Campaign to win back allotments

A group of gardeners evicted from their allotments 20 years ago are campaigning to return to their plots.

Two decades on, members of Claremont Residents' Association (CRASS) are urging council chiefs to take action to put the land back into horticultural use.

But their campaign looks doomed to failure as a new plan is submitted for development at the site.

The area of land at the far end of Southbourne Gardens is privately owned and has been subject to numerous planning applications over the years.

The owner of the land wants to build houses on the site but so far applications have been unsuccessful.

Although the space is now virtually inaccessible another application has been submitted to Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Local councilors are urging the authority to buy the land in the hope it can be returned to use as allotments.

Cllr Colin Darracott (Lib Dem, Walcot) said: "This is a frustrating example of the public sector being unable to deliver.

"The point is simple - there is growing demand for allotments in the area, powers exist to acquire land or reject development, but owing to conflicting priorities, nothing is achieved."

The gardens between Eastbourne Avenue and Chilton Road were originally divided into around 25 allotments.

Over the years local residents have been making donations to cover the cost of buying the land.

Chairman of CRASS, John Ingham said: "We can't call this 20-year mark a celebration, because we still haven't got our allotments.

"This is private property and I understand that the council has powers to acquire land for allotments.

"In view of the large demand for allotments and the modern emphasis on local food production, we hope the council will treat this as a priority.

"The latest application has been in for quite along time and we can't work out why.

"Some of the original allotment-holders are still very keen to get their plots back and there are also lots of new people, too."

A council spokesman said: "The council has received a planning application for a development of 10 houses on the site. The application includes proposals for replacement allotments on another site and is currently under consideration.

"The council refused permission for 12 houses on the site three years ago. The applicant appealed against this decision and the appeal was dismissed following a public inquiry, but the inspector's report indicated that the development of the site for housing was in principle acceptable."