ALLOTMENT holders at Kirkbymoorside have been told they cannot buy the gardens in Gillamoor Road from North Yorkshire County Council.

The town council heard that Mouchel, the county authority's land agent, has ruled out any hope of Kirkbymoorside Allotments Association buying the land, which was targeted for potential housing development.

Town clerk Robert Horne said the association feared for the long-term future of the allotments because, while their future was safeguarded in the short-term, it was thought the county council would make a new bid to have the land included in the structure plan for housing development.

* The council is to seek a transport survey for the Kirkbymoorside area following news that the Government's Countryside Agency is offering to carry out appraisals free of charge. The aim would be to improve public transport from such remote communities as Gillamoor, Bransdale, Fadmoor and Farndale to Kirkbymoorside. The move follows a request by Kirkbymoorside Churches in the Community for the council to investigate ways of improving public transport in the area.

* The community service programme run by the Probation Service is to be asked to help to clear two green lanes at Kirkbymoorside, one at Ings Lane, the other a continuation of West Lund Lane.

* Councillors agreed to increase the annuall grant to All Saints Church for grass cutting in the churchyard by £200 to £1400.

Updated: 09:47 Thursday, December 27, 2001