ALLOTMENT holders have given up the fight to keep their vegetable patches.

Eastleigh and Bishopstoke Allotments Co-operative Association this week acknowledged that its members would have to move.

The surrender follows five years of protest and legal argument and comes 10 days after a High Court ruling which turned down a legal challenge to a government decision allowing disposal of allotments.

The council plans to use the plots, at South Street and Monks Way, for housing and it has already lined up alternative sites.

The legal challenge was brought on behalf of the association by allotment holder, Marian Hatt, who says she will not be appealing against the decision: "If my efforts have helped to raise awareness of the risks to allotments elsewhere in the country, it will all have been worthwhile," she said.

Tim Holzer, chairman of the association, said: "The Government's recent introduction of measures to stop the worrying decline in allotment provision is proving to be meaningless rhetoric. It's a great pity that the High Court hearing provided so little clarification of the law, but we shall be vigorously pursuing questions about the Government's disposal criteria through other means.

"Allotment holders nationwide really need to know where they stand."

Mr Holzer wants the borough council to equip new allotments with improvements such as better site security and raised plots for disabled people.

Council leader, Keith House, welcomed the news that there would be no appeal.

"We're pleased that a line has been drawn under this long-running saga and that the uncertainty is over for the many people in housing need in the borough."