Medway Council publishes economic study on the River Medway
Medway Council and partners including Marine South East last month published the first in-depth study of the River Medway economy. The study was jointly commissioned because of the close linkages between Medway Council’s requirement to get a better understanding on the workings of the River Medway, and Marine South East’s need to for further information about the logistical process around some ports in the South East to support the RACINE project.
Medway Council Economic Development, Marine South East, the River Medway Business Users Association (RMBUA) and Business Link Kent commissioned Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd to undertake the River Medway Economic Study in January 2007.
The bulk of funding came via Medway Renaissance, using European Interreg money through the REVIT project (which promotes best practice on brownfield site regeneration), and CLG as part of regeneration programme.
The study provides a useful basis for the Council to:
• Inform the development of future planning policy with respect to the river and riparian activities
• Take forward discussion with external partners, including the Environment Agency, and with landowners over future uses
• Move forward an agenda for transport and leisure benefits through increased river usage
Cllr Jane Chitty, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth, said ‘The report is very thorough and contains number of useful recommendations that Officers will be looking at very closely. The future of the River Medway is critical to the future of Medway as a whole, and we want it to continue as the lifeblood of the local economy, and as something that the whole community can enjoy.’
On 7 September at the Greenwich University Medway campus Bill Moses (Drewry Shipping Consultants) presented the findings of the River Medway Study to an invited audience. This was followed by a reception onboard the Kingswear Castle paddle steamer. Delegates were able to see at first hand some of the key sites on the Medway River and discuss the report’s findings in more detail with its authors and other stakeholders.
A summary of the report is available at http://www.medwaybusiness.co.uk and is also available on the Marine South east website at http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/docs/research
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