was for Gills to improve on a mediocre November. What happened next? Four draws, two defeats, and a snakey slide down the table to 16th is what happened next. The performances within those games weren’t necessarily terrible, but you’d struggle to make a convincing claim that Gills deserved much more than a measly four points from a possible eighteen. As an isolated blip, this wouldn’t be too discouraging. Yet the longer term trend going into January looked much worse: no wins since beating Bristol Rovers in November, and no home wins since Notts County all the way back in mid-September. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/image-3-1.png) Gillingham at home to Barrow. Photo: Ben Hopkins. **Battling the January blues** After defeat away to the Swine (sometimes referred to as Swindon), match postponements forced an extended break. A late late show at home to Newport and 17 minutes of added time saw Gills make a spirited comeback from 1-2 down to triumph 3-2\. And the following week, Gills eventually came good to head home from Harrogate with a 3-0 victory secured. Two consecutive wins, albeit versus two of the division’s weakest teams, generated some positivity. But the potential black cloud on the horizon was Bromley. Sure enough, hope was extinguished when Gills were 3-0 down within 27 minutes, eventually losing 4-1\. A battling defeat you could perhaps credit. But instead it confirmed that a team who were recently three divisions below Gillingham are now an example of getting everything right that we’re getting so wrong. The subsequent midweek defeat at Notts County was adequate, if you disregard the brainfart marking that resulted in the only goal of the game. But at least a 2-1 at home to Tranmere lifted the gloom a little. It feels like a microcosm of much of the season. Face a weak opposition (Harrogate and Newport currently holding the two relegation positions while Tranmere are at the foot of the form table), and Gills have enough inspiration and battle to get over the line. Anyone with a bit of substance to them, and it’s game over, man, game over. ## Get our free newsletter Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories straight to your inbox Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/image-2-1.png) Gillingham at home to Tranmere. Photo: Ben Hopkins. **The transfer window** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Let’s talk about the bus again URL: https://www.localauthority.news/lets-talk-about-the-bus-again/ Last updated: 2026-02-10T20:33:24.000Z **Today's Local Authority looks at why buses remain such a fragile part of Medway’s transport system despite millions of journeys each year, and why large parts of the area still feel poorly served by a network that many residents rely on daily. We also report on a change of pace in plans to create a hospital group linking Medway and Dartford, and on Reform’s entry into a long tradition of local pothole politics...* ### Buses are vital in Medway, so why do they so often feel like an afterthought? Buses are not glamorous. They are not sleek. They do not arrive with the faint sense that your life is about to improve, in the way a train sometimes does. They are a public service in the most literal sense. Functional, slightly grubby, and disproportionately important to the people who have the fewest alternatives. Which is why it remains faintly absurd that in Medway, buses can still feel like an optional extra bolted on to a place that mostly assumes you’ll sort yourself out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/AdobeStock_803146209_Preview_Editorial_Use_Only-1-1.jpeg) Medway’s own [Bus Service Improvement Plan](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/6899/medways%5Fbus%5Fservice%5Fimprovement%5Fplan%5Fbsip%5F-%5Fupdated%5Fjune%5F2024?ref=localauthority.news) (BSIP) puts annual bus passenger journeys at 7.7 million in 2023/24\. That’s a decent recovery from the pandemic slump, but it’s still below the pre-covid world the council describes as roughly 8m, and well below the 9.5m peak in 2011/12\. The target is to get back to 9m journeys within a few years. If you’re not a bus person, those numbers probably feel like the sort of thing transport officers say to each other at conferences. But they matter because they tell you buses aren’t a niche hobby. Millions of trips a year is what you get when a large chunk of Medway is quietly relying on a network the rest of us only notice when a bus cuts in front of us. It’s also worth saying, before anyone files this under 'transport nerd stuff,' that buses have a habit of paying you back even if you never get on one. London’s own [evidence summary](https://content.tfl.gov.uk/the-economic-and-social-benefits-of-buses.pdf?ref=localauthority.news) makes the basic point brutally well. The bus is the workhorse of its public transport system, carrying more than 5m journeys on a typical day, and the average bus trip bakes in around seven minutes of walking. In other words, even if you don’t care about buses, you probably care about the things they affect like congestion, air quality, health, and whether people can get around without every journey requiring a car-shaped amount of road space. One reason 'the bus network' can feel slightly abstract here is that it’s effectively one company’s empire with a few satellite states. The council says Arriva accounted for 91.7% of passenger journeys in 2023/24, with 7m million trips compared to 0.6m across everyone else combined. So when we talk about reliability, integration, ticketing, and all the other worthy things councils like to say, we are mostly talking about what happens when Medway Council and Arriva try to build something that resembles a system rather than a collection of routes. None of this is abstract if you actually rely on it. A [thread from last week](https://www.reddit.com/r/Medway/comments/1qr68ky/the%5Farriva%5Fbuses%5Fare%5Fterrible/?ref=localauthority.news) on the Medway subreddit is essentially a communal sigh about services not turning up when they should, particular routes being singled out as especially grim, and the knock-on costs when the day falls apart. One commenter said, “The timetables are absolutely pointless,” and others describe being left waiting far longer than they should be, or having to shell out for taxis because the bus simply didn’t appear. To Medway’s credit, it has at least made it easier to see what that system is supposed to look like. The council now publishes an all-operators [bus map](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/4094/medway%5Fmap%5Fside%5Fweb?ref=localauthority.news) and a [bus and rail guide](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/4094/medway%5Fmap%5Fside%5Fweb?ref=localauthority.news) that sets out frequencies. This is progress. It is also a little like putting a 'you are here' sign in the middle of a maze. Useful, yes, but still a reminder that you’re in a maze. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/Screenshot-2026-02-10-at-13.49.02.png) Part of the Medway bus map. The all-operator map, amusingly, doesn’t really include the Hoo Peninsula in the main view. Medway does publish a [separate Peninsula map](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/4093/isle%5Fof%5Fgrain%5Fnetwork%5Fmap%5Fweb?ref=localauthority.news), which is nice, in the same way it is nice when someone acknowledges you exist. It also makes the reality of rural services even more stark. There isn’t much network out there. It’s not a web. It’s a handful of lines doing the work of an entire transport system. The council’s own documents clearly draw the dividing line. The bus and rail guide summarises route 191 as reasonably frequent to Hoo, and then hourly onward to the villages further out. This is not public transport as most people imagine it. It’s more like a recurring appointment you have to keep. Miss it, and you haven’t missed a bus. You’ve missed your hour, and you will now have time to reflect on your life choices while standing in the wind. This is where the 'it only matters to people who use it' assumption really falls apart. A report on the [economic impact of local bus services](https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/the-economic-impact-of-local-bus-services-a-significant-boost-for-rural-communities?ref=localauthority.news) makes a simple argument in a slightly more formal tone. Supported services generate real economic and social value, not because they’re charming, but because they connect people to work, education, shops and services. It estimates that more than 680 million bus journeys a year start in rural areas nationally, and links rural-origin bus travel to £7.1bn of spending in local economies. The Hoo Peninsula is not a remote Highland community, but the logic still applies. If your public transport offer is hourly and fragile, you don’t just limit personal freedom. You shrink the catchment area of everything else, then act surprised when the Peninsula feels like it’s living slightly apart from the rest of Medway. Away from the Peninsula, Medway does have a few corridors where the bus behaves more like an actual service. The 101 between Gillingham and Maidstone runs every 12 minutes in the daytime on weekdays, dropping to every 30 minutes in the evening. Other routes between Chatham and Twydall, Warren Wood, and Lords Wood also get the 12 minute treatment. That’s not exactly Berlin, but it does mean the bus can be something you fit around your life rather than the other way round. On those routes, the bus can feel like a plausible option rather than an act of faith. Step off the stronger spines, and the familiar Medway rhythm kicks in. Half-hourly if you’re lucky, hourly if you’re not, and services that start thinning out in the evening like they have somewhere better to be. This is the bit that turns buses into an afterthought for anyone who owns a car, and into a daily logistics puzzle for anyone who doesn’t. It’s also what keeps Medway in the loop of declining use. If the bus is slow and infrequent, people avoid it. If people avoid it, it becomes harder to justify improving it. Eventually, the only people left are those who don’t have a choice, which isn't a great foundation for a thriving transport system. There have been some attempts to do the kind of improvements Medway actually needs, and it’s worth giving credit where it’s due. Nu-Venture’s [3A](https://bustimes.org/services/3a-chatham-twydall-otterham-park?ref=localauthority.news)/[3C](https://bustimes.org/services/3c-chatham-lower-rainham-otterham-park?ref=localauthority.news) is exactly that kind of route. It links Chatham to parts of Rainham and Lower Rainham Road and loops through places that no other operator covers. It is not presented as a high-frequency trunk route, but it is a sensible intervention that acknowledges that Medway contains actual places people live and actual places people need to get to, which are not necessarily served by a single straight line into Chatham. On paper, Medway’s longer-term pitch [runs to 2035](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200161/travel/565/bus%5Foperators/3?ref=localauthority.news), and it says all the right things. Reduce congestion-related delays, decarbonise the network, build a fully integrated public transport system, improve fares and ticketing, improve stops, information, accessibility and safety. It’s hard to argue with any of that. It’s also hard to read it without thinking, yes, fine, but what does that mean for someone trying to get from Grain to Chatham on a Tuesday afternoon? Perhaps some answers come from the improvement plan [2025/26 measures](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/9196/medways%5Fbus%5Fservice%5Fimprovement%5Fplan%5Fbsip%5Fmeasures%5F2025%5Fto%5F2026?ref=localauthority.news) document, which turns the BSIP into a shopping list. The biggest number is £1.6m to support 31 socially necessary routes covering evenings, weekends, rural services and Mobility. In other words, a big chunk of Medway’s bus offer exists because the council is paying for it to exist. Without that money, it goes away. That's the truth of how bus networks work in places where routes aren’t always commercially viable. It does, however, limit the fantasy that 'the market' will solve this sort of thing. Beyond that, the spending tells you what Medway thinks the immediate problem is. There is money to patch up evenings and Sundays on key corridors, nudging services toward something closer to usable outside peak times. There is support for smaller additions like the 3A and 3C. There are demand nudges, like free travel weekends and kids going free in school holidays with a fare-paying adult. There is also a lot of capital spending on the unglamorous things like Chatham Waterfront capacity and upgrades, real-time information, stop and shelter improvements, and a series of junction and signal changes intended to stop buses from being trapped in traffic, particularly on the A2 corridor. None of this is silly. In fact, it’s mostly the kind of competent, boring work you want councils to do. The issue is what it doesn’t yet change. A green shelter does not provide an hourly service. A new real-time screen does not create a network where there isn’t one. A smoother junction does not magically make the Peninsula feel like part of Medway rather than a place you have to plan an expedition to reach. Medway’s bus system isn’t collapsing. Passenger numbers have recovered a long way since the pandemic, and some of the right infrastructure work is finally happening. But the documents also confirm what residents already know. The network is still shaped around a few corridors, still dominated by one operator, and still too thin in the places where buses are most essential. If Medway wants buses to be taken seriously, it has to do the one thing we keep tiptoeing around. Make them a default option, not a contingency plan. That means a network you can use without studying it, frequencies that don’t punish you for living off the main corridors, and evenings and Sundays that don’t feel like a special request. Until then, we’ll carry on with the same arrangement, where the people with cars will barely notice the buses at all, the people without them will keep building their lives around an hourly gamble, and the council will keep publishing new plans explaining why this time it’s all about to change. ***Help us keep going.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. An annual subscription costs just £1.15 per week and helps us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ## Get Medway's biggest stories in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on the things that matter to our towns. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe for free Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### From 'imminent' to 'for the time being' Medway and Dartford’s two main hospital trusts have been working on a plan to join up under a new 'hospital group.' The idea is not a full merger into one new organisation, but something closer than ordinary partnership working, with shared leadership at the top, shared priorities, and a push to standardise and improve services across both sites while the trusts remain legally separate. That plan was set out publicly in November, when Medway NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust announced they would create the county’s first hospital group. The starting point, they said, would be the appointment of a Group Chair and a Group Chief Executive, who would then work up the detailed structure and priorities. Later that month, the proposal went to Medway Council’s health scrutiny committee, where councillors asked the obvious question. If you have one chief executive across two hospitals, do you end up with leadership stretched too thin to manage either properly? They were told the Group Chief Executive appointment was imminent, with the Group Chair due in the new year. They were also told that there would still be strong leadership at each hospital site, including managing directors, and that the new Group Chief Executive would be expected to return with a fuller case for change, with March 2026 mentioned as a likely point for an update. Which brings us to today’s update, which is where things get messy. The two trusts say they are still developing the hospital group, but have decided not to move to a single Chief Executive arrangement for the time being. Instead, they will keep two Chief Executives, citing the scale of operational and financial pressures facing both organisations and the need for sufficient leadership capacity to address immediate priorities. In practice, that means Jonathan Wade will continue to lead both trusts until 31 March, after which he will return to focusing solely on Dartford and Gravesham. Medway will begin recruiting a substantive Chief Executive, with Siobhan Callanan continuing as Interim Deputy Chief Executive. To manage the wider project, the boards will set up a joint committee to decide the most appropriate approach, pace and structure for the group, supported by an experienced programme director. If you think this sounds like a step back, it is. The trusts have not just tweaked a detail. They have walked back the first step they previously described as imminent. What they have not done is explain, in plain terms, why the original timetable has changed or what that means for the rest of the plan. Was there a recruitment problem? Did NHS England or the integrated care system tell them to slow down? Has the group model been redesigned so it no longer starts with a single chief executive and chair? Or is this simply a pause while Medway stabilises and Dartford deals with its own pressures? Medway’s Conservative group have seized on the change as evidence of a wider leadership problem. In a statement this afternoon, Cllr David Wildey said his group had “serious concerns regarding the consistency of strategy and leadership” at Medway NHS Foundation Trust. He added, “We are now unclear of the Trust’s direction,” and warned that “stumbling from failed strategy to failed strategy is not good enough for our community.” He called on DHSC, NHS England and the trust board to set out “a clear strategy for the future of the Trust,” and, of particular relevance, one that delivers “consistency of leadership”. The trusts, meanwhile, insist that everything is going fine. The group remains the direction of travel, they say, but the pace has to match reality, and for now, reality is waiting lists, finances, and two organisations that need dedicated leadership attention. In November, this was a plan with job titles and a timetable. In February, it is a plan with committees, programme directors, and a lot of carefully chosen wording. If the trusts want people to trust the project, they need to do the one thing they have not done in today’s statement. They need to clearly say what has changed and what happens next. ### Reform discovers the classic Lib Dem crouch Nobody needs persuading that a lot of Medway’s roads are in a grim state. Reform has now waded into that particular crater with a press release quoting residents of Abbey Road in Strood who say they are “utterly furious” and calling on Labour-run Medway Council to fully resurface the road. Reform also add a bit of politics about priorities, including a claim that money has gone on taking down flags rather than fixing roads, and some headline pothole-repair numbers that Labour says look worse precisely because more of the budget is going into full resurfacing. All of which is fair enough. The thing that lingers, though, is the photo. Councillors John Vye and David Finch crouched at the kerb with a tape measure, faces set to 'serious detective drama,' carefully documenting a puddle-filled pothole like they’re about to file it as evidence. It has strong remake of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) energy, except the guest star is a length of yellow tape. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/image002-1.jpg) Cllr Vye and Cllr Finch. Photo: Robbie Lammas. There is also something oddly comforting about it. This is, after all, classic local politics content. For years, the Lib Dems practically owned this genre of a councillor, a crater, a concerned expression, a promise to chase it up. Reform, it turns out, is learning the form. New party, same crouch. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “I think the time is right for Medway to elect its first Green councillor” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-think-the-time-is-right-for-medway-to-elect-its-first-green-councillor/ Last updated: 2026-02-08T15:32:22.000Z *Following* [*issues*](https://www.localauthority.news/infighting-resignations-and-a-coup/) *at the Medway Greens Annual General Meeting last year, conflicts arose over the election of a new Chair, and the local party was directed to try again. Grace Duffy was elected as a unity candidate, and Steven met her and her dog Brook in The Granville pub, where they talked about whether Medway could have a Green councillor, travelling to China and working for Liz Truss...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/20250824_130547-1.jpg) Grace Duffy **What is your official occupation?** I am Director of Policy, Influencing and Engagement at [Bridges Outcomes Partnerships](https://bridgesoutcomespartnerships.org/?ref=localauthority.news). It's quite a mouthful, but BOP, as they're known, is a social and not-for-profit social enterprise that creates place-based partnerships to support people that have got multiple and complex challenges. We work with people with long-term physical and mental health conditions. We work with people who've been out of the job market for a long time, children on the edge of care, homelessness, refugee integration, domestic abuse, any of those aspects of wicked social challenges, which are not effectively dealt with through public service silos. For a really long time, so much money and time and effort have been thrown at these challenges, and they're just getting worse. That approach doesn't work. For where you have really entrenched, complex, multifaceted problems and multiple deprivation, you need to take quite a different approach to supporting these people to make real changes in their own lives, to do things with people, not to people, and to see a whole person, not just a public service silo. That's what we do. I'm the first one to do my job. The policy and influencing stuff, because I worked in the civil service for years, I have a good understanding of how government works, but also the flaws of it. A big part of my job is speaking to government and trying to make the case for actually quite fundamental reforms to public services. **You're part of what Liz Truss would refer to as the group trying to ruin the West?** Liz Truss was my minister briefly when I was at DEFRA. She has said a great many silly things. **What additional roles, paid or unpaid, do you currently have?** Well, I'm very much unpaid, but I'm also the chair of the Medway Green Party. **What political parties have you been a member of?** Just the Greens. **When did you join the Green Party?** I realised that I should have checked this before coming to have this conversation, because I actually can't quite remember. I feel like it was maybe ten years ago. I joined whilst I was a civil servant, which is completely allowed, because I was, at the time, in a junior role. You're allowed to be a member of a political party, but obviously not to have that influence throughout your day. I would say I just couldn't be active in the way that I am now. It wasn't until I left that I became more active in the local party. *Brook disappears under a chair.* What's he got under there? Must have seen something. He's found a bit of crisp or something. Is that what you've done? > Labour have never taken the environment seriously, including now. **Was there a particular reason you joined the Green Party?** It's the only one that made sense for me to join. I'm someone who cares about the environment, cares about animal rights, and cares about climate issues. I became a vegetarian when I was a child. I got into animal rights when I was young and really had what I think a lot of children do, that instinctive understanding about nature and the beauty of it. I was already predisposed on the environmental side. As I grew more politically interested, more politically aware, it wasn't until I was maybe 30 before I joined the Greens. But I'd voted for the Greens for a long time. I think it's because it's not just the green bit of the Green. It's everything else. It's the only party that's actually talking about structural problems in our economy and in our society and has a decent idea of how to change them. It always made sense for me. Labour have never taken the environment seriously, including now. **In the ten years you've been a member, who has been the best leader of the Green Party?** Caroline *\[Lucas\]*. I shouldn’t have said that so quickly. Zack's doing amazing. But I think that over that time, Caroline was the leader. I said that so quickly. Zack is wonderful. I think he's taking us to a whole new level. I think it was Caroline who was my entry into the Greens, and I think would always be my touchstone. I like her politics, and I like her way of doing things. She is someone who spoke well about collaboration and cooperating with people, and she got stuff done. She was by herself, and I just think that that is a leadership. I think she's quite inspirational. But don't get me wrong, I love Zack. I love what Zack's doing. I think Zack is on track to be at least as good, if not better, than Caroline. But he's very new, give him some time. But he's just taken us into a whole completely different place, and that's enormously welcome. I think it's important not just for us as a political party, it's important for our politics, and for our society at the moment, to have this voice, to have this voice countering what's going on elsewhere in the political spectrum, who is able to communicate in the way that he is. **The Greens run Maidstone Borough Council. We've got Greens as a group on Kent County Council. Why has there never been a Medway Green councillor?** Do you know what, I don't know. I only moved back to Medway a few years ago. I was born and raised here... I might let him wander a little bit. We'll see. *Brook wanders through a doorway.* Then I moved back here during the pandemic, just from London... *Brook wanders back.* Good boy. He's like, 'You're being boring.' Why have we never had a Green Medway councillor? I don't know what the politics was at this time, but I think that next year's the time. Because it's not like people don't feel this way. We have so much support, and I think that that's what I really want to try and focus on for the next year, to let people know. I'm very grateful to you to do an interview, but letting the people know that we're here, that we are here to work, I think that's the thing that we actually want to do. We actually want to do the work of helping to support our neighbours, of helping to make Medway a better place. I think that Medway's got so much potential. I've always thought this about Medway... *Brook begs for a snack to stay still.* This is just like blackmail, effectively, but this is why I bought so much. What was I saying? I think the time is right for Medway to elect its first Green councillor. **Elections next year could be for the new North Kent unitary authority. Does the Medway Greens have relationships with Dartford Greens and Gravesend Greens?** I'm sure that others have, who've been more active in the local party than I have. I haven't yet reached out and made those links. But I think that'll be really important. We certainly do have the members who are better connected across the regional and local Green parties than I am. I hope we can do that and begin working together. > The movement, the cause, is bigger than any of us, than any one individual **Why did you decide to stand as chair for the Medway Greens?** Well, it was a bit… *Grace feeds Brook a snack.* There we go. It was a bit of a surprise to myself, but [Cat Jamieson](https://www.localauthority.news/people-do-have-to-be-brave-and-bold/), who you will have met because she was our candidate, I blame her for this. She said for a while that she thought that I would be good at being chair and that I should consider myself in the role. Then at the AGM, there was obviously two last year. I missed one because I wasn't that active in the party. I just had a lot going on in my life, I just didn't really have a lot of time for meetings, et cetera. I wasn't really keeping up with things, but I did understand that like there had been, um, there had been some **Tension.** Tension. I find it's a good word. Because there had been tension, there had been conflict, there had been disagreement between people, and it had resulted in the party effectively becoming quite inactive. They weren't able to go and do things. We're having to repeat these processes. I was like, 'Bloody hell, what's going on?' I went to the AGM. It was a surprise. The vote was taken by the outgoing exec at the time to reopen nominations for chair. I thought that it felt like a good time to put my hat in the ring. I think something I have been able to do well in the past is to build teams, like professionally when I was in the civil service. I had quite a lot of experience of creating new teams and of leading teams through change, through organisational change, machinery of government changes, government, ministerial changes, all of that. I felt I had some professional skills that seemed to be needed to be able to take the party forward. I was one of four siblings. I was a barmaid for a long time. I don't know if these are appropriate things, but I just feel I can be quite good at conflict resolution. I felt this is something that I would be able to deal with and to help. I said in my speech at the AGM that it feels like we need healing, and that because I wasn't involved in any of the tension, and I wasn't there for it, I can be something to help those groups move on. I decided to go all in, and it's loads of work. It's loads of work. **I appreciate these are internal matters, but as a news website, we did** [**cover the fact that there was AGM tensions**](https://www.localauthority.news/infighting-resignations-and-a-coup/)**.** I read it, yes. [Infighting, resignations, and a ‘coup’ rock the Medway... Greens?Plus new proposals to restrict traffic in Rochester High Street, street ambassadors off to a strong start, news in brief, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2--4.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f327087c1-c4f0-44a6-8d72-96695a3e3cef_960x503.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/infighting-resignations-and-a-coup/) **What confidence can readers have that you are able to, as a group, move past those tensions? That you are able to work together to focus on the challenges that matter?** That's such an important question, but I would just say that everybody from the previous, say, two execs or however you're going to count them, has been very supportive, was gracious, have publicly and privately expressed their support to me and the vice chair. We have grown literally every week since. We just had our first branch meeting *\[since Grace became chair\]* last week. There were people there that had joined literally in December. It was amazing. We had more people at that branch meeting than had ever come before. The one thing that everybody can agree on, and everybody does agree on, because we've talked about this, is that we've got work to do. There's so much work to do. The movement, the cause, is bigger than any of us, than any one individual. The reasons that we're doing this are beyond any interpersonal conflict, and that is what people are focused on. That is what we are coming together to do. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Brook car park heads for demolition URL: https://www.localauthority.news/brook-car-park-heads-for-demolition/ Last updated: 2026-02-06T11:18:21.000Z **Medway Council is preparing to demolish the Brook multistorey car park in Chatham, a step that would remove nearly 500 town centre parking spaces, with no commitment to replace them elsewhere. We look at what cabinet is being asked to approve next week, why demolition might be unavoidable, and what the decision reveals about how parking is quietly being eroded in Chatham, alongside a roundup of council business, planning, events, and local sport...* ### The end of Brook car park, and the quiet erosion of parking in Chatham For years, the Brook multistorey car park has been one of Chatham town centre’s more stubborn problems. Big, central, and hard to miss, it has also been widely regarded as unpleasant to use, poorly maintained, and a magnet for antisocial behaviour. It is not widely used, and few would seriously argue that it is the sort of infrastructure a place that styles itself as the centre of Medway should rely on. Next week, Medway Council’s cabinet is expected to take another step towards bringing that era to a close. Councillors will be asked to approve decisions that would enable the council to move toward demolishing the Brook car park and redeveloping the site for housing. On paper, it looks like a neat regeneration story. In practice, it exposes some less comfortable questions about parking, priorities, and what keeps quietly disappearing from Chatham town centre. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffd073b28-ffdb-4ffc-bf86-4ae41f798946_800x419-1.jpg) The Brook car park in Chatham. **The site** The Brook car park contains 467 spaces, making it one of the larger remaining car parks close to Chatham’s core. Its reputation has been earned over time. The structure is run-down, often unhygienic, and frequently associated with drug use and antisocial behaviour. Many people avoid it unless they have no better option. That helps explain why there has been little visible nostalgia for the place. It is not loved, but size still matters. Losing nearly 500 spaces from a central location is not a minor tweak, even if those spaces come with the smell of neglect baked in. **The decision** What Cabinet is [being asked to approve](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=85806&ref=localauthority.news) next Tuesday is not a planning application for housing. Instead, it is the machinery that enables redevelopment. Councillors are being asked to commit £400,000 of council capital receipts to fund residential design work up to the planning application stage and to approve the direct appointment of Medway Development Company, the council-owned regeneration company, to manage the project. If a separate funding bid succeeds, that council contribution would unlock £1.5m from the government’s Brownfield Land Release Fund, which would pay for demolition and enabling works. This is a decision about momentum rather than detail. It does not decide what gets built. It decides that something will happen. **The background** The car park was formally declared surplus to requirements last year as part of a wider council property review, driven largely by financial pressure rather than a sudden burst of enthusiasm for Chatham town centre living. Officers concluded that the structure is ageing and that keeping it operational would likely mean significant maintenance spending within the next decade. More awkwardly, the review found that the cost of demolishing it exceeds its value, leaving the site with a negative balance sheet position. In plain terms, the car park is worth less than the cost of getting rid of it. That fact underpins almost everything that follows. Demolition is not a later phase or a nice-to-have. It is the price of admission. Until the structure is removed, redevelopment is effectively impossible. **The wider picture** On its own, the case for losing the Brook car park is easy to make. The problem is what it adds up to. The Brook is not the only town-centre car park under pressure. Other sites are facing redevelopment, while some areas, including parts of the waterfront, have already been built over in recent years. Taken together, that has steadily reduced central parking capacity in Chatham. There is no published commitment to replace Brook’s 467 spaces elsewhere. That sits uncomfortably with Chatham’s role as Medway’s primary centre, expected to absorb shopping, work, culture, and civic life. Policy increasingly leans on active travel and reduced car use, but the reality on the ground is that Chatham still serves a car-dependent catchment, particularly in the evenings and for people travelling in from elsewhere in Medway. Next week’s decision is framed as procedural, driven by funding deadlines and procurement rules. That is true, as far as it goes. But demolition is not a neutral act. Once The Brook is gone, those spaces are gone for good, whatever eventually rises in their place. The Brook may be an easy site to let go of. The harder question is whether parking in Chatham is being reshaped as part of an actual plan, or simply whittled away one awkward, unloved car park at a time. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [**Cabinet**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1&ref=localauthority.news) meets to approve the draft budget, a new River Medway strategy, a suicide and self-harm prevention strategy, and lots more. - **Wednesday:** [**Planning Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6351&ref=localauthority.news) will decide on 28 homes at the Rochester end of Intra. - **Thursday:** [**Health and Wellbeing Board**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=408&MId=6352&ref=localauthority.news) gathers to discuss the adult social care strategy, Medway's Marmot Place partnership, and more. **New planning applications:** - [100 homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9Z9VGKNGJ600&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) are proposed south of Higham Road and east of Buckland Road in Cliffe. - [19 homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T9TQ1QKNKUG00&ref=localauthority.news) are proposed off Lords Wood Lane on a patch of land next to North Dane Wood. - It's a HMO bonanza this week, with new applications for [Canterbury Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9O2VJKNHE800&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Copenhagen Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9OH2DKNHNC00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Featherby Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=TA11SPKNHMZ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Gads Hill](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9ZTKEKNGW500&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Kingswood Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9W47BKNMBM00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Stopford Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9N2S8KNGSM00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham, [Railway Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9ZIB0KNGOW00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham, [Maidstone Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9VHUPKNLXB00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester, and [Hone Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9O2VXKNHEB00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Strood. ## Get Local Authority in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### In brief 🏥 NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board are forecasting a [£200m deficit](https://healthcareleadernews.com/news/kent-and-medway-icb-almost-200m-in-deficit-board-papers-reveal/?ref=localauthority.news) for 2025/26\. Sounds bad. 💷 Medway Council [will use £1.5m of Pride in Place funding](https://www.insidermedia.com/news/south-east/three-schemes-in-medway-to-benefit-from-1.5m-government-funding?ref=localauthority.news) to offer small grants to improve shop fronts, improve the public realm in Chatham and Gillingham, and bring one empty property back into use. 📄 For fans of excessively long survey forms, the government's [formal consultation](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2034/have%5Fyour%5Fsay%5Fon%5Fthe%5Fway%5Fcouncils%5Fin%5Fkent%5Fand%5Fmedway%5Fare%5Forganised?ref=localauthority.news) for the shape of local government reorganisation in Kent and Medway is underway. 🏗️ Peel Waters has applied to [demolish](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/warehouses-at-docks-to-be-demolished-to-make-way-for-future-335972/?ref=localauthority.news) unused warehouses at Chatham Docks ahead of future redevelopment. 🏚️ Medway Council [raided an unlicensed HMO](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2032/action%5Ftaken%5Fagainst%5Funsafe%5Faccommodation?ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham last week, discovering 13 people living at the property, including 4 in sheds. 🧑‍⚖️ A man who tried to set fire to Get Ready Comics in Rochester has been [jailed](https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/policing-news/arsonist-jailed-after-targeting-rochester-shop/?ref=localauthority.news) for three years. ⛪ Holy Trinity Church in Twydall has sustained [damage](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/church-damaged-in-overnight-lead-theft-attempt-again-336055/?ref=localauthority.news) after thieves attempted to steal lead from the roof. ⚽ Bromley Football Club criticised a number of their own supporters for their behaviour at Priestfield Stadium last week, before quickly deleting the post. 🏪 Work has begun on a [new Lidl store](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/work-starts-on-new-multi-million-pound-lidl-store-336006/?ref=localauthority.news) near Medway Valley Park in Strood. ### Property of the week This three-bedroom semi on Symonds Road in Cliffe is on the market for offers in excess of £335,000 and currently boasts what the listing describes as panoramic orchard views, a phrase that carries a certain time sensitivity given the planning application above. The house itself is compact at around 80sqm, with two reception rooms, a ground floor bathroom, a separate kitchen, a private driveway and a west-facing rear garden. Upstairs, the third bedroom is accessed via the second, a layout that will suit some buyers rather better than others. It is a very Cliffe sort of listing: Village feel, countryside on the doorstep for now, and the familiar question of how long that outlook will last. [Check out this 3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale on Rightmove3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Symonds Road, Cliffe, ME3 for £335,000\. Marketed by Moxy Property Consultants, Rochester![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-5.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/b50e350ed428c23bdcaaf6ed3bdb0dac.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171740060?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎸 Sat 7 Feb - [**The 'I's Have It**](https://www.facebook.com/events/850329514498538/) // Themed open-mic of songs with titles in the first person singular. Rochester Social Club. Free. 🐋 10 Feb - 7 Mar - [**Whales**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/whales?ref=localauthority.news) // Three sperm whale sculptures suspended in the Nave. Rochester Cathedral. Free. 📷 12 Feb - 1 Mar - [**Happiness in Nature**](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/medway-young-photographer/?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition of photography work by young people in Medway. Chatham Historic Dockyard. Free. ### Sport this weekend ⚽ [**Gillingham FC vs Tranmere Rovers**](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/fixture/view/9874?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 7 Feb, League Two, Priestfield Stadium.* Gills return to home league action against struggling Tranmere Rovers, offering a chance to pick up points at Priestfield. ⚽ [**Chatham Town vs Chichester City**](https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2025-2026/isthmian-football-league-premier-division/chatham-town/chichester-city/542226?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sat 7 Feb, Isthmian League Premier Division, Bauvill Stadium.* Chatham host Chichester City, who sit 14th in the table. 🏒 [**Invicta Dynamos vs Streatham Redhawks**](https://invictadynamos.co.uk/event/invicta-dynamos-vs-streatham-redhawks-5/?ref=localauthority.news) // *Sun 8 Feb, NIHL South Division 1, Planet Ice.* The local ice hockey side are at home for a league fixture against Streatham Redhawks, who sit one place above them in the league. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Medway’s budget holds the line for another year URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-budget-holds-the-line-for-another-year/ Last updated: 2026-02-03T11:00:17.000Z **Medway Council will set a legally balanced budget for 2026/27, but achieving this will require tight constraints and continued reliance on government support. In this edition, we examine what the budget does and does not represent, how spending pressures in adult social care, children’s services and housing shape the choices available, why Exceptional Financial Support remains central to the numbers, and what the figures suggest about Medway’s financial resilience in the years ahead.*.. ### Medway balances the books again, with little room to spare Medway Council will set a balanced budget later this month. That fact will be emphasised repeatedly over the coming weeks, and in a narrow, legal sense, it is an achievement. Councils are required to balance their books, and many are struggling to do so. But it is worth being clear about what this budget actually represents, and what it does not. [This budget](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=85866&ref=localauthority.news) does not resolve Medway’s financial problems. It is a budget that stabilises them for one more year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/02/https_3a_2f_2fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f538f083f-9014-40bd-8c3e-4b60842e75fd_1920x1080-1.jpg) Medway Council's Gun Wharf headquarters. That distinction matters because this will be the third consecutive year in which Medway relies on Exceptional Financial Support from central government to make the numbers work. In 2026/27, that support totals £10.1m. It is lower than in previous years, and the council leadership is keen to stress that reliance on EFS was always anticipated as a three-year programme. Both of those things are true. Neither changes the underlying reality that, without that support, the budget would not balance. The most accurate way to describe this year’s budget is as a holding position. It buys time. It creates breathing space. It does not, by itself, put the council on a sustainable footing for the years that follow. To understand why, it helps to start with where the money goes before any political decisions are made. From the moment budget-setting begins, around £1.3m is already committed each day. That spending goes on adult social care, children’s services, housing and temporary accommodation. These are statutory services. They are not discretionary. They cannot be quietly reduced without serious legal consequences, and in many cases, serious human ones too. Adult social care alone accounts for £184m of spending in 2026/27\. Children’s services account for £221m. Housing, including the cost of temporary accommodation, adds around £90m more. By the time the council starts to debate parks, libraries, leisure centres, highways, culture or town centres, the vast majority of the budget has already been allocated. Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) does not shy away from that reality. “On day one of setting a budget, we know that £1.3 million every single day will go on to those statutory services,” he told *Local Authority*. “Of course, they’re not the only statutory services we deliver, and we know across the country there are lots of challenges for councils of all persuasions when it comes to adult social care, children’s social care, SEND, and also temporary accommodation.” That starting point explains much of what follows, including why so many arguments about council budgets can feel disconnected from residents’ day-to-day experience. There is comparatively little room for manoeuvre before the conversation even begins. Demand in adult social care continues to rise, driven by an ageing population, increasingly complex needs and sharp increases in mental health related costs. Around one in every 74 adults in Medway now receives some form of council support. Safeguarding concerns have risen dramatically since 2020\. Residential nursing costs have increased significantly. More residents who initially fund their own care are exhausting their savings and falling back on the council. Children’s services face similar pressures, particularly around special educational needs and disabilities, where demand has surged nationally. Housing services are dealing with rising homelessness, driven by Section 21 evictions, family breakdown and domestic abuse. None of this is unique to Medway, but Medway’s status as a unitary authority means it carries all of these responsibilities at once, without the ability to pass costs elsewhere. If there is one area where the strain is most visible, it is temporary accommodation. Around 600 households are currently placed in temporary accommodation on any given night, including close to 1,000 children. Roughly 500 of those households are in privately procured nightly accommodation, at an average cost of around £58 per night. Families are spending an average of 18 months in temporary accommodation before being settled, with waits for larger homes stretching even longer. That approach is expensive, inefficient and often deeply unsuitable for the people involved. It also exposes the council to a volatile market with limited supply and inconsistent quality. The council’s response has been to embark on a £42m capital programme to acquire its own temporary accommodation stock. By the end of this financial year, Medway expects to own over 180 units, which it estimates will save between £2m and £3m a year compared with continued reliance on the private market. Maple is explicit about why that matters. “People say what keeps me up at night. The fact that I’ve got a thousand children going to bed tonight in temporary accommodation isn’t acceptable. That’s why it’s been right to take some innovative approaches, buying close to 200 temporary accommodation homes and flats, because those are expensive properties that are currently being used and we’re not always clear on the quality we’re receiving for that money.” This is one of the clearest examples in the budget of an invest-to-save approach that withstands scrutiny. It is also an acknowledgement that the market, left to its own devices, is not delivering acceptable outcomes, either financially or socially. Against that backdrop, the council’s continued reliance on Exceptional Financial Support becomes easier to understand, even if it remains politically uncomfortable. Maple is clear that the use of EFS was planned as a three-year programme from the outset, and he argues that the council is now in a stronger position than in previous years. When asked whether he was confident this would be the final year Medway would need EFS, Maple was unequivocal. “I’m very confident,” he told us. “I was disappointed when it became clear that we weren’t going to be able to finish a year early.” There is substance behind that confidence. The council has delivered 81% of the savings targeted in its Financial Improvement and Transformation plan and generated £23.4m in additional income. Overspending has been reduced significantly compared with the previous year. The EFS figure itself is smaller than before. Internally, there is a strong emphasis on permanent recruitment rather than agency staff, closer working between directorates and earlier planning cycles. But confidence is not the same as certainty, and this is where the political arguments sharpen. ## Get Local Authority in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ***Help us keep this going.** **Local Authority only exists because some of our readers choose to pay for it. If you value what we do here, please consider joining them. An annual subscription costs £1.15 a week and helps us keep reporting on the things that shape life in our towns, without the noise or the nonsense.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) The opposition has been far more critical of the budget’s reliance on borrowing and government support. Conservative group leader [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) argues that the draft budget shows the council increasingly reliant on debt to operate day-to-day. “The draft budget for the next financial year show only two things: higher charges and more borrowing,” Perfect said. “In addition to the £18m already borrowed for this financial year, the council is now seeking to borrow another £10m on top just to pay day-to-day spending up until the end of March. Then the Council will borrow another £10m to fund next year’s budget. This is all unsustainable and will all have to be paid back by the residents of North Kent following local government reorganisation.” Perfect also places responsibility higher up the chain, blaming the outcome of the government’s fairer funding review and rising interest rates for Medway’s position, and arguing that the council received significantly less new funding than officers had expected when the draft budget was first prepared. It is a stark framing that will resonate with residents facing higher council tax and rising charges. It is also a simplified version of a more complex picture. Borrowing costs are rising sharply, and cash flow pressure is real. The council is now borrowing externally, not just for capital projects but to manage day-to-day liquidity, as internal cash reserves have been exhausted. That is an uncomfortable position and one that carries risk if interest rates rise further or financial conditions tighten. At the same time, the council is actively selling assets. More than £13m has already been raised from property disposals, with further receipts expected this year and next. Those capital receipts are being used to fund transformation programmes that government rules allow to be treated as capital expenditure, and to reduce longer-term borrowing requirements. Those mechanisms are finite, and they carry risks of their own, particularly in the context of local government reorganisation, where future authorities will inherit both assets and liabilities. That is where the opposition’s warning lands, even if the detail is less clear-cut than the rhetoric suggests. The Conservatives say they will present an alternative budget later this month. That will be the point at which questions about what would be cut, changed or funded differently can be tested against the same underlying pressures facing the administration. For residents, the budget's immediate effects are more tangible. Council tax will rise by just under 5%. Car parking charges will increase across most tariffs, with short stays becoming cheaper and longer stays more expensive. Country park parking will rise sharply, from £2.50 to £3.50 per day, with annual passes also increasing. Leisure fees edge up, particularly for casual users rather than those on monthly direct debits. At the same time, some things do not change. Weekly bin collections remain. Libraries receive additional staffing to maintain safe operation. Parks continue to open. These are not service expansions. They are defences against erosion. Maple is candid about that trade-off. “It’s about defending what we have,” he said. “There are councils across the country that have cut bin collections. That hasn’t happened here, and I’m proud of that.” Less visible but increasingly important is the role that prevention and technology play in holding the system together. Across adult social care and housing, there is a deliberate focus on intervening earlier, supporting people before they reach crisis, and managing demand rather than simply reacting to it. Preventing a fall, avoiding a hospital admission, or stopping a family from becoming homeless all save money later, but they require upfront investment and do not deliver instant results. Technology is being used in that context rather than as a replacement for services. Planning services have been digitised at scale. Adult social care teams are using AI tools to generate structured summaries and reduce administrative burden. SEND teams are using similar tools to assist with education, health and care plans. AI-enabled cameras are being deployed to monitor road conditions. A wellbeing AI assistant is in place for staff. The council is careful to stress that these tools are not replacing professional judgement. They are being used to free up staff time in services that are already under intense pressure. This is not technology as a silver bullet. It is technology as damage control. If there is one reason this budget should not be mistaken for a turning point, it lies in the [medium-term financial projections](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=85874&ref=localauthority.news). After 2026/27, Exceptional Financial Support disappears from the council’s assumptions. In its place are new budget gaps of £8.6m in 2027/28, £12.7m in 2028/29, £18.9m in 2029/30 and £24.7m by 2030/31. At the same time, adult social care spending continues to rise sharply. Interest costs keep climbing. Pay pressures compound year on year. Council tax increases steadily and still fails to keep pace with demand. There are no planned contributions to reserves and no meaningful buffer for shocks. Everything depends on transformation delivering, demand being moderated, and government funding improving. The administration says it is confident this will be the final year Medway needs Exceptional Financial Support. The opposition argues that the budget shows the council remains too reliant on borrowing and one-off fixes. Both positions are understandable, and both sit within a set of numbers that leave little room for easy answers. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “We're here to forget about the real world for a little bit” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/were-here-to-forget-about-the-real-world-for-a-little-bit/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T08:59:48.000Z *After a stay in hospital led to several cancelled interviews, Steven looked into the abyss of this weekend's interview. A call out on social media led to an introduction to karaoke host* [*Adam Ashford-Smith*](https://www.askaraoke.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and 24 hours later, they were meeting in Sittingbourne to discuss what goes into hosting karaoke events, the etiquette, and how to make karaoke accessible for diverse audiences...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/20240620_211738-1.jpg) Adam Ashford-Smith at one of his events **What is your official occupation?** At the moment, [karaoke host](https://www.askaraoke.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and singer. **And do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** House spouse, which I believe is the more current term. **When did you first get into karaoke?** Growing up, we would regularly have family parties. Me, my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents. We would sing on my uncle's karaoke setup. He had a typical karaoke box with lots of tracks that he bought online. We would sing at family parties like Christmas, New Year's, birthdays. We were just having good fun with it. Then, roughly about uni time, so 2011, I started looking at more advanced systems I could do myself, rather than relying on my uncle's. I just wanted my own system for my parties if my uncle wasn't available. I found software I could use. I found the various tracks I could use, and I've slowly evolved from there into what it is today. **When did you make the decision to turn it into a business?** In 2019, I started doing it for the Yellow Stocks micro pub, just on the fly, here in Sittingbourne. About 2022, after having lost my job due to illness and disability, I then decided I needed to make money somehow. 'Let's branch this out, let's start dabbling a bit further into this.' **I'm guessing 2020 was a challenging time to host karaoke.** In 2020, it just hit a standstill. It was a massive stop, and it was pretty much sitting there waiting for pubs to say that they were open to doing it, but also waiting for the government guidelines to work out when was the safest time to do it. Which ended up being two years later. It was a very long pause. **Can you do a karaoke Zoom party?** You can. There's quite a bit of delay. A lot of people within the karaoke community did end up doing it on an online Discord channel. Lots of karaoke DJs, KJs or karaoke hosts like myself would all get onto this Discord, and they would all sing on there. Or have friends, family join on that or regulars they know would want to take part. I personally didn't get involved in that myself, but that was mostly due to being new to the community and perhaps a little bit shy. But I do occasionally do a little karaoke thing with my mates online. They mostly listen to the songs. They don't really like to take part in the singing. But mostly it's just me going out into the public and setting it up for everyone post-covid. > We welcome anyone who wants to take part and take a crack at it, regardless of how shy they are **What makes you a different host?** I'd like to think that we're different, because as well as being a karaoke host, I'm also a singer, so I do get up there and I sing myself and I do my best with it, but we also provide a full live setup, rather than just a typical karaoke box. It's like you would be going to see a live act, but you are the live act or basically a wannabe rockstar. You've got a high-quality sound set at your disposal. You've got a singer to fill in with the quiet periods, but we've also got the family friendly and disability friendly focus. We welcome anyone who wants to take part as long as they don't go over the top. We do have some, being pubs and bars, who maybe take it a little bit too far now and then. We welcome anyone who wants to take part and take a crack at it, regardless of how shy they are. If they are shy, we can sing with you if you want, if we know the song. Usually, for the more popular songs, that would be my wife taking part with them and singing with them. I don't have that much of a pop music taste myself. **What is it that makes your karaoke friendly for those with special educational needs?** Well, the main thing is that we just look out for them. We try to make sure that their needs are covered. As well as special educational needs, it's also disability friendly. If you're in a wheelchair, we adjust. If you have got autism, like me, then we try to help with those social aspects of it. If it is to the point where you're practically non-verbal, it's letting them go up to the mic and do what they want to do and not mocking them for it and making sure nobody mocks them for it. A good example, I'm not going to name him, I'm going call him Michael. He was a regular at one of our venues that we were at last year, and he would slur his words a lot, and he wouldn't get the pitch right. He would go from quiet to loud, and I would always try and make sure that people would applaud him rather than mock him or imitate him in a bad way. It's to give people the confidence to do what they want to do and have fun, and karaoke isn't about being spot on perfect anyway. It's about having a laugh. It's making sure that people are having fun regardless of who they are and what background they are. ****You're only part way through this conversation.** Register for free to continue reading, and receive our interviews, investigations and local reporting straight to your inbox. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Temporary housing approved on Medway’s doorstep URL: https://www.localauthority.news/temporary-housing-approved-on-medways-doorstep/ Last updated: 2026-01-30T13:00:56.000Z **A neighbouring council has approved a £4m temporary housing scheme on Blue Bell Hill that will help it meet its homelessness duties while leaving Medway to deal with much of the practical impact. We look at what was approved, what wasn’t examined, and what it could mean locally, alongside a roundup of planning decisions, council business, events and sport. Let's get into it.* ### What a £4m housing approval on Blue Bell Hill means for Medway A neighbouring council has approved a £4m housing scheme on the edge of Medway that will allow it to meet its homelessness duties while leaving Medway to absorb much of the day-to-day impact. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council has granted itself planning permission to build and operate a managed temporary accommodation site on Blue Bell Hill, just inside its boundary. While administratively part of Tonbridge and Malling, the site is physically isolated from the rest of the borough and functionally tied to Medway for access to shops, services and transport. Medway Council has not been formally consulted on the decision. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/image-12-1.png) Planned homes on the Blue Bell Hill commuter car park. **What was approved** At an extraordinary full council meeting on Tuesday, Tonbridge and Malling councillors approved plans for a three-storey block of 12 modular homes on the former Blue Bell Hill commuter car park. The site sits between the A229 and the M2, surrounded by slip roads and junction infrastructure, and was previously used as a long-stay park-and-ride facility before closing in 2023. The homes will be built and managed by modular housing firm Zed Pods, with on-site staff providing day-to-day management and support. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with completion scheduled for spring 2027\. The council says the scheme will help reduce pressure on its temporary accommodation system, which currently costs around £2.5m a year. **The quiet change before approval** Early descriptions of the scheme suggested that households would typically stay for up to six months. Shortly before the application was approved, that restriction was removed. The final planning condition allows the accommodation to be occupied by households to whom Tonbridge and Malling owes homelessness duties under the Housing Act, with no time limit attached. While individual households may move on, the site itself can remain in continuous use indefinitely. That change was approved by councillors and was not accompanied by any additional consultation or reassessment of wider impacts. **Why the site points toward Medway** Although the land lies within Tonbridge and Malling’s boundary, planning documents acknowledge that residents will rely on nearby amenities in Walderslade and Chatham. Pedestrian routes, supermarkets, healthcare and public transport links all connect more naturally into Medway than into Tonbridge and Malling’s main towns. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/image-11.png) Location of the planning temporary accommodation. The site is effectively a traffic island, enclosed by major roads and junctions. Access to Tonbridge and Malling’s settlements involves longer journeys along high-speed routes, while Medway’s urban areas are closer and more practical for everyday life. In functional terms, the development is Medway-facing. **Concerns raised along the way** Aylesford Parish Council did not object to the scheme but raised concerns about its suitability. These included the lack of public transport, unsafe walking and cycling conditions, proximity to busy roads, limited access to schools and healthcare, and the risk of isolation for residents without cars. The parish council also noted repeated references in the application documents to 'Phase 1,' warning that the design appeared to allow for future expansion across the remainder of the car park. The Kent Downs National Landscape team, responding under a strengthened legal duty to protect nationally designated landscapes, said the design failed to conserve or enhance the area's character. While acknowledging that the disused car park currently contributes little to landscape quality, it described the proposed development as out of character and falling short of the standard expected in a protected landscape. Local residents echoed many of these concerns. Several questioned how families would access services without cars, highlighted constant traffic noise and poor air quality, and asked whether placing vulnerable households on the edge of a major road network would support stability and wellbeing. Others queried whether the site selection was driven more by land availability than suitability. **What wasn’t looked at** Despite the site’s location and likely service use, there is no record of Medway Council being consulted. Because the scheme is classed as temporary accommodation, there is no requirement for developer contributions toward education, healthcare or social care, even though the site can now operate on an open-ended basis. There has also been little public scrutiny of cost. The scheme carries a £4m price tag for 12 modular homes, funded through a mix of government grant, council reserves and developer contributions. That equates to well over £300,000 per unit before ongoing management costs are considered, raising reasonable questions about value for money and the alternatives assessed. **What this decision sets in motion** 12 homes on their own will not transform Medway, nor will they overwhelm local services. But the decision matters because it establishes long-term use on a site whose impacts largely fall outside the borough that approved it. Planning documents explicitly do not preclude future phases on the remaining car park land, and the revised conditions permit the site to operate indefinitely. Blue Bell Hill shows how councils under pressure to meet statutory duties are turning to marginal sites they control, where the administrative boundary is clear but the practical consequences are not. For Medway, the issue is less the scale of this development than the process behind it. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [**Licensing Hearing Panel**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6348&ref=localauthority.news) will decide whether to grant a premises licence for Gepatos, a new grocery store on Chatham High Street in the Intra area. Kent Police, Medway Council's Public Health team, and the City of Rochester Society have objected. - **Thursday:** [**Kent and Medway Police and Crime Panel**](https://democracy.kent.gov.uk:9071/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=9665&x=1&&ref=localauthority.news) will put questions to Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott as he moves forward on a new Police and Crime Plan, and asks to increase the police council tax precept by £15\. Our sister title, the *Kent Current*, covered the increase in more detail: [Kent faces £15 police council tax riseFunding pressures meet neighbourhood policing promises, and a council meeting again derailed by far-right disruption![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/KC-NEW-LOGO-SQUARE-3.png)Kent CurrentEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/KC_Police-2.jpg)](https://www.kentcurrent.news/kent-faces-15-police-council-tax-rise/?ref=localauthority.news) **New planning applications:** - A request for a scoping opinion has been submitted for up to [550 homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9J4RGKN04R00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), a primary school, and a local centre off Chattenden Lane in, er, Chattenden. - Plans have been put forward for a block of [four studio flats](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T99I6JKNGDU00&ref=localauthority.news) on what is currently the car park for Domino's Pizza on Chatham Hill. - Just three new HMO proposals this week, with plans submitted for [Camden Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9GO8PKNKJV00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) and [Dawes Street](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9BCXTKNHIX00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham, and [St Mary's Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9O2W6KNHED00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Strood. **Licensing:** - An updated [premises licence](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) is being sought for the former Frances Iles building on Rochester High Street, which appears to be operating under the new name Tribe. - The Suya Factory, which appears to be a BBQ catering company, has [applied for a premises licence](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) to presumably open a restaurant next to the Pier Five pub at Chatham Dockside. ***If you find this useful, please consider supporting it.** **Local Authority exists because we sit through council meetings, read the paperwork, and explain what’s actually going on in Medway. That work is funded almost entirely by paying readers. An annual subscription costs £1.15 a week and helps keep this kind of local journalism going.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ## Get Local Authority in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### In brief 🛍️ Rainham Shopping Centre has been [sold to a mystery buyer](https://futuremedway.co.uk/rainham-shopping-centre-sold-to-new-owners-after-1-5-million-deal-struck/?ref=localauthority.news) for £1.5m. 🚑 Eight ambulances were sent to HMP Rochester last week after prisoners were '[dropping like flies](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-ambulances-race-hmp-rochester-36606581?ref=localauthority.news)' as a result of an unknown incident. 🏚️ A pregnant woman placed in temporary accommodation in Chatham by Bromley Council has said she is "[exhausted](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c99klp77kg8o?ref=localauthority.news)" by the experience. 👷 Medway Council are planning to [spend £2.5m modernising](https://futuremedway.co.uk/2-5m-facelift-in-st-albans-close-gillingham-to-begin/?ref=localauthority.news) the St Alban's Close housing estate in Gillingham. 🏗️ The core construction of a new care home at Chatham Waters [has been completed](https://www.thecarehomeenvironment.com/story/50497/topping-out-ceremony-for-medway-care-home-development?ref=localauthority.news), with the facility set to open in the summer. ### Property of the week This four-bedroom detached house at the quieter edge of Horsted Park is on the market for £525,000 and backs directly onto the Horsted Valley, which Medway Council is in the process of designating as a new local nature reserve. Built in 2013, the house is laid out over three floors and includes an open-plan kitchen and dining space, a separate living room overlooking the valley, two bathrooms, some mightily impressive windows, and allocated parking. At around 1,600 sq ft, it is a good-sized modern family home by Medway standards, but what sets it apart is its position. With uninterrupted views across the valley and no immediate development behind it, the outlook is likely to remain greener and quieter than many other places in our towns. [Check out this 4 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom detached house for sale in Elliotts Way, Horsted Park, Chatham, ME4 6EF, ME4 for £525,000\. Marketed by eXp UK, South East![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-4.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/8c9a93aa4941687fbc265f6b9c5827c1.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171497384?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎸 Sat 31 Jan - [**European Sun + Caleb Nichols + South Shore**](https://wegottickets.com/event/685059?ref=localauthority.news) // Indiepop supergroup supported by new Medway supergroup. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £8.50. 🎸 Sat 31 Jan - [**UpCDownC + ManBand + Jrugs**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/chatham/poco-loco/upcdownc-manband-jrugs/e-vzgdba?ref=localauthority.news) // Three of Kent's heaviest bands on one loud lineup. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. ### Sport this weekend ⚽ Gillingham FC [host Bromley](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/fixture/view/9910?ref=localauthority.news) tomorrow (Saturday), with the Gills trying to get back on track while facing the league leaders. ⚽ Chatham Town [welcome Southend United](https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2025-2026/fa-trophy/chatham-town/southend-united/561236?ref=localauthority.news) in the fifth round of the FA Trophy tomorrow (Saturday). 🏉 Medway Rugby Football Club are [at home tomorrow to North Walsam](https://www.mrfc.net/teams/260403/match-centre/1-17457369?ref=localauthority.news), which is definitely a real place. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### The January Culture Review URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-january-culture-review/ Last updated: 2026-01-29T20:00:26.000Z *As we attempt to publish more proper local news, we’ve had to be more selective about what else fits into each edition. One thing we didn’t want to lose was space for Medway’s cultural life, which is too often treated as an afterthought.* *So we’re trying something new. Once a month, we’ll bring together reviews of Medway’s cultural highlights in a single round-up, produced specifically for our paid supporters. This is the first of those, and it exists because readers like you make it possible for us to spend time looking beyond the headlines and at the wider life of our towns.* --- **Pete Astor + The High Span + Darryl Hartley** *Rochester Social Club, 10 January* Medway’s live music dance card is unseasonably full. Kicking off this pay-what-you-can event at Rochester Social Club is talented polymath Darryl Hartley, opening with a four song set of his own wistfully melancholic Kinks-tinged compositions, accompanied on his trusty Tanglewood guitar. Sporting a magnificent t-shirt depicting Terry Wogan’s 1986 visit to the Queen Vic, he is self-deprecating and charming, engaging the audience in a discussion of the correct pronunciation of capo, and being reassured that it is definitely capo. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/image-9-1.png) The High Span. Photo: Robin Halls [The High Span](https://www.instagram.com/the%5Fhigh%5Fspan/?ref=localauthority.news)’s first outing of 2026 showcases their prodigious output, varying the setlist from last month’s album launch gig and incorporating new, as yet unrecorded, songs from a prospective third album, while the second is still warm off the press. Skewed tales full of whimsy and imagination unfold, including a future projection of the life of Mrs Captain Scarlet. Ever with their finger on the pulse, there are references to Arctic roll and Green Shield Stamps amongst the lyrics and between songs chitchat adding to the genial, nostalgic vibe of the performance. [Kevin Younger](https://www.localauthority.news/almost-anywhere-can-be-a-place-to/) starts off with Syd Barrettesque chaotic, yet melodic meandering, shifting, towards the end of the set to a Wilko Johnson flourish on their cover of The Velvet Monkeys’ 'Everything is Right,' underpinned by Jimmy Moore’s Stonesy precision and thumping vigour on drums. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/Pete_Astor_3_small-1.jpg) Pete Astor. Photo: Robin Halls. The atmosphere of good-natured bonhomie fostered by both support acts ensures that [Pete Astor](http://peteastor.com/?ref=localauthority.news) gets a warm welcome. He starts off solo, and the whimsical feel is perpetuated on 'Like Frankie Lymon,' evoking the early days of heartfelt innocent romance and 'Model Village,' neat, twee pop. Pete is joined on stage first by Ian Button on percussion and then by Andy Strickland, adding guitar and vocal harmonies. No great distinctions are made between songs from The Loft, Weather Prophets or Pete’s solo work. These are all just pop songs being performed on a slightly ad hoc basis, no more so than when Darryl joins in on bass, having only rehearsed the songs once in the afternoon before the show. Somehow, it all comes together in mellifluous Americana flavours on 'Very Good Lock,' after Pete has broken his own rule of never explaining what a song is about on stage to avoid misinterpretation. It’s a remarkably smooth performance, Pete and Andy in particular make things seem free-flowing and unlaboured, while Darryl’s bass is nothing short of groovy. 'Golden Boy' begins like an Eddie Cochran number and maintains a rockabilly core while layers of swirling guitar are piled on top. It’s a joyous noise. Pete responds to the request for an encore with a solo performance of 'She Took the TV,' a well-crafted, beguiling and disarming breakup song, with hints of the Only Ones in the melody. The audience would happily have heard more, had Pete and Andy not had to run for the conveniently adjacent last train to London. *\- Moira Mehaffey* --- **‘Searching from the Losing Place’ by Wild Billy Childish and CTMF** *Single* [*out now on Spinout Nuggets*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/searching-from-the-losing-place-batman?ref=localauthority.news) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### When the only road closes URL: https://www.localauthority.news/when-the-only-road-closes/ Last updated: 2026-01-27T17:14:01.000Z **Today's Local Authority leads with an unusual and tightly managed road closure that will cut the Isle of Grain off from the rest of Medway for more than a day, raising questions about planning, consultation, and what happens when a community has only one way in and out. We also report on the felling of a mature ash tree in Hoo despite assurances it would be retained as part of a housing development, and look at the latest rail usage figures showing passenger numbers continuing to rise at every Medway station.* ### Grain has one way in and out. This is what happens when it closes A Medway village of 1,730 people will be cut off from the road network for more than a day next month, after Network Rail [confirmed](https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/critical-level-crossing-renewal-works-will-mean-no-road-access-to-and-from-isle-of-grain-between-midnight-on-sunday-15th-february-and-early-morning-on-monday-16th-february?ref=localauthority.news) it will fully close the only road in and out of the Isle of Grain to carry out urgent level crossing works. Grain level crossing on the A228 will close from just after midnight on Sunday 15 February until 5am on Monday 16 February, a total of 29 hours. During that time, there will be no normal vehicle access to or from the village, leaving residents reliant on escorted crossings, limited parking outside the village and emergency-only access routes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/Isle-of-Grain-level-crossing-gates_cropped-1.jpg) Grain level crossing. Photo: Network Rail. Network Rail says the closure is necessary because the crossing and underlying track have reached the end of their serviceable life and are showing significant deterioration, posing risks to road users and rail freight operations. But as the closure approaches, questions remain about how the works were planned, who was consulted, and why an isolated community has once again found itself facing a total road closure with limited notice. The works will involve a full rebuild of the level crossing, including replacing the rails and installing a more modern system designed to withstand heavy traffic. Underground ducts will also be installed to support a future upgrade to the signalling and barriers. To carry out the work, the A228 Grain Road will be closed at the crossing with no ordinary vehicle access. Emergency services, including police, ambulance and fire crews, along with NHS on-call workers such as carers and dialysis staff, will be escorted through the BP oil terminal if required. For everyone else, Network Rail says mitigation measures will be in place. These include accessible minibuses running between the village and the crossing, where residents will be escorted on foot to connect with the Arriva bus service. A limited number of parking spaces will be available on Network Rail land on the far side of the crossing, with residents asked to pre-register and park there on Saturday evening ahead of the closure. Information shared with residents at a consultation event indicated that around 190 parking spaces would be available and that three minibuses would run continuously on a loop between the village and the crossing. St James Parish Council, which covers the village, says it was not consulted by Network Rail on either the decision to carry out the work or its timing, nor on the road closure or its impact. Speaking to *Local Authority*, the parish clerk said the council had no opportunity to discuss the proposals and had no more information than that made available to the general public. “We are disappointed with the very short notice of this work, particularly as it will have such a profound effect on this village.” Independent ward councillor [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/) has been sharply critical of how the closure has been handled. “Chaotic thoughtlessness best describes things thus far,” he said. Network Rail has attended meetings with Medway Council and emergency services to share details of the closure and discuss potential mitigation measures. Responsibility for delivering those measures sits with Network Rail. Council teams will be present in Grain village and at the level crossing during the closure to assist if issues arise. Spalding says council records show that a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order relating to works at the Grain level crossing was uploaded in September 2025, indicating that highways officers were aware of the works several months earlier. He says he was first contacted by the council’s emergency planning manager on 22 December and was briefed on site the following day. At that point, he says, Network Rail was proposing a full 72-hour road closure. “Network Rail appeared to be unaware there is only one road connecting the village,” Spalding said. Grain is also home to several major industrial sites covered by the Control of Major Accident Hazards regulations. Spalding says the implications for those sites and for emergency response were not initially fully considered. Network Rail later reduced the closure period, but Spalding says communication remained poor. Letters to residents were delayed, some households had not received them by the time of a January drop-in session, and the session itself was sparsely staffed with no visual displays. Emergency access routes have since been tested. “Using the route through the BP site only adds around a minute and forty seconds to emergency response times,” Spalding said. “That has been tried and tested.” He also highlighted knock-on effects for village life, including a postponed local football match, likely disruption to pub trade, altered deliveries to the village Co-op, and a customs clearance business having to make alternative arrangements for dozens of HGVs. Spalding says this is not the first time Network Rail has attempted to close the only access route to Grain without adequate consultation. In November 2023, residents alerted him to traffic notices indicating an upcoming closure of the level crossing. After he raised concerns that the crossing was the only way in and out of the village and that no mitigation measures were in place, the planned works were cancelled. Network Rail has published material explaining why the works are required and what mitigation measures it intends to put in place. It says the crossing has reached the end of its serviceable life and that delaying renewal could lead to unplanned emergency closures. In the [statement](https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/critical-level-crossing-renewal-works-will-mean-no-road-access-to-and-from-isle-of-grain-between-midnight-on-sunday-15th-february-and-early-morning-on-monday-16th-february?ref=localauthority.news) released through its media centre, infrastructure director Bob Coulson said the company was liaising with Medway Council, had explored alternative access routes, including a relief road and the BP terminal, and concluded they were unsuitable for general traffic. Network Rail says residents are being asked to plan journeys on alternative days if possible and thanked the community for its patience. *Local Authority* asked Network Rail when the deterioration was first identified, how long the crossing had been beyond its serviceable life, what emergency resilience assessments had been carried out, what contingency plans exist if the works overrun, and why local councils were not consulted earlier. Network Rail did not respond to those questions. For Grain residents, the immediate concern is preparing for a weekend when their village will have no normal road access, with journeys carefully planned around escorts, minibuses and limited parking. This is an unusual and tightly managed event rather than a routine occurrence. Emergency access routes have been tested, major employers have put arrangements in place, and the closure period has been shortened from earlier proposals. But it also highlights a more fundamental issue that sits beyond this specific set of works. A village of around 1,700 people, bordered by nationally significant industrial sites and energy infrastructure, has only a single public road connecting it to the rest of Medway. When that route is closed, even temporarily, the consequences are immediate and far-reaching. That is not a problem Network Rail can solve alone. It is a question of long-term planning, resilience and how communities like Grain fit into wider transport and infrastructure decisions. The crossing will reopen on Monday morning. The bigger question, raised quietly but clearly by this episode, is whether a village in this position should still be relying on just one way in and out. ## Get Local Authority in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Hoo ash tree was felled despite assurances it would stay A mature English ash tree on Stoke Road in Hoo was felled earlier this month, months after councillors and residents were told it would be retained as part of a housing development on the site. The tree stood on the frontage of land where Jones Homes is building up to 100 homes next to Yew Tree Lodge. While the scheme already had outline planning permission, the detailed reserved matters application became contentious last year over its impact on boundaries, drainage and existing greenery. In June 2025, the developer’s planning agent wrote to Medway Council confirming changes to the scheme following discussions with officers and consultees. Among them was a clear assurance that “the existing mature tree on the site frontage on Stoke Road has been retained,” alongside additional hedgerow planting and an increase in new trees elsewhere on the site. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-27-at-16.55.25-1.png) The tree before it was felled. Ward councillor [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) later shared that update publicly, telling residents the plans had been improved following representations and that the ash tree would be kept. The tree was felled on 14 January. Medway Council said the original intention had been to retain the tree, but that other technical documents submitted as part of the application continued to show it being removed. The council said arboricultural assessments identified the tree as diseased, and that further discussion concluded it could not be retained safely once drainage works and internal roads were taken into account. According to the council, the final approved plans allowed the tree to be removed in line with those technical assessments, with additional tree planting required elsewhere on the site as compensation. Pearce posted on social media that he had since been told the council knew the tree was going to be felled, but that ward councillors were not consulted on what he described as a change from what had previously been agreed in writing. He said the explanations offered by the council and the developer were inconsistent, with Jones Homes publicly citing the tree’s health while the council pointed to drainage and road layouts. He said he felt “seriously misled and disappointed,” adding that residents had contacted him angry about the loss of the tree and seeking clarity over how the decision had been taken. *Local Authority* approached Jones Homes for comment but they did not respond. The episode raises questions about how changes within complex planning applications are communicated, and how assurances given during the process can later be overtaken by technical assessments without clear public explanation. ### More passengers using Medway stations It’s an exciting time for rail stats nerds, as the Office of Rail and Road has [published](https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage?ref=localauthority.news) its latest annual station usage figures. Bigger outlets will be busy ranking the busiest and quietest stations in the country, but this being *Local Authority*, we’re only really interested in one thing: What’s going on at Medway’s stations? The short answer is that everything is moving in the same direction as last year. Passenger numbers are up at every Medway station, the order remains intact, and nothing here suggests any sudden or dramatic shift in how people are using the network. 1. Gillingham – 2,542,112 (6,965 per day) – up 9% 2. Chatham – 2,397,976 (6,570 per day) – up 10% 3. Rochester – 2,059,228 (5,642 per day) – up 8% 4. Rainham – 1,702,048 (4,663 per day) – up 11% 5. Strood – 1,167,638 (3,199 per day) – up 11% 6. Halling – 109,218 (299 per day) – up 26% 7. Cuxton – 60,952 (167 per day) – up 9% As ever, Halling remains the outlier. It is still tiny in absolute terms, but its 26% jump dwarfs the growth elsewhere, continuing a pattern that likely says more about nearby housing development than any sudden surge in rail enthusiasm. At the other end of the scale, Gillingham continues to quietly rack up the biggest numbers, even if it's only the 223rd busiest station in the country. The destination data is unchanged from last year. Gillingham, Chatham, Rochester and Rainham passengers are still most likely to be heading to London Victoria, Strood and Halling continue to point towards St Pancras, and Cuxton once again bucks the entire trend by mostly sending people just one stop up the line to Strood. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “It was essential for the transformation of Chatham” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/it-was-essential-for-the-transformation-of-chatham/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T11:12:48.000Z *Reverend Luke Bacon is part of the team responsible for the revitalisation and reopening of* [*St John's Church*](https://www.stjohnschatham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *in Chatham. Steven met him there to discuss how he came to be involved at St John's, what their plans are for 2026, and if £4 million is money well spent...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/image-8-1.png) Rev Luke Bacon **What is your official occupation?** I am a Minister of Religion. That's what I put on forms and documents. I'm ordained in the Church of England as a priest. **Is there a difference between being a priest and being a reverend?** There are a few nuances, but it's possible to be both. It's also possible to be a reverend, but not a priest. That would be typically for those in the Church of England. Other denominations do things slightly differently, but in the Church of England, you are ordained. And when you're first ordained, you're ordained as what's called a deacon, which just comes from the Greek word diakonos, which means servant. Typically, you'll serve as a deacon for a year and then with the bishop's approval and having done the things during that diaconate year that are required of you, you'll then be ordained as a priest. Which doesn't stop you from being a servant, you continue to be a servant, but you also then at that point are able to do some of the things that are associated with priestly ministry, so pronouncing blessings or presiding at communion or offering absolution, declaring God's forgiveness for sins. At the point of becoming a deacon, you become a reverend, that's when you're ordained deacon, so you can be a deacon, can be a reverend, but not a priest, or priests would be reverends, but some might not choose to use that title. **Are you Reverend Bacon or are you Father Bacon?** It's a good question. I walk down the street when I'm wearing my clerical collar and people of a more Catholic tradition will say, “Good morning father,” sometimes with an Irish accent. I don't ignore them, I smile and respond. I guess from my tradition, which is a fairly low church tradition, I would be called reverend or pastor, or lots of people just call me Luke, and I'm very happy with that. **What is your role at** [**St John's Church**](https://www.stjohnschatham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)**?** My family and I were asked to consider moving to Chatham to be involved in the reopening of St. John's. We were asked that question five years ago, probably almost to the day in the middle of a pandemic. My previous role was coming to an end. I was working at the church in Beckenham doing something called a curacy, which is part of training to be a minister in the Church of England. That season was coming to an end and the former Bishop of Rochester asked if we'd consider coming to Chatham. Chatham was beyond my frame of reference at that time. I think my wife had been here to the dockyard for a school trip. I don't think I'd ever been. We drove down here one day when the girls were at school on a Friday. Everything was shut because it was covid. We managed to find a takeaway coffee at [Cafenetics](https://www.cafenetics.com/?ref=localauthority.news) on the Intra. They were lovely, and we still love them down there. We had a look around, and this sense of, 'Did this feel like a right fit for us and for our family?' It did. That's why we're here. In terms of the role itself, that's evolved a little bit over time. I was invited to come and work as part of a team reopening the church building with another ordained minister, who'd been in the area for a while serving at a different church. I guess the way that the role has evolved over the last four and a half years or so is that I primarily take responsibility for the growth of the church community, what you might call a pastor. Seeing the church community growing and supported, and then being involved in our wider community in the ways that feel most helpful. It's funny that all of these people seem to have left now. The former Archdeacon of Rochester, [Andy Wooding Jones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy%5FWooding%5FJones?ref=localauthority.news), he's someone that we know, I knew from other roles elsewhere, and I think he'd seen some of our passion and skill set and personality and I think he'd said, ‘Well, maybe they might be a good fit.’ I think him connecting the dots, and I'd like to think that there was some providence or providential guiding in that as well, because we really do feel like it's a good fit in terms of the things that we’re interested in. We'd found ourselves in I guess what you might describe as quite middle-class enclaves. I moved to Tunbridge Wells as a 14-year-old and finished school there, actually commuted to university from there, met my wife there. Going to church there, and Tunbridge Wells, as much as it does have its challenges, as everywhere does, it's known for being Royal Tunbridge Wells. Then we moved from there to Cambridge, where I studied at theological college and then we moved from there to Beckenham, which is the final outpost of Kent before you get to South London. In all of these places, we'd felt we'd like to go somewhere that we can just get our hands dirty a little bit more, somewhere where the need is perhaps a little bit more acute, and there's less of the hiding and masking of some of those needs that all humans face with a lot of money and resources. We found that in abundance on Chatham High Street, so here we are. **Do you have any other additional roles, paid or unpaid?** I have the privilege of receiving what's called a stipend, which means that the Church of England, instead of a salary, pays me an amount of money every month, which effectively releases me from needing to find work. Historically, what the church has done is stipend ministers, so that they're free to serve the church and the community. As HR rules and employment laws rightly get more detailed to keep people safe, the Church of England starts to end up with slightly more complicated ways of effectively employing ministers, without calling it employment. I don't, by God's grace, have to find another job because there's plenty of stuff to be getting on with here. > I don’t, by God’s grace, have to find another job because there’s plenty of stuff to be getting on with here **Do you have any unpaid roles?** Yeah, lots of things really. I’m involved in a number of charities. Where do I start? One of the greatest honours is to be a trustee of a charity called [Home for Good](https://homeforgood.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which has merged with another charity called [Safe Families](https://safefamilies.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I originally got involved when it was Home for Good, and that's an adoption and fostering charity, helping, but not exclusively helping, the church across the UK to recognise its role within supporting the care system. Encouraging people to consider fostering and adopting and supporting them in it. Home for Good also has done and continues to do great political work in terms of raising the profile of the racial disparity in adoption and fostering, and issues where we've been lobbying the government, et cetera. I have a privilege of serving on that board, merged with a like-minded charity called Safe Families just over a year ago, and they particularly help, mostly through local authority contracts, parents and families who are, I guess, in need support in parenting, and they encourage that through a mentoring system where someone will get alongside those families and support them. I’m involved in another charity that looks to support Christians and see the church positively established and strengthened in another part of the world that has a UK base to raise funds and raise supporters and workers for that. I'm involved in ecumenical work as well. [Churches Together in Medway](https://medwaychurch.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is a charity that seeks to draw together representatives from various strands and parts of the church across Medway, and I recently became the chair of that charity as well > To have this building shut and in a state of decay actually was such a negative psychological and architectural impact for the city. **St John's took two years and £4 million. Why was that time and money well spent restoring this church?** The building itself has been described as a gateway building. This is something that's been identified by the council and by others. It's really difficult to get into the centre of Chatham, which I think is probably also the centre of Medway, without passing this building. To have this building shut and in a state of decay actually was such a negative psychological and architectural impact for the city. To see it restored, I think, was essential if there's ever any hope of seeing the heart of Chatham restored, and life brought back into its heart. That's not coming from me. People identified that need almost ten years ago, and that's why the St John's Chatham building was included in the Future High Street bid, which thankfully was at least in part successful, which in itself brought just around about a million pounds towards that four million pound price tag for restoring this building. Obviously, the [National Lottery Heritage Fund](https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) identified the significance of this building and its history, not just as a museum. This isn't a sense of it's just standing here to speak of history, but that it's an active participant in helping people realise where they've come from, but also where they could go. The National Lottery Heritage Fund contributions again are a significant chunk of that four million, really important. If I try and list all of the generous charities and grant-giving bodies that have contributed towards the work, I'll end up forgetting some. But the [Rochester Bridge Trust](https://rbt.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), for example, identifying that they, through some of the historic connections that this church building has with those that have been part of Rochester Bridge Trust over the years, very generously supporting and leading to not least some of the high-tech cleaning of the windows. Everyone walks into the building and says, 'Wow are those windows new?' In terms of 'Was it worth it,' I think it was worth it because it was essential for the transformation of Chatham and the regeneration of Chatham, which we're just a small part of. I think there is a huge argument in terms of social impact as well. Just the people that we interact with every day, the families and parents that come into our toddler group or the people that come here to worship or the people that just walk in because the door is open and they comment on the beauty. I think one of the things that I look at scarily is actually that four million pounds in this day and age isn't a huge amount of money. Look at the price tag of other major building regeneration and renovation, and it far exceeds that four million pound mark. One of the things that's been really impressive about this project, and this has nothing to do with me, so I can't at all take the credit, but is the very astute management of budget. Even though some things were discovered along the way that couldn’t have been known before the physical work had been embarked on, that budget was managed really tightly. We all know the stories of those projects that even in our own community, that the price just keeps going up and up and up, and it's unmanageable. Whereas I think this has been managed so well. The finish of the building itself speaks for itself and the fact that the building is now in a state where being a community resource actually there's no reason why it shouldn't be here and serving the community for the next 200 years. I think of those things put together value for money speaks for itself. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/54945876775_44331355a8_b--1-.jpg) St John's Church. Photo: Diocese of Rochester. ****You're only part way through this conversation.** Register for free to continue reading, and receive our interviews, investigations and local reporting straight to your inbox. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Power and procedure at Medway Council URL: https://www.localauthority.news/power-and-procedure-at-medway-council/ Last updated: 2026-01-23T12:00:38.000Z **Last night’s Medway Council meeting combined strong words about civility with votes that reinforced tighter control over who can raise issues in the chamber. We lead today with what that tells us about power and procedure at the council, alongside a roundup of the week’s key stories, what’s coming up next, new planning applications, a £1.4m Rainham property, local events and the weekend’s sport.* ### Power and procedure at Medway Council Last night's Medway Council meeting, which spoke forcefully about civility and democratic norms, ended with councillors voting to keep tighter controls on who can formally raise issues in the chamber. Across the evening, councillors unanimously condemned intimidation and violence directed at elected members elsewhere in Kent. Later, the same meeting rejected efforts to loosen internal rules that restrict smaller political groups from bringing motions to full council. The contrast was not subtle. Medway is comfortable talking about democracy. It is far more cautious about how widely it is shared. **A united front, briefly** The clearest point of agreement came with a motion condemning intimidation and violence following [disruption at a recent Swale Borough Council meeting](https://www.kentcurrent.news/when-intimidation-replaces-debate/?ref=localauthority.news). The motion, brought by council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/), was seconded by Conservative leader of the opposition [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/). Both spoke about safety, civility, and the right of councillors to carry out their roles without fear. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-23-at-11.30.26-1.png) Medway Council Leader Vince Maple That unity wobbled when Reform councillor [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) moved an amendment seeking to explicitly include verbal abuse within the definition of intimidation. Lammas cited examples where Reform members had been verbally abused in public, including an allegation that a Labour councillor had previously called him a 'fascist' during a meeting. Labour councillor Louwella Prenter asked him to withdraw the claim, saying it had not been proven. He refused. Cllr Maple shook his head as Lammas suggested the leader had acknowledged such behaviour. Independent councillor [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/) supported the amendment, referring to his own experience of verbal abuse by a Reform chair. Maple rejected the change, arguing that the wording already covered such behaviour. Labour and Conservatives combined to vote the amendment down. The original motion then passed unanimously. **Who sets the agenda** The most politically significant decision of the night came later, with far less agreement. Independent Group councillor [Elizabeth Turpin](https://www.localauthority.news/a-bad-local-plan-is-worse-than-no/) brought a motion opposing recent rule changes that prevent smaller political groups from submitting motions to many full council meetings. Under the new system, the administration and opposition can bring motions regularly, but smaller groups could go through an entire year without ever being able to submit one. Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/), also of the Independent Group, described the situation as “absolute hypocrisy,” pointing to Labour’s long history of relying on motions while in opposition. Cllr Lammas moved another amendment, inserting a legal opinion suggesting the restrictions could be unlawful. He said Reform had paid for a barrister’s advice themselves. What followed was less a legal discussion than a display of political theatre. Lammas compared Cllr Maple to Keir Starmer, complained about the removal of flags, accused the administration of putting senior officers in a difficult position, and concluded by declaring that “the people of these towns deserve Reform,” prompting laughter from Labour benches. Labour councillors responded in kind. One pointed out Lammas’ limited attendance record on committees. Cllr Perfect added that Lammas might understand proceedings better if he had bothered to attend group meetings before defecting. Eventually, the monitoring officer was asked to clarify the legal position. He said he agreed with part of the opinion, but not most of it. The amendment was voted down, with Labour and Conservatives aligned. The substantive motion followed the same pattern. Labour and Conservatives voted against. Only Reform, the Independent Group and Cllr Spalding voted in favour. Smaller groups will continue to be excluded from bringing motions to many Medway Council meetings. **School Streets and frustration** If the democracy debate exposed how power is structured, the School Streets motion showed how it is exercised. Conservative councillor [Andrew Lawrence](https://www.localauthority.news/maybe-im-a-serial-opposition-councillor/) called for a review of the scheme following a court ruling against signage outside Burnt Oak Primary School in Gillingham. He raised concerns about enforcement, legality and residents being fined for accessing their own homes. He accused portfolio holder [Alex Paterson](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/) of arrogance and of refusing to engage even briefly on the issue. Labour councillors defended the scheme by citing environmental and health benefits, largely avoiding the specific questions raised about signage, enforcement and process. Conservative councillor [Barry Kemp](https://www.localauthority.news/this-is-probably-my-last-stint/) said complaints had not slowed since the scheme’s introduction and claimed driving behaviour had not changed. Labour dismissed that as untrue. Evidence, Paterson said, would come in March. The debate deteriorated quickly. Points of order were raised repeatedly. Lammas asked the Mayor to explain what a point of order was. At one point, Perfect remarked that a Conservative councillor could not speak because Paterson “can’t sit for a few seconds.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-23-at-11.27.56-1.png) Leader of the Opposition George Perfect Cllr Spalding raised concerns about drivers being fined during school holidays, when restrictions were not meant to apply. “Only an idiot wouldn’t see the problems that this scheme is causing,” Cllr Lawrence said as he wrapped up his comments. Labour managed to vote down the motion, despite every other group on the council voting in favour. **Process over politics** Other constitutional changes passed with little resistance, including formalising arrangements that direct more questions to Cabinet rather than full council. Even opposition groups acknowledged these changes could improve clarity. But taken together, the evening painted a clear picture. Agenda-setting is increasingly controlled. Formal challenges are rationed. Discontent surfaces through amendments, procedural skirmishes and increasingly theatrical exchanges. None of this is unusual in local government. What made last night notable was how openly these dynamics played out in a meeting framed around democratic values. **The bottom line** Medway Council was unequivocal in condemning intimidation and violence against elected members. That vote was unanimous and sincere. But the same meeting reinforced a system in which fewer councillors are allowed to formally raise issues, scrutiny is increasingly procedural, and frustration is managed rather than resolved. The council insists this is about efficiency and order, while critics say it is about control. The question now is whether that management strengthens democracy or simply makes it harder to challenge those already holding the floor. *You can watch the full Medway Council meeting from last night here:* ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [**Audit Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=121&MId=6345&ref=localauthority.news) will review the Risk Strategy, the Treasury Management Strategy and receive updates on Counter Fraud and Internal Audits. - **Wednesday:** [**Employment Matters Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=135&MId=6242&ref=localauthority.news) meets to discuss the pay policy for 2026/27, negotiations with council staff, and organisational change. - **Thursday:** [**Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=585&MId=6347&ref=localauthority.news) gathers to look at the draft budget and the One Medway Council Plan. **New planning applications:** - Applications for new HMOs keep coming, with new plans this week on [Pretoria Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T93PKGKNKIL00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [St George's Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T93PKRKNKIO00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Marlborough Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9238ZKNJJI00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), [Windmill Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T92PGFKNJX000&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), and [Shottenden Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T9876DKNFL500&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham, and [Grove Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T7IJPOKNGK900&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Strood. - Proposals have been submitted to convert and extend a house on [Woodlands Road](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T98761KNFL300&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham into a care home. - In Grain, plans have been put forward to remove the 15m phone mast on [St James' Playing Field](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T94F3QKNKZ200&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news), and replace it with a 20m one. ***Help us start strong in 2026.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. An annual subscription costs just £1.15 per week and helps us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ### In brief 🖥️ A major IT outage [hit GP surgeries](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/major-it-outage-hits-kent-and-medway-doctors-surgeries-in-uk/?ref=localauthority.news) across Medway this week. 👩‍🏫 A disabled former lecturer at MidKent College has been [awarded a £177,000 payout](https://feweek.co.uk/disabled-lecturer-wins-177k-discrimination-payout/?ref=localauthority.news) after she was forced out of the role following false racism allegations. 🚑 A man has been seriously injured after '[falling from height](https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2158992/man-seriously-injured-fall-from-significant-height-rochester-castle-kent?ref=kentcurrent.news)' at Rochester Castle. 🚔 Kent Police will be enforcing a [dispersal order around Chatham Dockside](https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/policing-news/dispersal-order-enforced-in-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news) from 6pm this evening until 6pm on Sunday. The move follows recent bouts of antisocial behaviour in the area. 🚌 No rail services will serve the mainline Medway stations on Sunday while engineering works are [carried out](https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/service-updates/planned-engineering-work?ref=localauthority.news). Rail replacement buses will operate between Rainham and Strood/Sole Street. 🎾 Avenue Tennis in Gillingham has been [taken over](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTk58moDgQy/?hl=en&ref=localauthority.news) by David Lloyd Clubs. The site says there won't be any changes for now. 🍻 The Kings Head pub in Rochester will now be allowed to [stay open](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/cheers-pub-wins-bid-to-stay-open-later-in-interest-of-high-335475/?ref=localauthority.news) until 2am on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. 🛍️ The Little Shop, a new shop selling gifts, cards, souvenirs, crafts, and locally made items, is [set to open](https://www.facebook.com/littleshoprochester/posts/pfbid0YrZHXiaG11g24TFBC54s3gBUYrDziEebbrr9EvYnna4nRcdKyRENCE59Qfc29Scrl) in the former Get Ready Comics shop on Rochester High Street. ⚽ After a referee was injured at Gillingham FC's match last weekend, a qualified fan from the crowd [stepped in](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/fan-saves-the-day-after-club-s-call-for-assistance-335257/?ref=localauthority.news) to fill the role. ### Property of the week This Grade II listed house on Moor Street in Rainham is on the market for £1.4m and is notable less for its finish than for its sheer scale. The detached property spans nearly 5,700 sq ft and includes 10 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and a self-contained annexe, making it one of the largest homes currently for sale in Medway. Set on a plot of around 0.6 acres behind walled gardens, it sits close to Rainham town centre while offering a rare level of space in Medway. It is also a reminder that parts of Medway’s housing market now operate at a very different level to the rest. [Check out this 10 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove10 bedroom detached house for sale in Moor Street, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 for £1,400,000\. Marketed by Wards, Rainham![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-3.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/2619200a74075b36b6071e742eec5a9a.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171212033?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎸 Fri 23 Jan - [**The Worry People + Spider Baby + Miffed + Make Way**](https://www.facebook.com/events/872408892215078/) // Packed lineup of four noisy bands. The Ship, Gillingham. Free. 🏳️‍🌈 Sat 24 Jan - [**LGBT+ refugee fundraiser**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1180444797354487) // Live music headlined by queer punk band Lunacy, raising money for queer refugees of South Sudan. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. ### Sport this weekend ⚽ Chatham Town [host Billericay Town](https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2025-2026/isthmian-football-league-premier-division/chatham-town/billericay-town/542204?ref=localauthority.news) on Saturday, as the Chats attempt to close the gap to the dominant Folkestone Invicta in the Isthmian League Premier Division. ⚽ Chatham Town Women [play London Bees](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTzqRJYjYU4/?ref=localauthority.news) in the FA Women's National League at home on Sunday. 🏒 It's a busy weekend for the Invicta Dynamos, who are [away to Slough Jets](https://invictadynamos.co.uk/event/slough-jets-vs-invicta-dynamos-18/?ref=localauthority.news) on Saturday in a league match before [welcoming Streatham Redhawks](https://invictadynamos.co.uk/event/invicta-dynamos-vs-streatham-redhawks-4/?ref=localauthority.news) to Planet Ice for a cup match on Sunday. ⚽ Gillingham FC are [away to struggling Harrogate Town](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/fixture/view/9982?ref=localauthority.news) on Saturday in League 2 as the Gills try to turn their form around. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* ### Forthcoming attractions URL: https://www.localauthority.news/forthcoming-attractions/ Last updated: 2026-01-22T10:02:27.000Z Now that we have well and truly knocked 2025 on the head, it might not be a bad idea to see what 2026 has in store for Medway’s musicians. Down below you’ll find an extensive – but by no means exhaustive – list of gigs and festivals for everyone from fans of folk to darkwave via indie and garage rock. But before you get your diary out, let’s have a look at how the year is shaping up in general. Aside from plenty of gigs to go to (from Spain to Skegness with some even happening in Medway), the good musical folk of these towns are also busy, as ever, churning out new recordings. There will definitely be new albums from Dead Star Boys (*RATS)*, Stuart Turner (*Gargoyles at the Memoir Club*) and Little Storping in the Swuff (*Hassle Olympics*). You can also expect new long players from Medway veterans, The Love Family (an acoustic recording featuring six oldies and two newbies) and upstart garage-indie rockers, Dockyard. There will also be the digital release of The Dutch Embassy’s *Lighting the Beacons.* You can also expect to hear news of EPs from Cream Soda and Mitchell Lane, together with a digital release of The Pastel Waves’ *Between Midnight and Morning,* ahead of a six-track mini album later in the year. There will be a double-A single release from the indie-folk band South Shore (‘The Ballad of Rats Bay’/’Blanche’) ahead of their forthcoming album. The same goes for the darkwave duo Dead Blood Cells, who release a single in May ahead of a full-length album in September. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/image-5.png) South Shore Folk trio The Ashen Keys will also be releasing a couple of singles this year ahead of the release of their second album. "We've been experimenting with new studios and new sounds," says the band’s Vicky Price. You shouldn’t be surprised to hear one, two, three or more songs emerge from The Claim (now featuring Russ Baxter on drums), Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter, These Guilty Men and The Treasures of Mexico, although the latter’s Mark Matthews has suggested with the expense involved in producing vinyl, it may be time to move into other forms of merchandise, a Treasures of Mexico board game, for example! And you should also expect to hear at least *something* from Oli Allen’s new art-rock/alternative band Spider Baby, Jack (Cream Soda) Etheridge’s Vinylglass and singer-songwriter Lily Madison. See also Punching Swans, who have plans for a new (currently unnamed) album which, according to Joe Wise, is "set in a small town, possibly a pocket universe, with a corrupt Mayor, various cryptids and occult do-gooders." Perfect! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/image-6.png) Punching Swans There’s also talk of a revival of The Singing Loins’ very own Chris Broderick and Rob Shepherd’s *Woyzech* musical in central London later in the year. It may be a bit of a way to travel, but at least it’s not South Korea, where the show has generally proved most popular. issuing Finally, before we get to what’s happening, where and when, Dead Blood Cells’ Jason Cheesman has a favour to ask. He’s looking to curate a compilation album of Medway bands covering or remixing other Medway bands with a view to issuing a short physical run. "It will be in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support," says Jason. "And it will be dedicated to one of my closet friends who just past, Colin 'Metal' Tyler." Email Jason at [DeadBloodCells@protonmail.com](mailto:DeadBloodCells@protonmail.com) if you would like to get involved. **Dates for your diary** 22 January – Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter play Deal Folk Club 23 January – Spider Baby play The Ship Inn, Gillingham, alongside The Worry People, Miffed and Make Way 29 January – The Ashen Keys play The Umbrella Centre, Whitstable, supporting Sam Brothers 29 January – 1 February – The Solarflares and The Len Price 3 play three gigs in Spain (Zaragoza, Bexti and Madrid). 21 February – Chris Helme (The Seahorses) and Nigel Clark (Dodgy) play Rainham’s Platform 3 Club at The Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Support from The Pastel Waves. 23 February – The Spike Direction Effect play the Battle of the Bands at The Ship Inn, GIllingham. They are up against Slydar, Squangey Bobbins and Secrets of the Alcove. 27 February – Punching Swans’ Greg Webster hosts a Noise Floor event at Poco Loco, Chatham. Expect much noisiness. 2 March – Spider Baby play Heat Three of the Battle of the Bands at The Ship Inn, Gillingham. Fellow contenders are Kontrast, The Montgomerys, and That’s Not UR Cat. 3 March – The Ashen Keys play Dartford Folk Club 5 March – Spider Baby play The Market House, Maidstone 28 March – Theatre Royal play Shiiine Festival, Skegness 3 April – Post Plague hold their first event of the year at Poco Loco, Chatham, with acts to be confirmed. Expect some glorious Goth/Industrial/Darkwave noise. 9 April - Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter play Rosslyn Court, Margate 11 April – Dead Star Boys play The Red Lion, Gravesend, launching their second album, *RATS* 11 April – The Zac Schulze Gang play The Garage, London, with support from Medway’s own Mitchell Lane and Fine Lime 13 April – Release date for *RATS* by Dead Star Boys 25 April – Dead Star Boys play Poco Loco 30 April – 4 May – The Maidstone Fringe Festival regularly features indie and rock bands from the Medway Towns. Keep your eyes peeled for the full line-up, which will certainly include The Pastel Waves 1-4 May – Sweeps Festival in Rochester. Full line-up of bands and artists yet to be confirmed, but it’s pretty much inevitable there will be a fair few bands and artists from Medway playing 9 May – Bez (Yes, that’s *BEZ* of The Happy Mondays!) will be doing a Live DJ Set at Rainham Platform 3 Club, The Oast Community Centre, Rainham. 11 May - Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter play Chichester Folk Club 12 May – The Pink Diamond Review headlines a Post Plague event at Poco Loco. 22-24 May - Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter play Chippenham Folk Festival 21 June – The Ashen Keys will be hosting a Summer Solstice Celebration. Details TBC. 26 June – Noise Floor event at Poco Loco, hosted by Punching Swans’ Greg Webster. 17 July – Theatre Royal play The Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester 24-25 July – The Pastel Waves and Spider Baby play Blue Reef Festival, just outside Maidstone 7-14 August – Broadstairs Folk Week. Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter will be there. They always are. But watch this space in case other Medway folksters get added to the line-up. I wouldn’t be surprised… 25-31 October – Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter head north, playing Grimsby, Edinburgh, Irvine and Warkworth. Click [here](https://sallyironmonger.co.uk/gigs?ref=localauthority.news) for full details. ### Footnotes [*Stephen Morris* ](https://www.instagram.com/songsinthekeyof/?ref=localauthority.news)*has been mixing his love of music and writing for most of his life, and has written reviews for BBC Introducing. His Local Authority interview can be read* [*here*](https://www.localauthority.news/there-are-record-stores-in-america/)*. He literally wrote the book on Medway music, authoring* [*Do It Yourself: A History of Music in Medway*](https://www.medwayish.com/product/do-it-yourself-a-history-of-music-in-medway?ref=localauthority.news)*, which you can* [*purchase from our Medwayish store*](https://www.medwayish.com/product/do-it-yourself-a-history-of-music-in-medway?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### What kind of democracy does Medway want? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-kind-of-democracy-does-medway-want/ Last updated: 2026-01-20T23:45:34.000Z **This week’s full council meeting puts power, scrutiny and democratic space under the spotlight, with councillors asked to take a position on intimidation in council chambers and facing growing criticism over changes that limit the voice of smaller political groups.* **We also report on the latest NHS figures showing Medway Maritime Hospital is still carrying a waiting list of more than 74,000 patients, with tens of thousands waiting longer than the NHS says they should.* ### A council deciding what kind of democracy it wants to be If you wanted to design a full council meeting that quietly captures the state of Medway politics in early 2026, you would probably end up with something very close to what is heading for the chamber on Thursday night. [On paper](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6344&ref=localauthority.news), it looks routine enough. Motions, questions, a constitution tweak, and a couple of asset disposals quietly noted at the end. The kind of meeting that usually drifts by unless something kicks off. Look more closely, and it feels more like a meeting about power, control, scrutiny, and who gets to use the council chamber in the first place. It is about where democratic debate happens, who gets to shape it, and how much space is left for challenge. The most serious moment of the night will come with a [motion](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=84532&ref=localauthority.news) from council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) following the scenes at Swale Borough Council last month. That meeting was suspended after a coordinated group of far-right activists subjected councillors to sustained abuse, intimidation and disruption during a debate on whether Swale should join the national sanctuary scheme. Councillors were shouted down, called paedophiles, spat at, and pelted with eggs. Toilets were vandalised, and a lift was damaged in scenes that one councillor said felt more like a putsch than a democratic meeting. The motion that triggered the disorder was limited in scope. It proposed appointing a lead member and officer to explore how existing services could better support refugees already living in the borough. It did not allocate housing. It did not commit funding. It did not change immigration policy. Councillors were free to vote it down, which they did. None of that mattered. The meeting itself became the target. *You can read more about the incident at Swale on our sister title, the* [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)*:* [When intimidation replaces debateWhat Swale’s meeting tells us about local democracy. Plus the latest from KCC, Tunbridge Wells still faces water uncertainty, news in brief, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/KC-NEW-LOGO-SQUARE-2.png)Kent CurrentEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/KC_Swale-2.jpg)](https://www.kentcurrent.news/when-intimidation-replaces-debate/?ref=localauthority.news) What happened in Swale is part of a wider pattern now visible across Kent. A small network of activists has become increasingly adept at turning online mobilisation into in-person confrontation, blending conspiracy content, anti-migrant narratives and calls for direct action, then turning up to cause disruption. Maple condemned the criminal damage at the time. Now Medway is being asked to take a formal position on violence and intimidation in council chambers. The obvious question is whether the rest of the chamber will join him. Condemnation in Swale came from across the political spectrum. Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat figures all described what happened as appalling. MPs from different parties warned that this kind of behaviour deters people from standing for election at all. The Commons Speaker called it an attack on democracy itself. So will Medway’s opposition groups back the motion? Or will party positioning get in the way of drawing a clear line around what is and is not acceptable behaviour in local democracy? It is an uncomfortable debate, but an unavoidable one. Local government is built on the assumption that debate can happen in public and that councillors can do their jobs without being intimidated. Once that assumption breaks down, the whole system starts to wobble. From there, the meeting turns to another question on how democratic space is being reshaped within Medway itself. Cllr [Elizabeth Turpin](https://www.localauthority.news/a-bad-local-plan-is-worse-than-no/)’s [motion](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=84532&ref=localauthority.news) may turn out to be more significant than its subject matter alone suggests. After Labour and the Conservatives voted through constitutional changes that strip smaller groups of guaranteed motion slots, this could be one of the last Independent Group motions Medway sees for some time. Under the new rules, only political groups holding at least 10% of council seats are guaranteed a place on the agenda. In Medway, that threshold is six councillors. The Independent Group has five. Reform has three. Both have lost their automatic right to bring motions to full council. Instead, they will have to hope their motions are selected via a ballot system. Two unallocated slots per year. They might get one. They might get none. The previous system gave every group one guaranteed motion per meeting. That is now gone. Labour’s argument is that meetings were running too long and needed streamlining. That does not explain why alternative models that would have preserved a guaranteed voice for smaller groups were rejected. Nor does it explain why the threshold was set in a way that excludes nearly 10% of the chamber by design. At the time, Labour councillors could be seen laughing and making exaggerated boo-hoo gestures at members of the smaller groups as they raised concerns about being shut out of the democratic process. Reform has since said it is considering legal action. [Medway shrinks its democracyPlus 4D to the future, Medway to build a care home, Spalding censured, news in brief, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/e0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256--2-.webp)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fffd97bc0-68b3-4442-a6e5-b7c3e68e5c77_2364x1330.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-shrinks-its-democracy/) Given the administration has shown no intention of changing course, when Turpin stands up on Thursday, it may be one of the last times an Independent Group councillor gets to use the motion slot. [Members’ Questions](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=84530&ref=localauthority.news) bring the Local Plan back into the frame just days after [we reported](https://www.localauthority.news/labour-councillors-raise-red-flags-over-medways-local-plan/) that two Labour councillors from Strood have formally told the Planning Inspectorate that the plan is unsound and not legally compliant. This is the document that will shape Medway’s growth until 2041\. It determines where more than 26,000 new homes will be built, which green spaces will be protected, and how the area will change over the next 15 years. It is the most important policy document the council produces. The council submitted it to government with a press release describing it as a “milestone moment” that puts “community at the heart” of Medway’s future. Behind that press release sits a more complicated reality. Cllr Stephen Hubbard has told the Inspectorate that the plan is not legally compliant, not sound, and based on flawed housing numbers. His objections focus on the release of green belt land in Strood, which he says represents a sharp and unjustified departure from earlier drafts. Cllr Satinder Shokar has told the Inspectorate that the plan fails national policy on Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople provision and carries equality law risk. He says it does not allocate required sites, relies on overcrowding existing ones, and fails to assess the needs of families. Both are members of the ruling administration. Hubbard refused to explain his position publicly. Shokar voted for the plan anyway, saying he had been assured his concerns would be fixed later. None of this prevented the council from submitting the plan. Now Independent Group councillor [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) is forcing the contradiction into the open. His question bluntly asks whether Cllr Maple agree with his two Labour colleagues that the plan is unsound, fails the duty to co-operate, and is not legally compliant? It is a simple question with no comfortable answer. Another question from Cllr Turpin opens a different door, asking whether Medway residents will even get a vote in 2027. Other parts of the country have already suspended local elections in preparation for local government reorganisation. If councils are being abolished and replaced with new unitary authorities, there appears little point in electing people to bodies that are about to disappear. Medway is due to hold elections in 2027\. But if reorganisation is moving ahead for 2028, that vote may never happen. At a time when democratic space is already being narrowed, the idea that the next election could simply be cancelled is not a minor procedural detail. Alongside all of this sits a [review of the constitution](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=84516&ref=localauthority.news) and the trial changes to questions at Cabinet and full council. The stated aim is streamlining. Fewer questions at full council, more at Cabinet. In theory, it should result in shorter meetings. So far, there is no clear evidence that meetings are actually shorter. What is clear is that far fewer questions now come to the one meeting that most residents actually watch. Full council is where the livestream audience is. It is where political accountability is most visible. Moving questions to Cabinet shifts scrutiny into a room with a fraction of the audience and far less public attention. You can make a respectable case for efficiency. You can also make a respectable case that this quietly reduces the visibility of scrutiny at exactly the moment when trust in institutions is already under strain. Then there are the items that will be nodded through without debate. Medway will formally note the disposal of the former Civic Centre site in Strood and the sale of Gillingham Business Park. The deals have already been done, so the reporting here is largely procedural. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/22_229_CGI_N3_mediuma4-1-scaled-e1712828579591.jpg) How Strood Waterfront should eventually look In Strood’s case, there is an added layer of farce. The council has sold the former civic centre to a company it owns. In other words, Medway Council has sold a major redevelopment site to Medway Council. Put together, Thursday’s meeting feels less like routine council business and more like a moment of self-definition. It is a chance to see how Medway responds when democratic process is put under real-world pressure, how comfortable the administration is with narrowing the routes for challenge, and how much scrutiny it is prepared to tolerate in the most public room it has. Some of the decisions on the agenda have already been taken elsewhere. Some of the arguments have been rehearsed behind closed doors. But full council is still the place where the mask slips, where tensions surface, and where the direction of travel becomes harder to disguise. If you want to understand where power sits in Medway now, Thursday night will tell you a lot. ### Medway hospital backlog remains at 74,000 despite claims of progress Last week, Medway MPs took to social media to celebrate that waiting lists at Medway Maritime Hospital had fallen by more than 6,700 since the election, describing the change as 'important progress' and saying it was helping hundreds of residents each month get back to good health. The latest NHS England [data](https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/?ref=localauthority.news) does show that the list has been coming down. But it also shows the scale of the problem that remains. As of November, 74,208 patients are still waiting for treatment at Medway NHS Foundation Trust. Just 56% are being seen within the NHS 18-week standard, leaving almost 33,000 people waiting longer than they should for consultant-led care. The NHS target is 92%. There are also 1,828 patients who have now been waiting more than a year for treatment, despite NHS England telling trusts to eliminate these long waits altogether. The biggest backlogs are in ENT, rheumatology, neurology and cardiology. In ENT alone, more than 3,000 patients are waiting longer than the 18-week target, with typical waits stretching well beyond four months. So while recent reductions are real, the official figures show a hospital still carrying a waiting list the size of the entire population of Chatham, and still missing the NHS standard by a wide margin. For tens of thousands of Medway residents, the reality is unchanged. They are waiting far longer than the NHS says they should. #### Footnotes ***Help us start strong in 2026.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. An annual subscription costs just £1.15 per week and helps us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### High Court clears the way for Chatham Docks redevelopment URL: https://www.localauthority.news/high-court-clears-the-way-for-chatham-docks-redevelopment/ Last updated: 2026-01-16T10:17:24.000Z *Hello and welcome to your Friday briefing.* *Before we get into the news, a quick note to say thank you to everyone who sent messages over the past week after Steven’s unexpected stay in hospital. He’s home now and recovering, but will be taking things easy for a little while. As a result, there won’t be a Sunday interview this weekend while he focuses on getting better. Normal service will resume as soon as he’s able.* *It’s been one of those weeks where a Medway story that has been rumbling on for years has finally reached a turning point. The long-running legal battle over the future of Chatham Docks is now over, and the next chapter is about to begin.* *In today's edition, we have the full story on the High Court ruling at Chatham Docks, what is on the agenda at Full Council next week, a six-storey building in Chatham seeking retrospective planning permission, six people charged over the theft of memorial plaques in Luton, a nearly £700,000 former schoolhouse in Cliffe that could be yours, and everything worth getting out of the house for this weekend.* *Let’s get into it.* ### Legal challenge dismissed as Chatham Docks plans move ahead After years of argument, protest, lobbying and legal action, the battle over the future of Chatham Docks has reached a decisive moment. This week, the High Court dismissed a judicial review brought by steel giant ArcelorMittal against Medway Council’s decision to approve the redevelopment of part of the docks, clearing the way for Peel Waters’ long-planned Basin 3 business park. It means the final legal hurdle facing one of Medway’s most controversial regeneration schemes has now been removed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/Basin3-site.jpg) The area of Chatham Docks set to be redeveloped **A fight over the future of the docks** At the heart of the case is a simple but deeply divisive question: Should Chatham Docks remain a working industrial port, or be transformed into a new business district as part of the wider Chatham Waters regeneration? ArcelorMittal Kent Wire, which operates a major rebar fabrication facility on the site, has spent years trying to stop the redevelopment. In its High Court challenge, the company warned that losing its base at Chatham would have “seismic adverse consequences” for British industry. The firm says the Chatham plant supplies around a third of the UK’s reinforcing steel and supports hundreds of jobs, with no viable alternative sites in southern England. Last month, the company began redundancy consultations for all staff on site. A spokesperson for ArcelorMittal Kent Wire said at the time that, “We have informed all employees of the decision to enter a consultation process, with all jobs at the site at risk due to the severity and scale of the challenges facing the business.” **What the judge decided** The judicial review focused on whether Medway Council acted lawfully when it approved Peel Waters’ plans for Basin 3 in November 2024, following a planning committee vote. ArcelorMittal argued the council had granted permission for development that Peel had not applied for, had misled councillors about how much industrial space would be protected, and had misinterpreted its own planning policies for the docks. The High Court rejected all of those arguments. Mr Justice Chamberlain ruled that the planning permission was for employment uses only, including research and development, light industrial, general industrial and storage and distribution. It does not authorise primary office use and does not include any residential development. He also found that councillors had not been materially misled by officers and that the council was entitled to conclude the scheme broadly complied with its employment policies. The judge stressed that while the project is clearly controversial locally, his role was not to decide whether it was a good idea, only whether the council had acted lawfully. He concluded that it had. **Peel Waters presses ahead** For Peel Waters, the ruling clears the path for the next phase of its Chatham Waters regeneration. The developer plans to demolish the existing industrial units on the 18-acre Basin 3 site and replace them with a new 31,000sqm employment campus aimed at attracting businesses in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, life sciences and digital. It says the scheme will create hundreds of new jobs and apprenticeships, triple the number of jobs on the site over time, and open up more than half a kilometre of waterfront to the public for the first time. Leigh Thomas, development director at Peel Waters, said, “We welcome the decision to dismiss the judicial review and are pleased that Medway Council’s robust approval process has been upheld. This means we can now move forward with our plans for Basin 3, transforming underused brownfield land into a modern, high-quality employment campus that will triple the number of jobs on site and attract businesses aligned with Medway’s growth sectors.” **What this means for Medway** With the legal challenge now dismissed, the future of Basin 3 is no longer a matter for the courts. For Peel Waters and Medway Council, it means the redevelopment can finally move ahead. For ArcelorMittal’s workforce, it comes as redundancy consultations are already under way and the company prepares to leave the docks. Basin 3 keeps the land in “employment use.” But it also marks another step in the long retreat of Chatham Docks as a working port, something we'll likely be seeing a lot more of in the coming years. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [**Licensing Hearing Panel**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6341&ref=localauthority.news) will decide whether or not to allow the Kings Head in Rochester to open as late as 2.30am. - **Tuesday:** [**Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=437&MId=6342&ref=localauthority.news) will discuss the Housing Revenue Account, various contracts, and the latest S106 agreements. - **Thursday:** [**Full Council**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6344&ref=localauthority.news) meets to discuss the constitution, disposal of Gillingham Business Park and the former Strood Civic Centre site, as well as debate motions on political intimidation, school streets, and shrinking democracy. **New planning applications:** - **Chatham:** Restrospective planning permission is being sought for the [six storey, 34 room student building](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T8I9U5KNMVZ00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) on The Brook. ***Help us start strong in 2026.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. An annual subscription costs just £1.15 per week and helps us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ### In brief 🏭 Gillingham Business Park has been [sold for £6.8m](https://futuremedway.co.uk/cash-strapped-medway-council-sells-gillingham-business-park-for-6-78m-in-fire-sale/?ref=localauthority.news) to Zurich Assurance, with a condition that the site can not be converted to housing. 🚔 Six people have been [charged](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2wgyx03k2o?ref=localauthority.news) following the theft of two World War One memorial plaques from Luton after they were found in an Essex scrapyard. 💊 New data reveals that 170 children in Medway are being [treated for drug-use](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/it-s-heart-breaking-shock-rise-in-child-drug-treatment-as-335006/?ref=localauthority.news), a 55% increase on last year. 🚚 Residents near a big ugly roundabout near St Mary Hoo are [campaigning](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/disliked-roundabout-likened-to-concrete-flying-saucer-need-335005/?ref=localauthority.news) to make it look less rubbish. 🚒 The Tiger Moth pub near Rochester Airport was forced to [temporarily close](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/pub-forced-to-temporarily-shut-after-suspected-electrical-fa-334878/?ref=localauthority.news) following an electrical fire. ### Property of the week This former schoolhouse on Buttway Lane in Cliffe is on the market for £700,000 and offers far more space than most homes in Medway. The detached four-bedroom property is arranged over two floors with a basement that's bigger than most flats, multiple reception rooms and a large central kitchen. It sits on the edge of open countryside, with Strood and Rochester still close by. It is a rare type of home for this part of the peninsula, but one that comes with a price tag to match. [Check out this 4 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom detached house for sale in Buttway Lane, ROCHESTER, Kent, ME3 for £675,000\. Marketed by Mann, Strood![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-2.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/478_STM250283_IMG_15_0001.jpeg)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/169543979?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎸 Sat 17 Jan - [**Swansea Sound + The High Span**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1261573849356079/) // Indiepop supergroup featuring members of Heavenly, The Pooh Sticks, The Dentists, and more. Rochester Social Club. Pay what you can. 🥕 Sun 18 Jan - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 📽️ Wed 21 Jan - [**ACTionism screening**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/actionism-film-screening-tickets-1970166437851?ref=localauthority.news) // Film screening and panel discussion about collective action, community, and moving forward. Dragon Coworking, Chatham. Pay what you can. ### Sport this weekend ⚽ Gillingham [play Newport County](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/fixture/view/10018?ref=localauthority.news) at home on Saturday, as league football resumes after the busy cup period. 🏒 Invicta Mustangs [welcome Guildford Phoenix](https://www.invictamustangs.co.uk/fixtures?ref=localauthority.news) to Planet Ice in the first leg of a cup semi-final on Saturday. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Voice of the Opposition URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-opposition-2/ Last updated: 2026-01-15T18:19:25.000Z ,**Editor’s note:* Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, for our latest Voice piece, we welcome Medway Council Leader of the Opposition George Perfect, who talks about Medway’s emerging Local Plan.* --- ### Voice of the Opposition **by Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3318e0d3-bf1d-4c4a-a7a2-01cabbdeaf0c_806x575-1.jpg) Cllr George Perfect Happy New Year! I am delighted to be starting 2026 off with the first *Voice of* piece for the award-winning *Local Authority* — and what a few months we have ahead. I wanted to focus on this piece, as we start 2026, with my concerns about the coming months, and particularly next month, when the administration will bring forward its Budget for 2026-2027\. Last year, I warned of the significantly challenged financial position facing Medway Council at the Budget meeting in February. Whilst acknowledging the structural challenges facing Medway Council’s finances, brought about by its lower council tax rate, lower levels of government grant due to its authority type, and high level of need, I made clear the Council was heading in the wrong direction. The administration pressed ahead with unaffordable above inflation pay rises for all staff, significant increases to children’s services spend above inflation levels with the vague aim of getting “outstanding,” and a lack of willingness to take difficult financial decisions to deliver financial sustainability. All of this funded through the mechanism of “Exceptional Financial Support,” in other words, borrowing to fund day to day spending – to be paid back by future Medway taxpayers. Since February’s Budget meeting, this position has got worse and worse. The current Budget is out of control, with the Council now £11m overspent on this current financial year. Decisions have been taken with huge revenue implications too, with the recent approval of a care home which will cost £44m, and add an additional £3m in interest payments to the taxpayer towards the end of the decade. All with a vague promise that at some point it will help with demand. Alongside that political decisions have been taken to spend £105,000 of taxpayer's money on the Medway business case for Local Government Reorganisation, something which doesn’t even meet the government’s criteria. These decisions will have consequences. Last month, the administration updated its plans for the Budget for the next fiscal year from April. Of course, this time is going to be difficult enough for families in Medway following the recent Budget from Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves. What the papers revealed should worry us all. A budget gap funded through borrowing for next year of around £26m. Yes, you have that right, £26m, around £8m more than they borrowed to set the Budget for this financial year. What’s even more worrying is the council’s latest medium term financial statements show that that figure will just increase every year until the end of the decade, when it is set to be around £55m worth of borrowing every year in order to pay for everyday spending. Despite the Labour rhetoric, Medway Council’s financial position is set to get worse every year under this Labour administration. But of course, the administration knows that. Because by the end of the decade, Medway Council will no longer be in existence. The administration have given up taking difficult decisions in order to reduce the budget gap, and instead, is more worried about returning councillors to the shadow authority in May 2027, than they are in ensuring that current children in Medway, Swale, Dartford and Gravesham pay lower levels of council tax. As a Conservative opposition, we don’t just believe that this is wrong. We will fight it in every bone in our body, because we are the only party that stands up for fiscal responsibility, and will always put the public before playing party politics. I would urge everyone in Medway to pay attention over the coming weeks and engage with the Budget process ahead of the February Budget Council. My Shadow Cabinet will lay out a comprehensive response, and an alternative. Not just because we are a strong and effective principal opposition – but because it is morally the right thing to do. *Cllr George Perfect is the Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council and Conservative councillor for Rainham North.* ### Labour councillors raise red flags over Medway’s Local Plan URL: https://www.localauthority.news/labour-councillors-raise-red-flags-over-medways-local-plan/ Last updated: 2026-01-15T18:22:49.000Z *Today, we look behind the council press release on Medway’s new Local Plan to examine the objections now sitting on the public record, including warnings from Labour councillors who say the document is unsound and not legally compliant. We also report on Ofsted’s latest verdict on children’s services, and how Medway was placed on standby as water supply failures spread across Kent during a difficult winter for the county’s water network. Let's get to it.* ### Labour councillors warn over the Local Plan that will reshape Medway Medway Council says the submission of its Local Plan to the government is a “milestone moment” that puts “community at the heart” of how the area will grow over the next 15 years. Behind the [press release](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2016/medway%5Fs%5Flocal%5Fplan%5Fsubmitted%5Fto%5Fsecretary%5Fof%5Fstate?ref=localauthority.news), however, sits a more complicated picture. The council has sent its flagship planning document to the Planning Inspectorate for examination despite formal objections from two Labour councillors in the ruling administration, both of whom represent Strood. One says the plan is unsound and based on flawed housing numbers. The other says it is not legally compliant and exposes the council to risk under equality law. One of them has refused to explain his position to residents via the local press, accusing journalists of spreading “untruths and lies” and demanding that they stop contacting him. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/AdobeStock_795727292-1.jpeg) Strood, a Local Plan flashpoint. The Local Plan will shape where more than 26,000 new homes are built, which green spaces are protected, and how Medway changes between now and 2041\. It is the most important policy document the council produces. It has gone to inspection with known objections on the public record, and at least one councillor has warned that issues raised internally were not resolved before submission. One of the councillors to have formally objected is Cllr Stephen Hubbard, Labour councillor for Strood North and Frindsbury. During last summer’s Regulation 19 consultation, Cllr Hubbard [submitted a series of formal objections](https://medway.oc2.uk/readdoc/28/searchrepresentations/1509?ref=localauthority.news) to the draft Local Plan, covering multiple chapters and policies. In several of them, he stated that the plan was not legally compliant, not sound, and failed the duty to co-operate. His objections focus on the release of land in Strood’s green belt for major housing development, which he says represents a significant change from earlier drafts of the plan at Regulation 18, where green belt land had appeared to be safeguarded. He argues that the policy shift was unsupported by the previous evidence base, that the review of the green belt was rushed, and that the residential-led site allocation numbers contain errors. In one submission, he says the designation of Strood’s green belt as a residential-led site allocation is “the flaw in the plan,” adding that the housing numbers exclude the 130-home Commissioners Road quarry development and that the site allocation schedule “requires a full review.” In others, he says the green belt proposals “came out of the blue,” represent a sharp departure from the council’s previous policy position, and would increase Strood by nearly a third. “This massive hit on Strood’s infrastructure is unacceptable,” he wrote. “The removal of Strood’s green lung will cut off residents’ access to the countryside’s open and green spaces.” These are not casual comments. Regulation 19 representations are made directly to the Planning Inspectorate and go to the heart of whether a Local Plan is considered sound and legally compliant. Hubbard has been critical of elements of the plan from an early stage, and his objections were consistent with that position. When *Local Authority* contacted him to ask why he believed the Strood green belt allocation represented a fundamental flaw in the plan, whether the omission of the Commissioners Road development not being included pointed to wider problems with the site allocation numbers, and how his objections fitted with the plan being approved for publication by full council, he refused to engage. Instead, he accused the local press of spreading “untruths and lies” about him in the past, referring specifically to an email sent by *Local Authority* in February 2024 where we requested comment regarding his suspension from the Labour Party, and told us not to contact him again. When it was pointed out that asking an elected councillor for comment on a major policy decision is normal journalistic practice, and that the earlier email simply referenced a BBC Radio Kent report and sought his right of reply, he reiterated his position. “I asked you not to contact me again. Please respect my wishes,” he wrote. That leaves a councillor who has formally challenged his own council’s Local Plan on legal and soundness grounds on the public record, but who is unwilling to explain that position on the public record. *Local Authority* subsequently sought clarification from Medway Labour’s leadership about the exchange. In response, the Medway Labour & Co-operative Group said it was “fundamental for democracy that all members of the press have the right to approach any elected member” for comment, adding that while individuals may choose not to respond, this would be reported transparently. Hubbard is not the only Labour councillor in Strood to have formally objected. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/Copy-of-Untitled-Design--5-.jpg) Cllrs Stephen Hubbard and Satinder Shokar. Cllr Satinder Shokar, who represents Strood West, also [submitted](https://medway.oc2.uk/readdoc/28/searchrepresentations/901?ref=localauthority.news) a Regulation 19 representation. His objection focuses on Policy T10 and the council’s approach to Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople provision. Shokar stated that the plan is not legally compliant, not sound, and fails the duty to co-operate. He says it does not allocate any of the required sites for the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller community, has not taken the recommendations of the council’s own Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment on board, relies on the expansion of existing sites that will lead to overcrowding, and has failed to assess the needs of GRT families living in bricks and mortar who are seeking pitches. He concludes that the plan has not treated this community fairly in meeting its needs. Shokar has a long-standing record of advocacy on GRT issues, and his objection is consistent with that work. What makes his position notable is that he voted in favour of the plan. At the [special full council meeting](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6424&ref=localauthority.news) in June 2025, Medway Council voted to approve publication of the Regulation 19 Local Plan and to submit it for examination. Shokar voted in favour. Hubbard did not attend. No Labour councillor voted against, and there was no recorded dissent within the ruling group. The plan passed on a recorded vote and was presented as the council’s settled position. Asked by *Local Authority* why he voted for a plan he later told the government was legally flawed, Shokar said he had raised his concerns internally but understood that the council would not be able to address them in time. “I did raise these concerns but understood that the council weren’t going to be able to address them in the time scale needed to keep the plan on track,” he said. “I received assurances from the portfolio holders that these will be rectified. I was happy with the rest of the plan, so on this basis voted for it.” He also warned that Romany Gypsies, Irish Travellers, Roma and Scottish Travellers are recognised ethnic groups, and that public bodies have duties under the Equality Act 2010 and Human Rights Act 1998. “Should the Council not put in place adequate service provision for the GRT, there is a risk of failing to provide for all parts of the community and not comply with the Equality Act 2010,” he said. The full council decision also delegated authority to the Director of Place, in consultation with the portfolio holder, to prepare any addendum required to address soundness issues raised through consultation, and to agree and consult on any modifications arising from the examination. The official narrative, set out in the council’s press release announcing submission, presents a much tidier picture. “This moment has been many years in the making, and its importance for Medway today and in the future cannot be overstated,” said council leader Cllr [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/). “Community sits at the heart of the Local Plan.” Portfolio holder Cllr [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/) described it as a “milestone moment” and thanked officers, councillors and residents for their work. The consultation record shows a more complex reality. Two Labour councillors from Strood, both members of the administration, have told the Planning Inspectorate that the plan is unsound and not legally compliant. One says it is based on flawed site allocations and housing numbers. The other says it fails national policy on GRT provision and carries equality law risk. Neither position prevented the council from submitting the plan. Strood is one of the areas facing the greatest development pressure under the Local Plan. The strategy proposes major growth to the west of the town, including the release of green belt land, alongside large-scale regeneration of the centre and riverside. It is perhaps not surprising that this is where the sharpest questions have been raised. The Planning Inspectorate will now examine the Local Plan, consider all representations, and decide whether it is legally compliant, sound, and capable of being adopted. For residents, that process will determine whether the document shaping Medway’s future for the next 15 years is built on firm foundations or whether the objections now on the public record were right all along. ***Help us start strong in 2026.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. An annual subscription costs just £1.15 per week and helps us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ### Ofsted gives Medway children’s services a thumbs up, with caveats Ofsted inspectors have given Medway Council’s children’s services a largely positive verdict following a focused inspection last autumn, praising leadership, frontline social work and investment in children’s homes, while warning that some vulnerable children are still missing out on essential support. The watchdog’s visit in November looked at how children are placed into care, how decisions are made about their futures, and how the council supports children at risk of exploitation or going missing. Inspectors found that most children in care are living in stable homes, supported by social workers they trust and who know them well. They [said](https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50293397?ref=localauthority.news) children are coming into care at the right time, when it is in their best interests, and that decision-making is timely and well overseen. They also highlighted strong oversight from Independent Reviewing Officers, a more stable permanent workforce and significant investment in council-run children’s homes, helping to reduce reliance on unregistered placements. But Ofsted warned that the quality of care planning is still inconsistent, meaning some children’s needs are not being met as quickly or as well as they should be. A small number of children placed outside Medway were found not to be getting all the support they need, particularly around access to specialist health services, education and emotional wellbeing. Inspectors also raised concerns about inconsistent use of risk assessment tools for children who go missing or are at risk of exploitation, limiting social workers’ ability to intervene as effectively as possible. Medway Council [said](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2027/ofsted%5Frecognises%5Fstrong%5Fcommitment%5Fto%5Fimproving%5Fservices%5Ffor%5Fchildren%5Fin%5Fcare%5Fin%5Fmedway?ref=localauthority.news) the report shows the authority is making good progress, but accepted there is more to do. The Conservative Group [said](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/medway-conservatives-welcomes-positive-ofsted-feedback-childrens-services?ref=localauthority.news) the findings reflect work carried out under the previous administration and criticised NHS Kent and Medway for continued delays in carrying out health checks for children entering care. Ofsted said the findings will feed into Medway’s next full inspection, due in 2027. ### Medway placed on standby as Kent water failures spread Parts of Medway were placed on alert over the weekend after storms, freezing weather, and a regional power outage pushed Kent’s water network to the brink. The warning came as Kent County Council declared a major incident following widespread supply failures across the county. Around 30,000 properties across the southeast have been affected, with Kent still experiencing outages or low pressure, including in Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, Maidstone and Headcorn. Several schools have closed, and bottled water stations remain open across the county. In Medway, bottled water stations have been set up at Asda near Rochester Airport and Hempstead Valley as a contingency measure, but are not currently operational. The disruption has been blamed on a combination of Storm Goretti, freezing temperatures, burst water mains, low reservoir levels and a power cut at one of South East Water’s pumping plants. The cold snap triggered a surge in leaks across the network, draining storage tanks and reducing the company’s ability to treat water at normal levels. The latest failures come just weeks after 24,000 homes in Tunbridge Wells and surrounding villages [were left without water for nearly two weeks](https://www.kentcurrent.news/the-week-the-water-stopped/?ref=localauthority.news) before Christmas. Against that backdrop, Southern Water placed Medway, Boxley, Sittingbourne and Thanet [on alert](https://www.southernwater.co.uk/latest-news/water-supply-in-kent/?ref=localauthority.news) after heavy rain and a power outage left local reservoirs under pressure. Engineers were sent to Matts Hill Water Supply Works after rain made the raw water too cloudy to treat safely, forcing the site to be restarted gradually under close monitoring. Southern Water said properties in Chatham, Rochester, Walderslade, Lordswood, Gillingham, Rainham, Hempstead and Bredhurst were among those considered at higher risk if demand remained high, although no customers ultimately lost supply. Vulnerable residents on the Priority Services Register received bottled water as a precaution, and tankers were used to move water around the network to stabilise supplies. By Monday afternoon, the company said all affected sites were running again, and the network was stable, though it warned that the risk of disruption had not fully disappeared. For Medway residents, taps are flowing for now. But after a winter of repeated failures elsewhere in Kent, the margin for error across the county’s water network is looking increasingly thin. ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### Winter is here URL: https://www.localauthority.news/winter-is-here/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T16:01:10.000Z **Editor's note:* You'd usually be receiving our big Sunday interview today, but our schedule has been disrupted by Steven's unexpected hospital stay. Selfishly, he ended up there before he'd filed this week's interview. We'll be back to our normal schedule as soon as we can, but for today, I'm happy to say that our resident gardening expert, Stuart Bourne, has stepped in with his latest quarterly column on what grows in our gardens this time of year, some of his favourite festive choices, and he recommends a lovely park to visit this time of year.* --- Winter has arrived, and for most people, this means we get the urge to retreat indoors and take a break from gardening. However, as I will show in the coming sections, there are still plenty of reasons to explore your garden and parks as well as do a few vital jobs. **Favourite Festive Plants** For my first article of the year after my Christmas break, I thought it would be fun to talk about those special festive plants that always end up decorating our homes during the Christmas period. Whether they are made into wreaths for our front doors, woven into table decorations, or simply brought into our homes over the holidays. There are several plants I know that, if I didn’t see them, then it wouldn’t be Christmas. So, let's dive into my favourites and the traditions behind them. **Mistletoe** There are 1,500 species of mistletoe worldwide, but the Viscum album variety is found in the UK. Used to decorate our homes, it also has the tradition of being used to steal a kiss from our loved ones. Mistletoe was seen as a symbol of good luck by druids, and in Viking mythology, it is associated with love. The story goes that the white berries are the tears of the Viking Goddess of Love, who cried when her son died from mistletoe. It is this association with love and caring for those we love where the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe comes from. It is a parasitic plant that grows on trees such as Poplar, Hawthorn, Rowan, and most apple trees. Though it draws nutrients and water from its host tree, the plant obtains all its energy from its own leaves. It has male and female plants, with only the female plant producing the berries we decorate our homes with. It can survive regular pruning if you are careful with how much you cut off, and can be propagated by smearing berries into nooks of established trees, avoiding young trees so you don’t weaken them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff5196d70-ea43-4743-b0e2-53aa54dcb4b9_878x658.jpg) Mistletoe **Holly** There are 570 species of holly around the world, and it can be a tree, shrub or climber. Traditionally, it has been used to make wreaths and table decorations over Christmas for hundreds of years. It was first brought into homes by the druids during the winter, because its evergreen leaves were a symbol of everlasting life and renewal. Later on, it was adopted by Christianity, as the leaves were like the crown of thorns, the red berries Jesus’ blood, and the evergreen leaves symbolised his rebirth. Just like mistletoe, it has male and female plants, with the berries again only found on the female plant. If you are buying a holly for your garden, always do so in autumn so you can tell whether it will have berries or not. Interestingly, the leaves of holly trees get less spiky the higher up the tree they are, and it is believed that this is because there is less risk of leaves being eaten by animals. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f588ebb88-eb3d-4c29-8022-bcb9f8472e65_892x669.jpg) Holly **Poinsettia** Originally from Mexico, this shrub turned houseplant’s popularity has spread widely over the last hundred years, and even crossed over to the UK over the last few decades. There are roughly 8 million poinsettias sold each year in the UK, with nearly half of them grown by producers here. Their association with Christmas is based on a story of a little poor Mexican girl from the 17th Century, who gave a handful of weeds as a gift to Jesus at the local nativity scene. The next morning, these had miraculously turned to bright red flowers. Its popularity became more widespread in the 19th century when a US official to Mexico, and keen botanist, Joel Poinsett, started making cuttings and sending them as Christmas gifts to his friends back in America. It is from Joel Poinsett that we get their Latin name, *Poinsettia*. The bright red flowers that we all enjoy are not in fact flowers but modified leaves, or bracts. The plant’s actual flowers are small and white, found at the centre of the display, and are often overlooked. For the bracts to turn their classic red, the plant needs at least 12 hours of complete darkness for 7-8 weeks in a row. Even home and street lights are enough to break the cycle. This means growers have to take special care to ensure they are ready for the Christmas market. **Pruning overgrown shrubs** There is a time when you look at a large shrub and think… Nah, it doesn’t look right. It could be too old, too big, or too damaged. You might be tempted to remove it, thinking it's your only option. However, for some shrubs, you can press their reset button with a hard prune. This hard prune consists of removing the vast majority of branches, almost reducing the shrub to a few main stems near the base of the plant. The idea is that the shrub produces new buds along these stems, creating new foliage over the next few seasons. If it all goes well, you will have what looks like a dense new shrub in 3-4 years. In fact, you might even have to remove some new branches in the first few years to ensure they are not too congested in the centre. Not only is this a good way to reduce a large shrub that’s taken over a bed, but it also removes any tired and diseased branches that have stopped flowering. This process can also trick the plant into thinking it’s a juvenile again, making it become much more vigorous than it might have been before. The best time to do this is now, during the deep winter. All the shrubs are dormant, and you have plenty of time before the spring and the next growing season. However, I have done this to evergreen shrubs in the summer, and they have put on a decent number of new leaves before winter. ![ (1 of 4)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0fa4ce61-b092-4c02-950a-836c38a5a5e6_662x497.jpg) Before ![ (2 of 4)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f43b4384a-7a7e-40f5-9149-5ea1eaa39174_662x497.jpg) After **Colourful winter stems** As we sit inside on these cold winter days, it is hard to imagine that there is anything bright and colourful to enjoy in our garden. Even the interesting seedheads covered in frost are just a mixture of dull browns and greys. Yet there is one plant that can brighten up a garden with a vivid display of bright reds, yellows and greens. A plant that has quietly gone on unnoticed all summer, hidden behind its nondescript leaves. Yet now autumn has been, and its leaves have dropped, it reveals the most amazing display of coloured stems. I’m of course talking about the fabulous varieties of dogwoods and willows. Cornus, commonly called dogwoods, are a set of species of deciduous shrubs and small trees that come from across the world. Some can be grown for their big display of flower bracts in the summer. There are several species and varieties that are grown for their very unique coloured young stems. Similar there are also some species of willows that also produce colourful new stems. When planted together in groups, these plants can produce an almost firework-like display in mid-winter. The main thing to remember when growing dogwoods and willows is that it is the young stems that have all the colour. As they age, they lose their vibrancy and impact. This means you have to prune them back hard each year. Luckily, both plants respond well to coppicing, sending up even more stems each time they are cut. The pruning takes place in late winter or early spring. If you prune them too early, then you don’t get to enjoy the colour all winter, whilst leaving it too late will mean the plant is already starting to grow. In the UK, I’ve normally pruned my in mid to late February. However, as we get milder winters, this is beginning to be pushed forward each year. Pruning is a simple matter of coppicing the plants right down to the base, creating a large base or ‘stool’ that sends all the new stems. This can get larger each year. If you have a large bed and want to add some height at the back, you can also try leaving a single stem, say about 0.5m from the ground, on which the new stems can grow. You then pollard this trunk in the following years. This technique works well with willows, which have traditionally responded well to pollarding. ![A group of red and yellow bushes AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6747b180-55b8-481c-98ef-ef6a4270117f_1456x1092.jpg) Cornus _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Christmas lights so rubbish even Medway Council wouldn’t charge for them URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-christmas-lights-so-rubbish-even-medway-council-wouldnt-charge-for-them/ Last updated: 2026-01-09T16:00:51.000Z *Hello and welcome to your Friday roundup.* *It has been a properly wintry week in Medway, with freezing temperatures, stormy weather, and the kind of conditions that make every journey feel longer than it should. If you have spent the last few days scraping ice off your car, avoiding flooded pavements or wondering whether your recycling bags are ever coming back, you are not alone.* *This is also the first time we are trying out a new Friday format. The idea is to bring together a big story with the key council business, planning applications, events and sport in one place. It is part of a gentle shift in our schedule this year to add more regular news to our output, freeing up more room for bigger investigations and long reads at other parts of the week, alongside the interviews and columns you already know.* *It has been a slightly unusual week behind the scenes, too. Steven is having an unexpected spell in hospital, which means our publishing schedule will be a little different over the next few days. Paid supporters will not receive the usual Sunday interview this week, but we will be slotting in a different column instead. Normal service will resume as soon as he is back on his feet.* *For now, here is everything you need to know this week in Medway. We have Christmas lights so bad even the council would not charge for them, what is coming up on council agendas, the latest planning applications, a £700,000 house behind the walls of Kitchener Barracks and the sport worth braving the cold for this weekend.* *Let’s get into it.* ### The Christmas lights so rubbish even Medway Council wouldn’t charge for them Hoo’s Christmas lights were so underwhelming that Medway Council has quietly decided they were not worth paying for. After residents complained about faulty and incomplete festive decorations in the village, the council has confirmed it is cancelling the invoice sent to Hoo Parish Council, effectively admitting that the display fell so far short of expectations that it should be free. The decision follows complaints from residents and representations from Independent Group councillor for Hoo and High Halstow, Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/), who says he was contacted by “many residents who were disappointed with the lamppost Christmas lights.” In correspondence seen by *Local Authority*, a senior council officer apologised for the “incomplete and disappointing display” and confirmed that the parish would not be charged. “I acknowledge that the Parish Council should not bear any cost for a display that did not meet expectations,” the council wrote. “I can advise that we will be cancelling the invoice that has been issued to you for this year’s display.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/Hoo-1-1.webp) Hoo village centre (Christmas lights not featured) **A Christmas display that never quite arrived** Residents in Hoo raised concerns in the run-up to Christmas after noticing that parts of the village’s lighting were not working. While the council’s contractor was able to replace some rope lights, the main decorations could not be repaired because replacement stock was unavailable. Festoon lighting remained faulty throughout the season. According to the council, outages were caused by RCD safety units tripping, and when faults occurred, there were simply no spare bulbs available to fix them. “As ward councillor, I received many complaints from residents who were disappointed with the lamppost Christmas lights,” Cllr Pearce said. “I look forward to a higher quality display of lights next year, and I’ll certainly be pushing for this.” For Medway Council, the episode has ended with one of the rarer sights in local government: a council declining to charge for something. **A cupboard full of broken lights** Behind the scenes, the council paints a picture of a festive lighting operation running on borrowed time. It says its stock of Christmas lights is now “extremely limited” following years of under-investment, with more than 25 units deemed beyond economic repair after the most recent season. When faults occurred in Hoo, no spare units were available to swap in. “A lack of investment in new festive lighting over the past few years has left our stock extremely limited, with only certain types of units available,” the council says. “This meant that when faults occurred, we were not always able to replace or repair them.” The council also confirmed that failures in RCD units caused further outages across the display. In other words, the lights were broken, the cupboard was bare, and there was nothing left to plug in. **Christmas on sponsorship and crossed fingers** Notably, Medway Council has confirmed there is currently no dedicated budget for Christmas lights. Instead, the entire festive lighting programme is funded through sponsorship each year. In recent years, the council says, there has not been enough funding to replace ageing stock. That sponsorship model was introduced after Medway’s now-infamous [Christmas lights saga in 2023](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-collectively-loses-its-mind/), when the council announced and then rapidly reversed plans to cancel town centre lights altogether as part of efforts to close a £17m budget gap. The move triggered a public meltdown, emergency negotiations with corporate sponsors, a crowdfunding campaign in Rochester, and national media coverage. While sponsorship ultimately saved Christmas, it also left Medway running the festive season on whatever could be found down the back of the corporate sofa. For the 2026/27 financial year, the council says it will “look to secure additional sponsorship” in order to purchase new lighting and maintain sufficient spare stock to respond to future failures. Until then, villages like Hoo are left hoping that whatever remains in the council’s storage depot still switches on. **The bureaucratic equivalent of “don’t worry about it”** In council terms, the cost of a parish Christmas lighting invoice is a small sum. But the episode offers a quietly revealing snapshot of how stretched services now operate. A Christmas display so poor that the council cancels the invoice, lighting stock so depleted it cannot replace broken units, and a festive programme that exists entirely at the mercy of sponsors. In most cases, when a council gets something wrong, residents still get the bill. In Hoo’s case, the lights were so disappointing that Medway Council effectively shrugged and said, 'This one’s on us.' For a village that spent December waiting for Christmas to turn up, it may be the most festive gift of all. ### Council matters **Meetings next week:** - **Tuesday:** [**Cabinet**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6448&ref=localauthority.news) meets to discuss the provisional local government finance settlement, the creation of a new nature reserve in the Horsted Valley, Pride in Place funding, and lots more. - **Wednesday:** [**Planning Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6338&ref=localauthority.news) decides on a 75 home development east of Hoo, 9 homes near High Halstow, a floodlit football foundation playzone in Chatham, and more. - **Thursday:** [**Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=131&MId=6340&ref=localauthority.news) discusses the recent CQC report on Medway Hospital, an Adult Social Care Strategy, and more. **New planning applications:** - **Allhallows:** Outline planning application for [350 homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T88GSJKNGW100&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) south of the village. - **Rochester:** Plans have been submitted to build [7 new homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=T7573HKN04R00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) on a disused car park on Delce Road. - **Strood:** Iceland have submitted proposals to convert the outgoing Hobbycraft unit at Strood Retail Park into [a new store](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T8380XKNLFH00&ref=localauthority.news). ***Help us start strong in 2026.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. An annual subscription costs just £1.15 per week and helps us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ### In brief 💷 Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council, George Perfect, has described the council's draft budget as "[economically illiterate](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/opposition-chief-slams-council-over-state-of-its-finances-334877/?ref=localauthority.news)." 🏗️ Work has begun to convert the former Hen and Chicks pub on Luton High Street [into ten flats](https://futuremedway.co.uk/work-starts-to-convert-former-hen-and-chicks-pub-in-luton-high-street-chatham-into-flats/?ref=localauthority.news). 💰 Campaigners trying to save the Flying Saucer pub in Hempstead have had their £650,000 offer for the building [turned down](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/people-think-i-m-bonkers-but-i-m-not-giving-up-fight-to-s-334770/?ref=localauthority.news), with the owner demanding £1.2m. 🍻 The Dewdrop, the final pub left in Twydall, closed on New Year's Eve, with no word on what will come of the venue. 🧰 Archie Johnstone, Rochester High Street's longest-serving trader, has [passed away](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid02eom6QRbgMXm1zEwn88XMXG1MwWVsoeYZWys4Lg2DkNAPL9p7evskz86jFzSuihtyl&id=100054560314068) after 74 years of trading there. ### Property of the week This four-bedroom end-of-terrace house on Khartoum Parade in the former Kitchener Barracks is on the market for between £650,000 and £700,000, putting it firmly at the top end of Medway’s housing market. The freehold home spans around 2,500sqft across several floors, with four bathrooms, a large open-plan kitchen and living area, and private parking within the gated development. Set behind the old military walls overlooking Chatham and Rochester, it’s one of the smarter conversions in the area, but you’ll be paying London-adjacent money for the privilege. [Check out this 4 bedroom end of terrace house for sale on Rightmove4 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in Khartoum Parade, Chatham, ME4 for £600,000\. Marketed by Machin Lane LTD, Rochester![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/favicon-1.ico)Rightmove.co.uk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/12508_34228095_IMG_24_0000.png)](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/168024698?ref=localauthority.news#/) ### Events this week 🎸 Sat 10 Jan - [**Pete Astor + The High Span + Darryl Hartley**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1335409968024968) // Songwriter extraordinare brings new album to Medway. Rochester Social Club. Pay what you can. 📷 15 - 17 Jan - [**Stepping Into the Light**](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/whatson/?ref=localauthority.news) // Photography exhibition by Fort Pitt Grammar School students exploring their local area. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. ### Sport this weekend ⚽ Gillingham FC’s scheduled League Two home match against Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday has been [postponed](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/mk-dons-fixture-postponed?ref=localauthority.news) after the latter advanced in the FA Cup. ⚽ Chatham Town [welcome Carlisle United](https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2025-2026/fa-trophy/chatham-town/carlisle-united/560352?ref=localauthority.news) on Saturday in the FA Trophy. The Chats are due to host League Two opposition in what should be one of the biggest home games of the season, weather permitting. 🏉 Medway Rugby Football Club 1XV are [playing Old Northamptonians](https://www.mrfc.net/news/this-coming-saturday-2957981.html?ref=localauthority.news) at Priestfields on Saturday. 🏒 Invicta Mustangs play [two games this weekend](https://www.invictamustangs.co.uk/fixtures?ref=localauthority.news), welcoming both Milton Keynes Thunder to Planet Ice on Saturday and Chelmsford Warriors on Sunday. ### **Footnotes** ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [***Facebook***](https://www.facebook.com/kentcurrentnews)*,* [***BlueSky***](https://bsky.app/profile/kentcurrent.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [***Instagram***](https://www.instagram.com/kentcurrentnews/?ref=localauthority.news) *for now.* ### Funding boost not enough to stabilise Medway finances URL: https://www.localauthority.news/funding-boost-not-enough-to-stabilise-medway-finances/ Last updated: 2026-01-07T00:04:30.000Z *Welcome to your first Local Authority news briefing of the year. We're easing in gently by... checks notes... wading through reams of Medway Council Cabinet papers, after the first agenda of the year was stacked with interesting developments for our towns. We've got news on how Medway still can't balance the books even with additional government funding, the establishment of a new nature reserve, £1.5m to improve Medway's shopfronts, news in brief, and lots more.* ### Funding boost not enough to stabilise Medway finances Medway Council is likely to seek a third year of exceptional financial support from central government despite receiving an above-average increase in funding under the government’s new local government finance settlement, according to a [Cabinet report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6448&ref=localauthority.news) due to be discussed next week. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/AdobeStock_559254253-2.jpeg) Look, it was this or another bloody picture of Gun Wharf. (Yes, I know Gun Wharf is technically in this picture too, but you know what I mean.) The report sets out the implications of the provisional settlement for the council’s 2026–27 budget. While it confirms a significant uplift in headline funding for Medway, officers warn that the changes will not be sufficient to close the authority’s underlying budget gap. Under the new 'fair funding' framework, Medway’s Core Spending Power, the government’s measure of councils’ funding capacity, is forecast to rise by 16.2% between 2024–25 and 2026–27, compared with a national average increase of around 13.5%. Over the full three-year settlement period, funding is projected to rise by almost 32%. However, the Cabinet report makes clear that Core Spending Power is not a direct measure of cash available to spend, and that the provisional settlement leaves Medway around £7.9m worse off than assumed in the draft budget presented in November. This is largely due to changes in how grants are consolidated, phased in and rolled into core funding under the new system. As a result, officers conclude that the settlement “alone will not be sufficient to meet the pressures on statutory services” or enable the council to set a balanced budget for the coming year without further government support. Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) said the authority had hoped to avoid needing Exceptional Financial Support for a third year, but that this now looked unlikely. “When we first spoke about Exceptional Financial Support, when we wrote to government originally, that was on a three-year basis,” he told *Local Authority.* "It was my ambition, in a good set of circumstances, not to have to access it for this third year. We are not likely to be in that position now. We think we will have to.” Maple said the most significant pressure remained adult social care, although he stressed that Medway faces a broader range of challenges than many other councils. “Adult social care is the biggest financial challenge, but it’s not alone,” he said. “As a unitary authority, we have all four of the major pressures facing local government. Temporary accommodation and housing pressures sit with districts and boroughs, while special educational needs and disabilities, children’s social care and adult social care sit with upper-tier authorities. We have responsibility for all four.” Around 6,000 people in Medway currently receive adult social care support, and the cost of providing care continues to rise as needs become more complex. Officers warn that even modest increases in demand or unit costs can significantly impact the council’s finances. The settlement does provide greater certainty than the one-year deals that have characterised local government funding in recent years. Funding levels for the second and third years are guaranteed as a minimum, with any subsequent changes expected to be upward. However, the report also highlights ongoing uncertainty around the reset of the business rates system and the gradual withdrawal of legacy grants. Ministers have confirmed that Exceptional Financial Support will remain available for councils in the most difficult financial positions, alongside the option of bespoke council tax flexibility in exceptional circumstances. Medway’s draft budget already assumes a council tax increase of 5%, in line with government expectations for authorities with social care responsibilities. Maple said a council tax rise was unavoidable, alongside continued efforts to raise income and control costs. “We’ll see a council tax increase. I’m on the record elsewhere saying that,” he said. “That’s the working assumption by central government. As always, we’ll be reviewing our fees and charges as well, and we’re also looking at areas where increased usage is bringing in more income, such as our sports centres.” He pointed to progress made through the council’s Financial Improvement and Transformation plan, which has delivered savings in recent years, but said this had not been enough to offset demand-led pressures. “We’ve made good progress, and that’s been reported publicly,” he said. “Those savings are there, but the pressures remain.” Maple said he was hopeful that 2026–27 would be the final year Medway needs exceptional financial support, although he stopped short of making a firm commitment. “I’m hoping so. I’m planning for that to be the case. I am confident that if we do have to seek Exceptional Financial Support, it will be at a lower level than we’ve seen for the previous two years.” Final budget proposals will be brought to Cabinet in February, before being debated and approved by full council later in the month. ***Help us start strong in 2026.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. An annual subscription costs just £1.15 per week and helps us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Become a supporter ](https://www.localauthority.news/subscribe) ### Horsted Valley on course to become Local Nature Reserve Medway Council is moving to [formally designate](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83349&ref=localauthority.news) the Horsted Valley as a Local Nature Reserve, a decision that would give statutory protection to one of Chatham’s largest areas of connected green space. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-23.35.59.png) Map of the proposed Horsted Valley Nature Reserve. The proposed designation would bring together a series of existing sites, including Luton Millennium Green, Daisy Banks, Coney Banks, Barnfield, Bishop’s Hoath Woodland, Snodhurst Bottom, Ridgeway Bank and Horsted Farm, and treat them as a single Local Nature Reserve. Each area already has its own character and use, ranging from sports pitches and play areas to chalk grassland and ancient woodland, but the report proposes managing them collectively as a continuous green corridor through the Upper Horsted Valley. Taken together, the sites form a continuous green corridor running through Chatham, stretching from the housing developments of Walderslade and Chatham towards Luton, and southwards to the open land around the Davis Estate. Despite its scale and location, the area has not previously been formally designated or managed as a single site. The report describes Horsted Valley as a dry chalk dip slope valley around two miles long, characteristic of the North Downs and similar in form to Capstone and Darland. Surrounded on almost all sides by housing, it contains a mosaic of habitats, including rare chalk grassland and semi-natural ancient woodland, alongside formal facilities such as football pitches, play areas and walking routes with interpretation panels. Historically, much of the valley was grassland, woodland and arable farmland, with large areas remaining undeveloped until the 1960s. Remnants of these habitats remain and support ecologically important species. Officers identify Daisy Banks and Coney Banks as chalk grassland sites that have become increasingly overgrown with scrub, reducing biodiversity value, while other parts of the valley balance wildlife interest with heavy recreational use. Work has already been carried out across the valley in recent years, including improvements to play areas, new footpaths, signage and interpretation boards, motorbike restrictions, and the creation of a pocket park at Luton Millennium Green funded through successful external bids. Parts of the valley have also been granted Village Green status, and a local Friends group has been formed to support heritage and interpretation projects. The practical effect of Local Nature Reserve status would be to fix the valley’s role as protected green space, making future development more constrained and giving the council a clearer legal basis to prioritise conservation alongside public access. Unlike Capstone Valley, which has not been formally designated, Local Nature Reserve status would place Horsted Valley on a more secure footing in planning and land management terms. A ten-year management plan is being developed to support the designation. This includes proposals for scrub clearance, potential cattle grazing to manage grasslands, and further changes to access, interpretation and facilities. Discussions have taken place with Kent Wildlife Trust about grazing arrangements, similar to those in place at Darland Banks. The report states that there are no direct financial implications from seeking designation. Any future costs associated with managing the reserve would be covered through existing services and the council’s budget-setting process. Subject to Cabinet approval, officers expect the necessary documentation to be completed by the end of April 2026, ahead of formal consultation with Natural England and local residents, with the expectation that the process could be completed this year. ### Other Cabinet news In an unusually interesting agenda, several other items on the Cabinet agenda for next week signal significant shifts in our towns: - A [£1.5m injection of government funding](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83273&ref=localauthority.news) is about to be channelled into shopfronts, streets and public spaces across Medway, with a strong emphasis on quick, visible improvements. Much of the money will be distributed through small, time-limited grants that individual premises can apply for to improve frontages, particularly in smaller parades of businesses rather than flagship high streets. Larger, more coordinated public-realm schemes are planned in Gillingham, but all funding must be committed by March 2027 or be handed back. - Two of Medway’s long-standing Air Quality Management Areas are [set to be scrapped](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83286&ref=localauthority.news), after monitoring has shown pollution levels have remained within legal limits for at least five years. The designations at Pier Road in Gillingham and Rainham High Street were originally introduced because of high nitrogen dioxide levels, but officers say cleaner vehicle fleets and broader changes in traffic behaviour have driven a sustained improvement. Monitoring will continue, but the council does not expect new air quality hotspots to emerge elsewhere in the area in the near future. - Sleep is being elevated as a serious public health issue in Medway, as this year’s [Annual Public Health Report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83269&ref=localauthority.news) argues that poor sleep is quietly undermining health, wellbeing and productivity across the authority. The report highlights links between sleep deprivation and inequality, particularly for shift workers, young people and those living in insecure or overcrowded housing, while stopping short of proposing new council-funded programmes. Instead, it is designed to prompt action by partners, employers and community groups, reframing sleep as something on a par with diet, exercise and mental health. ### In brief 🚓 Three men have been arrested after a man in his 80s [was killed](https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2025-12-30/two-arrested-after-pedestrian-in-his-80s-dies-in-collision?ref=localauthority.news) after being struck by a car on the A289 before being carried more than a mile on its roof. 🚌 Arriva bus fares in Medway are [increasing](https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/revisions-to-fares-in-kent-&-medway?ref=localauthority.news) from 18 January. While most single journeys remain capped at £3, multi-journey tickets will see increases. 🚏 Meanwhile, Medway Council has been allocated £15.4m by the government to [improve bus services](https://futuremedway.co.uk/15-4-million-funding-boost-to-overhaul-medway-bus-services-and-infrastructure/?ref=localauthority.news) and network infrastructure. 🚧 Works to fix a burst water main on Maidstone Road in Chatham could [take days](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/buses-diverted-as-a-busy-town-centre-road-shut-due-to-water-334730/?ref=localauthority.news) to complete. 🏗️ Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards has called for [stronger enforcement action](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/mp-calls-for-environment-agency-to-step-up-and-clear-illeg-334086/?ref=localauthority.news) against an illegal scrapyard operating south of Borstal. 🏘️ Medway Council officers are recommending that a 75 home development on the east side of Hoo [be approved](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83361&ref=localauthority.news). 🗄️ Plans have been submitted for a 350 home development to the south of Allhallows. The proposals also include a burial ground, nursery, mobility hub, play areas, and allotments. #### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “I don’t sit on boards to be important” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-sit-on-boards-to-be-important/ Last updated: 2026-07-27T10:53:22.000Z *Jack Packman is the new CEO of* [*Medway Voluntary Action*](https://www.mva.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Steven met him in their new offices within Chatham Historic Dockyard, where they discussed what MVA does, how he became the CEO, and Medway's similarities to his home of Thanet.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2026/01/image-1.png) Jack Packman **What is your official occupation?** I'm the Chief Executive Officer here at [MVA](https://www.mva.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), supporting Kent and Medway. **Do you have any other additional roles, paid or unpaid?** I have a number of additional roles across Kent. My first additional role is that I'm an elected councillor in Thanet, where I live. I also sit on the Director's Board for [East Kent Mencap](https://www.eastkentmencap.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I've just been elected onto the board of [East Kent College](https://www.ekcgroup.ac.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I'm also the chair of governors at a local primary school. **What is MVA?** It's a really good question, actually, because MVA is known as Medway Voluntary Action. The identity of the organisation is changing just like every voluntary sector and faith leader’s organisation, because of the economic pressures. We're practically known as an infrastructure organisation, supporting other charities, other voluntary sector organisations and faith organisations. To access funding, to look at the governance, look at the actual infrastructure of that organisation, policies, procedures, all that stuff. Maybe starting up a new charity, CIO or CIC. I think MVA has now developed more into service delivery in certain areas. Looking at health inequalities or inequalities generally, looking at young people and the next generation of leaders. They're 'realising your potential' programs rather than the infrastructure contract. Looking at how we support leaders within the sector and work with the leaders’ networks across the area. Hopefully, we will see that transition of becoming more than an infrastructure organisation and actually becoming a go-to organisation, even more than we already are around service delivery as well as infrastructure. **How did you come to be the CEO?** I worked in housing before I came here, before that, and then before that was in the voluntary sector at [Social Enterprise Kent](https://sekgroup.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), where I really learned the bread and butter of the [VCSEF](https://vcsefnetwork.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) sector. Went into housing to understand the pressures of housing, progressed within housing and then realised that this job opportunity came up and saw an opportunity to get back into the sector that I think makes the biggest difference in the world, or in the UK anyway, and it was a good opportunity where my morals and passions lie around grassroots and really supporting residents. I saw the opportunity, went for the interview, which was a grilling interview, but rightly so, because you're going for the Chief Executive role. **What can you tell us about the MVA strategy for 2026?** It's an exciting time. We're currently writing a new strategy, where we can really regain our identity and have real strategic aims and priorities. Not let too much out of the bag, because the strategy needs to be approved by the trustees before anything, but we are looking at creating a next generation of leaders and employment pathways. We are also looking at tackling inequality. Not just health inequality, the sector's been focused on health inequality, but all inequality, whether that's racial inequality or food inequality or something like that. Then looking at impact innovation. How can we be innovative and work smarter, and bring our organisation into the current century in IT, working smarter? Obviously, you've got AI coming. I say coming, it is here, it's how we then implement that into the organisation. Focusing on real targeted strategic priorities. We do work across Kent and Medway. It's around how we then expand without duplicating. It's about identifying those gaps and plugging those gaps, and then working with the sector and other sectors across sector collaboration. > I'm really passionate that the money stays within the sector, because the next five years are going to be hard economically for the sector. **How big an organisation is MVA?** We have 13 members of staff, including myself. That's about to expand. We've recruited two new community connectors working in partnership with [Active Kent & Medway](https://activekent.org/?ref=localauthority.news). We've recruited a data officer. So probably looking at 15, and that's going to hopefully expand as we progress. Our budgets vary between £800,000 to £1.1 million of turnover. That's not profit. I wish it was profit, but it's not profit. That's our turnover, and most of that money goes back into the sector, we don't pocket that money. Any funding we get that's either a surplus then goes back into the sector, and I'm really passionate that the money stays within the sector, because the next five years are going to be hard economically for the sector. **Where does that money come from?** All sorts of areas. We do a lot of work with the [Integrated Care Board](https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), with the NHS. We do a lot of work with the local authority here, Medway Council, who are really supportive of the voluntary sector. There are two core funded projects that we receive, and they are obviously under financial pressure. We need to make sure we're not reliant upon the statutory services, and how we become more innovative about our financial income. We also have donations that come into MVA, which come from people that have received either a service or help from MVA. We then do a lot of work with [Macmillan](https://www.macmillan.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and other funders of the National Lottery. All sorts of funders, really. **If someone's reading this and they want to help MVA, is there a way they could get involved?** We always have volunteering opportunities. Around 40 volunteers work with our [befriending](https://www.mva.org.uk/individuals/befriending?ref=localauthority.news) team, which is funded by the ICB. We have volunteers that work here with us in the office. Also, we're happy to connect people. You don't necessarily have to work or volunteer for MVA, but we're happy to say we don't necessarily need that skill set within our organisation, but we have member organisations that do need a treasurer on their board or whatever that needs to be. Or the other alternative is to come on our board. We currently have, I think, five or six places that, due to either retirement or they've reached their maximum level of service, we've now got vacancies on our board. If you've got a particular skill set that you feel you can give, come on our board. **What individuals or groups do MVA help? Who can turn to MVA for support?** I would say it's mainly the voluntary community, social enterprise and faith network. I wouldn't say we directly support the statutory services or the health sector through service delivery. What we do do for that sector is free up capacity. I think that's across the board of the voluntary community, social enterprise, and faith sector, we do free up capacity for the statutory service. For example, let's take social care. If we didn't do our befriending service, social care and NHS, that's a lot of lonely people that would then be sitting in A&E or come in to try and see a doctor because they're lonely or depressed. You think about how that service alleviates the pressure off of primary care gateways and secondary care. But direct support is the smaller charities or CRCs. ****You're only part way through this conversation.** Register for free to continue reading, and receive our interviews, investigations and local reporting straight to your inbox. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Before we start again URL: https://www.localauthority.news/before-we-start-again/ Last updated: 2025-12-31T11:03:47.000Z As we reach the end of the year, we are breaking with the usual *Local Authority* format to pause and take stock of where this project is, what we have spent the past twelve months doing, and where it is heading next. I hope you have managed to get a bit of breathing space over the festive period, even if that mostly involved realising how tired you actually were once everything finally stopped. This has been a strange year on a personal level. When my dad died earlier in the year, many of you emailed, messaged, or replied with words of support. I did not say much at the time, partly because I wasn't sure how to, but I do want to acknowledge it here. *Local Authority* can sometimes feel like a fairly one-way conversation. That reminder that there are real people on the other end of this, thoughtful and kind ones, meant a great deal. We will be back to our regular publishing rhythm shortly. Before that, I wanted to look back at the work we have done this year, share a little of what goes on behind the scenes, and explain, plainly, what keeps this project running. As ever, if the mechanics of local journalism are not especially your thing, feel free to skip this edition. But from the start, we have tried to be open about how *Local Authority* works, what we prioritise, and the limits we are working within. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/AdobeStock_979631209-1.jpeg) Much of our reporting this year has come back to a familiar question. What is actually happening here, and why is it so hard to get a straight answer? We spent months trying to establish [how £825,000 of public money was allocated](https://www.localauthority.news/825000-spent-on-56-community-projects/) across dozens of community projects. We revealed that some of Medway’s red route cameras [were not catching anyone at all](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-red-route-cameras-arent-catching/). We reported on plans to [sell off significant parts of the council’s property estate](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-ponders-selling-brook/), and on the [abandonment of the £33m Innovation Park Medway scheme](https://www.localauthority.news/innovation-park-plan-abandoned-after/). We followed the [issues at Medway Community Healthcare](https://www.localauthority.news/whats-going-on-at-mch/) and sat through licensing hearings that demonstrated, in real time, [how poorly parts of the system function](https://www.localauthority.news/licensing-hearing-demonstrates-why/). Alongside that came a steady stream of political turbulence. [Reform took its first seats on Medway Council](https://www.localauthority.news/labour-loses-overall-control-of-medway/). A councillor [defected](https://www.localauthority.news/princes-park-councillor-defects-to/). Parties [fractured internally](https://www.localauthority.news/infighting-resignations-and-a-coup/). Flags [appeared](https://www.localauthority.news/flags-apparently/) and [disappeared](https://www.localauthority.news/flags-down/). A UKIP protest in Rochester attracted [barely double figures](https://www.localauthority.news/a-protest-in-search-of-a-crowd/). Most of it was treated as routine. One story travelled far beyond Medway. Our reporting on a [Nigel Farage football shirt being offered as a school prize](https://www.localauthority.news/farage-football-shirt-offered-as/) prompted national coverage and sparked a rapid U-turn by the school. It was the most read story we published this year. It was also one of the least enjoyable to work on, which is often how these things go. Not everything we publish is about conflict. We have also spent time looking back at [Medway’s lost pubs](https://www.localauthority.news/the-ghosts-of-a-working-class-landscape/) and [skate parks](https://www.localauthority.news/the-glory-days-of-the-black-lion/), exploring how [churches are quietly becoming cultural spaces](https://www.localauthority.news/beyond-the-sunday-service/), and digging through our [ceremonial and mayoral history](https://www.localauthority.news/exploring-medways-mayoral-treasures/). Our interviews ranged from [council leaders](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) and [opposition councillors](https://www.localauthority.news/we-live-rent-free-in-their-heads/) to artists, writers, [filmmakers](https://www.localauthority.news/they-are-movies-that-will-at-some/), [Drag Race superstars](https://www.localauthority.news/just-because-you-put-a-wig-on-it/), [wrestlers](https://www.localauthority.news/the-world-ended-and-so-did-my-hopes/), and community figures trying to keep fragile institutions alive. It is not a tidy body of work, and it is not meant to be. It reflects Medway as it actually is. Alongside the reporting, we have continued trying to create space for local democracy to happen. This year, we held [another Medway Question Time](https://www.localauthority.news/listen-medway-question-time-83e/) at MidKent College, bringing local politicians and figures face-to-face with residents. We also launched our [Local Democracy Café events](https://www.localauthority.news/how-can-medway-make-you-happy/), smaller and more informal conversations about how things work locally, and what doesn't. *Local Authority* remains a small operation. There is no office, no sales team, and no safety net. Most of the work happens in evenings, early mornings, and weekends, fitted around everything else. Toward the end of the year, [we moved from Substack to Ghost](https://www.localauthority.news/local-authority-has-a-new-home/). It was the right decision, but it means the neat, comparable stats we used to share no longer tell a clear story. What we can say confidently is that thousands of people read *Local Authority* every week, our reporting is increasingly followed up elsewhere, and many of our strongest stories still begin with a reader getting in touch. This work is also getting harder. Public bodies are slower to respond, more guarded when they do, and increasingly comfortable limiting access altogether. That gap is the reason *Local Authority* exists. It is also why it is fragile. If you have been reading **Local Authority* this year and found it useful, informative, or frustrating in the right way, the most direct way you can support the work is by becoming a paid subscriber. Paid subscriptions make it possible to spend weeks on stories like the £825,000 community funding investigation, to stick with the flags saga long after others lost interest, and to publish pieces that do not come with press releases, neat quotes, or guaranteed outcomes. Right now, we are offering [25% off an annual subscription](https://www.localauthority.news/ghosted), making your first year £45. That support directly funds the reporting you have been reading all year and helps ensure we can keep doing it in 2026. If paying is not an option, that is completely understood. Reading, sharing, and sending tips still helps more than you might realise. [Get 25% off a year of Local Authority ](https://www.localauthority.news/ghosted) This year also saw the launch of the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), our county-wide title. It was a slightly unhinged thing to take on alongside *Local Authority*, but it came from the same place. Frustration at how little transparent, independent reporting exists on decisions that affect people across Kent. The *Kent Current* has not reduced our focus on Medway. If anything, it has reinforced why this work matters locally and how quickly important stories fall through the cracks when nobody is watching closely. We were again nominated for Kent News Website of the Year at the Kent Press and Broadcast Awards. I was also nominated for Print and Online Journalist of the Year. Awards are not why we do this, but they are worth acknowledging as a signal that this work is being taken seriously beyond our own readership. Looking ahead, the shape of *Local Authority* will not change dramatically. We are close to the practical limits of what we can publish while keeping standards where they need to be. What will change is the emphasis. Fewer filler stories. More time spent on pieces that take weeks or months to come together. Some light tweaks to the schedule. There are already several stories in progress that have been a long time coming. We are looking forward to finally publishing them. Before we sign off for the year, thank you. Thank you to our paid supporters, who make this project viable. Thank you to the readers who reply to emails, challenge us, correct us, and trust us with information that is not always easy to share. Thank you to the people who agree to be interviewed or talk to us for stories. *Local Authority* exists because enough people believe Medway deserves better than an information vacuum. That still feels slightly improbable, and we do not take it lightly. We will be back soon. Until then, thank you for reading, and for sticking with us. Ed Editor, *Local Authority* ### Catching up with our previous guests URL: https://www.localauthority.news/catching-up-with-our-previous-guests-2/ Last updated: 2025-12-28T07:00:13.000Z *To round off our year of Local Authority interviews, we spoke to some of our previous interviewees to learn about their experiences in 2025, any changes in their lives, some recommendations, and what’s ahead for 2026.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/2025-catch-up-1.jpg) **Editor's note:* In 2024, Steven interviewed* [*John Daynes*](https://www.localauthority.news/it-created-somebody-horrible/)*, a motivational speaker and coach at Prison2Parliament. In reaching out to interviewees for this piece, we were shocked and saddened to hear that John had died. Our thoughts go out to his family at this time.* --- [***Richard Pemberton***](https://www.localauthority.news/there-is-something-for-everybody/) *is a running coach at Medway Fit.* **Since your interview, have you changed jobs?** Still leading Medway Fit. I’m very happy, and I feel there is space to grow. It’s about time you came back to Medway Fit on a regular basis, Steve! **Have you moved into, out of, or around Medway?** I’m still in Medway. I like Medway. Despite living here for my whole life, I still managed to find some new to me walking areas. There was a whole set of new paths around Ranscombe Farm that I had never used before. **Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?** I signed up to the country park’s parking season ticket this year and have spent lots of time running and walking around Capstone Country Park, Riverside Country Park and Deangate Country Park. I often don’t see any other people, which is both nice and a shame. I think it would be great if more local people spent time in our green spaces. **Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?** Medway Fit will be running a new Couch to 5k course in the spring. Nearer the time, it will be advertised on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/medwayfit) and at [**www.medway.fit**](http://www.medway.fit/?ref=localauthority.news). It will be free for about nine weeks with sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. --- [***Stuart Turner***](https://www.localauthority.news/i-cant-really-write-music-that-goes/) *singer-songwriter and biomedical scientist.* **Since your interview, have you changed jobs?** I have not changed jobs. But my job is always changing. Which is a different question. **Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?** Helped Rachel Lowrie form a band to play her Medway-related folk songs in a more rocking way, and [South Shore](https://www.instagram.com/southshoreofthemedway/?ref=localauthority.news) has gone from the idea of a band to gigging as a four-piece with a single coming out in February and the rest of an album being recorded in January. Which is technically next year, but the single was recorded this year, and there will be videos to both sides of the 7 inch on YouTube before Santa puts in his transglobal mince pie and sherry binge. **Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?** The long-gestated [These Guilty Men](https://www.facebook.com/p/These-Guilty-Men-100063153495479/) sophomore album is underway and really sounding spiffing so far. We have five songs in the can and our base of operations, Moon Studios, has had a significant uplift in equipment, which will be a glorious thing when it’s all functioning. On the subject of which, myself and Rob Grigg (drummer in both of the above) have finally finished tinkering about on the Moon with a sort of solo album I have been messing with for a number of years. As I said to someone else recently, it was an attempt to make a record in a completely different way to any I had made before, but it has still come out sounding like me. Unfortunately, everywhere I go, I’m always there. Anyway, this item, 'Gargoyles at the Memoir Club,' will appear as an online curio at some point next year for the five or six people who periodically ask if I’m still writing my own songs. And in my day job, I will endeavour to stay employed, continue to furnish the kids with adequate foodstuffs and keep the lights on in our house near a river. But I am sure no readers will want to know that. --- [***Sarah Hehir***](https://www.localauthority.news/i-write-in-quite-a-visual-way/) *is a writer, poet and scriptwriter on The Archers.* **Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?** The story of how I started a chocolate factory with my sister is now in development with BBC Studios,***,*** which is exciting. Our local poetry group Common Ground continues to thrive. We meet once a month at Intra Arts. **Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?** My new play, Man or Bear, is going to be on at Edinburgh Fringe in 2026, hopefully with some more local previews. We started our research and development in Medway thanks to local workshop participants, the sixth form at Rainham School for Girls, The Glassbox Theatre and Wordsmithery. We'd love to show it at The Brook Theatre when it re-opens. --- [***Wolf Howard***](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-have-any-technique-i-never/)*is a former Stuckist, pinhole photographer, poet, and drummer in multiple bands within Medway.* **Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?** I don’t think so. **Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?** Not that I’m aware of. --- [***Bob Collins***](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-stopped-thinking-that-its-going/) *was a civil servant and guitarist with The Dentists, as well as too many other bands to list.* **Since your interview, have you changed jobs?** Yes. I’ve changed to being retired. I really liked my job, but I love being retired even more. Been doing lots more music, walking, cooking, etc. **Any highlights from 2025 to talk about?** Apart from retiring, which was a pretty big deal, I’ve just come back from a 20-date tour playing guitar with [Brian Bilston](https://brianbilston.com/?ref=localauthority.news) and [The Catenary Wires](https://catenarywires.bandcamp.com/?ref=localauthority.news), a poetry/music combination. We played mainly in theatres and arts centres to seated audiences. It was an amazing experience and unlike anything me or the others in the band had done before. **Is there anything coming up in 2026 that you want the readers to know?** Working on new material and hopefully new albums with both [The Treasures of Mexico](https://www.facebook.com/thetreasuresofmexico/) and [Swansea Sound](https://www.instagram.com/soundswansea/?ref=localauthority.news). Plus two short US tours with Swansea Sound supporting Heavenly. Exciting times! _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### “The mayoralty has invigorated our marriage” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-mayoralty-has-invigoratedour-marriage-and-lives-together/ Last updated: 2025-12-21T07:00:03.000Z *Councillor Trevor Clarke is the Mayor of Medway for this municipal year. Steven met him in the mayor's office to talk to him about becoming a councillor and the mayor, how his father got shot, and the end of the world...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/AA-1-1.jpg) The Mayor and Mayoress of Medway *First, a Christmas message from the Mayor:* We love Christmas in our household – not only because we are Christians so we celebrate the birth of Jesus at this time, but also because it is a season which brings out the best in people. Joy and generosity are more abundant and merriment is easier to find – in many ways it is not unlike the year-round experience of being a Mayor! I now have some inkling of what it is to be a professional Santa – dressed in ancient red robes meeting and taking photos with happy and excited families and children. I fear a beard may be all that separates me from this and a future career! I am especially excited, then, to be taking part in all the Christmas festivities that Medway has to offer: our fabulous Dickens Festival, the enormous Christmas Market, the pantos and concerts and plays - including the amazing live performances of A Christmas Carol at Eastgate House – and of course the numerous carol services in churches, community spaces and our fantastic Rochester Cathedral. How excellent it is that so many of these events and services are dedicated to raising funds for the myriad of wonderful charities we have here in Medway. There will be very many people who spend their Christmas caring for and serving others, either as volunteers or in employment. On our [Mayoral Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/MayorofMedwayCharity) we have tried this year to showcase the incredible kindness given by our excellent charities and selfless carers who, on a daily basis, provide the support that is vital to the wellbeing of so many, and is the backbone of our community. If you are able to, as we enjoy this special time of the year with friends and loved ones, please do consider supporting some of them, including our own Mayoral charities [Caring Hands in the Community](https://www.caringhands.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and [Slide Away](https://www.slideaway.org/?ref=localauthority.news): Supporting bereaved children. Christmas is a great time to take stock, rekindle friendships, reunite families, meet neighbours – it is a unique time of the year, and it’s something we do so well in our great borough. On behalf of the Mayoral team, the Mayoress and I would like to wish all our Medway residents and all of **Local Authority*’s readers (and its hard-working staff!) a very peaceful, blessed and happy Christmas, and in the inimitable words of Tiny Tim as penned by our very own Charles Dickens: ‘A Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, everyone!’ *And now the interview.* **What is your role on Medway Council?** I am currently the Mayor of Medway for this municipal year. **What does the role entail?** It entails more than I thought it would. I've been a councillor 18 years, I have a good feeling for what the borough's about. I hadn't quite appreciated the soft power of a mayor. How you would be engaged in ordinary life that was not ward work. Because for 18 years I've looked at it through the lens of a ward councillor, which has tended to be dealing with either negative problems or struggles. You have reversed the polarity as mayor, and you're now looking at it from above. The people you're dealing with and coming to see have not come to you to solve a problem. They've come to you just to meet you, for you to encourage them, to be a part of them. I hadn't really appreciated how much of that there would be, and also what I absolutely adore and love doing… I know that it's all cliched. We all say, “Oh, everyone's lovely.” They're not all lovely, but most of the groups I'm seeing, you recognise the sacrifice, the commitment that they make, that they're honest, decent people. Often, they have filled a gap that was there, or they have gone through some trauma themselves, and they're looking to give back. I'm not actively looking for people to support, because we're not meant to do that as mayor, but I have in a soft way. The opportunity to encourage and support the groups, to encourage them, hopefully to connect them with others doing similar things as well, has been to me an extra element to this that I wasn't perhaps overly anticipating. **Why do you feel you were selected for Mayor?** It was our group's opportunity and potentially to be the last group member that would be the mayor in the present structure. It's something that I'd always wanted to do towards the back end of my political time, but obviously, with my mobility issues and the situation, the clock is ticking quicker on that. It was a question that I asked myself. This is probably the only opportunity I will get. I don't want to do it just for me. I still had to have the vision to do it, and I did. I put myself forward to the group to do it, and in usual secret fashion, these things are resolved behind closed doors. It was done on an open, straightforward vote between two candidates, and I was pleased to say I was the successful one. **How was your wife taken to the role of Madame Mayor?** Initially, not pleased, really. She's never been a part of the political scene. She said, this was your thing, you do it, just don't bother me at home. She was a little bit upset, but I think she was quite anxious. She didn't know what the demands would be on her, really. She's been going through some health things, and she had to stop working two years ago. She was at a stage where I think a big thing was a little bit intimidating because we didn't know, but actually she's come to really, really enjoy, not all of it, obviously, but the opportunities we have when we are with people. She's brilliant, and she's great because she's a teacher by heart. I like being with her because she's a lovely lady. We met 40 years ago. We met when we were 18. We actually found we work incredibly well together. It's taken us 40 years of married life to find the one thing that we can do. We joke and say that we've spent so much time together, it's like we've been on a therapy course, and the mayoralty has invigorated our marriage and lives together, because we've got a common interest now that perhaps for a few years we didn't really have. She recognised the gravity and the seriousness of it, and that was what worried her about it, because again she had no background in the political, but I think that's an advantage personally for this, because it is an apolitical role. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The year in Medway music URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-year-in-medway-music-2/ Last updated: 2025-12-19T12:10:27.000Z *It's been a remarkable year for Medway music, so our music correspondent Stephen Morris has put together his list of the essential albums coming out of our towns this year. Further down, we hear about Oral History Medway and their efforts to keep Medway stories alive, we review Lupen Crook at the Three Sheets, and lots more.* ### The year in Medway music *2025 was a big year for Medway music. The year saw the reformation of Thee Headcoatees, a further re-imagining of The Singing Loins and a reappearance of The High Span. Alongside this came new releases from Dead Blood Cells, Theatre Royal, and The Spike Direction Effect, as well as exciting debut albums from The Penrose Web, The Dutch Embassy, and Cream Soda. A standard year in the Medway Towns, then. Here, in no particular order, our music correspondent *Stephen Morris* picks the ten albums that have particularly caught his ear over the last twelve months.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/Music-2025.jpg) **The Singing Loins – *Camber ‘87*** The Singing Loins returned in 2025 with a collection of re-recordings of old songs alongside the addition of a brand new one: ‘Teeth and Eyes’. Now boasting an established larger line up including Richard Moore on violin and Oli Allen on percussion, *Camber ’87* manages to preserve the essence of Singing Loins past while ever moving onwards. The new song captures this approach of juggling the past, present and future, looking back at perfectly imperfectly times gone by and gazing ahead to an unknown tomorrow. It’s beautiful. **Theatre Royal – *A Change of Weather*** Now onto album number six, Theatre Royal have long been recognised part of the Medway music scene, not least because the majority of the band used to be in The Long Weekend. Where that band were bold, brash lads determined to embrace the lifestyle of 20-somethings in a band, *A Change of Weather* sees Theatre Royal on reflective form, entirely happy to embrace and accept their position in early middle age – fathers, husbands and partners, people with Responsibilities (capital “R” very much intended). Speaking of ‘Welsh Coastal Towns’, which secured airplay courtesy of Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music, lead singer Oliver Burgess explains how ‘the song is about that realisation: looking around the house, thinking: “Am I my father? Is that who I am now? Do I like that? Do I like the fact I’m turning into my dad? *Am* I turning into him? Do I feel comfortable with it?”’ It's a beautiful indie pop album, packed full of soul. **Cream Soda – *Serving You…*** It’s been a particularly busy time in the Page family this year. Not only has Glenn Page released *Misty Medway Magick* alongside his bandmates in The Len Price 3; son Tom Page has also released an album with his band, Cream Soda. As might be expected from a band whose lead singer’s father is a regular on the garage band scene, *Serving You…* is rooted in a love of no-frills rock and roll. It's a suitably back to basics affair, raw and unpolished, with pre-requisites references to Medway landmarks (The Tap n Tin appears in album opener ‘Victim of the Medway Towns’ and the Russian submarine U-475 *Black Widow*, rusting away near the Rochester Bridge, gets a reference on ‘Submerged Affair’). Meanwhile, ‘Hey Hey Ray Ray’ could easily be an offcut from a Headcoatees album. Speaking of which… **Thee Headcoatees – *Man Trap*** Fronted by Holly Golightly, Kyra LaRubia, [Ludella Black](https://www.localauthority.news/we-all-had-silly-names-given-to-us/) (whose splendid EP with The 5,6,7,8s also came out this year) and Bongo Debbie, Thee Headcoatees returned after an absence of some 26 years with *Man Trap*. It’s a collection of covers and Billy Childish penned songs with musical accompaniment from Childish and fellow Headcoats, Johnny Johnson and Bruce Brand (see below for more on Thee Headcoats). With each Headcoatee taking turns on lead vocals, stand out songs include the Golightly fronted cover of Thee Mighty Caesars’ ‘The Double Axe’, the gleeful thrash of the Childish penned title-track and a suitably grungy cover of Fang’s ‘The Money Will Roll Right In’ that boasts a vibrancy even Mudhoney’s version lacks. **The Dutch Embassy – *Lighting the Beacons*** If you’ve been to just a handful of gigs in Medway in the last fifteen or so years, it’s more than likely you’ll have seen Nick Rice on stage. Starting out with The Effectives and The Deccas, he has since played bass with Stuart Turner and the Flat Earth Society, The Treasures of Mexico, These Guilty Men and South Shore. He provided bass for the Pod album, *The Earth’s Rotation* and joined Stuart Turner on guitar for Chris Broderick penned song cycle *…And One Red Mitten*. On top of that, he’s been a regular feature on Groovy Uncle albums. The Dutch Embassy sees Rice take to the front of the stage, singing songs he has penned himself alongside Noeleen (violin and vocals), Dave Sawicki (bass and vocals), Jimmy Moore (drums and percussion) and Stuart Turner (theremin and harmonica). Their debut album, *Lighting the Beacons*, is full of perfect jangly-indie pop moments with occasional dalliances with folk. It turns on a sixpence and bounces around with the kinds of melodies of which McCartney and Davies would be proud. Standout moments include ‘You Can’t Take the Best Away from Me, Yet’ and ‘Constantinople’ (so named after Rice’s AI aided phone misheard a voice note). **The Penrose Web – *The Least of our Concern*** Saturday 30 May saw The Penrose Web play both their first and second gigs, the latter being at the Rochester Masonic Hall, supporting The Masonics. They had, by this point, already released an EP (*It’s…The Penrose Web EP*came out on New Year’s Day), but this gig provided an opportunity to glimpse some of the treats in store on their long player. *The Least of our Concern* is a splendid affair. Inevitably, with Allan Crockford’s involvement, the psychedelic is never far away, but it is rather more understated than in his work with The Prisoners and The Galileo 7\. The debut album documents a series of struggles and conflicts – some with others – but many with oneself. Highlights include the angst ridden ‘The Other Man Inside My House’, the pure pop perfection of ‘Geraldine’ and the Electric Prunes-ish ‘In Her Darkened Room’, a spectacular essay in Gothic restlessness. **The Spike Direction Effect – *Reclaimer*** From the opening humming and harpsicord on ‘Be Here’, you know you’re going to be in safe hands with this underdog trash trio. Highlights include the garage band pilfering of the *Lord of the Rings* theme tune for ‘The Long Expected Party’ (“My love for you is as deep as Khazad-dûm”) and the riotous ‘Chatham Pocket’ whose title very efficiently also serves as the complete set of lyrics. It’s a joy to behold. Listen to it now. Please. **Thee Headcoats – *The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm ‘n’ Beat Vernacular*** A whole article could be written about Billy Childish Esquire’s musical endeavours in 2025 alone. We’ve already encountered one of them in the form of Thee Headcoatees’ reformation. There have been a clutch of releases from The Guy Hamper Trio (Featuring James Taylor), a single from CTMF (‘(I’m) Stranded’), further EPs from Thee Headcoatees, *The Man-Trap Sessions Volumes 1 and 2* and a further single from CTMF, ‘Step Out’ to support the release of an album of the same name from the dying days of 2024\. There will be one last hurrah for the year with a further CTMF single, ‘Searching from the Losing Place’ coming out on 31 December. *The Sherlock Holmes Rhythm ‘n’ Beat Vernacular* sees Childish continue in his reunion with fellow Headcoats Bruce Brand and Johnny Johnson, following on from 2023’s *Irregularis (The Great Hiatus)*. While Childish has often sought to separate out his love of different music styles across different bands (or at lease band *names*), this record sees a blurring of his musical identities. The R n B and references to the inhabitant of 221b Baker Street may abound, but so too do references his old band, The Buff Medways – courtesy of an excellent song bearing the full name of that particular beat combo: ‘The Friends of the Buff Medways Fanciers Association’. See also the continued employment of the Dylan-ish drawl that Childish has adopted in recent years when releasing albums with The William Loveday Intention. This latest Headcoats outing is frantic, fun and exhilarating. **Dead Blood Cells – *Medwave*** Every now and then, something emerges from these Towns which doesn’t easily match up with anything else available. Dead Blood Cells cannot be categorised as a garage band, a jangly indie band or a folk band. Not even close. Instead, they are an all guns blazing industrial darkwave band offering a blizzard of high octane beats, gloriously gothic squelches and a soaring – and slightly sinister sounding – vocal. *Medwave* is an intense exploration around the shadows of the human soul – where contradiction, self-loathing and inner turmoil rule the roost. It is nightmarishly brilliant. Put on a song like ‘We Play Industrial’. Set the volume to 11,000, sit back and don’t worry too much if your ears start to bleed. They’re probably supposed to do that. **The High Span – *Blithering*** By stark contrast with Dead Blood Cells, The High Span’s *Blithering* is a picture of understatement and splendid nonsense. Fear and self-doubt are on prominent display throughout the record, but hide behind the wit of Younger’s lyrics and the bounciness of the post-punk indie pop sound. From the whimsically presented tale of a French policeman investigating Parisian anarchy through to fever dream of ‘Ambrosine’ and the hidden torment behind the apparent naivety on ‘British Summer Time’ this is an exceptional album with new delights to be discovered upon every listen. ### Oral History Medway captures Medway's voice for posterity [*Oral History Medway*](https://oralhistorymedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *(OHM) is a new Community Interest Company (CIC) set up to record the stories of people who aren’t typically represented in archives, including working-class and diaspora communities. We spoke to directors* [*Rob Flood*](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/) *and* [*Chris de Coulon Berthoud*](https://www.localauthority.news/you-make-it-sound-so-romantic/) *to find out more...* Archival spaces are often places where the top-level stories are told, not those covered in [The Chatham Scandal](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chatham-Scandal-history-Medways-prostitution/dp/1901625044?ref=localauthority.news). The voices of working people are often unheard when their actual presence is far from silent. OHM aims to rectify the silence of certain voices. This can’t be done with the historical record in quite the same way, but what OHM can do is try to make sure that the contemporary record is accurate. Oral history is different because it is from the people’s mouths. When you do oral history, what you're doing is getting an unmediated voice of the person themselves. They reflect on their own life and how they live it. It's not a third party observing and then constructing these things. Chris and Rob have already been busy, becoming directors of the Short Brothers Aviation Heritage CIC, an organisation set up to further the work of others involved in keeping the story of Short Brothers alive. This included contributing objects for the display from their own collections and helping the curator select different items. They also produced a film that was shown in the crypt during an exhibition at Rochester Cathedral. Chris was with the exhibition throughout August, talking to residents and capturing more oral history about the Shorts Brothers. Shorts left the Medway Towns in the late 1940’s and were surprised to be talking to people with firsthand testimony of working there, people in their 90s who had worked at Shorts Brothers. This was often on written cards, due to the acoustics in the crypt, and they collated over 80,000 words. These will be available on the OHM website. They have also produced a video about Gillingham Football Club supporters, interviewing people who have watched Gillingham play for over 30 years. [The film is available on their website](https://oralhistorymedway.co.uk/stories/gillingham-football-club-supporters-stories/?ref=localauthority.news). They are now setting up a pop-up museum for Gillingham FC, with the support of owners Brad and Shannon Galinson, in a space at the football ground. Gillingham FC is the largest club in Kent, and its history goes back to the late 1800s. Football in the Medway Towns is relevant on a global scale because of the story of Isaac Newell taking football to Argentina, and of the Royal Engineers winning the FA Cup in 1875\. They have launched a podcast, Made in Medway, with the first episode being about the Shorts Brothers, including an interview with [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/), who lives in the former Shorts headquarters. Future episodes will be about the Pentagon Centre, which is now 50 years old, and they will produce an episode responding to the recent Rest is History podcast about Chatham High Street, which spent the minimal possible time on Chatham High Street. ***Help us start strong in 2026.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. Right now, you can get* [**25% off a full year's subscription*](https://www.localauthority.news/ghosted) *to Local Authority and help us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Get 25% off for 1 year ](www.localauthority.news/ghosted) ### Review: Lupen Crook and Dave Pickett at Three Sheets to the Wind The intimate wood-panelled middle room of the [Three Sheets](https://www.threesheetspub.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) has been candlelit to help create a cosy welcome for those who have ventured out on a chilly winter’s night to see these two interpreters of English folk traditions taking music in very different, but complementary directions. Dave Pickett initially seems thrown by the near reverential silence which greets his opening numbers 'Squares' and 'Come Listen,' his dusty and controlled vocals conjuring dark, yet recognisable landscapes accompanied by his signature two-step clawhammer picking on acoustic guitar and banjo. Things become more folkloric and fantastical on 'The King,' and soon unsolicited audience participation breaks the hush and leads to enthusiastic cascades of approximate harmonies from approving listeners. Apparently a favourite of the Belgian police, 'Garden of England' rounds off the set as a rousing singalong, which Dave performs with a smile in honour of a request which speaks volumes for the enduring fondness for The Flowing amongst tonight’s crowd. Where others may have been tempted to assemble a greatest hits package for a gig so close to Christmas, [Lupen Crook](https://www.houseofbrokenarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) instead delivers a set primarily comprising material from an as yet untitled new album. This already feels like a cohesive set of songs, and the performance is centred around the partnership with Willow Vincent, whose omnichord and synth add shimmering texture and brooding atmosphere without pulling focus from the broken supportive rhythms of Lupen Crook’s playing on the 9 strings of his 12 string guitar. His lyrics are peppered with striking and memorable wordplay, often sparking images in the mind’s eye – the phrase “a Louis Wain cat in a Richard Dadd world” in 'A Fool and a Dream' being just one example of this. Elsewhere, we have “This could be a great depression if I could spend it with you.” Few explicit explanations are provided for the themes or subjects of songs, but we get some insight into the process when 'Forever Winter' is described as being envisioned more as an animation than a song and that its main concern is “the illusion of hope,” both a welcome part and affliction of the human condition. Humour and playfulness sit side by side with bleaker imagery – to offset 'Eerie England' with its appeal to the dark forces to overthrow the trappings of the modern world, we have 'Cats,' which may be a song about cats or about kink, but “never together.” The only exceptions to the rule of new material are three songs from 2023’s 'Wild Nature,' the empathetic 'Don’t Kill Yourself Today,' set closer 'Can’t Wait to be Cancelled,' and a positively jaunty 'Algorithm and Blues.' Warmth and respect for the new material ripple through the crowd. This is an assured, direct performance, brilliantly balancing the fragility and brutality of art, love and modern life. Having previously stepped back from live performance to focus on his visual arts, this show seems an unabashed reclamation of the identity of Lupen Crook as singer and songwriter and raises high expectations and anticipation for the new album. - *Moira Mehaffey* ### Upcoming events 🥕 Sun 21 Dec - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🎭 Sat 3 Jan - [**Jaws: The Panto**](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/jaws-the-panto?ref=localauthority.news) // From the team that brought you ‘Die Hard: the Panto,’ but don’t let that put you off. Spotlites Theatre, Chatham. Tickets £12, pay what you can. #### ***Steven needs your help with the Medway Element*** *Steven has received UKSPF funding for a project about arts, culture and heritage in Medway. Part of this is conducting a survey to get a baseline understanding of residents and their engagement with local culture.* *Could you help by* [*taking the survey*](https://forms.gle/YhV2hxqdXMvobxB67?ref=localauthority.news) *and sharing it?* ### Footnotes **Programming note:* This will be our final briefing of the year unless anything dramatic happens over the Christmas period, so that we can take a short break until the new year. We still have a few pieces scheduled to fill the gap, but we won’t be publishing our usual briefing editions until we come back, hopefully fully refreshed, in the first week of January.* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word-of-mouth from our readers to find new readers.* ### Voice of the Leader URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-3/ Last updated: 2025-12-18T18:00:04.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Medway Council Leader Vince Maple, who talks about threats to democracy, local government reorganisation, and the year ahead.* #### **Voice of the Leader** **by Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f41f84158-bc76-45d3-a860-bfdb380b584f_2240x2240.jpg) On the 10th of December, two things happened in Kent which highlights the threats to democracy. In a court in Maidstone, someone who was charged for breaking Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 pleaded guilty to a judge. The incident was using threatening behaviour against myself, Naushabah Khan MP, and other Labour activists. Later on the 10th December, a disgraceful act of violence and intimidation took place at the headquarters of Swale Borough Council which meant the office was closed to the public the following day. The incident in Swale is still under police investigation, but the wider point is that it is never acceptable to have the law broken regarding intimidation when going about our democratic roles – whether that is speaking to residents on the doorstep or debating an issue in a council chamber. I often refer to the ability to disagree agreeably – something which the vast majority of people would agree with. We have seen in the most extreme cases of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess elected representatives murdered simply for carrying out their duties. Anyone who truly values democracy must stand front and centre to say violence, intimidation and vandalism in our democratic processes is never acceptable. As we move towards Christmas, it is a great opportunity to both reflect on the past 12 months and look forward to the year ahead. This time last year we were working to be considered part of the priority programme for Devolution. Regrettably that is something which our community is not part of but rest assured we are continuing to put the case wherever possible. Alongside that has been the call for options for Local Government Reorganisation and I’m incredibly proud of the collaborative approach taken by all 14 councils across Kent and Medway. Options are now in with government to consider and I would encourage every Local Authority reader to have their say when the public consultation happens in 2026\. Option 4d, which was submitted by Medway Council as well as Ashford Borough Council and Canterbury City Council, is compliant with government guidelines and is a bold vision of local government for our region – ultimately improving lives. It rights some of the wrongs previous processes have bought up over the years. A couple of good examples are Faversham whose town council have also endorsed option 4d with most people having their travel plans generally facing towards Canterbury rather than Medway or Sittingbourne. Closer to home from a Medway perspective is Walderslade which can vary from road to road (and in some cases odds and evens sides of the road) having Medway, Maidstone, Tonbridge & Malling and KCC providing services – 4d will again simplify that. Of course, it isn’t just LGR that we have been focused on here in Medway. We have continued to deliver those key front-line services, from weekly bin collections to our free household waste recycling centres, keeping streets outside schools safer & healther to ensuring our Green Flag awarded parks and greenspaces are supported and enhanced with greater access. We welcomed nearly 130,000 people to our Child Friendly Medway events and supported volunteers to plant over 3,500 trees at the Deangate Country Park. We have celebrated 5 years of Medway Development Company building homes, the vast majority of which are home to residents coming from an ME postcode. We’ve started on the important journey to be a Marmot place, to tackle health inequality – it cannot be right that your postcode in Medway can mean ten years difference to your life expectancy. We’ve welcomed home LV21 and once again worked in partnership with our colleagues at the Dockyard to deliver an outstanding Armed Forces Day. Our High Streets and Town Centres remain a priority and I’m the first to recognise there is more to do, but we have seen tangible outcomes from the Gillingham Town Centre Taskforce, the introduction of the Chatham Ambassadors which has had superb feedback and we have had brilliant community events like Super Saturday in Chatham and Love Gillingham Big Day Out. Dancers arriving from more than 60 countries for the International Dance Festival at Medway Park as well as thousands of local residents running the Medway Mile. We have had a range of inspections & visits from Ofsted to Heritage Places Panel and more – one consistent message has been around a collaborative, positive approach in service delivery something I’m particularly proud of – a One Medway approach as I often call it. From splash pads and tennis courts in the Strand to new Young People’s library in Luton, innovative use of external funding can make all the difference which our own council finances are limited. We took time as a Medway community to reflect and remember both VE and VJ Day with many poignant moments. The Medway Peace Poem was for me a particular highlight created by Medway residents so powerful. Partnership working led to the creation of North Kent Downs and Woods National Nature Reserve and the re-opening of St John’s Church. It was also a great partnership approach when we welcomed the Baton of Hope leading to many positive conversations around suicide prevention. As we look ahead to next year we know there are some outstanding things on the horizon – more than 20 years on from our last local plan we will be submitting our Medway local plan for inspection, something which highlights the future plans for education, employment, greenspaces, housing, retail and much more. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the process and consultation. We will also be opening the James Williams Healthy Living Centre, named after our much missed Director of Public Health – once again playing our part in tackling health inequality. A new community working group will be formed looking at the sensitive issue of memorials for the bereaved. Key strategies on both the River Medway and also our Pride in Place funding will come forward and we will continue to deliver those front-line services local residents value. Finally can I take this opportunity to wish all *Local Authority* readers a Merry Medway Christmas and a Happy New Year. *Cllr Vince Maple is the Leader of Medway Council and Labour councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton.* ### School Streets fine overturned at Medway’s busiest site URL: https://www.localauthority.news/school-streets-fine-overturned-at-medways-busiest-site/ Last updated: 2025-12-16T20:57:29.000Z *Could Medway be facing a mass voiding of its School Streets fines? A tribunal has overturned one at Medway's busiest site due to inadequate signage. We look at what that means for the broader scheme. We also report on the jailing of a man involved in Medway’s illegal flag-raising campaign after a public order offence against elected representatives, examine a new litter project on Luton Road that sounds frankly horrendous, round up the week's news in brief, and more.* ### Tribunal overturns School Streets fine at Medway’s busiest site A School Streets fine issued by Medway Council at Richmond Road in Gillingham has been overturned by an independent traffic penalty tribunal after an adjudicator found that signage at the site was inadequate. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/AdobeStock_238402843-1.jpeg) The ruling, [first reported](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz0ngln79kzo?ref=localauthority.news) by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, relates to the School Streets restriction outside Burnt Oak Primary School. The motorist appealed after arguing that it was not clear they were entering a restricted zone until it was too late to avoid it safely. Medway Council rejected the appeal, but the tribunal later allowed it on the basis that warning signage was insufficient. The tribunal’s full written decision has not been published. Medway Council has said it will review the ruling, but there has been no public indication that signage at the Richmond Road site will be changed, despite concerns having previously been raised about visibility for drivers approaching from certain routes. The location is already the most productive School Streets site in Medway. [*Local Authority* reporting](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-issues-over-2m-in/) has previously shown that Burnt Oak Primary School accounts for a disproportionate share of penalties, with drivers being caught at extremely high rates during operating hours. In the first year of enforcement, Medway Council has issued 16,950 fines across the initial seven locations. Hundreds of motorists have successfully appealed, but most penalties are paid without challenge. The council has continued to expand the scheme, despite criticism of consultation processes, scheme design, and the heavy reliance on camera enforcement. The tribunal decision does not automatically invalidate other penalties issued at Richmond Road or elsewhere. Each case must still be considered individually. However, it does establish that an independent adjudicator has found the signage at this specific location inadequate, which may prompt further appeals from motorists who believe the restrictions were not clearly communicated. Some drivers have claimed on social media that they have already won appeals at the same location. Those claims cannot be independently verified, but they add to a pattern of ongoing concern around enforcement at Richmond Road. School Streets are intended to improve safety and reduce congestion outside schools. Medway Council maintains that the scheme is making a positive difference. The tribunal ruling, however, leaves the authority to continue enforcing one of its highest-yield locations at a site where signage has now been found wanting, without any clear public explanation of what will change as a result. ## Get Local Authority in your inbox Clear, independent reporting on Medway’s biggest stories. No ads, no clickbait. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. ### Flagger who harassed politicians jailed A man who has been a visible participant in Medway’s recent illegal flag-raising campaign has been jailed after admitting a series of motoring offences, alongside a public order offence involving the abuse of elected representatives. Sam Turner, 41, of Gordon Road, Gillingham, appeared at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court earlier this month, where he pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, contrary to Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986\. The offence related to an incident on 6 February in Waterloo Road, Gillingham, when Medway Council leader Cllr [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/), Gillingham and Rainham MP [Naushabah Khan](https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/), and other Labour activists were canvassing locally. Turner was fined £270 for the public order offence. He also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, and driving while using a mobile phone, all committed on the same day as the confrontation with the Labour group. For those offences, he was sentenced to two months in prison and disqualified from driving for five years and three months. The court also dealt with a separate set of offences from May this year, when Turner again drove while disqualified and uninsured, and exceeded the speed limit. He received a further four-month prison sentence for those offences, ordered to run consecutively. In total, the court imposed a six-month custodial sentence. In a [KentOnline opinion column](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/democracy-needs-to-be-defended-from-violence-and-intimidati-333879/?ref=localauthority.news) published after the hearing, Cllr Maple said the district judge had made clear that Turner’s behaviour was unacceptable, not only because of its impact on those targeted, but because intimidation of this kind risks deterring people from taking part in democratic life. Turner filmed the February confrontation himself and later posted the footage to social media. In the video, he repeatedly challenges the canvassers, makes unfounded claims about criminality among politicians, and argues that immigration policy favours migrants over “English people”. > [@sam.turner93](https://www.tiktok.com/@sam.turner93?refer=embed&ref=localauthority.news "@sam.turner93") [♬ original sound - Sam turner](https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7468751903187290912?refer=embed&ref=localauthority.news "♬ original sound - Sam turner") Turner might be a familiar figure to readers who have followed Medway’s flag controversy. He has repeatedly posted videos of himself illegally erecting Union Jacks and St George’s flags on lampposts and roundabouts across the towns. > [@sam.turner922](https://www.tiktok.com/@sam.turner922?refer=embed&ref=localauthority.news "@sam.turner922") [♬ original sound - Sam Turner](https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7547435695661550338?refer=embed&ref=localauthority.news "♬ original sound - Sam Turner") The court case is the latest in a lengthy criminal history. Turner was convicted in 2021 of burgling Gillingham Football Club’s Priestfield Stadium on more than one occasion, offences that were captured on CCTV. During one of them, [he stole a safe from inside the ground](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/watch-thief-drag-safe-from-priestfields-246999/?ref=localauthority.news) and dragged it down several flights of stairs before hauling it to his nearby home in Gordon Road. Police followed the trail of scrape marks left along the pavement directly back to the property, where the safe was recovered from his garden. His social media accounts also show attendance at anti-immigration protests elsewhere in Kent and the sharing of conspiracy-themed content, including posts opposing vaccination, attacking Islam, promoting figures associated with the far-right protest movement, and repeating antisemitic conspiracy narratives. These posts remain publicly available on Turner's accounts. The conviction places a clear line between protest and criminality. While flag-raising, marches and online commentary have been defended by participants as expressions of opinion, the court found that Turner’s behaviour towards elected representatives crossed the threshold into a criminal public order offence, compounded by repeated breaches of driving bans already imposed by the courts. For Medway, the case underlines how a campaign that presented itself as a symbolic protest has spilt into illegality, intimidation and, ultimately, custody. Polyester flags on lampposts were never the story on their own. What matters is where this kind of behaviour ends up when it stops being theatre and starts colliding with the law. ***Help us start strong in 2026.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. Right now, you can get* [**25% off a full year's subscription*](https://www.localauthority.news/ghosted) *to Local Authority and help us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Get 25% off for 1 year ](www.localauthority.news/ghosted) ### Bins on Luton Road now play sounds when you use them Public litter bins along Luton Road in Chatham have been fitted with speakers that play audio when rubbish is deposited, thanking users, playing recorded messages from local children, or emitting short beatbox sounds. The bins form part of [HEARD](https://ideastest.org.uk/projects/current-projects/heard-6/?ref=localauthority.news), a project led by arts organisation [Ideas Test](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which set out to consult with residents in the Luton area and respond to issues they identified. According to the project information, 34 community members were involved in meetings that highlighted three priorities: dealing with litter, creating youth programmes, and holding a multicultural community event. Ideas Test says it decided it was best placed to focus on litter. The audio installations were developed with artist Thor McIntyre-Burnie of [Aswarm](https://www.aswarm.com/?ref=localauthority.news). The beats were created by pupils at Luton Primary School and Phoenix Primary School in workshops led by beatboxer Rupert Oldridge, who has also been running fortnightly beatboxing litter picks with volunteers along Luton Road. The project is funded through the Creative Health Medway Place Partnership Programme, backed by Arts Council England investment and developed in collaboration with Medway Council’s culture and public health teams and Creative Medway. Cllr [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/), Medway Council’s waste portfolio holder, said the authority was “incredibly proud” to be supporting the project. Luton councillor Joanne Howcroft-Scott said she was “absolutely loving the new Beatbox’n Bins,” describing them as “fun, creative and brilliant” and “a joyful way to build pride in our community.” The project has been presented as a creative response to littering and wellbeing. In practice, it means bins along one of Chatham’s busiest roads now play sounds at passers-by when rubbish is deposited. An approach that will perhaps test the patience of residents less keen on being thanked, addressed, or beatboxed at by street furniture. ### In brief 😷 Medway Hospital has [reintroduced masking](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/masks-required-when-visiting-the-hospital/?ref=localauthority.news) for staff, patients and visitors following a sharp rise in flu cases this winter. 🏥 Plans for a new health centre in the former Debenhams building on Chatham High Street have [been abandoned](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/plans-town-centre-health-facility-10701536?ref=localauthority.news) after the NHS couldn't find funding to proceed with the project. 🏚️ HMO landlords have gone on a [charm offensive to KentOnline](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-are-not-all-money-hungry-devils-out-to-make-a-fast-buck-333843/?ref=localauthority.news) after Medway Council announced plans to make it harder for new ones to open. 🏗️ 42 new flats on disused land in the centre of Chatham have [been approved](https://futuremedway.co.uk/proposal-for-42-flats-in-clover-street-chatham-approved-with-no-affordable-housing/?ref=localauthority.news). The developer argued that it would not be viable to provide any affordable housing as part of the proposals. 🗄️ An Environmental Impact Assessment scoping opinion has been [submitted to Medway Council](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T6YLHYKN04M00&ref=localauthority.news) regarding a potential 100 home development to the southwest of Cliffe. 🚲 The government has [awarded Medway Council](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9k8lp4lrro?ref=localauthority.news) £1.7m for walking and cycling schemes. 🍻 The landlords of the Rising Sun pub in Rochester [are to step away](https://www.facebook.com/TRSRochester/posts/pfbid02eTmCJHHuGzuRqcJk11LB4cpMnTx3hyonL5qzZs2JGtbUhqKAnbgVzxh7Nihx6mR8l) after more than three years in charge. 🌳 Luton Road is [now tree-lined](https://www.facebook.com/ArchesLocal/posts/pfbid02Lap3hUocj9XceawdbFcSYmcijAjvSVqTpYM2JpGwfQj5eMFkDMnsJJfk1akiwC8Pl) for the first time in its history. 🚨 **Over the border in Swale, a council meeting was disrupted last week by far-right activists who hurled abuse, threw projectiles, and vandalised the council building on the way out. In our sister title, the* [**Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)**, we looked at* [**what it says about the state of our local democracy*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/when-intimidation-replaces-debate/?ref=localauthority.news)**.* [When intimidation replaces debateWhat Swale’s meeting tells us about local democracy. Plus the latest from KCC, Tunbridge Wells still faces water uncertainty, news in brief, and more![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/icon/KC-NEW-LOGO-SQUARE.png)Kent CurrentEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/thumbnail/KC_Swale.jpg)](https://www.kentcurrent.news/when-intimidation-replaces-debate/?ref=localauthority.news) ### Footnotes ✉️ **Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via* ***hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** *\- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### “People are always searching for something” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/people-are-always-searching-for-something/ Last updated: 2026-03-25T16:54:51.000Z *Steven met Philip Hesketh, the Dean of Rochester, at the Rochester Cathedral offices in Garth House. They discussed the cost of keeping the cathedral running, the difference between Anglicans and Methodists, selecting the next Archbishop of Canterbury, and lots more...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/Dean-1-1.jpg) Philip Hesketh. **What is your official title?** I'm the [Dean of Rochester](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean%5Fof%5FRochester?ref=localauthority.news), which is a strange thing really, because people will say you're the Dean of the Cathedral. I am the Dean of the Cathedral, that's absolutely right. They say, you're the Dean of Rochester Cathedral. But actually, historically, there's no such thing as the Dean of Rochester Cathedral. You're the Dean of the town or the city. I'm the Dean of Rochester, which I'm pleased and proud to be. **Is that your official occupation?** Effectively, at some point in my life journey, I decided to become ordained in the [Church of England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church%5Fof%5FEngland?ref=localauthority.news), although I took a route through the [Methodist Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist%5FChurch%5Fof%5FGreat%5FBritain?ref=localauthority.news). Candidated for the ministry, was accepted, trained as a priest, and I have been a priest in Kent even though I was living in London at that time. My roots are back in Lancashire and the Isle of Man. I then did my years as a priest in southeast England, in the [Canterbury Diocese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese%5Fof%5FCanterbury?ref=localauthority.news) and then the [Rochester Diocese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese%5Fof%5FRochester?ref=localauthority.news). Eventually, I was encouraged to apply for a job here at the cathedral, which I did as one of the canons. That's one of the support team priests. I did that in 2005, came here, and then was acting Dean when the Dean moved on. I was encouraged quite strongly by a large number of people in Kent, which was kind and generous of them, to apply for the job, which I did. Then, in 2016, I became the Dean here. I carry all the responsibilities that any priest would or priestly ministry, but effectively I'm running a very historic and large organisation with big responsibilities, most of which I never trained at all to do, and either have to learn or, in my case, I brought in expertise and commitment. **To clarify, are priests part of the Catholic Church and vicars part of the Church of England?** It's interchangeable. People within the Church of England would still call themselves priests, and they're still regarded as priests. Some might call them vicars, because they're a vicar of a parish. [Reformation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation?ref=localauthority.news), there was a separation between the Church of Rome and the Church in England, mostly through Henry VIII, who didn't see why somebody in Rome should tell him what he could do with his own church here. That was the initial separation. That's more or less existed, although the Church of England has changed its shape and what it does considerably in 500 years. **And again, just to clarify that separation, with what people might have in their mind as they understand being a priest, because you are married?** Yes, at the Reformation, it was decided that there was no good reason why priests couldn't be married because Jesus' original followers were Jewish, and they all had families, they were all married. In fact, most Jewish rabbis, teachers, were married. At the Reformation across the country, they said, there's no reason why priests can't be married, or ministers can't be married. Some of the first priests, way back at the beginning of the church were also married. It was something that came within 1,000 years of the history of the church. **You mentioned being Methodist. Within the Church of England, sometimes you get Methodist or Anglican members. What do those names mean?** Anglican is basically the Church of England, or the church that expresses its life or finds its life in the church building. Because, of course, when Britain became a big empire and was sending people out all over the world and to explore the world, they took the Church of England with them. They took the Christian faith with them. They established churches all over the world. They collectively are called Anglicans now. Those who find their origin in the Church of England, which is what happened when Britain had a huge empire. **And Methodist?** Methodist is a movement that happened in the 17th and 18th century in England. Within the Anglican Church was a movement of revival. [John Wesley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John%5FWesley?ref=localauthority.news) and [Charles Wesley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles%5FWesley?ref=localauthority.news) were both Anglican priests, but they had this revival movement, and there was a great conversion at that time. They formed what was called the Methodist movement, which was seen as a derogatory term actually at that time. But eventually, both the Church of England and the Methodist Church parted ways. The Church is always disagreeing amongst and within itself about what to believe, how to believe, who to accept. They drifted apart, and you ended up with the Methodist Church, which was separate. The Church of England and the Methodist Church was part of a really big brawl, particularly in this country, of non-conformists. They were not members of the Church, but they were practising Christians. They were Baptists or Methodists. And those numbers have dwindled over the last 20, 30 years. They're not as strong, the Methodists and Baptist Churches, as they were. Of course, the whole of the Church has struggled with attenders since the Second World War. **There is data showing that young people are coming back…** There are. I think there's always been a searching. People are always searching for something and looking for meaning. I think there's been a failure in the church historically sometimes to be able to respond to that. There's a big tradition in the church over 2,000 years of people in prayer, meditating, or finding stillness and quietness. But then it lost its nerve a little bit, and it didn't really talk about that part of its tradition. I think that's why a lot of people then found a great attraction in other religions which had meditative aspects like Buddhism or aspects of Hinduism, and that great movement in the 60s with the Beatles and everything else to go to the ashrams and to find yourself. I think it's also there in mindfulness. There is a great resurgence, and people wanting this sense of stillness and calmness. It's there within the Christian church. It's always been there, but we've not always been very good at telling people about that and helping them to access it. There are signs of certainly young people, whether it's something coming out of covid, I don't know, or younger people who are searching and have come to the churches as well as other places, probably to try and find some sense of meaning, and hopefully the churches will respond in a helpful way. **Going to a Church of England primary school, we received the** [**Good News Bible**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good%5FNews%5FBible?ref=localauthority.news)**. There are many different versions of the Bible. Do you have a preferred version?** No, but there are different versions for different times and different ages because it helps you access the stories. I think some people would say the best in terms of poetry and language was the original [King James](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%5FJames%5FVersion?ref=localauthority.news) version. But that language is quite archaic now.And actually some of the meanings have changed from what we would do. Although it's lovely to hear that sometimes, I think you need a translation of the scriptures that make sense. There are many, many different ones. The Good News Bible, when they were translating that, they worked on the basis that the language that they were trying to find to translate the Greek and the Hebrew into English should be no more complicated than somebody would be able to access if they were doing O-level. That was the basis. They were saying, we should use words which anyone would have in their vocabulary at that level and not choose words which might be a bit more accurate to the Greek, but actually are not very helpful because you don't know what that word means. It makes sense that that's the version they would give out in schools as well. There are Cockney versions, rhyme versions. There are all kinds of translations of the Bible that people have made. It does raise the question of how accurate it is from the Greek, but I think you need to find one that's helpful. **What version do you use?** Oh, I use a number of different versions, but the one we use in the Church of England has an official standard one that's used in liturgy, or it's supposed to be, but you may go to an Anglican church where they use it completely different. But it's supposed to be the [New Revised Standard Version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New%5FRevised%5FStandard%5FVersion?ref=localauthority.news). Which is basically an updated version of what you probably remember from school as the RSV, the [Revised Standard Version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised%5FStandard%5FVersion?ref=localauthority.news), and now this is the sort of updated to that. But yeah, translation is a fascinating subject, because you're not actually reading the original text. You're reading a translation of the original text. In order to do that, you've got to make an interpretation of what you think it's saying. **You get that interesting split between the intent of the Old Testament and the intent of the New Testament.** Sometimes Jesus himself actually said, you're taking the letter of the law, but what about the spirit of the law? What does the spirit of the law say rather than just the letter of the law? And of course, Christians have found themselves disagreeing about that very subject for 2,000 years. **And will continue to.** Well, one anticipates that, or one expects that it is part of human nature. I think for me, what we need to learn is to live with difference, because someone has a different point of view, we need to learn, how do we learn to live with that? Rather than try and change them because we think that they're wrong and we're right. I don't think we will ever get to the point where everyone's going to agree with Philip Hesketh. No one's going to agree on everything. How do we live, how do we learn to live in peace with difference? Where are the commonalities rather than the differences? We can see the effects of not living with difference all over the world. ***The paywall is coming.** *Unfortunately, you'll soon reach the paywall for this interview. To read the whole thing and support our work, please consider becoming a paid supporter. Right now, you can get* [**25% off a full year's subscription*](https://www.localauthority.news/ghosted) *to Local Authority, which gives you access to every story, interview, and feature we publish, as well as help us deliver the kind of local journalism Medway needs in the year ahead.* [Get 25% off for 1 year ](www.localauthority.news/ghosted) **What is the difference between being a Reverend and a Very Reverend?** Well, some would say, and I would probably agree, that at one part of its life over 2,000 years, it began to model itself on the state. When Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, it began to reflect itself in the structure. It became quite hierarchical. It had different jobs and persons regarded as important, and they'll have different titles that went along with that. It's a historic thing. If you are [the Very Reverend](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FVery%5FReverend?ref=localauthority.news), that indicates that you are a Dean. If you are [the Right Reverend](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FRight%5FReverend?ref=localauthority.news), then that indicates that you're a Bishop. They're historic titles that got added to indicate the job that you do. But at heart, you're all still ordained as priests. Although some of us try and live without hierarchy, we accept that we're in positions of senior leadership, but actually don't think that was the kind of model that Jesus demonstrated. **What is the hierarchy within the world of the Church of England in Medway?** Within Medway, in terms of the Church of England, there's a Bishop who is the senior priest over a wide area, which would include Medway. Within that area, there'll be a cathedral, and my responsibility reflects that cathedral. Although we relate to the diocese because we're seen as the mother church of the diocese, but we have an independent structure, an independent governance scene, and my job is to oversee the cathedral. There is a bishop, and then the next, there might be an assistant bishop. We do have an assistant bishop, and then the most senior priest in the diocese is the Dean. **And then above the Bishop of Rochester?** Above the bishops, in terms of oversight, in terms of responsibility, is an Archbishop. But an Archbishop can't tell a bishop what to do in his diocese. It's a figurehead. It's the same with the Pope, seen to be the first among equals. It's the same idea in the Anglican Church that all bishops are equal, but an Archbishop has oversight over what happens in the church, but can't necessarily tell people what to do. **Are you effectively three promotions from the Archbishop of Canterbury?** Ah, well, if you wanted to be, that's the first thing, and the answer is I wouldn't want to be. You can be appointed a bishop, sure, if you've been a Dean, because that's a senior position, but you can be appointed a bishop from being an archdeacon or a vicar, really. That's not impossible if you’ve got the right skills and abilities. And the Archbishop, in the same way, is chosen from a number of bishops. But the last one, it could have been somebody from outside the Church of England. It could have been from one of the other Anglican churches in the Commonwealth. But they've chosen the first woman Archbishop. **Which, in some quarters, has been seen as controversial.** It's difficult, and even within the Church of England, one of the difficulties was that people couldn't agree with women being ordained as priests and then women ordained as bishops and now, we've got a woman who's the first Archbishop. There's always been a difference of people. They didn't feel that women should be ordained, and they believed it was a male prerogative. There are those of us who think that's just discrimination, by any other name. There's no reason why a woman can't do the job just as well as a man, if not better. **You are also the chair of the** [**Cathedral Archives, Libraries & Collections Association**](https://cathedrallibrariesandarchives.wordpress.com/?ref=localauthority.news) **\[CALCA\]?** Deans have national responsibilities. We pick up various national jobs. There's 43 deans, and some sit on [General Synod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General%5FSynod%5Fof%5Fthe%5FChurch%5Fof%5FEngland?ref=localauthority.news), some are the representatives for safeguarding, some buildings and CALCA, it’s the cathedrals, archives and libraries. Basically, I chair that. Those organisations, particularly cathedrals that have archives, historical libraries and books. **The library is more than a wide selection of Bibles?** Oh gosh, yes. Some cathedrals have very important libraries. At Canterbury, in particular, Winchester, Durham, they have full-time librarians because they have a lot of historic documents. Rochester, we're only a tiny cathedral, we don't have a full-time library. We can't afford it, but we do have a number of historic books. Some very ancient and valuable, and some modern. We can't afford to buy books anymore, but we do have very important texts, including a book that's called the [Textus Roffensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textus%5FRoffensis?ref=localauthority.news), which over the last five, ten years we've raised the importance of. It is probably the most important book in Britain. It's more important than Magna Carta. It's a hundred years older than Magna Carta. Magna Carta is based on it. Textus Roffensis means the book of Rochester. The first part of the book is written in Anglo-Saxon. It's the oldest copy of English law. In about 1120, there was a monk here in this cathedral writing out Anglo-Saxon laws from the 6th and 7th century, King Ethelbert, King Cnut, and they were writing all these laws down. They were doing it for a purpose and a reason, but they were writing it. This is the only copy. Some of the laws in there survive in that book, which we brought back, and it's in the cathedral to view for free. **What do you mean by brought it back?** Well, at some point, it was taken away and put in a secure vault, because we couldn't look after it. The cathedral didn't have the facilities to look after it in terms of its environmental care. 15 years ago, we did a project here at the cathedral, which had a lot of Heritage Lottery funded money, and it was to create an appropriate and permanent exhibition space so that we could bring the Textus Roffensis back to Rochester and have it on permanent display free of charge to people of Medway and beyond. **With the wider library, is that something someone could, if they were studying, make an appointment to visit?** They could do if they had good reasons to, and they said, look, this document from the 13th century, this is the only place I can really get this. Yes, they could write to me and apply, and we could make provision for that to happen. But the only time is based on volunteers. We need volunteers. We can only survive as a cathedral on volunteers. We have 350 volunteers. Without them, we couldn't open like we do. We need to train up some new library volunteers. Once they're trained up, they can talk about the books. When they're on site, we can open [the library](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/library?ref=localauthority.news) again, and people can come in and see the books and learn about them and the manuscripts and stuff. But covid took a lot of the library volunteers away suddenly. We've not really been able to get back to full strength. **If somebody wanted to volunteer for the library, who do they get in touch with?** With me. I’m not difficult to get in touch with. I'll put that person in touch with our volunteers manager, and we can interview them, see how suitable they are and then train them up. We'll see what we can do. **I read that the cathedral costs £5,000 a day.** It's about £5,000 a day to keep it open. That's just an estimate. **What is the bulk of that cost?** Well, what we're looking at is the running costs of the building. There's heating, there's staff, there's the lighting, there's the conservation of the fabric, because we don't get any grants from government. It's down to us. Each cathedral has its own challenges. We have done really well. We're one of the few cathedrals that don't have a deficit budget. Quite a large number of cathedrals have a deficit budget. We've been able to do that while remaining open for free, and it's very important to me that we do remain open, free of charge. But then we need to look at other ways of generating income. One way is to encourage people to give donations. Even if people give a pound, it's amazing really. We could have about 350,000 visitors this year. If everybody gave a pound, my goodness me, it would be much better for us, because it costs millions of pounds to keep that building open. Once that isn't possible, then you're looking at closing the doors, and I don't know what you do. I mean, you can't buy anything with a pound, but the average donation is about 47p. If everyone gave a pound and we had 300,000 visitors, that would make one heck of a difference to what we're trying to do, which is to keep this historic building open and doing the same thing that it was built to do. I mean, the same person who built the cathedral built the castle. His name was [Bishop Gundulf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundulf%5Fof%5FRochester?ref=localauthority.news). But if you look that way, the castle is a museum which you pay for. It's dead. But you come to the cathedral, it's still doing everything that it was supposed to do when it was built. Worship and prayer still happen here, and lots of other things happen here. It happens in a different way, but we're still open, and we're not a museum. **Is the reason you don’t have a deficit is that the Church of England is wealthy and has lots of land?** No, it's not. Some cathedrals, that's true, historically had lots of property. The Church of England historically has had lots of property. If you're talking about Rochester, we've not had what they call a historic endowment. We don't have a lot of historic wealth at all. What we do have is some shops, close to the cathedral and some residential accommodation and that provides about 40% of our income. But those buildings are also historic buildings, they take a lot of maintenance. The rest of it we have to find from either donations or from applying for grants. One of the things we've done as a cathedral is to open up the nave for commercial events. We have a shop which is doing better, and we have a cafe which is very popular. That all helps contribute to it. But if we're looking to do a major repair. Probably my last bit of major repair in my time I need to do is to stop part of the wall falling down. That'll be three and a half million. I've been engaged in that process for over ten years, and we're getting to the stage now where we'll be able to apply for a Heritage Lottery funded grant. We'll still have to find a hundred thousand from somewhere to match fund it. You then have to find extra money, you have to have the money just to keep the cathedral open and running and staff and all it takes to keep it open, but then if you're trying to do something which is a capital project, because it's falling down or it needs to be done, you then have to raise on top of that. There are laws about historic buildings. You have to go through a process of getting permission, and sometimes that can be helpful, and sometimes they can be really difficult. We are just trying to get a lift or something like that in a cathedral. Challenging because the historic fabric trumps everything, and if you're going to damage the fabric, you're not having a lift. We fell afoul of that some time ago. We have got one lift, and we have a small lift that takes you to the crypt, but it's not ideal. Of course, the difficulty is we know that the one inside the cathedral is breaking down quite a lot, because wheelchairs are much bigger than they used to be. They're big and motorised, and the lifts are not powerful enough. We have to look at probably trying to replace that and how we would get something substantial that would be able to take motorised wheelchairs. Otherwise, it's just constantly breaking down. We'll have to fundraise for that. **One of the unfortunate parts of the conversation I had with other faith leaders is issues with security and vandalism. Is that an issue with the Cathedral?** Yeah, we're subject to break-ins like anywhere else and often people are breaking in because they think we've got some great treasures. Coming for the lead, they don't need to break in for that, they just need to get on the roof, and we've lost it. There are security issues, because in the world we live in, we're a major historical religious site, and that can often be targeted. We're very aware of terrorist activity or demonstrations. We had two demonstrations recently that ended outside the front of the cathedral. We had to be aware of that. How do we keep our staff safe? How do we keep our visitors safe? We also have issues around people with mental health problems because often there's nowhere else to go. They come to the cathedral because we're open and it's war. We're not social services, we're not trained necessarily to deal with those things, but we do our best as best we can. But we need to make sure that our staff and volunteers are protected and kept safe. We have to have CCTV, and we have to have alarms and all kinds of things. Those things are very expensive. **Let's do some background. Where were you born?** I was born in Southport in Lancashire. I come from a long line of, my mother's side, Liverpudlians, of Scousers. My father's side, from the Isle of Man. At some point, we moved to the Isle of Man, and I grew up there when we left Liverpool. Then from Liverpool I came to university at London and really never went back. I've been on the mainland ever since. **Was it the cathedral that brought you to Medway?** Oh no, not really, because I did my training in a parish in a place called Bearsted, which is near Maidstone, which was fantastic. I had a really lovely training parish and a training incumbent priest. Then I applied to be the vicar of my parish myself. I came to Chatham, was the vicar of [St Stephen's](https://www.ststephenchatham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), Chatham, which was great. I was there for many years, and then the job, the cathedral came up, and people said, if you thought about it, you might apply. So, I did. I didn't have far to come from St Stephen's, but as some of the members of my congregation said, it's all downhill from here to the cathedral. That's what brought me to Medway. **What jobs did your parents do when you were growing up?** My mother worked for many years in the school canteen. I was the one that not only had school meals for lunch, it came home in the evenings as well. My father was a builder. **Did you enjoy school?** Not particularly. It was pretty tough going. Later on, when I got a bit older, actually probably when I got to sixth form, which is almost the end of things, I think it was beginning to catch on what school was about, and I was beginning to think, I'm quite interested in more things than I thought, and actually learning. But it wasn't a great experience. To be honest, part of that was I left home when I was 15\. I had a disruptive childhood, but through some friends I lived with, I was able to continue my education at school until I left to go to university. **What did you specialise in at sixth form?** I was more interested in the humanities. I dumped, as quick as I could, all the sciences. I did History, Religious Studies, and English Literature. **What did you study at university?** I don't think there are many places that do it now. I studied Divinity. It wasn't just about learning about the Christian faith and other religions, but it had languages and psychology of religion, and as a course, it was far broader, and I enjoyed that very much, but it wasn't with an intention of getting ordained. **Have you ever been a member of a political party?** No, I haven't actually. **Is there any guidance that would prohibit that?** No, at all. There are paid-up members for all kinds of political persuasion. I think my leanings, particularly in my early days in the 80s, was effectively towards the Labour Party, and I think that's because actually the Labour Party was so ineffective during those Tory years. The most effective opposition to Mrs Thatcher was the Church of England, and it got a lot of stick for it, particularly from the Thatcher government. The Church of England created a very important document, which had a lot to do with me coming into the church, which was called [Faith in the City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith%5Fin%5Fthe%5FCity?ref=localauthority.news), which was a report which the Church of England did about the state of inner cities in Britain, which was regarded by cabinet members as a Marxist document right when it was published, which was nonsense. **What is an unpopular opinion you have amongst other clergy?** Oh gosh. I guess I suppose the Church of England is in a place where there are strongly held views about LGBT+ community. I am of the view and the ministry I have tried to conduct here at the cathedral is one which is inclusive for everybody. My views on the LGBT community and the importance of supporting and encouraging people in same-sex relationships, if that's the loving relationship they're in, I would say that that is a God-given thing you should do. Actually, the most important thing is to encourage people in faithful relationships, whether they're in same-sexual relationships or in heterosexual relationships. Now, obviously, there would be lots of people that would disagree with me on that for a number of reasons. We do have people who identify with the LGBT community in the life of the cathedral. It's very important. I think the cathedral is a place for people of all faiths and of none, and for everybody really, whatever gender and sexual orientation, because God does not show partiality, which is a verse from scripture. **What do you do to unwind and relax?** I listen to music quite a bit. I find these days that gardening puts me in touch with something else, some other dimension of the created order. I can easily get lost in weeding. I mean, not heavy weeding. I tend not to take the phone into the garden with me, and I can't hear the doorbell, you find that you're not consciously aware of time, just what you're doing. That's very soul-restoring. **Who has been the best Prime Minister of your lifetime?** Oh gosh, in my lifetime? That's quite difficult. In a strange way, I was born in '64\. I think Harold Wilson's government did do a lot of good, but there was a big change really shortly after that. Then I grew up, in those years. I'm a Thatcher child. Growing up knowing nothing else, and all the antagonism that was around that. I've come to appreciate what she was, and the changes were very important. It's how it was done. I've come now with a historical perspective to appreciate some of her premiership in a way I didn't do before, because the thing about it was it did polarise the nation in a really extraordinary way. I think the Blair government, in its early days, did good stuff. I think, probably those early Blair days. I would say when you consider what came after Blair, and I don't mean Gordon Brown, is just appalling. **Where do you like to go for dinner in Medway?** Well, I do go quite a bit to the High Street. There are quite a few places I wouldn't want to single out, but I do enjoy eating in the High Street. I do enjoy the [Shozna](https://www.shozna.com/?ref=localauthority.news) around the corner, which is lovely. I like going for lunch in [Ye Arrow](https://www.familyinns.co.uk/ye-arrow/?ref=localauthority.news). It's across the road from the cathedral, so it's close. In the day, there's hardly anyone there. I find that other places and the other pubs that I go to, anonymity is not possible. Which is fine, it's lovely, but sometimes you just want to have a quiet drink with a friend and catch up. **What can people expect from the cathedral this Christmas?** The church calendar starts in Advent, which is four Sundays before Christmas. That's when carol services will start, because people don't wait till Christmas. It's the run up. We'll have two, three carol services every single day from the beginning of December. We do two concerts, which are not services. Those are usually carol concerts. Those are packed out. Usually, the tickets for those go very quickly. At Christmas, the services are full, which is such a joy. Christmas Eve, we love doing the Nativity for the children's Nativity. All these things are on [the website](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/christmas?ref=localauthority.news). They're always very popular, and they're just a joy. ### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* *If you are a faith leader or work for a faith-based organisation and were born, lived or worked in Medway, and want to organise an interview, email* [*Steven*](mailto:steven@kentcurrent.news)*.* ### Antiques star looks for treasures in Chatham URL: https://www.localauthority.news/antiques-star-looks-for-treasures-in-chatham/ Last updated: 2025-12-12T17:50:09.000Z *Could your home be harbouring treasures? We speak to antiques expert and TV regular Catherine Southon ahead of a valuation day at Nucleus Arts in Chatham, where Medway’s maritime past may yet turn up in cupboards and lofts across the towns. Elsewhere, a Medway-based games studio is recreating the Medway Valley Line in digital form, while a Halling brewery finds its beer poured in the House of Commons, our weekly events guide, and more.* ### Antiques star looks for treasures in Chatham *Catherine Southon is an auctioneer and antiques expert who specialised in scientific instruments and maritime art whilst at Sotheby’s. She is now the managing director of* [*Catherine Southon Auctioneers & Valuers*](https://www.catherinesouthon.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Brought to the public attention for her work on the BBC shows Flog It, Bargain Hunt, and Antiques Road Trip, we spoke to her about her upcoming valuation day at Chatham’s* [*Nucleus Arts*](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/Catherine-valuing.jpg) Catherine Southon. Photo: Daisy Copping Catherine Southon and her team of valuers will be at Nucleus Arts in Chatham on 16 January, from 10am until 1pm. “We’ve done some recording there before,” says Catherine, “for Antiques Road Trip, and it's just a wonderful place. This is part of a few evaluation days that the Kent-based CSAV are holding. “We try to do as many as we can, but Chatham is an area that we haven't done before.” With Catherine's background at Sotheby’s, she is hoping that Chatham’s dockyard background will bring many scientific instruments, maritime items and artwork to be seen and valued. “A real dream would be to see, maybe a prisoner of war ship model,” says Catherine, “or nice navigational instruments that would be lovely.” Catherine is hoping to see early pieces, as well as naval ephemera, uniforms and “I'd love to see globes, we hardly ever see globes. Any nice pocket globes or even library globes.” Catherine's other passion is jewellery. “We see a lot of jewellery, but it would be nice to see something in Chatham with a naval history.” A risk with antique valuations is that somebody brings what they have been told is a family heirloom, and it has no financial value. “That's one of the hardest parts of our job,” says Catherine. “On the other side, we love delighting people and telling them that actually the item they think is worth nothing, is worth a lot of money.” Managing expectations is something the valuers do on a daily basis, when people bring something that once upon a time was the height of fashion, and is now worth £10\. “You've got to be incredibly sensitive. You can't laugh, because they've had this handed down, you have just got to explain to them, furniture or highly decorative pieces, like figurines, is this something that you would have in your home today? That's the problem. Fashion dictates the market.” Unless you've got the crème de la crème, the harsh reality is nobody wants it. “The important thing, when we do have these valuation days, is to sit down and spend time with each individual person as much as you can.” Catherine describes how they can be swift when needed to go through items, promptly putting aside items that are not of interest or value, so they can spend time on the good. They do take the time to explain decisions, and for some, that can be hard. Often, valuation days are managed by appointment, and so they know who in the team to bring. Excitingly, this Nucleus Arts-based event is being run as a drop-in. However, if you can contact CSAV in advance, it will help them to know what to expect. The team of valuers all have their strengths and areas of expertise, ranging from glass and ceramics to paintings and jewellery. Catherine isn’t a dealer herself and doesn’t buy at auctions. For her, the excitement lies in that valuation and in standing on the rostrum, encouraging others to bid. “Certainly, I see things and think, I love that. We can buy items, we can bid on them in our auction, but I always resist that.” The other enjoyment is researching items, “especially when we find things that we've never seen before.” Catherine tells me how people can be surprised when they come to valuation days. “They expect us to know chapter and verse about every single item that's put in front of us, and we don't have this endless encyclopaedic knowledge of antiques.” The worst thing the team can do in that scenario is “pretend that you do know about everything.” What the team will do is find out for you, take photographs, or even agree with you to take the item away and come back to you because “it's not Antiques Roadshow. We're not filming, and we haven't got the resources to go away and find out straight away.” Another similar challenge is with foreign items that may have writing on it. “They say, what does that mean? I have absolutely no idea what it says.” Catherine and team can tell you how old they think a piece is, but not what is written in Japanese, for example, “and people get very upset about it.” The team are coming with a good general knowledge of a wide variety of items and are looking forward to seeing what gets brought for valuation. Antiques are strictly items that are at least 100 years old, but they don’t just look at antiques and are even open to items from this century. They also sell ephemera. “For example, we'll sell a set of Rolling Stone signatures or a Freddie Mercury costume.” Fashion is an area of interest as well. “We'd sell a Chanel bag, for example”. For Catherine and the team, doing the valuation days is to share their knowledge with the public and let them know what items are worth. “Sometimes it's the most curious things that people think are worth nothing, that they're worth something. I would encourage people to bring everything along, and we'll see as much as we can.” If someone has something of value or interest, there will be guidance on how to sell their item at auction. “We are there to take items there and then, we can give receipts, and then we can tell them what auctions they will go into with us, because we have specialist auctions for various areas.” This includes a book and collectors’ section, a paintings auction, a decorative arts auction, glass and ceramics, jewellery, watches, and silver. Catherine is really looking forward to meeting people at the valuation day. If you have an item you would like to get valued, don’t decide to not bring it in. “People say to us, ‘Oh, I wasn't going to bring this.’” Then it's the thing which generates real interest. Catherine tells me about a woman who brought in a red leather box that she was thinking of selling on eBay. The box was Georgian, and inside was a little vinaigrette. Ladies and gentlemen would use them to sniff and escape the smells of the Georgian period. The box also had gold, not the usual silver in its case. The item sold for over £1,000\. “My message to people would be to bring everything.” *You can find out more about the valuation event at Nucleus Arts* [*here*](https://www.catherinesouthon.co.uk/valuations/valuation-days-events/chatham/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Medway Valley Line recreated for video game A detailed digital recreation of the Medway Valley Line is in development for a long-running series of train simulator video games, capturing the railway’s stations, junctions and landscape from Strood through Maidstone to Tonbridge. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/image-1.png) Strood, as featured in Train Sim World. The project is being developed for [Train Sim World 6](https://trainsimworld.com/gb?ref=localauthority.news) by [Dovetail Games](https://dovetailgames.com/?ref=localauthority.news), a Medway-based studio that has previously brought parts of North Kent into its simulations, including the Southeastern High-Speed route through Strood, Rochester and Rainham. We previously [wrote about the recreation of Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/bonus-authority-riding-the-virtual/) in that version of the game back in 2021. [The new route](https://live.dovetailgames.com/live/train-sim-world/articles/article/season-of-reveals-2025-week-2?ref=localauthority.news) follows the River Medway south, taking in familiar stations including Cuxton, Halling, Snodland, Aylesford, Maidstone West, Paddock Wood, and Tonbridge, as well as freight and operational sites such as Hoo Junction, Halling Cement Works, Gillingham depot and Tonbridge West Yard. Developers say the line has been recreated in near picture-perfect detail, including historic buildings, level crossings and signal boxes that remain in use today. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/image-2.png) Cuxton, as featured in Train Sim World Passenger services will reflect a modern timetable, while the trains themselves will feature working onboard systems, announcements and communications with signallers, elements designed to mirror the way the railway operates in real life rather than simply its appearance. The expansion is due to be released in 2026, coinciding with the 170th anniversary of the Medway Valley Line’s opening, adding another layer to the growing digital record of Medway’s transport history. ***Help us start strong in 2026.** *Local Authority can only exist because some of our readers pay to support it. If you value our journalism, please consider joining them. Right now, you can get* [**25% off a full year's subscription*](https://www.localauthority.news/ghosted) *to Local Authority and help us build a better way of telling the stories that matter to our towns.* [Get 25% off for 1 year ](www.localauthority.news/ghosted) ### Moot Brew Co to be showcased in House of Commons [*Moot Brew Co*](https://mootbrew.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is an independent brewery and tap room in Halling. We interviewed Head Brewer* [*Calvin Gear*](https://www.localauthority.news/beer-brings-good-people-together/) *last Christmas. This Christmas, they have collaborated with Rochester and Strood MP* [*Lauren Edwards*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) *to get ‘*[*Plush*](https://mootbrew.co.uk/products/plush-american-pale-ale-4?variant=56646816465278&ref=localauthority.news)*’, an American Pale Ale served in the Strangers Bar inside the House of Commons, a venue frequented by MPs and high-profile guests.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/Lauren-Edwards-MP-with-Calvin-Gear--Head-Brewer-at-Moot-Brew-Co--about-to-enjoy-a-freshly-poured-pint-in-Strangers----Bar-1.jpg) Lauren Edwards MP with Calvin Gear, Head Brewer at Moot Brew Co Earlier this year, we wrote in our [*Kent Current* sister title](https://www.kentcurrent.news/producing-growth-in-kent/?ref=localauthority.news) about a parliamentary event held by Lauren showcasing Kent food and drink producers. This is the latest opportunity to give parliament the opportunity to taste Kent and Medway’s produce. “I’m really excited to showcase a fantastic local beer here in Parliament,” said Lauren. “The team at Moot Brewery are a brilliant example of entrepreneurship. I’m a regular visitor to their brewery in Halling and know they produce great quality beer.” Patrick Smith, Director of Moot Brew Co, said, “Having our beer showcased in Parliament is a real privilege for our team and an opportunity to put the village of Halling on the map.” Plush, said Patrick, represents Moot’s craftsmanship and commitment to quality, “and we’re thrilled to share a pint of it with Westminster.” *“*This initiative is part of a long-standing tradition of showcasing local independent breweries in Parliament,” said Barry Watts, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), “and it’s great that MPs will get to try beer from one of Kent and Medway’s up and coming breweries.” “Supporting independent breweries is not just about great beer though,” said Lauren. “It’s about backing local jobs and the local visitor economy too.” ### Events this week 🎸 Sat 13 Dec - [**The Masonics Krampus Nacht Knees-Up**](https://wegottickets.com/event/673681?ref=localauthority.news) // Legendary Medway band play appropriate venue. Masonic Hall, Rochester. Tickets £14. 🎸 Sat 13 Dec - [**Singing Loins + South Shore**](https://www.facebook.com/events/2275731179544235) // A festive singalong to all your favourite Loins tunes, The Ship Inn, Gillingham. Free. 🪕 Wed 17 Dec - [**Lupen Crook**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lupen-crook-backroom-session-tickets-1975182397722?ref=localauthority.news) // Intimate gig from legendary local singer songwriter. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Tickets £8. ### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* ### Local Authority has a new home URL: https://www.localauthority.news/local-authority-has-a-new-home/ Last updated: 2025-12-11T16:43:58.000Z A quick update: *Local Authority* has now moved off Substack and onto a new home powered by Ghost. You don’t need to resubscribe, you don’t need to change anything, and your newsletters should keep arriving exactly as before. If you’re a paying supporter, your subscription has been transferred automatically and will still cost the same as before. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/2025/12/AdobeStock_100544396.jpeg) So why make this move at all? In short: stability, independence and fairness. Ghost is a non-profit platform built specifically for reader-funded publications. No corporate investors, no push toward social-media-style feeds, no promotional emails you didn’t sign up for. Just a solid, simple publishing platform. We also reached the end of the road with two long-running Substack issues. First, the platform has moved away from what worked for us, increasingly introducing social features that work well for some, but don't for local news publishers. Second, the platform forced us to start accepting subscriptions via users of the Substack app on Apple devices, with a 30% surcharge on subscriptions. That left us with an impossible choice to make: Apple users pay 30% more for the exact same journalism, or absorb the 30% hit ourselves. Neither felt fair to readers nor sustainable for an independent newsroom. Ghost lets us avoid all of that. Your money goes further. Your emails should arrive more reliably, and we’re not at the mercy of someone else’s algorithm or app store rules. If you want to leave comments on articles, you can log in using the same email address you originally signed up with. We’ve already moved your account. If you just want to receive the emails and never visit the site, that’s fine too. You’re already set. To mark the move, we’re also offering new subscribers [****25% off a full year of** ***Local Authority** **access**](https://www.localauthority.news/ghosted). If you’ve been thinking about supporting our work, now’s a particularly good moment, and it makes a real difference to what we can do going into 2026. [Get 25% off for one year ](https://www.localauthority.news/ghosted) The journalism stays exactly the same. The website will look a little different while we settle in, but the briefings, interviews and features you signed up for won’t change. Thank you for reading, for supporting independent reporting in Medway, and for sticking with us. We couldn’t do this without you. Ed Editor, *Local Authority* ✉️ **If you're having any issues or want to ask any questions about this transition, please don't hesitate to send us an email via* ***hello(AT)localauthorty(DOT)news** ### Council to tighten controls on HMO hotspots URL: https://www.localauthority.news/council-to-tighten-controls-on-hmo/ Last updated: 2025-12-09T22:34:16.000Z *Medway is set to impose an Article 4 Direction on its HMO hotspots, the most significant shift in years in how the council manages shared housing. It comes amid fresh HMO applications, stalled developments, and housebuilding figures that remain well off target. Further down, 85 jobs are now at risk at Chatham Docks as Peel continues to push to redevelop the site, lots more council news, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Council to tighten controls on HMO hotspots Medway Council is preparing to take its most significant step yet to get a grip on the spread of Houses in Multiple Occupation. Next week, [Cabinet](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6240&ref=localauthority.news) will decide whether to introduce an immediate Article 4 Direction across seven wards, stripping automatic planning rights from new small HMOs in the areas with the highest concentration of them. If, or rather when, approved, the change will mean any new HMO with three to six tenants in Luton, Chatham Central and Brompton, Fort Pitt, Gillingham North, Gillingham South, Watling, or Strood North and Frindsbury, will need full planning permission. The Direction would come into force almost immediately once the notice is issued. Existing HMOs would be unaffected. The move has been years in the making. “It’s something that we’ve wanted to do for quite a long time actually,” Cllr [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/), Medway Council Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, told us. “It’s one of those things that we think of as a tool in the toolbox about making improvements to people’s standard and quality of life in Medway and our communities.” That toolbox is being built around a simple pattern. The pressures created by dense clusters of HMOs are mostly being felt in the same central areas of Medway. The council’s evidence shows Medway has an estimated 1,018 known or predicted HMOs. About 65% of them are in the seven wards covered by the Article 4 proposal. Gillingham South alone accounts for roughly a fifth of all HMOs in Medway. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SqGq!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc53807e2-95e7-4476-8785-8248ccd98e76_1852x1288.jpg) HMO locations in the seven proposed wards. Across those wards, the [picture](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83040&ref=localauthority.news) is consistent. A high number of properties are predicted to contain serious hazards. A high number of complaints from tenants. A high number of anti-social behaviour incidents linked to HMOs. Most sit within terraced neighbourhoods where parking is already tight, waste storage is difficult, and houses have been converted repeatedly over the past decade. “We’ve got a huge pressure for HMOs in Medway, as across the whole country,” Cllr Curry said. “HMOs are a valuable place for a lot of people to live, but we need to retain control over that and how we manage that.” Small HMOs can currently be created through permitted development. Landlords can convert a family home into a six-bed HMO without any planning application at all. Article 4 removes that right, but only in the areas where a council can prove the move is necessary. National policy requires directions to cover the smallest area possible, and only where there is robust evidence of harm. “You have to target the areas where there is a need to control development in this way,” Curry said. When we asked why the approach isn’t Medway-wide, he was clear that the council were “not allowed to.” If Cabinet signs off the Direction, every new HMO in the seven wards will be decided case by case. Planning committees will be able to consider issues such as concentration, layout, amenity, parking and waste provision, rather than watching schemes proceed automatically. But Article 4 does not necessarily make refusal easier. Some proposals will still meet the older Local Plan criteria and be approved. The immediate version of Article 4 also carries a financial risk. For the first 12 months, a landlord whose application is refused can seek compensation for losses directly attributable to the withdrawal of permitted development rights. The council has no specific budget for this, and the [report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83038&ref=localauthority.news) notes any claims would have to be met from the wider finances of the authority. It is a risk Medway appears prepared to take. The Direction is coming forward at a moment when HMO activity has surged. Next week’s [planning committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6334&ref=localauthority.news) includes four separate HMO applications in Gillingham South alone. Similar plans have appeared on almost every recent agenda. Alongside Article 4, the council is also preparing to bring forward selective licensing and additional licensing for larger HMOs. That scheme has not yet launched, but Cabinet papers show it would cover more than half of Medway’s private rented sector in the seven wards with the highest predicted hazard levels. Licensing would sit alongside planning controls, targeting property condition and management rather than land use. “Most landlords in Medway provide a really incredibly valuable places for people to live,” Curry said. “However, we all know there are some horror stories. People are living in some really quite appalling conditions. We need to change that.” The Direction may curb the rapid expansion of HMOs in the central wards, but the forces driving them remain unchanged. Medway’s housing shortage will continue to push people towards shared accommodation, and the pressure is unlikely to ease until the borough can offer alternatives. --- #### Other council news There’s a lot going on in the papers for council meetings over the next week: - As the council moves to restrict HMOs, [next week’s planning committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6334&ref=localauthority.news) sees officers recommending four new ones are approved. At the same time, officers recommend the [refusal of up to 240 new affordable homes](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83071&ref=localauthority.news), within a 800 home development north of Wainscott. The developer has already indicated that they will take the council’s lack of decision so far to appeal. - Housebuilding rates in Medway have collapsed in the past year. Only [634 homes were completed last year](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=82992&ref=localauthority.news), well short of the annual requirement of 1,636\. Medway Council insists that this figure is similar in other areas, and there has been no slow down in the number of planning applications in the pipeline. - Medway Council will [offload public toilets](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83066&ref=localauthority.news) in High Halstow and Cooling to local groups if possible, or if not, close the facilities, to save the council a token sum of money. - Consideration is currently being given to creating a ‘[wet room](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83007&ref=localauthority.news)’ in Chatham town centre where street drinkers could go and drink in a supervised environment, while also being signposted toward support services. - Medway Council and Kent County Council have [come to an agreement](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83042&ref=localauthority.news) over creating replacements for the recently collapsed VisitKent and Locate in Kent. Over £470,000 will be invested, with each council putting in an amount in line with its population size. The agreement nearly collapsed when Reform-led KCC demanded more money from Medway at the last minute. - A number of greenspace roles will be [transferred from Medway Norse](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=83045&ref=localauthority.news) to in-house at Medway Council. Norse will continue to do the day-to-day jobs like cutting grass and emptying bins while Medway Council will taken on longer term planning for green spaces. The council claims there is no additional cost in doing this, which begs the question why it was outsourced out in the first place. --- #### **Jobs at risk at Chatham Docks** ArcelorMittal Kent Wire has begun consulting on 85 redundancies at its Chatham Docks site, adding a new layer of uncertainty to the future of the complex. The steel manufacturer said every job is now at risk “due to the severity and scale of the challenges facing the business,” citing low demand, competition from China and US tariffs. The announcement comes amid a long-running dispute over the redevelopment of the docks. ArcelorMittal was the principal objector to [Peel Waters’ Basin 3 proposals](https://www.localauthority.news/chatham-docks-edges-closer-to-redevelopment/), which Medway Council approved last year. The firm argued that the scheme would leave it unable to remain on the site and warned that closure or relocation overseas was likely if the plans went ahead. ![Artist impression of Basin3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!PaBI!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fafe14d4c-6ce9-46c8-b3ad-f5e814ea628a_1222x640.jpg) Peel’s plans for Chatham Docks. Planning officers recommended approval on the basis that the application conformed to Medway’s 2003 Local Plan. Councillors agreed in May 2024, and after the government [declined to call in the decision](https://www.localauthority.news/government-accepts-chatham-docks/) later that year, formal approval was confirmed in October. ArcelorMittal subsequently launched a judicial review. The High Court heard the case in October this year. The judgment, which will determine whether the permission stands or must be retaken, has not yet been issued. Peel Waters said it has spent more than a decade working with tenants on relocation options and remains committed to Basin 3\. The company argues the scheme will create new workspace, improve public access along the waterfront, and bring more jobs to the site over time. --- #### In brief 🏥 NHS staff at Medway NHS Foundation Trust are being [offered the opportunity to resign](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/nhs-staff-given-option-to-resign-as-part-of-cost-cutting-mea-333544/?ref=localauthority.news) in exchange for a severance payment to help save money. 🏚️ The Sun has [discovered](https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/37504375/town-blighted-abandoned-eyesore-building/?ref=localauthority.news) the looming misery spectacle of the Spembley building in Chatham. 🏪 Tesco has [opened a new Express store](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/new-tesco-store-opens-and-becomes-fourth-in-kent-town-333570/?ref=localauthority.news) on Napier Road in Gillingham. 🧪 Bomb disposal teams [helped remove chemicals](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/bomb-disposal-teams-at-university-site-333561/?ref=localauthority.news) from the Universities at Medway site over the weekend. Residents are moving into Thackeray House, a 44-home affordable development for older people, [completed on Corporation Street](https://futuremedway.co.uk/residents-ready-to-move-into-44-new-affordable-homes-in-corporation-street-rochester/?ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester. --- #### More Authority Musician Pete Molinari went from recording his first album in Billy Childish’s house to performing globally and working with some of the biggest names in music. Now living in LA, [he spoke to us](https://www.localauthority.news/i-did-everything-i-could-to-get-out/) about leaving Medway, recording with Childish, performing with Yoko Ono, and lots more. [“I did everything I could to get out of Chatham”Musician Pete Molinari recorded his first album in Billy Childish’s house. He has gone from Chatham to perform globally with some of the biggest names in music. He now lives in Los Angeles, and Steven caught up with him on the phone whilst Pete was walking his dog in the park. They spoke about what took Pete to the United States, how he came to record with Billy Childish, performing with Yoko Ono, and lots more…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ZaWs!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9904f30d-1e61-4db9-92b4-84eb59f7d008_2038x1358.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-did-everything-i-could-to-get-out/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word-of-mouth from our readers to find new ones.* ### “I did everything I could to get out of Chatham” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-did-everything-i-could-to-get-out/ Last updated: 2025-12-07T07:01:34.000Z *Musician* [*Pete Molinari*](https://www.petemolinari.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *recorded his first album in* [*Billy Childish*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/)*’s house. He has gone from Chatham to perform globally with some of the biggest names in music. He now lives in Los Angeles, and Steven caught up with him on the phone whilst Pete was walking his dog in the park. They spoke about what took Pete to the United States, how he came to record with Billy Childish, performing with Yoko Ono, and lots more…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ZaWs!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9904f30d-1e61-4db9-92b4-84eb59f7d008_2038x1358.jpg) Pete Molinari. Photo: Elizabeth Beristain. **What is your official occupation?** It sounds rather dramatic to say I’m an artist, doesn’t it? But I guess that’s what I do. I don’t do anything other than the music, and I tend to write for a lot of other people too now and find myself in different studio sessions playing for people rather than just myself, which has been interesting in LA. The pandemic got us writing a bit of literature. I’ve started to do a lot more of that, and I’m actually working on a play with an Italian company because I’m working with a lot of people in Italy. I’m just a... I guess I find these words a little bit over the top, like artist and writer and all of that stuff. But seeing as there’s not many other labels for it, that’s what I find myself doing. I’d be just as proud to be a fisherman in Malta or something as I would to be an artist. But I tend to have gone that route. I found myself living in Los Angeles. I never planned on it. I got a recording contract about 11 years ago that brought me to America, but I first settled in New York, because I’d been to New York, I knew New York, I knew it like I knew London. LA, I didn’t. I didn’t want to, but I found myself living here, probably because I met my wife, who’s from Brazil, and she lives here. If I hadn’t met her, I’d probably move back to New York or even London. My point is in LA, if you want to work a lot as a musician, it’s a bit different than the east coast and in Europe, where you can keep yourself really busy live all the time. I do a lot of live work, but in LA, you find yourself either writing for the film industry or in a lot of different studio sessions. **What instruments do you play?** I play guitar. I play guitar, and I play a lot more piano nowadays. I didn’t play piano that much when I started playing and performing. I usually use piano just for writing songs. I’d sit down, and it’s a bit easier that way than guitar for coming up with things in some ways. The piano is broader, and you can have a lot more of a happy accident on a piano than you can on a guitar. When it comes to performing with musicians, if I’m doing a show with a band, because I do both playing solo acoustic dates when I want to and I perform a lot with a band, it still is mostly guitar. But most days if I’m in the studio, I find myself playing piano a lot nowadays. I play harmonica too. I play a little bit of blues, but generally I play in the folky Bob Dylan, Neil Young way. I’ve learned a bit more over the years to play some blues and stuff. It’s a fun little thing to carry around. **What took you to the US in the first place?** It’s funny because I think my obsession with the US, if I need to call it that, wears off when you’ve lived somewhere for a while. I think early on as a kid, before I developed my love for music or anything like that, we had relatives that were from San Francisco. Initially from a Maltese background, because my mum is from Malta in the Mediterranean, my father is from Alexandria, Egypt, and my grandfather was from Italian stock. Me and my siblings all raised there in Medway, and we had relatives that would visit us almost every couple of years from San Francisco and I don’t live too far from them now. I see them every now and again when I’m in San Francisco, but they would always bring us things, books, little toy cars and baseball caps. Me and one of my sisters, we really grew a love for America and American things. I think if I was born in America, I would be living in Europe. I think it’s the novelty of living somewhere else, maybe, and anywhere else could have been Italy or France. I think for me, I went towards New York initially, before LA, but it was before anything to do with music or the arts. Aartistically, I was probably drawn a lot more to things in England and France and Italy and things like that. But music, obviously, like anyone else in England, we all tend to love rock and roll. I had older brothers that had a big record collection. It was weird because I grew up in a household where my father liked opera. The first thing I heard was Maria Carlass and Pavarotti. Yet my older brothers and I think one of my uncles had rock and roll, a little jazz, a little blues. Primarily, it was Chuck Berry, Elvis, and Roy Orbison. Buddy Holly became a big love of mine, and the Everly Brothers. I think the imagery of America and the brashness of it, as a kid, appealed to me. I think I was a bit idealistic about it. Obviously, when I went through school, it always felt like the British traditions grated on me a little bit. I never felt I was going to do anything that academic. I loved Shakespeare, and I loved literature. That was about the only thing I really liked at school. I loved everything to do with the arts in England, but I guess I probably look towards America as an escape, maybe. I say ‘maybe’ on there because I’m guessing just as much as you are. It certainly held an appeal for me when I was at school. When I got into music, it was the first place I wanted to go. I went around Europe a lot, but reading about New York and Greenwich Village and what happened here was just appealing to me. **How are you feeling about the United States these days?** Like I said, I didn’t plan to live in Los Angeles, and I still feel like Los Angeles isn’t a place of culture for me. It isn’t something that appeals to me very much in a cultural way. There are things as a Brit that I love about it. You can wake up in January, and it feels like July. The light here, more than the warmth. I feel like the light is always positive. It makes me feel good, and I tend to be drawn a lot more to New York in a way, the east coast, because if you want to be busy playing shows, the east coast there’s a lot more going on. But America, if I think about it, in any other way than I usually do, if I start to think about it politically, yeah, it’s not so appealing. It’s pretty crazy, everything that’s going on. But I guess it probably was in the time of my mum and dad and everyone else too, but maybe not as crazy as now. **You’ve just come back from Italy. Were you there on a holiday or were you there performing?** I tend to feel like I’m still on holiday here. It’s weird, for me usually going away to play and record and do stuff. In Italy, I was playing. The only holiday I really get is since being with Mila that we’ve been to Brazil a few times. She’s from a small island in the South called Florianopolis, which is really tropical and beautiful. I’ve been there a few times, and that is probably a break for me because I don’t play music there. When I go away, usually to the east coast or to Europe, it’s usually to do something with music. I was there mainly for a thing called the [Summer Jamboree](https://www.summerjamboree.com/en/?ref=localauthority.news), which is in Semigallia, which is near the Adriatic Sea. It’s up near the Rimini Ravenna area on the east coast. We planned some other shows around it, played in Rome and Milan and a few other places. Then I worked with an Italian record label, [Blind Faith Records](https://www.blindfaithrecords.it/?ref=localauthority.news), I was on for the last record, and we started on some new recordings there, which was good. That wasn’t actually planned. I was there to play, and then we started to record a couple of tracks. I guess it’s the catalyst for a new record. I have recorded a record here in LA earlier this year that we’re getting out at some point, but I am releasing a single pretty soon. I have enjoyed both recording here and over there in recent years. In the past few years, I’ve been recording pretty much between here and Italy. I haven’t recorded in England for a while, which I would really like to do because some of my favourite musicians are there. I’d love to work with them again. I heard that [Toe Rag Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toe%5FRag%5FStudios?ref=localauthority.news) closed down, which is quite sad. That was one of the places I recorded in London with Liam Watson. I really love that studio. It was beautiful, all-analogue place and sad to hear about things like that. **We were saying before we began about that sad nostalgia of things going, and it’s like it never happened.** Yeah, you see things come and go, especially when you’ve spent a few years away, and then you go back and, wow, what happened to that theatre or what happened to that cinema or that’s turned into a block of flats or whatever. I think that’s what we’re supposed to get used to as humans, just to let things go and not be so attached. If you’re here and you drive down Hollywood Boulevard, you can imagine what it might have been like in 1940 or 50 or something. I’m sure it was a lot more sophisticated then. We’ve got all the footage to look at. You look at these places now, and everything’s changed, the culture’s changed so much. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Unbeaten but unspectacular URL: https://www.localauthority.news/unbeaten-but-unspectacular/ Last updated: 2025-12-05T14:03:24.000Z *Gillingham FC got through November without tasting defeat, even if the performances didn’t always match the results. In his latest column, Ben Hopkins breaks down a month that hinted at improvement without quite delivering the spark. Further down, we have a mix of festive theatre, live music, HUMBUG, and a busy Medway events calendar as we roll into December.* --- #### Unbeaten but unspectacular *The long dark nights and autumnal gloom of November always leaves me thinking: let’s just get it out of the way and look forward to better times in December. Which also seems to have been the outcome for Gillingham’s fortunes this month - unbeaten but unspectacular. Hopefully, things will step up a gear before the year is done. Ben Hopkins returns for his monthly column on Gillingham FC…* **Gareth Ainsworth is fighting fit** November started away to Bristol Rovers, where delays and boredom led to a flurry of Gills chants before our train had even reached Bath. But spirits were high before kick-off, with old favourite [Mark Saunders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark%5FSaunders%5F%28footballer%29?ref=localauthority.news) drinking with the away contingent. More importantly, manager Gareth Ainsworth was back following heart surgery - albeit watching far above the action from the gantry of the West Stand. A 1-0 win left the 1000+ Gills following happy, and sparked hopes that Ainsworth’s return would reverse the dubious form that had permeated during his absence. As it turned out, the month’s return of a win and three draws was… basically fine. Six points from four games extrapolated over an entire season would give Gills a total of 69 - a tally that would normally be just too little to make the play-offs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yc2T!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd6a3dc5d-9c46-4735-a257-20b76168721e_4000x2094.png) A gloomy Priestfield hosts Crawley for a draw. Photo: Ben Hopkins. **Eat my goal!** January 2025 saw Gillingham score just twice - both own goals, therefore making for a notorious Goal of the Month contest. November, by contrast, saw three clear contenders. At Bristol, Max Clark emerged into space on the left-wing to hit a screaming half-volley from just outside the penalty box to score the only goal of the game, before boxing the air in celebration like he’d just spotted his worst enemy at the back of the away stand. A challenger emerged the following Saturday at home to Crawley. Ainsworth loves a cheeky set-piece routine practised in training, and that resulted in Gills’ opening goal. Clark’s corner veered away from goal, where Crawley appeared to have forgotten that Bradley Dack existed, giving him the space to fire home. At home to Barnet, Dack and Clark debated who should take a free-kick 25 yards from goal with seconds left before half-time. I wanted Clark to strike it, so naturally Dack struck a precise, curling shot into the upper corner of the net to prompt surprised celebrations amongst the Rainham End fans who hadn’t yet disappeared to the bar. **Cracks in the defence** Last month, I bemoaned an injury to first-choice ‘keeper Glenn Morris, and almost immediately, deputy Jake Turner was the hero of the day with a wonderful late save to maintain the Bristol Rovers win. But later in the month at Shrewsbury, Turner should’ve done better: a miscued shot trickling into the net at the slowest speed imaginable - a classic Gills concession. It’s a situation which has been a minor concern all summer. In his fourth season at the club, Turner doesn’t look like becoming an automatic first choice. And as strong as he has been, Morris will be 42 years old in a fortnight - long past the stage where a goalkeeper might be expected to decline or see previously minor injuries linger. With three Shrewsbury goals, evidence that the defence is struggling, and the remaining back-up, loanee Travis Akomeah, only on the fringes of the squad, the return of Andy Smith and/or Conor Masterson would be very welcome. **A tale of three penalties** Clark’s wonder goal at Bristol Rovers redeemed his earlier poor penalty - he struck the shot so centrally that the Rovers’ goalkeeper barely had to move to make the save. So it was no surprise when penalty duties reverted to Robbie McKenzie, who converted at home to Crawley after Clark’s attempt to repeat his Bristol heroics was thwarted by a handball. McKenzie then scored another away to Shrewsbury, awarded after a foul from a corner in very similar circumstances to the situation that led to Clark’s miss at Bristol. **Strikers? Goals? Chance would be a fine thing** Every column and indeed every match day, I’ll question who is going to score the goals for Gills to have a decent season. And as the season nears the halfway mark, I’m still not sure. Seb Palmer-Houlden came close when a pinpoint cross from Garath McCleary led to panic in the Shrewsbury defence, an own goal their only option to attempt to stop Palmer-Houlden from scoring himself. And with time running out, another sensational McCleary cross gave Elliot Nevitt just enough space to head home - his second late equaliser of the season. Otherwise, Josh Andrews and Sam Vokes? Both a pain to play against, but haven’t got going on the scoring front. Marcus Wyllie? Probably needs to step down a level to get a chance to prove he can make it in the league. Gillingham have scored 26 league goals this season, but only 30% of them have come from strikers - while Dack, Clark and Armani Little combined have almost half of the total between them. Perhaps McCleary’s service can make a (very, very long-awaited) difference. **Next up:** Dec 6 - Colchester away, Dec 13 - Barrow home, Dec 20 - Fleetwood away, Dec 26 - Cambridge home, Dec 29 - Colchester home. --- #### **Review: A Sherlock Carol at Medway Little Theatre** *Warning: May contain spoilers.* As opening lines go, “Moriarty was dead to begin with” bears repeating and neatly sets up the tone and style of this Dickens Vs Conan Doyle Christmas mystery mash-up. Ebenezer Scrooge is dead, foul play is suspected, and a disaffected Sherlock Holmes is haunted by Moriarty and mourning the loss of a worthy adversary. The script combines verbatim snatches of both revered authors, whilst affectionately subverting preconceptions and the cast has huge fun with this. The ensemble works effectively together; gathering as carol singers, conveying the busy mingling of the crowded streets of London, or speaking in unison to reinforce the ghostly elements of the story. One of the deft twists of the plot is that the Countess of Morcar, aka Irene Adler, is a love interest of both Scrooge and Holmes. Melody de Lorme gets to shine in a glorious music hall number and carries much of the explication linking the death of Scrooge, a missing will and a jewel theft. Her appealing performance blends knowing charm and vivacity, adding to the overall fun of the show. Mike Dickinson, as Sherlock Holmes, is the only performer to play a single role throughout the entire production. He starts off without any of the paraphernalia associated with the consulting detective, wild-eyed and tormented by the spirit of Moriarty, proclaiming “Bah!” to all who wish him a Happy Christmas, encourage him to believe in spirits, or attempt to engage his services. As the play progresses, he gradually assumes the costume of Scrooge himself until the two characters are united to view the past, present and future and (hoorah!) Holmes is convinced to solve the case. Dickinson becomes increasingly animated, shamelessly playing to the crowd and actively enjoying the fluffed lines which proliferate in the second half. This hilarity is infectious and spreads to the full house audience. Barry Kearns is impressive in his multiple roles, lending a reserved dignity (to begin with) to John Watson, switching to a Dublin accent for inebriate candlemaker Henry Burke and then to spivvy chancer Joe Brackenridge. A pub scene allows Hania Simons to briefly become a tartan clad whirlwind reminiscent of Blackadder’s Mrs Miggins before she returns to the role of moustachioed and wilfully incompetent Inspector Lestrade. Tiny Tim is all grown up and Glen Morris plays him as a foil to Dickinson’s frenetic Holmes and then gets to revel in the role of a snivelling Ralph Fezziwig. The costumes are as authentic as any that will be on display at The Dickens Festival this weekend. The reveal that John Watson was the young boy who was sent to fetch the prize turkey and deliver it to the Cratchits is perfectly pitched, with Geoff Coote’s Scrooge appearing from an upstairs window to recreate this infamous scene to brilliant effect. Even if Watson then goes on to almost miss the opportunity to bestow a deerstalker on the revivified Holmes, everyone is genuinely amused by the resolution of the plot. As an alternative to panto or any of the other iterations of A Christmas Carol, this show is cleverer than you think it is going to be, but has just the right amount of festive silliness. - *Moira Mehaffey* --- #### It’s HUMBUG! Nucleus Arts’ [HUMBUG](https://www.instagram.com/p/DRwx7n7jLgz/?ref=localauthority.news), one of the great festive events, is back this Saturday from 11am until 4pm at the Halpern Gallery in Chatham as part of the [Winter Open](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news), which runs until Christmas. The latest in a series of events that support local artists, The Halpern Unique Maker’s Bazaar of Uncommon Gifts is an annual curated pop-up featuring affordable, unique artist-made items perfect for gifts. The Winter Open is the Halpern Gallery open call exhibition, featuring 60 artists. They’ve all been invited to bring items they think would make lovely presents or more affordable objects, which will be available for sale on Saturday. [Genevieve Tullberg](https://www.localauthority.news/i-realised-i-liked-flogging-it-more/) and team will be on hand for their excellent wrapping skills. A special edition of Nucleus’ regular Lego and Art club will be running alongside the event, for all ages 4+, where artists will encourage kids to get creative, whilst their parents can explore the gallery. More details [here](https://www.nucleusarts.com/events-2-1/lego-and-art-club-dmnc7?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### **Review: The High Span and The Dutch Embassy at Rochester Social Club** Stepping out from behind the bass he usually plays in These Guilty Men and South Shore, Nick Rice emerges as an assured and skilful vocalist and lead guitarist for The Dutch Embassy. The set list largely follows the track listing for their debut album Lighting the Beacons, opening with the enigmatic indie pop of ‘The CFG,’ which allows Nick’s vocals to combine with Noeleen’s, who has blossomed into a performer who matches and complements the power of his range. On ‘You Can’t Take the Best Away From Me,’ she performs an impressive whistling solo in lieu of the harmonica usually added by [Stuart Turner](https://www.localauthority.news/i-cant-really-write-music-that-goes/), who tonight is capably deputising on bass. The diversity of sounds and influences on display, from the R&B of ‘Trample on Me’ and the smooth Style Council flavoured ‘People Every Day,’ is largely due to Nick’s ear for melody, driven by his mellifluous lead guitar and ability to turn a catchy chorus. Nick has a happy accident when he knocks the wrong pedal towards the end of ‘All With You,’ but this only adds even more depth to an already taut, muscular break-up song. Jimmy Moore, in his first of two back-to-back sets on drums, drives everyone supportively, while never overpowering the vocal performances. ![May be an image of guitar and saxophone](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!cUkD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2efd055a-74ae-454e-84ae-6cd9af4ca2d2_1440x754.jpg) The Dutch Embassy. Photo: Moira Mehaffey Headliners The High Span are here to launch their splendidly titled second album, Blithering. The glittery golden curtain backdrop to the stage is in keeping with their twangy showbiz sensibility, whilst also being pleasingly at odds with their air of very English urbanity. Frontman [Kevin Younger](https://www.localauthority.news/almost-anywhere-can-be-a-place-to/) has no succinct description for their sound. These are pop songs without mission or agenda, often viewing life from the angles that other songwriters ignore or just never reach. ‘Phantom Limb’ is a case in point, using the extended metaphor of amputation to explore the emotional impact of a failed relationship in disarmingly beguiling style. ‘Ambrosine,’ featuring the guest ukulele of Dave Read and sweet backing vocals of Sarah Post, is a fine example of the band’s more twee retro side, while ‘Crying Eyes’ has a surprising hint of early Cure in live performance, showing the sharp edges of these musical magpies. Mark Aitken’s bass becomes the lead instrument, consistently driving euphony in songs, with Kevin sprinkling jangling post-punk guitar on top and Jimmy Moore adding a lounge beat on drums. The DIY aesthetic and spirit of the band carries over to the merchandise stand, where a rainbow of hand-printed t-shirts and tote bags is available. It’s a busy night in the venue, with an amiable crowd who raise a heartfelt cheer for Irene, Kevin’s mum, who has helped to fund the production of the record. The set closes with fan favourite ‘Nee Naw,’ at the punkier end of the repertoire in both subject matter and sound and leaving everyone with a real buzz from this quirky and affable band. - *Moira Mehaffey* --- #### *Steven needs your help with the Medway Element* *Steven has received UKSPF funding for a project about arts, culture and heritage in Medway. Part of this is conducting a survey to get a baseline understanding of residents and their engagement with local culture.* *Could you help by* [*taking the survey*](https://forms.gle/YhV2hxqdXMvobxB67?ref=localauthority.news) *and sharing the survey?* --- #### Events this week 🎭 4 - 13 Dec - [**The Sherlock Carol**](https://www.mlt.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) // Sherlock Holmes is approached by Dr ‘Tiny’ Tim Cratchit to investigate the death of Ebeneezer Scrooge. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £12. 🤶 Sat 6 Dec - [**HUMBUG**](https://www.facebook.com/events/4158583827715251) // A festive celebration of The Halpern Gallery Winter Open and more. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. 🍿 Mon 8 Dec - [**Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-66143&ref=localauthority.news) // With a running time of just 4 hours and 35 mins, new content includes an animated sequence and restored scenes. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets from £6.50. 💬 Wed 10 Dec - [**Big Trouble’s Xmas Special**](https://www.facebook.com/events/rams-micropub-12-degrees/big-troubles-xmas-special/1547138216338775/) // Quarterly spoken word poetry open mic night with some Christmas treats. Rams Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester. Free. 🍿 Fri 12 Dec - [**The Shining (45th anniversary)**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-65855&ref=localauthority.news) // All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy in Kubrick’s classic adaptation of Stephen King's horror about trying to write with an annoying family. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets from £12.50. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Ambulance service criticised after secret Medway filming URL: https://www.localauthority.news/ambulance-service-criticised-after/ Last updated: 2025-12-03T09:18:46.000Z *Medway’s emergency services are back under the microscope this week, with ambulance leaders hauled before councillors after a covert Channel 4 documentary exposed issues, and Medway A&E once again told it still isn’t meeting the mark. Even the normally uneventful councillor allowances list arrived with its own mini-mystery. Add in a devolution push, school changes, new shops, planning bids and an excellent showing from Medway’s very good dogs, and there’s plenty to catch up on. Let’s get started.* --- #### Ambulance service criticised after secret Medway filming South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) has come under fire from Medway councillors after a Channel 4 documentary exposed long waits and strained decision-making inside the area’s main 999 control room. ![Ambulance crews to move into new ambulance centre in Gillingham - NHS South East Coast Ambulance Service](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!dc6z!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f853e21bf-1133-4a25-81e6-a96b0aec1c4f_2017x1056.png) Medway Make Ready Centre in Gillingham. 999 Undercover: NHS in Crisis, broadcast in October, included secretly recorded footage from inside the Medway Make Ready Centre in Gillingham. An undercover journalist worked there between May and July, documenting the pressures on call handlers and the delays some patients experienced while awaiting an ambulance. You can watch the full documentary below: SECAmb has since confirmed it had no idea the filming was taking place and was not shown the programme in advance. In a [statement issued on the day of broadcast](https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/trust-statement-on-channel-4-dispatches-documentary/?ref=localauthority.news), the trust said it took any breach of confidentiality “extremely seriously” and stressed staff and patients filmed without consent had been anonymised. The trust said it remained “extremely proud” of its call-centre teams. Still, it acknowledged that some patients “are waiting longer for an ambulance response than we would want or expect,” adding that it was working to improve performance amid rising demand. Those reassurances did not satisfy councillors at last week’s Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, where SECAmb faced criticism for the tone and focus of its public response. Labour councillor David Field said the trust’s approach was “defensive,” accusing it of “not looking at the issues being raised, instead seeking to disparage public service journalism and whistleblowing.” He asked whether this was “a symptom of a defensive culture that is seeking to avoid blame,” later adding that problems of this nature “seem like this is happening quite often and over a long period.” SECAmb’s strategic partnerships manager, Daryl Devlia, rejected the suggestion that the trust was being defensive, saying the investigation into the covert filming was “highly sensitive in nature” and meant they could not answer questions about the specifics until it concludes. Associate director of strategy and partnerships Matt Webb told councillors the internal inquiry was examining patient-data protection, staff wellbeing, and public confidence, and that the trust was working with the Information Commissioner’s Office. He said there was “no evidence of patient harm,” and offered to return early next year to provide a fuller update once the investigation is complete. Webb also said “it’s clear there has been a breach of trust,” but insisted that “any premature detail could compromise the investigation that’s ongoing.” Not all councillors were critical. Conservative David Wildey praised the professionalism of ambulance crews based on his own experiences. But others pressed the trust on the issues raised in the programme itself rather than the filming of it. Conservative leader [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) said he was “more worried about the service that our residents are receiving,” and asked SECAmb to return with a detailed presentation on the issues revealed in the documentary. Labour chair of the committee Dan McDonald raised concerns about staff being shown telling callers ambulances were being dispatched when they were not, one of the most troubling sequences in the programme. The most recent NHS data does little to ease concerns. In October, SECAmb recorded a mean Category 2 response time of 28 minutes 11 seconds, with one in ten patients waiting nearly an hour. Category 2 calls include strokes and some heart attacks, the type featured heavily in the documentary. Category 1, the most critical incidents, averaged 8 minutes 24 seconds, above the seven-minute target. Lower-acuity categories showed the service meeting targets, with Category 3 calls averaging just over two hours, while Category 4 reached more than 2 hours and 20 minutes, though the longest waits stretched beyond five hours. The figures underline the gap between the trust’s stated improvements and the reality experienced by patients and call handlers. For councillors, they also reinforce why the content of the Dispatches documentary, not just the filming method, has struck a nerve. The scrutiny comes just over two years after the opening of the Medway Make Ready Centre, the large Gillingham complex that houses the 999 control room, an NHS 111 call centre, and vehicle preparation facilities. When it opened in June 2023, SECAmb described the site as the first in the country to bring 999 and 111 services together, promising greater efficiency, modernised facilities, and increased resilience. Crews who had previously started and ended shifts in Chatham relocated to the new centre, with the trust presenting the building as a significant upgrade to its operations in the east of its patch. The Dispatches documentary has cast a harsher light on how that system is performing under strain. While SECAmb says it has made progress since its [critical CQC inspection](https://www.cqc.org.uk/provider/RYD?ref=localauthority.news) in 2022 and is pushing to meet national targets, the footage suggests that call handlers continue to face long periods where demand outstrips capacity. The trust’s investigation into how the covert filming took place is expected to conclude in January. Councillors, however, made clear that their priority is not the documentary’s methods, but what it revealed about the service thousands of Medway residents rely on in an emergency. As Field put it during the meeting, the question now is whether the trust is prepared to confront the issues raised rather than the way they were exposed. --- #### Inspection says Medway A&E still not good enough Medway Maritime Hospital’s A&E has once again been rated ‘requires improvement’ after a Care Quality Commission [inspection in April](https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/RPA02/reports/LAP-01575/overall?ref=localauthority.news), with inspectors warning that patient safety and dignity are still not consistently protected when the department becomes overwhelmed. The CQC returned to Medway to follow up on a Warning Notice issued in April 2024, when the service was also rated as requiring improvement. The trust has since met the requirements of that notice and “safe” has improved from inadequate to requires improvement, while “well-led” has been upgraded to good. But the overall rating for urgent and emergency care remains requires improvement, and when combined with previous inspections of other hospital services, Medway Maritime Hospital as a whole also remains requires improvement. Inspectors said the department continued to struggle with patient flow into the wider hospital, resulting in periods when the escalation procedures failed to protect people’s privacy or dignity. Some patients were moved into temporary areas unsuitable for care, and others faced long waits while basic risk assessments were not completed. The service was already in breach of legal regulations relating to dignity, respect, and safe care; although improvements were noted, it remains in breach of both. Roger James, the CQC’s deputy director of operations for Kent and Medway, said inspectors found a department “under significant pressure,” with staff not always able to provide timely treatment or maintain people’s dignity. More than 50 people were spoken to during the inspection. Some described deeply unsatisfactory experiences caused by excessive noise, poor access to staff, and being treated in unsuitable spaces during the busiest hours. Between May 2024 and April 2025, 13% of patients waited more than 12 hours for treatment. Only 55% were assessed within 15 minutes of arrival. Staff did not always record or review people’s pain levels, leading to some patients remaining in discomfort for long stretches, and medicine administration was not consistently safe. Consultant cover also fell short of national guidance. Despite this, the watchdog highlighted areas of progress. Ambulance handovers remain among the best in the country. Sepsis treatment continues to meet national standards. Infection control compliance sits at 98%. Staff described improved culture and teamwork, with a new programme underway to address aggression and support wellbeing. Inspectors said that where staff had time and space to deliver care properly, people felt well supported. Interim chief executive Jonathan Wade said staff were “determined” to improve further but accepted that too many patients still experience delays and inconsistent standards of care. He apologised to anyone waiting longer than they should for a ward bed or who did not receive the care they expected. He added that the trust had since recruited more emergency nurses and doctors, introduced procedures to accelerate specialist assessments and tests, and added extra senior oversight to ensure risk assessments and medication checks are completed on time. Wade also highlighted the expansion of the trust’s virtual ward service from 80 to 120 beds, now running 24/7\. The trust says this helps reduce pressure on the Emergency Department by enabling more people to be cared for at home through remote monitoring and home visits from the SMART (Surgical, Medical and Acute Recovery Team) team. Medway describes this as the first step toward a fully fledged 200-bed “virtual hospital.” The CQC has ordered the trust to submit a detailed action plan to address the ongoing breaches. Inspectors say they will continue to monitor the service closely, so it’s likely the hospital will be receiving another visit in the near future. --- #### Medway allowances and the mystery of the administrative errors Medway Council’s annual allowances list is normally a peaceful affair, with rows of familiar names and predictable numbers. This year, though, the [notice arrived](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/9463/2024%5Fto%5F2025%5Fmember%5Fallowances?ref=localauthority.news) with an unexpected tease: a mysterious ‘Note 3’ citing ‘administrative errors,’ without elaboration. Naturally, we asked what went wrong. Naturally, the answer was wonderfully anticlimactic. The headline is that the basic allowance for a full year should be £12,098\. But a sizeable group of councillors, 22 in fact, were all underpaid by £624 during 2024/25\. The council says all of them will have received the missing amount in the current financial year, bringing them back to where they should have been all along. The administrative hiccup doesn’t end there. Three councillors also weren’t paid the £46.53 they were due for attending Licensing Hearing Panels, which will be corrected too. One councillor was overpaid by the rather manageable sum of £36, which will be reclaimed. All of those affected were informed before publication, though presumably without the need for a sombre press conference or an emergency committee. With that mystery solved, the rest of the list returns to the usual rhythms: backbenchers clustered on the standard allowance (now that we know which ones were short-changed), cabinet members drawing responsibility payments in the £14–18k range, and the leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) and deputy [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/) on £36,294 and £24,196 respectively. Travel and subsistence claims remain close to zero. In the end, it’s all relatively harmless stuff. Small sums, quickly corrected, and hardly the stuff of high drama. But there is something gently amusing about a council where the year’s most significant allowances hiccup amounts to a few missing panel fees and a £36 overpayment. --- #### In brief 🗣️ All 14 council leaders in Kent have come together to lobby the government for a [devolution deal](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/2005/kent%5Fs%5Fcouncil%5Fleaders%5Fissue%5Fdevolution%5Fdesert%5Fwarning?ref=localauthority.news) after initial efforts were rejected. 🇵🇸 Medway Council has [flown the Palestinian flag](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/palestinian-flag-raised-over-council-offices-for-first-time-333341/?ref=localauthority.news) over Gun Wharf to mark the UN’s International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. 🗄️ Plans have been submitted to [convert the former Grandma Thai restaurant](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=T68EMCKNJ5C00&ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester into two homes. 🛒 Aldi has received planning permission to [open a new store](https://futuremedway.co.uk/aldi-secures-approval-for-new-store-in-maidstone-road-chatham-despite-dozens-of-objections/?ref=localauthority.news) on Maidstone Road in Chatham on a former St John Fisher school site. 🏫 Walderslade School and Greenacre School [could combine](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/plans-to-formally-merge-two-schools-under-one-roof-333349/?ref=localauthority.news) to become a single mixed-sex school under plans put forward by the Beyond Schools Trust. 🪚 Robert Taylor has won [Shedder of the Year](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2pje9xvx7o?ref=localauthority.news) for his work with the Medway Men In Sheds group, which aims to tackle social isolation and improve mental health. 🐕‍🦺 Medway Hospital now has [13 dogs on its Pets as Therapy Team](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/pawsome-pooches-bring-comfort-and-joy-to-patients-at-medway/?ref=localauthority.news), and they are all Very Good Dogs. --- #### More Authority [Cllr Louwella Prenter, Medway Council Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness](https://www.localauthority.news/a-yimby-doesnt-mean-youre-ruining/), spoke to us about housing, homelessness, Love Gillingham and why being a YIMBY doesn’t mean harming the local environment in our weekend interview: [“A YIMBY doesn’t mean you’re ruining the local environment”Councillor Louwella Prenter is the Labour ward councillor for Gillingham South and the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness at Medway Council. Steven met her in Costa on Gillingham High Street ahead of her sewing lesson at Unravel and Unwind. They discussed whether the Love Gillingham campaign has improved Gillingham High Street, what brought her father to the UK from Fiji, and her views on being a YIMBY…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!-bJX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbde8a23f-4c26-470e-b794-f64d49b2e674_4480x3360.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/a-yimby-doesnt-mean-youre-ruining/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word-of-mouth from our readers to find new ones. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “A YIMBY doesn’t mean you’re ruining the local environment” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-yimby-doesnt-mean-youre-ruining/ Last updated: 2025-11-30T07:01:54.000Z *Councillor Louwella Prenter is the Labour ward councillor for Gillingham South and the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness at Medway Council. Steven met her in Costa on Gillingham High Street ahead of her sewing lesson at Unravel and Unwind. They discussed whether the Love Gillingham campaign has improved Gillingham High Street, what brought her father to the UK from Fiji, and her views on being a YIMBY…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!-bJX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbde8a23f-4c26-470e-b794-f64d49b2e674_4480x3360.jpg) Cllr Louwella Prenter. **Which ward are you the councillor for?** Gillingham South **Why that ward?** Because this is where I grew up and I went to primary school, secondary school, lived in this ward most of my life, apart from a short stint where I moved to London to work. And I really care about the ward, so it fits me. **Have you been involved in the** [**Love Gillingham**](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200177/regeneration/1917/regeneration%5Fin%5Fgillingham?ref=localauthority.news) **campaign?** I have, yeah. I’m on the task force for the High Street, and I’m also on the Love Gillingham… It’s called the Gillingham Community Panel now, but it started off as the panel where they recruited. They had a panel of 40 volunteers, they got selected, and they had workshops and now that has scaled down into a working panel which I’m part of. **Can you identify any way that Gillingham High Street has improved in that time?** Well, you would have seen some of the street furniture has been cleaned up, repainted. That was a visual. Some lampposts have been repaired where vehicles were driving on the High Street illegally and smashed into them. We’ve now got cameras that enforce this section of the High Street because so many vehicles, delivery drivers, have been driving along here thinking it’s absolutely okay to drive a great big van, whilst somebody is walking along with a pram. It’s not okay, it’s a pedestrianised High Street. It has been for almost all of my life. But they were still doing it. The cameras coming in now has enforced that. I’ve noticed an improvement with fewer delivery drivers. I haven’t had to stop people, which I have been known to do, and ask why they’re doing it. Particularly in this half, because there’s rear access to every one of these properties, and they don’t need to deliver from the front. There’s a couple of things I can think of. We’re really focused on cleaning it up because that came through the panel, and as a resident, I could tell it is flytipping, litter, it’s people just dumping. It used to be that there would be cardboard from deliveries from certain shops just being dumped every week. That doesn’t happen anymore, because the panel, the community, the Love Gillingham group collectively got together, and planted a couple of flowers in there during our Love Gillingham big day out and the [Unravel & Unwind](https://shop.unravelandunwind.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) shop keep an eye on it, maintain it and that stops people from putting rubbish on there. There’s lots of little things, there’s more to come. The *\[Christmas\]* tree and the lights are funded by the ward councillors across Gillingham and Watling. **When people think of Chatham or Rochester High Streets, good or bad, they have an idea of what the identity of that high street is or was. Does the same exist for Gillingham High Street?** Sadly, the decline in the high street has been… It hasn’t been rapid, it’s been slowly declining for 30 years. If I look back as a kid coming along here, we had lots of big shops. That is not Gillingham alone, all across the country the shops are closing, people are going online shopping, the footfalls are not there. In terms of where it was a real thriving high street for shoppers, it has changed, but we do have the markets. That brings people into the high street. Unfortunately, it has got the reputation, which we are with our Love Gillingham panel trying to change, of being tired and dirty, but that comes from years of decline, from the Tories never investing here. **What is your official occupation?** Well, I’m a councillor now, but in the past, my history is banking and financial services, and for the past ten years, I had been working as a financial administrator in a school, but I am now just a councillor. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** I have quite an involvement in my constituency Labour Party, but obviously that’s not paid. Everything related to the councillor is what I’m doing. **What political parties have you been a member of?** The Labour Party and, in recent years, the Co-operative Party because I’m a Labour and Co-operative councillor. **What time did you join the Labour Party?** I joined the Labour Party in 2002. **That was a very challenging time for the Labour Party.** It was. **Was there a particular moment that made you join at that point?** I think it was the need for community and relocating back to Gillingham, and I could see the changes in Gillingham. I wanted to do something, and Labour seemed a way forward for me to get involved in volunteering and things like that. I wasn’t supportive of the invasion of Iraq. **Who has been the best leader of the Labour Party during your membership?** Gordon Brown. **When did your name first appear on a ballot?** I think it was the 2015 local elections, a ward in Parkwood. I’m not sure of the exact name of it, because they had more boundary changes. **Would that have been as a paper candidate?** Yes, essentially, but obviously if I’d have been elected, I would have done it, of course. It wasn’t a target seat for the Labour Party. **Did you stand again in 2019?** I did, and that was in Hempstead. **What changed in 2023 when you stood in a Labour target seat?** Well, Clive Johnson decided he was going to retire as a councillor after serving for two terms, and this was perfect. This was what I wanted. **When** [**Naushabah Khan**](https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/) **became an MP and stood down as a member of the council cabinet, why were you the best person to become the new Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness?** That would be a question for the leader. I think because I was in a ward that has quite a high level of private rented accommodation. We also have the social housing owned by the council, housing providers. I’ve been doing casework relating to that already. My banking background gives me analytical skills. It’s quite data-driven with lots of information. Obviously, I’ve rented accommodation in the past, I’ve lived in a house here, I’ve lived in a flat, just a human element of it. I think all those things together. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The ghosts of a working-class landscape URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-ghosts-of-a-working-class-landscape/ Last updated: 2025-11-28T20:16:46.000Z *Two stories that take us deep into the social fabric of Medway this week, from the vanished pubs that once held whole neighbourhoods together to the volunteers making sure young care leavers aren’t spending Christmas alone. We’ve also got Stephen Morris on The High Span’s beautifully strange new record, plus a packed run of local events to see you through the week.* --- #### The ghosts of a working-class landscape *Chris de Coulon Berthoud on why Medway had so many pubs, and why so many are no more…* It once seemed like there was a pub on every corner in the Medway Towns. The names spoke of royalty, Britannia, the British Queen, Prince of Wales, Prince of Wales, of naval and military connections, The Army and Navy, The Cossack, The General at Sea, Imperial Forces, and of work and the trades, The Hook and Hatchet, The Jolly Caulkers, Brickmaker’s Arms, Carpenter’s Arms, Ropemaker’s Arms. Others were less august establishments, back-street beer houses that served dockyard maties, apprentices, and soldiers. Beer houses flourished after the 1830 Beerhouse Act, which allowed almost anyone to sell beer from their premises with minimal licensing. By the 1880s, Medway had hundreds of these. Many never made it into the official directories and survive only in remaining licensing records. Most are now long gone, flattened, converted, or living on as spectral memories in the urban landscape. ![The Ship Inn Strood Esplanade Strood](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Vyft!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4e3d85d4-7308-43af-aca6-d33563c96416_450x300.jpg) The Ship Inn in Strood. To understand why Medway once had so many pubs, and why so many of them have vanished, we have to look closely at the social and economic history of the area. Pubs were a vital part of the Towns. It *needed* them, because of the nature of work and military life. Pubs, like churches, were central to the rhythms of a largely working-class town whose daily life revolved around labour, sociability, and a need for temporary escape from drudgery. Medway’s density of pubs was not an accident of geography. It was an outcome of three intersecting forces: the Dockyard, the military presence, and industrial working-class neighbourhoods. For more than 400 years, Chatham Dockyard was a giant of naval production, with thousands of men passing through its gates daily. Shipwrights, riggers, rope-makers, sailmakers, labourers, marines and officers, apprentices, and civilian workers. Traditionally, every naval town in Britain developed a strong pub culture, and Medway’s was no different. Above the dockyard sat barracks housing the Royal Engineers and Royal Marines who often operated on staggered paydays, meaning a near-constant churn of men with wages to spend and an evening to fill. Pubs grew up where soldiers and sailors spent their free time. These were men whose “home” was the regimented life of the barracks, and so pubs of Brompton and Chatham were places to drink, fight, and find trouble, temporarily shrugging off the regimentation of military life. In his [seminal work on prostitution in Chatham](https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781901625042/Chatham-Scandal-history-Medways-prostitution-1901625044/plp?ref=localauthority.news), Brian Joyce describes an incident in 1873, when fighting erupted at a temporary fairground erected outside the Fleur de Lis public house. An argument between a soldier and a marine quickly escalated into a mass brawl, with hundreds of men fighting with fist, boot, and belt. Order was only restored when the military police arrived and began cracking heads. It gives an idea of how full the pubs were, as well as how violent the “good old days” could be. By the late 19th century, Medway was a dense cluster of manual industries, cement works, engineering shops, brickfields, rail workshops, and the commercial port. Working days were long and physically punishing. Pubs became the living rooms people didn’t have at home. Large families often lived in cramped terraced houses with little spare space, thin walls, and few comforts. The pub was a place to drink, but more than that, it acted as a social centre, a meeting hall, a job-seeking point, a place where news was swapped, and an informal union office. Pubs were also embedded in its cultural life. Folk clubs, darts teams, pool leagues, skittles, football teams, motorcycle clubs, railwaymen’s societies, model engineering societies, and charity nights all found their home in the pub. Many later became important places for the local music scene to take off. In short, Medway once had so many pubs because the community needed social spaces that matched the density and precarity of working people’s lives. Some losses were inevitable due to changes in licensing, shifts in population, and redevelopment, but many were casualties of broader structural change. The closure of Chatham Dockyard in 1984 was a generational blow. Whole neighbourhoods lost their reason for being when thousands of jobs disappeared. Pubs that had survived a century or more of boom and bust suddenly found their clientele gone. The pubs of Brompton, Chatham Hill, and New Brompton were hit especially hard. As the need for housing increased, many were either demolished and redeveloped or turned into flats, much more profitable than the declining “wet trade”. From the 1990s onwards, pub culture across Britain shifted. The “vertical drinking” model of large town-centre venues replaced smaller local pubs. Alcohol became cheaper in supermarkets, and home entertainment and gaming had evolved into a sophisticated industry of its own. Younger people increasingly preferred clubs, and Gen Z is increasingly likely not to drink at all. In the post-covid world, pubs were closing for a series of overlapping reasons. Rising operating costs, caused by increased energy bills, supply prices, and wages, made it far harder for pubs to stay profitable. Austerity and de-industrialisation meant many people have less disposable income, so they’re going out less often and spending less when they do. Social habits have also shifted, with people working from home and drinking cheaper supermarket booze at home instead of visiting the pub. The longer-term economic fallout from the pandemic, including accumulated debt and reduced footfall, has compounded all of this, leaving many pubs unable to survive. Many landlords found it increasingly hard to keep doors open when nearby streets were empty and boarded up. The disappearance of Medway’s pubs is as much about changing drinking habits and economic decline as it is about a cultural and emotional shift, a restructuring of the social landscape that comes with the atomising of community. A part of working-class identity and community was deeply tied to specific pubs: “My dad drank in The Ship, my grandad in The Two Brewers, I learned to play darts in The Eagle.” When pubs closed, these community ties became attenuated. Pubs were informal centrepieces of local life where birthdays, wakes, wedding receptions, and football celebrations were all accompanied by a few pints. The pubs functioned as democratic spaces, often being the only place where people from different backgrounds would meet as equals, and the slow loss of these places also meant the loss of a layer of social glue that held the Towns together. It is also indicative of the hollowing out of social space in many parts of Medway, where the pub was the only warm indoor space where you could sit over a half pint and chat without spending much money. Their loss is part of a wider pattern of disappearing public infrastructure, youth centres, libraries, community halls, and local shops. When pubs disappear, so does some of the connective tissue of neighbourhood life. Pubs shaped the emotional map of Medway, and as we lost them, we lost landmarks of memory. A demolished pub leaves a psychological gap even when something else is built over it.Medway is not alone in this: a pub in Britain closes its doors for good every day. But the scale in Medway is striking. What remains is a landscape of fragments, a former sign bracket on a wall, a tiled façade on a convenience store, a street name that recalls a pub long gone. It’s not all about the ghosts of the past though, even as enjoyable are the stories of Lord Haw Haw being chucked out of the Lord Raglan on Chatham Hill for distributing fascist flyers, or how local character Fred Low, a thirsty regular of The British Queen in Chatham’s East End, was known in the 1930s for waiting for the last tram, the “Midnight Special” from Rainham to come down the track, at which point he would stand on his hands in the centre of the rails singing “Rule Britannia.” ![High Street Chatham](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!nNcz!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f85c9f6d3-dd8a-4c1b-9fd9-bd9aef7d5af0_450x300.jpg) The British Queen in Chatham. Understanding the lost pubs of Medway is ultimately about understanding the changing identity of the towns themselves, from naval-industrial imperial powerhouse to post-industrial place searching for new forms of community. And these new communities are emerging in fresh spaces as well as the few old ones that remain, places like the Wolfe and Castle in Rochester, a warm, craft-ale micropub, or the 12 Degrees in Chatham Intra, where you can hear live music, meet neighbours, and drink good beer, these exist alongside older and equally popular businesses like The Coopers, or The Nags Head. To paraphrase the last words of Joe Hill: “Don’t Mourn, Organise”, and by that I mean, organise a night out with friends at your local and help keep a much-loved social space open. - *Chris de Coulon Berthoud* [*Heather Haythornwaite*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enable-people-i-dont-tell-them/) *and our exciting merchandise arm* [*Medwayish*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *have produced a new tea towel commemorating the lost pubs of Medway.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!mGRe!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fea5a0b0b-91be-4ee8-ac5e-c54f69aa2bfb_988x1651.jpg) Tea towel designed by Heather Haythornwaite *If you're interested in ordering one of these glorious new tea towels, email medwayish(AT)gmail(DOT)com, and you’ll be sorted out.* --- #### **Giving Medway’s care leavers a proper Christmas** *Sarah King is a member of a group organising the* [*Care Leaver Christmas Dinner in North Kent*](https://www.clcdnorthkent.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*. The dinner is an opportunity for care leavers to experience a home-cooked meal and have a fun day this Christmas. They need your help, so we spoke to Sarah to find out more…* The Care Leaver Christmas Dinner North Kent started as a conversation between four people in February of last year, when one of Sarah’s friends volunteered at a Christmas dinner in Folkestone for young care leavers. They realised that young care leavers from Medway and Dartford were having to travel to Folkestone to avoid being alone for Christmas dinner. ![May be an image of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, castle and bell tower](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!P73s!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcc46e13a-11c5-43ad-863a-907df0ba56c1_1338x1003.jpg) Rochester Cathedral’s spire lit for National Care Leavers Month Young people who leave local authority care at 18 are supported in limited ways until the age of 25\. They will often be living independently for the first time. Sarah is one of a group of 48 volunteers who will be crafting and creating Christmas, including Christmas dinner for a group of 40 young care leavers. The group is focused on north Kent, as other groups exist, and works under the guidance of [Gold from the Stone Foundation](https://www.goldfromthestone.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which is a national organisation headed by [Lemn Sissay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemn%5FSissay?ref=localauthority.news), himself a care leaver. He started these Christmas dinners almost 15 years ago and now provides an excellent guide for local organisations offering this service. They have been applying to Gold from the Stone for a small grant per head towards the costs, though that is not guaranteed. They also join a network of all the dinners via Zoom once a fortnight, to gain further information and support. Having identified a venue in Medway and working with people from Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, they have started putting this year’s Christmas Dinner together. This includes providing transport, primarily taxis. They are liaising with other Dinners, including South London, to ensure friends can have Christmas dinner together rather than being split by geography. The organisation's steering group includes young care leavers to help ensure they meet the needs of the people they are trying to support. What do they want for Christmas dinner? What gifts? And, to make it a good day, what movies and games? The aim is to make it as good a day as possible for all involved. You can also help by raising awareness of young care leavers and what happens when they turn 18\. They can be alone and expected to live independently with minimal support. They don’t always return to their families, and they don’t have the same opportunities available to others through natural networks of family and friends. If you can help, they have [a GoFundMe page](https://www.gofundme.com/f/care-leaver-christmas-dinner-north-kent?ref=localauthority.news) to help cover the costs. - *Steven Keevil* --- #### The Blithering High Span Englishness has taken a fair old battering of late. From the Tommy Robinson acolytes cable-tying polyester St George flags to lamp-posts down Dock Road to the *Guardian* readers feeling ashamed to share a postcode with followers of Farage, the idea of simply *being* English seems to have got a little bit… muddled. Fortunately, [The High Span](https://www.facebook.com/thehighspan/) are on hand to still the waters - to put things back on an even keel - to steady the Buffs. This may not have been their intention. No doubt [Kevin Younger](https://www.localauthority.news/almost-anywhere-can-be-a-place-to/) and co probably just wanted to churn out a half-decent indie-pop record. But *Blithering*, The High Span’s second long player, turns out to be a perfect antidote to all the nonsense. And, of course, one of the chief weapons in their arsenal is just that: pure nonsense. There’s nonsense aplenty in the fever dream of ‘Ambrosine’ (an “Edwardian lady” who “fills a goldfish bowl with vanishing cream”), in the surreal depiction of voices from a radio pointing to insanity on ‘Forgotten’ and in the Icke referencing ‘Reptilian Conspiracy.’ But where The High Span truly deliver is their understatement, word-play and reserve – devices used to convey all manner of hidden pains. A relationship breakdown may be compared to the violent agony of “the world’s longest amputation,” but on ‘Phantom Limb’ it is described simply as hurting “like billy-oh.” Later, on the Glam Rock pop of ‘A Clue’, our poor narrator hero stumbles around trying to ask why the love of his life is leaving. Then, on ‘British Summer Time,’ the mustn’t grumble mantra of a man supposedly “living like a king” is only hiding the fact that “I’m starving half to death.” There are chinks in the English armour, though. ‘Crying Eyes’ may seem to bounce along with nary a care in the world, but the lyrics convey a chilling anger at someone’s betrayal. And just as ‘Mulberry Accelerator’ morosely accepts the inevitability that “life goes fast/until at last/it blows up in your face,” so there is a sorrowful admission in album closer ‘Long Barrow’ that “I thought I knew the way it was/when I met you I got lost.” It’s all done with a wonderfully understated post-punk, indie pop score that pays musical homage to The Beatles, circa *Magical Mystery Tour*, Robert Wyatt and Medway’s very own Dentists. *Blithering* is the absolute definition of a bittersweet record, light to the touch but concealing a heavy, heavy heart. - *Stephen Morris* *Blithering is released on 28 November by Spinout Nuggets, with a limited run of 300 vinyl copies, CD, and download, all* [*available via Bandcamp*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/blithering?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Events this week 💗 28 - 30 Nov - [**Heart of Rochester Studio Trail**](https://annpalmerartist.com/2025/11/25/heart-of-rochester-artists-open-studio-trail/?ref=localauthority.news)// Original work created by local artists, ceramics, paintings, jewellery and original prints. Rochester. Free. 🏛️ 28-30 Nov - [**Artists Christmas Market** ](https://www.localauthority.news/i/178605316/christmas-market-comes-to-chatham-house)// A wide variety of artists and creatives, including millinery, precious metal jewellery, fashion jewellery. Chatham House, Rochester. Free. 🐭 Sat 29 Nov - [**Christmas at the Wooden Mouse**](https://www.instagram.com/p/DRWseqECGIa/?ref=localauthority.news)// Pop-up artisan market, explore the handcrafted works of local artists and makers. Wooden Mouse School of French Polishing, Rochester. Free. 🪿 Sat 29 Nov - [**Wayzgoose Print Fair**](https://intraarts.org/2025/11/12/wayzgoose2025/?ref=localauthority.news)// Meet printmakers, find unique prints and take part in their ridiculous 20p tombola. Intra Arts, Rochester. Free. 📖 Sat 29 Nov - [**Author Fair**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/medway-river-lit-author-fair?ref=localauthority.news) // Meet local writers and get some Christmas shopping done for the readers in your life! *Part of* [*Medway River Lit*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Nucleus Arts, Chatham. Free. 📖 Sat 29 Nov - [**Melissa Todd**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/author-talk-melissa-todd?ref=localauthority.news) // Writer, performer and unapologetic sex worker tells stories from her latest book. *Part of* [*Medway River Lit*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Chatham Library. Pay what you can. 🎸 Sat 29 Nov - [**The High Span + Dutch Embassy**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1488846622422944) // Launch of ‘Blithering,’ the second album by The High Span. Rochester Social Club. Free. 🎭 4 - 13 Dec - [**The Sherlock Carol**](https://www.mlt.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) // Sherlock Holmes is approached by Dr ‘Tiny’ Tim Cratchit to investigate the death of Ebeneezer Scrooge. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £12. --- #### More Authority We recently held our second Local Democracy Café event, bringing together a panel and audience to discuss the relevance of Medway culture, what it means, and how to improve it. In this final edition of a series on the subject, Steven shares the findings from the discussion, and you can listen to the panel conversation in full. [How do we make Medway culture matter?Last Thursday, we hosted our second Local Democracy Café to discuss Medway arts and culture. Panellists Cllr Nina Gurung, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Culture, poet Barry Fentiman-Hall of Wordsmithery and Medway River Lit, and Tracy Brunt, director of Ideas Test, a creative project based in Medway and Swale, joined us at MidKent College to ponder the qu…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Zsmz!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb0de7485-839e-4776-9ccb-59a4a7bc44cb_4032x2268.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/how-do-we-make-medway-culture-matter/) [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### How do we make Medway culture matter? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/how-do-we-make-medway-culture-matter/ Last updated: 2025-11-27T10:02:24.000Z *Last Thursday, we hosted our second Local Democracy Café to discuss Medway arts and culture. Panellists Cllr* [*Nina Gurung*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-feel-it-is-my-primary-role-to-promote/)*, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Culture, poet* [*Barry Fentiman-Hall*](https://www.localauthority.news/weve-assembled-something-that-medway/) *of Wordsmithery and Medway River Lit, and Tracy Brunt, director of Ideas Test, a creative project based in Medway and Swale, joined us at MidKent College to ponder the question of whether Medway culture matters…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Zsmz!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb0de7485-839e-4776-9ccb-59a4a7bc44cb_4032x2268.jpg) Our Local Democracy Café panel. The Local Democracy Café is an open forum designed not just for discussion but for action. Each café brings together local leaders, experts and residents to talk openly about what matters to Medway and how we can turn ideas into tangible outcomes. Our second edition took place on 20 November with the simple question: **Does Medway culture matter?** A summary of the café is below, alongside quotes from those who attended. *You can listen to the entire Local Democracy Café conversation here.* [*Rob Flood*](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/) *recorded the audio, and* [*Suze Cooper*](https://www.bigtentmedia.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *did the post-production. Thanks to both for their efforts.* After introductions, we started by asking Nina, who had also previously served as Medway's Mayor, to elaborate on her portfolio. “Medway, I think it can’t be described in just a word or a phrase, because it’s so multi-dimensional. There’s many layers to our culture here, it is also very unique and very exciting.” Nina described how the more you know about Medway culture, “the more you feel passionate about sharing and elevating what’s happening in Medway.” For Nina, there are many factors in identifying the culture in Medway, from the historical to what is happening and evolving now. “I feel passionate about sharing the stories of the rich cultural activity, the creative activity, the heritage activity that’s happening.” Nina believes the cultural community in Medway are good at supporting each other. “It’s more about how do we come together, how do we elevate each other. That is the USP of the Medway cultural scene.” Nina’s cabinet portfolio is essentially to make sure that our cultural strategy here in Medway is ambitious, forward-looking, and bold, to not only celebrate what’s going on here but bring it to the national attention. It is about utilising the cultural community to promote a positive narrative about Medway. With the financial situation of the council, it has been a mission for Nina to “make sure that we continue to deliver despite all the odds,” working with national partners, including Arts Council England, National Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic England, and the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport. “All the good that’s happening, you can’t just keep calm and carry on. I need to sing praises about all that’s happening. I think that’s part of my role as well.” > *“Medway Little Theatre has a long-established place in the culture of Rochester and the Medway Towns, and it frequently seems to get overlooked. Medway culture is incredibly important, and bringing the spoken word into Medway is hugely valuable. That’s something that we try to do at the theatre with a varied programme. Some might be challenging for the audience, and some might just be fun.” - Cazz Wrate* Barry was on the panel whilst also being halfway through this year’s [Medway River Lit](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) festival, which has grown out of the work of [Wordsmithery](https://www.wordsmithery.info/?ref=localauthority.news), and an earlier request by Medway Council to put on a Dickens-related festival in the castle grounds. “We have a magazine called [Confluence](https://www.confluencemagazine.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). All rivers are one river. We’re a confluence of rivers.” Through their endeavours, they have worked “as best we can” to provide a platform for writers locally. With the festival, they asked, “Can we afford a Booker Prize winner? Yes, we can. Let’s bring him to Rochester Library, see if anyone turns up.” Eventually, people did. The festival has had recurring visits from [Ben Aaronovitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben%5FAaronovitch?ref=localauthority.news), who “has started putting situations for his books here because he enjoys coming here. The bad guys in ‘False Value’ all got their ideas in the IT department in Gillingham Library. And I love that that’s happening.” “On a broader culture basis,” says Barry, “if we’re talking about music, I hear all the time about when David Bowie came to the Central Theatre in 1973\. Well, when did that stop? At what point did people who were that famous and did these great things stop coming to Medway?” For Barry, Medway should be a place where people come. “I can’t do anything about the music side of things, but I know enough people within the literary scene in the country to bring people to Medway.” Cue the obligatory interjection by [Oral History Medway](https://oralhistorymedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)’s [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/), our audio production support for the evening. “Big acts don’t come here because we don’t have a big enough theatre for them to perform in. The Central Theatre removed 40 seats in about 1982, which then meant it was less than 1,000 capacity. That was a threshold for lots of acts that would come and tour. That’s essentially why they don’t.” In response, Nina enigmatically added, “Well, that’s going to change. Come 2027.” > *“I work in the creative sector in Medway and it’s important if you’re working in this sector to not just be at your desk but break the bubble and eyeball each other and say hello and get to know all the people that are working creatively in the area and doing so much good. There is history and community here, that is not recognised more widely, both by people locally who don’t engage, but also regionally and on a national level. I’ve been really getting to know this place and I’m finding it special.” - Niamh Barnard* Tracy’s work at [Ideas Test](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is about engaging with areas that have low cultural uptake. Using Office for National Statistics data, and the Arts Council’s Creative People and Places Programme, their strategy is evaluated every three years. Ideas Test was one of the original organisations doing this. Using demographic data and audience segmentation, they have target postcodes for funding purposes that “we have to report back. That’s the boring bit,” says Tracey. “Low cultural participation tends to intersect with economic deprivation or rural isolation or low attainment.” Lots of people Ideas Test work with think “that’s not for me. And it’s not because they’re not interested, but they also think they’re not worthy in some way, because they haven’t had the opportunity to start taking part.” Working very locally, they ask, “What’s your main concern in this area? What can we do together creatively? What can you do to improve a situation, make yourself feel better about yourself and where you live?” Ideas Test is not tied to any particular art form. They have worked with world-renowned beatboxers doing litter picks, internationally known dancers, singers, performers and writers. They are taking work to the places where people are. “It removes that barrier of not knowing how to act in a theatre or gallery.” > *“I’m a senior engagement manager with the National Lottery Heritage Fund. I came here to listen to people. We want to be a good partner to Medway Council and the best way to do that is to listen to people. I think culture matters. The Heritage Fund puts that back in the communities and it matters to every community. Heritage is everywhere.” - David Drahos* Nina follows up on what Tracy was saying about making arts and culture accessible. “As a council, we’re passionate about inclusivity and making our events as accessible as possible.” Nina highlights that there are a number of community events that occur across Medway that the council are unable to deliver them all by themselve. “We co-create,” giving examples like “[Medway Pride](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which is absolutely phenomenal. The [Chinese New Year Festival](https://www.nucleusarts.com/chathamchinesefestival?ref=localauthority.news), that we celebrate here in Chatham,” as well as events, like Thomas Aveling’s 200th. “We commemorate historic events and also make sure that we are able to make it as inclusive as possible.” > *“I came here with a friend because we’ve got an idea for an event that we want to put on and we just want to get feelers out there for how we can spread the word and find venues and meet people. The idea was inspired by the flag situation recently. Something to bring communities together, that was more meaningful and a way to counteract some of the difficult feelings that have been around. That was the impetus. It is really good to hear about all the different things going on, I’ve been living in Medway a few years, but I still feel quite new.” - Megan* Nina laments the closure of the University of the Creative Arts, and highlights the work being done by the [Medway School of Art](https://www.midkent.ac.uk/courses/subjects/medway-school-of-art?ref=localauthority.news), and whilst we wait the reopening of the [Brook Theatre](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/info/brook-theatre?ref=localauthority.news) and the development of the [Docking Station](https://www.kent.ac.uk/institute-cultural-creative-industries/dockingstation?ref=localauthority.news), we take a moment to shout out for the organisations doing good work in Medway, including: - [Sun Pier House](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) - [The Huguenot Museum](https://huguenotmuseum.org/?ref=localauthority.news) - [Nucleus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) - [LV21](https://lv21.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) - [Spotlites Theatre](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) - [MidKent College](https://www.midkent.ac.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) - [Electric Medway](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) - [Medway Play Lab](https://www.medwayplaylab.com/?ref=localauthority.news) - [Medway Little Theatre](https://www.mlt.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) - [Analogue Music](https://www.instagram.com/analoguemusicrochester/?ref=localauthority.news) - [Intra Arts](https://intraarts.org/?ref=localauthority.news) - [The Mess Room](https://www.messroom.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) - [Hazlenut Press](https://www.hazelnut-press.com/?ref=localauthority.news) - [St Margaret’s Church](https://rainhamchurch.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) - [The Medway Queen](https://www.medwayqueen.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) - *Local Authority*’s own [events listing page](https://www.localauthority.news/events/) (with apologies to anybody not mentioned) > *“I wanted to listen really. I thought, don’t say anything Sophie, because I have got a lot of ideas. I’m very opinionated and I work in the field of culture and art. I’m doing something in a couple of weeks, I’m doing lot of research to find out what was going on culturally and so I brought my notebook, and I’ve been writing loads and it’s been very interesting.”* \- Sophie Jungman We end the panel part of the discussion by my asking Barry a question about the importance of the audience. “If there’s a poetry night and no audience turns up, does the poet still make a sound?” “I’ve done it,” responds Barry, “because I was contracted to do so when I was on the poster.” Barry tells us how he recited poetry for half an hour to an empty garden in Maidstone. “Completely empty. So therefore, yes, I did make a sound. No one heard it.” “We are very lucky in the fact that,” says Barry before correcting himself. “We’re not lucky, no. We put people on that people are going to come and see, and we make an effort to make sure that we will find an audience for them.” Barry says they are prepared to be niche and “we’re prepared to be as populist as we want to go.” They are not against being crowd pleasing, highlighting one of this year’s star attractions, an evening of poetry and chat with comedian and broadcaster [Robin Ince](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin%5FInce?ref=localauthority.news). “We’ll also put stuff on that we just like,” giving the example of [Samatar Elmi](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/nights-at-the-museum-poetry-samatar-elmi-setareh-ebrahimi-jon-terranova?ref=localauthority.news). “He’s not a star in poetry yet, but he will be.” > *“I’m from Portugal and the investment you see in comparison between England and Portugal is massive, even with the cuts. I’m quite interested in culture in general, that’s why I moved to the UK. In Medway I feel there are quite a few projects, I was curious to see what else is out there, what’s being done. I knew about the closure of the college and there’s no art shop on the High Street in Rochester now and it’s really sad. I wanted to hear what other paths are happening. It was actually inspiring to hear.”* \- Luisa Brito Nina finishes by highlighting something special about the culture of Medway. “This is something that has been tried and tested and well-evidenced: How closely and how respectfully the interfaith community here in Medway support each other, through good times and challenging times. That is something that I’ve heard over and over again. I think that is truly something that we need to celebrate, because I think that is putting aside any misconceptions and being willing to understand and to respectfully have discussions.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!AN7t!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2feca0441d-770b-4afb-ade8-28c0adb16b9e_2364x1330.jpg) After the panel, we moved to the ‘café’ section of the evening, where discussions continued between the panellists and the audience. They had the opportunity to share further thoughts on how to make Medway Culture matter, and we present a selection of those here for you now: - *Invest in our young people – arts and culture are being cut from education.* - *We need as a community to let our children know how important our local culture is.* - *Bring the communities closer to nature.* - *Art made from natural materials.* - *Does poverty lower expectations or give us more creativity?* - *Films could be a huge tourist attraction here.* - *Artist colonies generate culture. As the high street declines for shopping, bring in the artists. High streets for culture.* - *Social media is failing. Is there a place for the old-fashioned poster?* - *Where cultural sites are, they are unlikely to attract passing trade.* - *There are a lot of cultural initiatives, but no central venue or gallery.* - *A well-resourced shared studio space that you can rent by the day.* - *Direct advertising to young people.* - *Youth accessibility for gigs.* - *Dream big! Universal basic income for artists – the Ireland model.* - *Another city of culture bid.* For myself, as the host of the events, I was happy that we learnt from the first café, kept the panel to time and allowed more time for table discussions. The cafés can continue to develop by focusing more on solutions and actions. Continuing to build on the cafés is achievable. The majority of the audience was different to the first café, which shows that the subject-specific nature brings out unique audiences, some of whom didn’t even know about *Local Authority*! *In the new year, we will be announcing the third Local Democracy Café, with a new question and panellists.* ### Can Medway make you happy? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/can-medway-make-you-happy-d83/ Last updated: 2025-11-26T22:09:25.000Z *Our Local Democracy Café is a four-week process to turn conversations into action. For our first event, we asked whether Medway could make you happy. In week one, Steven introduced the discussion's theme and explained how to book a seat at the table. In the second week, he looked into the concept of happiness, and what role, if any, the state should have in yours. During week three, a live event brings residents together to discuss the issue, with a final roundup presented the following week.* *Below is the coming together of all those parts, from the introduction of the concept to the outcomes of the event.* --- #### Week one: Can Medway make you happy? Over the past few years, we’ve hosted plenty of live events at Local Authority Towers, from two Medway Council leadership debates to last year’s General Election hustings for all three local constituencies. Hundreds of residents turned up to quiz the candidates, and we even managed Medway’s only Police and Crime Commissioner hustings. Along the way, we’ve also held our own *Medway Question Time* events, welcoming guests from across our towns to tackle the big issues facing local life. Those events have always shared one thing: the questions came from you. But if we’re being honest, the ability for audiences to respond, challenge, and shape the conversation in the room has had rather mixed results. The Local Democracy Café is our latest experiment in doing democracy differently. An open, interactive forum designed not just for discussion but for action. Each café will bring together local leaders, experts and residents to talk honestly about Medway’s future and to find practical ways to make it better. We’re starting with three trial cafés, each built around a single theme. The format might evolve as we go, but the spirit will stay the same: Local people talking openly about what matters to Medway and how we can turn ideas into tangible outcomes. Our first Local Democracy Café takes place at 7.30pm on Thursday 23 October at MidKent College, and we’re starting with a deceptively simple question: **Can Medway make you happy?** The event begins with a 45-minute panel discussion, followed by a second session where the conversation turns to the audience. You’ll be able to respond to what’s been said in real time, as we explore what happiness means in Medway today. At the end, we’ll gather the thoughts, ideas and priorities raised during the event and share them publicly, with the aim of turning discussion into tangible local action. Our panel for the first café includes: - **Cllr Teresa Murray**, Deputy Leader of Medway Council, who says she’s “pleased to be coming to talk about what makes people happy, because that is important to me.” For Teresa, happiness comes from “walking in the park, hearing about new jobs and investment, and seeing events like the recent dance festival bringing people together.” - **David Stokes**, CEO of The Halpern Charitable Foundation, who points out that “around the world, the happiest countries aren’t necessarily the richest, they’re the ones with the strongest communities.” He hopes the café will deepen understanding of the ties that hold Medway’s communities together. - **Natasha Boardman-Steer**, creative practitioner in health and wellbeing, who reminds us that “there are so many factors that can affect somebody’s happiness: health, mobility, housing, past trauma, food and finances.” For her, it’s about having the resources, educational, spiritual or economic, to handle what life throws at you, and recognising how “your perception of where you live can impact who you socialise with and whether you access the care you need.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2BA8!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffc3e327b-f3b5-4de8-a90f-8687332a3187_1600x900.jpg) Our first LDC panel: Cllr Teresa Murray, David Stokes, and Natasha Boardman-Steer. **So, can Medway make you happy?** And if it doesn’t, what would it take? --- #### What makes Medway happy? Before the local elections in 2023, I wrote about the suggestion that the council create a new Cabinet position: Portfolio Holder for Medway’s Happiness. We also looked into Gross National Happiness. You can [read all about it here](https://www.localauthority.news/the-pursuit-of-medway-happiness/). As I wrote at the time: > *“Communities could foster happiness; Jeremy Bentham talked about the greatest good for the greatest number. Happiness can seem too subjective and vague to serve as a milestone, yet asking people whether they are happy, or satisfied with their lives offers important information about communities.”* What is happiness? Aristotle believed that happiness and success result from cultivating virtue at the mean between deficiency and excess - the golden mean. Not having too little or too much, or doing too little or too much, or being too little or too much. In his book ‘Happy,’ Derren Brown said happiness is a chimaera: it is imaginary and deceiving in many of its forms. For it to be solid, our happiness would not rely on fortuity or what we happen to *have*. It would be fundamentally about who we *are*. When fundamentally looking at who we are, our attention can understandably be drawn to [Maslow’s hierarchy of needs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s%5Fhierarchy%5Fof%5Fneeds?ref=localauthority.news). Maslow was an American psychologist who became famous for his self-actualisation focus on psychology, which he described as “to become everything that one is capable of becoming.” The hierarchy represents five needs arranged from basic to highest, with the idea being that you cannot achieve the highest without the lower needs. These are: 1. **Physiological needs**: These include needs that keep us alive, such as food, water, shelter, warmth, and sleep. 2. **Safety needs**: The need to feel secure, stable, and unafraid. 3. **Love and belongingness needs**: The need to belong socially by developing relationships with friends and family. 4. **Esteem needs**: The need to feel self-esteem based on one’s achievements and abilities, and esteem based on recognition and respect from others. 5. **Self-actualisation needs**: The need to pursue and fulfil one’s unique potential. When considering whether the state should be involved in the happiness of its citizens, there are some who would at best be wary, and others outwardly hostile to the idea that government has any business in your happiness business. As Ronald Reagan (in)famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’” In our modern culture, with a climate crisis, a housing crisis, a cost-of-living crisis, a perpetual NHS crisis, and an impending annual bin crisis, can we really look at Maslow’s hierarchy and say that we don’t want the state, in a variety of forms, to help? “Poorly functioning countries are often unhappy in their own idiosyncratic way,” said [Tim Besley](https://www.localauthority.news/content/files/economics/Assets/Documents/personal-pages/tim-besley/working-papers/debating-the-size-of-government.pdf) of the London School of Economics when talking about the size of government. There are studies which show that Maslow’s work overlooked subjective and objective aspects of human need, with evidence of those achieving self-actualisation without the lower levels of need, whilst there are those who reach a form of happiness without self-actualisation. Later in life, Maslow introduced the concept of self-transcendence, moving above those requirements. Nobel Prize Laureate Daniel Khanemann once published research stating, “Happiness rises with income, but there is no further progress beyond $75,000,” though later evidence showed that it more accurately showed that an increase in income staved off unhappiness for a while. There is a wave of 90s nostalgia for a variety of reasons, however the most significant return that would improve people’s lives and local communities is the return of disposable income. Supporting people to leave their homes, engage with their local social clubs, take part in creative pursuits and pursue self-actualisation. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the next four years will see further reductions in disposable income. “This fall of 1.3% over the parliament would represent the worst outcome for living standards of any parliament since records began in 1961\. This is particularly painful for households as it comes on the back of the previous worst record 5-year parliament — with a real fall of 0.5% — leaving households facing over a decade with no real-terms increase in disposable incomes.” When we look at the shit show that is social media, and what [Cory ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory%5FDoctorow?ref=localauthority.news)Doctorow describes as ‘[enshittification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification?ref=localauthority.news),’ do we want to leave our hierarchy of needs to the markets? Thatcher’s ‘right to buy’ programme not only significantly increased home ownership in the country, but it also directly led to a significant market failure that we are living through today. As [Ed reported in May](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-housing-more-unaffordable/), Medway housing is now more unaffordable than ever, with average private rent up 11.3% on the previous year. The failure to enable the building of more council housing to replace the sold stock has led to the uncomfortable truth that ‘affordable housing’ is not affordable for those on the lowest incomes, but I digress. I caught up with Medway Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) to talk about happiness in Medway and, first of all, about my original article and why there isn’t a portfolio holder for Medway’s happiness. “I think it’s a really interesting question,” said Vince in his customary diplomatic start, “because, internationally, nationally, people say, how do you measure the success of a country? People will talk about GDP, but then the happiest place to live or the best place to live probably isn’t number one on the GDP scale.” Vince goes on to talk about “That is about ultimately quality of life, which I think as a council, we’ve got a key role to look at from many aspects, both the obvious ones, culture, leisure, but also perhaps ones you don’t immediately think of as well.” Vince highlights the importance of knowing that your children are going to a good school or are safe in the community. “That is about people feeling positive about where they live.” Maybe there will be a Portfolio Holder for Medway Positivity in the next cabinet reshuffle. I asked Vince how he would analyse whether the Medway population is happier in 2028 than they were in 2023\. For Vince, pride in place is an important aspect of this. “People who look at social media will often see me using the hashtag ‘Proud to be Medway.’ Unsurprising news, Leader of council is proud of the community that he leads.” For Vince, people can find civic pride, that determines that their place is a good place in many different ways. “Just this week, lots of people will be happy because two of our football teams are in the FA Cup for the first round.” Vince goes on to highlight that [Balvinder Sopal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balvinder%5FSopal?ref=localauthority.news), an actress who calls Medway her home, is having a successful run on Strictly Come Dancing. “For somebody else, it will be about the fact that we’ve got eight brilliant green flag parks and that they’re part of perhaps a friends group making those parks stay the same way.” Vince thinks people will look back on his administration and their life generally in Medway and feel happier, but he acknowledges that for others, “it will be a mixed picture.” I ask Vince to highlight anything he feels the administration has done that would directly lead to an improvement in happiness. “I think the fact that we are certainly getting on with maintaining and enhancing our green spaces. We think that gives people quality of life.” He highlights the work the council are doing through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. “The approach that we’ve taken with that, rather than the council just deciding things, allowing the community and often new community groups to come forward with ideas that we’ve been able to support. That’s about building pride in place.” Vince highlights the work of Child Friendly Medway, and the ‘good’ Ofsted result is an example of showing people that their children matter. “It’s about improving life chances through greater focus on things like literacy.” We speak about the real and genuine challenge of the loneliness epidemic. “It manifests itself differently, particularly in age ranges. For younger people, you’re massively connected through social media, but actually, are they feeling that human connection as well? At the other end of the age spectrum, particularly where a husband and wife, one of them passes away, and they’re living that life individually, perhaps their family is not near them. I think throughout life, there are potential situations where people can fall into the loneliness trap.” Vince acknowledges that it is a role for the council, working with the charity and third sector to “try and put in place as much as we can” and ensure, where practically possible, “we can stop people falling into that loneliness trap.” Before I let Vince go, I take the opportunity to ask what makes him happy. “People have heard me say this. I have the two best jobs in the world. I’m the dad to a seven-year-old who is amazing, but also I have the privilege of trying to make a positive difference to the community that I call home and improve the lives of 292,000 people. That can be stressful, it can be emotional, it can be frustrating, but it really does make me happy. It makes me proud of what people do every single day across Medway to make this the best place it can be.” --- #### Week three: The live event *You can listen to the entire Local Democracy Café conversation here.* [*Rob Flood*](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/) *recorded the audio, and* [*Suze Cooper*](https://www.bigtentmedia.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *did the post-production.* *Thanks to both for their efforts.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zruZ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb00eb7b8-53a8-4d03-af6f-dc02fe74621d_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media --- #### Week four: How can Medway make you happy? The Local Democracy Café is an open forum designed not just for discussion but for action. Each café brings together local leaders, experts and residents to talk openly about what matters to Medway and how we can turn ideas into tangible outcomes. Our first edition took place on 23 October with the deceptively simple question: **Can Medway make you happy?** After introductions, we start by asking David if being happy is important. “We know being happy is important because it makes us feel good, but also it makes us healthier.” He goes on to highlight that being happy means you are less stressed and you sleep better. “Generally, your life’s better if you’re happy. It’s essential, really, to our wellbeing”. Teresa highlights a worry that “sometimes we recognise happiness but then can feel guilty if you don’t feel happy all of the time.” > *“I came to the event tonight because I feel that I’m an ambassador for Medway in what there is on offer for people because I’m fed up with people saying there’s nothing going on in the Medway Towns when there is so much going on and there is so much that can actually change people’s viewpoint, change people’s lives, actually make people happy and make a difference.” - Jodie Elwin* For Teresa, the reasons we don’t feel happy are multiple and that we need to be aware that what happiness looks like can be “out of reach and actually be quite toxic and might actually not be any good for us.” [Daniel Kahneman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel%5FKahneman?ref=localauthority.news), a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist (not on the panel), said we shouldn’t be focusing on making sure that people are happy, but we should be making sure that people aren’t sad. Teresa agreed that that is an important way of looking at it. “We are investing in things that ought to make people happier,” highlighting work done by the council to provide better temporary accommodation for homeless people, “because I’m afraid homelessness continues to rise in Medway.” The council has also borrowed £40m to build a new care home, “because there isn’t another solution to not being able to find residential beds for people who need them.” They have also borrowed money to refurbish the Brook Theatre when levelling up funding under the last government was not enough. “We’ve taken some risks on our own happiness, when you look at the balance sheet, in order to do things that I think will make our community happier.” > *“The reason I came here tonight is because I’m really interested about people’s views on what makes them happy, where they live and what they dislike about where they live because that’s the only way we can make change and I think these events are so important to give people an opportunity to come and give their views. What I learned was there’s loads going on in Medway. Actually, you don’t need to be isolated, you don’t need to be on your own. There’s plenty of opportunities, whether you’re young, middle-aged or old. We are lucky to have a council that’s a unitary authority and serving the people of Medway, and we’re also lucky to have a good voluntary sector organisation, a community that really does serve.” - Jack Packman, Chief Executive of* [*Medway Voluntary Action*](https://www.mva.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!CTAK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3c3e2652-5efa-42fe-bb85-2fe2710d5323_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media For Natasha, helping people not to feel stressed is essential. “We all have challenges, and that’s usually what makes us stronger people, to deal with those challenges.” Natasha believes it is about making sure that people aren’t trapped in situations which are making them miserable, meaning that they “can barely look after themselves, let alone contribute to their communities.” > *“I came this evening as I just thought it looked really interesting, especially with so much divide in the world at the moment, to actually go to a place where there’s discussions about what’s going on. It has made me reflect. I’ve lived in Medway for a lot of my life, moved away for a few years, and then came back. I started suffering from depression as a teenager because I really didn’t feel there was any hope for me. There was a lot of negativities around Medway and that kind of stayed with me for a long time. It was only really from becoming friends with Natasha and seeing her actually be really positive about the area that tilted my perspective. There is real good here if you look for it. So many amazing people live here.” - Laura* David works in a number of forums and with a wide variety of people to help residents “understand that we live in this incredible place.” Work needs to be done to ensure that people feel safe, fed, warm and educated, but “once you’ve got those, then you’re going to have a good level of happiness”. Natasha works with the Arts and Homelessness forum. I ask her why art is important for a group that doesn’t have basic housing. She speaks about an artist called [David Tovey](https://davidtoveyart.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), who had an exhibition in Rochester. “He absolutely believes that art is continually saving his life.” Natasha describes how it’s not just about art, it’s about creativity. “When people feel empowered to be creative, it gives people more confidence to experiment.” Which, for Natasha, is key as it is something that people lose as adults. “It can often be in school, when they’ve been creative, they’re told that it’s not good enough,” says Natasha. “When you’re playing, how can it not be good enough?” Natasha highlights that trauma in childhood has a huge impact, and what would really help people who are going through trauma is play. “It’s proven that it really helps”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!U2Mn!