Medway Labour’s motion calling on the government to create an additional bank holiday in order to support both VE Day and Sweeps festival was passed at full council last week.

Cllr Vince Maple, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Leader said, ‘Our motion calls on Medway Council to ask the government to make the VE Day bank holiday an additional holiday, opposed to a moving the existing bank holiday, so as not to disrupt Sweeps festival.

‘I’m really pleased that our motion gained cross party support. It’s so important that we not only properly and respectfully mark the 75th anniversary of VE day – the most important celebration of peace, sacrifice, and heroism in the Western world – but that we also support people who contribute to the economy and culture of Rochester high street; the Morris dancers, small businesses, and tourists who travel from all over the world to attend.

‘There is simply no way we can pay due deference to both events if they share a bank holiday. The government should think seriously about the implications of not granting this request considering they set a precedent back in 2011 when they created an additional bank holiday for the Royal Wedding.

‘I hope the new government sees common sense and allocates both the 4^th and 8^th May as bank holidays.’

The motion reads as follows:

Council welcomes the proposal of a bank holiday to recognise the 75th anniversary for VE Day on Friday 8th May.

Council notes with concern the disruption to much loved events like Sweeps festival due to the proposal to not have a bank holiday on Monday 4th May.

Council requests that the Chief Executive write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to call on government to hold bank holidays on both 4th and 8th May 2020.