AN allotments crisis has hit Witney with more and more people queuing for plots, and no one apparently prepared to provide land.

More than a year after Witney Town Council was given £400,000 from developers as 'planning gain' to provide new allotments, the money has still not been spent.

The situation was described this week by Caroline Brett, secretary of the Witney Allotments Association, as a serious problem, because almost all the new houses being built in the town have very small gardens.

It mirrors a national issue, with the number of allotment plots across the country in decline, while demand escalates.

Latest figures are that Witney has 160 plots on four sites - at Lakeside, Hailey Road, Newland and Park Road. There is a waiting list of 133 people wanting plots.

Ms Brett said: "I do know that no money has been spent on allotments for some time. Allotments seems so low on the town council's agenda. My plot is at Newland, and I have people coming to see me there saying they are furious there are no available allotments.

"People on the Madley Park estate were promised them, and are now very upset. Their gardens are so small, and there are no allotment plots. Something needs to be done about the Park Road allotments, which are down to just five, while other land is empty, apparently awaiting redevelopment.

"And, as well as Madley Park, there are many on the Deer Park estate who want allotments. Something needs to be done to ease the crisis. The money is there.

"There were allotments on land opposite Sainsbury's, which may be lost for good because of the line of the Cogges Link Road. That land should be replaced."

The council received £400,000 from developers Persimmon when land earmarked for allotments next to the Madley Park estate was freed up for housing. The deal went through because of the higher than average arsenic levels in the soil - the land has since been decontaminated by the developers.

The money is still in the council's bank accounts, although local land agent Mark Baker has been appointed to search for alternative allotment sites.

Richard Dossett-Davies, Witney's first Green Party town councillor, is the council's representative on the Allotments Association.

He said this week: "I want to appeal to any landowners out there to help us out. We could be talking about leasing land, for a minimum of 20 years really.

"Maybe people are holding on to land in the hope of future housing development. But there are places which are not suitable for that, like next to the new Cogges Link Road, or even the bypass."

Mr Dossett-Davies added that from his recent inspection of the town's allotments, they were well looked after by those who have plots.

Ms Brett said she felt sorry for all the people who want allotments but can't get one. "It is an open space, a wildlife corridor, and a great community resource. You meet people and get good, healthy exercise as well, as you grow your own, so no wonder, people are queuing for them" she added.

The national allotments crisis has been highlighted in a petition sent on August 2 by the South West Counties Allotment Association. It calls for the Government to put pressure on councils and developers for new allotment land, when in some parts of the country people are now having to wait up to seven years to get plots.

Source: Witney Gazette