Members of a Rochester conservation group have hit back at a council proposal to make Chatham the "principal town centre".

They also argue that Chatham is not the main location for leisure, culture and tourism and instead its neighbour, steeped in history, is the more accurate candidate.

Alan Moss, chairman of the City of Rochester Society, outlined its comments after considering Medway's Local Plan which is currently under consultation.

Mr Moss said while the society endorsed the document's emphasis on high quality design he felt that recent development proposals including the new hotel in Corporation Street appeared to be "riding roughshod over these laudable aims".

He felt that apart from Chatham Historic Dockyard, and, to a lesser extent, Fort Amherst, there was little to attract visitors to the town centre.

He said: “Its once thriving heart has been torn out by a succession of ill-conceived developments and traffic diversions. Moreover,

changes in the pattern of shopping have led to the dramatic decline in the number and quality of shops for which Chatham was once noted. Out-of-town centres and online shopping have led the flight from centres such as Chatham.

“It was the society’s view that the shopping area of the town should be reduced to make way for new homes which the council is required to provide.”

Mr Moss added that the topography of the centre made it suitable for high-rise housing development.

In contrast, he believed Strood as a retail centre was “on the up” with its supermarkets and High Street chains moving on to the retail park. He said that it was the destination of choice for many shoppers now.

Nearly 30,000 homes are needed in the Towns over the next 20 years to meet a growing population. There is potential to turn Hoo St Werburgh into a rural town which would include upgrades to its infrastructure.

A decision on building on Lodge Hill, a former Army barracks at Chattenden, is due to be made by Homes England soon.

To comment on proposals in the development strategy, you must submit views in writing by midday on Monday, June 25.

You can send comments using the online planning consultation questionnaire, emailing futuremedway@medway.gov.uk or

send them by post to Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, ME4 4TR.