We say NO! Allotment petition submitted

5.00.00pm GMT Thu 20th Nov 2008

Fenella Bowden, John Dixon, Ed Bridges and Cathy Pearcy have submitted a Lib Dem petition calling for land at Flaxland Allotments to be protected from development.

Councillors from Gabalfa and Heath today submitted a large petition calling on Cardiff Council to resist Conservative calls for land at Flaxland Allotments to be considered for car parking.

The land is legally classified as allotment space, but local Conservatives submitted a petition to the Welsh Assembly earlier in the year calling on them to consider using it as a car park for the University Hospital.

Today, three Liberal Democrat councillors submitted their own petition in response at a meeting of Cardiff Council.

Cllr. Cathy Pearcy, who represents Gabalfa ward (which includes Flaxland Allotments), said: "This land is vital green space for our area, and should be protected from development. The response to our petition has been overwhelming, and it is clear that residents agree with us on this issue. Whatever the parking problems in our area, they shouldn't be solved at the expense of precious green open space."

Liberal Democrat councillor for Heath ward, Fenella Bowden, added: "It's true that part of the land at Flaxland Allotments is contaminated and isn't suitable for allotment use. We want that land to be used as a public open space, or made into a community garden until such time as it is safe to revert to allotment use, so it will be a benefit to the area. It is a shame that the Tories would prefer to concrete over it."