Watts the Matter

The campaign to safeguard the Watts Meadow from land developers, backed by Tories, has stepped up as it became apparent that the Tory controlled Council has published incorrect notices of access on the Watts Meadow, a piece of land left to the people of Rochester in trust.

The Rochester Conservatives, who support the current administration in Gun Wharf, have allowed full development of housing next to the Watts Meadow, and as a result have cut access to this green lung. Dog walkers, elderly residents and parents now have restricted access to land that was left to the community and to be accessible.

Residents are in uproar as Rochester West Conservative candidates and Councillors have stayed almost silent on this major issue for the community. They have made no attempt to challenge the Tory administration publicly and have failed to comfort local residents about the safety of this piece of green space.

Indeed, it is only local independent campaigners and Labour candidates who have been challenging the Tories.

The lack of concern culminated in incorrect notices being placed on prominent display.

The notice (see picture), placed by the Council was a planning application for a high wall and gate at the entrance to Watt's meadow. It stated that,

'Medway Council has received a planning application for construction of wall and vehicular access gates to front of former Priestfields Nursery.'

Rochester West Labour candidates Derek Munton and Sarah Hehir drew this alarming development to the attention of residents who from the notice would interpret that Tories were restricting access to the Meadow on a permanent basis, against the interests of those who left it in Trust.

Labour candidate Sarah Hehir, who has been working hard in the ward led the opposition challenge against the Tory Council,

A pithy response was forthcoming:

'I hope I can provide some clarification to the situation... For your information, an incorrect site notice has been erected opposite the site, but unfortunately the poor weather has meant that I have been unable to affix a revised correct site notice. Hopefully if the snow clears over the weekend I'll be able to get a new one up at the start of next week.'

Given the campaign and the concern amongst thousands of Rochester residents it is a major error of judgement and Labour are demanding that Cllr Mark Reckless and Cllr Ted Baker start to take a grip on this issue which has been self-evidently badly handled. Incorrect legal notices on a piece of land of such a contentious nature is not sensible. It has left residents thinking, quite justifiably, that it is once again evidence of Tory management incompetence

Not taking into account that residents of Rochester are angry that Tories have rubber-stamped this building development and are restricting access, they have failed to effectively scrutinise the process.

Labour believe that the Rochester Conservatives have sold-out on the residents of Rochester by allowing rampant house-building in that part of Rochester. Great swathes of land adjacent to the site have been bulldozed with very little consultation with residents.

It is a slippery slope, something given the weather, and lack of grit, residents are all too aware of under this Conservative Council.

Incidentally, the plans for the wall look like a folly and Labour are opposing. It is a grandiose marketing tool for prestigious houses rather than an entrance to an area of natural beauty.

We need to work together as a community and protect our green spaces