medway matters - february/march 2011 edition

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ISSUE 32February / March 2011

Peter Andre- win ticketsPage 7

T H E C O U N C I L M A G A Z I N E F O R E V E R Y O N E I N M E D W A Y

February/March 2011T H E C O U N C I L M A G A Z I N E F O R E V E R Y O N E I N M E D W A YMedway MATT E RS

www.medway.gov.uk Serving You2

ContactingMedway Council

On the internet: Visit www.medway.gov.ukBy phone: Call 333333 for enquiries about waste, recycling, roads, traffic management, public transport, greenspaces and environmental health (Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm).Phone 332222 for council tax and benefit enquiries. Phone 306000 for all other services.

Minicom: 01634 333111 or TextRelay: 18001 01634 333333By letter: Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TRWe have Contact Points providing local access to council services: ● Chatham Riverside One, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4SL Monday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5.15pm, Friday: 8.30am to 4.45pm

● Gillingham Gillingham Library, High Street, Gillingham, ME7 1BG Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9am to 5pm, Tuesday: 10am to 5pm, Saturday: 9am to 1pm

● Rainham 1 - 3 Station Road, Rainham, ME8 7RSMonday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 9am to 5pm, Wednesday: 9am to 7.30pm, Saturday: 9am to 1pm

● Rochester Rochester Library, Eastgate, Rochester, ME1 1EWMonday to Friday: 9am to 5pm, Saturday: 10am to 1pm

● Strood Clocktower, Civic Centre, Strood, ME2 4AUMonday to Thursday: 8.30am to 5.15pm, Friday: 8.30am to 4.45pm, Saturday: 9am to 1pm

Rainham and Strood Contact Pointsalso include Kent Police services

ADVERTISEMENT

Call: 01634 848441 for a no obligation appointmentOffices in: Gillingham, Sittingbourne and Whitstable

www.medway.gov.uk


Serving You 3

INSIDEWe all know this is a difficult time and Medway, as well as the wider area ofKent, has not been overlooked by the national recession.

Along with the austerity measures brought about through funding cuts,these are issues that affect the whole area.

Looking through this edition of Medway Matters, you will see some of thethings that Medway Council does to try and redress the balance.

For instance, on page 8, it is good to read that the Innovation CentreMedway (ICM) is now more than 80 per cent full.

Despite the economic downturn, firms have moved to the council-run high-tech facility and are creating high quality jobs.

The story of businessman David Summers is a case in point. His firm had to leave the area inthe 1990s due to a lack of good quality office space. Now he has moved the headquarters of hisfirm – which carries out property surveys for companies in the high-tech sector – to the ICM,next to Rochester airport, where he is providing high-speed broadband connections, state of theart servers and other kinds of technical support.

This is good news for Medway and, hopefully, it will inspire other entrepreneurs to follow suit. In addition, the council provides business start-up grants and loans, which you can read about

on page 13. The grants have helped 30 businesses start trading in the last year, while the loanshave helped around 175 firms and created 900 jobs. Despite these examples, the recession willstill bring tough times. And cuts to government funding mean that there is less money for majorinfrastructure projects.That is why the council believes its bid to become a city is so important. Itwill provide “a golden opportunity” to market the area to investors.

Other towns that have become cities report international firms moving in and creating jobs aswell as an increase in tourism and the income it brings.

You can read more about the city bid on pages 10 and 11. Medway’s bid has to be in by theend of May and while, of course, it is not a guaranteed winner, it has a good chance of beatingthe competition and gaining the title.

As you can see, Medway may not be out of the woods as far as theeconomy is concerned, but there are many things going on aimed atpreparing this area – and its residents – for a brighter future.

Helping during these tough times

John Staples,Editor

Funding shortfallGovernment grant cut is worse than expectedPage 6

Castle concertsWin tickets to see Peter Andre perform atRochester Castle Page 7

Colour codingDividing household waste for recyclingPage 12

Helping firmsLoans and grants help new businessesPage 13

Caring natureEnding loneliness and boredom in care homesPage 18

What’s OnA selection of upcoming events in MedwayPage 28

Cover picture: Peter Andre© Can Associates Limited

Ironclad: A £15million film based on the 13th century siege of RochesterCastle is set for cinema release nationwide Page 9

All lit up: Illuminating the Naval War Memorial andFort Amherst Page 14

Year of the Rabbit: Join in celebrations for theChinese New Year Page 5

Up to their tricks: BMX bikersand boarders try out new skate park Page 19

Town and country: A five-mileurban and rural community trailopens Page 25

February/March 2011T H E C O U N C I L M A G A Z I N E F O R E V E R Y O N E I N M E D W A YMedway M ATT E R S

4

Councillor Mike O’BrienMedway Council’s Portfolio Holder for

Community Safety and Enforcement

Councillor Phil FilmerMedway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Front Line Services

What do you do and what are you responsible for at the council?I have represented Rainham Central since 2007 and I’m theCabinet Member responsible for Community Safety andEnforcement, working in partnership with the police, fireservices and other agencies, to make Medway a safe place tolive and work

What does your portfolio do to improve the lives of people in Medway?We have a strong record in making Medway safe, withcommunity officers in our 22 wards tackling issues such as anti-social behaviour, littering and stray dogs.

By supporting the SOS bus and street pastors, we are helpingto make our towns safer in the evenings so that people cantake advantage of the fantastic restaurants and nightlife.

Our excellent Trading Standards department helps to protectconsumers and businesses and checks that people are obeyingthe law, while the Environmental Health team ensures that foodoutlets are hygienic and safe.

Keeping the streets and green spaces clean is one of mypriorities. The rapid action graffiti team has cleaned 1,330 sitesin the past year. To help us in making Medway a better place,I’d encourage residents to report incidents of graffiti and fly-tipping to Customer First on 333333.

What are you mostproud of during your

time as portfolioholder? I am proud of all weare doing to makeMedway green,clean and safe, and,in particular, theSchools andCommunity Together(SACT) scheme. Thisforum givesstudents anopportunity to gainan insight into theimpact of socialbehaviour thatcauses problems forother people.

www.medway.gov.uk Serving You

What do you do and what are you responsible for at the council?As well as being a councillor representing the Hoo Peninsula, I amresponsible for the council’s Front Line Services. Each time youdrive in Medway, use one of our car parks or put your recyclingout for collection, you are using one of these services.

What does your portfolio do to improve the lives of people in Medway?From your weekly bin collection to resurfacing roads andcleaning the streets, my team is here to ensure that Medwayremains a clean and safe place to live and travel.

We have a continuing programme of highway improvementsand we are not only keeping the weekly bin collection but ourrecycling and composting rates have risen to around 36 percent of Medway’s household waste.

I consider ensuring that our children get to school safely is apriority. We have 42 Walking Bus routes with about 765 childrentaking part, and our Walk on Wednesdays initiative that attracts5,400 young people.

We’ve expanded the yellow bus [subsidised school travel]scheme to the Hoo Peninsula and provide a half price busscheme for students up to the age of 18, and the Villager, arural community transport scheme.

What are you most proud of during your time as portfolio holder? I am very proud of theimprovements we’vemade in road safety.In the past yearthese have includeda 20mph zone, apuffin crossing onthe A2 and safetycameras. For the thirdyear in a row, thegovernment have putMedway in the top 10 forroad safety. Our safetymeasures andcampaigns havecontributed to reducingthe number of deathsand serious injuries onMedway’s roads.


Serving You 5www.medway.gov.uk

Care card makes it easier to pay for support

The Chinese New Year celebrations inChatham will be launched in spectacularstyle on Saturday, 5 February.To celebrate the Year of the Rabbit,entertainment will take place in Chatham HighStreet from 11.30am until 2pm, with dancers incolourful Chinese costumes, including theMedway Lion Team, Shi Kon Martial Arts Teamand Dance Alley Dancers.

High Street stalls will be selling food,Chinese gifts and New Year calendars.

There will also be a children’sroundabout.

The celebrations continuelater in the month with theMedway Chinese New YearParade on Sunday, 13February. The procession

starts at noon in MilitaryRoad and winds throughthe town to the easternend of Chatham HighStreet.It will feature Chinese

dragons, Chinese lion andunicorn dancers and more than 150 peoplein Chinese costume. The Mayor andMayoress of Medway, Cllr David Brake and Mrs Carmita Brake will lead the parade, along with mayors from across the south east.

Welcome to the Year of the RabbitTo round off this year’s events, the parade

will be followed by The Wonderful China Showat The Central Theatre, Chatham, at 2.30pm.The show has displays of dragon dancing, liondancing, martialarts, traditionalChinese folkdancing, the DanceAlley Dancers intraditional Chinesecostume, Chinesepop music andtraditionalmusicians.

Tickets cost£7.50, concessions£5.50 and areavailable from the box office on 338338. For more details or to book tickets online visitwww.whatsonmedway.gov.uk.

The Medway Card is an easierway for people to pay for theirsupport. It is a preloaded Visacard that can be used withouthaving to open a separatebank account.

Medway Council puts thedirect payments on to thecard instead of paying it intoa bank account.

Then the holder can use itwherever a Visa card isaccepted and to pay careproviders or a personalassistant.

It has been developed in apartnership between thecouncil and the Royal Bank ofScotland (RBS) and providesthe cardholder with flexibility,choice and control of howthey use their social care

direct payment. The card canbe used over the internet, byphone or face-to-face.

As it is a chip and PIN card,it offers more security thanusing cash or personalcheques. And it will provide asolution if the nationalproposal goes ahead tophase out cheques by 2018.

The cardholder will receive amonthly statement and the

balance can be checked byphone, at a cash machine oron the internet.

The Medway Card isoptional, but people who areentitled to one should contacttheir self-directed support co-ordinator who will visitthem at home to discuss thebenefits and to offer themhelp with completing theapplication form.

About 600 people inMedway who receive directpayments from the council for

their community supportand activitiesare eligible toapply for thecard now.Cllr Tom

Mason, thecouncil’sPortfolio Holder

for Adult Services, said: “TheMedway Card is going to bevery helpful for social careservice users.

Not only does it makepayments easier, but also itgives the holder greaterindependence and control oftheir finances.

“Having a card eliminatesthe need for a separate bankaccount, enables the holderto keep an up to date recordof transactions and doesaway with the need for themto withdraw large amounts ofcash from the bank or to writeand post cheques.”

