About Medway

Location

STROOD, ROCHESTER, HOO, CHATHAM, GILLINGHAM, RAINHAM

One of the many reasons why Medway has such outstanding potential is the area's strategic location bridging the Capital and Europe. Medway is of major regional and national significance being:

Situated on the North coast of Kent between London and the Channel Ports.

The largest urban area of Kent and the second largest in the South East, outside London.

Easily reached by an advanced network of roads, rail and sea.

At the heart of the Thames Gateway.

Formed by five historically separate Towns- Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham - Medway also contains large tracts of countryside, notably the Hoo Peninsular, the Capstone Valley and Gillingham Riverside. The Towns are grouped around the lower reaches and estuary of the River Medway, with the Hoo Peninsular extending Northwards into the Thames Estuary. To the South are the North Downs and there are large areas of international interest for conservation.

Great History on Your Doorstep

Medway has many historic associations. The City of Rochester Upon Medwya is famed not least for its associations with Charles Dickens and proudly boasts a castle and cathedral overlooking the River.

Medway has 400 years of military connections, starting in the 16th Century. The Great Lines fortifications date from the Napoleonic era, and together with the Royal Navy Dockyard, Royal School of Military Engineering and the barrack builkings, still survive and attract a great number of visitors each year.

Much has been achieved to ensure Medway maintains its rich heritage. There are:

82 scheduled ancient monuments

831 listed buildings and

22 conservation areas

Tourism is increasing and bringing economic wealth to the area.

Mayor Development in Medway

Chatham Maritime is an area of business growth. Major organisations such as Colonial Mutual and Halifax Building Society have already located to this attractive waterside development. Future development will also include: additional business units,

Gillingham Business Park is a highly successful business development located close to the M2. Over 90 companies have been attracted to this location which offers both high quality environment and good transportation links.

Medway City Estate is a riverside development offering a choice of premises and sites for business and industrial needs. Transportation links include direct access to the Medway Tunnel via the planned Northern Relief Road.

Rochester and Chatham Riverside is a planned proposal for local registration. Development will include new housing, leisure and commercial users.

Medway Valley Park is an existing business and leisure complex adjacent to Exit 2 on the M2. There is a Multiplex and Gala leisure complex, restaurants, nightclub and fitness centre, with more development to follow.

Living and Working in Medway

Shopping

Medway offers a wide range of shopping facilities, from the Medieval backstreets of Rochester, through to modern high streets, to the superstores and out of town shopping centres. Other major developments are also on our doorstep including Bluewater Park which opened in 1999.

Leisure

Medway offers an extensive range of facilities and sport. There are a number of sports centres each offering a wide range of facilities. Other key facilities include the Ice Bowl at Gillingham Business Park, and Alpine Ski Centre in Capstone Country Park and an internationally recognised indoor bowls club at Prince Arthur Road in Gillingham. Ther River Medway is a popular setting for water sports and there are numerous parks, commons and woodlads for informal and family recreation. Medway is also the home of Gillingham F.C.

Health

Medway is covered by the West Kent Health Authority. The Medway NHS Trust is responsible for acute medical services and the provision of main hopitals. The North Kent Healthcare Trust is responsible for providing community health services such as mental health, clinical support such as physiotherapy and chiropody, and primary care including district nursing and health visiting. It is also responsible for administering contracts with independent professional service providers such as general practitioners, dentists, pharmacists and opticians. Private healthcare facilities are also available in the area.

Schools and Education

Medway is well provided with school in both the state and independent sectors, including one of the country's most prestigious - King's School at Rochester. Further education and training opportunities in the area are well provided for by the University of Greenwich, University of Kent, Mid-Kent College of Higher and Further Education, and the Kent Institute of Art and Design. Other organisations and projects also contribute to skills development and training in the area, including the Kent Training and Enterprise Council. Education Business Partnerships specialise in bringing schools and local companies together for mutual benefit.

We have over 110 Schools and Units in the Medway Area. As you would expect in an area of this size our schools vary considerably in size and style.

Primary Schools

Our primary schools range from small with about 80 children to those which have over 400.

Secondary Schools

Our secondary schools include High, Comprehensive, Grammar and Wide Ability.

Special School Education

The Medway Towns have 3 schools who specifically cater for special needs children alone within the age ranges of 5 - 16+. However, there are many other schools which have units attached and/or seek to integrate special needs children into the main school. These units consist of Hearing Impaire, Visually Impaired and Total Communication.

Grant Maintained Schools

A number of GM schools in the Medway Towns have bought personnel services. We offer a recruitment service to these schools in addition to the LEA schools.