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff57aa4ea-c35a-477f-81fe-3437284e6827_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media “It’s quite right to be sad if you’re feeling lost, if you’re feeling bereavement, if something has upset you”, added Teresa. “But being sad all the time is really corrosive and dangerous, actually. In my work, I think about the suicide rate in Kent and Medway, which is higher than the rest of the country. We’ve lost over 600 people in the last two years to suicide.” Teresa rightly doesn’t want anyone to be that sad. Drawing upon what was said by Natasha and David, “that’s about the rescue strategies and it’s about building security, it is about that reaching out.” > *“I came here tonight because I love Medway and I’m really enthusiastic about everything. We’ve learnt lots of things tonight. It’s been really interesting to hear what other people were saying, and I’ve taken it all on board.” - Lorna Stevens* I ask Teresa for her thoughts on loneliness at a ward level. “In my ward, I do meet lonely people. We live in a generous community in Medway.” Teresa highlights the community caf*é*s in churches, the groups that give their time and reach out to people who might be feeling isolated. An issue in combating isolation is good public transport. “That is a very real problem”. For Teresa, it is on all of us to watch out for somebody who is sad all the time. “Life is complicated. I have to recognise that not everybody is in a place to access those things.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6zEd!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f208f6cdc-4443-45a0-8e56-677ab227e0f1_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media Teresa highlighted the work the council is doing regarding winter shelters, which will be opening soon. “We do that every year, so people have somewhere to go when it’s cold. We’ve tried to make those winter shelters serve more than one function.” This has included providing services, and this year, art and the ability to do different activities. “For the months that we’re looking after complex people, by the time we come into the warmer weather, I hope that they might be on a pathway where they can change things and feel confident about doing that.” David speaks about the importance of the high street to community. “We recently had the [Rest is History podcast](https://therestishistory.com/600-chatham-high-street/?ref=localauthority.news) describe our high street as the most historically important high street in the country. We’ve got community, we’ve got heritage, we’ve got culture. We just need to be proud of it. If people are proud of where they live, they’ll feel happier, I hope.” It was highlighted in the audience that an issue about people not knowing what’s going on, both culturally and in terms of support available to them. In the audience is the new CEO of MVA, who lead on the [Joy app](https://services.thejoyapp.com/?ref=localauthority.news), where any local community and group can sign up to be on there, which supports residents through social prescribing. “A way of encouraging people to do things,” explains Teresa, “giving them a prescription that doesn’t involve a medicalised solution to their problems.” The challenge is getting that out to the community. Teresa highlights an [app for children’s services](https://go.focusgov.co.uk/go/Ryo39?ref=localauthority.news), “it stores a lot of information about all the activities that are going on to help and support families, which are not as many as we would like.” For Teresa, there are two actions to come from this: “First of all, to get people to know they *(the apps)* are there. Then secondly, to push people on to using it regularly.” What the Joy app can do is provide you with knowledge of a wide range of support groups in Medway. > *“Born and bred in Medway, moved away in my early 20s, and came back in my mid 30s. There must have been some happiness there. I can’t imagine living somewhere else. I love visiting other places and other countries when that can happen. However, Medway is where I feel at home. I like this event, it was fascinating what everybody spoke about, how they spoke, and now we’re chatting amongst ourselves, because we’ve all got something to say. Having the panel come around and chat to them, I like this format very much.” -* [*Wendy Daws*](https://www.localauthority.news/if-you-want-to-do-it-you-will-find/) We also spoke with Natasha about the work she does with young people. “I’ve been working on a local project in Weeds Wood, looking at health and communities in that area, working with *(councillor)* Esther Cook. Generally, young people are quite playful, they generally will be optimistic.” Natasha also highlighted the work done by Medway’s Youth Services. “People still don’t know it’s there and there’s literally an incredible youth service across, across Medway running lots of different after-school events”. Whilst young people need to know about them, adults also need to do more to encourage and support them taking part. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c6z5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4b68aa5e-4349-41f0-ad1f-8099930a1813_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media “I guess challenging young people to actually think why they feel Medway is a bad place and then you start to unpick it,” suggested Natasha, “I’ve spoken to people in the youth service a lot about that and about helping people to build empathy for their fellow community members.” Natasha set up the [Nucleus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) youth programme years ago. I ask David how that is going. “It has grown in the years, as you would expect. We have activities for all ages. If you’ve just had a baby, you’re really isolated and especially if you want to do something messy and disgusting, it’s better to go somewhere else,” says David, describing their 0-4 provision. They run a number of groups, not just at their arts centre, but across Medway and through the library service, though he highlights a challenge with keeping groups running is funding. “This is a long-term issue with any charity, that you get funding and it’s at most three years’ worth and then it disappears.” Another challenge is that despite improvements from Chatham’s new community wardens, families often do not feel comfortable with younger people in Chatham when it is dark. “When we start reaching these months, we see fewer teens coming to our after-school activities, which is a real shame.” David also highlighted the great work being done through youth sports clubs and the Medway Youth Council. Teresa highlights the need to stop presenting a modern narrative that will depress young people, “by saying, you’re never going to get a house, AI is going to take your job. The way that adults portray the future to young people is, in my view, really unforgivable.” Having worked in further and higher education, Teresa believes one of the highlights of the job is seeing young people flourish. “It is on us to give hope and say, it is difficult to understand the way that life goes and that actually for most people things turn out okay.” With an effort to end the first part of the evening on an upbeat note, I ask the panel what makes them optimistic. For David, it is that “we live in an amazing place. We’ve got incredible people, and so much going on, so much to do.” Teresa says it is that “Medway’s at least as good as anywhere else, better than many. I think we just have to fight against a culture of low expectation. People do defend Medway There is local pride here, it’s not an abstract. You’re proud of it because you’re part of it.” Finally, Natasha offers that she really likes “how people in Medway, they are quite straight talking and actually most people do want to connect with each other quite deeply, and that is how stories travel between each of us. The fact that you know somebody that knows somebody, and that’s what makes really magical things happen.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!z9IH!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f97759453-1565-4297-b91c-c76727ad5a61_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media After the panel, we moved to the ‘café’ section of the evening, where discussions continued between the panellists and the audience. They had the opportunity to share further thoughts on things could make Medway happier, and we present a selection of those here for you now: - *It has all the amenities I need. Just wish the transport was better so I could get to them all* - *It has awesome people in it.* - *Need to advertise events - but sometimes people see them but dont think its for them or their families. How do we encourage people to try?* - *What makes us happy - people get along in general. Lots of different cultures etc.* - *Slam poetry group for teenagers* - *By being more involved with my friends.* - *Make the Medway Fringe Happen!!* For myself, as the host of the event, a practical learning is that the panel slightly overran, and actually the café table side of the evening would benefit from equal time to shine, with the focus being about solutions and actions, more directed discussion, and more time for that discussion. This would only be beneficial, and something we’ll take into future editions. ### GSA has closed. What comes next? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/gsa-has-closed-what-comes-next/ Last updated: 2025-11-25T23:47:05.000Z *This week’s edition leads on the sudden end of Gillingham Street Angels, with the charity now formally closed and a new organisation already taking shape in its place. We look at what happened, what’s unclear, and what the transition means for Medway’s voluntary sector. There’s also news from the political fringes, a major church reopening in Chatham, and the usual mix of planning decisions, local updates and a busy run of extra Authority content.* *We’ve also been thrilled by the response to our Two Medways pen pal scheme, which we launched over the weekend as a joint venture with Port Medway in Nova Scotia. We’ve had lots of people sign up already, but sending letters to Canada (and receiving them back!) sounds fun, you can* [*read more about the project and get involved here*](https://www.localauthority.news/connecting-two-medways/)*.* *Also, don’t forget that we are jumping on the rampant capitalism bandwagon and* [*offering a 25% Black Friday discount*](#/portal/signup)*. If you enjoy our work and want to support us, there’s never been a better time.* [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### GSA has now closed. What comes next? Gillingham Street Angels has now formally closed, with all operations ending on Friday 21 November and the organisation entering voluntary liquidation. The shutdown comes three weeks after the charity first announced it would cease trading, and days after its statutory accounts became [overdue with the Charity Commission](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5142278/accounts-and-annual-returns?%5Fuk%5Fgov%5Fccew%5Fonereg%5Fcharitydetails%5Fweb%5Fportlet%5FCharityDetailsPortlet%5ForganisationNumber=5142278&ref=localauthority.news). ![No photo description available.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!V7j-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86eff699-3ff3-4d76-8478-a85bcdbaec78_2048x1536.jpg) Former GSA Emporium in Chatham. In an email seen by *Local Authority*, GSA CEO Tracey Errington told partners the charity had been “heartbroken” to make the decision and said the failure stemmed from “rapid growth and historical lack of robust financial controls at Board level”. She added that she had kept the Charity Commission “fully informed of the issues” and stated that “despite what some have posted on social media, the Commission has not placed Gillingham Street Angels under investigation”. GSA’s closure ends one of the most visible voluntary-sector operations in Medway. Its food bank, soup kitchen and charity shops had become fixtures during the cost of living crisis, and the charity reported income of £1.23m a year at one point. As we previously reported, the trustees’ 2023 annual accounts acknowledged inadequate financial records and the dismissal of a finance officer after concerns were raised by external advisers. The charity’s 2024 accounts were due on 31 October but still have not been published. Errington’s email emphasises the future rather than the liquidation itself. She announced a new organisation, [Thrift & Thrive Medway](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583563726357), described as a “fresh start for community support,” which she will lead with a new board of trustees and a “core team” of former GSA staff and volunteers. Thrift & Thrive has been [incorporated at Companies House](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16853820?ref=localauthority.news) as a non-profit private company, with Errington listed as its sole director and sole shareholder. According to her email, the venture will focus on reuse, upcycling and low-cost goods, alongside food initiatives and a new community soup bar. She says it will operate from two sites previously used by GSA: the former Argos building in Chatham High Street and The Emporium on the Old High Street Intra. Both locations had originally been offered to GSA specifically for charitable purposes. There is also no detail yet on what will happen to GSA’s other sites, including the charity shops and units in Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham. Errington’s update does not refer to these locations, and all Street Angels activity has stopped, with some stores still containing significant levels of stock. The details of the liquidation process are limited at this stage. Nothing has yet been published about the appointed liquidators, their timetable, or the next steps for creditors and donors. On its final day, GSA’s shops operated on a cash-only basis, a stark contrast to a period when the charity had been running multiple food initiatives, employing staff, and maintaining a fleet of vehicles and equipment. While Errington expressed gratitude to partners and donors, describing the past few weeks as “chaotic,” the transformation of GSA’s two largest trading sites into a new private company raises questions about how much of the previous model will be replicated, who will oversee it and how continuity will be managed. Her email says the new organisation intends to keep supporters “updated on our progress as we move forward with Thrift & Thrive.” Gillingham Street Angels had become one of Medway’s best-known charities, growing quickly during the pandemic and playing a prominent public role as demand for support surged. Its collapse leaves a significant gap in the network of local organisations that provide food, clothing, and low-cost household goods. Several groups told us they expect to take on additional demand in the coming weeks, such was the scale of GSA’s operations. --- **Can you help us?** 🧑‍💼 *We’re still eager to hear from anyone with knowledge of what happened within the Gillingham Street Angels, particularly over the past twelve months or so. We’re grateful to those who have come forward so far, but we’d love to talk to more people to hear more views and check some details.* *🥪 Subway at Liberty Quay in Gillingham has been closed for over a month, with a handwritten sign on the door saying it is due to ‘building damage.’ If you know what’s going on and would like to share why students can't get their sandwiches, we’d love to hear from you.* --- #### Politics latest 🗣️ St Mary Hoo Parish Council has become the latest to [pass a vote of no confidence](https://www.localauthority.news/content/files/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Minutes/Minutes-2025/minutes%5Fnovember%5F2025.pdf) in All Saints ward councillor Chris Spalding. Minutes from the meeting of 11 November state that councillors do not believe he positively supports the parish, refuses to acknowledge that he has zero power over the parish and constantly makes complaints about council processes. Parish council chairperson Nick Craddy proposed the motion of no confidence, which was unanimously supported by the council. 🟢 Earlier in the summer, [we reported on an alleged ‘coup’](https://www.localauthority.news/infighting-resignations-and-a-coup/) within the Medway Green Party. Following our reporting, the party decided to rerun its AGM due to ‘irregularities.’ This finally happened on Sunday (2 Nov), where previous Rochester East and Warren Wood by-election candidate Grace Duffy was elected as the party’s new Chair. 🗣️ Around 30 people [attended](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-must-give-the-working-class-a-voice-jeremy-corbyn-s-ne-332935/?ref=localauthority.news) the Your Party Medway launch event, which may or may not have been officially affiliated with Your Party. --- #### **St John’s Church reopens after £4m restoration** A major Chatham landmark has reopened after a two year, £4m restoration that has brought one of the town’s oldest churches back into public use. St John’s, the grade II\* listed building on Railway Street, had mainly been closed for around 25 years before work began. Long-term water damage, structural problems, and a failing roof had left it in a state where the building's future was an open question. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!7WSi!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f30448a62-bc68-4df3-9282-b3188ca43280_1024x577.jpg) St John’s Church, Chatham. Photo: Diocese of Rochester. The overhaul, backed by the Diocese of Rochester, the Church of England, Medway Council, The Heritage Fund, national government and several charitable trusts, has transformed the 200-year-old building into a flexible venue with new meeting rooms, a café servery and improved insulation. Church leaders say the aim is for the building to operate seven days a week as both a place of worship and a space for community groups, events and small businesses. Rev Martyn Saunders, who leads the Bishop’s Mission Order at St John’s, described the reopening as the result of long-term persistence. “This truly is a story of faith, hope and determination,” he said. “Many people never gave up on the hope of seeing community, mission and ministry taking place once again at St John’s Chatham.” Canon Matthew Girt, Diocesan Secretary, said the focus was now on making sure the restored building serves the wider town. “We are delighted that we have this building back for the use of the community here at the heart of Chatham,” he said. “This is not just a church but a place that will be open seven days a week with so much going on for everyone.” Medway Council contributed support, with council leader Vince Maple calling the project an example of the “One Medway approach.” “It is fantastic to see new life breathed into this magnificent building,” he said. “As well as being a place of worship, it is great to see social spaces for classes and events, the café area, meeting rooms and more.” Some activities are already running, including the play groups and twice-weekly sessions offering conversation, tea and coffee, and (optional) prayer. A Heritage Fund-backed local history project is also underway to collect memories, photographs and stories from residents connected to St John’s. Volunteers are being sought to help explore archives and document the building’s shifting role within Medway. The reopening comes just ahead of the Christmas season, with a carol service on 14 December and a charity performance by Walderslade Sings on 20 December. Details of the full festive programme are on the [church’s website](https://www.stjohnschatham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### In brief 🚌 Medway Council has expanded the use of ANPR cameras to [catch and fine drivers illegally using bus lanes](https://futuremedway.co.uk/council-expands-use-of-anpr-camera-enforcement-to-all-bus-lanes-in-medway/?ref=localauthority.news) in three new locations. The new enforcement is in place on Corporation Street, Rochester, as well as High Street, Chatham, and Chatham Hill. 🏥 Medway NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust are to [combine their leadership structures](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/hospital-trusts-form-countys-first-group/?ref=localauthority.news) to form a new group covering both trusts. 🏨 The Trivelles Hotel on Station Road in Strood has applied for planning permission to [annexe a neighbouring house](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T5VTW1KNJ7900&ref=localauthority.news) to create additional rooms. 🎰 Government planning inspectors have allowed a new 24-hour gambling arcade [to open on Chatham High Street](https://futuremedway.co.uk/planning-inspector-approves-24-hour-gambling-arcade-in-chatham-high-street-after-appeal/?ref=localauthority.news), despite an initial refusal by Medway Council. 🏪 Medway Council chose to ignore Medway Council’s objections to [approve a new Budgens supermarket](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6318&T=1&ref=localauthority.news) within the Chatham waterfront development. 🌊 Southern Water and Medway Council have [signed an agreement](https://www.watermagazine.co.uk/2025/11/25/southern-water-and-medway-council-sign-landmark-agreement-to-tackle-flooding-and-storm-overflows/?ref=localauthority.news) to tackle flooding and storm overflows. 🛝 Medway Council is [consulting on improvements](https://www.medway.gov.uk/esplanade?ref=localauthority.news) to Esplanade Gardens in Rochester. 🚣 A nineteenth-century military fort in the middle of the River Medway is [up for sale](https://auctions.savills.co.uk/auctions/10-december-2025-198/darnet-fort-darnet-ness-gillingham-kent-me9-7hj-19505?ref=localauthority.news) with a guide price of £50,000. --- #### More Authority It’s been a bumper week for additional *Local Authority* content. [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) Former civil servant Bob Collins took us through [the process of local government reorganisation](https://www.localauthority.news/life-after-reorganisation/), and precisely what we can expect to happen next: [Life after reorganisationThis is the second of our more in-depth looks into the details of local government reorganisation that regular readers of Local Authority already know and love. In part one, former civil servant Bob Collins looked at the back story – how and why we got to this point. In this one, we take a look beyond the current shenanigans to what the future will actually look like and how it might differ from the way things are now.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityBob C![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ygoj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff88ddb8e-8449-40c8-bcf2-33cc35d946c3_901x504.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/life-after-reorganisation/) On Sunday, our supporters received an [interview with Lee Grimshaw](https://www.localauthority.news/success-is-doing-it-in-the-first/), the owner of the Spinout Nuggets record label: ["Success is doing it in the first place"Spinout Nuggets have released some of the best Medway records of the last decade. Following their recent takeover event at Analogue Music, Steven met DJ Lee Grimshaw in Rochester for coffee where they discussed why he set up the label, how he came to release the latest 5.6.7.8’s single, and what counts as success in the modern music business.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!m-lL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd5043ca6-90dd-4193-addd-8c71b3cd8406_960x720.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/success-is-doing-it-in-the-first/) We also published our latest Voice column, which publishes writing by Medway’s elected representatives. This time, we heard from [Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner-a11/): [Voice of the Police and Crime CommissionerEditor’s note: Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who discusses his new Police and Crime Plan and the campaign to reduce children’s exposure …![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityMatthew Scott PCC![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!A-O3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f22a3d132-f7d1-4de6-85e1-387dbe6c634e_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner-a11/) [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### "Success is doing it in the first place" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/success-is-doing-it-in-the-first/ Last updated: 2025-11-23T07:01:07.000Z [*Spinout Nuggets*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *have released some of the best Medway records of the last decade. Following their recent takeover event at* [*Analogue Music*](https://www.instagram.com/analoguemusicrochester/?ref=localauthority.news)*, Steven met DJ Lee Grimshaw in Rochester for coffee where they discussed why he set up the label, how he came to release the latest 5.6.7.8’s single, and what counts as success in the modern music business.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!m-lL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd5043ca6-90dd-4193-addd-8c71b3cd8406_960x720.jpg) Lee Grimshaw **What is your official occupation?** Oh, that’s a good question. I currently have a part-time job as a moderation specialist, working in digital music distribution. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in Cornwall, working in the digital world of music. It’s not fun, but pays some bills. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** Unpaid is running the record label [Spinout Nuggets](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/?ref=localauthority.news) and DJing at various places all across the land putting on events under [Spinout Revue](https://www.facebook.com/thespinoutrevue/). Book publishing, under Spinout Publications. Lots of stuff that’s got Spinout on it. **Spinout seems to be quite big. Why do you do it if you don’t get paid?** Because it’s a passion. It’s not for the money, because I’m doing things. I’m working with artists that are in my record collection. I think that’s quite good. That’s worth much more than money. **How would you describe Spinout Nuggets?** Spinout Nuggets is an independent record label. It’s not genre specific, but it does involve bands from Medway, there’s [Mod](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mod%5F%28subculture%29?ref=localauthority.news), [Garage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garage%5Frock?ref=localauthority.news), Hammond Jazz, indie, [C86](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie%5Fpop?ref=localauthority.news). It’s just the music that I like. **You mentioned you’ve also done book publishing?** Yeah, three books, two of which were from [Saskia Holling](https://www.instagram.com/saskjane/?ref=localauthority.news). [Girlsville](https://www.spinoutproductions.com/shop/girlsville-the-story-of-the-delmonas-and-thee-headcoatees/?ref=localauthority.news), based on The Delmonas and [Thee Headcoatees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thee%5FHeadcoatees?ref=localauthority.news), and [You & Me Against the World](https://www.spinoutproductions.com/shop/you-me-against-the-world-2-women-5-bands-80s-edinburgh/?ref=localauthority.news), about bands from Edinburgh in the 80s. The other one was [In Heaven](https://www.spinoutproductions.com/shop/in-heaven/?ref=localauthority.news), [Daryl Hartley](https://www.instagram.com/darrylhartleyart/?ref=localauthority.news)’s book based on Eraserhead. His vision of it and sketches. **What led you to launch Spinout Nuggets?** I had been doing an online radio show for five years, the Spinout Show, from something like 2015 to 2020\. Being a DJ and record collector, not for the pound value but for the sound value, I had always been interested in how things come out and running a record shop, owning a record shop, owning a record label, running a nightclub. All these things have always been something that would be good to do. Then the first release I did, [Sergeant’s Mess](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/well-thats-another-fine-mess?ref=localauthority.news), the tracks became available with an interest of could I find a home for these songs. I did and then that fell through, and I thought, ‘Well, why don’t I do it myself?’ Couple of years before that I had taken voluntary redundancy from my engineering job. I worked in engineering for 26 years. I worked at that employer for 23 years, so 23 years’ worth of redundancy money. I kept buying records, and then I thought, ‘Well, why don’t we make some?’ That’s where that came from really, thanks to Sergeants Mess being a Medway band. That came out in October 2017, but the release didn’t come out till February 2018. **Why do you release so much music by Medway bands?** Because I’m originally born and bred Medway. Born in 1974, lived in Gillingham for 20 years.Finished my apprenticeship at GEC Avionics. At the time, I was into Volkswagen, surfing, skating, and started a clothing company, Source Clothing. We used to do all the Volkswagen events. Newquay was the place to be. Me and my two brothers relocated there. Which was nice, and we stayed down there quite a lot and came back to Medway from time to time because mum and dad were still up here, but 1998, their first grandchild was born, my eldest, and they moved down anyway. A long period where I wasn’t coming back, because I was a dad, DJing in Newquay every week. It’s not been until maybe the last ten years or so that I’ve been coming back more so… What was the question? What I should be saying is growing up in Medway, my mum and her next-door neighbour used to run a youth club in Gillingham. It was full of mods, skinheads, casuals, whatever happened throughout that period. I always remember seeing [The Prisoners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPrisoners%5F%28band%29?ref=localauthority.news), [The Dentists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FDentists?ref=localauthority.news), all these bands around different places growing up. My brother being older, Dave, was a scooterist and just being aware of the music and although at the time I was more into electro, hip-hop, breakdancing and then into house music, acid house and acid jazz, whatever. I was always aware of it, but I was a bit too young to be exposed to that period apart from I used to help out in the record shop. It’s always been there, but it’s just come a little bit later. Which I don’t think is a bad thing because I think music, when you listen to new music, it doesn’t necessarily have to be new. It’s new to you. I’m backtracking a lot of indie from the mid-80s and what have you. To me, that’s potentially new. I might have been aware of it, but I wasn’t listening to it. **Is there something particular about Medway bands?** I just warm to it. It feels like it’s part of me. I mean, I’d love to be in a band. I’ve tried every single instrument, and at some point, I will be in a band. I’ve played percussion and stuff on some recordings, but I will be at some point, when I get time to sit down and think about it. I just feel warm to it. It feels like it’s me. **What improvements have there been in Medway music in the last 25 years?** Mmm, improvements... I sell records down in Cornwall, I do record fairs, and I have a section called Medway. In the same way, there’s a Manchester section. Improvements, at the moment, quite a lot of youngsters coming through, which might seem a bit weird to us, because we’re older, but it’s great as long as they’ve got a good following of youngsters as well. Some bands that I see coming through that are young are playing to an older audience. It must be quite weird. The youngsters need to buy the physical product, whether it’s a t-shirt or a record and go to the gigs. **Let’s talk about three recent releases in that Medway section. There was** [**Ludella Black**](https://www.localauthority.news/we-all-had-silly-names-given-to-us/) **and the** [**5.6.7.8’s**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5F5.6.7.8%E2%80%99s?ref=localauthority.news)**.** Oh yes, that’s great. That’s thanks to The Masonics, really. The last two visits to the UK, I have driven the 5.6.7.8’s on their tour, and the Masonics too. Being a fan of the 5.6.7.8’s, we all know them mostly through the film [Kill Bill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill%5FBill:%5FVolume%5F1?ref=localauthority.news). We struck up a good relationship and on the last tour there were four days up north and then four days down south, and then during them couple of days, we spent with [Jim Riley](https://www.localauthority.news/digital-hasnt-surpassed-analogue/) at Ranscombe Studios recording, and that’s where that latest EP came from. They had Miss Ludella Black doing the vocals, which is great. Previous to that, we did an [EP which was a split between 5.6.7.8’s and Masonics](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/japan-tour-ep?ref=localauthority.news). Quite pleased with that. **That’s a limited release of 1,000? How do you decide the number on that?** Someone’s asked that before. ‘Why do you only do 300?’ Because if I can only sell 300, that’s where it is. I’m living at my mum’s, I’ve got half of her garage full of records, I’ve got a storage container. There’s only so much space. The 5.6.7.8’s have got a bit more global awareness fan base, there’s more chance, and they wanted a good stash anyway. They are on tour currently, France and Spain, they wanted some themselves to sell at the gigs. That’s where the thousand comes out. **You released the Cream Soda’s first album** I think that’s thanks to Analogue Music in Rochester, where they first made me aware of Cream Soda. At the time, I was a bit like, ‘I’ve got too much going on, always looking for the next generation.’ Tom got in touch, started sending music over, and it just came from that, and really pleased with that. It’s nice, it’s good, young, vibrant music, Medway at the moment, and hopefully it will continue. **You’ve just released the new** [**Singing Loins**](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/) **album.** Sadly, Chris passed away. There was a couple of tracks that were floating around in Arf’s head from years ago that they recorded. We did, that was [Jazzy Angels](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/jazzy-angels?ref=localauthority.news) singles, we did that a while back. We still kept in touch, I support them totally. They got in touch recently to say they had got a new song, would I be up for it? Totally, why not? **If someone were new to Medway music, what would you suggest from the Spinout catalogue would be a good entry?** There’s a good question. It’s quite broad really. Obviously, there’s the [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) various outlets: Guy Hamper Trio, CTMF. But I couldn’t really point to something specific. I think the Guy Hamper Trio, [The Goddess Tree album](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/the-goddess-tree?ref=localauthority.news), that got a good following with him and James Taylor on organ. Everything the Masonics do is fantastic. But you know, they’re the biggies. **Is there anything in the back catalogue that you feel is a hidden gem?** Yes, the [Khybers album](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/fullaove-alley?ref=localauthority.news). It was weird because we were putting on a gig, when the Function Rooms was open, upstairs with Big Boss Man, The Hurricanes, Graham Day and The Forefathers. Then downstairs, recording, unbeknownst to me, was the Khybers recording the album that I was eventually going to release. But we’d pop down there to say hello. I just didn’t think about it. The boys got in touch about potentially putting out the songs that they recorded. That album, Fullalove Alley, I think it got missed, it’s all about Medway, basically. There’s a nice little insert with the lyrics in with bit of information about each track. That’s the one I would say, do it. Second to that would be the [Ye Ascoynes D’Ascoynes album](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/supersonic-shoes?ref=localauthority.news), which are recordings from the early 90s, demos, but didn’t really get out there. I think that got missed off the radar a little bit. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Connecting two Medways URL: https://www.localauthority.news/connecting-two-medways/ Last updated: 2025-11-22T17:07:54.000Z *A slightly unusual Saturday edition of Local Authority today, inviting you to take part in a project bringing together two very different Medways…* Back in the earliest days of *Local Authority*, I used to occasionally write extra editions about other places around the world that shared the name Medway (or one of our towns). I’d never visited any of them, but it was a fun thing to do, and offered something slightly different to break up the usual news editions. [One of these editions looked at the tiny village of Port Medway in Nova Scotia, Canada](https://www.localauthority.news/the-tiny-tiny-medway-in-nova-scotia/). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Dw1N!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdeadeaaf-5ed9-4425-81d1-033e2f7d8da4_4275x2238.jpg) Port Medway. At the time, it seemed like a place that maybe had its better days in the past. Sitting on the Medway River, it was historically a shipbuilding centre but had seen its population decline since that industry left. The parallels to our own Medway were quite something. Most troubling at the time was the recent closure of the Port Grocer, which seemed to be the heart of the community. The location had acted as a grocery store, community hub, cafe, and events venue, but had failed to find a new owner to take it on. And then, as sometimes happens, life moved on, and I didn’t think about Port Medway again. Until an email arrived out of the blue from Audra, who had recently moved there and somehow stumbled across my old post. Most excitingly, she and her husband, Haritha, had [taken on the former Port Grocer building and brought it back to life](https://rosefinch.co/pages/about-us?ref=localauthority.news). It’s now [Rosefinch Mercantile](https://rosefinch.co/?ref=localauthority.news): part shop, part cafe, part place to stay, part community post office. They’ve also launched a [Visit Port Medway](https://visitportmedway.com/?ref=localauthority.news) site to showcase their corner of Nova Scotia. They seem like very cool people doing a very cool thing in a place well off the beaten track. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!DrTK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffa2f8801-2304-4971-9a2c-bbaf96d5829c_1931x1011.jpg) Rosefinch Mercantile in Port Medway. Now, you might reasonably ask what any of this has to do with our Medway. Firstly, it’s a nice story about a nice place, so let’s all enjoy that. Secondly, though, there is a point. Part of the ethos behind Rosefinch Mercantile is [tackling loneliness in the local community](https://rosefinch.substack.com/p/third-spaces-and-surprise-parcels), and Audra had an idea to try to connect our two Medways: a delightfully old-fashioned pen pal scheme. Yes, we all message anyone in the world in half a second these days, but there’s something different about receiving an actual letter from an actual stranger living on the other side of the Atlantic. So we thought, why not give it a go? Both of our Medways are full of interesting people with stories worth sharing, so we’re hoping a few of you might fancy joining in. In the first instance, [we’re using this form to gather interest](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfo5qezNfYt5MRx1jKrDO2YSSVkzZHHLi1pKoXLWCsZGoNAGA/viewform?ref=localauthority.news) from people in both places who’d like to take part in the Two Medways pen pal project. The form asks for the basics: your name, address and a little bit about what you’d like from this. Just enough for us to make a sensible match. We’ll only share your details with the person you’re paired with, and we’ll match as appropriately as we can to your wishes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qHzL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa2d8a68c-da86-4c05-a4db-76db5f38e97b_2992x1566.jpg) Port Medway. There’s no long-term commitment, and you can stop at any point. There’s no expectation of rapid replies, no schedule, and no pressure to produce beautifully handwritten masterpieces unless you really want to. Many people have never had a pen pal before, and that’s fine. You can write about your day, your street, your local quirks, what Medway means to you, books you’re reading, places you like, whatever you fancy. It’s simply an exchange between two people curious about each other’s communities. A small practical note: it costs around £3.30 to send a letter to Canada, and we sadly can’t subsidise that, so please bear that in mind. Posting whenever you feel like it is absolutely fine. If you have any questions about any of this, feel free to drop me a message by hitting reply to this email, or emailing ***hello(AT)localauthority(DOT)news*** This is a slightly quaint, retro way of making a connection with someone new somewhere far away, except, perhaps, not so far away at all. If this idea intrigues you, we really hope you’ll join us. [Join the Two Medways project here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfo5qezNfYt5MRx1jKrDO2YSSVkzZHHLi1pKoXLWCsZGoNAGA/viewform?ref=localauthority.news) ### Life after reorganisation URL: https://www.localauthority.news/life-after-reorganisation/ Last updated: 2025-11-21T18:27:52.000Z *This is the second of our more in-depth looks into the details of local government reorganisation that regular readers of Local Authority already know and love. In* [*part one*](https://www.localauthority.news/north-kent-or-nowhere/)*, former civil servant Bob Collins looked at the back story – how and why we got to this point. In this one, we take a look beyond the current shenanigans to what the future will actually look like and how it might differ from the way things are now.* **The timetable and elections** First, the immediate future. The Kent authorities will submit their multiple proposals to Government this month. What then? Well, under [existing legislation](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/28/contents?ref=localauthority.news), there is a [seven-stage process](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-reorganisation-letter-to-areas-invited-to-submitted-final-proposals/summary-of-the-local-government-reorganisation-process?ref=localauthority.news) governing the setting up of any new local authorities. Without spelling these out in full (follow the above links if you’re really interested), essentially this involves a consultation and then a formal decision by the Government to implement the change. Then, more details will need to be hammered out, including how many councillors there will be, ward boundaries, etc. The Government has said it *could* consult in the new year and announce the decision on the new authorities by summer recess 2026, with elections to the new unitaries on 6 May 2027\. The new authorities would then go live on 1 April 2028. This seems ambitious to say the least. The ‘could’ in the first part of that sentence is doing some heavy lifting and will have been chosen carefully. Usually, when the Government doesn’t want to make something a hard commitment, it will use a phrase like ‘aims to’ in place of ‘will.’ But ‘could.’ But…. ‘*could?’* Well, yes of course it *could*. But… First, the potential for multiple proposals in areas is bound to complicate matters. The legislation, which dates from 2007, appears to be drafted on the (reasonable) assumption that there will only be one proposal at a time. It’s not clear whether the Government will consult on *all* rival proposals before deciding which one it likes best, or whether it will pick a favourite and consult on that one only. But either way, it is likely to consume more time, and as we mentioned last time, Kent is far from the only area with local disagreements on which a brand new Ministerial team in Government will have decisions to make. While there’s every possibility of this timetable coming under quite some pressure, the Government maintains that it wants the entire process to be completed in this parliament. I bet it does! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ygoj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff88ddb8e-8449-40c8-bcf2-33cc35d946c3_901x504.jpg) Medway’s preferred reorganisation map. Also, just to be clear, this process above is just for the creation of the new unitaries. The creation of Mayoral Authorities, sitting above the unitaries, is subject to an entirely different process. The Government selected six new areas to move to a Mayoral system under the [Devolution Priority Programme](https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/local-government-reorganisation-and-devolution?ref=localauthority.news). Kent applied to be one of these but was unsuccessful. The Government policy is still that they want to see Mayoral Authorities covering the whole country, but has said nothing yet about the timetable for the non-priority areas. If it’s going to happen, it would make sense to synchronise the Mayoral elections with the new council elections in May 2027, which would be a year behind most of the priority mayoral areas. Although [Kent County Council remains keen](https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/local-government-reorganisation-and-devolution?ref=localauthority.news), that timetable seems challenging. So, for now, let’s just look at that new council set-up. In just over 18 months, if all goes to plan, you will go into your polling station and vote for your local councillor(s) for the new North Kent unitary. But what ward will you be in? How big will it be? How many members per ward? These are all questions that won’t be settled until after the decision on what the authority is (see the seven-stage process above), when the statutory orders are set up. Although we don’t yet know what the area of the new authority will be, we know it will cover most if not all of what is now Dartford, Gravesham and Medway, with the inclusion of Swale being the big either/or. It is also highly likely that the new authority will have fewer councillors than the sum of those in the previous constituent authorities. That has been the case with most previous council mergers. This means in turn that each councillor will likely be covering a larger area than previously, with bigger wards and/or more casework. This is another part of the ‘devolution revolution’ that doesn’t quite match the rhetoric. More power transferred down from Whitehall, but local councillors having less time to devote to you and your particular needs. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Voice of the Police and Crime Commissioner URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner-a11/ Last updated: 2025-11-19T10:02:16.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who discusses his new Police and Crime Plan and the campaign to reduce children’s exposure to smartphones and social media. It should also be noted that this column was written before the government’s announcement that it would abolish PCCs in 2028.* --- #### **Voice of the Police and Crime Commissioner** **by Matthew Scott** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!A-O3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f22a3d132-f7d1-4de6-85e1-387dbe6c634e_1456x762.jpg) Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott Our [Annual Policing Survey](https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=8Acb8%5Fmc20CWTW%5F5hql-PcQ797n7iqVOl2lSmBZFHF5UMUFFRVRPNFBRMDlZMEdQTEFIUTZYRTBSVi4u&origin=lprLink&route=shorturl&ref=localauthority.news) is currently live, and I want to hear from the residents of Kent. Your feedback is vital in helping us understand how safe you feel, your experiences of crime and antisocial behaviour, and how any interaction with Kent Police has gone. This survey is the best way for me to learn what is happening in different parts of our county and to assess whether enough is being done to address concerns. My goal remains clear: cut crime, support victims, and build trust. Kent Police are working hard to address areas where problems persist, but I need the input of Kent residents to measure our progress. We currently have close to 3,000 responses, but I want to hear from as many people in Kent as possible. Over recent weeks, we have engaged with communities in person across Kent, including Maidstone, Canterbury, Ashford, Tunbridge Wells, and more. Residents can complete the survey online by visiting [Annual Policing Survey 2025](https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=8Acb8%5Fmc20CWTW%5F5hql-PcQ797n7iqVOl2lSmBZFHF5UMUFFRVRPNFBRMDlZMEdQTEFIUTZYRTBSVi4u&origin=lprLink&route=shorturl&ref=localauthority.news). The survey will remain open until the end of this month. I would like to thank everyone who takes the time to share their views. My office has also taken over the Police Property Fund, formerly known as the Kent Police Property Fund. The fund is generated from the sale, at auction, of items seized in police operations that cannot be reclaimed. The funds generated are then used to support Registered Charities, Social Enterprise, Constituted Groups or Community Interest Companies (CICs). The aim is to keep communities safe, protect young and vulnerable people and reduce anti-social behaviour. There are two application windows each year, being September and March. Whilst an application window has recently closed, I urge anyone who may be eligible for funding to check back again in March at the [Police Property Act Fund](https://www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/what-we-do/police-property-act-fund/?ref=localauthority.news). I look forward to awarding the first round of funding very soon! This summer, Kent Police launched the Safer Streets Summer Initiative, a programme of enforcement and engagement designed to make our towns safer by tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG), antisocial behaviour (ASB), and retail crime. A notable success has been Project Vigilant, where plain-clothed officers worked alongside uniformed colleagues in the night-time economy to spot and stop predatory behaviour before it escalated. This proactive approach led to multiple arrests in places like Folkestone, Maidstone, Canterbury, and Rochester. In Rochester, the local beat officer has taken a multi-agency approach, setting up meetings with police, businesses, local security providers and Safer Streets Medway Partnership. The aim is to drive the sharing of intelligence to together make the town centres a safe environment. Prevention is just as important as enforcement. That’s why Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and Kent Police Child Centred Policing Team have collaborated to roll out an educational resource, PolEd, in schools across Kent. Coastal towns saw increased patrols and dispersal orders issued to address street drinking and youth-related disturbances that came with sustained hot weather and increased tourism. Targeted action in Maidstone, Rochester, and Sevenoaks tackled issues such as illegal e-bikes and nuisance vehicles, while partnership work addressed rough sleeping and retail crime hotspots. You can read the full report on the Safer Summer Streets Initiative on [my website](https://www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/what-we-do/holding-kent-police-to-account/performance-and-delivery-board/?ref=localauthority.news). *Matthew Scott is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent.* ### Medway shrinks its democracy URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-shrinks-its-democracy/ Last updated: 2025-11-18T15:11:52.000Z *A slightly different edition this week, with all of our main stories centred on last week’s full council meeting. It was a lively night that reshaped Medway’s democratic rules, set out the area’s preferred unitary map of the future, approved a £44m care home, and delivered the council’s first ever formal censure. Further down, we’ve also got news in brief, and more. To the news!* --- #### Medway shrinks its democracy The first sign of how the night would go arrived before the meeting even started. The press desks had been quietly moved again, a repeat of last month’s attempt to tuck journalists in the corner so they couldn’t see what Labour backbenchers were up to on their laptops. It set the tone for what came later. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!uQCS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fffd97bc0-68b3-4442-a6e5-b7c3e68e5c77_2364x1330.jpg) The view from the wrong side of the room. Medway Council has pushed through a [set of constitutional changes](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=81888&ref=localauthority.news) that will sharply reduce the ability of smaller political groups to submit motions at future meetings. The Labour administration, backed by the Conservative group, voted for a system that restricts guaranteed motion slots to political groups holding at least 10% of council seats. In Medway, that threshold is six councillors. The Independent Group has five. Reform has three. Under the new rules, neither will have an automatic right to submit a motion at any full council meeting for an entire year. Instead, they will have to hope their motions win a place through a ballot system. Two ‘unallocated’ motion slots will be awarded this way each municipal cycle. It is possible that the smaller groups could get one. It is just as possible they could get none. The previous system gave every group one guaranteed motion per meeting. That is now gone. Labour insists the changes are about efficiency. They point to the length of recent meetings, many of which have run past midnight, sometimes after multiple hours spent debating motions alone. Their argument is that councillors and officers, many of whom work full-time, shouldn’t be stuck in the chamber until one in the morning, and that reducing the number of motions will help. But that argument doesn’t explain why Labour and the Conservatives chose this system when other options existed. The cross-party governance meetings discussed a range of models, including an ‘Equity’ plan that would have guaranteed at least one annual motion for the Independent Group, reflecting the principle that every councillor represents a constituency, regardless of party size. They also considered maintaining the current equality system or setting annual caps without excluding anyone. Labour and the Conservatives rejected all of them. What they backed instead was ‘Equity & 10%,’ which reserves guaranteed slots for the two largest groups and excludes everyone else by design. The report makes this explicit. The threshold aligns with rules for political assistants and group allowances. In practice, it means a group representing nearly 10% of the chamber loses 100% of guaranteed motion rights because it falls short by a single councillor. The changes go further. Motions will now be restricted to ‘specific local authority functions.’ Historically, Medway has allowed motions on broader social, economic, and environmental issues that affect the area. That flexibility will now be interpreted narrowly, and officers will be empowered to reject motions that have only a ‘passing or tenuous’ link to council responsibilities. These details weren’t widely discussed in the chamber. Instead, the debate became dominated by accusations of silencing. Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) of the Independent Group called the changes “an abuse of power” by the Labour administration and accused the Conservative Group, whom he referred to as the “so-called opposition,” of helping push them through. He noted that the Independent Group had previously used motions to bring forward issues the administration did not want debated, including last year’s motion to save jobs at Chatham Docks. Under the new rules, a motion like that may not get near the agenda again. Cllr [Elizabeth Turpin](https://www.localauthority.news/a-bad-local-plan-is-worse-than-no/) warned that the new system risked ushering in “officer-led censorship.” Cllr [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/) told her to apologise for implying officers were part of a conspiracy. The mood in the room deteriorated from there. Labour councillors could be seen laughing and making exaggerated boohoo gestures at members of the smaller groups as they raised concerns about being shut out of the democratic process. It was not an edifying sight. Reform were no less furious. After the vote, Cllr [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) posted that Labour and the Conservatives had “rigged the rules” to silence them, and announced the group would seek confirmation from a specialist barrister as they prepare a legal challenge. This follows what Reform says is independent legal advice suggesting parts of the change may be unlawful. Labour’s defence was that meetings need to be shorter and that councillors have other ways to raise issues, like expanded questions at Cabinet meetings. But questions and motions are not the same thing. A question gets a written or verbal response and moves on. A motion forces a debate, takes a position, and allows councillors to build consensus or divide the chamber. Removing guaranteed motions from one sixth of councillors may shorten meetings, but it also narrows democratic space. In the end, Labour and the Conservatives voted together to approve the new rules. The Independent Group, Reform, and independent councillor [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/) voted against. The changes passed 42–9. --- #### Medway backs a 4D map Medway Council has formally backed the ‘4D’ model for reorganising local government across Kent, voting in favour of a four-unitary structure that would see Medway merged with most of Gravesham, Dartford, and part of Swale. The decision now moves to Cabinet, which is meeting tonight (Tue 18 Nov) to sign it off. This will be a formality. The administration has been clear for weeks that 4D is its preferred map. Medway Council’s Labour leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) acknowledged that the meeting wasn’t technically required. The decision sits with Cabinet. Full council was held anyway, he said, because it was “the right thing to do” and because councillors deserved a public debate on the options. That debate quickly became one of the liveliest the council has seen this year. The Conservatives tabled an amendment calling for the ‘3A’ model, a three-unitary Kent, and made it clear they saw this as the only serious option on the table. Leader of the opposition [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/i-think-the-point-is-that-the-group/) described it as “the only viable option” for delivering efficient, accountable government, arguing that it offers the highest savings, the lowest implementation cost, and the fastest payback period. His group lined up behind him. Cllr Barry Kemp called Labour’s model a “wrecking ball”. Cllr Gary Hackwell emphasised the savings gap, £128m versus £136m, in a tone that suggested £8m was a vast difference even at this sort of scale. Perfect attacked Labour’s option as “chaotic,” “unbalanced”, and drawn up “without engagement.” He also accused the 4D work of costing taxpayers at least £105,000, a figure he described as a “vanity project” for Maple. His group’s message was clear that 3A is balanced, collaborative, and aligned with senior Conservative figures across the county. Labour, of course, disagreed. Maple argued that 4D was the only model that matched the government’s original brief, with roughly half a million residents per unitary, and said his plan fixed some of the more odd boundaries wherever possible, using “hard borders like motorways” when possible. The debate wasn’t confined to the main parties. Reform tabled their own amendment calling for a ‘status quo’ option, despite the party’s KCC colleagues arguing vocally for a single unitary covering all of Kent. Leader [David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/) said that “doing nothing isn’t doing nothing,” but the chamber was unimpressed. Conservatives, Labour, and several independents took turns criticising the proposal. Cllr [Adrian Gulvin](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-going-to-be-an-interim-leader/) called the situation at KCC “a farce” and described the Reform administration at County Hall as a “bunch of fools.” The Independent Group managed to both support and oppose the status quo within ten minutes. Cllr Pearce said nothing would give him greater pleasure than scrapping the Medway unitary, but rejected the costs involved in any of the reorganisation plans and backed Reform’s amendment. Group leader Cllr Crozer then rose moments later to talk about the “opportunities” of larger unitaries, the same ones his colleagues voted against. On the vote, Labour’s 4D model passed 30–21, with Labour and part of the Independent Group backing it, and Conservatives and Reform opposing. Following the debate, Labour leader Vince Maple told *Local Authority* that 4D was the only model that matched the government’s original brief. “We’ve worked within the brief,” he said. “We’ve kept most existing boundaries and used hard borders like motorways where we needed to.” He also hinted that Medway wouldn’t be alone. “I’ve had conversations with colleagues across Kent,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll be the only council supporting 4D.” He also dismissed the KCC single-unitary proposal: “The issues around a one-county model are pretty substantial. It doesn’t even allow us to pursue a mayoral combined authority.” Tonight’s Cabinet meeting will confirm Medway’s submission. The real decisions that decide what Kent looks like in a few years’ time will be made in Whitehall. --- #### A new care home for Medway Medway Council voted to build a £44m 80-bed care facility on the former Innovation Park Medway site, the first time the authority has taken on a project of this scale itself. The administration says the new home will help tackle the persistent issue of people stuck in hospital beds because no suitable care placement is available locally. Cllr Teresa Murray said the home would be “big and beautiful”, an unexpectedly Trumpian flourish for a meeting already full of unexpected lines. Conservative councillors said the principle was sound but questioned the mix of residential and respite beds, arguing the entire facility should be focused on residential care. They also noted that, because the home is unlikely to open before any new unitary structure is created, its beds will serve a wider area than just Medway. Reform opposed the plan. The Independent Group supported it, with Cllr Spalding giving the most personal contribution of the night as he described his father being stuck in hospital due to a lack of care beds. When it came to the vote, the scheme passed 34–17. --- #### Spalding censured by the council Independent councillor Chris Spalding has been formally censured after Medway Council’s conduct committee found he bullied and harassed a member of the public during a long-running dispute over a nursery in Allhallows. The committee instructed him to issue a written apology and undertake further training. He has refused to do either. Presenting the report, Cllr Dan McDonald said the code of conduct exists “to respect the integrity of this council” and noted that censure is the strongest sanction available. Cllr Barry Kemp supported the move, saying the council had already spent “too many hours” on the case, and challenged Spalding to justify his supposed legal credentials. Spalding rejected the findings and said he would be launching High Court action for defamation against the nursery owner. This marks the first time Medway Council has issued a formal censure, with councillors agreeing on the sanction. --- #### In brief 🍝 A planning application has been submitted to convert the former Lloyds bank building in Strood [into a restaurant](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T57IS8KNJNP00&ref=localauthority.news). 🛒 Home Bargains has opened at Hempstead Valley. Future Medway have the [pictures from inside](https://futuremedway.co.uk/first-look-inside-newly-opened-home-bargains-store-at-hempstead-valley-gillingham/?ref=localauthority.news). Spoiler alert: It looks like a Home Bargains. 🎸 McFly will play Rochester Castle Live [next year](https://rochestercastlelive.com/whats-on/?ref=localauthority.news). Tickets will only set you back £61.60. 🏠 The [wonky building](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/37339547/historic-three-storey-building-sale-unique-rochester-kent/?ref=localauthority.news) on Rochester High Street is up for sale for £500,000. 🏚️ Look, we all know Chatham High Street is a bit rough, but [this Daily Express piece](https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2133916/worst-uk-towns-high-street?ref=localauthority.news) paints it as some post-apocalyptic hellscape. --- #### More Authority Dr Shibu Chacko received an MBE for his services to improving organ donations within the Black Asian and Ethnic Minority communities. Steven sat down with him to discuss what brought him to Medway, how he came to work in organ donation, the Glendale Academy, and lots more. [“Life is short, make the most of it”Dr Shibu Chacko received an MBE for his services to improving organ donations within the Black Asian and Ethnic Minority communities. Steven met him in his office to discuss what brought him to Medway, how he came to work in organ donation, and the Glendale Academy.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!khiA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1935406c-fb04-45cc-9a97-f0a671249c27_685x514.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/life-is-short-make-the-most-of-it/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “Life is short, make the most of it” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/life-is-short-make-the-most-of-it/ Last updated: 2025-11-16T07:00:53.000Z What Steven asked Dr Shibu Chacko MBE, advanced clinical practitioner _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Say hey to Hey Louie URL: https://www.localauthority.news/say-hey-to-hey-louie/ Last updated: 2025-11-14T18:30:28.000Z *A Rochester resident has launched a new online shop for creatives, so we’ve been finding out more. Further down, we have news of a new Christmas market, we review South Shore and the Penrose Web at Rochester Social Club, our weekly events guide, and more.* --- #### Say hey to Hey Louie [*Hey Louie*](https://heylouie.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a new online shop from Rochester’s Nat Tyler. We caught up with her to find out more…* “Hey Louie is a project that I’m building, starting with an online shop,” says Nat. The project combines three of her passions, “which are art and design by independent UK artists, affordable vintage homewares, and handmade items using repurposed vintage fabrics.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!0AAM!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe9de99b9-9f83-41a1-ab5f-ca6ee3b7a63f_3007x2255.jpg) Products from Hey Louie. For Nat, this is about fun, creativity, and colour. “That’s probably not going to be my tagline,” laughs Nat. The bigger dream is to develop the project in a physical space “eventually.” Right now, she is focused on the foundations. But why is it called Hey Louie? “I knew that question was coming. Louie was my nickname up until about the age of 12,” which is when she decided she didn’t want to be treated as a child anymore. “Now I’m older, I’ve decided I would like to be a kid again.” The name represents those child-like qualities, “being led by curiosity, adventure and using your imagination.” The items available on the website will be a combination of those by artist-creators she is championing and those she has made herself. “There’ll be lots of art and design, handmade items by UK-based artists and makers. I’m really searching for artists that I love that are making cool things, that fit with the Hey Louie aesthetic. Nat tells me that by starting small, adding items over time, and bringing in more artists, the project remains manageable. “My previous role was curation and discovering artists and giving them an audience. That was something that I absolutely loved.” Nat knew whatever she wanted to do had to incorporate that as well. “We’ve got art prints, we’ve got candles that are handmade by a company called the Colour Emporium.” She is working with [five artists](https://heylouie.co.uk/collections/all-artists?ref=localauthority.news) at the moment. “I love [Dick Vincent](https://heylouie.co.uk/collections/dick-vincent-illustration?ref=localauthority.news)’s illustration. He does pop culture, but they’re cool illustration designs. If you’re into 80s pop culture, you’ll appreciate his work”. There is an artist called [Bea Müeller](https://heylouie.co.uk/collections/bea-muller?ref=localauthority.news), who does “beautiful prints of seaside scenes. There’s a [White Cliffs of Dover print](https://heylouie.co.uk/products/white-cliffs-of-dover-art-print?ref=localauthority.news). There’s a beautiful seaside art print, and she’s featured on the homepage. She does work around diversity and female empowerment as well. Really bright, vibrant colours, which I love.” [Hand Over Your Fairy Cakes](https://heylouie.co.uk/collections/hand-over-your-fairy-cakes?ref=localauthority.news) is “somebody who I have had items bookmarked in my Etsy store for about ten years.” They make pin badges and earrings which feature the colour wheel, “which is really cute. I love those.” There are also prints from [Onneke](https://heylouie.co.uk/collections/onneke?ref=localauthority.news). “She does beautiful nature prints, in really beautiful, vibrant colours, which I really love.” Last and by no means least are stickers from [Clarice Tudor](https://heylouie.co.uk/collections/clarice-tudor?ref=localauthority.news), including “a [Rigatoni sticker](https://heylouie.co.uk/products/rigatoni-sticker?ref=localauthority.news). Everybody should have one of those.” With more to come as the project develops, the original idea came to Nat to focus on what she loved after leaving her last employment. “After spending a long time working for a global marketplace, I think my first port of call was that I just missed making stuff.” Nat started by spending one night a week at [Sew In Kent](https://www.thesewingroup.com/?ref=localauthority.news) with “Naomi, Hazel and a bunch of lovely, inspiring people”. This helped her to focus, develop and improve her sewing skills. “I’ve been making clothing, which has been fun, and I’ve fallen in love with finding uses for vintage fabrics again.” Nat also volunteers at the [Zigzag Scrap Store](https://zigzagscrapstore.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). “That’s been really inspiring. They have such a treasure trove over there.” Those two things got Nat back onto a journey of making and creating again. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ndzg!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc2f5df44-961d-4693-90a0-94e6672fa581_1861x1396.jpg) Hey Louie’s Nat Tyler. Nat’s other passion is vintage home decor, “basically finding weird and wonderful items and trawling antiques markets, charity shops and boot fairs for fantastic stuff.” Nat has amassed a huge collection of “my own things” before thinking, “wouldn’t it be nice to do this and combine it with the other elements that are on the site?” Whilst Nat has enjoyed making clothing, these won’t be on the Hey Louie website. She will be focusing on [accessories and homeware](https://heylouie.co.uk/collections/handmade?ref=localauthority.news), such as bags, lampshades, and cushions. “There’s already a small collection of lampshades on there and there’ll be more home decor coming soon”, using her “massive stash of vintage fabric”. Nat reassures me that there hasn’t been a risk that as she collects this passion project together of not wanting to put items on the website for sale. “There will definitely be things that I want to hang on to, but I’ve probably reached my limit. My partner is a good reminder of how much stuff I have room for in the house. I like to have clear outs and a line has been drawn where I can definitely know when I’m shopping for the site and when I’m shopping for myself.” With the unrelenting march to Christmas, if you were looking for something for a loved one, or a family member, then [Hey Louie](https://heylouie.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) could be for you. “If you know someone that loves colourful home decor, anybody that has a bright home, I think they’ll find something they will love.” *You can find out more about* [*Hey Louie*](https://heylouie.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *on their website and follow them on* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/heylouieshop?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*TikTok*](https://www.tiktok.com/@heylouieshop?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Christmas market comes to Chatham House *A Christmas market of work by local artists will be at Chatham House, which may or may not be in the Intra area, at the end of the month. We spoke to Holly Chadd to find out more.* The art Christmas market starts on Friday 28 November from 5.30pm until 8pm, at Chatham House, with a bar thanks to Poco Loco. The market will then be open across the weekend. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Nm74!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa4f748be-d824-4695-ae62-97dd83b9c801_1536x1152.jpg) Chatham House. Holly is a sculptor, having graduated from the Royal College of Art, and when she moved to Medway from London, she became interested in ceramics, making big and small sculptures. The market has been created by Holly, along with her Nucleus Arts colleague Carol Smith. They ran a summer market as part of Medway Open Studios, following damage to their studios in the fire at Nucleus Arts last year. They decided to be proactive and hired Chatham House, and it went very well for them, along with their friend Catriona Faulkner. Holly highlights that it has been a tough year for artists and creatives financially, “there’s so much potential in Medway. We just wanted to do something. It’s not a profit venture at all. Just trying to cover costs and give all these talented people an opportunity.” They had the vision of a Christmas market in the newly refurbished Georgian building being “amazing.” Working well together as a trio, they have provided space for 17 further artists to take part in the market. A wide variety of artists and creatives including millinery, precious metal jewellery, fashion jewellery. Different artists working in different mediums, all by talented local artists. The artists are a mixture of people that Holly knew and those who responded to an open call. They offered an opportunity to their neighbours at Nucleus Arts, and they were contacted thanks to word of mouth. Amongst those are people Holly considers great friends, and she is looking forward to hanging out with. Holly highlights the support of the owner and manager of Chatham House, Michael Entecott and Peter Moorcroft, respectively, for their support, both in the summer and for this Christmas market, as well as Jody Carrington at Poco Loco for running the bar and providing well-needed advice. This is all part of why Holly thinks Chatham Intra is a special place for the arts. As well as the market that weekend, there will be the [Wayzgoose Print Festival](https://intraarts.org/2025/11/12/wayzgoose2025/?ref=localauthority.news) at Intra Arts on the Saturday. Holly assures me that there will be items with a Christmas focus, along with a large Christmas tree in the ground entrance hall of the building. Artists will have something on or around the tree that advertises their work. There will be a rail of Christmas frocks available and a range of vintage items. If you are looking for gifts this Christmas, Chatham House might be a great place to check out. --- #### **South Shore and The Penrose Web at Rochester Social Club** Affectionately known as ‘The Bin Men’s,’ Rochester Social Club tonight accommodates two shining examples of the strength of artistic collaboration in Medway, both the antithesis of rubbish. South Shore’s performance showcases the evolution of the band from their debut in-at-the-deep-end triple outings at last year’s Sweeps festival. Long-time bandmates [Stuart Turner](https://www.localauthority.news/i-cant-really-write-music-that-goes/) and Nick Rice lay down the secure foundations for a sound which brings out the very best in Rachel Lowrie’s astonishing vocals. Sounding by turns bluesy then folky, Rachel’s voice has the range, versatility and textured layers of Stone Poneys-era Linda Ronstadt. She spins beguiling tales of the ghosts and spirits of the Medway, some tinged with genuinely gothic notes, others inviting us to link relatable life experiences to this psychic topography. Nick’s competent, soulful basslines complement this soundscape. There are multiple drummers in the audience, itching to occupy the vacant kit, but Nick’s bass is really the only rhythm section required. Stuart seasons the mix with delicate, understated guitar accents, building up to a more prominent psychedelic slant on “Chatham Skies.” South Shore feels like a project with legs – musicians who work sympathetically to optimise each other’s potential. The headline act tonight also exemplifies the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, featuring as they do multitalented performers of recognised pedigree, not least the core duo of Allan Crockford (The Prisoners, Galileo 7) and Ian Button (Death in Vegas, Swansea Sound). Shamelessly wearing their influences on their sleeves, The Penrose Web blend the pastoral psych of Syd Barrett, Floyd, and Village Green Kinks with the astute pop of Graham Coxon, yet still produce their own ambitious, unique sound. “Hexapod Scene” in live performance becomes more freewheeling than on record, the feel-good sound given extra dimension with the addition of Charlie Hannah’s keyboards and the ineffably cool, chic presence of Robert Rotifer. Any one of them could take over lead vocals or any of the instruments at any time, and they do. Crockford and Rotifer’s guitar lines interweave in duelling, yet still compatible layers, while Viv Bonsels elevates and softens the overall sound with backing vocals and additional percussion. “Geraldine” draws nodding approval from some of the old guard garage fans in the crowd, perhaps reassured by the familiarity of a three-syllable female name as a song title. Lyrically, the band ranges from the frustrations and mundanities of everyday life to encounters on the fringes of a more spiritual or psychic plane, another topical link to their support act tonight. This is a much fuller, complex sound than the recorded output of The Penrose Web, far beyond Medway garage by numbers. “Melting” opens with fearless glam-rock stomping drums and escalates to a riot of playfully driven guitars and ascending vocal harmonies. Feet are most definitely being shuffled at this point. There is a vibrancy and verve to the show, and for a band with only one album so far, anticipation that there is more of this quality to come. - *Moira Mehaffey* *Medwayish have launched a crowdfunder to support the production of South Shore’s first single. For just £20, you can get the limited edition single release package, including a lathe cut of the single.* [*You can support the crowdfunder here*](https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/south-shores-1st-single?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Final shout out for charity art auction Don’t forget that [Second Chance Medway](https://www.2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) is organising an art auction at [Sun Pier House](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) to provide Medway residents with food support at Christmas. The exhibition of artworks will be continue until Saturday 15 November for silent bidding. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!0eI0!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4ea25850-9617-481f-98f5-6c1f1d96aaba.jpg) Art waiting to be auctioned at Sun Pier House. If you are unable to attend, you can make a blind bid! Simply make a donation to Second Chance Medway via their [GoFundMe](https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-second-chance-medway?ref=localauthority.news), and they will bid on a piece of art on your behalf. --- #### Events this week 🎤 Sat 15 Nov - [**Kent Dreams**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kent-dreams-poetry-spoken-word-open-mic-night-tickets-1712217722299?ref=localauthority.news) // Poet and spoken word night for any poets, new or old. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🥕 Sun 16 Nov - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🎤 Fri 21 Nov - [**Attila the Stockbroker**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/poetry-music-attila-the-stockbroker-feat-mc-knuckles?ref=localauthority.news) // Punk poet, multi-instrumentalist musician and songwriter performs classics and new poems. *Part of* [*Medway River Lit*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Sun Pier House, Chatham. Pay what you can. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### How does Medway Culture Matter? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/how-does-medway-culture-matter/ Last updated: 2025-11-13T09:00:30.000Z *The Local Democracy Café is our new live forum to discuss issues and possible solutions facing Medway. Next week is our second discussion:* [***Does Medway culture matter?***](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-medway-culture-matter-tickets-1964456907492?ref=localauthority.news)*This week, Steven looks into whether culture matters and speaks to local cultural historian Chris de Coulon Berthoud about how it might.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SI3V!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f490a7964-cbfa-4311-b8ac-e808d40d076a_7360x3665.jpg) What is culture? Our good friends at Wikipedia [tell us](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture?ref=localauthority.news) that “the word culture is derived from the Latin root *cultura* or *cultus,* meaning to ‘inhabit, cultivate, or honour.’ In general, culture refers to human activity. We are specifically within the café looking at culture with regards to the arts. Wikipedia [also informs us](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5Farts?ref=localauthority.news) that the arts are “a vast subdivision of culture, composed of many creative endeavours and disciplines. The arts encompass visual arts, literary arts and the performing arts – music, theatre, dance, spoken word and film, among others.” Before we get to the local, I wanted to draw your attention to this [TED talk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRS9Gek4V5Q&ref=localauthority.news) by Ethan Hawke, who had previously said it is “okay to be pretentious.” In the TED talk, he speaks about permitting yourself to be creative. “We’re all a little suspect of our own talent,” he notes. Hawke goes on to highlight that “most of us really want to offer the world something of quality, something that the world will consider good or important. And that’s really the enemy, because it’s not up to us whether what we do is any good.” “You have to ask yourself: Do you think human creativity matters?” he says. “Most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about poetry. They have a life to live, until their father dies, they go to a funeral, or somebody breaks your heart, and all of a sudden, you’re desperate for making sense out of this life.” This is where the arts, and where poetry can really matter to people. For the purposes of this piece, I am looking at music, painting, and poetry as the three forms of Medway culture, which is in no way intended to ignore other forms of the arts in Medway, including photography, print, etc. There is a limited word count, and all art forms are valid, and some are more valid than others. [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) of this parish once said, “I paint, write, and make music, but these are mundane descriptions. We are all creative, but some of us have it in our nature, or necessity, to maintain this and give whatever art form we choose preeminence in our lives.” There is a strong tradition of Medway music. Our own [Stephen Morris](https://www.localauthority.news/there-are-record-stores-in-america/) wrote [a book about it](https://www.medwayish.com/product/do-it-yourself-a-history-of-music-in-medway?ref=localauthority.news), and we hope he will finish an updated version one day. “I call it a microclimate rather than a scene, completely separate to what was happening in the rest of the country. There are record stores in America that will have a Medway section,” Stephen told us in an [interview](https://www.localauthority.news/there-are-record-stores-in-america/). In the absence of his updated book, let me share with you this piece he wrote about different areas of [Medway by song](https://www.localauthority.news/around-medway-by-song/). In an interview with us, [Bill Lewis](https://www.localauthority.news/my-parents-were-both-fictitious/) spoke about what makes a person a Medway Poet: > “That’s a difficult one, because there were a lot of writers here. I made up the title Medway Poets for the group. I know I upset a lot of people who weren’t in the group by doing that, but we just couldn’t think of a name. We spent a whole evening before a paid gig in Essex and we came up with all kinds of things. The Medway Movement was one of them, but it sounded too much like bowel movement. I said what we have got in common is that river so that’s what it was. I think we might have influenced people; I know a lot of young people who went on to do things came to our readings. [Pete Molinari](https://www.petemolinari.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), the singer-songwriter, is doing very well in America at the moment. He would be sitting at the back when he was too young to be there, because it was in a pub. [Holly Golightly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly%5FGolightly%5F%28singer%29?ref=localauthority.news), who later became one of the Medway musicians, was there. Lots of people who went on to do things. I think there are some good writers here now who I think are exceptional. [Sarah Hehir](https://www.sarahhehir.com/?ref=localauthority.news), I believe is one the best poets going in in the country. She’s a playwright and poet, and I think she’s extremely good. [Barry Fentiman-Hall](https://www.localauthority.news/weve-assembled-something-that-medway/) has an amazing way with language.” A number of Medway painters were founders of Stuckism before quickly leaving. The Stuckists, a reaction against conceptual art, launched a manifesto, which challengingly declared that artists who don’t paint aren’t artists. The Stuckist paints pictures because painting pictures is what matters. The Stuckist is not a career artist but rather an amateur (*amare*, Latin, to love) who takes risks on the canvas rather than hiding behind ready-made objects (e.g. a dead sheep). [Chris de Coulon Berthoud](https://www.localauthority.news/you-make-it-sound-so-romantic/) is a director of [Oral History Medway](https://oralhistorymedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), who recently produced a [video on Gillingham FC supporters](https://oralhistorymedway.co.uk/stories/gillingham-football-club-supporters-stories/?ref=localauthority.news), and is working with Medwayish on the [Kalomera crowdfunder](https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kalomera?ref=localauthority.news). For Chris, the question of whether culture matters locally is a simple yes. To answer with more complexity, he notes that “it matters, because it’s the expression of what we are all as people and especially in the local, and I know you mean specifically sort of arts and culture, but it’s kind of, it’s about who we are and how we express it, it’s about how we can be together in spaces.” Returning to [Maslow’s hierarchy of needs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s%5Fhierarchy%5Fof%5Fneeds?ref=localauthority.news), as discussed last month, does culture matter as a need? “It’s fundamental to our humanness, I think, and homegrown culture, culture which is created by, or people are involved with, from your own community, from your own friendship, is even more important, because it’s a part of knitting ourselves together.” Local culture, Chris tells me, is important for people to express themselves and have an outlet. A venue for this is essential, and the slow diminution of venues locally has been detrimental to towns and villages. With transport and access to cultural venues in London, Canterbury and maybe one day through a tunnel to Essex, does this reduce the loss locally? It is important that Medway can provide something specific to Medway. “The idea that you can walk out of your house and walk for ten minutes and go and see something which is uplifting or exhilarating or even depressing is incredibly important.” Cultural spaces that require no transport and are within walking distance are essential for that cultural impact. If somebody organises a cultural moment, and nobody arrives for the audience, does it make a sound? For Chris, even if the audience is small, it is better than if the event had never occurred. Chris highlights that it is the openness that can lead to extraordinary events, highlighting [Rikard Österlund](https://www.localauthority.news/im-capturing-an-image-because-that/)’s celebration of the Black Lion Skatepark. “His presentation was brilliantly done, but also uplifting, beautiful, and sad, and it sold out the Glassbox Theatre. It was a presentation about architecture and youth culture,” says Chris, highlighting that it could have been an event people did not attend, “but there were points where it almost brought a tear to the eye. So brilliantly done.” Which it would have been if only 16 people had turned up. Poetry events should still go ahead even if you, dear reader, do not attend. There should be a place for young people to write and develop experimental theatre. “It doesn’t feel like there’s a place where that could happen *(in Medway)*. I think culture can exist in its own. Culture can have its own force.” As we discussed recently in the [Kevin Younger](https://www.localauthority.news/almost-anywhere-can-be-a-place-to/) interview, Medway has a history and a present of people finding venues and putting on music gigs. “Perhaps when the Brook Theatre opens,” says Chris, “something can happen there.” Chris would like to see a return to 60s-style arts labs, “something where people can create without needing to be financially viable, create without needing to have an audience to justify it.” For Chris, a space to fail is essential, “because so much of our contemporary life is about achieving, excelling, pushing forward, becoming financially successful.” Billy Childish [told ](http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/3841/billy-childish-on-creativity?ref=localauthority.news)[*AnOther*](http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/3841/billy-childish-on-creativity?ref=localauthority.news)[ in 2014](http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/3841/billy-childish-on-creativity?ref=localauthority.news), “I don’t fear or care much about an audience or possible failure.” “A lot of people who create incredible things have stumbled, experimented and failed first, because you have to have the space to be able to do things that don’t work and then realise, ‘Oh that doesn’t work and I realise why now and now I can perfect my craft.’” Without spaces where people can be playful and experimental and try things out, we are missing “an incredibly important part of the process”. Without those spaces, Chris doesn’t know where future local culture can emerge. As he notes, “There are fewer spaces for people to experiment without having to worry about failure”. “People can go to art college and to university, a good couple of years of fumbling around, but that isn’t a waste of time. That’s part of the process. You play with ideas until you can synthesise them into something concrete, which then can become something incredibly powerful.” I want to finish off by returning to the Ethan Hawke TED talk with a final quotes from there: “Human creativity is nature manifest in us. We know this. The time of our life is so short. Are we spending it doing what’s important to us?” *Join us to discuss this further at our first Local Democracy Café at 7pm on Thursday 20 November at MidKent College. Attending the café is free, but booking is essential.* *You can* [*reserve your spot via Eventbrite*](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-medway-culture-matter-tickets-1964456907492?ref=localauthority.news)*.* [Book your ticket here](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-medway-culture-matter-tickets-1964456907492?ref=localauthority.news) *We hope you’ll join us in this experiment and help us find new ways to explore Medway’s culture.* ### Flags down URL: https://www.localauthority.news/flags-down/ Last updated: 2025-11-11T18:04:21.000Z *Medway Council has finally finished cutting down the hundreds of flags that appeared on lampposts over the summer. We look at what it cost, why it mattered, and what happens next. We also have news on the first draft of next year’s council budget, showing Medway is still deep in financial trouble, Strood Library’s lift saga might finally be coming to an end, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Flags down After months of buildup, Medway Council has finished taking down the hundreds of Union Jacks and St George’s Crosses that had been zip-tied to lampposts across the towns. Crews working overnight with bolt cutters have finished their work, and the flags are gone. What’s left is the familiar noise that follows when the council quietly cleans up after other people’s mess. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!YXdY!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa5cf4723-cb85-42a5-88de-d22a59bc7d49_4000x2250.jpg) A flag in Gillingham, since removed. Cllr [Alex Paterson](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/), Labour’s portfolio holder for community safety, highways and enforcement, confirmed the scale of the operation this week. 727 flags removed, £11,592.50 spent. “Money well spent,” he said on BBC Radio Kent, “to make the community feel safe again.” The campaign to put them up, Operation Raise the Colours, was, he said, the work of “far-right agitators” determined to sow intimidation and division. “The world,” he added, “is divided into people who know exactly why these flags were put up, and those who are still pretending they don’t.” That bluntness has been a theme of Paterson’s handling of the saga. His social media video thanking council crews was closer to defiance than diplomacy, making clear that this wasn’t a health-and-safety exercise but a deliberate stand against a campaign that tried to turn public space into a political billboard. He also confirmed plans to give the confiscated flags to community groups to turn into an artwork celebrating Medway’s diversity, a quiet inversion of the symbolism the flaggers tried to impose. Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) echoed the message, saying it was “sad that the national flag, which should be a matter of pride, has become a sign of division and intolerance.” He stressed that residents remain free to fly flags on their own property, but not on public infrastructure. The legal basis is simple. The displays breached Section 132 of the Highways Act 1980, the same provision that bans fly-posting and unauthorised advertising. Even so, the familiar chorus has returned online. Facebook groups are now filled with claims of ‘Labour’s war on patriotism’ and ‘traitors in Gun Wharf.’ Some local outlets have added quotation marks around the word “illegally” when describing the removals, as if to suggest there’s any serious doubt that attaching flags to street furniture without permission breaks the law. There isn’t. For most residents, the clean-up has been little more than a few days of cherry-pickers and bolt-cutters, restoring the streets to something like normality. For a small and noisy minority, it’s another chapter in a culture war that exists mostly on Facebook. That hasn’t stopped some from trying to bring it back into the real world, though. The core flagging group of Medway claim they will put them back up over the weekend, and the same group that led a [single-digit UKIP march](https://www.localauthority.news/a-protest-in-search-of-a-crowd/) through Rochester are intending to hold a ‘peaceful meeting’ to protest the removals in Chatham on 29 November. The council has done exactly what it said it would: enforce the law, protect public workers, and refuse to let Medway be used as a backdrop for intimidation dressed up as patriotism. Some flags may well reappear on 14 November, as promised by their self-appointed guardians. When they do, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly Medway Council can remove them a second time. --- #### Medway still struggles to balance the books Medway Council has published the [first draft of its 2026/27 budget](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=82464&ref=localauthority.news) in [next week’s cabinet papers](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6239&ref=localauthority.news), and while there’s still time before any final decisions are made, the early picture is of another year of severe financial strain. The council is currently facing a £25.9m gap between what it expects to spend and what it can afford. The total proposed budget stands at £541.6m, but forecast income only reaches £515.7m. It follows an expected £9.9 million overspend this year, with reserves hovering just above the minimum level of £10m. Adult social care remains the most significant pressure point, with costs projected to rise by more than £15m next year due to inflation, increased demand, and higher wages for care workers. Temporary accommodation is another large drain, adding £3m, while the council’s borrowing costs are expected to rise sharply as interest rates remain high. Inflation across waste, highways, and housing contracts continues to push spending upwards, while pay awards for council staff will add around 3% to salary costs. On the income side, the council is assuming a 5% council tax rise, the maximum allowed without a referendum, split between a 3% general increase and a 2% adult social care precept. Business rates and government grants are forecast to rise modestly, but the document admits that much of this remains uncertain until after the government’s Autumn Budget and Local Government Finance Settlement later this year. The council’s financial position has been fragile for several years, and Medway is already reliant on Exceptional Financial Support from the government, a special form of borrowing that allows councils in distress to treat some day-to-day spending as capital. The 2025/26 budget included £18.2m of such support, and officers have warned that a similar request may be unavoidable for next year. Without it, the council would be unable to balance its books, increasing the risk of a Section 114 notice, effectively declaring bankruptcy. The draft budget also lays out early capital spending plans worth nearly £490m, including major regeneration, housing, and infrastructure projects, much of which is funded through borrowing. That level of debt will continue to add pressure to future budgets through rising interest payments. Cabinet members will now work with officers and scrutiny committees over the coming months to refine the proposals and look for savings or new income. The final version of the budget, including council tax levels, will be presented to Cabinet in February, before being debated and agreed by full council at the end of the month. For now, the warning lights remain on. Without more funding, more savings, or another government bailout, Medway is still a long way from a balanced budget. --- #### **Strood Library finally gets a new lift** Several readers have been in touch to ask what is going on with the lift at Strood Library, which has been out of action for most of this year. Medway Council were eager to tell us that library staff have moved stock around while it’s been out of action, and have retrieved items from upstairs for users when required. Which is very lovely, but the upstairs also includes other facilities, including spaces used by community groups, who have had members unable to attend for months now. Happily, the end is finally in sight, with Medway Council telling us that a new lift will finally be installed later this month. It’s taken so long thanks to the inefficiencies of local government, which had to put the new lift installation out to tender because it would cost so much. The new lift will be installed from 26 November, and the library will be closed until 6 December, which is unhelpful. Still, after nine months of inaccessibility, people might finally be able to access the full library once again. --- #### In brief ➡️ Reform are threatening to take [legal action against Medway Council](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgzp3pd7ggo?ref=localauthority.news) over their proposed changes to the process of motions at full council. The changes, which could see Reform and other small groups on the council excluded from submitting motions at full council meetings. Council will vote on the changes at this Thursday’s meeting. 🏭 Approval has been given for a [£50m biofuel plant](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clylw133nxpo?ref=localauthority.news) on the Hoo Peninsula. The plant will create around 200 jobs and help provide fuel for contractors working on the Lower Thames Crossing. 🗄️ Two big planning applications are poised to be approved by Medway’s [planning committee next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6320&ref=localauthority.news). Officers recommend approving 497 homes across the next stages of the East Hill development, as well as a new Aldi on Maidstone Road in Chatham. 🌲 Medway Council is consulting on the design of a [new nature reserve in Strood](https://www.medway.gov.uk/TempleMarsh?ref=localauthority.news). The current proposals include new routes through the Temple Marsh site, benches, viewing platforms, and more. 🚓 Two men have been [charged with murder](https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2025-11-06/two-men-charged-in-murder-investigation?ref=localauthority.news) following the death of a man in Chatham last week. 📣 Your Party members will hold their [first public Medway event](https://in.yourparty.uk/en/events/262-public-rally-your-party-medway?ref=localauthority.news) on Saturday (15 Nov), where things are going so well that they’ve had to clarify that it isn’t an official Your Party event. 💊 Rainham [might gain a pharmacy](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/troubled-town-centre-pharmacy-to-reopen-under-new-management-332308/?ref=localauthority.news) once again after Allied Pharmacies took on the closed Jhoots outlet in the precinct. 🍔 Sad news for street burger fans, as Burgerman Serj has announced [he is to depart Chatham](https://www.tiktok.com/@burgermanserj/video/7570342874727107843?ref=localauthority.news) for London. Burgerman, if that is indeed his real name, has gained a huge following on TikTok from his stand on the High Street and is going to take his quarter-pounders to the big city. --- #### More Authority We sat down with Medway musician [Kevin Younger](https://www.localauthority.news/almost-anywhere-can-be-a-place-to/) for our weekend interview, who has performed in some of Medway’s most recognised bands. He also regularly puts on live music events in Medway, often in places you might not expect. [“Almost anywhere can be a place to have live music”Kevin Younger has been organising music events in Medway for a number of years at the Rochester Social Club, as well as performing in some of Medway’s most acclaimed bands. Ahead of the release of The High Span’s second album, Steven met Kevin at Rams 12 Degrees to discuss Mr Unswitchable, music fanzines and![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vXQr!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8bc9e2cb-aed2-417b-bd20-e269d604b79e_1179x884.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/almost-anywhere-can-be-a-place-to/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “Almost anywhere can be a place to have live music” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/almost-anywhere-can-be-a-place-to/ Last updated: 2025-11-09T07:02:23.000Z *Kevin Younger has been organising music events in Medway for a number of years at the Rochester Social Club, as well as performing in some of Medway’s most acclaimed bands. Ahead of the release of* [*The High Span*](https://www.facebook.com/thehighspan/)*’s second album, Steven met Kevin at Rams 12 Degrees to discuss Mr Unswitchable, music fanzines and* psychogeography-inspired music. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vXQr!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8bc9e2cb-aed2-417b-bd20-e269d604b79e_1179x884.jpg) Kevin Younger. **Are you known by any other names?** Over the years, I’ve had a few pseudonyms. I was in, for a while, the band [Armitage Shanks](https://damagedgoods.co.uk/bands/armitage-shanks/?ref=localauthority.news). In that jokey sort of Kenny Everett’s, Sid Snot punk rock names, it’s from that period. And I was called Clive Shite. They’re all vaguely toilet-related. **Was there any particular reason you had that name?** Not really, no. I was a very latecomer to the band. The band had gone for years and years, and had their pseudonyms, I just joined in for that. I used to do a fanzine years ago, probably back in the late 80s. And my pseudonym for that was Captain Standish. Also, sometimes Captain Rex Standish. That was back in the 80s. **Is there any origin for that name?** Well, the Captain Standish thing was a little in-joke. Apparently that’s a Victorian euphemism for a stiffy. **What was the fanzine about?** It was around the time of my first band, The Train Set, back in ‘85, about 40 years ago. We did a fanzine called Gotham City Off-Ramp. That was done with me and my buddy Dominic. We were both in The Train Set. We did two or three issues of that. It wasn’t really very good. It was a fun sort of thing to do. We interviewed bands that came to Medway, and I went to London to interview bands, like [BMX Bandits](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMX%5FBandits%5F%28band%29?ref=localauthority.news). I did some interviews with [The Dentists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FDentists?ref=localauthority.news), Swinging Time, [Billy ](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/)[*(Childish)*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/), various other things along those lines. **What instruments do you play?** Right, I am in various bands. I’ve played guitar, bass and keyboard. I can’t play the drums. I’ve tried. **What was the first instrument?** Guitar, I guess. When I was a kid, I did piano lessons, which I didn’t really enjoy.I liked fiddling around and playing things by ear, but I didn’t really enjoy the rigours of musical theory. As soon as I could give that up, I gave it up and then, as is usually the case, maybe six or seven years later, I wanted to be in a band and have a guitar and those sorts of things. I guess I was at school with a lot of people who were involved in the music scene. That’s how I got involved initially. The year above me had Ian Smith, from the Dentists, who I was quite good with and John Gawne who was in the middle version of the Milkshakes, the later version of [The Milkshakes](https://damagedgoods.co.uk/bands/the-milkshakes/?ref=localauthority.news), and a couple of years above me was [The Prisoners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FPrisoners%5F%28band%29?ref=localauthority.news). As soon as I reached pub age, people were inviting me to gigs at all the venues that we had back then. The Crown, the MIC Club, Nags Head, and there were a few others, some of which have long gone now. That was my first entry into the local music scene and lucky. Just at that moment, it was a vibrant, exciting local scene. The Milkshakes were a really thrilling, exciting live act. We had that raw Hamburg Beatles meets the Clash vibe, which was about as exciting as you could get in the mid-80s. Other bands played. There were lots of bands around here at the time. Look at old copies of the Chatham Standard or the Evening Post, they always had a gig guide. There’d be at least two gigs on every night of the week. Even Mondays and Tuesdays, you could go and see a band and somewhere they’d be playing. Lots of clashes, you couldn’t choose who you’d go and see. It was an exciting time. There weren’t a lot of synthesiser bands or that retro thing which people still either champion or decry. Medway music was already a big thing, because that was where the excitement came from, that raw, primitive music and although you turned on the radio, you’d be hearing something Flock of Seagulls or Japan or something like that. There weren’t that many bands around here that were sort of trying to hit that sort of clean-cut synth pop kind of thing. It was an old-fashioned sort of Oxfam tweed jackets and rolled-up cigarettes sort of vibe. **What bands are you currently performing with?** The main I’m doing now is [The High Span](https://www.facebook.com/thehighspan/). Which is a band of my songs. I’m writing pretty much mostly, a few cover versions in there. I’ve got this, I guess a seam of songs, that I’m mining my way through, the stuff that has been in my mind for a while, of little fragments of tunes and things like that. Having a band, you can actually make them into actual songs and actual records now. I was in London for quite a long period. I lived in London from about ‘86 to probably well into the 2000s. It was a bit of a weird, different thing, trying to have a band in London and then at various times I was having to go to London to rehearse in bands, when I did move back out here. I was really keen to have a band that was based around here and lucky enough to find some great people locally, some of whom I’d known for years, like Mark Aitken who’s the bass player in this band. Jimmy Moore, who’s the drummer, I met on a minibus at the old Hopper festival. We originally cooked up the idea to do The High Span. I said I was looking to do a band locally, and that was in the garden of the King’s Head in Upnor. It was raining we hid in the little Wendy House fibreglass boot in the garden. There was half a dozen of us in there with our beers, coming up with this idea. That’d be a few years ago now. We got the band together just before covid. Then obviously covid hit. Then, after things started coming back together again, managed to get the records together. We’ve got an [EP](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/quirky-miniboss-squad-e-p?ref=localauthority.news) and an [album](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/the-high-span?ref=localauthority.news) with Spinout Nuggets, and we’ve got another album almost ready to go with Spinout, hopefully by the end of this year or early in the next year. **How would you describe Minimus?** I don’t know, Minimus, that’s another kettle of fish. Minimus was an offshoot of an idea I had, or I think I was involved with in London, which was improvising. I used to see quite a lot of improvising musicians in London, London musicians’ collective type things. That came about after [Hand of Stabs](https://handofstabs.bandcamp.com/?ref=localauthority.news). Hand of Stabs was a totally improvised trio, which was myself, Jim Hill and [Chris de Coulon Berthoud](https://www.localauthority.news/you-make-it-sound-so-romantic/). I’m a barely capable, self-trained musician. Chris wouldn’t claim to be a musician at all. Jim is a naturally gifted polymath, great percussionist. Between the three of us, we had three different prongs to bring to it, and we did a few things that were Medway-based, site-specific things. We would actually go to Cobham Woods or Grain Fort and perform in the open air. Give people a map reference to come and find it, and a few people would trek out with their phones and find us making improvised music inspired by the place we found ourselves in. We did a thing called Month of Sundays, which was literally that. A month of Sunday gigs in, think it was four different locations, and then each time we played, we tried to bring something of the psychogeography, something of the location into the music that we were playing in. I’m getting to Minimus, that was Hand of Stabs. Minimus was inspired by a thing I was also involved in in London called Scaledown. You can see the relationship there. That was a very small venue in the west end of London. The idea there was that they encourage people who normally played in bigger bands or played in bigger venues to bring a small version of themselves and play a short set, 15 minutes in a small, cramped pub. We thought that might work nicely in Medway. What we ended up with at the Good Intent, which is no longer there, in John Street in Rochester, was a Sunday afternoon open desk. Basically, a mixing desk. Roy Smith had his mixing desk in there, and people would come in, plug any instrument in, or microphone, we provided some instruments for people to play with, had children, passers-by, and also serious improvising musicians would come in, and then someone would start tinkering with something and that would turn into a little 15 minute or 20 minute abstract piece. We recorded a lot of those, and that was Minimus. But with the loss of the Good Intent, we haven’t really found a new home for that. We’ve done one or two at the 12 Degrees in the basement, Minimus Lounge, where we’ve gone away from that, come one, come all. Instead of being everyone joining thing, actually making more small performances, Scaledown. But yes, that was Minimus. It’s on a hiatus at the moment, as is Hand of Stabs, and Jim Hill emigrated to Australia. He’s now in Melbourne. Chris and I do occasional things as a duo called Waxen Knot. But in some ways, I think we both agree that we’ve always missed our third wheel on that one. It worked well with the three of us as Hand of Stabs. **You also host music nights?** Just trying to encourage that scene, hopefully. A few places we’ve done it. We’ve had gigs at the Nag’s Head, done some things at the 12 Degrees, got some of those coming up soon. The Working Men’s Club, which used to be the Corporation Club. Some people called it the Bin Men’s Club. That’s still surviving along the newly developed bit near the railway station. It’s a lovely little space, and it’s a very quiet club. It’s got an ageing membership, like most working men’s clubs. We’re trying to encourage people to join there. Probably not making it a full-time venue, but at least bringing some money and life into those clubs. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway Street Angels are not closing URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-street-angels-are-not-closing/ Last updated: 2025-11-07T20:28:42.000Z *Events can have unintended consequences, and today we lead on the unfortunate knock-on effect for a similarly named charity following Gillingham Street Angels' closure announcement. Further down, we have the latest on a mixed season for Gillingham FC, a look at a near-forgotten working-class novel by a Rochester postman, we review adults and others at Poco Loco, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway Street Angels are not closing [*Medway Street Angels*](https://msahomeless.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *was established as a charity by Amber Gilbert in 2017, after she had been providing soup kitchens and support for the homeless in Medway. Now, after the* [*closure of a similarly titled charity*](https://www.localauthority.news/gillingham-street-angels-suddenly/)*, they are at risk due to confusion over their names. Amber and volunteer Kay Emerick spoke to us to make it clear that they are not closing and that they need your support.* Amber Gilbert started supporting Medway’s homeless population in 2014 and officially launched Medway Street Angels (MSA) as a [charity](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/5111100/charity-overview?%5Fuk%5Fgov%5Fccew%5Fonereg%5Fcharitydetails%5Fweb%5Fportlet%5FCharityDetailsPortlet%5ForganisationNumber=5111100&ref=localauthority.news) in 2017\. Their main goal is to support people by providing home-cooked, nutritious food and by operating a large soup kitchen that currently feeds people on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the large car park to the rear of the former Debenhams in Chatham. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!0Mi7!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f73031fd4-ddcc-4a2a-9ec5-cc88a4fbc155_2048x1536.jpg) Medway Street Angels. Registered as an unaffiliated organisation, Amber is keen to highlight that it is completely volunteer-led, with no staff or assets. Kay started after working for Amber, who runs a full-time business whilst managing MSA. All of the volunteers are trained in mental health support, suicide prevention and drug and alcohol addiction, amongst other services. Kent Police have trained them to identify victims of gangs, signpost them to appropriate support, and manage safeguarding referrals. They also run a needle exchange, helping to keep the HIV and hepatitis rates down in Medway. There is currently no connection between Medway Street Angels and Gillingham Street Angels. GSA founder [Neil Charlick](https://www.localauthority.news/people-dont-like-the-business-side/) volunteered at MSA briefly in 2017\. Since then, they have worked to establish a distinction, even officially rebranding as MSA. However, their focus on support and lack of marketing have continued to confuse people, leading to donations of food and furniture they were unable to accept. Since the announcement of the closure of Gillingham Street Angels, MSA has received multiple notifications that small donor direct debits have been cancelled. MSA has also had to contact all of its significant donors to inform and reassure them that it is not closing. Kay and Amber are understandably concerned, as this is the busiest time of year for the work they do, with nights getting colder, and they are starting to put together their Christmas care packages. All the support they can get is needed. If you are able to help them this Christmas, you can let people know they are still working and/or [support them with items](https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1TYCCJOV6SEMX?ref%5F=wl%5Fshare&ref=localauthority.news) they need. - *Steven Keevil* --- #### *Local Democracy Café correction* *Yesterday we announced our second* [*Local Democracy Café*](https://www.localauthority.news/does-medway-culture-matter/)*, and in our excitement, included the wrong date. To be clear, we have not scheduled it for the past, and we will be discussing the question *Does Medway Culture Matter?* on *Thursday, 20 November*.* *Attending the café is free, but booking is essential. You can* [*reserve your spot via Eventbrite*](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-medway-culture-matter-tickets-1964456907492?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### What happened to Gillingham FC in October? *October saw Gillingham gearing up for Halloween with a horror show of league form: one draw and three defeats. And yet, sitting in 8th place in League Two, just a point from the play-offs and three from the automatic places, is conversely still somehow encouraging. Ben Hopkins recalls a month to forget…* **MK Ultra-Underwhelming:** 1375 lonely people travelled up to MK Dons’s soulless, largely unoccupied stadium to back the Gills… and soon wished they hadn’t. Given the turmoil of Gareth Ainsworth’s temporary departure to undergo heart surgery and the strong opposition, it wasn’t too surprising that Gills made a creaky start to quickly go behind. But they were still looking rudderless and feckless as they slipped to 3-0 down with 21 minutes to play. At that point, I’d estimate 300 away fans immediately headed for the exit. Then, Gills at least showed a little spirit to claw two goals back, courtesy of Jonny Williams and a first for Seb Palmer-Houden as he headed towards full fitness. Admittedly, it was too little too late, but it was something. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_cp1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fad1b3291-4344-4620-a1bc-f38624e631ed_4000x3000.jpg) Even reverse dynamic pricing wouldn’t sell out the home crowd at MK Dons. Photo: Ben Hopkins. **Shoot Shoot Shoot Shoot Shoot:** I’ll end the Nine Inch Nails reference there to keep this column PG-rated. At home versus Cheltenham, Gillingham had 30 shots on goal - a figure you’d expect to usually be enough to win two or even three games. So what happened? The opposition took an 87th-minute lead with their only shot on target. Gills’ ragged determination at least paid off in part when substitute Elliot Nevitt hit an equaliser deep into stoppage time - his first since April. **Dear Gills, have some read cards, love from the ref:** Gillingham rarely seemed to have a good time when Trevor Kettle was refereeing, so all Gills forums had a bit of whinge when it was announced his son, Zac Kennard-Kettle, would be the man in the middle away to Grimsby. But really, how bad could it be? The answer was… very bad. Gills had been playing fine for the first half hour until Remeao Hutton dallied on a backpass, appeared to be fouled and then hauled down the opponent who had nudged him over. Kettle Jr. flashed up a red card, and a promising afternoon was effectively done. Hutton’s suspension for the incident was quickly overturned. From there on, things got worse: a clumsy challenge from Sam Gale was the kind of foul you sometimes see given and sometimes don’t. But: penalty, goal, Gills go 1-0 down. Five minutes later, Williams then received a second yellow and with it, the team’s second red of the afternoon. That galvanised Gills to make a new heroic effort against the odds, but you’re never going to do much with a two-man deficit. Game over. **I said hey… What’s going on?** It was back-up goalkeeper Jake Turner’s turn to pick the pre-match warm-up music at home to Salford. In retrospect, his choice of 4 Non Blondes’ god awful ‘What’s Up?’ must have been a hex cast upon first choice Glenn Morris, who soon went off injured and, in the process, likely handed Turner the gloves for several weeks to come. Salford scored almost immediately. I can’t decide if Turner was brave or foolhardy to run out so far in an attempt to stop it. When your luck is out, it’s really out. Bradley Dack wasted an opportunity to equalise with a flaccid penalty, so naturally Salford quickly scored a second. Josh Andrews reduced the deficit with a sleek turn-and-shot that suggests he has the ability to score far more than he so far has. But… well, that was that. The diluted magic of the FA Cup is barely worth mentioning, so I’ll keep it brief: Nevitt and Palmer-Houden both scored again (hopefully a better omen) to draw 2-2 with Newport before losing on penalties. - *Ben Hopkins* --- #### In brief 👨‍🎨 Local eco-artist Kieran Poole (of [Rubbish Idea](https://www.rubbishidea.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)) has produced a 3,000-strong lid remembrance mural at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, which is available to see in person until 17 November. You can see photographs of the mural being built on Instagram [here](http://instagram.com/rubbishideauk?ref=localauthority.news). 🖼️ Don’t forget that [Second Chance Medway](https://www.2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) is organising an art auction at [Sun Pier House](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), as a fund to provide Medway residents with food support at Christmas. The exhibition of artworks will be from Thursday 13 November until Saturday 15 November, open for silent and blind bidding. You can learn more about the Second Chance Medway Art Auction via their [dedicated website for the event](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news). 📚 Local literary leaders Barry Fentiman-Hall and Sam Hall have been [interviewed by ‘cene magazine](https://cenemagazine.co.uk/features/a-write-pair-interview-with-medways-barry-and-sam-fentiman-hall?ref=localauthority.news). 🎺 John Emmett, known locally as John E Jazz, has [passed away](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/he-ll-be-a-hard-act-to-follow-tributes-paid-to-legendary-332237/?ref=localauthority.news) at the age of 84\. John spent over 50 years putting on jazz gigs across the Medway Towns. --- #### **Jack Saunders: The Silent Postman** *Kalomera was published in 1911, written by a Rochester postman and described as the first working-class novel. Chris de Coulon-Berthoud, fresh from appearing at the Medway River Lit launch, writes about the book…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VbQY!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f25f16d6a-6228-4586-a860-a477fcbbf62c_784x490.jpg) William John “Jack” Saunders (1873–1928) was a Rochester postman whose quiet life concealed an extraordinary achievement: He is believed to have been Britain’s first working-class novelist. Born in Ironmonger Lane, Rochester, the second of thirteen children of George and Sarah Saunders, Jack grew up amid overcrowded housing, poor sanitation, and grinding poverty. His father, a former Royal Marine and avid reader, kept a small library of adventure stories and moral fictions by writers such as G. A. Henty and Charles Kingsley. From these, Jack absorbed not only a love of reading but also a belief in moral progress and the potential for self-improvement. Educated at St Margaret’s National School, he left at fourteen to work for the Post Office, first as a telegraph boy, then as a postman, a job he would keep for life. Yet his curiosity and intellect far outstripped the limits of his slight formal schooling. Encouraged by the establishment of the Rochester Free Library in the 1890s, Saunders educated himself in his spare hours, studying literature, philosophy, science, and foreign languages. By his thirties, he could read French, German, Italian, and Spanish, and had a working knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Walking was both his work and his passion. On his holidays, he took long walking tours across Britain and Europe, travelling through Ireland, Norway, France, and Switzerland, journeys that fed both his independence of mind and his imaginative landscapes. Colleagues called him “the Silent Postman,” a nickname that hinted at a reserved, inwardly focused man. In 1911, after years of study and reflection, Saunders published *Kalomera: The Story of a Remarkable Community*, a utopian socialist novel envisioning a world without poverty or prejudice. Written from the perspective of a traveller who discovers a rational and compassionate society, *Kalomera* proposed shared labour, universal education, and ethical religion. It was published three years before *The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists* and more than two decades before *Love on the Dole*, placing Saunders at the very beginning of the genre of working-class fiction. *Kalomera* received modest local praise, but its quiet idealism appeared out of step with the turbulent years of the Great Unrest (1911–14), when strikes and class conflict dominated headlines. Lacking connections, wealth, or publicity, Saunders earned nothing from his writing. His wages as a postman never exceeded thirty shillings a week. Even so, he wrote a second novel, *The Nazarene* (1915), a religious romance seemingly now almost entirely lost. A lifelong trade unionist, Saunders served as Vice President of the Rochester branch of the Union of Postal Workers. His socialism was moral rather than revolutionary, a belief in justice, compassion, and education as the foundations of a fairer world. He died in 1928, aged fifty-four, and was buried in St Margaret’s Cemetery, Rochester, his grave unmarked. For decades, his name was absent from literary history, remembered only in local archives. Yet *Kalomera* remains a remarkable testament to working-class imagination, a postman’s dream of a better world, composed in silence, one step at a time, along the streets of Rochester. - *Chris de Coulon-Berthoud* *Chris will be speaking about Kalomera at the* [*William Cuffey Festival*](https://www.facebook.com/events/787952761076360)*, which starts at 12 noon on Saturday 8 November at Rochester Baptist Church, Crow Lane.* *Medwayish has launched a* [*crowdfunder*](https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kalomera?ref=localauthority.news) *to bring Kalomera back into print. Due for publication in 2028, the centenary of the author’s death, you can advance pre-order your copy today.* --- #### **Careful Now take Chatham** A change of location for twee indiepop promoters [Careful Now](https://www.instagram.com/carefulnowpromotions/?ref=localauthority.news) from The Oast to Poco Loco stands opening act Snidefinder in good stead, the luminous backdrop shedding fluorescent light on one of Medway’s most enduringly idiosyncratic performers. The ultimate DIY artist, Simon Williams accompanies himself through a looped percussion track formed by strategically hitting his guitar with his own hands, a hairbrush (I think) and a chopstick. Giving us a career retrospective tonight, his esoteric and often hilarious observational lyrics are delivered with elements of the vocal presentation of a more biddable Mark E Smith and are met with satisfying bafflement from the audience. But this is a CNP audience, more than open to being discombobulated, and increasingly supportive of this splendid, off-kilter music for people who have ever wondered “What does a chimp know?” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ns0-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6193bf86-a8bd-4cd3-b14c-d421594ce85a_6129x4424.jpg) Félicette. Photo: Robin Halls. Félicette are something of an indie pop supergroup, and although some members have appeared in other bands for CNP, this is their debut in this ensemble. They are immediately impressive, displaying tight synchronicity despite their self-deprecating commentary between songs. Swapping vocals and blending harmonies between Sophie Mackenzie and Rose Asprey, their sound is reminiscent of the glory days of early 90s American indie alt-rock. Veruca Salt, Belly and Juliana Hatfield are all touchstones, and the band members are delighted to have these comparisons made. There are vitriolic edges to the lyrics, and they make a hell of an energetic noise behind the sweetness of the vocal harmonies. A highlight of the set is a song which might be titled ‘She’s a Pleaser’ but resides on the set list as ‘Cheesy Pizza.’ Félicette are a joy to watch, good humoured, fierce and revelling in enjoying playing together. The audience truly takes them to heart, their feline appeal not lost on a crowd with a recognised tendency towards cat appreciation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Lerk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd662521e-b9d7-4e92-ad39-43ca9733596f_5981x3723.jpg) adults. Photo: Robin Halls. adults, who embrace the lowercase like an overdriven e e cummings, have to follow this and do so with aplomb. Making a triumphant return to CNP shows, they have the crowd on side even before it is revealed that they have taken the time to learn some fascinating facts about Chatham’s erstwhile traffic cone receptacle, Thomas Waghorn. Like a punkier Los Campesinos!, vocals are traded between Joely and Tom, allowing for a call and response effect in places, coinciding then clashing in others. They have, perhaps, overestimated the capacity of a Medway crowd for audience participation, though. Whilst we have been primed to shout a two-syllable band name 20 seconds into ‘TfL Have A Lot To Answer For,’ everyone is standing by with a response (“Pip Blom!”, “What’s a syllable?”), but we collectively miss our cue. No one minds. Dynamic drumming and fuzzed out guitars are the backdrop to a soaring anthemic rendition of ‘All We’ve Got//All We Need’ as three vocals combine to screaming effect. Tom pays tribute to Colin and Robin’s cultivation of the CNP community, and it seems undeniable that no other promoters have done as much to increase female and non-binary representation in Medway’s live scene as these two. With entertainment like this on a Sunday night in Chatham, long may they continue. - *Moira Mehaffey* --- #### Events this week 🎻 Sat 8 Nov - [**City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/City-of-Rochester-Symphony-Orchestra?ref=localauthority.news) // First concert of 2025-26 season sees orchestra perform British classics from Elgar to Parry. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £15. 🎸 Sat 8 Nov - [**The Penrose Web + South Shore**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1509990116698878/) // Local bands play local show. Rochester Social Club. Free, donations welcome. 🎥 Wed 12 Nov - [**Dogma: Resurrected! + Q&A**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-64240&ref=localauthority.news) // 25th anniversary re-release of Kevin Smith’s controversial comedy about an abortion clinic worker with a special heritage. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets from £6.50. 🗣️ Thu 13 Nov - [**Special Full Medway Council meeting**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6425&ref=localauthority.news) // One-off edition to discuss local government organisation and the potential abolition of Medway Council. St George’s Centre, Chatham. Free. 🎷 13 - 14 Nov - [**Rochester Cathedral Jazz and Blues Festival**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/jazz?ref=localauthority.news) // Third edition of festival features performances from BBC Big Band and James Taylor Quartet. Rochester Cathedral. Tickets from £10. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Does Medway culture matter? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/does-medway-culture-matter/ Last updated: 2025-11-06T18:17:12.000Z *Steven introduces our second experiment in doing democracy differently: the Local Democracy Café. Find out what it’s about, who’s joining us, and how to grab your seat…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!5dKb!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3741395d-0aac-4729-a052-2954a87adcd3_9000x4197.jpg) Last month, we hosted the first of three new Local Democracy Caf*é*s, each built around a single theme. The format is ever evolving and being tweaked, but the spirit will stay the same: Local people talking openly about what matters to Medway and how we can turn ideas into tangible outcomes. The Local Democracy Café is our latest experiment in doing democracy differently. An open, interactive forum designed not just for discussion but for action. Each café will bring together local leaders, experts and residents to talk honestly about Medway’s future and to find practical ways to make it better. Our second Local Democracy Café takes place at 7pm on Thursday 20 November at MidKent College, and we will be another deceptively simple question: **Does Medway culture matter?** The event will begin with a 45-minute panel discussion, followed by a second session where the conversation turns to the audience. You’ll be able to respond to what’s been said in real time, as we explore what culture means in Medway today. At the end, we’ll gather the thoughts, ideas and priorities raised during the event and share them publicly, with the aim of turning discussion into tangible local action. Our panel for the second café includes: - [**Cllr Nina Gurung**](https://www.localauthority.news/i-feel-it-is-my-primary-role-to-promote/), Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure on Medway Council, who says “I think we also have a wonderful, creative, heritage and diverse community who work together really well and elevate each other.” For Nina, “the more you know/learn about the rich Medway culture, the more passionate you feel about ensuring everyone gets to learn about and experience it in its entirety.” - **Tracy Brunt**, Director of Ideas Test, one of the Arts Council of England’s 38 Creative People & Places projects. Ideas Test want “to make creativity part of life for everyone,” and that “it makes me think about all the possibilities there are. Underestimate the power of the arts at your risk!” - [**Barry Fentiman-Hall**](https://www.localauthority.news/weve-assembled-something-that-medway/), a poet and one half of Wordsmithery, and the team bringing us Medway River Lit, for the third year. Barry describes culture as “a slippery being, that may be cold-hearted, warm-blooded, heavy set or light-headed.” He says, “It has a habit of hiding behind net curtains when somebody tries to define it. Medway Culture can be described in different ways.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2Sug!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4027b4b4-639e-4589-bf4f-dc3f1d7aae98_1600x900.jpg) Panelists Nina Gurung, Tracy Brunt, and Barry Fentiman-Hall **So, does Medway Culture matter?** And if it doesn’t, what would it take? Next week, we’ll dig deeper into the themes behind that question, ahead of the event itself. Then, at the end of the month, we’ll share the insights, stories and ideas that come out of the event. Attending the café is free, but booking is essential. You can [reserve your spot via Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-medway-culture-matter-tickets-1964456907492?ref=localauthority.news). [Book your ticket here](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/does-medway-culture-matter-tickets-1964456907492?ref=localauthority.news) We hope you’ll join us in this experiment and help us find new ways to explore Medway’s culture. ### Gillingham Street Angels suddenly announces closure URL: https://www.localauthority.news/gillingham-street-angels-suddenly/ Last updated: 2025-11-04T20:00:58.000Z *A charity that became one of Medway’s most visible community institutions has suddenly collapsed. Gillingham Street Angels, which rose from a volunteer food-distribution effort to a sprawling network of shops and services, has announced its closure amid financial turmoil, governance questions and the departure of almost all of its original leadership. We’ve got the details below. Further down, we have the latest internal drama in the Medway Conservatives, a new phase in the flag saga playing out on our lampposts, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Gillingham Street Angels suddenly announces closure One of Medway’s most prominent charities is closing its doors, with Gillingham Street Angels announcing they are shutting down after six years of rapid growth and intense public profile. ![No photo description available.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!aDac!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f413c4f6e-4a9c-4aca-8241-2bad10b7d7d8_960x606.jpg) Gillingham Street Angels shop in Gillingham. In a [statement](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid02vwsdphpDyZJuf9mvT5jWCuk345pURSoqZxe5WW5QPnbCs4ovzbBiqxXb1geUXABql&id=61580872700092), the charity’s trustees said it was “no longer financially viable” to continue and that it would be “irresponsible” to keep operating. The decision follows months of organisational turbulence, a change of leadership and growing questions about governance, record-keeping and the scale of its operations. Gillingham Street Angels began in 2018 as a small volunteer group distributing food and support to rough sleepers. Its growth was dramatic, fuelled first by the pandemic and then by an ambitious expansion into cafés, charity shops, furniture reuse, uniform banks and catering activity, alongside a high-visibility food bank on Skinner Street. Founder [Neil Charlick](https://www.localauthority.news/people-dont-like-the-business-side/) emphasised the need to ‘run a charity as a business’ and secure unrestricted income to fund services. At its peak, the charity was claiming to feed tens of thousands of people a month and operated a fleet of vans, a warehouse, multiple shops and a large volunteer base. In 2023, the most recent financial year on record, the charity reported income of £1.23m, including more than £829,000 from its shops and £306,000 in grants. Spending reached £1.12m, with staff costs of over £577,000\. Cash reserves at year-end were recorded as over £357,000\. The accounts also noted the organisation’s rapid expansion and stated that “whilst we were proactive to the needs of the community, we had not made sufficient changes to the operational structure to cope with this rapid expansion,” adding that financial records had been found to be “inadequate” and that both its finance officer and its treasurer had departed. At the start of this year, a new team was brought in to stabilise the organisation, including interim chief executive Tracey Errington and new trustees. According to the closure statement, they sought to streamline operations and improve oversight. Still, they concluded the task was too large and that “historical imprudent financial and operational decisions” meant recovery was impossible. Errington told *Local Authority* that she discovered significant financial issues after taking the role. “I do have a lot of respect for Neil, but he is very much a one man band,” she said, “and I did not realise quite the mess that we were in financially.” She said Charlick initiated his departure early in the year and formally left in May, with most of the previous trustees also stepping down around the same time. The end brings to a close a charity that has been a high-profile presence in Medway life, routinely praised for helping vulnerable residents and attracting support from local businesses, schools and political figures. It also featured regularly in the media and courted national attention, sometimes controversially, with TV appearances and public fundraising drives. For many residents struggling through a cost of living crisis, GSA’s food bank, soup kitchens and uniform banks were lifelines. Yet questions had also grown around the scale and structure of the organisation and the boundary between charitable work and commercial activity. The charity operated a café serving high-end meals, including steak and lobster, which its founder defended as a way to treat people with dignity and raise funds. It also opened and closed trading sites at pace and spoke openly about running on a business model that could only continue if income-generating arms stayed profitable. Relations with Medway Council had deteriorated by the end of last. In December, *Local Authority* [reported on a letter](https://www.localauthority.news/gillingham-street-angels-accuse-medway/) GSA sent to councillors accusing the council of making its work more difficult, citing disputes over the location of services and reduced funding. Shortly afterwards, the charity publicly blamed the council’s transport policies for a shop closure in Rochester, though it later deleted the post. The council declined to comment at the time but confirmed this week that it had met with GSA leadership ahead of the closure announcement. Council Leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) said he was “saddened” by the news, praising the charity’s support for “thousands of residents” and noting the end of its household waste reuse scheme at council recycling centres. Maple added that the council would look at “alternative options” to continue furniture and goods reuse locally and signposted residents to existing support services, emphasising that “asking for a bit of help is perfectly ok.” The collapse has also prompted Medway Street Angels to [issue a statement](https://www.facebook.com/themedwaystreetangels/posts/pfbid084m6nfgd2C3jRNdv4Ww5oV2mGcTVXJ9HwhwXd6tv2cPWzdWD3EdoBSHZbhfKuKsel?locale=en%5FGB) distancing itself and stressing that it is a separate entity. The group, which predates GSA, said it did not employ staff or pay volunteers and said it hoped that the “Charity Commission will take further action if appropriate.” The timing has raised eyebrows. The charity’s 2024 accounts are now overdue, and the trustees say legal and regulatory advice has been taken. The Charity Commission is already aware of issues, with trustees noting in their 2023 report that they had appointed external consultants, dismissed a finance officer and were seeking more specialist oversight. The closure statement says the Commission is being kept informed. In the meantime, the food bank and shops are continuing to operate on a transitional basis. What happens next will matter most to people who relied on its food bank, clothing support and outreach. Medway’s voluntary sector has stepped into gaps before and will likely do so again, but the sudden loss of capacity from a group this large will not be easy to absorb overnight. *We’re very eager to speak to anyone knowledgeable about the situation at Gillingham Street Angels. If you are willing to have a chat about anything you know, please get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news** --- #### Conservative breaks from Chishti’s association The Medway Conservatives have found a new way to make internal politics look theatrical. Cllr [Andrew Lawrence](https://www.localauthority.news/maybe-im-a-serial-opposition-councillor/), who represents Hempstead and Wigmore, has resigned from the Gillingham and Rainham Conservative Association and joined the Chatham and Aylesford one instead. He’s still a Conservative councillor, but he’s swapping associations mid-term, like changing gyms because someone kept hogging the weights. It’s an odd move. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!XjBV!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f376317c6-5090-4211-8b1c-c725142b3d73_1600x900.jpg) Cllr Andrew Lawrence. Lawrence published two blogs explaining it all. The target is pretty clear: former MP Rehman Chishti, still the gravitational force in the Gillingham and Rainham party. [Lawrence accuses him](https://awjlawrence.com/the-culture-of-fear/?ref=localauthority.news) of trying to dominate selections, blocking him from becoming association chair, and fostering what he calls a “culture of fear.” There are references to personal smears, internal manoeuvring, and a sense he’s been waiting a long time to unload. The tone is something else. One moment it’s local political gripes, the next it’s Burke and Disraeli. It lands like a constitutional lecture interrupted by ward-level beef. You don’t often get political philosophy deployed against a constituency association in Medway. Lawrence is the Conservative shadow portfolio holder for regeneration, community and housing, sits on the regeneration scrutiny committee, and is the group treasurer. Senior councillors don’t tend to quietly relocate to another association unless something has gone very sideways. The backdrop doesn’t help. Only a few weeks ago, Cllr [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) [defected to Reform](https://www.localauthority.news/princes-park-councillor-defects-to/). Lawrence clearly wanted no one drawing parallels, publishing a second post [denouncing Reform](https://awjlawrence.com/why-i-could-never-join-reform-uk/?ref=localauthority.news) as unserious populism and stressing his loyalty to the party. When councillors need to start clarifying they’re not defecting, things are not tranquil. Conservative group leader [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/), himself from Gillingham and Rainham, offered polite disappointment that this all spilt out publicly, but confirmed Lawrence stays in post. Lawrence told us he backs Perfect, will carry on in the shadow cabinet, and intends to stand again in Hempstead and Wigmore in 2027\. However, he added that he may need to look at a different ward if the association blocks him. By the time any of this happens, Medway might not exist as a council. The next vote might be shadow elections to a new, larger unitary. So the question of who gets to run for Hempstead and Wigmore could end up being academic if the ward map gets wiped anyway. Lawrence can talk philosophy, Reform can hover on the edges, and the group can smile through it, but all roads eventually loop back to Rehman Chishti and who gets to call the shots in Gillingham and Rainham. That story doesn’t appear to be finished yet. --- #### A very Medway stand-off Medway’s long, slightly surreal flag saga has entered a new phase. After months of Union Flags and St George’s Crosses quietly appearing on lampposts and roundabouts across the towns, council workers have now begun taking them down. It is, in practical terms, a straightforward bit of tidying up. In political terms, it has once again sent a very small group of very online men into meltdown. Back in September, Medway’s Labour administration signalled this moment was coming. The flags, they argued, were not a spontaneous show of local pride but a coordinated far-right campaign to dominate public space. The council’s initial approach was to discourage, not intervene. That caution has now gone, and bolt-cutters have entered the chat. One of the main flag enthusiasts on Facebook responded with trademark subtlety. “Cowards!” he cried. “Traitors!” He accused the council of working “under the cover of darkness,” vowed that “every single one” will go back up on 14 November, and claimed to already have “a few hundred” flags ready. He also reassured supporters that “the majority” of those taking them down were “legal immigrants” and questioned the timing of the removals. Coherence optional, emojis compulsory. All this righteous fury is slightly complicated by his own page, which is full of photos of him and friends doing late-night flag drops, ladders out, posing like they’ve liberated the Pentagon rather than zip-tied flags to a lamppost by KFC. Darkness, it turns out, is patriotic when you’re the one holding the cable ties. Meanwhile, the wider flagging circle has gone quiet. Their much-trailed 1 November anti-immigration march in Medway, which they had promoted with multiple posters and multiple locations before settling on Gun Wharf, evaporated last week when Kent-wide organiser Harry Hilden abruptly cancelled it due to “personal issues with the organisers.” Since then, silence. For all the online chest-beating, the offline energy remains small-scale and slightly embarrassed. The next big date in the diary is now 14 November, when the flags are promised to return in a glorious polyester uprising. Based on recent form, expect more Facebook posts than actual people. Medway Council did not respond to our request for comment, but those familiar with the operation say roughly a quarter of the flags were removed on the first night. They also sounded quietly confident that they could take them down faster than the flaggers could get them back up. A relay race nobody asked for, but here we are. For now, it’s a simple back and forth between council cutters and men with ladders who believe they are the last line of defence for Britain’s lamp columns. The flags will go up, the flags will come down, and Medway will continue being drafted into a culture war most residents only encounter when they drive past a roundabout and wonder who exactly has this much free time. The real winners, as ever, are the manufacturers of cheap nylon flags. --- #### In brief 🗣️ Two applications for premises licences [will be heard by Medway’s licensing committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6318&ref=localauthority.news) next week. One is a return by Budgens to get a licence for their new store at Chatham Waterfront, which Medway Council, Kent Police, and two residents object to. The second is seemingly for the coffee shop inside Gillingham station to sell alcohol, for which only one resident (who also opposes the Budgens application) objects. 🗳️ There is a [vacancy for a parish councillor](https://highhalstow-pc.gov.uk/parish-councillor-vacancy-notice-3/?ref=localauthority.news) in High Halstow. A by-election will be held if ten parish residents request one in the next 14 working days. 🚓 Four people [have been arrested](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdx4jgg0y45o?ref=localauthority.news) after a man was stabbed to death in Chatham on Saturday. 💷 A pensioner in Cliffe Woods is [refusing to pay council tax](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/take-me-to-court-pensioner-stops-paying-council-tax-in-pr-331926/?ref=localauthority.news) because of the state of the road outside his house. This will no doubt go very well for him. --- #### More Authority From Militant to TUSC and now Your Party, Chas Berry has long been at the forefront of leftist politics in Medway. [We talk to him](https://www.localauthority.news/i-still-support-the-idea-of-revolutionary/) about his journey, leaving Labour, his hopes for the new party, and lots more. [“I still support the idea of revolutionary change”Chas Berry has been involved in working-class struggles since the 1980s. Formerly a member of Militant tendency. He stood in the 2015 local elections as a candidate for TUSC, and is now a coordinator for Your Party Medway. Steven met him at The Royal Crown in Rochester where they discussed whether people should support Your Party, why he left Labour, why he hadn’t considered joining the Greens, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c-Bs!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f437928bb-5e42-4eea-97db-65bcb071ad47_1200x900.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-still-support-the-idea-of-revolutionary/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “I still support the idea of revolutionary change” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-still-support-the-idea-of-revolutionary/ Last updated: 2025-11-02T07:01:57.000Z *Chas Berry has been involved in working-class struggles since the 1980s. Formerly a member of* [*Militant tendency*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/subscribe?ref=localauthority.news)*. He stood in the 2015 local elections as a candidate for* [*TUSC*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade%5FUnionist%5Fand%5FSocialist%5FCoalition?ref=localauthority.news)*, and is now a coordinator for* [*Your Party*](https://www.yourparty.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *Medway. Steven met him at The Royal Crown in Rochester where they discussed whether people should support Your Party, why he left Labour, why he hadn’t considered joining the Greens, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c-Bs!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f437928bb-5e42-4eea-97db-65bcb071ad47_1200x900.jpg) Chas Berry **Is Chas short for something?** Short for Charlie, which is my middle name. My full name is Timothy Charles. Some people still call me Tim. But generally, I’m known as Chas, and it’s stuck. **Is that a school thing or a work thing?** It was a school thing. I tried to get rid of it briefly in my early 20s, and then when I met Sue, my wife, and she was introduced to all my school friends and my political friends, they said it’s Chas. That’s it, I’m stuck with it. **Why is Your Party a serious proposition? Why should people join?** Well, I suppose it is because there’s a fracturing of politics across the globe. The reason that we’ve got the rise of the populist right and the rise of groups like the Greens, and you’ve got other formations like in Germany, you’ve got a group around the left in France as well. It’s because fundamentally, the system is in crisis. Economically, certainly since 2008, but it’s been going on a lot longer since then. There’s been this polarisation. It’s put pressure on the ruling parties, and the neoliberal model of globalisation is not working. Fewer people believe in it. Fewer people at the top believe in it, really. It’s probably only Labour and the Lib Dems who still believe in it in this country. What’s happened is that there’s become a fracturing and a polarisation, and that whole process hasn’t worked its way out. You’re getting a lot of people who are turning up at rallies in London, rallying around the flag, saying they support Tommy Robinson, what have you. But actually, when it comes down to the social issues, many of those people will probably be more likely to be on the left. I think there is space to the left of Labour for a proper articulation of a full-blooded socialist programme that is anti-war, anti-imperialist and fully in favour of public services. Not just taxing the wealthy, as Polanski says, but actually expropriating, commanding heights of the economy and running them in the interests of ordinary people, that’s what a socialist program is. There is space for that in a way that there hasn’t been probably, since the collapse of the Soviet Union. **If someone’s reading this and they’re interested in finding out more or joining Your Party, what do they need to do?** Well, at the moment, there’s a national sign-up. You can go online to Your Party, and you can sign up online. If you want to find out what’s going on locally, then we have an email account, and we are in the process of setting up social media accounts. We have a [Facebook account](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1289408632594168), we will have an Instagram account. But at the moment, we don’t know what the branch structure is. What has been called the proto-branch, we are a group of people living in and around the Medway Towns who have joined Your Party and want to make it work. There’s lots of confusion about what the priorities are, we can’t really decide any of that until there’s a proper structure, but what we can do is try to work collaboratively. By convening the meeting in September, by setting up an interim committee, it’s drawing people together who are going to work constructively together. **Let’s talk about a couple of those issues because they were nationally discussed. Zarah Sultana described it as being cut out by an old boy’s club. Is that the case?** Right. It’s... *(pause)* If you focus on trying to get people together at the top, you’ll never achieve it. You have to build it from the bottom up. The only way you can build it from the bottom up is through struggle. My feeling is that if we can get a group in the Medway Towns that is focused on the issues that really matter to the people in Medway Towns, for example, cuts to the youth service, the abominable state of public transport, the housing situation, you can unite people around collective struggles to win reform. That’s what brings people together. You can talk till the cows come home about the position on Gaza, or the position on trans rights, or where you stand on war in Ukraine. It’s very difficult to get unity on the basis of ideas. You have to get unity on the basis of struggle. **What is your response to the often-used viewpoint that any votes for a left party basically take votes away from Labour, which will then increase the chance of a win for Reform?** I think that if Labour was standing for something fundamentally different, then there would be an argument, but they’re not. Labour is continuation of austerity really, a continuation of the rule of capital and of big business. I don’t sign up to this idea of lesser evilism. It was the argument used with the Democrats as the only way you can stop Trump is coming behind the Democrats. We didn’t stop Trump for a start, in fact, all it did is demoralise a section of the left and has put back the struggle for an independent party of working class in the US, which is what is needed. There’s a reason why Labour was created as a working-class party with a basis on the unions in the first place, and that was because throughout the 19th century, people only had a choice between the Tories and the Liberals. Independent workers started to stand as candidates, [Keir Hardie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir%5FHardie?ref=localauthority.news) being one of them, but ultimately, they drew the conclusion that they weren’t going to get proper representation, independent representation as working class, until they formed their own party. That party has effectively now been taken over by big business. Although the unions are still nominally part of it, the trade union leaders, most of them, go along pretty much meekly with what the Labour leadership wants. **Will Your Party, or whatever it’s called by that time, be ready for the 2027 elections?** In Medway? Yeah. In local elections next year, yes. Nationally, I’ve got no idea. It’s not looking great at the moment. We’ve got a national conference organised at the end of November. There’s supposed to be regional assemblies before then. There’s no branch structure. It’s very difficult for me to say what is the mechanism by which a programme can be agreed. That candidates can’t be selected when we haven’t even got past the first hurdle yet. They may well do it, but at the moment, I can’t see it. **Do you have any public-facing Your Party events coming up in the Medway towns?** We’re organising a rally on the 15th of November at the Sunlight Centre in Gillingham. That’s going to be our first public rally, and it’s going to be on the theme of ‘Tax the Rich.’ We’re working out the programme of that. It’s unlikely that we’ll get a big name speaker like Corbyn or Sultana who will come down. It’s going to be very much down to us to try and build for that. We think the timing of that is going to be good, because it’s going to be just before Reeves’ autumn statement, and more attacks upon working people, and particularly on benefits as well. It’s just ahead of the national conference. **When Zack *(Polanski, new leader of the Green Party)* announced, people asked him why, when surely he should join Your Party. Now that there has been such a protracted start, people are asking what the need is for Your Party.** The announcement of Your Party has been a mess. It’s very disappointing, but I think I’m realistic. You’ve got a lot of angry, disenfranchised people, and you’ve got people who have not got a political home in parliament. You have to somehow try to coalesce around a leadership and a programme, and that’s not easy, because you’re dealing with power and egos. I am an optimist. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway River Lit returns URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-river-lit-returns/ Last updated: 2025-10-31T19:27:35.000Z *This weekend sees the return of Medway's biggest and best literature festival, Medway River Lit. Now in its third year, the lineup features a number of big names alongside more local talent. We’ve been talking to the organisers to find out more. Further down, we look at the memorial exhibition for a local artist’s hoodie, our music correspondent Stephen Morris reviews the new Singing Loins album, our weekly events guide, and lots more.* --- #### Medway River Lit returns [*Medway River Lit*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a literature festival that is now in its third year. We caught up with organisers* [*Barry Fentiman-Hall*](https://www.localauthority.news/weve-assembled-something-that-medway/) *and* [*Sam Hall*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-like-chatham-a-lot/) *to learn about this year’s festival…* “It’s a literature festival by Medway, for Medway,” says Barry. “We will bring in the very best names that we can get hold of, but they will also be mixed in with the best names that Medway can produce,” says Sam, “which is pretty damn good”, adds Barry. They work to produce mixed bills that they hope will produce something for a mixed cohort of people. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!HP84!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4b4eb2e6-df93-4652-85f2-250c27cefff1_1884x1413.jpg) Works by those appearing at the festival. A focus for them is providing entertainment for people who wouldn’t have had this opportunity before. “I’m not saying that there wasn’t entertainment that came to Medway,” says Barry, “but there seems to have been some point in the 90s where essentially anything that wasn’t a tribute band stopped coming here.” They are working to make Medway River Lit a corrective to that. Sam and Barry are otherwise known as [Wordsmithery](https://www.wordsmithery.info/?ref=localauthority.news). “We’ve been working in Medway for ten plus years on various literary projects,” says Sam. They built a working relationship with the council and “we were the people that they thought to ask about a literature festival” says Barry, “and we were up for running that.” Having run to previous Medway River Lits, there has been things they have learnt from the experience. Firstly, “don’t try and do too much,” says Sam. The first festival was in the summer, and it ran over ten days, with at least one event happening almost every day. “We did about 60 events the first year,” says Barry, “which actually was crazy.” The second festival had a large number of events, “and that dragged on for a month,” says Sam. This year’s festival is over a month, but they have worked to make it a more manageable 25 events. “We’re doing about 15 less than last year,” says Barry, “because it wears us out. It wears the audience out.” They have worked to keep the festival events special, and to make sure that there’s an event every five days, “and then it’s bright and fresh,” says Sam. The festival launches tomorrow (Sat 1 Nov) at Chatham Library at 1pm, which will involve the former London Young Person’s Laureate, [Theresa Lola](https://www.theresalola.com/?ref=localauthority.news), who will perform and present the Medway Youth Laureates their prizes. They will also be performing their poems, “if they want to,” adds Barry, “because it’s kind of a big deal standing a 13-year-old up in front of adults in a library. They’ve probably never ever done it.” Local historian and anthropologist [Chris de Coulon Berthoud](https://www.localauthority.news/you-make-it-sound-so-romantic/) will also be there to talk about the [Kalomera](https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/kalomera?ref=localauthority.news) project, which we will come back to next week. There is also a festival warm-up event tonight (Fri 31 Oct), which, because it is Halloween, features spooky short stories by candlelight from the various local talents, including [Zahra Barri](https://www.localauthority.news/once-i-get-onto-my-laptop-im-in-another/), Neil Thorne, and Sam herself. That will be at the Huguenot Museum, which is part of a strand of events called ‘Nights at the Museum.’ “We’ve got a lot of events there,” says Barry. “It’s the backbone of the festival this year, the Huguenot Museum. They’ve been really good”. Big names at the festival this year include ‘cardigan polymath’ [Robin Ince](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin%5FInce?ref=localauthority.news) of Infinite Monkey Cage fame. Robin has been a stand-up comedian for over 20 years. This year Robin has released a memoir, Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal, which is about his “adventures in neurodivergence.” “For an awful lot of artists,” says Barry, “particularly us, who work in and partake of literature that have got traits like that.” It is an interesting book that we at Local Authority Towers recommend. “The one thing with Robin Ince,” says Sam, “is that he’s good and he’ll be on for an hour and it’ll fly by.” There is [Budgie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budgie%5F%28musician%29?ref=localauthority.news), who was the drummer in Siouxsie and the Banshees, who has written a memoir called The Absence, which traces back to when he lost his mother, when he was quite young in St. Helens, when he was Peter Clarke. “He got called Budgie quite young actually, according to that book,” says Barry. “It’s because he started keeping budgies,” adds Sam. So don’t attend if you were attempting to solve that mystery. [Dave McKean](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/i-was-interested-in-creativity-it?ref=localauthority.news) and Simone Lia, two amazing graphic artists, will be heading an event about working in comic books. Dave McKean “is the towering name of comic art of the last 40 years, with credits including Sandman, Arkham Asylum and this writers favourite graphic novel, Cages and “he will be talking about his career and probably having a bit of a pop at AI,” says Barry. Simone Lia, cartoonist for The Observer, will be bringing her latest book, and the return of Fluffy Pulcino, “which may or may not be a bunny,” says Sam. [Caroline Bird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline%5FBird?ref=localauthority.news) is back, who is one of the festival patrons, and “one of the very best poets in the English language,” says Barry, “in my opinion.” She will be supported during a poetry evening by Charlotte Ansell and Barry himself. The end of the festival will be Kent’s best (citation needed) dominatrix, [Melissa Todd](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/i-have-had-a-few-cabinet-ministers?ref=localauthority.news). “That has to be in the evening,” says Barry. “We can’t let kids see that one.” The festival is taking part in [Carbon Literacy Action Day](https://carbonliteracy.com/carbon-literacy-action-day/?ref=localauthority.news) on November 13, a worldwide initiative where “they’re going to try and do a massive training event for the most people in the history of the world ever,” says Sam. The festival is doing a preview event for that, “because we’re planning on completing some training afterwards.” Working with [Spotlites Theatre](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), their young people, who have created artworks that will be displayed throughout the day. For the evening, the young people have devised short plays about their concerns about climate change. They’ll be performing them and then there will be a Q&A for the audience afterwards. Medway River Lit operates a pay nothing option, but “please do get tickets,” says Barry, “because some events will sell out.” “We will try and accommodate anyone that turns up on the evening,” adds Sam, “but the size of the Huguenot is quite finite.” *Check out the* [*Medway River Lit website*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *for all those events and to find out when and where they are happening.* --- #### Requiem for a hoodie *Local artist Jonathan Ash is hosting an exhibition at the Halpen Pop in Rochester: A memorial to his hoodie. We spoke to him to find out more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ZJ2L!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2998983b-f759-4d5b-a646-06d786e3c427_3024x2268.jpg) The hoodie. Jonathan is an autistic colour-blind artist who paints in layers of colour. He struggles to blend colours and identify some shades. He paints in stark layers of colour, which people have equated with pop art, though Jonathan admits he has no idea whether he agrees with that. He has claimed colour blindness as his superpower for his art. Jonathan paints a wide variety of people and objects, but has a very popular rendition of Thomas Waghorn. He is currently working on a German Shepherd and a Brian Blessed. To be clear, these are two separate paintings. Jonathan has become known for his red hoodie, a 20-year-old garment that he has worn when painting for the last nine years. It has come to a sad end because Jonathan promised his partner that when the cuff fell off (not a metaphor), he would throw it away. The arm of the hoodie, which was being held together by acrylic paint, finally gave up six months ago, and Jonathan is finally ready to let his favourite top go. An opportunity presented itself to host an exhibition at the Halpern Pop. For Jonathan, it was fate, an opportunity to celebrate the life of the Hoodie and the work he produced whilst wearing it. He has been lent a mannequin, and the hoodie will have pride of place in the middle of the gallery. There will also be an exhibition of Jonathan’s paintings. He has chosen five large paintings, which he doesn’t normally get an opportunity to showcase. There will also be a range of framed prints, prints and cards. For Jonathan, who has hosted a stall on Rochester’s former artisan market and has work available as part of Get Ready Artists, all the work exhibited at the Pop will be available for sale. Except, of course, for the Hoodie. *Hoodie is at the Halpern Pop gallery inside Cafe Nucleus in Rochester until 11 November. Jonathan will be present at the exhibition on 10-11 November. Jonathan’s work can also be found on his* [*website*](https://jonathanashart.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Singing Loins release new short album **by Stephen Morris** A year after the release of *Twelve*, a collection of reimagined songs from their back catalogue, [The Singing Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/) have now returned with a shorter album – half the length to be precise – featuring five more new interpretations of old songs, plus one new song. *Camber ’87* is delivered with all the raucous, warts-and-all vigour that made the Loins so lovable in the first place. Richard Moore’s furious fiddling – fit only for the most frantic of hoe downs – is a fine, perfectly placed addition. Allen assumes the role of rough and ready lead singer; when he celebrates young women from a Medway town, they are very much “Cha’am Girls” with not a “T” in sight. Which is, entirely, as it should be. While that song, together with ‘Cheer Up,’ profiles the riotous, Rochester-High-Street-of-a-Saturday-night side of The Singing Loins, the band’s twinned trademarked tenderness is amply represented with a heartbreaking song about an ill man’s desire to be put out of his misery (‘Drunk and Fed’) and an account of love and self-loathing set amongst the post-industrial decline of a north Kent landscape (‘Medway Delta Love Song’). The highlight, though, comes with the first track on the album, a brand-new song called ‘Teeth and Eyes’ whose lyrics feature the album’s title. It is a faultlessly Loins-y song, full of misty-eyed memories of a perfectly imperfect past and a heavy yearning for some better tomorrow, tantalisingly out of reach, and comes complete with the same Bowie reference to star men that their old bandmate used on his Pod album. *Camber ’87* is a beautiful album that sees The Singing Loins looking both behind and ahead in equal measure. It is – as everyone who loves them has come to expect – a glorious blend of rough and smooth, of riotous jubilation and desolate sorrow, of unfulfilled pasts and uncertain futures. It is, in short, a beautiful snapshot of Medway life. [*Camber ’87*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/camber-87?ref=localauthority.news) *is released on 31 October 2025 on* [*Spinout Nuggets*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* *In other music news, if you need a fix of live music, make sure you head to Rochester Social Club on Corporation Street on Saturday 8 November to see Allan Crockford and Ian Button’s excellent band Penrose Web (read the album review* [*here*](https://www.localauthority.news/sea-monsters-swirling-organs-and/)*) with support from the marvellous South Shore, who are promoting their single ‘The Ballad of Rats Bay’.* --- #### **Help give art a Second Chance** *[Second Chance Medway](https://www.2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) is a charity in Medway helping residents facing food insecurity and insecure housing. Based in a community centre in Brompton, the charity provides a community supermarket and support workers. Steven is Chair of the charity[1](#footnote-1) and is organising an art auction to raise funds in November at Sun Pier House.* Last year, Second Chance Medway hosted a charity art auction at [Sun Pier House](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which raised over £2,000\. This was used as a fund to provide Medway residents with food support at Christmas. This year, they are hosting another art auction to again raise funding to provide food support at Christmas, and there are two ways you can help. Firstly, do you or somebody you know own art that you could donate to the auction? Can you drop the art off at Sun Pier House or at Second Chance Medway the week of 10 November? Then please let us know [here](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) and call in advance, ideally, to arrange a delivery time on 01634 401549. The exhibition of artworks will be open to view at Sun Pier House from Thursday 13 November, 4pm until 8pm in partnership with Sun Pier House’s Gallery Lates. After that, Friday 14 November, 11am to 6pm, and Saturday 15 November, 11am to 4pm, with the cafe open for drinks and cakes. We will be offering a silent auction so if you attend the exhibition, there will be forms available for you to leave your details and your bid on individual items. We’ll also be offering something that unofficially happened last year: Blind bidding, where some lovely people donated £50 and won a surprise piece of art. We’d much like to hear from you if you would like to do that. *You can learn more about the Second Chance Medway Art Auction via their* [*dedicated website for the event*](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Events this week 🎤 Sat 1 Nov - [**Robin Ince: Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/nights-at-the-museum-robin-ince-normally-weird-and-weirdly-normal?ref=localauthority.news) // Comedian, actor, and writer talks about his adventures with neurodiversity. *Part of* [*Medway River Lit*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Hugenot Museum, Rochester. Pay what you can. 🗣️ Wed 5 Nov - [**Life Under Occupation: Stories from Israel and Palestine**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/new-events/2025/11/5/life-under-occupation-stories-from-israel-and-palestine?ref=localauthority.news) // Director of East Jerusalem YMCA talks on work being done to help young people recover from trauma of military detention. Rochester Cathedral. Free, booking essential. 🎸 Fri 7 Nov - [**B A Johnston + Schande**](https://wegottickets.com/event/673257?ref=localauthority.news) // Unique musical stylings of the Canadian comic musician. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £8. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* --- 1. *For full disclosure, Ed also sits on the board of trustees.* [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") ### How can Medway make you happy? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/how-can-medway-make-you-happy/ Last updated: 2025-10-30T14:52:38.000Z *Last Thursday, we hosted our first Local Democracy Café to discuss the issue of happiness in Medway. Panellists councillor* [*Teresa Murray*](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/)*, Deputy Leader of Medway Council,* [*David Stokes*](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-people-are-your-rebels-they/)*, Chief Executive of the Halpen Charitable Foundation, and* [*Natasha Boardman-Steer*](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-gone-through-a-few-different/)*, a creative practitioner specialising in health and wellbeing, joined us at MidKent College to ponder the question of whether Medway can make you happy…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!89F6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa12df4c1-d36a-430e-bd9b-55f702b652d1_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media The Local Democracy Café is an open forum designed not just for discussion but for action. Each café brings together local leaders, experts and residents to talk openly about what matters to Medway and how we can turn ideas into tangible outcomes. Our first edition took place on 23 October with the deceptively simple question: #### **Can Medway make you happy?** A summary of the café is below, alongside quotes from those who attended. *You can listen to the entire Local Democracy Café conversation here.* [*Rob Flood*](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/) *recorded the audio, and* [*Suze Cooper*](https://www.bigtentmedia.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *did the post-production. Thanks to both for their efforts.* After introductions, we start by asking David if being happy is important. “We know being happy is important because it makes us feel good, but also it makes us healthier.” He goes on to highlight that being happy means you are less stressed and you sleep better. “Generally, your life’s better if you’re happy. It’s essential, really, to our wellbeing”. Teresa highlights a worry that “sometimes we recognise happiness but then can feel guilty if you don’t feel happy all of the time.” > *“I came to the event tonight because I feel that I’m an ambassador for Medway in what there is on offer for people because I’m fed up with people saying there’s nothing going on in the Medway Towns when there is so much going on and there is so much that can actually change people’s viewpoint, change people’s lives, actually make people happy and make a difference.” - Jodie Elwin* For Teresa, the reasons we don’t feel happy are multiple and that we need to be aware that what happiness looks like can be “out of reach and actually be quite toxic and might actually not be any good for us.” [Daniel Kahneman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel%5FKahneman?ref=localauthority.news), a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist (not on the panel), said we shouldn’t be focusing on making sure that people are happy, but we should be making sure that people aren’t sad. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zruZ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb00eb7b8-53a8-4d03-af6f-dc02fe74621d_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media Teresa agreed that that is an important way of looking at it. “We are investing in things that ought to make people happier,” highlighting work done by the council to provide better temporary accommodation for homeless people, “because I’m afraid homelessness continues to rise in Medway.” The council has also borrowed £40m to build a new care home, “because there isn’t another solution to not being able to find residential beds for people who need them.” They have also borrowed money to refurbish the Brook Theatre when levelling up funding under the last government was not enough. “We’ve taken some risks on our own happiness, when you look at the balance sheet, in order to do things that I think will make our community happier.” > *“The reason I came here tonight is because I’m really interested about people’s views on what makes them happy, where they live and what they dislike about where they live because that’s the only way we can make change and I think these events are so important to give people an opportunity to come and give their views. What I learned was there’s loads going on in Medway. Actually, you don’t need to be isolated, you don’t need to be on your own. There’s plenty of opportunities, whether you’re young, middle-aged or old. We are lucky to have a council that’s a unitary authority and serving the people of Medway, and we’re also lucky to have a good voluntary sector organisation, a community that really does serve.” - Jack Packman, Chief Executive of* [*Medway Voluntary Action*](https://www.mva.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!CTAK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3c3e2652-5efa-42fe-bb85-2fe2710d5323_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media For Natasha, helping people not to feel stressed is essential. “We all have challenges, and that’s usually what makes us stronger people, to deal with those challenges.” Natasha believes it is about making sure that people aren’t trapped in situations which are making them miserable, meaning that they “can barely look after themselves, let alone contribute to their communities.” > *“I came this evening as I just thought it looked really interesting, especially with so much divide in the world at the moment, to actually go to a place where there’s discussions about what’s going on. It has made me reflect. I’ve lived in Medway for a lot of my life, moved away for a few years, and then came back. I started suffering from depression as a teenager because I really didn’t feel there was any hope for me. There was a lot of negativities around Medway and that kind of stayed with me for a long time. It was only really from becoming friends with Natasha and seeing her actually be really positive about the area that tilted my perspective. There is real good here if you look for it. So many amazing people live here.” - Laura* David works in a number of forums and with a wide variety of people to help residents “understand that we live in this incredible place.” Work needs to be done to ensure that people feel safe, fed, warm and educated, but “once you’ve got those, then you’re going to have a good level of happiness”. Natasha works with the Arts and Homelessness forum. I ask her why art is important for a group that doesn’t have basic housing. She speaks about an artist called [David Tovey](https://davidtoveyart.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), who had an exhibition in Rochester. “He absolutely believes that art is continually saving his life.” Natasha describes how it’s not just about art, it’s about creativity. “When people feel empowered to be creative, it gives people more confidence to experiment.” Which, for Natasha, is key as it is something that people lose as adults. “It can often be in school, when they’ve been creative, they’re told that it’s not good enough,” says Natasha. “When you’re playing, how can it not be good enough?” Natasha highlights that trauma in childhood has a huge impact, and what would really help people who are going through trauma is play. “It’s proven that it really helps”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!U2Mn!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff57aa4ea-c35a-477f-81fe-3437284e6827_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media “It’s quite right to be sad if you’re feeling lost, if you’re feeling bereavement, if something has upset you”, added Teresa. “But being sad all the time is really corrosive and dangerous, actually. In my work, I think about the suicide rate in Kent and Medway, which is higher than the rest of the country. We’ve lost over 600 people in the last two years to suicide.” Teresa rightly doesn’t want anyone to be that sad. Drawing upon what was said by Natasha and David, “that’s about the rescue strategies and it’s about building security, it is about that reaching out.” > *“I came here tonight because I love Medway and I’m really enthusiastic about everything. We’ve learnt lots of things tonight. It’s been really interesting to hear what other people were saying, and I’ve taken it all on board.” - Lorna Stevens* I ask Teresa for her thoughts on loneliness at a ward level. “In my ward, I do meet lonely people. We live in a generous community in Medway.” Teresa highlights the community caf*é*s in churches, the groups that give their time and reach out to people who might be feeling isolated. An issue in combating isolation is good public transport. “That is a very real problem”. For Teresa, it is on all of us to watch out for somebody who is sad all the time. “Life is complicated. I have to recognise that not everybody is in a place to access those things.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6zEd!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f208f6cdc-4443-45a0-8e56-677ab227e0f1_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media Teresa highlighted the work the council is doing regarding winter shelters, which will be opening soon. “We do that every year, so people have somewhere to go when it’s cold. We’ve tried to make those winter shelters serve more than one function.” This has included providing services, and this year, art and the ability to do different activities. “For the months that we’re looking after complex people, by the time we come into the warmer weather, I hope that they might be on a pathway where they can change things and feel confident about doing that.” David speaks about the importance of the high street to community. “We recently had the [Rest is History podcast](https://therestishistory.com/600-chatham-high-street/?ref=localauthority.news) describe our high street as the most historically important high street in the country. We’ve got community, we’ve got heritage, we’ve got culture. We just need to be proud of it. If people are proud of where they live, they’ll feel happier, I hope.” It was highlighted in the audience that an issue about people not knowing what’s going on, both culturally and in terms of support available to them. In the audience is the new CEO of MVA, who lead on the [Joy app](https://services.thejoyapp.com/?ref=localauthority.news), where any local community and group can sign up to be on there, which supports residents through social prescribing. “A way of encouraging people to do things,” explains Teresa, “giving them a prescription that doesn’t involve a medicalised solution to their problems.” The challenge is getting that out to the community. Teresa highlights an [app for children’s services](https://go.focusgov.co.uk/go/Ryo39?ref=localauthority.news), “it stores a lot of information about all the activities that are going on to help and support families, which are not as many as we would like.” For Teresa, there are two actions to come from this: “First of all, to get people to know they *(the apps)* are there. Then secondly, to push people on to using it regularly.” What the Joy app can do is provide you with knowledge of a wide range of support groups in Medway. > *“Born and bred in Medway, moved away in my early 20s, and came back in my mid 30s. There must have been some happiness there. I can’t imagine living somewhere else. I love visiting other places and other countries when that can happen. However, Medway is where I feel at home. I like this event, it was fascinating what everybody spoke about, how they spoke, and now we’re chatting amongst ourselves, because we’ve all got something to say. Having the panel come around and chat to them, I like this format very much.” -* [*Wendy Daws*](https://www.localauthority.news/if-you-want-to-do-it-you-will-find/) We also spoke with Natasha about the work she does with young people. “I’ve been working on a local project in Weeds Wood, looking at health and communities in that area, working with *(councillor)* Esther Cook. Generally, young people are quite playful, they generally will be optimistic.” Natasha also highlighted the work done by Medway’s Youth Services. “People still don’t know it’s there and there’s literally an incredible youth service across, across Medway running lots of different after-school events”. Whilst young people need to know about them, adults also need to do more to encourage and support them taking part. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c6z5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4b68aa5e-4349-41f0-ad1f-8099930a1813_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media “I guess challenging young people to actually think why they feel Medway is a bad place and then you start to unpick it,” suggested Natasha, “I’ve spoken to people in the youth service a lot about that and about helping people to build empathy for their fellow community members.” Natasha set up the [Nucleus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) youth programme years ago. I ask David how that is going. “It has grown in the years, as you would expect. We have activities for all ages. If you’ve just had a baby, you’re really isolated and especially if you want to do something messy and disgusting, it’s better to go somewhere else,” says David, describing their 0-4 provision. They run a number of groups, not just at their arts centre, but across Medway and through the library service, though he highlights a challenge with keeping groups running is funding. “This is a long-term issue with any charity, that you get funding and it’s at most three years’ worth and then it disappears.” Another challenge is that despite improvements from Chatham’s new community wardens, families often do not feel comfortable with younger people in Chatham when it is dark. “When we start reaching these months, we see fewer teens coming to our after-school activities, which is a real shame.” David also highlighted the great work being done through youth sports clubs and the Medway Youth Council. Teresa highlights the need to stop presenting a modern narrative that will depress young people, “by saying, you’re never going to get a house, AI is going to take your job. The way that adults portray the future to young people is, in my view, really unforgivable.” Having worked in further and higher education, Teresa believes one of the highlights of the job is seeing young people flourish. “It is on us to give hope and say, it is difficult to understand the way that life goes and that actually for most people things turn out okay.” With an effort to end the first part of the evening on an upbeat note, I ask the panel what makes them optimistic. For David, it is that “we live in an amazing place. We’ve got incredible people, and so much going on, so much to do.” Teresa says it is that “Medway’s at least as good as anywhere else, better than many. I think we just have to fight against a culture of low expectation. People do defend Medway There is local pride here, it’s not an abstract. You’re proud of it because you’re part of it.” Finally, Natasha offers that she really likes “how people in Medway, they are quite straight talking and actually most people do want to connect with each other quite deeply, and that is how stories travel between each of us. The fact that you know somebody that knows somebody, and that’s what makes really magical things happen.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!z9IH!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f97759453-1565-4297-b91c-c76727ad5a61_2500x1406.jpg) Photo: Authority Media After the panel, we moved to the ‘café’ section of the evening, where discussions continued between the panellists and the audience. They had the opportunity to share further thoughts on things could make Medway happier, and we present a selection of those here for you now: - *It has all the amenities I need. Just wish the transport was better so I could get to them all* - *It has awesome people in it.* - *Need to advertise events - but sometimes people see them but dont think its for them or their families. How do we encourage people to try?* - *What makes us happy - people get along in general. Lots of different cultures etc.* - *Slam poetry group for teenagers* - *By being more involved with my friends.* - *Make the Medway Fringe Happen!!* For myself, as the host of the event, a practical learning is that the panel slightly overran, and actually the café table side of the evening would benefit from equal time to shine, with the focus being about solutions and actions, more directed discussion, and more time for that discussion. This would only be beneficial, and something we’ll take into future editions. *Next week, we’ll be announcing the second Local Democracy Caf*é*, with a new question and panellists.* ### Kent and Medway's relationship seems increasingly strained URL: https://www.localauthority.news/kent-and-medways-relationship-seems/ Last updated: 2025-10-29T10:59:31.000Z *Moments of unity between Kent and Medway never used to be rare. Still, the latest attempt under Kent’s new Reform administration has led to a plan for a joint ‘Brand Kent’ going back to the drawing board amid last-minute changes, accusations of bad faith, and growing mistrust between Gun Wharf and County Hall. Further down, we have news of the collapse of a planned anti-immigration protest in Medway this weekend, news in brief, and more.* --- #### **Kent and Medway’s relationship seems increasingly strained** For a brief moment, it looked like Kent’s councils might actually pull something off together. After the [collapse of Visit Kent](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kents-tourism-megaphone-suddenly?ref=localauthority.news) and Locate in Kent, the county’s long-time flag-bearers for tourism and investment, a plan emerged for a joint rescue under a new banner: [Brand Kent](https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/brand-kent-reinstating-a-visitor-economy-and-inward-investment-service?ref=localauthority.news). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ojjr!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd387b59e-d1b7-4f4d-8451-57cc75ac3972_7008x3944.jpg) Towns like Rochester benefitted from the work of organisations like Visit Kent. Kent County Council and Medway Council would pool £500,000 to keep the work alive, taking the organisations’ work in-house and saving jobs, databases and websites from liquidation. A rare joint statement spoke about shared ambitions, mutual pride and working “as quickly as possible to restore a Brand Kent service.” But the partnership was already coming apart by the time Medway’s cabinet met to approve its contribution. Late on the Friday before the meeting, Kent County Council’s Reform administration changed the deal. The ask jumped from £50,000 to £100,000, delivered by email with no warning. Medway’s leadership, blindsided, reacted furiously. At the meeting, deputy leader [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/) called it “silly politics.” She accused KCC of “scrambling around for any type of money to pretend DOGE has been a success”, referencing the Reform-branded “department of government efficiency.” Economic regeneration lead Harinder Mahil said whoever was making the decisions at County Hall needed to “get a grip.” “You don’t just double the ask of a partner after the papers have been published,” he said, adding, “behaving like this isn’t in the best interests of Medway residents or Kent residents.” Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) described the move as “absolutely chaotic” and evidence that Reform “don’t understand how local government works.” He said, “Coming to us after our papers have been published to ask us to increase our contribution by 100% was never going to happen.” The £50,000 payment was pulled from the agenda. What had started as an attempt to show stability after the sudden collapse of Kent’s two biggest promotional bodies had become another example of dysfunction between the two authorities. Visit Kent’s closure in September was more than losing a tourism website. For over 20 years, it had been the coordination machine behind how the county sold itself, corralling castles, breweries, festivals and museums into a single pitch to the outside world. Its parent organisation, Go To Places, also ran Visit Herts. When it folded, both disappeared overnight. Locate in Kent, which had promoted business investment since 1997, followed a few weeks later. Between them, the two organisations had supported thousands of jobs and drawn billions into the local economy. KCC cabinet member Paul King, who leads economic development under Reform, called the closures “a massive blow” and promised Brand Kent would rebuild the county’s voice. “The importance of these services in encouraging and supporting local businesses, attracting visitor spend and investment to Kent and Medway… cannot be underestimated,” he said. That was before politics got in the way. The breakdown over Brand Kent is part of a broader collapse in relations between KCC and the rest of Kent’s local government family, especially with Medway. Tensions were already high after a Guardian video showed KCC leader Linden Kemkaran [swearing at her own councillors and accusing other council leaders](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/a-week-of-reckoning?ref=localauthority.news) of “a strong level of ignorance” and misogyny during discussions over local government reorganisation. Kemkaran later argued that her comments were taken from a private meeting and that she had spoken frankly to her political group, not the wider county. But her words landed badly. Maple wrote demanding an apology, calling the suggestion that he had acted in a misogynistic way “ludicrous.” In a letter to all Kent leaders, seen by *Local Authority*, Kemkaran defended herself and repeated many of the same points. She insisted the leaked footage “was not a constituted KCC meeting” and said the comments had been made in the context of a private Reform Group discussion. “I do feel there is a shocking level of ignorance from many Kent leaders about the scale of the costs that are likely to incur to the council taxpayer from disaggregation of county-level services into smaller unitary councils,” she wrote. The letter said her administration would continue to pursue a business case for a single Kent and Medway unitary, a plan she described as a “spoke in the wheel” to the government’s reorganisation agenda. If the intention was to calm things down, it did not work. One leader described the letter as “quite obnoxious”. Another said she should “take care of her own shambolic administration before criticising others”. Conservative Tonbridge and Malling leader Matt Boughton [told KentOnline](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/reform-council-leader-breaks-video-leak-silence-with-obnoxi-331716/?ref=localauthority.news) it “wasn’t exactly an example of how to win friends and influence people”, adding that he had “significant political differences with a lot of the other leaders in Kent, but it doesn’t affect my ability to collaborate with them”. Green leader of Maidstone, Stuart Jeffery, said he was “taken aback” by the tone. “Linden’s letter was quite obnoxious. I notice that she doubled down on the claim that the other council leaders are ‘shockingly ignorant’ on LGR,” he said. Reform’s internal troubles have done little to reassure anyone watching. Since the video leaked, five Kent councillors have been expelled from the party. The administration that promised to “cut waste and bring discipline” has spent most of October mired in its own discipline problems. When Brand Kent was first announced, both sides described it as a way to protect the region’s reputation and maintain investment confidence. “Tourism and inward investment are critical to the economy of Kent and Medway,” Mahil said at the time, noting that tourism alone contributes around £4 billion a year and supports nearly 78,000 jobs. That optimism has now faded. What was meant to showcase cooperation has become a symbol of political breakdown, a casualty of the same mistrust that now colours nearly every exchange between Gun Wharf and County Hall. Medway still hopes the plan can be salvaged, but words from councillors suggest that may not be easy. “We were supposed to be partners in this,” Murray told colleagues during Cabinet. “If there were problems, we would always make the time to work through them. But this is a confused race to the bottom.” At County Hall, King maintains that discussions remain “amicable and constructive” and that Brand Kent is still “a dynamic process”. But for now, there is no timetable, agreement, or shared public message. KCC insists the new Brand Kent service will advance, with a report due to its cabinet committee next month. Medway has paused its own decision until after new talks. In the meantime, the service hangs in limbo. For years, tourism boards like Visit Kent quietly held together the marketing side of the county’s economy, connecting small attractions, amplifying events and keeping Kent visible to the outside world. Their disappearance has made that coordination problem obvious. For now, Kent’s councils can’t agree on who pays to keep the lights on. The people who built the county’s reputation have gone, the sites have stopped updating, and a plan meant to show unity has ended up showing the opposite. --- #### March off After a rather pitiful turnout for [UKIP’s march through Rochester](https://www.localauthority.news/a-protest-in-search-of-a-crowd/) a couple of weekends ago, a second anti-immigration march organised for this weekend has seemingly fallen apart. This protest was expected to be a rather larger event, as it was organised by Medway’s group of flag erecters and supported by Harry Hilden, the man behind several marches across the county in recent weeks. The organisation for this march hadn’t seemed exceptionally well organised, though. Posters advertised three different locations, from Gillingham to Anchorage House to Gun Wharf. They seemed to have settled on the latter, but it appears to all be off now after Hilden announced in a Facebook post that it was cancelled due to ‘personal issues with the organisers.’ It is unclear exactly what those issues might be, though it is notable that most of the flagging group have been remarkably quiet on the subject on social media in the last few weeks. Regardless, the march appears to be off, leaving Medway off the immediate calendar for upcoming events. In the meantime, protests continue across Kent, with Herne Bay, Gravesend, Dartford, and Folkestone all seeing events in the coming weeks, so it seems inevitable that something will circulate back to Medway eventually. Who will be behind it the next time, and whether or not they can successfully organise something that sees a turnout in double figures, remains to be seen. --- #### In brief 🚒 A Medway City Estate recycling site [went up in flames](https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/incident/medway/fire-recycling-site-rochester?ref=localauthority.news) on Friday night, leading to parts of Strood, Rochester, and Chatham smelling like burnt plastic. It comes just three months after a similar fire. 🏫 Rivermead at Stoke, a new SEND school on the Hoo Peninsula, [has officially opened](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/new-school-offering-100-sen-places-opens-331600/?ref=localauthority.news), providing an extra 100 places for children with autism and complex needs. 🏪 Poundland at Hempstead Valley [will close on 31 December](https://futuremedway.co.uk/poundland-confirms-closure-of-store-in-hempstead-valley-shopping-centre-gillingham/?ref=localauthority.news). It follows the closure of the Rainham branch in August. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, [we sat down with Labour councillor for Strood South, Mark Jones](http://localauthority.news/p/i-wanted-to-do-something-for-the?ref=localauthority.news), who has been a councillor in Medway on and off since 1991\. Steven met him to talk about his time on various councils, the Rochester Film Society, and his issues with people who don’t use public transport properly. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “I wanted to do something for the people there” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-wanted-to-do-something-for-the/ Last updated: 2025-10-26T07:02:18.000Z *Councillor Mark Jones has been a Labour councillor on and off since 1991, returning to Medway Council in 2023 as part of the new Labour administration. Steven met with him at Cafe Nucleus in Chatham to talk about his time on various councils, the Rochester Film Society, and his issues with people who don’t use public transport properly.* ![Councillor details - Councillor Mark Jones](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!BXzg!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2feba779c7-8661-4f07-a8e6-b9a8acbd380d_298x298.jpg) Cllr Mark Jones. **Where are you the councillor for?** I’m the councillor for Strood West Ward. **Why that ward?** We targeted Strood West ward, amongst others, because it was one of the wards we needed to win a majority on Medway Council. I felt that it was an area which ought to have Labour representation. The streets in it shouldn’t have other parties representing it, and I felt it was something that we could win. It’s a good working-class area and I wanted to do something for the people there. **You are currently the vice chair of the planning committee. Are you the one who is responsible for blocking new homes for residents, or are you allowing new buildings and blighting our landscape?** What I hope and believe that I’m doing is assessing each planning application and its merits. We’ve always got to have in the back of our mind that there are a large number of homeless children in Medway. That’s been brought up at committees. We’ve got to bear in mind that there is a need for housing. I’m very careful, and myself and the Chair, Chrissy Stamp, take our responsibilities very seriously to act as a quasi-judicial committee and not assess each application other than on its merits. If we get an application for X number of houses, it’s clearly poor quality, they will have to be taken into consideration, but you know, given the extremes that you put in your question, I hope we’re somewhere in the middle, considering the applications on their merit. **Which political parties have you been a member of?** I’ve only been a member of the Labour Party. In fact, I started in the trade union movement before I was in the party. I’ve been a trade unionist for over 40 years. **How long have you been a member of the party?** 1984, 1985, I think I joined. **Was there a particular reason you joined at that time?** I felt quite strongly that the Conservative government was on the wrong track. I mean, I was a trade unionist in the civil service, and we were feeling the heat of Conservative policies to cut the public sector. I think, without branching off too much for digression, there’s room for a good public sector and private sector working together to produce the goods for people. I felt quite strongly that some change was needed. Those were in the days of Mrs Thatcher. She was Prime Minister at the time. I was motivated to join. I think Neil Kinnock can take a lot of the credit for that. He was trying to make the Labour Party more electable at the time. **Have you always been a member in that time?** Membership hasn’t lapsed. **You’ve been a consistent member through all the highs and lows.** That’s right, for about 40 years now. **In your time as a member of the Labour Party, who’s been the best leader?** That is a very difficult question. I think people who win elections undoubtedly must be the qualifying candidates, but I would have a very great job separating some of them out. Harold Wilson. I think he had many great qualities, Tony Blair had qualities, and the present Prime Minister has considerable qualities. Neil Kinnock didn’t win any elections, but as I say, I was always admiring of his taking the Labour Party in the right direction and I think make it more electoral. **When did your name first appear on a ballot?** It was the old Rochester-upon-Medway City Council and their 1991 elections. There’s an interesting story to that. It’s probably a bit unfair me telling this story because the guy who was on the other end of the telephone denied that the conversation was exactly like that, and he’s since passed on, so he can’t deny my version. The Labour Party district secretary, as it was called in those days, that dealt with local government elections, rang me up and said we’ve had a candidate drop out for whatever reason. “I wouldn’t want you to think we’re scraping the bottom of the barrel, Mark, but would you like to do it?” And I said “Yes, I’d be willing to have a go.” I stood for the first time in a very working-class area. The Conservatives won two seats in the ward, and the Liberal Democrats won one seat, and Labour didn’t get any at that time. That was the first time in 1991\. Without jumping the gun to the next question, I stood next for the county council of 1993 for the old Warren Wood ward, combined with St Margaret’s and Borstal ward. Very similar to where the boundaries lie for the Rochester West on Medway nowadays, and I was elected to the county council. That was after the 1992 financial crash, Black Wednesday, and also a lot of local issues in that area. The M2 was being widened at the time, the Channel Tunnel rail. **How long were you on Kent County Council for?** I was on Kent County Council until its purview over Medway expired in 1998\. The Kent County Council elections in 1997, but we in Medway were kept on for a year. We didn’t have to contest those, and then in 1998, I came off. **We’re going through local government reorganisation at the moment. Having been on the council when Medway was formed as a unitary authority, what do you remember about that period of reorganisation?** I remember there were some challenges. We had to disaggregate from Kent County Council on an area structure. I believe I’ve heard that the current Kent County Council is talking about having a Kent-wide authority with some area committees. I have to say I never thought that worked terribly well, because it seemed to be largely officers speaking to members in a forum rather than actually those members being able to get to grips with making the policy. It tended to be more informative or consultative than actually making the policy. What I remember about it was that there were quite a lot of things to do. We had to set their way up. We had to appoint a Chief Executive. We had to appoint the chief officers. Of course, when you got down to a certain level of office, they recruited the rest. But we appointed a Chief Executive, directors of the various departments, assistant directors. Members were responsible for an awful lot of personnel-type work. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway marks 80 years of the UN URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-marks-80-years-of-the-un/ Last updated: 2025-10-24T18:21:51.000Z *Today (24 October) marks the 80th anniversary of the formation of the United Nations. We spoke with Alan Wells of the Medway United Nations Association to find out more about what they do and how they will be marking the day. Further down, we hear about a crowdfunder for Medway’s new supergroup, review the Flowers of Srebrenica on stage, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway marks 80 years of the UN United Nations Day is celebrated every 24 October, marking the organisation's formation in 1945, following the end of World War 2, when we were naively united in a fight against fascism. There are United Nations Associations (UNA) worldwide, which celebrate the work the United Nations does and collaborate on the Sustainable Development Goals. ![The Union Flag (left) and UN Flag (right) flying. The sky is blue behind them, and the words "Medway Council. Gun Wharf" can be seen in white lettering on the brick wall of the building.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!stnW!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8be89360-3793-48cb-9245-adfad4f63f07_2048x1536.jpg) UN flag being raised flown at Gun Wharf. Medway’s United Nations association (MUNA) was formed more recently. In 2023, to be precise, after Alan Wells and John Castle of the Medway Liberal Democrats joined the Tunbridge Wells Association back in 2020\. “Afterwards, I thought that Medway could do with its own UNA,” Alan tells me. “I’d say from 2021 to June 2023, I was trying to do everything I could to get people involved, putting up leaflets and posters in libraries, sending out press releases, and I got a little bit of feedback.” It was in June 2023 that good fortune led to Alan visiting Rochester Cathedral and meeting Jessica Giles, the wife of Canon Chancellor Giles, who had also been wanting to set up a similar association. With John Castle coming on board as secretary and Hugh Hawkins as the treasurer, the new association was ready to hold its first event. “I suppose from June 2023 to October 2023, it’s quite manic. The Cathedral crypt was booked, I bought a very nice UN flag and that now flies every 24th October at Gun Wharf.” It isn’t only the 24th that events occur. “I’d say this year our calendar’s grown quite a lot. In May, we mark the International Day of Peacekeepers with a small memorial outside of the cathedral.” MUNA also mark Holocaust Memorial Day in January. This year, for the first time in January, they held a Blue Monday event, with Beth Atkins, who is involved with the [Medway Inter Faith Association](https://www.medwayinterfaith.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), who was “instrumental” in bringing that together. “It was a chance to get various people together in a calm environment on Blue Monday, just to connect really amongst different faiths.” For Alan, the main thing that he is proud of this year is that on the 11 October, they hosted their first annual lecture, held at the Huguenot Museum in Rochester. Mel Moss, who has spent months over in the West Bank, “gave us her first-hand account of the three months that she spent there. That was quite powerful, and it was well attended on a Saturday night.” ![A group of people are stood in front of two flag poles. They are all smiling at the camera.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!pJk-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f781a05bd-f1f2-410a-856d-1524054bbc5d_2048x1536.jpg) UN flag raising ceremony at Gun Wharf. For UN Day 2025, there was a flag raising at Gun Wharf at 10am, and the group met with various members of the public at the crypt at Rochester Cathedral. “It’s basically a chance to connect with people who’d like to join us and who’s interested in our work. We made quite a few connections at the talk, and quite a few people were interested in joining us. It gives people a chance to see what we’re doing.” They are hoping to expand the calendar next year and be sure to mark 24 October 2026 in your calendar for next year’s event, with more talks and promoting of the work that people are doing aligned with the UN’s SDG. “I asked a question to council. I was desperate to ask a question in this 80th year about the Sustainable Development Goals and relating that to what the council’s doing at a local level. We’re forever promoting it, but we’re relatively new.” Alan has asked of himself why the United Nations is still important. “I think without going into a very difficult area, what you’ve got to ask yourself is what would the world look like without the UN? It would be a poor place. I think we still need an international forum where different nation states can come along and try to resolve differences. That was the idea behind the UN.” --- #### Crowdfunder for Medway’s South Shore supergroup [*South Shore*](https://www.instagram.com/southshoreofthemedway/?ref=localauthority.news) *is an exciting new super group from the Medway Towns, with our* [*Medwayish CIC*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *side project supporting them by releasing their first single. We hope you will indulge us, as Steven gets an exclusive interview with singer-songwriter Rachel Lowrie about the band and the* [*crowdfunder*](https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/south-shores-1st-single?ref=localauthority.news) *for a limited-edition lathe cut single.* Named after the south shore of the River Medway, the band is “psychedelic folk rock, with hints of gothic noir,” Rachel laughs. “I’ve definitely brought my younger emo teen self,” Rachel tells me with influences from Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Wolf Alice and Jefferson Airplane. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!-E8d!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f020361ec-0cb4-4940-89a2-93b600688e74_2048x1365.jpg) Photo: Nikki Price The primary focus of the songs on the upcoming double AA single is about Medway. These came out of Rachel’s solo songs “that I was doing with the ukulele,” and a desire to name the band after the river. “Because the river is a magnetic, real point of energy that draws me in. Not literally,” she notes. “I’d be dead.” Rachel Lowrie has been performing at the festival of Chatham Reach and Sweeps Festival, as well as places outside of Medway, as part of the folk group, [The Ashen Keys](https://www.theashenkeys.com/?ref=localauthority.news). South Shore brings her together with [Stuart Turner](https://www.localauthority.news/i-cant-really-write-music-that-goes/) and Nick Rice, bass player with [The Treasures of Mexico](https://www.instagram.com/the%5Ftreasuresofmexico/?ref=localauthority.news). “Stuart, Nick and I have been working together for a while. I first sang with Stuart about ten years ago. That led to me singing on Scowl, which was amazing.” Rachel would go on to work with Stuart and Nick on different projects with [These Guilty Men](https://www.facebook.com/p/These-Guilty-Men-100063153495479/) and Chris Broderick’s Pod project. “I really enjoy playing music with both of them and knew that it was going to work. I had this group of songs that were Medway folk tales, and it didn’t feel like they were right for the Ashen Keys.” The Ashen Keys had just recorded an album, where “we’d completed a cycle. We’re just starting the next cycle of songs. These South Shore songs sit somewhere in between the two.” Rachel highlights that Stuart has always been supportive, “really encouraging,” and they started working on an album without a clear plan on how they would make it happen. “He was so affirmative that this would be a thing that would happen.” Rachel remembers having a conversation with Stuart about forming a band, whilst they recorded Pod, “and that was before The Ashen Keys.” Those conversations were put on hold whilst Rachel dealt with mental health issues, and then at the end of 2022 started working with Vicky (Price) and Hannah (Ellerby) on The Ashen Keys. “I only really had capacity for one thing.” In December last year, Stuart and Rachel met up and “I played him some of the songs and then we texted Nick and said, ‘Do you want to be in our band?’ and he said, ‘Oh yes.’” When South Shore formed, they weren’t sure what to do about a drummer, “because in the Ashen Keys we don’t have a drummer, and I’ve always done my own stuff acoustic. I thought, South Shore is going to be me, Stuart and Nick.” Originally planning to only bring a drummer in on songs as and when required, but then when people saw us as a three, they were like, ‘You need a drummer.’” Enter Rob Grigg, formerly of [The Dentists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FDentists?ref=localauthority.news). “Rob absolutely fitted. When we started playing (The Ballad of) Rats Bay, I couldn’t have been more effusive.” Rob plays with Stuart and Nick in These Guilty Men, and Rachel thanks “that makes such a difference, because they know how to play together and Rob is really good company as well.” The double A-side single, recorded in [Ranscombe Studios](https://ranscombestudios.com/?ref=localauthority.news), features the tracks The Ballad of Rats Bay and Blanche. “The two songs were selected to demonstrate the breadth of the songwriting within the band, and what will be available when the album comes to fruition.” The band felt that the two songs had “a different vibe to them,” released as a double-A because they couldn’t decide between them, “and I love them both equally.” South Shore are also busy rehearsing their first album, which they plan to record back in Ranscombe Studios in the new year. “People can expect songs that are located in Medway. I do believe that the universal is in the particular. I don’t think that you have to live in Medway to appreciate the songs.” *Medwayish CIC have launched a crowdfunder to support the production of South Shore’s first single. For just £20, you can get the limited edition single release package, including a lathe cut of the single.* [*You can support the crowdfunder here*](https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/south-shores-1st-single?ref=localauthority.news)*.* *South Shore will be playing live in Medway on* [*8 November at Rochester Social Club*](https://www.facebook.com/events/1509990116698878/)*, supporting the Penrose Web, on* [*27 November at 12 Degrees*](https://www.facebook.com/events/rams-micropub-12-degrees/south-shore-jack-hayter/774461352229056/) *in Rochester with Hefner legend Jack Hayter, and on* [*13 December at the Ship*](https://www.facebook.com/events/2275731179544235) *in Gillingham, supporting The Singing Loions for their Christmas bash.* --- #### **Review: The Flowers of Srebrenica on stage** **by Moira Mehaffey** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Wcjp!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6ca5e7ce-4047-4f26-a224-dffee9707244_1200x800.jpg) Photo: Raisa Sehu There is a palpable sense of community pervading the venue and the occasion of the final performance of this play, based on the novel written by [Aidan Hehir](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-the-flowers-of/) and illustrated by [David Frankum](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-the-flowers-of/). Housed in a former Methodist Church in Highgate, Jacksons Lane Arts Centre is an enviably well-equipped and maintained premises combining studio space, theatre and a café bar and seems the ideal setting for a play co-produced by [Legal Aliens Theatre](https://legalalienstheatre.com/?ref=localauthority.news) with [Sarajevo War Theatre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarajevo%5FWar%5FTheatre?ref=localauthority.news), a truly international collaboration. The stage is sparsely dressed with all focus directed to the central area, curtained with transparent perspex panels, and the only prop which will remain visible for the duration of the play, a heaped pile of soil. Bringing uncanny stillness to the opening are three female figures (Selma Alipahić, Taz Munyaneza, Valeriia Poholsha) dressed all in white, a timeless symbol of innocence. Wordlessly, these three individuals come together in balletic movements, signifying grief and despair, until a pair of sandals is unearthed and placed at the front of the stage. They represent the single demographic reminiscent of a tragic chorus, but will come to lend starkly individual perspectives and experiences to the narrative. The unearthed shoes are filled by the feet of Edin Suljić, playing Mustafa, the tour guide who escorted real-life Aidan from Sarajevo to the memorial centre at Potočari. With this, we are dared to try walking in the shoes of those affected by the Srebrenica massacre. Suljić’s performance radiates stoicism and compassion. He convincingly portrays the adult who was dragged into a conflict while barely more than a child and had his life transformed by this. Jeremiah O’ Connor as stage Aidan (clad in an Editors t-shirt, which real-life Aidan finds to be the only inauthentic note) exudes the relatable discomfort of a Celt caught in the heat, adding to his more general sense of self-doubt and displacement. The tension is broken when the two characters swap stories of their families and find common ground in anecdotes about tour guiding. The road trip elements of the story are interspersed with interludes from the Chorus. These serve to remind the audience of the specific context of the Srebrenica Massacre but also of the continuing reality of genocide. Projections onto the perspex panels show newsreels, names of victims and examples of ethnic cleansing to reiterate this. Sound effects are well placed, never jarring, but often chilling. As stage Aidan takes photos at the memorial centre, the audience can see that the three women are captured in his shots, the human cost of the events inseparable from the location. Selma Alipahić gives voice to the women of Srebrenica, and it is gradually revealed that Taz and Valeriia represent Rwanda and Ukraine respectively, but together, and as individuals, they deftly operate as a microcosm for the suffering and endurance of all innocent victims of conflict. The audience feels this deeply and shares the rage and shame of stage Aidan, aware that buying souvenirs is an inadequate and desperate response to being confronted with the brutal reality of a conflict he has studied and of which he has a profound intellectual understanding. At the conclusion of the play, the soil is carried in handfuls to members of the audience. The challenge here is not just for us to remember the victims at Srebrenica, but to be active in opposition to genocide wherever it occurs. A succinct, poignant and hard-hitting production, with stunning performances and heartbreaking relevance. --- #### Events this week 🖥️ 24 - 26 Oct - [**Electric Medway Festival: Aurora**](https://www.electricmedway.org/festival.html?ref=localauthority.news) // Showcase of high-quality digital art made within the community. Various locations. Free. 🎸 Sun 26 Oct - [**adults + Felicette**](https://wegottickets.com/event/674512?ref=localauthority.news) // A rare non-Rainham gig for Careful Now Promotions headlined by excellent indie punk band adults. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🕵️ Fri 31 Oct - [**Halloween Murder Mystery Masquerade**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1861730128107518/?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22external%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search%5Fresults%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%5Fsearch%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D) // Lord Retinal Blackwood cordially invites you to the event of the season. Wear your best masquerade ball outfit. Playopolis, Rochester. Tickets £15. --- #### More Authority As part of our ongoing series of columns from Medway’s elected representatives, Rochester and Strood MP [Lauren Edwards wrote for us](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-rochester-and-strood-668/) about Chatham High Street, skills, grassroots sports, and investment across her constituency. [Voice of the MP - Rochester and StroodEditor’s note: Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards, who discusses changes on Chatham High Street, skills, grassroots sports, and investment across Roches…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/a6292380-5634-4028-83d6-d8c5fd6a9dfc_3000x2000.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-rochester-and-strood-668/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Voice of the MP - Rochester and Strood URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-rochester-and-strood-668/ Last updated: 2025-10-23T08:00:56.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards, who discusses changes on Chatham High Street, skills, grassroots sports, and investment across Rochester and Strood.* --- #### **Voice of the MP** **by Lauren Edwards, MP for Rochester and Strood** Since I wrote my last article in April, it’s been a busy and important few months in Westminster which has resulted in some big changes: The Single-Use Vape Ban coming into effect, the Football Governance Act 2025, and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 - each is now reshaping our environment, public health, culture, and online security. But in this column, I want to talk about my work closer to home, by focusing on three areas that matter deeply to our community: regenerating Chatham High Street, building the skills our local economy needs, and investing in grassroots sport to strengthen community life. **Revitalising Historic Chatham High Street** Though the constituency carries the name ‘Rochester and Strood’, it also covers far more than the two towns - including Brompton, the Hoo Peninsula, Cuxton, Halling, and most of Chatham High Street. The High Street, with its rich history and central role in Medway, has faced real challenges for many years. That’s why I’ve been working with Medway Council, Kent Police, business owners, and community leaders to bring new energy, investment, and change. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!E7yR!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff57de156-1b90-436e-b1b6-1d3938f722a2_1350x1013.jpg) Lauren joins police Inspector Paul Diddams of the Medway Community Safety Unit at a coffee morning with residents in Chatham. Earlier this year, I held a coffee morning to hear directly from residents focused on crime and anti-social behaviour. The turnout was strong, and the conversations were honest and open. People told me about their experiences of feeling unsafe, about the rise in shoplifting, nuisance e-scooters, and the worrying increase in rough sleeping - but also about their pride in Chatham’s heritage and their hopes for a safer and more vibrant town centre. I’m pleased to say progress is being made. After years of under-resourced policing due to Conservative cuts, I’m proud to say we now have eleven new police officers focused mainly on Medway’s high streets. Alongside these new beat officers, new national guidance allows Kent Police to seize vehicles used in fly-tipping and take tougher action against anti-social behaviour. These changes are already starting to help restore public confidence and keep our public spaces safer and cleaner. But enforcement and policing are not the whole picture: through the ‘Love Chatham, Love Medway’ campaign, local Street Ambassadors now provide a friendly presence in the town centre and support residents and businesses facing low-level crime and anti-social behaviour. I’ve also visited organisations like the Forward Trust, whose work helping people in recovery from addiction tackles some of the root causes of anti-social behaviour - showing the power of compassion and community support. Meanwhile, the transformation of the first floor of the Pentagon, with the council-led co-working space Ascend, and the soon-to-be-opened James Williams Healthy Living Centre, will bring more people to the high street and support local shops and restaurants. The return of *Super Saturday*, part of the Child-Friendly Medway programme, was another sign of renewal. At the end of August, the High Street came alive with famous cars from film and TV, superhero trails, creative workshops, and free family fun. After listening to concerns at the coffee morning that there were not enough activities for young people, it was heartening to see residents celebrating Chatham’s creativity and energy. And this is without mentioning the continued resilience of key cultural centres across Chatham - like the Historic Dockyard, which earlier this year launched its ten-year plan, or the ongoing redevelopment of the Brook Theatre. These projects reflect a broader theme: regeneration isn’t just about funding, it’s about pride, identity, and creating spaces where people can come together and feel part of something bigger. And it’s not just locals recognising Chatham’s importance. Historian Tom Holland, in the 600th episode of [*The Rest is History* ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO2r1C%5FU81c&ref=localauthority.news)[podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO2r1C%5FU81c&ref=localauthority.news)*,* recently called Chatham High Street “the most historic road in England” - an episode well worth a listen. From Dickens to Nelson, our heritage runs deep, and as my local office sits in the Intra section of the High Street, I’m proud to be part of this vibrant part of my constituency. **Skills: Connecting the Dots for Growth and Opportunity** Regenerating our high streets is vital - but it’s only one part of the bigger picture. If we want lasting change in Rochester and Strood, we need to connect investment with the skills and opportunities that allow local people to benefit. That means ensuring everyone - whether leaving school, retraining mid-career, or returning to work - has a clear pathway to opportunity. The economy is changing rapidly - through emerging green industries, digital innovation (most dramatically with AI), and the growing demand for new homes and infrastructure. These shifts bring both challenges and opportunities, and we must equip people with the right skills to meet them. That’s why I’ve made skills a priority both locally and in Westminster. In this month’s edition of the *Fabian Review*, I argued that we need to break down barriers between education, training, and employment - to ‘connect the dots’ and deliver greater coordination. Everyone deserves access to the tools that help them succeed. The Government’s Connect to Work programme is a great example of this joined-up approach. Backed by £34 million in government funding, it will support 9,000 people across Medway and Kent, especially those facing the biggest barriers to employment. With up to 12 months of tailored one-to-one support, training, and advice, it’s designed not only to help people into jobs but also to help them stay there, building confidence and financial security. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qhGj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcd1f93e3-89e6-48b0-91a6-199cdc092fc5_1920x1440.jpg) Lauren hosts a green skills roundtable with business leaders, council representatives, and education providers at the University of Greenwich’s Medway Campus. I’ve also pushed in Parliament for more investment in further and adult education, particularly in construction and green skills. The response has been encouraging - over £600 million is being invested nationally in technical skills, aiming to train 60,000 new engineers, bricklayers, electricians, and carpenters by 2029\. Over the summer, I brought together local businesses, universities and colleges at a Green Skills roundtable at Greenwich University’s Medway campus to discuss how we can make sure we benefit from this fantastic opportunity. At this year’s Labour Party Conference, both the Prime Minister and Chancellor set out a bold and ambitious target: for two-thirds of young people to achieve higher-level skills by age 25 - through university, further education, or gold-standard apprenticeships. This marks a major shift in recognising the equal value of academic and technical routes, and it directly supports work in Rochester and Strood to expand green, digital, and construction skills - all of which need both academic and technical skills. Backed by £800 million in new funding and a guarantee of paid work for young people on Universal Credit, these national policies will boost local initiatives like the Construction Technical Excellence College and Connect to Work program - helping more people gain the skills they need to succeed. And locally, MidKent College has received an additional £1.7 million to upgrade its facilities, and I’m delighted that Kent will be home to a new Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC) - one of only ten in the country. This will provide cutting-edge training and forge industry partnerships, giving young people, career-changers, and employers the skills they need to deliver homes, infrastructure, and green projects right here in our region. These measures, alongside others, aim to improve the link between regeneration and skills. In doing so, we’re not just creating jobs - we’re building a stronger, fairer local economy. **Grassroots Football: Investing in Community, Wellbeing and Health** Prosperity isn’t only about jobs and investment. It’s also about community life and the opportunities people have to connect and play. That’s why I welcome the surge of investment in grassroots football across Medway. This summer, more than £877,000 is being spent to improve 62 pitches across 17 different sites across Medway - including in Rochester and Strood at Borstal Recreation Ground, Chatham Garrison Ground, Cliffe Woods Recreation Ground, and others. These improvements will improve safety and accessibility of facilities, and offer greater opportunities to participate in grassroots sport. Local clubs like Hoo Vets and Cuxton 91 have also secured funding to upgrade their facilities as part of national government support. For many young people, these clubs are more than just places to play - they provide friendship, purpose, and pride. For families, they’re part of the fabric of community life and a place to meet and speak with their neighbours. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NA9T!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcf7bec57-f7d1-4a4e-875b-2100d9820062_951x713.jpg) Lauren celebrates new grassroots football funding with Lucy Bronze, right-back for Chelsea FC Women and the England national team. By supporting grassroots football, we’re not only nurturing future sporting talent but also strengthening health, wellbeing, and community bonds. This is what prosperity should look like: everyone having the chance to learn, work, and play - together. And as an avid cricket fan, and member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cricket, I’m also turning my attention to how I can support local cricket clubs. Recently, I had the chance to visit Borstal Cricket Club and meet the fantastic women’s team, and next summer I plan to visit many more across the constituency. **Looking Ahead** Rochester and Strood is full of history, character, and opportunity. From the regeneration of Chatham High Street to the transformation of skills and training, to investment in grassroots sport, the story is one of renewal and hope - but there’s still much work to do. By linking skills and future opportunity, and by building safer, stronger communities, we can ensure that Rochester and Strood is a place where everyone has the chance not just to succeed, but to thrive. *Lauren Edwards is the Labour MP for Rochester and Strood.* ### A protest in search of a crowd URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-protest-in-search-of-a-crowd/ Last updated: 2025-10-21T21:55:52.000Z *The far right marched on Rochester over the weekend, only to be met by considerably more counter-protestors. We get into the situation on the ground below. Further down, we have coverage from last week’s full Medway Council meeting, which ended abruptly, a welcome return of Rehman Chishti to this organ, news in brief, and more.* --- #### A protest in search of a crowd It began quietly. Just after lunchtime on Saturday, a small group gathered by the coach station in Rochester, carrying purple UKIP placards and English and Union flags. There were so few of them that for a while it wasn’t clear if the event was actually happening. No sign of party leader Nick Tenconi, no crowd, no chants. Just organiser Roger Hogg, councillor Amelia Randall, a handful of adults, and a few children swaddled in flags. They set off down Corporation Street and onto the High Street, Hogg shouting into a megaphone about patriotism and immigration while Randall held a ‘Join UKIP’ sign. Onlookers stopped to watch, some laughing, some heckling. It was less a march than a slow shuffle through a town that didn’t seem to notice or care. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!adnX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f61243b17-16c8-40be-a788-f870b957b510_2500x1406.jpg) UKIP protestors march through Rochester. Photo: Authority Media. Ahead, the counter-protest was already waiting near Northgate. Around 150 people had filled the High Street under banners reading ‘Refugees Welcome’ and ‘Unity Over Fascism – As We All Argue, The 1% Profit.’ A person in an inflatable frog suit wobbled through the crowd, a live band played banjo and bodhrán, the mood was noisy but calm. “This is a show of strength by the community that we’re not going to tolerate those that seek to divide us in Rochester,” said Cllr [Alex Paterson](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/), Labour’s cabinet member for community safety and ward councillor for Rochester West and Borstal. “We have seen them manage to gather laughable numbers elsewhere in Kent, and I hope that’s the case again today. But what’s more important is the community comes together to reassure the general public that there are more of us than there are of these individuals.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zR6E!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f597bffbe-fb5d-44a0-a437-d7061856e14f_2500x1406.jpg) Counter-protestors in Rochester High Street. Photo: Authority Media. He added that the council had been in close contact with Kent Police throughout the week. “Everyone who is staffing this event from a Kent Police perspective is public order trained, but they are not here in riot gear. We don’t expect trouble. There is an opportunity for people to express their views peacefully, and I’m confident that that’s what’s going to happen.” Medway Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) said the scene felt familiar. “Medway is not a place for racism and fascism,” he said. “From what we’ve seen from UKIP in recent weeks, with their leader giving Nazi salutes, it’s important to send a strong, united message that that is not the Medway of 2025, or the Medway of 2014, when Britain First tried this.” Ten years on, the far right had returned to the same street and met much the same result. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!i39I!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6e739fc2-b3a8-4020-ac78-2fa464f9b693_2500x1406.jpg) Police form a line to keep the two groups apart. Photo: Authority Media. As the marchers came into view, police officers formed a line to separate the two sides. Counter-protesters booed and jeered. Councillor Satinder Shokar stood in the middle of the road, directly in the path of the march. One protester pointedly shouted at him that these were “not your streets.” Officers stepped in quickly, guiding Cllr Shokar aside so the protestors could continue their march up the High Street. The counter-protest had been organised by the Kent Anti-Racism Network under the banner ‘Rochester Says No to UKIP,’ with support from trade unions, the Green Party, Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Its chants and music filled the High Street for most of the day, outnumbering the march several times over. “There are more people prepared to stand up to racism than protest in favour of it,” said John Castle from the Liberal Democrats. Green campaigner Trish Marchant described the UKIP presence as “vintage.” “Hopefully they’ll have a little chat with themselves, we’ll wave at them like we did in 2014, and they’ll go away again,” she said. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!XW9T!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc668fb7a-f226-40cd-97aa-55abf4c06fd8_2500x1406.jpg) Confrontation between Cllr Alex Paterson and a teenager with a camera. Photo: Authority Media. Kent Police kept a visible but restrained presence. Two minor incidents involved a teenager filming counter-protestors who described himself as ‘independent media.’ After repeatedly filming and provoking Cllr Paterson after being told he wouldn’t talk, the councillor pushed the camera aside. The teenager accused him of assault, police intervened, but the matter ended with no further action. The same teenager later argued with another counter-protester. Neither incident nor anything else on the day led to arrests. From Northgate, the UKIP group walked in the direction of Rochester Bridge en route to their scheduled end location at Rochester Cathedral. As they passed the Royal Crown, a woman sitting outside raised a hand and gestured ‘wankers.’ No one in the march replied. A young boy wrapped in a flag beside his father was in tears by the time they reached the gates of Rochester Castle, where police directed them given counter-protestors occupied the area outside the cathedral. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!adJ_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffdc25080-ffde-4be2-a2fa-7c96e1e3c110_2500x1406.jpg) The UKIP protestors inside Rochester Castle Gardens. Photo: Authority Media. Inside the railings of Rochester Castle Gardens, the protest group looked even smaller. The group numbered barely a dozen. Randall addressed them through a small speaker. “I know there’s not many people here,” she said, before speaking about poverty in Kent and the need to “prioritise British citizens.” Around ten people listened, five filming her on their phones. Officers stood nearby. Counter-protestors and councillors, including those from Medway’s administration, were kept outside the gates. Outside the gardens, the counter-protest carried on with chants. The band that had played earlier said their performance was about “spreading a unity message” and “making a bit of a joyful display.” Gillingham and Rainham MP [Naushabah Khan](https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/) said, “I’m here because I think it’s right that we stand up to fascism and racism in our society. When people come down and they want to create unrest, they want to cause trouble, and they want to break our communities apart, I’m just not going to stand for it.” Rochester and Strood MP [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) said the protest showed how “people from outside our area are coming with very strong far-right views, stoking division.” “My version of British patriotism is one of tolerance and inclusivity and diversity,” she said. “Those are the kind of values that I think we have here in Rochester and Strood.” By mid-afternoon, the speeches in the castle gardens were over. The protesters were escorted out. Some were later seen at Wetherspoons. The counter-protest, which had held its position outside the cathedral throughout, slowly dispersed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ZQwB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd8329d29-988b-4527-b45a-a3226948fb9e_2500x1406.jpg) Counter-protestors outside Rochester Cathedral. There had been tension, but no violence, and for most of the day the loudest sound in Rochester was the chants being led by counter-protestors with a megaphone. Shoppers continued to move through the High Street, occasionally stopping to watch before carrying on. If the purpose had been to signal a UKIP revival, the reality looked different. Even by the standards of small English nationalist demonstrations, the turnout was meagre. Ten people had marched under a party banner, trailed by a few flags and a police escort. The largest presence of the day belonged to those who came to oppose them. A second protest, unrelated to Saturday’s march, is already being organised in Medway for 1 November. It is expected to be larger, led by the group behind many of the flags appearing around Medway and supported by groups that have recently marched in Canterbury and Faversham. Whether that march proves larger or not, Saturday offered a preview of what to expect from both sides of the police cordon. --- #### Business as usual, until it wasn’t Medway Council’s [full meeting last week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6311&ref=localauthority.news) was shaping up to be one of the livelier ones this year until proceedings were halted abruptly when Deputy Mayor Wayne Spring suffered a medical incident during debate, leading to paramedics attending and taking him to hospital. In a statement the following day, Conservative Group leader [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) said Cllr Spring was “recovering at home with his family” and thanked officers, members and the public for their support. The meeting was adjourned early, with only one urgent item, a routine approval on school places, nodded through before councillors left the chamber. It was an abrupt end to what had already been a packed night: the first full council since Cllr [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) defected from the Conservatives to Reform. If there was any doubt that Reform intended to make its presence felt, it disappeared quickly. Their Rochester and Strood chair, William Burvill, opened public questions with a provocative query for Labour leader Vince Maple, asking whether he believed the 88,997 Medway residents who voted Leave were “racists, fascists, or people who hate their own country.” It was, Maple noted dryly, “the second time this week” he’d been asked the question, before replying with a flat “no, because it isn’t true.” He then reeled off the growing list of Reform councillors elsewhere in Kent who have been suspended, expelled or charged over various controversies. If the meeting had occurred a few days later, he’d have had [several more names from Kent](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/reform-turns-on-itself?ref=localauthority.news) to add to his list. The first motion of the night saw Conservative councillor [Habib Tejan](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enjoy-solving-problems/) call on the council to show “financial discipline” and warned against “using the credit card to pay for groceries.” He described the situation as a “moment of reckoning,” accusing the Labour administration of continuing to borrow with “no path to financial independence.” There was audible laughter from Labour benches. Cllr Maple dismissed the motion as being like “a shoplifter demanding that CCTV be installed,” blaming years of Conservative mismanagement for the current debt crisis. Cllr [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/), delayed briefly by a computer failure and a moment of old-school sexism when the Mayor referred to her as “Mrs Murray,” said she would like to believe the motion was sincere, “but given the half-truths and wrong information, I won’t be voting for it.” Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) of the Independent Group backed the motion, citing “waste” on red routes, the council’s reorganisation study and the loss of free swimming. Cllr [Andrew Lawrence](https://www.localauthority.news/maybe-im-a-serial-opposition-councillor/) called the current administration “vain” and insisted Medway was left with “enough money” when the Tories lost power. Then came the newly Reform Cllr Lammas, who pledged his group’s support for “sensible economic policies” while claiming Reform at Kent County Council had saved money by scrapping the climate emergency, allowing quotes from the “cheapest provider” rather than the “wokest quota,” to loud laughter. Given Labour holding an overall majority in the chamber, the motion didn’t get very far. Next up, Reform’s Cllr [David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/) proposed restricting HMOs, calling for an “enforcement-first” approach to stop clusters forming in single neighbourhoods. Labour’s Louwella Prenter countered with an amendment noting work was already underway, saying the administration “acts on evidence, not populist one-liners.” Cllr [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/) reminded the chamber that Labour “don’t need Reform to tell us what to do,” while taking a moment to kick Nigel Farage. The Conservatives supported the amendment, though Cllr Lawrence worried it was “a little bit light.” Cllr Mandaracas for Labour added that HMOs play a role, but their concentration “creates large transient neighbourhoods that undermine communities.” The amendment passed almost unanimously and became the substantive motion. The final motion to be debated before the meeting came from Cllr Maple, calling for the return of international rail services through Kent. He noted rare cross-party consensus on the issue. Train driver Cllr Mark Prenter seconded, quipping that “it’s unusual for a train driver to want extra stops,” and argued every £1 invested would return £2.50 to the local economy. Cllr Lammas proposed a near-identical amendment praising Kent County Council, which he himself described as “barely worth the paper it’s printed on.” The room erupted in laughter, with Cllr Perfect agreeing it was “pointless.” After some off-topic meandering about tax and flags, the amendment was defeated 49 to 6\. Maple’s original motion passed unanimously. By the time the Leader’s Report began, the chamber had settled into familiar rhythms. Cllr Maple reeling off civic visits and events; Cllr Perfect denouncing the £105,000 “vanity project” of local government reorganisation, Cllr Finch welcoming Lammas to Reform and condemning the attack on Labour’s local office; and Cllr Chrissy Stamp drawing rare cross-party applause for an emotional contribution on suicide prevention. Discussion then turned to plans for a new council-run care home, described by Cllr Murray as a “bold step” and, in a surprisingly Trumpian flourish, “big and beautiful.” Moments later, the meeting stopped suddenly as Cllr Spring fell ill. Thankfully, there is already an extraordinary Medway Council meeting on the [schedule for next month](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6425&ref=localauthority.news) to discuss local government reorganisation, so the remaining items will roll over to that rather than have to wait for the January meeting. You can watch last week’s Medway Council meeting below: --- #### Ordinary man opens café What do you do when you’ve been the MP for an area for 14 years and get voted out of office? Carrying on acting as if you’re the MP, of course. We’re thrilled to welcome back former *Local Authority* main character Rehman Chishti, who, 15 months after being kicked out by the residents of Gillingham and Rainham, is still doing all the kinds of things you’d expect an actual MP to be doing. Last week, Chishti cut the ribbon at the new branch of Bakers + Baristas at Chatham Dockside, despite being effectively a random man on the street. His social media shows something of the trend, particularly on his questionably named ‘[rehmanchishtimp](https://www.instagram.com/rehmanchishtimp/?ref=localauthority.news)’ account on Instagram. Given it’s incredibly easy to change your username on the platform, keeping the MP part of the handle is somewhat disingenuous, even if he does sneak in the word ‘former’ to his bio, amongst all of his other roles. Chishti is continuing to keep up the MP cosplay on social media, [visiting parliament](https://www.instagram.com/p/DQChUMECBAk/?ref=localauthority.news), [attending local events](https://www.instagram.com/p/DP8qiH2CMXf/?ref=localauthority.news), [posing for photos with residents in the street](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPtdjqNCBo2/?ref=localauthority.news), [running Conservative campaigns with no sign of Conservative branding](https://www.instagram.com/p/DO0jVXiCGYv/?ref=localauthority.news), and er, [recording videos of himself speaking in parliament off the TV](https://www.instagram.com/p/DPyByHgCCT3/?ref=localauthority.news). Still, it’s good to see him keeping busy, and it would appear that he’s angling for a return to parliament at the next General Election. Electoral Calculus currently gives him a [9% chance](https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/seatdetails.py?seat=Gillingham+and+Rainham&ref=localauthority.news) of pulling it off… --- #### In brief ➡️ The Daily Mail have [visited Reform Road](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15198839/A-walk-Reform-Road-migrants-live-tell-ROBERT-HARDMAN-backing-Farage-snapshot-modern-Britain.html?ref=localauthority.news) in Luton to find out if residents there might vote for the party just because of the street's name. 🚧 MCH House, the flagship building of Medway Community Healthcare, [will close for seven weeks](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/major-health-care-provider-to-close-hq-for-nearly-two-months-331166/?ref=localauthority.news) starting this Saturday to allow air conditioning work to be completed. Patients must visit other service locations across Medway during the work period. 🗣️ A licensing hearing will decide on Thursday (23 Oct) whether to grant a licence to sell alcohol to Tesco for a [new Express store in Lordswood](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6487&ref=localauthority.news). 🍕 [Pizza Hut at Chatham Dockside will close](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gj7g8931no?ref=localauthority.news) after the restaurant business collapsed, leading to only half of its outlets surviving a rescue deal. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, [we sat down with David Cramer Smith, the author of Medway: A Novel](https://www.localauthority.news/dont-take-advice-from-me-dont-do/). They discuss growing up in Medway, moving away, a possible sequel, mushrooms, and much more. --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### "Don’t take advice from me. Don’t do it my way." URL: https://www.localauthority.news/dont-take-advice-from-me-dont-do/ Last updated: 2025-10-19T06:01:36.000Z *Steven has been in email conversation with David Cramer Smith ever since Medwayish started stocking* [*Medway: A Novel*](https://www.medwayish.com/product/medway-a-novel?ref=localauthority.news)*. However, with David a resident of Australia, and with Local Authority’s budget not yet meeting international travel, they had to wait for David to visit Medway to meet. As such, they met at the Ship and Trades pub, and with Steven in the middle of an existential crisis whilst buying his first car, they discussed his surname, mycology and a sequel to Medway: A Novel.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yEUM!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f226bc6e8-e60d-485e-9922-15d7712dd18b_900x675.jpg) David Cramer Smith **Please spell your name for the record.** D-A-V-I-D, C-R-A-M-E-R, and then S-M-I-T-H. No hyphen between Cramer Smith. **Is Cramer your middle name?** My partner’s surname is Cramer. Because David Smith is among the most boring names on the planet, I just needed to jazz it up a little bit. That seemed like the best, most convenient option, and I didn’t want to change my name by deed poll, because I don’t want to deal with any admin nightmares in the future. I just thought I’ll take it as a pen name and that would be my gesture that we’re connected by name in lieu of getting married as well. **What is your official occupation?** It’s not a writer. I am a programmer, a software engineer, contracting for the Australian government at the moment, public service. Just moved to Canberra to take up a new role, but I’ve been doing that for about seven years or something. Started off doing a bit of data analysis and all that kind of stuff, and then got more interested in the actual coding, contributing to the AI feature a little bit, a bit of building out [LLMs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large%5Flanguage%5Fmodel?ref=localauthority.news) *(large language models)*. **But you try not to create a dystopian future.** I probably am in some way contributing**,** but trying hard not to. Before that, I was actually a teacher for a brief period. I trained as a teacher in London around 2011\. I did my NQT year in a school in East London and then shortly after moved to Australia. I probably shouldn’t have become a teacher. I wasn’t that good at it and didn’t really enjoy it, but I thought if I move into Australia, it would be good to be a teacher because I’m guaranteed work. I accidentally did a little bit of coding somehow, just got into the [Python](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Python%5F%28programming%5Flanguage%29?ref=localauthority.news) programming language, found I really liked it, did a bit of web development stuff and then just thought I’m probably going to be employable for a fair amount of time if I learn how to actually do that. **What is Python language?** It’s a programming language. It is geared towards people like me who had no technical background at all. I was actually probably quite a Luddite, especially in my early 20s. I didn’t have a laptop all through uni. I was quite resistant to tech stuff. I didn’t enjoy it at all. Or at least I thought I didn’t enjoy it. And then, I somehow did an online course. If you run a little program and then you see the output, because your code runs and it actually spits out what you wanted it to do, you get a dopamine hit. It becomes quite addictive. Most people think it’s not fun at all, but it’s fun to build stuff out and then actually get it working, and Python is a simple language. It’s easy to get into but hard to master. That was my gateway drug into programming. **What was it that took you to Australia?** My partner Meg. We met in London. We met online and then she came over to London. We met and lived in London for about three years. She wanted to go back and be near friends and family naturally. I went with her, and we thought we’d probably move back to London after a couple of years, and we never did. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid? Are you part of any groups?** I’ve got an interest in [mycology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycology?ref=localauthority.news), mushrooms. A previous boss was part of the Queensland Mycological Society, and we got chatting about mushrooms. It was quite big. I don’t know if you ever heard of [Paul Stamets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul%5FStamets?ref=localauthority.news)? He did a Netflix documentary called [Fantastic Fungi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantastic%5FFungi?ref=localauthority.news). I just watched that, and fungi were going to save the world. It’s good for health and mental health as well. He said, ‘If you’re interested in mushrooms, you should come along, and because you’re a little bit techie, if you want, you can run the website,” and I was like, “Do I have a choice in this?” “Not really.” I’ve been doing that for about five years, which means I do have to go to the committee meetings which isn’t normally what I’m into, but I quite like it. They’re nice. Mushroom people are quite good people. **Edible mushrooms or funny mushrooms?** It doesn’t have to be edible or funny, it’s all citizens science stuff. It’s like Pokémon, but mushrooms. You’ve got to catch them all. You’ve got to go out once a month on a foray and just try and spot. It’s a bit competitive. You can imagine some of these people really want to get the rare ones. Funny mushrooms are part of it, definitely, and obviously, [psilocybin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psilocybin?ref=localauthority.news) mushrooms are making the headlines, I suppose, because they’re finding that they treat or help with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, things like that. But edible as well. I think they’re going to have to work hard to up their PR because you might have seen that [beef Wellington case](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leongatha%5Fmushroom%5Fmurders?ref=localauthority.news). Famous one. Anytime you mention mushrooms, they think psychedelic or beef Wellington, with deadly mushrooms. **Australia, it’s either a barren desert or a beautiful beach coast. Do mushrooms occur naturally?** They probably are invasive species that were brought over. There’s a lot of rainforests in Australia as well. The Bush. Queensland is subtropical. It’s like Ferngully, Jurassic. Trees that are basically dinosaurs. They’ve been around since, I don’t know the exact era or whatever. There’s a lot of bushwalking and people getting out there. **We know you for** [**Medway: A Novel**](https://www.medwayish.com/product/medway-a-novel?ref=localauthority.news)**. Doing background research for the interview, the novel was the only real hit that you have online.** Yeah, I’ve kept a low profile. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Chatham gets an Art Junction URL: https://www.localauthority.news/chatham-gets-an-art-junction/ Last updated: 2025-10-17T16:24:03.000Z *A new community arts space has opened in Chatham, replacing the former Café Nucleus Lounge that abruptly closed earlier this year. We’ve been finding out more. Further down, we visit pro wrestling in Rainham, look at the new mural in Rats Bay, take in an experimental silent film mashup, review Padrino in Rochester, and put together our pick of the week’s events. Let’s get to it.* --- #### Chatham gets an Art Junction *Earlier this year, the Café Nucleus Lounge on Military Road in Chatham suddenly and surprisingly closed. With the support of Nucleus Arts, the venue has been taken over and has become Art Junction. We speak to Sofia Macmullen about her plans for the space…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!GJai!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f37879a4e-a80f-4a85-b7a2-b122698cfe9c_4000x3000.jpg) Art Junction in Chatham. [Art Junction](https://www.instagram.com/artjunctionchatham?ref=localauthority.news) is a community space where “people can come and do arts and crafts and spend some time out of the house and have a cup of tea,” says Sofia. All the crafts and materials are available to buy there, and there is no need to book. “It’s a drop-in space for people to come and maybe meet other people and socialise.” Drop in services run on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10am and 4pm and on Saturdays between 1pm and 5pm. Art Junction operates out of the former Café Nucleus Lounge on Military Road in Chatham. “It was a project I wanted to do, the space was available, and I nagged [David ](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-people-are-your-rebels-they/)[*(Stokes)*](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-people-are-your-rebels-they/) until he let me do it.” Sofia felt the space was something that she would like to access as a parent, “somewhere people can come with their kids.” Craft packs start at 20p, with some packs £1, with the most expensive at £8\. “The idea is to keep it affordable.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!gNRg!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa58d6870-c71c-447a-8d7a-7be367267fee_3000x2250.jpg) Art Junction in Chatham. The space is somewhere you can come with a pound, sit down for an hour with a cup of tea and craft, “then that’s it, you have achieved something that day.” Sofia is aware that space hire can be increasingly expensive. “What I wanted is to have a community space, and people can hire the space to do different groups.” They currently host a chess club on a Wednesday (5.30-7pm), and they run a Dungeons and Dragons club for over 18s on Tuesdays (6-8pm). There is a back room available for hire on the drop-in days. “The only thing that people need to take into account is that people need to go through that room to go to the toilet.” If that isn’t a deal breaker, then speak to Sofia to hire the space as “I’m not using that back room at the moment.” The front room is available for hire when drop-ins or other clubs are not running. Since launching in July, it has received a positive response, though there is room for growth. “Obviously, it’s not as busy as Rochester, but hopefully soon it will be. People just need to know we’re here.” They also have a little shop at the front, and “we have some of the Get Ready artists selling their stuff here as well. It’s part of the same people, just trying to keep it community-based and helping local people with getting ahead and selling their art.” People still come in, thinking that it is a café space. “I’m to blame because I still haven’t got rid of the sign at the front.” Outside of a good but basic tea or coffee, there are no café or food servings available. “My idea is that it’s used for community projects or creative projects, and I’m hopefully, soon, starting to run workshops as well. I do have it booked for the end of December for a wreath-making workshop and a table decoration.” - *Steven Keevil* If you want to use Art Junction for your group or event, you can contact Sofia via email, *artjunction(AT)gmail(DOT)com*, “or they can come and just have a chat.” - *Steven Keevil* --- #### Wrestling returns to Rainham Parkwood Community Centre packed a hugely entertaining punch with an afternoon of pro-wrestling, where the passion for the sport was apparent, fuelled by an attentive audience eager for the action to begin. To say I enjoyed it more than expected is a bit of an understatement, as I was quickly pulled into the theatricality of the event. Although initially it can feel like pantomime (oh yes it can), you soon realise the precision and physicality that are required from the pros, all underpinned with a pinch of panache. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!rKTe!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdbc0c334-216f-4298-b5d7-2fce0cf3d519_3072x2304.jpg) UKPW’s Prince Dean. The setup itself is impressive with a WWE sized ring, multi-coloured lighting and lively music to build up the energy. MC Clark Andrews wasted no time in warming up the crowd of all ages, many of whom had been before and knew the drill. After reiterating the very sensible ‘don’t try this at home’ and ‘remain seated for your own safety’ advice, audience interactions were encouraged, the kids instructed to be as loud as possible, and various heckles, such as ‘Temu He-Man’ and comparing one of the wrestlers, Fentos, to a Fray Bentos pie, only enhanced the fun atmosphere. Indeed, each wrestler has a distinct look with the most memorable entrance coming from fan favourite Prince Dean, who strutted into the ring sporting neon yellow chaps over very fetching zebra print leggings, a fluorescent pink crown and heart-shaped goggles, all backed up by a bubble blowing machine. Each match wove its own story, and like the best ones, you were kept on your toes, with the end result not necessarily the one expected. Showing my age by recalling *Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends*, it would be a disservice to the skill on display to suggest each move is merely staged, as when sitting ringside, the sound of each slam on the canvas floor resonates across the room and echoes through spectators’ bones. And let’s not forget the smashes, crashes and twisted moustaches – unsurprisingly, with wrestlers flying out the ring and being jumped on from height, injuries can happen and aches felt once adrenaline has worn off. Although there is a focus on family-friendly fun, almost any body part is fair game, with nipples, fingers and other extremities all in the line of fire. There seems to be a symbiotic relationship between the wrestlers and their audience, strikingly noticeable during the combatants’ swaggering around the ring before each match kicks off, mouthing off insults to anyone daring to spout off a spot of shade, while soaking up each exchange. The finale brought the feel-good factor thanks to the tag team event righting an earlier wrong, and with a bonus appearance from the legendary Mama Andrews, everyone could leave happy. Pro wrestling in Parkwood provided a fun few hours, full of professionalism, passion and personalities. I can’t wait to return ringside before too long. - *Anne-Marie Jordan* *Find out more about* [*UKPW here*](https://www.ukpwwrestling.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and you can read our interview with* [*co-promoter Alex Gilbert*](https://www.localauthority.news/the-world-ended-and-so-did-my-hopes/)*.* --- #### Story of Water at Rats Bay A magnificent hand-painted mural has been unveiled across the front façade of the Rats Bay Pumping Station. The stunning [*Story of Water*](https://francisknight.co.uk/project/chatham-waterfront-pumping-station/?ref=localauthority.news), at over 20 metres long and consisting of 612 hand-painted ceramic tiles, was created by artists [Nicole Mollett](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-mollett-60143346/?ref=localauthority.news) and [José den Hartog](https://www.linkedin.com/in/josedenhartog/?ref=localauthority.news) to depict across the ages, the pivotal impact the river has played – and continues to – in the lives of Chatham and Medway residents. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!RYQR!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc7627eb4-a84a-4feb-853d-4f79579a0553_4080x3072.jpg) Story of Water. With research undertaken at Medway Archives, Greenwich Maritime Museum and Chatham Historic Dockyard, the striking images reflect the area’s strong connections to maritime heritage, historical and cultural figures and mythical tales, all underpinned by a recognition of the influence of the River Medway on ‘both the landscape and local identity.’ This love letter to this stretch of water, and its inescapable importance across all of Medway, is a beautiful legacy, and with over 600 tiles to choose from, take time to find a favourite. - *Anne-Marie Jordan* --- #### Review: Silents Synced The Odeon at Chatham Dockside recently screened the first ‘Silent Synced,’ a new approach created by independent cinema owner Josh Frank, where classic silent cinema films are paired with modern music to bestow a unique big screen experience on new audiences. The first in a planned series was *Radiohead X Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror,* which resurrected FW Murnau’s 1922 vampire classic *Nosferatu* and paired it with the seminal Kid A and Amnesiac from the turn of this century. Now, I am a great believer in giving something a go, however, the relentlessly ear-splitting soundtrack, ironically unsynced to specific scenes, meant this modern-day mash-up missed the mark for me, and rather than providing an enhanced experience, I felt like I had been shouted at non-stop for the entirety of the film. Rather than varying the intensity of the music or even allowing there to be moments of silence or quiet contemplation, the albums were allowed to just blare out, so inevitably, the tracks did not match the mood or intention of the scenes on screen. Like never before, I took on board the importance of, and skill in, scoring for a specific moment or movie. With amped up visuals and a full soundtrack, there were no lulls to allow the audience to absorb the story, empathise with the characters or even take a breath – and with a film like Nosferatu, I was surprised that they didn’t even try to shoehorn in one of Radiohead’s better known tracks, Creep. The chase scene, now overplayed with VERY LOUD music, reminded me of a Benny Hill sketch, which removed all sense of peril and properly pulled me out of the film. It was like the projectionist had received the wrong soundtrack, but popped it on regardless. Thus, in an attempt to multitask, simultaneously watching a film and listening to music, neither is done especially well. I also realised that in my bid to abide by Simon and Mayo and Mark Kermode’s [Code of Conduct](https://www.localauthority.news/content/files/5live/films/code%5Fof%5Fconduct.pdf), I need more practice at writing notes in the dark, as I could only just decipher some of my scrawls once returned to the light, which, somewhat appropriately, reflected my jarred and out-of-sorts state at the end of proceedings. However, any new attempt to encourage new audiences to attend cinemas should be applauded. Although this innovative idea was not matched in its execution, I am still tempted to give the next [Silents Synced – Buster Keaton’s ](https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/rem-x-buster-keatons-sherlock-jr/HO00007331/?ref=localauthority.news)[*Sherlock Jr.*](https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/rem-x-buster-keatons-sherlock-jr/HO00007331/?ref=localauthority.news)[ and R.E.M.’s Monster and New Adventures in Hi-Fi](https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/rem-x-buster-keatons-sherlock-jr/HO00007331/?ref=localauthority.news) – a go. But this time, I will be armed with my Loop earplugs and lowered expectations. - *Anne-Marie Jordan* --- #### Out for Dinner: Padrino Medway is home to dozens of pizza places, from chains to individual joints that serve you pizza whilst you vape. Is there a place to go and sit down and enjoy a pizza? Is [Padrino](https://www.padrino-pizza.com/?ref=localauthority.news) that place? Padrino has a prominent site at the end of Rochester High Street, which is confusing because they have moved into the spacious location of the former Rochester Bar across the road. The other important detail to note is that they are closed on Wednesdays, so don’t plan on going there then, like this writer did. Having got to the right venue on the right day, I was greeted by friendly staff and shown to my table in what is a large venue. I ordered the ‘special pizza’ on the chalkboard, not from the menu like a sucker. The ultimate meat feast, with pomodoro, fior di latte (flower of the milk, for those that don’t speak Italian), i.e. mozzarella, pepperoni, ground beef, salsiccia (sausage, I don’t speak Italian) and Nduja. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6kD6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffddff7b5-8144-4238-9115-8ab907187a4c_5712x3712.jpg) Food at Padrino. What is considered a reasonable price for a pizza these days? This pizza was delicious and generously portioned. I also had a delightful caramel cheesecake for dessert. The final bill was reasonably high, but excellent value based on flavour and atmosphere. - *Steven Keevil* --- #### Events this week 🖤 Sat 18 Oct - [**Broken Heart Bazaar**](https://www.facebook.com/events/938877548250470/) // Halloween edition of regular alternative market. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🪖 18 - 19 Oct - [**Medway History Showcase**](https://www.re-museum.co.uk/events/medway-history-showcase-4/?ref=localauthority.news) // An action-packed day of engagement inspired by Medway’s trade, travel, and settlement history. Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham. Free. 🥕 Sun 19 Oct - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🖥️ 24 - 26 Oct - [**Electric Medway Festival: Aurora**](https://www.electricmedway.org/festival.html?ref=localauthority.news) // Showcase of high-quality digital art made within the community. Various locations. Free. --- #### More Authority Ahead of our [Local Democracy Café](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/can-medway-make-you-happy-tickets-1794654543049?ref=localauthority.news) event next week, Steven [dug into the things that can impact happiness](https://www.localauthority.news/what-makes-medway-happy/) and pondered how much control we can have over some of them. He also talks to Medway Council leader Vince Maple about the council's role in the happiness of its residents. [What makes Medway happy?The Local Democracy Café is our new live forum to discuss issues and possible solutions facing Medway. Next week is our first discussion: Can Medway make you happy? This week, Steven looks into the concept of happiness, what role, if any, the state should have in yours and then speaks to the Leader of the Council, Vince Maple.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!U5y-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa0753d20-e504-4ee0-a1c2-63c452773b58_10201x3400.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/what-makes-medway-happy/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### What makes Medway happy? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-makes-medway-happy/ Last updated: 2025-10-16T09:01:28.000Z *The Local Democracy Café is our new live forum to discuss issues and possible solutions facing Medway. Next week is our first discussion:* [*Can Medway make you happy?*](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/can-medway-make-you-happy-tickets-1794654543049?ref=localauthority.news) *This week, Steven looks into the concept of happiness, what role, if any, the state should have in yours and then speaks to the Leader of the Council, Vince Maple.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!U5y-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa0753d20-e504-4ee0-a1c2-63c452773b58_10201x3400.jpg) Rochester and the RIver Medway. Before the local elections in 2023, I wrote about the suggestion that the council create a new Cabinet position: Portfolio Holder for Medway’s Happiness. We also looked into Gross National Happiness. You can [read all about it here](https://www.localauthority.news/the-pursuit-of-medway-happiness/). As I wrote at the time: > *“Communities could foster happiness; Jeremy Bentham talked about the greatest good for the greatest number. Happiness can seem too subjective and vague to serve as a milestone, yet asking people whether they are happy, or satisfied with their lives offers important information about communities.”* What is happiness? Aristotle believed that happiness and success result from cultivating virtue at the mean between deficiency and excess - the golden mean. Not having too little or too much, or doing too little or too much, or being too little or too much. In his book ‘Happy,’ Derren Brown said happiness is a chimaera: it is imaginary and deceiving in many of its forms. For it to be solid, our happiness would not rely on fortuity or what we happen to *have*. It would be fundamentally about who we *are*. When fundamentally looking at who we are, our attention can understandably be drawn to [Maslow’s hierarchy of needs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s%5Fhierarchy%5Fof%5Fneeds?ref=localauthority.news). Maslow was an American psychologist who became famous for his self-actualisation focus on psychology, which he described as “to become everything that one is capable of becoming.” The hierarchy represents five needs arranged from basic to highest, with the idea being that you cannot achieve the highest without the lower needs. These are: 1. **Physiological needs**: These include needs that keep us alive, such as food, water, shelter, warmth, and sleep. 2. **Safety needs**: The need to feel secure, stable, and unafraid. 3. **Love and belongingness needs**: The need to belong socially by developing relationships with friends and family. 4. **Esteem needs**: The need to feel self-esteem based on one’s achievements and abilities, and esteem based on recognition and respect from others. 5. **Self-actualisation needs**: The need to pursue and fulfil one’s unique potential. When considering whether the state should be involved in the happiness of its citizens, there are some who would at best be wary, and others outwardly hostile to the idea that government has any business in your happiness business. As Ronald Reagan (in)famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’” In our modern culture, with a climate crisis, a housing crisis, a cost-of-living crisis, a perpetual NHS crisis, and an impending annual bin crisis, can we really look at Maslow’s hierarchy and say that we don’t want the state, in a variety of forms, to help? “Poorly functioning countries are often unhappy in their own idiosyncratic way,” said [Tim Besley](https://www.localauthority.news/content/files/economics/Assets/Documents/personal-pages/tim-besley/working-papers/debating-the-size-of-government.pdf) of the London School of Economics when talking about the size of government. There are studies which show that Maslow’s work overlooked subjective and objective aspects of human need, with evidence of those achieving self-actualisation without the lower levels of need, whilst there are those who reach a form of happiness without self-actualisation. Later in life, Maslow introduced the concept of self-transcendence, moving above those requirements. Nobel Prize Laureate Daniel Khanemann once published research stating, “Happiness rises with income, but there is no further progress beyond $75,000,” though later evidence showed that it more accurately showed that an increase in income staved off unhappiness for a while. There is a wave of 90s nostalgia for a variety of reasons, however the most significant return that would improve people’s lives and local communities is the return of disposable income. Supporting people to leave their homes, engage with their local social clubs, take part in creative pursuits and pursue self-actualisation. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the next four years will see further reductions in disposable income. “This fall of 1.3% over the parliament would represent the worst outcome for living standards of any parliament since records began in 1961\. This is particularly painful for households as it comes on the back of the previous worst record 5-year parliament — with a real fall of 0.5% — leaving households facing over a decade with no real-terms increase in disposable incomes.” When we look at the shit show that is social media, and what [Cory Doctorow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory%5FDoctorow?ref=localauthority.news) describes as ‘[enshittification](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification?ref=localauthority.news),’ do we want to leave our hierarchy of needs to the markets? Thatcher’s ‘right to buy’ programme not only significantly increased home ownership in the country, but it also directly led to a significant market failure that we are living through today. As [Ed reported in May](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-housing-more-unaffordable/), Medway housing is now more unaffordable than ever, with average private rent up 11.3% on the previous year. The failure to enable the building of more council housing to replace the sold stock has led to the uncomfortable truth that ‘affordable housing’ is not affordable for those on the lowest incomes, but I digress. I caught up with Medway Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) to talk about happiness in Medway and, first of al,l about my original article and why there isn’t a portfolio holder for Medway’s happiness. “I think it’s a really interesting question,” said Vince in his customary diplomatic start, “because, internationally, nationally, people say, how do you measure the success of a country? People will talk about GDP, but then the happiest place to live or the best place to live probably isn’t number one on the GDP scale.” Vince goes on to talk about “That is about ultimately quality of life, which I think as a council, we’ve got a key role to look at from many aspects, both the obvious ones, culture, leisure, but also perhaps ones you don’t immediately think of as well.” Vince highlights the importance of knowing that your children are going to a good school or are safe in the community. “That is about people feeling positive about where they live.” Maybe there will be a Portfolio Holder for Medway Positivity in the next cabinet reshuffle. I asked Vince how he would analyse whether the Medway population is happier in 2028 than they were in 2023\. For Vince, pride in place is an important aspect of this. “People who look at social media will often see me using the hashtag ‘Proud to be Medway.’ Unsurprising news, Leader of council is proud of the community that he leads.” For Vince, people can find civic pride, that determines that their place is a good place in many different ways. “Just this week, lots of people will be happy because two of our football teams are in the FA Cup for the first round.” Vince goes on to highlight that [Balvinder Sopal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balvinder%5FSopal?ref=localauthority.news), an actress who calls Medway her home, is having a successful run on Strictly Come Dancing. “For somebody else, it will be about the fact that we’ve got eight brilliant green flag parks and that they’re part of perhaps a friends group making those parks stay the same way.” Vince thinks people will look back on his administration and their life generally in Medway and feel happier, but he acknowledges that for others, “it will be a mixed picture.” I ask Vince to highlight anything he feels the administration has done that would directly lead to an improvement in happiness. “I think the fact that we are certainly getting on with maintaining and enhancing our green spaces. We think that gives people quality of life.” He highlights the work the council are doing through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. “The approach that we’ve taken with that, rather than the council just deciding things, allowing the community and often new community groups to come forward with ideas that we’ve been able to support. That’s about building pride in place.” Vince highlights the work of Child Friendly Medway, and the ‘good’ Ofsted result is an example of showing people that their children matter. “It’s about improving life chances through greater focus on things like literacy.” We speak about the real and genuine challenge of the loneliness epidemic. “It manifests itself differently, particularly in age ranges. For younger people, you’re massively connected through social media, but actually, are they feeling that human connection as well? At the other end of the age spectrum, particularly where a husband and wife, one of them passes away, and they’re living that life individually, perhaps their family is not near them. I think throughout life, there are potential situations where people can fall into the loneliness trap.” Vince acknowledges that it is a role for the council, working with the charity and third sector to “try and put in place as much as we can” and ensure, where practically possible, “we can stop people falling into that loneliness trap.” Before I let Vince go, I take the opportunity to ask what makes him happy. “People have heard me say this. I have the two best jobs in the world. I’m the dad to a seven-year-old who is amazing, but also I have the privilege of trying to make a positive difference to the community that I call home and improve the lives of 292,000 people. That can be stressful, it can be emotional, it can be frustrating, but it really does make me happy. It makes me proud of what people do every single day across Medway to make this the best place it can be.” [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!jXy9!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3d33c67e-fb67-408d-8a31-830df353067e_2160x1080.jpg)](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/can-medway-make-you-happy-tickets-1794654543049?ref=localauthority.news) *Join us to discuss this further at our first Local Democracy Café at 7.30pm on Thursday 23 October at MidKent College. Attending the café is free, but booking is essential. You can* [*reserve your spot via Eventbrite*](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/can-medway-make-you-happy-tickets-1794654543049?ref=localauthority.news)*.* [Book your spot here](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/can-medway-make-you-happy-tickets-1794654543049?ref=localauthority.news) ### Labour office vandalised amid rising tensions URL: https://www.localauthority.news/labour-office-vandalised-amid-rising/ Last updated: 2025-10-14T14:25:36.000Z *It’s no secret that politics is becoming more polarised. An ominous sign of that reached Medway this week, with a brick being used to smash the window of the Labour Party office in Rochester. In that light, a planned far-right march in the town this weekend by UKIP (who are, apparently, still a thing) threatens to stoke tensions even further. Plus, we’ve got news from the latest Medway Matters Live event, where weariness replaced hostility, and a look at this week’s full council agenda. Let’s get to it.* --- #### Labour office vandalised amid rising tensions It was sometime after dark on a Thursday night when someone picked up a brick and launched it through the front window of a political office in Rochester. No warning, no slogan, no claim. Just broken glass on Maidstone Road, left for activists to discover the next morning. On paper, it may look like simple vandalism. In reality, it lands in a climate where politics is growing angrier and lines once understood are beginning to fray. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!1Q2N!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f50938963-990a-4b7d-89e8-d8a350ef7e6b_1200x900.jpg) The smashed window at the Rochester and Strood Labour office. The Rochester and Strood Labour Party confirmed the attack took place overnight on 9 October, with the damage estimated at around £550\. In a statement, local Rochester and Strood Labour Chair Stephen McCormack condemned what he called a “cowardly act,” noting that the office is staffed entirely by volunteers who “give their own time to serve our community, support residents, and promote democracy through peaceful and respectful means.” He warned that “No one who volunteers their time for the good of others should ever feel unsafe or targeted for their beliefs,” and urged that disagreements must be settled “at the ballot box or through respectful and open debate.” That sentiment drew rare cross-party agreement. The Medway Liberal Democrats said “no one should feel threatened for helping others or campaigning for their beliefs.” The Medway Conservatives described the incident as “an escalation in the political climate locally” and said that “violence has no place in our community.” Rochester and Strood Reform also condemned the attack, stating there is “never an excuse for violence, intimidation or vandalism against any political party or individual,” although their statement added that “no party or politician should label people as ‘racist’ or ‘fascist’ simply for holding different political views.” The attack comes at a moment when politics in Medway is becoming more polarised. In recent months, the area has seen a rise in nationalist and anti-immigration activism, with flag displays and online campaigns increasingly moving into public demonstrations. In the coming weeks, Medway is set to host two protests, one organised by UKIP in Rochester this weekend (more on that below) and another organised by the five guys putting up nearly all of the flags in Medway later in the month. These events are lawful, but they reflect a shift from debate to mobilisation and contribute to a sense of growing tension. This pattern reflects wider national concerns. The murders of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess remain stark reminders of how political hostility can turn lethal. Councillors, too, report rising abuse, threats at public meetings, and harassment online. Some have chosen not to stand again, citing the toll on their families. What was once dismissed as ‘rough-and-tumble politics’ is increasingly recognised as something more corrosive. There will be those who insist this was simply mindless damage, unrelated to ideology. That might be true. But when a political office is targeted, the impact carries meaning beyond intent. These offices are not symbols of power. They are where pensioners bundle newsletters and new members argue over leaflet design. They rely on people feeling safe enough to walk through the door. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!1xJU!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1342ebe3-903d-4a8e-9947-5e540fda4e98_1200x900.jpg) The prime suspect at the scene. McCormack insisted Labour “will not be deterred”, saying the party remains “united, resilient, and committed to the values of democracy, fairness, and community.” Yet the fact that such reassurance is needed hints at a changing political landscape. A brick through a window may not stop an election campaign, but it can unsettle those who usually keep it running quietly in the background. With no elections on the horizon, it is difficult to judge how much difference this will make to campaigning once the time comes. Rochester and Strood, once a Conservative stronghold, is now a three-way battleground. The question for all parties will not simply be how they campaign, but how they conduct themselves in a way that lowers rather than raises the temperature. Kent Police are investigating the incident, but we all know how likely it is that anyone will be identified. Whoever is responsible may not have intended to make a political statement. But intention is only one part of impact. In the current climate, a brick through a window cannot be written off as routine. The months ahead will test more than policy. They will test restraint. They will test whether Medway’s politics can remain combative without becoming destructive. Condemnations are necessary. What follows, in language and behaviour, will show whether this is treated as an isolated act or a sign that the storm is already gathering. --- #### Strap in, it’s full council time Thursday sees another full council meeting at Medway Council, and despite efforts to make meetings shorter and smoother, another packed agenda suggests we may well be sitting there past midnight once again. Here are the highlights we have to look forward to: - Four motions. The Conservatives have one on the council’s reliance on government Exceptional Financial Support to stay viable. Reform has one on limiting HMOs, something the council seems to be moving toward anyway (more on that below). Independent Group councillor Ron Sands has some excellent shithousery to push the Labour administration to support the designation of Hoo as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, something they supported while in opposition. Finally, Labour have a motion supporting the return of international rail services to Kent. - Some spicy questions, including one from Independent Group councillor Michael Pearce about officers calling councillors xenophobic, and one from Reform’s David Finch on how awful it is that Labour want to remove flags. - Plans for Medway Council to build their own care home on the doomed Innovation Park Medway plan site. - Independent councillor Chris Spalding faces censure after being found guilty of bullying a resident by the Councillor Conduct Committee. He is supposed to have written a fulsome apology letter. Instead, he seems to be coming out swinging and claiming the allegations were malicious and that Medway Council handled the matter inappropriately. - Most controversially, changes are proposed to who can submit motions at council meetings, which would see Labour, being the administration, stitching up most of the slots. Under a proposed equity system, political groups would only be able to submit motions based on the number of councillors they have. As such, Labour would get half of the motions each year, the Conservatives a guaranteed slot at each meeting, while the Independent Group, Reform, and independent councillor Chris Spalding would have to fight for the scraps of the two remaining slots, meaning at least one group wouldn’t even be able to submit a motion for an entire year. Unsurprisingly, smaller groups are not thrilled by this development, with new Reform recruit Robbie Lammas being particularly excised by this, issuing a statement that described the changes as “anti-democratic.” You can read the full agenda for Thursday’s council meeting [here](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6311&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Article 4 and the limits of persuasion Medway Council brought its Medway Matters Live roadshow to the Glassbox Theatre at MidKent College last week, where around 100 residents gathered to hear from council leader Vince Maple and Chief Executive Richard Hicks. While the [previous event in Hoo](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-matters-live-hits-different/) crackled with confrontation, this one felt more subdued, marked by weary scepticism rather than anger. The political mood was clear before the evening began. A bloc of Reform supporters, many in party t-shirts (including one in the famous ‘Farage 10’ football shirt, perhaps [won in an essay contest](https://www.localauthority.news/farage-football-shirt-offered-as/) from a local school), gathered outside with [newly defected](https://www.localauthority.news/princes-park-councillor-defects-to/) councillor [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) before filing into the first rows. They remained largely silent throughout. Several Labour Cabinet members were also present, alongside a lone Liberal Democrat. There was no sign of Conservatives or Greens. Maple opened by confirming Medway will move ahead with an Article 4 direction to restrict HMOs, dismissing Green calls to “ban landlords” as “crazy.” He also repeated his frustration with local buses, declaring “I hate Arriva,” which drew one of the warmest reactions of the night. Hicks, occupying his familiar “live, work, learn, visit” territory, followed with familiar optimism about Medway’s future, while describing the council’s approach to local government reorganisation (LGR) as the “bold option,” admired by other councils, despite it being a path none of the others were willing to pursue. The first public questions focused on LGR. What happens to Medway’s debt if the council is abolished? Maple acknowledged the strange reality of “a council that doesn’t exist owing money to a council that doesn’t exist,” hinting some debt may be erased in transition, though that feels more like [hopium](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/hopium?ref=localauthority.news) than something likely to happen. Hicks warned against expectations of financial gain, stating there would not be significant savings. When the room was asked how many had heard of LGR before the event, only around a quarter raised their hands, suggesting more work needs to be done to get the word out, and that there is a worrying number of Medway residents not subscribed to this publication. Housing quickly dominated. Why keep building when services are already strained? Maple cited 1,000 children in temporary accommodation as justification and blamed permitted development rights for HMOs that bypass local planning. A question on veterans being pushed out while others arrive led him to reference a proposal to increase the residency requirement for social housing from two to three years. It was presented as fairness, though it received little reaction. The evening’s most personal moment came during a discussion on Chatham High Street. A woman, describing boarded shops, drug use and feeling unsafe, broke down in tears. “I just do not sleep ever. My health is going.” Maple and Hicks promised to follow up, but assurances about events such as Super Saturday did little to bridge the gap between policy and lived experience. Homelessness questions drew comparisons with Maidstone, which one resident claimed manages it better. Maple admitted Medway does not know how many rough sleepers it currently has, even as £42m is being spent on 150 new temporary accommodation homes. Rumours that Lewisham had bought properties in Grain were denied, but demonstrate how easily false information can be circulated in our communities. Where Hoo brought confrontation, MidKent brought restraint. The council set out its case for difficult choices ahead, but with major plans such as LGR unfamiliar to most in the room, it is unclear whether events like this are building understanding or simply outlining decisions already made. --- #### Outsiders come over here, do their protests Rochester will host a march this weekend promoted by figures linked to UKIP, with anti-racism campaigners preparing a counter-demonstration in response. The event is scheduled to begin near Rochester station on Saturday afternoon, before moving along Corporation Street and into the High Street. Organiser Roger Hogg and UKIP leader Nick Tenconi are presenting it as a “patriotic gathering” focused on “women and children” and opposing immigration. [Speaking to KentOnline](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-need-to-start-talking-to-each-other-further-protests-a-330585/?ref=localauthority.news), Hogg said they have asked participants to keep it “family friendly,” with no masks, alcohol or abusive chanting. Yet despite selecting Rochester, there is no indication that those planning it are based in Medway or involved in local political life. The town has been chosen as a stage, not as a constituency. Local reaction so far is minimal. An attendee of a meeting of Rochester High Street traders noted that most were largely unaware that any march was planned. The gap between those passing through and those living here may prove more telling than anything that happens on Saturday. The counter-protest, led by the Kent Anti-Racism Network under the banner ‘Rochester Says No to UKIP,’ sees the event as part of a broader attempt to inject far-right themes into everyday spaces. Rochester has seen this play out before. During the 2014 by-election, Britain First attempted a presence in the town, only to be forced out by anti-racism campaigners who refused to let them claim the streets uncontested. Another demonstration on similar themes is being promoted for 1 November outside Gun Wharf. Whether these protests reflect growing momentum or simply louder rhetoric remains unclear. A recent UKIP march in Margate drew scarcely nine people. Even in politically charged times, numbers on the ground rarely match noise online. For most residents, the question is not about the right to protest, but about relevance. Medway has its own arguments, over housing, buses, council services, and it is far from obvious how a leader of an also-ran political party [famed for doing Nazi salutes](https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/politics/proscribe-ukip-who-is-leader-nick-tenconi-396521/?ref=localauthority.news) will speak to any of them. Saturday is unlikely to decide anything, but it may show whether Medway is willing to absorb external grievances or push back against them. The march will arrive in Rochester. Whether anyone from Rochester walks with it is another matter entirely. --- #### In brief 🇵🇸 Around 200 pro-Palestinian campaigners [protested outside of BAE Systems in Rochester](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/a-distant-war-reaches-the-gates-of?ref=localauthority.news) last week, demanding that the company stop supplying weapons to Israel. 🏗️ In a move that has become increasingly common, the developer behind the Acorn Wharf scheme in Rochester has immediately put the site up for sale after gaining planning permission. [The advert for the £6.6m 132 home development](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/168106157?ref=localauthority.news#/?channel=COM%5FBUY) even emphasises ‘no affordable housing’ as a selling point. 🏠 In other Rochester property news, the lovely 1800s house at the bottom of Star Hill is up for sale. If you’re interested in a six-bedroom house in the centre of town with an entirely separate annexe, [it can be yours for £700,000](https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/167965847?fbclid=IwY2xjawNbA-NleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFCOGkzZjVkSlJNNjN4ZXVKAR7cM-HwJkJDyKAnV6gAqGQbI0obpvuzX3m5s%5FXyiRAcHF7oNDqoswiC3MKh9A%5Faem%5FpQbUB73M7yixlOGsrTHH1A&ref=localauthority.news#/?channel=RES%5FBUY). 🏢 A planning application has been submitted to [add additional storeys to a Chatham High Street building](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T3VIZNKNL5W00&ref=localauthority.news) that includes several shops, including Vision Express and Holland & Barrett. The three additional levels would include 24 flats with horrendously shaped rooms that barely meet the minimum space requirements. 🖥️ Medway Council is using [AI technology to allow hundreds of older people to live independently](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c87yqe3y73yo?ref=localauthority.news) in their homes. Data suggests that for every £1 spent on the scheme, £45 is saved in wider caring costs. 📣 Kent County Council and Medway Council are [to work together on Brand Kent](https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/brand-kent-reinstating-a-visitor-economy-and-inward-investment-service?ref=localauthority.news), in an effort to continue the work of the recently shuttered Visit Kent and Locate in Kent. --- #### More Authority In our Friday edition, we heard from Muslim and Jewish communities in Medway about their [challenges in the current environment](https://www.localauthority.news/faith-safety-and-human-connection/). We also listened to a new EP that links Tokyo and Chatham, reviewed the Royal Crown in Rochester, and looked at upcoming Medway events. [Faith, safety and human connectionFollowing on from our piece earlier this week on the safety of the Jewish community in Medway, today we hear from Ajaib Hussain of Medway Inter Faith Action on the challenges facing our religious communities. Further down, we hear about a new EP that links Tokyo to Chatham, which our music writer Stephen Morris reviews for us. On top of that, we review …![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!h7OY!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff814a424-2904-4484-91fa-63c8828465e5_1600x838.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/faith-safety-and-human-connection/) For our weekend interview, Steven sat down with [Lucy Mason](https://www.localauthority.news/work-based-learning-for-me-was-everything/), Work-Based Learning Manager at Medway Maritime Hospital, about her role and journey. [“Work-based learning for me was everything”Lucy Mason is a MidKent College alumna who was recently awarded a Special Stakeholder Award by the organisation. She is now responsible for apprenticeships at Medway Maritime Hospital, where Steven met her to talk about her journey from hairdressing student to hairdressing lecturer, her work with supported internships, and why if you can get paid for learning, would you do it any other way?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WlLo!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f57d37e7c-ce35-4e6f-8452-44cbc46407c7_2000x1500.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/work-based-learning-for-me-was-everything/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “Work-based learning for me was everything” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/work-based-learning-for-me-was-everything/ Last updated: 2026-02-26T09:51:36.000Z *Lucy Mason is a MidKent College alumna who was recently awarded a* [*Special Stakeholder Award*](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/recognition-for-hospital-staff-working-behind-the-scenes/?ref=localauthority.news) *by the organisation. She is now responsible for apprenticeships at Medway Maritime Hospital, where Steven met her to talk about her journey from hairdressing student to hairdressing lecturer, her work with supported internships, and why if you can get paid for learning, would you do it any other way?* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WlLo!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f57d37e7c-ce35-4e6f-8452-44cbc46407c7_2000x1500.jpg) Lucy Mason **What is your official occupation?** I am a Work-Based Learning Manager, and I manage the apprenticeships and widening participation projects at the hospital. Bit of a mouthful. **Do you have a medical background?** No, I don’t. I have an education background. **How did you come to work at the hospital?** I’ve been at the hospital five years. I saw an advert for looking for someone to look after apprenticeships and supported internships. They’re two things that don’t necessarily go hand in hand. I knew the advert was calling me. There are not many people that can do both. I saw it and took the opportunity to come to the hospital and start a new career, start something different. **What does your average day entail?** I’ve got a hybrid role, so I can work from home or in the hospital. I get to work mainly from my laptop, and then equally, I go to different education establishments and talk to young people. I help to organise careers events. I also give one-to-one careers advice to staff. I’ve even signed up to do an apprenticeship myself. I’m doing Careers Guidance, so I’ll be doing a lot more of that every day, so I can gain my evidence for my apprenticeship, which starts in October. I speak to people about what an apprenticeship is, the different programmes available, and sign people up to apprenticeships. You’ve actually caught me at a really busy time at the moment because September is our largest intake. It’s heavily paperwork driven, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. **What is a supported internship?** A supported internship is for students aged 16 to 25 who have learning difficulties or disabilities and have an educational healthcare plan in place. A training provider provides the employability skills, English and maths and the wraparound skills required to get work, and then they find an employer, which is where we come in. We help support them in work to put those skills into practice for up to 12 months, and then hopefully find employment at the end, whether it’s with us or with someone else. **There’ll be many readers who are only aware of A-levels. Could you explain what a T-level is?** So, a T-level, which is based at a college or a sixth form, is an academic qualification which is equivalent to three A-levels in, for example, health or science and digital. They’re the three we’re working with at the moment. Then, as part of that full-time course at college, they come to us for a work placement for 315 hours. We currently host health, science, and digital skills placements for students, and some students have recently started their eight-week placement with us. **How many students are you able to support in an academic year?** We currently have 20 students on placement with us, the largest number we have ever had. **What makes someone a Special Stakeholder?** Well, me apparently. It was a bit of a shock to get the award, but I think being a Special Stakeholder is about working with partners to create opportunities for young people in our community. We’re a big organisation, we’ve got a lot of people that we need to talk to about what a T-level is, what work experience is, what internships are. I’m there to be the buffer, to spread the love and to motivate the teams at the hospital to consider providing young people with a placement and helping them to gain employment later down the line, whether that’s with the hospital or somewhere else. **What is that stakeholder aspect? What does that mean?** What it means is, we come to the table with MidKent College as a prime stakeholder in gaining opportunities, whether it’s work experience or employment, at the hospital. It’s just opening those doors and going above and beyond to get those young people in and to hopefully help build our workforce for the future. **And due to the nature of the students or the T-levels, is MidKent College the only educational place you work with?** We work with lots of different schools locally. Obviously, MidKent is our local college. We do use our T-level students from them. However, we have worked with other colleges before, and we work with local Medway and Kent schools for work experience placements. Your traditional work experience placements as well, that’s another thing that we do. **Do you work with people at university level or post-grad level?** My role is to work with school and college students or young people with educational healthcare plans up to the age of 25\. We do work with university students, but a different department looks after that aspect. **If someone wanted to do their placement with the hospital, do they apply to you, or do they go to the college or the school?** [Candidates can apply directly to us for their placement](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/work-with-us/work-experience-opportunities/?ref=localauthority.news). With T-level students, because of our relationship with MidKent, we take applications from their students, but we also have an advert on our website, and we would consider any school, sixth form or other colleges who want their T-level students to do their placement with us. **Let’s go back to the beginning. Where were you born?** I was born in Chatham. **What brought your parents to Medway?** I’m not even going to try to be funny. My mum is from Rochester, and my dad is from Maidstone, and he moved over to Rochester because my mum was so fantastic, and then they had me. **What jobs did they do when you were growing up?** My mum was a housewife, and she looked after three children. That was enough. And my dad was an electrician. He did an apprenticeship, actually, just get that in there. I think they all did back then. **Is there any difference to apprenticeships now to how people would have understood apprenticeships 30 years ago?** Yes, even ten years ago. It’s constantly evolving and moving. Back in the day, an apprenticeship was five years long. Today, it’s very different. Equally, now anyone can be an apprentice, whether you are 16 or 60, any age really. It’s about you gaining the funding through that route and then learning those new skills on the job. In fact, 95% of our apprentices are upskilled from current staff. **Did you enjoy school?** Yes and no… I enjoyed the break times and talking to friends. I disliked lessons and being told what to do. **Did you stay on for sixth form?** No. **What did you do instead?** I went to college because that was the better environment for me, and did hairdressing. **Was it just hairdressing?** Well, back in the day, it was hairdressing, beauty and wig making. Now I really am showing my age. I did hairdressing full-time at City Way campus. **Any advice on anyone looking to make a wig?** You know what, I had those skills, and I never really implemented them apart from through some competition work. I’ve definitely lost that skill because I no longer do hairdressing, but back then, it was something I really enjoyed. **Was college a better environment for you?** Much better for me, yeah. I identified that I had a learning difficulty while I was at college, then everything made sense. It’s also when my education blossomed, to be fair. **How long did you stay at college for?** Well, technically, I stayed there for 17 years. From the educational point of view, it was probably two years, then I left to work as a hairdresser, and then I went back as a hairdressing apprentice. I did my Level 3 as an adult when I was 21. **Have you ever gone to university for any additional courses?** Once I left MidKent College, I went back part-time as an assessor, and they put me through all of my teaching qualifications. I can’t even think of what it’s called now. All learning on the job, which is the best thing for me. That’s why I do this job. **How did you find teaching young people, who, potentially like you, were coming out of school not knowing what they do next?** That’s exactly why I did it. My first job was teaching 12 students that were disengaged in school. None of them were going to school. They came to me to do hairdressing every Friday, to help get them back into school. And they did go back to school. I was 21 myself at the time, but I think that gave me the edge with those young people to try and mould them into making the right decisions in their education. **Then you moved to teaching in a different department?** Yeah, after teaching hairdressing and coaching new staff, I then decided to look for a role within supported learning. Foundation education, looking after vulnerable adults, NEETs *(Not in Education, Employment, or Training)*, again getting them engaged with and into education and supporting them with their learning disabilities. **Have any of those experiences helped you in the role you now have?** Oh, most definitely. Equally, those connections that you make. Those connections I made at 21 at the college have continued to grow and develop. It is about those connections, and it’s about all of those referral places and systems that can then help our staff, as well as young people, to direct them to the right places and get that experience. **How did you find that experience of actually teaching people how to do hair?** I went in wanting to teach hairdressing because that was what I loved to do. I wanted to share that passion with those people. Then I quickly realised that it wasn’t necessarily that. The hairdressing was getting them in, but it was the wrap-around support and care of those individuals that you were working with. For example, we’ve got staff working at the hospital now who were my hairdressing students. It’s bizarre because what we’re doing is preparing them for life and providing them with transferable skills. It isn’t necessarily about them being a hairdresser. Hairdressing is what got them through the door. As soon as I realised that, that’s when I took that step over to foundation education to help build those skills, to build that foundation so they can move on. **Do you remember making the transition from being a hairdressing student to working in a hairdressing salon?** Definitely. But I was still constantly learning. I was learning in the salon to implement my skills and adapt them. It was a journey, and one I enjoyed. It did me well. I loved it. I had a good time. Even now, I’m still learning. Every day is a school day. You’re like a sponge, aren’t you, for everything that you do. People come to me with questions about apprenticeships, and I’m like, “Let me find out,” because I don’t know everything. **What was your first full-time job?** I worked in a Co-op behind the till. Loved every minute of it, working evenings, chatting to the customers. I’d go back tomorrow. Absolutely loved it. Working and talking to the public. **Who is the most famous person you are one degree of separation from?** I’m going to say [Jonathan Shaw](https://www.localauthority.news/i-had-my-appraisal-with-the-electorate/). He is great. He’s created a lot of opportunities for me through his Medway leadership program. He’s got me to come and talk, and that really helps my confidence, because I know I come across as confident, but inside I’m rocking. But he’s been creating some opportunities to go and talk to other leaders and share the practices of what we’re doing, which is great because it’s really impacting locally. **What do you do to unwind and relax?** Gardening, spending time with my dog, going on holidays, but I’ve not had any recently, which is horrible, and watching rubbish TV that my husband will come in, shake his head at, grunt and moan and then walk away from. Stuff I haven’t got to think about basically. **Where do you like to go for dinner in Medway?** The Turkish restaurant on the top road called [Galata](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant%5FReview-g503915-d21271473-Reviews-Galata%5FMezze-Rainham%5FKent%5FEngland.html?ref=localauthority.news). **What advice would you have for any parents who’ve got young adults in their household who are disengaged in terms of helping them to find a way forward?** My advice would be to support them along that journey, whatever that journey may look like, and to be there for them. There are places, training providers and provisions that can help you. I would start at your local college for course information and then reach out to employers, like Medway Maritime Hospital, that offer work experience programmes and opportunities. This year, we’re working with seven young people from Brighter Futures who don’t know what they want to do career wise. And actually, if we can help them decide where they want to go or where they definitely don’t want to go, that’s one less thing on their list to worry about. **What are the main risks of someone potentially failing a T-level or a supported internship?** I don’t think it’s a case of failing from an employment point of view. We work with the supported interns throughout the programme to develop those work experience skills at their own pace. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed if you don’t get a job at the end of it, because it’s about developing those skills as you go and getting them ready for the next step. With T-level students, we run the 315-hour placement, which goes towards their academic qualification. We’re part of the curriculum and the development, we’re like that rubber stamp at the end to say, ‘let’s implement what you’ve learned into the workplace and give you that experience’, and that’s what we do. It’s also our job to try and find employment for them. This year, we’ve found three jobs for T-level students, all permanent positions within the hospital. That’s our largest year yet, so onwards and upwards. **If you can do work-based learning and get paid, why learn any other way?** Exactly! That’s a good strap line. I might steal that, Steven. I think it’s important that there are options for everyone and that you follow the pathway for your learning that’s right for you. Work-based learning for me was everything. That’s how I learned. Some people would prefer academic classroom-based learning, and that’s great for them. It’s about doing the right thing for you and your own learning. **What advice would you have for a young person about to start an apprenticeship?** The advice would be that if you get any problems or you’re not sure, then to reach out and ask questions. It’s important to ask questions, to be honest and to nip any concerns in the bud. --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*.* *If you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, email* [*Steven*](mailto:steven@localauthority.news)*.* *Steven Keevil still manages to watch hundreds of films a year. He recommends* [*Thief*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQdgQs7ozdw&ref=localauthority.news)*. He listened to no music whilst writing this, but recommends reading* [*Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall*](https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/prisoners-of-geography-10th-anniversary-edition-ten-maps-that-tell-you-everything-you-need-to-know-about-global-politics-tim-marshall/7727228?ean=9781783968596&next=t&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Faith, safety and human connection URL: https://www.localauthority.news/faith-safety-and-human-connection/ Last updated: 2025-10-10T14:02:19.000Z *Following on from our piece earlier this week on the safety of the Jewish community in Medway, today we hear from Ajaib Hussain of Medway Inter Faith Action on the challenges facing our religious communities. Further down, we hear about a new EP that links Tokyo to Chatham, which our music writer Stephen Morris reviews for us. On top of that, we review Sunday lunch at the Royal Crown, look ahead to the week’s events, and more.* --- #### Faith, safety and human connection in Medway *In our* [*Tuesday edition*](https://www.localauthority.news/princes-park-councillor-defects-to/)*, we featured an interview with* [*Dalia Halpern-Matthews*](https://www.localauthority.news/its-really-important-for-people-to/)*, the Chair of Trustees at* [*Chatham Memorial Synagogue*](https://www.chathamshul.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, about the safety of the Medway Jewish community following the attack at Manchester Synagogue on Yom Kippur. Since then, there has been an arson attack at Peacehaven mosque in East Sussex. We are following up our Tuesday piece with a statement from* [*Ajaib Hussain*](https://www.localauthority.news/lets-look-for-a-brighter-future/)*, Chair of* [*Medway Inter Faith Action*](https://www.medwayinterfaith.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and the second part of our conversation with Dalia.* In a statement received by *Local Authority*, Medway Interfaith Action (MIFA) “condemned in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack on the synagogue in Manchester, in which innocent worshippers were killed and others gravely injured.” They stated that their “hearts go out to the victims, their families and friends of the people tragically attacked,” and that they send “sympathies and prayers to the whole Jewish community reeling from this tragedy.” They were equally “shocked and appalled by the latest arson attack targeting the Peacehaven mosque in East Sussex.” Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, but they highlighted “this follows a pattern of increasing Islamophobic attacks on Muslim individuals and Mosques across the country,” with over 12 reported incidents since last month alone. MIFA also condemned “these appalling acts of violence in the strongest possible terms.” The statement goes on to say that “we understand the profound pain when a place of worship is attacked. The right to practice one’s faith in peace and security is fundamental and must be protected for everyone. Any assault on this freedom is deeply distressing and must never be tolerated.” MIFA encourages residents to “remain calm and vigilant,” and they thanked the local police and civic leaders for their “support and reassurances during this difficult time.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!h7OY!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff814a424-2904-4484-91fa-63c8828465e5_1600x838.jpg) Medway Inter Faith Action’s Walk for Peace event. Following our conversation about the safety of Medway’s Jewish community on Tuesday, I spoke to Dalia about the response from the UK Home Secretary and news reports that had come out about the Israeli government inviting far-right thug Tommy Robinson to visit the country. “I’m pretty appalled, actually,” Dalia tells me about the comments from the Home Secretary about it being un-British to protest, “because to me, one of the beautiful things about being British is the freedoms we have, the democracy”. Amongst those is the right to protest. “That is so fundamental to being British.” Dalia finds Shabana Mahmood’s proposals to curb that freedom appalling. “That is one of those things that is going to wear down our freedoms and ultimately make us less safe.” Dalia believes that protests planned for Palestine should go ahead, despite the recent attack in Manchester. “It is really important that protest, if it’s the right thing, that we consider how we do it and that we are respectful, but we don’t lose that right to do so.” We also spoke about the Israeli government’s invitation to the far-right Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, popularly known as Tommy Robinson, who has been previously convicted of assault, using a fake passport, mortgage fraud, and contempt of court. “I find that unbelievable,” says Dalia. She tells me that a number of UK Jewish organisations, that she doesn’t necessarily agree with many aspects of, understand that he is not someone “we want to be associated with as Jews. He is not someone who is our friend.” Dalia tells me that for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has faced charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery, to associate himself with ‘Tommy Robinson’ is “a good demonstration perhaps of his own character.” We talk about how, just as with Christians and Muslims, “two Jews are not alike.” Whilst there are Jews who “believe in Zionism, who believe that Israel is our homeland,” there are some who do not. There are “some Jews that think that what Israel is doing in Gaza and the West Bank to be the right thing, and there are some who believe it is not.” The UN and multiple international organisations say Israel is committing a genocide, and Dalia tells me that “it’s important to point out firstly, that protest on Saturday against what Israel’s doing in Gaza was not inherently anti-Semitic. There were many Jews there who don’t agree with what’s being done. Some of those will have been Zionists and some of them will not have been Zionists.” Dalia found the statements about the protest immediately after the attacks, as “conflationist discourse,” disagreeing that Jews should have to choose whether we support the victims of the attack in Manchester or the Palestinians in Gaza or the West Bank. “The whole idea that liberty is something that must be protected, we need to understand that this is a wedge issue where the government use that as the lever to change a law. People might think that’s great, because of not understanding the full ramifications of how that can then be expanded to erode other rights.” Bringing it back to Medway, for Dalia, “is to understand that it’s not just about security. To create safety and to create the society that I think that we want, we need dialogue. We need true human connection.” --- #### Between Tokyo and Chatham *The end of September saw the release of an EP collaboration between Japan’s The 5.6.7.8’s and Chatham’s* [*Ludella Black*](https://www.localauthority.news/we-all-had-silly-names-given-to-us/)*. We spoke to Ludella about the collaboration, and after that, we have a review from our own music writer Stephen Morris.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!GvjF!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f90cdc248-51bb-4e0e-ae6e-597fc096dc64_3000x3000.jpg) Beat Girls EP Ludella Black was a singer with The Delmonas, a 60s style rock and roll girl group, who covered their favourite songs. The band split in 1985, and she had the idea with Billy Childish of forming another girl group as a spinoff of his Thee Headcoats band, which became the Headcoatees. Born Sarah Crouch, she thinks she was given the name Ludella Black by Bruce Brand. “We all had silly names given to us,” she recalls. Sarah, now a successful ceramics artist, liked the name and has kept it for singing performances. She sings as Miss Ludella Black, mainly with [The Masonics](https://www.facebook.com/themasonics/). The Masonics are Bruce Band, John Gibbs and Sarah’s husband, Mick Hampshire. “I do my little bit as Miss Ludella Black with The Masonics. Occasionally, I’ll do a bit with [Billy ](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/)[*(Childish)*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/), but not very much these days.” When we interviewed Sarah/Ludella last year, she told us: > **“*We went to Japan last year with* [*The 5.6.7.8s*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5F5.6.7.8%27s?ref=localauthority.news)*. We did a tour with them in Japan this time last year. It was fantastic. This year they’re coming back to England, doing a British tour. I’m going to do some recording at* [*Ranscombe Studios*](https://ranscombestudios.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *with the 5.6.7.8s. They’re playing at* [*Poco Loco*](https://pocoloco.live/?ref=localauthority.news) *as well at the end of October. It sold out really quickly.”* The 5.6.7.8’s formed in 1986 when Sachiko and Yoshiko “Ronnie” Fujiyama, two sisters from Tokyo who both shared a passion for rock and roll, founded the band with two other members. The band has a sound that draws heavily from 1960s garage rock, rock’n’roll, surf, rockabilly, punk rock, psychobilly, and beat. Of course. After several line-up changes (including the bassist Yoshiko “Yama” Yamaguchi, who was the bassist featured in the Kill Bill movie), the band eventually became a trio. Yoshiko and Sachiko are still the main components in the band, and now Akiko Omo, who originally joined in the early 1980s, has rejoined the band as the bass guitarist. Sarah told us that the Headcoatees saw the 5.6.7.8s in Tokyo in the early 90s, when they were on tour. “Now I know them, it turns out they were massive fans of the Delmonas and an inspiration to them.” Sharing stages throughout the years, across the land, in 2022, The 5.6.7.8’s were joined by The Masonics on their five-night UK tour, with Miss Ludella Black joining both groups onstage. During The 5.6.7.8’s eight-night UK tour in 2024, Miss Ludella Black joined the band onstage at London’s 229 venue, but they also booked into Medway’s Ranscombe Studios to record four of their favourite hits. It is this EP which has now been released as a 7”, with covers of The Pretty Things’ ‘Come See Me,’ Ray Charles’ ‘What I’d Say,’ John Barry’s ‘Beat Girl’ and The Pretenders’ ‘Kid.’ [Beat Girl](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/beat-girls-feat-miss-ludella-black-ep?ref=localauthority.news) is limited to 1000 copies on vinyl by Spinout Nuggets, who say there are only seven copies left. So don’t hang around if you want to get a copy. --- #### Review: Beat Girls EP **by Stephen Morris** It’s unsurprising that Tokyo’s The 5.6.7.8’s have a longstanding connection with some of Medway’s finest garage band luminaries. There is something very complementary between the raw 60s thrash of Fujiyama, Fujii and Omo’s sound – as prominently featured on *Kill Bill Volume One -* and that of the likes of The Masonics. A couple of years ago, the trio commemorated their tour of Japan with Micky Hampshire, John Gibbs and Bruce Brand, releasing a split EP of originals and covers. Now the connection between Tokyo and Medway has been further cemented with the release of the [*Beat Girls* ](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/beat-girls-feat-miss-ludella-black-ep?ref=localauthority.news)[EP](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/beat-girls-feat-miss-ludella-black-ep?ref=localauthority.news) (out on [Spinout Nuggets](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/?ref=localauthority.news)), with guest vocals from our very own Ludella Black. *Beat Girls* is, as the name suggests, standard garage fare – at once familiar and thrilling. There’s ‘Come See Me,’ themed around the innocence of limerent love, the shimmy-shimmy blues of ‘What’d I Say,’ and a doowop-infused ballad of heartbreak in the form of ‘Kid’ (complete with Bruce Brand on stylophone) during which Ludella Black gives Édith Piaf’s vibrato a run for her money. And there’s a spectacular twangy instrumental (filled with plenty of “oooh”s from Black) on ‘Beat Girl’ – a tune which could easily form the backdrop for the next Tarantino fight scene. *Beat Girls* is an excellent collection of songs that leaves the listener desperate for further music from this quartet of international collaborators. More please! --- #### Out to Sunday Lunch: The Royal Crown in Rochester A Sunday roast is a British staple, a tradition that [Wikipedia helpfully highlights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday%5Froast?ref=localauthority.news) we usually have on a Sunday. Though there are apparently some anarchists out there who will have them on other days. For something that is an essential of British life, whilst the menu options in restaurants are often incredibly similar, the results on the plate can be hugely variable, with even high-end, high-quality restaurants failing to plate an enjoyable roast dinner. As such, I have set out to find the best Sunday lunch that Medway has to offer. I started off at the [Royal Crown](https://www.royalcrownrochester.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), the last pub in Rochester before the bridge takes you across the river to Strood. The Royal Crown is a popular destination, and if you want to eat there, booking a table is recommended. It is a comfortable, welcoming destination, with friendly, helpful staff. I ordered roast beef, with a selection of vegetables, roast potatoes, mashed swede, Yorkshire pudding and gravy. With the increasing costs in hospitality, the food is both similarily high and reasonably priced. Make of that what you will. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vyD9!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f392dbfe6-a4b9-4e6f-acc0-d4d2c8484bf8_5127x3845.jpg) Food at the Royal Crown The beef was well-cooked, generously portioned and full of flavour. The roast potatoes, often where a venue will fall down, were good. Not great, but very edible. The mashed swede was delightful, accompanied by red cabbage. The all-important Yorkshire pudding, the gravy delivery device, passed standard with gusto. Take your loved ones and enjoy a true British tradition with Sunday lunch at the Royal Crown. --- #### Events this week 🥁 Sat 11 Oct - [**Echoes of Black Britain**](https://www.medwaycultureclub.co.uk/event-details/echoes-of-black-britain-immersive-music-exhibition?ref=localauthority.news) // Immersive music exhibition with live performances, artefacts, food, and more. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Pay what you can. 🎶 Sat 11 Oct - [**Night at the Musicals**](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/night-at-the-musicals?ref=localauthority.news) // Fun-filled variety show, of young singers and dancers performing beloved musical numbers. Spotlites Theatre, Chatham. Pay what you can. 🎸 Sat 11 Oct - [**The High Span + Darryl Hartley + Chris Hearse**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1889279518287559/)y // Local bands play local show. Rams Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester. Free, donations welcome. 💞 Wed 15 Oct - [**Murphy’s Multiverse**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1332196454972102/?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search%5Fresults%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%5Fsearch%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D) // Music, animation and other dimensions. Coor Brow-Obles and Nadia Perrotta, performing in her Cantastorie alter ego. Animated music video, live music and cosplay. Poco Loco, Chatham. Free 🗣️ Thu 16 Oct - [**Full Medway Council meeting**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6388&ref=localauthority.news) // Politicians bicker with each other over how to get things done. St George’s Centre, Chatham. Free. 🖌️ Thu 16 Oct - [**The Art History of Studio Ghibli**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-art-history-of-studio-ghibli-with-helen-mccarthy-tickets-1587936343349?ref=localauthority.news) // Talk about Studio Ghibli’s art, taking inspiration from mystical qualities and traditions from Japanese culture. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets £12. 📸 Thu 16 Oct - [**Anthony Luvera Photography Talk** ](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/photoworks-photography-talk-anthony-luvera-tickets-1710689862429?ref=localauthority.news)// Socially engaged photographer and artist delivers talk on his work to document social segregation in housing. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. --- #### More Authority Yesterday, we announced our latest live event, an experiment in whether conversations can lead to better things. In a couple of weeks, we’ll be pondering whether Medway can make you happy at MidKent College, and [we’d love for you to be a part of it](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/can-medway-make-you-happy-tickets-1794654543049?ref=localauthority.news). [Read the full piece](https://www.localauthority.news/can-medway-make-you-happy/) to find out what it’s all about. [Can Medway make you happy?Steven introduces our newest experiment in doing democracy differently: the Local Democracy Café. Find out what it’s about, who’s joining us, and how to grab your seat…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!7UQT!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffa3c7854-60da-49e3-b314-b161c94799a4_3803x2136.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/can-medway-make-you-happy/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Can Medway make you happy? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/can-medway-make-you-happy/ Last updated: 2025-10-09T10:58:03.000Z *Steven introduces our newest experiment in doing democracy differently: the Local Democracy Café. Find out what it’s about, who’s joining us, and how to grab your seat…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!7UQT!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffa3c7854-60da-49e3-b314-b161c94799a4_3803x2136.jpg) Over the past few years, we’ve hosted plenty of live events at Local Authority Towers, from two Medway Council leadership debates to last year’s General Election hustings for all three local constituencies. Hundreds of residents turned up to quiz the candidates, and we even managed Medway’s only Police and Crime Commissioner hustings. Along the way, we’ve also held our own *Medway Question Time* events, welcoming guests from across our towns to tackle the big issues facing local life. Those events have always shared one thing: the questions came from you. But if we’re being honest, the ability for audiences to respond, challenge, and shape the conversation in the room has had rather mixed results. The Local Democracy Café is our latest experiment in doing democracy differently. An open, interactive forum designed not just for discussion but for action. Each café will bring together local leaders, experts and residents to talk honestly about Medway’s future and to find practical ways to make it better. We’re starting with three trial cafés, each built around a single theme. The format might evolve as we go, but the spirit will stay the same: Local people talking openly about what matters to Medway and how we can turn ideas into tangible outcomes. Our first Local Democracy Café takes place at 7.30pm on Thursday 23 October at MidKent College, and we’re starting with a deceptively simple question: **Can Medway make you happy?** The event begins with a 45-minute panel discussion, followed by a second session where the conversation turns to the audience. You’ll be able to respond to what’s been said in real time, as we explore what happiness means in Medway today. At the end, we’ll gather the thoughts, ideas and priorities raised during the event and share them publicly, with the aim of turning discussion into tangible local action. Our panel for the first café includes: - **Cllr Teresa Murray**, Deputy Leader of Medway Council, who says she’s “pleased to be coming to talk about what makes people happy, because that is important to me.” For Teresa, happiness comes from “walking in the park, hearing about new jobs and investment, and seeing events like the recent dance festival bringing people together.” - **David Stokes**, CEO of The Halpern Charitable Foundation, who points out that “around the world, the happiest countries aren’t necessarily the richest, they’re the ones with the strongest communities.” He hopes the café will deepen understanding of the ties that hold Medway’s communities together. - **Natasha Boardman-Steer**, creative practitioner in health and wellbeing, who reminds us that “there are so many factors that can affect somebody’s happiness: health, mobility, housing, past trauma, food and finances.” For her, it’s about having the resources, educational, spiritual or economic, to handle what life throws at you, and recognising how “your perception of where you live can impact who you socialise with and whether you access the care you need.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2BA8!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffc3e327b-f3b5-4de8-a90f-8687332a3187_1600x900.jpg) Our first LDC panel. **So, can Medway make you happy?** And if it doesn’t, what would it take? Next week, we’ll dig deeper into the themes behind that question, ahead of the event itself. Then, at the end of the month, we’ll share the insights, stories and ideas that come out of the first Local Democracy Café. Attending the café is free, but booking is essential. You can [reserve your spot via Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/can-medway-make-you-happy-tickets-1794654543049?ref=localauthority.news). [Book your space here](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/can-medway-make-you-happy-tickets-1794654543049?ref=localauthority.news) We hope you’ll join us for the start of something new and help us find ways to make Medway a little happier, together. ### Princes Park councillor defects to Reform URL: https://www.localauthority.news/princes-park-councillor-defects-to/ Last updated: 2025-10-07T14:00:40.000Z *The politics of Medway has shifted once again, with a Conservative councillor defecting to Reform following rows over flags and asylum hotels. We speak to the councillor below, and get responses from across the political spectrum. Further down, we speak to the Chair of Trustees at Chatham Memorial Synagogue about security measures the organisation is having to consider following last week’s horrific attack in Manchester, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Princes Park councillor defects to Reform Princes Park councillor [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) has quit the Conservatives and joined Reform, turning a row over flags and asylum plans into Medway’s most eye-catching political defection in years. Lammas, who’s represented the ward since 2021, said he’d been left “unsupported” by his party. The final straw, he said, came when he tried to defend the display of national flags and ask questions about government plans to move asylum seekers into local housing, and felt no one in his own group had his back. ![Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!L9jS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff0ea78a0-98ea-4aa2-9ce4-4b5633352990_2048x1536.jpg) Cllr Robbie Lammas with Medway Reform group leader Cllr David Finch. “Medway Labour’s decision to rip down our national flags is a disgrace to our proud maritime heritage,” he said in a statement announcing the move. “There are also necessary questions to be asked over Home Office plans to move asylum seekers from hotels into houses within Medway. Reform Medway are backing me in asking the necessary questions aimed at ensuring fairness between genuine asylum seekers and local Medway residents.” Reform says it will soon present plans to make it harder for family homes to be converted into Houses in Multiple Occupation, arguing this would reduce the amount of housing stock available for government asylum use. Lammas was first elected in a 2021 by-election and was re-elected in 2023, holding on as Labour took control of the council. He later stood as a parliamentary candidate in Liverpool in last year’s General Election. Before all that, he worked for several Conservative MPs and served as a special adviser to Richard Holden, the former chairman of the Conservative Party. Speaking to *Local Authority*, Lammas described the decision as “a very strange feeling.” “You feel very sorry to those that are disappointed,” he said. “But then you also feel pleasantly surprised by the many text messages of support you get from people that you least expect or have already gone over, and you didn’t know had. So it’s been a mixed bag, but I’m very mindful of residents that may have voted for me as a Conservative. Having spoken to them on the doorsteps in the last few weeks, I can assure you they are more than supportive.” He said the switch had been “a long time coming,” claiming other Conservative councillors were “interested” in doing the same. “I didn’t feel adequately supported in standing up for the flags locally. I wasn’t supported in asking the necessary questions over the secret Home Office plans to relocate asylum seekers from hotels into accommodation within the Medway area. So now that’s why we’re going to do that as Reform.” Lammas also confirmed he won’t be calling a by-election. “I have no plan to call a by-election, and I haven’t actually discussed if there’s any Reform position on that for local elections,” he said. “I am up for a by-election. I’m not going to call one, but I am up for it purely on the basis that I got in on a by-election with the highest majority in Medway’s history. So I see any calls for a by-election as a challenge to improve on my record.” Ideologically, he described himself as a “communitarian Conservative,” drawing on ideas from MP Danny Kruger and Edmund Burke. “It’s about caring about community and societal stability because they shape individuals and therefore their life chances,” he said. “Which is why Reform will retain Labour votes because they talk to an attraction that most Labour voters sort of ascribe to.” He insists his politics haven’t changed. “My mission is very much to hold Labour to account,” he said. “I’m still a conservative. I’m just under a banner. In politics, you don’t get to choose your instrument, the public does.” Medway Conservative group leader Cllr [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) said the party was “disappointed” by Lammas’ decision. “Cllr Lammas was, of course, part of the last Rishi Sunak government as a special adviser and was part of the campaign to elect Boris Johnson as our Party Leader,” he said. “He should reflect on his own part in the mistakes of the previous government.” Perfect said the party had “outlined a positive vision for the future of the United Kingdom” at this week’s Conservative Party Conference and warned of “the dangerous consequences of Reform UK’s economic policies.” He added that the Medway Conservatives remained “a strong, credible and effective alternative to the Labour and Co-Operative council,” and that no other defections were expected. Reform’s group leader on Medway Council, Cllr [David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/), welcomed the new recruit. “Robbie brings a level of political experience and professionalism that’s rare in local government,” he said. “With a background working at the heart of Parliament, including as Chief of Staff and Special Adviser to senior ministers, and as a two-term councillor in Princes Park, he understands both the national system and the real needs of local people.” Finch described the defection as “not only principled” but “symbolic.” “Robbie has seen the machine from the inside and knows it’s no longer working for the people,” he said. “Reform is offering a genuine alternative, built on honesty, accountability and action, and that’s exactly why someone of his calibre has chosen to join us.” Medway Labour’s ruling administration also issued a statement following Lammas’ defection. “Cllr Lammas helped make the mess the country finds itself in working as a special adviser to the Conservative Government,” a spokesperson said. “He is quoted as saying to this publication that Boris Johnson was the best leader for forwarding conservative values in his lifetime. His new party accuse Boris of a huge wave of immigration under his watch. Make of that what you will.” “He called on Anna Soubry to call a by-election when she defected. We shall see if he follows his own advice or is hypocritical. The con artists he’s joined, which is increasingly made up of the same old Conservative faces, are now selling undeliverable fantasies to fix the mess they made.” Lammas’ move came on the same day that four Conservative councillors in Gravesham also joined Reform, part of what the party describes as a wave of new recruits nationwide. Reform’s Medway presence is still small, but Lammas gives it new visibility, experience, and a once reliably blue seat. The Conservatives, meanwhile, are left brushing off talk of further unrest on the week of their national conference. Lammas says it’s about heritage and fairness. Labour calls it hypocrisy. The Conservatives say they’re not worried. But whatever anyone’s calling it, the right in Medway looks a little less certain than it did a week ago. --- #### **Faith and fear in Medway’s Jewish community** *During Yom Kippur, there was an attack at a Manchester Synagogue, which resulted in two deaths and several more wounded. Steven spoke with* [*Dalia Halpern-Matthews*](https://www.localauthority.news/its-really-important-for-people-to/)*, Chair of Trustees at Chatham Memorial Synagogue and the Chair of the Communities and Faith forum, about the safety of Jews in Medway when visiting the Chatham Synagogue.* Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is meant to be a day of fasting and reflection, a day to say sorry for anything you’ve done wrong, or to forgive those who have done something wrong against you. A day of resetting. “It’s the day when we believe that God will decide who will live and who will die in the next year. Whether we will be inscribed in the book of life for the following year,” Dalia tells me. When the attack occurred, Dalia was aware of it when many at Chatham Memorial Synagogue were not, as she was taking part in services from home, having come down with covid. “I always go for Yom Kippur. It’s the day when no matter how irreligious Jews are, the vast majority will go to a service of some kind. It will be much busier.” While a hybrid service streamed online was great because it enabled Dalia to go, it meant she was also receiving messages about the attack. “We were maybe half an hour into our service when I realised.” For those attending the synagogue in Chatham, the security situation was already under review before the attack. “We’ve had a lot of incidents over the last few years, and it’s certainly got worse in recent times, certainly since the Brexit vote.” This has included excrement on the front steps and pigs’ trotters left in the garden. The cemetery has been desecrated with vandalism. The pillars have been graffitied with swastikas. As the situation has worsened and antisemitic hate crimes have risen, the [Community Securities Trust](https://cst.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which the government funds under their [place of worship security scheme](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/places-of-worship-security-funding-scheme?ref=localauthority.news), has given the Chatham Synagogue sufficient funding to enable them to hire a security guard for their services. “Mostly we have the same guy, a lovely young Muslim chap, and we invite him in and give him food.” Whilst the security guard is properly trained, Dalia is now questioning the extent of that training, and for what circumstances? “Yes, they will challenge someone who tries to come into the Synagogue if it’s not someone they recognise.” But the sort of events faced in Manchester are something entirely different. “God forbid he had been faced with what happened in Manchester. I don’t know that he would have had the training to deal with that, and that’s something we need to look at moving forward.” Whilst having a security guard has made the community feel safer coming to the synagogue, it does showcase that danger is possible all the time. “It looks good, but actually, it’s really not nice knowing that you have to have that.” The conversation has also included the troubling prospect of providing the Jewish community with visual ID to attend the synagogue. “That’s a really horrible way to be thinking when we are such an open and welcoming community.” Dalia has always been against identification, but following the attack, members of the community have raised it. “It’s not something I really would like to do.” It will be part of a more extended discussion with the management committee, the CST, and the police to determine what to do. CCTV is already in place to monitor the front of the building. On a positive note, Dalia has found a positive response from Medway’s interfaith community. “There is a true sense of brotherhood and sisterhood, many of the different communities, including the faith communities in Medway. It’s an extraordinary thing, very unusual. Within hours of the attack in Manchester, we had received many wonderful messages from Muslim and Christian communities in Medway and from different people from different communities. [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) phoned me from the council. That outpouring of love, support, and solidarity is heartwarming and really valued. We’re very lucky to have that in Medway.” --- #### In brief 🗣️ Stoke Parish Council has passed a [vote of no confidence in All Saints ward councillor Chris Spalding](https://www.stokekent-pc.gov.uk/community/stoke-parish-council-kent--16221/news/vote-of-no-confidence-in-ward-cllr-c-spalding-84133?ref=localauthority.news), citing alleged bullying, lack of attendance, and concerns over use of ward funds. The motion, brought by parish Cllr Shane Back and backed by a majority at the 1 October meeting, followed Medway Council’s finding that Spalding had breached its Code of Conduct. Spalding has rejected the claims as “untruths and misrepresentations,” saying he was unaware of the motion [until contacted by the media](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/councillor-hits-back-at-untruths-and-misrepresentations-af-330768/?ref=localauthority.news). 🇵🇸 Palestinian solidarity campaigners are planning to protest at BAE Systems tomorrow. Organisers expect hundreds to attend as part of five regional protests against the firm. 🗄️ Plans have been submitted for [19 homes on a patch of land in Lordswood](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T3HVB3KNKI100&ref=localauthority.news). Unusually, the plans will also see a communications mast removed from the site to make way for the homes. 🏦 Rainham’s new banking hub [will open by the end of the month](https://www.facebook.com/naushabahkhanlabour/posts/pfbid023YkQsDeeAZwxT7deHyLAfETBEUo3HFTAqwecava2MxsTJGEefu4BFtPJXbmVDqGsl) in the former Medway Council contact point on Station Road. The hub will provide banking services for a range of banks that no longer serve the town. 🟢 Following [our report in August](https://www.localauthority.news/infighting-resignations-and-a-coup/) about allegations of a ‘coup’ within the Medway Green Party, the party is now set to rerun its Annual General Meeting on 2 November. An email to members seen by *Local Authority* cites ‘inconsistencies’ at the original meeting, something the national party denied when we approached them at the time. ➡️ For those still following the adventures of former Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless on his new adventures in Wales, a ‘[camera glitch](https://bsky.app/profile/willhaycardiff.bsky.social/post/3m2jk6f6ib222?ref=localauthority.news)’ caused him to be replaced in a Reform group photo he was taking part in with a walnut. --- #### More Authority For our big weekend interview, [we sat down with Alex Gilbert, the co-promoter of Medway-based United Kingdom Professional Wrestling](https://www.localauthority.news/the-world-ended-and-so-did-my-hopes/). They talk about Gilbert’s rise and fall as a professional wrestler, playing the bad guy, their Parkwood events, and lots more. [“The world ended, and so did my hopes and dreams”Alex Gilbert is passionate about wrestling. Ed previously wrote about attending a United Kingdom Professional Wrestling event for our sister Kent Current title. After Steven heard Alex speak at a Medway Champions event, they arranged to meet to talk about Alex’s rise and fall in professional wrestling, playing the bad guy, the promotion’s upcoming Parkwood event, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yV7t!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9e756dc3-2539-413b-b8eb-8d2ecf5f924b_2500x1406.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-world-ended-and-so-did-my-hopes/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “The world ended, and so did my hopes and dreams” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-world-ended-and-so-did-my-hopes/ Last updated: 2025-10-05T06:02:23.000Z *Alex Gilbert is passionate about wrestling. Ed* [*previously wrote about attending a United Kingdom Professional Wrestling event*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/an-interactive-pantomime?ref=localauthority.news) *for our sister* [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) *title. After Steven heard Alex speak at a Medway Champions event, they arranged to meet to talk about Alex’s rise and fall in professional wrestling, playing the bad guy, the promotion’s upcoming Parkwood event, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yV7t!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9e756dc3-2539-413b-b8eb-8d2ecf5f924b_2500x1406.jpg) Alex Gilbert **What is your official occupation?** I am the Head of Learning and Development at a recruitment firm in London. (*Alex has been promoted to Technology & Development Director since this interview was recorded.*) **More importantly, the reason we’re here today. What additional roles do you do?** I am the co-promoter of a professional wrestling outfit called [United Kingdom Professional Wrestling](https://www.ukpwwrestling.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) (UKPW). **Is that a paid or unpaid role?** It is an unpaid role that is now becoming a paid role. **How professional is UK Professional Wrestling?** We’re on Companies House. We’re a real company. It’s the VAT stuff. We’ve generated less than 85 grand, but we’re getting to that line where it becomes a proper business. Everyone else gets paid. But the people running it… To jump ahead, I used to wrestle for the company, which was actually founded by someone else. Around covid time, he said, “You know what, it’s not for me anymore.” Me and my cousin, who both wrestled for this man, said, “Well, why don’t we buy it? Why don’t we do it?” In the background, we’re always thinking we could do this better. We bought the assets, wasn’t loads of money, then we run the thing, and we’ve now done just under a hundred live events. In the early days, it was losing money. It was almost a hobby that got out control. **Just to be clear, the people actually wrestling are getting paid?** They get paid. Every single wrestler. To draw a line down the middle, you have our UKPW crew, which is made up of my cousin, my wife, my childhood friends, that basically don’t get paid. If ever we have an event where it’s particularly lucrative, I immediately pay them. I look at a friend, and I go, “You have given up 12 hours of your day almost every weekend for that, I better pay.” It’s 50 quid. It’s not loads. But the wrestlers, the only way we can get the wrestlers in or any other, let’s call it on-screen talent, is hard cash. I’m not talking loads of money, but enough where you go, ‘That is a thousand-pound outlay, I better get some income.’ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!uoSt!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8c2a6f82-9593-42fb-a3a4-4372a58c137d_3000x1913.jpg) Alex Gilbert and his UKPW team. **How does UKPW generate income?** Now we’re in a position where we’ve got a few revenue streams. Early doors, it was just ticket sales. You book a venue, so let’s use Parkwood as the example. In the early days, you would hire the hall, hire a van. In the very early days, our wrestling ring and all the equipment lived in my garage. We’d get the van, go to the garage, load it all up, and then do the show. But now, to get to the crux of your question because we’ve now grown and there’s a bit of a following, we have a container, a storage unit which is over in Strood by Diggerland. It’s all very Medway-based. We hire the van, we have a monthly fee for the container, they are all monthly expenses. Now that we’ve got a bit of a proven track record, they will put us on Gillingham High Street, where there will be footfall. The shops nearby are going to get some additional revenue, because of the footfall that we’ve drawn. We increased dwell time, because instead of just going to Gillingham High Street for 20 minutes, they’re there for five hours. Shops and cafes can benefit from that. Councils or business improvement districts might go, “Hey Alex, we saw your UKPW, here’s a fee,” and actually, I’m selling no tickets, but I’ve got a guaranteed budget. I quite prefer that, and have no risk there. We also have our own [Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/UKPW?ref=localauthority.news). We have our [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@UKPW?ref=localauthority.news) revenue as well, which is quite nice. We’ve got 8,000 subscribers. We now make money through merchandise, which blows my mind because five years ago, the thought of someone buying a t-shirt with something I drew was impossible. There are people wearing hats of us. This is mad. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!L3Xv!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f25bcf5f0-11e0-46ee-baca-ac5647b52ff1_1500x702.jpg) UKPW in Gillingham High Street. **What can you tell us about this Parkwood event?** Firstly, we all grew up in Parkwood. The entire crew, barring one person. I’ve been to christenings, I’ve been to wedding parties, it’s actually quite surreal for me to put my giant wrestling ring in the venue for wrestling, but I’m trying to bring the spectacle of professional wrestling to the people. Parkwood is quite unique in Medway, in that I don’t know what Parkwood’s got, and I lived there all my life. I love bringing it to Parkwood Community Hall, because what spectacle goes on in Parkwood? Now I appreciate I’m not saying WrestleMania. Of course I’m not. My first favourite moment, people walk in, they go, “I can’t believe what they’ve done with the place,” and even the venue goes, “I can’t believe you managed to do this.” What you can expect is it’s the closest interactive show we do. You are so close, and I have to train the wrestlers to remind them that they are that close to the audience. When they’re in the ring and talking to each other, if there’s not enough noise in the room, they can hear “duck the clothesline.” I love it because it’s such an intimate show. We actually bring our lower height ring. Most rings are three foot off the ground, this one’s one and a half foot. When you sit down, you are eye level when someone’s in a chin lock. It’s such a weird experience. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Gills finally remember how to lose URL: https://www.localauthority.news/gills-finally-remember-how-to-lose/ Last updated: 2025-10-03T17:02:12.000Z *It was bound to happen eventually: Gillingham FC’s unbeaten streak ended with a home defeat to Harrogate. We’ve got analysis of what it means for the club from our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins, plus reviews of music and theatre from across Medway, our weekly events guide, and more.* --- #### **Gills finally remember how to lose** *All good things must come to an end, and Gillingham’s record-breaking 21 game unbeaten run came to an unspectacular end with a 1-0 defeat at home to Harrogate. But, we ask *Ben Hopkins*, this is just a blip en route to an ultimately successful season, right? Right?* **21, 21 now defeated** In truth, the unbeaten run could’ve ended earlier in the month if not for a controversial late penalty equaliser versus Bromley. Or even had goalkeeper Glenn Morris not saved a penalty that would’ve put Newport 2-0 ahead within just ten minutes. The positive spin, and perhaps also the truth (or at least my version of the truth), from both those matches is that this Gillingham side have the fight-to-the-final-whistle determination and strength-in-depth to always have a shout at making a comeback. Perhaps things could’ve been different against Harrogate. If the Gills defence hadn’t persisted with a policy of appeasement in regard to closing him down, maybe Stephen Duke-McKenna would’ve had neither the space or time to score. Certainly Harrogate didn’t look like doing much more once the second half rolled around. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Tygh!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe2098d7c-e2e6-4a0e-b2bc-56e45d44d8b8_4064x3048.jpg) Gills favourite Bradley Dack lines up a corner in front of the Medway Stand. But while Gills guiled and grinded to find an equaliser, their undoubted efforts didn’t result in much in the way of clear-cut chances. On a different day, Elliott Nevitt could’ve scored once, perhaps twice - but there’s no denying that from-out-of-nowhere thunderbolt, that screeching free-kick, that magical run that could turn a zero into a run was sadly missing. Gills have graft, craft and quality, but is there enough of the surprise factor that saw Jonny Smith score away to Newport? **A spell away for Gareth Ainsworth** After the game, it was revealed that manager Gareth Ainsworth will be absent for a “short amount of time” in order to undergo cardiac surgery, with his assistant Richard Dobson taking charge of the team in the meantime. We wish Gareth all the best for his recovery. It’s hard to assess what impact a temporary change will have on the team. Dobson has been Ainsworth’s assistant for years across multiple clubs, so it’s evident that they must share a similar footballing philosophy and have spent countless hours planning how Gills should approach this season. So it’s likely to be a continuation of the same, although there’s always a chance that the players subconsciously react to being led by a different personality in a different way. October is a pretty quiet schedule on the Gills league front, so in that regard, the timing isn’t so bad. At the outset of the season, perhaps MK Dons away is a game that gaining anything from would be a bonus, and no midweek league games makes the calendar less demanding in the coming weeks. **Seb v Nev** Naturally, that first defeat prompts people to think, what could be changed for the better? Elliott Nevitt has undeniably been a contributing factor in the team’s success so far: his work rate, chasing down defenders, and general niggly attitude making him a thorn in the opponents’ arse. But it also can’t be denied that he’s a striker who hasn’t scored in ten league games this season, following an already disappointing 2024/2025. Newcomer Seb Palmer-Houden is the obvious challenger for his place in the team. With just two full seasons to his name, the 21-year-old is surely a prospect rather than the finished package. Barely seen so far due to injury, he’s now back in contention and probably the most likely contender to be the man who can provide the goals needed for a promotion challenge. The others, as I say every month like some kind of depressed broken record, aren’t quite there. Josh Andrews looks vastly more improved but has scored just two goals, Sam Vokes provides immense experience and a direct alternative to Andrews but his senior years mean that he will be deployed sparingly, while Marcus Wyllie surely needs a successful loan away or to capitalise on an injury crisis to finally make his mark. Someone has to get busy scoring, or Gills can get busy finishing 12th or thereabouts. **The Brian Moore end looks uncannily like a pile of scaffolding** You don’t need to have stepped foot inside Priestfield to have seen the state of the Brian Moore Stand - a “temporary” roofless structure that’s now approximately the same age as Seb Palmer-Houlden. It has become a meme, but memes infamously avoid context. All the while Gillingham are in League Two, it’s rare that demand for away tickets goes beyond what can instead be comfortably slid into the corner of the Gordon Road Stand. While home fans often sell out the Rainham End, there’s nearly always enough spare seats in the Gordon Road and Medway Stand to fail to justify opening the Brian Moore. As such, it’s in stasis: it’s rarely needed for away fans, and demand isn’t quite there for home fans either. So why spend millions developing something that’s not going to bring much money in? The Harrogate game saw an experiment in which the lower tier was opened for home fans for a discount £5 ticket promotion. It was sold out (although clearly not all purchases resulted in bums on seats), looked better, and probably helped the atmosphere for the team. But my suspicion is that the club would need to be on flying form to regularly repeat that at sensible pricing in the months of bleaker weather to come. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NQ4u!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fed1994bf-3d1f-40a8-a14b-b2566748d2af_4000x3000.jpg) There are people in the Brian Moore Stand! The biggest attendance of the season! We, erm, lost. Promotion would be the one thing that might change its fate for the better - but it’s not something that can be quickly altered if Gills have an upturn in their fortunes. Longer term change is possible, but it may remain essentially the same until it’s older than a Gillingham manager. **Next up** MK Dons, away, 4 October: Gills head to MK Dons tomorrow, backed by one of their biggest away crowds of the season. It’s not a great away day - miles from the station or much else of use, a tough opposition, and a flat atmosphere given the likelihood of there being approximately 22,000 unsold seats. But a win or a draw will get Gills back on track to hopefully avoid the now traditional October slump. If so, I’ll be celebrating with five black Budvars at the Euston Tap on my way home. If not, I’ll be commiserating with five black Budvars at the Euston Tap on my way home. Cheltenham, home, 11 October: Cheltenham are essentially where Gills were before the Galinsons took charge. They’re currently bottom with one win and a goal difference of minus twenty from the opening ten games. They’ve just reappointed former manager Steve Cotterill which could spark a resurgence, but any team battling for promotion should have this down as a win. Grimsby, away, 18 October: Grimsby are two places and three points below Gills as it stands. Jaze Kabia has scored five goals in ten games, the kind of return we need from… well, anyone. Their strong start was boosted by a memorable cup win versus Manchester United. Salford, home, 25 October: Currently wedged between Gills and Grimsby, a visit from Salford caps a challenging month of fixtures. They have a former Gill in the shape of Haji Mnoga - memorable mostly for picking up two yellow cards and therefore a red within ten minutes of his debut appearance. --- #### Review: Arf Loin and Son at Three Sheets to the Wind As a band, [The Singing Loins](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/) are a Medway institution. Their music has soundtracked the lives and good times of many of the people assembled in the unseasonably warm environs of the Three Sheets to the Wind beer garden this evening. The current expanded and expansive lineup has continued to build on their live legacy after the loss of frontman and lyricist Chris Broderick to cancer in 2022\. But the aim of tonight’s performance by the once reluctant new front man Chris ‘Arf’ Allen and son Oliver was to give air to what they described as the forgotten songs from the early days of the Loins. The ones they did with just a voice, guitar, intermittent percussion and sporadic harmonica. This performance was prefigured by a solo set from Oliver Allen that had an assured confidence beyond his years. This comes borne out of almost growing up in public, both as the young apprentice in the reconfigured Loins, as well as frontman-songwriter in his own outfits, Sunshine Pony Finger and The Spider Babys. Tonight’s set features strong singer-songwriter material. I was particularly impressed by new song ‘Early Doors,’ with its mixture of vocal melody coupled to angular chordal dissonance. There were a couple of niche covers thrown in, including a version of ‘Shut Me Down’ by Rowland Howard, late of The Birthday Party, as recommended to Oli by Lupen Crook, whose influence could be heard elsewhere on the two-step timing of ‘Falling Down on You.’ ‘Son of Arf’ continues to grow, and long may he do so. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!W7cQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2ae76ed5-8f8c-473c-83f2-07017ff6137a_4000x3000.jpg) Arf Loin and Son at Three Sheets to the Wind. Oliver hands his father back his appropriately labelled, increasingly damaged 12-string and moves to stage right, for bass drum, tambourine, harmonica and occasional keyboard. An introduction of purpose is made, and songs commence. These songs are selected mostly from the first Singing Loins album, but the set avoids the songs they do as the expanded band. Fan favourites such as ‘Rochester My Dear’ and ‘Little Devil Doubt’ are present and correct, and an a cappella Allen and Son rendition of the Kipling nautical ‘The Storm Cone’ was ripped into, with the lyrics being shared off a phone screen around a shared mic. ‘Poteen,’ sung by Allen solo in the old days, features Oli on guitar, and the pair miss a trick in not mentioning their ‘Drunk and Fed’ Loins-based homemade wine. One of my favourites, ‘Right Good and Proper,’ with its tongue-in-cheek lyrical references to Philip Larkin’s ‘This Be The Verse,’ gets a deserved airing, and the set closed with the encore they forgot to advertise, in the form of their Bowie-influenced rendition of ‘Port of Amsterdam’ by Jacques Brel. It’s a testament to the songs of Broderick and Allen, and the warmth with which the Singing Loins are regarded in general, that, for all the talk of these being the forgotten songs, half the crowd were singing every word. It’s a testament to Allen that he has both the commitment to the songs to want to play them and the conviction in performance to carry it off. I hope they do it again. - *Stuart Turner* --- #### **Review: The Rivals at Medway Little Theatre** The Rivals is an ambitious choice for a directorial debut. This is a busy play with a large cast, big costumes and a superabundance of set changes, which all test the limited space of Medway Little Theatre. Running at three hours duration, there is a need to maintain pace and engagement, and this is largely successful, although the set dressing to indicate the frequent changes of location does slow things down. Tom Masters, as Jack Absolute, is expressive and carries the audience’s attention through the convoluted machinations of the character’s love life. Jordan Lee’s Faulkland provides much of the physical comedy and gets most of the laughs, despite several unappealing aspects of his character to modern eyes. Christopher Parnell’s Sir Anthony Absolute is consistently strong, blustering and meddling with aplomb. So much of the verbal humour of the play rests on the delivery of Mrs Malaprop’s torturous befuddled use of the English language, but unfortunately some of these lines don’t land with the audience as they get a little lost in the pantomimic elements of the performance, which don’t capitalise on the humour to be gained from the character’s perceived innate dignity and intellect. The cast combines the skills of seasoned performers. Barry Kearns is perhaps underused in the role of Sir Lucius O’Trigger, as well as providing opportunities for young actors to gain experience in minor roles. Pop art motifs decorate the set, reminding us that this is ultimately an intentionally frivolous play, and it is not to be taken too seriously. All of this, and a swordfight, make for an agreeable night’s viewing. - *Moira Mehaffey* *The Rivals is playing at Medway Little Theatre until 4 October. You can* [*buy tickets here*](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Events this week 🧪 Sat 4 Oct - [**Medway Fun Palace**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/fun-palace?ref=localauthority.news) // Day of art and science activities. Pentagon Centre, Chatham. Free. 🎸 Sat 4 Oct - [**Tom Hingley**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/platform3club/t-garxaqo?ref=localauthority.news) // Former frontman of Inspiral Carpets comes to play at the Platform 3 Club. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £22.50. 🤼 Sun 5 Oct - [**UKPW**](https://www.fatsoma.com/e/w2kwo8kk/ukpw-live-pro-wrestling-in-parkwood?ref=localauthority.news) // Action-packed family-friendly wrestling returns to Rainham. Parkwood Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. 🗣️ Wed 8 Oct - [**Medway Matters Live**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medway-matter-live-tickets-1312790033329?ref=localauthority.news) // Medway Council run event where you can hear from Leader Vince Maple and Chief Executive Richard Hicks before putting questions to them. MidKent College, Gillingham. Free. 🎶 Sat 11 Oct - [**Night at the Musicals**](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/night-at-the-musicals?ref=localauthority.news) // Fun-filled variety show, of young singers and dancers performing beloved musical numbers. Spotlites Theatre, Chatham. Pay what you can. --- #### More Authority For our midweek feature, our columnist Zahra Barri visited the Medway Culture Club carnival to hear about the work of the organisation, black history in Medway, and racism that still exists in our towns. [Why I’m talking to Medway about raceWhen I tell my friend I am interviewing Camealia Xavier-Chihota about her charity, Medway Culture Club, she asks me what it is she does. My friend always takes an avid interest in my hard-hitting journalism. Last week, I told her I was interviewing someone about their pioneering work with Peter Andre. So, when I say that Camealia is trying to end racism in Medway, she almost chokes on her latte. It was not dissimilar to when I told her I no longer read![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityZahra Barri![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!uTc2!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0d41f6bb-3cd3-4158-a1b2-6028d6b24840_5120x3414.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/why-im-talking-to-medway-about-race/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Why I’m talking to Medway about race URL: https://www.localauthority.news/why-im-talking-to-medway-about-race/ Last updated: 2025-10-02T06:02:03.000Z When I tell my friend I am interviewing Camealia Xavier-Chihota about her charity, [Medway Culture Club](https://www.medwaycultureclub.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), she asks me what it is she does. My friend always takes an avid interest in my hard-hitting journalism. Last week, I told her I was interviewing someone about their pioneering work with Peter Andre. So, when I say that Camealia is trying to end racism in Medway, she almost chokes on her latte. It was not dissimilar to when I told her I no longer read *Heat* magazine and now read *Closer* because it contained more humanitarian issues centring around Amal Clooney’s fashion choices at United Nations conferences. “End racism…in Medway?” my friend asks. I see the enormity of the cause weighing her features, brows furrowed. I understand her perplexity. It’s akin to imagining a world without any wars, or something equally unattainable like the Beckham feud finally being resolved. “Ambitious!” she says. “Why?” However, she quickly changes the subject back to an analytical assessment of the implications of Brooklyn Beckham’s current Instagram post. Yet, her awe at my description of Camealia’s work makes me think. Why is trying to end racism weightier than endeavouring to solve homelessness, or more complex than eradicating child cruelty or domestic abuse? The answer lies in both its practicalities and aesthetics. Let’s look at the latter. Take a stroll down any Medway High Street, and one can see homelessness, but it’s a lot harder to see racism. Racism is largely systemic, and as with all things systemic it’s corrosive yet subtle. Like how ‘everyday sexism’ is often undetected, there’s ‘everyday racism.’ This means it’s experienced by the individual who tolerates it rather than reports it. Therefore, conceptually, racism is far less tangible to the majority of the white population of Medway[1](#footnote-1). This perpetuates what I like to refer to as ‘Bernard Manning-like rhetoric’ that claims that racism doesn’t exist, the ‘I’m not racist but…’ brigade and the ‘I don’t see colour’ bandwagon. Reni Eddo-Lodge wrote *[Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why%5FI%E2%80%99m%5FNo%5FLonger%5FTalking%5Fto%5FWhite%5FPeople%5FAbout%5FRace?ref=localauthority.news)* because of this. It seems that unless it’s as blatant as [Kent Reform councillors in Maidstone smiling with Nazis](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kent-reform-councillors-pictured?ref=localauthority.news) parading their discriminatory iconography, the non-ethnic majority of Kent don’t see discrimination. Oh wait, that actually happened. See our sister publication, the *[Kent Current](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)*, proudly the only Kent publication to report it and one of only two media outlets in the UK to do so nationally. Which brings me to racism in the media, the very mechanisms of power which are built on historically racist and colonial systems. The racism that gets reported in the mainstream mostly publicises incidents of extreme racial hate crimes, whilst at the same time perpetuates racism, xenophobia and islamophobia. The *Daily Mail* had to apologise for defamatory Islamophobic rhetoric in 2016\. This is why social media, if used as a vehicle for democratisation and not merely self-optimisation (selfies), amplifies the public’s consciousness. In the same way that [#MeToo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MeToo%5Fmovement?ref=localauthority.news) helped the feminist movement, social media has enabled victims of racial discrimination to not only tell their story but actively record it. There is no better example of this than the documentation of [George Floyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George%5FFloyd?ref=localauthority.news)’s tragic racist killing by American police. This all but shattered the perceived aesthetic of racial harmony from the white Western mainstream in a post-Obama world, and in the spirit of this column, Camealia tells me this horrific globalised issue made her want to set up a localised incentive: “Like many, I felt deeply moved and compelled to be part of the solution. Medway Culture Club began as a vision to celebrate cultural diversity and promote racial harmony.” _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Marching orders URL: https://www.localauthority.news/marching-orders/ Last updated: 2025-09-30T19:13:44.000Z *As anti-immigration protests swept across Kent, it was inevitable that they’d eventually get to Medway. Now, with the reliability of an Arriva bus, after months of nothing, two have been scheduled for a two-week period over the next month or so. We’ve got the full details of each and who is behind them below. Further down, we get back to maps and local government reorganisation after the Conservative opposition decided to call in Labour’s doomed plan, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Marching orders Medway is about to see two far-right protests within a fortnight. The posters promoting them are full of typos and contradictions, but the intentions behind them should not be dismissed. The first is lined up for Saturday 18 October in Rochester. Depending on which version of the poster you have seen, it is either a UKIP protest or a ‘Bring Our Nation Together’ march. Both direct people to gather at ‘the car park opposite Rochester station’ at 1pm, a location so vague it could refer to at least four different places. The event appears to be organised by Cllr Amelia Randall, who was elected as a Reform councillor in Birchington in May before defecting to UKIP a few weeks ago. She promoted it online with the promise that similar events will be held “throughout Kent” over the next year, accompanied by purple hearts, Christian crosses and Union flag emojis. Randall's first effort was not particularly successful. Last weekend, she organised a UKIP-branded protest in Margate that [attracted about nine people](https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2025/09/27/police-in-attendance-at-ukip-gathering-and-counter-demos-in-margate/?ref=localauthority.news), who were met by hundreds of counter-protestors. UKIP leader Nick Tenconi has been trying to turn these small events into a platform. At a recent Maidstone ‘stop the boats’ protest, he took over the megaphone and led part of the march himself. Rochester could provide another stage if he decides to turn up. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/94f0883a-3996-4d6f-99c8-bf5790990297_989x1385.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/a48435b0-f685-46a3-9a63-68172113b749_1170x1704.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/ed7e41df-f00b-4b2a-8a5e-897e6082b0eb_1449x2048.jpg) Posters for the UKIP-led protest in Rochester, and the poster circulated by counter-protestors. A counter-protest is already planned. Posters advertising a ‘Unite for Rochester’ event propose meeting on the High Street half an hour before the UKIP start time with the call to resist the far right and defend the community. Two weeks later, on Saturday 1 November, Medway faces another protest. This one appears to be organised by the group that has been covering lampposts and roundabouts with flags. They describe their work as ‘community pride.’ Medway Council leader Vince Maple described it last week as intimidation by far-right agitators. Their attempt at protest organisation has been pretty sloppy. The first poster carried a Canva watermark, urged people to ‘make you views heard people power!!’ and credited ‘Turner productins.’ The second spelt the month as ‘novemeber.’ The third declared ‘Fed up with how Medways looking’ and set the route from ‘Gunwharf car park too Anchorage House.’ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/d68e091d-28ca-470d-abe0-bf772f8699ec_1080x905.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/89f2059f-72f5-42fc-84f5-00086183107c_846x1200.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/02eebeaa-bc87-4e78-988f-b19fb90652ee_694x960.png) Posters for the 1 November anti-immigration protest in Medway. The slogans shift from ‘stop the boats’ to digital ID conspiracy theories to general complaints about Medway. The design work is amateur, but the underlying message is consistent: migrants presented as a problem, councils accused of betrayal, and calls for confrontation dressed up as community spirit. Their chosen destination underlines the misinformation. Anchorage House has been presented as an asylum seeker facility, with organisers claiming it is “on lockdown with security and fencing” and hinting at hidden activity. In reality, it is leased by Newham Council and used for homeless families from the London borough, with some units used by Medway Council. The November protest is not targeting asylum seekers. It is targeting vulnerable families with nowhere else to go. The tone of the organisers’ posts leaves little doubt about intent. One, writing on Facebook, said that it’s “time to stop the bullshit and make the women and kids of Medway safe again” and “Time to stand up to these shit c\*\*ts above who don’t give a shit about any of us or our family’s.” The familiar pattern is there, with claims of protecting women and children, anger at authority, and blame pushed onto migrants and councils. Medway has seen this before. Last summer, [a group protested](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/) outside the Medway Innovation Centre in Rochester. Counter-protestors met them, police imposed dispersal orders, and arrests were made, but things ultimately fizzled out. In 2014, Britain First attempted a march through Rochester during the by-election campaign. They brought a few dozen supporters. Hundreds of counter-protestors lined the streets. There were confrontations, with the far-right being blocked from entering the High Street, eventually retreating back to the station. The current wave is part of something wider. In recent weeks, anti-immigration protests have appeared in Canterbury, Faversham and Folkestone. Medway is simply the latest addition. The posters are easy to laugh at, with UKIP unable to specify a car park and the flaggers unable to spell November. Yet this does not make the message less serious. Behind the mistakes is a worldview that casts outsiders as threats and councils as traitors. Most residents may not notice until the marches are actually on their streets. But history shows these events will not define Medway. They will, however, test it. Whether they sputter out with a handful of marchers or spark confrontation with counter-protests, the risk is the same. A noisy few want to impose division on everyone else. The posters may look ridiculous, but the intentions behind them are not. --- #### Medway’s lonely reorganisation Medway Council’s Cabinet has voted to pay for a business case for its own version of local government reform, even though the plan has already been rejected by every other council in Kent. At [last week’s Cabinet meeting](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=6237&ref=localauthority.news), Labour administration councillors agreed to commission accountants KPMG to put together a business case for their own design for the future of Kent: a four-council map drawn up over the summer inside Gun Wharf. The trouble is that the map has no supporters outside Medway. When it was unveiled to Kent Leaders in August, [other council leaders condemned it](https://www.localauthority.news/i/171251425/medway-draws-its-own-map-and-annoys-everyone) for being dumped on them late, bypassing the cross-party working group and casually redrawing their boundaries without discussion. Matt Boughton, the leader of Tonbridge and Malling, was so irate that it seemed believable that he’d be riding a tank up Blue Bell Hill to protect ‘his’ territory. Kent Leaders instead backed two more conventional options: a three-council model and a four-council model based on existing district lines. Despite that, Medway has pressed on. Leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) told Cabinet it was a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to correct the mistakes of the 1970s, when the current set-up was devised, and that the council had a duty to put forward the option it thought best for its residents. He pointed out that £874,000 had been ring-fenced in February’s budget for local government reorganisation, so there was no fresh demand on council finances. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9Jjh!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6ef2d31d-0655-40ed-9fb6-5bec8daa10ab_2260x1590.jpg) Medway’s proposed map. The Conservative opposition seems particularly unimpressed by the plan. They fired 13 questions at Cabinet, accused the administration of embarking on a “vanity project for a dead proposal” and demanded to know what consultation had been carried out with Kent Police, the NHS and even Medway’s own councillors. Opposition leader [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) then [lodged a call-in](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/medway-conservatives-call-local-government-reorganisation-decision?ref=localauthority.news) before the meeting ended, saying the whole process was chaotic and wasteful. He argues that while the money may technically be within budget, choosing not to spend it would itself count as a saving at a time when Medway is reliant on emergency financial support from Whitehall. The Conservative statement has gone further still, accusing Labour of changing course without consultation, shifting from support for a conventional four-council model earlier in the year to this new bespoke map in August. They claim the resulting business case will be unworkable since it lacks any allies elsewhere in Kent, and that officer time and council reputation are being squandered on something doomed from the start. Maple has batted that away, saying that if other councils are free to produce their own models - Kent County Council is developing one for a single countywide unitary, and Gravesham and Dartford are pushing a deranged five-council map that would split Medway in two - then Medway has every right to do the same. Without a business case, ministers will never even look at the Medway option. He argues it is better to have it on the table than ignored. The irony is that Medway’s map is not a bad one. It is more rational than several of the others, tidying up some of the illogical lines drawn in the 1970s and attempting to create authorities that reflect communities rather than outdated boundaries. The flaw is political, not geographical. None of the other councils want it, which makes it a non-starter. A map that looks sensible on paper will not be implemented if every neighbour has already said no. The next steps look more like theatre than substance. The Conservative call in will be heard at a [special meeting of the Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=585&MId=6478&ref=localauthority.news) this Thursday (2 Oct). The committee can let the decision stand or send it back to Cabinet. Officers have confirmed that the move is within the budget and policy framework, which rules out escalation to full Council. If it is referred back, Cabinet has already scheduled a special meeting on Monday (6 Oct) to ~~rubber-stamp the decision again~~ carefully listen to opposing views and consider changing course. The call in process is an important part of local democracy. It gives the opposition a chance to force answers and put their concerns on the record. In practice, it is largely symbolic. The Labour administration holds the votes and can overturn whatever the committee recommends. So Medway will pay for a business case that has little chance of becoming reality. Ministers will receive a flurry of different maps in November, but the Medway version will arrive without a single other council backing it. The administration can claim it fought for what it thought was right, while the opposition can claim it tried to stop money from being wasted. In the end, the borders that survive are the ones with backers, not the ones that make sense, and most Medway residents probably aren’t paying attention to any of this anyway. --- #### In brief 🚨 Part of Rochester town centre was evacuated yesterday (Mon 29 Sep) after someone mistook an [e-bike battery for a bomb](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/e-bike-battery-caused-high-street-evacuation-and-police-resp-330521/?ref=localauthority.news). Kent Police sealed off an area around the High Street and Corporation Street while bomb disposal teams ensured the item posed no risk. 🏗️ Medway Council’s planning committee went on a housebuilding approval bonanza [last week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6300&ref=localauthority.news), approving both the 132-home Acorn Wharf scheme in Rochester and 33 new homes off Berengrave Lane in Rainham. 🗄️ A Medway provider of supported housing has [received a damning report](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czrp41lrggmo?ref=localauthority.news) from the Care Quality Commission. An inspection of care provided by Optimum Supported Housing found that the company failed to treat people without “dignity, kindness, or respect.” ⛴️ The world’s last sea-going paddle steamer [docked](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy50971e73vo.amp?ref=localauthority.news) at Rochester’s new Limehouse Landing on Friday, marking Waverley's first visit to the town. --- #### More Authority We spoke to [ecologist and author Carol Donaldson](https://www.localauthority.news/it-felt-so-hard-to-live-a-conventional/) for our weekend interview, who has lived quite a life. She talks about her past teaching in the Arctic, rehabilitating wolves in Russia, her closer to home work restoring wetlands on the Hoo Peninsula, and lots more. [“It felt so hard to live a conventional life”Carol Donaldson is the author of two books and has been working hard with farmers on the Hoo Peninsula to return land to wetlands. With Carol contributing to our Kent Current title, we sat down with her to discuss the work that she does, her time with wolves in Russia and why she got evicted from living in a caravan in Hoo.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!pvP_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8da0701e-de02-4309-bc59-fd36c4cfbc90_1600x800.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/it-felt-so-hard-to-live-a-conventional/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “It felt so hard to live a conventional life” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/it-felt-so-hard-to-live-a-conventional/ Last updated: 2025-09-28T06:00:35.000Z [*Carol Donaldson*](https://caroldonaldsonwriter.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is the author of two books and has been working hard with farmers on the Hoo Peninsula to return land to wetlands. With Carol contributing to our Kent Current title, we sat down with her to discuss the work that she does, her time with wolves in Russia and why she got evicted from living in a caravan in Hoo.* ![Carol Donaldson | Writer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!pvP_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8da0701e-de02-4309-bc59-fd36c4cfbc90_1600x800.jpg) Carol Donaldson **What is your official occupation?** Two things. The one that pays is being an ecologist. I do wildlife conservation. I give lots of advice to farmers on the Hoo Peninsula, north Kent marshes and some in Essex about managing their land for breeding waders, lapwings and redshanks. I design wetlands and hopefully get some money to fund those wetlands. I've had some lovely successes of land that was bone dry with no wildlife on it, and then you do all this work and suddenly it has wildlife, and it's a lovely thing to do. Also, I organise the farming cluster of the Hoo Peninsula. That's basically a gang of farmers, partly a social thing, but also it's getting them to work together across the whole landscape to benefit wildlife, and we've chosen certain species to focus on, lapwings, turtle doves and hares. It's getting all of those farmers together and saying what can we do together as a group to improve that whole landscape for wildlife. They're very enthusiastic, particularly on the peninsula. They've been fantastic. I've got a lead farmer who's well respected, leading the way and doing stuff on his own land. Then I do lots of river surveys that advise on managing rivers, reducing pollution and preventing flood risk. That's the day job. Then I am a nature writer and travel writer. I do travel writing for the Guardian. I've had two books published. A nature memoir, I think they're officially called nowadays. **You mentioned a few species there. Why would someone want to breed them if they had a farm? There's no commercial benefit?** A lot of the land that they're breeding on would have been flood plain grasslands. It would have been a lot wetter in the past. Sometimes, the farmers were encouraged by government subsidies to drain the land and turn it over to crops. But those crops often didn't grow very well because the land naturally wanted to flood, and sometimes the soil was very salty as well because it had naturally been part of the salt marsh. Now the farmers get subsidies for managing the land for wildlife. A lot of the land is protected. There's not a lot they can do with it other than just graze cattle on it. In some ways, the funding that they get for looking after the wildlife is very helpful to them. Sometimes it's financial reasons. I think a lot of people think that farmers will only do things if they're paid, but that's not true. They'll do it because they’re people who for generations have been guardians of the land, and maybe they see that they were encouraged to do things that have really depleted the countryside for wildlife. They want to put a bit back and do something decent for wildlife. Sometimes the older farmers, they remember a countryside that had these birds on it, they see that they've gone. They want a better legacy for the future. Certainly, the stuff that I do with the farmers, it's as much to do with being able to read people and knowing what will incentivise a person as much as it is about knowing what's the right thing to do for the wildlife. A lot of it is people skills, really. My mother sold double glazing when I was very young. She was a marvellous saleswoman. Because she was so brilliant, I was given a job at 14 selling double glazing. Well, no one wants to buy double glazing from a 14-year-old, and I had no incentive. I just didn't care. I was 14, I didn't care about double glazing. I didn't know what it was. But a lot of those skills I think that my mum had, and I learnt from my mum, I now use in the service of something that I really do care about. A lot of it is knowing when to push and knowing when to hold back and when to be polite and when to be quite cheeky, and I think it's as much that as anything else really. **You mentioned turning land back over to becoming a wetland. Can you give us an idiot's guide on what happens in that process?** A lot of the land was drained in Victorian times, some of it was drained in the 1980s. Before I go out and do this stuff, I often look at old Google Earth, which can fly back in time to the 1940s. It makes me very sad because, from a wildlife point of view, you can see this loss, and you can see that in the 80s and 90s, farmers were given money to drain land that was never going to be great for crops. The first thing you do is break all those underground drains. You basically get a digger, and you smash all the joints. That psychologically can be quite hard, because often their father would have overseen that work and they're setting back what their fathers and their grandfathers did. You've got to respect that. It's their land, they've put centuries of work into that. But you smash the drains. That stops all the drainage of the land. Often with old marshland, you're trying to hold water on the land. If you can hold water on that land and you can get cattle on at the right time to graze it, then you'll get the lapwings back. It's instantaneous. The next year, the land is exploding with wildlife because these birds are quite desperate, particularly in Essex, but also in Kent. They're quite desperate, and if they fly over in February and if they see that looks alright, they'll come down and if it feels like it's got what they need. Then next year you've got lapwings, and I've had farmers almost with tears in their eyes because they've never seen the birds on the land. Their father, their grandfather, might have told them about them, but now they're back, and they've put them back on that land through what they've done. It is amazing. To do something just for the goodness of doing it for another species could be a powerful thing. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s overlooked treasure trove of military history URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-overlooked-treasure-trove/ Last updated: 2025-09-26T18:43:21.000Z *The Royal Engineers Museum is a remarkable collection of military items with exhibits from across the world. Somehow, the museum remains regularly overlooked, with many residents never having ventured inside. We sent Chris de Coulon-Berthoud to explore what it has to offer. Further down, we look at a recent lecture on witchcraft that drew a huge crowd, we review Piggyz, our weekly events guide, and more.* --- #### **Medway’s overlooked collection of military history** The Royal Engineers have a long history in the Medway Towns. In 1812, Major Charles Pasley founded the School of Military Engineering at Brompton, when a library and archive were also established. The [museum](https://www.re-museum.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) came later in 1875 with exhibits drawn from collections started by Major Pasley, and Sergeant Major James Forbes of the Royal Sappers and Miners depot in Woolwich. The current museum was opened in May 1987. Medway’s long history as a naval and military centre has left the fabric of our streets run through with names that act as an oblique index of this country’s martial and imperial past. Names referring to places in what was the imperial periphery, like Afghan Street, Khartoum Road, and Natal Road, old pub names like The Ghuznee Fort, The Prince of Guinea, to the more obvious names like Ordnance Terrace and Sappers Walk. Chatham, perhaps noted for its forthrightness, chose an even blunter name: Military Road. There’s even a Stalin Avenue on the Wayfield estate, a pre-Cold War gesture to the summit at Yalta permanently etched into our local geography, but untroubling to the local postal service since nobody lives there. It comes as a surprise then that the Royal Engineers Museum remains something of a hidden gem. The cheerfully enthusiastic Tom Paffett, who shows us around, tells us of a recent visitor who has lived in Chatham for 30 years, who told him that he never knew the museum was here. “I was like, ‘What did you think the blooming great armoured vehicles outside were for?’ He said, ‘Well, I thought it was just part of the barracks.’” The cruelty of Empire lurks uncomfortably behind the stories the museum has to tell of gallantry medals, the evolution of military engineering, and personal tales of heroism and innovation, but they manage to navigate this with dignity. At the start of the exhibition is a magnificent painting of the colours of the Board of Ordnance from which the Royal Engineers emerged, depicting a pair of cyclops bearing hammer and tongues above the Latin motto ‘sua tela tonanti’ (‘To the warrior his arms.’) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!n_sD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3e4e569e-51b1-48d3-bba9-baf3d6b41a21_4032x3024.jpg) Royal Engineers Musem They watch over an enormous scale model of Gibraltar that represents the Siege of Gibraltar between 1779 and 1783, and a remarkable marble model of the King’s Bastion in Gibraltar, which once sat in Buckingham Palace. It was built in 1790 by Corporal John Brand, who served as a boy artificer during the siege, and it was presented to King George III in 1793\. It’s popular with younger visitors, although Tom laughs as he tells us, “We quite often have to get a pair of tweezers out and pull out all the sweet wrappers stuck in there by the kids!” Unsurprisingly for a military museum, there are some macabre exhibits. There’s a set of Waterloo teeth. Dentures were originally called Waterloos because expensive high-end dentures were made from teeth looted from the bodies of soldiers who fell at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815\. Across the room is a lock of Emperor Napoleon’s hair removed after his death and given to Major (later to become Major-General) Anthony Emmett, who was the Royal Engineer Officer at St. Helena at the time. Elsewhere, you will find the stuffed remains of Snob,a captured Russian officer's dog who remained with the Corps during the Crimean War, gaining his new name because of his classist insistence on only eating in the Officers’ Mess. Snob’s mortal remains, except for his pelt, are buried on the edge of the parade ground at the Royal Engineers Barracks, several hundred yards away. The Corps of Engineers has been almost everywhere around the world since its formation, which explains their motto ‘Ubique,’ meaning ‘Everywhere,’ reflecting the Corps’ presence in every major British Army battle and campaign, making individual battle honours unnecessary. Tom adds with a twinkle in his eye, “The Artillery have the same motto, but theirs means ‘All over the place.’” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!lB9F!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe2026e38-1aef-48bb-9ac1-e983c4e666e5_3843x2882.jpg) Tom explains that because of this presence across the world at various times, the collection is eclectic, from many sources, with some information about the material still coming to light. Research has discovered marks on several sets of arms and armour that were previously unnoticed, but thanks to advanced technology and a sharper understanding of what to look for, they are now visible. These marks reveal who made the pieces, which arsenal they came from, and other valuable information, all drawn from collections that have been held for decades. The material exhibits collected from military actions all over the world tell a story of the breadth of our past imperial entanglements. The way we view our past role in the world is changing, too fast for some and too slowly for others, but British museums are actively reckoning with imperial legacies through recontextualising exhibitions, public engagement, repatriation efforts, digital innovation, and institutional reform. These initiatives reflect a growing understanding of how colonial histories shape both collections and public memory. The RE Museum is eagerly embracing this and reimagining how we can honestly represent the past in a way that doesn’t insult us in the present. One example is the display of material from Sudan during the Mahdiyya (1885–1899), which saw the death of General Gordon. When General Kitchener defeated the Sudanese at Omdurman in 1898, he desecrated the Mahdi’s tomb, burning the remains and casting the ashes into the Nile, even keeping the skull for a drinking vessel or inkwell. Officers reportedly took fingernails as trophies, behaviour that horrified contemporary observers. The battle itself, fought with devastating dum-dum bullets, was described by eyewitnesses as “not a battle but an execution.” Even Winston Churchill condemned Kitchener’s conduct, and Queen Victoria forced him to apologise and rebury the skull. The museum joined the AHRC-funded project Making African Connections with the University of Sussex, working with Sudanese scholars to reinterpret these collections. Not all Royal Engineers’ work was military. The Corps also undertook major civil engineering and infrastructure projects, from bridges and strategic railways to landmark buildings. Notable examples depicted include the Royal Albert Hall, designed by Captain Francis Fowke and Major-General Henry Y. D. Scott, and several prisons by Captain Joshua Jebb, including Pentonville, Broadmoor, and Dublin’s Mountjoy. You can see the Webley revolver used in action by Lieutenant John Chard VC at the Battle of Rorke's Drift. And among the most fascinating pieces are early camouflage and deception devices, such as papier-mâché sniper targets and descriptions of painted trees designed to conceal troops. These ingenious objects show how the engineers pioneered decoys and concealment techniques that evolved into modern camouflage and even the first ghillie suits. The museum also holds trench armour, helmets fitted with removable steel plates, and personal items that make the experience of the First World War gallery deeply human. Letters, drawings, and photographs connect the lives of individual soldiers to the broader story of industrial innovation. Other exhibits reflect the Engineers’ influence in the creation of new units too, postal services, catering, signals, the Royal Flying Corps, and later the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers all grew out of their expertise. Innovation under pressure is a recurring theme. From bomb disposal and mine clearance to the development of Mulberry Harbours for D-Day, the Royal Engineers consistently found solutions to problems no one else could solve. The Corps’ legacy is visible not just in the machinery but in personal stories of gallantry, many preserved through medals, diaries, and oral histories. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c-5K!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb081f8df-4a9b-4ce9-89c6-a94a649c76f0_4284x3213.jpg) Berlin Wall segment in the Royal Engineers Museum The global reach of the Corps is reflected in objects as varied as samurai swords surrendered at the end of the Second World War, one of the few surviving V2 rockets, and even a section of the Berlin Wall. Each piece demonstrates that ‘Ubique,’ Everywhere, is not an empty motto, and the museum reflects the lives of the men and women whose ingenuity, sacrifice, and innovation made the Corps what it is. - *Chris de Coulon-Berthoud* --- #### **Glassbox lecture casts a spell** Gillingham’s [Glassbox Theatre](https://www.glassboxtheatre.com/?ref=localauthority.news) is hosting a series of affordable and accessible lectures from leading academics. The opening talk of the series was from Dr Laura Kounine, Assistant Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Sussex, on the theme of The History of Witchcraft and Women. The first remarkable thing about this evening is how well attended it is. The lecture hall is packed to capacity with 330 audience members, across a considerable age range, generating a palpable buzz of enthusiasm and anticipation amongst them in the bar and auditorium. Witchcraft, as Laura Kounine puts it, is having a moment, and tonight’s talk will prove illuminating as to the many reasons for this. The first half of the talk is an illustrated chronology of the gendering of witches from the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries, the height of the witch trial craze in Europe and the New World. Most people, when asked to visualise or describe a witch, will think of a female figure, and Laura clearly outlines that this is misleading, as her research shows that of approximately 100,000 witch trials in the period, only around half resulted in executions and around a quarter of all the accused were male. A sequence of early modern sources follows, exemplifying how and why gendered perceptions of witches evolved. The audience is suitably outraged by the extracts from Heinrich Kramer’s Malleus Maleficarum, in which the monk’s preoccupation with female sexuality leads to outlandish accusations against women, but suitably amused by the accompanying manuscript illustration showing a nest of confiscated members in a tree pruned by a witch. A persuasive argument is made that fear or misunderstanding of the post-menopausal body coloured depictions of women as crones, fuelling suspicions that such women might be vengeful or wicked as they began to lose their role of producing children. Dr Kounine pitches her talk just right. The material is accessible for those with no prior knowledge, but contributions and interactions are welcomed from those who have it. A lively and clear communicator, Laura speaks with authority and obvious passion, but without veering into academic aridity. The pacing of the talk allows space to absorb and reflect on new information, but never flags, whilst the humorous elements don’t trivialise the subject matter. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qg3b!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3e6645d6-0857-45b3-8c2e-ce41cc47dd07_1204x903.jpg) Dr Laura Kounine In the second half of the talk, the historiography of women and witchcraft is explored, and myths are debunked. Through this, and the audience Q&A, links are made to wider contemporary issues facing women, ranging from body autonomy and reproductive rights to the societal changes which have altered perceptions of witches today and, although not universally, led to wider acceptance of Wiccan practice and pagan worship. Even after the Q&A session has ended, audience members queue up to speak to Dr Kounine, who graciously and comprehensively answers individual queries. This level of audience engagement is seen extremely rarely these days and speaks of the fascination with the content and impeccable delivery of the lecture. - *Moira Mehaffey* --- #### Out to Breakfast: Piggyz in Strood I’m so old I get nostalgic for breakfast cafes. Back in the day, Piggy’s in Chatham was a great place to go for a full breakfast fry-up. Then the café, amongst other outlets, was heartlessly destroyed so that a decade later they could build.. checks notes.. flats. It is all well and good people having somewhere to live, but where are they meant to eat breakfast? Leave your answer in the comments. Piggyz can be found in Strood. I don’t believe it has any connection to the OG Chatham Piggy’s, but it does feel comfortingly familiar. Within walking distance of parking, and near the station should you elect to travel there by train. The space is open and clean, with more seating than first appears. Piggyz does offer an eating challenge. To be clear, this is not a review of that. You are welcome to go there, try it, and let us know how that goes for you. I went there for breakfast and ordered crispy bacon, fried eggs, fried bread, and a portion of mushrooms. Piggyz offers a make-your-own deal, so I end up with a sausage as well. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!GyFt!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd47e3ada-9c35-4163-96b8-64698a61a28b_5712x3674.jpg) Food at Piggyz The food is clean and grease-free, with good crispy bacon, and crisp fried bread. One slice is slightly burnt, and the egg yolks are a little hard, but it tastes good and is enjoyed. It also comes with toast, which was a thick tiger bread and good quality, if a bit too much bread with the fried slices. The review would have been better if they hadn’t encouraged me to order the sausage, which did not taste good and was not enjoyed. As free sausages go, I overpaid. Which is a shame, because overall it was a good fried breakfast. Is it Chatham Piggy’s good? Let’s not get hyperbolic. - *Steven Keevil* --- #### Events this week 🎶 Sat 27 Sep - [**All the Feels** ](https://www.facebook.com/events/3951694818432290/?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22user%5Ftimeline%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your%5Fupcoming%5Fevents%5Funit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D)// Latest Mr Unswitchable’s themed open mic night, This time it’s songs with an emotion or feeling in the title! Rochester Social Club. Free. 🗺️ Sun 28 Sep - [**A Covenant with the River Medway**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1339446374378415?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search%5Fresults%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%5Fsearch%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D) // For World’s Rivers Day, artists Stephen Turner, Martin Booth and AD Taylor share their experiences from a recent trip on the water. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free, booking essential. 🕰️ 30 Sep - 4 Oct - [**Time**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/lightshow?ref=localauthority.news) // Latest light show from Luxmuralis explores humanity’s relationship with the concept of time. Rochester Cathedral. 🧛 Thu 2 Oct - [**Radiohead X Nosferatu: Symphony of Horror**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-58177&ref=localauthority.news) // Pairing of silent film with music from Radiohead. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £15. --- #### More Authority For our midweek feature, former civil servant Bob Collins [analysed the aims of the current round of local government reorganisation](https://www.localauthority.news/north-kent-or-nowhere/), how things might play out, and the political games dictating who ends up where. [North Kent or nowhere?Regular readers of Local Authority will be well aware of the significant changes to local authority structures in Kent and Medway (and indeed across England) and of the colourful discussions that are going on between the Kent authorities trying to figure out what they all want the new world to look like in this area.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityBob C![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!KR0b!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdf257390-e2e1-4ef1-8a6b-d2a1d78087a7_4646x3229.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/north-kent-or-nowhere/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### North Kent or nowhere? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/north-kent-or-nowhere/ Last updated: 2025-09-24T11:03:16.000Z Regular readers of *Local Authority* will be well aware of the significant changes to local authority structures in Kent and Medway (and indeed across England) and of the colourful discussions that are going on between the Kent authorities trying to figure out what they all want the new world to look like in this area. With the deadline for proposals to be submitted to government on 28 November, this seems like a good time to step back from the immediate cut and thrust of the discussions and have a deeper look at what this whole change is all about and what it will mean. It’s fairly meaty stuff, so this will be a two-parter. In this part, we’ll look at how and why we got here in the first place and in the second instalment, we’ll look in more detail at what some of the changes this could mean in the real world. Are you ready? So, er, sorry about this, but we’re starting the story in 1974, the date of the last big top-down major local government reorganisation. That was when the basic model was set up of county councils (or city metropolitan areas) doing education, highways etc, and local district councils underneath them doing the bins, playgrounds, leisure centres, and so on. This was a fairly uniform model across the country. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!KR0b!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdf257390-e2e1-4ef1-8a6b-d2a1d78087a7_4646x3229.jpg) Map of Kent councils today Now, there have been *lots* of changes since then, but they’ve been rather piecemeal. One major phenomenon that started in the 1990s was the creation of more and more unitary authorities, such as Medway, in which all council functions are combined into a single authority. So, when Medway Unitary Authority was created in 1998, it essentially meant independence from Kent County Council. Lots of other districts around the country have become unitaries and, more recently, some whole counties, such as Cornwall, have become unitaries, with all the districts beneath them being abolished. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Council pledges to remove Medway’s lamppost flags URL: https://www.localauthority.news/council-pledges-to-remove-medways/ Last updated: 2025-09-23T16:47:13.000Z *After a month of flags appearing across our towns on lampposts, Medway Council has finally decided that they’ve had enough, with council leader Vince Maple announcing this week that they’ll start to remove them. But how easy will that be, and just how big is the campaign putting them up in the first place? Evidence on social media suggests the mass flagging may well be a small group of men with a pair of ladders. We’ve got the full details below. Further down, we have news of Medway introducing new AI technology that is definitely here to help, a big funding boost for the Strood Civic Centre site, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Hoist today, gone tomorrow Medway’s flag wars took a sharp turn this week. After weeks of Union Jacks and St George’s crosses appearing on lampposts and roundabouts, Medway Labour, who run the council, said they will now start taking them down. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!U4xe!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2a619f85-719d-4476-a795-66a576e2135d_4000x2250.jpg) Flags in Medway. That marks a shift. Until now, the council’s line was that they discouraged residents from putting them up in public spaces, but no action would be taken. The new promise is blanket removals. It is also politically risky. Residents who have tried to remove flags themselves have already faced abuse, and local Facebook groups have been littered with speculation about ‘lefties’ prowling with scissors. Flashpoints seem inevitable if council staff begin pulling them down in broad daylight. Labour argues it has to be done, saying, “No one has given consent to poorly hung, cheap flags, which won’t be maintained in our public spaces, being used to push a political agenda.” [Their statement](https://www.facebook.com/MedwayLabour/videos/1116410450066643), posted through party channels rather than official council comms, also went further than before in its description of the campaign. “This wave of flag raising was started by individuals who are well-known agitators of the far right, and their objective is to intimidate minority ethnic groups,” Medway Council leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) said in the video shared on social media. Cllr [Alex Paterson](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/) emphasised the point: “If you are proud of your country, you raise a flag on your property. You don’t go out with a ladder after dark and zip tie a flag to a lamp post and then abandon all responsibility for it.” Response from the Conservative opposition group has so far been muted, with no statement being issued on the subject. Conservative councillor [Robbie Lammas](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) struck out on his own, [calling it](https://x.com/RobbieLammas/status/1969024668750213284?ref=localauthority.news) “disgraceful” that Labour would decide when national flags can be flown and accusing them of prioritising removals over fixing roads, railings and roundabouts. Reform branches in Medway also criticised Labour, [saying](https://www.facebook.com/61577722285583/videos/24692834490383999) the party was wrong to frame national symbols as something to be “tolerated.” They argued the Union Jack and St George’s Cross represent pride and unity, not division, and accused Labour of insulting people who want to display them. Behind the political noise, the campaign itself has turned out to be surprisingly small in scale. One organiser bragged on Facebook that his group had put up “650 in total.” Photos shared across Facebook pages of those connected suggest it’s true. A few activists with ladders have created the impression of a wide movement in Medway. Some of the same figures are now trying to organise a protest march in Medway later this year, echoing the demonstrations seen in other parts of the county in recent weeks. Since August, flags have appeared overnight on roundabouts from Bowaters to Rochester Bridge, many upside down or flying half-mast. The aim appears to be saturation, not ceremony. Instead, organisers claim that Kent Police had given them cover. One of the group insisted on Facebook that their actions were legal and that Kent Police confirmed no arrests would be made. That line comes from a muddled police statement earlier this year that ‘flying flags is never illegal,’ a curious interpretation of the law. While that is true in your own garden, it is not true when you’re fixing them to public property, which the Highways Act 1980 makes an offence. The police never spelt that out, and activists have treated the ambiguity as permission. The push for support outside the core group has not gone well. A [crowdfunder](https://www.gofundme.com/f/buy-union-jack-and-england-flags?ref=localauthority.news) launched by one flagger set a target of £1,500 to buy more flags in response to the Labour announcement. A week in, it had raised £180 from 12 donations. The pitch was to “put them up quicker than they can get them down.” The poor response underlines how thin the backing really is. So the fight over Medway’s lampposts rolls on. Labour say they will take the flags down. One Conservative councillor says that’s the wrong priority. Reform says Labour are insulting national pride. The police keep out of it. Meanwhile, the activists behind the flags are plotting a protest march later this year, hoping to turn polyester bunting into boots on the ground. Whether that actually materialises is another question. For a bit longer, the flags will stay up. Fabric orchestrated by the far-right that has somehow dragged the council, the police and political parties into an argument over who owns the right to patriotism. Not a grassroots uprising. Not a great show of pride. Just theatre on a lamppost. --- *We’re wrapping up* [*our reader survey*](https://forms.gle/UyWHCK2uBWp8QoAS6?ref=localauthority.news) *this week. If you can spare five minutes to tell us a little about yourself and what you want from Local Authority, we’d be very grateful.* [Start survey](https://forms.gle/UyWHCK2uBWp8QoAS6?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### **Bin days in Polish? There’s a bot for that** Medway Council has taken its first visible step into artificial intelligence with a [new search system on its website](https://www.ukauthority.com/articles/medway-adopts-ai-powered-website-search-tool?ref=localauthority.news), billed as a way to make it easier for residents to get information. The system, developed by software firm Jadu, is called (brace yourself) Agent-Ex: Search. Rather than churning out a list of semi-relevant links, it is trained directly on Medway’s own website and is supposed to produce clear, factual answers instead. It works with text and voice, complies with accessibility standards, and can respond in more than 70 languages. In theory, you could ask about bin collections in Polish or Bengali and get a useful answer back. The council says this will make services more inclusive and reduce pressure on its phone lines by encouraging people to self-serve. It is part of a wider project branded Medway 2.0\. The council has chosen Jadu as its main resident-facing system in an attempt to pull together the various silos of data and create a (brace again) ‘single view of the resident.’ Alongside the AI search, Medway has redesigned its nuisance vehicle reporting process. Residents can now drop a pin on a map, pull in DVLA data automatically and track what happens next. The council claims this has cut manual processing by three-quarters. The argument is that with councils strapped for cash, automation is no longer optional. Jadu says Medway 2.0 saved £34m last year. Officials present this as proof that the new approach can simplify services and deliver savings. But residents will judge it on whether it works in practice. If the AI search produces wrong answers, how quickly will people be directed to a human who can fix the problem? How up to date will it be when the council changes its website content? Will the speech and language functions cope with the reality of Medway’s population, or is this destined to be another feature that sounds better on paper than in practice? Across the country, councils are racing to embed AI in more sensitive areas. Stockton has used it to sort through resident emails. North Yorkshire and Teesside have trialled predictive tools in children’s services. Some authorities have tested systems to help decide when elderly residents should go into care. Coventry has gone as far as signing a data management contract with Palantir, a company best known for its ties to intelligence agencies. Compared to that, a smarter search box on Medway’s website may look harmless. But it marks the point where the council joins the same trajectory. If it works, the website might finally become easier to use. If it doesn’t, residents could find themselves trapped in a new layer of digital bureaucracy, this time with an AI badge on top. --- #### **(Brown)field of schemes** Medway Council is set to sign off millions in government brownfield money at tonight’s Cabinet meeting (Tue 23 Sep), but as ever, the deal comes with strings. The Cabinet will discuss a [report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=81565&ref=localauthority.news) that confirms £6.8m from Homes England for the old Civic Centre site in Strood. The grant covers the messy but vital jobs like clearing contamination, raising land, flood defences, and plugging in utilities. The 195 homes planned for the site won’t get far without it. ![Plans submitted for Strood Civic Centre site](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!geMB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6abc355b-61de-470c-bdd4-84c422891ba9_2360x880.jpg) Plans for the former Strood Civic Centre site. A second bid is in for Mountbatten House in Chatham, which could deliver another 164 homes. The catch is the same as for the Strood site. The council must act as guarantor. If deadlines slip or the homes never appear, Homes England can claw the money back, and Medway would have to pay. Officers say the risk is covered by surveys and cost plans. It is still a risk. The reality is blunt. Medway’s big brownfield sites will not be developed without the outside cash. Developers will not take on the cost of clearing derelict land and fixing flood defences if the sums do not work. Whitehall fills the gap, but councils like Medway shoulder the exposure. That exposure matters because Medway is miles behind on housing, and cannot show a five-year supply. That leaves it exposed to government intervention. Last week, the Planning Inspectorate [overturned the council’s refusal](https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?CaseID=3364803&CoID=0&ref=localauthority.news) of three blocks of flats in Strood. Councillors said the scheme was too big and out of character. The Inspectorate pointed to the lack of a five-year plan and waved it through. This is a recurring pattern. Councillors say no, residents applaud. Government steps in and gives the green light. The homes get built anyway, just in a way the council has less control over. Brownfield funding offers what feels like a less contentious development to the council. It brings forward sites the council actually wants to see developed, close to town centres and transport, instead of piecemeal schemes pushed through on appeal. It comes with strings, but at least it gives Medway a hand in shaping where growth happens. The choice is not between building and not building. Medway does not get to opt out of the housing crisis. The choice is whether to take the money, back brownfield sites, and steer development, or carry on losing appeals and watch homes pop up wherever developers win the argument. Either way, the housing is coming. The only question is whether Medway leads from the front or keeps being dragged along from behind. --- #### In brief 🗣️ Medway Council Cabinet is tonight (Tue 23 Sep), with a grim [set of questions](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=81637&ref=localauthority.news) following the move to more public and councillor questions being asked there rather than full council. The Conservative opposition has put in 13 questions that all effectively boil down to ‘how much consultation did you do on Medway’s local government reorganisation proposals?’, while one member of the public demands to know the ethnicity of someone accused of committing sexual assault in Gillingham last month. 🍾 After being rejected the first time, Budgens have [reapplied for an alcohol licence](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) for their new store at Chatham waterfront. After failing to get a licence that would allow them to serve into the small hours, they have this time requested the ability to sell alcohol between 9am and 11pm. We wouldn’t bet on the licensing committee looking much more kindly on this version. 