Heritage gets Local Support

Do you want to call time on the destruction of local heritage?

Medway Labour is working with local heritage organisations in calling time on the legacy of historic vandalism overseen by Medway Conservatives, who have bulldozed and trashed historic town centres and industrial heritage in an aggressive attempt to foist regeneration schemes on residents.

Labour supports the regeneration of our historic town centres but it does not support the roughshod and digger-like approach to town management, which has steamrollered over public opinion and local heritage groups who have struggled to get their voices heard.

Labour will back local societies and heritage organisations in ensuring their voices are heard at the top of local government. We will consult and listen to residents and not just run roughshod over local accountability.

Over the last four years we have seen the systemic destruction of heritage including

• Aveling & Porter demolition
• Closure of the Dickens Centre, Rochester
• Bulldozing of the historic Paddock, Chatham
• Demolition of the Theatre Royal, Chatham

The main opposition party will encourage heritage-led regeneration; that is working in partnership with local heritage organisations to improve our communities with full respect for our environment and our communities. Although less directly profitable than market-led regeneration, the heritage approach has an advantage of creating community-led changes in social conditions and local pride.