awatkins@thekmgroup.co.uk

Residents joined politicians in a last bid to stop the sale of the Medway Tunnel to the council for £1.
They fear that Medway Council will face an annual bill of £2 million to maintain the tunnel.
Around a dozen of the 700 who signed cards objecting to the sale were on hand as Jonathan Shaw,. the Chatham MP and Minister for the South East, handed in the objections this morning.
He was joined by Teresa Murray, Labour’s prospective candidate for Rochester, outside the Bridgewardens’ offices.
Consultations on the sale close today, Tuesday.

Mr Shaw said it was ridiculous that an organisation with assets of more than £70 million should saddle the council with an annual maintenance bill of £2 million.
But if he hoped to hand the petition to trust officials he was disappointed.
The only person available was the caretaker who was confused by what was happening.
Neither Anne Logan, the Senior Warden who chairs the charity, not its chief executive, Bridge Clerk Sue Threader, were present.
Mr Shaw said the trust should honour its commitment of running the tunnel for at least 21 years.

Sue Threader said later: "We would not consider transferring ownership if we didn't think it would help secure well-maintained and appropriately managed crossings across the River Medway for the long term.
"While we technically own the tunnel, Medway Council is, and has always been, contractually responsible for maintaining the tunnel under a 999 year lease.

"To make management of the tunnel less bureaucratic, Medway Council asked us to transfer ownership of the Tunnel to them. Should this go ahead, we will also give the Council £3.64 million to spend on tunnel improvements."