For further informationphone 331093, contact a self-directed support co-ordinator or visitwww.medway.gov.uk/medwaycard.

A card that is a secure and convenient way of receivingsocial care direct payments is being launched in April.



Ministers said the reducedfunding would be a 3.6 percent cut in Medway’sspending power, but that nocouncil would see a dropgreater than 8.9 per cent.However, Medway Council’sofficers have worked throughthe figures provided anddiscovered a larger cut of11.9 per cent in grant fundingfrom the government.

This is far greater than theaverage for all councils inEngland of 9.9 per cent andmore than the 11.4 per centaverage for unitary councilsoutside of London.

The new figures were workedout by Medway Councilfollowing the government’sannouncement in December of all council grant funding for 2011-12.

This leaves Medway with a£23.5million funding gap forthe 2011-12 financial year.This is how much it will needto save to balance its budget.The council had predicted afunding gap of £19.5million.

The government has statedthat any council whosespending power drops by morethan 8.9 per cent – a newmethod of measurement

brought in by the governmentthis year – will receive a top up.

And 36 councils in Englandwill receive this, such asLiverpool, which will get anextra £15.5million, andManchester, which will get afurther £13.3million.

But Medway Council –despite seeing an 11.9 percent drop in real funding – willreceive no additional paymentunder this new formula.

The council’s budgets werealready tight, as it receives oneof the lowest governmentgrants of any unitary authority.

Medway Council has beenworking to see where it canmake reductions whileprotecting its vital front lineservices such as social care,highways, refuse collection and other valued areas,especially services for thevulnerable.

And the council’s cabinetinstructed officers to consulton team restructures, whichwill lead to job cuts.

Directors and AssistantDirectors have been lookingat reducing budgets by 25 percent over four years and theBetter for Less initiative,which looks at how thecouncil can provide betterservices to meet customersneeds and where efficienciescan be made, is continuing.

In addition, the council hasfrozen pay, cut jobs last Juneand is closing its regenerationarm – Medway Renaissance –with the loss of 18 jobs.

Medway Council’s government grant for the nextfinancial year is even less than expected – despite thecouncil attempting to predict a worst-case scenarioover Whitehall cuts.

Whitehall funding falls shortPay freezes and job cuts as council battles to bridge £23.5m gap

Government grants in areassuch as transport, skills trainingand migration will cease.

The cabinet will set a budgetfor the new financial yearduring February and it will go to the full council for approval on Thursday, 24 February.

Cllr Alan Jarrett, DeputyLeader and Portfolio Holderfor Finance, said: “Medwayhas traditionally received lessfunding than similar sizedauthorities, but through hardwork and determination wehave consistently beenjudged as providing goodvalue for money.

“We knew from our forecast

that we would have to makedifficult decisions in order to provide the vital servicesour residents expect whilesaving money.

“The fact that thegovernment is giving us evenless, and considerably belowthat which many othercouncils are receiving, isgoing to make balancing ourbudget even more difficult.

“I find the smoke andmirrors way the governmenthas attempted to make it looklike Medway is only losingaround four per cent, when inreality it will see cuts of nearly12 per cent next year,particularly unpalatable.”

‘We will see cuts of nearly 12 per cent’

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Win tickets for Peter AndrePeter Andre will be playing a sell-out concert at Rochester Castle this summer butfive lucky Medway Matters readers could each win a pair of tickets to be there.Andre performs at the annual Medway Council organised series of concerts on Thursday, 14 July, hot on the heels of the release of his latest album Accelerate.

Tickets at £32.50 are available by calling in person at The CentralTheatre or The Brook Theatre box offices in Chatham, MedwayVisitor Information Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester, by phone on338338 or online at www.castleconcerts.co.uk.

Andre's performance is one of four major summer concertsthat will be held over consecutive nights in the castle gardens.

The Royal Philharmonic Proms Orchestra will appear forthe Castle Proms on the final night, Saturday, 16 July,with support from the Hertfordshire ChoralSociety. Tickets, at £29.50, are the sameprice as last year.

Full details of all the concerts can befound at www.castleconcerts.co.uk.

In addition, the fourth Under Siege freeconcert featuring young local talent will beheld at the castle on Sunday, 17 July.

How to enterTo be in with a chance of winning ticketstell us the name of Andre’s latest album.

Send your answer along with your nameand contact details (phone number, emailand/or postal address) to: Peter Andre,Medway Matters, Medway Council, GunWharf, Dock Road, Chatham ME4 4TR, oremail [email protected], subject ‘Peter Andre’.The closing date is 5pm on Friday, 25 March,and the winners will be the first five selectedfrom all entries.

The Editor’s decision is final. For competition rulesvisit www.medway.gov.uk/rules.

Doorstep library deliveries are vital link for houseboundA dedicated group of volunteers is improving the lives ofhousebound people and carers throughout Medway bytaking library services to their homes.

The home delivery service provides large and standard printbooks, talking books, jigsaws, DVDs and music CDs forpeople who are unable to get to their local library.

The 27 regular volunteer drivers visit about 130 homes atleast once a month. They are an important social link for manypeople who are housebound and unable to get out much. Thismay be because they have caring responsibilities, a disability,are elderly or infirm.

One woman said: “I have always been an avid reader but I’munable to walk to the library. Now I look forward to some goodreading and seeing a friendly face every month.”

People can apply for a home delivery by contacting any

Medway library. A note is taken of their likes and dislikes,favourite subjects and authors and they can request certainbooks or ask for a choice tailored to their profile.

Some users who can get to a library during the summer justask for a home delivery during the winter months. Mac Cain,one of the volunteer drivers, said: “I get satisfaction knowingthat I’m able to help people continue with their reading.”

Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder forCommunity Services, said: “The people who use this servicevalue it enormously for the contribution it makes to theirquality of life. The social and literary enjoyment they get from itis in part due to the helpful staff and the dedication of thevolunteer couriers who help to run the service.”For more information phone 337340 or [email protected].

Show of Handsand Carthy for SweepsThe award winning folkacts, the Eliza Carthy Bandand Show of Hands willheadline this year’sRochester Sweeps Festival.

Carthy will perform at thecastle gardens marquee onSaturday, 30 April at 7.30pmalong with her father, Martin.

Twice nominated for aMercury award, she hasreceived three nominations forthe 2011 BBC Radio 2 FolkAwards being held on Monday,7 February.

Show of Hands will appear atthe marquee on Sunday, 1May, at 7.30pm. They have alarge Kent following and wonbest duo at last year’s FolkAwards. The couple, Phil Beerand Steve Knightley, haveplayed three sell-out concertsat the Royal Albert Hall.

Tickets for each concert cost £18 and are availablefrom the usual ticket outlets(see opposite) or online atwww.whatsonmedway.co.uk.

The Sweeps Festival, nowin its 31st year, runs fromSaturday, 30 April to Monday,2 May, and is the largestcelebration of Morris dancingin the country.

February/March 2011T H E C O U N C I L M A G A Z I N E F O R E V E R Y O N E I N M E D W A YMedway Matt e rs


In 1993, at the age of 20, David Summers was a fledglingbusinessman running a telecommunications support firm from a back bedroom of his semi-detached home. He expanded quickly, opening offices in Maidstone,Edinburgh and Belfast, and employing 53 people. Now he hasreturned to his roots by relocating his headquarters to the topfloor of Medway Council’s Innovation Centre.He says the centre provides the best high-tech facilities inKent, and he believes these will help him expand further andcreate jobs for local people.Mr Summers, 37, had been working for a mobile phone

company when he set up Harlequin Ltd in Coniston Close,Gillingham. The firm carries out property surveys forcompanies in the technology sector. Its clients include 02,Orange and Vodafone and the firm recently won a contracthelping British Telecom roll out broadband across the UK. His offices are still operating in Edinburgh and Belfast.Mr Summers (right) moved his headquarters to Maidstone in1995 because, at the time, he could not find suitable premisesin Medway for his growing firm.

Now the Innovation Centre Medway meets his demand forbigger office space in a place with high-tech facilities to servicehis growing client base. “The Innovation Centre offers the best broadband facilities inKent. The facilities are unrivalled,” he said.

Firm born in back bedroom returns home in style

Centre for creative talentFirms with creative and original ideas, attracted by the unique facilities offered bythe Innovation Centre Medway (ICM), are moving to the area and creating jobs.The ICM, on Maidstone Road, Chatham,is more than 80 per cent full and has 44 firms that employ about 120 people. The three-storey building offers arange of facilities for high-techinnovative businesses, including a dualredundant 100 megabits per second(Mbps) internet connection, serverhosting for off-site clients, 150 parkingspaces, reception facilities and a 75-seat conference centre.An on-site team of business advisers

offer tenants their expertise from PRand marketing advice to guidance onproduct development and legal andaccountancy issues.The centre is attracting and retainingcompanies such as marketing firms,software companies, websitedevelopers and financial servicesbusinesses. Not so long ago these firmsmight have opted for locations awayfrom Medway.Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for

Strategic Development and EconomicGrowth, Cllr Jane Chitty, said: “We areconstantly looking at ways to attractnew businesses to the area and to keeplocal talent here in Medway.“The Innovation Centre is all about thefuture and is fast becoming a hub whereforward thinking businesses of the 21stcentury can grow.”For more information phone theInnovation Centre on 887282 or [email protected].



ochester Castle will star on cinemascreens across the country in

March when it takes centre stage inthe £15million action thriller Ironclad.

The film, which has already received excellent pre-releasereviews within the industry, is described as a medievalMagnificent Seven that promises wham-bam action, epicemotion and gore.Released by Warner Bros UK on Friday, 4 March, Ironclad(Cert 15) is based on the two month siege of Rochester Castlein 1215, probably one of the most prominent dates in the area’s history. The film stars Paul Giamatti as the despised King John, theAmerican actress Kate Mara (Brokeback Mountain), Maidstone-born Mackenzie Crook (The Office), James Purefoy, CharlesDance, Brian Cox, James Flemyng and Sir Derek Jacobi. A replica of the 13th century castle was built at Dragon Studiosin Rhondda Cynon Taf, south Wales, where the whole film wasshot. Produced by Mythic Entertainment’s Rick Benattar andAndrew Curtis, and directed by Jonathan English (A GoodWoman), Ironclad is the largest independent production filmedin Wales. But it was hit by the global banking crisis and has had toovercome more obstacles than most independent films. Curtisdescribed its finances as “more complex than a LondonUnderground map”. Cinemas in Medway are proposing to screen the film soonafter its release.

