Medway Local Plan (Regulation 18, 2023)

Every part of this and every other consultation makes play of increasing walking and cycling to address climate, environmental and health issues. Nearly every new development provides no new facilities (links to existing cycling and walking routes, new ones to schools etc. No new bus services)to aid this and instead bakes in further car use. Couiple this with the building of 4 bedroom properties, which always house more cars tthan the planners project and things get worse not better.

I'm not anti development but we desperatley need some new pathways for walking and cyclingg that link the places people live with the places they want and need to get to. More bus services essential too. Above all affordable homes for rent to address the real need in the housing sector and to leave people with enough disposable income to spend locally.

On Lower Rainham Road where I live there have been a number of new housing developments but the bus service has been cut to one service a day weekdays only. This "service" allows for an hour's visit to Rainham otherwise it's a walk home. No one believes the well meant promoises of green & sustainable development, new infrastructure, 15 minute neighbourghoods (which I support) , increased walking and cycling. What they expect is what has been served up for years : unpoular developments of very similar housing that fails utterly to address housing need and increases car use and congestion, the overloading of existing services and a progressive deterioartion in quality of life. We must do better and win people over with promises kept.