Gardeners dig in over allotments

Allotments at Corby could be redeveloped

Allotment holders in Corby have been fighting plans to redevelop their plots for new homes.

The West Glebe Road allotment site is owned by the steel group Corus which wants to sell off the land.

The group said it would soon be in a position to put in an application for outline planning consent.

Tenants said the uncertainty meant they could not plan their gardens for the next season, even though Corus said it was working to find a new site.

Dawn Wintle is an allotment holder and works with the Willowbrook Health Centre promoting gardening for health.

Uncertain future

"My thoughts are as most peoples are really, that people work hard on their allotments and it would be a shame to see it redeveloped."

She admitted there are some plots that have not been cultivated for many years, but said: "Our concern is are there enough allotment sites in Corby.

"If this site is reclaimed for development then it may well be that other sites need to be found but that they actually are not there in Corby at the moment so the borough council would probably have to reallocate some further land elsewhere."

In a statement, a Corus spokesman said: "I anticipate that we will be in a position to make an outline planning application within the next three months and I would hope that Corby Borough Council would be able to determine this early in the new year."