A plea to expand a thriving community allotment project for the disabled has been turned down by the town council due to space restrictions.

The Marlow Allotment Association’s Triangle Project has flourished since it was established four years ago, but it has now become so popular it is unable to facilitate all its groups.

The initiative was created specifically for people with mental disabilities by Sylvia Miller, and welcomes tenants from various groups including SW Mental Care and Sir Aubrey House.

Chiltern Mental Health Care requested that the allotment be expanded after its group outgrew the allotment and struggled to find work to do.

However due to a lack of allotment space it was completely “unfeasible” to expand according to Ms Miller, and the request was turned down by Marlow Town Council's planning committee on Wednesday, May 11.

MTC – which owns the Marlow Allotment Association - now plans to work with the Triangle to potentially replicate the site in other areas, and continue to support its members.

Ms Miller said: “One of the groups has grown in size which is a sign of success of the project but the Triangle is a small area that can only facilitate smaller groups.

“That’s all the idea was. Now this group has out grown their plot asked if the Triangle could be extended but it just wasn’t feasible.

“I am delighted with the progress of the project though, and Marlow Town Council have been excellent.

“We are going to continue to support the members which is what we originally set out to do”.

The Triangle is still moving forward, according to Ms Miller, and the public footpath leading up to the plot has been resurfaced making it wheelchair friendly, thanks to a donation from the Shanly Foundation.

And the plot itself has been made wheelchair accessible, complete with raised flower beds which have be partially funded by a donation from Marlow Thames Rotary Club.