🚆 In other licensing news, the coffee shop inside Gillingham rail station has [applied to sell alcohol](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news), because sure, why not? 🚒 Part of the roof of the former Debenhams building in Chatham [collapsed](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/dramatic-pictures-show-collapsed-debenhams-roof-after-fire-329998/?ref=localauthority.news) following a fire last week. Work had already been taking place to remove the roof, which the fire presumably accelerated. 🚏 Works to [change the layout of Chatham Waterfront bus station](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1959/improvement%5Fworks%5Fat%5Fchatham%5Fwaterfront%5Fbus%5Fstation%5Fto%5Fbegin%5Fnext%5Fweek?ref=localauthority.news) started this week. The work will see the eastern side of the bus station made one way, the carriageway narrowed, and the central pedestrian island increased in size. 🚈 Medway Council are undertaking a refresh of the Local Transport Plan and is [asking residents what they feel would improve transport](https://surveys.medway.gov.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=175741167643&ref=localauthority.news) across the area. Sadly, the form doesn’t offer the ability to demand a tram network. 🏢 Locate in Kent, the organisation working to encourage businesses to base themselves in the county, has [entered liquidation](https://www.locateinkent.com/news-from-locate-in-kent/?ref=localauthority.news). It comes just two weeks after Visit Kent, a similar body to encourage tourism in the county, [also collapsed](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kents-tourism-megaphone-suddenly?ref=localauthority.news). 🗄️ This [remarkable Freedom of Information request](https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/black%5Flion%5Fremoval%5Fof%5Fenglish%5Fhe?ref=localauthority.news) was submitted to Medway Council, to which officers responded that they are ‘confused’. --- #### More Authority For our big weekend interview, [Steven sat down with Habib Tejan](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enjoy-solving-problems/), Conservative councillor for St Mary’s Island. They spoke about what brought him to the UK, how he became a Conservative, and whether the financial sector can now be trusted… [“I enjoy solving problems“As part of our ongoing mission to interview all of Medway’s councillors, this month we speak to Conservative councillor Habib Tejan, the chair of the Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee. They met at the Ship and Trades next to St Mary’s Island and discussed what brought him to the UK, how he became a Conservative, and if the financial sector can now be trusted…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!fNan!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f15b3c63e-c7f8-458d-820d-9a8e59f56468_500x500.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enjoy-solving-problems/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “I enjoy solving problems“ URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-enjoy-solving-problems/ Last updated: 2025-09-21T06:02:00.000Z *As part of our ongoing mission to interview all of Medway’s councillors, this month we speak to Conservative councillor Habib Tejan, the chair of the Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee. They met at the Ship and Trades next to St Mary’s Island and discussed what brought him to the UK, how he became a Conservative, and if the financial sector can now be trusted…* ![Habib Tejan, Medway Council | Chatham Maritime Trust](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!fNan!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f15b3c63e-c7f8-458d-820d-9a8e59f56468_500x500.jpg) Cllr Habib Tejan **Which ward are you the councillor for?** St Mary's Island. **Why are you the councillor for that ward?** Interesting question. I've lived in St Mary's Island since 2004\. I moved in with my wife and my two young kids at the time. We wanted somewhere where the children felt safe, happy, and we wanted a comfortable area. St Mary's Island was in the early stage. I visited one of my cousins on the island. I thought I love this place. I thought it's a nice place and we finally moved in just before Christmas. My wife worked in London, and at that tim,e I worked in Maidstone. I was all around the country as well. It was just quite convenient. You take them to school, you go to work, and you get them to an after-school club and pick them up. It was all around family life. But how did I become a councillor? I work in financial services. We had the financial crisis. I had sadly got made redundant. I was a manager in my firm at the time. I had to give most of my colleagues the sad news, and then eventually I had a meeting, and so I knew. We had started to work for ourselves, set up a partnership in Essex in Lakeside. We set up a finance brokerage and we started working together, but he and myself didn't get on much. I walked away from the business and I started volunteering around the community, St Marys Island in particular and through the voluntary role, I got invited to join the Conservative Party. I carried on volunteering, just giving back, keeping myself busy. I got asked if I would like to stand as a councillor, which I wasn't too sure about at the time, to be honest with you. I'm going through this transition, my kids are young, will I be able to give it all the commitment? I thought about it. I thought it’s about time to serve when you've been called upon. I put myself forward, went through the process, and got elected in 2015. **When you were first elected, it was River ward. Now you're the councillor for St Mary's Island. What's the difference for you as a councillor between the two?** The role is the same. River ward was quite a lot more diverse area. It involved Rochester, the Riverside development, passing through Chatham and Brompton and then, of course, St Mary's Island. You are dealing with a variety of issues from all across the community. I had several PACT *(Police and Communities Together)* meetings that you had to attend. The issues are slightly different. The issues you had to deal with as a ward member in Rochester were slightly different from the ones you pick up in parts of Chatham, Brompton or even on St Mary's Island. I would say the role was slightly different in terms of some of the stuff you had to deal with. Of course, on the whole, the process is the same. Residents will come to you with issues. There's not much difference apart from every part of Medway, it's a slightly different sort of problems you will be picking up. **What political parties have you been a member of?** Just the Conservatives. I've never joined any others. **Why join the Conservatives?** Seeing what a wreck Labour had left, you're thinking this country needs some fixing. Unemployment was high. Of course, there was a global crisis, but the whole management of it, and the big institutions were being bailed out, and individuals like us were left high and dry. There was no one you could turn to. And I told them, I'm going to support what we need under an alternative government. I'm going to support a party that will bring about financial stability and create that security we're looking for. **In that time, the Conservative Party have had a number of leaders. Who would you say has been the best leader nationally?** We have so many different leaders. It's too early to judge our current leader, because she hasn't led the country. But I think Sunak did a good job during his time. **You're now the chair of the Business Support and Digital Overview and Scrutiny Committee. What does that entail?** It's a vast department within the council. Almost all of the council's 140 services. It's the front-facing department of the council, from HR to IT to customer service, cabs, and everything falls within that directory. Fraud, counter-fraud, and benefits. It's the actual community service, and being in the scrutiny role is just ensuring that what we've got on the table, serving you, is what we do. You ask this question, you make sure you scrutinise what delivery is going on and how the council is delivering the service. As the chairman of the scrutiny role, you’re chairing the meeting as well, so you're making sure that colleagues, people coming with different ideas and different viewpoints, are able to get those, able to drive the policy forward because that's the work of scrutiny. To be able to pick things up and make recommendations to the executive. **We've passed the halfway mark for the current administration, and from a business support and digital overview perspective, how would you rate the council currently?** In terms of service delivery, we've got, for example, Medway 2.0\. It's not where it should be. I don't think our residents are getting exactly what they expect to have from that. People have to, in this digital age, still pick up the phone, rather than just put everything online and upload it. They're still not getting the service they require. They are complaining. That's a lot. Yeah, don't think expectation has been met. We're having the savings that we expected to get from that. There's nothing that can say yes, exactly this is the financial savings we've made, and this is the improvement. It's a journey that is coming in the right direction. The hard-working staff, they're doing a good job, they make a difference at work and are so amazing. I don't want to put them down. You've got some amazing staff, council staff who are innovative, who come up with different ideas on how to make things better for us. But I think it's a little bit too slow. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Barges find new life on the Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/barges-find-new-life-on-the-medway/ Last updated: 2025-09-19T15:02:47.000Z *A Medway organisation is seeking to keep historic sailing barges alive at a time when so many are falling into disrepair. We find out more about the heritage work involved. Further down, we hear about the return of the Festival of Chatham Reach tomorrow, an update on our Reform school story from earlier in the week, a farmers’ market turns 25, we review Fish at 55, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Barges find new life on the Medway *We spoke to Sun Pier House’s Ed Gransden about developments with* [*Tiller & Wheel*](https://tillerandwheel.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *and the launch of* [*Intra Maritime Heritage*](https://tillerandwheel.com/intra-maritime-heritage/?ref=localauthority.news)*, why so many barges are falling into disrepair, and why they are finding new life in Medway…* Tiller & Wheel were established in 2019 “to try and fend off the imminent destruction of the east coast maritime heritage.” Ed tells me how, having been in the heritage sailing community for a number of years, they were aware that there was a number of barges, and other working boats common to the east coast and there was “going to come a point where all these people were going to retire or die and there was going to be no one to take them over.” They wanted to try new ideas and rejuvenate the community. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vPW6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0d6472b8-78ca-4166-ae57-3b1a86d33b34_2488x1592.jpg) A Thames sailing barge on the Medway. Ed has a long tradition connected to the water. His grandfather built his own yacht and that “led to us going on sailing holidays when I was a kid and my dad's always been interested in the sailing barges.” He was involved in saving and restoring old boats, which ended up being Ed’s job as well, after he left university and was looking for what he would do next in life. They started off with a Whitstable Oyster Smack, and then they acquired the barge [Edith May](https://edithmaybargecharter.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), “which was a wreck. My father restored that. I was 14 then.” That was it for a long time until the founding of Tiller & Wheel. The success of Tiller & Wheel at restoring and maintaining these boats led to them being approached last year by a barge owner who asked if Ed would take it on. “I said no.” “Then they said, ‘What if we sponsor you?’ And so, we got sponsorship from this architecture firm in London, who liked what we were trying to do.” They rescued the [Ardwina](https://tillerandwheel.com/2024/03/01/ardwina-history/?ref=localauthority.news) last April. “Suddenly people looked at us as ‘Oh you'll be the one that takes on all these rotten old barges.’” Since then, they've been approached by several other owners asking them to take on barges. “We try not to commit to anything unless we have the capacity to do it.” What changed for Tiller & Wheel was meeting with Intra Maritime Heritage further along at what may or may not be Chatham Intra. “They really liked what we were doing, we took them out for a sail, and they said, ‘Why don't we turn this area into a barge heritage place?’” Thus, a ten year vision to turn the area around Ship Pier into a heritage harbour. They tasked Ed with buying them a barge, “but don't spend too much money.” Ed and his team went and rescued [Lady Daphne](https://www.lady-daphne.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) from Cornwall. “I knew the owners were looking to rehome it, and we had a wild four and a half days sailing it back.” More people have since approached them, and there is the possibility that a further two barges will be joining them next year. Why are there so many barges falling into disrepair around the UK? “The coast lost a lot of its maritime heritage years ago, because the rest of the UK coast is fairly unforgiving. When mechanisation came in, they broke up the old boats. But the Thames barges, the last survivor of the age of sail really, because the geography of the Thames estuary and the fact that barges could move a large amount of cargo, and they only needed two cre,w meant they were still just about economical to operate until the last one finished in the early 1970s as a cargo vessel. They were the last vessels in Europe to carry cargo under sail. But what that meant, because they were so tailor-made and useful until quite late in the 1970s, there were about 150 barges, which was a significant amount of historic craft of one particular type.” Ed’s father’s generation would buy up these old barges and keep them going, but with that generation no longer able to maintain them, it means that a significant number of barges are reaching their end. “When they finished carrying cargo, some became corporate barges for corporate hospitality. Some became houseboats, some private yachts, and there’s a few charter barges.” For Tiller & Wheel, “we think that the future of the barge is they need to be able to earn money, because the costs of maintenance, and our mission, is to create a business model that means that that can be applied to any of them, so they can keep going. Our thinking is that making them accessible to the public and as accessible as possible is the best way to make them sustainable.” --- #### Festival of Chatham Reach returns *As I was with Ed Gransden, it would be foolish not to talk to him about the* [*Festival of Chatham Reach*](https://tillerandwheel.com/festival-of-chatham-reach/?ref=localauthority.news)*, which takes place tomorrow (Saturday) on and around Sun Pier…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!g69y!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fba3a9796-f4e3-480f-bd21-6e2cff22a1e0_2246x1346.jpg) Festival of Chatham Reach. The festival is one thing we have covid to thank for. After the council stopped its events programme, in 2021, they invited independent producers to put on an event. Ed and Heather Burgess are passionate about the river and Sun Pier House, the venue they own and operate. “We were like, it's just a no-brainer. Let's do a river type festival, and we came up with the concept of Chatham Reach and a family-friendly event.” Chatham Reach refers to a straight line of the length of the river, from Sun Pier to Upnor Castle. Ed and Heather used their contacts in the sailing world to get some more historic ships to come, and “it was a great success,” though he admits that they were very tired after the two-day event. After a year off, whilst they focused on the development of Sun Pier House, the festival is back this year and “it's the same festival that everyone enjoys. We've got four barges on the end of the pier. Three of them are going to be running trips. One of them is going to be running ‘learning the ropes’ sessions, and we're hoping to run climbing the mast experiences.” There will also be stalls, including the Mess Room’s blind coconut shire, and the opportunity to shuck oysters, live music, and good food. “It's a place to come down and bring the kids by the river for a few hours.” --- #### In brief 🎙️ Thanks to the tens of people who told us this week that the Rest is Politics podcast did an [episode about Chatham High Street](https://therestishistory.com/600-chatham-high-street/?ref=localauthority.news). ⚽ Eight games into the season, Gillingham Football Club are the only unbeaten team in League 2, though that is only enough to give them [second in the table](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/league-two/table?ref=localauthority.news). 🏢 Locate in Kent, the organisation working to encourage businesses to base themselves in the county, has [entered liquidation](https://www.locateinkent.com/news-from-locate-in-kent/?ref=localauthority.news). It comes just two weeks after Visit Kent, a similar body to encourage tourism in the county, [also collapsed](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kents-tourism-megaphone-suddenly?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Reform school [Our story earlier this week](https://www.localauthority.news/farage-football-shirt-offered-as/) about Rochester Math planning to give away a Nigel Farage football shirt as the prize in a GCSE Citizenship essay competition quickly became one of the most-read stories we have ever run. The school said the contest, based around an essay on whether Reform UK had ‘obliterated the two-party system,’ was part of its impartial approach to politics. The winning pupil was to be presented with a ‘Farage 10’ football shirt by Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran during her visit on 1 October. Students and parents told us they had never seen anything like it when other politicians had visited. Since then, the story has travelled. It was picked up in [Politico](https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/a-big-beautiful-press-conference/?ref=localauthority.news) [twice](https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/don-and-dusted/?ref=localauthority.news), the [New World](https://www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sack-write-an-essay-win-a-farage-shirt/?ref=localauthority.news), and by yesterday, had reached the [Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15111867/Grammar-school-U-turn-Reform-Farage-shirt.html?ref=localauthority.news), at which point, the school rapidly changed their position. In a new statement, the school said: > *“Following the response to this particular competition, the school will no longer be awarding the original prize. We recognise our responsibility to be impartial, but recognise too that we need to be seen to be impartial. As a result of this we will no longer award any party political items as part of politics competitions or events. The visit and essay competition will go ahead.”* The essay will be written, the visit will go ahead, but the shirt will not be presented. Instead the whole episode has left the school defending its definition of impartiality while national papers pore over its politics homework. --- ***Last chance to complete*** [***our reader survey***](https://forms.gle/yt1JSZZMskMTxGHr7?ref=localauthority.news)**!* We’d love to learn more about our readers and what they think of what we’re doing, so please spare a couple of minutes to let us know your thoughts if you can.* [Start survey](https://forms.gle/yt1JSZZMskMTxGHr7?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Rochester Farmers’ Market turns 25 [*Rochester Farmers’ Market*](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) *is marking 25 years at the heart of the town. Since June 2000, the market has taken over various locations before finally settling in the Blue Boar Lane car park on the third Sunday of each month, offering everything from seasonal fruit and vegetables to fresh meat, fish, bread, cheese and preserves. We spoke to some of the traders about it’s longevity…* Among those who have become part of the market fabric is [Joanne’s Preserves](https://joannespreserves.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a stall selling jams, marmalades, chutneys and pickles for 12 years. Joanne first set up the business when her son was young and she wanted to work from home. “I have lots of regular customers here at Rochester, and it’s nice to see them all each month.” For Sue Byrne, who runs [SimplyTrue Jewellery](https://www.simplytrue.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), the market has been central for two decades. She makes all of her pieces by hand and says the people make Rochester special. “It’s nice to be with like-minded people. Everyone’s made the thing, they’ve grown it, they’ve made it, and it’s a great atmosphere.” Mark Henderson’s [Kent Cider Company](https://www.kentcider.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoqbBYkPMq3qbFqBSRmK9VTH6JVHMwQwZKAtapaYC8zJt1F5t9Mo&ref=localauthority.news) is well known across the country, but Rochester holds a special place. “This is the only farmers’ market I do. It’s a nice mix of traders and we have a client base in this area,” he said. For the past seven years, his stall has offered popular mango, rhubarb and lemon ciders. “A lot of the traders are friends now because we’ve been seeing them for so many years. It doesn’t ever feel like too much of a chore coming to do this market.” Newer faces have also found their audience here. Jo Bedwell launched [The Vegan Habit](https://www.instagram.com/wearetheveganhabit/?ref=localauthority.news) after closing her restaurant during lockdown and joined the market last April. Her vegan arancini balls have quickly built a following. “The market has got a nice vibe. We’ve got a following that come to us every month. It just works for us.” Sally and Dan of [Hops and Hampers](https://www.hopsandhampers.com/?ref=localauthority.news) also started during lockdown and have been regulars ever since. Based in Rochester, they sell flavoured rums made in Tonbridge. “We’re local, we live in Rochester. It’s our closest market. It’s a lovely market. It’s getting better and better as it goes on,” they said. Their Bakewell tart and popcorn rums have proved especially popular. “Rum now outsells gin massively.” *Rochester Farmers’ Market takes place this Sunday, 9am-1pm, in the Blue Boar Lane car park.* --- #### Out to Lunch: **Fish at 55 in Rochester** This wasn’t the first lunch review I have done of [Fish at 55](https://www.fishat55.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I ate there last year, but the review wasn’t published for reasons we no longer remember. So not only did I go there for lunch again, but I ordered something completely different just to be sure. Fish at 55 is on the crossroads that lead to Rochester Castle and is a classy-looking establishment with a spiral staircase through the centre. This also leads to the toilets, and if this is a bit much, there are public toilets at street level across the road. But I digress. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!45lQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5c5b3fc3-954f-44d2-bb73-5a78fc9eec0d_4255x3192.jpg) Food at Fish at 55. For a starter, I ordered tempura-battered king prawns with chilli sauce. For the main, I had seared scallops in a garlic cream sauce with broccoli, fennel and mash. Fish at 55 is at the higher price end of the market, but thankfully, they offer a two-course option for lunch. The crisp, delicate batter beautifully accompanies the delicious king prawns, delivering a nice chilli sauce. The seared scallops were meaty and full flavoured, excellently accompanied by the creamy garlic sauce and a wonderful mash. There was also fennel on the plate. If you like fish or seafood and are in Rochester, then Fish at 55 is a great option offering excellent food. --- #### Events this week 📷 Until 1 Oct - [**Medway ‘77**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition of photos in and around Rochester and Chatham from 1977\. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. ⚓ Sat 20 Sep - [**Festival of Chatham Reach**](https://tillerandwheel.com/festival-of-chatham-reach/?ref=localauthority.news) // Activities and river-based excitement in the centre of Chatham. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🥕 Sun 21 Sep - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🎤 Fri 26 Sep - [**Jack Dee: Small World**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/jack-dee-small-world-plus-support?ref=localauthority.news) // Comedian brings a new show featuring the culture wars, the environment, and British foreign policy. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets £30. --- #### More Authority Earlier this week, we posted our latest Voice column, hearing from one of Medway’s elected representatives. This month, Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osborne wrote about the issue of graffiti across his constituency. [Voice of the MP - Chatham and AylesfordEditor’s note: Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osbourne, who discusses the challenges of graffiti and its impact on the community.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ksTK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fabab9bff-63c8-406f-bd99-87bd6a043c7b_3000x1571.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-chatham-and-aylesford-3c9/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Voice of the MP - Chatham and Aylesford URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-chatham-and-aylesford-3c9/ Last updated: 2025-09-18T17:08:34.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osbourne, who discusses the challenges of graffiti and its impact on the community.* --- #### **Voice of the MP** **by Tristan Osbourne, MP for Chatham and Aylesford** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ksTK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fabab9bff-63c8-406f-bd99-87bd6a043c7b_3000x1571.jpg) Every two weeks, I bring together agencies and others for walkabouts in some of my most challenging urban areas; this is a legacy of my role as a councillor, but also because the state of a road, the quality of the environment, is not just a social determinant, but it is about civic pride and a sense of community. An issue that I have routinely picked up in my time as both councillor and MP is not just the state of the roads – being improved by a significant increase in government funding – as one can witness across our community at the moment, but the graffiti, empty phone boxes and the litter that is routinely blighting areas, mainly in urban centres. Some might suggest that such issues are for councillors and not the MP, but it is my belief that the improvement in the lived environment filters through to every other aspect of your life. An example is where graffiti and litter are left unchallenged, quickly leading to a perception of an area being a hub of criminality. According to recent estimates, the cost of graffiti removal across the UK amounts to over £1bn annually. Local councils, transport authorities, and business owners must allocate significant resources to clean up vandalised properties, buses, trains, and public facilities. For instance, Transport for London (TfL) spends thousands of pounds every week to remove graffiti from trains and stations despite the numerous posted examples on social media. Moreover, the presence of graffiti – especially when it takes the form of tags or gang symbols – can contribute to a sense of neglect and decay in urban areas. This phenomenon, known as the ‘broken windows theory,’ suggests that visible signs of disorder and antisocial behaviour encourage further crime and antisocial activity. Communities that are regularly targeted by graffiti may experience increased rates of petty crime, decreased property values, and a decline in community morale. Graffiti is not just a visual pollutant – it can have serious environmental consequences as well. Many graffiti removers and chemical solvents used in clean-up operations are harmful to the environment. When these substances enter the water supply or surrounding soil, they can damage local ecosystems. The spray canisters themselves often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to air pollution and pose health risks to humans and animals alike. The aesthetic impact of graffiti on neighbourhoods cannot be overstated. Graffiti-covered buildings, shopfronts, and public spaces often lead to negative perceptions of an area. For residents, especially those in inner-city communities that I represent, constant exposure to vandalism can diminish their sense of safety and well-being. Tourists and potential investors may also be deterred by graffiti, particularly if it appears uncontrolled or tag-related. In contrast, clean and well-maintained environments foster a sense of pride and community ownership. They encourage civic responsibility and deter further acts of vandalism. When people see their neighbourhoods being cared for, they are more likely to respect and protect their surroundings. Local councils – like Medway - play a pivotal role in graffiti prevention, but they could do more. Graffiti budgets are usually lumped into overall budgets for street cleaning, and it is considered secondary to other forms of green spaces management. This mindset needs to change in Medway. There is very little point in having expensive plants on main roads if we can not manage to remove graffiti at speed, when those same people reach their urban destinations. Our busiest areas are amongst the most blighted at the moment, from hoardings for construction sites, to railway arches, to private businesses that simply can not afford to constantly repaint. Many councils have adopted innovative approaches, such as applying anti-graffiti coatings to walls, improving street lighting, and organising volunteer-led clean-up days, but the reality is local councils need to be directed by councillors to treat this as a priority. When I was elected in Luton in 2011, I made the removal of graffiti a priority — so it’s with some sense of irony that today they are putting it up in the form of professional murals - created with local input and legal permission - that have significantly enhanced community pride. This initiative – led by Arches Local – is a model for other areas that are blighted by graffiti. In my capacity as MP, I intend to do the same, and I will be challenging and working with the Labour-led council to focus on graffiti removal as a priority, and this includes challenging private sector housing developments on the state of hoardings. Reducing graffiti in Medway is about much more than scrubbing walls or criminalising young people. It's about fostering respect for public and private spaces, protecting the environment, and creating communities where people feel safe, valued, and inspired. Through a combination of education, community engagement, and council focus on its quick and speedy removal, we can tackle graffiti effectively — transforming urban blight into civic pride. By taking graffiti seriously, we invest in our future — one clean wall, one safe street, and one empowered community at a time. *Tristan Osborne is the Labour MP for Chatham and Aylesford.* ### Farage football shirt offered as essay prize in Medway school URL: https://www.localauthority.news/farage-football-shirt-offered-as/ Last updated: 2026-04-06T11:55:36.000Z *A Medway school is offering a Nigel Farage football shirt as a prize in an essay writing contest where students are to evaluate how Reform have ‘obliterated’ the two-party system. The winner will be presented the shirt by Kent’s Reform leader, with the school insisting that this is perfectly normal and they do this all the time for all parties, but students and parents say otherwise. We’ve got the full story below. Further down, we also look at the grim social media response for a Medway MP announcing a promotion, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Farage football shirt offered as essay prize in Medway school A Medway grammar school faces questions about political impartiality after launching an essay competition where the prize is a [Nigel Farage football shirt](https://reformfc.com/products/reform-uk-home-shirt-made-in-britain-edition?ref=localauthority.news), to be handed over to the winning pupil by Kent County Council’s Reform leader. Students in the GCSE Citizenship class at [Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School](https://sjwms.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), better known locally as Rochester Math, were told earlier this month that they could enter a 1,000-word essay competition on the title, ‘Evaluate the view that Reform UK have obliterated the two-party system.’ The prize was advertised as a Reform UK shirt with “Farage 10” on the back. The message from class teacher Dr Bidmead explained that the contest winner would be personally presented with the shirt by Reform’s Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran when she visits the school on 1 October. ![Homepage - Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!pFOa!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f462d7d9a-e521-4184-be42-7b43cfa47e4e_1500x1000.jpg) Rochester Math. The existence of the competition was first raised to us last week. Screenshots of a class message were shared with us by a parent concerned about using political merchandise as rewards in lessons. Rochester Math operates under the Leigh Academies Trust, one of the largest academy chains in the South East. We sent a series of questions to the school about the contest, the awarding of the t-shirt, and whether such things had been offered around other political visits. In response, headteacher Mr Hodges defended the contest as part of a long-running programme of political engagement: “The school has a very active and high-performing citizenship and politics department, and we take the view that it is very important for our students to be exposed to a plurality of voices from across the political spectrum. Only by hearing from a diverse range of views can healthy debate be fostered,” he said. He described the planned Reform visit and contest as one among many. The school invites all parties every year, he said, although not all are able to attend. He listed previous visits from Labour, the Greens and Conservatives. He also said that essay competitions were an established part of the curriculum for citizenship and politics, used to coincide with organised visits to prompt thinking, research and writing. “One is in place for Naushabah’s visit,” he said, referring to the Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan, due at the school later in September. He added that awarding political memorabilia to winners helped increase participation, and that previous prizes had included life-size cardboard cut-outs of Jeremy Corbyn and Rishi Sunak, copies of Vince Cable’s book and batches of Vote Labour leaflets. Hodges said these visits enriched the study of politics and citizenship and demonstrated a commitment to impartiality, which the school could not claim if it excluded Reform. “The school and its staff take their obligations regarding impartiality extremely seriously. We do not endorse or support any individual party or viewpoint.” That account, however, did not match what students said had actually happened. Pupils told *Local Authority* they could not recall similar contests linked to previous visits over the past year, nor political memorabilia being offered as prizes in the past. Students also showed us evidence that the Sunak cut-out had been auctioned off rather than awarded as a prize, and appeared to have been bought online rather than supplied by the Conservatives. Khan’s office told us they had no knowledge of any such contest and had not donated a prize. Other politicians named by the school also denied involvement in competitions or donating memorabilia. Medway Council leader Vince Maple told us that, “I’ve spoken at lots of politics and citizenship classes but never offered or been asked for a prize.” We sought clarification from the school, asking about specific examples and whether the Sunak cut-out had in fact been an essay prize. We also asked the school to provide details of the essay contests and prizes donated by political parties over the past year. On the same day, a message advertising a new essay contest was sent to students, this one tied to Khan’s visit. The essay title is, ‘Evaluate the view that Labour’s first year in government has been a success,’ with the prize a novelty mug reading, ‘Keir Starmer is my hero.’ This week, Mr Hodges sent a further response. This time, the school told us, “We don’t keep records of the various competitions or associated prizes, but can confirm we have never been offered a shirt by a political party. We wouldn’t expect political parties to necessarily be aware of any competitions linked to their visits. The prize for the Labour visit competition is a Vote Labour mug, sourced internally.” That statement somewhat contradicts earlier claims that memorabilia had been given as prizes with the school now unable to identify any others, and left unresolved why the Labour competition appeared only after questions were raised about the Reform shirt, despite the visit taking place over a week earlier. Government guidance is clear that schools must avoid the promotion of partisan political views. Teachers are allowed to bring political issues into class but must ensure balance, and schools should not appear to endorse one side. Inviting politicians to speak to pupils is standard practice, and Rochester Math has hosted a long list from across the political spectrum. But setting an essay on the success of a single party, with the prize being branded merchandise, crosses into murkier territory, particularly when the prize is to be personally presented by that party’s county leader. The Department for Education [warns against](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools?ref=localauthority.news) “the promotion of materials which could be seen as promoting a particular partisan view.” That description could apply uncomfortably to a Reform football shirt with Nigel Farage’s name printed on the back. The stated aim of Rochester Math is to expose students to a diversity of political voices, which few would dispute is valuable, but the way this particular contest has been run has left the school struggling to explain inconsistencies in its account. If the essay competitions are genuinely an established feature of the curriculum, the school has not been able to provide clear evidence of past examples. Politicians cited as having taken part deny knowledge. Prizes beyond the Reform shirt turn out not to have been donated or connected to visits. The optics of Kemkaran, fresh from leading Kent’s dominant Reform group at County Hall, handing out branded merchandise in a Medway classroom, will be challenging for the school to defend as impartial. The visit remains scheduled for 1 October. Unless the school changes tack, the Citizenship class may end up with a very practical case study of what political impartiality means in practice. --- *Local Authority is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our free weekly briefing editions straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### X marks the spite Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan [announced her promotion](https://www.instagram.com/naushabahkhan/p/DOd7cxPkfuP/?ref=localauthority.news) into government last week. Khan, who entered Parliament in 2024 after nearly a decade on Medway Council, has been appointed a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Cabinet Office. It is a junior but important role, linking backbench MPs with senior ministers working on efficiency, policy coordination and intergovernmental issues. It is often seen as a first step on the ministerial ladder. Instead of the appointment being the focus, the attention was on the reaction it drew. Khan posted the news on X, the cesspit formerly known as Twitter. Her post quickly attracted hundreds of replies. where the overwhelming majority were abusive. Some were blunt: “Deport,” wrote one. “All of them need to go,” wrote another. Others questioned her nationality, asking, “Are you British?” or “Is there no one ENGLISH????” Several framed the appointment as a conspiracy, with comments like “Yet another Khan,” “Wonder how you got that job?” and “Is this the Pakistani government?” Religion was a frequent theme. Users warned of Sharia law, claimed “bacon will be banned,” and labelled her an “Islamofascist.” Others mocked her name or wrote off the appointment with comments such as “Milk and two sugars please. Any bacon sandwiches?” At least one reply carried an implicit threat with the words “tick tock.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!h1Wv!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f90505b35-1d6b-44e8-a9fc-b224a9c94c2b_1984x956.jpg) Khan told us she was used to this by now: “I am not surprised by the volume of racist, Islamophobic and misogynistic abuse I received online following my announcement, as this is not the first time I have received this sort of vitriol. During the general election, I received similar messages, and unfortunately for many politicians, it has become the norm. My announcement on X received over 200 comments, the overwhelming majority of which were very abusive, with some using deeply disturbing sexual imagery. Many questioned my British identity or mocked my religion and heritage.” Khan did however joke, “I will, however, thank the individual who made me aware that my family owned a corner shop. This is something they had kept from me since childhood!” But she said the bigger issue went beyond her. “Sadly, social media reflects wider society. As we see more people feel free to express such views, emboldened by the rise of the far right and the rhetoric of some in positions of power, who frankly should know better but are pushing their own agenda at the expense of our communities.” What drew attention was less the position than the platform. X has seen moderation scaled back since its takeover by the world’s richest midlife crisis Elon Musk in 2022\. Researchers and campaigners have reported sharp rises in hate speech on the site since then, with racist and misogynistic content often left untouched. The company has sacked thousands of staff, reduced the size of its moderation team and shifted much of the responsibility for filtering abuse onto users. At the same time, the wannabe Bond villain Musk has taken to addressing far-right rallies organised by thugs like Tommy Robinson to announce that “[violence is coming](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/15/no-10-condemns-language-used-by-elon-musk-at-far-right-uk-rally-as-dangerous?ref=localauthority.news).” For politicians, particularly those from minority backgrounds, actions online and off have translated into a steady stream of vitriol that would once have been more likely to be taken down. Khan’s experience is not unusual. MPs across parties have reported waves of racist, sexist and threatening replies to even routine announcements. A straightforward post about a government appointment was enough to produce hundreds of comments questioning her identity, mocking her heritage, or telling her to leave the country. What last week showed is that the culture of the platform now all but guarantees such a response. Where posts might once have been met with indifference, they are now greeted with slogans recycled from far-right talking points and amplified by accounts that appear dedicated to trolling politicians. That it came in response to a parliamentary aide role underlines how little the details matter. The abuse is now the expectation. --- #### In brief 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 [A Strood man has been charged](https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/kent/news/rochester-man-charged-disorder-unite-the-kingdom-protest?ref=localauthority.news) under Section 4A of the Public Order Act following disorder at the far-right Unite the Kingdom rally in London last weekend. Aaron Wren of Kingswear Gardens has been released on bail but will return to Highbury Magistrates Court on 29 September. 🎓 The University of Kent and the University of Greenwich will merge into a multi-university group. Both organisations have a campus in Medway. Our sister title, the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), [looked at what it might mean](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/trailblazing-or-takeover?ref=localauthority.news). 📍 Medway Council is to consider wasting money [commissioning a business case](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1953/medway%5Fcouncil%5Fcabinet%5Fto%5Fconsider%5Fcommissioning%5Ffull%5Fbusiness%5Fcase%5Ffor%5Fits%5Flocal%5Fgovernment%5Freorganisation%5Fproposal?ref=localauthority.news) for its local government reorganisation proposal that no one else in the county wants. 🚧 The next phase of Medway’s School Streets initiative [launches on 29 September](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200137/schools%5Fand%5Flearning/1791/school%5Fstreets%5Fscheme/4?ref=localauthority.news). Four schools will see traffic outside of them restricted at the start and end of the school day: Cliffe Woods Primary, Hilltop Primary in Frindsbury, Fairview Primary in Rainham, and St. Margaret’s Infant and Junior Schools in Rainham. 🏗️ Two big planning applications are set to be decided by Medway’s [planning committee next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6300&ref=localauthority.news). 132 homes and commercial units are set to be approved at Acorn Wharf in Rochester, while officers also recommend approving a 33 home development off Berengrave Lane in Rainham. 🗄️ Plans for a 31-home development off Canterbury Lane just outside Rainham [have been submitted to Medway Council](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T117ZQKN02U00&ref=localauthority.news). The plans include widening the lane and a new open space alongside the homes. 🚒 Fort Pitt Grammar School in Chatham closed for two days after a [fire broke out](https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/incident/medway/fire-school-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) in its canteen. 🔥 Meanwhile, Medway Council has [ordered the demolition](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/knock-it-down-owners-of-arson-hit-former-school-ordered-329746/?ref=localauthority.news) of the remarkably combustible former St John Fisher School nearby. 🏠 One of the UK’s thinnest homes, a 7ft wide terraced house in Chatham, has [gone on the market](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/one-uks-thinnest-homes-sale-35903233?ref=localauthority.news) for £75,000. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, we sat down with [Lisa Riley](https://www.localauthority.news/they-need-to-put-the-work-in-with/), nurse and Executive Vice President of a health tech company, VitalHub UK, to talk about how she came to work for the NHS, her own experiences of the window of opportunity, the time she won a house, and the great medical app you haven’t heard of… [“They need to put the work in with the humans”Steven and Lisa Riley first met in GCSE science at the Hundred of Hoo School. They met at the Ivy in Canterbury as an opportunity to catch up, where they talked about how Lisa came to work for the NHS, her own experiences of the window of opportunity, the time she won a house, and the great medical app you haven’t heard of…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!v0ed!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f26028d33-ab51-4140-a412-aa388cb05a97_1715x1286.png)](https://www.localauthority.news/they-need-to-put-the-work-in-with/) Over on the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), we welcomed writer and podcaster James O’Malley, who makes the case that the [only way to resolve Kent’s housing crisis is to get building](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/its-time-for-kent-to-build?ref=localauthority.news). At the same time, councils do everything they can to block development on their patch. [It’s time for Kent to build!As Kent’s housing crisis becomes ever more acute, there’s only one way out, argues writer and podcaster James O’Malley…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!AlOl!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8d4a4c7f-19fc-4e7c-87d7-4ed0b87571a5_567x567.png)Kent Current](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/its-time-for-kent-to-build?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “They need to put the work in with the humans” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/they-need-to-put-the-work-in-with/ Last updated: 2025-09-14T06:00:46.000Z *Steven and Lisa Riley first met in GCSE science at the Hundred of Hoo School. They met at the Ivy in Canterbury as an opportunity to catch up, where they talked about how Lisa came to work for the NHS, her own experiences of the window of opportunity, the time she won a house, and the great medical app you haven’t heard of…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!v0ed!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f26028d33-ab51-4140-a412-aa388cb05a97_1715x1286.png) Lisa Riley **What is your official occupation?** I always call myself a nurse. I'm not registered anymore. But that is at the core of everything I do. I trained as a nurse when I was 18\. Officially, I've been a nurse for 27 years, but my official occupation right now is Executive Vice President of Strategy and Growth for a health tech company. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** Not anymore. I was a [Prince's Trust](https://www.kingstrust.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) talent match mentor, and I was a board trustee for [MVA](https://www.mva.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *(Medway Voluntary Action)*. **When did you join MVA and why did you leave?** I joined MVA when I was a clinical services manager at [Medway Community Healthcare](https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I had just designed a Home First pathway, which is getting people out into the community from the hospital, and I realised there's so much more the voluntary sector could do to support health. I started talking to the MVA team, celebrating what they do and signposting them to funding and services. They had a vacancy on their board, so I applied. I think I was there for about ten years, quite some time. They had no input into health at all. They were completely funded by the local council and would do things like housing, education, but nothing in health. I helped introduce them into health and social care, and they are at the heart of everything to do with the health and care social partnership now. **Why did you leave?** Time. I couldn't give them enough time. **What is VitalHub? What does that do?** [VitalHub](https://vitalhub.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is a health software company. The headquarters are in Canada. It's a Canadian corporation, and they have been buying smaller health tech companies and putting them under the umbrella of VitalHub. They bought two companies in the UK, and then they bought the one I was in, which is a company called Transforming Systems. I'd come across this piece of software called [SHREWD](https://vitalhub.uk/brand/shrewd/?ref=localauthority.news), that's my baby, when I was in the NHS. I've worked for NHS England at this point, and I was part of a national team doing improvement management and all the trusts that were really struggling with urgent care. I kept hearing this word SHREWD. I asked to see the system, and I loved it. I'm quite a bit of a data geek at work, and within NHS England, I get these lovely reports that would tell me the relationships and coincidences with different pieces of data. ‘When the ambulances turn up at this point, this means this is going to happen in A&E.’ SHREWD was very easy for me to understand. I didn't have to try and work stuff out. It was in my face, and I got it. I left the NHS, and I went to join this health tech company, and VitalHub bought us. We decided we would set up VitalHub UK. Our plan is to bring all acquisitions together in the product portfolio, so now we are one enormous company in the UK. We've got 16 health tech businesses in the UK now. **Whenever you hear the words health and tech, it's never normally a good story. Why is IT and the health industry so bad?** Because they forget the human element, and I think that's what I'm proud of that my team do. My nursing background means I look at it different. I look at the human side. How is someone going to use it, how are they going to make their own lives better, but be more efficient, so that patient care at the end of the day is consistent, they're not missing anything, there's no human errors in there, and they can get through the waiting list quicker and things like that. I think a lot of tech companies forget that bit. They forget the change management. They think they can buy the kit, stick it in, everything's going to suddenly change, and it's going to be great overnight. They need to put the work in with the humans. They need to help change the processes, teach them, and get super users on there so that they're also the people on the ground who are owning this and making the change happen. **Do you have confidence that things will improve, or is it just people making the same mistakes?** You do see them making the same mistakes, and I'd like to think my team and I are a bit different because we do challenge, and I personally do hold them to account. I hate people thinking I'm selling a we're actually trying to make their lives easier, because selfishly, at the end of the day, I want people to stay alive. I do see it happening. Silly mistakes, like not doing a piece of paper, are causing unknown issues and impacting lives constantly. My team are very good at bringing the human element to it. It's because I think we're credible, because we're not trying to sell them a bit of kit, we're trying to help them. I call my team ‘Partnership Managers,’ because they're in there holding the hands of the clinicians and giving them advice. They come and ask us for advice all the time because I think they trust us. **You mentioned the human element. What part does AI play in what you're doing?** AI is a bit of a swear word for me right now. It has a part to play, but it is a buzzword right now. Every customer wants to hear you've got AI, but unless it's going to do something intrinsically different, don't just plug it in for the sake of it. I help design the innovation at work, and I help decide what the products do and what their strategies and roadmap are, and I am often the one saying, ‘You don't need to do that, they're never going to use it; they're never going to trust it.’ Even simple things like prediction, how many patients we think are going to come in ED *(Emergency Department),* they don't trust it. If it’s out by even a small amount just once, and then you’ve completely lost your credibility. **Is your company invisible? If our readers’ care has been improved by your service, would they be aware of that?** We've got 16 companies in the UK now and about 60 products. We are in every part of the NHS in England in one way or another. We're also the national coordination centre for England for urgent care. My team and I helped design that. I'm very proud of that. SHREWD, the baby one of mine, they were struggling with oversight of urgent care pathways, and obviously, coming up to winter, we know there's going to be a problem, and hospitals are going to be overrun. We get the data anyway, so I said to an old colleague of mine in NHS England, “Do you want me to build something so you can see it?” and we gave them visibility of what was going on around the country in ambulances, and in every ED department. We've now built their national coordination centre, and it's gone out into the community and mental health. We're the first in the world to ever have live, real-time data of what's going on across the whole country. I forgot what your question was. **Will patients know? Will patients be aware of this?** Yes, so there is something in Kent and Medway called [Waitless](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/waitless/id1160745938?ref=localauthority.news). That's ours. You've not heard of it, have you? **No.** It's a patient-facing app that obviously needs publicising more if you haven’t heard of it!It takes all of the live data in every urgent care centre, every ED in the county, and it combines that with the travel time to get to these facilities and tells you where the quickest place is to go, to be seen and travel. If it's an emergency, obviously you don't want to muck about on this. Call an ambulance or 111 if you're not sure. I've just typed my postcode up there. All these icons are the facilities I might be able to go to. Actually, it's telling me it's quicker for me to travel all the way down here and be seen. It took me 49 minutes to get there and be seen because there's only one person waiting. If I click on it, I can find out what they've got. Some facilities don't see paediatrics, they don't do x-rays. More importantly for the patients is about experience, but it balances the pressure across the county, rather than everyone making Medway *(Maritime Hospital)* busy and the patients at risk, as an example. I've got an analytics team, because I love my data. I said ‘Can you show me what impact we've had across the different facilities?’ You saw A&E attendances went down, urgent treatment centres all went up, because you're moving the activity to where there's capacity, and it was completely different to the rest of the country. Data is a really great tool, but I think in healthcare, a lot of people do not have the headroom to sit down and work it out. There's different data in different places, that's the other thing. If I'm running services, which I did when I was at Medway, I've got an Excel spreadsheet there, I've got an email, I've got a WhatsApp, I've got a phone call from my team, and I've got meetings left, right and centre. As a human being, I'm trying to piece that together, join the dots and come up with an answer. I remember we went to a local hospital and did a PowerPoint presentation. We put a scenario on the screen and said, ‘You've just walked into work, you've got five ambulances outside, you've got people in the corridor and some other bits.’ We said, ‘You've got an option one to four, tell me where you think we are.’ They had the same data presented to them, and they all came up with different answers. Human error, interpretation, and God forbid, you might have missed something. That's what happens in NHS. A lot of what we do stops ambiguity. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### From page to stage URL: https://www.localauthority.news/from-page-to-stage/ Last updated: 2025-09-12T06:38:24.000Z *A Medway writer and a Medway illustrator’s book about a genocide in Bosnia has come full circle, with a play based on the book coming to London next month. We’ve been talking to the author about the adaptation and how the story remains horrifyingly relevant. Further down, we hear about Medway indie stalwarts Theatre Royal and Three Sheets to the Wind, review Boba Tigers in Rochester, have our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### From page to stage *Flowers of Srebrenica is a new play that is coming to London next week, based on the book by Medway’s* [*Aidan Hehir and David Frankum*](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-the-flowers-of/)*. We spoke with Aidan, an academic at the University of Westminster, whose research interests include humanitarian intervention, about the story behind the book, how it became a play, and what parallels the genocide in Bosnia has with today…* The story is based on a journey that Aidan made from Sarajevo to the memorial site at Srebrenica. In 1995, there was a genocide at Srebrenica, when Bosnian Serbs killed over 8,000 Muslims during the breakup of the former Yugoslavia. On the journey, Aidan met Mustafa, a tour guide. “I thought I was booking onto a bus going there, but it was just me and him in the car together, and he was and still is an extremely interesting, thoughtful, wonderfully kind, reflective, intelligent man.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ZvC5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1cb5da63-1ef0-4cc0-8dfe-d738ce151852_960x720.jpg) Mustafa had fought in the war and still lives in Sarajevo today, “very much a man that wanted to see the past remembered but didn't want anybody in Bosnia to feel hatred towards other ethnic groups.” Spending the day with Mustafa was powerful for Aidan. “I've been across the Balkans and across Europe for the best part of 20 years now, sites where mass atrocity crimes happen. It wasn't that I happened to see something for the first time ever. There was just something particularly powerful about Srebrenica.” Aidan admits he has become jaded by atrocities. “It wasn't so much I was shocked. It was more moved by the power of what happened there.” Srebrenica today is in the eastern part of Bosnia, but overwhelmingly populated by Serbs. “The Serbs deny that the genocide took place. You have a memorial centre to a genocide, in the midst of a people who don't believe that that genocide took place.” [The book](https://www.medwayish.com/product/the-flowers-of-srebrenica?ref=localauthority.news) is a literal telling of the story of that day. “Towards the end and at certain parts in it, I changed the chronology. There is more of a license taken with the things that I say happened. In the end it's more abstract.” The illustrations from David Frankum are an essential part of the book. “Dave was able to capture moments, themes and ideas on the page in a way that I couldn't.” The book is published simultaneously in Albanian and English. More recently, it has been translated into Bosnian. Aidan and David have given a number of talks remembering Srebrenica and met survivors from the genocide. “It's really taken on a new life, and it's been wonderful to work with them on various different projects, to see artistic reflections on this is wonderful. The Bosnian community in the UK is vibrant, extremely talented, and what they've done is fascinating. They've tried to keep the memory of Srebrenica alive, but also, there's no point in remembering Srebrenica and forgetting Gaza.” Aidan tells me about an interview he did with somebody from Human Rights Watch. “He said something that always stuck with me. ‘The UN is very good at commemorating genocides. It's not good at stopping them.’ The politicians and the people today who say, ‘We should have done more, never again.’ This was the 30th anniversary this year. The same bastards who are helping to slaughter Palestinians, and you can quote me on that if you want.” The publishing house in Kosovo also runs a theatre company called [Qendra Multimedia](https://qendra.org/?ref=localauthority.news). Every year, they put on a theatre showcase featuring plays from all over the region and invite playwrights from around Europe to come and see what Kosovo has to offer. Aidan’s book was given to people who attended, and that is how it came to the attention of [Legal Aliens Theatre](https://legalalienstheatre.com/?ref=localauthority.news). They liked the book and contacted Aidan to develop it into a play. “How were they going to turn it into a play? Two men sitting on the fucking chairs on the stage for two hours didn't seem to me to make any sense.” Legal Alien Theatre, however, had ideas, and they ran with it, extensively workshopping with a group of actors, travelling around Bosnia and speaking with survivors of the genocide. “They came up with this brilliant idea of having the play as a means to tell a more general story.” Whilst the play is still based on the book, they also have a chorus of women from different countries who have experienced terrible wars. “One is from Bosnia, one is from Ukraine, and the third is from Rwanda.” They provide a commentary on what is happening and talk about conflicts more generally, and how the world can seem so callous and disinterested in the plight of people. “That then meant that it was more than just two men. You have these women who are constantly interacting. I'm not going to give too much away obviously.” Directed by Lara Parmiani, Aidan is very complimentary about the work that she did to turn the book into a play, bringing together the cast and talented crew. “These incredible people involved who came up with this beautiful score and the set design is extraordinary.” The play includes an innovative use of projections. “It's become something now that's much more than just a book. It's a story that I think would hopefully resonate beyond just people who are interested in the Balkans or Bosnia.” Aidan notes that the play is “unfortunately apt at the moment,” knowing that somebody in 30 years would be putting on a play about Gaza. “And all the old men would be going, ‘I still remember Gaza’ and they did fuck all.” For Aidan, it is about the moral disinterestedness that people can display. Having been performed in Bosnia and Sarajevo, the play is coming to London. Starting on 14 October it will be [performed for five nights at the Jacksons Lane Theatre](https://www.jacksonslane.org.uk/events/the-flowers-of-srebrenica/?ref=localauthority.news). There are currently no plans for the play to be performed in Medway or Aidan’s hometown of Limerick. “It's so expensive to put on. I think that's part of the problem. I'd love it to come to Limerick. My family are always saying, ‘Are you going to bring it over to Ireland at all?’ It's quite a big production and they've only been able to do this tour because of a grant.” [*Tickets are available*](https://www.jacksonslane.org.uk/events/the-flowers-of-srebrenica/?ref=localauthority.news) *for £15 to Flowers of Srebrenica at the Jacksons Lane Theatre, from 14-18 October.* [*The Flowers of Srebrenica*](https://www.medwayish.com/product/the-flowers-of-srebrenica?ref=localauthority.news) *book is available from Medwayish, with all profits going to* [*Remembering Srebrenica*](https://srebrenica.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, a UK-based charity.* --- #### In brief 🎨 Arches Local has unveiled [their eighth mural in the Luton area](https://archeslocal.org.uk/erica-stuart-mural/?ref=localauthority.news). The new mural is on the side of a four-storey block of flats and celebrates local campaigner, Erica Stuart, who led work to create the Luton Millennium Green. 🚜 J Myatt & Co, a Cliffe farm, is [featured in a new advert by M&S](https://www.fruitnet.com/fresh-produce-journal/kent-grower-myatt-stars-in-mands-farm-to-foodhall-ad/268679.article?ref=localauthority.news). In it, chef Tom Kerridge visits the farm to examine their plums. ✈️ Over [57,000 people visited Rochester Cathedral](https://rbt.org.uk/2025/sky-high-visitor-numbers-for-cathedral-celebration-of-engineering/?ref=localauthority.news) during August, a new record. The figures line up with the exhibition of the Shorts Floatplane and a range of free activities. --- #### **Review: Theatre Royal and The Sleepers at Three Sheets to the Wind** **by Moira Mehaffey** Strange bedfellows at first glance, these two bands work surprisingly well as a double header, as The Sleepers’ fuzzy noise opens the show, giving way to the melodic pop of Theatre Royal as the late summer sun descends. The Sleepers are fast emerging as one of the most captivating live bands around. Consistently delivering high-energy psych-garage-trash of a markedly unshowy intensity. Comparisons to the OSees spring to mind, but with less ferocity and more inventiveness to their shows. Chris Moon’s distorted vocals are underpinned by the technical precision of Darrell Hawkins’ bass and James Drew’s drums. Chris switches between 6 and 12-string guitars with facility, adding a crazed surf lilt at times and deliberate repetitious grind at others. There are extended instrumental passages which are never meandering or aimless. These are musicians entirely in control of their sound. It’s loud, but far from an aggressive sonic assault, truly invigorating and never enervating. Their tremendously enjoyable performance gives Theatre Royal a hard act to follow. The headliners are completely at home on the stage of the Three Sheets, drawing a crowd of loyal supporters yet also seeming to win over new fans tonight. An established act, on their home turf, they play confidently and comfortably together, but not complacently. Tracks from the recent album ‘A Change of Weather’ are prevalent in the set, alongside favourites from earlier releases. Endearingly garrulous frontman Oliver Burgess helpfully provides a list of all the things that ‘Welsh Coastal Towns’ is about: “Hands, fathers, Wales, being bored in traffic jams,” the earnest sentiment of the song being offset by the joyful combination of Robbie Wilkinson’s soaring riff and the judicious elevation of just the right amount of soulful saxophone from Chris Kingman. Robbie gets to take over lead vocals on ‘Angelina,’ a shift in pace that chimes nicely with the sliding country twang of his guitar. Elsewhere, he switches things up with a keener, more freewheeling post-punk edge, finding space on stage to throw shapes which cement his status as Medway’s grooviest Physicist. A provisionally titled new song is debuted - a work in progress for sure - but the audience is affectionately receptive, just as they enthusiastically react to the onstage announcement that Theatre Royal will support Space in a show at the same venue next summer. As the set closes, ‘Port Bou’ showcases the combined strengths of the band - Brendan displays a gorgeous proficiency on bass, Jon keeps the beat tight, in patterns that seem timeless, as if they have always been there, and the vocals combine to an overall effect of ebullient charm. An encore of ‘If You Could Stand Up (You’d Walk Away)’ has the crowd not just standing, but dancing with Oliver launching himself into their midst, then on to a table and, for a few heart-stopping seconds, flailingly into midair, before making a safe showbiz landing. A welcoming venue, thoroughly dedicated to supporting established and emerging local talent, full of satisfied and entertained customers. An ideal way to enjoy a late summer evening. --- #### Out to Lunch: Boba Tigers in Rochester For this week’s takeaway lunch, instead of ordering in, I went to them. [Boba Tigers](https://bobatigers.beginorder.com/rochester.html?ref=localauthority.news) is on Rochester High Street, within walking distance of the train station, and has a seating area just next door. Boba Tigers has two doors and an easily missed sign telling which way you should enter. At least that’s my excuse. Boba Tigers primarily serves sushi and bubble tea. Bubble tea, for those of you who haven’t had the opportunity, is essentially iced tea served with a large straw, because at the bottom of the tea are a lot of choking hazards waiting for you to foolishly take a drink. The menu is really quite large for what is essentially two people in a small kitchen, one on food and one on drink. I ordered some Black Pepper Chicken, mixed with bell peppers and vegetables, Caramel Chicken Bao Buns and Sushi Rice, with a Mango Passion Delight Swiss Creamy Frappe. And breathe. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!hdye!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7fe3cf4b-3c5f-4b62-b9e4-9a2f6b7303e2_5712x2991.jpg) Food from Boba Tigers. The crispy chicken in black pepper sauce was frankly delicious. The sushi rice, aka sticky rice, was fine, soaked up the black pepper sauce well, and became a solid accompaniment. The bao buns became a mess, with the salad under the chicken, meaning after you had eaten the chicken, you had a sticky-sweet salad bun. Nice if you like that sort of thing. The bubble tea I ordered at ’50 sugar.’ I didn’t really know what that meant. It means it was sweet. I almost fell into a diabetic coma just thinking what 100 sugar would be like. Boba Tigers is an expensive takeaway option, but it has quality to back it up. Update your life insurance and get some bubble tea. --- #### Events this week 🌙 Wed 17 Sep - [**The History of Witchcraft and Women**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-history-of-witchcraft-and-women-with-dr-jennifer-farrell-tickets-1450044124009?utm%5Fsource=Venue%5FSpeaker&utm%5Fmedium=Direct&utm%5Fcampaign=Intro%5FEmail) // Talk by lecturer Jennifer Farrell using feminist approaches to the past to explore medieval changes in ideas about magic, gender, and heresy. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets £12. 🎤 Thu 18 Sep - [**Big Trouble with Ellora Sutton and Susannah Dickey**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/big-trouble/big-trouble-with-ellora-sutton-and-susannah-dickey/2025-09-18/19:30/t-ojnajpk?ref=localauthority.news) // Medway’s premier poetry night, with open mic and headline performances. 12 Degrees Rams Micropub, Rochester. Tickets £7. 📷 18 Sep - 1 Oct - [**Medway ‘77**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition of photos in and around Rochester and Chatham from 1977\. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. --- #### More Authority For our midweek edition, our outdoor correspondent Stuart Bourne [wrote about autumn arriving early](https://www.localauthority.news/autumn-arrives-early/) and how we probably need to get used to this sort of thing, a lack of allotments in Medway, why Capstone Farm Country Park is the perfect autumn park, and lots more. [Autumn arrives earlyA few months ago, I wrote in my previous article that spring is arriving earlier each year, and we gardeners need to learn to adapt to it. Well, it seems that this chaotic year continues to unsettle the traditional seasonal patterns, as autumn has now arrived early, too.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityStuart Bourne![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!7q0p!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f05977f4f-55fb-4e83-8fde-05078a13b57c_960x720.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/autumn-arrives-early/) Our work is only possible thanks to our paying subscribers, whose generous support allows us to keep these briefing editions free for everyone. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Please* [*complete our reader survey*](https://forms.gle/E7Rdg5Fei1aX4oFV6?ref=localauthority.news) *if you haven’t already!* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Autumn arrives early URL: https://www.localauthority.news/autumn-arrives-early/ Last updated: 2025-09-10T16:02:38.000Z A few months ago, I wrote in [my previous article](https://www.localauthority.news/changing-seasons/) that spring is arriving earlier each year, and we gardeners need to learn to adapt to it. Well, it seems that this chaotic year continues to unsettle the traditional seasonal patterns, as autumn has now arrived early, too. As explained in a recent BBC [article](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2enmn7j3zjo?at%5Fmedium=RSS&at%5Fcampaign=rss&ref=localauthority.news), the season has been brought forward by plants trying to cope with the record high temperatures in the UK, as well as the very dry weather this summer. This summer has officially become the [hottest on record](https://www.channel4.com/news/by/liam-dutton/blogs/summer-2025-was-uks-warmest-on-record?ref=localauthority.news), meaning all the top five hottest summers have occurred since 2000\. Many deciduous plants and trees are writing this season off, dropping their leaves and shutting down for the year. This means that there will not be as much energy stored inside the plant for it to survive over the winter and into next spring. ![A tree in a park AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!wWyk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdc346659-ca27-47ff-873b-ea2c3cb2acb8_1456x1456.jpg) Tree shedding leaves in August. Although this is a natural coping mechanism designed to protect the plant from rare climatic conditions that could harm it, it relies on the hope that next year will be fine. The problem is that these really hot and dry summers are no longer a rare occurrence that happens every ten years. They are happening every few years, making our native plants weaker and weaker. As I said in that previous article, I do think we need to fight climate change and try to reverse the damage it’s doing to our planet. However, the consequences are already here, and we must learn to adapt to them if we are to ensure our gardens continue to grow. First, we must accept that there will be certain traditional native plants and trees that will no longer be viable to grow in our new climate. Instead, we must start growing plants that thrive in our new conditions. I can see the UK moving towards a more Mediterranean-style planting, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more palm trees and olive trees growing in our parks and gardens. We can also try to protect some traditional trees from more stressful conditions by regularly mulching to retain moisture and feeding, but this would only be feasible for small or medium-sized trees. This potential extended growing season is also useful for future vegetable growing in our gardens and allotments. With earlier harvests, there is still plenty of time for a second crop in the same bed. We would have to be clever in what we grow and in what order. Maybe growing vegetables that prefer cooler and damp conditions in the late summer/early autumn periods, whilst experimenting with melons at the start of the year. We could also use this extended growing season to rejuvenate the soil in vegetable plots. This year, I’ve sown red clover as green mulch on one of my now-empty allotment beds. These plants capture nitrogen in the atmosphere, lock into the soil, and improve its vitality for next year. ![A dirt patch with small green plants AI-generated content may be incorrect.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!dwDD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbeee04a0-47fb-4525-af18-e3f2050aed35_870x870.jpg) Green manure sown on the vegetable bed. Whatever happens during the rest of 2025, it’s clear that this year has been another year of extremes that are now becoming the norm. Climate change is changing how we garden, and we have to make sure we can change with it. **Not a lot of allotments** I’m sure most of you know how much I love allotments. I think they are brilliant and can help solve many of our social problems as well as help protect our planet. Over the years, I’ve regularly campaigned for better allotment provision across Medway. That’s why I’m not surprised to see Medway coming bottom across Kent in allotment provision in a recent analysis by the Guardian newspaper. In the [article](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/sep/02/north-east-england-best-region-great-britain-allotments?CMP=share%5Fbtn%5Furl&ref=localauthority.news), the Guardian used Ordnance Survey data on land use to work out how much allotment land is set aside per resident for any given local authority. There are no surprises that central London councils came out the worst, with Westminster Council having 0sqm per resident. Compared to them, Medway is much better, having 1sqm per resident. However, neighbouring councils at Gravesham and Swale have 1.4sqm and 1.8sqm respectively. Dover has over double our allocation at 2.2sqm, but the best in Kent is Sevenoaks with a really good 3.3sqm per resident. The best council in the UK was Redcar and Cleveland with 8.9sqm, and the average across the country was 1.9sqm. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The fight over Medway’s HMOs URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-fight-over-medways-hmos/ Last updated: 2025-09-09T14:00:28.000Z *HMOs have become an increasingly fraught debate in Medway and nationwide in recent months. Landlords argue that single houses with five or six residents fill a need, while neighbours complain about stretched services and transient communities. We’ve been taking a look at what it all means. Further down, we have the latest news about local government reorganisation, with Medway’s proposal shunned and two others being taken forward. Finally, at least one Medway MP supports the flag erections in our towns, news in brief, and more.* *Thanks to the hundreds of you who have completed* [*our reader survey*](https://forms.gle/iK3mxkdXb1iqhW1i9?ref=localauthority.news)*. Every response gives us valuable insight into who reads this thing and what they want from it, so please take part if you haven’t already. It’s one page, all questions are optional, and it’ll take less than five minutes to complete.* [Start survey](https://forms.gle/iK3mxkdXb1iqhW1i9?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### **The fight over Medway’s HMOs** Houses in Multiple Occupation (or HMOs) are the catch-all term for properties where several tenants share kitchens and bathrooms but rent their rooms individually. They can be anything from a converted family terrace with six students to a larger block carved into dozens of bedsits. They’re cheaper and more flexible than most flats, but often come with cramped layouts, fraught neighbours, and a reputation for lowering the tone of a street. Medway has 255 licensed HMOs. That’s more than triple Gravesham, six times Swale, and the rate of new ones seems to be accelerating. Eight new applications landed on Medway Council’s planning portal in August alone. Two more have arrived this week. Most are in Gillingham or Chatham, but now they’re spreading to Darland and even Upnor, where they tend to be even more controversial. It isn’t just Medway. Councils across the country are trying to get a grip. Some councils are trying to ban them altogether. Some, like Wandsworth, are licensing, prosecuting, and clawing money back from rogue landlords. Even areas like Lambeth have tightened the rules. A few weeks ago, [The New Statesman described the impact HMOs have](https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2025/06/overcrowded-housing-is-tearing-communities-apart?ref=localauthority.news) on communities. Medway’s approach? A bit of everything and not much of anything. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c8tB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f223d243c-2dc7-42bf-b9ed-e92e7b35b913_5378x4034.jpg) At the end of Gillingham High Street, a [planning application](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SEAZZMKNL3S00&ref=localauthority.news) was made to cram a 30-bed HMO onto the site of the fire-damaged nursery on the edge of the Great Lines. Two kitchens, four living rooms, no parking, token gardens. Councillors refused it. But at Selbourne Road, the council [waved through a seven-bed](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/approval-of-mini-hotel-hmo-devastates-neighbours-319493/?ref=localauthority.news) HMO despite a petition from 60 neighbours. The planning committee tied 6–6, and chair Cllr Chrissy Stamp admitted they’d probably lose on appeal if they said no, so she voted yes. A resident of fifty years called it “devastating”. Gillingham and Chatham, between them, have more than 150 HMOs. Rochester and Strood have 31\. Rainham barely registers. However, as HMOs proliferate, areas that previously avoided them are seeing them arrive. The issue is becoming increasingly political. Reform pounced on plans in Upnor to convert part of the former Arethusa Venture Centre into an 11-bed scheme. Rochester and Strood’s branch staged a public meeting and [thundered](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=721368087569545) about how “profit-driven HMO developments are threatening the character, safety, and spirit of our neighbourhoods.” Within days, Facebook users on local Facebook groups were making ‘jokes’ about migrants arriving in dinghies in the river in anticipation of the new HMO. It’s not an issue only Reform is highlighting though. “The rate and scale of HMO conversions in Gillingham have reached an unsustainable level and are now negatively impacting our local community,” [said](https://www.instagram.com/p/DNOQaU%5FojnV/?ref=localauthority.news) Labour MP for Gillingham and Rainham, [Naushabah Khan](https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/), in a joint statement with Cllr Louwella Prenter, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing. They stressed HMOs “have a role to play when managed properly,” but warned that too many family homes are being chopped into six-bed lets, piling pressure on local services. Even the official numbers don’t tell the whole story. The register only covers licensed HMOs. Plenty more operate without permission or licensing, gambling that enforcement won’t catch up. Nobody knows how many. Meanwhile, the market trundles on. Rightmove currently lists 56 HMO rooms in Medway, anywhere between £400 and £850 a month. That’s just the slice you can see. Others shift directly through letting agents, word-of-mouth, or landlord WhatsApp groups. For some, it’s a last resort. For students in Gillingham, it’s simply how housing works. This is ultimately why the issue isn’t as straightforward as it initially seems. HMOs are one of the few affordable ways into housing for people squeezed out of the rental market, and they keep the student population close to campus. But poorly converted or badly managed ones can wreck a street. Both things can be true. Landlords have every incentive to keep going. A three-bed family house turned into a six-bed HMO will earn far more than a single tenancy. Residents can object, councillors can agonise, but without stricter rules, it is in the interests of landlords to keep providing them. The real issue hangs over all of this, and it’s a perennial *Local Authority* refrain: Medway hasn’t built enough homes. Major schemes stall, government targets go unmet, and rents keep rising. A growing population is squeezed into housing stock that hasn’t kept up. HMOs end up acting as the safety valve for many. In central Gillingham, HMOs are so normal they barely raise an eyebrow. In Darland or Upnor, the mere hint of one sets off petitions and public meetings. What passes without comment on Nelson Road feels like an intrusion on the riverfront. Medway is thousands of homes short. Rents keep climbing. Big regeneration projects are stuck in the mud. And so HMOs will keep filling the gap. Councillors can refuse, campaigners can protest, MPs can demand stronger powers. But until the wider housing crisis is tackled, more applications will land each month, and the register will keep climbing past 255. The only real question is which street will be next. --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Medway’s ludicrous borders will outlast the council itself Local government reorganisation is trundling on, with Medway set to be swallowed up in the process. The latest step has seen consultants KPMG brought in to write the business cases for two possible maps, both of which see Medway folded into something larger. One would see Medway grouped with Swale, Dartford and Gravesham. The other would send Swale south with Ashford and Folkestone & Hythe, leaving Medway with Dartford and Gravesham. Either way, west Kent’s four councils, who have been angling from the start to be kept together, get exactly what they wanted. ![A map of Kent showing the possible make-up of councils in the future. It splits it as follows: Three unitary councils consisting of Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale in the north; Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west and Ashford, Canterbury, Thanet, Dover and Folkestone and Hythe in the east. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!pfCj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc8dea728-b4c5-4a57-935f-9a6395f6c7a9_1067x600.jpg) The three-unitary model advanced by Kent Council Leaders. Medway didn’t want things to look like this. The council [previously pitched its own four-way model](https://www.localauthority.news/i/171251425/medway-draws-its-own-map-and-annoys-everyone), creating a north-west Kent authority by redrawing a straight line along the M2, meaning areas currently in Tonbridge & Malling got brought into the new authority. That sparked an immediate backlash, with Tonbridge & Malling leader Matt Boughton making it clear that he wasn’t prepared to lose Blue Bell Hill and parts of Walderslade. The plan was then roundly rubbished by other Kent leaders and the Medway Conservatives, who accused the administration of going it alone, mis-selling the idea, and trying to carve up towns and communities with little rhyme or reason. With that proposal firmly ditched, so too is the chance to finally rationalise some of Medway’s more ludicrous borders. Parts of Chatham will continue to be in Maidstone, which remains forever baffling. ![A second map of Kent showing another possibility for how it could be split. It reads as follows: Four unitary councils consisting of Dartford, Gravesham and Medway in the north; Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Malling, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells in the west; Swale, Ashford and Folkestone and Hythe in the middle of Kent and Canterbury, Thanet and Dover in the east. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9xwO!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbe0d3f68-92cd-400e-bf1a-4c4a7fec65a2_1070x602.jpg) The four-unitary model advanced by Kent Council Leaders. The political row over how we got here is unlikely to fade quickly. [Medway Conservatives are clear that they want the council to move on](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/statement-regarding-local-government-reorganisation?ref=localauthority.news) from its shunned plan and back one of the two options now being examined by KPMG. The Labour administration at Gun Wharf has mainly gone quiet since its map blew up, with [Medway Council leader Vince Maple saying](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1949/council%5Freorganisation%5Ftakes%5Fthe%5Fnext%5Fstep?ref=localauthority.news) that the council is “now looking at the next steps for Medway ahead of the final submission later this year.” Done properly, new unitaries could simplify things. They would sweep away the current tangle of county and district councils, ending the duplication and confusion over who runs what. The problem is that the four-way model leaves two authorities well short of the government’s 500,000 population benchmark. That makes the three-way option, with Medway, Dartford, Gravesham and Swale together, look the most feasible, and the one ministers are more likely to sign off. Kent County Council’s fantasy of a single giant super-council has seemingly also been put to bed. Ministers want submissions by the end of November, and Steve Reed at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, who has been in the job for a total of four days so far, will get the final say. The official timeline has any new councils up and running in April 2028. That might sound a long way off, but the choices being made this autumn will decide what Medway and the rest of the county will look like by then. The odds are that by 2028, we’ll be paying our council tax to ‘North Kent Council.’ Whether it actually makes local government simpler is another matter entirely. --- #### Red, white, and awkward Another week, another wave of flags sprouting across Medway. This week, it has been chiefly Chatham’s turn, with roundabouts and streets newly decorated in England flags fresh from online wholesalers in China. With Medway Council taking little action against the first wave of flag erections and graffiti on roundabouts, more have followed. Far-right groups like Britain First, driven out of Rochester a mere decade ago, have even begun appearing in Kent towns, emboldened by the lack of pushback. Medway Council previously told this publication that it disapproves of the flags but won’t do much about them for now. So it raised eyebrows when Chatham and Aylesford’s Labour MP Tristan Osborne popped up applauding those climbing ladders under the cover of darkness to plant England flags in one of Medway’s most diverse neighbourhoods. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!74vI!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f63dee80d-de81-4980-8b70-a9ad67378f14_1170x813.jpg) We asked Osborne to confirm he was supporting residents attaching flags to public infrastructure on the White Road estate, given it seemed at odds with the council’s position that doing so is unlawful. He told us: > *“The government policy is to celebrate people displaying flags especially for events such as the women’s rugby World Cup taking place at moment. If people want to put them on their own homes and display in public this is welcome. No one owns the flag; it’s a symbol of our shared identity and progressive people should be prepared to own it as I’ve done on my leaflets; on my website and on all my statement; and on my Labour Party membership card!”* All of which is fair enough, but it still didn’t quite answer whether he’s fine with residents scaling council lampposts at night to do it. --- #### In brief 🏨 The King Charles Hotel [issued a statement](https://www.facebook.com/kingcharleshotel/posts/pfbid0NkMEG7GrH35W93arawXAQM4yGT8JfJD58XPnhJkJFomWHn2k7TCHycRUxA3AVVHql) to say they were not housing migrants after a group started planning an anti-migrant march from the Holiday Inn in Rochester to the Gillingham hotel. ➡️ Medway’s three Reform branches have [blamed ‘cancel culture’](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid0MQUxKc9YMNiYVGnTdBAPDmBfoCC9VEM7fZrCmKjB9Z1NCuj926USJsUsQ5XQYRgGl&id=61577722285583) for having to hold their joint branch event in… Medway. They originally booked the Village Hotel in Medway, which they allege has cancelled their booking, with the event moved to Bridgewood Manor in Chatham. We asked both hotels about the location change, but neither responded. 🏥 An independent report into culture at Medway Maritime Hospital [found racism, bullying, and discrimination](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c15k3z1lx1yo?ref=localauthority.news), with nearly one in ten employees flagging such issues. The trust’s interim chief executive said he was “deeply sorry” and “determined to make changes.” 📚 On the other hand, the same hospital [now has a book trolley](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2v21d3wz4o.amp?ref=localauthority.news) for the first time in 25 years. 🏘️ A planning application has been submitted to [build nine new homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=T1902DKNH8A00&ref=localauthority.news) on one plot of land at Sharnal Street near High Halstow. 🚒 Kent Fire and Rescue were called to Boots in Gillingham High Street for what they described as a ‘false alarm,’ a statement that seems somewhat at odds with the [photos of smoke](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/fire-crews-called-to-high-street-as-smoke-seen-coming-from-329466/?ref=localauthority.news) pouring out of the building. --- #### More Authority The French Hospital is a significant yet often overlooked part of Rochester High Street. Steven met their Head of Engagement, Natalie Tegg, in their main office to learn more about the almshouses. They talked about whether it is actually a hospital, how Natalie came to work there and the challenges of the non-profit sector. [“It became really evident how important it is to be connected to the community”The French Hospital is a significant and yet often overlooked part of Rochester High Street. Steven met their Head of Engagement, Natalie Tegg, in their main office, to find out more about the almshouses. They talked about whether it is actually a hospital, how Natalie came to work there and the challenges of the non-profit sector.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!BL2E!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5d28112e-d97d-4770-b12c-52b5e9d5d61c_1200x900.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/it-became-really-evident-how-important/) *Local Authority* only exists thanks to our paid subscribers. If you aren’t already one of them and value our work, please consider upgrading your subscription. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*If You Leave It Alone by The Wave Pictures*](https://thewavepictures.bandcamp.com/album/if-you-leave-it-alone?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Baroque Anxieties by Little Storping in the Swuff*](https://littlestorpingintheswuff.bandcamp.com/album/baroque-anxieties?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*The Papas by Spoonboy*](https://spoonboy.bandcamp.com/album/the-papas?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “It became really evident how important it is to be connected to the community” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/it-became-really-evident-how-important/ Last updated: 2025-09-07T06:02:06.000Z [*The French Hospital*](https://frenchhospital.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a significant and yet often overlooked part of Rochester High Street. Steven met their Head of Engagement, Natalie Tegg, in their main office, to find out more about the almshouses. They talked about whether it is actually a hospital, how Natalie came to work there and the challenges of the non-profit sector.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!BL2E!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5d28112e-d97d-4770-b12c-52b5e9d5d61c_1200x900.jpg) Natalie Tegg, following a triathalon. **What is your official occupation?** I'm Deputy Clerk. Clerk is obviously a tradition going back to when the charity was first set up. I suppose Deputy CEO now. A big part of my role is also engagement, I've got quite a long job title, Head of Engagement and Deputy CEO. The engagement means working with stakeholders, both internally, in terms of the residents, trustees, staff, but externally with agencies like the Cathedral, and the Sheds Project, Age UK Kent Rivers, building those partnerships externally as well. **What is the French Hospital?** The French Hospital was set up in 1718 with a legacy £1,000 to support [Huguenots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huguenots?ref=localauthority.news) in need. Obviously, when Huguenots came over to this country after the revocation of the edict of Nantes, Louis XIV sent everybody here. The French Hospital were set up in London to support those Huguenots basically in need and actually worked very empathetically at the time to support people with mental health issues. The charity was set up, and it's been run in probably quite a similar way ever since, with a board of trustees, board of governors, primarily all of Huguenot descent who govern the charity. **Do you have a Huguenot connection yourself?** I'm going through the process of finding out, actually. The word Wood on my mother's side, Woods du Boire. We're going through the whole process now to try and find out. I think I should really. One in six of us are of Huguenot descent. The charity has changed, and it was changed. It's a Royal Charter Charity. It was changed in 1985 to support older adults in need. The role here isn't just about providing almshouse accommodation. It's about providing activities and events that decrease loneliness and improve social inclusion. **It's called the French Hospital, but it isn't what we think a hospital is?** No, hospital was a word that was used for a charitable organisation in the early days, places like St George's. The French Hospital was set up there and we are French obviously, but not a hospital in that point, but as a charity, very much about providing accommodation to people in need. **To clarify this point, the people who live here, they have to demonstrate a Huguenot connection?** As I say, our charter was changed in 1985, but they have to be in need, primarily financial need. I think with the situation with housing at the moment, particularly for older people, we've seen a huge increase in people applying to come here, because those living in private accommodation where the rent has gone up dramatically, there's a number of people coming here who aren't in position to be able to afford that anymore. It's the need for the charity, as with other almshouses, because we've got a big concentration across Medway of almshouses. Charities have increased dramatically. **With the Hospital first being set up in London, when did it come to Rochester?**Opened here in 1959\. The great benefit of being here is, for the residents, you're in an urban environment, you've got the access to the high street. I think that became particularly relevant during covid, where the high street was able to adapt. For people here, not able to get shopping, deliveries were made, a call was made to the grocers on the high street and food parcels were delivered, crochet kits were delivered, that sort of thing. That's when I think it became really evident how important it is to be connected to the community here. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Top of the league URL: https://www.localauthority.news/top-of-the-league/ Last updated: 2025-09-05T10:45:38.000Z *Gillingham Football Club is currently top of League 2 after a strong start to the season, in an unusually positive development. Will they be able to maintain the momentum, or will it all fall away like it has so many times in the past? Our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins assesses the situation further down. Ahead of that, we have a report from the ~~most important~~ ~~biggest~~ only by-election in Medway yesterday, where voters in Grain chose a new member of the parish council. And of course, we have our weekly events guide and news in brief.* *Thanks to everyone who has completed* [*our reader survey*](https://forms.gle/NpkGJ8ZxRYunLRHPA?ref=localauthority.news) *so far. We’re eager to hear from as many readers as possible though, so if you haven’t yet told us about yourself and what you want from Local Authority, please spend five minutes on us if you can.* [Start survey](https://forms.gle/NpkGJ8ZxRYunLRHPA?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### The lesser spotted parish council by-election We don’t often get an opportunity to write about parish council elections at Local Authority Towers. There are often not enough candidates for seats, so many parish councillors are elected unopposed, then seemingly stay there for decades, with others being co-opted into seats to ensure they have enough numbers. Even when we had hope of a by-election in St Mary Hoo earlier this year to fill three vacancies, only three candidates came forward. Imagine our excitement when a by-election was called for the Isle of Grain, with not one, not two, but three candidates were on the ballot paper. We were the only local news team on the scene for the count last night, and are here to report the results of local democracy in action. Due to ongoing works at Gun Wharf, the count was held at Medway Park, but unlike recent elections, it occurred in an upstairs side room. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6k-g!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3f580f3d-2be6-4ea7-882a-fb08fb951b8c_3840x2160.jpg) The room where it happened. The Isle of Grain (from the Old English ‘greon,’ meaning gravel) is on the Hoo Peninsula, and the furthermost point of the Medway Council area. Interestingly (he says, stretching this out another 25 words), Grain had a population of 1731 in 2001, which decreased in 2011 by 83, only to return to 1730 for the 2021 census. At the General Election last year, 1255 people were registered to vote, but that number was recorded as 1234 for this by-election. The candidates were all Grain residents. The first was Lorraine Giddy, who has never been a member of a political party or stood for election before. Lorraine is also... checks notes… this writer’s step-mother, and so it was nice to see her and his father at the count.Next on the ballot was Mark Hardingham, who was not present to provide any biographical information and is not a member of this writer’s extende family.Finally, Sarah Malone, who has also not been a member of a political party or stood for election before. Sarah was also… checks notes… in this writer’s year group at school, so it was nice to catch up after a horrifying number of years. With polls closing at 10pm, the one ballot box would need to travel all the way from Grain. With the Medway Tunnel closed, this meant travelling through Strood, Rochester, and Chatham around the one-way system of Medway, arriving at the count for 10.55pm. With postal and additional ballots already verified, the arduous task of counting the ballots by Medway’s professional election team began, overseen by an Acting Returning Office. The result was declared 25 minutes later. St James, Isle of Grain parish election results: - Lorraine Giddy (independent) - 76 - Mark Hardingham (independent) - 16 - Sarah Malone (independent) - 188 (elected) The turnout was 22.8%. As a result, Sarah Malone has been duly elected to Grain Parish Council, potentially lowering its average age by several decades. She spoke exclusively to *Local Authority*: “I feel that if it went to co-opted, I don't think I would have been chosen. I'm different, I'm verbal. I've got a voice, and I want to use my voice for the village.” Sarah has, for over a decade, been a governor at the local primary school, but with her children long since left, felt it was the right time to move onto a new position and challenge. Now that she has been elected, Sarah says she is aiming to bring about positive change for the village. “I just want things to change, a little bit more modern. I don't see a lot of nice things said about our parish on Facebook. Grain is a lovely village, but I want to try and change that aspect of the way people think about the parish council. Whether that's just changing the way we communicate, getting back to people, responding about the things we do, just to try and change people's opinion.” --- #### In brief 🧱 The Mess Room are doing a [Lego Walk Challenge](https://www.justgiving.com/page/messroombravethebricks2025?ref=localauthority.news) to raise money. Ten people will be walking barefoot across thousands of Lego bricks. 🃏 A playing card from the 1700s has been [unearthed at Chatham Historic Dockyard](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video/playing-card-from-the-1700s-unearthed-at-historic-dockyard-chatham-63745/?ref=localauthority.news) as part of ongoing works to the Commissioner’s House. 🗣️ ‘cene magazine has [interviewed Medway writer Sarah Hehir](https://cenemagazine.co.uk/features/write-here-write-now-medway-writer-sarah-hehir?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Events this week 🔦 Sat 6 Sep - [**Shorts Tunnels Tour**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/shorts-tunnels-rochester-underground-wwii-bunker-guided-tour-1pm-tickets-1362947686219?ref=localauthority.news) // Guided tour of the extensive underground World War II bunkers under Rochester. Shorts Reach, Rochester. Tickets £28. 🎸 Sat 6 Sep - [**Theatre Royal**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1324691155667514) // Local janglepop as band play from their new album and extensive back catalogue. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Free. --- #### Top of the league **by Ben Hopkins** *Gillingham are top of the table after six games and are currently on the second-longest undefeated league run in their history. Is Gareth Ainsworth’s team the real thing, the essence of the truth? Or is this a false dawn that comes before fresh darkness? Ben Hopkins has been wearing prescription sunglasses all season because the future’s so bright we’ve gotta wear shades (he hopes, uncharacteristically)...* **The scores on the doors** Accrington away (1-1) certainly didn’t look like a promising start to the season, but a battling 1-0 at home to Walsall and a late equaliser at Tranmere (1-1) indicated that this Gills team has more cojones than we’ve seen in years. And then brute force gave way to beautiful ferocity as hotly-tipped Chesterfield took a battering, the highlight being an EAT MY GOAL wonder moment from debutant left-back Lenni Cirino. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!s1CG!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa9e60606-a719-4767-9ceb-36c2d002d555_4064x3048.jpg) Post-Chesterfield jubilation. Another late show earned a 1-0 win versus Crewe with local lad Sam Gale’s first-ever goal. By the time the rain flooded down away to Oldham to give Ainsworth’s tousled locks a biker bar slickness, Gills’ fans were already singing about being top of the league. And then! A looping Max Clark corner was headed in by Sam Vokes for a 1-0 win, the veteran striker grinning even more maniacally than when he scored against Belgium in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals. **Rewind: When the crowd says goal** But jump in a hot tub time machine back to this time last year, and the year before it, and you’ll see Gillingham in a very similar position. And if you don’t know what happened next, a slight spoiler: it wasn’t pretty. Yet there are some omens that this isn’t a flash-in-the-pan. Gills have scored in 17 of those 18 unbeaten games, in the process keeping 8 clean sheets. What’s more, Chesterfield, Crewe and Walsall are all teams that the majority would expect to be at least competing for the play-offs. **How will the transfer window change things?** After anticipating a fairly low-key closing day, everything went haywire. First in was Watford youngster Travis Akomeah on loan, coming to the club to boost defensive options following early doors damage to Conor Masterson and Shadrach Ogie. Next up was winger Jonny Smith, on loan from Wigan, who looks like the type to offer the trickery and thunderbolt firing from out wide that this team perhaps lacks. Finally, Garath McCleary joined after being released from Wycombe, another veteran who should provide more options from attacking midfield or on the right. Jack Nolan’s bizarrely unsuccessful Gills era came to an end as he went in through the out door, while youngster Joe Gbode was sold to Luton for a fee rumoured to be £300,000\. Personally, it feels like a shame to lose him just as he was beginning to make an impact, but a reasonable fee for a player who wasn’t even an automatic first choice is hard to argue against. In short, would I have taken Smith and McCleary in over keeping Gbode? Yes. **Dad’s army and the likely lads** A common complaint this time last year was that Gills lacked leadership. Now everywhere you look there’s a veteran: goalkeeper Glenn Morris (age 41), McCleary (38) and Vokes (35) plus another two who have played to a much higher level with midfielders Bradley Dack and Jonny Williams. And that’s before you get to captain Armani Little and the steely mentality of Robbie McKenzie. Perhaps that’s part of why this side seems to possess an almost lunatic work rate, or as everyone is already bored of me saying, “grind and score, grind and score.” If you’re an opposing defender, seeing a so-far rejuvenated Josh Andrews or Elliot Nevitt storming towards you is going to weaken your commitment to non-panicked passing, and the rest of the team seems to press with similar determination. It is rubbing off on the younger side of the team, with Gale and fellow defender Andy Smith two of the standout performers so far. The mentality is spreading towards them too: Gale appeared to restrain Cirino when his goal celebrations could have resulted in a second yellow card, and Andrews encouraged Vokes - at present his main competitor for a place in the team - to soak up the applause following his goal at Oldham. That game provided another sweet moment when teenage debutant Cruz Beszant was encouraged to lead the post-match celebrations. **Possible pitfalls?** There’s still plenty to be wary about. With Vokes likely to primarily be a super sub, can Andrews and Nevitt (or back-up Marcus Wyllie) finally score the goals that any promotion contender needs? Will the presence of Jonny Smith and McCleary help spark the indifferent form of Williams and Dack? How much of a problem would an injury to, say, Gale or Andy Smith or Morris cause? And will the players who have slumped after strong starts in previous seasons be haunted by the possibility of a 2025/26 redux? There’s enough doubt in all of those to say the jury isn’t just out, but they’ve adjourned for the day and gone for a pint. **What’s next?** September 6th, away to Bromley. Bromley are the only other unbeaten team in the division this season, and are third, two points behind Gills. September 13th, home to Notts County. As it stands, Notts County have made an indifferent start but will surely improve. September 20th, away to Newport County. Currently on a run of four consecutive defeats and 20th in the table, this will be an away that Ainsworth and gang believe they can win. But Gills haven’t won there since Newport’s return to the league in 2013. September 27th, home to Harrogate Town. In a meagre history of just six games, Harrogate are well ahead of Gills with three wins. If the unbeaten run is still ongoing after this, it’s time to believe. If this turns out to be Gills’ fourth winless win in a row, forget anything positive I said in the above. --- #### Footnotes *Please don’t forget to* [*complete our reader survey*](https://forms.gle/7Sg6QexwL1dDiAfM8?ref=localauthority.news) *if you haven’t already done so! It helps us understand who our readers are and what they want from this thing.* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Councillor found to have bullied nursery boss insists ‘all is not as it seems’ URL: https://www.localauthority.news/councillor-found-to-have-bullied/ Last updated: 2025-09-02T22:30:38.000Z *A Medway councillor found to have bullied and harassed the operator of a nursery in Allhallows has hit back, insisting the entire process was flawed and biased against him. We look at both the report into his behaviour and his own response below. Further down, we have news of council meeting changes that could water down democracy in Medway, an update on the flag wars, news in brief, and more.* --- #### **Councillor found to have bullied nursery boss insists ‘all is not as it seems’** Independent Medway councillor [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/) has been found to have bullied and harassed a nursery operator in Allhallows by the authority’s Councillor Conduct Committee, but he insists the entire process was flawed, biased, and based on allegations that were never proven. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!4hKH!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa6d84fd4-3d5a-44ba-a6ad-15848c81a5ea_1456x762.jpg) Cllr Chris Spalding. The case came before the committee on 13 August, but the [draft minutes](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=6285&T=1&ref=localauthority.news) from the closed-door meeting were only published last week. After a two-hour discussion, the committee ruled Spalding had breached the Member Code of Conduct and should face sanctions, including a public censure at October’s full council meeting. It all began with a dispute at Growing Minds Nursery, which operates out of Allhallows Village Hall. A row over who should pay for a new fire alarm escalated into weeks of increasingly hostile correspondence between the nursery operator and the committee of the hall. At one point, the nursery’s owner, Princy Imthiyaz, said on social media that she would close the nursery, sparking alarm among parents and leading Spalding, as ward councillor for All Saints, to intervene. The committee examined nine emails sent by Spalding between February and March. They said these went far beyond what could reasonably be expected from a councillor representing residents and instead amounted to bullying and intimidation. Among the lines quoted were warnings that the nursery owner could face defamation action or even police involvement, threats to recommend terminating the nursery’s lease, and remarks that her claims were being made to strengthen her “financial position.” One email read: “Closing the nursery down and walking away because you are now faced with having to answer some awkward questions and provide information that may not show you in a favorable *(sic)* light is not going to be acceptable.” Another warned: “This can, in certain circumstances, be considered a criminal offence and leave one open to Police investigation.” The committee concluded his tone was inappropriate and threatening, that he gave the impression he had powers he did not have, and that he had refused an earlier chance to resolve the issue with a simple apology. As a result, Spalding must now undertake training on the code of conduct and provide a “sincere and fulsome” letter of apology to the complainant by 2 October, with the wording signed off by the committee chair. Even if he complies, he will still face formal censure when the full council meets on 16 October. Spalding, however, has issued a lengthy statement to *Local Authority* rejecting almost every part of the case against him. He says the original complaint was “completely untrue” and malicious, and that the nursery owner had at one stage agreed to withdraw it and apologise before changing their mind. He insists he repeatedly asked the Deputy Monitoring Officer for proof that the claimant asked him not to contact or attend meetings, but that no evidence was ever provided. He notes that the Deputy Monitoring Officer told him that they had not seen any such emails. In his statement, he also provided several quotes from the nursery owner thanking him for his “invaluable support” and “guidance,” which he argues is hard to reconcile with the picture of harassment presented to the committee. He says the 600 pages of hearing documents were only provided to him a week before the meeting and were “jumbled” and confusing. He had asked for the case to be deferred because of a funeral, but the request was refused. He further argues that the Deputy Monitoring Officer had a conflict of interest, as she is involved in other legal matters with him, and suggests that at least one member of the committee should not have taken part due to bias. According to Spalding, parents who were previously vocal have since apologised to him following the debacle. Ironically, he says he has again asked the complainant to provide copies of the supposed requests for him not to contact her, but has received no reply. His closing remark is that “as with many things, all is not as it seems,” warning that criminal and civil proceedings against others could follow. Regardless, the committee’s decision remains in place. Spalding has until early October to comply with the apology and training order, though his statement suggests he doesn’t intend to back down quietly. The council’s ability to police the behaviour of its members remains limited, with the conduct committee empowered to censure but little more. The nursery is still running, and in the hall of the original dispute. At the same time, Medway is now left with a councillor who has to decide whether to write the world’s most awkward apology letter or drag the council into yet another public bust-up. Given the volume of his statement so far, no one should be betting on a quiet ending. --- #### Democracy on a rota Next month’s full council meeting will see a debate on Medway’s newly rewritten [constitution](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/download/43/the%5Fcouncil%5Fs%5Fconstitution?ref=localauthority.news), with a new set of rules designed to keep debates shorter and tighter. Councillors voted in July to [move changes forward](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=80655&ref=localauthority.news) on how meetings are run, reducing the number of motions at each meeting and moving much of the routine business out of the chamber. If agreed in October, future council meetings will allow no more than three motions on the agenda. That’s 12 in a year, not including annual or budget meetings. The slots will be carved up on what officers call an ‘equity and 10%’ basis, meaning the bigger groups (Labour and Conservative) get more turns, while independents and Reform will be left fighting for scraps. On paper, this is all about efficiency. Officers note that each motion tends to chew up around half an hour, with two or three motions eating more than two hours of meeting time. Add in questions, reports and the usual ceremonial nonsense, and councillors are trudging out of the St. George’s Centre long after most residents have gone to bed. So in theory, the plan is to limit motions, speakers, and frontload important issues early on, and meetings should be done in about three hours. Add in some other tweaks like scrutiny reports being cut back to a single annual highlights reel, information items nodded through en bloc, questions on executive functions shunted over to Cabinet, and it might just be doable. But what looks neat on a flowchart starts to look silly when translated into the rhythms of local politics. Council groups are no longer guaranteed the right to put an issue before the chamber at each meeting. Instead, they’ll have to wait for their allotted slot on a somewhat incomprehensible rota, meaning matters of genuine public concern could sit in limbo for months before they’re aired in the council chamber. One resident, Bryan Fowler, shared his concerns with *Local Authority*: > *“Together with the proposed constitutional changes outlined at the last Full Council, it seems that the Leader of Medway Council and the Council’s senior officers are more interested in efficiency savings (cuts) than ensuring better representation at a local level.* > > *There is little doubt that the proposed constitutional changes will restrict Council members’ opportunity to raise questions about national issues as well as reduce the opportunity to regularly review the work of the Overview and Scrutiny committee at Full Council.”* There is, of course, an argument for trimming the fat. Anyone who’s sat through six hours of chamber theatrics knows that councillors can make even the most basic motion sound like Tolstoy. But there’s also a danger in rationing debate so tightly that opposition groups can only raise concerns once a season. Democracy works best when issues can be raised in real time, not when councillors are forced to schedule outrage like it’s bin collections. Whether these reforms deliver slicker, more focused meetings or simply a tidier way of shutting down awkward debates remains to be seen. What’s certain is that Medway councillors could potentially be voting to make it harder for the smaller political groups to get issues on the agenda. Streamlining is one thing, but when democracy starts running on a rota, it’s fair to ask who the new system is really designed to serve. --- *Enjoying this edition? Pass it on to a friend in Medway. They’ll thank you (eventually).* --- #### Flag wars keep going You'll have noticed the flags if you’ve ventured around Medway lately. They’re impossible to miss, tied to lampposts, sprayed on roundabouts, fluttering from bridges, and painted directly onto the road. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!OSDW!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2613e171-1808-4afd-8c8f-ec86b18a1177_4000x2250.jpg) Flags on Bowater’s roundabout in Gillingham. As [we highlighted last week](https://www.localauthority.news/flags-apparently/), this isn’t a spontaneous celebration. It’s part of ‘Operation Raise the Colours,’ a coordinated campaign that’s been pushed on social media by far-right groups across the country. Medway has turned out to be fertile ground, with plenty of flags appearing across our towns. And then, almost as quickly as they appeared, some have begun to vanish. Drivers have reported previously covered bridges suddenly bare again, and rows of lampposts suddenly standing naked. For a brief moment, it looked like the authorities might finally be acting. Except they weren’t. It turns out the removals weren’t the work of Medway Council or Kent Police, but of residents quietly deciding to take matters into their own hands. Local Facebook groups have quickly filled with speculation about who the mystery removers might be, with finger-pointing and demands that people be named and shamed. One local group reached fever pitch after one user reported that ‘two leftie looking people’ were spotted removing them. Given the febrile atmosphere, things are starting to feel less like community pride and more like a digital mob. We asked Medway Council if they were responsible for any of the removals, and whether they were tackling the spray-painted crosses on roads and roundabouts. The response came from Cllr [Alex Paterson](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/), Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement, who told us: > *“Where public safety is a concern, we will look to remove the flag or repaint road markings as soon as practicably possible, and as our teams undertake work across Medway and carry out maintenance, they will also look to remove flags and repaint road markings where possible. The financial situation that councils across the country are in is no secret, and removing these flags and repainting road markings costs money – money which should be used to fill in more potholes and continue to improve Medway’s highways.”* In other words, if a flag looks like it might fall into traffic, someone might come and fetch it. Otherwise, it’ll wait until a highways crew happens to be working in the area. If you were hoping for a speedy clean-up of the flags sprayed on road junctions, that’ll probably have to get in line behind the potholes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tKRG!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff89e14b1-fab7-4bae-bfb1-893f9376ab66_4000x2250.jpg) Flags sprayed on road markings in Gillingham. It all creates a strange dynamic where something that would normally be treated as straightforward vandalism is being allowed to linger, partly because [Kent Police have shown no desire to deal with it](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kent-police-rebrand-lawbreaking-as?ref=localauthority.news), and partly because the council would rather frame it as a budget issue. Meanwhile, the flags remain, turning every drive through Medway into a reminder that some laws can be bent if you shout loudly enough online. The irony is that far from uniting people under a symbol of pride, the campaign has only highlighted division. Some residents see the flags as harmless patriotism, others as a not-so-subtle show of far-right influence. Then we have the Facebook detectives, trying to identify anyone suspected of removing the things. Whatever this is, it isn’t a feel-good display of local spirit. So the flags keep flying. Not because Medway chose them, but because nobody in authority is going to do much about them. They’ll likely keep fluttering from the lampposts until they fall down, or until someone decides the rules should apply here after all. Until then, Medway will have to get used to its new decorations. --- #### In brief ✂️ Hobbycraft in Strood has reopened after being closed since May due to a dispute with the landlord. It is unclear how the situation was resolved, but the news will relieve fans of papier mache across our towns. 🕺 The Cricketers in Rainham has been [granted permission to reinstate DJs and a dancefloor](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/pub-allowed-djs-and-dancefloor-after-seven-year-ban-lifted-329342/?ref=localauthority.news) after they were banned from doing so following violent incidents in 2018. 🗳️ [Voters in Grain will go to the polls on Thursday](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200168/elections%5Fand%5Fvoting/2017/st%5Fjames%5Fisle%5Fof%5Fgrain%5Fparish%5Fcouncil%5Fby-election?ref=localauthority.news) (4 Sep) to elect a new parish council member. We’ve asked Medway Council when and where the count takes place, and when the result will be announced, but we’ve had no answer, so maybe we’ll be able to tell you next week. --- #### More Authority Steven sat down with [Phil Bungay and Martin Nagler of the Medway Neurological Network](https://www.localauthority.news/the-times-ive-been-accused-of-being/) for our weekend interview. They talk about their respective conditions, the upcoming conference Neuro-Tech 25 in Medway, and the work of the network. [ “The times I've been accused of being drunk is unbelievable”The Medway Neurological Network is a community support group for charities and groups for those with neurological conditions. Steven sat down with Phil Bungay and Martin Nagler from the group, ahead of their Neuro-Tech 25 event, at St Augustine’s Church in Gillingham, which regularly hosts Medway Neuro Café, an opportunity for those living with neurological conditions, as well as carers, to meet for information, support and friendship. They talk about their respective conditions, the upcoming conference, and the work of the network.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SQSg!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe4fa0629-4fd1-4ad9-afc0-71c572b1f8f2_4284x3213.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-times-ive-been-accused-of-being/) *Our work can only exist thanks to the generous paid supporters who put their money where their keyboard is. The more people who choose to support our work, the more independent journalism we can deliver for Medway.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) Over on our sister [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) title, [we went deeper into the issue of flags](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kent-police-rebrand-lawbreaking-as?ref=localauthority.news) that have become prevalent over the past couple of weeks. Somehow, Kent has got to an awkward position where the Reform administration is telling people that putting up flags is unlawful, while Kent Police say it’s absolutely fine. [Kent Police rebrand lawbreaking as free speechIt’s been a weird week of flags going up across the county, which has led to some awkward political positions. While Reform-led KCC tried to encourage people not to hang flags from lampposts this week, Kent Police made it equally clear that it was absolutely fine and they wouldn’t arrest anyone even if they were breaking the law. We dig into the full de…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!AlOl!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8d4a4c7f-19fc-4e7c-87d7-4ed0b87571a5_567x567.png)Kent Current](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kent-police-rebrand-lawbreaking-as?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Footnotes *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Death Stranding (Songs from the Video Game) by Various Artists*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D56XxiS%5FpJ0&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*So Close to Heaven by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/so-close-to-heaven-live-at-troxy?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Goths by the Mountain Goats*](https://themountaingoats.bandcamp.com/album/goths?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “The times I've been accused of being drunk is unbelievable” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-times-ive-been-accused-of-being/ Last updated: 2026-03-25T16:55:24.000Z *The* [*Medway Neurological Network*](http://medwayneuro.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a community support group for charities and groups for those with neurological conditions. Steven sat down with Phil Bungay and Martin Nagler from the group, ahead of their* [*Neuro-Tech 25*](http://medwayneuro.org.uk/neurotech25?ref=localauthority.news) *event, at St Augustine’s Church in Gillingham, which regularly hosts Medway Neuro Café, an opportunity for those living with neurological conditions, as well as carers, to meet for information, support and friendship. They talk about their respective conditions, the upcoming conference, and the work of the network.* **Note:* Phil has speech difficulties due to his Parkinson’s, and some information was provided in written format later. Those sections are italicised below.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SQSg!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe4fa0629-4fd1-4ad9-afc0-71c572b1f8f2_4284x3213.jpg) Phil Bungay and Martin Nagler. ***Phil is showing me a device on the back of his phone. Relatively simple in nature, pushing down on the squares, it supports him with his speech.*** **Martin:** We heard about it. What they had, they had bricks on the wall. So, you're looking for walls somewhere, you point to a brick. But one of the designer’s sons came up with the idea of having little bricks on the phone. **Phil:** My son William… He was really willing. This was the best thing. I was thinking, ‘Oh, I can't.’ **That's incredible!** **Martin:** It is incredible. Before Phil developed the speech problem, he was the most talkative person in the world. He's got all these thoughts and ideas. It must be the height of frustration. **What does this help with?** **Phil:** This… helps with control. **Martin:** It's like a lot of these things, you never know how you are going to respond to it. Some things help some people very much. Through trial and error, see what works for you. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tJaS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdace8e3c-d481-4f76-b720-8534941542be_3920x2940.jpg) The device Phil uses to assist his speech. **Let's talk about Neuro-Tech 25\. When is that?** **Martin:** That is Thursday the 4th of September, at the Pilkington Building, Medway Universities. **How long have you been running the Neuro-Tech?** **Phil:** It is our 10th Birthday. **Martin:** The Medway Neurological Network, it’s our 10th anniversary. Phil and I met at Medway Hospital at the neurology department in 2015\. At that time, I was chair of the [Medway Multiple Sclerosis Society](https://www.mssociety.org.uk/support-and-community/near-me/medway-group?ref=localauthority.news). My main condition is Allied Multiple Sclerosis, but not actually Multiple Sclerosis. My lesion is in my spine, rather than my brain. The closest thing that was an organisation locally was the MS Society, and at that time, they accepted people with allied conditions. They're not so obliging now. I volunteered, and I soon ended up being chair. One of the things we wanted to do was to engage with other people in the neurological community, particularly looking for other people that needed MS support. We negotiated with the hospital to have a small information stand in their waiting room once a month. That's when Phil came in and we got talking. The first thing Phil said, “Oh, well, if you're here, we'd like a stall as well." *(laughs)* **Phil:** Going back a bit, I was at the time the co-ordinator of the UK [*(Parkinson’s)*](https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/provider/medway-and-district-working-age-group?ref=localauthority.news)[ Working Age Group in Medway](https://localsupport.parkinsons.org.uk/provider/medway-and-district-working-age-group?ref=localauthority.news). We are quite fortunate that we have two proper groups. One is the branch, for people further along the journey, and the Working Age Group for people of working age. **Martin:** We met in our different roles, but as we talked more about what we were doing for our organisations, it became obvious very quickly that there was so much overlap. Although we were saying MS or Parkinson’s, we were looking for the same sort of thing, to improve the services and all that sort of thing. And we were both aware of the national [Neurological Alliance](https://www.neural.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). It twigged, I'm not quite sure how, but why don't we have a local Neurological Alliance and engage with all the other groups providing support? One of the first people was my work colleague, Linda Nicolaides, because we were looking for a secretary. When we first started off, we were going to be co-chairs and find a secretary and a treasurer, but we couldn't find a treasurer. I ended up as treasurer *(laughs)*. Phil had been leading the alliance up until this year, when Linda's just taken over at our last AGM to be chair. That's our beginnings, really. **We will putting this interview out in August and let people know about the conference.** **Martin:** The first idea we had would be that it's for people living with a neurological condition to showcase technologies and say, ‘They're available, so this might help you.’ That was really the main aim. It still is the main aim, but what we quickly found was there was a lot of interest from the professionals, occupational therapists, around here, with various things being demonstrated. It looks as though it might be 50-50ish between the people that have the condition coming in, and those who are professionals looking to provide that technology. Of course, we've got a couple of speakers on AI, and we're thinking that AI technologies almost certainly will transform the way the services are provided. **Phil:** I’ve got this... *(Indicates the device on the back of his phone)* **That's extraordinary.** **Martin:** That is very low tech. **Phil:** I got… whilst in physical therapy… I think it was at King's College Hospital. They were… talking about all sorts of technical things, work-based. I started developing from the squares. **Martin:** It really does work so well for you. **Phil:** But… as Martin said, I do find my speech…. frustrating. *(laughs)* Because I used to be a talkative person. **Phil, with the Parkinson’s, I am assuming you are not working anymore?** **Phil:** I got out in 2017. **What was your job?** **Phil:** I worked for the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. I was one of those who was on the train. Sent me to work at Whitehall.I worked for 29 years. Giving up work was hard. I wanted to leave normally. I was getting to work, and the whole process of getting to work made me exhausted. I couldn't do my job well, because I was getting to work so exhausted. **Martin, what was your occupation?** **Martin:** In the scientific service. I was working with, well, it keeps changing its name, but Overseas Development Administration and then the [DFID](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department%5Ffor%5FInternational%5FDevelopment?ref=localauthority.news). We're a scientific unit, and as soon as they called us ‘the Jewel in the Crown,’ they immediately wanted to privatise us *(laughs)*. We used to work up in London in one of the scientific units called the Products Institute, and then we amalgamated with other scientific units in the same area and moved down to the University of Greenwich. I was working there, but I spent a lot of my time working overseas. The idea was working in food safety and food security areas, setting up laboratories and trying to improve the quality for exports and for livelihoods of exporting countries. I'm specialised in something called mycotoxins, toxins produced by moulds. If the produce becomes mouldy, then it can contain toxins, and then of course, they can't export it. We were working from the farmer level right through to the exporters. I did a lot of work in southeast Asia initially. I was in Thailand working on Thai maize and the Philippines. I was called a Technical Cooperation Officer. I really enjoyed that. It gave more opportunities to reach your potential because at home you had people directly sitting on your head, and when you were out there, you had a whole lot more responsibility and had staff and counterparts. If I was overseas to send a report back, I had no one putting red ink through it, it just came straight back, and the things I asked for. It was fantastic. When you come back and try and write a report in the olden days, we had the typing pool, the person immediately above you would make changes or whatever. It was a real headache to work properly, and then a delay coming back from the typing pool. They introduced more errors and so on. But working overseas was fantastic for me. **What condition do you have?** **Phil:** *In 2012, at the age of 45, Phil was diagnosed with* [*Young-Onset Parkinson's*](https://www.parkinson.org/understanding-parkinsons/what-is-parkinsons/young-onset-parkinsons?ref=localauthority.news)*. At the end of 2021, Phil was diagnosed with an additional condition,* [*Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia*](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hereditary-spastic-paraplegia/?ref=localauthority.news) *type 7 - a general term for a group of rare inherited disorders that cause weakness and stiffness in the leg muscles. Most people with HSP will have inherited a faulty gene from 1 of their parents. Phil was diagnosed with the complicated form of the condition, as it is believed he inherited a faulty gene from both his parents.* Only one in 750,000\. It's quite rare… In June, I went to see the UK specialist in HSP. Having HSP and Parkinson’s is even rarer *(laughs)*. I only know of one other person that has both. **Martin:** In 2005, I came down with rapidly progressing paralysis. My GP was convinced it was just a trapped nerve, even though it was affecting me all over. I went to him a good number of times over a short period of time and in the end, reception said; “Well, the doctor can't see you, he's got a full schedule. If you're so worried, why don't you go to A&E?” I went to A&E and I was admitted *(laughs)*. That was at Medway, and they transferred me up to King's. The first diagnosis was for a tumour in the spine, in the top part of my spine, which is the worst place to get it because it's very narrow there. Very poor prognosis. Then one of the neurologists gave me a very thorough examination, and I can hear now the magic words: “I don't think you have a tumour in your spine, I think it's what we call a pseudo tumour,” like an inflammation, “and it could be something like transversal myeloma.” It's demyelination *(damage to the myelin sheath, the protective, fatty covering around nerve fibers)* generally of the central nervous system. Later on, I was diagnosed with transversal myelitis. It affected both sides, one side worse than the other. I lost use of my left arm completely. I didn't know where it was or what it was doing. It used to frighten myself sometimes when it would fall into my lap. I didn't know what it was. No strength whatsoever in my fingers. I didn't have gloves on or anything. I was really quite poorly. But the thing with transverse myelitis *(TM)* is that, in general, the pattern of it is that you tend to have a rapid paralysis. You go down a long way. Some people go down so completely they can only wink their eyes, but I wasn't as bad as that. But you go really down, and then the body can naturally remyelinate. That's putting the insulation back around the nerves so it can carry the signals still. I was really very lucky because I think mine's probably gone up about 85%. I've still got lots of dead muscles in my shoulders because the damage caused by the initial attack isn't reversible in itself. You can get the signals back to some extent. I was very lucky. **What is the** [**Medway Non-Visible Disability Initiative**](https://www.medwaynvdi.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **(NVDi)?** **Martin:** That's one of our main projects that developed, how long ago was that now… **Phil:** Five years ago, isn't it? **Martin:** It's quite difficult to describe how that came about. **Phil:** Not every disability is visible. The Non-Visible Disability Initiative is that it affects... It's about getting knowledge and training out there. **Martin:** I remember it was one of my ideas, because I was looking in a magazine and it was talking about travel in Berlin, and it said that they had this Access Berlin phone app, and I thought that sounds like a good idea. We could have an Access Medway phone app. It started with the idea of having a phone app, and then people who got interested developed it into what it's become. You need the information, but what is really needed is training for people to be aware of non-visible disability. When people do access places, local restaurants, parks and whatever, the staff do have in mind this person might be acting strangely or awkwardly, but in fact they might have a non-visible disability. We have to have training in how we respond in an empathic way, and the idea of training courses came up. We worked with MidKent College to set up an NVQ course, which was run, and then the idea was to set up online courses, which we have developed. One is for customer-facing staff, and the other is for their managers. It's appropriate for all medical staff and care staff as well. There's a great interest in it, and the courses have been developed and they're awaiting the CPD *(Continuing Professional Development)* accreditation. Once that's done, we're going to go into a big launch mode to launch these courses. We also have in mind working with Medway Adult Education to offer a face-to-face alternative, like the Dementia Friends scheme. Just a couple of hours, and then people get a badge to say that they've received the training. That is also in hand. When we set it up, we didn't have in mind that it would be an integral part of Medway Neurological Network. It needed some governance, so we lent it our governance, but the idea always has been for it to be standalone. We've got a good way down that path. **Phil:** I'll give you a perfect... The times I've been accused of being drunk is unbelievable. Having some time to understand… to give you time… they're thinking “I think he's had a few too many,” when it’s not that at all *(laughs)*. I might, as well, enjoy a drink, or going out in a restaurant. All the NVDi is asking is a little bit of time for the individual. Time and understanding, because that is so important for lots of neurological conditions. **Martin:** One of the roles we see for Medway Neurological Network is really to provide support for the rarer conditions, because people with Parkinson's or MS have quite strong local support groups, they can go to their socials and have exercise classes just for them. What we're trying to do is engage with the organisations representing the rarer conditions to provide the local support. It wouldn't be the focus support, but much more the friendly social space to combat the loneliness and isolation and things. But also, one of our main roles is signposting. If people come to that and they've got a particular condition, we can signpost them to appropriate service providers. We're really looking to provide services where there are gaps, essentially, though we don't like to do a gap analysis.Way back in about 2017, there weren't any singing therapy groups for people with neurological conditions. We actually set up [Medway Skylarks](http://medwayneuro.org.uk/skylarks?ref=localauthority.news) with [Canterbury Cantata Trust](https://www.canterburycantatatrust.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). That's an example of where we filled a gap. I think that's the best model of working. **Phil:** Actually, setting up Medway Skylarks with Canterbury Cantata Trust… It's evidence-based through the [Sing to Beat Parkinson's](https://www.canterburycantatatrust.org.uk/our-choirs/sing-to-beat-parkinson-s?ref=localauthority.news) therapy. **Martin:** Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that in particular. To use parts of your brain to cross over so you can use the crossover parts of your brain. You've got the right side of the brain controlling your left side, and it uses plasticity of the brain to overcome it. **Phil:** Although I have… One thing I can always do is sing clearly. **Martin:** Yeah, you can. **Let’s do some background questions now. Where were you born, and what brought you to Medway?** **Phil:** *Philip was born on 16 March 1967 at West Hill Hospital, Dartford, to John & Margaret Bungay. John left the merchant navy in 1976 and became a publican at The Good Intent, Rochester, but in 1982, died of a heart attack.* **Martin:** I was born near Portsmouth, a place called Horndean. My work brought me to Medway when I managed to get a job with the Tropical Products Institute in London, and they moved to Chatham. That was around 1990. **Did you enjoy school?** **Phil:** *Phillip enjoyed education at Highfield Secondary, becoming Head Boy, and West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds, becoming Vice-President of the Student Union. It was in Suffolk, living with his stepdad and his mum, that Philip started his Christian faith.* **Martin:** I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. I was a very anxious student. I remember being quite stressed out a lot of the time. On the other hand, I think the stress drove me on. Although it wasn't a very enjoyable experience, I did achieve quite well at school. I ended up being a house captain, head librarian and on the top boards in the chess team.That was good because that kept me out of the house a lot too. I would have lots of things to do, even the first 11 cricket for a time. I was very shy, and essentially, my CV was looking quite good, but I was quite stressed out a lot of the time. **What was your first full-time job?** **Phil:** *In 1987, Philip joined the Territorial Army, serving in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. In 1989, Philip was posted by the Ministry of Defence to Belfast, and in 1990, Philip married Louise Anne Smith at the Kings Church, Chatham. In November 1992, Philip was posted by the Ministry of Defence to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, Louise worked in a Youth with a Mission (YWAM) kindergarten. Both Philip and Louise volunteered with Jackie Pullinger MBE, who had set up a Christian outreach programme, working with the drug addicts in the colony. On returning to the UK, they purchased a house in Rochester.* **Martin:** I studied chemistry, but I was really much more interested in the physical chemistry side of things, the technical side. I was specialising in nuclear magnetic resonance, MRI. I had solutions for identifying what the compounds were, snatch, release, sedation work. I got this job at Tropical Products Institute, which then became the Natural Resources Institute. **Can you or could you play a musical instrument?** **Phil:** I could play the piano… but probably not now *(laughs)*. **Martin:** Not very well, no. I was always interested in singing. I sang in the school choirs and with Skylarks. I wouldn't say I was a good singer. I enjoyed singing. I enjoyed playing the piano. **Who is the most famous person you are one degree of separation from?** **Martin:** Phil knows everyone. I am just on the side *(laughs)*. **Phil:** We are on good terms with local politicians. **Martin:** I know [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/). **Phil:** [Tracey Crouch](https://www.localauthority.news/im-still-not-a-thatcherite-tory/), and we recently met with [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) as well. **Who has been the best Prime Minister of your lifetime?** **Martin:** Oh my god. That's a very good question. **Phil:** They are all… **Martin:** It's so difficult. Maybe David Cameron has been the most benign. **Phil:** Although his chancellor did austerity. **Martin:** I'd like to say Tony Blair, but I can't forgive him for the Iraq war. **Phil:** I don't want to say it. I hate to see the division, but she did turn around the Economy. **Where do you like to eat in Medway?** **Phil:** I went for lunch at [Gurkha Fire](https://www.gurkhafirechatham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I'm into a place that the food is done well… and that's on a par with the [Shozna](https://www.shozna.com/?ref=localauthority.news). **Martin:** I don't eat out too much in Medway, but I take my son to the [Ship and Trades](https://www.shipandtradeschatham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). That's okay. It’s got an outside eating area, and he's very concerned about covid, so he doesn't ask all the time. The only place I can get him to, if we sit outside. **What improvements have there been in Medway for those with a disability?** **Martin:** We're looking at actual achievements we've done rather than things in progress. I think it tends to be in waveforms. You think you've made some progress, and then something happens, you slip down. We are constantly trying to keep neurology on the radar because when you look at the priority areas of health, you'll find that neurology doesn't occur even in the top ten, and whenever the government come up and says ‘we're going to prioritise these things,’ what happens to all the conditions that aren't in top? The cake is only so big. I think we've never been winning some and losing some the whole time. You've got to put a lot of effort to stay still. --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*.* *If you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, email* [*Steven*](mailto:steven@localauthority.news)*.* *Steven Keevil still manages to watch hundreds of films a year. He recommends* [*Caught Stealing*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mIvD-GN-p4&ref=localauthority.news)*. He listened to no music whilst writing this, but recommends reading* [*Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War by Ash Sarkar*](https://uk.bookshop.org/book/9781526648334?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Playtime for grown-ups URL: https://www.localauthority.news/playtime-for-grown-ups/ Last updated: 2025-08-29T09:50:15.000Z *A Medway organisation is working to boost confidence and social opportunity for adults in Medway through the medium of creativity and improv. We’ve been finding out what it’s all about. Further down, we learn about scholarships from the Rochester Bridge Trust trying to help students find a career in engineering, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Playtime for grown-ups [*Medway Play Lab*](https://www.medwayplaylab.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *brings performing arts workshops and theatrical events to the people of the Medway towns. We spoke with co-founder Nic Lamont to find out more about the project…* Medway Play Lab is a Community Interest Company, meaning “everything we do has an angle where we want to create a social connection and benefit people in the Medway Towns.” As a non-profit, any revenue raised is returned to projects and training their team. “We focus on workshops for adults. This has primarily been improvisation workshops so far.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Hdzp!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f742c22da-3616-41a6-bd9f-32b9b4f2a852_4272x2848.jpg) Medway Play Lab co-founder Nic Lamont leading a session. They have also created theatrical events and different community projects that are all based on performing arts or theatre. “We did actually map out all of our participants once, and we were bringing people in from all over Medway.” The company was launched in 2022 by Nic and Kate Mechedou, who met at a Funny Women event. “Funny Women is a brilliant national and now international company that supports women and female-identifying people that want to do comedy”. The founder of [Funny Women](https://funnywomen.com/?ref=localauthority.news), Lynne Parker, lives in Rochester and held an event at [Store 104](https://www.store104.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Nic and Kate “started chatting about improv and how there wasn't anything like that happening” in Medway. They realised they had a lot of similarities and professional experience that matched up. “We started talking about creating a company, and that's what we did.” Nic and Kate have both worked professionally as actors, with Kate also working extensively in the world of “historical interpretation.” “We both live in Medway and we're both mums, we feel we connect in a lot of different ways and can understand each other in a lot of different ways.” Nic acknowledges she has a lot going on, as she predominantly works as an actor, where she has a non-speaking role in the new Thursday Murder Club film that just released on Netflix. She is also a comedy performer and a Medway producer and mentor for Funny Women. She also runs a project called The Glitter Project, a monthly hub and open mic night for women in Kent to come and try out comedy and network. Medway Play Lab's first project was ‘The Grown-Up Games.’ This was in 2022, when they had received “a little bit of funding” to go into Luton Primary School during the summer holidays. Activities were going on for the children, “but there was really nothing for the parents.” They decided to offer confidence and creativity workshops for the parents. “It was interesting, and the feedback was it was nice for them to have a bit of social and creative release as well.” That culminated in “quite a funny performance where we switched the roles, the adults were playing children, and the children had to control these wild and creative souls. It was a fun thing to switch that on its head.” At the time of speaking, Medway Play Lab was running an introduction to improv course, which ran every Monday for six sessions at Store 104, and they hope to run again in the future. “It teaches the basic foundations of improvisation and builds on each session.” This includes building characters, creating scenes, working on two-person scenes, working on group scenes, and then working at the end on whole scenes, putting everything together. Are there rules to improv other than saying, ‘Yes, and?’ It turns out there are. “We go into a lot of the lesser-known things.” For Nic, it is about bringing out people's confidence and making the room feel safe. “I think sometimes when people hear improv, they think that that could be a really scary thing.” Nic likes to tell people, “Firstly, don't worry about being funny,” advising them not to be thinking, “I've got to do jokes, and I've got to do puns.” Nic tells me it will be funny because whatever comes out in the moment is funny enough on its own. There are lots of rules about working with other people. “I say to people, try and make your scene partner look good and they'll try and make you look good.” By serving the scene, rather than worrying about what you're doing, “the whole scene is harmonious.” As well as these classes for beginners, they also run regular sessions called ‘Improv Jam,’ for people with more improvisation experience. “If you've dabbled before, then you can come. We have opportunities for fun games and exercises, both short form and long form.” These are also run on Monday nights with details on Medway Fun Lab’s social media. The classes cost £8 for each session, with snacks and drinks provided. “We have a lovely time in the bookshop improvising together.” Afterwards, participants often decamp to the pub and continue to talk to each other. “I can never go because I've got kids, but one day I'll make it there.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!A4mZ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6dccda8a-6d49-4d52-9155-71d78285f4b1_3229x2422.jpg) Medway Play Lab improv session at Store 104. The sessions are attended by a wide age range, from people in their 20s to someone in their 70s. They are currently developing a project that looks at the history of the building which houses Store 104 and Medway Play Lab. “The store was part of the Leonard's department store and has a huge history.” Originally opened in the 1880s, you can still see original tiles in the store window. The store continued until 1969 when it was turned into a shoe shop. “There was this whole huge department store on Rochester High Street that not many people nowadays have thought about in a long time.” What Medway Play Lab would like to do is collect memories. “If anyone has any photographs, we're collecting stories about that building with the aim of creating a theatrical event around the memories of this place.” Nic hopes they will uncover and preserve the history of “this huge institution that was part of Rochester High Street.” They plan to work with their improvisers to take these memories and create a theatrical experience. It is a big project that is under construction, but “hopefully coming soon.” If you have any stories or pictures of the store, Medway Play Lab would love to hear from you. Medway has a history of a wide variety of art forms, including printing, painting, and music, but it doesn’t have a reputation for comedy. Nic isn’t entirely sure why, other than maybe a proximity to London, “where I suppose, traditionally, if people wanted to, they could go in and see some comedy in town.” Nic thinks times are changing, and people want to do things more locally. “People want to support local talent and get involved and try things out for themselves locally as well.” Between the work of Medway Play Lab and Funny Women, comedy is being made more accessible for local people, creating safe spaces for people to try things, “to just get up and give it a go. I think we do need more comedy nights that are inclusive and accessible, and for everybody. I think that would be a good thing.” --- #### In brief 🛍️ [Rochester City Artisan Market is to cease trading](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxgv3n8znzo?ref=localauthority.news) after being told they might have to pay tax. The final market will take place tomorrow, followed by, er, two more markets in November. 💫 Despite an arson attack earlier this week, [Get Ready Comics in Rochester has already reopened](https://www.instagram.com/p/DN525ELDMv3/?ref=localauthority.news). 🎭 [Rehearsals have started](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video/rehearsals-start-for-chathams-2025-celebrity-pantomime-63751/?ref=localauthority.news) for this year’s celebrity Central Theatre pantomime. This year, the cast includes the guy from Steps, but not the one you’re thinking of. 🛟 The Mirror got [very excited about the Strand Lido](https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/outdoor-lido-the-strand-kent-35794522?ref=localauthority.news) this week. --- #### Building bridges and bursaries *In the third of our short series on the* [*Rochester Bridge Trust*](https://rbt.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, we took a look at the* [*scholarships*](https://rbt.org.uk/scholarships/?ref=localauthority.news) *they fund…* As part of the trust’s declared focus on private means for public benefit, the first scholarship programmes were launched around 16 years ago. The aim was to inspire younger people to pursue a career in engineering, as research had shown that civil engineering in particular was hard for many to understand or engage with. The trust wanted to help open those doors. The first scholarships came through a partnership with the [Smallpeice Trust](https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), offering the [Arkwright Scholarship](https://rbt.org.uk/grants/rochester-bridge-trust-arkwright-engineering-scholars/?ref=localauthority.news). Arkwright was an engineer, and the scholarship is effectively a two-year programme for sixth form students taking relevant subjects, hoping it might encourage them to progress to undergraduate engineering degrees. Every other year, a number of Arkwright students are taken on, with applications run through the Smallpeice Trust, who organise interviews and screening from accredited schools, linking potential scholars with people in the industry. Trustees later decided they wanted their own scheme, funding a scholarship that provides money directly to individual students and their schools. This helped support both the student’s studies and wider STEM teaching within the school. The results have been strong. Around 75% of students have gone on to study a degree in an engineering-related subject. However, trustees noticed that Arkwright schools tended to be selective, often grammar or independent schools with keen STEM teachers. Wanting to widen access, they created the [Harriott Scholarship](https://rbt.org.uk/grants/harriott-engineering-scholarship/?ref=localauthority.news), named after long-serving trustee Paul Harriott. Explicitly targeted at non-selective schools in Medway and Kent, the first award went last year to a pupil from St John Fisher School. At the same time, the [Telford Scholarship](https://rbt.org.uk/grants/telford-engineering-scholarship/?ref=localauthority.news) was introduced to support selective schools not covered by the Arkwright programme. Four awards were made in its first year, to pupils from Rochester Girls’, Rainham Mark, Rochester Math, and Dane Court. Additionally, the trust organises behind-the-scenes tours to sites such as Tower Bridge, the Thames Barrier, and their own bridges at Rochester. These trips give students a chance to see major engineering projects up close and to meet others with similar interests, often alongside mentoring opportunities for those considering undergraduate study. The trust also funds the [Spence Agricultural Scholarship](https://rbt.org.uk/grants/spence-agricultural-scholarship/?ref=localauthority.news), created in 2018 and named after trustee John Spence. Working with seven universities that specialise in agriculture, it provides a £5,000 per year bursary for students on agriculture-related degrees. Recipients have used the money to pay for extra training such as tractor driving or spraying courses, helping them gain practical experience alongside their studies. Sixteen years on, the trust’s scholarships have grown from a single partnership into a range of schemes that now cover engineering and agriculture, selective and non-selective schools, and students from across Kent and Medway. For a trust rooted in medieval bridges, it’s not a bad way of preparing for the next century. --- #### Events this week 🎉 Sat 30 Aug - [**Sticks ‘n’ Stones Festival**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1802937536932056/) // Day of music, performance, workshops, and wellbeing activities. University of Greenwich, Chatham. Free. 🛍️ Sat 30 Aug - [**Rochester City Artisan Market**](https://www.facebook.com/events/658366747279862/) // Stalls selling crafts, jewellery, gifts, art, and more. Rochester High Street. Free. ☂️ Thu 4 Sep - [**Medway Neuro-Tech 25**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medway-neuro-tech-25-tickets-1411901789259?ref=localauthority.news) // Stalls, demonstrations, and talks on how technology can help those with neurological conditions. Pilkington Building, Universities at Medway, Chatham. Free. --- #### More Authority Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Yesterday, we welcomed Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan, who talked about flags, the challenges facing the constituency, and work to regenerate town centres. [Voice of the MP - Gillingham and RainhamEditor’s note: Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan, who talks about flags, the challenges facing the constituency, and work to regenerate town centres.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ekIB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6a8a7c53-a2fd-4d47-8285-bebcdd4b99db_3000x2000.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-gillingham-and-rainham-6ad/) It’s the last couple of days of our birthday month, which means it’s your last chance to get [25% off a paid ](#/portal/signup)[*Local Authority*](#/portal/signup)[ subscription](#/portal/signup) for an entire year. We can only do this work thanks to our paying subscribers, so please consider supporting us if you enjoy these newsletters. [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Voice of the MP - Gillingham and Rainham URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-gillingham-and-rainham-6ad/ Last updated: 2025-08-28T12:46:00.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan, who talks about flags, the challenges facing the constituency, and work to regenerate town centres.* --- #### **Voice of the MP** **by Naushabah Khan, MP for Gillingham and Rainham** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ekIB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6a8a7c53-a2fd-4d47-8285-bebcdd4b99db_3000x2000.jpg) Naushabah Khan MP Gillingham and Rainham reflects the nation in so many crucial ways that it has me convinced: We have our share of problems, they are simmering across the country as you read this, ignore them and we imperil ourselves to forces that our generation is naïve to. But constituencies like mine have the people, imagination and sense of self to provide a road map for all corners of the UK to get itself out of this headlong car crash. If your solution is more flags, to wave them harder and find people to blame: You are wrestling with a personal delusion you share with the twenty-odd per cent of permanently online Facebook accounts. Name me one country in history where putting up more flags has fixed anything? Instead, you will find those nations and empires in history that turned inward sowed the seeds for their fall. We show our Britishness in what we do, in our excellence, our innovation, our grit and if needed, our strength. Do that long enough and we export our ideas, our culture and produce with confidence. Not because we tied a Chinese-made flag to a lamppost outside a shopping centre, following an internet trend possibly started by a Russian bot. But more importantly, the Americanesque pangs of addiction with flags is just very un-British. Frankly, before 9/11, it wasn’t even very American. And to those who sit on the other end of the debate, who think that raising the Union flag or the red cross of St George makes you some kind of crypto-fascist: Calm the hell down. You aren’t helping anyone. There is a real sense that we are in a downward spiral, and there are many who would prefer it if we had carried on with the boosterism of the Johnson era. My background and upbringing doesn’t afford me that luxury. Like my constituents, I need a practical way forward and starting off with a clear understanding of where we are as a country, the scale of the problem isn’t gloom and doom; it’s the first step to getting things fixed. It was one of my biggest motivations to stand in the general election last year, knowing that Gillingham and Rainham deserved so much better than it had received for far too long. I have spoken to many residents frustrated at the steady decline they have witnessed over the years, as they struggle with underfunded services and a lack of opportunities and investment that other parts of the country have been able to take for granted. This is shaping how the public judge their odds of surviving the next few years, in the face of change they know is happening. It’s a desperate feeling at times, and I know how it feels. No more so when I am trying to make the changes bend in favour of the communities I represent. And we do face many have challenges in our constituency; such as poor-quality housing, compounded by out-of-borough placements and the increasing number of HMOs, decline in our high streets or lack of access to local health infrastructure. All of which, rightly, concern local residents and demand action from me. Whether that be engaging with Ministers, working with Medway Council, establishing taskforce groups or raising these issues in the Commons chamber, my team and I face these challenges head-on and work collaboratively with local partners to achieve solutions. That kind of work doesn’t grab headlines, but it does work. Fundamentally, I believe it is the bread and butter of being a good local MP. For example, when constituents in Gillingham highlighted a range of problems on the high street, including littering, anti-social behaviour, reduced police presence, and a lack of pride in our town centre, I established the Gillingham Taskforce to deal with these complex and multifaceted problems. After working in collaboration with local councillors, the police, small business owners, and residents alike, we have reduced littering by increasing enforcement action, a dedicated PCSO for the area, and are improving our CCTV across the high street. In July, we also published the Gillingham Town Centre Action Plan, laying out a practical yet ambitious strategy to boost our local area, working with local residents. During the general election campaign, when residents in Rainham continuously told me that the banking services on the high street were insufficient and that completing simple financial tasks was getting increasingly difficult, I set about changing this. After working with LINK and speaking to local businesses, we will be implementing and installing the Rainham Banking Hub later this year, which will provide residents with personal money support, provide businesses with access to cash services, and support the overall regeneration of the town centre. It might seem inconsequential to some, but remind me again what flags on roundabouts are going to achieve? Because the regeneration of our high streets, access to banking services and good quality housing have a genuine impact on people’s lives. These day-to-day issues matter. Confronting seemingly ‘unsexy’ issues requires working together in an open and honest way to drive real results, as opposed to choosing the most divisive thing to say and attempting to make it a policy. It is only through this community-driven approach that we can make the positive changes our area deserves. If it is the choice between a politics of action, collaboration and community, or the politics of division, I choose the former every time. Gillingham and Rainham deserves that, and so does Britain. *Naushabah Khan is the Labour MP for Gillingham and Rainham.* ### Flags, apparently URL: https://www.localauthority.news/flags-apparently/ Last updated: 2025-08-27T09:12:15.000Z *Medway’s lampposts have found themselves covered in flags over the past week, in what is either a show of pride or a threatening sign of nationalism, depending on who you ask. We dig into what’s been happening and look at the responses. Further down, we have news of Medway Council debt surging 36% in a year, council staff survey findings, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Flags, apparently If you’ve driven through the Medway Towns in the past week, you’d have struggled to notice a sea of flags flying from lampposts, usually around larger road junctions. These aren’t the result of a sudden bout of flag excitement from Medway Council, but instead part of an orchestrated effort started by far-right agitators on social media. ‘[Operation Raise the Colours](https://politicsuk.com/what-is-operation-raise-the-colours/?ref=localauthority.news)’ is the latest campaign from the same people lining up outside hotel housing asylum seekers and marching through town centres chanting ‘stop the boats.’ Much like anything framed through the lens of social media, it is difficult to assess how much this is a mass movement or the actions of a relatively small number of people with ladders and a Temu account. In Medway, a combination of St. George’s Cross and Union flags has sprung up on roundabouts like Bowaters and Ito Way in Gillingham, outside Horsted Retail Park, around Rochester Bridge, flying at half mast and often up the wrong way. Of course, this isn’t something people are supposed to be doing. While you are very welcome to fly flags on private property, you aren’t allowed to hang anything you like on a lamppost, whether it’s an advert, a campaign poster, or a flag. This hasn’t been helped by council leaders in other areas condoning the moves, with Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran [stating](https://x.com/LeaderofKCC/status/1957532314583351469?ref=localauthority.news) that they “will not be removing any of these flags put up unilaterally by residents of Kent.” Medway Council have, at least on paper, taken a rather different tone, with Cllr Alex Paterson, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement, telling us: > *"Medway Council proudly flies the Union Flag at Gun Wharf, alongside flags which at various points of the year rightly celebrate different parts of our community such as the Armed Forces Day flag, the Pride Flag and others.* > > *People are free to fly these and other flags on their own property, subject to legislation. However as with flyposting and illegal advertising, we do not allow any unauthorised items to be attached to street furniture such as lampposts and street signs, or for road markings to be defaced."* While this may be the official position, a week after the first flags went up, there has been no sign of any being removed. Beyond symbolism, there is also the issue of safety and liability. Flags fixed to lampposts can become loose and fall into the road, while paint on roundabouts can affect skid resistance for cars and bikes. If a driver crashes as a result, the question of who is responsible, the person who put it there or the council that failed to remove it, becomes a very real legal headache. It’s one reason authorities are usually quick to clamp down on flyposting and banners, yet in this case, the response has been sluggish. Still, the flag erecters have received at least some local support, with former Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst [declaring](https://www.facebook.com/rochesterandstroodkelly/posts/pfbid0rGtJX9WWgSg55iVtio9gB9Qr4frBoj11sqB7YrXdbvcYSAP7sEa3hPdueeYqU1YUl) that she was “loving” them on social media, which showed an upside down Union flag attached to Rochester Bridge. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!3yb5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe30efc58-844d-444e-b80e-7cbc76177193_1388x1202.jpg) It would appear that the Rochester Bridge Trust didn’t feel the same way, given that the flag was removed the following day. At least one local business has been eager to capitalise: Chatham’s D&A Toys [posted](https://www.facebook.com/DAToys/posts/pfbid024Eb46VawgZJtG2V5E6WbtWXpKtybN55fJAJRB58iiPqgaWAQ57UcyAAiRN97hZFfl) that seeing the flags “made me feel so proud to be British,” before advertising that they had “plenty of Union Jack & St George’s Cross flags in stock” for homes, cars, and gardens, though oddly, not lampposts. Those participating in the campaign aren’t limiting themselves to just flags either. Social media posts from across the country show roundabouts and crossings being painted with the cross of St. George, and while this hasn’t been as prevalent in Medway, this particularly refined example from Wayfield was shared on a local Facebook group. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!h9vh!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9c13a35c-a97c-4725-a307-4a06a094e9ba_1377x734.jpg) As is often the case, Labour, both in government and more locally, have struggled to seriously respond to the campaign, with Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osborne responding on some social media posts about the flags, calling them a “nice touch” to celebrate the Women’s Rugby World Cup. Twydall councillor Mark Prenter posted a similar comment on another thread. Pretending this surge in nationalism is to celebrate sport is both disingenuous and potentially dangerous. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!JnW0!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6265091f-cfd6-4c49-83cd-94ea2f9df97d_645x417.jpg) For now, the flags remain, fluttering above roundabouts and bridges, somewhere between street furniture and political statement. Medway has become the backdrop for a culture war, its roundabouts turned into battlegrounds of bunting. Whether the flags are left to fade or finally pulled down, the message has already been sent, and it isn’t about rugby. --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Medway debt surges 36% in a year According to [new data released by the government](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-local-government-finance?ref=localauthority.news), Medway Council has managed to run up £612m of debt, a 36% leap in the year that leaves it within striking distance of Kent County Council in the race to be the most debt-burdened in the county. Given that the county council serves a population six times larger, Medway is now only a fraction behind it in the debt stakes. For residents, that works out at £2,134 each compared to a national average of £1,791. Look across the rest of Kent, and the picture is even starker. Thanet owes £173m, Maidstone £168m, Dartford £158m. Gravesham, Swale and Tonbridge and Malling all sit below £150m. Medway, with its 280,000 residents, has managed to clock up nearly as much as every district council combined, and the figure keeps rising sharply. Around £27m is historic debt inherited from Kent when Medway became a unitary back in 1998, but the real growth is recent. Medway Council argues the money is being used for long-term housing, regeneration and infrastructure projects, not to cover everyday costs. Without additional support, services such as social care would already have buckled. It is a familiar refrain, and not without truth, but it still leaves Medway carrying one of the heaviest debt burdens of any council in the country. The interest payments alone will impact budgets for years, leaving less for the very services the borrowing is meant to protect. Then there is the awkward question no one seems keen to address. Medway Council itself is unlikely to exist much longer. With councils across Kent set to be replaced by three or four new unitary authorities, what happens to £612m of debt when a council disappears has yet to be explained. The likeliest answer is that it will simply be passed on to whichever new super-council takes Medway’s place. The name may vanish, but the debt will not. For now, Medway keeps borrowing, and the numbers keep rising. Whether this turns out to be a bold investment strategy or a financial millstone will only become clear years down the line. In the meantime, residents are left living in a council that is smaller than most, but owes more than almost all of them. --- #### Council staff happier with pay, other problems still linger [A report heading to the Employment Matters Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=81317&ref=localauthority.news) next week lays out the results of the latest staff survey of Medway, and things are looking.. slightly better than they did a year ago? Seven in ten staff now say they’re proud to work for Medway, up from last year, and nearly three quarters would recommend it as a place to work. Most say they’ll stick around for at least three more years, which feels optimistic given the council will likely be abolished in that timeframe. Money has clearly helped the situation. After years of grumbling, the MedPay review and a couple of chunky pay rises have pushed satisfaction with pay and rewards up by 17 points to almost half the workforce. Staff also feel more trusted to get on with their jobs and are more optimistic about career development. Wellbeing is ticking upwards too. More staff say they feel supported, loneliness is down, and a new initiative is apparently helping staff take breaks. But conditions appear to vary wildly. Business Support staff are far more likely to have a comfortable workspace than those in Children’s and Adults Services. The bad news is familiar. Around 6–7% of staff say they’ve experienced bullying or discrimination in the past year, mostly from colleagues or managers. More people are reporting incidents, but the system is hardly inspiring confidence. Only 6% of those who reported bullying were happy with the outcome. Communication also remains lopsided. Line managers get good marks, but only half of staff feel listened to by senior management. Most have heard of the ‘One Medway’ plan, but fewer than six in ten know what it is. At least that’s six more than if you asked ten people on the street about it. Local government reorganisation continues to loom over everything. Staff know it’s happening, but most don’t know what it means for them, leading to job security being at the top of their list of worries. The majority describe themselves as neither positive nor negative about the changes, which is a polite way of saying they’re waiting for someone to explain them. Overall, the results show a council workforce in better shape than last year, but still waiting for leadership to deal with the same nagging issues: bullying complaints that go nowhere, patchy communication from the top, and uncertainty about whether their jobs will even exist in a few years’ time. --- #### In brief 🗣️ Medway’s summer of licensing hearings continues, with councillors [set to decide on the fate of two licence applications next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6291&ref=localauthority.news). The Cricketers in Rainham have applied to make noise outside for longer hours, with one nearby resident objecting. Meanwhile, Newlands newsagent in Rochester has applied to sell alcohol for two extra hours and has been challenged by the prohibition trifecta: Medway Council’s Public Health team, the Rochester City (sic) Centre Forum’s Sarah Tranter, and perennial objector Steve Hutchins. 🚓 Following a day of operations in Rochester and Strood targeting unsafe vehicles, [Kent Police seized a grand total of seven e-scooters and two electric bikes](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e18k2z15jo?ref=localauthority.news). The streets feel safer already. 🏥 Medway Maritime Hospital’s IT systems were [disrupted for nearly a week](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/disruption-after-it-system-issues-at-hospital-for-nearly-one-328946/?ref=localauthority.news) recently, with staff struggling to perform relatively basic tasks. 🎙️ Chatham and Aylesford MP [Tristan Osborne appeared on the Kent Politics Podcast](https://www.kmfm.co.uk/on-air/podcasts/the-kent-politics-podcast/episode/ep81-council-overspends-local-government-reorganisation-and-special-guest-tristan-osborne-mp/?ref=localauthority.news) last week, discussing asylum seekers, protests, the perception of crime, and more. 🔥 Get Ready Comics in Rochester was subject to an arson attack last night (Mon). No one was injured, but a [crowdfunding campaign has been set up](https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuild-get-ready-comics?ref=localauthority.news) to help them cover the cost of repairs. --- #### More Authority Our paying subscribers have more fun, and this week had not one, but two exclusive pieces to sink their teeth into. First up, we sat down and [spoke to Reform councillor John Vye](https://www.localauthority.news/we-live-rent-free-in-their-heads/) in what might be our most commented on piece ever. We talk to him about coming to Medway, what drew him to Reform, being a councillor, and lots more. [“We live rent free in their heads, they can’t get rid of us”Following Reform’s double by-election win in Rochester East and Warren Wood in February, we previously interviewed group leader Cllr David Finch. We now follow that up with his fellow Reform UK councillor, John Vye. We met at the Ship and Trades in Chatham and tried to talk about what brought him to Medway, why he joined Reform, and the differences between being a parish and unitary councillor…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!dqiL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f868a0146-06e9-4d91-8392-0bdb5bd4a207_1981x1266.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/we-live-rent-free-in-their-heads/) We also welcomed a new columnist last week, with [former civil servant Bob Collins writing on what impact the government’s proposed changes to voting](https://www.localauthority.news/teenagers-wont-fix-medways-turnout/) will have in Medway. While giving 16 and 17 year olds the vote gained most of the attention when it was announced, Bob argues that other changes will have the bigger impact… [Teenagers won’t fix Medway’s turnout problemThe government’s plans to give the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds have proved controversial, with some arguing it’s a nakedly political effort to tip the electorate in their favour. Does that stack up, though? Former civil servant and new Local Authority columnist Bob Collins crunches the numbers and finds there might be a bigger story that few have noticed…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6B9p!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb163f347-63c7-4dab-b0b0-cbd66c0f75d0_4614x3076.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/teenagers-wont-fix-medways-turnout/) Our free editions and additional content for paid supporters can only happen because of the people who choose to support our work by paying for it. You can take advantage of our birthday offer for just a few more days, which will give you [25% off the usual price for an entire year](#/portal/signup). [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) Over the border, our sister title, the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), reported on [five Kent Reform councillors who were photographed smiling alongside a man draped in a flag bearing a neo-Nazi symbol](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kent-reform-councillors-pictured?ref=localauthority.news). A week later, no one from Reform has been able to explain how they came to be in this position. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Teenage Retirement by Chumped*](https://chumped.bandcamp.com/album/teenage-retirement?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Hold On Now, Youngster… by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/hold-on-now-youngster-2018-remaster-deluxe-edition?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*The Modern Lovers by The Modern Lovers*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUNXWp4hfhI&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “We live rent free in their heads, they can’t get rid of us” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/we-live-rent-free-in-their-heads/ Last updated: 2026-03-25T16:58:01.000Z *Following Reform’s double by-election win in Rochester East and Warren Wood in February, we previously interviewed group leader Cllr* [*David Finch*](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/)*. We now follow that up with his fellow Reform UK councillor, John Vye. We met at the Ship and Trades in Chatham and tried to talk about what brought him to Medway, why he joined Reform, and the differences between being a parish and unitary councillor…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!dqiL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f868a0146-06e9-4d91-8392-0bdb5bd4a207_1981x1266.jpg) Cllr John Vye (right) **What ward are you the councillor for?** Rochester East and Warren Wood. **Why that ward?** Well, there was two vacancies for councillors to stand in the last by-election. **Do you live in the ward?** No. **Where in Medway do you live?** Cuxton. Just down the road from the other *(Reform)* councillor. **Did you know each other before the by-election?** No. I met him at the Reform meeting on St Mary's Island on my first day. **Which political parties have you been a member of?** Reform. **You were never interested in UKIP or Brexit?** No. **What made you join Reform?** I fell out with the mainstream parties we got. The morning I joined Reform, I thought, ‘I don't see what they're wrong about.’ **How long was there between joining Reform and standing for election?** Four months. **Had you been active in politics before Reform?** Parish council. **How long have you been a parish councillor for?** Oh gosh. Twenty... It must have been three years. I went in halfway through because I was co-opted into the council. **Was there a reason you decided to stand for parish council?** Yes, actually. The vacancy had been vacant for about three months. I thought, ‘Well, what's the matter, let's do that.’ **When you said you were fed up with the main parties, was there a particular issue or event?** They just took no notice of what the people wanted, what they voted for. They said what they're going to stand for, and as soon as they get voted in, they change what they sign up for. **What was the tipping point? What made you finally go, actually I am going to join?** Well, the country's going down the pan. Labour, Conservatives, they're just a uni-party. What one's done, the others done. **What was it about Reform that they stood out against the others?** Well, basically Nigel was the MEP and he got us out of Europe on Brexit. It was the only party really that stood there to do it. Went on for that really. **You supported Brexit?** Yeah, I voted for it. **Why did you vote for Brexit?** Fed up of Europe telling us, dictate what we've got to do, what we haven't got to do. All their stupid things they kept bringing in. You've got this, you've got to do that. It's just getting silly. We're a sovereign country. We've been dictated to by European Unionists. **What was your experience of the by-election?** It was good, yeah. Hard work. Especially at my age. Dave *(Cllr Finch)* was running round like a youngster, and there's me plodding along behind him. **Since then, Reform have gone on to win Kent County Council and win other by-elections in borough councils. Why do you think Reform are doing so well in Kent?** Well, it's a new, fresh party, got new politics. All the other parties are the same. All got the same policies, but dressed up to make it look better. Reform seems to come and say, ‘We're going to do this, and we're going to do that,’ and seems to be doing it. They say, ‘Go do it.’ Like Kent County Council, now Reform run it, they say ‘We're going to do this,’ and they've been in and done it, or sorted it. Whereas the others say, ‘We're going to sort it,’ and three years later, they're going to do it, ‘We'll think about it now.’ **During the last full council at Medway, the administration decided to spend a lot of time asking questions that were all about Reform. What did you think of that?** I think you already know that, Steve. We live rent free in their heads, they can't get rid of us. We are rent free *(laughs)*. That's all they can ever think about and ask about. **There have been a number of anti-immigration protests at hotels around the country. Would you welcome those protests in Medway?** I won't comment on that, because I won't welcome them, no. If people want to do it, it's up to them. I wouldn't attend one myself, being a councillor. **But you understand why they're protesting?** Well, they want their country back. **What are your thoughts on travellers in the area? Are they welcome?** Well, my constituents don't think so anyway. They keep emailing me about it. As soon as they go on the field *(Jackson’s)*, I've got an email about, ‘They've entered the field again.’ I've left a note before to the parks people that they're in. I did ask about having a site for them, but at the moment, the new Local Plan's not through yet. Until we get the new Local Plan through, I don't think they're going to have a park for them at the moment. **The council finally passed the Local Plan. You didn't vote for it.** No. **What were your reasons for not voting for the plan?** Didn't like the plan. Didn't like the way it was done. It seems to be putting the houses up on the greenbelt, a lot of greenbelt housing, and also I didn't like where they're saying about the Chatham Docks, how they want to demolish the businesses down here to build new flats or houses or whatever they want. **Did you have any thoughts on where the housing should go to meet that demand, but also get the plan through?** My opinion is they need to build more flats in towns. When they demolish the small places to build flats. But unfortunately, with the planning regulations, you can only have so many flats, so many houses, and so many bungalows. You can't overload the flats. **Where were you born?** Sussex. **What brought you to the Medway towns?** I bought my house. I don’t know now. I saw there was a house up for sale, and I bought it. **How long have you lived in Cuxton?** Seven years. **Was this a retirement thing?** Yeah. It was quiet, until the church bells ring *(laughs)*. Though I can’t hear them because I am partly deaf. **What job did your parents do when you were growing up?** My father was a car repairer. Mother was a housewife. Traditional. **Did you enjoy school?** It was alright. Give and take. **What age did you leave school?** That's a hard question. Must have been about 15, but then you got thrown out, unless you were clever and went to college. **Did you go straight into employment?** Yeah. **What was your first full-time job?** Building. **Have you worked in the building trade in your life?** Yeah. **Did you have an area of speciality?** I started at the bottom and worked my way to the top. Started off labouring jobs, ended up being a finisher on the new properties. **You've been retired for seven years now?** A bit more now. I retired a couple of years before I moved up here. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** Just the councillor's money and the pension. **How is being a parish councillor different to being a unitary councillor?** The parish council is non-political to start with. There's no political party involved, it's neutral. A lot of difference is, with the unitary council, it's more rules, more standing orders and things. The parish councils, it's not so much in standing orders, they discuss things and either agree or disagree, and that's it. Got no power at all. No power on anything, really. If a plan comes in, they can say we don't like it, object to it, but that's all. Just send it to the unitary to say we reject it, or can we have some money to repair something when they say yes or no. **Do you have a working relationship with Cuxton’s unitary councillors?** Yeah, well, we've got Phil *(Filmer)* and Matt *(Fearn)*. We get along okay. **What are your thoughts regarding local government reorganisation?** It needs stopping. **Because...** I've got a few words for you now, haven't I? It's making it too big to start with. But not enough people running it. They're going to cut a lot of jobs. A lot of councillors are going to be cut out of it all. A lot of the executives are going to be cut out, and you're going to have a few executives running it. I can see it coming down, they're going to end up with all consultants running it. As I say, if something's working okay, why change it? **There's an argument that things aren't working okay, because the councils are facing financial difficulty.** No comment. **Do you like the idea of a mayor for Kent?** Not really, no. If it’s a Reform mayor, then, yes. But the Mayor has too much power. If we decide that, I'm still on Medway at the time, we're going to object to some houses going in on an estate, it seems that the mayor can overrule us and say, ‘No, they're going to be built,’ and that's why I'm against the mayor, really. **But if it were a Reform mayor, it would be okay?** Yeah, I think it would be okay, because then there would be Nigel in power. I think it wouldn’t be kowtowing to the government so much. Whereas at the moment they say, ‘Jump,’ and they say, ‘How high?’ **Did you have any involvement with the Kent County Council elections?** Yeah, I've done a little bit for them. Like I say, I’m a bit old now. If it is hot weather, I just can't run around too much. It gets like that when you are old. **What does an average day entail?** Well, I check my emails and answer them, that is a couple of hours gone. Take the dog for a walk. Go to Rochester East and Warren Wood Ward to see if everything is okay. Then I might pop down to the allotment. I am on land management on the parish council. **What type of dog have you got?** Jack Russell. Wirey-haired one. **What do you grow on your allotment?** Vegetables. When it grows. **Are you very green-fingered?** No. **What do you find the biggest challenge with the allotment?** All of them damn stones in the ground. It's full of flints down there. **How long have you had the allotment for?** Oh, so, five years. **What do you do to unwind and relax?** Have a beer. Sit on my veranda with a beer. **Have you ever seen a film or a TV show that showed the building trade well?** Not really, no. You get a lot of these DIYs, doing it with the help of somebody. You get some of these guys building some very prestigious places, but they cut out all the bits on how they do it. You just see bits of it, and you see the finished product. **What is your favourite film?** I don't watch films. **What book have you read recently you would recommend?** I don’t read books. **If you were to do a soundtrack of your life, what would be some of the tracks?** There's a lot of tracks I actually like. We're talking about going back to the 60s, 70s, 80s, down that end of the world, not what we've got today. **Give us some examples.** I can't think of any of them. **Any particular artists, musicians?** Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Cream. **Do you play any instruments yourself?** No. Tone deaf. **Is your hearing loss to do with being a worker in the building trade?** Hearing has been bad for a long time, but no particular reason. Can't do nothing with it. **Do you wear a hearing aid at all?** No, I tried one, but I've got a bit of that thing where part of the hearing spectrum is missing. When they go to hearing aids, it amplified what's around it as well. **Who is the most famous person you are one degree of separation from?** That's a bloody hard one. When I email, I get nothing back. Carol. **Who is Carol?** My partner. **Is she famous for anything in particular?** No. **Have you been together long?** She remembers everything. No, I can't remember. It's been years I've spent with her. **You met before you came to Medway?** Yeah. **How'd you meet?** Well, it'd be out one night, and she had to be in the pub the same as me, and I'd talk to her, and that was that. Done and dusted. **What does she do?** Nothing, retired. **What did she do before she retired?** Oh. That's a difficult one, actually. I don't really know. **Do you have any children?** Yeah, two. **What do they do now?** I haven’t got a clue. **Are you not close?** No. **Where do they live?** One is in Sussex, the other one's over in *(pause)* Somerset, I think. **Who's been the best Prime Minister of your lifetime?** The best one? Maggie Thatcher.And then Nigel Farage, when he gets there. **Thatcher because?** She's done what she said. She said she's going to do it, she's done it. When the Falkland Wars turned up, she went straight out and done it. None of this arguing, shall we or shall we not. Went straight out and done it. That's the only reason, apart from other things I didn’t agree with. With the Falklands, we had been invaded, and we got out there and sorted it. **Where'd you like to go for dinner in Medway?** Oh, I prefer the barbecue on my veranda, it's lovely, if it's sunny *(laughs)*. **What's your favourite thing to cook?** Oh, normal stuff. Burgers, bits of old chicken and stuff. **Do you ever travel into Rochester for somewhere to eat?** No. **What's an unpopular opinion that you have?** I don't know. I’ve never thought about it. **If you go for a drink with friends or with other Reform people, is there something you find yourself disagreeing with them about?** No, not really. **Everyone's very amiable.** Oh, yes. They're Reform members. **If someone was looking to become a parish councillor, what advice would you have for them?** Go and sign up, paperwork. If you've got to stand for election, put your name down. If you're co-opting, send a letter to the clerk saying you wish to fill the vacancy. And when they want your CV or whatever the question is, they want done, do it. **But why should they? What's a good reason to do it?** If they want to do it, go and fill the vacancy. **Is there a reason you'd recommend that someone do it?** Well, if they wanted to do it, do they? If they didn't want to do it, I wouldn't say to them, ‘Go and stand on the council,’ would I? --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*.* *If you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, email* [*Steven*](mailto:steven@localauthority.news)*.* *Steven Keevil still manages to watch hundreds of films a year. He recommends* [*The Substance*](https://mubi.com/en/gb/films/the-substance?ref=localauthority.news)*. He listened to no music whilst writing this, but recommends reading* [*Centrism: The Story of an Idea by Ian Dunt and Dorian Lynsey*](https://uk.bookshop.org/book/9781399612890?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Teenagers won’t fix Medway’s turnout problem URL: https://www.localauthority.news/teenagers-wont-fix-medways-turnout/ Last updated: 2025-08-22T14:00:47.000Z *The government’s plans to give the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds have proved controversial, with some arguing it’s a nakedly political effort to tip the electorate in their favour. Does that stack up, though? Former civil servant and new Local Authority columnist Bob Collins crunches the numbers and finds there might be a bigger story that few have noticed…* #### **Teenagers won’t fix Medway’s turnout problem** **by Bob Collins** On 17 July, the government published some proposals for strengthening the UK’s electoral system. The eye-catching headline (and the one that the government wanted your eye to catch in [its own press release](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/16-year-olds-to-be-given-right-to-vote-through-seismic-government-election-reforms?ref=localauthority.news)) was ‘votes for 16-year-olds.’ But that was only one of the many proposals put forward, and arguably not the most far-reaching one. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6B9p!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb163f347-63c7-4dab-b0b0-cbd66c0f75d0_4614x3076.jpg) For anyone hoping for sweeping changes like the ushering in of proportional representation, mandatory voting, or state funding for election campaigning, you will be disappointed. None of that is even mentioned. But other measures include automatic voter registration, tightening election expenses rules, and getting tougher on intimidation of candidates and election workers. Why are they doing all this? Well, the clearly stated objective is to re-energise our democratic system and increase participation and turnout. Now, of course, most people’s first instinct will be to say the way to do that is for politicians to be a bit more inspiring and appealing and give people something to vote *for*. Very fair comment. But accepting that this paper is solely about the electoral *system* rather than the quality of parties and candidates, let’s look at the proposals themselves and how they might affect Medway. The General Election 2024 turnout was 60% the [second lowest since 1918](https://www.statista.com/statistics/1050929/voter-turnout-in-the-uk/?ref=localauthority.news), and the Medway constituencies were all below the national average (Gillingham and Rainham 56%, Chatham and Aylesford 54%, Rochester and Strood 57%) and all in the bottom third of turnout. You might expect marginal constituencies like ours to attract higher turnout, but it turns out there is actually no correlation between these things at all. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### When exceptional support is no longer exceptional URL: https://www.localauthority.news/when-exceptional-support-is-no-longer/ Last updated: 2025-08-19T16:51:16.000Z *In the four years we’ve been doing this, we’ve had to write repeatedly about the budget woes at Medway Council. Six months since the last budget was passed, it’s time to start looking ahead next year, and unsurprisingly, Medway will once again struggle to balance the books. Just how exceptional is ‘exceptional financial support’ if a council needs it every year? Further down, we have news of a Medway Council plan for the future layout of Kent councils that have gone down about as well as a warm cup of sick, news in brief, and more.* --- #### When exceptional support is no longer exceptional Medway Council has published its latest [Medium Term Financial Outlook](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=81230&ref=localauthority.news) and, once again, it begins and ends with another government bailout. Exceptional Financial Support, which by name should be a last resort, has become the normal way the council gets through each year. The report is due to be discussed at next week’s Cabinet meeting, and while the numbers are intimidating, they follow the same pattern seen across much of local government. ![Gun Wharf is falling down. Maybe. - by Ed Jennings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!AV6Z!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f52735116-24cb-49fd-8107-dbd6145e4dbb_4032x2268.jpg) Medway Council’s Gun Wharf headquarters. For 2025/26, the budget was only balanced thanks to £18.5m of this support. Without it, the council would not have been able to set a legal budget. Despite that, the first set of monitoring figures for this year shows a projected £10.9m overspend, larger than the reserves the council has left. The forward look is no better. Next year’s gap is £29.9m, with the shortfall rising each year to £61.6m by 2029/30\. Across the five-year period, the cumulative deficit stands at £191m. The report is candid that Medway must return to government for further support to make the numbers add up. The pressures driving this cycle are well known. Adult Social Care is projected to cost £19m more next year as more people need help and the cost of provision rises. Children’s Services continue to grow too, with more placements required and inflation eating into budgets. Special Educational Needs transport is another cost that keeps increasing, alongside homelessness and temporary accommodation, where bills are set to rise by another £1m next year. Basics like staff pay awards, energy, waste contracts, and highway maintenance continue adding millions more. On the income side, growth continues to not keep up. Council tax will rise by the maximum of 5% each year, covering only part of the extra spending. Business rates remain flat, and long-promised government funding reforms still appear to be some way off. As a result, reserves are minimal. By March 2026, the council expects to have £11.6m in general reserves, less than 2% of its annual budget. The finance officer has incredibly optimistic ambitions to raise that to 5% by 2030, but with the deficits set out above, it is hard to see how that happens. The report nods to the spectre of a Section 114 notice, the formal declaration that a council cannot balance its budget. In theory, Medway is always one step away from that. In practice, it is unlikely to happen. The government has already signed off two rounds of Exceptional Financial Support and shows no interest in letting councils collapse. Dozens of others are in similar positions, and ministers appear more comfortable signing off annual bailouts than dealing with the fallout of mass bankruptcies. Of course, Medway itself may not even be around much longer. With plans for local government reorganisation moving forward, the council will likely be merged into a new, larger unitary authority (more on that below!) before the decade is out. That means the mounting debt and reliance on bailouts will not just be Medway’s problem. It will presumably be passed on to whichever new body takes over, saddling its successor with the consequences of years of spiralling costs and fragile finances. That might keep things on track for now, but it is hardly a solution. Support has become a business model, services are pared back year after year, overspends are racking up, and every financial year ends with another plea to government. What was meant to be ‘exceptional’ is now routine. And with Medway’s time as a council limited, Medway’s financial woes look set to be handed over to a new authority that will start life weighed down by years of bailouts. --- **Could you help us get the word out?* If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. Refer just two new readers and we’ll comp you a free month of our paid subscription.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* --- #### Medway draws its own map and annoys everyone Medway Council has thrown a grenade into Kent’s local government reorganisation by [publishing its own map](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1940/proposal%5Freveals%5Ffour%5Funitary%5Fauthorities%5Facross%5Fkent?ref=localauthority.news) for how the county should be carved up, seemingly without consulting anyone else in advance. The plan would split Kent into four new unitary authorities, with Medway folded into a ‘North Kent’ council running from Dartford to parts of Swale. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9Jjh!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6ef2d31d-0655-40ed-9fb6-5bec8daa10ab_2260x1590.jpg) Medway Council’s four-unitary plan for Kent The council insists the proposal is based on population data, infrastructure, and government demands for bigger councils. Leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) calls it the “perfect opportunity” to redraw boundaries and argues Medway’s 25 years as a unitary shows that the model works. He also claims the new structure would improve services, make councils more accountable, and boost growth. Medway is the only existing unitary in Kent, handling all services since 1998\. The government has said future councils should cover around half a million people, leaving Medway’s 280,000 rather short. Change is coming whether people want it or not, and Medway has nailed its colours to the mast of a four-council model as the best way forward. The council says the four-unitary option is only one of several being considered. Medway stresses it was agreed by all Kent councils that it would take the lead in drawing up this version, which explains why it has now appeared. Even so, the announcement dropped at a meeting of Kent’s council leaders before being quickly released to the press has left others unhappy to say the least. Conservative opposition leader in Medway, [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/), accused the Labour administration of wrecking months of collaborative work. [He said](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/statement-cllr-george-perfect-leader-opposition-medway-council-and-medway-conservatives-leader?ref=localauthority.news) the plan “breaches red lines” and ignores communities and their elected representatives. Tonbridge and Malling leader Matt Boughton [went further](https://www.facebook.com/MattBoughton93/posts/pfbid0fUT8y4K9KLxpzbRyokVVCUigUgMG9sPRWLzWfcbDKM7ALRsGpNoMHRh1n5Z4uxUSl), branding the move “appalling and disrespectful” after seeing Walderslade and Blue Bell Hill shifted into the proposed North Kent council. “We will not let Medway break us apart,” he said. Other models remain on the table. Some councils prefer three unitaries, splitting Kent into east, west and north. A single giant Kent unitary, swallowing Medway back into the county it left in the 1990s, is still technically an option and preferred by Kent County Council, but unlikely to gain much traction. None of these ideas has consensus across the county, and the clock is ticking, with a business case due to government in November. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!EwWA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6641cbe7-2557-4cd1-80ee-c56dcdae5dd9_1662x1296.jpg) From a purely Medway perspective, there are some sensible rationalisations of the border in Medway’s four-unitary proposal. The border would follow the A2/M2 corridor, providing a natural edge to our towns, where currently slightly chaotic lines dominate. Chunks of Lordswood and Walderslade currently sit outside of Medway, which would bring them under the control of one council. The plans would also see the north authority annexing Blue Bell Hill and facilities like Buckmore Park kart circuit. But where Medway taketh, Medway also giveth away. Most notable would be Cuxton and Halling being left within the proposed west authority. Whether anyone else lines up behind Medway’s plan remains to be seen. What is clear is that the council, which has existed since the 1990s, will not survive in its current form. Within a few years, decisions on schools, bins, and social care will be taken by a much larger body. Medway wants that future to be a North Kent council with Medway at its centre. Whether they will get their way remains to be seen. --- #### Community newsroom Four years into this project, our readers remain our best source of information on what’s really going on in our towns. As such, we’re going to try something a little different. We’re going to tell you some of the stories we’re currently working on, and if you can shed any light on the issues we’re looking at, we’d love to hear from you! - We’re looking at the proliferation of HMOs across Medway, which can be a charged issue within communities. Whether you’re living in a HMO, near one, or have general insights on their impact on our towns, please get in touch. - We had a great response to our story last week on the Medway Green Party and the claims of a ‘coup’ within it. Some people have come forward with more information since we published, but we’d love to hear from others with knowledge of the situation. If you can help with either of these stories, or anything else that might be of interest, you can reach us via **hello AT localauthority DOT news** \- we’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance… --- #### In brief 🏗️ Medway Council officers recommend that councillors [approve a 132 development on the Acorn Wharf shipyard in Rochester](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=81256&ref=localauthority.news). The shipyard, which has proved surprisingly combustible in recent years, would be replaced by three blocks of one and two-bedroom flats, and a commercial building hosting a cafe and community space. ⚽ At the same planning meeting next week, approval is also recommended for the installation of [floodlights over the sports pitch at St John Fisher School in Rochester](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=81254&ref=localauthority.news). ☕ A cafe in Rainham that closed after claiming parking fees drove them out of business has reopened and is now [complaining that parking fees might drive them out of business](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/rising-parking-costs-are-driving-our-customers-away-328462/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, [we sat down with Jacob Granger](https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-humans-at-the-end-of-the-day/), who has been on quite a journey from setting up a DIY music venue in Gillingham to becoming the community editor and podcast host at journalism.co.uk. We talk to him about his role, mental health in journalism, his advice for potential podcasters, and lots more. [“We are humans at the end of the day”Jacob Granger is the community editor and podcast host of journalism.co.uk. Steven caught up with the fellow MidKent College and Bournemouth University alumni, where they discussed his new job role, mental health in journalism, what he would advise new podcasters to do, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!cgOm!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5aab9b61-c8cd-4b70-b907-a60940ee38f6_800x524.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-humans-at-the-end-of-the-day/) Don’t forget, through August, you can get [25% off the usual price](#/portal/signup) for a full year of *Local Authority* subscription. We can only do all of our work with the support of the readers who choose to pay for it, so we’d love to have you on board if you aren’t already. [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*No Blues by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/no-blues-2023-remaster?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Maladroit by Weezer*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOIsYA1QDuk&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Mono No Aware by Johnny Foreigner*](https://alcopop.bandcamp.com/album/mono-no-aware?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “We are humans at the end of the day” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-humans-at-the-end-of-the-day/ Last updated: 2025-08-17T06:01:27.000Z *Jacob Granger is the community editor and podcast host of* [*journalism.co.uk*](https://www.journalism.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Steven caught up with the fellow MidKent College and Bournemouth University alumni, where they discussed his new job role, mental health in journalism, what he would advise new podcasters to do, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!cgOm!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5aab9b61-c8cd-4b70-b907-a60940ee38f6_800x524.jpg) Jacob Grainger (left) moderating a panel discussion at journalism conference Newsrewired with Christian Kneil. Photo: Marten Publishing **What is your official occupation?** That's a timely question, because for six years I was senior reporter of [journalism.co.uk](https://www.journalism.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I've recently been promoted to community editor. Nice, flashy new title. **What does that new title actually mean?** Another really good question. It's a role that I've pitched for, and it's one that I'm figuring out as I go along. Essentially, what I hope this means is that what we produce, what we do, is more informed by our community, whether that's the stories we tell, the panel discussions that we put on at our conference, the training courses. All of that, I think, needs to be informed by the people that use our products. What I hope to be coming up with in the next few months are very cyclical feedback mechanisms to be informed and guided by our community. **Are your community people in the journalism industry? Is it something our readers would get anything from?** Possibly. It isn't really a local community, it is a professional community. The people that use our products are journalists, they are editors, they are media professionals, maybe they're freelance journalists. They are usually working in the news industry, or I would say news adjacent fields, like PR, comms, or academia even. Would it be of interest to your readers? Yes, if they are working in journalism. Kent has many great news organisations historically, one nowadays being yourself, and/or anyone else aspiring to break into journalism as well. If you're a young person and wanting to crack this industry and break in, maybe we can help, and maybe we'd be of interest to you. **Part of that role is the podcast. Is that a team project? Do you work on that on your own?** Pretty much a lone wolf exercise, Steven. It has been largely me finding interviewees, preparing, doing background research, doing those interviews, editing them, promoting those. There have been times where, as a team, my editor has said, ‘We should interview this person,’ for example. There have been a few story leads coming in that sense, but it's pretty much a solo endeavour. **Did journalism.co.uk have a podcast before you, or was this something you launched?** It did exist before me, but it existed in a very different capacity. Before I became the podcast host, which is kind of a de facto job title of mine, not an official one, but I am the podcast host. Before me, it used to work on a rota system. We had, sort of, three people on editorial, and then it'd all take turns on a weekly basis to provide an interview of the week, edit it and get it turned around. The load was shared in that sense. But we decided, probably in 201,9 that it didn't really make sense to have this revolving chair of guests. It really made more sense to have a permanent host, and well, I don't know else to put this, but it was thrust upon me. But I was happy to take it because it's been a great project to be a part of in the sense that it’s a really prominent part of what we do. It's a really good spotlighting feature. It has a lot of pull, I would say. It's been good to do it. The opportunity was lapped up in that sense. **If you were to recommend one episode of the podcast from the last year to give our readers a flavour, which episode would you recommend?** [The one where you came on the show](https://www.journalism.co.uk/podcast/what-does-it-mean-to-serve-a-local-community-with-ed-jennings-and-steven-keevil/s399/a1216079/?ref=localauthority.news). **Well done!** We had yourself and Ed Jennings on the show at the start of the year. We talked about what it really meant to serve a local community, because I've kept tabs on what you guys have been doing at *Local Authority,* and this was just before you launched your current countywide edition. That was a really great conversation, on what it means to serve the people of Medway, how it's not just a one size fits all community. There's lots of different needs and interests and so forth, and what it really means within that context to serve those people. That would be a great starting point, because if they're using your products, then that'll give them some behind the scenes thinking into all the love and attention that you put into your own products and why it exists in the way it does. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Activity book is Medway’s newest export URL: https://www.localauthority.news/activity-book-is-medways-newest-export/ Last updated: 2025-08-15T20:30:21.000Z *A Medway designer who created a Medway activity book has found surprising success, with cathedrals in Portsmouth and Leicester commissioning her to create their own localised versions. We’ve been talking to Esther Johnson, the brains behind them, to learn more. Further down, we speak to Sun Pier House following the completion of extensive works to make the building fully accessible, we review Pam Exotic Jerk, we have our weekly events guide, and more.* --- #### Activity book is Medway’s newest export *We previously interviewed* [*Esther Johnson*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-think-weve-finished-with-waghorn/) *of* [*Designed by Esther*](https://www.designedbyesther.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *fame, and she also designed our excellent* [*Local Authority tote bags*](https://www.medwayish.com/product/local-authority-tote-bag?ref=localauthority.news)*. Since then, under our Medwayish umbrella, we helped her with the development of the excellent* [*Medway Activity Book*](https://www.medwayish.com/product/medway-activity-book?ref=localauthority.news)*. We caught up with Esther to discuss how the activity book has led to further opportunities…* For those who haven’t seen it, the [Medway Activity Book](https://www.medwayish.com/product/medway-activity-book?ref=localauthority.news) has 24 pages of activities for families based on Medway's history and curiosity about the things around us. “When we're driving along the A2 and we see the memorial for Will Adams, and thinking, ‘What's that connection to us today?” For Esther, the idea was to try to collect all those places that people visit in Medway and “put it into some fun interactive pages.” The book was inspired by Esther’s nephew, when he was four and wanting “to do lots of drawing and colouring.” Esther wanted something that was relevant to our area and the places that she was taking him on days out. “It turned into something about each town.” The book features many stories, some of which you will definitely know if you're from Medway, “but there's lots that hopefully you don't know, or you might not know what the connection is to modern day Medway,” including a dragon that appears throughout the book. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!BXnS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4d3131d4-ff65-4b97-a220-c0d649fee21f_3600x2400.jpg) Esther and her three activity books. An unexpected outcome of the book’s success is that she has produced activity books for other areas. “I shared it with a few of the cathedrals that I was working with,” and took it to trade shows, and “it went down quite well.” They liked the idea that they could use the illustrations Esther had been doing for products in their gift shops “but turn it into something for a different demographic.” After the Medway Activity Book launched, Esther was commissioned to make one for Portsmouth Cathedral, “someone I'd already been working with for a couple of years to do tea towels, magnets and bookmarks.” They wanted something for their family market. “We used a lot of the illustrations done for the tea towels and looked at the research that they had done for the guidebook.” This resulted in the telling of around 30 stories of Portsmouth Cathedral mixed in with the activities that have proved successful. “Lots of dot to dots, lots of questions, a little quiz at the end. I wanted it to be really interactive, and I wanted it to be bright and colourful.” The activity book has a similar format and layout to the successful Medway edition. “That helped because it was using that format to create the Portsmouth ones.” The [Portsmouth Cathedral Activity Book](https://shop.portsmouthcathedral.org.uk/product/portsmouth-cathedral-activity-book-designed-by-esther/4507?cs=true&cst=custom&ref=localauthority.news) came out in April this year. At the time of talking to Esther, she had just launched a new activity book for Leicester Cathedral. “It's now in its third iteration, which is a nice portfolio. I like odd numbers. Having three in the range is quite nice”. With Leicester Cathedral, the main storyline was ‘The King in the car park.’ In 2012, King Richard III was found underneath the car park near the cathedral. “He's a big storyline in the activity book.” Following the discovery, a significant amount of Heritage Lottery Fund money was invested into the cathedral to help with “the enormous footfall that was going back in, because obviously he's a big character.” After a full restoration of the cathedral, King Richard III has been reburied inside. “There's a lot of their story that links with King Richard, the wider county, and the Battle of Bosworth.” Esther was originally commissioned to do a map “because they were having an extension to their cathedral and they wanted a map of Leicestershire that showed all of King Richard's story,” as well as other iconic events and locations that happen in Leicester, including the football and the rugby. Esther incorporated that into a map illustration and then “they used those illustrations, and we put that into an activity book in the centre page.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!eDka!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fec84ee8b-0aac-4960-accb-162cfa345ecf_3006x3006.jpg) Esther’s three activity books. The Medway Activity Book took Esther three years to create from concept to publishing. A year later, she has two more. “Obviously, it's not taken three years for those, which is good news”. For Esther, it’s been great to be able to use that original concept she made for Medway and show how it can be adapted to other stories and locations. Another area of benefit for Esther is that the original Medway book was self-funded, in between projects, and researched largely on her own, with assistance from [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/). “Yeah, no one asked for it,” Esther admits. For the Leicester and Portsmouth editions, Esther was able to charge a client for them, ensuring she was fully paid for her time and craft. “It was a business project. It turned into something.” Earlier this year, Esther attended an author’s event where Child Friendly Medway at Medway Council had purchased copies of the activity book to give away. “I was able to speak about the book a little bit, and that was really good”. Esther is looking forward to working further with Child Friendly Medway and being at events to work with families to give the activity book out to local children and “share the story more locally.” --- #### Sun Pier House has lift off! *After a protracted, expensive and challenging period,* [*Sun Pier House*](https://www.just-eat.co.uk/restaurants-pam-exotic-jerk-chatham/menu?ref=localauthority.news) *has had extensive work done, including the creation of a Creation Space on the ground floor, and the installation of a lift, making their delightful views and friendly café fully accessible. We sat down with director Heather Burgess to talk about how they got here…* During lockdown, Heather, along with her husband and Sun Pier House co-owner Ed Gransden had to start writing funding bids to get them through something they, or anyone, hadn’t prepared for. This led to them writing a whole new strategy for Sun Pier House, and writing a bid for ‘[Lift Off!](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/projects/lift-off/?ref=localauthority.news)’ was part of that. At the end of 2021, they applied to the Arts Council England capital investment fund. In March 2022, they were notified that they had been turned down for the bid. When they questioned this, they received an update a month later, informing them that they had got it. They received £630,000 from the Arts Council and raised further funding from other opportunities and in-kind support. Lift Off! is about them taking the 1985 building they took responsibility for in 2012 to create a public art space suitable for 2025\. This has included disabled-friendly spaces, inclusive toilets and better access provisions around the building. They also converted an area underneath the building into a brand new arts workspace. It has been a challenging process, and Heather is resistant to remembering all the problems they faced. The construction work did not start until May 2024, after years of legal issues with contracts and leases. Getting to the point where construction workers were on site was in itself a mammoth task. The project was meant to be completed by December 2024, but that timeframe was not met. Heather and Ed only had the lift installation completed and the building officially handed back at the end of June. I ask for positive highlights for the experience, but it is met with numb silence. Heather instead highlights the “humongous” funding bid, a first that included architects’ drawings and ran to over 800 pages with attachments. Before they had started, they had laid out considerable money for consultants and architects. Fundraising for the project became a full-time job for Heather from 2022. Deciding to include the lift came with its own complications, starting with digging a pit. When you have a property called Sun Pier House, it comes with the challenge of being close to the river, along with the difficulties in finding a suitable lift they could afford and keeping within the boundary of the building. This only gave them one possible location. The lift company itself, name withheld to protect the innocent, was a traumatic experience in itself. Heather and Ed took the property on to provide a public art space from which Medway would benefit. Ed knew of the building because of his family's connection to the area, and found the massive empty space amazing. Every year has been like starting a new business as they developed the space, provided a wide variety of activities and art studio spaces. As a result, the space has been consistently growing and evolving. Now that time has passed, Heather is able to step back and proudly look at the building and see the difference they have made. They are still filled with exciting ideas, especially because it enables them to work with many different creative people and get inspired. Heather constantly has her eye on other empty buildings connected to their space, but she knows that it is unachievable right now. The space they run, the units they offer and the people in those units are great. Sun Pier House is working well, the café is back open, though check the [website](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) for confirmed opening hours. The gallery space is vibrant, and they are deeply involved with Creative Estuary. They continue to love being in Chatham, and an important part of the river culture. Their next big challenge is reminding people and letting new people know they are there. The big upcoming event on the calendar is the Festival of Chatham Reach on 20 September, which is well worth checking out. --- #### Out to Lunch: Pam Exotic Jerk Ordering takeaway for lunch is always a slight lottery. Outside the prominent chains, many eateries do not take part in the lunchtime food app economy, which is fair enough. Looking for somewhere a bit different, I settled on [Pam Exotic Jerk](https://www.just-eat.co.uk/restaurants-pam-exotic-jerk-chatham/menu?ref=localauthority.news), which operates out of a food truck at Chatham Dockside. I ordered Jollof rice, coleslaw, barbeque chicken, and jerk chicken. The menu also featured something labelled ‘hard food,’ with no clarity on what that might be, so I ordered it to find out. Soon after the order was put through, we were informed that they were out of Jollof rice, so I ended up with plain rice instead. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!OwjO!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2feeab4136-d45e-4b56-a4ab-6fc89b53d360_4693x3519.jpg) Food from Pam Exotic Jerk. When we started these lunch reviews, it was always with the hopeful intent of sharing delicious meals and encouraging you to try exciting places. I get no pleasure from sharing negative stories. So, I will keep it brief. It was the saddest pot of coleslaw I have seen, the barbecue chicken was cold, and I still don’t know what hard food is, but I can confirm it was hard. The jerk chicken, however, was delicious. But not enough to recommend Pam Exotic Jerk in itself. --- #### Events this week 🏳️‍🌈 Sat 16 Aug - [**Medway Pride**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) // Annual community LGBTQIA+ festival with live music, stalls, and fringe events. Rochester Castle Gardens. Tickets £10. 🥕 Sun 17 Aug - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. --- #### More Authority It’s our birthday week, so we published an update on where we are and where we’re going earlier in the week. Our fourth year might have been our most challenging yet, but we’re still here and publishing, so that’s something to celebrate. [Four years inLocal Authority turns four this week. In that time, we’ve grown from 154 subscribers to nearly 3,000, broken stories that have changed how Medway is run, and built a community of people who care about their towns. It hasn’t been easy, but the fact that we’re still here and publishing three or four times a week is something worth celebrating.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!YWv_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd0050bd3-3e93-418e-8d33-05dd6054cc31_4000x2667.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/four-years-in/) Don’t forget that for a limited time, you can get [25% off a full year of a paid subscription](#/portal/signup) to *Local Authority*. This offer won’t be around for long, so if you value both our work and great savings, now is the time to jump on board. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Four years in URL: https://www.localauthority.news/four-years-in/ Last updated: 2025-08-14T10:30:50.000Z Local Authority turns four this week. In that time, we’ve grown from 154 subscribers to nearly 3,000, broken stories that have changed how Medway is run, and built a community of people who care about their towns. It hasn’t been easy, but the fact that we’re still here and publishing three or four times a week is something worth celebrating. I appreciate that not everyone is interested in these behind the curtain posts. If you’re only interested in our regular Medway news, our Friday culture briefing will be along tomorrow as usual. I do hope you’ll forgive a certain amount of self-indulgence today, though. I’d like to talk about our past year, share some numbers with you, highlight some of my favourite stories from the past year, and ponder what comes next. The reasons behind *Local Authority* haven’t changed. I started this project because local news was in a troubling state. Sadly, things have only got worse since then, with newsrooms cutting jobs across the country and local news being reduced to typing up press releases and covering the most mundane of local issues. That’s without even mentioning how most local news websites are almost unreadable these days, with readers being barraged by ads and self-reloading pages, making it difficult to follow anything. *Local Authority* is an attempt to reclaim local news as a vital resource for local communities. Holding those in power to account is essential, as is simply knowing what’s happening in your community. Then there’s amplifying the kinds of voices you wouldn’t normally hear from and finding stories in underrepresented communities. All of these things have suffered in recent years, and while we may not always get it right, we’d like to think we’re doing okay. I recently [sat down with the Press Gazette to talk about what we’ve done here](https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/regional-newspapers/local-authority-proves-paid-for-local-news-can-work-in-uk-towns-as-well-as-big-cities/?ref=localauthority.news). *If you’ve enjoyed our reporting, now is the moment to help secure its future. Paid subscribers make Local Authority possible, and right now you can get a* [*full year for 25% off*](#/portal/signup)*, less than £1 a week.* [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) Our fourth year has been busy: - We’ve published 213 editions - We’ve consistently published two briefing editions, one on proper news, and one on what’s happening culturally, each week. - We’ve broken stories on [Medway Council selling off significant amounts of property](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-to-sell-off-temple/), the absurd situation of [Sport England objecting to redevelopment of an inaccessible playing field](https://www.localauthority.news/publish/posts/detail/151204835), [Tonbridge and Malling building temporary housing on Medway’s border](https://www.localauthority.news/neighbouring-council-plans-temporary/), how [crime is actually falling in Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/crime-is-falling-in-medway/), [swimming instructors being made redundant](https://www.localauthority.news/whats-going-on-with-medways-swimming/), [beef between Medway Council and the Gillingham Street Angels](https://www.localauthority.news/gillingham-street-angels-accuse-medway/), the [abandoning of the Innovation Park project after £33m was spent](https://www.localauthority.news/innovation-park-plan-abandoned-after/), the [problems at Medway Community Healthcare](https://www.localauthority.news/whats-going-on-at-mch/), the [future of Medway under local government organisation](https://www.localauthority.news/our-new-north-kent-future/), [Medway finally delivering a Local Plan](https://www.localauthority.news/the-local-plan-once-more/), and how [Medway Council collected over £2m of traffic fines in one year](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-issues-over-2m-in/). - We’ve put out some great features on subjects like [what it’s like to live on St. Mary’s Island](https://www.localauthority.news/st-marys-island-is-done-whats-it/), [life drawing in Rochester](https://www.localauthority.news/drawing-life-in-rochester/), [the Shorts Tunnels](https://www.localauthority.news/going-underground-in-rochester/), and ongoing looming of the [Spembley building over the Chatham skyline](https://www.localauthority.news/spembley-continues-to-loom-large/). - We’ve published interviews with a wide ranging of Medway figures like [Medway Council leader Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/), [Chatham Memorial Synagogue Chair Dalia Halpern-Matthews](https://www.localauthority.news/its-really-important-for-people-to/), [Medway Council Chief Executive Richard Hicks](https://www.localauthority.news/anything-that-impacts-negatively/), [Mrs Sourdough Katalin Takács](https://www.localauthority.news/everyones-sourdough-is-different/), [director Francis Annan](https://www.localauthority.news/they-are-movies-that-will-at-some/), [Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan](https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/), [atomic archaeologist Vicky Robinson](https://www.localauthority.news/everyone-is-inherently-radioactive/), [Chatham Dockyard Chief Executive Richard Morseley](https://www.localauthority.news/it-had-not-only-a-local-impact-but/), [Reform leader David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/), [Drag Race legend River Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/just-because-you-put-a-wig-on-it/), and [local journalist Steven Keevil](https://www.localauthority.news/apart-from-that-i-havent-really-thought/). - We published regular columns focusing on Gillingham Football Club, Medway’s music scene, and volunteering in our towns - We covered three Medway by-elections that saw Reform taking their first seats on Medway Council - We held another well-attended Medway Question Time event at MidKent College - We were nominated for Kent News Website of the Year at the [Kent Press & Broadcast Awards](https://www.kpbawards.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), as well as Kent Print & Online Journalist of the Year - Finally, we launched the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), looking at the wider county of Kent **Local Authority in numbers** Since launch, we have been open about this project and the figures behind the scenes that show how we’re doing, and we’ll continue to be so. When *Local Authority* launched, it was sent to 154 subscribers. Four years on, we have **nearly 3,000 subscribers**, of which **nearly 450 are** [**paid supporters**](#/portal/signup). When considering those who read on the web and formal subscribers, each briefing edition is read on average by **4,000 readers**. To be quite honest, we’ve hit something of a wall this year. While our growth through the second half of 2024 was okay, it has stagnated through 2025, with us still having roughly the same number of paying subscribers as we did at the start of the year. We’ve proved there’s an appetite for what we do, but to keep it sustainable, we need more people to back us. Three, sometimes four, editions each week takes a lot of time and effort, and perhaps more challenging, even if we can deliver them, we can’t spend the sort of time on them we’d like. Unfortunately, that puts us in an awkward position where enough people support this project to make it somewhat viable, but not enough to keep putting out the amount we are. To be blunt, if we can’t get the number of paying subscribers back on track, we’re going to likely have to reduce our output a little, which will most likely see the Friday culture edition either scrapped or made more occasional and some other juggling of the schedule. We really like having the Friday edition as part of our output, highlighting people doing interesting things across our towns, but it’s also the most complex to put together for the smallest return. Our news briefings, interviews, and features won’t go anywhere, but we’ll need to look at what remains viable. So today, we are making a plea that if you enjoy our work and don’t currently pay to support it, this is the time we really need a few more people to step up. To sweeten the deal a little, we’re offering [25% off the regular price for an entire year](#/portal/signup), meaning you can support our work for as little as 87p per week. Becoming a paid subscriber doesn’t just support our journalism, it makes you part of a community of people who care about these towns we call home. [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) If you are already a paying subscriber, we remain incredibly grateful for your support. Local news isn’t the most natural thing to pay for, so the fact that you have enough faith in us and believe it’s worth supporting means a lot. Whether you’re a paying subscriber or not, one of the biggest things you can do to help us is to tell someone about us. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth and social media shares for people to hear about us. We have a referral scheme that means you can get a paid subscription for free if you send just two new readers our way, and if you find ten, we’ll send you a tote bag. You can get the [full details of the scheme here](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard). **We held a birthday party** We aren’t usually ones for big celebrations, but last month we held a fourth anniversary event at Sun Pier House for our paying subscribers, contributors, and friends. It was great to see so many people turn out to celebrate with us. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/d0050bd3-3e93-418e-8d33-05dd6054cc31_4000x2667.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/38440e58-29de-46ae-bf21-da9415157b9d_4000x2667.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/6e0598bb-2693-4f69-bafd-c4227d41aeb1_4000x2667.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/1939ea7d-0800-48b2-a781-12241408f2a9_4000x2667.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/8dddfc78-a687-4c3a-97e8-ebd2406a3eec_4000x2667.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/4fd96ba1-a502-457e-a39a-d83dec28ecdd_4000x2667.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/b4340874-88bc-46b4-8c20-15a84def37a0_4000x2667.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/b3af228c-8a55-4613-b101-220862bb7b3f_4000x2667.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/4a7501ce-9474-492c-82d7-b366b60fc843_4000x2667.jpg) Local Authority birthday event. All photos: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority The incredibly talented [Suze Cooper](https://www.bigtentmedia.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) spent the evening talking to people about why they subscribe to and value Local Authority, and I’m not going to lie, listening to them might have brought a little tear to my eye. I remain forever grateful for the generous, kind, and engaged community that we’ve managed to build around this new way of doing local news. Thanks to Mike Evans, Wendy Daws, Carl Jeffrey, Erica Jones, Bryan Fowler, Anne-Marie Jordan, James O’Malley, Cazz Wrate, Phil Quinn, Shea Coffey, and Vince Maple for speaking so kindly about us. **The future** We’re definitely not going anywhere. We still believe in this project, and it is somewhat sustainable. Not enough for it to be our full-time jobs, but it does enough to keep itself going, even if we might need to make some tweaks like we set out above. Our aim for the coming year is to get back to writing more long-read pieces. The briefings are an essential part of what we do. A core news briefing will always be part of our mix, but we want to start focusing more on the big issues and stop trying to cover absolutely everything. As a primarily two-person operation, it turns out that’s a lot to keep on top of. In the four years we’ve been going, the mix of content we put out has changed, largely to add more and more. We’ll still publish at least three editions in a week, but we might need to mix up what is in them a little to take on a quality over quantity approach. Steven is also working on a new concept that combines deep dives into big issues and in-person live events, and we can’t wait to share more with you about that soon. Thanks again to everyone who has read, commented, shared, got in touch with stories, taken out a paying subscription, and made this a lovely thing to be doing. Here’s to the next four years. Ed. *PS. Don’t forget that you can currently get* [*25% off the usual Local Authority subscription price for a year*](https://www.localauthority.news/HAPPYBIRTHDAY)*. It’s the biggest discount we offer, but it’s only available for a short time, so please consider taking the plunge if you’d like to help us keep doing what we do for another year. Thanks!* [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!3Bjw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff05ae498-09ba-4191-924c-54620cad0fba_4000x2667.jpg) Steven and I at our recent birthday event. I have no idea what is happening here. ### Infighting, resignations, and a ‘coup’ rock the Medway... Greens? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/infighting-resignations-and-a-coup/ Last updated: 2025-08-12T19:46:01.000Z *You don’t usually look to the Medway Greens when you want high political drama. That has changed in the last month, though, with accusations of a ‘coup’ by a ‘militant activist’ labelled ‘toxic’ and ‘aggressive.’ We’ve been talking to those within the party and others to try to understand what is going on. Further down, we have news of new potential restrictions on traffic using Rochester High Street, a follow-up on the Chatham ‘street ambassadors,’ news in brief, and more.* --- #### Infighting, resignations, and a ‘coup’ rock the Medway... Greens? It started with a series of messages from Green Party activists, each describing the same thing: a political coup in miniature within their branch. By the end of the Medway Green Party’s AGM on 17 July, a ‘militant activist’ was in charge, most of the previous leadership had either walked out or quit in the days that followed. Until last month, the party was one of the quieter corners of local politics. They had no councillors, a modest but loyal membership, and their internal disputes rarely spilt into public view. That changed with one meeting that ended with Matthew Broadley elected chair and a string of disgruntled activists left in his wake. ![No photo description available.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!gMU4!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f327087c1-c4f0-44a6-8d72-96695a3e3cef_960x503.jpg) Medway Green Party activists. Matthew Broadley is on the far left. Broadley, a former Labour activist whose expulsion from that party was preceded by a series of controversies and disputes, secured the chairmanship in a vote that his critics call an orchestrated takeover that ignored party rules and saw people who were not members allowed to vote. The departures have been sweeping. Several senior members of the local executive, including the former chair, vice chair, and secretary, have gone. Matt Nightingale, the party’s most successful candidate who came within 50 votes of winning a council seat in 2023, was on the executive until the AGM, but resigned both from the local party and the Greens nationally during the meeting. He says the events of July were the culmination of more than a year of disruption caused by Broadley, describing him as “aggressive, antagonistic and militant” in his behaviour towards colleagues. According to Nightingale, Broadley sabotaged a campaign because he was not chosen as the candidate, attacked those he disagreed with, and blocked the work of others when it did not match his personal preferences. “This was very much a near all-executive versus Broadley situation,” he said. “The scale of the issue was huge, and yet over six months of back and forth with the national party’s Alternative Disputes Resolution Committee, no resolution was found. He has been allowed to continue unchallenged.” Nightingale says that at the AGM, Broadley invited a “swathe” of new members and even non-members to attend and vote. “Following the AGM, an audit of attendees indicated that up to five people present, who Broadley invited, were not in fact members, yet all cast votes,” he said. “He even nominated someone to be treasurer who joined the party less than 24 hours earlier and failed to submit their nomination before the deadline. He has no regard for due process or code of conduct.” An anonymous former member, who also left during the AGM, accused Broadley of taking on almost every executive role. Another cited an ongoing investigation into Broadley's conduct. In a statement issued by the Medway Green Party, Broadley did not respond directly to any of the allegations, but pointed to the “wonderful growth and diversification in membership” since last year’s General Election. He said this reflected a wider national increase in Green Party membership of nearly 10% in the last three months. “All members regularly participate in open democratic processes aligned with our values, giving up their free time to fight for a fairer, thriving Medway. Our party welcomes all who join.” The national party echoed his statement and declined to offer any further comment. Broadley’s critics say this pattern is not new. A former Labour source, speaking anonymously, said it was “no surprise” that Broadley had alienated enough people within the Greens to need to organise what they called a personal takeover. They linked his behaviour to the controversies that saw him deselected as Labour’s candidate for Luton and Wayfield in 2019 and ultimately suspended from the party. “The brutal fact is, he doesn’t have any politics. He simply craves any sort of structure where he can have influence for the sake of having influence. This relentless interfering, obstructing and harassment actually brought people from completely different factional backgrounds together, because having to deal with his behaviour gave them more in common than the things that divided them.” One Labour councillor was even less diplomatic. “He’s like Medway’s very own Talented Mr Ripley, without any of the talent,” they said. “He does the same shtick in every group he joins. Bumbles into them like a malicious idiot, failing upwards in spaces that have low barriers to entry, and causes chaos until people who have lives outside of these groups decide the aggro isn’t worth their time. Until he’s all that’s left, with a cadre of useful idiots who need to be part of a group so badly that they hang around making excuses for his behaviour.” Others in local activism share similar experiences. A member of Medway Stand Up to Racism said they had blocked Broadley from joining the group several times due to behaviour which they said went against the group’s core values. “He has a tendency to contrive and manipulate things to make people leave or start unnecessary infighting,” they said. “These are usually based on his fantasist nature mixed with strong ideological views. It makes many members uncomfortable and takes focus away from the purpose they are there for.” Broadley has also continued to clash with Labour figures since his expulsion. In April 2024, a Medway Council meeting took an unusually personal turn when Labour’s culture portfolio holder, Cllr Harinder Mahil, accused Broadley of being behind a hostile public question about why he had not attended any Ramadan events. Mahil said his brother was dying from terminal cancer at the time, that the question was part of a grudge, and concluded by calling Broadley “a prick” in the council chamber. Since the AGM, the Medway Green Party’s social media channels have been silent, and there has been little sign of activity within the party. The new executive largely comprises Broadley and his allies, with most of the outgoing leadership gone. For a local party that had been hoping to build on solid results in recent years, the sudden rupture leaves them with an untested leadership and a depleted pool of activists. Whether Broadley can rebuild the branch around a new base of supporters or ends up presiding over a hollowed-out organisation will become clear soon enough. For now, the Medway Greens have joined the long list of small political parties in Medway whose internal drama has overshadowed anything else they might have been trying to achieve. --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Rochester High Street car ban could extend to Sundays Last year, [we covered the small but surprisingly loud row](https://www.localauthority.news/i/141704856/dont-drive-across-rochester-high-street-on-saturdays) when the chain barriers vanished from Northgate on Rochester High Street, and ANPR cameras took over. These chains stopped drivers from entering the High Street during its Saturday pedestrianised period, but instead, cameras and signs were left to control entry. Some claimed the signs were too easy to miss and muttered about the whole thing being more about cash than keeping pedestrians safe. Others pointed out that if you still managed to drive into a pedestrian zone with all those signs around, you probably deserved the fine. Those cameras haven’t exactly been idle. In their first year on the job, Medway Council [dished out 4,757 fines to drivers](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-issues-over-2m-in/) who ignored the Saturday rules and rolled through the High Street anyway. At £60 a pop, that’s just over £285,000 from one camera. Whether you call that a deterrent or a tidy little earner probably depends on which side of the windscreen you’re on. The council now fancies going bigger. A [new consultation](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200875/rochester%5Fhigh%5Fstreet%5Ftraffic%5Fimprovement%5Fconsultation?ref=localauthority.news), launched yesterday, suggests making the Saturday 10am to 4pm ban on most vehicles stretch to Sundays and bank holidays as well. Theoretically, this gives pedestrians more room to wander, browse and explore the High Street without worrying about dodging cars. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c2wM!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3aea737d-a367-4553-99d6-47795ce0494b_3508x1496.jpg) Medway Council’s highly detailed and readable map of the proposals for Rochester High Street. The remaining chain barriers would be binned, with new ANPR cameras at Blue Boar Lane, Crow Lane and Boley Hill handling enforcement. The cameras would also watch for anyone ignoring the existing banned turns from Boley Hill into the High Street. Emergency services and other approved vehicles would still be allowed through, but no one else. Cllr Alex Paterson, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement, says: > *“We want people to be able to enjoy visiting Rochester, whether it’s for the fantastic range of shops, restaurants and bars or our iconic heritage sites. By proposing to extend the well established no vehicle restriction to include Sundays and bank holidays, we are looking to put pedestrians first along the high street whilst people are out and enjoying themselves across the weekend. I would encourage all residents to take a look at these proposals and make sure they have their say.”* If the plan goes ahead, there will be a six-month grace period where your first offence gets you a letter instead of a fine. After that, the Penalty Charge Notices start landing. The council says the income will cover the cost of the scheme and go back into the transport network, although that is unlikely to silence the more cynical voices. The consultation is open until midnight on 21 September, and [responses can be submitted here](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200875/rochester%5Fhigh%5Fstreet%5Ftraffic%5Fimprovement%5Fconsultation?ref=localauthority.news). If approved, Rochester High Street could be car-free for peak weekend hours. Potentially questionable enforcement methods aside, it’s hard to see many downsides in a safer, more accessible High Street, and no doubt, that’s what we’ll be getting, whatever the consultation responses might say. --- #### Street ambassadors off to a strong start Last week, wrote about Chatham’s new ‘street ambassadors,’ who despite the name, are clearly private security guards patrolling the High Street. While Medway Council might be eager to pitch them as being there to provide advice and guidance in the town centre, there seems to be a larger mission of trying to make the town feel a bit safer and provide a deterrent for those who might behave antisocially. So, as the scheme gets underway, how much are they managing to do to improve the perception of the town centre? If one [recent TikTok](https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNHsAN84quYRQ-Fs74a/?ref=localauthority.news) is to be believed, it’s not off to a great start. [](https://www.tiktok.com/@shiggsy85/video/7535768380842822934?ref=localauthority.news)[@shiggsy85](https://www.tiktok.com/@shiggsy85?ref=localauthority.news)[Popped into Chatham High Street for 5 minutes and I got my Attenborough on to record the animals 😂😂 what a return to the ends! #chatham #medway #medwaytowns #scrap #chav #police #security #badman #tik\_tok #gillingham #rainham #rochester #strood #madness](https://www.tiktok.com/@shiggsy85/video/7535768380842822934?ref=localauthority.news) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/img/alert-circle.svg) Tiktok failed to load. Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser The video shows the sort of altercation that seems to be sadly common in the centre of Chatham, with two men squaring up to each other in the street while one hurls racist abuse at the other. As the men walk down the street, all four of Chatham’s ambassadors meander into the scene and gently try to keep the two men apart. They don’t do a great job, though, as within minutes, at least two punches are thrown, which the four ambassadors are unable to stop. Despite the clear violence and racial abuse, at no point do they attempt to detain either man, nor is there any indication that the police have been called. Instead, they attempt to walk them in different directions, free to return and have another go later. Now, this isn’t to judge the actions of those employed in the role. It doesn’t seem an enviable position to be in, nor are they presumably particularly well paid for their efforts, given that the entire scheme is at a cost of £27,000\. But if four security guards/ambassadors/whatever you want to call them can’t deal with two middle-aged men squaring up to each other in the middle of Chatham High Street in daytime, exactly how much can their being there change the perception of Chatham for the better? --- **Could you help us get the word out?* If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. Refer just two new readers and we’ll comp you a free month of our paid subscription.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* --- #### In brief 🔎 The HM Inspectorate of Prisons has issued a [mixed report on HMP Rochester](https://hmiprisons.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmipris%5Freports/hmp-rochester-2/?ref=localauthority.news). Inspectors found improvements had been made in reducing violence and self-harm, and living conditions had been improved. On the other hand, they also raised serious concerns about the availability of drugs and the provision of health services. 🏭 You might have noticed a strong gas smell across much of Medway yesterday. The Odeon in Chatham was evacuated, alongside the MHS Homes headquarters, but neither was the cause. Reassuringly, no one seems to know where the gas came from, though a facility on the Isle of Grain is [believed to be a likely culprit](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/parts-of-complex-closed-off-amid-gas-leak-fears-328431/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏗️ Gravesend contractor O’Halloran & O’Brien has secured the contract to carry out [enabling works for the former civic centre site in Strood](https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2025/08/11/ohob-wins-enabling-works-for-150m-medway-regen-scheme/?ref=localauthority.news). The £150m project will eventually create 195, but it will take until 2028 to get the site ready for construction. 🗳️ Rather unusually, a parish council by-election has been scheduled for next month. Three candidates are vying for the seat on Grain Parish Council, with voters [set to go to the polls on 4 September](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200168/elections%5Fand%5Fvoting/2017/st%5Fjames%5Fisle%5Fof%5Fgrain%5Fparish%5Fcouncil%5Fby-election?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### More Authority The new football season is underway, and with that comes a new season of hope and potential despair at Priestfield. [Our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins assessed the team’s chances for the coming season](https://www.localauthority.news/the-gills-kick-off-a-new-season/) and definitely decided that.. well, you’ll have to read the whole piece for that. [The Gills kick off a new seasonExpectations feel slightly muted at Priestfield as we enter the third full season of the Galinsons’ reign. They’ve reinvigorated the club on so many levels, but things have stagnated on the pitch: the budget seems very competitive, the squad is littered with players who have previously excelled at both this level and higher… but the end result is still mediocre performances and results far below what should be expected. On the morning of the first home game of 2025/26, our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins examines whether this season will be any better…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityBen Hopkins![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!mEnK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe2fafef1-e4e9-4f73-9e6d-35eaa4f4968f_4064x3048.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-gills-kick-off-a-new-season/) We also published [our big interview with River Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/just-because-you-put-a-wig-on-it/), the breakout star from RuPaul’s Drag Race, who featured in a full Waghorn outfit on the show. Steven talked to her about that iconic look, becoming River Medway, her upcoming musical tour, and lots more. [“Just because you put a wig on, it doesn't change who you are“Since we started these long-form interviews almost three years ago, one person stood out as the longest between agreeing to an interview and the interview taking place. Finally, Steven met River Medway on Zoom, where they discussed their performance in the upcoming Here & Now musical tour, becoming River Medway and the iconic Waghorn look on RuPaul’s Drag Race.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_N4y!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe389f33b-ca84-4065-bfe8-6a16bb4f05b1_5400x4050.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/just-because-you-put-a-wig-on-it/) The full versions of both pieces are only available to our paid supporters, who keep this entire project running for everyone else. To celebrate our fourth birthday, [you can get 25% off the regular price for a whole year](#/portal/signup), giving you access to multiple editions of our journalism every week. [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* - *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Compliments Please by Self Esteem*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF5GSshWU3w&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Welcome to Condale by Summer Camp*](https://summercampband.bandcamp.com/album/welcome-to-condale?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Hearts of Gold by Dollar Signs*](https://dollarsigns.bandcamp.com/album/hearts-of-gold?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “Just because you put a wig on, it doesn't change who you are“ URL: https://www.localauthority.news/just-because-you-put-a-wig-on-it/ Last updated: 2026-02-26T09:50:12.000Z *Since we started these long-form interviews almost three years ago, one person stood out as the longest between agreeing to an interview and the interview taking place. Finally, Steven met River Medway on Zoom, where they discussed their performance in the upcoming Here & Now musical tour, becoming River Medway and the iconic Waghorn look on RuPaul’s Drag Race.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_N4y!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe389f33b-ca84-4065-bfe8-6a16bb4f05b1_5400x4050.jpg) River Medway. **What is your official occupation?** I don't know. Depends on who you ask. **How would you describe it?** The broadest answer would be entertainer, I guess, if that's a profession. **Do you have any additional roles, paid or unpaid?** I mean, I guess it all falls under entertainment in some way or another. That would be the main thing. I do sometimes work as a wig stylist. That is when I feel like it, or if I've got some time off from being on stage. **For those who might be unaware, how would you describe drag?** How would I describe drag? Drag in its simplest form is an expression of everything that makes you you, but you're maybe not expressing every day. Because I think that a lot of people, when they're in drag, I don't think anything is put on, physically things are put on, but I think it's a lot of things coming out. I think people find a lot of confidence when they're in drag. That you can't fake it. Maybe you found confidence that you don't have without the external. The external makes your inside match it. That's how I've always seen it, because I think drag has changed my life, but I think it's in a way where it's made me feel the most myself I've ever felt, because what I found when I am in drag, I now find when I'm not in drag. But I think that was always there. Nobody's putting on drag that they're not happy with. Nobody's becoming someone they don't like. Most people become a person they like even more. Just because you put a wig on, it doesn't change who you are. **Would you describe it as a day when you became River, or was River always there, and it was about you realising that?** Well, it's interesting because I don't think I have a complete linear story of how I got to where I am now. When I was young, I always enjoyed dressing up and playing characters, and it was never about playing one specific character or anything like that. It was just more I loved wigs and costumes and makeup from when I was young. I think everybody, every da,y you choose what clothes you're going to wear, you choose how you're going to present yourself to the world. When you do drag, you're doing that maybe at a bit more of an extreme level, but it's the same way. Putting on a dress is the same as you picking out that shirt this morning. It just depends how you want to express yourself. I've always felt that when I was younger, and as I started to do a lot of youth theatre around Medway, I started to play female characters and it wasn't necessarily because I wanted to be a drag queen, it was just that was the character that I wanted to play for that show the same way if I was playing a male character. To me, it made no difference. When you see male characters on stage, they're still wearing makeup, they're still wearing a wig, they're still wearing a costume. It's the same as if you're playing a female. You change your appearance to fit whatever character you're feeling or whatever expression you're feeling. That's how it developed. I didn't necessarily create River as a separate entity. It happened very organically as I found different ways to express myself. It wasn't, ‘I need to create this other person.’ For some people, it is that. This is just in my experience. I'm trying to think at what point River... I'd definitely been doing drag, and I'd started to go out in drag when I was 18\. Then it was still just me being myself, though. It wasn't a name or anything. I think maybe when I was about 19, I decided that River Medway was going to be my name because me and my friend had said something about the River Medway and we sort of said that sounds like a drag name, that would be such a fantastic drag name. River Medway, for me, it's got so many layers. It's where I'm from, it's very personal to me, and I want to be very true to myself. As I said, I don't use drag to escape from anything. I use it to express myself even further. I think River is also a lovely name. My favourite character in Doctor Who is River Song. There was just so many layers to it. I had thought about having a drag name for a long time before that, and I just couldn't ever pick one that didn't just feel like it could be anyone's name. Not many people can be called River Medway. It's so specific, which I like because I thought if I'm going to be known by a different name, it has to be something that's so specific to me. I don't want to be confused with anyone else. I don't want a name that someone else might have. At the time, I could probably count on one hand how many other drag queens are from Medway. There aren't many even now. It's one of those things that when you find it, you know for sure. It was at [Poco Loco](https://pocoloco.live/?ref=localauthority.news) with the [Loco Cabaret](https://www.instagram.com/thelococabaret/?ref=localauthority.news), that was the first paid gig I had where I started to discover who River was as a performer, and then I really had to become River when I went on [Drag Race](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RuPaul%27s%5FDrag%5FRace?ref=localauthority.news), because obviously that is who you're going to be known by. I had this moment of thinking, I always wanted to work in entertainment, and obviously, I'd always imagined that it would be my real name that was out there. I realise now that it's a blessing to have a stage name because it's really nice to be able to have some sort of separation. So yeah, that's the long story of how River Medway came to be. **Can we talk about how you came up with the iconic Waghorn outfit?** Well, I got the call for Drag Race, and then they send you a packet with all of the runways that you're going to have to do. The first episode of Drag Race, you do a look inspired by your hometown. That's the standard. I would say it took me approximately ten seconds to decide what I was going to do for that runway. For me, it was an absolute no-brainer that a look to represent my hometown would be Thomas Waghorn with a cone on his head. I couldn't think of a single thing different that I would do about it, even now. I think it's so fundamentally Medway and it's so fundamental to me as a drag queen. It's like I'm from somewhere that is perhaps not the most glamorous place and I'm also not really the most glamorous person, but I like to do things in a way that you know maybe it does look glamorous, but also it's very fun and there's lots of layers to it and it's whether you see it, you think it's funny, when you know the layers from it, it just adds so much more to it, which is what I really enjoy doing. **How often are you on stage at the moment?** I've been off at the moment, because I'm about to go into a really long job. I'm enjoying the time off. Obviously, it's Pride season. I'm doing Prides almost weekly at the moment. But then, in about six weeks, I'm going into rehearsals for a show, which I'll be on stage six days a week on tour for about ten months. **What do you do at the Pride events?** I usually do a performance. I've got a mixture of Prides this year, actually, where some of them I've just been booked as River, and I'll do a set of my drag act. Then I've got a couple of Prides that I'm actually doing with the show that I'm in to promote the show, but also one of them is performing. It's a real mixture. **What is the show you're about to be in?** It's called [Here & Now](https://thestepsmusical.com/?ref=localauthority.news), which is a new musical which features all of the music from the pop group, [Steps](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steps%5F%28pop%5Fgroup%29?ref=localauthority.news). It's not about Steps. It's not autobiographical or anything like that. It's a bit more akin to Mamma Mia, how they use all of the songs from ABBA to tell the story. That's what the show is. It's a musical. We did it briefly last year for one month because it's brand new, and people seem to like it. Now we're taking it on tour to every single city in the UK and Ireland. Lots of fun. **What is your role within that?** My character is called Jem, and the plot of the story is set in a big shop that's a little bit like the big Tesco in Gillingham. It's like a big superstore where they do everything. Everyone works in the shop, but my character is a customer in the shop. He starts seeing a boy that works in the shop, but my character is also a drag queen. It's been cast very well, clearly. I get to do a big drag number in the second act, but it's really great because this is sort of the first job I've done where I'm not in drag the whole time. I'm playing a male character. All of my jobs over the last few years, since Drag Race, have been me in full drag every time. It's really exciting for me. **How did this come about?** Oh, audition, the same way as anyone else, because I trained in musical theatre. All I've ever wanted to do is be on stage in musicals, really. I went on Drag Race because, if I'm being honest, that sort of just catapulted me into the drag world. I'd done local gigs and stuff like that before, but it was never a goal to get on Drag Race and that be my final endpoint. It has led me back to a career in musical theatre, which I always wanted. The pathway was very different to how I imagined when I was younger. But it's the same destination, no doubt. **You're not in the show as River Medway. You are River Medway, who is in the show.** Yes. I'm hired as an actor the same way any other actor. I had to go in for auditions, had to do self-tapes for it, had to do every single step that you have to do to get into musical theatre. It's not easy. I think some people sometimes think that if you've been on television or you've done something big, then you just get handed everything. Yeah, I did get handed a lot of work because I was on Drag Race, it's nice when you have somebody that has a bit of a name, but at the end of the day, you still have to be able to do the job to a very high standard. Sometimes it's been interesting to navigate my way through this because I get a lot more satisfaction out of getting a job that I've had to audition for than a job that I've been offered, because I know that I've only got it because I was right for the part. I don't want a job that I'm not right for, just because of whatever other reason. I want it because I've auditioned for it, and you know what, I'm right for it. **As part of Here & Now, you appeared on Britain's Got Talent?** Yeah, we did that, which was lots of fun, and we did it with Steps. Steps aren't in the show, but for the BGT performance, we did it with them, which was really lovely. It's just one of those things. It's such a massive show, there's so many moving parts, and it's just one of those things we rehearsed, and they hired all of these new dancers for the performance and all of this thing, and then it's over in about three minutes. **It must be encouraging to know you've got Steps' blessing and support.** Yeah, they've been quite involved in the whole process, which is nice because maybe people think they've just stuck their name on it and they're not really actually bothered, but they're very much involved in it and they're really great at collaborating with our producers, our director and our choreographers. Everybody is really happy to be there making the show, which has been really lovely. That's why I'm doing it again with the tour. **Will this be the longest tour you've done?** I think possibly. We tour from the end of August until May. I think we have over 30 playing weeks. I have done tours that have been maybe six months, but it's also the show that I probably love the most of any job I've ever done. **I don't know how well you know the Here & Now schedule. Is it coming anywhere near the Medway Towns? What's the nearest people can go to see the show?** It will be Canterbury at the Marlow,e and it's actually our last stop on the tour. I think it's the third week in May. It seems like a lifetime, I'm sure it'll fly by. We'll make sure we let everyone know. I wish we were going somewhere even closer to Medway, but yeah, Canterbury is the Kent event. **Let's go back to the beginning a bit. You were born in Medway. How did your family come to be in Medway?** As far as I'm aware, my mum's family have lived in Medway for a long time. I know my late granddad was in Medway during World War Two. I'm assuming for a long time before that. My mum actually grew up on the same street that her and my dad ended up buying their house on, which is the house that me and my sister grew up in. My family is very Medway, really Chatham. My dad moved from Singapore when he was a teenager, and he moved to Chatham as well when he moved to England. I don't know why that was necessarily where he went. My dad went to Greenacre and couldn't speak a word of English. **What can people look forward to or expect as part of Medway Pride this year from you?** I'm staying very on brand with the Steps musical, and I have curated my own Steps set, because if I'm honest, all I've got on my mind is their music, which I think is so great, and it's so much fun.It's so nostalgic for so many people. Everybody knows the words to [5, 6, 7, 8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NO-h9PFum4&ref=localauthority.news) and stuff like that. I think what better thing to do at Medway Pride? It's River Medway's version of it, this amalgamation of everything coming together. I'm really, really looking forward to it. I did the first Medway Pride in 2021, and that was just before I was on Drag Race, I think. I did that, and then Drag Race was on TV. Then my life went crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy. Now I'm back there showcasing what I'm doing now. I'm really happy that they asked me this year. It's the perfect time to do it. I have to get the day off rehearsals to go and do it as well because I said I have to, I have to do Medway Pride. **Did you enjoy school?** It wasn't torturous. I went to Chatham Grammar. I was exactly the same when I was younger. I think if you had met me when I was younger and you meet me now, you’d think I'm the same. I'm a little bit more relaxed and a bit less erratic now. When I was in secondary school, I wouldn't say I had a hard time. There were definitely rough patches. When you go to an all-boys school, there weren't many people who were out. But I had really good friends in secondary school because we were all just a bit strange, to be honest. We were all quite different, but we all just understood each other, I think, because it felt like we were all ourselves. And I'm not talking about sexuality at all, by any means. A lot of my friends were straight. It was more we all felt like we were ourselves and that's why we were such good friends. You get a lot of pressure, especially when you're a boy, there's a lot of pressure to act a certain way. I was actually quite good at school, I just didn't really like it because it just wasn't for me. I knew for a fact I was not made to sit at desk. It's not because I'm bad academically, it was I wanted to be on stage, and at my school, we didn't even have GCSE drama. There was no outlet for me. Youth theatre in Medway changed my life. If I hadn't been going to youth theatre in Medway, I probably wouldn't end up where I am at all. I went to a youth theatre at the Brook Theatre. I don't remember if it had a proper name, it was just one that they ran. It wasn't one of the big ones. Loads of places had used the Brook Theatre, but this one was actually run by the Brook Theatre. My parents asked if I wanted to go when I was in year seven. I was actually painfully shy, believe it or not. I really wanted to be on stage and perform, but I was quite nervous about going somewhere where everyone wanted to do it, because I hadn't really experienced that. My teacher was called Haydee, and she was phenomenal. She also did a youth theatre in Rainham at the Oasthouse Theatre. Then I did it there for a long time as well. Over the course of years, that was my haven. It wasn't necessarily an escape, because as I said, school wasn't horrible for me, but I would go there on a Wednesday evening or a Saturday morning, and I was more myself there than I had ever been anywhere. It was so great to be surrounded by so many people. After my GCSEs, I went to MidKent because I thought there's no point me staying here to do A-level, because I don't want to. At the end of the day, I shouldn't have to do something I don't want to do because I think when you're younger, you have to do a lot of things you don't want to do. And I thought, I'm not going to be someone I'm not. My parents have always encouraged me to do what I want to do, don't do things for other people. I went to MidKent, did musical theatre there, and then I went to performing arts school after MidKent in London. **Have you ever been invited back to MidKent?** Oh yeah, loads. I've taught students at MidKent. I've helped out sometimes when they're auditioning for their shows. I go to watch their shows if I can. My… I was going to say my friend, she's my ex-teacher, but she's a friend now, Emma Moore, who was there when I was there, and she still is there. When I was there, it was like her first or second year of being a teacher. She was probably younger than I am now when I was there which is crazy to think, because I was a bit of a nightmare if I'm honest. I always just thought I was a star, but I think maybe I didn't have the discipline behind it to hone it. I don't think I was delusional, I think I just had to get much better self-discipline. She always dealt with me, and now we're good friends. Whenever I'm around or she needs a hand or something, I'm always happy to come and help, because it's really important to me to help this next generation. Especially in performing arts in Kent, to see people that are quite successful within the industry. If you're not seeing the results, you think, is it even possible for me? I know that when I was younger, I didn't really know anyone that was from Medway that was working in musical theatre at a big commercial scale. I always make sure I want people to see that if you are from somewhere that you don't necessarily think you're going to achieve, it does happen. You have to be very dedicated to it. **You were awarded an honorary doctorate. What was that like?** Yes, I was. It's actually crazy talking about all of these things. I think this has actually been really nice that this interview has been postponed because we can look at a lot of things quite retrospectively over the last few years. I'm a lot more... Not that I was never not lucid, but when things are coming at you 100 miles an hour, it's very hard to talk about it, the way I'm talking about it now. I can actually talk about things a bit more subjectively, which is lovely. Getting the honorary degree was absolutely wild. I don't know how that came to be. I think it's absolutely crazy. It's one of the biggest honours I've had in my life, if I'm honest, to be given that at the point where I have to really think about it, because otherwise your brain just doesn't quite believe it. It doesn't see it that way because, when you think about the types of people that are getting honorary degrees in my mind, it's people that are doing really honorary things. I have to look back and think, I guess I'm doing something, but it's crazy. I remember when I was at the ceremony in Rochester, at the cathedral, all of the security kept telling me as I was trying to get in to go to the special entrance and they said no you need to line up with all the other students and I had to try and say to them I'm not a graduating student, I'm getting an honorary degree and the security were like, “What are you talking about?” I'm trying to explain to them I'm not a student. I don't even believe it myself, and I'm trying to convince people that are older than me, I promise I'm supposed to be here. I didn't even get a real degree, because when I went to performing arts school, I got a diploma, and I was like, ‘I don't need a real degree to be on stage. You don't need any qualifications to be on stage.’ I thought I'm sure if I want a degree, I'll get one, one day. And now I do. It's really crazy when everything has worked out the way I thought it was going to, but not the way I thought it was going to. Even just talking about it now, I have actually got a lot of what I thought I was going to get. I just got it in a very different way. It's made me trust that whatever is happening in your life is happening for a reason. And whatever you achieve, whatever you want, you will get. You just might not get there the way you think you're going to get there. But that’s the beautiful part about it I think. **What do you currently do to unwind and relax?** I really like to watch videos about engineering. Actually, because I like to learn about things that are so far away from my real life. I watch a lot of television. I watch a lot of cartoons. **Anything you'd recommend?** [Futurama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurama?ref=localauthority.news) is actually on my TV right now. I watch Futurama every day. I really enjoy things that take me somewhere else, which is hard to do when your job is already a bit like a fantasy anyway. **Where do you like to go for dinner in Medway?** Oh, [Poco Loco](https://pocoloco.live/?ref=localauthority.news). The food at Poco Loco is so bloody good. I love it. Whenever I'm home, we either go there to eat or I get them to deliver it to my dad's house because I think it's brilliant. It's such hearty food. In Chatham, the Chinese restaurant [Confucius](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant%5FReview-g186312-d2388323-Reviews-Confucius-Chatham%5FKent%5FEngland.html?ref=localauthority.news). I go there a lot for my birthday. I would say one of those two. **What advice would you have for somebody looking to become a drag act today?** Do exactly what you want to do. Wear the outfits that you like for yourself. Do the makeup that you like for yourself. Do the wigs that you like for yourself. Sing the songs that you like for yourself. Use drag as a vehicle to showcase yourself. The drag itself isn't the show, drag is the showing off of what you want to do. It took me a long time to work this out. I wasn't singing musical theatre and pop music when I started drag, even though that is my absolute favourite thing to do in all the world. But I was doing what I thought I should be doing in drag. Drag should be very, very personal. It should be things that you like for yourself. There's no rush. There's no rush to do anything. Spend time on your craft, spend time on what sort of performer you want to be and stay really true to yourself, not trends. --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*.* *If you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, email* [*Steven*](mailto:steven@localauthority.news)*.* *Steven Keevil still manages to watch hundreds of films a year. He recommends* [*Predator: Killer of Killers*](https://www.disneyplus.com/en-gb/browse/entity-5ded19e6-73f5-4c65-a4f8-759bce8d1114?ref=localauthority.news)*. He listened to no music whilst writing this, but recommends reading* [*Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser*](https://uk.bookshop.org/book/9780006511250?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### The Gills kick off a new season URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-gills-kick-off-a-new-season/ Last updated: 2025-08-09T06:01:24.000Z *Expectations feel slightly muted at Priestfield as we enter the third full season of the Galinsons’ reign. They’ve reinvigorated the club on so many levels, but things have stagnated on the pitch: the budget seems very competitive, the squad is littered with players who have previously excelled at both this level and higher… but the end result is still mediocre performances and results far below what should be expected. On the morning of the first home game of 2025/26, our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins examines whether this season will be any better…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!mEnK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe2fafef1-e4e9-4f73-9e6d-35eaa4f4968f_4064x3048.jpg) Timothee Dieng opens the scoring in a 4-1 win versus Carlisle in 2024. **Where are the goals coming from?** Goals at Gillingham have become as rare as ethically minded estate agents, with the top scorer in each of the previous three seasons registering just 6, 7 and 7 again, by a distance the worst prolonged return in the club’s history. If Gillingham’s aim is promotion, or at least the play-offs, they’re going to need someone to lead the way with a solid 15 or more goals to their name, and probably someone else in double-figures too. Despite his relative inexperience, newcomer Seb Palmer-Houden seems the most likely candidate, coming off the back of two promising seasons in League Two and the Scottish Premiership. At the other extreme, Sam Vokes has proven experience at Premier League, Championship, League One and international level, which should make him a near certainty, fitness permitting. But approaching the age of 36 makes it a touch of a gamble. He could be this year’s [Deon Burton](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2312210/Gillingham-crowned-champions-League-Two.html?ref=localauthority.news), but no one needs a second coming of [Iwan Roberts](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gillingham/4184554.stm?ref=localauthority.news). Elsewhere, Elliott Nevitt has done it before but didn’t come close last season, and the power and audaciousness of crowd favourite Joe Gbode feels more productive out wide. A run of fitness could mean it’s time for the previously perma-crocked Josh Andrews to finally make an impact, and Marcus Wyllie is back in contention after a tough first year in the professional game. **More importantly, who is providing them?** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### On the fringe of Pride URL: https://www.localauthority.news/on-the-fringe-of-pride/ Last updated: 2025-08-08T17:47:18.000Z *Saturday 16 August sees this year’s* [*Medway Pride Festival*](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. As part of this year’s coverage, we interviewed* [*Hilary Cooke*](https://www.localauthority.news/there-was-three-of-us-in-this-marriage/) *last weekend, and we’ll be talking to River Medway on Sunday for our big weekend interview. For today’s culture edition, we’re looking at a number of events taking place as part of the Medway Pride Fringe over the coming week.* --- #### On the fringe of Pride *Alongside the main Medway Pride event on 16 August, a series of events are happening as part of the Medway Pride Fringe. We’ve been finding out more about what’s going on…* We spoke with Jody Carrington, the owner of Poco Loco, which is not only a great place [to eat](https://www.localauthority.news/i/151204821/out-to-lunch-poco-loco), but also a significant venue for the Pride Fringe. “Pride Fringe started as a way to offer an alternative to the Medway Pride event.” Medway Pride started in the Intra area before it grew and moved to Rochester Castle. “We obviously took the opportunity to take it to a fantastic venue” and have a full parade through the High Street.” Intra has a number of links to Pride, including The Ship Inn, one of, if not the oldest, LGBTQ+ venues in the country. There is also an LGBT+ sauna and [Hilary Cooke](https://www.localauthority.news/there-was-three-of-us-in-this-marriage/)’s Medway Gender Sexual Diversity Centre. “The LGBT links within the Intra area have been there for a long time.” For Jody, it is about highlighting those links. “Historical links, cultural links, and bringing people back after the main event,” as well as trying to do events for people that “don't want a great big party because that's not everybody's cup of tea.” Pride Fringe is trying to be welcoming and inclusive to people who might be into arts and crafts, might be different ages, or might be families with children. “It was trying to cover all those bases and do a fringe event that meant that everybody within the community had something that might appeal to them.” A number of these events are on at Poco Loco, and it was important for Jodie to provide a space for a variety of events. “It's important because we do have a really diverse audience and customer base.” ![Poco Loco | Live Music, Cocktails, Great Food, Good Times | Live Music, Cocktails, Great Food, Good Times](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9jBu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff24fc835-0d60-4235-8208-9183aebc743e_1440x960.jpg) Poco Loco in Chatham. Poco Loco was where the Loco Cabaret started and welcomed the first public performance by River Medway. “We've always been on that alternative drag and queer scene.” Whilst the Ship provides a more traditional gay pub environment, with drag acts that are more mainstream, Jody feels that Poco Loco offers a queer punk and alternative drag scene. “We're the alternative scene. We provide that, and we've got a lot of people that feel comfortable in our space, and we were trying to offer Pride for them.” The events are free to attend, with support provided by local councillors, UKSPF funding, and general fundraising. “We've been successful in a few bids, not a lot of money, but it was enough to spread around to do a lot of these little fringe events.” Jody is keen to highlight that the fringe isn’t just about Poco Loco, with different events “showcasing all the great places in intra. What you need to do is just see what suits you because I think there's a lot to choose from.” Pride Fringe is a great opportunity for people from a broad, diverse background across Medway to overcome recent divisions and come together in celebration. It comes at a time when Pride events are facing a number of challenges, including funding challenges across the country, with a number of Pride events being cancelled. “I'd like to see more unity. Let's see the community all coming together to make Fringe and Medway Pride bigger and better. Be really proud that Medway's got such a great Pride.” --- #### Loco Cabaret offers twist on drag and burlesque *The Loco Cabaret is taking place as part of the Medway Pride Fringe. We spoke to burlesque act Olivia Nuclear Bomb about what people can expect…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!PKy8!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f192c1e85-7f26-4ebe-a344-fe0242a252ae_1170x878.jpg) Olivia Nuclear Bomb and Luna Howl. Loco Cabaret is an alternative drag and burlesque show based at Poco Loco, in what might be the Chatham Intra area. Part of a collective six who have been working together for eight years, Olivia Nuclear Bomb (not her legal name) tells me, “The whole point of it was that we didn't see the broad horizon of burlesque and drag. It was always the kind of standard classic burlesque that did it from T-style or the drag as in Drag Race. There's so much more to it, and we created our show because we wanted to show people that.” Burlesque, Olivia explains, is the art of the striptease. “It's a very old style of dance and tease coming back to the 1800s.” The burlesque that can be found at Poco Loco is slightly different “because we are not your typical stage glamour or glitzy.” There are no iconic martini glasses on stage. “We do have elements of that, we do have performers that perform that style of burlesque, but we also use fire. We've had candle wax before,” as well as including fire sticks. Loco Cabaret also uses 80s go-go dancing, pouring beer on themselves, and fake blood, or as Olivia puts it, “a bit of everything.” It is a very diverse performance. That started with Olivia and her co-producer Luna Howl. “We used to volunteer, pick up clothes and stuff for a show called The Cabaret Club, which used to be at the old Roffen Club.” It was there that Olivia was given the opportunity to debut. The producer at the time, Lisa, wanted to make something more of a “sleazy show,” because the other ones were more of a dinner and a show. She wanted to make something “a bit more underground, a bit more of a bar show.” When Lisa left the industry, she invited Olivia and Luna to take on the show. “We used to attend Poco Loco anyway. That was the venue we were aiming for. It then became the Loco Cabaret.” Luna was performing drag in Norwich, where they were at uni. When he moved back to Kent, where he had known Olivia since their early teens, they were keen to work together. “It was something we had always wanted to do together.” For Olivia personally, “I was quite shy growing up and quite awkward. I was very insecure, of my body and how it looked and wanting to hide myself.” She found inspiration through music videos, “I remember watching specifically Green Day's [video for Holiday](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1OqtIqzScI&ref=localauthority.news), and these dancers in it, the dance in front of the car. I always wanted to be them.” When Olivia discovered burlesque, “I thought I can be these characters in these music videos and become someone else. I did it because I wanted to express a part of me that was probably hiding.” As part of Medway Pride Fringe, Loco Cabaret provides a family-friendly show. “It's very different to our normal shows,” Olivia tells me. With herself and Sweet D, “who is a blessed dancer,” they have got a fun routine planned. Though she can’t reveal too much, it is “a medley of different songs. Every song represents us.” They will also be presenting Still Life’s a Drag, providing the audience an opportunity to draw and ask questions of the performers. They will also be on the main stage on August 16 for the main Pride event. “It won't be all of us. It will be, Luna Howl, Ramona Weapons, our other drag queen, and Sweet D, and I believe we have two guest performers.” “I think people should go and support local shows and see different styles of art for themselves. I think there's so much more to them than what you see on TV. There are so many different characters in our show. There's no set way of doing it. It's really fun. I think people need to go and watch it for themselves.” *After Pride, Loco Cabaret will return to Poco Loco for their Halloween show in October.* --- #### Rob Flood’s queer walk As part of Medway Pride Fringe, on 13 and 14 August, from 6pm til 8pm, resident local history walker [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/) will be hosting two history walks. Ostensibly called Carry on the Kyber, which Rob will explain to anyone who comes on the walk. These are history walks that look at the history of LGBT+ activity within the wider Medway towns, but Rob focuses on Rochester and Chatham. The walk starts at 6pm at The Terrace, which is just off Victoria Street at the bottom of Star Hill. The walk will start there, proceeding into Rochester High Street. The walk then makes its way through Intra, into Chatham and then up Military Road, stopping by the Pentagon Shopping Centre. The walk looks in part at the story of prostitution and sex workers in the Medway Towns, why Medway ended up with such a large LGBT+ community. Part of the walk looks at The Ship Inn and the idea that it might be the oldest LGBT+ venue in the country, with first-hand testimony of people going back to the early 1960s using the pub as a distinctly gay pub. It is a gay man’s story for the most part, as it is gay men that Rob has been able to talk to, with homosexuality having been illegal within living memory. If you are a historical lesbian, Rob would love to hear from you. It’s a fun walk that Rob hopes you will find entertaining and free. [You can book a spot](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/outing-medways-past-an-lgbtq-guided-walk-tickets-1462015982159?aff=erelexpmlt&ref=localauthority.news), though those turning up on the night will be welcomed. --- #### Pride fringe events ☕ Sat 9 Aug - [**LGBTeas**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1539471957192313) // Simple social morning with a free cuppa for LGBT families to sit back and relax. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 💬 Mon 11 Aug - [**Pride Question Time**](https://bit.ly/PrideQT?ref=localauthority.news) // ‘Where do we go?’ Discussion about the practical issues affecting non-binary, intersex and others following recent Supreme Court judgements. Rochester. [Booking details here.](https://bit.ly/PrideQT?ref=localauthority.news) 📽️ Mon 11 Aug - [**Pride**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/medway-fringe-pride-events/?ref=localauthority.news) // Film screening of historical comedy drama. Free. The Ship Inn, Rochester. Free. ✏️ Tue 12 Aug - [**Life Drawing’s a Drag**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/medway-fringe-pride-events/?ref=localauthority.news) // Drag life drawing with Loco Cabaret, with an opportunity to ask questions of the performers. Poco Loco, Chatham. Free. 🎶 Wed 13 Aug - [**Songs of Sin and Salvation**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/medway-fringe-pride-events/?ref=localauthority.news) // Gary B Lucas and Martin Adams give an intimate acoustic performance. The Ship Inn, Rochester. Free. 🏳️‍🌈 Thu 14 Aug - [**Pride Flags Workshop**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/medway-fringe-pride-events/?ref=localauthority.news) // Rubbish Idea’s eco artist Kieran Poole makes mosaics using littered lids. Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham. Free. 📖 Fri 15 Aug - [**Story Time with Mama G**](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sunpierhousecic/1771122?ref=localauthority.news)// Original stories and songs, picture books, and an uplifting event for the whole family. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. ⛓️ Fri 15 Aug - [**Medway’s Pride Punks**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/medway-fringe-pride-events/?ref=localauthority.news) // Hellhound Promotions presents live music from Bitches Ahoy, Luna Lacuna and Larry\_73\. Poco Loco, Chatham. 🥳 Sat 16 Aug - [**Medway Pride After Party in the Garden**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/medway-fringe-pride-events/?ref=localauthority.news) // Hosted by Sket from Loco Cabaret, with special guest River Medway. Bodega 51, Rochester. Free. 🥳 Sat 16 Aug - [**The Official Medway Pride After Party**](https://medwaypride.co.uk/medway-fringe-pride-events/?ref=localauthority.news) // With DJ Tommy C, Electric Blue and Melissa Totten as Madonna. The Ship Inn, Rochester. Free. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### VAT change fails to spark school exodus in Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/vat-change-fails-to-spark-school/ Last updated: 2025-08-06T20:01:50.000Z *When the government scrapped the VAT exemption on private schools at the start of the year, certain quarters warned of an exodus of students into state schools that wouldn’t be able to cope. New data from Medway Council suggests that there is little sign of that happening yet. We get into it below. Further down, we have news of plans for flats on a council car park, new security ‘ambassadors’ in Chatham, news in brief, and more.* --- #### VAT change fails to spark school exodus in Medway The removal of the VAT exemption for private schools that kicked in at the start of the year led to claims that state schools would be overrun by students of parents who could no longer afford the additional 20% on top of their already expensive fees. In Medway, though, the much-feared exodus of pupils into the state sector hasn’t arrived. This latest [report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=80920&ref=localauthority.news) was put together after Conservative councillor Mark Joy, the party’s Shadow Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education, asked for the issue to be added to the agenda of the [Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=378&MId=6283&ref=localauthority.news) this week. The Conservatives campaigned hard against the VAT change and were probably hoping to find some devastating figures to prove their case. In the end, the data doesn’t give them much to work with. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!OJy_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f239e3cc8-3179-42ed-b081-e12fae5f618e_5517x3678.jpg) Part of King’s Rochester From January 2025, private schools across the country have faced a 20% VAT hike after the Labour government scrapped the long-standing exemption. Politicians promised the move would fund state education. Meanwhile, independent schools warned it would lead to families exiting the sector and force closures across the board. Medway Council reached out to five local independent schools, asking for their pupil numbers over the last four years. Only Bryony School in Rainham and King’s Rochester actually replied, but that was enough to spot a trend in the figures. Bryony School’s numbers dropped from 122 to 78 pupils between 2021 and 2025\. King’s Rochester also saw a fall, from 672 to 572\. At first glance, this appears to result from the VAT changes, but are things so simple? Bryony School is shutting its doors this year, but staff blame an expensive lease for the closure more than the tax change. They admit the new VAT rules didn’t help, but say it wasn’t the deciding factor. So what about Medway’s state schools? The numbers suggest the feared tidal wave of new pupils has yet to materialise. In the current year, 27 pupils moved from local independent schools to the state sector. At the same time, 22 children moved in the other direction. That’s a net gain of just five extra pupils for state schools, hardly the stuff of nightmares. Cllr Joy also asked if Medway Council were being hit with new costs given the number of students they fund in the independent sector. Medway Council says the VAT change here hasn’t made a dent. The council can reclaim the VAT on its own placements under existing rules, so no extra spending is required. The real financial strain, as ever, comes from special educational needs. Last year, Medway spent £18m on independent specialist provision for children with Education Health and Care Plans. However, the VAT change doesn’t touch this bill at all. Medway Council admits there’s a risk that things could change. If more families abandon the private sector in the future, local state schools could start to feel the pressure. For now, though, the few that have made the switch have been successfully accommodated. The council rates the risk as moderate and unlikely. The national picture is a bit messier. Over 50 private schools have shut or announced closures since the VAT policy was announced. Some parents have tried to dodge the new tax by paying fees in advance, a move now being scrutinised by HMRC. For Medway, it’s all been less dramatic than some predicted. --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Council eyes 21 flats for Chatham car park New plans have been submitted to build on the Upper Mount car park in Chatham, with Medway Council’s own Medway Development Company aiming to build 21 affordable flats in a three-storey block. The site itself is a split-level car park tucked behind Old Road, boxed in by terraced houses, newer flats, a church and a Papa John’s. It’s not exactly a beauty spot, and is precisely the site Medway needs to be developing to avoid even larger greenfield development. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!QigX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2ff0130b-a828-44f7-8509-01f1450c5c87_2586x1344.jpg) Proposals for the Upper Mount car park in Chatham. The plan is to offer a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats, each with its own balcony, and private gardens for those on the ground floor. There is also the promise of a residents-only community garden at one end, with raised beds and a bit of grass. Perhaps more unusually, the development is proposed to be entirely ‘affordable’ rented units, with the flats set to make up for the lack of affordable provision in the ongoing redevelopment at Mountbatten House. Parking remains the classic sticking point. The proposals offer 18 spaces for 21 homes, less than the council’s guidelines suggest. The developer points to its closeness to Chatham station and town centre as reasons why the reduction is justified. That will be small comfort for those who will inevitably have to engage in battle for a space at the development or those in the surrounding streets. At the public consultation held in February, just three people turned up. Most agreed the area needed more homes, but parking and access were the main concerns. There is already one formal objection from a resident on Westmount Avenue, who lives just behind the site, and is concerned about the flats overlooking their property. The planning documents describe the site as highly sustainable. It is brownfield, close to shops, buses and trains, and not in a conservation area. The design includes one of the first efforts to satisfy the new Chatham Design Code, resulting in a staggered block in buff and darker bricks, which is supposed to reflect the area’s architectural heritage. Medway’s housing numbers, both affordable and unaffordable, are well short of what is needed, so these 21 flats help close the gap, at least on paper. Whether the development will make a noticeable difference to the area is uncertain. *You can read the full plans for the Upper Mount car park and* [*respond to the application here*](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SZUDS1KNH1N00https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SZUDS1KNH1N00&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Chatham’s new ambassadorial security guards Chatham’s town centre has acquired some new fixtures in the form of so-called ‘street ambassadors,’ who are patrolling the High Street and nearby streets every day as part of a £27,000 pilot. Officially, they’re there to offer help, support local businesses, and keep an eye out for trouble. Their presence is part of a partnership between the Chatham Town Centre Forum, Pentagon Shopping Centre, and Medway Development Company, with staff supplied by Fallow Management. Scrolling through the [upbeat social media posts](https://www.facebook.com/lovechathamUK/photos/meet-the-chatham-town-centre-street-ambassadors-support-local-businesses-assist-/773678155330634/) from the council and business groups, you’d be forgiven for picturing a welcome team handing out leaflets or pointing tourists in the right direction. The language is all about ‘support’ and ‘assistance.’ One look at the uniforms and the tone changes. In the [image posted by Medway Council Leader Vince Maple](https://x.com/vincemaple/status/1950939068977582462?ref=localauthority.news), the ambassadors patrol in protective vests that say SECURITY in large letters with body-worn cameras clipped to their chests. Hardly the look of a concierge role. This kind of rebranding isn’t unique to Chatham. Across the UK, ‘ambassador’ schemes are often a new label for private security patrols. At least in official statements, the intention is to provide a reassuring presence and act as a deterrent for antisocial behaviour and shoplifting, both ongoing concerns for Chatham town centre. At the same time, it’s presented as a move to make the area feel more welcoming for shoppers and visitors, with ambassadors offering directions and help as needed. Whether that makes Chatham feel safer or simply more heavily policed is a matter of perception. The trial runs until December, with the future of the scheme likely to depend on how it’s received by the public and local traders. For the time being, the patrols are set to become a familiar presence in the town centre of Chatham, so we’ll be interested to see how much they are able to achieve. --- #### In brief 🚛 The recycling site on Medway City Estate that saw a huge fire last month is [to be closed](https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/viridor-to-close-rochester-plastics-recycling-site/?ref=localauthority.news). Operator Viridor blamed ‘challenging market conditions,’ with 42 employees being made redundant. 🏆 Medway Council Leader Vince Maple is a [finalist for Labour Councillor of the Year](https://x.com/SME4LABOUR/status/1952332759608770687?ref=localauthority.news) at the SME4Labour Awards. 🍔 Burger King at Hempstead Valley has been [granted permission](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SXLLI8KNLUE00&ref=localauthority.news) to operate its drive-through 24 hours a day, bringing it in line with nearby McDonald’s in Medway. 🗣️ Chancellor Rachel Reeves [visited the Haven holiday park in Allhallows](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video/rachel-reeves-visits-haven-holiday-park-63631/?ref=localauthority.news) this week for some reason. 😶 Medway’s Councillor Conduct Committee will [meet next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=404&MId=6285&ref=localauthority.news) to discuss a complaint against a sitting councillor. We’d love to tell you more about it, but these things happen behind closed doors because there is a ‘public interest' in keeping the details secret. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, Steven sat down with Hilary Cooke, CEO of Medway Pride and electrologist. They discuss how Medway Pride got started, her career as a shipbuilder, and a remarkable trip to the US that led to her being on a very famous TV show. [“There was three of us in this marriage, but I was two of them”Electrologist Hilary Cooke is the CEO of Medway Pride and the manager of a pub in Burham. Steven met her at The Ship in Rochester and they talked about how Medway Pride started, Hilary’s previous career as a shipbuilder and her remarkable trip to America, which she mentioned after the interview had finished, but we managed to get the recorder switched back on…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!o2tg!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fce803735-5e83-426d-be69-7c91e3f06830_2545x1909.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/there-was-three-of-us-in-this-marriage/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Searching For A Stream by Garden Centre*](https://gardencentre.bandcamp.com/album/searching-for-a-stream-2?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Play The Songs You Like by Radiator Hospital*](https://radiatorhospital.bandcamp.com/album/play-the-songs-you-like?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Middle Spoon by Cheekface*](https://cheekface.bandcamp.com/album/middle-spoon?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “There was three of us in this marriage, but I was two of them” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/there-was-three-of-us-in-this-marriage/ Last updated: 2026-03-25T16:55:54.000Z *Electrologist Hilary Cooke is the CEO of* [*Medway Pride*](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *and the manager of a pub in Burham. Steven met her at The Ship in Rochester and they talked about how Medway Pride started, Hilary’s previous career as a ship builder and her remarkable trip to America, which she mentioned after the interview had finished, but we managed to get the recorder switched back on…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!o2tg!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fce803735-5e83-426d-be69-7c91e3f06830_2545x1909.jpg) Hilary Cooke **How did you come to be CEO of Medway Pride?** That journey starts back in about 2010 when I was asked by a local charity if I could help with some people that they were supporting. They were a mental health charity who they described as members of the LGBT community. But when I went to see them, they were actually ten people and eight of them were trans, hence they hadn't got a clue about how to help them back then. The short story of that is that led me to set up an organisation called the South East Gender Initiative initially to support those people through their transition route. In 2014, that group or that organisation became [Medway Gender Sexual Diversity Centre](https://mgsd-centre.org/?ref=localauthority.news) and, come 2019, the community at large were wanting to form a Pride event in Medway. Questions were being asked, ‘Why had we not had a Pride event in Medway?’ To which I replied, ‘Well, we did have two.’ We had one in 2013 and one in 2014 that was formed by a group that were going under the name the LGBT Kent and Medway Community Action Group. We had a couple of picnics in the Vines back then. But that group as a whole then decided to go and help Margate Pride set themselves up again. In 2019, we hadn't had anything going on since 2014\. The group that were trying to get that together failed to raise enough funds to have the event go ahead. This would have been the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall events that led to the very first Pride parades in New York. So early in 2020, I was asked by some charities to see if I could find out what had happened with this event. I did a bit of an investigation and spoke to the organisers, and they explained how they tried to raise the money through one of these fundraising organisations, like a self-funded thing through donations, but that hadn't worked out. Although they'd got some money promised, because they didn't hit a target, they didn't get any money. I said to them at that point, “If I find some funders who are willing to come and help, do you want to put it on next year?” To which they all said, “Yeah, that's good.” I went and found some funders. When I called them up to say, “I've got some funders,” half the group had drifted off. There was only a couple of people left. They wanted to help, but they didn't want to be involved in the fundraising. When it comes to choosing a chair, they all stepped back and said, “You can do it, because you know the fundraising, you have the connections.” I thought, “Oh, okay then.” The Medway Pride event, unfortunately, occurred during covid. We had to set up a Pride event that nobody could attend physically. A good friend, called H, and I worked on the support work that I used to do, or still do, and at the same time as I was organising that Medway Pride, they were organising the very first [Gravesham Pride](https://graveshampride.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). We found ourselves in the same boat. We joined forces and the people we were going to have on stage, we got them together to make videos, and we live-streamed either people playing live or video recordings. For seven days, 24/7, we had this event roll on. World Pride managed one day virtually, and we did seven. It was after that that [Medway Pride](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) CIC was formed. Up until that point, we were a bunch of people who were trying to put something together. That's how I happened to end up as Chair. **How much of that time is spent wrangling funders?** Initially, we had quite a few funders who came in to support the following year's event. The very first event that was live-streamed.We didn't really need a lot of funding for that, because the artists all decided to give their time for free as it was covid and they weren't doing anything else. It didn't really cost us a lot other than people's time. The following year, which was an in-person event, we were lucky to have support from local businesses. The cost of that event wasn't immense. With some grant funding from local businesses, Medway Council, and sponsors, we managed easily to put that one on. When we moved on to the next year, which was at Rochester Castle with a parade, that was going to be a much bigger event. We needed to get more sponsorship or funding from somewhere. What occurred there was we went to some major fundraisers like the Arts Council and the National Lottery, and they stepped in with funding that covered about 50% of the cost. With our existing sponsors from the previous year, we managed to have enough money to put on that event. We've been lucky since that we've had committed funders from the universities in Medway, from a few of the local businesses, who've been repeat sponsors. We've been lucky each year that we haven't really had to go out and seek lots more sponsorship. This year has been a different story because some of those large grants that we got from the Arts Council and the National Lottery aren't available. They're funding different things. Different priorities. The Arts Council funded us for three years, and they did say at the very beginning that they don't fund projects forever. I think they got to the end of their cycle of funding for our event. They've gone on to different projects because all these projects need support. That's meant that we've got to look for more funders, which is what we have been doing. At the moment, we are seeking ways to fill that gap. We've got new sponsors on board. It's been a difficult year for businesses with increases in tax through national insurance. The world view of diversity and equality projects has taken a dive with Donald Trump being in power and asking multinationals not to run those programs if they wanted to work with the US government, which has an effect outside of America. There's been lots of pressures on organisations, which has made it more challenging. When a Pride event finishes, we have about a month off to rest, write a report to give to our funders, and at that point we start intimating how they're to support us the next year. It's like an 11-month cycle of funding. **You recently formed Burham Community Pride?** That is a business that I set up. It's not a Pride, as in an LGBT pride organisation. A local pub in the village of Burham was going to close, and it was the last real pub in the village out of seven. There is another business that has a bar, but it's more restaurant than pub. This pub was the last pub where you go play darts, music, everything else. A friend and I foolishly, two years ago, decided we'd save it. No plan. We just jumped in and turned it into a real community pub, a hub. We have people like the Women's Institute, we have book clubs, we do all the things that you would have running at a community pub, your Sunday lunches, all of that. We put on music events, jazz once a month, an open acoustic mic. We have an electric blues rock jam night. We've got poetry nights. We're trying to build up that community atmosphere and keep the pub alive. **When did you set up Hillary's Electrolysis?** I set up in Intra in 2012\. It's been a while. **What is electrolysis?** Ah, yes, my other profession. Electrolysis is a method of permanent hair removal. Basically, way back in 1870, an ophthalmologist, I think that's how you pronounce it, was trying to cure people from going blind. Basically, their eyelashes were curling and causing blindness. They developed this process where you inserted a probe into a hair follicle, passed an electric current through it, and that killed the root of the hair, stopped the hair growing. That process is pretty similar to what we do today, only we use different blends of currents today to kill off hair. But yeah, it's a permanent method of hair removal. **Is your client base wholly trans?** It's quite diverse. The reason I got into electrolysis, apart from being made redundant and not finding another job, was that I knew I had electrolysis myself years earlier, and I had this group of people that I was supporting who needed hair removal. I thought I'd take the opportunity to learn how to do that skill and set up a business. The trans community were my very first clients, but today my clients are a mix of either ladies who've reached a certain age and are starting to develop a few hairs they don't want them, ladies of any age who have health conditions similar like polycystic ovary syndrome, which converts estrogen, and they end up with hair growth similar to male patterns. And as well as trans women, some who not only want to get rid of hair on their bodies, for aesthetic reasons, but I used to work with the NHS for surgical reasons, where they may need hair removal for surgery. I used to do that as well. Occasionally, I get some men who want hair removal shaping beards so they don't have to shave all over the place. Maybe enquiries about hairy shoulders and various other things. **Let's go back to the beginning. Where were you born?** I was born in a place called Stockton-on-Tees. People might have heard of that from the Stockton to Darlington railway because it was bringing coal mainly, and goods, into Stockton, which was the nearest port. It became very famous as the first passenger railway. **What brought you to the Medway Towns?** I would have to blame Margaret Thatcher and Norman Tebbit, because I used to work in shipbuilding. That all got closed down along with lots of other things in the northeast in the ‘70s. Norman Tebbit said I had to get on a bike and go and find a job. Via Holland, I ended up in Kent in 1978\. I've been here ever since. **And when did you come to Medway?** That was ‘78\. I moved down to work with a company based in Strood. That was my first view of the Medway towns, getting off at Strood Station. **What jobs did your parents do growing up?** My dad worked in shipbuilding. Riveter, welder, but most of the time that I was aware of what he was doing, he was a councillor. He was a convener of shop stewards within the Boilermakers Union. A councillor of Stockton on Tees, he became the mayor of Stockton, and then he was on the County Council or Cleveland Council, and he became the leader of that and the chair of that as well. Mainly politics. He was, I remember, he was the agent for [Bill Rodgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill%5FRodgers,%5FBaron%5FRodgers%5Fof%5FQuarry%5FBank?ref=localauthority.news). For people who don't know, that's Lord Rodgers now, who was Transport Secretary in Harold Wilson's government. I remember seeing lots of big posh cars turning up, especially at times like the Durham Miner’s Gala, as the Labour politicians of the day would always travel up to Durham for the Miner’s Gala, and we always went there. **And your mother?** Me mum! My mum was a housewife. There was six of us to bring up. **Did you enjoy school?** Did I? I had to be very good at running at school. Mainly to run away from bullies. I was very good at cross-country running, which is what I used to like to do. I'm a bit dyslexic. Back in the day, when I was at school, if you spelled something wrong, even if the answer was right, you didn't get marked up. I wasn't very academically good at English in school, but I was pretty good at maths and technical stuff and art. Those were my favourite subjects. **And what age did you leave school?** I left at 16\. I did my CSEs as they were then. **Then went straight into shipbuilding?** Yeah. The choice back in the day, you'd have the chap come round to talk to you about what jobs were on offer, and he suggested that I should join the army. I said I didn't think that was a good thing for me particularly, but then I discovered he told everybody in the year that they should join the army. Maybe he was an army recruitment officer more than a careers advisor. Which left working in an iron factory, working in a chemical factory, or shipbuilding. Shipbuilding seemed the better of those choices. **Have you ever been a member of a political party?** Yes, I'm a member of the Labour Party. I've been a member of the Labour Party on and off since I was first able to join, from a very young age. I used to deliver leaflets for Lord Rodgers back in the day. I've been an active, if not card-holding, member of supporting them for a long time. **Has your name ever appeared on a ballot?** I did stand for the Labour Party in the Tonbridge and Malling council elections. Wasn't a seat that we were going to win, but they needed somebody to stand in it. I sort of volunteered. **Is that near where you live?** Yeah, although I live in Rochester, it's in Tonbridge and Malling. **How did you do?** Oh, from memory, it was around about 400 votes, which was pretty decent. There was a local campaign going up against Peter's Village. There were some people specifically standing against the development, and they got a lot of votes. **You've never stood again?** No. **Other than what we've mentioned, do you have any other additional roles, paid or unpaid?** I used to DJ for events and things, karaoke DJing and that sort of stuff. All the rest are volunteering. I am supposed to be retired now. **What does your average day entail?** I would get up and answer a few emails, sort out the radio schedule for the day, then come to work at my clinic over here in Rochester, and then go monitor the pub. Sometimes I might have to do something in the morning for the pub, before I get here, but always end up back at the pub to make sure things are running alright. Sometimes I work the bar there, other times it's odd things that have broken or shopping or whatever for the pub and then eventually when I get home, send some more emails out. **Who is the most famous person you are one degree of separation from?** I suppose it would be [Mark Segal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark%5FSegal?ref=localauthority.news). They were at the Stonewall Riots. They're the editor of the Philadelphia Gay News. **What do you do to unwind?** Unwind? Eh... Have a pint? Watch telly. I don't do a lot of exercise these days. **What are you watching on TV?** Mainly the news. I'm a news junkie. I have to watch several different versions of the news to try and get a picture of what's going on. **Within Pride circles, is there an unpopular opinion that you have?** I'm not one for banning people from things, although I disagree with people in politics or maybe some organisations have fallen foul of some Pride groups, like the police. I've spent decades working with these organisations to build bridges, and my views on those bodies and those people are probably different to some people who don't think they should be part of or involved in the Pride movement. **A number of Pride organisations have distanced themselves from political parties, specifically the Labour Party. What is Medway Pride's relationship with political parties?** Like any group that can have influence, you want to be able to use that influence for your cause's benefit. I'm continually talking to MPs and local politicians about issues that I think they can help us support. **When you hear the tone of conversation recently, have you considered no longer being a card-carrying member of the Labour Party?** I think they're going through a difficult patch at the moment. I keep coming up with excuses as to why things might be happening the way they are. World events, other things going on. I think it's always better to be on the inside communicating than being on the outside trying to influence. I don't think at the moment, even though it's very challenging, I don't think that I wouldn't be involved in the Labour Party. **Who has been the best Prime Minister of your lifetime?** The ones that I would like to say have also done things that I disagree with. I suppose the one that was very positive for me, but also disappointing, was Tony Blair. We suffered a lot of Thatcherism. Before that, I suppose you've got to go back to Wilson and that era where things weren't so polarised. **Can you give us some understanding of what it was like to come out as transgender in the 1980s?** I have to go back before that. I suppose my first realisation, I was about nine or ten. I started cross-dressing around that era. Didn't think I'd told anybody, but of course, living with five other siblings, people noticed stuff. I knew by then that things weren't right. I tried to subdue things by cross-dressing and being myself in private. When I got married at 19 and a half, about a year into my marriage, I came out, and then that wasn't something that was welcomed, but it wasn't a deal breaker. It was more of, ‘If you want to keep it private, that's fine.’ I had some kids coming along in my early 20s and you can't keep things private. My final stage of coming out, I was 30\. I felt at that stage that life, although it was brilliant in some ways, it just wasn't right. It was a very challenging time, in so much as I was needing to find assistance for both my mental health and a medical route to get from where I was to where I needed to be. My GP at the time wasn't very supportive, suggested I should join a rugby club. He thought that would help. I explained that wouldn't really help the situation. Over a period of about five years, I went through this process of trying to seek help. My partner at the time, we still get on great. They become more attuned. A shock at first, but not such a big issue by then. We worked through a very difficult time. There was three of us in this marriage, but I was two of them. That all happened through the mid-80s, up until I finally managed to find my route to medical transition in the early 90s. **How would you compare that to what people transitioning are going through today?** Well, it's probably even more difficult now for people than it was for me. I couldn't get a referral via the NHS, I had to seek a private medical route. I was fortunate enough, if you can call it fortunate, that I was a director of a company, and they sacked me for transitioning. I got some money paid out, which meant that I could afford to transition privately. A private transitional route back then was about three years to go through the hormonal treatment process before you got to surgery. Today, it's very difficult not only due to cost but waiting times to seek private treatment, especially if you're a young person because of the bans on certain treatments. Not being allowed to have treatments of anything under 18 years of age has made it very difficult for young people to access treatment. For adults, if there’s seven gender clinics in the UK, you can refer yourself to any one of them, but they've all got long waiting lists. If you were to refer yourself or your GP referred you to the nearest clinic in London for adult services, the last time I looked, the waiting list for a first appointment is 13 years. Not 18 weeks, but 13 years. That's just the first appointment to talk to somebody. Then you've probably got another five to seven years after that first appointment to get through the system. The government are trying to come up with new routes to try and resolve that waiting time. I do a lot of work with the local NHS, et cetera, around trying to find ways to alleviate some of the problems. It always comes down to funding in the end. If funding isn't available, even though the will might be there, they're not going to be able to do things. **What advice would you have for someone considering transitioning today?** Identify what support you need. Not everybody wants to medically transition. It's identifying what you need to move your life forward and, then seek that support. That support might just be social transition. People go through stages. It might start off with experimentation, you might get to a point where you're happy with where you are in that transitional process, and you might decide to change your name and live full-time. If medical support is your goal, then it's to get on a register for that support as soon as possible, because there will be a long wait, but eventually you get to the front of the queue, and in the meantime alleviate the distress that's caused by gender incongruence. *After the interview had finished, Hilary made a comment that required the recorder to go back on!* **How did you end up on the Jerry Springer Show?** Well, I used to do a lot of media back in the early 90s, trying to raise awareness of trans people, to make sure that people didn't think they were all scary and try and put a human touch on it. Very difficult at the time through sensationalism. I did quite a few interviews, and one of these media stories was picked up by the National Enquirer. I had this person ring me up who said they were on the Jerry Springer Show. I hadn’t heard of it. They said we'd like you to come over and do an interview on the show. I've done a few interviews in the past, and they'd all been filmed as live, and I know that people would edit stuff out, and quite often they had somebody on the show who was a bit negative. It's an adult chat show. Fine, I don't mind talking about anything. They flew me, my new boyfriend, my ex and her new partner out to Chicago. We could stay for a week because it was cheaper to fly out and come back a week later than the next day. We had a nice holiday, went and did the Jerry Springer Show, and they took us into different rooms. They were trying to say, we want you to talk about this and have a discussion with your partner about that. I said, ‘Why would I do that?’ Well, because it's television. I said we're not antagonistic amongst each other. We're quite happy. We'll talk about stuff, but we're not going to attack each other verbally. Anyway, we went out on stage, and they were filming the first half. Jerry Springer said, this is what they call the British reserve. He asked me this question, and I started answering it. I got halfway into my answer, and he asked me another question. I said I'll get to that one when I've finished answering the first one, thanks. I just continued answering the first one. Anyway, something must have been said in the break before we went out again, and they decided that, as we weren't going to fight each other, they would like it if we could both marry our new partners on stage. My new boyfriend said, ‘I'm not divorced yet from my existing wife.’ They said, ‘It's only television. It's not real.’ They weren't very happy, but it was fun. --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*.* *If you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, email* [*Steven*](mailto:thepoliticalmedway@localauthority.news)*.* *Steven Keevil still manages to watch hundreds of films a year. He recommends* [*Fantastic Four*](https://www.marvel.com/movies/the-fantastic-four-first-steps?ref=localauthority.news)*. He listened to no music whilst writing this, but recommends reading* [*A Short History of the Apocalypse by Frankie Boyle*](https://uk.bookshop.org/book/9781399817714?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Restored floatplane goes on display inside cathedral URL: https://www.localauthority.news/restored-floatplane-goes-on-display/ Last updated: 2025-08-01T18:37:45.000Z *Rochester Cathedral has developed a reputation for striking installations in recent years, and its latest brings a local connection with a restored Shorts floatplane displayed throughout August. We’ve been finding out about its twelve-year journey to restoration. Further down, we have news of Medway’s low MMR vaccine uptake, security being needed in Medway libraries, reviews of Space at the Platform 3 Club in Rainham and Bollywood Buffet Club, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Restored floatplane goes on display inside cathedral *For the month of August, there is an exhibition based around a* [*Shorts Scion Floatplane*](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/floatplane?ref=localauthority.news) *at Rochester Cathedral. We spoke with the Chief Executive of* [*Rochester Bridge Trust*](https://rbt.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, Sue Threader, to find out how this came to be…* The Rochester Bridge Trust provided grant funding to the [Medway Aircraft Preservation Society](https://www.mapsl.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) (MAPS), based at Rochester Airport, for the restoration of a Shorts Floatplane. “We’ve been funding that since 2013,” Sue tells me. As the project was finally coming to its conclusion, they discussed how to maximise the public benefit for the work that had been done. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!-4R1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2ad06d4e-defa-45e6-b658-c18b25344298_4000x2250.jpg) Shorts Floatplane in Rochester Cathedral. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority “We need to get this to as many people as we can. How do we do that?” The answer was a big exhibition and a summer of free engineering education events. The exhibition is at Rochester Cathedral throughout the month of August, and is completely free. “That includes our adventure golf course as well.” That’s right, nine holes of engineering-themed adventure golf. Inevitably, some of you will wonder, as I did, what a floatplane is. “People have been asking me in the last few weeks about the different floatplanes and seaplanes and all this.” She explains that the fuselage of the plane is supported on large floats. As it takes off from the water or lands on the water, “it's on these great big floats underneath the plane.” Instead of having wheels and a normal landing gear for on land, it's got floats and thus can sit on the river, unlike a seaplane, “where the whole thing is actually sitting in the water.” The plane that has been restored and exhibited was made at the Shorts Factory in Rochester in 1937, and it last flew in 1958\. “It's been sitting on the ground ever since.” The Short Brothers factory, which was one of the very early aircraft pioneers, was initially based on the Isle of Sheppey. They then moved to a purpose-built factory on Rochester Esplanade, just upriver from the bridge. “There was a slipway that allowed them to put the planes into the water, which still exists. It's still there. You can see the slipway, but obviously the rest of the factory's all gone now.” The factory “was a really important industrial pioneer for Rochester,” says Sue, before the company moved to Belfast, where it still operates to this day. Whilst the area has been redeveloped, there are still [tunnels](https://www.localauthority.news/going-underground-in-rochester/) in the area, though these are largely left securely locked and inaccessible. The tunnels were conceived as a place of security for the workers at the Shorts Factory in 1938, when Oswald Short did not believe that Chamberlain’s “peace in our time” declaration would last. Built into the steep chalk banks, they were made to support 10,000 workers, with toilets, electricity, lighting and fans. Malcolm Moulton, who was involved with the Medway Aircraft Preservation Society, approached Sue back in 2013 to ask if the Trust would consider funding the restoration of the plane, “which they'd located at Redhill Aerodrome.” Malcolm knew that the Rochester Bridge Trust were interested in Shorts because “of the proximity to the Bridge and there are some fantastic images of these planes taking off over the Bridge.” The Trust has a grants program that looks at the history of the River Medway and restoring artefacts and historic structures that tell the story of the River Medway. Sue was interested “particularly because I've become aware since I got involved at the trust that just about everybody in Rochester has relatives who worked at Short Brothers.” There is a lot of affection for the factory, and Sue feels that “it just seemed a crying shame to me that there were no Shorts planes on display in Medway, and it's that sort of perfect conjunction really of what we're interested in.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WoH5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f103c8413-ebd3-44a2-9c2d-c39fbe3e2af6_1469x1102.jpg) Volunteers at MAPs restoring the Shorts floatplane. The Trust also do grant funding for skills development, and “obviously we're very interested in engineering skills.” With the project’s historic link, the Trust agreed to fund the project. It was initially a three-year project, but for various reasons, not least the complete reorganisation of Rochester Airport, “it's taken quite a lot longer than that”. Once the exhibition at the cathedral ends, the plane will be on display at the airfield. “They're looking at whether they can display it high up within their hangar.” MAPS is open Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. “You can go and visit them any time and actually see what they're doing. They're always working on these really fascinating projects.” Sue hopes that this exhibition will raise awareness of the preservation society’s work. “It's open to the public and people can go up and visit, and maybe volunteer.” Sue wants people to know that the exhibition is not just about the floatplane. “This great big yellow aeroplane is inside the cathedral, and as far as I'm aware, it's never been done before.” That is the centrepiece, but MAPS will also have their work on display “to tell everybody about the restoration and their volunteers will be there.” The cathedral has also arranged an exhibition in the crypt about the history of the Short Brothers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!GrYo!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb2229c66-a54d-4959-ad34-33a52909a390_4000x2250.jpg) Shorts floatplane in Rochester Cathedral. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority “Most importantly for us, we're running our family engineering education activities.” Families can come along, free of charge, and there will be education assistants to help young people “have a go at engineering, and we try to pick activities that show the connection between civil engineering, which is our main thing, and aeronautical engineering.” Sue insists it's all about education, but it's mainly about fun, so don’t forget the golf course in the garden. --- #### In brief ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ts_P!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7bf8fe09-8884-4223-9b10-ef0f2bcabf73_4284x2243.jpg) Martin Hubbard and Cllr Alex Paterson unveiling the new Shorts Brothers sign in Rochester. 🛩️ Cllr Alex Paterson and Martin Hubbard from [Short Brothers Aviation Heritage](http://www.shortbrothersaviationpioneers.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) unveiled a new Short Brothers information sign on Rochester Esplanade this week, marking the former riverside site of the aircraft manufacturing company. Hubbard believes this is important so “the story of Shorts is not forgotten and is promoted to future generations, as sadly there is little tangible evidence left.” ⚽ Oral History Medway have [released a video](https://oralhistorymedway.co.uk/stories/gillingham-football-club-supporters-stories/?fbclid=IwY2xjawL4hlVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETB2ZnlBOERUT0pTWTlKNmF5AR4YmnF7R3Iow%5F9rRYl%5FRXfdlElpjZLcaaPOvoNhksL9RLG3utrrzw9Mm7tWYA%5Faem%5FwXnAavA7J%5FuqSJ2teGrr3Q&ref=localauthority.news) as part of a project with the Gillingham Football Club Supporters Association, sharing supporters’ stories of important moments from the club’s history. --- #### Low MMR vaccine uptake in Medway The recent death of a child with measles at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool has put a focus on the low levels of vaccination, which causes a failure in herd immunity. In 2023/24, 80% of children in Medway had had both doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination by five years of age. Data for the year to date suggests a small increase in the uptake. We spoke to Medway Council Deputy Leader Teresa Murray, the Portfolio Holder for Health, to discuss the issue facing Medway. Cllr Murray is keen to highlight that there has been a push to improve MMR uptake and that Medway has increased to 84.7% but acknowledges that Medway and Kent are below the 95% recommended by the World Health Organization. There are children in Medway who have had one jab, and there are efforts via family hubs and GP services to get that second jab. In Teresa’s opinion, there has been an impact from covid, but there has been a considerable amount of inaccurate information linking the MMR vaccine and autism. The National Autistic Society and the UK Health Security Agency both unequivocally refute that any such link exists, with no reputable scientific evidence to support it. Vaccine scepticism grew through the covid pandemic, but it doesn’t change the fact that measles in particular is a nasty disease. It can spread quickly, starting with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash and spots inside the mouth. One in five young people who catch it needs hospital care. Measles can be severe in adults and can lead to pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and even death. With the MMR vaccine, it is avoidable and 100% effective. They are looking to use the Medway Go program over the summer school holidays and are reviewing how they can work with schools and early year settings to promote that the vaccination is safe and that children should be having it. Medway Council are working with NHS partners, including MCH and Kent Community Health Foundation, to review the situation to try and increase uptake across the board. --- #### Medway libraries now regularly require security staff On a recent trip to one of Medway’s libraries, we were slightly surprised to find a security guard positioned at the entrance. This naturally made us curious about what could have led to this, so we asked Medway Council how long this has been going on. Medway Council confirmed to us that they have been using security on an as required basis, both at events and in response to incidents, with regular use of security starting in August 2024\. An anonymous library staff member informed us that, whilst there has always been negative behaviour from some users when there are late fees, there has been an increase in abusive and disruptive behaviour from teenagers and young adults in Medway’s libraries. This need for security, we have been told, has been because of behaviour including toying with the elevators, mixing up jigsaw puzzles, and releasing stink bombs. Two regular security staff members are in place, who work across several Medway libraries and community hubs. Whilst this has been welcomed by library staff, basic maths highlights that two security staff across 15 libraries leads to times when security is likely needed but not present. There has been a national trend of increasing anti-social behaviour at libraries, and Medway Council wants to ensure they remain safe and welcoming places. They have recently launched a [Library Customer Charter](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1913/medway%5Flibraries%5Fintroduce%5Fcustomer%5Fcharter?ref=localauthority.news), which includes pledges from staff and guidance on how to use the libraries and community hubs. --- #### Out to Dinner: Bollywood Buffet Club We have previously reviewed [Bollywood Box](https://www.localauthority.news/i/144477308/out-to-lunch-bollywood-box-in-gillingham), and in short, I love it. It is one of my favourite places to eat. Rav’s delicious food was originally launched as a buffet, but like so much that was good in the world, it changed during Covid. For one night only[1](#footnote-1), Bollywood Buffet was back, this time hosted at The Deep End on Medway’s university complex. To indicate how excited I was about this sold out night, when we sat down, we were on table 1\. There was an excellent range of delicious food at £25 a head (excluding the university-run bar). Samosas, onion bhajis, a selection of rice, butter chicken, lamb curry, lentil dhal, and sweet chilli chicken were just some of the highlights. You were greeted with traditional poppadoms, and I was served additional mango chutney because Rav is a giant amongst men. There was also a potentially limitless supply of exquisite butter naan bread. Dear reader, I am not a young man any more, and to my shame, I went hard and fast, and then spent 20 minutes regretting several life decisions, but damn, the food is so good that it’s worth it. --- #### **Review: Space at Platform 3 Club in Rainham** **by Moira Mehaffey** Space have been somewhat unfairly and lazily branded as a Britpop band as their two best known albums were released in 1996 and 1998\. Their sound, even then, was markedly different from the majority of guitar-driven indie bands, incorporating electronica through synths, loops and samples. The interest in tonight’s performance lay in how stripping the band down to just lead vocalist and guitarist Tommy Scott and bassist Phil Hartley would affect the arrangement and delivery of the songs. The five singles from platinum-selling debut ‘Spiders’ bookend the set, with the duo seeming to grow more assured in response to the positive reception from early numbers ‘Money’ and ‘Dark Clouds.’ Hartley’s bass playing is fluid and melodic, and adds depth to the sound in lieu of the twiddly electronica on the records. Second album ‘Tin Planet’ is also well represented, the quirkiness of the songwriting coming to the fore in the stripped-back format, embellished with mariachi elements in Scott’s guitar playing. Dark humour conveys twisted lyrical tales playfully. A new song, ‘Light It Up,’ is debuted, and we are invited to imagine a car thief, atop the broken down stolen vehicle, necking Jack Daniels and contemplating an offer of the devil’s last cigarette. Scott’s animated face and gestures match his expressive vocals as he throws himself into storyteller mode and feeds off the energy of an appreciative crowd. The night closes with the band’s three top 20 singles of 1996, which spark an enthusiastic singalong - including several audience members not old enough to have been there the first time around. This serves as a testament both to the enduring appeal of the songs and the ability of the Platform 3 promoters to curate impressive line-ups and foster a welcoming and supportive community of music lovers, who, as we leave, are taking selfies and getting autographs from the band. --- #### Events this week ✈️ Until 31 Aug - [**Floatplane**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/floatplane?ref=localauthority.news) // Short Scion Floatplane displayed in the cathedral, with an exhibition and activities. Rochester Cathedral. Free. 🎨 Until 2 Sep - [**Summer Exhibition**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Open call exhibition featuring artists working in a variety of media. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. 🛍️ Sat 2 Aug - [**Rainham Food and Craft Market**](https://www.facebook.com/events/767116673143183/) // Artisan market selling produce from local small businesses. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Free. 🌟 Thu 7 Aug - [**My Shining Star Fun Day**](https://www.facebook.com/events/9588226097874043/) // Day of activities and entertainment raising money for children’s cancer charity. Rainham Cricket Club. Free. --- #### More Authority Every month, we publish a column by one of Medway’s elected representatives. This month, it was the turn of Cllr George Perfect, Conservative opposition leader at Medway. He writes about Medway’s emerging Local Plan. [Voice of the OppositionEditor’s note: Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, for our latest Voice piece, we welcome Medway Council Leader of the Opposition George Perfect, who talks about Medway’s emerging Local Plan.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!usNQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2a55784b-5be7-40e0-bf6b-408a4982d36f_5712x4284.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-opposition-7dc/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* --- 1. *The night went so well, they have started talking about doing it again in August or September. So be sure to follow [Bollywood Box](https://www.instagram.com/bollywoodboxuk/?ref=localauthority.news) on social media, and book early when the call goes out to avoid disappointment.* [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") ### Voice of the Opposition URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-opposition-7dc/ Last updated: 2025-07-31T10:42:51.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, for our latest Voice piece, we welcome Medway Council Leader of the Opposition George Perfect, who talks about Medway’s emerging Local Plan.* --- #### **Voice of the Opposition** **by Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!usNQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2a55784b-5be7-40e0-bf6b-408a4982d36f_5712x4284.jpg) Medway Conservatives Leader Cllr George Perfect and Conservative Party Leader Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP meet on the sidelines of the Local Government Association Conference in Liverpool I am writing this Voice of the Opposition on the way back from the Local Government Association Conference in Liverpool, where I have spent the last few days with colleagues of all parties, as well as having constructive meetings with Conservative colleagues from around the country. Yesterday, I was fortunate to meet with the Leader of my Party and HM Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, and with our Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government, Kevin Hollinrake. I remain confident that my party will renew and rebuild in the months ahead. Kemi set out to me yesterday, the Conservative Party is under new leadership. From now on, we are going to be telling the British people the truth, even when it is difficult to hear: the truth about the mistakes we made, the truth about the problems we face, and the truth about the actions we must take to get our country out of its current challenges. It may not feel like it right now, but our country’s best days are ahead of us. I wanted to take the opportunity in this Voice of the Opposition to talk about the Local Plan, and specifically summarise why members of the Conservative Group did not support it at the special meeting of the Council held last month. I am very clear, it is right that the administration proceeded with work on a local plan, but I am also clear, it must be the right plan and deliver for residents of existing communities. Firstly, on health. We are not starting on a level playing field. It’s clear to all of us that there are significant challenges that our local healthcare services face - a GP crisis, a hospital with ageing infrastructure in desperate need of a long-term plan, and a lack of community services for our people. There is no additional capacity that could cope with up to 50,000 additional users in Medway, let alone all the new residents of Swale, that the hospital also serves. Without a clear plan and investment to deliver that plan, it will put our critical medical infrastructure in an even more precarious state. Secondly, on pressure on our already overwhelmed utility services. We are concerned that the plan is not built on infrastructure that will deliver for the long term. Just weeks ago, Southern Water urged residents to restrict their water use owing to the weather. With power, there is nothing within the Local Plan report giving us warmth and certainty around the ability of the grid to be able to provide the necessary power for our people. Medway deserves certainty around our utilities to avoid existing communities suffering from a lack of government investment into this area. The plan relies far too heavily on written undertakings rather than evidence that the utilities companies have invested and costed plans that will deliver the capacity that support housebuilding at scale whilst keeping existing services and the investment to upgrade ageing infrastructure. Since the Labour government came to power, they promised better transport services but have only delivered disruption both in Medway and around the country. They gave an unaffordable inflation-busting pay deal for many areas of the public sector, scrapped vital road projects, and at the same time pushed up rail and bus fares. The Conservatives invested £100bn upgrading the railways and introduced the £2 bus fare cap to help families, all things that would have supported this local plan. This local plan does not deliver a long-term transport plan, without plans for key critical junctions, roads that are already over capacity, and a railway network creaking and in urgent need of investment. There are currently no plans for any significant infrastructure investment from the new Government, and this is a failure of the three local MPs who have delivered nothing to improve our transport facilities as part of this local plan. Finally, the impact on Medway the place. This Local Plan will significantly change the face of our five towns and the Peninsula by 2041\. It will see massive change to all areas of Medway, and we worry it is not considering the change of communities in the whole. Suddenly, the rural life of those that enjoy Hempstead, Lordswood and the Peninsula will suddenly see mass urbanisation on land that is currently agricultural, the Docks will close, and the lifeblood of employment that this site provides will be lost forever. Large parts of the Hoo Peninsula and the surrounding area will lose their village status and feel. And of course, we remain concerned about the Chatham Docks. We all saw the passion from the public gallery in last months’s special council meeting. Those workers were rightfully angry at the administration after being promised by the now Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council that they would save Chatham Docks, even standing shoulder to shoulder on the very steps of the building where they decided to put their jobs at risk just a few short years later. The [consultation on the Regulation 19](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200542/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5F2041/2006/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5Fregulation%5F19%5Fconsultation/2?ref=localauthority.news) remains open throughout July, and I would encourage all residents to leave their feedback and attend consultation events to make your voice heard. *Cllr George Perfect is the Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council and Conservative councillor for Rainham North.* ### Red routes suddenly start catching people in some places URL: https://www.localauthority.news/red-routes-suddenly-start-catching/ Last updated: 2025-07-30T08:12:34.000Z *Earlier this year, we revealed how some of Medway’s red route cameras hadn’t managed to catch a single driver flouting the rules. Six months on, that’s still the case in some places, but one location in particular is seeing hundreds of fines issued every month. We take a look at what’s been going on. Further down, we have news of Budgens being refused a licence to open a grocery store in Chatham’s flagship regeneration project, news and brief, and more.* **Editor’s note:* Thanks for your understanding and kind words I’ve received after slowing down our schedule a little following the death of my father. We’re almost back to full speed now (if not quite, hence this arriving on Wednesday morning and being a little shorter than usual), but we should be putting out a full slate of content this week. Thanks also to everyone who came along to our fourth birthday event last week - we’ll share some photos and audio from that in the coming weeks. It’s been a weird time to be hitting a significant milestone for Local Authority, but it has demonstrated the kind and engaged audience that has developed around this thing, and we’re so, so grateful for that.* --- #### Red routes suddenly start catching people in some places but not others Medway Council’s red route scheme is providing a very mixed bag of results for the authority, with two of the five sites failing to catch a single driver flouting the rules in the first year of operation. On the other hand, some sites, most notably The Brook in Chatham, are issuing fines to swathes of drivers following an adjustment of the camera positions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!XT2-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff74987d1-5044-4680-a7f7-fb382580fd4d_6000x3376.jpg) A red route. Earlier this year, [we reported that just 35 fines had been issued](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-red-route-cameras-arent-catching/) across the five red route locations in the first six months of operation of the scheme from May 2024. The picture is very different for the first half of 2025 though, with over 1,800 fines being issued on Medway’s red routes between January and June this year, according to figures obtained by *Local Authority*. Most of these (1,585) came from The Brook in Chatham, which only saw five fines issued in 2024\. Medway Council told us that an additional camera was placed on The Brook to provide additional coverage. Happily for Medway Council, that camera seems to have been placed where hundreds of drivers each month park illegally. When we asked Medway Council last year why no one was being caught on The Brook despite the on-the-ground evidence of illegal parking, they told us it was due to “a high level of compliance” with the rules. Presumably, it is both fortunate and unfortunate that hundreds of drivers stopped complying after a second camera was installed. In distant second is High Street, Rainham, where 210 fines were issued. Next is Star Hill in Rochester, with 27 drivers receiving penalties. Finally, both Corporation Street in Rochester and Best Street in Chatham saw zero fines issued to drivers. While Best Street seems feasible, given no one seems to ever stop there, a cursory glance along Corporation Street will usually find at least a couple of vehicles either stopped in the loading bay in peak hours or cars dropping people off in the station bus stop. One can only assume that Medway Council will be looking to move some cameras around there to get the figures looking a little more like The Brook. --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Budgens refused licence for Chatham store Budgens has been told it can’t sell alcohol from its new store in the Chatham Waterfront development, after councillors rejected the application over fears it would worsen anti-social behaviour in the town centre. The store, which forms part of the large new blocks of flats on the riverfront, was seeking permission to sell alcohol from 6am to 11pm each day. But the site falls within a Cumulative Impact Policy zone and a Public Space Protection Order area, both designed to control the availability of alcohol in areas where drink-related crime and nuisance are already a problem. The council's licensing committee heard objections from Medway’s public health team and Kent Police, who pointed to persistent issues with street drinking, assaults and alcohol-fuelled disturbances in the surrounding area. They warned that allowing another off-licence could tip the balance further, citing evidence that increased availability of alcohol has a direct impact on local harm. In return, Budgens argued that the store would not contribute to these issues, pointing to a refusal to stock high-strength booze or single cans and the area's wider regeneration. But councillors remained unconvinced, saying the application failed to show how it would not add to the problems already identified. It was noted that the bar for new alcohol licences in cumulative impact areas is set deliberately high, and that nothing in Budgens’ proposal qualified as exceptional. This isn’t the first time a major retailer has come up against Medway’s alcohol policy. A few months ago, Tesco applied for a licence to sell alcohol from a convenience store next to Rochester Station, just within the Rochester cumulative impact zone. Despite the site’s proximity to a busy commuter route and its potential to serve local residents, the application was met with strong opposition from both public health officers and the police. Tesco tried to tweak its proposal by reducing the hours, but the pushback remained firm, and the application was eventually dropped. The council’s approach has been consistent in this. Alcohol in cumulative impact zones will only be approved if the applicant can show it won’t contribute to existing problems. Still, the threshold for that is so high that most can’t, meaning it is nearly impossible to open a new grocery provision in a town centre covered by such a scheme, even if the town desperately needs it. While Budgens has been refused permission to sell alcohol, a tanning salon in a neighbouring unit in the same development has recently opened. For now, the verdict is clear. UV beds are fine, but a grocery store in a new flagship regeneration scheme is a bit too far. --- #### In brief 🚒 The former St John Fisher school building in Ordnance Street in Chatham [caught fire again last night](https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/incident/medway/close-windows-and-doors-near-ordnance-street-chatham?ref=localauthority.news). It’s roughly the 637th fire on the site since the school closed in 2022. ➡️ Tickets are now available for the hottest political ticket for the summer, as all three Medway Reform branches come together to hold a special event in… [Maidstone](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reform-uk-medway-joint-branch-event-presents-an-evening-with-matt-goodwin-tickets-1524939307519?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&ref=localauthority.news). They’ll welcome Matt Goodwin, a politics professor who managed to radicalise himself, and some other speakers. 🏗️ Medway Council are set to [increase the scope of its care home project](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=80819&ref=localauthority.news) on the former Innovation Park Medway site. The new plans will see a £37m project to create an 80-bed facility with the possibility of complementary services alongside. 🍲 Food charities in Medway are [calling for more support](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video/food-charities-call-for-more-support-as-30-of-medway-children-now-live-in-poverty-63570/?ref=localauthority.news) as 30% of children in the area now live in poverty. 🏪 Poundland is set to [close its Rainham store](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/poundland-to-shut-two-more-stores-but-another-to-reopen-in-327742/?ref=localauthority.news), which opened less than three years ago. 🎾 The University of Greenwich is the latest to jump on the padel hype train, [applying to build two outdoor courts](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SZ2UB3KNFYD00&ref=localauthority.news) on a temporary ten-year basis. ⚽ 62 football pitches in Medway could be improved using [£600,000 funding from the Football Foundation](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2eze7gw828o?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### More Authority Our schedule has still been a bit over the place, so two pieces in the past week have been exclusively for our paid supporters. Last week, our music correspondent Stephen Morris [reviewed three new Medway music releases](https://www.localauthority.news/sea-monsters-swirling-organs-and/) by The Penrose Web, The Spike Direction Effect, and The Guy Hamper Trio. [Sea monsters, swirling organs, and Chatham pocketsThere’s a lot of new Medway music emerging at the moment, so we got our music correspondent, Stephen Morris, to take a listen to three new releases from Medway bands and tell you all about them.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityStephen Morris![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/f064bf02-973d-4f50-bcfc-5ca6371501f7_2240x1260.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/sea-monsters-swirling-organs-and/) On Sunday, our big sit-down interview was with Gillingham North councillor and former Deputy Mayor, [Douglas Hamandishe](https://www.localauthority.news/my-baptism-to-life-was-seeing-mankind/). We discuss his arrival in the UK as a refugee, how he trained as an engineer but became a mental health nurse, and lots more. [“My baptism to life was seeing mankind at its worst”Douglas Hamandishe was elected to Medway Council in 2023, and has recently served as Deputy Mayor. Steven met him at Gun Wharf and they discussed coming to the UK as a refugee, why training as an engineer helped make him a mental health nurse, and what the AI leverage is.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!umeS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3bc5ed19-88e5-46cd-8078-2d102eefec98_1536x1152.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/my-baptism-to-life-was-seeing-mankind/) Over on our sister title, the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), we sat down with the new Reform leader of Kent County Council, [Linden Kemkaran](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/i-think-theres-a-lot-gone-wrong-with?ref=localauthority.news). It’s the biggest interview she has done since taking over in May, and we touch upon a lot, from her background, the perception of her party, Brexit, and whether the UK is heading toward civil disorder. It’s a hugely illuminating read about a new politician who now wields an awful lot of power. [“I think there's a lot gone wrong with politics, not just in Kent”In May, Reform swept to power at Kent County Council, taking 57 of 81 seats. Linden Kemkaran emerged as their new leader from that group. We met her at County Hall to discuss her experiences as the child of the Windrush generation, why she joined and left the Conservative Party, Brexit, running the UK’s largest local council, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!AlOl!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8d4a4c7f-19fc-4e7c-87d7-4ed0b87571a5_567x567.png)Kent Current](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/i-think-theres-a-lot-gone-wrong-with?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*The Sunset Tree by The Mountain Goats*](https://themountaingoats.bandcamp.com/album/the-sunset-tree?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Accelerate by REM*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=%5FWe6ubpUHZs&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Prioritise Pleasure by Self Esteem*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtd%5FjlV61mA&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “My baptism to life was seeing mankind at its worst” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/my-baptism-to-life-was-seeing-mankind/ Last updated: 2025-07-27T06:00:59.000Z What Steven asked Douglas Hamandishe, Gillingham North Labour councillor and former Deputy Mayor _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Sea monsters, swirling organs, and Chatham pockets URL: https://www.localauthority.news/sea-monsters-swirling-organs-and/ Last updated: 2025-07-25T09:03:21.000Z *There’s a lot of new Medway music emerging at the moment, so we got our music correspondent, Stephen Morris, to take a listen to three new releases from Medway bands and tell you all about them.* --- #### The Least of Our Concerns by The Penrose Web An idea for an art gallery to pick up: an exhibition of Medway-based album covers all blown up to metre-square images. Theatre Royal’s *…And Then It Came Out of My Head*, Stuart Turner and the Flat Earth Society’s *Scowl*, The Singing Loins’ *13 Moon Songs from Merry Hell.* Each one is a stunning piece of art in its own right. And now, of course, there is *The Least of our Concerns* by The Penrose Web. The artwork is an exquisite sketch of a seaside pier, complete with a helter-skelter and pavilion. But between these two structures, hiding in plain sight, is an optical illusion: an impossible triangle. Or, to give it its proper name: the Penrose triangle. There’s also a rather ominous sight: the tail of some curious, and worryingly enormous sea creature. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!7f4F!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1f9ae959-16c6-4467-a6f9-b6516c6c0614_700x700.jpg) It’s an entirely fitting image to accompany the songs found on *The Least of our Concern –* and not just because the band shares its name with the shape at the centre of the image. Like the seaside drawing adorning the cover, the music seems, on first listen, relatively innocuous. This is, after all, the sound of The Prisoners/The Galileo 7’s Allan Crockford and Thrashing Doves/Death in Vegas’s Ian Button having a bit of knock-about fun with some psych-pop tunes. Only it’s not quite that simple. At the heart of the album stands the aural equivalent of an impossible triangle – with the menace of a sea monster always lurking in the background. This is a record about wars within one’s own mind, of regrets over the past and frustration with the slipping away of time, of a desire to become better while the world gets worse. The record opens with a deceptive, light of touch sounding tune full of whimsy and word play (“it’s never too late to be out of date”). But amidst all of this, ‘Never Too Soon,’ with its jangly light psychedelic sound, sets the scene for much of what is to follow. This is a song, just like the album it introduces, that is all about an unwinnable battle with time. Nowhere do Crockford and Button put it better than on the line “it’s autumn but it feels just like spring.” _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Rochester Bridge Trust supports community projects URL: https://www.localauthority.news/rochester-bridge-trust-supports-community/ Last updated: 2025-07-23T09:00:38.000Z *The Rochester Bridge Trust is a medieval charity tasked with looking after crossings of the River Medway. In recent years, they have been turning their eye to more community projects they can support, so we’ve been talking to them about what they do. Further down, we have news on Austen’s turning ten, a Rochester author launching a new book, Britpop band Space visiting Rainham, our weekly events guide, and more.* **Editor’s note:* Thank you so much to everyone who sent incredibly kind and thoughtful messages following the passing of my dad last week. It’s been lovely to read them all. I’ve tried to reply to everyone, but please don’t take it personally if I've missed you given the volume I received. Today’s edition should have gone out last Friday. There won’t be a regular news briefing this week - that’ll return next week. After today, we’ll put out something for paid supporters on Friday, before resuming our usual schedule with our Sunday interview. Thanks again for your patience and understanding -Ed.* --- #### Rochester Bridge Trust supports community projects *In the first of a short series about the Rochester Bridge Trust, we spoke with Nicola Parks, the Director of Charitable Projects, about the grant funding part of the trust, and the work they have done in Medway.* The [Rochester Bridge Trust](https://rbt.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is an independent not-for-profit organisation whose primary purpose is maintaining the three bridges in Rochester. The charity is medieval, established in 1399, to provide free safe crossing over the River Medway. “The charity has been able to maintain and sustain the work that they're doing through the income that they generate, which is completely free of charge to the public.” The charity does not rely on any grant funding or contracts. “We have property and land that was originally endowed as part of that original establishment of the organisation.” The trust is in the fortunate position that any money that “we have left over after we've looked after those bridges, we're able to do our charitable projects.” Nicola joined the trust a year ago in the newly formed role, Director of Charitable Projects, with the purpose of the role to look at how the trust can “be more strategic about the charitable projects that we're trying to do and ensure that we're creating as much impact for the local community as possible with that work.” Nicola considers herself fortunate to look after the grants programme and the trust’s educational work, archive and exhibitions. The [Short floatplane exhibition](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/floatplane?ref=localauthority.news) at Rochester Cathedral, which we will be covering in a future edition of this organ, is “very much in my area. It started life as a grant from the trust in 2014, and it's now evolved into an opportunity to share and express around engineering education.” This includes free hands-on family activities of what it might be like to become an engineer in the future. The trust has been giving out grants for years. It paid for the establishment of Maidstone Girls' Grammar, but “it was two years ago that the trustees decided to have a dedicated pot.” This enabled the trust, using their grants policy, to go out and “drive as many projects as we can.” A challenge that the trust has had is awareness. “Not many people have heard of us or the work that we do,” admits Nicola. That has had an impact on people finding out about the grants and having a conversation with the trust about what's available. This led to the establishment of Nicola’s role. “My background is in grants, to try and help drive and engage with local organisations around the work that we do.” Rochester Bridge Trust have been working with Kent Community Foundation “to try and help encourage local smaller organisations to be aware of our work.” This has included bringing the grant management up to date. “We've got quite a lot of investment behind the scenes. It feels like a really quality experience when you're working with the trust.” This has included clarity about the types of projects that they can fund, as well as being able to be much more meaningful about recording that impact and sharing the benefit of their work. Grants that are live at the moment include large PhD projects, which aren’t cheap. “If you're paying for someone's time, over a prolonged period of time, they're much more expensive”. Their small education grants pot fund up to £500\. “Typically, that's for schools to apply for bits of kit, Kinects or Lego,” something that will add value to STEM teaching. They also provide £500 towards transport “if a school wants to visit a museum or a site.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vGXV!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f537fc777-ffa5-4d09-ab9d-d8e6c6c435bd_2126x1478.jpg) Launch of the former Olympic boat at Medway Towns Rowing Club. A grant that has recently been provided was towards a new rowing boat. The trust had been in conversations with Medway Towns Rowing Club around “the art of the possible, what we may be able to do,” but nothing had really come from it. The club approached the trust about their need for a new sculling boat. “These are really expensive bits of kit.” The club is trying to increase membership post-covid, as well as to encourage younger rowers to get out into the water and to experience it. The trust liked the fact that they were “trying to break down barriers in terms of people being able to access the water, it not feeling an elitist sport.” A new boat was going to enable some capacity to “really drive younger people to be able to participate in the sport. We told them we're up for collaborating on this.” The club found a boat that was used at the Paris Olympics, and the trust were able to agree a grant. “We're really excited to hear how the boat performs this summer.” A large grant that the Trust have provided is to St John’s church in Chatham. The church has had a large Heritage Lottery grant, but “they were falling short in terms of the restoration of the stained-glass windows.” The trust has a connection with the church, and were “also mindful that we hadn't done anything really in Chatham in that community.” The Trust were taken by the project, “wanting to make that a community space, be able to have more people come in and participate in different activities.” Rochester Bridge Trust have left it intentionally vague about how much they can support, aiming for between 25% and 75% of the project's total cost. “There's also some caveats in terms of things that we cannot fund, but that's all made available on our [grants policy](https://rbt.org.uk/grants/?ref=localauthority.news).” But if you have a project that you think the Rochester Bridge Trust could possibly support, Nicola would be eager to have a conversation. --- #### Austen’s turns 10 *Austen’s of Rochester is celebrating their tenth anniversary. We spoke to the Father and Daughter team of Andy and Jess Austen to find out more about the celebrations…* Austen’s is an award-winning farm shop on Rochester High Street with an emphasis on high-quality food, a large percentage of which is locally produced. As the ten years have passed, the business has changed through growth, but Andy says they have always been “very pro-customer service. We're very friendly, very attentive, and nothing's too much trouble.” As well as running their social media, Jess has been focused on their ten year anniversary campaign. It is called “10 days for 10 years,” says Jess, and they are running various events as part of that. One of the main things they have been doing is “daily giveaways in the shop”. This is ending on their 10th anniversary, which is today (Wed 23 Jul). The prizes have been gifted “by our lovely suppliers, who we have really great working relationships with.” On Saturday, the prize on offer was a taproom gift card from Western Brewery and two cans of beer. Sunday, there was a gift from Biddenden Vineyard. I ask them what their favourite item in store is, and they both answer without hesitation that it is “absolutely cherries.” This time of year, Andy tells me, “We do nearly a ton in weight of cherries.” In addition to the daily giveaways and excellent cherries, there will be a celebration in the shop tonight, which is sponsored by Charthams Vineyards and “open for anybody to attend.” --- #### Rochester author launches new book this evening [*Thomas McMullan*](https://thomasmcmullan.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *is launching his new novel, Groundwater, at* [*Store 104*](https://www.store104.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *this evening, so once you have finished celebrating with Austen’s, head there to keep the party going. We spoke to Thomas to find out more…* Groundwater is the second novel by Rochester resident Thomas. Inevitably, we start with the question authors dread: What is it about? “The idea of a future, a fear of a future, a fear of a future not happening.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!efcL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb59f67cc-1cd6-4d45-8dfb-b5dcb43278a7_8368x5584.jpg) Thomas McMullan. Photo: Sophie Davidson “The book,” Thomas gamely tells me, “Centres on a married couple, John and Liz. They've recently moved out of London, into the countryside, and they're teetering on questions about the future. They're at a crossroads in their life. The book is set over an August bank holiday period. They're joined by Monica, Liz's sister, and then Monica's family. That's the core drama, a family on holiday and a couple in crisis.” Thomas’ first book, The Last Good Man, released in 2020, was a dystopian story about “Dartmoor and a community which lives next to this big slab of a wall.” I ask if anybody who has read his first book will find a similar tone here. “I think there's some continuances, but this is much more grounded in the present.” At Store 104, Thomas will be in conversation with Tom Morton, a local writer who primarily reviews and writes about art. Afterwards, “there'll be signings, and it should be a really lovely event.” --- #### Space visit Platform 3 *The latest in a series of named acts being brought to the Medway Towns, 25 July sees 90’s Liverpudlian indie rock band Space come to the Platform 3 Club at the Oast Community Centre in Rainham. We spoke to organiser Joe Liste-Romero to find out more…* Platform 3 is a bi-monthly music event organised by Joe, so called because “we are right next to Rainham station.” The intent is to create a unique night that brings acts of a certain profile to the Medway Towns. On the 25th of July, they will be welcoming Tommy Scott and Phil Hartley from Space, appearing as a duo. Space were a Liverpudlian Britpop band, most famous for [Female of the Species](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yURuUCRiA5I&list=RDyURuUCRiA5I&start%5Fradio=1&pp=ygUbZmVtYWxlIG9mIHRoZSBzcGVjaWVzIHNwYWNloAcB&ref=localauthority.news) and [The Ballad of Tom Jones](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaydE0zV2Hg&list=RDOaydE0zV2Hg&start%5Fradio=1&pp=ygUwdGhlIGJhbGxhZCBvZiB0b20gam9uZXMgc3BhY2UgYW5kIGNlcnlzIG1hdHRoZXdzoAcB&ref=localauthority.news) with Cerys Matthews. “I remember that being quite popular, your mum would know it,” Joe tells me. Joe has been on the lookout for bands of that era. “We've already had the Wedding Present, we already had My Life Story. Perfect for what Platform 3 seems to be turning into.” For Joe, the era represents “my coming of age. We were 18 at the time and we were loving that scene.” Another highlight for Joe is that, as with all the gigs, his band The Pastel Waves will be the support act for the event. “We get to promote our band. In a way, it's very self-indulgent. We're booking these bands because we want to play with them and support them.” *Tickets cost £17.50 and are available* [*here*](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/platform3club/t-krnpdvz?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### **Review: Soul Food Solo Stories** **by Moira Mehaffey** *Soul Food Solo Stories by* [*Lyrici Arts*](https://www.lyriciarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *was performed at the Glassbox Theatre on 9 July. Moira Mehaffey went along to experience the show…* The [Glassbox Theatre](https://www.glassboxtheatre.com/?ref=localauthority.news) is a gem of a venue – fully accessible and welcoming. Great care has been taken by the event organisers to ensure inclusivity: A board provides details in advance of the duration of the show and what lighting and sound effects we can expect, and the solo performances are simultaneously translated into sign language. On arrival, we are invited to consider the meaning of soul food and add suggestions of what brings us joy to two canvases – we chipped in hamsters and knitting. Our first performer is Monique Day. Elegant and poised, her monologue considers what it means to be born in the UK to parents of Jamaican descent. Her story reveals the tension between the awareness of heritage and tradition and the urge to break free and define your identity on your own terms, setting this in the relatable circumstances of a family reunion at Granny’s house. It is literally food which resolves this tension and provides a comforting sense that tradition and change can be reconciled. Chika Jones attires himself in traditional Igbo dress on stage, conveying the dignity and masculinity of a warrior or chieftain. He varies the pitch of his speaking, with songlike phrases recurring as a chorus to punctuate a monologue which juxtaposes this proud figure against the potential vulnerabilities of men of colour in some westernised societies. Lizzy Partridge’s monologue is the most folkloric, with many recognisable tropes from fairy tale traditions. She tells of two young heroines embarking on a quest, during which they encounter Ghanaian folk creatures. The trickster spider Anansi is outwitted by an offer of food, and a beautiful shimmering fabric represents the river in which our heroines encounter Mama Wata the mermaid. Lizzy’s performance is beguiling and gripping, and we are all rooting for the Brown Princesses of Council House No. 11. Aduke Aladekomo gives the most musical of the four performances, announcing her arrival on stage with singing and drumming. Never quite sure where her performance will go next, she weaves a tale desirous to celebrate Yoruba culture yet bearing the weight of presumptions based on gender. Ending on a positive note of cultural and feminine empowerment, her songs resonate and are recognised by some members of the audience who join right in. An excellent showcase for the work of Lyrici Arts in bringing under-represented voices to the fore in Medway. *Soul Food Solo Stories will tour Medway Libraries from October 2025 to February 2026.* --- #### Events this week 🎸 Fri 25 Jul - [**Tommy Scott (Space) + support**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/platform3club/t-krnpdvz?ref=localauthority.news) // Frontman of 90s alternative band comes to Medway via the Platform 3 Club. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £17.50. 🎙️ Sat 26 Jul - [**Songs in the Key of… live podcast recording**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/songs-in-the-key-of-live-podcast-recording-tickets-1425402801149?ref=localauthority.news) // Special event to mark the 10th anniversary of host Stephen Morris’ seminal book about the Medway music scene. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £15. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Three motions and you’re out URL: https://www.localauthority.news/three-motions-and-youre-out/ Last updated: 2025-07-16T09:27:03.000Z *Medway Council meetings have long been ridiculed for their excessive length, but new changes to try and fix the issue could see entire political groups excluded from the democratic process. We look at what’s going on below. Further down, we have news that a new Budgens in Chatham is facing a big challenge, a mysterious new restaurant in Strood exposes how inaccessible important information is, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Three motions and you’re out A major overhaul of how Medway Council conducts its business is on the cards, which, if approved by councillors, could spell the end of meetings regularly running past midnight. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!CKmN!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f493f8627-5f83-4388-8db2-6d4bb5dd05c6_4032x2268.jpg) Apparently no one wants to sit in this room until 1am anymore. Councillors will quietly wave through (in procedural terms, at least) a [series of sweeping changes to the council’s constitution](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=80655&ref=localauthority.news) during this week’s full council meeting, designed to slash the length of meetings. Under the new rules, full council meetings will be limited to a maximum of three motions per session, the number of speeches will be capped, and public and councillor questions will be redirected to the Cabinet, something that has been trialled for all of two meetings. It's a move designed to modernise a system that has, frankly, been creaking for some time. Anyone who's ever sat through a Medway Council meeting knows the drill: Start at 7pm, finish when the calendar has ticked over to a new day. It's a schedule that’s increasingly out of step with the lives of councillors and the public, many of whom have jobs, families, and other commitments. Part of the changes will see just three motions allowed per full council meeting, with a tightly managed rota deciding who gets to bring what. Motions will now have to stick to local authority business, so no more symbolic stances on foreign policy or climate treaties, and the Monitoring Officer will vet them before they even reach the agenda. If you want to bring a motion about bin collections? Fine. Something about Gaza? Not anymore. Ironically, Medway’s Labour administration is behind these new proposals, who were very fond they were of grandstanding on national issues while in opposition. That tends to happen when one gains power. The new system marks a shift from the current setup, where every group, no matter its size, gets to bring one motion per meeting. In theory, this sounds fair, but in practice, it means a party with 31 councillors has the same agenda access as a lone independent. The revised model revolves around ‘equity’ rather than ‘equality.’ That means the number of motions allocated across the year will now reflect group size. Labour, with just over half the council seats, can expect the largest number of motions. The Conservatives will get a regular slot. The Independent Group, Reform, and independent councillor Chris Spalding will face a ballot to get the final slot on the agenda for the meetings, where the two main parties generously allow them a space. Under the plans put forward by Medway Council, at least one of them would likely not get a motion throughout the entire year. It's a shift some smaller groups see as a stitch-up, but the council argues it’s just practical: “a system that delivers equality but not equity,” says the report, “significantly increases the voice of a small constituency and dampens the voice of a significantly larger constituency.” In other words, if you’ve got two councillors, you shouldn’t take up half the meeting. Other proposed changes include limiting the number of councillors that can speak on each motion to avoid repetition, more questions going straight to cabinet, less reporting from overview and scrutiny committees, and information reports nodded through without debate. For the council leadership, all of this is a case of streamlining, with fewer speeches, tighter agendas, and a focus on issues the council can actually influence. For the smaller parties, it’s a narrowing of democratic space, and it’s hard to disagree when entire political parties could be barred from submitting a motion through the entire council year. There’s no getting away from the fact that the Independent Group, Reform, and Cllr Spalding would have a much slimmer shot at seeing their motion debated, especially at meetings when Labour and the Conservatives use up all three slots between them. The report doesn’t shy away from this point, but says the trade-off is worth it: Shorter meetings, better focus, and less political grandstanding. This is ironic given how the Labour administration is using an entire section of this week’s full Medway Council meeting for just that. In the councillor questions section of the meeting, rather than councillors holding the administration to account, the lineup is full of questions from Labour to Labour about what Reform are doing over the border at Kent County Council. Indeed, 11 of the 13 questions are about Reform at KCC, with the only two genuine questions submitted by Reform being relegated to the end of the agenda, with time likely to expire before they can be asked. So what happens next? Nothing immediately. Under council rules, any changes to the procedure rules have to lie on the table until the next meeting. So expect a proper debate, and likely some political posturing, at the October full council, where the changes will be formally approved. There is a clear need to get Medway Council meetings under control, as no organisation should need to meet for six hours until the early hours on a weeknight to get things done. Moving some questions to the cabinet makes sense, even if the implementation thus far has been underwhelming. Finding ways to reduce time on motions is also needed, but shouldn’t be at the expense of excluding entire political groups from the process, which this seems to be proposing. Perhaps it’s time that Medway Council finally accepted that running a council of this size might require more than one meeting every three months… --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Budgens faces Chatham challenge The opening of a new Budgens supermarket in a flagship Medway Council development could be at risk after parts of Medway Council have filed objections to Medway Council against the plans. Medway Council will now have to decide whether it wants to listen to Medway Council and reject the application. ![Chatham Waterfront, Chatham, ME4 1 bed apartment - £161,700](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ZFxe!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd9a2157f-d6cd-4257-8051-04483198f7b0_1024x768.jpg) Budgens would be part of the new Pioneer Wharf development at Chatham waterfront. The proposed Budgens is for the Pioneer Wharf development on Chatham waterfront, one of a number of new mixed-use residential blocks in the area. While residential is clearly welcomed, the response is more negative toward a new grocery store. Like a recent case in Rochester, where [Medway Council rejected a new Tesco Express](https://www.localauthority.news/i/162315899/medway-council-says-no-to-tesco-in-rochester) store because it sat within a Cumulative Impact Area (CIA) designed to limit the number of outlets selling alcohol in a problematic area, Budgens sits within the Chatham CIA area. In this case, Medway Council’s own Public Health and Trading Standards sections have objected to the plans, alongside Kent Police and Steven Hutchins, a member of the public who was part of the charge against the aforementioned Tesco Express. It was clear from the start that Budgens’ application was wildly optimistic, asking for a licence to sell alcohol from 6am to 1am. Still, like Tesco, it is unlikely that even a significant reduction in opening hours would satisfy those objecting, given the location of the application. The debate does present an interesting quandary for Medway Council, though. The waterfront development is a flagship project for the council as part of plans to regenerate Chatham town centre. It can also be argued that grocery provision in the centre is severely lacking for a town of its size, with Sainsbury’s the only retailer with a presence nearby. But if anywhere new selling alcohol within the area is unacceptable under the council’s policies, it is hard to imagine what the commercial units dotted through the mixed-use development will ever be filled with. --- #### Mysterious new restaurant coming to Medway Valley Park Compared to some councils, there are some things Medway Council are actually quite good at, particularly around making public documents available in a timely and accessible manner. Planning applications, council meeting documents, and plenty of other documents are routinely made available via the council’s website in good time. The same seemingly cannot be said for Gravesham Borough Council. Which wouldn’t matter too much to those of us in Medway if Medway Council hadn’t merged their licensing department with Gravesham’s, meaning we are now at the mercy of the neighbouring council to get what should be publicly accessible information. This is a lengthy preamble to a story about a new restaurant opening at Medway Valley Park in Strood, but thanks to the way Gravesham operates, we have no meaningful information to give you, so we’re talking about this instead. About a week and a half ago, we spotted a new licence application on Gravesham Borough Council’s [Medway Council licensing page](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) (we know) from ‘Medway Valley Dining’ to sell alcohol and play live and recorded music. It helpfully gave the address as ‘Restaurant, Medway Valley Leisure Park, Chariot Way, Rochester, ME2 2SS,’ which would perhaps be more helpful if there weren’t four restaurant units within Medway Valley Leisure Park. So the odyssey to get information out of Gravesham Borough Council began. We contacted their licensing department to request a copy of the application and to clarify which unit it pertains to. After three days, they told us that it refers to the currently empty Coast to Coast restaurant unit, which has sat empty for many years, but didn’t provide a full copy of the application. We still haven’t seen it nearly a week later, so we can’t tell you trivial information like who is behind the application or what they intend to do. Meanwhile, residents are supposed to respond to the application with representations despite not knowing anything about it. Gravesham Borough Council helpfully points out that the plans can be viewed ‘during usual business hours’ at their Gravesend headquarters. But the idea that the only way Medway residents can see a licence application for their area is to traipse to an entirely separate borough between 9am and 5pm on a weekday is, quite frankly, ridiculous. Medway and Gravesham combined their licensing department as part of a cost-cutting exercise. There is a logic in doing this, but if that combined department can’t even get quite basic documents online and accessible, it does raise some alarm bells about how things might work under in our local government reorganisation future, where one council could be responsible for everything from Dartford to Faversham. --- #### In brief 🏗️ A planning application has been submitted for [18 new homes in Rainham](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SYOC37KNMH100&ref=localauthority.news). The site on Denbeigh Avenue currently has two homes, which would be demolished under the proposals. 🔥 If you looked outside on Friday, you probably saw smoke from a significant [fire at a recycling facility on Medway City Estate](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9mqsbe?ref=localauthority.news). The cause is believed to be a discarded battery. 🏥 Medway Hospital’s £37.4m decarbonisation programme enters a new phase this week, with [work to replace hundreds of ageing windows getting underway](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/multi-million-pound-investment-in-a-greener-future-for-medway-maritime-hospital/?ref=localauthority.news). The hospital is also replacing gas boilers with heat pumps, adding solar panels, and introducing energy efficient lighting. 🗣️ As mentioned above, [Medway Council meets for its July meeting on Thursday](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6388&ref=localauthority.news) (17 Jul). Items on the agenda beyond constitutional changes are reviewing senior officer pay, amendments to the capital programme, and the £1.8m sale of property that the council owned in Hemel Hempstead. ➡️ Not strictly Medway related, but Kent County Council held their own full council meeting last week. We were there under our sister [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) title and have a[ full write-up on just how things are going over the border](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/culture-wars-and-cost-cutting-set?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, [Steven sat down with Ajaib Hussain](https://www.localauthority.news/lets-look-for-a-brighter-future/), Chair of Medway Inter Faith Action, an organisation that brings members of Medway’s faith communities together. He talks about what brought his family to the Medway Towns, how he came to be chair of the organisation, Ramadan, and lots more. [“Let's look for a brighter future”This weekend, Medway Inter Faith Action had its annual Walk for Peace, which we discussed with chair of the organisation Ajaib Hussain here. We carried on after that conversation to discuss how Ajaib came to be the chair of MIFA, Ramadan, and what brought his family to the Medway Towns.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!o_GN!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb75b6a97-8a5c-4139-98ea-b52a533cf625_932x932.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/lets-look-for-a-brighter-future/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Tourist in this Town by Allison Crutchfield*](https://allisoncrutchfield.bandcamp.com/album/tourist-in-this-town?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*No One’s Coming For Us by Trust Fund*](https://trustfund.bandcamp.com/album/no-ones-coming-for-us?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*High Society by Enon*](https://enon.bandcamp.com/album/high-society?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “Let's look for a brighter future” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/lets-look-for-a-brighter-future/ Last updated: 2025-07-13T06:00:30.000Z *This weekend,* [*Medway Inter Faith Action*](https://www.medwayinterfaith.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *had its annual Walk for Peace, which we discussed with chair of the organisation Ajaib Hussain* [*here*](https://www.localauthority.news/i/167159644/medway-walks-for-peace)*. We carried on after that conversation to discuss how Ajaib came to be the chair of MIFA, Ramadan, and what brought his family to the Medway Towns.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!o_GN!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb75b6a97-8a5c-4139-98ea-b52a533cf625_932x932.jpg) Ajaib Hussain **What is your official occupation?** I'm a consultant in electronics. Electronics is a wide world, it's what we call semiconductors, which is chip technology. Not the eating-type chips, the silicon type. **How did you get into that?** Well, my degree was in electrical and electronic engineering back in the day when electronics was just in its infancy. I would say, as a Muslim, we believe in Qadr, which is destiny. It was not through my choices, but how it pans out, a lot of it is to do with our belief that it's God who led me there and helped me make some of the choices. It's very interesting, back in the day, this is 1980, very early days of computers, my final year project, I had a choice between making something with old electrical motors, and well, that might have come in handy, because wind turbine is now quite popular, but it was a dying industry, and I thought I'll go for something new, the semiconductors. I'm glad I made the right choice, and I'm thanking God that helped me make the right choice. **What additional roles, paid or unpai,d do you do?** In the latter years of my life, hopefully I'm still fairly young, I realised that I’ve learned a lot throughout my career as a professional semiconductor chip designer and manager. I had taken a lot from the community, so a few years ago, I decided to start giving back by helping out wherever I can. I do a lot of voluntary work wherever I can. If I say yes, I really commit 110%. Volunteering is something which I now put more value in my own personal life to help the community. Fundamentally, actually, you're helping the community, but you're also helping yourself, because you become a better human being doing it. When I first came to Medway, I've always been faith-oriented, always been connected to the mosques. I'm from the Muslim faith, I've always looked for where to live, proximity to a mosque and the community, and that helps me centre myself. I looked at a few places, I looked at Gillingham, that's got a very nice mosque, and I went there. There's also a mosque in Rochester. There's several mosques now. But I decided to go for Rochester. I live in Rochester, I pray everywhere. One day, I was asked to help with [Medway Inter Faith Action](https://www.medwayinterfaith.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), and it's something I can do, so why not? With volunteering, if you step in once, you get bundled with other things. That's how I came into helping Medway Inter Faith Action back in 2013\. I remember it was very small, only very few people that are really helping. Then they asked me to help with other things, with police and other things within the mosque itself. Wherever I could, I wear different hats. We can multitask many different things. I'll easily put a hat on for what we call arranging [Taste Ramadan](https://tasteramadan.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which is letting people into the mosque, offering food and letting them taste Ramadan. You feel the power of fasting, and even if you're not fasting, the power of the community. Many people have told me that. This is non-Muslims and people who are not of faith, many people who come. They said what they see in that, the power of that community is amazing for them. **Readers may have heard of Ramadan without knowledge of what it is. How would you describe what actually occurs and why it happens?** Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. As Muslims, we have to fast for 30 days in the month of Ramadan. It's a lunar calendar, it changes year to year. In the winter, it'll get shorter, but in the summer it's very long. It can be 18 to 20 hours of fasting. We can't eat during the sun's up. It's not just eating, it's abstaining from water, food and sex, anything forbidden. You're trying to become a good person. The whole essence of Ramadan, intermittent fasting, has proven to be good for you. Muslims have been doing that for 1400 years. We know the health benefit, but also the spiritual benefit that makes you really reconnect with your creator, if you believe, or whatever you believe, systems reconnect, reconnect with your families. Because when you're eating, when you're opening bread, we all have busy lives, right? How many families can really come together and eat together and have a conversation together and pray together? In Ramadan, there's special prayers, which happen after breaking the fast, obviously getting some nourishment in. You're doing that collectively as a family and as a community. That coming together is the whole essence of Ramadan, to bring you closer to God, recharge your batteries from a faith point of view, reconnect with your community, reconnect with your families, reconnect with your loved ones. One of the things in Ramadan we're encouraged to do is to forgive and forget and move on. Many families, for various reasons, are not perfect. Muslims are not perfect. In the month of Ramadan, we're encouraged to forgive and give more, give more in charity. Even smiling is a form of charity. Smile, give presents, and enjoy each other's company. That, for me, is the most beautiful month. We do a program where people can learn about Islam and get to ask those questions people want to ask. No one is going to go into a mosque and knock on the door and say, ‘Imam, can I ask you this question?’ But you're in an environment where we're encouraging that, we're encouraging youngsters, elders, to ask that. Another place where you can actually ask similar things, but not in Ramadan, we often do the mosque open day, which is more of an all-day event, so people can come in, have coffee, tea, some food, and learn from each other. From the outside, it looks like a building, and if you read some of the right-wing media, there's a lot of stuff going on inside that we should all be fearful of, and we should be hiding in our basements, but that's not the case. Muslims have been around in the UK since well before East India Company went to India. The trade routes have been going on for years, and there's a trade between Africa, Middle East, and UK and Europe. It's nothing new, and they will be here for a long time. We're British and we love this country. As Muslims, there's nothing to be afraid of. There are good and bad apples in every society, and one bad apple spoils everything, right? We try to pick those bad apples out and educate them, and this goes not just for Muslims, but if they're really bad, then lock them up, let them pay. We've got to be in a system where the law is applied equally. **How did you become Chair of Medway Inter Faith Action?** When I joined MIFA, I can mention a handful of people, we were left with two choices really. Wither we continue, we elect someone else to lead and take the helm, or we let it fizzle out. That's what happens if you don't have leadership, and I volunteered to become leader. I brought a team along, including Beth Atkins, I want to mention, as a wonderful person. We have the synagogue, Rochester Cathedral, we have the Buddhist Centre, and we have other denominations for people who represent at the board, and they help us steer and approve of things. **What is the action part of the Inter Faith group?** The action is two things. We’re doing something constructive with Walk for Peace. Walking in terms of unity, getting to know each other through walking, talking and going to different faith centres. The other action, from MIFA, is that every month we hold a forum, either hybrid or a Zoom. There is a talk, and people from the community come along, and for example, this month at the Sunlight Centre, the Baptist Church is talking about the African project. It's a project which is close to their heart, and they want to share with the community what they're doing there. I don't want to forget [Inter Faith Week](https://www.interfaithweek.org/?ref=localauthority.news). Before this government sadly, wrongly in my view, pulled the funding from [Inter Faith Network UK](https://www.interfaith.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), there was a very strong Inter Faith UK network, where on a much bigger scale there's bodies in every town and so on. And through them, we got involved with Inter Faith Week, which is around about November and the whole week we were part of that planning for each centre. We organise it around Medway. Anybody who wants to take part is welcome to invite people into their service or just partake. What unites us? MIFA is taking action to break down barriers and helping within the community. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Campaign to support unpaid carers in Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/campaign-to-support-unpaid-carers/ Last updated: 2025-07-11T22:04:18.000Z *A new campaign from the Medway Foodbank seeks to highlight the plight of unpaid carers, with a study suggesting one in seven carers face poverty. We’ve been talking to those involved in the campaign to learn more. Further down, we hear about Maria McCarthy’s new book, Learning to be Irish, a new exhibition by Mess Room artists at Rochester Cathedral, look at upcoming Kent events, and lots more.* --- #### Campaign to support unpaid carers in Medway [*Medway Foodbank*](https://medway.foodbank.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Carers First*](https://www.carersfirst.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *have an ongoing campaign highlighting poverty amongst unpaid carers. We caught up with Mike Evans, campaign manager at Medway Foodbank, to learn about the* [*Carer Poverty Project*](https://carerpovertyproject.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Vgjp!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f181427f8-7abc-4641-8b63-b15f506c0768_1260x945.jpg) Supporters of the Food banks are places where those without the financial resources to buy their own food are able to access food parcels, providing nutritionally balanced meals, which should last for three days. The Medway Foodbank has existed for more than a decade and has nine food bank centres around Medway. Medway Foodbank is partially funded by the [Trussell Trust](https://www.trussell.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), alongside significant food donations from the public, via Tesco and Asda stores in Medway. In 2019, they provided 7,500 food parcels. In 2024, that had risen to over 15,000 parcels. The slightly positive news is that the figures for the first half of this year show that the number is plateauing, if not declining. Mike was shocked to discover the number of unpaid carers who are using the food bank. “The Carers Trust did a study, and they discovered that one in seven unpaid carers in the UK have used a food bank and one million carers are currently living in poverty.” The campaign is to reduce the number of carers who need to use food banks. “Trussell currently have a vision of a society without the need for food banks.” “We're not going to take away support from people.” says Mike reassuringly, “but we don't want to be here.” Medway Foodbank, like many, is concerned about the economic factors driving food bank use and “we want to do something about that.” Asked by the Trussell Trust to identify one area where they see a great need, they have decided to focus on unpaid carers. One might ask how we can have unpaid carers in a country with a minimum wage. Unpaid carer is the term for those people who are not paid professional care workers, but are the primary carer for a friend, partner or family member who needs full-time care. They provide this care, and whilst they may receive Carer’s Allowance, they are not paid much. It is not salaried, because we continue to delay resolving this issue as a country. “The levels of poverty are appalling amongst unpaid carers,” notes Mike. A study by the [Centre for Care](https://centreforcare.ac.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) showed that if the work of unpaid carers was done by the NHS or social services, the cost to the government would be over £180bn per annum. “If the people who are being looked after by unpaid carers didn't have those kind souls looking after them, then their care would fall upon the NHS and local government.” According to the Centre for Care, that's allowing £25 per hour for looking after someone and providing the care they need. “Often that's quite complicated. There are manual hoists involved, changing stomas, changing catheters, getting people dressed who can't dress themselves, providing personal care. That's not an easy thing to do.” Medway Foodbank are working with Medway Council, “who have engaged very constructively with us. They have agreed with us that there should be a Medway Council charter for carers. There's a steering group being set up to create that which I've been invited onto.” Mike is also hoping that Medway Council might set up a carer’s hub at the Pentagon Centre so that “carers are able to access all the information in one physical space and there might also be social activities.” Deputy Leader of Medway Council, [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/), portfolio holder for adult social care told us: > *“No one in this day and age should be reliant on the work of food banks, least of all the thousands of carers who devote their time to looking after friends and family members around Medway. I want to recognise and appreciate the Trussell Medway Foodbank for their joint work with Carers First on the Carer Poverty Project campaign, which is aiming to reduce the number of unpaid carers living in poverty. I would urge all carers to make a* [*visit to their website*](https://www.carersfirst.org.uk/medway/how-we-help/?ref=localauthority.news)*. More still needs to be done to support our carers. Medway Council recognises the huge contribution they make to our community, and we will continue to provide support and guidance to help them carry on their much-valued work. Our Adult Social Care team are also currently carrying out a review of what help is available for carers, and we hope this too will lead to better support for carers and their families. Funding for carers is determined by central government, and we will continue to work with our local MPs to ensure that any changes to funding recognise the financial pressures carers experience and results in improvements.”* Medway Foodbank are campaigning for an increase in Carer’s Allowance and for more funding for Adult Social Care. At a local level, they are asking Medway Council to introduce a Carer’s Card with financial discounts for carers, and to provide specialist financial advice for carers, similar to the scheme MacMillan operate at Medway Council for cancer patients. “We've made good progress,” says Mike. “Back in April, we had an advertising campaign about the carers campaign, and we've built quite a good campaign team.” As part of the campaign, Mike is looking for more personal stories of “unpaid carers who have used a food bank and are willing to talk to the media about their experiences of using a food bank and what they'd like to see change” to help get the message out and provide what is referred to as ‘human interest’ behind the harsh reality. Medway Foodbank is being supported in their campaign by Rochester and Strood MP, [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/). She told us that: > *"It’s a real worry that anyone has to rely on a food bank, especially carers, who do such vital work for families and within our communities. I recently visited Medway Foodbank, and we discussed our shared concerns about the Government’s proposed changes to PIP eligibility and the impact this would have on passported benefits like Carer’s Allowance. It’s one of the reasons I opposed Government legislation until the PIP eligibility changes were removed. I’m pleased the Government listened, and more positive changes in the legislation, such as the above-inflation increase to Universal Credit, will go forward, while no changes to PIP will take place until a full review is conducted, with proper input from disabled people and carers.”* “We've had a very constructive meeting with Lauren Edwards,” said Mike, “who agrees with us that Carer’s Allowance is far too low. There are many issues about Carer’s Allowance which we're unhappy about. The fact that it stops at state pension age, the fact that you're only able to earn £196 per week, and if you go over that, you then lose your Carer’s Allowance.” There were significant failures at the DWP, which resulted in thousands of carers who had inadvertently worked longer than they're allowed to, being told they were no longer allowed Carer’s Allowance. “If you earn one pound more than the threshold, you lose your entire Carer’s Allowance, which is now £83.30 a week.” To earn that Carer’s Allowance, you must do 35 hours’ worth of care. “This is one of the other scandals of Carer’s Allowance,” as that means the amount given works out at £2.38 per hour of care. *If you are a Medway resident who provides unpaid care and is willing to discuss it, Mike at Medway Foodbank* [*would like to hear from you*](https://medway.foodbank.org.uk/contact-us/?ref=localauthority.news)*. He is looking for Medway residents to talk to ITV Meridan News, and he is looking for Rochester and Strood constituents to provide evidence for Lauren Edwards’ work in Westminster.* --- #### Maria McCarthy learns to be Irish *Medway writer and poet* [*Maria McCarthy*](https://www.localauthority.news/a-lot-of-people-think-they-can-self/) *is releasing her fifth book,* [*Learning to be Irish*](https://www.medwaymaria.co.uk/books/learning-to-be-irish/?ref=localauthority.news)*, her most personal book yet. Ahead of the launch, we spoke to her to find out more…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!oVL8!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f726117b7-347e-499a-8df9-6cc3c27c6cbd_2049x1537.jpg) Maria McCarthy in her writing shed. I start by asking what Learning to be Irish is about. “It's about learning to be Irish,” Maria tells me. She was born into a family of Irish migrants in Epsom, Surrey, and lived through the anti-Irish feeling of the 70s when the IRA were bombing mainland England. “At some stage, I made an internalised decision to stop being Irish.” Maria was particularly affected by a comment by a physics teacher after the Guildford pub bombings. “’I see your lot have been at it again,’ in front of the whole class.” Maria decided that it was safer to pretend that she was English and not engage in the second-generation Irish life. “I'd taken part in going to Irish dances, going to the Gaelic games at Wembley. I still socialised with family, but I denied being Irish.” This was until she reclaimed it in her 30s. The book is about that journey of discovery and “trying to reclaim my identity and trying to find out about family history.” This was in an environment where people didn't really talk about things, what Maria refers to as “home truths, half truths, and white lies.” Despite finishing the book, Maria is still discovering things about her family. The book isn’t solely a non-fiction book. “It's a hybrid book. A mixture of memoir, poetry and short fiction,” from where Maria has been ruminating on the topic for 20 years in different forms. It was whilst Maria was studying for an MA in Creative Writing, that she wrote two linked stories that were “about an Irish family living in England, an Irish woman and her daughters, based on my own experience, and that's where it all began.” It was a writer friend, John O'Donoghue, another second-generation Irish writer, who suggested that Maria put her various pieces together “in what he then called ‘the Portable McCarthy,’ which was the working title of the book.” For Maria, the memoir pieces were very difficult. “It is a deeply personal book, and I do have thoughts, that when I read at the launch, about how I will protect myself from sharing too personal stuff in those readings.” Still, Maria ends on a more uplifting note about her identity. “Being Irish is a lot more positive now, I've got an Irish passport, and everyone wants an Irish passport now, don't they?” *The Learning to be Irish book launch is on Saturday 19 July at 1pm in the Creation Space at Sun Pier House. Maria is also selling copies of the book* [*via her website*](https://www.medwaymaria.co.uk/books/learning-to-be-irish/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### New community exhibition at Rochester Cathedral [*The Mess Room*](https://www.messroom.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is hosting an exhibition with the Kent Association for the Blind at Rochester Cathedral. We caught up with Artistic Director* [*Wendy Daws*](https://www.localauthority.news/if-you-want-to-do-it-you-will-find/) *to find out more…* Seven groups are exhibiting, each working with a different lead artist, with the work inspired by the Shorts Brothers’ [Floatplane](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/floatplane?ref=localauthority.news), which arrives at the cathedral in August. The Gravesend group, working with Tina Ryan, a printmaker, have created new prints: They've used foam and other materials to create stamps, and then they reflect elements of the plane. Tina made two propellers out of wet strength tissue paper, to put the group's artwork onto the propellers and then it's lit from the inside. There's also a work in progress book with all their prints. Tony, one of the visually impaired artists, has made a separate piece of art, working with watercolour paper and black cutouts of Spitfires. The planes have been fixed onto the watercolour, and pigment has just been blasted all around it, giving the effect that it bleeds into the paper. Catriona Faulkner has worked with one of the Medway groups, and everyone has been sewing. They have made a spectacular tactile tapestry of the floatplane. This has included people with no sight who have been sewing. One gentleman, who had never sewn before, intends to repair a cushion because he feels he can do that now. Hannah Whitaker worked with the Pier Arts Group, and they homed in on the pig, which was taken up in 1909 for a flight in a barrel wearing goggles. This is a real thing. Fittingly, the work is called ‘Pigs might fly.’ There is now a pigmobile floating above the Rochester Cathedral model they have in the crypt. Shona van Aswegen has, with her group, made 308 paper planes which have been installed into window insets in the crypt. A gentleman from Canterbury has made Mercury's Ankle as another standalone piece. Wendy worked with the Bromley, Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells groups to make a tactile blueprint of technical drawings. They visited Medway Archives to look at the technical drawings there, photocopied or printed them, traced them, and then everybody was given a small segment which they then reproduced in large scale on swell paper. Swell paper is a special paper that, when you use a black pen, is fed through a machine, which raises the line. This was then given a blue wash to mimic a blueprint, leaving a remarkable effect. *The exhibit is part of* [*Medway Open Studios*](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *and is available to visit for free until 31 August. There are occasional closures, so check the* [*cathedral website*](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/new-events/2025/7/9/taking-flight-mess-room?ref=localauthority.news) *to ensure it is open before visiting.* --- #### Review: The Least of Our Concerns by The Penrose Web **by Stephen Morris** *Editor’s note: This is an excerpt of a review by our music columnist Stephen Morris. The full version will be available for our* [*paid supporters*](#/portal/signup) *in the future, alongside additional reviews of The Spike Direction Effect and the Guy Hamper Trio.* This is a record about wars within one’s own mind, of regrets over the past and frustration with the slipping away of time, of a desire to become better while the world gets worse. The record opens with a deceptive, light of touch sounding tune full of whimsy and word play (“it’s never too late to be out of date”). But amidst all of this, ‘Never Too Soon’, with its jangly light psychedelic sound, sets the scene for much of what is to follow. This is a song, just like the album it introduces, all about an unwinnable battle with time. Nowhere do Crockford and Button put it better than on the line “it’s autumn but it feels just like spring.” The battle with time re-emerges on the *Aladdin Sane*\-ish ‘Melting,’ in which the problem is that time is just passing too slowly. Against a swaggering, charged backdrop, we hear the complaint that “time wants to show what she can put you through.” Meanwhile, ‘Mr Chance,’ which could have just as easily come from the pens of Groovy Uncle or The Len Price 3, offers a thumbnail sketch of someone who lets opportunity pass him by out of fear. Or, as The Penrose Web more eloquently put it, “Keeping his options open, he says, but his shoes are nailed to the floor.” *The Least of Our Concerns* is an excellent addition to Messrs Crockford and Button’s extensive catalogues, covering a broad range of styles while remaining cohesively and gloriously The Penrose Web. Listen once and you’ll be impressed. Listen twice and you’ll love it. [*The Least of Our Concerns by The Penrose Web is available from Bandcamp*](https://thepenroseweb.bandcamp.com/?ref=localauthority.news) If you would like to find out more about music in Medway, Stephen Morris is hosting [*Songs in the Key of… Live*](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/songs-in-the-key-of-live-podcast-recording-tickets-1425402801149?ref=localauthority.news) on 26 July at Medway Little Theatre, where he will be talking to Glenn Prangnell, Rachel Lowrie and Lupen Crook about their lives in music. The evening will include music from Rachel’s band, South Shore, and Lupen Crook. --- #### Events this week 🍒 Sat 12 Jul - [**Friends of the Vines Cherry Picnic**](https://friendsofthevines.co.uk/events/?ref=localauthority.news) // Bring a picnic, enjoy local cherries and various activities to raise money for charity. The Vines, Rochester. Free. 🎺 Sat 12 Jul - [**The Medway Band + Gillingham and Rainham Rock Choir**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-medway-band/the-medway-band-and-rock-choir/e-rgjgrv?ref=localauthority.news) // Kent’s finest brass band in concert. Brompton Academy, Gillingham. Tickets £10. 🎤 Wed 16 Jul - [**Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/rhod-gilbert-the-giant-grapefruit?ref=localauthority.news) // New dark and personal show from the Welsh comedian. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets £35. 🗣️ Thu 17 Jul - [**Full Medway Council meeting**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6388&ref=localauthority.news) // Politicians bicker with each other over how to get things done. St George’s Centre, Chatham. Free. 🏃 Fri 18 Jul - [**Medway Mile**](https://www.visitmedway.org/events/medway-mile-2025-145702/?ref=localauthority.news) // Get unreasonably sweaty running around Gillingham with thousands of other people. Medway Park, Gillingham. Free. 🔍 Fri 18 Jul - [**Solve Along Murder She Wrote**](https://rainhamchurch.co.uk/arts/solve-along-murder-she-wrote/?ref=localauthority.news) // Interactive show where you get to help Jessica Fletcher solve a classic murder mystery. St Margaret’s Church, Rainham. Tickets £20. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Neighbouring council plans temporary accommodation on Medway’s doorstep URL: https://www.localauthority.news/neighbouring-council-plans-temporary/ Last updated: 2025-07-08T23:16:29.000Z *Temporary accommodation is essential in the world of housing crisis we find ourselves living in, and neighbouring Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council plans to do its part to provide it by building a £5m complex on the doorstep of Medway. A good thing for residents in need or a savvy move to shift some of the burden elsewhere? We look at the details below. Further down, we also have news of a bold new proposal from a think tank that wants to turn both sides of the Thames Estuary into a turbo-charged development bonanza, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Neighbouring council plans temporary accommodation on Medway’s doorstep A neighbouring council is planning to spend nearly £5m to create a complex of temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness on the doorstep of Medway. Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council intends to convert the former commuter car park in Bluebell Hill into [temporary accommodation](https://www.localauthority.news/content/files/documents/s88903/01-report-of-director-of-planning-housing-and-environmental-health.pdf), which, given its location, has inevitably raised concerns about additional pressures on Medway services. