Page 45 - ALG Issue 3 2020

Norman’s conquest!
Congratulations to Norman Craik for tackling this allotment during lockdown. Every site has one; a plot that seems to defeat all attempts to deal with it. A plot that sees off all newcomers, with its tangle of briers, unyielding soil and the accumulated detritus of past plotholders. This plot on King George V Allotments, East Manchester, was one of them; abandoned, neglected and – dare I say – even unloved.
But one day in early spring, before the lockdown, Norman and his family came to view what was available on our site. There was just this plot. With the help of his wife, Lynne, they set to work. Armed with spades, forks and a flask, they began to make paths and clear rubbish buried under the briers. Slowly and steadily they worked the plot from front to back every day, come rain or shine. The rhubarb was planted, the compost heap started, and a hard-standing area created near the shed. The plot is getting planted up, and will give good results this year, but even better next year. This is Norman’s first allotment, and for a man with ‘a bit of Alzheimer’s’, I think he’s done very well.
But something might have to be done with that ‘Toon Army’ flag... sometime...
John Irwin, NW Representative
Hilton Lane Allotments development
In June 2014 Salford City Council declared that land at Burgess Farm, Hilton Lane, Walkden was surplus to requirements and authorised
the legal services to dispose of the
land and complete the sale, subject
to planning consent, for residential development. That up to 15 allotments are provided as part of the Councils S106 development planning obligations, this would address the low level of
local provision. After much discussion, and the original planning application being refused, the Council issued this statement in December 2019. Bellway Homes have just been given planning application to build 206 homes on the Burgess Farm, Hilton Lane, Walkden site as part of the development plan. They are incorporating an allotment site of 15 plots.
CITY COUNCIL POSITION ON ALLOTMENT PROVISION
One of the conditions of the site disposal is “that up to fifteen (15) allotments are provided by the developer as part of and paid from any open space provision required as part of the Council’s S106 Development Planning Obligations. This would add to the existing allotments on Hilton Lane and address the low level of local provision”. The City Council
does not currently have an alternative site to accommodate the allotments, either locally or elsewhere in the
city; therefore, to satisfy the above condition, provision will need to be incorporated on-site. A financial contribution towards off-site provision would not be acceptable. The minimum requirements of the on-site allotment provision are:
• An enclosed site with 2.4m high 358 security fencing and a 3m wide double leaf gate
• 15 half-sized allotment plots of at least 125m2 in size each (1,875m2), which represents a 50% reduction of the standard plot size
• Water supply and 1 x toilet (a composting toilet may be considered)
• 10ftISOSteelShippingContainer RAL 6005 in Moss Green for secure storage, with appropriate screening as required
• Additional land for access, internal pathways and car parking spaces, which should all be constructed using self-binding gravel2 disabled and 3 standard car parking spaces, assuming that additional on-street parking will also be available adjacent to the site (4 additional car parking spaces will be required if on-street parking will not be available)
Management and Maintenance:
• Either ongoing management and maintenance to be retained by a management company
• Oralternativemanagementand maintenance arrangements to the satisfaction of the City Council, such as negotiation with Hilton Lane Allotments Association which self- manage the nearby site – plots would be offered to residents on existing waiting lists
Bellway Homes latest information
May 2020
Development has been suspended during the Covid-19 lockdown. We have opened some sites where we already have houses being built, on a trial basis for now. We don’t know for sure but it’s likely that other sites including Hilton Lane will re-open this month or early next, but this will depend on how we get on with the sites we are trialling and what Boris says.
We will have to be patient and look forward to having a new allotment site in Salford.
Don Booth
Chair, Salford Federation
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 45