Allotment group to battle on
Campaigners battling to stop an allotment site from being developed will continue to fight on and have called for straight answers from the local authority.
Save Newtown Allotments was set up after rumours circulated that their land was being earmarked for development by Powys County Council.
Linda Savage, who has an allotment and is part of the group, put a question forward for the council's meeting on Thursday, asking for assurances that the site won't be built on.
Portfolio holder for countryside services, Jonathan Wilkinson, said there are no plans drawn up at the moment, but the housing service is investigating whether there are grounds that will preclude the development of homes on the site.
He said in the meeting that if there are grounds to preclude, then the site won't be perused to be transferred to housing.
He also said that the land was declared surplus by the leisure and reaction service last year, but Linda has questioned how the land can by declared surplus when 38 allotment holders are using the site.
She was one of a group who stopped a development on the site in 1986, and will again battle on to stop it from happening again.
She said: "I have had this reply from the council, but we have again been left confused because it doesn't say if they are going to build on it.
"They say it was declared surplus last year, but how can it be surplus when there are allotment holders there.
"We've been told different things and someone isn't telling the truth, we just want a straight answer."
Mr Wilkinson also told the meeting on Thursday an alternative site would be found for allotment holders if it was found the council could build on the land.
He said: "Should there be no restrictive covenants in place which prevent the site being used to provide much needed affordable housing in the town, the Housing Service would provide an alternative site for the provision of allotments with facilities that match those currently provided at the existing site."
A petition has gathered considerable support to save the allotments, and Linda added the group will keep battling.
She said: "It is like a village, a social place for the elderly people, I don't know what some people would do.
"It gives them a reason to get out of bed and it is a lifestyle for them.
"We will continue to fight and battle to keep the allotment going, but we want a straight answer from."
