ALLOTMENTS

Existing Allotment Provision

The Council currently looks after two allotment sites both within the Robert Ashton Memorial park.  One site overlooks Mill Bank Road and Meltham Mills and the other is situated on Huddersfield Road.  We currently have 24 allotment holders sharing the two sites and a lengthy waiting list of 30 plus people!  If you want to be added to this list then please contact the Clerk with your details, (you need to live within the Parish).

Proposed New Allotment Site

Over the past few months, the Council has been in negotiation with St Bartholomew’s Church over a piece of land which could be used for allotments.  The area of land in question is off Calmlands Road and by Heather Avenue, directly in front of the cemetery. 

As part of the negotiations, the church have made several conditions about how the land will need to be altered which includes things such as effective screening of the cemetery, installation of a vehicular and pedestrian access and extension of the water supply into the site.  As you can imagine, all of the aforementioned works as well as the initial ground works will incur a substantial cost.  Although the Council fully wishes to support implementation of a new allotment site it needs to be sure that demand still exists and also asks whether the potential allotment holders may want to form a ‘self managed’ site. 

PROGRESS UPDATE

The Council held a public meeting 5 July 2010 at 6pmin the Council Chamber.

The meeting was very well attended with 23 members of public and ten members of Council.

A presentation was given on the present allotment provision and the proposed land at Calmlands.  Tony Heeson, Yorkshire representative from the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Ltd (NSALG) provided details about running a self-managed site.  After discussion and by a show of hands it was decided that the site should be self managed and six people expressed an interest in forming the committee.  The Committee will now meet on site on Wednesday 14 July at 6pm.
Allotment Committee and Clerk to meet at Calmlands Road on Wednesday 14 July at 6pm.

A site meeting was held to assess the work required.  The Committee agreed a constitution and then elected a Secretary - Ian Dorrington and a Treasurer - Pete Williams.

It was agreed that quotations for the necessary work would be sought and investigation into the water supply would be undertaken.  The Clerk to the Council would clarify the position regarding access tracks and greenhouses / sheds with Kirklees Planning Services and would report back to the Committee.

29 July 2010 A letter was hand delivered to all residents who live in a house which backs on to the proposed site explaining the up to date situation.  All replies that have been received have been responded to and information forwarded to the Secretary of the Association so that the Committee are aware of the local residents concerns.

Further information of allotments can be found at The National Society of Allotment & Leisure Gardeners Limited: http://www.nsalg.org.uk/

Kirklees Council also have allotments and you can find out further details at http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/health-care/activelife/allotment.shtml