Allotment alert

[raine]

Dear All, I've previously written about the possible threat of my allotment being sold but now it's official! The Chigwell Road allotment in East London is, as i understand it, being cut in half and sold off. I am gutted and i've only been there a year and a half!. This is a friendly old site and many of the old timers who i talk to have been there for years and it really is a lifeline for them. Many people think that just because we have no association, the powers that be have reckoned that we will be a walk over but they are wrong! Luckily we have several people that have much more knowledge than I do about these matters and they are now encouraging all of us to organise ourselves. If there are allotmenters out there with experience of this , please let me know more as there is no way that we let this go without a tremendous fight. It doesn't matter to me or my other half which part of the allotment is to be sold, whether we are to stay or to go, we think this is a bad decision and would welcome any advice.
Thanks very much for your help
Raine

[andrewo]

This is just sickening, they sell off land for housing and then put the infrastructure under strain - it's happened round me, they're eating up the greenbelt so fast that flood plains are moving down stream causing more damage. The allotments we had, have alledgedly been vandalised - no one on that allotment has any knowledge of this - so that the council can sell them off. It's true that councils do have to provide allotments, if enough people ask, however, there is no time window for this. I reckon we should just all guerilla garden - take over pieces of land just left to fly tippers and weeds. I am rather right wing tonight - but it makes my blood boil. The UK won't be happy until every street is the same, all greenery banished and the countryside something we tell to our children to scare them. Sods the lot of them.

[blossom]

If you have legal cover on your house insurance it should be able to help you with this if it does end up affecting you.

[Sue]

Raine
Terrible news, I can only wish you every success with your fight.
If you read View from a Shed by Michael Wale he talks about a similar situation. He is in Acton, you might be able to talk to him via the Acton Gardening Association for advice?
Would the National Allotment Association be able to help?
What are their "reasons" for selling it off? Are they going to provide more land (although that's not the point, I know)
Feel very angry on your behalf.
Sue

[NOG]

Who owns the site?

[raine]

It is owned by the council, that's all i know so far. Can I ask how the household insurance might help-seems like an avenue i should persue. Have been talking to loads of people on site and it just seems absolutely ridiculous. one lady i spoke to has been there 21 years and she is not in the minority! It's not as if it's an unused site either, looking around most of the plots seem taken. Trouble is , we're in a very popular area at the moment and the money they can get for the land is huge but the area just can't keep taking more luxury flats and apartments - soon there won't be any green space at all! I am feeling very angry at the moment, more on behalf of a load of the older plot holders who feel this is their life, social and otherwise than for myself, and i feel very strongly that this is something worth making a fuss over. Any encouragement and advice gratefully received !
Raine

[raine]

oops- sorry forgot to add- the reason they are selling them off is purely because they need to raise cash. I've been told 150 million is what they need and the allotment will bring in 10 million, don't know if this is accurate or just a rumour.The council have already sold several local car parks so you see what i mean about building on every available piece of land. South Woodford is not going to be as lovely as it was .
Raine

[Stacey]

have you contacted any local newpapers,radio stations,magazines. Your MP even? Might sound odd but I bet Help the Aged could help. you should definately start a save our allotment campaign. Even if they are moving the allotment the quality of the soil wont be the same. really cause a fuss on this one and I reckon you could win. best of luck xx

[TonyF]

Hi Raine

I know your area quite well (lived in East London for 40 years
before I moved to France)and I'd be insensed as well. Papers, MPs, try to drum up some interest from local tv and radio as well - sort of thing the London based progs may go with and write to City Hall. Speak to Roger Hignan at Friends of the Earth, I don 't think it's his area of expertise now but he can also give you some advice.

[bubblewrap]

This desision was taken by the local councilors, remind those councilors that their council seats realy on your & other allotment holders votes.
Or get someone to stand against those "b*****ds who voted to "sell off" your allotments. I would ask who is going to gain from this action.(not local people)

[Sue]

Raine
Any decisions yet?
I think your problem sets off worries all over, especially in the overcrowded south, mind boggling to think the land is worth that much, it makes us (or me) feel very vulnerable, the possibility that the allotments could be threatened when you rather vaguely think they're safe
If you're starting a petition let me sign!
best wishes
Sue

[Stacey]

Well whats the action?

[PAULW]

Posted by Peter on allotment advise may be of some help
http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1127687

[PAULW]

Allotment land cannot be sold without DoE approval, Bournemouth council had to get permission from john prescott to be able to sell part of the Preistley Rd allotment, then part of the monies had to be spent on upgrading the other allotments in the borough, if more than six people require an allotment it is the councils duty to provide an area of land for them,

[Earthbabe]

Hi Raine. I've only just seen this thread. I think pretty much all of us can understand your anger and are also somewhat devastated for you. I lived in South Woodford for a year and it was a lovely place to live, although I didn't really explore it (only young then).

If the rumours are true the sale is only going to provide a small part of the monies required which only really adds to the insult.

Best of luck with your fight.