ALLOTMENT holders fear their future on the site is in doubt after being offered a reduced length lease.

The allotments, on Devonshire Road, Burnham, are due for renewal as their current lease runs out in 2019.

Burnham Allotment Committee met with members of Burnham Town Council on earlier this month where they were told their new lease would not be 21 years as it had been in the past, but ten years with a five year break clause.

This has angered many plot holders who are concerned about the lack of security the new lease would provide.

Dennis Lystor, committee member, said: “Burnham Town Council and the allotment committee, routinely have a meeting to discuss allotment matters following on from the council’s annual inspection of the allotments.

“The town council had voted and agreed at their June monthly meeting to alter the terms of the new lease. These changes were presented to us at the meeting on July 3.

“The changes were not made with the agreement of the allotment committee, or with any prior notice or consultation with them, and the six committee members present did not accept the decision.”

The changes were expected to be debated again at Burnham Town Council last night.

However, due to a problem with the allotment committee’s newsletter, they were unable to get letters to the council expressing their point of view and concerns in time.

Committee secretary, Jane Nichols, said: “As a committee, we feel that five years is not long enough to have any security on the site. The investment people put into their plots deserves more than that. It is a lot of time and a lot of money.

“Not only that, but it has big social benefits to it as well. It provides a lot of people with health and fitness activities and brings people together from all different ages.”

Burnham Town Council was contacted for comment.