Strood news
Strood news, newest first, from Medway Live: planning, roads, schools, business and what's on in Strood, with every story linked to its source.
Top story
Soft Play and Rainy-Day Places Near Medway
Monkey Bizz, The Fun Drum and Kidzone lead eight Medway soft play and rainy-day places, with October 2026 prices, session times and when to book ahead.
More stories
Days Out
Days Out Near Medway With Children, Checked October 2026
The Historic Dockyard, Rochester Castle and Leeds Castle lead 13 family days out near Medway, with October 2026 prices and the places that close for winter.
Food & Drink
Medway Pubs: The Best Pubs and Where to Drink
Medway CAMRA's 2026 Pub of the Year, an inn dating from 1199 and a railway-arch micropub: 18 Medway pubs with hours, ales and dog rules, checked October 2026.
Parks
Medway Playgrounds and Parks for Children
Capstone Farm, Riverside Country Park and the Strand lead 16 Medway playgrounds, with closing times, parking charges, cafes and toilets from council pages.
Strood
Strood Weather: 7-Day Forecast and Today's Hourly Outlook
Strood weather today: rain, 11°C by day and 8°C overnight, with a 79% chance of rain and winds up to 12 mph. Seven-day forecast, updated every morning.
Council
Medway Matters Live Strood: The 1 October Q&A and What Came Before
Medway Matters Live took place in Strood on 1 October with Vince Maple and Richard Hicks. The council says a recording follows; past events are on its site.
Twydall
Pride in Place Medway: Apply by 11 Sept to Spend £20m
Three neighbourhood boards will decide how £60m is spent in Medway. Applications close at midnight on Friday 11 September, and the plans go to government in February.
Upnor
Arethusa Centre Upnor: 31 Flats, No Affordable Homes
Officers back replacing the vacant Arethusa Venture Centre at Upnor with 31 flats. A viability report says the scheme works only with no affordable homes at all.
Council
North Kent Council Paused: Medway Was 55% of It, 81 Seats
Paused on 7 September 2026. The plan: Medway abolished on 1 April 2028 for a three-borough council on 81 seats, against Medway's 59 today.
Planning
Strood Rede Court: Barratt Plans 360 Homes on Green Belt
Barratt David Wilson wants up to 360 homes on Green Belt farmland north of Strood, with access off Clinton Avenue and Beaufort Road. Comments close 3 September.
Twydall
Pride in Place Medway: free family days, 15 and 23 August
Free family days in Twydall on 15 August and Rede Common on 23 August, where residents help shape how up to £20m of Pride in Place money is spent.