'City Status is not right for Medway'- say the Liberal Democrats
*photo by Alan Wells
Medway Liberal Democrats are calling Medway council to pull out of the city status bid planned for the Queen's platinum jubilee. During a jubilee year the Queen can give the title of city to several towns across the UK, with 4 being given in 2012. Medway council has tried three times to become a city since 2000, and each time we have lost and wasted tax payer's money doing so.
It's time Medway Council stopped getting distracted and focus their time on what is really important to Medway's residents.There is also little tangible benefit in becoming a city. A city doesn't get any more powers, it doesn't give us more control of our finances, and it certainly doesn't give us access to more government funding.
In fact in the Council's own bid documentation, lists a huge amount of progress the Medway Towns has achieved over the last 10 years, but forgets to mention that all that great progress was made as a group of Towns and not as a city. There is also a risk that it could have a negative impact on tourism, as those wishing to visit historic Rochester or Chatham Dockyard may get confused about their location.
Stuart Bourne, spokesperson for Medway Liberal Democrats says, 'I live in Rainham and I love it here. It's a great place and the community here is different to those living in Rochester, Lordswood or Hoo. And that's brilliant as it makes each one of the towns unique and special. We should celebrate that, rather than risk losing it all by it being taken over by the City of Medway.'
So at a time when council services are over stretched and pot-holes fill our roads, Medway Liberal Democrats are calling for the end of this unnecessary vanity project, designed simply to give Cllr Jarrett bragging rights. Instead of wasting countless council resources on it, we would like Medway council to embrace and protect the wonderful differences in our communities, and promote the cultural ties that bind our towns and villages together.
ENDS