Medway
Liberal Democrats

News

medway maritime hospital

Critical Services in Medway Towns at Risk

Medway Liberal Democrats are calling for improvements to our local health services. We oppose the removal of critical stroke care in Medway and are campaigning for the return of mental health services. A recent NHS decision to locate specialised Stroke Units at Ashford, Dartford and Maidstone could impact on the availability of critical stroke care to the 400,00 people within the catchment of Medway Hospital. We question the last minute changes to the way the different options for siting the units were assessed. We support a Judicial Review on the decision and referral to the Secretary of State on the grounds that the selection process is flawed. The decision impacts on half-million people who use Medway Hospital. Medway is the fastest growing urban area in the South East outside London but suffers from significant deprivation and health inequalities.

14 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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CAPSTONE PARK, CHATHAM, KENT

Improvements needed to Medway’s air quality

Medway's poor air quality can have a big impact on our health and well-being. Medway Liberal Democrats are calling on the council to do more to promote cleaner air in the Medway towns. To do more to encourage people to use public transport, or to travel by bike or on foot and to investigate how it can make our bus services more affordable, especially for families travelling together, where a return ticket to Chatham could cost over £10. There should be an arrangement between Medway Council and bus providers in the Towns to promote green transport methods.

AW
8 Apr 2019
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The Vines Rochester Kent

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
7 Apr 2019
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