As a lifelong Medway resident, I was devastated to learn recently that the loss of Rochester’s city status was not an administrative mistake after all, but a deliberate policy by the then Labour leadership and hidden from the public.
Rochester had been a proud Ancient city since Roman times and an official city for the best part of eight centuries thanks to its religious, military and economic importance along the North Kent coast. To know we lost this heritage because of an underhand political decision is gutting. Labour cannot be trusted to maintain Medway’s unique identity and clearly don’t understand how close this is to local people’s hearts.
We face a long-term fight to overcome the complex challenges facing Rochester regaining its city status, now being part of the wider Medway unitary authority which harbours intentions of its own city status. Now the only apparent way for Rochester to regain its status is for the Queen to grant the honour. I know many residents feel strongly about this, and they all deserve to know the full truth about this loss of our heritage.
Medway’s towns share a huge amount of history and it is great we have been able to preserve the Historic Dockyard in Chatham but we have so many more hidden gems. The Corn Exchange, Eastgate House, the Fort Network and The Guildhall in Rochester are all examples of our centuries old buildings having the potential to offer more to our community and I am pleased to be working with local colleagues such as Cllr Stuart Tranter to ensure their survival and upkeep.
Rochester and Strood has always been my home and I am immensely proud of our history. That is why Cllr Tranter and I continue to work with local colleagues to protect our remaining heritage buildings for future generations to share and enjoy.