Poor Plan for Splashes Consultation - say Medway Liberal Democrats

Medway Liberal Democrats are very please that Medway Council has agreed to our plan to allow Medway residents to comment on the new plans for the Splashes rebuild. However, we are deeply disappointed with how they have decided to implement the consultation.

Medway residents have two options to leave feedback on the plans. They can either login to the council's planning portal and leave a comment, or they can visit one of the two exhibitions at either Rainham or Twydall libraries. However these exhibitions are only on for just four days in May, and there are no plans for further exhibitions in other parts of Medway. So those residents who live outside Rainham and Twydall, who are not computer literate, will have no way to easily leave their opinions.

This is immensely disappointing considering this is major project for the whole of Medway. Not only is the council spending a large sum of taxpayer's money on the new building, current estimates have this being between £14-16 million, but it will also be the only family oriented swimming in Medway them to go to. So even though they will be using and paying for it, many residents will not be able to say on how it will be designed and built.

Alan Collins, spokesperson for Medway Liberal Democrats says, 'This is a major project for Medway. This will be the only family oriented pool that people will be able to take their children for free. If we don't get this right, we will be living with the consequences for decades. Medway Council need to ensure every Medway residents gets a chance to see the plans and leave their views, otherwise people will think Splashes will just be for Rainham residents to use.'

Therefore Medway Liberal Democrats urge Medway Council to expand the exhibitions so that they are available in the majority of our libraries across Medway, and that they should keep them open for a longer duration. We would also like to see Medway Council put in place an aggressive media campaign which regularly asks people for their comments.

Meanwhile we ask all the people of Medway to visit the planning portal if they can and leave their feedback. This is your facility, paid for by your taxes. Let's make sure we get it right the first time and not have to live with the regrets for generations to come.

ENDS