TOWN COUNCIL HEARS OF CLAIMS WEED KILLER BEING SQUIRTED IN FRONT OF PEOPLE'S PATCHES

NON-GARDENER OFFERS TO ACT AS PEACEMAKER IN BID TO TURNIP ROUND HASSLE AMONG HARICOT BEAN BUSHES

A PUBLIC-SPIRITED pensioner is to act as peacemaker in a bid to stop Atherstone gardeners "acting like a plot from Eastenders".

Former town councillor Martin Short has agreed to work with the Merevale allotment holders with a view to getting the members' association up and running again.

An appreciative Atherstone Town Council thanked Mr Short for his offer to "take the pressure off" the authority's clerks – despite being a non-gardener himself.

The town council's July virtual meeting heard that "all kinds of strange things are going on" at the plots off Bracebridge Road.

Mr Short, a member of the town council in the 1980s and 90s, said: "For one thing, they're squirting weed killer where it shouldn't be in front of other people's patches.

"It is certainly quite an interesting experience.

"I don't watch EastEnders but it seems a bit like that up there. There's constant hassle."

Deputy town clerk Sally Oldham said the town council would welcome help in reviving the allotment association which has "fallen by the wayside".

She added: "It was once very pro-active when I first joined the council. You need like-minded tenants to get it going again."

Accepting the challenge, Mr Short said: "It makes sense if people talked to one another.

"It might solve some of the problems and take the pressure off the clerks who I know get quite a few phone calls."

Town council chairman Denise Clews told Mr Short if he could "help in some way, it would be wonderful".

She added: "If we can only get them interested. I don't know how successful it would be – it has been tried but it would be much appreciated if you start talking to the other tenants."