THE trustees of Poor's Allotment near Tidenham have issued an assurance to the parish that they haven't agreed to a quarry road being driven through the land.

And in a separate move a group of concerned residents has set up an action committee to fight both the road and the quarry and has called a public meeting to decide on a plan.

The Review understands that three of the trustees who looked after the land on behalf of the parish have relinquished these positions after their re-election became due and the committee now contains three new members.

The statement from the Poor's Allotments Trust reads: "The Trustees ... wish it to be made public that they did not and do not agree, in principle, to enter into a legal agreement with Greenfield Associates Consulting Geologists and Environmental Engineers to provide access onto the Trust's land for a proposed link road between the A48 (T) and the B4228."

It adds: "The Trustees anticipate that this should allay any misunderstandings/fears that the Parish of Tidenham Community may have."

The action committee has arranged the public meeting to fight the proposals for Thursday June 23 at 7.30pm at Wyedean School.

Organiser Jan Dunbar said: "We plan to advise people about writing to the county council with representations – the actual way this has to worded in this instance is quite critical.

"We called the meeting because there isn't much time: the representations have to be in to Mr Tim Holton at the county council by July 7."

Mrs Dunbar added she had high hopes that the battle to stop both the road and the quarry would be successful.

The quarry and road proposals are being spearheaded by agents Greenfield Associates for an as-yet unnamed quarrying company which is not thought to be local.

Matters are expected to come to a head in the autumn when the Local Minerals Plan reaches the inquiry stage.