© 2010 Runnymede Productions Ltd

It is 1215 and King John is forced by rebellious barons toput his seal on the Magna Carta, upholding the rights offree men, but within months he reneges on his pledge.He assembles a mercenary army intending to exert bloodyrevenge on those who defied him.The mighty Rochester Castle, held by a group of KnightsTemplar, bars his way and becomes a symbol of the rebels’struggle for justice and freedom.King John breaches the castle by undermining the south easttower, using the fat from 40 pigs to set fire to pit props.

n Overlooking Rochester Castle in a scene from Ironclad

A successful city bidnext year would helpmarket Medway toinvestors, both nationallyand internationally.

As the government invites bids byFriday, 27 May, for the competition toaward city status during the Queen’sDiamond Jubilee next year, MedwayCouncil has announced that it will put forward a unique application totransform Medway’s five towns andrural areas into one city. The town thatwins the competition will be declared a city by the Queen in 2012. The Medway area forms the largestconurbation in the south east of Englandoutside London with a population ofnearly 260,000.The bid application will note thatMedway has all the key credentials of acity. These include four universities, a cathedral, two castles, unrivalledheritage including a world-famoushistoric dockyard and superb transportand trade links to the capital andcontinent. Next year Medway willcelebrate the 200th anniversary of

Charles Dickens’ birth, the bicentenaryof the Royal Engineers in Medway, andthe Olympic and Paralympic Games.Hopefully, the year will also seeMedway submit its dossier for theHistoric Dockyard and its Defences tobe nominated as a World Heritage Site.This rich heritage, including thecathedral, castles and military history,allied to a great future as a university,cultural, sporting and tourismdestination, gives Medway anoutstanding chance of success.A recent survey shows that 67 percent of people in Medway activelysupport the area’s bid, as do the KMGroup, BAE Systems, Arriva, mhshomes, Ward Homes, Peel Ports,Medway’s four universities, Kent CountyCouncil and every Kent district.While other towns will be competingfor city status in 2012, Medway’s bid isstrengthened by its combination of fivetowns – Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham,Rochester and Strood – each bringingits own distinct identity. Each town, of course, would retain its individualidentity within the city.For more details about the city statuscompetition visit www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/honours/7610.aspx.

City status victory will helpmarket Medway to investors

Support Medway’s city bidwww.cityofmedway.org



‘We have all the key citycredentials’

“We believe that wehave the strongestpossible case,” saidCllr Rodney Chambers,the Leader of MedwayCouncil.

“Medway has all the key citycredentials. It has a population ofnearly 260,000, four universities, afamous cathedral, a Football Leagueclub, superb transport and trade links, the historic dockyard, a £6billionprogramme of regeneration, ruralareas and a great river setting.“But it is not the buildings that makeMedway, it is the people.“We are a city, in all but name. And it is the people of Medway – our strong, diverse and talentedcommunity – who will champion ourcity credentials.“The people are the driving force ofMedway, and they deserve therecognition this honour would bestow.“If we can gain city status during theQueen’s Diamond Jubilee year thiswould help us to fully market what thisarea has to offer.“We fully believe that, with thesqueeze on the public sector purseand the downturn in grants fromcentral government, gaining city statuswould present us with a goldenopportunity to secure yet moreinvestment from the private sector.“There is every reason for Medway togo for it.”

© D Heathfield



Colourful way to recycle

Why separate paper/card?n Paper and card makes up about 70

per cent by weight of householdrecycling.

n Separated paper is worth £500,000 a year.

n If it is mixed with other recyclables ithas to go through a costly mechanicalprocess to separate it.

n Paper and card that is collectedseparately does not have to gothrough a sorting process, has abetter value on UK markets.

Why issue reusable bags?n There was a need for two new

containers – one for paper and cardand the other for mixed recycling.

n The paper and card has to be free from any other material, includingplastic bags.

n Issuing reusable bags rather thansingle use throw away ones will saveabout £170,000 a year.

Why not a wheeled bin forrecycling?n Wheeled bins would have been the

most expensive option, would not suitmany properties and the servicewould still need two containers.

Why not weekly recycling?n It would require a lot more lorries

and would have added £1.2million ayear to the cost of the contract.

An expansion of Medway’s kerbsidecollection service means residents can nowrecycle more household waste than ever.Over the past few months several changes have been introduced and morethan three quarters of residents are nowregularly recycling.With a simple colour code, the blue

reusable bags are for paper andcardboard while the white bags take glassbottles, jars, cans, clean tin foil, emptyaerosols and household packaging suchas plastic bottles, yoghurt pots andmargarine tubs. The brown wheelie bins are for food and

garden waste. Anything else can be put in a black plastic sack.

Extra blue and white sacks are availableat contact points and libraries, or residentscan use carrier bags and boxes if theircontainers are full.Cllr Phil Filmer, the Portfolio Holder for

Frontline Services, said: “I thank Medway’sresidents for adapting to the slight changesbrought in.“Separating the paper from other

recyclable material increases its value. This,of course, allows us to use this money tomaintain other important council servicesthat we provide for residents. Recycling isalso much better for the environment.”

Why put food waste in my brown bin?n Food from the brown bins is converted into compost

by a natural process. The majority of the produce isthen spread on local farms as a fertiliser.

n Food waste put in black bin liners is not recycled.n The cost of composting food waste is about 30 per

cent less than if it is put in a black sack. n Animals have difficulty getting to food in a bin, but

can rip open a black sack.n Food can be wrapped in paper or in compostable

caddie liners to prevent any odours or spillage.



Grants boost for new firms and jobs

The Partners for Growth initiative offers interest free loans andstart-up grants to small and medium sized businesses, helpingthem to develop and create jobs. The loan scheme typically lends up to £15,000 to approvedbusinesses and repayments don’t start for six months.The loans, which can be used to pay for equipment, stafftraining or new technology, have helped around 175 businessesin Medway, creating more than 900 jobs.In just over a year, the start-up grant scheme has helpedestablish more than 30 businesses, creating at least 30 local jobs. Applicants for a loan or grant should contact the council’saccredited business advisers, who will assess the idea and puttogether a viable business plan. The council’s Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development andEconomic Growth Cllr Jane Chitty said: “The council iscommitted to helping businesses in the area pursue their goalsand create employment. These schemes underline thiscommitment and we are beginning to see positive results, withjobs secured, new roles being created and firms bucking theeconomic trend.”For more information phone the council’s Economic DevelopmentTeam on 338138, email [email protected] orvisit www.medway.gov.uk/business.aspx.

Businesses in Medway are reaping the benefits of Medway Council’sloans and grants scheme, which gives them financial help to set up theirfirms and grow despite the recession.

Loan backs eco-friendly towelsFabricsmart, based at the Innovation Centre Medway, received£15,000 from the council’s Partners for Growth loan scheme tohelp it expand.The firm, run by entrepreneur Rob Cooper, specialises indeveloping eco-friendly disposable products for the beautyindustry.Its latest innovation, the Scrummi, a range of biodegradabletowels, is used in more than 300 beauty salons, spas,hairdressers and sports centresacross the country. “Our unique product helpssalons and spas reduce theirenvironmental impact whilemaking savings on having to washtowels. With the interest free loanwe can market this product andemploy more staff to help developour products and ensure ourgrowth,” Mr Cooper said.Fabricsmart: 821609, visit

www.fabricsmart.co.uk or [email protected].

Jobless driver tends the gardensMartin Rider’s business is growing since he used his £1,000business grant to move into gardening.He struggled to find work after being made redundant fromhis delivery driver job in 2009, but applied for a grant thathelped him buy a van and tools and provided him with valuablebusiness advice and training. He now has 30 customers.The father of five, from Rainham, said: “Going it alone wasdaunting, I’d been unemployed for a while so money was tightand the grant was really valuable.”Marty Gardening: 07717 501425.

Cash puts business on the movePrestige Mobility took to the road thanks to a £1,000 start-upgrant from the council. Jeffrey Prestige, 61, from WilsonAvenue, Rochester, uses a specially adapted vehicle with achair lift to transport people who are in wheelchairs.The former engineer set up his business after experiencingdifficulty transporting his wheelchair bound father. He said:“The grant scheme offered training courses on thefundamentals of managing a business and I’d recommend it.”Prestige Mobility: 07704 404043.



And households across Medwayare being asked to donate usefulmaterials to the Scrap Store thatcan be used by people workingwith young children.

Materials such as cleanfabrics, unused card andpaper, wool, beads, oldChristmas decorations, CDsand anything that is suitablefor children’s use are neededfor the store, the only one in Medway.

Curtains can be cut up andused to make dressing up

clothes, covers for den makingand story sacks, while papercan be used for drawing,painting, book making andmany other activities.

The store, in Bligh Way,Strood, alongside Bligh JuniorSchool, is run by the EarlyYears and ChildcareProfessional DevelopmentCentre and has been a greatsuccess since it launched ayear ago. But it needs aconstant supply of materials tocontinue. Over the past year,

the store has seen donationsfrom residents and businessesand voluntary organisationssuch as the Women’s Institute.

The scheme is backed byMedway Council’s Waste

Minimisation Team for its helpin reducing the amount ofunnecessary waste being sentto landfill.

To make a donation or formore details phone 331488.

The illumination of FortAmherst and the memorial toalmost 19,000 sailors from bothWorld Wars who have noknown grave is part of thecontinuing work to revitalise theGreat Lines Heritage Park. It islinked to the World HeritageSite bid for Chatham Dockyardand its Defences.

The fort and memorial are litevery evening. Six areas of theNapoleonic fort are lit, includingthe Barrier Ditch, the CaveYard, Prince William’s bastionand the front of Belvedere.

The overground areas of the

250-year-old fort will be opento the public free of chargeonce the improvement work iscompleted in a few months.

The Friends of the Great LinesHeritage Park, a communitygroup that intends to raiseawareness about the park andhelp to keep it clean and tidy,has an open meeting atBrompton Academy onThursday, 3 March, at 7pm.