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!rgr_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fae035aa2-d98a-462c-abfb-5f7231cf6531_2252x896.jpg) Bluebell Hill commuter car park While the abandoned car park sits within Tonbridge & Malling, it is in a far-flung part of the borough, wedged between three different dual carriageways, and not near any significant settlements in the area. Access to other parts of the borough requires lengthy journeys along high-speed dual carriageways, country lanes, or rural paths, with most walkable locations nearby being in Medway, as the site sits just over the southern border of our area. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!0yxE!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff3e3af74-1c71-42e7-a0ba-838d8b80f970_2298x1230.jpg) Proposed location of the temporary accommodation site. All of the nearest essential services for residents of the new accommodation would be located in Medway, with one Tonbridge & Malling councillor speaking at a [full council meeting this evening](https://democracy.tmbc.gov.uk//ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=126&MId=5979&ref=localauthority.news), even highlighting Chatham Asda being a 20 minute walk away as a positive aspect of the scheme. Similarly, the nearest healthcare and education facilities would be located within Medway. The item was raced through Tonbridge & Malling’s full council meeting this evening, with a small number of councillors from multiple parties all speaking in favour of it Tonbridge & Malling council leader Matt Boughton called the scheme an “exciting proposal.” Still, few details were given in what was the first public discussion of the plans, and none of the publicly available documents set out how many households TMBC plan to house on the site. We asked Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council if they had engaged with Medway Council on the plans given the location of the site, but they did not respond to us. On the other hand, Medway Council spokesperson told us that they had received no communication from TMBC: > *“There has not been any engagement between Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and Medway Council on the proposed Bluebell Hill site to date. However, we would welcome the opportunity to engage with colleagues at Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council at the appropriate time to ensure any potential impact these proposed plans may have on Medway’s services and residents are mitigated as best as possible.”* Of course, temporary accommodation for those in need is urgently needed across the southeast, but councils building developments on the edge of other council areas is becoming an increasingly common move as resources are stretched. Whether placing families experiencing homelessness in a remote car park with no immediate access to services and facilities proves positive remains to be seen. --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Think tank proposes Thames Gateway development corporation A new report from the Adam Smith Institute has made a bold proposal that Medway should be part of a vast new Urban Development Corporation (UDC), a kind of turbo-charged planning body that could sidestep local councils, attract private developers, and get houses built at pace. If that sounds like a planning free-for-all, that’s kind of the point. The report, [Dwharfing the City](https://www.adamsmith.org/research/dwharfing-the-city-the-next-generation-of-urban-development-corporations?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fmedium=email), makes the case for reviving the model that gave us London’s Docklands. Back in the 1980s, that meant bypassing dithering councils and building Canary Wharf on top of disused wharves. The authors now want to apply the same treatment to the Thames Gateway, stretching from east London through Essex and deep into north Kent. Medway would be central to this vision. The proposal would create one giant UDC spanning 17 existing local council areas, including Dartford, Gravesham and Medway. The scale is unapologetically huge, involving hundreds of thousands of homes, billions in investment, and ‘urban transformation’ on a level not seen in Britain since the post-war new towns. According to the report, Medway provides a prime development opportunity, with a UDC potentially unlocking 8,000 new homes on brownfield sites. The report also cites decent transport thanks to our high-speed rail connections and relatively cheap land. But this isn’t just about squeezing in more houses. The idea is that areas like Chatham and Gillingham, close enough to London to matter, but far enough out to be affordable, could become new urban hubs in their own right. What would this look like on the ground? In theory, new homes on brownfield sites, commercial investment, better public transport, and possibly even more glossy PR about riverside living. In practice, a central government-backed body that could override local objections, fast-track planning, and offer incentives to developers to build where councils have stalled or said no. It’s not hard to see the appeal. Medway has spent years caught between London’s gravitational pull and the inertia of England’s broken planning system. A UDC could bring pace and money to the kind of regeneration politicians keep promising but can never quite deliver. But it’s also not hard to imagine the pushback. Elected councillors would have limited say, communities could feel overrun, and forcing developers to build what is needed rather than what they want to sell remains a challenge. As it stands, the report is just a proposal from an enthusiastic think tank. Still, with the Labour government making positive noises about development corporations, this may not be a hypothetical for long. --- #### In brief 🚧 Rochester Pier can’t catch a break. After a large chunk of it fell into the river, the main structure reopened last year, but has been [shut again following structural concerns](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn9y588j0d1o?ref=localauthority.news). Medway Council says they are “looking into funding options” for a survey to assess the state of things. 👮 A Kent Police sergeant based in Medway was [found to have sexually assaulted](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/kent-police-sergeant-who-motorboated-officer-at-party-esca-326721/?ref=localauthority.news) a female officer, while at least one other officer worked to protect him against the allegations. 🚒 The remarkably flammable former St John Fisher school building on Ordnance Street was [on fire again this week](https://www.kent.fire-uk.org/incident/medway/derelict-building-fire-chatham?ref=localauthority.news). Six fire engines were needed to bring the blaze under control. 🚓 [Police are investigating an alleged assault](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/probe-launched-into-festivals-ibiza-event-after-security-i-326852/?ref=localauthority.news) at a Rochester Castle Live event last week. Facebook posts allege that at least two security guards assaulted attendees before throwing them out of the Symphonic Ibiza event. 🏦 Unsurprisingly, [Barclays are set to close its Chatham High Street branch](https://futuremedway.co.uk/closing-date-confirmed-for-barclays-in-chatham-high-street-as-branch-to-relocate/?ref=localauthority.news) as it opens a new branch at Chatham Dockside. 🛍️ KentOnline have published a [remarkable profile of the Pentagon](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-need-to-keep-on-top-evolving-shopping-centre-s-bid-to-326595/?ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham. In it, they claim the escalators are “long gone,” and the manager of D&A Toys calls customers “lazy.” --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, we sat down with three artists exhibiting work at the Hazelnut Press in Rochester as part of Medway Open Studios. [Ionut Bertea, Liz Howe, and Paddy Tutt](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-been-able-to-do-a-lot-more-than/) talk about their artistic practice, how they came to be involved with the Hazelnut Press, and what people can look forward to during Medway Open Studios. [“I've been able to do a lot more than I thought”Medway Open Studios is on now and runs until July 20th, with multiple events and exhibitions happening across Medway. A number of events will be occurring at the Hazelnut Press in Rochester, so we spoke to three artists - Ionut Bertea, Liz Howe, and Paddy Tutt - at the studio to discuss what people can look forward to, how they came to be involved with Hazelnut Press, and their own artistic practice.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!4zY6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f532bb9fe-c8fb-40f2-8129-8c8f729fed1a.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-been-able-to-do-a-lot-more-than/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Soft Spots by Adult Mom*](https://adultmom.bandcamp.com/album/soft-spots-3?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Wowee Zowee by Pavement*](https://pavement.bandcamp.com/album/wowee-zowee?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Alvvays by Alvvays*](https://alvvays.bandcamp.com/album/alvvays?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “I've been able to do a lot more than I thought” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/ive-been-able-to-do-a-lot-more-than/ Last updated: 2025-07-06T06:00:54.000Z [*Medway Open Studios*](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *is on now and runs until July 20th, with multiple events and exhibitions happening across Medway. A number of events will be occurring at the* [*Hazelnut Press*](https://www.hazelnut-press.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *in Rochester, so we spoke to three artists - Ionut Bertea, Liz Howe, and Paddy Tutt - at the studio to discuss what people can look forward to, how they came to be involved with Hazelnut Press, and their own artistic practice.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!4zY6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f532bb9fe-c8fb-40f2-8129-8c8f729fed1a.jpg) Hazelnut Press artists Liz Howe, Paddy Tutt and Ionut Bertea. **How would you describe your artistic practice?** **Ionut:** I don't know, random. I focus a lot on nature, flowers, plants, animals, birds, anything I can think of. I do a lot of printing, lino cut, and I do collages as well. A bit of painting. **Liz:** For about the last ten years, I've been coming to Hazelnut Press and printing here on a Wednesday. Lino cuts, we've done some lithography, we've done some collagraphs. We've even had a go at screen printing here, which is a bit ad hoc. You need a lot of water in hosepipes and things like that. I go for colour. Colour is the thing that really dictates it to me. Sometimes I'm doing people on a platform in a station. Sometimes I'm doing flowers. A very varied amount of things inspire me. At the moment, I'm into patterns but not too distinctive. I like them to look a bit blurred, which suits my style because it means I can make mistakes and still think it's looking good. **Paddy:** I'm probably the newest member of the group. I'm still exploring what I can manage to do. But so far, we've had some flowers and some people. Lino cuts, because I didn't think particularly that I'd be able to do lino cuts because I've got funny wrists, but [Heather](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enable-people-i-dont-tell-them/) *(Haythornthwaite, owner of the Hazelnut Press)* is really encouraging. I've been able to do a lot more than I thought I would be able to do. **How did you come to be involved with the Hazelnut Press?** **Ionut:** When I was doing my Master’s at University of Kent, they had these extracurricular activities and one of them was Heather doing a talk at Nucleus Arts. I participated, seeing the studios, and from all the talks I thought, ‘That's a very interesting place and things to look at.’ Where I come from, we don’t do printmaking. That was a completely different art style. I went with Heather to see, visited the studio and then I did the introduction course that she does with everyone, and I stayed. I've been here since 2017. **Liz:** I live in Gravesend, and I met Heather through another woman called Fiona Spirals. Fiona was running a collage course in Gravesend in an old, decommissioned church on the river, and Heather came along to that course. Also, she'd got a small exhibition of her work. I was really inspired. I've been an art teacher all my life in secondary schools, it’s years since I did a degree. I thought it's time to refire my batteries. I've been coming for many a long year. At the moment, I'm on a slight sabbatical, but I'm coming back in the autumn. **Paddy:** I live in Rochester, and I've got children similar in age to Heather, so I have known her for a long time. But I think it's probably to do with printing. My husband came here a couple of years running. He wanted to do printmaking Christmas cards, so I did a few things and then after he died, my friend bought me a course here to do. A while after that, I just thought I love it here, she's so encouraging, and it's such a lovely environment. Everybody encourages you, and they also value your opinion of their work. **What can people expect from the Hazelnut Press as part of Medway Open Studios?** **Ionut:** Very nice coffee and biscuits. **Paddy:** *(laughs)* **Ionut:** That's the first thing you get here. **Liz:** Well, variety. Everybody here prints very, very differently, distinctively. I can walk in here usually, and even if I've not been here for weeks, I can tell whose work is what. There's no repetition. There'll be work on show down here *(in the studio)* and up through the ground floor of the house. **Paddy:** A warm welcome and prints, but also cards. There's something for everybody, whatever their price band is. I think it's just inspiring because, Liz is absolutely right, people's style is so different. You'll be in one room and see a few of somebody's, and then go down the corridor, and then there's some more of somebody else's. They all sort of complement each other, but aren't at all the same. **Liz:** It’s amazing how varied it is. **Ionut:** Heather has a soft way of teaching. She comes and goes behind you, and then she cuddles a little bit with you. She guides you without you realising. **Liz:** She's also very talented herself. **Paddy:** She's also really good at coming past you and saying, ‘What about trying the green or something?’ Not ‘you need to do that’, but ‘what about trying it?’ Then you do something else, then you try that and realise that she was absolutely right. **Ionut:** Heather's principle is for you to develop your own style, but obviously, because she's a very experienced artist, as a working artist, she knows what's right and wrong in a piece of work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!-BJk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f62655970-af5e-486b-aeb6-ebbda0fd3c57_1148x1550.jpg) Crowd Out Nature by Ionut Bertea. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### New Buddhist centre opens in Rochester URL: https://www.localauthority.news/new-buddhist-centre-opens-in-rochester/ Last updated: 2025-07-04T16:30:41.000Z *A new Buddhist centre has opened in Rochester this week, the first of its kind in the UK. We’ve been finding out more. Further down, we talk to the organisers of Medway’s upcoming Walk for Peace, hear about a special live recording of a Medway music podcast, we review the Royal Crown in Rochester, news in brief, and more.* --- #### New Buddhist centre opens in Rochester *Medway is host to the first Bodhicharya Buddhist centre in the UK, which opened this week in Rochester. We spoke with trustee Stuart McLeod to find out more…* This week was the formal opening of the first UK centre for Bodhicharya, “what is essentially an international movement of Buddhist centres,” says Stuart. The centre was opened by the guiding teacher of Bodhicharya International, Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, the patron of the UK wing, and former translator to the Dalai Lama. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!aXeG!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe4168c0a-97a8-4a34-925b-37dd1d0f044e_1200x900.jpg) There has been a Kent group meeting since 2015, previously at the Quaker Meeting House in Rochester. Ringu Tulku “identified Medway as the best place to establish the first UK centre.” Stuart says that Medway’s population size and the sense of need that the centre can provide for, “there's something quite special about the fact that Medway was earmarked as the place to do this.” Buddhism is a global religion that has existed for over two and a half thousand years. For Stuart, what sets Buddhism apart from most other religions is “there's no sense of a creator god.” The historical figure of Buddha was a human being who, in the words of Buddhism, “attained enlightenment.” The idea is that the teachings of Buddhism are therefore set out for any individual to aspire to. “What the Buddha achieved is liberation from suffering.” For Stuart, the approach to Buddhism, particularly through Bodhicharya, is “this idea of service to others as well. It's not about my spiritual development, my enlightenment, my liberation. It's how we conduct ourselves in service of others.” The Chair of Bodhicharya, Cesare Seguato, is a student of Ringu Tulku, and through his relationship with him, was encouraged to set up a local group, which was then established in 2015\. “That group's evolved over time to building a friendly, supportive community around it,” to the point where they felt there was enough momentum to establish the centre. Stuart is keen to emphasise that there is a focus on a non-sectarian approach to Buddhism. There will be three different schools of Buddhism represented at the centre. There’s Tibetan Buddhism, which is what Bodhicharya is rooted in, with a class on Tuesdays. Stuart’s training is in Chinese Zen Buddhism. There is also David Quirk Thornton, a priest in the Jodo Shinshu tradition, which will be offered as a monthly Sunday session as well. The centre is in the former pavilion building at the bottom of Jackson Fields, Rochester. “It's quite a prominent location because anybody passing through the towns on the A2 will now see a four-meter-wide sign with Bodhicharya UK, Buddhist Meditation Centre written on it.” They also make use of the former bowling green. “It is a sad story that the bowling club didn't reopen after lockdown, and the building's been sat empty for years.” The Buddhist group has taken a five-year lease from Medway Council, which Stuart says has been supportive of their plans. “[Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/)'s been an advocate for it. [Nina Gurung](https://www.localauthority.news/i-feel-it-is-my-primary-role-to-promote/), as you probably wouldn't be surprised to hear, is our first ever Buddhist mayor last year, she's been a supporter as well.” Cllr Gurung was able to get community support towards funding some of the restoration. The charity found that the bowling pavilion, from a planning perspective, has to have a public benefit and public use to what they are doing. Their current plans are for two classes a week on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with two different Buddhist traditions hosted there. Those classes are free to access, with donations welcome to support the charity. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Coa2!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f61624d0c-cd86-4cd2-9717-8f5adddae3b6_1200x900.jpg) Stuart tells me the charity has been thinking more broadly about how they can create more access to the green. “We don't have exclusive access to the entire site. There's tennis courts next to it, and football there every weekend. They seem to be curious about what we're up to.” Stuart will be offering Tai Chi classes, and there are plans for a yoga open day, “where we're going to be inviting local yoga teachers in Medway and the surrounds to come and see the centre, to see if it's a place they might want to use.” If you are interested in checking out the centre, it will be open for classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 7.30pm. For security reasons, it is currently locked at other times. No prior Buddhism experience is required. There is a beginner’s entry point as well as aspects for people to aspire to, with day retreats. However, “spending a whole day in sitting meditation is not for everybody,” admits Stuart. “Either physically being able to do that, but also if you're completely new to meditation and new to observing the workings of the mind, you kind of need to build towards these things.” --- #### Medway walks for peace [*Medway Inter Faith Action*](https://www.medwayinterfaith.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *has held the Medway Walk for Peace for almost twenty years. With the global politick as it is, this year is no different, with the 2025 walk taking place on the 12th July. We spoke with the Chair of MIFA, Ajaib Hussain, about this year’s route…* The Walk for Peace is about “bringing communities together,” says Ajaib. It is for people of any belief system, and those with no faith, and is an opportunity for them “to really get to know one another.” Ajaib tells me that once people know each other, “then you want to understand where your values are,” then, as the saying goes, we realise we have more in common. Ajaib tells me that whilst “commonalities bind us,” what we do not have in common is also important to know and respect. “If you have a certain belief or a certain way of doing things, we're not going to change you.” Walk for Peace is one of the events MIFA organises throughout the year and has been doing so since 2006\. Ajaib has been involved since he came to Medway in 2013. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!h7OY!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff814a424-2904-4484-91fa-63c8828465e5_1600x838.jpg) The Walk for Peace in 2024. For many participants, it is a walk and talk opportunity. The idea is “we walk together, visit different places of worship, have some entertainment, have some food, and understand those cultural differences.” Last year’s walk included the Naval War Memorial on the Great Lines, where there was a service. “This is a naval town, we lost a lot of good people. It's remembering, and we want peace.” Over 100 people will join the walk at its peak, which this year is accommodating a new route, with new places and a new motto. This year’s is ‘for a brighter future,’ “which is poignant, not just for peace, but for our own selves. All over Medway, we have people struggling as a community with mental health issues, with health, struggling with our own lives.” This year they are starting at the new Buddhist Centre *(see above)*. They will then walk to the Turkish Dialogue Centre “to experience hospitality in the Turkish tradition.” From there, they will walk down to the old Intra High Street, to one of the oldest faith buildings in Medway, the Chatham Memorial Synagogue. “I think we're very lucky to have these established places of worship, who will welcome us and do a service.” Services throughout the walk will be multi-faith to accommodate everyone. “It will be very nice to have us all together in a synagogue, no matter what background you are.” After that, they will walk along to the Rochester Library. “The library, you might say, is not a faith centre,” but “the library is a community hub”, where there will be a programme of art, “which we can appreciate and get more people to come and read and learn about the libraries.” For Ajaib, libraries are an integral part of our communities. “If we lose those, we will lose something, a page from that book if you like.” The walk continues on to outside Rochester Cathedral, where local dignitaries, including the Mayor and the Chief Inspector, will give speeches. “A few VIPs saying a few words,” as Ajaib puts it. The walk will conclude at the Rochester Baptist Church on Crow Lane. There will be entertainment including Bulgarian Kitka dances, henna art, food, and further talks. For Ajaib, it's a day of fun for the whole family, and people can join at any stage of the walk. “We're welcoming,” he notes, whether you're interested in joining the whole walk, which gathers at the Buddhist Centre at 10.45am, or at any of the mentioned points along the way. It is expected to finish if you stay the course, at 5pm. --- #### Medway podcast marks ten years since seminal book *On 26 July, our side quest,* [*Medwayish*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Community Interest Company, will be hosting an event at Medway Little Theatre to mark ten years since the release of Stephen Morris’ definitive book on the Medway music scene. Luckily, we were able to get an interview with the author and our in-house music reviewer, Stephen Morris, to find out more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Dbt6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbbd021d8-e96a-4ad2-8262-9a8bc0aa0017_781x715.jpg) [Songs in the Key of…](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/songs-in-the-key-of/id1537659154?ref=localauthority.news) is a podcast that Stephen started during lockdown. “Basically people were baking banana bread or starting podcasts. I went for the podcast option.” Each episode features Stephen talking about 10 songs on a particular theme or genre. Occasionally, he has a guest on, including this writer. Stephen is also the author of [Do It Yourself: A History of Music in Medway](https://www.medwayish.com/product/do-it-yourself-a-history-of-music-in-medway?ref=localauthority.news). To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the book being published by [Cultured Llama](https://www.medwaymaria.co.uk/cultured-llama-publishing/?ref=localauthority.news), Stephen will be recording a live version of his podcast at Medway Little Theatre. The event will feature an evening of chat, as he welcomes Medway musicians on stage to perform and talk about their music. “We’ve got Lupen Crook, Rachel Lowrie and Glenn Pragnell. It's going to be a fun evening, I'm really looking forward to doing it.” Stephen’s podcast will often have a Medway element to it, even when discussing music from around the world, “given that there's such a prevalence of music from Medway.” Stephen, who started off as a music reviewer for BBC Gloucester, wrote his book on Medway music, developing extensive knowledge after moving to the area. “I’d heard of [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) and The Prisoners, but over time I've met a lot of Medway musicians, interviewed them, and listened to a large amount of their music.” The book is an oral history and a set of reviews of the key albums that have come out since the late 70s. Stephen is currently working on a second edition of the book. “It's a bit of a refresh of the original text, plus an update as to what's been going on in the last ten years.” Stephen feels it’s an exciting time for Medway with new bands coming through, citing Cream Soda, Mitchell Lane, Dockyard, and “Grinners who have come and are about to go.” Stephen picked the acts for the Medway Little Theatre event because “I'm a big fan of all three of them, and I wanted to cover different periods in Medway music's history.” Glenn Pragnell has been in a number of bands before forming Groovy Uncle, where he's released an album every year. “He's an excellent, witty songwriter,” and though he won’t be performing on the night, he will be part of the chat. Rachel Lowrie has been singing for ten or so years publicly, most recently as part of the Ashen Keys. As well as talking to Stephen, she will perform as part of a new trio, South Shore, with [Stuart Turner](https://www.localauthority.news/i-cant-really-write-music-that-goes/) and Nick Rice. Completing the line-up is Lupen Crook. “He's been an absolute powerhouse of music and art for a very long time now. Really beautiful lyrics that are very heart on sleeve. I think he's a fascinating artist.” *The Songs in the Key of… live podcast recording will take place at Medway Little Theatre on the 26 July.* [*Tickets are available here*](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/songs-in-the-key-of-live-podcast-recording-tickets-1425402801149?aff=oddtdtcreator&ref=localauthority.news) *for £15.* --- #### Out to Lunch: Royal Crown The [Royal Crown](https://www.royalcrownrochester.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is the final location on Rochester High Street before the bridge and wherever that may lead. I found this out during the week, as I walked looking for somewhere for brunch that was not previously reviewed or didn’t look like it would depress me. The Royal Crown was literally and figuratively the last option available. Thankfully, it is delightful, welcoming, and friendly. What it is not is serving brunch. However, I’m comfortable and I have a drink, so I settle in. What I don’t have is a menu, which is being newly printed. As noon approaches, the menus appear, and I order a Whitstable Bay beer-battered haddock fish finger sandwich and a portion of ‘Mucky Swine’ loaded fries. They do not serve coleslaw. For those interested in the cost of these things, they also do not have prices on the menu. Whilst the adage goes that if you have to ask how much something costs, you can’t afford it,I am happy to say that the final bill was less than expected. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NVYM!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa255a5b4-ede3-407d-8bc5-9ab2abb72fd6_5712x2991.jpg) The fish finger sandwich at the Royal Crown. As I tuck into my gentrified fish finger sandwich, I have to admit it is delicious, with crisp, flavourful batter covering generous hunks of haddock. It comes with a nice tartare sauce and rocket. The loaded fries manage to stay crisp despite the melted cheddar cheese and mozzarella. They are a great accompaniment but would work as a snack in their own right. Don’t just go to the Royal Crown when there is no other option, like I did. Go there because it’s a great venue with great food. --- #### Events this week 🎨 5 - 20 Jul - [**Medway Open Studios**](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news) // Artists across Medway throw open their studios and exhibit their work. Various locations. Free. 🎭 6 - 19 Jul - [**Duncan Rand One Act Play Festival**](https://www.mlt.org.uk/season66.html?ref=localauthority.news) // 52nd edition of the festival, bringing theatrical groups together for friendly competition. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. 🛢️ Tue 8 Jul - [**There Will Be Blood**](https://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/unlimited-25-there-will-be-blood-2007/ho00013264?ref=localauthority.news#/buy-tickets-by-film?in-cinema=020&at=2025-07-08&for-movie=ho00013264&view-mode=list) // One-off screening of Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic masterpiece. Cineworld, Strood. Tickets £6. 🍲 Thu 10 Jul - [**Soul Food: Solo Food Stories**](https://lyriciarts.com/events/soul-food-solo-stories/?ref=localauthority.news) // Lyrici Arts present a theatre experience exploring heritage, identity, and self-discovery through the voices of four talented Black heritage artists from Medway. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets from £10. --- #### More Authority As we enter summer, our outdoors correspondent [Stuart Bourne has been pondering](https://www.localauthority.news/changing-seasons/) the impact of climate change on our gardens, which plants are at the top of their game this time of year, and the beauty of Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve in Cuxton. [Changing SeasonsWe have all seen it over the last few years. Spring bulbs that have flowered earlier than last year. The bees we have seen buzzing around in February. The frogspawn in our ponds arriving in March. There is no denying our climate is changing, and we as gardeners need to adapt to this change.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityStuart Bourne![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Bg1j!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb6ee770f-d6d9-4f1f-9c1f-0d8a55592a9e_982x737.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/changing-seasons/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Changing Seasons URL: https://www.localauthority.news/changing-seasons/ Last updated: 2025-07-03T22:30:43.000Z Our outdoor correspondent Stuart Bourne on the changing climate, keeping your plants happy, and Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Local Plan, once more URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-local-plan-once-more/ Last updated: 2025-07-01T23:22:55.000Z *It’s a bit hot, isn’t it? As we write this, the windows of Local Authority Towers are wide open and several fans are blasting us, yet we still feel like we’re melting. We know some people enjoy this heat, but it is our duty to inform you that they are very much wrong.* *Anyway, today we’ve got one last roundup (for now) on the Local Plan, where we look at some of the finer points of it that may have been overlooked in all of the drama over housing targets. We also hear from each political group on Medway Council about why they voted for or against the plan. Further down, we return to the saga of Medway’s swimming instructors, who we were told last year weren’t being made redundant, and you’ll never guess what has happened to them now. We also have a wild story involving a former Medway councillor who has had to resign from a big role on the Isle of Man, of all places. Plus, of course, our news in brief roundup.* --- #### Some finer details of the Local Plan We won’t keep writing about the Local Plan, but we wanted to return to it a little bit this week after asking you to read through the documents and point out anything that might be of interest. The Local Plan and all of the supplementary documents ran into thousands of pages, so we very much appreciate those of you that took the time find and flag some of the finer details: - One reader pointed out that the Medway Local Plan document raises concern about the pressure on the water network from the plan. It highlights that additional sewage discharges may result from the plan and that ‘Deterioration in water quality and ecosystem services has the potential to be a long-term but potentially temporary significant effect.’ - An aspiration of the plan is to provide ‘access to affordable, integrated transport and new forms of shared mobility.’ The document specifically references both e-bikes and e-scooters, the former of which is fine, but the latter of which are very much illegal on UK streets. - One reader (some of you can probably even guess which one) was very excited about Medway Council’s proposals for new allotments. We’ve written before about the [shortage of allotments](https://www.localauthority.news/do-we-need-to-allot-more-allotments/) in Medway, but Medway Council will now expect new developments to provide allotments for new residential developments at a rate higher than the best practice guidance that exists in this area. - Developers will be expected to provide a ‘sustainable mix of housing,’ which includes the very out of fashion humble bungalow. - There is an expectation for 30% of new housing in Hoo and suburban greenfield sites to be ‘affordable,’ with 25% in ‘lower value areas’ and 10% on brownfield developments. - Large scale developments should now include at least 4% plots for self and custom build housing. You can [read the Local Plan in full](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200542/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5F2041?ref=localauthority.news) on Medway Council’s website, [respond to the new consultation](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200542/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5F2041/2006/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5Fregulation%5F19%5Fconsultation/2?ref=localauthority.news), or attend an [information event](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200542/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5F2041/2006/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5Fregulation%5F19%5Fconsultation/3?ref=localauthority.news) about it. --- #### The politics of it all As you might expect following the Local Plan debate last week, political parties have been setting out their positions on the plan. We asked each of them for a comment on the agreed Local Plan, which we now present for your enjoyment: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zo8G!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f50cfd680-76d9-4dc6-8f98-40d851b0b085_4032x3024.jpg) First up, Cllr [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/), Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration shared his happiness at getting the plan through: > *“The Local Plan is a comprehensive document which takes many factors into consideration, including feedback received from residents and businesses during our previous public consultations. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit formal feedback, which has helped to shape the plan that was approved by councillors last night.* > > *Medway’s Local Plan sets out our vision for how Medway can grow sustainably, striking a balance between the need for development of homes and jobs, whilst also looking to protect Medway’s wonderful natural and historic environment.* > > *New developments are required to meet the housing target set by Government. We have carefully considered all feedback and the options available to determine where’s best for the growth to go. However, that being said, we are not complacent and recognise that with new homes there is a need for new or improved infrastructure to be provided at appropriate times within the development. We will be working hard to not only allocate Section 106 funding from developments into communities, but to lobby Government and other relevant bodies for more support to provide new road networks, schools, health facilities and more to ensure Medway thrives as well as grows.”* Perhaps unsurprisingly, Cllr [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/), leader of the opposition Medway Conservative Group saw things rather differently: > *“We recognise the need for a Local Plan, however, that plan must be the right plan. We cannot support a local plan that fails to critically on infrastructure and therefore we voted against that plan tonight.* > > *We are committed to getting the necessary infrastructure improvements that the people of Medway have rightly called for, and as the Regulation 19 now moves forward we will continue to make representations to the Planning Inspectorate.* > > *We must be under no illusions, this local plan is the Labour Party’s Local Plan, and tonight they have voted for 28,000 additional homes by 2041 without any support from Government to Medway’s critical infrastructure.”* Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/), Deputy Leader of the Independent Group, found some positives, but still raised serious concerns about the process: > *“With the draft Local Plan, the additional houses planned for the Hoo Peninsula has reduced from around 12,000 to around 5,800\. Deangate Ridge is completely protected and will become a parkland. There is also a parkland proposed to the south of Hoo called Cockham, as well as a wetland reserve proposed around Abbotts Court south east of Hoo. Cliffe, Cliffe Woods, Frindsbury and Wainscott are spared with additional significant development, along with Allhallows, Stoke, St. Mary Hoo and Grain. However, the Local Plan does include around 1,600 houses that will need to come forward on “windfall sites”, meaning the plan may enable additional development on the Hoo Peninsula on sites not allocated in the plan. The proposal for 500 houses at Chattenden Barracks has been removed, due to ecological concerns with the adjacent Lodge Hill SSSI (and Nightingales). However, as the Habitats Regulations Assessment has not been finalised, and without a 400m buffer (as seen elsewhere in the country), these sensitive sites could still come forward as “windfall”. We are still very concerned and oppose the significant development planned for the Hoo Peninsula. Especially as there is no serious funding in the plan to pay for the significant infrastructure that will be required on the Hoo Peninsula - particularly roads, education, health, water, electricity, community facilities etc. We are opposed to a top-grade (Grade 1) agricultural farmland being developed, when this high-quality land is rare nationally. The scale of development will cause significant harm to the Hoo Peninsula’s internationally and nationally protected habitat sites - although not directly developed, the harm caused by recreational disturbance, predation (pets), noise, pollution, fly-tipping and waste will be significant. The plan Medway Council signed off on Thursday 26th June was not ready and not fit for a Regulation 19 consultation. Many of the documents are incomplete or missing - the plan is simply not sound or ready for Examination.”* Cllr [David Finch](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/), leader of the Reform Group, set out why his party are opposed the plan: > *“While we respect the democratic process, we remain deeply concerned about the direction and priorities of this Local Plan.* > > *It places disproportionate emphasis on housing delivery without securing the necessary infrastructure, job creation, or protections for Medway’s heritage and economy. The decision to earmark vital employment sites such as Chatham Docks and Medway City Estate for redevelopment sends the wrong message to local businesses and workers at a time when stability and investment are most needed.* > > *We believe Medway deserves a plan that balances housing with meaningful job growth, protects our greenbelt, and respects our unique industrial legacy.* > > *As the consultation phase moves forward, Reform UK will continue to challenge the weaknesses in this plan and amplify the voices of residents, workers, and small businesses who feel unheard. We urge the public to participate in the Regulation 19 consultation that runs until 11th August and make their views known.”* Finally, independent councillor [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/), the only councillor outside of Labour to support the plan, told us: > *“The local plan vote was the hardest decision I have had to make as a councillor. It was a plan nobody would like completely and more of a case of what was least bad.* > *I have no regrets about voting to publish the plan because, on balance and it was a very fine balance, it was in the best interests of those I represent.* > > *There has been much talk lately of a united peninsula alliance. Before the 2019 elections, the late Councillor Pendergast and I suggested this, but were rebuffed.* > *After the elections we tried again several times, but again certain people said no. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that had this happened much of the development in Hoo and other areas on the Peninsula would have been stopped are at least significantly curtailed.”* --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Swimming instructors made redundant by Medway Council after all Towards the end of last year, we broke the story that swimming instructors in Medway were being made redundant due to their roles being abolished and absorbed into a much more wide-ranging role. At the time, Medway Council effectively dismissed our questions over staff being made redundant, [telling us](https://www.localauthority.news/whats-going-on-with-medways-swimming/) that it was effectively just a change in contract terms and that “All current Swimming Instructors will be offered the opportunity to amend their contract to continue working for us in the role of a Sports Officer or Senior Sports Officer and consultation will be undertaken with relevant staff and suitable options offered as part of the process.” Fast forward to now, and a [new report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=80481&ref=localauthority.news) to Medway Council’s Employment Matters Commitee next week seems to paint the situation in a rather different light. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!mPou!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3202b4da-7b51-4ca2-bd65-f948dd3fcb8e_1958x960.png) Excerpt from Organisational Change report At the time, swimming instructors raised concerns that even if they were offered a Sports Officer role, it would include responsibilities well beyond the scope of their existing expertise. It would appear that as a result, four of the five swimming instructors in Medway did end up being made redundant. The report also notes that fitness instructors working for Medway Council faced a similar situation, with four staff members being made redundant. --- *Our reporting only exists thanks to the readers that choose to pay for it. If you value our work, and want to receive more of it, please consider* [*supporting us with a paid subscription*](#/portal/signup) *to ensure we can keep doing it. If you already do so, thank you for being so wonderful.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Return of the Mack(ness) It’s not often there’s much crossover between our work and that of the Isle of Man’s national radio station. But this week, a [story this week from Manx Radio](https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/tourism-chair-resigns-amid-questions-over-business-history-and-ongoing-fraud-investigation/?ref=localauthority.news) has brought up the past of a former Medway councillor and possibly shed new light about an ongoing fraud investigation by Kent Police into a Medway Council owned company. ![Andrew Mackness - Medway Elects](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!jPhL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f918accaf-dc91-42b7-8e8e-16edf9f87a15_200x200.jpg) Andrew Mackness Readers of previous incarnations of this outlet may well be familiar with Andrew Mackness, a Medway Conservative councillor for River ward between 2011 and 2019 and was widely loved by all who knew him. During his tenure as a councillor, he was portfolio holder for education, and was investigated by the police over [claims of inappropriate conduct](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/police-to-review-medway-cllrs-104119/?ref=localauthority.news). He was also a director of Medway Commercial Group (MCG) before [resigning](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/council-chief-confirms-fraud-probe-209981/?ref=localauthority.news) ahead of a fraud probe into the organisation, which is still ongoing six years later. Within weeks of his resignation from MCG, Mackness stood down as a Medway councillor, choosing to spend more time with his other business ventures ([44 appointments on Companies House](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/RZEfSOT2C0-bnR3-uUUR8aI%5FfZg/appointments?ref=localauthority.news)), including the St. Andrew’s Lakes development near Halling. Since then, he has largely remained out of the public eye. That is until this week, when Manx Radio reported that Mackness had resigned from his position as Chair of Visit Isle of Man, the tourist body for the island. Reports from when he took on the role suggest he moved to the Isle of Man in 2022 before being appointed to the organisation in 2024. Manx Radio asserts that Mackness’ resignation is in part due to his former actions as a Medway councillor and the ongoing fraud investigation into MCG, claiming sight of whistleblower documents about his time at the firm. Kent Police were called in to look at MCG after the company engaged in ‘highly speculative ventures’ and managed to lost £1.7m of public money in a single year. Three people have been arrested in relation to the ongoing investigation of MCG, and Kent Police told Manx Radio that two people in their 50s from Chatham were interviewed under caution regarding the matter, which appears to have been in [February 2022](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/police-quiz-new-suspects-in-council-fraud-probe-263017/?ref=localauthority.news). Mackness, 60, asserts that he has never been arrested over the MCG saga, but did tell Manx Radio that “Where voluntarily requested, I have – and would always – assist the police in any investigation.” Mackness told Manx Radio that the “politically motivated claims” were “pure mischief-making.” *We very much recommend the* [*full article on Manx Radio*](https://www.manxradio.com/news/isle-of-man-news/tourism-chair-resigns-amid-questions-over-business-history-and-ongoing-fraud-investigation/?ref=localauthority.news)*, even if we’re not sure what it means when some of the best journalism about the MCG investigation has come from the Isle of Man…* --- #### In brief 🏗️ Medway Council's planning team is [investigating an unfinished block of flats](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/probe-launched-into-block-of-flats-which-had-balcony-built-a-326161/?ref=localauthority.news) of questionable quality on Jeffrey Street in Gillingham. The building includes wobbly brickwork and initially included a balcony wrapped around a lamppost. 🏫 Chancellor Rachel Reeves [visited a Strood primary school last week](https://hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/kent/news/chancellor-rachel-reeves-visits-primary-school-in-strood?ref=localauthority.news) to discuss expanding free school meals. While some local media were invited, ours was presumably lost in the post. 📄 Medway Council is considering naming a street in a new Twydall development [after the late, long-time councillor for the area, Paul Harriott](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=80532&ref=localauthority.news). Harriott represented the area for 52 years, so the council is considering breaking their policy that people must be dead for 20 years before streets can be named after them. 🌊 Southern Water is investing [£8.2m in its Motney Hill water treatment works](https://www.southernwater.co.uk/latest-news/82-million-investment-at-kent-treatment-site/?ref=localauthority.news) in Rainham. This will more than double the storm storage capacity at the site to reduce sewage releases when systems become overwhelmed. 🛍️ Chatham Dockside has been shifting from an outlet shopping centre to a more traditional provision with an increased leisure offer. [Centre manager Anthony Sutton has been talking to Completely Retail News](https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/qa-getting-the-balance-right-at-dockside-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news) about the change. 🎮 The Game store within the Pentagon Centre in Chatham is [set to close in September](https://futuremedway.co.uk/game-to-close-long-standing-store-in-pentagon-centre-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news). The shop is the last dedicated video game shop in Medway, and reflects a move toward digital game purchases and the horrific business practices of the current owner, Frasers Group. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, Steven sat down with Cllr Eddie Peake, Group Whip for the Labour administration on Medway Council. They discuss how he lost everything in Portugal, what brought him to Medway, discipline within the Medway Labour administration, and lots more. [“I wanted to actually do something worthwhile”As part of our ongoing series of interviews with Medway’s current councillors, Steven met Eddie Peake at Bridgewood Manor Hotel, where they discussed what brought him to Medway, why he lost everything in Portugal, whether Labour members who don’t support the Local Plan should lose the whip, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!hyIw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8b9087b4-7128-4178-9f90-b1b1d432cfc1_4480x3360.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-wanted-to-actually-do-something/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*The Golden Spike by Sky Larkin*](https://weareskylarkin.bandcamp.com/album/the-golden-spike?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Even on the Worst Nights by Mixtapes*](https://nosleeprecords.bandcamp.com/album/even-on-the-worst-nights?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Get Better by Lemuria*](https://asianmanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/get-better?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “I wanted to actually do something worthwhile” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-wanted-to-actually-do-something/ Last updated: 2025-06-29T06:01:28.000Z *As part of our ongoing series of interviews with Medway’s current councillors, Steven met Eddie Peake at Bridgewood Manor Hotel, where they discussed what brought him to Medway, why he lost everything in Portugal, his love of Elvis and whether Labour members who don’t support the Local Plan should lose the whip.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!hyIw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8b9087b4-7128-4178-9f90-b1b1d432cfc1_4480x3360.jpg) Cllr Eddie Peake **Which ward are you the councillor for?** Wayfield and Weeds Wood. **Why that ward?** It's a very... I'm... Oh God, how do you ask for things like this? I touch base with it as in it's an area not dissimilar to the area I lived in when I lived in Ilford in Essex. Relatively speaking, it’s working class and ordinary people. I'm comfortable with people like that. I've stood there before in different boundaries, I've got to know the area. I know the area a little bit anyway because I sing with Walderslade Sings, in the church on King George Road. I identify with it. When it came out as one to put myself forward to, I didn't hesitate. **Do you live in the ward?** I don't, no. I live in Chatham, but I don't actually live actually in that ward. **This was the third time you stood for election in Medway?** It is because it was Rainham South before, and before that was in Walderslade. **When you stood in Rainham, was that as a paper candidate?** I felt that it was, in theory it wasn't, I don't know how much to say about that. **Why do you think you won this time?** There's been a shift nationally, because no matter how much we care about local issues, and they are what generally matter to me the most, it would be ignorant to assume that the national situation doesn't have a big effect. It clearly did. For the first time in my lifetime, and I've been involved in politics for about 50 years, it was the right-wing vote split rather than the left-wing vote. When you study this, because I did do a degree in PPE *(Philosophy, Politics and Economics),* middle-aged, and you study the science of voting. One of the big factors about why the Conservatives have always been in power for so long? They would make all sorts of claims. It's often more basic than that. Quite often, the perceived so-called left, the alternative vote, has been split, and it's the first time that the right-wing vote has been split. That is a major fact. That is backed up by how many votes Reform got. **How would you describe the role of Group Whip? What does that entail?** Cracking a whip in discipline. I am officially part of the leadership, so it's a leadership role. There is a supporting role as well for people when there's issues and stuff like that. I mostly get to hear things that are private and confidential, and because we are human beings and people have things happening in their life which obviously has an impact, health or whatever. To me, I see it as hopefully galvanising this work together, because one of my approaches to life is I very much believe in teamwork. I'm very quick to say I very much believe in individual responsibility as well, because quite often this is misunderstood. I want to be there, as somebody that people can come to, to gain support from, and to work as a group, to get us to come together, and hopefully everybody does it voluntarily and buys into it because they want to. But obviously, it's a supportive role to leadership as well. **By the time this interview appears, the council would have voted on the Local Plan. How will that vote go?** I don't know. Seriously I have so many things I go on about, I'm not saying this is media's fault, but I understand in the media you want an answer to that question, then a politician will appear to fob it off, but I literally do not know. I'm hoping it will go through. I'm not being pre-determined. Hope is the wrong word. I have expectations that it would go through, but we don't know how everybody's going to vote. I can second guess how they might do that, but is that useful at all? Do I really want to be held on record for just guessing? **The group and Vince (Maple) as leader has made getting a Local Plan a major part of the administration’s role. If any member of the Labour group doesn't support the Local Plan, should they lose the whip?** Oh, that's right on the knuckle. I actually don’t know. I had a conversation with Vince on Friday when I asked him about his opinion about something. I did say to him, ‘When I ask you, don't think I don't have my own opinion. I do, but I also recognise my relative lack of experience as a whip, because it's been less than a year, and my relative lack of experience of Medway.’ I've lived here for, gosh, about ten years or so. You've got people that are almost born and bred, that have been involved in politics for so long, and the Labour group here, they can be different in different places. I've experienced this. When I defer to the experience and knowledge of the leadership, I'm recognising that has been a worthwhile thing to do because I'm not one of those people who knows it all already. A question like that, I would literally go to the leadership and ask their opinion. To me, these things are never, ever automatic. Nor do I see any benefit to being strident about it. Okay, so I know that's a fob off, but I do try to believe in honesty. I am honestly saying I'm fobbing you off. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway Council approves Local Plan for first time since 2003 URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-approves-local-plan/ Last updated: 2025-06-27T23:40:16.000Z *Our Friday editions are usually a politics-free zone focusing on culture in our towns, but we’re breaking with that today after Medway Council approved a Local Plan last night for the first time since 2003\. We have a sketch of the proceedings from the meeting. After that, we return to familiar territory with news of a new exhibition at Sun Pier House, an upcoming poetry event, some library news, a new side project, our weekly events guide, and lots more.* --- #### Medway Council ~~pre-~~ determines Local Plan outcome Earlier in the week [we reported that Medway Council might finally get a Local Plan](https://www.localauthority.news/we-might-actually-get-a-local-plan/) completed. While we aren’t quite there, the process moved considerably closer at last night’s special council meeting, as councillors approved the proposed version of the plan, which will now move to formal consultation and government inspection before taking effect. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ic0J!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2e17637c-0701-4088-95b8-e979fb30b16e_2364x1330.jpg) Chatham Docks protestors outside of Medway Council’s Local Plan meeting. It was immediately notable at the start of the meeting that Strood North and Frindsbury Labour councillor Stephen Hubbard wasn’t in attendance after we reported on his Facebook comments that seemed to indicate pre-determination on the plan. Councillors are supposed to listen to all the evidence and debate before making up their mind on the plan, which is somewhat challenging to do when you’ve already told your residents how you plan to vote a week early. As such, it appears Medway Council’s legal officer strongly encouraged him to avoid the meeting. This was, of course, the right thing to do under the circumstances, but it didn’t stop the meeting descending into repeated instances of councillors speaking in a manner that suggested they had already pre-determined their position on the plan. Multiple Labour councillors made it clear they were supporting the plan relatively early on. Still, things reached a crescendo with Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group Gary Hackwell declaring that “the Conservative Group will not be supporting the plan.” The legal officer declared this an “unfortunate turn of phrase” rather than pre-determination. By the time Cllr Alex Hyne (Con) declared he would be voting the plan down halfway through the meeting, Labour councillors were throwing their arms in the air in exasperation and asking what the point was in having rules if there were no consequences to breaking them. The Mayor, chairing the meeting, and the legal officer, seemed to take little interest in these breaches, taking a position that “we need to keep the debate going because it’s too important not to,” and instead highlighting the [complaints system](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200167/councillors/118/councillor%5Fcode%5Fof%5Fconduct?ref=localauthority.news). Of course, the rules on pre-determination are perhaps rather silly in their own right. Despite the repeated reminders that councillors should approach the matter with an open mind and not in line with a party position, by complete coincidence, every single Labour councillor in the room voted for the plan, with every single Conservative, Independent Group, and Reform councillor voting against it. It appears that the only councillor who seriously wrestled with the choice was independent Chris Spalding, who tried to balance what he seemed to think was a bad plan overall for the Hoo Peninsula but a good plan for his particular ward. He ended up voting in favour of it, the only non-Labour councillor to do so, with the final vote being 31-23 in favour of the plan. The flashpoints in the debate primarily seemed to come around the ongoing argument over Chatham Docks, with workers turning up in numbers to lobby for their workplace to not be designated as suitable for residential development. When the vote came down that it would be, cries of “traitor,” “shame on you,” and “turncoat” were shouted at Labour councillors who once stood on a platform of saving the site. Medway’s prospective Local Plan will now move to a formal consultation that starts this Monday and will run for six weeks. After that, the plan will move to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, which will assess its soundness, and if they are happy, Medway can implement it, in a best case scenario, by the end of next year. Just in time for Medway to be abolished… *We’ll have more on the Local Plan in our upcoming Tuesday briefing, as well as comments from those on all sides of the debate. In the meantime, you can watch the full Local Plan debate here:* --- #### Illustrated lives [*Simon Mills*](https://www.instagram.com/simon%5Fmills%5Fartist/?ref=localauthority.news) *has released the first volume of his two-part autobiography. He and his partner, Bronach Rae, are hosting an exhibition at* [*Sun Pier House*](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *to celebrate and highlight this achievement. The exhibition is on now, but we caught up with them both to find out more, should you wish to visit and meet them on its final day, Saturday 28 June.* I ask them what they want to discuss first, the exhibition or the book, which are connected. “Oh, very much so,” says Simon. The exhibition is called [Autobiography, Illustrated Lives](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/exhibitions/autobiography-illustrated-lives/?ref=localauthority.news). “I've written my autobiography, and Bronach said, ‘Why don't we put on a show that is about our lives, but expressed in a visual way?’”. Simon’s part of the show will feature work from his entire life, from the 1950s through to the 2020s, “eight decades, which is quite frightening.” To achieve this, Simon has included drawings from when he was a child, “from when I was three years old,” up to “a half-finished piece” that Simon is partway through at the moment. Similarly, the book that has been released and is part of the exhibition, “doesn't chart the whole of my life.” Simon has completed the first half, with Volume 1 going up to 1990\. The second half will come out later this year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SscW!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f31dec1f2-68c9-490e-acb8-a0267a677fcc_508x702.jpg) Simon is a working artist and predominantly paints landscapes, and “since living down here in Kent, I've been painting local scenes, but also travelling further afield.” Simon has also painted portraits, town scenes, architectural “stuff” and murals. He has also painted scenery for the theatre. “I've been surviving with my paintbrush for a long time.” Bronach has a very different background. “My work is collage, and that comes from my love of doing really small things.” The piece she has produced for the exhibition, however, is life-size, with the concept being an “idea I had in the middle of the night.” The piece is “a little bit political,” featuring all the things “I've done since I was born, up to now, as a woman, paid and unpaid.” It became a huge list. Bronach didn’t want to elaborate during the interview, wanting to keep it secret for those who actually see it in the exhibition. “I think some of it might be a bit challenging, because it's trying to be as truthful as possible,” but “obviously to protect the guilty at the same time.” She highlights that the good thing about exhibiting with Simon is that “we're artists, we're not rivals,” and that they quite often collaborate. Bronach reflects, “I don't have an artistic background. I have a background of making things and being creative spontaneously with groups of young people.” I ask when they first collaborated. “It's interesting,” says Simon, who will often ask for Bronach’s thoughts on the artwork he produces. “I think I first realised that Bronach was an artist, even though she wasn't making art,” Simon tells me about walking in Shropshire and marvelling at her ability to recognise what vistas would make great paintings. Their collaboration extends to their home, where “the downstairs loo has a sort of Matisse style cutout thing on the wall, which is very old-fashioned, which we did together,” says Bronach, as well as collages that Simon entered into paintings, which became “a headboard for our bed.” Simon and Bronach met online when they both entered their details into a website, Simon not realising that he would get emails from women, and Bronach being told that her profiled personality was “too challenging.” That was 16 years ago, when Simon, who lived in London at the time, agreed to meet Bronach in Rochester for a drink in a pub. When they couldn’t find a place to move on to for a cup of tea, Bronach invited Simon back to hers, and the rest, as they say, is in Volume 2. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!nCq-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa10689c2-4d10-4585-8e17-82cadfb48057_1641x1957.jpg) Work by Simon Mills. The exhibition is free and finishes tomorrow (Sat 28 June). Simon and Bronach both expect to be there, and will be selling some examples of their work, as well as copies of Simon’s book. If you cannot attend, Simon takes orders via his [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/simonmillsartist/) or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/simon%5Fmills%5Fartist/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Poetry in the garden *On 10 July, there will be a cross collaboration between* [*Medway River Lit*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Medway Open Studios*](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *at the* [*Hazlenut Press*](https://www.hazelnut-press.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*, who are hosting Poetry in the Garden. We spoke to Sam and Barry Fentiman-Hall to find out more.* As part of Medway Open Studios, [Sam Hall](https://www.localauthority.news/i-like-chatham-a-lot/) will be exhibiting as part of the Hazelnut Press for the days of the festival. “I shall be selling my graphic novels, but also some original artwork that I've made.” She will also be launching her new Medway comic. Part one of the new (possibly ten-part) series about people who may be Greek gods stranded without powers in Medway in modern times, or as Sam puts it, perhaps they are “just delusional”. The comic is suitable for those 14 years and over and is written and drawn by Sam. “Imagine you're stranded on earth, powerless, 43 minutes from London. Worst than that, though, nobody believes who you are.” Published via Wordsmithery, the book is currently only available via Medway Open Studios and will cost £6. Sam wanted to finish something new in time for Medway Open Studios, “because I need a deadline to work to.” Sam has known [Heather Haythornthwaite](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enable-people-i-dont-tell-them/), of Hazlenut Press, for 15 years. “She was one of the first people I met when I moved to Medway.” Heather has been involved with a number of Wordsmithery projects going back to their first festival, Welcome to Cloisterham. The Poetry in the Garden event will be cross-disciplinary as well as the “climax to events on the 10th.” The poetry in the garden is art-related, with [Barry Fentiman-Hall](https://www.localauthority.news/weve-assembled-something-that-medway/) performing a poem about [Chagall windows](https://artandchristianity.org/ecclesiart-listings/marc-chagall-tudeley-windows?ref=localauthority.news) down at the All Saints’ church in Tudeley. Barry highlights there will also be a “once in a lifetime event,” as Sam will also be performing poetry. They will also be joined by Bethany Goodwill and David Dykes of [Big Trouble](https://www.instagram.com/bigtroublepoetry/?ref=localauthority.news) fame, “the runners of the longest and frankly, these days, best live lit night in Medway.” Sam will also be hosting two workshops during Medway Open Studios. On 16 July, a workshop called Comic Book Conventions will introduce people to how to get started writing a comic. On 19 July will be Your Medway Zine, where attendees can learn how to create folded zines and structure longer form comics, because “zines are basically a really good way to get into making comics.” The Poetry in the Garden event is ticketed, with money raised going towards this year’s Medway River Lit festival. Priced at £6, there are limited tickets available. Excitingly, you can only book via a secret link. “You won't find it from the main page,” you would need to find an organisation willing to share a [link](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/poetry-in-the-garden?ref=localauthority.news)… --- #### Medway library news Should you need a book from Medway Library that they don’t have in stock, the good news is that you can order it via the [SELMS](https://selms.spydus.co.uk/docs/SELMS/home.html?ref=localauthority.news) system, which will reserve the book at any participating library in the UK and deliver the book for you to collect from your local library (or in Medway, perhaps a community hub). The less-than-good news is that the non-refundable reservation charge to order a book through SELMS has increased by a third from £3 to £4\. The powers in charge told us that the increase for this financial year was the first since April 2013\. The charge contributes towards staff time, packaging and transportation costs, but doesn’t cover the whole expense. In the last financial year in Medway, 1,728 items were sent to SELMS partners either as a return or a reservation. Of these, 313 were Medway items being reserved, the remaining 1,415 were items being returned from Medway to their original location. We were also curious about this story in the Guardian about [requests to libraries to remove books](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/14/librarians-in-uk-increasingly-asked-to-remove-books-as-influence-of-us-pressure-groups-spreads?ref=localauthority.news). Medway Council told us that in the past five years, only one request came in through a review left for the book. This was in January 2023, and the book wasn’t removed from our libraries. They assured us that a book would only be removed from circulation if it didn’t align with the stock management policy. --- #### Medwayish launches crowdfunding project If you want to help fund exciting new projects by local creatives, especially through the development stage, our side quest, [Medwayish](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news), is calling out for patrons. [Patreon](http://patreon.com/Medwayish?ref=localauthority.news) will be the home for this endeavour. We are also launching Medwayish Books, a book imprint, and Medwayish Sounds, a record imprint. Patrons can choose to support Medway creatives as a wider group or directly support music or writing projects. The goal is to find at least 100 passionate supporters to help build a research and development budget to support local creatives. Patreon supporters will receive original items, physical and digital, behind the scenes details, and insights into the creative process. Most importantly, you will directly help make things happen in Medway. The first item, exclusively available to our Patreon supporters, is this exclusive pin badge designed by Medway’s master of pin badges, Ben Cameron. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zkYh!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2faa8516c3-7d74-4ffe-9600-5d2b96422f85_2048x2048.jpg) Are you a fan of holding things? Would you like to support Medway creatives? Visit the [Medwayish Patreon](http://patreon.com/Medwayish?ref=localauthority.news) to find out more about the membership tiers. --- #### Events this week 🎸 Sat 28 Jun - [**Careful Now Medway Foodbank Fundraiser**](https://wegottickets.com/event/651910?ref=localauthority.news) // All day festival of music featuring excellent indiepop bands, including Tugboat Captain. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £18. 🎸 Wed 2 Jul - [**Crywank + support**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crywank-support-live-at-three-sheets-tickets-1301232343969?ref=localauthority.news) // Anti-folk trio play special summer show in Rochester. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Tickets £15. 🎸 Thu 3 Jul - [**Kicking Against Nothing**](https://wegottickets.com/event/661848/?ref=localauthority.news) // Medway grassroots music showcase featuring Dockyard, Angered Kenneth, and the Friedrichs. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. 💡 3 - 16 Jul - [**Filaments exhibition**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Collective of five contemporary artists using various media. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### We might actually get a Local Plan URL: https://www.localauthority.news/we-might-actually-get-a-local-plan/ Last updated: 2025-06-24T23:18:53.000Z *Local Authority has been running for nearly four years now, and most of that time, we’ve been going on about Medway’s repeated stalled efforts to pass a Local Plan. Now, at a special full council meeting on Thursday, there might actually be one on the table that can make it onto the books. We’ve got the full details below. It’s a big one, so let’s get to it.* --- #### We might actually get a Local Plan Regular readers of *Local Authority* will be well aware of the ongoing failures of Medway Council to deliver a Local Plan. Medway Council has been operating without this legally required developmental framework for 14 years, and at times, it has seemed like we might never get one passed. That idea started as a joke but became a genuine threat with the imminent abolition of Medway Council. A Local Plan sets out a future vision for Medway. The headlines will inevitably focus on the housing supply allocations, which the plan is obliged to include. Still, the concept is much broader and covers everything from transport to retail to health. Now, in 2025, Medway Council might be able to get a Local Plan passed. That doesn’t mean the process is complete, but the political stage could be. On Thursday, councillors at Medway will vote on whether to take the plan's latest version to consultation and inspection, which is the final hurdle to getting it on the books. So what does this version of the Local Plan look like? **The Plan** The headline figure of the plan is that it allocates room for the 24,540 homes that Medway needs between now and 2041\. Or at least, it nearly does. The plan itself allocates sites for 21,194 homes, as well as 1,762 that currently have planning permission, and includes room for 1,584 homes on ‘windfall’ sites, the ‘cross your fingers and hope something comes along’ of local planning. For residential sites, Medway Council has adopted their previously preferred ‘blended’ model for site allocations, with 40% coming from brownfield sites in urban centres, 30% from suburban extensions, and 30% on greenfield land, the latter of which is primarily around a significant extension of Hoo and, to a lesser extent, High Halstow. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!gQH5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc2a09a57-ad9f-43de-9e5a-a1d3094d53c0_1708x1178.jpg) Following a consultation on a previous plan in 2024, proposed development has been reduced to the east of Rainham and on the more remote peninsula villages. On the other hand, Hoo St Werburgh is now proposed to take a greater proportion, as well as extensive new developments to the north west of Strood. The plan sets the ‘affordable’ housing requirement in Medway at 27%, slightly higher than the intended (but rarely delivered) levels now, with 10% of residential allocations also being dedicated to older people. Beyond residential, the plan also includes 204,000sqm of industrial floorspace and 36,500sqm of office space, with much of the employment allocations from the plan coming from around Kingsnorth and Grain. The plan also projects future retail needs, including a desire for a supermarket and additional grocery provision on the Hoo Peninsula. Regarding transport, the plan acknowledges that some major junctions, like the Sans Pareil and Four Elms roundabouts around Wainscott and Gillingham Gate, will need significant mitigation efforts to withstand future development. The plan safeguards land around the Grain branch line to High Halstow, indicating Medway Council still believes a future rail connection to the area is feasible. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_PKA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbe028c71-d494-40d7-83e8-e83aea52d829_1796x1158.jpg) One of the more interesting proposals within this version of the plan is a long-term concept to radically redevelop Medway City Estate into a primary residential development. This seems logical given its central waterfront location within Medway, but also represents a significant challenge given the heavily industrialised nature of the area. Speaking to us about the proposals, Cllr Simon Curry, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, told us that climate change was partly behind the long-term plans for Medway City Estate. With flooding likely to become a regular occurrence in Chatham and Strood town centres, “Medway City Estate is already starting to flood in places,” which will likely make it less sustainable as an employment centre. As a result, the plan takes an aspirational view that businesses can move off the estate, which can be redeveloped to feature a residential centre, as well as allowing part of the area to flood to protect the other town centres. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!GEHV!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2feadc91d6-69f7-4eed-a565-bf1471a3c747_1934x1180.jpg) Under this version of the Local Plan, Hoo St Werburgh would undergo a significant transformation, adding 5,300 new homes, increasing the size of the community by 50%. Plans for Hoo include a new town centre to the east of Hoo with retail, health, and education facilities and additional new local centres to the west and in Chattenden. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yFnz!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffb4b011f-17b2-4558-83ff-44e92132d6b1_2140x1210.jpg) Perhaps the most surprising allocation in this plan is for land northwest of Strood, which was not included in the previous version. This includes sites for 1,200 new homes alongside a new local centre, employment space, and new schools on a greenfield land area on the border of Gravesham. Other areas facing significant potential development under this version of the plan are the Capstone Valley (nearly 4,000 homes), Chatham Docks, Lower Twydall, and substantial areas of Strood town centre. **The Politics** Of course, any plan like this will be contentious, which Cllr Curry acknowledged. “Not everybody is going to be happy,” but he highlights that the new version of the plan is primarily based on “the feedback we’ve had from the community.” He pointed out that the Hoo Peninsula now has half the number of homes that were proposed in the previous version of the plan and that most people will accept that new homes do need to be built somewhere. Health facility capacity is often raised as a concern around new developments, but the plan is clear that a new hospital is not on the cards for Medway. We asked Cllr Curry whether the capacity in the plan will be enough. “I hope so,” he told us, highlighting new facilities like the healthy living centre in the Pentagon and the potential NHS use of the former Debenhams building, but that “we rely on our health colleagues.” Cllr Andrew Lawrence, shadow cabinet member for Regeneration, Community and Housing, told us that his Conservative group had concerns around four key areas: Health capacity, utilities, transport funding, and how the plan may change Medway as a place. He told us, “We acknowledge the need for housing, but it must be infrastructure-led and sustainable, acknowledging the impact on local communities affected by large-scale development over a prolonged period.” Cllr Michael Pearce, Deputy Leader of the Independent Group, told us that he doesn’t have a settled view on the plan yet, and each member of his group will decide following the debate on Thursday. Cllr Chris Spalding, independent councillor for All Saints, which covers Grain, Stoke, and Allhallows on the Hoo Peninsula told us, “As a ward councillor whose rural villages were facing 2000 new homes but are now getting less than 100, I am delighted that my detailed representations have not just been listened to but acted upon.” The vote on the Local Plan this Thursday shouldn’t be whipped, and councillors are not allowed to pre-determine the matter without hearing the full details of the plan and the debate on the night. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily stop any of them from doing so. Cllr Stephen Hubbard, Labour councillor for Strood North and Frindsbury, has publicly posted on local Facebook groups and emailed residents to tell them that he will not support the plan, which appears to breach the rules on pre-determination. While it is unlikely that his vote alone could put the passing of the plan in jeopardy, it has led to disgruntled Labour activists expressing their discontent with his actions. One activist, speaking to us anonymously, told us: > *“No one expects everyone to agree with every detail of a Local Plan – and let’s be honest, plenty of councillors past and present have campaigned against developments in certain areas over the years which are now in the plan. That’s part of standing up for your community. But elected representatives need to be both principled and pragmatic – because if no one ever compromised to deliver something bigger, better and much needed for the greater public good, then politics wouldn’t function at all.* > > *The fact that Stephen Hubbard seems to think his own objections and previous positions matter more than anyone else’s – and more than delivering a long-overdue, desperately needed Local Plan for all of Medway – is frankly disappointing, but sadly not surprising.”* We reached out to Cllr Hubbard to ask him for comment, but received no response. **The Potential** Assuming Medway’s administration can get this Local Plan passed on Thursday, the timeline for it being fully approved by the Planning Inspectorate and on the books is by December 2026\. This is a fairly bold timeline given that some plans take much longer, but Cllr Curry told us that the Planning Inspectorate has “reassured us that they can get it through next year.” Whether or not that actually happens remains to be seen, but right now, we are closer to having a Local Plan in Medway than we have been in a very long time. All eyes will be on Thursday’s meeting and whether Medway Council can actually get it over the line. **The Plead** *The Local Plan is a meaty document, running at* [*475 pages*](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=80416&ref=localauthority.news)*, and the best part of 1,000 more in supplementary documents. We have inevitably missed interesting bits of local data that might be hidden within it. As such, we’re going to try a little crowdsourcing experiment. We’re asking you to* [*browse through the documents*](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=34813&ref=localauthority.news#mgDocuments)*, and if you spot anything that raises an eyebrow or something relevant to your area that seems interesting, drop us an email on *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- Thanks!* --- #### In brief 🇵🇸 Protestors from the Medway Palestinian Campaign [protested outside BAE Systems in Rochester last Tuesday](https://www.instagram.com/p/DLCba-0sbky/?ref=localauthority.news). Hundreds of activists joined them from across the southeast as they criticised the company’s ongoing supply of weapons parts being used by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza. 🚧 The bottom of Richmond Road in Gillingham has been closed since Thursday after a [sinkhole caused by a broken sewer pipe appeared](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/sinkhole-opens-up-forcing-road-to-close-326118/?ref=localauthority.news). 🐐 Goats and pigs from the Waggon at Hale pub in Chatham have been [handed over to an animal sanctuary](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/i-still-get-really-upset-heartbreak-as-farm-animals-remov-325958/?ref=localauthority.news) after the owner declined to obtain a licence to house them. In recent months, the pub has been criticised for the conditions in which the animals were being kept. 🎫 Tickets for one of this year’s Rochester Castle Live events are selling so sluggishly that they are being offered a substantial discount on a seatfiller website. The Symphonic Ibiza event on Friday 4 July is being offered for £15 on [Central Tickets](https://centraltickets.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), while promoter The Festival Crowd continues to [flog them for £35 to locals](https://rochestercastlelive.com/whats-on/symphonic-ibiza-orchestra-live/?ref=localauthority.news#buy-tickets). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!H7Qm!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5cd9e9e9-2878-4bea-8049-6391d5002232_2372x1208.png) Screenshot from Central Tickets. 💨 Police have confiscated [£45,000 worth of illegal vapes](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/police-raid-vape-shop-and-seize-45k-worth-of-goods-326244/?ref=localauthority.news) from Pav’s Phones and Vapes on Rochester High Street. Pav told KentOnline that he bought the stock in bulk last year before the ban on selling disposable vapes, and only learnt about the ban in January this year, several months after the government announced it. You might think that someone running a business with ‘Vapes’ in the name would be more aware of the rules around selling vapes, but here we are. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, [Steven sat down with Janet Fischer, Chief Executive of Live Music Now and co-Chair of the Intra Community Trust](https://www.localauthority.news/there-is-a-huge-amount-of-value-in/). They talk about what brought her to the UK from Canada, the importance of live music, the work of the trust, how she came to own a minesweeper boat, Canadian politics, and lots more. [“There is a huge amount of value in the work that musicians do”As part of our seemingly ongoing North American series, Steven sat down with Canada’s Janet Fischer, Chief Executive of Live Music Now and co-Chair of the Intra Community Trust. They met at No.64 in Intra to talk about what brought her to the UK, and ultimately to Medway, the work of the Intra Community Trust, how she came to own a minesweeper, Canadian politics, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vAd-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zdbB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4606642a-a8bc-4788-b50a-90451d9aace9_722x541.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/there-is-a-huge-amount-of-value-in/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Giant by Herman Dune*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEMxeUirci0&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*More Break-Up Songs by New Starts*](https://darrenhayman.bandcamp.com/album/more-break-up-songs-new-starts?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Ed Buys Houses by Sidney Gish*](https://sidneygish.bandcamp.com/album/ed-buys-houses?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “There is a huge amount of value in the work that musicians do” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/there-is-a-huge-amount-of-value-in/ Last updated: 2025-06-22T06:01:10.000Z *As part of our seemingly ongoing North American series, Steven sat down with Canada’s Janet Fischer, Chief Executive of Live Music Now and co-Chair of the Intra Community Trust. They met at No.64 in Intra to talk about what brought her to the UK, and ultimately to Medway, the work of the Intra Community Trust, how she came to own a minesweeper, Canadian politics, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zdbB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4606642a-a8bc-4788-b50a-90451d9aace9_722x541.jpg) Janet Fischer. Photo: Mariangela Quiroga. **What is your official occupation?** My official occupation is Chief Executive of [Live Music Now](https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). **What is Live Music Now?** Live Music Now is a national music and social impact organisation. We were founded in 1977 by [Yehudi Menuhin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehudi%5FMenuhin?ref=localauthority.news) because he played a number of concerts with the composer [Benjamin Britten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin%5FBritten?ref=localauthority.news) after the Korean War for returning prisoners of war. He said that they are the most impactful concerts he'd ever done, and he saw an opportunity for emerging musicians to be able to build their performance skills and have more opportunities and do that alongside supporting people who didn't have access to music. Fast forward about 47 years, and we now cover all genres of music. We have about 350 professional musicians across England, Northern Ireland, Wales and a sister organisation in Scotland, Live Music Now Scotland, and an alliance of Live Music Now organisations across Europe. We've got musicians working in about 20% of the special schools in the UK. They're supporting teaching staff with using music as part of their day-to-day education and supporting children in those schools. We work in autism resource spaces, supporting kids with an autism diagnosis within mainstream schooling, all the way through to our work in health, where we're working with mothers who are experiencing perinatal mental health issues on our lullaby program all the way through to performances in hospitals, in wards, in ICU. Lots of community programs. We've got a great one running in Medway called [Songs & Scones](https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/songs-scones-concerts-in-medway/?ref=localauthority.news) that's been running about three years now in Chatham Library, and that's a dignity-focused approach to getting people to connect with one another. There's an opportunity to meet other people, there's great music, there's a cup of tea, there's a scone, there's a warm space, there's an opportunity to connect with the library team, and they happen every month. Our work is really around heritage and specific issues locally. We have two specialist areas that were two priority areas. One is Northern Ireland and the other is Medway. Medway is about all life courses. We're looking at can we bring national organisational resource from a national scale organisation into the mix locally with musicians locally? How can we embed musicians in communities? How do they become a part of that fabric? How do we support community or other community organisations locally? How do we use music to open up the heritage space? Maybe bring voices that aren't heard in other spaces. A big piece of work that we did with Historic England was working with disabled children and young people on what they were proud of in their high streets. The kids we're working with can't physically even get to their high street. How do you actually pull the things that are in the fabric of a place, and the history and the heritage of a place, into something that works for a much wider group of people and across those spaces? That’s Live Music Now in a very short nutshell. **How did you get involved with them?** I came to Live Music Now in 2021\. I've been in post four years now. I was recruited by the board. Our chair is [Sir Vernon Ellis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon%5FEllis?ref=localauthority.news). He replaced our founder chair, [Sir Ian Stoutzker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian%5FStoutzker?ref=localauthority.news). Our previous executive director stood down, and they did an open call. For me, it was really interesting because I was a professional musician, and I performed, and I also have an MBA. I did half-and-half performance in business, and I had been working as interim chief executive of a poetry charity called [Poet in the City](https://poetinthecity.co.uk/lander?ref=localauthority.news), and I had just finished that contract. Live Music Now came up, and it was the nice symbiosis of all of my things. All of my loves of business and music and making a social impact. **What are your thoughts with regard live music in Medway currently?** Medway is such an interesting place because you have got a huge heritage. You’ve got the [Medway Sound](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medway%5Fscene?ref=localauthority.news), you’ve got [Pete Tong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete%5FTong?ref=localauthority.news), you've got all of this incredible tradition of grassroots music that's come through. You've got a lot of emerging artists locally. It's got such a big trad scene. There's such a huge folk scene in Medway and where it surrounds. But it also has this slight issue in that it's close to London, but it isn't London. For some reason, that little 36-minute train journey feels like a long way. We also don't have an A-class performing venue here, but we've got amazing small venues, like [Poco Loco](https://pocoloco.live/?ref=localauthority.news). There's lots of people supporting music on a grassroots level, but then we're also missing those next-stage venues. There isn't a 400-seat gig venue locally that people can really embrace and drive forward. We've got the [Castle Concerts](https://rochestercastlelive.com/?ref=localauthority.news), but they're programming to a very different audience, they're not necessarily focused on local musicians. I think it's quite interesting, because you have a lot of talent locally, and this is a big question we have with Live Music Now. How do we support musicians to stay in the places that they want to live without having to go to major cities? How do you help them build up a portfolio of work that enables them to be financially sustainable? The reality is that for most gigging musicians in the UK today, the economics just don't stack up. Even if you look at major performing artists, Lily Allen publicly on OnlyFans just to support her tours, and even in major stadium tours, it's not breaking even. That's a problem. It's a big problem because every single person in this country consumes music on a daily basis. We all consume music all the time. It's in the background of our whole lives. We talk about this a lot at Live Music Now. That everybody has a musical identity, that everybody has a soundtrack to their lives that is made up of the songs they heard as a child. The tune you heard outside the pub when you were breaking up with your first partner, the first gig you ever went to with your mates, all of those songs that become part of the tapestry of who you are as a person and your own life. We all have that soundtrack, but there seems to be a dichotomy between our desire to consume music and our desire to have music in our lives and the economic way in which that then gets delivered in terms of streaming rights, in terms of big issues around AI and IP, and how do we make it possible for musicians to build up viable careers? How do we make sure that young musicians, who are in school right now, have access to music lessons, have an ability to make music in a way that is a human right, and also that supports their wider education? I have a very big soapbox about the payment of musicians. People ask me all the time, “Why don't your musicians volunteer?” That's great. Would you like to volunteer for your job? There is a huge amount of value in the work that musicians do. It should be compensated with value and provide a real outcome. There's compensation that needs to happen for that, and for me, is really important. It's a big ecosystem issue. The music department at the University of Kent closing, that’s not ideal. Live Music Now is one of the largest employers of musicians in the UK. We have a specialist focus in our recruitment for new musicians coming onto our roster around disabled musicians, who identify as disabled or neurodivergent and musicians with informal roots to the career. We know that if you're in a place that has higher indices of deprivation, from a lower socioeconomic background, it's going to be a lot harder for you to get into those formal roots to music, and universities are one of those pieces. Just because the university music program is going, it doesn't mean that that's the end of music training in that way, and I would hard argue that a vast majority of bands have never made it through a university music program. They made it through the learning program of Poco Loco and a variety of other pubs and establishments. We do still need some of those formal professional routes for people to go through. I think one of the reasons why we need that is because part of being able to help people see that music and the creative industries is a viable economic pathway for their lives. It's one of the largest industries in the UK, with gross value added to the GB economy of £120bn a year across the creative industries. It's massive. It produces as much economic return for our economy as property development does. And yet we're like, ‘But when are musicians going to get real jobs?’ I'm certain that Ed Sheeran is one of our largest exports. There's value for people and understanding and seeing that creative professions are viable careers that have job pathways, and I see gigging is one thing, but I see also organisations like Live Music Now and using music and the creative arts as a route to supporting social well-being in communities and as supporting cohesion in communities. It's really valuable work. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s Superstars URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-superstars/ Last updated: 2025-06-20T13:07:01.000Z *A new project seeks to highlight Medway’s creative talent in a series of a short films, so we’ve been finding out all about it. Further down, we have details of a unique aerial dance performance on LV21, a new Medway film club, an exhibition taking over the Riverside Country Park, we review Thai Four Two in Rochester, our weekly events guide, and more.* --- #### Medway’s Superstars *Margherita Gramegna is the artistic director of* [*51zero*](https://www.51zero.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *and has produced a series of short films highlighting creative individuals in Medway. We caught up with her to find out more…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!1OIw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa63ba704-851d-47f1-b15f-6d8efa9b255b_4760x3141.jpg) Photo: Michi Masumi The name ‘51zero’ refers to the geographical coordinates for Medway and the organisation has successfully held festivals and art shows since its formation. “When I started 51zero, I wanted to create something rooted here, connected to Medway, but with the intention, the desire, to bring Medway out of Medway.” Their latest project is [Medway Superstars](https://www.51zero.org/medway-superstars/?ref=localauthority.news), funded by Arts Council England, showcasing creative talent across Medway at various stages of their careers. This is the first stage in a wider project: the Medway Artists Portrait Platform, focused on the artist’s role in local urban and cultural regeneration. “I'll tell you how the Medway Superstar came about.” Margherita’s partner is a Medway musician, and she soon found she had become part of the scene and got to meet a variety of Medway musicians and artists. “I became familiar with a lot of them without even asking, and then I started getting involved with a lot of what was going on art-wise.” Margherita got involved with [Creative Medway](https://creativemedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which had a new scheme that she found positive and forward-looking, and focused on regeneration via arts and culture. “I felt that as an artist, I wanted to contribute a project to it, as champion of those artists.” She feels her art is about knowing that “I can't change the world, but what I like to do is to try to change the world around me.” She got involved with the cultural partnership, attending council meetings, and in one of those meetings was a map of artists in Medway, which she found lacking in detail. “I thought, these are five names, and people I knew weren't even mentioned.” She found there to be “a total misunderstanding of what is happening in Medway. There are international artists, musicians known around the world. It seems like Medway doesn’t know about them.” Which is very often the case. It was this realisation that sparked her into action. The project is titled Medway Superstars. “Maybe slightly ironic,” she notes, but she wanted to connect it to Andy Warhol’s ‘Superstars.’ “I wanted to connect Medway to something bigger, to give that importance, pride, highlight that actually there are superstars in Medway and all the artists that work their arse off to produce their art.” She wanted to give them the respect, the encouragement and support. “People need to know they are here.” So she set out to build bridges between the artists and everyone around them. Margherita intends to create pride and connection and “to create possibilities. If no one knows that the artists are here, how can anything happen?” Margherita worked on her proposal, gained support from others and submitted it. While waiting for a response, “my head blew off. I was hospitalised and everyone thought I was going to die.” Margherita’s world went blank. She lost memory and had suffered a massive brain haemorrhage. “An aneurysm ruptured in my brain,” leading to her treatment at King’s College Hospital in London. “I don't know why I'm here, to do more good or more bad. God spared me and I came back from the hospital.” Over the weeks, Margherita got better. “My life was reduced to pain, medicines, medical routines. It was just awful.” It was during this time that she received a letter. “Congratulations. We love the project, and we are happy to give you the money.” That moment, and her enthusiasm for the project, helped to rejuvenate her, giving her something to focus on outside of the medical treatment. “I started thinking about how am I going to make these films? What are they going to look like? How am I going to express? Creativity came back to me.” From the perspective of the project, the hardest part for Margherita was choosing which artists to focus on from “all of these amazing people.” An [advisory panel](http://www.51zero.org/advisory-panel/?ref=localauthority.news) was selected to represent a diverse range of experience across the local cultural sector and select the final ten artists for this stage of the project. Decisions were based on geographical spread across Medway, reflecting local diversity, and showcasing artistic practice. The best part for Margherita was devising the films. “I am not a documentary maker. I'm an artist, and they had to be art pieces.” She devised the films to be told in three parts: an introduction, the studio, and Medway. “I wanted the audience to feel like they were guests in this artist environment, and they were getting to know them, but respecting the place, the people. The camera goes in the studio, but it is a visitor.” *Margherita is launching this project as part of* [*Estuary Festival*](https://www.estuaryfestival.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *at the A+E Lab in Chatham Historic Dockyard. The private view on 26 June and then displayed publicly until 29 June. The ten short film portraits of Medway artists will be shown as an installation piece with headphones for audiences to watch and listen to each one.* --- #### LV21 hosts site-specific aerial dance show [*LV21*](https://lv21.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Scarabaeus Aerial Theatre*](https://scarabeus.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *are working together to produce Anchored, a site-specific outdoor aerial dance performance, as part of the Estuary Festival. We spoke to* [*Päivi Seppälä*](https://www.localauthority.news/our-social-life-is-the-ship/) *and Daniela Essart to learn more…* Anchored takes place tomorrow night (Sat 21 Jun) as part of the Estuary 2025 launch weekend, as the sun sets on Anchor Wharf at the Historic Dockyard Chatham. There will be pre-event entertainment, with the Silver Darlings performing shanties and Nicole Mollet showcasing a sneak peek of the River Medway public artwork that will be erected at the pumping station. The main performance will start at 10pm. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!5huZ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcdeb9888-4a07-41e1-92e1-06aaac567920_1280x720.jpg) The performance was created on LV21 during Refugee Week. The intent is that, as LV21 is a rescue vessel, and there are wider tensions regarding human rights, they wanted to subtly produce a political act. The themes are crossing and passage, with the rescue at sea of two women refugees, and LV21 as a place of refuge and safety, a vessel of light. In terms of what people can expect to see, the show is an outdoor performance that primarily happens atop LV21\. Movement and dance up in the air, with the sunset as the backdrop. The theatrical piece comes together with a designed soundtrack and bespoke lighting, which has its own challenges on the longest day of the year. All in all, the performance should be an impressive spectacle. *Anchored is free to attend, but* [*tickets must be booked in advance*](https://lv21.co.uk/whats-on/anchored/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Electric Medway launches film club *Medway has a new film club hosted by Greg Waller and* [*Electric Medway*](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*. The club shows films at the Huguenot Museum in Rochester on the last Wednesday of the month. We spoke to Greg to find out more…* Greg moved to Medway three years ago and felt that Rochester should have an independent cinema. Having completed his Master’s degree, he felt that he had the time to take the matter into his own hands and set about setting up a community cinema. Following some networking at Dragon Coworking, he was put into contact with [Kevin Grist](https://www.localauthority.news/what-we-really-need-is-a-real-big/), then director of Electric Medway. Greg found Kevin to be supportive and engaged, and he started to put a plan in place to launch a new film night. Whilst Electric Medway were able to support the technical aspects, Greg had to research the finer details before they were able to launch in March at the Huguenot Museum. Greg wanted the venue to be easily accessible, as well as to be a good size and, of course, available at a reasonable rate. The Hugenot Museum also provided a projector screen and rake seating. The first movie screened was the Kent-filmed Bird by Andrea Arnold, followed by Irish film The Quiet Girl, and most recently Hard Truths by Mike Leigh. The next film is an Iranian film called My Favourite Cake. Greg has since created a WhatsApp community group, allowing people to vote on which films they should screen in the future, with Hard Truths and My Favourite Cake being chosen by members. *Tickets to each screening cost £5 and can be booked* [*here*](https://lu.ma/electricmedway?tag=cinema%20club&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### We Live Here seeks to find common ground [*We Live Here*](https://www.instagram.com/timharrison%5Fwe%5Flive%5Fhere/?ref=localauthority.news) *is based at the Sunlight Centre and is in the process of being set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. We spoke to Artistic Director Tim Harrison about their artistic project to connect local communities with the environment…* For Tim, the project is about how “nature can help with our mental health and help us kind of enjoy our lives more.” Tim creates artistic projects that connect local communities with climate change and biodiversity loss. “I'm really interested in who gets to enjoy nature and green spaces.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!wbKt!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2f8f93f0-c6b0-49fd-92a2-ef461622d91c_3297x2473.jpg) Tim is aware that there are people who might not have the same access to nature as he has had for cultural, social, and economic reasons, “which has been hugely beneficial for myself and my own mental health over time.” Tim was raised in the countryside and “accidentally ended up living in cities.” Tim realised through a lot of personal turmoil that he needed to reconnect himself with nature. “I took this idea of how the arts can connect different voices and different communities to a particular topic.” Tim applied that to questions around nature, environmentalism and ecology. The purpose of the CIO is to enable more people to access the benefits of nature and engage with nature by creating different artistic and participatory projects to get people involved. Tim has been working with multi-award-winning photographer Allie Crewe, thinking about nature and how that can serve a healing role. “To have conversations about what place, what landscape, what nature mean to us. We started working with people who have lived in this area for a long time, and also people who've come to this area.” Working with a group from Ukraine who arrived as refugees and were based in Medway, Ali worked with them to create photographs of them in different natural places that meant something to them and reflect their experiences through that. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_fI4!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f945de1b2-7efb-4ec3-a534-4767c7486281_3369x2527.jpg) The resulting ten photograph Common Ground exhibition is currently being exhibited at the Riverside Country Park in Gillingham. “They're going to be on these big metre-and-a-half wide panels, dotted around the country park, so people will be able to walk around and see them in that space.” *Common Ground will be on display at Riverside Country Park until 24 June.* --- #### Out to Lunch: **Thai Four Two in Rochester** There was a time when [Thai Four Two](https://www.facebook.com/thai42/) was spoken of almost reverentially. It was one of *the* places to go to eat in Medway. Since it moved across the road on Rochester High Street, this seems to occur less often. Is it due to a change in standards, a change in taste, or wider socio-economic factors? I endeavoured to find out. Well, the first two points at least, as this isn’t really the space for a column about how socio-economic factors are affecting restaurant culture in Medway. *(I’d be fine with it - Ed)* I got there for lunch on a Wednesday, and the venue was very quiet. I am, of course, sat by the window, in a shameless attempt to encourage passers-by to come and eat. The restaurant is friendly and welcoming, and has a running water feature, which so few places do these days. I ordered ‘Keow Krob’ crispy wontons stuffed with minced fish and prawn for starter, followed by duck in a tamarind sauce, and egg fried rice for main. All for a slightly higher than average price. ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7f0aa5f8-0d9b-4cd0-81e3-2e06cec7c5d8.heic) ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ba69c362-b4d0-49f4-b385-5c6541236d64.heic) The wontons were exactly as advertised: Crispy, stuffed, and delicious with a dipping sauce. The duck was served in a sizzling dish, which added an air of theatre and risk to the endeavour. Once everything had calmed down, I had to serve it onto my own plate and add the rice. All whilst people walked past the window watching me miss the plate. The duck with crispy shallots was packed full of flavour, the tamarind sauce hot from the sizzling dish complimenting it perfectly. The rice was perfectly good, if needing a bit more egg and a bit less carrot for this palate. If you haven’t been to Thai Four Two, you should check it out, and if you have been, then you should go again. --- #### Events this week 🎨 19 Jun - 2 Jul - [**Apart**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // New exhibition by collective of Rochester artists. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. 🍊 Mon 23 Jun - [**Tangerine**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-57163&ref=localauthority.news) // One night only screening of Sean Baker’s social realist drama. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £6. 🎤 Thu 26 Jun - [**Big Trouble**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/big-trouble/t-noamdae?ref=localauthority.news) // Open-mic poetry night with headline sets by Connor Sansby and Tom Sastry. 12 Degrees micropub, Rochester. Tickets £7. 🗣️ Thu 26 Jun - [**Special Medway Council meeting**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6424&ref=localauthority.news) // After years of getting nowhere, Medway Council will finally present a Local Plan. St George’s Centre, Chatham. Free. --- #### More Authority Yesterday, we published our latest Voice column, where we hear from one of Medway’s elected representatives. This month, [Medway Council Leader Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-e26/) discusses democratic transparency, Kent County Council’s new Reform administration, and upcoming summer events in Medway. [Voice of the LeaderEditor’s note: Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Medway Council Leader Vince Maple, who talks about democratic transparency, Kent County Council’s new Reform administration, and upcoming sum…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f41f84158-bc76-45d3-a860-bfdb380b584f_2240x2240.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-e26/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Voice of the Leader URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-e26/ Last updated: 2025-06-19T06:01:19.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Medway Council Leader Vince Maple, who talks about democratic transparency, Kent County Council’s new Reform administration, and upcoming summer events in Medway.* --- #### **Voice of the Leader** **by Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ZJuj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f41f84158-bc76-45d3-a860-bfdb380b584f_2240x2240.jpg) It’s always good to start with recognising success in Medway so a huge congratulations to the *Local Authority* team for multiple nominations for the Kent Press and Broadcast Awards – we are lucky in Medway to have not only a multi award winning independent reporting outlet, we have a Medway specific Local Democracy Reporter, a TV channel in KMTV with an associated Digital Local Democracy Reporter, a radio station in KMFM, a newspaper in the Medway Messenger, and of course wider regional media outlets covering Medway. As an administration, we value these outlets as they share both the positive news of what is happening and, of course, hold us to account. We said before the 2023 elections if given the chance to serve we would have an administration with honesty, integrity, accountability and compassion and those media outlets give us one such method of accountability. We have also increased the ways local residents can interact with their councillors – whether that is introducing Medway Matters Live where residents can ask questions of the Chief Executive and I, publishing our nationally recognised One Minute Medway making sure residents are regularly informed, participating in the Medway Question Time sessions hosted by *Local Authority*, or the most recent addition of public questions directly at cabinet meetings. These things matter because democracy isn’t simply rocking up every few years to put a cross in a box – it should be a constant, ongoing process and I’m incredibly proud of the progress we have made to open up democracy. Of course, there has been some other democracy happening elsewhere which is worth spending a few sentences on. As readers will absolutely be aware, Kent County Council has had a change of leadership since my last column. Although as a unitary authority, Medway residents are not directly impacted, of course they are potentially impacted in many ways. Not least there will be many Medway residents who work for KCC. As I mentioned at our recent cabinet meeting the letter sent to KCC by three signatories, two of whom have nothing to do with KCC, had a tone which was both pretty disrespectful and bullying – in my view it was disgraceful. There will be a number of areas where of course Medway and Kent do have to work together, whether that it is the Integrated Care Partnership, the Kent & Medway Economic Partnership or others. I start from a point of trying to work with anyone to get the best outcomes for Medway residents but I am concerned we are seeing meeting after meeting cancelled by the new Reform administration. The summer is always fantastic in Medway and the line up we have for 2025 is incredible. One of the outstanding additions this year are the improvements at the much-loved Strand – whether it is the improved signage, the brilliant upgrades tennis courts or the free splashpad – all delivered with zero cost to taxpayers with great partnership working with the Lawn Tennis Association and positive use of Section 106 contributions. We also have the Love Gillingham weekend taking place in July with both the Medway Mile and the Love Gillingham day taking place in the heart of Gillingham. Once again we have the summer reading challenge open to our youngest Medway residents – get to one of our many libraries across Medway to find out more. At the Guildhall you can meet both our newest arrival Grip and some of their flock. We also have Armed Forces Day taking place once again in partnership with the Historic Dockyard Chatham – [tickets are still available here](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/armed-forces-day-2025/?ref=localauthority.news). Whilst you are in the dockyard do pop down to see the brilliant LV21 which has been welcomed home to Medway. Of course, this year’s Armed Forces Day will be particularly poignant as it takes places with the backdrop of the VE80 commemorations. I was particularly proud of how the community came together to reflect and remember the 80th anniversary of VE Day. My thanks to everyone who took time to make our commemorations such a success. I’ve had many residents share with me their pride on how that day was approached here in Medway. One highlight for many was the poignant Peace Poem, created by the people of Medway, delivered by poet Dan Simpson at the foot of Rochester Castle . Our Labour and Co-operative administration continues to make good progress across the programmes and projects we are delivering, of course always paying close attention to our Financial Improvement and Transformation (FIT) plan. That was developed as a result of working with sector experts in local government finance CIPFA, who have delivered two reports on the situation here in Medway – both of those can be found on the council website and show we are making good progress from the “grave situation” we inherited from the previous administration. What we haven’t done in bring in random people with no experience of local government, some of whom are doing the hokey cokey of being in, out, in (at time of writing) – certainly not the way of dealing seriously with local government finance and service delivery. We have also had our annual council and I want to thank Marian and Douglas for their term as Mayor and Deputy Mayor – they had over 400 civic visits between them. As we promised in opposition we have reinstated the points system to ensure that the role of Mayor doesn’t automatically go to the administration and I wish Trevor and Wayne a successful year. Finally, I often have people saying how positive delivery of a council service has been, with so many teams and individuals going that extra mile. If you have experienced that I would encourage you to make a submission to the [Make a Difference awards](https://www.medway.gov.uk/makeadifferenceawards?ref=localauthority.news), which recognises hard working Medway council officers. nominations close on 27th June. It is funded by sponsors so no cost to tax payers and is a great opportunity to say thank you to our brilliant officers who, every single day, make me proud to be Medway. *Cllr Vince Maple is the Leader of Medway Council and Labour councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton.* ### Budgens comes (back) to Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/budgens-comes-back-to-medway/ Last updated: 2025-06-17T21:57:28.000Z *Does a mid-level grocery store herald the regeneration of Chatham? Perhaps, but as ever, things may not be quite so simple given a wildly optimistic licensing application. Further down, we have news of Medway figures being recognised on the King’s Birthday Honours list, the sad tale of the Strand Lido elephant, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Budgens comes (back) to Medway When plans were first put forward for the redevelopment of Chatham waterfront, there were grand ambitions of exactly what that might look like. Elaborate CGI from developers and aspirational plans talked about a thriving mixed-use space of trendy new apartments alongside leisure and hospitality spaces like bars and restaurants in a town that is desperate lacking them. Now, with the buildings reaching completion, we can start to get a sense of the kind of businesses that are set to move in, with the first one being revealed this week. Welcome to Chatham, Budgens. ![Chatham Waterfront, Chatham, ME4 1 bed apartment - £161,700](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ZFxe!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd9a2157f-d6cd-4257-8051-04483198f7b0_1024x768.jpg) There isn’t anything inherently wrong with Budgens, even if it is the UK’s largest grocery chain with no clear identity. Somehow both too expensive to be a handy local shop to get a few bits and not trendy enough to have interesting items, Budgens is set to open it’s first Medway store in a few years[1](#footnote-1) next to the bus station in Chatham at the base of Pioneer Wharf, a shiny new block of flats where one-bedroom flats start at £1,235pcm. Whether or not Budgens will even get to open is still something of a live question, though. Based on the [licensing application](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) for the establishment, Budgens want to sell alcohol from 6am to 1am seven days a week, which feels optimistic for a location like Chatham town centre, but that’s on them. Interestingly, following the recent debacle of Tesco being unable to open in Rochester due to their site being within a Cumulative Impact Policy area which attempts to limit alcohol sales in areas with alcohol related crime, Budgens may not face similar issues as they are just about outside of the zone. We’re not exaggerating when we say just outside either, as if they were on the opposite side of the street, they would likely be deemed too problematic to open, but happily, because people will have to cross a street to reach this store, there should be no problem at all. As ever though, the decision will likely come down to Medway Council’s wildly inconsistent licensing committee. --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Medway figures receive gongs The honours system in this country is an inherently silly institution, but we would be remiss if we didn’t highlight the Medway names that appeared on the 2025 Birthday Honours List. This time around, five Medway figures are being awarded an honour for activities in our communities. - Shaun Spiers, Executive Director of the Green Alliance, is being given an OBE for services to Environmental Policy and Sustainability. - Paul Dennington, fundraiser for Prostate Cancer UK, is being given an MBE for services to Fundraising for Prostate Cancer. - Gary Hackwell, Volunteer, Duke of Edinburgh Award and Treasurer, Medway Open Award Centre, is being given an MBE for services to Young People and the community in Medway. - Charles Hubbard is being given a BEM for services to St John Ambulance. - Anne Thorpe, Member and Advisor, Heathrow Access Advisory Group is being given a BEM for services to Accessibility at Airports for Disabled Travellers. Yes, [Gary Hackwell](https://www.localauthority.news/a-lot-of-people-wont-be-able-to-tell/) is the same Cllr Gary Hackwell who has represented Rainham South East as a Conservative councillor since 2019, though the award is entirely for his volunteering efforts. This is the second big award for Paul Dennington this year after he was awarded the top Pride in Medway award earlier this year for his relentless fundraising activities while fighting cancer. We [spoke to him earlier this year](https://www.localauthority.news/i/160766959/paul-dennington-named-overall-pride-in-medway-award-winner) about his work. Shaun Spiers is the Executive Director of the Green Alliance think tank, pushing for stronger environmental policies, and was a former Labour MEP for the southeast. Congratulations to all on their recognition. You can read the complete list of everyone honoured, including some names that bafflingly don’t live in Medway, on the [government’s website](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-kings-birthday-honours-list-2025/birthday-honours-list-2025-pm-list-transparency-data-html?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### The elephant in the garden We try to avoid sourcing stories from local Facebook groups (we leave that to our friends at the KM), but every now and again, you spot something so wonderfully ridiculous that we would be remiss if we didn’t follow it up. Take this post on a local community group that raised several questions: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SQe-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff69f625f-c086-43d2-b6e6-17d37cb3c578_1394x1126.jpg) Seasoned Medway residents will recognise the elephant as the iconic slide from the Strand Lido for over three decades. Apparently, he does have a name following a public competition in 2021, but it’s impossible to find online, so we’re going to assume he was Elephanty McElephantface. Anyway, the post above appeared, which said that the elephant (sans trunk slide) was now living in a front garden in Twydall following his retirement as a slide, but that the mean people at Medway Council or Medway Norse had tracked him down and were going to take him away to have him put down. Within hours of the post going up, news surfaced that the elephant had indeed been taken away and has not been heard from since. Inevitably, we went straight to Medway Council’s press team to find out how the elephant had ended up in Twydall and why they wanted him back. They told us that the elephant slide was found to be unsafe following a health and safety audit at the Lido, so a decision was taken to remove him. Medway Norse arranged for him to be removed, but somehow, he ended up on a Twydall driveway instead. Medway Council claims that they discovered this after nearby residents complained, which is when they leapt into action to ~~kidnap~~ pick him up to be destroyed. He is survived by his son, [Elephanty McElephantface Jnr](https://www.instagram.com/p/DJDwph5NfZe/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### In brief 🍔 Burger King at Hempstead Valley has [requested Medway Council allow them](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SXLLI8KNLUE00&ref=localauthority.news) to operate from 5am to 11pm seven days a week, with the drive-through running 24 hours. Not sure who needs a Burger King at 5am on a Wednesday, but they claim that as McDonald’s down the road are allowed to, they should be able to as well. 🚫 Plans to convert a former St John Fisher school building on Maidstone Road in Chatham into flats with new houses alongside have been [rejected by Medway Council](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/homes-plan-for-part-of-former-school-rejected-over-poor-liv-325757/?ref=localauthority.news). 🎙️ Former Rochester councillor [Stuart Tranter has appeared on the Kent Politics Podcast](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/councils-aren-t-fit-for-21st-century-here-s-my-plan-325665/?ref=localauthority.news) to tell them almost the exact same things he told us in [an interview two weeks ago](https://www.localauthority.news/i-tend-to-do-things-because-they/). ⚫ The BBC has looked back at the [Chatham bus disaster of 1951](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g6g8zk6kgo?ref=localauthority.news), where 24 marine cadets were killed after they were hit by a double-decker bus. At the time, it was the most deadly incident ever recorded on Britain’s roads. 🐬 A dolphin has been [spotted in the River Medway](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/dolphin-spotted-swimming-erratically-in-kent-river-325796/?ref=localauthority.news) around Rochester this week. ✍️ Medway poet and author Maria C McCarthy has [written about the Strand](https://substack.com/home/post/p-165526691?ref=localauthority.news) and her personal reflections on it ahead of the iconic gasholder at the entrance being demolished. --- #### More Authority Stel Pavlou went from working in a Rochester off-licence, where he set up a fake production company, to making a film with Samuel L Jackson. [He talked to us about that journey](https://www.localauthority.news/my-15-minutes-of-fame-were-really/) and what he's been up to since. [ “My 15 minutes of fame were really uncomfortable for me”As part of our ongoing series checking in on Medway-related people in the United States, Steven caught up with Medway-born Stel Pavlou via Zoom, with Stel at his home in Colorado. They discussed Stel going to Cannes, making a feature film starring Samuel L Jackson, making a TV show about Atlantis, and how he ended up volunteering to join the Greek army.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f55a8ff43-3b69-4952-98be-a8ab5da8a94d_900x600.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/my-15-minutes-of-fame-were-really/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) Over on our sister [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) title, [we sat down with Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/i-might-well-be-interested-in-putting?ref=localauthority.news). We discuss crime rates across Kent, the recent election results for the Conservatives, and whether he is eyeing the job of Mayor of Kent… [“I might well be interested in putting my name forward”Matthew Scott is currently serving his third term as Kent Police and Crime Commissioner. We caught up with him to discuss crime rates across Kent, the recent election results for the Conservatives, and whether he is eyeing the job of Mayor of Kent…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8d4a4c7f-19fc-4e7c-87d7-4ed0b87571a5_567x567.png)Kent Current](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/i-might-well-be-interested-in-putting?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Salon des Refusés by George Pringle*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhfr6%5F8GwlY&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Peanut Butter by Joanna Gruesome*](https://slumberlandrecs.bandcamp.com/album/peanut-butter?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/we-are-beautiful-we-are-doomed-2018-remaster?ref=localauthority.news) --- 1. Budgens took over the former Somerfield in Gillingham some years ago but that didn’t last long. [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") ### “My 15 minutes of fame were really uncomfortable for me” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/my-15-minutes-of-fame-were-really/ Last updated: 2026-02-22T11:11:24.000Z *As part of our ongoing series checking in on Medway-related people in the United States, Steven caught up with Medway-born Stel Pavlou via Zoom, with Stel at his home in Colorado. They discussed Stel going to Cannes, making a feature film starring Samuel L Jackson, making a TV show about Atlantis, and how he ended up volunteering to join the Greek army.* ![Stel Pavlou: books, biography, latest update - Amazon.com](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qx9-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f55a8ff43-3b69-4952-98be-a8ab5da8a94d_900x600.jpg) Stel Pavlou **Let's get the local legend bit out of the way first. Is it true you wrote the script for** [**The 51st State**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5F51st%5FState?ref=localauthority.news) **whilst working in a Rochester off-licence?** Yes. The idea of it started when I went to university in Liverpool, but I didn't know how to do it, because you needed a lot of money to go to film school and stuff like that. I had no bloody clue. I didn't come from a family with money. My family had money for like six years. The only reason I took American Studies is because you had to live in America for a year, so I took that degree because it was supposed to be an exchange year with San Francisco and a film school. And then, lo and behold, as soon as I get to Liverpool, the exchange program falls through, and my options are Rhode Island and Mississippi. And I'm like, ‘What the fuck?’ Neither one of those. I don't like shivering, so I went to Mississippi, and Mississippi was like a time machine back to the 50s. But while I was there, I travelled around America. I travelled around I don't know how many states, and what I realised was that everything was bullshit. The lies they tell themselves and their infrastructure was falling apart. I was like, ‘Why is this country that is not honest with itself having so much influence on us in the UK?’ That was the kernel of the idea. Years later, when I left college, the early 90s was a bloody great big recession and there weren't any jobs. I ended up getting a job at Threshers, which I believe has gone out of business now. That was on Rochester High Street. It was part-time. I lived on the high street in a flat above one of the shops. I started writing that movie in the off-license in my downtime. I'd have a little notepad by the till. Every time I thought of a piece of dialogue, I’d just write it down. At the same time, I wrote my first novel, [Decipher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decipher%5F%28novel%29?ref=localauthority.news). I'm writing a novel and a screenplay at the same time while dealing with people making occasional interruptions for alcohol, while they wanted to buy rubbing alcohol or whatever to get through their day. That was it, basically. I wrote it there, and I think at one point I sent the script out to a few people, and I couldn't get any traction because I didn't have an agent and I wasn't anybody. What do you do? My mate said his sister sets up companies, and we could set up a production company. I'm just going to call myself a producer. I set up the production company, it was all registered and everything, and then turned the back room of Threshers into our office. I'd take phone calls at Threshers. I basically just went out to the actors I wanted. I was getting phoned there, and I’d have to explain the door ding. ‘Oh, don't worry about that. That's something we got going on.’ Nobody knew. I was fielding calls from other production companies and from big actors while at Threshers. It was just nuts. It's all that bravado of when you're young. No one said that you can't do this. **How would you describe the film?** The film is, on the surface, about a drug dealer from America who's come to England to sell his latest recipe. He wants a big payday because he wants out of the business. He wants his money and wants to get out, and everybody's fighting over it. The subsurface story is one, that drugs are slavery. And two, this culture clash of America and Britain. It went through a lot of changes. It took seven years to get it made. Originally, it was set in London, and we were going to shoot it in Liverpool because it was cheaper. There were bits of Liverpool that looked like London. Eventually, we met financiers who were like, ‘We'll only give you the money if you make it set in Liverpool.’ I didn’t care, where it's set didn't make much difference. There were other movies like it at the time that were being produced. I had to rewrite all kinds of different scenes and various acts because they ended up getting lifted and ended up being in other people's movies because that's what the movie business is like. The movie that got made is not the original movie I wrote. The movie that got made… I still get fan mail for it. I'm absolutely shocked that I still get fan mail to this day about that film. To me, it doesn't make any bloody sense as a movie. We got one made, but the original thing was much more cohesive. It's a film of great bits. We ended up with 13 producers, each producer bringing some money. If you ever look at movies and you go, ‘Well, that was a bit shit,’ that's because the more producers there are, the more chances there are that someone's messed up the movie. We had all those producers, plus various language barriers, and I am amazed that it came together as well as it did. At the end of it, I suffered from severe burnout and severe depression and didn't get out of bed for two years. My God, that's what it took to make one. Well, it turns out that isn't usually how exhausting it is. It was just my routine. **There are big names in the movie (Samuel L Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer etc) and the director (Ronny Yu). Who was the first big name that kind of came on board to help?** Tim Roth, who isn't in it. Tim Roth was going to be Felix, who ended up being played by… I'm going blank… *(Robert Carlyle)*. Tim Roth called me at home. He was really excited about it. He even spoke to Tarantino about it. He's talking to me about who's going to direct it, and I was going to direct it. I'm in my bullshit phase, right? What I didn't know was that he was looking for a movie to direct. This whole thing could have gone in a different direction really early if I'd said, ‘Would you like to direct it?’ But I had no clue because I'm not actually in the business. I'm faking being in the business. He was on board for about six months to a year. He gave us what's called a letter of intent, which we could take to producers and production companies to try and raise money. We took that over to the Cannes Film Festival. Here's another story. Jesus. Alright. I'm working in Threshers part-time. I'm also on unemployment supplement. My mate from college, we both wanted to get into movies, and he ended up being a producer over at Sky TV and stuff like that afterwards, but we found out how you get into the Cannes Film Festival. You're supposed to, this is god's honest truth, put a company stamp on the form. Stamps cost £200 to get made at the time. We knew an art friend who carved one out of potato. We stamped that form, and it looked like we were a legit company. We put our forms in, and we got accepted to go to the Cannes Film Festival to be able to pitch our stuff. Because I was on that unemployment stuff, you're not allowed to leave the country, so I had to chance it. I didn't have any decent clothes. My mum's fella loaned me a jacket, and we pissed off to Cannes and lived on brie sandwiches for a week. We wandered around Cannes, meeting everybody. I ended up on bloody TV at the British film pavilion. I'm not supposed to be here. We end up going to meet big actors, big producers, big financiers, we end up going to movie premieres. We ended up getting invited to LA Confidential. They hadn't even finished the end credits. We went down the red carpet. Once you declare yourself one of them, they just assume you're one of them. Anyway, that was the first person. We did meet up with a production company, a small production company in London that took us on to try and get the movie made. Eventually, Tim Roth dropped out, but by then we'd got our deals with production companies to get the ball rolling. Then it got really weird. At one point, honest to God, we had Marlon Brando on board because there was a different role in the movie that isn't in it anymore. It's from an earlier draft. Within about six months of getting together with this production company, we actually landed Samuel L Jackson. I hadn't written the role for him in mind. I'd written it for Laurence Fishburne because he was the most famous actor at the time, and then all of a sudden, Pulp Fiction came out, and he was suddenly the it guy. For some reason, he loved this script, and he wouldn't let it go. He stuck with it for four or five years. He was, ‘I want to make this because it's nuts. You have to remember we're actors. They like to dress up, and they like to do weird stuff.’ They don't get the excuse, certainly a black actor at the time, he's never done anything in a kilt. I mean, now you've got the Doctor Who guy wearing one every five minutes, that was not a thing back when I wrote the movie. It was fun. It was off the wall. Once Samuel Jackson was on board, it was a question of finding the right director. We went through two or three directors and finding the other members of the cast. We ended up with a really eclectic cast of people. I'm only giving you the brief, surface level stuff. The story of getting this movie made is more interesting than the movie. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Bands come together for Medway Foodbank URL: https://www.localauthority.news/bands-come-together-for-medway-foodbank/ Last updated: 2025-06-13T17:05:12.000Z *Later this month, eight bands will come together to play an all-day music event to raise money for Medway Foodbank. We’ve been talking to the team behind it at Careful Now Promotions to learn more. Further down, we have news of a Medway artist’s book and exhibition that tackles David Lynch’s Eraserhead, we talk book clubs with Patrick Fysh from Store 104, we review Sotto Lounge in Chatham, and we have our weekly events guide. Let’s get to it.* --- #### Bands come together for Medway Foodbank *Medway’s premier music promoters,* [*Careful Now Promotions*](https://www.facebook.com/carefulnowpromotions)*, are hosting* [*their first all-day music event on 28 June*](https://wegottickets.com/event/651910?ref=localauthority.news) *to raise money for* [*Medway Foodbank*](https://medway.foodbank.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. We caught up with* [*Colin Chapman and Robin Halls*](https://www.localauthority.news/cnp-did-their-first-gig-at-riverside/) *to find out more about it…* Careful Now Promotions was set up by “two idiots to put on gigs for bands we like,” says Colin. “People always say we're promoters,” adds Robin, “but that always sounds too grand.” They are ‘promoting’ their first all-dayer (“we say all-dayer, but it doesn't start till two”) on 28 June at the Oast Community Centre in Rainham. “Like everything we do, it's because we fancied it,” says Colin. Colin freely admits to nagging Robin into agreeing to put on the event, “because they're good fun to go to.” They have discussed putting on similar events before at outdoor venues. “Were we going to go to a Donkey Sanctuary at one point?” asks Robin. Colin laughs, remembering the plan to do an event at an animal sanctuary that sadly did not materialise. For Robin, a standard evening out, which features seeing two bands, often leaves people with a feeling of “if only this went on for a bit longer.” They are also raising money for Medway Foodbank and collecting food on the night. Colin explains that “a few days before the gig, we will highlight suggested items that Medway Foodbank are particularly interested in. We don't really want people to bring 48 tins of beans. They could bring another packet of toothbrushes because that's probably a bit easier to transport.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!eWy-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe528da4b-9d47-41e6-9b89-ff6541b7d09c_2895x3618.jpg) Poster for the Careful Now Promotions all-dayer. Tickets for the event are £18 in advance and £21 on the day. “Sounds a lot,” says Colin, “but you get eight fantastic bands for that. The actual price per band is cheaper than our normal gigs.” Ever the teacher, Robin suggests, “Maybe we should have put the formula on the website. Put the maths out there for people to see.” As well as donating money to charity, Careful Now is also paying bands for their time. “Probably not as much as we would normally pay bands at this level,” says Colin. “They know there's not much money around.” Thankfully, all the musicians taking part are supportive of the event and keen to take part. The event kicks off with The Love Family doing an acoustic set, followed Little Storping in the Swuff, which is “Dave Goggin doing his great stuff that we've had before.” They then have new band Tomboy Grandpa, “who feature people who've played for us before.” Then there is Caleb Nicholls, who has never played a Careful Now gig before. “We've not been able to work it out before with him”. Then is the all-important dinner break, “because we've been to an all-day festival and there's no time to eat,” says Colin, “but we want people to drink beer as well because that's how the Oast raise their money.” Feeding people is probably a good idea. They are still working out the finer details of how food will be available. They are hoping to be able to offer food at the venue that people can buy, but at the time of our conversation, they had not heard back from the catering company. If food isn't available, “there's a chip shop at the end of the road that does good business when we do gigs there”, says Colin. “Some bands really like that.” There are a few places around that people will be able to go and get back within the hour. “We just thought it'd be quite nice if we could provide something on-site,” says Robin. “We will try”. Colin suggests there might be an app that people could use to order something to have it delivered, but that sounds like witchcraft. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6XzC!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb9e84bd8-4e7e-41cc-8173-cd28cd02890b_1792x1344.jpg) Tugboat Captain. Photo: Ryan Collett After the dinner break, there are more bands, including Ski Lift and Sassyhiya, alongside the return of Ascoyne d’ Ascoynes, “who've not played for us before because they haven't played any gigs for 30 years.” Topping the bill is Tugboat Captain, “who just released their fantastic second album.” Overall, it’s a mixture of old friends and new friends, of Medway bands and musicians from mysterious other places. An afternoon and evening to support small music venues, smaller bands and food banks. “There's going to be music and beer. what else do want to do on a Saturday?” It will also be the first gig at the Oast’s new and improved refurbished bar, with new flooring and a brand-new stage for the bands to play on. “Even people that have been to lots of our gigs, there's something new for them.” [*You can buy tickets for the Careful Now Promotions all-dayer via WeGotTickets*](https://wegottickets.com/event/651910?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Medway artist illustrates analysis of cult Lynch film *Medway artist* [*Darryl Hartley*](https://www.instagram.com/darrylhartleyart/?ref=localauthority.news) *has written and illustrated an analysis of the David Lynch surrealist film Eraserhead entitled* [*In Heaven*](https://www.spinoutproductions.com/shop/in-heaven/?ref=localauthority.news)*. His illustrations will be displayed at* [*Analogue Music*](https://www.facebook.com/people/Analogue-Music-Rochester/100092447468442/) *as part of* [*Medway Open Studios*](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*, so we spoke to him to learn more…* Like many recent creative works, Darryl’s book started off as a lockdown project. “I've always been a bit of a fan, not necessarily of that film, but a David Lynch fan,” he says. Eraserhead has been open to interpretation and analysed extensively since its release in 1977\. If you haven’t seen it, the plot is something like: Henry, played by Jack Nance, lives in a bleak apartment, troubled by a disfigured lady who lives inside a radiator and surrounded by industrial dystopia. When a fling with Mary X leads to pregnancy, they move in together. Then the baby is a bizarre lizard creature that won’t stop crying. Unexpectedly, the film is not widely available on streaming, but it can be [rented from Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/gb/movie/eraserhead/umc.cmc.1iiaiznzitwoa081epr27xn6l?playableId=tvs.sbd.9001%3A541707783&ref=localauthority.news). You should, however, find it and experience it. Ed’s mum says that it is “exceptionally good.” Darryl backs her up. “It's a classic cult movie.” Having spent time writing his analysis of what the film is actually about during lockdown, he then decided to illustrate it. He considered self-publishing it via an online service before [Spinout Nuggets](https://www.spinoutproductions.com/spinout-nuggets/?ref=localauthority.news)’ Lee Grimshaw agreed to release the book. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!kU5C!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f471514bd-4cc5-46ab-aed4-0810ca8ca71b_2622x1800.jpg) Illustration from In Heaven by Darryl Hartley. It was one of Stanley Kubrick’s favourite films, who said it was the closest he had seen to a nightmare on screen. Darryl acknowledges that what he thinks about the film has changed since he wrote the book. “I think that really is, in essence, what's supposed to happen anyway with a film like that, or any films that David Lynch has directed and written because they're very personal and they're very much open to interpretation. Whatever you think they're about, someone else will have a different kind of meaning.” The book is Darryl’s explanation of what he believes is happening, what things mean and “probably could be right, probably wrong.” Darryl says that he doesn’t think “there really is any wrong answer to what you take from it.” Not only is this the first published analysis that Darryl has done, but it’s also his first published book of any kind. “I'm a bit of a geek boy, and I like films that challenge, that some people actually find infuriating.” Darryl has considered doing a follow-up for other David Lynch films, but at the moment, there is just this one, which he is proud of. Copies of the book will be available at Analogue Records in July while the original artwork is exhibited. --- #### It’s Independent Bookshop Week! *Saturday is the start of* [*Independent Bookshop Week*](https://www.booksellers.org.uk/Campaigns/independentbookshopweek?ref=localauthority.news)*, undoubtedly one of the most important weeks of the year. As well as highlighting that bookshops play a vital role in communities, they are also a great place to find the best things to read this summer. An excellent way this Venn diagram crosses over is through book clubs, so we spoke to* [*Patrick*](https://www.localauthority.news/we-were-very-keen-not-to-just-replicate/) *at* [*Store 104*](https://www.store104.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *about their successful book club, which has been running since their first year…* “We meet on the first Wednesday of the month in the café, Leonard’s,” says Patrick. They are currently reading [Bellies by Nicola Dinan](https://uk.bookshop.org/book/9781804991237?ref=localauthority.news), and each month the group choose from a shortlist on a theme. They are also starting an LGBTQ+ book club in July, where they will be reading [Carol by Patricia Highsmith](https://uk.bookshop.org/book/9781626543126?ref=localauthority.news). ”People love our book club because we read a wide range of genres. We read a lot of work that people would otherwise not pick up and that the discussion sticks to the book, not just gossip!” If you’d like to join 30 regular members and others who appear ad hoc or use the group as a reading suggestion each month, then head down to Store 104\. “No one is required to talk, but everyone is welcome to if they'd like. All we require is that you buy the book from us if you're able to.” --- #### Out to Lunch: Sotto Lounge in Chatham Chatham Dockside’s new place to be, Sotto Lounge, is a corner unit opposite Starbucks and Wagamama. It is large, spacious and welcoming, with friendly staff, a book swap corner, and you can choose between sofas or chairs. What makes Sotto Lounge stand out is unlike an increasing number of venues, you do actually feel welcome to stay. To lounge, as it were. There is an app-based ordering system as well as bar service, though thankfully, as you are lounging, they serve to the table. As has been well established by now, I can’t ignore a small plate offering, even if they call it tapas and charge extra. I ordered patatas bravas with roasted garlic mayo, Louisiana fried chicken tenders with chipotle mayo, and Korean king prawns. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WDQR!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3413a8f0-fa3f-43ad-9558-0975103275a7_1456x762.jpg) Food at Sotto Lounge. The patatas bravas is as nice as you can hope for when its cubes of fried potato. The chicken tenders were delicious, so nice it made the fact they only served two feel quite dispiriting. The Korean king prawns were meaty and full of flavour, and I don’t mean to be Goldilocks about this, but there were maybe too many of them. Swap me a prawn for a chicken tender. Overall, I was happy with the food I ate, the service I received and the price I paid. I won’t lie, I was so happy that I ordered the chicken tenders again, but this time from the main menu so I could get more. Maybe too many… --- #### Events this week 🛍️ Sat 14 Jun - [**Rochester City Artisan Market**](https://www.facebook.com/events/681969968010012/) // Traders selling a variety of unique gifts, crafts, and vintage items. Rochester High Street. Free. 🥕 Sun 15 Jun - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🎨 19 Jun - 2 Jul - [**Apart**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // New exhibition by collective of Rochester artists. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. --- #### More Authority We dispatched our music correspondent Stephen Morris to the Masonic Hall in Rochester to write about a night of Medway music headlined by the Masonics. We think it’s safe to say that he had a good time. [A night at the Masonic with the MasonicsIt’s a Saturday night in the Medway Towns and everyone is out for a good time. There are at least three gigs on tonight. The Alexandra in Chatham is playing host to The Sleepers, Broken Banjo and Brow-Obles and Poco Loco has Puppits, Smile Wide and High Frequency.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityStephen Morris![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2feb67ea4c-d838-49b3-8eec-29771a26a315_3060x2295.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/a-night-at-the-masonic-with-the-masonics/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### A night at the Masonic with the Masonics URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-night-at-the-masonic-with-the-masonics/ Last updated: 2025-06-12T09:12:58.000Z It’s a Saturday night in the Medway Towns and everyone is out for a good time. There are at least three gigs on tonight. The Alexandra in Chatham is playing host to The Sleepers, Broken Banjo and Brow-Obles and Poco Loco has Puppits, Smile Wide and High Frequency. But the gig I’m going to isn’t in a pub. It’s at Rochester’s Masonic Hall. And there’s a very good, logical reason for the choice of venue for this particular gig. I’ve been to a Masonic Hall just once before. The occasion was – if you’re interested – a wedding in Surbiton where an approaching life-sized portrait of Elizabeth II gazed down at the happy couple as they exchanged vows before everyone tucked into jumping around on space hoppers and playing giant chess during the reception. There are no space hoppers or enormous bishops, knights, and pawns to be seen in Rochester. Even the portrait of Charles III is of rather more modest dimensions than the one of his mum was in Tom, Barbara, Margo and Jerry’s home town. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway Council plans to improve traffic flow by blocking road URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-plans-to-improve-traffic/ Last updated: 2025-06-10T23:22:24.000Z *If you were trying to improve a regularly congested junction, you might not think the best way would be to block the road with buses, but that’s presumably why you aren’t a traffic planner at Medway[1](#footnote-1). We have details on a somewhat baffling set of junction ‘improvements’ below. Further down, we have news of the chaos that B&M brought to the Horsted area when it opened over the weekend, a new discount retailer opening in Rainham (it’s not another B&M, at least), news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway Council plans to improve traffic flow by blocking the road A modest redesign of a relatively insignificant road junction is something we’d usually spend a great deal of time on as a publication. Still, Medway Council’s proposals this week to improve the point where the A2 and Mierscourt Road in Rainham meet have raised more than one eyebrow this week. The junction on the east side of Rainham is well-used, with a significant volume of east-west traffic on the A2 meeting traffic flows from the south on Mierscourt Road, which serves as the main access route towards Parkwood and a number of new-build estates in the area. The issue with the junction is essentially one of size, with there only being just about space for the east and west A2 traffic and no real room for vehicles waiting to turn into Mierscourt Road from the eastbound carriageway. As a result, traffic inevitably builds up at the junction. For all of Medway Council’s supposed efforts to relieve congestion with a red route through the town centre, there is not much you can do to keep traffic flowing if it literally has nowhere to go. As such, Medway Council [launched a consultation](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200872/a2%5Fhigh%5Fstreet%5Fand%5Fmierscourt%5Froad%5Frainham%5F-%5Fjunction%5Fimprovement%5Fscheme%5Fconsultation?ref=localauthority.news) this week for a series of changes to the junction intended to ‘increase capacity’ and ‘improve traffic flows’ at the junction. The only problem with this is that it seems difficult to see how the proposals will achieve either aim. Oh, and the consultation about it appears to be something of a sham anyway. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Bwwb!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4de03fe4-fecd-4ca6-becc-cea68071515e_4949x2993.jpg) The plans themselves are relatively straightforward, which is hardly surprising given the junction is in a constrained urban area with no real room to expand the carriageway, which would be the logical solution if space and money were no object. But they are, and it is, so we have a small series of interventions like removing two traffic islands and scrubbing out some white lines. The latter is supposed to ‘provide a wider facility overall,’ but it is unclear how paint removal in itself achieves this. Ironically, the primary intervention that seems useful doesn’t benefit vehicles at all, but instead, a pedestrian link will be created between the bus stop at the bottom of Mierscourt Road and the A2, something that should have been in place years ago. Perhaps the strangest move for a scheme supposed to ‘increase capacity’ and ‘improve traffic flow’ though is the filling in of a bus stop to the east of the junction. This change will see the bus stop moved to the running lane of the A2, and while we’re no traffic experts, buses stopping on the live lane of a busy road hardly seems to be a recipe for moving vehicles through more efficiently. As things stand, only 11 buses each day use this bus stop, so this might be a rare case of Medway’s lack of a functioning bus network coming in handy. If the new estates to the east of Rainham or, in some utopian world, Sittingbourne ever receive a regular bus service from our towns, the junction could be clogged rather more regularly. We asked Medway Council whether any assessment of the changes were carried out ahead of the consultation and what the logic of relocating the bus stop onto the main carriageway was, but no response was received ahead of publication. We also asked how much budget had been set aside for this works, but we received no response on that either. We also asked about the consultation itself. Council consultations are often accused of being tickbox exercises where the decision is already made, and the process is just a formality. It is understandable why when the consultation is as pointless as this. Residents have until 30 June to offer any feedback on the proposed designs, but given Medway Council [granted themselves a permit](https://one.network/?GB142885493&ref=localauthority.news) to carry out the work on 3 April, it seems unlikely that any public contributions will make any difference to the process. --- #### New B&M opens, immediately causes traffic chaos Speaking of unpleasant traffic buildup, Medway’s latest B&M opened on Saturday (6 Jun) and immediately crippled the surrounding road network. The new store, located in the former Homebase unit at Horsted Retail Park, is the largest store the chain has in Medway, and customers, eager for a new retail experience, heading there in their droves rather than visit an existing B&M in Chatham, Strood, Gillingham, or Rainham. Over the weekend, local Facebook groups were roughly equally mixed between posts reviewing the new store (‘well-stocked,’ ‘there’s no lift,’ ‘it’s a B&M’), posts complaining that it was taking half an hour to traffic from the Bridgewood roundabout to B&M, and posts asking if B&M was quiet enough to visit yet. Concerns had been raised ahead of the store opening given that the roundabout outside Horsted Retail Park and the car park inside had struggled for capacity since Aldi and Home Bargains moved in. While Homebase had done little to make the area busy, B&M, as the residents of Rainham learned last year, seems to attract the crowds. Some social media posts by those disgruntled about sitting in traffic caused mainly by those waiting to visit the discount retailer, asked why the store was allowed to open as the consequences seemed inevitable. The fun planning system answer to that question is that there is nothing that could really be done to stop it. The existing building for Homebase was designated for retail, so a new retailer moving in, even if they are more popular, doesn’t require any additional consent. This is perhaps for the best, lest residents begin waging wars against shops they don’t like, but it does mean some consequences like this are inevitable. Hopefully, the initial B&M excitement will calm down in the coming weeks, and the retail park will return to a more normal level of use because, if not, journeys between Medway and Maidstone will take an awful lot longer from now on. --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Rainham bags another bargain.. store Speaking of discount retailers, another one is moving into Rainham Shopping Centre, following the recent arrivals of B&M and Poundland. This time, the discounts come from the mundanely named Bargain Warehouse. The small chain is known for selling bulk packs of soft drinks and packaged groceries that are close to or just past their best-before dates and is set to open in the unit previously occupied by Jhoots pharmacy, or Lloyds if you’re a bit older. It will be the third Bargain Warehouse in Kent, adding to their stores in Folkestone and Ashford. The new arrival comes at a time when Rainham’s retail offer seems to lean ever more heavily on the promise of bargains. Bargain Warehouse pitches itself as a solution to food waste and rising prices, offering everything from soft drinks to cleaning products at a fraction of the cost found elsewhere. There’s a clear market for this kind of operation, so for some, the appeal is obvious. For others, it may feel like another sign of how local shopping centres have changed. The company claims the new Rainham store will create a dozen jobs, and, of course, an empty unit being filled by something is positive for a town centre that is struggling. At a time when other businesses are packing up and leaving, any new addition is welcome, but questions will remain about how viable a town centre focused almost entirely on discount retailers can really be. --- #### In brief 🐦 The Guardian [came for a wander around the woods](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/04/england-nightingale-sanctuary-at-risk-from-planning-bill?ref=localauthority.news) at Lodge Hill following reports last week that the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill would make the site more vulnerable to development. 🏗️ Medway Council have approved [319 flats on the former Go Outdoors and Market Hall site](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c780kepz37jo?ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham. Five blocks of up to seven storeys will be built alongside new commercial units and improvements to the public realm. At the same meeting, [181 new homes were approved](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/praise-for-sensitive-and-sensible-plans-for-181-quarry-h-325533/?ref=localauthority.news) for a former quarry in Frindsbury. 🍔 McDonald’s at Chatham Dockside will open earlier than initially planned. The outlet, the eighth the company has Medway, will open on July 23. 🌊 The Pentagon in Chatham had to [close on Sunday (8 Jun) due to flooding](https://www.facebook.com/pentagonshoppingcentre/posts/pfbid0JvAXRfPBE5LiTMdeYQRKErtgAaDQtXH66otf7CCCxeenskHQwHGyyeKYzU6ZCrUkl). This happens more often than is ideal, but that tends to be the risk of building your shopping centre on top of a river. 🧑‍💻 There’s a good job opportunity at the Rochester Bridge Trust, which is seeking a Communications Manager. You can find out more about the role and how to apply [here](https://rbt.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). ⚽ Gillingham Football Club have announced that [MEMS will return as their front shirt sponsor](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/mems-power-generation-returns-front-gillingham-fc-shirts?ref=localauthority.news) for the coming season. The move follows two seasons where Bauvil took the position. 🐸 Thousands of toadlets are [currently besieging Capstone Country Park](https://www.facebook.com/CapstonePark/posts/please-tread-carefully-around-the-lake-we-have-thousands-of-toadlets-hopping-aro/701374222644681/). It’s been a strong year for toad mating apparently, so thousands of the tiny amphibians are now emerging from the lake. --- #### More Authority We've had some great responses to our [interview with Dalia Halpern-Matthews, Chair of Trustees at Chatham Memorial Synagogue](https://www.localauthority.news/its-really-important-for-people-to/). She talks about her family’s long involvement with the synagogue, the vandalism that has plagued it, Israel, and lots more. ["It's really important for people to see that we're just the same as everybody else"Dr Dalia Halpern-Matthews is the former Chief Executive of the Halpern Trust, where she helped to set up Nucleus Arts. Steven met her at the Chatham Memorial Synagogue, where she is the Chair of Trustees. They discussed her family’s long involvement with the synagogue, the vandalism that has plagued it, Israel, and lots more. During the interview, Steven learnt something about himself and left the Synagogue a changed man…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcee1653c-b4cc-473a-b9b9-9ccf6d527370_720x471.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/its-really-important-for-people-to/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! 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You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Instant Coffee Baby by The Wave Pictures*](https://thewavepictures.bandcamp.com/album/instant-coffee-baby?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*More by Pulp*](https://pulpmusic.bandcamp.com/album/more?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Document by REM*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=559eWB93jW4&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- 1. *Given the demographic and type of people that read this newsletter, it is not impossible that someone reading is indeed a traffic planner at Medway Council. To which I say, we love you really, whatever this edition might suggest.* [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") ### "It's really important for people to see that we're just the same as everybody else" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/its-really-important-for-people-to/ Last updated: 2026-03-25T16:56:09.000Z *Dr Dalia Halpern-Matthews is the former Chief Executive of the Halpern Trust, where she helped to set up Nucleus Arts. Steven met her at the Chatham Memorial Synagogue, where she is the Chair of Trustees. They discussed her family’s long involvement with the synagogue, the vandalism that has plagued it, Israel, and lots more. During the interview, Steven learnt something about himself and left the Synagogue a changed man…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!5pHJ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcee1653c-b4cc-473a-b9b9-9ccf6d527370_720x471.jpg) **What is your involvement with the synagogue?** I am currently the Chair of Trustees here at the synagogue, but my family has been here and heavily involved since the 1890s. Starting with my great-grandfather Solomon, and then my grandparents, Alec and Dora Halpern, and then my parents Hilary and Mari Halpern. With my son, that's five generations of Halperns. **What is it that makes Chatham Memorial Synagogue unique?** It is completely unique in many ways, actually. There's the obvious one: We have a cemetery, and it is the only synagogue in the country that has a burial ground attached to it because Jews don't put their burial grounds next to the synagogue because the priests are not supposed to go into a cemetery in case there are any bad spirits that would taint them. For that reason, they don't put them together. In fact, the burial ground is older than the synagogue itself, which is how this has happened here. Jews were banned from England for hundreds of years, and then we were allowed back, and people started to come with the docks and the military, and there wasn't a burial ground, and there wasn't a synagogue. I think the Jews were leased an area of land from the hospital, where they started to bury their dead. At a similar time, they rented two of the tenement houses that were more or less in the same plot, but not next to each other. One of the tenement houses they used for the rabbi's house and the other as the synagogue. Then after a few years, the tenement houses were dismantled, and the first synagogue went up on a similar site, and they carried on burying. This building was completed in 1869\. They moved it further forward on the site, and then the graveyard grew. Although, in fact, there's no such thing as a Jewish cemetery, only a Jewish grave. Anywhere a Jewish person is buried is a Jewish grave. **Is the graveyard full?** Yeah, it's been full for years. The last burial was in the 80s, but the new cemetery off Chatham Maidstone Road, Palmerston Road, has been used. Certainly, my grandparents were buried there, and grandpa died in ‘75\. But it's also unique because we are one of only three surviving synagogues that were designed by Hyman Henry Collins, who is considered to have designed the most beautiful synagogues in the country. It also had a mikvah when it was built. A mikvah is a ritual bath. It's something that's really important for a community, but for a tiny provincial community like Medway to have a mikvah is incredibly unusual. It hasn't been there in my lifetime. I don't know why or what happened to make it removed. The nearest mikveh now is up in Bushey. A Jewish person, when they die, for example, needs to be cleaned in a mikveh. That's quite significant. The synagogue is a grade two star, the cemetery is a separate scheduled park and garden, and the Magnus Memorial has its own grade two listing. We're triple-listed. **What is the Magnus Memorial?** The reason why it's Chatham Memorial Synagogue is because it was built in memory of Captain Lazarus Magnus, who died in his 30s of an accidental overdose of laudanum following a toothache. He was quite notable. He was a friend of Brunel. He was a mayor, I mean just lots of different things. His father, Simon Magnus, was distraught. He built this in memory. The big memorial is for Lazarus. It's been quite badly defaced. We've had a lot of vandalism in the cemetery, unfortunately, over the years. **Is vandalism something that still goes on today?** The cemetery has been. It's been much better since we’ve had the new CCTV, which is much better than the old one. But we have still had issues. Just last month, someone threw pigs trotters onto the synagogue grounds. It's not like things don't happen. Someone a few months ago, I'm assuming that it was something to do with drugs, but I don't know. CCTV picked up these people climbing over a wall at the front. They actually managed to knock over the front wall. That, luckily, was covered by the insurance. It has all been done. We're just fundraising at the moment to do some extra security works that will stop people from being able to get in. **How did you come to be Chair of Trustees? Was it the family connection and you had no choice?** Oh no, it was very much a choice. I've been running companies and charities for more than 20 years. It's a world I live in. In fact, I think my father was still alive actually when I first became a trustee. He was the previous chair, I have to admit. It hasn't always been a Halpern. There wasn't a chair to start with. There was an interim chair. But the thing is that because I knew how to run a charity, because of the work I was doing day in, day out, the comments that I would make and suggestions, I was fairly soon essentially running things. All the other trustees said, ‘You're doing the job. You might as well be the chair.’ I took over, and every year, I say, ‘I don't have to remain chair, I'm happy to step back.’ So far, they refused to let me do so. It's not a good idea in many circumstances for someone to be the same chair for a long time. I'm very conscious of that. On the other hand, integrity is an exceptionally high part of my moral code, and I will only ever do things the right way. When someone else becomes a trustee who would be appropriate and fine to take over as chair, that's absolutely fine. Until then, for the moment, I will carry on. **Can members of the public come and visit the synagogue?** We're always happy to have visitors. We do, for security reasons, like it to be pre-arranged. We prefer people not just to turn up when we're having a service. We have unfortunately had issues, which is why we feel we need to do that. We have to even have a security guard when we're having services, which is a really sad state of affairs. But we do things like Heritage Open Days. We do that every year, and we often do other things, for example, the Closer Than You Think event here alongside the LGBT community. Queer Culture Counts at The Ship, which was an amazing event, Holocaust Memorial Day meets LGBT History Month and remembering the men who wore the pink triangle. We had an exhibition, and did a lovely event in the main synagogue, music and talks, and it went down really well. There were far more people here that were not Jewish than were Jewish. We're a part of the Holocaust Memorial Day events, which are held normally on the 27th of January every year or sometimes the day after it. The Medway Peace Walk, we’re part of that every year. This year, they'll be coming in briefly for a service for peace as part of the walk. We're very open. For us, it's really important for people to see that we're just the same as everybody else. **Before the interview started, I mentioned my mother and how, when I said I was coming here, she mentioned, for the first time in 45 years, that my grandmother was Jewish. You said that if that was her mother, that would make me Jewish. How does that work?** Judaism always comes down the maternal line and has done since time immemorial. It doesn't matter if it was your maternal great-great-grandmother and no one has practised since. If it's followed through the maternal line, then that person would be Jewish still. (*I message my mother to confirm which Grandmother.)* You've probably heard of the 12 tribes of Israel, and most people don't know which tribe they come under. But the Levites and the Coens, who are the sort of priestly and the most holy tribes, they do still come down, but that comes down under the father's line. That's the paternal line. Because the father wasn't Jewish somewhere along the lines, you’ve lost the Levites or the Coens, so there are various things that only Levites or Coens can do in the synagogue, including not going into the cemetery. (*My mother messages back that it was her mother.)* Then you are Jewish. **Because my mother doesn’t have any daughters, that means that line ends with her?** Yes. **Fascinating. I’m a changed man.** **Where were you born?** I was born at All Saints Hospital in Chatham. I grew up in Rochester. My parents lived in the same house from 1962 until they passed away. **What jobs did your parents do growing up?** My father was an international architect and town planner. Which was something he practised for 50**\-**odd years. He worked literally all over the world. He built trade centres and all sorts of really big stuff. He was a fascinating man, very charismatic, not someone you forgot easily. Mum was a dental surgeon in an era when women did not go to a university. She graduated in 1954, the only woman at the university, and she initially started her own dental practice, but fairly soon afterwards, she went to work for the NHS, and she worked for the NHS from about 1957 until in about her 70s when she retired. **Did you enjoy school?** Mostly, yeah. I went to St Matthews, which has long since closed in Borstal as a primary school. Then I went to Borstal Manor for two years. I didn't realise at the time that I'd read all the books in the school by the time I was halfway through the second year at juniors or that I had done all of the maths work that they had for the next two years. I was vaguely aware of the fact that I wasn't doing necessarily the same as everybody else. Apparently, the headmaster called my parents or my mother in and told them to take me to a better school. I spent two years at St Andrew’s, did my 11 plus, and my parents wanted me to go to Cobham Hall, which is where my sister went, and my brothers all went to King’s. I was the rebel. I didn't want to go there. I passed the exams, and I said I really don't want to go there, so they said, ‘Fine, well, if you pass your 11 plus, you can go to a grammar school,’ and I had my heart set on Chatham Grammar which is where I went to. **Where did you go to university?** I didn't. I had my places all set. In those days, no one did deferred entry. I applied, I got my places offered. I did pretty badly, I will say, in my A-levels, but I still had unconditional offers. I didn't have to go until the following year, and I started working, and then I set up my first business, which was a catering company. I didn't really want to go and do quantity surveying. I did a diploma at Leith School of Food and Wine, and I ran my catering company for a while. Then all the laws were changing, and I was going to have to completely change loads of my equipment, and my van wasn't any good and all these different things. I went to work at Selfridges for a while in the food hall, and then I moved to Safeways, where I did their management training program, which is equivalent to a foundation degree in business. I'd been there a while. I was just waiting for my final posting, and unfortunately, I got ME. I was unwell for four years. I was in a wheelchair. During that time, I did start a law degree, but I didn't complete it because my brain was just not functioning when I had ME. Then I got better and ended up running the family property company and then setting up Nucleus Arts and all that stuff. **Do you have a PhD?** I have an honorary doctorate. Which I still find extraordinary and both hilarious and wonderful. **What is your honorary doctorate in?** Arts, from the University of Kent. **And is that because of the work with Nucleus Arts?** Primarily. **What is your official occupation now?** I am Chief Exec of Creating Cultural Capacities, but essentially, I'm a consultant working mostly with charities, but sometimes with local authorities or occasionally even SMEs. **Do you have any other additional roles, paid or unpaid?** Funnily enough, not at the moment. I've been trying to pare down a bit. I was chair of the Rochester Riverside Community Board, and I was chair of the consortium Ideas Test. I was on the governing board of North Kent College, and there's all these different things. But sometimes you do need to… I am not 20 anymore. I'm not doing all of the different things at the moment. (*Following the interview, Dalia emailed)* I thought afterwards, I must be doing more volunteer roles and remembered that I sit on the IAG (Independent Advisory Group to the Police), the SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education), and the Prevent Advisory Group with the Home Office! **Do you have any involvement now with the Halpern Trust?** Not anymore. Which is a bit weird. But it was the right decision to move away when I did. I'm still hopeful they will give us some money at the synagogue because that's part of what it was designed for. **What was your involvement with Nucleus Arts?** I was running the family property company, Halpern Properties Limited, and Dad had recently retired. In his retirement, he wanted to sculpt. That was actually his first love. He'd even done a tutelage under Henry Moore for a short while. He realised fairly quickly that the only place he could fire something was if he enrolled in the adult education centre. Dad did not like doing things in the perceived way of doing things and the tutor at the adult education centre, who I'm sure was a perfectly reasonable person, didn't want Dad to do things differently from how she wanted them done. You can imagine that it wasn't really a match made in heaven. He had started to talk to the council about whether they would be prepared to help get something going. KIAD *(Kent Institute of Art & Design, which later became UCA)* was sitting on the hill and all these notable people over the years who'd come out of Medway in terms of the art world. At the time, Medway Council did not see the value in the arts at all, and Dad was banging his head against a brick wall. He went to the Arts Council, Southeast Arts as it was, and they said, ‘Lovely idea, you find a building, and we'll help you open it.’ He bought the first building himself out of his own money, 272A High Street. The first of the buildings that the main centres are in, and he bought the building then banged his head against a brick wall for months I think they completed it in July and by February, he asked me to come along to a meeting, and there were people from the council and from the Arts Council and various other people. I sat quietly. I didn't know the first thing about the art world or setting up an art centre or, for that matter, anything to do with charities or anything at that point. I went to this meeting, and I just listened. At the end of the meeting, he asked me what I thought, and I told him. He said, ‘There's a building, you open an art centre, I'm going to visit your sister in New Zealand.’ He promptly went off, literally within a few days, to New Zealand. so that was late February, maybe early March 2002, and we opened on the 22nd of June 2002\. It didn't look pretty. We hadn't replaced all the carpets. We did it on a shoestring because it was Dad's money. I didn't want to spend more of his money than I had to. I ran it alongside the property company for years, and sometimes we had a manager in, and sometimes we didn't. Then I would have another mad idea, and we'd just do something else. We were doing stuff on loneliness and social isolation long before anyone else was talking about it, and it's just amazing seeing how it transformed people's lives actually. Very proud of it. **Why did you step away from Nucleus Arts?** I moved away from both at the same time. [David Stokes](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-people-are-your-rebels-they/) was appointed as the Chief Exec, and that was a good time to have a clean break. He had a blank canvas, so he didn't have me looking over his shoulder. **Does the property company still exist?** It does. I carried on running it for a period. We took on a new manager when I became Chief Exec at Chatham Maritime Trust. I moved away from day-to-day running but was still a director. I stayed a director for another few years. **What does your average day entail?** Oh, that's a difficult one because I don't know I have an average day. I always have a ridiculous number of emails, and I have to admit that admin is not always my best thing. But it can be totally different. I was recently master of ceremonies at an event held at the MidKent College with 160 people there. This morning I've had 31 children doing a three-hour session at the synagogue and learning about why, amongst other things, we should help other people. But then equally, it might be helping a charity write a strategy and, in order to do that, talking to different beneficiaries and understand what the need is, and there might be a research part of it where you're trying to understand, the local, regional, national, international context. Sometimes it's a real question of digging down. What is this charity really trying to do? Are your current actions really fulfilling that or not? Is there a mission creep? Is it the most appropriate way of doing it? Are there other organisations you could work with that would add greater impact? I often get asked to do talks and panels. **Sorry about that.** No, that's fine. I just always like to stress to people I'm an ordinary person. I am Jewish, absolutely. But I'm not a rabbi. I'm not the most learned Jewish person by an enormous chunk. **But as the chair of this trust, you are a community leader in that respect.** Indeed. I am generally considered to be, which I do still find amusing and weird. On the other hand, I do understand in what context and I like the platform that it gives me to be able to extend those messages of we're the same as everybody else. Everybody is the same. There are so many similarities between people, whether they're Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Baha'i, Buddhist, humanist, whatever. **What do you do to unwind?** Genealogy or gardening. But mostly genealogy. I can just disappear into a family tree, one or other branch of the family tree and five hours pass, and I just don't notice. I have a very good friend who also loves to do it, and they have a home office which is really big, and it's got two desks, a really big screen which is great fun when you're looking at a big tree and stuff. When we're both available, we might sit there and then either one of her kids or her husband just sort of appears with coffee every so often. You don't realise how many you have drunk, and time disappears, and they laugh and think it's very funny if I actually leave before midnight. **Who has been the best Prime Minister of your lifetime?** That's an interesting one. God, you haven't got a lot of good choices here. **Some people do approach it as who has been the least bad Prime Minister.** On that basis, probably Tony Blair. Yeah, I was kind of thinking of it along those lines. Although I have to say, whilst I don't agree with a lot of how Keir Starmer has been doing things, I think stepping up to the plate in the current world situation, he has done well, and that's good. It was needed. I'm impressed with that. **Where do you like to go for dinner in Medway?** [Cafe Nucleus](https://cafenucleus.uk/welcome-to-cafe-nucleus-rochester/?ref=localauthority.news), of course. **There are currently three options. Which is your favourite?** Oh, I have to admit I love Rochester. If it's gorgeous weather, sitting outside in the courtyard in Chatham is lovely. But I'm more likely to have Rochester meetings these days. **What improvements have there been in Medway in the last 25 years?** Oh, that's an interesting question. I will say I don't think it was helpful that Medway was under the rule of one party for that long. I have always made a big point not to be party political. When you're working in the charity sector, it's really important not to be. If you'd asked me, I probably would have said I'm more towards the Greens than anyone else. But I will say, when I went to that first meeting with Dad before we opened Nucleus and he'd already had some of the meetings with council and they were not interested at all, and I remember meeting with, fairly soon after we'd opened, the director of the Medway Development Research Unit, as it was. She looked around, she was all very nice, she realised, ‘You're going to have to close it in 18 months or so when we do the Trafalgar Centre.’ So, I said, ‘I'll agree to disagree with you because I don't believe so.’ Now I know that has finally been demolished, but you know, more than 20 years went past. I'm pleased to see that people like Scott Elliott in the council are fantastic. They've really seen the value of arts and culture in health and wellbeing. I would say one of the best things is valuing arts and culture more than just it being the castle and cathedral. It's about a lot more. It's something that touches pretty much everybody's lives in some way, and it can improve people's lives. **I don't normally ask people what their relationship is with a country, but this is something that seems to come up whether you want it to or not. So, what is your relationship with Israel?** That's a big question. I'm going to just stress this is a personal opinion. I am not going to, and I could not even possibly speak for the whole of the Jewish community or the whole of the Jewish community here in Medway or any aspect of that. It has to be a personal opinion. My personal opinion is whilst I understand that Israel considers itself to be the homeland of the Jews, I do not consider Israel to be my homeland. I am a British Jew, and I think it's really important that people understand that. I think it's really important that people understand that whilst a lot of Jews consider Israel to be their homeland, there are also a lot of Jews who do not. Generally, the less vocal ones are the ones who don't. If they believe that Israel is the homeland, then they're Zionists. If they're not, then... Well, different people will call them something different. But to be clear, they're not anti-Zionist. That's a completely different thing altogether. One of the things I always try to really explain, though, is whether or not you agree with Israel being your homeland and whether or not you agree on how Israel is acting, commentary on Israel in a negative context is not the same as antisemitism. If you said, ‘Jews are doing this,’ that's antisemitic. But to say that Israel is doing this is purely factual. That's a really, really important thing. I have to say my eldest daughter is a historian in international and world history and her specialism is in the Middle East. She has lived in Israel and Palestine and done internships there. She has spent a long time working with people in Hebron and further into the West Bank. I have visited her there, and I visited Hebron and Nablus. As a personal opinion, what is being done is wrong. Palestinians lived there. It was not… I don't see it as anything other than apartheid. But there will be people who disagree completely with me on that. That's fair enough. But I will say that when my daughter lived out there, she saw the fact that the people living in the West Bank had less electricity, less water, all of these things that you consider basics. The Palestinians were not allowed on the settler bus from Jerusalem into Hebron, for example, and the settler bus was heavily subsidised by the Israeli government, so it cost a fraction of what the Palestinian bus was. If you dared to stray onto the wrong side of the road, woe betide you, so I’m inclined to believe in those circumstances that Israel is in the wrong. --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*.* *If you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, email* [*Steven*](mailto:thepoliticalmedway@localauthority.news)*.* *Steven Keevil still manages to watch hundreds of films a year. He recommends* [*The Nice Guys*](http://www.netflix.com/title/80049284?ref=localauthority.news)*. He listened to no music whilst writing this but recommends reading* [*Chaucer by Peter Ackroyd*](https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/chaucer-brief-lives-peter-ackroyd/4183169?ean=9780099287483&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Medway film Pubmonkey swings onto streaming URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-film-pubmonkey-swings-onto/ Last updated: 2025-06-06T19:05:15.000Z *A film partly inspired by and shot in Medway has found its way to streaming via Amazon Prime Video, so we chat with the writer to find out more. Further down, we learn about the new Zig Zag Scrap Store, where creatives can pick up and reuse discarded materials, record label Spinout Nuggets taking over Analogue Music, review the Hollywood Bowl, have our weekly events guide, and more.* --- #### Medway film Pubmonkey swings onto streaming *Pubmonkey is a crime comedy film written by Jamie O’Hara and partly based on characters he met in the Medway Towns. Made in 2014, it is now available to watch on Amazon Prime. We spoke to Jamie to find out more about the film…* Pubmonkey, a film written by Jamie O’Hara and directed by his cousin Jean-Claude Deguara, was released in 2015\. It is based on an unpublished manuscript Jamie had written for a novel. “It's sort of based around characters from the Medway Towns and the South London area.” It is a “kidnap, damsel in distress story, with lots of profanity, drug use and other things that made it quite hard to get distributed.” Pubmonkey is a term I had never heard before, and even the usually reliable Urban Dictionary was unfamiliar with the phrase.Jamie explains that it is somebody who entertains people in pubs for drinks. “Eddie starts working for a building firm, based on some lads I worked with in the early 90s in Strood called the Burts.” Like the character of Eddie in the film, Jamie was not very good at labouring, but he was good at making them laugh after work in the pub, “like a performing pub monkey.” In the film, Eddie meets Bingo, a character played entertainingly by Jamie himself. “He was based on an absolute head case I lived with on Boundary Road. He was a debt collector and was far more terrifying than the character portrayed. He was unhinged.” Jamie would find himself being dragged out of bed and taken out collecting debts around Chatham and Gillingham. Like the character of Eddie, Jamie didn’t feel he had any discernible talent other than making an idiot of himself. Within the film, the character of Bingo is a highlight, and Jamie portrays him well, including a scene where he is taking part in a historical reenactment at Rochester Castle. When Jean told Jamie he wanted him to play Bingo, Jamie originally was against the idea. “No, he's massive.” However, Jamie tells me that Jean thought, “It'll be funny because you are quite scrawny.” Jamie says that he and his cousin are more like siblings, and they often fell out a lot during pre-production. This resulted in the script being overly developed, going through “hundreds of iterations,” leading to tonal shifts and imbalances within the final film. However, Jamie did like the attention to detail. “I was visiting the set, I think it was second day they were shooting, and I thought, ‘Wow, they've got the CDs right, they've got the PlayStation games right.’” Outside of writing and co-starring in this film, Jamie has worked with visual effects in films and recently has worked on a show for NBC in the US. “I made dinosaurs, which was hilarious. I don't know how much I'm allowed to say because the show hasn't come out yet.” Jean also works in visual effects, including on Doctor Who and the Harry Potter films. “He's always wanted to direct.” Jamie tells me about Jean, “and he was making a few short films.” Jamie had been writing for some time and had a set of short stories about Medway published called Dead Birds and Dodgy Geezers in the 90s. Jamie’s family moved to Medway from Ireland in the 1960s and it was Jean who encouraged Jamie to write the feature script. They decided to make the film in true DIY style. “It's a family movie. My old man's in it, my mum's in it, my aunt, everyone, the whole family.” Originally the story was called ‘My Ass and Other Secrets.’ “I wrote it pretty much straight after I'd had the short stories published in the mid-90s, and I had some interest from publishers,” but then Jamie went to America and did no more with the novel. “Jean-Claude was constantly going to me, ‘Send it to me, I want to see if we can do it.’” Jamie found the adaptation process difficult, with elements he thought essential being cut. “We didn’t want it to be a long film, around 90 minutes.” Jamie started writing the script in 2002 and worked on it for about ten years. “We argued, essentially, until we went into pre-production. I think we fell out again afterwards because I didn't really like the distributors he was talking to out in LA.” The film was made without financing. “We had a book called ‘The Guerilla Filmmakers Handbook,’” an essential guide to low-budget filmmaking. Jamie is also friends with Mark Price, who made the ultra-low budget Zombie film ‘Colin,’ who provided insights and support. The film also has an original soundtrack written and performed by Medway’s Len Price 3\. “We'd had a holding soundtrack. As soon as we started looking into how much it cost to license all this stuff, it became massively self-evident that that weren't going to be able.” Jamie went to the Tap ‘n’ Tin. “I'd seen the Len Price 3 play there and was blown away by them,” so Jamie contacted them. “I really liked what Glenn did with little vignettes, they sort of fitted in with the way the story was written”. They took a rough cut of the film to [Jim Riley](https://www.localauthority.news/digital-hasnt-surpassed-analogue/)’s Ranscombe Studios and did a live recording of the soundtrack whilst the film played on a big screen. During the many iterations of the film script, various plot details were suggested and changed. In the final version, Eddie’s girlfriend and a work colleague are kidnapped by drug dealers when she won’t reveal the location of drugs they think she has. “There was one point where you go sort of mad with the changes,” including “let's not have drugs in it” to “let's make it about a stolen painting” and then “it becomes awful.” A low-budget trap they tripped up on was filming without permission on the London Underground, leading the film to not be released for a long time. “We'd not covered up or replaced any brand logos. We had to do a lot of paintouts. I had to send some really manipulative emails to TfL to try and keep those scenes in, but we got away with it.” Jamie estimates they spent around £2,000 on the film, obtained from family and friends. Jamie cycles between thinking the film is “a glorified home movie because it is family and is shot by us on the hoof at whatever location we get” and recognising that “it's more than that because it did involve hundreds of people who gave their time out of the kindness of their heart.” As noted earlier, there are tonal changes from outright comedy to dark violence, including violence to a female character, which can be difficult to watch. “I think you can blame me on that. I wanted to make them *(the drug dealers)* more terrifying. I'd been reading a lot of Irvine Welsh.” Jamie admits “it goes all over the place,” though that is not always a result of the script changes. “That was kind of deliberate”. It also represents the cast and crew becoming confident with the material with ‘Nil by Mouth’ moments and pieces of levity. “But because it's not shot linear, it drops about a bit. I think we were happy with that. I think we liked the idea because it's about boozing.” In the original script, the story is a lot darker as the story goes “quite horribly wrong very quickly.” They organised a low-budget tour of the film in 2015, including at Sun Pier House, where they would screen the film, followed by the Len Price 3 performing songs from the film. “That was how we were promoting it, and that was a really good time”. The film then struggled for years, unable to find distribution. The version that is available now is not the film they toured with. “The guys in LA recut it. Why did they change that? That's unnecessary. But by that point, I kind of washed my hands of it.” Jamie admits, “I wrote the manuscript for it mid to late 90s. Now they could play it backwards for all I care.” I ask Jamie if he minds talking about the film again after all this time. “It's lovely to talk about it again. It's good memories and stuff. It was our work.” *You can watch Pubmonkey via* [*Amazon Prime Video*](https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/0L3WTMIN0Z650KAP5N3V0X8C2K?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Affordable creative resources at the Zigzag Scrap Store *The* [*Zigzag Scrap Store*](https://zigzagscrapstore.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a new initiative at* [*Intra Arts*](https://intraarts.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *in Rochester. We caught up with the CIC’s directors,* [*Xtina Lamb*](https://www.localauthority.news/it-feels-like-you-can-in-medway/) *and Alison Patman, to find out about it…* The Zigzag Scrap Store CIC is a creative reuse scheme, part of a network of 120 scrap stores in the UK. “We take surplus items, offcuts, clean waste and offer it up as materials for creative activities, play and DIY,” says Xtina. It's a membership scheme, and they have levels depending on how many people are being collected for. “Usually, it's an annual payment, but there's also a pay as you go option.” The idea is that they provide affordable access to people to the materials and make connections between people in different schemes, like “environmental and creative schemes locally.” There are environmental benefits from materials not going to landfill and materials not being bought new. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_qtu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f12001757-d730-4e28-900f-50f3dc09cd6a_1024x536.jpg) Xtina Lamb and Alison Patman are two of three directors of the new organisation, along with Paivi Seppala. Xtina is mostly responsible for “back-end stuff, including memberships and marketing. I’ve also been working on the website.” Launched last year, a lot of time has been spent establishing policies and how the store will work. Alison is on the shop floor most of the time, acting as “front of house when Xtina's not. We share the roles. It's quite nice to catch up and work with each other.” “It's just a wonderful project to be part of,” says Alison. “It's really nice to see people come in. They're not sure what they want to do, then they see stuff in front of them, and they want to go away and create amazing creative projects”. Alison met Paivi at the Salute to the 40s event at Chatham Historic Dockyard and asked if there was a way to work with her and Xtina. She started by volunteering with Xtina and Medway Fine Printmakers. “Together we had taken on this project,” says Xtina. “It was a little seed of an idea, but I couldn't have done it on my own.” They did a feasibility study as part of UK Shared Prosperity Fund scheme at the end of 2023 and then got a grant to help develop the idea and make it happen. “In the meantime, we had a basement full of stuff accumulating,” says Xtina. “We did a preliminary event in Medway Open Studios in the summer last year.” They then had open days in December before officially launching in January. They are donated the materials from a mixture of commercial sources. “There's an upholstery place on Medway City Estate who have been giving us 10 or 20 bags at a time, full of offcuts”. There is a Gravesend business that has provided them with “beautiful artist-prepped plywood.” Where a commercial company has items that would otherwise go to landfill, a good solution is to donate to the scrap store. “Really high on our priorities is finding more sources.” They have also received items from hobbyists who have passed away or given up the hobby. It can be random, with donations including “eight bin bags of Airfix kits.” The scrap store is in the basement of Intra Arts, a large open space full of material. To become a member, you can walk in and declare your interest, or you can [sign up online](https://zigzagscrapstore.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Membership starts at £40 a year for hobbyists, with rates also available for families and groups and a pay as you go option. You can find full details of opening hours on [their website](https://zigzagscrapstore.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Spinout Nuggets take over Analogue Music *DJ Lee Grimshaw owner of the* [*Spinout Nuggets*](https://www.spinoutproductions.com/shop/?ref=localauthority.news) *record label, is taking over Analogue Music on Saturday with his brother Dave Grimshaw. We spoke to Lee to find out more…* Spinout Nuggets is a physical record label providing “the records you didn’t know you needed.” This includes a wide range of Medway-created music, “including our very first release back in February 2018 ([Sergeants Mess](https://www.spinoutproductions.com/shop/sergeants-mess-well-thats-another-fine-mess-7/?ref=localauthority.news)).” Lee now lives in Cornwall but is originally from Gillingham, moving away thirty years ago. Despite this, he returns to the southeast “most weekends for the last several years for musical happenings.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!YhKA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe5f446e3-d772-46bc-81ec-eeceaf7cacda_2048x1365.jpg) On Saturday, Lee and his brother Dave will be playing records at Analogue Music in Rochester. “We both started DJing when we were still in Medway, around the late 80s, even playing on Medway Dance FM. Who remembers that?” Spinout has put on many gigs in the area, including four sold out nights for The Prisoners’ 40th anniversary at the Royal Function Rooms, “a venue much missed.” Lee is coming to Analogue Music because “Alistair and Hannah have supported the label and local music since they opened the shop, and they’re nice people too.” He tells me that they have a great selection of records in stock, and “there’s not many visits that I walk out empty handed”. He thought it would be nice to give something back, “making some noise for the day.” Saturday will be a social event as well as a thank you to Alistair and Hannah. Lee and Dave have DJ’ed at various events, “mostly Mod-orientated, we’ll be playing selected records from our collections, mostly 45s, and a good batch of offerings from Spinout Nuggets too.” Lee lists music that has influenced the sounds that Spinout promotes, including 50s/60s R&B, Hammond Jazz, indiepop, Northern Soul, 60s Garage, Mod Garage, Instrumental Madness and “the sounds of Medway, of course.” The event is free to attend. “It’s a mighty fine record shop, and will only cost the price of a fine record should people see something they like, which I’m sure they will.” Everyone is welcome to visit the shop from noon until 4pm on Saturday, browse the shop’s fine selection of vinyl records and purchase something by artists from Spinout Nuggets. “We'll play one of your records if you do.” --- #### Out for Dinner: Hollywood Bowl in Gillingham Continuing my occasional series where I hunt for good ribs, I looked online and remembered having a particular dish at the Hollywood Bowl. This is how I ended up at the Hollywood Bowl on Gillingham High Street, not the bowling alley in Medway Valley Park. It is a large, light, and friendly venue, but not like I remembered at all. I had come here because I knew they served ‘A Real Dog’s Dinner.’ It is chunks of steak, chicken and mushrooms on skewers, a full rack of BBQ ribs, and two sausages. Served in a genuine dog bowl, just because, all for a princely sum. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2n0E!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff6072d62-471b-455a-83f5-20ec4d3efff6_1456x762.jpg) I sat looking forward to the meal, with fond memories of having this meal in the past. When I saw it, it was exactly as I remembered. The chips were crispy, the sausages were thick, and the skewers were well portioned. The salad was rubbish, but you can’t have everything. That left me with the ribs, and they were cold, which made the fat gristly and the whole thing unappealing. I was the only person in the restaurant. I would have happily waited for good ribs. For now, I continue to wait for them. If you know anywhere that actually serves good ribs in Medway, please let me know. --- #### Events this week 🎸 Sat 7 Jun - [**Theatre Royal album launch**](https://wegottickets.com/event/654265?ref=localauthority.news) // Medway jangle poppers launch their new album A Change of Weather. LV21, Chatham. Tickets £10. 🕰️ Sun 8 Jun - [**Medway Vintage, Antiques and Collectables Fair**](https://www.medwayauctions.co.uk/medway-vintage-fair?ref=localauthority.news) // Stalls selling antiques, vintage clothing, interiors, vinyl, and lots more. Chatham Historic Dockyard. Entrance £2, free after noon. --- #### More Authority Earlier this week, our columnist [Zahra Barri wrote about the time she spent volunteering with Medway Little Theatre](https://www.localauthority.news/volunteer-medway-at-the-medway-little/), Rochester’s long-standing amateur dramatics venue. [Volunteer Medway at the Medway Little Theatre Medway Little Theatre is far from little. It’s big in both philosophy and physique. When the director of the Nobel prizewinning Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of An Anarchist (which was on last month and wonderfully reviewed by Local Authority), Chris Parnell, shows me around, I marvel at its many nooks and crannies. From the outside, nestled between the Nag’s Head pub and Rochester Independent College, it looks hardly big enough to swing a cat on a hot tin roof (sorry), but remarkably, this Dickensian building houses a 100-seat auditorium!![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityZahra Barri![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f66bc2482-71dc-4534-9980-a7409f66a8e1_1360x763.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/volunteer-medway-at-the-medway-little/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) Over on our sister Kent Current title, [we looked at a wild week](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/musk-style-politics-comes-to-kent?ref=localauthority.news) where Elon Musk style politics came to Kent before disintegrating just as quickly. At the same time, normal democratic functions across the county are being pushed to the wayside. [Musk style politics comes to KentIt’s a lazy cliche to say that a week is a long time in politics, but it’s possibly never been more true than the past week of shenanigans at County Hall. We have the details of a wild week that saw Reform ‘auditors’ arrive at KCC on Monday and the team falling apart by Thursday. Meanwhile, some of the most basic democratic functions aren’t getting done…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8d4a4c7f-19fc-4e7c-87d7-4ed0b87571a5_567x567.png)Kent Current](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/musk-style-politics-comes-to-kent?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Volunteer Medway at the Medway Little Theatre URL: https://www.localauthority.news/volunteer-medway-at-the-medway-little/ Last updated: 2025-06-05T09:45:36.000Z [Medway Little Theatre](https://www.mlt.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is far from little. It’s big in both philosophy and physique. When the director of the Nobel prizewinning Dario Fo’s *Accidental Death of An Anarchist* (which was on last month and [wonderfully reviewed by ](https://www.localauthority.news/i/159246218/accidental-death-of-an-anarchist-at-the-medway-little-theatre)[*Local Authority*](https://www.localauthority.news/i/159246218/accidental-death-of-an-anarchist-at-the-medway-little-theatre)), Chris Parnell, shows me around, I marvel at its many nooks and crannies. From the outside, nestled between the Nag’s Head pub and Rochester Independent College, it looks hardly big enough to swing a cat on a hot tin roof (sorry), but remarkably, this Dickensian building houses a 100-seat auditorium! ![Photo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!PRvE!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f66bc2482-71dc-4534-9980-a7409f66a8e1_1360x763.jpg) Medway Little Theatre. It is also equipped with a fully working and licenced bar, large dressing room with the iconic diva spotlights around the mirrors, a comically staged (centre) trap door for flamboyantly theatrical entrances and exits, a spacious attic that both *Cash in the Attic* and *Sort Your Life Out’s* Stacey Solomon would have a field day in, positively hoarded with costumes, props and various theatrical accruements and knick-knacks culminated over the years, a winding corridor decorated with past production pics dating back umpteen prime ministers ago, kitchen facilities, cast and crew toilets which you can’t flush while show is on (!), separate audience toilets, and a rehearsal room! Not to sound too much like an estate agent, but to say this place is deceptively spacious is not an exaggeration! “Hardly little at all!” I say as Chris points at himself twenty years ago in an old photo in the corridor. He’s in what looks like an Alan Ayckbourn play, donning a Tom Selleck moustache. Further down the corridor, we see that the theatre has staged both the great comedies and the great tragedies and everything in between, from Alan Bennet to Willy Russell to Checkhov to Shakespeare. And now the satirical, critically acclaimed Dario Fo’s *Accidental Death of An Anarchist*. Eager to show off my acting chops, I tell Chris proudly I played Alan Steadman’s character in *Abigail’s Party* and Martha in *Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?* during my university acting degree at Bretton Hall. It might not have been RADA as I had planned, but it does brag an alumnus of Kay Mellor and *The League of Gentlemen*, perhaps one of the reasons my acting passions metamorphosised into writing and comedy passions. I also tell him I was cast as the Maniac in Fo’s *Accidental Death* at college, and Chris is keen for me to meet his own Maniac, the talented Mike Dickenson, to compare experience of this iconic role. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Nightingales may face a fresh battle URL: https://www.localauthority.news/nightingales-may-face-a-fresh-battle/ Last updated: 2025-06-03T22:40:14.000Z *Could Lodge Hill and its infamous nightingale population once again be facing development? The Guardian believes it could well be under the government’s new Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which looks set to loosen environmental protections. Further down, we look at how the new system for public questions at Medway Council meetings went on its first go, ask why Station Road in Strood needs to keep closing for ‘emergency gas works,’ and, of course, we have our usual news in brief section. Let’s get to it.* --- #### Nightingales may face a fresh battle Long-time readers of *Local Authority* will know that planning arguments are a familiar part of Medway’s political discourse. While off the radar for several years, few locations have been quite as dramatic as Lodge Hill, a woodland and former military site on the Hoo Peninsula that swung from a key development site to a protected nature area. Now, there is a chance that things are swinging back the other way again. Lodge Hill is known for its mix of woodland, open land, traces of military history, and its population of nightingales. It is the last point that led to the site becoming a Site of Special Scientific Interest (Site of Special Scientific Interest) in 2013, which, in theory, gave it firm legal protection from development. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6cxg!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fef2ad327-d4a8-4d83-8fbc-d7664d4ed502_2460x1288.jpg) A nightingale. What a guy. The reality was slightly different. A year later, Lodge Hill was the focus of plans for a major new housing estate, with proposals for around 5,000 homes, even after the area was designated as an SSSI. The plan was dropped following opposition and much debate. Since then, the site has stayed out of the planning process, with no further proposals coming forward. This week, a [Guardian investigation revealed](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/03/revealed-5000-english-nature-sites-at-risk-under-labours-planning-proposals?ref=localauthority.news) that 5,000 nature sites are at risk under planning reforms the government is currently moving through Parliament. Planning reform is long overdue, and there will inevitably be winners and losers from whatever comes of it. However, it is stark that the Guardian highlights Lodge Hill as one of [ten sites nationwide that are at particular risk](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/03/ten-jewels-of-english-nature-at-risk-from-development-and-labours-planning-bill?ref=localauthority.news) from the changes that could allow developers to pay into a “nature restoration fund” in some circumstances rather than having to meet the current requirements that protect SSSIs. They argue that despite the nightingales, reptiles, bats, owls, and rare butterflies that call the site home, the area’s past military use will see it designated as brownfield and thus more available for potential development. This does mean there are any immediate plans for Lodge Hill on the horizon. The [Planning and Infrastructure Bill](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-planning-and-infrastructure-bill/guide-to-the-planning-and-infrastructure-bill?ref=localauthority.news) will take some time to get through Parliament, and then any new plans will have to be developed and submitted. The woodland and its wildlife remain as they were, and surveyors have not disturbed the nightingales. Still, the Guardian’s decision to highlight Lodge Hill in its list of at-risk sites will inevitably bring renewed attention to the site. What happens in the coming months in Parliament may affect what is possible at Lodge Hill, but for now, the site remains as it is. How much longer that remains the case, though, remains to be seen. --- *Have a Medway story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### New model of public questions seems okay For the last two years, Medway Council has tried refining democratic processes to make meetings run more smoothly and not last five or six hours at a time. While these haven’t always been successful (see the last full council meeting and its motion bonanza), some changes, like the return of supplementary questions for the public, have seemed like positive steps. We can’t deny that we were somewhat sceptical of one of the more recent ideas: Moving the vast majority of public questions away from full council and to cabinet meetings. There is a logic in this. Cabinet meets far more often than full council, meaning questioners can get more timely answers. But it also felt like there is more of an event around full council, where the questioner could ask questions in front of a much larger group of councillors and onlookers. Today was the first Cabinet meeting under the new regime, and at first glance, the new system seems to work fairly well. Only three public questioners submitted questions, but each was answered directly. Whether or not the questioners like their answers is another matter, but the approach felt more informal and less combative than we often see at full council, perhaps partly because the questioner and the councillor answering now face each other directly during the process. It wasn’t all perfect. Technical issues with the microphones kept cropping up and the acoustics of the St. George’s Centre again hindered things, but that is normal for all meetings there and why Medway Council needs to get on and finish their new council chamber. It was also unfortunate that no opposition councillors submitted any questions to the Cabinet for this meeting, as if this is the new route to scrutinising the administration, it helps if you actually turn up and scrutinise. Overall though, from this one example, it feels like this could be a feasible new way of doing things: You can watch the Cabinet meeting below, with the public questions section starting around six minutes in: --- #### Why does Station Road keep closing? If you’ve driven through Strood more than a couple of times in the past year, there’s a good chance you’ve been caught up in traffic clogging up the town centre. Station Road has been repeatedly closed for days/weeks at a time over the past year, usually under the banner of ‘emergency gas works.’ The most recent closure began on 27 May and was initially scheduled to last until today (3 Jun), but the work permit has now been extended another week (until 10 Jun). Clearly, something is very wrong around the Station Road area if ‘emergency gas works’ require constant road closures for up to weeks at a time by Southern Gas Networks (SGN), the company that deals with such issues. Details of road closures are supposed to be fed into the One Network map. While the [closure is acknowledged](https://one.network/?GB143618090&ref=localauthority.news), One Network pointedly highlights that ‘Works Descriptions are not published by SGN.’ SGN’s own website is supposed to [display information about emergency works](https://www.sgn.co.uk/our-gas-works/roadworks-your-area?ref=localauthority.news). Despite this, the totality of what they have on Station Road is, ‘Our engineers have been investigating a reported gas leak on Station Road, Strood.’ Perhaps less reassuringly, they also say, ‘It’s too early to say how long this work will take to complete at this stage.’ So, following a full week of closure on a major route, they are no closer to finding this potential leak, let alone resolving it or stopping it from happening every few months. We asked SGN what was going on, and while they said they would endeavour to get us a comment today, none has arrived. Similarly, we asked Medway Council if they knew what was going on, and no response has been forthcoming. So it looks as if we are destined to have the Station Road closures with us for a while longer. Maybe, if we’re lucky, we might actually have an explanation for what is so wrong with the gas network there, but we won’t be holding our breath. --- #### In brief 🥂 A new restaurant in Strood will be [allowed to sell alcohol until 1am on weekends and 11pm on weekdays](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=34626&ref=localauthority.news) despite being within a Cumulative Impact Area. Oceanic Eats X Amala Buka was granted a licence by Medway Council’s Licensing Hearing Panel, who didn’t feel it was safe to let Tesco sell alcohol at any time of the day in Rochester. 🏥 Medway Maritime Hospital is set to receive [£4.8m from the government to repair and upgrade facilities](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/ageing-hospital-to-receive-4-8m-for-repairs-and-upgrades-325163/?ref=localauthority.news). The money will be spent on installing better ventilation systems, repairing machinery, and replacing the nurse call system. 🗑️ Medway Council’s [subscription service for additional garden waste bins](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200132/waste%5Fand%5Frecycling/1929/garden%5Fwaste%5Fsubscription%5Fservice?ref=localauthority.news) launched this week. Every household will still have one brown bin emptied every week free of charge, but any additional bins now cost £40 per year. 🦷 Eastgate Dental Practice is proposing a [move into the former Lloyds bank building on Rochester High Street](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/former-kent-lloyds-bank-branch-10229604?ref=localauthority.news). The plans also include converting the upper floors into six flats. 🧑‍⚖️ A developer is [appealing a Medway Council planning committee decision](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/appeal-launched-against-refusal-of-26-flats-on-former-quarry-325020/?ref=localauthority.news) to reject plans for 26 flats in Strood. The planning committee decided against officer recommendations, and without a Local Plan or housing supply in place, risking Medway Council paying legal costs should the developer win. 🏳️‍🌈 [Medway Council has applied for planning permission from Medway Council](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SX4X88KNJCO00&ref=localauthority.news) to flag the Progress Pride flag, D-Day anniversary flag, Windrush Day flag, Disability Pride flag, and Transgender flag on Medway Council’s Gun Wharf headquarters. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, [Steven sat down with Stuart Tranter, former Conservative councillor for Rochester West](https://www.localauthority.news/i-tend-to-do-things-because-they/). They discuss local government reorganisation, what happened to the Conservatives in Medway, and how local councils should operate. [“I tend to do things because they intrigue me”Following the 2023 local elections, Steven sat down for tea and a chat with former Rochester West councillor Stuart Tranter to get his thoughts and insights on what happened to the local Conservatives and his own seat. They ended up having an interesting conversation about the future of local government and ‘super-unitaries,’ but being the poor journalist that he is, Steven did not record or report on this conversation. So, Steven met with Stuart again to hear about his thoughts on the future of local government. Again, being a poor journalist, Stuart had started talking before Steven started recording…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f502436ed-7a5f-4f28-9ca6-22b48d93d06b_1080x1080.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-tend-to-do-things-because-they/) We’ve had a couple of features over on our sister [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) title that might interest *Local Authority* readers, too. On Saturday, we [interviewed Sexton Ming](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/people-creating-inspires-me-to-create?ref=localauthority.news), one of the founders of the Medway Poets alongside Billy Childish, about his varied career. Today, we looked at some of the more [curious place names in Kent](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/between-ham-and-sandwich?ref=localauthority.news) in a gentle exploration of our county. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Young and Cool by Woahnows*](https://woahnows.bandcamp.com/album/young-and-cool?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Blisters in the Pit of My Heart by Martha*](https://marthadiy.bandcamp.com/album/blisters-in-the-pit-of-my-heart?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Crunch by Eureka California*](https://eurekacalifornia.bandcamp.com/album/crunch?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “I tend to do things because they intrigue me” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-tend-to-do-things-because-they/ Last updated: 2025-06-01T06:00:54.000Z *Following the 2023 local elections, Steven sat down for tea and a chat with former Rochester West councillor Stuart Tranter to get his thoughts and insights on what happened to the local Conservatives and his own seat. They ended up having an interesting conversation about the future of local government and ‘super-unitaries,’ but being the poor journalist that he is, Steven did not record or report on this conversation. So, Steven met with Stuart again to hear about his thoughts on the future of local government. Again, being a poor journalist, Stuart had started talking before Steven started recording…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!y-iK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f502436ed-7a5f-4f28-9ca6-22b48d93d06b_1080x1080.jpg) Stuart Tranter **Go back a minute and go again. What you were saying with super unitaries…** With rethinking the local authority model. All I'm going to say is not political, by the way. This is completely non-political because I actually come from a fairly non-political, some would say centrist, I suppose that means an average place to be on some issues. I tend to be fairly left-wing in thinking and, on other issues, very right-wing. I joined the Conservatives and so on. But I am still who I am. I can get things wrong as much as anybody. But I genuinely, like most people in this game, care about my local area, and I genuinely want it to do well, and I want people to do well, both individually and collectively. That sounds corny, but that's actually how it is for me and most other politicians. I came into this not from any particular political style. I live in Rochester, so this is my little patch if you like. I started from wondering, could I see the potential for Rochester? But my business mind, looks at potential for businesses and could we be doing better than we are? What are the problems? What are the opportunities and so forth? I started to think about that for Rochester. Eventually, due to a whole bunch of circumstances, I ended up joining a party and being elected because I thought, since I was struggling to get the local authorities to do something, if you can't beat them, join them. Let's see if I can. I have achieved a little bit more there, which hopefully, that's what anyone joins to do, to try and make some progress in different areas. When I go back in time throughout my life, I realise, like most people, and probably unlike you Steven, I think you're exceptional, most people do not really understand how our local authority works, how it functions. A lot of people will know the basics, the obvious services that they enjoy. They are certainly less likely to understand the finances. In fact, they'll pay a local tax, but they won't realise that that's not the only money the council gets. Again, I don't know how much people are expected to understand about these things, but it would be fairly vague. Only those people that are benefiting from social services will understand that the local authorities are very much involved in that side of things. But then you've got three layers of local authority, up to three layers, the parish level, the district level and of course the county level, and then you have this amazing unitary type of thing which… Well, it takes two out of the three. It doesn't encompass the parish level. I can see people are confused, but also, I wanted to look at it from the other side the perspective. If you're in government and no government in history has ever had enough money to do everything they want to do, why would they look at a local authority as wise use of their money? Might look at it as a necessity, an organisation which is dealing with local matters such as planning and roads and so on and so forth, but someone's got to do it, and they're getting on with it and making it happen. The other big area of opportunity for a local authority I've always felt is economic growth, and that's usually pretty high up the agenda of any sensible government. Certainly, the Labour government are proclaiming that at the moment and of course, the Conservatives have always proclaimed that as well and rightly so, because unless you're making money as a country and earning a great deal of money, then you don't have the money to do all the other things, the health services and everything else that everybody craves for and wants and believes are important. And, of course, we might add to that list now defence, which is very much a topic of conversation. If you're hard pushed looking at where you spend your money, successive governments have always been a bit unsure about local government. Why is that? Well, having now spent 10 years on the inside of that, and I don't mean this to demean the strengths of colleagues of any political party locally, you could take 59 people off the streets of Medway at random and make them councillors. Because when I met various councillors during that time, I met some people that were very bright for all parties, I got on very well with, I liked a lot, others you look at them, and I don't mean to be unkind, but I thought, ‘Well, what are you doing here? Do you even know what's going on around you? Do you understand?’ I struggled, and not to say they're a bad person, and of course, within that mix, there'd be some, are they there for selfish reasons? On the whole, I don't think councillors are, in my experience. I think they're generally quite good. I concluded, and it was a very objective conclusion, the standard of thinking is not very high in this place, if I could put it like that. When I look at officers they have to manage within the law. People forget how constrained officers are, and I mean from the very top down. They have to ensure that local authorities run properly, effectively, that it does produce a balanced budget, which it's legally required to do. From my background, I've met people who have the most amazing economic development minds, having worked both as a consultant and senior manager in businesses, dealing with those issues. I didn't very often spot that in the local authority. People that think in that way tend not to, on the whole, choose a career in local authorities. That's not to, again, run down anyone who's chosen that career because I think it's a great place to work, and we need people there. They’re not necessarily the entrepreneurial minds. There will be exceptions, but on the whole, the blob, if you like, is not in that place. So when you see that in the extremes, where you see planners trying to deal with developers, they're like the two extremes, developers are people who often put their own money in, or they're under huge pressures to make something a success and planners are geared up rightly to follow a set of rules, and I could see that never the twain shall meet. Very rarely is there a meeting of minds. There's an uneasy truce that goes on, and they somehow try to make things work and these frustrations arise. The whole system isn't geared up. Surely, we need to get better people in there. We need to rethink the way it works because I believe if government looked at a local authority, in fact, these are the people that understand the economic opportunities in that area because they know the skills of the people, they know the transport systems better than anyone else, they all know what businesses currently do well here, what historically have done well, they'll know their educational systems, they should be able to pull those things together to really leverage the advantages of an area. But that requires a deeper level of thinking than just plucking someone off the streets and then putting them in charge. **What did you think of the plans for devolution?** I think it's better than the current system because it's a simplification. My worry would be that we're still left with a whole large bunch of councillors. A lot of things councillors do, frankly, a good officer could do. It didn't require an elected person to be doing some of these things or to help somebody with a personal issue. Then we've got one person at the top who has a super brain approach to the strategy for the area, and they have to deal with this huge organisation, much bigger than it is even now. Medway was frankly big enough for anyone to deal with, for the leader of the council to deal with the complexities of Medway or the chief exec. I take my hat off to them. There is a lot to think about, huge numbers of pressures, and it isn't easy. To my mind, I would rather have far fewer councillors but ensure that they were paid in a way that was commensurate with the job and probably closer to an MP remuneration. I'm not saying it needs to be that. I'm perfectly open to discuss what would be appropriate. If you're spending 40 hours a week doing it, either you're very rich and you don't need the money or... I just don't understand how people can really give it the attention it needs. Have people with a track record of economic development maybe social services, maybe health, the big areas, that are needed and have a far smaller number of councillors. Which might equate roughly to a board. More like a directly elected cabinet. Now, I'm not pretending this is thought through in detail. I'm not saying there aren't problems with it. It's still equally democratic because voters can throw people out if they don't deliver. If we had a cabinet of real high calibre people, they'd need to be earning a liveable wage if they've got a family, and they could be out in their ear in four or five years’ time. During that period, they've got to be able to sustain themselves. They've got to give all of their time and energy to that job. They will be there, somebody having real expertise in their field, expectations will be higher, hopefully, working with an elected mayor, they will be able to focus on the true economic value of an area and also the services and the issues that it faces as well so that you can maximise the opportunities for an area. **Having spent time on a number of elections, can the electorate be trusted in a democratic way to vote for the best person for the job?** Well, we'd be selecting fewer people. All parties struggle to find good candidates. All parties will say our candidate is the best one. Of course, they're going to say that, aren't they? But I know behind the scenes, it's really hard. If a party I'm not a member of is saying, ‘We had loads to choose from,’ I'd be even more worried. Really? You chose these? Or at least some of them. Some are good, don't get me wrong. It's the randomness of 59 people. There will be a few highfliers in there. **Can the public be trusted?** That is democracy. We have to do our job. We can think of ten really good people, I hope. Often when somebody criticises me, which happens, I would say, ‘Well, the problem is that you didn't stand, I did. We couldn't choose you, you're obviously better than me.’ Of course people don't stand for a whole bunch of personal and other reasons, but hopefully, more people would come forward, and it becomes a virtuous circle. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Challenge travels from Medway to Dunkirk URL: https://www.localauthority.news/challenge-travels-from-medway-to/ Last updated: 2025-05-30T21:20:50.000Z *A recent addition to the River Medway has been the tugboat Challenge, which can be found moored near Sun Pier. The nearly 100-year-old vessel was one of the Dunkirk little ships and recently made the journey across the Channel to mark the event. We’ve been finding out more about the ship and the event. Further down, we talk to an author who has made a stage show out of being kind, hear new music from Medway band Dead Blood Cells, review food from Stacks, and lots more.* --- #### Challenge travels from the River Medway to Dunkirk *Challenge is a tugboat usually found anchored in its new home on the River Medway. Steven caught up with Edward Ions, chairman of the Steamboat Trust, who was on board The Challenge as it returned to Dunkirk for an 85th anniversary event to mark the Little Ships evacuation in 1940.* ![No photo description available.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!m7nD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3d08a419-60b0-44af-b425-6fd501d18c17_2048x1231.jpg) The Challenge is a 108-foot steam tug built in 1931 “as the most powerful tug to go onto the Thames,” says Edward, “and she was the last working steam tug on the Thames”. She is also a Dunkirk little ship, a fleet of civilian vessels that travelled across the Channel to help with the evacuation from Dunkirk. This ranged from small Thames boats all the way up to tugboats like Challenge or paddle steamers like the Medway Queen. Edward is one of the volunteers, as well as the historian for the [Steam Boat Trust](https://www.thesteamboattrust.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and the interim chairman. As I speak to him, Challenge is sitting in the Bassin de Commerce in Dunkirk as part of the 85th commemoration of the evacuation. When they will return is uncertain “due to weather,” but Challenge has made it’s way back to Medway in the days since. Challenge had been living in Southampton prior to the River Medway when she was bought by current owner and founder of the Steam Boat Trust, Chris Bannister. “Two years after Chris took her over, Southampton asked us to leave because they wanted to use the berth we were occupying, and we were invited up to the Medway by a towage company that said we could live on their buoys.” Since then, Challenge has usually been found moored mid-river near Sun Pier. Challenge no longer tows for a living, finishing her towing career in 1974 when she left service. The Steam Boat Trust was established last year to help Chris with managing the boat. I ask Edward if he could speak for Chris on why he bought Challenge. “Why did he buy it? Now that's a question. I think it's because he's insane. Basically, he bought Challenge because he loves steam.” Chris has previous experience with traction engines, and “he wanted to have himself a steamship.” Chris wants to preserve Challenge because “he loves all the old steam engineering, and he's done a fantastic job since.” Chris had been single-handedly funding maintaining the boat “through his own hard efforts and his own working.” Ed and others wanted to be able to help support him when they could, and this led to the setting up of the Steam Boat Trust. “I started volunteering about four years ago,” says Edward. “I saw that she was being active and looked after by someone new and I messaged and asked, ‘Can I come and volunteer?’” Edward lived nearby when Challenge was in Southampton but, alongside other volunteers, is having to commute now that she is in the Medway. They have new volunteers from Medway, and the overall team is “quite a nationwide group,” from North Yorkshire to Hampshire. “We'll come down when we've got the time to do working weekends.” They have an [active GoFundMe](https://www.gofundme.com/f/steam-tug-challenge-get-to-dunkirk?ref=localauthority.news), which was initially set up specifically for the Dunkirk trip, and this will develop into a permanent fundraiser. This is to cover “her repairs and her running costs.” There's a lot that needs working on. For example, “We would really like to be able to bring her out of the water for a period of time and do a lot of work on where there are thinning hull plates.” There's a lot of mechanical work to completely overhaul the triple expansion steam engine, which they have spent a lot of time on but has a lot of expensive parts. Challenge is also expensive to keep running, costing around £850 an hour to run due to her fuel and oil consumption, “because you've got to have fuel to run the boiler, and we need oil to lubricate the engine. Fuel is always expensive, but lubrication oil has become even more expensive over the last four years.” It is perhaps all the more impressive that Challenge was able to get to Dunkirk under her own steam. Ahem. Edward is happy to report that despite a slight delay, they steamed out of Ramsgate and caught up with the fleet travelling to Dunkirk. At Dunkirk, members of the crew attended a ceremony at the Commonwealth War Graves as well as taking part in other activities. “We're here with all the other little ships for people to come and look at. We'll probably be open for people to come on board and have a look around if they wish.” This is a proposition that sadly is not possible when she returns to Medway. “Because we're mid-river in Medway, it makes it very hard for people to get on board.” Challenge will be taking part in estuary events over the summer so there will be opportunities to see her in action. “Basically, that's us escorting the paddle steamer Wavily up the Medway.” --- #### In brief 🪦 Seven men have been arrested following the [theft of two World War One plaques from a Kent war memorial in Luton](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyqk8v8pn5o?ref=localauthority.news#:~:text=Seven%20men%20have%20been%20arrested,and%2010%3A00%20on%20Saturday.). 🏧 [Rainham will receive a Banking Hub](https://www.instagram.com/p/DKMVKCUIYCp/?img%5Findex=1&ref=localauthority.news) following the closure of multiple banks in the town. Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan has campaigned on the issue to ensure that residents in the town can still access banking services. 🌲 [A new National Nature Reserve will take in Ranscombe Farm in Cuxton](https://kentdowns.org.uk/our-projects/nkwd/?ref=localauthority.news). The new North Kent Woods and Downs National Nature Reserve (hopefully they are still workshopping the name) will extend from Shorne Woods down to Wrotham Water. --- #### Acts of Kindness [*Bernadette Russell*](https://www.bernadetterussell.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *is an author, tree planter and kindness campaigner. She will be touring Medway libraries next week with her show, 366 Days of Kindness, so we caught up with her to find out more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!s_so!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4e659181-e87d-4780-971b-fa120546cf36_1443x755.png) 366 Days of Kindness is a show based on Bernadette’s experimenting with what would happen and what might change if she performed an act of kindness for a stranger every single day for a year. “The year I did was a leap year, hence the 366,” she tells me. What acts of kindness are we talking about? For Bernadette, it started quite spontaneously. “I didn't make any plans,” she says, taking the opportunities that presented themselves to her. “If I could help someone carry their suitcase or take a buggy down the stairs or help someone reach a high shelf,” those were simple everyday acts of kindness. Bernadette took the time to leave reviews for local businesses and sponsored people when she could. She also sang Happy Birthday to strangers. “People would nominate people to me,” and on Valentine’s Day, she made 50 Valentine’s cards and ran around London giving them to strangers. Bernadette was inspired to act after the summer of 2011 when “riots broke out in London. They were a response to a protest which was started by the relatives and friends of Mark Duggan. He was a young black man who'd been killed by police.” The riot spread all over London and to Manchester, Bristol and beyond. “They were really alarming,” Bernadette recalls, and she found them depressing. “The response to the riots was horrible as well.” “I'd just been thinking about what I was doing and what difference I might be making to make the world a better place.” Whilst Bernadette was in the post office, a young man didn’t have enough money for his postage, and she helped him. “He kind of smiled, and I thought, ‘That's interesting.’” Bernadette had made a little bit of a difference to him, so she resolved to try doing this every single day. As time went on, she had to consider what she was doing and how she went about it. “I was doing a lot of things that involved money, donating, buying and sponsoring.” Bernadette quickly learned to be careful about that, “not always being about throwing money at things.” There were also days when she was tired and weary. “I was going to approach strangers. That's easier some days than others.” But mostly, she found it was “really lovely to connect with people” and “people responded really well to it.” Bernadette comes from a theatre background. “I'm a theatremaker and a storyteller.” People kept asking her to tell her story, and she found it was easier to make it into a show. Originally a multimedia show that toured theatres, she has since made it a simpler show that can tour village halls and libraries. “I took all the tech out of it, made it a mixture of stand-up and storytelling, and I've just kept doing it.” Bernadette has been “touring this show for ten years now, and I keep thinking, ‘Oh, it'll come to a natural end.’” Instead, she keeps finding people interested in hearing her story. *366 Days of Kindness will be performed at Cuxton, Hoo, Luton, Lordswood, and Hempstead libraries in the coming weeks. You can find out more and book free tickets* [*here*](https://medway.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/EVSESENQ?QRY=EVSCFLG%3A0+%2B+EVSEDTE%3A%22%3E%3D+TODAY%22&QRYTEXT=All+events&SORTS=ESD.SDTE%5DESD.STIM&SEARCH%5FFORM=%2Fcgi-bin%2Fspydus.exe%2FMSGTRN%2FWPAC%2FEVENTS%3FHOMEPRMS%3DEVSESPARAMS&FORM%5FDESC=Events&utm%5Fsource=Facebook&utm%5Fmedium=social&utm%5Fcampaign=Orlo&utm%5Fcontent=Libraries)*. Bernadette’s books, including ‘Conversations on Kindness’ are available through* [*Bookshop.org*](https://uk.bookshop.org/search?keywords=Bernadette+Russell&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### New Medway music: Medwave by Dead Blood Cells **by Stephen Morris** Back in the apocalyptic doom of March 2020, I visited the appropriately menacing looking Fort Horsted and made my way through a dark tunnel to a rehearsal space where I would meet Dead Blood Cells – a darkwave band whose music perfectly captured the jarring, uncertain and rather scary times in which we were all living. Lockdown hit just a couple of days later. The band's music seemed the perfect soundtrack for what was happening in the world. Five years later and the danger may have passed, but Dead Blood Cells’ ominous sounding music remains – now collected together on an album, [*Medwave*](https://deadbloodcells.bandcamp.com/album/medwave?ref=localauthority.news), featuring the band’s new singer Lilith-Auryn FireChild. It is foreboding, intense and full of titles like ‘Neon Demon Queen,’ ‘Silence is So Loud,’ and ‘Minator.’ Track number three, ‘Glüchliche 8,’ may translate as ‘The Happy Ones 8,’ but there is little here amongst the echoing drums and high-speed synths to suggest anything less than the level of anxiety last experienced during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It’s an intoxicating sound – the sort of thing that demands you whack the volume up until your ears bleed. *Medwave* has all the frenetic energy of early outings by The Prodigy and Leftfield, all played out within a setting of industrial noise and pitch-black gothic imagery. Strip away all of the heavy bass, glitches and glorious screeches and the lyrics reveal Dead Blood Cells to be sensitive souls, wrestling with an array of contradictory feelings. ‘Silence is So Loud’ documents a violent ambiguity, the sort of thing you might find in some of Billy Childish’s most self-loathing lyrics: *Hate you so much get away from me* *You disgust me please don’t leave me* *I want you so much it kills me* *I don’t need you no you must hate me.* Elsewhere ‘Let Me Out’ conveys a sense of agonising, claustrophobic imprisonment while, against a backdrop of clanging and squelchy noises, the album’s opening track, ‘Stop Pretending’ confronts the imbalance of power: *As long as you stay scared,* *As long as you stay dumb,* *As long as you look the way they like you to* *you’ll be all right.* *Let’s keep pretending.* Sharing a similar vibe to that found on Diablo Swing Orchestra’s debut – a contrast of soprano vocals with heavy, dark sounds, it drips with righteous fury that is perfect for the times in which it has been released. [*Medwave*](https://deadbloodcells.bandcamp.com/album/medwave?ref=localauthority.news) is a brilliantly crafted album, as smart as it is earth shatteringly noisy. --- #### In for Dinner: Stacks Having failed to find good American BBQ the last time I ordered takeaway, I decided to set the bar lower and see if I could find somewhere that could at least deliver crisp, tasty fries. This ultimately became a decision to order a burger to accompany the fries. I looked on Uber Eats and found [Stacks](https://www.ubereats.com/gb/store/stacks-burgers-rochester/IzQsbgVXQ2euFEThs5Qdsw?ref=localauthority.news), which told me they were both in ‘Cuxtonne’ and Medway Valley Leisure Park’s ‘Frankie & Benny’s’. I ordered a starter of five southern fried strips with BBQ sauce, a bacon double cheeseburger, Cajun fries and a side of beer battered onion rings. The order was a little expensive, but I waited expectantly for it to arrive, and it did fairly promptly. The chicken strips in BBQ sauce were really tasty, the sauce having a good kick and the chicken strips were crispy and generously portioned. Then everything changed. The onion ring was the worst thing I have eaten in the history of these reviews. Slightly cold with undercooked batter. I say onion ring singular because it was so bad that I didn’t try the others. The burger was dull with no real flavour. If anything, it somehow subtracted flavour from me. The Cajun fries, however, were delicious. So perhaps when considering the original aim with my order, Stacks, if anything, overachieved. --- #### Events this week 🤼 Sat 31 May - [**UKPW Get Decked**](https://www.fatsoma.com/e/99dq0ybd/ukpw-live-wrestling-in-chatham-s-historic-dockyard-break-stuff?ref=localauthority.news) // Medway’s biggest-ever professional wrestling event sees local promoters bring action-packed mayhem to the dockyard. Chatham Historic Dockyard. Tickets £12. 🛍️ Sat 31 May - [**Rochester City Artisan Market**](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket) // Stalls dotted along the street selling unique gifts, homemade, and craft items. Rochester High Street. Free. 🖌️ Until 4 Jun - [**Billy Childish and Patrick Butler**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition to raise funds for a mentoring programme for emerging artists. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. --- #### More Authority We’ve had a great response to our first guest piece from Medway anthropologist Chris de Coulon Berthoud, who we dispatched to [explore Medway’s mayoral archive of civic gifts](https://www.localauthority.news/exploring-medways-mayoral-treasures/). It’s a fascinating look at a collection of items kept hidden away but tell the ceremonial history of our towns. [Exploring Medway's mayoral treasuresI had noticed Andrew “Taff” Barker before, opening the door of the Mayor of Medway’s official car at various events. He cuts a striking figure, with a neat waxed moustache, some impressive tattoos, and an unmistakable military bearing. I was delighted to be asked to join![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityChris de Coulon Berthoud![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff7108fa7-06b4-44b5-a37c-282ebbece70e_2026x1491.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/exploring-medways-mayoral-treasures/) This is the kind of fascinating stories that our paid supporters receive each week. If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading, we’re running a flash sale until tomorrow, where you can get [25% off the paid subscription price for a full year](#/portal/signup). [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Exploring Medway's mayoral treasures URL: https://www.localauthority.news/exploring-medways-mayoral-treasures/ Last updated: 2025-05-29T15:25:47.000Z I had noticed Andrew “Taff” Barker before, opening the door of the Mayor of Medway’s official car at various events. He cuts a striking figure, with a neat waxed moustache, some impressive tattoos, and an unmistakable military bearing. I was delighted to be asked to join *Local Authority’s* Steven Keevil to meet him and be shown around some of the collection of civic gifts and regalia held in the Mayor’s Chamber. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ztCn!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff7108fa7-06b4-44b5-a37c-282ebbece70e_2026x1491.jpg) Taff is, of course, much more than the Mayor’s driver, his full title is Civic Ceremonial Officer (CCO). Traditionally local councils would have employed a range of officers with different job titles: town sergeant, mace bearer, sergeant at mace, mace sergeant, chauffeur, civic attendant, mayor's attendant. At one time a mayor might have had up to twelve of these attendants, including one who travelled alongside the driver simply to open the car door upon arrival. Taff’s role is a fusion of these historical roles. As he says, “We're basically a bit of everything.” While the role does not require a military background, his service with the Honourable Artillery Company can’t help but bring some additional gravitas and ceremonial knowledge, especially valuable in a place like Medway, with enduringly strong military connections. Importantly, the CCO plays a vital role in preserving and interpreting ceremonial duties, guiding mayors through civic responsibilities, hosting international guests, supporting military ceremonies, and maintaining the objects that tie Medway to its past. He has laid out a small selection of the impressive amount of gifts that have been made to the mayor’s office over centuries of ceremonial engagements. This selection of historical items gives an insight into the evolution of civic life in Medway and its predecessor boroughs of Rochester, Chatham, and Gillingham. Most of the items spend their time in storage due to a lack of public display space and less of a focus on civic hospitality, with fewer formal banquets that required tables filled with silverware. As a result, these objects now serve less as functional objects and more as symbols of Medway’s historical ties to communities, military connections, cultural celebrations, and reflect the broader challenge of preserving local heritage in ways that can instil civic pride into the people of the Medway Towns. Taff explains that everything has been inherited from the three former borough councils, Rochester, Chatham, and Gillingham, rather than commissioned. The richness and luxury of some of these goblets, presentation bowls, and other silverware dates back to when local government carried more ceremonial weight. Taff notes, “We don't have the opportunity to bring them out. It’s just not really the done thing anymore.” This decline in civic hospitality over recent decades means many of these historic items remain in limbo in storage, rarely displayed or visible to the public. One of the more impressive objects is a silver candelabra from 1837, believed to have been a gift from King William IV, making it the oldest piece currently on display. It’s a fascinating piece of silverware, writhing with decoration. William IV’s reign was relatively short, which meant it never really gained its own “style,” unlike the Regency or Victorian periods. It was later described to me by an expert as stylistically “quite deranged!” _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Travellers win right to remain on Wigmore site URL: https://www.localauthority.news/travellers-win-right-to-remain-on/ Last updated: 2025-05-27T22:29:15.000Z *A group of travellers have won the right to stay on a former coach park and ride site in Wigmore following a court case that saw Medway Council try to evict them from the land. We’ve got the full details of the judgement and responses below. Further down, in perhaps a surprising move for long-time readers of Local Authority, Medway Council is finally preparing to publish a new Local Plan. Elsewhere, we have news about a big new development near the Strand in Gillingham, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Travellers win right to remain on Wigmore site Fifteen Romani Gypsy adults and 14 children will be allowed to remain on a disused commuter car park in Wigmore after Medway Council’s bid to evict them was thrown out by Canterbury County Court. In its judgement, the court ruled that forcing the families off the former park-and-ride site on Maidstone Road would amount to a disproportionate interference with their rights under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The decision is a blow to Medway Council, which had sought to reclaim the land after a temporary permission that allowed the travellers to use the land expired more than 18 months ago. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ho_K!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f06537890-5d4e-42bb-bbee-8e3446ad5a06_2596x982.jpg) Traveller site on the former Wigmore coach park and ride site. The families moved onto the site in July 2023 under a three-month agreement issued at the time due to urgent welfare concerns, including pregnancies and long-term health issues within the group. When the licence expired that October, the families remained in place, prompting the council to issue a notice to quit and initiate legal proceedings. But the judge found that the council’s case was based more on vague intention than real necessity. Medway Council claimed that the site may be sold in the near future, but the court noted that it was not on any formal disposal list and that no active steps had been taken to prepare it for sale. Crucially, the court found the council had not demonstrated any urgent need for the land, nor had it provided a viable alternative for the residents. In a statement following the ruling, Cllr Louwella Prenter, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness, said: > *“We are disappointed with the County Court judgement not to grant possession of the former Wigmore commuter car park in Maidstone Road, back to Medway Council. This is a lengthy and detailed decision and we will give it due consideration before deciding how best to move forward. Granting use of the site was only ever intended as a temporary three-month measure, and the car park is not deemed to be suitable as a long-term site for permanent occupation.”* That assessment was not shared by the court, which heard evidence that the site had sat unused for years and that the travellers’ presence had actually curtailed prior antisocial behaviour. According to the court judgement, some local residents even submitted letters and a petition supporting those on the site. One of the council’s main arguments - that the site lacks running water and sanitation - also came under fire. The judge noted that Medway Council had not fully explored cost-effective solutions, such as installing a standpipe or providing temporary facilities. The site currently has no mains water, but the families have been collecting water from nearby allotments with permission and purchasing bottled water for drinking. Children living at the site have been enrolled at local schools for the first time, with staff at Hempstead Infant and Junior Schools offering support for the travellers being allowed to stay with their children enrolled at the school. In a letter seen by the court, the headteacher described the children as engaged, well-supported by parents, and making progress despite initial challenges due to lack of prior education. Medical evidence presented to the court documented serious physical and mental health issues among several residents, including schizophrenia, cancer, and spinal injuries. Testimony offered during the case warned that eviction would risk significant deterioration in health and well-being. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!0HXG!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1e7e6d0c-f98a-4bc9-8a12-44125bc5ff89_2270x1212.jpg) The location of the traveller site. Hempstead and Wigmore ward councillors Andrew Lawrence and Jim Gilbourne criticised both the decision and the original three-month licence, which he said was granted without consulting them: “We are both very disappointed in the Court's ruling that effectively blocks the Council's attempt to gain possession of the Wigmore Coach Park. It is worth noting that the original decision to give a three-month licence in July 2023 was taken by then councillors Naushabah Khan and Tris Osborne and officers without any discussion with us as ward councillors.” They also raised concerns about the cost of the legal proceedings and their impact on future housing plans in the area: “We have noted that a Labour Councillor, Cllr Shokar, supported the Travellers in their action against the Council, which would have been at a substantial cost to Council Taxpayers. The development of much-needed new housing at Blower's Wood, directly opposite to Wigmore Coach Park, could be affected.” The Council will now have to decide its next steps, including whether it will appeal the ruling. A planning appeal relating to a separate application for retrospective permission to use the land as a permanent traveller site is scheduled for tomorrow (Wed 28 May). --- #### No, seriously, Medway Council might actually publish a Local Plan Medway Council is finally set to publish its first Local Plan in over two decades, with a final document scheduled to be presented to a special full council meeting on 26 June. If approved, the plan will go out for a six-week public consultation, paving the way, finally, for a new development framework that could influence the future of Medway until 2041. The milestone follows years of missed deadlines, stalled consultations, and, most notably, the collapse of previous efforts under the former Conservative administration. At the heart of that failure was a bitter internal row over the future of Chatham Docks that split the Tory group between those keen to redevelop it for housing and those determined to preserve it for employment use. The political stalemate ultimately contributed to the plan being shelved, leaving Medway without an up-to-date development strategy and increasingly vulnerable to speculative planning applications. In the sort of twist that no one could have possibly seen coming, the current Labour administration, elected in 2023, initially promised to save the docks but very rapidly reversed course once they took control of Medway. There was a certain inevitably to this, as the docks can provide a substantial amount of our towns’ future housing need. Once the public consultation closes, the council will submit the plan and all representations received to the Planning Inspectorate later this year. If the plan survives the examination process, which is never a given, especially in light of Medway’s previous track record, the council expects it could be formally adopted by the end of 2026\. Excitingly, this will be just in time for Medway Council to be abolished, possibly rendering the entire process pointless. But for now, for the first time in several years, we might actually be getting near to getting a Local Plan approved. Given the recent past, this is an achievement to be commended, even if it all turns out to be a giant waste of time. --- #### Big blue gasholder to be replaced by flats and an ~~Aldi~~ unknown supermarket Medway’s next major development moved a step closer this week, with Blueberry Homes submitting a [planning application for up to 500 homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SWKF00KNM6V00&ref=localauthority.news) on the former gasworks site next to the Strand in Gillingham. The plans also include proposals for a mystery supermarket that isn’t a mystery, a care home, commercial units, and the relocation of a sailing club that currently sits on the site. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qBiu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7cf47952-5a1e-4e9c-afef-ec0a48beef20_2458x1038.jpg) Proposals for redevelopment of former gasworks near the Strand. The former gasworks is a substantial brownfield piece of land on the waterfront in Gillingham, and development akin to the nearby Victory Pier appears on the cards. The area’s recognisable giant blue gasholder will be demolished as part of the plans. The development’s headline figure is up to 500 flats being created across eight blocks, with some waterfront buildings reaching up to 17 storeys in height. Elsewhere, the area will gain another supermarket to add to the nearby Asda, Lidl, and Tesco Express, adding a new, unnamed supermarket that is definitely an Aldi. While the company is not named in any of the planning documents, the plans show a store of a size that only Aldi and Lidl operate with an interior layout identical to what Aldi uses, and with Lidl just along the road, we can safely assume that Aldi has eyes on the site. It is unclear whether this will impact their existing, slightly dated store in Duncan Road in Gillingham, and perhaps unsurprisingly, Aldi’s press office didn’t respond to our detective work. A previously contentious part of the development that appears to have been resolved is what will become of the Segas Sailing Club that currently occupies part of the site. Previous versions of the plans left the organisation homeless or offered unsuitable locations like the ground floor of a tower block. The new plans propose moving the club next door to Medway Council land, with the developer facilitating a larger, expanded watersports centre that will allow Segas to share the site with the existing Medway Watersports Centre. While this planning application does not explicitly cover this, spokesperson for the club, John Molloy, seems happy with the offer: > *“Blueberry Homes have given firm undertakings to the club and local authority that they can and will deliver on these proposals and as such they can only be seen as welcome shot in the arm that will better guarantee the continued life of this much-loved iconic club and charity.”* There will perhaps still be some elements of the application that raise some eyebrows, most notably the plans to include pedestrian and cycling access to the adjacent Gillingham Marina, which has previously been resistant to creating any form of riverside walk that runs through their land for security reasons. *The* [*planning application can be commented on*](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SWKF00KNM6V00&ref=localauthority.news) *until 19 June, and Medway Council rather optimistically expect to have a decision on it by 19 August.* --- #### In brief 🏗️ Planning officers at Medway Council are [recommending two big schemes for approval at next week’s planning committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6257&ref=localauthority.news). First up, the redevelopment of the Go Outdoors site in Chatham into 319 flats and commercial space, and secondly, the former UCA building overlooking New Road into 102 homes and additional commercial units. 🎓 The University of Greenwich is [looking to cut 319 jobs](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/new-blow-for-campus-as-university-looks-to-slash-hundreds-of-324614/?ref=localauthority.news), a quarter of its workforce, with many jobs set to go at Medway's Faculty of Engineering and Science. The University and College Union responded by calling the institution a ‘[rogue employer](https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/14019/Rogue-employer-University-of-Greenwich-could-axe-over-300-staff?ref=localauthority.news).’ 🔥 The incredibly combustible [former St John Fisher School site in Chatham again caught fire last week](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/fire-derelict-chatham-school-believed-10212362?ref=localauthority.news). This is at least the fourth fire on the derelict site in the past 18 months, which is believed to have been started deliberately. 🚧 A section of [North Dane Way in Chatham will be closed for ten weeks](https://www.facebook.com/medwaycouncilupdates/posts/pfbid02FzLPJHzkuZxj4tqYPmKBrgyBDWsgtAESUd7yXBZgXKgDQob5y57vzTuaA4NaHt6jl) to allow works to commence connecting the new Capstone Oaks development off the road to the highway network. Some rather optimistic diversion routes are in place. --- #### More Authority Dr Carol Stewart is a well-known figure across Medway, sitting at the head of a number of organisations, including the Medway African Caribbean Association and Creative Medway. We sat down with her to discuss the work of those organisations, what brought her to Medway, and the importance of diversity to communities. [“If I'm meant to do something, I can feel it in my bones”Dr Carol Stewart has been a strong guiding influence in Medway through her involvement with several significant Medway community organisations, including the Medway African Caribbean Association, Creative Medway, and the Medway Place Board. Steven met with her at Chatham Dockyard, and they discussed those organisations, what brought Carol to Medway and the importance of diversity to communities.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0bab8b2-1afd-493b-b884-c08409af37a7_4096x2732.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/if-im-meant-to-do-something-i-can/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Sick Scenes by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/sick-scenes?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Gentrified Chicken by The Muslims*](https://themuslims.bandcamp.com/album/gentrifried-chicken?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Therapy Island by Cheekface*](https://cheekface.bandcamp.com/album/therapy-island?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “If I'm meant to do something, I can feel it in my bones” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/if-im-meant-to-do-something-i-can/ Last updated: 2025-05-25T06:01:08.000Z *Dr Carol Stewart has been a strong guiding influence in Medway through her involvement with several significant Medway community organisations, including the Medway African Caribbean Association, Creative Medway, and the Medway Place Board. Steven met with her at Chatham Dockyard, and they discussed those organisations, what brought Carol to Medway and the importance of diversity to communities.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!EdRQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0bab8b2-1afd-493b-b884-c08409af37a7_4096x2732.jpg) Dr Carol Stewart (centre) **What are you the Chair of?** Crikey, what am I not the Chair of is probably an easier question to ask. I'm Chairperson of [Medway African and Caribbean Association](https://macacharity.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *(MACA)*, Chairperson of [Creative Medway](https://creativemedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), and a non-exec director for [We Are Medway](https://www.wearemedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) CIC, which was known as the Place Board. And I'm a company director of my own company. **As Chair of two different organisations, does one take precedence over the other?** So, because I've been Chair of MACA for a number of years now, that does take up quite the bulk of my time. I think it’s a very different infrastructure. It's not that one is more important than the other, they're all equally as important. Just that one takes a bit more of my time because we haven't got such a big infrastructure like we do with Creative Medway. With Creative Medway, we've got Vice Chairs as well. I don't have to do a lot of the hands-on stuff. We've got Imogen, who's fantastic, but there's a lot of coordinating and supporting us to achieve our objectives on a day-to-day basis. I manage to balance it quite well. **How did you become the Chair of MACA?** I moved to Kent 25 years ago from Wolverhampton. There was me, my now ex-husband and my two children. I've just got the one now, my daughter passed away ten years ago. We were introduced to MACA at that time because I'd always been involved in community organisations and doing voluntary work from about the age of seven, growing up in the Methodist Church in Wolverhampton. I was involved in the guides, the brownies. In Sunday school, I was a volunteer at a local children's home, and then I quickly got involved in doing work in the community as a teenager at my local youth club. Getting involved in chairing young people's groups, advocacy groups for young people, young people's rights. It was a natural thing for me that when we moved here, with my children being like one of about half a dozen kids in their school that were black, that it was good to make those connections. I was introduced to MACA, and then, because I get very itchy feet, when you see something, you think, well, maybe they could do that differently because I had a lot of experience in chairing organisations. I was chairing health projects, I was a trustee for a cultural centre in Wolverhampton and I'm also a qualified social worker as well. I quickly got involved, and then after a few years, I got involved attending meetings and, some years later, was on the management committee, because it was a volunteer organisation at the time. I then eventually got elected as Chair. I think because I spoke the loudest! We had other chairs take over for a while which was nice, and then I got elected again in 2018 as Chair and have been there ever since. We've been trying to grow the organisation, trying to recruit more trustees. My daughter and her friends started [Young People United](https://macacharity.org.uk/young-people-united/?ref=localauthority.news) (YPU) in 2014\. They got funding from Starbucks, and they got lots of support from Medway Council. We were the first ones to start a Saturday school that spoke about African and Caribbean culture. We started the Young Black Achievers Awards 19 years ago, so we were the first and only ones to do that. They started a dance group as well, Urban Steps. It kind of felt natural that they wanted this group of young people to do something that brought diverse groups of young people together. They started YPU in 2014, and they set up a talent show at Mid Kent College. It was great, and the late councillor Mike O'Brien just turned up out of the blue. He was the portfolio holder for children and young people at that time. We struck up this great friendship, I really, really miss Mike. He just turned up and said, ‘Oh, I'm really interested in what you're doing, can I have a chat?’ And he came to the launch event at the college, and he was a real strong supporter of MACA and our young people and we gave him a posthumous award as well. When my daughter died in 2015, the young people wanted to continue. They set up some awards in her name, diversity awards and inspirational awards. Now what they're doing is just phenomenal, they got a grant for nearly £300,000 to develop a youth program and also to help in our long-term vision for MACA. It's a long way of answering the question, but it shows there are various connections. **One thing from the African-Caribbean connection people will have heard of is Windrush. Does Medway have a connection to the Windrush generation?** I think it's an interesting term, and people talk about the Windrush generation because people that came over nearly 80 years ago came into England as a result of the short-term labour market post-Second World War, and we had the growth of the NHS. People came to this country from all over the diaspora, from Africa, from the Caribbean, from India. Not everyone came on the Windrush ship, but they're referred to as the Windrush generation. But I think it's important to understand that there's always been a presence of black communities, years, decades, centuries before the Windrush. In fact, black people were one of the first inhabitants of Great Britain, [Cheddar Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheddar%5FMan?ref=localauthority.news). Not many people know that. Queen Victoria's great-great grandmother, she had African origins in her. Buckingham Palace was hers. There's always been a connection to Africa and the Caribbean here in Medway. What we're trying to do is to create more knowledge about those connections and about the contributions to the area. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A change of weather for Theatre Royal URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-change-of-weather-for-theatre-royal/ Last updated: 2025-05-23T19:59:04.000Z *Theatre Royal have been linchpins of the Medway music scene for the past 15 years. As the band releases their sixth album, A Change of Weather, we talk to frontman Oliver Burgess to learn about the new record and how the band got their very Medway name. Further down, we speak to an author who has written a book on a unique Medway character, hear about a documentary on a play written by a Medway writer, a local charity marking ten years of activity, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### A change of weather for Theatre Royal Theatre Royal was formed as a four-piece band in 2009, made up of Oliver Burgess and Robbie Wilkinson on vocals, guitar, and songwriting duties, alongside Brendan Esmonde on vocals and bass guitar and Jonathan Gibbs on vocals and drums. More recently, they added a fifth, with Christopher Kingman on vocals and saxophone. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!uEBH!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa8a4b6cb-8a22-4cc7-8f7c-9cecc86cea1c_1200x675.jpg) “Some of us were friends since we were teenagers, and Chris was in a band with Robbie when they were about 14,” Oliver tells me. “Local indie teenage bands kind of thing.” Later they formed a band for a friend's wedding. “We played Rolling Stones, Beatles, David Bowie, stuff like that, and it was just quite fun.” The addition of Chris came about after he was invited to play sax on a few songs but they found that it worked, and he became a permanent group member. “We all get on pretty well. We like what Chris does and we never think things through very much.” I ask if Theatre Royal plays a particular genre of music. “Oh, that's that question,” responds Oliver. He goes on to explain that as they all contribute to the songwriting, noting that “we don't really try to write for a particular genre, and wherever that song takes us is where we go.” He concedes that if you listen to the music, it isn’t necessarily diverse. “I guess people would often call us an indie band or a pop band, something like that.” Oliver goes on to explain that some songs are “poppier”, some “a bit more psychedelic”, and some “a bit garageier.” Olver’s had another band with Robbie and John, The Long Weekend, which disbanded in 2009\. “It was a band in their 20s: Fallouts, arguments and all that nonsense. We started something new.” Oliver started writing with Robbie, and “we wrote loads of songs quickly.” Dave Wise of Urban Fox was making documentaries with either an artistic or political focus. “Me and Lupen Crook did one on Darnet, one of the forts. We canoed over and stayed the night.” They also made a documentary about the former Theatre Royal in Chatham. “There was talk of the theatre being saved for ages, and then who knows what was going on? No one knows exactly what went on. But it obviously fell into disrepair, after looking at some point like it might be restored.” Oliver, [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/), Lupen Crook and Dave went into the Theatre Royal and discovered “it was a complete mess in there”. Billy performed a few poems on the stage, Oliver and Lupen Crook played songs, and Dave made a film called [Final Curtain at the Theatre Royal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3%5FYpq5XtD0&ref=localauthority.news). “I know this is a rambling story,” says Oliver, about how the band got its name. “We were forming a new band, I think I said, ‘Why don't we call it the band Theatre Royal?’ So, something creative and good is coming out of the bad.” Their first album was called From Rubble Rises. They are now releasing their sixth album. Oliver puts their longevity down to “their lack of success.” Whilst the previous band could be combustible, he finds his new bandmates all reasonable. “We really care about writing songs,” Oliver muses. They have enjoyed relative success with radio performances and gigs. “Good gigs, and we enjoy it. It adds a lot to our lives.” The sixth album is entitled A Change of Weather. The album title is from one of the songs called Lives Entwined, “which is about my mum and dad actually.” They started writing the album around the time of covid, with Oliver and Robbie sending songs to each other where they would “record little things and send them back.” A number of things have happened in the band’s lives in the time since, “not all of them good.” Oliver explains that the album is about memory, loss and growing up, as well as looking to the future “and thinking what's happening?” The weather of the title serves as a metaphor for circumstance, emotions and mental health. “That lyric seemed to sum up a lot of the themes on the album.” There was a long time between starting the sixth album and its eventual release. “We're usually pretty quick. It's got slower over time, but this took a long time.” They had recorded 15 demos at [Jim Riley](https://www.localauthority.news/digital-hasnt-surpassed-analogue/)'s Ranscombe Studios in Rochester when it was at the Royal Function Rooms. “We were the last band to record there. We recorded on the last day that the studio was there.” There was then a delay whilst Jim moved his studio to its new site. “We had more than an album's worth, but we needed to go back over it, add the proper vocals, add some guitars, overdub bits.” They knew that they didn’t want to work anywhere else “because we've always recorded with Jim. We like working with him and didn't want to go somewhere else when something shit happened to him.” When they did make it back to the studio, not only had they written new material in the in-between time, Oliver had “forgotten what we recorded.” By the time they had finished with the old songs and the new songs, rather than the expected 12 songs, they had 20 to mix. “That just took time, really.” They were back in Jim’s by April of last year and had finished mixing the album by November. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!njvB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f660ce086-39d8-40ab-bc04-0bceef0b6431_2400x1700.jpg) They are releasing the new album through the Spinout Nuggets label, with album art by David Frankum after the poster art he does for Careful Now Promotions in Rainham inspired the band. “We've always loved his posters, and he was really accommodating.” *A Change of Weather is released on 30 May and can be* [*pre-ordered via Bandcamp*](https://theatreroyal.bandcamp.com/album/a-change-of-weather?ref=localauthority.news)*. Theatre Royal will play a sold out album launch on LV21 on 7 June. There is a* [*waitlist for tickets*](https://wegottickets.com/event/654265?ref=localauthority.news) *if you’re feeling optimistic.* --- #### In brief 🫵 Arches Local is considering expanding its public art project to the Shipwrights Avenue estate in Chatham. As local stories inspire their artwork, they seek interesting tales from the area. If you have any stories to share, please contact jackson(at)archeslocal(dot)org(dot)uk. 🏥 Medway NHS Foundation Trust is [seeking new public governors](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/were-looking-for-new-public-governors-could-it-be-you/?ref=localauthority.news) to help ensure that the voice of local people is heard within the hospital. ⚽ [Gillingham Football Club will play](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/gills-add-dover-friendly-pre-season-schedule?ref=localauthority.news) Dover, Ebbsfleet, Isle of Sheppey United, and Chatham Town as part of their pre-season friendlies. --- #### A life without hands *John Oliver lived and worked on the River Medway for a number of years. Following his passing in 2014, his friend and former partner Frances Beaumont wrote a book about him. Steven spoke with her via Zoom to find out more about the man.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!LQkn!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8b994f72-c303-454e-96d8-0b5644cf79d4.jpg) John Oliver. Frances Beaumont’s memoir of John Oliver is her first book, having previously written only short stories and poetry. John was born in 1925 near Peterborough, with two short arms, no hands and a club foot. “There was no NHS, no social services. This was a really major catastrophe for the family,” says Frances, “to realise the difficulties a child like this was going to have in their life.” John had a grandmother who helped him and his family when he was a small child. He was bright and learned to do everything with his feet early on. “He was writing, playing with cats and helping to feed the chickens.” John attended school until he was seven, but they felt he needed a special school, and they sent him away to “a horrible place, called a home for cripples and orphans.” He was there for seven years without ever seeing his family or hearing from them. “That was a major difficulty in his life,” Frances notes. John ran away from school and managed to earn a living before training as an artist at Northampton Art School, where his qualification enabled him to also teach art. He also developed a love for sailing. “He loved boats. He learned to sail barges, Thames barges. He had lots and lots of adventures.” He would move around town on a three-wheel trike which he cycled all over England. “He was a terrific cyclist. The only time I ever heard of him getting help was up Chatham Hill, where he would grab on the back of a bus to get a tow.” A friend brought John to Medway. They were involved with Crescent Shipping, and John learnt to sail on tugs. John liked Rochester, where he could sail small boats, and eventually got his own tug, becoming a ferryman for Rochester Cruising Club, where he worked for many years taking people to and from Rochester Pier out to the yachts. “That was a regular job for him, especially busy at weekends.” John also made money towing with his tugboat, and “he could turn his foot, as it were, to all sorts of jobs.” John, in his time, had worked in horticulture, worked on farms, and was a chef at a pub in Port Isaac, Cornwall. “That's John Oliver. He was well known on the river. Anybody who worked on the river knew him.” This included the police, who he would help “fish bodies out of the river.” Frances met John after he helped her to find a berth for her yacht, “and I thought, my god, this bloke's amazing.” Frances met him first in a pub with her brother. John was “a very good raconteur and storyteller.” He would “roll a fag under the table with his toes,” and they became close friends and had a relationship for a while. “Unfortunately, he didn't want children, and I did. This is often a breaking point in the relationship, and I moved away, but it was really sad to do that.” John passed away in 2014 at Medway Maritime Hospital. This writer has memories of John from living in the Intra area, but other than polite pleasantries, they never spoke, something he now regrets. Frances returned to Kent, and they remained close for the last 20 years of John’s life. “He's a very important person in my life, and I just thought his story needed to be told.” Frances is grateful to everyone who spoke to her about John for the book and local artist Margaret Loxton, who illustrated the cover. “John encouraged her to become an art and illustrator. She was working as a nurse, and he encouraged her to go back to her art.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!YEtv!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb1855c96-eb4b-449b-bc7b-0d38b1ba3552_3300x2550.jpg) *You can* [*order the book from Frances*](https://francesbeaumont.co.uk/shop/?ref=localauthority.news)*, where you will also receive a bookmark to accompany the book. Frances will be giving a talk about John and the book at Rochester Library in 2026\. To learn more, you can also* [*join Frances’ newsletter here*](https://francesbeaumont.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Documentary screening closes out Rippling Out events Shadow Garden is a play about the Bogujevcifamily, 15 members of whom were massacred in their garden in Kosovo. [Sarah Hehir](https://www.localauthority.news/i-write-in-quite-a-visual-way/) wrote the play with surviving members of the family who witnessed the deaths. They were medically evacuated to Manchester in 1999, “which is an interesting and dramatic enough story in its own right,” says Sarah, keen to write stories about people whose voices aren't as often heard. “Families involved in war was something that interested me,” she says. The children went on to give evidence at a war crimes tribunal, which led to convictions. Whilst some of the survivors still live in Manchester, the oldest, Saranda is now a member of parliament in Kosovo. Whilst in Manchester, Sarah taught Kosovan refugees in 1999, and when she met Saranda, they talked about putting on the play. “The main reason was that the family wanted to keep telling the story. As difficult as it was, they felt it was important.” The family have done art exhibitions, which they’ve taken to Belgrade in Serbia, which is all the more remarkable given that “it was the Serbian police reserve unit that had murdered their family.” The family embraced telling their story in a new medium and worked with Sarah to develop the play. It was produced in Gjilan in Kosovo and then toured around Kosovo in 2023/24 as part of the Kosovo Theatre Showcase, which showcases theatre from Kosovo to journalists worldwide. “It was really interesting because it was in Albanian. I wrote it in English, and my Albanian is quite poor. So for the rehearsal process, we had a fantastic translator, and to be honest, me and the Polish director learned a little bit of Albanian.” The final event of the Medway River Lit Rippling Out events will a screening of a short documentary about the play followed by a discussion and Q&A with Sarah. She still harbours ambitions to bring the play to the UK, “but we talked to *(Medway River Lit organisers)* [Sam](https://www.localauthority.news/i-like-chatham-a-lot/) and [Barry](https://www.localauthority.news/weve-assembled-something-that-medway/) about doing a creative documentary that would give a feeling of what the play was but also would embrace the fact we were using film.” *The Making of the Shadow Garden and Q&A will take place at Sun Pier House’s Creation Space tomorrow (Sat 24 May) at 7pm. The event is free, but* [*booking is required*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/the-rippling-out-sessions-the-making-of-the-shadow-garden?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Second Chance marks tenth anniversary **Note:* In the interests of full disclosure, it should be noted that Steven is the Chair of Second Chance, and Ed is a trustee of the charity.* Second Chance Medway was established ten years ago by… checks notes… my mother, [Penny Keevil](https://www.localauthority.news/we-were-paying-their-rents-to-make/). This week, the charity celebrated its 10th anniversary, alongside a relaunch, having consolidated its operations under one roof at its Community Centre in Brompton. The space hosts a community café alongside Second Chance’s Food Aid project, Medway’s Community Supermarket, which provides subsidised groceries to the charity’s clients. This ensures they have fresh fruits, vegetables, core items, and delicious treats. The charity also provides crisis support to Medway residents facing insecure housing and acts as referral support for those under 25 who need individual grants. Cllr [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/), leader of Medway Council, attended the relaunch and shared his thoughts on the consolidation of the charity: “Bringing together Second Chance's different operations does a couple of things. Of course, it reduces costs. Running one building rather than two is sensible. This facility and the space being used here is really positive, and I'd say a great move forward for the organisation.” Having a presence in Brompton’s Melville Court will make support available directly to MHS residents in the complex whilst also being on several bus routes, allowing people across Medway to access the support provided during the cost of living crisis. “I wish, of course, that Second Chance didn't have to exist,” says Vince, “but they do, and there is a need, and it's my job as council leader to try and reduce the need of the community to need organisations like Second Chance.” Vince inevitably highlights the work being done by the government to raise the National Living Wage and the positive impact that it will have on Medway. He’s also eager to recognise the “award-winning team” at the council, who are part of increased efforts to ensure access to better information, giving residents advice and guidance around budgeting and cost of living planning. Whilst there is still a need, the charity will continue working to ensure that its new centre will allow multiple organisations to work together for the betterment of Medway, working in collaboration, not competition. Vince finishes by noting, “Second Chance’s approach of trying to stop people slipping into extreme need, trying to stop people making that downward spiral, I think it's inspiring.” --- #### Events this week 🥘 24 - 26 May - [**Chatham Maritime Food and Drink Festival**](https://www.cmtrust.co.uk/play/food-and-drink-festival/?ref=localauthority.news) // Local food and drink, with entertainment and dragon boat racing on the Sunday. Free. 🌊 Sat 24 May - [**The Strand Grand Opening and Big Splash**](https://www.medway.gov.uk/events/event/677/the%5Fstrand%5Fgrand%5Fopening%5Fand%5Fbig%5Fsplash?ref=localauthority.news) // Launch and celebration of activities available in the park and lido this year, where you can also meet Mojo, Child-Friendly Medway’s terrifying mascot. The Strand, Gillingham. Free. 🎻 Sat 24 May - [**City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/city-of-rochester-symphony-orchestra/instance/404421/seats?ref=localauthority.news) // Performances of work from Strauss, Brahms, and Weber. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £15. 🦇 Mon 26 May - [**Little Bat Alternative Bazaar**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1037199518222447/) // Market of alternative, gothic, steampunk, and fantasy items. Masonic Hall, Rochester. £1 entry. --- #### More Authority As the football season ends, we asked our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins to look back at the [highs, lows, and middles of a rollercoaster season at Priestfield](https://www.localauthority.news/hope-and-despair/). Over on our [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) sister title, we [looked at the early signs of what a Kent run by Reform will look like](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/reform-plants-its-flag-at-county?ref=localauthority.news), and it feels like the county is in for an interesting few years. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Hope and despair URL: https://www.localauthority.news/hope-and-despair/ Last updated: 2025-05-21T16:55:26.000Z *With the football season reaching its end, we asked our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins to look back at the highs, lows, and middles of a rollercoaster season at Priestfield…* #### Chapter 1: Bonner’s bounce Early in the season, I posted a picture of my friend celebrating the 2-0 win over Barrow with the caption, “Best Gills day ever. Repeat until May.” In hindsight, my foresight was myopic, but the facts were more than encouraging: 6 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat from the opening 8 games. And that feeling was grounded in something approaching logic too. The team had ended the previous season with a long unbeaten run at home and just needed goals to translate draws into wins. Add a manager, Mark Bonner, with a promotion to his credit, as well as two signings, Elliott Nevitt and Jack Nolan, who had 33 league goals between them in the previous season, and everything looked rosy. What happened next, however, was the opposite of a phoenix from the flames. It was more like a beerbutt chicken falling onto the charcoaled embers below and instantly being burnt to a crisp while remaining completely raw. The season’s first 19 points had taken just 8 games to accumulate. The next 19 took another 25. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!8zB-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f93d84436-c864-44c2-9f24-216e08de17de_4064x2128.jpg) Gillingham FC _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway Council issues over £2m in traffic fines in first year URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-issues-over-2m-in/ Last updated: 2025-05-21T00:05:00.000Z *Medway Council has issued fines worth over £2m from the first year of new traffic enforcement powers, data obtained exclusively by Local Authority can reveal. We’ve got the full details below. Further down, we have news on how one third of blue badges in Medway are potentially being used wrongly, word that the Brook Theatre might reopen two years late, news in brief, and more* --- #### Medway Council issues over £2m in traffic fines in first year Nearly 35,000 fines were issued in the first year of Medway Council enforcing Moving Traffic Offences and School Streets across Medway. Data obtained by *Local Authority* revealed the remarkable figure, which means over £2m of fines have been issued in just the first year of operation. Medway Council began enforcing Moving Traffic Offences at seven locations in February 2024, and the same number of School Streets were launched in March 2024. Most sites within each scheme have generated thousands of fines in their first year of operation, with one location seeing a fine issued for every two minutes of operation in the second half of the year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!m3nE!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe824e3f7-aa4b-4ff5-a8ec-019e69d8af77_4850x3233.jpg) Photo: stock.adobe.com In the first year of enforcing Moving Traffic Offences, 17,821 Penalty Charge Notices have been issued. This figure considers that all drivers breaching the rules in the first six months of the scheme were issued a warning notice rather than a fine, meaning numbers will likely be higher in subsequent years. The figures for each location are as follows: - Rochester High St entering pedestrian zone - 4,757 fines issued - Orchard Street, Rainham no right turn - 4,393 fines issued - A2 Rainham Road, Gillingham yellow box - 4,089 fines issued - Gillingham High St no entry - 2,239 fines issued - Cuxton Road, Strood yellow box - 1,291 fines issued - Chatham High St no entry - 797 fines issued - Gibraltar Hill, Chatham yellow box - 763 fines issued - Chatham Hill yellow box - 580 fines issued The most remarkable location here is the figure of vehicles entering the Rochester High Street pedestrian zone. Given that the restriction is only in place for six hours on a Saturday and at no other time, 180 drivers have been caught at the location every week, clocking in at one driver every two minutes. This will inevitably reignite safety concerns about the decision to remove the chain that used to stop vehicles from entering the High Street during restricted periods. Medway Council argued that the cameras were about safety rather than generating income. Still, if cars are driving into a pedestrian zone every two minutes, it does raise questions about just how safe this system can truly be. Each offence carries a fine of £60, meaning that Medway Council has issued £1,069,260 in fines from these seven locations on paper. Of course, things aren’t quite so simple, as drivers caught can pay a reduced fine by paying quickly, and some will have inevitably appealed and won. Still, given the scheme cost £695,000 to implement, Medway Council is heading into the second year of the scheme with a nice little earner on their hands. A similar picture can be found in the data for the first year of School Street enforcement in Medway. 16,950 fines have been issued to vehicles entering the temporary pedestrian zones, a notable figure given enforcement is only carried out for roughly two hours each day at each location and only during term time. The figures for each school are as follows: - Burnt Oak Primary School, Gillingham - 7,604 fines issued - Phoenix Primary School, Chatham - 4,138 fines issued - Greenvale Primary School, Chatham - 2,538 fines issued - Miers Court Primary School, Rainham - 1,327 fines issued - St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Gillingham - 639 fines issued - St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Walderslade - 557 fines issued - St Peter’s Infant School, Rochester - 147 fines issued As expected, the figure for Burnt Oak Primary School is the highest proportion of School Street fines, located on Richmond Road, a busy through route in Gillingham. Figures for the second half of the year suggest a driver is entering the zone roughly every minute during the hours of operation. This clearly generates a significant number of fines but does not necessarily have the desired effect of reducing the number of vehicles outside the school. The penalty for entering a School Street during the restricted period is a £70 fine, meaning Medway Council has issued £1,186,350 at these locations in the first year of operation. As mentioned above, the usual caveats about the amount of money actually raised still apply here, but it is likely to be a significant figure. While [implementing red routes hasn’t seemingly delivered the income](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-red-route-cameras-arent-catching/) that Medway Council might have expected, Moving Traffic Offences and School Streets have punched well above their weight during the first year. Perhaps it should be no surprise that Medway Council have introduced several new locations in recent months, with more to follow in the future. --- *Have a story you think we should be covering? Get in touch via *hello(at)localauthority(dot)news* \- we’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Third of blue badges found to be used wrongly in Medway Occasionally, we receive a press release that raises more questions than answers. We recently received one from Medway Council about a recent crackdown by Medway Council Civil Enforcement Officers and Counter Fraud Officers on people using blue badges for disabled people wrongly. Officers carried out a series of spot checks on blue badge users between March and April and found that over a third of blue badges were being used incorrectly. This number seemed almost unbelievably high, so we asked Medway Council to check the data, and they confirmed it to be accurate. Over a few days, officers conducted spot checks on more than 100 blue badges and found that over a third of them were being used incorrectly in one form or another. 24 blue badges were confiscated because they had either been reported lost or stolen or were forged, and another 12 were being misused, for example when a family member uses the badge without the disabled badge holder being present. Medway Council told *Local Authority* that this is the first time such enforcement action had been undertaken, and perhaps we’re naive. Still, it feels exceedingly high that only two in three blue badges are being used correctly. Given the figures, one can only assume that Medway Council will be looking to carry out further such actions in the future. --- #### Brook Theatre might reopen two years late When the Brook Theatre in Chatham closed in April 2023 to bring it up to modern standards and make it accessible, it was supposed to take a couple of years to complete, with the building reopening to the public in 2025. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!JpAD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f050d5a89-341e-49d9-9f89-924d3942f2d2_4608x3072.jpg) Brook Theatre in Chatham. Photo: stock.adobe.com So, where are we? A long way away, if an [announcement from Medway Council this week](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/info/brook-theatre-contractor-announcement?ref=localauthority.news) is anything to go by, where they confirmed that works are set to begin on the building this summer, with an aim to reopen in 2027. Inevitably, this raises questions about why the theatre had to close two years ago if work was only starting now. Medway Council set out that work has been going on behind the scenes, including surveys and a 10-month procurement process to find a contractor to carry out the work. It is right to ensure that the work is carried out properly by the right team, but it seems odd that this wasn’t built into the original timescale, and now means Medway will be without its only interesting publicly owned theatre for four years. Still, with a bit of luck, the theatre will throw open its doors once again just two years later than it was supposed to. --- #### In brief 🏪 Licensing Hearing Panels are becoming a regular occurrence in Medway as the council tries to limit the impact of alcohol-licensed premises in town centres. [Next week will see applications](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=6252&ref=localauthority.news) for a new convenience store on New Road in Chatham and an incredibly optimistic venue in Strood that wants to open until 3am at the weekend. 🏗️ Two blocks consisting of nine flats could be built on the junction of Canterbury Street and Nelson Road in Gillingham under a [new planning application](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SVY6X5KNGBX00&ref=localauthority.news). The site is currently unoccupied, having previously served as a builder’s yard, industrial units, and, more recently, a church. 🦆 The Medway estuary has been identified as one of the most [at risk of losing essential habitats](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyq1x0kg5qo?ref=localauthority.news). A study by Nottingham Trent University said the area was at risk from rising seas, lower summer river levels and man-made barriers. 🌳 Independent Group councillor Michael Pearce is [campaigning to save five old oak trees](https://www.change.org/p/save-the-christmas-lane-oaks-savethechristmaslaneoaks?recruiter=1321346258&recruited%5Fby%5Fid=60034530-7f12-11ee-a79e-636c64896015&utm%5Fsource=share%5Fpetition&utm%5Fcampaign=share%5Fpetition&utm%5Fmedium=copylink&utm%5Fcontent=cl%5Fsharecopy%5F490567403%5Fen-GB%3A4) on Christmas Lane in High Halstow. The trees are currently under threat as part of a potential 760-home development to the east of the village, where they stand in the way of road and footpath widening planned by developer Redrow. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, [we sat down with Natalie Tyler and Matilda Flood, newly minted directors of Medwayish CIC](https://www.localauthority.news/i-just-feel-really-passionate-about/) (formerly of this parish), who are working with a talented community of artists, makers, and creatives to design and sell products that tell the stories of our towns and people. ["I just feel really passionate about where I live"Medwayish is a Community Interest Company working with a talented community of local artists, makers, and creatives to design and sell products that tell the stories of our towns and people. Steven met new directors, Natalie Tyler and Matilda Flood, at Beantown in Rochester to talk about the project, what brought Natalie to Medway, what creative projects they are taking part in, and why they got involved with Medwayish in the first place.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f69a34e55-d8a3-4242-89b9-a525a67f7cf1_1456x1048.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-just-feel-really-passionate-about/) Over on our sister [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) title, we [interviewed Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osborne](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/a-lot-of-the-stuff-i-do-is-below?ref=localauthority.news) about his election win, Reform's recent success, his social media usage, and lots more. **…and finally…** No one ever said running a local news operation was easy, particularly when it isn’t your primary job. But for nearly four years, we have plugged away at Local Authority, doing our best to provide the sort of news people are actually interested in reading. None of the clickbait, none of the ads, none of the regurgitated press releases. This week, we’re delighted to be shortlisted for the third year running for Kent News Website of the Year at the [Kent Press and Broadcast Awards](https://www.kpbawards.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). What we are able to do here is only as good as our readers, very literally because we can only exist thanks to our readers who generously choose to support us with a [paid subscription](#/portal/signup). Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to, read, shared, or told someone about *Local Authority* in the past year. We couldn’t do any of this with you. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Allo Darlin’ by Allo Darlin’*](https://allodarlin.bandcamp.com/album/allo-darlin?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Disenchanted Hearts Unite by Tullycraft*](https://tullycraft.bandcamp.com/album/disenchanted-hearts-unite?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Compliments Please by Self Esteem*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dFgkTT-yWI&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### "I just feel really passionate about where I live" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-just-feel-really-passionate-about/ Last updated: 2025-05-18T06:00:32.000Z [*Medwayish*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a Community Interest Company working with a talented community of local artists, makers, and creatives to design and sell products that tell the stories of our towns and people. Steven met new directors, Natalie Tyler and Matilda Flood, at Beantown in Rochester to talk about the project, what brought Natalie to Medway, what creative projects they are taking part in, and why they got involved with Medwayish in the first place.* **Note:* In the interests of full disclosure, Medwayish began as a side project of Local Authority, and both Steven and Ed remain as directors of the new Community Interest Company.* --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9g4b!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f69a34e55-d8a3-4242-89b9-a525a67f7cf1_1456x1048.jpg) Natalie Tyler and Matilda Flood. **How would you explain what Medwayish is?** **Natalie:** Medwayish supports local artists to create products that celebrate where we live, in Medway. **Matilda:** Wow. I was trying to explain what Medwayish was to some of my friends at this gig on Monday, I'm sure they were still confused by the end of it. **Why have you got involved?** **Natalie:** I would say because Steven Keevil pressured me to, but no, that's not the official answer. The broader picture is I'm doing lots of things to try and reconnect with local community after having a lot of travelling back and forth from Australia over the last couple of years. I think this is a really good blend of my previous experience at [Redbubble](https://www.redbubble.com/?ref=localauthority.news) and being able to connect with what's happening creatively in Medway. **Matilda:** I grew up in Medway. I went to Canterbury for a couple of years to study at university. I don't know if it was just because studying during covid that I didn't get to see the full creative community of Canterbury. Even though I wasn't far away, I still felt homesick and really lucky to grow up in a creative community inside of Medway, so I probably have a slightly different perspective. I just feel really passionate about where I live and want to champion my fellow creatives and those shared experiences and Medway history that's not really spoken about. I would like it to be shared more. **Why do you think you were asked to be involved?** **Natalie:** I think probably due to working with a global artist community on creating products and also a bit of a unique perspective of understanding the customer side and commercial side and considerations, and also what the artists want to be doing and how they sort of maintain their creative integrity while thinking about the more commercial aspects. **Matilda:** I guess having previously worked with Medwayish is one of the things. I get the gist of how it's supposed to work and what a successful campaign can be like. Also, as an illustrator trying to develop their own career and understanding what I would be looking for as an artist. Working with a company or a CIC, I feel I can bring a slightly different perspective as one of the directors. What I would expect if I were to work with Medwayish. **You were involved with the** [**Chatham Pocket**](https://www.medwayish.com/product/chatham-pocket-sticker?ref=localauthority.news) **sticker.** **Natalie:** Yes. **How would you describe it?** **Natalie:** I had to do some googling *(laughs)*. I had an idea of what the history of that phrase may be, but I verified and made sure I learnt the cultural significance. I tried not to think about what it might mean tying my professional profile to such a design, but it was so much fun. I think that's one thing that I really like about Medwayish is that it's got that element of fun in some of the products and a way of celebrating Medway through those. I don't know how to explain it, but it's… **Irreverent?** **Natalie:** It's about finding those in-jokes or references that are shared, but it's not about being disparaging. **You were involved with the** [**Sanger Circus Kickstarter**](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/medwayish/lion-queens-a-matilda-flood-range-from-medwayish/?ref=localauthority.news)**. How did you find that experience?** **Matilda:** It was great and really interesting. The Sanger Circus project was actually part of my dissertation at uni, and at the time, I loved doing it. I didn’t think it was going to go anywhere afterwards. I was really excited for it to continue to have a life. I loved the story, and it feels nice to be a part of that community that's feeding into that specific history. The actual process was pretty straightforward. It helped that I already had the artwork. We already knew the story, and we knew who we were targeting making those products. It's just really nice to see it as an actual thing, on a tea towel and in people's homes. It’s not your everyday tea towel. I like to think the design was tasteful enough that you would kind of do a double-take. It is not anything too gory or horrendous on someone's kitchen side. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Billy Childish and Patrick Butler hold Medway exhibition URL: https://www.localauthority.news/billy-childish-and-patrick-butler/ Last updated: 2025-05-16T17:00:52.000Z *Billy Childish is probably Medway’s most well-known artist, and Nucleus Arts is our largest arts organisation, but the two have never come together until now. Billy will be exhibiting work at Nucleus alongside Patrick Butler to raise funds for an art mentoring scheme, so we’ve been speaking to all involved to find out more. Further down, the Royal Engineers have celebrated 150 years since their FA Cup win, we have reviews of Where the Wind Blows at Medway Little Theatre and breakfast at Beantown in Rochester, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Billy Childish and Patrick Butler hold Medway exhibition *Patrick Butler and Billy Childish are exhibiting at the Halpern Gallery at Nucleus Arts in Chatham from 23 May until 4 June. It is the first time Billy has exhibited at Nucleus, and any revenue from the sale of work is contributing towards a fund to support an emerging artist. We caught up with all involved to find out more.* Patrick Butler, who has been “the motivator behind this exhibition, is an established and successful contemporary artist,” says [Genevieve Tullberg](https://www.localauthority.news/i-realised-i-liked-flogging-it-more/), manager at the Halpern Gallery. Patrick came to the Medway Towns in 1978 to become the Head of Art at Fort Pitt school. [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) is “probably Medway's most famous and successful contemporary artist working in Medway at the moment,” says Genevieve. Patrick orders a gin and tonic and sits rolling a cigarette whilst mulling over my question of how he would describe his art. “It's more and more explicitly objective, I suppose. You can actually tell there are figures.” Patrick acknowledges that he finds it difficult to put labels on his work. “If you asked me to put labels on Billy's painting, I'd find it just as difficult.” We shift gears, and I ask what we can expect to see in the exhibition. Billy gets straight to the point and tells me via email, “some woodcuts and a painting.” Patrick elaborates that when Billy told him he wanted to exhibit mostly prints, that “there is a logic to doing prints. He doesn't get any hassle from his gallery, and he doesn't get any hassle because it's for charity.” Exhibiting prints will allow the work to be at a price point that will work for the exhibition. While Billy will possibly exhibit three paintings, Patrick says that due to the low ceiling in the gallery, it won’t be any of his large-scale works. Patrick is looking forward to doing something he hasn’t done before, “and that's exhibit little paintings.” Only three of the prints Patrick will be exhibiting will be for sale “because somebody lost the originals.” Patrick is averse to producing too many prints as they are expensive to produce and take up space. Patrick has purposely done small paintings, as they will be more affordable for people. “The difficulty is changing your price points. I can't say, “This was £3,000 yesterday, and it's £1,000 today. Somebody would punch me in the face. And I agree with them.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!u4XO!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb4a817a1-9f80-4eb9-89a2-c27e93b265fc_500x500.jpg) Art by Billy Childish Both Billy and Patrick have exhibited across Europe and the wider world, so why did they decide to exhibit at Nucleus Arts? “That’s where they said it would be,” Billy tells me, and I put the same question to Patrick, hoping he has more information. “I know quite a few vagabonds here,” says Patrick, “and I seem to match in with those quite nicely.” Patrick goes on to explain that he likes the ethos of Nucleus Arts as a community that promotes art to people of all ages, and both professionals and amateurs. Patrick has known Billy for 30 years, and they used to live around the corner from each other. This is the first time that they have exhibited together after Genevieve at Nucleus proposed the exhibition to Patrick. Patrick is happy that it is occurring at the grassroots level through Nucleus Arts. “Billy knows I’m the poor relative,” says Patrick, though Billy acknowledges his part in Billy’s journey. “Pat invited me to exhibit,” Billy tells me. “I know Pat from ways back when he used to let me and [Wolf](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-have-any-technique-i-never/) sit in on his life drawing classes at Rochester Adult Centre.” The intention of the exhibition is to support a new mentoring scheme for an emerging artist. If successful, this could include studio space at Nucleus Arts and may include mentoring time with Billy in his studio, though details are yet to be firmed up. I ask Billy what he can tell me about the mentoring scheme. “Not a great deal,” he replies, suggesting I speak to Pat instead. “They tell me it’s all for the good, so I agreed.” Patrick believes the mentoring scheme will be important to Medway and that this is just the first year. “If Patrick and Billy didn't have the friendship they have and their mutual respect, this wouldn't be happening,” notes Genevieve. The selection process for the supported emerging artist has yet to be finalised, though the final decision will be made by Patrick, Genevieve and (possibly) Billy or Steve Lowe of the L-13 arts collective. “Hopefully, it’s of benefit to someone somewhere,” concludes Billy. --- #### In brief 💷 Kent and Medway organisations working to improve mental health are invited to apply for [grants from Kent and Medway Better Mental Health and Wellbeing Community Fund](https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/community-fund-opens-to-boost-better-mental-health?ref=localauthority.news), with pots of up to £10,000 available. 🍲 Sotto Lounge, part of the bar-restaurant chain rapidly expanding nationwide, will [open at Chatham Dockside on Wednesday](https://thelounges.co.uk/sotto/?ref=localauthority.news) (21 May). 🍹 [The Pumproom at Copper Rivet Distillery in Chatham reopens today](https://www.facebook.com/copperrivetdistillery/posts/pfbid02UZrNub2kpfbWCMxypSkK1gXCkUGQptKKznDzDq6EsrraY1zuVb1XEhrvSyzEJT77l) and will operate as a bar on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 🔊 [‘cene magazine has interviewed Rochester pop artist Lo Lauren](https://cenemagazine.co.uk/features/talk-about-pop-music-interview-with-rochester-artist-lo-lauren?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Royal Engineers celebrate 150 years since FA Cup win Last weekend, a celebration was held to mark the 150th anniversary of the Royal Engineers football team winning the FA Cup in 1875\. The journey to the celebration was slightly longer than I might have hoped. Having walked past King’s Bastion, the location for the event, a number of times, I had never walked up it and was surprised by how far it went, questioning at one point if I was still in Brompton. Only once I could see the war memorial from a previously unseen angle did it become clear that I was in the right place. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!lFSH!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f48068422-e60f-49ad-87ac-e2ca958e70a6_1456x924.jpg) The 1872 Royal Engineers team. The Royal Engineers Association Football Club, also known as ‘The Sappers,’ have been based in Kent since the 1860s and were, at the time, one of the best teams in English football. The 1875 FA Cup was the fourth final of the tournament and the third final that the Royal Engineers had made it to. They lost 1-0 to Wanderers in 1872 and lost 2-0 to Oxford University in 1874\. In 1975, they played Old Etonians, with the match ending 1-1 after extra time. They went on to win the FA Cup 2-0 in a replay. Once at the King’s Bastion grounds, I find a wide array of family activities, including, rather bafflingly, an opportunity to play noughts and crosses against somebody in scuba diving gear in a tank. There is also a fun fair and an opportunity to have your photograph taken with the FA Cup. You are repeatedly told not to touch the cup, which, given the setting, I duly complied with. For the football itself, there is a Soccer Aid match between Royal Engineers and Old Etonians to begin, with teams made up of veterans and the women’s teams. A good game is played out, and whilst The Sappers controlled much of the game, their attack was better than their defence, and they lost the game 2-0. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!rybF!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0dd53173-f825-4899-89fc-87d5b7f46d38_1456x762.jpg) Royal Engineers vs Old Etonians. Afterwards, honorary colonel Al Murray is in attendance and gives each of the players a medal. Before the main match, the Red Devils fly over the grounds, completing an impressive display before unfurling a large Union Jack and flying it across the sky. They may also have delivered the match ball as part of this extravaganza. Al Murray joins us in the stands, and former England players Des Walker and Terry Butcher arrive to celebrate the event. A better journalist than this one would present you with a quote from any of these people, but it was not to be. The current Royal Engineers and Old Etonians football teams take to the pitch. Again, The Sappers controlled the game, but 30 minutes in, it was still 0-0, and I felt that it was not going to be The Sappers day. Thankfully, the half ended 2-0\. They continued to control the game and ended the day 4-0 winners, another fine win for the Sappers. --- #### Out to Breakfast: Beantown in Rochester Beantown is to be found in the middle of Maidstone Road in Rochester, part of a small parade of shops opposite the cemetery. What appears a small venue actually has more space than would at first appear, thanks to upstairs and outside seating areas. It’s a smart, friendly environment, and I sit downstairs and survey the breakfast options. I ordered the American breakfast, which comes with a big breakfast price and consists of two free-range fried eggs, two rashers of streaky bacon, two premium sausages, two hash browns, baked beans, three American pancakes and Canadian maple syrup. Despite international geopolitics, it is good to see that pancakes and syrup can still work well together. However, let me take a moment to talk about the need to end premium sausages. Sausages are a great way to use off cuts of pork mixed with other ingredients and deliver as mini packs of deliciousness. The fact that we are using premium cuts of pork to make sausages is an example of modern Western decadence and the failures of the capitalist state, comrades. With my crispy hash brown in hand, I cannot fully express the sheer level of disappointment and despair as I dunk it into my egg yolk to find it hard. Sadly, I dunked it instead into my warm, not hot, beans. The sausage is dense and clearly premium, but it is also not hot, as if it was previously cooked and warmed through, only not for long enough. I pour the maple syrup over the pancakes and tuck in, but by now, my heart really isn’t in it. I have eaten at Beantown before and enjoyed it. Sadly that was not the meal I reviewed today. --- #### Review: Where the Wind Blows at the Medway Little Theatre **by Moira Mehaffey** Raymond Briggs’ charming and devastating 1982 graphic novel is brought to the stage in a sweet, discomfiting and thoughtful adaptation at Medway Little Theatre under the able direction of Mike Dickinson. This well-loved tale of retired couple Jim and Hilda facing the aftermath of a nuclear strike in rural England is imbued with tender poignancy and moments of both dark humour and stark disquiet. As Jim, Ian White moves capably from bustling and practical, constructing the inner zone or refuge, unshakable in his faith that he is doing the correct thing by following governmental stipulations, to increasingly frail, his stoicism underlining the sheer futility of his precautions. Zo Hartley, as Hilda, adds pathos with a performance that convincingly portrays the incomprehension of the unimaginable situation being faced by the couple, alongside her misplaced pride in maintaining appearances and standards. The focus is on the smallness of their world, the disruption to the routines and familiarity of their shared life and the sheer anonymity of the forces beyond their control which have caused this. A flash of bright white light marks the impact of the bomb, with a continuous red afterglow visible through the window of their living room set, reminding us of the bigger, worse world outside. A single broken plate, a garden gate from which the paint has been burned off and the horror of switching on a radio from which only the absence of sound emanates are the simple props which help to convey the play’s critique of a faceless government’s inadequate preparations for an inevitable attack. The humour can be disarming but reminds us of the essential humanity of the characters. Assuming a new pertinence in the current international situation, the production will reward the investment of your time. *Where The Wind Blows is playing at the Medway Little Theatre until 24 May, and you can* [*buy tickets via their website*](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Events this week 🎉 Sat 17 May - [**WHOOP Heritage Festival**](https://whoop.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) // Fun activities for all the family. Slough Fort, Allhallows. Free. 🛍️ Sat 17 May - [**Broken Heart Bazaar**](https://www.facebook.com/events/8879929322124111/?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22external%5Fsearch%5Fengine%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D) // Alternative art, curios and wonders, gothic gifts, spooky homewares, and preloved trinkets. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🥕 Sun 18 May - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. --- #### A Company Interested in its Community Last time, we caught up on how our [Medwayish](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) project came into being and the good time that was (mostly) had by all. As we continue the journey of spinning the project out into a separate entity as a Community Interest Company, we’ve posted an update on what has changed and, excitingly, what comes next. [A Company Interested in its CommunitySomewhere between all the creative conversations and product ideas, it became obvious that we needed a more solid foundation. We also had a set of principles we’d been following, so I wanted to make them official.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5544191d-1b2c-4c90-bbba-1999bbd9f0ef_1280x1280.png)Medwayish](https://medwayish.substack.com/p/a-company-interested-in-its-community) --- #### More Authority We recently held our latest Medway Question Time event at MidKent College, where our readers can put questions to a panel of significant figures. For those who couldn’t make it along, we’ve made a recording of the event available. It’s a wide-ranging and good-natured discussion about the issues facing our towns, and we look forward to doing it again later in the year. [Listen: Medway Question TimeA break from the usual Local Authority schedule today as we bring you the recording from our recent Medway Question Time event at MidKent College.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/video_upload/post/163614444/a9668195-6e86-42cb-97f9-ef58b22b2784/transcoded-1747294205.webp)](https://www.localauthority.news/listen-medway-question-time-83e/) We also published our latest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives. This time, it was the turn of Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who talked about his new Police and Crime Plan and children’s exposure to phones and social media. [Voice of the Police and Crime CommissionerEditor’s note: Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who discusses his new Police and Crime Plan and the campaign to reduce children’s exposure …![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityMatthew Scott PCC![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f22a3d132-f7d1-4de6-85e1-387dbe6c634e_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner-f89/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Listen: Medway Question Time URL: https://www.localauthority.news/listen-medway-question-time-83e/ Last updated: 2025-05-15T11:03:05.000Z Listen: Medway Question Time 0:00 /200 1× A break from the usual *Local Authority* schedule today as we bring you the recording from our recent Medway Question Time event at MidKent College. Medway Question Time is an opportunity for our readers to question prominent Medway figures. This event covers higher education in Medway, provision of health services, potholes (of course!), and lots more. Our panel for this event features: - Vince Maple, Labour Leader of Medway Council - George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council - Dalia Halpern, Chair of Trustees at Chatham Memorial Synagogue - Richard Morsley, Chief Executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard It’s a good-natured and wide-ranging discussion of questions that were all submitted by the audience in the room. The audio quality isn’t perfect (Vince’s mic is a bit low, and the audience mic wasn’t recorded directly), but it is listenable. Unfortunately, the last couple of minutes are missing from the recording, presumably because we ran out of tape. We’ll be holding another Medway Question Time event later this year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!3Esy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff1374791-05a0-49ec-a770-321ef4b29c41_1182x666.jpg) Medway Question Time at MidKent College Time stamps for finding individual discussions: - 0:00 - Introduction - 2:03 - What should the council be doing more of and what should it being doing less of? - 22:13 - With increasing issues in higher education, do you have concerns about the sustainability of the higher education presence in Medway? - 40:47 - Please can we have all the potholes fixed in Medway? / What strategies do you recommend for traversing Medway? - 55:43 - Should Medway petition for a new hospital? - 1:11:30 - Should a Kent mayor position become available, would you run for it? - 1:12:20 - Does Medway need a food strategy? - 1:22:44 - Does the panel agree with Arts Council England that Medway is a ‘cultural cold spot’? ### Voice of the Police and Crime Commissioner URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner-f89/ Last updated: 2025-05-14T17:01:06.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who discusses his new Police and Crime Plan and the campaign to reduce children’s exposure to smartphones and social media.* --- #### Voice of the Police and Crime Commissioner **by Matthew Scott** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!A-O3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f22a3d132-f7d1-4de6-85e1-387dbe6c634e_1456x762.jpg) Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott I have recently published my new [Police and Crime Plan](https://www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/what-we-do/police-and-crime-plan-2025/?ref=localauthority.news). It’s called ‘Cut Crime, Support Victims, Build Trust’ and will be the core mission of Kent Police for the next four years. We have made significant progress together over the last nine years, but we must continue to improve our service to the people of Kent and those unfortunate enough to become victims of crime. The plan is broken down into four priority areas. We want to **protect people** by continuing the popular ‘hotspot patrols’ in areas with higher levels of violence and antisocial behaviour; there will be ongoing investment in the specialist units which target organised crime; new technology will be acquired to communicate with victims, and there will be an increase in proactive interventions for persistent offenders. We will **protect places** by enhancing the Neighbourhood Policing Model, where named police officers have beat patrols in local areas, and there will be investment in the Rural Task Force and road safety patrols. **Protecting property** is also a priority. Kent Police will visit burglary victims in a timely manner, and the force has signed up to the nationally recognised Retail Crime Action Plan to reduce shoplifting and retail crime. We’ll also maintain specialist capability to tackle the risk of cybercrime. **Productive partnerships** to support victims will also be encouraged and supported: £4m will be spent on support services, and I’m working with the Kent Criminal Justice Board to try to reduce the distressing backlog in the county’s courts. And, of course, it’s not just about dealing with crime, it’s also about **preventing crime** in the future. There’s been a good deal in the news about young people and social media. There’s growing momentum behind the campaign to reduce children’s exposure to smartphones and social media, and more and more parents are signing a pledge not to buy smartphones for children until they are 14. To draw attention to the risks I’ve launched **Operation Screentime** and been holding online safety sessions in schools, delivering advice to hundreds of students. It has been well received, but the insights are fascinating. Whilst my recent Youth survey suggested that just over 31% of primary school pupils do *not* have a smartphone, nearly every Year 6 pupil we meet does. It seems the transition from Year 5 (aged 10) to Year 6 (aged 11) is when they are getting them, either for their 11th birthday or because they are being trusted to walk to school. Now I understand this, but there are devices that allow calls, texts and GPS tracking without being full smartphones. And it is at this age where the problems are starting. Once they have the phones, they acquire social media apps which they are too young to use (the recommended age for most social media apps is 13). In many cases, the parents know and encourage it - especially WhatsApp. Yet every school we have visited says WhatsApp groups are causing problems because what is happening outside school is spilling over into the classroom and the playground. My Youth survey found about 30% of the country’s children have been bullied online, and shockingly, 15% admitted they’d bullied someone else. My Operation Screentime sessions warn youngsters about the lasting impact their digital footprint can have, as well as how to keep their passwords secure. We also encourage children to tell adults about any bullying rather than keep it to themselves, as far too many tell us they do. We’ve been delivering the sessions right across the county and will continue to do so next term and next year too. This is something we must address now, for our children’s sakes. You can read more about the Police and Crime Plan and my Internet Safety Campaign on [my website](http://www.kent-pcc.gov.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). *Matthew Scott is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent.* ### Medway housing more unaffordable than ever URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-housing-more-unaffordable/ Last updated: 2025-05-13T23:19:52.000Z *The high cost of housing in Medway and the ongoing lack of supply are things we’ve written about a lot over the years, but new data on the situation paints an even bleaker picture than ever. Further down, we have news on how Medway Council are trying to make its digital services usable, a look at the remarkable Rochester skyline for VE Day, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway housing more unaffordable than ever The average private rent for a home in Medway is now nearly £1,200, with rents rising faster in Medway than at any time since the Office for National Statistics [started tracking localised data](https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/privaterentandhousepricesuk/april2025?ref=localauthority.news#private-rents-for-local-areas). The average private rent in Medway reached £1,181pm in March 2021, up 11.3% from a year earlier. Private sector rents had steadily increased in Medway before taking more significant jumps over the past three years. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Brj1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa8a226d5-643e-4f1c-b844-f34321063582_5876x3076.jpg) New housing in Rochester. At the lowest end of the spectrum, the average one-bedroom property reached £854pm, two-bedrooms £1,087pm, three-bedrooms £1,277pm, and four-plus-bedroom properties reaching £1,766pm. The 11.3% annual increase in private rents in Medway is well above the England average of 7.8%, the southeast average of 7%, and even outstrips London, which saw rents increase by 9.1% over the same period. Of course, Medway is by no means alone in this position, even if we are at the higher end of the spectrum. Successive failures to meet housing targets across the country have left us in a position where demand significantly outstrips supply, leaving renters trapped in a spiralling cycle of out of control rental costs. Renters in Medway wishing to escape this cycle face an ever more difficult house price market if they want to buy their own property too. The [average house price in Medway](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/housing/bulletins/housingaffordabilityinenglandandwales/2024?ref=localauthority.news) is now £300,000, while the average earnings in our towns is £35,700\. This means that Medway’s affordability ratio is now 9.1 times earnings, meaning that on average, even two people on average salaries applying for a joint mortgage in Medway would struggle to obtain a mortgage for an average home. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!gYKQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffce921a9-5d6f-48cf-b722-c8f347055c11_4032x2111.jpg) Newish and oldish housing in Strood. As a result of these figures, one might assume that it was imperative to get the cost of housing under control in Medway, but this would require substantial levels of housebuilding that we are not even close to achieving. Medway’s annual housing requirement is [1,594 new homes every year](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200149/planning%5Fpolicy/597/local%5Fdevelopment%5Fscheme%5Fand%5Fmonitoring/6?ref=localauthority.news), and because of constant failures to get enough housing built, the government actually expects our area to be delivering 1,913 each year. To say that we are not hitting either figure would be something of an understatement. In the [most recent year of data](https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/local-authority-data-housing-supply/?ref=localauthority.news), Medway managed to increase its figure by 1,166 homes, which, despite being over 400 short of the needed figure, is the best the area has achieved for as long as the data has been recorded. Of course, even building the right level of housing (which we aren’t) isn’t necessarily enough if they are the wrong types of homes or aren’t actually affordable for anyone. With the housing affordability ratio above, genuinely affordable housing becomes more important than ever. Despite that, Medway has managed to see just 2,056 affordable homes built in the last ten years. The largest proportion (1,000) were under affordable home ownership schemes, while 830 were affordable rent schemes. The remaining 226 are arguably the only truly affordable homes: social housing. It is unclear how much good this can do though, when, on average, Medway is only managing to build 23 new social homes each year, all while other tenures become increasingly out of reach for residents. Again, none of this is a unique problem to Medway, as many councils nationwide are looking at similar figures. But with Medway’s growing population and decreasing affordability, something will eventually have to change, as the combination of spiralling housing costs with a failure in supply will not be sustainable. --- #### Medway Council aims to make digital services usable If you’ve ever tried to report anything to Medway Council using one of their online forms, there’s a good chance you’ve been left somewhat frustrated. Indeed, your humble writer here today booked a trip to the tip earlier on top, which required an 11 page form, and when he realised he’d booked the wrong day, there was another four page form to cancel the booking. Navigating these forms can be annoying but doable if you’re vaguely tech savvy. Still, many residents don’t find accessing or using them straightforward, which, as we move towards an increasingly digital world, is only going to cause friction. Medway Council is embarking on an initiative called Medway 2.0, which is attempting to rebuild its digital services from the ground up. They believe their approach to this is innovative, primarily because they are figuring out what they want the service to do and then looking for the tech to make that work rather than buying tech and forcing systems to work around it. They claim it will make things easier for residents to report things, but it will extend into swathes of the council’s operation, up to and including AI wellness chatbots for staff. We sat down with Cllr Alex Paterson, portfolio holder for Community Safety, Highways, and Enforcement, to ask him exactly why we should welcome Medway’s new AI overlords. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!JnTn!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd2bbb59f-f97b-40e7-ae14-2d5327fb2e90_4480x4480.jpg) Cllr Alex Paterson Alex quickly laughs off the question, pointing out that “AI is a small part of the methodology we will use to deliver better results for residents.” Alex is eager to get on to the meat of the Medway 2.0 experience, telling me it’s “not an app. It’s not AI. It’s systems agnostic. It doesn't matter whether you're using a Mac or a PC. It doesn't care if you've got an Android phone. It's about rethinking processes.” Which is all very nice, but what does it actually mean for residents engaging with the council? As the system is still in its early days, Alex points out a tangible example that Medway Council is already using. Their process for reporting nuisance vehicles is at the forefront of the Medway 2.0 technology. Medway Council can deal with abandoned or illegally parked cars, while residents may also report things like untaxed vehicles, which is the responsibility of the DVLA. In the past, if a resident reported a vehicle that would be down to the DVLA to deal with, Medway Council would point the resident in that direction. Under the new system, Medway can report the matter directly on behalf of the resident. It’s a relatively minor thing, but something that makes things a little bit easier. The intent for Medway 2.0 is to make things smoother across the board. Alex thinks being able to provide more relevant and data can go a long way as well: “I think a lot of frustration with services isn't necessarily about the service itself, it's about the not knowing. It's arriving at a bus stop and not knowing when the next bus is going to be. If you can rely on real-time information, you're a lot less frustrated. So I think that actually building that into the process, understanding the customer's frustration is almost part of how we are trying to rethink these services.” The use of AI is an emerging technology that isn’t entirely without controversy, but Medway Council are bullish about its potential. Alex makes it clear that the intent isn’t for AI to replace human workers, but to streamline the work that they do: “I don't want skilled social workers who have studied at university and have a great degree of specialism to be spending unnecessary time typing up case notes that could have been transcribed in real-time by an AI bot. If that's something that the customer is happy with and that's something that is still at their discretion whether they participate in that process. But the benefits for both the customer and for the officer are great because it streamlines that process and takes away a lot of that wasted time.” As it stands, Medway Council handles tens of thousands of calls each year from Medway residents, who often want to do relatively simple things like book a tip visit, request a new bin, or report flytipping. Inevitably, part of improving the online reporting systems is to try to move some of these interactions from phone calls to online. When asked if residents will still be able to call in, thinking about those who aren’t particularly savvy online in particular, Alex tells me that residents “will be able to engage with the council in the way that is most efficient for them and for the council.” This means the phone systems will continue to exist, but there is a natural move toward more online reporting for more people. Alex is also very enthusiastic to highlight that Medway is leading innovation in this area, arguing their approach for doing this is unique among their peers: “The stuff we're doing is being developed in-house. So this is Medway built like all those great ships from the dockyard. That enables us to then respond really quickly to requests from staff to adapt to local circumstances. What we are doing is attracting attention from other councils, because not every council has taken the opportunity to rethink its processes in this way. I'm really pleased that we are innovating in that way, but because we are the ones doing it, Medway residents are the ones who benefit first.” Medway 2.0 will be rolling out to more Medway Council services over time, but if you’d like to take a version of it for a spin now, it might be a good time to [report that nuisance vehicle](https://www.medway.gov.uk/NuisanceVehicle?ref=localauthority.news) that’s been bugging you for a while. --- #### VE Day lights up the sky We’re not usually in the business of sharing fancy photography from Medway Council, but as part of last week’s VE Day commemorations, the skies across Medway were transformed by searchlights and other light displays around the towns. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!8iCv!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5ea88172-d875-406b-9be7-88f0467e606b_5280x2764.jpg) VE Day commemorations in Medway Despite the advance warning of what would happen, there was no shortage of posts in Facebook groups asking what the weird lights in the sky were. This photo above shows the scene across Rochester, with the castle and cathedral lit up while searchlights scan the skies. Definitely one of the more unique Medway displays in some time. --- #### In brief 🗣️ [There’s a full Medway Council meeting tomorrow night](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=5903&ref=localauthority.news) (Wed 14 May). Don’t expect many fireworks though as it’s the obligatory Annual Meeting where very little happens beyond a few formalities. 🌳 [The opposition Conservative Group on Medway Council have unanimously re-elected their leadership team](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/medway-conservatives-re-elect-leadership-team?ref=localauthority.news) of George Perfect and Gary Hackwell for the coming year. 👷 [Demolition work is underway inside the former Debenhams building on Chatham High Street](https://futuremedway.co.uk/demolition-work-underway-inside-former-debenhams-in-chatham-high-street/?ref=localauthority.news). The enabling works will remove much of the interior, with Medway Council hoping the NHS will take on part of the building for an elective care centre. ✍️ [Medway Council is seeking consultants](https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019967-2025?ref=localauthority.news) to design the new open space at Temple Marsh in Strood. The contract is worth £120,000 and could take up to two years. 🔥 Two teenagers have been arrested after the former [St John Fisher School building in Chatham was set on fire](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/two-teenage-boys-arrested-after-fire-at-derelict-school-324032/?ref=localauthority.news) for the umpteenth time. 🏫 [Robert Napier School in Gillingham has applied for planning permission](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SVUH1OKNLQB00&ref=localauthority.news) to demolish their referral unit and replace it with a new block containing science labs, classrooms, an IT suite, and more. 🐐 [The Waggon at Hale pub in Chatham has been accused of neglecting the animals in their garden](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/pub-landlady-heartbroken-after-animal-neglect-claims-323913/?ref=localauthority.news) after photos went viral on Facebook, leading to a lot of anger and a poisoned goat. 🛍️ [Hobbycraft in Strood has closed suddenly](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/dismay-as-huge-chain-retailer-unexpectedly-shuts-324125/?ref=localauthority.news) after the landlord repossessed the building, locking the retailer’s staff outside and its stock inside. --- #### More Authority We received great feedback on our [big Medway Council Leader Vince Maple interview](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/). While some outlets might go for the quick soundbite, we’re proud that our interviews have a more detailed and focused approach, particularly when talking to politicians about their record. Anyway, it’s a good read, so please take a look if you haven’t already. [“I'll stand on my track record of decades of service”Steven sat down with Medway Council Leader Cllr Vince Maple for the fourth time, two years after he took control of Medway Council following the 2023 local elections. They discuss what powers Vince actually has to improve things in Medway, the future leadership of Labour in North Kent, whether we should improve Medway’s ties to Europe, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd654252a-88e2-4f66-a3ac-dee1713c1a8d_2240x1680.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/) It’s a bit of a political bonanza this week. Coming up later this week, we’ve also got our latest column from Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott and the recording from our recent Medway Question Time event at MidKent College. Then, at the end of the week, we’ll abruptly shift gears with our latest culture briefing and Sunday interview. As always, our briefing editions are free to all subscribers, but our additional columns and interviews are exclusive to our [paid supporters](#/portal/signup). [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*The Execution of All Things by Rilo Kiley*](https://rilokiley.bandcamp.com/album/the-execution-of-all-things?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Middle Spoon by Cheekface*](https://cheekface.bandcamp.com/album/middle-spoon?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Superstar by Caroline Rose*](https://carolinerosemusic.bandcamp.com/album/superstar?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “I'll stand on my track record of decades of service” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/ill-stand-on-my-track-record-of-decades/ Last updated: 2025-05-11T06:00:23.000Z *Steven sat down with Medway Council Leader Cllr Vince Maple for the fourth time, two years after he took control of Medway Council following the 2023 local elections. They discuss what powers Vince actually has to improve things in Medway, the future leadership of Labour in North Kent, whether we should improve Medway’s ties to Europe, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vCy_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd654252a-88e2-4f66-a3ac-dee1713c1a8d_2240x1680.jpg) Cllr Vince Maple **Being Leader of the Council, I imagine, has some stressful moments…** It does. **What do you currently do to unwind?** That's a great question and we're having this interview whilst I've got a bit of overall chesty infection at the moment, so not even having a good night's sleep is an option. I think, as *Local Authority* readers know, I'm passionate about the job, so trying to have any time off is difficult. Although with Ned now being at school age, school holidays are really precious. We've just had the Easter break, and I had a couple of days where I actually turned the laptop off. We went and had a lovely time in Liverpool. We enjoyed the cathedral, not as cool as Rochester Cathedral, I'm obliged to say, and a few other bits and pieces there. So yeah, we try and have that family time, but it is difficult because absolutely, I want to be an active council leader, and I appreciate that people want to have the opportunity to have their conversation with me, invite me to their events, and I'll always try and facilitate that. That's their diary, not mine. I always try and work with community groups and others as much as I can to facilitate that, but I always remember that the two most important people in Medway live in my house. **You worked for a long time to become leader of Medway. Any regrets?** I regret Michael Gove taking 170 million quid off me on the first working day. Has everything been perfect in the last two years? No, but I'd said that beforehand. I said that at the hustings just over two years ago now. I'm a human being. We are fallible. We make mistakes. Has everything gone exactly as I'd want it to? No, but on the whole, blimey, we're making some good progress on really challenging areas, not least the finances. We're getting through our FIT Plan *(Financial Improvement and Transformation Plan)*, which will be the plan to get us back to financial sustainability. Those are important things. That means difficult decisions. Sometimes, communicating those difficult decisions can get lost in the mix, and I think we saw that perhaps with the Christmas lights example. Even then we had a good outcome: Both the community stepping up, but also some businesses as well, supporting our administration. I'm pleased two years in, but you know people are human, people make mistakes. **Following the Rochester East and Warren Wood by-election, the Labour group lost its majority on the council. It now has a majority on the council. What happened? What are you allowed to say?** As [I've said to ](https://www.localauthority.news/labour-regains-overall-control-of/)[*Local Authority*](https://www.localauthority.news/labour-regains-overall-control-of/) and every other journalist that's asked me about this, by the very nature of any internal process in the Labour Party, it is a rule-breaking offence to talk about an internal process in the Labour Party. I'm pleased it's concluded. I welcome our two colleagues back to the Labour and Co-operative Group. The process took too long. I've said that elsewhere, and I'd say that again. Which was unfair on both of those individuals and the Labour Group and the council as a whole. I'm pleased that we've concluded that. **The Local Plan caused irreparable rifts in the previous administration. How are things with the current administration and the Local Plan?** It's an absolute political priority. We've been very clear on that. We are determined but not predetermined to deliver a Local Plan. You cannot have a situation with a community like Medway where the last Local Plan was created 22 years ago. That leads to piecemeal development and leads to planning by appeal. That's not in anyone's interest. My concern is that some of the people who it feels as if they're trying to disrupt this process are some of the people who argue most vociferously against house building. We are determined. We've worked hard on this as an administration since we got into control. I pay particular tribute to my friend and colleague, [Simon Curry](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/). His determination on this is without challenge. He has been working hard on this, and our amazing council officers who have worked tirelessly on this, as is well documented, we've got a special council meeting coming up early in the new municipal year and I look forward to the debate. **You once said the nature of the Local Plan is that “no one will be happy about some aspect of it.” In that world of upsetting voters and what we call ‘political capital,’ with local government reorganisation coming, is there a need to finish a Local Plan?** I think it's our duty to get a Local Plan in place. I think it's essential because otherwise, we will continue to have planning by appeal. **Would a new North Kent unitary authority have to adhere to it, or would they start all over again?** That's a good question that I don't have the answer to, not least because we don't know the nature of what we have and what those new councils will look like. If you've got a Local Plan that’s in place for 15 years, that will be brought to the table along with any other Local Plan from constituent parts or complete councils that may make up that new authority. There will be a huge piece of work. Local government reorganisation will take a lot of energy, a lot of time, although we won't have a lot of time, to make sure that we go through all of those processes. The quasi-judicial matters of planning and licensing will be one element where we'll need to see where we are with policies. We’re likely to have a shadow year where we will be doing that work. But it's absolutely in our best interest to have a Medway Local Plan. People will continue to do the work, and we will be pressing ahead with our special meeting later in the year. **In two years, what good things have you achieved in that time which aren't a continuation or a completion of a Conservative project?** Lots, and we'll talk about some of those. I think one of the things that we have not concluded because we're on a journey is financial sustainability. The previous administration's last budget was built on reserves. Then they used further reserves during the year without taking any external advice and guidance as to do next. That is not sustainable. I think we took the right decision to bring in CIPFA *(The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy)*. I think they have given us two very honest, open reports. We've published them. We didn't have to, we chose to. We think that's the right thing to do. We've made the council more transparent. Whether it's One Minute Medway, whether it's Medway Matters Live, whether it's the new questions that will be coming to Cabinet, the accessibility of this council and its leadership, along with Our Medway Live, which is an internal staff version of Medway Matters Live. In all cases, myself, the Cabinet, [Richard Hicks](https://www.localauthority.news/anything-that-impacts-negatively/) as Chief Executive, are far more accessible and available. Which is important because democracy is not rocking up every four years to put a cross in a box. That's important. I'd always encourage people to vote. But it's a process. By the nature of big capital programmes and projects, of course, some things started before May 2023\. I said it in the council chamber numerous times, and I'll say it again here. I'm never going to be churlish enough to ignore that the world existed before that date. I think the prime example of that actually was the Ofsted. People ask me, ‘What are the three proudest moments I've got as a council leader?’ One of those three is undoubtedly hearing that Ofsted outcome. But I'm the first to say we did some important work on that in opposition, and we did some important work in our very early days, but I pay tribute to everyone from Josie Iles to Clive Johnson, all of whom played their part in getting to that particular place. I take a small amount of credit, and I pay credit, particularly to Clive. We had an important conversation right at the start of that process, saying we're not going to do politics here. This is too important. We will be supportive and collaborative with the administration, and that's meant all over scrutiny, corporate parenting is all in a much better place as a result of that. Big capital projects don't happen overnight, they take time, but we're getting on, and we'll see more of that as we roll out over the next few weeks, months and years. **Since our first interview in 2023, the Conservative Group is now on their third leader. Will you be leading the Labour group into local government reorganisation?** Subject to getting rid of this chesty cough, yes, I hope so. We have our group AGM. Although the council leader is elected for a four-year period that happens at the first council meeting after any elections, the Labour Party rule book says the leader of the group has to be re-elected every year. I've put myself forward for re-election every year since I was elected. I have been elected unopposed every year.[1](#footnote-1) It's great to have that support from my colleagues. I'm particularly proud of the working relationship I have with my friend and deputy leader. That relationship, in some quarters, can be really challenging. Teresa is, first and foremost, a friend. The work that we do is collectively to support each other. Leadership can be lonely sometimes. The fact that we've got more than a decade of working together is a positive thing, not just for the Labour group, but for Medway Council and Medway as a whole. It is absolutely my intention. As I've said elsewhere, I think it is likely that I will be the last leader of Medway Council, which again is a sentence I don't take any pleasure in saying, but I think that's likely. **Is the fact you've stood unopposed not some indictment on the lack of future leaders? Three key individuals within the group have now gone on to be MPs. What is the future leadership post-Maple?** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### It’s Blooming Intra URL: https://www.localauthority.news/its-blooming-intra/ Last updated: 2025-05-09T17:30:30.000Z *A series of events to help boost the Chatham Intra area culminates this weekend with a number of community events. We’ve been finding out more. Further down, we have news of the campaign to regenerate Gillingham town centre, learn about a group tackling social isolation in our towns, we review a new pizza restaurant in Gillingham, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### It’s Blooming Intra *The Intra Community Trust became a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) as part of their plans to support the Chatham Intra area as a heritage place. We caught up with their new Executive Director, Cerian Eiles, to talk about the ‘Blooming Intra’ project, which will culminate this weekend.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!03fS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff1a7bc40-231f-4c3f-a42e-a8461075c236_1456x762.jpg) The Intra Community Trust (ICT) is a new organisation focusing on the conservation area. between Star Hill and Sun Pier, which is known for this purpose as Chatham Intra. “We are a community-led organisation that focuses on regeneration using heritage and culture as tools for that regeneration,” says Cerian. As part of that heritage and culture focus, they have launched the ‘Blooming Intra’ project, which is “part of our strategy to essentially animate the Intra area”. This essentially involves providing activities for local people and incentives to encourage people to visit the area. “It is our spring intervention. We're focusing on renewal, rejuvenation.” One of the overarching projects that ICT has been working on with their 100-plus members is “bringing more greenery into the area.” This has included tree planting and wildflower meadow planting over the last year. There will also be seed planting, with a focus on individual participation. “You can come along, plant a seed, take away your little seed in its pot and then grow it at home.” Part of the ‘Blooming Intra’ also includes poppy designs hand-drawn by Matilda Flood for VE Day that can be found in shop windows along the high street. The activities culminate with an eco-fair at the Unitarian Church on New Road on Saturday, which looks at what it means to make do and mend in a modern culture. “A lot of us are conscious environmentally of not using too much and how do we reuse, how do we recycle?” The trust is working with the Zigzag Scrap Store at Intra Arts, whose “big remit is around giving access to local people to materials so they can reuse them.” “It's about people coming along, taking part in something that is about new life, rejuvenation, and reusing. The incredible Jodie Elwin *(Intra Project Manager)* has, as ever, pulled out an astonishing suite of events.” There will be digital flower drawing at Poco Loco on Sunday for 7–11-year-olds, and Sun Pier House is hosting a kitchen table event, ‘Unlocking the Creation Space,’ their exciting new venue at the base of Sun Pier House on Saturday. There will also be a litter pick in the area on Saturday starting at 10am. “I think the big headline for anyone that wants to take part in something on Saturday is head down to the Intra area. There's lots going on. You can just show up, drop in, and the workshops are free to take part in.” Whilst you can take home anything you make in the workshops, which include fabric flower making and hat millinery, they will also be making future window displays out of work produced on the day. For *Cerian* and the Intra Community Trust, the desired impact of the project and its workshops is twofold. “First it is about animating the high street, making Intra into a destination.” The longer-term goal of these projects is developing Intra so that it is seen as a place to go on a Saturday afternoon, and there will be something participatory, probably for free. “Second is we are using these events to talk to people.” ICT want to know what local people want, how they want to use the places and spaces, and “what are the projects they'd like to see? Do they want more live music? Do they want more opportunity to make flowers out of recycled materials? Do they want more intercultural events? Do we need more intergenerational events?” Their aim with this project is to enable them to speak to more people and understand what local and hyperlocal people to Intra want to happen. The Intra Community Trust is community led. “We talk a lot to our members. We don't do anything without our members agreeing that it's something that they want us to do.” However, Cerian recognises that they need to bring wider communities into those conversations, which is why she will be at the Sun Pier House event on Saturday, “because we want to talk to your readers. We want to hear what they have to say.” --- #### In brief 📜 The Peoples Poem for Piece, with contributions from residents of Medway, has been edited and [performed by poet Dan Simpson](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJZo0guNANV/?igsh=MXMwbHBoNGJkaG53Nw==&ref=localauthority.news). ☕ [TickTocks cafe in Rainham has closed](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid02Das31qr9ESE3jbnKjnPMq4EfKaD3mzyWDP5WdzZmRa9WWJ7EPs8gWPknUTvgYhfEl&id=61555848297268&locale=en%5FGB), with the owners citing having to pay their employees an increased minimum wage and higher National Insurance contributions as the reason. 🍲 The Good Food Guide has published its list of [recommended places to eat in Medway](https://www.thegoodfoodguide.co.uk/editorial/local-guide/where-to-eat-in-the-towns-of-medway?ref=localauthority.news). ✈️ A restored 1930s ‘floatplane’ will be [displayed in Rochester Cathedral](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg9y30xlk2o?ref=localauthority.news) throughout August. --- #### The Love Gillingham Action Plan *‘*[*Love Gillingham*](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200177/regeneration/1917/regeneration%5Fin%5Fgillingham?ref=localauthority.news)*’ is a campaign launched by Gillingham and Rainham MP* [*Naushabah Khan*](https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/) *to bring focus, support and investment to Gillingham High Street. Following a successful launch event last year, we caught up with her to learn about this year’s event and the development of a Gillingham Action Plan.* “The ‘Love Gillingham’ campaign pretty much does what it says on the tin,” says Naushabah, who grew up in Gillingham before becoming a councillor for the area. “It came about after years of me as a councillor speaking to people of the frustrations around Gillingham town centre’s decades of decline.” As a councillor in opposition trying to do something about this, she felt it was like hitting up against a brick wall, “going to the Conservative council and asking them to support Gillingham.” Naushabah thinks it was clear that it wasn't a political priority for them and “their interests for whatever reasons were in other parts of Medway”. For local people, that has been an enormous frustration, and when Naushabah became a cabinet member in the new Labour administration, these were challenges that she was determined to address. It was this that launched the ‘Love Gillingham’ concept, which she is now carrying on as an MP. “’Love Gillingham’ is an umbrella term for all the work that we are doing around Gillingham Town Centre.” The biggest part of which is the [Gillingham Town Centre Task Force](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200177/regeneration/1917/regeneration%5Fin%5Fgillingham/2?ref=localauthority.news), which Naushabah chairs. This brings together the council, police and other stakeholders with the intention to tackle some of those immediate challenges on the high streets. The focus of the task force has been making the High Street look cleaner and welcoming. “The task force is the vehicle through which we're trying to drive through that change.” The other element of ‘Love Gillingham’ is the annual event launched last year. This year’s event is part of a weekend of activity, culminating on Sunday 20 July. “We've got more money for it. We're trying to make it bigger, more engaging, and that's to celebrate what is happening in Gillingham and reinstil that sense of pride.” The weekend starts with the Medway Mile, which will now going to go through the Gillingham Town Centre. They have also established community panels, with “40 people who are really keen to talk about the future of Gillingham,” and have been running workshops facilitated by external organizers. Findings from these panels will be used to complete an action plan, which will be launched in July this year. “We've got this overarching strategic program for the future. The big thing for me is that Gillingham needs investment,” which is an issue Naushabah has been trying to raise in Parliament. Naushabah has also been talking to the private sector on a broader scale about what high street regeneration can look like, for which she will be setting up an external partners group. This group will include Gillingham FC, Peel Ports, and Gillingham Marina. She describes this group as “people who are doing big things and may have an interest in ensuring that the town centre is thriving.” Naushabah is keen to continue working with the council, and “the ideal would be a design code or master plan for Gillingham.” The MP recently submitted a report to Medway Council following two roundtables she held with local businesses. One held at the Queen of Bakes in Gillingham on Small Business Saturday and provided an opportunity for her to listen to what they found frustrating, challenging, and where they think the area could be improved. “People are invested in Gillingham. They had either grown up here or they've been here for a long time, and they want it to succeed as a place.” Naushabah and her team collated the findings to decide the next steps in the action plan. Naushabah highlights that people are starting to notice a difference: The area is cleaner, waste is better controlled, and there is development on murals for the area. “It doesn't have to be expensive stuff.” The Royal Engineers are looking at updating the memorial on Sapper's Walk, and Gillingham FC are looking at adding signs highlighting that this is their home. She has also been work with local designer [Esther Johnson](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-think-weve-finished-with-waghorn/) on the ‘Love Gillingham’ logo and designs, which “we're hoping to get painted in the town.” ![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!vTnG!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb126289f-54f4-4ed6-b7e5-c2bf86ec9e69_14040x9930.heic) Esther Johnson’s map of Gillingham. The MP sees this as an opportunity to show some love for Gillingham. “We've got to be honest about the fact that town centres have changed, how people use them has changed, what people expect from them has changed. The key thing for us now is what does Gillingham need to look like so that people still want to go there, they still want to use it.” --- #### Mutual aid for Medway [Mutual Aid Road Reps](https://www.mutualaidmedway.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is a community project based on mutual aid, which started at the beginning of covid to help people struggling with isolation. “A couple of us were putting leaflets out, and within the space of about two months, we had 270 volunteers across Medway,” Kate Belmonte, the co-founder, tells me. They were helping with shopping, prescriptions, going to the post office, and making telephone calls to isolated people. Isolation can affect people’s physical health as well as mental health. They now run community sessions every week in Rainham and Gillingham, as well as a monthly session in Rochester and “a monthly session which is a walk and talk.” Their goal is to have a session every day of the week within the next year. “We are on course for making people be less lonely.” They have recently finished a project funded by the third year of Medway Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. “We provide breakfast, lunch, or a light buffet at all our sessions. Over a thousand meals served to people.” Whilst there are care companies who provide support, “they can charge a lot of money, whilst MARR is a not-for-profit.” Last October, MARR also took over Rainham’s [Circle Refill Hub](https://www.thecirclerefill.com/?ref=localauthority.news). “My front room is currently filled with cleaning products, bubble bath and shampoo.” The project aims to be plastic-free, and they deliver products in reusable bottles. They have pick-up points in Rainham, Rochester and Twydall, as well as a sample stand at the Zigzag scrap store at Intra Arts in Rochester, “where you can see and smell the products and look at the price lists.” All the profits from the initiative go back to MARR for running their sessions. “As far as I know, we're the only non-profit refill hub.” Nearly all the products are produced in the UK or Europe, and they are vegan, phosphate, and palm free. “They're good for you and the planet,” Kate notes. Kate’s next focus for the Mutual Aid vision is ‘a library of things,’ where people can borrow useful things for their homes and projects instead of buying them. “It's quite expensive. We need £50,000.” Kate hopes to work with other organisations to make the project a reality. They also run a repair café in Strood with Medway Council and are part of the community climate change working group. Kate, who stood as a Green Party candidate in recent elections, is also part of the community energy project, which is looking to save people money. They have recently announced climate courses that are free to attend, both in Rainham and at Sun Pier House in Chatham, starting in June. There are currently places available at their Tuesday and Wednesday sessions. The first Thursday of the month, they host The Friendship Spectrum at Twydall Community Centre, which is for adults with autism, ADHD, or “any other lifelong condition that makes friendships more difficult.” They also hold a monthly board game session at Playopolis in Rochester, who also provide free teas and coffee. If you are interested in participating in any of MARR’s activities, you can find more details on [their website](https://www.mutualaidmedway.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Out to Lunch: J&T Pizza Bar As part of our ongoing mission to find good quality pizza to recommend, we headed to Watling Street in Gillingham, where a new pizza bar has opened. Whilst there are Italian restaurants that also serve pizza, I wanted to go somewhere where pizza is the focus. Once you get through the slightly confusing ‘is it open or not’ front door, J&T Pizza Bar is a stylish and welcoming venue with an eye for modern comic twists of famous art. For transparency purposes, I ended up going later in the day rather than lunch due to other events in the *Local Authority* schedule. I ordered arancini for a starter, a mixed leaf salad and a pepperoni pizza, for which I asked for extra cheese in a fit of pique. The cost was slightly high, but the food was generously portioned and well presented. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ahsi!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6082ab2d-f112-4e2a-8987-d79f7c57b3b4_1456x936.jpg) Food at J&T Pizza Bar. The arancini was a good mixture with a flavoursome cheese centre, a crispy outer coating, all complemented by a tomato sauce. The salad was also a good mixture of mixed leaves, a variety of tomatoes, and cucumber. It had a good dressing, and I could have happily had more of it. Finally, I found a pizza I can recommend to you. Whilst the crust was large, the central pizza was well portioned, with good quality pepperoni that had flavour. The mix of cheeses worked well together, and I happily ate it all. If you want somewhere to have a pizza in Medway, head to Watling Street and enjoy the food on offer at J&T Pizza Bar. --- #### Events this week 🛍️ Sat 10 May - [**Rochester City Artisan Market**](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket) // Stalls dotted through the town centre selling art, crafts, and unique gifts. Rochester High Street. Free. 🚔 Sat 10 May - [**Crime & Punishment**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1665646714372044/) // Themed open-mic night where musicians play songs related to, well, crime and punishment. Rochester Social Club. Free. Sun 11 May - [**John Bramwell**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/john-bramwell-i-am-kloot-live-at-three-sheets-tickets-1098252495779?ref=localauthority.news) // I Am Kloot singer-songwriter returns to Rochester for an intimate show. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Tickets £27. 🎭 15 - 24 May - [**Where The Wind Blows**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news) // Tragicomedy play about love and nuclear war. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £12. --- #### All change at Medwayish Our [Medwayish](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) project originally began to reward crowdfunding supporters with cool stuff. It spiralled out and sparked great creative conversations, long days standing at markets and festivals, and grew into a wider passion project, working with local talent to celebrate the people and place that is Medway. As part of its next step, Medwayish is separating from *Local Authority*, and you can read all about how we got here and what will be happening next below. [The Medwayish story: How did we get here?In which Steven Keevil catches everyone up on how a plan to reward crowdfunder supporters with cool stuff sparked great creative conversations, long days standing at markets and festivals, and grew into a wider passion project — working with local talent to celebrate the people and place that is Medway.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb2a493bb-49df-41c1-86ad-67be01273396_256x256.png)Medwayish](https://medwayish.substack.com/p/the-medwayish-story-how-did-we-get) --- #### More Authority Yesterday marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day, so we looked at the [events being held across our towns](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-marks-ve-day/) to commemorate and mark the occasion. Coming up this Sunday, we have a big sit-down interview with Medway Council Leader Vince Maple as he reaches the halfway point of his term running the area. It’s the fourth time we have interviewed Cllr Maple, and this is the toughest set of questions we have put to him. The full interview will only be available to our [paid supporters](#/portal/signup), so please consider becoming one of them if you aren’t already. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) Over on the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), our sister title, this week we looked at how one of the country's most significant new town developments [has been derailed by the discovery of a tiny spider](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/a-town-separated-by-spiders?ref=localauthority.news) on the site. Earlier in the week, we looked at [Kent’s May Day celebrations](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/invented-traditions?ref=localauthority.news), where Morris dancers and pagan curious residents gather at dawn for Jack in the Green festivities. To access our Kent-wide journalism, [subscribe to the ](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)[*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)[ here](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news). [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Medway marks VE Day URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-marks-ve-day/ Last updated: 2025-05-08T06:01:04.000Z *Today (Thu 8 May), Medway honours the World War II veterans and civilians who fought and supported the war effort, highlighting Medway’s naval, military and cultural contributions. We spoke to Cllr Nina Gurung, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leasure, to find out what has been planned around the commemoration. We also speak to the Royal Engineers Museum and look at other events happening throughout the day.* For many, the start of proceedings will be the raising of ‘Victory Day’ flags at Rochester Castle, Gun Wharf and the Royal Engineers Museum. Cllr Nina Gurung is eager to point out that Medway Council has set money aside for the festivities. “We passed a special budget at full council”, she says, “and it's been distributed evenly throughout Medway.” As well as ensuring funding was available where needed, Nina also highlights that the traffic management team have made it “very straightforward for people to apply for street parties.” As a result, there are [13 official street parties across Medway](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1879/uplifting%5Fve%5Fday%5Fcelebrations%5Fplanned%5Faround%5Fmedway?ref=localauthority.news), 14 if you include the [bring your own picnic event](https://www.re-museum.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) being organised by the Royal Engineers Museum. Nina comes from a military background and highlights that we have councillors who are armed forces veterans, including Armed Forces Champion Cllr Chrissy Stamp. She is keen for residents to know about the history, heritage and “proud military links. We really need to go all out and remember the sacrifices of our armed forces and the resilience of the Second World War generation, while celebrating the peace and freedom that was so hard fought for.” For Nina, this includes showing the younger generation why we celebrate VE Day and “why it's important. Peace has been brought at such a big cost.” _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What Reform’s big Kent win means for Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-reforms-big-kent-win-means-for/ Last updated: 2025-05-06T22:23:36.000Z *Last week, Reform took control of Kent County Council, but what does the change of administration over the border mean for us here in Medway? We ponder the potential implications below. Further down, we have news of the latest development in the doomed Innovation Park Medway story, an auditor visits Medway Council, a bank proposes to.. checks notes.. open a new branch in Medway, news in brief, and more.* --- #### What Reform’s big Kent win means for Medway Reform swept to power across Kent last week, gaining control of Kent County Council, taking 57 of the county’s 81 seats in the process. The victory ended decades of Conservative control of the county council and saw Kent County Council entering a new reality. Still, we are not a Kent-wide publication ([though we know one that is](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)), so we aren’t going to dwell too much on the results themselves here. If you want to follow more about the new administration at KCC, you can read [analysis on our sister title, the ](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/a-new-dawn-for-kent?ref=localauthority.news)[*Kent Current,*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/a-new-dawn-for-kent?ref=localauthority.news)[ here](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/a-new-dawn-for-kent?ref=localauthority.news). What we’re interested here is what, if any, impact KCC’s new Reform overlords could have on the Medway side of the border. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!39tT!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb14ef21a-784b-4cc1-90a0-431186e5d79b_2880x1386.jpg) Reform leader Nigel Farage with Kent candidates ahead of the election. On paper, who administers KCC shouldn’t have much impact on Medway. Both councils are upper-tier authorities handling similar responsibilities in their respective areas. While there are a small number of cross-border panels and organisations that Medway and Kent both sit on, each council essentially does it’s own thing. The elephant in the room, though, is the current government drive for devolution and local government reorganisation. In the short term, every council in Kent will be abolished and three or four larger unitary authorities covering areas of roughly half a million people. Medway is almost certain to be merged with the existing KCC areas of Dartford and Gravesham, and possibly a chunk of Swale. Longer term, a Kent-wide mayor will gain significant strategic powers for the region and a Combined Strategic Authority will feed into the big decisions across the county. All of this should proceed as scheduled, no matter who is in charge at County Hall, as the government is forcing things through. However, it is unclear how much a Reform-administered KCC will be interested in engaging with this process. [Speaking to the ](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/the-lib-dems-and-reform-on-the-coming?ref=localauthority.news)[*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/the-lib-dems-and-reform-on-the-coming?ref=localauthority.news), KCC’s longest-standing Reform councillor said he didn’t support the idea of a devolved Kent mayor, though the party doesn’t appear to have formed a consensus view on the issue yet. Until now, the moves toward devolution have been widely agreed upon across Kent, with both Labour-controlled Medway Council and Conservative-controlled Kent County Council sharing the same desire for devolution, or at least the money and powers that come with that. As such, both upper-tier authorities in Kent have presented a united front when lobbying the government. Whether Medway will be able to find common ground with a Kent County Council led by Reform remains to be seen. Medway Council leader Vince Maple’s statement following Reform’s win suggests it might be challenging to do so: > *“Reform UK in Kent have now crossed the line from a party of protest to a party of governing. With that comes serious responsibility. They'll quickly find that fixing deeply complex issues like adult social care and special educational needs takes more than soundbites, slogans, or blame games.* > > *After 14 years of Conservative austerity that hollowed out local government, there are no easy efficiencies left to find - only hard choices. The public will be watching to see if they are up to the job.* > > *I thank the outgoing KCC leader Roger Gough for the positive, constructive approach on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation.”* Within all of this, it is worth noting that while devolution was largely agreed between Medway and KCC, the issue of local government reorganisation has proved rather more thorny across the county. Different district councils with different administrations across the county have competing desires on what their future looks like, which already made finding agreement challenging enough. At the top of the tree, though, Medway and KCC both accepted that changes were coming. Medway is now faced with a situation where KCC may try to fight back against any attempts to abolish it, given it is the first time Reform has won any serious power within the county. Reform is set to choose their Kent County Council’s new leader later this week, and in a couple of weeks, they will have their first council meeting in charge of the county. Those things might give us some insight into what the future might look like. Whatever happens, we’re all heading into some very deep, uncharted waters. --- #### Innovation Park Medway to become giant car park The latest stage in the sorry saga of Innovation Park Medway will see a huge chunk of the land that had tens of millions spent on it to become a centre for 3,000 high-skilled jobs turned into a car park. The northern half of the northern Innovation Park Medway is set to be turned over to huge employer and unquestionably moral company BAE Systems. This will provide them with 620 parking spaces while their adjacent site undergoes significant redevelopment. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!CZ2Y!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1b05a11d-daa7-41bd-a959-c60546e6d2b1_2166x1236.jpg) BAE Systems existing site to the north, with Innovation Park Medway to the south. If successful, the [planning application](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SV4JX1KNL6N00&ref=localauthority.news) will see BAE use the land for four years during development. The application is a thing of beauty, full of the kind of corporate nonsense speak you’d expect for the development of empty land into a car park: *‘The car park will be temporary in nature and mimic the majority of the other car parks around the wider site to comply with the overall aesthetic nature of BAE Rochester and facilitate a holistic appearance.’* Wonderful. As long as we comply with the overall aesthetic of BAE and facilitate a holistic appearance, it’s hard to see any issues with any of this. The move comes just [two months after Medway Council changed their plans](https://www.localauthority.news/innovation-park-plan-abandoned-after/) for Innovation Park Medway. After downgrading the plans for this end of the site from high-tech, high-skilled jobs to industrial and mid-tech units, we’ve now downgraded further to car parking. Since its inception, Medway Council has spent £33m on the Innovation Park Medway, and unless BAE are paying very generously for these spaces, it’s hard to imagine the council won’t be losing money here. --- #### Auditing Medway There is a particular section of the internet that is awash with ‘[auditors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First%5FAmendment%5Faudit?ref=localauthority.news)’. Not the kind that checks your accounts, but an internet-based man (for it is nearly always men) with a video camera who goes to places you are technically allowed to film and tries to provoke a response. It’s a trend that started in the US but now has a sizeable community in the UK. These people will often rock up to police stations, town halls, and places like migrant hotels and make a point to film from as many public areas in the vicinity until someone inevitably challenges them. Because they technically aren’t doing anything wrong, this provides them with fruitful content about how the state is trying to clamp down on the rights of the average person. It’s like when the worst person you know actually has a point and won’t shut up about it. Auditing Britain is one of the largest channels on YouTube doing this sort of thing, and they decided to wander into Medway Council’s Gun Wharf headquarters and then act surprised when they got tackled for entering the private bit. This leads to a dispute with staff members and a customer in the lobby before they eventually leave and move outside about it for a while. The whole thing feels incredibly annoying for all concerned, and the person conducting the ‘audit’ is clearly a dick trying to get a rise out of people. But the speed at which the Medway Council employees tell him that he isn’t allowed to film there without permission, something that legally doesn’t hold water, raises questions about how well-versed staff are in dealing with these people when they turn up. --- #### Bank to open new branch in Chatham No, you didn’t read that wrong, a bank plans to open a new branch in Medway. In a world where hundreds of banks close nationwide each year, news of a new one opening is unusual. So what’s going on? [Barclays has applied for planning permission](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SUV7TEKNFHJ00&ref=localauthority.news) to make alterations at Dockside Outlet Centre in Chatham to enable them to open a branch there. The proposals include the subdivision of the existing Clarks unit, which is moving to another unit in the centre, to allow the bank to open a full branch within the complex. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!v9Ol!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f122d9a16-b7e2-45d2-acb8-f8ec5059819e_2002x950.png) Proposals for the Chatham Dockside Barclays The plans include a branch with two counters, three self-service machines, many desks and seats, and a cash machine outside the centre, which will presumably be bad news for the one currently inside the centre that charges for transactions. It is still unclear why Barclays would want to open a branch at an out-of-town shopping centre, but it perhaps isn’t wholly surprising. The landlord of their existing Chatham High Street branch appears to want them out so the building can be redeveloped, and the location was vandalised at least three times during 2024, at least some of which seemed to be protest activity by Palestine Action, who wanted the firm to divest from Israeli weapons companies. The move to Dockside comes as the complex undergoes a significant transformation, with middle-class Wetherspoons a-like Sotto Lounge set to open in a couple of weeks, and McDonald’s set to follow later in the summer. --- #### In brief 🗣️ There’s a [Councillor Conduct Committee meeting being held this Thursday](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=404&MId=5992&ref=localauthority.news) (8 May) to discuss a complaint made against a Medway councillor. We’d love to tell you more, but these things are entirely behind closed doors, with the press not even being allowed to attend meetings where councillor complaints are discussed. 🎾 [Plans have been approved for three padel tennis courts to be built in the centre of Chatham](https://futuremedway.co.uk/green-light-for-padel-tennis-courts-behind-tap-n-tin-nightclub-in-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news). The site, behind the Tap n Tin, is a prime brownfield location in the centre of a rapidly densifying town, so it will now be used by a handful of people playing padel. 🚗 Greenfield’s Boot Fair in Upnor returned over the weekend, leading to [two-hour queues through the Medway Tunnel and cars being abandoned](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/hundreds-attend-boot-fair-sparking-two-hour-queues-and-tra-323895/?ref=localauthority.news) on the dual carriageway outside the site. The boot fairs will now run every Sunday until September. 🚚 [The owner of Regal van rentals has called for Bryant Road in Strood to be closed](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/calls-to-shut-dangerous-railway-bridge-route-after-three-v-323798/?ref=localauthority.news) after three of his customers ignored the road signs and wrecked one of his vans driving under the railway bridge there. An alternate idea would be to only hire vans to people who can read road signs. --- #### More Authority In the second and final part of our two-part interview, Steven sat down with wife and husband Nik Vincent and Dan Abnett. Nik is a potter and writer and has worked with Dan on a number of books. They speak about what happened to Nik’s 144 pots, why Dan was thanked in the credits of Guardians of the Galaxy, AI scraping your work, and lots more. [“I have got very down and dirty on occasions and lost paragraphs”In the second of a two-part interview, Steven speaks to wife and husband Nik Vincent and Dan Abnett. Nik is a potter and writer and has worked with Dan on a number of books. They speak about what happened to Nik’s 144 pots, why Dan was thanked in the credits of Guardians of the Galaxy, AI scraping your work, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcb0d57e8-3683-4287-ba1a-59d4513225f2_1456x1456.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-have-got-very-down-and-dirty-on/) Coming up later this week: Tomorrow, we’ll be looking at Medway’s VE Day celebrations, on Friday, we’ll have our culture briefing edition, and on Sunday, we’ll be interviewing Medway Council Leader Vince Maple to mark the halfway point (in theory, anyway) of his time in office. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*An Argument With Myself by Jens Lekman*](https://jenslekman.bandcamp.com/album/an-argument-with-myself?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Jump Rope Gazers by The Beths*](https://thebethsnz.bandcamp.com/album/jump-rope-gazers-2?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Angles by Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip*](https://danlesacvsscroobiuspip.bandcamp.com/album/angles?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “I have got very down and dirty on occasions and lost paragraphs” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-have-got-very-down-and-dirty-on/ Last updated: 2025-05-04T06:01:47.000Z *In the second of a two-part interview, Steven speaks to wife and husband Nik Vincent and Dan Abnett. Nik is a potter and writer and has worked with Dan on a number of books. They speak about what happened to Nik’s 144 pots, why Dan was thanked in the credits of Guardians of the Galaxy, AI scraping your work, and lots more.* **When** [**we spoke last year**](https://www.localauthority.news/144-pots-for-144-women/)**, Nik, you had your pottery exhibition at Nucleus. How did that go? What's happened to the pots since then?** **Nik:** It went brilliantly, and I wish I was a few weeks further down the line for answering this question because, at the momen,t I don't have any further plans. I had some very important people come and look at that exhibition. I had lovely comments in my visitors’ book, which I'm glad I put out, and I had a good turnout. The ideal is to get it in a gallery or museum, in each of the ten regions that I outlined for the project. I've just got to knuckle down and get myself out. It's the hard bit. **Where are the pots currently?** **Nik:** My pots are in boxes in my studio, ready to ship. **Dan:** It’s a matter of finding the galleries to display it, and I can’t imagine a gallery not wanting to. **Nik:** It may even potentially appear in Whitehall. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!HOpU!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f89bc13db-02d4-4082-ab5c-ef6a017bb36c_1456x1456.jpg) Nik Vincent **Dan, you mentioned your involvement in the Guardians of the Galaxy. If you sit through the full credits, you are thanked in the credits.** **Dan:** I am thanked. **Is that instead of being paid for your work?** **Dan:** Yes. **Nik:** That’s the simple answer. **Dan:** Working for Marvel… **Nik:** You are working for hire. **Dan:** You're acknowledged as the creator or co-creator of things, and you get royalties if they make toys, and you get royalties or you get reprint fees if it's reprinted. Marvel occasionally pays a gratuity to you, a quiet ‘thank you,’ which they pretend is something else. **Nik:** You absolutely do not have to pay to go to the premiere, for example. I did have to buy my own dress, though. **Dan:** Having come through the 80s and 90s, signing my work-for-hire vouchers every time, I know I don't own this. More particularly, some creators have pointed out that the work-for-hire agreement that has been in existence since the 70s with the big American companies never imagined a world where we would have things like the Marvel movies, never imagined streaming, didn't imagine computer games... Those vast earnings. I think when I started writing comics, it didn't feel like it was signing that away because that didn't exist, nor could it exist. My name has been in the thank you end credits of, I think, seven Marvel movies and several of the TV shows. **Nik:** That you know about. **Dan:** I am grateful for the fact that they least acknowledged my presence really. **Have you ever been invited to a writer’s room?** **Dan:** Not for the TV, no. There is a weird separation. I don't know if it's going to change now because the steam is slightly coming out of the superhero movie thing. One of the things they did very early on was they decisively said, ‘We are not going to employ the comic creators to work on the movies because we want specialist movie or TV people to write them and the design work and the artists.’ A few people managed to pass through that barrier, but it was deliberately if you wrote the comic, you can't possibly write the film. That's not your job. You did that thing. **Nik:** You were on set with James Gunn. **Dan:** I got invited to the set and the premieres and that was all very nice. **Nik:** Has the contract changed? **Dan:** I don't believe it has. **Nik:** You're signing the same contracts? **Dan:** Well yeah, because they're all virtual now anyway. **Nik:** Maybe you should look at them. **Dan:** There's a lot of the newer comic companies I would cite, for instance, Boom, who I've done a lot of work for, and Dark Horse and people like that, who are now very consciously, as it were, sharing ownership with the creators. If you come to us, we will publish your book, you will create it for us. And then if it gets turned into a movie, and a lot of them are, it's set up right from day one that you will be acknowledged as creative, you will get a share of the profits and that kind of stuff like that. I think that's a very fair way of doing it. **Nik:** There's a lot more creator-driven stuff through that that does not apply to the big two. **Dan:** Yeah, the big two are only really interested in people perpetuating the legacy characters. That creator ownership is useful, and the idea of, ‘If I let company X publish my creator-owned comic, they'll get half of whatever it earns when it gets turned into a movie.’ I'm going, ‘How else are you going to get published?’ Publishing that comic, they've put in the financial investment to publish it. Of course they deserve some remuneration for that effort because otherwise, the world wouldn't know about it, and it wouldn't be a comic to be adapted in the first place. That happens more and more, which is quite nice. **Nik:** And we like gatekeepers. We kept being asked, “Why don't you self-publish?” Because we like editors and all the people that go together to make a thing. If I had to publish my own book, I don't know anything about type, I don't know anything about font, I don't know anything about cover art. **Dan:** I think this is actually much more relevant now than it was even five or certainly ten years ago, is that with the advent of generative AI, we're getting to the point where… I’m not talking about it writing books, I'm talking about the idea of publishing and editing happening by processes that we're not aware of. I'm not saying I despise all AI and modern technologies, that's not where I'm going with this. It's just that I think we are increasingly undervaluing the importance of all sorts of skills. **Nik:** Human intent. **Dan:** In comics, the skill involved in the colouring, for instance, and particularly the lettering, which also gets overlooked, even though it's now mostly digital work applied by an artist who knows what they're doing. The idea is that you get to the point where this can be done automatically, and it simply will not look the same, no matter how finessed it is, and that is what we're talking about then encroaching into the realms of writers, of artists, of set designers, costume designers, and they are skill sets that if we lose them for say a generation… **Nik:** How do you go back? **Dan:** You'll have to relearn how to do all those things. I think that's a really important thing to be aware of. **Nik:** There's no art without intent. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!x_Cw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcb0d57e8-3683-4287-ba1a-59d4513225f2_1456x1456.jpg) Dan Abnett **Search tools have been created to see if your work has been scaped for AI. Have you looked into it?** **Dan:** Oh yes. **Nik:** You got dragged into it because there's a woman SF writer who bangs the drum for genre writers really hard, and I think she was the first one. **Dan:** I've seen it a lot. Everybody has. It happens no matter what the safeguards are, no matter what the legislation in this country is to prevent it happening without permission that is being ignored completely. We were having a hard enough time chasing down piracy of digital books let alone the idea that they're being scraped for AI. There are several authors now really leading the charge with it, which I think is admirable. Most authors aren't even aware that it's happening. It is that stripping down of this raw material. The argument being offered is that the AI won't work unless they are trained. You need huge datasets to train them. This is the inevitable consequence. I think not only is that unethical, if it's too expensive to do it, maybe you can't do it. That's a reasonable point. **Nik:** That's the argument. They're saying, ‘We need these massive datasets,’ and then, ‘We can't afford to buy them.’ And you're going, “Oh, fuck off then.” **Dan:** They've got to the point now where they realise they haven't got data that's big enough. They are essentially manufacturing artificial data sets to train their things. One of the big things about AI, if you know anything about it at all, on a very basic theoretical level, is that one of the fears of AI is that we don't understand what it's doing. Once it is created, we don't understand what it's doing inside that black box, how it's arriving at the processes, that we don't understand the things guiding it. One of the touchstones all the way through has been to make sure, algorithmically speaking, it is basically set up to be a benign and creative thing and that this thing couldn't possibly be polluted. We're already discovering as we're galloping towards the AI frontiers that we are deliberately polluting the AIs by pouring anything we like into them. What's in the black box is not this brilliant ethical balanced… It is something that is absolutely as temperamental and as biased as the human product that has been fed into it. Some of that human product is the equivalent of silage because it's been artificially produced to bulk this matter up. They've also recently discovered that even basic coding languages, of which there are many, and they're always seen as interchangeable, some are better for one purpose, and some are better for others. There are several good books on this… **Nik:** They're actually talking a third language basically. **Dan:** Those coding languages, it doesn't sound as if it should be possible, but they have political bias in them. We didn't realise this, and we've been using this for years. In other words, even the code that we would have been writing those Asimov laws of robotics to code out AIs was biased to begin with is inevitably biased. **Nik:** Anything that's a by-product of white men is biased. **Dan:** Let's not get into it because this isn't the place, but the whole AI debate is really interesting because we're long past the point at which we've already demonstrated that it is in so many ways a bad idea. **Nik:** It would be bad enough if it was only amoral, but it is immoral, and there's no intent attached to it. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Masonics play the Masonic URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-masonics-play-the-masonic/ Last updated: 2025-05-02T17:50:14.000Z *The Masonics are a legendary Medway band who now rarely perform in Medway, but later this month, in a lovely bit of nominative determinism, they’ll play at the Rochester Masonic Hall. We talk to drummer Bruce Brand to find out more. Further down, we have new of a new bookish pop-up in Rochester, a free chance to get fit with Medway Fit, we review the burgers at The Kiki, our weekly events guide, and more.* --- #### The Masonics play the Masonic The Masonics are “the finest rhythm and beat combo since The Milkshakes,” drummer Bruce Brand tells me, “and that's probably because we contain two Milkshakes: Myself and Mick.” The Masonics formed in 1989 when they released an LP record written by Mickey Hampshire. “We recorded about three or four albums before we actually played live.” ![Music | The Masonics](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ILhe!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f68ce0302-7a08-46c2-a7af-afedfa18e781_1200x628.jpg) The Masonics. At this point, Bruce was in Thee Headcoats. During their final gig at the Dome in Tufnell Park, they were approached by Liam Watson, a friend who ran Toe-Rag Studios. “He offered his services to Mick and said, ‘Don't you play live? I'll play bass for you.’” The Masonics had been recording for about ten years before they played their first live gig. When Liam left the band to focus on the studio, they were joined by John Gibbs, formerly of The Kaisers, “who recently migrated down to the Big Smoke from Edinburgh.” Bruce had been a guitar player who had little interest in drums. “I just thought they were a necessary evil,” he says. Finding them far too loud in the heavy rock that he had heard them in, it was when he started listening to old R&B records that he noticed the drums in the background, “doing all this interesting, quite jazzy stuff. I thought no one plays drums like that anymore. I might give it a go.” Having been in a number of bands, Bruce puts The Masonics’ longevity down to “being bloody good” and that “Mick writes really good songs.” Bruce talks about the band's progress, and that the material hasn’t all been the same, but mostly, “we just like doing it, and other people seem to like us.” [Their upcoming gig](https://wegottickets.com/event/657640?ref=localauthority.news) is their first Medway appearance in a year at the Rochester Masonic Hall. Was there something about that particular venue? “It was available,” Bruce replies, lamenting that there are not many venues left to perform in Medway. “In the old halcyon days of punk rock and stuff, there was no shortage of pubs with live music going on.” Recalling the loss of the Royal Function Rooms, Bruce notes that “there's a dearth of venues basically,” though he does highlight Poco Loco as a good option despite its size. “The Masonic Hall is a nice size,” says Bruce. “It hasn't got a stage, but it makes up for it by being accommodating and affordable.” The choice of venue is not because of the name, which is purely a coincidence. Asked about their latest album, Bruce temporarily cannot remember the name of it. “I know roughly what it's called. I don't want to get it wrong,” he says. It was ‘[Sursum Tibiam Vestram](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/sursum-tibiam-vestram?ref=localauthority.news),’ which roughly translates as “‘Up your pipe’. After a deep search of the dark web and various Latin pronunciations, that's what came out.” The Masonics have also released a brace of rock and roll EPs featuring all the covers of the rock and roll songs they play live in their sets. Two more are due for release shortly, ‘[Nothin’ Shakin’ But…](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/nothin-shakin-but-ep?ref=localauthority.news)’ and ‘[Some Other Guys’](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/some-other-guys-ep?ref=localauthority.news). “Hopefully, they should be out for that gig because it's advertised as an EP launch party.” The launch party is being supported by The High Span, with Rob Flood DJing. There is also a ‘Top Secret Guest’ yet to be announced. Can Bruce offer us any clues? “They're a Medway-based group, but they're not as... what's the word? They haven't spread themselves thin yet.” [*The Masonics play Rochester Masonic Hall on 31 May*](https://wegottickets.com/event/657640?ref=localauthority.news)*. You can explore their latest release via* [*Spinout Nuggets*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### The Morally Grey Bookshelf [*The Morally Grey Bookshelf*](https://www.themorallygreybookshelf.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a new pop-up coming to Rochester High Street through the Sweeps weekend, ahead of its website launch. We caught up with Hollie Harrison-Brooks to find out what people can expect to find on the bookshelf and just how morally grey it all is.* The Morally Grey Bookshelf is a new online ‘bookish’ store, rather than a more traditional bookshop. “I'm saying bookish because we're not just going to sell books. It's going to be book-themed,” with a focus on the romance and fantasy genres. “Those are the stories and tropes that we are going with.” Hollie will be focusing on special editions of classical romances, as well as contemporary books with sprayed edges editions. Hollie is looking forward to supporting independent authors as well as popular titles. “We've got some signed copies coming. That's really exciting, but it's not just going to be books.” They are also going to be selling “anything that a reader would love to buy,” including iPad covers and book-related jewellery. “We've got some lovely lockets that you can write your own favourite book quote inside.” They will also have bags that look like books, and t-shirts with book quotes on them. The intent is to create a reader's heaven within the romantic fantasy bubble. However, what is it that makes it morally grey? “Morally grey is a trope that's really popular, referring to a character, usually a male, but it can be a female as well.” It is usually one of the main male characters who would do anything for the person that they love, and sometimes those things are immoral. “’Touch her and die’ would be one action that you would put under morally grey.” For fans of romantic books, this is a theme they can get behind. Hollie has been a lifelong reader but admits that she lost the time to do it when she had a baby. However, in more recent years she started making time again for her passion, especially this genre. Wanting to start a business and do something that she loves, she decided to “throw caution to the wind” and self-fund this project to “see if I can get this off the ground, because the book community is lovely and there are many wonderful events.” Hollie is so invested in this world that she recently went to a book-themed fantasy ball and met people from all over the world who travel to these events to dress up and, well, have a ball. “I just knew the business that I wanted to start had to be involved with this,” Hollie says, though she is not doing this completely alone. “I've basically dragged my husband and some friends in to help me.” Whilst the venture is mainly Hollie, “they've had no choice, this is what we're doing.” she says with a smile. Whilst the venture will initially be selling books and related items, she has started to invest in being able to produce special editions herself. “That's a separate journey that I'm on at the moment, to try and figure out how to do these sprayed edges myself.” Hollie has curated a collection that she loved enough to put in the shop, that she felt was special and “that I think will really resonate.” Hollie’s pop-up will be in the former Get Ready Comics shop on Rochester High Street during Sweeps weekend from tomorrow (3 May), with the online store going live on Monday. For those thinking, didn’t we already [write about a pop-up at the former Get Ready Comics](https://www.localauthority.news/i/161284523/artists-get-ready-to-open-new-pop-up) store? The Get Ready Artists will take a brief hiatus to make room for this venture. Hollie didn’t mean to kick them out but she had “already booked the date” for her pop-up. “Come down and meet me,” Hollie says. “I want to meet people that have a love for this genre within Medway, and there's free Prosecco and chocolates”. There will also be American author Sienna Judd, author of the romance novel ’Thirteen Candles’, at the pop-up on Sunday for an author signing. --- #### Getting fit with Medway Fit *Running and fitness community* [*Medway Fit*](http://www.medway.fit/?ref=localauthority.news) *are offering a* [*free couch to 5K programme*](https://www.facebook.com/medwayfit/posts/pfbid0iTVG4RTRtSwHk4e2xnAjkwuU4XWL2mpSsMmYYHaMCYUgpwVZ7c8DzwEx2NHs6sGcl) *starting next week. We previously chatted to Medway Fit coach* [*Richard Pemberton*](https://www.localauthority.news/there-is-something-for-everybody/) *about Couch to 5K and parkrun back in 2023\. Having successfully gone through the programme himself, Steven reached out to Richard to talk about what is being offered for any jog curious Medway residents. Richard was unavailable, most likely running in some muddy part of the world, so Steven spoke to coach Ian Knight instead.* Medway Fit are a running group that has run leaders for all levels within Medway, from the 5k sprinters to the enthusiastic walkers. “We started up social running fitness for the local area,” says Ian, “helping people get into exercise not only for physical health but for mental health as well.” Medway Fit classifies itself as a social group. “When people come, we make everybody feel welcome from all walks of life.” ![Picture](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VcG3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe4477d1e-e8ed-4876-b4c8-e8b5aaaa5714_1100x632.jpg) Medway Fit do social runs as well as training runs. “We try to structure it to make you a better runner,” notes Ian. The group works to help prevent injury, as well as improve running ability. “It also opens up the world of running to people.” By providing a friendly, supportive framework, Medway Fit is focused on supporting people to get off the couch and not be intimidated by others’ experience or athleticism. Ian was 21 and a half stone when he started walking daily for a year, “not that you want to make this about me,” he suggests. He started jogging, despite never thinking he would be a jogger himself. It was then that he looked into Medway Fit and started running with them. “They helped me immensely, Richard and all the coaches and run leaders.” To give back to the club, Ian became a run leader before getting his British Athletics coaching qualification. Couch to 5K is a programme of physical activity that builds up a system of walks and runs. “As the weeks progress, we go further and further into getting a completion of 5K.” The course culminates with ‘Graduation’ at Great Lines Parkrun, where the coaches can support you to run the whole distance. “You get the support. Parkrun in itself is a great advocate for running for people of all abilities.” Upon completion of Couch to 5K, many find that they continue to run at Parkrun, as it’s “somewhere where they can go, and not judged at whatever pace they run.” Medway Fit offers their Couch to 5K scheme for free, and it is free to participate in Parkrun. “You just sign on and turn up. We're a non-profit club. We just want to get people involved. As I said, not just for fitness, it is for fitness, but mental health as well.” --- #### Out to Dinner: The Kiki *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the dinner options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down* [***The Kiki***](https://thekinkichatham.com/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Chatham*…* A long time ago, [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/), occasionally of this parish, recommended Kinki Burger as a great place to eat in Medway. Sadly, before we had the chance, the venue closed. In its place is The Kiki. Is it the same or very different? We sadly cannot say. However, we ventured into what may or may not be Chatham Intra to find out if they are indeed selling the best burgers in Medway as they advertised in what has become quite a competitive field. The Kiki is a small establishment, a slender set of tables with a walkway up to the main bar. There is a weird vortex that occurs when the kitchen is cooking, meaning that the door to the establishment never really closes, and there is a slight draft throughout the meal. They also have a beautiful metallic flower on the table to set the scene when you are having a meal with somebody who isn’t your partner. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_IPb!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8483e2de-fa29-49f9-8da0-784b56e17515_1456x762.jpg) Food at The Kiki. I ordered a starter of chicken tenders, a side order of fries and a smash burger, which came with bacon and cheese. I just looked online to ensure I got that right, but their website is listed as [The Kinki](https://thekinkichatham.com/?ref=localauthority.news), so now I don’t know what to believe. This feeling was exacerbated by receiving my chicken tenders as an additional burger rather than a starter. The fries were very good, and the chicken tenders were a delight, crispy and chunky like any good fried chicken. The brioche bun the burger came in was firm and held together well, with crisp bacon and cheese that complemented the burger well. All in all, the food was a delight from beginning to end. They might not quite be the best burgers in Medway, but the food is still excellent and well worth trying if you have the chance. --- #### Events this week 🎹 Until 5 May - [**Rainham Piano Festival**](https://rainhamchurch.co.uk/arts/?ref=localauthority.news) // Internationally acclaimed jazz and classical pianists play Rainham, headed by Curtis Stigers. St Margaret’s Church, Rainham. Tickets from £15. 📷 Until 14 May - [**Medway ‘77**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition of photos in and around Rochester and Chatham from 1977\. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. 📽️ Tue 6 May - [**Screen Unseen**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-56095&ref=localauthority.news) // Mystery screening of an upcoming film, usually something quite good. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5. 📝 7 - 20 May - [**Paper Places**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/pop-paperplaces?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition by Nicola Chatten, where simple sheets of paper are transformed into lasting works of art depicting the natural world. Halpern Pop, Rochester. Free. --- #### More Authority For our midweek feature, we spoke to Reverend Nathan Ward at St Margaret’s Church in Rainham, who is on a mission to turn the historic place of worship into the arts and culture heart of the town. [Beyond the Sunday serviceSt. Margaret's Church is one of the most recognisable sights in Rainham, the 800-year-old building centrally located in the town. Now, the church reverend is spearheading a significant cultural initiative to combat what he perceives as 'cultural deprivation' in the area.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffe38e3dc-2bb9-4493-8d63-00022f675c94_5472x3365.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/beyond-the-sunday-service/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Beyond the Sunday service URL: https://www.localauthority.news/beyond-the-sunday-service/ Last updated: 2025-05-01T14:40:32.000Z St. Margaret's Church is one of the most recognisable sights in Rainham, the 800-year-old building centrally located in the town. Now, the church reverend is spearheading a significant cultural initiative to combat what he perceives as 'cultural deprivation' in the area. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!DlnI!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffe38e3dc-2bb9-4493-8d63-00022f675c94_5472x3365.jpg) St Margaret’s Church in Rainham. Following an extensive community feedback exercise, the church is rolling out a diverse calendar of arts and cultural events. However, the venture faces stark financial realities and the challenge of attracting audiences. According to Reverend Nathan Ward, the move into the arts realm was a direct response to community needs identified through community engagement. An initial survey at the start of covid highlighted needs like a food project and a local news operation in the town, both of which the church provided. A more recent survey set out to explore the needs of a post-covid Rainham, which is undergoing significant housing expansion and welcoming more diverse communities. "Overwhelmingly, people wanted a community cinema, and they wanted arts and cultural events in Rainham," he tells us. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Labour regains overall control of Medway Council URL: https://www.localauthority.news/labour-regains-overall-control-of/ Last updated: 2025-04-29T23:04:59.000Z *Two councillors suspended by the Labour Party over a year ago were welcomed back into the party last week, restoring the party’s overall control of Medway Council that they lost in February. We’ve got the details below. Further down, we have news on Tesco’s plans for Rochester being rejected, an update on an infuriating developer issue in Grain, an Independent Group councillor angry about changes at council meetings, highlights from last week’s full council, news in brief, and more. Phew.* --- #### Labour regains overall control of Medway Council After technically losing control of Medway Council in February when they lost two seats to Reform in by-elections, Labour retook control of the council last week after two suspended councillors were readmitted to the party. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!CqJy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7f36d399-fe72-4b91-b8cb-edb0a7772fd9_1600x900.jpg) Cllrs Stephen Hubbard and Satinder Shokar. Cllr Satinder Shokar, who represents Strood West, and Cllr Stephen Hubbard, who represents Strood North and Frindsbury, were suspended by the party 14 months ago following reports of an ‘altercation’ between the two at a Christmas party. *Local Authority* understands that the Labour Party has declined to reveal any outcome from the investigation. Still, reinstating the two back into the party would suggest they were cleared of any wrongdoing. Requests from this publication to the national Labour Party, who conducted the investigation, went unanswered. It borders on shambolic that two councillors can be suspended from a party running an administration for vague reasons, that it can take well over a year to resolve, and that when it is finally resolved, residents are still none the wiser about what has happened. But that’s the internal machinations of the Labour Party for you. Speaking to *Local Authority*, Medway Council Leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/i-could-easily-fill-4-or-5-days-worth/) said he was pleased that the process had concluded: > *“It's positive the process has finished. It was good to have Stephen and Sat back with us at full council. This process has taken far too long. That's not been fair to either the individuals or indeed to the rest of the Labour group or the two constituency parties that they are members of. I'm pleased the process has come to an end. It has taken too long and that is all I will be saying on the matter.* As a result of the reinstatement, Labour once again control 31 of Medway Council’s 59 seats. Fundamentally, it doesn’t change very much as Cllrs Shokar and Hubbard continued to vote with Labour in council meetings, but it does mean Labour will be entitled to slightly more committee seats and more time to speak in council meetings. With two years (at least) until fresh local elections in Medway, Labour’s majority remains rather tenuous. Will they be able to hang on for the full term? Only time will tell. --- #### Medway Council says no to Tesco in Rochester Two weeks ago, [we covered the sorry saga of a licensing hearing to decide whether to grant Tesco a licence](https://www.localauthority.news/licensing-hearing-demonstrates-why/) to sell alcohol in Rochester that was called because of four objectors. As a result of that hearing, [Tesco had their application refused](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgAi.aspx?ID=34331&ref=localauthority.news) as the panel believed that “the Applicant had failed to meet the threshold required to satisfy that there were exceptional circumstances allowing them to divert from the established CIP *(Cumulative Impact Policy).*” From the text of the decision, it is clear that there was nothing Tesco could have done to obtain the licence for the site, which, as a reminder, is on a heavy footfall thoroughfare next door to Rochester station, the sort of place you might expect to find a grocery store. As a result, the assumption must now be that it is now Medway Council policy to not issue any licences for new premises in any of Medway’s Cumulative Impact Policy areas, no matter how responsible the application may be. The eventual outcome of this is presumably the inability to purchase alcohol in most of Medway’s town centres. Tesco told *Local Authority* they were “reviewing the decision of the licensing sub-committee.” It is unclear what this means for their plans in Rochester, as it is difficult to imagine them opening a store without alcohol sales. So the town might need to wait longer to have a chance to buy some basic groceries on the way home from the station from somewhere that isn’t the Co-op. --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Grain developer reverses course In December, [we covered the strange and slightly infuriating case](https://www.localauthority.news/developer-makes-promises-to-get-planning/) of a developer who obtained planning permission for a development in Grain and immediately applied for permission not to bother building minor things like pedestrian access to the site. At last week’s full council meeting (more on that below), perennial Lib Dem question asker Alan Wells requested answers from Cllr Simon Curry, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, about how this could happen. Cllr Curry’s response was curious, as he claimed that the move had to be made to help the project obtain government funding for affordable housing provision. This has apparently all been sorted out, and the developer has submitted another amendment to reinstate the removed footpath and planting from the scheme. All’s well that ends well, we suppose, but it seems very odd that no one could explain this at the time, only after it became a news story and questions got asked in council meetings. Indeed, at the time, developer Esquire gave us a quite direct ‘no comment’ response, nor did any of their planning documents explain what was happening. Still, at least the good people of Grain will have a rather faster route to the Co-op after all. Hurrah! --- #### Full council is a thing that happened Last week saw April’s full Medway Council meeting. It was expected to be a long one, mainly because there were six motions on the agenda (possibly for the final time - see below), although things didn’t quite work out that way. Our paid supporters can [catch up on our full live coverage from the night on our Substack Chat](https://substack.com/chat/449066/post/632c90d9-da82-42fd-a4cc-7cc9783392f5?ref=localauthority.news), but here are some key moments and highlights: - Part of the length problem was because an Independent Group motion from the last meeting was held over to this meeting to obtain legal advice on whether it could prejudice the Local Plan. Labour and Conservatives remained convinced it could, so they refused to speak on the motion, and it was voted down without any serious debate. - Both Labour and Cllr Shokar withdrew their motions on welfare reform. Cllr Shokar presumably did so because he was readmitted to the party, but it was slightly odd that Labour did so. Cllr Turpin (IndGroup) suggested ‘Sir Keir might have been on the phone this afternoon,’ but Labour insisted it was because they wanted their councillors to share their lived experience, but this would be a conflict of interest. So, seemingly not knowing that when they submitted it, they decided to withdraw the motion rather than discuss it at all. All very strange. - Reform submitted their first motion, requesting better software for councillors to do casework. This weirdly led to the most vicious response of the night from Labour, with Cllr McDonald arguing a good councillor can do casework with a pencil and a napkin. Which, sure, but it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Even more strange when Labour is going gung ho on intregating AI into as many council services as possible. - The Conservatives submitted a motion on a classic council issue: Potholes. They demanded to know why the council was repairing fewer potholes than ever. Cllr Paterson (Lab) responded that the administration rejects the former ‘whack-a-mole’ response to potholes that the Conservatives used and that they are focusing on larger, longer term fixes. Cllr Hackwell (Con) gets to throw in an obligatory ‘war on motorists’ line. - Both Labour and the Conservatives still seem angry about Kent and Medway not being selected for an initial devolution deal, with Cllr Perfect (Con) in particular calling it ‘truly shameful’ and a ‘cruel decision.’ - Reform submitted two questions, one on red route fines and one on potholes in Rochester East and Warren Wood, the ward they were elected to represent. Cllr Paterson (Lab) responded to both, accusing them of ‘not being from around here’ given they live in Cuxton, and offered a lengthy quote from Tony Benn about fighting fascism. He goes on to accuse their red route question of reeking of conspiracy theories and dogwhistle politics. - Cllr Perfect (Con) asked Cllr Maple (Lab) whether Medway supports Kent being divided into three or four unitary authorities. The current belief is that the Conservatives support three and Labour support four, but Cllr Maple managed to speak for a full three minutes without actually answering the question. - In a big win for democracy, time was only allocated to answer 7 of the 15 questions submitted by councillor. - An extraordinary full Medway Council meeting will be held on 13 November to solely discuss the issue of local government reorganisation, or in other words, the abolition of Medway. - Under changes to Medway Council’s constitution, the majority of public and councillor questions that are usually asked at full council meetings will instead be directed to Cabinet meetings. If you’d like to watch all four hours of the meeting yourself, you can do so below: --- #### Independent Group councillor says motion plans are an ‘affront to democracy’ Deputy Leader of the Independent Group, Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/), has warned that ‘local democracy is under threat’ following suggested changes to Medway Council meetings to limit the number of motions that can be debated at each gathering. Under the current system, each political group and independent councillor can submit one motion for discussion at each of Medway’s four full council meetings annually. Documents seen by *Local Authority* from a recent cross-party governance meeting shows a proposal to limit each meeting to three motions on a carousel basis, meaning not every group would be entitled to bring a motion for discussion at every meeting. Cllr Pearce asserts that the Labour and the Conservative groups on the council are pushing this forward. Under the current balance of the council, there are four political groups and one independent councillor. Within these new rules, as the quota of motions would reset annually, Labour and the Conservatives would get three motions each year, while the Independent Group, Reform, and Cllr [Chris Spalding](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/) (Ind) would each be entitled to two. These numbers would reduce if more political groups or independents were to appear on the council. Indeed, under the recent scenario where Cllr Shokar and Cllr Hubbard sat as independents, some independents would have seen their entitlement reduce to one motion per year. Motions, by their nature, are designed to be timely ways to raise debates about local issues, something that is somewhat undermined if a councillor or group has to wait six, nine, or even twelve months to bring them to the council chamber. Cllr Pearce has branded this an “affront to democracy” on social media posts about the issue. Local Authority asked Medway Council Leader Vince Maple about the situation, who argued that there needs to be ways to make meetings shorter while also expressing his frustration with Cllr Pearce: > *“I find it deeply disappointing that someone's chosen to both take to social media and I understand provide the media with some emails from an informal cross-party group which has been working collaboratively and positively.