Residents were told they would have to move out immediately from their Cappogue plots to land in Naul, Co. Dublin, which is located too far out for most allotment holders, many of whom are old age pensioners.

"For the council to even think of moving us out to somewhere that is 20 miles away is savage, " said Thomas Callanan (77) who has been an allotment holder for over 20 years. "Working on an allotment is a form of therapy for old people and we think the council could be more co-operative with us about it. If many of the people here didn't have an allotment as a hobby, they'd be in nursing homes. Caring for the land really gives you a sense of purpose."

Allotments have become increasingly popular in recent years. In 1999, Fingal County Council had no waiting list for its allotments.

Now it has a waiting list of 112 for Cappogue and 199 for its plot in Turvey. These waiting lists have had to be closed because the council cannot accommodate further requests for land.

Due to a delay in selling the land at Cappogue, a spokeswoman for the council said the council would now be looking for land within the Dublin 15 area. "The allotments at Cappogue will remain open for another year and we will be searching for a suitable plot near Blanchardstown, " she said. "We would like to get more space for allotments due to the growing demand, but cannot say at present whether this will be possible."

Allotments are rented out on a one-year basis and are available to all in the area, regardless of income status or garden size. Prices vary from 30 for a plot in Fingal to 60 100 for a plot in south Dublin and concessions are given to pensioners and the unemployed.

"Every council in the country needs to rethink their policy on allotments, " said Joan Burton TD.

"We're constantly hearing about increasing levels of obesity but the interest in increasing land for allotments just doesn't seem to be there among the councils."

Since Callanan started gardening in the 1980s, his allotment has been moved four times. "I started out in Porterstown, then was sent to Dunsink, Ballycoolin and finally Cappogue, " he said. "I'm not against progress and understand if the council has to move us again. But the land we are offered has to be accepted by us before we move. Too many times you can be given a landfill that's full of mud and stones. You can't grow a thing on that kind of land."