2.5.1 ArcelorMittal Kent Wire strongly supports the Council’s Strategic Objectives to secure jobs and develop skills for a competitive economy – these objectives must be carried forward in continuing to protect Chatham Docks in the draft Local Plan.
2.5.2 The current Local Plan protects existing employment uses for Chatham Docks and states in Policy ED1: Existing Employment Areas that ‘proposals for development resulting in the loss of existing industrial, business or storage and distribution development to other uses will not be permitted.’
2.5.3 In addition, Policy ED9: Chatham Docks states, ‘port-related development and an expansion of the commercial port, as defined on the Proposals Map will be permitted.’
2.5.4 If the Council is truly seeking to ‘boost the performance of the local economy by supporting local businesses to grow and innovate…’ and ‘build on existing strengths and expertise, such as engineering…and raise the profile of key sectors…’ then these protections for Chatham Docks must be carried forward into the draft Local Plan.
2.5.5 Chatham Docks employs local people who rely on its operation for their livelihoods. It must not be lost and redeveloped for housing.
2.5.6 Approximately 180 ship movements a year take advantage of the non-tidal Docks when they are fully operational– it is a very sustainable operation taking full advantage of the Dockside access. The dock use cannot be re-located, there is no other suitable site in Medway for its operation.
2.5.7 ArcelorMittal Kent Wire has submitted a series of technical reports to Medway Borough Council to demonstrate that Chatham Docks is viable and has a future, and that forcing the current operation to close does not make economic sense.