‘Allot’ of discontent over council scheme

The current state of the new allotment site on Burgess Lands has been lambasted by members of the public this week, coinciding with the Town Council declaring that it is “exploring its options”.

The site was warmly welcomed by town councillors earlier this year following a £23,000 project to create the allotments, as well as further plots close to the hospital.

While the latter has proved popular with a good take-up, the Burgess Lands site up Red Bank has fallen into a sorry state, drawing sharp criticism from social media users this week.

Sophie Gabriel posted this picture to Facebook and said: “I’d like to ask Welshpool Town Council what they intend to do with the completely failed allotment site at Burgess? I know a lot of money was spent making these and they are now an overgrown mess. I have to say I was pretty shocked when I just went and had a look.”

The post drew a number of comments with many giving views as to why the project appears to have failed so far. They pointed to lack of parking close by, small size, cost and poor security as reasons for the slow take-up.

But claims of no water source have been quickly denied by the Town Council, with Town Clerk, Anne Wilson, telling us last night: “The allotments on the Burgess Land for some reason have not been taken up. They are the same size and were in the same condition as the hospital plots. Is it their location and openness?

“We have begun work on the plots to tidy them and have some ideas about how we could use them to benefit the community in the short term and these are being explored at the moment.

“The costs to rent may be a factor but at £1.92 per week for a full plot - is that expensive when you can grow your fresh vegetables and fruit yourself?

“Water may be extra but we all know that services have gone up fivefold and many other allotments sites charge extra for their water.”

Ms Wilson added that the issue will probably be discussed at the next Services and Property Committee, “but we would like to explore options in the meantime” she added.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that a full plot will cost £100 for a one-off payment with £30 water fees, while a half plot is priced at £50 (£15 water).

However, if someone would rather pay monthly, it will cost £11.50 per month (£138 a year) along with the £30 water charge. The half plots are 12 payments of £5.75 and a £15 one-off water payment.

LOWER PICTURE: How the allotments looked when they were created last year.