A GARDEN sprang up in the centre of Witney as part of a campaign for more allotments in the town.

A dozen welly-wearing protesters set up pots of plants outside the Town Hall, in Market Square, in a bid to get councillors to listen to their plight.

There is currently a two-year waiting list for an allotment.

Witney Town Council said it had £400,000 to buy land for new allotments but in three years of searching had not found anywhere suitable.

Richard MacKenzie, 29, of Manor Road, who led yesterday's protest, said: “The point was to show just how persistent we are about this.

“We are not going to go away. There is space in Witney and there is money to spend on allotments.

“We have got nowhere else to build our garden, so we thought we would bring it here.”

The group handed an 831-strong petition to the town council, demanding more allotments.

Campaigner Morag Crowther, of Bridge Street, said: “If you have your own allotment, you’re doing yourself good and your body good. I go into Witney to buy organic vegetables, but it’s expensive.”

Witney has had allotments since the 1930s, with plots spread over four sites — Lakeside, Hailey Road, Newland, and Park Road. Latest figures show there are 198 residents waiting for a £40-a-year plot.

Town councillor Chrissie Curry said: “We are desperately trying to get land for allotments.

“We cherish our allotments. We do want them, but we can only go so far until we have the land.”

Ms Curry pointed out that any land must have an access road, a car park, clean water facilities and appropriate soil.

She added: “We have been looking so hard for a new site for allotments and it’s absolutely impossible. We can’t get the land, it’s just not available.

“If we do find a plot available, it’s outside our price range.”

Brigitte Hickman, 43, of Farmers Close, said: “We went on the list two years ago because my husband Kevin wasn’t working any more, to give him something to do during the day. We’re still waiting.

“Allotments would mean more green space, and we desperately need that here. Lots of houses are being built with little or no gardens.”

More than 10 years ago, when the Madley Park development was first considered, a plot of land was designated for allotments.

But following soil tests three years ago, the land was found to be unfit for use without £100,000 being spent on the site.

As this was considered too expensive, the developers bought the land and compensated the town council with £400,000.