WARRING parties came together last night as a deal over the future of a patch of wasteland in Harpenden began to take shape.

Harpenden Town Council has been locked in conflict with residents and the district council since April over half a hectare of former allotment land it owns off Willoughby Road.

Many local people were opposed to the town council's plan for a 24-home affordable development, built and run by the Hightown Praetorian and Churches Housing Association.

Formed into the Westfield Action Group, they were supported by keen local gardeners who told the town council they wanted the land restored as allotments.

On September 7, the cabinet of the Lib Dem district council, which owns a crucial access strip, backed the allotment option, dashing the Tory town council's scheme.

But after a lengthy debate involving evidence from several interested parties last night, an overview and scrutiny committee, rather than dividing along party lines as usual, unanimously agreed to ask the cabinet to find a compromise.

In a motion proposed by Tory chairman Julian Daly and Lib Dem vice chair Joyce Lusby, councillors recommended that the land's future should be discussed by both local authorities, the housing association and the Westfield Action Group, which favours a community orchard alongside allotments.

As the meeting concluded at 10pm, the motion was greeted both by residents' spokeswoman Carol Hedges and town councillor Mike Wakely, who had been arguing bitterly only minutes before.

Ms Hedges said: "I think he (Councillor Daly) has come up with the way forward. I look forward to seeing what the cabinet comes up with."

Councillor Wakely said: "I am glad we are working together, which is what we always wanted to do."

The motion calls for Harpenden Mencap to be included in the discussions, as the charity, which offers permanent and respite accommodation to people with learning disabilities, is hoping for a new base to replace its ageing Stairways Centre in Douglas Road.

To provide extra land to reconcile the competing schemes, a set of garages in Beeching Close is likely to be sacrificed.