A row over Pembrokeshire County Council's proposal to relocate Tenby's allotments is continuing to dig up a storm this week. The local authority says moving the site, currently at St. John's Hill, to council owned land at Bryn Hir, will 'provide wider benefits to the town'. However, allotment holders are not in favour, with the matter now looking likely to be thrashed out at a meeting between Pembrokeshire County Council, the town council and the allotment holders. When contacted by the Observer about their proposals this week, Anna Wilson, the council's assistant press and PR officer, said: "The county council has a duty to seek the best use of its property to the advantage of all of the people of Pembrokeshire, and although the present proposals will cause some inconvenience to the five present allotment holders, which the council sympathises with, it will provide wider benefits to the town. "Moving the allotments would have two advantages. Firstly, it would allow us to develop a larger allotment site at Bryn Hir that would provide 10 allotments, sufficient for the five existing allotment holders and for five others from the waiting list, who presently do not have the opportunity to take up an allotment," Mrs. Wilson explained. She continued: "Secondly, the present site would be released to enable residential development which would include affordable housing for local people in accordance with county council and National Park planning policy. "The money raised from sale of the present allotment site would enable the new allotment site to be secured, serviced and cultivated before handover to the new allotment holders." If the allotments are to be moved, the county council must first obtain consent from the National Assembly. Residents of the town would be able to make their views known on any planning application through the planning consultation process which would include the views of the town council. Added Mrs. Wilson: "The town council has powers to provide its own allotments if it should choose to do so." FOOTNOTE: At their meeting on Tuesday night, members of Tenby Town Council received correspondence from both the county council and allotment holders. Councillors were also in favour of a meeting between all interested parties. • See Letters for allotment holders reaction.
