Labour’s not working

This evening Labour’s Councillors on Medway Council’s planning committee voted, as a block, to approve the outline planning application regarding Chatham Docks. The economic consequences of this decision are hard to estimate, as now we are moving into a future with a large quantity of unknown factors that leaves the future of the commercial dockyard in the balance.

The committee split 8-7 along party lines, emphasising that this decision should not have been settled on planning issues alone. The matters of consultation and economic impact were not properly dealt with by the planning committee. It is shocking that Labour councillors voted to approve the application without offering any defence of their decision. Councillors were presented with clear reasons to refuse. In addition, there was a significant presence from dockyard workers in the audience and from the public who had lodged objections. Many hundreds had  signed a public petition also. Equally shocking is that before taking control of the Council several Labour cabinet members had expressed strong support for Saving Chatham Docks.

The final decision now technically sits with the Secretary of State, who can call in the decision to assess the local, regional and national impact of this application. The decision has a big impact on Medway’s economy and wider issues for commercial river use in Medway. At national level there are also issues regarding how infrastructure projects requiring steel manufacturing would be delivered, with limited UK-based alternatives.

Medway Liberal Democrats spokesperson John Castle said, “I strongly believe this decision is wrong and that the jobs at Chatham Docks should be kept. It’s now clear that the decision must be called in and the wider issues placed in front of the Planning Inspectorate. The fight to Save Chatham Docks has lost this battle, but the fight goes on to the next stage.”