* > > *I think everybody would agree that Medway Council's meetings are very, very long. There's an absolute consensus across all the political groups, unless this is a change in the position of the Independent Group, that we want to try and work collaboratively to find ways to make those effective but hopefully shorter. Motions undoubtedly take a large chunk of the time of council meetings. Officers prepared a couple of options, both of which are used by other councils. The individual, who was invited to the meeting, didn't attend, didn't give his apologies, took to social media, took to leaking information to the press. I thought that was very unhelpful and doesn't build a collaborative approach in trying to find a solution to which I think, again, even residents of Medway would agree that having five or six hour long meetings is not conducive to doing good business for the people of Medway.”* --- #### In brief: Planning special 🏗️ [Plans have been submitted to build two residential blocks of up to 42 flats](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SV4JWFKNL6J00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) in the centre of Chatham. The site on Clover Street is currently unused brownfield land and fits with Medway Council’s desire to create more homes within Chatham town centre. 🪖 A fight over anti-tank lines could define an [application for 12 flats on Medway Road in Gillingham](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SUEMNOKNKSG00&ref=localauthority.news). A developer wants to build the units on ‘previously developed MOD land’, but the access route would involve the loss of military heritage assets. 🏘️ The development of East Hill in the Capstone Valley continues at pace, with the developer submitting plans for [Phase 2](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SUT526KNLWV00&ref=localauthority.news), [Phase 3](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SUVAKQKNFJE00&ref=localauthority.news), and [Phase 4](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SUT53UKNLWY00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) of the project. These would see another 497 homes delivered on the site, alongside open spaces and a shop. --- #### More Authority We sat down with [prolific writer Dan Abnett and maker Nik Vincent for our weekend interview](https://www.localauthority.news/if-im-prolific-it-means-that-people/). They talk about writing together, Dan’s father, who was a significant member of the Medway folk scene, being physically attacked for something Dan wrote, and more. [“If I'm prolific, it means that people keep coming back for more”In the first of a two-part interview, Steven speaks to husband and wife Dan Abnett and Nik Vincent. Dan is a prolific comic book writer and novelist, while Nik is an author and maker. They speak about how they came to start writing together, Dan’s father, who was a significant member of the Medway folk scene and Steven’s Year 9 art teacher, being physically attacked for something Dan wrote, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6de1327c-af38-4b25-9255-4113c28aa65b_1456x987.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/if-im-prolific-it-means-that-people/) Over on the [***Kent Current***](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), [we looked at the imminent Kent County Council elections](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/one-week-to-go?ref=localauthority.news), checking in on the state of the campaign, the likely winners and losers, and some of the more… colourful characters standing in the county. The election takes place this Thursday, and we’ll have all of the results and analysis over on the [***Kent Current***](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news), so if you want to keep up with all of the happenings just over the border, make sure you [subscribe for free over there](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news). [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Footnotes *Want to share a story or tip with us? Get in touch via *hello AT localauthority DOT news*. We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance.* *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Jamboree by Beat Happening*](https://beathappening.bandcamp.com/album/jamboree-klp002?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*American Demo by The Indelicates*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez3ckPtiGJM&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Rilo Kiley by Rilo Kiley*](https://rilokiley.bandcamp.com/album/rilo-kiley?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “If I'm prolific, it means that people keep coming back for more” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/if-im-prolific-it-means-that-people/ Last updated: 2025-04-27T06:00:33.000Z *In the first of a two-part interview, Steven speaks to husband and wife Dan Abnett and Nik Vincent. Dan is a prolific comic book writer and novelist, while Nik is an author and maker. They speak about how they came to start writing together, Dan’s father, who was a significant member of the Medway folk scene and Steven’s Year 9 art teacher, being physically attacked for something Dan wrote, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9_k8!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6de1327c-af38-4b25-9255-4113c28aa65b_1456x987.jpg) Nik Vincent and Dan Abnett **Please spell your name for the record.** **Dan:** My name is Dan Abnett, which is D-A-N then A-B-N-E-T-T. You looked at me as if I got that wrong. **Nik:** I was trying to think what my name was. **How do you want to be known?** **Nik:** When I'm potting, I'm Nola Clay, N-O-L-A C-L-A-Y. I write as Nik Vincent, N-I-K-V-I-N-C-E-N-T, if I'm co-writing with Dan Abnett. If I'm writing my own things, I write as Nik Abnett, N-I-K-A-B-N-E-T-T. I'm also Nicola Vincent-Abnett, my whole married name. **What is your official occupation?** **Dan:** I always describe myself as a writer, which is a good general umbrella for the fact that I am a comic book writer, a novelist, a short story writer, audiobooks, games… Author doesn't quite work when you get to those things. I've written a bit of everything, but primarily novels and comic books. **It would be fair to describe you as prolific.** **Dan:** Yes, prolific is a word that is used prolifically. Back in the 1970s, Marvel in the US had a habit of giving everybody a little moniker, like Stan ‘The Man’ Lee and ‘Jaunty’ John Buscema and things like that. I've discovered recently that when I am referred to, they'll say, “We now have the prolific…” At first, I thought, ‘That's quite nice.’ Then I went, ‘Oh, it makes it sound as if I write a lot for no good reason.’ But I figured that if I'm prolific, it means that people keep coming back for more. **Nik:** I usually refer to myself as a maker. Sometimes I'm a writer, sometimes I'm a potter, I'm a photographer, I knit, I sew, I can do pretty well anything, so I call myself a maker. **Outside of writing, what other creative roles do you have?** **Dan:** Outside of writing, well… *(blows air)* **Nik:** You're a decent photographer. **Dan:** Yeah, I like photography particularly. There's a lot of things that I would do. Although writing is a job, and I take it very seriously as a job, I do it professionally, it doesn't ever stop. In the course of the day, I might spend from seven in the morning through till five at night writing as a job. But that doesn't mean in the evening my mind's not doing things, whether it's reading a book or we’re out taking photographs or whatever else. **Nik:** Everything feeds the mind. **Dan:** Absolutely everything feeds it. It doesn't switch off really. Sometimes, it goes into a nice neutral. Photography, if I was to say that I had any kind of hobby that I did when I'm not deliberately working, it would be photography. Although I like cooking too. **Nik:** He's a polymath. He's a very good and very creative cook. He doesn't need a cookbook. He's a very good musician. He sings. He draws beautifully. All the maps and things in his books start with his sketches. **Dan:** Well, thank you for that *(laughs)*. **Nik:** There are lots of things. You thought you would end up at art school. There are lots of things that you brought with you through your life. His parents are artists, father was a very famous [luthier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luthier?ref=localauthority.news). **Your father was my art teacher. Was being a writer a small act of rebellion?** **Dan:** No, it really wasn't. It was a very creative household. I was the only child of only children. My parents were both artists and art teachers. They both taught art, and they were musical. My dad, apart from being an art teacher, was a musical instrument maker and made instruments for many folk groups. They used to be in a folk group. They used to run the Medway Little Theatre Folk Club in the sixties, and the folk revival, this kind of stuff. My dad also liked making model railways. There was no end to his… **Nik:** He was a maker. **Dan:** I grew up being encouraged to be creative in every regard but particularly drawing and painting. It was something that I did, because my parents did it and that was going to be what I did. I went through most of my school career enjoying school, but thinking, I'm going to art college. That's what I'm going to do. That's exactly what I'm going to do. Up to and including not only drawing. I used to draw and write as a kid. Those were my favourite hobbies apart from reading. At about age eight or nine, I discovered comics, I realised that actually my hobby could be doing both of the things I love most at the same time, which was writing and drawing my own comics, which I did, again without any expectation of that being something I would do professionally. I had a series of really great English teachers, but I had a great English teacher called John Morgan at Maidstone Grammar School. He said to me, “I understand that you want to apply to art college, which is fine. That's your choice, and you're good enough. If you want to do that, you can by all means do that and has it occurred to you that you could also study English at university?” which I had not. He said, “If it's something you think you might want to pursue, I will encourage you and help you.” which he then did. The idea of the written word rather than drawing, I realised that I probably couldn't, from my point of vie,w draw well enough or, more particularly, fast enough, to tell all the stories that I wanted to tell in these comics that I was producing. I could write them, and that really was a switch. It's exactly the same creative impulse. It just shifted over from one form to another. When you were talking just now about what other creative roles you would like to do. In the course of an average week, there are probably times that I wish I had where I could paint or draw or whatever, do other creative things like that. I tend not to, they're dormant because I'm... **Nik:** Because you're prolific. **Dan:** *(laughs)* Because I'm prolific. **Nik:** Your full-time job is more than full-time. **Would you consider now doing a personal comic project that you wrote and drew?** **Dan:** Gosh. **Nik:** All his projects are personal. **Dan:** Yeah. **Nik:** He just has other people working with him. **Dan:** I think it comes back to that idea of not being able to draw faster. I think particularly once I've been a professional comic writer for about ten years when I decided to also write novels, which is the other thing I wanted to do, and I did the work that was coming to me, and that became this tandem career. Novels take you even further away from the art for obvious reasons. **Nik:** But when you're working, from the outside, in comics you work in two ways. You either are writing scripts for an artist, and that's what you do, or you're collaborating with an artist as you do with [Ian Culbard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian%5FCulbard?ref=localauthority.news). You spend hours talking back and forth, and it's very collaborative, and you don't draw as well as he does. **Dan:** That's exactly it. Knowing what I'm able to produce as part of a team, I think it would take me probably years now to refine any kind of skill that I would be remotely happy with. **Nik:** And you’d be on your own all the time again. **Dan:** It's got to the point now with various different artists on different strips that I've worked with for a long time, I know that what is produced is far superior than anything I could possibly do myself. **Nik:** When you're working with the Ian Culbards of this world, when you're working with the [Phil Winslade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil%5FWinslade?ref=localauthority.news)s, that's an absolute privilege. They're your brothers. You don't have relatives. **Dan:** *(laughs)* That’s true. **Nik:** You have really long-standing relationships with these amazing men. **Dan:** I do think about what it's going to look like. I imagine how it’s going to look, so I make suggestions about the way it will be laid out. The script will actually describe points of view and whether it's a wide shot and this kind of stuff, because I'm visualising it cinematically. Sometimes, I am even sketching this out if I don't think the script is clear enough. I get a little way towards that, but always the artist has veto. The artist goes, “That's fine, but what about this?” And you go, “Oh, that's why you're the artist.” **You mentioned yourself as a maker. Is there a primary focus for yourself?** **Nik:** That depends what day of the week or week of the month. At the moment, I'm stitching up a blanket and making myself some summer dresses. Knitting and sewing at the moment. I did, as you know, a [big pottery project last year](https://www.localauthority.news/144-pots-for-144-women/), which took me a year and a half. I've just got back in the studio again. I've been out of the studio for ten or twelve weeks. **Dan:** But that was a very intensive thing. I would say that for years, you would do whatever was interesting. Sewing, knitting, writing, but when you started to do pottery that really became a singular thing. It's like pottery… **Nik:** And then everything else. **Dan:** Particularly when, because pottery is quite physically hard work. When you need a rest. **Nik:** Because I have some physical problems. **Dan:** When sitting on a sofa and knitting or whatever is good, it is a way of making and being creative. Plus, great blankets. **Nik:** Beautiful blankets. I can't not be doing something. I do have to be quite idle, at least some of the time, because of my physical problems. I have to be sitting down for a couple of weeks, then hand sewing or knitting keeps me up. I'll sketch ideas for things to do later. But pottery is the one thing I couldn't do without. **Dan:** The other thing that is important in terms of creativity between the two of us, is we talk a lot. We will talk about all sorts of ideas which will generate ideas, often in me, but sometimes in you. But more particularly, I will constantly say, “What do you think of this idea? I'm stuck on this.” Sounding board, brainstorming. Nik's also my first reader. Before I send anything anywhere, you read it first and tell me how terrible it is. All my novels go through that as well. There is that collaboration. You know what I'm working on. **Nik:** How many novels have I written? Ten, twelve. I've written as many novels as most full-time writers my age. They've come out in different formats and not necessarily always with my name on, and I'm unpublished, three or four novels. I have quite a broad experience as a writer. I'm not as good a writer insofar as I'm a very obsessive writer, and when I'm writin,g I can't do anything else, and that includes getting dressed, cooking supper, doing the washing. I have to get rid of a writing project really quickly. That can be a day or two for a short story. I've written in novel in… Do I admit this? **Dan:** That's up to you. **Nik:** 17 days *(laughs)*. **Dan:** That's the way you do it. You are in novel mode, occasionally pausing for sleep, and everything else stops, whereas I'm doing that professionally. I'm going, ‘Okay the next three months is this novel, I will work on it, I'll stop. That's the end of today. I'll stop and go and cook.’ **Nik:** It's a very different process. **Dan:** I don't think any two creatives or writers work in the same way. **Nik:** It never takes me more than six weeks to write a book. **Dan:** You don't really think of yourself primarily as a writer, yet you've written as many novels as a writer your age. I've the same as seven or eight. Prolific. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The code behind Medway Elects URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-code-behind-medway-elects/ Last updated: 2025-04-25T15:33:04.000Z *Finding basic data about elections and the actions of elected politicians should be straightforward, but it’s often far more complex than it needs to be. Thankfully, Medway has a website called Medway Elects to track this data, but it’s all the work of one man who runs it as a hobby. We’ve been talking to him to find out more. Further down, we learn what Medway charity Medway Plus are up to, hear about themed open mic nights in Rochester, review Summer Palace in Gillingham, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### The code behind Medway Elects [*Medway Elects*](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a unique website that chronicles Medway's electoral history. It has been an essential resource for this publication and political geeks across our towns. Having used it for several of our editions and had the creator of the site,* [*Alan Collins*](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-medway-elects-creator/)*, write guest posts about upcoming elections, we took the time to talk to Alan about the site's creation and the site's future after local government reorganisation.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yJuX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f57d54456-c7a2-4bc2-8947-eb7018f502b0_1596x1269.png) A map of Medway Council control generated by Medway Elects. Medway Elects is a database of, primarily, election results within Medway on both a council ward and parliamentary constituency level. It has also started to include other data about elected politicians’ expenses and attendance at council meetings. The site is different to similarly titled projects like Britain Elects, which is much more about predicting the outcomes of upcoming elections. Aside from the pieces Alan writes for us, Medway Elects is not a predictive tool. Instead, it focuses on past events and facts. As useful as the site is for us, what causes someone to build a site with such granular political data? “Frustration was the initial cause of it” Alan tells me. “I'm quite happy to call myself a political geek.” When Alan first developed his interest in politics and tried to find various bits of information, primarily on the council website, “some of it was there, but trying to find it was an absolute nightmare.” In deference, this was the previous site to the one the Council has presently. “The one they're on now isn't great,” Alan offers, “but the one they had before was even worse.” Alan wondered if it was possible to do it better, to build a site where you can find the information in as few clicks as possible rather than searching aimlessly. I ask Alan why this is important. “For me, it's pure interest, but I think the wider point is that it's transparency.” Alan explains that we elect politicians to represent us. Through our taxes, we pay their salaries and expenses, and he feels it's important to be able to see “if they're actually turning up to meetings and things like that.” The first iteration was a website called ‘Democracy in Practice’ in 2011\. In Alan’s own words, this was a basic site focused on the local council. “I wasn't very happy, A, with how it looked, B, how it performed and C, despite thinking up the name, I came to think it was a little bit naff for what I was doing.” Alan left the project on hold until the 2015 local and general elections, when he started considering how to make the project work again. At this point, he made two decisions: To introduce parliamentary elections and to change the name to Medway Elects. Outside of data held on Wikipedia, Medway Elects appears to be unique as a resource, though efforts to confirm that have admittedly been minimal. There certainly does not appear to be anything of its kind serving Kent more widely. Alan builds the site with data primarily available from public sources. “Most councils, Medway is no exception, publish election data on their website to a limited extent.” Local election data on Medway Elects goes back to 1974, “when we had the last major local government reorganisation in the Local Government Act of 72.” Alan intends to have a firm cut-off for general election data of 1918 which is when there was “a widening of the franchise following the First World War.” The nature of the site requires a lot of coding, which Alan has built himself in a true geek fashion. Alan’s background is in law, so he had to teach himself the coding required to build the site. “I've been dabbling in coding since before I started studying law, 14 years old, perhaps. Tech has been one of the things that has interested me almost as much as law.” Alan has worked on a variety of projects that never made it to public view, “but it's been useful in terms of learning different ways of doing things.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NCFj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffd9d4911-7222-4a15-a69c-7d25ac6d1eca_1919x1046.jpg) Part of the code of Medway Elects. Alan largely pays for the site himself. Whilst there are some ads running, they are unobtrusive. “The most important thing is the data.” There is also donation link, and whilst there have been donations, it’s never enough to cover the costs, “I'm more than happy to fund however much I need to. Fortunately, it's not expensive to run.” What does the proposed government reorganisation mean for the future of Medway Elects? He is currently working on new features, which already adds time to keeping data up to date, “and the idea of introducing new geographical areas was not very appealing initially.” He has ultimately came to the decision to develop the site to what one day soon may become ‘North Kent Elects,’ and the political geeks in us are happy about that indeed. --- #### In brief 🦆 KMTV has [been to meet Mark Colyer](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video/we-meet-the-medway-duck-man-who-has-his-own-therapy-ducks-62879/?ref=localauthority.news), also known as the Medway Duck Man. 💃 This year’s Salute to the ‘40s festival at Chatham Historic Dockyard [will be the last](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/salute-to-the-40s/?ref=localauthority.news). 💥 The [Royal Engineers Museum have warned that there will be the sound of machine gun fire](https://www.instagram.com/p/DI3rnvfTUt3/?ref=localauthority.news) this weekend as part of their Build Demolish Defuse event. --- #### Children discover Medway with Medway Plus [*Medway Plus*](https://medwayplus.wordpress.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *was founded in 2015 by former Medway Council employees to develop the skills of Medway’s socially and economically disadvantaged communities. We caught up with Peter Vogel, Liam Dutton, and Marie Thibault following the successful delivery of their recent Shared Prosperity Fund project.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!t6Jy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3e9ee358-1bf8-4569-b1fd-77b73538ee24_1456x1456.jpg) Marie, Liam, and Peter of Medway Plus. Peter and Marie worked together in the European team at Gun Wharf for Medway Council before a decision was made by, as Peter tactfully tells me, “a then prominent member” to close down the European team. Peter was happy to retire, but discussions within the team led to the idea of creating a charity that could continue the social regeneration work that was going on at the time. Now celebrating its tenth year, Medway Plus has worked with communities across Medway on a wide variety of projects. “We started out quite well known as an organisation who helped to build gardens and in children's centres and community centres. That went very well.” They then we moved on to programmes supporting elderly people with healthy eating. A significant part of their support is now directed towards helping migrant communities. They are currently engaged with the Kent Muslim Welfare Association to provide help for the Muslim community. “We've done a lot of activities with them, and that continues to grow.” More recently, their work has provided support to the Ukrainian community in Medway. As part of their charitable aims, they work in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, collecting ideas and doing their best to help those who need the most help. “We don't go to Hempstead and Wigmore very often,” Peter admits, “but they don't need the help that the other communities do.” They also work with a network of around 20 schools, from the Isle of Grain to a primary that is indeed in Hempstead. “Everywhere we have a school that's quite happy to work with us.” They almost didn’t complete formally setting up with the Charity Commission as they were expected to focus on one target group rather than the broad spectrum of support that Medway Plus provides. “We had a very big fight with the Charity Commission,” Marie tells me, “where we tried to explain what our aim would be and why we wanted to do so many things at once under one charity. It was really hard.” The Medway Plus team each bring their own unique skills. Peter focuses on delivery. “I like talking to people. I like face-to-face interaction. Obviously, these days you have to use technology.” For 27 years, Peter lived on the White Road estate, and that experience helped him to identify issues that the charity could support. “There's this bizarre rumour that I know most people in Medway, but it's not true. [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/i-could-easily-fill-4-or-5-days-worth/) knows a lot more people than I do. But it does help.” Liam is ‘the guy on the chair,’ providing IT skills and project management experience. He previously volunteered with the Royal Voluntary Society at the Victory Community Centre where Medway Plus are based. During covid, he helped RVS distribute computer tablets to people dealing with isolation. After RVS left the centre, Liam stayed to work with Medway Plus. Marie and Peter have worked together since the Council, and Liam provides them with different perspectives and ideas. When it comes to the charity, Peter is happy not to touch the financing. Thankfully, Marie had experience managing European projects and shoulders some of that responsibility. “The finances for European projects were horrendous. It's quite easy for me to manage it for Medway Plus.” Coming from France also has advantages. “I don't have that cultural thing where people in this country always try to be nice when there is something wrong in terms of financing. I will say it in a nice way, but there is no like other way of dealing with it.” As part of the third round of the Shared Prosperity Fund, Medway Plus received support for their ‘Discovering Medway’ project. They have worked with schools in the past, organising excursions, including water sports and horse riding. The aim of the Discovering Medway project was to enable school children to experience cultural and historical places in Medway that they wouldn’t otherwise see. They have worked with over 200 children, taking groups to Rochester Cathedral, the Guildhall Museum, the Royal Engineers Museum, and even Intra Arts, where they were given “an interactive experience as far as what it's like to be an artist. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the children loved it. It opened their eyes to the possibilities of what they could do,” says Peter. Whilst the funding ended in March, Medway Plus has been able to extend their project to take advantage of the good weather and organise trips to green flag parks. If you are at a school that would like to get involved, contact [Medway Plus](https://medwayplus.wordpress.com/?ref=localauthority.news) to learn more. --- #### Mr Unswitchable’s Open Mic Kevin Younger first started hosting open mic music nights to support his partner [Xtina Lamb](https://www.localauthority.news/it-feels-like-you-can-in-medway/), who had taken on what is now the Intra Arts space. They held the events as a fundraiser, and Kevin thought it would be fun to have a theme, so all the songs that first night had to have a colour in the title. Held at the Rochester Social Club, the night was a success. “I borrowed the PA off of [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/), and we did the best we could. Everyone seemed to enjoy it,” recalls Kevin. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ETas!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe802e20d-1427-49bc-b305-df4b86b166bb_968x507.jpg) Xtina Lamb and Kevin Younger. They had their 25th themed night earlier this year. “I've started making a spreadsheet. In the past, I’ve told two different people that they could do the same song, which can become embarrassing.” Following that first successful night, Kevin hosted three more events, covering songs with a girl’s name, a number, and then a liquid substance in the title. “That could be blood, sweat, water, wine, anything like that.” By now, the events were not about fundraising but about people enjoying themselves. Suddenly though, the pandemic and social distancing meant hosting events in a small social club was not an option. “That's when I came up with the idea of doing it on Facebook.” People submitted prerecorded videos of them playing their selected songs to Kevin. Themes during this time included ‘Song Title is a Question’, ‘TV Theme Tunes’ and ‘Present Continous.’ Kevin would play the videos with people able to comment on them in real time. “Everyone had a glass of wine or beer or something. I think it was quite nice. Everyone felt they were at the same event and talking to people.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ygEA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3ae9c898-6844-46d7-a481-338457538587_1074x562.jpg) Jon Barker, Sarah Post, and Wolf Howard performing ‘Wiliam Shatner's version of Elton John's Rocket Man.’ Hosting the events back in the real world, Kevin feels the Rochester Social Club remains the perfect venue for it. “It’s a small, intimate, comfortable venue.” The next event is on 10 May, with a theme of Crime and Punishment. “Cops and robbers, jail, outlaws, that kind of thing,” notes Kevin. The event is free to attend, though there is a bucket collecting contributions towards the cost of the events. “With the club being a CIU club, every gig has to be a private party.” If you want to attend, you should visit [Mr Unswitchable’s Open Mic on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/827773287950026). Ask to join the group, and Kevin will send you an invite to the event. --- #### In for Dinner: Summer Palace *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the takeaway options available in our towns. This week, he’s ordered from* [***Summer Palace***](https://www.just-eat.co.uk/restaurants-summer-palace-gillingham?ref=localauthority.news) **in Gillingham*…* Once upon a time, there was an incredible American BBQ takeaway in Gillingham called ‘Stannys’, which had brisket, burnt ends, and ribs to die for. The meat would fall off the bone like butter, packed with flavour. Like all good things, it came to an end. This left me with a problem as I searched through multiple takeaway apps, looking for BBQ ribs to order. This is a long preamble as to why I ordered from a Chinese on this occasion, with their rib options seeming better than ordering via a chicken shop. Summer Palace is a Chinese takeaway, and I ordered via Just Eat. I ordered dry ribs, king do ribs, chilli chips, and sweet and sour vegetables. The food was delivered quicker than the website suggested, which was appreciated, but not so quickly as to be suspicious. The delivery driver was friendly, and there was a free order of prawn crackers, reaffirming one of life’s essential rules: Never pay for an order of prawn crackers. The chips had travelled well enough, with the chilli seasoning enough to give some good flavour without overpowering them. The vegetables were a mix of chunky cut onion, pepper, mushroom and ‘other vegetables’ in a sauce that was both sweet and sour. The dry set of ribs were indeed very dry. They had fully embraced the dry, like leather on bone, coincidentally also the title of my forthcoming rock album. The king do ribs were smaller, assuming chopped rather than just very tiny ribs, but I’ve been wrong before. Whilst a little pricey, the food did taste good overall, and they also do a cracking pancake roll. If in Gillingham or adjacent, giving Summer Palace a try isn’t a bad idea. --- #### Event Guide 🎤 Sat 26 Apr - [**Theresa Lola**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/the-rippling-out-sessions-theresa-lola-award-winning-poet?ref=localauthority.news) // Poet reads from her second collection, Ceremony for the Nameless. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🎸 Sat 26 Apr - [**Helen McCookerybook**](https://wegottickets.com/event/647479?ref=localauthority.news) // Return visit for legendary singer-songwriter. Rams Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester. Tickets £10. 🎸 Sat 26 Apr - [**Crabs + The Spike Direction Effect + The Nudie Pics**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/chatham/poco-loco/crabs-the-spike-direction-effect-the-nudie-pics/e-morava?ref=localauthority.news) // Garage rock from across Kent. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🎛️ Sun 27 - [**Minimus Lounge**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1363407751648390/) // Experimental soundscapes with Ever Orchid and Sophie Sirota. Rams Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester. Free, £5 suggested donation. 🎶 Sun 27 April - [**Len Price 3**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/chatham/poco-loco/the-len-price-3-cream-soda-the-burntwick-smugglers/e-oekeeb?ref=localauthority.news) // Matinee performance from Medways high energy garage combo, with support from Cream Soda and The Burntwick Smugglers. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £10. 🎤 Thu 1 May - **Sam Campbell** // Australian comedian and recent Taskmaster winner performs early evening show. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Tickets £12.50, purchased from bar. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Medway dodges another licensing hearing URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-dodges-another-licensing-hearing/ Last updated: 2025-04-22T23:35:24.000Z *We swear we aren’t pivoting to only covering licensing issues, but the issue leads again this week as a Medway councillor objects and then changes their mind about a new B&M in Chatham. Further down, we have news on how you can own the old Gun Shop and other notable Medway properties, we take a quick look back at our Medway Question Time event last week, and run through the news in brief. Let’s get to it.* --- #### Medway dodges another licensing hearing Last week, [we wrote about the slightly absurd licensing hearing](https://www.localauthority.news/licensing-hearing-demonstrates-why/) to decide whether or not Tesco should get a licence to sell alcohol in Rochester. We won’t repeat the story again here, but we did promise an update this week. The update is that there is no update. Despite the meeting over a week ago, the public is still not allowed to know what the panel decided after the press and public were kicked out of the room because of the opaque way these decisions are made. To be precise, the panel have five working days to let the applicant know the decision, which given the bank holiday is this coming Thursday, but in reality, the panel of councillors would have made the decision following the initial hearing. We asked Medway Council what the outcome of the discussion was, and they have so far been unable to provide an answer. So imagine our delight when looking through the Medway Council meeting calendar to discover that [another licensing hearing](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=5969&ref=localauthority.news) had been scheduled for next week. Who was the problematic culprit this time? An off-licence in a residential street? Another supermarket trying to open in a town without any? Nope. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!x1Gs!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f17895973-e92b-4a69-9942-af03f30893e0_1789x1003.jpg) What B&M’s horrible sign will look like. That’s right, B&M. The weird all things to all people retailer with a headache-inducing logo who has been marching across Medway in recent years. Their latest store is set to replace Homebase in Chatham, which is due to become the biggest B&M in our towns by some margin. For context, the store is located within Horsted Retail Park, an edge of town retail development with an airport on one side and a dual carriageway on the other. Surrounding stores include Currys, Pets at Home, KFC, and most relevantly to this, Home Bargains and Aldi. Given Aldi is a supermarket selling alcohol and Home Bargains sells roughly the same mix of products as B&M are both on the same estate, it would seem odd if there was a problem to be found in the new store’s application. It should also be noted that, unlike Tesco last week, the store is not located within a Cumulative Impact Policy area. So, exactly what triggered a licensing hearing on B&M’s application? One objection from one councillor on one aspect of Medway’s licensing objectives. Fort Horsted councillor Trevor Clarke [objected to the application](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=79265&ref=localauthority.news) on the grounds of ‘prevention of public nusience.’ His main complaint seems to be that B&M requested a licence that allowed them to sell alcohol between 7am and 11pm, when Aldi is limited to 8am to 10pm. Cllr Clarke in his objection seemingly wanted to make sure B&M were not allowed that extra hour on either end. Now, there is a certain logic here to Cllr Clarke’s position, but his objection also raised not wanting residents to be disturbed on Sundays despite the fact that a store the size of B&M would be legally unable to open for more than six hours. It also ignores that JD Gyms operates on the site 24 hours a day, and KFC is open until 11pm every day, including Sundays. It also ignores that there is not a single B&M in the entire country that opens after 10pm, so it seems unlikely that would likely to start here, even if the licence does give them the wiggle room. Since the agenda was published (and we started putting together this piece), the hearing panel has since been cancelled, after Cllr Clarke withdrew his objection. Whether someone had a word or he just thought better of it is unclear, but it does raise questions about how hearings can be forced over a single objection about one very small part of an application. So alls well that ends well in this case, and the giant new B&M will [open on 6 June](https://www.bmstores.co.uk/stores/chatham-horsted-retail-park-907?ref=localauthority.news). Still, with two licensing hearing panels provisionally on the [Medway Council calendar](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?M=4&CID=0&OT=&C=-1&MR=0&DL=0&D=1&ACT=Later&DD=2025&ref=localauthority.news) for May, and a number of potentially controversial licence applications in the pipeline, the panel will likely get another chance to make a decision again soon. --- #### Your chance to own the Gun Shop (and more) If you’ve walked through the part of Chatham High Street around Sun Pier in the past decade, you’ve probably noticed the rather run down shop with a rather bold sign: The Gun Shop. The former shop and Pulse nightclub underneath have sat empty for so long that the building is falling apart. Indeed, as part of a planning application last year that proposed converting the building into a mixed-use residential/commercial unit, structural issues were raised. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!bZT9!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe710e96a-8e27-4d0f-9a24-3afbc11700dc_2116x1228.jpg) Inside the Gun Shop. Photo: Clive Emson Auctioneers As is often the way of such things, now planning permission has been obtained to convert the building into a shop and seven flats, the owner is trying to sell up to let the actual work become someone else’s problem. The [building will go to auction](https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/72/?ref=localauthority.news) next week with local auctioneers Clive Emson, where a price of £400,000+ is being proposed. It doesn’t sound like a bad price given the scale of the building on offer, though the listing does raise some concerns: ‘Viewing will be external only as we understand the stairs have been replaced with a scaffolding tower providing access to all the floors.’ Something of a fixer-upper, then. The Gun Shop isn’t the only interesting Medway building going to auction next week. Two properties on Rochester High Street are on offer. [Penfold House near Rochester Bridge is up for around £220,000](https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/73/?ref=localauthority.news). The building has had various tenants over the years, from the original Deaf Cat to Bruno’s in the past to The Mixologist cocktail bar more recently. Indeed, this writer had an office on the top floor of the building back in the heady days of 2011. Further along Rochester High Street, the [building housing Fieldstaff antiques is also up for auction](https://www.cliveemson.co.uk/properties/257/52/?ref=localauthority.news) for around £220,000\. The auction includes both the extensive shop and three-bedroom flat above, though don’t have any thoughts about using it yourself: The building comes with Fieldstaff who have a long-lease until 2032. --- #### Thanks for supporting Medway Question Time Thank you to everyone joining us for Medway Question Time at MidKent College last week. We love putting on these events to engage with the local community on the issues they care about. Getting people to come out on a Wednesday night to listen to a panel discussion isn’t the easiest sell, but we greatly appreciate that our readers are up for exactly that sort of thing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!uu24!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1e4333f0-5975-44c9-b8e0-22060aedee12_2364x1330.jpg) Medway Question Time last week. An additional thank you to our panel: Medway Council Leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/i-could-easily-fill-4-or-5-days-worth/), Leader of the Opposition [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/), Chatham Memorial Synagogue’s Dalia Halpern, and Chatham Historic Dockyard’s [Richard Morsley](https://www.localauthority.news/it-had-not-only-a-local-impact-but/). Politicians like Vince and George are obviously used to this sort of thing, but Dalia and Richard gamely threw themselves into things, offering their own unique insights on the issues raised. It was a good discussion, with a well-rounded set of questions, covering what the council should and shouldn’t do, the state of Medway Hospital, food, further education, the level of culture in Medway, and, of course, potholes. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Nsi_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f33ab2567-71c6-4ce6-bbd3-e1971a9b7762_2364x1238.jpg) Medway Question Time last week. This is the third time we’ve done a Medway Question Time, and we’ve slightly tweaked the format each time. Getting the balance right between panel discussion and audience participation remains tricky. We did manage to take some points from the floor during this one, and it’s something we’ll keep trying to refine in the future. We hope to have a recording from the event available soon for those unable to attend on the night, and we’ll be back with another Medway Question Time event later in the autumn. Between now and then, we’ll announce a special summer event exclusively for our [paid supporters](#/portal/signup), so keep an eye out for that. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### In brief 🚗 Medway Council has apologised after an [disabled person was fined 18 times for driving through a School Street](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/i-received-18-driving-fines-from-the-council-i-was-exempt-323107/?ref=localauthority.news) in Walderslade despite the council exempting them. It tooks months of letters and court orders before the council managed to sort things out. 💷 [Nearly £20m in developer contributions intended to improve local services is going unused in Medway](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78jzg2d5xwo?ref=localauthority.news). The Section 106 system moves horrendously slowly and a better process for using such money is long overdue. 🍻 The Coach and Horses pub in Strood has suddenly closed after the landlord returned the lease. [Stonegate Group is now looking for a new operator](https://www.stonegatepubpartners.co.uk/find-a-pub/coach-and-horses-strood%5F008046?ref=localauthority.news) if you’ve ever fancied running a Medway pub with nearly half a million turnover. 🧑‍⚕️ A Chatham-based care company has been placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection. [Inspectors found Sambhana Care inadequate in all areas](https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-9721798311?ref=localauthority.news), saying incidents were hidden, medicines were not managed safely, and at least one patient was left unattended for days. 🚒 Kent Fire and Rescue have requested the a [licence review of the Red Dog pub in High Halstow](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news). They assert that the venue has not complied with a previous enforcement notice. 🍔 [KMTV have been to Chatham High Street to talk to Burgerman Serj](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kmtv/video/how-chatham-tiktok-star-burgerman-serj-is-feeding-the-homeless-62840/?ref=localauthority.news), who has turned his burger stand into something of a TikTok hit. --- #### More Authority Francis Annan is a screenwriter and director of the Daniel Radcliffe starring Escape From Pretoria, which has been riding high on the Netflix charts since it landed on the platform. [We sat down and talked with the Medway-based filmmaker](https://www.localauthority.news/they-are-movies-that-will-at-some/) to discuss what brought him to Medway, the industry's challenges, what a Medway set film would look like, and much more. [“They are movies that will at some point get made"Earlier this year, we spoke to director and Medway resident Francis Annan about his film Escape to Pretoria when it became available on Netflix. We wanted to go deeper, so Steven sat down with him in the Mast and Rigging pub in Gillingham to talk about what brought him to Medway, his family connection to Ghana, the question that almost caused an existential crisis, and what a film about Medway would look like.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2c267d81-512c-4ab4-a362-f5a7659802a4_1284x672.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/they-are-movies-that-will-at-some/) It’s a full Medway Council meeting week, and it’s going to be a long one. If you’d like to join us so we don’t suffer alone, we’ll cover it all our [Substack Chat](https://substack.com/chat/449066?ref=localauthority.news) for our [paid supporters](#/portal/signup). There’s currently an offer to get [20% off an annual subscription](https://substack.com/chat/449066?ref=localauthority.news), mainly because the Authoritymobile (my Nissan) is going into the garage this week for the best part of £800 worth of work. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*There Is Nothing More Frightening Than The Passing Of Time by Superman Revenge Squad*](https://thesupermanrevengesquadband.bandcamp.com/album/there-is-nothing-more-frightening-than-the-passing-of-time?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Waited Up Til It Was Light by Johnny Foreigner*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1NUbOQMCKY&ref=localauthority.news)*,* ### “They are movies that will at some point get made" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/they-are-movies-that-will-at-some/ Last updated: 2025-04-20T06:00:20.000Z *Earlier this year,* [*we spoke to director and Medway resident Francis Annan*](https://www.localauthority.news/i/149442794/medway-based-directors-film-is-a-hit-on-netflix) *about his film Escape to Pretoria when it became available on Netflix. We wanted to go deeper, so Steven sat down with him in the Mast and Rigging pub in Gillingham to talk about what brought him to Medway, his family connection to Ghana, the question that almost caused an existential crisis, and what a film about Medway would look like.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!h6Yp!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2c267d81-512c-4ab4-a362-f5a7659802a4_1284x672.jpg) Francis Annan. **What is your official occupation?** Screenwriter and film director. **Do you have a preference of those two disciplines?** There are three things. There are writers, there are directors and there are writer-directors. They're three different things. I would not consider myself a writer-director. I consider myself first and foremost a director and a writer, a separate discipline. I often do tend to fall into the writer-director category. Now a writer writes scripts, then hands it over to a producer and director and they go and do it. A director typically is hired to direct the scripts. They might not have previously had any association with or they've been attached to direct it early on, but it's not been written yet. I've got several projects like that. Writer-directors are people who have their own original ideas from inception like Christopher Nolan. He isn't a director of people's scripts, he directs his own. They only pretty much exclusively work on things they've written in terms of directing. I often fall into that category, but I see myself as a director. My utopia would be to be sent scripts and to read them and then say you could do this, you could do that, and then bring them to life. The French name for director is realisateur, ‘the realiser.’ I think that's a good technical definition. I write, but really, I see myself as a director, and I have writer-directed, if that makes sense. **We spoke previously about** [**Escape to Pretoria**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape%5Ffrom%5FPretoria?ref=localauthority.news)**. Is there any other work that people may have seen, or they can check out?** I did a very low budget feature length. I’ve done some TV and I’ve done a few shorts. When you're doing all of that, you're taking a few colours that someone's thrown on the table and going, ‘Oh, I can do this.’ You're partly making a lot of mistakes. [Tarantino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quentin%5FTarantino?ref=localauthority.news) made a first movie and it was a complete mess, but he made all his mistakes and learned everything he needed to make [Reservoir Dogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reservoir%5FDogs?ref=localauthority.news) after this first movie. I can empathise with that. The feature-length movie I made, it was like a [Lars von Trier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars%5Fvon%5FTrier?ref=localauthority.news)\-esque, [Dogville](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogville?ref=localauthority.news), [Manderlay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manderlay?ref=localauthority.news) sort of thing. We built sets, but then the fourth wall didn't exist. We did a scene in the tavern, we had tables and lamps, but it was black. There was one door in the middle. We tried to abstract it. That was because of no money. Also, because it was supposed to be this illusory dream-like transition between real life and a strange place, ‘What's going on?’ We leant into the art and the expression of it. I learned a lot about what works, about what doesn't. I shot a scene that didn't really work, but then I jump cut it and it gave it this real energy. ‘Right, jump cuts, temporal time, I can play with time.’ I was cutting my teeth, making those movies. The main theatrical movie was Escape From Pretoria. **At the risk of sounding like your mother-in-law, can you make a living out of this?** Yes and no. It's a bit like being an actor or being a musician, an artist, painter. The thing is the thing, the artistic discipline is what it is. One's ability to be successful and make money out of it is almost, it's a very important question, but it's almost separate from it. Some of the best artists in the world may well be a 70-year-old woman living in a council flat down the road. She's an amazing artist, but she does it for the love of it. It's only either when she passes or when someone finds her stuff that you go, ‘Oh my gosh, I've got all this amazing stuff.’ The same with filmmaking. It's this weird synthesis of creative and artistic pursuit on one hand and the need to make money to live. I have been able to, but it is hard because the monetary value and the monetary element of it is externally derived. If you get a job, you can apply for a job, can eventually do the interview and you get that job and, redundancies and economic situations notwithstanding, you've got that job. You either leave it or resign or whatever. That's not how films are. Films are essentially contracts. You're working on a very contract basis. You're not working until you are on a movie. When you're on a movie, life is great, you're getting paid, and then the day that that movie's over, you're not getting paid. You're not staff, you're not salaried. And in order to get a movie greenlit, there's so many things that out of your control, that you're very much reliant upon other factors. A studio boss saying ‘Yes,’ money coming together, an actor or actress saying, ‘I want to work with you.’ **What have you been doing for income since you finished Escape from Pretoria?** Because I write, I've been able to write as a source of income. **Is this writing films for yourself or is this writing for other people?** Well at the moment it's been for myself. I've been courted to write for others. Sometimes I've not got the gig, or I've been too busy, other times it's worked out so there's that. Also, sometimes in order to keep a director engaged with project they might offer you a retainer where they might say, ‘If this project goes ahead and as it begins to move, we can give you this and give you that.’ That can help. On one project, I was flown out to LA to do research on a project, and paid a bit for that. You have these sorts of things, but when you're getting paid is when you're in a movie. Between the pandemic, the following year after Escape and various other turmoil in the industry, the [2023 writer’s strike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%5FWriters%5FGuild%5Fof%5FAmerica%5Fstrike?ref=localauthority.news) and then the [actor’s strike](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023%5FSAG-AFTRA%5Fstrike?ref=localauthority.news) and then we've had various tectonic plates, with streamers and streaming decline, that's made it quite difficult for a lot of filmmakers to be able to get projects off the ground. When you look at current world events, you think ‘How important is this?’ But it is a medium that has, not only entertainment value, but a great ability to reach into people's homes and people's hearts and tell them about a world that they otherwise would not be able to access or haven't heard of or would never seek to investigate on their own. You watch a movie about Vietnam, or you watch a movie about a struggling artist or what it means to be the Prime Minister of a country, these open our minds. The money and the projects and getting the gig aside, when you actually film, I have an opportunity to tell the story. It does motivate you for many years. **With directing, what is pleasure that comes to mind, and what is a challenge?** One is when you read a script, read a scene from the script, either that you've written yourself or someone else has written, and you envision it. You can see the scene playing out almost in your mind, visually. Then you spend all that time raising the money and getting the cast and building the set and eventually you're on the set and you shoot the scene that you dreamt of six months ago, a year ago, two years ago, whatever. That's quite a satisfying moment. I think that act of turning words into images and words into scenes is something that's quite enjoyable. Turning the abstract into the tangible. I do enjoy that. When I'm working with actors and think of a scene a certain way and then they say, ‘No,’ they have brought their perspective. That's quite refreshing when you actually learn something new that you hadn't seen before because an actor or a camera person says, ‘Have you seen this?’ ‘Have you looked at it this way?’ That's quite enjoyable. The difficulties often in terms of directing on set, it's just time. There's constant feeling that you're against the clock and am I doing it well enough and getting what I need? That's not a nice feeling. You want to have two hours, and you've only got one. You want to do another take, and you've got to move on. You feel like you're stabbing in the dark and you're not sure if you've quite got it. Then you go to the edit and cry, and figure it out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!r5M_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9b6e1308-daec-412e-93d0-bcced500a0e9_1023x536.jpg) Francis Annan with Director of Photography Geoff Hall on the set of Escape From Pretoria. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Mastering the decks with Kent DJ Academy URL: https://www.localauthority.news/mastering-the-decks-with-kent-dj/ Last updated: 2025-04-18T11:25:41.000Z *Ever considered that you could be the next big club DJ? No, us either, but a Medway organisation is training the music DJs and producers of the future with lessons for all abilities. We’ve been along to find out more about their work. Further down, we have news of a new artist pop-up in Rochester, and of a new series of walking tours in the same town. Beyond that, we’ve got our review of Legends Cafe, our weekly events guide, and more.* **Editor’s note:* Thanks to everyone who came along to our Medway Question Time event at MidKent College on Wednesday. There were good discussions on several of the big issues facing Medway, and we appreciate all of the great contributions on the night and the feedback we have received since. We’ll be back with another MQT event later on in the year.* --- #### Mastering the decks with Kent DJ Academy *We recently interviewed Jim Riley of Ranscombe Studios in what now seems to be becoming an unofficial music hub for Medway. Jon Glover runs the* [*Kent DJ Academy*](https://kentdjacademy.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *across the corridor, teaching people how to get behind the decks.* The Kent DJ Academy is an independent DJ and music production school established ten years ago. The organisation teaches all ages and all abilities, with lessons suitable for “anyone who has an interest to get creative mixing,” says Jon. “90% of our students want to do it as a fun creative hobby.” Jon helps them take the music they already love and do something new with it. They also work with people that want to make a career in DJing, and Jon works with them to help them get to a professional level through coaching and mentoring. Beyond all this, they also provide group lessons with schools and have even done corporate events. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!x2MJ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc0534059-2e57-4e16-b0fd-a1ea2b097bc3_1226x642.png) Jon Glover of Kent DJ Academy. Jon, now 45, started DJing at clubs in Maidstone, “underage when I was 15, 16,” at venues like Da Vinci’s and Liquid Lounge. “It was actually my best friend and I. We started DJing at the local youth club,” the YMCA in Maidstone, trying to entertain his peers. “We were terrible at it, had no gear or idea.” Working with his dad’s record deck and a CD player, they were working for free and the feeling of being cool. “Music got played, people came.” In 2014, having been teaching for a couple of years, a friend asked to be shown how to DJ. Jon spent two hours showing him what to do, and at the end his friend said, “I don’t understand a thing, you are a terrible teacher.” Jon decided to take the time to think about the process of walking somebody through the process of DJing. “DJing has been the most consistent thing in my life,” says Jon, “and is probably the only thing I am good at.” With this new focus it went from being a part time business to full time due to the demand in Kent. Five years ago, Jon moved to Medway from Maidstone, “to be with my partner. She has always been a Rainham girl.” To stop the commuting back to Maidstone he acquired a new studio space, first at Chatham Dockyard, and then the move opposite Ranscombe Studios. The move enabled them to gain more space and improve access. As a result, Jon is now “providing lessons not just around my availability, but we can now do evening.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!4hMG!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1d918e7c-fafe-4bd2-a8bd-6c2fbb13d353_1440x754.jpg) Jamie, aka DJ Jay Crucial, a tutor at Kent DJ Academy. What makes somebody a good DJ can be a subjective question, but Jon tries to answer it. “There are all kinds of DJ and ways and opportunities to DJ. Anyone can call themselves a DJ if they are putting out content,” whether they are putting mixes online or doing live streams. “It’s not just about being in dark smoky night clubs until three in the morning.” One aspect is being a great selector, picking great tracks, reading the crowd or “getting very technical and clever with all the amazing things you could do with modern DJing.” Jon thinks a good DJ is someone prepared to do it, confident to do it, and can entertain people, “whether you get paid for it not.” DJs don’t just play other people’s music, Jon tells me. They also produce their own tracks. “It can go hand in hand, the knowledge you have in making music also goes into what works for crowds, and what will work if you are producing tracks.” For those staring out, you don’t need your own equipment to come and learn at the Kent DJ Academy. “It's always good to really progress to have something they can practice with at home, but nowadays it's easier because decks can cost less, and you can even hook them up to your laptop.” You can even DJ with your thumbs, Jon tells me, via an app on your phone, “to get into the theory of mixing. It can cost nothing to get into.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!-hje!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f771e376d-9f97-45d1-b233-a5a20bcc09a8_1440x754.jpg) Cynthia, a learner at Kent DJ Academy. Jon provides sessions for absolute beginners through to a masterclass 14 hours of lessons, which is designed to “give everyone everything they need to get practiced and confident to DJ independently.” *If you are interested in DJing, check out* [*Kent DJ Academy*](https://kentdjacademy.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *via their* [*Instagram account*](https://www.instagram.com/kentdjacademy/?ref=localauthority.news)*, or contact them via *info AT kentdjacademy DOT com*.* --- #### In brief 💃 Chatham Carnival is returning in July and they are [offering performance slots for live entertainment groups](https://www.instagram.com/nucleusarts/p/DIdh8FDOCRX/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏞️ Mutual Aid Medway are running [Climate Cafe Courses](https://www.mutualaidmedway.org.uk/climate-courses?ref=localauthority.news) to help those suffering climate anxiety to learn more about how the climate crisis can affect your life. --- #### Artists get ready to open new pop-up *Launching today (Fri 18 Feb) is a new pop-up shop on Rochester High Street. Led by* [*Chicken Monster*](https://chickenmonster.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*’s Nick Ashton, fifteen Medway Creatives will have items for sale out of the former Get Ready Comics shop, which has been rebranded for this venture as Get Ready Artists.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qKxQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f093152b6-19a0-4b42-b049-81d21bf69cc4_1500x1500.jpg) **Declaration of interest:* Our* [*Medwayish*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *venture has worked with Nick on several items which will be available to purchase at Get Ready Artists.* Get Ready Artists is a collective of local artists who focus mainly within the realms of comic, pop culture, gothic, scifi, fantasy art. “It's quite a mix that really focuses on the Get Ready Comics brand,” says Nick. “Being under their umbrella, it very much focused on their audience.” Nick has a studio at Nucleus Arts and has been involved in many Medway projects. Previously, he won a Medway LGBTQ+ award for his Doodle and Draw workshops. “I work with a lot of local talented artists, I saw an opportunity to hire the space as a pop-up shop, hopefully until January, where we can give these artists a platform to shine.” As well as artwork, stickers, key rings, and t-shirts will be available. Get Ready Artists operates out of the 168 Rochester High Street, opposite the Golden Lion Wetherspoons, in the location of the original Get Ready comic shop. Nick is, in his own words, “officially the artist that works for Get Ready Comics. When Loungefly bags go out, quite often they'll be sent out with a piece of my artwork or if they *(Get Ready)* need any artwork to go around the shop or for promotional purposes, quite often I'll get asked to do that.” Nick has had a solid relationship with Get Ready Comics for around five years. Nick felt that the opportunity to launch the pop-up was the right thing to do. “The lease on this place is available until January. It just seemed a shame to waste the space.” The venture provides two opportunities: The artists have a focused venture to sell their work and Get Ready Comics can cover some of that rent commitment. “This was something I suggested to them. But they've been very busy, I've been very busy.” Getting the idea to fruition took time, “but they've effectively said, ‘as long as you're happy to run it pretty much entirely upon yourselves.’” Whilst not entirely an Avengers Assemble moment, Nick has gathered a collective of trustworthy people he is “happy to have around me.” They have agreed to share the responsibilities between themselves, from the running of the shop to dealing with the money and stock. Opening this Friday, they plan to be open continually the Sweeps Festival when a different pop-up will be running on the site for a week. “Once that's done, we're going to re-setup until January.” In a town tha, like Garfield, doesn’t do Mondays, they are expecting to be open seven days a week. “10 till five, Monday to Saturday, and 10 till four on a Sunday,” with the collective taking turns to run the shop, “depending on our own lives, schedules and stuff.” With the collective running at fifteen people, Nick is considering putting a cap on the collective to stay manageable. “We are obviously in danger of running out of space, but I was much happier to have too many artists than not enough.” Other artists involved in the project include Jonathan Ash, Phil Buckingham, Sophia McMullin, Jio Butler, Luke Hand, and Dwarven Wonders, who have a wide range of talent to check out. Nick is most looking forward to the possibility of establishing themselves with the community, and wants to use the pace to run workshops and see his friends do well. As part of Nick’s Doodle and Draw sessions, he has been happy to give participants space in the window for a little pop-up gallery, where they can submit artwork. Nick has often considered running a shop and wants to encourage the general public to support local artists. “Times are hard, but we have been presented with a fun opportunity.” Though he concedes that the biggest challenge, herding artists, is harder than herding cats, as he works to get the shop ready to be open for Friday. “It’s the organisation of what essentially are quite chaotic beings, creative types.” Keep an eye on the space as they have plans for themed weekends, guest artists and writers, cosplay days, Dungeons and Dragons weekends and horror events. “We want to mix it up, and we have lots of fun ideas to keep giving people a reason to come down and to get involved.” --- #### Exploring Rochester’s history on foot *We caught up with* [*Rob Flood*](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/)*, Chair of the* [*City of Rochester Society*](https://city-of-rochester.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, to discuss the new series of* [*free history walks*](https://city-of-rochester.org.uk/guided-tours/?ref=localauthority.news) *they offer to explore the town.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2cXZ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fccf9b751-dff6-4341-b040-af8de957b90b_1456x762.jpg) Rob Flood guiding. Photo: Rikard Österlund. I immediately start by poking the bear, asking if the tours are short walks because Rochester isn’t a city. Rob gently reminds me that the City of Rochester Society was founded in 1967 and that “Rochester is a ‘City by ancient prescriptive right’ which predates any charter documents, so we still refer to it as a city.” The City of Rochester Society was responsible for setting up and manning the first tourist information centre in Rochester and for them it seemed natural to also run guided tours. “We’ve been running tours for over 40 years and have a team of 15 volunteer tour guides,” Rob tells me, and that the tour guides have all been through guides training, “so you know you’re getting expert guidance.” The walks take approximately 90 minutes and run Wednesdays, weekends, Bank Holidays and festival days from now until the end of October. They start at 2.15pm outside the former Visitor Information Centre. “No need to book, just turn up.” However, if you have a larger group, separate walks can be organised by [contacting the Society](mailto:info@city-of-rochester.org.uk). The walks taken in all the key historic beats, from Romans to Dickens. “Our walks are a great way for people to learn more about where they live or are visiting.” Rob’s favourite part of the walk is Restoration House and The Vines, where there is “so much history in such a small area with a bit of Miss Havisham thrown in for good measure.” Most of the walk is on a level surface so it’s accessible if you’re in a wheelchair. It’s not a great distance, but Rob still recommends wearing decent walking shoes and bringing a bottle of water. If you’re interested in knowing more about the [City of Rochester Society](http://city-of-rochester.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), membership is £15 a year and they have what I am assured is an excellent quarterly newsletter. The walks are free to attend, but if you enjoy your walk and would like to contribute, the City of Rochester Society, as a registered charity, would gratefully accept. Still, Rob is clear that there is no obligation to do so, and getting people to come and join in on the walks is the main goal. --- #### Out to Breakfast: Legends Cafe *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the breakfast options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to *Legends Cafe in Rochester*…* If you had never been to Legends Cafe, but had to describe a modern greasy spoon to somebody, there is a strong likely hood that you would describe Legends. An integral part of the Medway breakfast offering for two decades, I had eaten there many times in my and their early years. I was nervous about reviewing their breakfast, because, as the saying goes ‘You can’t go home again.’ The café is fairly spacious with a good number of tables, locked into place. It is clean and inviting, with a ridiculously large menu greeting you. A series of photographic reproductions of famous faces from the 50s and 60s is the tenuous reason to call the café Legends. You order at the counter, should you be considering sitting at the table and waiting for somebody to take your order. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!QWt4!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f372e5711-612e-4f67-bb92-87d8681a4aca_1456x762.jpg) Food at Legends Cafe. Ignoring the previously mentioned large menu, I order four rashers of bacon well done, three fried eggs, two fried slices, and a portion of mushrooms. These were accompanied by a black tea and an apple juice, which unexpectedly came in a pint glass. The food, when it arrives, is clean and non-greasy and tastes great. It’s reasonably priced for a modern greasy spoon, and I’m thinking of going home again just to dip another fried slice in a runny egg. --- #### Events this week 🎸 Sat 19 Apr - [**My Life Story + The Pastel Waves**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/kent/the-oast-community-centre-rainham/my-life-story-live-at-rainham-platform-3-club/e-pqqypr?ref=localauthority.news) // The Britpop band come and play in Rainham. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £22.50. 🥕 Sun 20 Apr - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🪘 Sun 20 Apr - [**African and Caribbean Easter Market**](https://macacharity.org.uk/african-and-caribbean-festive-market/?ref=localauthority.news) // African and Caribbean inspired food, products and music. Corn Exchange, Rochester. Free. 📽️ Tue 22 Apr - [**The End + Q&A**](https://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/the-end-qa/ho00012980?ref=localauthority.news#/buy-tickets-by-film?in-cinema=020&at=2025-04-22&for-movie=ho00012980&view-mode=list) // Screening of Joshua Oppenheimer’s apocalyptic musical, followed by a discussion about the film. Cineworld, Strood. Tickets £9. 🗣️ Thu 24 Apr - [**Full Medway Council meeting**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=5901&ref=localauthority.news) // Elected representatives squabble over how to do things. St George’s Centre, Chatham. Free. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Licensing hearing demonstrates why nothing gets done URL: https://www.localauthority.news/licensing-hearing-demonstrates-why/ Last updated: 2025-04-15T22:15:34.000Z *Is a busy road right outside a train station a bad place to put a grocery store? It is if you believe Medway Council’s public health team and other objectors, who are pushing to block a new Tesco opening in Rochester. We’ve got the full details from today’s licensing hearing below. Further down, we look ahead to what could be a very long Medway Council meeting next week, give one last plug to* [*Medway Question Time*](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, round up the latest news in brief, and more.* --- #### Licensing hearing demonstrates why nothing gets done We often hear about the malaise in the heart of government, both national and local, that seems to stop just about anything getting done. Competing interests push back against each other, considerable weight is given to objections in processes, and a fear that doing anything new could be seen as going a bit far seems to stop us from going anywhere. This morning saw a [Licensing Hearing Panel](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=5967&ref=localauthority.news) meeting to decide the fate of a potential new Tesco Express in Rochester. We’ve written about this before, with the store already withdrawing one application for a premises licence after objectors raised concerns about the proposal. ![Side CGI - Pullman House, Corporation Street, Rochester, Kent](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!uGvB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2faef9cde9-8d0f-49c4-98cf-30054abd37d3_1000x524.jpg) CGI of Pullman House in Rochester, where Tesco is set to be located. To be clear, this meeting and argument is entirely about the ability for Tesco to sell alcohol in their store. There is little from a planning or licensing point of view to stop them from opening a shop in a commercial premises, but the sale of alcohol requires additional consent from the council. Now, Rochester is known for its lack of meaningful grocery provision. Outside of a couple of Coop stores in the suburbs and a more recent one on Rochester Riverside, there aren’t many options for buying groceries around the High Street. Beyond a couple of off-licences, the limited (albeit lovely) range of Austen’s, the main option is walking over the bridge to Strood. With Medway Council working to regenerate the area around Corporation Street, it approved a mixed-use building next to the station (and others nearby) where the ground floor is set aside for commercial use, and the flats are above. It’s a fairly normal thing to do in urban areas, which, in theory, creates more vibrant neighbourhoods. Given Pullman House, the building in question here, is directly adjacent to Rochester train station, the idea of a small grocery store seems like a logical choice in a high footfall area where little other provision exists. Of course, things aren’t that simple though, and the objections came rolling in when the store first applied for a licence earlier this year. This led to Tesco withdrawing their application and returning with a new version with more limited hours, which would mean that they would only be able to sell alcohol up until 9pm on weekdays and 8pm on the weekends. Inevitably, this didn’t prove good enough for four objectors, who still raised concerns. To emphasise the point, the entire reason this application required a full licensing hearing today was that there were a grand total of four objections to the store opening. The first and most significant came from Medway Council’s own public health team, whose concern was based around the store's location being within the Rochester High Street Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) area. This policy is designed to limit the amount of off-licence alcohol sales in an area that suffers from alcohol-related crime and problems. It is hard to deny that the centre of Rochester does suffer from these issues, though the public health team’s objection doesn’t set out why the existing off-licences in Rochester High Street are acceptable. The nearby Coop is also deemed acceptable, despite being a little over 100m away from the proposed Tesco, because it sits outside of the line drawn by the council for the CIP area. The baffling position of the public health team was compounded during the hearing when they cited domestic violence as being a reason to oppose the application. Of course, alcohol-related domestic violence is a serious problem, but the idea it could be stopped by denying Tesco a licence and thus forcing an abuser to walk 100m to the Coop borders on the absurd. The representative of the team proceeded to talk about nearby residential streets that could be impacted by the store, citing Vines Lane as an example, even though it’s a street that is neither nearby nor has any residents, given it runs between Vines Park and Kings School. Another objector came armed with a pile of FOI data, which he had requested from Kent Police on how many crimes have occurred at other Tesco stores in Medway over the past 12 months. Given that the data obtained about other Express stores showed [very few incidents that weren’t shoplifting](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=78887&ref=localauthority.news), it’s hard to see this as quite the slam dunk that the objector clearly thought it was. By the end of the hearing, the same objector ended up arguing that the location just has too high of a footfall for Tesco to operate, which raises questions of exactly how quiet an area needs to be to justify a grocery store. The final objector to speak at the hearing was Sarah Tranter of the Rochester City (sic) Centre Forum, who raised concerns about general alcohol-related crime while pointing out that the Coop doesn’t regularly have eggs and bread, so she’ll likely buy them from Tesco. The same Tesco that she was there to object to. None of this is to say that Tesco necessarily came across well during the hearing either. At one point, their representative said they spent time wandering around Rochester and couldn’t see any evidence of street drinking or alcohol-related issues, which rather suggests they walked around with their eyes shut. Or, as it turned out, they did so during a freezing day in February, even if this did lead to a slightly unpleasant exchange where it was implied that all of the issues come from homeless people in the area. Perhaps the most telling comment came during the summing up from the representative from public health, who argued that the licence should be rejected because Tesco can’t uphold the policies because they can’t control what people do after they buy alcohol in their stores. If this is indeed the bar that is now being set, it suggests Medway Council policy is now for no more licences for premises should be issued in Rochester and that existing ones should eventually be withdrawn. All of this returns us to the malaise mentioned at the start of this piece and the lack of joined-up thinking on these issues. If Medway Council doesn’t want things like grocery shops opening up in regeneration areas like Corporation Street, why does their planning policy even allow mixed-use developments with commercial space on the ground floor? If a prime location next to a train station on a busy road isn’t suitable for a grocery store, exactly where is? Following the meeting, Medway Council’s Licensing Hearing Panel deliberated on the application behind closed doors and will issue a ruling ~~by carrier pigeon~~ in writing within five days. So by next week, we’ll know whether Medway Council thinks a grocery store of an empty unit is the best thing for a prime location like this. Stay tuned. --- *Have a story you think we might be interested in? Get in touch via *hello AT localauthority DOT news*. We’re always happy to speak off the record in the first instance…* --- #### Medway Council next week could be a long one Next week, the first regular [full Medway Council meeting](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=5901&ref=localauthority.news) will be held since Labour technically lost overall control of the authority back in February. Will it make a difference to proceedings? Probably not, but there are some interesting things on the agenda regardless. There have been ongoing efforts to reduce the length of Medway Council meetings, which have often run beyond midnight, and little seems to be making much difference. The big idea was to reduce the number of motions so that each political group could only submit one motion, and a limited number of councillors could speak on them. This might have seemed like a good idea when the council had three groups and an independent councillor, but it now has four political groups and three independent councillors, all of whom are entitled to submit motions. Combined with the debacle from the last meeting where the Independent Group’s motion had to be held back to seek legal advice, meaning they get an extra motion this time, we now have [seven motions](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=5901&ref=localauthority.news) to get through next week. They include the return of that held over Chatham Docks motion (which Labour have submitted a pissy public question about), another from the Independent Group who want more Local Plan data, two on welfare cuts, and, of course, one on potholes. Reform have also submitted their very first motion, demanding better computer software to do their casework on, which isn’t the first move we would have predicted. [Councillor questions](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=79011&ref=localauthority.news) include the obligatory ones on potholes, red routes, and local government reorganisation. Elsewhere, the Conservatives are trying to ban solar panels made in China (pretty much all of them) from Medway Council buildings, there are valid questions about the feasibility of school breakfast clubs, and Cllr Anang, whose group has opposed School Streets in Rainham, is demanding that Medway Council do *something* after a child was hit by a car outside of a Rainham school. [Public questions](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=79008&ref=localauthority.news) include (and we wish we were making this up) “How many dinosaurs have you seen in Medway this month?” alongside a question from the Lib Dems about a development in Grain that suggests they’ve [definitely been reading this publication](https://www.localauthority.news/developer-makes-promises-to-get-planning/). Medway Council takes place on Thursday 24 April, at the St. George’s Centre in Chatham. There are much worse ways to spend the evening. There are much, much better ways too, but we’ll overlook that part. --- #### Last call for Medway Question Time If you have any burning questions to put to a panel of signifcant Medway figures, including Leader of Medway Council Vince Maple, then we have the event for you! [Medway Question Time](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is tomorrow (Wed 16 Apr) at MidKent College in Gillingham. There are still a few places left, so be sure to [book your free ticket](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), and if you like, submit a question to the panel. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NiXc!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff5b5a1cf-a2dc-4a8f-b7ba-e3fd5c598fb8_2160x1080.jpg)](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) We’re really proud of these events. Getting people engaged with local issues and democracy is part of what we want to do with Local Authority, so we’re incredibly grateful to have built the sort of audience that is willing to come out on a Wednesday night to raise their local issues. Our next [Medway Question Time](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) likely won’t be until the autumn after this, so please [book a ticket](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and come along if you’d like to get involved. [Book free tickets here](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### In brief 🚓 [A fraud investigation into a Medway Council owned company has now entered its sixth year](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/fraud-probe-into-council-run-company-enters-sixth-year-322846/?ref=localauthority.news). Specialist officers have been investigating fraud, alleged to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds, since concerns were first raised in March 2019. 🏗️ [Aldi has submitted their planning application](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SUEMNFKNKSE00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) to build a new store on Maidstone Road in Chatham, a bit further down the road from their existing store on Maidstone Road in Chatham. It looks a bit like every other application for an Aldi store. 📦 [Evri couriers using the Strood depot have found themselves fined](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-re-just-trying-to-do-our-job-evri-couriers-fined-for-c-322793/?ref=localauthority.news) for parking while waiting for their parcels. Seems like a well thought out system. 🎾 The never-ending saga of turning the Machine Shop 8 frame at Chatham Dockside into something edges slightly closer to a conclusion with a [planning application submitted to reclad the structure](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SUE8ULKNKJR00&ref=localauthority.news). The site is set to become a padel tennis centre because that’s what all the cool kids are into these days. 🍗 KFC in Strood has submitted a [licence application to remain open until 5am](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) for delivery drivers to pick up food. The application also seeks to extend the opening hours for regular customers until midnight. 🏪 [The BBC has looked at the state of high streets in the southeast by comparing Chatham with Leatherhead in Surrey](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kvvwnzgkno?ref=localauthority.news). Chatham doesn’t come out of it too badly either. ☕ Rochester High Street is set to get a new cafe with [Cafe Lounge moving in to the former Fleur de The unit](https://www.instagram.com/p/DIV7cofNEao/?ref=localauthority.news) on the corner of Crow Lane. ⚽ Football YouTuber StuntPegg has been to Gillingham to look at the ‘temporary’ stand at Priestfield that’s now been there for 22 years: --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, we sat down with Cllr David Finch, leader of the Reform group on Medway Council. He was elected in a February by-election, and we chatted to him about why he stood for election for Reform, why Cllr Spalding isn’t part of their group, whether Reform is a racist party, and more. [“That does show the professionalisation of the party”Reform’s David Finch was elected as a councillor for Rochester East and Warren Wood following a by-election in February. Steven met Cllr Finch at the Ship and Trades pub, and they spoke about why he stood for election for Reform, why independent councillor Chris Spalding is not part of the group, whether Reform is a racist party, and more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7f460e46-3714-496f-8cb1-c3e4c62adc23_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Great Divide by Semisonic*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I%5FTz7RuKeds&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*All Hell by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/all-hell?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Compliments Please by Self Esteem*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF5GSshWU3w&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “That does show the professionalisation of the party” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/that-does-show-the-professionalisation/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T11:14:09.000Z *Reform’s David Finch was elected as a councillor for Rochester East and Warren Wood following a by-election in February. Steven met Cllr Finch at the Ship and Trades pub, and they spoke about why he stood for election for Reform, why independent councillor Chris Spalding is not part of the group, whether Reform is a racist party, and more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!aoNr!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7f460e46-3714-496f-8cb1-c3e4c62adc23_1456x762.jpg) Cllr David Finch. **What ward are you the councillor for?** Rochester East and Warren Wood. **Why that ward?** Because the by-election came up, and we had candidates willing to come and stand for us. I was part of the Rochester and Strood branch, and still am. It just went without saying that if by-elections come up, we need to stand, we need to get out there. **You don't live in the ward yourself?** No, I don't. I live just outside in Cuxton. It's not too far away. Rochester is my local town. I love it down there. If that's where the by-election is, that's where the by-election is. **What political parties have you been a member of?** Reform UK, that's it. Nothing else. **Why did you decide to join Reform?** I saw how the country was going, I saw how the [uniparty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniparty?ref=localauthority.news) was operating. Reform offered something different, and it still does. **What is that difference that you saw?** The difference is not being the uniparty. They had common sense policies, they still have. Common sense policies like the £20,000 before you pay tax. I think that's a fantastic idea. Gets lots of people out of the tax brackets early on, gives them more money in their pockets. It was Nigel being a leader as well. Having a businessman actually running a party. That's what first grabbed me. Being a contractor myself, he was coming out with policies as well for IR35, expanding that. **What's IR35?** IR35 is where, as a business, we were running a limited company, but as a contractor, it would just be me working for the company, but we had all the outgoings of a proper company, like accountancy fees, employers, employees, national insurance. We were paying double for everything basically, and all the corporation tax and everything else on top. There was a slight benefit that we could buy things from our own company, but they would go down as assets and be taken off their accounts as normal. But it just worked out better for us to be a limited company, and Nigel said he was going to scrap it. That was back in 2019\. That's probably around the area that I got interested in Reform UK. **Have you ever considered joining another party before?** No, never. I've always been interested in politics, but I've never gone that far. I’ve always been an armchair politician. **Was there a particular moment that made you decide to get out of the armchair?** I think it was the covid era. That all brought everything to a head for me. They're making stupid decisions, they're wasting so much money. What's behind all that? Why are they doing it all in lockstep? I started investigating it there and all that money was just being wasted on nothing. All those personal contracts that they're giving away for PPE. It just seemed the whole system was corrupt from top to bottom. That kicked me up the bum. That's when I started thinking about it. I hadn't thought about it until I moved into Cuxton in ‘21\. It was around that time. Moving into Cuxton, Rochester and Strood, the branch was there already. We didn't have one where I used to live in Greenwich. It was already set up and ready to go, one of the first ones. I heard about that and jumped on. ****You're only part way through this conversation.** Register for free to continue reading, and receive our interviews, investigations and local reporting straight to your inbox. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### New exhibition explores the nearby natural environment URL: https://www.localauthority.news/new-exhibition-explores-the-nearby/ Last updated: 2025-04-11T13:47:16.000Z *Three local artists have come together for a new exhibition at the Royal Engineers Museum. The Eutierria exhibition features new work inspired by the nearby natural environment, so we’ve been speaking to the artists to learn more. Further down, we hear about Pride in Medway’s overall winner, a Medway poet with a new collection, we review Mrs Sourdough Bakery in Chatham, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### New exhibition explores the nearby natural environment [*Eutierria*](https://www.re-museum.co.uk/eutierria/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a new group exhibition at the Royal Engineers Museum, bringing together local artists David Frankum, Laura Fisher and Fiona Spirals. We spoke to them to learn more about the exhibition and just how to say ‘eutierria.’* Originally, the Royal Engineers Museum approached David Frankum to put on a solo art exhibition. “I've exhibited there a few times now, and it's always been a joyous place to exhibit,” says David. “They also own several of my pieces in their archives as well.” David admits to feeling honoured to have his work in the archives. “They're not always on display, but they come out every now and then, and that's just a wonderful thing.” David initially agreed to the exhibition, but as time went on and he thought about the space, he realised how well it could work for three people. “A piece of wall space each, all equal, no egos, no one's headlining.” He immediately thought of fellow Medway artists Laura Fisher and Fiona Spirals. “He invited Laura and myself because he thought it would be nice, and he's a generous guy,” says Fiona. David has exhibited with them in the past, and “from that point, it all became quite mysterious for all three of us,” David notes. “Because even though we were producing work for the exhibition, none of us informed one another of what we were actually producing.” Whilst this carried with it some risk that it would not work, “I knew in my heart that it would all pull together.” The theme that connects all three creatives is their joint love of being outside and the aesthetic of celebrating and connecting with the outside world. “We are three friends that share the same interest in the outside,” says Fiona. “David loves walking, Laura loves taking photographs outside, and I'm in love with the marsh and nature, basically.” Laura tells me, “David was looking at the landscape, Fiona looks at nature within the landscape, and I look at buildings and structures within the landscape.” “I work in collage,” explains Fiona, “cutting up climbing magazines, but more now tissue paper and drawing and painting. Mixed media.” Fiona’s part of the exhibition is titled ‘The Plight of the Curlew.’ “In June this year, I'm doing an exhibition in Higham called Marshy Mud Flats and the Call of the Curlew. It's all about [North Kent Marshes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North%5FKent%5FMarshes?ref=localauthority.news) and the bigger picture of the curlew, who's under threat. A [curlew](https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/curlew?ref=localauthority.news) is a large wading bird with a long-curved beak. They live in different parts of the world, but they live and breed in England. “They're endangered because of the way humans are taking their habitats and they have the most amazing call. It's such a soulful, plaintive sound.” All of Fiona’s work is about nature. “That's where my heart is. It's mainly about the marshes because I live a stone's throw from the marsh. I can see the Thames from my studio in the top of the house, a very strong connection with large open spaces with the Thames running through it.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Fipr!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbfbc8888-0ff5-4bfb-9726-83705b19ac0c_1998x1520.jpg) Work by Fiona Spirals. David is known for having a varied style, whether pen and ink sketches, his brutalist architecture drawings, or his much sought-after designs for Careful Now Promotions gigs. For this, he set himself a challenge. He has produced a series of water-coloured paintings, “which have been collected from within my own head,” David tells me, based on his hiking of the [Saxon Shore Way](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxon%5FShore%5FWay?ref=localauthority.news). “I was never quite sure why I was producing little thumbnail studies, very abstract studies along the way.” David wanted to challenge himself because the hike itself had been challenging, “both physically and mentally in many ways.” For a decade, David hasn’t used watercolour paints properly for final pieces of artwork. “Watercolours are incredibly unforgiving because once you've stained the paper, there's no turning back.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ih4x!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc6890672-b493-4364-893e-dadfd99f38fd_1456x971.png) Work by David Frankum. Laura is a documentary photographer. “I like looking at structures and objects.” While on a birthday walk, she came across [Shornemead Fort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shornemead%5FFort?ref=localauthority.news), an old disused fort on the Thames near Higham. “It's got some lovely views up and down the river. The fort was designed by a Royal Engineer. I've taken sepia tone shots of the fort, because that ties in nicely with the sepia-toned photography from the 1870s,” matching the period when the fort was built. Laura’s photos attempt to echo that time, “although the photographs are mainly of this abandoned fort and the graffiti that is there now.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qMC3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd00b1917-8063-4e44-9f6a-a8024d0c1c83_4800x3200.jpg) Work by Laura Fisher. Finally, we come to the name of the exhibition. I ask David about the title, who helpfully “can’t remember. I should have got everything out in front of me. It's on the poster. I've completely forgotten.” He says they had struggled to come up with a unifying title until a word stuck out because of its meaning. David came across the word in a book. He hadn’t seen the word before but instantly felt it was fitting to all three parts of the exhibition, summarising approaches and topics. “We had to break down how to say it because we all had difficulty saying it.” I asked Fiona if she could pronounce the title. “Nope. David came up with the name, and I said, ‘How do you say it?’ He spelt it out phonetically. I'm dyslexic. It's got a name that I can't pronounce. If I practiced every day for a week, I might remember it.” Laura tells me that “this had all tied together quite nicely when we knew that we had a show coming up and then decided on the title, Eutierria, which is about mindfulness and being out in nature.” I congratulate her on being the first to actually pronounce the title of the show. “Oh, you're welcome. I've been practising.” Eutierria, coined by Australian environmentalist Glenn Albrecht, is pronounced ‘you-tee-‘er-ee-uh,’ and means ‘a good and positive feeling of oneness with the earth and its life forces.’ *David Frankum’s ‘Walking the Saxon Shore Way’, Laura Fisher’s ‘Shornemead’ and Fiona Spirals ‘The Plight of the Curlew’ exhibitions can be seen at the Royal Engineers Museum from 15 April until 29 June. You can find* [*more details here*](https://www.re-museum.co.uk/eutierria/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In brief 🤠 Jonathan Neame, Chief Executive at Shepherd Neame, has [been appointed the new High Sheriff of Kent](https://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/news/shepherd-neames-chief-executive-jonathan-neame-appointed-high-sheriff-kent?ref=localauthority.news#:~:text=Shepherd%20Neame's%20Chief%20Executive%20Jonathan%20Neame%20appointed%20as%20High%20Sheriff%20of%20Kent,-Posted%3A%208th%20April&text=Jonathan%20Neame%2C%20Chief%20Executive%20of,on%20Saturday%20%28April%205%29.). 🥚 For some reason, a chocolate company in Strood has [made a 300kg easter egg](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c70zzx89n7yo?ref=localauthority.news). 🎶 Ideas test is seeking live music acts for a project in Luton. This is a paid opportunity for acts with no more than three members. Interested musicians can [email Wayne to get involved](mailto:wayne@ideastest.org.uk). 🚜 [Diggerland turns 25 this month](https://www.diggerland.com/diggers-thrills-and-25-years-of-adventure-at-diggerland/?ref=localauthority.news), a remarkable feat for a theme park based around heavy machinery. ⚽ Chatham Town FC are hosting the [3v3 Kent Regional Cup football tournament](https://form.jotform.com/250723734616356?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYEcGj9%5FF0B98-pYzcETaF2XEEG1UKVP46o3dFZZZ3OSX8a461ddrr4Z0I%5Faem%5F9aAz1UZOliOqVx%5FMWvgvIw&ref=localauthority.news) for players between 6 and 15. ⚽ Medway’s Kyra De Coninck put together the music for a recent advert from Arsenal FC. [It’s a banger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BUGyUQROPU&ref=localauthority.news). 🤷 Courteeners have been announced as the [final headliners for Rochester Castle Live](https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/music-nightlife/indie-legends-courteeners-heading-historic-10091576?ref=localauthority.news) in July. 👋 Kevin Grist has [stepped down from his role as Executive Director](https://www.electricmedway.org/news.html?blogPost=co-founder-of-electric-medway-stepping-down-after-10-years&ref=localauthority.news) at Electric Medway. Speaking exclusively to this publication, he assured us that it was not due to any scandals and that he was looking forward to new challenges. --- #### Paul Dennington named overall Pride in Medway award winner *Last Friday was the* [*Pride in Medway*](https://www.prideinmedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *awards, for which Local Authority hasn’t been nominated since 2022, not that we’re bitter or anything. But anyway, the overall winner this year was Paul Dennington. We caught up with Paul, disturbing his family holiday on a cruise ship in the process, to talk about his campaigns and award win.* When Paul and I are able to establish a video link, he is somewhere between Durban and Cape Town aboard the Queen Anne, which is on its maiden voyage around the world. “We're not doing the round the world voyage,” Paul is quick to make clear. “We joined in Singapore, and then we're getting off in Cape Town.” As reasons to miss the awards ceremony go, we’ve heard worse. Paul was nominated for the Pride in Medway award for his work for [Prostate Cancer UK](https://prostatecanceruk.org/?ref=localauthority.news). His voluntary work is made up essentially of two strands. “One is driving awareness,” highlighting to men the risk and if they are in the risk area. He encourages men to go and get tested “because whilst prostate cancer is the number one cancer in the UK now, in terms of diagnosis, not just the number one male one. There is still no screening program.” Successful diagnosis and treatment relies on well-informed and willing men to get themselves tested when they're at risk and to insist on having a test through their GP. Paul can often be found at events, hosting a stall and raising awareness. Indeed, that is how we first met. He also gives talks at companies and events where possible. The second strand is fundraising, “selling the pins, doing raffles, et cetera.” Paul has also done a number of sponsored challenges. “When I was diagnosed four years ago, I set myself the challenge to do 25 million steps, which is basically 14,000 steps a day for five years,” which would have got him from Medway to the equivalent of New Zealand in five years. He has since done more challenges like the Yorkshire Three Peaks, three walking marathons in three days. “I've done gym challenges, such as eight hours on the cross trainer.” He has now raised £88,000 for Prostate Cancer UK. The next challenge “is my maddest, probably most stupid thing that I've decided to set myself up for. It's kind of developing a bit of a life of its own.” Called ‘[My March Through Life](https://www.justgiving.com/page/paul-dennington-8?ref=localauthority.news),’ Paul is starting where he was born, just outside Newcastle, and he intends to walk through all the key places in his life. Places where he has lived and worked, where he went to university and hospitals he has been treated at, ending at Hempstead Valley. “It's 588 miles, 36 days, no breaks, no rest days. I'm going to average about 16 and a half miles a day. I'm going to attempt it. I'll train as well as I can. I do a lot of walking, but I'm also very prone to blisters.” I ask what brought Paul to the Medway Towns, “My wife. I met my wife through work. All her family were here, so I moved to Medway and commuted since 1998.” Paul was diagnosed with advanced incurable prostate cancer in February 2021\. “My prognosis was five to eight years.” Whilst his treatment is going well, he doesn’t know when that will change, so when he isn’t raising awareness, he focuses on “purely creating memories whilst I can with my wife,” which sounds like a valid endeavour indeed. I thank him for his time and leave him to get back to his well-deserved cruise. *You can* [*check your risk level for prostate cancer in 30 seconds*](https://prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker?ref=localauthority.news) *via Prostate Cancer UK, who can also offer practical advice and support.* --- #### Philip Kane is the Decipherment of Nature *Philip Kane has been part of the Medway poetry scene since long before I even knew about poetry, let alone a Medway poetry scene. We met him at the Frog and Toad pub in Gillingham to talk about his new poetry collection.* The Decipherment of Nature is both the title of the book and “the title of the main sequence that begins the book.” Phil loves that I ask him the perennial question of what the book is about. “Just because I've always wanted to say this, it's about sex and death.” Which is actually true. It is an attempt by Philip to grapple with certain ideas “around the dialectic of the rational and the non-rational.” I nod over my drink as if I understand what he means. The book is about our relationship with nature, but “not in a of twee way, hopefully.” Instead, nature which is essentially sex and death. “There is a rhythm to it,” insists Philip, in the way that the order of the poems in the book has been designed, “which may not be immediately clear, but the idea is it will hopefully create a subconscious response, a non-rational response in the reader.” I again nod over my drink as if I understand what he means. I go in for the killer question: “This is a poetry book?” Philip is patient with me. “Yeah, it's a poetry book.” I foolishly ask him if this is his first solo poetry book. “No, I can't even count them now. I think there's been eight or nine books published so far.” There are even more if you count pamphlets. None of his books were self-published either, as Philip worked with [Cultured Llama](https://www.localauthority.news/a-lot-of-people-think-they-can-self/) and Whiskey and Beards before they went out of business. “Not as a result of my books. I have to emphasise that.” The new book is published by [Sul Books](https://abeautifulresistance.org/sul-books?ref=localauthority.news), where several publishers have come together as a single organisation. Philip had worked with them writing poetry and non-fiction essays for their ‘A Beautiful Resistance’ journal. He approached them with his latest manuscript. “It's been brilliant, really. With a small press, the marketing is not really there. It's basically down to the writer to do all the marketing and believe me, self-promotion is something I am awful at.” Having enjoyed catching up with Philip over a drink, I don’t think he has been too bad at self-promotion. If you see Phil at upcoming readings, you can buy a copy of the book or order it [online](https://abeautifulresistance.org/site/2025/1/10/announcing-the-decipherment-of-nature?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Out to Lunch: Mrs Sourdough Bakery *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Mrs Sourdough Bakery***](https://www.mrssourdoughbakery.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Chatham*…* Based in a former restaurant, this bakery/café may or may not be found in Chatham Intra, the Schrodinger of Medway map reference points. I remember first coming across it after it had just opened, and wondering if it would survive where it is. Having [interviewed Kata](https://www.localauthority.news/everyones-sourdough-is-different/), the owner, it is an example of sheer force of will to maintain a business during difficult times. The café area is spacious, with a counter area for you to see the range of baked goods available to eat in or take away, as well as the sourdough breads that are made on site and available to buy. If you choose to eat in, then you can have the opportunity to watch the bread being made live. There is, frankly, something hypnotic about the process. I ordered a range of products to sample, including a cheese and onion quiche, a cheese pretzel and a serrano ham and cheese toastie. The quiche was served with no side salad getting in the way, and the pretzel was the size of the plate. The toastie took a little time to get to us, so thankfully, I had my ‘snacks’ to see me through. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ibe8!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe4938341-6411-42eb-8e60-8030a08d514d_1456x762.jpg) Food at Mrs Sourdough Bakery Lunch for two was reasonably priced for artisanal baked goods made on site. The food was all delicious. The quiche was delicately balanced, with a layer of onion on top of the pastry base. Once delivered, the toastie was great. If, for some reason, you haven’t eaten at Mrs Sourdough, then do. The pretzel alone is worth the visit, making a perfect snack as you possibly walk through parts of Chatham Intra. --- #### Events this week 🎤 11 - 12 Apr - [**Rainham Poetry Festival**](https://www.rainhampoetry.org/?ref=localauthority.news) // Two-day festival of poetry headlined by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. St. Margaret’s Church, Rainham. Free. 🎸 Sat 12 Apr - [**Mitchell Lane EP launch**](https://www.instagram.com/p/DIHID1xtVwk/?ref=localauthority.news) // Headline show for Medway alternative band, supported by Deadgeese and Lily Madison. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Entry £3. 🗣️ Sat 12 Apr - [**Medway Choir Festival**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medway-choir-festival-tickets-1028038048477?ref=localauthority.news) // Bringing together groups from across the Medway Towns to celebrate community choir music. Pilkington Building, University of Kent, Chatham. Tickets £10. 🛍️ Sat 12 Apr - [**Rochester City Artisan Market**](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket) // Stalls dotted along Rochester High Street, selling handmade gifts, crafts, food, and more. Rochester High Street. Free. 🎭 Sat 12 Apr - [**Where We Meet**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/where-we-meet-immersive-dance-theatre-spatial-audio-performances-tickets-1297770750249?ref=localauthority.news) // Immersive dance theatre meets XR technology, from Unwired Dance Theatre. Galvanising Workshop, Chatham Historic Dockyard. Tickets £10. 🗣️ Wed 16 Apr - [**Medway Question Time**](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) // Our latest live event where you can put questions to a panel of significant Medway figures. MidKent College, Gillingham. Free. --- #### More Authority For our monthly Voice column, where we hear from Medway’s elected representatives, Rochester and Strood MP [Lauren Edwards writes for us for the first time about her recent work in parliament](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-rochester-and-strood/). Coming up on Sunday, our interview on Sunday for paid supporters is with the newly elected Cllr David Finch, who is the leader of the Reform Group on Medway Council. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*A Compilation by The Gorgons*](https://thegorgons.bandcamp.com/album/a-compilation?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Some People Are On The Pitch They Think It’s All Over It Is Now by The Dentists*](https://open.spotify.com/album/5Lrb7ObEFBlQdc7oRPFJmd?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Voice of the MP - Rochester and Strood URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-rochester-and-strood/ Last updated: 2025-04-10T18:29:59.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards for the first time, who discusses her recent work in parliament.* --- #### Voice of the MP **by Lauren Edwards, MP for Rochester and Strood** It has been a busy 9 months since being elected as the MP for Rochester and Strood. The best way to keep up to date with my work is by signing up to my newsletter through [my website](https://laurenedwards.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), which, as well as having the stamp of approval from *Local Authority* as “[a very nice website](https://www.localauthority.news/whats-going-on-at-mch/)”, also has details of how to contact me for help, including at my regular advice surgeries across the constituency. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!R9IU!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd49ffc15-2403-4eca-b6a1-b77df3df666e_1456x762.jpg) Meeting the AI Minister to talk about the AI Growth Zone bid. But first, the key question people are right to ask me: **How is Labour delivering for Rochester and Strood in the first 9 months?** I am determined to ensure that by the next election, residents feel better off and see a positive difference in their community because they have a Labour MP and government. There are improvements already, with Rochester and Strood benefiting from some of the government’s national programmes and new funding: - One of the first free breakfast clubs will be opening soon at St Helen’s Church of England Primary School in Cliffe. It is estimated this will save parents up to £450 a year. - Two new nurseries will also open at All Faith Children’s Academy and Cedar Children’s Academy in Strood, to help deliver government-funded free childcare commitments, again saving parents thousands of pounds. - MidKent College in my constituency has just been awarded £1.7m in capital funding to upgrade its facilities. Further Education is finally getting as much focus as academic routes under the new Labour government. - Medway Council has been given £5m to fix the potholes that have blighted local roads for years. Rather than patch up jobs that do not last, I am urging the council to commit to a proper road resurfacing programme. - The Government recently bought back over 300 military homes in my constituency. These were sold off by the Conservatives in 1996, and renting them back has cost taxpayers more than owning them outright, with many in poor condition too. Brompton is home to a close-knit military community, and they deserve decent housing. By taking back ownership, we can ensure their homes are warm and safe while saving money. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!h0rt!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffb573c1b-d13d-4194-84dd-96a5c3a7583d_1080x1080.jpg) Potholes announcement with Ministers. Since being elected, my team and I have supported 3500 cases where residents have been in touch for help; and in March alone we opened 501 cases and closed 453\. There have been some significant wins – such as resolving a dispute between residents and their housing management company to restore heating and get residents financial compensation. **Taking constituency issues to Westminster** As I said in my [maiden speech](https://laurenedwards.uk/lauren-delivers-maiden-speech-in-the-house-of-commons/?ref=localauthority.news) in the House of Commons, I will work hard every day to ensure that residents’ voices are heard. So far, I have used my voice to advocate for more support for women entrepreneurs, better mental health services, improved SEND training for teachers, more GPs in rural areas, help to regenerate high streets, support for renewable energy projects in the Hoo Peninsula, better conditions for those in the private rented sector, more social and affordable housing, and better workers’ rights. I had a campaign win early on when, following my adjournment debate on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in which I highlighted Medway’s fantastic grass-roots approach to support local businesses and community groups, Ministers agreed to extend funding for another year while they worked on a new, improved scheme. Medway Council recently launched this [Year 4 round of funding](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200177/regeneration/1630/apply%5Ffor%5Fa%5Fuk%5Fshared%5Fprosperity%5Ffund%5Fukspf%5Fgrant/5?ref=localauthority.news), and I encourage everyone to look and consider applying if they have a project idea. I have been lobbying Ministers to designate Medway as an Artificial Intelligence Growth Zone. Rochester and Strood is well-placed to take advantage of this opportunity, with renewable energy projects planned, three innovative universities, and an AI-accelerator programme to support local businesses. This would be a big boost to our local area, and I hope to have positive news on this soon. I have also joined up with other Kent MPs on issues that will support regional growth, such as bringing international rail back to Kent and supporting the Lower Thames Crossing, which recently got the green light. The latter will need careful management of traffic and environmental projects to mitigate its impact, but with 200 local businesses already registered in the supply chain, it is a huge opportunity for growth and jobs. Like others, I was disappointed that Medway and Kent were not on the priority list for devolution, but I will continue to put pressure on Ministers so that we are at the top of the list for the next round given the extra powers and funding it could give to our area, particularly for much-needed improvements to our bus network. I am pleased that nationally we have been able to deliver 2m more NHS appointments ahead of time, thanks to the record £26bn investment in our health services at the last Budget. But Medway Maritime Hospital continues to face challenges, including long waiting times in Accident & Emergency. I have used my voice in Parliament to urge the Government to back a new surgery for elective procedures at the old Debenhams building on Chatham High Street in my constituency. This would alleviate pressure on our local hospital and reduce waiting times. I have also had productive meetings with local GPs and pharmacists in Strood, as well as local health leaders and Ministers, about addressing the fact that Strood does not have a Healthy Living Centre. My campaign to secure a Banking Hub in Strood also continues and I recently lobbied the Minister while we were both speaking at an event on banking and access to cash. A large part of my time in Parliament is spent on helping shape the skills agenda under the new Labour government, particularly in my role as Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Skills, Careers and Employment. Skills underpin everything the Government wants to achieve – from building homes to transitioning to green energy – and I want local people to benefit. A few weeks ago, I urged the Prime Minister to better fund colleges so that we can meet our election promises and deliver the change the country needs. I was delighted when, just a few days later, the Chancellor announced an extra £600m to train up to 60,000 more construction workers. I am also concerned about the high numbers of young people, both locally and nationally, who are not in employment or training and so I am co-chairing [an inquiry with the Skills Commission and Policy Connect](https://www.policyconnect.org.uk/news/new-cross-party-inquiry-aims-tackle-britains-high-rates-young-people-not-employment-education?ref=localauthority.news#:~:text=Cross-party%20think%20tank%20Policy%20Connect%20and%20the%20Skills,Employment%20or%20Training%29%20in%20the%20OECD%20by%202050.) into how we can better support more young people into work. I recently sat on the Bill Committee that is setting up Skills England, and I am working hard to make sure that the new streamlined and more flexible apprenticeship system it is developing is one that will work for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This is important because over 90% of Medway businesses are SMEs. **Being visible and taking part in community work** I continue to volunteer with the Friends of Rochester Churchfields and Esplanade ([FORCE](https://esplanadefriends.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)) to keep the Suffragist Sensory Garden looking colourful and tidy and helping with foreshore cleanups. Every year, I take part in the [Great British Spring Clean](https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/support-our-campaigns/great-british-spring-clean/?ref=localauthority.news), and this year, I joined councillors and volunteers in Strood to collect rubbish and fly-tipping from the car park opposite the train station. The amount of cigarette ends I collected was alarming and prompted me to look at health data for the area and consider what more I can do to help people in the area to stop smoking. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!t64r!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1326d760-d5d0-4bd7-a2ea-fba5c67e0ec1_1329x1329.jpg) Strood litter pick last week for the Great British Spring Clean. I am a staunch supporter of the UK defence sector and work closely with BAE Systems in Rochester, which provides excellent quality employment to many of my constituents. While meeting the business recently to discuss their welcome £220m investment in a new facility that will create 300 more highly skilled jobs, we also chatted about their involvement in The Great Tommy Sleep Out and how I could support it. The Great Tommy Sleep Out is organised by the [Royal British Legion Industries](https://rbli.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) to raise awareness about homeless veterans and money to support them. I slept rough for a night with 80 other volunteers, including ex-services personnel and representatives from Medway businesses, including Richard from the Chatham Maritime Trust and Shaun from local accountancy firm Kreston Reeves. I was delighted to meet my [£1000 fundraising target](https://www.justgiving.com/page/lauren-edwards-mp?utm%5Fmedium=FR&utm%5Fsource=CL) and would like to thank everyone who donated. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!nExl!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9ed7dfc4-d0fe-4e65-bab1-0b3790341707_1456x1456.jpg) Morning after the Great Tommy Sleep Out with the RBLI Chair Steve Rowbottom. I know it is a challenging time for businesses and charities, and I will always make myself available to meet and see how I can help. I recently hosted a business roundtable at [Ascend](https://ascendcoworking.com/?ref=localauthority.news), the council’s fantastic new co-working space in Chatham, with the local Barclays branch. As you may expect, the hot topics were financial challenges from employer national insurance contributions and energy costs, as well as local transport connections and recruitment. We had good discussions about what the Government’s Industrial Strategy means for Rochester and Strood and how I will be making sure Government policy will benefit local businesses. I am looking forward to continuing this work to deliver for my constituents throughout the remainder of 2025 and beyond. *Lauren Edwards is the Labour MP for Rochester and Strood.* ### Medway Matters Live hits different in Hoo URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-matters-live-hits-different/ Last updated: 2025-04-08T19:53:44.000Z *Medway Council held their latest Medway Matters Live event this week, visiting the Hoo Peninsula for the first time. As you might expect, a lively and robust exchange of views was had. We’ve got the full details below. Further down, we have news of Tesco having another go at opening a store in Rochester, details of our next Medway Question Time event next week, news in brief, and more.* **Editor’s note:* Thanks for the great response to the launch of the* [***Kent Current***](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)*, our second title. We had an amazing first week, with our first news briefing focusing on the* [*upcoming KCC elections*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kent-county-council-prepares-for?ref=localauthority.news)*, we got to* [*interview legendary illustrator Ralph Steadman*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/i-dont-think-im-much-of-a-performer?ref=localauthority.news)*, and yesterday, we went* [*behind the scenes of the local wrestlers at UKPW*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/an-interactive-pantomime?ref=localauthority.news)*. We’ve got some great pieces planned over there in the coming weeks, so please* [*subscribe for free*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/subscribe?ref=localauthority.news) *if you’re interested in getting the latest from across the county.* --- #### Medway Matters Live hits different in Hoo Politicians are public servants who only exist at the whim of the electorate, which can inevitably mean they can serve as punching bags when meeting the public. Such as it was when Medway Council rolled into Hoo last week for their latest Medway Matters Live event with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the council alongside the Chief Executive and his Deputy. This is the third of these events that Medway Council has put on since Labour took control of the council two years ago. Each has followed the same format. Medway Council Leader [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/i-could-easily-fill-4-or-5-days-worth/) talks about the current challenges in local government, Chief Executive [Richard Hicks](https://www.localauthority.news/anything-that-impacts-negatively/) talks about how brilliant Medway is to work, rest, and play. No, wait, that’s Mars bars. Hicks’ schtick is live, work, learn, and visit, but close enough. The first and second events, in Rainham and Chatham respectively, featured some challenging questions but were, on the whole, good natured discussions between the two men representing the council and local residents. The event in Hoo last Wednesday night hit different. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!bd3S!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffa4d1f9d-b465-4ad1-a3ba-4c21dc8fee00_2364x1238.jpg) Medway Matters Live at Hundred of Hoo Academy The Hoo Peninsula has a somewhat different politics to the rest Medway. The area, seemingly frustrated with substantial development in the area, has largely rejected mainstream politicians and chosen to send independents to Gun Wharf instead. All four council seats on the peninsula are now independent, alongside two of the three in neighbouring Strood Rural. Indeed, in the run up to the event, Deputy Leader of the Independent Group, Cllr [Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/), raised concerns about the event. [He wrote to Richard Hicks](https://www.facebook.com/michaelpearcehoopeninsula/posts/pfbid0SxtorFov2to54tqtd5HvQkwn3ZPPyhPqHvMzwwHVjHuC3ZmSMrHqFU6ot2iJM5jfl) asking to be included on the panel to represent the political makeup of the area better. Unsurprisingly, [Medway Council weren’t interested in his participation](https://www.facebook.com/michaelpearcehoopeninsula/posts/pfbid0eAFuSZ6wxTGBD6kYxHALsXe4Hdm2AVVKQEc198qCkc48jEx5hnNeaQm6HiFD48sbl), in the same way the Conservatives didn’t get to take part in the two previous events in Tory-held wards. Whether it is right for a council to spend money on events like this is a valid question. Ironically, the events take on the name of the Medway Council-produced magazine that Cllr Maple and Medway Labour spent years calling propaganda and pledging to end. Of course, now they are in power, Medway Matters continues to arrive regularly on our doormats, and now we have these events as well. Politicians facing the public and answering questions can only be a good thing, and that is the bulk of what makes up Medway Matters Live. But akin to a questionable timeshare hard sell, you have to sit through half an hour of Vince and Richard telling you how well everything is going in Medway first. Obviously, it’s the question and answer segment that everyone in the audience has come for, and inevitably, the first question is about overdevelopment and a lack of infrastructure, themes that we’ll return to throughout the night. The questioner seemingly decides to go for five or six questions rather than the customary one and then asks how many homes in the area are going to Medway residents before demanding a new hospital and getting very upset about water levels. Hicks and Maple begin an effort to answer some of the points but don’t get very far before the questioner shouts back at them. Finally, after responses that stumble all over the place and further heckling from the audience, the man finally gives his microphone up, and we can move on to question two. 17 minutes have elapsed. The next questioner asks about connectivity, seemingly being more open to new homes in the area but claiming the road network isn’t suitable. That there is only one road on or off the peninsula is a regular concern in these concerns, and indeed valid, even if the questioner exaggerates things somewhat by claiming people are ‘regularly’ stuck in four-hour traffic jams to get in and out of the area. Hicks responds that they had plans to build an additional road onto the peninsula using £170m Housing Infrastructure Fund money that the previous government withdrew. The back and forth here leads to perhaps the most interesting exchange of the night. A disgruntled man shouts about not wanting houses and tries to rally those in the audience for a show of hands against more houses being built. Around a third of the audience raised their hands. Deputy Leader of Medway Council Cllr [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/) asks the audience to raise their hands if they think we need to build homes for the next generation, and around the same number raise their hands again. With the momentum behind her, Murray launches into a robust argument for building new homes and reducing the housing crisis that, surprisingly, garners the largest round of applause of the night. This isn’t to say the residents of the Hoo Peninsula have fully embraced the YIMBY cause, but perhaps things aren’t as clear cut as some would have people believe. Another questioner asked if Rochester and Strood MP [Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/i-know-how-to-do-a-lot-of-the-things/) even knew where the peninsula is, gaining one of the crowd laughs of the night, before claiming all new houses in Hoo were going to people moving down from London. Slightly awkwardly, Hicks cited [our feature looking at the figures behind that concept](https://www.localauthority.news/the-down-from-london-myth/) to push back against it. Questions followed on the free t-shirts given out at the Medway Mile when free swimming has been cut, the mix of housing types in the area, and how Section 106 money from developers gets used. It’s all interesting stuff, but whether or not anyone would have had their mind changed on anything is another matter. Perhaps unsurprisingly, one person who didn’t have his mind changed was Cllr Pearce, who, in a [snazzy video after the event](https://www.facebook.com/michaelpearcehoopeninsula/videos/570231515424247), described it as ‘propaganda’ and said he would be chasing down whether it was an appropriate use of council funds. Apparently the next Medway Matters Live event will take place in October at MidKent College in Gillingham, which awkwardly leads us to… --- #### One week until our Medway Question Time event at MidKent College! In an unhelpful coincidence of timing and location, our first *Medway Question Time* event of the year is just over a week away, where you can put questions to an esteemed panel of Medway figures. Unlike Medway Matters Live, we’ll cut straight to the questions, and the only hard sell will be us trying to convince you to subscribe to this very publication. You’ve already sent us some excellent questions for our panel to answer. We’re still looking for more, so please [book your free ticket](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and submit a question on Medway's current issues. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NiXc!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff5b5a1cf-a2dc-4a8f-b7ba-e3fd5c598fb8_2160x1080.jpg)](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) Our panel for this event features: - Cllr Vince Maple, Labour Leader of Medway Council - Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition - Dalia Halpern, Chair of Trustees at Chatham Memorial Synagogue - Richard Morsley, Chief Executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard The four of them will discuss and debate the issues raised by those submitting questions. We always enjoy these events and can’t wait for this one. As always, tickets are free, but [booking is essential](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). [Book free tickets here](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Tesco tries again Back in January, [we wrote about Tesco withdrawing their licence application](https://www.localauthority.news/i/155340439/tesco-withdraws-licence-application-for-rochester-store) to open a new Express store next door to Rochester station following a number of objections to the plan. We’ve somehow reached a point where a convenience store next to a railway station is a problem, but let’s ignore that for now. At the time, Kent Police, Medway Council’s Public Health team, and various members of the public, mainly on the grounds of the level of alcohol-related crime in the area. The fact that the area is Medway’s nightlife capital and across the road from a nightclub wasn’t an issue, but Tesco selling someone some alcohol in the evening might be. Following the withdrawal, Tesco has returned with a new plan, allowing them to open between 6am and midnight but only sell alcohol between 10am and 9pm on most days, but with an even earlier restriction of 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. So, as some residents requested, you’ll be able to get tanked up in the Casino Rooms until 3am on a Friday, but you won’t be able to pick up a bottle of wine when getting off the train on the way home from work. As tends to be the way of things, this hasn’t made anyone even happier. Medway Council Public Health still objects, as do two members of the public and Sarah Tranter, former Chair of the Rochester City (sic) Centre Forum, though Kent Police don’t seem to be as fussed this time around. The application will be discussed at Medway Council’s Licensing Hearing Panel next Tuesday (15 Apr). You can read all of the documents around the issue [here](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=5967&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### In brief 🥕 Medway is set to get a new farm shop, with [Myatts of Mockbeggar opening soon in Cliffe Woods](https://www.instagram.com/myattsofmockbeggarfarmshop/?ref=localauthority.news). The shop will presumably replace the former Mockbeggar Farm Shop, which closed at the start of the year. 🏡 Plans have been submitted to [convert the former Natwest bank in Rainham High Street into an estate agent](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SU5G84KNMW700&ref=localauthority.news). Robinson, Michael & Jackson plan to take on the unit, replacing their existing location further along the street. 🏗️ [An application for 75 new homes in Hoo has been submitted](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SU01DJKNJKL00&ref=localauthority.news) by Dean Lewis Estates. The site, north of Stoke Road to the east of the village, would act as an extension to a neighbouring recent development. 🧒 [Residents of Hoo are upset about a former drug house being converted into a children’s home](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/it-would-increase-the-noise-ex-cannabis-farm-could-become-322431/?ref=localauthority.news). The house was previously used to grow over 1,000 cannabis plants, had a massive pile of rubbish outside, and was left open and unlocked after the police raided it, but the new plans will cause ‘aggravation’ apparently. 🚚 [A lorry has crashed into the Bryant Road railway bridge in Strood](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/it-s-happened-again-road-remains-shut-after-lorry-hits-ra-322243/?ref=localauthority.news). Again. --- #### More Authority For our Sunday interview this week, [we sat down with Genevieve Tullberg, gallery manager at The Halpern Gallery](https://www.localauthority.news/i-realised-i-liked-flogging-it-more/) in Chatham, to discuss the challenges of exhibiting and selling art and lots more. [“I realised I liked flogging it more than I liked doing it”The Halpern Gallery in Chatham is a leading exhibition space for artists in Medway. Steven met gallery manager Genevieve Tullberg there to discuss the challenges of exhibiting and selling art. They also discussed the Halpern Pop, why she doesn’t produce art herself, and how Medway’s interconnectedness led to her living here.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8de72b08-241a-43d3-bec4-8192cc212b58_4496x3000.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-realised-i-liked-flogging-it-more/) Coming up later this week, beyond our free culture briefing, we’ve got a feature on the vicar in Rainham trying to make his church into the town’s destination art venue, and on Sunday, we’ll be sitting down with the newly elected councillor and Reform group leader, David Finch. As ever, our features and interviews are exclusively for our paid supporters, so [please consider upgrading](#/portal/signup) if you’d like to receive them. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) Over on our new [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) title, we’ve had a bumper first week. On Saturday, [we interviewed the legendary illustrator Ralph Steadman](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/i-dont-think-im-much-of-a-performer?ref=localauthority.news), while yesterday, we went [behind the scenes of local grapplers United Kingdom Pro Wrestling](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/an-interactive-pantomime?ref=localauthority.news). We won’t keep plugging *Kent Current* content here, so please [subscribe for free](https://www.kentcurrent.news/subscribe?ref=localauthority.news) to ensure you don’t miss out on what we’re up to over there. [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Torch Song by Radiator Hospital*](https://radiatorhospital.bandcamp.com/album/torch-song?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Searching For A Stream by Garden Centre*](https://gardencentre.bandcamp.com/album/searching-for-a-stream-2?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Bless My Psyche by Sincere Engineer*](https://sincereengineer.bandcamp.com/album/bless-my-psyche?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “I realised I liked flogging it more than I liked doing it” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-realised-i-liked-flogging-it-more/ Last updated: 2025-04-06T06:00:45.000Z [*The Halpern Gallery*](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-chatham?ref=localauthority.news) *in Chatham is a leading exhibition space for artists in Medway. Steven met gallery manager Genevieve Tullberg there to discuss the challenges of exhibiting and selling art. They also discussed the Halpern Pop, why she doesn’t produce art herself, and how Medway’s interconnectedness led to her living here.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!fi1x!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8de72b08-241a-43d3-bec4-8192cc212b58_4496x3000.jpg) Genevieve hanging 'Bloom' in the Halpern Gallery by artist Dom Holmes. **What is the difference between the Halpern Gallery and the Halpern Pop?** The Halpern Gallery is the larger gallery in Chatham, and the [Halpern Pop](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-pop?ref=localauthority.news) *(in Rochester)* is small. We always say small and perfectly formed. I don’t know how perfectly formed it is. It is small, but with nice high ceilings so you can fit a lot in. You can have more experimental work in the Halpern Gallery in Chatham. You can have nothing on the walls. We've had artists rolling on the floor in cling film. That was before my day, but that definitely did happen. There's much more room for experiments here and it doesn't have to be 2D. We can have anything. In the Pop, it really needs to be hanging on the wall. We have had a couple of lovely ceramic shows there, and that has worked, but it's a small space for 3D. **Between the two, how many different events or exhibitions would you say you put on in an average year?** Between the two, I'm going to say 40\. That's such a guess, but on average, sort of there. The Gallery is pretty much fully booked. The Pop is a harder seller at the moment. I think that is because selling art is difficult at the moment and you would really only have a show if you wanted to sell. Here, quite often, people have a show because people have exhibitions for different reasons. It is also fantastic to photograph your work in the gallery. An exhibition here looks fantastic on Instagram, and people can see that in Edinburgh, and all it costs you is £200. **People pay to exhibit their work. Are they renting the space?** We're trying to change the model actually. At the moment, and this was inherited when I started a long time ago, you rent one week or two weeks. One week is £200, two weeks is £350, and you pay commission on sales. You do not have to sell. I think this is becoming a harder sell because artists are finding it difficult to sell and make money. Our experiment on that was our Summer Exhibition, which was the first time we did that. That's an open call. You pay £15, submit digitally three pieces of work, and one will definitely get chosen. The idea is to support artists because it's crushing not getting chosen for something. It's crushing to pay for something. Artists invest a lot of money applying for things they don't get into. It's not because their work isn't good, it just doesn't fit that thing. That's our offer here. I think we are looking to do more group shows like that where the risk for the artist is £10 or £15, maybe £20 if there's only ten of them. We've done a few of those. Roost, which is just at the Halpern Pop, which was curated by my colleague, and she chose 15 artists, invited them to take part. They're not all Medway, not even all Kent. Every single one said yes and put work in. Because it's a lovely thing. The tragedy is, really, artists should be being paid to exhibit. But we don't have that budget. I'd love that though. **Why is that? Is that because the gallery itself is free to enter? Is that the nature of the economics of local galleries?** We have artist studios. The gallery is here, originally, I believe, to support the artists in their studios. I think as a charity, and as a building, you have to make every space cover its costs. All we're doing is covering costs. No one is making money here. And if we were, it's ploughed into looking after the artists. But I genuinely think we make sure we cover the costs. If there's a gap, we have to fill that to cover the costs. I'd love to know how big commercial galleries do it. But the commission, if you sell something, here is 25%. The commission is 50 to 60%, maybe more on places you're invited and not paying. **Do you ever have ticketed events where people would pay to attend?** Never. It's difficult. You shouldn't say never, should you? Really, that would not be the ethos of [Nucelus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news), I don't think, but also, who'd pay? *(laughs)* The work is fantastic, I'm not saying it isn't, but... **The challenge is getting people to come without there being an extra barrier.** We've got [Zandra Rhodes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zandra%5FRhodes?ref=localauthority.news)' project coming here, and she's doing something with the Arts Council National Lottery Fund going into Medway schools and then they're going to exhibit in here. **Does the money raised from artists booking the space cover the cost of the space, or do you need to get funding from elsewhere?** *(sighs)* It does cover the costs, but God, it's hard won. When I first came here, I just used to fill in the calendar with bookings. Now we're going out and looking for artists and trying to get them, and when there is a long gap, then we do a group show. With Rochester Art Gallery shutting, Francis Iles gone, Sun Pier House is shut at the moment, but they will be opening. We are so short of gallery space in Medway. What we want to do an Arts Council bid. Our fundraiser has written half of it. There is an absolute need, and what I would like to do in there is to get, for example, four paid for exhibitions a year. That would be the artist will get paid, and we will get paid, and there is somewhere free for you to come and see high quality art. That is good for our artists, it's good for Medway artists, it’s really good for Nucleus Arts. It's so important. **You're talking about artists really struggling with sales. Is that because of broader economic issues?** That's my understanding. Obviously, I talk to artists wherever I go and that is my understanding. But everybody you speak to that's not creative, there's not a lot of money about. Definitely we find it harder to sell. And the Pop, we really thought that was going to be easy. It's Rochester, in a swanky cafe, people will trot in, and it's just not the case. We don't really know how to change that *(laughs)*. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The glory days of the Black Lion Skatepark URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-glory-days-of-the-black-lion/ Last updated: 2025-04-04T19:55:00.000Z *Back in the 1980s, Gillingham had an international standard skatepark, and then suddenly, in 1987, it was filled in. Now, a new project is trying to celebrate its influence and legacy. Further down, we have news of the returning Rainham Poetry Festival, a new book about the people of Medway, we review Boeuf in Rochester, our news in brief roundup, and more.* --- #### The glory days of the Black Lion Skatepark *The Black Lion Skate Park was an international standard complex for skateboarders and BMXers that existed in Gillingham, until one day, when it didn’t. On Saturday 5 April, Medway photographer* [*Rikard Österlund*](https://www.localauthority.news/im-capturing-an-image-because-that/) *is hosting an event at MidKent College to look at the park's history and celebrate its legacy. We spoke to him to find out more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6fmu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdd0338ac-29cd-49d0-9b6b-59d952c173b2_8942x4757.jpg) Photograph: Ian Dobbie, courtesy of the Read and Destroy Archive. The Black Lion Skatepark was “a real pillar of the skateboard and BMX community in the 70s and 80s,” says Rikard, who has been extensively researching the park since discovering it. Built in 1978 as a multi-component concrete park, it was one of several built in the UK at the time. “Gillingham one was the last one to be built. They'd really perfected their skills.” One of several features of the park was the ‘pool’, known by users to be one of the best in the country, “if not the best in the country.” It was paid for by a private individual called Alfred Faccenda. At the time, skateboarding was hugely popular, with skateboards being the most popular Christmas present in 1977\. Faccenda thought this would be a great business opportunity, but “skateboarding went underground in 1979, and his involvement was short-lived.” When the park opened, it was run as a commercial venture. You had to pay to enter, there were marshals, you had to wear pads and helmets, and there was a hut to buy boards and accessories. “It was a self-contained little unit, but when he closed the shop, all that stuff went.” Soon after that, BMXing became popular, and the park was full of riders “absolutely thrashing the place on the BMX in the best possible way.” Skateboarding also became popular again. “It never really went away,” notes Rikard, and in 1985, work was agreed to concrete between the bowls to bring the site together rather than standalone pieces to make the transitions smoother. “In 1985, it seemed like things were good. People were again employed to marshal the site, though there were insurance concerns.” Tensions subsequently escalated, and there were a couple of individuals who had real problems with the skate park being there. They also happened to be neighbours to the park, and they also happened to be councillors. Despite there being planning permission in 1987 for a brand-new park to be built on the site, with extensions to the existing park and a shop on the grounds, on 2 December, lorries turned up and backfilled the park with building rubble. “I spent a couple of days looking through the minutes of council meetings notes. There's nothing in there about it being backfilled, being permanently closed. There's nothing about a decision like that.” Rikard has tried to avoid conversations about the closure. “It's not because that's not important and because it's not something that we need to get to the bottom of, but people just miss how bloody amazing this place was.” Rikard chose to focus on that for this project: “That this was a great place, that this place was important to the people who actually rode it.” For many, it was a safe haven from issues at home or school. A place to hang out, make new friends, and even fall in love. “That's the part of the story that I'm trying to focus on with this project.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!HIBs!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8d81fe63-d73e-4eaf-86e9-19a2033257bf_2953x2953.jpg) The event on 4 April at MidKent College will be part celebration of the park, and there will be a series of talks about this period of skateboarding history, particularly Gillingham’s place in that story. There will be videos and “lots” of photographs. There will be a small exhibition and display of vintage BMX bikes and skateboards from the period. The event will be attended by people who used to go to the park and Iain Borden, Professor of Architecture and Urban Culture at University College London, who will be talking about the 60-year history of skateboarding and skateparks, and showing how Black Lion played an important role in British skateboarding’s past, present and future. “It doesn't matter what age you are. I think people are just interested in local history. They want to learn more about this place. They might remember the place but didn't go in or never knew the place was there.” Rikard became aware of the park when the algorithm showed him photos shared by Nigel Martin. “I just thought they were amazing. I had no idea who he was and had not heard about the skatepark.” Rikard initially thought somebody must be sharing photos of California on a Medway history page. “There were lots of bright neon colours and quite a lot of surfer aesthetic, and I couldn't believe that it was Gillingham.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!us9G!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6355cce2-16a7-4a60-b704-5cab8b07ec06_2766x4159.jpg) Mark ‘Fids’ Finlay handplant in the pool, July 1987.Photo: Tim Leighton-Boyce, courtesy of the Read and Destroy Archive. As a photographer, Rikard found the photographs captivating. “If you manage to catch a trick really well with the camera, it's just the most amazing thing.” He felt compelled to share and celebrate them. He organised a small exhibition of the images at Intra Arts in 2021\. “I realised straight away that there was a community still bubbling under the surface.” There were also a lot of people like Rikard and this writer, who had never heard of the park. He secured Heritage Place funding. “People may think it’s recent, but it is very much heritage,” and this has enabled him to carry on his research, conduct oral history interviews and put on the event this weekend. Rikard himself only took up skateboarding last October, “and I love it. It demands such a ridiculous amount of control that you just can't think of anything else. I need that.” There is also currently an exhibition of the photographs at Analogue Music in Rochester until Easter. Rikard has also produced a small booklet that will be available for free on Saturday. He hopes this is just the beginning of building something that will be more lasting and engage new skaters and riders with the history. *The Glory Days of the Black Lion Skatepark takes place tomorrow (Sat 5 Apr) at MidKent College in Gillingham between 2pm and 4.30pm. You can find* [*more information and book a free place here*](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/gillingham/glassbox-theatre/the-glory-days-of-black-lion-skatepark/e-eglxej?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In brief 🤣 The Funny Women Awards 2025, organised by Medway organisation [Funny Women](https://funnywomen.com/?ref=localauthority.news), [are being sponsored by BBC Studios’ Funny Parts](https://magazine.funnywomen.com/2025/04/02/bbc-studios-funny-parts-sponsors-funny-women-awards-2025/?ref=localauthority.news). 🌊 Chatham Maritime Watersports Centre are [installing an inflatable obstacle course](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/dockyards-hidden-treasure-to-host-inflatable-aqua-park-322089/?ref=localauthority.news), which will be open by the end of May. ⚽ Chatham Town Women have [won the Isthmian Women’s League cup](https://www.isthmian.co.uk/articles/a-chatham-triumph?ref=localauthority.news), beating Billericay Town 5-0. 🎨 Nucleus Arts has launched a new [Craft at Home webpage](https://www.nucleusarts.com/craftathome?ref=localauthority.news) with a database of templates to try in your own home. 🏳️‍🌈 Nominations are open for the [Medway LGBT+ Awards 2025](https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story%5Ffbid=122211162362193092&id=61555792771929&%5Frdr) between now and 11 April. 🤍 Carers First Medway and Medway Foodbank have [launched a campaign](https://www.carersfirst.org.uk/news-and-stories/carers-first-join-with-medway-foodbank-in-new-campaign/?ref=localauthority.news#:~:text=Medway%20Foodbank%20has%20joined%20forces,and%20work%20to%20reduce%20them.) highlighting the 1.2 million unpaid carers living in poverty in the UK. 🍳 The slightly weird and very 1970s cafe at Hempstead Valley Sainsbury’s is [set to close on 11 April](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/kent-sainsbury-s-cafe-to-shut-next-week-322261/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Rainham Poetry Festival returns *Next weekend is the Rainham Poetry Festival 2025, once again at St Margaret’s Church in Rainham and organised by* [*Goat Star Books*](https://goatstarbooks.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*. We caught up with two local poets, Nathaniel Oguns and Caroline Bird, to talk to them about poetry and the festival.* Nathaniel first started doing poetry nights in 2018 and hosted the Kent Dreams poetry events at the George Vaults in Rochester, with the most recent event being in November. “I never really went to events or anything like that, so I thought maybe host my own.” Conversely, Caroline has been involved with Medway poetry for years, taking part in Wordsmithery events She won her first poetry competition when she was 12\. “It just absolutely blew my mind because I suddenly realised that poetry wasn't something that you had to do in secret.” Nathaniel is going to be hosting the Rainham Poetry Festival across the two days, Friday 11 and Saturday 12 April, introducing the other poets, as well as running an open mic event. “I always normally get people to perform when they come to my event, I just encourage them to do it. It's a safe space. Come and do your thing.” Caroline now works as a professional poet and playwright and has published a number of books. “I love all the Medway events that I've done. First of all, everyone properly listens to every word, which is often rare. There's a reverence but also a warmth, and it’s fun.” “I like anything from the heart,” Nathaniel tells me. “You don't necessarily have to be off-book, but if you can be off-book, it's so cool to see.” Medway has a vibrant poetry community. Nathaniel feels that is because of the connected nature of the towns. “If it was just one place like Gillingham or Rainham, it wouldn't be big enough. The connection of the towns, like a family, brings people together.” “Everyone's incredibly supportive of each other,” says Caroline. “There's a sense of community. People will take little risks, they'll read something fresh that they've just written. Live poetry is a unique experience because it's such a naked thing to do, to stand on a stage and read poetry.” If coming to Nathaniel’s open mic event, and if it’s your first time taking part, have one good poem ready “that you really love and you want to get out there.” More seasoned poets are limited to no longer than 10 minutes “or under seven minutes if I want to be picky.” “The best poetry events,” says Caroline, “are when everyone's giving a bit of themselves.” Caroline describes her own poetry as “dark but funny. I'm interested in that spinning Venetian mask that goes from the grin to the misery and then back again. I write surreal poems that are translations of real experiences that I've been through.” Nathaniel is looking forward to hosting a wider audience than usual. “It's going to be very interesting to host and meet some of the seasoned poets and hear what they have. It's going to be a whole collective.” “It is all about the people involved,” says Caroline, “and the sweat and blood of setting up events with what little money can be scraped together because every poetry event, even the festivals, there's always a feeling of everything being on a shoestring.” *You can follow Nathaniel Ogun on* [*social media*](https://www.instagram.com/natoguns/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and look forward to future* [*Kent Dreams*](https://www.facebook.com/luna.eclipse.31/videos/2137868486377201/) *events coming this year.* [*Caroline Bird*](https://carolinebird.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *has a wide range of her work available to* [*purchase*](https://uk.bookshop.org/search?keywords=Caroline+Bird&ref=localauthority.news)*. Rainham Poetry Festival Tickets* [*are available*](https://www.rainhampoetry.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*, with the main event featuring poet laureate Simon Armitage on Saturday 12 April.* --- #### The People of Medway have a book *People of Medway is a new book about… the people of Medway, with interviews by Katie Robinson and photographs by Tiffany Grant Riley. We spoke to Katie to find out more.* **Disclaimer*: Ed and Steven are featured in the book, though you can absolutely skip those pages if you like.* Katie Robinson is not an author by trade, though she has written for community projects. Tiffany Grant Riley is a photographer of interiors and a design writer. Neither seem like likely candidates to put together a book, but here they are. Having been friends for a few years, they “both really enjoy going out and exploring parts of Medway, and we give each other tips about nice local things.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yDRk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa873b9ec-44b5-4a06-8d87-1b4f91d5f623_960x642.jpg) Some of the People of Medway featured in the book. Katie had read ‘On The Marshes’ by Carol Donaldson, who features in the book, about Carol’s walks locally, “and I thought wouldn't it be great to write a book about the people of Medway. And Tiff, working in photography, I put it to her, and she said yes, and then we got started.” The book is intended as a celebration of lots of different people in Medway and it’s “really rich culture and its heritage. We've really tried to speak to a real mix of people that we really feel reflects Medway.” There are 32 people in the book, which out of a population of a quarter of a million, is a small number. Katie says they tried to represent different industries, cultures and ages. “We're both quite curious people. We both really tried to find out about what's going on locally. We’ve tried to cover all the areas.” Katie clearly enjoyed the process of putting the book together. “It's just fascinating listening to people's stories. People talked about their hobbies, their memories of growing up and of moving here. It's been fascinating learning all about the history.” The book is completed by illustrations by John Seru and was designed by Mark Barnes, with the book's printing supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. *People of Medway is now available for free, with limited copies of the book available from all Medway libraries, Rochester Cathedral, Nucleus Arts in Chatham, and the Guildhall Museum in Rochester.* --- #### Out to Dinner: Boeuf *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the dinner options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Boeuf***](https://boeufsteak.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rochester*…* As the hottest new restaurant in these fair towns, we [wrote about Boeuf](https://www.localauthority.news/i/158761704/whats-the-boeuf) before they opened, and now it was time to try the goods. Talking of time, in the aim of full transparency, due to scheduling availability, I actually went there during their lunch hours. But no matter, the menu, as we shall soon discuss, is the same. Boeuf is situated in the part of Intra that some people will fight you to the death that it is not part of Intra. And they would be right, or wrong, or whatever. It is a slightly odd location for an ultimate dining experience, next to a train bridge, but it is next to two car parks, and when you are taking over the former Flippin’ Frog micropub to provide a French dish, you must take the venues you have. They have done a fine job of decorating the establishment to a high standard, maximising the limited space. That said, this writer would have preferred not being sat next to the drafty door when other tables were available. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!CRis!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f54cef330-3473-4931-b25d-ae6f222fe8cd_1456x1092.jpg) Food at Boeuf. The ‘ultimate steak frites experience’ is what is advertised. To say the menu is limited misses the point. There is only one option: steak and chips, twice. Steak and chips once is not an option. There is nothing here for vegetarians or those who culturally don’t eat beef. Nibbles are available, and I ordered a portion of olives to ensure some greenery. While waiting, you are served sourdough bread and house-made butter, which appears to be made with Bovril or some beef extract. The steak is sirloin pave, a premium cut of beef, and the frites are presumably cooked in beef dripping and have an unusual curve to them. Once you have finished, whether you are ready or not, the second portion will be cooked and served. All the food is served on very stylish plates and bowls. Once you reach the end, there is a dessert menu. I did not order from there, though it sounded delightful. As you would expect from an ultimate experience, the price point is to match, though the food is well priced for what you received and would expect to pay for a special occasion, even if that special occasion is really wanting steak frites. The food is exceptional. The steak is an excellent cut of meat and cooked perfectly both times. The butter for the bread was very tasty. The steak comes with ‘house sauce’, essentially a recipe of beef, mustard and magic. It complimented to steak, as you would expect. All of this leads to the chips, undoubtedly the best I have ever eaten in Medway, for these reviews or, as I mentioned, ever. To upstage a steak of that quality with frites is an absolute delight. I almost didn’t finish my second portion, having foolishly filled up on olives, but I refused to let them go to waste. --- #### More Authority Charities and community organisations do so much in our towns. But who helps these organisations get off the ground and run well? [Enter Medway Voluntary Action](http://Charities and community organisations do so much in our towns. But who helps these organisations get off the ground and run well? Enter MVA.). For our midweek feature, Steven went to find out more about their work. Earlier this week, we also launched our second title, the [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news). We’ve been thrilled by the response to [our first edition](https://www.kentcurrent.news/p/kent-county-council-prepares-for?ref=localauthority.news). Tomorrow, we’ll be publishing our first *Kent Current* interview, where we talk to legendary illustrator Ralph Steadman about his recent INKling exhibition at Chatham Historic Dockyard, his life, his extensive work with gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson, and much more. You can receive that and our early editions for free by [subscribing to the ](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)[*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) today. [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Implicit Narrative by Stuart Turner & The Flat Earth Society*](https://vacilando68.bandcamp.com/album/implicit-narrative?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Meanwhile back in Medieval Britain with Groovy Uncle*](https://open.spotify.com/album/6Vf4aFqOYJgVdkzt0z5c5n?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Medway Voluntary Action in action URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-voluntary-action-in-action/ Last updated: 2025-04-03T17:15:02.000Z *Steven met with Lisa Michalowicz, Infrastructure Officer, and Tricia Reilly, Infrastructure Manager, at the* [*Medway Voluntary Action*](https://www.mva.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *(MVA) offices on New Road to find out what they do for Medway…* Lisa has been with MVA for four years, starting with the organisation as an admin volunteer. “This is where it shows that volunteering really works,” she says, because she is now in a paid position as an infrastructure officer. Lisa is now responsible for volunteering, supporting governance and funding road shows, and often acts as the first point of contact. “I think you do a lot more than that, Lisa,” says Trisha. Tricia is the Infrastructure Manager for MVA, having worked for there for five years. “In two spurts,” she points out. “I worked for nine months for the Befriending Manager. I set up the [befriending service](https://www.mva.org.uk/individuals/befriending?ref=localauthority.news) here back in 2019, and then I came back as the Infrastructure Manager in 2021.” Infrastructure is a contract that MVA have with Medway Council. “We are part of what's called the [Better Together Consortium](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200139/social%5Fcare%5Fand%5Fhealth/937/medway%5Fbetter%5Ftogether%5Fconsortium?ref=localauthority.news),” says Tricia, which comprises four different organisations where MVA leads on infrastructure. This helps voluntary and community sector organisations build capacity to support the sector through volunteering, back-office functions, and income generation. “We are there to support people who want to create new organisations or new groups and don't have any idea where to start.” This is broken down into three sections, where one is governance. “We support organisations around governance, and that includes starting up new charities, community interest companies, and making sure the existing ones are running properly.” This is done through advice and guidance, “but it's not hand-holding support because we're supporting over 1500 organisations.” It's up to three hours of support for governance, three hours of fundraising support, and three hours for volunteering. It's about supporting the internal systems of voluntary, community, social enterprise, and faith sector organisations. “We have this cap, but we also send a message that if you have used your time but are still in need, still come back to us”. MVA may have capacity to provide additional support or signpost organisations to where additional support may be available. “It's never a closed door.” _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Garden centre set for demolition to make way for houses URL: https://www.localauthority.news/garden-centre-set-for-demolition/ Last updated: 2025-04-01T20:22:58.000Z *A Medway garden centre is set to be demolished to make way for new homes, with Medway Council officers recommending the project for approval. We’ve got the full details below, along with news of a bird charity trying to create a new habitat for migrating birds on the Hoo Peninsula, some data that reveals some big salaries at Medway Council, a roundup of the best and worst (often at the same time) April Fools in Medway, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Garden centre set for demolition to make way for houses Officers have [recommended that Medway Council’s planning committee approve](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=78817&ref=localauthority.news) the demolition of Dillywood Garden Centre in Strood so 12 four-bedroom detached houses can be built on the site. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!wzIJ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f661adafd-66f6-42ec-8848-567cc6c823a0_2372x1242.jpg) Dillywood Garden Centre in Strood. Developers applied for permission for the redevelopment last year, where they also helpfully explained that despite the very large and presumably very expensive houses planned for the site, they would be unable to make any Section 106 contributions toward local infrastructure and services as the scheme wouldn’t be viable if they did. Despite that, Medway Council officers are happy with the plans and have seemingly negotiated around £100,000 in contributions, most of which would go toward school places in the area. They accept that while the location isn’t ideal, as Medway doesn’t have a valid Local Plan, there are few grounds to block the plans, and that while the site is technically within the Green Belt, the existing garden centre on the site means it is previously developed land, and thus acceptable for redevelopment. When the plans first came to light, there was a furore on social media about the garden centre being replaced by houses. Still, only six residents objected to the plans, alongside Frindbsury Extra Parish Council, Higham Parish Council, and perennial objectors, the Dickens Country Protection Society. In the meantime, [Dillywood Garden Centre](https://www.facebook.com/DillywoodGardenCentre/) remains open and has been touting a 40% off everything closing down sale for a while, so it’s unclear exactly how much longer they’ll be there. --- #### RSPB applies to create wetland habitat near Grain The Hoo Peninsula could be getting a new wetland habitat after the [RSPB applied to Medway Council for planning permission](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SSYE43KNJK100&ref=localauthority.news) to transform a large area of land between Stoke and Grain. The RSPB cites the ongoing destruction of natural wetland habitats and the threat of climate change as being the motivators for the project. As the Thames Estuary is a vital migration hub for hundreds of thousands of birds, the charity has been looking for sites in the area where it can work to improve habitats. The 300-hectare site is currently owned by two different owners, one private and one the Church Commissioners of England, who, for some reason, own a big chunk of the Hoo Peninsula. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Oehd!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe085d9be-81af-44f5-94f6-14f74823ed7b_2336x1340.jpg) Stoke Marshes location. The intent is for the site to be economically viable for grazing livestock, which are already on the site, and to manage the marsh to improve biodiversity and conservation for the benefit of bird populations. This will, in turn, make the site more resilient to the effects of climate change. Citing Elmley Marshes on the Isle of Sheppey as an example of what can be achieved here, the RSPB highlights that the project there has been in place since the 1980s and has created levels of wetland and fauna not seen in decades. Similar projects have also been carried out more recently at Northward Hill on the peninsula and at Shorne and Higham nearby. The site is currently a marshland, it is inaccessible to the public with just the A228 running through the middle of it, and it won’t dramatically change the character of the area. As a project, it feels like a straightforward win. We’ll find out soon whether Medway Council feels the same way. --- #### We launch the Kent Current tomorrow We’re delighted to be launching our new Kent-wide title tomorrow. *Local Authority* has been writing about news, politics, culture, and the weird parts of Medway for four years, and now we’re going to do the same for Kent. The [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) will feature the same kind of content mix that you find here on *Local Authority*, but looking across the entire county of Kent. We’ve got some great content coming up in the first couple of weeks, so please [subscribe for free](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) to ensure you receive those early editions. In a world where KentOnline has focused on hard-hitting issues like [some helicopters flying over Kent](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/three-military-chinooks-spotted-flying-over-kent-322036/?ref=localauthority.news), a [plane performing a u-turn over Ashford](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/american-plane-declares-emergency-over-kent-321971/?ref=localauthority.news), and a [seven-inch frozen chip](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/woman-shocked-by-massive-seven-inch-chip-while-tucking-int-322124/?ref=localauthority.news), we believe local news doesn’t have to be like this. There is room for thoughtful, detailed journalism about the issues that matter, and we hope we can do that aspiration justice. You can [subscribe to the ](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)[*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)[ for free here](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) or use the big box below. [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Big salaries at Medway Council We’re loathe to give oxygen to the [TaxPayers’ Alliance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TaxPayers%27%5FAlliance?ref=localauthority.news), the opaque rightwing pressure group that campaigns for a low-tax society and, in turn, the winding down of public services. But as the adage goes, even a defunded clock is right twice a day, and their [latest report on council employees receiving over £100,000](https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/town%5Fhall%5Frich%5Flist%5F2025?ref=localauthority.news) in remuneration provides some interesting numbers about Medway. The data reveals that 11 Medway Council employees cross the threshold, all of whom are at, unsurprisingly, director or executive level. Curiously, Medway Council Chief Executive [Richard Hicks](https://www.localauthority.news/anything-that-impacts-negatively/) isn’t the highest paid, only ranking fourth on the list. He received a salary of £123,000, and with expenses and pension contributions, that number rises to £145,000\. This may be explained by Hicks not being in role for the full financial year that the TPA data is covering. According to the TPA’s data, the best-paid employee of Medway Council is Director of People (Children and Adults), Dr Lee-Anne Farach, who received £139,000 in salary, which rises to £164,000 with expenses and pension contributions. Interestingly, Medway Council has a page on their website where they publish this data themselves, but they haven’t bothered updating it since 2021\. That said, the data from then reveals that former Chief Executive [Neil Davies](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-outgoing-medway/) was receiving a salary of £180,000 at that time, so if anything, salary costs have decreased a little. Within the broader context, salaries at Medway Council appear to be roughly in line with similar councils around the country, so one could argue that this is just what the market dictates if you want to attract the best people to the roles. --- #### Fools of April It’s been a long (and arguably annoying) tradition on the internet that companies and organisations post elaborate April Fools posts on 1 April. This is clearly distinct from the regular misinformation that floats around the internet every other day of the year. This year proved no exception, with a number of pranks from Medway businesses and attractions being posted throughout the day. Some of the ones we’ve spotted: - Chatham Historic Dockyard claimed their Lego Brickwrecks exhibition would [expand with a life-sized Lego ship](http://pfbid0almvmc6zpzrmqrja3ehdneujgcirscihzlafm3u1ryiezqkvamhobz3zqhvma8mnl/?ref=localauthority.news) being added to one of their dry docks, which would be pretty cool. - Rochester Cathedral ‘discovered’ a manuscript in their library revealing that [monks at the cathedral invented table tennis](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercathedral/posts/pfbid02U41gj4Pae6uebnf9ZuF5pBQjN35BRaxXGGFDGQHJgQct7tWbjgst5TAvjuomosC1l) in medieval times. - Diggerland announced an upcoming world record attempt where they will [attempt to stack 50 diggers on top of each other](https://www.facebook.com/Diggerland/posts/pfbid02H9FQkoTPfoSg8Bm2KmnTBtksiA9wKJBXSnrARk1cpfggNATSebzfoQ44wJNBRohml). - The Medway Lib Dems declared that recent election candidate [Onyx Rist had left the party to move to another](https://www.facebook.com/mymedway/posts/pfbid02whKsgRet37sZ3gkx1Lwj6LULdwmeTq5oe6oe8YiB8W2Cxqm2pyGDgc4L3mXpnoojl), which fails the April Fools test as they need to not be believable to work. - The Pentagon showed off the new [Doritos shower gels they had in stock](https://www.facebook.com/pentagonshoppingcentre/posts/pfbid0dfXmQuDDQHQ3v94XkrWJ7t1QimFCeJEbWkmk2zVpjZKAywR92w44AxBeM8GVd1zFl). - [Halling’s Moot Brew Co announced a pizza-flavoured beer](https://www.facebook.com/mootbrew/posts/pfbid0TAuM3S5DbWtD6xmy1TbKNbsLsiyVsWGvVy5F2D2FB6GxCLtjhviD9pVkYM1VgsZGl). - [The Dead Pigeon announced the trifle burger](https://www.facebook.com/thedeadpigeonpub/posts/pfbid0uv1magw9PdmdDTwzexFxwjyQVGJw4K7pQqdirgJm5ozCsKzLGynGEqp8T88DUFt5l), one of the worst things we’ve ever seen. We’ll let you decide which of these are any good. Let us know about any others you’ve spotted in the comments. --- #### In brief 🎙️ [Former Medway Council Leader Alan Jarrett appeared on the Kent Politics Podcast](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/former-council-boss-takes-aim-at-opponents-and-colleagues-321992/?ref=localauthority.news) this week, where he largely blamed members of the Rochester and Strood Conservative Association for Labour winning control of the council. It’s a fascinating listen from a man who isn’t shy about speaking his mind a year after leaving office. 🏗️ A planning application for [39 homes off Otterham Quay Lane in Rainham](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=STHDKKKNFUS00&ref=localauthority.news), next to Leigh Academy, has been submitted. 🏡 [Planning permission has been granted for phases 4 and 5 of the Rochester Riverside development](https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2025/03/31/vistry-go-ahead-for-353-homes-at-rochester-riverside/?ref=localauthority.news). These phases will add 353 new homes to the site, with construction set to begin later this year. --- #### More Authority Jim Riley has been a staple of the Medway music scene since the 1970s. For the past two decades, he recorded hundreds of bands from his Ranscombe Studios based within the Royal Function Rooms until the owners evicted everyone. He’s now up and running with a new studio in a converted warehouse in Intra, so [we caught up with him](https://www.localauthority.news/digital-hasnt-surpassed-analogue/) to discuss his past as a musician, digital versus analogue sound recording, and if there is a future for the Medway Sound. ["Digital hasn't surpassed analogue"Jim Riley’s Ranscombe Studios has been integral to the Medway music scene this century. Having been forced out of his studio within the Royal Function Rooms, Steven caught up with him in his new base within a converted warehouse in Intra. We asked him about his own past as a musician, digital versus analogue sound recording, and if there is a future for the Medway Sound.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe7d904ec-9645-48cb-a92b-3f36ec36415e_1440x754.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/digital-hasnt-surpassed-analogue/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Two weeks until Medway Question Time Our first Medway Question Time event of the year is coming up in two weeks, and you’ve already sent us some excellent questions for our panel to answer. We’re still looking for more, so please [book your free ticket](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and submit a question on Medway's current issues. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NiXc!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff5b5a1cf-a2dc-4a8f-b7ba-e3fd5c598fb8_2160x1080.jpg)](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) Our panel for this event features: - Cllr Vince Maple, Labour Leader of Medway Council - Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition - Dalia Halpern, Chair of Trustees at Chatham Memorial Synagogue - Richard Morsley, Chief Executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard As always, tickets are free, but [booking is essential](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). [Book free tickets here](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Pessimistic Pizza by My Best Unbeaten Brother*](https://mybestunbeatenbrother.bandcamp.com/album/pessimistic-pizza?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Tallahassee by the Mountain Goats*](https://themountaingoats.bandcamp.com/album/tallahassee?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Probably Nothing, Possibly Everything by Pat the Bunny*](https://patthebunny.bandcamp.com/album/probably-nothing-possibly-everything?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### "Digital hasn't surpassed analogue" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/digital-hasnt-surpassed-analogue/ Last updated: 2025-03-30T06:01:36.000Z *Jim Riley’s* [*Ranscombe Studios*](https://ranscombestudios.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *has been integral to the Medway music scene this century. Having been forced out of his studio within the Royal Function Rooms, Steven caught up with him in his new base within a converted warehouse in Intra. We asked him about his own past as a musician, digital versus analogue sound recording, and if there is a future for the Medway Sound.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tMRm!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe7d904ec-9645-48cb-a92b-3f36ec36415e_1440x754.jpg) Jim Riley (left), performing with the Chatham Singers. Photo: Stuart Turner. **What is Ranscombe Studios?** Ranscombe Studios is a recording studio for anything really. The vast majority of the work is bands, solo singers, solo acoustic artists and any genre of music, but I've recorded poets for CDs, I've put together online radio shows. Not that often, but it's something I've done. I'll record anything and anyone. I consider myself a musician sound engineer. I went into sound engineering from being in bands because I took a lot of interest in it and loved it. **Why is it called Ranscombe?** It was started at Ranscombe Farm, up near Cuxton. I started up there in 2002 and took on the name. **Was there a reason you started there?** It was available space. A friend of mine had a rehearsal space there in a barn. At the time, Ranscombe was a hamlet. You had two or three farm buildings, a big building, a few big farm sheds and this barn, which was from the 1500s, a really old barn. We were in there for about 18 months, and then the land got bought up by Lafarge. It was all cement builders’ land, they tripled the rent, then quadrupled the rent, until we all went, and they turned it into a posh gated premises. I looked around, and I knew my friend Andy had the Royal Function Rooms. I popped in to see him for a cup of tea, and he had a bit of space, so I set up there for the next 18 or so years. Lived in a flat there, it was perfect. Come downstairs to work, cafe over the road and everything. Spoiled for 18 years. That came to an end when Andy, who was the leaseholder, had to go because they wanted to sell the property and all that meant we had to go. Within a few months, with the help of Pat the Hat, who runs the [Three Sheets to the Wind](https://www.threesheetspub.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), who I've recorded over the years in various different things, came in and said, “Look, we'd like to help you find a place, and help put something together.” We found here after a few months, and I put together the building work. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The last leader of Medway? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-last-leader-of-medway/ Last updated: 2025-03-28T20:27:03.000Z *Is it possible that we are in the final days of Medway Council? A few years ago it would have seemed ludicrous, but now, even the current leader thinks this is the final stretch. We’ve been finding out more. Further down, we have news of local musician Anthony Martin’s emotional new album, yet another managerial change at Gillingham FC, reviews of the new Brickwrecks exhibition at Chatham Dockyard and Bombay 2 Gillingham, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### The last leader of Medway? *At the Volunteer Community Sector Leaders Network event, organised by Medway Voluntary Association at Gillingham FC’s Priestfield Stadium, Medway Council Leader Councillor Vince Maple took part in a talk about the future of local government. We were there listening in, so how does he view Medway’s new democratic future?* As we [previously reported on ](https://www.localauthority.news/i/156849815/no-elected-mayor-anytime-soon)[*Local Authority*](https://www.localauthority.news/i/156849815/no-elected-mayor-anytime-soon), Medway and Kent were unsuccessful in their bid to become a priority place for devolution and will not be voting for a Mayor next year. Now, areas across the county have to prepare for the elections, only to merge into new unitary authorities with the upcoming local government reorganisations. “The future of local government isn't added to my job title,” says Cllr Maple, “but it feels like it a bit at the moment”. ![Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ssu9!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd64d861a-e67c-4cf9-9f72-75ec00469703_2048x1072.jpg) Cllr Maple talking about the future of local government. Vince has one slide for his presentation and doesn’t open papers for a speech. He speaks straight to the audience about issues he has spent much time recently debating, justifying and reiterating. “We live in interesting times, to use that well-worn cliche. Part of the reason there are no slides is, one, I never use slides if we can help it, but two, they would be changing probably by the hour at the moment.” So, just what does the future hold for Medway? “We've got a new government. I'm very happy about that, and pretty early on, they said we want to look at devolution.” Vince explains that sometimes this is referred to as local government reorganisation, but they are two separate things. “Devolution is where the government is giving us, in Medway, more powers to get on and do stuff.” His example is the Manchester bus service, which is not only cheaper but runs on time. In Medway and Kent, councils don’t run the bus service, though they may subsidise specific routes. But they are restricted from taking on the whole operation by law. When the opportunity for devolution was presented, all 14 councils in the region of Kent had consensus that they would seek the additional powers that come with it. “I use the phrase ‘region of Kent’ quite a lot because it differentiates between Kent County Council, and the county of Kent. The region of Kent is something different but happens to have the same geographical footprint because Mayors will be in charge of regions.” Across the region of Kent, there are Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green and Labour council leaders. “That's good for everybody,” says Vince. “Hooray for that. But what that does mean is trying to find consensus can sometimes be a bit challenging.” The government had set the target of devoluton regions having populations of 1.5 million, and Kent achieves that with 1.9 million residents. Devolution was led by the two upper-tier authority councils, Medway and Kent. “The other 12 are equally important, but from a government perspective, devolution was very much framed as the upper tier authorities moving that forward.” As most readers will now be aware, “the decision was taken that we would not be a priority. That's disappointing for the 1.9 million residents of our region because it means we lose those opportunities like public transport, like the skills agenda, to improve those outcomes.” The reason given was effectively that the government couldn’t come to a position of having a governance structure that balanced the two upper-tier authorities, with Kent making up 84% of the population and Medway only 16%. “Whatever way you make that work, someone will think it's unfair,” accepts Vince. Meetings continue between Kent, Medway, ministers and civil servants, “but it's very clear that until we do local government reorganisation, we're not likely to have a Mayoral Combined Authority”. On the same day they were told they would not be a devolution priority place, Kent, Medway, and the districts were invited to consider local government reorganisation. From a day-to-day perspective for the residents of Medway, “local government reorganisation won't look and feel much different.” The government's position is that two-tier local government is not fit for purpose. Vince says that he “would agree. I accept I have an absolute bias. I've only ever served on a unitary authority.” The government have stipulated that they want each new council to have around 500,000 residents. “There is a level of flexibility in that, and I think that's sensible, but there needs to be a justification for that.” Similarly, they've said that ideally, unitaries will be working with the existing boundaries of the districts, boroughs and unitaries, “but there's a recognition that actually the world has changed in the last 50 years, and things might look and feel different.” Challenges for the new unitary arrangement include the council tax base. “If you look at east Kent and west Kent, you could say in broad terms West Kent's tax base has been subsidising east Kent.” It is very unlikely that East and West Kent will be part of the same council, so issues must be reconciled there. “We're not doing this in isolation. Every other part of England that has two-tier councils will be going through a similar process”. As reported in [Tuesday’s edition](https://www.localauthority.news/our-new-north-kent-future/), councils had their first deadline last week to answer three questions. Firstly, do you want to be part of this? “You haven't really got a choice, but it's nice to be asked,” jokes Vince. Secondly, do we want to have one council for the whole region? “Now, that's a pretty obvious no. Nobody is advocating for a single council for all services for 1.9 million people.” The third question is whether any of the councils involved fall outside your region. “Now again, for us, that is a pretty straightforward answer. Our councils are staying within Kent.” The second and more important deadline is 28 November. That is when council proposals will be submitted on what the existing councils want the future to look like. Up to 14 submissions could be made for our region if no one can agree. “I suspect it will be two. Some people are advocating strongly for three councils. Respectfully, I think they're wrong. Some people advocate for four. That's me, and people will say that I'm wrong. That's perfectly fine.” Ultimately, the decision will sit with central government, which went so well last time for the region with the devolution proposals. What about the 1.9 million people in Kent? Will they get much of a say in the process? Vince says this is an “excellent question. We'll be starting that process. We have put some resources aside in the council. We've got hardworking officers doing the day job and trying to do local government reorganisation at the same time.” What does Vince think the timeline for all of this will be? “I think that we will have a Medway Council in place until May 2028\. I think we will have the elections for the new councils in May 2027 to have a shadow year. You'll basically have two councils running at once, although the new council won't actually be up and running until the following year, in 2028\. It would be hopeful that we would have the Mayoral election in May 2028, so we can get us those buses.” “I think that what's clear to me is that the councils that we currently know,” says Vince as he reaches the end, “none of those will exist in their current format in probably five years’ time. There's a likelihood that I will be the last leader of Medway Council.” **Call for questions!* Soon, we will be interviewing Medway Council Leader Cllr Vince Maple to mark the halfway point of his Labour administration. This will be the fourth time we have sat down with Vince, so we are opening the opportunity to you, dear readers. If you have a question to ask the council leader about himself, his time in office or the future of Medway, then email *steven AT localauthority DOT news*.* --- #### In brief 🏗️ Future Medway, the independently run website looking at development and regeneration in Medway is ten years old. To celebrate, they have [launched a Substack, which you should subscribe to](https://futuremedway.substack.com/p/future-medway-turns-10). 🇪🇸 Medway Poet Bill Lewis is on tour in Spain and is featured in the [Madrid Review](https://themadridreview.com/f/bill-lewis---the-legendary-poet-and-artist-visits-madrid?blogcategory=News&ref=localauthority.news) ahead of his visiting the city. ⚽ Congratulations to the Chatham Town FC Under 13s, who have been crowned [champions of the Kent County Cup](https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story%5Ffbid=986328776963964&id=100067605516396&%5Frdr). ⛴️ Tiller & Wheel are trying to create a sustainable future for the region’s historic ships. [They’ve announced a new project](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYrY3cafCzc&ref=localauthority.news), the Intra Maritime Trust, and the addition of a new barge to their fleet. --- #### Getting Closure with Anthony Martin *In January,* [*we spoke to musician Anthony Martin*](https://www.localauthority.news/i/155911408/buskathon-raising-money-for-mind)*, where he talked about mental health, the release of the single he wrote to help him process his father’s suicide, and his buskathon across Medway for the charity Mind, from which he raised over £500\. Anthony releases his album Closure today with a launch event at Rochester Baptist Church.* Closure is a solo album, though friends have supported him along the way. “It's basically an album of every song I've ever released, really,” as well as three songs not previously released. Last year, Anthony raised money through crowdfunding to enable him to complete the album. “I've raised nearly £85,000 for a variety of charities, but this one's for me,” he says. He raised £2,000 in just over a month. The album consists of ten songs and a whole gamut of emotions. “They're songs of trauma, loss, pain, redemption, and hope.” Whilst the singles have only been available online, he is looking forward to being able to release the album as a piece of physical media. “The launch is on the 28th of March at the Rochester Baptist Church. I first went there for the William Cuffay Festival with Ivor Riddell,” where Anthony was asked to play a few of his songs and met friend of *Local Authority* [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/). “He suggested the church would be a great place, so that's where we're launching the album.” Anthony’s music style varies. “We've gone a few different ways, but it's mostly indie, Brit poppy style.” A music child of the 90s which has influenced his thoughtful singer-songwriting material, Anthony admits, “There's a bit of Billy Bragg in there.” Anthony is a MidKent College music graduate, which gave him some useful contacts when putting the album together. “I did music there, and a couple of my mates are now professional guitarists. It's really awesome to be able to ask them to play on my record.” Anthony is very open about his songs being therapeutic. “Sometimes when it happens and you listen to the song, it's not clear. The lyrics might actually be about something else entirely. And sometimes the lyrics are very on the nose.” Anthony’s debut album represents 42 years of life condensed into 10 songs full of emotion. [*Closure by Anthony Martin is available now via Bandcamp*](https://anthonymartin.bandcamp.com/album/closure?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Managerial change at Gillingham FC, again **by Ben Hopkins** *Gillingham Football Club owner Brad Galinson has released* [*a statement* ](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/message-brad-galinson?ref=localauthority.news)*about having a clear vision and stability at the club following another change of manager, but what does our very own *Ben Hopkins* have to say?* In a hotseat switcheroo best described as ephemeral, Gillingham’s temporary manager John Coleman has been prematurely ejaculated from the club in favour of Gareth Ainsworth - surely the only football manager to have been featured by [Classic Rock magazine](https://www.loudersound.com/features/gareth-ainsworth-cold-blooded-hearts?ref=localauthority.news). John Coleman deserves some credit for his work. He rediscovered Gills’ fighting spirit, slashed some of the club’s bigger egos from the snakepit, and introduced immensely promising centre-back Sam Gale to first-team football. What he didn’t do was… well, the small matter of winning games on a consistent basis. While Ainsworth looks a bit like a bassist from a Guns ‘n’ Roses covers band, his managerial pedigree is strong, earning Wycombe promotion from League Two and only being blocked from a second promotion by a play-off final defeat to Sunderland. But it’s also a little chequered, having struggled with challenging circumstances at both QPR and Shrewsbury. He leaves the latter bottom of League One. But at Gills, he has the ingredients to replicate his Wycombe success. The budget should again be enough for a promotion push, and as dismal as the team has been, there are players with the ability to achieve far more than an appetite for self-destruction. So welcome to the Gills jungle, Gareth. Let’s hope he’s not dismissed in the cold November rain. --- #### In for a Takeaway: Bombay 2 Gillingham *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the food options available in our towns. This week, he’s ordered from* [***Bombay 2 Gillingham***](https://bombay2gillingham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Gillingham*…* When it comes to ordering takeaway in Medway, you very soon run out of variations when ordering at lunchtime. So I made the decision to order takeaway in the evening because not all heroes were capes. I decided to order curry, and Bombay 2 Gillingham came highly recommended on Just Eat. Though as the restaurant delivers the food themselves, you can skip Just Eat and order from then directly. I ordered poppadom with mango chutney, onion bhaji, the Bombay 2 Gillingham Special (because it was listed as ‘highly recommended’), which consisted of succulent, tender breast chicken cooked with tamarind and garlic in a savoury sauce, and a portion of mushroom fried rice. The food came within a respectable time frame and was delivered by a friendly driver. The listing of ‘poppadom’ was deliberate as they delivered a single poppadom, which seemed not a lot, and left the chutney to poppadom ratio very chutney heavy. The chutney was tasty but did not appear to be homemade. The bhajis were tasty and not oily. The mushroom fried rice was tasty and generously portioned, but perhaps it was meant for two. The Bombay 2 Gillingham Special was very nice indeed. I wouldn’t necessarily say it was special, but it was good, with well-cooked slices of chicken protein in a savoury sauce. The spice rating was medium, which is fair. If you are in Gillingham and looking to order a curry, then Bombay 2 Gillingham is a good shout. --- #### Review: Brickwrecks at Chatham Historic Dockyard **by Stuart Turner** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!hUMT!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7b76e9b2-1e8f-4f08-98e9-527a7a41d51e_1456x762.jpg) This wasn’t my first rodeo. By which I mean I have taken the enthusiastic offspring to see exhibitions of Lego at Chatham Dockyard before, not that these contained any depictions of rodeos. That said, this was the first one I had taken the offspring to with an exclusively mariner theme and, furthermore, the offspring’s favourite: the nautical disaster. In conjunction with various aquatic archaeological organisations from across the seven seas, Brickwrecks takes an informative, visually impressive and, most importantly, entertaining look at submerged history rendered in cuboidal brickwork. Entering the exhibition hall, you are first met by an appeal to pass on, recycle and reuse your old Lego bricks, the kind of sensible suggestion that offsets the occasionally eye-watering cost of the hardy perennial birthday and Christmas gifts, before being introduced to your animal guide: a pink and white Lego mouse called Farun (Arabic for mouse). Like the rat from Horrible Histories, Farun will feature on all the following information boards, giving an alternative text to the main information board about specific ships and their fate, ensuring the display information can connect across age ranges, keeping nautical disaster light. There then follows a series of dioramas arranged roughly chronologically, depicting shipping and shipping disasters from a variety of angles and with a barrage of supporting facts and side scenes. These start with the Uluburun, which sank of the coast of Turkey c1300 BCE. You are presented with a wonderfully detailed harbour scene (in Lego, obviously), descriptions of the boat and its purpose, an explanation of the finding of the mouse skeleton (hence Farun) and a depiction of the wreck in situ on the inclined sea bed (in Lego). This sets the tone for the Shinan (China c1323), a tipping/capsizing/interactive model of the Vasa (Sweden, c1628, complete with details of its Mary Rose-eque raising (in Lego)), the Batavia (Australian coast, 1629) and the Pandora (Great Barrier Reef, 1791). There followed a wonderful expanded display on the finding of the Terror and the Erebus (Chatham-fitted ships lost in the search for the North West Passage, 1846), including an actual-size model of a remote-controlled sea bed camera. Passing through the doors into the wider entrance corridor, you are confronted with a wonderful rendering of the Titanic (Atlantic, 1912) en route to the sea bed and the more recent oil and container ship Rena, running aground in New Zealand, 2011\. This latter modern-day disaster display included Lego that was on board the ship as it sank. And penguins. Lego penguins. These depictions are intermittently intercut with play table areas, allowing visitors to get involved (no age restrictions apply), and honesty boxes for the return of wandered-off-with bricks. There are display tables for these efforts to form part of the exhibition itself. This motif is extended to Duplo bricks for the younger visitor and even bigger blocks in the pipe-bending workshop for the even younger visitor. All in all, this was really well thought out, well executed and provided interactive edutainment for pretty much all the family. Especially those interested in nautical disasters. [*Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in Lego Bricks*](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/brickwrecks/?ref=localauthority.news) *is exhibiting at Chatham Historic Dockyard until 31 August. Entry is included with admission to Chatham Historic Dockyard.* --- #### Events this week 👩‍🔧 Sat 29 Mar - [**Remake, Repair, Create**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/rippling-out-remake-repair-create?ref=localauthority.news) // A morning of upcycling your clothes, making costumes from household trash and creating handmade notebooks. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🛍️ Sat 29 Mar - [**Rochester City Vintage & Artisan Market**](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket) // New traders event with market stallholders dotted throughout Rochester High Street. Free. 🧾 Sat 29 Mar - [**Milk. Eggs. Bread.**](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/whatson/?ref=localauthority.news) // A comedic exploration of shopping lists found around Medway by Kieran Poole. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🗣️ Wed 2 Apr - [**Medway Matters Live**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medway-matters-live-2025-tickets-1226859593069?ref=localauthority.news) // Chance to quiz Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Chief Executive Richard Hicks. Hundred of Hoo Academy, Hoo. Free. 🎤 Fri 4 Apr - [**Sophie Lancaster Foundation Fundraiser**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/chatham/poco-loco/the-sophie-lancaster-foundation-fundraiser/2025-04-04/20:00/t-rpnleqk?ref=localauthority.news) // Live music fundraiser featuring Rainbow Machine, High Frequency and Lucid Fox. Poco Loco, Chatham Intra. Tickets £5. --- *We’re thrilled to be launching our second title next week! The* [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) *will be similar to what we do here at Local Authority, but casting our eye across wider Kent. We can’t wait to get started, so* [*please subscribe*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) *below to ensure you don’t miss the first edition.* [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Baroque Anxieties by Little Storping in the Swuff*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/baroque-anxieties?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*A Little More Time by Senior Service*](https://damagedgoods.co.uk/discography/the-senior-service-a-little-more-time-with/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Five years on URL: https://www.localauthority.news/five-years-on/ Last updated: 2025-03-28T00:03:21.000Z It’s been a little over five years since the UK first entered lockdown at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Somehow, it simultaneously feels like a long time ago and not that long at all. It’s funny how your entire way of life changing for months or years will do that. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tp8R!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4a78d0e0-16fb-4885-a5fc-1aa2bb87ae99_1432x768.jpg) Shoppers queuing to enter Tesco Gillingham in 2020. While things are essentially ‘normal’ again now[1](#footnote-1), it’s easy to understate just how strange and scary that first year was. Not leaving the house for weeks on end is something that feels alien to most of us, and even when we did, things were strange. Most places were shut, the streets were quiet, and during the early weeks in particular, you got used to crossing the street just because someone was walking on the same side of the road as you. We’re not here to recall that though. As a Medway news outlet, we’re interested in what the pandemic did to Medway and the impacts it continues to have. Of course, something as big as this is messy and complicated, so no one article is going to cover everything. So consider this something of your five year snapshot. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Our new North Kent future URL: https://www.localauthority.news/our-new-north-kent-future/ Last updated: 2025-03-25T15:52:12.000Z *Local government reorganisation doesn’t sound sexy, but it’s coming for all of us regardless. In the next few years, Medway Council will cease to exist, alongside Kent County Council and 12 districts across the county. In their places will be larger unitary authorities, and now, for the first time, we have an idea of what that might look like. We’ve got the full details of the possibilities for Kent below, as well as news that the Lower Thames Crossing can finally begin construction, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Our new North Kent future While devolution may be further away than initially planned, local government reorganisation lumbers onwards, with four potential proposals for the future of Kent being put forward this week. Local councils across Kent had until last week to put forward their interim proposals for the future to the government. Building on the initial cooperation during the devolution process, [Kent submitted a combined report from all 14 councils and districts](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/9107/kent%5Finterim%5Fplan%5Ffor%5Flocal%5Fgovernment%5Freorganisation?ref=localauthority.news) in the area. While the 14 councils and districts agreed in their support for the reorganisation concept, there is clearly some disagreement between them on exactly what shape that should take. The government wants new, larger local unitary authorities with populations of around 500,000\. Given Kent has a population of around 1.9m, it’s hard to make any split work perfectly. As a result, the debate ultimately comes down to whether Kent should be broken up into three or four areas. The interim plan doesn’t include any specific plans for what the new options would look like, but happily, five of the districts have decided to go rogue and submit their own ideas. Canterbury, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling, and Tunbridge Wells have worked together to build a ‘[supplementary submission](https://tunbridgewells.gov.uk/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0004/494401/Supplementary-Submission-from-Kent-Councils-on-Local-Government-Reorganisation-FINAL.pdf?ref=localauthority.news)’, which pushes heavily for three councils as being the most efficient and financial suggestion. Helpfully, they have also proposed four different models for what the future of Kent could look like. While there are clear differences in each potential option, things are pretty settled for Medway. In each scenario, Medway is merged with Gravesham and Dartford, with one also seeing a combination with Swale. Option 1 has Medway, Gravesham, and Dartford combining with Swale to create a sweeping north Kent authority running from the edge of London to Faversham. This is also the only option that sees Kent split into three areas and is the preferred option for the five councils behind the supplementary submission. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!KNNX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86596f31-594b-4dfa-9850-d1b33cf5494e_965x663.jpg) It is also, on the face of it, the most rational proposal. Each area has a clear and fairly distinct identity, with North Kent comprising urban coastal towns, West Kent consisting of the heart of Kent, and East Kent largely following the coastal areas facing the Channel. There’s also Ashford, of course, but nothing is perfect, and Ashford feels more closely aligned to areas like Canterbury and Folkestone than anywhere further west. Option 2 sees four councils, with a North authority covering Medway, Gravesham, and Dartford, the same West authority as above, an East that includes Swale, Canterbury, and Thanet, and a new South that includes Ashford, Folkestone & Hythe, and Dover. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!TtHb!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f042b6fed-6c23-435c-9688-245c07803a0f_965x663.jpg) This doesn’t feel particularly intuitive, but strap in because they will only get more silly from here. Option 3 features the same North and West arrangements as Option 2 but groups Canterbury, Thanet, and Dover to form an East authority, as well as Swale, Ashford, and Folkestone & Hythe, forming a new Mid authority, which feels like something of a Freudian slip. The idea that Folkestone and Dover should be in differing authorities while Sheerness and Tenterden are in the same one is so utterly bizarre that it’s remarkable anyone even bothered with this as an idea. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!D7hC!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0c3b8b0c-0870-4de6-86a7-02eb2f40d633_965x663.jpg) Finally, there’s Option 4, which sees the same North arrangement but chops Maidstone from the West group to combine it with Swale and Ashford in the Mid authority, leaving the remaining coastal authorities to become the East authority. The North, West, and East groups here don’t seem unreasonable, but the Mid authority feels shoehorned together with the leftover areas. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ri7u!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8160cb02-411d-488f-822e-c2dd0e6b1288_965x663.jpg) As the report sets out though, none of the four authority versions would meet the government’s criteria for areas having populations of around 500,000\. Only the North authority would squeak over this line consistently, leaving many others lacking the required numbers. From these proposals, the three authority Option 1 seems to be the only rational answer, providing consistent, clearly defined areas with a population that allows them to work at scale. It seems unlikely that much agreement will be found in the near future though, as it has become clear the Conservatives favour the three authority model, while Labour support four, including Medway Leader Vince Maple. There are good reasons for supporting four. The larger each authority becomes, the further away ‘local’ representation potentially is. At the moment, Medway has one councillor for roughly every 4,600 residents. Under the four authority model, this could move to one for roughly every 5,100, not a grand difference from now. However, under the three authority model, it could be as much as one councillor for every 6,600 residents, even with the most generous number of councillors (100 per authority), which is by no means guaranteed. [Vince Maple has also written to Jim McMahon](http://file///Users/edjennings/Downloads/Letter%5Fto%5FJim%5FMcMahon%5F21.03.25.pdf?ref=localauthority.news), Minister for Local Government & Devolution, to confirm that Medway supports four authorities, citing that this will help keep democracy truly local. He also raises the intriguing prospect that existing boundaries may not be followed in future reorganisation. Could the border of Medway be rationalised to be [less ridiculous than it is now](https://www.localauthority.news/on-borders-and-exploitation/)? Probably not, but there’s at least a slither of hope. Now the interim proposals are in, the real work needs to begin. Local councils across Kent have until November to draw up final plans on what they think local government reorganisation across the region should look like and submit them to the government. Will 14 councils and districts be able to find common ground by then? We’re going to find out soon enough. --- #### Lower Thames Crossing gets go ahead After 16 years of preparation, the government finally [approved the construction of the Lower Thames Crossing](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lower-thames-crossing-development-consent-decision-announced?ref=localauthority.news) today, meaning we might be able to reach Essex without spending an hour queuing at Dartford in a decade or so. When built, the £9bn route will consist of the longest road tunnels in the UK, with the full route connecting the A2 just went of Medway to the M25 somewhere around Upminster. This will remove the need for cross-channel traffic heading into Kent from the north to use the Dartford Crossing, opening up more capacity on one of the most congested routes in the country. Inevitably, this will have a knock-on effect on traffic around Medway, with Bluebell Hill especially likely to come under more strain as a result of more traffic needing to move between the M2 and the M20\. Kent County Council recently [consulted on upgrading the route](https://www.localauthority.news/blue-bell-hill-might-get-an-upgrade/), intending to complete the works by 2031. Theoretically, the Lower Thames Crossing should be completed by 2032\. The [press release from National Highways today](https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/lower-thames-crossing/news-and-media/government-gives-planning-permission-to-the-lower-thames-crossing/?ref=localauthority.news) was bullish on the timeline, suggesting construction could begin next year, with the government currently exploring private finance options for the project. We’ll leave you to decide how believable that timeline might be. --- #### In brief 🏊 [KentOnline](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/it-s-a-dreadful-way-to-treat-people-swim-teachers-accuse-321675/?ref=localauthority.news) and [BBC Southeast](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn7v3lxnlv7o?ref=localauthority.news) have both written about swimming instructors in Medway being made redundant. We first broke the story back in [November](https://www.localauthority.news/whats-going-on-with-medways-swimming/) and [December](https://www.localauthority.news/i/152787970/swimming-instructors-facing-murky-future), but they got there in the end. 🏥 [Medway NHS Foundation Trust will get a new part-time Chief Executive](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/joint-leadership-appointment/?ref=localauthority.news) next week, with Jonathan Wade set to take on the role for six months. He will split his duties with his existing role as Chief Executive of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. ⚽ [Gillingham Football Club are set to appoint a new manager, who will be their third one this year](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cr42y3wlrnko?ref=localauthority.news). Shrewsbury Town manager Gareth Ainsworth will take up the role, replacing John Coleman, who only took on the job in January. --- #### Book now for Medway Question Time Our first Medway Question Time event of the year is coming up in a few weeks, and you’ve already sent us some excellent questions for our panel to answer. We’re still looking for more, so please [book your free ticket](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and submit a question on Medway's current issues. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NiXc!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff5b5a1cf-a2dc-4a8f-b7ba-e3fd5c598fb8_2160x1080.jpg)](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) Our panel for this event features: - Cllr Vince Maple, Labour Leader of Medway Council - Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition - Dalia Halpern, Chair of Trustees at Chatham Memorial Synagogue - Richard Morsley, Chief Executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard As always, tickets are free, but [booking is essential](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). [Book free tickets here](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, we sat down with [Tracy Bullock, Chair of Medway Rugby Club](http://For our weekend interview, we sat down with Tracy Bullock, Chair of Medway Rugby Club. We discuss how she came into the role, how Medway rugby can lead to playing rugby nationally and if she is any good at rugby herself.). We discuss how she came into the role, how Medway rugby can lead to playing rugby nationally and if she is any good at rugby herself. ["From what we offer here, there is a direct link into a professional world"![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdcfda9e6-af08-4c67-a5e0-dfc8ec0666b2_1440x754.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/from-what-we-offer-here-there-is/) We’re thrilled to be launching our second title next week! The [*Kent Current*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) will be similar to what we do here at *Local Authority*, but casting our eye across wider Kent. We can’t wait to get started, so [please subscribe](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) below to ensure you don’t miss the first edition. [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Am by Ovlov*](https://ovlov.bandcamp.com/album/am-2?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*The Boy With the Arab Strap by Belle and Sebastian*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K7W6dztw-4&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Dissatisfactions by Onsind*](https://onsind.bandcamp.com/album/dissatisfactions?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### "From what we offer here, there is a direct link into a professional world" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/from-what-we-offer-here-there-is/ Last updated: 2025-03-23T07:00:37.000Z *Tracy Bullock is an accountant with a family history centred around Medway, a place she returned to when it came to raising her own family. Now the Chair of Medway Rugby Club, Steven met with her at Beantown in Rochester to discuss how she came into the role, how Medway rugby can lead to playing rugby nationally and if she is any good at rugby herself.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Zo-D!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdcfda9e6-af08-4c67-a5e0-dfc8ec0666b2_1440x754.jpg) Tracy Bullock **What is Medway Rugby Club?** We are a rugby club who provides sports for under six and through to seniors. At every level, there's an element of the game that you can get involved in and enjoy. That's for girls and boys across the youth sections. It's a community, a coming together of like-minded people who enjoy the sport and can enjoy playing the game, watching the game being involved in the rugby club. It's much greater than just a rugby club in its title. **You are based at Rochester Priestfields. Why is it not Rochester Rugby Club?** It used to be Rochester Rugby Club. I believe it changed its name in the ‘70s from Rochester RFC to Medway RFC. That change was brought about, I think, to have a broader appeal. **What is your role within the club?** I'm the club Chair. I oversee all of it. The buck stops with me, frighteningly. But also, it's much more. I've got a really good team of an executive committee that are in charge of all the different sections. I just oversee it, supporting and driving the club forward, making sure that we've got a vision for the club, of where we want to take it and ensuring that all that we're doing well. **How did you come into the role?** This is my fourth season. Before that, I was a treasurer. I became a treasurer in 2011 when my husband actually stood up and said he'd become the treasurer. I was like, You really don't have time for this in your job,’ because he does a lot of travelling and working away. And I'm an accountant, so I said, ‘I'll do it, I'll just take that over.’ I did all of that, and I was doing that for about ten years and then thought that stepping into the club Chair then wouldn't be that different, but it's incredibly different. **Can you give us a couple of examples of the differences?** Well, I was really focusing on the accounts and just making sure that everything was financially stable and sustainable. Whereas now, everyone used to come to me with loads of issues and queries and questions. Whereas now, the breadth of my role seems to be, what's the strategic plan for the club? Where do you want to take us? What social events are going on, and what about the issue with the plumbing in the ladies toilets? That gives you a little bit of the breadth of some of the queries that I get, which is all valid. We're a members club. People are really invested and want to feel some ownership towards the club as well, which is what you want. **How did you first get involved with the club?** I took my sons. I don't come from a rugby background. I've grown up in Medway. Never had any connection to the club, only a few friends that I knew when I was at school who played. I went to a few 21st or 18th birthday parties at the rugby club, but never played. My husband, he used to play rugby in Bristol. When I met him, we moved here after a short spell in London after we had the kids. As soon as they started school, somebody said to me, ‘They can play rugby from this age.’ I took them along. That was 20 years ago. My eldest has stopped rugby now, but he's moved down to Bristol, and because of his work, he can't play anymore, but he was playing into his teen years. My youngest, he's 24, and he's still there. He's in the first team at the moment. **You spoke about the age groups, from the minis and youth leagues, then the men's and women's. How old are the oldest people playing?** There was a photo a couple of seasons ago where I think our front row had a ridiculously combined age of quite high. I mean, the vets team and the Crusaders, people are still playing into their 40s. Even later, some of them. The Crusaders are almost a social side. They don't train, but they play in a merit league, and they have a really good culture in the group. There's a lot of minis and youth coaches that all play in that team and have a lot of fun. That's the oldies, but the vets as well. One of our vets must be coming up for 60s. We do a touch rugby session on a Monday that's a non-contact version of sport, and that's different. You can play at any age as long as you are capable of running around. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### MP sleeps rough to raise money for homeless veterans URL: https://www.localauthority.news/mp-sleeps-rough-to-raise-money-for/ Last updated: 2025-03-21T20:33:35.000Z *Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards found herself in hot water over unpleasant tweets that surfaced last year, including one about a homeless man. A year on, she is taking part in a rough sleep-out to raise money for homeless veterans. We dispatched our charity correspondent Zahra Barri to talk to her about the endeavour and to ask whether this is meant to close the door on last year’s furore. Further down, we have news of a new one-man show about shopping lists, a review of Medway Little Theatre’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist, a breakfast at the Falcon Cafe, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### MP sleeps rough to raise money for homeless veterans **by Zhara Barri** It’s hard to imagine a Member of Parliament sleeping rough. However, on 27 March, Lauren Edwards, the Labour MP for Rochester and Strood, will be swapping the House of Commons for no house at all as she takes part in [The Great Tommy Sleep Out](https://rbli.co.uk/rbli-events/the-great-tommy-sleep-out/?ref=localauthority.news). This might sound like a deleted scene in the Blackadder finale, but it is, in fact, a national award-winning fundraising challenge. The Great Tommy Sleep Out is an initiative set up by the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) to raise awareness, as well as funds for homeless veterans. When I sit down for a chat with Lauren about this volunteering venture, I silently congratulate myself. It seems clear to me that my new column, [*Volunteer Medway*](https://www.localauthority.news/volunteer-medway/)(launched less than a month ago), has had an immediate political impact. However, because I am humble, I do not mention this. Instead, Lauren tells me that she got wind of the sleep-out when visiting Rochester’s BAE Systems and found out some pretty dismal stats. Figures show that veterans nationally make up a huge amount of the homeless population. Veterans are vulnerable to homelessness because after serving they are often wounded and/or permanently disabled. The result of this means they are faced with the upheaval of adapting to a new way of life and doing so with a physical impairment. However, the problem isn’t just physical. They can also experience the inevitable effects of trauma on the psyche and a loss of purpose which comes from retirement. In short, veterans are in peril from a cocktail of physical and mental health issues, which makes it hard for them to assimilate. Lauren is positive for the future as she tells me that the new Labour government has given £3.5m in additional funding to improve support for veterans and their families. She tells me that she feels it is our duty to help veterans who have given up so much to serve. It’s terrible to think that after fighting for their country, they then have to face the battle of homelessness. “I think if we ask people to give their lives for their country, then the least we can do is make sure that they're properly cared for and supported when they come back. She adds that “as a newly elected MP, I'm thinking how I could also use my voice in parliament to help. I think it's a combination of what you say, but also what you do that matters.” This is clearly a cause that Lauren is passionate about. And I, too. One of the reasons why my first *Volunteer Medway* article tackled homelessness is because I passionately believe that having a home is a basic human right. Helping tackle homelessness in your area is an admirable trait. I once dated a guy based solely on the fact that he said he helped the homeless (however, I later found out he was actually an estate agent). Lauren nods, not about dating estate agents but about having your own roof over your head is part of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!uxME!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb5c790e0-cf30-4cda-a1c6-7ed825524593_1456x971.jpg) Lauren Edwards MP I’m tempted to move on and ask her about her prep (is she bringing thermals and Jammie Dodgers?), but being the hard-hitting political journalist that I am (a cross between Bridget Jones, Jennie Bond and Lois Lane), I probe her for more. I bring up the infamous [disparaging tweet about homeless people](https://www.localauthority.news/new-mp-has-offensive-tweets-outed/) that caused a fracas last. I do this not to further agitate this blunder. I believe in second chances and that ignoring vulgarity is one thing, but cancelling it altogether is not beneficial to human growth. There needs to be a compromise where people are accountable but also, at the same time, redeemable. With this in mind, I tell her, as I discovered myself in my last *Volunteer Medway* column, that there is no totallyselfless good deed. In no uncertain terms, I ask if this act of volunteering, not to get all existential about it, is also a cathartic reckoning of self? “Is it helping you to close the door on your much younger, naive self who wrote impulsively on Twitter about a homeless person?” After all, we live in an age where apologies are written online, not acted out in real life. Just like my *Volunteer Medway* Column advocates, in the age of online activism, it really is about time that people are walking the walk and not merely talking the talk. Like a true politician, Lauren skirts the question impeccably by hitting me in my sweet, spot-quoting Emmeline Pankhurst, “Deeds not words.” With that out the way, she tells me that not only will she be sleeping rough, but she’ll be instructed by Medway’s answer to Bear Grylls on how to construct shelter using the bare necessities, who will also teach her survival tips. Furthermore, her station will be curated by military history enthusiasts, and expert historian Andy Robertshaw will reconstruct WW1 trenches. Lauren has seemingly agreed to take part in a mix of not only Blackadder, but Man Vs Wild. In addition, Lauren will be meeting veterans also taking part, who will be re-telling their heroic stories. Lauren and her team are [hoping to raise at least £1,000](https://www.justgiving.com/page/lauren-edwards-mp?ref=localauthority.news), with every pound that's raised going to funding practical and employment support, including providing safe homes for veterans to get back on their feet. Closer to home, these donations will help fund the [Mountbatten Pavilion](https://rbli.co.uk/mountbatten-pavilion/?ref=localauthority.news), emergency accommodation, which this past winter has faced enormous pressure. Despite having a busy schedule in London at least four days a week, Lauren says she is endeavouring to get more involved with volunteering community groups, particularly on the Stood side of the river. She continues to take part in [The Great British Spring Clean ](https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/support-our-campaigns/great-british-spring-clean?ref=localauthority.news)to keep Britain tidy. Just a couple of days after the sleep out, she’s going to take part in a litter pick with the Medway Scouts. She’s also planning to help out at the Rede Common Nature Reserve Easter event in April. On that note, we move into more personal matters, and I ask her whether she saw [my interview in ](https://www.localauthority.news/once-i-get-onto-my-laptop-im-in-another/)[*Local Authority*](https://www.localauthority.news/once-i-get-onto-my-laptop-im-in-another/), where I make it my public duty to shadow Medway MPs. I go in for the kill and ask if I can shadow her. Lauren seems keen to have my socio-political stance on all things Medway and immediately asks her assistant to arrange it. I’m thrilled, and I leave our interview imagining my time spent shadowing her will be a Medway version of Veep, Parks and Recreation, and the West Wing, three of my favourite tv shows. Stay tuned. --- #### In brief 🍺 The Prince of Ales micropub in Rainham has been awarded the [Medway CAMRA Pub of the Year](https://medway.camra.org.uk/news?ref=localauthority.news) award for 2025. 🧼 [The Sign Guy](https://www.threads.net/@liamthesignguy?xmt=AQGzuy-n8YJdvKOWYk%5FNeuoRUX90AwOQiVK%5FHD7haDSlbA&ref=localauthority.news) makes videos cleaning the UK’s dirtiest road signs. He has been to Frindsbury to make this [oddly satisfying video](https://www.threads.net/@liamthesignguy/post/DHWxhybNgGZ?ref=localauthority.news). 📜 Country Life has compiled an in-depth [history of Restoration House](https://www.countrylife.co.uk/architecture/restoration-house-rochester-the-rene?ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester. ⚓ A new report estimates that [Chatham Historic Dockyard adds nearly £28m](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent-business/county-news/tourist-attraction-s-28m-boost-to-local-economy-321565/?ref=localauthority.news) to the local economy. 👕 [Red Menswear will leave Chatham after 26 years](https://www.instagram.com/redmenswearofficial/?ref=localauthority.news) and relocate to Rochester High Street next month. --- #### A one-man show about shopping lists *Medway artist Kieran Poole of Rubbish Snooker has a new stand-up comedy show, which will be performed at Sun Pier House as part of the Medway River Lit’s Rippling Out. We caught up with Kieran to find out more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!KOPU!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1daf1da2-3f69-4896-97f3-f6ad22aa7c95_1080x1350.jpg) “This is not actually a stand-up show,” says Kieran. “It is a one-hour one-man show filled with storytelling using littered shopping lists, and I am really looking forward to it.” Kieran reassures me that, despite this clarification, there will be humour throughout. Having worked with litter to make art as part of his [Rubbish Snooker](https://www.rubbishidea.co.uk/canvases?ref=localauthority.news) project, he has also collected over 500 littered handwritten shopping lists abandoned in supermarket trolleys or baskets and “given each a short story based on its contents.” There is an online gallery of them, which can be seen [here](https://www.rubbishidea.co.uk/milkeggsbread?ref=localauthority.news). Kieran created the show after “being utterly fascinated because each list had an individual story, from the calligraphy to the endearing spelling errors to even drawings.” That wasn’t the only aspect that Kieran liked about the lists. “What they are written on is sometimes funny.” Does he have a favourite? “A sheet of kitchen roll is my favourite so far.” Sadly, snooker will not be part of the show, though Kieran says he “would love to do another [Rubbish Snooker show](https://ideastest.org.uk/projects/previous-projects/the-litter-show-live/?ref=localauthority.news) like I did with Ideas Test”. Wordsmithery’s Barry and Sam Fentiman-Hall attended that show, and “it had elements about shopping lists, and they said it would fit nicely with their wonderful literary festival.” *Milk. Eggs. Bread. will be performed at Sun Pier House on 29 March. Tickets are free but limited, so you can register to attend* [*here*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/rippling-out-kieran-poole-milk-eggs-bread?ref=localauthority.news)*. You can bring along a shopping list if you’d like.* --- #### Out to Breakfast: Falcon Cafe *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the breakfast options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to *Falcon Cafe in Gillingham*…* Opposite the Great Lines stands the Falcon Cafe, a stalwart of the Medway breakfast offering, in the former Falcon pub. It offers all the classic breakfast options you would expect. The café layout is locked in with some tables offering nice window seats to watch people doing parkrun as you tell yourself that you will definitely do it next week whilst you sip your tea, or you can sit on the slightly raised second tier. I ordered two fried breads, three fried eggs, four rashers of bacon well done and a portion of mushrooms, with a cup of tea. The server slightly panicked at what to charge for such a meal. Apparently, the extra fired slice pushed it into a higher price point. But when the food when arrived, it looked immense. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qx63!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2fc53d29-d6dc-4dd1-8fec-612375ed3a7b_1456x762.jpg) Food at the Falcon Cafe. The fried bread was delicious and mopped up the runny egg yolks into a delicious flavour sensation. The bacon was extremely crispy, like the gods intended, with the mushrooms rounding the meal off. Everything was served by friendly staff, and the café had a good atmosphere. So the next time you want to watch other people parkrun, the Falcon offers a solid option for a reliable breakfast. --- #### Accidental Death of an Anarchist at the Medway Little Theatre **Review by Anne-Marie Jordan** As rolling news feeds of recent years will attest, this revised version of Nobel Prize-winning playwright Dario Fo and Franca Rame's classic political farce (which premiered in Milan in 1970) has never felt more (depressingly) relevant, with the action taking place on the upper floors of a Metropolitan Police station following the 'accidental' death of an alleged anarchist, accused of bombing a bank. As one might expect, this production captures the frenetic pace of the unfolding events. The protagonist, known as The Maniac, veers between fun and fury in equal measure as the audience is exposed to the institutional cover-ups, corruption, and collusion at the heart of not one but two shoddily conducted judicial inquiries into the unfortunate suspect's demise. This contemporary adaptation by Tom Basden brings you bang up to date with modern-day references to Line of Duty, e-scooters and ChatGPT, as well as not shying away from referencing Stephen Lawrence and Sarah Everard, leaving you wondering if anything has changed, or ever will. Mike Dickinson as The Maniac is well suited to the play's hectic speed, with energetic facial movements and nailing the physicality the role demands. Elaine Thomas, as Superintendent Curry, made such an impressive entrance that I genuinely thought they had drafted in Alison Steadman! I also loved the rousing rendition of Bella Ciao, which kickstarted Act 2. Unsurprisingly, for such an ambitious production, the intricacy and volume of wordplay resulted in a few prompts. Still, the cast took it in their stride and effortlessly incorporated them into the evening's entertainment. By the end, while left thoroughly entertained, you are also left in little doubt as to where, unfortunately, the priorities and focus of such institutions really lie. *Accidental Death of an Anarchist is playing at Medway Little Theatre until 29 March.* [*You can book tickets via their website*](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Events this week 🧒🏻 Until 2 April [**Medway Youth Creates**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1104686918127500) // Showcase of local young artists’ work produced in art groups led by local artist Nick Ashton. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. 🪕 Fri 21 Mar - [**South Shore**](https://wegottickets.com/event/647344/?ref=localauthority.news) // Debut gig from new Medway trio featuring Rachel Lowrie, Stuart Turner, and Nick Rice. Rams Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester. Tickets £10. 🎭 Sat 22 Mar - [**Boy Stroke Girl**](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/boy-stroke-girl-2025-03-22-19-30?ref=localauthority.news) // Provocative play by Ian Dixon Potter about love in a modern world. Spotlites Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £12 🤼 Sun 23 Mar - [**UKPW Fury in the ‘Woods**](https://www.fatsoma.com/e/tg91cfhy/ukpw-live-pro-wrestling-in-parkwood-fury-in-the-woods?ref=localauthority.news) // Action packed, family-friendly pro wrestling featuring local competitors. Parkwood Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £10. 🖊️ Tue 25 Mar -[**Creative Medway Socia**](https://buytickets.at/creativemedway/1611715?ref=localauthority.news)[l](https://buytickets.at/creativemedway/1611715?ref=localauthority.news) // Connect with Medway’s vibrant creative community, meet like-minded people and hear the latest updates from Creative Medway. Chatham Town Football Club. Free. 🎞️ Wed 26 March - [**Bird**](https://lu.ma/a9hc7ui0?fbclid=IwY2xjawJJCdlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdsmZZjmsXMP93r7b3J0gy9rusCj8OsFpk22rZWZAFKQ25Hc61BmEr7HAw%5Faem%5FeH4ZHKMETlgRnrWrLCVzZg&locale=en-GB&ref=localauthority.news) // First outing for the new Electric Medway Cinema Club, with Andrea Arnold’s coming-of-age fable about marginalised lives, filmed entirely in Kent. Huguenot Museum, Rochester. Tickets £5. 🎭 Thur 27 Mar - [**Soul Food Solo Stories**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/gillingham/glassbox-theatre/soul-food-solo-stories/e-pqqdlp?ref=localauthority.news) // Immersive night of Black Heritage, with four powerful, unique stories. Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham. Tickets from £10. --- #### More Authority [The Mess Room](https://www.messroom.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) began 20 years ago when artist [Wendy Daws](https://www.localauthority.news/if-you-want-to-do-it-you-will-find/) started volunteering with the [Kent Association for the Blind (KAB)](https://www.kab.org.uk/get-support/help-advice/social-groups?ref=localauthority.news). Now, the organisation works with a broad group of people to provide various arts activities to help people explore creativity, build confidence, and connect with others. Their latest project involved a participatory programme that allowed people to connect with people and places of the past, so we went along to find out more. [The Mess Room connects with the pastThe Mess Room began 20 years ago when artist Wendy Daws started volunteering with the Kent Association for the Blind (KAB). Now, the organisation works with a broad group of people to provide various arts activities to help people explore creativity, build confidence, and connect with others. We visited the Guildhall Museum in Rochester to learn about their Mess Room Creatives celebration.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3b3a88c3-0ff2-4fc5-9e5e-af185093fc51_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-mess-room-connects-with-the-past/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*The Quiet One by These Guilty Men*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/the-quiet-one?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Twelve by the Singing Loins*](https://damagedgoods.co.uk/discography/the-singing-loins/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### The Mess Room connects with the past URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-mess-room-connects-with-the-past/ Last updated: 2025-03-20T16:58:28.000Z [*The Mess Room*](https://www.messroom.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *began 20 years ago when artist* [*Wendy Daws*](https://www.localauthority.news/if-you-want-to-do-it-you-will-find/) *started volunteering with the* [*Kent Association for the Blind (KAB)*](https://www.kab.org.uk/get-support/help-advice/social-groups?ref=localauthority.news)*. Now, the organisation works with a broad group of people to provide various arts activities to help people explore creativity, build confidence, and connect with others. We visited the Guildhall Museum in Rochester to learn about their Mess Room Creatives celebration.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!i4L9!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3b3a88c3-0ff2-4fc5-9e5e-af185093fc51_1456x762.jpg) Front, from left: Ann Bowdler, Valerie Watson, Catriona Faulkner, Eliza Mellen, Julie Clark, Sarah Muggridge, Zoe Harvey-Austen. Back, from left: Tina Ryan, Norma Benham, Brenda Singleton, Nora Chandler, Dr Jeremy Clarke, Maureen Lauder, Shona van Aswegen, Wendy Daws, Sue Carter, Matilda Flood. On floor: Cllr Douglas Hamandishe, Shaurav Rai. Photo: Gary Weston Dr Jeremy Clarke is the Guildhall Museum’s education officer. He describes the venue as a great treasure house of Medway’s history, “where that history is told through objects, but that objects are nothing without a connection to people’s lives.” Mess Room Creatives is a free 12 month participatory arts programme to connect communities across Kent, now reaching its conclusion.Co-founder Wendy Daws is really happy with how well the project has gone. “We've been working with Catriona Faulkner and Matilda Flood and Tina Ryan, leading a project collaboration with Jeremy Clark here at the Guildhall Museum and working with local Medway residents creating really exciting artwork.” The original project was led by artists Tina Ryan, Marissa Marden, and Dan Russell, who worked with the Royal Engineers Museum, Rochester Cathedral, and the Guildhall Museum. After a month of workshops, they had a mini exhibition in each of the venues. “It was about partnership working with heritage venues across Medway and then working with artists that the Mess Room hadn't worked with before to create opportunities for everyone.” _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What’s going on at MCH? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/whats-going-on-at-mch/ Last updated: 2025-03-18T20:43:42.000Z *Patients trying to access services and tests from Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) are experiencing massive disruption in doing so four months after the organisation took their IT systems offline. We’ve got more details on what’s been going on below. Further down, we have the first big batch of MP expenses in this parliament, and the numbers for Medway are relatively dull. Plus a long-awaited return to these dispatches for the former MP for Gillingham and Rainham, news in brief, and more.* --- #### What’s going on at MCH? At the start of the year, [we wrote about the ongoing issues](https://www.localauthority.news/i/154279608/mch-it-issues-are-still-ongoing) with Medway Community Healthcare's (MCH) IT systems, which were causing the business severe problems weeks after an alleged cyberattack caused it to go offline. Recently, multiple readers have got in touch to tell us that issues are still ongoing, leading to huge delays in patients receiving care that they have been referred for. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!J4t5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f390deefd-2dbd-4556-bf1e-5ae45dd65183_1492x758.jpg) MCH House in Gillingham Business Park MCH provide blood tests, speech and language therapies, physiotherapy, dementia services, diabetes clinics, heart services, neighbourhood nursing, rehab, stroke services, wound clinics, and [lots more community healthcare](https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services/a-z-services?ref=localauthority.news) services across Medway. There’s a good chance that if your GP refers you for any kind of testing or care services, you’ll be dealing with MCH. Except, there’s a good chance you won’t be able to. When given a referral letter from your GP, you are provided with a phone number to call that is managed by MCH, where you leave your details and they book you in for an appropriate appointment. At the moment, it is apparently impossible to do this. One reader said that they had been trying the number for weeks, and every time, a message is played telling them the system was still offline and MCH are unable to currently book appointments. Another reader who has been waiting for a referral for heart diagnostics since early February told us the same story. Yesterday, *Local Authority* called the number patients are supposed to use and received the same message, with no instructions provided on what to do instead. Another reader told us they managed to use another number to get through to speak to someone at MCH, who told them they were unable to book an appointment but that someone would be back in touch to arrange it. Six weeks on, this still hasn’t happened. Inevitably, this is causing a lot of anxiety for the readers we spoke to. When you need medical care, particularly to identify a potential health issue, it’s not ideal to be left in limbo for weeks on end, with no obvious solution in sight. ***Edit 19.03.25:*** MCH has responded with the following statement from Managing Director Martin Riley: > *“We are pleased to be working ‘back to normal’ with access to almost all of our systems and with all of our staff back online. We took the time required to get MCH fully back online in the safest way possible; implementing lessons learned to do all we can to prevent this happening to us in the future. We have established business continuity plans in place for when incidents occur - these cover various scenarios, including IT incidents. We made use of these business continuity plans both internally and in terms of our work with partners across Medway and beyond; to enable continued, safe patient care. While access to electronic systems was limited, staff had full access to resources to take paper notes where required and these notes are being uploaded to electronic records as part of our recovery.* > > *As a result of the incident, (where we detected suspicious activity as part of our routine monitoring), NHS England oversaw a thorough and in-depth specialist investigation. This investigation closed in late December and demonstrated no evidence of unauthorised access to patient data. We also received confirmation from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) that they will not take any formal enforcement action and that they consider the matter closed.* > > *Throughout the incident, all of our services remained open and every effort was made to minimise disruption for patients and to avoid additional waiting times. We take note of the phone message issue on our phone lines which has now been updated, however, we’ve received no formal complaints from patients who can’t access care so can’t comment on individual situations.* > > *We would like to thank all those who use our services for their patience and support. We would urge patients to contact us if they do have concerns or feedback regarding their care - they can do so via 0300 123 3444 or via* [*MEDCH.customercare@nhs.net*](mailto:MEDCH.customercare@nhs.net)*.”* *We want to speak to anyone who has been experiencing issues accessing services and appointments with MCH. If you’ve been affected by these issues, please get in touch via *hello AT localauthority DOT news*. We’re always happy to speak off the record in the first instance.* --- #### First round of MP expenses are mostly boring How much MPs can claim via the expenses system is always a fraught subject. Over the years, we’ve seen all kinds of spurious claims put through expense accounts, and while the system has been tightened up in recent years, some questionable sums still make it through. Following the General Election last year, the first significant update of the expenses register via the [Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority](https://www.theipsa.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) reveals that our three new MPs haven’t yet tried to claim anything particularly unexpected. Gillingham and Rainham MP **Naushabah Khan** has been the most frugal of the three, claiming **£8,295.69**. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!3CSk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd9b78e77-c9e3-4e3e-92d6-61c11b87e4b3_1358x826.png) The bulk of this was staffing costs, £3,000 going towards pool staffing services and £1,560 on training. Elsewhere, £2,000 was spent on casework software, something all three Medway MPs signed up for. Beyond that, it’s all pretty boring, with her office rent only running £450 per month and the obligatory stationery and venue hire costs. Over in Chatham and Aylesford, MP **Tristan Osborne** has managed to burn through **£9,614.66** entirely on office costs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!sb0K!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f075e6225-7b77-451f-8c5b-ae84b6b7de5a_1362x626.png) Given he hasn’t yet claimed any staffing costs, these are quite remarkable figures. Much of the difference is explained by getting a physical presence up and running faster, meaning he’s had more months of paying £780 to Chatham Historic Dockyard (in the neighbouring constituency of Rochester and Strood) for his constituency office. Elsewhere, he’s claimed over £2,200 for office furniture and managed to do a lot of printing. Finally, Rochester and Strood MP **Lauren Edwards** has spent **£9072.72** on office costs while again not spending anything on staffing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!k4KA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f65cfac04-454a-4d69-a44f-c310c9808d29_1384x824.png) Most of the costs here aren’t particularly eye-catching, other than perhaps spending nearly £5,000 on a website. Now, you may think that’s a lot of money for a website, and it certainly is, but it’s also hard to deny that it’s a [very nice website](https://laurenedwards.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Just don’t go looking for many mentions of Labour or any party branding on it. --- #### Uhoh, we’re covering Rehman Chishti again It’s no secret that we have been saddened by the lack of Rehman Chishti content since he lost his role as MP for Gillingham and Rainham. While he was a popular feature of these editions while he held that position, we’ve tried not to breathlessly cover his every move since he returned to being a private citizen. However, it would be remiss of us not to mention two moments of classic Rehman from this week. First is this utterly superb passage about him in the [recently released diaries](https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/simon-hart/ungovernable/9781035068791?ref=localauthority.news) of former Conservative Chief Whip Simon Hart, who recalls [Rehman’s ‘personal statement coming soon’ prank](https://www.localauthority.news/personal-statement-coming-shortly/) from last year: > *Panic sets in as Rehman Chishti \[Gillingham and Rainham\] makes a strange X announcement. ‘Personal statement coming soon,’ he says.* > *Given his first position in politics was as a Labour councillor we all assume another defection is on the cards. So, we press all of the usual panic buttons.* > *Emma starts to prep the hostile questions document. His whip is tasked with tracking him down. CCHQ does a quick by-election prep plan and we brief the PM’s team. The media is all over us so we prepare and issue a holding line. And then we wait.* > *Turns out he’s announcing his engagement. Twat. Until this moment, I was unaware that Reh had such a sense of humour.* Thank you to the not inconsiderable number of readers who sent that over to us in the past week. It’s something of an open question about whether or not Medway’s former MPs would have another go once the opportunity presented itself. While we can safely rule out Tracey Crouch making a comeback for now, it is clear that former Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst has eyes on a return. Word reaches us that Rehman is of the same mindset, believing he can sweep to victory in Gillingham and Rainham once again at the next General Election. Of course, five years is a long time to wait around, so he’s got a new venture off the ground: Rehman Chishti Leadership Academy & Strategic Advice. Yes, it is really called that. [It’s on Companies House](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/16006083?ref=localauthority.news) and everything. Rehman is offering a free leadership skills training course for students aged 15 to 18 from Gillingham and Rainham. Of course, these things aren’t without caveats. The students have to write an essay on what makes a good leader and email it to his Hotmail address like it’s 1999. Excitingly, [his website](https://www.rehmanchishti.com/?ref=localauthority.news) has also been updated to promote his new venture, and it includes some wonderful gems like his experience page listing that he was a ‘2022 candidate for UK Prime Minister.’ This is quite a way to describe [a leadership campaign announced via a windswept video in a park and ending a few days later when he attracted precisely zero support](https://www.localauthority.news/nobody-loves-rehman/). Quite what leadership advice a man who couldn’t attract even a single vote for his leadership can offer remains an open question, but we wish good luck to the 20 lucky students who get to take part. --- #### In brief 🏘️ [Proposals have been submitted to convert the former St John Fisher School building on Maidstone Road in Chatham into 11 flats](https://futuremedway.co.uk/bid-to-turn-former-st-john-fisher-school-building-in-maidstone-road-chatham-into-11-flats/?ref=localauthority.news). The plans also propose building eight houses alongside, with the remainder of the site allocated for a new Aldi store. 🚒 [Firefighters responded to reports of a ‘loud explosion’ on Medway City Estate last night](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/firefighters-called-as-loud-bang-heard-from-industrial-est-321522/?ref=localauthority.news). However, they were unable to ascertain any cause or locate any fire. 🛒 [Work has begun to renovate the southern entrance of Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre](https://futuremedway.co.uk/work-on-new-home-bargains-store-at-hempstead-valley-gillingham-gets-underway/?ref=localauthority.news). The move is part of a scheme to bring Home Bargains to the complex in the autumn. 🎱 [The former Riley’s Snooker Hall in Gillingham is on the market for £3m](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/former-town-centre-snooker-club-up-for-auction-at-3-million-321544/?ref=localauthority.news). The venue has planning permission for 57 flats, which will presumably cost slightly more than the asking price to build. 🏢 [Residents at the newly completed Victory Place in Gillingham have been left without water across repeated weekends](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-fully-expect-it-to-go-again-anger-as-tenants-suffer-re-321505/?ref=localauthority.news). The building is home to 89 households, and the issue has developer Legal and General and landlord Southern Housing blaming each other. --- #### Medway Question Time is coming soon Thanks to everyone who has already booked a ticket to our next Medway Question Time event. It always feels like a tough ask to get people to spend a weekday evening in a room for a panel discussion about the issues facing Medway, but you wonderful readers always end up coming through. A sign, if ever there was one, that we have the best readers. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NiXc!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff5b5a1cf-a2dc-4a8f-b7ba-e3fd5c598fb8_2160x1080.jpg)](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) It’s roughly four weeks until our first live event of 2025, where we’ll have a panel of significant Medway figures answering your questions. Hit the link below to book your free ticket and to submit your question for the night. [Book free tickets here](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, [we sat down with Robbie Lammas, Conservative councillor for Princes Park](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/). We discussed how he ended up representing the ward, why he no longer works in Westminster, and why he went to the US to campaign for Donald Trump in the recent election. [“I got fed up with politicians in Westminster”Robbie Lammas has been the elected Conservative councillor for Princes Park since 2021\. Steven met Cllr Lammas at his home and they spoke about why he is the councillor of Princes Park, why he no longer works in Westminster and why he was campaigning for Trump in the 2024 American election.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f902e6105-4bcf-41f6-885b-4304aad501f8_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/) Later this week, we’ll examine the impact of covid on Medway five years into the pandemic. On Friday, our regular arts and culture briefing will be with you, and on Sunday, we’ll be interviewing Tracey Bullock, Chair of Medway Rugby Club. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Can’t Make Any Promises by Radiator Hospital*](https://radiatorhospital.bandcamp.com/album/cant-make-any-promises?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Sick Scenes by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/sick-scenes?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Seems Unfair by Trust Fund*](https://trustfund.bandcamp.com/album/seems-unfair?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “I got fed up with politicians in Westminster” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-got-fed-up-with-politicians-in/ Last updated: 2025-03-16T07:02:23.000Z *Robbie Lammas has been the elected Conservative councillor for Princes Park since 2021\. Steven met Cllr Lammas at his home, and they spoke about why he is the councillor of Princes Park, why he no longer works in Westminster and why he was campaigning for Trump in the 2024 American election.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!I7CH!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f902e6105-4bcf-41f6-885b-4304aad501f8_1456x762.jpg) Cllr Robbie Lammas **Why are you a councillor for Princes Park?** Pure circumstance. It’s the classic thing of preventing entryism in all local parties, where the up-and-coming youngster is given an unwinnable ward and told, ‘don't worry, you've got many years.’ I did the unwinnable ward, Luton and Wayfield, and really wanted to win. Really wanted to have an opportunity to serve and then unfortunately Tashi *(Bhutia, then councillor for Princes Park)* sadly passed away and I happened to reside in the ward. I pretty much put my foot down and said “this is my home ward”, and at that point, because I'd worked so hard in the previous election, positioned myself. Colleagues couldn't really prevent me, to be honest. **In the last 2023 local elections, wasn't there an issue with who would be the candidates in the ward?** Yeah, there was an issue with re-selection wars that go on. They're not abnormal. I think because my now ward colleague, Alex Hyne, wanted to be a councillor as well, there was a question mark over selection. We just followed the process essentially. **Some people might not be aware that those decisions are made at ward level rather than at constituency level, with actions decided by who turns up on the night.** Precisely, and when people turn up on a night who are from out of the area and there's a planned hit job against you, it can backfire. **Your ward colleague before Alex was Gloria Opara. She was deselected for the ward.** I guess so. She's not the councillor now, but it's more she wasn't reselected. Alex Hyne beat her in the selection for the ward essentially. **There’s not an automatic right to be reselected.** No, and the argy bargy at the time was over a certain group of people assuming they had an automatic right and the reality of the system. **Why are you not a member of the shadow cabinet on the council?** Because until a couple of weeks ago, I was very busy working in London, working for members of parliament, including at one point as a special advisor. It's just an hour’s thing. There were other things I had to give up. I had to give up being a deputy chair of Chatham and Aylesford Conservatives. It's just hours in the day, essentially. **You did run for the group's leadership, after Alan Jarett, but that didn’t work out.** Well, it went... I was not successful because the vote was split three ways, and I was not successful in garnering the maximum number of votes. Therefore, my focus naturally drifted towards the national and all my efforts were focused in the national way. But you know, these votes are actually very fleeting and the coalition of support around people changes all the time. **Again, tying this back to what we were just saying about the ward, this vote was literally around the Conservative Group on the council. No one else could vote, it was just the councillors who got to make this decision.** It was the post-election elected councillors left who got to make the decision. **And some people that were involved in that are no longer part of the group.** There was a preferential system as well. There were lots of things going on behind that kind of stuff. **It's not done on the first past the post?** No, it's not. It's done in a very strange way and also people vote for different things like instead of voting for the sort of policy direction you want to take the group in, lots of people also voted for their own positions. Some for valid reasons like their past experience or what they can bring to the table. Lots of people voted in different ways for different reasons and some of those people are no longer even part of the group. **This was the vote that resulted in** [**Adrian** ](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-going-to-be-an-interim-leader/)[***(Gulvin)***](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-going-to-be-an-interim-leader/) **becoming the group leader.** Yeah, Adrian became group leader as the caretaker leader**.** He ran on the ticket of being the caretaker leader and that made sense at the time. **Why do you think the Conservatives did so poorly in the recent by-elections in Medway?** Because of the track record of the Conservatives in national government, the colossal amount of infighting, validating the criticisms of oneself. That was done by certain people in Westminster for their own ends. Also, the state of the country, the colossal cost of energy, the ridiculous prices of groceries in the shops, the state of affairs, for example, immigration. People are justifiably completely fed up. And Reform speaks to people's anger. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### From lockdown to medals URL: https://www.localauthority.news/from-lockdown-to-medals/ Last updated: 2025-03-14T19:04:02.000Z *When you think of most sporting success stories, you imagine athletes starting from a young age and with a relentless training schedule. Not all journeys are the same though, and today we speak to a Medway ice dancer who only took up the sport during lockdown and is now winning medals in international competitions. Further down, we have news of a new Medway supergroup, a restaurant that only serves one dish, we review German Donor Kebab, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### From lockdown to medals *Medway has a community of ice-based sports from ice hockey to ice dancing. We caught up with adult ice dancer Toby Forster about how he came to the sport so late and taking part in national competitions.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!IJBT!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f530b2524-c466-424b-91f1-a832372df089_1365x715.jpg) Toby Forster and Niamh Benstead Toby is keen to distinguish between figure skating and what he does. “I was doing some free skating before”, he tells me, “which is where you do the jumps, but mostly I am focusing on ice dance now.” He got into ice dance after lockdown, when he was supposed to go for a walk at Seven Sisters, but it was rained off for the third time in a row. Wanting to get fit, he went to the ice rink instead and took part in public skating. He saw the signs for lessons and “thought it would be nice to sign up, learn how to stop and then the rest is almost history.” Toby has an ice dance partner, Niamh. “She's been skating since she was young. I've always seen her in the ring. I'd been skating with someone else before that, who'd then left for a little while. It got to a point where I said to my coaches to ask her if she'd be interested in partnering.” Thankfully she was, and they have been dancing together for nearly a year and a half. Whilst Niamh had been dancing weekly for a long time, Toby had to put substantial hours in to catch up and be able to dance as equals. “There is a discipline to doing it. You've both got to start almost from scratch, because you've got to make sure you both push on the ice at the same time, the same direction, with the same amount of power.” The real basics of moving around together took time to get started and synced up. How much of ice dance does the male partner act as a power lifter while the female dancer swings around, which might be seen as the traditional view of the sport? “In our routines we would normally have one lift per programme”, says Toby. Like ballroom dancing, ice dancing traditionally has a male lead, though Toby likes to think that they have an equal partnership, with Niamh pulling him around the rink the other way. As well as putting in hours on the ice, Toby also does a weekly ballet class to help with posture, leg strength and body line. “I also do gym work as well”, he notes. They are not currently preparing for competition, so Toby can do between six and eight hours in the gym a week. “It's a lot more core strength than arm strength for lifts. You don't have to look anywhere near as big and burly. You need to be able to keep yourself upright whilst lifting and moving across the ice.” I ask what sort of dance experience Toby initially took onto the ice. “I mean just going to Casino Rooms and drinking a few too many beers”, he jokes. Toby doesn’t consider himself a particularly natural dancer. “I think Niamh had done some dance at school as well and is a more natural mover than me. I have to follow her lead and try to keep up.” They have moved away from compulsory dances translated onto ice, like foxtrots and tangos. “You have to learn all of those, but now for competition seasons they pick out a dance style. Last year was social dancing to music of the 50s, 60s or 70s. Toby and Niamh chose disco dancing on ice to [Rapper’s Delight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcCK99wHrk0&ref=localauthority.news). They work on the dances with their coaches, Gary and Sharon, who have taught at Planet Ice in Gillingham for years. “Gary had been there since the place opened as head coach. We've got four coaches to pick from. We're quite lucky we've got a family. We can get the best of different expertise, which is really nice.” Thankfully, there haven’t been any significant injuries during training, though once Toby did fall backwards, twisting an ankle that laid him up for about four weeks. “Leading into competition in November, I managed to drop Niamh mid rotating lift. She survived it completely fine. Your duty as the lifting partner is to keep your partner off the ice as long as possible.” She came down on Toby’s chest and Toby had “quite badly cracked ribs for a while”, but “nothing so bad that you can't take pain relief and carry on.” Toby competes two or three times a year and has done “fairly well.” He explains that the competition in the UK isn’t fierce in ice dance for adults, as many struggle to find the time to meet with partners and practice. A couple of years ago he went to Oberstdorf in Germany, they have a big ice training centre where they do the International Skating Union's adult championships. Toby was in the beginner class and came first. Toby and Niamh have been fairly consistent over the last couple of years, winning silver two years in a row at the European Championships. “It actually doesn't get enough notice in the UK media, but I think until we get to a point where we're in gold medals, the buzz around it is still quite minimal.” Toby and Niamh are back in training ahead of the next competition season, practicing harder lifts and working on basic skating skills together. “It's a slower pace to try new things and get a bit stronger.” They will start choreographing new programs in July for future competitions. *You can follow* [*Toby’s Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/tobyforster%5F/?ref=localauthority.news) *feed to follow his progress and what comes next.* --- #### In brief 🔋 NeuConnect are holding a community liaison event at Grain Village Hall on 20 March about [new converter stations being built on the Isle of Grain](https://neuconnect-interconnector.com/neuconnect-sets-out-busiest-year-yet-as-project-celebrates-7th-anniversary/?ref=localauthority.news). ✌️ Medway residents can [apply to close their street or road for free](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1857/applications%5Ffor%5Ffree%5Froad%5Fclosures%5Ffor%5Fve%5Fday%5Fcelebrations%5Fannounced?ref=localauthority.news) to celebrate VE Day. 🧸 Imagine Play Cafe opened at Chatham Dockside this week. [KentOnline spoke to the owners](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/there-wasn-t-anywhere-for-parents-like-us-so-we-created-the-321105/?ref=localauthority.news) about what the project is trying to do. 🏰 [The first two Rochester Castle Live events have been announced](https://rochestercastlelive.com/whats-on/?ref=localauthority.news). Following the festival days last year, this year appears more traditional, with Craig David headlining one day, and Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra another. --- #### New Medway supergroup South Shore take inspiration from our towns **by Stephen Morris** *South Shore is a new Medway super group comprising Rachel Lowrie, Stuart Turner and Nick Rice. Medway has inspired Rachel to write songs for the group to record, and somehow, Stephen Morris got access to find out more.* There is something about Medway that draws its musicians to write about the area in which they live. Elsewhere on these pages, you will find an article about the various [local landmarks that inspired the likes of Brigadier Ambrose, The Claim, and Sally Ironmonger.](https://www.localauthority.news/around-medway-by-song/) Whether the subject is something as prosaic as a set of traffic lights in Strood or as curious as a 19th century home for a millennial cult in Gillingham, Medway has a muse-like allure for those of a musical bent. Rachel Lowrie is a singer-songwriter and one such artist who has taken huge inspiration from the Medway Towns. She is particularly intrigued by the way in which the post-industrial landscape of this area of North Kent has intermingled with the river and nature. She first started writing songs on her ukulele in the mid-2010s with a thematic blend of her hometowns and family life at the heart of her lyrics. A selection of these songs appeared on ‘Home Town’*,* an EP she recorded with Jim Riley at Ranscombe studios in 2021. Here, you’ll find songs such as ‘Wayside Annie’, which reflects on the life of a troubled woman who would often be seen walking up and down The Delce in Rochester. The EP also features ‘Mother Medway’ which sees her imagine the river that gives our Towns their collective name becoming flesh and blood, a nurturing force for good. ‘Home Town’ provided a fascinating insight into the songwriter’s creative mind – one where femininity, compassion and an eye for beauty in the everyday meld together to form exquisite, deeply personal songs. In the last couple of years, Rachel’s musical focus has been directed on The Ashen Keys, a three-piece folk band with Vicky Price and Hannah Ellerby who specialise in close harmony vocals and an array of instruments (French horn, clarinet, violin, accordion, guitar, oboe and ukulele). Their album, ‘The Name on Your Compass’, came out last year with [a glowing review from Fatea](https://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/reviews/TheAshenKeys/?ref=localauthority.news). Alongside The Ashen Keys, Rachel has returned to her solo songwriting projects, enlisting the assistance of Stuart Turner (guitar) and Nick Rice (bass) in the process. Together, they are known as South Shore and the focus is, once again, very much centred around life in the Medway Towns. Rachel first worked with Stuart and Nick during the recording of Stuart Turner and the Flat Earth Society’s ‘Scowl’ album in 2017, where she added her rich, powerful vocals to several songs, including the finale, ‘Helen’, which was inspired by a plotline on the radio soap opera The Archers. The experience with The Flat Earth Society then prompted further guest appearances with The Senior Service, Groovy Uncle and These Guilty Men, together with the Pod project instigated by Chris Broderick shortly before his passing. The songs Rachel has written for South Shore use Medway as a starting point for exploring humanity – warts and all. ‘Blanche’ offers a retelling of an old ghost story involving a love triangle that ended with tragedy for Lady Blanche de Warren. It’s a song which contrasts the historic entitlement of men and the cost paid by women as a result. Elsewhere ‘Our Lady of Chatham’ returns to the landmark-made-female-flesh theme once explored in ‘Mother Medway’, this time focusing attention on St Mary’s Church, near Fort Amhurst, finding security, comfort and protection in her permanence, describing her as the “keeper of hearts.” Then, on ‘The Ballad of Rats Bay’, the songwriter engages in a conversation with the river, finding solace in the constancy of the water. “Patterns of behaviour aren’t love”, the “wise old soul” mother figure advises her, before offering the reminder that “you can change the patterns.” Though principally designed to be a recording band, South Shore will be performing a sold out gig at Rams Micropub 12 Degrees on 21 March. If you’ve already got your ticket, expect to be entranced by the blanket-like warmth of Rachel Lowrie’s lyrics and superb musicianship of the trio in their first performance. --- #### What’s the Boeuf? *The team behind the Dead Pidgeon and Greedy Banker pubs announced their new venture this week, a unique dining experience where only one item is on the menu. We spoke with Thomas Mudge, one of the people behind the project, at the former Flippin’ Frog micropub, which is set to transform into Boeuf later this month.* Boeuf is intended to be the ultimate steak and frites experience. “From the Dead Pigeon and Greedy Banker, we always want to be the best”, says Thomas. “The butcher we use is literally the best in the country”, though Thomas refuses to name them to not tip off the competition. Thomas talks about how, because he believes that while British beef is good, British butchers don’t always develop the same skills as French butchers. “Our butchers went to France, learned skills to get the different cuts. Sirloin pave isn't common in this country, but it is amazing. It's got the taste of sirloin but the texture of fillet. It literally melts in your mouth.” Through their other ventures, they developed the ‘Raising the Steaks’ burger, which included a great steak sauce. “I'm not saying we've made the whole restaurant based around the sauce.” At this new steak and frites restaurant, that is literally the only main course. “You get two servings. You pay a set price. You come in, you'll get locally made bread and some Bovril butter we've made. Once you've sat down, the chef will be notified. Your first serving of steak will come out. Then, once you finish the chips and the sauce, the second serving will come out.” If, and it’s a big if, you have any room left, they will also have desserts available. Why two servings of steak? “There are restaurants in London that do similar. We like their business model. It's a minimalist menu. This is how we serve it, this is how you have it. It seems really popular, and Medway doesn’t have that experience.” There will be minimal variation on the steak, which is served medium-rare. “They're all different sizes, and of course if people have requirements, like being pregnant or not liking it medium-rare, we will cook it well done if somebody asks.” *Boeuf will open in the former Flippin’ Frog micropub on 27 March. After that, it will open Thursday evenings, and Friday to Sunday for lunch a dinner. Given the small size of the venue,* [*booking a table*](https://boeufsteak.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *is recommended.* --- #### Out to Lunch: **German Donor Kebab** *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***German Donor Kebab***](https://www.germandonerkebab.com/?ref=localauthority.news) **at Hempstead Valley*…* Being the data fan I am, I put my lunch reviews to date into a map, which highlighted that I haven’t yet consumed a lunch in the Hempstead area. Knowing there is a number of eateries in the shopping centre, I packed myself up and began the journey out to what I am assured is a part of the Medway Towns. On arrival, I found abundant parking and ignored the inviting M&S Cafe to go to the newly opened German Donor Kebab. The website informs me that German Donor Kebab is the ‘kebab of the future’ made with prime lean meat. Much like sausages that do the same, this is not necessarily the best use of prime lean meat. Nobody goes for a kebab because it has the best cuts. Once you see the pressed meat rotating waiting to be cut, does anyone honestly think, ‘Oh, I hope that isn’t too fatty?’ Part of the fast-food revolution of removing human interaction, you order the food via a touch screen, and I took one of the few tables available. Joining people that had confusingly decided to eat donor kebab whilst sober, I ordered a donor box of mixed meat with curry fries and sliced gerkin, a soft drink, hash brown bites and some side sauces. It was all very reasonably priced. This images used to promote the box show the meat and fries side by side, allowing easy access to both. The reality that arrives is fries at the bottom with a pile of meat on top, which is fine, as long as you don’t want a fry straight away. The mixed meat was not only lean but thinly cut, and whilst I had a mixed meat, I couldn’t confidently say which meat was which. If you are looking for lunch at Hempstead Valley, the best I can say about German Donor Kebab is that it is fine. --- #### Events this week 💬 Sat 15 Mar - [**Medway Poetry Night**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/plekxwqxznrg?ref=localauthority.news) // Gathering of poetry lovers who need a space to read, perform or scream their poems.Nucleus Arts Centre, Chatham. £7 🥕 Sun 16 Mar - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🎞️ Mon 17 Mar - [**Heat**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-54252&ref=localauthority.news) // 30th anniversary screening of Michael Mann’s epic crime drama. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £6. 🤣 Tues 18 Mar - [**How to Have Fun at Work**](https://funnywomen.com/eventinfo/how-to-have-fun-at-work-4/?ref=localauthority.news) // Funny Women presents a morning of workshops, networking and a panel discussion to help you navigate today’s ever changing business environment. Ascend Coworking, Chatham. Free. 🎭 20 - 29 Mar - [**Accidental Death of an Anarchist**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news) // Satirical play poking fun at corruption and idiocy at the heart of the system. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £12. 🪕 Fri 21 Mar - [**South Shore**](https://wegottickets.com/event/647344/?ref=localauthority.news) // Debut gig from new Medway trio featuring Rachel Lowrie, Stuart Turner, and Nick Rice. Rams Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester. Tickets £10. --- #### More Authority This week, [we welcomed local gardener Stuart Bourne](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-gardens-emerge-into-spring/) to Local Authority to write about what we might need to be doing in our gardens this time of year, the kind of plants that suit our part of the world, and to talk about one of his favourite Medway green spaces. [Medway’s gardens emerge into SpringEditor’s note: As we enter Spring, our thoughts inevitably drift to the outdoors. Rainham gardener Stuart Bourne recently set up his own gardening newsletter here on Substack, so we invited him to write for us on what we might need to be doing in our gardens this time of year, the kind of plants that suit our part of the world, and to talk about one of his favourite Medway green spaces.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityStuart Bourne![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f640d65ff-c001-408a-a8fa-bb4509a45450_960x503.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-gardens-emerge-into-spring/) We also published our latest [Voice piece from Chatham and Aylesford MP Tris Osborne](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-chatham-and-aylesford-95f/). He writes about efforts to tackle antisocial behaviour and off-road vehicles. [Voice of the MP - Chatham and AylesfordEditor’s note: Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Chatham & Aylesford MP Tris Osbourne, who discusses the challenges of anti-social behaviour and off-road vehicles.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fabab9bff-63c8-406f-bd99-87bd6a043c7b_3000x1571.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-chatham-and-aylesford-95f/) Coming up on Sunday, our weekend interview is with Conservative councillor for Princes Park, Robbie Lammas. He discusses his path to becoming a councillor, his work in parliament, his recent trip to the US to campaign for Donald Trump, and lots more. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Scowl by Stuart Turner & The Flat Earth Society*](https://open.spotify.com/album/4f2qgsQXd7uQBCbzSYW5uF?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*The Earth’s Rotation by Pod*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/the-earths-rotation?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Voice of the MP - Chatham and Aylesford URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-chatham-and-aylesford-95f/ Last updated: 2025-03-13T17:21:31.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Chatham & Aylesford MP Tris Osbourne, who discusses the challenges of anti-social behaviour and off-road vehicles.* --- #### Voice of the MP **by Tris Osbourne, MP for Chatham and Aylesford** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ksTK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fabab9bff-63c8-406f-bd99-87bd6a043c7b_3000x1571.jpg) **Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour and Illegal Off-Road Vehicles: A Safer Future for Our Communities** It's fair to say there's a problem that’s been making life harder for many of us— antisocial behaviour and the use of illegal off-road bikes, e-scooters, and other nuisance vehicles causing chaos in our streets and public spaces. It’s not just about the noise and disruption, but the real safety risks that come with these reckless drivers. I’ve heard from so many people in my constituency about the frustration of seeing off-road bikes zooming through residential areas, parks, and even farmland. And this problem isn’t isolated—it’s happening across the country, and it's high time we address it. **The Reality of the Problem** You don’t have to look far to see how these vehicles are becoming a bigger issue. They are being used in parks, on the roads, and in places where they simply shouldn’t be—without helmets, no proper registration, and often with no concern for pedestrians, cyclists, or other road users. The noise can be unbearable, and the risks to everyone involved are real. But the issue goes deeper than just an annoying inconvenience. These illegal vehicles are often linked to wider criminal activities like gang-related violence and drug trafficking. So, this isn’t just about public nuisance—it’s about keeping our communities safe from crime. Last year, police recorded more than one million incidents of anti-social behaviour across the country, including a worrying rise in theft and violent crime. Our communities deserve better, and we can no longer afford to ignore the growing impact these illegal vehicles and anti-social behaviours are having. **My Plans to Help Tackle the Issue** The new Crime and Policing Bill seeks to address these problems head-on. This bill is a much-needed overhaul of our crime laws, with measures designed to give the police the tools they need to deal with issues like anti-social behaviour and illegal vehicles. Respect Orders will ensure that worst offenders will face tough consequences while immediate vehicle seizure powers can tackle repeat offenders who have been exploiting loopholes. This means the police don't have to warn repeat offenders before acting. More broadly, we're increasing police presence with 13,000 new officers, ensuring that law enforcement is visible in our communities ready to tackle these issues as they come. A great example of this already working can be found in Medway, where a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has helped clamp down on nuisance vehicles. Since my introduction of the order last year, police and safety officers have been able to take stronger action, resulting in more fines and enforcement. This has shown that we can make real progress when we act decisively. I have recently met with the police, urging them that more needs to be done to address the concerns of our community and ensure the safety of all residents. During our discussions, I emphasised the importance of proactive measures and stronger community engagement to tackle ongoing issues. I will continue to have such meetings. In Parliament, I recently attended a Westminster Hall debate on the issue of anti-social behaviour and the use of illegal off-road bikes, knowing that we must go further in tackling this important issue which affects countless people in Medway and beyond. I will also continue to stay up to date on these issues and show support for them when needed. **More Needs to Be Done** While these steps are a great start, there’s still much more to do. Anti-social behaviour has been left unchecked for far too long, and we need to make sure that the people tasked with tackling it have the resources they need to do the job properly. We can tackle this issue by increasing funding for local enforcement teams, deploying more rapid-response cameras, and imposing tougher penalties on repeat offenders. Seizing vehicles is a step in the right direction, but it's not enough - we need to ensure that those who repeatedly break the law face real consequences. At the same time, improving reporting systems will make it easier for residents to report anti-social behaviour, ensuring their concerns are taken seriously and acted upon. However, enforcement alone won't solve the problem. We need to address the root causes, especially when it comes to young people. That means investing in youth services, expanding local sports programs, and providing better job training opportunities. By giving young people positive alternatives, we can steer them away from crime and towards a better future. **Working Together for a Safer Community** The truth is, while the government and the police play a key role, we all have a part to play in making our community safer. We need everyone on board—local businesses, neighbourhood watch groups, and residents must work alongside the police to help make our streets and public spaces safer. Local councils should also have the flexibility to introduce measures that work for each community, like designated safe spaces for young people, or better street lighting. It’s also about giving communities the power to take control of their own safety. **Looking Ahead: A Safer Future for Our Community** The illegal use of off-road bikes and anti-social behaviour affects everyone. Whether it’s the noise disturbing your peace or the safety risks on our roads, it’s time to take a stand, and I’m committed to making sure we have the tools, the support, and the determination to tackle this issue head-on. Together, we can create a community where we all feel safe, respected, and proud of where we live. I’m confident that with the steps we’re taking and the support of our local community, we can make a real difference. Let’s work together to end the disruption, protect our public spaces, and ensure our streets are places where everyone can feel safe. *Tristan Osborne is the Labour MP for Chatham and Aylesford.* ### Medway’s gardens emerge into Spring URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-gardens-emerge-into-spring/ Last updated: 2025-03-12T19:20:06.000Z **Editor’s note:* As we enter Spring, our thoughts inevitably drift to the outdoors. Rainham gardener Stuart Bourne recently set up* [*his own gardening newsletter here on Substack*](https://bournetogarden.substack.com/)*, so we invited him to write for us on what we might need to be doing in our gardens this time of year, the kind of plants that suit our part of the world, and to talk about one of his favourite Medway green spaces.* --- #### Medway’s gardens emerge into Spring **by Stuart Bourne** Hello everyone, and welcome to my first gardening article for *Local Authority*. These articles aim to show you how you can turn your underused garden into a green haven from the ever-busy world, how you can start enjoying growing your own fruit and vegetables, and how you can become inspired by Medway’s gardens and parks. I will share hints and tips on what you should be doing in your garden over the coming months, highlight some interesting plants that will be on show now, and showcase the local parks and green spaces in Medway. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Strood loses out on promised Healthy Living Centre URL: https://www.localauthority.news/strood-loses-out-on-promised-healthy/ Last updated: 2025-03-11T23:03:16.000Z *Healthy Living Centres have become a key focus of community healthcare provision in Medway. But are they all they’re cracked up to be? With the utilisation of the sites low, and Strood losing out on one promised in 2017 in favour of Chatham, should we be putting all of our eggs in the HLC basket? Further down, we have news of our first Medway Question Time event of the year, an independent councillor who isn’t allowed to be a Reform councillor despite being a Reform member, B&M take on the former Homebase in Chatham, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Strood loses out on promised Healthy Living Centre £6m designated for a new Healthy Living Centre in Strood has instead been spent to deliver the new Healthy Living Centre in Chatham, despite funding initially being allocated to complete both projects. [Responding to a series of questions](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=78504&ref=localauthority.news) from Labour councillors in Strood, NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board explains how £14.5m allocated to deliver two new Healthy Living Centres in Medway will instead be used to only deliver one in Chatham instead. In 2017, NHS funding set aside £8.5m for a Healthy Living Centre in Chatham and £6m for a similar project in Strood. The board highlights that the plans were not advanced ‘for unknown reasons’. Since the money needed to be spent by 2024, the money for the two projects was pooled and spent on the flagship scheme currently under construction in the Pentagon. ![New Healthy Living Centre set for Chatham Shopping Centre - LSI Architects](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!fc0D!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd323417d-43ed-4c26-8a73-741b0b99c04d_1592x637.jpg) What the new Healthy Living Centre in Chatham will look like NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board acknowledge that Strood and the Hoo Peninsula currently lack integrated community healthcare facilities. Still, they claim cannot assess the exact need until more data from the Local Plan is released. As ever, all roads lead back to the Local Plan. Cllrs Field and Van Dyke, the Strood North and Frindsbury councillors behind the questions, highlight that the money for the centre in Strood was urgently needed given the town has ‘significant health inequalities and high levels of deprivation.’ They further raise an issue with the Gun Lane Surgery and Pharmacy in Strood, whose lease expires next year, yet it still serves over 5,000 patients in the area. Interestingly, the Integrated Care Board responds that it is unaware of any leases expiring in 2026. Strood is set to be the only town in Medway without a Healthy Living Centre, with Chatham set to join Rochester, Gillingham, Rainham, and Lordswood as the fifth location in Medway later this year. Healthy Living Centres are designed to be ‘one stop shops’ for community healthcare, providing services from initial GP consultations to assessments to minor treatments. [Another report from NHS Kent and Medway](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=78526&ref=localauthority.news) explains that the existing HLCs in Medway ‘are among Kent and Medway’s best healthcare estate, offering modern, fit-for-purpose, quality facilities’ with ‘the buildings kept to a high standard.’ While these locations seem to be at the heart of community healthcare in Medway, it appears that all may not be well within the Healthy Living Centre ecosystem. The same report highlights that the leases for the Rochester, Rainham, and Lordswood sites will expire in 2031, with Gillingham following in 2035. Under the strange legislation governing them, the NHS cannot extend these leases. As a result, the organisation is presented with two options: either purchase the buildings outright or hand them back to their owners. Neither option seems ideal in the context of providing community healthcare. The report suggests discussions are underway at a governmental level to find a third option that lets them retain the leases, but this is far from certain. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!HCzc!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbc12bc85-62b7-4997-b5a3-5f92df2b95a9_1920x1050.jpg) Rainham Healthy Living Centre However, as is often the case with labyrinthine public sector contracts, the issues in how these centres operate may run deeper. The report states that the Healthy Living Centres operate by leasing space inside them for the medium and long-term provision of healthcare services and offering short-term bookable spaces. Utilisation of the Healthy Living Centres across Medway averages out at around 40%, meaning the majority of space within them isn’t used at any given time. This is particularly problematic with the Rainham Healthy Living Centre, where 20% of the space is unable to be used ‘because there are large reception and open areas within the building that cannot be individually booked.’ Combined with ‘increases in service charges and other contractual costs relating to inflation, plus the fact that rent for these buildings also includes contributions to manage backlog maintenance', it is proving challenging to find tenants for the spaces. As a result, a number of healthcare services have exited the dedicated healthcare spaces within the Rainham centre, with some moving into the Millennium Centre community centre across the road instead. Many of these problems are microcosms of the broader issues within the NHS, particularly when relating to large-scale contracts of this nature. Healthy Living Centres provide vital services, and often, they do so more efficiently than fragmented provision which would otherwise exist. With the government pushing to move more healthcare and diagnostic facilities from hospitals to the community, there is an opportunity for these locations to be better utilised than they are now. All of which will be great for the towns with access to a Healthy Living Centre. But that list of towns will continue not to include Strood for the foreseeable future. --- #### Medway Question Time is back We’re delighted to be holding a new edition of our Medway Question Time live event next month. We ran a couple of these in 2023, but held off last year given the number of election debates we needed to put on instead. [Medway Question Time](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is your opportunity to participate in a panel discussion on the big issues facing Medway, featuring prominent Medway figures. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!CPhq!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2d96dcf5-b63b-4875-a21c-ea05720f2928_2160x1080.jpg)](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) For our first event for 2025, our panel consists of: - Cllr Vince Maple, Labour Leader of Medway Council - Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition - Dalia Halpern, Chair of Trustees at Chatham Memorial Synagogue - Richard Morseley, Chief Executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard We’ll be holding the event on **Thursday 16 April** at **MidKent College in Gillingham**. Tickets are free, but booking is essential. When booking your spot, you can submit a question for the panel to discuss. We can’t guarantee we’ll be able to ask all of them (previous events have been popular!), but we’ll do what we can to ensure the broadest range of topics are featured on the night. [Book free tickets here](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *You can learn more about Medway Question Time and* [*book your free ticket via our Eventbrite page*](https://mqt2025.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Reform vetting blocks Cllr Spalding from council group Following the recent Rochester East and Warren Wood by-election, where Reform managed to win their first two seats on Medway Council, it had been expected that the group would quickly consist of three, after independent councillor Chris Spalding announced on the same night that he had joined the party. When the Reform group on Medway Council was formed, only the two newly elected councillors were members, with Cllr Spalding remaining an independent. At the time, we were told this was because he had to undergo a vetting process. This became more stark at the Medway Council budget meeting, when Cllr Spalding remained apart from the Reform group of Cllr Finch and Cllr Vye. *Local Authority* asked Reform for clarity on the situation this week, and they told us that the party has a dedicated vetting process for defectors, and Cllr Spalding didn’t meet the criteria. As a result, Cllr Spalding appears to have been left in a sort of political no man’s land. He’s a member of Reform on a national level, but isn’t allowed to be a Reform councillor. These things never being straightforward, Cllr Spalding issued a statement to us which suggests that he doesn’t believe the party has followed the correct procedures with the vetting process and that an ‘incident’ with the current chair of the Rochester and Strood branch might have influenced the decision: > *When I joined Reform UK, I did so as “Councillor Christopher Spalding”. While Reform has a vetting process for Councillors defecting from other political groups there is no such process for Independent Councillors wishing to join. I had not been advised of any such vetting process.* > *As you are no doubt aware, on the morning of the by elections, there was an incident at a polling station involving the current chair of Reform Rochester and Strood, and myself. This was reported by myself to Reform UK the same day. After this was reported, I suddenly found myself subject to vetting as a defecting Councillor, even though I was not defecting from any other party.* > *The vetting process consisted of a half hour teams interview with a person I had never met before and who knew very little about me. Despite being told I would be advised of the outcome at the end of the interview it was not until several days that I was informed this person did not think I “would be a good fit for Reform.” I will not comment further on the polling station incident for ongoing legal reasons but for the record Reform UK has not revoked or cancelled my membership.* In the Rochester East and Warren Wood by-election run-up, Cllr Spalding posted several pro-Reform social media posts across local Facebook groups. It is unclear whether this made any difference to the outcome, but given that the party won the second seat by only 21 votes, it is at least feasible that he helped the group form but is now not allowed to join. Still, Reform is bullish about its future in Medway, believing its group will only grow. Without further by-elections, it is difficult to see where that might come from and whether Cllr Spalding will ultimately play a role in it. --- #### B&M take on former Homebase store Medway’s only Homebase store closed last month after the chain fell into administration. The Range bought many stores nationwide, while B&Q took on some others. At the time, there was no buyer for the Chatham store, but a new planning application this week reveals that B&M will be taking on the unit, with plans to adorn it with quite possibly the worst logo in retail. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!QHZB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb506a4f9-8ca9-4d3e-a268-19dfe3474b56_1736x952.jpg) Visualisation of what the new B&M store will look like B&M have plans to refurbish the store, turning it into a home and garden outlet that won’t be very different to Home Bargains, which operates on the other side of the same retail park. [Future Medway reports](https://futuremedway.co.uk/first-look-at-new-bm-store-to-replace-homebase-in-horsted-retail-park-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news) that the store will open on 6 June. [B&M has simultaneously applied for a licence](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) from Medway Council to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm every day. --- #### In brief 🏫 [Concerns have been raised over a proposed merger between Rainham Mark Education Trust and a poorly performing trust based in Deal](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/parents-worried-over-unethical-school-merger-plans-321099/?ref=localauthority.news). Parents have called the move a ‘blatant conflict of interest’, with the new acting Chief Executive of RMET also being the existing CEO of Veritas. 📚 [KentOnline have published a one-sided take on home education in Kent](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/no-one-knows-what-is-happening-with-these-children-320880/?ref=localauthority.news), talking to one former head teacher who suggests the children taken out of school could be groomed, abused, or involved in serious crime. Unsurprisingly, the home education community (Medway has one of the largest in the country) has not responded well, nor were any parents represented in the article. 🥡 [A planning application has been submitted](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SRVCAEKNITK00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) to convert Intra's former Bengal Brassiere restaurant into a hybrid restaurant/takeaway. The submitted plans do not indicate what type of eatery it will likely be. 🍷 [Sotto Lounge will open on 8 May in the Dockside Outlet Centre in Chatham](https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/food-drink/opening-date-set-new-bar-10013916?ref=localauthority.news). The bar and restaurant, which is like a slightly fancier Wetherspoons, will be open from breakfast until late. --- #### More Authority In the second of our two part interview with Medway music scene veterans and academics Kyra De Coninck and Chris de Coulon-Berthoud, we talk to them about their PhDs, their educational journeys, people that roleplay as Nazis, cadavers, and phone etiquette during interviews. [“The 1940s were not that great for my family”In this second part of a two part interview, Steven talks to Kyra De Coninck and Chris de Coulon-Berthoud about their PhDs, and their educational journeys, people that role play as Nazis, cadavers and phone etiquette during interviews.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f888f2e76-1a9e-4a4c-8f63-e1ed5bad4d94_768x402.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-1940s-were-not-that-great-for/) [We’re also launching a second title](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)! The *Kent Current* will be very similar to what we do here in Medway, but covering the wider county of Kent. We’ll launch fully next month, but you can [subscribe for free now](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) to ensure you don’t miss the first edition. [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Through Being Cool by Saves the Day*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BahGq5TJ0qc&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*House Without a View by Lande Hekt*](https://landehekt.bandcamp.com/album/house-without-a-view-2?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Weirdo by Carla J Easton*](https://carlajeaston.bandcamp.com/album/weirdo?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “The 1940s were not that great for my family” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-1940s-were-not-that-great-for/ Last updated: 2025-03-09T07:02:20.000Z *In this second part of a two part interview, Steven talks to Kyra De Coninck and Chris de Coulon-Berthoud about their PhDs, and their educational journeys, people that role play as Nazis, cadavers and phone etiquette during interviews.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!GLfe!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f888f2e76-1a9e-4a4c-8f63-e1ed5bad4d94_768x402.jpg) Chris de Coulon-Berthoud and Kyra De Coninck **You got into sports massage. What did that lead to?** **Kyra:** It led to teaching. Iran a massage clinic for quite a few years. Then I became involved in teaching massage, sports massage, in London, at various schools and colleges. Then a neighbour mentioned a part-time teaching role, which I got and became full-time. I was always really interested in chronic pain, and I was always interested in, through my patients and my clients, people who were experiencing pain when there was not actually any damage anywhere, but the pain was real. *(Chris picks up his phone)* *(whispers)* So rude, he just goes on his phone. Just for the record, my husband just started looking on his phone when I was talking about my research *(laughs)*. Then I became interested in a particular layer of the body called fascia, which is the connective tissue, almost like an extra additional soft skeleton that we have in our body, but nobody really knows much about it. It's the tissue that, if you have chicken breast, the raw chicken breast and that really thin layer on top that sometimes kind of peels off a little bit, that's the fascia around that muscle. It surrounds muscles, bones, organs, and it's all connected. There's a lot of rubbish written about fascia and particularly the fitness industry tried to catch on to it to explain their therapy. Lots of research goes on, but still not a lot is known. It's there. For example, when I first started becoming interested in fascia, I was thinking maybe I could do some research around this, and this was the very early days of Facebook. I thought, oh, maybe there's a Facebook group about fascia. And I came across this Facebook group called We Hate Fascia. I thought, that's interesting. It was a group of medical students from America, and in America, as a first-year medical student, you clean up the cadavers. You prepare the cadavers, people who have donated their body for scientific research, and they remove the skin just to expose the muscles and the organs. But to see the muscles and to see the organs, you need to cut away lots of this fascia. It's a layer that exists between the skin and the muscles. I measure it using ultrasound, and I found that it's different. The thickness in the lower back is different in people with pain, people without pain, athletes, non-athletes. I've scanned hundreds and hundreds of people. I never thought I'd do a PhD, never thought I'd be learning about mathematical modelling and that I'd be looking at analysing medical images. Never thought that I would be involved in that. Now I'm involved in helping to organise the next International Fascia Conference. **Is this why you were involved in organizing some cadavers of your own? Which was why we had to delay this interview?** **Kyra:** Is that what you said?! *(laughs)* **Chris:** You had to have a meeting about it so we rescheduled this interview… **Kyra:** I did, I did. **I wasn’t sure if I was going to come around and there would be a pile in the corner.** **Kyra:** No, no, no, in the UK, ever since the Harold Shipman case, the Human Tissues Act, rightly so, is very, very strict and you need to have a licence and you cannot, you can't just go and buy a cadaver as an unlicensed laboratory. You need to be in a medical school. I was discussing with my colleagues, the biggest part of the conference is going to be a dissection course, particularly as physiotherapists, osteopaths work with fascia, because in some people it feels very tight and very dry, in other people it feels a little bit looser. People are very interested in it, but it's not something that's part of the curriculum at medical school. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### New video game pits Dickens vs Waghorn URL: https://www.localauthority.news/new-video-game-pits-dickens-vs-waghorn/ Last updated: 2025-03-07T20:05:13.000Z *A university research project turns Medway’s unique history into a fighting video game where Dickens, Waghorn, and take each other on. We’ve been finding out more. Further down, we have details of a play at Spotlites this week that revisits the Miners’ strike, we talk to a Medway-based director whose film is topping the Netflix chart, and our Gills columnist updates us on the team’s rollercoaster season. That’s not all, as we also review Spoon in Chatham, have our weekly events guide, and of course, news in brief.* --- #### New video game pits Dickens vs Waghorn [*Medway Fighter*](https://medwayfighter.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *is an upcoming co-created video game led by Canterbury Christ Church University with input from the residents of Medway. We spoke with project lead Jon Schwochert, a senior lecturer in Games Design, to learn more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!uc1R!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f388f70f4-9eca-48ca-b8e2-393ae187c54a_1397x731.jpg) Medway Fighter is a research project led by Canterbury Christ Church University and [Electric Medway](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news), co-created with Medway residents. “We're co-creating a video game that draws attention to cultural heritage from Medway”, says Jon. “It's part of a research project. What I'm looking to explore is if engagement with the co-creation of a video game can promote cultural heritage.” Medway is Jon’s adopted home. He lives in Rochester and commutes for work to Canterbury, “I think Medway has got a huge amount to share.” Jon is a senior lecturer in Games Design, where part of his job is research. “I love practice-based research”, he notes. The type of research where an article sits in a journal that maybe a dozen people read doesn't interest him at all. “With this project, it's not just about co-creation and culture, it's also about having fun and a great experience with people around me and making something that hopefully enriches people's lives”. Jon is a 2D artist and illustrator. He worked for a year at Nintendo, and has also worked on animations and comic books. He started working at Christchurch after he grew tired of freelancing and a great opportunity arose on a course that resonated with him and his values. He started working on Medway Fighter last year and hopes to finish the project at the end of 2026, “but the project is behind schedule already.” They are looking to release the game online and via arcade cabinets, which will be “dotted around Medway, as part of the Electric Medway festival, and then hopefully find a permanent home afterwards.” Jon says he has been asked a number of times about how he came up with the original concept, “but I can't remember the light bulb moment.” He had been doing a lot of research around using innovative methods to engage people with arts and literature, for example using comic book workshops to engage people with classical literature. “I thought, why not extend that to games design and why not make a fun project that I can not only run, but also be a part of and work with people on.” As Jon mentioned, the project is behind schedule, with the biggest blockage, perhaps unsurprisingly being “time and money.” They received some funding through the university and Electric Medway received funding as well, “but right now it's a one man show” with organisational support from Electric Medway and the participation of participants in the workshops. “Well, I shouldn't say it's a one-man show, but in terms of the core team, it's me right now”. Jon spends late nights in his cellar, marking student work, preparing his semester and wondering “when am I going to get more time to do something cool on Medway Fighter?” Whilst the project is scalable, it can be completed with his university funding and his skills and abilities, the question is “how big, how fun and how cool do we want to make it?” The more funding Jon can get, the bigger the project can become, but it’s about more than that. “The greatest resource in this project is really people's participation, and people really seem to enjoy doing it and engaging with this project.” Jon has been doing arts events and community events held by Electric Medway and launched the project at Medway Rapture Gaming Festival. What actually is the game? The game is a [Street Fighter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street%5FFighter?ref=localauthority.news) style game set in Medway. There will be additional story elements where characters can explore the towns and find their opponents. “What we're doing right now is asking people to volunteer ideas for who should be in the game.” They are also seeking ideas for how the game should play, what sort of fight mechanics should be in there and in what settings should be involved. “It's crowdsourcing of ideas”, but as the workshops progress, participants will have the opportunity to make artwork for the game, as well as create code. “We've had some other great suggestions. Will Adams, the first non-Japanese samurai, is one of the most popular ones.” The prototype features Dickens versus Waghorn. Jon is currently trying to line up as many workshops as he can to crowdsource ideas, some of which will be open public workshops. “What I'm trying to do is target more niche organisations to make sure I get a broad spectrum of input into the game.” Whilst Jon values the contributions of teenagers so far, he wants to capture a broader range of ideas. “I'm looking at setting up workshops with audiences that might not typically engage with a video game workshop. We had a woman who was near pensioner age, and she brought in 10 pages of typed research that she had done just for that workshop.” There is almost a working demo of the game ready. “We have one that's close to release. I'm hoping to have it released by this summer. A small prototype.” Jon is hopeful that when the game is released next year, that won’t be the end, and further updates will be possible. “I think the way the project will live on after completion is taking what I've learned from the project and delivering that to academia, to industry, and hopefully promoting similar projects.” *If you would like to participate in the project, you can visit the* [*Medway Fighter website*](https://medwayfighter.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*, where you will find a participation form and signup to receive notifications about upcoming workshops and the progress of the game.* --- #### In brief 🎥 Former Medway student [Mdhamiri A Nkemi](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-feel-my-soul-is-validated/)’s short film Original Skin is [now available to watch on BBC iPlayer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0027mvq/original-skin?ref=localauthority.news). 🌊 [Work has begun on a new water play area at the Strand in Gillingham](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1855/work%5Fon%5Fnew%5Fsplash%5Fpad%5Fat%5Fthe%5Fstrand%5Funderway?ref=localauthority.news#:~:text=Work%20to%20bring%20a%20brand,and%20soak%20in%20the%20fun.). It is aimed at children aged 3 to 11 years old and will be open from 24 May. 🥙 [Master Kebabs in Gillingham has won the Best Regional Takeaway award](https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/24969173.british-kebab-awards-master-kebabs-gillingham-wins-award/?ref=localauthority.news) at the British Kebab Awards. This is the outlet's seventh consecutive award in the category. --- #### Play revisits the Miners’ strike *Undermined is a one-man play about the Miners’ strikes of the 1980s, and it is coming to Chatham this week. We spoke to creator and star* [*Danny Mellor*](https://dannymellor.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *about how he came to create the piece, and Ivor Riddell, President of the Medway Trades Union Council, about why Medway should be interested.* Undermined is a one-man play set during the Miners’ strike. It was originally written when Danny was at drama school as a final year piece, which he had to write, direct and act in. “The play depicts the lives of four different miners from their perspective and goes through the highs and lows and the humour and the sadness of the year-long struggle from the perspective of four Yorkshire miners”. “The strike was in reaction to the Thatcher government attack on trade unions and the closure of many different pits around the country”, explains Danny. “There were going to be thousands of job losses and hundreds of pits closing. Profitable pits that were making money.” The strikes were a reaction to miners losing their jobs, losing their pits, and then as a result of that, losing their communities. It is this feeling that Danny hoped to capture through his play. Danny wasn’t born until 1992, so didn’t experience the effect that the pit closures had. “I think for me, the interest came from when I looked at news footage and would see somewhere I knew. It was fascinating to me that once our place was on the news. It was the focal point of current affairs.” For Danny, the hardest aspect was to get the information across. “My main task was to try and translate that into a way that was interesting for an audience who didn't know anything about the strike, I had to make it accessible.” Since graduating from drama school, Danny has toured with the play and performed at the Edinburgh Fringe. For Danny, the fun part has been the experience of performing four different parts. “You've got this one character as the focal point of it, but then you've got the three other characters that help give variety.” The characters are friends who work in the pit. They're all picketing together, and for Danny, it's about bouncing between those characters. “It was really important to show all these different voices.” Danny researched for the play by watching documentaries and reading available diaries and interviews. “I can't mention everything. It's only an hour-long show”. [The Miners strike of 1984/85](https://youtu.be/aVypybLNnUo?si=0jMNeiZiMV-lyB8t&ref=localauthority.news) was much closer to home than readers may realise. “We had three pits in the Kent coalfield”, says Ivor Riddell, President of the Medway Trades Union Council. “They were among the most militant of all the coalfields.” The play has poignancy for Ivor as the day the play is being performed in Medway “is the 40th anniversary of the day Kent miners marched back to work. Two weeks after every other coalfield in the UK.” Kent didn't open up until the early 1900s. “It was quite young compared to most fields.” The county had no mining tradition or skilled workers, so the mine owners had to get workers from other coalfields. “Most of the recruits were union men, or as the bosses called them, ‘troublemakers’, that struggled to find work elsewhere”. Kent’s coalfields were heavily unionised from the start and had a reputation for tough workers. “That slowly became a tradition and reputation worth upholding.” *Undermined is being performed at Spotlites Theatre in Chatham on Tuesday 11 March.* [*Tickets are available from £5*](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/undermined?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Medway-based director’s film is a hit on Netflix [*Escape from Pretoria*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape%5Ffrom%5FPretoria?ref=localauthority.news) *is a prison break thriller based on a true story, starring Daniel Radcliffe.* [*It is now available to watch on Netflix*](https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81243687?ref=localauthority.news)*. When we discovered the director,* [*Francis Annan*](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2381441/?ref=localauthority.news)*, was living in Medway, we met with him to talk about the film.* “I think there's a slight difference between prison movies and prison break movies. They do different things”, says Francis. “When you tap into a prison break movie, you're looking forward to the juicy set pieces and them doing cool, ingenious things” Escape from Pretoria is based on a book, ‘Inside Out: Escape from Pretoria Prison’, written by Tim Jenkin, who was one of the three who escaped, so Francis worked to make the film as faithful as possible. “To the point that we actually used the same tools. It's amazing. I don't want to spoil it for anybody but he brought his chisel to set and we used that.” Pretoria is in South Africa and became the judicial centre of the country during apartheid. “It was unique because during the apartheid, if you were Caucasian, if you were white or Jewish and you were against apartheid, then you were sent to Pretoria, a political prison for white males.” There was a criminal wing and there was another wing dedicated particularly to white political prisoners. “During my research I realised that it was the only white political prison anywhere on earth.” Francis got involved in the project after he was approached by producers who had seen a short film he made. They had the rights to the book, and the author was clear that he wanted the story to be about the escape. “One of the earlier drafts that I wrote had a lot more politics, before deciding to go with the energy of the book”, a decision enforced by budget restrictions. The focus of the film is “the ingenuity of it and this idea that if you're a political prisoner, then trying to escape is a political act. It's a duty.” With Francis on board as writer-director, the film needed a star. “I had watched Dan *(Radcliffe)* in a movie called ‘Imperium’, which I really enjoyed. The producers weren’t sure because he had done comedies and odd films, and thought a thriller might not be for him.” But Francis was sure that if they offered the film to Daniel, he would go for it. “The whole team read it. They loved it. He *(Daniel)* read it in a week and said he's thoroughly intrigued by it. I met him the following week.” Francis and Daniel talked about geopolitical affairs, not the script, but the context of what it could mean to be a political prisoner “and what it would mean to be backed into a corner where incredible acts were the only option you had left.” Daniel was in. The film has now been picked up for streaming in the UK by Netflix. “A friend of mine, texted me ‘Your movie's about to come on Wednesday’”, which was the first Francis really knew about it. “On that day, I got 20 text messages saying, ‘Your film is on Netflix.’” The film was the second highest viewed that week, after the Super Mario Bros animated film, which would be quite the double bill. “The film is always relevant and current because it's a period movie. It's got its own time. Dan gives a knockout performance and everyone who watches it says it is edge of your seat. On a weeknight or a weekend, get some popcorn, it's a classic prison break thriller, but with heart to it and a message that we should try and stand up for what is right, even in the face of national opposition.” --- #### Gills! Gills! Gills! An update on their season **by Ben Hopkins** 5pm last Saturday: ‘The Last Waltz’ rings out around Priestfield. Gillingham have valiantly, if not entirely convincingly, battled to beat relegation-threatened Morecambe 1-0\. Christened by rare February sun, the hardcore fans in the Rainham End have given their most upbeat support since those long forgotten September days when it felt as if anything was possible. Perhaps we could put that staggeringly bleak thirteen games without a win down to some kind of footballing seasonal affective disorder. 10pm on Tuesday: Newport - concrete jungle where Gills’ dreams are killed off. A 3-1 capitulation feels as if Saturday had never happened. And so Gillingham return to semi-purgatory, nine points clear of 23rd-placed Morecambe. Emotionally, are Gillingham in danger of relegation? Yes, it’s hard to see where another win is coming from. But are they in danger logically? A very cross-my-fingers and pray-to-my-choice-of-deity not really. Morecambe’s form over the course of the season extended across their remaining matches would leave them level on points only if Gills lost all remaining twelve games. And even in that scenario, you’d also need a similar run from Tranmere (currently 22nd) to see Gills go down. Feasible? Yes. Likely? No. Just don’t mention Wycombe away in 2010. So we’re not in a position to experiment with ideas for next season, and barely any of the squad is both definitively in favour and likely to stay anyhow. There’s an alternate reality in which we’re already drinking margaritas on a beach somewhere hot, but the blunt truth of League Two is that you’ve got to turn up, log on and grind out. Dreaming of promotion? No, I’m dreaming of a late winner at Cheltenham after a clearance hits Robbie McKenzie’s arse and goes in. I’m dreaming of not having to get a cab from Stoke train station to Port Vale. But mostly I’m dreaming of what comes after the next 58 days, when the club is hopefully safe and this incarnation of Gillingham becomes a thousand-yard stare of a memory. --- #### Out to Dinner: Spoon *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the Dinner options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Spoon***](https://www.spoonworldbuffet.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Chatham*…* Spoon is a monolith of a restaurant at the bottom of Manor Road in Chatham. You know it’s a classy joint because they charge you to enter, and the price you pay is based on height. Spoon is an almost industrial sized all you can eat buffet restaurant, seemingly at war with a Medway population determined to challenge if they can really supply all that they want to eat. They also offer a bottomless soft drink option, which you have to join another queue to pay to get your glass. Do not consider sharing your bottomless drink, which will incur immediate wrath. I am not saying that there is a crisis of confidence with the restaurant’s core mission, or their ability to cater to the palette of Medway, but, as well as its extensive range of beige Chinese food, there is also a Sunday roast option, curries, pizza, and lots more. Across three piled-high plates, I had BBQ pork ribs, chicken satay, spring rolls, stir-fried mushrooms, salt-and-pepper chicken, chilli chicken, belly pork, duck in hoisin sauce with cucumber, Chinese chicken wings, steamed pork buns, pork in black bean sauce, noodles, and some intestinal distress. With the clock ticking, you pay for a limited time at the table, so you challenge yourself to get your money’s worth, with enjoyment of food coming a far second. There is so much MSG that your brain gets overtaken and you delight in the fried sticky goodness, telling yourself you have never eaten so good. Afterwards, you stand outside in the cold and reconsider your life choices that led to this moment. All whilst your brain wonders: ‘Can we go again?’ Spoon is a bit of an institution in Medway, with many people talking of it fondly. I remember when Spoon was really good, back when it was Cosmo, but that feels like a far cry from today. --- #### Events this week ✍️ Sat 8 Mar - [**Hidden Words**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/rippling-out-dockyard-hidden-words-text-and-art-books?ref=localauthority.news) // Join master printmaker Heather Haythornwaite and writer Sam Hall for a keepsake pamphlet-making workshop. Chatham Dockyard. Free. 🛍️ Sat 8 Mar - [**Rochester City Vintage & Artisan Market**](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket) // Stalls across the high street selling gifts, art, and handcrafted items. Rochester High Street. Free. 🎶 Sat 8 Mar - [**EP Launch** ](https://www.facebook.com/threesheetspub/photos/our-first-show-of-the-year-and-its-a-matinee-cream-soda-are-celebrating-the-rele/1221486026649476/?%5Frdr)// Cream Soda are celebrating the release of their EP, With Rhino Tranq, Vinyl Glass and Dockyard. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Matinee, £3 📖 Sat 8 Mar - [**Fourth Coast II**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1828731134549619/?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[]%7D) // Big Trouble returns with a second installment of readings and conversations, with Maggie Harris, Philip Kane and Jessica Taggart Rose. Unitarian Church, Chatham. Free. 🧱 From 8 Mar - [**BrickWrecks: Sunken Ships in Lego Bricks**](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/brickwrecks/?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition featuring large-scale shipwrecks of real ships made from Lego. Chatham Historic Dockyard. Tickets £28.50 (includes Dockyard entry). 🙋 Tue 11 Mar - [**Undermined**](https://dannymellor.co.uk/undermined?ref=localauthority.news) // Danny Mellor’s one man play about the 1984 strike by the National Union of Miners. Spotlites Theatre, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🐌 Tue 11 Mar - [**Memoir of a Snail**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-53846&ref=localauthority.news) // Beautiful and heartbreaking animation from the Oscar winning animator Adam Elliott. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £6. --- #### More Authority MidKent College is undergoing an extensive programme of works to ensure that both of their campuses are carbon neutral by 2030\. It’s an ambitious plan that is causing changes throughout the organisation. We’ve been finding out more about what’s been going on. [MidKent College aims for zeroMidKent College is in the process of extensive works that should make both of their campuses achieve net zero by 2030\. Steven went to the Gillingham campus to meet Martin Peat, the Executive Director for Finance and Estates, who is leading the charge for sustainability within the organisation, and Warda Ahmed, Sustainability Officer at the college, to learn more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7cd4b2f3-5760-412d-8287-de15a11b360a_2330x820.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/midkent-college-aims-for-zero/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) Medwayish works with local creatives to create great products that celebrate Medway. Subscribe to our newsletter and you’ll be first to hear about new product releases, [Kickstarter campaigns](https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/medwayish/created?ref=localauthority.news), and other exciting news. [Click here to subscribe](https://medwayish.substack.com/subscribe). You can also follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Medwayish/) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/medwayish/?ref=localauthority.news), or visit [Medwayish.com](http://medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) to see everything we’ve launched so far. --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Baroque Anxieties by Little Storping in the Swuff*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/baroque-anxieties?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*It Hurts Me Still by Juju Claudius*](https://open.spotify.com/album/2GeCuPwJ1MiEOqwcZheZbe?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### MidKent College aims for zero URL: https://www.localauthority.news/midkent-college-aims-for-zero/ Last updated: 2025-03-06T13:59:51.000Z *MidKent College is in the process of extensive works that should make both of their campuses achieve net zero by 2030\. Steven went to the Gillingham campus to meet Martin Peat, the Executive Director for Finance and Estates, who is leading the charge for sustainability within the organisation, and Warda Ahmed, Sustainability Officer at the college, to learn more.* [MidKent College Zero](https://www.midkent.ac.uk/about-us/strategic-priorities/zero?ref=localauthority.news), as the organisation is terming it, is the target to be carbon neutral by 2030\. Martin explains how the college measured their carbon footprint about four years ago and “found it was about 4,400 tonnes of carbon being produced net each year” across their Gillingham and Maidstone campuses. The biggest undertaking of the project is the one that is the immediate focus, “which is to basically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, i.e. gas, and then produce as much electricity as we can on site.” The intent is to buy any additional electricity needed from a green, renewable energy source. A significant part of this is finding alternative solutions to their gas boilers. “That will reduce our carbon footprint by 70% alone”, says Martin. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!iT1M!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f75d4b1c2-234f-41a5-a311-1aba4fdb18b9_1920x1080.jpg) Some of the sustainability work being done around the MidKent College campus. I ask him how such a large and potentially expensive project came about. “Our chair of governors at the time, Martin Cook, basically challenged the college. He asked what we were doing about the green agenda. It was the same time that our funding body from the Treasury issued out the Further Education Climate Action Roadmap.” It seemed feasible that the government would help fund some of that work “because, as you know, most further education colleges don't have any money at all.” _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Innovation Park plan abandoned after £33m spent URL: https://www.localauthority.news/innovation-park-plan-abandoned-after/ Last updated: 2025-03-05T11:11:18.000Z *In a competitive field, could Innovation Park Medway be the biggest folly Medway Council has embarked on? After years of work and tens of millions spent, the project to bring 3,000 high-tech jobs to Medway looks set to be abandoned. We look at what’s happened and what’s planned. Further down, we have news of a difficult inspection for Medway Hospital’s emergency care, details from Medway Council’s budget meeting, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Innovation Park plan abandoned after £33m spent Medway Council is finally set to walk away from one of its biggest follies, with the Innovation Park Medway project around Rochester Airport morphing into something far more mundane. After spending more than £33m on the project that was supposed to bring 3,000 high-tech jobs to Medway, reality has seemingly bitten after no tenants could be found for the site. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!1tWm!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2055e490-feb2-4f30-a238-228a447cd896_1711x896.jpg) What Innovation Park Medway was supposed to look like. The project, which started under the previous Conservative administration, and paused last year by the current one Labour one, has seemed doomed for some time, with the only real debate being what should be done with the site instead. In a [report being presented to Medway Council’s Cabinet](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=78447&ref=localauthority.news) next week, a new plan is finally being offered to try and salvage things. The northern part of the site will be switched to industrial and mid-tech units, while the southern site is to become a care home and retirement units. Happily, the latter part should help fulfil Medway Council’s desire to build a new care home on their own land. Perhaps less happily, quite how many people want to live with a dual carriageway on one side and an airport on the other is another. The report states that the new plan will require an additional £2m in funding. However, this is lower than the amount already allocated for the project, meaning Medway Council will be able to claw back some of the roughly £60m that was supposed to be spent on the project. Even this new plan is unlikely to move anytime soon. The site is subject to a Local Development Order, and any deviation from it requires a consultation with stakeholders, which Medway Council says could take up to a year. The site's complex geography means it partly crosses into Tonbridge and Malling Council, so they must also withdraw their Local Development Order. The new proposals are not without risk, either. The report doesn’t seem wholly confident in the care home proposal, offering a backup plan of mid-tech on the southern site if it isn’t viable. Further, given the project's changed scope, the risk register sets out an ‘unlikely’ but ‘catastrophic’ scenario in which external grant funding is pulled back. This would amount to £11.6m that Medway Council would be obliged to return. Speaking to KentOnline today, former Medway Council Leader Alan Jarrett said that the current Labour administration had “ruined” and “mismanaged” the scheme. A statement from Cllr Harinder Mahil, Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, set out the administration's position. He highlights a February 2024 BBC Radio Kent interview with Alan Jarrett, who claimed that the first aim of the project was to ‘ensure the longevity of Rochester Airport’, offering a scathing assessment of the scheme: > *"When we decided to pause and take stock of the work at IPM last year, it was interesting to hear the former Conservative Leader of Medway Council, Alan Jarrett, on the radio saying that the first of his two aims for this project was to ‘ensure the longevity of Rochester Airport - which we’ve done’. In no way do we view this as a priority for the people of Medway, and if saving an airfield was the main focus of the previous administration, which they already thought they had achieved, it is no wonder the project was failing.* > > *At the point of taking over Medway Council, we discovered there were no serious proposals from businesses to move onto the site. We have taken all reasonable steps to understand what has the best chances of delivering solutions at IPM which will work for the people of Medway. The next steps, as laid out in the cabinet papers, show that our preferred route is for a care home for the southern site to help meet the ever-rising demand for support here in Medway, and a slightly less restrictive home for businesses than originally proposed for the northern site."* Years of work and tens of millions of pounds later, Innovation Park Medway might finally be moving toward its final form. Unfortunately, that final form does not promise the high-tech, high-skilled jobs of the original plan, instead morphing it into the sort of industrial estate we already have all over Medway. --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Medway Hospital emergency care ‘requires improvement’ One year after the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected the emergency and urgent services at Medway Hospital, [the report on its findings](https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/RPA02/reports/LAP-01367/urgent-and-emergency-services?ref=localauthority.news) has been published, and it paints a pretty bleak picture. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!nIc1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2f9960cb-ae66-45a3-9af8-2c7e92346c35_1516x896.png) Ratings from CQC inspection of Medway Hospital’s emergency care. The February 2024 inspection was conducted in response to concerns about patients' safe care and treatment. It found that all areas other than leadership required improvement, with safety receiving an inadequate rating. The report identifies a litany of problems in the way emergency and urgent care is provided: > *The service did not protect the privacy and dignity of patients.* *Patients experienced long waits in the department before admission to an inpatient bed.* *The environment within the emergency department was not suitable for the number of people being accommodated and staff did not have clear policies to support them to provide safe care to patients in non-designated care areas.* *The service did not ensure there were enough suitably qualified nursing staff to provide safe care and treatment to the number of patients in the department.* *The service did not manage medicines well and patients did not always receive their medicines on time.* *The service did not ensure all incidents were reported and acted on.* *Some staff described a poor culture, with staff fearing reprisal for raising concerns and senior leaders not focused on patient care.* After the inspection, the CQC issued Medway NHS Foundation Trust a Warning Notice requiring them to significantly improve the service. Following the publication of the report today, Jayne Black, Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, [said that the organisation](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/care-quality-commission-report-published-following-february-2024-inspection/?ref=localauthority.news) was ‘very sorry’ for the level of care found in the report: > *“We are very sorry that despite the best efforts of our hard-working staff, at the time of the last February’s inspection the inspection team found that our care fell below the standard that everyone should expect in their time of need.* > > *Over the last year we have made significant improvements so that patients attending our Emergency Department are treated sooner, are cared for in areas more suitable for their needs, and receive appropriate and compassionate care.* > > *We recognise there is much more for us to do, particularly to reduce delays for patients waiting to be admitted to a ward, so that every patient receives the high standard of care that we aspire to provide.* > > *Staff throughout the hospital continue to work tirelessly, together with our ambulance, community and social care partners, to reduce delays and improve care for all for patients attending our Emergency Department.”* The trust has also highlighted that wait times have significantly decreased since the report, ambulance handovers are faster, there is new capacity in the hospital, and patient feedback has improved. Of course, it remains unclear how much progress has been made in the year since the inspection regarding the issues directly raised by the CQC. It will likely take another inspection to establish whether the required changes have been made to improve the department's rating, but it appears at least some metrics are moving in the right direction. --- **We’re launching a second title!* We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll bring the sort of journalism *Local Authority* provides to the rest of Kent with the launch of the *Kent Current*. It’ll launch in earnest in April, but make sure you* [*subscribe for free*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) *to be the first to receive our new dispatches from across the county.* [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Medway manages to pass a balanced budget Medway Council managed to set a balanced budget last week, albeit with large amounts of borrowing via Exceptional Financial Support from the government to make the numbers work. The council spent four hours discussing the budget and a few other issues. Many councillors once again demonstrated how much they like the sound of their own voices as they reiterated the same points others had made earlier in the meeting. You can read [our live coverage from the night here](https://substack.com/chat/449066/post/3ca9bd77-ae63-4dcc-8734-bee9cfceb5dc?ref=localauthority.news), or if you really hate yourself, you can watch all five hours here: The highlights: - Medway Council Leader Vince Maple (Lab) introduced the proposed budget for the year in a 30-minute speech that often discussed how much better Medway is under a Labour government. Throughout his speech, his microphone continued to cut in and out. - One big budget cost is a 5% pay uplift for council staff. This is intended to encourage recruitment and retention and reduce the need for temporary staff. - There was an inevitable u-turn on councillors receiving a discount for Medway Council leisure centre memberships alongside council staff, as proposed by the Employment Matters committee. As a result, the Chief Executive on £170k will now receive the discount, but councillors on allowances of £12k will not. - Cllr Maple was effusive about the extra investment in council services, the work being done on the Ascend coworking space in the Pentagon, and the healthy living centre in the same building, which is due to open later this year. - Cllr Maple isn’t usually one to pull last minute rabbits from the hat, but he suddenly found £50k to fund VE and VJ Day celebrations this year. - Leader of the Opposition George Perfect (Con) described the borrowing to keep Medway afloat as “not sustainable” and “total madness.” - Cllr Perfect criticised parking charges increasing by up to 47%, and other charges increasing across the board. - Leader of the Independent Group George Crozer highlighted positive moves the council has made, but raised concerns about the level of borrowing to do it. - Leader of the new Reform Group David Finch said that his group was “conflicted” by the budget, applauding the efforts to raise revenue, but criticising the 5% increase in council tax. - The Conservative Group put forward an amendment to save £6.9m from the budget by cutting the staff pay increase to 2.5%, making redundancies, delaying Children’s Services aiming for an Outstanding rating, and more, while improving school holiday clubs, reinstating free swimming for children and older people, and introducing 30 minutes free parking at some car parks. - Cllr Murray (Lab) described the proposal as a “fantasy amendment”, saying some of the things were already happening, concluding it was “a load of old rubbish.” - Cllr Howcroft-Scott (Lab) escalated matters by accusing the Conservatives of spending more on cruises than social care, launching into a tirade about their “fast cars and lovely suits” before calling them “blinkered” and “sad”, finally saying that the covid inquiry will likely investigate them. Cllr Perfect (Con) asks her to withdraw or substantiate the claim. She refuses, but Mayor Nestorov (Lab) takes no action. - Cllr Spalding (Ind) said that neither side in the debate is blameless for the state of things, both sides could be better, but that he welcomes anything that helps Medway recruit and retain staff. For the second year running, Cllr Spalding could not vote on the budget as he is in dispute with Medway Council over unpaid council tax. He alleges that his landlord was responsible, while Medway Council disagrees. - Cllr Pearce (IndGroup) supported the staff pay increase but suggested that those at the managerial level or above should be excluded due to the state of the finances. - Cllr Lawrence (Con) said he thought there might be some intelligent comments from the Labour benches, but accuses Cllr Murray (Lab) of adding “no value” to the debate, and says if he ran his business like Medway Council, he’d be bust. He tells Cllr Spalding (Ind) to “pay his council tax”, eliciting an angry response. Cllr Lawrence claims he is merely pointing out that there is £29m in outstanding council tax due in Medway. - Only Reform supports the Conservatives in their amendment, meaning the amendment is lost 36 votes to 20. - The Independent Group proposed their own amendment which would remove £874,000 due to be spent on marketing and devolution preparation. They propose to put that money into free swimming, free parking at country parks, a return of the Dickens and English Festivals, plus some money for potholes and rights of way. - Cllr Maple (Lab) described the amendment as “well meaning”, but Labour couldn’t support it. Only Reform supports the Independent Group in their amendment, meaning it loses 49 votes to 7. - Returning to the main budget debate, Cllr Lawrence (Con) describes the proposed budget as a “dereliction of duty” before going on about socialism. Cllr Gulvin (Con) refers to Chancellor Rachel Reeves as ‘Rachel from accounts’, and is immediately accused of misogyny by Cllr Browne (Lab). - After seemingly every single Labour councillor spoke to make the same points, the budget is eventually passed 32 votes to 25, Labour receiving support from independent councillors Shokar and Hubbard, as well as Independent Group Leader George Crozer. And with that, Medway has a budget for another year. It wasn’t the only thing on the agenda though, even if it took most of the time. Elsewhere: - Cllr Maple (Lab) used his Leader’s Report to express his unhappiness about Kent and Medway being passed over for devolution. Cllr Perfect (Con) agreed, saying he was “stunned” that devolution was “snatched away” from us, calling the reasons behind the decision as “utter nonsense.” He went on to blame Labour as they are in control at all levels of government. - A new Mayor and Deputy Mayor were selected for the coming year. As Medway has returned to the old points based system, the opposition Conservative Group will get to hold the roles next year. As a result, Cllr Trevor Clarke and Cllr Wayne Spring were chosen for the respective roles, which they will take up in April. Speaking to *Local Authority* after the budget meeting, we asked Medway Council Leader Vince Maple what residents will get for their 5% rise in council tax. He told us it was more about “defending what we have,” highlighting the retaining of weekly bin collections, bulky waste collections, and some leisure centre membership costs being frozen. “I recognise that a huge proportion of our spend is often on a small proportion of Medway residents, and most people would accept that’s okay”, pointing towards the large amounts of money spent on things like adult social care and children’s services. Cllr Maple acknowledged that “really difficult choices” had to be made to pass a balanced budget. He accepted that “this isn’t a long-term strategy, but it is getting us through this difficult period.” He pointed out that 30 councils across the UK are in a similar financial position, but he believes the upcoming multi-year settlement for local government funding will reduce their pressures. We’ll find out in the coming months whether or not he’s right. --- #### In brief 💷 [The government has announced £1.5bn in funding for 75 places](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/plan-for-neighbourhoods-prospectus-and-tools/plan-for-neighbourhoods-prospectus?ref=localauthority.news#eligible-local-authorities) most likely to become ‘left behind’ towns over the next decade. Nowhere in Medway met the criteria, with Ramsgate being the only town in Kent to receive anything. 🏪 [Tesco have resubmitted a licence application for a new Express store in Rochester](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news). Last month, they withdrew a previous application at the last minute after residents complained about how long they would be able to sell alcohol for. 🏗️ [Aldi has withdrawn their planning application to demolish the former St John Fisher School building ](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SR615TKNIQM00&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news)on Maidstone Road in Chatham. It is unclear what this means for the future plans for a new store on the site. 🏘️ [Medway Council is set to approve a new development east of Hoo](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=78494&ref=localauthority.news) consisting of 134 homes, commercial/retail spaces, a cafe, a nursery, and open spaces. Eight letters of objection were received to the plans. 🚄 [The Mayor of London has reiterated a desire to take over the operation of Southeastern trains](https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/mayor-of-london-eyes-great-northern-and-southeastern-rail-takeover-79456/?ref=localauthority.news). It’s unlikely to happen anytime soon, but it’s quite a lofty aspiration that could make a significant difference for rail travel in Kent. 🎙️ [Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards appeared on the Kent Politics Podcast last week](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/mp-speaks-out-for-first-time-since-offensive-tweet-storm-320744/?ref=localauthority.news). In it, she talks about her ‘shock and disbelief’ when old tweets she posted about Estonians, elbowing homeless people in the ribs, and ableist slurs came to light. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, we sat down with Kyra De Coninck and Chris de Coulon-Berthoud to discuss their experiences in the Medway music scene and lots more. Our conversation was so expansive that it had to span two editions, with the second part coming this Sunday. [“You make it sound so romantic”In this first part of a two part interview, Steven went to the home of married couple Kyra De Coninck and Chris de Coulon-Berthoud to discuss their names, playing the bicycle wheel, what happens when you are in band of girlfriends when the relationships end, and in a first, a geek empowering love story. Our conversation was so expansive that we’ve had to split it over two editions.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f003418de-8eab-4d08-9a1a-9ab44e5414dd_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/you-make-it-sound-so-romantic/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *Want to contact us? Email *hello AT local authority DOT news* with stories or tips. We’re always happy to talk off the record in the first instance.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Sentimental Scum by Suzie True*](https://suzietrue.bandcamp.com/album/sentimental-scum?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*All Hail West Texas by The Mountain Goats*](https://themountaingoats.bandcamp.com/album/all-hail-west-texas-remastered?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*All Hell by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/all-hell?ref=localauthority.news) ### “You make it sound so romantic” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/you-make-it-sound-so-romantic/ Last updated: 2025-03-02T07:01:32.000Z *In this first part of a two part interview, Steven went to the home of married couple Kyra De Coninck and Chris de Coulon-Berthoud to discuss their names, playing the bicycle wheel, what happens when you are in band of girlfriends when the relationships end, and in a first, a geek empowering love story. Our conversation was so expansive that we’ve had to split it over two editions.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yp70!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f003418de-8eab-4d08-9a1a-9ab44e5414dd_1456x762.jpg) Chris de Coulon-Berthoud and Kyra De Coninck. **Please spell your name for the record.** **Kyra:** It's K-Y-R-A. Next word, D-E. Next C-O-N-I-N-C-K. Kyra De Conink. **Chris:** C-H-R-I-S-T-O-P-H-E-R small d-E C-O-U-L-O-N B-E-R-T-H-O-U-D. Christopher de Coulon Berthoud. **Kyra:** Are you just Chris? You don’t have to be Christopher. **Chris:** It can be Chris, sorry. **Kyra:** Nobody calls you Christopher. Sorry, I should not disagree even with the name. **Are you known by any other names?** **Kyra:** *(deep breath)* A really long time ago, Kyra Kalida. **Chris:** Kyra La Rubia **Kyra:** but that's a long long time ago. **You both have de in your names. Is that coincidental?** **Kyra:** That's purely coincidental. **Where were you born?** **Kyra:** I was born in Belgium. **Chris:** I was born in Canterbury. **What's the history of your surname?** **Chris:** It's part Huguenot, part Swiss. The de Coulon’s were, in the 19th Century… **Kyra:** *(giggling)* I’m sorry. **Chris:** [Neuchâtel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton%5Fof%5FNeuch%C3%A2tel?ref=localauthority.news) refused to levy a militia in the [Sonderbund War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonderbund%5FWar?ref=localauthority.news) November 3 to November 29 1847\. It was the Protestant and Catholic Swiss fighting each other, a 12-day war. Afterwards, Neuchatel faced very heavy fines, because of the way Switzerland was confederated. The Coulon’s were a wealthy mercantile family. It would have pretty much bankrupted Neuchatel, all the public buildings would have had to be sold off. Paul Coulon paid it all off out of his personal fortune. So the Prince of Neuchatel, who was [Ludwig of Bavaria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig%5FI%5Fof%5FBavaria?ref=localauthority.news), ennobled them. That's why it's a small d. That was something I didn't really know about. **Kyra:** Because my name is with a big D, I'm not aristocratic at all. But his is with a small D. It means that theirs is aristocratic. **Chris:** That's a kind of aristo convention. It was your dad who mentioned that because I hadn't done family history at that point. “Blue blood, eh?” **Kyra:** I think I mentioned that to you as well, but you'd forgotten. **Chris:** The Berthoud part, Huguenot family from Southern France. Ended up in Switzerland in merchant banking. That all went tits up in 1911, after investing heavily in South American railway bonds. Hence, I live in this degraded state. **Kyra:** I'm the granddaughter of communist revolutionaries in Belgium. And he is the great-grandson of bankers, basically. **What brought you to the Medway Towns?** **Kyra:** I fell in love with an English man called [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/). I'd met him in Brussels and thought it might be good for my English to come over for six months. 37 years later, I'm still here. **Chris:** I've always had a sort of link to Medway. My brother went to art college here. He knocked around with Tracey Emin and through that, knew Billy and moved into 107 Rochester Street, which was the cool house. I would come up for parties and go and see The Milkshakes and stuff like that. Later I had been married, and that didn’t work out, and Kyra had been in a relationship and that hadn’t worked out and we… **Kyra:** We got together when email first started. I remember that we had like an AOL.com account. Nothing wrong with that. We just used to exchange these fantastic emails, which was a very new thing at the time. **How did that start?** **Kyra:** Well, he was my customer. I mentioned this to someone. **Chris:** Yeah, I think you need to clarify. **Kyra:** *(laughs)* He used to come to the gigs and used to buy records and books, so I knew his name. He was in my Rolodex. **Chris:** I still have every one of the first releases of the Hangman Records. A complete set, until Billy started releasing them again. I’ve got like the first 52, and I would do things like, ‘32? There was a gap in the catalogue numbers’. I would message saying ‘I noticed there isn't a…’ **Kyra:** He was basically a really annoying customer, and he would come up at gigs saying ‘Have you got the lemon vinyl, instead of the orange vinyl?’ He was one of those. Then we somehow started talking about films. **Chris:** We'd meet in London. **Kyra:** I was heavily pregnant at the time, thinking I would never meet anybody. Nobody's going to want to be with me, who's pregnant with somebody else's child. **Chris:** We would have these relatively elaborate dates, which would involve, you think of a country, you try and wear something from that country, a piece of poetry from that country, see a film from that country and then go for something to eat from that country. Which we did a few times. **Kyra:** But it was like with a group of friends. It all felt like this funny thing that we would do and then I think gradually everybody got sick of it. It was too difficult to find a piece of clothing. But because he's such an avid collector, of course he would have a scarf from Mongolia or of course he would have a hat from Montenegro and he would know where to go, to see films from which country and then we were basically the two left over from that group. **Chris:** You make it sound so romantic. **Kyra:** It was, it was really romantic. **Chris:** She was pregnant and homeless, and he was the last man standing. **Kyra:** *(laughs)* **What you are telling me is that you are the geek zenith. You met somebody you were a fan of, bothered her with your hyperfixations, and then married her.** **Chris:** Yeah, I know. It sounds so lovely. **Kyra:** I know, it sounds so bad. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Can Medway become a construction skills leader? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/can-medway-become-a-construction/ Last updated: 2025-02-28T21:46:17.000Z *The UK needs more construction workers, but a shortage of teachers is making it difficult to provide them. Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan recently raised the issue in parliament, so we’ve been finding out more about the efforts to make Medway a construction skills leader. Further down, we meet an artist who has made a tiny Medway landmark, learn about a Man or Bear workshop, a Medway gardener eager to share advice. If that wasn’t enough, we review Cheers Pizza, have our weekly events guide, and of course, news in brief.* --- #### Can Medway become a construction skills leader? Last year, following Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan's visit to the Construction course at MidKent College, principal Simon Cook called on the Government to [invest in bricklaying teachers](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy09dkg5nk0o?ref=localauthority.news). In a week when it was reported that Labour’s housebuilding pledge was at risk [due to a shortage of bricklayers](https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/labour-s-1-5m-new-homes-pledge-at-risk-as-uk-short-of-25-000-bricklayers/ar-AA1zCrDh?ref=localauthority.news), is it possible that Medway could become a skills leader for the construction industry? Last month, Naushabah [raised the issue in parliament](https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-01-15/debates/2C407C0A-FCAF-40D4-873B-1AF03BB06C42/details?ref=localauthority.news#contribution-158008C1-E0A4-4803-9599-3405ADD4F9CF) during Prime Minister’s Questions. She asked him to set up a meeting with the Skills Minister to discuss the recruitment challenges that colleges like MidKent are facing. Speaking to us following the question, the MP first described how the question came about following her visit to the college. She describes the colleges as “a really important part of Medway, and where I got to try a bit of bricklaying. It was good fun, and I met some great students.” One concern that was raised at the time of the visit is that while there are lots of Medway residents who want to participate in the course, the college does not always have the capacity of teaching staff to meet the demand. “I'm very aware that the government's got a massive agenda around house building and I think it's really important”, the MP says. Naturally, a lack of workers with construction skills would put that agenda at risk. She is also keen to see a revival in Gillingham’s local economy, and thinks these things can go hand in hand. “How do we make sure that young people are getting the opportunities they need in terms of what the future of this country looks like?” Part of her vision for the area is to build a workforce that will be building the homes of the future. “It would be great to say, look over there, that was built by Tom or Jennifer who grew up in Gillingham, went to college here, got construction skills here and now part of the future drive for this country.” The Prime Minister responded positively to Naushbah’s question on the day and agreed that a meeting with the Skills Minister would occur to discuss the situation in more detail. For the politics geeks, this was Naushbah’s first PMQ question, and it’s clear that she is still excited by the moment. “I think maybe if it helps some of the politics geeks amongst the readers, because I am one, to know it is really hard sometimes to get called in the chamber because you have to sort of put a bid in. From that you get balloted. Some weeks you might get picked and other weeks you won't. I put in a couple of times because I've been wanting to ask this question for a while.” MidKent College Chief Executive [Simon Cook](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-is-the-most-amazing-and-the/) supports the issue being raised. “For our government to deliver its house building ambitions, we need a skilled workforce. Naushabah has rightly raised the question of how our government is investing in skills to help ensure we have enough skilled teachers to train this workforce. MidKent College is proud of its Construction skills training and delivers training to thousands of students every year. However, recruitment of good teachers in these areas is a significant challenge across the UK.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!A0sp!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdfe8c78f-18a3-40af-9c38-41b4ddeb03b6_1530x801.jpg) MidKent College Chief Executive Simon Cook, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith, Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan, and Strategic Director of Kent Further Education, Jonathan Shaw. Three weeks after that PMQs, a meeting was held with the Skills Minister Jacqui Smith MP where Naushbah, Simon, and Strategic Director Kent Further Education [Jonathan Shaw](https://www.localauthority.news/i-had-my-appraisal-with-the-electorate/) got to make their case directly. “It was a really helpful conversation”, says Naushbah. “MidKent, in fairness to them, have already been doing quite a lot of work in terms of speaking to the government about the skills agenda. This was an additional layer. I think they've got some really good ideas around how they model this and how they deliver more corporate style contracts, like they already do with the Royal Engineers.” The Skills Minister was interested in discussing this way of working, as well as the college’s general teaching programme. “There is a roundtable that's been set up to take this discussion a bit further, as well as a conversation around what the challenges are in recruitment and I know the government are taking it quite seriously in terms of trying to address some of those challenges.” Naushbah explains how it is quite easy to find people who've worked in construction for a number of years, but whether they then want to go into a teaching career and the challenges that come with that is a different matter. Jonathan Shaw spoke to us following the meeting with the Skills Minister, “we really appreciate the ongoing support for the College and our work to promote skills training opportunities for young people. We had an excellent meeting with the minister, Jacqui Smith, and it was encouraging to hear her positive outlook. We’re looking forward to the release of the new post-16 skills strategy later this year. We expect the issues raised by Naushabah to have made a real impact, and we’re hopeful that we’ll see the changes needed to equip young people with the skills to help drive growth in Kent and Medway.” She is under no illusions that this will be a fast or simple process, but she feels confident that the right people are talking about it and that there is groundwork already in place. “I think the minister understood quite powerfully, and what was clear is that it wasn't the end of the conversation, it was the start.” --- #### In brief ✍️ [Confluence magazine](https://www.confluencemagazine.co.uk/submissions?ref=localauthority.news) is open for short stories, prose, creative non-fiction and poetry submissions until the end of March (or until they reach 200 submissions). 🥔 [Subway is launching a new range of jacket potatoes](https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/subway-launches-jacket-potato-menu-to-ride-food-to-go-trend/701465.article?ref=localauthority.news), but the potentially inedible snack will not be coming to any Medway as part of the launch. Sorry, not sorry. 🥘 [A planning application from Loungers](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SRXIA5KNK6100&ref=localauthority.news) has revealed that their new venue opening at Chatham Dockside will be called Sotto Lounge. Each of their locations has a unique name, but all seem to be Italian words that end with O. 🍷 [St Margaret’s Church in Rainham has applied for a licence to screen films and sell alcohol](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news). The move is part of the church's efforts to establish itself as a destination arts venue in Medway. --- #### Scratch building Medway landmarks [*Joe Earley*](https://www.instagram.com/joeshobbyjournal?ref=localauthority.news) *is a Rochester-based crafts person who keeps himself very busy with scratch building. We talked to him to learn precisely what scratch building is and how Joe used it when recreating a mini-Medway landmark.* Joe is open about the fact that he has been off work for some time with mental health problems, but that hasn’t slowed him down when it comes to building or working on things. He’s built cars, mopeds, and terrariums. The latter “are plant enclosures. I started making weird ones.” Joe then shows me an intricately built home for a plant, with an elaborate slide for watering the plant. “That was my business for a while, but then covid hit, and mental health was an issue anyway. Confidence is the issue.” Joe’s current focus is anything miniature based. His mum used to make doll’s houses and still works with miniatures herself. Joe started by making things at school, when he should have been doing other things. “I had a little pencil case, and some graph paper, and I’d make little washing machines and stuff. I made a drum kit.” Joe would hide behind a book and work away on the graph paper with scissors and pencil. Joe’s mum gave him a dolls house, which he turned into a replica of an internet café. “I started doing more. There's a company called [Metcalfe](https://www.metcalfemodels.com/?ref=localauthority.news) which make structures with a railway style.” Using a kit, Joe would then make his own designs and alterations around it. This is what led him on to scratch building. “Scratch building is basically no kit”, Joe explains to me. “Some people, when making model railway pieces, buy the structure. Scratch building is basically building from scratch.” Which makes sense when you think about it. With the kit, people will still use various tools, to age and personalise the structures. Which leads us to the reason for today’s conversation: Joe has built a 1:48 model of the Candy Bar shop on Rochester High Street from scratch. “I always look at the shop when I walk”, says Joe. “It is a store that looks possible. Sometimes things just look hard, and you question if you are able.” Joe got excited by the structure and the possibility. He went down and explained what he was doing to the Candy Bar team, took some photos and got to work. “I struggle in the winter as a lot of people do. Finding something to do inside with my time was important.” Joe got talking to others who scratch build and got advice on how to make the outside path, which he was struggling with. “This is actually air-dry clay, squashing it into little molds, and pushing down with sandpaper to give it texture”, he says, showing me the path. “Each paving slab is made separately, and then aged use pastels.” “I knew the shop was going to look good small.” The project has taken him two months, working three to four hours a day. “I was having to look so closely, and keep my hands so steady that my wrists were starting to hurt. My vision was going blurry.” He has further work to do, including the delicious window display. “The plan is to make several prints of the same window and then I'm going to cut out the areas to give it a bit of depth.” I ask Joe what will happen to the final piece. “I don't know. I usually just display them in my room. This has been the issue”. We talk about the issue of turning Joe’s skills into a business, with some scratch builders selling pieces for thousands of pounds. “It's finding that confidence to actually charge that money.” Joe wants to find a way to make this into a job, something he certainly has the skills to do. I suggest he needs to get his mum or partner in to handle the business side of things so that he can focus entirely on the build. He ponders this for a moment. “That’s not a bad shout actually.” *To see more of what Joe has built and is building, check him out on* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/joeshobbyjournal/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In For Lunch: Cheers Pizza *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s ordered in from* [***Cheers Pizza***](https://cheerschatham.co.uk/delivery?ref=localauthority.news) **in Chatham*…* I arbitrarily fancied pizza for lunch this week, and so the challenge was on to find a pizza that wasn’t made by one of the national chains that was worth ordering. I was recommended Cheers Pizza, which I believe is in the Luton area, and used one of the delivery apps to order. I ordered a thin BBQ base with pepperoni, mushrooms, red onion, a single helping of mozzarella, a side of coleslaw, and a can of drink. The order came to just under £30 with a second pizza and drink. Let’s be honest. From the outset, the pizza was rubbish and badly cut, and could only be described as flavourless and depressing. It is without a doubt the worst lunch I have had since I began these reviews. The delivery driver kindly went to a local supermarket while delivering the order to get the side order of coleslaw as Cheers had sold out. I don’t want to be ungrateful, but I’d rather he hadn’t bothered as a tub of Morrisons coleslaw wasn’t precisely what I had in mind. I will not be ordering from Cheers Pizza again, and I can’t recommend that you do either. --- #### Man or Bear workshop seeks neither men nor bears *Award-winning Medway writer* [*Sarah Hehir*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-write-in-quite-a-visual-way/) *is looking for nine female identifying participants for an upcoming drama workshop…* Award-winning Medway writer [Sarah Hehir](https://www.localauthority.news/i-write-in-quite-a-visual-way/) is developing a new theatre show with Katie Hurley, a writer and actor from Croydon, who she first worked with ten years ago on Edinburgh Festival’s [Zero Down](https://edinburghfestival.datathistle.com/event/590753-zero-down/?ref=localauthority.news). They have received Research and Development Funding from the Arts Council for their new play, Man or Bear?, which explores themes of violence against women and girls, looking at the past, present and envisioning a utopian future. “Medway and Croydon are Arts Council priority places”, Sarah tells us, “ and also have a high level of violence against women and girls.” The drama workshop will facilitate drama-based activities and discussions which will feed into the making of the show, and due to the nature of the themes, a qualified counsellor will be present at all times. “We’re focusing on exploring ideas and stories with older generations”, says Sarah, as they have done other workshops connecting with Gen Z. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend scratch performances of the show later in the year. Which is, oddly, our second mention of scratch in this edition after a year of it not coming up at all. “A scratch performance is an unfinished piece that comes from working with actors”, said Sarah. “It won’t be fully formed, but will give a flavour of our vision to generate feedback and discussion.” Nine female identifying participants are being sought for the workshop. No theatre or drama experience is necessary to take part, and participants will be offered a £20 expenses payment. “We have had invaluable support from Wordsmithery and The Glassbox Theatre”, said Sarah, “a special thanks to Richard Cooper, who has invested in the development of the play, in memory of Rosemary McLeish, who wrote fiercely and beautifully about women.” *The workshop will take place at MidKent College on 15 March. Email kt\_hurley AT icloud DOT com to register your interest in participating in the workshop.* --- #### Medway gardener eager to share advice *Rainham gardener Stuart Bourne has worked in prestigious horticulture roles for over a decade. He recently started his Substack newsletter on the subject and will write an occasional column for us here. We caught up with him to discuss his career, his newsletter, and what he’ll be sharing.* “It was a project that I've sort of always had on my mind, when I took time off to look after the kids”, explains Stuart when I ask him how his [Bourne to Garden](https://bournetogarden.substack.com/) newsletter started. “I've obviously got all this gardening knowledge that I feel the need to share and expand.” During his period as a stay-at-home Dad, he would post on Facebook groups, sharing tips and advice. “I really enjoyed the act of writing it and then recently I've moved from Twitter onto BlueSky, and there's a really vibrant horticultural gardening community there.” Here, Stuart found similar newsletters on Substack and saw the platform's potential for what he had in mind. Before we go any further, though, it was important to clarify what it means when Stuart said he has gardening knowledge. He spent 15 years working in horticulture, switching from his original career as an electrical engineer. Having reskilled, he has worked as a live-in gardener, worked for a landscape maintenance company, and for seven years, he worked at Buckingham Palace as a senior gardener in charge of the rose garden. “It was cutting edge”, he says with no puns intended. “The head gardener was very keen that we always paid attention to local practices and new practices”. Recently, after being on the waiting list for over a year, Stuart was fortunate to get his own allotment in Medway, as a family project. “My wife was loving the idea of an allotment and we thought it'd be beneficial for the kids to explore how to grow fruit and veg. It's hard to juggle now with a full-time job that I've got now, but I've been promised by my wife that she'd be going to be spending some more time over there watering and doing the seeds as well.” Stuart likes to share his knowledge, aware that people can feel a fear when it comes to approaching gardening. “Once you know the basics, it's actually quite simple, easy and enjoyable”, he offers. It’s that spirit that will drive his upcoming *Local Authority* column. Readers can expect “advice, knowledge and help.” Stuart wants to provide tips and tricks of the trade, to “show people there is nothing to be scared of”. Stuart will also highlight some of the parks and greenspaces that we here in Medway “that are right on our doorstep. They've got not only open spaces, but actually have got unique and interesting plants. We're quite blessed in Medway to have so many interesting habitats and gardens.” *You can read Stuart Bourne’s writing on his* [*Bourne to Garden*](https://bournetogarden.substack.com/) *Substack newsletter.* [Bourne To Garden - Making Gardening EasierWith over 15 years of gardening, including 7 years at Buckingham Palace, I can help make your garden fit for royalty.By Stuart Bourne](https://bournetogarden.substack.com/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Events this week 🖼️ Until 11 Mar - [**Art Fundraiser**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-pop?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition organised by Nucleus artist Sam Scoggins to raise money for artists who recently suffered a fire at the venue. The Halpern Pop, Rochester. Free. 🤠 Sat 1 Mar - [**Everyday Action, Everyday Change**](https://www.medwaycultureclub.co.uk/book-online?ref=localauthority.news) // Medway Culture Club event for 5 to 16-year-olds exploring personal identity. Woodlands Youth Club, Gillingham. Tickets £8. 🎳 Thu 6 Mar - [**The Big Lebowski**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-52541&ref=localauthority.news) // Screening of the classic Coen Brothers comedy about a dude seeking vengeance for someone peeing on his rug. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🎵 Fri 7 Mar - [**I am Woman**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-am-woman-tickets-1255850054319?ref=localauthority.news) // Music to celebrate International Women's Day with Karen Newby. Rising Sun, Rochester. £5, proceeds to the [Vavengers Charity](https://thevavengers.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### More Authority A Chatham theatre faces threat from neighbouring development, accusing a developer of refusing to engage with them after blocking access to a car park used by patrons. We looked at what’s been happening for our midweek feature. [Chatham theatre faces threat from neighbouring developmentSpotlites is a Chatham-based theatre that has provided acting classes, singing lessons, and dance classes for children and adults throughout Medway and Kent for nearly 30 years. Founded in 1996, the organisation has “been providing exciting theatre opportunities for kids of all ages.” As we speak to manager Kieron Riddell, Spotlies is now facing an existential threat from developers.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f427b0d95-c7a4-4d12-bfbf-d8032d0dc630_3648x1910.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/chatham-theatre-faces-threat-from/) Yesterday was Medway Council’s annual budget meeting, where a set of balanced books had to be agreed for the year ahead. We’ll have a full report in our Tuesday edition, but we covered the events in our Substack Chat, which [you can catch up with here](https://substack.com/chat/449066/post/3ca9bd77-ae63-4dcc-8734-bee9cfceb5dc?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*The Complete Live O Graphic Session by Galileo 7*](https://thegalileo7uk.bandcamp.com/album/the-complete-live-o-graphic-session?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*The New and Improved Bob Dylan by the William Loveday Intention*](https://open.spotify.com/album/13GkKT9Mb4VLBw7O6hk3Kf?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Chatham theatre faces threat from neighbouring development URL: https://www.localauthority.news/chatham-theatre-faces-threat-from/ Last updated: 2025-02-26T19:38:54.000Z [Spotlites](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is a Chatham-based theatre that has provided acting classes, singing lessons, and dance classes for children and adults throughout Medway and Kent for nearly 30 years. Founded in 1996, the organisation has “been providing exciting theatre opportunities for kids of all ages.” As we speak to manager Kieron Riddell, Spotlies is now facing an existential threat from developers. Spotlites operates out of a converted warehouse at the end of Chatham High Street, with chairs upcycled from a cinema in Wales. “We built a lovely space. Anyone that's been in it knows it has real charm,” notes Kieron. He started coming to Spotlites in 2004 “as a youngster,” and he freely admits it has been an important part of his life ever since. “It meant so much to me growing up that I know how much it means for the youth now, which is why it's so important to me to keep it alive and kicking.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!RxDm!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f427b0d95-c7a4-4d12-bfbf-d8032d0dc630_3648x1910.jpg) Spotlites Theatre in Chatham Spotlites’ original founders moved to Scotland, and Kieron took over the running of Spotlites in 2019, about six months before covid started to become worldwide news. “It was a bit of a baptism of fire when I started,” he recalls. Along with running groups out of the theatre, they also visit schools around Kent, providing acting classes for children from the age of four. They aim to put a production on once a month, as well as run weekly drama workshops. Since the pandemic, the theatre has faced further challenges, including one that could threaten its existence. As is often the case, much of the issue hinges on a car park. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Government lets Medway Council borrow another £27m URL: https://www.localauthority.news/government-lets-medway-council-borrow/ Last updated: 2025-02-25T23:43:58.000Z *Medway Council looks like it will be able to pass a balanced budget when the council meets on Thursday, but like last year, it is only possible because the government is letting it borrow tens of millions. We’ve got the full details below. Further down, we have some data that suggests Medway Hospital is doing okay in the grand scheme of things, news of Medway’s innovative recycle and repair service, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Government lets Medway Council borrow another £27m We’ve been talking about how Medway Council is on the edge of the local government version of bankruptcy for a couple of years now. Medway was only able to pass a balanced budget last year because the government granted them exceptional powers to borrow nearly £15m to cover the running costs of the council. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Yox8!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fda61b46f-087e-416e-b258-fab4c8bae499_4032x2111.jpg) Gun Wharf The Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) system allows councils to take out capital loans to cover revenue spending, something that they are unable to do under normal conditions. However, the long-term collapse in local government funding has forced dozens of councils to the brink. [The Guardian reports that 30 councils have been granted EFS](https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/feb/20/english-councils-exceptional-financial-support-packages?ref=localauthority.news) this year, up from 19 last year. In exchange for these powers, councils agree to pay back the money later as well as make savings to reduce their ongoing costs. New rules this year forbid local councils from selling off ‘community and heritage assets’ to balance the books, though it is unclear how Medway can reconcile that with plans to sell noted community and heritage assets like [The Brook multi-storey car park](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-ponders-selling-brook/). Medway Council put in a request last December requesting an additional £11.2m to cover overspends in the 2024/25, while also asking for £18.2m for the coming financial year. Medway also requested an ability to raise council tax above the 5% maximum, but this was rejected by the government. Last week, [the government announced that Medway was being awarded £18.4m](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptional-financial-support-for-local-authorities-for-2025-26?ref=localauthority.news) for the coming financial year, but only £8.4m for the previous one, totally a little under 27m. As ever, the government gives with one hand, and takes with another. Still, this should allow Medway to pass a balanced budget at this Thursday’s budget meeting, but this ongoing crisis does raise the question of how sustainable this all is over the long term. Across the past two financial years, Medway Council has now had to borrow nearly £40m for day to day running costs, all of which will need to eventually be paid back. Councils like Medway are piling up debt every year just to cover day to day running costs, and while local government funding is set to be reformed with longer term settlements, the fundamentals behind the budget pressures are unlikely to change anytime soon. **Speaking of the budget:* We’ll be at Thursday night’s Medway Council budget meeting, where the Labour administration will be attempting to pass a balanced budget despite technically no longer holding a majority. It should be a lively night, so we’ll be covering it live via* [*our Substack Chat*](https://substack.com/chat/449066?ref=localauthority.news)*. Our paid supporters will be able to follow along live from 7pm on Thursday, and we’ll have a full report next Tuesday’s edition.* --- #### Medway Hospital is doing relatively okay It’s not unusual to hear horror stories about the state of Medway Hospital, whether it’s a bad care experience, long wait times, or, as KentOnline reported last week, [mice on the wards](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k5kv52jd1o?ref=localauthority.news). So it is perhaps a relief that Medway Hospital is performing better than most other hospitals across the UK, according to [data put together by the Telegraph](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/01/28/nhs-tracker-best-worst-hospitals-england/?ref=localauthority.news). The Telegraph compared every NHS hospital trust in England using five data sets and concluded that Medway ranked 38th out of 118. 26.2% of patients still wait more than four hours in A&E, slightly lower than the 27.9% national figure, which places it 25th on the league table. This indicates that patients are triaged and handled fairly efficiently through the A&E pathway, though what happens to them after that is where things start to go awry. For patients admitted to the hospital in an emergency, 31.1% wait more than 12 hours to receive a bed in an appropriate ward. This is significantly higher than the 9.8% nationwide figure. Medway's appointment backlog is where it really falls short. 49.7% of appointments are backlogged by more than 18 weeks, below the 41% average, ranking it 110th out of 118. Cancer treatment is where Medway really excels though. Just 0.7% of patients wait more than 31 days to start treatment, considerably better than the 8.5% figure across England. On this metric, Medway is ranked 11th. Clearly, there is still much that can be improved. The Care Quality Commission [currently rates Medway as ‘requires improvement’](http://The Care Quality Commission currently rates Medway as ‘requires improvement’,). But from the data provided, Medway may not be the best hospital, but it’s certainly not the worst either. Whether that’s an indictment of the current state of the NHS more widely is perhaps the bigger question. --- #### Medway’s new recycle and repair service It can be easy to knock local councils for their bureaucracy or inefficient response to dealing with issues, so we must commend Medway Council for their innovative approach to replacing a missing manhole cover on Luton Road. Reader [Shea Coffey let Medway Council know](https://www.threads.net/@shea.coffey.12/post/DGgV7YmNgKo?ref=localauthority.news) about the exposed hole on the street and received a response from a Highway Inspector that it had been ‘made safe’ out of hours. Phew, a simple and straightforward resolution in a timely manner. What more could one possibly want? Well. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!sT2S!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5d881f66-0e17-4982-8b7a-ce790023c593_1600x900.jpg) The exposed hole on Luton Road that Medway Council had ‘made safe’. Photos: Shea Coffey Yes, it appears the Medway Council method to ‘make safe’ an exposed manhole is to throw an old kitchen cupboard door over it, lay a slab on it, add a couple of cones, and voila! No risk to the public, and seemingly little risk to the council materials budget either. Technically, the cover isn’t the responsibility of Medway Council, with the main repair work being passed along to BT to deal with, so this is only a quick fix. It’s hard to imagine any fix that could be quicker. Medway Council Leader responded to a public social media post about the issue by accepting that “recycling of this nature may not be the best optics.” Quite. --- **We’re launching a second title!* We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll bring the sort of journalism *Local Authority* provides to the rest of Kent with the launch of the *Kent Current*. It’ll launch in earnest in April, but make sure you* [*subscribe for free*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news) *to be the first to receive our new dispatches from across the county.* [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### In brief 🏢 [Medway Council has submitted a planning application to Medway Council](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SS6XBPKNI7D00&ref=localauthority.news) to ask for permission to remove dangerous RAAC concrete from the roof of Medway Council’s headquarters. The beauty of bureaucracy. 🛒 [Homebase in Chatham closed its doors on Saturday](https://futuremedway.co.uk/homebase-branch-in-horsted-retail-park-chatham-closes-permanently/?ref=localauthority.news) (22 Feb). While other retailers bought 76 stores nationwide, no one has shown an interest in the Horsted Retail Park location so far. 🎓 [KentOnline are outraged to discover that the University of Kent has spent £20,000 to create a sheltered area](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/cash-strapped-uni-spends-20k-on-worthless-canopy-amid-fre-320436/?ref=localauthority.news) outdoors for students at their Medway campus. One outraged student says they ‘would only use it if it’s raining,’ which feels like the entire point. 🚧 [The Medway Tunnel will close it’s for its quarterly overnight maintenance period next week](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200249/roadworks%5Fin%5Fmedway?ref=localauthority.news). The route will be closed in both directions between 8pm and 5.45am on 3 - 8 March. 🏘️ [The 110-home development at Capstone Green in Chatham is finally nearing completion](https://futuremedway.co.uk/capstone-green-chatham-nears-completion-after-years-of-delays/?ref=localauthority.news). The affordable housing scheme began construction ten years ago and has been beset by problems, including residents being moved out in 2023 after their homes were found to be unsafe. --- #### More Authority [For our weekend interview, we sat down with author, comedian, and new ](https://www.localauthority.news/once-i-get-onto-my-laptop-im-in-another/)[*Local Authority*](https://www.localauthority.news/once-i-get-onto-my-laptop-im-in-another/)[ columnist Zahra Barri](https://www.localauthority.news/once-i-get-onto-my-laptop-im-in-another/). We discussed her novel, her creative journey, her new column, and more. [“Once I get onto my laptop, I'm in another world”There is a new guest writer at Local Authority, a published author and former stand-up no less. Steven met with Zahra Barri at the No64 cafe in Intra, to talk about the influences of her Egyptian Irish back ground on her work, how she came to be studying a PhD in Creative writing, and if she will be working for the Labour Party.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff3ee9be8-0fdc-4e69-b130-e57c8f498314_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/once-i-get-onto-my-laptop-im-in-another/) **Coming up this week:** **Wednesday:** We examine what’s been happening with the former Buzz Bingo site in Chatham, as development seems to have stalled with the site falling into increasing disrepair (paid subscribers). **Thursday**: It’s Medway Council budget meeting day! We’ll be running live coverage via our Substack Chat (paid subscribers). **Friday:** Our weekly arts and culture briefing. **Sunday:** The first of a two-part interview with Medway music survivors Kyra De Coninck and Chris de Coulon Berthoud (paid subscribers). [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*The Universe for Beginners by Money Can’t Buy Music*](https://ballboy.bandcamp.com/album/the-universe-for-beginners?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*The Death of Nightlife by Help She Can’t Swim*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx7GSEt6Pac&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*New Adventures in Hi-Fi by R.E.M.*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cnIQHJ169s&ref=localauthority.news) ### “Once I get onto my laptop, I'm in another world” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/once-i-get-onto-my-laptop-im-in-another/ Last updated: 2025-02-23T07:01:03.000Z *There is a new guest writer at Local Authority, a published author and former stand-up no less. Steven met with Zahra Barri at the No64 cafe in Intra to talk about the influences of her Egyptian Irish background on her work, how she came to be studying for a PhD in Creative Writing, and if she will be working for the Labour Party.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!rla1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff3ee9be8-0fdc-4e69-b130-e57c8f498314_1456x762.jpg) Zahra Barri **You've recently joined *Local Authority* as a writer. What can readers expect from the pieces you're going to do?** Well, it's all about volunteering. I noticed that there was a lot of stuff going on with online activism, and I thought, what can I actually do that's not just online activism? What can I actually do in my community? I moved here four years ago, and I've got to know so many people in Medway. I love the community and well, to be honest, I'm a writer and I find writing can be quite self-indulgent and wanted to do something that wasn't self-indulgent in writing. That was my way of activism, really. **What will you actually be doing?** Going to local volunteering places, homeless shelters, animal shelters, and having an experience of that day and what it's like to volunteer and then finding out about the charity or the cause and then writing about it and encouraging other people to volunteer. I think in an age where we're quite global, it's quite nice to just home in on something a lot smaller. You know that saying ‘Charity begins at home’? I took that to heart in the fact that there's so many world issues going on, you feel quite powerless. I thought just scale it down a little bit, do something within your community and if everyone did that then perhaps that would have a ricochet effect on the entire world. **If there's someone reading this who runs a local charity, can they get in touch and invite you along?** Yes, absolutely. In fact, I'm looking for more and more places specifically in Medway that I can go to, help out at and then spread the word. *(*[*You can get in touch with Zahra via her website*](https://zahrabarri.com/contact/?ref=localauthority.news)*.)* **What was the inspiration behind your novel** [**Daughters of the Nile**](https://unbound.com/books/daughters-of-the-nile?ref=localauthority.news)**?** A little bit of personal and the political. I'm Egyptian. I wanted to write about my Egyptian roots, and I specifically did that with three generations of Egyptian women. During my research of Egyptian history, I found out about a Muslim feminist called [Doria Shafik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doria%5FShafik?ref=localauthority.news), who got women the vote in 1956\. She set up a magazine for women that was written in Arabic when most of the women's magazines were written in French, which only the very elite Egyptians could read. She made literacy very accessible. She set up literacy establishments across Egypt, and she was silenced by the regime and forgotten. So much so that the New York Times, when she died, didn't release an obituary. They released it ten years after she died and an apology, but she was a huge feminist revolutionary in Egypt. I fused her historical biography, with a fictionalised version of a family in Egypt that was loosely based on my own family. She was quite an activist in her community, which perhaps inspired me getting into community-based projects and activism. She's a huge inspiration to me, Doria Shafik. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!mTpP!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffe871e5f-db0a-4364-8e52-779d02922009_1800x1500.jpg) Daughters of the Nile by Zahra Barri **What was the experience like of recording the audiobook version?** Oh gosh, that was surreal. I read the youngest generation of the Egyptian family member. It's strange. I essentially read a third of the book because it's three generations of women. I did the voice of the youngest, Nadia, who's British-born. I was in a booth. It's an extreme version of me. I'm not as crazy as her. She's me if I have the confidence to be. She's a lot more traumatised than me, let's put it this way. Specifically sexually traumatised. It was weird reading back your words. In some of it she works in TV, and she works in recording studios and things like that. So to be in a recording studio recording the audio of my audiobook was quite meta I suppose. **Is audio recording something you had experience with before?** Yes, because before I got into writing I was doing stand-up comedy and also acting. I did stuff on Radio 4 and things like that. I'm used to speaking and recording things, but not my own book. That was a new experience. **How did it come to be published by Unbound?** I entered the Unbound First Writers of Colour Debut Authors Competition where they champion two authors. Me and [Iqbal Hussain](https://www.ihussainwriter.com/?ref=localauthority.news) won it, and we basically got a book deal. It was very surreal. I don’t think I have ever won anything in my life. **People might know Unbound is a crowdfunding-based publisher. Did you have to go through that process?** No, I didn't. It was very weird because during my creative writing MA I was reading a book called [The Good Immigrant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FGood%5FImmigrant?ref=localauthority.news). It was an Unbound book. It's a very famous book and it's probably one of their bestsellers. I was reading it for some research that I was doing for my MA and I'd heard of Unbound from that. I would never have crowdfunded because I'm not very good on the internet, I'm not very good at selling myself. I've actually just decided to come off all social media apart from [Substack](https://zahrabarri.substack.com/). I don't think I would have ever done it. Sorry, what was the question again? **You didn't have to crowdfund it, which is what Unbound is known for.** It was really lucky that I won the award because I didn't have to crowdfund. I could just have a more traditional book deal. Which worked best with me, I think. **Had you approached any other publishers at that point?** I hadn't actually, because I was writing the novel for my PhD in Creative Writing. I was focusing on that, I wasn’t actually focusing on getting published, which in hindsight I think was good because I wrote like nobody was reading it, other than my PhD supervisor. I really went to town and was no holds barred on everything, which I think helped. I had no barriers, I was not shy. I wrote it like nobody was going to read it. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### How a Rochester phone box became a gallery URL: https://www.localauthority.news/how-a-rochester-phone-box-became/ Last updated: 2025-02-22T01:23:38.000Z *More than 5,000 old red phone boxes across the country have been adopted by their community. In Rochester, one has been turned into quite possibly the smallest art gallery. We’ve been finding out more. Further down, we have news of a short film by a Medway filmmaker heading to iPlayer, a revised Isaac Newell project, we review TickTocks in Rainham, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### How a Rochester phone box became a gallery *Seed swapping is happening in an old red phone box by Café Nucleus on Rochester High Street. You can bring your flowers, vegetables or fruit seeds and swap them for something interesting. It’s the latest installation as part of the* [*Medway Art Box*](https://www.nucleusarts.com/medwayartbox?ref=localauthority.news)*, so we caught up with* [*Vanessa Crew*](https://vanessacube.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Rachel Moore*](https://www.iprintedthat.com/about-us?ref=localauthority.news) *of* [*Nucleus Arts*](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*, the team behind the unique gallery, to find out about it.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2UEw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7006e0bc-b510-4c8e-8764-1978c558776d_1456x762.jpg) The Medway Art Box. The Medway Art Box is an adopted red BT telephone box. “A K6 model, they are actually called telephone kiosks,” clarifies Rachel. The Nucleus Arts charity adopted it in 2022, “but Medway Art Box was born in 2020,” says Vanessa. It was initially created as a reaction to the covid lockdown. Rachel recalls that “we were due, Vanessa and I, and some of the other artists at Nucleus, to have an exhibition at the Pop Gallery,” which is in the Nucleus building next door “that got shut down.” Knowing they still wanted to do something, they decided to use the phone kiosk outside the studio. “We gave it a really good clean because, as you can imagine, it was absolutely disgusting,” says Rachel. There were panes of glass missing, and it had an odour. “There was a hole in the door,” adds Vanessa. When Vanessa and Rachel first used the kiosk in 2020, it still had a phone in it, which was, as mentioned, disgusting. Working together, they got the area cleaned up and “We got lots of other artists involved at Nucleus and the idea was we just put our art in, and the public could come and take anything they wanted just for the price of a shout-out on social media,” says Rachel. Vanessa and Rachel want to give a shout-out of their own to Medway artists Jonathan Ash and Ann Palmer. When they first set up the kiosk with postcards and Vanessa’s acrylic jewellery, Jonathan and Ann gave them lots to work with. As word spread, artists started putting their work in the kiosk and sharing it online. Before the adoption was complete, projects were initially inherently temporary, as they constantly expected to be told they couldn’t do this, given that it was still a phone box. When artists do projects with Medway Art Box now, they can lock the kiosk, depending on the exhibition within. An open exhibition where people can interact with the artwork is an option, explains Rachel, “but they do obviously run the risk of things getting damaged.” This is a risk that some artists seem to enjoy. [BT have an Adopt a Kiosk scheme](https://business.bt.com/public-sector/street-hubs/adopt-a-kiosk-scheme/?ref=localauthority.news) where, from just £1, you can bring a red box back to life for the community. More than 5,000 nationwide have been turned into libraries, food banks, and homes for defibrillators. The process here “took a while because of lockdown and admin,” explains Vanessa, taking over a year. As a result, though, it is now part of Nucleus Arts’ galleries. “It's in between a gallery space and a community space because we use it for so many community projects or projects that are public facing.” One highlight has been a project with Gillingham’s [Unravel and Unwind](https://unravelandunwind.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a crochet and knitting CIC, the ‘TARDIS’ yarn bomb. Vanessa approached them and said, “We'd love to do a yarn bomb. We don't really know what it is, and we don't really have any money,” and they said yes. As the project title suggests, [they turned the kiosk into a TARDIS with crocheted Doctor Who monsters](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/crocheted-tardis-appears-in-high-street-295611/?ref=localauthority.news). “I didn't really need to do much other than give them measurements and give them the space.” Despite the risks, they took over the box completely, resulting in one of the Daleks being stolen. “That whole experience just stayed as it was,” says Rachel happily. “I think since we've been doing stuff with that phone box, it's been respected”. Medway Art Box often put out an open call for artists and residents to get involved. They often work with the social art groups and teen art groups that Nucleus runs for projects throughout the year. “We like to do art as well as creative writing,” says Rachel. “We want to do some sort of sound project at some point.” “We've got big grand ideas,” confirms Vanessa, “but the thing is probably... no budget.” You can head down to Rochester High Street with your seeds until 4 March and [keep an eye on their website](https://www.nucleusarts.com/medwayartbox?ref=localauthority.news) for upcoming installations. --- #### In brief 🚣‍♀️ [Active Kent and Medway have received a grant of £5,000](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9xgn4511vo?ref=localauthority.news) to provide coaching fees and qualifications around monthly kayaking sessions along the River Medway. 🏆 [The finalists for this year’s Pride in Medway awards have been announced](https://www.prideinmedway.co.uk/our-2025-finalists/?ref=localauthority.news). Congratulations to all nominated. 🍺 [KentOnline’s Secret Drinker has been down to review The Princes of Wales pub in Chatham](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/secret-drinker/the-girls-arrived-at-1pm-downed-wkds-and-in-minutes-were-d-320398/?ref=localauthority.news). It’s a mixed bag. ☕ [A new coffee shop is set to open at Rochester Station on Monday](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/coffee-chain-opens-first-kent-branch-at-railway-station-320475/?ref=localauthority.news). It comes nearly two years after the previous operator closed down. 🎛️ [Craig David is the first act announced for this year’s Rochester Castle Live](https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/music-nightlife/rochester-castle-live-craig-david-9963633?ref=localauthority.news). He’ll chill on Sunday 6 July at the venue, and tickets are a mere £50. 🌊 [A new zipline has opened at St Andrew’s Lakes in Halling](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/unique-and-adrenaline-fuelled-zip-wire-experience-above-la-320146/?ref=localauthority.news). No thank you. --- #### Medway filmmaker’s short heading to iPlayer We spoke to MidKent College alumni and BAFTA breakthrough alumni [Mdhamiri Á Nkemi](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-feel-my-soul-is-validated/) in 2023 about, among other things, the award-winning short film he had directed. This week, it was announced that [his short film Original Skin is being included in a season of short films screened on BBC iPlayer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/bbc-announce-breakthrough-films-season?ref=localauthority.news). The BBC’s British Film Premiere season will air a brand new premiere every Friday night on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. The series will also introduce the films, feature them, and feature brand new shorts, which will also be available on iPlayer. The season started on 14 February, but there is no indication yet when Original Skin will screen. When we reached out to Mdhamiri as part of our [catch-up feature](https://www.localauthority.news/catching-up-with-our-previous-guests/) at the beginning of the year, he was under a strict NDA and unable to catch up. Back in 2023, Mdhamiri told us that the origin for Original Skin had been developing in his head over time around the central idea: What if when you had sex with someone, you swapped bodies? In a world where bodies are moving and fluid, Mdhamiri wanted to use this as a metaphor to discuss society and how people interact. It shows how we judge each other based on physical appearance and how that could change if we changed and chose what we looked like. You can watch a trailer for Original Skin here: The LGBTQIA+ science fiction short film was executive produced by BBC Film and the National Film and Television School and has been successful on the short film circuit, screening at Tribeca and serving as an excellent calling card for Mdhamiri’s aspirations as a filmmaker. The film has been nominated for awards, winning for Best Sound Design. While we wait to see Original Skin on iPlayer, Mdhamiri has been developing ideas for feature films. He is continuing his interest in sci-fi and using it to explore the human experience. We look forward to seeing more from him. --- **We’re launching a sister title!* We’re proud to announce that we’re going to be launching a second local news title in April called the* [***Kent Current***](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Nothing will change here with *Local Authority*, but the Kent Current will cover the same sort of ground we do here - local news, politics, culture, and more - but looking across the rest of the county. We can’t wait to get started.* [*You can subscribe to the Kent Current for free here*](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* [Kent CurrentIndependent news for Kent, covering news, politics, culture, and more.](https://www.kentcurrent.news/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### Out to Breakfast: TickTocks *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to *TickTocks in Rainham*…* Found in the Rainham shopping precinct, near ample parking, TickTocks is a fine-looking café that has perhaps taken its clock-based theme a little too far. As you enter the door, there is a distinct plant-based barrier, with a sign informing you that they would prefer you pay cash. I waited to be directed where to sit in the largely empty café. Once the friendly staff confirmed which of the equally empty tables were available, I sat down and ordered. I ordered four rashers of well-done bacon, three fried eggs, two pieces of toast, and a portion of mushrooms, along with a pot of breakfast tea and apple juice. Instead, I received four rashers of bacon that were not well done, three fried eggs, one piece of toast cut in two pieces, and a portion of mushrooms, along with a pot of tea for two and apple juice. These are subtle differences, and some would argue they are fundamental. The bacon was delicious, so imagine how good it would have been if it had been cooked properly. The eggs were yolky and went well with the thick-cut toast, even if there was not enough to mop up all the yolk. The mushrooms were of good quality. Serving such a large pot of tea meant the second cup was stewed. The apple juice was such a delight that I had a second glass. Despite the tone of the review, I do recommend TickTocks if you are looking for breakfast in Rainham. Just be super clear about what you want when you order. --- #### Futbol! A revised Isaac Newell project There is a growing movement to celebrate Strood’s Isaac Newell. As part of that, our [Medwayish](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) side quest worked with [The Hazlenut Press](https://www.hazelnut-press.com/?ref=localauthority.news) in 2023 to develop a tea towel, famously the most iconic way to commemorate a local icon. However, due to a complication that will be explained later, a revised version of the project is now on the table. [Heather Haythornthwaite](https://www.localauthority.news/i-enable-people-i-dont-tell-them/) is an old-school printmaker, and her Hazelnut Press studio is a delight to see. If you have the time and opportunity, it is particularly worth a visit during [Medway Open Studios](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news). Heather was the artist behind the Isaac Newell tea towel, and she told us a little about the process that goes into her design and printing work: > *“There are many tiny subtleties involved in this apparently simple technique. I'll only tell you some of them. I use flooring offcuts and unused vinyl floor tiles, which are sanded with a fine grade of wet and dry glass paper to make the surface very smooth. I transfer the design - which must be reversed if it is to print correctly. Sharp tools are faster and more responsive than blunt ones, so the first job is to sharpen them. This cutting process is irreversible, when it's cut, it is cut- I have to get it right. The marks I cut can emphasise how the design feels, offering energy, direction and strength as they take a little ink. These subtleties only happen with a hand cut print. The printed area is what is left behind.* > > *The oil based traditional ink is worked up to become pliable, (more pliable than marmite, less gloopy than ketchup. Maybe about as smooth as really smooth peanut butter) The ink is applied with a roller to the cut design, which is no longer a piece of discarded flooring as it has become a printmaking 'plate'.* > > *It is positioned on the bed of my 1860s Albion press. Paper is laid on the inked plate. Then the inked plate and blank paper is rolled under the cantilevered pressing part of the press, called the platen. The lever is pulled, the platen presses the paper firmly and precisely against the inky plate creating the print and rises up. The plate is rolled out from under the platen. the paper peeled off the plate, revealing the print.* > > *Every element of this process requires levels of experience knowledge and skill . They combine to produce the print.”* The design celebrates the story of the man who took football to Argentina and has a football team named after him: Newell’s Old Boys. Heather told us that “with this design, I wanted to get a powerful feel through the deliberate use of energetic and seemingly unpolished typographies coupled with accurate club colours and symbols, and to have Isaac himself here too, the English Edwardian football coach.” The design featured a popular local chant of ‘Carajo!’, a way of showing frustration. However, other areas could interpret the wording as rather more explicit. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ezzr!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffc937841-6c15-4ead-baf6-ac1121383b42_1024x576.jpg) Heather Haythornthwaite’s revised Isaac Newell design. Whilst the [original tea towel](https://www.medwayish.com/product/isaac-newell-tea-towel?ref=localauthority.news) proved popular, a new opportunity arose to bring a new version of the design into the world. Heather revised the design into a more ‘safe for work’ format. “I like to make things that celebrate what can be overlooked or lost. This creative driver applies equally to the [Thomas Waghorn](https://www.medwayish.com/product/thomas-waghorn-tea-towel?ref=localauthority.news) print as it does the [Ban The Mindreader](https://www.medwayish.com/product/ban-the-mindreader-tea-towel?ref=localauthority.news) print. Each has its own vivacity. All these pieces offer moments of reflection, humour and delight in the Medway Towns, and I hope you'll take them into your lives and enjoy them.” [A crowdfunding campaign](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/medwayish/futbol-an-issac-newell-tea-towel-from-medwayish?ref=localauthority.news) has been initiated to get the new design printed, which Kickstarter have listed in their ‘Projects We Love’ section. Incredibly, the project has already achieved more than 90% of its target within the first week, proving that there seemingly is a stronger demand for Isaac Newell-related designs than one might initially think. Supporters of the crowdfunder can get not only the new design but the original version and the other brilliant tea towels Heather has designed. “Sweet or savoury - you can choose. The Kickstarter will enable more people to enjoy it,” notes Heather. *The* [*Futbol! Isaac Newell Kickstarter*](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/medwayish/futbol-an-issac-newell-tea-towel-from-medwayish?ref=localauthority.news) *is now live and runs until 14 March.* --- #### Events this week 📖 Sat 22 Feb - [**Zahra Barri book signing**](https://www.waterstones.com/events/zahra-barri-book-signing/chatham?ref=localauthority.news) // Author, comedian, and *Local Authority* columnist in store signing copies of her novel, Daughters of the Nile. Waterstones, Chatham. Free. 🎤 Sat 22 Feb - [**John McCulloch**](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/whatson/?ref=localauthority.news) // Award-winning poet performing with support from Medway poet Bethany Goodwill. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🚥 Sat 22 Feb - [**Luton Lights grand finale**](https://www.facebook.com/events/2322951424739490) // Luton’s family-friendly light festival celebrating creativity and community. Invicta Social Club, Chatham. Free. 🎸 Sat 22 Feb - [**Schande**](https://wegottickets.com/event/645218?ref=localauthority.news) // Excellent London indie rock band make their way to Rainham for the mighty Careful Now Promotions. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £8. 📹 Tues 25 Feb - Medway Voices // Film celebrating local history and community stories, featuring Ayesha Chouglay and Sian Hookins. St Margarets Church, Rainham. Free. 🚀 Wed 26 Feb - [**Interstellar 10**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/new-events/2025interstellar10?ref=localauthority.news) // Organ performance of Han Zimmer’s score from the scifi film epic, performed by original organist on the film, Roger Sayer. Rochester Cathedral. Tickets from £10.60. 🏳️‍🌈 Wed 26 Feb - [**Memorial To Those Who Wore the Pink Triangle**](https://hmd.org.uk/activity/closer-than-you-think-queer-culture-counts-light-the-darkness-hmd-2025/?ref=localauthority.news) // Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Chatham Memorial Synagogue. Free. 🗣️ Thu 27 Feb - [**Medway Council budget meeting**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=5900&ref=localauthority.news) // Season finale for Medway Council, who are obliged to pass a balanced budget despite facing a shortfall of millions. St George’s Centre, Chatham. Free. --- #### More Authority We published our latest Voice column, which features [Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-gillingham-and-rainham-717/) this month. In it, she discusses the early months of representing her constituency. [Voice of the MP - Gillingham & RainhamEditor’s note: Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan, who talks about the early months of representing her constituency.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f48360c1c-60c9-4f93-b4d8-3a8c9e70ff7a_450x600.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-gillingham-and-rainham-717/) We’ve got a bumper crop of content coming up over the next week: **Sunday:** Our weekend interview is with author, comedian, and new Local Authority columnist Zahra Barri (paid subscribers only). **Tuesday:** Our regular news briefing. **Wednesday:** We’ll examine the situation surrounding the former Buzz Bingo site in Chatham, its potential redevelopment, and its impact on the nearby Spotlites Theatre (paid subscribers only). **Thursday:** We’ll be running live coverage of Medway Council’s budget meeting, as the council attempts to balance the books for another year (paid subscribers only). [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*All Things to All People by The Pastel Waves*](https://thepastelwaves.bandcamp.com/album/all-things-to-all-people?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Last Punk Standing by Wild Billy Childish & CTMF*](https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/product/wild-billy-childish-and-ctmf/last-punk-standing?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Voice of the MP - Gillingham & Rainham URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-gillingham-and-rainham-717/ Last updated: 2025-02-20T20:24:34.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we publish a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, we welcome Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan, who talks about the early months of representing her constituency.* --- #### Voice of the MP **by Naushabah Khan, MP for Gillingham and Rainham** ![File:Official portrait of Naushabah Khan MP crop 2.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tW7b!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f48360c1c-60c9-4f93-b4d8-3a8c9e70ff7a_450x600.jpg) Naushabah Khan MP Being elected as the Member of Parliament for Gillingham and Rainham is such an honour. I am incredibly proud of my local roots, and the opportunity to represent the area that I was born and raised in and still call my home feels personal. I am determined to get things done, whether that be bringing together our communities or creating new opportunities and putting our area firmly on the map. Whilst the general election campaign last year was both exciting and tough in equal measure, it provided me with real insight into the change that is needed. Regardless of the political party they voted for, people across the constituency want to feel proud of our town centres, they want access to genuinely affordable local housing, to have real prospects for skills training and to see a thriving local economy. Essentially, they want to feel a sense of hope for the future. Of course, such change cannot be delivered overnight, but being an MP grounded in the constituency must be part of the journey. That is why my approach is to be results-driven, open in my communication and proactive when constituents come to me with issues or problems. When cases arrive, my office is often the first point of contact people look to for support, and as such, our key priority is to ensure that we solve your issue as quickly as we possibly can. This can involve working with a variety of stakeholders, whether that be contacting relevant government departments, engaging with Medway Council, health providers or the police. Cases can vary from a signposting process to more complex, time-intensive cases, which require several layers of correspondence with different authorities. Regardless of the query, I realise how important it is that queries are solved swiftly and with efficient communication. A key part of achieving this is having the right team of people to effectively respond to enquiries and to facilitate the often hectic schedule of an MP, and make sure it runs as smoothly as possible. This made assembling a team for my office one of my first priorities. So, fresh from the campaign, I went into the hiring process. Getting the right balance of skills and experience was vital, as my staff is divided between the constituency office and my parliamentary office in Westminster. The majority of my team share my local roots and live either in the constituency or in Medway, which is really beneficial when tackling constituent cases as they know the area well and have strong relationships with local stakeholders. It also means they are often on hand to help deliver my drop-in MP surgeries, which alternate between Gillingham and Rainham town centres on a monthly basis so that I can speak to residents from across our constituency. However, that does not mean that there aren’t challenges. I constantly have to work with my team to review capacity and ensure we have the resources to deal with the volume of queries we receive. Since becoming your MP, my office has received nearly 2000 cases, and while we have done our best to resolve as many as possible, we do have to prioritise the most urgent. We also receive several policy-based queries, which are not always urgent in nature, but of course, those writing in do expect a response from their MP. Unfortunately, this has meant that we currently do have a backlog that we are working through and trying to address. Alongside resident queries, my team are also working hard to support the issues I pledged to campaign on during the general election. Top of the list is the *Love Gillingham* initiative, which is my plan to transform Gillingham Town Centre. It is certainly a labour of love and sometimes results in my team having to manage me as I walk around single-handedly trying to police the problems I see in the High Street (possibly not the most recommended approach!). There is also a campaign to deliver a new banking hub in Rainham, which we will be launching in the first half of this year, and my focus on tackling the housing crisis across the constituency, whether that be poor quality housing, the delivery of social homes or addressing the issue of out-of-borough placements. Perhaps the most challenging part of running an MP’s office, however, has been the fact that you effectively operate as a small business. Budgets are set centrally by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), but after that MPs are essentially personally responsible for setting up all elements of their office and its day-to-day running. The most difficult has been the process of finding a physical office in Gillingham & Rainham. It wasn’t until I started looking that I realised how limited office space can be in the area and trying to find a location that is within budget, fit for purpose, accessible and centrally located has been almost impossible. I certainly did not rule out any options, including former bank sites and even old casinos with gold ceilings and purple walls - Personally, I think we could have made it work, but was sensibly overruled! We have, however, managed to finally make some progress on a new office location – so watch this space for further updates. While Monday to Thursday I tend to be in Parliament, Fridays are always allocated to constituency visits, and it is always the most exciting part of the week. It is a real opportunity to see first-hand what local organisations are delivering across the area, celebrate their achievements and discuss the challenges they face. In 2025 so far, I have had the opportunity to visit the great training facilities at the Royal Engineers in Brompton Barracks, see Pharmacy First’s innovative medicine dispensing machine in action, and eat delicious snacks at TickTocks café in Rainham, where I hosted my Small Business Roundtable. Working in partnership, thinking strategically about new opportunities and, importantly, being a visible and accessible MP, is how I am seeking to approach my work. But this is not always easy, there will undoubtedly be mistakes and teething problems as I settle into my new role. Set this against the context that trust in politics is at an all-time low, there is little space to get things wrong. However, by being honest and transparent when that happens and perhaps by demystifying a little of what my job entails, I hope there can be some understanding between me and those I represent, even if there is not always agreement. *Naushabah Khan is the MP for Gillingham and Rainham.* ### Medway Council ponders selling Brook car park, Upnor Castle, its own council chamber, and more URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-ponders-selling-brook/ Last updated: 2025-02-19T11:27:09.000Z *The main recurring storyline for Medway Council in recent years has been its struggle to balance the books. As part of that effort, the council is now proposing selling a number of sites, with The Brook car park, Upnor Castle, and even the council chamber potentially being offered. Further down, we have news on a nice looking but inefficient housing development in Intra, Homes England attempting to develop Chattenden Barracks once again, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway Council ponders selling Brook car park, Upnor Castle, its own council chamber, and more Medway Council is continuing its push to balance the books by proposing a second round of asset sales. Sites on the table include The Brook multi-storey car park in Chatham, Upnor Castle, several car parks and toilets, and Medway’s council chamber. ![File:Brook Pentagon car park, Chatham - geograph.org.uk - 3955753.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Mw_1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffd073b28-ffdb-4ffc-bf86-4ae41f798946_800x419.jpg) Brook Pentagon car park, Chatham by Chris Whippet, CC BY-SA 2.0 The move follows a [previous round that identified 30 sites to potentially sell](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-to-sell-off-temple/), including Gillingham Business Park, Rainham Shopping Centre, and Temple Manor. Those sites were identified as part of a review of non-operational sites (those not used for council activity), and now a [review of operational sites has been completed](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=78275&ref=localauthority.news). This new round has identified fewer potential sites but has still found the following as being surplus to requirement for the council: - The Brook multi-storey car park, Chatham - St George’s Centre, Chatham - Hopewell Drive Business Centre, Chatham - Offices at 17 Rochester High Street - Strood Cemetary Lodge - Britton Farm car park, Gillingham - Upper Mount car park, Chatham - High Street No 2 car park, Rochester - Lower Stoke car park - Albatross Avenue car park, Strood Further, the council proposes a formal consultation on the future of Upnor Castle and public toilets in Rainham, Cooling, and High Halstow. The implication for Upnor Castle is that as the site is not council-owned but council-managed, they suggest that English Heritage should take on the full running of the site to save the council money. It is unclear exactly how much revenue can be raised by selling public toilets, and any move that would result in the loss of toilets in the centre of Rainham is likely to be very unpopular. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!504I!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4d2a5577-e9f9-4ef6-bca5-31650326130b_4032x2111.jpg) Upnor Castle. Photo: stock.adobe.com The main asset list doesn’t yield any great surprises. For years, rumours have abounded that The Brook car park will be demolished as part of a large-scale regeneration scheme for Chatham. The car park is well past its prime, underused, and deeply unpleasant after dark. The St. George’s Centre currently houses Medway Council meetings. Medway has no formal council chamber, and any sale would depend on providing a new chamber. This has been on the table for some time, but it is unclear how much progress has been made. The car park sales are based on a formula that suggests they don’t return enough revenue to the council. This makes sense as the Rochester car park is often the only one in the town with any spaces, and most visitors to Chatham probably couldn’t find the Upper Mount car park if you paid them. The Lower Stoke and Strood ones are more complicated, as both provide free parking. The former is the main car park in the village, while the latter provides the only place to park in Medway that makes Cobham Woods vaguely accessible. Like with the previous list, it is unlikely that Medway Council will find buyers for all of these sites. In total, Medway has now identified nearly £40m in assets across these two rounds, but the intent is to try and raise around £20m in revenue. The proposals will be debated at the [Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=437&ref=localauthority.news) next week before moving on to Cabinet for approval. --- #### Intra housing proposals look nice but offer grossly inefficient development [Plans have been submitted to Medway Council](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SRBOKWKNM7O00&ref=localauthority.news) to redevelop a stretch of the Intra area between Rochester and Chatham. While the proposals are visually attractive, they feel like something of a waste of a prime bit of brownfield land in a town centre location. