Council U-turn over OAP allotment

Edith Avery said she was 'very pleased' about the change of heart

A council which threatened to take away a pensioner's allotment because she was growing flowers has changed its mind.

Edith Avery, of Rogerstone, Newport, was told she may lose her plot because she must grow mostly vegetables.

But after media coverage and pressure from her local MP, Mrs Avery, 89, said Rogerstone Community Council had had a change of heart.

The community council said it had agreed to allow her to continue because of "special circumstances".

Mrs Avery, of Cefn Road, Rogerstone, near Newport, south Wales, said: "I had a letter delivered by hand at 7.20am saying they've allowed me to stay and have given me my tenancy back."

The widow, who was an RAF Coastal Command teleprinter operator during the World War II, added: "They said it was because of my age and my war record. Perhaps they felt a bit guilty.

Deadline loomed

"It's great. I'm very relieved and very pleased. It's looking great out there this morning in the sunshine."

Earlier, nine MPs led by Newport West MP Paul Flynn signed a Commons motion criticising the community council for "petty, heartless, jobsworth stupidity".

Mrs Avery previously said that she and her late husband had grown vegetables on the allotment for years, but she had gradually started growing flowers and shrubs because it was easier at her age.

She spent two weeks worrying about losing her allotment as she was unable to get hold of the council and the deadline loomed for them to clear it away.

Colin Atyeo, clerk to the community council, said: "The council had to terminate a number of allotment plots for non-compliance and the reason for that is that the council were of the view that allotments should be used for growing fruit and veg - and also to promote a healthy lifestyle for residents, which includes working the allotments.

"However, when Mrs Avery's special circumstances emerged from correspondence, council agreed to allow her and another tenant to continue because of the special circumstances."

He added the council had written to tenants a number of times regarding non-compliance and had advised it would terminate tenancies if people did not comply.