Medway Council should not be spending thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money on a ‘fighting fund’ against plans for a Thames Estuary airport.

That’s the view of campaign group Demand Regeneration in North Kent (DRINK), who believe the airport is the “greatest opportunity” for the Towns.

Campaign director Clive Lawrence criticised the council for setting aside £35,000 dedicated to opposing the airport.

He said: “This is taxpayers’ money and I’m a Medway taxpayer and I wasn’t asked whether they could use my money for this absolutely partisan view of the world.

“They need to hold a referendum. Let’s have some democracy around here.”

He added: “The main issue is that the airport is the greatest opportunity that our community has had and we can have a completely different, positive and brighter local community that doesn’t have any poverty if we have an airport.
“It will take people out of poverty, people will get better housing and better schools.

"Medway primary schools are among the worst in the country, but the council is ignoring the possibility.”

Previously, the Medway Labour group has also called for a referendum.

But Cllr Alan Jarrett, finance chief, said there would not be a referendum.
He said: “I don’t agree with his views or the views of the DRINK campaign.

“Mr Lawrence wants a referendum, which would be £250,000 instead of £35,000 we have allocated.

“The money will be for general spending to oppose the airport. It hasn’t been allocated for anything in particular and it doesn’t mean we will spend it all.”

Opponents argue that an airport would cause untold environmental damage and cost too much money.

Those in favour claim it could create thousands of jobs and attract investment to the area.

The government is due to make a decision on whether or not to build an airport after the 2015 election.