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Vvuo!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f72fbbc61-d91c-4abb-bb7f-ea1d1b4de98d_1806x946.jpg) Proposals for new houses in the Intra area. Developer Parklake Estates consulted last year and proposed building 75 homes on the site. In these final plans, this has been reduced to just 28 houses, with the majority being two and three-bedroom townhouses. The plans call for demolishing and replacing several industrial buildings on the site, including the Rock Church that fronts High Street. Pizza Hut and the Thai Market would remain in place, with this new development built around them. Still, while the land use is inefficient and unlikely to provide affordable homes, the developer should be commended for proposing new properties that blend with the street's environment. In a world where most new developments in Medway are in the same mundane styles, these appear to offer some new character to the area. --- #### Lodge Hill awakes from slumber One of the longest running sagas in Medway planning looks set to return, with Homes England once again looking to bring forward a residential development on the former Chattenden Barracks site. The area was once proposed to become the Lodge Hill development, effectively a new community on the site. However, these plans were scuppered when a large part of the site was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because a rare nightingale species made its home there. The new area Homes England is consulting on is rather smaller and represents the south section of the site. This area was not granted any special scientific designation. Currently, the site is primarily brownfield, consisting of foundations from the buildings that previously existed there. There are no clear proposals for the site at the moment, with Homes England holding engagement events at Chattenden Community Centre next week. You can find more details on [the consultation website](https://chattenden.commonplace.is/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### In brief 🐁 [Mice have been spotted on a Medway Hospital ward](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k5kv52jd1o?ref=localauthority.news). Medway NHS Trust said it is working with pest control experts to resolve the problem. 🏚️ [The vacant Hen & Chickens pub in Luton could become housing](https://www.kentlive.news/news/property/former-kent-high-street-pub-9945748?ref=localauthority.news). Proposals have been submitted to convert the building into ten flats. 🏡 [Medway Council has agreed to build its own care home to tackle the shortage of spaces in the area](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm23mvvy5zxo?ref=localauthority.news). The project will provide 80 beds at a cost of around £12m. 🏫 [Plans have been submitted to redevelop the University of the Creative Arts building in Rochester](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/the-20m-plan-to-turn-iconic-college-building-into-riverview-320031/?ref=localauthority.news). The £20m plans feature 102 ‘luxury’ homes, an art gallery, a cafe, and a bakery. --- #### More Authority [We sat down with independent Medway councillor Chris Spalding for our weekend interview](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/). We discussed why he represents All Saints on the Hoo Peninsula, what happened to his startup Medway People’s Voice party, and why he did or didn’t join UKIP, the Brexit Party, and Reform. ["The idea was to put independents on the council"Chris Spalding has been the elected independent councillor for All Saints on the Hoo Peninsula since 2023\. Steven met Cllr Spalding at the Mast and Rigging pub in Gillingham and they spoke about why he is the councillor of All Saints, why he doesn’t vote on the council budget, what happened to his startup Medway People’s Voice party, and why he did or didn’t join UKIP, the Brexit Party, and Reform.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa6d84fd4-3d5a-44ba-a6ad-15848c81a5ea_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### "The idea was to put independents on the council" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-idea-was-to-put-independents/ Last updated: 2025-02-16T07:01:32.000Z *Chris Spalding has been the elected independent councillor for All Saints on the Hoo Peninsula since 2023\. Steven met Cllr Spalding at the Mast and Rigging pub in Gillingham and they spoke about why he is the councillor of All Saints, why he doesn’t vote on the council budget, what happened to his startup Medway People’s Voice party, and why he did or didn’t join UKIP, the Brexit Party, and Reform.* **Editor’s note:* This interview was initially conducted before the recent* [*Medway Council by-elections*](https://www.localauthority.news/reform-takes-first-medway-council/) *that saw Reform win their first council seats in Medway. On the night of those elections, Cllr Spalding informed us that he had joined Reform. Since then, there has been some confusion about whether or not he is officially a Reform councillor. The below interview includes some supplementary responses from Cllr Spalding over the past few days.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!4hKH!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa6d84fd4-3d5a-44ba-a6ad-15848c81a5ea_1456x762.jpg) Cllr Chris Spalding **Where are you the ward councillor?** I'm the ward councillor for All Saints, which is actually out on the far end of the peninsula, the forgotten bit of Medway, as my late colleague, Councillor Mick Pendergast, would say. It's nothing to do with a certain area of Chatham that had a former hospital here, although I often get constituents from there emailing me with their problems and I'd pass it over to [Vince](https://www.localauthority.news/i-could-easily-fill-4-or-5-days-worth/) and [Nina](https://www.localauthority.news/i-feel-it-is-my-primary-role-to-promote/) and Damola. **Why are you the councillor for that ward?** Well, quite simply, at the last election, more people voted for me than anybody else. **Why did you stand in that ward of all the wards that were available in Medway?** It's like a second home. Despite all the crap that I've had over not living there, I've worked out there for 10-15 years. I got into politics because I was walking along Rochester High Street, and there's a big, blooming great new UKIP shop and some bloke by the name of Reckless, and I thought, ‘I'll see what the fuss is about.’ I walked in, and there's a military veteran, partially sighted with his guide dog. We got chatting, and a few other people and there was a couple of people I knew through bits and pieces. There was everyone in there, not just anti-Europeans. There were Lib Dems in there, people who had previously voted, it was very much a people's party. I got involved with that, stood in the elections in 2015, got to know Habib Tajian *(Conservative councillor for St. Mary’s Island)*, a couple of newbies on there. It's a friendship that has lasted the test of time. I took over as the UKIP Chair for Rochester and Strood Branch, and of course, we returned four councillors, which very rapidly went down to three, as Mark Joy *(now Conservative councillor for Rainham South West)* went on his quest to join more parties. There I am, working with them, and my fall from grace was when Medway UKIP was split, we didn't all get the money we were expecting. Some of it went missing, and I wouldn't shut up about it. I was unceremoniously removed and sat on the sidelines, still working quite a lot with Mick *(Pendergast, former councillor for Peninsula)* and Roy *(Freshwater, former councillor for Peninsula)*, particularly out on the peninsula. Then two became one, in the words of that ghastly song by a manufactured plastic girl group. It's a case of Mick wanted to give UKIP one last chance. Gerald Batten *(former Leader of UKIP)* came down and he was not happy. The independent dream, perhaps independent disrupted sleep or possible nightmare, began in 2019\. We were looking to put three independents out, ideally myself, [Ron Sands](https://www.localauthority.news/i-just-want-them-to-realise-what/) *(now Independent Group councillor)* and Mick. Ron wasn't going to stand, then all of a sudden he did and it was a very dirty, nasty campaign. They took on independents that we were standing even in Strood Rural. They were taking a pop everywhere. It doesn't take a lot to gather where that was coming from. Alright, a couple of tactical errors on my part, but you then got Ron and Mick elected, and they could have formed a group. They could have actually stopped an awful lot of housing on the peninsula because you had the one in the middle of Hoo that came in, and it went through on Diane Chambers’ *(former chair of planning committee)* casting vote. Now, if Mick had been on that committee, it wouldn't have happened. When Mick passed away from cancer, I'm sure he deliberately died about 10 days early because if he hadn't, we would have had the six-month rule *(which would have meant no by-election for the seat)*, and we had a by-election. A lot of people were actually asking me to stand, [George](https://www.localauthority.news/what-i-detest-is-that-kind-of-bickering/) *(Crozer, Independent Group councillor)* was always going to win the Peninsula by-election. The fact that he overspent and ran the ‘They Don't Live Here’ campaign was just plain nasty in my view. But it's simple: Hoo and High Halstow were going to vote for him. I understand that most of my votes came from Grain or Allhallows and such. Then, of course, they put Julie Wallace *(independent candidate for All Saints in 2023)* up against me, which, call it what it is, was treachery. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Bringing Luton together with lights URL: https://www.localauthority.news/bringing-luton-together-with-lights/ Last updated: 2025-02-14T19:23:10.000Z *It’s fair to say that Luton Road in Chatham doesn’t have the best reputation. This week, a light festival will illuminate the area in an effort to bring the community together. We’ve been finding out more. Further down, we hear about the challenges of translating the work of legendary Medway poet Bill Lewis into Spanish, Rob Flood details how the Royal Engineers are celebrating the 150th anniversary of their FA Cup win, we review Bare Bones, the new chicken restaurant in Rochester. Of course, there’s also our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Bringing Luton together with lights [*Luton Lights*](https://ideastest.org.uk/projects/current-projects/luton-lights-2025/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a family-friendly light festival celebrating creativity, community, and wonder. It is heading towards its grand finale, so we caught up with Wayne Parsons, Senior Producer at* [*Ideas Test*](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, who is responsible for this year’s festival.* “The recent workshops have been fantastic”, says Wayne. “We've had a great turnout, with people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to create their artworks. There's been a real buzz of excitement and creativity in the air.” Getting the community involved is a key part of the Luton Lights project. The UV artworks created during the sessions are now on display in the windows of homes and businesses along Luton Road and Luton High Street. The displays come to life at night, creating a magical, illuminated trail. A stop-motion animation film, also created during the workshops, will be projected onto the back of the Bowen Moto shop on Luton Road. On 18 February, you can take part in a guided walk “where you join a swashbuckling pirate for an adventurous journey along Luton Road,” hearing tales of the sea while exploring the illuminated displays. The walk starts at 6pm and is free to join. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zt6P!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3135bc23-3de4-49c6-b746-99aa3169a743_2560x1340.jpg) Luton Lights 2024 event. Photo: Ideas Test This is the second Luton Lights event, following the inaugral edition last year. The festival was designed to unite the community, celebrate Luton, and showcase local creativity. “The window displays are a fantastic example of this, with 24 homes and businesses already participating and more expressing interest", notes Wayne. The enthusiasm from the community has been strong, and Ideas Test are “thrilled to provide an event that brings vibrancy and light to the area.” For 2025, Luton Lights explores the theme ‘Tales from the Deep.’ The result weaves together the different aspects of the project, encouraging creative responses and exploration of underwater worlds. “We felt this theme offered exciting possibilities for content creation across a variety of art forms”, says Wayne. This includes the visual arts, with participants drawing and creating sculptures inspired by the diverse life and myths in the ocean depths. Performance pieces have brought tales of pirates, sailors and mythical underwater beings to life. They have used Immersive Technology to transport residents to the underwater worlds, allowing them to explore and interact with the tales in a unique way. All of this has enabled Ideas Test to explore important issues of environmental awareness, like plastic pollution and raising awareness of its impact on marine environments. “Tales from the Deep also connects to Medway's rich maritime history, adding a local resonance to the project”, says Wayne. Wayne is grateful to the community members for hosting artworks, the volunteers and the participants. The intent of the Grand Finale is to “bring light and joy to the town.” It will be held on Friday 21 February from 6pm til 8pm at the Invicta Social Club, where you can “experience the magic of Luton Lights.” There will be VR and AR experiences, live music, projection mapping, theatrical performances by Spotlites Theatre Company, and excitingly, popcorn. --- #### In brief 👶 [Imagine Play Cafe is opening at Chatham Dockside in the Spring](https://www.instagram.com/p/DGBLAf-Nhqx/?ref=localauthority.news). The location is aimed at parents and children and will feature a coffee shop, a role-play village, and a baby sensory zone. 🚶 [The Baton of Hope 2025 is set to visit Medway](https://news.kent.gov.uk/articles/hope-tour-route-and-events-unveiled?ref=localauthority.news). The Olympic torch-style baton will be carried through Medway and other parts of Kent on 22 September, encouraging people to discuss mental health struggles. 🛳️ [The Medway Queen reopens for its 2025 season tomorrow](https://shipsmonthly.com/news/medway-queens-new-season-2025/?ref=localauthority.news). A £10 ticket grants access to the ship docked at Gillingham Pier for a year. ⚽ [Things are not going well at Gillingham Football Club.](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/chairman-s-embarrassment-at-gillingham-performance-319874/?ref=localauthority.news) Chairman Brad Galinson said he felt ‘embarrassed, despondent, and frustrated’ with the team’s performance. At the same time, manager John Coleman called the players ‘too soft’ and said he wanted to ‘vomit’ watching them play. --- #### Bridging cultures with poetry [*Bill Lewis*](https://www.localauthority.news/my-parents-were-both-fictitious/)*, Medway Poet and former Stuckist, spoke to us last year about* [*his retirement plans*](https://www.localauthority.news/i/150505231/bill-lewis-possibly-announces-retirement)*. One of his last projects was a Spanish translation of his poetry. That book is due to be released on Monday by* [*Goat Star Books*](https://goatstarbooks.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*. We spoke with translator Rafael Cruz about why he translated Bill into Spanish and their upcoming Spanish tour, ahead of returning to Rainham Poetry Festival this year.* I start by asking Rafael how he would describe Bill Lewis. In return, he offers a historical context of the artist. “Bill Lewis is a painter and poet who comes from what was called the Medway Poets in the 1970s, also known as the punk poets. They were rebellious and working class, very independent and very Medway. Each of them developed in different ways. Some went on to be musicians, others became painters.” While others have moved on, Bill has remained a core part of the Medway creative scene. “Bill is a good painter, but he is above all a poet and a poet that is very rooted in Medway, but also looking outwards to the world, which is a very Medway thing to be, because Medway is Kent but it's not Kent. Medway is open to the river and through the river to the empire and the world beyond. I think that there is something of that quality of Medway in Bill. This idea of being very grounded in Medway, but at the same time, looking outwards to the sea and beyond.” I ask Rafael if he remembers when he first came across Bill’s work. “I knew of the Medway Poets and I knew of Bill Lewis. I have a degree in English Literature, as well as setting up a poetry publishing company.” Rafael admits that whilst he knew of Bill Lewis, he hadn’t actually read any of his poetry, despite the Medway Poets being famous in his mind. “I came across him directly when I presented a book I published from a Spanish surrealist poet that I translated into English in Store 104 in Rochester. I seized the opportunity to link surrealism with the Medway Poets because there's a lot of connections between them.” Rafael tells me that he contacted Bill out of the blue and he was very amenable to that. Bill came to compère for the book launch, and Rafael translated some of his poems into Spanish for the occasion. “Then, because everything went so well, I said to Bill, ‘Well, you're not known in Spain, and my publishing house wants to be a bridge between cultures, particularly the Spanish and the English, because that's me. I'm a Spaniard, I live in Britain. That's the project.’ And he was delighted.” From there, they decided to work on an anthology of his poetry, as well as including new poems published for the first time. There are currently four poetry books available curated by Bill. This project is a collection from those books called ‘Bill Lewis: The Shaman Poet and El Poeta Chamán.’ Bill has had translations appear in other languages before, but via magazines and anthologies, never a book of his own. “I’m very proud”, says Rafael. The Shaman Poet title comes because after punk poetry, “Bill became very interested in mythology, the mythology of Kent, then the mythology of England, the Celtic, the Anglo-Saxon, the mythologies of the land.” In the late 1970s there had been a revolution in Nicaragua “and there was a lot of international interest that this could be a new Cuba,” says Rafael. Bill was invited by the Nicaraguan embassy to visit Nicaragua. “He became part of the Nicaraguan poetry scene, and a lot of the poems in our anthology have a Latin American or Spanish connection because he wrote a lot of poems when he was in Nicaragua. He was also in touch with the Miskito Indians, the indigenous culture of Nicaragua. And he became even more interested in this idea of poetry as shamanistic.” The upcoming book is bilingual. “If you don't understand a single word of Spanish, it's okay. You can still buy the book”, Rafael reassures me. His introduction to the book and the index are also in Spanish and English. “They are also very good for people who know a bit of Spanish, or people who are studying Spanish. One page is in English and the other is in Spanish.” Part of the challenge of translating poetry is words that might rhyme or have multiple meanings may not do that in the translation. “It's a privilege that Bill exists”, says Rafael, who has translated work by deceased authors. “I could ask him directly. I think the translator is a medium. I hear the voice of the original. I understand what the original is saying and then I say to myself, ‘How would I say that in Spanish?’” Rafael, as well as writing a thesis on English poetry, is married to a British person and has lived here for 33 years. “I'm in a very unique position in that sense because English is my home language, but my native language is Spanish. But that happens to a lot of people. What doesn't happen to a lot of people is that they have that and the knowledge of poetry. That means that I can be a perfect medium for the translation of poetry.” *‘Bill Lewis: The Shaman Poet and El Poeta Chamán’ will be available from* [*Goat Star Books*](https://goatstarbooks.com/home?ref=localauthority.news) *on Monday. Bill Lewis will then be going on a Spanish tour with stops including Malaga, Seville, and Madrid. If you can’t make it to Spain, you can catch him at the* [*Rainham Poetry Festival*](https://www.rainhampoetry.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *in April.* --- #### Out to Lunch: Bare Bones *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to *Bare Bones in Rochester*…* Bare Bones is the new chicken stop on the block. Having just lost Cheeky Clucker on Rochester High Street, Bare Bones opened in the former Third Wave Coffee, former Cakeman establishment. The restaurant is simply laid out, getting a good number of tables from the available floor space. The menu is simple, offering tenders or chicken wings with a variety of sauces and seasonings. I ordered a portion of chicken tenders in teriyaki sauce and a portion of chicken wings with a garlic parmesan crust. For sides, I had Cajun sweetcorn ribs, skin on fries and barbecue hash browns. At least in theory, as the order for hash browns was forgotten and teriyaki hash browns eventually arrived. The chicken was very good. The tenders were crisp and generously chunky, the teriyaki flavouring complemented with chopped spring onions and ginger. The chicken wings were well cooked and clearly from healthy-winged chickens. The garlic parmesan crust added to them well. Corn ribs are becoming my new favourite thing, and the ones here were to a good standard, buttery with good Cajun heat. The fries were not limp and enjoyable to eat. The hash browns, when they arrived, were chunky and made a good side, though I’m sure the barbecue ones wold have been even better. --- #### Royal Engineers celebrate 150th anniversary of FA Cup victory **by Rob Flood** If you ever get the chance to visit the Royal Engineers Kings Bastion ground in Brompton to watch them play football, you might notice that instead of the usual rectangular corner flags, the RE flags are triangular. That’s because the RE are part of an elite group of English teams, numbering just 44, who have won the FA Cup. The Royal Engineers victory was in 1875, and this year is the 150th anniversary of their win. A number of events are planned for the year. The first, a game against Gillingham Town FC featuring former Arsenal great Eduardo, was played on 19 January and ended with a 2-1 victory for the Sappers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!42mT!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb11ecdb7-0d36-4a27-bc8b-720d067b3c5d_1444x756.png) Royal Engineers AFC and Gillingham Town AFC. Next in the diary is a ‘Festival of Football’ at the home of the Corps in Chatham on 10 May. This will include a Soccer Aid-style mixed age/gender charity gameto showcase diversity and inclusion within the Army. Female and masters’ players will be interspersed with prominent national and local players/ex-players in a 60-minute game that kicks off at 2.30pm. This is followed by the main event, a rematch of the 1875 FA Cup Finalbetween the Royals Engineers and the Old Etonians, to celebrate therole of both teams in the formative years of the national game. The RE have requested the loan of the oldest surviving FA Cup (used between 1896 and 1910) to be presented to the winning team. Kick off is 4pm and a capacity crowd is expected. There’s also an open day eventcomprising military stands and activitiesto bring in the crowds and strengthen links between the civilian and military communities in the Medway Towns. The RE are seeking to link the FA Cup 150 events to the wider commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, thus increasing exposure significantly. Regimental Sergeant Major Keith Stubbs says, “Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Royal Engineers' historic FA Cup victory is not just about honouring a moment in sports history. It’s about recognising the spirit, camaraderie, and resilience that define our Corps. As the only military team to have lifted this prestigious trophy, we embody the values of teamwork and excellence that resonate throughout the Army.“ There are also discussions underway with Chatham Town FC for a celebration match later in the year. --- #### Events this week 🏳️‍🌈 Until 18 Feb - [**Medway Pride 2025 exhibition**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-medwaypride25?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition exploring Pride in Medway for LGBTQIA+ History Month. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. 🎻 Sat 15 Feb - [**City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/city-of-rochester-symphony-orchestra/instance/404421/seats?ref=localauthority.news) // American Orchestral Allsorts presents a programme of music which celebrates the landscapes and culture of the USA. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £15. 🥕 Sun 16 Feb - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🛹 Mon 17 Feb - - [**Skateboard Collage Workshop**](https://www.instagram.com/p/DFqBCb5M5QP/?hl=en-gb&ref=localauthority.news) // Create your own Skate/BMX collages and design a skate deck. Sunlight Centre, Gillingham. Free 🐵 Mon 17 Feb - [**Scream Unseen**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-53139&ref=localauthority.news) // Mystery screening of a forthcoming horror film, almost certain to be The Monkey. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🌊 From 20 Feb - [**Sea View**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-seaview?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition of work by Philip Dupée with images that explore the vast coastal vistas of Britain’s South East Kent coastline. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. 🎸 Fri 21 Feb - [**Punching Swans + Rhinotranq + Snidefinder**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/chatham/poco-loco/punching-swans-rhinotranq-snidefinder/e-dmlkgx?ref=localauthority.news) // Headline show from Medway and London noise rockers. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. --- #### More Authority This week, we were delighted to welcome our new columnist, comedian and author . She has been pondering what she can do to make a difference, so she has thrown herself into the work of local charities. For this first edition, she went down to Open House Rochester to find out about their work. [Volunteer MedwayHello Medwaydians! I’m Zahra Barri, comedian, author and PhD student based in Rochester. Welcome to my Volunteer Medway column! They say that charity begins at home, but what if volunteering began in Medway?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityZahra Barri![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4f599f25-14ee-47f4-9b1f-0b934e936f7a_1199x628.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/volunteer-medway/) Our interview with independent/possible Reform councillor Chris Spalding is coming up on Sunday. It’s a fascinating read requiring several clarifications since sitting down with him last month. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![Project image for Futbol! An Isaac Newell tea towel from Medwayish](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zNBj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f08124711-a3c2-4bef-8b9e-5b8063c55b1a_1024x576.jpg)](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/medwayish/futbol-an-issac-newell-tea-towel-from-medwayish?ref=localauthority.news) [*Medwayish*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *is supporting* [*The Hazelnut Press*](https://www.hazelnut-press.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *in getting a new version of her iconic Isaac Newell tea towel design off the ground to celebrate the sporting hero from Strood. You can learn more about the project and* [*help make it happen here*](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/medwayish/futbol-an-issac-newell-tea-towel-from-medwayish?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Meanwhile Back in Medieval Britain… by Groovy Uncle*](https://groovyuncle.bandcamp.com/album/meanwhile-back-in-medieval-britain?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*A Compilation by The Gorgons*](https://thegorgons.bandcamp.com/album/a-compilation?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Volunteer Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/volunteer-medway/ Last updated: 2025-02-13T11:01:20.000Z Hello Medwaydians! I’m [Zahra Barri](https://zahrabarri.com/?ref=localauthority.news), comedian, author and PhD student based in Rochester. Welcome to my *Volunteer Medway* column! They say that charity begins at home, but what if volunteering began in Medway? *Volunteer Medway* was born out of my frustration at there being a plethora of online activism but very little information on how to actually act IRL. Now don’t get me wrong, social media does a fantastic job of creating awareness towards injustices, but when the average Instagram user is scrolling through such injustices on the johnny, a certain amount of gravitas is lost in cyber transit. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!BJRP!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4f599f25-14ee-47f4-9b1f-0b934e936f7a_1199x628.jpg) Zahra Barri at Open House Rochester Furthermore, these completely newsworthy humanitarian issues can often be found (in the case of my algorithm) sandwiched between an entire Welsh family doing a meticulously choreographed dance to Rappers Delight on TikTok. The well-intended call to action tends to get lost somewhere between my ‘unique’ millennial digital blueprint, which oscillates somewhere around nineties nostalgia, dogs being kissed by their owners and skincare routines, all whilst trying to find the loo roll. Even when I’m not doom scrolling on the loo and actually actively trying to save the world by showing support towards humanitarian (and donkey sanctuaries) causes, it never feels, well, quite like I am doing anything at all. Don’t get me wrong, I like how I feel like an absolute Princess Di every time I take the three seconds out of my day to sign change.org petitions. I also commend myself for considering it my absolute duty to post that I, too, ‘will never watch Masterchef again’ even though I never watched it in the first place (food shows just make me hungry). Additionally, I regularly like memes of Hollywood actresses’ Oscar speeches, saying empowering things like, ‘I just got my head down and worked’ before strutting back to sit beside their father, the patriarchal head of their acting dynasty family. However, just using my finger to act? Whilst it did explain the saying that my mother shouted at me throughout my childhood (‘Come on, get your finger out!’), it felt rather futile. I began to wonder what would happen if I used more than my finger. I pondered the increased efficacy of using my whole entire body. For it wasn’t just the whole using my digit on the digital (thank you, Creative Writing MA), but I became quite overwhelmed by the inertia, the frenzy, the panic, the sheer grand scale, the universality of completely worthy causes that we needed to have all our fingers on the pulse on at all times. Social media has made global issues seem local, so whilst they raise awareness, it makes us feel somewhat powerless because, in reality, we simply cannot physically get there. But then I began to think about how I got through my GCSEs. I remembered the BBC Bitesize courses that broke down modules into manageable and accessible chunks, and I began to apply this theory to charity and humanitarianism. The key, I began to see, was focusing on the smaller issues at first. Don’t worry about how to solve an algebraic equation that has brackets and square roots, simply focus on the value of ‘x’. In this case, it was about merely placing value on where your ‘x’ marks the spot. The causes closer to home are smaller and, both figuratively and literally, more approachable. They were not across countries and continents that could only be accessed through the digital realm. Instead, causes on your doorstep can be accessed via the physical nomadic realm (by this, I mean walking/public transport). The only downside I could see was that you couldn’t do any of it on the loo. Furthermore, it struck me that if we all look after our communities within a local radius, i.e. our villages, our towns and our cities (or, in this case, the cluster of Medway towns), perhaps it could have a ripple effect on the whole world that might even be more powerful than our online finger? It was at that point that I remembered the well-known idiom: Charity begins at home. And that’s when it was confirmed to me. So, I began to concentrate on the causes, catastrophes and crises that were far closer to me than Gregg Wallace’s P60\. Because let’s face it: I might be Arab, but I’m not exactly Amal Clooney. Even she only got voted the second most powerful Arab woman in the world the year she married George Clooney, and not the year she was appointed to a number of United Nations commissions, including as an advisor to Kofi Anan. So here I am actually doing something with my actual body (not just my doom scroll finger) and volunteering in Medway. I do realise the irony of sharing it online with you guys (but this is Substack, not IG or TikTok, so you best not be on the bog). I would make an educated guess that you Substack types are reading this internet tab whilst lounging on a chaise longue, flitting between *The Guardian* and your Ocado delivery. **So where did I go?** [Open House Rochester](https://rochesterquakers.org.uk/open-house-project/?ref=localauthority.news). It’s at the Quaker Meeting House, just off Rochester High Street. **What do they do?** Feed, clothe and help vulnerable people who have no permanent or precarious living circumstances every Saturday afternoon. Often, these vulnerable people are ‘between sofas’, with no job and very little accessibility to healthcare care for various reasons. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_qH4!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f28abcfb3-9dd1-45d5-958c-c703541b0126_1600x838.jpg) Sandwiches being prepared at Open House Rochester. **What goes on?** Between the hours of 11:45 and 3:45, a rota of six ever-changing volunteers cook a hot meal to feed over 50 homeless/semi-homeless/vulnerable Medwaydians. They also make sandwiches (cheese and ham) for guests to take for later, set up tea, coffee and hot chocolate stations and lay out donated clothes, tins of soup and the most eclectic array of biscuits I ever did see. Not just your average Digestives and Hobnobs, we’re talking Bourbons, Party Rings, Jammy Dodgers. Legend has it that one week (a trusted source/guest confirmed to me), there were even packets of Wagon Wheels. In short, if you get anything from this piece, it’s that Open House Rochester have got Biscuit Game. **How long has it been going?** It’s been running 17 years, which sounds like it started in the 90,s but a quick calculation while chatting to John Spencer (one of the OG trustees) tells us that it started in 2008, causing us to both take a minute of silence to reflect on how old we are. John tells me that Open House was started originally by an enigmatic woman called Amanda (a Quaker) now well into her eighties because nothing similar in Medway existed. Amanda was joined by Thelma, Corrinne, Deirdre and John, all of the Quaker faith. John is like no other religious person I’ve ever met, as when I press him for more on the Quaker faith, he tells me, “Let’s not overdo the Quaker stuff.” I find him very humble, gracious and endearing. I suddenly feel quite overwhelmed. All this is more heartwarming than watching back-to-back Richard Curtis films by an open fire with five puppies. It is exactly true what they say: There really is no selfless good deed. I was getting All The Feels while chatting to John. This was in between buttering sarnies, laying out chairs and tables and marvelling over the skills of Peter and Barbara, a married couple cooking team, as they concocted a delicious Medway Shepherd’s Pie. Apparently, this is a regular Shepherd’s Pie but with crumbly new potatoes instead of mash! Perhaps I’ve found the new presenters of Masterchef right here. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_gv7!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f195ec90c-37e6-49a6-bc25-585ff0fca2c8_1600x900.jpg) Peter and Barbara in the kitchen at Open House Rochester John ushers me away from the hot buttery carbs (I thanked him later) and told me that for the first five years, Open House were begging for donations and funding from anywhere they could think of. He reflects that back then, they didn’t do the level of food they do now (no Wagon Wheels, no Medway Shepherd’s Pie). “A simpler time?” I ask. “Yes,” John says. “Up until fairly recently there was no main meal, just coffees and teas and sandwiches, but lots of chat!” He smiles. They also used to serve food on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and that weird time between Christmas and New Year when no one quite knows what to do with themselves. Accounting for the changes, John explains that there are fortunately now many other Medway initiatives that provide similar services, such as [One Big Family](https://www.helpingthehomeless.org.uk/medway?ref=localauthority.news), who even do minibus services, [Medway Shelter](https://www.facebook.com/medwayshelter/) and [Caring Hands](https://www.caringhands.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). John admits that Open House is now one of the smallest providers as it simply doesn’t have as much manpower as many other local shelters. Often, if they receive particularly traumatised, vulnerable people, Open House sends them to these bigger places. What is rather positive and, again rather Richard Curtis-like levels of heartwarming is that many, many places such as [Watts Charity](https://www.richardwatts.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), [Rochester Cathedral](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/?ref=localauthority.news), [St Peter’s Church](https://parishofrochester.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and [King’s School](https://kings-rochester.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) give to Open House exceedingly generously. Most recently, a contact with someone within the King’s School who runs the Scouts means many provisions, such as sleeping bags, are also being donated. Furthermore, Medway Council are to be commended. John divulges that the council quite shrewdly prefer to give money to such initiatives rather than start up initiatives themselves. In return, they offer up the venue for council meetings (I told you there is never any selfless good deed). Most recently, John explains his giddiness that Kent Nursing Association donated £1000\. Yippee. His giddiness is infectious. It’s two o’clock, and guests are beginning to flood in now. There are 50 or 60 of them, mostly men. John explains that the average demographic of guests is men between the ages of 30 and 60\. There’s very few women, and John suspects it is because “women are more resourceful.” We ponder over this thought for several minutes, and I wonder what Steven Bartlett would have to say about this statistic on the Diary of a CEO podcast. There are also very few families, but when women and families do come in, they are often, John tells me, particularly traumatised. “It’s heartbreaking,” he says. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!79Ce!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f674ddd19-5f97-48b1-a7a6-05166ae6f5d8_1600x900.jpg) Volunteers at Open House Rochester. On that note, I ask him what the call to action is for anyone reading this. “Money, donations?” I ask. To be perfectly clear, John raises his eyebrows and says, “Zahra, the thing we need most is more volunteers. Without them, this place would not exist.” I’m again baffled. It’s not a quick use of your finger on your online banking that they need (although don’t get me wrong, please do that too if you can), but what they need is people, real people, in the flesh, not online, but On It. *If you are interested in volunteering at* [*Open House Rochester*](https://rochesterquakers.org.uk/open-house-project/?ref=localauthority.news)*, contact John and the team via *ohprochester AT gmail DOT com** *If you want to hear more about Zahra’s volunteering, branching further afield in Kent, check out her upcoming Volunteer Kent column, which is available in and from the May issue of the excellent* [*‘cene magazine*](https://cenemagazine.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Meanwhile, Zahra will be back here with more Volunteer Medway columns soon.* --- *is a Saudi Arabian raised, Egyptian/Irish writer, stand-up comedian and PhD researcher who has featured on Channel 4's Only Jokes a Muslim Can Tell, BBC Radio, BBC Asian Network and BBC Period Dramas. She has also appeared in Harpers Bazaar Arabia, The New Arab, Dubai's Mojeh Magazine and DIVA Magazine. Her writing won Runner Up for the Comedy Women in Print Unpublished prize 2020\. Her debut novel* [*Daughters of the Nile*](https://unbound.com/books/daughters-of-the-nile?ref=localauthority.news) *won the Unbound Firsts Writers of Colour competition, out now and is described as ‘A bold multi-generational debut, exploring themes of queerness, revolution and Islamic sisterhood.’ Her work is supported by The Society of Authors and the Arts Council. She now lives in Rochester, Kent, where she is a comedy and literary columnist for* [*'cene magazine*](https://cenemagazine.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* [*Her debut novel, Daughters of the Nile, is available to buy here*](https://unbound.com/books/daughters-of-the-nile?ref=localauthority.news)*.* [*You can also subscribe to her own Substack, Daughter of the Nile*](https://zahrabarri.substack.com/)*.* ### Labour loses overall control of Medway Council URL: https://www.localauthority.news/labour-loses-overall-control-of-medway/ Last updated: 2025-02-11T20:41:24.000Z *It’s often said that a week is a long time in politics. Medway has very much proved that rule this week. In our last Tuesday briefing, Medway (alongside Kent) was on track for devolution next year, we had no Reform councillors, and we hadn’t seen the plans for this year’s budget. A week later, devolution is off, Reform won two of three by-elections last week, and there’s already been time for a furore and u-turn with the budget. We’ve got the full details on all that, and lots more, below.* --- #### Labour loses overall control of Medway Council Following Thursday’s by-elections in Medway, Labour has formally lost its majority on Medway Council. After losing two seats to Reform, the party now has 29 of the 59 available seats on the council, one short of a majority. The party remains the largest group by some margin, so it will continue as a minority administration. In reality, this will likely mean very little for the running of the council. Labour’s position is slightly strengthened by the fact that two independent councillors, Stephen Hubbard and Satinder Shokar, are currently suspended from the party but still likely to support the party when required. We have more on that further down. For now, let’s look back at the by-elections held in Medway on Thursday. In **Gillingham South**, **Labour** managed to cling on to the seat, but by a narrower margin than they will be comfortable with given this was one of the party’s safest wards. Labour saw its vote share in the ward drop 20%, but this still left it with 37% of the vote, ahead of the 27% polled by Reform candidate Rizvi Rawoof. Given the party's little campaigning, Reform's figure will make Labour uncomfortable. Still, Labour did enough to get over the line, with the voters electing **Liubov Nestorova** as their new councillor. Elsewhere, the Conservatives will be disappointed by the result given their work in the ward, but their vote share aligns with how they did in 2023\. The Greens put in a respectable performance in fourth place, while Lib Dem Onyx Rist somehow came fifth in a ‘two-horse’ race their party had been shouting about throughout the campaign. It turned out the ward was indeed a two-horse race, but that race didn’t involve the Lib Dems. The SDP seemed satisfied with their 69 votes, though one has to wonder why the Heritage Party even bothered, with their non-existent campaign gathering a grand total of 12 votes. ![Three people stood smiling at the camera. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Jb7o!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f106333a0-45db-49ac-a2e5-2f91f2d25752_3500x1833.jpg) New Medway councillors John Vye (Reform), Liubov Nestorova (Labour), and David Finch (Reform). Photo: Medway Council Of course, the real drama was over in **Rochester East & Warren Wood**, where **Reform** managed to see off Labour to win both seats in the ward. It was a fairly close result, with just 21 votes separating the second-place Reform candidate from the best-performing Labour candidate. Still, under our system, a win is a win, so **David Finch** and **John Vye** were elected as councillors despite the enthusiastic efforts of at least one Labour activist who attempted to push for multiple recounts. Further down, the results were rather similar to Gillingham South. The Conservatives came in a distant third despite a solid campaigning effort in the ward, with the Greens being the only other candidate to hit triple figures. The Lib Dems didn’t bother doing anything but weren’t far behind, and once again, the Heritage Party came dead last with a pathetic number of votes. As always, parties will undoubtedly do a lot of ‘soul searching’ and ‘learn lessons’ as a result of the outcome, but it is clear that Labour is currently struggling to keep its voters on board in Medway. By-elections are fickle, so Labour may well be able to steady the ship in the years ahead, but no doubt some in the party will start to panic about their current position. Now Reform has their first elected councillors in Medway, what will their priorities be? We contacted the two councillors to find out, and they told us that waste, crime, and roads would be their initial priorities: > *Your newly elected Councillors David & John are both honoured to have been elected to represent the people of Rochester East & Warren Wood on Medway Council.* > > *This result shows that residents are ready for real change, and we're committed to standing up for them - fighting for less waste, cleaner streets, and holding the Police Commissioner accountable for a safer community, as well as pushing Medway Council to prioritise road repairs and improve the condition of the pavements.* > > *Reform UK is here to shake things up, and this is just the beginning.* Alongside Reform's two seats won by the by-election, the group has already grown to three councillors, with independent Chris Spalding formally joining the group. As a result, the group will be eligible for things like committee placements, which will give them a voice in Medway Council debates. Rochester East & Warren Wood is a three councillor ward, meaning they share responsibility for the ward with Labour’s Deputy Leader Teresa Murray. We asked her what she thought of their win and whether she could see any common ground where they could work together. She responded: > *I was very disappointed not to see my Labour colleagues elected after a hard fought campaign, both would have made excellent councillors who had strong local knowledge and really cared about our community. The new Reform councillors did not disclose their plans for representing my constituents preferring instead to concentrate on their Party’s national positions in their election materials which I disagree with for example blaming migration for things that are going wrong, saying the NHS should not be free. Neither of them live in the Ward nor did they mention any local issues in their materials.* Speaking to *Local Authority*, Medway Council Leader Vince Maple called the result “a difficult night.” He went on to say that he had “no support for the vast majority of Reform candidates” and that “lots of them have come from a challenging background and have views I don’t agree with” but said he would attempt to “work with all 58 other councillors" and that he wanted to “work with them positively.” --- #### Budget provides no real surprises Medway Council must pass a balanced budget in the coming weeks. Given the challenges the council continues to face in balancing the books, the proposed budget offers little difference to last year. Of course, the biggest detail is that the council has once again requested Exceptional Financial Support from the government, seeking £8.4m to cover this year’s overspend and a further £18.5m to reach a balanced figure next year. While it is not confirmed the council will be granted this support, it seems nearly certain that they will, given that a refusal would result in Medway having to issue a Section 114 notice, which effectively renders the authority bankrupt. Medway also requested further government support, asking to increase council tax beyond the legal 5% maximum. This request, along with a request for greater flexibility on government grants, was refused. [The version of the budget presented to Cabinet](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=5913&ref=localauthority.news) today is based primarily around income generation rather than cuts to services. Some headline figures in the budget: - Council tax to rise by 4.994% - Car parking fees to increase by 60p at every level, representing an increase of up to 46% - Rochester Castle entrance fee to increase by 12% - Some sports centre memberships to increase by up to 15% - The majority of other fees are set to increase by 5 to 10% Of course, it wouldn’t be a Medway Council budget with at least one own goal. This year’s one came to light when Deputy Leader of the Independent Group Michael Pearce highlighted that the budget proposed giving Medway councillors a 50% discount at the council’s leisure centres. Within a couple of days, Medway Council Leader Vince Maple made it clear that the administration would no longer be supporting that idea, placing the blame on the Employment Matters committee (chaired by Labour and majority held by Labour). During today’s budget meeting, Cllr Murray described the argument as ‘a grubby exchange of lies’, while others cited misinformation over the issue. This is slightly odd as it is difficult to find another interpretation of the words presented within the budget report itself: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zHdO!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f87806a94-d9cf-4f35-b5b1-a2b0e59ad09a_1410x1456.png) Medway Council budget proposals Medway Council will hold its budget meeting on 27 February, where they will attempt to pass the budget. On paper, Labour should be able to get it through, but with the numbers on as much of a knife edge as they are, it’s going to be an interesting night. Vince: “A more challenging set of circumstances than we’ve been in before.” “I’m determined to get this budget through.” Vince on Sat/Steven: “I am frustrated at how long it’s taken for me and the two individuals. I don’t think that’s been acceptable. I’ve made that clear within the party.” --- #### No elected mayor anytime soon Over the past few months, politics in Medway and across wider Kent has been dominated by talk of devolution. Both Kent County Council and Medway Council made a mammoth effort to bid for devolved powers, money, and the elected mayor that would come with that. Both councils were shocked last week when the government announced which areas would receive the powers next year, which didn’t include Kent and Medway. It was initially unclear exactly why Kent and Medway’s bid was deemed unsuitable. Still, in the days since, it has become apparent that the government's position was that it couldn’t figure out a way to make the governance of the new strategic authority work, given the size difference between Kent and Medway Councils. Medway Council Leader Vince Maple described the decision as “frustrating as it means we are missing out on opportunities to improve things like skills and public transport.” It is baffling how the government came to this view. If a strategic authority of Medway (population \~280,000) and Kent (\~1.6m) isn’t feasible, one has to wonder how Thurrock (\~180,000) and Essex (\~1.5m) was deemed acceptable. Similar ratios can also be found within Sussex’s accepted bid. As a result, it seems unlikely that Kent and Medway will be able to form a strategic authority before 2028 once local government reorganisation has been completed. In the meantime, other areas on all sides will be able to proceed with the new powers and finances while Kent and Medway are left behind. Local government reorganisation presents a more profound challenge for the county. While almost everyone was on board with the devolution bid, clear fault lines exist regarding how to divide Kent into unitary councils. Labour believes four councils are the way to go, while the Conservatives are adamant about three. No one is particularly willing to discuss precisely what either plan would look like in reality. Further complicating matters is that with devolution off the table, Kent County Council will now have to hold local elections in Medway. While the county has long been Conservative, it is hard to predict the outcome of a county-wide election in the current political environment. It could be that the consensus that exists on devolution may not even survive the next few months. --- #### Medway MP shares Reform style ads With Reform on the rise in the polls, Labour seems increasingly desperate to see them off. The party has adopted several positions to try to win back voters who might be leaning towards Farage’s group, with some baffling results. One of the more questionable decisions has been to release a [series of adverts in the style of Reform’s messaging](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/06/labour-launches-ads-in-reform-style-livery-to-boast-about-deportations?ref=localauthority.news), touting their hard line on issues like immigration, even if it perhaps undermines why people voted for them in the first place. Never one to turn down a controversial talking point, Chatham and Aylesford MP [Tris Osborne](https://www.localauthority.news/im-pushy-and-i-like-people-pushing/) took to X (and only X) to share that Labour was removing more migrants than anyone in years in Reform colours and styling. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!bgYF!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd7e0186f-4291-4888-8d07-632018fb8ab2_1160x1124.jpg) Tris Osborne post on X Unsurprisingly, this hasn’t gone over hugely well with those on the left. Medway Stand Up To Racism [responded](https://x.com/MedwaySutr/status/1887549451121865212?ref=localauthority.news) with a simple ‘Wtf’, while another user asked why it looked like an ad for Reform. Osborne’s patronising response was that he ‘[hadn’t noticed](https://x.com/TrisOsborneMP/status/1887546893418578214?ref=localauthority.news)’ because playing dumb to your constituents is an excellent way to win people over. Sources within Medway Labour itself expressed frustration with Osborne’s tweets. One source said it was ‘a classic example of someone who thinks they’re being really clever at comms being really terrible at comms and who should really learn where their talents lie and where they don’t.’ Labour finds itself in a difficult position, with its fragile coalition of voters ebbing away in different directions. Keeping everyone together is going to be challenging, and we’re likely to see more messaging like this that risks alienating one group to try and keep another. It’s unclear how effective this strategy can be over the long term. --- #### In brief 🍲 [Neil Charlick, Chief Executive of the Gillingham Street Angels, has resigned from the position after seven years in charge](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/boss-of-homeless-charity-he-founded-takes-a-back-seat-319794/?ref=localauthority.news). He told the KM he intends to return to doing more day-to-day outreach work for the organisation instead. 🛒 [Aldi has launched a consultation for their proposed new Chatham store](https://aldiconsultation.co.uk/chatham/?ref=localauthority.news). The plans are on the former St John Fisher site on Maidstone Road, with the design looking like a standard Aldi, 104 parking spaces, and the promise of 50 new jobs. 🗣️ [Medway Council has launched a consultation on the future of Rainham town centre](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200177/regeneration/1972/rainham%5Ffeasibility%5Fstudy%5F2025%5Fconsultation?ref=localauthority.news). The survey asks residents what they like about the centre and what they want to see improved. 👮 [A shop in Hoo has had its licence suspended](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/shop-s-alcohol-licence-suspended-after-serious-crime-and-di-319817/?ref=localauthority.news) after Kent Police raised concerns over ‘serious crime and disorder.’ Quicky Mart ([not that one](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwik-E-Mart?ref=localauthority.news)) will now face a full review on 4 March. --- #### More Authority Gillian Fargher is the High Sheriff of Kent, a voluntary ceremonial role with a legacy dating back a thousand years. [We sat down with the former GP](https://www.localauthority.news/most-people-dont-know-about-it/) to learn more about the role and how one ends up doing it, her return to the NHS during covid, her trip to Antarctica, her multiple volunteering roles, and lots more. ["Most people don't know about it"The High Sheriff of Kent is a voluntary ceremonial role with a thousand year legacy. Steven met Dr Gill Fargher, the current holder of the role, to discuss how she was selected for the role, returning to being a GP during covid, her trip to Antarctica, her multiple volunteering roles, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe6128515-a907-4c3c-9d0a-4f6846c3cacb_1321x691.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/most-people-dont-know-about-it/) **Coming up this week:** **Thursday:** Our new columnist, , writes about her experience volunteering in Medway (paid supporters only). **Friday:** Our usual arts and culture briefing featuring Luton Lights, Bill Lewis, some special Royal Engineers football matches, and lots more. **Sunday:** Our weekend interview is with Cllr Chris Spalding, the independent councillor for All Saints on the Hoo Peninsula who joined Reform last week (paid supporters only). [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*All Hell by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/all-hell?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*The Cool Greenhouse by The Cool Greenhouse*](https://thecoolgreenhouse.bandcamp.com/album/the-cool-greenhouse-album?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Giant Elk by Me Rex*](https://merex.bandcamp.com/album/giant-elk?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### "Most people don't know about it" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/most-people-dont-know-about-it/ Last updated: 2025-02-09T07:01:35.000Z *The High Sheriff of Kent is a voluntary ceremonial role with a thousand year legacy. Steven met Dr Gill Fargher, the current holder of the role, to discuss how she was selected for the role, returning to being a GP during covid, why they went to Antarctica, her multiple volunteering roles, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!hRWt!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe6128515-a907-4c3c-9d0a-4f6846c3cacb_1321x691.jpg) Dr Gill Fargher (centre) **What role are you currently undertaking for Kent and Medway?** I have five voluntary roles ordinarily, but the current principal role is a sixth voluntary role, which is High Sheriff of Kent. So not Medway specifically, but for the whole of Kent. Obviously, I'm a resident of Medway. I've lived in Medway for a long time. I was a partner in my practice for 32 years, so I know Medway fairly well. **How long do you do the role for?** The High Sheriff role is a non-political royal appointment for a single year. **How would you describe the role?** Most people don't know about it. I didn't know about it until about 12 years ago. It's the oldest continuous Crown appointment. It's existed for approximately a thousand years. According to some sources, and history varies as you will know well, Kent is considered to have had the first High Sheriff. The original ‘Shire Reeves’ were guardians of the Shires. In days gone by when life was short andviolent and travel was very difficult, we had no judges, no magistrates, no police, no inland revenue. The monarch, usually a king, created the role of Sheriff for each county. The Sheriff had enormous power and enormous responsibility. He was responsible for collecting tax and administering justice on occasions. It was a tough role. Now that we have all these other statutory agencies that didn't exist in those days, the role is largely ceremonial. It is enshrined in law, and it is still the responsibility of the King to appoint.I have a Royal Warrant. The process by which you're appointed also hasn't really changed in recent times. There is a nomination panel in each county, and they approach people who they think might be appropriate to undertake the role. The only two rules are that you own a property in the county and that you are of good standing, which applies to a lot of people. Because it's a voluntary role and because it does demand quite a lot of time, also because there is no public money for this role, anything that you spend, from having your court dress made to undertaking any hospitality or arranging events, has to be your own expense. So that is a challenge. Not everyone has time to do it, or not everyone would want to do it because, as part of this role, you are on show quite a lot, and it demands quite a lot of speech-making. **How were you approached for the role?** I was approached by the nomination committee that exists in Kent, which is the normal route. **How were they aware of you?** I think they were aware of me because some of the members of that committee knew about me. At that time, I was still working as a GP, but I was undertaking quite a lot of voluntary work and starting some charitable work as well. I retired as a GP in 2019, and at that time, I had four of the five roles I have now. I did go back when we had covid to my former practice and helped with the vaccination effort because doctors were wanted to supervise vaccination clinics in the early days of the vaccine. But then I retired again and continued with my normal voluntary roles. I was approached by the nomination panel, submitted a CV, met a few of them in different situations. The process is then that the appointment is approved by the Lord Lieutenant of the county, then the Privy Council, and ultimately the King. **Did you get to meet the King as part of that?** I haven't met the King. Would be lovely, but obviously, he's had his own health issues to deal with. **As the High Sheriff, do you have powers to arrest people?** No. Our role is now largely ceremonial. I do retain a role which is relevant currently and that is the Returning Officer for Kent. When we had the General Election I went to a local count. Bearing in mind that I had to go there at the early hours of the morning and observe the count. I went in court dress, and then I declared the result for Chatham and Aylesford on national TV in my velvet coat and hat at 4.30am on the morning of Friday the 6th of July, reminding yourself that you've volunteered for this. The remit follows from the ancient role of Sheriff and High Sheriff, which is to support law and order, so that is still the remit of the modern High Sheriff. However, there are other elements to the role. Upholding and enhancing the role of High Sheriff is supporting the Lord Lieutenant, supporting the royal family, supporting the judiciary and Kent Police. How I see the support is going to find out what they do. I sit with judges on the bench and observe justice being administered. I think for professionals in many of these roles, life is tough. They're tough roles with huge responsibility, and as in all aspects of public life, funding is not limitless, and that brings challenges. It's about talking to them, seeing what they do, understanding what they do and supporting them by recognising what they're doing and the importance of the role. The High Sheriff cannot support people in a financial way. We bring no resource but recognition and acknowledgement and saying thank you is actually important. I do the same with Kent Police. A lot of the work undertaken by Kent Police isn't seen by the general public. I'm very familiar with the fact that people are much more ready to complain about something than they are to praise whoever it is that may deserve praise, and Kent Police, like other public services, can be faced with that issue. I go out with Kent Police and the work they are undertaking is astonishing. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Reform takes first Medway Council seats URL: https://www.localauthority.news/reform-takes-first-medway-council/ Last updated: 2025-02-07T02:59:09.000Z *Medway politics took a new turn last night, with Reform winning two seats in by-elections. We’ll have the full story in our Tuesday edition, but we have the key details below. Beyond that, our usual arts and culture briefing includes a look at Chatham’s Chinese New Year celebrations, the ins and outs of Gillingham’s transfer window, a review of experimental music event Minimus at Analogue Music, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Reform takes first Medway Council seats Reform won two of three Medway council seats holding by-elections last night, taking both seats in Rochester East & Warren Wood from Labour. David Finch and John Vye managed to top the ballot in the ward, giving Reform their first elected councillors in Medway. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!dqiL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f868a0146-06e9-4d91-8392-0bdb5bd4a207_1981x1266.jpg) New Reform councillorst David Finch and John Vye. As a result of their two seat losses, Labour has technically lost overall control of Medway Council, now holding 29 of 59 seats. They remain the largest party by some margin, and two suspended Labour councillors mean their voting power in reality is closer to 31. Labour held on to its seat in Gillingham South despite a surging Reform vote, with Liubov Nestorova’s victory providing the administration with the one bright bit of news. The two new Reform councillors won’t be the only ones representing the party on the council. Formerly independent councillor Chris Spalding confirmed to *Local Authority* that he has also joined the party. Spalding has represented All Saints ward on the Hoo Peninsula since 2023. *We’ll have a more detailed analysis of the new political reality for Medway Council in our Tuesday edition. Paid supporters can access our* [*live coverage of the election count here*](https://substack.com/chat/449066/post/396c93ea-f7b7-4747-bf51-7fed766ef870?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### In brief 🚫 [Kent and Medway were not included in the government’s Devolution Priority Programme](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyp3xzj14zo?ref=localauthority.news), meaning we won’t get an elected mayor and the powers and money that come with that next year. Medway Council Leader [Vince Maple called the news](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1839/devolution%5Fpriority%5Fprogramme%5Fgovernment%5Fdecision%5Fand%5Fcllr%5Fvince%5Fmaple%5Fstatement?ref=localauthority.news) “bitterly disappointing.” *We’ll have more on the devolution debacle in our Tuesday edition…* 🏥 Medway Hospital are proposing extending visiting hours from 8am to 8pm each day. [They are holding a survey to obtain feedback on the idea](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/were-planning-longer-visiting-hours-what-do-you-think/?ref=localauthority.news). 💸 Medway African and Caribbean Association have been [awarded a landmark grant of over £282,000](https://macacharity.org.uk/press-release-medway-african-and-caribbean-association-awarded-landmark-grant-in-excess-282000-for-work-with-young-people/?ref=localauthority.news) for its work with young people. 🏗️ [Ground has finally been broken on the proposed Docking Station](https://www.kent.ac.uk/institute-cultural-creative-industries/dockingstation?fbclid=IwY2xjawIRbCtleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHf7cW6PAuiafMNaa5zMlKvKZeuP3IKZYa7SXv3oLZlVEY0HN6VreonDt6w%5Faem%5FkeV1GUyYecM7Fre%5FA7sSHw&ref=localauthority.news) building at Chatham Dockyard. If you want to make your mark on it, [you can name a brick for £100](https://www.kent.ac.uk/giving/make-your-mark?ref=localauthority.news). 🌳 [3,500 new trees are being planted on green space at Deangate in Hoo](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx24r92w8llo?ref=localauthority.news). The planting is part of a scheme to add 1.5m new trees across Kent. --- #### Chatham celebrates the Year of the Snake ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yoOK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffc798452-d34e-4bea-8919-e2b446086996_1200x628.png) The 2024 Chatham Chinese New Year parade This weekend is the Chinese New Year celebration in Chatham. The event is an opportunity to celebrate Medway’s long history with the Chinese people. David Stokes of Chatham Town Centre Forum tells us, “I believe, officially, I will put quote marks around it, ‘the largest Chinese parade outside of London.’” Medway is twinned with [Foshan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foshan?ref=localauthority.news), and the parade is supported by their representatives in the Kato Society. A traditional Chinese parade will take place at midday. It will start with the ‘dotting of the eyes ceremony’, where the dragon is woken. This will be followed by the main parade, featuring Chinese acrobats and entertainers, including troops from China. The parade organisers from the Kato Society work with the organisers of London’s celebrations, leading to performers extending their stays to perform in Chatham. The parade is free to attend and is one of the biggest events on Chatham’s calendar. Local organisations will also contribute, including Nucleus Arts’ snake puppet and the Rotary Club’s dragon boat. Community and dance groups will join them as they march down the High Street. After the parade, there will be a performance of Chinese dance inside and outside the Pentagon. “We're going to spread the love”, says David. Dozens of community groups are expected to take part throughout the day, highlighting the centuries old connection of the Chinese community to the area via Chatham Docks. The festival returned with a bang last year after ending during the covid pandemic. David, in his dual role with Chatham Town Centre Forum and Nucleus Arts, secured UK [Shared Prosperity Fund](https://www.localauthority.news/825000-spent-on-56-community-projects/) money last year to bring the event back. Its return was even mentioned in parliament as an example of good practice in using such funding. They reapplied and received funding again this year, with additional financial support from the Town Centre Forum. The organisers are hopeful that, having successfully brought the festival back, there is now enough momentum for it to become a mainstay of the Medway festival events calendar again. “The difficulty with any events at the moment is funding. It's always a struggle to get funding for events.” Medway Council used to be able to fund a number of festivals. [We recently covered the Medway Japan Association](https://www.localauthority.news/the-medway-japan-connection/), which was previously showcased through the now-defunct Will Adams Festival. There is less funding for events, and events themselves are more expensive to run. Cost increases have come partly from an increased focus on security and safety, with road closures, all-day ambulance and welfare stations all driving up costs. David is adamant that they will continue supporting the festival and fundraise for it as long as possible. *The Chatham Chinese New Year Festival takes place tomorrow (Sat 8 Feb)*.[*You can find more details here*](https://www.nucleusarts.com/chathamchinesefestival?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### The Ins and Outs of the Gillingham transfer window **by Ben Hopkins** *After Gillingham’s season sunk into extreme disappointment and is now in danger of much worse, the transfer window offered manager John Coleman the chance to shake things up. *Ben Hopkins* looks at the ins and outs and tries to say something more in-depth than just “meh.”* What was Gillingham’s transfer window plan? From the outside, the strategy appears to have three core strands: bring in as many new players as possible to try to revert the mood amongst the squad and provide fresh team options; focus on loans to avert committing to expenditure that runs into next season; and to begin to clear out the dead wood. In chronological order, these are in the ins and outs. **George Lapslie to Bradford** George Lapslie joined with great expectations at the start of the Galinson era. The midfielder weighed in with a few goals, a little industry and flashes of ability, but all too often seemed to be as anonymous as the floods of Valentine’s cards we’re anticipating to arrive at *Local Authority Towers* next week. After two years of fans thinking, “maybe he’s finally finding some elusive form”, one of the club’s better paid players departed the bleak house of Priestfield for the bright lights of, erm, Bradford. Oh well. **Asher Agbinone from Crystal Palace (loan)** Asher Agbinone is highly rated enough at Palace to have been given some Premier League minutes this season, and Gills have already had a taste of the attacking midfielder’s love of a rambling, mazy run. Unfortunately, going two down so early at home to Notts County meant Priestfield was given just a brimful of Asher - he was off after 45\. First impressions are overall promising. He looks like he has the unpredictable flair that has been so predictably missing from the Gills team this season. **Nelson Khumbeni from Bolton** Defensive midfield is a pretty thankless task. If you’re pegging it around the pitch, putting in reducers, taking some tactical yellow cards, scoring the odd screamer and succeeding in some adventurous passes, you’ll be a crowd favourite. Unfortunately, if you can do all that, you probably won’t be at Gills to begin with. The one permanent signing of the window, Nelson Khumbeni so far hasn’t made much of an impression either way, so the jury is out. The one thing I can say with confidence is this: if you want to welcome him by taking a Malawi flag into the ground, make sure you have a fire safety certificate for it. **Jimmy-Jay Morgan From Chelsea** Chelsea spent several million on striker Jimmy-Jay Morgan when he was just 17, and two years later, he has been despatched to ME7 for his first taste of first-team experience. His positioning pressured Tranmere into conceding an own goal on his debut, but his first home game versus Notts County saw him mostly shunted out to the wing. He must have the raw talent, but the lack of service could be his downfall - the club’s top scoring strikers, Nevitt, Gbode and Wakeling, have just one league goal each this season. **Tim Dieng to Cheltenham (loan)** Tim Dieng was arguably the most important of the highly paid recruits who helped avoid relegation when the Galinsons took charge. This season, however, he has started just eight league games. At the age of 32, with his contract expiring in the summer, it makes sense for everyone for him to have the opportunity to earn a contract elsewhere by spending the rest of the season on loan at Cheltenham. Adieu, mon ami. **Andy Smith from Hull (loan)** Central defence is traditionally a strength of Gillingham teams. This year, however? After 430 appearances, I suspect beleaguered club captain Max Ehmer will have a tough final few months to his Gills career. Conor Masterson has gone from being a player you build a team around to one you wouldn’t mind leaving on the bench, and Shad Ogie has been shunted to left-back to replace the out-of-favour Max Clark with mediocre results. The one upside has been the emergence of homegrown youngster Sam Gale. So, where does Andy Smith fit in here? To be honest, I dunno, but given the defence’s multiple lapses of concentration, another option can only be beneficial. **Dominic Corness from Liverpool (loan)** Liverpool youngster Dominic Corness has been nicknamed The Wand, hopefully in tribute to his passing ability rather than having the mobility of The Great Soprendo. Gills desperately need a bit of creative magic to feed the strikers and to make space going forward, but will this year be too soon in his development to make an impact? His first team experience so far has been a season on the fringes of the Yverdon Sport squad in the Swiss Super League. Let’s hope he’s more abracadabra than… What rhymes with abracadabra? Nothing? FFS. **Verdict** There’s no denying that this hasn’t been a particularly inspiring transfer window - but with nine points, better goal difference and two games in hand on 23rd-placed Morecambe, it should be enough to edge Gills to safety. The club has numerous players out of contract in the summer, plus several more who have little future at the club, so a major rebuild is already being plotted. From those, I’d keep Robbie McKenzie, Conor Masterson if he doesn’t already have other plans, and Glenn Morris if he could turn back the clock five years. That’s it. --- #### Review: Minimus Archive at Analogue Music **by Stephen Morris** [Minimus](https://www.facebook.com/theminimus/) has its origins in the backroom of the much-missed Good Intent pub, that once stood on John Street in Rochester. Between 2016 and 2020, musicians with experimental leanings were invited to join a jam session that was a world away from any other. In the words of a poster inviting today’s onlookers to buy a cassette recording of archived performances, the result was ‘low-volume, high intensity.’ In the wake of The Good Intent’s demise, Minimus’ outings have been… minimal. So today’s event in a Rochester record shop marks a welcome return. Taking up a space usually reserved for the shop’s hi-fi equipment, you will find a table full of electronic gizmos operated by the event’s organiser, Roy Smith. He is joined by The High Span’s Kevin Younger playing guitar alongside a bass player. There’s a man with another box of electronic gadgets perched on his lap. And there is, most notably, Chris de CB, who has plugged a lone bicycle wheel into an amp and is playing the spokes with a violin bow. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Xrro!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f222bb7e1-aafe-47a2-8ddf-2096c38a890e_1456x762.jpg) Minimus Archives at Analogue Music They will all be joined, in due course, by Tracy Affleck, singing short snatches of motifs into a microphone that looks curiously like a baked bean tin. Her contribution is a kind of live recreation of the subtle art of sampling. It’s rather mesmerising. Put all of this together, and you get a sound that is at once alien and refreshing, strange and compelling. Shorn of the usually pre-requisite commitments to lyrics, melody and rhythm, space is given for these musicians to meander through a selection of sonic textures more likely to be heard amid the landscape of some far-flung distant planet. Gliese 667 Cc, perhaps. There are patterns of notes, but don’t be fooled into thinking these resemble anything as prosaic and humdrum as a tune. These are underscored by the grainy sounds created by the boxes of electrickery and the ethereal wailing sounds created by bow on bike wheel. Even the bass guitar is used unconventionally with sounds from a mobile phone held up close to the pick-up to create even more bizarre sounds. As the afternoon progresses, the volume rises – just a bit – with the incorporation of the sounds of fire alarms and spoken word recordings bringing a more menacing tone to the proceedings. The overall result is enchanting – a single, long, sprawled out piece of improvised experimentalism with performers coming and going as the mood takes them. During a short break from twiddling knobs, Roy Smith tells me that today’s event is a one-off – at the moment. There are no concrete plans for another Minimus event – at the moment. Perhaps we need to set up a petition. In the meantime, the limited run of cassette recordings of previous Minimus sessions, *Minimus Archives #0348c,* is available to [order on Bandcamp](https://whptb.bandcamp.com/album/minimus-archives-0348c?ref=localauthority.news). If you like your music weird, wonderful and out of this world, I would heartily recommend you get a copy. And a cassette player to play it on. --- #### Events this week 🐦 6 - 17 Feb - [**Roost**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/pop-roost?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition showcasing bird-inspired artworks. Halpern Pop, Rochester. Free. 📽️ Tue 11 Feb - [**Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/chatham/?ref=localauthority.news) // One-off screening of Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman’s surrealist sci-fi masterpiece. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🪐 11 Feb - 8 Mar - [**Mars: War & Peace**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/mars?ref=localauthority.news) // Giant art installation of the red planet within Rochester Cathedral by Luke Jerram, who previously brought the moon and earth to the venue. Rochester Cathedral. Free. --- #### More Authority The Rochester Draw offers life drawing classes to artists of all abilities in a relaxed environment. We sent Steven along to take part in one and to find out more about it. [You can find out what he thought of it and see his resulting artwork in our midweek read](https://www.localauthority.news/drawing-life-in-rochester/): [Drawing life in RochesterIt started with an e-mail inviting me to participate in a life drawing class. Organiser Julie Atwal explained that The Rochester Draw group launched in April last year, and was proving very popular.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb3b51957-be8d-4f6f-be84-3714bf33aec7_1536x804.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/drawing-life-in-rochester/) Coming up on Sunday, we’ll be talking to the High Sheriff of Kent, Gillian Fargher. The High Sheriff is a ceremonial role with a thousand-year legacy that few people seem to know much about. Our paid supporters can find out all about it in our weekend interview. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Drawing life in Rochester URL: https://www.localauthority.news/drawing-life-in-rochester/ Last updated: 2025-02-05T19:35:37.000Z It started with an e-mail inviting me to participate in a life drawing class. Organiser Julie Atwal explained that [The Rochester Draw](https://www.instagram.com/therochesterdraw/?ref=localauthority.news) group launched in April last year, and was proving very popular. This is how I found myself attending the Quaker Meeting House in Rochester on a Thursday evening. Julie was not mistaken: The session was popular. I was one of 26 who had turned up to draw, and she was slightly concerned there would not be enough chairs available. Despite this minor worry, she is confident that a larger group size can be accommodated if its popularity continues to grow. Julie is a life model herself. She started late in life a couple of years ago, and now travels all around Kent to inspire people’s art. “I just saw how much people got from it. I'm very much into arts for lots of reasons, including mental health. There is science behind why it helps relax you and what it does for your brain. It's a community thing as well.” The room includes people with varying skill levels and experience. I haven’t done any formal art since Year 9 Art class over thirty years ago. One lady has turned up with her own easel and promptly gets her materials how she wants them. Thankfully, Julie is generous with the unprepared, and there are clipboards, paper, and drawing materials to choose from. Some are choosing pastels and charcoals. I select three pencils with a vague memory of why they provide different outcomes on the paper. Julie is proud of this open approach to the process, where everyone works in whatever way suits them. “It's really interesting because you can listen, and you can hear the different mark-making that's going on. Seeing people working in pastel or crayon, what I love about it is honestly it's one of the few places I've been in my life, through all my different careers and different groups, where people just seem to be really supportive and non-judgmental from someone that draws rudimentary, to someone really accomplished artists.” There are individuals here as well as groups. I am here with my partner and notice another couple arrive, meaning I am not the only man in the room. I sit next to a young woman who explains she has moved to Rochester from London, where she attended art classes regularly and was happy that this opportunity was now available. I am sat at the end of the horseshoe formation of tables and notice the other man has done the same. Paranoia sets in, and I wonder if it was an accident or design that we are now facing a room full of women as we prepare to draw a naked person. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Lower Thames Crossing is probably happening but it isn't certain yet URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-lower-thames-crossing-is-probably/ Last updated: 2025-02-04T21:05:22.000Z *Like all big projects, the Lower Thames Crossing has been controversial as it lumbered through the UK’s torturous planning system. Last week, word came that it might finally be happening, but are things as straightforward as that? Further down, we have news on potential delays to Kent and Medway’s devolution plans, Tesco getting a licence for a new Gillingham store, notes on this week’s by-elections, news in brief, and more.* --- #### The Lower Thames Crossing is probably happening but it isn’t certain yet If you follow local news and politicians, there’s a good chance that at some point over the past week, you read that the £9bn Lower Thames Crossing to connect north Kent and Essex was finally happening. Indeed, Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards was particularly effusive on the matter, writing on BlueSky that the project had been approved and that she welcomed the announcement: The only problem in this is that Chancellor Rachel Reeves didn’t actually say that at all. Going back to her speech of 29 January, formatted in the exact style the government publishes speeches in, [she said the following](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-vows-to-go-further-and-faster-to-kickstart-economic-growth?ref=localauthority.news): > *We will work with the private sector to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs.* > > *This includes the Lower Thames Crossing, which will improve connectivity at Port of Tilbury and Dover, London Gateway and Medway…* > > *… alleviating severe congestion…* > > *… as goods destined for export come from the North, and the Midlands and across the country to markets overseas.* > > *To drive growth and deliver value for money for taxpayers, we are exploring options to privately finance this important project.* Now, that by no means suggests she is against the scheme. In fact, quite the opposite. It is clear that following years of arguments, the government is behind it happening. But there is a big difference between being behind something and actually delivering it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!KY6x!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f23da1401-9f82-4864-b934-9e00abe1f285_6720x3518.jpg) Lower Thames Crossing plans between Medway and Gravesend. Photo: National Highways A [press release by National Highways](https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/lower-thames-crossing/news-and-media/chancellor-backs-lower-thames-crossing/?ref=localauthority.news) is enthusiastic about Reeves’ speech, but stops short of saying that the project will actually be delivered. Instead, it talks about the ‘government’s commitment’ to the scheme. Crucially, the statement ends with the line that ‘The Lower Thames Crossing Development Consent Order is due to be determined by 23rd May.’ This feels more aligned with the reality of the situation. A decision on the project was originally meant to be made last Autumn, but was pushed back to the aforementioned May 2025 date. So the government support the principle of the scheme, but need private investment as they don’t want to fund it themselves, and haven’t yet given it planning permission. Quite how this translates to ‘Lower Thames Crossing approved!’ is lost on us, but perhaps this is why we aren’t politicians. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!nSlA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5082d6a9-b7e3-422e-b487-83f87fab7f36_5184x2714.jpg) The Dartford Crossing. Photo: stock.adobe.com The Lower Thames Crossing is another large scale failure of the UK to build infrastructure. It’s been on the table for decades, with a preferred route chosen in 2017 and a planning application submitted in 2020\. Even the most optimistic scenario says it will take until 2032 to be open, and when was the last time a project of this scale was delivered on schedule? In the meantime, the Dartford Crossing continues to run grossly over capacity, leading to wildly unpredictable journey times between Kent and Essex that can take a few minutes on one day or hours the next. The lack of crossing capacity is holding back both sides of the river economically, and while a new road tunnel [isn’t necessarily the ideal solution](https://takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/why-even-car-hating-urbanists-should?ref=localauthority.news), it’s the one that is available. The LTC creating a significant new route just west of Medway would dramatically reshape the economic geography of our towns, massively reducing journey times to places that are just across the river, but feel far more distant because of the difficulty in reaching them. It does seem likely that this government will get on and deliver the crossing, even if we aren’t quite over the line yet. We’re still likely to be sitting in traffic at Dartford for the best part of another decade yet. --- #### Devo delay After the government attempted to railroad local councils across the country into devolution deals as first as possible, it is ironic that the first delay in the process is as a result of Westminster. Medway Council and Kent County Council had to rush their bid for a combined mayoral authority into the government earlier in January, with Kent County Council holding two large meetings on the issue the day before the deadline. The belief was that the government would inform them whether or not their bid was successful by the end of last week, but instead, an unspecified delay has held up the proceedings. Jim McMahon, the Minister of State overseeing the project, [wrote to both council leaders last week](https://www.kent.gov.uk/%5F%5Fdata/assets/pdf%5Ffile/0004/178096/Letter-from-Minister-Jim-McMahon-on-30-January-2025.pdf?ref=localauthority.news), getting off to a great start by misspelling the name of KCC leader Roger Gough: > *Dear Rodger and Vince,* > > *Thank you for your letter of 10 January expressing your interest in joining the Devolution Priority Programme and to delivering both reorganisation and devolution to the most rapid timeframe.* > > *I am grateful for your enthusiasm in responding to our ambitious plans, and I would like to thank you particularly for the rapid work you have done to bring together this proposal in order to meet the challenging deadline. I do not underestimate, and thoroughly appreciate, the collaborative work you have shown in producing this expression of interest.* > > *I am working with my officials to review your proposal in detail, and I will be in touch with my decision as soon as is practically possible.* > > *Thank you again for writing to me on this important matter.* > > *Yours sincerely,* > > *Jim McMahon OBE MP* > *Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution* It is unclear exactly when the government will get around to make a decision, but given an elected mayor for Kent and Medway would be voted on in just 15 months, one would hope that it doesn’t take too long. While a brief delay for Medway isn’t necessarily a big issue, it does present an extra uncertainty for Kent County Council, who are supposed to be holding elections three months from now. As part of the devolution bid, Cllr Gough had requested that the elections be postponed for a year to allow a focus on the devolution work. As a result, KCC is now in something of a Schoedinger’s election scenario. All parties need to act as if elections are happening in May, even though they almost certainly won’t be. --- #### Tesco gets a licence for new Gillingham store [We recently wrote about Tesco withdrawing their licence application for a new store in Rochester](https://www.localauthority.news/i/155340439/tesco-withdraws-licence-application-for-rochester-store) after some residents objected (while also admitting they’d use the store themselves). At the start time, Tesco had submitted an application for a new Express store in Napier Road, Gillingham. A grand total of three residents next to the abandoned industrial unit where Tesco wanted to open the store objected for various reasons, from alcohol sales to antisocial behaviour to litter to the risk that customers might park across their driveway. Much like the planning system, licensing gives far more weight to a tiny number of people who raise an issue. As a result, Medway Council held a Licensing Hearing Panel today to assess the application. Representatives of Tesco dominated the meeting, mostly because none of the objectors turned up to make their case in person. Following the best part of two hours, it was concluded that the store could indeed open, albeit with the most minor of amendments: Whereas Tesco applied for a licence application from 6am to midnight, the panel decided to give them a licence for 7am to 11pm. At no point was there any explanation of why Tesco being able to sell alcohol at 7am was materially better than 6am, with the whole thing feeling like an exercise of ‘Well, we’re here, so we have to do *something*.’ Three councillors, multiple council officers, and Tesco’s legal representatives all had to spend a few hours huddled over tables in Gun Wharf, all so one hour could be shaved off each end of the licence. The outcome will likely please no one, but the panel's decision has been handed down. Still, at least Tesco knows that knocking a couple of hours off from their Rochester store application will likely get it approved. Once everyone has done the little dance of political theatre once again, anyway. --- #### Medway by-elections this week Voters will go to the polls in two Medway wards on Thursday (6 Feb) to elect new councillors following the resignations of three Medway councillors who became MPs in July. As a result, one seat is available in Gillingham South, and two seats are available in Rochester East & Warren Wood. 18 candidates are fighting over the seats. [We covered each of them](https://www.localauthority.news/i/154813055/by-election-candidates-to-fight-for-three-seats) a few weeks ago, and our election data correspondent Alan Collins [analysed each of their chances](https://www.localauthority.news/by-the-numbers-by-elections/). On paper, each seat should be retained by Labour, but by-elections are notoriously tricky things, and national polling currently has the same vibe as tossing a dice and hoping for the best. Labour can afford to lose one of the three seats, but any more than that would see them lose their majority on Medway Council. In reality, this likely wouldn’t mean much. Two independent councillors, Cllr Shokar and Cllr Hubbard, are currently suspended from the Labour Party but still likely vote with the administration when required. Labour might be feeling a little nervous about their position and have been taking out large teams to both wards repeatedly during the campaign. After an active start, the Conservatives seem to have lost some of their momentum on the ground. Reform seems to be a little more lively in Rochester East & Warren Wood, while the Lib Dems are the opposite, throwing all of their (limited) resources at Gillingham. The Greens have done some token campaigning in Gillingham, and the SDP have supposedly done the same. The Heritage Party are also on the ballot paper. We’ll be at ~~Gun Wharf~~ Medway Park for the election count on Thursday night and will post results to our [Substack Chat](https://substack.com/chat/449066?ref=localauthority.news) for paid subscribers. After that, we’ll likely include a brief note on the results in our Friday edition, with full analysis next Tuesday. *Some notes for voters in Gillingham South and Rochester East & Warren Wood:* - *Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm.* - *If you have received your polling card, you should know where you need to go to cast your ballot. If you are registered to vote but haven’t received your polling card, you do not need it to vote. Go to your polling station, confirm your name and address, and you will be allowed to vote, so long as you have an* [*accepted form of photo ID*](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id?ref=localauthority.news)*. All voters will need to bring a form of photo ID in this election regardless.* - *If you don't know your polling station, you can visit* [*the Where Do I Vote? website*](https://wheredoivote.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, enter your postcode, and, for lack of a better term, they will tell you where to go.* - *If you have a postal vote but did not remember to return it in time, you can drop it off at any polling station in your constituency until the polls close at 10pm. You do not need a photo ID to do this, but you must fill out a form when doing so.* - *If you have not received your postal vote ballot papers, you should contact Medway Council on 01634 332030 to arrange a replacement ballot paper, which you will have to collect from Gun Wharf.* - *If you were due to vote in a polling station today but can not make it due to a work or medical emergency or have lost your ID, you can call Medway Council on 01634 332030 to arrange an emergency proxy vote. You can do this until 5pm on election day.* - *You may find people outside your polling station asking to see your polling card. These people are activists for political parties, and you absolutely do not have to engage with them.* --- #### In brief 🏥 [The Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Jayne Black, will exit the role](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/chief-executive-of-medway-nhs-foundation-trust-to-take-up-a-new-role/?ref=localauthority.news) to take up another position closer to home. Black took up the role in 2022. 🏗️ [An application has been submitted to demolish the former Go Outdoors and Market Hall sites at the end of Chatham High Street](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/former-go-outdoors-demolition-plans-unveiled-319628/?ref=localauthority.news). If approved, work would begin later this month and take around three months. [The former Natwest building in Strood could be converted into an off-licence and five flats](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/former-kent-high-street-natwest-9912701?ref=localauthority.news). It has been empty since the bank left last year. 💷 [KentOnline has claimed that the University of Kent is paying £7,000 rent for the space that previously housed Cargo bar in Gillingham](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/uni-spends-7k-a-month-on-empty-bar-while-laying-off-staff-319514/?ref=localauthority.news). The university is believed to be still paying the lease on the venue, which closed in 2019. 🖥️ [Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osborne now has a Substack](https://trisosbornemp.substack.com/). So far, he doesn’t appear to be recommending *Local Authority*, unlike some other politicians on the platform. 🍔 McDonald’s is moving forward with their plan to open at Chatham Dockside. [New plans](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SQ4OWUKNJ3R00&ref=localauthority.news) show the scale of the outlet at Dockside Outlet Centre, including the giant golden arches that will be placed on the building. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!OX_0!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f41bb058c-caa4-48c2-8318-561948382e0b_2344x960.png) Plans for McDonald’s at Chatham Dockside --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Belong by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart*](https://slumberlandrecs.bandcamp.com/album/belong?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Mysteries by Tigercats*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0AQXFOvt5c&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Fortitude Valley by Fortitude Valley*](https://fikarecordings.bandcamp.com/album/fortitude-valley?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### "A lot of people think they can self-publish and it'll be okay" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-lot-of-people-think-they-can-self/ Last updated: 2025-02-02T07:02:09.000Z *Married couple* [*Maria McCarthy*](http://www.medwaymaria.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, a writer and poet, and* [*Bob Carling*](http://www.carling.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, a book editor, recently ended their publishing project* [*Cultured Llama*](https://www.medwaymaria.co.uk/cultured-llama-publishing/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Steven met them at their home to learn more about the project and why it ended and to talk to them about how they met, what projects they are working on now, and whether they will work together again.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!lZFp!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc4969225-5931-4686-8e4d-41155abe32e4_1256x658.jpg) Maria McCarthy and Bob Carling. **What was Cultured Llama?** **Maria:** Cultured Llama was an indie publishing house that started by accident. I was unwell at the time. I had been laid up with a bad back. This is always a dangerous time because I have big ideas and no money to back them up. I said, ‘Why don't we publish a book in memory of a friend of mine?’ Karen McAndrew had recently died of cancer. She lived in Rochester. We did that book in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and put on quite a big show down at the Sittingbourne theatre. We did an evening of spoken word and music and wrote in people like Los Alvedores to perform and Bob’s band. Bob had bought 10 ISBNs, and we thought, ‘What should we do with the rest?’ We opened it up to other submissions and because my interests and things that I write are poems, short stories and some non-fiction, we had that specifically in mind, the three areas that we would publish. We did it with no money, no business plan and we just went for it. We published 44 books in the end over seven years. **What was your main involvement in Cultured Llama? What was your role?** **Maria:** I was a poetry and fiction editor. I would look at the submissions and decide which we wanted to publish and work with the authors on editing their work and making it as good as possible. Anne-Marie Jordan was our non-fiction editor and also putting books in envelopes and things like that. We used to do that together. We called it stuffage. Plus, keeping up the website and social media and things like that. **Bob:** My role was to make sure that the books looked right, typographical design, putting the books together. It was a coordination of things, commissioning the cover for the book. We used a very good friend for most of the design of the covers, Mark Holihan. He's a great artist. **Maria:** And poet. **Bob:** And poet himself, yes. In fact, one of the Cultured Llama books was his own. The other thing I did, Maria mentioned we didn't have a business model. I spent my life in publishing, as a commissioning editor mostly and I'd expected after the first book we did to spend a lot of time sitting down uploading what they call metadata which is all the stuff to do with the book, the blurb, how many pages, things like coding for where the book should go in a bookshop. Because booksellers need to know exactly what type of book it is, the coding is quite important. All of that boring stuff. I thought I'd have to do that for each of the individual book distributors. Amazon obviously, not just UK Amazon, but US Amazon and all the other Amazons, but all the other distributors. There's about 40 or 50 main distributors of books. Anyway, what we did was we used effectively a business model worked really well for us and that was to use one supplier, Ingram. Ingram are an international organisation that's been in the publishing world for years, but you can do what's called print-on-demand books. The point being that you upload the final design, cover design and the internal of the book to Ingram's server, and then Ingram take all of the metadata that you've already uploaded to out to all the distributors. I didn't have to do it, I just did it once, for each individual book and then Ingram did it all for us. It worked really well. The other point about that is that print-on-demand works really well for small independent publishers because you don't have to print a whole load of books and warehouse them somewhere, embarrassed that you can't sell them. Print-on-demand really does mean print-on-demand so when somebody orders a book through the Ingram process, through their distributors, Amazon or whoever, the order comes into Ingram, Ingram then fulfil that order and then they pay us in due course, for the books that we've sold. It can be a singleton book or thirty books or whatever, and you can also order them yourselves. We have book launches and that sort of thing. All of that worked extremely well for us. **With the Cultured Llama catalogue, was there a specific theme for the books?** **Maria:** Yeah well, I mean these are things that I write myself, things I'm interested in, and we had quite a range. We had some Medway writers, Philip Kane and, of course, [Stephen Morris](https://www.localauthority.news/there-are-record-stores-in-america/), the [Do It Yourself: History of Music in Medway](https://www.medwayish.com/product/do-it-yourself-a-history-of-music-in-medway?ref=localauthority.news) book, but we got people from all over the place. I think we turned down someone in New Zealand because the distribution would be quite difficult there, which is a shame because I really liked her writing. But it was all sorts of things really. We had an American poet, Bethany Pope, who now lives in China, and she was one of our first poetry books, and that was quite an interesting book about her grandparents mainly. One of her grandparents is of Native American origin, and she has quite an interesting personal history. We had another young writer, Richard Thomas, and then we started getting people coming to us like Sarah Selway, who'd been Canterbury Laureate a few years back. She had a book about the history of gardens, and she visited lots of gardens in Kent and the book was a hybrid book of her own visits with some poetry and memoir and photographs. That did get on the shelves in Waterstones Canterbury and we had to go moving it around from local interest to gardening to poetry. It was one of those hard to categorise books. The short fiction collections, we published Maggie Harris, who's well known in Medway and now lives in Broadstairs. Two short story collections by her with a Thanet interest in them. We started getting known, and people came to us with quite a variety of styles. Our non-fiction section was cultural non-fiction of things that interested us. To work on a book, to be an editor of a book and to promote it, you have to really like it. Some things that came to us, the writing was very good, but it just wasn't something that interested me. I would say to any authors trying to get published, don't get discouraged, another editor will love their work. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The ‘Dragon’s Den’ for Medway charities URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-dragons-den-for-medway-charities/ Last updated: 2025-01-31T19:40:31.000Z *Connecting local charities and community groups with funding from local donors isn’t always easy, but that’s what the Kent Community Foundation is trying to do. We’ve been finding out more. Further down, our music writer Stephen Morris ponders the year ahead in Medway music, and we talk to a musician busking across Medway next weekend to raise money for a deeply personal mental health charity. We also have reviews of Tai Won Mein in Gillingham, while our theatre writer Anne-Marie Jordan has been down to the Medway Little Theatre’s production of Improbable Fiction. As ever, there’s also our weekly events guide and news in brief sections. Phew.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### The ‘Dragon’s Den’ for Medway charities [Kent Community Foundation](http://www.kentcf.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is a leading funder in Kent and Medway. There are 47 community foundations in the UK. Their primary focus is as a matchmaker, “matching up the donors and the doers”, says Bruce Topham, Grants Manager at Kent Community Foundation. “We manage just over 100 funds across Kent and Medway.” Kent Community Foundation’s area of support is defined as the 12 districts of Kent County Council and the unitary authority of Medway. Bruce was born in Medway and has spent 30 years here. “Even if you leave, Medway stays with you, and you want to see communities within that place living well”, he says. The aim is to support strategic philanthropic giving for those who want to fund the work of small charitable organisations that improve the lives of those who are most vulnerable and disadvantaged. “A little over half of our funders are family or partners. There might be one or two or even three generations involved in the decision-making process.” They also have corporate and business funders, along with being a trusted choice for other foundations and trusts who want funding to be used for specific needs of the county. Kent Community Foundation is privately funded with no government or local council funding. “Sometimes we do distribute money on their behalf”, notes Bruce. “We're also a voice within the community because we see and hear a lot of what's going on in the voluntary sector and the communities they serve.” Bruce’s role is to match applications from charities, CICs and community groups with suitable grants that and funds that might be available to them. Other team members will do the due diligence. “That's making sure you've got the right governing document, bank statements, quotes, invoices, signatories, all of that side of things.” Kent Community Foundation will then undertake an assessment. “We'll either go out to visit the organisation, see them in action, or we'll communicate via email, telephone, or a combination of the three.” One of the funds that Bruce oversees is the ‘Medway Corporate Giving Fund.’ It was set up in 2012 and since then has given out over £132,000 across 50 different grants. “It's a unique fund”, notes Bruce. The fund covers Medway, with organisations supporting beneficiaries within that area. Most funders give an amount between £1,000 and £2,500 annually. All of this contributes to a pot with other donors and businesspeople within the community in Medway. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!v08O!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc19f7012-e41d-41bf-a68c-794d09a865a7_2048x1072.jpg) Representatives from Medway organisations, Walderslade Together, Caring Hands in the Community, and The Hygiene Bank Medway, were awarded funds from the Kent Community Foundation. Charities and CICs looking for funding don’t apply to the fund directly. Kent Community Foundation has a supportive website that guides applicants through the eligibility criteria for applying generally. If you want to specify a specific fund, you can, but “broadly speaking, if it comes in and it's Medway based, the chances are my colleagues have already identified it as a potential one for the Medway Corporate Giving Fund.” Kent Community Foundation holds a panel once or twice a year. “The unique element of it is it's like a Dragon's Den-style panel, in that we put the funder face-to-face with the organisation, which is quite unusual because normally it's us talking to a funder and then making a decision.” This approach gives the funders first-hand experience of speaking to the organisation delivering on the ground and also the organisation speaking directly to a funder. “It's a tame Dragon's Den. We don't seek to put people off because presenting in public can be a big phobia. It's not designed for that.” Equally, experience has shown that some people are better at describing what they do through talking than on paper. Often, the person making the soft pitch to the panel is a committed volunteer or paid staff member, but it means something to them. The panel will often have questions, and then they will decide, and each funder will get a number of votes proportionate to the amount they have put into the fund. “We work out a little formula.” If an organisation has made it to this stage, it is unlikely they won’t get anything. “It's not fair to get someone there to turn up and present and say, ‘Thanks very much, bye’, that's not reasonable.” Historically, some panel members have also made additional donations to the organisation outside of the fund. The current Chair of the fund is Colin Jarvis, who owns MEMS Power Generation with his son Glen Jarvis, both of whom are also heavily involved with Gillingham Football Club. “They’ve been staunch supporters for a number of years.” Other panel members include Susan Robinson, who was previously at accountants Kreston Reeves but has now retired, John and Beverly Weir, who run Weir Funeral Directors, Martin Lukehurst of Lukehurst furniture, and Bob Russell of the Copper Rivet Distillery. Kent Community Foundation is constantly looking for new members because the more members it has, the more money it can give away. “It's generally around this philanthropic streak that runs through them. We all like to give something back.” *If you or your business are interested in joining the Medway Corporate Giving Fund, you can contact Bruce directly via* [*bruce@kentcf.org.uk*](mailto:bruce@kentcf.org.uk) *or 01303 815151.* --- #### In brief 🎨 [Sun Pier House have a new Art Club](https://www.facebook.com/SunPierHouse/posts/pfbid02U2tLez2gMUbLqytZRCkfxmvMRcZHVHDKLuTH1PkUUDmbX84ziAExsfrWqaasR9sCl). Over Thursday mornings for 20 weeks, you can join a group to develop your art in a relaxed, accessible space. 🍲 [Gurkha Fire is a finalists for Restaurant of the Year](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whats-on/news/finalists-revealed-for-kent-medway-food-drink-awards-202-318919/?ref=localauthority.news) in the Kent and Medway Food and Drink awards. Medway nominees in other categories include Mumma Soraya in Rochester and Ellinor’s Ice Cream in Rainham in the best pop-up category, while Linehan and Coffee in Rainham is up for coffee shop of the year. Elsewhere, [Halling’s Moot Brew & Co are finalists for Beverage Producer of the Year](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whats-on/news/cheers-we-reveal-your-top-three-pubs-in-kent-318961/?ref=localauthority.news). ✍️ [Medway author Maria McCarthy has written about her experiences in Rochester in the 90s](https://mariamccarthy.substack.com/p/rochester-station), recalling the Wild West nature of our towns. 🏆 [A new exhibition celebrating the sporting history of Medway has opened at Medway Archives Centre in Strood](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clye8vwr5qwo?ref=localauthority.news). The displays feature a mural by Medway artist Esther Johnson highlighting the most prominent sports names from the area. ⛺ Shout out to the person who got Rochester Bridge listed as ‘The Eternal Traffic’ campsite on Google Maps. The site holds a five-star rating, with one reviewer writing, “Really lovely views while sitting absolutely still for 3 hours just to cover 20m of bridge. phenomenal. would bridge again!” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!bicZ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f75d7cbc2-bf4d-4276-8395-f777b58b9ace_1934x560.jpg) Rochester Bridge, aka The Eternal Traffic campsite, on Google Maps. --- #### What will 2025 sound like? **by Stephen Morris** *As we reach the end of January, our music writer, Stephen Morris, looks at some of the musical highlights that await the good folk of Medway (not to mention Bristol and Spain) over the coming year.* 1 Jan – The Penrose Web (the brainchild of The Prisoners’ Allan Crockford and Death in Vegas’ Ian Button) started the year in fine form with a 4-track EP imaginatively titled [*It’s…The Penrose Web EP*](https://thepenroseweb.bandcamp.com/album/its-the-penrose-web-ep?ref=localauthority.news), the first ever seven-inch record pressed on a bioplastic compound glorying in the name of Evoplastic. Highlights come in the form of the spooked out surf pop of ‘Hexapod Scene’ and ‘I Dreamt I Woke Up Dead’. The EP will be followed in June by a full album, *The Least of Our Concerns*. 30 Jan – Sunshine Pony Finger release ‘One More Joke’ as a single and video. This will be followed by another single around April. 1 Feb – Theatre Royal have been in Ranscombe Studio lately, working on their sixth album – to be released later this year. While we wait for the record to arrive, the band will be playing The Ship in Gillingham on 1 February with support from The Dutch Embassy (Nick Rice, Noeleen Lithco, Dave Sawicki and Jimmy Moore), whose debut album will be out in the summer. 15 Feb – The Prisoners are playing Spain’s Wachina Wachina Festival – probably their last for the time being after their triumphant return with the album *Morning Star* last year. March (or April) – The Galileo 7 will be releasing the single ‘Look Away’ with b-side ‘Over the Horizon’ on the French Rogue Records label. An as yet untitled best of album is on its way later in the year, too. Also in March (and possibly even before), expect a new album from The Love Family in the form of *From Cities to Coastlines*. The band have been busy of late, releasing three singles which Amazing Radio have taken a shine to (‘Last Seconds of the Day’, ‘Lights Go Out’ and ‘Yesterday’s Questions’). Expect some stripped-down versions of the new album’s songs at a series of acoustic shows later in the year. In the meantime, you can find the existing songs on all the usual streaming platforms. 21 Mar – Not content with forming one third of the excellent folk trio, The Ashen Keys, Rachel Lowrie has started a new band with Stuart Turner and Nick Rice called South Shore. Their first outing will be an intimate gig at Rams Micropub 12 Degrees. Expect plenty of beautiful songs about the streets and sights of Medway that are as much autobiographical as they are geographical. [Get your tickets here](https://wegottickets.com/event/647344/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIDrFFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHevp6zTcNDrzDTMXqJ39jsnZWfInSs9IA8e5NYvCEy2LS93iAM58odKOlQ%5Faem%5FEzRrHzOMAIfp-qUwUCfk3w&ref=localauthority.news). 18 Apr – The Ashen Keys will be playing St Edith’s Folk Club, Sevenoaks. 19 Apr – 90s indie band strumpets My Life Story will be appearing at The Oast Community Centre, Rainham, along with The Pastel Waves for another Platform 3 Club night. 3-5 May – Sweeps Festival. One of the highlights of the Medway calendar. Expect plenty of Morris dancing, folk music and merry making. 4 May – The Pastel Waves will be playing Drakes Cork and Cask as part of the Maidstone Fringe Festival. The set may well include songs from their forthcoming mini-album, which the band are currently recording. 9 May – The Ashen Keys play Orpington Liberal Club. 24 May – Graham Day, Allan Crockford, Wolf Howard and Parsley will be dusting off tunes from their Solarflares back catalogue at the Margate Mod and Sixities Festival. [Find out more here](https://olbyscreativehub.co.uk/event/margate-mod-sixties-festival-the-solarflares-24th-may-2025/?ref=localauthority.news). June – Dead Star Boys formed last year and already have an album in the works which will be due out in June. In the meantime, they’re busy gigging, playing a collection of late 70s influenced original songs. Further details can be found on [their Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/deadstarboys/). 25 Jul – Scouse pop stars Space (or two of them, at least) will be in the neighbourhood – specifically Rainham Oast Community Centre - for the latest instalment of the Platform 3 Club nights. --- #### Buskathon raising money for Mind Anthony Martin is a singer-songwriter who has been organising and promoting gigs in Medway since 2005\. His band, the Godless Reds, were the most consistent losers in the Beacon Court Battle of the Bands in 2002 and 2003, coming runner up twice. “I'm over it now”, he tells me, “because obviously it was 20 years ago, and it is still the first thing I mention.” Anthony now uses music as a means to process trauma after what he admits was a difficult upbringing and events that have happened in his life. “[*Over and Over*](https://soundcloud.com/anthonymartin-2/over-and-over-v10?ref=localauthority.news) is the song I wrote to help me process my dad's suicide. I found it hard to understand. I hadn't seen him for five years. It was really difficult.” Anthony has had therapy, and the song is his exploration of what his father was going through and putting himself in his shoes. Anthony admits that “the song is super raw for me to sing and play. It's the hardest one I do.” When recording the track, he had a violinist come in and play. They didn’t know Anthony’s back story. “She starts playing. I'm in bits”, he recalls. On Saturday 8 February, Anthony will be busking the song on the high streets of the Medway Towns to raise money for mental health charity Mind. He’ll start in Strood at 11.30am, next to the Post Office, then move to Rochester by the Candy Bar. In Chatham, he will be at the bottom of Meeting House Lane, then Gillingham on the corner of Canterbury Street, before finishing in Rainham Shopping Precinct. When he was younger, he would walk down Chatham High Street and keep to himself. “Now I feel more confident in myself, and I'm happy to busk anywhere.” He plans to be in each location for 15-20 minutes, assuming he isn’t moved along, performing the song amongst other pieces. *You can support Anthony’s efforts to raise money for Mind via his* [*online crowdfunding page*](https://www.justgiving.com/page/anthony-martin-music-is-my-medicine1?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Out to Dinner: Tai Won Mein Noodle House *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the dinner options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Tai Won Mein Noodle House***](https://g.co/kgs/KWVqTJy?ref=localauthority.news) **in Gillingham*…* Tai Won Mein is located on Gillingham High Street, near the Post Office. The restaurant is quite large, with a faux Wagamama layout, friendly welcoming staff and questionable wall decorations. The tables and benches are screwed down, so you have to accept how close you are to the table, where laminated menus await. Once you’ve selected, you order at the counter, which somehow, in the year 2025, only takes cash. The food was delivered promptly, very hot, with each dish arriving at it’s ready. I ordered egg-fried rice, sweet and sour chicken balls, and crispy chilli beef. To say the food was delivered promptly doesn’t quite cover how quickly the food came. The other thing to prepare yourself for is how large the portions are. I ordered an individual portion of rice, which could have fed a family. It also came with peas, meaning technically, the meal did have a vegetable element. The chicken was chunky, in very crisp batter, served with a good thick sweet sauce. The beef was extremely crispy. Both, once again, were generously portioned. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!aO1m!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f15ef4105-cfa6-4f92-8a4f-0950748f4afe_1456x762.jpg) I like everything about Tai Won Mein, and considering its long history in Gillingham, it still feels like a hidden or unappreciated gem. Large portions are reasonably priced, promptly served, and tasty. This gem is worth checking out the next time you are in Gillingham for lunch or dinner. --- #### Theatre review: Improbable Fiction at the Medway Little Theatre **by Anne Marie Jordan** One of the inescapable joys of living in a flat is never knowing what your upstairs neighbours are going to do - or when. Failure to wear noise-cancelling headphones can result in an unwelcome mid-slumber wake-up, this time thanks to a spot of impromptu pre-dawn DIY-ing. Therefore, I was not entirely convinced that I would be able to stay conscious, let alone be in the most conducive mood for a spot of Alan Ayckbourn’s Improbable Fiction. Indeed, stifling a yawn as the lights went down, I feared the most probable part of proceedings would be me nodding off. However, despite being one of Ayckbourn’s more polarising productions, this Marmite play wasted no time in earning itself a new fan. Set in the front room of Arnold, the middle-aged chair of a local writers' group, we are introduced to an eclectic range of wannabe scribes, intermittently interrupted by banging on the ceiling by his bed-ridden mother. Played exquisitely by Rob Hall, Arnold has the unenviable yet relatable task of managing the simmering tensions between the big personalities whose bluster often belies the fact they have yet to actually put pen to paper. An early favourite emerged via Geoff Coote’s cankerous Brevis, a retired headmaster, still writing musicals and raging against the \[insert expletive here\] pupils who continue to be the bane of his life. Special mentions also go to the versatile Fiona McGahren as Ilsa and Samantha Tunstill-Baldock, whose facial expressions as Jess deserve a credit of their own. Post-interval, the action takes an unexpected turn, with the audience transported into the creativity and imagination of each writer within their preferred genre. It’s fair to say that some are more fantastical than others, but all in all, I defy anyone not to be entertained (or stay awake) while drinking in the surreal splendour of a drumming, dancing squirrel living their best life. *Improbable Friction is on at the Medway Little Theatre until Saturday 8 February.* [*Tickets are available here*](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Events this week 🎸 Sat 1 Feb - [**Rotifer + The High Span + Paul & Pets**](https://www.facebook.com/events/449449014887596/) // Indie pop bonanza with three bands. Rochester Social Club. Suggested donation £10. 🎸 Sat 1 Feb - [**Theatre Royal + The Dutch Embassy**](https://www.facebook.com/events/893817696115347) // Local janglepoppers take to the stage. The Ship, Gillingham. Free. 🔊 Sun 2 Feb - [**Minimus #0348c Launch**](https://www.facebook.com/events/622893246981958/?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22home%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22search%5Fresults%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22search%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D) // Delve into the Minimus sonic arena archive, where you are invited to bring an instrument or other noise-making device. Analogue Music, Rochester. Free. 🎥 Mon 3 Feb - [**Pretty Woman**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/cinemas/chatham/?ref=localauthority.news) // 35th Anniversary screening of Gary Marshall’s worlds collide comedy, of love overcoming capitalism through money. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🐦 6 - 17 Feb - [**Roost**](https://www.nucleusarts.com/pop-roost?ref=localauthority.news) // Exhibition showcasing bird-inspired artworks. Halpern Pop, Rochester. Free. --- #### More Authority The government’s Shared Prosperity Fund has allowed Medway Council to support nearly 100 community projects across the last three years. Medway has charted a different course to many places by handing the money directly to community groups to get things done in their areas. While the results seem positive, Medway’s latest round has been hit by delays, and a strange scenario where months after the funding was announced, Medway Council still won’t provide the complete list of projects being funded. We’ve been digging into the scheme and talking to those receiving the funds to get a sense of what’s been going on. [£825,000 spent on 56 community projects, but some of them are a secretIn 2022, the government allocated Medway £1.8m as part of a new national funding initiative. Across the UK, £2.6bn of Shared Prosperity Fund money was distributed to local councils to use as they saw fit, within the plan's limits. The government kept things rather lose on the exact requirements of how the money should be spent, instead allowing local councils how to allocate the funds:![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe8239f4f-e290-4c64-b1e0-f8eaefb66b76_4048x2272.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/825000-spent-on-56-community-projects/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun items.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*The Gentlemen’s Club by Stuart Turner and The Flat Earth Society*](https://open.spotify.com/album/3AMAVUwSkrHfZYfCJaAyoR?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Between the Midnight and the Morning by The Pastel Waves*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/between-midnight-and-morning-ep?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### £825,000 spent on 56 community projects, but some of them are a secret URL: https://www.localauthority.news/825000-spent-on-56-community-projects/ Last updated: 2025-01-30T21:01:06.000Z In 2022, the government allocated Medway £1.8m as part of a new national funding initiative. Across the UK, £2.6bn of [Shared Prosperity Fund](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus?ref=localauthority.news) money was distributed to local councils to use as they saw fit, within the plan's limits. The government kept things rather lose on the exact requirements of how the money should be spent, instead allowing local councils how to allocate the funds: > *‘It is about levelling up opportunity and prosperity and overcoming deep-seated geographical inequalities that have held us back for too long.* > > *It is also, fundamentally, about levelling up people’s pride in the places they love and seeing that reflected back in empowered local leaders and communities, a stronger social fabric and better life chances.’* As a result, many different approaches have been taken across the country regarding how to spend the money. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many councils used the funds to advance their priorities at a time of limited budgets. For example, our neighbours in [Tonbridge and Malling](https://www.tmbc.gov.uk/community-services/uk-shared-prosperity-fund?ref=localauthority.news) used some of the money to buy CCTV cameras to combat anti-social behaviour, improve lighting in car parks, retrofit their leisure centres, and more. [Ashford](https://www.ashford.gov.uk/your-council/council-projects/shared-prosperity-funding/?ref=localauthority.news) bought some new lighting and play equipment for the town centre. [Maidstone](https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/community-support/tier-2-additional-areas/shared-prosperity-fund?ref=localauthority.news) turned an empty building into an arts hub and bought some new lights, in what seems to be a trend. These lists are, of course, by no means exhaustive. But it points to how many councils spent the money on tangible, somewhat dull day-to-day investments that arguably should have already been funded regardless. The path that Medway charted in all this was somewhat different. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### LGBT+ group challenges Rochester Literature Festival URL: https://www.localauthority.news/lgbt-group-challenges-rochester-literature/ Last updated: 2025-01-29T00:01:42.000Z *Literature festivals and LGBT+ groups don’t often disagree, but a public dispute is brewing between the relaunched Rochester Literature Festival and Rainbows Over Medway. The festival claims to be hosting a series of events to celebrate International Women’s Day. At the same time, an LGBT+ group is concerned that the event will promote anti-trans rhetoric, given the festival director's outspoken views. We’ve been talking to all involved to try to get to the bottom of it.* *Last week also saw the full first Medway Council meeting of the year. It was a marathon session, with devolution, Israel-Gaza, farming, Chatham Docks, and - somehow - city status all on the agenda. We’ve got the full rundown of what happened before, as well as our usual news in brief.* --- #### LGBT+ group challenges Rochester Literature Festival [Rochester Literature Festival](https://rochesterlitfest.com/?ref=localauthority.news) returns in March following a five-year hiatus. The longstanding festival will return with events to mark International Women’s Day, with various authors, Medway figures, and political women scheduled to speak across the month of events. Events held in Rochester, Strood, and Walderslade will cover subjects like ‘challenging stereotypes’ and political women who broke through the glass ceiling, as well as highlighting ‘Medway’s female community doers.’ On paper, this should be a welcome addition to the Medway cultural scene. Still, concerns have been raised about the festival by LGBT+ group [Rainbows Over Medway](https://rainbowsovermedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), who identify the festival director as ‘coordinating the largest anti-transgender network in Kent.’ As a result, they have published an open letter calling on the festival to publicly commit to affirming trans women will be welcome at the events and that no transphobia will be platformed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!I4hI!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6a3eb6fe-74f1-4237-b2de-d64b071814d0_1864x1048.jpg) The open letter from Rainbows Over Medway to Rochester Literature Festival has been signed by over 70 individuals so far, including representatives of the University of Greenwich, Gillingham Street Angels, Spotlites Theatre, Medway Pride, and a number of prominent Medway figures: > *Since 1911, when the first International Women’s Day gathering occurred, the day has been marked in a variety of ways. Rainbows over Medway has worked on numerous projects with many partners to help in the fight for gender equality and stopping violence against women and girls. This year’s campaign theme is Accelerate Action.* > > *It has been brought to our attention by many in the Medway community, that there is a literary festival planned around International Women's Day during March 2025\. Whilst this is something that we would normally celebrate and support, the director of this festival also coordinates the largest anti Transgender network in Kent and has on numerous occasions posted anti Transgender messages on social media.* > > *We believe, as do the team at International Women’s Day, that we should call out and challenge discrimination wherever we find it. Therefore, we call upon the organisers of this festival to publicly commit to the following:* > > *• That Trans women are not only welcome, but valued at their events* > *• That no Transphobia in any form will be platformed at these events* > *• That Trans women are women* > > *We hope that the community can be assured that this is indeed the case and we look forward to a welcoming, inclusive, diverse and empowering festival for all women.* While the letter does not name the individuals and organisations involved, it refers to Rochester Literature Festival director Jaye Nolan, who is also the coordinator for Women’s Rights Network Kent & Medway. While WRN claims to fight for women's rights, LGBT+ groups accuse it of being anti-trans. Speaking to Shea Coffey, one of the founders of Rainbows Over Medway, about why she felt the need to put the letter together, she told us that she “and others are deeply concerned that this festival is more of a recruitment tool for anti-trans views than it is a celebration of female empowerment.” She points to “the fact that some of the speakers are deeply anti-trans makes some question why would you specifically ask those individuals to speak?” Shea says she is particularly concerned about “the prominent community and political figures that are speaking. I’ve reached out to express my concerns, and the thing that worries me most is none of the political leaders speaking have responded to me at all. What conclusions should I draw from that?” *Local Authority* contacted several Medway speakers listed on the festival website. Cllr Nina Gurung, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure, is scheduled to give the keynote speech at the festival's opening event. She told us: > *I was contacted months ago by the organisers to deliver the opening speech for Women’s History Month, by sharing my journey and experiences as Medway’s first female Mayor from minority ethnic background. The objective was to empower women and girls to reach their full potential. It is important that we share, celebrate and highlight the achievements and contributions made by women and girls, which Women’s History Month commemorates.* > > *When I was made aware of the open letter, I sought assurance that the Women’s History Month events will be inclusive, and the organisers have assured me as such.* > > *This community belongs to all of us; there is so much we can learn from one another and we can do so respectfully. I sincerely hope that the Women’s History Month events here in Medway will be inspiring and positive.* Another scheduled speaker, Chair of Creative Medway, Dr Carol Stewart, expressed a similar sentiment in a statement to us: > *As chair of Creative Medway, we have been made aware of an open letter expressing concerns about the content of the festival, and we have sought assurances that people of transgender will be made to feel welcome at the programme from the festival organiser.* We spoke to two other speakers who are listed as part of the festival schedule, both of whom told us similar things off the record. Both told us that they were unaware of any anti-trans sentiment of the organisers, but since the letter came to light, they had sought assurances that the event would be inclusive for all. Following a request for comment from *Local Authority*, Rochester Literature Festival told us that they were ‘happy to confirm that everyone is welcome to attend and all will be treated with the same courtesy and respect as we too expect to be treated’: > *The RLF is proud to have produced a programme for Medway Women’s History Month that is an uplifting and positive celebration of women.* > > *We’re happy to confirm that everyone is welcome to attend and all will be treated with the same courtesy and respect as we too expect to be treated. We have a range of diverse voices and our venues are fully accessible to wheelchairs and other mobility aids.* > > *True diversity and inclusion in a pluralistic society must include diversity of thought, and include people whose opinion you may not agree with, since democracy and free speech are the bedrocks of a pluralist society.* That free speech element might be the one thing that the two organisations agree on. Shea tells us that she has no desire to stop the festival from going ahead. “No, despite the rollback we’ve seen in LGBT+ rights in the US this last week, I believe completely in free speech. I want their views to be heard, if only so I can say ‘Do you think this is acceptable?’" Alongside the statement from Rochester Literature Festival, we also received the following statement from Women’s Rights Network, for whom Rochester Literature Festival director Jaye Nolan is a coordinator of the Kent & Medway branch. Whilst we did not seek a statement from the organisation, we feel it adds context to publish it: > *This statement does not directly refer to the name of the organisation/group which it terms hateful and transphobic, but we are assuming – given previous interaction with various individuals – that they refer to the Women’s Rights Network. Neither are its accusations explicit, but rather they are inferred.* > > *Women’s Rights Network is exactly that. A rapidly growing grass roots network of women working and campaigning to protect the rights, privacy and dignity of women and girls. WRN is not ‘anti Transgender’, it stands up for women, for reality and for freedom of speech — as is evidenced by our actions.* > > *Our members have used Freedom of Information requests to expose the scandal of sexual assaults in hospitals, we have consistently argued for the evidence-based healthcare for gender incongruence set out in the Cass Review, and we are currently holding a series of vigils in support of the women and girls of Afghanistan.* > > *We make no apology for stating fact that trans women are not women, they are males. UK courts have confirmed that people may identify as they wish, but they cannot force others to share their beliefs.* > > *And the Equality Act makes it clear that sex and gender are not synonymous. Sex is based on biological reality while gender is fluid and based on an individual’s feelings at any moment in time.* > > *To liken these lawful and widely accepted views as ‘transphobic’ says more about those making these ideologically driven accusations than it does about WRN.* It remains to be seen whether the responses from Rochester Literature Festival and the Women’s Rights Network will reassure the Rainbows Over Medway letter's organisers or those who have signed it. --- #### Devolution and Chatham Docks dominate first full council of the year Last Thursday saw the first full Medway Council meeting of the year. Despite ongoing efforts to reduce the length of such meetings, it ran well over five hours, leaving councillors sitting there past midnight about a litany of issues facing Medway. It was a packed agenda, which we’ve condensed down to the core issues below: **Performative public questions** Usually, January is pretty quiet for members of the public turning up to ask questions, but this time around, Medway has multiple by-elections on the horizon, so the question list was littered with candidates wanting to get their soundbite. All three Labour candidates came along to ask questions on classic issues like potholes, helping pensioners, and regenerating Gillingham High Street, giving administration members to talk about all of the fantastic work being done in these areas. Elsewhere, Conservative and Lib Dem candidates with questions didn’t turn up. Two Green candidates made it along to ask about electoral reform and affordable housing. In contrast, a third, who submitted a factually false question about Medway cancelling elections, didn’t make it along. Elsewhere, a limited number of non-candidate members of the public asked questions, including one on whether the travellers in Wigmore have been allowed to stay (they haven’t, but the case is going to court) and another asking why Medway Council won’t accept and debate a motion on a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, which leads us to… **Medway Council debates motion on ceasefire in Israel and Gaza** The most contentious motion of the night came from independent councillor Satinder Shokar, who submitted one calling for a complete ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, for the UK to suspend arms sales to Israel, to sanction Israel, and to call on Medway employer BAE Systems to stop supplying arms to Israel. Given that Cllr Shokar sits alone, whether anyone would even second the motion to allow it to be debated was unclear. Another independent councillor Chris Spalding came to the rescue, though, making it clear that while he didn’t support the motion, he would second it as he believes any councillor should have any motion they feel strongly about debated. However, it was all downhill from there. Deputy Leader of Medway Council Cllr Teresa Murray (Lab) said Labour would not support the motion because a ceasefire was now in place, going on to call BAE a ‘good employer’ and worries that the motion might feel like ‘we don’t appreciate them’, which is quite the take given their history. Leader of the Opposition Cllr George Perfect (Con) said his group also wouldn’t support the motion and that he agreed with Cllr Murray’s response. Cllr Shokar (Ind) takes none of this well, asking why Medway Council is supporting BAE and accusing fellow councillors of ‘cheerleading Israel.’ Medway Council Leader Vince Maple (Lab) asks Cllr Shokar to withdraw the comment, which Cllr Shokar refuses to do. In the end, only Cllr Shokar voted in favour of his motion, with all but one Labour councillor (Cllr Mahil being the exception) and every Conservative voting against, while the Independent Group and Cllr Spalding (Ind) abstained. Immediately after the vote, Cllr Shokar packed up his things and left the meeting. **More Chatham Docks drama** One of the more remarkable moments of the evening came when Independent Group councillor Elizabeth Turpin proposed a motion to save Chatham Docks. As soon as Cllr Turpin moved the motion, the council’s legal officer Bhupinder Gill read a statement explaining that the motion shouldn’t move forward as it could jeopardise the Local Plan process by prejudicing the outcome, exposing the council to legal challenges. He went on to highlight that should the motion pass, it would be asking the council to act lawfully and that any councillor speaking on it would likely need to remove themselves from any future Local Plan discussions. The legal officer suggested the motion should be withdrawn, though there is no mechanism to allow that to happen other than the motion not being seconded. He reveals that he only became aware of the issue at 11pm the day before, leading to criticism from Cllr Turpin. The legal officer said a new version of the motion had been drafted, which would have been acceptable, but Cllr Turpin proposed the original version instead, hence his intervention. Cllr Maple (Lab) says that if the motion is seconded, he will seek a recorded vote on it so it is clear how everyone voted, suggesting abstention is the only legally safe route. But things aren’t so simple, as Cllr Perfect (Con) raises. If the majority abstains, the motion could be passed with few votes in favour. The legal officer responds that he will have to determine whether the council has acted unlawfully and put together a report for the next meeting if that has been the case. Mayor Marian Nestorov (Lab) proposes adjourning the meeting for a period so more legal advice can be gathered. Cllr Michael Pearce (IndGroup) calls this an ‘affront to democracy’ and attempts to second the motion regardless, as the Mayor adjourns the meeting. After half an hour of everyone standing around not knowing what is happening later, the meeting resumes with Chief Executive Richard Hicks proposing the motion be adjourned to the next meeting, allowing the council to receive further legal advice. He apologises to Cllr Turpin and the Independent Group for the debacle, which seems to placate anyone, and we can all get on with our lives. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!pQFd!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6c492794-9b4d-4e77-a907-db8652562e46_4032x2268.jpg) Medway Council was suspended because no one knew what to do next. **All farming, all the time** Two different motions highlighted taxation issues with a particular interest in farmers in our communities. Cllr Lawrence (Con) put one forward, supported by Cllr Tejan (Con), on increased taxation under the government, which highlighted several issues, but the conversation quickly turned to farmers. Cllr Curry (Lab) pointed out that farmers used to pay inheritance tax, so it’s hardly a radical idea that they should now, pointing out that farmers have lost billions in subsidies thanks to Brexit. Cllr Pearce (IndGroup) says that every supermarket now supports the farmers while also raising that ‘overseas farmers’ receive £500m in UK aid. Cllr Browne (Lab) asked Cllr Tejan how many farmers in his St. Mary’s Island ward were upset about the changes before accusing the Conservatives of ‘talking the country down.’ Cllr Lawrence hit back that he doesn’t know where Labour gets their news from, but he gets his from ‘the real world.’ At this point, Cllr Mahil (Lab) raised a point of clarification that he means the Daily Telegraph, leading to laughter. The motion was lost at the vote, with the Conservatives, Independent Group, and Cllr Spalding (Ind) voting against, with Labour and Cllr Shokar (Lab) voting against. Cllr Spalding (Ind) submitted a more precise motion on protecting farmers from tax and farmland from being built on. Cllr Pearce (IndGroup) is finally allowed to second a motion, cheerfully calling himself a ‘proud NIMBY’ while claiming ‘local democracy is dead.’ When challenged on being proud of being a NIMBY, he points out that ‘everyone here’ is, suggesting he is just honest about it. The motion quickly goes to a vote and is lost on the same lines as above. **City status rears its head again** As part of his Leader’s Report, Cllr Maple (Lab) did something he usually resists: Pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Toward the end of his report, he announced that in light of devolution and local government reorganisations where Medway Council will likely cease to exist, he has written to the government to make an exceptional request for city status to be granted to Medway. Yes, despite repeated failed attempts to make Medway a city, we’re back here again. Cllr Maple was eager to point out that there was no cost to the request, and Cllr Perfect (Con) stated that his group supported the effort. Cllr Pearce (IndGroup) says that Medway should have democratic input on city status, suggesting residents may - shock horror - prefer city status returned to Rochester instead. Cllr Maple asks Cllr Pearce to point out where £250k can be cut from the budget so that a referendum can be held. It feels unlikely that Medway will have any more success in this attempt to gain the title this time around, but the Labour administration clearly thinks it’s worth pursuing one last time. **Devo-a-go-go** Following months of behind the scenes wrangling a formal request for Medway Council and Kent County Council to be ultimately abolished in favour of a new structure, the matter finally came to Medway’s council chamber for discussion. Cllr Maple (Lab) pointed out that it isn't usual to start a debate in a council chamber that will ultimately cause that chamber to cease to exist. He argues that devolution will ‘take back control’, bringing new powers to Kent, noting he is ‘insanely jealous’ of Manchester’s Bee Network bus system. We’ll find out whether devolution is approved for Kent this week, and conversations will imminently move on to local government reorganised and who Medway will end up being merged with. Cllr Murray (Lab) stakes an early claim for Medway dominating the surrounding councils with talk of a new ‘Greater Medway’, which might be challenging to sell to the good people of Dartford and Sheppey. Labour and Conservative speakers all favour the plans, with Cllr Pearce (IndGroup) once again providing the voice of dissent. He says he is worried that history is repeating itself, like when Medway Council was effectively imposed on the area, returning to the old favourite of Rochester and losing city status. Despite that, the council unanimously supported the report on devolution. If you want to relive the excitement from all five hours of the meeting (and why wouldn’t you?), you can watch the entire thing here: --- #### In brief 🏢 [The former UCA building in Rochester has been purchased for £2.8m](https://futuremedway.co.uk/new-owner-commits-to-regenerative-housing-scheme-at-rochesters-university-for-the-creative-arts-campus/?ref=localauthority.news). The new owners have pledged to create a contemporary, eco-friendly, and affordable residential conversion of the site. 🏪 [Tesco will face a Licensing Hearing Panel next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=5960&ref=localauthority.news) over their application for a premises licence for a new Express store in Gillingham. The plans for Napier Road have received objections from nearby residents, echoing a similar situation recently in Rochester, where the company withdrew their application. 🏥 [A Care Quality Commission report looking at the state of Medway Hospital’s A&E department is still unreleased](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/hospital-still-waiting-for-watchdog-report-a-year-after-visi-319274/?ref=localauthority.news), a year after the inspection occurred. The report is stuck in limbo due to an IT problem, with no timeline for when it might be released. 💉 [Medway Hospital has a pop-up vaccine clinic for flu and covid jabs this week](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/winter-vaccination-pop-up-at-medway-maritime-hospital/?ref=localauthority.news). No appointment is necessary, with eligible patients and visitors able to drop in and get vaccinated before this winter’s scheme ends. 🏗️ [A blueprint for the former gasworks site next to the Strand in Gillingham has been put forward](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn01qrw4dxjo?ref=localauthority.news). Blueberry Homes proposes 500 flats across seven blocks, as well as a supermarket and additional commercial space on the site. 🛒 [Aldi has purchased the former St John Fisher School site on Maidstone Road in Chatham](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/aldi-reveals-store-plans-for-derelict-school-site-with-asbe-319270/?ref=localauthority.news). The location is only 1.5 miles from their other Chatham store, further up the same road. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, we spoke to Sean Cameron. Sean is a writer from Medway who is most famous for his Rex & Eddie Mystery series and now resides in Los Angeles. We talked about the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, what took Sean from Medway to LA, his life in since he got there, and lots more. ["There's been fires nearly every year since I came here”Sean Cameron is a writer from Medway who is most famous for his Rex & Eddie Mystery series and now resides in Los Angeles. Steven caught up with him via Zoom to discuss the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, what took Sean from Medway to LA, and what he has been up to out there.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f79f332d2-5cea-465f-8285-046eb6c33da6_720x440.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/theres-been-fires-nearly-every-year/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Best Buds by Mom Jeans*](https://momjeansca.bandcamp.com/album/best-buds?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*The Singles by Tullycraft*](https://tullycraft.bandcamp.com/album/the-singles?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Hello Sadness by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/hello-sadness-2021-remaster?ref=localauthority.news) ### "There's been fires nearly every year since I came here” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/theres-been-fires-nearly-every-year/ Last updated: 2025-01-26T07:01:12.000Z [*Sean Cameron*](https://www.sean-cameron.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a writer from Medway who is most famous for his Rex & Eddie Mystery series and now resides in Los Angeles. Steven caught up with him via Zoom to discuss the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, what took Sean from Medway to LA, and what he has been up to out there.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!dCcQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f79f332d2-5cea-465f-8285-046eb6c33da6_720x440.jpg) Sean Cameron **With the wildfires going on in Los Angeles, are you currently safe?** I'm really safe. I am four miles away from the evacuation zone, which might not sound much, but there's literally evacuation centres between me and the fire. People are being sent there. I look out the windows, I can't see the black cloud most days. I’ve got the air filters on, and I feel I'm just watching it on the news like the rest of England is. **How hot is it in California at the moment?** I know how Fahrenheit feels, and I know how Celsius feels, but I don't know how to compare the two, or how to translate it still after 15 years. But it's been 65 Fahrenheit, which I think is 23 Celsius (*it’s 18C*), I'm not sure. It's warm. It's not boiling hot. The trouble with the fires is not so much the heat. It's the dryness. **What does that mean?** I moved here in 2010, and the drought is here. After five years, you think ‘Is it ever not in drought?’ It will be out of drought for six to nine months sometimes. Then it's in a drought again. **How serious is the water shortage?** It's not much. Water sometimes falls from the sky, but it's not dependable, and a lot of it goes down the storm drains into the ocean to stop floods. You don't notice it because there's golf courses everywhere and people look after their yard. Some people like to have front gardens that are more native species. But overall, Europeans just tried to build a Europe on Southern California and then wonder why it didn't work out. Your water's fine, you can wash your car. There's been no kind of hosepipe ban similar to growing up in England. Though they have made lawn watering schedules in the past to stop people watering their lawns every day. People are using running water, and the rest is sort of politics. I know it comes from Northern California, it comes from the Colorado River, but it's essentially a lot of water imported. It doesn't fall from the sky, you don't have problems with achieving drinking water for your home, but the trees are thirsty. **California is a state in America, but in terms of scale, is it more like England than Kent?** Yeah, California is 70ish million people. For comparison, this is similar to being in Medway and hearing reports of a fire in London. I'm four miles from one fire, I'm 20 miles from another fire, but the thing is, the fires happen, it's a wildfire. The wildfires happen where there is wild. That's in the foothills and in the hills. Then there's a huge amount of flat land, the LA basin and the valley are both very flat. It's weird to be in a city where there's mountains cutting through the middle. Those mountains are the vulnerable areas. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway marks Holocaust Memorial Day URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-marks-holocaust-memorial-day/ Last updated: 2025-01-24T20:32:35.000Z *Monday 27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day, an event intended to remember the Holocaust, the people who died and those who survived. Two events are being held in Medway to mark the day, and we’ve spoken to Chatham Memorial Synagogue’s Dalia Halpern-Matthews and The Ship Inn’s Peter Moorcroft about what is happening. Further down, we have news of Medway’s first cat café, opportunities for those who have experienced homelessness, we review Pollo Cabana in Rochester, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway marks Holocaust Memorial Day Since 2004, Medway’s Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration has been organised jointly by Medway Council, [Chatham Memorial Synagogue](https://www.chathamshul.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), [Rochester Cathedral](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/?ref=localauthority.news) and the [Medway Inter-Faith Action Forum](https://www.medwayinterfaith.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) (MIFA). Since 2010, they have been joined by the [Medway Youth Council](https://www.medwayyouthcouncil.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). 27 January marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, and Holocaust Memorial Day intended to make sure it did not happen again. This year, the Synagogue and the Ship Inn are being lit up in pink, with support from the [City of Rochester Society](https://city-of-rochester.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)’s [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/), to commemorate the pink triangle that was added to the clothing of members of the LGBT+ community who were imprisoned in concentration camps. 28 January will see Holocaust Memorial Day remembered at Cliffe Woods Primary School, which has been chosen for this year’s event, which has the theme ‘For a better future.’ Residents can hear prayers and talks from different faith leaders, community members, and Kent Police, as well as see presentations by school children. “Every year, we do quite a big event,” says Dalia Halpern-Matthews, Chair of Trustees at Chatham Memorial Synagogue. “It's an event organised in association with the synagogue, the cathedral, schools and colleges, Kent Police and the Youth Council.” Different organisations take turns hosting the event, which saw the synagogue filled to capacity last year. “It was going to be held at a different school, and these days, it becomes such a big event we just didn't think it was going to fit in there. I have never in my life seen the synagogue as full as it was last Holocaust Memorial Day.” The event is intended to be fully accessible for both children and adults. The Ship Inn, an LGBTQ+ venue, is uniquely located in the Intra area of Chatham, directly opposite Chatham Memorial Synagogue. This quirk in geography allows them to collaborate to support these events. Their place in Medway is another historical result of the Naval context of our towns. Members of the Jewish community had been banned from England and were only allowed to return in the 1650s. The docks would see many come to the area, which had a thriving theatre and arts community, and many tailors and craftspeople made the area their home. The stories of the pink triangle only came to light decades after the Holocaust, as homosexuality was illegal in the UK until 1967\. As a result, many people did not tell the stories of how they survived or loved ones they lost until the 1970s for fear of further persecution. “That's a really big thing for us”, says Dalia. “We're highlighting that alongside the traditional Holocaust Memorial Day message.” The Queer Culture Counts book group at The Ship Inn read [The Men with the Pink Triangle](https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-men-with-the-pink-triangle/heinz-heger/sarah-schulman/9781642598469?ref=localauthority.news) by survivor [Heinz Heger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinz%5FHeger?ref=localauthority.news). Peter Moorcroft of The Ship decided that more needed to be done to share the story: “The [Closer Than You Think](https://medwayprideradio.co.uk/closer-than-you-think/?ref=localauthority.news) project, in collaboration with the landlord of the Ship Inn, Nathan Morgan, Dalia and the Synagogue, has enabled this first pink light event to happen.” Whilst Dalia, thankfully, has not personally come across Holocaust deniers, there was an incident at last year’s event when the front of the synagogue was painted with swastikas. “We've certainly had some pretty unpleasant attacks. I think that those swastikas were probably rather more meant to mean that they wished that they'd succeeded better.” Dalia tells me that most Jewish people will have a connection to the Holocaust. They are often alive today because a family member found a way to survive, whilst many other members of the family tree did not. “My family is no different”, says Dalia. “The first of my family to arrive in Chatham was my great-grandfather, Solomon, who came to England in the late 1880s, early 1890s. But he was one of several children, and a lot of his family perished. I would say I have over a hundred members of my family who either definitely died in camps or were in camps or disappeared. It's a lot of people, and we're not that unusual.” “Even more terrifying to me”, says Dalia, “is the fact that we say ‘never again’, but look at Rwanda, look at Bosnia, Croatia, Syria, look at the Uighurs.” At this point, she is keen to state that she is speaking to me in a personal capacity. “Look at Palestine. It happens again and again, and to me, that just makes no sense whatsoever, and again, not letting people in when they are in desperate need is wrong.” The Holocaust Memorial Day events highlight atrocities that have occurred and are occurring around the world and offer a prayer for innocent victims, including in Palestine. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!OE-g!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd7ab3759-550c-4e5a-9339-ce6f79b34f79_480x360.jpg) Candle by Anish Kapoor. Sculptor Sir Anish Kapoor designed [a special candle](https://hmd.org.uk/news/sir-anish-kapoor-behind-70-candles-70-years-design/?ref=localauthority.news) for the 2015 Holocaust Memorial Day. Only 70 were produced, marking the 70th anniversary, and as a sign of their significance, Chatham Memorial Synagogue received one. The candle was lit for the 75th anniversary, and it still exists and will be lit again for the 80th. See the [Chatham Memorial Synagogue website](https://www.chathamshul.org.uk/holocaust-memorial-day?ref=localauthority.news) for more details about the Holocaust Memorial Day event in Cliffe Woods. --- #### In brief 🎭 [Icon Theatre was nominated for the Community Award at The Stage Awards](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/the-stage-awards-2025-winners-announced%5F1661347/?ref=localauthority.news) for their Ghost Ships production held at Chatham Historic Dockyard last year. 🎨 Medway Open Studios is back for 2025, between 5 - 20 July, offering a free art trail with studios to visit and interesting artists to meet. [Registration is now open](https://medwayopenstudios.org/apply/?ref=localauthority.news) for artists wishing to take part. 👾 [The Medway Gaming Festival will not return to Chatham Historic Dockyard this year](https://thedockyard.co.uk/news/mgf/?ref=localauthority.news). The Dockyard has cited insufficient visitor growth and financial unsustainability. Fragers, the company behind the festival, is looking into other options. 🎾 [Tennis courts in Gillingham and Chatham are being refurbished thanks to £174,000 funding from the Lawn Tennis Association](https://futuremedway.co.uk/public-tennis-courts-in-two-medway-parks-to-get-174000-revamp/?ref=localauthority.news). The refreshed courts are set to be completed and opened by the spring. 🥘 [Hempstead Valley Sainsbury’s is set to lose its legendary cafe](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/4-kent-sainsburys-supermarket-cafes-9887225?ref=localauthority.news). The chain has decided to close all of its in-store eateries. --- #### Medway gets first cat café Chatham’s Intra area will soon have another venue to add to its unique reasons for visiting, as Medway’s first cat café will launch this weekend. The café is run by Glinda Bishop and Jackie Cousins, both animal lovers who decided they would love to open a cat café in Medway and wanted to give back to the community. “We are hoping that our café will help people struggling with mental health issues and it will support destressing”, Glinda told us. Despite the name, [Mrs Slocombe’s Cat Café](https://www.mrsslocombes.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) isn’t a café solely for cats. A cat café is instead a themed café where you can watch and interact with cats while enjoying your food and drink. On launch, there will be eight to ten cats on site, all of whom are rescues. Glinda and Jackie also hope to raise money for cat rescue centres and help home more cats. The building on the old High Street was previously the Orchid Garden Chinese-Thai restaurant and, long before that, a florist. As part of the project, the upstairs is being reopened, allowing people into the former orangery and enjoy the view with the cats, along with original art that has been created for the walls. Patrons will be charged a £10 door charge on weekdays and £12 on weekends for an hour in the café. The entrance fee supports the cats and their highly demanding needs. An extensive food and drink menu is also available. --- #### In for Lunch: Pollo Cabana *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s ordered from* [***Pollo Cabana***](https://www.pollocabana.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rochester*…* Pollo Cabana is a ‘Spanish Rotisserie Chicken’ place on the Delce in Rochester. I ordered three boneless chicken thighs, drip-pan potatoes, and a side of coleslaw. The potatoes are, as described, slow-cooked in the drip pan juices. I ordered this as part of a meal deal. As a result, I got two boneless chicken thighs and a serving of sadness. What is becoming a signifier of these establishments' quality is whether they serve coleslaw, and if so, is it homemade, and is it good? I am happy to report that the coleslaw was both of those things. For those who weirdly are more focused on the chicken and potatoes, I am pleased to report that both were also good. The chicken was succulent, well-seasoned and indeed boneless. I did have better potatoes during a previous order that were slightly crispier, but these were again full of the chicken flavour from the rotisserie. If you are looking for some good chicken packed with flavour, then Pollo Cabana is a good choice you could make. Just be careful when going for a meal deal. --- #### Homeless get free training opportunities Medway’s [Natasha Boardman-Steer](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-gone-through-a-few-different/), a creative practitioner in health and wellbeing, is delivering a new project with [Arts and Homelessness International](https://artshomelessint.com/?ref=localauthority.news) over the next four months. The project is funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund. The programme provides people with the opportunity to receive free training, go on paid work placements, and build a relationship with the London-based Arts and Homelessness International. “We are looking for people who are really keen to progress their creative interests, and where possible, I can come and meet clients, customers, and students and talk to them about what they would like to do as part of the programme”, said Natasha. Medway residents who are aged 18 and over and have lived experience of homelessness are eligible for the scheme. This includes all types of homelessness, from hidden homelessness like sofa surfing to those living in short-term or temporary accommodation, and of course, rough sleeping. If you are interested in developing your creative skills, you can do so by joining Natasha and the Medway Arts & Homelessness forum on the last Friday of the month. These events host a series of free workshops from 3.30pm to 4.30pm at Pathways in Rochester, with next Friday’s (31 Jan) workshop being on poverty. *To find out more about the professional development programme, email natasha AT creatabot.co.uk* --- #### Events this week 💔 Sat 25 Jan - [**The Breakup Monologues**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/the-rippling-out-sessions-rosie-wilby-the-breakup-monologues?ref=localauthority.news) // Part of Medway River Lit Rippling Out Sessions. Award-winning comedian and author Rosie Wiley explores the science of heartbreak. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 📽️ Mon 27 Jan - [**Scream Unseen**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-51754&ref=localauthority.news) // Mystery screening of an upcoming horror film. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £7. 🎥 Tue 28 Jan - [**Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon-25th-ann/HO00006638/?ref=localauthority.news) // 25th Anniversary screening of Ang Lee’s Chinese martial arts classic. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5 🎭 29 Jan - 8 Feb - [**Improbable Fiction**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news) // Stage production exploring the nature of fiction and the act of creation. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £12. 🪕 Thu 30 Jan - [**The Ashen Keys**](https://www.facebook.com/events/513373461156449) // Medway folk band plays intimate Rochester show. Man of Kent, Rochester. Free. --- #### More Authority Last night, the first full Medway Council meeting of the year took place. It was a gruelling affair that ran past midnight, lasting more than five hours. Lots was discussed, from devolution to dog control to farming. We’ll have full coverage in our Tuesday edition, but we also covered the meeting live in our Substack Chat last night, so if you want to catch up on our coverage, you can do so [here](https://substack.com/chat/449066/post/9022dc2e-c3a7-4256-847f-33df9cb0452d?utm%5Fsource=thread%5Fembed). --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun items.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Back in the Land of the Living by The Pastel Waves*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/back-in-the-land-of-the-living?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*The Quiet One by These Guilty Men*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/the-quiet-one?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Blue Bell Hill might get an upgrade at some point URL: https://www.localauthority.news/blue-bell-hill-might-get-an-upgrade/ Last updated: 2025-01-21T20:34:18.000Z *Kent County Council is proposing a £250m upgrade to Blue Bell Hill to mitigate against future problems. But there's just one problem: They don’t have the money to pay for it. So, what are the chances of the road ever seeing the upgrade? Further down, we have news on Tesco withdrawing its licence application for a store in Rochester after multiple residents and groups objected, plans are submitted for an 800-home development in Wainscott, there’s a big Medway Council meeting this week, and lots more.* --- #### Blue Bell Hill might get an upgrade at some point The A229 between Chatham and Maidstone, more commonly known as Blue Bell Hill, is one of the key links in and out of Medway. It can become congested very quickly, particularly at peak times. With the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) possibly on the way (though who can honestly know?), more traffic will likely use the route as it heads to the coast from the new tunnel. Now, as the government dithers about whether to build the LTC, Kent County Council has finally come up with a plan on what should be done to make Blue Bell Hill suitable. At some point in the future. As long as they can get the funds. The authority conducted a survey into proposals to upgrade the route back in 2020, and now, just a mere five years later, they are putting forward a preferred option. As always with this sort of thing, the plans do their job of improving the interchange between the M2 and Blue Bell Hill, but they do so at the inconvenience of everyone else. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!5Tr_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fec0f5472-f989-4bd7-828f-736a9f464f6f_1948x1210.jpg) Proposals for the connection between M2 and A229. The headline addition here is a free flow connection between the M2 eastbound to Blue Bell Hill southbound and Blue Bell Hill northbound and the M2 westbound. Compared to the current connection, this is a significant improvement for traffic making these movements and avoids two large, messy traffic light-controlled roundabouts. The plans also include adding a third lane on the southbound Blue Bell Hill route to Maidstone. Otherwise, it all gets a bit messy. The free flow between Maidstone Road, Chatham and Blue Bell Hill would be removed, forcing all traffic through the Lord Lees roundabout if not using the M2\. Perhaps worse is the lengthy diversion for traffic heading from Maidstone to Maidstone Road, Rochester, which will now have to go via the Taddington roundabout in Walderslade as the sliproads on the Bridgewood roundabout would be removed to make room for the new M2 slips. The plans also feature some changes at the Maidstone end of the hill, but nothing as dramatic as the changes at our end. Realistically, if the LTC is to be built, these changes are likely needed, even if they will make journeys between the centre of Medway and Maidstone slightly more annoying. Whether or not any of this is actually feasible is another matter entirely. Kent County Council is aiming to complete the works by 2031, highlighting that the scheme will cost £250m, which is roughly £250m than they can afford to spend on it. The authority intends to bid for funding via the Department for Transport’s Large Local Major Programme, which, if successful, would cover roughly 85% of the cost. The remaining 15% would have to come from other government pots or developer contributions. As a result, both the Lower Thames Crossing and Blue Bell Hill’s upgrades are at the mercy of the government. The two schemes are intrinsically linked to each other. A Lower Thames Crossing without a Blue Bell Hill upgrade will cause significant local traffic challenges, and there isn’t a big case for Blue Bell Hill without the LTC. A decision on the Lower Thames Crossing is set to be made in May (file under ‘believe it when you see it’), and if approved, is set to cost around £9bn by completion. If you’re spending that sort of money on a tunnel, what’s another £250m between friends? *You can read the full documents on the plans and respond to Kent County Council’s consultation* [*here*](https://letstalk.kent.gov.uk/a229bluebellhill?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Tesco withdraws licence application for Rochester store The centre of Rochester has always had limited options for buying basic groceries. While a Co-op on the Delce and an off-licence on the High Street offered limited choice, there never used to be much else. A few years ago, another small Co-op opened behind Rochester station as part of the new Riverside development. With large developments around the Corporation Street area, it seemed inevitable that another chain might try to move into the town. So it was when Tesco submitted a planning application for a store next to Rochester station and a premises licence to sell alcohol. On paper, this should have been straightforward. A new small grocery store in a prime town centre location with heavy footfall in an area that lacks much else. As ever, the reality is more complicated. Medway Council’s own Public Health team objected to the application, citing Rochester High Street’s substantial issues with alcohol-related crime: > *Rochester High Street and the surrounding area has unacceptable levels of alcohol related issues, including crime and public nuisance associated with the density of off licences.* Kent Police filed a similar objection on the same grounds. While alcohol-related crime in Rochester is a problem for anyone who has spent time in the town on a Friday night, it seems slightly odd to blame shops selling alcohol rather than the litany of bars and Casino Rooms. Elsewhere, members of the public filed objections, but not quite as stringently. Most of these objections, using similar complaints and wording, objected but suggested that letting Tesco sell alcohol between noon and 8pm would be fine. This was most pointed in an objection by Sarah Tranter, the former Chair of the Rochester City Centre Forum, who responded on behalf of the organisation with the same limited hours request. She was eager to point out that she’d like to be able to buy her wine in the store before 8pm as long as someone arriving off the train after that isn’t able to. Medway Council’s Licensing Committee were set to decide on Tesco’s application today, but the item was pulled from the agenda at the very last minute. Medway Council told *Local Authority* that Tesco withdrew their application yesterday (Mon 20 Jan), leaving the state of their proposed Rochester store in limbo. Still, at least no one can now buy a bottle of wine in Tesco, saving the town's streets from turning into a lawless hellscape. Trebles all round! Or not, as the case may be. --- #### Application submitted for 800 homes and more near Wainscott Following an informal consultation, developer Richborough has submitted the full planning application to build 800 homes, a primary school, a local centre, housing for older people, and green spaces north of Wainscott. As ever, the imagery submitted by the developer makes it all look rather nice: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!756k!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3e415a3a-7a57-4b3a-ae87-e70a670d2294_2190x864.jpg) Developer proposals for the Wainscott site This is a significant development for Medway, on a large expanse of land that was previously entirely rural. It marks the first large-scale new development built north of the A289 Hasted Road that serves as a by-pass for Strood. In a world where all developments are contentious, this one is likely to be especially so. It’s a big development on agricultural land and offers little traffic mitigation in an area that already struggles with congestion. While the developer is proposing a new roundabout to access the site on the B2000 Lower Rochester Road and an upgrade at Four Elms Hill, there is nothing in the plan that won’t result in already busy local roads facing additional pressure. This is especially potent at the one-direction slip roads between the B2000 and the A289. It is then perhaps unsurprising that local residents have started objecting to the planning application. One person has sent in an entire thread of Facebook group posts about traffic in the area, which is a new way of lodging objections. Others have gone rather more hyperbolic. “The development will ruin my views from my property and will affect my mental state of mind”, claims a neighbouring resident who lives in a modern, gated development. Another objector claims that “by adding more dwellings, you are killing the residents already settled.” While some may not like new housing and have many good reasons against it, the idea that it directly kills existing residents feels a tad dramatic. Medway Council aims to decide on the application by May. You can read the entire planning application and send in your own response [here](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=dates&keyVal=SPIRXIKNL7Z00&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### First full council meeting of the year Medway Council will gather for the first full council of the year this Thursday, featuring a packed agenda. We’ll have the details of what goes down in next Tuesday’s edition, but here’s what will be discussed: - Devolution and local government reorganisation. The former is pointless as the decision has been made, and every council group in Medway agrees, but the latter will likely be more spicy. - Adoption of the Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan following its thumping referendum win in November. - Changes to the council constitution, which will see most public and councillor questions diverted to Cabinet instead of full council, as well as making limits to who can speak on motions permanent. - Confirming the administration will allow the Conservatives to have the mayoralty for 2025/6, as a little treat. - Introducing a Public Space Protection Order relating to dog control, even though there will be no real resources to enforce it. - Motions including one from the Conservatives moaning about tax, one from Labour thanking staff for helping during the Strood water leak over Christmas, one from the Independent Group on Chatham Docks, one from Cllr Shokar on Gaza and BAE’s relationship with Israel, and one from Cllr Spalding on farmers having to pay tax. - Public questions on travellers in Wigmore and lots of by-election candidates doing some grandstanding. It’s likely to be a long meeting. If you want to subject yourself to it, you can view the papers and watch the live stream on Thursday [here](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6152&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### In brief 🎙️ [Medway Council Chief Executive Richard Hicks appeared on the Kent Politics Podcast last week](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/council-chief-on-what-devolution-means-for-county-318767/?ref=localauthority.news). He discussed what the coming devolution might mean for local governance in Kent. 🖊️ No one seems to know what the Kent local government map might look like post-reorganisation. Election Maps UK, an excellent data source, has been tracking the rumours and reports and now [believes Medway will merge with Gravesend and Dartford.](https://bsky.app/profile/electionmaps.uk/post/3lgasz5uw7k2l?ref=localauthority.news) The overall result would split Kent into four areas, at least one more than the government would like. 🎛️ [Kent Police went public to discourage an ‘unlicenced music event’ in Medway on Saturday](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/police-issue-warning-over-medway-9874634?ref=localauthority.news). The force threatened to seize equipment if they found the event, but we are unaware if anything did indeed happen in the end. 🌿 [Police found a vast cannabis farm on Medway City Estate](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/more-than-500-cannabis-plans-found-on-business-estate-318989/?ref=localauthority.news). Officers raided an industrial unit and found 500 plants with an estimated value of £200,000. --- #### More Authority [Steven chatted with Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education, Tracy Coombs](https://www.localauthority.news/local-authorities-are-not-allowed/), for our weekend interview. Tracy was first elected as a Medway councillor for Watling ward in May 2023 and was immediately given the Cabinet role. They discussed what brought her to Medway, the challenge of class sizes, the most trouble she got into at school, and lots more. [“Local authorities are not allowed to open new schools”Tracy Coombs was first elected as a Medway councillor for Watling ward in May 2023 and was immediately given a Cabinet role as Portfolio Holder for Education. Steven went to Gun Wharf and sat down with her to discuss what brought her to Medway, the challenge of class sizes, and the most trouble she got into at school.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7af8c093-9e34-49e1-a620-f535975689f4_2254x1242.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/local-authorities-are-not-allowed/) ***Coming up later this week:*** ***Thursday (paid supporters only):* *We examine what’s been happening with the latest round of Shared Prosperity Funding in Medway.*** ***Friday:* *Our weekly arts and culture briefing.*** ***Sunday (paid supporters only):* *Our weekend interview is with Sean Cameron, a Medway author who now resides in Los Angeles.*** [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Try To Be Hopeful by The Spook School*](https://thespookschool.bandcamp.com/album/try-to-be-hopeful?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*If You’re Feeling Sinister by Belle and Sebastian*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-jnftESRJE&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*More Break-Up Songs by New Starts*](https://darrenhayman.bandcamp.com/album/more-break-up-songs-new-starts?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “Local authorities are not allowed to open new schools” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/local-authorities-are-not-allowed/ Last updated: 2025-01-19T07:01:22.000Z *Cllr Tracy Coombs was first elected as a Medway councillor for Watling ward in May 2023 and was immediately given a Cabinet role as Portfolio Holder for Education. Steven went to Gun Wharf and sat down with her to discuss what brought her to Medway, the challenge of class sizes, and the most trouble she got into at school.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!AnMj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7af8c093-9e34-49e1-a620-f535975689f4_2254x1242.jpg) Cllr Tracy Coombs **What is your position within Medway Council's Cabinet?** I am the Portfolio Holder for Education, and since July, I've had SEND *(Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)* added to my portfolio after we had three cabinet members, who were elected to parliament, stand down, and we had a little move around. **What does that practically mean? What is your involvement in education and SEND in Medway?** It's a largely strategic role, so it covers a lot of things. Everything from thinking ahead to how many school places we'll need in the coming years, where we're going to need those school places, and you've got to think a long way ahead for these things because if it means building a new school clearly, there's quite a long build-up period to that being open and new children being able to go on roles. It's thinking ahead with things like that. I oversee early years, further and higher education, Medway adult education, looking at standards in schools, looking at the workforce, that we've got enough childcare places for people who need it. We look at school transport. It's a really wide-ranging remit as far as schools are concerned. On the SEND side of things, that's a really important role. We work very closely with Parent Carers Forum, we work closely with Health and various other partners, trying to make sure that we have got the right provision for our children and young people in Medway who've got special educational needs and disabilities. That means making sure that we've got enough school places for them, that they're the right type of school places. Not every child with SEND should be in a special school, nor necessarily do the parents want them to be in a special school. It's making sure also that the mainstream schools are supported in meeting the needs of those children who want to be in a mainstream school. I work very closely with schools and with other partners to make sure that we've got the right provision for these children and that we're meeting their needs. **You mentioned school numbers. When it comes to cohort sizes, is that set locally or nationally?** Schools, legally, up to year two, can only have class sizes of 30\. Older than that, they can be bigger, but of course, we don't want classes to be too big. Ideally, we want a class size of 30\. Smaller classes come with financial challenges because schools are funded, amongst other things, on pupil numbers. If you have a class with only 20 children in it, then it's more difficult to maintain that funding and to set a balanced budget. The difficulty that we have in Medway is that we've got inward migration. We've got developments going on, and we don't necessarily have the spaces in the right places. We are working really hard to make sure that we address that. Schools have been absolutely brilliant working with us, adding bulge classes and new groups where needed. We're also looking at opening new schools. We opened Riverside in Rochester last year. We opened Maritime Academy, the permanent site, last year. We're working on permanent expansions to some schools as well because we have a growing population. **Is there a limit to how many classes in a school?** It's pretty much based on the geography of the school. For some schools, it's just impossible for them to expand further. Others have got more room for expansion, and they're the ones that we're working with and talking to about taking a different approach. There is no legal limit on how big an individual school population could get. Of course, the big schools largely are secondary schools. Most of them are academies. That's very much for the academy trust and DfE *(Department for Education)* to make that determination. **Do we have free schools in Medway?** We have academies, and free schools are part of the whole academy program. **Previously, free schools were thought of as being set up by individuals.** That has changed. It was a very big thing for a moment. If you mean in terms of have we got a group of parents who've set up a free school, then no. **What experience did you bring to this cabinet position?** I was a teacher. I worked at Parkwood Infant School in Rainham, which was my first teaching post. Then I went to Brompton Westbrook Primary School on the borders of Gillingham and Chatham, where I worked in early years initially and then I went on to be a headteacher. I had nine years’ experience as a headteacher in a Kent primary school, a village school. I've got that whole professional background behind me, which is extremely helpful. **What is the biggest challenge you face in your position for 2025?** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 144 pots for 144 women URL: https://www.localauthority.news/144-pots-for-144-women/ Last updated: 2025-01-17T18:02:39.000Z *Welcome to our Friday briefing edition, which, as always, focuses on arts, culture, and things to do in our towns. Today, we speak to the potter behind an emotional new exhibition based on the 144 women killed by men in the UK in a single year. Further down, we have news of a new project by Rubbish Snooker, details of artist Sophie Jongman’s new exhibition, Steven reviews breakfast at Medway Café, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### 144 pots for 144 women *Nicola Vincent-Abnett is a local potter with a new exhibition at the Halpern Gallery in Chatham. We spoke with her about her journey into pottery, the inspiration behind the 144 Pots for 144 Women exhibition, and the production process.* Nicola studied English at university before attending the University of Creative Arts at Canterbury, where she painted and drew things. She has also knitted and sewn, but pottery only recently came into her life. “I sat down on this wheel, and it just made me smile.” That was eight years ago. I went up to the guys at Friars in Aylesford, which is “an amazing setting. They were fantastic, helping and teaching” until she built a studio at her home. Nicola describes her pottery as ‘domestic homewares’, pots, bowls, beakers and mugs. “I like to make practical things, and then every so ofte,n I'll make something political”. Her current exhibition was inspired by the [Femicide Census](https://www.femicidecensus.org/?ref=localauthority.news). This is a count of the women who have been killed by men in the UK each year. The first year count was 2012, the year the exhibition was based on. “Femicide has generally been thrown in with murder, but somebody decided to start counting it, which I think is a fantastic thing to do. In 2012, as of the latest count, there were 144.” For too long, when these statistics are released, there is a lurch to say, ‘Not all men’, when the reality appears to be that it’s far more likely to be a man than not. We are more uncomfortable with that than with what the stats tell us. “When men do these things, other men call them animals or monsters to separate them from themselves, so we don't have to feel responsible for them.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!8C8k!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc58ef614-19ee-462e-a204-e5a61e385d49_2740x1196.jpg) 144 Pots for 144 Women exhibition. Photo: The Halpern Galery Nicola decided to make a pot for each of the 144 women. “It seemed doable. I would be able to make 144 lidded vessels representing these women.” She soon realised it would be more than just making 144 pots in a year. That was just the starting point. As she started to gather information about each of the women to be represented in each pot. “I took what I could off the internet. I've got pictures of quite a lot of these women in the pots. I've got things said at their memorials in their pots.” Each pot became a shrine to the woman it represents. Nicola collated each of their death certificates, though she admits this was emotionally draining. She would store them and open them in batches. “I've learned things about these women. They were teachers, carers, and extraordinary women who were lovely, educated, funny, and beautiful.” Nicola is still working on gathering information about some of the women, admitting that “it's quite difficult with some of them.” Whilst she was a potter making pots, she found she was spending as much time on the research, spending as much money collecting artefacts as making the pots. “I wanted to be diligent. I wanted to be sure. I didn't just take for granted that the journalism was correct on any given issue.” Nicola found it especially sad when there were women with almost no trace of them at all. She decided not to reach out to the families of the women. “You walk a line with these things. It was 13 years ago. I've just seen the prom photographs of one of these women's daughters on the internet. They still celebrate their mothers that way, and it's not my business to interfere with that.” Nicola views the final exhibition as a representation of all women, though if a family member found out and requested a pot, she would “absolutely hand it over.” The exhibition was originally going to be laid out in age order. The youngest woman is 15, and the eldest is 93\. However, some women died together, including sisters and one daughter, and it didn’t feel right to separate them. Eventually, she chose to break up the country into ten districts, with vessels in every district. “People have been asking me questions like, does it happen more in cities? Does it happen more in different classes? And it's completely universal so far as my research has taken me.” The exhibition is open every day (except Sunday) between 10am and 4pm, and Nicola will be there on Saturday between noon and 4pm “if anybody wants to have a chat with me about anything.” After the exhibition, Nicola is hopeful that other galleries will want to have it. “I feel like it should be out there.” *144 Pots for 144 Women will be displayed at The Halpern Gallery until Wednesday 22 January.* --- #### In brief 🏳️‍🌈 [The LGBT+ Monologues](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/the-lgbt-monologues?ref=localauthority.news) is an upcoming performance at Spotlites Theatre as part of LGBT History Month. If you want to contribute a monologue, you can find details on [contacting the organisers here](https://www.instagram.com/p/DE4PLwMoVCg/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏛️ [Medway is one of nine places that will benefit from the National Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Heritage Places Initiative’ investment](https://www.medway.gov.uk/HeritagePlace?ref=localauthority.news). Medway Council is keen to build up a picture of the heritage assets and the sector in Medway, so if you manage or know about heritage assets, [let them know here](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/medwayheritageassets?ref=localauthority.news) before this Monday (20 Jan). 🍻 [Wetherspoons is set to open in Allhallows](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent-business/county-news/wetherspooon-confirms-new-pub-to-open-in-march-318602/?ref=localauthority.news). The pub chain will open at the Haven holiday park in the village as part of a new partnership. 🎾 [Plans have been submitted to build padel tennis courts on prime development land in the centre of Chatham](https://futuremedway.co.uk/new-padel-tennis-courts-proposed-next-to-st-johns-church-in-chatham-town-centre/?ref=localauthority.news). The nearby Platform 26 coworking space would oversee the facility. 🍽️ [The Pumproom restaurant at the Copper Rivet Distillery has suddenly closed](https://www.instagram.com/p/DE5b1tMKcYM/?ref=localauthority.news). The eatery, owned by the Gillingham and Rainham Conservative Association Chair, blamed the recent government budget for the move. --- #### Rubbish Snooker Cues Kieran Poole, friend of *Local Authority* and creator of Rubbish Snooker, is doing something interesting with old snooker cues. Poole has been making [mosaics](https://www.rubbishsnooker.com/mosaics?ref=localauthority.news) using littered lids and ring pulls on his snooker table for years. He also runs [classes](https://www.rubbishsnooker.com/schoolworkshops/?ref=localauthority.news) about plastic pollution in primary schools, where the children make their own mosaics using litter. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/6d7d5759-a940-4fda-a9ca-7c5a16931ea6_2048x2048.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/e97d69eb-fe5d-42c3-bf48-0f4f9b35e2f6_2048x2048.jpg) Poole is now involved with The Octopus Foundation, which runs a Men’s Shed programme. He noticed it had “an incredible wood workshop, and I wanted to make something from snooker products there.” He started searching for discarded cues and happily found a local supplier in Lee Crowhurst, who owns [Chatham Pool & Snooker Club](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1977719329165391). Lee “kindly donated a bunch of very old ‘house’ cues and rests that were destined for landfill”, recalls Poole. The big question is, what does he do with these cues? “I saw the cues down to foot-long pieces and attach six lids (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black). Within each lid is a small print of a Rubbish Snooker mosaic”, resulting in a unique, recycled piece of art. *You can learn more about the project and buy your own piece* [*here*](https://www.rubbishsnooker.com/reclaimed-cues?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Out to Breakfast: Medway Café *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the breakfast options available in our towns. This month, he’s been down to *Medway Café in Gillingham*…* With my intended eatery closed, I unexpectedly found myself at Medway Café on Gillingham High Street, near the train station. The café was well lit and the staff welcoming, though the furniture has seen better days. I ordered off menu, requesting four rashers of well-done bacon, three fried eggs, two slices of fried bread, a portion of mushrooms, and tea and apple juice. The food was served promptly and was well-presented and clean, which is always positive given the risk of a greasy plate with such fried foods. The fried bread was crisp. The egg yolks were well cooked and broke well over the bread, creating a delicious flavoursome mix. The bacon was nice and crispy, going well with the egg whites. The mushrooms were fine. The tea was served in a mug, not a pot, which is not a complaint but an observation of how much tea you get. The apple juice was not served at all. If you are looking for breakfast in Gillingham, then Medway Café is a good shout, but I wouldn’t travel to Gillingham solely to visit it. --- #### Art as camouflage Medway artist Sophie Jongman has her first solo art exhibition from 21 January to 6 April. For an artist who has been a lifelong peace activist, holding her first exhibition at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham is a curious choice. “The museum itself is extremely interesting, being only one of five such museums in the country where artefacts from military tours are on display”, says Sophie, recalling visiting the museum repeatedly and finding its artefacts fascinating. As a result, the museum and its pieces have inspired her work. Sophie used to write stories about her visits for social media posts from 2009 onwards, so it’s fair to say that this exhibition has been a long time coming. Initially, she planned to create a series of four paintings of women who led armies. However, this project was not completed after “the first one I did was Joan of Arc, but many people didn't like it or were disturbed by it.” Eventually, she decided on the theme of ‘Camouflage.’ “That was not only a military strategy, but was also a strategy for me as a civilian in an urban environment due to the radical nature of my own political stance as a peace activist and a revolutionary socialist.” This exhibition centres around the necessity of survival during times of war, battles, and our civilian lives. There are depictions of life and war from medieval, pre-medieval, modern, and mystical perspectives. The exhibition aims to evoke a sense of our common ground as human beings and give space for reflection. Sophie’s first solo show has been “a dream come true for me, to have my work in a museum”. To learn more about the show, you can find the [Royal Engineers page here](https://www.re-museum.co.uk/camouflage/?ref=localauthority.news), and Sophie’s [Facebook event here](https://fb.me/e/2bwM7L2oK?ref=localauthority.news). An earlier *Local Authority* piece about [Sophie and her exhibition with Peter Reeds can be found here](https://www.localauthority.news/i/144045762/double-trouble). --- #### Events this week 🥕 Sun 19 Jan - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 📽️ Mon 20 Jan - [**Screen Unseen**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-51310&ref=localauthority.news) // Mystery screening of an upcoming, and usually quite good, film. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £7. 🗣️ Thu 23 Jan - [**Full Medway Council meeting**](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=6152&ref=localauthority.news) // Elected representatives squabble over how to do things. St George’s Centre, Chatham. Free. --- #### More Authority Three Medway Council seats are up for grabs in by-elections next month, and we wanted to investigate the history of the wards and the chances for each party standing. To do this, we’ve drafted in **Alan Collins**, founder of [Medway Elects](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), an incredible website that tracks the full electoral history of our towns. [He analyses past elections and what might happen in this one](https://www.localauthority.news/by-the-numbers-by-elections/). [By the numbers by-electionsEditor’s note: Three Medway Council seats are up for grabs in by-elections next month, and we wanted to investigate the history of the wards and the chances for each party standing. To do this, we’ve drafted in Alan Collins, founder of Medway Elects, an incredible website that tracks the full electoral history of our towns. He analyses past elections and what might happen in this one.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc89b79f8-8ee2-43d9-b0da-a81b28246bf0_8139x4261.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/by-the-numbers-by-elections/) Coming up on Sunday for [paid supporters](#/portal/signup), we sit down with Tracy Coombs, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education. We discuss what brought her to Medway, the challenge of class sizes, the most trouble she got into at school, and lots more. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun items.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### By the numbers by-elections URL: https://www.localauthority.news/by-the-numbers-by-elections/ Last updated: 2025-01-16T18:17:31.000Z **Editor’s note:* Three Medway Council seats are up for grabs in by-elections next month, and we wanted to investigate the history of the wards and the chances for each party standing. To do this, we’ve drafted in *Alan Collins*, founder of* [*Medway Elects*](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, an incredible website that tracks the full electoral history of our towns. He analyses past elections and what might happen in this one.* --- #### By the numbers by-elections **by Alan Collins** What could be better than a by-election? Obviously, two by-elections. On the same day. Electing three councillors. Following the announcement shortly before Christmas that Medway’s three new(ish) members of parliament ([Lauren Edwards](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=candidates&id=edwards.laurenrae&ref=localauthority.news), Rochester and Strood; [Naushabah Khan](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=mps&id=khan.naushabahparveen&ref=localauthority.news), Gillingham and Rainham; and [Tristan Osborne](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=mps&id=osborne.tristanjohn&ref=localauthority.news), Chatham and Aylesford) were standing down from the council to focus on their parliamentary duties, voters in their former wards of [Gillingham South](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=wards&id=2023.gillinghamsouth&ref=localauthority.news) and [Rochester East & Warren Wood](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=wards&id=2023.rochestereastandwarrenwood&ref=localauthority.news) are being called on to elect their successors. Both elections are offering an eclectic mix of the usual suspects together with a slate of no-hopers. In other words: democracy in action. It may be the last time we see democracy in action for Medway Council. As covered extensively by *Local Authority*, the government’s plans for devolution, being led here in Kent by Kent County Council and Medway Council, would likely see every authority in the county abolished and replaced with unitaries of at least 500,000 people. If, as proposed, the new councils are introduced in 2028, Medway’s elections slated for 2027 are likely to be cancelled (Medway did not elect any councillors to Kent County Council [in 1997](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&select=kentcc&id=19970501K&ref=localauthority.news) when the founding of Medway Council was in progress). So, for what might end up being the last time, let’s take a look at these upcoming elections to Medway Council. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s red route cameras aren’t catching anyone URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-red-route-cameras-arent-catching/ Last updated: 2025-01-14T18:36:30.000Z *We’ve spent much of the last year writing about traffic cameras in one form or another. With the School Streets and traffic offences cameras fining thousands of motorists, it seemed set that the controversial red routes scheme would do the same. The reality is very different though, with some streets not issuing a single fine. We’ve got the full details below. Further down, we have news that Medway is set to reunite with Kent for devolution which will see an elected mayor for the county, details of the 18 by-election candidates for Rochester and Gillingham, Medway residents on the New Year Honours list, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway’s red route cameras aren’t catching anyone The Labour administration of Medway has revealed itself to be a big fan of camera enforcement and fining people who break the rules of the road. Over the past year, we’ve seen the introduction of School Streets and enforcement of moving traffic offences, which have captured thousands of motorists. Over [2,000 fines were issued under the School Streets scheme](https://www.localauthority.news/over-2000-school-streets-fines-issued/) in the first six months of operation, while over [3,000 were caught by the moving traffic offences rules](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-new-traffic-cameras-already/). Both of these will have generated significant income for Medway Council. It seems logical to assume that the red routes scheme, rolled out across five key roads in Medway, would also generate large fines. But figures obtained exclusively by *Local Authority* paint a very different picture. Between the scheme’s launch in May 2024 and November 2024, red routes in Medway generated a grand total of 35 fines. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!XT2-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff74987d1-5044-4680-a7f7-fb382580fd4d_6000x3376.jpg) A red route. Photo: stock.adobe.com Drilling down into the data generates more questions about the scheme's implementation. During the period, no warning notice or fine was issued on some streets. - Corporation Street, Rochester - 0 fines, 0 warnings - Star Hill, Rochester - 2 fines, 8 warnings - Best Street, Chatham - 1 fine, 9 warnings - The Brook, Chatham - 0 fines, 4 warnings - High Street, Rainham - 32 fines, 196 warnings Clearly, the scheme in Rainham is proving most effective, which is ironic given that it faced the greatest backlash during the consultation process. It seems staggering that Corporation Street or The Brook could not generate any fines during a six-month window. A drive along either street regularly sees vehicles parking at the Rochester station bus stop or the garage on The Brook, amongst several other places. It is unclear why Medway Council is failing to catch people breaching the rules on the red routes. The issue may be related to the positioning of cameras. While the previous schemes had clearly defined lines to monitor, red routes cover a wider area, and from conversations with those with knowledge of the scheme, cameras may not be covering all of them. Still, given that the scheme cost Medway Council £805,000, it must be concerning that in the first six months, barely more than £2,000 in fines were generated. A Medway Council spokesperson told us: > *“There are more contraventions of Moving Traffic and School Streets restrictions than of those relating to Red Routes in Medway, so the PCN data is not directly comparable.* > > *The low number of fines and warnings issued is largely due to a high level of compliance relating to red routes. Data collected during the warning notice period will be used to review the current locations of the cameras.”* As a result, perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that Medway is eager to proceed with more School Streets and moving traffic offences schemes rather than additional red routes. --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Devolution is go Last week, we received confirmation of what we’d been expecting for a while: Kent County Council and Medway Council confirmed that they had written to the government to request that the county be included in its Devolution Priority Programme. In theory, this means that Kent, including Medway, will vote on an elected Mayor with significant strategic powers as early as next year. As a result, some of the big ticket items that councils deal with, like large-scale planning, will move to the new mayor, while powers on issues like transport will be handed down from the government. What was striking was the different approaches Medway Council and Kent County Council took to the process. Last Thursday, Kent County Council held two major public meetings on the issue. The full council held a non-binding vote before the Cabinet formally voted to proceed with the proposals. As a result, it was possible to see where each party within Kent County Council stood on the matter. The Conservatives and Labour were generally supportive, while the Greens and Liberal Democrats raised concerns about the process. Ultimately, the council voted 39-18 in favour of the move. While much of it was grandstanding, such a significant change for our area should surely face public scrutiny. In Medway, things were very different. The matter didn’t come before full council or even Cabinet. Instead, the first public word we had in Medway was Leader Cllr Vince Maple confirming that he was co-signing the joint request for devolved powers: > *“I am pleased to confirm that I have today (Friday, 10 January) co-signed a joint letter with Cllr Roger Gough, Leader of Kent County Council, to Jim McMahon, Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, formally requesting that the Kent and Medway region is part of the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme. We are confident this presents a positive opportunity to deliver significant benefits for the nearly two million residents and businesses of Kent and Medway.* > > *I welcome the collaborative and constructive approach adopted with our colleagues at Kent County Council and the District and Borough councils and will continue to work closely with them in the coming years to shape the future of local government in the region.* > > *Should we be included in the Priority Programme, there is a clear commitment from both government and Medway Council to involve you in public consultation and keep you informed every step of the way.* > > *I very much look forward to hearing the outcome of our approach to Government and to moving into the next important chapter in our history.”* So why the different approach? First, the issue was more febrile for Kent County Council, which was due to hold elections this year. The work needed for devolution means they will likely be delayed for a year. Second, it is clear from the above that the council groups disagreed on the way forward. This does not appear to be the case in Medway. Sources with the administration told us there has been good cross-party agreement on the matter throughout the process, with most councillors favouring devolution. Cllr George Perfect, Conservative leader of the opposition on Medway Council, seemed to agree, and seems to be excited about the opportunities for Medway: > *The white paper will have profound consequences on Medway but, I do genuinely believe, opportunities too. As an opposition, we have committed to working pragmatically with the Leader of the Council, as well as colleagues across the county council and the districts and boroughs to ensure that Medway gets the absolute best outcome from the changes ahead. Being within the priority programme for devolution and local government reorganisation gives Kent and Medway the best chance to shape its future. I thank the Leader of the Council, Conservative Group Leader colleagues across Kent, and the Shadow Ministerial team for engagement so far on the future for Kent and Medway.* > > *Medway Conservatives are firm believers in unitary authorities. However, we are clear, any future changes must have the support from the districts and boroughs, must make financial sense, and services cannot suffer whilst any local government reorganisation takes place. These three tests will drive my engagement on the future of local government and the devolution settlement in our area.* Even Medway’s Independent Group are happy with the progress being made, though perhaps this shouldn’t be entirely surprising given some of them previously campaigned for the Hoo Peninsula to leave Medway and rejoin Kent County Council. Cllr George Crozer, leader of the Independent Group on Medway Council, told us: > *“Whilst we are unsure of what a devolved Kent would ultimately look like, as the only Unitary Authority in the Southeast, Medway Council are well placed to join the Devolution Priority Programme along with Kent County Council the other upper tier authority in Kent.* > > *Since the publication of the white paper 16th December 2024 cross party discussions have taken place to gain a broad consensus of opinion that Medway Council should be party to the Devolution Priority Programme.* > > *Representing a large proportion of residents North of the river Medway, the Independent Group are keen to remain part of the cross party process.”* While there may be strong agreement on the matter of an elected mayor, it is unlikely that will remain when it comes to merging Medway with other districts to form a new, more extensive unitary authority, which also needs to happen in the next few months. As ever, we’ll be watching. --- #### 18 by-election candidates to fight for three seats With two Medway by-elections on 6 February rapidly approaching, we now have complete candidate lists. As such, we now know that 18 candidates are vying for the three vacancies on Medway Council. So, let’s see who we have. Gillingham South by-election, one seat available (Labour defence): - Conservative: Saboor Ahmed - Green: Trish Marchant - Heritage: Roshan Bhunnoo - Labour: Liubov Nestorova - Lib Dem: Onyx Rist - Reform: Rizvi Rawoof - SDP: Peter Wheeler The [Conservatives campaigned with a decent number of activists](https://x.com/GRTories/status/1875587439936635286?ref=localauthority.news) over the weekend, [as did Labour](https://www.facebook.com/GillinghamRainhamLabour/posts/pfbid02YrnLeUyw8e5Zjn4a8WR5ajJ3ejRKStDbzc2amjzcKCCWceqzwYaBbr9giba86EAzl). The Greens have been on the campaign trail, too, but there’s little sign of [anyone beyond candidate Trish Marchant](https://x.com/medwaygreens/status/1878228967934582956?ref=localauthority.news), while Onyx Rist of the Lib Dems has been telling everyone how well Onyx Rist is doing on KentOnline. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!DbVm!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f70b491f7-5f38-422c-9bc3-20bb2a5e5e6f_1184x248.png) Onyx Rist post on KentOnline Elsewhere, Reform is putting forward Rizvi Rawoof as their candidate, a man so organised during the General Election campaign that he forgot to turn up to our hustings. Peter Wheeler is standing for the SDP following efforts in the local and general elections. Finally, Roshan Bhunnoo is standing for the Heritage Party, marking their first ballot appearance east of the river. Rochester East & Warren Wood by-election, two seats available (Labour defence): - Conservative: George Clarke & Tolga Sirlan - Green: Doug Bray & Jeremy Syby-Steanson - Heritage: Peter Burch - Labour: Carolyn Hart & Robert Wyatt - Lib Dem: Anita Holloway & Sarah Manuel - Reform: David Finch & John Vye In a similar story to the above, [Labour](https://bsky.app/profile/rslabour.bsky.social/post/3lfkvpn5ezc2a?ref=localauthority.news) and the [Conservatives](https://x.com/KellyTolhurst/status/1875615947693945197?ref=localauthority.news) had significant campaigning events last weekend, with activists on the doorstep. There have been few signs of activity from anyone else, though [Reform did put out](https://reform-rs.com/thursday-6th-february-2025-vote-reform-uk/?ref=localauthority.news) this excellent campaign photo of their candidates: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!5wdq!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffa6ba60b-ba6d-474e-b759-720dc019acf3_1213x537.jpg) Reform candidates David Finch and John Vye. It remains challenging to predict the direction of this campaign, but much is at stake. Labour could lose its majority on Medway Council if it loses two of the three seats up for election. *Later this week, paid Local Authority subscribers will receive an analysis of the current state of play from our resident elections expert,* [*Medway Elects*](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*’ Alan Collins.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Five or six Medway people receive New Year Honours The honours system is inherently silly, but it remains interesting to see which Medway figures make the list for their work. This year, depending on how you count, five or six Medway residents made the list: - Austin Christopher Daboh - Executive Vice-President, Atlantic Records UK. OBE for services to Music. - Katherine Jane Batts - Lately Treasurer, City of Rochester Swimming and Lifeguard Club. MBE For Voluntary Service to Swimming and to the Royal Life Saving Society. - Alexander Angus Cameron - Co-Chair, High Street Heritage Action Zone and Co-Chair, Intra Community Trust. MBE for services to Heritage and the community in Kent. - David Ward - Founder and Trustee, Abigail's Footsteps. MBE for services to Bereaved Parents of Stillborn Children, particularly in Kent. - June Rosemary Cox - BEM for services to the community in Bredhurst, Kent. - Elizabeth O’Hanlon - BEM for services to the Environment and Sustainability in Rainham, Kent. One of the surprising things about these lists is discovering names you have never heard of before. This year's list includes an interesting mix of people doing good work. [We spoke to Alex Cameron ](https://www.localauthority.news/revitalising-intra/)about his work with the Intra Community Trust just before Christmas, so we would like to offer him an extra special congratulations. Whether June Cox counts as a Medway person for her work in Bredhurst is debatable, given that it’s over the border. However, the papers listed her as Gillingham, so who are we to argue? --- #### In brief 💷 [Medway Council is owed more than £10.5m in unpaid fines since 2022](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/council-owed-more-than-10m-in-unpaid-fines-over-parking-t-318477/?ref=localauthority.news). The figure includes fines for parking, traffic offences, truancy, and littering, with nearly 30% of fines going uncollected. 🏗️ [Medway Council planning officers have recommended approving a 168-home development on the former Morgan Timber site in Strood](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=77480&ref=localauthority.news). The move comes even though there is no safe and accessible way for pedestrians and cyclists to enter the site from the north side, as [we previously wrote about](https://www.localauthority.news/no-affordable-homes-no-financial/). 📸 [ANPR cameras will monitor traffic offences at 17 more locations in Medway starting next Monday](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200160/roads%5Fand%5Fpavements/1602/moving%5Ftraffic%5Foffences/3?ref=localauthority.news) (20 Jan), with fines being issued for those breaching the rules. The 17 areas are in town centre locations, including yellow box junctions, no right turn restrictions, and pedestrian areas. 🦽 [Adult social care in Medway has been graded as ‘requires improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/kent-areas-adult-social-care-9856584?ref=localauthority.news). Long waiting times across various areas were one of the key problems identified. 🏡 [Medway Council is considering building its own care home as demand for places increases](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn93xx08rjlo?ref=localauthority.news). Medway has nearly 1,700 care home places, but residents are increasingly placed outside of the area due to demand outstripping supply. --- #### More Authority Something slightly different for our weekend this interview this week, with [Steven sitting down with himself to mark his 100th ](https://www.localauthority.news/apart-from-that-i-havent-really-thought/)[*Local Authority*](https://www.localauthority.news/apart-from-that-i-havent-really-thought/)[ interview](https://www.localauthority.news/apart-from-that-i-havent-really-thought/). Steven talks with Steven about his educational journey, his favourite interviewees, and whether he is a member of the Labour Party. [“Apart from that, I haven’t really thought about it”Steven Keevil first started writing about Medway for The Political Medway. Since then, he joined Ed on Local Authority and has interviewed a wide variety of the great and good of Medway and won Kent Columnist of the Year. Steven sat down with himself and discussed his educational journey, his favourite interviewees, and whether he is a member of the Labour Party.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1575e8f6-223e-46d0-b676-da6637b682a3_1125x589.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/apart-from-that-i-havent-really-thought/) **Later this week:** **Thursday (paid subscribers only):** Our election data guru, Alan Collins, will be looking at the upcoming by-elections in Rochester and Gillingham to see if past results can tell us anything. **Friday:** Our weekly arts and culture briefing. **Sunday (paid subscribers only):** Our weekend interview is with Cllr Tracy Coombs, Medway Council Portfolio Holder for Education. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Privilege by Parenthetical Girls*](https://parentheticalgirls.bandcamp.com/album/privilege?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*I’m Glad We’re Friends by Thank You, I’m Sorry*](https://thankyouimsorry.bandcamp.com/album/im-glad-were-friends?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Tallahassee by The Mountain Goats*](https://themountaingoats.bandcamp.com/album/tallahassee?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “Apart from that, I haven’t really thought about it” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/apart-from-that-i-havent-really-thought/ Last updated: 2025-01-12T07:01:30.000Z *Steven Keevil first started writing about Medway for The Political Medway. Since then, he joined Ed on Local Authority and has interviewed a wide variety of the great and good of Medway and won Kent Columnist of the Year. Steven sat down with himself and discussed his educational journey, why he wore a tuxedo to work and if he is a member of the Labour Party.* **So, interviewing yourself? Are you desperate for content?** Well, I interviewed [Ed](https://www.localauthority.news/what-keevil-asked-local-authority/) for our first *Local Authority* interview and [my Mum](https://www.localauthority.news/we-were-paying-their-rents-to-make/) for our 50th. I was thinking who I could get for the 100th, and due to doing a number of interviews for the General Election last year, it fell awkwardly just after Christmas. I flattered myself that people would be interested in hearing about me. I’m doing it myself, as Ed has no desire to talk to me at the best of times. But also happy to say we’re not desperate for content at all. We’ve got some great interviews lined up. Some people have patiently waited a year from first speaking to them. We’ve got interviews lined up until March, with plenty more after that. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!C4XN!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1575e8f6-223e-46d0-b676-da6637b682a3_1125x589.jpg) Steven Keevil. **What is your involvement with *Local Authority*?** I do a number of things. Primarily, every week, I do this long-form interview segment. I also do smaller interviews as part of our Friday culture edition, do the lunch reviews, and act as a sort of commissioning editor for the guest-written pieces we get. Sometimes, that’s having an idea for a piece, or a review that requires somebody else to write, or liaising with somebody who has an idea for a piece. **You also host the live events.** Yes, well done, good job that somebody did their research. We first held a leaders debate in 2019, which, for some reason, Vince Maple and Alan Jarrett agreed to take part in. It was a really great experience, and the audience seemed to like it. For some reason everybody agreed to [do it again in 2023](https://www.localauthority.news/what-we-learnt-from-the-battle-for/). MidKent College were very generous with their space, and we did a couple of Medway Question Time events to follow up, before doing election hustings for the [Police and Crime Commissioner election](https://www.localauthority.news/listen-kent-police-and-crime-commissioner/) and then the [General Election](https://www.localauthority.news/hustings-hustle/). **What are your memories of the General Election Hustings?** It was all so intense. Multiple candidates on the stage, trying to keep on top of the questions and finding a way to be fair and provide equal time to people. It was disappointing that the Conservative candidates didn’t take part. We are looking forward to doing some more MQT events in the future, and when Mayoral elections take place… well, hopefully watch this space. **Why weren’t you involved in the *Local Authority* launch?** Ed and I have been writing about Medway and Medway politics together in one form or another for ten years now. We had stopped being involved in party politics, and I still wanted to be doing something. Ed had been attending full council and live tweeting what was going on. This was back when Twitter was a positive thing, if you can just imagine for a moment. I suggested that we collaborate on a blog, The Political Medway, in the run-up to the General and local elections, which were occurring on the same day in 2015\. We had been covering the full council meetings, and were taken seriously enough to be able to attend the count as press. Somehow, we weren’t burnt out by the whole experience and carried on doing it. **But why weren’t you involved in the launch of *Local Authority*?** By 2019, I was burnt out. I had some health issues, work issues, finance issues, issue issues. I had been contributing less to the blog, taking on the Contributing Editor role, getting a variety of people involved. Outside of the big events, the blog wasn’t earning any income. Ed is much better than I at keeping up with what is going on in local journalism and worked out that Substack newsletters were the way forward. I just needed a break from a lot of things. **What changed?** I had seen what a great job Ed had done. We had carried on meeting regularly, talking about what was going on and I started to think about what I could contribute. That led to me doing the long-form interviews, amongst other columns. **And winning Kent’s Columnist of the Year.** Nice of you to mention that, yes. My mindset was either taking a serious subject and treating it less than seriously or taking a comical subject and treating it seriously. That led to writing pieces like could a James Bond villain build a secret lair in Medway, and what is the Chatham Pocket? **You’ve done a number of interviews now. What Interviewers do you like?** I listen to a lot of podcasts. I really like [Ways to Change the World](https://www.channel4.com/news/ways-to-change-the-world?ref=localauthority.news) with Krishnan Guru-Murthy, [Full Disclosure](https://www.globalplayer.com/videos/brands/lbc-full-disclosure/full-episodes-of-full-disclosure-with-james-obrien/?ref=localauthority.news) with James O’Brien, and [Young Again](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001r528?ref=localauthority.news) with Kirsty Young. **Who has been a good and or bad interviewee?** I’ve been lucky to interview interesting people and discover fascinating things about people connected to the area. Just a few highlights: [Michi Masumi](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-way-for-me-to-survive/), [John Daynes](https://www.localauthority.news/it-created-somebody-horrible/), [Zara Carpenter](https://www.localauthority.news/its-about-seeing-the-beauty-in-the/) and [Rikard Osterlund](https://www.localauthority.news/im-capturing-an-image-because-that/), [Bill Lewis](https://www.localauthority.news/my-parents-were-both-fictitious/). No disrespect to anybody I haven’t mentioned. I’ve had the pleasure to sit down with [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/i-believe-in-socialist-values-some/) a few times. [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) was incredibly generous with his time. **And bad interviewees?** Nobody has been bad. **But?** Understandably, some people may have never been interviewed before. Whilst some relax and get into it, others have not so much. But that’s on me, not them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!U4Iz!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fafa305c6-dc95-4282-8a8e-d5c981cf4dec_1830x1082.jpg) Steven ‘interviewing’ Keir Starmer. Photo: Sofia Akin **What was it like interviewing Sir Keir Starmer?** I didn’t interview him. I got to ask one question. It was an in-person experience of politicians answering the question they want to answer, not what you ask. It was fine. Nice to be invited, as they say. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Managerial musical chairs return to Gillingham URL: https://www.localauthority.news/managerial-musical-chairs-return/ Last updated: 2025-01-10T11:53:30.000Z *It’s been a season of highs and lows so far for Gillingham Football Club, with a promising start quickly disintegrating, leading to the sacking of manager Mark Bonner this week. Our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins weighs in on what happens next. Further down, we explore chocolate making in Rochester, new events from Medway River Lit, the return of Luton Lights, review the Ship and Trades, and our usual news in brief roundup and our weekly events guide.* *There’s lots of big news breaking almost by the hour about the state of devolution for Kent and Medway, with Kent County Council formally requesting powers in a joint bid with Medway yesterday. It’s a fast-moving story, so we’re taking our time to look at it from all angles. We will have a full rundown in our Tuesday news briefing.* --- #### Managerial musical chairs return to Gillingham **by Ben Hopkins** Managerial musical chairs returned to Gillingham this week, with Mark Bonner departing after ongoing torrid form. In his place - until the end of the season - is the veteran John Coleman, best known for two long spells at Accrington Stanley, which re-established them as a league team. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Kexf!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1d57fba6-9820-48b4-a894-6cab70912593_1600x900.jpg) Sacked Gillingham manager Mark Bonner (left) and incoming manager Joe Coleman (right) Bonner’s time at Gillingham initially seemed like the perfect match, with six league wins from the first eight games. But when that first run of form ran out of steam, it didn’t just unravel, it completely detonated with the following fifteen games bringing just three wins and ten defeats. Extrapolated over a season, those results would nearly guarantee relegation in a year in which promotion was the main ambition. What went wrong? Well, you name it. Injuries, both niggly and longer-term, have been omnipresent, with potential key players Bradley Dack, Aaron Rowe, and Josh Andrews barely featuring. The defence has presented a litany of errors, primarily due to slack marking and a complete lack of concentration. The midfield hasn’t gelled at all, leading to little creativity for the strikers. And the strikers - Elliott Nevitt, Josh Andrews, Marcus Wyllie, Jake Wakeling and Olly Hawkins - have scored just twice from a combined total of thirty league starts. As results disintegrated, Bonner seemed to flail for an answer, somewhat haphazardly mixing up team selections in a futile search for a working formula. Now in his sixties and having spent his entire career up north, it seems unlikely that Coleman’s Gills mission will go beyond May. But that’s fine, as he has enough challenges to be getting on with. Many fans hope his disciplinary streak will address what many consider to be a squad rife with players with indifferent attitudes. The play-offs are surely beyond us, but we need results to improve: not only to avert a current low-risk of relegation but also to improve dismal fan morale. I suspect Coleman will have some limited opportunity to bring his own players in, primarily either on loan or with short-term contracts. More likely, it will be a period of blooding promising youngsters to prepare them for bigger contributions next season and seeing who can be moved on. The consistently inconsistent George Lapslie has already left for Bradford. Who could follow him at some point between now and the summer is near endless: Hawkins, Remeao Hutton and Jonny Williams are prime contenders to move sooner rather than later; Wakeling’s loan will surely be terminated in the coming weeks; Rowe won’t return next season; and Max Ehmer is the biggest of many names whose contracts are up in the summer. And that’s before we address other issues. Retirement for Glenn Morris and Dack? Loans away next season for Wyllie and Joe Gbode? The rumoured sale of Shadrach Ogie to Birmingham? Whatever happens, the Gillingham that returns in August will be a world away from the one we see now. And praise whatever higher power you believe in for that. --- #### In brief ⚽ Between sacking managers,[ Gillingham Football Club has submitted plans to build a 900-capacity fan zone at Priestfield Stadium](https://futuremedway.co.uk/plans-for-900-person-fan-zone-at-gillingham-fcs-priestfield-stadium-submitted/?ref=localauthority.news). The area will contain food and drink stalls, a stage, and new toilets. 🇯🇵 [KMTV has made a short film about the story of Will Adams](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9bp0ea?ref=localauthority.news). Adams was the explorer from Gillingham who went from being a dockyard worker to a samurai in Japan. 🍻 [A group of men who walked to every Wetherspoon in Kent has declared that The Railway in Rainham is the best one](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/we-walked-to-all-23-wetherspoon-pubs-in-kent-and-our-loca-318329/?ref=localauthority.news). In a happy coincidence, it also happens to be their local. 🚄 [Rail engineering work will see buses replacing trains between Ebbsfleet, Gravesend, Gillingham, and Maidstone West on Sunday](https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/service-updates/planned-engineering-work?date=2025-01-12&ref=localauthority.news#engineering-departure-board). 🏋️ [Roko Health Club in Gillingham has been sold to Everlast Gyms](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/long-running-fitness-club-snapped-up-by-mike-ashley-backed-f-318466/?ref=localauthority.news). The chain, owned by Mike Ashley’s Frasers group, purchased the gym, which was put on sale last year for £3m. 🍔 [The Burger King in Dockside Outlet Centre in Chatham has closed after 22 years](https://futuremedway.co.uk/burger-king-closes-long-running-branch-in-dockside-outlet-centre-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news). It comes as McDonald’s is set to move into the centre. 🦚 “[I went and did my business and chatted to him](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/peacock-finds-new-home-in-toilet-cubicle-318054/?ref=localauthority.news).” A peacock took up home in the toilets at Capstone Park. --- #### Curious about cocoa in Rochester [Curious Cocoa](https://www.curiouscocoaco.com/?ref=localauthority.news) is an artisanal chocolate company set up by Beth Frost from her home in Rochester in 2018\. She had been working from home as a textile artist when “I started to develop carpal tunnel in my hand” and needed something else to do within the creative area. “I had always wanted to work with food.” Beth’s mum had grown up in a sweet shop owned by Beth’s nan, who taught Beth about confectionary when she was young. Beth found a three-day chocolate-making course in Surrey, where she learned basic skills of tempering or making ganache from [Mark Tilling](http://www.marktilling.com/?ref=localauthority.news), and Curious Cocoa has grown from there. This was always the plan from when she signed on for the course, and Beth says “it’s gone quite well.” She works out of a specially built kitchen in her own home, but it’s not a commercial kitchen. “This used to be a driveway,” she says of the open plan stylish kitchen we are standing in, “my husband’s a builder.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!BlgM!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcbabc336-539f-4eec-b478-4b85418b717b_960x503.jpg) Curious Cocoa chocolates Beth works with couverture chocolate, which has about five ingredients in it. Most corner shop chocolate is a compound with about 20 ingredients in it. She uses Callebaut, made with cocoa butter, but also works with a dark chocolate variant when making pieces for vegans. “It's about creating crystals in the cooling down process so that the chocolate becomes shiny, has a nice snap and doesn't look dull and grey.” Beth makes all her chocolate individually by hand, and they are colourful. “That was intentional. I wanted to incorporate my art background. There is that hand-painted element.” The boxes are certainly fun to look at. “I just thought I'll make chocolate and see where it goes,” she recalls. She started selling the chocolate via the Artisan market in Rochester, with November and December unsurprisingly being a busy time of year. A single large box will take half a day to produce, from making the initial chocolate, moulding them and hand-painting. “I do everything by hand. I have no machinery at all. I temper all by hand.” Whilst she has considered taking it to the next level, at the moment she is comfortable with the success she has generated. The biggest cost she has is the chocolate, which has recently doubled in price. “It’s crippling the industry, and there are multiple issues: Climate change, Brexit, an accumulation of factors has led to less supply.” It’s why so many chocolates are suffering from ‘shrinkflation’, with supermarket customers getting less chocolate in their bar and smaller chocolates with no reduction in price. Unable to change the economies of scale that would get her chocolate at a cheaper price, Beth modified her offer and started delivering workshops and children’s parties. “Now I'm doing workshops, that's where my main income is coming from.” She is able to offer this at a lower price than Kent-based competition that work out of commercial kitchens. People come in small groups, have fun and make a variety of chocolates, including lollies and truffles. “People always comment they're surprised at the amount of stuff they take home with them” as part of the two-hour sessions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vrMM!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1eb88436-78c1-4144-b32e-3a2a86ac92b4_1440x754.jpg) Curious Cocoa chocolates As well as the children’s parties, she now delivers full birthday parties, with buffets and homemade cakes. She has also taken her chocolate-making workshop on the road, delivering a session with the local cub scouts, and is hoping to start working with local schools. “As long as they have a kitchen in the school, I can do this,” Beth says, highlighting how optimistic she is about the future. *If you are interested in buying Beth’s locally made chocolate or taking part in chocolate-making workshops, you can find out more on the* [*Curious Cocoa website*](https://www.curiouscocoaco.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Out to Lunch: Ship and Trades *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***The Ship and Trades***](https://www.shipandtradeschatham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Chatham*...* The Ship and Trades pub is at Chatham Dockside, part of a larger complex that comes with a hotel stay, should you need it. The pub has parking and lovely views of the marina and St Marys Island. Inside, the pub is open and clean, there is a good atmosphere, and you can choose between seating in the pub or restaurant areas. In this instance, we selected the bar area. We selected various options from the small plates and sides menus to share. This included hash brown potato puffs with salt beef and topped with crispy cavolo nero, sticky chipotle & lemon corn ribs, slow cooked honey glazed pork belly with a spiced apple chutney fennel and celeriac remoulade, crispy buttermilk chicken wings with sesame Asian slaw in a sticky BBQ wing sauce, Whitstable Bay beer battered onion rings, garden salad in a lemon and mustard dressing, a bowl of house chips, bacon mac & cheese topped with a herb parmesan crumb. Before any judgment, I must stress again that these were small plates to share. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!cYhU!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f07304114-4354-4ab8-bc2b-13e948dd58c4_1456x762.jpg) Food at the Ship and Trades. The food was, on average, delightful. There were lows: The onion within the beer batter rings was soft and oily. There were highs: The beer batter itself was crispy and tasty. The hash brown potatoes were nice, but the salt beef was minimal amongst a sea of crispy cavolo nero. The honey-glazed pork belly was delicious and succulent, but it was not enough for two people to share. Buttermilk is on trend, and the chicken wings were very nice, even if the BBQ sauce wasn’t quite BBQ or sticky enough. Chips are always welcome, especially when they are this good. Bacon with mac & cheese is always a winner. The surprise stand out was the corn ribs (corn on the cob divided into quarters). They were easy to eat and packed with flavour. I will definitely get those again as a side, no matter the meal. With far more highs than lows, the Ship and Trade is a classy place to go for a pub lunch by the water. --- #### Medway River Lit ripples out [Rippling Out](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/ripplingout?ref=localauthority.news) is the new extension of [Medway River Lit](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), starting this weekend. The intent is to feature events that could not be part of the main autumn festival schedule for various reasons of time, space, and money. [Barry](https://www.localauthority.news/weve-assembled-something-that-medway/) and [Sam Fentiman-Hall](https://www.localauthority.news/i-like-chatham-a-lot/), who run Medway River Lit, have received funding from Medway Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support these events. They have a great mixture of events, from participatory to purely entertaining. Their first event is a workshop on using images to inspire poetry, dubbed '[phoetry](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/rippling-out-phoetry-with-michi-masumi-session-1?ref=localauthority.news)'. That's being hosted by [Michi Masumi](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-way-for-me-to-survive/), founder of Medway Black Arts Hub. This event is this Saturday at Nucleus Arts in Chatham and[ tickets are limited](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/rippling-out-phoetry-with-michi-masumi-session-1?ref=localauthority.news). They also have award-winning comedian Rose Wilby’s ‘The Breakup Monologues’ on the unexpected joy of break-ups (to be clear, this isn’t a subtweet to my partner) at [Sun Pier House on 25 January](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/the-rippling-out-sessions-rosie-wilby-the-breakup-monologues?ref=localauthority.news). There is also [poetry and ceramics with Carol Smith](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/rippling-out-poettery-with-cr-smith?ref=localauthority.news) and lots more beyond. All Rippling Out events are free to attend. --- #### Get involved with Luton Lights [Ideas Test](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is partnering with Luton Primary, Luton Library and Invicta Social Club to deliver Luton Lights 2025\. On 18 January, they are delivering [two workshops](https://ideastest.org.uk/events/luton-lights-make-the-deep-come-alive-workshop-2/?ref=localauthority.news) where everyone who creates a piece of art on the day will be entered into a prize draw to win a high-street voucher. This year’s Luton Lights festival theme is ‘Tales from the Deep’**,** so expect to create mermaids in motion, sailors lost at sea, shipwrecks, and even deep-sea creatures. Ideas Test has invited two amazing artists, [Xtina Lamb](https://www.localauthority.news/it-feels-like-you-can-in-medway/) and Hannah Whittaker, to lead the workshops. These family-friendly sessions are designed whether you stay for an hour or the whole day. With Xtina, you will create unique UV artwork, and with Hannah, you’ll get your hands a bit dirtier creating stained-glass windows. All artworks created during the workshops will be displayed as part of a light installation in residents' and businesses’ windows along Luton Road and Luton High Street between 3 - 23 February. You don’t need to be from Luton to take part, everyone is welcome. The workshops are free and you can [find more details here](https://ideastest.org.uk/events/luton-lights-make-the-deep-come-alive-workshop-2/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Events this week 🏺 Until 22 Jan - [**144 pots for 144 women**](https://www.facebook.com/events/973105284680608) // Exhibition by Nicola Vincent-Abnett, which honours and celebrates the twelve dozen women killed in the UK in the first year of the [Femicide Census](https://www.femicidecensus.org/?ref=localauthority.news). Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free. 🎻 Sat 11 Jan - [**City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/new-events/2025/1/11/city-of-rochester-symphony-orchestra-presents-a-night-of-viennese-music?ref=localauthority.news) // A night of Viennese music featuring Mozart, Puccini, and Strauss. Rochester Cathedral. Tickets from £15. 👺 Sun 12 Jan - [**Join the Dark Side… of Morris Dancing!**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1094686885491880/?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22home%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D) // Wolfshead & Vixen Morris, one of the first gothic Morris sides, is seeking new members to join their group. Borstal Village Hall, Rochester. Free. 🎮 Mon 13 Jan - [**Medway Fighter video game making workshop**](https://medwayfighter.org/upcoming-workshops/?ref=localauthority.news) // Interactive workshop crowdsourcing ideas for a fighting video game based on Medway. No technical skill is necessary. Rochester Library. Free. 🍻 Wed 15 Jan - [**Medway’s Lost Breweries**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/Wigmore-Lectures-Medways-Lost-Breweries?ref=localauthority.news) // Talk on the history of Medway’s lost breweries, accompanied by a slideshow and display of artefacts and models. Wigmore Library, Rainham. Tickets £4.50. 📽️ Wed 15 Jan - [**Se7en**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-51797&ref=localauthority.news) // 30th (!) anniversary screening of David Fincher’s bleak crime masterpiece. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🎸 Fri 17 Jan - [**The Gentle Spring + Oldfield Youth Club + These Guilty Men**](https://wegottickets.com/event/636797?ref=localauthority.news) // Indiepop bonanza from Careful Now Promotions. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £8. *To inform us about an interesting event happening in Medway, email *events AT localauthority DOT news*. We can’t guarantee we can include everything, but we’ll do what we can.* --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Voice of the Opposition URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-opposition-f58/ Last updated: 2025-01-09T17:34:01.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, for our first Voice piece of the year, we welcome Medway Council Leader of the Opposition George Perfect, who talks about the new year, devolution, and the opportunities for his party.* --- #### Voice of the Opposition **by Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!XX4l!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3318e0d3-bf1d-4c4a-a7a2-01cabbdeaf0c_806x575.jpg) Cllr George Perfect I am really pleased to be writing this Voice of the Opposition on New Year’s Day, at the start of a new year. A new year with new opportunities, but of course, new challenges. 2024 was quite the year for me, but of course the highlight becoming our Group Leader. I wanted to reflect firstly on what was a special end to the year in Medway. As always, the Christmas events across all five towns and villages did not disappoint. From the annual tractor run on the Peninsula to the Rochester Christmas markets and the festive events at St Margaret’s Church in Rainham, there was such a wealth of things to enjoy. I particularly enjoyed the Chatham Historic Dockyard’s Carol Service, marking the end of a historic fortieth anniversary year for the Trust. As ever the Dean of Rochester Cathedral, Very Rev Dr Philip Hesketh, delivered a moving and thought-provoking Christmas address. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!lrFY!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f45c56810-1985-4ef9-978a-1335b64b4dec_979x734.jpg) *The Rochester Cathedral Voluntary Choir at The Historic Dockyard’s Christmas Carol Service.* I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone working within the emergency and public services as well as the voluntary sector for their work throughout the festive period, keeping us healthy and safe, and providing essential services around the clock. Particularly this year in Strood, where there was a herculean effort from Medway Council officers in staffing Strood Sports Centre on Christmas Day to ensure those without water could have a shower. Since my last Voice of the Opposition, my party has elected a new Leader in Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP. As a party, since the election I have spoken of the massive challenges we have ahead of us, but also, the tremendous opportunity. As a party, we will of course fulfil our key role as His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition but will be building a movement around Kemi and the wider party, to ensure our values are expressed across the country and we can win the elections where they matter. We have seen the importance of this since the election, whether it be the cruel removal of winter fuel payments, the family farm tax or indeed, the anti-business national insurance rises, the role of an effective opposition in Westminster is more important than ever. I look forward to welcoming Kemi to Medway at the earliest opportunity. I was pleased to welcome a good friend and our new Co-Chair of The Conservative Party, Lord Johnson of Lainston, to Medway last month for what was his first visit in his new role. I was able to update him on the progress we have made locally as Medway Conservatives in the last twelve months, with updated political priorities, a new and driven Shadow Cabinet, and a steadfast commitment to holding the Labour and Co-Operative administration to account. Our first electoral test will come soon with the by-elections in Gillingham South and Rochester East and Warren Wood on the 6th February, and I was delighted to be part of the selection process for three fantastic candidates. I will be out on the doorsteps with our candidates in the coming weeks, making the case for electing three local Conservative champions committed to holding the administration to account. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WxDF!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7a5f3395-b6a9-4276-9783-3365685bc54b_1037x716.jpg) *Cllr Perfect meets with The Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE, Chair of the Conservative Party. L to R: Cllr Habib Tejan, Rehman Chishti, Bob Russell (Chair, Gillingham and Rainham Conservative Association), The Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE, Rt Hon Kelly Tolhurst and Cllr George Perfect.* Of course, the end of last year also saw the English devolution white paper. I was pleased to attend the Local Government Association (LGA) Conference back in October and hear about the government’s plan for local government from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Minister Jim McMahon, as well as observations from the Conservative and Liberal Democrat front-bench teams. The white paper will have profound consequences on Medway but, I do genuinely believe, opportunities too. As an opposition, we have committed to working with the Leader of the Council, as well as colleagues across the county council and the districts and boroughs to ensure that Medway gets the absolute best outcome from the changes ahead. I believe as an effective opposition we have a duty to engage positively and pragmatically on the matter of local government reorganisation and ensure that the people of Medway have a fair say in the conurbation’s future. Medway Conservatives are firm believers in unitary authorities. However, we are clear, any future changes must have the support from the districts and boroughs, must make financial sense, and services cannot suffer whilst any local government reorganisation takes place. These three tests will drive my engagement on the future of local government and the devolution settlement in our area. I am sure I will have more to say on this in the months (and, likely, years!) ahead. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!7gHo!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f00116964-2694-43a1-b8e8-3b3d76a17b43_915x687.jpg) *Cllr George Perfect attends Local Government Association Conference, pictured with Cllr Rory Love OBE (Cabinet Member for Education, Kent County Council), and Cllr Jenny Hollingsbee (Leader of the Conservative Group, Folkestone and Hythe District Council)* 2025 will be a big and important year for Medway, but I am proud to lead a strong and effective opposition, holding the administration to account every day. I want to particularly thank my brilliant team, including Deputy Leader Gary Hackwell, Chief Whip Barry Kemp, and my wider Shadow Cabinet for their tremendous support and leadership last year. Whether it be Habib Tejan ensuring the Council debates the impact of the removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance, Andrew Lawrence giving a vital voice to local schools and residents through the school street call-in, or David Wildey ensuring the NHS are held to account, I’m proud to lead a dedicated team committed to serving people in Medway for the betterment of our towns. In addition to local government reorganisation, we are now focused on the Medway Council Budget in February – the first with Labour in government, holding three Parliamentary seats, and the Council. Promises have been made, but will they deliver? Time will tell. In closing, I wish all *Local Authority* readers a very Happy New Year and all best wishes for the year ahead. *Cllr George Perfect is the Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council and Conservative councillor for Rainham North.* ### By-election runners and riders URL: https://www.localauthority.news/by-election-runners-and-riders/ Last updated: 2025-01-07T22:19:20.000Z *Welcome back to the first proper Local Authority news briefing of 2025! We’re delighted to be back and recharged, bringing you news on the upcoming council by-elections in Medway. So far, 13 candidates have thrown their hats into the ring, so we look at who the electorate will get to choose between. Further down, we have some double health news: Medway Hospital has reintroduced masking (to a point) as it tackles a big flu epidemic, and Medway Community Healthcare still doesn’t have working IT systems five weeks after they took them offline. Let’s get to it.* --- #### By-election runners and riders It feels very us to start the year writing about the story we finished the year with: the impending Medway Council by-elections. Three seats will be up for grabs in the first serious test for the Medway Labour administration that swept to power in 2023. With three of their councillors winning parliamentary seats in July’s General Election and the Labour Party not being huge fans of MPs double jobbing like that, all three resigned in December, triggering the by-elections. On 6 February, Rochester East & Warren Wood and Gillingham South voters will go to the polls to elect new councillors to represent them, with two seats up for grabs in the former. While the deadline for nominations isn’t until the end of the week, we already have a clear picture of the runners and riders in the election, with the candidate lists offering a true ‘Who? No, really, who?’ list of political figures. So, let’s take a look at the dazzling possibilities on offer so far: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!k-25!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fae007adc-5021-4752-80f8-810fa846bbd5_5760x3016.jpg) Look, I tried to make a fancy image including all of the candidates, but it turns out that kind of graphic design is beyond my level, and it kept going wrong, so here’s a generic photo of a polling station instead. Photo: stock.adobe.com **Rochester East & Warren Wood** **Labour** are defending these two seats, with Lauren Edwards and Tristan Osborne stepping down. In their places are **Carolyn Hart** and **Robert Wyatt**. Hart is a writer, lecturer, and trade union activist. At the same time, Wyatt is a former headteacher who hopes to be a ‘strong, approachable voice for all Rochester East & Warren Wood residents’. Whether those residents will need to approach him at his home in Cliffe, seven miles away, is unclear. Wyatt is Vice Chair of Cliffe Parish Council and has spent a long time fighting against development in Cliffe, the kind of thing the administration he is standing to represent will be eager to push through. The **Conservatives** are fielding **George Clarke** and **Tolga Sirlan** because the main thing their group of 20 men and zero women needs is two more men. Clarke and Sirlan both stood in the ward in 2023, where they failed to trouble the electorate in any way. Clarke works in communications, and Sirlan in engineering consultancy, but they do at least both live in the ward. The **Greens** have come up with **Jeremy Spyby-Steanson** and **Grace Duffy**. Steanson stood in Gillingham North in 2023, while Duffy is on the ballot for the first time. It marks a return to Medway politics for Steanson, who stood in Hartlepool at the General Election and scared Richard Tice into standing elsewhere. For the **Liberal Democrats**, it’s **Sarah Manuel** and **Anita Holloway**. Both have stood in repeated Rochester elections since 2019, and the party is taking this so seriously that it has barely bothered to mention either candidate on its website or social media. **Reform** is the only main party that has yet to declare its candidate lineup. We understand that High Halstow parish councillor **Bill Khatkar** will be one of the candidates, but who will join him is unclear. It would be logical if Rochester and Strood parliamentary candidate Daniel Dabin threw his hat into the ring, but whether he’d want to do it is another matter. **Gillingham South** **Labour** have selected **Liubov Nestorova** as their candidate to replace Naushabah Khan. Nestorova is the wife of the current Mayor of Medway, Marian Nestorov, and will be fighting her first election. The **Conservatives** have chosen, brace yourself, another man in **Saboor Ahmed**, who stood in the ward in 2015\. He did okay at the time in a solidly Labour area, currently runs a local restaurant, and has lived in the ward for 25 years. The **Greens** have gone with **Trish Marchant**, who has been standing in elections across Medway since 2010, without ever winning any of them. Marchant works as a healthcare engineer, and the party are eager to point out that she lived in the ward 18 years ago. The **Liberal Democrats** held Gillingham South for many years until losing the ward in 2015\. In an effort to reclaim it, they are putting forward **Onyx Rist** as their candidate. Rist has stood in two previous council elections, coming last in both. It is unclear at this stage who **Reform** will put forward for the ward, though it is worth noting that UKIP came within 100 votes of winning a seat in the ward in 2015, so they will be looking closely at this seat. Of course, it’s too early to predict how these elections might go, and we won’t have the final confirmed candidate lists until next week, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t engage in wild speculation. Labour will be expecting to retain all three seats, and losing two of them will cause them to lose their majority on Medway Council. The wards have both been reasonably safe for the party in recent years. Still, as always, by-elections are unpredictable, and it is hard to argue that there is currently a lot of anti-government sentiment. Who benefits from this is a more interesting question. The Conservatives are the natural opposition to Labour in Medway, but Reform will be eager to prove they can win these seats. That assumes they manage to get themselves together and find some candidates by then, anyway. --- #### Masks return at Medway Hospital Medway Hospital has reintroduced mask-wearing in most settings due to the current flu epidemic. Since mandating this sort of thing is challenging these days, staff are asked to wear masks voluntarily, and patients are asked to wear one if they present with a cough, though this is once again voluntary. The UK is currently experiencing one of its worst flu seasons in many years. The numbers of hospital admissions, particularly in the south of England, are already well above the levels from last winter and showing little signs of slowing down. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!HB8K!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe5df7d6c-e583-4f22-b009-3708651f60e0_1970x1086.png) Hospital admission rates for flu per 100,000 people in the south of England. In this light, Medway Hospital has decided to reintroduce masks to limit infections, a decision that other nearby hospitals like [Darent Valley have also made](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/hospital-reintroduces-mask-wearing-rule-following-surge-of-f-318101/?ref=localauthority.news). Flu is clearly winning the virus battle this year, as ironically, rates for covid are far lower than during any previous winter since the pandemic began in 2020\. If you want to go down a rabbit hole of respiratory virus stats, the government’s [national flu and covid surveillance report](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2024-to-2025-season?ref=localauthority.news) has you covered. In this light, [NHS Kent and Medway are urging eligible residents to get their flu and covid vaccines if they haven’t already](https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/theres-still-time-get-vaccinated?ref=localauthority.news). Vaccinations are available until the end of January, and as of last month, only [37% of those in a clinical risk group](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-urged-to-get-flu-vaccine-as-hospitalisation-rates-rise-steeply?ref=localauthority.news) had come forward for their jabs. *If eligible, you can find a* [*walk-in covid vaccine centre here*](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/covid-19-vaccination-services/find-a-walk-in-covid-19-vaccination-site/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*pharmacies offer flu jabs here*](https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy-that-offers-free-flu-vaccination?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### MCH IT issues are still ongoing In the first week of December, Medway Community Healthcare, which provides, er, community healthcare across Medway, took its IT systems offline after its network was hit by ‘suspicious activity’. As a result, the complex healthcare web that MCH manages across Medway had to revert to paper documents instead of computers, leading to much slower communications and, in many cases, systems that could not communicate with each other. Now, you may be thinking that a large organisation like MCH would be able to get on top of this problem fairly quickly, and everything will return to normal. To which we say, oh, you sweet summer child. Most of MCH’s IT systems remain offline five weeks after the initial incident, with the organisation operating in ‘business continuity’ mode. This effectively means reverting everything to paper with the intent that it all gets scanned back into the system when it’s back online. Realistically, this backup was designed for short term use, not for weeks at a time. Of course, this sort of gap in the system is leading to inevitable risks for patients. Healthcare professionals in several settings are now unable to check patient records for things like medications or allergies, and communication between MCH organisations and GP surgeries is not moving as intended. Worst of all, MCH still has no timeline for resolving the issues. Perhaps the paper is here to stay… --- #### In brief 📍 [The Local Government Chronicle believes Medway will likely merge with Gravesham and Dartford](https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/devolution-and-economic-growth/kent-and-medway-could-be-split-into-four-unitaries-20-12-2024/?ref=localauthority.news) under new local government reorganisation proposals. The plans would see Kent split into three or four new unitary authorities. 🚒 [Wigmore Smallholders Club had to be evacuated on New Year’s Eve after tear gas was released in the toilets](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/pensioners-left-with-streaming-eyes-after-tear-gas-set-off-i-318103/?ref=localauthority.news). It is unclear how it happened, but several people were treated for minor injuries. 🏗️ [Medway Council officers have recommended approval for a 168-home development on the former Morgan Timber yard in Strood](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6007&ref=localauthority.news). The development plays a big role in linking Strood town centre with the Medway Valley Park area, though big questions remain about safe pedestrian access through the one tiny rail arch to the site, which will need to be shared with vehicles. --- #### More Authority [Our first interview of the year was with Adriana Temali](https://www.localauthority.news/thats-a-very-british-phrase-we-dont/), Education Manager at the *(checks notes)* League of Minnesota Cities. Adriana used to be the diversity advisor for MidKent College in Medway, so we spoke to her to discuss how Minnesota compares to Medway, what 2024 Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz is like, and whether, as some claim, equality and diversity are what’s wrong with the modern world. ["That’s a very British phrase, we don't say that over here"Adriana Temali is the former programme manager for MidKent College’s Talent Development Scheme and their former diversity advisor. She now resides in her home state of Minnesota in the US, serving as Education Manager for the League of Minnesota Cities. Steven spoke to Adriana via Zoom to discuss how Minnesota compares to Medway, what 2024 Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz is like, and whether, as some claim, equality and diversity are what’s wrong with the modern world.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8fb4b5c0-a623-43e5-ad2e-780d55765572_1353x709.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/thats-a-very-british-phrase-we-dont/) Our full interviews are exclusively available to our paid supporters. If you’d like to check them out, as well as our additional in-depth reporting and columns, you can [try out our paid subscription for 30 days completely free](#/portal/signup). It’s a great way to get the new year off to a good start by supporting independent local news for our towns. [Get 30 day free trial](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Good News by Withered Hand*](https://witheredhand.bandcamp.com/album/good-news-lp?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*The Joy of Sects by Chemtrails*](https://adoseofchemtrails.bandcamp.com/album/the-joy-of-sects-lp?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Death Club by Slime City*](https://slime-city.bandcamp.com/album/death-club?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### "That’s a very British phrase, we don't say that over here" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/thats-a-very-british-phrase-we-dont/ Last updated: 2025-01-05T07:00:59.000Z *Adriana Temali is the former programme manager for MidKent College’s Talent Development Scheme and their former diversity advisor. She now resides in her home state of Minnesota in the US, serving as Education Manager for the League of Minnesota Cities. Steven spoke to Adriana via Zoom to discuss how Minnesota compares to Medway, what 2024 Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz is like, and whether, as some claim, equality and diversity are what’s wrong with the modern world.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tBpy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8fb4b5c0-a623-43e5-ad2e-780d55765572_1353x709.jpg) Adriana Temali **How would you describe America right now to a British person?** Gosh. I’m going to start this by saying I work in a quasi-political environment. I work with local governments in the state where I live, which is Minnesota. There are 855 municipalities that, in my role, I help support through training them on good governance. We don't get into the politics of it. That doesn't mean that we don't hear about the politics, of course, but think of the things that your local government in Medway does: Keep the roads drivable, make sure that people can have clean water running into their house and that they're sanitary systems take the dirty water away, and make sure that there's basic services at a city level. Within that, I would say that people are very aligned and jointly both pleased and frustrated by how the government is operating. Most things on those basic levels are getting done in most places, and the people who are running for local office are doing so because they genuinely want to improve where they live. I would say the federal government level of America is a really different situation. Most people, I think are frustrated on some level about things that are either happening or not happening. It's a pretty divided time at that federal level. **You've been back in America for 10 years. It would be fair to say that has been an interesting period of time.** Yeah *(laughs)*. We moved back in June of 2015, and obviously, the next year was a big year for voting. June of 2016 was the Brexit vote and then November of 2016 was the election of Donald Trump the first time. That was a big year. **What is your official occupation?** I work for a governmental non-profit organization that supports cities in the state of Minnesota, and I am their Learning Manager. I design conferences and workshops in asynchronous and synchronous learning for mayors, city council members and city administrators throughout the state of Minnesota. **What additional roles, paid or unpaid, do you do?** I don't really have any additional roles at the moment. I am a mom to an almost 13-year-old boy. That keeps me pretty busy. I have previously been on the council for the library board in my local municipality. My term ended, and I stepped away from that, but I'm really passionate about libraries. I try to occasionally volunteer, but it's not a regular gig right now. **Library boards in America can get contentious over banning books. Did you have any situations like that?** We didn’t. It was more about funding. We would combine private and public funds to update the building. It wasn't serving its purpose anymore, and it needed to be remodelled. The way that people use libraries is really different than 100 years ago and there's a mixture of it. People talk about that ‘third space’. We have our work, we have our home. Right now, often those are the same place, and where's that extra space that we can go to feel comfortable and chill and hang out. We were trying to create that third space in a library setting for people to access for free and do more cosy meeting room things. **Is there anywhere in Minnesota that compares to Medway?** Yeah, that's a really great question. I was thinking about Medway and how beautiful it is this time of year. I loved Rochester High Street at Christmas. There's really nowhere as beautiful as that. I will say when we moved back to Minnesota in 2015, I had anticipated we would move to Minneapolis, which is where I grew up. It's the biggest city here in Minnesota. It's very much metropolitan. There's a lot newer infrastructure there and museums and theatres and a little bit of a bigger city. We actually ended up in a smaller town that is the birthplace of Minnesota and goes back to the 1800s. It's an old logging and milling town. It's right on the river between Minnesota and Wisconsin and it's got a bit of an English high street feel to it. We have a main street that doesn't allow for the chain stores. It's protected by small independent entrepreneur businesses. It's got a lot of the events that have a little bit of a feel similar to the various things that Medway puts on throughout the year. I would actually say that I live in an area that does feel charming and quaint and connected in the same way that Medway always did. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What lies ahead for Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-lies-ahead-for-medway-661/ Last updated: 2025-01-03T19:20:44.000Z *Welcome back to the first Local Authority of 2025\. I hope you’ve had a restful period. Today isn’t a usual Friday edition. Our usual arts and culture briefing will return next week, but this week, we will look at what lies ahead for our towns in the coming year. It could be quite a ride.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Pisu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffcd7ad83-9f83-4d56-b11f-d53865e87f26_2388x1250.jpg) Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority #### **Somehow, elections still matter** For the last two years, we’ve known at the start of the year that elections would play a big part of the news year. Each of them turned out to be fairly monumental, too. 2023 saw Labour take control of Medway Council for the first time in over two decades, while last year saw the party capture all three Medway parliamentary constituencies for the first time since 2010. This year, we shouldn’t be troubled by elections. By-elections are precisely what we are getting though, with three council elections taking place on 6 February. Two seats in Rochester East and Warren Wood are up for grabs, along with one in Gillingham South. Council by-elections aren’t usually hugely exciting, but these come with an extra element of peril for the Labour administration: If Labour fails to hold two or more of these seats, they will lose their overall majority on Medway Council. This is, admittedly, a fairly extreme scenario. All three seats are relatively safe for Labour, and losing multiple seats would signal that something has gone very wrong. But by-elections are notoriously unpredictable things, and given public perception, we can’t rule out the possibility. Even if Labour found themselves without an overall majority, it’s unlikely it would change very much. They would still be the largest party by some margin, and it seems unlikely that an alternative administration could be cobbled together from the Conservatives, the Independent Group, and whoever is newly elected. In this scenario, two independents on Medway Council would likely hold the balance of power, and with both being suspended Labour members, it seems unthinkable that they would do anything other than support their previous party. *We’ll have more details on the upcoming by-elections in our coming Tuesday edition, including a run-through of all candidates we’re currently aware of.* #### We’re going to be sick of hearing about devolution Devolution will be one of the year's big stories, with the new Labour government forcing through a grand restructuring that will lead to nearly everywhere in the country having elected mayors with sweeping regional powers. The mood music from Kent County Council and Medway Council is that both areas are comfortable accepting an elected power with strategic powers for the wider Kent area. This would see big issues like transport and large-scale planning falling under the new mayoral strategic authority, while councils underneath handle the more local issues. Such is the government's enthusiasm for these changes, the deadline to apply to be one of the first areas to receive mayoral powers is next week. It is worth noting that Kent County Council is holding an extraordinary full council meeting on the issue next week, one day before the government deadline. Medway isn’t doing anything similar, but this is possibly because Kent is scheduled to hold county elections this year, and applying for powers with a planned 2026 introduction could see them being postponed. We’ll be watching that meeting next week with great interest, even if it is, for now, slightly beyond our patch. As such, it seems inevitable that Kent and Medway will be within a strategic mayoral authority in as little as 18 months, with an elected mayor overseeing the big issues across the country. It’s a significant change in structure and would transfer sweeping new powers from the government to the area. #### Medway Council likely won’t survive the next few years Alongside the push for devolution, the government is also moving forward on plans to reorganise local government by abolishing district councils and small unitary authorities. The plan is for most areas to be covered by a unitary authority with a population of around 500,000\. This is roughly double the size of Medway, meaning our area is almost certainly obliged to merge with a couple of other council areas to form a new, larger authority. The government is giving local councils a period to decide who they want to merge with, leading to an awkward dance as district councils flirt with each other to avoid being the unpicked one at the dance. So far, it is unclear who will end up with whom, but we suggest we might get to know our neighbours in (at least) Gravesham and Swale somewhat better. Councils have until later in the year to devise a plan to merge, or the government will force them together, which no doubt nobody will want. Getting councils to agree on the restructuring is likely to be a tougher sell than the devolution deals above. Still, assuming the government doesn’t lose their nerve, we will likely be looking at more significant unitary authorities replacing the existing councils by 2028\. This will likely signal the end of Medway Council as it gets consumed into a new, larger authority covering a wider area. It also means that Medway Council’s planned 2027 elections could not happen, meaning we might have already had the final Medway Council elections. #### Local Plan saga might reach cruel end It is something of a joke at this point that Medway Council hasn’t had a valid Local Plan for many years, leading to predatory developments across the area. Fights to get a new Local Plan passed have been going on forever, when elected in 2023, Labour made it clear that getting one in place was a priority for the administration. Since then, progress has been made on the new Local Plan. After multiple rounds of consultation and a government inspection, the intent is to have the plan in place by the end of 2026, just in time for Medway Council to no longer exist and for it all to be for nothing. In the meantime, development will continue at pace across our towns. Medway Council has been granted planning permission for developments at pace over the past year. Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Strood, and the peninsula are all set to see progression on large-scale developments this year, including some prominent town centre locations. #### Transport changes make things worse Getting around Medway on public transport doesn’t seem like it will get any more pleasant this year. The new government has taken no action to make rail fares any cheaper, and they are set to increase by 4.6% in March. With the government starting to bring train operators back into public ownership, there is little indication that it will result in a better passenger experience. Elsewhere, the bus fare cap of £2, a genuinely revolutionary policy, has increased by 50% to £3, returning fares closer to their unaffordable previous levels. Arriva, the near monopolistic bus operator in Medway, has taken the opportunity to abolish return fares, meaning that getting the bus between, say, Rainham and Strood is now a £12 return as it requires two buses in each direction. Add into this the general unreliability of bus services in Medway, their inability to go anywhere other than Chatham, and a near complete lack of services in the evening, and cars once again are considerably more appealing than trying to use public transport. #### Elsewhere - Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott is set to publish a new Police and Crime Plan in April, which will set Kent Police’s priorities from 2025 to 2029. - Work is finally due to start on refurbishing the Brook Theatre this year, two years after it initially closed. Elsewhere, work should properly commence on the Docking Station project at Chatham Dockyard, creating a digital production hub. - New opening this year should see Lidl open in Strood, alongside new Tesco Express stores in Rochester and Gillingham. Hospitality wise, McDonald’s and Loungers are set to open at Dockside in Chatham. *What are you most looking forward to in 2025? What should happen to make Medway better? Let us know in the comments.* [Leave a comment](#ghost-comments-root) --- #### Footnotes *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Swear I’m Good At This by Diet Cig*](https://dietcig.bandcamp.com/album/swear-im-good-at-this?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Will Anything Happen by Shop Assistants*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OxXn4Fpu1Y&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Catching up with our previous guests URL: https://www.localauthority.news/catching-up-with-our-previous-guests/ Last updated: 2024-12-29T07:01:40.000Z Two dozen of our previous interviewees talk about 2024 and what lies ahead for 2025 _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 2024 in Local Authority URL: https://www.localauthority.news/2024-in-local-authority/ Last updated: 2024-12-27T13:22:55.000Z As we reach the end of the year, we’re breaking with the normal format of these newsletters to do a quick roundup of the state of *Local Authority*. I hope you’ve all had a restful festive period and hopefully didn’t have your dog poo in the middle of the living room minutes after your parents arrived to visit, as I got to experience. We’re taking a small break from our regular news schedule through Christmas. We’ll be back properly next week, but I’d like to look back at the past year, share our latest stats with you, and talk briefly about what comes next. I appreciate that not everyone is interested in the behind the scenes side of how this project works, and if that’s you, you can safely skip this edition. But since I launched *Local Authority*, I’ve made a commitment to talk openly about how things work and be transparent about the numbers behind it. So if you’re okay with a bit of navel-gazing, let’s go for it. With our final edition of the year on Sunday, ***Local Authority* will have published 223 editions this year**. That’s a lot and rather more than the 175 editions we published in 2022\. Around 100 of those will have been our free weekly briefing editions, with the rest made up of our weekly interviews, features, and columns that we publish to our [paid supporters](https://www.localauthority.news/FESTIVE). **January** was fairly quiet this year, though one of our big stories of the year came this month after we broke the news that a [Medway Council Cabinet member was using anonymous social media accounts to push political talking points](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-cabinet-member-uses/). Of course, nothing happened as a result. Politics dominated **February**, with Medway Council’s budget, resignations and suspensions flying thick and fast. In **March**, we held our second reader survey to understand who chooses to read this thing. In it, we discovered that the average reader is still a straight pensioner with a degree who lives in Rochester and most likely votes Labour, which may or may not surprise you. We’ll conduct another survey next year to see how things have changed over the past twelve months. March was also the month we moved to publishing two briefing editions each week, with the Tuesday edition focusing on the big political and important stories of the week and the Friday one leaning into arts and culture within our towns. We’re still gently tweaking the balance, but we are happy with this as a way of covering the different parts of Medway we want to write about. In **April**, we continued our commitment to holding election debates by putting on [Medway’s only Police and Crime Commissioner debate](https://www.localauthority.news/listen-kent-police-and-crime-commissioner/). All three candidates agreed to participate in the event, which saw around 100 people come to MidKent College to listen to them debate. Getting people engaged with local democracy like this remains difficult, but we are proud that we continue to put on events that do draw in a cross-section of the local community. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Bi2w!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fae14e124-6778-431c-9874-6d927eb80c27.jpg) Our Kent Police and Crime Commissioner debate at MidKent College **May** saw the Police and Crime Commissioner election itself, and being a county-wide election, we had to leave our comfort zone and travel to Gravesham for the count, where [Matthew Scott was re-elected](https://www.localauthority.news/matthew-scott-re-elected-as-kent/) for his third term in the role. Later that month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suddenly decided to call an election for July, giving us roughly six weeks to assemble all of our coverage. We immediately launched into a programme of interviews with as many candidates as possible, interviewing representatives from the Conservatives, Labour, Greens, Lib Dems, and Reform. As we entered **June**, just over a week after the General Election was called, we hastily arranged three election hustings, one for each Medway constituency. Most candidates agreed to participate, with just the Conservatives and one Reform candidate not participating. The events exceeded our expectations, with [over 550 Medway residents coming along](https://www.localauthority.news/hustings-hustle/) across the three events and over 150 questions being submitted. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WTY6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f710aff27-361f-4150-8d14-82c978b98cbb_2364x1330.jpg) Our Rochester and Strood General Election hustings **July** saw the General Election itself, where all three Medway seats fell to Labour as they swept to victory across the country. We spent all night at Medway Park running a live feed of results for readers, meaning *Local Authority* subscribers were the first to know what had happened here in Medway. We were also back at the [Kent Press & Broadcast Awards](https://www.kpbawards.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a consistently enjoyable event, where we were nominated for two awards. We didn’t win Kent News Website of the Year this year following our 2023 win, but I was honoured to be named Highly Commended in the Kent Print & Online Journalist of the Year category. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!EYK1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2c99eb68-cc02-4bed-9ae3-f7e634888d22_1570x976.jpg) Me awkwardly winning an award. Photo: Tim Stubbings **August** saw a wave of far-right marches across the country, and inevitably, one popped up in Medway. It didn’t turn into much, more of a stand off across a dual-carriageway between protestors and anti-racism activists, but our coverage did lead to our most read feature of the year. It’s probably the story I’m most proud to have written this year, put together from on the ground reporting and trawling through hours of live video streams from the event. News dominated **September**, and our feature on [how crime is actually falling in Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/crime-is-falling-in-medway/), contrary to popular belief, became one of our most read pieces of the year. We broke the biggest story of the year for us in **October** when we revealed that [Medway Council were planning to sell off](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-to-sell-off-temple/) Temple Manor, Gillingham Business Park, Rainham Shopping Centre, and 27 other properties. October was pretty weird for me, too. I was invited to speak at Goldsmiths, University of London, about our work on *Local Authority* and the wider local journalism ecosystem. ![No alt text provided for this image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!IKTu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd6231104-a33e-46bc-ab92-f285790b3ebd_2048x1152.jpg) Trying to explain where Medway is to university students in London. **November** saw the local news agenda in Medway start to be dominated by rumblings that the new government wanted to reorganise the way local government worked. As a result, we dived into the issue, pondering whether an [elected Mayor for Kent and Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/is-a-kent-and-medway-mayor-on-the/) was on the way. As ever, **December** has been a fairly quiet month. While it has chugged along nicely news wise, it has allowed us a little bit of breathing room to wind down ahead of Christmas and recharge heading into next year. There are loads more things I could include here, but I can only push my luck with so many greatest hits of the year before it becomes far too self-indulgent. #### Local Authority stats Assemble, stats nerds. Here are our latest figures, which are part of our ongoing commitment to transparency about this project's performance. At the start of the year, roughly 3,200 readers read our free briefing editions. That number has now grown to an average of **5,900 readers each week**. We’ve seen large growth in the number of readers of our free articles on the web, even as direct subscription growth has been steady. At the start of the year, we had around 1,600 subscribers who chose to receive our articles straight into their inbox and 300 paid supporters. We currently have around **2,400 subscribers** who receive these dispatches by email, with around **420** [**paid supporters**](https://www.localauthority.news/FESTIVE). We’re fairly happy with those figures, particularly the ratio of paid supporters to free subscribers. Convincing readers to actively subscribe to receive news, let alone pay for it, remains a challenge, but we can’t complain. We beat our (fairly modest) revenue target this year. We are now in a position where all direct costs (hosting, fees etc) are covered, we can have a small marketing budget, as well as pay ourselves a modest sum for some of the time we spend working on Local Authority. It’s still not exactly a full wage, but it is more than we could manage previously. **Twenty most read news briefings this year:** 1. [Medway Council to sell off Temple Manor, Gillingham Business Park, Rainham Shopping Centre, and 27 more sites](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-to-sell-off-temple/) 2. [Rainham pub set to become homes as nothing else good enough](https://www.localauthority.news/rainham-pub-set-to-become-homes-as/) 3. [Gillingham Street Angels accuse Medway Council of making their work harder](https://www.localauthority.news/gillingham-street-angels-accuse-medway/) 4. [More ANPR cameras coming to Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/more-anpr-traffic-cameras-coming/) 5. [Medway Council asks itself to build a pier](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-asks-itself-to-build/) 6. [Three Medway by-elections set for February](https://www.localauthority.news/three-medway-by-elections-set-for/) 7. [The 23 people who want to represent Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/the-23-people-who-want-to-represent/) 8. [New Local Plan finally emerges](https://www.localauthority.news/new-local-plan-finally-emerges/) 9. [New MP has offensive tweets outed](https://www.localauthority.news/new-mp-has-offensive-tweets-outed/) 10. [Ukrainians find support in Medway, but further help needed](https://www.localauthority.news/ukrainians-find-support-in-medway/) 11. [Hustings hustle](https://www.localauthority.news/hustings-hustle/) 12. [Landmark dockyard to become digital creative hub](https://www.localauthority.news/landmark-dockyard-building-to-become/) 13. [Sport England objects to housing to protect inaccessible playing field](https://www.localauthority.news/sport-england-objects-to-housing/) 14. [Frindsbury ‘misery’ finally arrives, brings out worst in everyone again](https://www.localauthority.news/frindsbury-misery-finally-arrives/) 15. [Gibraltar Farm development heading for green light](https://www.localauthority.news/gibraltar-farm-development-heading/) 16. [Medway’s new traffic cameras already issuing thousands of fines](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-new-traffic-cameras-already/) 17. [Medway Council Cabinet member uses anonymous account to push political points](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-cabinet-member-uses/) 18. [Rehman Chishti fails to get yet another job](https://www.localauthority.news/rehman-chishti-fails-to-get-yet-another/) 19. [Plans submitted for Strood Civic Centre site](https://www.localauthority.news/plans-submitted-for-strood-civic/) 20. [The future of Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/the-future-of-medway/) **Ten most read features:** 1. [Medway on the edge](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/) 2. [What lies ahead for Medway?](https://www.localauthority.news/what-lies-ahead-for-medway/) 3. [Crime is falling in Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/crime-is-falling-in-medway/) 4. [By the numbers elections](https://www.localauthority.news/by-the-numbers-elections/) 5. [St. Mary’s Island is done. What’s it like to live there?](https://www.localauthority.news/st-marys-island-is-done-whats-it/) 6. [Spembley continues to loom large on Chatham skyline](https://www.localauthority.news/spembley-continues-to-loom-large/) 7. [Can Chatham Ascend?](https://www.localauthority.news/can-chatham-ascend/) 8. [Going underground in Rochester](https://www.localauthority.news/going-underground-in-rochester/) 9. [Is a Kent and Medway Mayor on the horizon?](https://www.localauthority.news/is-a-kent-and-medway-mayor-on-the/) 10. [Monitoring Medway: 2023 edition](https://www.localauthority.news/monitoring-medway-2023-edition/) **Ten most read interviews:** 1. [Former Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-involved-in-politics-because/) 2. [Chatham Historic Dockyard Chief Executive Richard Morseley](https://www.localauthority.news/it-had-not-only-a-local-impact-but/) 3. [Medway Council Chief Executive Richard Hicks](https://www.localauthority.news/anything-that-impacts-negatively/) 4. [Gillingham Street Angels Chief Executive Neil Charlick](https://www.localauthority.news/people-dont-like-the-business-side/) 5. [Musician and artist Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) 6. [Former Medway Labour Group Whip Cllr Gareth Myton](https://www.localauthority.news/it-is-different-from-westminster/) 7. [Deputy Leader of Medway Council Independent Group Cllr Michael Pearce](https://www.localauthority.news/its-up-to-the-people-of-hoo-if-they/) 8. [Medway Conservative Group Whip Cllr Barry Kemp](https://www.localauthority.news/this-is-probably-my-last-stint/) 9. [Second Chance Medway founder Penny Keevil](https://www.localauthority.news/we-were-paying-their-rents-to-make/) 10. [Poet and musician Wolf Howard](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-have-any-technique-i-never/) #### Where we’re going So what does *Local Authority* look like in 2025? To be honest, not that different to how it is now. We have roughly hit the limits of what we can do in terms of the level of content, with two free editions and two paid editions each week. As always, the challenge remains to make those editions as good as possible. We have some fascinating stories in the pipeline for the new year, some of which have taken a long time to come together fully. Elsewhere, Steven has lined up a brilliant list of future interviewees, and has been following up on some great stories on his Friday arts and culture beat. We’ll continue to have guest writing from our music columnist, Stephen Morris, and our Gills columnist, Ben Hopkins. We’re also aiming to have writing from one or two new faces too, and we can’t wait to share more about that. With no election on the horizon (hopefully!), we shouldn’t have to arrange any election debates this year. We do want to continue our series of live events though, so we will be looking to put something on once we get into the new year. We keep saying we’d like to put on some occasional social events for our paid supporters too, and I think this is the year we’ll finally manage to do it. Otherwise, we will keep doing what we can to make this Medway’s definitive local news service. We remain limited by time as we work this project around our day jobs, so please consider [becoming a paid supporter](https://www.localauthority.news/FESTIVE) if you can help us thrive. Right now, we are currently offering 20% off an annual subscription to *Local Authority*. I know it’s a costly time for many, but if you are in a position to support our work and want to help us hit the ground running in 2025, please consider becoming a paid supporter. [Get 20% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) As ever, thank you so, so much for reading this thing. It’s been three and a half years, and I’m still amazed that *Local Authority* is now an award-winning website with thousands of readers. It means so much that you’re here reading, subscribing, sharing, commenting, and sending us news, and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings. Ed Editor, *Local Authority* #### Footnotes *Sunday will be our final edition of the year, a special interview edition where we catch up with some of our past guests to hear about their year and what’s ahead for 2025\. We’ll be off on Tuesday, with the regular publishing schedule resuming on Friday 6 January.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please consider telling someone about it, sharing it on your social media, or* [*becoming a paid supporter*](https://www.localauthority.news/FESTIVE) *if you haven’t already.* *We love to hear from readers. You can always contact me by hitting reply on any newsletter or emailing* [***hello@localauthority.news***](mailto:hello@localauthority.news) *\- we try to reply to everything.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this newsletter:* [*Bringing the Backline by Trust Fund*](https://trustfund.bandcamp.com/album/bringing-the-backline?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Impeccable Blahs by Say Hi*](https://sayhi.bandcamp.com/album/impeccable-blahs?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Loner by Caroline Rose*](https://carolinerosemusic.bandcamp.com/album/loner?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “The best part of being the Mayor is meeting all the different communities” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-best-part-of-being-the-mayor/ Last updated: 2025-12-18T12:55:22.000Z *Steven met the Mayor of Medway in his council chambers, a much nicer room than the Leader of the Council has, once he stopped looking at the artefacts, they sat down and discussed how the Mayor met his wife, why you wont see a review of Bulgarian cuisine anytime soon, and what advice he has for the next Mayor.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!JwtC!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff86cd7bc-0dd0-4327-88e6-bbfa6831b8c9_1600x720.jpg) The Mayor and Mayoress of Medway *First, a Christmas message from the Mayor.* Dear Residents of Medway, As the festive season draws near, I wish to extend my heartfelt greetings to you all. Christmas is a time to come together, celebrate our shared values, and reflect on the year that has passed. This year, Medway has seen remarkable growth and unity. From vibrant cultural events to the strength of our diverse communities, we have achieved so much together. It has been heartwarming to witness the generosity and resilience of Medway’s residents, who time and again demonstrate the true meaning of community. Strong communities don’t happen by chance—it takes dedication, effort, and collaboration. Together, we must continue working for a better Medway tomorrow, ensuring it remains a place we are all proud to call home. The Christmas season is also a time to think of others, especially those who may be struggling. A small gesture of kindness, a warm smile, or a helping hand can brighten someone’s day and embody the true spirit of this season. As your Mayor, I feel privileged to represent such a passionate and supportive community. Your contributions to local initiatives, businesses, and charities continue to inspire me and make Medway an exceptional place to live, work, and thrive. I am proud to be Medway. On behalf of Medway Council, I wish you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas filled with warmth, peace, and cherished moments. May the coming year bring health, happiness, and prosperity to all. Merry Christmas *And now the interview.* **What is your role in Medway Council?** I'm the Mayor of Medway. **What does that role entail?** A lot. So first of all, it's a purely ceremonial role. Most people don't understand that. I do attend a lot of business openings, a lot of charities, a lot of civic events. Like I give citizenship to people. I'm the first citizen of Medway. **And has that been a lot to get used to? How much time it kind of takes up?** Yes, to be honest, I was the deputy mayor to Councillor Nina Gurung last year and this one-year period being the deputy mayor, actually was a very good boot camp to becoming the mayor. I couldn't imagine how hard it was for Nina last year, being dropped in cold turkey. **Do you enjoy the role?** Yes, very much so. **What's your favourite part?** My favourite part is meeting the community. That's definitely the favourite, the best part of being the mayor, is meeting all the different communities, all the different charities and organizations. People in Medway, if you're not involved in this, you don't understand how much is going on and how many people are working really, really tirelessly to make our community better, not expecting anything in return. It's just amazing. This spirit, this community spirit in this charitable work it's amazing. **You're saying this isn't your main job, so how much time you would you say on average a week you spend as mayor?** To be honest, a lot yeah, it did become my permanent work, I wake up every morning I read and answer all emails, I schedule the day because usually I'll have one or two or three or even four events sometimes. Sometimes I have nothing, but sometimes I have a lot. I schedule the day; I'm writing my speeches every day. There is at least once a month, an event that I organize to raise funds for my supported charity, this takes a lot of my time as well. **Which charity are you supporting as Mayor?** I have two amazing charities that I support. One is Nucleus Arts, which you know they are very involved in the community, like Chatham Carnival, and Chinese New Year. And the other one is Midway Culture Club. They are a really, really nice charity, and they are based in my ward actually. They take children and they educate them on different aspects of history that could have been or could not have been taught in school. For Black History Month, we had the history about black Tudors. Would you imagine? There were actually popular black people in England during the Tudor time. There was even a painting of one who was, what was the word at that time? Bugler. For the king. **We're in the mayor's office at the moment. And I've been astounded by the artefacts. What's the nicest thing you've been gifted as mayor?** To be honest, this year I can't remember, obviously from time to time we get flowers, and they usually go to the Mayoress, of course, I got from the Horticultural society in Gillingham, they gave me a plum, to put into the ground. **Where were you born?** I was born in Bulgaria. **Where in Bulgaria?** It's a very central town called Gabrovo a very industrial town as well. They used to call it the little Manchester. It's in the mountains. We have a ski resort 30 minutes away. I used to go skiing quite a lot when I was younger and snowboarding as well. I haven't done that in many years. **Not as many opportunities in Medway. And what brought you to the Medway towns?** I came in 2011 looking for work to the UK. And I didn't come to Medway first. I actually went to Sunderland, because I had a job offer there. I stayed for about three months working as a courier driver for a company called Home Delivery Network, which now is called Yodel. And then the work dried up, so I moved to London, looking for work with the expectation that being a massive city, we have a lot of opportunities. I didn't like it in London. I stayed for about a Month there, and then I moved to Kent. I like Chatham, I've always been in the area. If you have to put a dot on Medway, always been around 20 minutes’ drive from Medway since then. **Did your wife come over with you or did you meet here?** No, no. So, we met on a student exchange program in America. In 2006 in the great state of Maine, which is not much to do there, but it was a very, very nice program that you go to experience American culture, and you work, and you travel. We met at the end of 2006 in America. There was actually a going away, it's a fun story. There was a going away party, and we met at the party, and she had to leave the next day to take her flight. Next year, 2007, we come to the same place, and we meet at the first welcoming party of the year. And she couldn't recognize me because I gained like 30 kilos, 2 kilograms. I gained a lot for that one year. And we're talking just casually. I'm like, ‘oh, you've been here last year. Do you remember someone from last year?’ and she says ‘Oh yeah, I remember this really nice guy called Marian. We met at the last party, but I don't see him around.’ I'm like, that's me. **Where is your wife from?** She's from Ukraine. **That's amazing, Ukrainian, but you met in America.** **For the readers who might not be aware, how would you describe Bulgaria as a country?** Very beautiful. As a tourist, there is a lot to do there. You have the amazing mountains. You have the sea resort. You can travel two hours apart from them. I think economically and socially economically, it's on the rise now. Since we joined the European Union, things have been getting better and better. I know a lot of people that are going back to Bulgaria now, because they can earn actually better money there now than here and other European countries. Depends on your skills, of course. Politically, Bulgaria has been in crisis for the last five years. They don't have the same system as we do here, first past the poll. They have proportional representation, too many parties and they cannot form a government for the last five years. Otherwise, it's very beautiful and I would advise everyone to visit, it's well worth it. **Which sea is it that it borders?** It’s the Black Sea. **Which isn't black?** No, it's very blue. **What jobs did your parents do growing up?** My parents always ran a business. Before I was born my mum used to be a nurse and my father used to be a professional cyclist for Bulgaria. Yeah, he was one of the few who can actually travel abroad to race, to cycle. He was in the Bulgarian national team. Then after the fall of communism, they were doing business. They had a restaurant, a nightclub. Then my father left for Germany with another woman, leaving my mother alone. And I didn't see him for almost 20 years. My mom, she had this spirit, she continued doing work. She had a wholesale for cosmetics and detergent and later started producing toilet paper. **Did you enjoy school?** Yes, yeah, I did. **And what did you specialise in school? What subjects?** My high school was... my speciality was for a restaurant, hotel manager and cook, basically, it was a tourist school. Then my university I studied political science. **Where did you go to university?** I went to, I think it's the biggest private university in Bulgaria, in Varna. It's very hard to spell, it's called [Chernorizets Hrabar.](https://www.vfu.bg/en/?ref=localauthority.news) **Did you enjoy university?** I did very much. I mean, I have always been interested in politics and teaching us all these different systems and a lot of history, a lot of law, a lot of history, like it really opens your view of the world. **And while you were at university, you went to America?** Yes, first and second year university, I also went to America. **How long were you in America for?** Probably is usually four to six months every year. You can go towards the end of the year; you can go to America maybe around May and be back either in September or some people even stay till October. And then again next year. **And what were you doing when you were out in America? Studying politics there as well?** No. It's mostly a cultural exchange program. You work and you travel. It's called ‘Work and Travel.’ (laughs) **Where did you travel anywhere in particular?** There are people from all over the world. We actually make a very nice competition of who has the best dish, because we have like 17 nationalities. You work around three months and then you travel, if you are lucky, you can travel for about two months. We started from Maine, we bought a car, two cars. We travel all the way to Myrtle Beach in Florida. We didn't get to Miami, but we got to Myrtle Beach. And then we drove all the way back, taking a different route, stopping. Obviously, it took us almost a month and a half to that trip. **You mentioned food, where's the nearest place someone in Medway could go to eat Bulgarian food?** There's actually a very nice restaurant in Maidstone. Very, very popular. It's always full. If you're going on the weekend, you have to book. It's next to the mall. Okay. Fair enough. **But sadly, nowhere in the Medway area?** There used to be one, but it closed. There used to be one next to Buzz Bingo. **What is your favourite Bulgarian dish? What would you recommend to someone?** Banitsa. **What's that?** Banitsa, it really goes well, and people really like it. It's basically a pastry with feta cheese. Very nice. Really good, yeah. Lovely. **How many languages do you speak?** That's a very tricky question because most Balkan languages are quite the same. I can easily understand Macedonian, Serbian, Croatian, Montaigne. It's kind of the same language. It's 80% the same. If I speak with... If I put just a bit of effort, they can understand me, I can understand them. The same time, I completely understand Russian and Ukrainian. And with a bit of effort, I can probably speak it, people will understand what I have to say. Obviously English. I studied German in school, I don't remember much of it. **When you were studying political science in Bulgaria, did you ever consider running as a politician in Bulgaria?** Yes, yes, I was thinking about it. Eventually, after I finished school, to get established and then maybe to see. I always like things to be fair. And I really think that if you don't like something, just complain about it's not going to work. You really need to get there and get your hands dirty. Probably if I would stay and live in Bulgaria, we will still be in politics, **You also studied coding?** Yes, so during COVID, I had nothing to do. I signed myself up for a three-month coding bootcamp. And I finished it. I was surprised. To be honest, I was kind of studying by myself before that. I was surprised how much I picked up. I haven't used it since then. Because to find a job in coding would mean I have to leave my business, which it's not easy thing to do. **What is your official full-time job?** Me and my wife, we run a courier company. We subcontract companies like DPD and DHL. We provide them drivers and vans, and we have set areas that we service for them. **Outside of being the mayor, you're obviously an elected councillor. So which ward are you the councillor for?** For Watling. **And why Watling ward?** Well, it's where I live. Well, I'm on the border. Technically, I'm in Gillingham South, but literally five meters away from Watling ward. And it's a really nice area. Gillingham Park, we go there very, very often with my children. People are amazing. Everything, I love everything about Watling. **Which political party are you a member of?** Labour and Co-operative. **When did you join the Labour Party?** I joined in 2020 during Covid. **Was there a particular reason why you joined?** It would get political. **Okay, we’ll come back to that when you finish your term as Mayor.** I had my reasons. **When was the first time your name appeared on a ballot?** 2023 local elections. **A fairly quick turnaround between joining, standing, winning, and becoming mayor.** Very short period of time. I did put a lot of my time as well. And that goes to everyone. If you want something to change, doesn't matter your political persuasion, you go there, you join a party, volunteer your time and maybe you can make some positive difference. **One of your roles is chairing the full council meeting.** Yes. **Did you ever have to do that as deputy?** Yes, I did it once. It was the pre last council before the AGM in 2024\. Nina wasn’t well and I had to step in a bit in the last moment, which was terrifying because I was not ready for it. **There is a lot of ceremony at full council, there's a lot of pomp and dress. Did you have any experience of that in Bulgaria?** I think it's fair to say that's something very, like very... What's the word? It is something that Britain does. **As well as being a councillor, a mayor and running your own business, is there any other roles that you're involved in?** I'm a father of two amazing children, that takes some time as well. **Are you on any other groups, chairing or member?** Well, yes, recently I created the Bulgarians in Kent CIC. I'm trying to organize the community because people, they tend to work a lot and not get out and meet people that much. I start making monthly cafes, like befriending cafes and other meetings. Now we're trying to do other meetings as well. **Is there a large Bulgarian population in Medway?** Yes, very large. In Medway, in Maidstone, in Kent in general, it's because of the farms. People come here to work on the farms, and they stay. **Are you a member of a union?** Yes. CWU, because of the courier business. **What do you do to unwind, to relax?** Not that much. If I have time, and I'm really looking forward for a bit of quiet time, we will often go on short breaks with my wife. We used to go few times a year for only few days in different places. I found out it's much more relaxing for me to go for three- or four-days break than to go for a long break when at the end you're already bored of the place. I like going out with people as well. The befriending cafes, it became very popular to be honest and people really, really like it. **Do you have any guilty pleasures?** I think I eat too much. No, that's a fact. That's a fact. I eat too much, and I was just thinking to myself today, I really need to lose some weight. That's my next... next challenge. Probably after I finish being the mayor, I'm going to challenge myself to lose at least three stones. **Whilst you currently do enjoy eating, is there anywhere in Medway you like to go for a meal?** I love a few places, but I would say Gurkha Fire is one of my favourites. I really like spicy food; I like Nando’s as well. **Is there anything particularly you're looking forward to for 2025?** Nothing comes to mind. **Is there any advice you would have for whoever becomes mayor next?** Yes, they have to make sure they have a lot of free time because it's very hard to combine this with actual work. --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*, including last year’s interview with then Mayor* [*Nina Gurung*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-feel-it-is-my-primary-role-to-promote/)*.* *If you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, email* [*Steven*](mailto:thepoliticalmedway@localauthority.news)*.* [*Steven Keevil*](https://twitter.com/stevenkeevil?ref=localauthority.news) *still manages to watch hundreds of films a year. He wants to recommend a Bulgarian film, but has discovered he has never seen one, just English language films, filmed in Bulgaria, and will get back to your when he has corrected this oversight.* *He listened to no music whilst writing this but recommends reading* [*Poor Things by Alasdair Gray.*](https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/poor-things-alasdair-gray/2323825?ean=9780747562283&ref=localauthority.news) ### The American Comic Shop: A lament URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-american-comic-shop-a-lament/ Last updated: 2024-12-20T17:16:36.000Z *We all have places that mean a lot to us. The sort of places that we can’t imagine not having around anymore. With the closure of The American Comic Shop in Chatham, As Steven found himself facing something central to his life for three decades no longer being there, he writes about that experience below. Further down, we look at the people making change by volunteering, share news of the Rainham Piano Festival, look back at the Die Hard panto, and review Christmas lunch at The Cheese Room. Of course, you’ll also find our weekly events guide and news in brief, too.* --- #### The American Comic Shop: A lament ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Q9zT!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2faf79505c-3318-4010-be49-388b89618c72_1456x1007.jpg) The American Comic Shop in Chatham Goodbye, old friend. This Christmas Eve, [The American Comic Shop](https://www.facebook.com/Americancomicshop/) on Church Street in Chatham will close its doors for the last time, and they are currently having an everything must go 50% off sale on graphic novels and comics. The shelving and the counter have already gone, and other items will be no more by the time you read these words. It’s been 31 years since they began trading. I remember the day they opened. The memory floods back after all this time. It's hard to express how much this shop has meant to me over those years, since the 14-year-old Steven Giddy first bought a comic from them before they were technically open inside the InShops. They weren’t the first shop I bought comics from in Medway. I would stop at the Medway Book Exchange at the bottom of Star Hill for my Superman comics, with my dad pulled over with his hazard lights blinking. MBE might have been the first, but The American Comic Shop was always the one. When I went away to university, it was still The American Comic Shop. When I had dalliances with Brighton, it was still The American Comic Shop. Okay, fine, I might have made purchases at [Dave’s](https://www.davescomics.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) in Brighton, but it wasn’t the same. Run by Kerry and June Earl, the shop was always a welcoming and friendly space to go and not only buy comics but talk about comics and comic-related stuff, back before being geek was chic. Looking back, there was times when customers took advantage of that welcoming space to hang out for a very long time, even when the conversation had naturally ended. And when I say customers, I mean me. Although I wasn’t the only one, there were holidays as a young teen, freshly moved to the hard streets of Chatham Intra, with ‘friends’ out on the peninsula, where I would spend the day at the shop, even if I didn’t spend any money. Working in a comic shop sounds wonderful even to this day, and when they moved to the Church Street space and business was busy, there was a need for a Saturday assistant and occasional holiday cover. For a brief window in time, that role was mine. Getting paid to talk about comics, help people with their comics, and tell them why they were wrong about their comic ideas. Glorious. I read Superman comics in the 90s, when they were fun but unpopular. The era of Dan Jurgens, Jerry Ordway, but then they killed Superman, and though they brought him back, it was never the same. It was okay, though, because there was The American Comic Shop, and I discovered Mark Waid, Grant Morrison, David Mack, Alan Moore, Sam Keith. I (clearly) hadn’t yet discovered girls. Which was okay because I had discovered non-superhero comics! The Maxx, The Invisibles, Preacher, Strangehaven, Maus! Brilliant reads, all thanks to The American Comic Shop. Post education, when I had my first business idea, selling small press and independent comics, it was Kerry and June I went to. There wasn’t the groundswell for non-superhero work that I would have hoped for, but taking over some shelves at the shop was fun for a few months. When I moved into my first flat, Kerry and June were two of the first people I had round for dinner. When I settled down with my partner and her children, it was Kerry and June’s daughter who I asked to take portraits, including my favourite photo of us. My greatest failing as a father is that I could never get the boys interested in comics. They would come along and pick up one or two, but they didn’t care, not really. My biggest failing as a working adult is not having enough disposable income to continue buying comics. To this day, I still don’t know how Cerebus, University2, or John Byrne’s Next Men ends. As I get older and life stuff happens, I hope I will keep in touch with Kerry and June over coffee or social media and talk about that life stuff. I will buy comics again at some point, but it won’t be the same. --- #### In brief 🏳️‍🌈 [Medway Pride are doing an open call for creative work](https://medwaypride.co.uk/lgbtqia-history-month-exhibition-25/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHP1uBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTO32jOfCCHc-AN1JjVdOc1ihlYLsP2wr8EnKv6mRpJnwD73VOhg5JyXHg%5Faem%5FZqNgwLPmWwE7LeyWhwYprg&ref=localauthority.news) for their annual Art Exhibition as part of LGBTQIA+ History Month in 2025. 🏅 [The winners of the Medway Sport Awards have been announced](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/all-the-winners-from-the-medway-sports-awards-317446/?ref=localauthority.news). Nathan Hales won the top award following his gold medal shooting performance at the Olympics. 🎨 [Sun Pier House and Intra Arts are joining forces](https://www.instagram.com/p/DDfa4RhIezU?ref=localauthority.news). Over three years, they will design and deliver a new arts programme specifically for the residents and communities of the Rochester Riverside development. 👞 [Shoe Zone is set to close their Gillingham High Street store](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/four-shoe-zone-shops-to-close-in-kent-317558/?ref=localauthority.news). The company described the location and several others as “unviable.” 🏪 [Tesco is set to open a new Express store in Gillingham](https://futuremedway.co.uk/derelict-restaurant-in-napier-road-gillingham-to-become-tesco-express-store/?ref=localauthority.news). The chain will move into the former Gabriela’s restaurant and shop on Napier Road, which closed after Medway Council refused them an alcohol licence. It can be assumed that Tesco will not face a similar problem. 🛍️ [Customers queued for up to five hours ahead of the opening of a new Poundstretcher in Strood](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/bargain-hunters-queue-for-hours-for-poundstretcher-opening-317594/?ref=localauthority.news). The first 100 customers through the door received a mystery goody bag that presumably made the wait worthwhile. 🔥 [Gillingham Street Angels have suffered a fire at their Jenkins Dale location, caused by a tumble dryer](https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/kent/news/medway-charity-gillingham-street-angels-fire/?ref=localauthority.news). It is the third unexpected tumble dryer fire this month after others caused issues at Oliver’s in Rochester and Nucleus Arts in Chatham. 🍲 Elsewhere, the [Gillingham Street Angels have announced the immediate closure of their GSA Cafe in Rochester](https://www.facebook.com/groups/790859402109705/posts/1109380836924225). The move comes as the organisation scales back, with the imminent closure of their Rochester shop as well. --- #### Making change with volunteering [*When we covered Ideas Test previously*](https://www.localauthority.news/testing-creative-ideas-in-unexpected/)*, we didn’t have room to cover all that they do and wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the work they are doing to incubate new creative practice.* [*Medway Change Makers*](https://ideastest.org.uk/volunteering/?ref=localauthority.news) *is a project coming to an end next year, and we spoke to Maria Dorey and Tracy Brunt of the organisation to find out more about it.* Medway Change Makers set out to help cultural infrastructure. “That might be groups or individuals, but quite often it's concepts”, says Maria. Keeping young talent in Medway is a concept. Providing access for people that had never really thought about access when they are planning. Medway Change Makers is a program that Ideas Test delivers as part of a partnership with [Medway Voluntary Action](https://www.mva.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), the [Medway Place Board](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200264/medway%5Fthe%5Fplace/769/the%5Fmedway%5Fplace%5Fboard?ref=localauthority.news) and [Creative Medway](https://creativemedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). The scheme is funded by [Spirit of 2012](https://spiritof2012.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a legacy funder from the 2012 Olympic Games, under their [Volunteering Cities](https://spiritof2012.org.uk/funding/projects/medway-makers-volunteering-cities-inclusive-volunteering/?ref=localauthority.news) banner. The idea is that places need more volunteering infrastructure outside of special events. “When you think about the 2012 Olympics, there was a huge galvanisation of volunteers and a great community spirit. People were volunteering and built these great connections”, says Tracy. When the games finished, many people volunteered elsewhere, and some didn’t volunteer again. A similar thing happened with the ‘City of Culture’ programs. Afterwards, the momentum falls off both culturally in terms of the number of events and the programs that started, which don't necessarily have a legacy. Over time, the volunteering infrastructure built around a City of Culture program similarly falls away. When a lot of effort is put into making events happen, and then they don’t, it is easy for cultural organisations to lose the trust of communities. Volunteering Cities is a bit of a hypothesis of what happens when we build volunteering infrastructure on its own so that if in the future, somewhere like Medway, is interested in becoming a City of Culture, there will be volunteers ready to go. Medway Change Makers is a volunteer pool where Ideas Test has gathered together people from Medway who are interested in cultural volunteering. Then, “we sort of lend them out” to cultural organisations across Medway for events-based volunteering opportunities. This is volunteering that's time-locked, short term, and fixed. Rather than volunteering every Tuesday for the rest of time at a charity shop, a volunteer might do one day at a music festival and then go home. It's much easier to manage around lifestyles, working shifts, childcare, and public transport. Medway Change Makers is housed within Ideas Test but doesn’t exactly cross over with Ideas Test's core mission. “We're really about getting people that aren't currently engaging in the arts”, says Maria, “engaging in the arts via volunteering as a way to have agency over their creative practice.” Whilst the funding is ending, their expectation is that the project will continue. If anyone is a Medway Change Maker in waiting, Maria is clear this was the pilot phase and to keep an eye on Ideas Test for what is going to happen next. “We don't know if Medway is going to go for City of Culture again,” says Tracy, “but if it does, this would be a definite strength.” --- #### International musicians come to Rainham As cultural hotspots in Medway go, Rainham is often overlooked. Now, St Margaret’s Church is looking to rectify that by introducing a programme of arts events over the coming year. First up is the Rainham Piano Festival in May features an eclectic lineup of performers, including Curtis Stigers, Dominic Ferris, Julian Joseph, The Kanneh-Masons, and Paddy Milner. Reverend Nathan Ward, Vicar of St Margaret’s Church, is excited about the event and what it means for Rainham: > *“To host such an extraordinary level of global talent in Rainham over one weekend is a truly historic moment for our town. Alongside these headline performances, we are delighted to offer a variety of recitals throughout the festival that are ‘pay what you want,’ making music accessible to everyone. These performances will span a broad range of styles, all played on a magnificent Steinway Grand Piano. This festival is a cornerstone of our vision to develop Rainham’s arts and cultural landscape in response to community feedback.”* Beyond the festival, 2025 will see further events at St Margaret’s Church, including a production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, additional musical performances and an expanding lineup of cultural activities. *Tickets and more information can be found via the* [*St Margaret’s Church website*](https://rainhamchurch.co.uk/arts/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Out to Christmas Lunch: The Cheese Room Botanicals *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the Christmas lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been back down to* [***The Cheese Room Botanicals in Rochester***](https://thecheeseroomrochester.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*…* Reserving a table is highly recommended to experience the Christmas lunch at The Cheese Room, and a small deposit will be required for booking. I went as traditional as possible for this Christmas fare. Asian Prawn Cocktail with Nashi pear and chilli salsa for starter, Roast Turkey, traditional trimmings served with roasties and seasonal vegetables for the main, and Sticky toffee Christmas Pudding with clotted cream for pudding. ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/da14c1db-9952-4330-a06f-df995f5b545c.heic) ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e67cbfd0-916f-4538-9bad-306fc8e4037e.heic) ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/66b60c1e-212a-42fe-8089-2eedc874691c.heic) Food at The Cheese Room Botanicals The starter had a generous serving of succulent prawns, a delightful side salad, and slices of pear. The salad had a good dressing and a spicy kick, which was welcomed. I won’t lie, though: It did feel like something was missing with no Marie Rose sauce, but that says more about me than the quality of this starter. The main was well portioned, expertly cooked and enjoyable to eat. It does say something when food is this good, but the feeling afterwards is such that you realise there is a reason we have turkey once a year. The pudding was wonderful, full of flavour, and made so as not to make you regret eating it, like some Christmas puddings. One of my favourite puddings of the year. Overall, this was a great meal served by the Cheese Rooms friendly team, making a great moment this Christmas. I highly recommend you go there if you can. --- #### Die Hard: In panto form It’s time to talk about the big Panto story this season. No, not the highly enjoyable [Jack and The Beanstalk](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/jack-and-the-beanstalk-2024?ref=localauthority.news) getting rave reviews at Central Theatre. We, of course, mean Die Hard: The Panto, which played for one night only at Spotlites Theatre. This amateur panto production was written by Nucleus Arts’ David Stokes, who stars alongside a volunteer cast with faces for Medway Pride Radio. Raising money for Rainbows over Medway, the performance was also being recorded for radio, meaning some periods featured the cast standing at microphones reading their scripts, which is perfectly fine if going for a radio recording. At other times, there was creeping around the stage, which was perfectly fine for a panto. There were also moments of electrics being hit by super soakers, which is… perfectly fine. It would take a cold heart to write a review that was anything but glowing for this endeavour you can ‘experience’ on MPR this Christmas. So, I turn to my children for their insights instead: > *“Hilariously awful, funny jokes about Chatham, more of a comedy than the film. Very enjoyable but some might see it not as pleasing as I did.” James, 13* > *“It was a great watch, better than expected. The actors were brilliant with all their mistakes, somehow their amazing improv made it seem on purpose. All-round it was a funny show that showed the best parts of Die Hard and made it in to a great panto.” William, 15* Whilst everybody should be congratulated for their efforts, special mention should be given to the criminally underused Destiny Coffey as Argyle, as well as Jonathan Ash’s ‘Hans Gruber’ and Dave Hutley’s ‘Fanny Drippington’, both fully embodying the idea that these performances only go to 11. *Die Hard: The Panto is available for your listening pleasure this Christmas on the* [*Rainbows of Medway Mixcloud*](https://www.mixcloud.com/RainbowsOverMedway/die-hard-the-panto/?fbclid=IwY2xjawHPw4tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaCR6WEtt0TlKfBqMtW3orFMq8ep1Fzr8rAwkiJzieNeoTjFtHFKMOLwuA%5Faem%5FzxAiEPbB92Z9J5pBsSNmXQ&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Events this week 🎻 Fri 20 Dec - [**Singing Loins Xmas Bash**](https://www.facebook.com/events/3883602651925329/?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22discovery%5Ftop%5Ftab%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D)// First of Medway’s premier alt-folk outfit’s Christmas gigs. The Ship, Gillingham. Free. 🎵 Sat 21 Dec - [**The Pastel Waves**](https://www.facebook.com/events/610894194620719/?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[]%7D) // Acoustic gig celebrating the release of their new EP, ‘Between Midnight and Morning’. Analogue Music, Rochester. Free. 🎻 Sat 21 Dec - [**Singing Loins Xmas Bash**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1226591478585778/) // Second of Medway’s premier alt-folk outfit’s Christmas gigs. Rising Sun, Rochester. Free. --- #### More Authority It's been an impressive year for Medway music. While the hurdles with live music continue, bands and artists from the Towns have continued churning out excellent records over the year. [Our music writer, Stephen Morris, highlights ten of the best](https://www.localauthority.news/the-year-in-medway-music/). [The year in Medway musicIt has been another rather splendid year for music in Medway. While the hurdles involved with live music continue – as well documented elsewhere on these pages – bands and artists from the Towns have continued to churn out excellent albums, EPs and singles over the course of the year. The following list assesses these in no particular order – but they are all rather wonderful.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityStephen Morris![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/b9acc5b7-3006-411c-8f44-5b0361c22977_2240x1260.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-year-in-medway-music/) This is the final briefing edition of Local Authority of the year as we take a little break through the festive season. We’ve lined content up to fill the gap a bit, and we’ll return to the full schedule in the new year. **Coming up:** *Sun 22 Dec - Our interview with Mayor of Medway Marian Nestorov* *Fri 27 Dec - Our look back at the year.* *Sun 29 Dec - We talk to some of Medway's movers and shakers about their 2024 plans and what lies ahead for 2025.* *Fri 3 Jan - We resume our usual schedule.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Til You Lie In Your Grave by Miss Ludella Black*](https://shop.damagedgoods.co.uk/products/miss-ludella-black-till-you-lie-in-your-grave?Format=12%22+Vinyl&ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Stuart Turner and The Flat Earth Society by Stuart Turner and The Flat Earth Society*](https://open.spotify.com/album/33S5mqath5qpEmyWKQZgdL?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### The year in Medway music URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-year-in-medway-music/ Last updated: 2024-12-19T14:23:38.000Z *It has been another rather splendid year for music in Medway. While the hurdles involved with live music continue – as well documented elsewhere on these pages – bands and artists from the Towns have continued to churn out excellent albums, EPs and singles over the course of the year. The following list assesses these in no particular order – but they are all rather wonderful.* --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!3LYD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb8d622fe-1824-44b5-8128-e04d1bbfb87b_700x700.jpg) [**The Pastel Waves - Between Midnight and Morning**](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/between-midnight-and-morning-ep?ref=localauthority.news) Still very much hot off the press, The Pastel Waves EP *Between Midnight and Morning* (with artwork by [Zara Carpenter](https://www.localauthority.news/its-about-seeing-the-beauty-in-the/)) is a fantastic addition to their canon. Forever known, right back to their days as Parker and The Ambience, for their dedication to effects pedals and spaced-out sounds, this four-track EP offers the kind of immersive sonic experience that headphones and comfy chairs were invented for. Opening track, ‘Rolling’ boasts a slo-mo Madchester swagger while the closer, ‘To Breathe’, opens with busy synthetic sounds, recalling the cerebral experimentalism of German electronica, before the more familiar noodling vocals and guitars emerge over the top to create something rather spellbinding. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Three Medway by-elections set for February URL: https://www.localauthority.news/three-medway-by-elections-set-for/ Last updated: 2024-12-17T10:17:47.000Z *We love the smell of democracy in the morning. Since the General Election, it has been inevitable that Medway would face three by-elections, and now, the trigger has finally been pulled with the three Medway MPs resigning their council seats. Further down, the government White Paper on English Devolution came out this week, so we look at what it might mean for Medway. Plus, a weird story about the council supposedly spending £35k on a ‘Young Mayor’, some big planning applications, news in brief, and more.* --- #### By-elections set for February Parts of Medway are set to go to the polls in February following the resignation of three councillors. Three Medway councillors—Lauren Edwards, Tristan Osborne, and Naushabah Khan—have resigned from their council roles following their election to parliament as MPs for Medway constituencies. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WoPu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f005c195c-61d0-4c1a-9798-a82ea911a846_1600x900.jpg) Medway MPs Lauren Edwards, Tristan Osborne, and Naushabah Khan. While there is no formal rule forbidding an MP from also being a councillor, it arguably isn’t practical to fulfil both roles simultaneously. As a result, three Medway Council seats are now vacant, leading to by-elections for each. *Local Authority* understands that the by-elections will be held on 6 February after all three councillors submitted their resignations yesterday (Monday 16 Dec). Edwards and Osborne both represented Rochester East & Warren Wood, leading to a double by-election in the seat, while Khan’s seat in Gillingham South will also see a by-election on the same day. Labour’s candidates for the by-elections are Liubov Nestorov in Gillingham South, with Robert Wyatt and Caroyn Hart in Rochester East & Warren Wood. Nestorov is the wife of current Mayor of Medway Marian Nestorov, with Wyatt and Hart being relatively unknown figures within the party, though [Wyatt stood in Strood Rural in 2023](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=20230504&ward=2023.stroodrural&ref=localauthority.news). It is unclear at this point who opposition parties will put forward. One rumour is that former Conservative MP for Rochester and Strood Kelly Tolhurst will be on the ballot in the Rochester East & Warren Wood by-election. With a narrative taking hold that Edwards has been largely absent since being elected, Tolhurst could provide the kind of spoiler that ruins Labour’s day. Elsewhere, it will be interesting to see who Reform put forward and what kind of organisation they have. Modelling for Medway shows them potentially performing well, and the party recently took a by-election win on Kent County Council, showing they can find wins when they put the work in. The by-elections come against an increasingly challenging numbers game for Medway’s Labour administration. After winning 33 of the 59 seats on offer in last year’s local elections, two suspensions from the party have seen that drop to 31\. Now, with three seats facing by-elections, the party faces the prospect of potentially losing its majority, shifting the council to No Overall Control. On paper, both wards look pretty safe for Labour to retain. In the 2023 elections, Khan was over 1,000 votes ahead of the closest opposition candidate, while in Rochester East & Warren Wood, Labour was, on average, around 600 votes ahead. However, by-elections can be tricky, and it’s hard to argue that after a few months in power, Labour doesn’t seem hugely popular with the electorate. While they still seem like the likely winner in each seat, it wouldn’t necessarily take much for things to go awry. --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Devolution inches closer Yesterday finally saw the publication of the government’s eagerly awaited [White Paper on English Devolution](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth?ref=localauthority.news), which intends to change the way areas of England are governed dramatically. There’s a lot to take in within the plans, with the paper proposing restructuring local government and broader strategic authorities. While the paper doesn’t put forward finalised plans for each area, it is clear that the intent is for councils like Medway to no longer exist. The paper pushes for a move toward unitary councils covering populations of at least 500,000 people. As it stands, Medway has a population of a little under 300,000\. As such, Medway will likely need to merge with other surrounding authorities. It is unclear at this time what this will likely look like, but a new authority consisting of what is currently Gravesham, Medway, and Swale doesn’t seem impossible. The plan for broader strategic authorities, which will cover larger regions, is also included. These will be run by an elected mayor and a combined authority made up of the new unitaries underneath. This is likely to be a combined authority between Kent and Medway, meaning that a Mayor of Kent is on the cards. The combined authority would control big issues like infrastructure planning and transport, with the elected mayor also including the current Police and Crime Commissioner role. For now, the government is effectively handing the changes over to local areas to organise between themselves. Areas that work together to create the new combined authorities will see significant new powers and funding settlements, so there is an incentive to do so. The government is clear that this is the direction of travel for everyone though, and they will step in to force the issue if local areas don’t get themselves together. Devolution and local government reorganisation will likely be among the big stories over the coming year. While we can’t say what Medway and the wider Kent map will look like, it’s clear that things will be very different. --- #### The myth of the Young Mayor It’s not often that a local politics story properly breaks through, but over the past few days, there’s a good chance you’ve heard something about Medway Council spending £35,000 on a ‘Young Mayor.’ Most of this information comes from a somewhat bewildering article by Medway’s Local Democracy Reporter Robert Boddy. [KentOnline](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/putting-in-a-young-mayor-at-35k-is-just-madness-317216/?ref=localauthority.news) and the [BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg913ppjd1o?ref=localauthority.news) broke the story by leading with a quote from Gillingham Street Angels Chief Executive Neil Charlick, who called the plans “madness.” At face value, a council with limited funds spending money on such an initiative might indeed sound like madness. Except that isn’t what’s happening. [Medway Council’s report on the plans](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=77222&ref=localauthority.news) makes it clear that the intent is for the role to be funded externally rather than from the council itself, and that the scheme will only be progressed if that funded is in place. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!kCsV!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6df43a87-bed9-4362-8a6d-d6275c8c82fc_1634x532.png) Excerpt from Medway Council report on the Young Mayor initiative Whatever your views on the concept of a young mayor, it feels like a false premise to ask a [charity boss in dispute with the council](https://www.localauthority.news/gillingham-street-angels-accuse-medway/) how they feel about spending that isn’t happening. The whole position might be for nothing, though. Given that both Medway’s Labour administration and Conservative opposition support the plans, it seems unlikely that the intervention will be particularly effective. --- #### Big plans It’s been a big week for planning applications at Medway Council, with three significant developments. First, work is finally moving forward on the former Go Outdoors and Market Hall site at the end of The Brook in Chatham. [Plans have been submitted](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SO8KCUKNG5O00&ref=localauthority.news) to demolish the existing buildings and build four blocks containing 319 flats, commercial space, and residential facilities. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!1Zcj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4b28c69c-d1c0-4415-ac0d-6094fdb98859_1956x1078.jpg) Proposals for the former Go Outdoors site in Chatham. The plans include refurbishing the depressing multi-storey car park behind the site, which will be used to provide parking for the residents of the new development. Given the unloved state of this part of Chatham, the plans offer a way to provide new housing and renew an existing blot on the landscape, so it’s hard to imagine Medway Council finding much wrong with the idea. Next is a [reserved matters application for the land](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SO12M6KNJC500&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) around the new Maritime Academy in Frindsbury. This one is further advanced as planning permission for the site has already been agreed upon, and this is about laying out the site's specifics. The plans propose 181 market and affordable homes, alongside a play area and little else. Given that much of the site has already been cleared for development, with a brand new school next to it, this is also likely to face little opposition from the council. Finally, plans have been submitted to [redevelop the Arethusa Venture Centre in Upnor](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SOFVW1KNKOW00&ref=localauthority.news). It’s a pretty dull application for 31 flats across two blocks, and while we can try and spin this paragraph out further, there isn’t much we can say about it. --- #### In brief 🚧 [Plans to redevelop shops and flats on Luton High Street have been rejected as they would dominate the area](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/plans-to-rejuvenate-high-street-set-for-refusal-317237/?ref=localauthority.news). Medway Council’s planning committee threw out the plans that would have seen the site turned into 24 flats, offices, and shops. 🖥️ [Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) says there has been no data breach following ‘suspicious activity’ on its IT network](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crrw75xw217o?ref=localauthority.news). The saga led to significant patient delays and disruptions after the entire network was taken offline. 🏥 [Medway NHS Foundation Trust has paid out £1.2m in gynaecology medical negligence claims since 2019](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kent-nhs-trusts-pay-out-7m-in-women-s-medical-negligence-cl-317429/?ref=localauthority.news). The settlements involved ten claims from patients who were found to have suffered negligence at the trust. --- #### More Authority This week's weekend interview was with [Calvin Gear, chef and head brewer of Moot Brew Co Brewery & Taproom in Halling](https://www.localauthority.news/beer-brings-good-people-together/). We discuss Moot, microbrewing, whether Calvin knows who the Prime Minister is, and what he recommends cooking for Christmas dinner. [“Beer brings good people together”As we approach Christmas, we wanted to give you some tips for Christmas dinner, so Steven met with chef and head brewer of Moot Brew Co Brewery & Taproom in Halling, Calvin Gear. They met at the taproom, discussing microbrewing, whether Calvin knows who the Prime Minister is, and what he recommends cooking for Christmas dinner.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9f74e9f1-a3ca-456d-bc21-0d0c429bce8e_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/beer-brings-good-people-together/) Next, we published the final [Voice of the Leader column of the year from Medway Council Leader Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-8aa/). He talks about local government reorganisation, changes seen in Medway over the past year, and what’s ahead for 2025. [Voice of the LeaderEditor’s note: Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, for our final Voice piece of the year, we welcome Medway Council Leader Vince Maple, who talks about local government reorganisation, changes seen in Me…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f00c2ccbd-664f-4881-8cb4-c9023ef95c11_500x500.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-8aa/) *Programming schedule: This will be the final Tuesday news briefing of the year unless anything dramatic happens over the Christmas period. We’ve still got a full schedule of content this week, including a look back at the year in Medway music, our usual Friday arts/culture briefing, and an interview with the Mayor of Medway, Marian Nestorov. After that, we’ll be going on a short break. We’ve got a couple of little pieces scheduled to fill the gap, but we won’t be publishing our usual briefing editions until we come back, hopefully fully refreshed, in the new year.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Our Temperance Movement by Cats on Fire*](https://howdoesitfeeltobeloved.bandcamp.com/album/our-temperance-movement?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*We’re Not Talking by The Goon Sax*](https://thegoonsax.bandcamp.com/album/were-not-talking?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Compliments Please by Self Esteem*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF5GSshWU3w&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Voice of the Leader URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-8aa/ Last updated: 2024-12-16T14:27:59.000Z **Editor’s note:* Each month, we present a guest column from one of Medway’s elected representatives, rotating between our MPs, council and opposition leaders, and the Police and Crime Commissioner. Today, for our final Voice piece of the year, we welcome Medway Council Leader Vince Maple, who talks about local government reorganisation, changes seen in Medway over the past year, and what’s ahead for 2025.* --- #### Voice of the Leader **by Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council** ![Vince Maple, Medway Council - Chatham Maritime Trust](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ydc1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f00c2ccbd-664f-4881-8cb4-c9023ef95c11_500x500.jpg) Cllr Vince Maple It’s a real pleasure to be writing the final Voice of the Leader of 2024. I’m writing this on December 15th, which this year is an additional “Eve” alongside Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve – it is White Paper Eve. This is the much-anticipated White Paper on English Devolution. There has been significant media speculation on what may be contained within it. Until it has been published it is difficult to go into any substantial detail. What is clear is that the Council of Regions and Nations will be of great importance to the government in engagement across the United Kingdom – I’m very clear that Medway must have its voice heard around that table. That is likely to mean a requirement of an elected mayor across the region of Kent and Medway, although again, we will need to see the detail within the white paper. The other element there has been great speculation about is local government reorganisation – again until it is published it is difficult to give detailed thoughts but one thing I am very clear on is the success of unitary authorities. I have only ever served as a councillor on Medway Council, a single tier of local government. I have never had to send an email saying, ‘It is not this council, but the other council that looks after this area.’ I appreciate that others who serve in areas which have two councils may have a different view, but I will always be an advocate for unitary authorities. That said, any local government reorganisation can be a challenging process, often with competing views and difficult decisions. Whatever the white paper includes, I will keep residents informed as we move forward together. As this is the last column of the year, it’s a great opportunity to look back on the past 12 months. Of course, I must begin with July 4th, when Medway and the country gave Labour the opportunity to serve. Having had a historic night in May 2023 that was followed by further history in July, delivering three Labour MPs alongside a majority Labour & Co-op Council with a Labour Government. Tris, Lauren and Naushabah are all working hard for the communities they represent, already making important contributions in parliament as well as supporting households, businesses, voluntary sector organisations and much more. That led to changes within the council cabinet, with Louwella, Alex and Nina all hitting the ground running in their new roles, working hard with existing cabinet members. We have continued to make good progress in a number of areas, whether it is publishing the One Medway Council Plan, the recent inspection on our role as landlord where we got the second highest available rating, the completion of the Cozenton Park Sports Centre, securing nearly £3 million funding for the Whose Hoo project to benefit the Hoo Peninsula, launching the Gillingham Taskforce to make much needed improvements in the Gillingham Town Centre area, more than 114,000 engagements with the Child Friendly Medway programme (that’s the equivalent of 10 full Priestfield stadiums!), opening the Ascend coworking space in the Pentagon, broadcast the weekly One Minute Medway, opening the Paddock as an outstanding piece of public realm, and securing the agreements for the James Williams Healthy Living Centre – named after our Director of Public Health who we tragically lost earlier this year. It is also an opportunity to look ahead to 2025 as well – obviously, we will be positively working with the backdrop of whatever is in the White Paper, and we will also continue on our journey towards financial sustainability and transformation making sure we deliver the best possible services with the resources we have available. This will no doubt mean some further difficult decisions this year as we continue to work through the Financial Improvement and Transformation (FIT) plan. We will also work towards the long overdue Medway Local Plan. The last Local Plan was published in 2003, which meant when we were elected, the plan was already 20 years old – simply not good enough. Can I take this opportunity to thank residents who have made submissions to the consultation process this year. I am hopeful this administration will deliver the much-needed Local Plan so we can move away from some speculative developers taking advantage of the weakened position of an out-of-date Local Plan for Medway. I hope the other political groups and councillors will work with us as we move towards the final stages as it is in the best interests of Medway to have an up-to-date Local Plan. We will also be making further progress on important projects like Medway 2.0 and Care for Medway – both of which will mean better outcomes for local residents. Can I take this opportunity to thank hard working council officers, particularly those who will be working over the Christmas period, our emergency services & our armed forces keeping Medway safe now and throughout the year. I also want to recognise voluntary sector organisations who really make such a huge contribution across Medway both at Christmas time and during the rest of the year – thank you for what you do. I want to thank the 58 other councillors on Medway Council - whether part of the Labour & Co-op group or not, every councillor serves their community and plays a part in our local democracy – as the late Jo Cox MP said, “We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.” I want to say a special thank you to my brilliant Deputy Leader Teresa Murray for her support and the tremendous job she does for the community of Medway. It was great that the work of the Medway Labour & Co-operative Council was recently recognised as Council of the Year at the SME4Labour annual awards ceremony – once again truly making me Proud To Be Medway. Finally, thanks to Ed and Steven for their ongoing work producing the award-winning *Local Authority* – holding all those in power to account as well as being strong advocates for Medway. I wish all *Local Authority* readers a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful & Positive 2025 *Cllr Vince Maple is the Leader of Medway Council and Labour councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton.* ### “Beer brings good people together” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/beer-brings-good-people-together/ Last updated: 2024-12-15T07:01:15.000Z *As we approach Christmas, we wanted to give you some tips for Christmas dinner, so Steven met with chef and head brewer of* [*Moot Brew Co Brewery & Taproom*](https://mootbrew.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *in Halling,* *Calvin Gear. They met at the taproom, discussing microbrewing, whether Calvin knows who the Prime Minister is, and what he recommends cooking for Christmas dinner.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!iwPw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9f74e9f1-a3ca-456d-bc21-0d0c429bce8e_1456x762.jpg) Calvin Gear at Moot Brew Co Brewery & Taproom **What is Moot?** Moot is a microbrewery and taproom based in Upper Halling near Rochester. We supply to trade businesses around Kent and southeast London, and sometimes we sell kegs across the country. We are spreading out slowly, but we've grown organically. Started the business in 2021\. I then started working as a brewer part-time as I was still teaching at MidKent College, and eventually started working full-time for the brewery and then building this place at the same time. **Why is it called Moot?** Moot is an old English word for a gathering of people under an oak tree. It also comes from Lord of the Rings, for the Entmoot, where the trees gather in the jungle for a meeting. It stems from the fact that myself and the other directors of the business, Tom, Ian, and Patrick, used to meet every Thursday night for a beer in the pub that Ian worked as a chef. He used to be my sous chef at the Black Horse in Thurnham, and that's where we used to meet because he was then the head chef. We'd go for a beer every Thursday night regardless of what was happening in our lives. We would be there for a beer on a Thursday just to catch up for an hour, maybe an hour and a half. That was our moot, and the brewery was formed at that moot, so that's where it stemmed from. **Why is it out in Halling?** Patrick moved to Upper Halling just a few hundred meters from here a few years ago, and he was walking his dog along the field here and bumped into the farmer, Andrew, who has had planning permission for a brewery on this site since 2012\. It was just a completely coincidental meeting. We then set up a meeting with Andrew at his farmhouse, had a little chat about it, and that was kind of it. The ball started rolling. We talked about renting this place out. We then had to apply for all our licenses and our AWRS, which is Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme, which allows us to sell alcohol. And we started producing in Brixton at the brewery that I was working at, and that's how we kind of got ourselves on the map, making beer, selling beer in the local community, starting a big kind of social media marketing programme, which Patrick did for about a year before we actually opened the taproom. It meant that when we opened this place, we were known in the local community and on social media, and it just kind of kicked off very easily when we opened the taproom. Our opening day was ridiculous. There was a queue from the bar to the end of the car park for the whole day. We had a lot of momentum before this place actually opened. **What is your role at Moot?** I am the head brewer and director, co-owner with Patrick. We've self-funded all of this. We have no outstanding business loans or anything like that. It means that we can kind of do what we want. We're growing organically because we don't have the funds, finances to make this big or grow too big too quickly, which we don't want to do because a lot of breweries do that, and they fail. We're just letting it grow. We're doing a bit more marketing at the moment just to push ourselves out there in the local community because there's so many people who walk into our tap and go, ‘didn't know you were here.’ We're trying to spread that a bit more to Snodland, Rochester. **Why should people travel out to Halling to visit the taproom? What do you offer here?** We offer an experience. It's not just going to the pub and having a beer. You come in, we'll talk you through the beers, you can have a look around the brewery. You can book a tour and a tasting here if you want to. We're soon going to be offering brewing sessions as well, so eventually, you'll be able to come and brew with us. We have food trucks every weekend. We offer food every day, but we have [food trucks](https://mootbrew.co.uk/pages/food-truck-schedule?ref=localauthority.news) specifically on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. We do pizzas on a Thursday, which is a £12 pizza and a pint with a friend of ours who's just started his own pizza business. We have local art in the tap room for people to come and look at, which people really love. We have a great local following and a great vibe in the taproom, and it's just a really cool, chill place to come and hang out. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Revitalising Intra URL: https://www.localauthority.news/revitalising-intra/ Last updated: 2024-12-13T17:41:18.000Z *The area between Chatham and Rochester spent a long time being largely unloved and allowed to decline. Now, the area appears to be on the up, with all kinds of new businesses and creative endeavours. The Intra Community Trust is leading the charge, so we went down to find out what’s happening. Further down, we meet with a Medway author with a new book about Kosovo, look back at the excellent We Did It Medway podcast, and tackle the Christmas lunch at Gurkha Fire. You’ll also find our weekly events guide and news in brief sections too. Let’s get to it.* --- #### Revitalising Intra *Chatham Intra is the land between Star Hill and Sun Pier, often called ‘the Old High Street.’ We met with Alex Cameron, co-chair of the newly formed Intra Community Trust CIO, a charitable organisation, and Nick Flynn, one of the trustees, at the lovely* [*No.64 Coffee & Brunch*](https://no64coffee.carrd.co/?ref=localauthority.news) *to discuss why there is so much interest in the area and their plans.* The area defined as Intra geographically is often an area of debate, with some insisting it is just the banks side as you get past the train bridge on the way to Rochester, as the other side of the road wasn’t part of the old high street. Alex disagrees with this, believing both sides of the road count. “That was my definition”, continues Alex. “The historic Intra, you’ll get from [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/), is the old High Street this end. Intra is the bit between Chatham and Rochester.” Intra is an old place that has been connected to the river and the Navy for hundreds of years. “It is a special place”, says Alex, “but in recent decades, it was a left behind piece of Medway. Which is sad because there is so much here.” “Intra for me”, adds Nick, “is not a specific boundary. It's very much about how people understand the area. There's a human geographical element to it. You ask two people about it, and you will get two answers.” “The other thing about it”, continues Nick, “is that our focus is very much on the development of this road. But at the same time, in terms of our sustainability for the future, we're flexible to opportunities to develop projects outside of that area.” This segues us nicely to the main reason we’re talking today: What is the Intra Community Trust *(ICT)*? The council successfully bid for this area to become a [High Street Heritage Action Zone](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200177/regeneration/1218/heritage%5Faction%5Fzone?ref=localauthority.news) around the time lockdown started. Attached was funding to create a cultural programme alongside the project. Alex was part of the cultural consortium setup, where a lot of the initial ICT membership got involved. They started doing small cultural projects and little festivals, and about two years into that, “there was a sudden realisation among all the members”, remembers Alex, “that we can do this. Actually, we're quite good at this.” The group got a “tiny bit of funding” to run a fringe event around [Medway Night Lights](https://www.visitmedway.org/visit-medway-blogs-features/medway-light-nights/?ref=localauthority.news), coordinated by [Poco Loco](https://pocoloco.live/?ref=localauthority.news). They then got funding to run a festival in the spring. “We did all that quickly for not a lot of money, and it worked. It really worked.” As a group, they carried on with the Heritage Action Zone project and about ten months before the end, they had to decide what to do next. What did they want to be? They won a bid to become a [Heritage Development Trust](https://ahfund.org.uk/grants/hdt/?ref=localauthority.news) through the council and became the first of now 18 such trusts across the country. This provided them with three years of funding to transition into the Trust while carrying on their cultural program. “We can enable things to happen because we're here. We're on the ground, and we've got a very talented group of people across the membership.” “There's huge potential here”, answers Nick when asked why it is important to make a difference to the Intra area. “There is much work that needs to be done in terms of the buildings. Many lying almost derelict, but full of potential, and in terms of the diversity of the population here.” A lot of the buildings are listed and are of architectural heritage significance. Getting them back into a state where they can become resources for the local community to use and benefit from would improve the quality of life for people in the area. Unfortunately, finding out who owns which building is a perennial challenge. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c1DY!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8267a061-abe2-4c7a-be6d-94e9b2b90fea_1024x768.jpg) Intra Community Trust at ‘The Old Mortuary’. Photo: Medway Council They are now Charitable Incorporated Organisation. That enables them to get the funding to make a difference to the community. They got serious about organising, became independent of the council and formed a board. “We are a membership-led organisation”, says Alex. “Although we're both trustees, the members make decisions, the members are in charge. The trustees’ role is the governance role to make sure we're doing things legally by the book and implementing what the membership would like us to do.” One of the principal outcomes of this is that it enables them to acquire assets, including heritage assets, and turn them into a benefit to the community. Their first property is planned to be the waterworks at the rear of the former St Bartholomew's Hospital, sometimes called ‘The Old Mortuary’, along with the garden for community use, though handover has been delayed. “For good reasons, I’m sure.” One question that they are keen to answer carefully is whether they will be developing a Neighbourhood Plan for the area. Some of the villages in Medway have recently put these developmental documents together, and a nearby one around Luton Arches was successful. “It's an aspiration”, says Alex, “but we have to walk before we can run, and a Neighbourhood Plan is quite a big undertaking, and we need to build credibility. There will need to be funding to enable that to happen, but yes, this area is crying out for a Neighbourhood Plan.” “We're right at the beginning of this”, says Nick. “I don't think we're naive enough to think that this isn't going to be a struggle.” They are circumspect about the work that lies ahead to develop the Trust and its relationship with the community of people who live and work in the area: “We are a presence most people around here wouldn't know about.” Part of that challenge is that the area has a transitional community, with many living or working there short term, but there is also a vibrant community of people who have decided to stay. This is an integrated area with a mix of businesses, entertainment, food, and the creative sector. People live here. As Alex says, “it's almost like an urban village in the middle of town.” --- #### In brief 🏆 [Medway Council were named Labour Council of the Year](https://bsky.app/profile/vincemaple.bsky.social/post/3lcylxsdldk27?ref=localauthority.news), decided by campaign group SME4Labour. Which is… an accolade. 🚣 [Sun Pier House and Tiller & Wheel have announced ‘300 Steps to the River’](https://www.instagram.com/sunpierhouse/p/DDK7ZnMBQtt/?ref=localauthority.news) as part of next year’s Creative Estuary commissions. The project will invite residents and visitors to explore and connect with Chatham’s proximity to the River Medway. 🖼️ [The Winter Art Bazaar is back open at The Halpern Gallery](https://www.nucleusarts.com/winterartbazaar?ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham following a small fire onsite. 🧱 [You can make your mark on the new The Docking Station project](https://giving.kent.ac.uk/p/docking-station/?ref=localauthority.news). To raise needed funds, the organisation is taking donations with the opportunity for donors to name a brick, a staircase step, or a window. 🚌 [This weekend is a Free Bus Weekend in Medway, meaning all bus services starting in Medway will be free](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200161/travel/1841/medway%5Ffree%5Fbus%5Fweekend%5F2024?ref=localauthority.news). Arriva, ASD, Chalkwell, Nu-Venture, and Redroute are all participating in the scheme, including the park and ride between the universities at Medway and the Rochester Christmas Market. --- #### Medway author pens new book on Kosovo *Medway’s Dr* [*Aidan Hehir*](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-the-flowers-of/) *is the course leader for the postgraduate courses on International Relations at the University of Westminster. We spoke to him about his new book ‘Kosovo and the Internationals: Hope, Hubris, and the End of History’, which is published as part of a series of academic texts, ‘New Perspectives on South East Europe.’* Aidan has been going to Kosovo regularly since 2009, and each year found that “the mood amongst the people worsened.” There has been high unemployment, rampant corruption, and Kosovo remained unable to join the EU. By 2016, it looked as though there was little hope for the country, but then people switched support from the traditional parties to Vetëvendosje, a party that sought to tackle corruption and adopt a more assertive stance in negotiations with Serbia. The party entered government for the first time in 2019 and won an unprecedented majority in the 2021 elections. “I wanted to write about how the people of Kosovo have, almost uniquely, rejected both despair and sectarianism and exemplified ‘good hope’”, Aidan told us. Kosovo is under threat from Serbia, which continues to claim Kosovo is part of its territory. Serbian militias are active in Kosovo, and recently, a Serbian militia blew up a canal in Kosovo to disrupt the water supply. “Sadly, the West continues to ignore these attacks.” In Aidan’s book, he describes how Western attitude aligns with what's known as ‘wilful hope’, characterised by hubris and ill-conceived actions that are doomed to fail and “promises that everyone would soon be wealthy and safe failed to materialise”. He argues that this has led to a considerable rise in societal anger in the West, hence the emergence of populists and aggressive nationalists like Trump, Farage and Orban. Aidan talks about the pathology of hope. “Humans can't exist without hope, but hoping is not inherently positive. If realising hopes requires someone else to take action, then an exploitative relationship can develop.” Much of Aidan’s book examines how to hope well. This primarily relates to setting realistic goals, identifying feasible means by which these goals can be achieved and, crucially, maintaining an awareness of the need to seek support and guidance from others. “The book is about the people of Kosovo. It is their resilience that inspired it. I hope the book encourages people to understand more about a people who have provided one of the very few good news stories in recent years.” Aidan is keen that people should consider going to Kosovo. “It's a beautiful country. Great food, a thriving arts scene and the most interesting people in the world. There's a huge amount to do: Wild swimming, rock climbing, hiking, as well as great museums and galleries. It's always been one of the most important parts of Europe and a great insight into how Europe has been shaped by Christianity, Islam and Orthodox beliefs.” *A hard copy of Aidan Hehir’s book can be* [*bought here for just £109.99*](https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-63374-4?ref=localauthority.news)*. Let’s hope that Medway Libraries get a copy in.* --- #### **They Did It Medway** The podcast highlight of the year has been the [We Did It Medway](https://shows.acast.com/we-did-it-medway?ref=localauthority.news) series from Phillip Dodd and Rob Flood. Over eight episodes, they presented various topics with a Medway connection. If you haven’t already, you should check it out. Some of our favourite episodes from the season: - [**Don't 4-3-3, Argentina**](https://shows.acast.com/we-did-it-medway/episodes/dont-4-3-3-argentina-strood?ref=localauthority.news)tells the story of Strood’s Isaac Newell, who went to Argentina in the 1860s and founded the present-day football team Newell’s Old Boys, which has nurtured great footballing talent. Guests include the BBC’s South American football correspondent Tim Vickery and local football fan and campaigner Adrian Pope. - [**God Save The Queen**](https://shows.acast.com/we-did-it-medway/episodes/god-save-the-queen-its-a-shame-she-cant-steam?ref=localauthority.news)is the story of The Medway Queen from holiday steamer to Dunkirk rescue ship. Guests include Alan Cook, whose grandfather was the captain during the Dunkirk crossings, and the volunteers of the Medway Queen Preservation Society. - [**Ticket to Pride**](https://shows.acast.com/we-did-it-medway/episodes/ticket-to-pride?ref=localauthority.news)talks about the history of the LGBTQIA+ community in Medway, with a focus on the Ship Inn on the High Street in Intra, possibly the oldest gay pub in the country. Guests include Peter Moorcraft, Hilary Cooke, the Chair of Medway Pride, and Derek Arrowsmith, a 90-year-old gay activist. --- #### Out to Christmas Lunch: Gurkha Fire *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the Christmas lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Gurkha Fire***](https://www.gurkhafire.com/home?ref=localauthority.news) **in Chatham*…* For our Christmas lunch reviews, we returned to two of our favourite dining spots from our previous lunch reviews to see what they were doing differently for Christmas. For the first of two reviews, we went back to Gurkha Fire, the much-loved Nepalese restaurant in Chatham. The main thing to note is that turkey is not on the menu at Gurkha Fire, so we must wait another year to find out what they can do with a turkey curry. I ordered a chicken and venison platter for a starter, served with Waghorn potatoes, a cranberry chutney and dhai puri. For main I had Gurkhali lamb with Himalayan dhal, carrots, parsnips, rice, raita, bread and a salad. For dessert, a Christmas pudding with brandy cream. ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f16e61e4-8362-4d36-bb77-97f24f6d5ee8.heic) ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/1b1f8e89-361e-4104-b939-1d62a3d035d0.heic) ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/e73694ef-dfe1-4d6e-b9d8-73799cf9eac4.heic) Christmas Lunch at Gurkha Fire If anything, the food was better than expected. The chicken starter was well cooked and delicately flavoured, and the venison was generously portioned and nicely gamey. The Waghorn potatoes, a consistently excellent side dish, were well supported by the cranberry chutney. And then a surprise dish on the table! It was explained to me what the unexpected balls with filling were, but I can only describe them as *(Gurkha Fire owner)* Hari’s mystery balls with sweet sauce. They were very nice, if difficult to get into your mouth in one go. The Gurkhali lamb was delicious, well-cooked in a flavoursome but not overly spicy sauce. I hope it stays on the menu after Christmas. The sides were good, with the carrots and parsnips proving a nice Christmas tribute. The Christmas pudding is one of the nicest I’ve had. Not heavy, small enough to be edible after a big meal, and plentiful enough to be enjoyed in its own right, with the brandy cream complimenting it well. If you are looking for a great festive meal that’s something different, then Gurkha Fire has what you are looking for this Christmas. --- #### Events this week 🤶 Sat 14 Dec - [**Festive Shop**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1279008533518836/1279008546852168/) // Affordable artworks by local printmakers and artists. Including ceramics by Sarah Crouch, wearable art by Catriona Faulkner, cards, wrapping paper and decorations. Intra Arts, Rochester. Free. 👠 Sat 14 Dec - [**Alternative Fashion Show**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alternative-fashion-show-tickets-1082365146289?fbclid=IwY2xjawGr4L5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTLZaDLh1aWm5PA3IOC8HP-WpPhrRWjyuUC4TzHVj1iA2jS7pXMg0%5FpYHw%5Faem%5FYh9rVUOGMYGZPKJYmudxow&ref=localauthority.news) // Showcase of local designer Lily Burton and live music from Deven Grace. St Margaret's Church, Rainham. Tickets £5. 🎸 Sat 14 Dec - [**Swansea Sound + MJ Hibbett + Sassyhiya**](https://wegottickets.com/event/624897?ref=localauthority.news) // Careful Now Promotions Xmas Party with three indiepop bands. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £8. 🥕 Sun 15 Dec - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🎹 Sun 15 Dec - [**Intra Christmas Piano Concert**](https://allevents.in/chatham/intra-christmas-2024-classical-piano-concert-with-tyler-hay/200027595067203?ref=localauthority.news) // A special Christmas piano concert to celebrate the season. With esteemed pianist Tyler Hay. Unitarian Church, Chatham. Free. 🎄 Mon 16 Dec - [**Intra Christmas Knees-Up**](https://www.facebook.com/events/552660170877463/?%5Frdr) // Join Intra Community Trust and Gillingham Street Angels for a fabulous, festive knees-up with Nick Allen, aka NickThePiano. GSA Emporium, Chatham. Free. 📽️ Mon 16 Dec - [**Anora**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-51309&ref=localauthority.news) // One-off screening of director Sean Baker’s acclaimed new film. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🎸 Wed 18 Dec - [**Theatre Royal**](https://www.facebook.com/events/897418359186854) // Intimate full-band acoustic show for local alternative band. Three Sheets to the Wind, Rochester. Free. 🐸 Thu 19 Dec - [**The Muppet Christmas Carol**](https://experience.cineworld.co.uk/select-tickets?sitecode=020&site=020&id=172385&lang=en-GB&ref=localauthority.news) // Festive screening of the greatest Christmas film. Cineworld, Strood. Tickets £5. --- #### More Authority Medway has a long connection with Japan dating back to Will Adams' arrival in the country in 1600\. We spoke to the people keeping the friendship between Medway and two Japanese towns alive. [The Medway Japan connectionSusan Haydock first became involved with Japan in 2004\. At the time, as the Mayor of Medway, she was invited by the two cities that Medway is twinned with, Ito and Yokosuka, to attend special ceremonies on the anniversary of Gillingham hero William Adams![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd4b3120f-999a-422c-b16a-798bd2db6bd2_1080x565.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/the-medway-japan-connection/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) **Last chance for Christmas!* Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, shirts, prints, and other fun items. *The last date for guaranteed Christmas delivery is Tuesday 17 December.** [Browse the full Medwayish range](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*twelve by the Singing Loins*](https://damagedgoods.co.uk/discography/the-singing-loins/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*A Little More Time with The Senior Service*](https://shop.damagedgoods.co.uk/products/the-senior-service-a-little-more-time-with?Format=10%22+Vinyl&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### The Medway Japan connection URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-medway-japan-connection/ Last updated: 2024-12-11T18:01:54.000Z Susan Haydock first became involved with Japan in 2004\. At the time, as the Mayor of Medway, she was invited by the two cities that Medway is twinned with, [Ito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%C5%8D,%5FShizuoka?ref=localauthority.news) and [Yokosuka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokosuka?ref=localauthority.news), to attend special ceremonies on the anniversary of Gillingham hero [William Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%5FAdams%5F%28samurai%29?ref=localauthority.news)’ building the first Western-style ship for the [shogun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogun?ref=localauthority.news) [Tokugawa Ieyasu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokugawa%5FIeyasu?ref=localauthority.news). Adams was an English navigator, and in 1600, became the first English person to make it to Japan. Originally, Gillingham's relationship with Japan was a Gillingham affair. Gillingham mayors swapped back and forth with their counterparts in Japan, and Gillingham officers organised the exchange with Gillingham students. By 2004, when Gillingham Borough Council had been merged to form the larger Medway Council, council Medway officers decided they were spending too much time sending four students abroad and bringing four back. As a result, Susan took on the task. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9a-3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd4b3120f-999a-422c-b16a-798bd2db6bd2_1080x565.jpg) Medway students taking part in the Japanese exchange. She knew she needed help and got a group together. “I don’t remember how I did it”, says Susan. The daughter of a previous mayor had signed one of the twin agreements. A couple whose son works in Japan for the [British Council](https://www.britishcouncil.org/?ref=localauthority.news), and somehow, they got the Medway Japan Friendship Association exchange going. When council officers were organising things, they went out with the students, but Susan changed that and now the students go out unaccompanied. Otherwise, the exchange is too expensive to operate. I am now studying Chinese and Linguistics at the University of Westminster and preparing to sit my second year exams. For my third year, I will be studying abroad, so from this autumn, I’ll be studying in a university in Beijing. The time spent during the exchange was amazing. I feel the experience really impacted who I am now and is an opportunity I’ll always be thankful for. Jorrell (2010 exchange student) The exchange has a long tradition, having been running for the better part of 40 years. In 2013, the council decided it would no longer fund it, and it took Susan a year to get the expenses back for everybody who had spent their money facilitating the exchange. After that, instead of having an information stall at the Will Adams Festival, which was a great opportunity to promote what they were doing and educate the people of Medway, they had to turn their thoughts to raising money. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Developer makes promises to get planning permission, immediately changes mind URL: https://www.localauthority.news/developer-makes-promises-to-get-planning/ Last updated: 2024-12-10T18:06:03.000Z *It’s a running joke among many who follow planning issues that the final result is never quite what was originally promised. This week, a developer in Grain starkly made that point, offering nice things like footpaths, planting, and a pedestrian crossing to get planning permission and then immediately changing their minds. More on that frustrating situation below. Further down, we have an update on the saga of Medway’s swimming instructors, who have seemingly been told they are being made redundant while Medway Council insists they aren’t. There’s also news on who is funding Medway’s Christmas lights this year, another update to the ongoing St Mary Hoo Parish Council saga, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Developer makes promises to get planning permission, immediately changes mind Residents often tend to be suspicious of developers building properties in their area. Often, this is with some overly enthusiastic NIMBY zeal, but sometimes it can be over the little details. Buildings or landscaping not looking like they were promised, or improvements that are never delivered. Today, a pretty egregious example of the latter. Earlier this year, developer [Esquire](https://www.esquiredevelopments.com/?ref=localauthority.news) applied for planning permission to [build 34 homes](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?previousCaseType=Application&keyVal=SFFQQOKNMZM00&previousCaseNumber=MC%2F24%2F2417&activeTab=summary&previousKeyVal=SNNQ5EKNIWX00&ref=localauthority.news) in the village of Grain. The homes themselves are nothing hugely exciting, being a pretty standard sort of residential development. The devil here is very much in the detail. The crucial bit of the application was that Esquire proposed adding a new pedestrian footpath connection and pedestrian crossing on Grain Road, where the rear of the development is located. While vehicle access is via the existing Edinburgh Road, given the proximity to the main Grain Road, a footpath connection is logical given most things of use are in that direction. Here’s a map with the relevant area highlighted: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VQ_5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8bc66c79-d19d-429f-9cb3-19e8ffe401ef_1682x1260.jpg) Original Esquire plans for Grain development. The High Street across the road from the development includes the Co-op, the main shop in the village, the pub, and is the primary route to the coast and parks. So if you’re moving into Grain and want to encourage people to get around the local community on foot, it’s a useful bit of infrastructire. The High Street across the road from the development includes the Co-op, the main shop in the village, the pub, and is the primary route to the coast and parks. So if you’re moving into Grain and want to encourage people to get around the local community on foot, it’s a useful bit of infrastructure. The plans included additional elements on this northern boundary, too. They proposed planting to create bee and insect habitats, leading to a biodiversity net gain and some timber positioning to control access to the verge, or in other words, a way of stopping people from parking their cars on it. When the development came to Medway’s planning committee, officers recommended that the development be approved. Officers were pleased about the pedestrian footpath and crossing: > *The access arrangements are considered acceptable with pedestrian footpaths and a pedestrian link to Grain Road. The proposed pedestrian crossing on Grain Road is well located with good vision.* Councillors approved the application, and on 4 November, full planning permission was granted. So ends the tale of how a new development ended up with a helpful pedestrian connection, and we move on to the next story. Or not. Fast forward to 28 November, three and a half weeks after Esquire was granted permission for the site. They submitted a [new application](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SNNQ5EKNIWX00&ref=localauthority.news) to amend the planning permission to remove the pedestrian footpath connection and planting from the front of the site. Somehow, a footpath and planting, which were essential parts of the application less than a month earlier, were suddenly unnecessary. It remains unclear precisely what changed in less than a month from Esquire’s point of view. The application for the amendment claims the reason as being ‘third-party land’, suggesting they don’t have permission to access it to include the promised infrastructure. If this is the case, they chose to either not make that clear during the original application, knowing they were offering plans they couldn’t deliver, or they didn’t know they couldn’t use it, suggesting an element of incompetence. Either scenario paints a negative picture. As we prepared this piece, we asked Esquire what had happened and why they could not include the footpath and planting as part of their plans. They told us that “on this occasion, we are not going to comment.” Of course, while Esquire is a key player in this debacle, some of the blame must also be laid at the door of Medway Council’s planning department. Esquire submitted the amended proposals on 28 November as a ‘non-material amendment’. Non-material amendments are a tool used in the planning process to allow developers to tweak some parts of their plans without going through the full planning process. The process is discretionary though, meaning a council can reject a change as non-material if it is indeed, in their eyes, material. They didn’t feel that way in this case, even though the changes mean it will now take four times longer for residents of the new development to walk to the shops. Or, more likely, they’ll walk across the grass, eventually turning it into an unsightly trampled down bit of land. As a result, Medway Council raced through the application through the process, approving it on 5 December, a week after they received it, with no time for anyone to raise any objections to the change. When we alerted All Saints ward councillor Chris Spalding to the issue, he quickly made his displeasure clear: > *“As part of the original planning application, Esquire included a proposal for open areas comprising nectar and pollen rich wild flower and grassland to provide a source of food for insects and invertebrates. In addition, there was to be a footpath linking the development with a new pedestrian crossing. Now it seems we are getting none of this which is obviously a massive cost saving to Esquires. That it is being classed as a non material amendment is outrageous. Quite frankly this stinks!”* Ultimately, Grain will get the 34 new homes without the little things that would make life for the residents just a little bit easier. Is it any wonder that so many people end up so cynical of the process when it does things like this so brazenly? --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Swimming instructors facing murky future Two weeks ago, we wrote about an [odd situation involving Medway’s swimming instructors](https://www.localauthority.news/whats-going-on-with-medways-swimming/), who had reportedly been told they were being made redundant in the new year. This was at odds with Medway Council’s position, which claimed it was effectively just a minor adjustment of contracts and everyone would still have a job. As ever, things continue to be more murky than they initially appeared. Following that story, impacted swimming instructors contacted *Local Authority* to dispute the Medway Council position. The swimming instructors allege that they met with a senior officer for an informal meeting over a month ago and were told they would be made redundant. They were told that formal notification would follow, but it still hasn’t, inevitably leaving them feeling anxious and in limbo about what is going on. Further, the swimming instructors were offered the chance to teach on a self-employed basis, which means no sick pay, holiday pay, or pension. More than one instructor claims to have contacted HR, who knew nothing of their situation. One instructor described their situation as ‘disgusting’. We put these allegations to Medway Council a week ago to clarify what is going on, but have had no response. *Our inbox remains very open to anyone who knows what is happening. Drop us an email via *hello AT localauthority DOT news* and we’ll be happy to chat on or off the record.* --- #### Christmas lights find new funding Last year, there was a [huge furore over Christmas lights](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-collectively-loses-its-mind/) in Medway and precisely who would fund them. Medway’s new Labour administration, making a point about the dire financial situation, announced there would be no lights, and everyone lost their minds. This year, things have been considerably quieter. Christmas lights have gone up in each of our towns, but it has been unclear who was paying for them. Now, six weeks after *Local Authority* asked Medway Council this seemingly simple question, they have finally answered. Like last year, the main lights are being sponsored, with council contractors Marston Holdings and Volker Highways footing the bill. That seems to apply for the lights in Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, and Strood anyway. Rochester is in a slightly different position. Following successful fundraising efforts in the town last year, the Rochester City Centre Forum has taken over the running of Rochester’s lights from Medway Council. The group raised over £25,000 to protect Rochester’s Christmas lights for the future and has been putting that money to use. £15,000 has been spent on all-new mountings that run the entire length of the High Street. They have also bought new lights for the ‘Eastgate Quarter’, otherwise known as ‘the bit near Star Hill’. They are continuing their fundraising efforts this year, selling Christmas tree decorations in Rochester businesses and participating in other activities. However, efforts have been dampened with the cancelling of the Christmas Dickens Festival. Ultimately, though, they remain happy to be taking on the lights from the council: > *Our approach to taking over responsibility for the lighting has come from us recognising that the Council should, rightly, concentrate on essential services. Christmas lights are something a council can afford in times of surplus - and those times are not right now.* Elsewhere, Medway’s Christmas trees come from various sources. Councillors use their ward improvement funds to pay for most trees, while Rainham has a tree paid for through community fundraising arranged by Tesco. Hoo Parish Council and Hempstead pay privately to have their trees lit. In these days of increasingly tight council budgets, it feels like Medway will need to continue to seek sponsors for Christmas lights for many years. --- #### St Mary Hoo Parish Council stays weird A quick update on the weird situation out at St Mary Hoo Parish Council, where [all but one councillor resigned in protest](https://www.localauthority.news/i/151982373/parish-councils-are-weird-latest) of planning permission being granted to the Fenn Bell Inn to build 44 homes back in October. As the council has only one councillor and a clerk remaining, it is inquorate and thus unable to continue operations or co-opt new councillors to fill the vacancies. Medway Council’s legal and democratic services department has found an elegant solution. On Friday 13 December, a special meeting of the parish council will be held, at which three Medway councillors will be temporarily co-opted onto the council to allow new permanent councillors to be co-opted. Once this is done, the temporary councillors will resign. Excitingly, eight residents have proposed to be new parish councillors, meaning the one remaining councillor and the three temporary councillors will have many options to fill the four slots. Among them are perennial option Bill Khatkar from Reform and Nick Craddy, one of the previous St Mary Hoo parish councillors who resigned in protest in October. Isn’t democracy great? --- #### In brief 🎄 Following the cancellation of the Christmas Dickens Festival last weekend, [some extra events will occur in Rochester this weekend](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1816/update%5Fahead%5Fof%5Ffinal%5Fweekend%5Fof%5Frochester%5Fchristmas%5Fmarket?ref=localauthority.news). The market will remain open longer, performers will be on the High Street, and a free park and ride will be available. 🎁 Rochester City Centre Forum managed to make the cancellation of Christmas Dickens Festival weirdly political, [accusing Medway Council Leader Vince Maple of ‘insensitivity’ and a ‘staggering lack of judgment’](https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story%5Ffbid=pfbid0td2uTKo3xJA1QdkXKDBSEnPSH1bwyryVbKKprUJvcLKe8EKnjLgcaWSCqRcoauSwl&id=61551861795461) for daring to visit traders in his own ward while the event was cancelled. 🚑 South East Coast Ambulance Trust has become the [first ambulance service in Europe to use digital alerting technology](https://www.secamb.nhs.uk/driver-ambulance-alerts-to-improve-road-safety/?ref=localauthority.news). The system, fitted to their vehicles, sends alerts to nearby vehicles using sat nav apps like Waze or Apple Maps to warn that they are approaching. 🖥️ [Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) turned off its IT system last week due to ‘suspicious activity’](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cge9j4peqq3o?ref=localauthority.news). As a result, patients requiring blood tests had to turn up with a retro paper form. 🦷 [Less than half of residents in Medway have access to an NHS dentist](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthcaresystem/datasets/experiencesofnhshealthcareservicesinengland?ref=localauthority.news). Data from the Office for National Statistics’ Health Insight Survey shows that 45% of people in our towns receive dental care through the NHS. 🚌 [A man has been flown to hospital by air ambulance after being hit by a bus at Chatham bus station](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/air-ambulance-called-after-man-hit-by-minibus-317111/?ref=localauthority.news). It’s the third serious incident involving buses hitting pedestrians in the facility since May last year. 🏗️ [The Strood Civic Centre site redevelopment is set to gain approval next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6006&ref=localauthority.news). Medway Council officers recommend that the planning committee approve the plans to build 195 homes, a cafe/bar, and open space on the unused land. 🗣️ [Medway Council debated cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance last week](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/council-debate-on-winter-fuel-allowance-marred-by-accusation-317076/?ref=localauthority.news) in the kind of exchange that demonstrates why so many people don’t trust politicians. --- #### More Authority The Singing Loins have been a mainstay of the Medway sound for over 40 years. We sat down with the two longest-serving members, Rob Shepherd and Chris Allen, in the Nags Head in Rochester. Over several pints, they talked about how original frontman Chris Broderick brought the band together, what makes something a Loins song, the next generation of Medway music, and lots more. [“It’s a beautiful band to play with at the moment”The Singing Loins, in one form or another, have been a mainstay of the Medway sound for over 40 years. Steven met the two longest-serving members, Rob Shepherd and Chris Allen, in the Nags Head in Rochester. Over several pints, they talked about how Chris Broderick brought the band together, what makes something a Loins song, the next generation of Medway music, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa3b33c48-75eb-4ff5-a79b-5e0f5f8a74f6_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Digital Ash in a Digital Urn by Bright Eyes*](https://brighteyes.bandcamp.com/album/digital-ash-in-a-digital-urn-remastered?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Criminal Art Lovers by Northern Portrait*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSW9XBNo%5FRA&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*The Great American Novel by Proper*](https://likerealproper.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-american-novel?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “It’s a beautiful band to play with at the moment” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-beautiful-band-to-play-with/ Last updated: 2026-06-06T19:06:41.000Z [*The Singing Loins*](https://damagedgoods.co.uk/bands/singing-loins/?ref=localauthority.news)*, in one form or another, have been a mainstay of the Medway sound for over 40 years. Steven met the two longest-serving members, Rob Shepherd and Chris Allen, in the Nags Head in Rochester. Over several pints, they talked about how Chris Broderick brought the band together, what makes something a Loins song, the next generation of Medway music, and lots more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qPr5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa3b33c48-75eb-4ff5-a79b-5e0f5f8a74f6_1456x762.jpg) The Singing Loins. Chris Allen is on the left, and Rob Shepherd is second left. **Who currently is in the Singing Loins?** **Chris:** Oh god. **Rob:** It's me on banjo, mandolin and an occasional accordion. Chris on vocals and acoustic guitar. **Chris:** 12-string guitar. **Rob:** Chris’s boy Oli on electric guitar. **Chris:** Richard Moore is the fiddle player. **Rob:** And Chris Grenfell on drums. **When I've seen the Singing Loins, your son has been on drums?** **Chris:** Yeah, when we play with [Billy ](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/)[*(Childish)*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/), he plays the drum. **What happens with the drummer on those nights?** **Chris:** He just doesn't turn up. We started the thing with Billy before we had the drummer. **Rob:** We've also started calling the thing with Billy the North Kent Folkways Revival, which is to differentiate. Well, Billy called it that. We didn't have a lot of say. **When were the Singing Loins formed?** **Rob:** Over to you. **Chris:** It's a long time ago, but I think around ‘92. **Who was in the band then?** **Chris:** Well, initially, it was just me and Chris Broderick, who passed away a few years ago. To go back, he was always chasing the deal. He was a writer, and he wanted to be a famous writer. He did get signed by one of the big labels. He was always doing something. He had a manager. Chris was always putting bands together and trying to get deals. He had one, and their bass player left before they went on a short tour. He asked me to join on bass. I couldn't play bass, but... **What band was that?** **Chris:** Dumbfounded, it was called. **Rob:** Who were a great band. They were a great band, and another member of the band was Glenn Barnes. **Chris:** Oh, Glenn Barnes, who was a local musician. **Rob:** His sister's my wife. She would take me to see them. **Chris:** And so, things were supposed to be happening, but they didn't happen, and it all just sort of collapsed, and then we didn't really see each other for a while. One night, I had a knock on my door, and it was Chris Broderick. He said, ‘I’ve got this idea, do you want to have a listen?’ It went from there. He had the words and the melody to ‘[Hauling in the Slack](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH7O1wHJnSU&ref=localauthority.news)’, our very first song. We used that as a blueprint. **How many members of the band have there been? Can you remember?** **Chris:** Oh, god. Quite a lot. I’ll try to jot it up. **Rob:** The first album was you and Broderick. And then Chris left for a bit and Glenn Barnes was in, and that took them up to the second album. Then Chris came back halfway through the second album. **Chris:** Half of it is mine and half is Glenn's music. **Rob:** When Chris came back, Glenn would play occasional stuff. **Chris:** Then we had a Scottish friend of mine who started playing banjo mandolin. Then we got a couple of girls in that Chris met, who would play tambourine and dance. Who else? **Rob:** That took you up until you split up in what, 1997? **Chris:** Yeah, we split up in like ‘96, acrimoniously. Then we got back together, and Chris had been writing with Rob doing other stuff. **Rob:** There were quite a few years there, wasn't there? **Chris:** Yeah, there was a heck of a lot of years. **Rob:** About ‘99, I started writing with Broderick. We wrote musicals and things like that. **Chris:** I knew Rob from seeing him around, but that's when I knew he was doing stuff with Chris. We were doing a recording and wanted Rob to join, but he said he didn't want to join at the time *(laughs),* although he did play on the album. **Rob:** *(laughs)* I wanted to write my own stuff. But then the second time they asked me, I went ‘alright.’ **We've still got 20 years.** **Rob:** Oh yeah. **Chris:** It's mad. 2004, I can't remember. We just sort of plodded. **Rob:** There was the three of us, and then John Forrester came in on bass. **Chris:** Before that, we'd done a lot of stuff locally. We'd done stuff with Billy around Europe, but as the Loins, we hadn’t travelled. We started going to Germany and Serbia. It picked up. It was a good combination of people, and we’d have a right laugh. **Has stayed the music stayed the same? Or is it different?** **Rob:** It started as really acoustic, but towards our end, we were quite all over the place, in a good way. **Chris:** Yeah, initially it was me on the twelve-string and Chris singing. He banged the tambourine and banged a stick. It was like that for years, and deliberately so, deliberately luddite. Not least because when we were working with Billy, he wouldn’t let us *(laughs)*. When we stopped working with Billy, we started introducing a few more sounds when we recorded. Then as it went on, obviously we got Rob in, and he was always adding stuff to it. It just progressed… **Rob:** It did feel natural. **Chris:** Oh yeah, you need to do that, otherwise you aren’t progressing. **How would you describe the band today?** **Rob:** Oh, crikey. **Chris:** Oh, bloody hell. **Rob:** Well, we've jumped a few years. 2013, we split up. Broderick wanted to end the band. That happened for four years. Then Broderick got in touch with us two and said, ‘I want to make another album.’ **Chris:** Was that the 13 Moon songs? We hadn't been working with Broderick, we were just working on our own stuff. The weird thing is we both write music and songs, and we didn't write any different, but it wasn’t a Loins song. Somehow, giving it to Broderick for the lyrics made it a Loins song. We were doing synth stuff and all sorts, and to our surprise, when Chris heard it, he liked them. **Rob:** That was 2019, and then we went our own ways again. Chris died in 2022, and us two got up at his funeral and sung an old Loins song. Since then, there was a lot of people saying it would be great if we would do an evening of Loins Songs. So we did, and we'd get Oli in just to do percussion, and then Billy wanted to do some things in memory of Chris and the three of us joined him. Billy already knew Richard on fiddle. He brought him in, and Richard then joined us in the Loins as well and then finally, Chris Grenfell came in on drums. That brings us up to date. **Chris:** Broderick was a larger-than-life character and a brilliant performer, very theatrical, and so that's difficult to follow. I think we tried to do it the same as it was, and it just didn't really work. It felt like it couldn't. Then we thought, well, we've got Richard, we've switched Oli on to electric guitar, and it’s the Loins songs, but it's a bigger sound. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Preserving a Medway Queen URL: https://www.localauthority.news/preserving-a-medway-queen/ Last updated: 2024-12-06T19:38:00.000Z *The Medway Queen is a paddle steamer that celebrated its centenary this year. We speak to the Medway Queen Preservation Society to learn about its importance. Further down, we have some book recommendations from the Medway River Lit festival, a look at It’s A Wonderful Life at the Medway Little Theatre, a review of The Dead Pigeon, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Preserving a Medway Queen The Medway Queen was built in 1924 for The New Medway Steam Packet Company and launched on St George's Day in April 1924\. With “very high-class fittings and fitments”, she was launched in Scotland and was then steamed all the way to the Medway. “She could have been towed, I suppose”, muses John Kempton, Vice Chair of the [Medway Queen Preservation Society](https://www.medwayqueen.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), “but they said, ‘Well let's give her a good run.’ And that was a jolly good run.” The Medway Queen then served the Thames Estuary, going to Herne Bay and Clacton, with occasional runs to London and Southend. At the time, trips on paddle steamers were quite common, though for many in Medway, a trip on the Medway Queen would prove too expensive. “She ran on the Medway from ‘24 up to ‘39 quite happily,” says John. “Then, of course, World War II broke out.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!CveC!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f39f183dd-56a2-4d29-8d8a-1cf79c4d8aa7_1456x901.jpg) Medway Queen on the River Medway in its heyday. Photo: Medway Queen Preservation Society The Medway Queen’s first duty during the war was to run children from Tilbury up to the East Coast to evacuate them. She was then bought out by the General Steam Navigation and converted into a minesweeper. The back deck was cut down to make a sweeping deck, with other modifications, including port holes and windows being blanked off. “We didn't have time to build minesweepers”, explains John. After the conversion, she returned to Chatham and was used for minesweeping until 1940. When the evacuation at Dunkirk occurred, the Medway Queen was one of the ships that went. She made seven trips and brought back 7,000 men, more than any other ship of her size. She rescued people from the Brighton Belle paddle steamer that had hit a mine and sunk. “She was very, very heavily loaded”, says John. “We've got some brilliant footage of her at Dunkirk and the memories of the company and the officers as well.” On one trip, she got damaged and limped back to Ramsgate, where she received a ‘well done’ from the Admiral. After the war, the Medway Queen was refurbished at the Isle of Wight at the government's expense and then handed back to the company. She carried on steaming from ‘47 to ‘63\. Post-war, many who had never travelled on her now found they could afford it. “The ships were floating bars at that time”, explains John. “In those days, pubs used to close at two on a Sunday and had very short hours. If you went on a paddle steamer, as soon as they were a mile off the coast, bars opened.” The Medway Queen had four bars on board, plus a restaurant if you could afford it. By 1963, habits had changed. A significant proportion of the population had cars and were taking foreign holidays. Use of paddle steamers started dropping off. They were getting old and were expensive to run. The Medway Queen was no longer earning enough money and was put up for scrap. “She was going to be sold to a Belgian shipbreaker”, says John. “There was a big to do in the local papers and in the Daily Mail as well. The Belgians said they wouldn’t touch her, as she was a war veteran.” Ultimately, she was returned to the Isle of Wight, where she’d previously been refurbished. She was used as a clubhouse for a new marina development for a time, then became the Medway Queen Nightclub for 20 years. She was so successful as a nightclub that she became too small and was replaced by another paddle steamer. She then sat on the River Medina for a period of time. A group of taxi businessmen from Gravesend bought her and brought her back to the River Medway. She was left outside The Pump House, now known as the Copper Rivet Distillery. Problems occurred “because they paid for nothing”, states John. “They didn't pay for the tow, they didn't pay any electricity bills. She went broke basically, and they cut the power.” “A local chap called Marshall Vine came along”, says John. “He'd been on the ship as a boy and saw the ship over the wall. He'd come from a background of steam railway preservation.” It is 1984, and Marshall Vine came to the Medway Queen’s rescue. He formed the Medway Queen Preservation Society. They took the ship back off the receivers. It cost one pound and then £15,000 to pay off the debt. “They put up their houses of surety against the loan”, says John. “The loan is thankfully long gone now.” The MQPS had effectively bought a sunken ship. They worked on her for a couple of years at low tide, patched her up, and in November 1987, they got her to float again. The Medway Queen was towed to the Isle of Grain and berthed there, “which is a miracle really”, says John, “because a lot of people said they were not interested.” She stayed there for 20 years. “We had to patch the ship extensively with concrete and plywood to keep her up,” remembers John. “We painted her, we kept her in one piece.” Then, the Heritage Lottery Fund was invented, and on the third attempt, they managed to get a regional grant from the Southeast Heritage Lottery Fund for £1.8m to rebuild the hull. The MQPS tendered for a new hull to be built, but this became its own challenge. The Heritage Lottery Fund stipulated that the hull had to be riveted with hot rivets, not welded, as was the modern approach. David Abels of Bristol agreed to do the work for a fixed price, though his shipyard was in the middle of town. They got the Medway Queen to him, “and he built the ship from the keel up.” It took him four years. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!RY0A!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4cd22f3f-5e8b-471a-bf23-d09017ce5bdf_1456x762.jpg) Medway Queen at it’s current Gillingham Pier home. Photo: Medway Queen Preservation Society In 2013, the Medway Queen was completed and towed to Gillingham Pier, where she sits today. “We acknowledge Medway Council for helping us out”, says John. We are talking in a shoreside building run by the MQPS as a visitors’ centre. They now have a volunteer team running the venue and the ship as a museum. They continue to work on restoring and maintaining her, including an apprentice program for welding, electrics, and fabrication. “Many of our volunteers from ‘84 are no longer with us sadly”, laments John. “We've been going so long, but we feel that this an absolutely brilliant tribute to not only them, but the Dunkirk veterans they saved. We have many people coming back who met on the ship and then married. Her history and story is brilliant, and that's the work of the volunteers to keep her going for all those years.” *The Medway Queen is open every Saturday from 11am until 3pm until 14 December, when they also have a Christmas carol concert. After that, the vessel will reopen in February. If you would like to sign up and support the Medway Queen Preservation Society,* [*you can learn more here*](https://www.medwayqueen.co.uk/membership--donations.html?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In Brief 💨 Winter DickFest is cancelled. With high winds and torrential rain predicted for this weekend, [Medway Council have cancelled the Dickensian Christmas Festival and the Rochester Christmas Market](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1814/cancelled%5Frochester%5Fdickensian%5Fchristmas%5Ffestival?ref=localauthority.news). 🍻 Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan [brought up the campaign to save the Flying Saucer pub in Hempstead in parliament](https://www.instagram.com/p/DDFhV1sOgg9/?hl=en&ref=localauthority.news). The Friends Of group is campaigning to buy the pub as a community asset. ☕ The Nucleus Arts Riverside Hub on Military Road in Chatham is closed due to repeated basement flooding. The expectation is that it will not be reopening. 📚 Comedian, writer and broadcaster [Robin Ince stopped off in Rochester to shop at Baggins Bookshop](https://bsky.app/profile/robinince.bsky.social/post/3lcira4nyv22l?ref=localauthority.news) on the way to a gig in Herne Bay. 🛒 [Poundstretcher is set to open in Strood later on 19 December](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-re-absolutely-thrilled-bargain-brand-set-to-open-at-fo-316839/?ref=localauthority.news). The discount retailer will take on the former Wilko unit in the town. 🐘 Jatin Patel of the slow fashion brand Kalikas Armour is holding a competition to celebrate its new Manemals. [Find out what a Manemal is and how to win here](https://www.facebook.com/jatin.patel.5602728/posts/pfbid02ds9eu9ZS1Z61Y7SfgqmY68FXpBbHEdzwqyQW5PRdTJqtsquFBMQdUNUYnxG3cgZ8l). --- #### Medway River Lit comes to a close The month-long festival has been a success following poetry nights, author talks, masterclasses and more. The good people at Medway River Lit have done a series of blogs about the books highlighted during the festival. Some of them might make excellent Christmas gift ideas. You can find their lists of [young adult and children's](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/post/in-brief-young-adult-books?fbclid=IwY2xjawG8JzxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSCFgKH6gbXw2xgpZ81BLNj1e2FxqMXM%5F6cZXzFfT8yoZLobXaCYFzuKFg%5Faem%5F205ughcNoK2Uz92NqT9lVA&ref=localauthority.news), [non-fiction](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/post/in-brief-non-fiction?ref=localauthority.news), [poetry collections](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/post/in-brief-poetry-in-focus?ref=localauthority.news), and [fiction](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/post/fiction%5Fin%5Ffocus?ref=localauthority.news) books. If anything catches your eye, you can buy these books via their [bookshop.org](https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/MedwayRiverLit?ref=localauthority.news) page. --- #### Speaking of bookshop.org… Looking to delight family, friends, strangers with a this year? Maybe even take part in Jolabokaflod, a unique and cherished tradition in Iceland, and the Keevil household, celebrated on Christmas Eve. This tradition involves giving and receiving new books, but its essence lies in the joy of reading them together. Instead of shopping for books in the mammoth rainforest outlet, you could support independent Rochester bookshop Store 104 by shopping at [bookshop.org](https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/store104rochester?ref=localauthority.news). Here’s [Patrick Fysh from his interview with us](https://www.localauthority.news/we-were-very-keen-not-to-just-replicate/) back in March to explain further. > *“It's such a great project and more people need to know about it. What it does is source books from our suppliers. If someone ordered a book on* [*bookshop.org*](http://bookshop.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*, you choose which bookshop you want to like buy it from online. And so, if someone chooses us, we do nothing. We create a display page of what we like, a landing page of our shop and people can buy books through us and then we get a percentage of that sale. A small percentage, but a percentage of that sale comes to us as commission. It's an amazing way of supporting independent bookshops, and getting stuff quick. It literally comes from the supplier that we use so we know it's legit. It's fantastic, more people need to know about it. It's brilliant"* *Shop at* [*bookshop.org*](http://bookshop.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*support Store 104 here*](https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/store104rochester?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Theatre: It’s a Wonderful Life at the Medway Little Theatre This amateur production is based on The Greatest Gift, adapted by Mary Elliot Nelson and directed for the Medway Little Theatre by John Winson. Winson does a good job of using the spaces available in the theatre to show the play's various time frames and narratives. The varied cast works well together to tell a difficult story. At times, George can be unpleasant, and the ‘bad guy’ gets away with his actions. Alex Skelton could have been used more to help bridge the age gap between young George and older George, especially in the school ball scene, where the age gap between star Barry Kearns and others is most notable. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!bsX8!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe3b22f62-fc88-4dd9-8ecf-1048f30ac720_1456x762.jpg) It’s a Wonderful Life at Medway Little Theatre Aside from that, Kearns does an admirable job picking up a challenging role made famous by Jimmy Stewart. This writer always had difficulty remembering the Harry and Sam parts in the film, and this was made more difficult by both roles being played by the same actor in this production. An icy chill went up my spine when Kearns came on stage at the end with a guitar, but the ice was soon melted when a young star started singing, ‘We’re dreaming of a white Christmas.’ *It’s a Wonderful Life is* [*playing at the Medway Little Theatre until the 14 December*](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Out to Lunch: The Dead Pigeon *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***The Dead Pigeon***](https://www.thedeadpigeon.com/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rochester*…* [Having reviewed and enjoyed The Greedy Banker](https://www.localauthority.news/i/145857213/out-to-lunch-the-greedy-banker-in-rainham), we hadn’t reviewed The Dead Pigeon despite many recommendations to do so, as the menu was the same. But behold, they have launched a new burger menu. Could they possibly be as good as people say? The Dead Pigeon can be found in the Intra area, near Cycle King. It has a large glass welcoming frontage. Inside is a good-sized micropub with friendly, welcoming staff and seating on a tiered floor. I ordered the Bacon Beast, which consists of signature 28-day dry-aged beef patties, cheese, bacon jam, gherkins, and crispy bacon. These were served with skin-on fries and ‘Sunday Roast’ flavoured salt. The gravy was highly recommended to me by the lady behind the bar, so I ordered that to go with the chips. I want to know if there is somewhere in Medway doing a better burger because this was delicious. The patties were well-cooked and packed with flavour. The bacon jam is great, and I devoured the burger. The gravy was well recommended and complimented the fries perfectly, especially with the Sunday Roast salt. If you’ve never had a Dead Pigeon burger, make it a New Year’s resolution to get your life together and get to here or the Greedy Banker. --- #### Events this week 🎶 Fri 6 Dec - [**Attrition + Black Light Ascension + Dead Blood Cells**](https://wegottickets.com/event/632821/?ref=localauthority.news) // Pioneers in darkwave, an eclectic marriage of experimental and traditional sound. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🤶 Sat 7 Dec - [**Festive Shop**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1279008533518836/1279008546852168/) // Affordable artworks by local printmakers and artists. Including ceramics by Sarah Crouch, wearable art by Catriona Faulkner, cards, wrapping paper and decorations. Intra Arts, Chatham Intra. Free. 👮 Sat 7 Dec - [**Die Hard: The Panto**](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/die-hard-the-panto?ref=localauthority.news) // Unique theatre performance of action film classic. Spotlites Theatre, Chatham. Pay what you want. 😂 Mon 9 Dec - [**Rochester Comedy Club**](https://www.ents24.com/rochester-events/city-wall-wine-bar/rochester-comedy-club/7218999?ref=localauthority.news) // Monthly standup, this time featuring Perrier Award finalist Stefano Paolini and The Mash Report’s Steve N Allen. City Wall Wine Bar, Rochester. Tickets £8. 🪡 Wed 11 Dec - [**Sip & Sew**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sip-sew-in-kent-tickets-1082071357559?aff=erelexpmlt&ref=localauthority.news) // Hand sewing and your favourite drinks as you are guided through a creative sewing project. Three Crutches, Strood. Tickets £30. 💬 Thurs 12 Dec - [**Big Trouble’s Christmas Bonanza!**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1104261797875863/) // No headliners, but a gift-wrapped poetry free for all. 12 Degrees Micropub, Rochester. Free. --- #### More Authority Last year, plans were afoot for a 25,000-capacity dance festival in Gillingham, but they weren't. In this week's midweek read, [we examined what happened to the Great Lines music festival](https://www.localauthority.news/what-happened-to-the-great-lines/). [What happened to the Great Lines music festival?It’s a hot summer weekend. The skies are clear, and a repetitive thump can be heard across much of Medway. Gillingham town centre is swamped with tens of thousands of young people on their way to a new event on the Great Lines. It’s a huge event for our towns, generating significant local economic benefits.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2259a564-c852-4bbe-bf69-4c64e5530710_6000x3141.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/what-happened-to-the-great-lines/) Our weekend interview this week features one of Medway’s most longstanding bands, The Singing Loins. It’s a fun read conducted over a solid number of pints, and it’ll be available to our paid supporters on Sunday. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Bsn6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fede9e790-515b-4180-9864-0888ca99fda0_2240x900.jpg)](https://www.medwayish.com/category/sale?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces. We still have some* [*special Black Friday discounts on our classic prints this week*](https://www.medwayish.com/category/sale?ref=localauthority.news)*. Check it out and find a bargain gift for the Medway fan in your life.* --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*The Speech of Karatakus by Wild Billy Childish and the North Kent Folkways Revival*](https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/product/wild-billy-childish-the-north-kent-folkways-revival/the-speech-of-karatakus?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Some People Are On The Pitch They Think It’s All Over It Is Now by The Dentists*](https://www.discogs.com/release/1906765-The-Dentists-Some-People-Are-On-The-Pitch-They-Think-Its-All-Over-It-Is-Now?srsltid=AfmBOoqVDdZSXrgISF3e1ahz6StX-Lnxvo8qeHrlg8WJxUvPYV7oXT8U&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### What happened to the Great Lines music festival? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-happened-to-the-great-lines/ Last updated: 2024-12-05T20:59:19.000Z It’s a hot summer weekend. The skies are clear, and a repetitive thump can be heard across much of Medway. Gillingham town centre is swamped with tens of thousands of young people on their way to a new event on the Great Lines. It’s a huge event for our towns, generating significant local economic benefits. Or at least that’s what should have happened. The recent summer was supposed to see the first Great Lines Music Festival, although it likely would have had a cooler name by the time it happened. But in the end, it didn’t. So what happened? _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Gillingham Street Angels accuse Medway Council of making their work harder URL: https://www.localauthority.news/gillingham-street-angels-accuse-medway/ Last updated: 2024-12-03T21:58:16.000Z *The Gillingham Street Angels is one of Medway’s most recognisable charities, seeing big growth across our towns in recent years. Now, they are accusing Medway Council of making their work more difficult. We take a look at what’s going on. Further down, we have news of an 800 home development north of Wainscott, a new far-right political party campaigning in Medway, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Gillingham Street Angels accuse Medway Council of making their work harder [The Gillingham Street Angels](https://www.thestreet-angels.org/?ref=localauthority.news) are one of Medway’s largest charities, providing food banks, homelessness support, clothing banks, fresh seafood, and other services and community provisions. It is no secret that they have grown significantly from their origins, which has inevitably led to some people questioning the nature of their work and just where the line is between their charity and business operations. In our [interview with Chief Executive Neil Charlick](https://www.localauthority.news/people-dont-like-the-business-side/) earlier this year, he spoke candidly about the costs and the difficulties in funding their charitable activities. This week, in an unusual turn, Charlick and other members of the GSA team have penned a letter to Medway Council highlighting a deterioration in the relationship between the two organisations and accusing the council of making their work more difficult. The three-page letter, seen by *Local Authority*, was sent to Medway councillors last week, setting out a litany of grievances about how GSA perceives itself as being treated. These include: - Medway Council’s Highways Department telling GSA to move their Skinner Street food bank out of the road after nearby residents complained about the obstruction. - Medway Council moving on the GSA soup kitchen from Gillingham High Street. - A significant fall in funding from Medway Council. - A belief that GSA is viewed unfavourably by Medway Council and some partner organisations. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!LtaB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4bd0cff1-4824-40e7-bab9-a5690125b792_2536x916.jpg) Gillingham Street Angels operation in Skinner Street. Photo: Google Maps We have verified the first accusation about the Skinner Street food bank obstruction and have seen a letter dated last month from Medway Council. The letter warns GSA that their food bank is ‘causing a nuisance to other road users’ and threatens that a formal notice may follow if they continue to do so. We asked Medway Council to confirm if they have requested that the soup kitchen move and if there are any changes in funding to GSA, but they did not respond to us before publication. The Gillingham Street Angels have seen huge growth over recent years. In 2023, they [recorded an income of £1.23m](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5142278/charity-overview?ref=localauthority.news), up from £666,000 the year before. Equally, they have spent £1.12m in the same period, up from £475,000 the year before. Their grant income has grown from £276,000 to £306,000 during the same period, though it is unclear how much of that might have come from Medway Council. The letter from GSA to Medway Council concludes by requesting a meeting with Medway Council Leader Vince Maple to attempt to resolve the issues, though it is unclear exactly what they expect to come out of this. We contacted GSA Chief Executive Neil Charlick to ask him to confirm the existence of the letter and to offer his view on it, but he declined to comment at this point. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c_zE!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7ebc50f5-56bf-48a2-b153-309513a3116d_1762x1092.jpg) Gillingham Street Angels shop in Rochester. Things took an even stranger turn yesterday when the Gillingham Street Angels posted on social media to announce that they will be closing down their Rochester charity shop before Christmas, something else they managed to blame Medway Council for. In this instance, they blamed the council’s red route scheme for ‘killing trade and donations to the shop’, suggesting another shop (presumably Rainham) is also at risk. This complaint seems somewhat more curious, given the Rochester shop isn’t on a red route and has a car park next door. It also raises questions about the business model of a shop that requires illegal parking to operate, but that’s another matter. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tIey!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f89456092-2156-45c0-ad79-3f9a5e5efd39_1042x962.png) Gillingham Street Angels social media post. [Speaking to KentOnline](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/charity-shop-s-closure-blamed-on-red-routes-parking-ban-316761/?ref=localauthority.news), Charlick said the shop was “no longer making any money”. Given Gillingham Street Angels registered shop income of £829,000 last year, it is remarkable how much impact the red route around the corner from the shop must have had on their business to make it no longer sustainable. The social media post received a fair amount of pushback, leading to GSA deleting it and replacing it with a more restrained version that didn’t specifically blame the red routes. What is clear is that there is certainly some animosity between the council and one of the area’s biggest charities. Medway Council Leader Vince Maple says he has agreed to GSA’s request for a meeting, so it will be interesting to see if the relationship can be returned to a more amicable position. --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### 800 homes proposed in big extension to Wainscott As Medway stumbles toward getting on top of its housing crisis but still has no Local Plan in place, proposals from developers are coming in thick and fast. One of the largest recently appeared with a developer called Richborough proposing an 800-home development north of Wainscott. This is a significant development of an agricultural site and would represent the first large-scale extension of the area north of the A289 relief road. The plans include a retail centre, a new school, new open spaces, older person homes, and 30% affordable homes. In theory, it’s development with the facilities that often aren’t included, but some questions remain within the plans. