Land Developers are usually Shits
Why oh why oh why…
I may have to retract my statement, but I think I have just discovered that Mid Beds District Council - possibly the most inept, overpaid and money-wasting council in the UK - have earmarked my allotment site for possible development.
ARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!
March 8th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Start protesting NOW. This is the time to assemble a team. First, get the press to come out and do a wonderful article about the allotments/gardening etc. No need to mention the developer. YET.
Just get some good publicity about how great it is to have thes allotments in your area etc.
So, now you have a lot of people thinking sweet thoughts about the site. Invite some schools out on a field trip to see how food is grown etc. Get really cute little ones and have the press take shots of them planting peas etc. More sweet thoughts.
Now, if this development thing comes up, it becomes more awkward for the council to hand over public land. (Try to get your local council member to come out on the first day of spring or something for a photo op — opening this year’s allotment season or something.)
Good luck…..
March 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
OMG, that’s terrible - do you have a transition town movement in your area yet? They’d love to hear about that. What Tory says makes good sense, and you could also talk to the National Allotments Society who may have advice for you.
March 11th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Tory’s right: Get moving NOW. These bastards will turn you over unless everyone on your site is united and organised. Getting councillors involved for photoshoots is a very, very smart idea. Use the press the shame them into thinking again. It’s worth it; allotment sites HAVE beaten the councils when they’ve been organised.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I wonder if you are anywhere near me? Mid beds would like to build at the bottom of our garden too, right near our chickens. Have you looked on the www.talktomidbeds.co.uk site that gives you an idea of how serious the intent is and to have your say. Our village has been designated as a “large” village which means that it will get some new houses. Has yours been designated large or small? Also what does your local parish council think?
March 14th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Thanks for your comments everyone. Yes Jane, I have already been on the website you mentioned and submitted my thoughts about their proposed plans. It’s funny how they’re not very forthcoming in advertising the website, and make the navigation to the actual site quite difficult, even for a seasoned Internet researcher like me! Ours has been designated as large (we have a train station etc. so I’m sure you can work out whereabouts I am!). I have no idea what my local Parish Council think…I haven’t the first clue about how I can find out.
Luckily a family member may become a member of the Council (MBDC I think?), and it’s my understanding (although I could be wrong) that he’s a bit non-plussed by these plans. Sometimes the councellors who oppose planning permission feel like voices in the wildnerness, as so many developments get the go ahead, however inappropriate they seem. The problem is that a certain local developer owns pockets of land all over these parts, and has his fingers in a lot of pies. He has managed to swing some very questionable developments - and I wonder how much ‘influence’ he has over these developments.
I will think of ways to alert other unsuspecting allotment holders, starting with my new neighbour. I think there is an allotment association for our site but it’s not been advertised. That’s the problem - again a lack of community here, which doesn’t carry a lot of weight with it when facing situations like this.