Gillingham and Chatham high streets could get an upgrade thanks to funding from the government.

Medway Council is set to put both towns up for a £675 million national grant for regeneration, known as the Future High Streets Fund.

The money has been earmarked by the government to "renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability".

This means the money would be used to improve transport, technology and appearance of the town centres to ensure they are "future proof".

While Labour councillors welcomed the plans, they proposed the council prioritises Gillingham over Chatham in light of the plans to take over the Pentagon centre.

At the full council on Thursday, Cllr Teresa Murray (Lab), said: "Let Gillingham go first in the high street bid to send a message that we understand Gillingham needs an injection and needs it fast.

"That high street is dying. It might have had investment at either end but the middle is a great big wodge of struggling shops who have to watch the constant expansion of Hempstead Valley where parking is free.

"If you are an independent trader in Gillingham High Street, you need more help.

"Some of those people have been there for years but if you go up to the high street, you see things come and go."

Conservative councillors voted this amendment down but assured the opposition group that Gillingham is not "being forgotten".

Cllr Rodney Chambers, the council's cabinet member for regeneration, said: "Gillingham High Street as a retail location is suffering like all retail areas both in Medway and indeed nationally.

"There has been investment in the high street and there is more to come but I'm pleased to say there is no need to put Gillingham first above Chatham because there is the opportunity, I believe, to put them both."