Page 44 - ALG Issue 2 2021

North West
Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire
Welcome to our new members...
Albemarle Allotment Association Bentham Allotment Association Brinnington Rise Allotment Association Clifton Allotments Association
Clovelly Road Allotment Association Dean Row Allotment Society
Liverpool Road Allotment Society Livingston Road Allotments Shrewsbury Drive Allotment Association
12 Individuals 1 Landowner
Billinge Chapel End Parish Council Hartford Parish Council Morecambe Town Council
1 School
REPRESENTATIVE
Mr John Irwin
16 Parkdale Ave, Audenshaw, Manchester M34 5LW
0161 3207779 jirwin.nas@gmail.com
MENTOR
Vacant
Contact diane@nsalg.org.uk
if interested in volunteering with the Region
Comments re. planning for the future white paper
The pandemic has changed the dynamics
of allotment provision nationally and has highlighted a flaw in the logic of shortage of plots and general under provision. Central government has attempted to increase housing development without adding Health and Environmental matters into that logical mix.
To simply provide housing without taking
into account what occupiers need from a health/wellbeing/environmentally sensitive infrastructure is to aid employment, capital investment and probably, flooding in the flood plains without addressing the proven benefits of working in the open air with others who enjoy the same, getting some gentle or very active exercise, along with the joy of growing your own food or just growing anything, in a clean environment.
It is time that central government accepted responsibility for national allotment provision and devolved that responsibility to local councils, with adequate finance to increase provision to
a level that councils/NHS groups/healthcare professionals and environmental advisors agree to be appropriate.
The sale of land by central government, quangos, local councils should only be allowed after the NAS and the appropriate local allotment society have been consulted and confirmed ‘no interest.’
Geoff Hamilton
Salford Allotment Federation
Last year the Government produced a “Planning for the future” white paper; organisations were given the opportunity to comment on reforms that proposes the most radical reforms to the planning system in decades.
44 Allotment and Leisure Gardener
Gilroy Road Community Allotments
With council allotments in short supply in our area, a group of local people campaigned to the council for an unused piece of land to be allocated for use as allotments.
In 2011 this was eventually agreed and Gilroy Road Community Allotments were born. A committee was formed, and after much hard work
clearing what was previously a cow field, 60 allotments were created on the site in West Kirby on the Wirral.
Since our conception, we have worked alongside the local community, and during normal times we host an annual free summer barbecue for all plotholders, their families and friends, and the local residents, which is paid for through fundraising.
We have grown in strength, and after receiving lottery grants, we have been able to improve the facilities on site with the installation of an eco- friendly toilet and a container lockup.
We have recently set aside one of the plots as a community allotment, which is used by a local primary school and a disabled group at no charge, and this has been equipped with wheelchair- friendly raised beds and a shed containing all the necessary tools.
We have a very enthusiastic committee, one of whom produces an excellent quarterly newsletter to all members,
some extracts of which are attached.
During the Covid pandemic, our waiting list has quadrupled as more people are realising the benefits of growing their own in a safe, healthy and pleasant environment.
Barry James