Audlem allotments update

Christine and I have attended Parish Council meetings in our role as co-opted members – and Jane Marshall came with us to the April one and it was great to have her there.

Pam Seddon and Philip Bradbury-Smith (the councillors on the Allotments working party with Christine and me) had visited a couple of land owners and other sites were suggested at that meeting. We duly visited the sites and the Council contacted the land owners but as yet nothing is forthcoming. We always knew that this was going to be a long process but at the moment, with all this land around us, it feels like the old saying " water water everywhere and not a drop to drink!"

I responded to an article on Radio 4's You and Your's programme asking for allotment articles and in that I said that it was very difficult to find land in a rural, agricultural area.

We are planning to hold a meeting in the next few weeks and have invited the NW region rep from the National Association of Allotments to speak and answer questions. We will make this an open meeting. It seems that there are a lot of rumours circulating in the village about allotments in general, the potential ones in Audlem in particular and the people who have allotments. If you hear any of this could you please reassure people on the following points:-

a) the site will NOT look like a 3rd world shanty town and the layout will be strictly regulated – old baths and flapping plastic will not be allowed! It will be planned and screened as I'm sure we all want a site which will enhance the village and contribute to its atmosphere.

b) the allotments will NOT be a 9 days wonder and then left to fall into decay – every authority in England has long waiting lists and there will not be any difficulty in letting the plots

c) when the site has been identified there is a lot of funding available for community projects, especially allotments, and the site will be self financing

Christine and I will, over the coming weeks, be posting photos of typical allotment sites on the website along with up to date information.

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