Bishop's Castle allotment site could be saved

The future of a threatened Shropshire allotment site could be guaranteed for the next 125 years following a vote by town councillors. It had been feared the allotments would have to be relocated.

Bishop's Castle Town Council voted last night to accept the offer of an 125-year lease from Shropshire Council on land at Bishop's Castle Business Park.

It had been feared the allotments would have to move after permission was granted to sell land at the business park to build a £5 million biomass plant.

The town council has been offered a lease on the land where the allotments are located and on part of the business park that could be used as a BMX track.

But councillors said they would also be asking what was happening to the rest of the business park, as Diane Malley, the town clerk, told the meeting the developers of the biomass plant had also expressed an interest in the rest of the site.

Councillor Jim Gaffney said: "There is nothing to stop us accepting what's on the table, but asking what's happening to the rest of it. We would be in a position to market it for the town."

He added: "The appropriate leaseholder would be the town council at a nominal rent."

Councillor St John Penney said: "I believe it's unreasonable for us to be left with just allotments and a BMX track. We should ask for all the land to the west of the access track."

The town council also voted to put the issue up on its town council blog as the current topic for discussion, in order to get feedback from town residents.