Agenda and minutes

Overview and Scrutiny Task Group - Allotments - Friday, 16th July 2010 9.30 am

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Contact: Dianne Scambler 

Items
No. Item

10.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Marie Gray.

11.

Declarations of Any Interests

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

 

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were received.

12.

Site Visits

The Members of the Group will visit the following allotments sites and make general observations:

 

Crosse Hall Lane, Chorley – Chorley Council site

Brown House Lane, Wheelton – Private site

Plank Lane, Leigh – Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council site

Minutes:

The following observations were made by Members on the Allotments Scrutiny Task Group Site Visit held on 16 July 2010

 

 

 

Allotment Site

 

Assessment of site

 

Comments

 

Crosse Hall Allotment Site, Crosse Hall Lane, Chorley

 

Chorley Council Site

 

Old established part of the site consists of a mixture of different sized plots compared to the new extended part of the site that has smaller uniformed plot sizes.

 

One allotment site is presently the size of around 10 plots but the holder only pays for one (this refers back to previous years when there was a lack of interest in allotments)

 

The site sits to the rear of a housing estate and is not screened in any way.

 

The pathways around the plots are overgrown with weeds and brambled hedges, these are the responsibility of the Council but it is extremely difficult to get around the site to maintain these paths effectively.

 

There are a variety of different sizes of sheds on the plots constructed by variety of different materials.

 

£40 Per annum – allotment holders receive a free water butt when they first take on the plot.

 

 

 

Should the plots be standardised straightaway instead of waiting for them to become vacant?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consider screening the whole site for the benefit of the nearby residents.

 

 

 

Should the Council erect uniformed fencing around each individual plot?

 

 

Should any shed erected on the site comply with set criteria?

 

 

Consider increasing the rent

 

Brown House Lane, Wheelton

 

Privately Owned Site

 

Plots are of uniformed good sizes that are slightly wider than a standard allotment plot.

 

There are no sheds on the plots other than a couple of corrugated buildings used to house pigs. As there is nothing of any real height on the plots they appear to be more aesthetically pleasing to the eye and in keeping with its Green belt location and surrounding fields.

 

There appears to be a variety of different uses - some of the plots have livestock on them (pigs) one has play equipment erected on the site.

 

£55.00 per annum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the site is privately owned, the allotment holders require planning permission to erect poly tunnels and sheds.

 

Plank Lane Allotment Site, Plank Lane, Leigh

 

Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Site

 

Large plots that are uniformed in size.

None of the plots are fenced off, but they are adequately defined by grassed paths that are maintained by the allotment holders themselves.

 

The site is advertised as an Allotment and Leisure Park and the Council finds that the lack of barriers around the plots encourages community spirit.

There is a really nice look to the site and it is well maintained.

 

A communal storage facility is located to the front of the site and each allotment holder has an individual storage area for all their tools and equipment.

 

The site is set in a remote location to the rear of a Council park

Each plot has a green house erected on it and this type of dwelling lends itself to the overall look  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.