Wem child allotment ban leads to cress vow

The owner of a nursery in Wem has pledged to deliver jars of cress to town councillors in protest at their decision to ban children from nearby allotments.

Beccy Ahmad, owner of the Stables Day Care Nursery in Wemsbrook Road, said she had received support from all over the country after Wem Town Council barred pre-school children from allotments in Love Lane because of health and safety fears.

At a meeting last Thursday councillors suggested children instead learn about food by growing cress in jars.

Mrs Ahmad said she would get her youngsters to take up the council's suggestion – and send the results to its members as a gift. Mrs Ahmad said the ban was 'ridiculous' and called for a change of rules.

Wem's mayor Councillor Peter Broomhall said the council had no further comment to make, adding: "It's getting ridiculous and I think we have put our views forward."

Mrs Ahmad said: "To say grow cress in jars is ridiculous. How can you compare that to growing vegetables?" She added: "We have had support from people in Cornwall, a nursery in Tyneside got in touch to support us too – people think it is ludicrous."

Complaints about the youngsters were made by other allotment users and councillors in early July. They said it was 'inappropriate' for the youngsters to be there.