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This newsletter will provide regular updates on the work taking place to make Gillingham a better place to live, work, learn and visit for years to come.
In our latest edition, we cover the following:
- Love Gillingham weekend
- About the Gillingham Taskforce
- An update from the chair of Gillingham Town Centre Taskforce, Naushabah Khan
- Public realm improvement project
- Keeping our town centre clean and green
- Art murals
- Love Gillingham Facebook page
- An update from Kent Police
- The Strand celebrated 130th anniversary
- New gym at Medway Park
- Pride in Place Neighbourhood Boards
- Housing update
- Historic England Place Panel Report
Stay up-to-date on the latest Love Gillingham news via our website
Got a question? Email futuregillingham@medway.gov.uk
The Love Gillingham weekend takes place on the 17, 18 and 19 July. It’s a free weekend of events to bring the Gillingham community together.
Here are the details for all three days of fesitvities:
1) Medway Mile: Friday, 17 July: from 5pm at Medway Park
A one-mile fun run for all ages and abilities – walk, jog, or race at your own pace. Last year’s event saw over 2000 participants take part in the main mile and we’re hoping for even more walkers, joggers and runners this year. However you take part, the Mile is an inclusive event for everyone.
Register your place now for our famous Medway Mile event. The main mile will finish at Medway Park athletics track.
Register at Medway.gov.uk/MedwayMile
You can also enjoy children’s races at Medway Park athletics track (sponsored by Child-Friendly Medway), club and relay races organised by Medway and Maidstone Athletics Club, mascot dash, free sports activities, and live entertainment.
 2) Market Day: Saturday, 18 July: 9am – 4pm at Gillingham High Street
This special Market Day provides local residents with a great opportunity to support local independent businesses. Our European Market will take place in the lower end of Gillingham High Street, with around 12 stalls providing a range of food and gifting. Our traditional Gillingham market will also take place, which has been a high street tradition for more than 30 years. There will be a range of traders selling food, clothes, homeware, toys & more. Support local and bag a bargain.
 3) Big Day Out: Sunday, 19 July: 11am – 4pm at Gillingham High Street
The third-annual Big Day Out Love Gillingham event takes place throughout Gillingham High Street. Popular activities from the first two events will return again this year, including live music, wrestling, street performers, creative workshops and much more. There will also be new activities this year too, including an exhibition to preview public realm improvements coming to Civic Square (situated in the central part of the main High Street, connecting to Sappers Walk and Green Street). Work on the range of regeneration-led improvements will start later this year and are expected to be completed in February 2027. The £500,000 project is being funded through the Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund.
Other new activities include fun fair rides for children, the Romanian Market (in Balmoral Gardens), a range of food stalls run by local businesses plus much more.
This family-friendly event involves several local partners including Brompton Barracks, Gillingham Football Club, Kent Police, and several Medway Council services, as we come together to celebrate Gillingham as a great place to live, work, learn and visit.
Learn more via our webpage which will be launching this week: Visitmedway.org/BigDayOut
The Love Gillingham weekend is part of the Love Gillingham programme, which is delivering a number of positive changes to help improve the town centre.
Our Gillingham Town Centre Taskforce is led by MP for Gillingham and Rainham, Naushabah Khan. The Taskforce is made up of teams across the council, including members of Medway Council's Cabinet, including Cllr Harinder Mahil, Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration Inward Investment, Cllr Louwella Prenter, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness, and Cllr Adam Price, Portfolio Holder for Children's Services,. The Taskforce is also made up of officers from Kent Police, with the aim to make the town centre a better place to live, work, learn and visit.
We meet several times throughout the year as a group to review actions and priorities across council services and Kent Police to improve the town centre both now and for the long-term future.
We will be providing more information about the work of the Gillingham Taskforce at Big Day Out on Sunday, 19 July. We are also creating a central update page containing more information on the work of the Taskforce. This will be available on https://www.medway.gov.uk/lovegillingham
I wanted to provide residents with an update on the recent work being undertaken to improve our area, as well as some of the exciting upcoming events that will be taking place over the coming months.
Firstly, some important and positive news. As part of the ‘Pride in Place’ Scheme, our area will receive £20 million of funding over the next ten years to invest in local priorities. The funding is targeted at Twydall in Gillingham and will provide a vital opportunity to improve our neighbourhood. Crucially, local people will decide how this money is spent, with a ‘Neighbourhood Board’ to be set up bringing together residents, businesses, community groups, councillors and me as your MP. I look forward to working with residents to use this money effectively and invest in our area.
Early this year, Medway was also successful in receiving funding through the Pride in Place Impact Fund, an additional £1.5 million to spend across our town centres. This includes a public realm improvement package of £800,000 which has been agreed for Gillingham and Chatham town centres. This scheme will help to support the programme of work coming forward through the Gillingham Vision & Action Plan.
