Having visited Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre on Thursday 29th August to look at the exhibits and to speak to various council officials, including Vince Cable, I do not agree with any of the options. Absolutely every member of the public in attendance whilst there at the same time as me voiced the same concerns regarding the Local Plan, the major issue being infrastructure. Without a new hospital (I was informed whilst there that it is not in the Councils remit to ask the NHS to build another hospital in the Medway Towns but feel there is more that could be done by the Council on this subject), improved drainage/sewerage, additional schools, GP surgeries & GP's, Dentists and improved roads I strongly object to any of the plans.
Medway Hospital has one of the largest catchment areas in the country (I worked there for 12 years so know first hand about the problems) and is really struggling to cope with the number of residents as it is without new residents. People are sometimes having to wait many hours to be seen. Children living locally struggle to find a place at our local schools (because of coach and train loads of youngsters from London attending our schools, particularly grammar schools, leaving no places for local children), we are all struggling to get a face to face consultation with our local GP's and even a telephone consultation can take 2-3 weeks to be available. Many people are unable to register with a local NHS dentist which will, again, be worse by the influx of new residents from these developments. The sewage system in the Medway Towns is not up to scratch for the amount of residents.
If there is an accident on the M2 the whole of the Medway Towns are gridlocked for hours which will be made worse by the influx of additional residents living in these new housing estates.