Objectors to Maidstone's draft Local Plan are gearing up to give evidence before a Government planning inspector when hearings start tomorrow.

The hearings will be divided into two stages, with the first looking at the wider strategies in the plan - including proposals for garden communities at Lidsing and Heathlands - and whether the borough has met its legal obligations in its preparation of the plan.

This will begin on Tuesday, at 10am, and potentially last for three weeks.

Stage Two will follow later in the year, or even next year, and will examine individual sites.

The Local Plan will shape where development will be permitted in the County Town and its villages up till 2037.

Bredhurst Parish Council has raised £35,000 by public donations to pay for a barrister to represent it at the hearings to argue against the proposal for a 2,000-home garden village at Lidsing.

That proposal is due to be discussed on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, and Thursday and Friday of next week (September 15 and 16.)

A proposal for a garden village of 5,000 homes at Lenham Heath is being opposed not only by local groups but also by Fish Legal, a not-for-profit organisation of dedicated lawyers who work on behalf of anglers to fight polluters and others who might damage the water environment.

Fish legal is arguing that the council has not adequately considered the environmental impact especially on fish and protected species and habitats in the River Stour downstream of the site.

The river holds stocks of wild brown trout and sea trout and protected White Clawed crayfish. These species are sensitive to pollution and Fish Legal believe that the considerations relating to the impact of the River Stour cannot be left to the detailed planning application stage.

Heathlands will be considered by the inspector on September tomorrow, on Thursday, and on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week (September 13 and 14.)

The future of Invicta Barracks and the provision for a Leeds-Langley Bypass Corridor will both be considered on September 20.

Full details of the sessions can be viewed here.

All the hearings will be open to the public to attend and will be held at Maidstone Town Hall, starting at 10am. They will be also be live-streamed for the public to view at home.