Anger as allotments are lost to housing development

Friday, March 30 2007 13:30:00 by Editor

Residents in the High Wycombe area have been left angry and dismayed at the local council's decision to build 465 homes on allotments used by nearby gardeners.

Charles Brocklehurst, head of property services at Wycombe District Council, announced at a meeting that the Bassetsbury allotment had been picked for development over others as it could provide a new access road to the A40.

According to the Bucks Free Press, the residents in attendance of the meeting were "outraged" at the fact they had not been informed earlier about the decision and that within minutes of the meeting beginning "the crowd began heckling the council".

In other news, one allotment-enthusiast in Cheshire has been calling on his local council to allow him back onto his plot after an assault charge that had been brought against him had been dropped.

Reported in the Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News, Christopher Threlfall, 64, was banned from the Clifton Road allotments by Halton Borough Council after he allegedly assaulted the council's allotments officer, Alan Yarwood, in September 2003.

He was subsequently cleared of all charges, but is still not allowed back on his plot as the council has served him with a life-time ban.

"All the other allotment holders want me back on there. I was chairman of the Allotment Association for 16 years and organised all the outings, plant shows and sales, "said Mr Threlfall.

"All I want to do is grow my flowers."

A spokesman for the council told the newspaper that Mr Threlfall had been asked to submit his request to be allowed back on the allotment in writing but that as of yet, he had failed to do so.

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