Voice of the MP - Rochester and Strood
Rochester and Strood MP Lauren Edwards on Chatham High Street, skills, grassroots sports, and investment across Rochester and Strood
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.
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 podcast, 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.
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.
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.