Council land could solve allotment shortage (From Gazette Series)

Council land could solve allotment shortage

8:30am Monday 1st September 2008 in News By Liza-Jane Gillespie

SPARE council land could be used to provide Thornbury with more allotments.

Thornbury town councillors have said they will express an interest in land in the centre of the town, which is currently being considered for disposal by South Gloucestershire Council.

The land up for grabs is Stoke Field off Kington Lane, which runs behind South Gloucestershire Council’s offices in Thornbury right up to the Castle Court car park in the town.

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council said: "The council, in accordance with its Asset Management procedure, is reviewing possible future intentions for all its assets.

"As part of this process we are carrying out consultation both internally and with parish councils and Stoke Field is part of this process. No decisions have been made."

At a full council meeting last week, councillors in Thornbury said the opportunity of spare land in the town centre should be taken advantage of for local people.

Neil Halsall, a Thornbury town councillor, said: "This is a considerable piece of land, which could be made good use of for Thornbury particularly when we are looking for land for allotments.

"If you look at the old market site 10 years ago you couldn't imagine what is there now, but this piece of land has good access and is very close to the centre of town. The possibilities are endless to create something worthwhile."

However, the town council did say it would only consider leasing some or all of the land, not buying it.

Thornbury Town Council’s environment committee has been investigating possible locations for new allotments in the town for some months and has looked at land near Midland Way and an area near Park Farm.

The council’s allotment waiting list is currently closed because it is too long, with those wanting an allotment facing up to a five-year wait.