13 / 08 / 25
Save Our Heath Lands (SOHL) expresses deep disappointment in the latest un-democratic actions by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) which has led to the resignation of Councillors Tom and Janetta Sams. Their departure is a loss for local democracy and a blow to the community’s voice.
Tom & Janetta have been unwavering allies in our fight to protect Lenham and Harrietsham from the reckless Heathlands development.
Since its inception in 2019, the Heathlands scheme has been plagued by mismanagement, secrecy, and a blatant disregard for public engagement. Successive political administrations at MBC have systematically shut out SOHL and local residents from meaningful participation, denying transparency at every turn.
Most recently, SOHL was deliberately excluded from the Stakeholder Steering Group tasked with shaping the Supplementary Development Planning document, despite our central role in representing community concerns. This exclusion is especially galling given the promises of openness and accountability made by the new “Green Alliance” leadership at MBC.
We are not surprised that MBC’s current leadership has once again bowed to pressure from senior officers, abandoning their democratic duty to safeguard our borough’s green spaces. It is particularly troubling that Council Leader Stuart Jeffery, a self-proclaimed Green Party representative, continues to support a scheme that contradicts the very environmental values his party claims to uphold.
SOHL remains resolute. We will continue to challenge this flawed development and demand genuine transparency, accountability, and protection for our countryside.