The River Medway Business Users Association (RMBUA) held its 6th Annual General Meeting on 16 April 2007 on board the floating restaurant, Rochester Queen at Port Medway Marina, Cuxton.
The chairman, Roy Brooks made reference to a busy year which included the association’s objection to the DIY store development at White Wall Creek involving his attendance at a planning inspectors hearing at Gillingham and a written submission.
During the Year the association hosted a number of events including networking evenings with speakers from UK Trade & Investment, the ‘Medway Queen’ restoration project and guest speaker Paul Clark MP for Gillingham. These events were considered very important in helping the association to interact and mould member’s interests, creating awareness of the River and its many and varied activities. A tour was hosted by RMBUA of the Scotline Terminal for members of the RACINE team, an Interreg funded partnership comprising North France Chamber of Commerce, Marine South East and Business Link Kent designed to advance trade between the two areas.
On a more practical level the need to repair and refurbish Strood and Sun Pier involved a number of discussions with both Medway Ports and Medway Council which included their future development. As a result of RMBUA representation Medway Council has found the necessary funds to carry-out repairs to Sun Pier before the summer season thereby facilitating a number of river events that require its use.
RMBUA also lobbied hard with Medway Council and Marine South East for funding to be made available to carry out a River Medway Economic study in order to consider all aspects of the marine industry and in particular its direct and indirect value to the local economy. This work is currently being carried out and results are expected soon.
Roy Brooks said: ‘I have been pleased with the progress made by the association and particularly the way that our membership has grown considerably over the past year. The river represents over 250-years of our maritime history and as importantly, a strong future provided that everyone recognises its true and considerable value. The RMBUA is a rich mixture of commercial and leisure marine interests that spans 27.2-miles of the Medway stretching from the estuary to Allington and whilst there are a number of challenges to be faced I am similarly aware that the support and backing of our members will help us in our aim to be heard and as a consequence witness the River thrive and prosper.’
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