This evening’s Full Council meeting saw Medway Conservatives vote down a motion put forward by Councillor Vince Maple, Leader of the Medway Labour Party, which expressed disappointment at national Government’s decision to pass a statutory instrument earmarking Medway as one nearly 30 sites across the country whereby a lorry park can be established without planning permission from the local council.

In addition, the motion called for the council to make representations with National Government via a letter to the Secretary of State, to express disappointment at the lack of consultation to the community this legislation will affect the most.

The Statutory Instrument tangibly means that without any consultation from Medway Council the Government can construct holding sites in Medway to deal with increased freight capacity as a result of Brexit pressures at the border. Not only does this risk exacerbating the already pressured Medway Towns traffic network but removes the Council’s ability to resist.

Unfortunately the Medway Conservative Councillors in attendance voted down this motion, which stood up for our local community. The motion, which was not party-political in content, simply stood up for local democracy.

Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Labour and Co-operative Party and the member who proposed the motion said that “It is incredibly disappointing that Conservatives have tonight decided to back Boris Johnson rather than stand up for Medway residents.  This is a very slippery slope where central government could completely ignore Medway Council and do what they like here.

“Medway Labour will always stand up for Medway and we will be writing to the Government to say in no uncertain terms there when it comes to our community there should be no decisions about us without us having a say.”