Rochester and Strood MP, Kelly Tolhurst, has welcomed the Chancellor’s specific allocations for Medway’s roads and adult and children’s social care funding, totalling over £3.8 million.

In total, the Government has announced almost £1 billion of extra funding for local authorities to help deliver the services communities need and support the most vulnerable residents. £2.7 million has been given to Medway Council to boost adults and children’s social care.

This funding will help alleviate winter pressures on the local NHS, getting patients home quicker and freeing up hospital beds at Medway Maritime Hospital. In addition, this money will help to protect our most vulnerable children into the future and drive improvements in social work practice and decision-making in children’s social care.

Earlier this year, Kelly Tolhurst successfully lobby to increase Medway’s 2018-2019 funding settlement by £600,000 which all went towards adult social care services, which shows government funding for local authorities is on the rise.

In addition, the Chancellor was able to use the recent Budget to announce the biggest ever single cash injection to improve England’s roads, of almost £1.4 billion. This includes a further £420 million of new money solely for local highways maintenance, of which £1.128 million has been allocated to Medway.

Medway’s roads have suffered over recent years thanks to freezing winters and general wear and tear. This funding will primarily cover pothole repairs, bridge maintenance and help with other minor highways works which may be needed over the coming months.

Kelly Tolhurst MP said,

“This is more positive news for Medway as it safeguards our crucial adult and children’s social care services as winter approaches and ensures our roads will be up to scratch and worthy of our

“Importantly, it is clear that government spending for local authorities is back on the rise, allowing our Council to spend the necessary money on our community’s health and infrastructure.

“Areas like Medway have very unique needs as we look to our future population growth and the demands that will entail, so I am pleased ministers are listening to us and I will continue to lobby hard for the necessary funding we need.”