Medway Council makes fifth bid for city status

Rochester previously held city status until the formation of Medway Council in 1998

Medway should be given city status as part of the devolution deal, the leader of the council has argued.

Vince Maple said with the risk Medway Council could be abolished in the potential reorganisation of local government, now would be a good time to grant the status.

In an open letter to the government, Mr Maple warned future changes could cause a "significant loss of identity" in Medway.

The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for comment.

Medway is made up of the five towns of Chatham, Gillingham, Rainham, Rochester and Strood.

Medway Council was formed in 1998 when Rochester-upon-Medway and Gillingham Borough Council merged, creating a unitary authority independent from Kent County Council.

It was during this merging of authorities that Rochester lost its city status, leaving Canterbury as Kent's only city.

'A city in all but name'

The Labour council leader said he hopes for city status to be included as part of the devolution deal.

In his letter, Mr Maple wrote: "The granting of city status would be a fitting end to the journey that Medway has been on for the last 27 years.

"We have bid for city status at every opportunity since the creation of the unitary authority but unfortunately lost out to other bids."

Mr Maple said since the creation of Medway Council the area has been a "city in all but name".

"We are proud of one Medway," he said.

"But that doesn't mean if Medway gets city status, you can't also be proud of your individual town, be it Rochester, Strood, Chatham, Rainham or Gillingham."

Tim Aker, from the Federation of Small Business in Kent, said granting city status would "be great news that local business could really benefit from"

"Medway has long felt a city in all but status, and the optimism and growth of local businesses certainly makes it have that city feeling," Tim Aker from the Federation of Small Business in Kent said.

"We're seeing a lot of investment in Medway and city status will help drive that next chapter for growth for the area."