Group in plea to dig deep and grow veg

Volunteers are urging people to roll up their sleeves and grow their own greens in Cannock by unveiling plans to transform an overgrown plot of land into allotments.

The plot, which is based off Longford Road in the town, was formerly used as allotments around 20 years ago but has since been left to waste. A group of residents are desperate to see the site brought back to life and have joined forces to approach Cannock Chase Council for lease of the land in a bid to turn it into new plots which would be run by the group.

With a four-year waiting list to get an allotment with Cannock Chase Council, the newly-formed Longford Allotment Holders' Association hope the proposal will be approved.

They are currently in negotiations with the council over terms of the lease and will be writing to the authority with specific plans of 20 plots for the site.

They have been told the plans are likely to be put before Cannock Chase Council's Cabinet in January. If approved, they can begin the clean-up and tidying of the area in time for spring.

Councillor John Kraujalis, a member of the association, said: "We are going to bring it back into use at our own cost.

"We have a group of around 13 very committed people who are enthusiastic about this project.

"The council owns lots of pieces of land and in economic times like this there is nothing they can do with them.

"Why not turn them over to productive use, if people want to use them?

The plans have been unveiled after it emerged allotment fees in Cannock could spiral by up to 400 per cent under plans by council chiefs to remove its £5,000 subsidy.