Memorandum by Leys Road Allotment Association, Blackpool
(AL 71)
Leys Road allotment holders were informed in June 1997 that
Blackpool Council wished to redevelop the allotment site and provide
an entrance to a new housing estate which was to be built on some
open space land adjacent to the allotment site.
At this point the Blackpool councillors were not offering
any replacement site and disputed that the Leys Road site was
a statutory site. The site has been present for over thirty years.
The National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners along
with members of the Leys Road Allotments Association entered into
meetings with the Head of Legal Services (Mr Eccles) for Blackpool
Council and the Allotments Officer for the council, Mr Scrivens.
Mr Eccles stated that he was not sure about the legal status of
the site.
Objections to the closure and sale of Leys Road allotments
were sent by the local allotments association and by the North
West Branch of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners
to the regional office in Manchester of the Department of the
Environment and to Mr John Prescott MP, Secretary of State for
the Environment.
Mr Syed from the Department of the Environment informed Mr
Foster from the North West Branch of the National Allotments Association
that Blackpool Council had applied to the Secretary of State for
consent to develop the site. However, the council would only have
applied for consent to do this if they thought that the allotment
site had statutory status. This status has always been denied
to the allotment holders by the council.
Blackpool Council has since offered an alternative site to Leys
Road allotment holders and I have included a summary of our objections
to the sale of our site as well as objections to the proposed
new site.
At no time has Blackpool Council considered the weight of
local objections to the sale of the piece of land which includes
Leys Road allotments. A petition of over 3,000 local residents'
names has been presented to the council.
Some of our allotment holders are old enough to have served
their country during the last war. It is unspeakable the amount
of stress this situation has caused them. We therefore feel an
urgent review of allotment laws, particularly regarding security
of tenure, is needed.
We know also that our plight in Blackpool is unfortunately
not unique. It is merely representative of an endemic national
trend. We feel the government needs to act urgently as sites are
being gobbled up by developers at an alarming rate. Existing allotment
sites need protection now before it is too late! Some of our members
would be more than happy to attend an enquiry to give evidence
if required.
Present law by no means offers adequate protection to sites.
Even those which are granted statutory status are by no means
safe. It appears to be a relatively simple process for councils
to apply to the Secretary of State for permission to change the
use of allotment land. This is invariably then granted and the
whole process seems to be merely a formality, an inevitable foregone
conclusion.
PROVISIONAL OBJECTIONS IN PRINCIPLE TO THE PROPOSED SALE
OF LEYS ROAD, ALLOTMENTS AND RELOCATION TO A PROPOSED SITE KNOWN
AS MOOR PARK AVENUE.
1. Health and Safety
Situated in the centre of the proposed plot is a high
voltage cable electricity pylon. Research shows evidence of
association with brain tumours and increased cancer risks.
2. Land at Moor Park
The land at Moor Park has not yet been appropriated for allotments.
3. Security of Tenure
As there is a rapidly developing industrial area and a school
site at Moor Park the land for the proposed allotment plot may
possibly be required for use if these industries or the school
wish to expand in the future.
4. Alternative Site
20 Acres of land at Leys Road Nursery exists so why
can some of this land not be used for allotments.
5. Suitability of soil at Moor Park
(b) No soil tests have been carried out.
(c) Concerns that land may have been used as land fill
in the past.
6. Accessibility of Proposed Plot
At least half of the allotment holders will have to travel
over 1.75 miles further. This is too far for some elderly allotment
holders.
7. Personal Liability
There are concerns over children or trespassers possibly
being electrocuted on pylons e.g., if gates are left open, tools
thrown at the pylon etc.
8. Planning Application
There may be possible objections by local residents to more
open space being fenced off.
9. Inadequacy of proposed site
(a) Security fence inadequate in an area known for its
vandalism.
(b) Site is exposed to weather conditions - windbreaks
take years to grow.
(c) Proposed roadways are too narrow.
(d) The site is on a main road with many heavy goods
vehicles causing pollution. The Leys Road site does not experience
this problem.
December 1997
Memorandum by Anne Wareham (AL 07)
I am writing as a plot holder on Leys Road Allotment Site,
North Shore, Blackpool.
