Allotments are a growing concern
Reporter: Lewis Jones
Date published: 06 February 2012
Saddleworth and Lees District Partnership
WORRIED residents living near a planned allotment scheme voiced their concerns about aspects of the project.
Parish councillor Robert Knotts answered public questions from a resident of Kenworthy Gardens to try and allay fears about access and parking surrounding the proposed new scheme.
The site is situated on a strip of land between the Huddersfield canal and the River Tame, behind the High Street’s Spiritualist Church.
Access is planned, as well as parking for six cars, close to the Lime Kiln Lock and Uppermill Viaduct.
But residents from Kenworthy Gardens fear their street will become a short-cut for users of the plots who will clog up their cul-de-sac and walk between their homes to cut the time taken to reach their patch.
Fears were also raised about the scheme reducing ground drainage and putting their homes in danger of flooding. But councillor Robert Knotts said: “They can be difficult to access but any plot holders will be made aware of these issues.”
He added that he had sought advice from Oldham Council, which had confirmed that a flood would not be anticipated as found by a recent assessment.
He explained how the plan was to buy the land from current owners British Waterways at a reasonable price, and urged locals to be mindful of future developments the land could attract should the allotments not go ahead.
A fence would also be erected around the land to deter people from using alternative routes.
Councillor Mike Buckley said there were unlikely to be more than half a dozen at any one time.
But parish councillor Graham Sheldon said: “Residents can’t get in and out of Kenworthy Gardens at busy times and it is a problem.
“Parking for six is not enough, out of laziness people will naturally find the quickest route.”
He suggested exploring a possible deal with the spiritualist church to share its car park and create access that crossed the river.
Members later pledged provisional funding for the parish council to purchase the land.
