There are currently 9 applications under consideration for the sale of statutory allotment land. Modern allotments of course involve a wide range of groups and organisations - conservation and bio-diversity interests, gardening clubs, schools, community groups, social support arrangements as well as planning provisions for allotments required under local planning schemes and urban green space and recreational facilities.( Planning policy note 17). So if you know of anyone who might be interested in using this land and perhaps not informed of its proposed sale it would be a kindness to alert them to that proposed sale. To succeed in selling it seems the Local Authority should have advertised the vacant plots widely and had three years nil or poor response, and/or be replacing the Field with land within a mile (among other provisions). The land should according to Government guidelines have been purchased for allotment use or have been so used for a long period of time. Objections need to go in quickly, with proposed uses and plot applications perhaps. The sale value should - according to barrister's advice - go to buying replacement allotment land where demand exists.
The sites (with the regional government office dealing with it, are: -
Government Office Local Authority Site Name
East Cambridege
Elmfield Close
" Norfolk CC ThetfoThetford Railway
" Breckland Shoulder of Mutton
" Breckland Days Field
" Land in Beccles
North East Derwenstshire Stobilee, Langley Park, Durham
South East West Sussex RC Storrington
South East New Romney Kent CC
East Midlands Bolsover Longlands & Oxcroft Lane
East Midlands South Holland Hop Yard Field, Whaplode
Yorkshire & Humberside City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council UA Scotchman Road allotments
" Kirkless UA Park Parade Allotments, Dewsbury
North West Manchester UA Edge Lane, Manchester
South West Torridge DC Bideford Town Council
" Rochdale UA Hollin Lane/Rochdale Road, Middtn
London Ealing South Acton Estate
Helpful suggestions might be had by contacting: -
http://www.allotmentssouthwest.ik.com ;)
Good luck!
Thanks for the link, Adam.
Yes, thanks for that Adam, both of the sites listed as North East are close to my area (although thankfully not the one's we run).
I'll put the word around that this is being proposed to see if people want to object.
Thanks again :)
I am on one of these sites and we're fighting the land grab with the help of NSALG
Government policy is to keep allotments but it didn't matter when it came to Manor Gardens did it >:(