Hungerford allotments in crisis

More than 70 families fear they are pawns in planning row

THE future of more than 70 allotments in Hungerford is under threat.

The crisis directly affects the Marsh Lane site, but there are fears a knock-on effect on the Fairfields plot could threaten the entire civic allotment project, hitherto deemed a roaring success.

The chairman of Hungerford Allotment Holders Association (HAHA), Geoff Greenland, said in a letter to Hungerford Town Council that members were “devastated” by a “sudden refusal” to extend the lease at Marsh Lane beyond April 2016.

He wrote: “The considerable uncertainty over the future of this site threatens future rental incomes and, with it, the continued viability of HAHA itself.

“It would be a great pity if such a hitherto successful council initiative were to end this way.”

Ironically the Marsh Lane plot has been designated by planners as “not currently developable” for 15 years plus.

But the allotment families have found themselves pawns in a much larger game.

The would-be site developer, Mark Norgate of Donnington New Homes, also 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.

Peter Harries, who as town mayor was instrumental in arranging allotment provision in 2009, accused Mr Norgate of using the threat to the allotments’ future as leverage to “force the hand” of town planners in his larger scheme.

Mr Norgate said that the Marsh Lane site had always been leased to the town council as a “stop gap” and accused councillors of “letting things slide” meanwhile.

He said: “It was always made explicitly clear that we were promoting the land for housing.

“The town council should have kept looking for a permanent home for allotments.

“Hungerford Town Council has been supportive of our efforts to have HUN001 allocated for development but West Berkshire Council has chosen to ignore this.

“We believe that, if housing is to go on the site east of Salisbury Road instead, then that land owner should provide an allotment site.”

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

However he said that, unless West Berkshire Council could be persuaded to reverse its decision, then he and the land owner would concentrate on developing Marsh Lane.

Mr Norgate said he would therefore oppose any extension of the lease because: “Our competitors such as Chilton Estates would say it shouldn’t be developed for housing because it’s being used for allotments.

“I really want to be supportive of HAHA, but we’re in the business of building houses, not providing allotments – unless that comes as part of a package which allows us to build some houses.”

At a full meeting of the town council on Monday, allotment holders secured a promise from district councillor Paul Hewer (Con, Hungerford) that he would seek written assurance from West Berkshire Council that having them on site would not prejudice any future development permission.

And a spokeswoman for the National Allotment Society, Di Appleyard, said that, in law, extending the temporary allotment lease would not preclude planning permission for housing being granted.

But it appears that may not be the main issue.

Hungerford mayor Martin Crane said Mr Norgate was urging councillors and HAHA members to “pull out all the stops” to support his plans to develop HUN001.

But he pointed out that the town council had limited influence with district planners in any event and that all correspondence would be sent straight to HM Planning Inspectorate.

Mr Greenland meanwhile said HAHA had saved ratepayers more than £25,000 by running and maintaining the site, winning grants and providing free labour.

He added: “Clearly the premature abandonment of the Marsh Lane site would be a kick in the teeth to all the association members who have made this success possible.

“In addition it would be an appalling waste of some £10,000 of public grant money.”

Marsh Lane allotmenteer Belinda Robinson said in her blog: “Hungerford will lose one of its greatest community assets unless Hungerford Town Council manages to resolve the situation before April 2016.

“Hungerford will be left with an empty field with £5,000 of public-funded rabbit fencing and an unused publicly-funded £5,000 borehole in the middle of it.

“It’s time the town had a permanent allotment site, as outlined in the Hungerford Town Plan 2013.”

Mr Greenland vowed: “HAHA will work with all the parties involved to help prevent this wholly unnecessary event from happening.

“Hopefully common sense will prevail.”