Additionally, through this funding, grants are also available for to support local business and upgrade shop fronts. The Shop Front Improvement Grant is a real opportunity to enhance the look and feel of our town centre, as businesses can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to improve their premises and make a positive impact on the high street. If you are a local business owner and would like to apply, you can do so here.
After listening to residents and months of campaigning, I am glad that Medway Council have recently introduced an Article 4 Direction which places tighter local restrictions on the rapid expansion of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). This decision protects our town centre and gives stronger powers to our local authority to prevent developments which are not in the best interest of our community. We are also exploring other mechanisms to tackle the rise of HMOs locally and will inform residents with any updates in this space.
Following complaints of nuisance vehicles causing antisocial behaviour in Gillingham High Street, we launched an ANPR camera trial, extending parking restrictions from 6:30pm to midnight; with fines being issued to those who access the pedestrianised high street during this period. A big thank you to Kent Police and the Gillingham Taskforce for prioritising community safety and working with the Council to drive forward this change.
If you have any questions about any of the above, please get in touch with me by emailing naushabah.khan.mp@parliament.uk
Best wishes,
Naushabah Khan
MP for Gillingham and Rainham
Last year, Medway Council was awarded £1.5million from the UK Government's Pride in Place Impact Fund (PIPIF).To help ensure the funding makes the biggest impact, we have created a Pride in Place funding programme for Medway, which sees funding split into the following three streams of investment that will make positive change to our local economy and across our communities:
- Shopfront grants (open to businesses) which will see £300k worth of grants available
- Public realm improvement scheme for Gillingham and Chatham high streets totalling £800k
- Partners in Investment scheme: to identify and then refurbish, convert and bring back into use an empty property in a town centre location, through supporting viability. £400k.
Through the public realm improvement scheme funding, £500,000 is being used to transform the Civic Square in Gillingham High Street. The regeneration project will see a new Civic Square - a vibrant, colourful new space, nestled at the crossroads between the High Street, Sappers Walk and Green Street, providing a safe and fun place for people to meet, shop and enjoy.
We're currently working with our appointed consultants, HTA, to finalise the package of improvements that will come forward. This may include new light columns with projections, planted areas including a rain garden, new seating, Infrastructure for market and event spaces, new CCTV and creative art installations. Along with the improvements to the Civic Square, we will also be looking to use the funding for public toilet refurbishment and lighting upgrade.
We will be revealing the proposals at the Big Day Out Love Gillingham event on Sunday, 19 July.
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Thanks to funding secured by Medway Council, we are recruiting four Public Protection officers, including two new officers for Gillingham. These new officers will cover Environmental Health, Environmental Protection, Trading Standards and other associated regulatory services.
The new officers will be in post later this summer. We will share further news in our next edition on their responsibilities.
We are also using £100,000 worth of council-secured funding to improve street cleaning in the high street. This will include the recruitment of an additional Street Operative, along with funding a scarab to clean the high street every day.
We are also exploring anti-litter initiatives at Balmoral Gardens and Great Lines Heritage Park. Stay tuned for more news soon.
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The Gillingham Taskforce has commissioned work for new art murals around the town centre to help inject community pride in the area. The first art mural will be installed on Railway Bridge (opposite the train station) by street artist Luke Smile.
The artwork will be unveiled next month. There are plans for further community-inspiring street art in the town centre.
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We have nearly 350 followers to the Love Gillingham Facebook page.
With lots of exciting news to come this year, follow the Love Gillingham Facebook page to get the latest community updates.
Follow here
Kent Police are part of the Gillingham Taskforce, helping to tackle anti-social behaviour and make Gillingham town centre a safe place for everyone.
Since 1 January this year, officers have spent nearly 1000 hours in Gillingham High Street.
For Gillingham South Ward: based on reported crime and thanks to a greater police presence, we have seen crime falling in a number of areas. This includes:
- 21% reduction in domestic abuse cases
- 21.8% reduction in hate crime
- Shopflifting has gone down 28.4%
- Public order offences have also gone down 38.3%
We are still seeing incidences of e-scooters being used in and around the town centre.
The rules on e-scooters in Medway
- You are NOT allowed to use/ride e-scooters on any public highways or public place* - This includes parks, pavements and shopping centres
- If found riding/using one in public, police will seize the e-scooter
- You are required to stop if directed by a uniformed officer, failure to do so may result in a fine.
The Strand celebrates 130 years this year
The Strand Lido and Leisure Park is ready to provide a summer of fun for everyone. If you’re a Premier Member (or have a Junior or Family Membership), you can enjoy all of the benefits of what this historic leisure attraction has to offer.
At 130 years old this year, The Strand Lido is the only remaining riverside tidal saltwater pool in the country and it has become an iconic leisure destination for generations of Medway families.
