Feargal Sharkey Rounds Off Public Climate Conversations

The final in-person climate conversation took place in-front of a sold out venue in Rochester. It was the last in a series of public events which saw councillors from the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group engaging with local residents about their concerns during this environmental emergency. The Group were delighted to be joined by former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey, who has recently spearheaded campaigns to protect our rivers from pollution.

Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group  said:

“It was a privilege to share a platform with Feargal Sharkey at the final in person climate conversation of 2022.  Throughout this process we have both shared our vision and importantly listened to the concerns and suggestions of the community.

“The conversation has gone across the five towns and High Halstow on the Peninsula making sure as many residents had an opportunity to input.  It’s clear that many residents feel the pace of progress from the current Conservative administration on the climate emergency has been far too slow with real concern around Conservative cabinet members supporting fracking.”

“I’m proud that from opposition we have been able to declare a climate emergency in Medway, stop the use of herbicides in Council greenspaces, stop the use of single use plastic and hold Southern Water to account.  Residents attending have been clear it is time for a change in Medway Council and they will be choosing change and voting Labour on May 4th.”

Cllr Zoe Van Dyke, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Member for Strood North  added:

“We will be holding a final online climate conversation, accessible to all residents across Medway, on December the 7th. As a Group we will be presenting the information that we’ve gleaned from our dialogue with residents, and how that will shape our priorities ahead of the local elections next May.

Following the event,  Feargal Sharkey tweeted regarding the audience in Rochester saying:

“Huge pleasure to meet you all. Such an informed, passionate and committed crowd. An inspiration. Left with a skip in my step. Keep on going, keep holding Southern Water to account, keep being utterly fantastic, keep being you.”

Watch Feargal’s opening remarks to the audience in Rochester

Residents And Councillors Petition Council To Address Gillingham Road Safety

Gillingham residents, with support of their local councillors, have submitted a petition at the last Full Council meeting of Medway Council calling upon local authorities to do more to ensure public safety on Gillingham Road.

This is related to the dangers to the public that are posed by the frequent dangerous driving and speeding that occur close to the level-crossing.

Louwella Prenter, the Lead Petitioner and Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Candidate for Gillingham South in 2023 said:

“Having spoken to local residents, it is clear that they are very concerned with the speed of traffic on Gillingham Road. We hope a suitable solution can be found and implemented by Medway Council.“

In support of the petition, Gillingham South’s current Labour councillors Naushabah Khan, Clive Johnson and Dan McDonald added:

“We are keen to support this petition which addresses a serious issue along Gillingham Road. The road is dangerous for pedestrians, with cars speeding towards the level crossing and no easy place for people to cross.

“We will be pursuing this matter further within the council, to ensure a sensible resolution is found.”

Footage of last week’s Full Council meeting can be found at the following link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHTdCDuVVvg

The submission of the petition starts at 26:22.

Labour Concern About School Team Cuts

Medway Labour have called for the reinstatement of the Schools Teams as soon as possible following an announcement by Kent Police on the 11th November of a retrospective redeployment of resources impacting numerous schools across Medway.

School teams and embedded officers within schools have became a critical and key component of developing relationships amongst risk groups and working with vulnerable young people. These officers developed important relationships with school professionals and worked closely with young people as a deterrent to future crime.

Commenting on this issue, Cllr Tris Osborne, Medway Labour and Co-operative Group Spokesperson for Community Safety said:

“The emergency announcement by Kent Police to retrospectively reduce these teams has not been welcomed by school leaders. These teams were an important part of community outreach and specifically working with vulnerable adults around issues such as anti-social behaviour and Drug Lines. Many of these officers had developed important and lasting relationships with professionals working on the frontline which allowed officers to proactively deter crime and deflect people from destructive pathways. The outcomes of these engagements were tangible and the loss of these officers will be felt in years to come.”

“These teams were redeployed due to resourcing issues at very short notice and we do have concerns about the current situation in North Kent with rapid redeployments and communications at present with the community.”

“Community safety and working in partnerships are a critical part of good Policing and this needs to be reflected in any forthcoming restructure of services.”

Clive Johnson, Medway Labour and Cooperative Group Shadow Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, added:

“The loss of the schools’ policing team is a serious blow to our young people and to our communities. Medway Labour welcomed the Medway Schools’ Policing Team when it was set up.  At a time when our communities need the reassurance of an active police presence, building positive relationships with young people as schools deal with some of the social pressures of twelve years of austerity and the Covid pandemic, those policing resources are needed now more than ever.”

Five Questions With David Hodges

This month is David Hodges’ turn to face our five questions. David will be our candidate in the upcoming Peninsula by-election in December.

