Fishguard's would-be gardeners, wishing to beat the credit crunch by growing their own, are being frustrated by a dearth of earth.

So far over 20 people in the Fishguard and Goodwick area have put their names down on a waiting list for an allotment. There are no allotments available at present in the area.

Councillor Bob Kilmister has tabled a question to today's county council meeting asking what action it proposes taking over the lack of allotment provision.

"There are currently 23 people waiting in this area and the Council has a statutory obligation to provide this facility under the Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908," he says.

Local sustainability group Transition Bro Gwaun is also pressing the council to provide allotments.

Allotment group coordinator Liz Morris says that the council has a duty to either provide some of their own land or lease privately owned land if more than six people in an area want an allotment.

The group are currently in communication with Pembrokeshire County Council about the scheme.

Transition Bro Gwaun say the town council is very supportive of the idea. The group would also be interested in hearing from any other local land owner who is prepared to help.

Tom Latter said: "To quote Monty Don 'We need to use our horticultural skills, which are second to none in the world, to grow food'. It's really important to get people aware of just how tenuous our food supply really is.

"Let's hope land will be available before next years growing season."

A spokesman for Pembrokeshire county council has confirmed that the group made contact with the authority some time ago.

For more on the Fishguard allotments see next week's Western Telegraph