Cllr Rodney Chambers, theLeader of Medway Council,said: “Fort Amherst has playeda significant part in our area’sillustrious naval history and the

Naval War Memorialcommemorates the lives ofRoyal Naval personnel whogave their lives for this country.

“I am very proud that we nowlight up the fort and thememorial so that residents andvisitors are reminded of theirimportance.”

For more details about theHeritage Park or the Friendsvisit www.glhp.co.uk, [email protected] phone 334319.

The Friends receives supportfrom the Medway Urban Parksand Green Spaces Forum. Formore information about thisvoluntary body visitwww.mupgsf.btck.co.uk orphone 319461.

n The Government has receivedMedway’s application to join the listof UK World Heritage Sites. A strongcase has been made for ChathamDockyard and its Defences to be theUK’s 2012 nomination.

Your rubbish canbe child’s play

n In a scrap: Mark Holmes from the Early Years Services

Memorial throws new lighton Chatham’s heritageIt’s been a beacon on the Medway skyline for 87 yearsand now Chatham Naval War Memorial shines brightlyover the town every night, lit by low energy bulbs.

With a little imagination and creativity, paper andfabrics can be valuable items for children to usein crafts and play.



The school buildings at All Faiths', Strood;Napier, Gillingham; Oaklands, Chatham;Thames View, Gillingham; Lordswood,Chatham; Twydall and Walderslade will allbe improved.

Construction of the new Waldersladeprimary school began in the autumn andthe building is due to open in September.

The new and modernised schools willhelp towards raising standards andresults for children and young people inMedway.

The schools were given £14.9millionfrom Medway Council’s 2010-11 PrimaryCapital Programme budget after beingearmarked as the buildings most in needof improvement.

The council’s Portfolio Holder forChildren’s Services Cllr Les Wicks said:

“Some of these buildings are unsuitable,outdated and cramped. By prioritising theschemes we can create the best learningenvironments, while making the best useof the funding available to us.”

Annie Campbell, the headteacher ofLordswood School, said: “Our buildingsare 45 years old and as learning becomesmore interactive and flexible, theclassrooms are sometimes cramped anddifficult to work in.”

The infant and junior schoolsamalgamated in September and thebuilders, who are ready to move on to thesite, should have the work finished byNovember.

“The new buildings will not only meanthat we are located within one building,but pupils will be able to enjoy learning in

an open plan space more akin to the styleof secondary schools. That will allowthem to get used to independentlearning,” Mrs Campbell added.

“This is an exciting time for everyone at the school. It gives us the opportunity to provide our pupils with anew and exciting environment thatchildren will be able to enjoy for manyyears to come.”

Children of different age groups will beable to learn together in large, open planclassrooms.

The rooms will be divided into zonesgiving children the opportunity to be moreindependent and interactive as they learn.The areas will include a computer zonewith laptops, and a library zone.

Dated schools get£15m makeoverSeven primary schools in Medway are to be rebuilt or modernisedduring the next year at a cost of nearly £15million with most of thework expected to start this summer.

n Construction lesson: Annie Campbellwith pupils at Lordswood School

n Looking at plans for Lordswood School

February/March 2011Medway Matt e rs T H E C O U N C I L M A G A Z I N E F O R E V E R Y O N E I N M E D W A Y

More pictures have been released showingdrivers who have illegally parked withoutthinking whether doing so is dangerous or

inconsiderate to others. A small minority of drivers in Medway are putting otherroad users and pedestrians in danger and are causing roadhold-ups. And Medway Council, which has launched acampaign for sensible parking, says that anyone whoparks illegally runs the risk of receiving a fine.These images, taken by one of the council’s CCTV cars,show the kind of parking that enforcement officersregularly encounter. The top picture shows a number of cars caught in trafficbecause of cars illegally double parked on a busy street,while the other shows a Mini-Cooper parked across doubleyellow lines and a pavement, which has forced a pedestrian to walk in the road.Cllr Phil Filmer, the Portfolio Holder for Frontline Services,said: “A few selfish, thoughtless people can make itdangerous and difficult for others. Anyone who parksillegally in Medway, no matter who they are, runs the risk of getting fined.“Hundreds of people a year ask us to put yellow lines intheir streets to stop inconsiderate and illegal parking andwe get dozens of calls a month from residents asking us to send the CCTV car to their street because of problems.”Medway CCTV car operators work under strict guidelinesand do not have any targets or receive extra payment forbooking motorists. Any complaints should be made to the council’s parking services on 333333. All complaintsare looked into.

Bad parkers

caught outLegal casesMan forged wife’s signature to apply for £12,000 loansA fraudster passed off his new partner as his estrangedwife in an attempt to claim £12,000 from MedwayCouncil for home improvements. David Green, 58, persuaded his partner to go with him to thecouncil offices posing as his wife, Josephine Green. He alsoforged his wife’s signature on application forms for a heatinggrant and a loan for other work at their former marital home inJasper Avenue, Rochester, Medway Magistrates heard.But housing staff became suspicious and investigated theclaim. They also found that Green had been falsely claimingcouncil tax benefit and a single person discount after failingto notify them that his new partner had been living with himfor three years. It meant that Green benefited by £1,632,which he has had to pay back.His attempted loan and grant fraud would have cost thecouncil’s taxpayers £11,812. Green, of Danson Drive, Hoo Marina Park, admittedforgery and tax offences at Medway Magistrates’ Court.He was sentenced to a Community Order for 12 monthsand must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work. He was alsoordered to pay council costs of £200.Cllr Alan Jarrett, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance,said: “We are determined to stop people defrauding thetaxpayers of Medway. I applaud the council’s benefitsinvestigation team for helping to bring Green to justice.”

Builder admits fly-tippingA builder who failed to make the proper checks whendisposing of waste now has a criminal record aftermaterials dumped in Rainham were traced back to him.Medway Council’s environmental enforcement team linkedrubbish dumped in a field off Meresborough Road,Rainham, with Michael King. King, 46, said he paid anunknown man £120 to take it away but had failed to checkthe man’s waste carrier’s licence or to insist on a transfernote, Medway magistrates heard. King, of Prescott Avenue, Petts Wood, Orpington, pleadedguilty to illegally disposing of controlled waste and wasfined £500. He was ordered to pay £200 costs and a £15victim surcharge.

Cigarette costs man £340A man has been ordered by a court to pay £340 fordropping a cigarette butt in Chatham town centre.Andrew Baker, 31, of Luton Road, Chatham, failed topay the £80 fixed penalty notice for littering and wasfound guilty in his absence at Medway Magistrates’Court where he was fined £175 and ordered to pay £150in costs as a well as a £15 victims surcharge.Clearing 2,200 tonnes of litter, including cigarette buttsand food wrappers, from pavements and parks costsMedway taxpayers £2.8million a year.


February/March 2011Medway Matt e rs T H E C O U N C I L M A G A Z I N E F O R E V E R Y O N E I N M E D W A Y

Learning, exercising and helping agood cause are all combined in theOlympic Countdown Challenge beingheld to raise money for the BritishHeart Foundation.The fundraising day will give people theopportunity to learn and take part in atleast six different forms of exercise under the supervision of an experienced andprofessional specialist. The activities include yoga, circuit

training and different forms of dance. The event on Saturday, 5 March, is beingheld at the Adult Learning Centre inGreen Street, Gillingham ME7 5TJ, from10am until 2pm.An enrolment fee of £5 is the donationto charity but participants are beingencouraged to obtain sponsorship toimprove the success of the exercisecharity event. The one-day session is a combination

of lots of exercises, but it is up to theindividual how many exercises they take.However, their workout could last forthree hours. Places for the Olympic CountdownChallenge must be booked in advance byphoning 338400. Medway Adult and Community LearningService holds a wide range of exerciseclasses. For a directory of classes visitwww.medway.gov.uk/adultlearning.

Impartial advice offers to takestress out of money problemsIn the current economic climate it is easy to get intodifficulties and become worried about home finances. CitizensAdvice Bureau offers free and impartial advice to peoplewho need help with debt or other money problems. Itsadvice on relieving the stress over financial matters includes:

� Listing all debts to ensure priority debts are identified.

� Making sure important bills are paid first – such asrent/mortgage, gas/electric, council tax, court fines and TV licence.

� Making a weekly or monthly budget and sticking to it – thisshould include things such as food, petrol, travel expenses.Then working out how much debt can be paid off.

� Start a savings account for Christmas – it may seem a long way off but it will be useful in December.

� Open all letters received and act immediately if repayingmoney owed is a problem.

� Talking to any individuals who are owed money and makingthem a repayment offer. If they won’t accept the offer, don’tgive up. Do not feel pressured into making larger, unaffordablepayments because this will create more problems.

Anyone who needs help with debt problems can contactCitizens Advice Bureau by phoning 888182 between 9.30amand 4.30pm Monday to Friday; write to 5a New Road Avenue,Chatham ME4 6BB; email [email protected] visit CAB at the above address from 9am Monday to Friday.Help is also available on the website www.adviceguide.org.uk.

Fighting computer data fraudComputer data checks that allow potentially fraudulentclaims and payments to be spotted and investigated arebeing conducted on Medway Council records.These could relate to housing benefits, parking permits,insurance claimants, taxi and alcohol licences, supported care home residents, council tax and other matters.The data is shared by organisations to help prevent and detectfraud that could cost council taxpayers’ money.It is part of the Audit Commission’s 2010-11 National FraudInitiative, which involves sharing information with other public-funded organisations in order to weed out fraudsters.The Audit Commission is responsible for carrying out datamatching exercises by checking the computer records held by one body – such as the council – against those of the same or other organisation to confirm that the information is consistent.The data and code of practice can be found at

www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi.

Starting family history researchPeople starting research into their family tree can get freehelp from members of Kent Family History Society atsessions on Wednesday, 9 and Wednesday, 16 February,from 2.30pm until 4pm.Places must be booked for the eventsat Medway Archive and Local StudiesCentre, Clocktower building, Strood.Phone 332714 or visitwww.facebook.com/medwayarchives for details.

