 |
|
July 19th 2005 South London Press 'Amazing victory for the little man' By Clare Casey, South London Press ALLOTMENT keepers have tasted sweet victory after winning the fight to keep their vegetable patches.
They can carry on gardening after Lambeth council dropped plans to build school playing fields on their plots.
Helen Sharrock, Chairwoman of Friends of Windmill Allotments, said she was ecstatic following Friday’s announcement.
She added: “This is a victory for the little man and a really wonderful suiccess.
”I am delighted the council has listened to is and we can carry on gardening.
”This is an amazing victory for the growers and all the groups that use our allotments – the blind, elderly and those with HIV.
”Words cannot describe how delighted I am.”
The growers formed an action group after discovering their landlord, Thames Water, was in talks with education chides about selling the allotments next to the Brixton reservoir to create school playing fields.
But the council has now said that that would no longer happen.
Councillor Anthony Bottrall, the authority’s executive for education, told the South London press: “It follows that because we are no longer considering schools at Clarence Avenue or a third academy on a site on Brixton Hill we are ot going to pursue the allotments any further. They will not be built on.”
Thames Water said it had no future plans to sell the land and the growers could have their plots for at least the next five years when the situation would be re-assessed.
Ali Knapp, 33, of Lyham Road, shares an allotment and is one of scores who is one the waiting list for her own.
She said: “This is fantastic news for everyone concerned. We shall be having one hell of a party.”
What do you think of the allotment holders’ victory? Write to South London Press, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, Streatham, SW16 2PD or email letters@slp.co.uk |