There has been relief and some jubilation across Maidstone with a final plan for ward changes across the borough.

The Local Government Boundary Commission accepted the view of Lenham Parish Council that the electoral ward of Harrietsham and Lenham should not be divided, as had been suggested by the borough council.

Instead it will be combined into a new larger ward that will include the North Downs Ward, currently represented by Cllr Patrik Garten, as a three-member seat.

Cllr Garten had put forward a proposal, which had been endorsed by the borough, that his ward should be expanded to include that part of the Lenham ward north of the A20 and kept as a one-man ward.

John Britt, chairman of Lenham Parish Council, said both that and an earlier proposal from Maidstone council to combine part of Lenham with Headcorn were "completely ridiculous."

He said: "There was a strong feeling here that the borough's proposals were politically driven."

Harrietsham and Lenham have been represented since 2014 by husband-and-wife team Tom and Janetta Sams, who stand as Independents. Had the MBC changes gone ahead, they would have found themselves living outside their own ward.

One half of the 180 responses that the electoral commission received during the last round of consultation was to do with Harrietsham and Lenham.

There was also some joy in Fant, where the commission rejected proposals to combine part of Bridge Ward with Fant.

Instead Fant will become Fant and Oakwood, retaining three councillors.

One of the existing Fant councillors, Paul Harper (Lab) said: "This is pretty much house for house what Labour proposed.

"It will result in a much larger ward for us to cover, about 5,500 homes instead of 4,500, but at least it has some form of cohesive identity."

All the ward changes can be seen here. https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/32722

The changes will come into effect in May 2024 when the overall number of councillors at MBC will be reduced from 55 to 49.

That means there will still be one more election using the old ward boundaries, but the councillors elected then will only serve for a year instead of the usual four years.