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2ndS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2186d8c1-cc27-45d7-adc0-0d29278209dd_1950x1166.jpg) Proposals for Wainscott development. As always, transport remains the biggest issue in this part of Medway. The A289 Hasted Road is often congested, particularly around the Four Elms roundabout. While this proposal does offer ‘improvements to the Four Elms Roundabout, including an integrated left turn lane’, it is unclear how this would relieve new traffic from the development. An integrated left turn lane would presumably be towards Four Elms Hill, which, while overdue, doesn’t necessarily serve this development. Elsewhere, the lack of east-facing sliproads on the nearby A289 junction would direct most traffic toward Gravesend and London rather than giving a path into Strood or wider Medway without driving through the centre of Wainscott. An [informal consultation is underway](https://app.placechangers.co.uk/campaign/435/overview?ref=localauthority.news) for the proposals, which you can participate in until 11 December. A finalised plan will follow alongside a formal planning application to Medway Council in the coming months. --- #### New far-right party on the block It’s hard to keep count of all of the right-wing parties operating in Medway. During the last elections, on top of the obligatory Conservative and Reform candidates, we had representatives of the SDP, the Heritage Party, and the CPA all on the ballots. Of course, this is how things work in a democracy. For years, splintering was the skill of the left, but now, there are various flavours of right-wing parties to suit all tastes. Last week, a new one seemed to pop up in Medway, with a reader in Strood sharing that they had this leaflet from the 'National Housing Party’ through their door. In theory, a party focusing on housing might be welcome, but many other policies are on display, too. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!gjEj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f44f40f3c-7c65-4cc9-a319-6a2d882193af_1962x1394.jpg) National Housing Party leaflet distributed in Strood. The NHP want to exit the UN Refugee Convention, block UK citizenship for foreign nationals, oppose Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, Ultra Low Emission Zones, electric cars, Net Zero targets, something about Jesus, and, in the most surreal policy on the rear of the pages above, asset seizure from foreign nationals in the UK. Truly quite remarkable. [Hope Not Hate describes the party](https://hopenothate.org.uk/case-files-national-housing-party-uk/?ref=localauthority.news) as ‘Nazi, fascist and ethnosocialist.’ What isn’t here is any policy for Medway. We’ve struggled to identify a local party branch, so it appears unlikely they’ll be troubling the electorate soon. Still, someone in Strood was enthusiastic enough to stop shoving these through letterboxes. --- #### In brief 🚓 [The Woodland Tavern pub in Gillingham is set to have its licence reviewed next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=5956&ref=localauthority.news) after Kent Police accused it of not doing enough to prevent crime. In an unusual move, the freeholder of the pub, Ei Group, [has supported the Kent Police position](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=77068&ref=localauthority.news) in wanting the licensee removed from the premises. 🗳️ A couple of interesting votes in parliament this week: - On the [Assisted Dying Bill last week](https://votes.parliament.uk/votes/commons/division/1877?ref=localauthority.news), Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards and Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osborne voted for the plans. At the same time, Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan opposed it. - Today, MPs rather unexpectedly [voted in favour of a motion supporting Proportional Representation](https://votes.parliament.uk/votes/commons/division/1878?ref=localauthority.news). It likely won’t come to anything, but it is worth noting that Lauren Edwards opposed the move, while Osborne and Khan did not vote. 🏦 [Halifax in Chatham will close for refurbishment from 31 December until 6 March](https://futuremedway.co.uk/halifax-to-shut-bank-in-chatham-high-street-for-two-month-refurbishment/?ref=localauthority.news). Weirdly, they are directing customers to use the Gravesend branch during the closure, despite the Gillingham one remaining open until the Chatham work is complete. 💷 [Strood Community Project has closed following a sudden backdated rent increase](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/staff-in-tears-as-much-loved-community-shop-rocked-by-25k-316649/?ref=localauthority.news), leaving them £20,000 in arrears. It seems unclear how that can be legal, but they seem to accept it. 🚒 It’s been a big week for fire: - [Five fire engines tackled a blaze at Oliver’s on Rochester High Street yesterday](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/road-closed-after-building-blaze-316730/?ref=localauthority.news). - [Nucleus Arts in Chatham High Street is temporarily closed after a fire in one of their studio blocks](https://www.instagram.com/p/DDHV2lAtBvJ/?ref=localauthority.news). 🔮 Finally, the clairvoyance evening at Allhallows Village Hall has been cancelled due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!5tc3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fce1ed80f-da34-430c-994a-4ed8a7148235_1169x1974.jpg) --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, we spoke to Rachel Garrick. Rachel was once a Medway Labour activist who stood in Rochester West against Kelly Tolhurst. She now lives back in her homeland of Wales. We discussed what brought her to Medway, what took her back to Wales, why she stopped supporting Jeremy Corbyn, finding Mark Reckless as her representative when she moved back across the border and the fight for Welsh independence. ["I was once lambasted for knitting during a council meeting"Rachel Garrick was once a Medway Labour activist who stood in Rochester West against Kelly Tolhurst. She now lives back in her homeland of Wales. Steven caught up with her via Zoom to discuss what brought her to Medway and what took her back to Wales, why she stopped supporting Jeremy Corbyn, finding Mark Reckless as her representative when she moved back across the border, and the fight for Welsh independence.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8b9e90b2-347c-4c6b-8055-8813bae3dd0d_1536x1202.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-was-once-lambasted-for-knitting/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*, but not that other one.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Prioritise Pleasure by Self Esteem*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtd%5FjlV61mA&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Fuck These Fuckin Fascists by The Muslims*](https://themuslims.bandcamp.com/album/fuck-these-fuckin-fascists-2?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Revolution Girl Style Now by Bikini Kill*](https://bikinikill.bandcamp.com/album/revolution-girl-style-now?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### "I was once lambasted for knitting during a council meeting" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-was-once-lambasted-for-knitting/ Last updated: 2024-12-01T07:04:00.000Z *Rachel Garrick was once a Medway Labour activist who stood in Rochester West against Kelly Tolhurst. She now lives back in her homeland of Wales. Steven caught up with her via Zoom to discuss what brought her to Medway and what took her back to Wales, why she stopped supporting Jeremy Corbyn, finding Mark Reckless as her representative when she moved back across the border, and the fight for Welsh independence.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!AUbD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8b9e90b2-347c-4c6b-8055-8813bae3dd0d_1536x1202.jpg) Rachel Garrick **Where are you an elected representative?** I am an elected representative for Monmouthshire County Council. My ward is Caldicot Castle Ward. It has a view of the Severn Bridge, well actually the second Severn crossing. I'm elected for Welsh Labour and Co-operative parties. **Are there any comparisons between Monmouthshire and Medway?** Absolutely. We just ousted the Tories from the council as well *(laughs)*. We did turn the council from a Conservative council to a Labour-led council at the last election, which was a year earlier than Medway, but we have similar demographics. We're a more rural county. However, it's got a southern area which is much more working class. Caldicot, where I live, is very much an ex-steel workers community, and then you have much more rural areas up towards, well, most of the country. But up towards the north, you have Monmouth, which is a little bit more well to do, shall we say. **How does Caldicot Castle compare to Rochester Castle?** Of course it's better because it's Welsh (laughs). It's an absolute lie. It's a Norman castle. Many castles were in Wales. When you look at the amount of castles that were built in Wales, it's really interesting. A lot of them were Norman and built to suppress the local population. It's not as tall as Rochester Castle. It definitely doesn't have a gorgeous view of a cathedral or a river. You can see the Severn estuary. It's got four towers, but they are about two to three stories and some lovely grounds. It's set in a country park, all of which is free to access, including the castle, because the council owns it as well. It runs events, very similar to Rochester in that way. It was used as housing and converted into flats in the post-war era. In the 50s and 60s, people actually lived there. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Testing creative ideas in unexpected places URL: https://www.localauthority.news/testing-creative-ideas-in-unexpected/ Last updated: 2024-11-29T18:22:45.000Z *Ideas Test has proactively supported arts projects in Medway and Swale since 2012\. As they prepare for their next period, we look at their work, how they started, what’s gone well, what they’ve learnt, and what comes next. Further down, we look at the North Kent Folkways Revival launch at the Medway Little Theatre that featured a very special guest, an upcoming Die Hard panto, a review of Don Vincenzo in Rochester, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Testing creative ideas in unexpected places [Ideas Test](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is a [Creative People and Places](https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/creative-people-and-places-0?ref=localauthority.news) project, and there are now 39 across England. The Medway and Swale group started in 2012 and was one of the original 21\. As part of an Arts Council initiative, they work in areas with low culture engagement, with Ideas Test essentially starting as an audience engagement project. Culture is increasingly seen as a middle-class activity, with many people never having been to a theatre or a gallery. At the same time, creative activities have been eroded from school curriculums, with opportunities to get involved either as a participant or audience member have been shrinking. The Arts Council set up the scheme to work in areas where people were not being reached. Medway’s Ideas Test became a charity about three years ago to help with fundraising efforts. Initially, it was intended as a 10-year project, but the Arts Council have extended the project until 2026, and they are in the process of securing funding until 2029\. Having that funding makes them part of the national portfolio as well. They initially launched in Swale but were encouraged to move over to Medway, which has twice the population. They adopted a hyperlocal approach rather than focusing the activities out of the building they work from. Very rarely working in traditional venues, they have put on events in disused churches, as well as libraries and schools. As a result, they end up going to where people are and working to deliver programmes of activity with organisations such as [Icon Theatre](https://icontheatre.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), [Square Pegs Arts](https://squarepegsarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news), and [Electric Medway](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WcpP!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f02cfe85f-6a0e-4b65-93c5-1fc142193317_1456x762.jpg) ‘The Moth’ with Anna Braithwaite at Luminous Luton. Photo: Tyler Austen They have also been running the Medway Arts and Homelessness Forum, a partnership project with Medway Council and Arts and Homelessness International. It's a space for people who have lived experience of homelessness, both street sleepers and the hidden homeless, and for artists and organisations interested in the link between arts and homelessness. It is intended as a safe space to discuss projects they'd like to see happening and support members in seeing local productions and raising self-esteem. This year, they worked to help deliver the [Luton Lights](https://ideastest.org.uk/projects/previous-projects/luton-lights/?ref=localauthority.news) event and have received Shard Prosperity Fund money to deliver it again next year, which they hope will be a bigger and better event. They also participated in the Medway Light Nights, including in Rochester, where large projections were on a wall by the Cathedral, showing the diversity of people across Medway. A constant ambition is to do projects that children will see and remember when they grow up. Inevitably, as an organisation, they have also met with frustrations. They acknowledge that, as an action learning organisation, they often learn more from events that went badly than went well. They have been part of the Medway Creative Health Project, working in the Luton and Brompton areas. Their initiation event, ‘Imagination Day’, was poorly attended. They held a big debrief, using a website called Failspace to look at the project and analyse what happened. A key finding was the language and imagery they used in the advertising, with residents reporting that they saw the flyer but didn’t think the event would be for them. This has led to them rethinking their other events, being person-focused and jargon-lite. They also know that any project working with a community has to be open to ending differently than intended. Ideas Test has learnt that they have got to know people so that residents will recognise the team and the brand, understand what they are doing, and enjoy it. What counts as success shouldn’t always be numbers, but sometimes it is. People want to come along to an event and not be the only person there. For Ideas Test, real success is if the project has an afterlife, providing stepping stones for individuals and communities to create things independently, having the agency and creating changes for where they live. *You can learn more about Ideas Test and their upcoming projects via* [*their website*](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In brief 🏥 [Medway Maritime Hospital is offering young patients innovative relaxation techniques](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/chess-eases-child-anxiety-during-surgery/?ref=localauthority.news) to ease surgery-related anxiety. This recently included playing chess with one patient while he underwent a procedure. 🎭 [Some actual Brook Theatre news this week as work is a step closer now a contractor has been selected](https://futuremedway.co.uk/council-selects-firm-for-21-6m-revamp-of-brook-theatre-in-chatham-town-centre/?ref=localauthority.news). Medway Council has awarded a £10.8m contract to Thomas Linden Ltd to carry out much of the refurbishment work. 🏡 Medway resident Stuart Bourne, who used to be a gardener at Buckingham Palace, has [started his own Substack newsletter](https://bournetogarden.substack.com/). Bourne to Garden features tips to make your gardening easier. 🌳 [Work on a new public park within the Chatham Waters development has begun](https://futuremedway.co.uk/work-on-new-public-park-at-chatham-waters-development-begins/?ref=localauthority.news). The park will run through the middle of the site, with 80 trees planted and a community garden for residents installed. ⚽ [Gillingham Football Club has re-established its community foundation to support projects outside the team](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/community-revival-hailed-as-a-big-moment-for-gillingham-foo-316489/?ref=localauthority.news). The previous foundation was closed during the covid pandemic under the previous owner. --- #### North Kent Folkways Revival launch at Medway Little Theatre with a very special guest [*Billy Childish*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) *recently held a new album launch at the Medway Little Theatre in what is becoming a regular event. This edition featured an evening of poetry, folk, blues, and a work in progress from a friend to promote the new double album release of The North Kent Folkways Revival, the new folk group formed with Billy from members of the Singing Loins.* ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7ff503d2-75f5-45ef-979d-505af541cd62_5712x4284.heic) ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/cae0a851-7fb6-4835-b192-3b381721ae4d_5712x4284.heic) ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/58046099-ea79-497a-8cd6-a4371cbab5f8_5712x4284.heic) ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/20df5df2-0a45-450c-ad09-462f0258aaa4_5712x4284.heic) First up is the poetry aspect of the evening, in the form of founding Medway Poet [Bill Lewis](https://www.localauthority.news/my-parents-were-both-fictitious/). He reads from his poetry collections, including ‘My 1960s’ from ‘This Love Like a Rage Without Anger’, inspired by overheard conversation, shamanism, and his travels. Bill continues his set with work that mixes myth, magical realism and autobiography, including a reading of ‘[I Was A Ten-Year-Old Dalek Killer’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZkgyaE6a1Y&ref=localauthority.news). He also performed his ‘Shaman Song’ with his cow horn rattle from the Seneca Tribe, which has become a staple of his sets. “*Is this a dream I’m dreaming/or am I only dreaming I am in a dream/Is this a song I’m singing/or am I just a song that is being sung?*” Next up was ‘Special Guest’ and friend of Billy, the one and only Stewart Lee. Anybody who has seen a show by Lee or read his work will know that sometimes the challenge can be recognising the accidental mistakes from the deliberate ones. He comes onto the stage and instantly needs to restart as shuffling and paper collecting disrupts his flow. This becomes a 3-minute bit about how he starts his show, why he needs to restart, and that he doesn’t want people to know he was performing in Rochester as he usually performs to the North London Liberal Elites. Stewart goes on to perform possible jokes for a new from his papers. One joke that Stewart loses faith in during the telling goes down so well amongst the audience. He is confused about whether it should stay in, agonising that Rochester is ruining his confidence in the show. Time will tell whether Medway has managed to have a lasting impact on his show. Then was the main event with Wild Billy Childish and The North Kent Folkways Revival performing several Childish classics. There is a brief change in the song order so that Bill Lewis can join them onstage for a performance of ‘Pocahontas’ before he gets his cab home. The band plays with gusto, and the enjoyment on stage is infectious through the audience. There is much foot stamping, excellent fiddle playing, and Olly Allen belying his youth with his confidence on stage. Allen and Shepherd play guitar and mandolin respectively with great energy, enthusiasm, and enjoyment. Once they can all agree on the timing, that is. Local folk music at its best. For the night's grand finale, Billy returned to the stage with The Chatham Singers, his wife Juju on vocals and bass, long-term collaborator and gentleman amateur [Wolf Howard](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-have-any-technique-i-never/) on drums, and eventually Jim Riley, late to the stage, on the harmonica. Here was Billy playing gritty blues and capping a great night for the crowd. Overall, it was another great night of poetry, folk and blues at the Medway Little Theatre. Here is hoping for more such events in 2025. *The North Kent Folkways Revival Double LP Boxset is now out of stock, but the individual albums, The Speech of Karatakus and Cape Trafalgar, are available* [*here from L-13*](https://l-13.org/product/wild-billy-childish-the-north-kent-folkways-revival-2lps-box-set/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Die Hard: In panto form This December, for one night only at [Spotlites Theatre](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), comes Die Hard: The Panto! Written by Nucleus Arts’ [David Stokes](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-people-are-your-rebels-they/), who will also be playing the role of John McClane. “I was bullied into it by the cast”, he says. Spotlites are looking forward to this, theatre director Kieron Riddell tells us, because “although the theatre has seen shows performed for over 25 years, Die Hard will be the first panto ever performed at Spotlites.” Joining them for this experience is Rainbows of Medway’s [Shea Coffey](https://www.localauthority.news/i-prefer-to-be-the-grit-in-the-system/), who seems to be to blame for it all. “I challenged David Stokes to write a panto version of Die Hard”, states Shea. David adds that he “had written the scripts for the earlier two pantos performed by Medway Pride Radio.” Shea admits that she didn’t think he would manage it, “but he’s a talented guy and has done an amazing job.” David reflects that it was the hardest panto that he’s written. Early drafts came out more like Die Hard: The Parody, so David returned to basics and stuck to the panto beat sheet, trimming the story and characters to fit panto expectations. With the panto on for one night, there is the risk that, as Shea says, “it might be an event that passes into ‘Medway legend.’” It is being recorded with the live audience and will be available later on the Rainbows Over Medway Mixcloud. It will also be played on [Medway Pride Radio](applewebdata://3D768648-3DC6-4004-8401-F1AE174B7B53/MedwayPrideRadio.co.uk) over Christmas. What can audiences expect from the experience? “They’ll scream, they’ll howl, they will sell their firstborn to be let out early!” jokes Shea. “Expect chaos, laughs, mishaps and a true sense of confusion. The Chatham-centered story that an 80s blockbuster was possibly inspired by will see hostage situations and dramatic rescues!” adds Kieron. David has loftier ambitions for the show: “Craziness, cheap jokes, poor acting, dodgy accents and the butchering of a classic, but also a lot of fun, belly laughs and maybe, just maybe the definitive answer on whether it's a Christmas movie or not.” All of which does raise the essential question. Is Die Hard a Christmas panto? David offers a clear position on this: “Whether the source is a Christmas movie is a big, contentious question. We even have a song about it. It is a Christmas panto… however, probably... almost certainly... I think... except there's not much Christmas-y, but then it's set at Christmas... I'm 50:50 on it.” Shea gives perhaps the definitive answer, pointing out that “Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie because it’s set at Christmas, it’s a Christmas movie because it’s a tinsel-covered family social obligation that you didn’t want to attend, but you find spiralling into a never-ending nightmare.” *The best way to experience the chaos is to book a ticket for the show* [*via Spotlites Theatre*](http://www.spotlites.co.uk/whatson?ref=localauthority.news)*. Tickets are pay what you can, with a suggested price of £5.* --- #### Out to Lunch: Don Vincenzo *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Don Vincenzo***](https://www.donvincenzo.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rochester*…* A mainstay of Rochester High Street is this Italian restaurant around the halfway point. I got there a little late, but they were happy to accommodate me as long as I ordered promptly, which is fair enough. The restaurant is open, though over two tiers, which led to me sitting next to a slightly weird internal glass wall. Deciding quickly that I wanted pasta, my eyes settled on the ravioli di porcini. You might expect wild mushrooms in pasta squares, but Vincenzo is mixing things up by serving semi-circles. This was served in a butter and sage sauce with garnish. I skipped a starter, not even getting a portion of olives. With a healthy serving of parmesan on top, this meal was simple but full of flavour. The pasta was firm to the bite but smooth to eat. The mushroom filling was delicate but generous and came together nicely with the sauce. I can’t remember exactly what the garnish was, but it was strong, and I braved through it. Don Vincenzo is somewhere you should go if you are looking for a nice Italian meal for lunch. There is a reason it has stayed on the High Street so long. Just give yourself plenty of time to have a starter as well. --- #### Events this week 📚 Until 30 Nov - [**Medway River Lit** ](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)// Month-long series of weekend events across Medway featuring writing masterclasses, panels, poetry, drama and more. Various locations. Highlights: - 🗣️ Sat 30 Nov - [**Writer Talk: Ben Aaronovitch**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/writer-talk-ben-aaronovitch-2024-11-30-14-00?ref=localauthority.news). Final event of the festival with returning author of the Rivers of Londonseries. Rochester Library. Pay what you can. 🎁 Sat 30 Nov -[ **Halpern Unique Makers' Bazaar of Uncommon Gifts** ](https://www.facebook.com/events/920685376157084?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22calendar%5Ftab%5Fevent%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%5Fcalendar%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D)// Perfect opportunity to buy something special and unique for the people you love. Halpern Gallery, Chatham. Free 🎁 Sun 1 Dec - [**African and Caribbean Festive Market**](https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=953022776850329&set=a.620157263470217) // African and Caribbean inspired products and services, inspirational ideas for gifts. Corn Exchange, Rochester. Free. 🎸 Thu 5 Dec - [**Lupen Crook**](https://www.facebook.com/events/2865261840306506/) // Intimate acoustic show from legendary Medway musician and artist. Three Sheets To The Wind, Rochester. Tickets £8. 🎭 5 - 14 Dec - [**It’s A Wonderful Life**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt?ref=localauthority.news) // Stage production of the Christmas classic. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £12. --- #### More Authority Rumours are swirling about an elected Kent and Medway mayor, as well as a local government reorganisation that would likely see Medway merge with other councils. We asked Medway Council Leader Vince Maple what this would likely mean for our towns, and whether he’d be interested in the new top job. [Is a Kent and Medway mayor on the way?New governments often want to change the way things work. Medway Council was formed at the start of the previous Labour administration in 1998\. Now, we are looking at another potential upheaval in how local government functions across Medway and wider Kent.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0d2fb410-eefe-4d90-b7f5-01cb3b0dadd9_4646x3229.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/is-a-kent-and-medway-mayor-on-the/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Bsn6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fede9e790-515b-4180-9864-0888ca99fda0_2240x900.jpg)](https://www.medwayish.com/category/sale?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces. We have some* [*special Black Friday discounts on our classic prints this week*](https://www.medwayish.com/category/sale?ref=localauthority.news)*. Check it out and find a bargain gift for the Medway fan in your life.* --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Implicit Narrative by Stuart Turner and The Flat Earth Society*](https://vacilando68.bandcamp.com/album/implicit-narrative?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*2 Nites in Rochester by Wild Billy Childish: The Chatham Singers & The Singing Loins*](https://l-13.org/product/wild-billy-childish-chatham-singers-singing-loins-2-nites-in-rochester-live-at-medway-little-theatre/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Is a Kent and Medway mayor on the way? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/is-a-kent-and-medway-mayor-on-the/ Last updated: 2024-11-28T17:57:43.000Z New governments often want to change the way things work. Medway Council was formed at the start of the previous Labour administration in 1998\. Now, we are looking at another potential upheaval in how local government functions across Medway and wider Kent. We expect a [white paper](https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/white-paper/?ref=localauthority.news) from the government that sets out the future of local government organisation. While no one can preempt its contents, it seems likely that much larger unitary authorities will be created across Kent. Kent will likely be split into three or four unitary authorities, and Medway seems destined to merge with some of its neighbours. It’s unclear at this stage exactly who, but Gravesham and Swale seem like fairly good bets, at least. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!LtwS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0d2fb410-eefe-4d90-b7f5-01cb3b0dadd9_4646x3229.jpg) Current borough map of Kent. Photo: stock.adobe.com On top of this is the issue of devolution. While the local government reorganisation above will happen in some form, devolution is more fluid. Large regions are being offered further powers over wider regional matters, with the caveat of an elected mayor to oversee them. This would likely take the form of a mayor and Combined Authority model like Manchester or the West Midlands, where voters would directly elect a mayor, but the authority itself would be made up of members from the lower-tier authorities underneath it. We know, it’s confusing. Last year, rumours started to swirl that devolution was on the agenda for Kent. At the time, [writing exclusively for us](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-1f2/), Medway Council Leader Vince Maple made it clear that he wasn’t a fan of the idea of an elected mayor: > *Be in no doubt I am an advocate for devolution, but the mayoral model is not the right one for Kent and Medway. On the thousands and thousands of doors knocked on in the May election, not one resident said they wanted another elected representative at this time.* More recently, Cllr Maple and his counterpart at Kent County Council, Cllr Roger Gough, have [written to the government to express interest](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1771/a%5Fstatement%5Ffrom%5Fcllr%5Fvince%5Fmaple%5Fon%5Fdevolution%5Fexpression%5Fof%5Finterest?ref=localauthority.news) in additional powers being delivered to Kent, elected mayor and all. ![Voice of the Leader - Local Authority](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ydc1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f00c2ccbd-664f-4881-8cb4-c9023ef95c11_500x500.jpg) Medway Council Leader Vince Maple Given the opportunity to speak to Cllr Maple this week, we asked him exactly what had led to the change of heart: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What’s going on with Medway’s swimming instructors? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/whats-going-on-with-medways-swimming/ Last updated: 2024-11-26T21:24:56.000Z *Is Medway Council making experienced Swimming Instructors redundant? Some instructors seem to think so, but Medway Council says otherwise. We’ve been trying to get to the bottom of what’s happening. Further down, we have a bumper edition of news, with some exciting rail data, an update on Cllr Lauren Edwards keeping her job, drama at St Mary Hoo parish council, news in brief, and more.* --- #### What’s going on with Medway’s swimming instructors? A couple of weeks ago, a reader informed us that Medway Council was making six Swimming Instructors redundant in January. While it is well known that Medway is in a fairly dire financial position, there has been no suggestion that any staff members were likely to be made redundant to make savings. So what exactly is happening? As ever, things tend to be murky and badly communicated. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!j3Pn!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f373041e5-42bd-45da-b885-8199774b55d4_4032x2268.jpg) Swimming pool at the new Cozenton Park Sports Centre. Posts started appearing on social media in the last few days with the same story: Swimming instructors, particularly the more experienced ones, were set to lose their jobs. Tracking down more information on this proved challenging. Efforts to reach any of the impacted instructors failed, and anyone we managed to speak to within the Medway Sport team told us we’d need to speak to the Medway Council press team instead. So we did that and received an awful lot of words: > “*The council’s Medpay programme, currently underway for all council staff, aims to provide greater opportunities for career progression and pay consistency to attract and retain a skilled and talented workforce. As part of this, the former Swimming Instructor role will no longer exist as the work is included within the preexisting Sports Officer or Senior Sports officer role giving our staff opportunities to develop new skills.* > *All current Swimming Instructors will be offered the opportunity to amend their contract to continue working for us in the role of a Sports Officer or Senior Sports Officer and consultation will be undertaken with relevant staff and suitable options offered as part of the process.* > *Medway Council’s extensive programme of swimming lessons, offered across Medway Council’s sports centres has grown significantly in recent years, expanding further following the recent opening of our new family-friendly centre at Cozenton Park, and will continue to be at the forefront of the service offered to Medway residents. Ensuring our children and local people are confident in the water is something we are very proud of and our lessons remain hugely popular with local people.”* At face value, this doesn’t sound too bad. A review is underway to rationalise job roles and salaries across Medway Council, so if this is a simple matter of just moving employees onto new contracts, what’s the issue? How does that result in at least six swimming instructors believing they are being made redundant? The key section might be the amended contracts and moving their role from straightforward Swimming Instructors to Sports Officers or Senior Sports Officers. The Sports Officer roles come with considerably more responsibility, particularly at the more senior level the longstanding instructors may have found themselves moving to. Responsibilities for the Senior Sports Officer role from a 2024 job description include: - *Taking day-to-day responsibility for the effective financial governance of the centre as required by the centre’s management team.* - *Identifying opportunities to increase participation throughout the centre and manage expenditure, and putting forward suggestions to the centre management* - *Assisting the centre management to ensure the centre facilities are in excellent condition at all times including all cleanliness and decoration meets the agreed standards required ready for use by customers.* While some existing Swimming Instructors may be happy with the extra responsibility, presumably not all will necessarily want to take on financial, project management, or cleaning duties. As a result, it seems likely that a number of Swimming Instructors will opt for redundancy from a job they love because Medway Council are proposing to change its scope dramatically. There has even been some suggestion that forcing the employees from one job role to another with entirely different terms and responsibilities has shades of ‘[fire and rehire](https://www.acas.org.uk/changing-an-employment-contract/advice-for-employees/if-your-employer-proposes-to-dismiss-and-rehire-you?ref=localauthority.news)’. We put this to Medway Council, asking them to confirm that this is not what is happening, and received this entirely reassuring response: > *“In accordance with Council policy, the next step is to discuss with staff through the formal consultation process.”* So it appears at best that Medway Council have failed to communicate the changes to their employees if they now believe they are being made redundant. At worst, they are changing the scope of their contracts so vastly that at least six Swimming Instructors don’t believe they can continue in the role. It comes at a slightly odd time when Medway Council recently announced that [Cozenton Park Sports Centre had come in £1.5m under budget](https://www.localauthority.news/council-project-comes-in-under-budget/) and that this money would be invested into sports centres across Medway. Perhaps they should invest some of the money into their staff or at least in learning how to communicate with them. *We’d love to speak to anyone with further knowledge of what is going on. If that’s you, email us via *hello AT localauthority DOT news* \- we’re happy to speak on or off the record.* --- *Thanks for reading Local Authority. If you are already a paid subscriber, thank you! If not, please consider upgrading if you value our work. For this week only, you can get 25% off for an entire year.* [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### More passengers using Medway stations It’s a big week for transport data nerds, as the Office of Rail and Road published their [annual rail passenger statistics](https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage?ref=localauthority.news). Grander outlets might focus on the sexy numbers like the most or least visited stations, but this being *Local Authority*, we’re only interested in one thing: What’s going on at Medway’s rail stations? The headline data is that all seven Medway rail stations have seen an uptick in passengers, from a modest 7% in Rochester to a whopping 40% in Halling, where all of the newbuilds around St Andrew’s Park and Peters Village are presumably having an impact. While figures for all stations haven’t quite returned to pre-pandemic levels, all are getting very close. 1. Gillingham - 2,342,402 (6,417 per day) - Up 10% 2. Chatham - 2,172,512 (5,952 per day) - Up 8% 3. Rochester - 1,907,920 (5,227 per day) - Up 7% 4. Rainham - 1,529,926 (4,192 per day) - Up 10% 5. Strood - 1,054,484 (2,889 per day) - Up 7% 6. Halling - 86,704 (238 per day) - Up 40% 7. Cuxton - 55,970 (153 per day) - Up 15% The order of the stations remains the same as [last year](https://www.localauthority.news/i/140015790/rail-stats-nerds-assemble), not that you’d necessarily expect wild year-to-year swings for the most part. The only slight change is in the destination data. While the largest number of journeys from Gillingham, Chatham, and Rochester continues to be to London Victoria, these have now been joined by Rainham, which previously went for London Bridge instead. Strood and Halling continue to have St Pancras as their primary destination, while Cuxton remains stubbornly local, with passengers mostly only heading to Strood. --- #### Cllr Edwards attends a council meeting Two weeks ago, [we raised the rather intriguing possibility](https://www.localauthority.news/i/151204835/by-election-watch) that new Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards might be disqualified as a councillor because she hadn’t attended a meeting in nearly six months. This risked derailing the choreographed plan for all three councillors elected as MPs to resign together in January, triggering February by-elections, as it would have triggered a January election for Edwards. Given that Cllr Tristan Osborne, one of her ward colleagues, is also soon to resign, this would have potentially meant voters in Rochester East would be trudging to the polls twice as many months. Happily, Cllr Edwards turned up to her first Medway Council meeting in 175 days as a substitute for [last week’s Health and Wellbeing Board](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=408&MId=6054&ref=localauthority.news), maintaining her councillor role with a full nine days before she would have been removed from office. Now we can all get back to the important work of speculating exactly when she and the other two councillors turned MPs will formally resign and trigger by-elections in Rochester East and Gillingham South. --- #### Parish councils are weird latest It’s all kicking off in St Mary Hoo on the peninsula, where four parish councillors have resigned in protest at the Fenn Bell Inn receiving planning permission to build 44 homes on their land. Parish councillors being unhappy about planning isn’t new, nor is the odd one resigning in protest. The remarkable thing is that the entire [St Mary Hoo Parish Council](https://stmaryhoo-pc.gov.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) only has five councillors. With four resigning, just one remains. All hail Bill Budd, the former Vice Chair, who now makes up the entirety of St Mary Hoo Parish Council. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!eicC!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7dc8703e-eb78-4631-b5c2-e383a16daed0_2052x956.png) List of St Mary Hoo parish councillors from the parish council website. Now, stick with us, as this is where we start to get into the absurdity of the parish council system. When a vacancy arises on a parish council, the default isn’t to trigger a by-election. This only happens if ten electors within the parish write to the primary authority (in this case, Medway Council) and request one. Unsurprisingly, this often doesn’t happen. Getting ten people to care about something like a parish council vacancy is unusual, let alone when there are four of them and a total electorate within the parish of 193\. [During the last parish elections in St Mary Hoo](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200670/local%5Fand%5Fparish%5Felections%5F2023%5Fresults/1777/st%5Fmary%5Fhoo%5Fparish%5Fresults%5F-%5Flocal%5Fand%5Fparish%5Felection%5F2023?ref=localauthority.news), councillors found themselves elected receiving as few as 30 votes. There has been no sign that any by-elections in St Mary Hoo have been requested. If they had, Medway Council should have displayed the election notices by now. This has not happened. This is where things get really silly. If no by-election is requested, the vacancies can be filled by co-option, which is effectively the parish council choosing who they want to fill the role. Of course, the entire council is now one man, so Cllr Budd quite possibly holds all of the power in St Mary Hoo right now. --- #### In brief 🏘️ [Planning permission is being sought for 60 homes at Broomfield Farm in Hempstead](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SNB5DAKNIY100&ref=localauthority.news). The field at the site is currently used for boot fairs. 🏫 [Medway’s Conservative opposition has called in the decision on the next phase of the School Streets scheme](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/tories-delay-school-street-expansion-with-call-in-316321/?ref=localauthority.news). This temporarily delays the scheme's implementation while it is analysed and debated further. 🏗️ [296 flats in the centre of Rochester have been approved as part of the Ironmonger Yard development](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/revamped-rochester-yard-flat-proposals-9738306?ref=localauthority.news). The site, the junction of Star Hill and the High Street will see the homes, parking, commercial space, and crossing improvements as part of the plan. 🧑‍🏫 [MidKent College in Gillingham has retained its Good rating from Ofsted](https://www.midkent.ac.uk/news/college-news/good-news-for-midkent-college?ref=localauthority.news). Additionally, its work with adults and students with high needs was rated Outstanding. 🏬 [The lease of the Chatham Homebase store is now up for sale](https://www.costar.com/article/696009377/starting-gun-fired-on-sale-of-74-homebase-stores?ref=localauthority.news). If you’re interested in buying, be warned that the rent is nearly £550,000 per year. 🤷 Former Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst, who is supposedly a serious politician who understands how democracy works, is [promoting the Reform petition](https://www.facebook.com/rochesterandstroodkelly/posts/pfbid0xYwt6pmnWT4rfq4cVRwvHAvuTHBd5QdDXzUhkGte8jLD6k7y2wPjwHRy8Mv7z2ZSl) to call a General Election despite having lost one four months ago. 🗣️ [ITV News has been asking how every MP intends to vote on the assisted dying bill](https://www.itv.com/news/2024-11-25/itv-news-assisted-dying-vote-tracker-how-do-mps-intend-to-vote-on-the-bill?ref=localauthority.news) in parliament later this week. So far, Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards and Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osborne have said they will support the bill, while Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan has not revealed her position. 🕯️ [Elsewhere, KMTV has been to speak to two Medway faith leaders about the bill](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x99lvm6?ref=localauthority.news). Perhaps unsurprisingly, they have different views. 🗳️ [The key players of the 2014 Rochester and Strood by-election have reminisced about it for KentOnline](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/i-d-do-it-all-again-10-years-since-first-brexit-domino-316098/?ref=localauthority.news). Mark Reckless seems to almost singlehandedly claim credit for Brexit in it. --- #### More Authority For our big weekend interview this week, [we sat down with the Chief Executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, Richard Morsley](https://www.localauthority.news/it-had-not-only-a-local-impact-but/). In a lengthy and wide-ranging conversation, we learn about his journey to the role, the role of the dockyard within the wider community, its use as a film location, the future of ropemaking, housing within the site, and most importantly, whether Chatham has beef with Portsmouth. [“It had not only a local impact but a global impact as well”Richard Morsley is the Chief Executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. Steven met Richard in his office as dockyard ends its 2024 season. This was more challenging than expected and required the help of the friendly Dockyard team after Steven got lost in the vast space within the Dockyard walls. They discussed what brought Richard to Chatham Dockyard, Tom Cruise flying in via helicopter, the future of rope making, and whether a ship in Portsmouth should return to Chatham.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5922e3b8-4000-4a28-b606-6f36e2189d75_1020x534.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/it-had-not-only-a-local-impact-but/) --- #### Footnotes *Follow us on social media! We’re on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Getting Into Knives by The Mountain Goats*](https://themountaingoats.bandcamp.com/album/getting-into-knives?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*More Break-Up Songs by New Starts*](https://darrenhayman.bandcamp.com/album/more-break-up-songs-new-starts?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Any Other City by Life Without Buildings*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V6s06SdHEs&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “It had not only a local impact but a global impact as well” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/it-had-not-only-a-local-impact-but/ Last updated: 2024-11-24T07:07:58.000Z *Richard Morsley is the Chief Executive of* [*Chatham Historic Dockyard*](https://thedockyard.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *Trust. Steven met Richard in his office as dockyard ends its 2024 season. This was more challenging than expected and required the help of the friendly Dockyard team after Steven got lost in the vast space within the Dockyard walls. They discussed what brought Richard to Chatham Dockyard, Tom Cruise flying in via helicopter, the future of rope making, and whether a ship in Portsmouth should return to Chatham.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!hacu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5922e3b8-4000-4a28-b606-6f36e2189d75_1020x534.jpg) Richard Morsley **We're in the Fitted Rigging House?** Amazing building, a huge brick-built warehouse for the Royal Navy. It's Grade I listed, scheduled ancient monument. It was sitting for years as a largely underused, underutilised space. The challenge for the Trust was how do you turn a heritage liability into a real asset. I think that's what we've been really successful in doing over the last 40 years. We put together a project, we secured funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, from DCMS, Department of Culture, Media and Sports, as well as a number of other funders and a major individual donor. **What timescale was this?** This was 2016, 2017\. Relatively recent, and the project involved a whole raft of public benefit uses on the ground floor. We updated and refreshed our steam, steel and submarines gallery, which is effectively the Dockyard’s 19th and 20th century story. We created a fantastic new [reading room](https://thedockyard.co.uk/the-collections/library-reading-room/?ref=localauthority.news) from our archive, as a resource for both volunteers and any others who wanted to come and research here. We created new conservation facilities, we created a new archive storage for the Trust's archive and our collection. Alongside that, we built 50,000 square feet of commercial space, which enabled our longer-term financial sustainability. This organisation has very much had an eye on that underlying financial model. How do we, as an independent museum and independent charitable organisation, ensure our ongoing viability? That project completed in late 2018, early 2019\. It was fully let from the day it opened and remains let to this day and here we've got a whole raft of businesses, anything from [Dovetail Games](https://dovetailgames.com/?ref=localauthority.news), [MKC Training](https://www.mkctraining.com/?ref=localauthority.news) and a range of other businesses located out of the dockyard. What was brilliant was that that project effectively developed about two-thirds of the building, leaving one-third of the building at the southern end undeveloped. We'd done the roof, we'd done the windows, and the building was fully watertight and weatherproof. **Was that intentional to leave the southern end?** Budgets necessitated we worked in that way. Then we secured some additional funding through the Levelling Up Fund. There was a Chatham package of works in the first round, which involved the Dockyard and the [Docking Station](https://www.localauthority.news/landmark-dockyard-building-to-become/), which is going to develop at the northern end of the estate. We took that remaining one-third undeveloped of the site, about another 20,000 square foot of space, and we took that money and we developed it for commercial use. Once again, that building is fully occupied. This building today generates long-term sustainable revenue through property lettings which enables us to fulfil our charitable purpose of both preservation and learning. It's been a really remarkable project. **Families come to visit a submarine and grab a pie, unaware of the community developing around them.** It's an amazing place. It's a living, breathing community. We have just shy of 200 businesses based out of the Dockyard that employ probably in the region of about 800 people in total. We're an educational campus for the University of Kent and MidKent College. We're a residential estate for nearly 400 people. We're a museum and visitor attraction that welcomes probably 170,000 visitors this year. We're an event space, we're a film location, we're a ropemaker and much more. It just creates this thriving, interesting, mixed-use estate that we are today. We're hard to characterise in a business estate. As a charity, we're essentially a preservation and learning charity. If you distil it right back to who we are, what we do, why we are here as an organisation, the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, our charity, is the custodian of this remarkable 80-acre historic estate. In our care we have 100 plus buildings and structures, 53 Grade I and Grade II listed and 48 scheduled ancient monuments. **What is the difference between Grade I, Grade II, and ancient monuments?** It just denotes their significance really. Listed buildings are dealt with through the local authorities. Scheduled monuments are the highest categorisation, the highest protection really afforded to historic buildings. That's administered through [Historic England](https://historicengland.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). **Who owns the buildings?** The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. We effectively have a virtual red line that runs around the estate. It follows the river along, out to the southern extent, up to Medway Council, effectively up to the dockyard wall. It follows around the dock wall all the way down to Dock Road, down towards Chatham Maritime. Then it loops around the ponds. The boundary gets a bit messy at the northern end of the site and then effectively comes back in behind what we call our covered slips and then comes back along the river, so that's about 80 acres in total. **It can be hard to get your head around how big the historic dockyard was. What dictated what became the Trust and what didn't?** You're right to say that the former working dockyard site and estate was much larger than today's Chatham Historic Dockyard. Previously, the dockyard would have been probably 350 to 400 acres, would have gone northwards out through St Mary's Island, the three basins that we have at St Mary's Island, out to what's today's Chatham Docks, coming back through to what's today's Pembroke, the universities, and through what's today's historic dockyard site. At the point of closure of the dockyard in 1984, the land was parcelled up into three large parcels of land. This core historic estate was kept together as a site of strategic historic significance, which the ownership of which was transferred to the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. The land to the north of us out towards what's today St Mary's Island. That went to [English Estates](https://www.englishestates.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), the government's then regeneration agency and has been successfully redeveloped over those 40 years to be the Chatham Maritime through the [Chatham Maritime Trust](https://www.cmtrust.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a thriving residential and commercial estate. The Universities at Medway sits within that estate as well. The final piece of land in that is what's today's Chatham Docks. **Why was Chatham so important that they put such a large dockyard here?** For 400 years, this place was the home of the Royal Navy on the River Medway. Chatham's significance first established in the [Stuart period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart%5Fperiod?ref=localauthority.news). The first known establishment on this site dates to about 1618\. You can't see any of the Stuart dockyard on the estate today, it's all in archaeology. The oldest part of our site is actually in archaeology underground, protected and scheduled because of its significance. The significance of this place for the Royal Navy, which grew through that Stuart period, was much to do with the geopolitical situation in the world at that time. Much of the conflict we're really looking towards the near continent, the Dutch, the French, the Napoleonic Wars. The Medway was ideally situated to get out into the North Sea and the English Channel. Chatham's role subsequently changed over time as a greater focus was on the Americas. Then subsequently, Portsmouth and Devonport were actually much better positioned to get the Royal Naval ships quickly out onto the Atlantic. Through the 18th century, that political world order changed, and it became very much the leading shipbuilding and repair yard for the Royal Navy. The dockyard that you see here today is very much that dockyard of the age of sail. This real age of significance through the late 17th and 18th century is really this place's moment of huge, huge significance and early into the 19th century. It was one of the largest industrial complexes anywhere in the world. It was hugely, hugely significant. It had not only a local impact but a global impact as well. Then in the Victorian period, ships were getting ever larger and larger. They were finding they couldn't actually get round to the River Medway in terms of its current location and the dockyard extended northwards. Into what's now St Mary's Island. The creation of the three large basins that are now on that site was really about how to cope with ships that were becoming ever larger. Which is also why this place remains so complete today because instead of having to knock down and build on top of the buildings that were here, they were just able to extend northwards. **You mentioned submarines as well?** Chatham's role changed to submarine construction, as well as refitting and repair for other ships, right the way through to the last submarine being built for the Royal Navy in Chatham, [HMS Ocelot](https://thedockyard.co.uk/attractions/hm-submarine-ocelot/?ref=localauthority.news), which is in the Trust's care. HMS Ocelot was built in May 1962 and launched into the river. Then there were subsequently, I believe, three further submarines built for the Canadian Royal Navy in Chatham, at which point that long tradition of shipbuilding in Chatham came to an end. **When I was walking down here, I discovered beehives, which I wasn't expecting. How big is the team running the estate?** It is the weird, wild, and kind of wonderful world of the historic dockyards. I should have said, our overarching strategy here, nearly 25 years on, is one of preservation through reuse. We believe that it's the reuse of this place that keeps it living, breathing, thriving, and relevant. Myself and our team, we're part of that community. There's never a dull day in the dockyard, I think that's fair to say. We're probably in the region of about 120 to 130 people in total. A sizable team. That's made up from our front-of-house teams, our catering teams, and our learning teams as part of that. We're an independent museum. We receive no public funding. This organisation doesn't receive any public funding for its core charitable purpose and core activity. Everything that we do is 100% self-generated on a revenue basis. All of our day-to-day operations as a charity, we're probably in the region of about eight and a half million-pound turnover annually. All of that is self-generated, and that's through our commercial estate, through our museum, through our commercial activities that underpin that as well. **With the buildings, it can be hard to work out what is used for what. There is a** [**large church**](https://thedockyard.co.uk/news/royal-dockyard-church/?ref=localauthority.news) **on site. Is it a working church?** It is a scheduled monument. It's not a working church. It's fit out effectively as a conferencing venue. It was previously a lecture theatre for the University of Kent's Business School, which they vacated last year and moved across to Pembroke. [**Commissioner's House**](https://thedockyard.co.uk/news/the-commissioners-house-then-and-now/?ref=localauthority.news)**?** A wonderful, wonderful building. **It's not a test. I'm not going to go through building by building.** I'm glad you asked about it actually. Grade I listed scheduled ancient monument. It is the oldest intact naval residence in the world. It is actually our next major project, which we're delivering on our site. We've just secured £2.3m of capital funding from Arts Council England for a big preservation project for the building. It's going to undergo the best part of an 18-month preservation job and major refurbishment. It's going to get a new roof, a mechanical and electrical refit inside, and new windows, which will all be refurbished, but with a really honest job back to those early Georgian traditions and style. All overseen and working really closely with Historic England as a scheduled monument and ultimately will be used as a hospitality venue. I think, once again, it demonstrates some of the challenges of being responsible for this incredible but large diverse, incredibly expensive historic estate to maintain. I mean, it's the best part of a three-million-pound project on one building alone. You amplify that across our hundred buildings and structures across our estate. It's an expensive place to manage and maintain. On the one hand, we talk about being financially independent and achieving this position of financial self-sustainability on a revenue basis. Those big capital projects and securing that external funding to enable the preservation of this place is absolutely vital, and over the 40 years of the Trust, we've generated nearly £70m of capital to enable us to manage and maintain this place. **Another part of the mix you mentioned is housing. How much housing is there on the site?** Along the eastern flank of the dockyard estate, running quite closely to the dockyard wall as it goes down Dock Road. There's a residential estate there that was built out in phases over the 90s. I believe it's 115 residential properties, and they're a mixture of new builds, which were sympathetically built and designed, which are quite private and discreet within the wider dockyard estate. Then there's also the reuse of a number of historic buildings, including our beautiful Officer's Terrace, which are all in single private ownership, of townhouses that were once both the offices and the homes of the officers of the dockyard. **Housing is a wider issue for Medway. Is there any further capacity on the site for more housing?** I would say probably no capacity on the core historic dockyard site. I did mention previously these two sites that are right on our northern boundary, which sits outside of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust control, but which are owned by Homes England. There is a proposal on those two sites for a residential scheme. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### LV21 returns to Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/lv21-returns-to-medway/ Last updated: 2024-11-22T21:36:05.000Z *If you looked out to the river earlier this week, you might have seen an iconic red vessel being towed back home. LV21, a former lightship that now acts as an arts venue and cultural space, has returned to Medway following eight years spent in the Gravesend wilderness. We’ve been talking to the owners to find out more. Further down, we chat to Wolf Howard about his new collection of work, we review the George Vaults, Sarah Hehir reviews Sam Hall’s new graphic novel, and of course, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* *Phew. Onwards…* --- #### LV21 returns to Medway *This week, floating arts venue* [***LV21***](https://lv21.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *returned to Medway, which, frankly, is were it belongs. Steven was very happy to catch up with owners* [***Gary Weston and Päivi Seppälä***](https://www.localauthority.news/our-social-life-is-the-ship/)*at Chatham Historic Dockyard to talk about how they came to own a lightship, how they brought it back to Medway, and what we can look forward to in 2025.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!HdMy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f87512d3b-82e1-4792-9b40-5ae0fd98c715_1129x591.jpg) LV21 in her new temporary home at Chatham Historic Dockyard. Photo: Adam Taylor For the uninitiated, a lightship is essentially a floating lighthouse. It was used to help other ships navigate potential threats. Surprisingly, LV21 isn’t the 21st lightship. “They started numbering them”, explains Gary, “but it went over a hundred. So, they went back to zero and started again.” This particular vessel was the last built by [Philip and Son](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip%5Fand%5FSon?ref=localauthority.news) and is the youngest surviving lightship, being in service from 1963 until it was decommissioned in 2009. Gary and Päivi both work in the creative industries and wanted to secure a space they could develop as an arts venue. They wanted something with history and a story they could bring back to life whilst repurposing for the arts. “We couldn't afford any of those expensive buildings of that nature”, says Gary. “I was looking at houseboats at the time and over time, those two ideas started to merge together.” Gary could see how much space was available in a cargo ship, and then Päivi spotted an advert for a lightship in the newspaper. “That ship was totally inappropriate for us,” explains Gary, “because it was wooden and used to sink a lot.” Despite that, the idea of a lightship had caught their imagination. There followed a series of Google searches, which led to them finding out about steel lightships. There were not many available, if any, that were affordable to them. They contacted Trinity House, the government agency that runs lightships and lighthouses in the UK and asked them if they had any for sale. 18 months later, Trinity House emailed highlighting a ship coming up for sale. The timing was great as Gary and Päivi received EU funding for a maritime heritage project. They made an acceptable bid for LV21, paid for with their own money, “income from the business and credit cards”, and were able to use the funding to pay to have the ship towed to Medway. “We had done a lot of prep, a lot of research”, says Gary. “We'd spent over two and a half years getting ourselves into a position where we were comfortable committing to it.” Their intent was to have the ship as a cultural asset and a public space. “The original plan,” says Päivi, “was to moor before Rochester Riverside was developed. There was the opportunity to moor there and establish ourselves there before the development happened.” However, that was not to be, and the only viable place available to them on the Medway at that time was Gillingham Pier, where they stayed for six years. “Right from the start, the ship was used as a space,” explains Päivi. “We always had to use the ship in the best way we could in whatever condition it was in.” They were under pressure from the start as they had committed to being the headline act of the Fuse Festival before they even had the ship. “We had six months to turn it all around, to make ourselves look as presentable as possible. We painted the whole ship by hand, did external repairs. She looked as good as she could for the performance.” The show was incredible, and they introduced themselves to 7,000-plus people with a 40-minute pyrotechnics extravaganza. Being at Gillingham Pier, however, was a struggle. They used the time they were there to make the ship as functional as possible. During its life as a lightship, LV21 had been automated, and so time was needed to make the ship person-centred with efforts like returning natural light and insulating against the cold. “We removed the bulkheads and made our biggest public space, the recreation room”, says Gary. “We took the galley back to its original layout, which had become the control room, opened up the generator space into a single space again rather than being compartmentalised and scraped a lot of bitumen by hand.” LV21’s time in Medway came to an end in 2016\. The inaugural [Estuary Festival](https://www.estuaryfestival.com/?ref=localauthority.news) was taking place, “and it was very Essex heavy.” There was little planned on the North Kent side. Gravesham Council were interested in bringing LV21 to Gravesend. Initially, the plan was only temporary, to go there for the festival, but it soon became clear the council wanted them there longer. “We'd been in Gillingham for six years at that point, and we got itchy feet”, says Päivi. “It's a ship. It needs to go places.” It was a good move for the ship to be in a more accessible place, and Medway’s loss was Gravesend’s gain. “LV21 is our flagship, but our operations are 90% away from the ship. It's festivals, it's working with schools, it's working with community groups. That's the main activity, outside of being a heritage asset.” They were there eight years until this week when they returned to Medway. After months of conversations, an opportunity arrived with a week’s notice, during the last suitable tide until spring. It was meant to be. “For over a year, we've been looking around to see what options there were, and the Dockyard always seemed like there was an opportunity to be had.” They discussed their plans for the ship and Medway-based projects. “Our major strategic projects at the moment are based in Medway.” It made sense for the ship to come back to Medway, and the Dockyard kindly offered a temporary mooring. “I think we probably owe you a thank you as well”, Päivi kindly acknowledges, “because you were gently campaigning.” Gary smiles, adding, “and you got us the CEO’s email.” It shouldn’t have been so hard to get LV21 back to Medway. Seeing that red ship as you come down the hill into Chatham Dockyard is a beautiful thing, next to steel locomotives, surrounded by other historic vessels. When the Dockyard opens in the spring for the 2025 season, LV21 will be ready and waiting to work in partnership with Medway’s [Tiller and Wheel](https://tillerandwheel.com/?ref=localauthority.news). The intent is to provide a community place, supporting artists in residencies, and more. Gary says there will be “conversations with the Dockyard to see how best LV21 can support the offer here.” Päivi adds that “she's in the right place for us to concentrate on the long-term future in Medway. We have no plans to leave Medway.” Gary has a couple of final people to thank for getting the beloved ship back to Medway. “We have to shout out to Adam Taylor *(River Projects Manager at Medway Council)* and Paul Cowell from the arts team. It just feels that everybody wants us to be here. It feels like we're at home.” --- #### In brief 💥 [Get Ready Comics in Rochester is moving to a new, larger store](https://www.instagram.com/p/DCmYEoeItL1/?ref=localauthority.news). The new unit is the former Hairstyle Avenue, immediately next to Blue Boar Lane car park, and might even have opened today. 🔥 [KentOnline has been to visit Gurkha Fire in Chatham](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/we-reviewed-town-s-best-restaurant-it-s-a-must-go-316171/?ref=localauthority.news). It’s a rave review. 💪 [Woodlands Gym in Gillingham will close and be turned into a children’s centre and community kitchen](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/gym-to-be-turned-into-a-children-s-centre-and-community-kitc-316169/?ref=localauthority.news). The owners cite decreased membership for the demise of the gym. 🎺 Congratulations to the [Medway Band](https://www.medwaytownsbands.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) brass band who recently won First Prize at the Wessex Brass Band Contest, along with prizes for Best Cornet for Elaine Williams, Best Trombone Section, Best Championship Section Band, and Best Conductor! --- #### **No news in brief** Over 18 months ago, the Brook Theatre was closed for improvement works financed by £21.5m from council borrowing, the Levelling Up fund, and the Future High Streets Fund. Since then, not much seems to have happened. We checked in with Medway Council to see how the works were going: > **“*No improvements works have taken place to date.”* We hope you will join us in looking forward to the grand reopening when people can enjoy using the improved theatre. We asked when that might be: > *“No specified date.”* --- #### Queuing for Nothing [***Wolf Howard***](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-have-any-technique-i-never/)*, ‘Gentleman Amateur’, drummer in The Chatham Singers, original Stuckist and cat owner, has a new book of poetry out. We spoke to him online about ‘A Queue for Nothing’, at least when his cat would allow him to reply.* Wolf’s poetry is eminently relatable, with his funny asides and insights into the every day, the surreal and the regular crossover between the two. “I think they’re tinged with a sort of romantic sadness”, says Wolf. It’s an approach to both his art as well as his words. At first you might think what he is doing is simple, but there is a depth that highlights the subtle beauty of life ticking along in the background. *“Damn, the cat’s here, making it hard to type.”* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Oyxw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f01c0c06c-85b8-40f9-8f0f-f430160787a2_1456x762.jpg) Drawing by Wolf Howard from ‘A Queue for Nothing’ His new book, ‘A Queue for Nothing’, captures that with original poems accompanied by charcoal drawings. He describes these drawings as “nice and quick with hardly a single correction.” There are also two short stories at the back of the book, which Wolf enjoyed writing. A couple of poems have been previously printed but only in a limited-release collection. That previous collection, ‘[This Wild Horse of a World’](https://thetangerinepress.com/WALKING%20WOUNDED%20SERIES/WWS-WH-TWHOAW/?ref=localauthority.news), was a limited print run of 53 copies and is no longer available. *“This cat’s sitting on the keyboard now.”* As a result, to most readers, all of the work here will be new. A video of his poem, ‘The Talking Magpie’, can be found amidst [Wolf’s social media pages](https://www.instagram.com/p/DCbfOHrt0Cn/?ref=localauthority.news). “I might put it on YouTube, I guess.” There are currently no planned readings, though sometimes Wolf will read his poems at gigs he does with Billy Childish when they perform as the Chatham Singers. “I have recently had this idea of reading on board the lightship LV21 (see above), but I haven’t told the owners yet.” *“I have to go and feed the cat, he thinks he’s hungry again. Or wants to go out and come straight back in.”* *A Queue for Nothing can be ordered directly from* [*Wolf via Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/wolfhowardartist/?ref=localauthority.news) *or purchased in* [*Store 104*](https://www.store104.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *on Rochester High Street.* --- #### Local charity’s successful art auction ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!M6JW!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fac28cbfa-b0a6-4a8d-b2c5-518367f0879a_6535x4357.jpg) Steven auctioning art at Sun Pier House. Photo: Francesca Dorsa As mentioned repeatedly in recent weeks, Second Chance Medway held a charity art auction last weekend. Chair of the charity and writer of this edition of *Local Authority* Steven Keevil spoke exclusively to this publication to tell us: > *“I just want to thank the artists, Sun Pier House, Gary Weston, Local Authority readers, and the bidding public. We raised over £3,000 and that money will be going to support families facing food poverty this Christmas.”* --- #### Out to Lunch: The George Vaults *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***The George Vaults***](https://www.georgevaults.com/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rochester*…* At the bridge end of Rochester High Street is this multi-venue mainstay of the area. Offering a variety of bars and, more importantly in the context of this feature, a lunch menu, there are also vaults with a crypt dating back to 1325 that in twenty-plus years, this writer has no memory of actually visiting. The combined restaurant and bar area is friendly, and the waiting team welcoming. I was quickly seated and looking at the very tempting menu. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!giq3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1fda5761-ce25-496f-bcd7-09161b5b8f9a_1456x762.jpg) Food at The George Vaults I ordered a thick-cut smoked bacon steak, pan-fried and glazed, with maple syrup and zesty orange, served with a fried egg, golden fried potatoes and pineapple salsa, with sauteed garlic mushrooms. In a fit of pique, I ordered a portion of maple-glazed pigs in blankets from the nibbles section as well. The nibbles were almost a mistake because, as tasty as they were, they were served cold. Apparently, this is because they were from the ‘Nibbles’ part of the menu. This was not clear to me, the menu, or the friendly waiter who had to check for me. All of this was a distraction from the main meal, which was delicious. More places should offer a bacon steak if only to make me happy. The pineapple salsa was a good accompaniment to the bacon, and the egg over the fried potatoes was an almost perfect side. I heartily recommend going for a lunch of great food in the George Vaults. If you do go, please let me know what the crypt is like. --- #### Review: Three Instances of Meeting Jarvis Cocker by Sam Hall **Review by Sarah Hehir** *Medway playwright and graphic novelist* [***Sam Hall***](https://www.localauthority.news/i-like-chatham-a-lot/) *has just published a new graphic memoir released by local publishing powerhouse* [*Wordsmithery*](https://www.wordsmithery.info/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* [***Sarah Hehir***](https://www.localauthority.news/i-write-in-quite-a-visual-way/) *has been reading it…* I’m a big fan of Sam Hall’s artwork. I love the cartoon lines, the bold colours and the fanzine feel to her books. But don’t be fooled into thinking simple means simplistic. Or that a quick read is a superficial one. ‘Three Instances of Not Meeting Jarvis Cocker’ is sophisticated: the sparse words and striking graphics lead you through the story of love and loss that we’re promised on the back cover. We’re invited right into the narrator’s memory of the 1990s and early 2000s, where nostalgia meets grief. I’m not fooled for a minute by the slightly arch gameplay on the first few pages. If it’s supposed to help keep us at a distance, all it does is perch us at the top of the track to give us time to buckle up before taking us on a raw and beautiful rollercoaster ride. It manages to be both huge and understated. Some of the most difficult questions are literally boxed off, like ‘Why didn’t she tell her family?’ while the big philosophical, existential, heart-breaking revelations are contained in short floating thoughts against a black background. Whether it’s true or not (none of it is, some of it is), it’s a powerful read. And the fact our narrator (whether Sam Hall or not) didn’t meet Jarvis Cocker is not the point. It kind of doesn’t matter. Not at all. But now she’s written a super cool graphic fanzine-feel autobio-fictional memoir about not meeting him, I hope she does. *Three Instances of Not Meeting Jarvis Cocker is* [*available now via Wordsmithery*](https://www.wordsmithery.info/sfh-books?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Events this week 📚 Until 30 Nov - [**Medway River Lit** ](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)// Month-long series of weekend events across Medway featuring writing masterclasses, panels, poetry, drama and more. Various locations. Highlight: - Sat 23 Nov - [**Lost Islands of the Medway River**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/talk-lost-islands-of-the-medway-river-2024-11-23-14-30?ref=localauthority.news) // Talk on the histories of the islands, who lived on them and what they look like today, before they disappear from sea level rise and the ravages of erosion. Chatham Library. Pay what you can. 🎶 Sat 23 Nov - [**House of Gain Records Listening Party**](https://www.facebook.com/events/937261704913875?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22video%5Ffeed%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D) // Debut Release with Live Music from The Missing Persons List. Analogue Music, Rochester. Free 🖌️ Sat 23 Nov - [**Waygooze Print Fair**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1290944375119472) // Print fair selling affordable art, activities, and their legendary tombola. Intra Arts, Rochester. Free. 🧱 Sat 23 Nov - [**Gillingham’s National Brick**](https://www.nationalbrickevents.co.uk/event/gillingham?ref=localauthority.news) // Lego play area for kids, life-sized builds, rare sets and mini figures. Medway Park Sports Centre, Gillingham. Tickets from £8. 🎭 Sat 23 Nov - [**Modern Image of Dorian Grey**](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/the-modern-image-of-dorian-gray-2024-11-09-19-30?ref=localauthority.news) // New play by Aimee Ridell takes a social media angle on the classic story. Spotlites Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £11. ❓ Wed 27 Nov - [**General Knowledge Quiz**](https://letsbookfor.com/playopolis/s/NovemberQuiz?ref=localauthority.news) // Questions err toward the nerdy side of things, with a prize hamper available. Playopolis, Rochester. Tickets £4.50. *Don’t forget to check out* [***our new events page***](https://www.localauthority.news/events/)*. We’ll continue to include the events for the current week in these Friday briefings, but we’re aware that it’s often last minute, or things might be sold out by the time you read about them here. Our events page aims to solve that by offering a view of everything interesting happening over the next few months across Medway.* *The page is still a work in progress, and there’s a good chance we’ve missed something interesting. If you are holding or know of an event that will likely interest us, let us know via *events AT localauthority DOT news* \- thanks!* --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Wild Nature by Lupen Crook*](https://spinoutnuggets.bandcamp.com/album/wild-nature?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Heavens Journey by Wild Billy Childish and The Chatham Singers*](https://shop.damagedgoods.co.uk/products/billy-childish-the-chatham-singers-heavens-journey?Format=12%22+Vinyl&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### More School Streets confirmed URL: https://www.localauthority.news/more-school-streets-confirmed/ Last updated: 2024-11-20T00:43:09.000Z *If we’ve learnt one thing about Medway’s Labour administration, it’s that they are big fans of enforcement cameras. This week, Medway’s Cabinet has signed off on the next set of School Streets in our towns despite another consultation that didn’t support them. Further down, news on a big investment into Medway’s bus services, a nice bit of data visualisation, news in brief, and more.* --- #### More School Streets confirmed Nine more School Streets are set to launch in Medway after Medway Council’s cabinet agreed to progress the scheme at tonight’s meeting. Following an informal consultation in recent months, it was unsurprisingly deemed appropriate to advance all nine schemes, albeit with some tweaks to three. We won’t rehash all the proposals here, but some were slightly odd, as [we highlighted back in September](https://www.localauthority.news/new-school-streets-feature-some-weird/). Still, the scheme does have merits, and anything that makes the streets around a school safer and more pleasant for pedestrians and residents should be welcomed. Streets from the first tranche of the scheme are proving to be fruitful earners for Medway Council, too, with [2,000 fines issued in the first six months](https://www.localauthority.news/over-2000-school-streets-fines-issued/). So, what changes have been made to the proposed new School Streets following the consultation? Three have been much larger than originally planned. One, around Horsted Infant and Junior School, [adds a logical street](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=76665&ref=localauthority.news), but two others in Rochester dramatically change the scope of the scheme. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tPPY!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbd34b529-8efb-4bf3-ad7a-4aa237bc1e4f_2220x1394.jpg) School Street proposal for King’s Rochester. Take the scheme around King’s in Rochester, which manages to add an entire street that doesn’t connect to the existing streets around the school. There is a rational reason for it, given there is a pedestrian footpath between the newly added Roebuck Road and the existing scheme, presuming meaning parents may well try and drop their children off there. But it remains slightly odd to add an exclave street, while not including St. Margaret’s Street, which suffers from significant King’s congestion and has one of the entrances to the school. Another potential issue is that Watts Avenue is frequently congested thanks to St. Andrew’s school traffic, with Roebuck Road acting as an informal one-way system to navigate the area. It will be interesting to see how this is distributed under the new scheme. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!bDfj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f236c42c7-f965-4ef7-a581-678322f2bc1b_2124x1328.jpg) School Street proposal for Delce Academy, Rochester. Things get even more dramatic around Delce Academy, where an initial plan to implement the scheme on just one street has been expanded to cover a vast swathe of The Tideway and surrounding streets. This takes the scheme well beyond the scale seen in the first tranche and presumably will relocate large amounts of traffic to the east side of The Tideway instead. Of course, these are, in the grand scheme of things, relatively minor niggles. The system will presumably bed in, and evidence from the initial streets shows that the number of drivers entering the area when they shouldn’t have has been decreasing with time. The process does follow the increasingly regular pattern of consultations that don’t mean a great deal. The data from the consultation has been [presented in an almost impenetrable way](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=76663&ref=localauthority.news), which seems to be because the data suggests that most respondents were against the scheme. While residents within some of the zones are understandably in favour, school staff seem split on the issue, with parents and other residents being primarily against. Indeed, one scheme - Fairview Primary in Rainham - saw all groups against the scheme by a large margin, but they’ll be getting it anyway. Now, there is an argument for doing this regardless. Policy and action shouldn’t only be taken when popular, and the existing streets in the scheme seem to have been received fairly well despite doubts beforehand. There is also merit in holding consultations to find improvements and tweaks to the scheme, as portfolio holder Cllr Alex Paterson suggested in tonight’s meeting. However, asking residents if they agree with the scheme and then entirely disregarding their answers does not seem to be the best way to bring people with you, however well-intentioned the scheme may be. --- #### What does a ‘London-style’ bus service look like in Medway? The [government invested significantly in bus services](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/1-billion-government-funding-boost-for-bus-services-across-england-to-help-end-postcode-lottery?ref=localauthority.news) last week, throwing £1bn around the country to offer ‘once-in-a-generation reform to deliver London-style bus services to every corner of the country.’ Now, if you’re like us, you might wonder exactly what a ‘London-style’ bus service in Medway might look like. We can probably assume it won’t mean all fares cost £1.75, or that buses arrive every few minutes. It’s also hard to imagine buses running across our towns throughout the night. So what does the term really mean? ![May be an image of tram and text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Op7D!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa14d5803-1b58-4dd9-bafa-cdaa44a6b70b_1940x1016.jpg) New Arriva buses in Medway. The most likely explanation is that ‘London-style’ is just shorthand for buses that are actually quite good. Buses that run regularly and reliably and don’t cost a fortune. Medway is being allocated £2.6m in capital funding for long-term bus projects and £1.1m for shorter-term ones. Further, our area will also receive £94,000 in ‘capacity and capability allocation’, with another £172,000 in bus operator’s grants to maintain existing services. That’s the best part of [£4m for bus services in Medway](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bus-service-improvement-plans-local-transport-authority-allocations/bus-service-improvement-plans-local-transport-authority-final-allocations-2025-to-2026?ref=localauthority.news), which dwarfs the £760,000 received for 2024/25. With over five times the money coming next year, what could Medway spend it on? The possibilities are almost endless given these sorts of figures. While Medway’s previous [Bus Service Improvement Plan](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200161/travel/565/bus%5Foperators/4?ref=localauthority.news) was fairly uninspired, it did manage to do quite a lot with its previous allocation. Last year, funding was spent on repairing bus shelters, adding lights, running free bus weekends, and working out how to unify ticketing across Medway’s buses. We’ve long talked about the [poor state of Medway’s bus network](https://www.localauthority.news/lets-talk-about-the-bus-baby/) and the work that needs to be done to improve it. This funding could offer a big first step in the right direction, but as ever, the devil will be in the detail. --- #### Data visualisation is cool We regularly talk about Medway Council’s finances here, but the numbers can often be so large that it’s hard to truly comprehend them. While we’d like to think our reporting helps, having data in a clear and easy to understand manner is incredibly valuable. Sadly, Medway Council don’t make that sort of thing easily available. While councils, including Medway, have generally been better at explaining the figures involved, it is usually very dry, such as on [this page on their website](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200496/where%5Fthe%5Fcouncils%5Fmoney%5Fcomes%5Ffrom?ref=localauthority.news). It sets out where the £578m it has received this year comes from and what it will be spent on, but it’s just a list of numbers. The latest edition of Medway Matters magazine, the council’s propaganda organ, presented the same data in pie chart form, with one showing the money in and one showing the money out, but kept the two separate. An improvement on the above, perhaps, but still not hugely straightforward to understand. In light of all this, we were delighted to have this diagram below arrive in our inbox this week, courtesy of [Phil Quinn](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7263580454874669056/?ref=localauthority.news), who has taken it upon himself to visualise it in a way the council has never managed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!7WaP!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f81bb883c-c84b-4895-b31e-e63fcbdfa452_1221x525.jpg) Medway Council budget diagram. Credit: Phil Quinn Data nerds will recognise this as a Sankey diagram, though we hadn’t heard of them until today. It’s a good way of understanding how much Medway has coming in and where it all ends up. For all of the stories about the Exceptional Financial Support request last year, it represents just 2.5% of the budget and wouldn’t even cover a tenth of the adult social care budget. Elsewhere, it’s striking that the government grant, which has declined massively since 2010, now only just about covers children’s services and absolutely nothing else. Councils increasingly have to find revenue elsewhere, with the fees and charges section growing most notably. Anyway, there’s no great insight here beyond us thinking the diagram above is kind of cool. Phil has also made the code that generated the chart available [here](https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1ZJYyTYuhhC340KwN3kI5BeWQGGXcwo25?ref=localauthority.news) if you want to play around with your versions. Hooray for data! --- #### In brief 🚄 [Southeastern will operate a new timetable from 14 December](https://newsroom.southeasternrailway.co.uk/news/december-timetable?ref=localauthority.news). While changes are being made across the wider network, there appears to be no change to services to and from Medway. 🏠 [Some Gillingham residents are fighting a house on their road being converted to a House of Multiple Occupation](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/neighbours-slam-plans-for-mini-hotel-hmo-in-middle-of-terr-315894/?ref=localauthority.news) (HMO). These battles will likely become more regular as HMOs are increasingly used to relieve our housing crisis. 🛒 [B&M in Gillingham opened on Saturday](https://futuremedway.co.uk/bm-opens-new-store-in-gillingham-high-street/?ref=localauthority.news). The discount retailer has taken over the former Wilko unit in Gillingham High Street. 👷 [Dockside Outlet Centre has requested planning permission to subdivide the Clarks unit](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SMSMRXKNN1X00&ref=localauthority.news). Two new units would be created, both of which could be accessed externally outside of centre hours, suggesting the intent is for hospitality or leisure use. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, Steven sat down with senior lecturer and doctoral candidate Tom Delahunt to discuss how the arts can help with trauma, his work, and his children’s books. [“Art is vital, and we are killing it societally”Tom Delahunt is a senior lecturer and doctoral candidate at Canterbury Christ Church University. Steven caught up with Tom via Zoom to discuss his doctorate, his alter-ego as the Hobo Poet, how the arts can help Nurses with trauma and improve healthcare and his obsession with multiverses.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcac0e023-b6c1-4cda-8c7b-c2033c10d1c7_1782x894.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/art-is-vital-and-we-are-killing-it/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Not to go all Guardian on you, but we departed the site formerly known as Twitter this week. If you’d like to follow us socially, we’re still active on* [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/localauthoritynews)*,* [*BlueSky*](https://bsky.app/profile/localauthority.news?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/localauthoritynews/?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Threads*](https://www.threads.net/@localauthoritynews?ref=localauthority.news)*.* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*More Hell by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/more-hell?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Tourist In This Town by Allison Crutchfield*](https://allisoncrutchfield.bandcamp.com/album/tourist-in-this-town?ref=localauthority.news)*, and How To Be Hopeful by Johnny Foreigner.* ### “Art is vital, and we are killing it societally” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/art-is-vital-and-we-are-killing-it/ Last updated: 2024-11-17T07:23:40.000Z *Tom Delahunt is a senior lecturer and doctoral candidate at Canterbury Christ Church University. Steven caught up with Tom via Zoom to discuss his doctorate, his alter-ego as the Hobo Poet, how the arts can help Nurses with trauma and improve healthcare and his obsession with multiverses.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!BYm4!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcac0e023-b6c1-4cda-8c7b-c2033c10d1c7_1782x894.jpg) Tom Delahunt with his book The Wandering Lamb. **What is your official occupation?** I am a senior lecturer and doctoral candidate at Canterbury Christchurch University, but actually, I'm the Hobo Poet. That's my alter-ego. **You've published a children's book?** I have got my children's book, [The Wandering Lamb](https://bookshop.canterbury.ac.uk/The-Wandering-Lamb%5F9781838293222?ref=localauthority.news), and I'm also in the process of completing and finalising prints for my second children's book, ‘The Butterfly Farmer’, which is going to be going around six Kent schools, where I'm a poet in residence. **You're also a nursing lecturer as well?** I am, yes. I teach nurses on a number of modules in their second year. I'm aligned to the second year. I also assist with some of the Masters teaching and some of the apprenticeship teaching. I tend to sit across the breadth of the university, but my real love is nursing and social justice, specifically around the positionality of hidden disabilities. If you want a good book, Ted Smith has just written [an amazing book](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Disabilities-Conditions-Inclusive-Workplace/dp/1838443185?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vVQaHKS2kyTR7g4cH9vhd7O1f4YeNKUbIm%5F3WcxvazCC2CXScsT7lPjo8EnAgpmUgrwVX6dNmjL1IsbUA8-ORU7FFndm4XvTmqpgvn863yvaYCZ1lbCtswRt5x30zfOWVNIoPIEi8AzCm8liG-oHnNRlP1Gqk3RMOCJ6O2TgcOEXMtbqHoRyAHHmsmxJeffVezRQt%5Fmfua%5FNJnBRtSje5r8scw68z8vRfDnGiox6pls.gnW9mk3xhFnbmcdV522ej0BfSUjKUgyG4toJC%5FDmk7s&dib%5Ftag=se&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1731683149&refinements=p%5F27%3ATed+Smith&s=books&sr=1-3&ref=localauthority.news) around understanding people who are hidden in society. That's really where I come from. I come from a creative therapeutic. Art is vital, and we are killing it societally. Medway has got a massive thriving arts community because where there's poverty and where there's oppression, [Paulo Freire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo%5FFreire?ref=localauthority.news) suggests the first thing to be born out of oppression is art, and I'm very tied to that position of knowing because I feel hidden myself still. That's the whole point of The Wandering Lamb. People see it as a children's book, but I'm a big advocate of [Dr. Seuss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr.%5FSeuss?ref=localauthority.news), which is hiding politics and hiding art and hiding social deconstructivism and deconstructing reductionist theories within children's literature, because it talks to an adult at the same time as it talks to a child. There's no other literature that does that. **What first brought you to the Medway towns?** It was the placement allocation through Christ Church University when I started the very beginning of my poetic nursing heart journey. I started at Medway. That was the allocation, and I'm grateful to have been there for the number of years that I have because it's run on the goodwill of the sweetest souls and the greatest resilience that I've ever seen, culturally, societally, anywhere in the world. I have travelled, I've been to New Zealand, I've been to France. In terms of healthcare systems that I've looked at, Medway is something very special and the people there are still people that I think of every single day. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Ukrainians find support in Medway, but more help needed URL: https://www.localauthority.news/ukrainians-find-support-in-medway/ Last updated: 2024-11-15T19:11:39.000Z *It’s been nearly three years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While the conflict rages on, families across Britain opened their homes for those fleeing the country. Since then, 400 Ukrainians have made Medway their home. We’ve been finding out more via the work of the Medway Help For Ukrainians charity. Further down, we talk to Medway’s Mikey Brennan about his new album, which our music writer Stephen Morris has also reviewed, our resident theatre critic Anne-Marie Jordan has been down to The Modern Image of Dorian Grey at Spotlites Theatre, there’s our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Ukrainians find support in Medway, but more help needed *There are currently over 400 Ukrainians living in Medway under the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme. Others came as part of the family scheme.* [*Medway Help for Ukrainians*](https://www.facebook.com/groups/494045462258202/) *have been at the forefront of the efforts to support the community.* It is unusual to immediately hear praise for a local council, but Medway Help for Ukrainians are keen to be clear that “Medway Council have been brilliant. They've embraced the scheme, and we have some really good examples of how Ukrainians have become integrated into the community. They're contributing to the community, they've set up businesses, they're working with us, they're working with other charities.” An argument could potentially be made that the reason that the positive outcomes from this scheme are not better known is that people don’t want to read a positive story about immigration in a political environment where immigration is seen as bad and needs to be stopped. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zCWw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f17e3d6ad-c925-4076-8c65-3f48c8f5c9cc_1456x762.jpg) Photo: Medway Help For Ukrainians. MH4U was set up as a charity almost immediately after the war started. “In the early days, it was around people literally arriving from Ukraine with a suitcase and little else.” As well as accommodation with a sponsor, arriving refugees needed clothes, toiletries, and most of life’s basics. The majority of the Ukrainians who came were mums with young children who could speak some English and older women who did not. They were unsurprisingly traumatised by their experience and needed a community in which they could communicate. The charity filled that gap effectively. The trustees and volunteers initially just wanted to help by sponsoring Ukrainians and providing them with a room in their homes. Those families are still with them today. “When you saw the pictures on the news of them just obliterating whole cities and people running to get away from them, we just wanted to do something to help.” One family they have is a mother and son, who both speak English, though the mother hadn’t used it since university. “The loveliest people.” The charity has a strong working relationship with MidKent College, which set up English classes specifically for the Ukrainians. “We've got people that came here speaking no English that have worked so hard at it that they're now communicating as if they've always been here because of the effort they've put in.” The 400 individuals and families are placed all across Medway, which has become its own difficulty as MH4U works to bring them together as a community. “It's hard for them because they have to get everywhere on public transport.” MH4U run the ‘Sunflower Café’. Initially in Strood at St Francis Church, it now can be found at the Victory Community Centre[1](#footnote-1) in Brompton. From the café, MH4U provide advice and guidance, English lessons for those unable to attend MidKent, as well as friendship and support over the universally loved tea and cake. “It provides that social aspect. It's quite hard for them to socialise because they don't have their own home. They are so spread out, and it is so expensive.” The challenge for MH4U moving forward is that there are not enough host families to sponsor Ukrainians to come to Medway. “We are constantly hearing of families that would like to come to the UK, living in terrible situations in Ukraine.” The war is heading towards its third year and is rarely part of the news. If anything, the situation is worse in Ukraine now. There may be the idea that if anyone was coming over, they would have already done so, but that’s not the case. Some areas that were considered relatively safe during the outbreak of war are now not safe. “Lviv, there has been more than 5,000 missiles and drones this year. They don't aim at military targets, they aim at civilians.” Some families that came over have found employment. One mother and son, who had a basic level of English when they arrived, have now established a small business, and the son has completed his education and is heading to university. Many would like to rent their own homes, but that in itself is a huge challenge. The council has been helping MH4U find housing, but the problem with private renting is the guarantees required. “They can afford the rent. They'll be fabulous tenants because Ukrainians are hardworking and clean living, but the hurdle of the guarantor scheme just makes it almost impossible for them.” MH4U were at the last full council meeting to ask for more help to promote the scheme and make it clear that there is still a need for sponsorship. “There's only so much as a charity we can do.” Thankfully, the reaction from the council was positive, and Deputy Leader Teresa Murray followed up by meeting with the charity to discuss what they can do. “She's been supporting us from day one, and the last mayor, Nina *(Gurung)*, chose us as one of her charities. The council have just been brilliant.” While MH4U doesn’t spend as much as it did when it launched, there is still a need for fundraising. “Our main expenditure now is the café, therapy sessions, and the cost of English teachers.” They have just received funding from Child-Friendly Medway to fund a Ukrainian cultural club as many of the young Ukrainians are losing touch with their home culture. They are also looking forward to participating in the ‘Christmas Around the World Event’ that Child-Friendly Medway are leading to get different nationalities living in Medway to take part. “We've got our Ukrainian group. They're going to sing a Ukrainian Christmas song at the event.” If you are reading this, have a spare bedroom, and can pass a DBS check, you could help a Ukrainian. Under the scheme, you get £350 a month towards the costs, utilities, food, and other essentials, and if you go beyond a year, that rises to £500 a month. MH4U point out that “the diets are very different. Most of them cook their own food. It can be very meat-orientated and lots of cabbage. It's very nice.” You can contact [Medway Help for Ukrainians](https://www.facebook.com/groups/494045462258202/) and speak to them about sponsoring and finding a family. They guarantee “a really honest idea of what it's like. But it will be positive because I don't know if there are any negatives.” --- #### In brief 🗃️ [The Royal Engineers Museum has been awarded a grant of over £230,000](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/museum-awarded-234k-to-save-unique-second-world-war-records-315663/?ref=localauthority.news) from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support preservation and digitisation. This will be spent on the museum’s plans collection and related artefacts of the Mulberry Harbours, floating ports used in the D-day landings. 🍻 A community group is trying to raise money to save the Flying Saucer pub in Hempstead. [The Friends of the Flying Saucer need £900,000](https://fofs.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) to purchase the pub and make the required renovations. 🖊️ [The winners of the Rosemary McLeish Poetry Prize](https://www.wordsmithery.info/prize?ref=localauthority.news) have been announced as part of Medway River Lit. The first prize went to Connor Sansby for his poem 'Marine Snow'. 🔨 [Homebase has collapsed into administration](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/13/homebase-may-have-to-cut-1700-jobs-amid-insolvency-reports?ref=localauthority.news), putting jobs at its Chatham store at risk. The majority of stores are set to be bought by The Range, but it is unclear if the Chatham store is among them. 🪨 Dr Matt Pope, an Associate Professor of Palaeolithic Archaeology & Geoarch at UCL shared an [excellent LIDAR map of Rochester, Strood, and the Hoo Peninsula on Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/mattpope.bsky.social/post/3larq6ailo22j?ref=localauthority.news). 🎬 Medway filmmaker [Mark Young has appeared on the Film Lovers podcast](https://open.spotify.com/episode/42X5V5I02yL4lRARHlQ8UY?si=875c604a4bda4c07&ref=localauthority.news). He discusses his filmmaking journey, content vs art, the future of indie film and whether Die Hard is a Christmas film. --- #### Mikey Brennan screws the rules *In a different lifetime, Mikey Brennan was one of the best students I ever had. I first met him when I was the Course Tutor for Level 1 Creative Arts at MidKent College. Since then, Mikey distinguished himself graduating from the Level 3 course with Distinction\* and going on to university. Last week he released a new album under the name* [*Michael Mikey Brennan*](https://www.michaelmikeybrennan.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*, the first of a trilogy. I talked with him to find out more…* Whilst Mikey specialised on the music pathway, he bullishly says, “Springsteen once said, I learnt more from a three-minute record than I ever learnt in school.” It wasn’t just records he learnt from, though. He loved pop culture, whether it be film, tv or books. His ADHD meant that he didn’t have the grades for higher courses, hence his starting on a pre-GCSE equivalent programme. It was here that, as well as studying music, he was able to develop his film tastes and cover a variety of the creative arts. “Ever since I was about three, I was drawing, I was singing. Before I could spell, I was trying to write stories,” he recalls. What made Mikey want to be a songwriter were the films, the tv shows, and the books that he read. “I've got loads of musical influences. Two of the main role models being Michael Jackson and Elvis in terms of performance, vocals, but really behind all that, my first ever hero was Randy Newman and his work on the Pixar films.” For Mikey, the point was to create an album you didn’t skip a track on, telling a story from start to finish. It’s his aim to do a trilogy, with the clearest comparison being the [Cornetto trilogy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three%5FFlavours%5FCornetto?ref=localauthority.news), in that those films were not connected nor direct sequels, and all thematically different. “One thing I love about the Cornetto trilogy is how there's always references to the previous films.” His album starts with the track ‘Nothing to You’ and ends with a song called ‘Everything To Me’. For Mikey, its loosely a concept album. “It's definitely not as good as Sgt. Pepper”, he admits. But the album tells a story, and whilst it doesn’t have character names, Mikey hopes that it leaves room for audiences’ imagination, and they could decide who the girl in ‘She's My Girl’ is. Elsewhere, the album features a character of a tramp, telling the story of a man who was once rich and wealthy becoming poor. “When I wrote that, the producer on my last album said it sounds like a Bob Dylan song, but I think that's an insult because I suppose in some ways it is like ‘Like A Rolling Stone’, but it's not as detailed. I like the simplicity”. Mikey doesn’t consider himself a poet, like Dylan or Cohen. “My words are much too simple, and the narrative is scattershot.” For Mikey, the most important thing he got out of education, both at college and later through university, was his peers. “It's your peers you learn the best from”. It was whilst at university that Mikey met his producer and drummer DJ Azza. “I needed somebody to be as open-minded and as eclectic musically as I am.” Whilst Mikey can play acoustic guitar, his focus is on performing as a vocalist and writing his own lyrics. “I’m not the most technically proficient vocalist, but I have my own character”. *Michael Mikey Brennan’s*[ *‘Screw the Rules, This is Rock and Roll’ can be found on Spotify.*](https://open.spotify.com/album/1JiCw5ug4Hcrd2BvQ6I3MI?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Screw the Rules (This is Rock and Roll) by Michael Mikey Brennan **Review by Stephen Morris** With a title like *Screw the Rules (This is Rock & Roll)*, you could be forgiven for expecting Michael Mikey Brennan’s album to be a riotous explosion of noise, chaos and rebellion. And in parts, it is - but The Sex Pistols, this is not. Instead, *Screw the Rules…* is an experiment with a wide-ranging mixture of genres. It starts with the David Gray-ish ‘Nothing to You’ and then picks up the pace with the calypso-influenced ‘Falling in Love’. Even the confrontationally named ‘Stick it to the Man’ sounds more like a motivational pep talk than anything Rage Against the Machine might have recorded. Elsewhere ‘On My Own’ recalls the innocence of 1950s pop. You have to wait until the album’s sixth song, ‘London’s Burning’, to get a sense of the album title’s promise of anarchy with a tune that owes as much to The Clash as its name does. There’s a wide range of lyrical themes too: there’s the gushing romance of ‘She’s My Girl’ and ‘Oh Honey’ and the horny as hell ‘Falling in Love’, ‘Curtains’, and ‘Make Love to You’. But there’s also the rather grubbier sounding Ruts-meets-Ramones-ish ‘Maidstone’ (“there’s under-age school kids smoking cigarettes - down in Maidstone”) and ‘Slag’ (recalling Jilted John: “You’re breaking new hearts every day/and sleep in a new bed every night”). In between, there are rather more earnest explorations of alcohol dependency (‘Alcohol Free (I’m Never Drinking Again’)’) and homelessness (‘The Tramp’). At an hour and five minutes – and with 16 songs to play with – Michael Mikey Brennan has given himself the time to explore and experiment with his talent as a musician. *Screw the Rules (This is Rock & Roll)* is a rough-round-the-edges album which demonstrates Brennan’s ear for a good tune and a strong voice, hinting at much promise to come. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2RT_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f78c1d022-f0d8-4158-8d52-951114bebe68_1600x964.jpg) **Don’t forget that Second Chance Medway’s charity art auction is this weekend**, raising money for Medway families facing food poverty this Christmas. All artwork is viewable at Sun Pier House between 2pm and 6pm on Saturday, and from 11am until the auction itself at 1.30pm. Bids can be placed [online](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news), during the viewing hours, or at the auction event directly. The auction features original work by Billy Childish, Zara Carpenter, Sam Collins, Michi Masumi, Carol Smith, Maggie Osborn, Kieron Poole, Sarah Crouch, Mick Hampshire, Rikard Osterlund, Heather Haythornthwaite, Sophie Young, Sam Hall, and more. [View the artwork](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### The Modern Image of Dorian Gray at Spotlites Theatre **Review by Anne-Marie Jordan** I'll be honest. After a furiously fun but full-on few days at [Medway River Lit](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), schlepping over to [Spotlites](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) for the debut performance of [The Modern Image of Dorian Gray](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/the-modern-image-of-dorian-gray-2024-11-09-19-30?ref=localauthority.news) was not really appealing to me on a dark and cold Sunday night. However, this contemporary twist of Wilde's classic by playwright Aimee Riddell is well worth your time. From the cracking soundtrack, MacArthur Park being the perfect tune to introduce the play, to the powerful physicality of the central performances, you are in for a theatrical treat. Within minutes the electrifying acting from the three leads - definitely a trio to keep an eye on - drags you into a hellishly compelling world, where you risk becoming a slave to social media - and your moral compass is not so much skewed as smashed to smithereens. By the end, you are left to chew over some uncomfortable realities, from our potentially unhealthy relationships with our phones to the perils of toxic masculinity. And you're in luck - there are still two performances left, including Saturday 23rd November, which is being shown in association with Medway River Lit and which can also be viewed online. So, from whatever device you're reading this on, do yourself a favour and head to [the Spotlites website](http://www.spotlites.co.uk/whatson?ref=localauthority.news) to book a ticket - unlike Dorian and his deal with the devil, this is one you won't regret! --- #### Events this week 📚 Until 30 Nov - [**Medway River Lit** ](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)// Month-long series of weekend events across Medway featuring writing masterclasses, panels, poetry, drama and more. Various locations. Highlights: - Sun 17 Nov - [**Panel: How To Write Better Short Stories**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/panel-how-to-write-better-short-stories-2024-11-17-13-00?ref=localauthority.news) // Writers Charlie Fish, Neil M. Thorne, and Maria C McCarthy talk about writing short stories. Rochester Library. Pay what you can. - Fri 22 Nov - [**Poetry Republic: Martin Figura & Helen Ivory**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/medway-river-lit-poetry-republic-helen-ivory-and-martin-figura-tickets-1033607687417?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&ref=localauthority.news) \+ support // Helen Ivory and Martin Figura will be supported by local poets, Zack Davies and Pauline Holmes. Coffee Republic, Chatham. Pay what you can. 🎺 Until 16 Nov - [**Rochester Cathedral Jazz and Blues Festival**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/jazz?ref=localauthority.news) // A week of jazz and blues in the stunning setting of Rochester Cathedral. Headliners include James Taylor Quartet. Tickets from £15. ♻️ Sat 16 Nov - [**Christmas Eco Fair**](https://www.facebook.com/TheRochesterEcoHub) // Sustainable gifts, climate-themed art exhibition, plastic-free refill products, and more. Rochester Baptist Church. Free. 🥕 Sun 17 Nov - [**Rochester Farmers’ Market**](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) // Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Blue Boar Lane car park, Rochester. Free. 🖼️ Sun 17 Nov - [**Second Chance Art Auction**](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) // Charity auction with original art available from Medway artists like Billy Childish, Zara Carptener, Bill Lewis, Sam Collins, and loads more. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🥪 Sun 17 Nov - [**Sandwich Sunday**](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1102491781884759&set=pb.100063718416152.-2207520000&locale=en%5FGB) // Sandwich competition! Can you make the best sandwich? Rams Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester. Free. 🎞️ Sun 17 Nov - [**Moulin Rouge!**](https://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/musical-season-moulin-rouge-2001/ho00012210?ref=localauthority.news#/buy-tickets-by-film?in-cinema=020&at=2024-11-17&for-movie=ho00012210&view-mode=list) // One-off screening of Baz Luhrmann’s sensory overloading musical. Cineworld, Strood. Tickets £5. 🪕 Sun 17 Nov - [**Wild Billy Childish album launch**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/rochester/medway-little-theatre/wild-billy-childish-album-launch-medway-little-theatre/e-dmvxkv?ref=localauthority.news) // Release show for legendary Medway musician. Medway Little Theatre, Rochester. Tickets £20. 🎤 Tue 19 Nov - [**Rob Beckett: Giraffe**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/rob-beckett-giraffe-plus-support?ref=localauthority.news) // New show from comedian and Taskmaster champion Rob Beckett. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets £30. 🏳️‍⚧️ Wed 20 Nov - [**Transgender Day of Remembrance Service**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1160592681820803/?ref%5Fsource=newsfeed&ref%5Fmechanism=feed%5Fattachment&action%5Fcontext=%257B%2522action%5Fhistory%2522%253A%2522null%2522%257D&%5Frdr) // Remembering those whose lives have been cut short. Support and presence of allies is appreciated. Support available for transgender individuals. St. Margaret’s Church, Rochester. Free 🎲 Wed 20 Nov - [**D&D Social Night**](https://letsbookfor.com/playopolis/s/JWY9VZ?ref=localauthority.news) // Get together for people looking to find Dungeons & Dragons groups. Playopolis, Rochester. Tickets £4.50. 🎸 Thu 21 Nov - [**Scott Lavene**](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scott-lavene-live-at-three-sheets-tickets-992591777727?ref=localauthority.news) // Singer-songwriter plays intimate pub show. Three Sheets To The Wind, Rochester. Tickets £10. 🗣️ Fri 22 Nov - [**Kent Dreams**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/kent-dreams-poetry-spoken-word-open-mic-night-tickets-1020848795227?fbclid=IwY2xjawGEOX5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQrfsgtAA5tLsXOKdEhFanZaosFgpNEP%5FSifr8wmBpRM9YBSxbShBqP6Ww%5Faem%5FUhC9oagll9h5RoFcCkrIWQ&ref=localauthority.news) // Poetry and spoken word open mic night. Nucleus Arts, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🎸 Fri 22 Nov - [**Fightmilk + Jetstream Pony + Dreamcoaster**](https://wegottickets.com/event/630910?ref=localauthority.news) // Top indiepop lineup from Careful Now Promotions. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £8. --- #### More Authority With Medway Council entering the period where it has to start planning a budget for next year, new documents suggest things are financially bleak at the authority. On the other hand, council leaders seem fairly relaxed about the situation. [We dug into the data to try and understand the outlook facing Medway over the coming year](https://www.localauthority.news/how-bad-is-medways-financial-situation/). [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* --- 1. *For transparency, this centre is run by Second Chance Medway and is overseen by Steven.* [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") ### How bad is Medway's financial situation? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/how-bad-is-medways-financial-situation/ Last updated: 2024-11-14T19:50:07.000Z During Tuesday’s Medway Matters Live event, the usually affable Medway Council Leader Vince Maple took a rather harsh tone toward a report in the local press that described the bankruptcy of Medway Council as ‘very likely’. He described this as ‘scaremongering’, ‘unhelpful’, and other similar terms. Thankfully, he wasn’t referring to anything from this publication. Instead, he was talking about [this report from Local Democracy Reporter Robert Boddy for KentOnline](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/risk-of-bankruptcy-for-council-very-likely-as-11-2m-overs-315708/?ref=localauthority.news). It is no secret that Medway Council has been in a dire financial position for some time. Indeed, last year [we published a story with a strikingly similar headline](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-very-likely-to-declare/) to the one that upset Cllr Maple this time. So, if Medway Council faced a potentially devastating budget gap last year, are they in a different position this year? As ever, things are very much open to interpretation. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!awx3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f538f083f-9014-40bd-8c3e-4b60842e75fd_1920x1080.jpg) Medway Council’s Gun Wharf headquarters. On the face of it, the numbers are stark. A [report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=76654&ref=localauthority.news) being discussed at [Cabinet next week](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=5910&ref=localauthority.news) sets out a projected overspend of £11.2m for this financial year and a £26.2m shortfall for 2025/26. There is no getting away from the fact that these are significant figures. Indeed, when Medway Council was on the precipice of bankruptcy last year, the numbers were bad, but not this bad. So how is Cllr Maple seemingly more relaxed about the financial position this year? Much of the [Draft Capital and Revenue Budget](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=76654&ref=localauthority.news) document is dedicated to changes announced in the government’s budget a fortnight ago. It identifies several potential new funds for the local councils, though it isn’t always clear how much might trickle down to Medway: _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Sport England objects to housing to save inaccessible playing field URL: https://www.localauthority.news/sport-england-objects-to-housing/ Last updated: 2024-11-12T17:53:26.000Z *There are lots of ways that the planning process is bewildering and so slow moving that it stops things ever getting done. We’ve written about many of them in the past, but this week, a new one even for us: The redevelopment of an abandoned school in Chatham faces delays because Sport England has objected that an inaccessible playing field will be lost. We’ve got the full story below. Further down, the results of Hoo and Chattenden’s Neighbourhood Plan referendum, news on when we might expect three by-elections in Medway, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Sport England objects to housing to save inaccessible playing field We often write here about how convoluted the planning system is and how heavily it is weighted toward blocking development rather than approving it. Step forward another excellent example this week, where [Sport England](https://www.sportengland.org/?ref=localauthority.news) has objected to a planning application for 139 homes on an abandoned school site because it would result in the loss of a playing field. A playing field on the grounds of a school that is closed and not publicly accessible. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!fQyY!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f570d2e8c-d596-4d84-afbf-9f8faaa1ab4c_1970x1112.jpg) The school and playing fields that Sport England feel must be protected The proposals for the former St John Fisher school in Chatham would see the former buildings demolished and 139 homes built. It’s a solid application that makes use of previously developed land. The site has also been prone to fires and antisocial behaviour thanks to people who keep breaking into the buildings, so redeveloping it seems like a sensible solution. Unless you're Sport England, of course. The organisation is a statutory planning consultee, meaning they have to be listened to. As a result, if Medway Council are minded to approve the application, [which they are](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=76615&ref=localauthority.news), they will have to refer the application to the Secretary of State to be decided. All of which feels somewhat silly when dealing with an inaccessible playing field. Sport England is aware that it is closed to the public too, and yet they [still insist new homes shouldn’t be built on the land anyway](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/2211671685A83880FDF7C3F5042876B7/pdf/MC%5F24%5F1033-STATUTORY%5F-%5FSPORTS%5FENGLAND-6412898.pdf?ref=localauthority.news): > *It is understood from the Open Space Assessment that the site is currently closed off with no ‘public’ access. Sport England understands that some sites may be disused and cut off from use, however it is considered that a lack of use of a playing field should not be taken as necessarily indicating an absence of need in an area. Such land can retain the potential to provide playing pitches to meet current or future needs in the local area.* It’s quite staggering how Sport England came to this conclusion. It's almost as if they haven’t considered the locality and just churned out a response by algorithm. There is a play area 50m from the inaccessible playing field they want to protect, and two further parks and one playing field within 500m. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!DB3e!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0258693c-3953-44bb-85a1-1ee2d065f5fb_1968x1030.jpg) What Sport England don’t want on the abandoned land As a result of Sport England’s stance, Medway Council will now have to refer the application to the Secretary of State, who will presumably see how silly this is and approve it anyway. In the meantime, new homes will be further delayed amid a housing crisis in our towns. Still, at least an inaccessible playing field on the grounds of a crumbling school will be protected. --- #### Hoo and Chattenden say yes Residents took to the polls in Hoo and Chattenden last week to vote on the Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan in an effort to exert more local control over the future of the area. Neighbourhood Plans allow local communities to set out what future sustainable growth looks like in their areas. While the documents don’t stop development in an area, they do allow the local community to shape it. In the case of the Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden plan, the proposals included limited buildings to three storeys, requiring pedestrian connections, protection of heritage sites, maintaining shop frontages, and design elements for future development. Unsurprisingly, voters in the area voted overwhelmingly in favour of the proposals, albeit with a 21% turnout. 93% of those participating voted to adopt the plan, with only 7% opposing. As a result, the plan will be legally adopted, meaning Medway Council has to consider it when judging planning applications in the area. This is the third Neighbourhood Plan to be approved in Medway, following one for Cliffe & Cliffe Woods last year and one for the Luton Arches area earlier this year. *You can* [*read the Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan in full here*](https://www.medway.gov.uk/downloads/file/8519/hoo%5Fst%5Fwerburgh%5Fand%5Fchattenden%5Fneighbourhood%5Fplan?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions*straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### By-election watch We’re now four months out from the General Election, where Lauren Edwards, Naushabah Khan, and Tristan Osborne were elected MPs. Yet there has still been no word on when they might stand down as councillors, triggering three by-elections in our towns. Technically, MPs don’t have to do this. It is acceptable for MPs to be councillors at the same time. Still, the reality is that it’s hard to fully dedicate yourself to the councillor role while swamped with parliamentary business. As a result, the Labour Party prefers that MPs don’t hold both roles. While several MPs around the country have since resigned from their councillor position, nothing has happened in Medway, and everyone has been very coy about when it might happen. Several sources have since confirmed to *Local Authority* that February looks like the most likely time for the by-elections in Gillingham South and Rochester East & Warren Wood, with all three MPs resigning simultaneously to trigger the by-elections on the same date. As a plan, it makes sense, but there is one small hurdle as things stand. Councillors are automatically disqualified from their role if they do not attend any council meetings over a six-month period. While Naushabah Khan and Tristan Osborne have been frequently sighted during full council and committee meetings, Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards last attended a meeting on May 30. This would mean that Cllr Edwards would cease to hold the role if she doesn’t attend any meeting in the next couple of weeks or so. Given she no longer sits on any committees and there is no full council meeting in this period, it will mean attending a committee meeting as a substitute for another councillor. Even then, there are few opportunities to do so on the [upcoming council schedule](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?XXR=0&M=11&DD=2024&ACT=Go&ref=localauthority.news). While it seems inevitable that the Labour Party will do everything it can to avoid a by-election a month earlier than they would like, whether they can get Edwards along to a meeting remains to be seen. As for the by-elections themselves, word on the street is that candidates from both main parties are already jostling to get their names on the ballot. One or two names might even be very familiar to readers. *If you’ve heard any juicy rumours about who will likely end up on the ballot, our inbox is always open via *hello AT localauthority DOT news*.* --- #### In brief 👊 [The Woodland Tavern pub in Gillingham is facing a licence review after a staff member allegedly punched a customer in the face](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/police-call-for-pub-licence-review-after-worker-punched-pun-315604/?ref=localauthority.news). Kent Police have also claimed they were met with resistance when they tried to investigate crime at the establishment. 🚗 [3,000 drivers have been fined since the six-month warning period on School Streets ended](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c629egv544lo?ref=localauthority.news). Previously, drivers with an inability to read road signs received a warning for a first offence, but now, anyone driving in the zones during the hours of operation receives a fine. 🏗️ Medway Council are set to approve the Ironmonger Yard development in Rochester at [next week’s planning committee](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6005&ref=localauthority.news). The plans would see 296 flats, community/retail space, and a remodelled Star Hill/Rochester High Street junction. You can read the [full report here](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=76699&ref=localauthority.news). 💡 [A new block of flats in Gillingham has seen a balcony quite literally built around a lampost](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gillingham-lamppost-built-balcony-flats-b2643183.html?ref=localauthority.news). The developers claim it’s because they are waiting for Medway Council to remove it, but there’s little evidence that the existing lampost was considered during the planning process. 🖼️ Don’t forget [Second Chance Medway’s Charity Art Auction](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) at Sun Pier House this weekend. Art will be displayed Saturday and Sunday ahead of the main auction at 1.30pm on Sunday. Some [amazing new pieces of art have been added to the auction](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) since we wrote about it on Friday. There’s also a [Facebook event for the auction here](https://www.facebook.com/events/2275974442762160).[1](#footnote-1) --- #### More Authority Our weekend interview was with Cllr Andrew Lawrence, who has represented Hempstead and Wigmore since 2023\. He is now the Conservative opposition’s Regeneration, Community, and Housing spokesperson. He talks about the Local Plan, the local elections, Brexit, covid, and whether elected representatives should be judged on historic social media… [“I will talk about things that people don't want to talk about”Andrew Lawrence was elected as a Conservative councillor for Hempstead and Wigmore in 2023 and is now their spokesperson for Regeneration, Community, and Housing. Steven met Andrew at the Chatham Dockside Starbucks, where they discussed the Local Plan, the local election, Brexit, covid, and whether elected representatives should be judged on historic social media.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fed003656-3e77-4666-ae31-12888b60388f_1600x900.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/maybe-im-a-serial-opposition-councillor/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Mad Half Hour by Panic Pocket*](https://panicpocket.bandcamp.com/album/mad-half-hour?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*More Break-Up Songs by New Starts*](https://darrenhayman.bandcamp.com/album/more-break-up-songs-new-starts?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*No One’s Coming For Us by Trust Fund*](https://trustfund.bandcamp.com/album/no-ones-coming-for-us?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- 1. *Usual declaration on anything Second Chance Medway related: Steven is the Chair of the charity, while I (Ed) am on the board of trustees.* [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") ### “I will talk about things that people don't want to talk about” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/maybe-im-a-serial-opposition-councillor/ Last updated: 2024-11-10T07:16:48.000Z *Andrew Lawrence was elected as a Conservative councillor for Hempstead and Wigmore in 2023 and is now their spokesperson for Regeneration, Community, and Housing. Steven met Andrew at the Chatham Dockside Starbucks, where they discussed the Local Plan, the local election, Brexit, covid, and whether elected representatives should be judged on historic social media.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!IFoq!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fed003656-3e77-4666-ae31-12888b60388f_1600x900.jpg) Cllr Andrew Lawrence **Was it a conscious choice to stand for the council in Hempstead and Wigmore?** Yeah. I'm a strong believer that you should live where you represent. It's not always possible, but when I was a Lewisham councillor, I lived in the ward I represented. In 2019, when they asked me to stand in Watling Ward, I wasn't particularly happy. It was very much last minute and it wasn't the ward where I lived and that result showed you the local candidates did much better than the candidates who didn't live in the ward. **Hempstead and Wigmore had big shoes to step into.** Yeah, obviously Diane and Rodney Chambers, massive shoes to step into. But actually I think our vote held up really well in that election, Jim Gilbourne and I. Jim does a much better job with the local community than I do. He's just that much more involved, but I think as we go around and meet people and solve the small number of problems we have in Hempstead and Wigmore, it's a great ward. **Talking of the last local elections, what wasn’t a great night for Medway Conservatives was still a good night for Rainham Tories?** Yeah, I think a net loss of one, and that was primarily because Watling ward went to three seats from two seats at the previous election. Really what undid the Medway Conservative Group was the boundary changes in Rochester, but also the anti-government feeling that was on the doorstep. I saw that very much in the General Election as well. I think it's quite humbling, not so much for me because I was a new councillor, but to see colleagues who'd served for many years having to go into opposition. But people have transitioned quite well, and I think as an opposition group, I think we're doing a good job. I reflect on when I'm in Overview and Scrutiny particularly, we get a portfolio holder turn up and talk about things that they don't know anything about, which is quite funny. When I look at the other side, I'm not that impressed. If you look at any of the recordings of O&S, whilst I wouldn't recommend you gave up the entire evening, there are some good meetings, and most of the questioning comes from the Conservative side rather than the other side. **What is your role in the Shadow Cabinet?** I've got the Regen-housing-culture portfolio. It's a ridiculously large portfolio and it's pretty much impossible for the O&S to really scrutinise that massive directorate in the way we are. I think if we were to win the council next time, we'd probably look very closely at that. I think given the issues around housing, both new housing, temporary housing, the council's own housing stock, it would make more sense to hive the housing bit off into its own portfolio, into its own O&S, so that a bit more attention could be given to it. We can hear a bit more from the community, because the community are really affected by new housing in particular. I have monthly meetings with the director. I've been talking to him not only about what's going on, but they’ve also got to find a £10m saving in that directorate, and there’s just not that money to save without stopping doing things. **With housing, isn’t part of the situation we are in at the moment a failing of the previous Conservative administration?** The failure to deliver a Local Plan… *(pause)* …is a problem. With a massive amount of hindsight, for someone who wasn't in the last group, I think [Alan ](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-medway-council/)[*(Jarrett)*](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-medway-council/) should have forced the Local Plan to a full vote. It would have forced [Vince Maple](https://www.localauthority.news/i-could-easily-fill-4-or-5-days-worth/) to have voted for it. Now if he had voted against it, he could never have done what he has done, a constant charge of ‘You didn't deliver a Local Plan.’ Alan probably would have had to have relied on Vince and the Labour Group to vote for it. But at least we would have got a Local Plan. I think the authority has spent a huge amount of money fighting development through the appeals process that are still being approved. Where I am in Hempstead and Wigmore, we’ve got Gibraltar Farm, East Hill, the Lidsing village. Albeit that's not part of Medway, but there, once again, why wasn't Lidsing dealt with under the last boundary changes and bought into Medway? I do wonder sometimes. The real problem about housing is since 1997 we've had a massive explosion in the population. You can't import 10 million people *(into the UK)* and go there isn't going to be a housing problem, I bought my first house when I was 20\. I paid just under £30,000 for a two-bedroom house in Suffolk. I've done very well in housing. I look at my three children, my 22-year-old, my 19-year-old, my 17-year-old, and without a £50,000 or £60,000 deposit, they're not going to be buying anywhere in Medway anytime soon. Medway's cheap compared to southeast London where I came from. We have to build houses. I've done a lot of work on this. There's been lots of really great discussions. We're trying to be positive. **Since the local elections, there's been a little bit of a turnover within the Conservative Group. Is there a reason why you never went for leader or deputy leader?** No, I didn't. Clearly, I didn't have the support. There was no point pushing myself forward. I'm a pragmatist in these things. I think there was an opportunity for us to get behind one, especially from Gillingham and Rainham, having the largest group of councillors. It seemed obvious that the leader should come from Gillingham and Rainham. **The first time round the leader and the deputy leader didn't come from Rainham.** No, but I think that was very much an interim. We needed a year. [Adrian Gulvin](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-going-to-be-an-interim-leader/) was absolutely amazing. He said, ‘Look, we're going to take a bit of a kicking. I'll take the kicking whilst we get ourselves sorted.’ I think [George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) has proved to be a tenacious leader. He's certainly raising our profile amongst the [LGA](https://www.local.gov.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), amongst national Conservative organisation, he's done an amazing job. **Were you surprised when two of the group left to become independent?** More disappointed. Personally disappointed because it's not only the disloyalty, but it's also all the people who came out and helped [Liz ](https://www.localauthority.news/catching-up-with-the-new-independent/)[*(Turpin)*](https://www.localauthority.news/catching-up-with-the-new-independent/) and John *(Williams)* get elected and I hope they're reflecting on that. Whilst the group is a very different group to the one under Alan Jarrett, some people just can't let the past go. That first year of opposition, we've had to work hard to forget the things that went on in the previous administration and focus very much on our job of being a credible opposition. I think we've done a good job, setting plans for the future. We've got some big changes because some of my colleagues are getting to the end of their local government careers. There will be another influx of new councillors. Hopefully we'll have control of the council. It will be interesting to see how that goes. **You’re on the Local Plan Working Party. Is that working?** It's more of an input. There's no debate. There's no decision making. It's more about Dave Harris *(Medway Council Chief Planning Officer)* and his team giving us updates on the Local Plan. I can now tell you, from that working party meeting, the final plan for Medway won't be delivered until December 2026\. This is quite interesting politically, because if it leaks into 2027, the Local Plan could become a big part of the election campaign in May 2027\. I think the timeline is very tight. There's a lot depending on whether the [Planning Inspectorate](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/planning-inspectorate?ref=localauthority.news) have got people available to listen and to do the examination. I'm a bit concerned that the changes to the [National Planning Framework](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2?ref=localauthority.news), whether our plan actually is entirely compliant with that. It'd be interesting to see how that develops. Still not sure why we just didn't pick up Alan Jarrett's plan and push that through. I'm not sure whether there was a legal issue. We've done two [Regulation 18s](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200542/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5F2041/1823/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5Fregulation%5F18%5Fconsultation%5F2024?ref=localauthority.news). I know Vince has been concerned about getting a Labour government elected, he's had to be dealing with fighting at Christmas parties… **‘Internal wranglings.’** Thank you. Now he's got a really big problem. Three of these key people are MPs and will undoubtedly want to focus entirely on that. It's not exactly deep with talent in the Labour Group. It's how they get some of this over the line. This is now, let's be very clear, Medway Labour's Local Plan, and [Tris Osborne](https://www.localauthority.news/im-pushy-and-i-like-people-pushing/), likes to say, ‘The tent is very big’ when there are big decisions to be made. It's very tiny when they just want to push through their stuff. They're already trying to say this is joint working and we're going to do this on a cross-party basis, but this is their Local Plan. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Local charity gains Billy Childish as patron URL: https://www.localauthority.news/local-charity-gains-billy-childish/ Last updated: 2024-11-08T19:43:14.000Z *In a world of reduced government support, charities are picking up more of the pieces in our towns to ensure people aren’t faced with insecure housing and going hungry. One charity has recently gained the support of legendary Medway musician and artist Billy Childish in this work. He, alongside many other artists, have provided work for an upcoming art auction to raise money for Second Chance Medway. Further down, we have news of Nucleus Arts’ Winter Art Bazaar, a review of lunch at Poco Loco, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more* --- #### Local charity gains legendary Medway artist Billy Childish as patron Second Chance Medway was founded by [Penny Keevil](https://www.localauthority.news/we-were-paying-their-rents-to-make/) *(who is, checks notes… my mother)* in 2015\. The charity supports people enduring insecure housing and those facing food insecurity, helping Medway residents meet their basic needs through tenancy support services and a Food Aid Project, ‘Medway’s Community Supermarket.’ *Before we continue, a declaration of interest: I (Steven) am the Chair for the charity and when I am not at Local Authority Towers, I have an office at a community centre that the charity runs in Brompton, where I oversee the centre, and work on the charity’s development. It should also be noted that Ed sits on the board of trustees for the charity.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!38Lv!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fcc07596e-a49e-434c-b5e6-04eb35fd0d85_1447x758.png) Second Chance Medway’s Community Hub in Chatham The original aim of the charity was providing support services to residents before they could be made homeless, working to ensure secure tenancies. From the community hub on Chatham High Street, the charity offers free services including housing advice, budgeting workshops, benefits advice, and hardship support for 18-25-year olds. It is also where the Food Aid project operates from. The ‘Community Supermarket’ enables people to get fruit and vegetables, pantry items, butchers’ meat, household goods, and hygiene products for a fraction of supermarket prices. This was set up as it became clear there was a need, which has only been exacerbated post pandemic and with the cost-of-living crisis. The charity has been supported over the years by, amongst others, Medway Council, Kent Community Foundation, Phillips Foundation and Colyer Ferguson Trust. In 2023 the number of beneficiaries to the charity’s food aid and tenancy support services was over 5,000 for the first time. Having successfully developed the ‘Community Supermarket’ thanks to a grant from the Clothworkers’ Foundation, the charity is developing their tenancy support provision. Their ‘Building Solutions’ project intends to help Medway Council’s [*Homelessness Strategy to 2030*](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200134/housing/1925/draft%5Fhomelessness%5Fprevention%5Fand%5Frough%5Fsleeping%5Fstrategy%5Fconsultation?ref=localauthority.news#:~:text=We%20want%20to%20update%20the,homelessness%20in%20all%20its%20forms.)*.* The objective is to offer, free at the point of use, tenancy support for those at the risk of eviction due to negative housing practices, provide a diverse range of high-quality support to help tenants and landlords maintain properties to a high standard and tenancy support towards independent living. In 2023, Second Chance took over the management of a community centre in Brompton. Located as part of the Melville Court housing complex, one of the most deprived communities in Medway, it has not been without challenges. Attempts to run it as a drop in centre didn’t work as people didn’t drop in. If in Chatham, people were unlikely to walk up the hill to Brompton and if in Gillingham, they were just as unlikely to walk across the Great Lines. The centre now runs as a bookable space, supporting organisations within Medway. Recent months have seen ‘Save a Baby Life’ CPR classes for home schoolers, sewing classes for refugees and Brompton PACT meetings. [Nucleus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) are currently running toddler Messy Play sessions on Thursday mornings and adult ‘Craft and Chat’ sessions on Friday afternoons. Both are free and open to the general public. [Medway Help for Ukrainians](https://www.facebook.com/groups/494045462258202/) run a community café space for Ukrainians in Medway on a Tuesday, and [Electric Medway](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) are running an “Imagination Space’ with [Ideas Test](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Activities include virtual reality (VR) painting, 3D scanning and creative writing to soundscapes on a Wednesday evening, and the sessions are free to join. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!UDU1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9291b251-84a8-430d-9708-9471e14e2e27_1456x1456.jpg) Billy Childish. Photo: Rikard Österlund In an exciting development, the charity is delighted to announce that legendary Medway musician and artist [Billy Childish](https://www.localauthority.news/we-used-to-always-be-one-paycheck/) has agreed to become a patron of the charity. Steven met Billy when he interviewed him for this publication, where [Billy spoke about his own experiences](https://www.localauthority.news/we-used-to-always-be-one-paycheck/). "We used to always be one paycheck from disaster," he recalled. Following that conversation, Billy became interested in the charity and what it was doing. “I’m happy to be behind the charity,” Billy told us via email. “That our governments are apparently fine with youngsters being born into poverty, in a world of plenty, is beyond reason. That they are okay with food insecurity is obscene.” As part of Second Chance’s plan to support Medway families, they have established a fund to help those facing food poverty this Christmas. As a fundraising effort, they will be holding a charity art auction next weekend. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2RT_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f78c1d022-f0d8-4158-8d52-951114bebe68_1600x964.jpg) **You can** [**view the artwork online and place bids via the auction website**](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news). All work will be displayed at [Sun Pier House](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/whatson/?ref=localauthority.news) on 16 November and until 2pm on 17 November, where you can also place bids in person. The Sun Pier House exhibition is open to everyone, though sadly, the venue is still not accessible for those who require step-free access as their lift construction work is not yet complete. The auction features original work by Billy Childish, Zara Carpenter, Sam Collins, Jamie Reid, Jimmy Cauty, Not Banksy, Harry Adams, Carol Smith, Maggie Osborn, Kieron Poole, Sarah Crouch, Mick Hampshire, Rikard Osterlund, Heather Haythornthwaite, Sophie Young, Sam Hall, and more. [View the artwork](https://fund2ndchancemedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### In brief 🌊 [The Haven holiday park at Allhallows has requested planning permission to add a ‘Wild River’ water attraction](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SM4KADKNG5M00&ref=localauthority.news). It comes as part of an extensive renovation programme on the site. 🍗 [Cheeky Clucker in Rochester will close at the end of the year](https://www.instagram.com/p/DB4RUXnNxNq/?ref=localauthority.news). The fried chicken restaurant blamed the economic climate and will now pivot to their delivery business. 🚆 [The railway line between Strood and Paddock Wood will be closed on Sunday for planned engineering works](https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/service-updates/planned-engineering-work?date=2024-11-10&ref=localauthority.news#engineering-departure-board). Rail replacement buses will operate along the route instead. 🚉 [Southeastern are set to spend £2m across its network over the next six months sprucing up and deep cleaning stations](https://newsroom.southeasternrailway.co.uk/news/southeastern-announces-gbp-2-million-of-station-improvements-to-be-delivered-in-the-next-six-months?ref=localauthority.news). Chatham and Gillingham will supposedly see improvements, while Strood, Rochester, and Rainham will receive the deep clean treatment. 🏁 [The BBC has spoken to Ben Jelf, an F1H20 elite powerboat racer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7dkz1jze8o?ref=localauthority.news). When not racing, he works as a mechanic in a garage in Chatham. 🏎️ [Buckmore Park Kart Circuit plans to build a large motorsports event centre and add simulators to its offer](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/kent-kart-circuit-unveils-bid-for-large-motorsport-events-315538/?ref=localauthority.news). The track, on the edge of Chatham, will create 30 new jobs. 🎵 Our music writer Stephen Morris recently put together a [musical tour of our towns](https://www.localauthority.news/around-medway-by-song/). He has now made a [collection of the songs included available as a playlist on Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5TXPnvC8jtSjCLkmwidcSk?si=DEm8uS3WT3SKSsMBK3RlPw&pi=CgSmgdueTDmT0&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Nucleus Arts’ Winter Open gets a rebrand [Nucleus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) is a Medway based arts organisation with artist’s studios, two galleries, and a thriving community engagement programme. This includes their [Winter Open exhibition](https://www.nucleusarts.com/winteropencall?ref=localauthority.news), which gives artists the opportunity to be part of a large exhibition with their peers. From this edition, the event is getting something of a rebrand. “This year, we are calling it the Winter Art Bazaar as we would like it to be a 'selling' show rather than just an exhibition,” says gallery manager Genevieve Tullberg. The aim is that being part of a group show is a different experience to having a solo show, with the advantages including contacts made and audiences shared, “as well as being inspired by and inspiring other artists. It is a great experience for emerging artists.” It costs £15 to submit three pieces of art to be considered for the Bazaar, with Nucleus committing that their panel judges will accept at least one, “which is not often the case at other galleries.” *You can find out more about the* [*Winter Art Bazaar on the Nucleus Arts’ website*](https://www.nucleusarts.com/winteropencall?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Out to Lunch: Poco Loco *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Poco Loco***](https://pocoloco.live/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Chatham*…* Situated at the Chatham end of the indefinable Intra area of the High Street is mainstay Poco Loco, a family run grass-roots dive bar, which is typically ‘a small, unglamorous, eclectic, old-style drinking establishment’. I won’t lie, I had to ponder that bit as calling a venue ‘a dive’, has somewhat negative connotations, but this venue is friendly, light and welcoming. The venue’s board offered tacos and tapas, and as I am still in search of good tapas in Medway, they had my attention. Regular readers of this section will know I love a small plate selection, and here I ordered prawn and chorizo skewers,chicken wingsdeep fried then finished with a choice of salt and pepper, and pork belly. Alongside these, I selected two mini corn on the cob and Cajun fries as sides. They also offer a bottomless brunch menu, but the days of journos taking two-hour alcohol fuelled lunch breaks are sadly beyond us. We had got there just after opening and were the only people in the restaurant. The friendly staff served within good time fresh, hot, and most importantly, tasty food. The skewers were delicious, the wings were dry and well-seasoned, the Cajun fries some of the nicest I have had, and I want to go back for more pork belly. The only letdown was the corn on the cob, that were far from mini, and lacking in flavour. Some of the Cajun seasoning from the fries would have worked on them a treat, but it’s a minor point for major cobs. If you are looking for somewhere in the Chatham Intra area for a sit-down meal, then I would happily recommend Poco Loco for lunch. Apparently, they also put on great music. --- #### Events this week 📚 Until 30 Nov - [**Medway River Lit** ](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)// Month-long series of weekend events across Medway featuring writing masterclasses, panels, poetry, drama and more. Various locations. Highlights: - Fri 8 Nov - [**Meanderslam**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/poetry-republic-meanderslam-2024-11-08-18-00?ref=localauthority.news) // Medway River Lit enters the arena of competitive spoken word with guest judge and poet Lalah-Simone Springer. Coffee Republic, Chatham. Pay what you can. - Sat 9 Nov - [**Writer talk (for young readers): Tom Mitchell**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/writer-talk-for-young-readers-tom-mitchell-2024-11-09-12-30?ref=localauthority.news)// Younger readers are invited to hear about 'How to Stop the End of The World.’ Chatham Library. Pay what you can. - Sun 10 Nov - [**Prizegiving: The Rosemary McLeish Award**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/prizegiving-the-rosemary-mcleish-award-2024-11-10-13-30?ref=localauthority.news) // The winners of a poem on climate change will be announced, and they will read their poems. Rochester Library. Pay what you can. - Wed 13 Nov - [**'Da Vinci' documentary screening**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/film-da-vinci-documentary-2024-11-13-19-00?ref=localauthority.news) // About Dmytro Kotsyubailo, known by the call sign 'Da Vinci', who fought for the freedom of Ukraine. Money raised will be donated for medical equipment for Ukraine. Gillingham Library. Pay what you can. Sat 9 Nov - [**Rochester City Vintage & Artisan Market**](https://www.facebook.com/events/814363610740379/814363614073712/) // Stalls selling wide range of products, food, and gifts. Rochester High Street. Free. 🏮 Sat 9 Nov - [**Friends of Gillingham Park Lantern Walk**](https://www.facebook.com/events/849318150626972?acontext=%7B%22event%5Faction%5Fhistory%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22discovery%5Ftop%5Ftab%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref%5Fnotif%5Ftype%22%3Anull%7D) // Explore Gillingham Park. Bring your own lantern for a family-friendly walk around the park's perimeter. Free. 🎸 Sat 9 Nov - [**Adam Ross + Men From Memphis + Paul Linton + Robot Is Stupid**](https://wegottickets.com/event/630903/?ref=localauthority.news) // Careful Now Promotions gig featuring Randolph’s Leap singer-songwriter. Oast Community Centre, Rainham. Tickets £8. 🎭 9 - 10 Nov - [**Modern Image of Dorian Grey**](https://www.spotlites.co.uk/event-details/the-modern-image-of-dorian-gray-2024-11-09-19-30?ref=localauthority.news) // New play by Aimee Ridell takes a social media angle on the classic story. Spotlites Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £11. 🤣 Mon 11 Nov - [**Funny Women mentoring meetup & open mic**](https://funnywomen.com/eventinfo/the-glitter-project-mentoring-meetup-medway/?ref=localauthority.news) // Informal networking, fun and games, plus first-hand advice from visiting experts. Playopolis, Rochester. Free. 🗣️ Tue 12 Nov - [**Medway Matters Live**](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medway-matters-live-tickets-1000584042807?ref=localauthority.news) // Ask questions directly to Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Chief Executive Richard Hicks. Royal Dockyard Church, Chatham. Free. 🎺 12 - 16 Nov - [**Rochester Cathedral Jazz and Blues Festival**](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/jazz?ref=localauthority.news) // A week of jazz and blues in the stunning setting of Rochester Cathedral. Headliners include James Taylor Quartet. Tickets from £15. 🎸 Thu 14 Nov - [**Spike Direction Effect + The May Day Riots + Bad Snacks**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1614985652383632/) // Punk and blues-inflected rock from local bands. Poco Loco, Chatham. Free. --- #### More Authority Ascend is Medway Council’s new flagship project that is part of the regeneration of Chatham. An extensive coworking space within the Pentagon aims to bring high-skilled jobs back into our town centre. In a world of changing working patterns, how viable is the plan? [Can Chatham Ascend?“Ascend is exciting because you don’t see it that much in other councils. It’s exciting that we are doing that as part of the regeneration of Chatham,” says Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment. He views Ascend as part of a wider regeneration of Chatham...![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe4de3948-d3a1-4356-9039-fcd40e85afb3_4032x2268.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/can-chatham-ascend/) Following a great start to the season, things are now decidedly less great at Gillingham FC. Our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins tries to find the positives where the team has found themselves. [Where do we go but nowhere?This month, our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins examines the positives at Gillingham Football Club and only finds two rays of light: No more Scally, and the beer selection in The Factory is much better this season.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityBen Hopkins![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f512c7fb4-438d-4ca0-ad4b-47b7bae7b9cf_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/where-do-we-go-but-nowhere/) Our interview with Cllr Andrew Lawrence, Shadow Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Community, and Housing, is coming up on Sunday. Hit the orange button below to ensure you receive all of our work when it’s published. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Where do we go but nowhere? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/where-do-we-go-but-nowhere/ Last updated: 2024-11-07T17:07:43.000Z After a great start to the season for Gillingham FC, things are now looking... less great _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Can Chatham Ascend? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/can-chatham-ascend/ Last updated: 2024-11-06T16:42:00.000Z “[Ascend](https://ascendcoworking.com/?ref=localauthority.news) is exciting because you don’t see it that much in other councils. It’s exciting that we are doing that as part of the regeneration of Chatham,” says Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment. He views Ascend as part of a wider regeneration of Chatham, highlighting the work around [Garrison Point](https://www.garrisonpoint.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and the [Paddock](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200177/regeneration/460/regeneration%5Fin%5Fchatham/5?ref=localauthority.news) to show it all coming together. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!KSlh!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe4de3948-d3a1-4356-9039-fcd40e85afb3_4032x2268.jpg) Ascend on the first floor of the Pentagon. Ascend is Medway Council’s new coworking space that takes up roughly a third of the first floor of the Pentagon Centre. Does the fact that so much space has been taken away from retail suggest the centre isn’t in the best of health? “It's a tough one,” answers Mahil. “If you look around town centres, across the country, they're facing similar problems. We took a decision, as in the council in the previous term, to make sure we secured what was a very strategic location. When parts Medway become available…” Mahil pauses, as if considering how delicate to be, before continuing, “Predatory development is happening at pace.” Medway considered the centre important to the regeneration of Medway, and Chatham in particular, and moved to take control of the site. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The future of Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-future-of-medway/ Last updated: 2024-11-05T22:21:09.000Z *Medway is a relatively new place, at least in terms of politics, having only been established as a council in 1998\. Now, less than three decades later, it is at a crossroads where it might not even be around in a few years. Before that though, it is on a financial precipice that last week’s budget may or may not help while also facing imminent reforms. This edition is perhaps a bit more wonkish than usual, but our in brief section at the end features some lighter news like a, er, bomb scare in Rochester and Medway Hospital’s endoscopy backlog… oh. We’ll just go back to watching live US election coverage to brighten the mood instead.* --- #### Act I: The budget might help Medway’s money woes, but it probably won’t Last week, we saw the first budget of the new Labour government. While it was a fascinating, carefully balanced exercise on several levels, we mainly care about one thing here at *Local Authority*: What does it mean for Medway Council’s finances? At the top of the pile, the Chancellor announced £1.3bn in additional funding for local government (for everyone, not just Medway[1](#footnote-1)). This represents a 3.2% in total core spending power in real terms. While this will certainly be welcome for a council like Medway, it is unlikely to close the budget gap the authority was already facing. Some rough calculations suggest if the 3.2% applied to Medway, it would represent about an extra £14m to the council’s spending power for the coming financial year. Unfortunately, Medway is [currently projecting a budget shortfall of £45m](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=75464&ref=localauthority.news) in the same period. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SNmc!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa19d8f91-5758-4292-97bd-01f24b4c4be5_4472x2341.jpg) Medway. Sorry, parts of Strood and the Peninsula are chopped off, but cuts have to be made somewhere. Still, some other positive news might be buried within the budget for local councils. Additional funding for Special Educational Needs, the Household Support Fund, Bus Service Improvement Plans, road maintenance support, and homelessness relief offer around £4.5bn in additional funding. However, how much of this might make it to Medway is unclear. Other budget factors that might make a difference to Medway: - Private schools are set to lose their charitable business rates status, which reduces their bill by 80%. Given the number and scale of private schools in Rochester, Medway Council officers are likely rubbing their hands in glee at the windfall this could offer. - The whole system of local government funding is planned for reform by 2026/27, and the government seems intent on offering support for struggling councils to get to that point. - The increase in National Insurance employer contributions from 13.8% to 15% could rather add to the council wage bill, wiping out some of the above additional funding. - The same is true for the increase in the minimum wage. Even with the additional funding available, [the Institute for Fiscal Studies analysis](https://www.localauthority.news/content/files/sites/default/files/2024-10/immediate-reflections-on-the-budget-local-government.pdf) identified that funding is still 19% lower per resident than in 2010. Medway Council will take some time to crunch the numbers in full to see their financial position. Given the state of things in recent years, it’s unlikely things will be much worse, but whether they will be much better is another matter entirely. --- #### Act II: Local government reform may make Medway run better, but it probably won’t Alongside changes to local government finance, the new Labour government also seems keen on changing how councils work. Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, recently spoke at the Local Government Association Conference and set out a series of potential reforms that might improve how councils do business. Or maybe not. ![Medway Council is civil until it isn't - by Ed Jennings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!PdYx!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fffaabbb4-580b-4b60-9e58-b5e34f0eab38_2202x926.jpg) Reforms are on the agenda, but the silly voting cards likely live on The biggest item on the agenda is the one that ties into the previous item: lower interest rates for councils that need to borrow money to stay afloat. Of course, councils not having to borrow money to stay afloat would be even better, but that’s a bit too radical of an idea. For politics nerds like us, reforming council meetings and reintroducing digital meetings like we saw at the height of covid is a positive move. The pandemic proved that council business could be conducted online if necessary, and giving councillors the option to participate in meetings remotely is positive for those with caring responsibilities or health issues. It’s also good for - as we saw during the pandemic - any councillors who might be feeling tired and emotional to take part in proceedings. Elsewhere, many of the reforms raised by Rayner are fairly vague and appear to offer little at first glance. The proposal for councillors’ home addresses to be anonymous is reasonable in the political environment, but the power to withhold this data already existed, as many Medway councillors have discovered. Talk of ‘strengthening councillor conduct’ could be positive, but it's difficult to judge with no further detail available. --- #### Act III: Medway might exist a decade from now, but it probably won’t Given that Medway is one of the youngest councils in the country, it might seem slightly odd to talk about it on an existential level, but that seems to be where we are. Medway was formed in 1998 as the government of the day moved toward unitary authorities rather than the multi-tier county councils of the past. While unitaries have popped up across the country, usually in large urban areas or in the wake of counties that have gone bankrupt, they by no means became standard. As a result, Medway sits alone in Kent, with the rest of the county retaining Kent County Council and 12 district councils underneath it. It’s hard to gauge whether or not being a unitary has been good for Medway. We’d tend to err toward a largely positive result, allowing more simple local control, but your mileage may vary. Now, with Labour back in power and devolution back on the agenda, there appears to be a desire to simplify local government structures once again, with all signs pointing toward Medway being gobbled up into something larger. The [previous Medway Council meeting revealed](https://www.localauthority.news/frozen-pensioners-hate-crimes-and/) that the government had been talking to Medway Council and Kent County Council about setting up a Kent and Medway Combined Authority. This would largely keep Medway as it is but would add an extra tier above for the wider region, as well - most excitingly - potentially a directly elected Mayor of Kent. It is unclear at this point how much support these plans might have, though most parties agree that the additional powers that come for local areas under devolution deals would be welcome. This week, a new proposal was put forward by the [Centre for Cities](https://www.centreforcities.org/?ref=localauthority.news) think tank, who are ‘dedicated to improving the economies of the UK’s largest cities and towns.’ It presents an interesting approach that would see Medway merge with a number of west Kent councils while leaving the ones to the east to create their own. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SYZ6!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9a6641ac-4ecd-47ca-aa0e-1ea6489e0cb1_2063x1470.jpg) Centre for Cities devolution proposals Here at *Local Authority Towers*, the initial reaction to this was ridicule, but the more we’ve thought about it, the more it might be the sensible middle ground. The plan would see Sevenoaks and Dartford absorbed into the London area, which feels somewhat logical, even if it’s unlikely to be popular. That would leave a combined west Kent council consisting of Medway, Swale, Gravesham, Maidstone, Tonbridge and Malling, and Tunbridge Wells. The remainder of Kent (Canterbury, Thanet, Ashford, Folkestone & Hythe, and Dover) would form their own separate authority. In their [Economy First: A Pragmatic English Devolution White Paper](https://www.centreforcities.org/publication/economy-first-a-pragmatic-english-devolution-white-paper/?ref=localauthority.news), they set out their somewhat unique approach for mapping out the proposed areas, primarily using economic geography based on the commuting areas of higher skilled workers: > *Competing definitions of economic geography and competing considerations for devolution can make it appear difficult to develop a clear preferred geography.* > *High Skill Travel to Work Areas (HS-TTWAs) – essentially the commuting areas of higher skilled workers – are the best geography for devolution to aim towards, for two key reasons.* > *First, HS-TTWAs are larger than “regular” Travel to Work Areas, and so include a mix of affluent and poorer neighbourhoods, making it possible for them to absorb fiscal devolution without increasing inequality.* > *Second, HS-TTWAs are small enough that large cities and counties with urban economies are consistently contained within distinct HS-TTWAs.* > *They capture the geography that housing and labour markets operate over and are a sensible scale for local economic policy, such that improvements in planning, transport, and skills have the best possible chance of increasing local and national growth.* Of course, all of this is very wonkish. Still, if we are to accept that an authority the size of Medway isn’t sustainable in the long term, there is a logic in grouping Medway with the relatively nearby districts that we have closer ties to rather than distant and remote lands like Folkestone & Hythe. The Centre for Cities proposal is just one of many that will likely be flying around local government circles, and it’s not clear exactly where the new government will likely land on this. What does seem certain, though, is that change is on the horizon. Whether that’s Medway forming a new Combined Authority with Kent, a new west Kent unitary authority, or something completely different, it seems increasingly likely that Medway as we know it now won’t exist a few years from now. --- #### In brief 🏥 [The former Debenhams building in Chatham could become an NHS elective care centre](https://futuremedway.co.uk/nhs-eyes-former-debenhams-in-chatham-for-new-elective-care-centre/?ref=localauthority.news). This would see the lower floors used for planned operations to ease the burden on Medway Hospital, with the top floors converted to residential. 🏪 [B&M have withdrawn their application for an alcohol licence at their new Gillingham store](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/police-oppose-b-ms-late-night-booze-bid-for-former-wilko-315193/?ref=localauthority.news) after objections were raised. The former Wilko unit is in an area where alcohol-related crime is already a problem. 💣 [Bomb disposal teams were called to Rochester last week](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/bomb-disposal-teams-called-to-building-site-315189/?ref=localauthority.news) after suspicious objects were found on the Rochester Riverside development. The World War 2 items were declared non-explosive and removed from the site. 🏥 [Medway Hospital has applied to build a temporary endoscopy unit in one of its car parks](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SLPNWOKNMID00&ref=localauthority.news). The hospital has a backlog of 4,500 procedures and believes the new unit will get this cleared in a year. 🏫 [Three single-sex grammar schools in Medway are set to become co-educational from September 2026](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1794/department%5Ffor%5Feducation%5Fgives%5Fgreen%5Flight%5Ffor%5Fthree%5Fmedway%5Fgrammar%5Fschools%5Fto%5Fgo%5Fco-ed?ref=localauthority.news). The mixed intake at Chatham Grammar, Fort Pitt Grammar School, and Holcombe Grammar School will help balance the number of secondary places across Medway. 🚓 [Kent Police have requested the licence of the Woodland Tavern in Gillingham be reviewed](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news). They have done so on the basis that the premises is associated with serious crime. 🏗️ [Work has begun on the 800-home development at East Hill in the Capstone Valley](https://futuremedway.co.uk/work-on-first-phase-of-800-home-development-at-east-hill-chatham-to-begin/?ref=localauthority.news). The first phase will see 91 homes, a play area, open spaces, and a new roundabout constructed to connect the new builds to North Dane Way. 🗣️ [Rochester and Labour MP Lauren Edwards has written for LabourList](https://labourlist.org/2024/11/us-election-2024-labour-government-kamala-harris-lauren-edwards/?ref=localauthority.news) on how to win in the international age of right-wing populism. It involves building a system ‘for the many and not the few’, apparently. 🗳️ [The Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan referendum is being held this Thursday (7 Nov)](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200149/planning%5Fpolicy/142/neighbourhood%5Fplanning/6?ref=localauthority.news). Voters can choose whether or not to adopt the plan that would influence future development in their area. --- #### More Authority With Medway River Lit in full swing, on Sunday we sat down with one of its founders, playwright and graphic novelist Sam Hall, about her work and telling stories of the Medway Towns. ["I like Chatham a lot"With the return of Medway River Lit, Steven sat down with Sam Hall at Café Nucleus to talk about her plays, her new graphic novel and telling stories of the Medway Towns.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffcf6244c-0e9d-4550-91f4-c318bdf18409_1170x546.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-like-chatham-a-lot/) We’ve got a big week of content lined up: - **Wednesday (paid supporters only):** An in-depth look at Ascend, one of Medway Council’s landmark regeneration projects for the Pentagon in Chatham. - **Thursday (paid supporters only):** The latest goings on at Gillingham FC with our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins. - **Friday:** Our regular arts, culture, and lifestyle briefing edition. - **Sunday (paid supporters only):** Our weekend interview is with Cllr Andrew Lawrence, Shadow Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Community, and Housing. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*A Good Kind of Nervous by The Lucksmiths*](https://thelucksmiths.bandcamp.com/album/a-good-kind-of-nervous?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Gentrified Chicken by The Muslims*](https://themuslims.bandcamp.com/album/gentrifried-chicken?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Hello Sadness by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/hello-sadness-remastered?ref=localauthority.news) --- 1. *Imagine if Medway had an extra £1.3bn to play with. That tram dream could finally become a reality.* [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") ### "I like Chatham a lot" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-like-chatham-a-lot/ Last updated: 2024-11-03T07:21:50.000Z *With the return of* [*Medway River Lit*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, Steven sat down with Sam Hall at Café Nucleus to talk about her plays, her new graphic novel and telling stories of the Medway Towns.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6iRt!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffcf6244c-0e9d-4550-91f4-c318bdf18409_1170x546.jpg) Sam Hall (left) with Barry Fentiman-Hall of Wordsmithery and Medway River Lit **Please say your name for the record.** Sam. Well, I mean, if we're going for business, then Fentiman-Hall, but if we're going for writing, Sam Hall. **How do you want it in the interview?** That's confusing for people, though, isn't it? Sam Hall, yeah. It's just to demarcate it a bit and also because I had had plays out before I met [Barry](https://www.localauthority.news/weve-assembled-something-that-medway/). That's why I just go with Sam Hall because then it's more confusing for people. But now it's confusing for people anyway. **Have you had any plays put on in Medway?** My graphic novel, [My Mind is Free](https://www.medwayish.com/product/my-mind-is-free-by-sam-hall?ref=localauthority.news), was originally a play that's had quite a lot of productions, so it's been produced in London, it's been up at Edinburgh on the Edinburgh Fringe, it's had a little tour of Medway. It had about four venues in Medway, including here *(Café Nucleus)* actually. **What is your relationship with Wordsmithery and Medway River Lit?** I am the queen *(laughs)*. I set [Wordsmithery](https://www.wordsmithery.info/?ref=localauthority.news) up with the aim of encouraging more people to get into writing and reading and now happily work on that with Barry. With regard the festivals, Barry has been more operational, whereas I am more strategic. Though on this festival we’ve been doing everything together. **Where were you born?** Bristol. **And what brought you to the Medway Town?** I lived in London for about 15 years and could never afford to buy anywhere. I ended up coming to Medway because it was 45 minutes by train! It's not really 45 minutes because you've got to walk to the station, you've got to get the train, you've got to then get the tube across London to your work. The first year that I lived in Medway, I was commuting to London, which absolutely exhausted me and just killed me basically because I was also doing the first year of my MA as well. I was doing that in the evenings, two nights a week in London. I think covid showed us it wasn't necessary, and yet many employers still insist on you doing it because they don't trust that you're going to be doing work from home. **Did you enjoy school?** I hated it. I really hated it. I didn't have much of a creative output at school, and I have always been very creative. It was drawing then and also writing. I did hate my school experience. **What did you do at university?** I did Film Studies and English. That was in London. I stayed in London after that. I got into journalism in London during my degree. I was volunteering for a local magazine. I then got into working for another local magazine, and I got the job as editor of this other local magazine, which wasn't very long-lived. Then I just ended up doing designin and producing publications for charities and organisations. **What was your Master’s in?** That was in Creative Writing. It was focusing on plays and screenplays rather than novels. Some of it was good, some of it not so good. I think it depends a lot on the tutor, doesn't it? Some of them were good, some not so good. **What was your first produced play?** It was a play called Pretty Boy, produced at the [White Bear Theatre](https://www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) in London. It was a good and bad experience. **What was the good? Let's focus on the positive.** The good experience was just seeing how a play comes together. A lot of hard work. I think I built some props for that one and painted the floor and things like that. It's all very hands on. It's not very glamorous at all. It went down pretty well. We had the thing that everyone in the theatre always has that sometimes you're the only person in the audience in the Fringe Theatre. But there were a couple of days there were a lot of people in. There was one joke that made people wet themselves laughing every time, so that was quite satisfying to watch. **What is your official occupation now?** I'm going to say literature developer, but also writer and graphic novelist. **Who has been the best Prime Minister of your lifetime?** Well, that's not a fair question, is it? Have we had one? I'd say it was very exciting when I was a student, and Tony Blair came in. It was great, and you had that ‘Things Can Only Get Better’ tune. It sort of didn't. They did for a bit, and then they sort of didn’t. I don't think any have been great. What about Gordon? I think Gordon would have been good if he had a chance. **Where do you like to go for dinner in Medway?** Our favourite place would be just down the road, [Taze](https://www.tazemezemangal.com/?ref=localauthority.news). There's also a really good place in Rochester that we've recently started ordering from, [The Cumin Club](https://www.cuminclub.com/?ref=localauthority.news). Fan of the sandwiches at [Mrs Sourdough](https://www.mrssourdoughbakery.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). **In the world of writing plays and literature, what has been the big improvement to Medway in the time you've been here?** I'd say the way that the support from the council changed and also the valuing of what we do has increased since I started doing it. You had a thing at the beginning where it was the council putting on events that they invited you to be part of voluntarily. It has moved, not quickly but not slowly either, into the council recognising that they can't put every single event on. They started working with the creatives in the particular areas that they wanted an event to be put on as a partner, commissioning people to do things and actually paying them as well for it, which was the big change for a lot of freelancers. Rather than giving your time for free, you're getting compensated for it. Nobody in the creative industries is doing it because you want money. You're doing it because you love what you're doing, but you need the money in order to be able to pay your rent and have a cup of tea down Nucleus. That was a really big change and it allowed a lot of people in the local creative sector to take themselves more seriously because they were being taken seriously by the council, and their hard work and passion was being acknowledged. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Landmark dockyard building to become digital creative hub URL: https://www.localauthority.news/landmark-dockyard-building-to-become/ Last updated: 2024-11-01T20:53:56.000Z *Medway is set to get a new digital creative hub as a £15m project to renovate an old Police Section House in Chatham Dockyard gets underway. When it opens in 2026, the building will host cutting-edge digital production and motion capture facilities, offering new creative opportunities within our towns. Further down, we speak to Medway writer Sarah Hehir about the end of Doctors, with her final episode airing this week. We also have news of new masterclasses by Lyrici Arts, a review of Bird Box, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Landmark dockyard building to become digital creative hub Near the entrance to Chatham Historic Dockyard, nestled behind Dock Road, is a large building you may not have noticed. The 1860s former Police Section House is a Grade II-listed Scheduled Ancient Monument, but given its position surrounded by trees and disused land, it is easily overlooked. [The Docking Station](https://www.kent.ac.uk/institute-cultural-creative-industries/dockingstation?ref=localauthority.news) is an exciting proposition for those involved in the project to bring it back into use. The plan is to restore the building, develop it into a hub, and provide industry-standard digital production technologies. All being well, it will enable new skills to be developed in immersive technologies, accessible to local businesses, students, communities, and the local creative sector. There is a long way to go before we reach that point, though. The building has stood empty since Chatham Dockyard closed in 1984, and in its current form, it is a little bit worse for wear. *Local Authority* were given a tour of the site, a visit that required hard hats, high-vis, and heavy boots to negotiate the building, which has seen little to no upkeep in the intervening years. The building was taken on by Homes England as part of their larger plan for Chatham Dockyard. Going forward, it will be brought back under the control of the dockyard, which in turn will sublease it to the University of Kent’s Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries (iCCi), who are leading on the project. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!O5Qm!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7f45f596-ecd6-4242-a2f9-ae9c8644c4a6_1920x1005.jpg) Plans for The Docking Station While the £15m funding for the works is coming from various sources, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Arts Council England, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the university is taking on the site's day-to-day operation. It's a risk for the university at a time when budgets are increasingly tight, particularly in Medway, where several courses have recently been withdrawn. The university’s iCCi is keen to point out that this is a sign that they are committed to Medway and will offer new courses at The Docking Station, including Games Design and Screen Skills. The former is designed to continue from games courses available at MidKent College. It is that kind of partnership working that seems to be at the heart of the project. Chatham Dockyard, the University of Kent, and Medway Council are all involved, and even before the site opens, support is being given to outside events like Electric Medway and the Chatham Carnival. Eventually, the plan is to have cutting-edge educational facilities that can also be used by businesses and creatives needing access to digital production technology. A motion capture and virtual production space is part of the plans, recognising the way in which creative technology is moving. While these aren't quite of the scale that Disney use to shoot The Mandalorian, they will offer an accessible route to this kind of technology for smaller productions. This will take the site's footprint beyond the existing police house, with a large modern building added to the rear, contrasting with the historic front building. The plan includes a publicly accessible ground floor and cafe, creating a new creative space that will be open to anyone when the project opens its doors in 2026. Caroline Dennis, the University of Kent’s Project Director for Docking Station, is enthusiastic about the future: > *"We are now all set to start on site and deliver this transformative project by Summer 2026\. Docking Station will be a unique hub, equipped with industry-standard production technologies, including virtual production and motion capture. This dynamic facility will enable local businesses, students, and the broader community to develop new skills in immersive technologies. It will also strengthen the thriving digital creative industries in Medway and the wider region as well as cementing the University of Kent’s commitment to Medway."* With work due to start on the site imminently, The Docking Station presents an exciting opportunity for Medway's future creative development. --- #### In brief 🌳 [Medway Council proposes replacing the former Cozenton Nursery with 23 new allotments](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SLEMOOKNFRN00&ref=localauthority.news), a tree nursery, and a community garden. Medway has an extensive allotment waiting list, so this is a small positive step. ⛲ [The 125-year Driver Fountain has been returned to Luton](https://futuremedway.co.uk/residents-celebrate-return-of-125-year-old-driver-fountain-to-luton-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news) after being moved to Chatham Cemetary in 1961\. The monument now sits on New Road in a prominent location. ⛴️ [Medway Council has approved their own planning application for a temporary new pier in Rochester](https://futuremedway.co.uk/plans-to-build-docking-platform-on-river-medway-in-rochester-approved/?ref=localauthority.news). Work can now begin on the project, which will see a platform built on the River Medway within the new Rochester Riverside development. 🐬 Speaking of the river, [dolphins were spotted in the River Medway this week](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x984k84?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### No longer on call for Doctors [Doctors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctors%5F%282000%5FTV%5Fseries%29?ref=localauthority.news) is a TV soap set around a GP surgery in Letherbridge, a fictional town in the Midlands. Why are we at *Local Authority Towers* interested in this? Because Medway’s own [Sarah Hehir](https://www.localauthority.news/i-write-in-quite-a-visual-way/) is a writer on the show. Or rather was, as her last episode went out today. Sarah freely admits that she loved working on the show “because there was a combination of strict guidelines - we could only use three guest locations and three guest characters, but this was countered with a freedom for the stories we wanted to tell.” Sarah talks about her strong working relationship with her script editor, who “would go to some lengths to support me in getting a story accepted and shaping it in creative ways.” Somehow, the show's audience were open to quite experimental storytelling, far more than a traditional soap audience. The show has had weeks dedicated to a theme, including Shakespeare week and homelessness week, split screens, ghosts, and a man who walked out of a painting. This was mixed with hard-hitting storylines and a hugely diverse range of characters and issues. The reason that Sarah’s time on the show is coming to an end is not of her choosing. The BBC, in its wisdom, has cancelled it. “Doctors was a brilliant training ground for writers, directors and actors. It was brave in its approach. It could be funny and it could be heartbreaking.” Posting on social media, Sarah celebrated that the show “punched way, way above its budget and time slot.” Sarah’s final episode of Doctors can be seen on [BBC iPlayer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0024gsn/doctors-series-24-268-leap-of-faith?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Lyrici Arts deliver online masterclasses Lyrici Arts is a black-led organisation creating theatre and arts programmes in Medway. They aim to change how diversity and inclusion are perceived in the arts. They have delivered over 150 events, reaching 10,000 people in Medway and beyond, collaborating with local and national theatre, arts, and charitable organisations. Their current programme is dedicated to encouraging audiences to engage in meaningful experiences, providing opportunities for them to take part in music and theatre, inspiring new skills and a love of the arts. Commissioned by Royal Opera House Bridge and Arts Council England. The series includes classes on how to freestyle, beatbox, and how to build tracks in Logic Pro X. They say that their Lyrical Masterclasses ‘celebrate the transformative power of music, beatboxing, and hip-hop, genres deeply rooted in Black culture and history.’ The Lyrical Masterclasses are [available online and on demand](https://lyriciarts.com/whats-on/?ref=localauthority.news) until 31 December and are completely free to access. --- #### Out to Lunch: Bird Box *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s ordered lunch from *Bird Box*…* Sharing a location with Frankie and Benny’s at Hempstead Valley with a number of other ‘[dark kitchens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual%5Frestaurant?ref=localauthority.news)’, Bird Box is only available for delivery via one of the myriad ordering apps. I initially had Bird Box for a non-review-based lunch and enjoyed it. So it was enthusiasm that I ordered once again. That order consisted of the boneless chicken box, which includes a portion of chicken bites, chicken tenders with mustard mayo and Korean BBQ sauces, and beef brisket dirty fries. Sadly, it was not as good the second time. It’s hard to say why. To be fair, the chicken was perfectly fine the second time. The dirty fries were not. The portion of beef brisket was less and less enjoyable. The fries were less fried and more dirty. If you can get the order I had the first time, then Bird Box is well worth considering, but I will unlikely order a third time. --- #### Events this week 📚 1 - 30 Nov - [**Medway River Lit** ](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)// Month-long series of weekend events across Medway featuring writing masterclasses, panels, poetry, drama and more. Various locations. Highlights: - Fri 1 Nov - [**Medway River Lit 2024 Launch**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/launch-medway-river-lit-festival-2024-2024-11-01-14-00?ref=localauthority.news) // Festival launch event, outlining what’s scheduled and fun writing activities. Chatham Library. Pay what you can. - Fri 1 Nov - [**Poetry Republic: The Four Poets**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/poetry-republic-the-four-poets-2024-11-01-18-00?ref=localauthority.news) // Performances from Kent poets Maggie Harris, Bill Lewis, Sarah Hehir, and Barry Fentiman Hall. Coffee Republic, Chatham. Pay what you can. - Sun 3 Nov - [**Local Author Book Fair**](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/local-author-book-fair-2024-11-03-12-30?ref=localauthority.news)[ ](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/event-details-registration/local-author-book-fair-2024-11-03-12-30?ref=localauthority.news)// Meet self-published authors and those published with independent publishers. Rochester Library. Pay what you can. 🎸 Fri 1 Nov - [**Pizza Weasel + Smile Wide + Larry 73**](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/chatham/poco-loco/pizza-weasel-smile-wide-larry-73/e-koamyg?ref=localauthority.news) // Three Kent pop-punk bands making music like it’s 1996\. Poco Loco, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🎤 Fri 1 Nov - [**Medway On The Map**](https://www.instagram.com/p/DAodcjYO2uL/?ref=localauthority.news) // New music open mic night highlighting Medway artists. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🎻 Sat 2 Nov - [**City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/City-of-Rochester-Symphony-Orchestra?ref=localauthority.news) // First concert of the season features operatic favourites by Puccini, Bizet, Mascagni and Verdi. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £15. 🗾 Sun 3 Nov - [**Godzilla Minus Color**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/godzilla-minus-color/HO00006430/?ref=localauthority.news) // Rerelease of the excellent monster film, now presented beautifully in black and white. Odeon, Chatham. Tickets £5. 🦸‍♂️ Tue 5 Nov - [**Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/superman-the-christopher-reeve-story/HO00006390/?ref=localauthority.news) // Documentary about the actor who found fame in his portrayal of Superman before an accident left him a quadriplegic. Chatham, Odeon. Tickets £5. *Don’t forget to check out* [***our new events page***](https://www.localauthority.news/events/)*. We’ll continue to include the events for the current week in these Friday briefings, but we’re aware that it’s often last minute, or things might be sold out by the time you read about them here. Our events page aims to solve that by offering a view of everything interesting happening over the next few months across Medway.* *The page is still a work in progress, and there’s a good chance we’ve missed something interesting. If you are holding or know of an event that will likely interest us, let us know via *events AT localauthority DOT news* \- thanks!* --- #### More Authority Yesterday, we published an article on the formation of a new LGBT+ advocacy organisation, Rainbows Over Medway. Shea and Sarah Coffey have moved from their work on Medway to Pride to this new project, having conversations in Westminster and with businesses about inclusivity. They talk about that transition, the abuse they have faced, and what comes next. [Forming rainbows over MedwayLast year, we sat down with Shea Coffey of Medway Pride to talk about their work and being “the grit in the system”. This year, Shea and her spouse Sarah Coffey stepped down from Medway Pride to focus on their new project Rainbows Over Medway. We decided to find out why they stepped away, the abuse they have faced, and what comes next.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb9bf9243-45b9-499c-82b6-678211215123_1536x1189.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/forming-rainbows-over-medway/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Forming rainbows over Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/forming-rainbows-over-medway/ Last updated: 2024-10-31T17:10:53.000Z *Last year,* [*we sat down with Shea Coffey*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-prefer-to-be-the-grit-in-the-system/) *of Medway Pride to talk about their work and being “the grit in the system”. This year, Shea and her spouse Sarah Coffey stepped down from Medway Pride to focus on their new project* [*Rainbows Over Medway*](https://rainbowsovermedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. We decided to find out why they stepped away, the abuse they have faced, and what comes next.* “Public dialogue has gone in a very strange direction, and there is a lot of hate out there”, notes Shea Coffey. One of the projects that has brought them the most vitriol has been giving books to libraries, which might not sound particularly controversial. The issue is that the supplied books had titles like ‘Have Pride’ or the ‘Trans Teen Survival Guide.’ “How dare we!” says Shea. There was a concern that the advocacy work that Shea was leading had the risk of undermining the hard work of [Medway Pride Radio](https://medwayprideradio.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), especially when it came to funding and wider support, hence the decision to step away. A communication specialist in her day job, Sarah provides admin support, creating a wide range of posters or helping to ensure that Shea’s idea happens. “I was very much in the background doing things, and then on the day of Pride, helping people out, doing whatever we needed. Radio station side of things, I was doing all the tech stuff. On top of having a full-time job, I was basically running the radio station. It was seven days a week working on that.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!g2xQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb9bf9243-45b9-499c-82b6-678211215123_1536x1189.jpg) Sarah and Shea Coffey “I felt that Medway Pride had become something iconic”, continued Shea, “and I was able to step away, leaving it in very good hands”. Shea’s focus moving forward is to pursue conversations at Westminster and with businesses over the Rainbows banner. Conversations around housing, health care and hate crime. This is no tall order, requiring time and getting access to the right people at the right time. Time that being actively involved with Medway Pride wouldn’t provide. Not that they will step away entirely. “We’ll still be at [Medway Pride](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)”, says Shea happily, “and we'll still be at various prides across Kent and southern England”. Shea admits she has always had a love-hate relationship with Prides in general. “They're not what they were 30 years ago, which is a good thing. It's a positive thing. They're not needed in the same way.” But that doesn't mean the community doesn't still have things it needs to campaign on. Shea acknowledges that they don’t want the attention they can bring to affect “a great day out in Medway.” Rainbows Over Medway grew out of Medway Pride Radio and rapidly became about education, understanding and welfare, particularly for young LGBT+ people. “We're losing sight of them in the conversations we're having nationally”, says Shea. “It’s very rare that anybody asks them what they want or what they need.” Whatever your position, there is the risk of talking over and at them and not talking with or to them. That’s what Rainbows aims to rectify. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Government accepts Chatham Docks redevelopment URL: https://www.localauthority.news/government-accepts-chatham-docks/ Last updated: 2024-10-29T23:45:13.000Z *The fight over Chatham Docks has been rumbling for years now, as owners and tenants of the site remain at odds about its future. The owners got closer to redeveloping the site today, with the government choosing not to intervene. We’ve got the full details as the latest round of blame begins. Further down: A pretty grim Planning Committee meeting, most Medway buses are getting 50% more expensive, a huge development proposed near the Strand, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Government accepts Chatham Docks redevelopment The ongoing fight over the future of Chatham Docks took a small step towards concluding today as the government opted not to intervene in the decision to allow Peel Ports to redevelop part of the site. [Sky News has reported](https://news.sky.com/story/ministers-pave-way-for-chatham-docks-scheme-in-blow-to-steel-giant-13243947?ref=localauthority.news) that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have informed Medway Council that they won’t ‘call in’ the matter for further examination. As a result, they are happy for Medway to make the final decision on the site. Given that Medway Council have previously recommended the scheme for approval, it seems inevitable that the project will now get off the ground. ![Artist impression of Basin3](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!PaBI!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fafe14d4c-6ce9-46c8-b3ad-f5e814ea628a_1222x640.jpg) Proposals for part of Chatham Docks site We’ve previously covered [the argument over Chatham Docks at length](https://www.localauthority.news/chatham-docks-edges-closer-to-redevelopment/). Briefly, owners Peel Ports want to close and redevelop the site into a mixed commercial and residential use site. In contrast, one of the companies currently on the site, ArcelorMittal, has threatened to withdraw from the UK if the plans go ahead. The situation is heightened by [Medway Labour](https://web.archive.org/web/20220701050634/https://www.medwaylabour.org.uk/response-to-new-chatham-docks-redevelopment-plans/) (and [Keir Starmer](https://web.archive.org/web/20210416103051/https://www.medwaylabour.org.uk/labour-leader-keir-starmer-supports-the-campaign-to-save-chatham-docks/)) pushing to protect the site while in opposition before quickly changing their minds when in power. The proposals in question here are only for a section of Chatham Docks, and no residential units are being put forward, just commercial and industrial units. It’s unclear how much demand there is for these units, with the owners claiming to aim for creative industries and high-tech tenants on the site. The plans also open up a walking and cycling connection between Chatham Waters and St. Mary’s Island, avoiding travelling along the dual carriageway to the south of the site. Former Rochester and Strood MP [Kelly Tolhurst was quick to seize upon the lack of intervention](https://www.facebook.com/rochesterandstroodkelly/posts/pfbid02KmBbjQqLNFUgv3ZhFQPjTuYYTPKPokHEgDEELx4szww7nE1Ab5LH1uzpKN1Wji9bl), pinning much of the blame at the door of new MP Lauren Edwards: > *Sadly the new Labour MP has singularly failed to back local people and fight to protect the docks and the jobs, choosing to hide behind the decision her council took last year, which she is still a part of as a councillor. I have fought alongside the businesses and workers to protect this asset, to try and save the jobs of local people and I will continue to fight alongside Save Chatham Docks who will be looking at next steps. I am clear this is a bad decision for the local businesses, local people, the Medway Towns and our local economy* Edwards, for her part, [speaking to KentOnline](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/docks-campaign-dealt-blow-as-rayner-rejects-calls-to-interve-315132/?ref=localauthority.news), said she supported the issue being called in but also said she would work to ensure the new plan “is a success and delivers on the employment and growth potential outlined in the planning application.” Campaigners to retain Chatham Docks as a working dock say they will continue fighting against the redevelopment. Unfortunately for them, that fight has just become a lot more difficult. --- #### Heckling the Planning Committee Council meetings are usually fairly dull, at least for the average person. Some of us politics nerds love this stuff. Anyway, a perception that meetings run on for hours with councillors who love the sound of their own voices tends to result in public galleries that are largely empty at meetings. Every now and again, something will enthuse local residents enough that they’ll come along to make their views known. So it was last week as the Planning Committee saw a relatively busy public gallery as they decided on a raft of applications. The audience was mostly there for one, though: 44 homes next to the Fenn Bell Inn in St Mary Hoo. We’ve covered the progression of this application at length, so we won’t recap things fully here, but this was the meeting where a final decision on the application was to be made. As the meeting progressed, it was clear that at least one member of the public gallery had some Very Strong Opinions about the application and the committee deciding upon it. Despite regularly being asked to be quiet by Planning Committee Chair Cllr Chrissy Stamp (Lab), one audience member proceeded to heckle throughout the proceedings. As soon as anyone dared to say anything that wasn’t negative about the application, he was shouting something from the gallery. Cllr Gulvin (Con) came in for some abuse for bravely highlighting that too many people in their 30s still live with their parents due to a lack of housing. A council highways officer was asked, “What world do you live in?” for suggesting 44 new homes would generate less than 20 new vehicle movements per hour. After a barrage of heckling, Cllr Stamp threatened to remove the entire gallery, an unfortunately blunt instrument that isn’t used lightly but when proceedings face repeated interruptions. Cllr Peake (Lab) called out the man for unacceptable behaviour and requested his removal, though this didn’t happen. The committee eventually approved the Fenn Bell application 12-2\. Of course, this once again set off our animated audience member: “Really? You don’t even live on this bloody planet, do you? You have to listen to that twat. You’re only getting one term, like Keir Starmer.” Well, that certainly told them. --- #### Buses get 50% more expensive Sad news for fans of getting a bus at a reasonable price as the government has decided that the £2 fare cap will [increase to £3 next year](https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/28/englands-bus-fare-cap-will-rise-from-2-to-3-in-2025-says-starmer?ref=localauthority.news). Medway buses have long been, for lack of a better term, a bit rubbish. Services are often unreliable, fares expensive, and all routes lead to Chatham, which is rather unhelpful if you want to make a journey as extravagant as, say, Gillingham to Rochester. So the £2 fare cap at least went some way to making the bus slightly more viable. Most operators in Medway signed up to the scheme (except Nu-Venture for some reason) and while we have no specific local data, bus usage increased 19% in the [most recent annual data](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-bus-statistics-year-ending-march-2023/annual-bus-statistics-year-ending-march-2023?ref=localauthority.news#passenger-journeys) available. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tXaD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f336abd36-b0af-4143-890e-9066c841e4c8_7706x4035.jpg) An Arriva bus. Photo: stock.adobe.com While the cap increasing to £3 still won’t return fares to their pre-pandemic highs, it’s still a big increase when so many people are struggling. It’s also nearly double the fare for a bus in London (£1.75), a place that seems to have it together when it comes to getting people around. With new powers for local councils to run their own bus services [on the horizon](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/sep/09/labour-to-give-english-local-authorities-power-to-run-bus-services?ref=localauthority.news), the days of private bus operators charging expensive fares might be coming to an end. But until then, passengers in Medway will face a 50% fare increase at the start of 2025. --- #### 510 new homes, supermarket, and more proposed near the Strand Somewhat understandably, many people get upset about proposals to build homes in the countryside. So one would imagine they’d be more enthusiastic about a development that goes a long way to helping Medway reach its housing target when it’s on disused brownfield land. This week, developer [Blueberry Homes](https://www.blueberryhomes.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) put in a screening planning application to Medway Council for 510 homes, a supermarket, a care home, commercial space, a sailing clubhouse, and more on the former gasholders site near the Strand in Gillingham. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!k0mu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8422e7ef-ba5a-4398-a456-fcafdd78fa47_1996x1122.jpg) Site of the proposed development Given that Medway needs to build over 1,000 homes each year to stay on top of its housing target, one development of 510 is a significant addition to the supply without developing on green land. Inevitably, comments on local Facebook groups are far from positive, complaining about everything from congestion to lack of affordability (despite that not having been set at this stage) to the need for a new hospital to the 17-storey height of the buildings proposed (even though buildings at Victory Pier next door are the same height). Individually, some of these complaints may have merit, but the same reasons are brought out against any development that would allow more people to have a place to live. Still, everyone seems to be missing the big question here: Exactly which supermarket could be lined up for the site? It’s just along the road from an Asda, a Lidl, and a Tesco Express, with a Tesco superstore not very far away. Given the plans propose a supermarket of around 2,000sqm, which is roughly in line with Aldi or Lidl stores, Aldi seems logical, but the chain already has two Gillingham stores. So we’re none the wiser, but feel free to place your bets in the comments. *You can read the details of the* [*screening opinion application on Medway Council’s planning portal*](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SLPQ9AKN04M00&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In brief 🚒 [Part of Chatham Docks caught fire again last week](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgl56pjl4vo?ref=localauthority.news). At its peak, eight fire engines were on site, with residents of St. Mary’s Island told to keep their doors and windows shut for nearly a full day. 🏦 [Barclays in Chatham has been vandalised for the third time since June](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/windows-and-cash-machines-damaged-at-high-street-bank-314882/?ref=localauthority.news). Palestine Action carried out the previous incidents, but it is unclear who is responsible this time. 💣 [BAE Systems is investing £220m to redevelop its Rochester site](https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/bae-systems-investing-220m-as-part-of-rochester-site-overhaul-in-huge-jobs-boost-for-medway/ar-AA1t6I1V?ref=localauthority.news). That’s the kind of money you can throw around when you’ve been admitted to being corrupt, been caught ripping off developing nations, and continue to supply weapons to oppressive regimes. Of course, our local politicians are delighted about it. 🦽 [Medway Council is considering scaling back its child disability grant scheme](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9nl3ldjp9o?ref=localauthority.news). Some families would no longer be eligible, and others would see their grant amounts reduced to save the council £200,000. 🚨 The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has revealed its findings following a [collision between on-track machines near Strood last year](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/report-112024-collision-between-on-track-machines-near-to-strood?ref=localauthority.news). One driver was injured in the incident. --- #### More Authority The weekend saw the fifth Electric Medway festival taking place across our towns. For our Sunday interview, [Steven sat down with organisers Kevin Grist and Janet Moore](https://www.localauthority.news/what-we-really-need-is-a-real-big/) to talk about the festival's inception, what they need to keep it going, and using the submarine in the river. [“What we really need is a real big sponsor”Digital arts festival Electric Medway is celebrating its fifth year, so Steven sat down with directors Janet Moore and Kevin Grist to learn more. Meeting at Mrs Sourdough Bakery, they discuss how Electric Medway came to be, what they need to keep going, and what led them onto a submarine in the river.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8465267a-278f-46ce-b36e-bfaf53b997d3_1920x1280.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/what-we-really-need-is-a-real-big/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*New Long Leg by Dry Cleaning*](https://drycleaning.bandcamp.com/album/new-long-leg?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Cause A Stir by Charmpit*](https://charmpit.bandcamp.com/album/cause-a-stir?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Guts by Olivia Rodrigo*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj9qJsJTsjQ&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “What we really need is a real big sponsor” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/what-we-really-need-is-a-real-big/ Last updated: 2024-10-27T07:01:50.000Z *Digital arts festival* [*Electric Medway*](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *is celebrating its fifth year, so Steven sat down with directors Janet Moore and Kevin Grist to learn more. Meeting at Mrs Sourdough Bakery, they discuss how Electric Medway came to be, what they need to keep going, and what led them onto a submarine in the river.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!mqKS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8465267a-278f-46ce-b36e-bfaf53b997d3_1920x1280.jpg) Janet Moore and Kevin Grist of Electric Medway. Photo: Rikard Ôsterlund **What is Electric Medway?** **Kevin Grist:** Electric Medway is an arts organisation that is all about getting communities in Medway creative with new tech. **Janet Moore:** Our strapline is that we're all digital storytellers. We particularly love helping communities tell their unheard stories. Things that people might not necessarily know about Medway and their existence. **How do you go about doing that?** **KG:** I guess there's three main pillars to our work. One is the [festival](https://www.electricmedway.org/festival.html?ref=localauthority.news), which gives people a chance to showcase work that they've made locally. The other one is through our learning program. We have things like [Hack](https://www.electricmedway.org/hack.html?ref=localauthority.news), and now [Young Hack](https://www.electricmedway.org/young-hack.html?ref=localauthority.news), which is getting people learning technical skills and software skills, which they can use in their work. Then there's kind of community neighbourhood work. **JM:** That's working with local residents and artists to pick out those stories and using the technology as a tool to bring them to life in interesting, creative ways. It might not be high-tech interventions we're doing with residents.For example, it could be creating an interactive zine using augmented reality, using QR codes in a booklet, or depicting a story of their local high street, for example. It's just playful ways of using the tech to bring those stories to life. **How did you come to launch Electric Medway?** **KG:** The original conception was the company was called Sparked Echo. It was me as a freelancer. **JM:** For the first year. **KG:** After I left Arts Council England, I wanted to go into music education consultancy, and it was about delivering innovation in that sector, particularly about digital technology, because there wasn't happening in the classroom and the music education hub space. That did start to work. I was traveling around the country, and then at one point I started taking on production work. We did Sound Hack at the University of Kent, which was bringing together digital practitioners to do a hack day. That sparked my interest about doing events. Then we took on some work with an opera maker called Tania Holland Williams, who runs [Fat Lady Opera](https://www.fatladyopera.com/?ref=localauthority.news), and she bought me in as a producer and I just started to love the idea of putting on events. Then we set it up as a not-for-profit, limited company, and then later it became a Community Interest Company, so we've had done this transition. But it wasn't until the pandemic and the festival, Electric Medway, that we then changed the name after that because we became more known for that kind of work. **What particular skills base do you both bring?** **JM:** I'm the Community Director of Electric Medway. My specialism is working with our team of artists and our core team here at Electric Medway. We've got ten members of the team currently, and I would definitely say I'm a people-focused manager. Also, I oversee the neighbourhood project work and the young people provision for Electric Medway's work. Just as an example, this year, the Paul Hamlin Foundation kindly funded us to work on a project called [XR Schools](https://www.electricmedway.org/xr-schools.html?ref=localauthority.news). A delivery team of artists from Electric Medway and myself were in residence in two Leigh Academy Trust schools between January and July. We were testing out using different modes of immersive technologies, virtual reality and digital photography methods to bring their curriculum to life. I oversee anything that relates to young people programming and working with those community groups. **KG:** My role is Creative Director. My background is in music production predominantly. I did a lot of work in and grew up in Brighton. I worked at Arts Council England for a bit. Worked mostly in music education and formal spaces, such as youth provision. I guess all that experience has come into play here when we set up Electric Medway almost ten years ago. I think what I've learnt in the last ten years is pretty much what you see now. Curatorial skills for the festival and both Janet and I have skills as teachers. I think both of us are learning a lot as we go along, like all of us are, because stuff's constantly changing. Tech's changing. If you told me five years ago we'd be putting robotics on a tree or doing a live performance on the submarine in Strood, I'd say, ‘Go home, that's not happening.’ But every year we've tried to do something different. The skill set I think I bring is particularly about risk-taking and just saying, ‘Yes, we'll make it happen.’ _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s literary festival aims big URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-literary-festival-aims-big/ Last updated: 2024-10-25T15:36:05.000Z *It had been 25 years since our towns had a Medway-wide literary festival, which Medway River Lit organisers Barry Fentiman-Hall and Sam Hall set out to put right. Following last year's inaugural event, the festival is even bigger this year as it delivers an ambitious lineup of events. Further down, legendary Medway poet and artist has maybe announced his retirement, we review Kaya Meze Bar in Rochester, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### **Medway’s literature festival aims big** The [Medway River Lit](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) festival is back for its second year of literary events across our towns, but not without some changes. Following last year’s intense ten days of events, this year sees the event spread across the weekends of November. The hope is that this will enable more people to attend more events this year. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!bYhG!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd9040dfa-2d8b-412d-8cc5-5a42c4b62cdf_1456x762.jpg) Medway River Lit organisers Sam Hall and Barry Fentiman-Hall For this year’s festival, Fridays have been set for poetry. “They will be taking place at the Coffee Republic”, says organiser [Barry Fentiman-Hall](https://www.localauthority.news/weve-assembled-something-that-medway/), “each Friday evening, of which there are five in November, handily.” The first event will feature the Four Poets, which includes Barry performing with [Maggie Harris](https://maggieharris.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), [Bill Lewis](https://www.localauthority.news/my-parents-were-both-fictitious/) and [Sarah Hehir](https://www.localauthority.news/i-write-in-quite-a-visual-way/). Poets in future weeks include [Helen Ivory](https://www.helenivory.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and [Martin Figura](https://martinfigura.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). On the 15th, local poetry night Big Trouble is taking over and doing their usual feature with an open mic because “we don't have many open mics during the festival”, says Barry. At the end of the festival, on the last Friday, there is festival patron [Caroline Bird](https://www.carolinebird.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Barry is very excited about this, describing Caroline as someone “who is to my mind one of the finest people writing poetry in English in the world at the current time, and we're very lucky to have her.” As well as spreading across weekends, the festival has also moved from the summer to November, hoping there would be fewer clashes. “Hopefully, you won’t have to go to three things in one day from different organisations”, says fellow organiser Sam Hall. “Medway used to have a lot of that if you liked free wine and cheese.” Previously known as ‘Welcome to Cloisterham’, the festival used to be part of the Dickens package of events, but that is no longer the case. “It marks our own identity separate”, adds Barry, “although we do lead into the Dickensian Christmas.” This is the first of their festivals where there isn’t a Dickensian element, Barry starts to explain. “Oh yes there is”, interjects Sam. “He is the perennial ghost in Medway”, concedes Barry. This is the first festival that hasn’t been branded or officially connected with anything Dickens-related though. “I think it's best for all round really”, says Barry. “Hashtag other Victorians are available”, adds Sam. Has it been difficult getting people to come to Medway for the festival? “I trot this out as an answer a lot", answers Barry, “because I think it's one of the best quotes about asking people I've ever heard: ‘[Shy bairns get nought](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shy%5Fbairns%5Fget%5Fnowt?ref=localauthority.news)’. Barry and Sam are certainly not shy. Authors often have representation, whose job it is to get work for the authors. It doesn’t matter how famous the author is, if they are interested in doing it and they get paid, the agent wants to hear from you. The first Saturday headliner is [Ben Okri](https://benokri.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a Booker Prize winner and somebody Barry didn’t expect to get for the festival. The event has evolved the way that Barry and Sam wanted it to. Over time, they have been able to build up a reputation. They often find themselves speaking to the same agents whose other clients have previously had a good time. “If they've had a good experience with you”, says Barry, “and they feel that you've been professional, they talk, and if they like being here, they'll tell other people.” Alice Oseman has always been on their list, but the stars have not yet aligned for somebody in high demand who limits their appearances. Funding, as is always the way, is an issue if they want to bring higher profile authors to future festivals. Sam cites Margaret Atwood as an example of “the level of people that we want to be inviting to Medway in the future.” Some authors are surprisingly affordable, whilst others are prohibitively expensive. “If it's the second one, we just have to walk away”, concedes Barry. They currently have a sponsor and a match funding agreement with Medway Council and are working on attaining further sponsors and grants from organisations like Arts Council England. They know that within a few years if it is to survive, the festival will have to provide for itself a bit more. However, there will always be a sense of partnership with Medway Council. “We couldn't do it without them”, says Barry, with the festival supported by libraries, various departments, and the culture team. Medway River Lit 2025 is definitely going to happen. “We are in the position now where we know what we are doing”, Says Barry. “I’m not saying it’s easy. The Brook Theatre has been closed for the entirety of the time, but we have laid the foundations.” [*Medway River Lit*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *begins on 1 November and runs until 30 November, with events all across Medway. You can browse the* [*full schedule on their website*](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/eventssummary?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In brief 🛒 [Tesco are set to open one of their Express stores next door to Rochester rail station](https://futuremedway.co.uk/new-tesco-express-store-to-open-next-to-rochester-railway-station/?ref=localauthority.news). The town is famously a desert for grocery provision, but the new outlet within the Pullman House development on Corporation Street should do okay for itself. ⚽ [Gillingham Football Club has condemned alleged racist abuse from one of its supporters toward a visiting player](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/gillingham-issue-an-apology-over-alleged-racial-abuse-314793/?ref=localauthority.news). It comes a year after a similar incident at the club. 🌳 [Medway Council has agreed to perform maintenance work to protect an ancient monument in Halling](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/900-year-old-ancient-kent-9634386?ref=localauthority.news). The one remaining wall from Bishop’s Place is over 900 years old and was facing damage from foliage growing on and through it. 🗃️ [KMTV has been to visit the Medway Archives](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x97v3ca?ref=localauthority.news). This year marks 25 years since the organisation made their files accessible online, making them the first in the country to do so. 🧑‍💻 [A new coworking and events space has opened in Chatham](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/our-business-hub-will-attract-young-people-to-regenerate-th-314765/?ref=localauthority.news). Platform 26 on Railway Street offers flexible workspace, podcast recording facilities, meeting rooms, and more. --- #### Bill Lewis possibly announces retirement [Bill Lewis](https://www.localauthority.news/my-parents-were-both-fictitious/) is an award-winning local poet and artist, a founding member of the Medway Poets and the Stuckist art movement. He recently contacted us to let us know he is “close to giving my writing and painting up.” As part of this process, he has begun updating [his YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@billlewis4262?ref=localauthority.news). “I thought It would be good to gather as much historical footage as possible”. Most of the short films that illustrate Bill’s poems were made by his wife, Ann. There are also clips of him reading live at gigs, recorded by others. Some studio recordings made by Jim Riley at his old studio will be added at a future date, later with artwork to illustrate them. “Next year, my Spanish/English book will be published”, said Bill, “and I'm committed to read in Spain and England, but after that, I intend to do my best to retire unless a miracle happens and I get published by a major press.” --- #### Out to Lunch: Kaya Meze Bar *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Kaya Maze Bar***](https://kayamezebar.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rochester*…* Kaya Meze Bar is a potential contradiction: a contemporary restaurant in the centre of the historic high street of Rochester, offering traditional Turkish food in a listed building. While walking the high street looking for a place to lunch, they laid out a honey trap by having a table outside set with a pint of beer and a mixed platter. One moment, it’s ‘Mmm, that looks nice’, and the next, it’s ‘Can I get a table, please.’ You are then sitting in a stylishly designed restaurant, staring at the outside table, worrying somebody will get their lunch stolen. I ordered some marinated olives whilst browsing the menu. They offer two courses for £15.99, and I ordered the garlic mushrooms and a mixed shish, and not paying attention to the fact it came served with rice, I asked for a side of chips. They also offered rice pudding for dessert, which I was also looking forward to. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Mwaa!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f38bf8661-0cdf-48e7-9cb1-1e81d68ce6da_1456x762.jpg) Food at Kaya Meze Bar The olives were nice, with a solid texture and good flavour. I was thankful for them as there was a little wait for the starters. The garlic mushrooms were tasty but unexpectedly served in a thick creamy sauce, which was, for want of a better word, stringy. Served with a teaspoon, there was no gentlemanly way to eat them. There was then a longer wait for the mains. The chips were quite bland, and I regretted ordering them because they took away from a great main packed with flavour. The chicken and lamb shish was tender, the rice had a surprising flavour, in a good way, and even the side salad was moreish. Sadly, I didn’t have time for the rice pudding by the time I had finished. Kaya Meze Bar was a surprising delight flavour-wise, and if you don’t mind waiting a little, it’s worth finding the time to try lunch there. **Addendum:** I stopped at the former Tony Lorenzo, now called Lenny’s, still wanting dessert. I ordered a custard tart. It was, without a doubt, the worst custard tart I have had from a bakery. The pastry was damp and fell apart, and the whole was unpleasant. I didn’t even finish it. Sad times. --- #### Events this week 💡 24 - 27 Oct - [**Electric Medway**](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) // Four-day digital arts festival in locations across Medway featuring installations, panels, theatre, and more. Various locations. Free. 🎤 Fri 25 Oct - [**Al Murray: Guv Island**](https://www.medwayticketslive.co.uk/event/al-murray-guv-island?ref=localauthority.news) // Stand-up comedy featuring new material from Murray’s Pub Landlord character on the state of the nation. Central Theatre, Chatham. Tickets from £26.25. 🖤 Sat 26 Oct - [**Broken Heart Bazaar**](https://www.facebook.com/events/1968172483638886) // Alternative market selling art, curios and wonders, gothic gifts, spooky homewares, and preloved trinkets. Sun Pier House, Chatham. Free. 🛍️ Sat 26 Oct - [**Rochester City Vintage & Artisan Market**](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket) // Stalls selling unique gifts and products. Rochester High Street. Free. 💀 Mon 28 Oct - [**A Nightmare on Elm Street**](https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-40th-anniversary/HO00006230/?ref=localauthority.news) // 40th-anniversary screening of Wes Craven horror, now a 15 certificate. Odeon, Chatham Tickets £5. We’re also happy to share [**our new events page**](https://www.localauthority.news/events/). We’ll continue to include the events for the current week in these Friday briefings, but we’re aware that it’s often last minute, or things might be sold out by the time you read about them here. Our events page aims to solve that by offering a view of everything interesting happening over the next few months across Medway. [EventsOur curated list of the most interesting events happening in Medway over the coming months.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityLocal Authority](https://www.localauthority.news/events/) The page is still a work in progress, and there’s a good chance we’ve missed something interesting. If you are holding or know of an event that will likely interest us, let us know via **hello AT localauthority DOT news** \- thanks! --- #### More Authority Yesterday, we published our look at the state of the Spembley Building in Chatham and tried to understand how it’s been allowed to decline into such a state. [Spembley continues to loom large on Chatham skylineIf you’ve spent time in Chatham recently or have just driven through on the A2, it’s hard not to spot the looming presence of the Spembley Building. Sitting between New Road and the High Street, the building has gone from looking like some fancy new build flats to a run down and vandalised eyesore in just a few years.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5295b3b9-238a-48ea-b7f4-5fab63146fb9_1500x844.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/spembley-continues-to-loom-large/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Spembley continues to loom large on Chatham skyline URL: https://www.localauthority.news/spembley-continues-to-loom-large/ Last updated: 2024-10-24T14:55:13.000Z If you’ve spent time in Chatham recently or have just driven through on the A2, it’s hard not to spot the looming presence of the Spembley Building. Sitting between New Road and the High Street, the building has gone from looking like some fancy new build flats to a run down and vandalised eyesore in just a few years. So what has happened, and why does no one seem to be doing anything about it? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ht0G!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5295b3b9-238a-48ea-b7f4-5fab63146fb9_1500x844.jpg) The Spembley Building. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Frozen pensioners, hate crimes, and devolution URL: https://www.localauthority.news/frozen-pensioners-hate-crimes-and/ Last updated: 2024-10-22T20:09:57.000Z *Medway Council meetings are unpredictable affairs. Sometimes, they can be full of over-the-top political gamesmanship, while others can be surprisingly agreeable. Last week, we saw both in back-to-back motions as the chamber squabbled in an unbecoming manner about the Winter Fuel Allowance and came together on hate crime. We’ve got all the details on those and the rest of the action below. Further down, we have news of the future of Francis Iles in Rochester, a Conservative councillor hits the US doorstep, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Frozen pensioners, hate crimes, and devolution Last week saw the final full Medway Council meeting of the year. It was an odd one, featuring a slightly unusual mix of over-the-top faux outrage and genuinely positive moments of cross-party working. **Winter Blues** The big motion of the night came from Cllr Wildey and his Conservative Group, who put forward one complaining about the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Allowance from many pensioners. In an unusual intervention, the council monitoring office had to set out that councillors did not have to declare an interest and leave the room if they were impacted by the cut, which many would be given the average demographic of a Medway councillor[1](#footnote-1). Still, councillors were asked to declare an interest as good practice when speaking, leading to some interesting declarations: - Cllr Murray (Lab) declared that her husband received Winter Fuel Allowance - Cllr Lawrence (Con) declared that his mum was losing her allowance, but she’d be okay because he’d send her some money - Cllr Browne (Lab) said she would be losing it - Cllr Paterson (Lab) declared his parents on final salary pensions would have received it in their mortgage-free home - Cllr Gulvin (Con) said he’d received it but never needed it and gave it away As tends to be the way of things with opposition motions, Labour quickly moved an amendment, turning the motion into something much more political, blaming the Tories for ruining the economy and leaving us in this position. While proposing her amendment, Cllr Murray suggested that Cllr Wildey was only raising it as it was a ‘pet peeve’ for him and his colleagues who would be losing the money. The debate went on like this, with Cllr Lawrence and Cllr Paterson getting into such a debate over the issue and points of order that the latter accused the former of using ‘a violent gesture’ and said he ‘didn’t know if he was offering me outside’, but in the end, no one came to actual blows. Independent Group councillor Elizabeth Turpin perhaps hit the nail most of the head, saying she was ‘appalled by the level of debate’ and accusing both sides of the chamber of political point scoring. She said if the council had looked at the issue a year ago, we’d have the same motion and amendments, with the opposite parties written at the top. Depressingly, she’s probably right. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!0U1I!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f724c27d5-8d55-4e06-8220-87b90c54ad54_2694x1328.jpg) Cllr David Wildey and the Conservative Group **Hate is bad** It doesn’t happen often, but every now and again, Medway Council manages to come together in a way that ever so slightly borders on heartwarming. In this case, it was a motion from independent councillor Sat Shokar, who put forward a motion on hate crime following the attacks in Southport and the subsequent far-right unrest across the country. Less helpfully, things got a bit muddled when Cllr Shokar immediately proposed an alteration to his own motion to make it more all-encompassing before the Conservatives proposed some changes and then Labour asked for a couple more until everyone agreed. Medway Council Leader Cllr Vince Maple (Lab) called this process ‘creation by committee’, and it was unusual to see multiple sides of the chamber work together in real-time to create something they were all happy with. More of this sort of thing, please. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!YP34!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1489833e-ea12-4bc7-b4ce-8091bec1dfb0_1952x1028.jpg) Cllr Vince Maple and his Labour Group **Devolution seems inevitable** There has long been talk that Medway in its current form as a unitary authority isn’t sustainable, and with new devolved powers being offered by the government to larger combined authorities with elected mayors, it was only a matter of time before the conversation came to Medway. It was revealed that the government has been talking to both Medway and Kent County Council about setting up a Combined Authority, and from Cllr Maple’s announcements, things are seemingly progressing at pace. While both Labour and the Conservatives in Medway have been cold on the idea in the past, Cllr Maple sounded more open to the idea than usual. He described an ‘ongoing process’ where he wanted more power for the community, listed several discussions that had taken place, and stated his belief that all districts of Kent should be involved. Elsewhere in the chamber, Cllr Hackwell (Con) argued that he doesn’t want Medway to be ‘sucked back in’ to become ‘just another district of Kent.’ Independent Group Leader Cllr George Crozer was more in the middle, raising concerns about a potential disadvantage for Medway within a combined authority with Kent while also lamenting that the Hoo Peninsula would likely be an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by now if we’d stayed with them previously. This is likely to be the big political conversation in Medway over the coming years and could well be existential for our relatively young authority. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!p6hk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0c098835-0434-4608-90a2-dc05f1203825_2406x1386.jpg) Cllr Adrian Gulvin and his Conservative Group **Elsewhere** - Cllr Maple claimed he had ‘absolute confidence’ in Planning Vice Chair Cllr Mark Jones (Lab) after he used his position to try and [override the democratic will of the committee](https://www.localauthority.news/i/149442753/planning-committee-stumbles-again) at a recent meeting. - Cllr Curry (Lab) is looking at options for a safe walking route between Cuxton and Strood, though the options present challenges. He hinted that future redevelopment around Cuxton Marina might be the key to unlocking things. - Cllr Curry also responded to a ‘very exciting’ Lib Dem question about creating a walking and cycling bridge between Chatham and Medway City Estate. Various strategies are being developed around MCE and the river, and he claimed that ‘if it can be done, we will find ways to make it happen.’ - Cllr Maple said that Medway Council are not currently supporting the campaign for reparations for the UK’s role in slavery, following a question from the Green Party. - Cllr Perfect (Con) raised the issue of [Lauren Edwards’ tweets](https://www.localauthority.news/new-mp-has-offensive-tweets-outed/), which he described as ‘racist and ableist’, calling it ‘one of the most internationally reported stories in the council’s history.’ He once again criticised the Labour administration for being silent on the issue. - Cllr Maple further claimed he would read everyone’s feedback on the Local Plan but was unclear where he’d find the time to read that many angry emails. Finally, while Medway Council live streams are of surprisingly good quality, this meeting saw the occasional glitch on the stream leaving to some uniquely arty results, like in this moment where Cllr Mahil (Lab) was speaking: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!YuzO!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff71d2855-29d2-4968-94d5-9681b1a0549d_2504x1364.jpg) Cllr Mahil on the Medway Council live stream If you’d like to watch the full five hours of the meeting, you can do so below. Quite why you’d want to do that to yourself is another matter entirely. --- *Local Authority is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our free weekly briefing editions straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Francis Iles to become some kind of ‘dining hub’ Francis Iles was a prominent shop on Rochester High Street from its opening in the 1970s until its closure last year. The art gallery and supplies shop was located in an impressive unit at the entrance to The French Hospital, and much has been made about what the three-storey unit could become in the future. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c4jo!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb8616ad0-f4ba-47df-a53d-8b4c1a1f2e4f_1914x1002.jpg) Former Francis Iles shop on Rochester High Street Now, a new planning application offers a potential answer. The new owner of the building has commissioned fancy architects to devise a plan to convert the building into ‘a hub for dining and entertainment.’ Hollaway Studio are the architects employed on the project, with their portfolio including Dreamland in Margate, Rocksalt in Folkestone, and, er, the failed hotel on Corporation Street in Rochester. This plan seems more feasible than that, though, as it proposes to convert the ground floor and basement into a cafe, with the upper two floors used for private dining and functions. The proposals drawn up are fairly elaborate and involve an extensive renovation of the full building but with an intent to return the building to its ‘original glory.’ You can view the [full details on Medway Council’s website](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SKZQP0KNM1F00&ref=localauthority.news). A decision on the plans is scheduled to be made by mid-December. --- #### Cllr Lammas hits some far-flung doorsteps Princes Park councillor Robbie Lammas has been hitting the doorstep this week to convince voters to back his candidate in a coming election. This might not sound unusual, but what is somewhat less so is that he’s in Pennsylvania attempting to win votes for Donald Trump. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!5IXT!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f751defa4-81a5-4760-b4d5-a5d2f7327273_1202x962.jpg)](https://x.com/RobbieLammas/status/1848511573154820213?ref=localauthority.news) Cllr Robbie Lammas in Pennsylvania Given the Trump campaign has been [outraged at the idea that Labour activists have been flying in to support Kamala Harris](https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-allies-rage-uk-labour-campaign-help-kamala-harris-keir-starmer-us-election/?ref=localauthority.news), presumably they will be unhappy that Cllr Lammas has turned up to offer their man support. At full council last Thursday, Cllr Lammas voted in favour of a motion that stated that ‘no form or racism or discrimination is ever acceptable, no matter a person’s race, country of origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic, and this applies to all communities and individuals.’ Five days later, he’s in the US, campaigning for a candidate who has described others as ‘retarded’, described political opponents as ‘vermin’, has said immigrants are ‘poisoning’ the country, condoned sexual assault, and has a long history of making racist comments. In Cllr Lammas’ case, actions speak rather louder than words. --- #### In brief 🏍️ [No fines have been issued against nuisance bikers at Barnfield Recreation Ground four months after a Public Space Protection Order was put in place](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/crackdown-on-nuisance-bikers-fails-to-see-single-fine-dished-314475/?ref=localauthority.news). Despite this, police were called to the Chatham site 65 times during the period. 🏗️ [Work is underway on 44 flats for older people on Corporation Street in Rochester](https://futuremedway.co.uk/work-underway-on-44-flats-for-over-60s-in-corporation-street-rochester/?ref=localauthority.news). The building, directly opposite the Casino Rooms, will be 100% affordable, with homes available via MHS Homes. 🏗️ [Medway Council is set to receive £640,000 to open up brownfield development at two sites](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/plans-to-give-kent-16-2m-housebuilding-boost-sees-one-area-314770/?ref=localauthority.news). The money is due to be spent on developing the Upper Mount car park in Chatham and redeveloping Hook Meadow library in Walderslade. ☕ [Medway Council are seeking an operator for the cafe at the new Cozenton Park Sports Centre](https://harrisons.property/property-details?id=6470&title=cafe-premises-in-cozenton-park-sports-centre-bloors-lane-rainham-gillingham-kent-&ref=localauthority.news). Operators must have experience running cafes to take on the £15,000pa lease. --- #### More Authority For our weekend interview, we sat down with Simon Curry, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for climate change and strategic regeneration. Simon has been at the forefront of the Medway Labour administration’s policies, including red routes. He talks about the struggles with the Local Plan, making tough decisions, and the hidden gems of Medway. [“You can sometimes make unpopular decisions”Simon Curry was first elected to Medway Council in 2019 as a member of the Labour Group. Following the 2023 local elections, in which he was returned as a councillor for Luton, Simon became a prominent member of the Labour administration cabinet, taking on the portfolio for climate change and strategic regeneration. Steven met him at the St George’s Centre, where they discussed ecology, where to visit in the urban areas of Medway and, of course, the Local Plan.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4d81d9f7-89ba-458b-a820-56b7253adf86_1600x900.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Try To Be Hopeful by The Spook School*](https://thespookschool.bandcamp.com/album/try-to-be-hopeful?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*The Weekend Was Almost Always Over by adults*](https://sadults.bandcamp.com/album/the-weekend-was-always-almost-over?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Slurpt by Ace Bushy Striptease*](https://acebushystriptease.bandcamp.com/album/slurpt?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- 1. *Curiously, the same leniency wasn’t given in previous years when councillors who were also rental tenants were forced to exit the room when discussing landlords.* [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") ### “You can sometimes make unpopular decisions” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/you-can-sometimes-make-unpopular/ Last updated: 2024-10-20T06:22:40.000Z *Simon Curry was first elected to Medway Council in 2019 as a member of the Labour Group. Following the 2023 local elections, in which he was returned as a councillor for Luton, Simon became a prominent member of the Labour administration cabinet, taking on the portfolio for climate change and strategic regeneration. Steven met him at the St George’s Centre, where they discussed ecology, where to visit in the urban areas of Medway and, of course, the Local Plan.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!YxB4!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4d81d9f7-89ba-458b-a820-56b7253adf86_1600x900.jpg) Cllr Simon Curry **What is your official occupation?** I'm semi-retired now. I have been working for the last 25 years on environmental management as a consultant primarily. Environmental management is my field, ecology is my specialty. **What additional roles, paid or unpaid, do you have?** Outside of being a councillor, nothing. **Do you sit on any school boards or trusts or anything like that?** I'm on various things, so [Arches Local](https://archeslocal.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), I'm involved with that. Up until recently, I was very involved with Luton Primary. It's in my ward. They're now part of the Rivermead Inclusive Trust. **Why Luton ward?** That's a really good question. I didn't set out to become a councillor until later in life. I worked at [Capstone Farm Country Park](https://www.visitmedway.org/attractions/capstone-farm-country-park-1935/?ref=localauthority.news). That's my first job in Medway. Moved there in ‘87 as the Senior Ranger. I worked there for about ten years. I lived in Luton, it became my home. Living in Luton and working down the road at the country park was lovely. It was brilliant. It was a really nice life. Then, obviously, settled here properly in Medway. Moved on from working for the old Rochester City Council as a Country Park Ranger to running the Parks and Landscape section for the whole council before Medway was formed. But then went into private work after it was formed. So why Luton? Because I love Luton. I think it's a fabulous place. When the opportunity came to be a councillor there, I said, ‘I'll give it a go.’ **How would you explain your cabinet role?** It's a pretty broad brush. Obviously, there's only ten of us on the cabinet, and there's 150 official services. Amongst the roles that I cover, the climate change agenda is one of the big ones that I'm dealing with, but the other areas under my strategic regeneration hat are public transport, frontline services and probably most importantly, planning and the Local Plan. I've got a whole range and a few additional add-ons you have to take on in that role. I do emergency planning, for example. I think I've got something to do with community centres and stuff like that. Within the range of roles, between the ten of us, we have to take on quite a mixture. My top roles are climate, frontline services, and waste management. Those are the three big areas that I work on. **In that first year of the council, as an observer, it felt like, and you can tell me if this is fair or not, if someone had some good news, it was one of the other councillors going forward. If someone had to share bad news, it seemed to be your role to come out.** *(laughs)* Not really. I think some of the areas I was dealing with were controversial anyway. A good example would be the public transport issue and the highways management. I don't actually do the highways. Within the reshuffle, that's gone to [Alex ](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/)[*(Paterson)*](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/) now. I did it for just over a year. He took on all the public safety, policing side of things, and the highways management. It seemed sensible to give him that as well. I was doing the highway stuff, and that was potholes, red routes, yellow boxes. All the stuff that was controversial. But at the heart of that is really important issues around health and the economy and the environment, and in order to drive those things forward, you can sometimes make unpopular decisions. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Electric Medway turns five URL: https://www.localauthority.news/electric-medway-turns-five/ Last updated: 2024-10-18T18:31:19.000Z *Today’s Friday arts, culture and events roundup leads with a look at Medway’s unique digital arts festival, Electric Medway. With the next festival starting next week, we’ve been finding out more. Further down, we have news of a new exhibition at the Guildhall Museum, a review of Nutmegs Patisserie in Rainham, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Electric Medway turns five *Next weekend marks the fifth* [*Electric Medway*](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*, Medway’s unique digital arts festival. Organisers Janet Moore and Kevin Grist have been telling us more…* The theme for the festival this year is ‘Two Worlds’.“We try and theme every year slightly differently”, says Janet, “This one's really about the sense of crisis that we feel we're in at the moment”, adds Kevin. “When you look at the news or the idea that we have data overload.” Their approach has been to address these themes and connect people to getting outdoors and connecting with nature. ![Picture for 'Nocturnal' event](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!g5Tv!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffa638bf4-6935-4a26-b115-8a0502db4f25_800x419.jpg) Nocturnal will be projected on Chatham House on October 26. Their work is digital by design, and the festival is both location based and online. They will be installing art in the old Intra High Street area, Gillingham Park, Chatham Library Community Hub, and Woodlands Academy. For the online side, there will be ‘some experimental films.’ “Hopefully, there's something for everyone in the programme”, says Janet. The events have a mixture of interactivity. Kevin explains that “some of it you'll turn up and you can passively watch. There'll be work projected, installations on trees for example”, which, to be honest, is quite an example. So too is their active example: “You can sit on a swing with a VR headset”, Kevin notes. Who is paying for all this? Digital work has an expensive barrier to entry. Most of the festival is supported by grant funding. Electric Medway is a not-for-profit company, partly supported by Medway Council, partly by the Arts Council England, and “often we get smaller funders involved as well”, says Janet. “Often we don't charge or ticket the events or anything. We try and offer it free to the public.” The festival has a couple of ticketed events. “One's a live discussion called ‘[Our Climate of Crisis](https://www.electricmedway.org/calendar.html?ref=localauthority.news#calendar-c09e02dc-75e7-4d26-98cd-19bebd87bd35-event-m05k1xy4)’ and the other one's ‘[in.difference](https://www.electricmedway.org/calendar.html?ref=localauthority.news#calendar-c09e02dc-75e7-4d26-98cd-19bebd87bd35-event-m05myb9p)’ by [Square Pegs Arts](https://squarepegsarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news), which is a theatre show.” Both are free, but booking is required to manage the numbers. The panel discussion will feature experimental filmmakers, including [John Vincent](https://johnvincent.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), who has made a film about AI, and Kath Hoffman, who has done a piece around anxiety and the current state of the UK. The panel will be hosted by Electric Medway and [Creative Medway](https://creativemedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), hoping to steer an interesting debate over the topics. ![Picture for 'Festival 2024 - Two worlds' event](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!KOBG!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9f94f22b-dba5-4e53-86f1-0dcc3708a51f_2000x1047.jpg) Electric Medway Electric Medway works with both existing projects and commission work themselves. Next year, they have the opportunity for larger commissions, with some exciting times ahead. They also often work with artists through their [Hack](https://www.electricmedway.org/hack.html?ref=localauthority.news) programme, which doesn’t involve them working with Russian bots. “It's really about hack space for people to come and play with tech”, says Kevin. “Artists and educators in Medway and the Kent area, if you want a chance to come and play with a VR headset or a specialist microphone, come to our Hack sessions because we will have master classes on how you can create content for VR.” For Janet, success includes working with neighbourhoods and communities. “Certainly, some of the artists in the programme this year have co-created the artworks with community groups and residents”. Ensuring access is open for everyone, the technology is either low-cost or free apps. “We are conscious about residents not understanding what immersive as a term is.” They hope to provide an opportunity for people to come and experience something new and to get involved with the whole family. Electric Medway is also thinking about the environmental impact of the event. They’ve made their printed program recyclable and have signed the [Creative Medway’s Sector Environmental Sustainability Pledge](https://creativemedway.co.uk/launch-of-new-kent-and-medway-creative-sector-sustainability-pledge/?ref=localauthority.news). They are looking at other ways to move forward more sustainably, too. “We are very conscious about our carbon footprint”, says Janet, “especially with the digital equipment we use”. What does that mean, though? “In practice, we're going to start having an equipment repository of all the tech that we've got so that we've got a community resource in Medway, where people can come and hire a VR headset or an iPad at low cost or free”, Kevin says. In their fifth year, they are happy to provide an in-person festival approach, with most of the artworks experiential and in public spaces. “We've always tried to put art in places that are unusual”, says Janet, “because people just wouldn't expect something interesting on their doorstep.” [*Electric Medway*](https://www.electricmedway.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *runs 24-27 October with events across Medway. You can view the* [*full calendar on their website*](https://www.electricmedway.org/calendar.html?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In brief 🍔 [McDonald’s is set to open at Chatham Dockside](https://news.completelyretail.co.uk/mcdonalds-signs-for-dockside-chatham-as-long-standing-tenant-relocates/?ref=localauthority.news). The restaurant will fill part of the soon-to-be relocated Choice store at the centre, alongside Loungers within a subdivided unit. ⚽ [Gillingham Football Club have drawn Blackpool at home](https://www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/news/gills-play-blackpool-cup?ref=localauthority.news) in the first round of the FA Cup. 🌊 [A zip wire is set to be installed at St Andrew’s Lake in Halling](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/the-time-is-right-zip-line-to-open-at-kent-beauty-spot-ne-314548/?ref=localauthority.news). No, thank you. --- #### **Guildhall Museum gets an Artisan Showroom** Local artists and designers [Matilda Flood](http://www.matildaflood.com/?ref=localauthority.news) and [Libbie Watson](https://www.instagram.com/lwatson%5Fdesign/?ref=localauthority.news), both graduates of UCA, are presenting the Artisan Showroom, a pop-up exhibition of their work at the Guildhall Museum in Rochester. It opens tomorrow (Sat 19 Oct) and then takes place 22-26 Oct between 10am-5pm daily. The £5 entry to the [Guildhall Museum](https://www.visitmedway.org/attractions/rochester-guildhall-museum-2132/?ref=localauthority.news) includes access to the exhibition. Matilda Flood is a freelance illustrator and surface designer who creates illustrations on the theme of nature, with an aesthetic influenced by Renaissance art and the Victorian language of flowers. Recently, she has begun looking for more interior design focused projects, including fabric and wallpaper design. Libbie Watson is a freelance artist and community workshop facilitator based in Gravesend. Her main artistic passion is leathercraft. Libbie creates minimalist bags and accessories that harmonise function and form. Libbie has been working with Jatin Patel of [Kalikas Armour](https://kalikasarmour.com/?ref=localauthority.news) and has produced hand-sewn work using the traditional heritage saddle stitch technique. Libbie and Matilda met when they both applied for a job at [Sun Pier House](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Libbie got the job, and Matilda went on to work for [Nucleus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) instead. Since then, they have worked together at the [Mess Room](https://www.messroom.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), helping [Wendy Daws](https://www.localauthority.news/if-you-want-to-do-it-you-will-find/) build Draco Roffensis, the Rochester Dragon. They have both recently undertaken the [Make Waves](https://ideastest.org.uk/projects/current-projects/make-waves/?ref=localauthority.news) career course under [Ideas Test](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). As part of that, they decided to put on a joint showroom to show people their work and artistic practice. “It’s been refreshing and motivating to work alongside someone who has similar goals”, says Matilda. “This won’t be the last you see of me and Libbie working together.” The Artisan Showroom blends artistry and luxury with a curated collection of Matilda’s illustrated velvets, handmade duck feather chenille cushions, and framed fabric artworks alongside Libbie’s handcrafted leather bags and accessories. The showroom is in the ornate Main Chamber of the Guildhall Museum. Inspired by her father, local historian and podcaster [Rob Flood](https://www.localauthority.news/as-far-as-were-concerned-it-still/), Matilda’s love of local history meant the Guildhall was their preferred choice for the showroom. “The space itself is incredibly beautiful. We both aim to tell our own stories through our work”, she says. “It encapsulates everything that we find important.” *The work on display will be for sale and can be collected on the exhibition's final day. You can find out more about the event on* [*Matilda’s Facebook page*](https://www.facebook.com/matildafloodillustration/photos/artisan-showroom-with-artists-matilda-flood-and-libbie-watsonwere-putting-an-exh/1068299158629411/)*.* --- #### Out to Lunch: Nutmegs Patisserie *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Nutmegs Patisserie***](https://www.nutmegspatisserie.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rainham*…* Walking along Rainham High Street looking for a place to have lunch, I did not know Nutmegs before I chanced upon it. This welcoming establishment was already busy, but the friendly staff assured me a table would soon become available, and they were right. Seated on a side bench, with a small table for two, looking at the range of fresh cakes available and a sign proudly announcing the local businesses they get fresh produce from. I ordered a vanilla milkshake with a piece of gammon and mushroom quiche, which came with a side salad and coleslaw. I also ordered a side of truffle and parmesan potatoes. They said it was a large sharing portion. Agree to disagree. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!F1La!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7c57fca4-1e7d-4a4d-8d71-d7819154cb20_1456x762.jpg) Food from Nutmegs Patisserie To be absolutely clear, this was one of the best lunches I’ve had since beginning these reviews. The food was simple but made to a high standard and packed with flavour. The quiche was generous with its gammon pieces and nice crisp cheese, the salad and coleslaw were fresh and tasty, and the potatoes were great. Maybe there were too many for one person, but I powered through regardless. Nutmegs Patisserie takes reservations. Given how busy the establishment was on a rainy Thursday afternoon, I'd advise making one, and treat yourself to a great lunch in Rainham. --- #### Events this week 📖 Medway author Neil Thorne is holding a [launch event for his new Chatham-based work Loyal and True](https://www.facebook.com/events/840563408147750) tonight (18 Oct) at Coffee Republic in Chatham. Event includes an excerpt from the book and music from Rachel Lowrie. Free. 🤼‍♂️ Rumble Wrestling arrives in Gillingham tomorrow (Sat 19 Oct) as part of their 40th anniversary tour. [Tickets £15](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rumblewrestlingpromotions/1260057?ref=localauthority.news). 🥕 [Rochester Farmers’ Market](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) is this Sunday (20 Oct) in the Blue Boar Lane car park. Wide range of traders selling food and gifts. Free. 📽️ Odeon in Chatham have a screening of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the best Star Wars film, this Tuesday (22 Oct). [Tickets £5](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-45574&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### More Authority Yesterday, we published the first in a series of occasional columns from [Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner/). He talks about the work to reduce crime in Medway and how you can get involved with his upcoming Police and Crime Plan. [Voice of the Police and Crime CommissionerEditor’s note: We’ve been publishing quarterly columns from the Leader of Medway Council and the Leader of the Opposition for a while. While we’ll continue to have periodic columns from Cllr Maple and Cllr Perfect, we are also now publishing columns from Medway’s new MPs and Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f22a3d132-f7d1-4de6-85e1-387dbe6c634e_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Voice of the Police and Crime Commissioner URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-police-and-crime-commissioner/ Last updated: 2024-10-17T18:10:09.000Z **Editor’s note:* We’ve been publishing quarterly columns from the Leader of Medway Council and the Leader of the Opposition for a while. While we’ll continue to have periodic columns from Cllr Maple and Cllr Perfect, we are also now publishing columns from Medway’s new MPs and Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott.* *Each month, we’ll have writing from one of them so you can hear directly from your representatives about their work. Today, we welcome Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott, who was re-elected for a third term in May. He tells us about efforts to reduce Medway’s crime rate and how you can help him write his new Police and Crime Plan for Kent.* #### Voice of the Police and Crime Commissioner **by Matthew Scott** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!A-O3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f22a3d132-f7d1-4de6-85e1-387dbe6c634e_1456x762.jpg) Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott My [Annual Policing Survey](https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/PoliceandCrimePlan2024/?ref=localauthority.news) is your chance to directly influence Kent Police’s priorities. I would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to let me know what officers and staff should be focused on. Once I have gathered your views, I will write my new Police and Crime Plan for Kent and Medway, to start in April. This Plan is a statutory requirement that sets out what issues residents and businesses want addressed, and I will hold the Chief Constable to account on your behalf for delivering them. I have three simple missions for my term as your PCC. Cut crime, support victims and build trust. Everything that my team and I will do will focus on delivering this. I am pleased to report over the last twelve months, Kent Police and I have been supporting Medway with extra policing resources. This is a long list of activities, and I hope it shows how much effort is being put into making your neighbourhood safer. Our new neighbourhood policing model has put beat PCs in every ward. New teams of PCs and PCSOs are supporting our schools. PCSOs have joined our expanded rural policing team for the first time. And we have maintained our successful Medway Taskforce to tackle trends with crime and antisocial behaviour. Medway is benefiting from specific police operations to increase visibility and bring offenders to justice. Extra patrols are taking place in antisocial behaviour hotspots in Rochester, Chatham and Gillingham. I have been working with the roads policing unit to conduct more proactive patrols. I secured funding from the government to run another Safer Streets project in Chatham. And my Violence Reduction Unit is working with schools and sports clubs to tackle violent crime. We have seen some positive results. Recorded crime in Medway continues to fall – there’s been an 8.6% drop in victim-based crime in the last year alone. More crimes are being solved, and offenders brought to justice. Thanks to Kent Police’s proactive work on stop and search, more weapons and drugs have been seized, and as a result, we have seen a drop in knife crime. Policing isn’t without its challenges. Officers and staff are working hard every day to serve the public. But there are issues that need to be addressed. Too many cases come to them from mental health and local government services, which prevent them from being able to do even more for the community. Following some high-profile scandals, the Force needs to continue to build trust with the neighbourhoods that it serves. I am optimistic for the future – I believe that by working together, we can cut crime, support victims and build trust. Please complete my [Annual Policing Survey](https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/PoliceandCrimePlan2024/?ref=localauthority.news) so that I understand what it is you need from your local Police. *Matthew Scott is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent.* ### Over 2,000 School Streets fines issued in first six months URL: https://www.localauthority.news/over-2000-school-streets-fines-issued/ Last updated: 2024-10-15T18:32:49.000Z *Six months into Medway Council’s School Streets scheme to restrict traffic around schools, more than 2,000 drivers have been fined for flouting the rules, with thousands more receiving warning notices. We’ve got the full details below. Further down, we have news on many planning applications for houses recommended for approval by Medway Council, the baffling tale of the disappearing van, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Over 2,000 School Streets fines issued in first six months It’s been a little over six months since Medway Council launched its School Streets scheme at primary schools across Medway. The scheme restricts vehicles from entering streets immediately around selected schools during the morning drop-off and afternoon collection. In principle, this is to make the areas safer for children, but it also appears to be a nice little earner for the council. Figures obtained by *Local Authority* show that over 2,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) and more than 10,000 warning notices have been issued since the scheme's launch in March. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_B27!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffc06ad52-19c7-4294-8371-28f96d1cc5db_3008x1575.jpg) An ANPR camera. Photo: stock.adobe.com For the first six months of the scheme, first-time offenders received a warning notice, with PCNs only being issued to repeat offenders. Given that the scheme doesn’t operate anytime other than a couple of hours on school days (it isn’t in operation on weekends or during school holidays), the fines and warnings being issued are rather high. The full figures for each location in the six-month window: - Burnt Oak Primary School, Gillingham - 932 PCNs, 5,871 warning notices - Greenvale Primary School, Chatham - 238 PCNs, 1,310 warning notices - Miers Court Primary School, Rainham - 380 PCNs, 959 warning notices - Phoenix Primary School, Chatham - 347 PCNs, 2,130 warning notices - St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Gillingham - 13 PCNs, 89 warning notices - St Peter’s Infant School, Rochester - 34 PCNs, 158 warning notices - St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Walderslade - 101 PCNs, 350 warning notices Unsurprisingly, the camera on Richmond Road outside Burnt Oak Primary School in Gillingham captured the most offenders, being the only School Street on a fairly significant through road. Outside of a handful of schools, though, several have proved rather fruitful in catching vehicles where they shouldn’t be, which raises inevitable questions about the ability of motorists in Medway to read road signs and warning letters. Inevitably, this is proving rather lucrative for Medway Council. A standard fine for these offences is £70, which would suggest an income of over £143,000 in the first six months of the scheme. As usual, things aren’t quite as straightforward as that. People paying within 21 days see their fines reduced to £35. Some people will inevitably also appeal their fines. We didn’t bother asking Medway Council for this data, as when we made a similar request previously, they told us their system was too crap to be able to pull that data out. The School Streets scheme cost £690,000 to setup, but it seems it is well on the way to paying for itself. The income is only likely to rise further, as [Medway Council are currently consulting on nine new locations](https://www.localauthority.news/new-school-streets-feature-some-weird/) for similar enforcement. --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Hundreds of homes set for approval Next week, we will see the next Medway Council’s planning committee meeting. Assuming a [rogue vice chair doesn’t try to derail proceedings again](https://www.localauthority.news/i/149442753/planning-committee-stumbles-again), there are a lot of new developments possibly getting the go-ahead. [Seven housing developments are recommended for approval](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6004&ref=localauthority.news) by council officers, including: - 44 homes at the Fenn Bell Inn site in St Mary Hoo. This has been a controversial application, and at a previous attempt, councillors were unsure enough to visit the current land/pub/zoo to examine the area in person. Hopefully, they will be able to make up their minds this time around. - 34 homes in Grain. This has also been controversial in the local community, but it’s a rare 100% affordable development, so likely to get the nod. - 88 homes on Maidstone Road in Hempstead. This is a rather isolated site directly opposite the former commuter car park from which the council is fighting to remove travellers. It includes 25% provision of affordable housing. - 45 homes in Cliffe Woods. Also controversial, also includes 25% affordable provision. - 26 flats on Broomhill Road in Strood. The site is currently one house and an old quarry and would see the site fully redeveloped. Overall, 245 new homes are recommended for approval at next week’s committee meeting. Whether or not they will all be remains to be seen, but if Medway Council keeps up this kind of momentum, they just might manage to meet their housing target after all. --- #### Bailiffs2You If you’ve travelled around Medway, there’s a good chance you’ve spotted a truck advertising the car and van hire firm Hire2You. Based on Medway City Estate, the company has an aggressive marketing strategy that involves dumping vans with their adverts in prime locations. Some of these have been parked on bridges over roads for months, if not years. Indeed, one is visible on Google Maps on Higham Road in Wainscott in imagery taken in November 2022, which remains on the same bridge today. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!quhn!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7cb4afbf-a383-45a3-a0cf-c7dbeab99604_1956x790.jpg) A Hire2You advertising truck. Photo: Google Maps Many of them are parked in fairly innocuous locations like this, where they are mildly annoying rather than anything more. Some of them have been left in more questionable locations, like the car park of Asda in Chatham or the entrance to Medway City Estate. Then there is the one parked on a bit of green space on Pier Road in Gillingham for much of this year. The advertising van had somehow been positioned on a rare bit of grass in this part of Gillingham, where it wasn’t hugely welcome. By April, a Notice to Quit had appeared on the windscreen from Medway Council, telling the owner to move their van. By June, this had turned into details of a court date to settle the matter. By September, the windows of the van had been smashed, though this presumably wasn’t a Medway Council action. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!meDK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f31a673ef-11bd-465a-a1cb-b337976bff22_1456x762.jpg) Legal documents left on the Hire2You advertising van Fast forward to this week, when Sammy Redsell, a former Director of Hire2You, posted across several local Facebook groups asking for help locating his ‘stolen’ van. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!kHB3!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f83778a37-f01a-43b5-9a3e-f6e7f8682977_1314x818.jpg) Facebook post about the ‘stolen’ Hire2You van It’s utterly fascinating that he can’t possibly imagine why it had gone missing, given the notice of legal proceedings placed on it for months on end. It demonstrates the company's care for its vehicles and the areas it dumps them in, given nobody had thought to check on it in the intervening months. Happily, he posted an update a little later that he had found out that bailiffs had removed the van and that he intended to pick it up the next day. The van hasn’t arrived back on Pier Road yet, but in his subsequent Facebook book, Mr Redsell seemed unrepentant, suggesting he’d add ten more advertising vans to his fleet of five existing ones. We await the next round of Hire2You vs Medway Council with anticipation. --- #### In brief 🍻 [Medway Council has granted an alcohol licence to a new convenience shop in the Intra area](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=5951&ref=localauthority.news) despite objections from local residents. The store, which takes over the former model railway shop between Chatham and Rochester, will be allowed to sell alcohol between 9am and 11pm every day but had limits imposed on the sale of high alcohol content drinks. 🗳️ New Gillingham and Rainham MP [Naushabah Khan has been elected to the Housing, Communities and Local Government select committee](https://order-order.com/2024/10/15/labour-mps-elect-members-in-select-committee-domination/?ref=localauthority.news). The committee scrutinises and oversees the policies and expenditures of the Ministry of the same name. 🗣️ The year's final full Medway Council meeting is at the St. George’s Centre in Chatham this Thursday. [On the agenda](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=5898&ref=localauthority.news): Winter Fuel Allowance, racism, school place planning, sports centre spending, a review of the constitution, and lots more. 🚗 [Medway Hospital is set to introduce ANPR cameras to its main car parks](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/new-parking-system-coming-soon/?ref=localauthority.news). This will avoid the need to get a ticket when entering, but won’t do much about the lack of spaces and excessive charges. 🐕 [Medway Council has agreed on a dog public space protection order](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/new-dog-rules-backed-but-how-will-they-be-enforced-314341/?ref=localauthority.news). The new rules will see new restrictions on where dogs can be and where they are allowed to be off-lead, though the measures have been questioned as only one employee for all of Medway will be employed to enforce them. 🧑‍⚕️ NHS Kent and Medway are reviewing adult ADHD services after being unable to keep up with the demand for diagnoses and support. [They are carrying out a survey to understand how the service could be improved](https://www.haveyoursayinkentandmedway.co.uk/adult-adhd?ref=localauthority.news). 🏢 [237 affordable homes have been completed at Chatham Waters in Gillingham](https://futuremedway.co.uk/237-affordable-homes-completed-at-chatham-waters-development/?ref=localauthority.news). The Cavalier Court development includes 139 homes for shared ownership and 98 homes for affordable rent, provided to people on Medway Council’s housing list. --- #### More Authority This week's [weekend interview was with Michi Masumi](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-way-for-me-to-survive/), an award-winning photographer who recently launched the Black Art Hub at Nucleus Arts in Chatham. We discuss what brought her to Medway, her unconventional route to photography, and the focus of her PhD. [“It's a way for me to survive”Michi Masumi is an award-winning photographer and has recently launched the Black Art Hub at Nucleus Arts on Chatham High Street. Steven met her there and discussed what brought her to Medway, what led her to photography and eventually, what she is studying for her PhD.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff74b9b19-a723-4a28-afb0-bf96a4b7730e_870x455.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-way-for-me-to-survive/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Waited Up Til It Was Light by Johnny Foreigner*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-PY53SdyUY&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Probably Nothing, Possibly Everything by Pat the Bunny*](https://patthebunny.bandcamp.com/album/probably-nothing-possibly-everything?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Therapy Island by Cheekface*](https://cheekface.bandcamp.com/album/therapy-island?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “It's a way for me to survive” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/its-a-way-for-me-to-survive/ Last updated: 2024-10-13T06:23:42.000Z *Michi Masumi is an award-winning photographer and has recently launched the Black Arts Hub at Nucleus Arts on Chatham High Street. Steven met her there and discussed what brought her to Medway, what led her to photography and eventually, what she is studying for her PhD.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qQwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff74b9b19-a723-4a28-afb0-bf96a4b7730e_870x455.jpg) Michi Masumi **Where were you born?** I'm an Essex girl, babes. That's why I have a strange way I talk. I can talk proper English, because my mum, if she reads this, I’ll get ten phone calls saying, ‘You look like you weren’t raised properly. Can you not say water?’ I grew up in London. Different parts. North London originally, then just before I turned 9, my mum moved us to southeast London. I've got the Essex with the Cockney, and then I’m mixed cultured. Technically, it's mixed race or bi-racial. I think most of us are nowadays. I've had a strong influence with the Jamaican Caribbean side of my family and Barbadian, St Lucian extended families. Not so much with my West African family, but I've been surrounded by Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African friends. **What brought you to Medway?** Okay, so an unscrupulous landlady was taking all our money. We were paying £1800 pounds a month. They didn't pay one 1p to the mortgage for three years and put me, my children, and my partner at the time in immediate homelessness. I was very hurt by that landlady. I hope they never do that to another family, but I'm a forgiving person. In the long run, I got out of a really bad relationship. It's win-win sometimes., and I found Medway. I was very naive, as most Londoners are. They won't own it, but I will say us Londoners, a lot of us are very naive. I think that's true because I came from southeast London. I had been there 30 or 40 years, so for me, the Garden of England, as soon as I saw Kent, I said, ‘Oh, it's next door,’ thinking of Bromley and Chislehurst. It is not. It's a completely different culture shock. We arrived here, and the first seven years was a nightmare hell for us as a family. The racism was just beyond. The consequences are long-lasting for the family, the racial attacks that we endured. I used alcohol, self-medicating from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the racial attacks. I kind of was a recluse. I wouldn't leave the house, I wouldn't go anywhere. I wouldn't go to the Co-op. I had to realise I wouldn't live if I continued drinking myself to death. It took two years from making that decision to choose a holistic route and a weaning-off route combined with self-healing and therapeutic behaviour. Journals, gardening, herbal gardening, growing holistic herbs and medicines, then picking a date and having some talking therapy sessions. Then I thought might as well give up the fags as well. I've been sober now for almost three and a half years. I attended online peer support group sessions with [Turning Point](https://www.turning-point.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham. I did that during covid. It was a great time for me to grab what was there, and it worked for my social anxiety because everyone had to move online. From that, I started learning ways to deal with my panic attacks and severe anxiety breakdowns, thanks to so many wonderful strangers. And I have a heart condition. There were times I wasn't quite sure what was what *(laughs)*. Poor Medway ambulance, but they were phenomenal. I can look back now and laugh. What I have found is by slowly healing and doing all the creative stuff that I did from a child and started to do as an adult. I slowly got out in the community. I've been on the waiting list with [Nucleus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) for a while. I joined them and just really immersed myself in this rich, wonderful, diverse, under-supported in some ways, wonderful art community in Medway. I think we've got a uniqueness here. Urban vibe with that rural countryside vibe and beachside vibe. It's amazing at the number of vibes we have, with the nature reserve vibes. Then we've got these little pockets in the summer of like a carnival vibe. I've had the pleasure of working for a Prime Minister, famous people, celebrities, down to the everyday man and woman. I think there is something unique here. I think we can bring investment and make the community a better space for all. For example, as a parent of a child who spent most of their life in a wheelchair, the lack of disabled access shuts me off from a lot of things, and it shuts her off. We need to ensure that we're providing these spaces, and I think Medway's got an opportunity to start leading rather than following. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Plushies, pin badges, and carpal tunnel URL: https://www.localauthority.news/plushies-pin-badges-and-carpal-tunnel/ Last updated: 2024-10-11T18:34:59.000Z *Ben Cameron is a Medway-born artist and pin badge creator who has successfully crowdfunded his own book. As he relocates to somewhere up north, we caught up with him to talk about how it all started, turning a hobby into a career and the impact of Brexit on his work. Further down, we have a review of the new Royal Cafe in Rochester, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Plushies, pin badges, and carpal tunnel Ben Cameron’s first artistic breakthrough was his [Lonely Hearts Bear](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lonely-hearts-drawing-ben-cameron%5Fn%5F2984722?ref=localauthority.news) design, but he does not remember its specific creation. “I would doodle all sorts of stuff and then push the stuff people reacted well to. Cute animals with hearts were always popular.” As is often the case, Ben started promoting his doodles when social media was a positive environment in which to share artistic endeavours. Ben was working full-time at a “very boring job” but could often be found at [coFWD](https://fellow.ventures/cofwd/?ref=localauthority.news), a former coworking space on Rochester High Street, where he would work on intricate A3 drawings. Ben saw them to be a good source of relaxation and mindfulness. “I could lose myself for hours in them.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WbjE!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5ed5c561-c1c1-4d49-b776-e11d897240e3_812x614.jpg) Ben Cameron’s dinosaur tragidoodle Ben became self-employed in 2012 and became more prominent when he started to share his ‘tragidoodles,’ which the [Daily Mirror called ‘the most upsetting doodles in the world’](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tissues-ready-sad-drawings-break-4518492?ref=localauthority.news). The term came from his artist friend, [Moose Allain](https://www.worldofmoose.com/?ref=localauthority.news), after the dinosaur doodle above went viral. “I already had a decent following when I shared the dinosaur doodle,” says Ben, “but that really put things in motion for me.” An editor from [Unbound](https://unbound.com/?ref=localauthority.news) followed Ben on Twitter and approached him about releasing a book. Unbound uses a crowdfunder model to kickstart authors, and Ben’s effort was successful. That said, he wasn’t quite ready for how much work went into the campaign, describing the experience as exhausting. Whilst Ben is happy that the [book](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tragidoodles-Ben-Cameron/dp/1783523085?ref=localauthority.news) exists, he ultimately didn’t enjoy the process. This, combined with issues from carpal tunnel, a nerve issue in the wrist that causes pain and numbness, made doodling difficult, and a second book never materialised. The other reason was that Ben was excited to pursue other creative projects, including pin badges. The first was based on a character Ben would doodle called [Tiny Owl](https://x.com/ben%5Fcameron/status/760553415399313408?ref=localauthority.news), and the range soon expanded, ultimately leading to the launch of his [Pin Badge Club](https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/doodlesbyben?section%5Fid=22567480&ref=localauthority.news), a monthly subscription which provides new original pins and goodies. The club currently has over 300 subscribers who are very happy if online reviews are to be trusted. “So cute and so detailed. Even better in real life,” says one. Since then, Ben has expanded his work into all kinds of interesting items, including washi tape, a Dungeons & Dragons [D20 dice](https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1297374037/d20-with-a-happy-face-dnd-roll-play-dice?ref=localauthority.news), where the number twenty has been replaced with a little happy face, and a [plush axolotl](https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1418271650/axolotl-plushie-toy?ref=localauthority.news). “I had been asked about them a few times over the years, and I thought it would be fun to expand. The axolotl is one of my most popular pin designs and lends itself very well to being turned into a 3D entity. They've had a great response, so I feel like I made the right choice.” The design was so popular he even found himself sending off orders in bulk to a museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico that wanted to stock them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!OkRp!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fee3457f9-40cb-47ae-8d91-94850d37469e_1086x918.jpg) Axolotl plushes on sale in Albuquerque The carpal tunnel also led to the end of Ben’s popular pet doodles, a bespoke service he provided, of which this writer has a few, of both pet’s past and present. It became impossible to draw and paint by hand, and the time they were taking wasn’t making it economically viable without rising prices. All might not be lost, though, as Ben tells us that he is considering resurrecting the idea digitally. Recently Ben rebranded ‘DoodlesByBen’ to [Higglebees](https://www.doodlesbyben.com/?ref=localauthority.news), as he moves into supplying his designs on a more wholesale basis. “I thought a broader and cheerful name might help more than DoodlesByBen, The response so far has been positive.” Ben can also be found on the convention trail selling his products, which comes with its own stresses. He enjoys it when it’s busy, and he gets to engage with attendees, but it always comes with the risk of being quiet and making a loss. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!IZGo!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbc328660-81b6-4162-8000-9deb1415350e_1456x762.jpg) Some of Ben Cameron’s pin badge designs Ben’s business thrived online after years of developing a loyal fan base. It has faced its recent difficulties as most of the sales are done via Etsy. “They have absolutely dropped the ball,” says Ben. Previously home to individual artisans, the site is now overrun with drop shippers and bulk sellers. As a result, Ben’s appearance in search results on the site is low, and he is competing against pins that are half his price. “Buyers don't often realise they're choosing a mass-produced low-quality pin using stolen artwork over a pin made and designed by an independent artist,” he says. This has compounded issues that he has already faced due to Brexit, which caused Ben to lose a lot of EU business, “In real terms, I was down about £200-300 a month.” This was on top of the knock-on effect of higher costs for materials, packing supplies and printed goods. Having settled after his relocation, Ben has reopened his [Etsy store](https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/doodlesbyben?ref=localauthority.news) and is looking towards the future. He continues producing a new pin badge design every month, though he is shifting his focus towards wholesale and getting his work into gift shops. What’s next? He plans to spend time learning new skills like digital animation, so we can only wonder what cute and or tragic results will come from that. --- #### In brief 🍲 [Loungers are set to open an outlet at Chatham Dockside](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news) after they applied for an alcohol licence for the unit currently occupied by Choice. The bar and restaurant chain has grown rapidly in recent years, with their less Brexity version of Wetherspoons proving popular. ⚽ Paul Scally, the incredibly popular former owner of Gillingham Football Club, has been [removed from the board of the club](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/he-needs-to-accept-he-s-not-wanted-fans-react-as-scally-v-314247/?ref=localauthority.news). 311 shareholders backed removing him, while 11 voted to keep him. 🌳 [Medway Norse have apparently agreed to maintain the two trees at Luton Arches](https://x.com/ArchesLocal/status/1844666584939278640?ref=localauthority.news) that they were trying to cut down following an online outcry over the plans. That said, the [consultation on removing them](https://www.medway.gov.uk/fellingstreettrees?ref=localauthority.news) has yet to be withdrawn. 📷 The northern lights were [visible across Medway last night](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/dazzling-display-as-northern-lights-illuminate-skies-across-314252/?ref=localauthority.news) for the second time this year. --- #### Out to Lunch: The Royal Cafe *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to *The Royal Cafe in Rochester*…* The Royal Cafe, located near the Rochester-Chatham border, is a new café opposite the old Featherstones building. It is welcoming, though the number of seats is not high and doesn’t seem to best use the space. Despite this, we could easily get seated, choosing the large armchairs near the front of the space. The cake area seemed desolate when we were there, and we had to hazard a guess that a toilet facility is available, though it is unsigned. The menus are very large in size, but not in the scale of food on offer. I ordered an omelette with ham, cheese and mushrooms, a serving of fries and a Biscoff milkshake. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zrNP!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f176d2b80-95b0-4c0d-9933-70470f10ef2a_1456x762.jpg) There was a little wait for the food and drink to be delivered, and when it arrived, it was the most rectangular omelette I have ever received. No side salad was served, meaning once the side of fries was added, it was a plate of dry beige food. The fries were standard café fries. The omelette either did not have cheese or so little that it might as well not. The milkshake was good. If you are looking for lunch in the Intra area, there are other places to go. Unless it’s a Monday when everywhere else is closed, then you can get a reasonably priced lunch at the Royal Café. --- #### Events this week 🧪 Nucleus Arts are back with their [Fun Palace](https://www.nucleusarts.com/fun-palace?ref=localauthority.news) at the Pentagon Centre in Chatham tomorrow (Sat 12 Oct). Art and science activities for all ages. Free. 🛍️ [Rochester City Vintage & Artisan Market](https://www.facebook.com/events/814363610740379/814363617407045) is back on Rochester High Street tomorrow (Sat 12 Oct). Stalls along the street will sell unique gifts, products, and food. Free. 👗 [Rochester Vintage Clothing Fair](https://www.rochestervintageclothingfair.com/?ref=localauthority.news) is tomorrow (Sat 12 Oct) at Rochester Baptist Church. Find stalls selling vintage clothing, accessories and bric-a-brac from the 1960's onwards. Free. 🗣️ If you want some socialism to go with your vintage finds, the [William Cuffay Festival of Political & Industrial Education](https://www.facebook.com/events/1597233027876644/) is also being held tomorrow (Sat 12 Oct) at Rochester Baptist Church. Music, poetry, debate, and exhibitions. Probably free, but the event listing doesn’t say. 📽️ Excellent British romcom Rye Lane is being screened at Cineworld in Strood on Tuesday (15 Oct) as part of their Celebrating Black Talent strand. [Tickets £5](https://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/celebrating-black-talent-rye-lane-2022/ho00012083?ref=localauthority.news#/buy-tickets-by-film?in-cinema=020&at=2024-10-15&for-movie=ho00012083&view-mode=list). 🗣️ The year's final [full Medway Council meeting](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=5898&ref=localauthority.news) is on Thursday (17 Oct). On the agenda this time around: School place planning, pavement licensing, constitutional reviews, and lots more. Free. --- #### More Authority For decades, Medway has inspired songwriters to put pen to paper and write about our songs. [Stephen Morris has been collating these into a kind of musical tour of Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/around-medway-by-song/), looking at the places that have turned up in songs about Medway, from Chatham Hill to Jezreels Tower to Darland Banks and more. [Around Medway by SongOccasionally, I entertain the notion of getting myself an open-top bus, painting the Long Weekend lyric “Medway is the Difference Between My Town and Yours” on the side and inviting tourists aboard for a musical tour of Medway.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityStephen Morris![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/edf7aceb-c079-4240-b90e-a21ed5edf937_1640x924.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/around-medway-by-song/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Around Medway by Song URL: https://www.localauthority.news/around-medway-by-song/ Last updated: 2024-10-10T17:22:43.000Z Occasionally, I entertain the notion of getting myself an open-top bus, painting the Long Weekend lyric “Medway is the Difference Between My Town and Yours” on the side and inviting tourists aboard for a musical tour of Medway. Ignoring the lack of financial viability behind the scheme, there are a significant number of songs by Medway bands and artists that reference the Towns’ landmarks. And so, in the absence of an open-top bus, allow me to take you on a guided tour of Medway through the medium of a web page. Be warned: it could get a little bit gloomy. We start off on the Hoo Peninsula. #### **1\. God, Cliffe and Me – The Claim** The Claim were a Britpop band before the term was coined by Stuart Maconie. Undoubtedly a product of the C86 generation, their songs about suburban tedium and malaise - with a preference for singalong melodies make them obvious forerunners of the likes Blur, Sleeper and Echobelly. ‘God, Cliffe and Me’ is a clear case in point. There’s a Cure-esque hypnotic guitar theme and lyrics about teenage boredom on the Hoo Peninsula: the kind of place where activities are limited to climbing trees and “looking for the answers in pontoon.” It’s a beautiful song: an enchanting thumbnail sketch of an unexciting teenage life, complete with a deceptive catchy tune. #### **2\. Strood Lights – The Buff Medways** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway Council to sell off Temple Manor, Gillingham Business Park, Rainham Shopping Centre, and 27 more sites URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-to-sell-off-temple/ Last updated: 2024-10-08T20:22:34.000Z *It’s no secret that Medway Council finds itself in a dire financial situation. A new plan proposes raising £35m by selling off 30 properties, with heritage assets like Temple Manor and major business sites like Gillingham Business Park and Rainham Shopping Centre facing the chop. We’ve got the full details below. Further down, we have news of a quiet change within the Labour administration, an effort to cut down trees in Chatham for questionable reasons, a decision on the Lower Thames Crossing being delayed again, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway Council to sell off 30 properties Medway Council is set to sell off 30 properties that it owns to generate £35m in revenue as efforts to close its large budget gap continue. Significant sites from the council’s portfolio are on the chopping block, including the entirety of Gillingham Business Park, Temple Manor in Strood, and Rainham Shopping Centre. While the 30 properties currently generate £1.6m each year in revenue, it is estimated that disposing of them will allow the council to reduce debt payments by £2.7m per year, giving a net saving of £1.1m per year. These properties are all deemed ‘non-operational’, so they are not directly involved in council operations. A further review of operational facilities will be undertaken in the future, where the council will consider the fate of libraries, museums, youth clubs, car parks, care facilities, community hubs, theatres, business units and more. But for now, non-operational properties are seen as a quick fix as they are easier to dispose of without disrupting services. So, what is on the chopping block? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!FC1s!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f264c63ed-9003-430a-b3f4-3182fd2ea1ea_7137x3737.jpg) Temple Manor in Strood. Photo: stock.adobe.com 20 sites in Medway are proposed for sale: - Land to the southeast of the end of North Dane Way Lordswood - Land at 126-150 Chatham Hill - Warren Wood Social Club, Rochester - Rainham District Shopping Centre - Industrial Estate, Railway Street, Gillingham - Indoor Bowls Club, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham - Gillingham Business Park - Northbank House, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Rochester - Ground Floor Shop, 23-25 High Street, Brompton - Britton Farm Shopping Centre, High Street, Gillingham - Former Fire Station and Public Toilets Arches, New Cut, Chatham - Temple Manor, Knight Road, Strood, Rochester - Site of 121-129 The Brook, Chatham - Capstone Farm, Capstone Road, Farmland adjacent to CapstoneFarm Country Park, Chatham - Eastcourt & Mariners Fields Farmland adjacent to Riverside CountryPark, Gillingham - Land and building rear of 70 Maidstone Road, Rochester - Stirling Sports Centre, Maidstone Road, Rochester - Eastgate Cottage, High Street, Rochester - Land at Abbotts Court Farm, Bredhurst, Gillingham - Gillingham Golf Club, Woodlands Road, Gillingham The land at North Dane Way is interesting as it is the fabled ‘ransom strip’ that Medway Council has refused to sell to developers wanting to build on Gibraltar Farm for years. With Medway Council finally granted planning permission for the site, it is the last chance to make money by selling the land to access the site, allowing it to connect to North Dane Way in Lordswood rather than country lanes in Hempstead. The entire areas of Gillingham Business Park and Rainham Shopping Centre are set to be sold, as is Gillingham Golf Club. Britton Farm Shopping Centre, recently converted into a health centre, and the former fire station in Chatham that now houses the Gurkha Fire restaurant also make the list. Two heritage sites make the list, with Eastgate Cottage in Rochester and Temple Manor in Strood likely to be seeking new owners. Some sites are random shops or relatively trivial buildings, with some random unused land plots. Potentially the most curious are the large swathes of land around Capstone Farm, Abbotts Court Farm in Hempstead, and fields alongside Riverside Country Park. Given the scale and location of these sites, it’s hard not to imagine that enterprising developers may look at them with glee. Further, the council is set to sell ten sites outside of Medway. Most of these are distribution warehouses for a food company called Bobby’s that the council invested in to make money, though some industrial units around Snodland also make the list. Selling property in itself isn’t cheap. Medway Council are proposing adding £1.2m to the budget over three years to cover the cost of selling the sites. But with the kind of figures they are seeking to raise from the offloading, that may well seem like a small price to pay. *Medway Council’s* [*Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee will consider the proposals this Thursday*](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=437&MId=5936&ref=localauthority.news)*. You can read the* [*full report on the issue via Medway Council’s website*](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=76004&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Whipping up a change There has been a quiet change within the Labour administration of Medway Council as Cllr Gareth Myton has stood down as the Group Whip and been replaced by Cllr Eddie Peake. Cllr Myton had been the Group Whip since Labour took control of Medway Council, tasked with keeping councillors organised and handling any disciplinary issues within the group. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!JFWw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd90361f7-c1d3-4e14-b1b9-37beef01817e_1456x762.jpg) Cllr Gareth Myton and Cllr Eddie Peake The task can’t have been made easy after [controversial tweets from new Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards surfaced](https://www.localauthority.news/new-mp-has-offensive-tweets-outed/) recently, while she also remained a Medway councillor. This led to an awkward situation where Cllr Myton and Leader Vince Maple would have been responsible for deciding any disciplinary action. No action has been taken against Edwards. The new Group Whip is Cllr Eddie Peake, who has represented Wayfield and Weeds Wood since last year. He adds the role to his busy schedule, where he also sits on the Councillor Conduct Committee, the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Licensing and Safety Committee, the Planning Committee, the Police and Crime Panel, and the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Phew. --- #### Chopping trees for vague reasons For unclear reasons, Medway Council plans to chop down two trees next to Luton Arches in Chatham. The rules around removing trees are tight, and most tree felling is carried out for safety reasons. When a tree is planned for removal, a council must conduct a public consultation by putting a notice on it and uploading the details to an [obscure part of its website](https://www.medway.gov.uk/fellingstreettrees?ref=localauthority.news). Of course, if the trees happen to be in a central reservation that is inaccessible to the public, it might be easy for the public notices to be missed, so shout out to the [Arches Local community group for spotting that Medway wishes to cut down two trees next to Luton Arches](https://x.com/ArchesLocal/status/1843337534467875059?ref=localauthority.news). Curiously, the reason for the removal of the trees is cited as blocking rail signals on the track on the above viaduct. This seems somewhat curious, given recent pictures of the trees, where they don’t appear to reach the height of the railway. Even if they do, it seems unusual that it wouldn’t be possible to prune the trees so they do not interfere with the railway operation. It is also worth noting that nowhere in the documents about felling the trees is there any indication that a request has come from Network Rail or Southeastern. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!p88y!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa542b6f3-5efa-4e90-aa88-3ec68aa88220_1456x762.jpg) The east side of Luton Arches in 2019 and 2022\. Photos: Google Maps Supposedly, the trees will be replaced with trees of a more suitable size if permission is granted for their removal. Of course, this is the minimum that should happen. It’s hard to entirely believe, given that a large tree on the east side of Luton Arches was removed around 2020, and no replacement was ever planted. If you have any opinion on the proposed felling of these streets, you can provide Medway Council with feedback via their [obscure tree consultation website](https://www.medway.gov.uk/fellingstreettrees?ref=localauthority.news) before 21 October. --- #### Lower Thames Crossing decision delayed yet again In the grand tradition of this country never being able to build infrastructure, the decision on whether or not to build the Lower Thames Crossing has [been delayed once again](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/oct/08/lower-thames-crossing-decision-delayed-tunnel?ref=localauthority.news). The final decision on the road tunnel between Kent and Essex that will depart just west of Medway was due last week, then this week, and now it’ll be May next year. With the Dartford Crossing overloaded, journeys between Kent and Essex are notoriously unreliable. The £9bn crossing would have relieved the existing crossing and opened up journey options, making crossing between Medway and pretty much anywhere north of the Thames much faster. The Lower Thames Crossing has been discussed for decades, with a preferred route chosen in 2017 and a planning application submitted in 2020\. It will take until at least 2025 to reach a decision, and it is almost certain that the already delayed opening date of 2032 will now be missed. The crossing has remained controversial due to the amount of countryside it will tear through and how much road capacity it will add at a time when we are trying to reduce emissions. Still, the scheme has large numbers of supporters who argue that the current system isn’t economically and environmentally sustainable. We won’t rehash the arguments here, but we did enjoy this recent piece by journalist and writer [James O’Malley](https://takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) on [why even car-hating urbanists should support building it](https://takes.jamesomalley.co.uk/p/why-even-car-hating-urbanists-should?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### In brief 💷 [440 Medway residents are estimated to be eligible for Pension Credit but aren’t claiming it](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/hundreds-of-people-eligible-for-pension-credit-not-claiming-313832/?ref=localauthority.news). Pension Credit would make someone eligible for Winter Fuel Allowance and additional support. 💉 [Covid vaccinations are now available to eligible groups](https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/get-vaccinated-ahead-winter?ref=localauthority.news). Many Medway pharmacies offer a walk-in service and the usual booked appointments. 🍔 [Medway Council banned opening new takeaways near schools in 2014](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/ban-on-takeaways-near-schools-fails-to-curb-rates-of-child-o-313937/?ref=localauthority.news) to curb childhood obesity. Ten years on, obesity rates in Medway children have continued to increase. ⛽ [Several people filling up their cars at the Morrisons petrol station in Strood have reported car problems](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13925435/Drivers-furious-fuel-major-supermarket-pumps-contaminated.html?ref=localauthority.news). Morrisons have quickly passed the blame to the company that now operates their petrol stations. 🏗️ [Developer Taylor Wimpey has submitted plans for a 450-home development in Hoo](https://futuremedway.co.uk/plans-submitted-for-450-homes-on-farmland-in-main-road-hoo/?ref=localauthority.news). The plans also include retail space, community space, sports facilities, and outdoor space. 💇‍♂️ [Strood Academy has a stupid haircut policy](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/head-teacher-defends-ridiculous-haircut-rules-313883/?ref=localauthority.news). The school has been removing children from lessons with skin fades for a reason they can’t fully articulate. --- #### More Authority On Friday, we wrote about the precarious state of Medway’s music scene two years on from the closure of the Royal Function Rooms in Rochester. Venues across our towns have faced rising costs, noise complaints, and council interference. Medway has a long and storied music history, but is the lack of suitable spaces putting its future at risk? [Medway’s music scene remains precariousAt the end of 2022, the Royal Function Rooms closed, removing two live music venues from Medway’s scene. Nearly two years on, Medway’s music scene feels more precarious than ever. Further down, we have new of the Mayor of Medway’s charity trek across Medway that hasn’t quite achieved it’s aims, we review The Pumproom in Chatham, our weekly events guide,…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0210dec3-00dc-45bf-bbdc-ec3c4b7514f9_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-music-scene-remains-precarious/) Our weekend interview this week was with Sarah Crouch, Medway musician and potter. She talks about her musical persona, pottery, and living on the River Medway. [“We all had silly names given to us. I was given Ludella Black”Sarah Crouch has lived on the River Medway since the 1980s, has played in multiple Medway bands, and makes pottery that travels around the world. Steven met her in her studio to discuss the pottery, her music persona and living on the river.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9edd3135-201b-4194-9c41-eb5d929d152d_1410x746.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/we-all-had-silly-names-given-to-us/) Coming up later this week, we’ll be looking at the story behind the Spembley building, an abandoned wreck that looms over the Chatham skyline. It’s a grim reminder that not all regeneration ends well, but what can be done about it? [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Pity Boy by Mal Blum*](https://malblum.bandcamp.com/album/pity-boy?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Going to Hell by Lande Hekt*](https://landehekt.bandcamp.com/album/going-to-hell?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Sick Scenes by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/sick-scenes?ref=localauthority.news) ### “We all had silly names given to us. I was given Ludella Black” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/we-all-had-silly-names-given-to-us/ Last updated: 2024-10-06T06:23:45.000Z *Sarah Crouch has lived on the River Medway since the 1980s, has played in multiple Medway bands, and makes pottery that travels around the world. Steven met her in her studio to discuss the pottery, her music persona and living on the river.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!jhp2!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9edd3135-201b-4194-9c41-eb5d929d152d_1410x746.jpg) Sarah Crouch as Ludella Black. Photo: Damaged Goods Records. **What is your official occupation?** I work part-time, in now the bookshop [Store 104](https://www.store104.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Previously, the art shop Francis Iles because the art materials were sort of my department. I've been there for 20 years. I suppose I'm a potter. I trained at Medway College of Design in the late 70s, early 80s. It was a vocational pottery course with a higher diploma, which I passed with distinction, which is all good, but that's as far as I went with that. Since then, I've pretty much just been potting, self-reliant as a glorified hobby. I've plenty of collectors, which is great, but I certainly couldn't rely on it for a living. **Do you have any other roles, paid or unpaid?** I’m a musician as well, but that certainly doesn't make me rich and famous like some. But I love to do it, and we do get paid for what we do, but it covers pretty much our expenses. **What band are you in at the moment?** At the moment, I sing as Miss Ludella Black with [The Masonics](https://www.facebook.com/themasonics/). The Masonics are my husband Mick *(Hampshire)*, who was in [The Milkshakes](https://damagedgoods.co.uk/bands/the-milkshakes/?ref=localauthority.news), with Bruce Brand, who was the drummer in The Milkshakes who's now the drummer with the Masonics and John Gibbs, who originally came from Scotland, moved down to London. He was in a band called The Kaisers, and now they're The Masonics. I do my little bit as Miss Ludella Black with The Masonics. Occasionally, I'll do a bit with [Billy ](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/)[*(Childish)*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/), but not very much these days. **What does your average day currently entail?** We live on a boat, so obviously, there's things that need doing boat wise. It's not like just getting up and turning on taps and things. In the winter, there's the fire to empty and to stoke up and lots of chores. It's a different lifestyle, which is great. If I'm at work, I'll go to work at 10, and then I'll come home, maybe pat the kiln. I love to cook in the evening, and yeah, that's pretty much it *(laughs)*. **You're currently living on the River Medway itself. What's that like?** I can't imagine not living on the boat. I absolutely love it. **When did you first move on to the river?** Well, I was at college between ‘79 and ‘82 and first of all, we lived in a little flat in Luton Road, myself and Mick. We lived there for a year, and then he was on tour with The Milkshakes, and our landlord told us that we needed to move. Mick had always said it would be quite nice if we lived on a boat and I was looking through the Evening Post as it was in those days and I saw an advert for a boat to rent. I came down and looked at it. Mick was away, and the chap who owned it was South African, and he was very of his generation, shall we say, where he didn't want to say yes to a woman. He expected to see Mick before he could make decisions as to whether I could have it. That was what it was like. Anyway, Mick came home and said, ‘Yes, of course’, and so we moved on in 1982, thinking it would probably be a couple of years and we're still there. So, 40, 41 years. We also had a little fishing boat to take down the river at weekends and moor up the other side of Teston. We went to Tonbridge and back, and it was lovely, but then the farmers started not liking people mooring on their land, and it became harder and harder because boats do need a lot of work. Every year, we have to do the outside. We have to do the filling and rubbing and painting, and it's really hard work. Fort Rosie was built in 1917\. She was an old naval pinnace. Her superstructure was built on in 1937, and she's now a houseboat, all teak double diagonal, really beautiful. Five years ago, a bolt sheared off, and we couldn't find where it was. The wood's fine, but we couldn't find where the problem was, so we had to strip her out completely. It's just turned into a big project because things just take longer but we're quite comfortable. It's good, we do love it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!HZ-W!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdb1e3285-b783-4045-bf96-e418a2e63692_2048x1152.jpg) Fort Rosie **Have you always been living on the same part of the river?** Yeah. There's things that have been going on around us. It was a massive boatyard when we first moved here. There were 30 odd boats, and they had its own dry dock, and the chap who used to run the boatyard bred parrots, and it was just full of character. But probably 10 years ago we were threatened with redevelopment, and a lot of the boats decided that they wanted to move somewhere else because they were scared that we'd have to move. A lot of people moved to Medway Bridge or to Cuxton, but we were on the BBC News pretty much protesting that we wanted to stay, highlighting the wildlife. The wild birds here are beautiful, and I think they have a preservation order. We petitioned, the recession came, and the redevelopment didn't happen, so we're still here. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s music scene remains precarious URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-music-scene-remains-precarious/ Last updated: 2024-10-04T19:37:06.000Z *At the end of 2022, the Royal Function Rooms closed, removing two live music venues from Medway’s scene. Nearly two years on, Medway’s music scene feels more precarious than ever. Further down, we have new of the Mayor of Medway’s charity trek across Medway that hasn’t quite achieved it’s aims, we review The Pumproom in Chatham, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway’s music scene remains precarious It’s been nearly two years since the [Royal Function Rooms closed its doors](https://www.localauthority.news/requiem-for-a-scene/), removing two venues and one recording studio from Medway’s cultural scene. Of course, venues closing up and down the country is nothing new. The Music Venue Trust estimated that [125 grassroots venues, 16% of them all, closed in 2023](https://www.musicvenuetrust.com/2024/01/music-venue-trust-launch-annual-report-2/?ref=localauthority.news). Medway has never quite had the venues one would expect. For an urban area of over 280,000 residents across five towns and surrounding villages, we have no mid-sized capacity venue that touring bands of a certain size can visit. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vMyL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0210dec3-00dc-45bf-bbdc-ec3c4b7514f9_1456x762.jpg) The former Royal Function Rooms in Rochester The Royal Function Rooms on Star Hill somewhat filled that gap, offering a 200-capacity space in Rochester’s town centre, with a smaller club underneath for smaller shows. Both spaces were well used until they weren’t. Two years later, both venues remain empty, though at least [Ranscombe Studios](https://ranscombestudios.com/?ref=localauthority.news), another casualty of the closure, has found a new home in Intra. All of our usable venues are the most grassroots of grassroots venues. [Poco Loco](https://pocoloco.live/?ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham almost singlehandedly holds the live music scene in Medway together, putting on several gigs every week. Beyond that, things start to look somewhat sparse. Excellent promoters like [Careful Now](https://www.localauthority.news/cnp-did-their-first-gig-at-riverside/), [The Platform 3 Club](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/platform3club?ref=localauthority.news) and [The Big Cheese Company](https://www.facebook.com/p/Big-Cheese-Company-100087086209312/) put on excellent shows at [The Oast Community Centre](https://www.theoastrainham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) in Rainham. The latter puts on the odd show in the [Nags Head](https://www.facebook.com/292Rochester/) in Rochester or the [Analogue Music](https://www.localauthority.news/between-a-democracy-and-a-benign/) record shop. Every now and again, an interesting gig might appear at Three Sheets To The Wind in Rochester. All of this is something, but the shortage of venues inevitably means compromises have to be made. Most venues most commonly used in Medway aren’t step-free, rendering them inaccessible to some potential audience members. This is not a criticism of those venues, as most will be struggling to do what they can with limited resources, but an issue with the lack of support to make our music scene more accessible for all. Small gigs are the foundation of a thriving scene, but Medway has to work with few suitable venues and an utter lack of larger ones. Without those venues, how does any band step up to playing a larger show or getting a support slot with a touring band passing through? Sadly, the problems run deeper than just venues. Bands we’ve spoken to report significant issues finding suitable rehearsal space in our towns. The nature of these spaces is challenging. They tend not to make much income, but they do make a lot of noise, so finding an appropriate space in an accessible location is difficult. Bands end up going outside of our towns to practice or making do with home studios that many bands won’t have the resources to access. Rochester has a record shop now, which is great, but only [one shop sells instruments across all of Medway](https://www.strumandbass.com/?ref=localauthority.news). Opportunities to engage with and meet fellow musicians remain low. At the most basic level, schools are [cutting music from curriculums](https://www.musicteachermagazine.co.uk/content/news/report-finds-42-of-state-schools-no-longer-entering-students-for-gcse-music/?ref=localauthority.news). With years of Medway Council actively stifling the scene and no one having much money to experiment with anything new, we are left with fragments of a scene rather than anything coherent. The issue of supporting a music scene is complicated. There is no magic bullet that one organisation can put in place to make everything come together. Undoubtedly, not everyone will share such a pessimistic view of the situation. People who attend large shows at the Castle Concerts might not see the problem. But without the grassroots end of the music scene being supported, the future artists of those larger shows have nowhere to nurture their talents in the first place. Medway has a long and storied music history, and for all of the problems, incredible people are trying to do incredible things here. Whether it will continue to be enough remains to be seen. --- #### Mayor’s trek across Medway stumbles Shout out to the Mayor of Medway, Marian Nestorov, who spent his Monday walking all the way from Hoo to Rainham to raise money for his chosen charities. Unfortunately, the, ahem, exercise hasn’t perhaps quite been as successful as he might have liked. The event was to raise money for [Medway Culture Club](https://www.medwaycultureclub.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and the [Halpern Charitable Foundation](https://www.nucleusarts.com/about-us?ref=localauthority.news) and saw the Mayor and supporters who joined him visiting all five Medway town centres as well as extra stops at locations like Chatham Dockyard, Priestfield Stadium, and for some reason Twydall Shops even though they weren’t on the route. ![May be an image of 8 people](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!NtoU!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f533ae7a1-1930-4abe-97b9-b8994f2bc4f6_1992x1043.jpg) Mayor of Medway Marian Nestorov and fellow travellers on his charity walk Unfortunately, four days after the event, the fundraising from the walk has still only reached a grand total of £455, less than half of the £1,000 target. This is perhaps made worse by the fact that the vast majority of donations are from Nestorov’s fellow Labour councillors rather than the wider community. All of which is something of a shame, particularly given the [phenomenal artwork](https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/4856/the-mayor-of-medway-charity-walk/?ref=localauthority.news) that was put together for the event. [The collection pot remains open](https://www.givewheel.com/fundraising/4856/the-mayor-of-medway-charity-walk/?ref=localauthority.news), so if you’d like to help get the Mayor a little closer to his target and support two Medway charities in the meantime, we’re sure he’d be very happy to receive your support. --- **Shameless self-promotion:* I (Ed) will be speaking at Goldsmiths, University of London, in a couple of weeks on the state of local news and what can be done about it. I’m on a panel with the editor of BBC’s Local Democracy Service and the managing director of Social Spider, who run a set of local community news outlets in London. The event is open to students, staff, and members of the public, so if you happen to be around New Cross on 17 October, feel free to come along.* [*More details here*](https://www.gold.ac.uk/calendar/?id=15173&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In brief ⚓ Local naval historian [Chris Sams recently wrote about the impressive Slips at Chatham Dockyard](https://jerijerod14.substack.com/p/slips-and-ships). ⚫ Chris Bath, the lead architect of the Rochester Riverside project, passed away last week at the age of 43\. BPTW, the firm he was a partner in, [paid tribute to him and his work](https://www.bptw.co.uk/news/chris-bath-18-june-1981-to-27-september-2024/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏆 [Nominations are now open for the 2025 Pride in Medway awards](https://www.prideinmedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). This year, the awards feature a refreshed set of categories for local people doing good things to be highlighted. 👨‍🎨 [The New York Times interviewed Billy Childish this week](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/03/arts/design/frieze-london-billy-childish.html?ref=localauthority.news), which seems like an excellent opportunity to promote [our interview from earlier this year](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/). --- #### Out to Lunch: The Pumproom *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***The Pumproom***](https://crdpumproom.com/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Chatham*…* Part of the Copper Rivet Distillery, the Chatham Dockside establishment providing high-quality gin, The Pumproom can be found behind the Odeon as you drive towards Chatham Marina. They have their parking area, and the building itself is impressive to walk around. The inside is just as impressive, with the restaurant providing a good view of the river and the waiting team friendly and attentive. They offer a two-course lunch for £22\. I had crispy belly pork with an apple and octopus bulgogi for a starter. For the main, I had sauteed minute steak Diane. I swapped the skinny fries for triple-cooked chips, which came with a Caesar salad. When a dessert course was just an extra £3, it would be rude not to. I had caramelised chilled coconut rice pudding, passionfruit sorbet, and blackberries. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qbVh!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f21de1c42-2dee-44fe-bddd-33f23f65fb43_1456x762.jpg) Food at The Pumproom Sadly, I must start with a complaint. The meal came with bread served with Marmite butter. My complaint is that this was so nice and they didn’t serve enough of it. The starter was indeed crispy and delicious when combined with the sauce. I don’t know what bulgogi is, I’ve Googled it, and I’m still not sure. The steak was tender, well cooked and delightful with the sauce. I was very happy to have ordered the triple-cooked chips. The salad is undoubtedly one of the best I’ve had doing these reviews: Simple but full of flavour, with a nice dressing and top-quality croutons. The dessert was a bargain with a great mixture of flavours and chilled at the best temperature for rice pudding. With all this quality food for just £25, The Pumproom is an essential option for lunch in Medway. --- #### Events this week 🧟 Cineworld in Strood is screening Zombieland tonight (Fri 4 Oct) as part of its Horror Season. Most horrifying, the film is marking its 15th anniversary, making us all feel incredibly old. [Tickets £5](https://experience.cineworld.co.uk/select-tickets?sitecode=020&site=020&id=169911&lang=en-GB&ref=localauthority.news). 🎨 Rochester Art Fair is at the Corn Exchange this weekend (4-6 Oct). You can browse and buy a wide range of visual art and interact with the artists behind it. [Tickets £7](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rochester-art-fair-tickets-905346986207?ref=localauthority.news). 🧑🏾‍🎨 The Black Art Hub’s Intersectionality exhibition begins today (Fri 4 Oct) and runs until the end of the month at the Halpern Gallery at Nucleus Arts’ Chatham site. Showcases work from Black British visual artists and poets from across the UK. Free. 📜 Medway History Showcase is being held tomorrow (Sat 5 Oct) at the Royal Engineers Museum in Brompton. Exhibitions from local organisations, heritage sites, universities, and more, and a packed lineup of history-related talks. [Free, booking required](https://www.re-museum.co.uk/events/medway-history-showcase-3/?ref=localauthority.news). 🎸 Legendary Medway musician and artist Lupen Crook will perform at The Oast Community Centre in Rainham as part of The Platform 3 Club tomorrow (Sat 5 Oct). Grinners, Lovejoy, and The Pastel Waves round out the lineup. [Tickets £8](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/platform3club/t-modyzrv?ref=localauthority.news). 🍄‍🟫 Intra Arts in Rochester is holding a [Fungus Day](https://www.facebook.com/events/1155403549598161/) tomorrow (Sat 5 Oct) to celebrate UK Fungus Day, which is apparently a thing. All-ages event where you can draw fungi for a glow art installation, learn how to identify mushrooms and look at them under a microscope. Free. 📽️ Get Out, one of the finest horror films of recent years, is being screened by Cineworld in Strood on Wednesday (9 Oct) as part of their Celebrating Black Talent strand. [Tickets £5](https://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/celebrating-black-talent-get-out-2017/ho00012082?ref=localauthority.news#/buy-tickets-by-film?in-cinema=020&at=2024-10-09&for-movie=ho00012082&view-mode=list). --- #### More Authority Urban explorers find ways into abandoned or hidden parts of the world, and Medway is full of fascinating nooks and crannies to explore. With the help of local urban explorer Kim Hargreaves, we looked at some of Medway's abandoned spaces and how to go about the practice as safely as possible. [Urban exploring MedwayUrban exploring is the exploration of man-made structures, usually abandoned ruins or hidden components of the man-made environment. We spoke to Kim Hargreaves, a Medway-based urban explorer, about where she has visited locally, how she got into urban exploring and what advice she would have for somebody considering doing it.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbbc2adc7-81ed-44c4-b7b1-c9690ee9b3b1_1444x960.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/urban-exploring-medway/) On Sunday, our interview is with Medway musician and potter **Sarah Crouch**. We discuss her musical personas, living on the River Medway, selling her pottery worldwide, and lots more. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*The Suburbs Have Ruined My Life by Great Wight*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=totSqK8pr-4&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Driver by Adult Mom*](https://adultmom.bandcamp.com/album/driver?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Love Keeps Kicking by Martha*](https://marthadiy.bandcamp.com/album/love-keeps-kicking?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Urban exploring Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/urban-exploring-medway/ Last updated: 2024-10-03T17:30:31.000Z *Urban exploring is the exploration of man-made structures, usually abandoned ruins or hidden components of the man-made environment. We spoke to Kim Hargreaves, a Medway-based urban explorer, about where she has visited locally, how she got into urban exploring and what advice she would have for somebody considering doing it.* In 2013, Kim was studying Media at MidKent College. Her assessments included writing and shooting a short film, so she decided to make a horror film. Looking for abandoned places to film in, she came across the concept of urban exploring. However, she says, “It turned out to be difficult to film a horror movie in abandoned locations because I couldn't get permission.” Her first ever exploration site was the abandoned railway tracks in Gillingham, though she doesn’t count that as a a proper exploration. After that, she visited a few other sites, such as Brompton Reservoir, Cat Eyes (a fort in Brompton), and a bunker near the train station. “Even though they are considered urban exploring,” she says, “these sites have been visited many times by both explorers and non-explorers.” She considers her first real taste of urban exploring was the Shorts Tunnels in Rochester. “I found out about the entrance on the [28 Days Later forum](https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) at the time.” The entrance most commonly used by explorers has since been bricked up as the tunnels are now privately owned. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Rainham pub set to become homes as nothing else good enough URL: https://www.localauthority.news/rainham-pub-set-to-become-homes-as/ Last updated: 2024-10-01T22:00:30.000Z *A Rainham pub closed for five years looks set to be converted into housing after attempts to convert it into a nursery, a microbrewery, or reopening it as a pub all failed. The owner accuses Medway Council of making any other use more complex, so we’ve been looking at the situation. Further down, we have news of a bewildering situation from last week’s planning committee, the Medway Tories’ away day, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Rainham pub set to become homes as nothing else good enough Since its closure in 2019, several efforts have been made to return The Green Lion pub to some kind of community use. Now, it seems those efforts are over, as a new [planning application has been submitted](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SKDFSSKNG5800&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) to convert the pub's ground floor into two flats. In 2020, plans were submitted to convert the building into a day nursery. The facility would have created jobs and provided 40 nursery places in a central location. In an unusual moment for planning decisions, nearly 150 residents wrote in favour of the proposal, with just one objection. Medway Council was initially nervous about the application due to the parking situation. The plan was for parents to drop their children off in the former pub car park, but planning officers felt this carried a risk to the level of traffic entering the site at busy times. As such, the applicants withdrew the parking provision from the plans. When the application reached the planning committee, [it was refused](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?previousCaseType=Property&keyVal=QGPGXCKNHE400&previousCaseNumber=OK1AME00DT003&previousCaseUprn=000044100543&activeTab=summary&previousKeyVal=OK1AME00DT007&ref=localauthority.news). One of the main reasons given was the lack of parking: > *Due to the lack of on-site parking provided for the use and within the immediate locality, there is potential for indiscriminate parking within the vicinity of the building particularly at pick-up and drop-of times for the children attending the nursery.* In the years since, the site's owner has claimed various other schemes have been attempted and collapsed, which [he claims is often down to ‘nit-picking’ by council officers](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/owner-hopes-towns-landmark-pub-will-trade-again-272401/?ref=localauthority.news). Plans to turn the site into a microbrewery and to reopen as a pub came and went without success. [The pub was even advertised for rent](https://www.kentlive.news/news/property/popular-medway-grade-ii-pub-8013350?ref=localauthority.news) for less than most houses in Medway cost, but seemingly, no one was interested in the offer. In the midst of all of this, an application was submitted to build six houses on the car park at the rear of the pub. With Medway Council seemingly uncomfortable about any new commercial use for the site, presumably housing would be acceptable. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qMHW!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa1aa7c9b-1c50-4ae7-b48b-c4425829e0aa_2156x1152.jpg) Planned development for the rear of The Green Lion As applications go, it was reasonably high quality, with mews-style houses that matched the surrounding architectural styles. Of course, Medway Council also refused the houses on the slightly spurious grounds that existing trees made the gardens a bit shady and that vehicles exiting the homes would create traffic and a risk to pedestrians. How six houses generate a more extensive traffic problem than a pub car park was never fully explained. As tends to be the way with housing application refusals when you don’t have a Local Plan, the site owner [appealed and won](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/files/98912C965E261DF867F2EC057FE574C0/pdf/MC%5F22%5F1824-APPEAL%5FDECISION%5F-%5FALLOWED%5FWITH%5FCONDITIONS-6355404.pdf?ref=localauthority.news), as the planning inspector handling the case didn’t accept Medway Council’s refusal grounds as strong enough. So, with the car park now settled as being converted to housing, the remaining commercial options for the main part of the pub building have become somewhat limited. This leads us to today's application to convert the bulk of the pub into two flats with their own parking spaces. Some will lament the loss of a community location in the centre of Rainham. Of course, not every pub can remain as such, and things inevitably change use over time. It does seem a slightly odd scenario, though, that Medway Council has chosen to stop wanted community uses and instead landed in a position where the site likely becomes housing. Needed housing, for sure, but an odd situation nonetheless. --- **Local Authority* is an award-winning independent news service for Medway. To receive our *free weekly briefing editions* straight to your inbox when we publish, please subscribe below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Planning committee stumbles again We’ve flagged issues with the functioning of Medway Council’s planning committee before for their questionable decisions and often ineffective nature. Earlier this year, [we covered a baffling situation](https://www.localauthority.news/i/140833818/planning-committee-unable-to-commit) in which they deferred a planning application because they claimed not to be knowledgeable enough to know how to proceed until they received additional training. Last week saw another bewildering display from Medway’s planning committee as they tackled the decision over 44 new homes in St Mary Hoo. The application was submitted by the owners of The Fenn Bell pub, which now largely functions as a zoo after a small animal collection in their garden got rather out of hand. The organisation previously bought a plot of land near their site, with the stated claim of creating gorilla enclosures and an overflow car park. Earlier this year, citing financial reasons, they submitted an application to build 44 homes on the site instead. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!wFdm!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa645e7bb-4044-4bb6-8b41-fcf0d1d78d71_1601x838.jpg) Plans for homes on Fenn Bell Inn site Unsurprisingly, local residents weren’t particularly enthused by this proposal and started a campaign against the plans. Residents wrote in to oppose the application en masse, and the parish council started organising a coach to get residents to protest at the planning committee. [Talking to KentOnline](http://“In St Mary Hoo, presently, there are 90 homes, so with these 44, you've just more than doubled the size of the parish in one go - you’re destroying the character of what is effectively a hamlet.”), Cllr Nick Craddy of St Mary Hoo parish council was so upset about the plans that he forgot how maths works: > *“In St Mary Hoo, presently, there are 90 homes, so with these 44, you've just more than doubled the size of the parish in one go - you’re destroying the character of what is effectively a hamlet.”* When the application reached the planning committee last week, Medway Council officers recommended the plans for approval, arguing that there were not really any strong grounds to oppose them and that even if they did, they would likely lose on appeal, which, as we’ve just learnt, often happens. Things are never that simple, though, leading to rather chaotic scenes from a planning committee that seems to be increasingly stumbling through its work. Following a rousing speech against the application from independent All Saints ward councillor Chris Spalding, the discussion turned to its sustainability. Following some back-and-forth, Independent Group councillor Michael Pearce proposed that the committee visit the site to further assess the plans. Labour councillor Eddie Peake seconded this, somewhat surprisingly, in a move seemingly not expected by Cllr Peake’s Labour colleagues. As the idea was seconded, it needed to be put to a vote, where things took an even more surreal turn. As Vice Chair of the committee, it is down to Cllr Mark Jones to move any proposals for a vote, but instead of doing so, he spent a period of time saying he didn’t know how to proceed because he was against a site visit and tried to push that case once again. This is hardly the point, given the idea had been proposed and seconded, meaning it became a matter for the committee to decide. Cllr Jones eventually had to be forced back to the original vote that he was obliged to call. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vGOu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6ab2628c-b5b0-4ad1-bd26-443288143e3a_1782x933.jpg) Cllr Mark Jones In the end, the vote for a site visit was won. Five Conservative councillors and three Labour ones supported Cllr Pearce’s call for a site visit, with only five Labour councillors and one Conservative councillor opposing. As a result, a visit will take place, and the decision will come back to a future planning committee. It was clear that the committee's Chair, Cllr Chrissy Stamp, and Vice Chair, Cllr Mark Jones, were not happy with the chain of events that led here. In a way, this is all part of the function of the planning committee. By design, it is not meant to be a whipped forum, meaning votes shouldn’t necessarily follow party lines. But it does border on the outrageous that Cllr Jones attempted to use his position as Vice Chair to stop the committee from voting for something he didn’t approve of. Maybe even more training for the planning committee is needed. --- #### Medway Tories’ high energy away day As the Conservative Party holds their national party conference to figure out what the future looks like for a shrunken party, the local party has been doing a similar exercise. The [Medway Conservatives held their annual ‘away day’](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/medway-conservative-group-hold-annual-away-day?ref=localauthority.news) last week. These events are common for local politicians to hash out policy and future strategy. In this case, the party held policy discussions and plotted ‘Vision 2027’, their plan to approach the next local elections in Medway. However, what is slightly less unusual is that they publicise what is effectively internal manoeuvring. To be honest, we likely wouldn’t have included this if it wasn’t for the [tweet the party posted](https://x.com/MedwayTories/status/1839281794060866034?ref=localauthority.news) to talk about the event that described it as being ‘high energy’ with ‘thought provoking discussion.’ That high energy in full: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qTiJ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86550c8a-871d-411d-8524-a9bee838c004_830x540.jpg) Cllr Habib Tejan and Cllr Andrew Lawrence Of course, one picture might not be representative, but almost all give off the same vibe. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!nSFP!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f6b73569b-5eaa-4b34-8f1e-6c0b1cf7c342_830x540.jpg) Cllrs Adrian Gulvin, David Wildey, Howard Doe, and David Brake If these are the photos chosen to represent ‘high energy’, what do the ones that didn’t make the cut look like? The whole thing is slightly reminiscent of the [Thick Of It away day episode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4CTLW-Ddu0&ref=localauthority.news), where a bunch of Conservative MPs and staffers head to a country hotel for the day to figure things out. The main difference is that the Thick Of It version at least features some women, something the Medway Conservatives are distinctly lacking. Maybe, if the ‘Vision 2027’ plan is a success, they might manage to get a handful elected next time. --- #### In brief 🛍️ [B&M will open in Gillingham on November 16](https://futuremedway.co.uk/bm-unveils-opening-date-for-gillingham-high-street-store/?ref=localauthority.news). The former Wilko store is being refurbished ahead of the retailer's launch in the town. 🥡 [Jade Garden Chinese restaurant in Chatham has had its licence suspended](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/chinese-restaurant-accused-of-using-illegal-workers-has-lice-313758/?ref=localauthority.news) for three months. Following multiple licensing committee meetings, the decision was made after the restaurant employed illegal immigrants. 🪴 [Dobbies Garden Centre in Gillingham has avoided closure for now](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/oct/01/garden-centre-chain-dobbies-shut-stores-restructuring-plan?ref=localauthority.news). The company is restructuring and will close 17 stores this year, but the Medway store isn’t on the list. 🏪 [The Delce Road Co-op in Rochester has closed until December for refurbishment](https://futuremedway.co.uk/co-op-in-delce-road-rochester-closes-until-december-for-revamp/?ref=localauthority.news). The tiny store will be expanded, and new fridges and self-checkouts will be installed. 🪨 [Medway's planning committee has extended the infilling of a quarry in Strood for another three years](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/quarry-infill-taking-so-long-but-land-desperately-needed-313593/?ref=localauthority.news). Filling the quarry was initially agreed upon in 2015 but will now take until 2027, ultimately allowing 181 homes to be built on the site. 👨‍💼 [Prisons Minister James Timpson has confirmed that urgent improvements are being undertaken at HMP Rochester](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg78jldrvj4o?ref=localauthority.news). The prison was recently criticised in a report that found ‘squalid’ conditions. 🗳️ [Medway Conservative councillor Andrew Lawrence has appeared on the Kent Politics Podcast](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/scrap-all-these-councils-to-make-local-government-work-bett-313527/?ref=localauthority.news) to argue that Medway Council should be abolished. He proposes a Kent-wide unitary authority and dramatic changes to local taxation. --- #### More Authority In July’s General Election, Medway returned three Labour MPs, sweeping away a Conservative domination that had held, with one minor interruption, since 2010\. One of those new MPs was Naushabah Khan, who took the Gillingham and Rainham seat from Rehman Chishti. We sat down with her to discuss adjusting to life as an MP, recent controversial votes on the two-child benefit cap and the Winter Fuel Allowance, and how trust can be restored in politics. [“We believe we can turn the country around”Having represented Gillingham South as a Medway councillor since 2015, Naushabah Khan was elected to represent Gillingham and Rainham constituency in the recent General Election, defeating Rehman Chishti. Steven met Naushabah in Starbucks to discuss the election, getting used to life in Parliament, her views on the two-child benefit cap and the Winter Fuel Allowance, and restoring trust in politics.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc8adbf9d-b2d7-4726-9669-f17dc04e05d3_1600x1066.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/) Coming up this week for paid supporters, we’ll be looking at the world of urban exploring in Medway. Urban explorers set out to explore abandoned and unseen spaces, though the practice can be controversial. We’ve been talking to one of Medway’s most prominent urban explorers to learn more. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*In Sickness & In Flames by The Front Bottoms*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NviY9PTfKxk&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Overwhelmed and Underdressed by Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra*](https://waltermitty1.bandcamp.com/album/overwhelmed-and-underdressed?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Dress Up by The Spook School*](https://thespookschool.bandcamp.com/album/dress-up?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “We believe we can turn the country around” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/we-believe-we-can-turn-the-country/ Last updated: 2026-07-03T09:47:07.000Z *Having represented Gillingham South as a Medway councillor since 2015, Naushabah Khan was elected to represent Gillingham and Rainham constituency in the recent General Election, defeating Rehman Chishti. Steven met Naushabah in Starbucks to discuss the election, getting used to life in Parliament, her views on the two-child benefit cap and the Winter Fuel Allowance, and restoring trust in politics.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!kFwp!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc8adbf9d-b2d7-4726-9669-f17dc04e05d3_1600x1066.jpg) Naushabah Khan **What is your memory of election night?** Oh gosh, it seems like a long time ago now. It was really exciting. Although I was locked away in a room with my colleagues who were also standing in the election, the other Medway MPs, so we weren't at the count for a long time. We were having to watch things from afar. But it was incredible. I remember feeling really, really nervous when the exit poll came out because, obviously, we'd had all the rumours with the polls and so on, but to see that come to fruition and the reality of what the situation potentially could be was quite different. I remember when that exit poll came out. I was watching it at Twydall Labour Club, and all of us cheered. But then it came down to the individual results. I will never forget it as such, but equally, some of it feels a little bit blurry. But yeah, a huge moment in my life. **Was there any point, whilst campaigning and monitoring the polls, when you felt confident you had won?** I don't think I ever felt confident because I've been in politics a long time, and I've learned that you should never take anything for granted. You can't just assume that what you think will happen will happen, and there were lots of results across the country that showed that. However, what I did feel was it was the best chance I've had for a long time, but you just didn't know. It's hard to tell sometimes when you're speaking to lots and lots of people exactly what journey things are going to take, and particularly in a seat like Gillingham and Rainham where it is marginal, you will get people voting for lots of different parties and sometimes you're not able to see how that result will pan out. **Since the election, have you had any conversation or handover from the previous MP for Gillingham and Rainham?** No, I have not. I have seen him in Parliament, but I have not had a handover. **What are your thoughts on the voter turnout for the election?** Of course, it's disappointingly low and lower than you'd like. I think there is that bigger question around our politics more generally. When I was out on the doors, there were lots of people who certainly wanted a change. Lots of people were coming over to Labour. Lots of people who were going to also vote Reform for the first time, who had previously voted Conservative. But there was also a number of people who said, we’re fed up, we're frustrated, and we're going to sit on our hands. There's a wider point around our politics about what that means and how we change that. I'm hoping that if we can start to turn this country around and show the difference that politics can make in a positive way, there'll be those people who will see the value of democracy again. But we've got to be careful with this. I'm a historian, and I've studied through the years how things change and what happens. Some of the biggest world events we've seen are when people start to lose faith in our democratic systems. It's something we need to think about carefully, and that I touched upon in [my maiden speech](https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-09-12/debates/61C7B41F-51DE-4257-9E39-3FFE75E1B0CE/SirDavidAmessAdjournmentDebate?ref=localauthority.news#contribution-56523AC7-0C4D-49CF-B12E-C120F9BA5BC3) about that sense of hope and how we get that back into people. **When we last spoke you worked for St Mungo's. When did you leave there?** I left St Mungo's back in March, prior to the election being called, because I realised that it was becoming very difficult to be a parliamentary candidate at the time. I was also a cabinet member and also working a full-time job in a quite exciting but busy job. I took the decision in March to stand down and focus fully on the campaign. At that time, I didn't know when the election was going to be, so I was hoping that it would happen relatively quickly. Otherwise, I would have had to get another job, of course, because it's very difficult to sustain financially. But it seemed to happen before the summer, and I think I was the only person saying that. Lots of people didn't believe me when I was like, I just feel it because I guess saying you feel it in your bones is not really *(laughs)* credible. **Were you surprised when it was called for July?** It's really hard to explain, but I just had this gut feeling that it would be, and I kept on saying it. Lots of people were saying no, absolutely not and then when the Prime Minister at the time, Rishi Sunak, ruled it out quite early on and said it would be in November, October, that was still the date. Then I had some people saying to me it might be January 2025\. I wouldn't necessarily say it was a shock that it was called before July because I think it was like a lone wolf saying, ‘It's going to be before August’. However, I hadn't really planned for the day that it was called. I wasn't expecting it to happen at that moment. There had been a few false alarms previous to that and they hadn't come to fruition. The day it was called, I was actually on my way to Leeds for a conference. I was on the journey up, and as I was getting on the train. I was off to speak at a housing conference about housing and homelessness at [UKREiiF](https://www.ukreiif.com/?ref=localauthority.news). When I was looking at my phone, I could see these messages coming through on Twitter from other people. As the train was getting further and further away from Gillingham and Medway, and it was going past Doncaster *(laughs),* I was like, ‘I think an election's about to be called.’ What I had to do was get off at Leeds station, buy a return ticket back and get on the next train back. It wasn't how I'd expected. **How long was there between the result of the election night and you officially going to Parliament?** A couple of days. We were elected on the Thursday with the result coming through on a Friday, as is always the case. The Friday was a bit of a surreal. I did get a chance to see the Kaiser Chiefs at the Castle Concerts. We were allowed to go in over the weekend, and they suggested that we go in on the Sunday to get our inductions done, pick up materials, equipment, all of these sorts of things, sign papers, passes, etc. It happened very quickly. I think I was just fuelling myself on adrenaline and sugar. It was just like coffee, really sugary coffee and adrenaline. But it was quite exciting. **When you read memoirs of MPs, as some of us do, there's always a horror story the first time you go to work at Parliament because of the nature of the building and like trying to find your office. Was it like that for you?** I've worked in Parliament in the past. I have a bit of a lay of the land, and I know what it looks like and how it operates, whereas I think there were some new MPs who hadn't even been there before, so a completely different experience. The very first day I went, there was much more of an induction, and we were supported and guided because there were so many new MPs. You're not on your own, and that makes a big difference. You can tell who the new MPs are because they're all walking around like a lost sheep. I didn't have an office. I only just got given an office a few weeks ago in Parliament. For a lot of it, you're just walking around trying to work out where the toilets are. If you've ever been in a parliamentary estate, it's an amazing building and you can feel how important it is and the democracy that happens there. But equally, it's a bit of a maze. You've got this really old part of the building with lots of formalities, and then you've got this other half of the building, which is quite new and modern, but still, it's made to look like wooden panelling. Everything is hidden behind a wooden door, and most of the time, I was just opening doors to cupboards and things like that. I'm still not quite used to it, so maybe ask me that question again in a couple of months, and I'll probably have lots more stories because there's something new every day. **Is there anything about being an MP you wish you'd known in advance?** The fact that you're not allowed to wear trainers in the chamber. That's always good to know. If I'm honest, I've been around the world of politics for so long, I've sort of experienced it and seen it, but there is definitely a steep escalation in just the level of attention that you get when you say something. The exposure that you get is different to being a councillor, very different to being a councillor. That is a transition that you have to go through. It's not necessarily that you didn't know that, but I think when you're experiencing it and you're in the midst of it, it's quite an intense experience. I'm still learning, and I suspect there will be things that happen in months to come that I will say, ‘I wish someone had told me that.’ **There have been two contentious votes *(on the two-child benefit cap and the Winter Fuel Allowance)* since you came into government. Could you talk to us about it as an individual representative and as a member of the ruling party?** Yes, so both of those things have been really difficult decisions that the government has had to take. The two-child benefit I've always said I support the end of. I don't agree with the cap, and we should get rid of it. It's a really difficult state of affairs and I think Labour always said this during the election campaign. We can talk about change, we can talk about all of these things, but this is not going to be an easy or simple or quick process. It's going to take time. We believe we can turn the country around. There are things that we can do differently, and we've already started doing those. There’re some really positive things that have already happened under this government in a very, very short space of time. But there's also going to be some tough stuff that needs to happen. On the first one, on the two-child benefit cap, I've always said I disagreed with it, but the scale of the challenge we faced financially, it just wasn't possible to turn that around at this particular moment. We did seek a lot of reassurances with the front bench, and a lot of that does happen. It's not that there isn't any scope to raise concerns or ask questions or try and understand or say, ‘This is what my constituents are saying.’ Those conversations are happening all the time and everything that I have been made aware of during the election campaign when it came to the two-child benefit cap, I was very comfortable talking to the front bench about prior to the vote. The big thing that we have on that is ensuring that there are lots of things that we're looking to do as a government which will hopefully eradicate child poverty just as it did when Labour were in power before. I really hope that we can revisit the cap if it is necessary to do so because we have seen some of the data around it at a later stage, but it just wasn't possible at this point. I can say to you these aren't comfortable votes to take, but you've got to look at what you're presented with and the facts and base it on recognising that being in power is not simple, and you've got to take some tough calls. Firstly, on the Winter Fuel Allowance, just for clarity, I wasn't in the country at the time that the vote was taken. I was in Ukraine, and I was travelling back. I hadn't known that the vote on the Winter Fuel Allowance would be scheduled for then because it was a long-standing arrangement that was in place. And so, when the Parliamentary Business was agreed, I'd already been paired with another MP, so I couldn't be in the chamber. But for clarity, I believe the Winter Fuel Allowance should be means tested. It doesn't seem fair that millionaires are eligible for the same allowance as people on pension credits. It doesn't make sense, given the context of the financial challenges that we face. I get that this is a very emotive vote. It's had a lot of people writing in and speaking up against it. But I think the means-testing element of that is important. Anyone on pension credit is still eligible for a Winter Fuel Allowance. I think it's really important to get that across because I have seen reports where people have suggested it's just disappeared completely, and that's not accurate. All of that said, I do have a concern, and people have contacted me about the potential for some people who are in the middle of all of that. I speak to residents who said to me, ‘Well, we give ours to charities, and we've always given it to charity’. One gentleman came up to me on the street the other day, and he said, ‘Oh, I can't believe you've got rid of the Winter Fuel Allowance.’ And I said, ‘Well, look, it's been a really challenging time.’ I had the conversation with him, not that he was too interested in hearing it. I said to him, ‘However, there are other support channels available, and as an MP, I'm really keen to work with you to see if you need that support, if we can get that elsewhere.’ And he said, ‘Well, I don't need it’. He said to me, ‘I'm not going to come cap in hand asking for benefits.’ I was like, ‘Do you want my team to work with you to see what you're eligible for?’ Because there's lots of people that aren't claiming what they're eligible for, particularly around pension tax credits and so on and he said to me ‘Well no, I don't believe in going cap in hand to government’. They don't even see the Winter Fuel Allowance as a benefit because it's universal, and I get that, but I think it also shows the issue in the system. Now that said, I am really keen to make sure no one falls through the gap. So, I've said look we need to carry on having conversations about this again. The same thing was happening in Parliament. There were a lot of conversations with the front bench. I know a number of MPs who were very keen to make sure that the views of their constituents were heard. I've also set up, and the council are also going to do this, drop-ins for people who are genuinely concerned that they might fall through that gap. They're not eligible for pension tax credit, but they might not have enough winter fuel this year. Pensions are due to increase in line with the triple lock, which we're protecting. However, in the gap between those going up in April, we just want to make sure there's nobody that's adversely impacted. We are having those conversations and anyone who needs support. Come along, and we will first of all check that you're definitely not eligible for these pension credits because some people are and just don't realise what other support networks are available for you to make sure that there aren't any issues. I do think the system needed reform, it's just about how we manage that process now. The other thing is, at the end of the day, if we don't get control of the country's finances, we're going to be seeing record levels of inflation as we've done so in the last few years and some other real challenges, which are going to hit everybody, including pensioners. Part of the reason why we've had so much debate about this is because the state of affairs has got so bad. Once things start stabilising the economy, I think people will feel better off, but it is a journey. If anyone's got concerns, and they're my constituents, just get in touch and we'll do what we can to help. It was a very long answer, but I felt it was important to explain. **What stage are you at in terms of hiring support staff and opening up your constituency office?** I have a full staff team in my constituency office now, who are helping me get through the backlog of casework. Because you can imagine what happened. I became an MP, I had no idea what I was doing. I suddenly had to go to Westminster and start thinking about some really big important decisions that the government has to take, but at the same time, people who need support are writing to you as an MP, and it's just you there, still trying to work out how to manage everything and the inbox was growing day in and day out. The last few months have been tough in terms of just being able to manage and get things in place because, obviously, where you've had MPs in place for 14 years with all those structures set up, I'm having to start from scratch. I have asked people for a little bit of understanding around that, and obviously urgent case work has been dealt with. **Where is your office?** I don't have one yet. I'm still in the process of finding one. It's a virtual office at the moment. At the minute, we're just all working, and again, this is not sustainable. I do want to have a physical office, but all my staff are working, supporting and dealing with all the issues that we've got, helping people where they can as much as we can. I'm really keen to get an office as soon as possible, but I'm ideally looking for a Gillingham location, and it's not proving easy. There's a few options that I'm looking at the minute, but that's probably been one of the toughest things because you're responsible for everything. The business rates, finding the office location, the rent and then also the setup, and you have to manage that as an MP’s office yourself, as well as all the hiring of your staff, the adverts etc. There is support available through [IPSA](https://www.theipsa.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) but it's this whole layer of administration that I think I hadn't really registered when I first got elected. It's taking a bit longer than I'd like. **It's been an extraordinary 18 months between the local elections and the General Elections. Is there anything you miss about opposition?** No *(laughs)*. No, not at all. Opposition is the worst on all fronts because you're desperate to make change, and there's just no way to make that change and get things through. Having started off as an opposition councillor and having also stood in parliamentary elections and lost, I can tell you there is nothing greater than having the opportunity to make that change that you want. Of course, with power and being the administration, whether that's at council level or government level, it's tough. You've got to be responsible for what you're doing. It's not easy. You've got to make really, really difficult decisions. The only thing I will say is that in opposition, it's quite easy to be able to criticise. You have the luxury of saying whatever it is that you want. Whereas when you're in power, you've really got to think about everything that you're presented with, the challenges that you've got, because every decision you make will have an impact. You've also got to be able to be comfortable in talking about why you did things a certain way and talking about why you've taken that decision, and be accountable to your constituents as well. It is very different, but I wouldn't swap it. **Given the amount of distrust felt towards politicians in recent years, what can you do to restore trust in elected MPs?** I think it is really important to rebuild the trust in our politics. That has been damaged over the last few years, particularly with some of the scandals we have seen over covid contracts and behaviour towards the parties that happened whilst people were at home and socially distanced. It feels as though our politics haven’t worked for a while and people haven’t felt the benefit of that. For me, it is so important that we get this right, and the biggest difference is not making promises that you cannot keep. During the election, I was really clear that we have huge challenges ahead in our community, and it will not be possible to fix that overnight. I will always approach that with transparency and honesty. I am going to campaign on the issues we talked about during the election, and I have already started that with the work on ‘[Love Gillingham](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1737/love%5Fgillingham%5Ffree%5Ffamily-fun%5Fday?ref=localauthority.news)’ for example. The work that is happening around the town centre, that was an election pledge I was very clear about as an MP in my community. I have always been clear I am going to be open and honest and present and accessible. We may not agree on everything, and there will be tough decisions. I understand that people may ask me why I have taken a particular decision, but I will always approach that with honesty. I think it is really important to set that out because it is very easy to play into the politics of populism when things feel tough, but that is not what good political leadership is about and it is not something I am going to play into. --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*, including our pre-election interview with* [*Naushabah Khan here*](https://www.localauthority.news/there-are-huge-parts-of-our-society/)*.* *If you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, email* [*Steven*](mailto:thepoliticalmedway@localauthority.news)*.* [*Steven Keevil*](https://twitter.com/stevenkeevil?ref=localauthority.news) *still manages to watch hundreds of films a year. He recommends* [*Hacksaw Ridge*](https://people.com/movies/the-true-story-of-hacksaw-ridge-and-desmond-doss-the-medal-of-honor-winner-who-never-fired-a-shot/?ref=localauthority.news)*. He listened to no music whilst writing this but recommends reading* [*Funny or Die by Joel Morris*](https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/be-funny-or-die-how-comedy-works-and-why-it-matters-joel-morris/7606143?ean=9781800183100&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Black Art Hub launches in Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/black-art-hub-launches-in-medway/ Last updated: 2024-09-27T18:40:19.000Z *Local artist Michi Masumi has created The Black Art Hub to provide a platform for Black British visual artists and poets. With the start of Black History Month next week, it seemed like a good time to find out more. Further down, our resident theatre critic Anne-Marie Jordan has been down to watch Ghost Ships, Icon Theatre’s spectacular new immersive show charting the history of Chatham Dockyard, we review Boyce’s Bakery in Gillingham, our weekly events guide, and more.* --- #### Black Art Hub launches in Medway *Ahead of Black History Month, which starts on 1 October, we spoke to local Black British artist Michi Masumi about her work setting up The Black Art Hub. We’ll have a more lengthy interview with Michi as part of our Sunday interview series in the coming weeks, but we wanted to share the story of the hub's launch and the events they have organised in Medway.* [The Black Art Hub](https://www.theblackarthub.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) aims to provide a platform for Black British grassroots visual artists and poets. With Arts Council support, founder and Medway artist [Michi Masumi](https://www.michimasumi.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) intends to do that through research and development, exhibitions and networking. Located within [Nucleus Arts](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news) on Chatham High Street, the Hub is primarily Michi by herself, but that hasn’t stopped organisations from stepping up to provide support. As well as Nucleus, the hub has also partnered with, amongst others, [Intra Arts](https://intraarts.org/about/?ref=localauthority.news), [Wordsmithery](https://www.wordsmithery.info/about?ref=localauthority.news) and [Medway Libraries](https://www.medway.gov.uk/libraries?ref=localauthority.news), and they have a volunteer academic research librarian. Michi would love to have more people involved, but she recognises that people don’t have the time to become directors of a CIC. However, she does have an advisory board. “What's vital is that it's not just my ideas, my words,” she says. She sees the focus as using their keen interest in arts to support the community. “It's important as a community that we do have black-owned or black-led community organisations.” She doesn’t see that as being about being anti any other community or marginalised group. “The core of it is Medway. It's just that we're doing it with an authenticity of our black aesthetics.” The hope is to encourage non-black people from the community to get involved, try out the activities they organise, and give feedback. ‘I hope in a year's time, maybe you come back and say, ‘How was your first year?’ And I say the feedback was actually, they got it.” Michi admits that she has been ‘flabbergasted’ by the support she has received from community organisations, artists and individuals so far. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!dU-i!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f81df2f93-fdb9-4e84-b017-6da4ab4f7db3_2072x1334.jpg) The Black Art Hub have [launched a crowdfunder](https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/art-knowledge-fund-medways-the-black-art-hub?ref=localauthority.news), aiming to establish the Benjamin Library, named after the great poet [Benjamin Zephaniah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin%5FZephaniah?ref=localauthority.news), who passed away this year. Michi was heartbroken when he passed, not least because she would have loved to interview him. She is keen to make it abundantly clear it is not her intention to use his name to raise money. If her crowdfunder is successful she will name the library after him as a fitting part of his legacy. She hopes that the library will have a positive environmental impact, by largely being filled by second-hand books. “Half of my family is from Ecuador. We're very astute to what's going on in the rainforest and the ecosystem and how it affects Latin America and the rest of the world.” Despite this, Michi loves books and the feel of them. She struggles to read books on a tablet and wants to champion them. She found that books about the black community were often hard to find, whilst some people had them just collecting dust on the shelf. “I just thought, why would people throw away creative industry books, technical art books, books on black culture, heritage, the African diaspora, Afro, Latino, Caribbean stuff, and especially black British. I'm really sourcing black British books.” What she hopes is that people will clear out the books they have on these topics and donate them. “My ethos has always been no matter how small my income is, I must donate first to that cause.” She has already donated some of her own books to the collection and is eager for others to do so. “That will help us build a black British community library that's specifically for the whole community, and I'm hoping that it stays in Medway.” Michi hopes that the library will remain even if she leaves and that it will evolve and develop. As part of a series of events for Black History Month, The Black Art Hub is holding an exhibition at The Halpern Gallery within Nucleus Arts from 4 October. ‘[Insectionality](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-intersectionality?ref=localauthority.news)’ will showcase work from Black British visual artists, with a Black Art Trail spreading out to other venues like Intra Arts and No 64 Coffee and Brunch. A launch event and private viewing of the exhibition will be held on Thursday, 3 October. [Limited tickets are available](https://www.theblackarthub.co.uk/events/private-viewing-arts-culture-event?ref=localauthority.news) where you set your own ticket price, with all proceeds contributing to efforts to create the Benjamin Library. *If you feel you have something you could donate to The Black Art Hub, you can drop off books at the reception of Nucleus Arts in Chatham, labelled for Michi at the Black Art Hub.* --- #### Hauntingly Beautiful: How Ghost Ships navigates the choppy waters of the Dockyard’s past *A new stage show by local theatre company Icon charts the long and complicated history of Chatham Dockyard. We dispatched *Anne-Marie Jordan* down to experience the show firsthand.* I knew I was in for a thought-provoking evening, but even I wasn’t expected to be so moved by the emotional experiences explored during Ghost Ships’ 90-minute performance. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!1hJX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc6529a6e-6cc3-4853-9594-df66c36ec01b_940x492.jpg) Ghost Ships. Photo: (c) Roswitha Chesher Forty years after the Dockyard closure, an act which brought 400 years of shipbuilding and Royal Navy presence in Medway to a brutal end, this ambitious and atmospheric theatrical event provides a powerful portrayal of its rich and, at times, problematic history, unafraid to shine a light on some of the lesser known and darker stories that impacted communities both here and across the world. Personal highlights included the engaging voiceovers of Dockyard workers sharing memories, the moving moment Olaudah Equiano bought his freedom and the unflinching look at the Bengal Famine of 1943\. It was also a nice touch that tickets contained nautical terms to help the audience locate their seats. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6YwD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa6e34b2c-8ecf-42ea-a142-d122e8319c73_940x492.jpg) Ghost Ships. Photo: (c) Roswitha Chesher The innovative staging in Slip 5, where ships were built and launched, effortlessly lent itself to showcasing the explosive energy of hip-hop dance and the heartbreakingly elegant Kathak, all underscored by original live music and a gorgeous community choir. For me, the screens could have supported the storytelling a little more in places – with the on-stage dancing, props and costumes so captivating, it was easy to miss key information. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!uyet!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffcf04b45-982e-46ef-83e9-a001e8dfd02d_940x492.jpg) Ghost Ships. Photo: (c) Roswitha Chesher Although haunted by some of the harder-hitting elements, I was left feeling buoyed by the energy, ambition, and emotion on display while reflecting on how lucky we are to have such spectacular and accessible art on our doorstep. *You can find out more about Ghost Ships on* [*Icon Theatre’s website*](https://icontheatre.org.uk/show/ghost-ships/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Out to Lunch: Boyce’s Bakery *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to *Boyce’s Bakery in Gillingham*...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!b7Rw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff5e01ce4-ed7a-4432-9c95-97f342e4bb09_1456x762.jpg) Firmly established along the library end of Gillingham High Street, Boyce’s is a small bakery chain without outlets across Kent, including others in Rainham and Parkwood. The Gillingham shop has a good space for queuing customers, of which there are often many, and a small seating area outside. They have two large cake displays, one chilled and one ambient. There is a warm pastry display and a chilled area for drinks and premade sandwiches. The team are personable and always moving, so even when there is a large queue, you’ll get served promptly. They also make sandwiches to order. I had cheese and ham in a long soft roll with piccalilli for this lunch. Personally, I request sliced cheese, as grated cheese ends up everywhere but in this reviewer’s mouth, and they were happy to oblige. A Belgian bun was staring at me while waiting for them to make the roll. So, reader, I had that too. The roll was well portioned and very tasty. The Belgian bun was fresh, with a good amount of icing on top. I enjoyed both, and if you are looking for somebody to make you a packed lunch or fancy a snack while you are around Gillingham High Street, Boyce’s Bakery is highly recommended. --- #### Events this week 🛍️ [Rochester City Vintage & Artisan Market](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket/) is holding a new traders event on Rochester High Street tomorrow (Sat 28 Sep). Stalls will sell jewellery, toys, decorations, food, and more. Free. ⚽ Chatham Town Football Club is hosting a celebrity football match for charity on Sunday (29 Sep). Danny Dyer and many other reality TV and soap stars will take part. [Tickets £12](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrity-charity-match-at-chatham-town-fc-tickets-1006982189837?ref=localauthority.news). 📜 Rochester Cathedral is hosting another light show within its historic confines, starting on Tuesday (1 Oct). Scriptorium: The Illuminated Histories brings to life Anglo-Saxon artefacts and medieval manuscripts. [Tickets £8.50-£10](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/lightshow?ref=localauthority.news). 🎤 Regarded by many as the greatest concert film ever made, Jonathan Demme’s Stop Making Sense recorded Talking Heads at their height in 1983\. Odeon in Chatham is holding a one-off screening on Wednesday (2 Oct). [Tickets £10](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-48185&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### More Authority There is often a perception that crime is running out of control, but what do the figures say? We’ve been looking through Kent Police’s data to [understand the picture of crime in our towns](https://www.localauthority.news/crime-is-falling-in-medway/). While the issue is complicated, there is evidence that things are moving in the right direction. [Crime is falling in MedwayIf you spend as much time as we do on local Facebook groups, you might start to think that crime is out of control in our towns, and that our streets are lawless warzones overrun with marauding criminals. Is that the reality though? We’ve been diving in to the data to figure it all out…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb2166703-f21a-4b93-9450-fc1bbc6dc292_5615x2940.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/crime-is-falling-in-medway/) This week's Sunday interview will be with the new **Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan**. She talks to us about her experience on election night, her position on the two-child benefit cap and the Winter Fuel Allowance, and rebuilding trust in politics. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out!*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### Crime is falling in Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/crime-is-falling-in-medway/ Last updated: 2024-09-26T16:45:40.000Z *If you spend as much time as we do on local Facebook groups, you might start to think that crime is out of control in our towns, and that our streets are lawless warzones overrun with marauding criminals. Is that the reality though? We’ve been diving in to the data to figure it all out…* *Some caveats before we begin: The majority of data included in this piece is collated from* [*police.uk*](https://www.police.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, who host national crime data broken down by local area. Data for this piece is compiled from data for every area of Medway using the most recent 12 months available, from August 2023 until July 2024.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Hm1W!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb2166703-f21a-4b93-9450-fc1bbc6dc292_5615x2940.jpg) #### The headline figure It’s surprisingly difficult to come up with overall Medway figures on crime, but pulling together the local data from across our 22 wards[1](#footnote-1) provides an overall figure of **32,188 recorded crimes** during the 12 months to July 2024. It is worth noting here that the recorded crime is very unlikely to be the same as the overall crime figure. A lot of crimes go unreported for a number of reasons, from criminal victims not reporting perpetrators to victims feeling reporting as being pointless to undetected crime. But for the sake of this piece, we’ll use the 32,188 figure. When we last analysed the data for Medway like this, the 12 month crime figure was 35,566\. That would suggest, from the data alone, that crime has fallen in Medway by 9.5% in the past year and a half. Still, 32,188 still feels like a large number. With Medway’s most recent estimate of population giving a figure of 286,800, there is roughly one crime for every nine residents of Medway over the course of a year. #### Comparison It’s fair to say that there is quite a lot of crime in Medway. But is it particularly out of the ordinary? _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Council project comes in… under budget? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/council-project-comes-in-under-budget/ Last updated: 2024-09-24T22:06:13.000Z *Did you hear about the big council project that came under budget? No, us either. At least not until this week, anyway, as Medway Council have managed to underspend by £1.5m on the new Cozenton Park Sports Centre. Rather than help plug the overall budget gap, they have some plans on what to do with it. We’ve got the full details below. Further down, there’s news on a messy miscommunication over the Medway Test, an imminent decision on the Lower Thames Crossing, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Council project comes in… under budget? In November 2022, Medway Council approved a budget of £23.65m to demolish and rebuild Splashes in Rainham, which has since been rebranded as the far snappier Cozenton Park Sports Centre. Somehow, this has managed to be completed with £1.5m left over, something almost unheard of in council circles. As such, the question now becomes what to do with that money. Of course, the boring, sensible answer would be to just put it back into the council funding pot, which remains on something of a knife edge. However, Medway Council doesn’t seem hugely interested in the sensible and boring route, as they are looking to divert the money into Medway’s other leisure centres. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!hBOQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7a122ee6-1a1f-4a9f-8ae9-dca5f90ddf29_4032x2111.jpg) Cozenton Park Sports Centre [A report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=75862&ref=localauthority.news) going to Medway Council’s Cabinet next week proposes using the £1.5m to modernise Medway Park in Gillingham and Strood Sports Centre. Ostensibly, this is with the aim of improving revenue generation at the two sites. The Labour administration of Medway Council has set itself the challenge of making all leisure centres operate without subsidy by 2027\. They still have some way to go, given that the subsidy for 2023-24 is £922,000. According to the report, progress is already being made toward that target with increased memberships and reduced marketing costs. However, high utility bills are continuing to put pressure on the figures. Hoo Sports Centre is set to be made more energy efficient with a separate £1m investment, and the Strand will receive new facilities as part of a £300,000 pot. This means that Medway Park and Strood are the sites designated as most in need. While the report is unclear on exactly how the money should be spent, it does present a list of needed facilities and renovations at the two centres: - Both pools are over 50 years old and need modernising - The sports hall floor at Strood is over 25 years old and becoming unsafe - Medway Park’s changing rooms and toilets are over 40 years old - Strood’s football pitches should have had new carpet laid 10 years ago - The fitness studios at Medway Park are too small and outdated - Medway Park doesn’t have enough gym space to meet demand - The new Cozenton Park Sports Centre has accessible swimming pools, and there is an aspiration to do the same at Medway Park and Strood. The report recommends investing the money in the other sports centres by arguing that putting £1.5m back into the overall council budget would only have a ‘marginal direct impact.’ Whether or not this is the best use for the money is for smarter people to decide, but it must be nice to be in a position where £1.5m is a relatively trivial amount of cash. --- #### Lower Thames Crossing decision imminent If you want an indication of why we can’t get much done as a nation, the proposed Lower Thames Crossing is a great example of it. Despite multiple governments being in favour of it and some local councils along the route (including Medway) eager for the regeneration and connectivity opportunities it should bring, it’s going to be at least two decades at a cost of £9bn from it’s first proposal to actually being built and opened. And that’s on the most optimistic timline. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!JKTB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f99607a41-b7ed-4ef0-8260-de08adee7377_2214x1159.jpg) Proposed Lower Thames Crossing route The Lower Thames Crossing, in case it wasn’t clear from the name, is a proposed new crossing of the Thames further to the east than the Dartford Crossing, which is designed to alleviate congestion there, and open up a new route between Kent and Essex. From a Medway point of view, it would offer a way to cross to Essex from our towns in less than ten minutes which, as anyone who has ever tried to visit the Lakeside Ikea on a Saturday afternoon could tell you, is a lot less time than it currently takes. A ridiculously long planning application (seriously, it’s [360,000 pages](https://www.cityam.com/lower-thames-crossing-planning-application-becomes-uks-longest-ever-at-more-than-350000-pages-and-costing-almost-300m/?ref=localauthority.news)) was submitted in 2022 after a previous version was withdrawn, and was due to be decided earlier this year before a General Election selfishly got in the way. Now, the Department for Transport is set to make a decision on the plan [by the end of next week](https://highways-news.com/news-on-lower-thames-crossing-planning-application-is-expected-in-october/?ref=localauthority.news). Evidence suggests the government is minded to move forward with the plans, even if Chancellor [Rachel Reeves ponders seeking private finance](https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/aug/13/rachel-reeves-ponders-private-finance-fund-lower-thames-crossing-m25?ref=localauthority.news) to make it work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!XaWs!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4941a6d5-525d-4ee0-a4df-cbfee0d74a3b_2560x1340.jpg) Proposals for the Lower Thames Crossing In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need the Lower Thames Crossing. Large scale road infrastructure is increasingly difficult to justify on an environmental level, and [induced demand](https://www.wired.com/2014/06/wuwt-traffic-induced-demand/?ref=localauthority.news) means new capacity alone rarely being the answer. That said, the Lower Thames Crossing would offer economic benefits for Medway, slashing travel time between our towns and places like Chelmsford, Tilbury, and, er, Basildon, on the other side of the river. Just don’t expect those benefits anytime soon. Even if the government gives the go-ahead to start digging, we’re looking at 2031 at the earliest before work would be complete. So we’re going to be sitting in traffic to get our Kallax shelves from Ikea for a little while longer yet. --- #### A testing Medway Test Last week, students from Medway and beyond took the Medway Test (the modern 11+ for anyone of a certain vintage), and immediately, everything went a little bit weird. The Medway Test is a uniquely Medway exam that students need to pass to gain entry to our grammar schools. There is a whole secondary debate here about the merits of academic segmentation, but that’s for another day. The test itself is taken by students in Medway and large numbers from outside of the area whose parents have decided to try and send them to Medway’s grammar schools. As soon as the exams were over, parents started raising issues on social media, particularly around the amount of time allocated for the English section of the test. The issue seems to have stemmed from the fact that parents believed this part of the exam would last an hour because the [guidance Medway Council issued](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200137/schools%5Fand%5Flearning/1049/medway%5Ftest%5F11?ref=localauthority.news) ahead of the exam said it would ‘not exceed an hour.’ And not exceed an hour it did, with students being given precisely half that to complete the exam. Inevitably, students who had completed [practice papers from GL Assessment](https://11plus.gl-assessment.co.uk/free-materials/?ref=localauthority.news), the company Medway Council employs to write the exams, found they suddenly had a lot less time in the real thing, after 50 minutes was set for the practice papers. At first, Medway Council came out swinging, with Cllr Tracey Coombs, portfolio holder for education [telling the BBC](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g0prl3v4lo?ref=localauthority.news) that the council would not be reviewing it "because it’s been an absolute level playing field" and "the 30-minute time limit was the same for all children.” Later statements were slightly more concillatory, accepting that things could have been clearer, and apologising for any stress or anxiety: > *“There isn’t a standardised length of time for the Medway Test exams as the test design and the length of the tests can differ each year. However, we appreciate that the guidance around the timing of the English exam could have been clearer. To ensure this is the case moving forward, when we write to parents and carers to confirm the arrangements for their child’s test, we will also include advice on how long each test will last.”* Of course, the Conservative opposition on Medway Council [seized the opportunity to criticise the administration](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/medway-conservatives-concerned-regarding-medway-test?ref=localauthority.news) for the perceived failure in communication in a statement from their spokesperson for children’s services and education Cllr Mark Joy: > *“There are serious questions that need to be answered by the Portfolio Holder in relation to the Medway Test this year, and I will be writing to her later this morning. I am concerned that the GL Assessment timing was different to what was shown on their website and the fact that the Portfolio Holder stated that all children have had to face the same criteria, when not all children have yet sat the test. I am concerned she is not grasping the seriousness of this situation.* > > *I am calling on the Portfolio Holder to give a guarantee to Medway children that they will not be disadvantaged compared to out of area children who sit the Medway test later this weekend.”* How serious the situation is remains to be seen. It is unclear whether the out of area students sitting the exam after the news initially broke would have had an advantage if they discovered at the last minute that the exam was only 30 minutes. Given the marking system for the test is based upon ensuring 26% of Medway students in the relevant year group are eligible for a grammar place, it doesn’t initially seem like it would have a great deal of impact. Oddly enough, over the border in the rest of Kent, there were no such issues in communicating the length of the exam. Kent, which unsurprisingly uses the Kent Test, does have a slightly different structure to their version, but it is also put together by GL Assessment. Despite this, they were able to tell parents and students in advance that the English section of the paper would take 30 minutes. --- #### In brief 💉 [Bookings are now open for this year’s covid and flu vaccinations](https://www.kentandmedway.icb.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/booking-system-opens-winter-vaccinations?ref=localauthority.news). Anyone over 65, care home residents, pregnant women, those with underlying health conditions, and frontline health and care staff are eligible for free jabs. 🍻 [Kent Police have withdrawn their request to review the licence of the Sans Pareil pub](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/police-withdraw-licence-review-request-after-euros-pub-gard-313204/?ref=localauthority.news) in Wainscott. The landlord claims the request was a disproportionate response to his failure to fill in a form. 🚌 [Medway Council Planning Committee is tomorrow night](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6003&Ver=4&ref=localauthority.news) (Wed 25 Sep). The big ticket item is an application from the Fenn Bell Inn pub and zoo in St Mary Hoo to build 44 homes on their land that has local residents so outraged that they have booked a coach to attend the meeting en masse. 🏫 [Inside the new Maritime Academy school in Wainscott](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/pupils-enjoy-new-classrooms-as-state-of-art-school-finally-o-313255/?ref=localauthority.news). The school, run by the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, has 600 students and will grow to 1,100 in the coming years. 🎙️ [Medway Council Leader Vince Maple was recently on the Cherrywood Podcast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kXz%5FK%5FOkPs&ref=localauthority.news). He talks about his life in politics and the challenges of leading an area like Medway. --- #### More Authority Over the weekend, [we talked with Katalin Takács](https://www.localauthority.news/everyones-sourdough-is-different/), baker and owner of Mrs Sourdough Bakery in Chatham, which arguably makes the best bread in Medway. [“Everyone's sourdough is different”While many people have made and developed their own sourdough loaf, Katalin Takács took it to the next level. She turned it into a business. Now, Mrs Sourdough Bakery and cafe in Chatham Intra arguably makes the best bread in Medway. Steven met her there to discuss what brought her to the UK, what makes something sourdough, and whether getting enough sleep as a baker is possible.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2faa477e3a-97e1-4294-a107-7cce25c36d8e_1456x762.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/everyones-sourdough-is-different/) Our paid supporters will receive our slightly delayed deep dive into Medway's crime stats later this week. There’s lots of data to ponder, so if you’re interested in receiving it when we publish it, [ensure you are signed up to receive all of our editions](#/portal/signup). [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* ### “Everyone's sourdough is different” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/everyones-sourdough-is-different/ Last updated: 2024-09-22T06:26:56.000Z *While many people have made and developed their own sourdough loaf, Katalin Takács took it to the next level. She turned it into a business. Now,* [*Mrs Sourdough Bakery*](https://www.mrssourdoughbakery.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *and cafe in Chatham Intra arguably makes the best bread in Medway. Steven met her there to discuss what brought her to the UK, what makes something sourdough, and whether getting enough sleep as a baker is possible.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!K5x2!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2faa477e3a-97e1-4294-a107-7cce25c36d8e_1456x762.jpg) Katalin Takács **What is your occupation?** I am the business owner of Mrs Sourdough Bakery. **Do you have any other additional roles, paid or unpaid?** I am the laundry woman, the cleaning lady, the accountant, my own personal assistant, a barista sometimes, a baker, a pastry chef. We do everything here. Obviously not everything on my own because it's not possible, but I am able to do it. From top to the bottom here I can do everything. Everything is my own recipe. **What's the difference between sourdough and regular dough?** So, sourdough doesn't include yeast. They call it wild yeast, but I don't like to use it because if I'm talking to someone, and if I say wild yeast and the wild is gone, and they just can hear yeast, and the sourdough doesn't include yeast, so no, it doesn't. I don't use that word, so it's sourdough. You can use different flour, which can make a difference, but I use organic. But even if I would give you sourdough, everything, and you would do the same method at home, your bread never would be the same like mine. Because you have your environment and that's why it's another beautiful thing with it. Everyone's sourdough is different. If you see our bags, it's water, flour, and sea salt, and nothing else. There are no additives in there, and it's fermented. During the fermentation, the sugar content of the wheat breaks down, so if someone has diabetes, they can have it. Personally, I like sourdough. Some people don’t like the taste. **Where were you born?** I was born in Budapest. **What brought you to the UK?** In 2017, my friend lived in the UK. I was feeling off with things in Hungary, and she encouraged me to come here, and I was here. I worked for an estate agent for roughly three years, and then I wanted to move out from London. **What brought you to Medway?** I moved to Maidstone, and when I was looking for a shop, I found this one in Chatham, but I was still living in Maidstone. After I separated from my husband I moved to Rochester, about five minutes from here, which is very handy. I don't like wasting time with travelling. **Did you enjoy school?** I did. I was a good student, had good grades, and had no clue what I wanted to be. I have a few skills. I started baking sourdough because when we moved, there was a cafe where we used to live in London, and I bought the sourdough. Then we moved here to Maidstone, and I didn't find anywhere. I said, okay, I'm doing my own, and here I am. I'm not a baker, and I wanted to go to a kind of school, but covid came. I wanted to go to France to find a school and then it didn't happen. Then I was pregnant. I am a self-taught baker, but I have two friends, one in Dublin and one in Bournemouth. They both have their own bakeries and they helped me a lot. I went there, I spent a few days there, and they showed me a lot of things. **How would you describe *(Hungarian Prime Minister)*** [**Victor Orbán**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor%5FOrb%C3%A1n?ref=localauthority.news)**?** He ruined the country, unfortunately, and that's why a lot of people… When I came here, I had a job, and I wasn’t in a situation where I had to leave. Some people were in the situation. I wasn't. But because, for example, a lot of nurses, doctors, they're really good, educated people, they love the country. Also a lot of educated people left the country and started here working in McDonalds or something like that. Then, by time, obviously, when they have good language skills, they could start to work with their skills. Yeah, unfortunately, it's very... Everything is so expensive there. It's sad. **How would you describe the political situation in Hungary?** In the very first place, it's a really beautiful country and it's really worth visiting, but living there nowadays it's much worse than when I came here. I came here seven years ago, and unfortunately, the government steals all of the money, just takes more and more money. He wants to set up the kingdom again. He wants to be a king. It’s just horrible. **What is your average day like?** It depends on the day, but Monday, I try to put the orders and organise the orders for the people that we supply. I come in after. I have a son, he's two and a half. I'm on my own with him, a challenge *(laughs)*. Monday, I drop him off at nursery. I come here to work. It’s an easier day. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, a nanny comes to my house early in the morning. I come in and bake the bread. **What time are you getting into work?** Those days I'm coming at 3, 4 in the morning. I'm rushing home because the nanny has to leave because she looks after another boy. Then I get ready with my son, drop him off at nursery and then I come back to work. Friday and Saturday I come here at 1 in the morning. On Friday’s I don’t have help. We have a new baker who is here on Wednesday and Thursdays. I just had my very first Wednesday when I didn’t have to come in early. It's a big change for us. I’m working pretty much six days a week. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Chatham is failing where Dundee succeeds URL: https://www.localauthority.news/chatham-is-failing-where-dundee-succeeds/ Last updated: 2024-09-20T20:11:20.000Z *It’s not often that you’d compare Chatham and Dundee, but that’s exactly what a new report looking at the links between higher education and the creative economy in each place has done. It contains a number of fascinating insights that suggest Chatham might be trying to keep up. We’ve been getting into the details. Further down, we have news of free buses this weekend, a review of the Ashen Keys album launch, our weekly events guide, and more.* --- #### Chatham is failing where Dundee succeeds A new report examining the connection between higher education and the creative industries has found that Chatham is failing to capitalise on the opportunities the two sectors can offer. The snappily titled report, ‘[*The challenges of developing sustainable cultural and creative ecosystems and the role of higher education institutions: Lessons from Dundee and Chatham, UK*](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09504222231186367?ref=localauthority.news),’ compares Chatham and Dundee because of their history as former industrial areas that have attempted to regenerate using education and the creative industries. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!kciI!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5659e992-cf78-462f-b5b0-f8d2e8abac7e_5109x2675.jpg) The V&A in Dundee While the report shows that both areas still have stark sociological and economic divides, it argues that Dundee has developed a creative economy more successfully than Chatham. With the focus on higher education, it is noted that while both areas have brought students, Dundee has managed to incubate graduates within the creative industries, meaning that more of them have stayed in the city rather than leaving once their studies are over. This success has been down to a number of initiatives, including creative coworking spaces, higher education staff that actively engage students with the local community, incubators to build creative businesses, and a well-developed, culture-led approach to regeneration by the local council. This approach has seen remarkable success with the development of a Cultural Quarter and the opening of a V&A Museum in the city. Conversely, while the report grants that Chatham has seen efforts to develop a creative economy, these have been hampered by a lack of investment in connecting resources and fostering a wider creative ecosystem. Specifically, the report highlights the centrality of Chatham Historic Dockyard within the higher education sector, which, despite providing room for creativity and education, is largely disconnected from the rest of the surrounding towns. This is set out starkly by one contributor to the report who teaches within the University of Kent at Chatham Dockyard, who explains why their music teaching is being relocated to Canterbury: > *“We actually teach in the Dockyard itself, and that’s a World Heritage Site. It is full of history... From a teaching perspective it’s not connected with the rest of the world. Chatham and in fact, Medway is struggling... So we are moving it to Canterbury because there is more of a music scene, more of a cultural hub or perceived cultural hub, slightly better facilities in terms of a concert hall and a theatre that belongs to the university.” – Creative higher education provider, Chatham* A lack of performance venues and affordable spaces is highlighted as a problem for those learning and graduating in Chatham. The universities here are bringing in creative talent, but as this cannot be nurtured, most graduates end up leaving and taking their newly developed skills elsewhere. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!QUhJ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f10bbaf01-3d4d-4b46-8b67-8a9ee7013c47_5472x2865.jpg) Chatham Dockyard The same higher education provider is even more blunt about the consequences of this, highlighting that there are no opportunities for musicians to make a living or even perform. This is deemed as a problem so severe that it impacts academic ability too: > *“There’s no live performance in Chatham. There’s no opportunity for musicians in Chatham to make a living, let alone the students to even perform. So they’re all sitting at home or they’re sitting in, um, accommodation, university accommodation and they’re trying to find things to do. And it’s not comfortable. It’s not good for them. It’s not good for their mental health. And they’re not performing even academically as well” – Creative higher education provider, Chatham.* Another educator in Chatham raises the issue of the disconnection between what they are attempting to do with their educational courses and the lack of surrounding support, particularly given the isolated nature of the Dockyard: > *“It’s very frustrating trying to sell a creative course in an area that has no creative focus. I mean you can turn up to the campus but the campus has no creative focus either, it’s a dockyard. It’s beautiful, but apart from the studio nothing happens” – Creative higher education provider, Chatham.* That isn’t to say the report is all doom and gloom for Chatham. It does manage to find some potential positives for the future of the creative economy in Chatham. It highlights the creation of a dedicated Head of Culture role at Medway Council, a stronger development of a cultural strategy, and the potential from new projects like The Docking Station, which is set to open in Chatham Dockyard in 2026, providing combined education and creative industry facilities for digital production. That said, it cautions that Chatham needs more than investment in large projects around Chatham Dockyard. It should focus on a more long-term sustainable creative scene for our towns. The main report contains a number of lessons that could perhaps be learnt from Dundee, so there may in fact still be time for Chatham to develop a creative economy. Whether or not we actually manage to get our act together and do it is another matter entirely. --- #### Get the bus for free this weekend [This weekend is Free Bus Weekend in Medway](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200161/travel/516/bus%5Ftimetables?ref=localauthority.news), meaning you can get on the bus for free. The offer is being run as part of ‘Catch the Bus Month’, proving there is an event for just about anything these days. The scheme, funded by the government as part of Medway’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, will see all bus journeys starting in Medway before 8pm on Saturday and Sunday be free. The starting in Medway part is important as if you get the bus to Bluewater or Maidstone or anywhere outside of Medway, while the outbound journey will be free, you’ll have to pay on the way back. Arriva, ASD, Chalkwell, Nu-Venture, and Redroute are all participating. Of course, depending on where you live in Medway, taking up the offer might prove challenging given how rare buses are, particularly on the weekends. But if you are heading into town and have one of the fairly reliable bus services in Medway, you’ll be able to do so for free. --- #### Review: The Ashen Keys album launch at the Medway Little Theatre **by Stephen Morris** The Medway Little Theatre has hosted some rather special performances over the last twelve months. Think Billy Childish and The Singing Loins back in November 2023\. Think Little Storping in the Swuff mixing anxiety and kooky comedy for an inspired performance in July. And now think The Ashen Keys, bringing songs of woodlands and womanhood to this rather wonderful venue. The evening begins with support from Erika Olson, an American-born singer-songwriter who sings beautiful, exquisite songs brought from a vulnerable place. There are songs about wanting to ‘give up/can the rain tell the storm ‘I surrender?’’ There are songs about getting lost in the busyness of life: ‘You don’t know where you want to be – chasing somebody else’s dreams’. But there are also songs with the simple message of ‘You got this’. One of the most striking moments in Olson’s short set is utterly heartbreaking: the account of a woman with an eating disorder who is ‘starving to be seen/dying to be known/hungry little bird.’ It is devastating in its honesty and compassion. The songs Erika Olson performs are born – and that word is very deliberately chosen – out of a place of maternal creativity. At one point, between one song and another, she explains how her life changed from being career-focused when she had her first child: “I thought to myself I created *life*! What else can I create?” Utterly, utterly beautiful songs, that’s what. Before the interval, The Ashen Keys – the headliners - take to the stage. But they are not here to sing songs or play music. Not yet. The plan is, uncharacteristically, for the band to perform the whole of their new album, *The Name on Your Compass*, in its entirety and in order without any talking between songs. Instead, they are going to do all the talking now in the form of a Q&A. It’s here that we discover, by way of an answer to a submitted question, that first album purchases and acquisitions for the band included the likes of Ant and Dec and Jason and Kylie. And then, after a short intermission, it’s on with the show. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!kBrN!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdc2ebb72-fb49-4de2-b5ec-4a5d7c47343c_1600x838.jpg) The Ashen Keys The set starts – as, of course, does the album – with the luxuriant rising sound of accordion, guitar and violin meandering and finally meeting to form the start of ‘Capricious’. It’s an exquisite start to the set, full of promise, mystery and intrigue. The song itself takes a card game as a metaphor for a relationship with someone who is emotionally unavailable. It provides a hint of what is to come as the performance unwinds: lyrics which explore complicated lives – complicated relationships – and seek to find the way through to something better. The first few songs from the set concern women: women who are misunderstood; women who are mistreated; women who fight and struggle on for the families in adversity. And so ‘Ellerby Hoard’ imagines the thoughts and motives of a woman squirrelling away money to ensure she can provide for her family; ‘Cassandra’, with its gorgeously catchy riff, concerns itself with a woman of Greek myth forever disbelieved when she tells the truth; and ‘Miss Sargent’, a mini-symphony of a song featuring regular changes in rhythm, texture and volume, weighs up the benefits of ‘the life that we did choose’ versus the life in which someone can ‘fulfil your dreams’. The songs which follow on from this take nature, rather than the feminine, as their theme. It’s here that The Ashen Keys explore the idea of resolution and healing. Against a backdrop of birdsong field recordings (‘Migration’), with intricately intertwined clarinet and violins (the instrumental ‘Orchid’), and using rich, evocative lyrics (“I know where I need to go when my soul is jaded” on ‘Mother Tree’), the band take the audience at the Little Theatre on an expedition through flora and fauna, inviting us all to find nourishment in a simpler life where we each look after one another. It’s rather beautiful. The finale of the performance begins with a song exploring the dangers of *not* allowing yourself to be nourished. There is a heartbreaking cruelty in the self-sabotage/self-protection found in the line “gather up your favourite things and set them all on fire” from ‘The Den’. But this is rather triumphantly dispelled by ‘Gathering’ and ‘Albion’, two songs which, by rights, should appear on any folk festival setlist coinciding with a setting sun. The former is a sumptuous embrace of all the nourishment and goodness celebrated in earlier songs – and then some. The latter is a rousing, post-Empire alternative to ‘Rule Britannia,’ in which the country of Albion is reminded that courage, hope, and responsibility to others are just as important as any sense of pride and glory. There is an entirely deserved rapturous applause at the end. There have, in truth, been rapturous applauses throughout the evening. But by the time we reach the end of the setlist, there is a sense that something very beautiful has been completed – only a little too soon. There is an encore, of course. There *has* to be an encore. And with no songs from the album left to perform, there is only one logical course of action: a cover of Dua Lipa’s ‘New Rules’. Their take on the pop song is a phenomenal, rip-roaring, fast-paced interpretation: autotune and synths are replaced by accordion, guitar, and violin and The Ashen Keys’ distinctive three-part harmony, which proves utterly spellbinding. There is an instant reaction of delight in the audience. And why wouldn’t there be? It’s a rather special end to a very special night. *The Name on Your Compass is* [*available now on Bandcamp*](https://theashenkeys.bandcamp.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*. Find out more about Erika Olson on* [*her website*](https://www.erikaolsonmusic.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Events this week 🎸 Frau Pouch, one of Medway’s best bands, are calling it a day, and their farewell show is tonight (Fri 20 Sep) at Poco Loco in Chatham. Support from Punching Swans, Faux Taux, and Snidefinder. [Tickets £5](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/chatham/poco-loco/punching-swans-frau-pouch-faux-taux-snidefinder/e-bopeag?ref=localauthority.news). 🎸 Kicking Against Nothing are back with one of their alternative gig nights at The Oast in Rainham tomorrow night (Fri 20 Sep). The lineup features The Vouchers, Mitchell Lane, and Dockyard alongside a mini-market of Kent visual artists. [Tickets £5](https://wegottickets.com/event/631793?ref=localauthority.news). ✏️ A new exhibition of work by Ralph Steadman opens at Chatham Dockyard on Saturday (21 Sep) and runs until November. Steadman has illustrated some of the most recognisable British novels, collaborated with Hunter S Thompson, and produced an intimidating amount of his own work, all of which will be featured. [Tickets £28.50](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/ralph-steadman-inkling/?ref=localauthority.news) (includes Dockyard entry). 📽️ Odeon in Chatham have another mystery horror film screening on Monday (23 Sep), which will be a pre-release film. Smart people on the internet seem to think it’s Never Let Go but don’t blame us if they’re wrong. [Tickets £7](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/ticket-picker/?showtimeId=050-47736&ref=localauthority.news). ⚓ Ghost Ships is the next big immersive theatre production from the Chatham-based Icon Theatre, which opens at Chatham Dockyard on Wednesday (25 Sep) and runs until 28 Sep. It recharts the history of Chatham Dockyard, examining people and the place and the impact of the Dockyard from its earliest days until now. [Tickets £15](https://thedockyard.co.uk/events/ghost-ships/?ref=localauthority.news). 🎤 Big Trouble open mic poetry night is back on Thursday (26 Sep) at the 12 Degrees micropub in Rochester. Feature performances from Kent poets Barnaby Harsent and Alby Stockley, and the regular free-for-all performances. [Tickets £7](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/big-trouble/t-qjpyrvm?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Searching For A Stream by Garden Centre*](https://gardencentre.bandcamp.com/track/searching-for-a-stream-3?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Wearing Out The Refrain by Bad Moves*](https://badmoves.bandcamp.com/album/wearing-out-the-refrain?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*All Hell by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/all-hell?ref=localauthority.news) ### Voice of the MP - Chatham and Aylesford URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-chatham-and-aylesford/ Last updated: 2024-09-19T19:23:27.000Z **Editor’s note:* We’ve been publishing quarterly columns from the Leader of Medway Council and the Leader of the Opposition for a while. While we’ll continue to have periodic columns from Cllr Maple and Cllr Perfect, we’re delighted to also start publishing columns from Medway’s new MPs and Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott.* *Each month, we’ll have writing from one of them so you can hear directly from your representatives about their work. Today, we welcome new Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osborne, who replaced Tracey Crouch in this year’s General Election. He tells us about the ongoing work to achieve a new Local Plan for Medway.* #### Voice of the MP **by Tristan Osborne, MP for Chatham** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ksTK!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fabab9bff-63c8-406f-bd99-87bd6a043c7b_3000x1571.jpg) Tristan Osborne MP I've been grappling with the thorny issue of Medway’s Local Plan since I was first elected to represent Luton and Wayfield in 2011\. Over a decade has passed, and much has changed for me personally - I’m now proud to serve as the MP for Chatham and Aylesford and as the councillor for Rochester East and Warren Wood. However, the challenge of the Local Plan remains as pressing as ever, with the stakes higher than ever before. Up-to-date planning policy isn’t just a bureaucratic exercise; it’s a cornerstone of effective local governance. Planning is fundamental to shaping the future of our communities, ensuring that development is sustainable, and that the needs of residents are met in a balanced and thoughtful way. During my time on Medway Council, I’ve been heartened to see several community-led Neighbourhood Plans take shape, drafted by local residents, examined rigorously, and adopted with legal teeth. These successes have been remarkable, showcasing what can be achieved when local people have a say in the future of their areas. Yet these achievements stand in stark contrast to the broader failure to produce a Medway-wide Local Plan since 2003 - a failure that has left our communities vulnerable to isolated and often unwelcome development. It’s essential to acknowledge how we arrived at this point. When Labour took control of Medway Council in May 2023 for the first time, we inherited a dire situation regarding the Local Plan. Over a decade had been squandered on political infighting, dithering, and delays - an astonishing waste of resources and an unforgivable neglect of duty. The absence of a coherent and up-to-date Local Plan has not only frustrated residents and stakeholders but has also left us exposed to speculative and often inappropriate developments that do not meet the needs of our communities. The absence of a current Local Plan has had far-reaching consequences. A well-crafted, community-driven Local Plan can be a powerful catalyst for sustainable growth, directing investment and development to where it is most needed and ensuring that new housing and infrastructure are built in a way that enhances, rather than detracts from, the character and quality of our towns and villages. In contrast, an outdated plan - or worse, no plan at all - opens the door to unsustainable and predatory development, which can have a devastating impact on our communities. Unfortunately, Medway has suffered the latter for far too long, with ill-considered developments being pushed through due to the lack of a robust planning framework. A stark example of this occurred recently when Medway Council’s planning committee was forced to approve 450 homes on Gibraltar Farm - a direct consequence of Conservative inaction on the Local Plan. Even Cllr Andrew Lawrence, the current Shadow Housing Spokesperson, acknowledged this bitter truth, admitting that the lack of an up-to-date Local Plan had left the Council with little choice but to approve the development. It is therefore a concern that despite the deadline passing we have seen no united response from the Medway Conservatives on where they stand, this despite requests for a publication. However, all is not lost. Since May 2023, my colleagues across the Council have made tremendous strides in advancing the Local Plan - a task that at times must have felt like a poisoned chalice. Despite the challenges, we are now in a position where real progress is being made, and there is a genuine opportunity to put in place a plan that will serve the best interests of Medway’s residents for years to come. As I write this, the Regulation 18 Consultation on the draft Local Plan 2041 has completed. I hope local residents have taken the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to this crucial planning process. The input of the community is vital, as it ensures that the final plan reflects the aspirations and needs of those who live and work in Medway. I’ve submitted my own representation, warmly welcoming the progress made and supporting Medway Council’s aspirations for a balanced approach to spatial growth, particularly Option 3, which offers the best balance between development and the preservation of our natural and built environment. Once the consultation closes, colleagues will carefully consider all representations made before commencing the final stage of public engagement - Regulation 19 - prior to examination by a planning inspector. The road to a new Local Plan has been long and fraught with difficulties, but we are now in sight of a solution that will provide a solid foundation for Medway’s future. It is my hope that, with continued input from residents and a clear focus on sustainable development, we can finally deliver a Local Plan that meets the needs and secures a positive legacy for future generations. *Tristan Osborne is the MP for Chatham and Aylesford and a Medway councillor for Rochester East & Warren Wood.* ### New School Streets feature some weird choices URL: https://www.localauthority.news/new-school-streets-feature-some-weird/ Last updated: 2024-09-17T22:44:36.000Z *School Streets are rapidly proliferating across Medway. The Labour administration introduced seven of them earlier this year and are now consulting on nine more. Some call them a cynical cash grab, while others hail them as a way to make walking to school safe. As ever, the reality is likely somewhere in the middle. As the plans for the nine new schemes are revealed, we’ve been looking and finding some curious choices among them. Further down, we have news of the lengthy new trek to the Pentagon toilets, news in brief, and more.* **Coming up later this week:* We’ll be diving into the latest crime stats in Medway, which makes for some cheerful reading. On Friday, we’ll be pondering a new report which suggests Chatham might be failing in cultural investment where other places have succeeded. Then, on Sunday, our weekend interview is with Katalin Takács, owner of Mrs Sourdough Bakery in Chatham, on her journey to making bread and the challenges of running a business in our towns.* *Our Tuesday and Friday editions are free, but our features and interviews are exclusive to our* [*paid supporters*](#/portal/signup)*, who ensure we can keep the core of our work free for everyone else.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### New School Streets feature some weird choices On Friday, we highlighted how a new set of School Streets were set to be introduced in Medway. The scheme restricts motor vehicles on streets around schools when children arrive and leave, intending to make the environment safer and more pleasant. This concept is difficult to argue with. While we have no empirical data on how well Medway’s initial tranche of School Streets works so far, anecdotally, they seem to be broadly popular with schools, parents, and children. A 2022 report from Transport for London, whose patch includes hundreds of similar schemes, found vehicle movements on School Streets reduced by 80%, and nitrogen dioxide during the morning drop-off period dropped 23%. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!CEom!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc1850f9b-eee0-414d-8fb2-2e1eedb0f8f4_2234x1066.jpg) A School Street in London Nine new locations are being consulted on for this second wave, and some feel rather more cautious than some of the initial set. Others feature some rather baffling choices. That isn’t to say that they can’t do any good, but some of them seem so minor that it’s hard to see how much good they can actually do. Take the proposed restrictions on Harrison Drive in High Halstow. Medway Council proposes restricting vehicles from a tiny cul-de-sac off of it rather than the road itself. This bit of road has three parking spaces and barely any more vehicle space on the road itself. How many vehicles are entering this area daily to make the scheme viable? All of the same cars will presumably still arrive in the same area and park metres away on the main curve of the road instead. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!pppb!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fda5f7cd0-ca5e-4641-9f88-9f37c252e946_2080x1110.jpg) School Street proposal for High Halstow On the Davis Estate, the plans are potentially even more baffling. One street, Barberry Avenue, immediately outside Horsted Junior School, will have restrictions, but the street outside of the Horsted Infant School, Binland Grove, will not. At first glance, there doesn’t appear to be a logical reason not to include this street. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6YGa!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f22fffad5-9c38-40ca-9148-ec7c07b708ca_2080x1046.jpg) School Street proposal for the Davis Estate One reason might be the small orange dot on the map above. Amongst the core School Street plans, Medway Council are also proposing, slightly more quietly, to install School Keep Clear cameras at some sites. These would be on streets that don’t have formal restrictions but would catch and fine those stopping the on yellow and keep clear lines outside of schools. Of course, no one should be doing this, so it’s hard to find a problem with the idea, but a cynic might suggest that restricting traffic in one location and then clamping down on those stopping on the next street might be rather fruitful for Medway Council. Three of these cameras are proposed in this tranche of School Streets, with Horsted Primary School above being joined by Fairview Academy in Rainham and Delce Academy in Rochester. New portfolio holder Cllr Alex Paterson insists that the scheme is not about making money. [Speaking to ITV News](https://x.com/ajpaterson/status/1827615462345072982?ref=localauthority.news), he argued that “people making journeys through Medway should be able to do so without being impeded by selfish drivers” and described the fines issued as “entirely optional charges.” Which is a rather blunt way of putting things, but not entirely wrong. One thing that seems certain is that these are unlikely to be the last set of School Streets in Medway. Cllr Paterson seems enthusiastic about the scheme, and Medway Council have already confirmed a proposal is being worked up around Holcombe Grammar School, which would be the first secondary school site to be included. [The consultation on the nine new School Streets locations is now open](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200137/schools%5Fand%5Flearning/1791/school%5Fstreets%5Fscheme/4?ref=localauthority.news). You have until 27 October to offer feedback on the proposals. --- #### Toilet trek Okay, we know that toilets aren’t the most glamorous issue. Still, we just wanted to take a minute to highlight how impressively awful the move of the public toilets in the Pentagon Centre in Chatham has been. While no one could claim the original toilets in the centre were the nicest place to spend time, they were at least located at the heart of things, just along from Sainsbury’s and next to the taxi rank. With the extensive redevelopment that is currently happening within the centre, it was inevitable that some changes would need to be made. But it is staggering just how far removed from any public activity the new toilets are. