ALLOTMENTS in Acton are under threat from rail construction projects.

Two sites, both the Noel Road and the Great Western allotments, are to be closed and scheduled to become a worksite for Crossrail construction projects.

Crossrail says the land is needed for temporary storage for the development of an overland railway, but if the allotments are lost, residents in Acton will have no others to use.

Darren Johnson, Green Party Member of the London Assembly, is very concerned.

He said: "We cannot keep solving difficult construction dilemmas by building on open spaces, particularly allotments. Not only do allotments provide good quality and affordable vegetables and fruit, they provide an important green oasis in an otherwise heavily built-up area of London."

More than 165 residents have signed a petiton against the development.