New pier for Rochester might be on the horizon
Plus Rochester High Street cameras, Medway celebrates women with selfies and sequins, and a review of Mort at Spotlites
After the previous pier fell into the river in 2022, could a new ‘temporary platform’ provide a way for boats to moor in Rochester once again? Further down, Medway Council has been accused of entrapping drivers by no longer putting a chain across Rochester High Street on Saturdays, Medway Council’s bewildering way of celebrating International Women’s Day, and we have a guest review of Spotlites theatre production of Mort. Let’s get to it.
Editor’s note: Thanks to the readers who responded to my plea last week and helped us reach a significant milestone in paid supporters. While we are incredibly grateful to have made it to where we are, we still need your support to do more.
Local news is in crisis. Just this week alone, confirmation came that the University of Kent intends to close its Centre for Journalism, a jewel in its Medway campus. The Editorial Director of the KM Media Group said they were experimenting with AI in their operations, something that KentLive owner Reach is already doing, though thankfully he doesn’t seem as bullish on the idea as some other outlets. But the most succinct description of where we are came from further afield, as US Senator Bernie Sanders sat down with our friends at The Mill in Manchester and set out the risks that come with a lack of local accountability from journalism:
We appreciate that not everyone will be in a position to pay for local journalism, particularly at a time when things are as tough as they are now. But if you do value the work we do to keep you informed on the local issues that matter to you, please consider becoming a paid supporter if you are able.
A new pier for Rochester might be on the horizon
Rochester might finally be getting a new pier after the existing one fell into the river back in 2022. Technically it might not be a pier, and it’s being proposed for an entirely different location, but it’s still positive to see a move toward making the river accessible from the town once again.
Medway Council are proposing building a ‘temporary platform’ at Limehouse Wharf within the Rochester Riverside development. During the works to make the land there suitable for development, the area was designed to handle ships docking, so it is being proposed as a new site for passenger ships to pick up and set down.
The initial plan proposes a platform with a two-year lifespan, which would allow services to and from Queenborough and Southend, as well as estuary tours by Jetstream Tours. Additionally, a paddle steamer would run occasional trips between the location and London at certain times of the year. The construction of the platform would be funded by central government, with mooring fees from operators using the site funding its maintenance. If after the two years, the location proved viable, a permanent platform would be built as that area of Rochester Riverside is developed.
Unusually for such a proposal, residents of the site seem broadly in favour of the idea. While some have naturally raised concerns over things like traffic and noise, comments on local Facebook groups suggest the majority are in favour of vessels docking in the area.
Given the dearth of local river access, the loss of Rochester Pier has been keenly felt. While Sun Pier and Chatham Dockyard offer locations for vessels to dock, the ability to take tourists in and out of Rochester directly should only prove beneficial to the town.
If you enjoy Local Authority, please share it with your friends, family, associates, and even 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.
Don’t drive across Rochester High Street on Saturdays
More accusations of Medway Council’s ‘war on motorists’ came this week as it was noted that drivers are now expected to read and obey road signs to avoid receiving fines.
As part of the council’s new system for enforcing moving traffic offences, cameras have been installed at various locations across Medway to catch those breaking the law. One example of this is on Rochester High Street, where cameras have been installed to spot those illegally turning right or left onto the High Street from Boley Hill, as well as enforcing the pedestrianisation of the street on Saturdays.
For drivers who can follow rules, neither of these things should be an issue, but questions have been raised about whether the enforcement is indeed about safety or revenue raising after access to Rochester High Street wasn’t blocked with a chain during the Saturday pedestrianisation period as it has been up until now.
In theory, this shouldn’t be a problem. The signage banning traffic from the street has been in place for at least 16 years based on a glance at Google Street View, so drivers should know better than to try and enter the area, but the reality is that many still will, at least until the fines start dropping through their letterboxes.
Medway Council has no obligation to do anything else, and drivers fined by the cameras only have themselves to blame. But if the point of the cameras is indeed safety, maybe having the physical barrier still in place would help avoid unwanted cars barrelling down a pedestrianised street. Alternatively, if the barriers are to be removed, some additional signage to really hammer the point home might be a good idea, at least until the new system beds in a bit.
Medway celebrates women with selfies and sequins
International Women’s Day is coming up in two weeks. Medway Council are putting on an event to celebrate via their Child Friendly Medway department, and it’s hard to imagine how you could misjudge something like this more spectacularly, so strap in.
The event, taking place at the Corn Exchange in Rochester on March 8, has been funded by the government’s Safer Streets Fund. The criteria for this funding requires “an activity specifically for women and girls, in support of their Violence Against Women and Girls campaign”. All of which is very laudable.
So what has Child Friendly Medway come up with for women and girls in a week where the UN has warned that the UK needs to end the ‘national threat’ of violence against women and girls?
Behold:
Taking aside the horribly gender-normative ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!’ branding, the event features the things that all women and girls care about: Selfie stations, sequin and flower walls, and cocktails. Yas queen indeed.
