Education Education Education

Medway is blessed with some truly excellent schools and some terrific teachers who work hard for their pupils, but it also suffers from a number of schools which are not receiving the political support to succeed.

Whilst the Tories keeping talking about the schools which are performing well, and incidentally without the need from political interference, they are simply ignoring Primary school education across the area.

Two years ago the Tories were mired in a botched Primary School programme, which went horribly wrong for the ruling elite. A programme which was considered and rejected by the government for being poorly written, and which then was opposed by a cross-bench selection of Councillors. The results was the involvement of central government and good Primary schools were saved along with the poorly performing Portfolio holder.

The lesson to be learnt from that mismanaged Programme was that you simply can not trust the Tories on education. Commenting Cllr John Jones stated that

"It is unacceptable that after years of Tory rule over the Local Education Authority, Medway still languishes near the bottom of the Primary school league tables and yet we see nothing from Tories on focusing on good education for under 11s.

Coupled with the £281,000 cut in Sure Start it is clear that local Conservatives are not putting families or children first.

Medway Labour will safeguard our Sure Starts and will focus energy not on performing schools, but on those which need attention including Primary schools and Academies.

The Tory fixation over Grammar schools has twisted the debate on education. No one is threatening these schools accept David Cameron and his etonian chums in Whitehall."

Candidate Adetomi Yemi stated also

"The Tories are also undermining education for post-16s with the scrapping of the EMA and now the increase in tuition fees to £9,000 per annum. How are the average family supposed to afford education for their children? It is a Tory disgrace"

Chatham Bus Station Cost

Last night the Tory administration was asked for the third time by the Labour opposition to provide a full and transparent cost breakdown for the overtime and overdue Chatham 'dynamic' bus facility.

Residents of River Ward and Medway are aghast that the project has run over time and over the opinions and concerns of residents in the ward and area.

The fear from Labour was that the money was due to run out at the end of April is becoming very real. The Tories did not confirm any extension of funding for the bus facility from cental government and instead continued to produce the same tired and turgid response, which only seeks to highlight why residents of River simply have no confidence in this administration to manage a major programme.

River Ward residents are fed up with living on a building site. Tories have failed to get a grip for years and it's time for a change in May.

Chatham Bus Station Funding Concerns

Cllr John Jones (River) and Cllr Vince Maple (Chatham Central) have put in an urgent question on Thursday over the cost for the dynamic bus station.

The bus station was badly planned and the consultation on the building was lamentably poor. Many residents remain very unhappy by the fact that whilst the Pentagon Centre was fit for purpose and indoors, the new facility is exposed to the elements and whilst modern may not be fit for everyone.

The cost of the new facility runs into the many millions and may now have gone severely over budget.

Medway Conservatives have failed to answer simple questions on how much the facility will cost Council rate payers at every Council where the question has been asked.

It is time they gave a straight answer.

The facility should also have been finished by now. There are major concerns that the Medway Conservatives have bungled another major programme in the ward and are trying to brush the issue under the carpet.

Please see a link to the Full Council agenda here and please do attend tomorrow night if you are interested in finding out more

Commenting Cllr John Jones stated:

"The issue of the new bus station has vexed constituents for months with many opposing not only the design and location but also the timetable and cost of construction.

Many residents felt they were poorly consulted and were very angry to see the historic Paddock vandalised by Tories.

I welcome and support the question by my colleague Vince Maple. If the Tories have gone over budget on another key project it will represent the final disgrace of a Group that is simply out of touch and soon to be out of office."

Labour will keep you updated on news from Thursday night