PRIVATE allotment spaces designed to bust the waiting lists for council-owned green spaces have gone on the market after two years of preparation by a green-fingered teacher.

Andrew Laker, 39, of Callington Road, wanted to work his own allotment on one of the many plots run by Swindon Council, but found the two-year waiting list in his parish was too long.

Andrew took matters into his own hands and began tracking down suitable plots of land in and around Swindon available to be used as allotments, which, he said, was tough given the amount of land currently earmarked for building developments around the borough.

The land was eventually found in Hay Lane, or the B4005 south of Junction 16 on the M4, bordering the railway line which passes to the south of Swindon.

The 35-plot section of land is heftily secured by a six foot fence, reinforced with chicken wire, as well as a fob entry system.

The new venture has been named My Patch by Andrew, who maintains applicants will have the allotment as theirs to use within 48 hours of applying, as opposed to several years.

“I wanted to get one about three years ago, but I found it was quite an ordeal,” he said.

“I just love growing vegetables and other things – all the way through my upbringing it was the same.”

The plot of land was bought for somewhere between £10,000 and £50,000, though Andrew is unprepared to be any more specific than that.

The land was bought at an auction in October 2011 and for the past 24 months he has worked on his own, whilst holding down a full-time job, to clear the land of vegetation and weeds in readiness for his master plan.

“I will make a bigger push for applicants in the spring, but for the moment I have a sign up at the land itself,” he said.

“There is parking access for whenever people want to come and go. There is the fencing too, and ultimately three water stations on site for users.

“I didn’t quite get it to the standard I wanted, but I’m happy enough for people to come and have a look at it.”

Despite his investment in the land Andrew has no qualms about failing and facing financial issues. He is confident the plots will definitely be used in some way or another.

And what will he be growing in his own allotment on the land? “I want to put some vegetables in the spring and some flowers too, I think that will be a nice little thing to have.

“Potatoes, carrots and beetroots first: the easy ones.”