Complete the Countdown Challenge for charity




£8m care home opens withan alternate philosophyThe first residents have moved into an£8million residential home caring forpeople with dementia.Amherst Court, Chatham, is a purposebuilt development designed and equippedto provide a safe, stimulating environmentfor 112 people with dementia.Set in its own grounds and run byAvante Care and Support, it wasdesigned with the “Eden Alternative” in mind. The Eden Alternative is a newphilosophy that aims to tackle loneliness,helplessness and boredom in olderpeople by putting the emphasis onspontaneity, companionship and variety.Medway Council owns the site inPalmerston Road, previously occupied bythe Churchlands Residential Care Home,and has granted a long lease to AvantePartnership, one of the largest social careproviders in the region.Built in just 18 months by DenneConstruction, the home’s 112 en-suitebedrooms are divided into six suites,each containing a lounge area and diningroom, which gives a more intimate and

homely feel. Additional communal areassuch as a café, hair salon, music andgames room provide opportunities forpeople to take part in stimulating andinteresting activities.

Cllr Tom Mason, the council’s PortfolioHolder for Adult Services, said: “Theredevelopment of this home is wonderful.The council identified the need for extradementia care in the area and throughour partnership with Avante Care andSupport we have been able to providethis in a modern setting.” For more information phone 01795

597431, email [email protected] or visitwww.avantepartnership.org.uk.

Café is the hubThe hub of Amherst Court is theCalypso café, which is in the mainreception area and is always busy. It is open to non-residents andfamilies, who say it is an ideal area for meeting their relative.

“When we come to see mum we allenjoy going to the café and having apanini. Mum likes to see us somewhereother than in her room all the time,” saidone relative. “It is really nice becausemum feels that she has had an outing.“The home has a great family feeling.The transition for our mum was seamlessand she loves her room.”Another woman using the café said: “I like the fact that the home is secure.We enjoy using this area because it’s likegoing to a hotel café. Dad likes it.”The son of a prospective resident said:“On walking around, the day centre is agreat idea and the people using it canuse the hairdresser and the café area. It’s well thought out and inviting.”

‘It has a greatfamily feeling’

The daughter of a resident

Skate and wheel park gets

off the ground

New sports and activity trails are attracting more walkers,joggers, cyclists and horse riders to Capstone Country Parkfollowing a £135,000 transformation of the 280-acre site.Medway’s largest green space, in Capstone Road,Gillingham, is used by 300,000 visitors a year. It now has anew mountain bike track, cross-country horse jumps andwalking, jogging and cycling trails.An extra mile of horse tracks with eight cross-countryjumps have been installed, expanding the park’s existingbridal ways to 3.5 miles.The grass cycling trails include 1.5km, 2.5km and 5kmmarked grass routes plus a tougher 3.5km mountain biketrack with free ride platforms. And there are four walking and

running routes, covering 1.5km, 3km,5km and 10km, plus an eight-piece outdoor fitness trim trail.The Deputy Leader of

Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said: “This investment opens upthis park to new visitors, aswell as encouraging people of allages to get fit and active by exploring our natural landscape.”For more information phone 338191 between10am and 4.30pm or visit www.medway.gov.uk.


Capstone extends its trails

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Young BMX bikers, in-line skaters and skateboardersare mastering their tricks at Cozenton Skate Park,where they have been making full use of thespecialist area since it opened.The facility, behind Splashes Leisure Centre, in Cozenton Park, Rainham, has been createdfollowing consultations with residents and youngpeople who gave their views and ideas for its design.

The park’s unique design uses concretepoured directly on site (rather than pre-fabricated units) allowing for morescope and innovation. There is also a seating and hangout area.The skate park was built after Medway Councilwas awarded £178,000 to provide play facilities inMedway through the Big Lottery Fund.

Jude Frankum, 14

‘It’s cosmic.

I come here every weekend’

One small step can extend

to large healthy strides



Voluntary and community groups across Medway have beenapplying for grants ranging from £500 to £5,000 in theirwork towards encouraging healthier communities.

This includes advising people on eating healthily, gettingactive, drinking sensibly or managing stress.

Although the deadline for applications has expired, more

than 30 grants have been awarded during the past year tohelp a diverse range of projects, from the creation of acommunity produce garden to yoga sessions for isolatedelderly people.

Living a healthy, balanced life is a goal most people aspireto. Finding a way that works best,by taking small, manageable stepscan make a big difference to aperson’s health and happiness.

Achieving goals

Increasing numbers of people in Medway are takingsmall but significant steps towards a healthier lifestyleencouraged by the A Better Medway campaign.

More than 1,000 people who live or work in the areahave made a pledge to improve their lives since thecampaign was launched a year ago.

The changes they are making can be as simple asensuring they find the time to unwind from the pressuresof daily life or joining a walking group.

The campaign encourages people to make positivelifestyle changes by letting them know what advice andlocal support services are available. It covers eatinghealthily, getting active, stopping smoking, drinkingsensibly and managing stress. For more information visitwww.abettermedway.co.uk.

An online version of Medway Cooks! Recipe Collection isavailable to anyone who wants to cook healthier meals athome or who would like inspiration for recipe ideas.

The collection contains 30 simple recipes, including aselection of entries from Medway residents, and it showsthat healthy eating can be simple, tasty and doesn’t haveto cost a fortune.

Anyone who has an original recipe thatthey’d like to share with others shouldemail it to [email protected] be considered.

Also online is information about fiveways to well-being, which, if built intodaily life, can help people get throughdifficult times, and get more out oflife when things are going well.

The five ways to well-being have been identified bynational research as things people can do to helpthemselves feel better and protect them against anxietyand depression. They are:

1 - connecting with other people

2 - being active – taking part in an activity that isenjoyable and at a suitable level of fitness

3 - taking notice of the world and one’s feelings

4 - keep learning – it can build confidence as well asbeing fun

5 - giving – doing something nice for someone,volunteering or joining a community group

For people who enjoy walking but don’t like goingby themselves or prefer the company of others,they can get information about Medway Healthwalks by phoning 331371 or sending an email [email protected].



Making the punishment fit the crimeADVERTISEMENT

It’s that time of year when only the hardiest of gardenersare likely to be working outdoors but there are plenty ofthings people can be getting on with.Now is the time to chit early potatoes. Chit? It just meansencouraging seed potatoes to sprout before planting themabout six weeks later.Put them “blunt” end up in trays or egg boxes in a placewhere they will catch some light. They will be ready to plantwhen the shoots are between 1.5cm and 2.5cm (0.5in-1in) long.It is also time to sow brassicas (broccoli, Brussels sprouts,cabbage and cauliflower) in greenhouses or cold frames,although carrots can be sown into open ground.Mulching beds and borders, and the top of containers, willhelp protect plants from frost, while birds will appreciate peopleputting out food and water. Break ice on small ponds and try toavoid stepping onto a frozen lawn; feet will crush the grass.Spiking, or aerating, a lawn will help water to drain.Finally, if it is too cold to get outdoors, you could clean and oilgarden machinery and tools in the garage or shed.

Winter fails to freeze outpreparations for spring

Seasonal sense• Clear any remaining dead leaves from the garden,particularly those caught in the crown of plants

• Cover rhubarb plants to force growth, and plantsoft fruit such as blackberry and gooseberry

• Sow sweet peas under glass or in a propagator• Order summer flowering bulbs• Apply organic fertilisers such as bone meal or fishblood bone to the soil and around trees and shrubsSponsored by

Southern Water

Chris Collins, the BBC’s gardening expert, writes a regular column for Medway Matters

Medway residents will have more of a say in decidingwhat kind of community work offenders will carry out aspart of their punishment.As part of a community sentence, offenders can be orderedto carry out up to 300 hours of unpaid work - known asCommunity Payback. They have to work on local projects andneighbourhood improvements.An agreement between Kent Probation and the MedwayCommunity Safety Partnership will help provide a schemethat gives residents more say in setting project priorities.Individuals and forums such as Neighbourhood Panelmeetings, environmental audits and police surgeries will helpdecide the jobs they would like offenders to tackle.Community Payback makes an offender give backsomething to the community for their crime. Projects caninclude removing graffiti, picking up litter, repairing anddecorating community centres, clearing undergrowth frompaths and other public areas and working on environmentalprojects. Offenders have to wear bright orange high-visibility

jackets marked“Community Payback”.Stuart Cullen, Kent

Probation's Community Payback Manager, said it was a toughand visible punishment of offenders that responded to thepriorities of the community.Cllr Mike O’Brien, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder forCommunity Safety and Enforcement and vice-chair ofMedway CSP, said: “Community Payback pays a vital role notonly in seeing justice done but also as a way of benefiting thecommunity. This will not replace the council’s work in keepingstreets and parks clear oflitter but it will be awelcome addition.” In Medway, 2,700offenders carried out nearly24,500 hours of workbetween April andSeptember last year.To nominate a CommunityPayback project [email protected] visit the Kent Probation website atwww.kentprobation.org.

Payback timein the snow

www.medwaycsp.co.uk


www.medway.gov.uk22 Serving You

Boys and girls born inMedway this year can lookforward to a longer lifespanthan any previous generation.

Life-changing operations that used torequire people to stay in hospital forseveral days – such as cataracts andgallbladder removal – are now routinelyavailable as day surgery.

Every year new drugs become availableto improve survival rates and the qualityof life for seriously ill patients.

These are successes that touch the livesof us all. But they come with a price tag.

The NHS budget has been protectedfrom the cuts in public spending by theGovernment, but there is little extramoney to meet the increased demandsthat arise as people, thankfully, live longerwith the help of advances in medicine.

This means that those of us whomanage health services are looking athow we can do things better, smarter anddifferently to meet those needs whilefreeing up money to meet the increasingdemand.

Often, care that is better for patients isactually cheaper.

For example, in the past few months,NHS Medway has introduced a newservice for sudden eye problems. Sevenhigh street opticians in Medway are nowaccredited to deal with problems such aspain, blurred vision or dry eyes, so peoplecan be treated locally instead of having togo to Maidstone Hospital. More than 85per cent of people get their problemsorted with one local appointment, savingthe NHS an estimated £275,000 a year.

We understand that health problems canbe frightening and that, at some point,patients or their family may want to phone999 for an ambulance. However, often it’s

best to treat patients in their home forillnesses that are not life threatening.

Paramedic practitioners working forSouth East Coast Ambulance ServiceNHS Trust (SECAmb) can assess andtreat at home many patients with lessserious conditions or refer patients toother healthcare professionals, such asMedOCC, Medway’s on call GP andnurse service.

