Worries grow over Salisbury allotment plots
ALLOTMENT holders are demanding reassurances after hearing their plots may have been earmarked for new homes.
A consultation document by the district council's forward planners lists the Warwick Close allotments as a possible location for 510 of the 12,400 new homes which the council has been ordered to provide in the next 20 years.
But in response to a Journal inquiry, they said there had been a mistake, and insisted only a maximum of 29 homes had been considered there, on a part of the site measuring 0.58 hectares.
The Fisherton Farm allotment site could, with a new access road, potentially accommodate 130 homes, according to the official assessment, although it points out it is in a conservation area and both sites are in an area of archaeological significance.
Salisbury Allotments Association is horrified by both ideas, outlined in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment on the council's website.
Secretary, Clive Williams, said: "To put 510 homes at Warwick Close would swallow up the whole of the allotments and a considerable chunk of land down to the back of South Wilts School."
A planners' report on the 0.58 hectare site at Warwick Close says it could accommodate between 17 and 29 homes, with access from Warwick Avenue.
Mr Williams said: "We have asked the council to bring that land back into cultivation, but they haven't done so. They say it's too close to people's homes, and that people throw stones and destroy the crops."
Of Fisherton Farm, he added: "Presently, it has every single allotment taken. Although some allotments fell into disuse a few years ago, and have been used for pony paddocks, there is a growing demand nowadays as people want to know where their vegetables come from.
"Our members want clarification none of this is going to be built on. A lot of people have been allotment holders for 40 years or more. Allotments represent an escape from the city, and an escape from working life."
9:14am Wednesday 26th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: dustyhole, salisbury on 2:20pm Thu 27 Mar 08
I was absolutely horrified to read about this planners report why was i not told when we took over the allotment at the begining of the year?
We have been waiting quite a while for a plot to become available and where overjoyed when we found out that this year we had been sucessful.
Thinking that we would have this plot for as long as we wanted we have invested hundreds of pounds on fencing to keep out the rabbits, a poly tunnel to help us through the colder months, a shed for most of our tools and a rotovator. Will the council reinburse me if they decide houses are better than the ability to provide fresh veg for my family? because it will be no use to me where we live because the garden is not big enough.
I really hope that the councilors responsible think long and hard about what they are doing these allotments are extremely important to a lot of local people and with the way food prices are going up are likely to become more in demand.
I was absolutely horrified to read about this planners report why was i not told when we took over the allotment at the begining of the year?
We have been waiting quite a while for a plot to become available and where overjoyed when we found out that this year we had been sucessful.
Thinking that we would have this plot for as long as we wanted we have invested hundreds of pounds on fencing to keep out the rabbits, a poly tunnel to help us through the colder months, a shed for most of our tools and a rotovator. Will the council reinburse me if they decide houses are better than the ability to provide fresh veg for my family? because it will be no use to me where we live because the garden is not big enough.
I really hope that the councilors responsible think long and hard about what they are doing these allotments are extremely important to a lot of local people and with the way food prices are going up are likely to become more in demand.
Posted by: tazman, Old Sarum on 3:00pm Sun 30 Mar 08
I am a plot holder at Warwick Road and am amazed that the council is considering building houses on this, or any other allotment site in the present climate of encouraging everyone to grow their own produce and to live healthily. Like The correspondent above, I have invested heavily in my plot and ask only that I am allowed to get a return from my investment.
As for the reported comment from the council that they would not return the vacant land at Warwick Road to cultivation because of the proximity of the houses and people throwing stones and destroying crops, what do the council propose to do about the proximity of the possible new houses? Let more plots become vacant so as to provide another 'buffer zone', or is this a long term creeping death plan?
I am a plot holder at Warwick Road and am amazed that the council is considering building houses on this, or any other allotment site in the present climate of encouraging everyone to grow their own produce and to live healthily. Like The correspondent above, I have invested heavily in my plot and ask only that I am allowed to get a return from my investment.
As for the reported comment from the council that they would not return the vacant land at Warwick Road to cultivation because of the proximity of the houses and people throwing stones and destroying crops, what do the council propose to do about the proximity of the possible new houses? Let more plots become vacant so as to provide another 'buffer zone', or is this a long term creeping death plan?
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