Medway
Liberal Democrats

News

Debenhams Store Closure - a  blow for Chatham Town Centre

The news that Debenhams has confirmed plans to shut its store in Chatham High Street has delivered a devastating blow to the Town Centre. Chatham has been named as one of the department stores the chain plans to shut next year closing 22 outlets across the country, putting 1,200 jobs at risk. Debenhams was the centrepiece of the High Street and its closure will have a huge impact on the look of Chatham Town Centre. John Castle, Liberal Democrat Candidate for River Ward states - "This is hugely disappointing news and a real blow for Chatham Town Centre. Debenhams has been a great addition to the High Street and it is sad to hear that we are going to lose it - particularly for the staff ".

AW
27 Apr 2019
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Support needed for Medway's Town Centres

Medway Liberal Democrats recognise that residents need places where you can shop, use local services and meet your friends, family and neighbours. There are numerous challenges to our established retailers from the internet. Speaking to local residents, increases in parking charges and hours of operation are also acting as deterrents to visiting local town centres, pushing shoppers to other centres. We feel the council could do more by giving start-up businesses rates relief to help them through their first year of trading and speeding up planning decisions on derelict buildings. Medway Council is investing £45 million into a long-term buy-back of the Pentagon shopping centre. Doing so will improve the council's chances of regenerating Chatham High Street. However, we are concerned that the council is paying too much for the centre and disappointed that Chatham is seeing more investment while our other town centres are being left behind. In other local shopping areas, we need to do more to improve the look an

13 Apr 2019
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Improvements needed to Medway's adult education

Many people in Medway are looking for access to adult education to improve their job prospects and quality of life. An invaluable service that's under threat with funding for adult and community learning uncertain, Medway Liberal Democrats believe Medway's adult education service requires improvement to help more people take advantage. Martin Rose, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Watling Ward states "Many people in Medway are looking for access to adult education to improve their job prospects and quality of life. We would seek to widen the range of subjects on offer, make learning more affordable and improve the choice of courses available at evenings and the weekend to help working people, parents and carers." We would provide a wider range of vocational courses, reverse cuts to the foreign language courses on offer and offer more subjects in the evenings and at weekends to help working people, carers and parents and provide a more flexible system of financial support. The wider good that comes from communit

AW
13 Apr 2019
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Protect Medway's Green Spaces

Medway Liberal Democrats are calling on Medway Council to lead the way to improve environmental standards in the Medway Towns by adopting sensible and consistently applied planning policies which are in line with the surrounding environment. Concentrating new housing developments in areas with good bus and rail links to reduce car usage, and in locations where there is scope to provide decent pedestrian, cycling and public transport connections. Medway Liberal Democrats are completely opposed to the recently proposed developments at Gibraltar Farm near Capstone. Whilst we recognise the need for new housing, it must be in the right places, where there is good provision of infrastructure. Martin Rose, Prospective Liberal Democrat Candidate for Watling Ward states - "We need to preserve our open spaces to support our wildlife and also give the local community space for leisure and recreation. The Conservative-run council has not adopted a Local Plan, which means the council has less control over where hou

AW
8 Apr 2019
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Homelessness in Medway

Many residents have highlighted the increase in rough sleeping in our town centres and other forms of homelessness. John Castle, Prospective Liberal Democrat Candidate for River Ward states - "Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for the restoration of a dedicated Mental Health Unit in the Medway towns. Not only would it be able to provide emergency psychiatric services, freeing up police resources, it could also accommodate a wider support structure to help people get the housing they require". The government's Homelessness Reduction Act came into force in May 2018 with the aim of forcing local authorities to take steps to prevent households at risk from falling into homelessness. In Medway, the Liberal Democrats would like to see help given to those affected with the impact of spiralling rents, welfare cuts and a total lack of social housing. The failure to build sufficient homes is affecting Kent as much as anywhere else. Medway needs to see a rise in affordable homes to buy and rent being built, but no

AW
8 Apr 2019
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