Redbridge Council to sell allotments.

[Peter]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6926021.stm is my source.

I quote from the BBC website a couple of sentences.
Please do follow the link for the full BBC story.


"Redbridge Council last night approved proposals to sell four sites within its borough which it hopes will raise about £25m for capital projects.
It promised new plots to owners who say they are not happy with the offer and who insist their plots are "thriving".
The plans need final approval from the Secretary of State for the Environment.
The council said many plots were unused and they were left with no other option but to raise the much-needed funds."

"The four allotment sites are New North Road, Vicarage Lane South, Fullwell Avenue and Goodmayes Lane. "
"If the council's plans get government approval, the allotments could be sold in two years."

Any lucky tenants of Redbridge on the vine?

[Sue]

Peter
25 million! that's enough to make all allotment holders nervous. I do keep worrying, the pressure on councils to reach government housing targets seems to mean that in the South East especially they won't be satisfied until everything disappears under housing.
In our town there hasn't been a whisper about allotments but there is furor regarding large houses being sold for development and flats being built on the space, gardens gone, trees down etc etc.

Sue

[raine]

hi peter, I'm a redbridge lottie holder. we have been fighting this order as our allotment ( chigwell road) was also to be put forward. at the moment, and only after considerable pains , chigwell is UNLIKELY to be put forward as it is two thirds flood plain and so needs FURTHER INVESTIGATION. This does not mean we are safe as it is one of the most Valuable of the allotments. It has left a lot of people with a nasty taste in their mouth as consultation has been sporadic to say the least. We keep fighting on.....
Raine

[seasprout]

Good luck Raine.

[thingybobby]

Hi Raine,

Do the allotments have a good occupancy rate?

If they do, then it will increase your chances of survival, or at least in negotiating for alternative provision.

I'm not sure, but I think that if you are re-located, the Council has to compensate you for the loss of sheds/greenhouses, etc????? (perhaps that's just fantasy, but I'm pretty sure I've heard it somewhere).

Are you affiliated to an Allotment organisation, 'cos they can help????

Thingybobby

[Lambythelottie]

selling lotties...?!?!

its barmy - Brum are selling a couple of their allotments too, but on a good note they are in the process of building a new one. I think I am ok where I am - at least I hope so as I just got my lottie on Monday!!

[raine]

Hi thingybobby- yes we have roughly a 96% occupancy rate but the trouble is the sites are in very popular areas and can command a high price. At the moment, they are re-investigating the chigwell rd site (thats mine) because the majority of it is flood plain and the recent floods have made this a top priority. Daft though it sounds, this still doesn't mean we are safe and the other allotments- some with an even higher take up rate have been forwarded.Allotments have been promised elsewhere but thats not the point we neither know of their suitability nor the state they are in and, of course they are not really local. I am a fit(ish) forty-four year old and struggled to clear the plot i have with the help of my husband and friends, i feel i have a commitment to my bit of earth and would be reluctant to start again elsewhere. Many of our plot holders are much older or have held their plots for many years, I think people who don't garden underestimate the attachment and the effort involved in starting anew. The strategy of selling allotments has been passed at local level and is now to go further. We await further developments but are still fighting our corner.
Sorry to go on but it really makes me mad.
raine