Last pickings at allotments

8:06am Friday 4th July 2008

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ALLOTMENT holders in Wooburn Green may have grown their last crop after their parish council failed to come to an agreement with the landowner.

The lease on the site in Holtspur Lane ran out in January, but it was agreed the gardeners could stay to harvest this year's produce.

But Wooburn and Bourne End Parish Council (WBPC) has announced gardeners would have to leave despite trying to come to an agreement with the landowner.

A statement from the council said the new proposed agreement did not serve the best interests of the council or its parishioners.

More than 20 allotment holders were based at the Holtspur Lane site.

Their future now seems unclear although parish council chairman Julia Langley insists it is actively pursuing another site in the Wooburn Green area.

She said: "We are extremely disappointed we could not come to any agreement so the allotments could continue, but it was simply not viable for the council or its parishioners.

"It is public money we are talking about and we have to be mindful in how it is being used and what was on offer wasn't suitable."

She added: "It is a perfect site and a lovely site. It is just so disappointing we couldn't come to an agreement.

"We really do want to find somewhere else because we realise in the current climate, with everything being expensive, people do want to grow their own produce."

The council owns its other allotment site in New Road, Bourne End, and Cllr Langley said ideally the new site in Wooburn Green would also be owned by WBPC.

The council has asked for anyone who knows of suitable land in the area, to contact the clerk Lisa Witney on 01628 522827.