Wycombe allotments remain closed after contamination (From Bucks Free Press)

Wycombe allotments remain closed after contamination

4:10pm Tuesday 17th March 2009

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PEOPLE with allotments in the Marsh area of High Wycombe, which have been closed due to contamination, fear food they have growing there may be inedible.

The Bassetsbury Lane site was closed on February 13, but people who have plots there say they are angry they still have not been told why the gates are locked, or how long they will remain closed.

Jenny Rogers, a member of Transition Town High Wycombe which has an allotment on the site, said the council's response had been “disappointing”.

She said: “It's disappointing we still have not been told what the nature of the contamination is. The first thing we knew about this was a padlock put on the gate.

“The timing of all this is particularly unfortunate as it is the start of the growing season, and people need to know whether they will be able to plant anything this year, and if it will be edible.”

The allotment gates were locked on February 13, after a survey being conducted on the site showed possible heavy metal contamination there.

In 2007 the allotment site was earmarked for potential housing development.

Ms Rogers added: “It is worrying this site has been earmarked for development, and we would like to know where the council will put the replacement allotments.

“There are 170 people on the waiting lists for allotments in High Wycombe, so it would be nice if the council actually created more space for people to be able to grow their own food.”

Catherine Spalton, a spokesman for WDC, said council officers only received the report on into the contamination on Friday, and are in the process of reviewing it.

She added: “Until we have fully reviewed the report, the allotments site will remain closed. We would like to apologise to our allotment tenants for any inconvenience caused by this continued closure.”

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