[Previous campaign poster!]
I have been ‘copied in’ to an open letter sent – on behalf of the Friends of the Combe Down Allotments and Bath Allotments Association – to B&NES Cabinet members Sarah Warren and Tim Ball.
It’s the latest attempt to secure a local authority response as to the future of the areas allotments which they want secured.
Here’s what it says:
“The Local Plan Options consultation is now closed. The Bath Allotments Association and many local people have made representations about Local Green Space designation for the Combe Down site, which we sincerely hope will be given a fresh examination in the light of new evidence (attached) submitted by the Association.
Whilst coverage by Policy LCR8 (protecting allotments) is welcomed, it is not strong enough to save the site from future development pressures.
The Combe Down community has been very active with media campaigns and they now have the support of Wera Hobhouse, which has heartened them.
The Friends of Combe Down Allotments group is now formally constituted. This group has 27 members whose aim is to secure the long term future of the site. An application to have the site designated as an asset of community value (ACV) is will be made soon and they are also looking at various management options/solutions.
There is no doubt that there is a huge and wide level of support for this site – a petition has been signed by nearly 7,000 people, (over 1,000 of whom are in the BA1 and BA2 postcodes and can be truly counted as stakeholders).
We are very appreciative of the support you have both verbally expressed to us at various meetings. However, the community is becomingly increasingly concerned at the lack of any information being given to us and by the absence of a firm commitment from the Council to use all its powers to save the site.
Most recently, a letter from Lynda Dean ( Head of Service – City &Town Centre Management) to two small school children refers to « a very complicated legal situation, but please be assured the Council is exploring all avenues to maintain allotment provision. »
This statement is far from informative and does not refer to saving the site. That’s hard to explain to a small child. What are the « complications » that Ms Dean refers to? Given that legal advice was sought 6 months ago, it is disappointing that the Council has not yet stated how it intends to save this allotment site for the long term future.
Both the Combe Down neighbourhood and Bath as a whole has a significant shortfall of allotment provision, which is nothing short of a scandal given the Council’s declared Climate and Biodiversity Emergencies.
Saving this site must be given the highest priority, along with the still pressing need for even more plots. We are concerned that we have not been given any information about the nature of the legal advice which we have been told was being sought and that the process is taking far too long.
We therefore request that the Council publicly states how it intends to save this historic allotment site. The Association and the local Combe Down community are ready to play their part, if some form of partnership would be beneficial, but it is increasingly frustrating and worrying that we have a nothing but silence from yourselves and officers.
The Association is aware of the Council’s concerns that all stakeholders in the community should be involved. It must now be obvious that a very large contingent of the Combe Down community and wider Bath groups, not just plotholders, are now supporting the campaign to save the site and yet they have not been offered a chance to be involved.
It’s time for senior elected members to attend a public meeting and explain their strategy to the community. The Association, together with the Friends, would be happy to organise a date.
Chris Pearce, Friends of Combe Down Allotments
Jacky Wilkinson, Erica Draisey, Bath Allotments Association
Cc Wera Hobhouse MP, Local Combe Down Councillors , Kevin Guy, Bath Preservation Trust, Richard Wyatt, Lynda Dean.
[Cllr Dr Bharat Pankhania.]
The open letter has also won support from Combe Down councillor Dr Bharat Pankhania – who was also included in the posting.
He replied:
“As the local councillor I am also expressing my need to know more. To be better informed and engaged.
We have been left dangling for a very long time and it would be good courtesy to at least give us meaningful answers to the “ever so complicated legal position.”
As was asked by senior people, we have given officers space and time to address the issues. Nevertheless, it is equally important to also engage and update us too.”
If security bollards are proposed to be erected and a cycle path through it I’m sure Bath Council would put every effort in retaining Combe Down Allotments.
It is astounding after 6 months that the council have failed to be open and transparent about what is happening to the Coombe Down Allotment site. The Council could serve a compulsory purchase order for instance or designate the site a Green space as it has been for 100 plus years but instead all they offer is silence. It is my understanding that it was the councils failure to renew the lease about 2 years ago which let to this situation in the first place but they may just be rumour.