CHANTING protestors failed to stop Medway’s Tory administration from pushing ahead with controversial price rises and cuts in opening hours at a popular leisure centre.

Voluntary sector workers joined with trade unions and mums at last night's full meeting of Medway Council in a bid to halt proposals to reduce daytime opening at the Stirling leisure centre, close two creches and a 33 per cent hike in the cost of residents parking permits.

The council says the package is necessary to deal with a £6.4 million projected overspend.

Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors repeatedly tried to convince the Tory majority to rethink their plans.

They accused council chiefs of making promises they could not keep to win votes in May.

They wanted the public consulted on price rises affecting cremations, car parks and care services.

Council Leader, Cllr Rodney Chambers (Con), blamed the government for underfunding Medway’s services, and said there were years of austerity ahead.

Cllr Glyn Griffiths (Lab) said nearly half the budget pressure next year was caused by this year’s overspending, while a colleague, Cllr Teresa Murray, said the Tories were making “foolhardy and short-term cuts”.

More on Medway Council's budget crisis - See Monday’s Medway Messenger.