Our infrastructure is literally collapsing into the river

Plus Medway Council needs £12.5m, Rainham gets a new town sign, and some questionable architecture

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Another week, another week of things falling apart in Medway, this time rather more literally than usual. I try to keep these newsletters light but god knows local events conspire against that. Still, there’s some crappy architecture this week at least.

Our infrastructure is literally collapsing into the river

One of the more disappointing things about Medway is how we chronically underutilise our river. The geography of our towns is dominated by the body of water running through the middle, to the point that our area is named after it.

Despite this, and our supposed proud naval history, our river is barely used for much more than recreation by those who can afford one of the private craft docked at one of our many marinas.

We have no passenger ferry services, and pleasure trips are very few and far between, despite the valiant efforts of companies like Jetstream Tours.

With no desire to make good use of our river, it’s little surprise that Medway Council doesn’t seem to care much about the infrastructure around it either.

Something made all the more evident recently when Rochester Pier was allowed to literally fall into the river.