COUNCILLORS have been left flabbergasted after it was adjudged that having a community allotment cannot be described as being for “recreational” use.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s environment committee heard on June 18 that an application to Somerset Council for funding to develop an “accessible plot” at the allotment site at The Basins had been turned down.

Town councillors had asked for a share of Section 106 funding which was available for community projects and said that it would be for recreational use.

They had applied for £6,500 to develop a large plot which would serve as a hub for social interaction and community engagement.

A council report said: “We have seen an increase in demand for allotments in the community from the elderly and people with mobility restrictions.

“Allotment gardening is a very rewarding pastime and contributes greatly to the quality of people’s lives both mentally and physically.

“But we have found over recent years that a number of tenants have had to give up their plots because of their health and mobility having deteriorated. Even smaller plots were difficult to maintain.”

The idea is that the “accessible plot” made up of 12 beds would be a community-driven team affair for people to work together.

But the mayor, Cllr Janet Lloyd, told colleagues that Somerset Council had decided that allotments did not fit into the category of “recreational use” and that the request for funding had been turned down.

Cllr John Thorne said: “I’m gobsmacked – this just beggar’s belief! We need to appeal over this decision.

“We need to go back to Somerset Council and tell them that this is ridiculous. Having an allotment is recreational and benefits people’s health and well-being.”

Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “We should challenge Somerset Council over this as this decision doesn’t make any sense.”

He joked that to make the allotment suitable for recreational use they could have a daily “hunt the carrot” game.

The Section 106 funding comes in a legal agreement between developers and local planning authorities such as Somerset Council. These agreements require developers to contribute towards infrastructure and services such as community facilities, public open space, transport improvements and affordable housing.

Councillors agreed that they should appeal the decision made by Somerset Council, but recommended to the full meeting of the town council that it should make the money available for the allotment project from its own funds which have built up under the Community Infrastructure Levy system – whereby the council receives a payment for every new house built in Wellington by a developer.

The allotment site at The Basins currently has 102 plots, while the new project would bring the number of tenants up to 117.

A town council report said that accessible plot would be ideal for people living in the over-55s sheltered housing development at Corams Lane as it would be within walking distance.

The plan would be to create a plot with a mix of ground level and raised beds at various heights to allow everyone a chance of doing something.