A COUNCILLOR is celebrating after his battle to push local gardeners' gripes to the top of the political agenda proved victorious.

Moor Park councillor Mick Moulding is preparing to become the allotment holders' champion after he managed to get the controversial issue of who should control the gardeners' lots onto the agenda for the next full meeting of the council, this Thursday, July 9.

Mr Moulding has been campaigning for months to give the gardeners more control after complaints the council was neglecting them.

Now Mr Moulding is calling on his supporters to fill the public chambers as he tries to change the way in which the allotments are managed.

The Liberal Democrat said: "I believe the tenants are getting a raw deal. The council won't listen to the allotment associations' elected representatives and I think the tenants should have more responsibility in the management of the sites."

If the motion put forward by Mr Moulding is successful, the council will begin a consultation programme with the tenants.

Mr Moulding added: "I also want to see fairer distribution of funding between all the sites.

"The council needs to see the strength of feeling over this issue." The meeting starts at 1pm at Preston Town Hall.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.