Gardeners dig in amid allotment planning row

Gardeners are facing legal action after digging in and refusing to leave their allotments, despite being ordered to do so.

Planning permission has been granted to build new facilities for a nearby primary school on the land.

People on allotments in Kenfig Hill, Bridgend county, were asked to pick up their forks and spades last year, but are still digging.

Bridgend council said it "cannot delay plans any longer" and has set a new deadline of 10 March for the vegetable growers to leave before further action is taken.

Members of Kenfig Hill allotments were originally given until 23 September 2023 to leave and make way for a new facilities for Mynydd Cynffig Primary School, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The site is set to be cleared under proposals to extend the neighbouring school on to council-owned land, which will replace the current building and add a 75-place nursery.

The council has also proposed plans for a new community allotment with 26 plots that will come with sheds, water butts and a chicken coop.

Deputy council leader Jane Gebbie said: "This is all about providing the people of Kenfig Hill with new facilities, not taking away existing ones.

"We cannot allow these plans to be delayed any longer, not when they represent such significant benefit for the whole community."

Enid Smith, chairwoman of the allotment group said: "We haven’t been told anything about the dates they want us to leave.

"We were told that a new allotment site would be created for us to go on to before any of the construction of the school started... but nothing has been done yet."

Bryan Smith, a keen grower, added: "The allotment is a big part of our lives.

"As far as I was aware, we paid our bill to be here until September, so I am disappointed with the way this has been handled."