A POPULAR allotment plot threatened with being bulldozed over and transformed into a sprawling housing estate has won a top community green space award.

Plot holders at Christchurch’s Roeshot Hill Allotments marked their new Green Flag Community Open Space status during the allotment association’s summer show on Saturday.

Long-term plot holder Jane Merrett was the driving force behind the push for green flag recognition, which comes at a troubling time for the allotment site’s 200 green-fingered enthusiasts.

Under Christchurch Borough Council’s core strategy document – essentially a planning blueprint to set future development in the district – Roeshot Hill could make way for hundreds of homes.

The document outlines plans to move the allotments north of the railway to create a large site for up to 850 houses.

Roeshot Hill Allotment Association chairman John Campbell said: “It was a tremendous effort by Jane Merrett, who was one of the first plot-holders up here. We all felt pretty good when we realised we were getting the award.”

Describing the green flag status as a warning shot across the borough’s bows, Mr Campbell insisted: “If they are going to move us, they might as well know for sure that we have a strong community up here on the allotments.

“This is a decent place which has been recognised with this award.”

Mr Campbell says it is “unjustified” to assume housing trumps environment in urban, coastal areas such as Christchurch.

He stressed: “People have spent a long time cultivating and tending their plots and have worked very hard and spent a lot of money.

“It would take years for this to be replaced and I think many wouldn’t bother to move if this went ahead.”