Plans for a new allotment site in a west Cumbrian village are taking a step forward despite the opposition of a group of residents.

Seaton Parish Council has applied to Allerdale council to create a new allotment site on land it owns at Meadow Vale.

But angry nearby residents said they have not been appropriately consulted on the plans.

The land at Meadow Vale was gifted to the parish council by a landowner and councillors agreed to set aside up to £30,000 for the project.

Plans include creating 20 individual plots to be rented out to villagers, each plot having two sheds measuring nine square metres, a toilet, a storage container and a community garden with a shared allotment area with four polytunnels and four sheds.

Paul Nicholson, of Meadow Vale, had previously raised concerns to about the project on behalf of nearby residents neighbours who fear the project would create noise, antisocial behaviour and visual impact.

He said: "The parish council and Allerdale Borough Council have committed to discuss proposals and steps required with residents, but despite continued efforts from residents meetings have not been arranged.

"Separately the parish council has committed to fully consult with residents on design, construction and operation of the proposal before implementing works. Again, such consultation has not yet taken place.

"We are assured the plans articulate an envelope of design, but any final plans will be subject to consultation with residents. In the planning context the application does not address the intensification of use which will require planning consent before the proposal implemented.

"The parish council has made a commitment to spend £30,000 of public money and it is important this is dealt with in an appropriate manner."

But the parish council rejected claims residents were not consulted.

A council spokesman said: "The parish council is very willing to consider concerns raised and has in fact removed from its proposals a plan to introduce a track which would enable vehicles to access the site following concerns expressed by nearby residents. In addition it is investigating the possibility, in consultation with Sustrans and Iggesund, of constructing a new path on land owned by the latter, which would enable an access route for pedestrian and disabled use, to be introduced at the western end of the site, which would address concerns about footway access adjacent to properties in the vicinity.

"The parish council has agreed to take part in a discussion which Allerdale council's planning officers are organising, involving residents’ representatives and also to hold further discussions with residents following that meeting, which it anticipates will take place in the near future.

"In addition, the parish council has invited residents’ representatives to attend meetings of the council’s Allotment Working Party, which deals with the detailed arrangements of the development.

"The parish council looks forward to working positively with all parties with an interest in the development in order to produce a facility which the village can be proud of and which will enable the residents of the village, both young and old, to enjoy a healthy pastime."

This is the latest row in a long-running saga involving the village's allotment provision.

In 2015, allotment holders were evicted from their former site at Lowca Lane after a four-year battle over the ownership of the land.

In 2011 the land was bought at auction for £20,000 by David Hall and Ken Walker, who obtained a court order to evict the plot holders.

After initially seeking a compulsory purchase order worth £35,000, the parish council decided to look for an alternative site.