Allotmenteers appeal to MP

More than 70 plots under threat

HUNGERFORD allotmenteers, threatened with eviction in a planning wrangle, have sought help from their MP.

The chairman of Hungerford Allotment Holders Association (HAHA), Geoff Greenland, has written to Richard Benyon pleading with him to intervene on their behalf.

The future of more than 70 allotments at the Marsh Lane site is under threat after the land owner and his development partner announced the lease would not be renewed beyond April 2016.

Developer Mark Norgate of Donnington New Homes wants to build 57 homes on 2.8 hectares of land near Smitham Bridge Road (designated HUN001) – but this has so far been rejected by West Berkshire Council in favour of land east of Salisbury Road.

Mr Norgate has said previously that, should the district council change its mind and adopt the HUN001 site “then the lease for the Marsh Lane site could be extended – or become permanent”.

However he warned that, unless West Berkshire Council could be thus persuaded, he and the land owner would evict HAHA and concentrate on developing Marsh Lane – branded undevelopable for at least 15 years by planners.

In his letter to Mr Benyon, Mr Greenland said of Mr Norgate’s position: “Whilst HAHA can understand his wish to use all levers at his disposal, we believe it is an unfair tactic to use against 77 Hungerford families who have developed and run this self-managed site at no cost to the ratepayer.

“We appear to be innocent pawns in this conflict between the local authority and a local landowner/ developer. It undermines the whole concept of good citizenship and self-help being promoted by the Government.”

District councillors Paul Hewer and James Podger (both Con, Hungerford) are already working to secure a lease extension; however Mr Greenland went on: “Time is now very critical as plot holders will be receiving their eviction notices in a little over four weeks.

“This asset has benefitted from nearly £10,000 of publicly funded grants and 2,500 hours of volunteers’ time. A timely intervention by someone of your standing and high reputation might help resolve the issue before positions become too entrenched.”

Town mayor Martin Crane has meanwhile written to Mr Norgate on “this most sensitive issue”, pleading with him not to be “forced into a rather entrenched position, which I am sure is not your intention”.

He reassured Mr Norgate that the town council was “polishing its defence of the Housing Allocation sites that include HUN 001 which will be included in the papers that are to be read by the independent planning inspector”.

HAHA plans to hold an extraordinary general meeting to discuss its strategy in January.