Labour Reject Lib Dem Proposal to Re-Open Parrs Wood Allotment

12.00.00am GMT Thu 9th Oct 2008

Cllr David Sandiford Criticises Labour's Refusal to Re-Open Parrs Wood Allotment

Manchester Labour Party have been criticised for refusing to allow the former allotment site at Parrs Wood to be returned to use as allotments, even though the council have not been able to sell the land.

Councillor David Sandiford, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Didsbury East, proposed a motion at a packed meeting of the full City Council in Manchester Town Hall, calling for the Council to rescind their previous decision to sell the 3-acre site and instead revert the land to house 50 allotments. However, the Labour Councillor in charge of leisure refused to agree to do this.

Councillor Sandiford said:

"There is a large and unfilled demand for Allotments in South Manchester. According to Council officers, the waiting list for Manchester's allotments is greater than 700. People waiting for an allotment can and do wait over three years for an allotment in their own area.

"Everyone accepts the positive aspects of allotmenteering - keeping healthy because of the physical work that one does in growing crops, contributing to a sustainable lifestyle, the social aspects, the educational aspects, and being able to have access to a fresh supply of good food."

Councillor Sandiford, who used to have an allotment in South Manchester when his family was younger, added:

"This three-acre site is big enough for 50 full size allotments. It would make an excellent contribution to the needs of the local community. The decision to sell the site was taken by the Executive of the Council. That is why the motion calls on the Executive to rescind that decision."

The motion was seconded by Councillor John Cameron, who represents Burnage Ward, which is near the Parrs Wood allotment site.

Councillor John Cameron said:

"Land owned by the City Council should not be seen simply as a potential sum of money to be realized through its sale. It should also be seen as an asset that belongs to the people of Manchester and which should be used for their benefit now and for many years to come."

"Selling off assets such as this land may appear to offer a quick buck, and we all recognize that the Council needs money for the provision of services. However, like the sale of school playing fields, this also represents a short-term gain at the expense of a long-term loss. When you consider that the Council has not even managed to sell the Parrs Wood allotment site, the argument for removing it from sale and returning it to use as allotments becomes even more compelling. This is a very poor decision by Labour."

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