Do we want City status for Medway?

By jayenolan | Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 13:41

Irrespective of spending cuts, Medway Council are pressing ahead with their bid for the Queen to name Medway the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee City in 2012.

Rochester Cathedral marks Rochester as a city - shouldn't it be made official again?

The Green Party have been active in the Towns, collecting signatures against the proposal, however, the council say that two-thirds of the population want to live in a city. They didn’t say which city - quite possibly those surveyed meant London, New York or Rome, it depends how the question was phrased – anyhoo, I wondered, who’s right, the council or the Greens? There’s only one way to ... no, no fighting!

We do know that Rochester technically lost its city status some time ago – but in the hearts and minds of most Medway residents, it’s still a city. So do we really need ‘Medway’ to be one? Wouldn’t it be simpler and more sensible for the bid to focus on Rochester? Or are Rochestererians being biased and selfish?

There are moves to decentralise some government departments and the council feel that attracting one of these departments to the Towns, maybe saving hundreds of civil servants the daily commute to London, is just one of the benefits. Supporters also believe that Medway City status would attract private investment, to replace state support and ensure the continuation of the Towns renaissance.

With the campaign set to cost £4,673.10 (the single biggest cost being 50,000 pennants - will you wave one/attach one to your car?) how do you feel about living in Medway City? Or, if asked, will you just say ‘Rochester’ ‘Chatham’ ‘Rainham’ or wherever as usual?

Re-post Write a story

Ads by Google

Comments

Re the status loss: Apparently, the councillors on the Rochester City Council were advised that city status would be lost unless charter trustees were established. This would have meant levying a charge on Peninsula residents - a then Shadow Council, The Medway Towns Council, recommended taking no action, as Gillingham councillors, happy to Rochester stay a city, didn't see why Gillingham residents should pay for it. Four of the councillors then are still councillors now: Julie Shaw, Stephen Hubbard, Paul Godwin (all Labour) and Tony Mason (Conservative).

By jayenolan at 16:19 on 21/10/10
Report
Re A city being an attraction, check the evidence for this. There is very scarce evidence around that suggests a city is of itself an attraction. Look at Newport for example. People come to areas for the specific attractions that exist in that area and not because of signage.

By princepiggy at 15:49 on 13/10/10
Report
The £5000 is just the tip of a very big iceberg in accounting terms. Consider these hidden 'off balance sheet' costs:

Executive time allocated to this project - Senior Medway officials are spending considerable time on this. It all costs money and diverts attention away from delivering public services. 10 senior people attended one meeting alone the other week - that's about 30 hours x their salaries in indirect costs to the taxpayer and there are many such meetings

If Medway City is agreed, the road signs, websites and so on will all need to be changed at massive cost. They have already changed all the letter heads and business cards. This money will be wasted if the bid fails

Schools, hospitals, local businesses will all bear costs of relabelling themselves as part of the city if the bid is pursued. None of these costs have been mentioned.

Peter Cook
Say No to Medway City Status Facebook group

p.s. The local paper have fun a poll re this - 70% of people say NO - perhaps Medway should undertake some proper consultation on the issue - see http://tinyurl.com/2wvazwc to vote

By princepiggy at 15:29 on 13/10/10
Report
MHS Homes is now also backing the bid for Medway City, saying "the title 'city' would be an attraction rather than a town identity." I think, if it attracts more investment than it costs us to do it, then it has to be a good thing.

By Bumbles_30 at 11:32 on 13/10/10
Report
We have a Facebook group running to discuss the alternative view. Please post your blog up there and you are welcome to join

http://tinyurl.com/27q5cja

By humandynamics at 00:48 on 09/10/10
Report