Protesters have been told they must book an arrival slot to attend a public consultation over controversial plans for a garden village on their doorstep.

Residents in Lenham were already angry about access to the event, with Maidstone council opting to hold it seven miles away, at the Great Danes Hotel in Hollingbourne.

It came as councillors expressed fears about security.

The plans relate to a 5,000-home development at Lenham Heath, called Heathlands, which is being led by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) in their capacity as master-developer, in conjunction with government quango Homes England.

Since it was announced in 2019, protesters have repeatedly accused MBC of "secrecy and subterfuge" over the way the project has been handled.

Objectors are now learning that they will have to book a 10-minute arrival slot for the two-day event, tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday, March 6 and 7.

The council says the booking system is necessary as a Covid-prevention measure, after residents mistakenly thought they would only be allowed to be in the consultation for 10 minutes.

It has also said it will hold an additional day of consultation in Lenham Community Centre on Wednesday, March 9.

But some villagers fear the booking system is intended to deter attendance.

John Britt, the chairman of Lenham Parish Council, called the council's handling of the consultation "a fiasco."

And the Save Our Heath Lands group (SOHL), set up to oppose the scheme, is calling on the council’s leadership to resign.

The consultation is being organised by the public relations firm Fabrik.

It has told residents they will need to book tickets for a 10-minute slot, but the council has confirmed that there will be no limit on the length of time that visitors may spend at the exhibition.

It does mean however, since only six entries are allocated every 10 minutes, there will be a total limit of 216 people able to attend the event on any day.

Cllr Janetta Sams (Ind), who represents Lenham and Harrietsham, said: "This situation is getting ridiculous."

Cllr Tom Sams (Ind) said: "MBC and Homes England are claiming Covid safety as the reason for the heavily regulated attendance approach but it’s not about controlling the spread of Covid at all. This is more about running a tick-box exercise and controlling Lenham residents’ opportunity to comment on this disgraceful project."

Cllr Sams added: "The leaflet that residents have received from Fabrik suggests they can use the number 10x bus to reach the Great Danes. That bus only runs every two hours on a Sunday."

To book a place on any of the consultation days, click here.