A visit or phone call from a MedOCCdoctor, an appointment at one ofMedOCC’s clinics, or referral to aMedway Community Healthcare servicecan resolve the majority of problems in away that is more convenient for patients,who are often elderly, and their carers,than being rushed to the emergencydepartment.

We expect these two initiatives to savemore than £150,000 a year initially, whichwill increase over time.

But it is not all up to the NHS. Everyonehas a responsibility to use NHS serviceswisely so that care is there when patientsneed it.

ADVERTISEMENT

NHS Medway plans and pays for NHShealthcare for everyone who lives inMedway. We aim to ensure the rightservices are there when you need them.

Help your health service careHelen Buckingham, the Acting Chief Executive of NHS Medway, takes a look at the serviceand suggests how, with everyone’s help, it can improve care without raising costs

n Helen Buckingham

n The poster campaign encouraging people to use NHS services responsibly


Serving You www.medway.gov.uk 23

Got a query or need information about a Medway health service?Phone NHS Direct at any time if you are ill or injured and unsure what to do next,or to find a local service and its opening hours – such as a pharmacy, GP surgeryor clinic. NHS Direct can answer questions and give advice. Phone 0845 4647 or visit www.nhs.uk.

NHS Medway Patient Advice and Liaison ServicePALS is a friendly and professional NHS service offeringsupport, advice and guidance about medical and healthrelated issues for Medway residents.Phone 0800 014 1641 or email [email protected].

for you‘Everyone has a

part to play’1 Look after your personal healthBeing active, maintaining a healthy weight, andnot smoking will help you stay well by reducingyour risk of serious illnesses such as heartdisease, cancer, dementia and diabetes. Detailsof services in Medway to help people quitsmoking, eat healthily, get active, drink sensiblyand manage stress are atwww.abettermedway.co.uk.

2 Use the services to keep yourself wellTake up offers of screening, immunisation or anNHS Health Check. The NHS provides them tohelp reduce the risk of serious illness or todetect it at an early stage when people canreceive the most effective treatment and withgreatest success.

3 Keep your personal details upto dateIt is vital to be registered with a GP (familydoctor) to receive the full range of healthcareservices. Visit www.medwaypct.nhs.uk/yourhealth for how to register. Tell your GP and any clinics you attend if you move home. Clinics also need to know if you change your GP practice.

4 Don’t waste a spaceAlways turn up for a NHS appointment or phoneto cancel one in plenty of time if you can’t makeit. Missed appointments cost the NHS inMedway more than £1million a year and wasteslots that other people need.

5 Take care with medicationIf anyone is taking two or more types of tabletsand you’re not sure why, you should talk to yourpharmacist. There might be a different way totake the tablets or they might no longer beneeded. Repeat prescriptions should be orderedin plenty of time, particularly when you’re goingon holiday and before bank holidays. Old orunused tablets should be taken to the pharmacyrather than thrown into a bin.

6 Treating minor illnesses Most common illnesses, such as colds, flu andtummy bugs, are best treated at home. Theycannot be cured by antibiotics. Buy over thecounter medication – a pharmacist will give

advice if you’re not sure – and stay at home.Drink plenty of water in small sips. If you areworse after a few days or are not improving,contact your GP.

7 Stop illnesses spreading Hands should be washed often and well. Youshould be rigorous about hygiene, and sneezeor cough into a tissue, throw it away and washhands. It is not a good idea to visit hospital orcare homes if you feel unwell – a mild infectionmight be dangerous to vulnerable patients.

8 Ask for advice The website www.nhs.uk and NHS Direct on0845 46 47 can help with health worries andconcerns. If you are not sure whether you needto see a doctor, you can talk through theproblem with NHS Direct.

9 Seek help when it’s needed When you need to see a doctor, make anappointment with your GP practice. If it isurgent, explain why and the practice will try tofit you in. If they can’t, you can be referred toMedway On Call Care (MedOCC) or you can goto the walk-in centre at 547-553 CanterburyStreet, Gillingham. Urgent medical help out ofhours, in the evenings and at weekends or bankholidays is available by phoning MedOCC directon 891855.

10 Keep emergency services free for those who really need them The emergency department at Medway MaritimeHospital, and the ambulance service, are thereto treat serious and life-threatening illness andinjury – for example, heavy blood loss, loss ofconsciousness, difficulty breathing or poisoning.People are seen at the emergency department instrict order of need. Those who have minorproblems will have to wait until more seriouscases are dealt with. These services should notbe used unless it is really necessary.

For more information visitwww.medwaypct.nhs.uk/choosewell.

NHS Medway would like to know your ideasabout how the local service can improve care and save money. [email protected] or phone 335173.

Choosing the healthyoptions raises standards



Volunteers who caninspire young peopleMost people get satisfaction from being able to pass ona skill, especially to someone younger.And more than 100 adults in Medway regularly help withsports coaching, creative arts, vehicle maintenance, campcrafts, DIY skills, cooking and many other activities run byMedway Youth Service.These volunteers are active in youth centres, outdooreducation, holiday provision and street-based work. Theyhelp on short-term projects or attend youth centres andprojects on a regular basis.

‘It’s not about doing a good deed - I enjoy it’

Anyone who feels that they might be able to inspire ayoung person or can teach them something is welcome tooffer their services.One volunteer said: “It’s fun. Young people have anamazing sense of humour and when they are passionateabout something they really do give it their all. “The feeling I get from doing voluntary work is not a senseof having done a good deed, but simply that I have enjoyedit. It’s almost as though the young people are doing me avoluntary service.” To find out more about offering help [email protected] or phone 332286.

Information at theheart of communitiesMore community information centres are opening inMedway following the success of a pilot scheme inTwydall, Gillingham.The move is in response to residents saying that they wantedsomewhere local to get information about public servicesprovided by Medway Council and its partners. People visiting the centres can find out about housing,employment and training, health, community safety, benefits,education, transport, leisure events and youth services.The Twydall information centre opened at Twydall Library lastSeptember, and two other centres opened in January atWoodside Community Centre, Strood, and White RoadCommunity Centre, Chatham. Two more will follow in the All Saints and Brook-Linesneighbourhoods in Chatham before the end of March.The centres provide information leaflets and brochures, walldisplays and a direct phone line to the council’s Customer First.There is a room where people can meet an advisor for a privateappointment about services such as housing and health.Cllr Jane Chitty, the council’s Portfolio Holder for StrategicDevelopment and Economic Growth, said: “This importantinitiative has been generated and supported by residents whohave taken part in bringing services closer to the community. It benefits people who otherwise might feel isolated.”

Hyde Housing, one of the largest housing associations in the south east, is working with Medway Council to develop the first phase of the Rochester Riversideregeneration site.The housing group will build the first three residential blocks atthe southern (Chatham) end of the site. Most of the new homeswill be for shared ownership and rent.Hyde approached the council after the deadline for CrestNicholson to build homes on Rochester Riverside expired.The Leader of Medway Council Cllr Rodney Chambers said:“The proposal that we’re developing with Hyde meansconstruction could start in September. I’m delighted that we’veattracted the interest of such an impressive developer.”The scheme is backed by a £4.6million grant for affordablehousing from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Mike Finch, Principal Development Manager at Hyde, said: “We are committed to providing local people with high quality,affordable houses in communities they are proud to call home.“We are looking forward to working closely with the council toprovide the homes that Medway residents need.”The 75-acre Rochester Riverside site, owned by the council andthe South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), hasoutline planning permission for 2,000 homes, hotels, shops, offices,bars and restaurants, two public parks and a primary school. Meanwhile, construction of the £5million Waterfront bus stationon Globe Lane, Chatham, is progressing well and will be fullyoperational in the summer. For the latest information on theproject visit www.medway.gov.uk/chathamfuture.And the £2.5million improvements to Corporation Street,Rochester, are due to finish in March.

New developer for Riverside homes


Help shape tomorrowthrough the censusAll households in Medway, and nationally, will need tocomplete a census questionnaire on Sunday, 27 March.The population census is carried out every 10 years acrossEngland and Wales by the Office for National Statistics(ONS). The results help the government and local authoritiesto plan the services and resources people need, such astransport, housing, healthcare and education. The amount of money Medway Council will receive for theseservices over the next 10 years will be directly influenced bystatistics from the census.The questionnaires will arrive by post and this census willbe the first to offer households the choice of completing theform online or returning it by post.Answers will be in confidence and will only be used toproduce statistics. ONS will not share the information withother government departments or organisations.For more information visit www.census.gov.uk.

Shops card has its rewardsShoppers in Medway are benefiting from the specialoffers and discounts being giving to holders of a freeMedway City Card.The card, which is accepted in shops and restaurantsacross Medway, rewards people for shopping locally andhelps make their money go further. It also helps to supportlocal businesses.The deals include discounts of up to 20 per cent, buy oneget one free promotions and exclusive special offers. Someoffers may be for a limited time.Among the businesses currently offering discounts are:BSM, Confucius Chinese Restaurant, the Crown in Rochester,Echoes Gyms, Just Cuts Butchers, Medway Diamond House,Orchard Windows (Kent), PDQ Secretarial Services, Radiance

Hair and Beauty, Rochester Castle and VarleyElectrical. More are listed on the website.

People can apply for a card online atwww.medwaycitycard.co.uk or bycompleting an application form

available at libraries, leisurecentres and contact points.


A five-mile urban and rural trail has opened taking walkersthrough Strood and Frindsbury to link up with countrysidepaths in the Medway Gap between the M2 and M20.The route of the Strood Community Trail, which starts nearKnights Place recreation ground, is marked by signs bearingthe cross of the Knights Templar and passes the historicTemple Manor. The idea was launched last February as a volunteercommunity project by local groups keen that people shouldbe able to walk and explore the area and see how varied it is.“We wanted to let people see that there is a better side toStrood and to take a pride in their community,” said Rita Hunt,the chairman of the community trail committee.The trail is financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, providedthrough the Valley of Visions project, and follows pavements,

open spaces and footpaths throughStrood, Frindsbury, Broomhill and Rede Common. Unemployed people helped withclearance work as part of a government-funded scheme and children have designed mosaics for thepaths, based on the local wildlife, landscape and heritage. The Strood trail links with paths in Cuxton, Halling,Snodland, Aylesford, Wouldham and Burham, enabling peopleto explore the entire length of the Medway Valley. Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder forCommunity Services, said: “This is a real community project. Itshows what can be done when people have a shared ambition.”A leaflet giving details of the route is available from librariesand contact points.

