A call by Pembroke Town Council to be allowed to site allotments on a county council-owned derelict play area is to be considered by planners.

In an application submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council, the Town Council is seeking permission for a partly retrospective change of use of the former local authority play area on land to the rear of Station Road to divide it into around 20 allotment plots.

“The area was a former local authority play area and has not had play equipment or been open to the public for over 20 years. Due to demand of allotments, we the town council have leased the land from PCC as a community growing area,” the application states.

“There will also be a 1.5m wide pedestrian path, going through the middle of the field to access the individual plots.

“The site is in a state of unkemptness due to restricted access and a lack of use by any departments in the authority for at least the last decade. PCC own the site, and Environmental Services are Asset Managers.

“On the whole the site is in remarkably good condition and requires very little intervention as a proposed allotment.”

“Only pedestrian access is possible to the site, however this makes it highly suitable to offer to local residents, which would be preferential. Delivering items to the site may be hindered but tenants are asked only to take what they’ll use to an allotment site to prevent refuse accumulating, and the gateway is wide enough to accommodate wheelbarrows.

“With regards to allotments, we tend to provide an area of land ’as seen’, it would be a tenant’s responsibility to tidy the plot and rid it of weeds and unwanted green growth, and deal with composting accordingly.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.