At Thursday’s full council meeting, Conservative Portfolio Holder Cllr Howard Doe, admitted that vital services for young children and their families had been slashed, resulting in approximately 100,000 fewer visits to Medway’s children’s centres.

In answer to a question by children’s campaigner Alex Chatfield, the Medway Tory administration admitted that visits to children’s centres have fallen from 278 thousand in 2015-16 to 184 thousand in 2017-18.

Cllr Clive Johnson, Medway Labour spokesperson for Children and Young People, said, ‘This shocking revelation of the loss of services to our families shows the damage that Tory austerity is inflicting on Medway’s children and their families. Children’s centres are vital for children and their families’ health, wellbeing and school readiness and Medway’s Tories are failing Medway’s children and families.’

Cllr Teresa Murray, Councillor for Rochester East and Medway Labour Spokesperson for Health said, ‘As predicted by Labour Councillors and campaigners the closure of local centres like the one at St Margaret of Troy Town in my ward, has denied many families the practical, social, and professional support they need to be thriving, successful families.’

Alex Chatfield, children’s campaigner and Labour Candidate for Rainham South said, ‘As a parent, and from my experience campaigning to save our Sure Start Centres, I know how vital they are and what a difference they can make. So many parents and children are no longer benefiting from those services, showing the damage that Tory austerity is inflicting on Medway’s families and children.’