Page 48 - ALG Issue 1 2019

North West
Regeneration of Mossfield Allotment
2013
The Federation approached the Council
with a view of regenerating this site, which had not been used for 20-30 years. Salford City Council (SCC) had a Preliminary Risk Assessment carried out that did not highlight any areas of concern.
2014
SCC did an Allotment Update Report. A statutory allotment site, which had
not been cultivated for many years, was very overgrown. A key issue for the site was vehicular access due to a housing development in the area; an alternative single-track access was being considered, which at that time had a number of motorbike inhibitor controls which would have to be removed.
Proposals: To clear vegetation and debris on site. SCC/Salford Allotment Federation (SAF) had a meeting with the Community Payback Team, who agreed to clear the area, redesign access controls, install surfaced areas and replace fencing and access gates. The site would provide 18 full size plots, a reduction on the original estimate of 25 full-sized plots.
2015
At the SCC/SAF meeting it was decided
to put the project on hold because of the playing pitch strategy. A possibility had arisen to utilise a former recreation site for allotments - this would provide a larger
site, easier access as it was already fenced and did not require clearance, also less disturbance for residents. If the land swap was not possible and the land was required for recreation or other use, we would proceed with the proposal to bring the derelict Mossfield site back into use. The new site is refused so we got the ok to go ahead with the original allotment site
2016
Councillor Dawson gave us his backing for the project and arranged for us to have a meeting at the Town Hall. In January we held our first meeting where we described the proposed site and how things were progressing. A committee needed to be formed from the people on the waiting list so that we could progress to self-management. At an SAF meeting on the 1st March SCC informed us that the fencing was going ahead that month and they were awaiting a price for land clearance. They also informed us that they were going to present a layout plan of the site and determine suitable plot size to the next Mossfield meeting.
At the Mossfield meeting on 3rd May, SCC
gave us an update on the site regarding the fencing, site clearance and a drivable access to the site with a hard-standing area for cars etc. A committee was formed consisting of chairman, secretary and treasurer, so that a constitution could be drawn up and a bank account opened, to enable us to apply for funding to carry on with the work that had already been done. The next step when the site plan had been drawn up was to arrange the size of the plots, including a disabled bay, and then mark them out ready for occupation.
At the SAF meeting in July, a problem had arisen from standing water on the site. One solution was to excavate a pond in the far corner to improve the drainage; this reduced the number of plots from 30 down to 28.
At the SAF meeting in November, the
site was handed over to the Mossfield Committee.
Don Booth, Salford Allotment Federation
J MAHER LTD.
Suppliers To Growers, Allotments & Horticultural Societies in Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside & Greater Manchester.
Distributors Of The Following Manufacturers: Clover, Durstons, Thomas Elliot Fertilisers, Chempak, SBM (Bayer Garden), Maxicrop, Creoseal, Gardman, Scotts Miracle Gro, Westland, JBA & WCF Seed Potatoes Johnsons Grass Seed, Doff, Organico (6X), Vitax,
Plus Many More.
Ring or E-mail for a comprehensive price list
427/429
Lever Edge Lane, Bolton, BL3 3BG,
Mail –
Tel (01204) 64918 E-
jmaherltd@btconnect.com
48