GAZETTE & HERALD: Allotment holders and councillors celebrated the opening of the Newcroft allotment site after years of fighting to save it.

The new one-acre site, off North Street in Calne, has 26 allotments and will be overlooked by housing that is being built on the old allotment site.

But some allotment holders are still worried about the low height of the fence and lack of sheds on the site.

The town council is pricing up sheds and will ask allotment holders whether they want a shed or a lock-up.

Allotment holder Peter Highton said he was happy with the new site.

"I think these are a lot better than the other allotments. There's been some thought put into it. They are east to west to catch the sun," he said.

"I am not sure of the length of them because they are not marked out but I have got a plan and it shows it's right."

Mr Highton said he would prefer if the fence was two feet taller but thanked everyone for their help.

"Town Clerk Mrs Kingdon did us proud. She has kept the pressure on. It's down to her.

"I am looking forward to the time when I eat a strawberry off it."

Fellow allotment holder Joe Quirke, who wrote a poem for the occasion, agreed a few issues still need to be ironed out but he cannot wait to get back on the land.

"I will be very pleased to get back on that because it was part of our lives," he said.

Mr Quirke also said, however, he was concerned there was no toilets and that the land was now a third of the original size.

Coun Colin Viner, chairman of Calne Town Council's amenities committee, said he was pleased the site was ready for use.

"I think this is a wonderful idea that we can maybe use somewhere else.

"There still one or two things to do, such as marking up the patches."

Coun Viner said he hoped more allotment sites could be planned for the future.

"There's no encouragement to try gardening of any sort.

"With the healthy eating message I think the Governement need to review for bigger gardens."

Coun Viner also thanked the developers, Hills, for their hard work.

"I have got to thank the town clerk and the staff for liaising with the builders on this project," he said in a speech.

"Using the town clerk's words, Hills development group have been the best developers she's ever had to deal with."

Coun John Ireland, who fought with Coun Ellie Bland to keep the site, agreed with Coun Viner.

"I am very pleased that people like Peter Highton and Joe Quirke have finally got what they wanted, although its three or four years down the line."

Ann Kingdon confirmed the allotment holders would have the choice to have a shed or a lock-up box.

"We are pricing up some sheds so the allotment holders can have whatever they want."

The allotment holders left the original Newcroft allotment site in February 2002 after it had been sold to developers for £1.36million.

A battle followed to save some of the sites with slow-worms, which delayed building work as English Heritage had to clear the site.

Eventually 26 plots were saved at the site in September 2002 and now the allotment holders are expected to return by the end of the month.