The MP for the island, as well as Sittingbourne on the mainland, Labour’s Kevin McKenna, thinks “a complete rebuild” of the island is necessary.
“We need to focus a big regeneration project on Sheerness itself and on the towns on the western side of the island, because that will help us bring in new job opportunities,” he says.
When put to McKenna that the increased charges introduced by local councils mirror what his own government is doing nationally – namely, increasing taxes – he says he “absolutely gets” that argument.
But, he says, the government’s actions are needed to “remodel the whole economy. Then over time we can bring those taxes back down again”.
The Isle of Sheppey has not lacked for investment in recent years.
It…