Trail provides link for community pride



NHS Foundation Trust News from your local hospital ADVERTISEMENT

Commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, Norovirus is a highlyinfectious virus which causes diarrhoea and vomiting. Most peoplecatch it during the winter months, but it can occur at any time of yearand it is estimated that between 600,000 and one million people in theUK are infected by it every year.The symptoms of Norovirus include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and in somecases fever, headache, stomach cramps and aching limbs. Symptoms can

last for 12 to 60 hours, but most people recover within two days.Linda Dempster, Head of Infection Control, said: “Norovirus is incredibly

contagious and poses a great threat to the health of people who arealready very ill.

“In the majority of cases, no specific treatment is required, apartfrom letting the virus and its symptoms take its course. Peopleshould ensure they maintain their fluid intake – this is particularlyimportant with the very young or the elderly. If the symptomspersist, the patient becomes dehydrated or has an underlyingmedical condition and should contact their GP or call NHS Directon 0845 4647 for advice.”

What is Norovirus?l Norovirus is one of a group of viruses that are the mostcommon cause of stomach bugs in England and Wales. It iscommon between November and April and is also called thewinter vomiting virus. l Symptoms usually begin around 12 to 48 hours after theperson becomes infected and it can last for 12 to 60 hours. It

starts with the sudden onset of nausea followed by projectilevomiting and/or watery diarrhoea. l There is no specific treatment for Norovirus apart fromletting the virus and its symptoms take their course.

Everyone can help restrict the spread of Norovirus bywashing their hands before preparing food or eating food;after handling raw meat; using the toilet; changing a nappy;touching rubbish bins; using cleaning cloths; playing withpets; emptying litter trays; working in the garden; cleaningup blood or vomit.

How everyone can avoidspreading winter virus



NHS Foundation TrustNews from your local hospital Mealtime volunteersIt is believed that four in 10 people over theage of 65 are malnourished when they areadmitted to hospital.In response, Medway NHS Foundation Trusthas recruited volunteers to assist elderlypatients at meal times.

Glyn Scott, Nutrition Nurse Specialist at thetrust, said: “In order to get better and strong, it’simportant that patients eat well and eat thingsthey like. This is why we’ve recruited a team ofvolunteers to make sure that patients get thehelp they sometimes need.

“All our volunteers have been fully trained inhow to feed patients, the mechanics ofswallowing and how to spot malnourishment.They help with the tea rounds, find out whatkinds of food the patients like, help them fill intheir menu card and assist them at meal times.

“The response from patients and their familieshas been really positive. We’re hoping tointroduce it on more wards in the near future.”

Quietersaw putschildrenat easeMedway NHS Foundation Trust hasbecome the first trust in the south east touse a specialised cast saw for children whoneed to have a plaster cast removed from abroken limb.The saw is quieter and smaller than a traditionalcast saw which can make patients nervous andscared of their treatment when there is no needto be. The saw is also ideal for removing castsfrom patients with learning disabilities.

Traditional cast saws can be quite large andnoisy when cutting through the layers, making theremoval of a cast not always a happy experiencefor children.

John McLaughlin, Orthotics Clinical Lead,said: “We do find that lots of children arescared of the big cast saws and thenoise makes them very nervous.

“These saws are also verycumbersome because they areattached to a unit the size of aHenry vaccum cleaner. But thenew paediatric cast saw ishand held and battery operatedand is easier to manoeuvrearound the limb. It is muchbetter for our patients.”

Medway is a foundation trust, which means that, unlikeother NHS trusts which are only accountable togovernment, it is also accountable to its members – thepublic and its staff. This means that the people using the hospital, not just thoseworking in it, have a greater say in its running and the typeof services it offers.

Trust governor Pam Gibbon, said: “As a member you caninfluence the development of the trust through the Council ofGovernors. The governors are your link with the trust. Tell us about the good things you experience and the thingsyou’d like to change and we'll pass on your message. Thisway, the trust can develop in line with your expectations and needs.”

The trust hosts regular members’ meetings where concerns

can be aired, opinions shared and ideas put forward. As aresult of these meetings the trust began a series ofsuccessful events last year called Medicine for Members.Talks were given by consultants on specific medicalconditions, offering advice and information and an update onimprovements in treatment. The trust will be running anotherseries of events this year – the dates will be available onwww.medway.nhs.uk.

People don’t have to be members to attend, but it’s easierto have their say and to find out about future events if theyare. Being a member is free and they can have as much oras little involvement as they like.

Some 10,000 people in Medway have signed up. Contactthe membership office on 825292 to register over the phone,or sign up online at www.medway.nhs.uk.

Working together for a better future

n Michael Carlton, thepaediatric plaster theatrelead, removes a cast.


WHAT’S ON? WHAT’S ON? WHAT’S ON? WHAT’S ON? WHAT’S ON? WHAT’S ON?


Contacting Medway MattersMedway Matters,Communications and Marketing,Medway Council, Gun Wharf,Dock Road, Chatham ME4 4TR

Email [email protected] and designed by Medway Council's Communications andMarketing Team.Distributed by Royal Mail door-to-door service.

All phone numbers should beprefixed with 01634 unless stated.

Available in otherformats and languages. Phone 333333The next edition of Medway Matters will bepublished in April.

There is a range of advertising opportunities in Medway Matters. For more information, including rates and copy deadlines, visit www.medway.gov.uk/medwaymatters or [email protected].

DramaThursday, 10 untilSaturday, 19 February(excluding Sunday) 7.30pmBrimstone andTreacleMedway Little Theatre, 256 High Street, RochesterME1 1HYTickets £7 (£6 members);£4.50 (Monday)Box office: 400322 or visitwww.mlt.org.uk.

ArtMonday, 14 February untilThursday, 31 MarchArt in the DockyardExhibition by local amateurand professional artistsNo1 Smithery Gallery, The Historic DockyardChatham ME4 4TZPhone 823807 or visitwww.thedockyard.co.uk.

TalkWednesday, 16 February8pmExploringBattlefields in Kent Wigmore Library, 208Fairview Avenue, GillinghamME8 0PXTickets: £3.50 (bookingadvised)Phone 235576 or visitwww.whatsonmedway.co.uk.

ShoppingSunday, 20 February and Sunday, 20 March9am-1pmFarmers’ MarketCorporation Street car park,Rochester ME1 1NNPhone 338155 or visitwww.rochesterfarmersmarket.co.uk.

RadioSaturday, 27 February10amRainham Radio RallyRainham School for Girls,Derwent Way ME8 0BXPhone 07717 678795 oremail [email protected].

MusicSaturday, 5 March 7.30pmThe City of RochesterSymphony OrchestraThe Central Theatre,Chatham ME4 4ASTickets: £9-£14Box office: 338338 or visitwww.crso.org.uk.

DanceThursday, 17 March 8pmSt Patrick’s NightParty

The McManigan Academyof Irish DancersThe Brook Theatre, Old TownHall, Chatham ME4 4SETickets: £8 (£7 mailing listmembers)Phone 338338 or visitwww.whatsonmedway.co.uk.

Charity BallSaturday, 19 March6.30pm-1amUna Noche deFlamencoThe Mayor of Medway’sCharity BallCorn Exchange, RochesterME1 1LXThree-course dinner with aSpanish flavourTickets: £35Phone 332404 or [email protected].

ExhibitionThursday, 24 February until Tuesday, 12 AprilWingets at work and playMedway Archive and Local Studies Centre, Clocktower building, StroodFree

Phone 332714 or visit www.facebook.com/ medwayarchives.

ADVERTISEMENT

For a full list of the latest events and entertainments in Medway, visit

www.whatsonmedway.co.uk

Sunday, 27 MarchBritish Summer Time begins.Clocks go forward one hour.

Fri, 11 Mar 7.30pmColin Fry

The People’s MediumWitness the new show

from one of Britain’smost popular

mediums.

Sun, 20 Feb 7.30pmSteve Harley

The Cockney Rebel legendperforms an acoustic set,

featuring hits including MrSoft, Judy Teen and Make MeSmile (Come Up and See Me).

Sat, 26 Feb 2.30pmAndy and Mike’sBig Box of BananasCBeebies presenter Andy Day and hispartner-in-crime present a chaotic,

hilarious stage show for children.

MAKEITYOURSTHISSPRING

Fri, 4 Mar 7.30pmAn Evening with Rick WakemanJoin Rick and his piano for a one-offnight of music and tales, from acareer spanning over four decades.

01634 338338www.thecentraltheatre.co.uk

For tickets, more information and this season’s full line-up



The centenary of International Women's Day willbe marked in Medway on Saturday, 5 March. It isa day of celebration for the achievements ofwomen past, present and future.

Women of all ages, backgrounds and lifestyles in Medway areinvited to join in the event, which has been celebrated locallysince 2007. But it is not an exclusively women’s event – menand children are welcome to attend.

This year will focus on the changes in local women's livesover the past 100 years. In a special social history event in thePembroke Building at the University of Greenwich, ChathamMaritime, women from different generations and walks of lifewill talk about their interesting and humorous experiences.

There will be workshops, natural therapies, stalls andentertainment. The event starts at 11am and entry is free,although there is a small charge for some activities.

On Tuesday, 8 March, hundreds of IWD events will be heldaround the world, ranging from informal gatherings to large-scale organised events. They will celebrate the contribution thatevery woman and girl makes and recognise the struggles thatmany still face.

For more information visit www.medwayiwd.co.uk or [email protected].

Do somethingfunny for moneyYou could be ’aving a laff onRed Nose Day when peopleacross Medway will beorganising silly events andrattling buckets to raisemoney for people in Africaand the UK, who face injusticeor live in abject poverty.

The nationwide fundraisingevent on Friday, 18 March,organised by Comic Relief, is where everyone isencouraged to cast aside their inhibitions, put on a rednose and do something sillyto raise money.

The event will culminate in a night of comedy andmoving documentary films on BBC One.

For more details andfundraising ideas visitwww.rednoseday.com.

