Gardeners are facing a two-year wait for allotments in Witney, despite a £400,000 cash boost to help the town council find extra plots.

Latest figures show 198 people are on the waiting list – up 49 per cent on last September.

Dozens of people are eager to grow their own vegetables – with one suggesting Witney Town Council has an “ethical obligation” to provide patches. But the council insists it cannot find anyone willing to sell land.

Town clerk Sharon Groth said: “It’s a big issue in Witney as we have four sites with 165 plots, but even more people on the waiting list.

“It has been like that for about four years.”

The council was given £400,000 from developers Persimmon Homes under a planning agreement to build houses at the Madley Park estate.

The 0.45 hectare site was originally earmarked to provide a replacement for the development of nearby allotment land at Newland.

However, following a change of plans, the Newland site remains. No further allotment site has been found.

Richard MacKenzie, 29, of Manor Road, has set up an online Facebook campaign – oxfordtribe.com/witney – in a bid to find more allotments.

He said: “I feel the town council should be out there looking for land. People want to eat healthily, which we should encourage.”

Jason Bell, 41, of Cogges, Witney, joined the waiting list more than six months ago as he wanted to give his seven-year-old daughter Alisha home-grown produce.

He said: “It’s absolutely essential there are more plots as there are so many people that want healthy food. It is important for my daughter to grow up eating decent food.

“I know what goes into my own soil, instead of picking up something from a shelf.”

Grandmother Christine White, 55, of Witney, has been waiting for a plot for almost two years.

She said: “By the time I get an allotment I will be too old to dig the soil myself.”

Jackie Wittwer, 26, of Manor Road, said: “I believe the council doesn’t just have a legal obligation, but also an ethical obligation to provide sufficient allotment plots.”

The council owns plots in Lakeside, near Ducklington, along Hailey Road, in Park Road and Newland Allotments, in Oxford Hill. It has halved some of the plots to try to make more available, and is on the look out for land to turn into allotments.

Ms Groth said: “It’s unfortunate, but a lot of landowners are holding on to their land as they believe it will go on to the town plan for housing.

“We are trying to meet demand, but there is no land available. We would-n’t mind where the land is, as people all over Witney want them.”

witney@oxfordmail.co.uk