Heyes Lane Allotments

Here we go again!
As allotment holders (and also incidentally residents) of Heyes Lane, we have just received a letter from the parish council telling us that it is their intention to seek permission from the Local Government Minister to use Heyes Lane as a grasscrete car park for the Festival Hall and Medical Centre. It is then their intention to move plot holders to a new site at Lydiat Lane. The consultation letter only allows us to “vote” on 2 items - whether we wish to continue as allotment holders and whether we support a new site at Lydiat Lane. It does not allow us to vote on the removal of the Heyes Lane allotments and replacing them with a car park!
Democracy and localism in action, eh?
Kaz

Although i do not support the proposal at all i understand why this is the case. As a whole parish we make the decision (as debatable as previously discussed) as to the use of land etc. A letter asking for your vote on the carpark plan but not sending a letter to me a a resident of the parish would be very undemocratic. For arguements sake an allotment holder may decide to leave their allotments next week, yet having obtained democratic privilage over others. it would therefore again not be right to have sought only their balloted vote and not take into account everybody elses. The purpose here is not your opinion on planning but your future intentions. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Drew, the letter is available on http://www.alderleyedge-pc.gov.uk and it states that AEPC intend to ask the Local Govt Minister for their consent to turn the Heyes Lane Allotments into a grasscrete car park.

A Parish Council has the power to provide Allotments but they don’t have to provide them. Parish Councils are given wellbeing powers, which means they can do anything which benefits the local community.

All of the affected Allotment tenants and waiting list have been sent letters.

When AEPC receives the replies, a decision will be taken. It may be that not all current tenants want to stay, or that they do not reply. Only time will tell.