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BUILDERS WANT OUR LAND

Heard on the allotment grapevine that amongst the Options for Growth returns to the Council were some interesting submissions including two from builders who wish to build on the land behind Binswood and New Milverton right across to Sandy Lane and these plans would involve

a) Building on Green Belt

b) Re-adjustment of allotment land to facilitate road access to a new giant estate

So despite the current housing downturn some builders expect to make millions off the Green Belt in the near future unless we stop them in their tracks.

GROW A LITTLE EXTRA SUNSHINE

COUNCIL GIVE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT

At the Leamington Town Council meeting on 2nd July 2008, the Councillors were given a presentation by the WDC Planning Officer on the Options for Growth. After an extensive presentation he was given a severe grilling by the Councillors and failed to give satisfactory answers to most of the key questions.

The allotment societies of Leamington including Binswood were invited to attend and allowed to voice their concerns. Our own John Carrier (the Sweet Pea Champion) gave a strong and passionate argument for the need and retention of allotments, so much so that at the end of his speech all the Councillors applauded him.

The Council subsequently adjourned and formulated a proposal to Warwick District Council, the main points being

1. Leamington Spa Town Council believes that allotment land should be excluded from any option because of its enormous amenity and ecological value and

2. RLSTC considers that the green belt to the north of Leamington Spa (between the towns of Leamington Spa, Warwick and Kenilworth) should not be included in any option because of the great value of this particular green belt in providing a clear definition between the towns of Leamington Spa, Warwick and Kenilworth.

There were 6 other parts to this proposal continuing the same theme of protecting our green spaces. This proposal was passed with a unanimous vote from all the Councillors across the political parties.

So well done everybody - your petition certainly gave the Councillors ammunition and the Wheelbarrow Walk helped publicise our strength of feeling.

Warwick District Council meet in September/October to decide which Option to go for so we will be there to make our presence heard and felt - nobody mucks about with us.

RYTON ORGANIC GARDENS

More support - this time from Ryton Organic Gardens.

WHEELBARROW WALK WAKES UP LEAMINGTON

Leamington on a sunny Sunday afternoon had a noisy awakening when the Leamington Allotment Societies combined to walk their wheelbarrows down The Parade. Over 200 supporters, banging watering cans, whistling whistles and hooting the megaphone accompanied the general call to Ban the Builders from Leamington Allotments.

Wheelbarrows of all shapes and sizes, decorated with all kinds of fruit and veg and lots of messages including ‘Save my Grandad’s Allotment’, ‘Builders have lost the Plot’, ‘Don’t be Mean, Keep Binswood Allotments Green’ and a dog with the message ‘Recycle food waste here’!

Along the way the response from the general public was totally positive and in support of our actions to prevent building on allotments or green spaces. Over 100 signatures were collected as we made our way down The Parade.

We stopped to re-group outside the Town Hall and also in front of Jephson Gardens main gate to many toots and hoots from passing cars.

Finally we all gathered in the Pump Room Gardens for words of support from Alan Beddow (LibDeb Spokesman for Warwick & Leamington),

Ian Davison (Green Party Spokesman), Bill Gifford (LibDeb Councillor),

Jak Sheridan (St Mary’s Allotment Society spokesperson) and

Chris White (Prospective Conservative Candidate for Warwick & L/Spa).

We received apologies and words of support from James Plaskitt MP who had a prior engagement in Warwick.

The speakers all showed total support for not building on allotments or on greenfield sites or green belt. Many suggestions were made to answer the Options for Growth consultation paper including building only on brownfield sites, smaller homes that people could really afford in Leamington and Warwick, and to use common sense to find the best solution to housing needs because allotments and green spaces are essential not only for today but for our children in the future. With over 200 people on the waiting lists for allotments we need more not fewer.

This show of strength underlines our belief that allotmenteers should not be mucked about and left to get on with what they like best – digging!

The Treasurer, worrying about the cost of it all!!

Read the latest updates from the Leamington Courier.

HOUSING FIGURE COULD RISE

Quote from John Archer, Head of the District Council's Planning Department at a meeting of the Whitnash Town Council to explain the Core Strategy which was reported in the Leamington Courier 20.06.08:
"The need for more houses is coming from other districts as well as people living longer and more independently, lifestyle changes and an increase to the number of single-people households......

To be frank the message is the figures may well go up".

TOP GARDENERS BACK US

From the Leamington Courier 20th June 2008

Leamington allotment holders' battle to save their plots is being backed by some of the nation's best-known gardeners.

Gold award-winning Chelsea Flower Show gardener Cleve West has signed up to the Binswood allotment society's Ban the Builders campaign which went live this week. Mr West believes Warwick District Council should be "ashamed" of themselves for including the 155 plots in option one for building 10,800 new homes across the district. The BBC Gardeners' World regular said: "Any council or developer thinking they can sequester allotments for development is guilty of a blatant act of greed. Allotments like Binswood have become a vital fabric of the local community where age, gender, nationality and religion are an enrichment and not a barrier. They contribute towards a healthier society where fresh air, exercise and organic produce are proving to be simple but effective ingredients in terms of well-being. Targeting allotments like Binswood for development is nothing more than short-term opportunism and should be outlawed. Any council even considering such action should be ashamed."
Mr West has also enlisted the support of Joe Swift, who recently appeared at the Gardeners' World Live show at the NEC, and both have vowed to rally the gardening fraternity nationally to fight the planners. Mr Swift said: "Today the 30 plus waiting list at Binswood shows that allotments are more popular than ever as people realise growing fresh food locally plays a vital part in a drive towards a more sustainable future. Take away allotments like Binswood and you are plundering Leamington's unique nature by destroying a heritage that has taken generations to evolve. Allotments like Binswood are priceless."
Allotment society members say the decision to earmark land in and around Leamington, Warwick and Whitnash puts almost a century of hard work in jeopardy. They fear council planners are "hell-bent" on developing the green swathe of land just to the north of Milverton after trying unsuccessfully to have it redesignated for residential land last year.

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Ban the Builders from Binswood!

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