My allotment is on a site which Blackpool Council wishes
to include in land to be sold for property development.
This area is one of the last remaining corners of natural
beauty in the town of Blackpool. It is an incredibly peaceful
oasis in a town where bricks and concrete are all we can frequently
see. It is a green corner of trees, blossom laden hedgerows, birds
and wildlife. Our Council leader - Ivan Taylor tells us that this
land "belongs to the people of Blackpool" but when thousands
of Blackpool residents demand to keep this land green, they are
held of no account. A "statutory allotment" is a meaningless
term, to be overthrown by both local and central government.
In local government, Blackpool allotments are slowly being
sold off. If ever plot holders have been consulted it is to be
told what the Council wants to do.
In Central Government, the Under Secretary of State, Nick
Raynsford in a letter talks of the designation of areas of Blackpool's
concrete as a possible conservation area!!
It seems that at all levels there is a race to cover up and
destroy any remaining natural areas of beauty and tranquillity.
There is still in many people's hearts a deep yearning for
the land and the satisfaction of growing their food away from
chemicals and pesticides. How sad that there is no protection
in the law for these people and their little plots.
Anne Wareham
December 1997
Memorandum by Kathryn Mansell and Ian
Brown (AL 05)
We are a couple with a 10 year old boy who grow crops on
our allotment for various reasons. The main one being we live
in a pavement fronted terraced house with no garden. As we were
both fortunate enough to have enjoyed gardening as children, we
feel it important that our child benefits from this experience
also. Renting an allotment provides a perfect opportunity for
this.
Contrary to popular myths, allotment holders are not all
elderly gentlemen. Whilst some members of our site are indeed
prisoners, there are plenty of keen younger gardeners including
ourselves. The allotment movement is alive and well and existing
sites need protection and security that present legislation does
not provide.
Statutory status should mean just that rather than the present
situation which affords tenants neither security nor support.
A radical revision of existing laws pertaining to allotment holders
rights and protection of sites is needed.
Despite the fact that our site has been in existence for
over 40 years, it appears we have practically no legal standing
whatsoever. Blackpool Borough Council plan to sell this beautifully
situated site to developers. It is not just home to allotments,
but is a haven for wildlife, peace and tranquility in an already
over developed area.
We are victims not merely of the council, but of present legislation
which offers us no support.
We feel our case in particular is a perfect example of the
inadequacies of the present laws and we would be more than willing
to give evidence to this in person. We hope this enquiry does
not come too late for our case, however we fully support it, in
the hope that others may not have to endure the terrible victimization
the present system allows.
December 1997
Memorandum by Peter McGreevy (AL 04)
I am writing to you about my concern about the Allotment
that I have in Blackpool. At the moment I and others on the Leys
Allotments are in danger of losing the allotments, as the Blackpool
Council want to sell the land to Developers. At the time of writing
we have been offered only one choice of totally unsuitable site,
this is virtually marshy land, it is under overhead power lines
which cover the proposed allotments from two directions. At my
time of life I do not wish to move from my present plot. The soil
is of a most rewarding nature, after many years of cultivation,
this is something that takes time, and I doubt if I would even
have the time to get it to what I now have.
This allotment site and the surrounding area are perhaps
unique to Blackpool being so near to the sea and in a built up
area.
Blackpool as you will know is on the Lancashire coast. The
town is nearly seven miles in length and at its widest two miles
in depth. For geographical purposes the Town Hall is exactly the
centre of the seven miles, and these allotments are the only ones
north of the Town Hall so you can see that the population in the
northern part of the town are not well catered for.
Blackpool Council have not attempted this last few years
to maintain this allotment site, it seems like it has been their
policy to run down this site over the last three years or so,
they have not renewed tenancies etc., fences have been left down
repaired as best they can by tenants. In spite of this we still
want to stay on these Allotments.
Next year will be my fourteenth year on this site, only in
the last few days I have received my new agreement for the 1998
season. The rent has doubled from £12.75 to £22.50 for
the same piece of land (7.5 poles). I do hope that I will be on
this land for a good many years to come.
Peter McGreevy
December 1997
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