Coun. Harry Purcell came up with the idea at a meeting of the full council and felt allotments would make an ideal use of the land where the old toilets had stood.

Coun. Jennifer Purcell supported his suggestion and said that having people working on their allotments could help cut back on antisocial behaviour and vandalism.

But Coun. David Whipp said any change would raise planning as well as ownership issues, as the land had been incorporated into the park when Pendle Council came into being and was designated as "open space".

It was agreed the suggestion should be put before the allotments committee.

Members of the allotments committee are also to be asked to discuss a request from an allotment holder to keep hens on their Hardy Avenue plot. Under present rules, livestock is banned on council-owned allotments, other than those in West Close Road.

Coun Whipp said it was his recollection that nearby residents were not keen on livestock being kept there, amid fears this could attract vermin. He added there had also been complaints about noise from cockerels.