🚨 Chatham Docks Under Attack 🚨

🚢 Save Chatham Docks – Protect Jobs, Industry & Medway’s Future

Reform UK is standing with local workers, businesses, and residents to demand: Save Chatham Docks.

For over 400 years, Chatham Docks has been the beating heart of Medway’s maritime and industrial identity. Today, it still supports over 800+ skilled jobs and hosts dozens of businesses vital to our regional economy including ArcelorMittal who supply 30% of the UK’s rebar needs.

But now, Peel L&P – a private developer – wants to close the docks and replace them with luxury flats under their “Chatham Waters” scheme.

In 2019, the Peel Group announced plans to close Chatham Docks by 2025 and redevelop the site for housing and commercial use. They claimed that the cost of refurbishing the docks’ freight lock gates – estimated at “in excess of £35 million” – made continued port operations economically unviable. However, alternative assessments suggest the true cost could be significantly lower. Viable financing options have also been proposed, including arrangements that would relieve Peel L&P of the full upfront expense. Despite this, these solutions have been ignored – raising serious questions about whether the £35+ million figure was ever a genuine obstacle, or simply a red herring to justify redevelopment.

This isn’t regeneration – it’s economic vandalism.

Peel L&P want profits.
Weak politicians are letting it happen.
Your Reform UK Councilors are fighting back.

❌ The Reality:

• 800+ real jobs lost and thousands indirectly affected
• Vital industry sacrificed for expensive flats
• Our maritime heritage bulldozed
• Local businesses crushed
• Community sold off to developers
• Short-term profits over long-term prosperity
• More pressure on roads, schools, doctors
• Britain’s shipbuilding heart weakened

These docks aren’t derelict – they’re busy, productive, and full of potential. With investment, they could become a hub for modern maritime technologies and innovation.

Take a good look at the image above – a younger Vince Maple and Theresa Murray standing proudly in support of saving Chatham Docks. Fast forward to today, and now that they’re Leader and Deputy Leader of Medway Council, they’ve done a full 180.

From backing the campaign to backing the developers.

In a recent Facebook post, Cllr Michael Pearce (Ind) pointed out yet another name to add to the list of flip-floppers: Cllr Simon Curry.

“I agree with opposition Labour Councillor Simon Curry (2021, before the 2023 election), but does the in-power Labour Councillor Simon Curry (2025) still stand by his past comments about saving Chatham Docks and the urgent need for a sound Local Plan?”
– Michael Pearce, 24 April 2025

The question’s a fair one – because silence now speaks volumes.

And just like that, Medway Labour quietly deleted their old page supporting the docks.
But the internet doesn’t forget. Thanks to the Wayback Machine, you can still see it in all its glory:
🔗 Original Labour Support Page – Archived

Try the original link today and you’ll be redirected to a bizarre London School of Economics blog post criticising the Lib Dems. Yes, really.
🔗 Current Page Link

Medway deserves leadership that’s consistent, not convenient.

✅ The Reform UK Alternative:

• Protect and expand skilled, well-paid jobs
• Invest in our maritime industries – future-proof our economy
• Save our living heritage, not just preserve it in museums
• Put local people FIRST, not big developers

We call for: ✅ A Medway-wide Industrial Strategy to secure and grow skilled jobs
✅ Investment in industry, not more unaffordable housing
✅ Protection of local infrastructure from corporate sell-offs
✅ A full, independent review of Peel’s plans – before it’s too late

🛠️ What You Can Do:

• Share this post – help us spread the word
• Sign the Petition to Save Chatham Docks
• Email Medway Council – tell them to protect jobs
• Join the campaign and make your voice heard

👉 Follow us for updates and:
📍 Visit the Save Chatham Docks page for more information
📍 KentOnline – Peel Waters application to close Chatham Docks
📍 Facebook – Reform UK Rochester & Strood
📍 Further reading: Constructor Enquirer
📍 Further reading: New Civil Engineer
📍 Further reading – Development Finance Today
📍 Further reading – Construction News

📢 Help Save Chatham Docks – Email Medway Council Today!

Chatham Docks is under threat from redevelopment – but you can make a difference. Tell Medway Council why preserving this historic and economically vital site matters to you.

✉️ Email: planning.representations@medway.gov.uk
cc: customer.relations@medway.gov.uk
Subject: Save Chatham Docks – Objection to Redevelopment

Speak from the heart, or use one of our talking points:

• The Docks support over 800+ skilled jobs.
• ArcelorMittal’s rebar facility supplies 30% of UK needs
• It’s one of the last remaining commercial ports in the South East.
• Redeveloping it into flats is short-sighted and damaging to Medway’s economy.

Sign the petition now: https://www.change.org/p/medway-council-save-chatham-docks-from-closure

🚩 Join Reform UK in standing up for real people, real jobs, and Medway’s future.

Together, we can make them listen.