A new political party in the Towns hit the ground running at the weekend with a protest calling for improved infrastructure on the Hoo Peninsula.

Medway People's Voice – launched by ex-Ukip members Chris Spalding and Cllr Mick Pendergast – held the demonstration on Saturday morning, with more than 150 people said to have attended.

The main thrust of the action was around demands for another road in and out of the peninsula, with delays of nine hours reported when a lorry overturned on the Four Elms roundabout last October.

Mr Spalding said: “The classic bit was when everybody crossed the road – legally, using the crossing – making one long line.

"The traffic was there and it built up very quickly.

“It demonstrates if we get a complete blockage with a serious accident, and someone else on the Peninsula requires medical help or there is a fire, there is very much likely to be a very real tragedy.”

With up to 12,000 homes set to be built in the area if the draft local plan is adopted, improvements to GP provision, electricity and sewerage infrastructure are also being sought.

The founder members said they were “reasonably happy” with the turnout, insisting the protest sent a strong message to residents and the council.

Cllr Pendergast added: “Everything we’ve got down here is out-of-date and inadequate.

“There is nothing we can do about the level of building, but there’s no reason why we should be suffering and waiting until after it’s built to put in the infrastructure.”

The political party was launched earlier this month, with their aim to attract “experts” of local issues across the Towns to stand for them at this year’s council election.

A manifesto will be published in due course, with the protest said to have caught the attention of “people who have never been involved with politics before”.

Cllr Pendergast concluded: “We want our conversations, our protests, our moans to be what the people of each ward want.

"It’s what the people of Medway want.”

While Mr Spalding and Cllr Pendergast refused to confirm they will stand for election, both admitted it was likely their names will appear on ballot papers come May.

The pair also reiterated Medway People’s Voice was not a “rebranded” Ukip, with the Peninsula councillor saying the claim “p***es me off”.