Future on Nailsea allotments under discussion

Rumours that Nailsea allotments are going to be sold for housing have been vehemently denied this week by the town council.

Nailsea Town Councillor community open spaces advisory sub-committee chairman Liz Frappell said: "I don't know where that came from...it is not true."

Allotments holders who fear a 'hidden agenda' are being balloted in April about whether they want self-management.

When previously asked in a survey conducted by Nailsea Town Council 12 months ago a majority voted for self management.

However, little action has been taken since then and there are worries among tenants that it was a smokescreen with the real intention being to sell off the Whitesfield Road allotments to developers for housing, said Nailsea Allotments Association secretary Ian Stone

The rumours of extending a social housing scheme currently planned for the old playing fields at Whitesfield Road into the six acres allotment site have been circulating for some time.

Chinese whispers say the monies would be used to fund capital projects for the town's sporting community and a new allotment site on farming land at Engine Lane.

But councillors denied such an option was being considered when asked by Mr Stone at a leisure facilities meeting.

Mr Stone said: "Can this committee confirm that this council's intention is not to sell the Whitesfield Road site for a capital receipt to fund an alternative site for the allotments?"

The sub-committee headed by Mrs Frappell  is the body recommending the self-management ballot.

She added: "Rumours had circulated in the mid-1980s and again when the late Christine Milton was chairman a decade later but that is all they were rumours." 

But Mr Stone said in 2003 half the site was looked at for a burial site and housing but the council got 'cold feet' and didn't proceed.

Town clerk Ian Morrell categorically denied there were any plans to sell-off Whitesfield Road.

He said: "Nailsea Town Council as the landowner has not been approached by a developer nor has it had talks with any developers – this is all speculative and hypothetical.

"The idea of self-management has been discussed for a while mainly in relation to the potential development of allotments on Gaulacre.

"We have been looking for potential land for allotments and all the council wants to do is reduce the three years waiting list for an allotment in Nailsea.

"This type of rumour actually hinders that process.

"We had a presentation for councillors and allotment holders from the National Association of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners last April at the Scotch Horn Centre and gave out a questionnaire to those attending.

"But this was a snapshot of opinion to test the water and the ballot concerning self-management is going to all allotment holders in Nailsea with the annual newsletter."

There are 137 plots at Whitesfield Road and 58 plots at Engine Lane with more than 90 people on a waiting list.

Allotment holders are charged 13p per square metre with concessions for OAPs.

Nailsea Town Council as the landlord is currently responsible for collecting rents, maintenance and keeping a waiting list.

In the first 'ballot' only 30 per cent of the gardeners voted with just 67 per cent in favour of self-management.

Mr Morrell added: "The initial questionnaire was completed by people who attended the meeting at Scotch Horn and was never intended to be a ballot or to give a mandate for self management.

"It was to identify whether there seemed enough interest to pursue the idea in more detail, which is what has happened."

In September the 130-strong NAA which is represented on the leisure facilities committee was asked to present a five year plan for the allotments including self management and a rent structure incorporating all costs.

Earlier last year the council and the NAA locked horns over a bid to increase rents by 400 per cent but in the end councillors were forced to back down.

In its report the NAA identified two options:

1. A staggered rent rise over five years to 23p; or

2. A rise to 30p to pay for improved security, access and information improvements at the two sites.

The report included a detailed analysis of how the four man working group of Mr Stone, chairman Victor Rawlings and committee members David Pairaudeau and William Tate reached this figure using the projected improvement and loan costs and the area of land occupied by the allotments.

Mr Stone said: "We also asked why we should have another ballot as this may not produce a different result and what percentage of ballot returns would satisfy approval for self-management."

He also requested that all tenants receive a copy of the report.

The 10 acres at Gaulacre on the eastern fringes was purchased by the town council three years ago at a cost of £114K.

A further four acres is leased to Nailsea & Backwell Rugby Club for mini-rugby and training.

The council commissioned a feasibility study this month by The Next Field green space strategy, planning and management consultants to consider potential uses.

This could be sport pitches for rugby, football and cricket; hard court playing area for informal ball sports, skateboard park; fishing lake or model boating area; off-road cycling and allotment covering the whole site.

Investigations by the NAA on behalf of the town council had already revealed that the land is suitable for up to 60 allotments for those on the waiting list.

Mr Stone and the NAA representatives have been invited to attend the communities and open space sub-committee at end of January to discuss the concerns of the allotment holders.