A LACK of allotments in Wokingham was highlighted by resident Peter Wheat, who wanted to know what the council was doing in the new local plan.
But before he had his question answered, both independent councillor Gary Cowan and Cllr Lindsay Ferris, the executive member for planning and the local plan, apologised to him at a meeting of Wokingham Borough Council on Thursday, January 19.
Cllr Cowan said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise to Mr Wheat for the unfair treatment, being classed a vexatious complainant to such a trivial matter as an allotment allowance.”
This was echoed by Cllr Ferris, who apologised for the question originally being blocked rather than submitted for a council. He added that the council had already provided “in some detail” the council’s approach to allotments, and that management of the sites was a matter for parish and town councils, and Mr Wheat should work with them to “improve their allotment provision”.
Mr Wheat said there were long waiting lists and the borough had just over half of the allotments it should have.
Cllr Ferris said the council had already informed him of the approach the council takes over the matter, and a full written response had already been sent to him.
