ALLOTMENTS near Warners Bridge in Southend are set to be saved if the council’s cabinet agrees an officers’ recommendation.

Originally, the council had planned to use the land as a waste transfer station, but the proposals have now been dropped.

The plans were fiercely opposed by the allotment holders and residents in the area. The Gaynes Park allotments are in three parts, one in Rochford Road and two in Manners Way. It was one of these two which was under threat.

Dave Holliday, 76, of Sherbourne Gardens, Prittlewell, who has an allotment on the adjacent Manners Way site, gave the news a cautious welcome. He said: “I think it is a good idea the transfer station is supposed to be going, but we haven’t been given any real idea of what will happen to the allotments.

“They had gone to rack and ruin, but they appear to have been reploughing, hopefully ready to make new allotments again.

“That will help us a lot, because we have got people waiting for them and this will make the place look a lot tidier. The problem is we can’t find out what is happening.”

A report by environment director Andrew Lewis said there is a greater demand for allotments in the borough than there has been in recent years.

He added it was important the area was formally returned to allotment use as quickly as possible.

Mr Lewis said it would also be necessary to consider the future of the remainder of the site which was not needed for allotments.

In the long term it is possible the land could be linked with Southend Airport operations or for improvements to the highway infrastructure.

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “We would have to look carefully at whether any use would be acceptable in the area.

“I wouldn’t think a lorry park or something of that sort would be at all suitable.”

St Lawrence ward Tory councillor Mark Flewitt said: “The social and economic importance of horticultural land, including allotments, is simply not arguable.

“This land needs to be retained to add to the wellbeing of people who keep the land and produce food by their own labour.”