Stuck in another jam?

The chaos of roadworks, delays and constant traffic jams have become so regular an occurrence in Medway that many readerd may actually forget a time when the roads actually flowed.

That would probably be 2006, the year before the Medway Conservatives embarked upon the Chatham two-way change. A £2.5m pet project which no one voted for, no one wanted and which has decimated small business in the Chatham centre.

It is a colossal public waste.

The road work chaos has extended into Rochester and Strood over the last 18 months and now many commuters are regularly to be stuck in jams on Corporation Street and into Strood.

People would not be so angry at the Conservatives if they simply managed and communicated these projects effectively.

The road works on Corporation Street, Rochester is a case in point.

The works are at a key junction, if not the key junction between Rochester & Strood. It occupies a key crossing point for thousands of residents and business. It is quite simply the aorta of the Medway towns. A blockage can cause a failure of movement from across the River and can paralyse secondary roads which require primary roads for vehicle movement.

Yet to the Conservatives, it would seem to be a small priority, because of the total lack of foresight and management of the works that have ensued.

The fact is that drivers are very much aware as they are stuck in traffic that there are no workmen working on the site over the weekend and that the hours for the works are seemingly the basic 9am-5pm.

In addition, the works in Rochester were timed for the peak period of Christmas trading and has attracted the wrath of tourists who have spent hours stuck in Strood whilst trying to gain access to Rochester. The same tourists who we have spent hundreds of thousands trying to attract into Medway to spend money and keep people in jobs.

We all accept that in austere times money has to be spent frugally, but this is simply a joke.

A few simple questions needs to be answered clearly and quickly:

1) Which Councillor signed off on the Corporation Street roadworks?

2) What analysis was undertaken prior to signing off on the works given the Christmas period and impact on Christmas Fair trade. Were small businesses given sufficient notification?

3) Why is the current works not conducted over a seven day period, rather then a five day period given the importance of the junction and impact on local business?

4) Why have 24/7 shifts not been considered, taking into account noise-reduction strategies that can and could easily be employed to mitigate impacts to local residents?

5) Can the people and business of Rochester be given a firm date of completion for this project?

The Rochester & Strood Labour party is challenging the Conservative administration on its legacy of traffic Chaos and specifically on the Chatham and Rochester works.

In May, this administration needs to be sent a message.

Squandering public money on road programmes and mismanaging major road works are not acceptable. Coupled with the monumental failure in collecting Council tax and the lies over VAT, this represents a tired collection of apologists for a government, which in the Deputy Leader Cllr Jarrett's own words is using 'smoke and mirrors' to harm residents.

If their own Deputy Leader thinks the government is failing people in Medway then it does not require the opposition to admit that on this one, he is absolutely correct. His Conservative government are harming residents.

The Rochester & Strood Labour Party want to hear your stories on the incompetence and how it has inconvenienced you and your family.