Allotments in Buckland Newton

Objective: To establish allotment space in or near Buckland Newton

Campaign Status:  Active, Assess-Support
 

support | oppose | question

Background:

As far as we know the nearest allotments available to Buckland Newton residents are in Sherborne -an 18 mile round trip which is increasingly difficult to justify both in terms of time and expense and in terms of the carbon footprint.

Allotments in our parish were apparently sold off in the 1980s but we believe that a group of six or more potential allotment holders can ask their local authority to provide suitable land. A quick search on the dorsetforyou website reveals "councils have a statutory requirement to provide allotments for the public". Whether this means that allotments provided in Dorchester, Sherborne, Stalbridge and Sturminster Newton (among others) are sufficient for DCC (or WDDC or the parish council) to claim they have discharged their responsibility, remains to be seen.

If you would like an allotment locally, please support this campaign and we will test the water with the appropriate authority. We are aware that there is a waiting list for any of the new allotments being created with the eco-housing site that aren't used.


Comments/ Updates:
 

18/4/08 "We have a similar problem in Verwood - though I notice from the committe minutes that they are looking into this as more than 6 people want one. Might be worth your keeping an eye on what happens to us. Some places restrict plots to people who live in the local area - so you might not be able to have one 18 miles away anyway." S. Williams

19/3/08 "Allotments are a great way of bringing people in the community together, they help keep you fit and they reduce food miles. Taking up an allotment can also help prevent the over-development of housing." anon
 

18/3/08 "Following the last meeting, I offered to generate some publicity on behalf of the Parish Council and yesterday walked around the village pushing my son Max in his pushchair with a sheaf of posters in hand. I had a 100% hit rate (Church, Pub, Shop and Village Hall) and even picked up another interested person on my travels." Damian Brothers

23/2/08 "I discovered at the meeting on Tuesday that Dorset County Council own a site in the village (approx 2.5 acres) which was originally acquired in case the village school needed more space to expand. This requirement has now been ruled out and as central government are encouraging local councils to realise unwanted assets, the Parish Council have been asking the county council to refrain from selling the land in case it was required for the Affordable Housing Scheme. As this has found another home, the PC, knowing that the allotments planned as part the Affordable Housing Scheme were over-subscribed have suggested to the community that the land be acquired for that purpose and possibly for a community orchard. Apparently interest is already at four people known to the councillors." Damian Brothers

18/2/08 "I have received an invitation to the BN Parish Council Meeting tomorrow to hear news of a possible site for allotments. This is actually nothing to do with my efforts of last summer, which resulted in a big fat zero expressions of interest."  Damian Brothers

1/11/07 "I have forgotten the source of my original information but have re-checked with a BN Parish Councillor who tells me that they, the Parish Council, sold the allotments in the 1960s. Apparently there was no demand.

You may be interested to know that there is a new housing development happening in the parish and the plans include an allotment for each house." Damian Brothers

18/10/07 "You say that Buckland Newton allotments were sold in 1980. Who were they sold by? If NDDC they did not own them. They do not have the power or duty to own and run allotments (temporary or statutory). Their ownership should have been devolved to the lowest level of government in 1974 to the the parish council who probably still own them. I have the statutes. " Bill Summers

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