Swimming facilities at The Strand include:
- Outdoor leisure pool (this outdoor pool is not artificially heated and is a saltwater pool)
- Toddler paddling pool
- Central swimming zone (25m lengths)
- 300-metre lazy river
- Children's slides in the paddling pool.
The Strand Lido is open every weekend until Monday, 20 July, when it will then be open daily. Opening times are: 10.30am to 1.30pm and 2.30pm to 5.30pm. With the hot weather this week, It's also open on Thursday, 18 and Friday, 19 July.
Entry to the lido is included in your Premier, Family and Junior Memberships.
There’s also plenty of other activities to enjoy at The Strand, including:
- Our brand-new multi-sports PlayZone. It’s available for bookings including football, netball, pickleball, basketball and cricket, along with free drop-in sessions as part of our Summer of Sport 2026.
- Four refurbished tennis courts
- Miniature railway (first opened after the Second World War in 1948)
- There’s also a new picnic area, with large, shaded spots for families to enjoy the warm outdoor weather. The park’s riverside location also provides walking and cycle paths to Riverside Country Park.
- Outdoor gym
- Play areas
- Café
- Walking and cycling paths overlooking the River Medway
Enjoy summer at The Strand. Find out more about activities and how to book
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We are extending our gym and junior gym facilities at Medway Park Sport Centre.
The Junior Gym is now in its new refurbished home and will soon be adjoined to the new Adult Gym. Work is gathering pace with the new gym extension and we are now planning the equipment that will be available in this new space.
Our new Hyrox facility will also be open this summer (situated on the first floor) for members to enjoy.
Learn more
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Up to £60million worth of funding will be invested in three Medway areas (£20milion per area):
- Twydall in Gillingham
- Rede Common in Strood
- Luton in Chatham.
The local communities will be able to decide how the Pride in Place funding is spent in their area, with Neighbourhood Boards being set-up for each area to decide how the funding should be used.
We will shortly begin recruiting for three Neighbourhood Board Leaders (one for each area at Twydall, Luton and Rede Common) to help lead on this exciting programme.
Do you think you could help lead change for your community, and bring residents, local businesses and community leaders together to plan and deliver for their neighbourhood. We are looking for someone who cares about their area, knows the local community and wants to make a real difference.
Once appointed, you will assist in helping to recruit the board members (around 8 to 10 individuals) to make up the Neighbour Board that you will chair and lead.
To apply to be a Leader for one of three Neighbourhood Boards, you must
- Live in the local area
- Be aged over 18 years old
- Be available to attend each board meeting.
More details will be published soon via Medway.gov.uk/PrideinPlace
If you have any queries regarding your application please email us at: prideinplace@medway.gov.uk
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ABUROUND HOUSE
Medway Council is delivering two new blocks of flats at the former Aburound House site in Gillingham, which will provide nine homes (one × one bed and eight × two bed homes) in each
block at affordable rent.
Works started in December 2024, and the build is expected to be completed in Summer 2026.
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LENNOX WOOD
Medway Council’s new affordable housing development in Twydall is making good progress and will deliver 19 family homes at social rent. The homes will be very energy efficient, with solar panels installed on the roof to help reduce utility bills and improve affordability for the tenants.
The build programme is on track for completion in early summer 2026.
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The Historic England Places Panel has now published their report following a visit earlier this autumn to Gillingham and Rainham.
The report makes a series of recommendations to support the ongoing and future regeneration of both towns, building on its remarkable history and architecture.
Medway Council invited the Historic Places Panel, facilitated by Historic England, to provide advice on Gillingham and Rainham's growth and regeneration.
The Panel visited locations in Gillingham and Rainham, including Gillingham High Street, Lower Rainham, The Strand, Sunlight Centre in Gillingham, and Great Lines Navy Memorial, to explore some key heritage sites within these towns.
The two-day visit was focused around Gillingham and Rainham to look at the key priorities that could make up a new heritage strategy for Medway, and how heritage can play a role in delivering future regeneration in Rainham and Gillingham.
Following the two-day visit, the Panel have made a series of recommendations to the Council, including:
Plan for Net Zero. A clear set of targets and processes is required, including a requirement that development proposals be subject to option appraisals to determine the least whole life carbon costs. Medway Council should work with partners, including Historic England, to set out clear targets
and processes to deliver this requirement.
Programmes: Undertake a focused prioritisation to identify key programmes, including postponing or dropping those projects which will not deliver within the timescale.
Strategy: Set out and promote a clear, overarching vision for achieving pride of place across the borough through publishing well-defined cultural and heritage aims.
Read the full report here
The Historic Places Panel is a team of development, planning and conservation industry experts who voluntarily give their time to help Councils regenerate and revitalise historic places. The Panel visit historic towns and cities around the country, hearing from stakeholders about the issues those places are facing and provide ideas and insights about shaping their future. The Panel was established in 2000 by English Heritage and CABE and has been involved in some of the most significant regeneration and place making successes the country has seen.
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