Tribute to theUnknown Warrior An exhibition about theUnknown Warrior is at the RoyalEngineers Museum, Gillingham,until the end of February.

The exhibition tells the story of the honoured soldier andother soldiers killed during theFirst World War, including twofrom Chatham. It features ashipwright from ChathamDockyard, a private of the RoyalMarine Light Infantry, ChathamBrigade, and a six-foot highstained glass window, showingthe return to England of theunknown soldier in 1920. Pupilsfrom All Saints Primary School,Chatham, helped with the

project. The exhibition isincluded in the museum’sregular admission price. Formore details phone 822839,visit www.remuseum.org.uk oremail [email protected].

Descendent helpschalet appealGerald Dickens, the great, greatgrandson of Charles Dickens, ishelping the £100,000 appeal torestore the Dickens Swisschalet at Eastgate House,Rochester.

He will be taking a light-hearted look at the writer andpresenting a one-man version ofNicholas Nickleby at 7.30pm onFriday, 11 February, at the

Britannia Theatre, DickensWorld, Chatham ME5 4LL.Tickets are £10. Phone 890421for more details.

To donate, cheques payable toThe Rochester and ChathamDickens Fellowship (ChaletAppeal) should be sent to 27Amethyst Avenue, ChathamME5 9TX.

School’s campaign comes into bloomPupils from Fort Pitt Grammar School, Chatham, are watching out for the flowering soon of 1,000 purple crocuses in the school grounds.They planted the bulbs in November after teaming up with Chatham Rotary Club as part of the Rotary’s national campaign to eradicate polio.

The colour denotes the purple dye used to mark a child’s finger when they have been immunised against the disease.

Nationally more than five million purple crocus bulbswere planted at the end of last year.

Day marks century ofwomen’s achievements

International Women’s Day 2011



Meetings calendarFEBRUARY1 7pm Employment Matters Committee MR22 7pm Standards Committee MR24 9.30am Licensing Hearing Panel – Sub-Committee of LSC MR28 6pm International Relations Committee MR29 8.45am School Transport and Curriculum Appeals Committee MR 910 6.30pm Regeneration, Community and Culture OSC MR 211 2pm Licensing Sub-Committee of LSC MR1315 9.30am Licensing Hearing Panel – Sub-Committee of LSC MR2

3pm Cabinet MR216 7pm Planning Committee MR224 7pm Council SGCMARCH1 6.30pm Children and Young People OSC MR23 7pm Council SGC4 9.30am Licensing Hearing Panel – Sub-Committee of LSC MR98 3pm Cabinet MR29 7pm Planning Committee MR215 9.30am Licensing Hearing Panel – Sub-Committee of LSC MR13

5pm Health and Adult Social Care OSC MR216 8.45am School Transport and Curriculum Appeals Committee MR 8

7pm Employment Matters Committee MR222 6.30pm Business Support OSC MR223 7pm Standards Committee MR224 7pm Council SGC29 3pm Cabinet; 7pm Audit Committee MR230 7pm Planning MR231 6.30pm Regeneration, Community and Culture OSC MR 2You are advised to check the details by phoning 306000, emailing [email protected] or visiting www.medway.gov.uk.

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Contact your councillor

Conservative 33Labour 10Liberal Democrat 7Independent Group 4Other independent 1

lf you want more information phonemember services on 332732 or [email protected]

PAUL GODWIN Labc/o PA to the Labour Group Leader, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham,ME4 4TR Phone: 865944

VINCE MAPLE Lab13a Waghorn Street, Chatham,ME4 5LTPhone: 07981 661451

JULIE SHAW Lab79 Downsview, Chatham, ME5 0AL Phone: 813647

RAYMOND MAISEY Con106 Charles Drive, Cuxton, ME2 1DUPhone: 727126

MAUREEN RUPAREL Lib Dem4 Westerham Close, Gillingham,ME8 6LP Phone: 303498

ANDY STAMP Ind Group50 Grange Road, Gillingham,ME7 2PUPhone: 07736 327002

CATHY SUTTON Lib Demc/o Medway Council, Gun Wharf,Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TRPhone: 07964 406541

GEOFF JUBY Lib Dem16 Franklin Road, Gillingham, ME7 4DF Phone: 576675

SHEILA KEARNEY Lib Dem112 Nelson Road, Gillingham, ME7 4LL Phone: 576838

STEPHEN KEARNEY Lib Dem112 Nelson Road, Gillingham, ME7 4LL Phone: 576838

DIANE CHAMBERS Con6 Mansion Row, Brompton,Gillingham, ME7 5SE Phone: 842913

RODNEY CHAMBERS Con6 Mansion Row, Brompton,Gillingham, ME7 5SE Phone: 842913

ALAN JARRETT Con43 Ballens Road, Lordswood,Chatham, ME5 8NTPhone: 684640

DAVID WILDEY Con627 Lordswood Lane, Lordswood,Chatham, ME5 8QYPhone: 863416

TASHI TAMANG BHUTIA Con34 Maidstone Road, Chatham,ME4 6DGPhone: 07882 368919

TONY GOULDEN Ind Group37 Raleigh Close, Chatham, ME5 7SB Phone: 302538

VAL GOULDEN Ind Group37 Raleigh Close, Chatham, ME5 7SB Phone: 302538

JANICE BAMBER Con5 Aveling Close, Hoo, Rochester,ME3 9BZ Phone: 252394

KEN BAMBER Con5 Aveling Close, Hoo, Rochester,ME3 9BZPhone: 252394

PHIL FILMER ConBridgewater House, ParbrookRoad, High Halstow, Rochester,ME3 8QG Phone: 254196

MATT BRIGHT Con85 Highgrove Road, Walderslade,Chatham, ME5 7SF Phone: 321265

PAT GULVIN (MRS) Con30 Glamis Close, Chatham, ME5 7QQ Phone: 670853

REHMAN CHISHTI Con30 Shakespeare Road, Gillingham,ME7 5QN Phone: 324849

BARRY KEMP Con18 Herbert Road, Rainham, ME8 9BZ Phone: 365231

MIKE O’BRIEN ConRedlands, 70 Herbert Road,Rainham, ME8 9DA Phone: 377950

DAVID CARR Con68 Kingsway, Gillingham, ME7 3AU Phone: 853366

VAUGHAN HEWETT Con47 Marshall Road, Rainham, ME8 0AP Phone: 07932 195683

HOWARD DOE ConThe Warren, 21 Style Close,Rainham, ME8 9LS Phone: 366419

ROY HUNTER Con358 Hempstead Road, Hempstead,Gillingham, ME7 3QJ Phone: 364767 DAVID ROYLE Con7 Watermeadow Close,Hempstead, Gillingham, ME7 3QFPhone: 377254

JOHN JONES Lab16 Prospect Row, Brompton,Gillingham, ME7 5ALPhone: 07886 601 725

CRAIG MACKINLAY Con 8 Manor Road, Chatham, ME4 6AGPhone: 841108

NICK BOWLER Lab93 Haig Avenue, Rochester,ME1 2RYPhone: 07793 806011

TERESA MURRAY Lab318 City Way, Rochester, ME1 2BL Phone: 409486

NICHOLAS BRICE Indc/o Medway Council, Gun Wharf,Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR Phone: c/o 332245

TREVOR CLARKE Con19 Wemmick Close, CloisterhamPark, Rochester, ME1 2DLPhone: 409932

SYLVIA GRIFFIN Con12 Beaulieu Rise, Rochester, ME1 2PQ Phone: 404139

TED BAKER Con11 Watts Avenue, Rochester, ME1 1RX Phone: 847415

MARK RECKLESS ConSenlac House, Gundulph Square,Rochester, ME1 1QDPhone: 406536

JANE CHITTY Conc/o Medway Council, Gun Wharf,Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TRPhone: 07930 236228

JANE ETHERIDGE Con48 Watling Street, Strood, ME2 3NYPhone: 711003

STEPHEN HUBBARD Lab94 Jersey Road, Strood,Rochester, ME2 3PD Phone: 712129

PETER HICKS Con14 High Street, Upper Upnor,Rochester, ME2 4XGPhone: 715097

TOM MASON Con1 Leeds House, Cypress Court,Frindsbury Extra, Rochester, ME2 4PU Phone: 727301

LES WICKS ConWestcourt Farm, Salt Lane, Cliffe,Rochester, ME3 7STPhone: 220347

RICHARD ANDREWS Con27 Hoo Common, Chattenden,Rochester, ME3 8LT Phone: 252892

JOHN AVEY Con13 Elaine Court, Elaine Avenue,Strood, Rochester, ME2 2YRPhone: 711268

SUSAN HAYDOCK Con46 Trevale Road, Rochester, ME1 3PA Phone: 811172

DORTE GILRY Lab26 Twydall Lane, Gillingham, ME8 6HX Phone: 386662

GLYN GRIFFITHS Lab105 First Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 2LF Phone: 352734

PAUL HARRIOTT Lab26 Twydall Lane, Gillingham, ME8 6HXPhone: 233833

DAVID BRAKE ConSherwood House, 29 Robin HoodLane, Walderslade, Chatham, ME5 9NSPhone: 668649

IAN BURT Ind Group13 Oakhurst Close, Walderslade,Chatham, ME5 9ANPhone: 863760

HERBERT CRACK Lib Dem25 Arthur Road, Rainham, ME8 9BT Phone: 231229

DIANA SMITH Lib Dem269 Napier Road, Gillingham, ME7 4LY Phone: 575192

CHATHAM CENTRAL

WATLING

WALDERSLADE

TWYDALL

STROOD SOUTH

STROOD RURAL

STROOD NORTH

ROCHESTER WEST

ROCHESTER SOUTH AND HORSTED

ROCHESTER EAST

RIVER

RAINHAM SOUTH

RAINHAM NORTH

RAINHAM CENTRAL

PRINCES PARK

PENINSULA

LUTON AND WAYFIELD

LORDSWOOD AND CAPSTONE

HEMPSTEAD AND WIGMORE

GILLINGHAM SOUTH

GILLINGHAM NORTH

CUXTON AND HALLING

medway matters - february/march 2011 edition

Documents

n e f o r e v e r y

t h e c o u n c i

pm rainham

ymedway matt e rsserving

pm rochester rochester

pm strood clocktower

council services

council tax