Congratulations to Liz Akenhead, whose work for CPRE Kent has been recognised with a national award.
This year saw a record number of volunteers nominated by either their local group or the national charity and at last week’s national conference 35 were awarded a medal and certificate for their efforts.
Liz was, of course, nominated by CPRE Kent and in his nomination chairman John Wotton said: “Liz stood down in May 2021 after serving as chair of the Tunbridge Wells district committee for many years.
“Throughout this time she has demonstrated extraordinary skill, commitment and determination in contributing to the local planning process and responding to the many threats we have faced.
“This has proved to be a consistently challenging task in a borough that faces all the development pressures of a popular South East commuting town, with an area that is 70 per cent within the High Weald AONB and much of the rest either Metropolitan Green Belt or floodplain unsuitable for development.
“Liz has brought to bear her knowledge and experience as a solicitor in the field of planning law, which she has shared freely with colleagues. She has mastered every change in planning law and policy and scrutinised thoroughly each new local planning consultation and proposed new development of any significance.
“Once she has taken up a matter, she has pursued it relentlessly, skilfully and courteously, gaining the respect of countless councillors and officers. Her final project as chair was to mastermind our response to the Regulation 19 consultation on the new Local Plan, which contained more than 200 detailed submissions, many of which she drafted herself.
“Liz has been an inspiring and exemplary district chair, regularly hosting meetings in her home. She has been welcoming to new members and encouraging to us all. She has chaired the committee with consummate dedication and efficiency, setting a standard to which few of us can aspire. She continues to work at least as hard as any other committee member.”
Or, to sum it all up, Liz’s certificate detailing the reason for her award reads: “For outstanding service to CPRE Kent for many years, serving as Chair of the Tunbridge Wells District Committee with skill, determination and courtesy, bringing to bear all your knowledge and experience to the protection of the precious countryside of the Weald of Kent.”
And so say all of us!

Monday, October 25, 2021