ALLOTMENT holders in Okehampton are up in arms at the prospect of their plots being used for development.

Allotments off Exeter Road have been identified for possible development in West Devon Council's Local Plan.

The document 'Options for Development', which is out for consultation, states the land is sandwiched between a site that is already earmarked for development — Laburnum — and the existing Giblands housing area — and would, therefore, be 'fill-in'.

Planners accept the land is used for allotments although 'not terribly well used', according to the document.

Out of a total of 40 allotments, only 17 were in use in 1998 and there was no waiting list.

'Their development is not something that should be encouraged unless there is no genuine need for them,' the document states.

But allotment holders, anxious to prevent loss of their plots, held a meeting last Wednesday.

It was attended by Vic Osmond, vice-chairman of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, who said that under the 1908 Allotment Act every parish had to provide allotments when asked in writing by six people.

Minutes of the meeting sent out to allotment holders this week said: 'If our land belonged to the council, then it would be statutory land and the council would need a public inquiry to take the people off.

'Unfortunately, our land belongs to the Okehampton United Non-Ecclesiastical Trust.

'If the land was bequeathed specifying that it was for the use of the labouring poor, then we would have a strong case.

'However, if this is not so, then it will need more work to save them.'

It was agreed to form the Okehampton Allotment Holders' Association to include all allotment holders in the town. Non-allotment holders would also be invited to join as leisure gardeners.

A member, Ana Pulteney, will speak to West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett about the matter on February 12. Secretary Ottilia Pochat will speak to the trust.

The association invited everybody, who had not already done so, to write to the borough senior planning officer objecting to selling off the allotments and to Okehampton town clerk John Winchester requesting the council to provide allotments.

Allotment holders can pay their rent by sending a cheque to the trust.

The next meeting is to be held at the Ockment Centre on Tuesday at 7pm and all allotment holders are invited.

Mrs Pochat, who with her husband Raul, has worked three plots for three years, told the Times they had chosen their home at The Heathers because it was close to the allotments.

They planted hundreds of trees, created a pond and made a wildlife plot.

'It is so important to have green spaces,' she said.

Allotment holder Dave Vernon follows in the footsteps of his grandfather and father who both held allotments there.

Mr Vernon, who has been a holder on and off for 30 years, said: 'I think it's disgusting.

'I might not be able to continue myself but I would still fight for them.'

Trust secretary Deryck Stephens said he could not comment. Any comment would have to come from the trustees after they had met to discuss the matter.