Allotmentholders dig in for new battle

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Thursday 16th Oct 2003.

GARDENERS are set to go into battle at a fourth public inquiry in a bid to safeguard the empty Spitalcroft site in London Road for allotments.

The Spitalcroft site has been standing empty since 84 allotment holders were told to leave the site in 1999 by the then owners, Pippin Homes.

The new owners of Spitalcroft, Cheltenham based Robert Hitchins Homes, were refused planning permission by Kennet District Council earlier this year to turn land off Windsor Drive into allotments.

Robert Hitchins has appealed against the decision and it was announced this week that the matter will be argued at a hearing before a Government appointed planning inspector.

A date and location for the hearing have not yet been set.

For Derek Sibley, chairman of Spitalcroft Allotment Association, another hearing will be a case of deja vue.

He spoke at an inquiry into Kennet's Local Plan in 1995 and his and other people's objections resulted in the inspector throwing out plans for housing at Spitalcroft and allocating the land for allotment use.

A second public inquiry took place in 2000 and the presiding inspector dismissed an appeal by Pippin Homes.

The inspector, Robert Maxwell, turned down housing use for Spitalcroft because he said the soil intended for new allotments at Windsor Drive was not of a comparable quality to that at Spitalcroft.

The issue went before another planning Inspector, Robin Muers, in 2002 to hear objections to Kennet's replacement Local Plan.

Mr Muers ruled that housing should not be built at Spitalcroft and said soil at alternative allotment sites should be of equivalent value to Spitalcroft.

Mr Sibley said: "I am going to make a submission objecting to the Windsor Drive site for allotments to the inspector who will conduct the new inquiry."

Mr Sibley said Windsor Drive would be totally unsuitable for allotments due to inferior soil and because the location is windy and cold.

Mr Sibley said while some former Spitalcroft allotment holders had secured allotments at Quakers Walk many others did not have an allotment.

Robert Hitchins has applied to build between 135 and 158 houses on the 4.5 hectare site.

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