THE sell-off of three Eastleigh allotment sites has brought management arrangements for plots across Chandler's Ford, Bishopstoke and Eastleigh to an end of after nearly 50 years.

Since 1957 Eastleigh and Bishopstoke Allotments' Association has carried out the day-to-day administration of ten existing council sites - managing waiting lists, collecting rent and allocating plots.

But the borough council is to take back control from January.

The move follows nearly two years of opposition by the allotments association to council proposals to sell off three statutory allotment sites at Woodside Avenue, South Street and Monks Way for housing.

The allotments association argues that the sites earmarked to replace them are much inferior and are unlikely to serve the interests and needs of the community.

But the sticking point about management of the sites came over council moves to relocate plot holders to new sites on the assumption that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will sanction the sale of existing statutory allotments.

Association chairman, Tim Holzer, said: "Permissions have not, and may not, be granted and the association cannot be involved in a premature process of relocating plot holders when the necessity for relocation has yet to be determined.

"As both objector to the council's proposals and managing agent to the council for the letting of allotments, this places the association in a very uncomfortable position and it is understandable that the council would wish to take back the administration of the service through this difficult time."

The association says the council has a statutory duty to provide allotments in accordance with demand and is required to advertise and promote the existence of the allotment resource.

But Mr Holzer said: "The council has never made any serious attempt to advertise the service and demand for allotments is considerably greater than the council realises. Experimental promotion undertaken by the association in the last year has resulted in more than 270 people applying for an allotment.

"Vacant plots now only exist because the association has been banned from letting plots at sites affected by the council's development proposals."

But while the long-standing management arrangement is being brought to an end, Mr Holzer said he hoped to see the association maintaining an active role in allotment gardening in Eastleigh.

He said: "Having been established in 1908, the allotments association is almost as old as Eastleigh itself and allotment gardening is part of Eastleigh's heritage.

"The association will continue to act in the best interests of its members."