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!JLya!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3eb5abd8-e1b0-471d-aac1-0316edd21b52_1640x924.jpg) The new toilets in the Pentagon Centre They are now located upstairs on the centre's first floor, where nothing else currently exists, given that all existing businesses have been moved out as part of the redevelopment process. This leads to a trip up in the lift or on the escalator before a rather long work to the furthest possible point to use the facilities. Not too troublesome for many people, but not idea for those with mobility issues. On the day we visited, the disabled toilet was out of order, and the only toilets were available up some steps, so it was not a great start. Eventually, the Pentagon's upstairs will be home to a new Healthy Living Centre and the Ascend coworking space. Given that each of these will have its own facilities, the move is hardly to accommodate them. It presents a scenario where anyone wanting to use the toilet in Chatham must trek upstairs and go on a long walk past a health centre and a coworking space to find relief. The provision of public toilets in our towns is an ongoing issue. Many of our towns and villages have no facilities beyond nipping into a pub or restaurant, which is increasingly difficult in towns like Chatham. The Pentagon toilets are a vital, central resource to many people, and while moving them may be necessary, it remains to be seen whether this was the most inclusive way of doing so. --- #### In brief 🚨 [Kent Police have requested a review of the licence of the Sans Pareil pub in Wainscott](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/pub-could-lose-licence-called-after-man-suffers-life-changi-312972/?ref=localauthority.news) following a fight after a football match that left a man with life-changing injuries. The pub, adorned with Reform posters around that time, didn’t report the incident to the police until the next day and said that CCTV was ‘unrecoverable’. 🛒 [B&M has formally applied for a premises licence for the old Wilko unit in Gillingham](https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/licensing/licence-public-notices-1/2?ref=localauthority.news), confirming their move onto the site. 🏪 Talking of premises licences, the owners of The Candy Store in Rainham have [applied for one at the old model railway shop in the Intra area of Rochester](http://xn--e88h/?ref=localauthority.news). 🔌 [MEMS have acquired the former Kings Ferry coach depot in Twydall](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/future-of-former-coach-depot-revealed-312931/?ref=localauthority.news). The site will allow them to expand their adjacent site, making it the ‘larger generator rental depot in the UK’. 💷 Conservative councillor [Andrew Lawrence has written for ConservativeHome on reforming local government finance](https://conservativehome.com/2024/09/17/andrew-lawrence-how-to-reform-local-government-finance/?utm%5Fcampaign=twitter&utm%5Fmedium=twitter&utm%5Fsource=twitter). His suggestions include big increases in council tax and the introduction of a Local Income Tax, which are likely to be wildly popular ideas. --- #### More Authority Our weekend interview this week was with Cllr Alex Paterson, Medway’s new Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement. We talk to him about his past in journalism, entering politics, Scottish independence, his new role, and more. [“You would struggle to pick a fight with me on social media these days”Following the General Election in July, Medway’s Labour administration had its first reshuffle as three existing cabinet members were elected to parliament. One of the new cabinet members was Rochester West and Borstal councillor Alex Paterson, who was appointed Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement. Steven met him to talk about his past in journalism, entering politics, Scottish Independence, and more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8f314561-6168-454b-a7bb-063161eb2f62_1937x1227.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Pig City by Tigercats*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPTevi%5Fhi10&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Nervous Like Me by Cayetana*](https://cayetana.bandcamp.com/album/nervous-like-me-2?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Emphatically No by Cheekface*](https://cheekface.bandcamp.com/album/emphatically-no?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “You would struggle to pick a fight with me on social media these days” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/you-would-struggle-to-pick-a-fight/ Last updated: 2024-09-15T06:24:09.000Z *Following the General Election in July, Medway’s Labour administration had its first reshuffle as three existing cabinet members were elected to parliament. One of the new cabinet members was Rochester West and Borstal councillor Alex Paterson, who was appointed Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement. Steven met him to talk about his past in journalism, entering politics, Scottish Independence, and more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!YOR-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8f314561-6168-454b-a7bb-063161eb2f62_1937x1227.jpg) Cllr Alex Paterson **Where were you born?** I was born in the Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow. **What brought you to Medway?** I've lived in England longer than I ever lived north of the border. I came down south, first to London in 2000, to work for the Sunday Mirror and met my now wife within six weeks so that the die was cast. Then we had a small child, a 14-month-old who was ready to walk, and we lived in a flat in Deptford in southeast London. We needed somewhere that she could stretch her legs and not be hemmed in, and we were used to making trips out on the A2, as a lot of people did. We found the first place that we liked and could afford, and that's how we ended up in Rochester in October 2003. **Did you enjoy school?** I enjoyed secondary school. I don't think I enjoyed primary school very much. I think I was just one of these people that wanted to grow up a bit too fast, and I found primary school a little bit stifling, but I really enjoyed secondary school and the opportunity to expand horizons into different subject areas and extracurricular activities. I was never going to be in the primary school football team, but when it came to the debating team, that was much more up my street. **Where did you go for university?** To Glasgow. Yeah, it's not uncommon up there. Glasgow alumni are maybe a little snobbish about others, and will point out that it's the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. It would have seemed slightly obtuse to decide to up sticks and go somewhere else. I went to study Law, and for me, that was the prestigious place to study Scots law. It was where I wanted to go, and it just so happened that I lived there, and that made it slightly more cost-effective, I suppose. **What was your first full-time job?** I was employed straight out of university. In fact, I hadn't even graduated when I started working at the local newspaper. I got a newspaper called The Glaswegian, which was part of the Daily Record group in Scotland. **You never considered going into the legal profession?** I was put off almost instantly. I think there was an element of expectation management by our lecturers, and they pointed out that there were 200 odd of us just in that cohort at Glasgow, plus probably the same number at five other universities in Scotland and there certainly weren't a thousand new vacancies for solicitors or advocates every year. I suppose maybe that planted the seed that I would need to look elsewhere. I studied law, I picked law long before I ever went to study it, because it just seemed like such a natural fit. It matched my sense of social justice, and I was in the debating team. Also, quite apart from political heroes, at that time, you had all these incredible miscarriages of justice that were being exposed by people like [Michael Mansfield,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael%5FMansfield?ref=localauthority.news) and these crusading QCs that, to me, were forces to be reckoned with, and that really appealed to me. The reality check is just how few people ever make it in the profession that far. I suppose maybe, from being someone who had never struggled at school at all and had excelled in exams, you suddenly meet a cohort of people, many of whom are a lot smarter than you are, which is quite a sobering experience as well. **What was your role at the Daily Mirror?** I was a sub-editor at the Sunday Mirror. Then I moved to news and features at the Sunday Mirror, and then I went to the Daily Mirror in 2005 as a news sub. I ended up being rapidly promoted to deputy editor of our regional editions. We produced a Scottish Mirror from London, we also produced regionalised content. For us, the critical edition was the Lancashire edition because I think it's probably still true today that the one place in the country the Mirror outsells the Sun is in Liverpool because of the Sun's conduct after Hillsborough. Sometimes, it was as simple as making sure that the right football match was featured on the front page rather than expecting a lot of scousers to be interested in Spurs v Arsenal. But that was a lot of fun, especially with the Scottish Mirror, which took me back to my roots and allowed me to add a Scottish flavour to some of the dreadful puns we would put in headlines. **Why did you leave journalism?** I took redundancy in 2017\. I feel like I got out just at the right moment. Journalism, with all due respect to local online journalism, had been in decline pretty much the entirety of my career. I suppose I got in just when the internet was in its infancy and maybe not perceived as a threat. I'm guilty of it myself. I'll buy a paper at the weekend, but I'm unlikely to buy a paper through the week. And sadly, from working at a newspaper that sold two and a half, three million copies a day to the point when I left, it was probably lucky if it was selling 400,000 a day. I don't know if that was all my fault, but through all that, there was constant contraction and decay, and I think probably by the end, I had fallen out of love with what I was doing, although I maybe wasn't conscious of it at the time. **You ended up working in parliament?** Actually, the first job that I did outside of journalism was working here as the political assistant to Vince and the Labour Group, as was, which at that point was a group of 15\. I was doing press and social media for them, but that was only a part-time role, which I subsidised by continuing to do some freelance newspaper shifts. An opportunity came up after the 2017 General Election to be the press officer for the group of Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster. That just felt like such a perfect fit. I lived within striking distance of Westminster. I knew Scottish politics and had the journalistic chops to deal with that. That was a fantastic opportunity, and it was a wild rollercoaster through the Brexit years in Parliament. **What is your official occupation now?** My day job is Communications and Campaigns Manager at the [Canal and River Trust](https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). **What is the Canal and River Trust?** First and foremost, there's no conflict of interest here because we don't have any canals south of the Thames. The charity looks after 2,000 miles of inland waterways across England and Wales. It was the successor to British Waterways, which was the state corporation. Then, in 2012, a charity was created to take on those assets and look after them, maintain navigation and all the other benefits that people get from walking by or cycling by the water as well as on narrow boats and all the other uses. **Are you having constant issues with water companies and waste in the water?** It's not so much that. We do get questioned about that quite a lot, partly because of the name of the organisation, but our rivers tend to be what they call canalised rivers, which have been straightened and turned almost into canals. It's not so much your flowing rivers as bits that link up the canal network. The water companies would much rather pump effluent into flowing water than somewhere that it's likely to hang around and be spotted. **You’ve recently become a cabinet Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement?** Yes, that was a role vacated by the new MP for Chatham and Aylesford. A really exciting, expanded portfolio, taking on all of [Tris](https://www.localauthority.news/im-pushy-and-i-like-people-pushing/)' portfolio and some of Simon's as well. A lot of logic behind some of those changes to responsibilities. I think a real opportunity to make an impact in lots of the areas that I care about. There is a video we put out encouraging people to walk with their kids to school, and these are things that I think can really make a positive difference to kids' lives. We've got this campaign, [Child-friendly Medway](https://www.medway.gov.uk/childfriendly?ref=localauthority.news), but it's not particularly friendly if you're walking to school and contending with Chelsea tractors reversing up the street. It's something that I intend to really drive forward with as portfolio holder on School Streets, because I think making children the priority on their journey to school is a lifesaver potentially. These things are quite difficult to provide evidence for in terms of raw statistics. But there's no question that if you visit one of those areas that now has a school street at the point when unauthorised traffic is banned, it's been transformative. It just makes the atmosphere so much more relaxed, more pleasant, nicer air to breathe and to see kids being able to safely cross the road and wander into school. I’m really proud of that and proud that we have done that because I'm not convinced the previous administration would have had the guts to see that one through, because understandably, when something's new and some people are actively spreading misinformation about it, it's natural for politicians to take flight on things like that. But I'm really confident that it's the right thing to do. **Within your new role, what are the plans regarding anti-social motorcycles in Medway?** A lot of the expectation placed on the council for enforcement is misplaced. The reality is the only people in this country who can legally stop you in the street are police officers. It's a tough issue. We have an underfunded police force who, again, were impacted by 14 years of Tory cuts. Whether you bought into the austerity myth or not, I don't know that anyone that even voted for them through that period thought that austerity applied to whether your community felt safe at night. So, in terms of enforcing these things, we've got to be realistic. I've been in committee meetings where the Conservative councillors are sort of railing against young people using vapes and telling us that they should be confiscated. And I genuinely think, what planet are we on? There's no question that these individuals who are riding nuisance bikes are causing a danger to the public first and foremost, and if they wrap themselves around the lamp post, then to themselves as well. We can try to equip the police with as many tools as we can in terms of the Public Spaces Protection Order, which gives them additional powers to fine. I'm keen that we move towards a situation where bikes and nuisance vehicles can be confiscated because ticking somebody off and then sending them on their way is not solving the problem. Let's not solely focus the attention on kids misbehaving. That behaviour has been enabled by a lot of people along the way. I'm realistic that that problem can't be solved overnight. **What should be done about HMP Rochester?** There's no question that the fabric of the building at Rochester is fundamental to some of the issues that are faced there. I've visited the prison a couple of times, most recently last April. I visited with the then Prisons Minister, and in terms of the regime there, I was positive about the attitudes, but I think they are dealing with a very difficult situation. Prisoners, when we were being shown round wanted to show their cells, which they kept immaculately clean, but every morning, they were clearing up mouse and rat droppings. Regardless of what people might have done, these are pretty inhumane conditions, Victorian conditions to keep people in. There's a specific issue with ageing prison infrastructure, but there is also the fact that we've had a government asleep at the wheel for 14 years and done very little to remedy what is essentially a slow-motion car crash in our criminal justice system. It's not helping the prisons. The court system is on the verge of collapse as well, and I think it's quite dispiriting to think that we're locking people up with no real prospect of them being rehabilitated. If we're locking them up in those numbers where it limits the amount of recreational time, the amount of time they can spend in education and meaningful activity, are we really surprised that it's a revolving door? That's not me voicing a bleeding-heart liberal viewpoint. Just on a purely economic basis, that's madness. It's madness to have a criminal justice system that doesn't seem to be built around rehabilitation. The specifics of the current acute issues, I couldn't really comment on it, but we expect our prison officers to literally be punched in the face and just take it. We're not protecting prison officers. We have prison officers who are easily poached by jobs with less hassle. The issue last year was that a lot of prison officers were finding they could get paid more and not get punched in the face working for Border Force. That staffing issue isn't resolved. In all the despair around the creaking system and the acute problems at Rochester. I think the positive is that we've got a Prisons Minister *(*[*Lord Timpson*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James%5FTimpson,%5FBaron%5FTimpson?ref=localauthority.news)*)* who gets it, and I hope that some good comes of it. **Do you enjoy getting into Twitter spats?** I don’t think many people enjoy Twitter at all anymore. I’ve been on Twitter since 2009\. I look back, and certainly in the early days when it felt important and I was a new candidate and using it as a campaigning tool, it seemed worthwhile to try and convince some random stranger somewhere in the country that they were wrong and you were right. I don't really care for it very much anymore. I used to have a policy of not blocking people. I would mute them, but then you realise that that doesn't stop people from invoking your name in your ignorance. I've got a lot more adept at blocking certain negative individuals. But no, you would struggle to pick a fight with me on social media these days. There is absolutely no point trying to reason someone out of an opinion they were never reasoned into. You look at the contact that you get on social media as a cabinet member, and there'll be particular criticisms of policies that we're bringing forward, and they'll try and pin straw man arguments where they'll try and pin ulterior motives on you that you'd never even considered. There's a perception of councillors as people who are on the make and in it for their own ends. If that's the case for some people, they’re certainly not my political allies, and they’re not people that I've met, and that crosses the political divide even with people who I might strongly disagree with. I think generally people who put themselves forward, whether they are misguided in their approach or not, genuinely want to make things better, want to do some good. I think it's disappointing the lack of respect in terms of debate. I'm someone who loves a robust discussion. I'm happy to defend my views. What I won't do is I won't engage in debating straw man arguments, people trying to pin opinions on me that I don't hold. I'm answerable for my own opinions or things that I've said. **Well, in that vein, how much should we judge somebody on decade-old tweets?** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Tiny acts of self-publishing URL: https://www.localauthority.news/tiny-acts-of-self-publishing/ Last updated: 2024-09-13T18:22:46.000Z *If you discovered one of your skills is that you can write really small, what would you do with that? For local photographer and author Neil Thorne, he’s turned that skill into a book charting the rise and fall of a dystopian regime. As you do. We’ve been learning more about that and his new novella about Chatham. Further down, we have news of nine new School Streets likely coming to Medway, a review of Galata in Gillingham, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Tiny acts of self-publishing **by Steven Keevil** [Neil Thorne](https://www.instagram.com/theneonbard/?ref=localauthority.news) is a local photographer and, more recently, a self-published author. Writing during his lunch breaks and evenings, last year he released ‘[A Tiny Act of Rebellion](http://pfbid0iwxrtaambf5tyoa7sv1bx5kthxddjju5rxrhckgq8inp5ahvureckpaz6qxfefv7l/?ref=localauthority.news)’, with editorial support from his partner's daughter. “She’s properly clever,” Neil tells us. The novella's starting point of inspiration is based around what Neil describes as “a useless skill of mine” - the ability to write really, really small. “With the right pen I can get such tiny writing you struggle to read it. For years it's always been a useless gift. I've never really had much use for it. I've just tried to impress people at the pub.” To be clear, it is incredibly tiny but still legible. Neil always had small handwriting, it’s just become smaller over the years. Neil writes everything by hand, and from a mindsight of efficiency, he found by writing small he could get twice as much on the page. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!WRoH!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe693b255-5a1d-456c-87c7-3776406e88c9_1080x565.jpg) Neil Thorne Being able to write something that a stamp could cover gave him the inspiration for hidden stories. “I constructed an idea in my head that there could be a world very much like our own, set in the future, where art and creativity are illegal. It came from a short story I wrote,” which was included in [Confluence magazine](https://www.confluencemagazine.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). “The stories are really small and having them hidden beneath postage stamps and posted through the postal system under the eyes of this repressive regime.” The book has a mystery about it. Within the world of the book, who is writing these stories? Do the receivers know they are under the stamp? Questions Neil may answer one day, but not today. It is much better than it needs to be in the world of self-published books. Clear thought has gone into the presentation and the story itself. The novella presents as a post-regime study, writing about the short, small stories as found fiction, with the stories replicated, thankfully, at a readable size. Sections are written as non-fiction analyses, studying what the stories tell us about the regime and speculating about the author's intentions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!dSdk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc2dd932b-712f-4b7c-aaa0-8e39fda6dc72_1079x565.jpg) One of Neil’s stamp-sized stories The decision to present the story as an alternative future history book works, providing a compelling narrative to bring the whole thing together. “It just seemed the natural thing to do.” The project started during the covid lockdown, with Neil at home for several months, and during Scrabble sessions, Neil decided to create stories based on words that came up during the game. “I didn't aim to write anything big. I just played around and wrote stories.” A lot of the stories turned out to have a recurring dystopian theme. Some of the stories appeared on Neil's Facebook page, “which I don't use all that much because I'm terrible with online stuff.” The page is called ‘[The Tales of the Neon Bard](https://www.facebook.com/theneonbard),’ named after one of the stories from the Scrabble sessions. He also took inspiration from real world events. “When the Soviet Union took over a particular area, the first people they killed were the writers and the intellectuals.” He decided on ten when picking the short stories because “it just felt right. I didn't want the book to drag on because people might get bored with the format of reading the story and the explanation, and so forth.” It took Neil months to work out, toiling during his lunch breaks, approaching each section one at a time. “It didn't always go easily. Some sections were much more challenging than others.” Neil hadn’t yet decided to publish the book. He had a collection, which he would sometimes read from during events. When he did decide to move to print, he was clear that he would invest in himself and self-publish. He chose to keep it local, working with [The Printers Chatham](https://www.theprinterschathamltd.com/?ref=localauthority.news), who “were very patient with me.” He printed several test copies to settle on the final A6 book. “I wanted it to look a bit rough, but not amateurish.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!pKpJ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff43f803b-f220-40d1-aca8-d03798e3243f_1080x565.jpg) A Tiny Act of Rebellion by Neil Thorne The majority of the initial print run were sold, and Neil is considering going into a second print. If you are interested in reading a copy, contact [Neil via Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/theneonbard). “I do want to return to it, the idea or the concept of it. But I need to find a different way to do it because I don't want to just repeat it. I don't want another essay with 10 different stories because I've already told the rise and the fall.” Meanwhile, he has finished self-publishing his second novella. ‘[Loyal and True](https://www.facebook.com/theneonbard/posts/pfbid0koDTzQAw9N4CqTQgXXLDT1onCJ2tYNN5U713GxBSBcFtE9JAFG4ecSpnHkxoMP2pl)’, about stories and Chatham, set in a Chatham pub. “It is the motto on the Chatham coat of arms. I decided it's just the right title.” The story isn’t set in the present day, but not specifically at any time. “There's no mobile phones, no pop culture references or anything like that. It should be readable in 20 years’ time, and you could read it in one sitting.” The book isn’t autobiographical, but the stories are based on some element of local truth. Is there something particular about Chatham which lends itself to the story? “A lot of people don't like Chatham, even people who live in Chatham. I was like that at some point, thinking I'm not always living here and it's not always an easy place to like as well. But I think it's about looking below the surface that there is interesting stories and stories that are worth telling. It's not just a dirty old town that should be pulled down and built again.” He is hoping to release the book as part of [Medway River Lit](https://www.medwayriverlit.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) this November. Like many local creatives, Neil says that “writing is far more interesting for me than promoting it or getting online and telling people about it. That's the bit I can't stand sometimes.” We’ll likely read more works from Neil in the future, though. “I've got lots of stories that I'll look at printing up at some point.” It’s just a matter of finding the spare time. --- #### In brief 🧒 [Two-thirds of children in care in Medway are from outside of the area](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqxj5158ld8o?ref=localauthority.news). The majority have been placed here by London boroughs, with many also coming from other parts of Kent. 🎉 [Nucleus Arts won Community Charity of the Year](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent-business/county-news/alzheimer-s-charity-wins-big-at-awards-ceremony-312590/?ref=localauthority.news) at the recent Kent Charity Awards. ✍️ [Charles Dickens’ writing chalet is open to the public this weekend](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy57k89319o?ref=localauthority.news). The Grade I-listed building is in Eastgate Gardens behind Rochester High Street. 🍺 [The City of Rochester Society has awarded Shepherd Neame a conservation award](https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk/property/shepherd-neame-picks-up-award-for-conservation-works-at-kent-pub/?ref=localauthority.news) for restoring The Royal Crown in Rochester High Street. The pub underwent a significant renovation programme earlier in the year. 🚆 [Rail replacement buses will replace rail services between Gillingham and Faversham on Sunday](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/kent-train-travel-chaos-expected-9551045?ref=localauthority.news) to allow engineering work to take place. --- #### More School Streets are on the way Earlier this year, Medway Council launched its School Streets scheme, which restricts traffic from entering roads around schools at the start and end of the school day. We don’t have any empirical data on how well the scheme is working yet, but despite the [initial panic about the scheme being part of some globalist agenda](https://www.localauthority.news/medways-school-streets-arent-part/), Medway Council is presumably satisfied, as they [propose introducing the restrictions outside nine more Medway schools](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1761/medway%5Fcouncil%5Flaunches%5Fconsultation%5Fon%5Fproposals%5Ffor%5Fnine%5Fnew%5Fschool%5Fstreets?ref=localauthority.news). The council will begin a consultation on the following locations this Monday: - Crest Infant & Nursery School / Delce Academy, Rochester - Cliffe Woods Primary School, Cliffe Woods - Fairview Community Primary, Rainham - High Halstow Primary Academy, High Halstow - Hilltop Primary School, Frindsbury - Horsted Primary, Chatham - The King’s Pre & Preparatory, Rochester - St Margaret’s Infant School and St Margaret’s Church of England Junior School, Rainham - St William of Perth Catholic Primary School, Rochester Much like the first batch of schools, most of these are unlikely to impact the surrounding traffic. Most are located on quiet roads or cul-de-sacs rather than busy through roads. The interesting one is High Halstow Primary Academy, which is located on the only route through the village, making any detour to avoid the area rather lengthy. Similarly, depending on which streets are proposed, restrictions around King’s could limit one of the few roads between Rochester's town centre and the suburbs to the south. For now, though, this is speculation as Medway Council has declined to provide any details on the plans while they have put out a press release. Presumably that will become available when the consultation goes live on Monday. --- #### Out to Lunch: Galata Diner and Cocktail Bar *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Galata Diner and Cocktail Bar***](https://g.co/kgs/TbM9iSP?ref=localauthority.news) **in Gillingham*…* Once you have found somewhere to park on a nearby residential street, Galata can be found on Watling Street in Gillingham. Depending on which window you sit by, you can see elderly pedestrians crossing four rows of traffic or the gentrification of the area. The waiter was friendly, and the venue itself was welcoming and comfortable. The menu is busier than you might expect. I had gone there for Turkish food, but American options were plentiful. I ordered Turkish sausage for a starter. It was not entirely clear what this would entail. For a main, I ordered chicken kebabs, swapping the rice for house fries, and they came with a side salad. The Turkish sausage came in a main-sized portion, a tasty combination of a mild chorizo-type sausage cooked in a tomato and onion sauce. The house fries in the main turned out to be regular fries and were slightly disappointingly plain. The chicken kebab was delicious, well-seasoned, and very generously portioned. The side salad came with a standard but enjoyable coleslaw, and raising Galata into the upper echelons of salads in Medway, it came with a dressing with pomegranate seeds. Galata is a pleasant venue with good, generously portioned food. If you find yourself on the A2 in Gillingham, it’s definitely worth a visit. --- #### Events this week 🎨 2makeit is a small charity helping rehabilitate prisoners and ex-prisoners by providing opportunities for creative expression through music and the arts. [An exhibition of work created through their programme is on display in the Rochester Cathedral Crypt](https://www.rochestercathedral.org/new-events/2024/9/3/2makeit-exhibition?ref=localauthority.news) until 26 Sep. Free. 🛍️ [Rochester City Vintage & Artisan Market](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket/) is back tomorrow (Sat 14 Sep). Stalls will litter Rochester High Street, selling gifts, homewares, and curiosities. Free. 🎻 Medway trio The Ashen Keys launch their debut album tomorrow night (Sat 14 Sep) at the Medway Little Theatre in Rochester. They’ll be playing all of the songs from the album, and special guests are promised. [Tickets £10](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt/the-ashen-keys-album-launch/e-bodqel?ref=localauthority.news). 🥖 [Rochester Farmers’ Market](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) returns this Sunday (15 Sep). Traders offering a wide range of food and drink will be in Rochester's Blue Boar Lane car park. Free. ❓ Playopolis are hosting a scifi and fantasy quiz on Wednesday (18 Sep). Six nerdy rounds with prizes to be won. [Tickets £5](https://letsbookfor.com/playopolis/s/scifisquiz?ref=localauthority.news). 📷 [The Last Call](https://www.nucleusarts.com/pop-thelastcall?ref=localauthority.news) is a new exhibition of photographic work by Philippa Stanton. It celebrates the ordinary and overlooked, particularly public phone boxes, and can be viewed at The Halpern Pop gallery at Nucleus Arts’ Rochester site from Wednesday (18 Sep) until 1 Oct. Free. 🏺 The Halpern Gallery at Nucleus Arts in Chatham hosts a [Medway Ceramics](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-medwayceramics?ref=localauthority.news) exhibition from Thursday (19 Sep) until 1 Oct. Highlighting the diversity of clay, see work from various Medway artists in the medium. Free. --- #### More Authority Gillingham Football Club have got off to a decent start this season, but as ever, these things can all fall apart quickly. Our resident Gills columnist Ben Hopkins puts on both his optimist and pessimist hats to ponder [the positives and negatives of the season so far](https://www.localauthority.news/is-gillinghams-promotion-party-built/). [Is Gillingham’s promotion party built to last?Five games in, and Gills are fourth in the table, so our dreams of a promotion party are entirely rational. But to paraphrase Prince, not all promotion parties are meant to last - and with this season’s start approximately replicating last season’s (spoiler: it didn’t end well), will 2024-25 be another case of deja vu? Or will the Galinsons be paraded in celebration in front of the Britannia like a pair of teenagers reluctantly receiving the birthday bumps?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityBen Hopkins![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa5a9b48d-1d55-46e2-a41c-6907b084d12b_1263x661.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/is-gillinghams-promotion-party-built/) On Sunday, our interview is with Cllr Alex Paterson, Medway’s new Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement. We discuss his start in journalism, his move into politics, councillors on social media, and more. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*How To Be Hopeful by Johnny Foreigner*](https://johnnyforeigner.bandcamp.com/album/how-to-be-hopeful?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Shrag by Shrag*](https://shragband.bandcamp.com/album/shrag?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*The Great American Novel by Proper*](https://likerealproper.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-american-novel?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Is Gillingham’s promotion party built to last? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/is-gillinghams-promotion-party-built/ Last updated: 2024-09-12T19:45:05.000Z *Five games in, and Gills are fourth in the* [*table*](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/league-two/table?ref=localauthority.news)*, so our dreams of a promotion party are entirely rational. But to paraphrase Prince, not all promotion parties are meant to last - and with this season’s start approximately replicating last season’s (spoiler: it didn’t end well), will 2024-25 be another case of deja vu? Or will the Galinsons be paraded in celebration in front of the Britannia like a pair of teenagers reluctantly receiving the birthday bumps? *Ben Hopkins* puts on his optimist’s hat and his much more dog-eared pessimist’s cap to look at the evidence so far.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ffub!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa5a9b48d-1d55-46e2-a41c-6907b084d12b_1263x661.jpg) Celebrations as Gills score their first goal of the season against Carlisle **Positive: The strength of the opposition so far** 4-1 home to Carlisle, 0-0 away to Fleetwood and 1-0 home to Chesterfield. That’s seven points from nine from three of the teams with realistic expectations of at least making the play-offs. A 1-0 away to Morecambe also provided a taste of how Gills could triumph with a little persistence (although Morecambe seem to be in the same doom spiral that Gills were in pre-Galinsons), but that strong start hit a bump with defeat at Doncaster. Still, losing away by a single goal to possibly the strongest team in the division isn’t particularly unexpected, especially with an injury list the size of a Toolstation catalogue. **Positive: The depth of the squad** Which leads us onto the next point: the club’s strength-in-depth is the best it has been in years. Injuries have meant that the likes of Conor Masterson, Bradley Dack, Elliott Nevitt, Josh Andrews and Ethan Coleman have barely featured, but the stand-ins - especially perma-sub Robbie McKenzie - have compensated well, with even transfer-listed pair Olly Hawkins and George Lapslie contributing solidly just as their Gills’ chapters seemed to be over. Get everyone fit and there are a plethora of options - perhaps too many if Mark Bonner struggles to identify his strongest lineup. **Negative: with one exception…** _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway’s new traffic cameras already issuing thousands of fines URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-new-traffic-cameras-already/ Last updated: 2024-09-10T19:05:31.000Z *One of the big policy initiatives of Medway’s Labour administration has been using traffic enforcement as a way to ~~raise money~~ keep streets safe. It’s been six months since the first enforcement was introduced, so we’ve been looking at the numbers, with over 3,000 drivers already being fined. Further down, we have news of the Local Plan hitting politics as two of our new MPs raise their concerns, the return of a classic Local Authority character, news in brief, and more.* **Editor’s note:* We were delighted to get a tiny shout out in The I newspaper this week, which did a* [*feature on outlets like ours are ‘transforming local news’*](https://inews.co.uk/news/business/how-substack-is-transforming-local-news-3266812?ref=localauthority.news)*. We’re mentioned alongside a number of outlets that are finding new ways to deliver local news in a sustainable way that doesn’t rely on advertising and clickbait. As ever, we can only do this with the support of our paid supporters - thank you if you’re one of them!* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Medway’s new traffic cameras already issuing thousands of fines In February, Medway Council introduced the enforcement of Moving Traffic Offences across the towns. While this sort of enforcement previously had to be carried out by the police, powers now grant councils the ability to manage their own enforcement and, crucially, generate revenue from fines issued. As part of a broader traffic enforcement policy that includes Red Routes and School Streets, a tranche of locations were chosen for enforcement, with cameras to catch drivers entering pedestrianised areas, yellow boxes, and turning where they shouldn’t. Six months on, the signs are that the scheme will become rather lucrative for Medway Council. Figures obtained by *Local Authority* show that over 3,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) and nearly 20,000 warning notices have been issued since the scheme's launch. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!k16i!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f14cef308-10a1-430f-a30f-418dfcbc16c4_4725x2203.jpg) Photo: stock.adobe.com For the first six months of the scheme, first-time offenders only received a warning notice, with PCNs only being issued to repeat offenders. Given that the figures show an escalation in both warning notices and PCNs through the six-month window, more fines are likely to be generated in the coming months. The full figures for each location in the six-month window: - Gillingham High Street pedestrianised area - 1,948 PCNs, 6,100 warnings - Rainham High Street no right turn - 498 PCNs, 5,555 warnings - Chatham High Street pedestrianised area - 208 PCNs, 624 warnings - Rainham Road, Gillingham yellow box - 194 PCNs, 3,001 warnings - Cuxton Road, Strood yellow box - 98 PCNs, 1,922 warnings - Rochester High Street pedestrianised area - 57 PCNs, 1,190 warnings - Gibraltar Hill, Chatham yellow box - 36 PCNs, 732 warnings - Chatham Hill yellow box - 16 PCNs, 625 warnings Perhaps surprisingly, enforcement of Gillingham High Street’s pedestrianised areas makes up nearly a third of the warning notices and nearly two-thirds of the PCNs. Given nearly all of the attention at the start of the scheme was on Rochester, where former councillors claimed cars were being caught every few minutes, a relatively small number of fines have been issued in the area. Interestingly, the issued warnings seemed to have had a stronger effect in some places than others. The ratio of PCNs to warning letters for yellow box junctions is low, suggesting most drivers receiving a letter heed the warning. Elsewhere, the pedestrianised enforcement on Gillingham and Chatham High Street seems more flagrantly ignored. So, how lucrative is all of this for Medway Council? A standard fine for these offences is £60, which would suggest an income of £183,000 in the first six months of the scheme. Of course, things aren’t quite as straightforward as that. People paying within 14 days see their fines reduced to £30, while those taking over 28 days see theirs go to £90. Some people will inevitably also appeal their fines. We asked Medway Council for that data, but they told us their parking software was too rubbish to generate it. Still, given that the Moving Traffic Offences enforcement system cost Medway Council £695,000 and that the fines will likely escalate significantly following the more lenient period, they’ll likely turn a profit on these cameras rather quickly. --- #### New Local Plan meet politics Medway has not had a Local Plan in many years. This allows developers to speculatively submit planning applications almost anywhere with little chance of being refused. Most people accept that this isn’t a good thing. Since Labour took control of Medway Council last year, they have been adamant that they will move quickly to implement a new Local Plan. Several rounds of consultations and public events later, it seemed like we were getting somewhere. Medway Council recently consulted on three options, with a clear preferred one that they feel is most appropriate. This would see significant urban and brownfield development while also building in some rural areas, most notably on the Hoo Peninsula and the Capstone Valley. Of course, this was always going to cause some discontent. Residents of the Hoo Peninsula have been fighting development for years, feeling that they have already taken the brunt, while residents around the Capstone Valley were previously protected by virtue of being Conservative wards. That protection disappeared last year, meaning finalising a plan should be fairly straightforward. Alas, things are never that simple. Medway is now represented by three Labour MPs, each of whom will examine their small majorities and consider how to win more of their constituents over. Two of Medway’s new MPs - Tristan Osborne in Chatham and Aylesford and Naushabah Khan in Gillingham and Rainham - publicly responded to Medway Council’s consultation this week. Both have, of course, decided that the Capstone Valley is Very Important and should be spared from development, particularly given the Lidsing development that is taking place over the border in Maidstone and thus doing nothing for Medway’s housing need. [In his submission](https://x.com/cllrtrisosborne/status/1833123883739709475?ref=localauthority.news), [Tristan Osborne](https://www.localauthority.news/im-pushy-and-i-like-people-pushing/) makes it clear that he ‘formally supports’ the option being proposed by Medway Council, except for the bits that he doesn’t: > *I believe that the context regarding the Capstone Valley has now changed and it’s currently fulfilling its fair allocation of housing with those permissions by both Maidstone and Medway Councils with shared Housing allocation a possibility with Lidsing. I am therefore requesting that in the spirit of fairness that no further sites on the Capstone Valley are considered adjacent to the North Dane Way Road.* He also raises the issue of some Green Belt land between Snodland and Halling that might be categorised as grey belt and thus prime for development. Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t want anything built there, either. Over in Gillingham and Rainham, [Naushabah Khan](https://www.localauthority.news/there-are-huge-parts-of-our-society/) has [submitted a letter](https://x.com/naushabah%5Fkhan/status/1833151166538035583?ref=localauthority.news) of a similar nature. While supporting the Medway Council development option, she argues against further development of the Capstone Valley. More notably, she goes on to argue against any further development around Rainham because of the previous Local Plan failures: > *This has particularly impacted Rainham and with this in mind I cannot support further development in this area. The existing infrastructure, notably along the A2, is already subject to significant strain, and the Lower Rainham Road cannot accommodate additional traffic.* In Medway Council’s preferred option, which the two MPs support, thousands of new homes would be built around the Capstone Valley and Rainham. If these are to be removed from the Local Plan, as they advocate, it creates further pressure on other sites across Medway. Neither MP has provided an answer as to where the demand should actually be met. The preferred Local Plan will almost certainly go through regardless of these representations, so this likely is political positioning more than anything else. But it demonstrates that it isn’t just the previous Conservative administration that would face these challenges in developing a plan that keeps everyone happy. --- #### Guess who’s back, back again? Still, it isn’t just the new MPs having their say on the new Local Plan. MPs who were removed from office in July also remain surprisingly active. Whether denial or eyeing a return in the future, it’s slightly odd watching just how involved our formal MPs want to be. We didn’t expect to be writing about Rehman Chishti for a while. Still, the former MP for Gillingham and Rainham popped back onto our radar this week with a strange response to the aforementioned Local Plan consultation. Before we get to the content of his response itself, can we take a moment to enjoy the majesty of the full letterhead he’s created for himself as the ‘Former Member of Parliament: Gillingham & Rainham 2010-2024’? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!ezQn!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8e38f8b3-151f-4bcf-a9d1-61074e3d6be7_1976x1056.jpg) Rehman Chishti, an ordinary citizen with an extraordinary letterhead [Rehman’s feedback](https://x.com/Rehman%5FChishti/status/1833172830542057781?ref=localauthority.news) on the Local Plan is that it doesn’t allocate provision for a new hospital (something the NHS has made clear they aren’t interested in building), a Hindu temple, or a new stadium for Gillingham Football Club. He does go on to - surprise, surprise - argue against any development of the Capstone Valley or Rainham, so it’s nice to see some cross-party unity on not giving people places to live. He believes that because Gillingham had the Victory Pier development completed several years ago, it doesn’t need to play a role in the housing demand over the next couple of decades. Makes sense. Rehman isn’t the only one keeping busy, either. Former Rochester and Strood MP [Kelly Tolhurst](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-involved-in-politics-because/) has been attending events, delivering speeches, and remaining politically active on social media. She’s been so active that the Medway Conservatives website uploaded a story about her visiting the Hoo Heritage Festival over the weekend that still [called her the MP](https://x.com/RSLabour/status/1833554998891872446?ref=localauthority.news) before it was swiftly updated. Still, there is perhaps logic in Tolhurst keeping busy in the community. She has a personal following both within her party and the community, so there might be a route back for her in the future. But can the same be said of Rehman Chishti? --- #### In brief 🥶 Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards and Chatham and Aylesford MP Tristan Osborne [voted against a motion to stop the cut to Winter Fuel Payments today](https://votes.parliament.uk/votes/commons/division/1840?ref=localauthority.news). Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan was away for the vote. 🧏 [Medway Council can now offer an online British Sign Language interpreter service for those contacting them](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74lpj02gvko?ref=localauthority.news). It's wild that they didn’t already, but it's a step in the right direction. ⚽ [Gillingham Football Club shareholders are to vote on the removal of former owner Paul Scally as a director](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/sport/meeting-called-to-remove-scally-as-club-director-312538/?ref=localauthority.news). Scally, who seems to be beloved by everyone who has ever known him, first took charge of the club in 1995. 🛒 [B&M is set to take over the former Wilko store in Gillingham](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/opening-details-bm-announces-takeover-9537250?ref=localauthority.news). A small boost to a high street that has struggled in recent years, perhaps undermined by the fact that [New Look will close its doors next week](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/shock-news-major-high-street-9544055?ref=localauthority.news). 🪴 [Dobbies Garden Centres are facing a restructuring plan following financial difficulties](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/questions-over-future-of-two-popular-garden-centres-in-kent-312561/?ref=localauthority.news). As such, their store in Gillingham could be at risk of closure. 📹 [“Every single person is a crackhead.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21l-0FPGdck&ref=localauthority.news) A YouTuber visits Chatham and Gillingham. --- #### More Authority Over the weekend, we interviewed atomic archaeologist Taekwondo master Vicky Robinson. We talked to her about why Roman remains are radioactive, gamma radiation in the Marvel universe, how safe nuclear power is, and whether she’ll bring her groundbreaking new techniques to Medway. [“Everyone is inherently radioactive”As an atomic archaeologist Taekwondo master from Medway, Vicky Robinson was someone we wanted to talk to. Steven talked to Vicky and discussed why Roman remains are radioactive, gamma radiation in the Marvel universe, and just how safe nuclear power is.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe089dae2-9c84-42f5-a14f-4df300038f52_5184x3456.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/everyone-is-inherently-radioactive/) Coming up later this week for paid supporters, we will have Ben Hopkins's first Gills column of the season, tracking the highs and lows of the season so far. Over the weekend, we’ll be interviewing Alex Paterson, Medway Council’s new Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways, and Enforcement. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Even in Jest by Cheerbleederz*](https://cheerbleederz.bandcamp.com/album/even-in-jest?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Anaesthesiology by Onsind*](https://onsind.bandcamp.com/album/anaesthesiology?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Tigers Blood by Waxahatchee*](https://waxahatchee.bandcamp.com/album/tigers-blood?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “Everyone is inherently radioactive” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/everyone-is-inherently-radioactive/ Last updated: 2024-09-08T06:29:47.000Z *As an atomic archaeologist Taekwondo master from Medway, Vicky Robinson was someone we wanted to talk to. Steven talked to Vicky and discussed why Roman remains are radioactive, gamma radiation in the Marvel universe, and just how safe nuclear power is.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!YBbk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe089dae2-9c84-42f5-a14f-4df300038f52_5184x3456.jpg) Vicky Robinson **Where were you born?** Chatham. **What brought your parents to Medway?** They both lived in London and wanted to get out. They found a small house in Rochester and fell in love with the place, so we moved there. **What jobs did your parents do when you were growing up?** My mum worked as a pharmacy assistant in some independent pharmacies and later in Boots. My dad worked in a camping shop in Chatham, which I don't think exists anymore, unfortunately. He then moved to Bluewater later on. **Did you enjoy school?** I really did. I went to Rainham Girls and the teachers there really nurtured my passion for science, so I very much enjoyed it. **Did you stay on for sixth form?** I did. I studied Biology, Chemistry, Geography and History. **Where did you go to university?** Initially, Oxford Brookes where I studied Environmental Science as an undergrad and Environmental Management as a Master’s. **What's the difference between the two?** Environmental Science is very broad. You get to learn a little about a lot of different things. It covers everything from geology to ecology, man's interactions with the environment, sustainability, so it gives you a really good grounding of everything. Environmental Management focuses more on what we can do and what organisations should be doing to achieve high standards of environmental protection and looking more at the legal aspects and environmental legislation. **What is your official occupation now?** I am a principal waste and environmental consultant. **What is the focus of your PhD?** My PhD is looking at measuring very small differences in the concentrations of natural gamma radiation in the environment to detect buried archaeological artefacts. **How did you start doing that?** It was a complete accident. Since I was a kid, I've had a real passion for palaeontology and an interest in archaeology. For various reasons, I think through my degree, I ended up working in the nuclear industry by complete accident, and I really enjoyed it. It's really important because it's our responsibility to manage these things in the most environmentally responsible way possible. It's been really important to me to work in an industry where I can make a difference, but I always nurtured that passion for natural history and archaeology in the background. Just by chance, I attended a lecture by some palaeontologists from America and flippantly asked, ‘Oh, have you got any jobs going?’ and said, ‘I'm joking, I'm joking. I've got no transferable skills. I work in the nuclear industry.’ And they said, ‘No, you will. If you want it enough, you'll find it.’ I found a paper where people were looking at dating dinosaur bones using uranium isotopes. I thought, ‘Oh, if it's accumulating enough uranium to date, I wonder if it's accumulating enough that we can see it’. My company has a system called Groundhog, where we look for manmade radioactivity. I just approached the University of Reading and said, ‘I have an idea for a research project. What do you think?’ And they said, ‘Well, let's run with it, but do archaeology first because there's more archaeology in the UK. It's easier to find.’ So, we started off with that and against all odds, it worked, and so we just ran with it, and that's been my life for the last six years. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The Kid is All Right URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-kid-is-all-right/ Last updated: 2024-09-06T17:52:56.000Z *Tom Hull is arguably Medway’s biggest musical export, but few people seem to know who he is. You will almost certainly know more than one song he’s had a hand in, though, following his work on some of the biggest songs of the past few years. Our music columnist, Stephen Morris, has been exploring his work and history. Further down, Steven Keevil reviews Os' Camacheiros over in Upnor, and we have our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### The Kid is All Right **by Stephen Morris** Here’s a Medway trivia question for you. What (or rather who) is the link between Harry Styles, Florence + The Machine and Jessie Ware? The answer - if you hadn’t already deduced it from reading this article’s headline - is Tom Hull, a.k.a. [Kid Harpoon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kid%5FHarpoon?ref=localauthority.news), who grew up in Chatham. He’s written songs – BIG songs - for all the above and more besides. When not writing, for example, ‘[As It Was](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5v3kku4y6Q&ref=localauthority.news)’ (best-selling global single of 2022) with Harry Styles, he’s been producing songs like ‘[Flowers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7KNmW9a75Y&ref=localauthority.news)’ for Miley Cyrus (best-selling global single of 2023). The start of Kid Harpoon’s story runs much like that of many other bands and artists from around Medway: the experimenting with being in different bands (first Lick, then Fuzz), the inevitable flirtation with a garage band sound. Parallel to all of this, the Tap n Tin was gaining momentum as *the* place to go for live bands, good music and a great time. So, it was hardly surprising that Tom and his Fuzz bandmates gravitated towards this venue. Dean Fragile, who ran club nights and put on bands at the Tap, once told me that Fuzz were ‘one of the first proper bands that would play at the Tap n Tin and have it rammed out.’ Where Tom Hull’s story begins to part ways with the more familiar tale of Medway bands and artists is precisely when he decided to go it alone and become Kid Harpoon. In an [interview with Alyssa Cotsalas for the podcast ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n%5Fq4HBI4T9U&ref=localauthority.news)[*SongwriterSaturday*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n%5Fq4HBI4T9U&ref=localauthority.news), he explains how ‘in my hometown, all of my friends knew my band, and so in my little world I was in this band that I needed to break out from.’ The opportunity to make this break came when The Libertines’ Carl Barât, whom he would have met at the Tap n Tin, offered him a club night. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!sDnZ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0bb56a1c-e76b-4f33-9aae-75927bc99ddd_1296x794.jpg) Kid Harpoon To help manage his transition from lead singer with a band to a solo artist, Hull decided to use a pseudonym – originally intended for use on one night only at Carl Barât’s club night. Pseudonyms are hardly rare in these parts: just look at Billy Childish. The name he chose had a similarly juvenile flavour: he’d recently written a story about someone using a harpoon to change the direction of a comet. From this point on, his association with Medway became rather more detached as he gravitated towards London, specifically the Nambucca venue on London’s Holloway Road, where he regularly rubbed shoulders with Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling and Florence + the Machine. In a [2022 interview with Billboard.com](https://www.billboard.com/music/features/kid-harpoon-harry-styles-maggie-rogers-producer-interview-1235151631/?ref=localauthority.news), he recalled being ‘obsessed with her…I just remember us sitting in a park, and we’d write lyrics together.’ Legend has it that Tom Hull was not particularly well thought of back in Medway once he had become Kid Harpoon. You’ll hear second hand reports that “people” thought he had sold out. “People” thought he had stolen [Lupen Crook](https://www.houseofbrokenarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news)’s nervy mannerisms on stage – and even copied that singer’s use of an unusual stage name. To be honest, I’ve never knowingly met any of these people. That’s not to say they don’t exist. Medway has got something of an insular reputation at times when it comes to music. There’s a story, for example, of how the lead singer of a fairly typical garage band from these parts once interrupted a performance by the shoegazing alt-rockers [The Ambience](https://theambience.wordpress.com/?ref=localauthority.news) to say ‘this is not what Medway should sound like; this is awful!’ You’d like to think that “people” are bigger and better than that. This certainly felt the case when he performed a packed-out homecoming gig at the Tap n Tin in 2008 before heading out on tour with The Kooks. As memory serves, the audience absolutely loved him – particularly for his riotous take on Leonard Cohen’s ‘First We Take Manhattan’. That Tap n Tin gig – and the Kooks tour – preceded the release of his, to date, only album, the appropriately named [*Once*](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy%5FmznWiFPnHXrm%5F88a3qiSCqZiKuVdGEi-k&ref=localauthority.news), in 2009\. Produced by Trevor Horn and recorded in LA and London, it’s a bouncy indie-pop record with traces of folk that reflect the fact he might just have been spending a bit of time in the company of Marcus Mumford. Listening back to it, post-Harry Styles and Florence Welch *et al* collaborations, there are clear hints of what was to come once he started writing for other people. Tom Hull’s story is a fascinating one – if only because it is so different to that of many other Medway musicians. What makes it even more intriguing is that – for whatever reason – it’s a story that’s not particularly well known. --- #### In brief 🏥 [According to patient-led assessments, Medway Hospital has improved in all areas](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/news/medway-improves-in-patient-led-assessments/?ref=localauthority.news). The hospital saw the biggest gains in how it handles privacy and dignity, dementia, and disability. ⚽ [Chatham Town Football Club were broken into this week](https://www.instagram.com/p/C%5FiP7ReN8P8/?ref=localauthority.news), causing damage, loss of property, and the theft of money raised for charity. 🎙️ [Medway Council has a Medway Local Plan Podcast for some reason](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI-7%5Fqtapg4&ref=localauthority.news). More bafflingly, 10,000 people have apparently watched it on YouTube. --- #### Out to Lunch: **Os' Camacheiros** *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [*Os' Camacheiros*](https://www.camacheirosrestaurant.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *in Upnor…* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!3UVE!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff32864cb-e1c1-42f2-90bb-f5a7753de0e7_2048x1152.jpg) Steven, before he made a mess This Portuguese family-run restaurant can be found in Upnor, amongst an interesting development next to Upnor Castle. The restaurant is open, and the serving team are friendly as you come in. The tables have an odd metal tree directly in the centre to hang skewers, making it odd when sitting opposite somebody. Or a blessing, depending on who you go with. They also have some of the most uncomfortable chairs, but I quickly swapped mine for a more comfy one. We were instantly served a shot of a honey rum mixture while we looked at the menu. For a starter, I ordered pan-fried tiger prawns in a peri-peri sauce, a skewer of rump steak, and sides of sauté potatoes, coleslaw, and garlic mushrooms. With the bill, they also included a shot of homemade berry liquor, which helped to handle the price on the piece of paper. The free shots were delicious. It may be a personal failing, but I found the tiger prawns tough to deshell, and due to the sauce, quite frankly, a mess was made. Once past that barrier, they were succulent, and the per-peri sauce was a wonderful addition. The rump steak was slightly overcooked for my liking, and it was impossible to both look sophisticated and remove the meat from the skewer. Once that was done, however, the meal was immensely enjoyable. The steak and mushrooms complimented each other, and the coleslaw was the nicest in the history of these reviews. For good food and free booze, head to Upnor, but take a bib with you. --- #### Events this week 🎸 Legendary Medway band The Singing Loins released a new album today and will be playing a [launch show tonight](https://www.facebook.com/events/333835073030284/) (Fri 6 Sep) at the Three Sheets To The Wind pub on Rochester High Street. Free. 🚜 The [Hoo Peninsula Heritage Festival](https://www.thomasavelingsociety.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is this weekend (Sat 7 - Sun 8 Sep) off Vicarage Lane in Hoo. The event celebrates 200 years since the birth of Victorian engineer Thomas Aveling and features live music, entertainment, vintage engines, tractors, cars, a Victorian fun fair, and more. Free. 🇷🇴 The [Romanian Autumn Fair](https://www.facebook.com/events/785514050133366) is being held this Sunday (8 Sep) on Luton Recreation Ground. The event promises Romanian food, folk music, and cheerfulness, and you can’t ask for more than that. Free. 📽️ Odeon in Chatham have a Scream Unseen on Monday (9 Sep), a spin-off from their popular Screen Unseen series. It’s a screening of a pre-release film, and it’s a horror. Nerds on the internet seem to think it’s The Substance, which looks great but don’t blame us if it’s something else. [Tickets £5](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-46533&ref=localauthority.news). 🗃️ Medway Archives Centre is holding a [drop-in session on Medway’s tunnels](https://www.medway.gov.uk/events/event/970/focus%5Fon%5Fmedways%5Ftunnels?ref=localauthority.news). Includes the opportunity to see the blueprints for the Shorts Tunnels in Rochester (more on those below). Free. --- #### More Authority Yesterday, we posted a [photo essay exploring the Shorts Tunnels under Rochester](https://www.localauthority.news/going-underground-in-rochester/) after we gained access to them last weekend. Medway has so much history under its feet (literally, in this case), and exploring this usually closed-off part of our towns was fascinating. [Going underground in RochesterThe Shorts Tunnels are a vast network of wartime tunnels underneath Rochester. Access to them is tightly controlled, but we were able to visit them last week. Many pages on the internet recount their history, so we won’t do that in great detail here. Instead, this is something of a photo essay of what was a unique way to spend a Saturday afternoon.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3bb4f6e3-1262-4b9e-a7dc-5b072e7e6e80_4032x2268.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/going-underground-in-rochester/) Our upcoming Sunday interview is with Medway-born atomic archaeologist Vicky Robinson, who has one hell of a job description. These features are exclusively available to our paid supporters, who help us keep our main briefing editions free for everyone. If you’d like to support our work, you only have a few days left to get [25% off annual subscriptions](#/portal/signup) for our third birthday celebrations. [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Loner by Caroline Rose*](https://carolinerosemusic.bandcamp.com/album/loner?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*The Overload by Yard Act*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ2ANR%5FvF2E&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Tigermilk by Belle and Sebastian*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3z69ljo8oQ&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Going underground in Rochester URL: https://www.localauthority.news/going-underground-in-rochester/ Last updated: 2024-09-05T20:26:42.000Z *The Shorts Tunnels are a vast network of wartime tunnels underneath Rochester. Access to them is tightly controlled, but we were able to visit them last week. Many pages on the internet* [*recount their history*](https://shortbrothersaviationpioneers.co.uk/rochester-shorts-tunnels/?ref=localauthority.news)*, so we won’t do that in great detail here. Instead, this is something of a photo essay of what was a unique way to spend a Saturday afternoon.* Stepping into the Shorts Tunnels complex in Rochester is a strange feeling. As you climb through the narrow gaps that grant you access, you feel that you shouldn’t really be there. As one continues the tour, hearing stories of radioactive paint and cavernous drops surrounded by rusty objects and oppressively stale air, the feeling only strengthens. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!oM-M!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdd510a3e-f9e1-4df9-9871-aed01a73192d_4032x2268.jpg) Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority But still, there is something beguiling about this place. Most of us who grew up in Medway will have heard stories about the huge networks of tunnels that exist under our towns. While the tunnels were commonly accessed in the past by those up to no good, urban explorers, and some questionable types, access is now much more controlled. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!MRlA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8aaf0c98-610b-4eb2-b484-efd5e86480e4_4032x2268.jpg) Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority This is probably for the best. Our tour guide tells us not to wander too far as it’s so easy to get lost in the tunnels, and after being turned around more than once, that seems very believable. Tunnels disappear in all directions, some looping back on themselves, some leading to dead ends, others to vast underground chambers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vUfZ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f19bccb55-e268-48fa-8af3-2f67a61d8582_4032x2268.jpg) Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 60,000 segments for HS2 built in Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/60000-segments-for-hs2-built-in-medway/ Last updated: 2024-09-03T22:58:25.000Z *HS2 is a project that divides opinion across the country, but did you know that significant elements of it are being built here in Medway? We didn’t until we saw a press release this week, so we’ve been discovering more. Further down, we have news of a far-right demonstration in Gillingham that failed to materialise, details of Reform getting their first councillor in Medway, our news in brief section, and more.* *Thanks for the messages, comments, and shares following our third birthday edition yesterday. We still can’t quite believe that we’ve lasted 22 times longer than Liz Truss managed as Prime Minister, but here we are. As ever, we can only do this because you read it. If you want to support our work even more, don’t forget that we’re currently offering* [*25% off annual subscriptions for this week only*](https://www.localauthority.news/happy-birthday-to-us-55e/)*.* [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### 60,000 segments for HS2 built in Medway We try not to devote much writing to stories based on press releases, but this is something we didn’t know before, and it seemed too interesting not to include. HS2 is one of the UK’s biggest infrastructure projects, even though the previous government chopped all of the useful bits off of it, and the current government has shown little sign of reattaching them. Still, construction work for the main London to Birmingham leg of the line is well underway, and it turns out that one of the major tunnels for the project is being built here in Medway. Pacadar, a company specialising in ‘precast concrete innovating solutions’ has a manufacturing facility on the Isle of Grain, which has been used to construct over 60,000 seven-tonne segments for the 5 mile Northolt Tunnel being constructed west of London. ![HS2 tunnel segment casting complete at PACADAR UK Isle of Grain factory-5: Tunnel segment casting has finished for HS2 London Tunnels at the PACADAR factory on the Isle of Grain in Kent. PACADAR are manufacturing the London Tunnel segments as a sub-contractor for our London tunnels contractor Skanska Costain STRABAG (SCS) joint venture.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9GJO!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws.jpg) Tunnel segments for HS2 built at the Isle of Grain site Padacar began constructing the concrete segments in April 2022, with 130 being produced daily until the project was completed in June this year. They were then transported to the HS2 construction site by train, each journey removing 56 lorries from the road as part of the process. You can find out more about the process from this swish promo video from HS2 themselves: Despite the completion of the Northolt Tunnel production, Padacar continues to work on the project, including pre-casting segments for the Thame Valley Viaduct in Buckinghamshire and Edgcote Viaduct in Northamptonshire. 180 people work on the site daily, meaning HS2 has provided an additional benefit to our towns. Previously, [Medway gained from HS2 after the government diverted money](https://www.localauthority.news/i/143606630/medways-network-north-bonanza) from the essential national infrastructure project to resurface Hempstead Valley Drive. --- #### Gillingham far-right demonstration fails to materialise Medway Council held their [Love Gillingham Big Day Out](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1737/love%5Fgillingham%5Ffree%5Ffamily-fun%5Fday?ref=localauthority.news) event on Sunday in Gillingham High Street. The event is part of a programme of activity to bring footfall back to a high street that has been neglected over a long period. The event [seemed to go well](https://x.com/vincemaple/status/1830310210084200796?ref=localauthority.news), with a bustling street of stalls, activities, pro wrestling, and music. One group that appeared to be missing, though, were far-right demonstrators, who had been pushing an event to be held at the same time. Around a month ago, at the height of the unrest sweeping the country, leaflets started being put through doors in Gillingham promoting a ‘Gillingham protest’ in the kind of bold, red font people use when they are Very Angry about something. All in caps, it went on: ‘With the latest events in the world and the stabbling of a soldier in Gillingham by an immigrant we must make a stand.’ Punctuation was not a strong suit. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SiT7!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f76baad45-5f9a-4687-b187-13a7b400cb1f_1086x686.jpg) Part of the leaflet that was delivered to homes in Gillingham The leaflet rambled on some more with a flag awkwardly tacked onto the bottom, asking people to gather outside Gillingham Salvation Army on Green Street at 12pm, before marching to Brompton Barracks ‘in support of the solider *(sic)*’. It is unclear who was behind the leaflet or how many doors it was put through, but several readers shared it with us. All were from the Gillingham area, so while it may not have spread across a huge area, it did reach quite a few people. Naturally, this kind of leaflet caused some anxiety for people in the town, particularly those from minority groups who often find themselves being targeted when these kinds of thugs arrive in town. The Gillingham Salvation Army, in case anyone was unsure, felt obliged to [make it clear they had nothing to do with it](https://www.facebook.com/groups/206269013455676/posts/1746320889450473/). Of course, organisation isn’t a strong point for these kinds of groups and given that their demonstration was advertised a month in advance, a lot changed in the meantime. While unpleasant, the demonstration in Chatham last month [didn’t turn into anything notable](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/). The wave of demonstrations across the country started to fizzle out once anti-racism protestors started outnumbering the thugs, and the rate at which many participants started to find themselves in prison cells presumably didn’t exactly encourage turning up to ruin try to ruin a family fun day in Gillingham. --- #### Reform gets first Medway councillor (and they didn’t even need to fight an election) We don’t spend large amounts of time covering parish councils. Not because they aren’t interesting. They often feature slightly eccentric or even shouty agendas, a rotating cast of parish councillors, and a refreshing lack of political parties. Usually, when a vacancy on a parish council occurs, it is not filled with a by-election, as these are a lot of work and it’s often difficult to find willing candidates anyway. Instead, they often use a process called co-option, where the sitting parish council members can appoint someone to fill the seat and see out the rest of the council term. This often happens in Medway, where vacancies often occur across our 11 parishes. As such, it was slightly odd last month when a Notice of Election was posted for High Halstow parish council. This allowed anyone to put themselves forward to fight an election in the parish for the vacant position. Usually, the end result would be multiple candidates and an election to determine the winner. That wasn’t quite what we got. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!HP7q!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7f95bde5-29c3-4449-b7bf-c528504c909c_682x477.jpg) High Halstow result of uncontested election Only one candidate submitted paperwork for the election, meaning that they were automatically elected unopposed. In other words, the kind of farce the co-option process was designed to avoid. So, who is High Halstow’s newest parish councillor? Step forward, Harjinder Singh Khaktar, more commonly known as Bill Khatkar, also happens to be Reform’s first representative in Medway. Khatkar has an interesting history. We ran as one of the few Reform candidates in last year’s local elections, receiving [49 votes and a fifth-place finish in All Saints ward](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=20230504&ward=2023.allsaints&ref=localauthority.news). Ahead of the General Election, he was the owner of the shop in Strood High Street that was covered in Reform advertising. The shop was found to be used as a drugs factory and raided by the police, while [Khatkar protested to the press that he had no idea what was going on inside](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=elections&id=20230504&ward=2023.allsaints&ref=localauthority.news). No doubt his keen observational skills will be a boon to High Halstow parish council. --- #### In brief 🗳️ [The Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden Neighbourhood Plan referendum will occur on 7 November](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/villagers-to-vote-on-neighbourhood-plan-312232/?ref=localauthority.news). If approved, planning applications within the area would have to consider the local community's views. 🐀 [HMP Rochester has been issued with an urgent improvement notice following a scathing inspection](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/prison-report-finds-shocking-level-of-neglect-with-drugs-312218/?ref=localauthority.news). Findings at the prison included self-harm, drug use, violence, and an infestation of rats and mice. 🔓 [The section of Rochester Pier that didn’t fall into the river will reopen to the public](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/date-iconic-kent-pier-beautiful-9523551?ref=localauthority.news) next Monday (9 Sep). 🏠 [The Daily Mail are very upset about a floating home](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13796447/floating-home-Kent-harbour-locals-ugly-vulgar-Lego-house.html?ref=localauthority.news) for sale at Medway Marina in Borstal. --- #### More Authority Our Sunday interview this week was with Michael Colyer, a camera systems designer from Medway who won an Emmy for his work on the Super Bowl. He’s had quite a journey, and it’s a fascinating conversation set around the cross-section of technology and creativity. [“It's way better to destroy a camera, than it is to destroy someone”Micheal Colyer designs cameras for high-profile sports like the NFL, NASCAR, and TV shows like I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. Steven caught up with his former student on Zoom as he now lives and works in the United States. They discussed his recent award-winning work on the Super Bowl, making cameras that are literally flexible, and the Brexit challenges to returning and working in the UK.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbade5870-d1eb-4830-8d43-3c9d8f6c0c22_2012x1302.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/its-way-better-to-destroy-a-camera/) We also published the first of our periodic columns from Medway’s new parliamentarians, as Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan talked about efforts to revitalise Gillingham High Street. [Voice of the MP - Gillingham and RainhamWe’ve been publishing quarterly columns from the Leader of Medway Council and the Leader of the Opposition for a while now. Today, we’re going to start mixing that up. While we’ll still have columns from Cllr Maple and Cllr Perfect (though a little less often), we’re delighted that we will also be publishing columns from Medway’s new MPs and Kent Police…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f48360c1c-60c9-4f93-b4d8-3a8c9e70ff7a_450x600.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-gillingham-and-rainham/) Yesterday, we celebrated our third birthday, so we put out a roundup of our work over the past year, shared some numbers on our performance, highlighted some of our favourite work from the year, and talked about what’s next. [Happy birthday to usTomorrow marks three years since the first edition of Local Authority. Looking back on it now, it’s kind of funny: similar to what we do now but also quite different. I don’t know how that works, but here we are.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb2875df2-d2be-4077-9ba5-706dbf292445_1862x1040.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/happy-birthday-to-us-55e/) Coming up this week, we’ve got another packed week of content. I explored the Shorts Tunnels last weekend, so we’ll put out a photo essay on that in the coming days. With the new football season underway, our Gillingham columnist Ben Hopkins will tell us how everything is going at Priestfield. Over the weekend, our interview is with Vicky Robinson, an atomic archaeologist from Medway, which is one hell of a job description. As always, while our briefing emails are free, other features, interviews, and long-reads are exclusive to our paid supporters. Our paid supporters ensure we can keep doing this. To celebrate our birthday, we’re offering [25% off an annual paid subscription](#/portal/signup) for this week only. [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*This House Is Too Big, This House Is Too Small by Brutalligators,* ](https://brutalligators.bandcamp.com/album/this-house-is-too-big-this-house-is-too-small?ref=localauthority.news)[*Pessimistic Pizza by My Best Unbeaten Brother*](https://mybestunbeatenbrother.bandcamp.com/album/pessimistic-pizza?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Your Friend, The Atom by We Are The Physics*](https://wearethephysics-music.bandcamp.com/album/your-friend-the-atom?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Happy birthday to us URL: https://www.localauthority.news/happy-birthday-to-us-55e/ Last updated: 2024-09-02T17:48:51.000Z Tomorrow marks three years since the first edition of Local Authority. [Looking back on it now](https://www.localauthority.news/so-here-we-are-this-is-a-bit-weird/), it’s kind of funny: similar to what we do now but also quite different. I don’t know how that works, but here we are. These birthday posts have become something of a tradition here. I appreciate that not everyone is interested in these behind the curtain posts. If you’re only interested in our regular Medway news, our Tuesday briefing will be out tomorrow as usual. I do hope you’ll forgive a certain amount of self-indulgence today, though. I’d like to talk about our past year, share some numbers with you, highlight some of my favourite stories from the past year, and ponder what comes next. The reasons behind Local Authority haven’t changed. I started this project because local news was in a troubling state. Sadly, things have only got worse since then, with newsrooms cutting jobs across the country and local news being reduced to typing up press releases and covering the most mundane of local issues. That’s without even mentioning how most local news websites are almost unreadable these days, with readers being barraged by ads and self-reloading pages, making it difficult to follow anything. When setting up this project, I was inspired by local news outlets trying something different by operating on a subscription model. The idea that people will pay for local journalism is a bold one in a time when so much is free, but the almighty [Manchester Mill](https://manchestermill.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) and others appeared to be finding a way to make it work. If you can offer high-quality reporting that digs a little deeper, some people will be willing to pay for it. Of course, Medway isn’t Manchester. The two places' scale, demographics and economics are vastly different. But I decided to give it a go anyway, and now I’m writing to you three years later. Local Authority is an attempt to reclaim local news as a vital resource for local communities. Holding those in power to account is essential, as is simply knowing what’s happening in your community. Then there’s amplifying the kinds of voices you wouldn’t normally hear from and finding stories in underrepresented communities. All of these things have suffered in recent years, and while we may not always get it right, we’d like to think we’re doing okay. Our third year has been busy: - We’ve published 206 editions - We moved to two weekly briefing editions each week - We’ve broken stories on financial woes, political group turmoil, future plans for our towns, representatives getting caught out on social media, and questionable donations to Medway’s former MPs - We’ve published more long-read journalism covering the stories and people in our towns that might be overwise overlooked - We brought in columnists focusing on Gillingham Football Club and Medway’s music scene - We covered a General Election and held a [hustings event in each Medway constituency](https://www.localauthority.news/hustings-hustle/) - We covered a Kent Police and Crime Commissioner election and held a [Medway hustings](https://www.localauthority.news/listen-kent-police-and-crime-commissioner/) - We held a fully booked Medway Question Time event at MidKent College - We were nominated for Kent News Website of the Year at the [Kent Press & Broadcast Awards](https://www.kpbawards.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), where I also won Highly Commended in the Kent Print & Online Journalist of the Year category ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Bjwk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f49a6f213-8123-4ede-8052-705d3b302734_1570x976.jpg) Me very awkwardly receiving an award. I’m immensely proud of our work on Local Authority over the past year. Before we get to the numbers and what’s next, I’d like to highlight five of my favourite pieces from the past year. #### Five favourite long reads from year three We want to think we’ve published some good things over the past year. But what was the real cream of the crop? This kind of thing is very silly and a bit subjective by its nature, but we’re going to do it anyway. We’ve avoided selecting proper news stories here as they wouldn’t be timely anymore and have instead honed in on some of our longer reads from the past year. In November, I went on a deep dive into [skateboarding culture in Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/were-more-annoying-than-we-are-dangerous/). I knew little about it, so it was fascinating to talk to local skaters and try to track their often combative relationship with Medway Council. [More annoying than dangerousUnderneath the overflow car park of Medway Park in Gillingham sits a world-class skatepark. You couldn’t tell from the area now, but in 1978, at the height of skateboarding mania, one of the best skateboarding facilities was built at what was then the Black Lion in Gillingham. The park attracted skateboarders and BMXers from all over and was loved and w…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598268034129-763f75a8c5e5?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHw0OHx8c2thdGVib2FyZGluZyUyMHVrfGVufDB8fHx8MTY5OTM5MTc2OXww&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080)](https://www.localauthority.news/were-more-annoying-than-we-are-dangerous/) How do you even begin putting together questions for Billy Childish, a legendary Medway musician and artist with a decades-long career? It was a challenge Steven more than rose to, creating [one of our best interviews of the year](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/). They spoke for so long that we had to run a [second part](https://www.localauthority.news/we-used-to-always-be-one-paycheck/), too. [“I don't identify really as Billy Childish”In our first Sunday interview that couldn’t be contained to only one part, we talked to legendary Medway artist, writer, musician, and poet Billy Childish. Steven met Billy in his studio at Chatham Dockyard, speaking to him whilst he painted.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f67e5db81-2e55-47c3-abc0-daac12e75a6d.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-dont-identify-really-as-billy-childish/) One of the things I love about this project is how stories can come from unexpected places. [This one quite literally came from the chair of my barber](https://www.localauthority.news/no-ordinary-barber/), who is doing incredible work on men’s mental health. [No ordinary barberJake Cox is no ordinary barber. Operating out of a room at the back of a salon on St. Mary’s Island, he focuses on providing a safe space for men to talk about their mental health while also giving them a great haircut. Now, he’s branching out to teach more barbers how to do the same. We’ve been finding out more. Further down, we have our review of the …![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe59e5799-5688-4b33-9cea-2f0ecf577daf_7362x4910.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/no-ordinary-barber/) After years of asking, we finally secured an [interview with the then Rochester and Strood MP, Kelly Tolhurst](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-involved-in-politics-because/), shortly before the General Election. While most media coverage with MPs means everything is reduced to a soundbite, we were able to have a proper conversation on the big issues like housing, the state of the river, Chatham Docks, and lots more. [“I'm only involved in politics because I care about my area”Kelly Tolhurst has been the Conservative MP for the Rochester and Strood constituency since 2015 and is again standing in the upcoming General Election. Steven met with Kelly in her campaign office in Rochester to discuss how she got into politics, the General Election, why she suggested knocking down the Pentagon shopping centre, the state of the River Medway, and lots more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f58a7bf71-7ec7-4ff0-9511-7b077470ee4e_1600x1167.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/im-only-involved-in-politics-because/) Last month saw the far-right organise demonstrations across the country and, for some reason, on a dual carriageway next to a business centre in Chatham. We went along and, combined with hours of live-streamed video of the event, put together [in-depth reporting on exactly what happened](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/). [Medway on the edgeA crowd of around 50 anti-racism campaigners are gathered outside of the Innovation Centre near Rochester Airport.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f016d8bda-c021-499f-98ad-ec4c8d998937_1500x844.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/) Of course, however interesting some of our pieces might be, does it really matter if no one reads them? It’s time for the numbers! #### Local Authority in numbers Since launch, we have been open about this project and the figures behind the scenes that show how we’re doing, and we’ll continue to be so. When Local Authority launched, it was sent to 154 subscribers. Three years on, we have **nearly 2,300 subscribers**, of which **nearly 400 are** [**paid supporters**](#/portal/signup). When considering those who read on the web and formal subscribers, each briefing edition is read on average by **3,800 readers**. If we’re being honest, while our growth in paid subscribers has been solid and above average for the field we operate in, the growth in free subscribers has been slower than we would have liked. Many traditional ways to grow an email newsletter don’t apply because we are within a localised niche, so we must rely on our limited advertising budget and word of mouth. As such, please consider telling your friends and colleagues about us if you think we might be valuable to them. Word of mouth is our most reliable way of finding new readers, so it really does help. Revenue wise, we’re doing okay. We are sustainable enough from the point of view of covering all of our core coats like running the website itself, fees and costs, basic equipment, travel, professional memberships, and that limited marketing budget. This is the first year we’ve been able to pay ourselves a (very modest) wage for the time we spend working on Local Authority. We certainly aren’t getting rich anytime soon, and we’re eager to spend more time on this and less time on our day jobs that we still have to pay the bills. We’re confident in our model and believe this is a path to sustainability for Local Authority in the medium term. But the cold, hard truth is that we need more paid supporters to do the kind of journalism we want to be doing. If you value our work and want to help us get there, [please consider becoming one](#/portal/signup). As a birthday treat, we’re offering a full [**25% off the annual price**](#/portal/signup), so if you’ve been pondering upgrading for a while, you won’t find a better time. [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) As we enter year four, what does the future look like for Local Authority? #### The future In this birthday update last year, I wrote that we didn’t intend to change the core publishing schedule. Of course, we changed the core publishing schedule. Earlier this year, we moved from one free briefing email per week to two. This allowed us to include a little more of the content that was previously behind the paywall (planning and events) in our weekly free editions and allowed more room for some arts and culture reporting that wouldn’t have previously made it into the free edition. Most weeks, we publish four editions, including the two free briefing editions, our Sunday interview, and a long-read feature in the middle of the week. It’s not an exact schedule. Some weeks, it might be more or less, but it’s the rough guide. As the number of [paid supporters](#/portal/signup) grows, we should be able to stabilise that schedule further. One thing we’re working on behind the scenes is to worry less about being fast and instead focus on covering stories well rather than quickly. We don’t envision much of a change other than our briefing editions containing more context and why something happened rather than just reporting that it happened in the first place. No one working on Local Authority is a trained journalist, so we’re doing a lot of learning by doing, so we’ll likely keep gently tweaking things as we go on. We (thankfully) don’t appear to have any elections on the immediate horizon, so we are looking at reintroducing some live events over the next year. We’re eager to hold another Medway Question Time event, but we’ve got some other things we’re kicking around, too. This navel-gazing post has already gone on too long, so I’ll bring it to a close here. As ever, thanks so much for reading Local Authority. I’m thrilled that so many of you have chosen to join us, and we hope you stick with us through our fourth year. Until tomorrow. Ed. *PS. Don’t forget that you can currently get* [*25% off the usual Local Authority subscription price for a full year*](https://www.localauthority.news/HAPPYBIRTHDAY)*. It’s the biggest discount we’ll offer all year, so please consider taking the plunge if you’d like to help us do even more in the coming year. Thanks!* [Get 25% off for 1 year](#/portal/signup) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!gyC-!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb2875df2-d2be-4077-9ba5-706dbf292445_1862x1040.jpg) Myself and Steven in the one vaguely acceptable photo that exists of us together ### “It's way better to destroy a camera, than it is to destroy someone” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/its-way-better-to-destroy-a-camera/ Last updated: 2024-09-01T06:06:54.000Z *Micheal Colyer designs cameras for high-profile sports like the NFL, NASCAR, and TV shows like I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. Steven caught up with his former student on Zoom as he now lives and works in the United States. They discussed his recent award-winning work on the Super Bowl, making cameras that are literally flexible, and the Brexit challenges to returning and working in the UK.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!t3Qw!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbade5870-d1eb-4830-8d43-3c9d8f6c0c22_2012x1302.jpg) Michael Colyer. Also pictured: his Emmy. **Where were you born?** I was born in Chatham. **Did you enjoy school?** I did. It was an interesting time where it's hard to know what you are at that age, but towards the back end of my secondary education, I started to discover the media, and at that point, I really found my feet. **What did you specialise in at A-level?** That was when I realised the media was for me. It was Media Studies and a few sciences too, just because it seemed like a good idea to keep that STEM *(Science, Technology, English, Maths)* core behind me. **Did you have any difficulty with that because you were at a grammar school?** The problem with the grammar school is, and it's that thing that has been shifting more recently, perhaps after my secondary education, where STEM tended to be the primary term back then, where now we're realizing its STEAM *(Science, Technology, English, Arts, Maths)*. So, when you said, ‘Oh, I want to be a media specialist,’ there's a bit of umming and ah-ing where people are going, ‘Well, is that a good idea? Really, wouldn't you rather be an accountant or work in economics?’ So that was a bit odd, but fortunately there was a creative diploma that saw us team up with the local college. That was quite good because that's more vocational media training, but then having the academic background as well was quite a good combination. **How did you find that going from studying at school to studying at college at the same time?** Yeah, that was really interesting because it was a different way of thinking, and I know that the creative media deployment didn't work out, but there is still a lot to be said about combining the two modes of education because it doesn't have to be all of one or all the other. Perhaps the execution of that wasn't brilliant, but that style of learning where you are combining more vocational training with more academic training really would be good to see come back again. **Where did you go to university?** My first degree was at Ravensbourne University, then my Master's programme was at Portsmouth, and I'm currently a PhD at Portsmouth. **What did you study for your first degree?** My first degree, I started studying broadcast operations, which is a more artistic course. About a year in, I realised I'm quite a big fan of technology. I dropped out of that programme and restarted into broadcast technology, which is more engineering. Then, after that, I did my Master's programme degree at Portsmouth University, with my thesis being flexible camera design, by which I mean physically flexible cameras, and my PhD is looking at subjective methods of image quality evaluation by kind of putting image defects into a camera to raise the actual image quality levels. **Let's break some of that down a bit. What do you mean when you say flexible camera design?** Flexible as in literally flexible, as in you can bend it with your hands. **What would be the benefit of bending a camera?** You can install it in places where it may be tricky. Helmet cam is a great example. If you install physically non-flexible circuits onto a camera helmet, it has to go into a casing, and there's a chance that in a crash, that camera could then damage that helmet, which is not a great look, so by having flexible boards you can kind of bend around the helmet a bit better, you can reduce drag, and it usually means soft casings, so if something goes wrong your camera is getting destroyed, but it's way better to destroy a camera than it is to destroy someone. It's a field of technology that I want to see expanded in terms of safety and getting those slightly weirder shots that can't be done with conventional circuit boards. **When did you build your first camera?** That was recently, actually. My secondary training in going to university was technology-focused, but it wasn't the heavy electronics and programming stuff. For 10 years after that point, I worked in TV, just making shows. But as I learned the language of making television, it became apparent to me that the tools I wanted weren't there. There were lots of near enough, like using a screwdriver as a hammer when you're in a bind. I retrained again into electronics, and in the last year, I released for a large broadcasting company my first camera design. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Voice of the MP - Gillingham and Rainham URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-mp-gillingham-and-rainham/ Last updated: 2024-08-31T09:57:32.000Z *We’ve been publishing quarterly columns from the Leader of Medway Council and the Leader of the Opposition for a while now. Today, we’re going to start mixing that up. While we’ll still have columns from Cllr Maple and Cllr Perfect (though a little less often), we’re delighted that we will also be publishing columns from Medway’s new MPs and Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott.* *Each month, we’ll hear from one of them so you can hear directly from your representatives about their work. Today, we welcome new Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan, who bested Rehman Chishti in last month’s General Election. She tells us about the ongoing work to revitalise Gillingham town centre.* #### Voice of the MP **by Naushabah Khan, MP for Gillingham and Rainham** ![File:Official portrait of Naushabah Khan MP crop 2.jpg](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!tW7b!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f48360c1c-60c9-4f93-b4d8-3a8c9e70ff7a_450x600.jpg) Naushabah Khan MP Born and brought up in the Gillingham, I have first-hand seen the slow but steady decline of the area following a generation of underinvestment. As one of the most deprived parts of Medway, the town faces significant social challenges. According to the charity Action for Children, 31.4% of children were living in poverty across Gillingham and Rainham in 2021/22\. Additionally, ONS data reveals that Gillingham has higher unemployment rates compared to the national average, with many residents possessing few or no formal qualifications. Unsurprisingly, such levels of deprivation left unaddressed lead to profound challenges, whether that be homelessness, health impacts or crime. Visually embodying this decline is Gillingham Town Centre, which has significantly changed over the years. And, while there is still a vibrant community, longstanding and new local businesses, as well as a colourful market supporting the High Street, it is becoming overshadowed by empty shops, rubbish and anti-social behaviour. Many residents I have spoken to say that they just don’t feel safe walking through the Town at night, and businesses are increasingly concerned about their future in the same location. That’s why, when I was first elected as a Gillingham South Councillor in 2015 alongside my ward colleagues, I was passionate about re-imagining the future of the High Street. Despite several attempts, however, to put the regeneration of Gillingham on the agenda, the previous Conservative administration at Medway Council was simply not interested. It was clear that for both the Council leaderships and the former Conservative MP, Rehman Chishti, it was not a political priority, and we failed to secure funding through levelling-up bids. Last May, however, presented a new opportunity. With Labour taking the Council, the political agenda also changed, and the regeneration of Gillingham had to be a priority. That’s why I formed the *Gillingham High Street Taskforce*, which brings together a variety of stakeholders, including the council and the police, with the aim to provide a joined-up approach to the challenges we face and identify new opportunities in the Town Centre. Its remit includes, but is not limited to: - Looking at a future masterplan for Gillingham High Street - Tackling rubbish and fly-tipping - Tackling anti-social behaviour and make the town centre safer - Exploring investment opportunities for Gillingham - Transforming empty shops and eyesores The Taskforce’s work has also been supported by further action, including securing £12,000 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for high street upgrades, such as painting benches. The introduction of enforcement cameras to stop vehicles driving down the pedestrianised high street, fines issued for littering and, importantly, a community-led co-creation pilot through Future High Streets to support Gillingham town centre, through which a stakeholder workshop has already taken place. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!daAv!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f13096334-3790-4c58-aab0-cbe2ddd938d4_2048x1260.jpg) These first steps are designed to instil a sense of pride back into the area, recognising the strong community that still exists within the Town. That is why, supported by Gillingham Labour Councillors, I have collaborated with local businesswoman Esther Johnson – the brainchild behind the *Medway Activity Book* and founder of *Designed by Esther*\- to create a new brand for Gillingham. The ‘Love Gillingham’ design will be officially launched at the *Big Day Out* on Sunday, 1 September, in Gillingham High Street, a community-focused event which will host food, games, and activities and provide local residents with a chance to share their thoughts and ideas for the Town Centre. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!4ISR!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fc1f37678-4f97-4c92-963b-970d13c4a6a4_2048x2048.jpg) But this is just the beginning of a long journey, and the answers to how we secure the future of Gillingham are complex. High Streets are in decline across the country, with the traditional retail model no longer sustainable. Reimaging a new style of High Street that goes beyond just shopping will be central to renewal, whether that be a well-planned mix of independent businesses, office spaces, local services, as well as varied hospitality. Gillingham already has some of the key assets to make this possible- a train station, library services, a regular market, the Great Lines heritage park and Medway Park sport facility – unfortunately, these elements have yet to come together effectively. The need for significant investment in the area is evident; however, in a constrained financial environment, this presents further challenges. Again, we may need to think more imaginatively about how we can secure funding options and how we collaborate with the private sector to support regeneration. The need to go beyond simply bricks and mortar, addressing local needs and putting local people at its heart will also have to be part of the solution, addressing some of the wider challenges in the area, such as health inequalities, deprivation and housing standards. A joined-up approach that brings together national government, the local authority, private sector, third sector and communities to create a space designed with local people in mind is central to progressing a programme of renewal. But it also needs a driving force to ensure this goes beyond lip service and delivers the results we need. I started this process as a Councillor and am now determined to use my platform as the newly elected Member of Parliament for Gillingham Rainham to push the same agenda. As a starting point, next week, I will be raising this issue in Parliament, asking the Deputy Prime Minister on the government’s plans to regenerate our High Streets and how we can tackle some of challenges we see in Gillingham. This is not a simple process and there a no quick fixes, but working with the community and through government, I hope we can transform Gillingham Town Centre for future generations. *Naushabah Khan is the MP for Gillingham and Rainham and a Medway councillor for Gillingham South.* ### Trafalgar Centre redevelopment might finally happen (in two more years) URL: https://www.localauthority.news/trafalgar-centre-redevelopment-might/ Last updated: 2024-08-30T19:26:55.000Z *We talk about development a lot here as it’s important to the future of our towns, yet it can also be wildly frustrating. Today, we have details of the redevelopment of the Trafalgar Centre in Chatham, which has taken 11 years so far with little to show for it. However, things might finally be happening with a new planning application being submitted to Medway Council. Further down, we have a review of Limehouse Thai, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* *Coming up over the weekend, we have our first column from one of Medway’s new parliamentarians, as Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan talks about the work being done to revitalise Gillingham town centre. Then, on Sunday, we sit down with Michael Colyer, a camera systems designer from Medway who managed to win an Emmy for his work on the Superbowl, which is apparently some kind of American sports event.* --- #### Trafalgar Centre redevelopment might finally happen (in two more years) One of the problems around development is that it all takes so long. Years of drawing up initial plans, repeated consultations, and torturous planning processes mean it can take a lengthy period of time before anything actually gets built. In a housing crisis, this is far from ideal. One such site where things have been dragging on is the former Trafalgar Centre site in the centre of Chatham. Readers of a certain vintage might recall it as the inShops, a rabbit warren of tiny traders with a Safeway (!) buried at the back, and a giant multi-storey car park behind. The Trafalgar Centre closed in 2013, leaving a giant abandoned building in a prime town centre location, and a scarcely used car park behind. It’s the kind of site that should be ripe for rapid redevelopment, particularly when the local council has a mission to regenerate Chatham town centre by adding more residential uses to the area. Yet, here we are, 11 years on, and the site remains an empty wasteland. Yet there are now signs that something might indeed start to happen on the site, at least in the next couple of years. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!pW5o!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd9190ed8-aaad-47ac-9da9-a5853cbea04a_1972x1092.jpg) Back in 2021, owner Terance Butler Holdings successfully won outline planning permission to clear the site and replace it with up to 175 flats, art studios, coworking spaces, and 152 parking spaces using part of the existing car park. In 2022, they put the site up for sale, seemingly to see if anyone else would like to take on the development itself once planning permission had been achieved. This presumably pushed up the land value, and a few weeks later, demolition work was completed on the site. Now, it would appear that there were no interested buyers in the site, as Terance Butler Holdings is back with a new planning application to cover the site's specifics. When outline planning permission is granted, you have three years to come back with these specifics, and happily, the developers have popped up with them a snappy two years and eight months later. A cynic might suggest it is in developers' interest to sit on land for as long as possible before proceeding, as value only tends to increase with time, but that could seem very unfair to developers. We can’t see the specific details of the plan yet as Medway Council has an annoying habit of listing planning applications on its website without bothering to include the documents associated with them, but they are [likely to appear here](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=details&keyVal=SIXNT1KNMY900&ref=localauthority.news) in a few days. There is an internal target date of the application being decided by the end of November. Once approved, developers will have two years to begin the building works properly. So by November 2026, a mere 13 years after this prime development spot became available, something might finally be starting to be built on it. Hurrah! --- #### In brief 🏗️ As we reported as likely last week, the [450 home development at Gibraltar Farm was given the go-ahead by Medway Council’s planning committee](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/450-homes-approved-on-controversial-farmland-312082/?ref=localauthority.news). Councillors from Labour and the Independent Group voted in favour, while the Conservatives opposed. 🚓 The owner of the Gadcet secondhand shop in Chatham has been [arrested and charged with operating an illegal cryptocurrency ATM in the store](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4922d083no?ref=localauthority.news). He is alleged to have laundered over £300,000 in criminal cash and will appear before magistrates in October. 🏎️ [Three Medway roads are among the worst for speeding across Kent](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/top-20-roads-for-speeding-in-kent-revealed-with-7m-fines-in-312065/?ref=localauthority.news). Hoath Way in Rainham, Maidstone Road in Rochester, and City Way in Rochester all made the list, with nearly 3,000 fines being issued across the three locations over the past year. --- #### Out to Lunch: Limehouse Thai *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Limehouse Thai***](https://www.thelimehousethai.com/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rochester.*..* Limehouse Thai can be found near the start of the Intra area as you head towards Chatham from Rochester. There is good car parking nearby and if you find yourself going to Grandma Thai by mistake, you’ll find it’s been closed down for a while. Limehouse Thai has managed to place a number of tables into its limited downstairs floor space, though for busier times there are further seats upstairs. Talking of stairs, be careful on the way in and out as there is a sizeable step waiting to catch people out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!SGCQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5b6b4636-81f4-4267-90d9-5c6654b81160_1430x912.jpg) Food at Limehouse Thai I ordered prawn crackers and duck spring rolls to start, and then ‘Weeping Tiger’ steak served with peppers, onions and a tamarind sauce, along with egg-fried rice and spicy aubergine as the main. The crackers were more substantial than the pale fare from Chinese takeaways, flavourful and hardy. The duck spring rolls were generous in duck and delightful to eat with hoisin sauce, even if they were incredibly hot on arrival. A slight criticism was that the steak was too thinly cut for my liking, but it still made for a great lunch with the egg-fried rice and aubergine. The aubergine was perhaps the meal's highlight, with a spice that slowly built up but was not overwhelming. Overall, it is great that Limehouse Thai is still going strong after all these years. If you have never been, you should go, and if, like this writer, you have not been in a while, you should rectify that mistake as soon as possible. --- #### Events this week 👻 [Super Saturday](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1745/child-friendly%5Fmedway%5Fs%5Fsuper%5Fsaturday%5Freturns%5Fto%5Fchatham?ref=localauthority.news) is back in Chatham tomorrow (Sat 31 Aug) as part of the council’s child-friendly initiative. A 30ft Ghostbusters marshmallow man will oversee proceedings, with film cars, opportunities to meet superheroes, and activities. Free. 🎉 [Love Gillingham](https://www.visitmedway.org/events/love-gillingham-129365/?ref=localauthority.news) takes place in Gillingham High Street on Sunday (1 Sep) to celebrate what the town has to offer. Stalls, entertainment, live music, activities, and pro wrestling will happen throughout the day. Free. 🎸 The next Kicking Against Nothing night at Poco Loco in Chatham is this Thursday (5 Sep). A night of indie rock from Sunshine Pony Finger, Carjack, and Blue Mirror. [Tickets £5](https://wegottickets.com/event/629561?ref=localauthority.news). 🖌️ Household Essentials are a collective of three female self-taught artists specialising in traditionally drawn artwork in varying mediums of ink, watercolour and paint. They have an [exhibition at Nucleus Arts’ Halpern Gallery](https://www.nucleusarts.com/halpern-householdec?ref=localauthority.news) in Chatham from Thursday (5 Sep) until 18 Sep. Free. --- #### More Authority St. Mary’s Island has been one of the success stories of Medway regeneration, turning former Chatham Dockyard land into a community of 1,700 homes over nearly three decades. But what is it actually like to live there? [We talked to residents to get a sense of the good, the bad, and the just plain weird parts of island living in Medway](https://www.localauthority.news/st-marys-island-is-done-whats-it/). [St. Mary's Island is done. What's it like to live there?St. Mary’s Island is one of the success stories of Medway regeneration. An entire new community developed on former Chatham Dockyard land. To say it has been a long journey is something of an understatement. Following the dockyard's closure in 1984, work began on the site in 1997 and finally reached completion this year with around 1,700 homes built.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb7e12557-8d37-491c-96d5-ad6dfe9ac498_1500x844.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/st-marys-island-is-done-whats-it/) The end result is one of my favourite bits of writing that I’ve done in a little while that I think gets to the heart of the nice but slightly odd place that thousands of us call home. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*You Look A Lot Like Me by Mal Blum*](https://malblum.bandcamp.com/album/you-look-a-lot-like-me-2016?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Slow Buzz by Remember Sports*](https://remembersports.bandcamp.com/album/slow-buzz?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*What Still Gets Me by Shit Present*](https://shitpresent.bandcamp.com/album/what-still-gets-me?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### St. Mary's Island is done. What's it like to live there? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/st-marys-island-is-done-whats-it/ Last updated: 2024-08-29T18:38:00.000Z St. Mary’s Island is one of the success stories of Medway regeneration. An entire new community developed on former Chatham Dockyard land. To say it has been a long journey is something of an understatement. Following the dockyard's closure in 1984, work began on the site in 1997 and finally reached completion this year with around 1,700 homes built. Earlier this month, at an event to celebrate the completion of work, a somewhat startling statistic was cited: Over a third of homes sold in the island's final phase were being sold to people moving from another part of the island. At a time when new builds have a reputation of attracting ‘down from Londons’ into our communities, what is it about this little corner of Medway that makes people want to stick around? Can it really be some kind of island utopia? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!24dz!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb7e12557-8d37-491c-96d5-ad6dfe9ac498_1500x844.jpg) The main bridge to St. Mary’s Island. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority I’m one of the island dwellers. My partner and I moved here a couple of years ago when another property we’d committed to fell through. I was a little sceptical of the place at first. My younger self believed it would be an awful place to live. There’s nothing there! You’re miles away from anything! I also had a little snobbery about the sort of person who would want to live somewhere like St. Mary’s Island. I’d always wanted to be in the heart of things. I loved living in the centre of Rochester and having events and coffee shops on my doorstep. So moving to a sleepy island removed from almost any useful facilities or things to do never used to hold much appeal. Then we moved here and quickly became assimilated. That younger version of myself would have hated how quiet it is, but it’s a selling point now. Our flat is away from passing traffic, and despite living on a main footpath, disturbance is minimal. After a while, I started to find little gems, like the lovely [Cafe Bueno](https://cafebueno.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) by the bridge or my incredible barber, [who I’ve written about previously](https://www.localauthority.news/i/144732139/no-ordinary-barber). There’s a Co-op just over the bridge, a cinema and restaurants in walking distance, and some lovely paths to explore around the island. Even now, two years after moving here, we walk down to the river and express amazement that we get to live in these surroundings. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!KZjX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0d02df05-f7f5-4d13-acee-7bd6ab8d78ae_1500x844.jpg) St. Mary’s Island. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority That isn’t to say that the island is perfect. A lack of meaningful public transport makes it difficult to function here without a car. Because of that, parking can be a bit of a nightmare in certain parts, with cars littering pavements. The local Facebook groups can go into overdrive if anyone dares to look slightly suspicious anywhere on the island. But overall, it’s hard not to conclude that it’s a pleasant place to live. I’m just one person, though, and we all have different wants and expectations from the places we live. So, for this piece, I’ve spoken to three people who call the island home to find out about the good, the bad, and the downright weird parts of island living. --- Amy (not her real name) came to St. Mary’s Island to get on the property ladder. She had previously rented in Rochester and wanted to make that next step, and compared to the historic town, the island presented more affordable opportunities. One of the biggest positives for her is how safe it feels. “Living solo, I feel very safe here walking around, even after dark, which isn't the case everywhere I go in Medway. I also appreciate nowhere is 100% safe, but here feels as good as it's ever going to get.” It’s a common theme when talking about St. Mary’s Island. While many places, particularly around our town centres, can feel intimidating during the evening, there seem to be few concerns about wandering the island. Of course, there are the standards, too: the river walks, the proximity to Dockside and the Medway Tunnel, and plenty of dogs to admire. Her flat overlooks the basin used for watersports, giving a great view for events like the annual Chatham Maritime Food and Drink Festival and dragon boat racing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!3dCA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe1f2aeac-0011-4de3-aace-ed4b3fbeabcd_1500x844.jpg) St. Mary’s Island and one of the basins. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority That doesn’t mean everything is perfect, though, as she found herself living with some unexpected flatmates a few years ago. “I had some mice move into my second-floor flat just as the first lockdown has eased. That was rather unexpected, being a fair distance from the ground, but the mouse man said the flat design was conducive for adventurous rodents to climb pipes.” That hasn’t been the only issue with the build quality of her block, either. “My flat feels quite flimsy with no soundproofing, and you can hear a lot of what is going on in the other flats, which can make you feel a bit of an unintentional voyeur,” she notes, adding, “I am very grateful for my noise cancelling headphones!” While she describes a lot of the people living around her as nice, she does feel “there can be a Little England mentality at times,” remembering there were “a fair few unhappy people during lockdown when the council advertised the island as a great place for walking, running and cycling.” Similarly, users of the many Facebook groups that exist thanks to the Great Parking Permit Schism of 2018 can often complain that the island isn’t as good as it used to be or lament the permanent on-site security that used to exist on the site. Amy recalls a maintenance worker who told her that despite the safe feeling of the island, most police visits to the island are call-outs to domestic violence incidents. It’s hard to verify this exactly, but the [crime maps for the area](https://www.police.uk/pu/your-area/kent-police/river/?yourlocalpolicingteam=about-us&tab=crimemap&ref=localauthority.news) nod to the fact there might at least be some truth in it. Of the 35 police incidents on the island in the past three months, 20 were for violent or sexual offences. Beyond thinking it was “a bit [chi-chi](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/chichi?ref=localauthority.news) or [bougie](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/bougie?ref=localauthority.news)”, Amy didn’t have much of a perception of the island before moving on to it. “To be honest, I was just grateful for the chance to get on the property ladder that I didn't give it much more thought.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!JLAu!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fed7ad57a-f4fa-4f20-af1b-e9ae9e4cb32f_1500x844.jpg) St. Mary’s Island. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority Interestingly, despite not having a garden, Amy raises a commonly heard idea on the island: Given that the site was previously used to bury radioactive waste, residents are strongly advised not to grow vegetables in their gardens. The waste indeed existed, but it was all removed before development began, with the levels of contamination on the island afterwards being heralded as lower than most places. Still, the rumour persists despite there being no reference to it in the [island covenants](https://www.smira.info/covenants?ref=localauthority.news). As someone spoken to in the development of this story told me, if the ground were that dangerous, people wouldn’t be allowed to live here in the first place. Amy sees herself remaining on the island. While she’d love a garden and the ability to have a dog, she doesn’t imagine she’ll “ever be able to afford to move out of my flat, and if so, I doubt I'd be able to afford a house on the island.” So, for now, she’s stuck. But as places to be stuck go, it isn’t so bad. --- Laura moved to St. Mary’s Island with her partner in 2021\. She didn’t intend to end up on the island and knew little of it beyond the occasional previous visit for walks around the river. After looking at a few houses in various parts of Medway, they fell in love with the home they now live in. She likes how quiet it is while also noting how well it’s maintained, the walks, and having the [Ship and Trades](https://www.shipandtradeschatham.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) as her local pub. She freely admits that she has fallen into the “slightly snobby trap of never telling people I live in Chatham,” admitting she probably would have mocked people for doing the same in the past. It’s a common thing amongst those on the island, though. Perhaps this arises slightly thanks to its awkward geography that makes it postcoded in Chatham, Gillingham as the nearest town centre, all while sitting within the Rochester and Strood parliamentary constituency. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!_lA8!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f99186152-2ecd-491e-aa00-29ffe845582f_1500x844.jpg) St. Mary’s Island river path. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority If she’s critical of one thing, it’s the bus service on the island. The singular service that operates to Chatham runs on a chaotic schedule, with buses running at best hourly but with gaps as long as two and a half hours at quieter parts of the day. Don’t even think about getting a bus after 6pm either. While most people on the island drive, getting around can be a struggle for those who don't. Laura talks about her mum, who doesn’t drive. “Sometimes it’s a bit of a mission for her to visit” with a bus that sometimes doesn’t turn up. Bus issues aside, Laura finds little to complain about, so she sees herself staying on the island, at least for the foreseeable future. “We like our house and the area, so there’s no reason to think about moving at the moment.” --- Sharon was burgled three times in her previous home in Gillingham before moving to St. Mary’s Island. She “fell in love with the security and peace” of the island. “It’s a very safe place to live, though you still have to be sensible. It’s not the 1950s,” she says, recalling a spate of thefts from cars that had residents up in arms and led to complaints that the island had changed and to bring back the security patrols. Sharon is more circumspect. “If you leave your handbag and laptop on the front seat of your unlocked car overnight, you're just daft.” Despite relative safety, Sharon says there seems to be a sense of paranoia about crime and strangers on the island. “Everyone has Ring doorbells, and I’ve seen numerous posts on the residents’ page asking if ‘anyone knows this person?’ and they just look like a person walking by at two in the afternoon minding their own business.” She laments a “poor lad” who decided to play [knock down ginger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knock,%5Fknock,%5Fginger?ref=localauthority.news) one afternoon and had his face plastered all over the page. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Lts0!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f40f8adbb-7d40-4f53-abeb-8af6b3d91de4_1500x844.jpg) St. Mary’s Island. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority As if to highlight that the island isn’t without issues, she goes on to talk about more serious crimes that have occurred on the island, from [human trafficking](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/human-traffickers-93070/?ref=localauthority.news) to drug busts to a sex party that went wrong and made the national papers. When she first moved in, she heard rumours that the speedboat driver from the failed [Millennium Done diamond robbery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium%5FDome%5Fraid?ref=localauthority.news) lived on the island, too. For a supposedly peaceful island, a lot seems to be lurking under the surface. Sharon hasn’t found the sense of community she expected from moving to the island. “That’s not really been there for me. Only one neighbour in my street speaks to me and others rarely even say ‘hello’. People seem to keep themselves to themselves.” She ponders whether there is an element of intra-island snobbery in this. “I live in a one-bed and drive an old car. I don’t think I’m worth bothering with.” While she finds the Facebook resident groups “hysterical”, she advises against commenting as “you’ll regret it. The pile on can be brutal. But mostly residents are pretty much preoccupied with dog shit and parking.” It’s a story found in local groups nationwide and hardly exclusive to St. Mary’s Island. Still, the densely packed community potentially leads to more volatile conversations over these mundane issues. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6LsL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2b33a4e0-5e0a-4a87-b2fe-0b4ed0b21f2c_1500x844.jpg) Parking can be an issue on the island. Photo: Francesca Dorsa / Local Authority If there’s one thing I’m not expecting Sharon to get especially animated about, it’s flies. “Five months of the year my flat is full of flies as if a rotten corpse has been left in the lounge. I have to go in double-handed with two electric fly swats. I feel like Serena Williams.” The flies are a particular issue around the properties near the river and become a hot topic of conversation in early summer when everyone realises they are back. While Sharon might sound negative about the island, there are things she likes about it. As a runner, she says it is a “joy to get out and run around the island.” She likes the river walk and has high praise for the children’s play areas. “The maintenance of the island is excellent. The planting and gardening is very good. But we do pay for it!” She sees herself remaining on the island for the near future. “I have spates of thinking about moving, but sometimes I’ll drive home over the bridge, and the sun is out, the water is glinting, and the boats bobbing, and it is a great place to come home to.” ### Workshops for community cohesion URL: https://www.localauthority.news/workshops-for-community-cohesion/ Last updated: 2024-08-27T19:44:52.000Z *Three weeks ago, as part of a nationwide wave, Medway saw a far-right demonstration in Chatham. It was largely uneventful, mostly consisting of anti-racism campaigners and the demonstrators staring at each other across a dual carriageaway. Now, Medway Council have put together a report to decide how to deal with such things in the future. Further down, we check in to see if Medway Labour has said anything about the offensive tweets of Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards yet, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner has started his own newsletter, our usual news in brief section, and more.* **Editor’s note:* Look, we’re not going to lie. Between the bank holiday weekend and the general summer holidays, it’s a bit of a slow period for big news, so today’s edition isn’t the most packed. That said, we have some great editions coming up, with a feature on the completion of St. Mary’s Island and some rather mixed views on what it is like to live there coming up this week for our paid supporters. In the near future, we’ll also be publishing our first column from one of our new MPs (you can guess which one it won’t be), diving into Medway’s crime statistics, and exploring under the surface of Rochester, and lots more. To make sure you receive all of those (and lots more), hit the big orange button below.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Workshops for community cohesion Earlier this month, Medway had a brush with the far-right ‘protests’ sweeping the country, leading to a [stand-off across a dual carriageway](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/) between anti-racism campaigners and whatever the opposite of that is. Compared to some parts of the country, Medway fared reasonably well. There was no significant outbreak of violence here, and the entire evening passed with two or three arrests, depending on whether you use the figures given by Kent Police or Medway Council. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!G_9U!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fae698aca-8f8a-4213-8113-f0c78e9d0fca_1500x844.jpg) Police and anti-racism campaigners outside Medway Innovation Centre Following the incident, Medway Council have put together[ a report reflecting on what happened](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=75463&ref=localauthority.news) and what could be done to avoid it in the future. As council reports go, it’s a little on the light side but does include some interesting observations. The first item on the agenda is to recommend that the cabinet recognise Medway’s ‘excellent record on community cohesion’, which seems like a slightly odd first response to a far-right demonstration in our towns, but here we are. Beyond that, the report is effusively positive about the response to the demonstration, revealing that a ‘local authority tactical command and control structure’ was implemented ahead of the event. High-level briefings were undertaken between Medway Council, Kent Police, our MPs, and community leaders, where views were ‘freely and frankly shared.’ The report effectively says that they were prepared for all eventualities, and happily, things didn’t get too ugly on the night. Of course, it’s hard to gauge how well the response would have gone if things had kicked off on the night, but thankfully, we don’t need to find that out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zumA!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0366571b-5b4d-4128-b71d-bbd611479182_1914x486.png) Medway Council’s risk management from a report about recent far-right protests The risk management section of the report is perhaps the most interesting. One risk on the document is that Medway Council lacks the capacity and ability to respond to similar incidents in the future. To mitigate that quite concerning situation, Medway intends to conduct a ‘reflective exercise’ with key partners to see if any lessons can be learnt from the 7 August demonstration. Another listed risk is that ‘the events of the 7 August 2024 deteriorate wider community cohesion in Medway’, which is a valid concern given some of the scenes we have seen nationwide. As such, Medway Council rates this as risk B2, which is likely to happen and to have a major impact. Still, there is a plan to mitigate this by holding a workshop with key stakeholders. Quite how this will avoid the risk of a deterioration of community cohesion in a world where conspiracy theories and misinformation are flying around Telegram groups remains to be seen. This isn’t to say a workshop with stakeholders isn’t a valid idea, but it feels like something deeper might be needed to try and stop the rot that has got us to this point. --- #### Has Medway Labour said anything about Lauren Edwards’ tweets yet? Nope. Three weeks ago, new Rochester and Strood MP and sitting Rochester East councillor Lauren Edwards [had to apologise for old tweets](https://www.localauthority.news/i/147512509/new-mp-has-offensive-tweets-outed) where she referred to “fucking Estonian retards” and bragged about elbowing a homeless person in the ribs. Strangely, there has still been no word from Medway Labour on the matter. We don’t want to keep dedicating space to this, and there’s only so much we can say, but it seems very odd that Medway Labour doesn’t consider these tweets a problem or worthy of any disciplinary action. One can only imagine their position if these had been from a Conservative councillor. As is often the case, though, it seems you don’t need the moral high ground when you have the power. --- #### Kent Police and Crime Commissioner gets into the newsletter game Kent Police and Crime Commissioner [Matthew Scott](https://www.localauthority.news/i-can-understand-why-people-dont/) has [launched a newsletter](https://matthewscottuk.substack.com/) here on Substack, the platform we use for our own dispatches. So far, he is proving alarming active on the platform, with articles on supporting young people, scooters, and the perils of social media. He even found time to write about his support for Kent MP Tom Tugendhat in the coming Conservative leadership election. It’s an interesting move in a world where politicians are increasingly moving away from Twitter, as its power as the dominant social platform continues to wane. Regardless of the politics involved, it can only be a positive thing for politicians to write more thoughtful, long-form pieces rather than the cut-and-thrust that comes from microblogging platforms. You can subscribe to receive free updates from Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott below: [Matthew Scott PCCKent’s Police and Crime Commissioner. Writing on local and national issues. I'm also a co-founder of ReBuild, podcasting every week on policing and justice.](https://matthewscottuk.substack.com/?utm%5Fsource=substack&utm%5Fcampaign=publication%5Fembed&utm%5Fmedium=web) --- #### In brief 🥇 [Nominations are now open for the Medway Sports Awards](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200180/sport%5Fand%5Fsports%5Fcentres/619/medway%5Fsports%5Fawards/4?ref=localauthority.news) across various categories. You can submit your favourites until the end of October with the awards being given out in December. ⚽ Three games into the football season, [Gillingham is currently at the top of League Two](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/league-two/table?ref=localauthority.news). They just need to hang on for another 43 matches. 🚗 [Parking charges start at Medway’s country parks this Monday (2 Sep)](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1735/parking%5Fcharges%5Fto%5Fbe%5Fintroduced%5Fat%5Fcountry%5Fparks?ref=localauthority.news). It will cost £2.50 per day to park at Riverside Country Park and Capstone Farm Country Park, or an annual ticket is available for £60. 🚧 [Chatham Hill and the Luton Arches roundabout are being resurfaced overnight this week](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200249/roadworks%5Fin%5Fmedway/526/roadwork%5Fschemes/3?ref=localauthority.news). The news will come as a relief for anyone who has endured the mountrain trail-esque drive on either in recent months. --- #### More Authority Our interview this week is with Medway Council Chief Executive Richard Hicks. Richard has worked at the council since its inception, working his way up the ranks to the top position last year. We discuss how he came to the role, running elections in Medway, and his thoughts on the ever-controversial city status for our towns. [“Anything that impacts negatively on Medway I feel quite personally”Richard Hicks is the Chief Executive of Medway Council, having been promoted to the role last year. He is infectiously positive, both about life generally and Medway specifically. Steven met with him at Medway’s new Cozenton Park Sports Centre to discuss how he came to work at Medway Council, his role as a returning officer during elections and if there will be a City of Medway.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0140c839-6919-4c89-b8cb-4bf021dbb472_6720x4480.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/anything-that-impacts-negatively/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*We Love The City by Hefner*](https://wiaiwya.bandcamp.com/album/we-love-the-city?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*You Might Be Right by Happy Accidents*](https://happyaccidentsuk.bandcamp.com/album/you-might-be-right?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Happy Birthday by Her Parents*](https://herparents.bandcamp.com/album/happy-birthday?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “Anything that impacts negatively on Medway I feel quite personally” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/anything-that-impacts-negatively/ Last updated: 2025-12-18T10:59:17.000Z *Richard Hicks is the Chief Executive of Medway Council, having been promoted to the role last year. He is infectiously positive, both about life generally and Medway specifically. Steven met with him at Medway’s new Cozenton Park Sports Centre to discuss how he came to work at Medway Council, his role as a returning officer during elections and if there will be a City of Medway.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qVxF!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0140c839-6919-4c89-b8cb-4bf021dbb472_6720x4480.jpg) Richard Hicks **Where were you born?** Medway. **What brought your parents to the Medway towns?** My family, on both sides actually, have always been in Medway. **What job did your parents do growing up?** My mum was a school secretary. Her mum was head teacher at a local school. Her dad was a shopkeeper. My grandma on that side came from Wales but then moved into Medway. On my dad's side, my dad worked in the dockyard on the nuclear subs. His dad worked in Gillingham bus station, and his mum worked in Brompton barracks. **Did you enjoy school?** I loved school. I went to school in Medway all the way through. I went to Byron Road School. I went to Hillyfields. I went to Wakeley Road School and then Howard School and really enjoyed that. Howard School was quite a big school, but I really enjoyed my time there. I did A-levels in Latin, French and Economics. I had some great teachers, particularly my Latin and French teachers. I wasn't great at Economics, but I really like economics. **What did you study at university?** University was one of these kinds of modular degrees. I did lots of different subjects. I did French art, I did French, I did law, I did industrial relations, industrial psychology, comparative organisational studies. It was all about the study of organisations. I loved university as well. **Where did you study?** Lancaster. Having grown up in Medway, I wanted to do something where I was really establishing my own independence. I wanted to go a long way away, so I wasn't doing the thing about coming home at weekends to get your washing done. **What was your first full-time job?** My first job was in Kent County Council back in September 1990\. I left university, took a year out, went travelling around South America, and then came back and wanted to get a job. I wanted to apply for the Foreign Office, and that's a very long, drawn-out, convoluted process. I remember sitting in a hall with about 200 people doing this entrance exam, and they whittled it down to 100, and then it was a smaller handful of us being interviewed in London. It took a long time, and I thought I need to get a job while I'm doing that. I applied for a job at Kent County Council and started off as an Emergency Planning Officer in Kent County Council. That role meant that I needed to understand exactly what a County Council does, what all its functions are, how it works, what all of the different departments do. I was at Kent County Council but I was employed in Canterbury City Council and Gillingham Borough Council. Then as the Emergency Planning Officer for Gillingham Borough Council, I had to understand exactly what the District Councils did, what Borough Councils did, and that was where I really fell in love with local government, the role that local government plays in shaping a place and delivering services for its community. I didn't get through in the Foreign Office and that was probably one of the best things that could have happened. **What first led you to work for Medway Council?** My last job at Kent County Council, the last 18 months I was there, I was on the local government reorganisation team. It was announced that there would be a new unitary authority in Kent that was going to be Medway. That was a bit like loss of empire for Kent County Council because it did run all the upper-tier services at the time. I was on the small local government reorganisation team. That was about disaggregating all of those county council services in the Medway area. I was working from Kent County Council on the establishment of Medway together with Gillingham Borough Council and Rochester City Council. We had these tripartite meetings. We were establishing a whole new organisation. I spent about 18 months working on that from a Kent County Council perspective. I saw the opportunity there was to have a unitary authority, a single authority that provides all local government services. It's open, it's transparent. You're able to pull together all the different levers at your disposal to do the right thing for your local area. I was absolutely convinced that I would want to work at the unitary. Then Medway's first Chief Executive, Judith Armitt, asked me whether I'd be interested in being her head of chief exec's office. So I went through the process to apply for that and then got that job. I worked directly to her as a kind of right-hand person. I remember the first day of Medway going live when we took on responsibility for delivering all of those services. It was fantastic. **Were you part of that team that lost Rochester city status?** I've been quite involved with bids for city status for Medway over time. Just before Medway Council went live and decision 11-92, I think, is of Rochester City Council. One of their committees made the decision not to renew the patent for their city status as Rochester. I think that was actually the right decision, because they said they wanted Medway to have the opportunity to apply for city status itself. Rochester City Council knowingly took that decision not to renew the patent for city status and that was why it was lost. I think maybe that's the misunderstanding that people have. When people see the word ‘lost’, they think it was some administrative blunder, but it wasn't. It was a conscious decision. **You were able to state the order from memory. Is it because this is a topic that comes up often, or do you just have a brain for remembering all the orders that have come through?** No, no. I'm just really interested in local governments. I'm interested in all that stuff anyway. But it did come up during two of the city status campaigns that I led on. I can't remember if it was 11-92, but it's certainly 11-90-something. **What are your thoughts regarding city status for Medway now?** We've applied on a number of occasions. I was leading on that, and people will have heard me talk about our bid for city status. I was very clear that was part of my vision for Medway. I've got two key things in terms of my vision for Medway. I want our residents to be proud or even more proud of Medway. Whether it's our green spaces, your school or university or the place where you live or that we're a welcoming place. I want people to be proud of Medway, and I want Medway to secure the recognition that it deserves because it is a great place. I know we've got a kind of strapline: ‘Medway is a great place to live, to work, to learn, and to visit.’ I came up with that years ago with previous colleagues that I worked with, but I'm absolutely clear that we can be proud of Medway and that Medway deserves recognition. When the opportunity for city status came up, which we ran at a relatively low cost, why would we not put our hat in the ring and apply for that? What's my view now? Obviously, there's a political decision here, so actually it would be for Vince and the administration to decide if another opportunity came along, would we apply for city status? There is that thing about individual identities. I do recognise something as well, and that's something that Vince and his administration, his cabinet members have said as well, there are some negative connotations sometimes about the word ‘city’ too. If you think about Medway, half of our land mass is rural. The peninsula is amazing. My mum lives out on the peninsula. I will go out and be in the green space of the peninsula. For people that live there, the idea that it’s a city, I can understand that there's a kind of dissonance there. Ultimately, that would be a political decision to be taken. I would argue it's been worth it for the exposure that's given to Medway and the opportunity to talk about the amazing things that are going on in Medway. **What is your official occupation now?** I'm Chief Executive of Medway Council. **What does your average day entail?** What I like about my job as Chief Executive, and I've loved this throughout all of my roles at Medway, there's always loads of stuff going on. I might be at a council meeting in the evening until midnight, I could be advising the mayor on how the council meeting is being run, I could be in a cabinet meeting with our portfolio holders, I could be giving presentations to our teams. We've recently held a series of Our Medway live events. Over 900 staff came to three events. We just had an opportunity to set out the strategic direction for the organisation, our values and behaviours. That's something that's really important for me, the kind of organisation that we are. I could be speaking to external audiences about the work of the council. I have one-on-one discussions with each of the directors. I could be reading reports, clearing reports, getting ready to chair our corporate management team where we get together the top management team of the council where we're determining the shape of the future of the organisation. I was preparing for inspections. We're a really regulated organisation. We've just come through our children's services inspection. That was a year ago, although time goes fast. Got a good rating there. We had our special educational needs inspection, did well through that too. We're about to have an inspection of adult social care. I was preparing for that as Chief Executive. I'll be interviewed around that. I'll be asked about the priorities that I give to adult social care. Where does that fit in the strategic landscape of Medway? We've also got the regulator of social housing coming in in September to inspect our housing service. I'll be getting ready for that. My role is leader of the organisation, of the officer side of the organisation, but I'm a kind of cheerleader as well. I want to enthuse people. I want to empower people. I want people to know that they can get on and do stuff and deliver great services for the people of Medway. But sometimes, I need to be a bureaucrat, so I'm signing stuff off. I'm a bit OCD. I like things to be clear and planned and programmed and choreographed. I spend a lot of time thinking about the future direction for the organisation and how do we get there and the steps we need to take so that we make the right decisions along the way, because we are custodians of public purse. **The council is facing severe budgetary issues, and the building itself has got the RAAC *(Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete)* issues. Have you been in touch with the previous Chief Executive to thank him for your in-tray?** I saw [Neil ](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-outgoing-medway/)[*(Davies)*](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-outgoing-medway/) not that long ago. I really love Neil. I worked very closely with him. A lot of my career is thanks to him as well. I've got nothing but praise for Neil. There were a number of challenges. I've been Chief Exec for just over a year now. The first thing I wanted to do was establish those values and behaviours, the way we work as an organisation, the kind of organisation that we are. That is really important to me. How we treat each other, so all of our staff teams right across the council, our residents, our partners. That is the first thing. The next thing I want to do is set out the strategic direction for the organisation over the next four years, and we've done that with our One Medway council plan. Then I needed to stabilise the finances because the budget was in a pretty challenged state. Now, you know, Medway is not the only one. Right the way across the local government sector and indeed across the public sector, finance is incredibly challenged. I had to move pretty fast to change the way that we develop our budgets. I wanted to get a more inclusive, collaborative approach around our budgets, to build greater ownership of those budgets rather than being something that's imposed. We established the financial sustainability of the council into the medium term, stabilised our finances. We then had this raft of inspections that are coming through. The small matter of RAAC in Gun Wharf, now that was a really tough decision for us because it's quite an expensive proposition to be taking the roof off a grade-listed building. A lot of cost has gone into that but I was very clear, Vince was clear, the administration was clear. The provision of a decent quality headquarters for our staff was a really important thing. I want our teams to be able to come together to work collaboratively to develop their services and provide even better services for the people and place of Medway. I'm absolutely clear that the provision of a decent headquarters building is part of that. Now the administration is also very clear that we want to open it up more to our residents so we want to make our reception welcoming. We want our residents to feel that they can come into there. It's their Gun Wharf. **Do you have any additional roles paid or unpaid?** I've been on the board of University of Greenwich for about three years now. That is something that I've loved doing. One of Medway's biggest achievements is our university offer. University is really important for Medway. I love that there's the prospect of university education physically, but in terms of aspiration for Medway children, young people, by having university provision here in Medway. I appreciate University of Greenwich has three different campuses. University of Kent is based out of Canterbury as well, but having universities physically here in Medway is really important. When I was going through my interview processes, I said I will be unashamedly Medway centric in my approach because I want to stand up for Medway. I want to ensure that we keep decent university provision here in Medway. I've got to say University of Greenwich is an excellent organisation, really well run. Challenging in terms of that wider higher education sector. That's been a useful insight as well because I can bring insights from how that organisation works into how we run Medway Council as well. **University in Medway has become slightly more troublesome. UCA has left, and University of Kent is shrinking provision here. How are you feeling about university in Medway moving forward?** That was a really challenging time actually when UCA announced their decision to move. They had a change of their vice-chancellor. He took a view. I disagreed with that view, but that was his view and clearly those institutions will take their own decisions and I did feel that quite personally. Anything that impacts negatively on Medway I feel quite personally. One of our partners said to me, ‘No, if they've made their decision and they're going to move on, let's focus on the organisations and the institutions that are committed to Medway.’ We've subsequently adopted that [One Medway](https://www.medway.gov.uk/OneMedwayPlan?ref=localauthority.news) approach. That's something I'm really proud of. Vince and I were both very keen that we work together collaboratively as One Medway bringing organisations together. We've now got the [Medway School of Arts](https://www.midkent.ac.uk/courses/subjects/medway-school-of-art?ref=localauthority.news), which is very much a partnership. MidKent College established it at the dockyard to cover that space that UCA vacated. The HE sector is challenged nationally. There's a thing about tuition fees, there's a whole thing about previous government views about international students, financial challenges right the way across the public sector, and of course, we're not immune from those either. University of Kent has gone through a series of reviews, they've sought to remedy some of their financial challenges. Yes, we were disappointed about a number of the courses that were having to be withdrawn. The university did speak with us about that informally in the run-up to taking that decision. We, of course, expressed disappointment about that, but ultimately, that's a decision for the institution to take. What I would say is I was involved in the inauguration of Universities at Medway back in the early 2000s. We're absolutely determined to do all that we can to support our universities here in Medway. Vince, [Teresa Murray](https://www.localauthority.news/im-not-somebody-who-would-choose/), and I met with the three vice-chancellors and [Simon Cook](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-is-the-most-amazing-and-the/) at MidKent College just a couple of weeks ago where we're talking about how we can ensure there is a bright future for university provision in Medway. We're absolutely determined to work with them to secure that. **What is your role in ensuring a successful Local Plan?** A Local Plan sounds pretty prosaic. Actually, it's the blueprint for Medway's future over the next 15 years. The Local Plan is really, really important. I've been involved in all of the work that we've had, and local authorities charted the history of the Local Plan and that's been a rollercoaster ride. Over the years, we've struggled to get a Local Plan in place. I've always been clear about the importance of the Local Plan. We need the right homes in the right places, with the right infrastructure to support it. We are all absolutely committed to driving forward that Local Plan. We've got unswerving support from the Labour administration, so Vince, Simon Curry in particular, but the whole of the Cabinet is absolutely behind the Local Plan, clear on the need to get a Local Plan in place. In terms of achieving the Local Plan, we've got to be absolutely in lockstep together and that's something that I've really welcomed from Vince. His approach is absolutely about us working together, and we will quite often talk about the team. I've got a corporate management team of 15 people. Vince has got a cabinet, including himself, of 10\. We work together as a team of 25\. The way that we work together is really open, it's really transparent, and we share a common ambition that we're all determined to deliver the Local Plan. **What is your explanation for why we don't have a Local Plan?** Yeah, you've charted that yourselves actually through Local Authority. More laterally, we were embroiled in some of the political challenges that there were. I'm not giving away any confidences here because Alan has said this publicly to you and in other places as well. There were challenges within the Conservative group, differences of views around the direction that the Local Plan was taking. Particular sites were becoming challenging. We had the Housing Infrastructure Fund, £170m of government funding. There were challenges within the Conservative group that would have been widely trailed. That resulted in almost getting the Local Plan to the council meeting. I remember that meeting coming up and I've got to say it's quite difficult to produce a Local Plan. You are mapping out the future for the next 15 years there's quite a challenging job. **You recently fulfilled the role of returning officer for your first General Election. What went well, and what could go better next time?** I love running elections, I'm really into elections. I’ve run a number of them since about 2000\. In terms of this General Election, and thank you for Local Authority, you said ‘[Nine things that we learnt about the General Election](https://www.localauthority.news/nine-things-medway-learnt-from-the/)’. One of them is ‘Medway Council is quite good at running elections.’ I do think we did a fantastic job. There's a huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes. My elections team, they are fantastic, led by Jane Ringham. Excellent officer, been with us for a very long time. They do a huge amount of work behind the scenes. What people then see for the General Election is the count itself. That's almost where the theatre happens. Bob Diamond, excellent officer of the council as well, he and Paul Johnston set up the count for us in Medway Park. Obviously we’ve been there on many occasions for elections, and I think we ran a fantastic count. We brought in new innovations, we made a lot more use of computers rather than everything being done with paperwork. I think you even praised the screens that we had on where we get some of the results that were coming up. We sped up our processes. Postal votes went really well. We got a new system for ballot boxes coming into the hall. We fine-tuned, got a process of marginal gains about how we speed up the process. We ran it, it was open, it was transparent, it was accurate. I think in terms of what could we do better, we always hold a review. When we do stuff, I like us to have a review after it. I like to celebrate success, but equally we've got to learn lessons about anywhere where we can kind of improve. We've got a wash-up meeting that is coming up in a couple of weeks’ time where we'd be going through and reviewing some of those processes. I do know some of our polling stations there were big queues getting in. Some of that was about voter ID, although at the polling stations that I visited on the day, it all seemed to go pretty well. I don't really see that as a reason for delays. We certainly want to address that. We always look for margin gain opportunities where they're just fine-tuning certain aspects. **Have you ever been a member of a political party?** No, no, no. I'm very interested in politics and particularly in my role, you've got to be very aware. In a lot of my roles I absolutely cannot be political. I need to be even-handed in my dealings with all politicians. I've never been on a ballot paper, never stood for election and not been a member of a political party. **Do you ever find yourself trapped by that? Being even-handed in our more fractious times?** Yeah, I've not struggled with that particularly around the change of political leadership at the council. I worked very closely with [Alan Jarrett](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-medway-council/), with Rodney Chambers, with Howard Doe. Tremendous respect for those. Really enjoyed working with them. They were fantastic individuals, they had a particular political direction. [Vince](https://www.localauthority.news/i-could-easily-fill-4-or-5-days-worth/) and his cabinet and his group have come in with energy, enthusiasm and drive. It's an absolute delight working with Vince. He's committed to Medway in the same way that I am. They've got great ideas for how we can take Medway forward. I'm really appreciating the group of members that we have, 59 councillors. Everyone is committed to taking Medway forward. You might have some different ideas and views about how we get there and the direction of travel, but what absolutely unites everyone is that we do want the best for Medway and we want Medway to do well. On that basis, I find it very easy to work across the political spectrum. **What is Medway Matters Live?** It was Vince's idea. Vince has always been very clear about the council being open and transparent, and accountable to our residents. It was an opportunity for us to set out what our vision is for Medway and set out what the council is doing. Then to give residents an opportunity to ask us anything that they want. It was a pretty wide-ranging set of questions that were being put to us, and I really enjoyed it. I loved [Medway Matters Live](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200138/your%5Fcouncil/1837/medway%5Fmatters%5Flive?ref=localauthority.news). I think it's a great innovation. We were going to hold one out on the peninsula. Because of the General Election, we couldn't do that. We're going to be organising that in the New Year, but we've got the [next one coming up in November at the Dockyard](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/medway-matters-live-tickets-1000584042807?ref=localauthority.news). We want to be out there, we want to be open with people, and we want to give people the opportunity to put their questions to us or just to raise issues or just to say stuff to us about how they feel about Medway. It kind of builds on our [Child Friendly Medway](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200541/child-friendly%5Fmedway%5Fcity%5Fhall%5Fevents?ref=localauthority.news) programme, all about children and young people being at the heart of our decision-making and our policy making and our plans for the future. We usually get about 200 children and young people coming along to each one. That will be an opportunity for our children and young people to ask me and Vince any questions that they've got, their views about Medway, and what we can do to make Medway better from their perspective. One of the asks was for a unicorn zoo. I couldn't quite do that, but it's great to have these ideas from children and young people. **Where do you like to go for dinner in Medway?** There's a number of places. So, I do like [Kaya Meze](https://kayamezebar.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) in Rochester. I've been to [Galata](https://www.facebook.com/p/Rainham-Galata-Mezze-Restaurant-And-Cocktail-Bar-100063619627699/?locale=en%5FGB) in Rainham. I quite like that one as well. I always loved the Conservancy building in Rochester. [Nucleus](https://cafenucleus.uk/welcome-to-cafe-nucleus-rochester/?ref=localauthority.news) is a brilliant organisation, but I enjoy that one. [Pump Room](https://crdpumproom.com/?ref=localauthority.news) in Copper Rivet Distillery. Great places. Conservancy building would probably be my favourite, but I like Turkish food. It's great stuff. **What do you like to do to wind down?** I love work, so I don't feel the need to be winding down a lot. I don't feel the stresses of work, I just love doing what I do. It is quite all consuming. So I've sort of worked quite long hours whatever, but then when I'm at home, I'm checking emails, reading reports, all of that kind of stuff. I quite often will have evening meetings. I'll usually have one evening meeting a week, sometimes two. But when I'm not doing that, I like to run around Great Lines Heritage Park. A bit of weight training, I'll do that once a week. I read. I tend to read the same books over and over. I try not to have meetings or be doing work stuff at weekends. I like to just relax, a bit of walking. Ranscombe Farm is one of my favourite places for walking at the moment. **Are you able to disconnect? Like on holidays? Is the email still on during the night?** Absolutely it is. I never want to disconnect. I'm very happy being connected. But I've got a great team of people. Corporate management team, our comms team are amazing. Our emergency planning team are amazing. I know that whatever happens, we will be able to respond to it, but I always like to be involved. I like to be engaged. I don't really feel the need to switch off. When I'm away outside of work, I've always got my mobile with me. That's always available, always on. **You constantly have positive energy. What is your secret?** *(laughs)* Lots of coffee, I think. Glad you've noticed that. I think most people that speak with me or know me would say I love what I do. I believe in local government. I believe in Medway Council, and I believe in Medway the place as well. When you love what you do, having that energy is kind of easy. I really enjoy it. I'm not just saying that I absolutely love my job. I've loved all the roles that I've had at Medway Council. **If there's a young person out there thinking one day about becoming a council Chief Executive, what advice would you have for them?** I would say local government isn't always necessarily going to be people's first choice of a career, but if you want a job where you can make a difference, and that's why I'm in local government, this is an opportunity for me to give something back to the community where I was born and where I grew up in, where I went to school in. You've got an opportunity to give something back to your local community. You've got an opportunity to make a difference in a place on a daily basis and there are so many varied careers that you could have. What I would say is, in terms of Medway Council, I'd encourage young people to think about it. We have a number of apprenticeship programmes that we run. We've got some great stories about apprentices actually. We've got a number of people that have risen through the ranks that have got pretty senior positions working their way through at Medway Council. Varied career, opportunity to make a difference. Absolutely give that serious consideration. --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*, including with previous Medway Council* [*Chief Executive Neil Davies*](https://www.localauthority.news/what-steven-asked-outgoing-medway/)*.* *If you have lived or worked in Medway and are planning an event or launch in 2024 or celebrating a significant anniversary and would be happy to talk about it here, or if you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, please email* [*Steven*](mailto:thepoliticalmedway@localauthority.news)*.* [*Steven Keevil*](https://twitter.com/stevenkeevil?ref=localauthority.news) *listened to no music whilst writing this but recommends reading* [*The Big Short by Michael Lewis*](https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-big-short-inside-the-doomsday-machine-michael-lewis/407166?ean=9780141043531&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Looking for books in Medway URL: https://www.localauthority.news/looking-for-books-in-medway/ Last updated: 2024-08-23T22:50:58.000Z *The importance of reading for children can’t be overstated, but at a time when families are struggling, getting hold of books isn’t always that easy. Paul White has been organising free book hunts across our towns, leaving books in parks and spaces across Medway for children to find. It’s a remarkable project, so we’ve been finding out more. Further down, we have a review of the new Third Wave Coffee in Rochester, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Looking for books in Medway Paul White is on a mission. The children’s bookseller, spurred on by some frankly depressing statistics about literacy, decided to try and give away 52 books every single week for the year. Not just given away either. Hidden around local communities and turned into book-hunting events across the Medway towns. It hasn’t been quite as smooth sailing as he might have liked, but it’s clear that he is having an impact. The [Medway Look For A Book Facebook group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/medwaylookforabook/) is full of pictures posted by happy parents of their children clutching books they have found in one of Paul’s hunts. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!H_Qk!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f408a5ab4-d72c-4074-8d29-304e7d68cbcc_1506x859.jpg) Medway Look For A Book founder Paul White Paul’s statistics offer pause for thought. While many of us take reading for granted, it isn’t that straightforward for everyone, particularly children. 10% of children on free school meals don’t have a single book at home, 20% say they never read, and 70% of school-excluded children have poor literacy skills. There is a strong correlation between access to books and reading for pleasure and stronger academic attainment. Paul has seen this firsthand, working as a teacher, and was inspired by learning about Look For A Book schemes in other areas. While these are commonly occasional events in the school holidays, Paul had bigger ambitions for his scheme. Given the cheap cost of the books (a single book is £1), he set himself the aim of running a book hunt in Medway every weekend, giving away 52 books at each one. With the help of his daughter, Hollie, he’d leave books around a location in Medway (recent sites have included Luton Millennium Green and Rookery Fields in Gillingham) and post the location on social media so the families can come out and find them. Inside the book, a note explains the scheme and encourages the finder to hide the book for someone else once they finish it. You can regularly see delighted posts from Paul on the Facebook group when someone posts a picture of a book they found that wasn’t left by him. The hunts have an additional effect as well, as parents take their children to look for books and end up in parts of Medway they perhaps wouldn’t have visited otherwise. “I get comments from parents who have gone hunting, that they have found new places to go with their children though and that is always lovely to hear.” Of course, even at £1 per book, it’s still over £50 to run each hunt, or £2,500 for an entire year. Paul quickly discovered that he couldn’t fund it all himself. “I do fund some myself, but those funds have dried up now. I had to make sure I paid the mortgage first”, he reflects. This has led to him seeking sponsorship from local businesses, both large and small. He initially found success with a contribution from Bellway Homes that funded several hunts. Since then, smaller organisations like the Medway Little Theatre have also supported the project. Paul is eager to highlight that the entire project is non-profit, and every penny of the sponsorship income goes into providing the books for hunts. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!K9v9!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f08d6ed03-7ae0-4a06-af7e-c4afee2f28ad_1502x818.jpg) Some of the books given away in previous book hunts So far, Medway Look For A Book has given away around 1,500 books in Medway, but he is now having a wider impact. Others have been directly inspired by Paul’s hunts and set them up in their own areas (including one in France), and while he finds it difficult to come up with an exact figure, he estimates it to now be tens of thousands. Despite this, getting sponsors on board hasn’t been easy. “My pleas for help get ignored”, says Paul on the struggle to find support. “But those who do support, love the idea. I have worked with some lovely small businesses and a couple of large ones.” Paul hasn’t sometimes struggled to find support from Medway Council too. After reaching out to the council’s Child Friendly Medway department, he found “they weren’t interested in helping at all”. At one point, he was told he wasn’t allowed to leave books for the hunts in any of Medway’s country parks, though he was able to get that lifted “after much back and forth.” Still, none of this seems to put Paul off from his mission. While he hasn’t been able to quite keep to his initial plan of holding a book hunt every weekend, he has been running as many as the budget has been able to allow. We all know the importance of getting children reading, and Medway is lucky to have at least one person determined to get as many books to those children as possible. --- #### In brief 🗳️ [Hoo St Werburgh and Chattenden are set to vote in a referendum on a Neighbourhood Plan for the area](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/villagers-may-be-asked-to-vote-on-neighbourhood-plan-311795/?ref=localauthority.news). The plan, by Hoo St Werburgh Parish Council, could shape the area's future development and feed into the larger Local Plan process. 🚓 [Kent Police have launched a new initiative to tackle antisocial behaviour in Chatham](https://www.kent.police.uk/news/kent/latest/policing-news/national-initiative-to-target-crime-and-antisocial-behaviour-in-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news). The vaguely threatening premise will see ‘relentless police activity’ in the area. 🏘️ [New social housing built on the site of former garages in Chatham has been completed](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/mp-unveils-new-social-homes-converted-from-garages-311800/?ref=localauthority.news). MHS Homes' project sees 24 new affordable homes available in Princes Park. 🗣️ [Conservative Party leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat was in Chatham today for a campaign event at Chatham Town Football Club](https://x.com/nathangamester/status/1827000743418544581?ref=localauthority.news). Former Chatham and Aylesford candidate Nathan Gamester posted something nice about him, but there was little sign of many other Medway Conservatives participating. --- #### Another former Wilko rumbles back to life It’s been nearly a year since Wilko collapsed, leaving four very large and empty stores in our town centres. Now, given the amount of time, how are each of them doing? Rainham’s store was the first to be taken over, with B&M taking over the unit back in February. While this seemed to initially create a buzz in the precinct, word around the town is that the store feels rather barren much of the time. Over in Chatham, a use has at least been found for half of the former store in the Pentagon. The upstairs of the unit forms part of the new Healthy Living Centre proposed for the town, while the downstairs has been used for occasional community events while a long-term tenant is sought. Sadly, the town that needs the most support is the one that has had no movement at all. The Gillingham High Street store still sits entirely empty with no sign of any new tenant, acting as something of a blot on an already struggling shopping street. This week, news came that the Strood store has found a new tenant, which will come as good news for the neighbouring Asda that is currently sharing a building with an empty unit. Fans of discount retailers can rejoice as Poundstretcher is set to move in to the former Wilko in Strood, adding to their Medway portfolio following an opening in Gillingham last year. So a year on, two and a half of Medway’s Wilko stores have found new tenants, which in the current economic environment is perhaps more than might have been expected. Now to just find someone to take on the Gillingham store. Suggestions on a postcard… --- #### Out to Lunch: Third Wave Coffee *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Third Wave Coffee***](https://www.instagram.com/thirdwave.coffee/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rochester*…* Third Wave Coffee is a new café on Rochester High Street at the former Cake Man site. They have made good use of the space available, providing many comfortable seating options. You order at the counter, and free water is also available, so go crazy. If, like me, you weren’t aware of third-wave coffee, it is a movement specialising in high quality. For this reviewer, it remains essentially hot, burnt mud. We went there for the sandwiches. We got a hot salt beef, gherkin, and mustard sandwich. In an excellent example of effective counter displays, we also bought a sausage roll and a salted caramel doughnut. All of this was served with a lovely cup of Earl Grey tea. The sausage roll was delicious, with a flavoursome, delicate pastry, well-seasoned sausagemeat, and pieces of bacon for added enjoyment. The sandwich was generously filled with delicious salt beef and a delicate mustard, and it reminded me, and I don’t say this lightly, of the great Blueberry Park. Though Third Wave would need to expand its sandwich range to truly hit Blueberry greatness, the fact that the comparison is even being made tells us about the quality here. This is a great addition to Rochester's lunch options and is well recommended. --- #### Events this week 🚗 [Allhallows Classic Car Show](https://www.facebook.com/events/1125733901824389/) is taking place on Sunday (25 Aug) at Cross Park. See classic cars supported by live entertainment, food stalls, and a bar. £2 on the door. 🍔 Pulp Fiction is 30 years old, so the Odeon in Chatham is holding an anniversary screening on Monday (26 Aug). Quentin Tarantino’s one good film still holds up incredibly well three decades later. [Tickets £5](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-45900&ref=localauthority.news). [Poco Loco open mic](https://www.facebook.com/events/1106539560771927/1106539584105258/) is this Tuesday (27 Aug). The inclusive event at the Chatham bar welcomes solo musicians, bands, spoken word, poetry, and comedy. Free. 🦾 August 29 is Judgement Day, so Odeon in Chatham is holding an obligatory Terminator 2 screening on Thursday. It’s not as good as the first one (which, for some reason, they are showing the following day), but it’s still pretty good. [Tickets £5](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-46529&ref=localauthority.news). --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](http://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Power by Illuminati Hotties*](https://illuminatihotties.bandcamp.com/album/power?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*You Can Do Better by Johnny Foreigner*](https://alcopop.bandcamp.com/album/you-can-do-better?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*All Hell by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/all-hell?ref=localauthority.news) ### Gibraltar Farm development heading for green light URL: https://www.localauthority.news/gibraltar-farm-development-heading/ Last updated: 2024-08-20T20:17:17.000Z *There have been few more controversial developments in Medway than the 450 homes proposed for Gibraltar Farm between Lordswood and Hempstead. Now, after years of wrangling, it looks set to finally get the green light. We look at what it might mean. Further down, we have news of the funding received by our new MPs, more worrying signs for Medway Council’s budget, our news in brief section, and more.* --- #### Gibraltar Farm development heading for green light Years of wrangling over a controversial housing development look set to end next week, with Medway's planning committee set to approve the 450-home Gibraltar Farm development between Lordswood and Hempstead. The site has been contentious for years, with nearly 800 members of the public objecting to the plans, along with various organisations and MPs. Previous versions of the plans have been refused in the past, but this version looks set to get the go ahead as Medway Council’s planning officers recommend it for approval. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!rjnL!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2d603a6b-ed30-4cf0-9009-b0515ef49602_2366x1360.jpg) Proposed layout for Gibraltar Farm development The site’s 450 homes are a mix of types, from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom houses, with 25% of them required to be affordable. Given its remote location, the plans also include a new retail parade, a nursery, open spaces, a potential bus loop, and new cycle and pedestrian connections. Despite its proximity to Lordswood, under the initial proposals, the only vehicular access is via the Hempstead end of the development. This is largely due to previous Medway Council administrations refusing access on the Lordswood side, as they own a strip of required land and refused access to the developers. Whether the new administration will be more open to releasing the ‘ransom strip’ remains to be seen. Concerns have been raised about the impact of traffic on the site's east side, particularly regarding the connection between the edge of Hempstead and Hoath Way. These areas regularly face traffic congestion already. To mitigate somewhat, the plans do include provision for additional lane capacity around Hoath Way and the M2 motorway junction and some minor improvements elsewhere, but they seem like the bare minimum that might be required. Medway Council are at least set to extract significant money from the developer to put into local infrastructure and facilities. The Section 106 developer contribution list extends to £6.5m, including: - £1.61m for SEND education provision - £1m for mainstream education provision - £830,000 for nursery provision - £500,000 for open spaces - £460,000 for footpaths and cycle paths - £380,000 for health service capacity - £370,000 for road improvements - £260,000 for bus provision Of course, none of this is likely to appease those who have spent years fighting the development, particularly those in the immediately surrounding area. The issues are compounded by the site's proximity to Maidstone Borough Council’s significant Lidsing Garden Village development to the southeast of the site, which is likely to put further pressure on local services given its proximity to Medway and lack of proximity to Maidstone. Still, we are in the midst of a housing crisis that Medway seems unable to manage, and 450 homes will help us meet our housing targets. How many years before anything gets built is another matter entirely, though. *Medway Council’s planning committee will discuss the* [*Gibraltar Farm development proposals next Wednesday*](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=360&MId=6002&ref=localauthority.news)*. You can read the* [*full report on the development here*](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=75491&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### New MPs reveal their funding With Labour sweeping to victory both nationally and across Medway’s three constituencies in the General Election last month, it’s time to start looking at how much funding they received for their campaign and from whom. This week, the first update of the Register of Members' Financial Interests was published, giving us insight into the funding behind our three MPs. Or, in the case of one, the lack thereof. Rochester and Strood MP and [noted elbower of homeless people](https://www.localauthority.news/new-mp-has-offensive-tweets-outed/) Lauren Edwards [received £37,000](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/240804/edwards%5Flauren.htm?ref=localauthority.news) in donations to the local Labour Party to support her campaign. Labour thinktank Labour Together contributed £10,000, Unite the Union threw in £5,000, the Medway Labour Group found £2,000 down the back of the sofa, and local business Paktech Ltd came up with £5,000. The biggest figure came from one individual: Gary Lubner threw £15,000 in Edwards’ pot. While perhaps not a household name, Lubner is Autoglass's former boss and the largest individual donor to the party during this election, contributing £4.5m in total. Over in Gillingham and Rainham, Naushabah Khan received a similar amount, with [£35,000 making it into her pot](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/240804/khan%5Fnaushabah.htm?ref=localauthority.news). Gary Lubner pops up here again with another £15,000 donation. Elsewhere, the GMB Union contributed £7,000, Labour Together gave a measly £5,000, Gillingham Labour Club gave £4,000, the Medway Labour Group found £2,000 here too, and Unison threw in another £2,000. Then there’s Tristan Osborne in Chatham and Aylesford. It was no secret that the constituency wasn’t a target, even when it began to look winnable, and that is starkly clear in the numbers. Osborne [received a grand total of £3,575](https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/240804/osborne%5Ftristan.htm?ref=localauthority.news) in funding. The biggest share of this (£2,375) came from The Shaw Partnership, a business registered to former Chatham and Aylesford MP [Jonathan Shaw](https://www.localauthority.news/i-had-my-appraisal-with-the-electorate/), while the Medway Labour Group added £1,200\. And that’s it. No unions, no think tanks, no big donors. This does leave a question about just how much difference all this money makes. While clearly useful in marginals, Labour took all three Medway constituencies with similar swings, even though one of the seats had a tenth of the budget of the others. One amusing aside from these register entries is the way in which all three declared their Medway councillor allowances. While all three remain councillors for now, they have all chosen not to take their allowance. The declaration for their final payments is rather revealing, though. While all three declare similar amounts as portfolio holders within Medway Council’s administration, Naushabah Khan and Tristan Osborne list the hours spent on the role as 80 per month. For a busy portfolio holder and diligent local councillor, this doesn’t seem entirely unreasonable. So it is curious that Lauren Edwards, for the same amount of money, declared that it was 25 hours of work instead. There are very different workloads within the Medway Council Cabinet, apparently. --- #### Council budget black hole grows We’ve written extensively about the abyss that Medway Council has been staring into financially and how getting through this year was just the first stage of a difficult process. This week, [Medway Council financial documents](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=75464&ref=localauthority.news) starkly highlighted just how dire the situation is. While the government allowed Medway Council to use emergency borrowing powers to balance the budget this year, future years will require the same interventions as money is rapidly disappearing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!arTd!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fdc67fce0-5700-459c-ad32-c8c32694ba17_1870x786.png) Medway Council’s Medium Term Financial Outlook conclusions Between now and 2028, Medway Council's budget gap looks set to rise to over £140m, or, more optimistically, a mere £114m with emergency financial support. Of course, these kinds of figures aren’t remotely sustainable. Medway Council faces a gap of £24m to £31m yearly over the next four years. However much you try and trim budgets, you aren’t going to bridge that sort of gap. Local councils across the country are in very difficult positions in terms of financial squeeze, and many will have been hoping for a better funding settlement under the new government. So far, though, there is little sign of that materialising. In the meantime, councils like Medway stumble year after year with fewer funds than they actually need to cover the pretty basic services. They make unpalatable cuts, raise council taxes, and go cap in hand to the government every year to survive. This clearly isn’t a viable long-term solution, but until the central government figures out how to fund local councils, Medway Council will continue staring into the abyss, and the rest of us will face poorer and poorer services as a result. --- #### In brief 🎾 [Plans have been submitted to convert the Machine Shop 8 frame at Chatham Dockside into a Padel tennis centre](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SI7FLDKNMAC00&ref=localauthority.news) with three restaurant units. The application is set to be decided in October. 🧪 [The Environment Agency has found dangerous levels of cancer-causing chemicals in the River Medway](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/river-medway-pollution-toxic-chemicals-caner-b2598568.html?ref=localauthority.news). The news follows bitter arguments about the river's state, but few seem to have any solutions for the problem. [We also wrote about sewage dumping in our river a few months ago](https://www.localauthority.news/how-polluted-is-the-river-medway/). 🚑 [Medway Hospital has the shortest handover times from ambulances to A&E](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2x7x54npqo?ref=localauthority.news). Over the summer, the average time was 12 minutes. 🗳️ [There is a vacancy on High Halstow Parish Council](https://highhalstow-pc.gov.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). If you’re interested in filling it, you must submit nomination papers to Medway Council by the end of next week. 🔥 [There was a fire at Chatham Docks on Saturday night](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/video-shows-crews-battling-fire-at-docks-311538/?ref=localauthority.news). The blaze at a freight station in the complex is believed to be accidental. 🚓 [A Gillingham man has been jailed for threatening to burn down five mosques and kill Muslims](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ejvdqne2no?ref=localauthority.news). He was arrested within days of making the threats and sentenced to two and a half years. 🚓 [Another Gillingham man has been jailed after smearing bacon on a mosque, using racial slurs, and making threats](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/football-steward-jailed-after-smearing-bacon-on-mosque-door-311499/?ref=localauthority.news). The criminal mastermind live streamed everything, bragged that he “could get away with it”, and was arrested within days. --- #### More Authority [This week's Sunday interview was with Ben Hopkins](https://www.localauthority.news/in-music-pretty-much-everyone-ends/), a music writer, former film critic, and our very own Gillingham FC columnist. We discussed how he came to support Gillingham, how ghostwriting works, and his dislike of superhero films. [“In music, pretty much everyone ends up freelance by the time they're middle-aged”Ben Hopkins is a freelance writer in the music industry, a former film critic, and Local Authority’s very own Gillingham Football Club columnist. Steven first met Ben for an interview back in March at the Past and Present micropub in Gillingham, but no interview occurred as Ben got involved in a conversation with the regulars about Gillingham FC. They met again in July and discussed how he came to support Gillingham, how ghostwriting works, and how Infinity War was the first MCU film he saw.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0244d165-0530-40b4-8896-7553fafa58cb_2032x1524.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/in-music-pretty-much-everyone-ends/) Last week, [we also visited The Garage Museum](https://www.localauthority.news/driving-nostalgia/), a remarkable collection of automotive ephemera hidden in a corner of Rochester Airport. We talked to its owner, Trevor Hoare, about how the museum came to be and his plans for the future. [Driving nostalgiaWhat leads to a man setting up a museum in the corner of an airport? 30 years of collecting motoring ephemera and a desire to share it. This week, we went up to The Garage Museum at Rochester Airport to meet its owner and find out more. Further down, we have news of potential changes at Chatham Dockside, a review of Brettington’s in Rochester, our weekl…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb02426d7-b821-4b25-9213-363d8f9c2267_4032x2268.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/driving-nostalgia/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*You Can Play These Songs With Chords by Death Cab For Cutie*](https://deathcabforcutie.bandcamp.com/album/you-can-play-these-songs-with-chords?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Yucky Duster by Yucky Duster*](https://yuckyduster.bandcamp.com/album/yucky-duster?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*6.9 Love Songs by The Just Joans*](https://thejustjoans.bandcamp.com/album/69-love-songs?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “In music, pretty much everyone ends up freelance by the time they're middle-aged” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/in-music-pretty-much-everyone-ends/ Last updated: 2024-08-18T06:03:40.000Z *Ben Hopkins is a freelance writer in the music industry, a former film critic, and Local Authority’s very own Gillingham Football Club columnist. Steven first met Ben for an interview back in March at the Past and Present micropub in Gillingham, but no interview occurred as Ben got involved in a conversation with the regulars about Gillingham FC. They met again in July and discussed how he came to support Gillingham, how ghostwriting works, and how Infinity War was the first MCU film he saw.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!41PT!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0244d165-0530-40b4-8896-7553fafa58cb_2032x1524.jpg) Ben Hopkins **Where were you born?** Farnborough. Not Farnborough Farnborough, but a suburb of Orpington. **How did you end up in the Medway Towns?** My parents moved to Snodland when I was one or two, and then we moved to Strood when I was four or five. **What jobs did your parents do growing up?** My dad worked in warehouses for Safeway’s primarily. My mum worked at a baker’s. Was it called in [Morley's](https://www.morleysbakery.com/?ref=localauthority.news)? [Francis Iles](https://francis-iles.com/?ref=localauthority.news) and some shoe shop. I can't remember the name of it. **Did you enjoy school?** It was okay. Got to the point of maybe in the first three years of secondary school thinking I wasn't really any good at anything, but then sort of things picked up a bit after that. **Did you stay on for sixth form?** Yes, I did the classic A-level selection of English, Politics, General Studies, and Business Studies at Chatham Grammar. **Did you go to university?** It's changed its name so many times, but it's basically High Wycombe. I was doing music industry management. **And what does that mean?** Basically, you study various subsections of music, whether it's legal issues, venue safety, marketing. All sorts of stuff around that. It was, at the time, the first music industry course in the country. **How did you do?** Well, one of the things we discovered from the lecturers and the visiting people from the industry was that the chances of actually getting a job from this course were minimal. I spent most of my time focusing on work experience, and the actual studies were on the back burner. That's the only way you were going to get what you were meant to be doing out of it. I'd be at a record label or I did some stuff at the [NME](https://www.nme.com/?ref=localauthority.news) and various others. **Do you play any musical instruments?** No, I have no talent whatsoever. **Why did you want to study music management?** I guess it was just I was really into music for as long as I can remember really. **But not enough to actually learn how to play an instrument?** I just didn't have an aptitude for it. You don't want to see me try and play anything on the piano, for example. It's just a disaster. I feel like it's reasonably common in the music industry that people aren't musicians themselves. **What was your first full-time job?** Working for Warner Music, which was 2000\. I became a staff writer for their PR department. When I applied for the Warner job, I had to submit an example piece for the Madonna single which had just been released. As Ali G was featured in the [video for ‘Music’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdz2oW0NMFk&ref=localauthority.news), I included a daft joke about him getting Madonna confused with Maradona. A few months later, Ali G introduced Madonna as Maradona at a big award show. It was such an obvious joke I’m sure some had already had the idea, but I’m happy to take credit. My interview was with [Barbara Charone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara%5FCharone?ref=localauthority.news), head of the label’s PR department. Walking into her office and immediately asking her about her framed Dennis Wise Chelsea shirt probably sealed the deal more than my conversation. **What is your official occupation now?** Freelance writer. **And what does that mean? What does that entail?** I work for pretty much every music company you can think of, in various regards, on a weekly basis. I'll probably be doing press releases for albums, tours, singles, videos. I might be doing biogs, which are not so much factual but sort of interview-type features that position an artist for their story at this stage in their career or introducing them and all sorts of other things semi-related to that. **Did your university degree help you in the music industry you ended up working in?** Not hugely. Only in as much as sort of you know the basic what every department should be doing, but in terms of practical knowledge, no, not really. Alright in terms of what did inspire me. This guy came in and he was a student radio plugger. His job was to send music out to a hundred stations and then phone them all up to see if they played it and it's a bit like doing telesales. I think that's the thing that I kind of thought, ‘Yeah, this course on its own is not going to do much for me.’ I don't know what I did first. I worked at [One Little Indian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One%5FLittle%5FIndependent%5FRecords?ref=localauthority.news), the record label that Bjork and at the time Alabama Three, and Sneaker Pimps. That was kind of an adventure. I did lots of student journalism at the time as well, talking to the Bluetones or Napalm Death or someone. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Driving nostalgia URL: https://www.localauthority.news/driving-nostalgia/ Last updated: 2024-08-16T18:59:22.000Z *What leads to a man setting up a museum in the corner of an airport? 30 years of collecting motoring ephemera and a desire to share it. This week, we went up to The Garage Museum at Rochester Airport to meet its owner and find out more. Further down, we have news of potential changes at Chatham Dockside, a review of Brettington’s in Rochester, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Driving nostalgia One of Medway's most unique museums is hidden in a quiet corner of Rochester Airport. Park in the small car park at the end of a gravel track, cross a taxiway, and you’ll find [The Garage Museum](https://www.thegaragemuseum.com/?ref=localauthority.news) at the edge of the airport’s largest hanger. When you look at reviews of the museum, one phrase comes up often: ‘An Aladdin’s cave’. Walking in, this seems apt, as so much has been packed in that it can be hard to know where to look first. The museum is packed full of motoring ephemera. Old petrol pumps are probably the most prominent feature, but so much else is on display. Old petrol and oil cans, road signs, old maps, motoring board games and puzzles, and lots more that stretch the original brief. Some bicycles are dotted around, and a small number of rocking horses hang from the ceiling. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!IO4D!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f2a452681-35b9-478a-b0ca-92fc5a81aaa3_3697x2080.jpg) Garage Museum owner Trevor Hoare This might seem strange in a more traditional museum, but it’s clear this is far from it. The museum houses the personal collection of one man, Trevor Hoare, who has been collecting things he finds interesting for over 30 years now. It all started when he ended up possessing an old petrol pump destined for the scrap heap, and it’s fair to say that things have spiralled a bit since then. Trevor worked in the motor trade for years, so perhaps his choice of collection isn’t too surprising. His enthusiasm for what he does is infectious, though. He has built a collection over decades, primarily by picking up what the rest of us would throw away. An oil bottle or an old petrol can might not seem particularly unique at the time, but Trevor sees his role as preserving what won’t be around in the future. He points toward some modern plastic oil bottles and notes, “One day, it will all be rare”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Gj4E!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb02426d7-b821-4b25-9213-363d8f9c2267_4032x2268.jpg) This isn’t Trevor’s first attempt at creating the museum. He first opened up in the same building nearly a decade ago, but he quickly filled it and found it turning into an inaccessible store room. Following a forced temporary relocation while the airport underwent renovation work, he’s making a proper go of it this time. Partly a way to keep busy in his retirement and partly a way to share his passion, the new version of the museum is packed but not cluttered. Most of the displays have been designed and built by Trevor himself, leading to the museum being a constantly evolving entity. Particularly given he already has far more than he can fit inside, with another building on the airport site being used as an overflow storage room. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!XaY5!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1f6d39b6-b979-4ac7-a37a-131bbbaad51d_4032x2268.jpg) The Garage Museum That said, there’s clear room for The Garage Museum to expand if a suitable new venue could be found, but Trevor is somewhat wary of the idea. He funds the project from his pension and makes no money from its operation. There’s no entry fee to visit the museum and no gift shop. He’s conscious that any expansion would likely result in a need to charge, and with increased professionalisation, “the fun might go out of it”. There are already some challenges. Finding new items is becoming more difficult. Trevor doesn't find modern petrol pumps appealing because their homogenous design is uninteresting, and finding more vintage items is getting harder as the restoration market grows. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Mp0P!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1fcbb418-afc5-41dd-a7f6-4045c220dabd_4032x2268.jpg) The Garage Museum From talking to Trevor, it is obvious that he wants to do something more, whatever form that might take. He talks about an increased collection and how he could easily fill a space twice the size. He enthusiastically talks about the desire to build full petrol forecourt exhibitions. In the meantime, he is trying to boost the profile of his museum. Trevor admits he isn’t the most tech-savvy, so his son has been helping him develop a social media presence for the venue. The [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/thegaragemuseumdotcom), in particular, seems to be making a difference, leading more people to find this treasure trove at the back of the airport. He’s talking to other organisations about potential collaborations and getting involved in the wider heritage sector in Medway. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!8aoC!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbe70c4b4-5571-41bf-9549-6ec68d7f75bf_4032x2268.jpg) The Garage Museum Trevor’s collection has also found another use. It has been regularly featured on television and film productions. Any garage seen on Midsomer Murders is likely from his collection, and his Shell petrol pumps played a pivotal role in the Only Fools and Horses spin-off Rock & Chips. Pumps from his collection have popped up in everything from Kavanagh QC to films to several adverts. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!hZxe!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f55014194-dfdf-438c-9a1a-76138b75ec77_2364x1330.jpg) The Garage Museum The Garage Museum is a unique experience, and it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll spot something that brings back memories when visiting. There’s a good chance Trevor will also have an anecdote to share. It’s that passion for his collection that makes The Garage Museum work. Trevor is an enthusiastic curator of decades of items most of us would take for granted at the time, and it’s clear how much he enjoys what he does. After all, as he says, “It’s just a bit of fun”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!oh2N!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f432fe783-151a-41e7-9d84-61703aa25aa9_4032x2266.jpg) The Garage Museum [*The Garage Museum*](https://www.thegaragemuseum.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *is open on Saturdays and Sundays 10am-2pm, and is free to visit.* --- #### In brief 🏗️ [Medway Council has adopted a Design Code for Chatham](https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/medway-council-adopts-new-design-code-for-chatham/5130982.article?ref=localauthority.news) to set out aspirations for the town centre's future. The document becomes part of the planning process and guides developers on the standards expected from new developments. 🛩️ [A plane crashed at Rochester Airport on Wednesday](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/pilot-in-hospital-after-plane-crash-near-airport-311326/?ref=localauthority.news). The plane came down in woodland next to the airport, causing traffic disruption on Rochester Road. No injuries were reported, but the pilot was taken to hospital as a precaution. 🔵 [Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott has revealed he is backing Tom Tugendhat as the next Conservative leader](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/crime-commissioner-reveals-his-tory-leader-choice-311383/?ref=localauthority.news). Guesting on the Kent Politics Podcast, he also talked about the role of the PCC under a Labour government. 🅿️ [Plans to move all parking payments at Southeastern stations in Medway to app or phone-based systems have been paused](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2nxe7nn7xo?ref=localauthority.news) following user feedback. The train operator acknowledged customers' ‘concern’ and delayed the switch for a few months. 🔥 [The former St John Fisher School site in Chatham caught fire again today](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/five-fire-engines-tackle-huge-blaze-at-derelict-school-311484/?ref=localauthority.news). Smoke was seen across the towns, with fire crews extinguishing the blaze after a couple of hours. The cause is so far unknown. --- #### More changes coming to Dockside Over the past couple of decades, the Chatham Dockside area has had to regularly adapt to changing tastes and economic challenges. From a shopping centre that was underutilised upon launch to Dickensworld's departure, the area has taken a long time to find its feet. Now, the area is relatively thriving, at least when compared to our town centres. New leisure uses have come to the area, chain restaurants litter the area, and the Dockside Centre itself runs at mostly full occupancy, albeit with some increasingly diversified uses, such as a dentist and a recruitment agency setting up shop inside. Following two planning applications submitted to Medway Council, more changes appear to be on the horizon. First, there is a [proposal to subdivide the existing Choice unit into four outlets](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SI7QLVKNMHH00&ref=localauthority.news), which is devastating news to anyone who likes to buy discount Next clothes, your author included. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!7_eo!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f77cee521-eb0b-40c5-b5a1-d9ecad50b432_2166x704.jpg) Proposal for the Dockside Centre The plans would see a complete remodelling of the area, with three units facing outwards of the centre, allowing them to be open even when the main centre is closed. The intent appears to be to create potential new restaurant or entertainment spaces within the centre, which makes sense given that food seems to work best in the area and retail is experiencing a slow decline. A [second application seeks to expand one of the shop units within the centre](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SI7QM6KNMHN00&ref=localauthority.news). The unit was formerly home to Regatta, and is proposed to grow by more than 50%. While the unit is set to remain retail, the purpose of this particular expansion is unclear. Given the timing of the applications, one could speculate that the unit could provide a new home for Choice, but there are no formal clues within the documents. Still, anyone who enjoys discount Next clothing will be keeping their fingers crossed. --- #### Out to Lunch: Brettington’s *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This time, he’s testing *Brettington’s in Rochester*…* Brettington’s is located on Rochester High Street, not quite opposite Rochester Cathedral. This steak and lobster house has a small seated area by its large window at the front, but there are lots more seats at the back. It is often very busy, so consider booking if visiting during peak times. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Brettington’s is also at the pricier end of the food offerings in Medway. I ordered a large rack of ribs in homemade smoked BBQ sauce, along with chips, slaw, and a side of mixed wild mushrooms. The food took longer than expected, so we were lucky we weren’t on a tight lunch schedule. When it arrived, however, the wait was worth it. The chips were crisp and fresh, the slaw creamy and flavourful, and the tasty mushrooms complemented it well. The ribs were the star of the show, however: well cooked, tender, delicious, and with a great sauce. They fell off the bone and into my mouth as if we were both doing what God intended. If you can, save up for a special occasion, book a table and enjoy this delight on Rochester High Street. --- #### Events this week 🏳️‍🌈 Medway Pride is back at Rochester Castle Gardens tomorrow (Sat 17 Aug). Features music, drag performances, and a parade through Rochester High Street from 10am. [Free, but booking essential](https://medwaypride.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). 🥕 [Rochester Farmers Market](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) is back on Sunday (18 Aug) in the Blue Boar Lane car park. Around 20 traders will be selling local and unique food and drink. Free. 🎨 Medway musician and artist Lupen Crook has an [exhibition of new paintings at Analogue Music](https://www.facebook.com/events/3374035979406782/) in Rochester from Thursday (22 Aug) until 8 Sep. He will also play some songs on opening night in a rare performance. Free. --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*More Break-Up Songs by New Starts*](https://fikarecordings.bandcamp.com/album/more-break-up-songs?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Every Bad by Porridge Radio*](https://porridgeradio.bandcamp.com/album/every-bad?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Ordinary Silence by Mixtapes*](https://nosleeprecords.bandcamp.com/album/ordinary-silence?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### A tale of two councillors URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-tale-of-two-councillors/ Last updated: 2024-08-13T21:43:48.000Z *We lead on a slightly grubby story this week, where Medway Council’s ruling Labour administration have taken five days to respond to offensive tweets from one of their own, only to say “no comment”. It’s difficult not to compare this with a situation last week where another councillor was rapidly condemned for calling far-right activists ‘Nazis’. It’s not all depressing hypocrisy though, as further down we have news of the new Paddock in Chatham, which opened today, some interesting planning applications, our news in brief section, and more.* --- #### A tale of two councillors On Friday, [we published details of old tweets from new Labour MP for Rochester and Strood Lauren Edwards](https://www.localauthority.news/new-mp-has-offensive-tweets-outed/). The tweets included references to “fucking Estonian retards”, jibes about William Hague’s sexuality, complaints about cleaners in her workplaces, and comments about elbowing homeless people. It goes without saying that none of it looked good, but while Edwards did issue an apology on her since deleted Twitter account, there was no word from the Labour Party, either locally or nationally, on the issue. So, here we are, four days on, surely the party would have formed some kind of view on whether it considers these sorts of comments acceptable? Apparently not. There has been no comment from the national party on the matter at all. The local party did at least manage to issue something today, but whether or not they should have bothered is up for debate. Leader of the Opposition George Perfect wrote to Medway Council Leader Vince Maple twice in the last week, [the first time to raise his concerns](https://x.com/MedwayTories/status/1821575477242540507?ref=localauthority.news), and the [second to ask direct questions about whether he condemned the comments](https://x.com/MedwayTories/status/1823266898491883723?ref=localauthority.news) and what he planned to do about them. These should not be particularly challenging questions to answer, not that you’d be able to tell from the [response issued by Medway Labour](https://x.com/MedwayLabour/status/1823425654387257463?ref=localauthority.news). > *Thank you for your letters dated 8th and 13th August regarding a number of social media posts from more than a decade ago.* > > *I have spoken to Cllr Lauren Edwards MP and am aware that she has issued a public statement apologising wholeheartedly for these posts. I am pleased that she has apologised and welcome her statement.* > > *I have no intention of commenting further on this matter, and remain focussed on delivering the priorities of the people of Medway…* Yikes. The letter explicitly makes no comment on the offensive tweets themselves, instead just dismissively references “social media posts from more than a decade ago”, and welcomes her apology before getting on to the usual Medway Labour talking points. Nothing to suggest he or Medway Labour have any issue with the tweets and nothing to acknowledge the hurt and upset they would have caused. It is hard to imagine a world where Cllr Maple or Medway Labour would find this an acceptable response if this was going on within another party. For a party that swept to power locally with the promise of doing better, this feels like the same old ‘protect your own’ politics that we have seen all too often. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!XqD2!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0ca2dc57-59ca-4d39-a894-fb943eb5c554_1600x900.jpg) Cllr Lauren Edwards MP and Cllr Satinder Shokar It is also difficult not to contrast the Medway Labour (lack of) response to Edwards’ posts to the far more aggressive stance they took toward the suspended Labour councillor Satinder Shokar last week for the crime of calling far-right activists ‘Nazis’. [Cllr Shokar, for his part, has defended his position](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/councillor-defends-use-of-nazi-scum-chant-311091/?ref=localauthority.news), arguing that he is a longstanding anti-racism campaigner who has faced racism himself throughout his life. Regarding the Nazi chants, Cllr Shokar asserts that Nazi imagery and symbolism was seen at the demonstration, leading to the somewhat understandable anti-Nazi chanting. It took less than 12 hours for Chatham and Aylesford MP Tris Osborne to declare that there is “no place for this kind of language” in the Labour Party. Within a day, [Cllr Maple had managed to issue a statement on Cllr Shokar](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/), suggesting his comments weren’t ideal while also highlighting that Shokar seemed to be coming under more scrutiny than others for his role in the chants. This is the kind of pragmatic middle ground that is common from Cllr Maple, and it remains all the more baffling just how much he has misjudged the tone of response when addressing Edwards’ social media posts. This whole situation makes Medway Labour look horribly indecisive and rather hypocritical on tackling issues within their own party, given how strongly they have gone after members of other political parties for their members’ social media posts. Still, it is at least useful to understand where the lines are. Calling Nazis ‘Nazis’ is bad, but calling people ‘fucking Estonian retards’ isn’t that big of a deal, apparently. --- #### New Paddock is open What do you get when you transform a small and slightly unloved green space in the centre of Chatham for £2.8m? The new version of The Paddock between the bus station and the Pentagon opened today to give us some sort of answer. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!hX_X!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5c895182-3b21-4514-9df4-dc08bffc4ac6_2364x1330.jpg) Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Deputy Mayor Douglas Hamandishe opening The Paddock in Chatham The newly upgraded Paddock features large planted areas, accessible lawns, a quite nice engraved map of Chatham, and improved pathways. These are all, by any measure, good things. Elsewhere, it features an ampitheatre that would struggle to be used as an ampitheatre as there’s a giant planter in the middle of it, skateboarders have been deliberately designed out of the location despite their use of the old Paddock, while additional seating has been included for the kind of people that want to sit around the centre of Chatham during the day. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!nZ5C!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f52225d4f-0d9a-4b92-b308-3f53da9a3ce2_2364x1330.jpg) The Paddock in Chatham The Paddock scheme is part of the wider regeneration of the area, with the waterfront flats nearby nearing completion, and the upcoming work on Mountbatten House and the Pentagon. Chatham still has a long way to go, and while the new Paddock hardly seems perfect, it is at least an interesting and refreshed space in the centre of town, providing a nicer gateway into the town centre than what existed before. Now, there just needs to be more reasons to actually go there in the first place. More images of the new Paddock: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/7cf2a998-8307-4d75-bc53-617719f195a6_2364x1330.jpg) ![](https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/044b3455-d4c4-4f18-8f57-2605a308d298_4032x2268.heic) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/176110f1-109e-4cbb-813e-363411fa1783_2364x1330.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/ec9a65ef-95ba-4f08-87ef-2c0fa0cc762a_2364x1330.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/55bd395d-4d13-47b4-a451-d5e43ce7f101_2364x1330.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/f12aa88c-40f4-4d8b-92cf-47f227edd965_2364x1330.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/81bc0e16-23a4-41cb-bed7-42c0a32fd2dd_2364x1330.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/ee2bedf4-7313-4794-bc84-3e992efa292c_2364x1330.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/public/images/e5eee405-786b-447d-bdbc-a9feb326692a_2364x1330.jpg) --- #### Planning news The planning application for ‘Ironmonger Yard’ (formerly ‘Bardell Wharf’) in Rochester has been submitted to Medway Council. The plans feature a mixed-use development with 296 flats and commercial spaces. This represents a drop of around 80 units from the previously approved plans. The application also comes within days of the ‘public consultation’ by the developer finishing, meaning they clearly had the time to take public comments on board and make changes rather than it just being a tick box exercise. A decision on the plans should be made by November. [You’ll be able to view the full plans on Medway Council’s planning portal](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SHLIU5KNGK100&activeTab=summary&ref=localauthority.news) shortly but they don’t seem to have uploaded all of the documents yet. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!kF6Z!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0290df57-6fd0-4d7c-8f42-a9a3b889aa5e_1864x922.jpg) Proposals for the Ironmonger Yard development in Rochester Elsewhere, the ongoing infilling of Chatham continues with a proposal to remodel the current auction house on Rhode Street into 13 flats flats and two commercial units. This will involve increasing the height of the existing building by two storeys, and remodelling it to accomodate three floors of residential units, most of which do manage to meet minimum space standards. [The plans for the development are now available on Medway Council’s planning portal](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SG3TFZKNMDB00&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### In brief 🐕 [Medway Council are consulting on a new Public Space Protection Order regarding dogs](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1733/have%5Fyour%5Fsay%5Fon%5Fmedway%5Fs%5Fdog%5Fmanagement%5Fpublic%5Fspace%5Fprotection%5Forder?ref=localauthority.news). It would require dogs to be on leads in a number of parks and public spaces across Medway and exclude them from things like Play Areas. It all seems fairly sensible, but like all such things, it can only work if enforced. 🏥 [661 patients in A&E at Medway Maritime Hospital waited more than 12 hours in a corridor last month](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/12-hour-corridor-waits-at-kent-hospitals-trust-third-worst-i-311087/?ref=localauthority.news). This means Medway NHS Foundation Trust ranks 178th of 197 hospital trusts in the country. 🚌 [A bus crashed into a block of flats that were under construction in Gillingham](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/bus-crashes-into-scaffolding-near-high-street-311273/?ref=localauthority.news). The incident involved another car, and led to a lot of scaffolding looking very unsafe. It is unclear if any injuries were involved. 🎙️ [The We Did It Medway podcast is now five episodes in](https://shows.acast.com/we-did-it-medway?ref=localauthority.news), and is well worth your time. The new series, from Rob Flood and Phillip Dodd, is proving entertaining so far, with episodes covering Medway’s suffragists, Isaac Newell, the Medway Queen, Sweeps Festival, and, of course, Dickens. --- #### More Authority Over the weekend, we interviewed Cllr George Perfect, the new Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council. We discussed George's election as Leader of the Conservative Group, the recent General Election campaign, social media use, and the Local Plan. [“Our principal focus at the moment is being that effective strong opposition”Steven sat down with Cllr George Perfect for a second time, following their previous conversation earlier in the year when George was elected Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group. Things move fast in politics, and now, a few months later, George has been promoted to Leader of the Opposition. They met via Teams to discuss George becoming Leader of the Opposition, the General Election campaign, the social media use, and the local plan.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa07a1234-3862-40b0-89bc-ab6ecd27f24e_540x540.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*This Is My World by Helen Love*](https://alcopop.bandcamp.com/album/this-is-my-world?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Reputation by Taylor Swift*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIft-t-MQuE&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Arnos Vale by Personal Best*](https://specialistsubject.bandcamp.com/album/arnos-vale?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “Our principal focus at the moment is being that effective strong opposition” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/our-principal-focus-at-the-moment/ Last updated: 2024-08-11T06:02:14.000Z *Steven sat down with Cllr George Perfect for a second time, following* [*their previous conversation earlier in the year*](https://www.localauthority.news/i-think-the-point-is-that-the-group/) *when George was elected Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group. Things move fast in politics, and now, a few months later, George has been promoted to Leader of the Opposition. They met via Teams to discuss George becoming Leader of the Opposition, the General Election campaign, the social media use, and the local plan.* **Editor’s note:* This interview was conducted before the recent national disorder and before this week’s news about Lauren Edwards MP's tweets, which* [*Cllr Perfect has commented on here*](https://x.com/MedwayTories/status/1821575477242540507?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ![George Perfect - The Terrapin Group | LinkedIn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Jc9Y!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa07a1234-3862-40b0-89bc-ab6ecd27f24e_540x540.jpg) Cllr George Perfect **Why did you decide to run to be leader of the Medway Conservatives after Cllr Gulvin stood down?** For me, it was about a couple of things. We'd obviously, last year, gone through what was a very difficult election for us. I don't think there's any sort of problem saying that. I think it was a very difficult election. We lost a number of very good colleagues. The campaign was difficult, particularly given the national picture in terms of where the party was polling. It was a difficult election, and it was a difficult result. It was also a seismic election in the sense that we'd had a number of people standing down, including two previous leaders, Rodney Chambers OBE and and Alan Jarrett. We lost a number of colleagues that I think we'd anticipated would be returned. We had the leadership election last year, and Adrian was elected. He asked me to serve in his shadow cabinet as our spokesperson for children's services and education, which I accepted. I've worked very closely with him over the past 12 months in terms of plotting out where you were, do a bit of a review as to where the group was, but also beginning to sketch out what it could look like for us as an opposition, moving towards 2027. What happened over the course of particularly the beginning of this calendar year was I think a number of members of the group actually liked that vision and were impressed with what I'd done as our spokesperson for children services, and encouraged me to stand as leader, and I would probably have unanimous support from the group if I stood. But for me, it's a longer-term project in terms of rebuilding our group and our party locally ahead of the next set of local elections. I think it's very exciting, and I'm lucky to have a great team. **Is there any part of that plan you're able to share in terms of that route to 2027?** There's always a change when you go from being an administration into being in opposition. I think we've completed that now. We're a good team, we've got a quality shadow cabinet, where we've had a number of people I've moved around this year, which is working really well together. We're meeting very regularly. The next piece of work is around sharpening up some of our communications. You go from running a council when you have the council’s communications machine, driving portfolio holders and everything else. It's a bit of a different role. I think we were a bit slow at the start on that, but we're now there. We've got a brilliant political assistant supporting us with that. The shadow cabinet members are really leading in their briefs. Then more widely, we'll have a political discussion about what things we want to look for in terms of 2027, in terms of the offer that we'll put to the people of Medway, and indeed driving some of the other changes that that the group want to see around how we might look to run the future of the council. Some of those conversations will sharpen up as we get more towards 2026, but our principal focus at the moment is being that effective strong opposition. **Have you yet to change your work schedule now that you've become a group leader?** Yeah. It's slightly different. Obviously, I'm spending more time as group leader than I was as children’s services spokesperson, but I'd already been spending quite a significant amount of time on the council with Adrian when I was it was in that role. It's slightly heavier in terms of the workload, but there's a circle of brilliant team around me as well. It's never just about one person **How is your working relationship with the Leader of the Council Vince Maple?** On a personal level, I get on with Vince. He's the leader of the council. He's been a council member for a number of years. He's very experienced. He was a very experienced leader of the opposition, actually. One of the longest serving in in the southeast by the time he took the council over. Of course, we have political disagreements and things that I don't see eye to eye with him on. But, on a personal level, we have a working relationship that I would say is appropriate and cordial and good in terms of delivering for the people of Medway. **You became a councillor yourself in 2023\. Do you have any working relationship with the previous Conservative leaders of the council?** Yeah, I do. I've been a party member for a significant number of years as well. I was involved as the Youth Council Chair as well before that. I talk to Alan Jarrett on a regular basis. He's been involved in the group for many years, of course. Very highly experienced. I get on well with Rodney. We've got a good working relationship with previous members of the council, and a lot of them still play an active role within our constituency associations, of course, and I have been out on the campaign trail with lots of them and talking to them regularly. **When we last spoke, you confidently said that the group is united. Since then,** [**another member of the group has joined the Independent Group**](https://www.localauthority.news/i/146427726/another-conservative-quits-council-group)**. Do you stand by the statement that the group is united?** The group is united. Look, I chaired a meeting of our group on Monday evening, and everybody is resolutely behind me as the leader. I think Councillor Williams, obviously, is unhappy with things that have taken place within the national party. I'm very disappointed about that. As I said to him privately when he informed me of the decision, I'm very disappointed because the party has just gone through the election, and we're in the rebuilding phase. It's a crucial time for our party, both locally and nationally. The time now is to unite and work together to plot forward that future. He's decided that he wanted to join the Independent Group because he's unhappy with the national government. We're not in government anymore. I think we're in a rebuilding phase. I wish him all the best of luck with that. **No concerns over anyone else going independent or even joining Reform?** Don't believe so at the moment. I don't think so. **Individual members will have their own feelings about how the party nationally moves forward. Do you feel that the party should welcome Nigel Farage?** I think Nigel Farage has said that he wanted to see the destruction of the Conservative Party, so I don't quite see how Nigel Farage could be a member, or if he would even want to be a member, quite frankly, talking with language like that. I mean, that’s a matter for the party board and the leader, but I can't see a circumstance in which that would be acceptable given his previous comments about the destruction of the party. He's been elected to parliament, and Reform has caused significant damage to the Conservative Party. So, I don't see that happening. **Do you have any thoughts on the current contenders who should become the new leader?** I think we've got a number of really good candidates, and a number of them have very good relationships with us here in Medway. We had Dame Priti Patel down a few weeks ago. We've got Tom Tugendhat, who's a very good friend of ours, we are very close to him. And, of course, we've got others. I am attending a meeting tomorrow with Kemi Badenoch, who's our shadow secretary of state for local government. It's difficult for me to comment, but I think it's going to be a good contest. We've got a number of people with varying ideas, which is good. Diversity of thought in the room and having that sort of wider conversation about what the future of the party looks like is important. I'm sure the members will select the right person to lead the party forward. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### New MP has offensive tweets outed URL: https://www.localauthority.news/new-mp-has-offensive-tweets-outed/ Last updated: 2024-08-09T18:13:12.000Z *Every now and again, it feels like there is almost too much news. Following a week of Medway news dominated by far-right protests in Chatham, news broke of offensive old tweets from new Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards. We dig into the full details of those below. Further down, we have news of the first person from this week’s Chatham demonstration being jailed, a review of Ye Arrow in Rochester, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* **Editor’s note:* Thanks so much for all of the kind words about* [*our coverage of Wednesday’s demonstration*](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/)*, which saw the far-right and anti-racist campaigners standing off next to a dual carriageway in Chatham. It took lots of conversations, on-the-ground reporting, and hours of watching video streamed from the event. The result is a piece that, I believe, captures what happened in our town this week, for better or worse. It’s the kind of in-depth journalism that we want to do more of, and we’re grateful to all of our* [*paid supporters*](#/portal/signup) *who give us the resources to do it.* [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### New MP has offensive tweets outed It’s been a while since we’ve had a good old-fashioned scandal about tweets someone posted years ago. Step forward new Rochester and Strood Labour MP Lauren Edwards, who has had to apologise after tweets featuring racist and ableist language were dug up and shared around on social media. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!jR-o!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f070539db-87f1-438d-b641-0855ef900a0f_1200x600.jpg) A tweet from Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards [The tweets](https://x.com/tomhfh/status/1821535079513952585?ref=localauthority.news), which date from 2009 to 2011, feature phrases like “fucking estonian retards”, talk about elbowing a homeless man in the ribs, and question the sexuality of Conservative politician William Hague. Inevitably, as the tweets started to circulate, the obligatory apology post appeared: > *I have recently been made aware of a small number of tweets that I posted on Twitter from over a decade ago, which I now deeply regret.* > > *They were a significant error of judgement on my part, and I apologise wholeheartedly.* > > *Since becoming a local councillor and more recently an MP, I have seen first-hand the importance of bringing communities together and working with tolerance and respect for all in our society.* > > *I pledge to use my platform to continue that important work and dedicate myself to serving all residents of Rochester and Strood.* Significant error of judgment is one way of describing these, but Edwards wouldn’t be the first politician to be caught out by questionable comments from the past. Things peaked this morning when Twitter owner and Lex Luthor cosplayer Elon Musk [amplified the tweets](https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1821796830608253387?ref=localauthority.news) in response to Edwards’ apology, which likely wasn’t on her list of things to happen a month after becoming an MP. Edwards’ quickly deleted her account, leaving users checking her profile finding a rather apt ‘Something went wrong’ message. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!6dLj!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd4cde3a1-4e50-4ba0-83fe-7b6ae3665fbe_1556x882.jpg) Lauren Edwards’ Twitter account this afternoon As the situation has progressed, the strangest thing has been the lack of any comment from anyone within the Labour Party. Nationally, the party has not offered any response. Locally, despite repeated requests, no statement has been made, despite Medway Labour leader Vince Maple managing to release multiple statements in response to Wednesday’s demonstrations within the same time frame. It’s a strange look for a party sweeping promising to do things differently to put their heads in their sand and hope it might go away. Locally, the issue presents a logistical headache for the Labour Group. Edwards is still a Labour councillor, and the Group Whip in charge of disciplinary issues is Cllr Gareth Myton, who also happens to be Edwards’ partner. That’s a slightly awkward dinner conversation. Former Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst, who was defeated by Edwards last month, said she was [“shocked and concerned by the views”](https://x.com/KellyTolhurst/status/1821514941607612851?ref=localauthority.news), while Leader of the Conservative Group, Cllr George Perfect, [wrote to Cllr Maple](https://x.com/MedwayTories/status/1821575477242540507?ref=localauthority.news) to raise his concerns. Now, it isn’t entirely unusual for politicians to have questionable content on their social media channels from a time before they were public figures. What is more unusual is that these tweets were all posted while Edwards was working in parliament for Labour MPs and that somehow neither she nor anyone else picked them up in the years since. Political parties usually undertake due diligence on potential candidates to ensure that something like this doesn’t come out later. Given Edwards has been through a selection process both locally and nationally, it raises questions about whether the Labour Party didn’t find them or didn’t think they were problematic enough to be an issue. Neither scenario is particularly good. *Medway Labour declined to comment for this story. Maybe they’ll have something by our Tuesday edition.* --- #### In brief 🔥 [Two areas of the Great Lines were on fire last night](https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/close-up-footage-shows-suspicious-9471176?ref=localauthority.news). Kent Fire and Rescue Service put out the fires around 9pm, and they are being treated as suspicious. 🚓 [A teenager was stabbed in Gillingham on Tuesday afternoon](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/teenager-19-airlifted-to-hospital-after-stabbing-near-kfc-310950/?ref=localauthority.news). The incident on Canterbury Street saw the victim airlifted to hospital, where he is in a stable condition. 🎙️ [Newly elected Chatham and Aylesford MP Tris Osborne is on the Kent Politics Podcast this week](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/it-s-time-that-social-media-companies-were-tackled-over-lie-311044/?ref=localauthority.news). He discusses his first few weeks in parliament and the impact of social media on recent disorder, but not his views on Estonians. --- #### First Chatham demonstrator jailed Yesterday, [we published our report from Wednesday’s far-right demonstration in Chatham](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/), which ended in a stand-off with anti-racism campaigners. That report features an arrest being made of a man using a homophobic slur towards a police officer. [Word from the Crown Prosecution Service today](https://www.cps.gov.uk/south-east/news/jail-man-who-yelled-homophobic-abuse-chatham-protest?ref=localauthority.news) proves that the wheels of justice can sometimes move quite quickly. The man, Daniel Baldock of Medway, was sentenced today to 14 weeks in prison, becoming the first person in Kent to be jailed following recent disorder. Baldock pleaded guilty to an offence of disorderly conduct, though his solicitors claimed he was unaware of the protests in the area. Magistrates didn’t seem to believe this, telling him he knew “damn well” they were happening and that he attended regardless. Baldock’s sentence was increased from 12 weeks to 14 weeks, given the homophobic nature of the offence. --- #### Out to Lunch: Ye Arrow *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This time, he’s eating at *Ye Arrow in Rochester*…* Ye Arrow is located just off the main crossroads on Rochester High Street, looking towards Rochester Castle. For some reason, it is connected internally with another High Street pub, The Jolly Knight, even though they are two separate establishments. Inside, the pub is open and welcoming, if not particularly modern. The menu offers a good range of pub fare without relying entirely on beige food. We ordered the Arrow Combo for two, which includes sticky BBQ pork ribs, chicken wings, onion rings, homemade coleslaw, corn on the cob and fries. In a moment of panicked ordering, I also got some whitebait for a starter. The whitebait was delicious, with a good tartare sauce. However, it was served with the main (possibly our fault), and so added a complex taste to the rest of the meal. The ribs were well cooked, and the meat tenderly slipped off the bone. The chicken wings were covered in the same sticky sauce and were all the better for it. The onion rings were fine. The meat was served on top of the fries, which meant they were covered in the sauce and meat juice, which I am very on board for. The salad (with no dressing) was nice, and it had a good chunky coleslaw, though for a combo for two, felt like a small portion. Overall though, Ye Arrow was good tasty food, served by a friendly team, and I look forward to eating there again. --- #### Events this week 🛍️ [Rochester City Vintage & Artisan Market](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket) is back tomorrow (Sat 10 Aug), with over 25 stalls selling unique gifts and products along Rochester High Street. Free. 🎸 Poco Loco in Chatham has a night of noise rock tomorrow (Sat 10 Aug). Dead Mammals headline, with support from the excellent Punching Swans, Sheena, and Sonic Hawkins. [Tickets £5](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/livemusicevent/dead-mammals-punching-swans-sonic-hawkins-sheena/2024-08-10/21:00/t-qjqmpze?ref=localauthority.news). 🏳️‍🌈 Local artist Michi Matsumi has an [exhibition that celebrates LGBTQ+ cultur](https://www.facebook.com/events/995754198721895)e through visual arts and poetry at Poco Loco in Chatham from tomorrow (Sat 10 Aug) until Sun 18 Aug. Matsumi will also be hosting talks at the Queerdom exhibition throughout the week. Free. 🏳️‍🌈 Rob Flood, Chair of the City of Rochester Society, sits down with veteran LGBT+ activist Derek Arrowsmith at Chatham Unitarian Church on Monday (12 Aug). The conversation will cover his life before the decriminalisation of homosexuality to modern queer culture. [Free, booking required](https://www.facebook.com/events/460949363521683). 📺 Odeon in Chatham are holding a screening of I Saw The TV Glow on Monday evening (12 Aug). Jane Schoenbrun’s acclaimed horror drama hasn’t had much of an outing in UK cinemas, so this is a nice treat. [Tickets £5](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-45315&ref=localauthority.news). 🧱 The tiny Medway Art Box on Rochester High Street has a [new Lego exhibition](https://www.nucleusarts.com/medwayartbox?ref=localauthority.news) from Wednesday (14 Aug) with an installation featuring work by local Lego groups, enthusiasts, and others. Free. 🏳️‍🌈 Sun Pier Sounds are holding a Medway Pride special on Thursday (15 Aug), with three Medway LGBT+ musicians playing about the Edith May barge at Sun Pier. Emma Leigh, Bex Howarth, and Biddle are all set to take to the stage. [Free, booking required](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/sunpierhousecic/1315914?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### More Authority Wednesday night saw a stand-off between far-right demonstrators and anti-racism campaigners on a dual carriageway near Rochester Airport. Using a combination of on-the-ground reporting and details gleaned from hours of live streamed video of the event, [we published a detailed account of exactly what happened](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/). [Medway on the edge![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthorityEd Jennings![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f016d8bda-c021-499f-98ad-ec4c8d998937_1500x844.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/) This kind of reporting is only possible thanks to our paid supporters that allow us the time and resources to cover it. If you’d like to support us in doing more of this sort of thing, please consider becoming a paid supporter of our work by hitting the big orange button below. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Let Them Eat Chaos by Kae Tempest*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSVyyykaEOo&ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Isle of Dogs by Tigercats*](https://tigercatsfika.bandcamp.com/album/isle-of-dogs?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Megabear by Me Rex*](https://merex.bandcamp.com/album/megabear?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Medway on the edge URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-on-the-edge/ Last updated: 2024-08-08T18:24:08.000Z A crowd of around 50 anti-racism campaigners are gathered outside of the Innovation Centre near Rochester Airport. “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here”, they chant in unison. “No, they fucking aren’t”, shouts a woman in response. It’s a little before 8.30pm, and two groups are now facing off with each other next to a busy dual carriageway. How did we get here? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!DipB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fd398eab6-6f05-4556-8228-8ae85b422708_1500x844.jpg) Anti-racism campaigners outside Medway Innovation Centre On Monday evening, a screenshot from a Telegram channel used for organising ‘protests’ that quickly became riots over the weekend started circulating on social media. It showed a list of around 30 locations around the UK to be targeted on Wednesday night, alongside phrases like ‘mask up’ and flame emojis. The implications were clear. In Medway’s case, the location was the office of an immigration lawyer based within Medway Council’s Innovation Centre. Understandably, the centre is closed on the day, and its car park is closed. It’s the first of a series of small disruptions that comes from this. Inevitably, social media whips the situation into something of a local frenzy. Wednesday afternoon sees all kinds of spurious rumours and misinformation flying around. There’s talk of large gatherings of the far-right at a local mosque, and footage from a car on fire at the nearby KFC from earlier in the week starts circulating as scenes of violent disorder. By the time the evening comes, it’s hard to know whether anyone will even turn up. At first appearance, it seems that only the anti-racism campaigners have made the journey. The counter-protest, quickly organised by Medway Stand Up To Racism, has a group outside the Innovation Centre at 7pm. This is an hour before the far-right are expected, presumably to gain the geographical advantage. There’s little sign of the other side at this point, and while there is a heavy police presence in the area, they mostly seem to be hanging back. Soon, it becomes clear that the anti-racism campaigners aren’t the only ones here. Individuals wander past filming on their phones. Small groups of men walk past, telling the police that they are just on their way to Asda. A few people are starting to hang around on the other side of the road. By 8, it is clear that this will be an event with two sides. Groups of men, and it is mostly men, are gathering on the other side of the road, with some venturing up to within a few feet of the established line at the Innovation Centre. Rumours start to circulate that the police are stopping people coming this far up the right, suggesting they are finding reasons to issue dispersal orders to those they suspect of causing trouble. While the police seem unconcerned about the anti-racism campaigners wearing face coverings, they do appear to be stopping new arrivals from wearing them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!0gED!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2facb64d32-62a2-49ac-be4c-f9c90a92d038_1500x844.jpg) People gather opposite the Innovation Centre More people are continuing to gather. They are mostly men, overwhelmingly white, largely aged between 20 and 50 or so, and several have beers in their hands. A police officer stops one of the men, telling him that he intends to issue him with a dispersal order as he believes he is planning to cause disorder. He is asked for his details but instead chooses to sprint away to shouts of “Go on, Tom” from his friends. The police don’t bother to pursue him. Later, ‘Tom’ pops up on a live stream of the event, telling the camera that he expected civil unrest and that the government “shattered the country with the covid lies.” It’s notable just how many people are recording at the scene. The mainstream media are there, of course. Every police officer is wearing a body camera. Several anti-racism campaigners have cameras out the entire time. Then there are the descending crowds, so many of whom streamed the entire thing live, asking the audience to ‘share the live’ for clout or spent long periods begging for a phone charger because they didn’t think to bring one. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!G_9U!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fae698aca-8f8a-4213-8113-f0c78e9d0fca_1500x844.jpg) Anti-racism campaigners and police officers By the time we move to the next chant - “If you're with Nazis, you're a clown, get your hate out of our town” - things are getting more testy. “Not in my town”, an angry man in a stained jumper shouts back. “They’re not integrating. They’re coming across, and they’re raping our fucking women. They ain’t welcome”, he continues. “Shia *\[sic\]* law and all that. We welcome asylum seekers, but these are the scum.” The chants from the anti-racism group move on to the more direct “Nazi scum, off our streets”. This causes something of an escalation with the arriving crowds, a number of whom take issue with being called Nazis. Independent councillor Satinder Shokar is among the group chanting the phrase. Of all of the stories to become a political flashpoint following these events, Cllr Shokar’s participation is perhaps the oddest. Shokar, a Labour councillor who is currently suspended from the party, is a regular at this kind of demonstration. Today, he has faced criticism from his own party and beyond about the use of phrases like “Nazi scum”. Labour MP for Chatham and Aylesford Tris Osborne [told BBC Radio Kent](https://x.com/michaelkeohan/status/1821462737869779111?ref=localauthority.news) that there is “no place for this kind of language” in the Labour Party. At the same time, Conservative Group leader Cllr George Perfect has said that Shokar should “never” be allowed back into the Labour Group. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Jnzi!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f135b07c8-3af4-411d-b939-adc91b9f37e7_1500x844.jpg) Medway Council Leader Cllr Vince Maple took a more middle-ground approach to the matter in a statement released to us: > *The level of conduct expected of an elected Member of Medway Council should clearly be higher than what would be expected from a regular member of the public. Following advice from the police, I had requested that members of my group didn't attend any counter protest, in order to make their work easier. It will be up to the Labour Party as to whether joining in with this chanting will be incompatible with having membership restored for Cllr Shokar.* > > *However, out of a large group of protestors, I am concerned that a bulk of responsibility for this chanting is being place on Cllr Shokar, one of the only ethnic minority faces on the recorded footage. As someone with Punjabi heritage, he will have had racist insults that don't precisely fit his background levelled at him his whole life, and I am sure he will rightly be worried that recent events will have given the green light to those using the fascist tactics of fear and intimidation, which we have recently seen elsewhere in the country to escalate this hatred.* A man in a white t-shirt steps forward. “You’re protecting the people who killed our kids”, he animatedly shouts. “You’re mugs. You believe the BBC, all the fake news media. You’re fucking idiots.” For a period, he joins the chant of ‘Nazi scum, off our streets’ but switches it to ‘Marxists’. Getting bored quickly, he starts abusing the appearance of one of the anti-racism campaigners and then insults their shoes. A woman tries to tell him to stop. He goes on to shout, “Your balls ain’t dropped yet”, and a minute or so later finds himself issued with a dispersal order. He walks off shouting about “two-tier policing” and “wankers”. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!oFgZ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f126b3961-d9f5-45d4-a5c6-e66a1367985f_1500x844.jpg) Early demonstrators gathering outside the Innovation Centre A man in a bomber jacket with a ‘Skinheads’ patch steps forward, waving a Union flag upside down. “That’s a true patriot right there”, another man shouts. The police immediately step in and talk to the flag waver, issuing him with a dispersal order. He is upset at receiving one for “holding up the English flag” and offended at being called a Nazi by the anti-racism campaigners. “None of us are even German”, he pleads. Around 8.30pm, the police step in further, using powers to try and diffuse both sides. They tell the anti-racism group to stop using their megaphone and to avoid calling people Nazis. At the same time, they try to move the increasingly large group of demonstrators, now numbering over 100, back across the street. Something they don’t seem particularly inclined to do. The group ask the police why they need to move back. Matter of factly, they are told it is so the police can “create space between two groups that don’t like each other.” The group continue to refuse to move. “Is there anything we can reasonably do or say to get you to move back to the other side of the road?” an officer asks. “A fried chicken dinner with gravy”, one demonstrator shouts back in an American accent, seemingly missing the irony that the nearby KFC has been forced to close early as a result of their gathering. KFC isn’t the only place, either. Pretty much the entire Horsted Retail Park has been cleared, with Currys, Pets at Home, Homebase, Aldi, and Home Bargains all shutting up shop long before anyone arrived. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!yP5u!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb2f9e463-02e8-42cf-bfa0-b9d3a29a22eb_1500x844.jpg) Demonstrators and police on Maidstone Road As the group begins to get pushed back, one man who appears to have been drinking calls a police officer a “faggot”. Within seconds, he’s been tackled to the ground and becomes the first of two arrests during the event. As the handcuffs are going on, he continues to repeat the slur. At the same time, another man is becoming the second arrest, being pinned down by officers in the middle of Maidstone Road. It’s unclear what led to this at the time, but a statement from Kent Police today suggested it on suspicion of public order offences after being alleged to have shouted racial abuse. One woman is angry at being moved across the road while the anti-racism campaigners can remain in place. “This ain’t our fucking country anymore”, she laments. But once they are across, having a dual carriageway between the two groups seems to head things off a little bit. There are more testy exchanges with police officers, with the occasional complaint that “they are trying to provoke us”, but by 10pm, it’s mostly a group of people standing around next to a busy road. Soon, the police start gently moving them down toward the Tiger Moth roundabout. A couple of demonstrators ponder a pint at the eponymous pub, seemingly oblivious that it’s another establishment closed because of their arrival. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!gKnX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f016d8bda-c021-499f-98ad-ec4c8d998937_1500x844.jpg) Police and demonstrators on Maidstone Road The scenes from Medway weren’t pretty, but they did largely pass without incident. Aside from the two arrests, no other major disorder or injuries were reported from the event. Medway Council Leader Vince Maple issued the following statement this morning: > *Having followed events closely last night, I am pleased that initial reports show the proposed action in Medway, as well as across the country, passed largely without any major incident showing clearly Medway is no place for hate.* > > *I’d like to thank Kent Police for their swift action to address any signs of potential disorder, but also police officers across the country working tirelessly to help keep members of all communities safe.* > > *I am also very grateful to Medway Council staff and our partners for supporting last night’s response.* > > *It has been encouraging to hear the resounding voice of Medway that violence or discrimination of any kind is not welcome here, something I loudly echo and will continue to do so.* > > *I recognise the ongoing unrest across the country is unsettling, but we continue to stand against any kind of discrimination here in Medway - we are One Medway.* Last night appeared to show anti-racism campaigners outnumbering far-right demonstrators in many towns and cities. In Medway, that assessment was more mixed, with a larger number of far-right demonstrators than anti-racism campaigners turning out. What this means for the future remains to be seen. With leaflets and social media posts circulating promoting a demonstration in Gillingham next month, we might be seeing more such gatherings in the future. --- #### Footnotes *This story was compiled using a combination of on-the-ground reporting and hours of live-streamed video from the event.* ### The far-right looks to Medway again URL: https://www.localauthority.news/the-far-right-looks-to-medway-again/ Last updated: 2024-08-06T18:08:24.000Z *With far-right riots taking place up and down the country, it was likely only a matter of time before something happened in Medway. Nothing has so far, but leaks from organising group chats suggests bad actors are attempting to whip up trouble tomorrow, with counter-protestors rapidly responding. We’ve got more details below, as well as news of the parking charges hitting Medway’s country parks, a Medway band making it to national radio, our news in brief section, and more.* --- #### The far-right looks to Medway again It’s difficult to know what to say about the events of the past week. It’s almost too much to find the right words. Using last week’s horrific events in Southport as a jumping-off point, bad actors have brought violence and intimidation to communities across the country. It was only a matter of time before it risked reaching us. So it was that yesterday, word started to spread on social media that the far-right were planning ‘demonstrations’ across the country on Wednesday night. We’re formatting the word like that as the post, originally taken from a Telegram organising channel that has been involved in the riots seen over the past week, was littered with suggestions that these would be far from peaceful protests. Surrounded by flame emojis, phrases like ‘they won’t stop coming until you tell them’ and ‘mask up’ offered a pretty clear insight into the kind of ‘demonstration’ they were talking about. It was inevitable that Medway would appear, given the long list of targets. While previous attacks around the country have centred on locations like hotels housing asylum seekers and mosques, groups are now targetting the offices of lawyers offering immigration advice. We aren’t publishing the exact details here, but they are now being widely shared on social media. Amongst this, confusion and misinformation have begun to swirl on social media, with users reporting a litany of different potential locations that may or may not face issues in the coming days. Certain community groups have announced they are postponing events, and some shops and businesses have told customers they will close early tomorrow. We reached out to Medway Council, who declined to comment on the situation, while Kent Police offered the following statement: > *“Kent Police is aware of possible protest dates and locations being promoted on social media and is well prepared to respond swiftly and robustly to any incidents of disorder that may arise. The force is continuing to monitor all available information and has sufficient resources in place to respond whilst continuing with the daily business of keeping people safe and preventing and detecting crime. Officers are also engaging with communities to provide ongoing reassurance.”* Inevitably, as soon as word began to spread that the far-right were targeting a location in our towns, counter-protestors began to organise. We say inevitably because Medway has a long history of standing up to the far-right, most notably a decade ago when [locals drove Britain First out of Rochester High Street](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/breaking-britain-first-stand-off-27043/?ref=localauthority.news) during a period of heightened tensions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!wKBp!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3501e893-b857-40a7-8e89-d17de199771e_640x427.jpg) Britain First being blocked from Rochester High Street in 2014\. Photo: Phil Dillon, (C) All Rights Reserved Medway Stand Up To Racism has arranged a counter-protest at the location being targeted. Ivor Riddell, spokesperson for the group, gave us the following statement: > *"For ordinary people to do nothing, invites those who wish to bring fear and hatred to spread their divisive message and give it gravitas. The people of Medway have a long history of opposing Fascism, going back to when Oswald Moseley visited the Medway Towns for rallies such as in Batchelor Street in Chatham. Or Britain First in Rochester.* > > *We can never allow this sick ideology to take hold in our community, however it is dressed up, as just ordinary people feeling angry or defending our borders. These tropes are nothing more than window dressing for radical right wing exceptionalism and hatred of the other.”* Of course, people will have different views about how to respond to these sorts of events in our community. Independent councillor Chris Spalding tweeted that “there should not be any counter-protest”, suggesting that the Medway Green Party, sharing details, would hold culpability should there be any disorder and not the far-right bad actors behind the initial event. The events come in the week that the government confirmed that 500 new prison places will be created to house the influx of rioters into the justice system. Part of these plans involve [reopening HMP Cookham Wood in Rochester](https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2024-08-06/kent-prison-repurposed-to-house-expected-influx-of-riot-criminals?ref=localauthority.news), which was already set to be repurposed for adult prisoners, but will now see that work accelerated. In between will be the vast majority of people, not directly involved, nervous about where we are as both a community and a country. [KMTV has visited a mosque in Gillingham](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x93k4ws?ref=localauthority.news), which is not currently facing any direct threats but still has members feeling unsafe because of what is happening. Under the circumstances, that seems understandable, if unfortunate. We have no way of knowing what tomorrow or the coming days will bring. We can only hope it will be peaceful. --- #### Parking fees come to country parks *Any story we move to after that is going to have some tonal whiplash, so let’s just jump to parking and ignore the weird segue involved.* We knew parking fees were being introduced at Medway’s country parks, but we didn’t know exactly when. The kind of fun people who read Medway Council budget documents knew it was coming earlier in the year. If social media posts are any indication, many others found out when the payment machines appeared in the car parks. Following an [announcement](https://www.facebook.com/medwaycouncilupdates/posts/pfbid027Q4ZW2k6TYtJVTHJUi9AXbAs3Ysgh5NEu9ftk4AFkzoLFgcEnVTGikJHzfgdeqKHl), we now know the £2.50 all-day charges begin on 2 September. This seems like a prudent time to do it as it avoids the big summer holiday rush and instead means people gradually discover them through the autumn months. By next summer, people won’t even give them a second thought. That appears to be the logic, anyway. For regular users, Medway Council are offering an [annual ticket for £60](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200159/parking/154/car%5Fpark%5Fseason%5Ftickets/9?ref=localauthority.news), which allows you to park at ‘all Medway Council country parks’. The word ‘all’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting there as Medway only has two: Riverside Country Park and Capstone Farm Country Park. Eventually, a third will join the lineup as [Medway converts the former Deangate Ridge Golf Course into the Deangate Community Parkland](https://www.localauthority.news/i/135938421/deangate-golf-course-set-to-become-a-community-parkland), which is apparently still a country park despite the name. Independent councillor for Hoo & High Halstow Ron Sands has queried whether the park there faces charges and [received confirmation that it won’t for now](https://www.facebook.com/ron.sands/posts/pfbid02RUv7PgriMiNxHzEPerGUedz9DRfDBh5Q3hd9nRLvSp8whNWd6L1J1URXJYGf1UFyl) but will once the new park is completed. In the grand scheme of things, parking charges at country parks aren’t a particularly novel concept. Most country parks around the country charge for parking, and most charge rather more than the flat £2.50 all-day fee Medway is planning. While access to facilities is free, and rightly so, the ability to bring your car isn’t a right. There is a compelling argument here that our country parks should be rather better served by public transport than they are now, but that’s an argument for another day. --- #### Local band makes national radio It’s not often we get to write about Medway musicians making it to a national stage, such is the weirdly island like nature of our scene. We’re happy to see excellent Medway band [Little Storping in the Swuff](https://www.localauthority.news/the-baroque-anxieties-of-david-goggin/) appear on Marc Riley and Gideon Coe’s BBC 6 Music show this week. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!c7S_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0406ff17-a651-4164-af3b-b3e13b15c828_1978x1080.jpg) Little Storping in the Swuff, looking delighted alongside Marc Riley and Gideon Coe. The appearence follows a solid run for the band, who released their debut album earlier this year, and have recently completed a number of gigs, both locally and in the distant lands of London. Word on the street suggests the band are already hard at work on their next record too. [You can listen to the session in full here](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0021bxs?ref=localauthority.news). There’s one song at the start and a small set and interview around 49 minutes in. --- #### In brief 🏳️‍🌈 [Two people have had eggs thrown at them outside The Ship Inn in Rochester](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/anger-at-drive-by-egg-attacks-outside-gay-pub-310704/?ref=localauthority.news). Kent Police are describing the incident at Medway’s most prominent gay bar as a hate crime. 🏥 [Work has begun on the new Healthy Living Centre upstairs inside the Pentagon in Chatham](https://futuremedway.co.uk/work-starts-on-15m-healthy-living-centre-in-pentagon-centre-chatham/?ref=localauthority.news). The site will include two GP practices, a pharmacy, and community health services. 🌽 [Rainham’s maize maze has reopened this week](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whats-on/news/giant-maize-mazes-to-reopen-for-summer-season-310544/?ref=localauthority.news). The location at Maize Moon on Lower Rainham Road has a magical theme this year and will cost £4 to visit. --- #### More Authority This week, [we interviewed Emily Brown, the world’s first Namaste practitioner in a hospital environment](https://www.localauthority.news/i-tend-to-ignore-negativity-it-doesnt/). She’s brought a new type of care to Medway Hospital and has since won the prestigious Hospital Hero award for her work. Steven met Emily to discuss how practising Namaste works, how she came to be doing it at the hospital, and what the future holds. ["I tend to ignore negativity, it doesn't really bother me."Emily Brown is the world’s first Namaste practitioner in a hospital environment and the recent winner of the Hospital Hero award for her work. Steven met Emily at Medway Maritime Hospital, accompanied by a member of the hospital’s comms team and a surprise guest. They discussed how practising Namaste works, how Emily came to be doing it at the hospital, and what the future holds for Namaste care.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8ab0a01e-0cd0-4908-bd81-76bef6a8755d_2048x1538.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/i-tend-to-ignore-negativity-it-doesnt/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Antisocialites by Alvvays*](https://alvvays.bandcamp.com/album/antisocialites?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Pram Town by Darren Hayman & The Secondary Modern*](https://darrenhayman.bandcamp.com/album/pram-town-a-folk-opera?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*House Without A View by Lande Hekt*](https://landehekt.bandcamp.com/album/house-without-a-view-2?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### "I tend to ignore negativity, it doesn't really bother me" URL: https://www.localauthority.news/i-tend-to-ignore-negativity-it-doesnt/ Last updated: 2026-02-22T10:50:58.000Z *Emily Brown is the world’s first Namaste practitioner in a hospital environment and the recent winner of the Hospital Hero award for her work. Steven met Emily at Medway Maritime Hospital, accompanied by a member of the hospital’s comms team and a surprise guest. They discussed how practicing Namaste works, how Emily came to be doing it at the hospital, and what the future holds for Namaste care.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Euvr!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8ab0a01e-0cd0-4908-bd81-76bef6a8755d_2048x1538.jpg) Emily Brown **Where were you born?** Gillingham. **Were your parents from the area?** My mum is from Canterbury. My dad is Gillingham born and bred. **What jobs did your parents do growing up?** My dad was and still is a lagger, and my mum was a sister at Sunderland Daycare, Medway for 35 years until she retired. **What's a lagger?** It is a guy or a woman that puts special piping around pipes to protect them in big buildings. **How did you find school?** All my reports said, ‘Emily's a lovely student, but she talks too much.’ I liked certain subjects, but I didn't really find my passion until I was 18\. School was just school. **Did you stay on for sixth form?** No. I went to… So ever since I was little, I wanted to be an elephant zookeeper. **Of course.** I went to Hadlow College in Tonbridge and got all my qualifications. Got a job as a vet nurse's assistant and hated it. Had a breakdown. I said, ‘Mum, what am I going to do with my life?’ And she said, ‘Why don't you become a carer?’ I was like, ‘Oh, I don't know if I could do that,’ but I gave it a go. My first customer was an elderly woman with dementia, and the rest was history. I fell in love with it. Then I've worked in care homes. I've been a live-in carer. **What was your first full time job?** My first full-time job was working in a bag shop down the Dockside. **What is your official occupation now?** I am a Namaste practitioner. **What is Namaste?** [Namaste care](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/services/namaste-care/?ref=localauthority.news) is an alternative holistic treatment that was created for people living with dementia and those actively dying. But because of where I work, I've expanded it to palliative oncology, learning… **Before we bring it into the hospital, what is it?** It as a wider alternative holistic treatment. It's about treating the individual just as that. Just because they've got dementia doesn't mean they are dementia. Just because they're end-of-life doesn't mean they haven't had a life. It's about stimulating their senses. I don't know if you've ever eaten something and it triggers a memory. With Namaste care, we stimulate sound, taste, smell, and touch. I'll play them some of their favourite music, which can help them feel calm, spray some favourite perfume or aftershave, promote fluids using their favourite drink, and eating and things like that. But anything that that particular person enjoys. Namaste care is just personal pamper. **What does the word Namaste mean?** It's actually a greeting. [Joyce Simard](https://namastecare.com/about/?ref=localauthority.news), who created it, chose the word Namaste because it means honouring the spirit within. **How did Joyce Simard come across this?** She was a social worker in America in the eighties and did a lot of care homes. She saw that the dementia patients were fed, bathed, and watered but were in a chair all in a circle. As the dementia progressed, she noticed that they couldn't participate in bingo or the standard things. So, she thought, what can I do for them? She started with hand massages, and they would respond really well. Gentle touch, combing of the hair, a hot towel shave. She saw how well it worked and ran with it and has been very successful at it. It's worldwide now. **And how did you come upon it?** I worked in a care home up the road called Parkview, and my manager paid to go on a training course at Priestfield Stadium. Unfortunately, she couldn't attend because she had to assess a new resident. But where she paid a lot of money, she went, ‘Emily, will you go for me?’ I was like, ‘No.’ She's like, ‘There's food’. I was like, ‘Okay’. So, I went to Priestfield Stadium. I didn't know really what it was about. I get in, and there's all these women in suits and they're in their forties. And I'm 22 with bright hair and a funky dress. I felt very uncomfortable. Sat down at this table. I'm like, ‘Hi.’ They're like, ‘I'm the manager of this home.’ I was like, ‘I don't manage a home.’ Graham, our end-of-life nurse here ([Medway Maritime Hospital](https://www.medway.nhs.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)), came out and was talking to her. Then Joyce Simard came out and spoke about Namaste care and it just blew my mind. We stayed in contact. She trained me. From there, I worked in various other homes and as a live-in carer and brought it here when I started as a CSW. *(Clinical Support Worker)*. **When you say she trained you, what did that entail?** It was a day training course, and then we stayed in contact. She put me in contact with [Namaste Care International](https://namastecareinternational.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) just to keep me updated with how things were. If I had any questions, I could go to her. **When you started practicing, it was at the care home you were at?** As soon as the training ended, I ran back to the care home and said to the manager, ‘I need a Namaste room. This is amazing. Blah blah blah blah blah.’ She then made me an activities coordinator, so every day, I would take any patients that wanted it to the Namaste room. They would have a body massage, promote the fluids, do a hot towel shave, and it just it worked wonderfully. **Did you have any resistance?** Yes. But I tend to ignore negativity, it doesn't really bother me. As long as the big boss is saying yes, I don't really care what other people say. **How long ago was that?** That was 2013\. God, long time. **What brought you to Medway Hospital?** I was working in a care home for adults with learning disabilities. The hours weren't really suitable with childcare. I saw a job was going at the hospital as a CSW on Harvey Ward when it was a stroke ward. I applied, and I got the job. I was very excited. One day, I was on shift, and one of my colleagues said, ‘Oh, that's the end-of-life team.’ I went up to him. I was like, ‘Hi, my name's Emily and have you guys heard of Namaste care?’ And Graham was like, ‘Yeah, I organised a training course in 2013.’ I was like, ‘I was on that training course.’ Then we all got together, and they helped me to do a trial. And Tennyson *(ward)* were very kind enough to have me for six months. **How did you make the step between kind of being a CSW and becoming a Namaste practitioner?** We did a six month pilot on Tennyson. I worked every Thursday, and I would assess the patients before the session and assess them after. They were calmer, more relaxed, more susceptible to the nurses doing observations. I collected all that evidence and gave it to the wonderful end-of-life team. They did all the technical stuff, and then we presented it to the board members, and it took about three years. That's how it happened. They saw the benefit. It's such low cost but such high benefit that they couldn't really say no. **What does the average day entail?** I come into work. I have the same referral system as the palliative team and the end-of-life team. I log on to that, check and see if I've got any new referrals. If I have, check the notes to make sure they're appropriate and put them on my list. But on that list, I'll also have my regular patients. Sometimes we have dementia patients that could stay in here a long time or our palliative patients that are staying with us for a long time. I always see them as well in the day, as well as the new ones. I always prioritise the end-of-life patients first because, without being too morbid, they might not be here in the afternoon. Then I'll see the palliative and then the dementia closer to lunchtime and then after lunch. Then if I get any new referrals throughout the day, I see them too. **In an average day, how many patients might you see?** It depends. All sessions are different. Between three and eight. Sometimes, one of my patients might need me for a good few hours. Or sometimes I'll see end-of-life patients, but the family really needs the support. **Do you have a limit to how many patients you can see?** I work closely with the end-of-life team, and I'll always ask them if they feel that that patient is appropriate. Sometimes it's not. Sometimes, the family can be really tense. Sometimes, the patient is already really calm and settled, and the family are really hands on, so I don't need to participate. But it's just sort of prioritising as and when I get them. **Have you found it's changed sort your life outside of work in any way?** I have a bit more patience, and seeing the patients that I see sometimes is quite sad. So a bit more gratitude for what I have. **You have mentioned before about making Namaste care standard practice.** That's what I'd love. **What would that mean?** Expanding my team here, and then once I'm happy with how it's going here, I'd like to go to other hospitals, NHS hospitals, and train and monitor and look after. We have dietitians as standard practice. I want Namaste care as just as standard. *Candy: Hello!* **(Steven’s partner Candy, who works at the hospital, enters the space.)** *Candy: You never told me you were here.* **I did.** Come and sit down. How are you doing, lovely? You okay? *Candy: I'm really good.* So, I'd… Yeah, I'd want it just as a standard practice. Just a team of four… **Sorry, Candy, Will. Will, Candy.** *Will: I'm from the communications team at the hospital.* *Candy: I'm a Medocc CSW and a student nurse up on Kingfisher.* Oh, and she does the [Brown Bread Collective](https://brownbreadcollective.wordpress.com/?ref=localauthority.news). *Candy: Oh, yes. I've got a Facebook group trying to open up conversations about death and dying in Medway. Sorry.* **It’s fine.** *Candy: I've run some death cafes with* [*Natasha Boardman Steer*](https://www.localauthority.news/ive-gone-through-a-few-different/)*.* *(whispers)* She’s amazing. *Candy: I’m going to go eat lunch, I’m hungry.* Bye, honey. Where were we? **Standard practice.** Yes. A team, just three of four Namaste practioners in the hospital. **How many of you are there currently?** Just me. There's lots of room for growth. **Have you had conversations about there being two?** Yes, just waiting for that ball to start properly. **And do you have a time scale?** I'd love it within 12 months, but realistically, maybe a couple of years just because of funding and things like that. But it's going to happen. I'm determined. **Is managing a team in your wheelhouse?** Yes. **And securing a budget?** Yeah. I think my manager would be able to teach me a lot, but also, just how I am as a person. I think I could manage a small team. No issues. **Is money the biggest obstacle? Or there are other obstacles?** Yeah, money is an obstacle. Finding the right people, because when you do a session with any type of patient with Namaste care, you have to fully dedicate yourself to that patient. It's all about them. Because they feel safe and secure after a certain amount of sessions, especially our palliative patients, they can really open up and share, and it can be quite heart-wrenching. So the person needs to be able to communicate their emotions well and debriefs and things like that. **What are the first steps when you receive a new patient? Do you need to get family approval?** No, not necessarily. For example, if I get a new referral for a dementia patient, I'll look at the notes, see what sort of person they are, because sometimes they can be quite aggressive, sometimes they can be pleasantly confused. I'll go onto the ward, and I find if I greet a dementia patient like you already know them, they're more susceptible. So, say we've got ‘Joan’. I'll go down, see if there are any issues with Joan. They'll fill me in, and then I'll go and greet Joan. ‘Oh, hello, Joan. How are you?’She goes, ‘Oh, where have you been?’ Then we sort of build that rapport. Sometimes, we have dementia patients that are nonverbal. We have a great form called ‘This is me’, which tells you all the information about that patient. Sometimes, they don't have them, so I'll call the next of kin to find out all the information, and they tend to find comfort in knowing that their mum's having a pamper, listening to Frank Sinatra. **No issues with getting families on board?** No. Some families can be a bit, ‘Oh, what's this?’Tthen I'll explain it. I can say I can just play dad some of his favourite music. We'll give him a hot towel shave. Or if you guys have it under control, it's no issue. I can go and they're like, ‘Oh, maybe he might like a hand massage.’Then, as I start doing the hand massage, they'll see dad relax. Then they'll feel more relaxed. It's just got a lovely knock-on effect. **Did you ever get any sort of resistance from work colleagues in terms of ‘Shouldn’t you be doing a real job?’** When I first tried to bring it in and first mentioned it, I did get a bit of ‘That's already what we do. It's the gold standard’, and I was like, ‘Well, it’s not.’ But the majority have been wonderful and supportive. Obviously, not everyone. If you don't understand something, people tend to push it away. But I'm too loud, so just kept running with it. **Between doing it one day a week and full-time, did you ever have any nerves?** No, I’m great at what I do, and to have it full-time would just be so beneficial to the patients. I used to do Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday, because part time, because of the babies. But as they've got older, I then requested to go full time. I'm now here Monday to Friday. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!vzoa!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f895c31d7-18cf-44a4-8b3e-493a2ff24cd8_2500x1667.jpg) Emily Brown receiving her Hospital Hero award from Medway NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive Jayne Black *(Candy returns with lunch and sits down)* **What was the Hospital Hero Award?** The Kent Messenger organised it, and people could write in to nominate a member of staff at Medway Hospital for the Hospital Hero award. I had two nominations, and I was nominated with four other wonderful ladies and won. I was on there with a surgeon, a gynaecological surgeon who saved someone's life… *Will: And she delivered my baby.* And delivered his baby. Yeah, it's lovely. I thought she was going to win. And there's ICU nurses and nurses that look after little 23-week-old bubbies. *Will: Just to give some further context, these are annual staff awards. It's the award that is seen as arguably the most prestigious one. People write in, the public nominate for this award. It's a really important award that she won.* *Candy: It's important because I now openly discuss you in lectures and stuff. Across our nursing studies, we now know of you.* That's mad. All for something I'm passionate about. **If someone was reading this and thinking that they would be interested in getting into Namaste, what advice would you give?** Do your research. [Namaste Care International](https://namastecareinternational.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) is a great website, and you can contact them for training. Feel free to contact me. Just contact, ask questions, read, watch, just absorb it all, really. **And are there ways that wider Medway outside of care or the hospital could benefit from Namaste?** Yeah. The hospice has started their version of Namaste care. With my palliative patients that get discharged, they often go, ‘Will you come and see us at home?’ A Nemaste day care practitioner in the community would be really well welcomed. I think it could benefit everyone in every aspect. **This is the first time this occurred in the NHS?** I'm the first practitioner in a hospital in the world. It's been successfully implemented in care homes and hospices across the world, which you can see on Namaste Care International, but we're the first hospital to have it. **Is it something that could be beneficial in a school's environment?** Yes! I had the paediatric palliative team. We had a discussion. They very rarely have children pass away here, but their children can come in for symptom management, and we had a discussion about Namaste working for them. It would do wonders. I just can't meet that need at the minute when it's just me. **And thinking about what you were saying, outside of the end of life care, Medway has a student body with high Special Educational Needs, is there parts of the practice that could be used in that regard?** Yes. I've adapted Namaste care to meet individual’s needs. I have a lot of learning disability patients. Some of them don't like to be touched. Therefore, I can't give them a hand massage, but they'll enjoy other ways of stimulating the senses. And it's the same outside of the hospital. It would benefit them as well. **And are you concerned about moving it forward in terms of your team that it will take you away from practically practising?** No. I wouldn't allow that. I would go around the hospital to train, but also do, because you can talk about Namaste care until you're blue in the face, but until you see it, you don't see the true effects of it. While I'm teaching and training, I'll be doing, so they can visually see the improvements. I will always, always see patients. --- #### Footnotes *This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.* [*You can read our previous interviews here*](https://www.localauthority.news/t/interviews)*, including with* [*motivational speaker John Haynes*](https://www.localauthority.news/it-created-somebody-horrible/)*.* *If you have lived or worked in Medway and are planning an event or launch in 2024 or celebrating a significant anniversary and would be happy to talk about it here, or if you want to suggest ideas or send tips for people to interview, please email* [*Steven*](mailto:thepoliticalmedway@localauthority.news)*.* [*Steven Keevil*](https://twitter.com/stevenkeevil?ref=localauthority.news) *listened to no music whilst writing this but recommends reading* [*Black Swan Green by David Mitchell*](https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/black-swan-green-david-mitchell/3034492?ean=9780340822807&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Anyone for cocktails? URL: https://www.localauthority.news/anyone-for-cocktails/ Last updated: 2024-08-02T20:09:43.000Z *Medway Cocktail Week started as a small-scale project to give local venues a boost post-lockdown. It’s now become a staple of the Medway hospitality scene, and with the 2024 event starting this week, we’ve been finding out more. Further down, we have news of the potential redevelopment of the Acorn Shipyard in Rochester, a review of Café Nucleus in Rainham, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more. Let’s get to it.* --- #### Anyone for cocktails? This week marks the launch of [Medway Cocktail Week](https://www.newopenings.co.uk/medwaycocktailweek?ref=localauthority.news), an event that began in 2020 as a covid recovery scheme and has blossomed into one of the biggest events of the year for the Medway hospitality scene. The concept is simple. You buy a wristband for £10, and with it, you get exclusive cocktails at over 40 venues across Medway for £5 each. Given that Medway Cocktail ‘Week’ now runs across two weekends, there are plenty of opportunities to get good value for money. It’s perhaps the only time people won’t complain about the concept of an 11-day week. The scheme is the brainchild of Alex Watson. You might not know his name, but if you spend time on Instagram, there’s a good chance you’ve seen his content. Watson is the person behind the brilliantly effective [New Openings Rochester](https://www.instagram.com/newopeningsrochester/?ref=localauthority.news) and [New Openings Medway](https://www.instagram.com/newopeningsmedway/?ref=localauthority.news) accounts. Combining high-quality photography with news of what’s going on within local hospitality, the accounts have accumulated over 14,000 followers between them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!fkre!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0701ae7d-68b3-41b4-bab1-b21ce8513ee0_4240x2832.jpg) The Sulley, available at The George Vaults The inaugural event saw a handful of Rochester venues participate in an effort to bring footfall back to the High Street following a lockdown that had devastated local businesses. It was an instant success, with over 1,500 people taking part. “I wanted to give people a reason to come to Rochester and spend their money in the small and independent hospitality businesses in and around Rochester,” says Watson. Since then, Rochester Cocktail Week has been joined by similar events in Maidstone and Canterbury, as well as this week’s Medway event, arguably the most significant of them. This year, [over 40 venues are taking part](https://www.newopenings.co.uk/venuesmedwaycocktailweek?ref=localauthority.news). While Rochester remains the core of the event, with over half of the venues being located in the town, it’s impressive just how widely the event has managed to spread. On the list, you’ll find the Princes Park Pub, the Dew Drop in Twydall, The Deep End student bar on the Universities at Medway campus, and even Rochester’s Holiday Inn. With the exception of the peninsula, there’s a good chance you’re near at least one participating venue, wherever you are in our towns. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!zw3w!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f61208b31-4c7a-4e27-867a-efc8312104ba_4240x2832.jpg) Passionfruit Tom Collins, available from The Pumproom. As for the cocktails themselves, there’s a [huge list to choose from](https://www.newopenings.co.uk/cocktailsmedwaycocktailweek?ref=localauthority.news). While some venues only have one on offer, others have created multiple concoctions, nearly all of which are unique. The Pumproom at the Copper Rivet Distillery has, of course, cocktails made using their own gin and vodka. Elsewhere, Pier Five has created a Dockyard Spritz, while Playopolis have the delightful-sounding Star Hill Sunset. The usual cocktails staples are featured too, but it’s a testament to the variety of venues across Medway that such a diverse mix can be found. All of this is very nice, but is there a chance we’re just talking about an excuse to go out and get drunk at a discount? Watson is more spirited, if you’ll excuse the pun, about the project. He sees it as a lifeline for venues that have stumbled from covid to a cost-of-living crisis with little relief: “The event has proven an invaluable additional revenue stream for the pubs, bars and restaurants. For example, last year, Medway Cocktail Week accounted for more than half of some venues ’s total drinks sales for that period.” He highlights that the event is free for venues as it is self-funded from the wristband sales, and they keep 100% of all cocktail sales. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!-5Mx!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f87e195d3-96c4-4375-8a99-202afda0c7ff_4240x2832.jpg) Jaffa Shake, available at Chuck and Blade Burgers “But more than the monetary side of things, the event is great at marketing the venues and encouraging people to get out, try new venues and support local businesses in the process.” Given the four Kent Cocktail Week events in 2023 saw over 15,000 visitors, with more projected for 2024, it’s a premise that’s difficult to argue with. *Medway Cocktail Week started yesterday (Thu 1 Aug) and runs until Sun 11 Aug. You can find more details and purchase a wristband on the* [*Medway Cocktail Week website*](https://www.newopenings.co.uk/medwaycocktailweek?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In brief ⚓ [KMTV visited the Nao Victoria](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x93cd1u?ref=localauthority.news), a replica of a 15th-century ship that was the first to sail around the world. It’ll be at Chatham Dockside until Sunday (4 Aug). 🍣 [A new sushi, noodles, and bubble tea takeaway is set to open on Rochester High Street](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/new-sushi-bar-hoping-to-satisfy-bubble-tea-and-noodle-cravi-310565/?ref=localauthority.news). Boba Tigers is set to open at the end of the month and is part of a small chain that recently opened in Cliftonville. ⛲ [Medway Council has granted permission for the Driver Fountain to be relocated](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SFSV4TKNFNK00&ref=localauthority.news) to a prominent location on New Road in Chatham. The fountain was erected in Luton in 1899 as a monument to a deceased councillor but moved to Chatham Cemetary in 1961\. The plans will see it moved closer to its historic home. --- #### Acorn Wharf is next big Rochester redevelopment Plans have been submitted to Medway Council to completely redevelop the remaining unused site within Rochester Riverside: The former Acorn Shipyard on the west side of the development. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!qzAf!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f88816f5d-58fa-408c-9861-45284ed0d901_2314x970.jpg) Proposed Acorn Wharf development Acorn Shipyard closed in 2017, with its buildings [destroyed in a series of fires](https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2016-09-04/breaking-firefighters-tackle-blaze-after-explosion-at-ship-yard/?ref=localauthority.news), leaving the site a barren wasteland today. The owners of the site are proposing to build three residential blocks consisting of 132 flats, a cafe, and a commercial/community building, as well as a new pier. The final item in the plan is the most curious, as it offers a permanent pier mere weeks after Medway Council proposed building a temporary one for Rochester in a nearby location. The proposals even cite the new pier as a potential permanent mooring point for the Medway Queen, currently docked at Gillingham Pier. However, it is unclear whether they have consulted anyone involved with that vessel about a move. Most of the plans are fairly perfunctory. The flats themselves are unremarkable, and the nine-storey height of the main block is likely to raise some eyebrows given its height compared to surrounding developments and waterfront location. The cafe space within the plans is to be welcomed. The intent is to relocate the recognisable yellow crane, one of the few surviving parts of Acorn Shipyard, to the centre of the development, providing a dramatic backdrop. Not including a social space in the development's layout felt like a missed opportunity, given the extensive river walk. The plans include 128 parking spaces underneath the development. The developer claims building affordable properties wouldn’t be viable. They cite primarily the £2.2m cost of building a sea wall for flood defence around the site, and there is no way any development on the site can proceed without that. As such, it is unlikely that Medway Council will reject these plans, as any future developer will face the same challenges, and building anything on the site is preferable to leaving it empty. *Medway Council's planning portal* [*allows you to view the development plans in full and comment on the proposals*](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=SH5YSTKN04R00&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Out to Lunch: Café Nucleus *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Café Nucleus***](https://cafenucleus.uk/welcome-to-cafe-nucleus-rainham/?ref=localauthority.news) **in Rainham*…* The newest addition to the award-winning Café Nucleus can be found on Rainham High Street, offering fine dining in the centre of town. It offers the full café menu that you would find in Rochester or at its original Chatham site. The new venue is smart and welcoming if a little tightly packed and darker than you might expect. I ordered the full Canadian: Two rashers of smoked bacon, two Kentish sausages, scrambled Kentish eggs, two buttermilk pancakes, Canadian single-origin maple syrup, and a choice of toast. If you have never eaten at a Café Nucleus, then you are in for a delightful surprise. The Rainham offering matches the high standards you would expect, and the only downside was the average toast. The bacon and eggs were delicious, and the pancakes, sausage and syrup were a delightful combination. Café Nucleus is on the pricier end of the food offering, but it does include a cover charge, which is a donation to assist the Halpern charitable works, which is ultimately a very good thing indeed. When in Rainham, eat well and support a great charity. You deserve it. --- #### Events this week 🎛️ Medway electronic musicians [Brutalist Architecture in the Sun play at Poco Loco](https://www.facebook.com/events/3643595652574252) in Chatham tonight (Fri 2 Aug). Free. 🎸 Promoters Kicking Against Nothing have a [garage punk night at the Nag’s Head](https://www.facebook.com/events/330410476787698/) in Rochester tonight (Fri 2 Aug). On the bill are The Sleepers, Cream Soda, and Cassius West Free. 🎨 [Nucleus Arts’ Summer Exhibition](https://www.nucleusarts.com/summerexhibition?ref=localauthority.news) begins today (Fri 2 Aug) and runs until 2 Sep. Features work from a huge array of artists across their Chatham and Rochester galleries. Free. 🎞️ Odeon in Chatham has another Screen Unseen on Tuesday (6 Aug). It’s a mystery film, usually a notable upcoming release. They aren’t always good, but they are usually interesting. [Tickets £7](https://www.odeon.co.uk/ticketing/seat-picker/?showtimeId=050-44858&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Love Keeps Kicking by Martha*](https://marthadiy.bandcamp.com/album/love-keeps-kicking?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Naturaliste by The Lucksmiths*](https://thelucksmiths.bandcamp.com/album/naturaliste?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Up by R.E.M*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUcKeKt8C1k&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Medway's housing target reduced URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medways-housing-target-reduced/ Last updated: 2024-07-30T22:34:29.000Z *Housing is always a subject of debate in our towns, as large numbers of people regularly fight against developments in the midst of a chronic housing shortage. Now, with a change of government, mandatory housing targets are back, but with a different number to what we might expect. We take a look at what it means for Medway. Further down, we have the best effort yet at gauging how each part of Medway voted in the General Election, news of a planned giant HMO on the edge of a Heritage Park, and another round of the Cuxton winery battle appears to be upon us.* **Editor’s note:* Thanks to everyone who messaged with kind words following my Highly Commended award for Kent Print & Online Journalist of the Year at the Kent Press & Broadcast Awards last week. It was an honour just to be nominated in such a packed category, and I’m still kind of taken aback to have left with an actual award. Thanks so much for all of your support in reading, sharing, and* [*subscribing*](#/portal/signup) *to this thing over the past three years.* --- #### Medway has housing target (slightly) reduced One of the new Labour government's big pledges was to get housebuilding going after years of under-delivery by successive governments caused a housing crisis across the country. This reached a nadir during the previous government when mandatory housing targets for local councils were scrapped, meaning they could decide themselves how many homes to build. Spoiler alert: This does not tend to go well for anyone needing somewhere to live. Today, [Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced exactly how Labour intended to meet its promise of 1.5 million new homes by 2029](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn074jzzrkjo?ref=localauthority.news). One part of the plan is to designate some green belt land as grey belt and thus appropriate for development. This would primarily be previously developed land in the green belt and land that doesn’t contribute to any of its aims. In Medway, this isn’t hugely relevant, as we only have very small areas of designated green belt, primarily west of Strood and Cuxton. No one seemed particularly inclined to build on it anyway. Other than winemakers, anyway, but more on that later. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9Myi!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9f610b7f-bdb6-4ed5-9f2e-aa15f5d781ea_2038x1016.jpg) Photo: stock.adobe.com The most meaningful shift was the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets, meaning every council will have to meet a set government number for new homes or face consequences from the government. However, the government has created a new formula for the housing targets, meaning local councils are facing different numbers than they were under the former regime. The new formula has many elements, and you are [welcome to read the full thing](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system?ref=localauthority.news#chapter-4--a-new-standard-method-for-assessing-housing-needs), but the gist is that urban areas will largely face higher targets, and an affordability calculation feeds into it, too. It’s hard to judge how effective the new calculation is at this stage, but [at first glance](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system?ref=localauthority.news), it does lead to some slightly odd results. Medway, a fairly dense urban area with a chronic lack of housing and unaffordable rents (the calculation only takes in house prices, not rents), will now see a reduction in its housing target. Under the old calculation, Medway was expected to deliver 1,658 new homes each year. Now, that figure is reduced to 1,644. Admittedly, this isn’t a big change. It’s 0.8%, or to put it another way, it would mean a reduction of around 200 homes over the entire length of Medway’s proposed Local Plan period. It does stand in stark contrast with the burden being placed upon surrounding local councils though. Swale is up by 2%, Gravesham by 4.8%, Maidstone by 10.1%, while Tonbridge and Malling is up a massive 28.9%. Of course, none of this matters much if the homes don’t actually get delivered, and years of failure from the previous administration means Medway is still without a Local Plan and will likely be so until at least 2026\. Even when the previous targets were in place, Medway failed to meet its obligation by a wide margin every single year. Plans are positive, but actions are rather more useful. The government and Medway Council have a duty to deliver the number of homes that our area needs. Let’s see whether they manage to do it. --- #### How Medway voted, maybe One of the flaws in the General Election process for political data nerds like us is that, unlike in a local election, we have no idea of the localised trends that led to the results. While we know Labour swept across all three Medway constituencies, we don’t know where the party made gains relative to previous elections or even compared to the local elections last year. Step forward Ben Walker at the New Statesman, who has put together a [model to demonstrate how votes were cast, ward-by-ward, across the entire country](https://sotn.newstatesman.com/2024/07/the-ultimate-2024-general-election-breakdown?ref=localauthority.news). [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!96yv!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbb756856-957e-4221-9f55-9aa592307bdb_2150x1116.jpg)](https://sotn.newstatesman.com/2024/07/the-ultimate-2024-general-election-breakdown?ref=localauthority.news) Credit: New Statesman To be clear, there are many caveats to this. There is no public data, so the entire thing is an exercise in data modelling. The website explains in detail how this is achieved using demographic data, past local election results, voting samples, and the results we do have from the General Election. As a result, it should be taken with something of a pinch of salt, and there is a fairly wide margin of error, but the trends are likely broadly correct. So what do we learn? The most notable thing is that the map above is very similar to the local election results from last year. Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, and Strood all mirror the results of that election. The peninsula voted independent last year, but that wasn’t an option this year, so it seemingly reverted to the Conservatives, while Rainham saw three of its four wards switch to Labour. Elsewhere, the results show Reform coming second in a hefty number of central urban wards, and little sign of any serious movement towards any of the other smaller parties. There might not be anything hugely unexpected here, but it’s fun to [play around with the map](https://sotn.newstatesman.com/2024/07/the-ultimate-2024-general-election-breakdown?ref=localauthority.news) and pick over how Medway might be voting on a localised level. --- #### Heritage park HMO One of the more depressing aspects of Medway’s housing crisis has been the boom of HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupation) in our towns. Landlords have discovered they can make more money renting out individual rooms than entire properties, and desperate tenants scrambling for property at a rent that won’t bankrupt them end up living in them. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Bxv0!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe2c36d74-056b-4362-84c4-0f0daee48e09_2000x446.jpg) The HMO proposed for Gillingham HMOs are supposedly regulated, but the reality is that many fly under the radar or are of such low standards. Now, a developer has [proposed to build a 30-room HMO on the edge of the Great Lines Heritage Park](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SEAZZMKNL3S00&ref=localauthority.news) in Gillingham. The site is on the corner of Brompton Road and Marlborough Road and needs some improvement. The buildings on the plot currently used to be a nursery and a community centre but have since fallen into substantial disrepair. Whether or not 30-room HMO is the answer is another matter. The plans offer just four living rooms and two kitchens for the 30 bedrooms and no other facilities on site. While some effort has been made to make the buildings slightly more interesting by adopting something of a chalet-style look, whether or not Medway’s planning committee look positively on a crowded HMO on the edge of Medway’s ‘heritage park’ remains to be seen. --- #### Guardians of the Countryside: Volume 2 While Medway will be compelled to build thousands of new houses, what it isn’t compelled to build is anything nice. Such was the story of the Kentish Wine Vault. The plans would have seen the largest winemaking facility in the UK built in Medway, housed in a landmark building by Norman Foster, with a restaurant, coffee shop, and visitor centre. The project would have brought significant economic benefits to the area, putting Medway at the front of the UK wine tourism market. Of course, local residents campaigned against it, and the project was ultimately struck down by Medway Council and, later, the Planning Inspectorate. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2Yc_!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f8a8e0db2-368c-41c3-871d-d58e459a63fc_2074x868.jpg) Previous proposals for the Kentish Wine Vault Now, it appears each side is gearing up for another round as the developers attempt to push on with the plans. Silverhand Estates, the company behind the plans, is proposing changes to get the project through planning. These include shrinking the building, removing the power centre (meaning the site will no longer be carbon neutral), and scrapping the car park in favour of a park-and-ride, which will result in more buses driving through Cuxton instead. Of course, none of this seems to satisfy the locals, with the self-appointed Guardians of the Cuxton Countryside[1](#footnote-1). The 60-member group (Cuxton population: 2,600) believes the company is patronising them by trying to accommodate their demands, calling it a [‘vinicultural Disneyland’](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/it-s-not-a-winery-it-s-a-vinicultural-disneyland-310429/?ref=localauthority.news). Which sounds more like a positive than a negative, but maybe that’s just us. These winery proposals are likely to remain controversial[2](#footnote-2), but it does seem like there is more hope for the company to succeed on a second attempt. It seems more likely that the firm would get the plans through under the current Labour administration of Medway Council than the Conservatives of the past. We’ll find out soon enough once new plans are formally submitted. --- #### In brief 🚣 [Peel Ports are operating patrols in the River Medway to tackle antisocial jetski users](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cleypn60d4po?ref=localauthority.news). Recent incidents have included dinghies capsizing, swimmers being endangered, and bridge workers being intimidated. 🌿 [A cannabis farm with 1,600 plants has been discovered](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/large-cannabis-farm-found-just-metres-from-primary-school-310410/?ref=localauthority.news) at a premises on Canterbury Street in Gillingham. Police raided the location last week, and inquiries are ongoing. 🏗️ [A £35m contract to redevelop Mountbatten House in Chatham is now out to tender](https://futuremedway.co.uk/35m-contract-to-redevelop-mountbatten-house-in-chatham-goes-out-to-tender/?ref=localauthority.news). Medway Development Company are seeking a developer to convert and extend the building to house 162 flats. 🥇 [Medway resident Nathan Hales won a gold medal today at the Olympics](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/nathan-hales-paris-chatham-medway-b1173823.html?ref=localauthority.news). Hales, from Chatham, won gold in the men’s trap shooting competition. As of writing, the result means Medway is higher on the medal table than Argentina, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Nigeria, and Portugal. --- #### More Authority Over the weekend, we sat down with the third deputy leader of the Medway Conservative Group on Medway Council, Cllr Gary Hackwell. He ascended to the role following the resignation of Cllr Elizabeth Turpin and the promotion of Cllr George Perfect. [We discussed what led him to join the Conservatives, what makes a good leader, and the fallout from the General Election](https://www.localauthority.news/a-lot-of-people-wont-be-able-to-tell/). [“A lot of people won't be able to tell you who is actually running the local authority”Cllr Gary Hackwell is the third deputy leader of the Medway Conservative Group this year following the resignation of Cllr Elizabeth Turpin and the promotion of Cllr George Perfect. Steven met with Gary at Wetherspoons in Rainham to discuss what led to him joining the Conservatives, what makes a good leader, and the fallout from the General Election.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil](https://www.localauthority.news/a-lot-of-people-wont-be-able-to-tell/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet, sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*There Is Nothing More Frightening Than The Passing Of Time by Superman Revenge Squad*](https://thesupermanrevengesquadband.bandcamp.com/album/there-is-nothing-more-frightening-than-the-passing-of-time?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Matchy Matchy by The Ballet*](https://fikarecordings.bandcamp.com/album/matchy-matchy?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*All Hell by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/all-hell?ref=localauthority.news) --- 1. They really do call themselves that, like a crap MCU team. [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") 2. Seriously, we’ve had more angry emails whenever we’ve written about this than almost any other issue. [↩](#footnote-anchor-2 "Jump back to footnote 2 in the text.") ### “A lot of people won't be able to tell you who is actually running the local authority” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/a-lot-of-people-wont-be-able-to-tell/ Last updated: 2024-07-28T06:19:54.000Z *Cllr Gary Hackwell is the third deputy leader of the Medway Conservative Group this year following the resignation of Cllr Elizabeth Turpin and the promotion of Cllr George Perfect. Steven met with Gary at Wetherspoons in Rainham to discuss what led to him joining the Conservatives, what makes a good leader, and the fallout from the General Election.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!eTdH!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f249614f7-a8c6-4e45-a241-bd22b810c4ae_1600x900.jpg) Cllr Gary Hackwell **Where were you born?** I was born in Surrey. My parents were living in South London at the time, but I moved here when I was one. **What brought you to the Medway Towns?** My mother's parents were from Maidstone. My family was from Maidstone, so they moved nearer back. My grandfather was up in London at the time, but he got a job at the bakeries in Maidstone. My parents moved to Wigmore, which was a bit cheaper, I would imagine, than Maidstone at the time in the early 60s. **What jobs did your parents do growing up?** My dad was a buyer, and my mother was a secretary. **How did you find school?** I didn't mind school. I wouldn't say it was my favourite place, but I enjoyed it. I enjoyed playing sports, and it wasn't a bad time in my life. **Did you stay on for sixth form?** No, I didn't. I couldn't wait to earn money is the honest answer. I left and got a four-year technician apprenticeship. **What was your first full-time job?** An estate agent, believe it or not. I left school and became an estate agent. It was for about three months, and then I ended up in my internship in engineering. **What attracted you and then disinterested you in being an estate agent?** I was quite attracted to being an estate agent. I thought that was something I could build a career in. But my mother persuaded me that I ought to get a proper trade. I thought I'd go and do that, get a trade and I'd still be fairly young, but I never left. **What was your official occupation when you retired?** I was a production control and logistics manager. **What does that mean?** *(laughs)* That's quite a difficult one. Basically, production control and logistics is something that controls everything, they decide what suppliers give you every week, what you deliver to the customers, and you tell manufacturing what to make. You also have the responsibility of making sure the transport is available to bring the stuff in, and the transport is available to deliver to the customers. It's almost like the conductor of the factory. You are the man with the baton telling everybody what to do. **What additional roles, paid or unpaid, do you do?** Apart from the council, the only unpaid role I do is volunteer for the [Duke of Edinburgh's Awards](https://www.dofe.org/?ref=localauthority.news) scheme for going on 35 years. When the council decided not to invest in that anymore, even though I'd been a volunteer for the people that worked for the council, a few friends and I set up a charity. I'm a trustee and a treasurer for that charity and we continued that provision for young people in Medway so they could carry on. **What charity is that?** It's [Medway Open Award Centre](http://moac.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). It's based at The Strand. We rent the building from the council, and we've been operating it out there as a charity for about eight years now. **What political parties have you been a member of?** Only the Conservatives. **When did you join?** About 2015, so fairly recently. **Was there an event or a particular reason?** I've always voted for Conservatives. I've always been a fan. I did contemplate joining in 1997, but I found I was too busy at work and with a young family at that point in time. I retired in 2016, and so I joined in 2015 with the vision to become more active in the party and get involved in politics once I retire. **Who has been the best leader of the party in that time?** Yeah, I'm still a Boris fan, I think. From 2015, we had Cameron sort of giving up. Theresa May wasn't very good. Boris was a charismatic character. I don't say much about Truss. Rishi was a technician at what he did, but I'm not sure he had any charisma to be a leader of a political party. **Was joining in 2015 due to the Brexit debate, or was that coincidental?** No, I think it was coincidental. I was already planning to retire in 2015 and I was looking for something to get more involved with in my life. If you go to work 10 hours a day and all of a sudden that disappears, you have to find other things to fill your time. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Groovy Uncle makes excuses URL: https://www.localauthority.news/groovy-uncle-makes-excuses/ Last updated: 2024-07-26T08:20:19.000Z **Editor’s note:* Welcome to an earlier than usual Friday edition of Local Authority. Why so early, you ask? Today is the day of the* [*Kent Press & Broadcast Awards*](https://www.kpbawards.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*, so we’re off on a jaunt to Canterbury for the ceremony, where we are nominated in two categories. Wish us luck!* *Today’s edition features our music correspondent Stephen Morris diving into the new album by prolific Medway musician Glenn Prangnell, also known as Groovy Uncle. We also have news of a very old ship coming to town, a review of The Quills in Rochester, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Groovy Uncle makes excuses **by Stephen Morris** There are things in Medway that are forever, consistently *there*: Rochester Castle standing over the river, a resolute monument to barons standing up to an overbearing king; Gillingham Football Club endlessly dreaming of promotion from League Two; and Glenn Prangnell, a.k.a. [Groovy Uncle](https://groovy-uncle.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), who can be depended upon to churn out an album - an album of substantial quality, no less - with the reliability of clockwork. For [*Making Excuses*](https://groovyuncle.bandcamp.com/album/making-excuses?ref=localauthority.news), Groovy Uncle’s thirteenth album, Glenn Prangnell has collaborated with singers Jane Wrangham and Jules Winchester to create an album as stylistically varied as anything he’s done before – perhaps more so. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!fuQ7!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb61527da-58e1-4c30-835c-302232fbfbee_2048x1100.jpg) Groovy Uncle There are the obvious McCartneyisms, of course: opening track ‘Shine’ recalls the sound, if not substance, of ‘Piggies’ from *The White Album*, while ‘I Don’t Suffer Fools’ could easily pass from something from Macca’s early solo career. But elsewhere, ‘Somebody’s Everything’ recalls Burt Bacharach; ‘I’m Making Excuses’ and album closer ‘Mind Your Language’ uses the sound palette of Harry Nilsson; and there’s even a hint of Genesis on ‘Hard as Nails’. The aim of Groovy Uncle has always been – as the first album title put it – to [*Play Something We Know*](https://groovyuncle.bandcamp.com/album/play-something-we-know?ref=localauthority.news)(or, at least, to play something that sounds as if we should surely know it), and in *Making Excuses*, Glenn Prangnell shows no signs of letting us down on that front. He’s even added something of a West End musical vibe to proceedings. This should come as no surprise since one of Mr Prangnell’s other recent projects was to co-create a musical, [*New York Letters*](https://thevagueideas.bandcamp.com/album/new-york-letters?ref=localauthority.news), based on the concept of letters sent to and from John Lennon. Listening to ‘Shine’, ‘What You Said to Me’ and torch ballad/duet ‘Moonlight’, it’s hard not to imagine the songs being sung by actors on a Shaftesbury Avenue stage against a backdrop of dancers and theatrical props. What strikes most prominently about *Making Excuses* though is the lyrics. There is a world-weariness and despondency here that stands out clearly when placed alongside the sentimental love songs that pepper the album. ‘When He’s Awake’ is an eloquently written groan about the prevalence of older men who should know better, seduced by the sounds of Trump, Farage and Johnson. Prangnell has covered such ground before, such as on *Meanwhile in Mediaeval Britain* with ‘Howard Eno’. But here, there seems to be a greater sense of sadness and frustration than the smirk, satire and eyeroll employed with previous songs. The sentiment rings loud and clear: ‘Is this really where things still are?’ At the end of the album ‘Mind Your Language’ picks up this theme again, with a very polite Prangnell explaining to some unidentified antagonist exactly why they need to just stop talking: *I respect you, but I don’t know why* *You expect us to see eye to eye* *You’re looking daggers at me* *Some things should be left unsaid* *If words could kill, we’d all be dead.* Earlier on, other song lyrics point to Prangnell feeling battered by the onslaught of unkindness and intolerance that passes for normal in the mid-2020s. ‘I Don’t Suffer Fools’ with its early 60s pop groove snarls about lessons learned and lines being drawn in the sand: *I don’t have the inclination* *To join in with your congregation* *And what for – it’s a bore.* It’s immediately followed by the slower pace of ‘Sticks and Stones’ in which the narrator is both resigned to accept the jagged new world for what it is while remaining determined not to let those ever-present bastards grind him down. Part of Prangnell’s frustration throughout these songs is that he can see it is all just a façade anyway. There is a palpable anger in ‘Somebody’s Everything’ about destructive decisions made by those with a stubborn yet irrelevant point of view. Such people are addressed with a mix of sorrow, irritation and disappointment on other songs from the album. Take for example the album opener in which the song’s subject presents as a popular Instagram star - boasting pictures of their dinner - while remaining intensely lonely. Later on, ‘Hard as Nails’ offers a reality check to someone who is acting obnoxiously out of fear and self-loathing: *Each to their own but you seem quite alone* *Have you ever wondered why?* In *Making Excuses,* Glenn Prangnell has tapped into something of the sense of *ennui* that reactionary politics and general unkindness have caused. It’s a splendid album that demands repeated listens, each highlighting a new lyrical gem. Beyond the splendid pop of yet another Groovy Uncle album, there is an insight that taps deep into the soul. *Making Excuses is out now on* [*Trouserphonic Records via Bandcamp*](https://groovyuncle.bandcamp.com/album/making-excuses?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### In brief 🚓 [A man has been charged with attempted murder after a soldier was stabbed repeatedly in Brompton on Tuesday](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c90373qeq7zo?ref=localauthority.news). Lt Col Mark Teeton was airlifted to hospital and is now in a serious but stable condition. Anthony Esan of Rochester was arrested on the day of the attack and has been remanded in custody. [Counter-terrorism police are supporting the investigation](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/07/24/soldier-stabbed-army-barracks-kent/?ref=localauthority.news), while Prime Minister [Keir Starmer described his shock at the attack](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/attack-suspect-pictured-after-soldier-repeatedly-stabbed-nea-310244/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏢 [The former Natwest building at Chatham Dockside is set to be converted into 60 flats](https://futuremedway.co.uk/former-natwest-offices-in-chatham-maritime-to-become-60-flats/?ref=localauthority.news). Planning permission has been gained for the site, including a mix of one and two bedroom flats. Most of the flats barely meet minimum space standards and contain no outside space. 🚧 [Medway has joined other councils across Kent in calling for urgent ](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c978r3dy3gno?ref=localauthority.news)government action to mitigate problems from new border processes taking effect in November. --- #### Very old ship comes to town A rather unique maritime exhibition will be coming to Chatham next week, as a replica of the [Nao Victoria](https://www.fundacionnaovictoria.org/?ref=localauthority.news) arrives at Chatham Marina for a week as part of it’s country-hopping educational tour. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!0L7r!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f637331b2-94f4-441f-a610-0eadf016387c_3456x2304.jpg) The Nao Victoria The Nao Victoria was the first vessel to circumnavigate the world in 1522, and now this replica of the ship will allow you to experience what life would have been like on board during the three years it took to make the journey. The Spanish vessel will be docked at Chatham Marina from 31 July until 4 August. For £8, you can go on board and look around. You can [find more details about the visit and buy tickets here](https://tickets.fundacionnaovictoria.org/selection/timeslotpass?productId=10229281823370>mStepTracking=true&ref=localauthority.news). --- #### Out to Lunch: The Quills *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***The Quills in Rochester***](https://www.thequills.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*…* Located at the bridge end of Rochester High Street, in what was once a UKIP office, The Quills has recently had some work done and has a new bar right by the front door. It is helpful to know this in case you haven’t been in a while and wondered, like this writer, if you were in the right place upon entering. The Quills is a double-fronted establishment with plenty of seating and a good Rochester view. The building’s historic nature helps to give character to the place, including the feeling of being sat at an angle from the uneven flooring. By a slight quirk, we arrived slightly early at 11.45, meaning we were given the breakfast menu, so this is an Out to Breakfast review. Even though the menu finished at 11.50, I ordered a ‘make your own’ breakfast with a double helping of hash browns, a portion of back bacon and (yes, and) streaky bacon, three fried eggs, and a portion of mushrooms. This was accompanied by Earl Grey tea and apple juice. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!W3QS!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe2182f1c-97de-4b1a-b847-49ef3ed0360a_1446x804.jpg) Food at The Quills, Rochester The hash browns were clean and crisp. Back bacon and mushrooms are always a good combination, and I made the right choice by also getting the streaky bacon, which was flavourful. However, there is no getting around the fact that the eggs were overcooked, with hard yokes and rubbery whites. They didn’t represent what The Quills can do, but perhaps they were cooked after the 11.50 cutoff. When the waiting staff asked how the food was, I, of course, said the food was good because not all heroes wear capes. Despite the eggs, The Quills is recommended for breakfast or lunch. --- #### Events this week 🎸 In a ‘how did they manage that?’ moment, The Platform 3 Club have legendary indiepop band The Wedding Present playing in Rainham tonight (Fri 26 Jul). Lead David Gedge will perform an intimate acoustic show supported by The Pastel Waves and Men From Memphis. [Tickets £22.50](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/platform3club/t-zzdndpq?ref=localauthority.news). 🎸 Punk band The Scutches play Poco Loco tomorrow night (Sat 27 Jul). The band, comprised of members from the US and the UK, will be supported by Shackleford and The Honey Buzzard. [Tickets £5](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/livemusicevent/the-scutches-with-support-from-shackleford-and-the-honey-buzzard/2024-07-27/21:00/t-avmeezm?ref=localauthority.news). 👻 Cineworld continues its 1999 season with a screening of classic M Night Shyamalan film The Sixth Sense on Monday (29 Jul). Few people won’t know the twist at this point, but it’s remarkable how well the film holds up after all these years. [Tickets £5](https://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/99-season-the-sixth-sense/ho00011475?ref=localauthority.news#/buy-tickets-by-film?in-cinema=020&at=2024-07-29&for-movie=ho00011475&view-mode=list). 🍸 Medway Cocktail Week is back from Thursday (1 Aug) until 11 Aug. Over 40 venues across Medway will offer exclusive cocktails for only £5 to wristband holders. [Tickets £10](https://www.newopenings.co.uk/medwaycocktailweek?ref=localauthority.news). --- [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!VLwy!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f86bdcfad-8d7e-44a5-887c-17410d20814d_2240x900.jpg)](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *Remember that our* [*Medwayish shop*](https://www.medwayish.com/https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news) *contains a wide range of Medway-related gifts and products designed by local creatives. We have books, mugs, t-shirts, prints, and all kinds of other fun bits and pieces.* [*Check it out*](https://www.medwayish.com/?ref=localauthority.news)*!* --- #### More Authority This week, we published our quarterly Voice columns, in which we hear from both [the Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Vince Maple,](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-01d/) and [the Leader of the Opposition, Cllr George Perfect](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-opposition-22d/). Each of them sets out where their parties are and what comes next following the changes of the General Election. [Voice of the LeaderEditor’s note: Every quarter, Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Conservative Leader of the Opposition George Perfect write an exclusive column for Local Authority. Following yesterday’s edition from Cllr Perfect, we hear from Cllr Maple today. He talks about the General Election, Local Plan, and what the administration has been doing![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f00c2ccbd-664f-4881-8cb4-c9023ef95c11_500x500.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-01d/) [Voice of the OppositionEditor’s note: Every quarter, we publish exclusive columns from Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Conservative Leader of the Opposition George Perfect. Today, we welcome Cllr Perfect in his first edition as leader of the opposition on Medway Council. Tomorrow, we have Cllr Maple’s column.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local Authority![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa07a1234-3862-40b0-89bc-ab6ecd27f24e_540x540.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-opposition-22d/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Genius Fatigue by Tunabunny*](https://hhbtm.bandcamp.com/album/genius-fatigue?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Sucker Supreme by Rosie Tucker*](https://rosietucker.bandcamp.com/album/sucker-supreme?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*The Decline and Fall of Heavenly by Heavenly*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZpqIGqZ5uU&ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Voice of the Leader URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-leader-01d/ Last updated: 2024-07-25T12:02:52.000Z **Editor’s note:* Every quarter, Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Conservative Leader of the Opposition George Perfect write an exclusive column for Local Authority. Following yesterday’s edition from Cllr Perfect, we hear from Cllr Maple today. He talks about the General Election, Local Plan, and what the administration has been doing* *We should also note that this column was written before yesterday’s incident in Brompton. Cllr Maple has since* [*issued a statement via Medway Council’s website*](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1722/statement%5Fon%5Fstabbing%5Fin%5Fgillingham%5Flast%5Fnight?ref=localauthority.news)*.* #### Voice of the Leader **by Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council** ![Vince Maple, Medway Council - Chatham Maritime Trust](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Ydc1!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f00c2ccbd-664f-4881-8cb4-c9023ef95c11_500x500.jpg) Cllr Vince Maple Welcome to the first ever Voice of the Leader with a majority Medway Labour & Co-operative Council working with Medway Labour MPs and a Labour Government. I want to start by recognising the sad loss of two amazing individuals since the last Voice of the Leader article – Alderman Paul Harriott was an incredible councillor who represented the community of Twydall for 52 years. His passion for housing and, in particular, council housing was unquestionable. In tributes on social media, many local residents said their families call Twydall home as a direct result of Paul. James Williams was Medway’s Director of Public Health who also was an armed forces veteran and represented Great Britain at multiple Olympics in the field of Fencing. I’ve no doubt there are people alive today in Medway due to the positive, engaging approach James took in communicating during the pandemic. My thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of both Paul and James. As mentioned, we have also had the small matter of the General Election, and I am delighted we have three Labour MPs. Tris Osborne, Naushabah Khan and Lauren Edwards have all hit the ground running and I know they will be superb advocates not only for their individual constituents but also collectively for Medway. I thank them once again for their service as cabinet members since last May. Whether you voted Labour, for another party or indeed didn’t vote they will be there for you. I also want to thank all those from other parties and independents who put themselves forward as candidates for election, as well as volunteers and election agents from all parties who gave their time in supporting the democratic process. I particularly want to give thanks to our three outgoing MPs for their service to our community and I wish well in their future endeavours. Finally, elections are tricky, logistical processes, so my thanks to Medway Council staff who ensured smooth running throughout the election, which was undoubtedly earlier than most people across the country were planning for. So, with three MPs being elected, that has led to three new cabinet members joining the team – Nina Gurung, Alex Paterson and Louwella Prenter, who again have hit the ground running with their first cabinet meeting within 48 hours of being in post! Last week we had a full council meeting which covered a number of important matters. One area is the Local Plan. This is your opportunity to have your say on the future for our community between now and 2041\. There are several sessions remaining across Medway, having already had sessions in Hoo, Halling, Gillingham and Chatham. Future sessions are: - Tuesday 6th August: Rochester - Corn Exchange Princes Hall from 4pm - 7pm - Thursday 8th August: Rainham - St Margarets Church from 5pm - 8pm - Tuesday 13th August: Strood - St Nicholas Church from 3pm - 6pm - Thursday 29th August: Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre, outside M&S from 11am - 2pm - Tuesday 3rd September: Allhallows - Village Hall from 11am – 2pm - Wednesday 4th September: Innovation Centre Medway, Chatham - Darwin Room from 4pm-7pm You don’t need to attend a session to have your say. Whatever aspect you want to comment on, [you can do so here](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200542/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5F2041/1823/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5Fregulation%5F18%5Fconsultation%5F2024?ref=localauthority.news). Not having an up-to-date Local Plan has meant repeated planning appeals being upheld despite on several occasions the planning committee, which acts not as a political committee but a legal quasi-judicial committee, voting unanimously to reject applications. As well as the Local Plan consultation, we also signed off the Community Safety Partnership plan which is another example of strong partnership working. We received important updates on the work of the Corporate Parenting Board which focuses on our children in care. We also agreed unanimously to adopt care experienced as a protected characteristic – once again sending the loudest possible message that children matter in Medway. We also had a good feedback report on the positive work over the last year having signed up to the Councils for Fair Tax Declaration. I was also able to update full council on upcoming inspections that Medway will be participating in, including youth justice and, for the first time, inspections as both a social housing provider and the new CQC inspections for Adult Social Care. We welcome external inspections to both highlight where the services we deliver can be further improved but also recognise the great work happening every single day. Finally, due to the pre-election period where council communications are limited it has meant a number of things have happened but may have been missed so I was pleased to update full council on what had been happening since our last normal meeting in April. - Hosted Armed Forces Day and D-Day Commemorations in partnership with Historic Dockyard Chatham - Flew the Armed Forces Flag, D-Day 80 Flag, Pride Flag, Windrush Flag and St Georges Flag at Gun Wharf - Awarded 8 Green Flags with improved outcomes for Broomhill and Great Lines - Held Medway Mile with over 4,000 participants. - Held the popular Sweeps Festival - Medway Council were Winners of Rainbows over Medway award for LGBT+ Allies - Medway Public Health Department shortlisted in multiple categories at the LGC Awards - Held the Mini Youth Games - Launched the National Lottery Heritage Place 10-year programme - Worked with Medway Diversity Forum and FSB Kent to support small businesses - Signed the Docking Station Memorandum of Understanding with Historic Dockyard Chatham and University of Kent - Hosted the Armed Forces Covenant Conference at the Royal Engineers in Brompton - Held our 7th Child Friendly Medway City Hall - Held another Welcome to Medway event - Held the first ever Our Medway Live events, hearing directly from over 900 staff - Agreed the One Medway Financial Improvement and Transformation Plan - Celebrated Foster Care Fortnight - Launched the [Wall of Shame ](https://www.medway.gov.uk/wallofshame?ref=localauthority.news) - Gave Freedom of the Borough to our Hospital - Opened Cozenton Park Sports Centre - And on the day of Full Council, we received confirmation of the long-awaited Healthy Living Centre in Chatham, which will be named after James Williams. As you can see, this Labour & Co-operative administration is continuing to deliver despite the financial challenges we inherited, and I am committed to every single day doing all I can to make everyone proud to be Medway. *Cllr Vince Maple is the Leader of Medway Council and Labour councillor for Chatham Central and Brompton.* ### Voice of the Opposition URL: https://www.localauthority.news/voice-of-the-opposition-22d/ Last updated: 2024-07-24T15:01:41.000Z **Editor’s note:* Every quarter, we publish exclusive columns from Medway Council Leader Vince Maple and Conservative Leader of the Opposition George Perfect. Today, we welcome Cllr Perfect in his first edition as leader of the opposition on Medway Council. Tomorrow, we have Cllr Maple’s column.* *We should also note that this column was written before yesterday’s incident in Brompton. Cllr Perfect has since* [*commented on the matter on social media*](https://x.com/UKGeorgeP/status/1816009684236619782?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Voice of the Opposition **by Cllr George Perfect, Conservative Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council** ![George Perfect - The Terrapin Group | LinkedIn](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Jc9Y!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fa07a1234-3862-40b0-89bc-ab6ecd27f24e_540x540.jpg) Cllr George Perfect I’m delighted to be writing my first Voice of the Opposition since being elected as the new Leader of Medway Conservatives. In starting, I want to thank my colleague, Cllr Adrian Gulvin, for his tremendous work leading our group in its first year of opposition. Adrian brought stability and unity to our group, and I want to thank him for his personal support in nominating me to the group for unanimous election as our Leader. My election starts a new chapter for our group as we fulfil our role as the opposition and focus our efforts on 2027\. I’m determined to show the people of Medway over the forthcoming years why returning Conservative councillors and ultimately, a Conservative council is the right thing for the future of Medway. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!cU59!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f64835f68-7375-411c-b7d4-44761dbbed94_1878x978.jpg) Cllr George Perfect and former Conservative leader Cllr Adrian Gulvin In addressing the election on 4th July, I want to thank Rt Hon Kelly Tolhurst, Rehman Chishti and Dame Tracey Crouch for their service to Medway over recent years and to our country in government. All three have been steadfast supporters of our group and remain part of our Medway Conservative family – we will miss them. I want to take this opportunity to once again congratulate Cllr Lauren Edwards MP, Cllr Tris Osborne MP and Cllr Naushabah Khan MP on their respective elections as the three new Members of Parliament and wish them the best for the years ahead. As some may be aware, on election night, His Majesty The King signified His intention to confer a Peerage to Craig Mackinlay, a much-loved former member of our group. I congratulate him and his family on this honour, and I know he will champion Medway from the House of Lords. There is no doubt that the election result was a difficult one for our party and, yes, humbling, as results like this always are and should be. I believe, however, that there is a brighter future ahead for the Conservative Party. A strong, moderate, and inclusive Conservative opposition in Medway and in Westminster is vitally important. We must win back the trust of the public, and crucially, focus on delivering for people and not on ourselves. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!DMSv!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0e4e703a-e1f0-42b9-99c7-7b3b1449d2e1_1564x903.jpg) Medway Conservative councillors and former MPs at Armed Forces Day I have spent much time talking about the future of our party, particularly as it relates to local government, over the past few weeks and was pleased to meet with our new Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, last week. Local government faces huge challenges, which would have remained irrespective of the General Election outcome, including on finance, social care, devolution and housing, to name a few. It is important that the new government are held to account and challenged robustly on the delivery in these areas. During the latest meeting of Medway Council, we saw the importance of effective opposition here in Medway too. The Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader, and even the Prime Minister, have spent years calling for the protection of Chatham Docks as industrial space, including through the previous Local Plan process, press releases, protests, and questions, but since May 2023, all have been silent on the issue. Labour councillors clearly struggle to articulate the reasons for the change of heart, and during the meeting refused to even acknowledge that they had campaigned on this issue in the past. There was no apology for the betrayal of workers that had been promised support, nor any acknowledgment of how let down many residents feel on this issue. It is quite simple for me, if the Leader of the Council didn’t feel he could defend the Docks if he won an election, he shouldn’t have campaigned to save it in the first place. It shows a serious lack of respect of the electorate to campaign on an issue like this and then kid the public that you sit as a bystander once in control of the very process that will earmark it for development. Under my leadership, the Medway Conservatives will engage constructively on the Local Plan, and crucially, keep any promises made to the public. In closing this Voice of the Opposition, I wish all readers an enjoyable summer. I look forward to continuing to meet many readers at events across Medway in the months ahead. *Cllr George Perfect is the Leader of the Opposition at Medway Council and Conservative councillor for Rainham North.* ### Medway Council already overspending by £16m this year URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-already-overspending/ Last updated: 2024-07-23T19:22:01.000Z *The biggest story through most of last year was how close Medway Council was to going bankrupt. They eventually avoided it by government intervention, but as a new report shows this week, the cliff remains perilously close. Further down, we have news of a big new development on the King Charles Hotel site in Gillingham, Medway’s seven new creative doctors, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway Council already overspending by £16m this year It feels as if the time to panic about Medway Council’s finances comes earlier every year. After a fairly tense budget-setting process in February, which saw the council gain last-minute approval to use exceptional borrowing powers to keep things ticking over, it’s already time to start worrying about next year. Already, things aren’t looking good. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!HRA0!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffe54e1bd-5c6f-490c-b7b2-327698886644_4032x1734.jpg) Photo: stock.adobe.com Following this year's [first round of Revenue Budget Monitoring](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=75112&ref=localauthority.news), Medway Council is set to overspend by £16.5m, which is quite a large figure. Despite borrowing nearly £15m this year to meet the existing budget gap in Medway, another similar figure has arisen this year. Given Medway’s reserves currently stand at £10m, there is, at the very least, £6m that can’t currently be funded in Medway Council’s budget. So, where have the extra costs come from? As always, the usual suspects are to blame: adult social care, children’s services, and education account for the vast majority of the gap. The big figures from the report: - Adult social care is set to overspend by £7.3m, most of which is down to an increase in complex needs, supported living disability services, and homecare for older people. While the report is at pains to stress that work is being done to reduce these costs, there is inevitably only so far that you can go. - Children’s services are currently overrunning by £1.8m, nearly half of which is down to the continued use of agency staff. Other costs come from a new children’s home not opening on time and increased use of legal services. - Education reports an overspend of £2.6m, £1.7m of which is down to staffing, and £800k from SEN (Special Educational Needs) transport services. - Another £2.8m pressure comes from temporary housing following a continued increase in homeless presentations and increased costs of private sector rents. - Corporate management is on course to overspend by £1.8m, which is largely due to the vague Medway 2.0 and Transformation Map programmes, which are supposed to deliver long-term savings. Happily, there are some savings to be found too. The Highways budget is set to underspend by £410,000, which will baffle anyone who has attempted to drive down Chatham Hill in the last few months. Of course, this kind of process is nothing new. It is common for a council to report overspending in the early part of the year, which is brought down by belt-tightening for the rest of the year. Medway's problem is that we are getting near to a point where there isn’t much more belt-tightening to be done. Most overspending within the budget for this year is on statutory services that must be provided, leaving little wiggle room for further cuts or savings. It might not be long before Medway Council has to return to the government with another begging bowl, hoping that the new government will be a little more receptive to their pleas. *The report will be fully discussed at* [*next week’s Medway Council Cabinet meeting*](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=115&MId=5906&ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- #### Kings Charles Hotel plans get go ahead Following the demolition of the former nightclub on the King Charles Hotel site in Gillingham in 2018, the land has sat empty while the owners seemingly pondered precisely how best to use the site. Medway Council refused plans to build flats on the land in 2019, leading to a more commercial use for the site. Now, new plans have finally been approved by Medway Council, and we hope you like conferences. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!d99K!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f96a59afd-d855-4b26-bc4c-85019c52d83b_2210x970.jpg) Approved plans for King Charles Hotel Plans have been granted for a 1,170-capacity conference venue and an extension of the hotel, which will be raised by a storey to add 24 additional rooms. [Medway Council seem happy with the plans](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=S5D08HKNGFJ00&ref=localauthority.news), though it remains unclear exactly how much demand there is for such extensive conference facilities in Gillingham. The report from planning officers raised concerns about the centre's level of parking, with 119 spaces on-site. However, it is deemed that the impact will be limited as high-capacity events will only be occasional on the site. Curiously, the report does note that the full capacity can only be attained for standing events, which begs the question as to whether the owners intend to use the site for more creative uses like live music beyond conferences. --- #### Medway gets seven new creative doctors Seven Medway figures will be awarded honorary doctorates this week as part of an ongoing process to recognise those who have contributed to Medway's culture and creativity. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!V7TQ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f9954d6a1-1dad-4f3f-9dae-368deff26a61_1200x400.jpg) River Medway, Alice Oseman, Simon Cook, and Zandra Rhodes The individuals awarded cover a broad cross-section of Medway’s cultural scene: - Zandra Rhodes is one of Medway’s most recognisable creative figures, with a lengthy career in fashion and textiles. - Alice Oseman is the creator of the Medway-based LGBT+ comic Heartstopper, which became a Netflix sensation. - Simon Cook is the principal of MidKent College behind the recently launched Medway School of Arts and chairs the Medway Place Board. - River Medway is a drag artist whose appearances on Ru Paul’s Drag Race brought Medway to national attention. - Ranj Singh is a Medway doctor, television presenter, author, and columnist. - Carol Stewart is the chair of Creative Medway and chair of Medway African and Caribbean Association. - Bill Ferris was Chief Executive of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, overseeing its transformation into a mixed-use heritage site and creative hub. The doctorates are being awarded by Medway’s three universities, the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church, and the University of Greenwich. Whether or not River Medway decides to be known as Dr Medway remains to be seen. --- #### In brief 🏗️ After Medway Council approved plans, the [former Manor Club in Chatham will be redeveloped into flats](https://futuremedway.co.uk/61-flats-on-krystals-nightclub-site-in-new-road-chatham-given-go-ahead/?ref=localauthority.news). While the developer initially agreed to build 50 flats, with 25% being affordable, on the site, they claimed this wasn’t viable, so they now have permission to build 61 with no affordable provision. 🏫 [Medway Council also approved plans for a new Special Educational Needs school in Gillingham](https://futuremedway.co.uk/approval-for-new-send-secondary-school-in-cornwallis-avenue-gillingham/?ref=localauthority.news). Sport England raised concerns about the plans, though, as a playing field will be lost, so the government will decide instead. 🏪 [Carpetright in Gillingham is set to close](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/full-list-of-carpetright-stores-in-kent-to-close-310178/?ref=localauthority.news) after the store wasn’t saved as part of a rescue package. Rival Tapi bought several outlets and the brand but was not interested in the Gillingham Business Park store. --- #### More Authority Over the weekend, [we interviewed Zaid Mahmood](https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-lobbying-the-university-constantly/), the former Student Union President for the University of Kent, about how he got the role, how data analytics have helped improve the student experience, what effect the government has had on international students and student finances, and more. [“We are lobbying the university constantly to improve the student experience”Zaid Mahmood was the then Student Union President for the University of Kent when we recorded this interview at The Deep End on the Medway campus. Since it was recorded, he has since moved on to a different role, but the discussion still provides an illuminating conversation about how he got the role, how data analytics have helped improve the student experience, what effect the government has had on international students and student finances, and more.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fefa3dea5-9c96-45fa-91ef-7ebc60d3bf57_1498x988.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-lobbying-the-university-constantly/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Correction *Our Friday edition reported that independent Medway councillors Satindar Shokar and Stephen Hubbard hadn’t attended any meetings since January. However, they did turn up for the council's annual meeting in May, which, while not a proper meeting, technically counts. We’re happy to correct the record.* --- #### Footnotes *Thanks to everyone who offered to take some Local Authority flyers to distribute to their workplaces, colleagues, or friends. We still have plenty left, so please get in touch with us with an address if you’d like to take a small stack. Email us at* [***hello@localauthority.news***](mailto:hello@localauthority.news) *if you can help. Thanks!* *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*All Hell by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/all-hell?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Pottymouth by Bratmobile*](https://bratmobile.bandcamp.com/album/pottymouth?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Live at the Annandale Hotel by Life Without Buildings*](https://gargleblastrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-annandale-hotel?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “We are lobbying the university constantly to improve the student experience” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/we-are-lobbying-the-university-constantly/ Last updated: 2024-07-21T06:28:33.000Z *Zaid Mahmood was the then Student Union President for the University of Kent when we recorded this interview at The Deep End on the Medway campus. Since it was recorded, he has since moved on to a different role, but the discussion still provides an illuminating conversation about how he got the role, how data analytics have helped improve the student experience, what effect the government has had on international students and student finances, and more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!EiAD!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fefa3dea5-9c96-45fa-91ef-7ebc60d3bf57_1498x988.jpg) Zaid Mahmood **Where were you born?** I was born in London, in Harrow. I grew up in multiple places. I moved back to Pakistan. I grew up there for 10 years of my life and then moved back to the UK. **What region of Pakistan?** In Punjab. Lahore. So not the capital, but where Pakistan was formed. **What jobs did your parents do growing up?** My mum did a lot. My mum was a pharmacist by degree, but after that, she decided she didn’t want to do pharmacy anymore, decided to go into teaching, became a teacher, started at primary level all the way up to A-levels. Then we moved back to the UK, and she did her Master’s in Education. Then switched a little bit and went to HR, doing HR and recruitment. Yeah. Now, she's a HR consultant for KPMG. She's changed careers and found what she loves now. My father, he's been a doctor since training. **How did you find school?** School was really, really good. I moved around a lot of schools, but I think it was useful for me, and I attribute a lot to the type of person I am today. I attribute it to my time in schools and moving around, because it helped me adapt. It helped me learn how to be very social, be able to make friends easily, but also be able to talk to people, have the confidence. **Was primary school in the UK or Pakistan?** It was a bit of both. It was in Pakistan, and then I moved back here. And then primary school, I finished off in Canterbury. Then I lived in Surrey, lived back in Harrow, and then I moved to Dubai. I lived in Dubai for 3 years. **How did you end up in Dubai?** My mum got a job in Dubai. **Where did you go for 6th form?** Back in the UK. I moved after finishing my GCSEs. I moved back to Harrow and did my A-levels there. **What did you specialise in at A-level?** I did Biology and Chemistry. The plan was always Biochemistry, but I did also do Business A-level. **What brought you to the Medway Towns?** While I was choosing my universities, Kent wasn't an option for me at that point because I was choosing Biochemistry. Then, on results day, I completely changed my mind. I got my results and said, ‘I don't actually want to do Science Biochemistry. I don't want to do Science at the university.’ It was just something I was doing to please the Asian family stereotype. Then I chose Business and Management, and Kent came up as one of the options. I reviewed the course, looked at the modules, and I was like, ‘This is exactly what I want to be doing.’ I just found everything so interesting. And I already had a connection to Kent. My mum and her sister grew up a little bit in Medway, too. My mum went to Rainham Girls. My aunt went to Chatham Grammar. They know the area well. Me, my mum, and my brother lived in Canterbury when I was ten while my mum was doing her Master’s at CCCU *(Canterbury Christ Church University)*. We decided to look through the options and I just felt Kent was the right option for me. I chose it and came in for an applicant day in Medway and fell in love with the campus. It was so beautiful. It was historic but also still modern at the same time. I love the accommodation. Everyone was so lovely. Kent was also the most supportive university of all the clearing hotlines I called. They were really supportive throughout the process and made sure to check in on what I wanted to do and be able to guide me through it rather than, sometimes, nowadays, universities will treat you as customers or transactional. Kent didn't have that. Kent was really awesome. **Where did you live when you were in student accommodation?** I was in [Pier Quays](https://www.unitestudents.com/medway/pier-quays?ref=localauthority.news), the classic student accommodation in Medway. It was wonderful. Right by the pier as well. I have a huge thing for being near water. It was perfect for me. It was really nice. All the rooms were ensuite and well-priced. **What is your official title?** I'm the Student Union President *(for the University of Kent)* and the Chair of the Board of Trustees for [Kent Students’ Union](https://kentunion.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). Where we are, in [The Hub](https://www.thehubmedway.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) on Medway campus, is our central place for all three Student Unions *(University of Kent, University of Greenwich, and Canterbury Christ Church University)*. We work in partnership for Medway. Medway is a collective agreement. When a Kent student comes to the hub, they're coming to visit the Kent Union at The Hub. When a Greenwich student comes here, they visit Greenwich Students’ Union at The Hub. The staff here work for all three unions. **Why did you first decide to stand for student union president?** I initially ran in my final year of my Business and Management course, and this was during lockdown, or when we're coming out of lockdown, but it was still the tier system. All those wild times. I decided to run because it was always a dream of mine. I think ever since I came here, I said to myself that one day I'm going to be the President of the union here. Didn't know how, didn't know what to do. Then one day, I just saw nominations are open. I did a bit of research, and I applied, and then went through all the training, all the support to run an online campaign. I ran my online campaign, and I lost terribly. But that first loss really fuelled that fire. I knew I was doing a year in data analytics. I thought I have one more chance. In my year in data analytics, I worked to make sure I was everywhere you'd look. I was doing so much to understand students as well, I became a student trustee for Kent Union. I worked at the library cafe in Canterbury. So, when you got a coffee in the library, that was me handing you the coffee. My face and my blonde streaks were quite identifiable. It helped being recognisable. I was also the activities network chair. I was NUS delegate for the National Union of Students. I represented Kent there. I did so many other things. Really did everything I could to understand different areas of the experience. Then I ran, and I won. **Have you ever been a member of a political party?** Not officially, no. But ever since I've been legally allowed to vote, I've been a Labour voter. **What additional roles, paid or unpaid, do you do?** Kent Students’ Union is a registered charity, so we are trustees as well. As staff members, we are student-led. The majority of the board of trustees are students. I do have a secondary voluntary position. I'm a trustee for [University of Kent Academies Trust](https://www.universityofkentacademiestrust.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). That is a multi-academy trust of two schools in Medway, Chatham Grammar and Brompton Academy. I'm a trustee for those two schools because I wanted to give back to the community here in Medway. Those schools make a huge difference to ensuring that the younger population in Medway have the opportunities to go into further education, go into higher education and be able to succeed, and be able to bring back to the area and revitalise it as well. **What does your average day entail?** That's a tough question. Honestly, there's no one average day. It's so different every single day, and that's why I've really enjoyed it. I'm never bored in my job. Every day, something new will pop up. There will be a lot of firefighting. There's problems that come up, and we know how difficult the higher education sector is currently for students, staff, lecturers, students' unions, universities, everyone. There's a lot of problems that come up, plus also the political landscape we're in as a country with the cost-of-living crisis, with how our political system is working currently for us. I have to do a lot of firefighting, but I also do a lot of, meetings with university management and ensure that the student voice is heard. I focus on priorities, and I have a team, so it's myself and then four Vice Presidents as well. They all have specific remits. Within my remit, I focus on cost of living, on transparency in decision making, as well as in student feedback and involvement. How are students being listened to? How is the university being transparent in the decisions they're making? Challenging them, holding them to account, when they make a decision that is, impacting students' experience. Cost of living is a key one for me. We've been working really hard to ensure that Kent provides a good cost of living to its students, especially when, on a national level, the government is not able to do so. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Medway Council is civil until it isn’t URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-is-civil-until-it/ Last updated: 2024-07-19T19:45:39.000Z *Medway Council meetings have long been politically charged, particularly after lengthy Conservative rule. So it was interesting to see what this week’s meeting would bring with Labour in charge of both the council and the country for the first time ever. It started well enough, and then it rapidly descended during a debate on homelessness. Further down, we have news that the Independent Group has gained another councillor, we review the Waters Edge in Strood (spoiler alert: not a rave), our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway Council is civil until it isn’t Last night saw the first full Medway Council meeting in this brave new world where Labour control both the council and the entire country. It was a fairly lively affair. We’re going to spare you the full five-hour blow-by-blow account, but here are the highlights in handy bullet point form: - Medway Council Leader Vince Maple gave his support for reintroducing Eurostar services to Ebbsfleet and Ashford. He talked up the economic and environmental benefits of doing so. - Liberal Democrat Stuart Bourne asked Medway Council how much they had divested from fossil fuel companies since Labour took control, something they had called on the Conservatives to do when they were in opposition. Cllr Curry (Lab) responded that it wasn’t possible to do so, so it’s hard to understand why they demanded the former administration do it. - Conservative councillor Andrew Lawrence submitted a motion on Chatham Docks demanding the Labour administration apologise for their u-turn on its redevelopment. Unsurprisingly, the Labour voted against the motion, and Cllr Curry was outraged that the motion dared to suggest that councillors on the planning committee might have voted along party lines. Perish the thought. - Independent Group councillor Michael Pearce brought an entire box of Yorkshire Tea with him. Fair enough given how long these meetings run. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!PdYx!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fffaabbb4-580b-4b60-9e58-b5e34f0eab38_2202x926.jpg) Councillors voting on Cllr Sands’ motion - Independent Group councillor Ron Sands submitted a motion on fixing the pension unfairness impacting women born in the 1950s. In a rare moment of cross-party unity, the Labour administration and Conservative opposition both supported the motion. Given the unanimous support, the issue moved straight to vote, leading to Cllr Naushabah Khan (Lab) to note the irony that only one woman was allowed to speak on the issue. - Independent councillor Chris Spalding proposed a motion calling for better engagement with veterans’ groups on military-related events. Following Medway Council Leader Vince Maple saying he’ll support the motion because he agreed with the spirit of it rather than every word, this one was also passed unanimously. Maybe a new, agreeable dawn has broken in Medway politics. - That agreeableness lasted until the final motion, submitted by Cllr Louwella Prenter (Lab), on tackling homelessness and asking the government to continue supporting Medway's £1m Rough Sleeping Initiative funding. Cllr Gulvin (Con) submitted an amendment to the motion, in theory to make it less party political, but instead removed much of the detail. Things escalated when Cllr Howcroft-Scott (Lab) said the Conservatives had “blood on their hands” on the issue, which led to an angry response from Conservative leader Cllr Perfect (Con). - It was announced that the new Healthy Living Centre in the Pentagon Centre in Chatham will be named after James Williams, the Public Health Director at Medway Council, who recently passed away. - Medway Council officers are assessing whether to extend Rochester’s Saturday pedestrianisation to Sundays and public holidays. That will undoubtedly be popular. - Responding to a question on car parking charges stopping people coming to Rainham town centre, Cllr Paterson (Lab) referenced figures that showed that more people were parking in the car parks this year than last year, despite what traders may be saying. - In a glorious example of how local democracy works, of the 16 questions submitted by councillors at this meeting, there was only time to answer 7 of them. - While it’s positive that council meetings now prioritise the glamourous bits like public questions and motions, this can lead to the final hour being incredibly dull. If, for some reason, you’d like to watch all five hours of the meeting, you can do so below: --- #### In brief 🗺️ [The Guardian has featured Gillingham in its series on overlooked towns](https://www.theguardian.com/travel/article/2024/jul/16/where-tourists-seldom-tread-towns-with-hidden-histories?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2tIpZNsHnPfzp0nt7hCWcRTB0b3e2NZl8CxnxlREvAPghml1Oq2NWTAnY%5Faem%5F3ngJ0DSIcazIHvgllLPKGQ&ref=localauthority.news). The piece talks about the area's history, music, and culture. 🚧 [Rochester Bridge will have overnight lane closures for the next eight weeks](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/drivers-warned-as-eight-weeks-of-lane-closures-begin-on-busy-309819/?ref=localauthority.news). The measure is to allow part of the bridge to be repainted. 🍺 [KentOnline has been to review the Homeward Bound pub in Halling](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/secret-drinker/the-only-thing-not-from-the-90s-was-the-1-50-for-a-packet-309980/?ref=localauthority.news). It scores pretty solidly. --- #### Independent Group grows again Following the news last week that Cllr John Williams of Strood Rural had resigned from the Conservative Group to sit as an independent, it didn’t take long for him to be snapped up by the Independent Group on Medway Council. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!sUte!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f4b7f49b2-7e5c-4077-b8f7-1b1fa679b202_298x298.jpg) Cllr John Williams Cllr Williams didn’t hide the fact it would be a possible destination for him, revealing to us last week that he’d be open to joining the group if asked. Ask, they did, as [Cllr Williams is now the fifth member of the group](https://www.localauthority.news/new-local-plan-finally-emerges/), which is slowly increasing its size from three a year ago. With the Independent Group initially forming three councillors in Hoo and High Halstow, the group is now extending westward, holding two of the three seats in Strood Rural. Inevitably, questions will be raised about whether Cllr Gary Etheridge, ward colleague of now Independent Group members Cllr Williams and Cllr Elizabeth Turpin, will also leap across. As Medway Council gets its Local Plan process underway in earnest, things feel positive for the group as they seek to influence the outcome to protect the Hoo Peninsula as much as possible. Each new councillor assists with that work, and it will be interesting to see how the group works together on wider council issues as it becomes more prominent with a more diverse range of views. --- #### Out to Lunch: The Waters Edge in Strood *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***The Waters Edge***](https://www.hungryhorse.co.uk/pubs/kent/waters-edge?ref=localauthority.news) **in Strood*…* According to [the website](https://www.hungryhorse.co.uk/pubs/kent/waters-edge?ref=localauthority.news), this Hungry Horse chain pub is in the heart of Rochester, which is one way to describe Medway Valley Park in Strood. I’m old enough to remember when Medway Valley Park was *the* place to go in Medway. Today is not that day. Describing the Waters Edge as sprawling doesn’t quite convey that it is bigger than it needs to be. Many tables were available, and the booths had individual screens showing sports. We picked a booth where the television wasn’t working. The menu had a wide variety of beige food available, and I ordered more chicken wings than is medically advisable because they were on a 3-for-something offer. I ordered Chinese salt and pepper, Korean BBQ, Texas BBQ, salt and pepper chips, and coleslaw. In an exciting twist, the Coke came with the offer of a ‘flavour shot’. I ordered one with vanilla and one with cherry. The drinks had the largest gap between the drink and the brim of the glass in the history of these reviews. The cherry mix was quite chemically, but the vanilla was a lovely addition. The coleslaw felt like it had come out of a large vat, but the chips were fresh, crisp, and tasty. While many chicken wings were delivered, they were small and clearly not from higher-welfare chickens. I could only just about tell the difference between the Korean and Texas BBQ taste. As I finished the meal in this pub that had seen better days in this forgotten part of Medway, I thought about the sad lives these chickens must have had before being deep-fried. I’ve never left feeling so sad before. --- #### Events this week 🎸 The cultural highlight of the week sees [Medway’s best new band, Little Storping in the Swuff](https://www.localauthority.news/the-baroque-anxieties-of-david-goggin/), playing their debut album, Baroque Anxieties, in full at the Medway Little Theatre tomorrow (Sat 20 Jul). Rochester songwriter David Goggin is at the top of his game, and this promises to be a delightful evening. [Tickets £10](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/mlt/little-storping-in-the-swuff-present-baroque-anxieties/e-rlvraq?ref=localauthority.news). 🎛️ Some Kinda Cultcha returns to Poco Loco tomorrow night (Sat 20 Jun). Club night featuring genre-shredding music from across the world, including African, Caribbean, Balkan, Asian, Latin, Arabian, and more. [Tickets £3](https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/livemusicevent/some-kinda-cultcha/2024-07-20/21:00/t-pqvaakz?ref=localauthority.news). 🚂 Chatham & District Model Railway Club hold their annual exhibition at Chatham Historic Dockyard this weekend (20-21 Jun). Features displays, traders, demonstrations, and more. [Tickets £9](https://www.chatham-mrc.co.uk/exhibition?ref=localauthority.news). 🥕 [Rochester Farmers Market](https://www.kfma.org.uk/Rochester?ref=localauthority.news) is back on Sunday (21 Jun) in the Blue Boar Lane car park. Around 20 traders will be selling local and unique food and drink. Free. 🎸 Three Sheets to the Wind in Rochester continue their gigs that punch above their weight, with John Bramwell of rock band I Am Kloot performing on Sunday night (21 Jun). [Tickets £25](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/john-bramwell-i-am-kloot-live-at-three-sheets-tickets-845950750467?ref=localauthority.news). 📽️ Oscar-winning film The Zone of Interest is screening at the Chatham Odeon on Monday (22 Jun). Remarkable director Jonathan Glazer’s film examines the alarmingly mundane life of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss. [Tickets £5](https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/the-zone-of-interest/HO00005313/?cinema=050&ref=localauthority.news). 🎞️ At the same time, on the other side of Medway, Cineworld in Strood is screening South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. The 1999 satire has only become more relevant in the years since, examining censorship, war, and scapegoating. [Tickets £5](https://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/99-season-south-park-bigger-longer-uncut/ho00011471?ref=localauthority.news#/buy-tickets-by-film?in-cinema=020&at=2024-07-22&for-movie=ho00011471&view-mode=list). --- #### Help us (through the medium of flyers) *We often talk about our small marketing budget for Local Authority, and that’s no exaggeration. Aside from a little pot for social media advertising, most of our income goes toward covering our costs and paying ourselves (modestly) for working on it.* *Spreading the word is vital to making this thing sustainable. We’ve been trying to get flyers out around Medway, but we can only go so far. So we’re asking for your help to go further, and we have a mountain of flyers to make that happen.* *We’d love for you to take a small pile of them to distribute somewhere appropriate, whether it’s the staff room at work, your place of education, or even handing them out to your friends and neighbours. We don’t mind where they end up as long as they end up where someone might notice them.* *If you’d like to take a small stack, email us at* [***hello@localauthority.news***](mailto:hello@localauthority.news) *with your address and we’ll get some dropped off with you. Thank you!* --- #### Footnotes *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*All Hell by Los Campesinos!*](https://loscampesinos.bandcamp.com/album/all-hell?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*I Spent the Winter Writing Songs About Getting Better by Proper*](https://bsmrocks.bandcamp.com/album/i-spent-the-winter-writing-songs-about-getting-better?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### Medway Council asks itself to build a pier URL: https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-asks-itself-to-build/ Last updated: 2024-07-16T22:16:52.000Z *For an urban area named for the river that runs through the middle of it, Medway isn’t great at using the water's opportunities. This reached a low point in 2022 when Rochester Pier was allowed to crumble into the river. Now, there’s a new plan to get the town back on the water. Further down, we have details of Medway’s baffling new garden waste subscription plan that you almost certainly don’t need, the start of the formal Local Plan consultation, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Medway Council asks itself to build a pier In February, we broke the news that [Medway Council was considering building a new docking platform](https://www.localauthority.news/new-pier-for-rochester-might-be-on/) for boats in Rochester. This followed the previous [Rochester Pier being allowed to collapse into the river](https://www.localauthority.news/our-infrastructure-is-literally-collapsing/), as was only natural for an area promoting itself as a thriving waterfront city. Following an informal consultation with relevant stakeholders, plans are now moving forward to install the platform, intending to open up river access in Rochester once again. The plans aren’t particularly grand, nor do they represent a proper replacement of Rochester Pier, but those are the austere times we live in. Limehouse Wharf, located within the new Rochester Riverside development, will become the new location to disembark vessels in Rochester. In a rare moment of unity, everyone seems to favour the plans, with Medway Council, developers Hyde and Countryside, the City of Rochester Society, and (the big one) the Medway and Swale Boating Association all supporting the move. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!XIzh!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f0d8be5f1-ca95-44e8-92c3-ef6056ed8338_1646x925.jpg) A surrealist nightmare of what the new docking platform on Rochester Riverside could look like. Only the Rochester Riverside Resident’s Association raised concerns (mostly around parking), but they still supported the move by 70% to 20%, with 10% not being sure either way. The proposal does seem to have several positive aspects. Being east of Rochester Bridge allows larger vessels to dock than could previously reach Rochester Pier. Further, some operators have already agreed to use the new platform. [Jetstream Tours](https://www.jetstreamtours.com/?ref=localauthority.news) has agreed to run services from Southend and Queenborough to Rochester weekly for five months of the year. Similarly, the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society pledged to sail the [Waverley paddle steamer](https://waverleyexcursions.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) between London and Rochester for one entire weekend in September. You may have noted that the one thing this doesn’t seem to be offering is much in the way of accessible river traffic from Rochester itself. The focus here is on delivering tourists to Rochester via boat, which is welcome for the town. Still, hopefully, some further uses that allow access for local residents can also be developed. There is no timeline for the installation of the new platform, though a [full planning application has now been submitted by Medway Council](https://publicaccess1.medway.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SFOZYVKNKZ500&ref=localauthority.news) to Medway Council to decide on the plans. Given that, it seems likely that the plans will be full steam ahead as surely Medway Council won’t reject Medway Council’s application. [Stranger things have happened though](https://www.localauthority.news/medway-council-rejects-medway-council/)… --- #### Medway to launch baffling garden waste subscription plan For all the jokes about our rubbish collections being in crisis, overall service provision in Medway is pretty good and more frequent than in most other areas. While most of the country has switched to fortnightly rubbish collections, Medway has stubbornly retained a weekly collection. Times are tough though, and revenue has to be raised somewhere, so Medway Council agreed last week to launch a garden and food waste subscription service. When looking at the details, it raises inevitable questions about exactly who might choose to use it. Subscriptions for garden and food waste collection aren’t entirely unusual. Indeed, every other council in Kent operates this system, with residents paying on average £50 to £60 to have their brown bins (or equivalents) collected. This isn’t what Medway is choosing to implement though. They intend to retain a weekly free collection of garden and food waste, and you’ll only need to pay if you want to get rid of above and beyond what fits in your brown bin. Given Medway’s bins are 240 litres in capacity, and the collection is weekly, who is putting out more than an entire brown bin of waste regularly? If you are, we have serious questions about gardening habits, and maybe it’s time to come indoors for a bit. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Qn6C!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f5ac0fd5e-5af6-4ea0-9d61-5fdb84bc4dd6_2749x1325.jpg) If you have this many brown bins, Medway Council want £40 from you. Photo: stock.adobe.com If you occasionally exceed your brown bin capacity, you’ll probably just throw the extra in a black sack rather than pay £40 for an annual subscription. As a result, it’s hard to imagine this being taken up by anyone other than the most hardcore of gardeners. To be fair to Medway Council, they aren’t expecting a high uptake. Their [own report](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/mgconvert2pdf.aspx?id=74868&ref=localauthority.news) suggests an uptake between 2% and 5%. Even those figures feel like they are bordering on the optimistic. With implementation costs of up to £50,000, that’s a lot of subscribers before the new service can even break even. Is it going to prove worth it? --- #### Local Plan consultation is now open Last week, we ran through [the highlights from Medway’s latest Local Plan](https://www.localauthority.news/new-local-plan-finally-emerges/) consultation. Long-time readers will know that Medway has been lacking a plan for two decades despite being legally compelled to have one, and now an updated one is being put out for consultation again. Having previously consulted last year, we’re back for another go this year, and now Medway Council has identified three potential plans for development. One that focuses on brownfield sites, one on greenfield, and one that aims to annoy everyone just a bit by blending the two. Of course, it’s that third one that Medway Council prefer. Most excitingly, we now have a full map of the council’s preferred outcome, which is rather better than our screenshots from parts of it last week. The map gives a clearer overview of the areas facing development between now and 2041. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!b46x!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f33d3a08d-646a-47a9-9929-e8dd9898e05e_2747x2180.jpg) Medway Council’s preferred Local Plan development option It should be noted that an orange area doesn’t mean the location will be littered with homes. It can also mean development for employment uses, which seems to be the plan around Kingsnorth and Grain. That said, most of the spaces above are likely to become homes, pending developers' plans and council approval. Swathes of land around Hoo and the Capstone Valley, as well as a large area east of Rainham and Chatham Docks, are facing development. These plans are likely to be controversial, and Medway Council are seeking your input as part of the formal [Local Plan consultation](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200542/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5F2041?ref=localauthority.news). There are reams of pages to go through, and consultation software that is nearly impossible to navigate without a computer science, but you’re welcome to have a go if you’re feeling lucky. *The* [*Local Plan consultation*](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200542/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5F2041?ref=localauthority.news) *is now open and runs until September 8\. You can also attend an* [*in-person event*](https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200542/medway%5Flocal%5Fplan%5F2041/1823/setting%5Fthe%5Fdirection%5Ffor%5Fmedway%5F2041/3?ref=localauthority.news) *to learn more and speak to the officers involved.* --- #### In brief 🌲 [Eight Medway parks have retained their Green Flag status](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/45-kent-parks-given-green-flag-awards-309859/?ref=localauthority.news). Broomhill Park, Capstone Farm Country Park, Gillingham Park, Hillyfields Community Park, Riverside Country Park, The Great Lines Heritage Park, The Vines Gardens, and Ranscombe Farm Reserve all received the accolade. 🏊 Cozenton Park Sports Centre opens tomorrow, and that is all we can say about that. 🎙️ [Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott is a podcaster now](https://rebuilduk.online/podcast/ep01-what-did-we-learn-from-the-general-election/?ref=localauthority.news). He and three other Conservative PCCs who are part of ReBuild, a new think tank, discuss the election results and where the party goes next. --- #### Can you help us? 🏚️ We’re still eager to hear from anyone knowledgeable about the Spembley building in Chatham. We’d particularly like to speak to anyone who lived on the site in recent years, anyone involved in it’s conversion to flats, and anyone who has accessed the site since it was vacated. *We’re happy to speak off the record in the first instance. If you can help us, please email* [***hello@localauthority.news***](mailto:hello@localauthority.news) *\- thanks!* --- #### More Authority [This week's interview was with artist Wendy Daws](https://www.localauthority.news/if-you-want-to-do-it-you-will-find/) of the Mess Room and Medway Open Studios. We spoke with Wendy about what happens at the Mess Room, the effect of closing UCA on Medway, working with tactile art, and more. [“If you want to do it, you will find ways to make it happen”In the second of a two-part interview, Steven sat down with Wendy Daws of the Mess Room and Xtina Lamb of Intra Arts, initially to talk about Medway Open Studios, which is happening now! Due to the election, these interviews ended up being slightly delayed, but you can still![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbde6f6f2-4e5f-4a22-be2f-470e3ea73547_800x533.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/if-you-want-to-do-it-you-will-find/) [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Two White Cranes by Two White Cranes*](https://twowhitecranes.bandcamp.com/album/twowhitecranes?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Sentimental Scum by Suzie True*](https://suzietrue.bandcamp.com/album/sentimental-scum?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Fuck These Fuckin Fascists by The Muslims*](https://themuslims.bandcamp.com/album/fuck-these-fuckin-fascists-2?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “If you want to do it, you will find ways to make it happen” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/if-you-want-to-do-it-you-will-find/ Last updated: 2024-07-14T06:08:48.000Z *In the second of a two-part interview, Steven sat down with* [*Wendy Daws*](https://www.wendydaws.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *of the* [*Mess Room*](https://www.messroom.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) *and* [*Xtina Lamb*](https://www.localauthority.news/it-feels-like-you-can-in-medway/) *of* [*Intra Arts*](https://intraarts.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*, initially to talk about* [*Medway Open Studios*](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*, which is happening now! Due to the election, these interviews ended up being slightly delayed, but you can still* [*hear more about Medway Open Studios in the piece we published last week*](https://www.localauthority.news/inside-medway-open-studios/)*. Steven spoke with Wendy about what goes on at the Mess Room, the effect of closing UCA on Medway, working with tactile art, and more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!7CQO!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fbde6f6f2-4e5f-4a22-be2f-470e3ea73547_800x533.jpg) Wendy Daws with Mess Room participants. Photo: Spaghetti Weston **Where were you born?** Hoo. My dad still lives in the house I was born in. **Were both your parents from the Medway Towns?** Welling and Sidcup, and they moved into Hoo. I think it was ‘66, and when Hoo was then being built, the orchards were being turned into housing estates. **What jobs did your parents do growing up?** My dad did his engineering at the Woolwich Arsenal, and then when they moved down to Hoo, he was a milkman, amongst other jobs. Before they moved down, Mum was working on computers in the typing pool at Selfridges. Then did homeworking, then we appeared, and Dad went to BP forever. **How did you find school?** I quite liked it. All my schooling was at Hoo. Most of my reports were ‘Could do better.’ Then, I was in an O-level stream and met a boy, so I didn't get all the O-levels that I should have. This was when you chose your options, and if you're at O-levels, you have to do O-levels and I wanted to do pottery, which was GCSE. The pottery teacher said, ‘You'll have to really fight to do pottery if you want to do it because they won't let you.’ They didn't let me. I didn't do pottery, but I held on to that in my head. I left school when I was 16, did my youth training scheme at GC Avionics. I learnt stuff. I wanted to learn to type, so I did learn to type. After I'd finished the youth training schemes, I could go to college, but I couldn't. I didn't have my wits about me to put that into gear so I hadn't realised I could have learnt to type in my sixth form had I stayed to do Art, Sociology and English, the things I really loved. I did various night schools in things I didn't want to do: Shorthand, bookkeeping and then pottery at night school. Then I did sugar craft, and I left and did various jobs. I went back to school when I was 30. **Have you been to university?** I went to Brighton and did my BA in three-dimensional crafts. I worked in wood, metal, ceramics and plastics, and it was metals and plastics mostly that I worked in. It changed in my second year, I had an exchange with Nagoya Fine Art University in Japan, and when I came back, I wrote my dissertation, Museum Approaches to Visually Impaired Visitors, and graduated in 2004 and came back to Medway. I know this has been mentioned before, but we all say it's the Medway magnet. I didn't think I'd be coming back to Medway. I left in ‘97, and I was back again in 2004\. You're kind of stuck in a good way. When I came back to Medway in 2004, I had a part-time job at [Frances Iles](https://francis-iles.com/?ref=localauthority.news). I could have earned some money doing admin and temp work. I thought, ‘No, I'm used to living on biscuits and not buying CDs.’ I worked part-time. When I was working at Frances Iles, I met other artists, and I didn't even know any other artists. I went off with my secretary hat and came back with an art hat. I met [Mark Barnes](https://www.markbarnes.design/?ref=localauthority.news), because he worked at Frances Iles. And then from meeting Mark and then meeting others, very slowly, and got a studio at New Art Centre, as it was, which then became [Nucleus](https://www.nucleusarts.com/?ref=localauthority.news). I was there from 2005 to 2009, then went to the Tack Room in Hulkes Lane, where I still am, and then the community space at [Sun Pier House](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news) in 2017. **What is your official occupation?** Artist. **What additional roles, paid or unpaid, you do?** Mess Room, Sun Pier House, Medway Open Studios, [Fat Lady Opera](https://www.fatladyopera.com/?ref=localauthority.news). I think that's it. And those jobs then entail cleaning the loo, writing funding bids, remembering the tea bags, facilitating, meeting other people, training other people, and just making all the stuff happen. **Where would you like to go for dinner in Medway?** [Dylan’s](https://dylansrestaurant.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)! And the [Cheese Room](https://thecheeseroomrochester.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). **What has been the biggest improvement to the arts in Medway since you’ve been here?** I think the joining up. Us talking. Medway Open Studios has helped, I believe, strongly in joining up the conversation. You can see visible differences, working with Rochester Cathedral, that all-embracing if you ask, things can happen. And I think asking, I have realised, you can make changes and drive stuff. I think there's a real awareness that wasn't when I was younger. I just didn't have any awareness on how you can go about making things happen and I think there is a real focus and change. It's suitably vague and not really answering your question, but I can't really articulate it. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Nine things Medway learnt from the General Election URL: https://www.localauthority.news/nine-things-medway-learnt-from-the/ Last updated: 2024-07-12T20:53:26.000Z *We’ve had a week to process the General Election, and following a couple of non-politics posts, we’ve got one final roundup before we move on and never speak of this again. With the benefit of hindsight, we’re looking at the lessons we can learn from the results in Medway last week. Further down, we have news of Medway Council’s new summertime fun bus and what it might mean for the future, a review the restaurant at Avenue Tennis, our weekly events guide, news in brief, and more.* --- #### Nine things Medway learnt from the General Election It’s been a week since Medway elected three new MPs and chose three Labour representatives for the first time since 2005\. Now that the dust has settled and we’ve managed to catch up on our sleep a little bit, let’s ponder the lessons that can be taken away from a dramatic General Election in Medway. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!E6pJ!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f784751b1-db8d-47e9-86d2-a8d2add2935b_1182x666.jpg) Medway’s election count **Labour did what they needed to** Of course, the big story of the night was that, after being swept from power on the national wave of 2010, Labour were able to return to power both nationally and across all three Medway seats. Labour’s campaign was regularly described as boring by this publication, and while it certainly wasn’t flashy, it did get the job done. All three Medway seats switched from the Conservatives to Labour, even if the party only seriously pushed for two of them. With Chatham and Aylesford not a serious target and minimal campaigning efforts in the seat, the national winds were enough to carry them home. **But their majorities look shaky** While there is no taking away from Labour’s calculated achievements, there should perhaps be a note of caution about their results. The party scored 35.8% of the vote across Medway, [barely any more than in their 2017 defeat](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=ukparliament&ref=localauthority.news). As a result, their majorities are hardly large, ranging between 2,000 and 4,000\. Given the size of the Conservative majorities they were overturning, these figures may be expected, but it suggests work will need to be done to hold on to the seats if the national mood starts to turn against them. **The Conservatives got punished** Results across the country implied that while few were necessarily enthusiastic about a Labour government, they were very enthusiastic about punishing the Conservatives. This was evident in Medway, where they plummeted from 62.4% of the vote to 28.6%. There were small signs of a personal vote benefiting the incumbents (Chatham and Aylesford fell more dramatically without Tracey Crouch), but it wasn’t enough to stop a drop of over 30% of the vote across every constituency. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!86cF!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f7b9b237e-85b6-4af0-af05-033ac9a8441e_1182x666.jpg) Conservatives ‘eagerly’ awaiting results **But there might be a route back for them** Despite their [lowest vote share in over 200 years of Medway elections](https://www.medwayelects.co.uk/?page=ukparliament&ref=localauthority.news), it might not be all doom and gloom for the Conservatives. Even with the collapse in their vote, the lack of increase for Labour means they still finished only 7% behind the new governing party. This is not an insurmountable number to overturn, though much will depend on how the party moves forward. Of course, that discussion also has the spectre of Nigel Farage’s upstarts looming over their shoulder, which brings us to… **Reform break through** Perhaps the most surprising story of the night in Medway was just how well Reform managed to poll in the end despite a lack of any serious ground campaign. Their best result seeing them only 4,000 votes away from winning in Chatham and Aylesford, turning the seat into a relatively tight three way marginal in the process. This success may not last, and it is remarkable how similar Reform’s vote share in this election (23%) was to UKIP’s push in 2015 (23.7%). The party will now be hoping that they can capitalise on their small successes and not fizzle out in the way the former party did last time around. **Greens cement their status** One of the stories from last year’s local elections was how the Green Party leapt into third place, overtaking the Lib Dems. This is not something they had achieved in any previous General Election, having never received more than 2.4% of the vote. This time, they leapt to 5.8%, a modest figure certainly but a big gain for a small party with limited resources. It also saw them come out ahead of the Lib Dems in all three Medway constituencies and retain all three deposits, which will be taken as a big win for the Greens. **There’s still work to do for the Lib Dems** While the Lib Dems have climbed back from their historic low results of 2015 and 2017, they managed to see their vote share drop from 2019’s 6.4% to 5.1% across Medway. While the party nationally ran a hyper-targeted campaign and was never seriously fighting in Medway, they must be disappointed to be going backwards and only managing to retain two of their deposits. They seem upbeat about their council prospects for 2027, but it’s hard to see where that is coming from at the moment. **Smaller parties didn’t trouble the electorate** Despite several smaller party candidates being on the ballot, none gained more than 0.8% of the vote. The Workers Party were ‘best of the rest’ in their seats, while independent Peter Cook did best in Gillingham and Rainham. At the other end of the spectrum, it was down to the SDP to bring up the rear in both of their seats despite their cheerful campaign. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!oiVX!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f893b7777-f752-443c-8747-aec67938ba7d_1182x666.jpg) Medway Council does data **Medway is quite good at election counts** We’ve covered enough elections in our time that we’re used to the drill at Medway Council now, and by and large, they are pretty good at running election counts. There were no big dramas at this count, and all three results were in by a relatively timely 4.30am. Information was delivered clearly to candidates and media in the room (the fancy new data screens were great), staff were suspiciously upbeat given the hour, and a range of drinks and snacks were available. Now, if they could have just got the TV on in time for us to see the national exit poll at 10pm, it would have been perfect… --- #### In brief 🧶 [Several Medway locations have been yarn-bombed](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/army-of-yarn-bombers-stich-up-the-towns-309676/?ref=localauthority.news) to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. Unravel and Unwind have spruced up locations across Medway, with the most prominent being the new cape on the Thomas Waghorn statue in Chatham. 👮 [Policing of town centres and public spaces in Medway is set to become more visible to make the towns safer for women and girls](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7253g1lrp2o?ref=localauthority.news). Measures will also include the deployment of plain-clothes officers at night. 👨‍🏫 New Chatham and Aylesford MP [Tris Osborne has spoken to the Mirror about teaching Geography one day and being an MP the next](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/i-teaching-year-8s-last-33212111?ref=localauthority.news). 🛒 [Carpetright is set to enter administration](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/carpet-giant-set-to-enter-administration-309723/?ref=localauthority.news), putting all its stores at risk of closure. The chain currently has an outlet on Gillingham Business Park. 🐍 [A potentially illegal snake and reptile market due to be held in Rainham tomorrow has been cancelled](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/exploitative-reptile-event-due-to-be-held-at-school-cancel-309728/?ref=localauthority.news). Leigh Academy Rainham cancelled the booking after The Animal Protection Agency raised concerns. --- #### Medway launches summertime fun bus Buses are vital to the public transport network, even if they aren’t the most glamorous. They provide an essential way of getting around, particularly for those in lower income brackets, and they are often the only way to get from one part of our towns to another. It also won’t be news to most people that the bus service in Medway isn’t very good. It’s unreliable, doesn’t cover vast areas, and, until relatively recently, was pretty expensive. There are signs that the tide might be starting to turn for the humble bus though. The previous government’s £2 fare cap has been significant in keeping costs at a somewhat reasonable level, and this week, the new government rapidly [committed to letting local councils take control of their services](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/transport-secretary-kickstarts-bus-revolution-as-she-promises-to-support-local-leaders-to-deliver-better-buses-up-and-down-the-country?ref=localauthority.news). Medway Council recently updated its [Bus Service Improvement Plan](https://www.medway.gov.uk/bsip?ref=localauthority.news) (tl;dr version: keep things as they are but slightly better), which entitles it to receive £761,000 in additional government funding for the current year to work on minor service improvements. While these sums aren’t going to revolutionise anything, they allow councils to try out new initiatives to try and boost passenger numbers. This week, the council announced that it had commissioned two initiatives for the school summer holidays, one perhaps more helpful than the other. The headline is that children will receive free bus travel throughout the summer holidays with a fare-paying adult (or someone with a concessionary bus pass). One adult can bring up to three children with them for free, meaning that, when combined with the fare cap, it’s possible for an adult and up to three children to get the bus for £2\. This feels like a genuinely positive move, even if it only lasts from 20 July to 1 September. Launching the Medway Council Summertime Fun Bus[1](#footnote-1) is more of a gamble, which will [shuttle people around ‘key leisure destinations’ through the summer](https://www.medway.gov.uk/SummerBuses?ref=localauthority.news) with a new service operated by Chalkwell and Nu-Venture. Those destinations? The Strand, Cozenton Park, Medway Park, Chatham Dockside, and the Riverside Country Park. In its own right, this isn’t a bad idea, but it’s unfortunate that services only loop between Chatham and Rainham, limiting the services to areas already fairly well covered by buses while doing nothing to assist potential passengers in Rochester, Strood, the peninsula, or Chatham and Gillingham suburbs. Of course, a bus can’t service everywhere, but it’s a shame more of an effort wasn’t made to make the service more of a Medway-wide loop. Still more intriguing is the possibility that it opens up for the future. It suggests Medway Council are up for more direct tinkering with our bus services, even if it’s quite tepidly in this case. With the new powers offered by the government, maybe we can look forward to more radical changes in the future. --- #### Out to Lunch *In which *Steven Keevil* assesses the lunch options available in our towns. This week, he’s been down to* [***Avenue Tennis in Gillingham***](https://www.avenuetennis.co.uk/overview?ref=localauthority.news)*…* Avenue Tennis is located on Featherby Road in Twydall. They reliably inform me that they are the only facility in Medway offering indoor and outdoor tennis, and on multiple surfaces, no less. You will be unsurprised to hear, however, that we hadn’t gone there for the tennis. We are there for Avenue Restaurant, a stylish, open space offering snacks and full meals. Importantly, non-members are welcome. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!i0a4!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ffbf9e534-7648-446c-80ee-6ce53367cad2_1440x754.jpg) Food at Avenue Tennis I ordered a sandwich and chips. I received ciabatta bread layered with chargrilled sliced steak, tomato relish, crispy onions, mayonnaise, and mixed-leaf salad. The sandwich was served with a salad garnish and tortilla chips, with a side order of triple-cooked chips. The sandwich was delicious, with well-cooked and seasoned steak, a lovely tomato relish, a well-portioned salad and non-greasy tortilla chips. The addition of the chips was a good call, as they were hot, fresh and delightful. My only minor issues were the old favourites of this column. Once again, the salad was served without a dressing, and getting a full pint of soft drink was a step too far. The relish with the sandwich was good, so perhaps an extra portion for the tortilla chips would have been even better to offer something to dip them into. If you are looking for somewhere different to have lunch and prefer watching tennis to playing it, Avenue Tennis is highly recommended. --- #### Events this week 🍒 The annual [Vines Cherry Picnic](https://friendsofthevines.co.uk/events/?ref=localauthority.news) is at The Vines in Rochester tomorrow (Sat 13 Jul). Expect live music, stalls, activities, and mountains of cherries. Free. 🛍️ Stalls will litter Rochester High Street tomorrow (Sat 13 Jul) for the monthly [Rochester City Vintage & Artisan Market](https://www.facebook.com/rochestercityvintageandartisanmarket). Find a mix of traders selling art, crafts, jewellery, candles, and more. Free. 🦭 The Baby Seals play The Oast in Rainham tomorrow (Sat 13 Jul) as part of the latest Careful Now Promotions extravaganza. The Cambridge indiepop band will be supported by local supergroup The Treasures of Mexico. [Tickets £8](https://www.wegottickets.com/event/623079/?ref=localauthority.news). 🎸 Also tomorrow (Sat 13 Jul), stalwarts of the Medway music scene [Broken Banjo play a gig to say farewell to their bassist Luke](https://www.facebook.com/events/2133761983664075) at Poco Loco in Chatham. Support comes from Smile Wide, The Spike Direction Effect, Stuart Turner, and Sean Caney. Free. 📕 Rochester writer Zahra Barri is holding a launch event for her debut novel, Daughters of the Nile, on Thursday (18 Jul) at Store 104 in Rochester. Q&A, reading, drinks, and discussion led by comedian and author Sadia Azmet. [Tickets £15](https://www.store104.co.uk/products/daughters-of-the-nile-book-launch-ticket?ref=localauthority.news), includes copy of book and drink. 🗣️ The first [full Medway Council meeting](https://democracy.medway.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=122&MId=5897&ref=localauthority.news) since the General Election is on Thursday (18 Jul). Chatham Docks, pensions, and the Community Safety Partnership are all on the agenda. Free. --- #### Footnotes *If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even your enemies. We have no meaningful marketing budget, so we rely on word of mouth from our readers to find new readers. You can even get some sweet rewards for sending new readers our way.* [*Details here*](https://www.localauthority.news/leaderboard)*.* *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Dissatisfactions by Onsind*](https://onsind.bandcamp.com/album/dissatisfactions?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*Albatross: How We Failed to Save the Lone Star State With the Power of Rock and Roll by Fishboy*](https://yofishboy.bandcamp.com/album/albatross-how-we-failed-to-save-the-lone-star-state-with-the-power-of-rock-and-roll?ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*Going to Hell by Lande Hekt*](https://landehekt.bandcamp.com/album/going-to-hell?ref=localauthority.news)*.* --- 1. Unfortunately, not the actual name. The service is rather more boringly called the 200, but if Medway Council wants to steal this name, I’m fine with it. [↩](#footnote-anchor-1 "Jump back to footnote 1 in the text.") ### New Local Plan finally emerges URL: https://www.localauthority.news/new-local-plan-finally-emerges/ Last updated: 2024-07-09T20:00:48.000Z *We’ve been writing about Medway’s lack of a Local Plan for years. Now, a mere 14 months into a Labour administration that said they would get it done, some new proposals are finally here. Of course, no one will be happy with any of them. We’ve taken an initial glance at what is being proposed. Further down, news of three new Medway cabinet holders, a Conservative councillor quitting his group, a frustrating development that aims to bring fewer homes to Rochester, news in brief, and more.* --- #### New Local Plan finally emerges Medway is around two decades late in delivering a Local Plan, a document that all local councils must have to set out for future development in their area. We’ve been writing about this for years, but we might finally be moving towards a deliverable version. With the new Labour government reinstating mandatory housebuilding targets, Medway must deliver around 28,000 new homes by 2041, the end of the required plan period. Medway needs to deliver 1,658 new homes each year, similar to a new Rochester Riverside development or St. Mary’s Island every year. Unsurprisingly, given recent politics in our towns, Medway has never come particularly close to meeting that target. When Labour took control of Medway Council last year, they pledged to rapidly get on with delivering a Local Plan, and with these new proposals, there is a chance they will just about scrape one through before the next local elections in 2027\. Don’t let anyone tell you that these processes move quickly. As is often the case with these kinds of things, Medway Council has put together three options: two apocalyptic scenarios (depending on your point of view) and one middle-ground option that no one will be happy with but will ultimately be the least bad. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!2w-o!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2ff160361d-83a8-44d0-b45f-043dbb8c5dce_2492x702.jpg) The three Local Plan options - Option 1 focuses on urban development. This would maximise town centre development, including a huge increase in density. It would need limited amounts of green land, but it is the least of the options. It would involve building on the Green Belt west of Strood, Chatham Docks, and parts of Medway City Estate. The higher density would be significantly more flats being built than houses, likely conflicting with town centre design codes. - Option 2 would see limited regeneration sites, with most coming from greenfield. It would involve significant development around Hoo, Rainham, the Medway Valley, and Darland but retain Chatham Docks and Medway City Estate in their current form. This plan is viewed as not ideal as it would lead to significantly more car-focused developments. - Option 3 is effectively a mix of both. Half of all development would come from brownfield sites, the Green Belt around Strood would be protected, a better mix of housing types could be offered, and land taken around Hoo and Rainham would be less dramatic than in Option 2\. However, it would mean the redevelopment of Chatham Docks and parts of Medway City Estate. Medway Council is making it clear that Option 3 is their preferred option. While no Local Plan option will make everyone happy, this is deemed the most sustainable long-term option. A consultation will be held to determine which option residents prefer, though it seems to be largely a formality, as these things tend to be. Option 3 is what’s coming. With that in mind, what can we expect under this future plan? Let’s take a look at some key sites. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!J7iR!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f31cc3017-f7d2-4dc4-9192-d9f687d230be_2184x1142.jpg) Proposed development sites (orange) around Chatham and Rochester Urban centres in Medway will see some significant development, most notably in Chatham and Strood. Chatham will continue in-filling the town centre with new housing, a process that has already begun with recent developments. The area around Chatham rail station will be redeveloped, as will the former UCA campus. Other notable sites in this area include B&M in Chatham, multiple car parks, and areas of Medway City Estate, which faces moving from industrial to industrial with pockets of flats dotted in between. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!9hZP!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f1f9440fa-c869-49ce-84c6-8a4218401325_2374x1192.jpg) Proposed development sites (orange) around Hoo Of course, building on the peninsula has always been one of the more controversial issues in Medway. Under these Local Plan proposals, most parts of the peninsula will see some development, but as ever, Hoo will be expected to take the brunt, with large developments on most sides of the existing village. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!Q2Zo!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2facc33548-74d0-46c1-8524-54671c695501_1886x1062.jpg) Proposed development sites (orange) around Rainham Rainham will also see a large amount of development, mostly to the east of the town, pushing up to the border with Swale. This is less dramatic than the amount proposed in Option 2, which would also take much of the north of the town but will still represent a large amount of growth. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!4hwU!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fb9fdcef3-5cc3-4df7-a976-be82ab4345c3_2280x1370.jpg) Proposed development sites (orange) around the Capstone Valley Beyond the peninsula, the most significant development is set to come in the Capstone Valley, where Lordswood and Hempstead will seemingly finally connect, particularly if Maidstone build their Lidsing village project over the border. This will see swathes of rural land converted to residential-led development. Curiously, it also seems to include the development of Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre. There is plenty of data to review in these maps, and we’ll no doubt return to this issue in the future. It is unavoidable that Medway will change dramatically in the coming years. Now, it’s a matter of deciding exactly what that looks like. *Medway’s Local Plan consultation will begin on July 15 and run until September 8\. Following that, a final plan will be published in 2025, and it should be adopted in 2026\. There will likely be easy-to-read documents available then, but in the meantime, you can pour over the incredibly slow-loading maps on Medway Council’s website.* --- #### Council administration’s first reshuffle You might have noticed a General Election last week, and Labour did fairly well. In Medway, they [swept all three parliamentary seats](https://www.localauthority.news/three-new-mps-for-medway/). Each of the winning MPs was already a Medway Council Cabinet member, presenting the leadership with a challenge to replace them. While nothing stops MPs from remaining as local cabinet members, it is likely too much responsibility on a practical level. As such, all three new MPs - Lauren Edwards, Tris Osborne, and Naushabah Khan - [tendered their resignations](https://x.com/vincemaple/status/1810600371665920162?ref=localauthority.news) from the cabinet yesterday. It should be noted that all three have chosen to remain on as councillors, at least for now. ![Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!jIk0!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f63a85328-83fd-4542-aa79-c7615c11627e_1260x636.jpg) Medway Council Leader Vince Maple with new Cabinet members Louwella Prenter, Alex Paterson, and Nina Gurung. As a result, Medway now has three new cabinet members: - Cllr Louwella Prenter is now Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness - Cllr Alex Paterson is now Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement - Cllr Nina Gurung is now Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure Cllr Gurung is replacing Cllr Harinder Mahil, who has moved from Heritage, Culture and Leisure to Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment. Cllr Paterson has been a Medway councillor since 2018, while both Cllr Prenter and Cllr Gurung were first elected last year. --- #### Another Conservative quits council group It’s been a difficult period for the Conservatives, nationally and locally, and today, another of their members decided to quit the Medway Council group. Strood Rural councillor John Williams resigned from the group this morning with immediate effect, and you may be able to get a sense of how well this was taken by the [full statement issued](https://www.medwayconservativegroup.org.uk/news/statement-leader-medway-conservatives-cllr-john-williams?ref=localauthority.news) by group leader Cllr George Perfect: > *“This morning Cllr John Williams informed me of his resignation from the Conservative Group with immediate effect.* > > *The Medway Conservative Group is focused on holding the Labour and Co-Operative Group to account and developing our plans for the next local elections in 2027.”* Cllr Williams has been a councillor for Strood Rural since 2015. Speaking to us, Cllr Williams told us that he was disillusioned with how things were going within his party and its failure to listen to its members. He told us that he stayed on until now because he wanted to support Kelly Tolhurst's re-election efforts. For now, he says he’s happy to just focus on his ward and sit as an independent. The move comes just a few months after Cllr Elizabeth Turpin, who represents the same Strood Rural ward as Cllr Williams, [suddenly departed the group](https://www.localauthority.news/exclusive-deputy-leader-of-medways/). She later [joined The Independent Group](https://www.localauthority.news/i/144363275/cllr-turpin-joins-independent-group) on Medway Council. Could Cllr Williams be heading the same way? He tells us it’s possible and that he would be open to it if asked. As the Conservatives begin the long process of rebuilding in Westminster, it appears that returning the council group to it’s previous strength will be no easy matter either. --- #### Developer proposes 78 fewer homes for Rochester site If you want an example of why fixing Medway’s housing crisis will be challenging, take a look at the prime brownfield redevelopment site at the bottom of Star Hill. After the site sat empty for years, developers successfully received planning permission to build a 374-home mixed-use development on it last year. The Bardell Wharf development, erroneous name aside, was a huge win for delivering housing in Medway. The brownfield site is in a prime town centre location with good transport links and local facilities. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!nvKx!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f3b32a353-6ca2-466d-b7bd-2d377bc44cef_1928x934.jpg) Projection of what the new Ironmonger Yard proposals could look like Despite gaining planning permission, developers have returned with a new vision for the site, now called Ironmonger Yard, which means the process will have to start again. The headline change is that the site will now only include 296 homes, 26% fewer than the previously approved plans. The developer claims this is ‘more sympathetic’ to ‘the local community’, whatever that means while citing ‘market conditions’ because if there’s one thing a housing crisis results in, it’s less demand. That isn’t to say the plans are terrible. It features work to improve the junction at the bottom of Star Hill to make it more pedestrian-friendly, which is long overdue. And, of course, nearly 300 new homes in Rochester are still welcome, but it’s frustrating that 78 are being lost from the development. The figures in Medway’s Local Plan draft above assume that this site will deliver the previously agreed 374 new homes. As a result, Medway Council is already 78 homes below their delivery target, and they will need to find space for them somewhere else. *You can find more details about the plans and offer your feedback via* [*Donard Living’s Ironmonger Yard website*](https://www.donardliving-rochester.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news)*. There will be an* [*exhibition of the plans tomorrow*](https://www.donardliving-rochester.co.uk/feedback?ref=localauthority.news) *(Wed 10 Jul) at Medway Adult Education Centre in Rochester between 2pm and 7.30pm.* --- #### In brief 🚯 [Medway Council have launched a ‘Wall of Shame’](https://www.medway.gov.uk/news/article/1706/medway%5Flaunches%5Fnew%5Fwall%5Fof%5Fshame?ref=localauthority.news) to identify those flytipping in the area. It's understandable, but somehow, it feels a bit grubby. 🍛 [The Shozna in Rochester has been named one of the best Asian restaurants in the country](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/double-success-for-curry-house-named-among-britain-s-best-309462/?ref=localauthority.news). 🏥 It’s been 25 years since All Saints’ Hospital in Chatham closed. [KentOnline has got some old photos and a rundown of its history](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/former-hospital-marks-25-years-since-closure-309313/?ref=localauthority.news). --- #### More Authority Over the weekend, [we interviewed Xtina Lamb of Intra Arts and Medway Open Studios](https://www.localauthority.news/it-feels-like-you-can-in-medway/) about what goes on at Intra Arts, the impact of the University for the Creative Arts closing in Medway, working with young people, and lots more. [“It feels like you can in Medway”In the first of a two-part interview, Steven sat down with Xtina Lamb of Intra Arts and Wendy Daws of the Mess Room, initially to talk about Medway Open Studios, which is happening now! Due to the election, these interviews ended up being slightly delayed, but you can still![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2fe0427958-7c7a-4313-89a6-4e4dee805f2a_256x256.png)Local AuthoritySteven Keevil![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f519a8ff1-5950-4f09-9b8d-09db0170f9ad_2048x1365.jpg)](https://www.localauthority.news/it-feels-like-you-can-in-medway/) Coming up this week for paid supporters, we have the lessons Medway can take away from last week’s General Election and what it means for the future of our politics. [Subscribe now](#/portal/signup) --- #### Footnotes *Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition:* [*Emphatically No by Cheekface*](https://cheekface.bandcamp.com/album/emphatically-no?ref=localauthority.news)*,* [*The Suburbs Have Ruined My Life by Great Wight*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJVua85GfKA&ref=localauthority.news)*, and* [*The Railway Prince Hotel by Tullycraft*](https://tullycraft.bandcamp.com/album/the-railway-prince-hotel?ref=localauthority.news)*.* ### “It feels like you can in Medway” URL: https://www.localauthority.news/it-feels-like-you-can-in-medway/ Last updated: 2024-07-07T06:13:03.000Z *In the first of a two-part interview, Steven sat down with Xtina Lamb of* [*Intra Arts*](https://intraarts.org/?ref=localauthority.news) *and Wendy Daws of the Mess Room, initially to talk about* [*Medway Open Studios*](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news)*, which is happening now! Due to the election, these interviews ended up being slightly delayed, but you can still* [*hear more about Medway Open Studios in the piece we published earlier this week*](https://www.localauthority.news/inside-medway-open-studios/)*. Steven spoke with Xtina about what goes on at Intra Arts, the effect of closing UCA on Medway, working with young people, and more.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!FpNB!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f519a8ff1-5950-4f09-9b8d-09db0170f9ad_2048x1365.jpg) Xtina Lamb **Where were you born?** Hertfordshire. **What jobs did your parents do growing up?** My dad was an engineer for the [Central Electricity Generating Board](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central%5FElectricity%5FGenerating%5FBoard?ref=localauthority.news). My mum was a stay-at-home mum and then she worked in shops and care homes. **How did you find school?** I did alright at school, but I was always trying to get the arty angle. If I could draw a picture rather than write a long essay, I'd do that. Nobody in my family or nobody I knew had any artistic career, so I felt like I was treading water for a long time without really knowing who I was or what I could do. I was very lucky though that my secondary school did tell me what university was because I didn't know and suggested that it might be a good idea to go. They set me up with a different art teacher because my art teacher used to like putting his feet on the table and pointing at us to a loaf of bread to draw, and that would be it. But this other art teacher explained to me how the world could just expand outwards with possibilities if you went to art school. **You went on to university?** Yeah, I did my foundation at St. Albans, I went to Falmouth in Cornwall and did fine art, and then I did a post-grad at the [Slade](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/?ref=localauthority.news). **What is your preferred artistic medium?** When I was at the Slade, I did fine art media, which gives you a license to do whatever you like that carries the concept. Mostly I do printmaking, but I feel that I can use shredded bits of plastic off of a beach, or whatever carries the idea. **What was your first full-time job?** I've never had a full-time job. Literally never had a full-time job. I've been freelancing all the time. I was at art school for eight years, so I had a lot of jobs like working in care homes. Care worker was my biggest support after college while I was trying to get arty jobs that didn't seem within reach in London. Then I ended up doing web design and got used to not having a salary position. I preferred it because it gave me flexibility. I did have long-term contracts, but I was never actually an employee. **What brought you to the Medway towns?** Love *(laughs)*. I had a few friends who were making it their campaign to get me to move to Rochester, and I always said, ‘No, no, no, I'm going to be in London forever.’ But as it happened, I started hanging out in Medway more and then I was seeing somebody in Medway, and I wasn't really spending much time anymore where I lived in London, so I kind of admitted that it was like moving to Medway by osmosis. When I was still living in London, I was coming down here a lot. I met Wendy *(Daws, next week’s interviewee)*, she gave me some storage space in the [Tack Room](https://www.instagram.com/thetackroomintra/?ref=localauthority.news) and then very gently pushed me towards the idea that there were also some other very interesting spaces in other properties, and I might want to go and have a look at them. I had my studio here before while I was still living in London. I had quite a big space, but that was Wendy's doing. But also, there was a reason for coming here because it felt like it had an infrastructure. There was enough in place. There was [WOW magazine](https://issuu.com/sue-davis?ref=localauthority.news). You could see what was happening because they made it visible. That's another reason why I think Open Studios is important. Being able to see what's visible makes you feel supported as an artist, that there's an infrastructure of some sort. It was developed to a point where people were doing stuff. It felt like there were opportunities, and there was a chance to do stuff when you hadn't got a lot of money. We've both done stuff that we didn't even think about the risk. You just jump in and do these things because it feels like you can in Medway. **Why is that?** The cost of properties. We could take on leases that didn't involve maintenance, where people were willing to take a punt on some creative ideas. Featherstone's were supportive. There's a lot of people who get on and do stuff, and I think you don't want to feel like you're doing that in isolation. London feels much more competitive, although there’s awesome projects that happen there. It's quite hard to do it without some kind of financial security. I didn't have a bean when I started Intra. **What is your official occupation?** Artist. **What additional roles, paid or unpaid, do you do?** Oh, God. [Medway Open Studios](https://medwayopenstudios.org/?ref=localauthority.news). I'm a director of [Mess Room](https://www.messroom.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), [Sun Pier House](https://sunpierhouse.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), [Medway Fine Printmakers](https://medwayfineprintmakers.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). [Intra Arts](https://intraarts.org/?ref=localauthority.news). I think that's it. I'm on the consortium of [Ideas Test](https://ideastest.org.uk/?ref=localauthority.news). I have so many hats. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c9/db/c9dbc66c-6648-4e37-8eff-948c5ef63bc6/content/images/image/fetch/$s_!5H-V!-f_auto-q_auto:good-fl_progressive:steep/https_3a_2f_2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com_2fpublic_2fimages_2f57511608-b5c7-4cb5-8e11-4d72029d732e_2009x737.jpg) Intra Arts **What is Intra Arts?** [Intra Arts](https://intraarts.org/?ref=localauthority.news) is a creative organisation that runs a makerspace that houses [Medway Fine Printmakers](https://medwayfineprintmakers.co.uk/?ref=localauthority.news), a studio with screen printing, etching press, all kinds of facilities for printmaking. It's also got a gallery space in the front windows. It used to be a department store and so it's got these big plate glass windows at the front, and we've converted it into a properly lit and easy to hang gallery space that changes as a programme, curated programme of exhibitions that changes every month. People that are walking past can see these exhibitions because a lot of them wouldn't think to walk into an art gallery, but they do interact with this. Intra Arts runs that space, there are three directors, and we go into schools, and we run projects with different groups and then we run activities and festivals and get involved in all kinds of projects with other organisations too. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ _Truncated after 5 MiB. Use `/sitemap.xml` for the complete archive of public content._