Wait for allotment plots almost over (From Worcester News)

Wait for allotment plots almost over

6:10pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News By Elizabeth Sweetman, @lizsweetmanWN #worcsnews

THE wait could finally be over for people waiting for an allotment in Warndon Villages, Worcester – with parish councillors about to draw up proposals to manage them.

As we previously reported, 14 plots have been created as part of a development off Dugdale Drive.

Ownership of the land is in the process of being transferred from developer Kendrick Homes to Worcester City Council, but under law responsibility for the site will then fall to Warndon Parish Council. The council’s responsibilities would include managing the waiting list for plots, rents and upkeep.

There are currently 25 people on the waiting list for the Kendrick Homes site from the Warndon Villages area, while a further 78 people in the city are waiting for allotments on council-managed sites.

At a meeting of Warndon Parish Council, chairman Nick Fielden said: “The parish council, by law, have the honour of managing the allotments.

“We have inherited, perhaps without realising it, quite a responsibility.”

Councillor Andy Roberts told members of the parish council they should adopt the site and gear the waiting list towards people living in Warndon Villages.

Councillor Marc Bayliss agreed that preference should be given to people living in the villages, but said: “There is a whole host of things that we have not considered tonight.”

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Ray Morris said: “Under law, the city council is not able to operate allotments in areas where parish councils exist, so it’s down to the parish to manage them.

“It’s a bit of a strange situation – we’ve got it whether we like it or not. My understanding is we do not have a choice. The city council will not manage them because it’s illegal.”

Coun Morris volunteered to come up with a list of proposals on how to manage the site, which should be finalised at the parish council meeting in November.

A city Council spokesperson said: “The parish council could run the allotments as a co-operative, or through a partnership arrangement with the city council.”