WITH reference to the story (April 6) concerning the provision of allotments.
It was stated that no-one had responded to a plea from the council to apply for plots on the Mount Pleasant site. This is incorrect because I had responded and was told by council staff that others had as well.
Mrs Ramsden, the town clerk, stated also that people had had long enough to apply. Firstly, it was not well advertised; secondly, why such tight time limits? And thirdly, the site at Mount Pleasant has always been an allotments site for the use of the people of Lydney and, as a recreation, should be encouraged as much as other leisure activities. Also another point is that there is a waiting list for the South Road site – why were not these people notified of the option at Mount Pleasant?
We have a splendid sports facility in Church Road that we can all be proud of, but is the council saying, in your article, that this is at the expense of the allotment holders?
Also in the article it states that the charges are to be increased to come in line with other councils. Other councils often supply better facilities, for example lockups, and a less negative attitude.
There are to be 1,300 houses built along the by-pass within the near future, incidentally, with the loss of the golf course, and with the expansion of the population there will be greater demand for leisure facilities of every nature.
The council should look for capital for projects within the town, but not at the expense of the allotment holders. Perhaps with a less negative attitude, for what ever reason that is, the council would get a positive response. It would be nice to see the council have a programme of stimulation rather than discouragement as, it could be said, is reflected in the article. – Chris Davis, Mount Pleasant, Lydney.