A LONG-AWAITED fence has been put in at Westcott allotments after complaints that deer were eating the crops.

South Swindon Parish Council has put it in behind the 62-plot site in Old Town as part of a £10,500 refurbishment plan.

Swindon borough and parish councillor Junab Ali said: “It was a long-needed investment.

"I’m not against the deer being there but they were coming through and damaging allotments.

"The allotments give people significance and they don’t want their labour of love destroyed by animals.”

The site, on Turner Street off Westcott Place, is the biggest managed by South Swindon Parish Council and has a long waiting list.

The revamp saw repairs made to potholes on the the path and in the car park.

Cllr Junab added: “People didn’t find it user-friendly before but now they won’t get stuck in the mud.”

Updates are also being made to the equipment at the Westcott play area next to the allotments.

This comes after inspections revealed some health and safety concerns.

Janine Howarth, borough councillor for Liden, Eldene and Park South and parish councillor, said: “We’re glad about the fencing as it’s completely refurbished the area and the car parking.

"It needed replacing. People have been waiting a long time for it to be done as it was initially part of Swindon Borough Council’s refurbishment.

“The allotment has been a godsend for people during the pandemic – mentally it’s been really good for them.”

The parish council took on the management of the allotments in 2017 and has one of the cheapest allotments rates in Swindon – £46 per year.

Parish councillor Abdul Hamid said: “It’s a really good feeling for us as local people have been asking for this for a long time. With the improvements, they have done a really good job so I’m a proud resident.

“People have their lovely fruit and veg here so they have been complaining about it. Especially in lockdown, for a lot of elderly people they want to spend time here.”