A council in Somerset had the opportunity to spend £10000 of national lottery “Awards-For-All” money, however the period in which the money should have been used has passed after the council failed to locate an appropriate location.

A plot seven acres in size was offered to the authority, but it decided that this site was too costly, and being over two miles from town, not ideally located.

The council still intends to try to locate a site for allotments.

A representative from the Somerton’s Allotment Association, John Watts, said:

“It is a disappointment, there are 33 of us on the waiting list. We are desperately trying to secure a plot. I’ve written to 28 farmers in and around Somerton asking if they have any land which they would be willing to lease. The farmer would retain ownership and lease it to the council or allotment’s association. The landowner would probably get a better return than if they cultivated it.”