Allotment fears allayed (From Barry And District News)

Allotment fears allayed

A PLAID Cymru newsletter, which apparently warned residents about the imminent sale of allotments in Slade Road, has been disputed by Labour.

Gibbonsdown Vale of Glamorgan Councillor Rob Curtis says he received hundreds of inquiries and complaints from residents in Slade Road, Lydstep Road, Collard Crescent, Cornwall Road, Monmouth Way and Barry Road concerning a statement made in Plaid Cymru's September Barrian newsletter, in which they claim allotments are to be sold.

He said: "You can imagine my shock and surprise after reading this story, so I immediately contacted the chief executive, who confirmed to me in writing that there are 'no current or future plans by the Vale of Glamorgan Council to sell any allotment land in this area.'"

Cornwall Road resident and Labour's candidate in the coming town council by-election, Dennis Harkus, added: "This is typical of Plaid Cymru tactics, making up stories in an attempt to win support. But now that they have been exposed I believe that they should apologise to local residents for causing them such worry."

Plaid Cymru have defended their message.

The prospective candidate for Plaid Cymru in Gibbonsdown, Trudi Watts, said: "The Conservative cabinet is looking at selling off £5million of land to finance building projects. It is curious that Labour is defending the policies of the Conservatives in an attempt to attack Plaid.

"We fear that the allotment sites in the Vale of Glamorgan are under threat of being run down and neglected, then sold off, so land can be used for housing projects.

"The council allows these allotments to get run down like the Daniel Street site, which has been neglected to such a degree that the land is ripe for selling off to developers. We think the site should be redeveloped into a green gym.

"I don't want to see our allotments in the ward of Gibbonsdown to go the same way as others, so we need to be on our toes."