EFFORTS are being made to increase the availability of allotments in the town.
Westbury Town Council receives regular interest from people searching for a plot, but there is a lack of allotments in the town.
Keith Harvey, clerk at Westbury Town Council, reports that the town council has been looking at increasing the availability of allotments in the town for some time, but the problem is finding suitable land.
“We’ve only got around seven allotments in Westbury, and they’re all run by Selwood Housing,” he explained. “Years ago there were allotments scattered everywhere, but they’ve gradually been taken over and built on.
“We do get requests from people on a regular basis, and I have to explain that we are pursuing it and speaking to people with the hope of finding some land.”
Westbury and Wiltshire councillor, Mike Cuthbert-Murray, is calling for the issue to be brought up at the next meetings of the town council and Westbury Area Board.
He thinks it is particularly important as the subject was brought up at the ‘Westbury Forward’ event earlier this year, as part of compiling the BA13+ Community Plan.
He said, “We have people interested in allotments, but there are hardly any in Westbury. This is one of the number one issues from Westbury Forward.
“The town council provide them, but because we don’t own the land, we’d have to ask Wiltshire Council for any suitable spare land.
“If they haven’t any, we’d have to look at purchasing land. While town council resources are limited, I think the funding could be found without impacting on the precept.”
