Council denies gardeners rift

 

Welshpool Town Council has denied falling out with gardeners over the three-year search for allotments which took another twist this week.

 

The Council turned down a proposal for a site on Golfa Bank, the 18^th site that had been identified as a suitable location to solve the town’s allotment problem, deciding that it should not subsidise up to £5,000 a year.

 

Councillors have also been angered by press comments made by one section of the gardening community criticising their exhaustive efforts.

 

“At the end of the day we just can’t seem to find anywhere in the town that will keep everyone happy, so we have asked the allotments association to look at other avenues, with our support of course,” said Cllr. Phil Pritchard.

 

“Over the last year or so this council, and our Town Clerk in particular, has spent more time on this issue than anything else and it has got to the point when we need to say enough is enough and there are other priorities that deserve our attention.”

 

The 1908 Allotments Act gives the Town Council the power to provide allotments, but it is not a duty for them to do so. They have recommended that the allotment association sends in a six-signature request to Powys County Council in order to activate their support in seeking space on their land in or around the town.

 

Last month, we reported how Town Clerk, Robert Robinson, confessed that the search had been a ‘right rigmarole’ but was confident that it had been resolved with the Golfa Bank proposal.

 

“We have certainly not washed our hands on the issue,” he said. “We have advised the association to contact Powys County Council for assistance and we are happy to support them and even manage a site if they identify somewhere suitable.”