A HOUSING developer has extended an olive branch to allotment holders who are fighting to save their gardens.

George Wimpey Homes has promised members of Howden-le-Wear Allotments Association the company will do what it can to provide gardens should it be given permission to build homes.

The offer is part of a compromise being worked out between the developer, Wear Valley District Council and Durham County Council.

The allotment holders have been battling to save their gardens since land owner Shafto Estates gave them notice to quit a year ago, so it could sell the land for development.

Since then, George Wimpey Homes has submitted an application to Wear Valley District Council to build 41 houses, which would leave the allotment holders without gardens.

At a public meeting this week, Simon Usher, land and planning director for Wimpey, told villagers he was working on a plan that could see the company buy adjacent land belonging to Durham County Council.

Both sites would be part of one development, which would mean there would be room for the houses and allotments.

It would, however, mean that some or all of the existing allotments would be moved.

He said: "We would look at replacing each garden like-for-like and will even move the soil that has been there for the last 60 years.''

But allotment holders and residents, who were at the meeting, said they did not want new houses to be built in the village and wanted the allotments to stay where they are.

Secretary of the allotment association David Quinn said: "We want Wear Valley District Council put a compulsory purchase order on the land and keep it the way it is.''

District Councillors Charlie Kay and David Niven, who were also at the meeting, along with Max Coleby, acting director of community services at the district council, said the council would do what it could, but did not hold out much hope.

Councillor Coleby said: "The landowners have rights and they have already said the allotments will go whether or not planning permission is given for the houses."

Councillor Kay added: "The land is in the settlement area for Howden-le-Wear and it is unlikely the council will be able to afford to buy it."

Nobody was available for comment at Shafto Estates.