Medway could have been the new Barcelona under plans to transform how its residents travelled around the Towns.

The idea of a cable car system as part of a multi-million pound regeneration captured the imagination of councillors and residents alike.

But it appears that for the foreseeable future the plans, similar to one in use in the Spanish city, may never happen; a victim of the credit crunch.

Today was the first of the two-day Thames Gateway Forum in London's Docklands.

More millions for the transport and town developments were promised by Margaret Beckett, the Thames Gateway minister.

Kent's newly-appointed forward architect, Sir Terry Farrell, has called for the five Medway towns - Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham, Strood and Rainham - to become a city, subject to public consultation.

A massive project to turn large areas on both sides of the Thames estuary into parks was also unveiled.

But for Medway Council there was disappointment as it became clear the £73 million it has to spend over the next two years on infrastructure would not include the overhead cable car system proposed to link Strood, Rochester, Chatham and Chatham Maritime.

Nor does it include the long-planned theatre complex on Chatham waterfront.

Cllr Rodney Chambers, the council leader and chairman of Medway Renaissance, tried to remain upbeat.

He said the cable car was an aspiration but believed the cultural complex would eventually get backing from the Government.