Council told to Look Again at Allotment Sell-off

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 18th Oct 2006

Controversial plans to sell off for housing development an allotments site in East Manchester have hit the buffers after a powerful commitee stepped in to ask for a rethink. Edge Lane allotments had been put up for sale by the Council, but campaigners say the decision to sell is based on inaccurate information.

To sell the land, the Council must get special permission from the Government, by showing that the allotment is "surplus to requirements". But Manchester's allotmenteers, known as AMAS (Association of Manchester Allotment Societies), had promised to write to the Government to object, as they feel that the Council have failed to promote the allotment and cannot show that it is "surplus to requirements".

Councillor Paul Shannon, who is Manchester Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, spoke against the proposed allotment sell-off at the Council's Executive Committee in September. He then asked for the decision to be looked at again by the influential Physical Environment Scrutiny Committee, which met on Tuesday 17th October. He said:

"Campaigners are delighted that Councillors of all parties on the Physical Environment Scrutiny Committee have now asked for a site visit, to come and see the threatened allotments for themselves. The Committee has also asked Council officials to draw up a new report, addressing the concerns of allotment campaigners."

Councillor Shannon concluded:

"Manchester Council should be investing in allotments, not selling them off for yet more housing. Every alternative must be examined before any sell-off is even contemplated."

End