Allotments win another reprieve

The allotments are at the foot of the Rhigos mountain

Campaigners trying to save 100-year-old allotments have been granted a second reprieve on the eve of their eviction.

Haigside allotment users in Treherbert, Rhondda, had been told the site would close in March but have been now given more time on animal welfare grounds.

Homing pigeons, livestock and riding school ponies are kept on the site, which is now due to close on 24 April.

Meanwhile, eviction notices have been served on separate allotments at Rhiwderin, near Newport.

Those renting land at Haigside include pensioners. The riding school there holds sessions for children with disabilities.

There are fears they would struggle to find homes for up to 600 pigeons and other animals like chickens and geese kept on the site.

Members of Haigside Allotment Society (HAS) are opposed to the four acre (1.6 hectare) site being considered for inclusion in the next local development plan.

A 3,600-name petition has called on Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to protect the land, at the foot of the Rhigos mountain, for community use.

John Evans, treasurer of HAS, said members were hoping for more than just an extension on the eviction date.

We have had allotments here since 1892 and a lot of people have invested in this land Ray Jones

"We are going to try everything we can to keep our allotments for as long as we can," he said.

"We have agreed to meet with Steven Evans, the landowner and his solicitor on 17 April and we will discuss any further extension at this time.

"I cannot speak for Mr Evans but I would have thought he would not want the publicity of evicting us from the land rather than reaching an amicable, not confrontational solution."

HAS members met the council to discuss their concerns on Thursday.

A spokeswoman for the Labour-run council said its commitment to finding alternative allotment facilities continued.

"Whilst the council is sympathetic towards the allotment holders and the difficulties they are experiencing, their arrangements are with a private land owner not the council," she added.

Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood called on the council to remove the land from the local development plan either by starting proceedings for compulsory purchase of the allotments or by renting the land.

Conservatives said they were committed to helping communities nominate areas of green space which will then be protected from development.

The Rhiwderin allotments were set up in 1892

Liberal Democrats said it was "amazing" that at a time when greener, healthier lifestyles were being promoted, local allotments could be under threat.

BBC Wales has asked for a comment from landowner Mr Evans's solicitor.

Meanwhile, allotment holders in Rhiwderin, near Newport, say they will fight 12-month notices for them to quit.

Owner Newbridge Estates Ltd gave notice to leaseholders Graig Community Council for it to quit the site by April 2009.

Allotment holders have been offered an alternative site which is an acre larger than the current site and would come with toilet facilities and car parking.

Newbridge Estates Ltd said it would offer security of tenure on the site to ensure the long term future of the allotments.

But allotment users fear it would take years to get the site up to the standard of their current plots and that many of them were pensioners who did not want to move.

Invested in land

Ray Jones of the Allotments Association committee said: "We have had allotments here since 1892 and a lot of people have invested in this land - it would be difficult to have to start again. It's central to the community."

Mr Jones said residents who did not own allotments were worried the evictions indicated the land could be developed and the local infrastructure would not cope.

A spokesperson for the landowner, Newbridge Estates Ltd, said it had offered to work with the community council and Allotments Association to design the new facility.

The spokesperson said it had also offered a substantial sum towards the cost of providing improved facilities such as toilets, car parking and security fencing - none of which exist at the current site.

"Of course, some of these improvements will require planning permission and Newbridge would like to work closely with the Allotment Association and the Community Council to achieve this and hope they will support the application for an even bigger and better allotment provision for Rhiwderin," added the spokeswoman.

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