Celebrating all Chatham has to offer with new Love Chatham initiative

Chatham is set for a day of celebration this Saturday (21 July 2018) with the launch of a new Love Chatham initiative and special exhibition to celebrate Medway’s 20th anniversary.

Love Chatham is a Chatham Centre Forum initiative to encourage residents to celebrate the best Chatham has to offer and to rediscover hidden gems in the town centre.

A family fun day, packed with live entertainment, activities and interactive sessions for the all the family, Love Chatham will take place between 11am and 3pm around Military Road, Military Square and near the Pentagon Shopping Centre.

There will also be a small produce market, circus skills workshops, balloon sculptures and printmaking activities on offer throughout the day.

A main stage in Military Square will also feature dancing, singing and poetry performances from 11.15am to 2.45pm.

2018 marks 20 years since the founding of Medway and a landmark exhibition displaying the monumental achievements that have taken place in Medway during those years will go on show in Military Road. The 20 years since Medway’s formation has seen the transformation of Medway’s landscape with many huge improvements. Not only does Medway boast the biggest regeneration zone within the Thames Gateway, but it is also surrounded by award winning rural areas and rich heritage. Residents and visitors will be able to view 20 pictures in the exhibition which showcase a small selection of stories, projects and events that have defined Medway so far. The exhibition will be in Chatham for the next three months, and will be available to view at a number of locations across Medway throughout the course of the year.

Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Alan Jarrett, said:

“I am looking forward to celebrating all that Chatham has to offer on Saturday. Chatham is currently undergoing a huge transformation and I am looking forward to seeing the works complete. There has been a huge investment in the area which is attracting more businesses and shops to the High Street and Chatham is just one part of the huge number of improvements that have defined Medway since its founding in 1998. I am looking forward to sharing stories with residents at the Love Chatham event.”

Medway Council secured £4million from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, through the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, to help regenerate Chatham. The funding has been used to renovate The Brook Theatre, contribute to the Command of the Heights project, a contribution to the upcoming renovations of Chatham railway station’s forecourt, as well as funding the Chatham Placemaking Project. Works are nearing completion to create an easier journey for pedestrians and cyclists from the railway station to the waterfront bus station and town centre.

Gian Chahal, Chairman of the Chatham Centre Forum, said:

“We’re really excited to be launching Love Chatham. Chatham is changing and we want everyone to come along and be part of the journey. The Chatham Town Centre Forum is extremely proud of the transformation that is taking place in Chatham. Love Chatham is about celebrating Medway over the past 20 years, with the opening of the Medway 20 street exhibition but also looking forward to Chatham’s emerging future. There will be plenty of fun activities for all the family, a mini produce market, street entertainment and retailer engagement to really give Chatham town centre a summer vibe at the start of the school holidays.”

Activities

• Medway 20 exhibition: 11am to 3pm at Military Road
• Produce and farmers market: 11am to 3pm at Military Road
• Printmaking activities: 11am to 3pm at TK Maxx
• Youth team (jewellery stall) 11am to 3pm at TK Maxx
• Circus skills workshops: 11am to 3pm at steps, Railway Street
• Interactive Poetry and performance: 11.30am to 2.30pm steps, Railway Street
• Balloon Sculptures at Military Square
• Stilt walkers, face painting and much more throughout the day

At the main stage there will be a fantastic programme of dancing, singing and poetry from 11.15am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 2.45pm.

Keep up to date with all CommunityAd articles, news and publications by following us on our social media channels: