HONITON Town Council is to press ahead with a planning application for allotments, but an association of allotment holders will be expected to manage the site from the outset – with support from the council.

HONITON Town Council is to press ahead with a planning application for allotments, but an association of allotment holders will be expected to manage the site from the outset - with support from the council.

No buildings will be allowed on the site, members of the council's policy committee agreed last week.

Councillor Vivi-enne Ash, the mayor, said the waiting list for allotments at the Honiton Bottom Road site was "healthy" and that the town council should not rush to take on too much.

"My suspicion is that, if we take this on, nobody else will," she said.

Town clerk Lyn Hargood revealed a committee of potential allotment holders was currently in a "fragile" state - mainly because members were frustrated by a perceived lack of action.

Councillor Martin McGuire said the council was now making "a constructive leap to make this happen".

He felt the allotments could, potentially, be available later this year.

Councillor Mike Allen, who has previously opposed the plan, said: "I am not against allotments, in the right place.

"Other sites were not looked at and it concerns me we are investing �10,000 for 50 people, probably fewer."

He revealed double yellow lines in Honiton Bottom Road are due to be extended, meaning traffic could park close to a gate to the allotments, on a blind spot.

The committee heard it had taken 10 years to reach the planning stage and Councillor John Taylor said: "I believe the allotments will be quite useful.