Medway Council’s Plan for the years until 2040.
I note that the Medway Council Plan, when finally approved, will set the future of Medway for the next fifteen years. It will set development targets for land for housing, homes, jobs, services for residents. Among the issues dealt with wil be the environment, climate change, transport choice, local business, and community facilities.
From all the reports that I have seen (I have not read the complete document) the plan projects into the future based upon the existing structure in terms of the economic system, the guiding philosophy, and the present divisions within society. In other words, it is a conservative, capitalist plan, expecting, far less than demanding, any change in the nature of our society.
As a Trades Union Council, our efforts are geared to changing the nature of our society. We support and encourage strike action both to defend and to improve working conditions. We challenge any form of racism and discrimination. We are particularly opposed to any thing approaching fascism. We have supported and initiated action in support of the Palestinians in what is their own country in Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank). We have initiated action in defence of disabled people and their benefits. A considerable time and effort has been spent, quite rightly, on these issues. This is all important but can be regarded as ‘defensive’. What I believe is our weakness is in projecting the positive aspects of what we believe, and what we fight for.
As noted the Medway Plan looks ahead for 15 years. What are our expectations for what life will be like in 2040? Do we still expect to be protesting outside of Parliament and the Council Building? Will we still be marching through our a Towns and Cities in opposition to the policies and actions of our ‘elected representatives’? Do we expect racism and discrimination against the poorer, more deprived, and vulnerable minority groups, still to be a factor of life? What do we expect from the international situation? Will the so-called ‘developing countries’ still be locked into poverty and civil wars? Will the threats of nuclear and other wars and climate change still be as strong as they are now?
The Government is forcing change, including Local Government reorganisation, in order to safeguard the economic power of the major corporations, of the top one percent of the population. What we should be doing is developing plans that will transform society. Responding to the Medway Plan gives us an opportunity to present a practical alternative than meets our own priorities.
My own belief is in a classless society in which everyone throughout the world is able to live in freedom, security, with good health, living happy lives. I do not accept what the Gospels say ‘that the poor will always be with you’! I look for an end to division, a multicultural Britain and World. Such a World has to be fought for and that fight has to begin now.
The first step is to declare our aim, to state what we believe. The next step is to show how such a situation can be achieved. There are basic principles that we can declare and promote.
The solution to the housing problem cannot be achieved through the major development companies. As in the past, so now, ‘Council housing’ owned and controlled by the community is the only way that homes can be provided for all those who need them.
It is a fact that, under whatever system we live, people have to work. It is important that there is a work/life balance. From what I have read, there does not appear to be an industrial/ jobs strategy in the Medway Plan. Industry (jobs) is due to be replaced by housing and associated leisure and other factors in both Chatham Docks and Medway City Estates. The comment is made that these industries will be moved to other sites. Many of these industries will be small scale providing jobs for local people. They are probably struggling to keep going in face of rising costs and competition from larger companies for the products they produce. Forced to move, they are likely to cease production, local jobs will be lost, and the change in the nature of employment, away from manufacturing towards ‘professional type’ employment will accelerate. Those who have been successful within our ‘faulty’ education system will benefit leaving those for whom that education system is totally unsuited behind. Thus adding further to the class division within society. By ‘faulty’ I mean an education which is driven by the economic needs of the capitalist class; an education which is aimed at fitting pupils into the requirements of that system; an education dominated by tests and examinations whose sole purpose is to divide and select. What we need is an education system that is child based, that seeks to develop those talents which all our children possess, that encourages and develops the ability of every child to think, reason and understand, so that they are fully ably to live their own lives and to contribute to the well being of their own community and thus to the well being of the whole of mankind.
Services for residents are already over stretched. Those working within our schools, hospitals, surgeries, Local Government, at a personal level are doing amazing work, but their achievements are severely diminished by the bureaucracies running here institutions and the failure of Government to provide the necessary finance. We need to make the case for a structure within them that removes power away from the ‘top down’ management that now exists into a cooperative, collegiate system that enables those who are actually carrying out the intricate details involved in the work in these institutions have the power to act as their professional knowledge and duties direct them.
Our environment is becoming increasingly urban as Town boundaries are extended and internal green space is built upon. It is extremely difficult to get to open space unless you have a car. This divide is getting more significant as the minority who do not have a car decreases become even more at a loss. All development must bear in mind the social needs of the populations involved with due regard given to the natural inhabitants residing in the areas under consideration.
Climate Change, to which we, as a Trades Union Council, have given attention, does not seem to be a priority despite the recognition that Medway City Estate Is liable to flood in the period of the plan, hence the removal of industry and its replacement by housing and lakes!
Climate Change and transport are closely linked. It should be obvious to everyone that a transport system based on the private car and road freight is not sustainable. Yet all the Government plans are in favour of road (hence the Lower Thames Crossing) and against rail (hence the cancellation of major parts of HS2, the failure of linking HS1 and HS2 in London, and the failure to bring the Elizabeth Line to Ebbsfleet). All the science and technology points to the fact that metal on metal (rail) is far more efficient and energy saving than rubber on tarmac (road). The bus services in Medway are appalling. A significant aspect of the problem is the congestion on the roads due to the amount of cars and freight. A simple solution to alleviate some of this would be a bus lane from Chatham to Rainham. But imagination is needed to resolve this transport problem beyond measures like red routes and junction realignment.
As for ‘local businesses’ are concerned, it is noticeable that many small business, such as the card shop in Twydall, are closing because owners have reached retirement age and no one is coming forward to take over. A whole way of life is disappearing as my generation dies.
Community facilities depend upon keen individuals putting a great deal of effort into developing and maintaining such facilities. Medway Pensioners Forum was at one time a major feature of the Towns and was able to influence events, especially regarding the Pensioners Bus Pass and in relation to Health services. Local Agenda 21, in their prime, did a massive amount of work in showing how, in areas such as health, transport, waste, much could be done at a local practical level to combat climate change. Sadly this work is now forgotten. All of this depends upon active individuals who have a limited time span and the encouragement they receive from those in a position to support them. The University of the Third Age does provide opportunities for older people but again depends on people willing to lead. The difference between MPF and U3A is that the former sought to engage pensioners in actions to improve the lives of all pensioners (and indirectly of other sections of the community) whereas the U3A monthly meetings are designed to ‘entertain’. old people, they are not directed towards changing the situation and therefore exclude the most needy section of the community. Older people remain full participants in society and wish to find ways of using their experience of life to improve the conditions for the younger generations.
I have set out my thoughts in detail because I believe that MTUC has an opportunity to make a difference to the future of Medway Towns. I would like to propose that MTUC produce a detailed response to the Medway Plan that considers the points that I have raised and other issues such as Education in its widest sense and Health provision. This needs to be a positive document, aspirational in the sense that we are not talking about Medway in 2025 but Medway beyond 2040. If we truly believe that the working class has the power to change society we must seek to inspire the class by showing what is possible if we unite and work together to achieve those ends.
Scribar 28.6.25
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