Allotment fight goes on after bid rejected

A £500,000 bid to turn an overgrown eyesore into community allotments has been rejected. But the director of health for Sandwell says he is not going to give up on the project.

Sandwell Primary Care Trust applied to the National Lottery for cash to make over part of Wood Green Allotments, in Wednesbury, six months ago. Health bosses have now found out that they will not be getting the cash and the scheme has been put on hold. For years a section of the allotments has been an unkempt, overgrown grot spot, with weeds and grass growing out of control.

The aim was to create a series of allotments to be shared by townsfolk to grow fruit and vegetables and improve public health.

It was hoped some of the produce could be sold at weekend markets, with the money being ploughed back into the land and crops.

Councillor Bill Archer said he was distraught by the news that the project had been turned down.

"It's a real shame and a waste," he said.

"It is such a huge site and if they cleared it up it could be a massive benefit to the community," said Councillor Archer, a Conservative representative for Wednesbury North on Sandwell Council.

The allotments off Barlow Road were the subject of a feasibility study which showed they offer the best prospect for a new community garden to be developed in Sandwell.

Dr John Middleton, director of Public Health for Sandwell, said he would not give up on the project.

"Colleagues from Sand-well Primary Care Trust and Sandwell Council alike are disappointed to not have been granted Lottery funding for the proposals for community agriculture at Barlows Road allotments site in Wednesbury," he said.

"Despite this setback, we believe our proposals were sound and interest from the community has been high and very positive. We are determined to pursue the scheme through other funding routes."