Grow Your Own Magazine

A group of us have asked the parish council for an allotment site as the new houses being built have tiny gardens. They have agreed in principal, but appear to have left it up to us to identify suitable land, which they will then consider. We have been looking but most is earmarked for building and already has planning permission. In front of my house is a large strip which was offered to the local primary school in case they wanted to expand, but the school does not want it, according to the headmistress last week. Instead they will return it to the developer, who, we have been told, will probably then build on it. We have been told it is unlikely permission will be denied unless another appropriate use is identified. So far it has been unfenced, and grassed over so it has been used as an unofficial playground by children in the houses fronting onto it, instead of the green a couple of minutes down the road, which was earmarked as the green space for the estate.
I did not think the idea of allotments instead of the green area would go down well, but I was hoping that the possibility of allotments instead of houses would be preferable, but apparently not. I was talking to neighbours today and they are concerned about the type of people that would take up the plots and some said the houses would not happen for 5 years, by which time they would probably have moved, whereas the allotments would probably be in the next year. They were also concerned about car parking and traffic, although I know a lot of the people interested are on the estate and would not wish to use care often. I think there would be more traffic if it was developed for houses to tell the truth.
Knowing that I was for it, they hastened to say that they could appreciate allotments would be good for the environment, and everyone is entitled to a hobby etc, ect, but not near them. They would not object to a playground if more amenity land is available, but then their children are still at primary school, (mine are teenagers who would not benefit from a playground) and that way they wouldn't need to take them to the playground in the village centre, or the one 10 minutes up the road in the other direction. They were surprised when I said that more and more parents take their children to allotments.
They are also worried that an alloment site will devalue their houses, although I think more houses in front of us would probably have some effect as well. When we bought we were all told verbally that the school was having the land, I know we would have thought twice if we had known houses could be built the otherside of the path.
I think there would be problems with being so close to houses for the plot holders, as we would need to be careful about what we use, so everything was 'good looking' etc, but I cannot deny that coming out of my front door, crossing the path, and being on my allotment would be lovely and convenient.
I was wondering if a community garden would be more acceptable, but probably not, as it would still mean that 'strangers' would be passing the houses and people might come in cars. Mind you the path in front of me is a footpath through the whole estate so there is total public access. Hopefully we will be able to identify somewhere else more suitable, but most places are too valuable for housing.
I know it was a long shot, but I am feeling disappointed that they are not even considering the idea. I for one do not want to look out of my front windows and wave to people the other side of the footpath who are looking out of theirs.

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I could not live without a garden, it is my place to unwind and recover, to marvel at the power of all growing things, even weeds!

http://potagerplot.blogspot.com/

Hi BarleySugar

It would be nice if it could be allotments just for the immediate area, if their was enough interest, to minimise parking and stangers.

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Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

Michael Pollan

Whereabouts in Kent are you Barleysugar? I didn't realise that the council were obliged to provide more allotments as more houses were built. I'm on the waiting list for a lottie at the moment, but there is a prime site right behind my back garden. I know there is some sort of "covenent" (or something like that) saying that the land can't be used for building, so a few years ago our whole close approached the council to ask if we could purchase individual pieces of the land to extend out gardens, but we were turned down, but if it could be turned into allotments, I think that would be great. I'm in Ashford

I'm in Iwade, the closest allotments are on the Isle of Sheppey or Sittingbourne. Apparently if there is no site and there is enough interest the local council is obliged to provide somewhere, but there is no 'time limit' and there has to be 'suitable land', or so we have been told. Therefore it could be years before anything happens, but we are pushing as hard as we can.
I know there has been a lot of new build in Ashford, in fact we looked at the show homes there because there wasn't one of 'ours' in Iwade. Although I know children do need playgrounds, it would be nice if they considered other demographic groups when providing amenity areas. Give it a go, they can only say no, but if you don't ask you won't know. (Didn't realise I was a poet!)

__________________
I could not live without a garden, it is my place to unwind and recover, to marvel at the power of all growing things, even weeds!

http://potagerplot.blogspot.com/