Deal close on Kells allotments

Kells residents could be tending to their own allotments next spring, as Kells Town Council and the local allotments committee are close to reaching an agreement over a leasing arrangement. At a meeting of the council on Monday night, there was broad agreement for a proposal which would see the council lease two acres of land at Loyd to the committee on the same basis as an agricultural let, with the option of extending the amount of land if demand was there in the future. It was agreed to look at the proposals at the council's preliminary estimates meeting next week. Following talks between the council and the committee, proposals emerged for the allotments which would see the council leasing the land to the committee and providing fencing for the perimeter of the land. It is also proposed that the committee form a limited company. At a meeting of the town council on Monday night, area manager Brendan McGrath told councillors that the erection of sheds and allowing pigs, poultry or other livestock on the allotments was not advisable. He said that, although the allotments committee had asked for four acres, he wasn't convinced that the requirement was there at the moment but if it was needed further along the line, the council could consider extending the amount of land involved. Cllr Frankie Lynch asked if allotment holders could produce food for the commercial market and was told this wouldn't be allowed.