New allotments could soon be flourishing in the heart of Veryan. Veryan Parish Council has identified a field and is currently waiting for the land to be officially transferred so they can forge ahead with an application for change of use.

The site is behind the Veryan School Field on Pendower Road. At half a hectare it is just a bit bigger than the size of a football pitch.

The plan is for 8 full size allotments of 10m by 20m, 4 half size allotments and 6 quarter size allotments. There will also be provision for a community orchard. This will be good news for people who attended a meeting back in April last year to assess what interest there might be and how the plan should come together.

Although it is outside the village boundary the field is in the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Natural England have notified the parish council that they are happy with the plan in principle.

Once a lease has been signed with Cornwall County Council Farms Estate, the land will have to be prepared and a user’s management committee formed. It will be down to this committee to work out costs, apply for grants and draw up a set of rules and regulations to ensure the site is well looked after. Planning permission may also impose some restrictions.

Parish Councillor Graham Webb is leading on the allotment project. He said: “Location was the big thing. Although there will be provision for a drop off area the whole reason for agreeing to this site was so allotment holders could walk there. As well as good access there is also a natural water supply.”

A core of people are already interested in forming a committee and the list of potential allotment holders is already outstripping demand, so the full size allotments could be split to accommodate everyone.

The application for change of use will be submitted in the next few weeks and it is hoped that by the end of the year the process will be complete, and the land can be prepared ready for allotment holders to take up occupation next Spring.

Roseland Online will be keeping you up to date with developments.