Why do you want to be a Councillor?

I want to make a positive difference to the world around me and this seems to me to be the most effective way to do that. I have always had a keen interest in politics, so that helps too. It’s important that Labour supporters are always able to vote for their party, whatever ward or constituency they live in, and that is why I was keen to put my name forward for Peninsula. The ward has serious issues that require concerted action and I know that, should I be successful, I can count on the support of the Labour and Co-Operative group to help solve them.

What is your connection to Medway?

I was born in Strood and have lived in Medway all my life – whether in Strood, Walderslade or in Rochester where I live now. I love the place, it’s my home and I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. I even did my degree in Medway! Now, both of my children attend excellent secondary schools in the area as well and my wife teaches here too. There is so much natural beauty in Medway – especially in the Peninsula ward. That is why it is so important that we get a local plan in place that can safeguard those areas of natural beauty and stop developers having carte blanche. Medway also has some absolutely fantastic restaurants and bars, great live bands and more than its fair share of excellent karaoke!

What is your background generally?

As I mentioned above, I was born in Strood and lived there for the first 24 years of my life. I went to the Rochester Math School, though I didn’t do very well there – I was far from an ideal student. Eventually I ended up getting a job at Mackays of Chatham, which is a printer and bookbinder in Lords Wood. I was very lucky in that they sponsored me to complete my degree, which I did part time in the evenings. After Mackays I went on to work in IT Procurement in the City and it was from there I went into teaching. Since then I have taught in state secondary schools, further education as well as in international schools, which provide the UK with billions of pounds in export income.

Political issues you most care about (or maybe have campaigned on before)?

Locally I am really concerned about access to our health service. So many people rely on access to a GP, access to a pharmacy that is open as and when they need it, or access to emergency care when the need arises. Successive Conservative governments have asset stripped our health service, which was once the envy of the world. We can see this right now in Peninsula where access to GP services is so very difficult. If successful I look forward to working with our Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson Teresa Murray on implementing the task group recommendations, when they come out.

More nationally, and with my Economics hat on, my passion is investment. As a country so much of our national income is made up of consumer spending and not nearly enough on investment. When we compare ourselves to Germany and France we genuinely look like the poor neighbours. We need to learn from German companies that take investment in new machinery, new IT and better trained staff much more seriously than we do. They take a longer term view of profit and as a result are much healthier for it.

Pineapple on pizza?

Ahhhh, the age old conundrum. For me? No. For anyone? Why not – it’s your pizza!

Remembrance Day

As in every November, our councillors attended official events to remember those who have served our country in past conflicts.

This year, we asked four of our new candidates ahead of the 2023 elections to tell us a little more about the history of military service within their own families. You can read this by clicking this link.

Welcome To Owen Wittekind

The Group are delighted to welcome Owen Wittekind into his new role as Campaign Organiser for Medway Labour. We’re looking forward to him brining his energy, enthusiasm and experience ahead of the May 2023 elections.

Campaigning Dates

To register to attend campaigning sessions go to https://events.labour.org.uk/.

Please also reply to this email if you wish to be added to the WhatsApp campaigning group where you can receive all the latest information and updates.

Candidates Wanted For Upcoming Election

We’re still accepting applications for some wards ahead of the 2023 local elections. Please email medwayorganiser@gmail.com or vince.maple@medway.gov.uk if you have an interest in standing.

‘How much cash did you take from deprived parts of Medway to give to places like leafy Tunbridge Wells?’

Labour’s Vince Maple has written to the new Prime Minister to demand answers, as a leaked video reveals Rishi Sunak boasting to Tory activists that he had taken funding from ‘urban deprived areas’ in order to give more cash to places like Tunbridge Wells. How much did he take? Why does he think Tunbridge Wells is more important? Will he return the money? And will he apologise?

In the letter Cllr Vince Maple, Leader of the Medway Labour and Co-operative Group writes:

“As you know, your Conservative party has crashed the British economy – and the whole country is set to pay the price for years to come. After twelve years of failure, Medway needs you to finally deliver for our area – but I’m afraid the signs aren’t good.

“When campaigning for the Conservative leadership you told Tory activists you had undone old funding formulas to take vital support from ‘deprived areas’ in order to give it to well off areas like Tunbridge Wells. I am writing to ask you to come clean with the people of Medway.

“Politics isn’t a game Rishi. When you tell Tory activists that you have short changed deprived communities in areas like ours so richer parts of the country can have more, you are hitting the people of Medway hard. That’s care for our older family members, support for our kids, our bins being collected and roads repaired. It might not mean anything to you, but these things matter to us.”