HUNDREDS of people are queuing for Eastleigh allotments but only a handful of people turned up for a public meeting to debate the waiting list crisis.

Eastleigh & Bishopstoke Allotments Co-operative Associaton says that the waiting list for plots now totals more than 300 people and there is no sign of the increase slowing.

This demand comes at a time when the council is pressing ahead with plans to replace cabbage patches with hundreds of homes.

The association lost its High Court battle to save town centre allotments but it is still in fighting mood.

It called a public meeting to outline the facts about the lack of plots and explain people's rights under the allotments legislation.

Although the meeeting was well publcised it only attracted around 20 people. Allotments leaders are determined to continue to put pressure on the council to release more land for budding allotment gardeners.

Association secretary Tony Murrills said: "Around 20 people attended the meeting which is perhaps what one might expect at an open meeting for the size of target group we are dealing with."

He said they were not able to directly notify the vast majority of the people on the waiting list.

Mr Murrills added: "There were apologies from a number of people unable to attend, especially due to holidays.

"Those who did attend were very keen to receive information, particularly about the statutory duty of the council to provide sufficient allotments .

"The allotments association will of course continue to lobby the council to provide sufficient allotments and to release the available vacant plots to people on the waiting list."

An Eastleigh Council spokesman said: "The council has sufficient plots to provide for existing allotment holders who have been displaced from the sites at Monks Way and South Street.

"Plots will start to be allocated to people on the waiting list once these allocations are finalised in October."