Welcome boost for Buckland St Mary (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Welcome boost for Buckland St Mary

11:23am Tuesday 26th February 2008 in News By Kirsty Maclagan

PLANS to build a series of allotments in Buckland St Mary have been given a welcome boost thanks to Somerset County Council.

The parish council has been awarded almost £1,000 to build a perimeter fence around land on the edge of the village that will hold fifteen allotments.

The cash was raised with the help of the Blackdown Hills Area of Natural Beauty Partnership and the council's discretionary budget fund, which allows councillors to back community projects of up to £5,000.

Buckland St Mary-based company Five Farmers Country Management Ltd won the tender to build the fence at the beginning of the year.

Parish council chairman Cllr Jo Salter explained: "We applied for the fund back in November and were thrilled when we found out we had been successful.

"The fence desperately needed to be replaced and we are really happy with the results."

Chard North county councillor Paul Buchanan, who inspected the new fence with members of the parish council on Monday, said: "I am delighted to support Buckland St Mary Parish Council.

"This is exactly the sort of project the grant should be used for - to help rural citizens to maintain the environment to ensure that it can used for generations to come."

There are eleven allotment plots still available; anyone interested in taking one should contact the parish clerk.

Pictured inspecting the allotment land are (front to back) Cllr Gill Bromley, Cllr Jo Salter, Cllr Paul Buchanan, Leonard North of Five Farmers and Cllr Linus Surguy.