'Good life' couple angry at neglected allotments

FRUSTRATIONS over neglected allotments have been voiced in Lostwithiel in the face of soaring produce prices and demand for plots.

Residents have become agitated by what they consider to be an unfair and wasteful situation of allotment plots not being tended to.

There has been a noticeable increase in hand-to-mouth subsistence living, since fruit and vegetables have, in some cases, more than doubled in price on supermarket shelves.

“It is a ridiculous situation,” said Jeff Penrose, a local mechanic, who has been on the waiting list with the town council for an allotment since last September.

“There is a huge demand for these plots as it is just getting too expensive to carry on relying on the supermarkets.

“Some of the plots are very overgrown and nothing is planted in them for long periods of time. They are stopping other people getting on with it.”

Mr Penrose, 55, has lived in Lostwithiel for 34 years. Along with wife Trish, they have helped a friend tend to a plot for three years and noticed land going to waste.

He said he would not mind if people used the land for their children to have a swing or for barbecues, but not just leave it as a waste of space.

At a town council meeting, members of the public called for action to be taken to improve the situation.

Mayor Robert Peareth, said: “The council is aware of the difficult situation.

“I have tried to sort this out and have been assured the situation will improve – as far as I can see it has all been sorted out.

“Since I have been here the number of allotments has increased from five to 40 – we are trying to meet the need.”

Members of the public said the over-grown 'jungle' state of some plots made tending to their own allotments very difficult, especially when trying to negotiate a wheelbarrow across unkept land.

Trish Penrose said she was looking forward to her retirement when she hoped to spend time on her allotment.

She said: “When the new allotments were allocated behind the cemetery, they made 19 plots – one half of a field was rented to one person, and the other 18 are really tiny.

“The majority of the people on the waiting list were given small plots.

“Some plots are very badly neglected.

“Myself and my husband are on a waiting list and it wouldn't be so bad if we didn't see the overgrown land there going to waste.

“It makes me feel quite frustrated as I have the commitment to put in the time there. Organic vegetables are so expensive, I only have a small garden and I just want to feed my family.”

A House of Commons report for Environment Transport and Regional Affairs, said: “For many of the 250,000 allotment holders in England and Wales, their plot forms an important part of their life.

“When asked why they applied for an allotment, more than 75% of plot-holders mentioned the desire for fresh food. Although the potential to save money was noted by less than 20%of plot-holders, allotments do provide an important and cheap source of fresh food.”