Policy S14: Supporting Medway's culture and creative industries

Why is Rainham not a cultural centre identified? The conservation area has so many empty stores that should be used for artists!

Whilst we have no objection to the proposal to this policy’s support for cultural infrastructure and the creative industries, it is important that the policy is not used to force developments to include uses which may not be viable to include.

Agree

These places do need improving as they are rather run down

cultural centres must be with the support of local residents

Please,please, please, more courses for the creative digital industries especially for the teenagers who are so passionate about making their careers in these fields. there are no possibilities to do extra curricular lessons in coding , game design , animation , graphics which should be taught in my opinion from the age of 11 .We need a specific facility for this .

There are superficial references to the use of waterfront sites for regeneration and tourism, without proper consideration of the unique locational characteristics of Chatham Docks pursuant to emerging NPPF 84(b) and 85. The policy does not consider the significance of the non-tidal docks and business who need to locate there, and the carbon impact of losing water-based transport facilities. There does not appear to be any more detailed assessment than an assumption that cultural facilities near water would be visually attractive. The sustainability appraisal does not grapple with it.

A full representation is provided to planning.policy@medway.gov.uk

There is a need for more community space in Chatham for larger events. We do not have affordable Church Hall type venues as you expereince in Rochester or Canterbury. Potential venues could include Medway Little Theatre, The Brook, Synagogue, Rochester Independent College. St Johns Church Chatham, must be pursued.

I agree with the aim to support, enhance, and expand Medway's diverse cultural infrastructure and creative industries. However, this should not be a blanket excuse for unchecked development. It's crucial that the council properly consults with local communities before making decisions. Local residents have a much deeper understanding of their areas and their needs than the often out-of-touch council. Engaging with them will ensure that developments genuinely benefit the community and respect its unique character.

2.13.1 There are superficial references to the use of waterfront site for regeneration and tourism aims, without proper consideration of the unique locational characteristics of Chatham Docks. Due regard is not had to properly identifying sites for commercial development which meet the needs of a modern economy, pursuant to paragraph 84(b) of the National Planning Policy Framework and the amendments proposed to it. Further, this policy does not take into account the proposed amendments to paragraph 85, in particular the recognition of the importance of decarbonisation and reliability in the supply chain. The draft Local Plan fails to engage with these emerging national requirements. Draft Policy S14 identifies Chatham Docks as a site where "locally distinct clusters of cultural facilities, venues and related creative uses" will be supported. This policy clearly indicates a failure to engage with the significance of the non-tidal docks and the opportunity they provide for businesses who require access to water and cannot easily relocate, or in fact be accommodated elsewhere in the region. Further, there is no balancing of the carbon impact of losing water-based means for industrial sites. There is no detailed assessment of the current uses and the likelihood of a cluster of cultural uses being successful or even likely here. The policy does not appear to be based on any more detailed assessment than an assumption that cultural facilities near water would be visually attractive, without recognising the unique facilities from a carbon and industrial perspective which would be lost. The sustainability appraisal does not grapple with this at all, in a clearly inadequate manner.
2.13.2 This is contrary to National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 86(b), which requires planning policies should "set criteria, or identify strategic sites, for local and inward investment to match the strategy and to meet anticipated needs over the plan period". Instead, a rather superficial approach appears to have been taken.

Culture and creative industries should be supported however, this should include traditional crafts and skills such as stone masonry, farriery, stained glass, agriculture, horticulture etc. We need skills and crafts that fill an employment need as well as an aesthetic need.