The Independent Group on Medway Council

18/07/2026

📜Tribute to Noreen Chambers📜

Here's Cllr. Pearce's tribute to former Hoo & Chattenden Parish Councillor Noreen Chambers, on behalf of The Independent Group (TIG), at the Full Council meeting of Medway Council on Thursday 16th July 2026.

17/07/2026

📜📢 Council Meeting Speech - July 2026 📢📜

Here's Cllr. Pearce responding to the Council Leader's report, on behalf of The Independent Group (TIG), at the Full Council meeting of Medway Council on Thursday 16th July 2026.

Topics covered include protecting fire stations on the Hoo Peninsula, the dismissal of the Richborough planning appeal in Wainscott for 800 houses, Medway Council’s Local Plan proposals for around 6,000 houses on the Hoo Peninsula, the hundreds of millions of pounds being spent on local government reorganisation, and summer events taking place across the Hoo Peninsula.

16/07/2026

🚨 The Independent Group Submits Detailed Fire Stations Representation 🚨

We recently submitted a detailed 53-page representation to the Fire Authority. Below is a summary of that representation.

10/07/2026

Update from The Independent Group on Medway Council.

Members of The Independent Group have agreed the following role changes, effective from 08/07/2026:

Leader - Councillor Michael Pearce
Deputy Leader and Group Whip - Councillor Elizabeth Turpin
Group Member - Councillor George Crozer
Group Member - Councillor Ron Sands
Group Member - Councillor John Williams

Important background information about The Independent Group:

• The Independent Group is not a political party or a separate political organisation.

• It is a grouping of independent councillors recognised for the purposes of Medway Council’s administrative and constitutional arrangements, including committee representation.

• Members are not subject to a party whip and are therefore free to vote and express their own views.

• The views and opinions of individual independent councillors may differ.

• Where The Independent Group speaks or acts collectively, this is by agreement of its members.

• The Group’s formal roles enable it to operate within Medway Council’s arrangements for political groups and representation. They do not change the independent status of individual members or make The Independent Group the same as a party political group.

09/07/2026

🚨 Richborough planning appeal DISMISSED! - 800 houses proposed in Wainscott 🚨

The Independent Group (TIG) is very pleased that the Planning Inspector has today DISMISSED planning appeal 6002071, by Richborough, to build 800 new houses on land off Lower Rochester Road in Wainscott. This follows The Independent Group (TIG) submitting 55 pages of representation to the Planning Inspectorate, covering Active Travel, Environment, Ecology, Landscape, Visual Impacts, Transport and Access.

Thank you to the many residents who also made representations using our template provided.

The Planning Inspector, Nick Fagan, concluded: "The adverse impacts of the development are substantial, as are the benefits of delivering the above mixed housing. But these substantial planning harms would significantly outweigh the benefits of the new housing development proposed. This is especially so because the importance of providing accessibility to such a major housing site by sustainable transport modes would not be achieved, contrary to current and proposed national as well as local planning policy. Indeed, this reason alone (irrespective of the landscape harms) is significant enough to outweigh the identified planning benefits, such that planning permission should not be granted."

Pictured are Hoo Peninsula Independent Councillors George Crozer (Hoo & High Halstow Ward), Elizabeth Turpin (Strood Rural Ward), Michael Pearce (Hoo & High Halstow Ward), Ron Sands (Hoo & High Halstow Ward) and John Williams (Strood Rural Ward) on the proposed development site (taken in February 2026).

08/07/2026

🚒 Fire Stations Motion Tabled 🚒

The next Full Council meeting of Medway Council takes place on Thursday 16th July 2026, from 7pm, at St George's Centre, Pembroke Road, Chatham, ME4 4UH. Following motion compliance checks by the Monitoring Officer, The Independent Group (TIG) was drawn from the hat this morning for the available motion slot and has, therefore, tabled its fire stations motion - it will be proposed by Cllr. Elizabeth Turpin and seconded by Cllr. Ron Sands.

Please come along to the meeting and show your support.

06/07/2026

🚒 Full Council Motion on Hoo Peninsula Fire Stations 🚒

Last night The Independent Group (TIG) submited the following Motion for debate (and support) at the next meeting of Medway Council, taking place on Thursday 16th July. The Motion is subject to approval by the Monitoring Officer today (who reviews it for legal and constitutional compliance) and TIG being drawn from the hat for the avaliable Motion slot.

08/06/2026

🚒 No to fire station closures on the Hoo Peninsula 🚒

Residents will be incredibly concerned to read reports in Kent Online that Kent Fire & Rescue Service may potentially close the fire stations in Cliffe and Grain.

The closure of any fire station on the Hoo Peninsula would be completely and wholly unacceptable.

All three fire stations (in Cliffe, Hoo and Grain) form one vital safety net for our communities. Removing any part of that protection would put residents, families, businesses, and visitors at greater risk.

The Independent Group (TIG) is working with residents and other community groups to fight any closures.

Please help support the campaign:

✅ Share this poster
✅ Speak to your neighbours
✅ Raise awareness locally
✅ Respond to the consultation when it opens on 25th June 2026

Our communities. Our safety. Our choice.

Keep all three stations. Keep us safe.

06/05/2026

The Independent Group is saddened to learn of the passing of Councillor Phil Filmer, a High Halstow resident who represented communities on the Hoo Peninsula for many years. Cllr Filmer was a devoted public servant, and his presence in the local community and contributions on Medway Council will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this sad time.

Medway Council is deeply saddened to share news that long-standing Medway councillor, Cllr Phil Filmer, has passed away.

Tributes to Cllr Filmer have been led by Cllr George Perfect, Leader of the Medway Conservative Group, and Medway Council Leader, Cllr Vince Maple.

Cllr Filmer was first elected to Medway Council in 2000, and held prominent Cabinet roles reflecting his long-standing interest in transport, planning and the regeneration of Medway.

Read more: https://orlo.uk/Ss5X9

24/04/2026

The Independent Group has received a reply from Cllr. Vince Maple, Leader of Medway Council, to our letter about the Council’s decision to discontinue funding for Hoo Peninsula Cares CIC, known locally as wHoo Cares. We will consider the response carefully and reply in due course. However, we remain seriously concerned that local Ward Councillors appear not to have been brought into the conversation sooner, despite the clear impact this may have on residents who rely on the support wHoo Cares provides. Whatever the Council’s explanation, decisions affecting valued local services should not come as a surprise to the communities and councillors most affected.