RICHARD May (Soapbox, April 3) seems to take some delight in misrepresenting the facts about allotments.

Eastleigh Borough Council has increased, not decreased, the number of allotments in the town in recent years.

Indeed, we have spent over £1 million providing high quality allotments on a number of new sites around Eastleigh, Boyatt Wood and Chandler's Ford, closer to where most allotment holders live.

In the process we have reduced the number of travel journeys many allotment holders need to make, and opened up allotment gardening to many new people.

We support and encourage allotment gardening, and will continue to do so, even in the face of continued opposition from a small number of residents with a vested interest in opposing change.

Cllr Keith House, leader, of Eastleigh Borough Council.