3:41pm Wednesday 8th September 2010
By Alex Lewis
A PATCH of waste ground in Harpenden is to be restored as allotments rather than developed as affordable housing, delighting local campaigners.
Harpenden Town Council has been planning to sell a former allotment site off Westfield Road for an affordable housing project, but needed the district council to agree access over land it owns.
The Review reported in April how Elissa Baird of Westfield Road was gathering support for restoring the site as allotments rather than housing.
The allotment campaigners were supported by other local people opposed to the loss of open land.
Last night the district council's cabinet backed the allotment plan, after being told by officers there was increasing demand locally for plots.
Campaigner Carol Hedges said: "Our campaign has been completely successsful.
"A lot of elderly people in the area are overjoyed. Our champagne is still on ice, because we don't know the town council will have the money to restore the allotments.
"But for the moment one of the few bits of green space in a built up area has been saved, which has to be good news."
Ms Baird said: " I am thrilled. I have such euphoria it will take me a week to come down.
"About 20 people told me they would like an allotment, and more went directly to the council.
" I am sure the town council doesn't like it, but we aren't going to sit on our laurels - we will have to make sure it actually happens.
"Allotments are a good thing for so many reasons.
"They teach people where food comes from, they gets us into the open air, and it is good exercise.
"It is a good thing for families to do together as well."
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