This whole thing very much has the vibe of what a group of people in an office think women and girls want, while somehow ignoring the breadth of female experience outside of these stereotypes.
We’re well aware that a news website run by two men isn’t necessarily best placed to know what the right event for International Women’s Day might be, but surely it can’t be this?
Theatre review: Mort at Spotlites
by Moira Mehaffey
This was my first visit to Spotlites, located in what must be considered one of the least loved spots in Chatham, but it was a truly welcoming first experience. The friendly attentiveness of the whole team was striking and seems representative of the level of care and community investment that has gone into creating opportunities for young people to become involved in this production of Mort.
The two demanding central roles are competently and effectively performed. Edward Sharp plays Mort with energy, conveying both the innate curiosity and occasional bewilderment of the character. As Death, Lucy Langiano has to operate within a costume incorporating an extended skeletal frame, wrapped in a long hooded cloak, which was created with the support of Teen Art at Nucleus Arts. To her credit, she manages both her movement and vocal delivery with confidence and aplomb. A lack of amplification elsewhere means that some of the snappy dialogue and absurd humour can’t compete with the boy racers and sirens on the A2 outside, which unfortunately particularly hinders the repartee between visitors to Igneous Cutwell and his doorknocker. Chloe Gowdey as Ysabell loses her way at points too, perhaps affected by nerves on this opening night. Other members of the young cast take on multiple roles, with some vivid flashes of colour in the costumes of the second half as we switch between scenes of quest, peril and celebration.
Overall, this is a fun and funny family production highlighting the potential of an ambitious and talented group of young people and the impact of local community involvement in encouraging their creative development.
In brief
📝 Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst is among a group of roughly 60 MPs from the Conservatives and the SNP who have signed a motion of no confidence in the House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. The move comes following chaotic scenes in Parliament where the Speaker broke convention, leading to both the government and the opposition SNP walking out of the chamber in protest.
🎛️ Medway musician Kid Harpoon recently won a Grammy for producing Miley Cyrus’ Flowers record. He’s come a long way from his days performing at the Tap n Tin.
🏥 Junior doctors are on strike from tomorrow (24 Feb) until Wednesday (28 Feb). Medway Maritime Hospital is warning patients will face substantial delays and to only attend if necessary.
🏢 Medway Council has negotiated a deal to use 9 of the 81 flats at Anchorage House as temporary homeless accommodation. The move comes following backlash that the site would be used to exclusively house those from the London borough.
🍔 McDonald’s at Hempstead Valley will open on 13 March. The opening marks a return to the shopping centre after many years.
🏘️ Plans to convert the former Gillingham Police Station in Jeffrey Street into 16 flats have been approved. The decision comes despite representations from local councillors arguing that the site was unsuitable.
🎞️ Mayor of Medway Nina Gurung went on KMTV’s Film Club to talk about her favourite films. She proceeded to demonstrate excellent taste by highlighting Wong Kar-wai’s phenomenal In The Mood For Love.
Events this week
🎵 Sun Pier Sounds returns tomorrow (24 Feb) afternoon with artists playing at the riverside venue in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. Confirmed to be playing so far are Everest and Megan Wardroper. Free.
Three of Medway’s most lauded bands will play a gig at The Ship in Gillingham tomorrow (24 Feb) night. The Singing Loins, Theatre Royal, and The Len Price 3 will all take to the stage for a free gig. Free, but £5 recommended donation.
🤣 Store 104 in Rochester is hosting a stand-up comedy workshop on Monday (26 Feb), where comedian Andy Storey will talk you through the tricks of the trade before you can have a go yourself. Tickets £10.
📽️ Cineworld continues their sci-fi season on Monday (26 Feb) with a screening of Blade Runner 2049, a rare sequel that actually lives up to, and arguably even surpasses, the original. Tickets £5.
More Authority
Our paid supporters receive extra editions of Local Authority every week. This week, supporters received our monthly planning report, which contained details of a garden centre set to be demolished and replaced with housing, the latest on Chatham Docks, and lots more. Elsewhere, our Gills columnist Ben Hopkins evaluated the new signings at the club and what it might mean for their prospects. Finally, Steven interviewed poet, musician, and former Stuckist Wolf Howard.
Footnotes
Local Authority is an independent, reader-supported publication covering Medway news, politics, culture, and more. To receive our latest editions and support our work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Music that soundtracked the creation of this edition: Letting Off The Happiness by Bright Eyes, Disenchanted Hearts Unite by Tullycraft, and Giant Elk by Me Rex.
Removing the chains on Rochester high street is a really bad idea. The signs saying it’s closed on Saturdays are very easy to miss, as proven by the number of cars you see having to turn around when they get to the chains. I’ve never really understood why it isn’t closed on Sundays too.
I despair re the women's day event. When there is so much going on celebrating local women - Intra's The Cut of her Cloth for one.