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Post by Admin on Jan 6, 2017 11:55:35 GMT
Some residents in the Hollow have reported being approached by people claiming to represent developers who have an interest in the vacant land behind the site and even that access to this new development would be via the America Lane allotment site. The Town Council have denied any knowledge of this and have authorised me to make the position clear. 1. The Town Council staff have not been approached by anyone claiming to be a developer nor has any Councillor advised the Town Clerk of this. 2. Neither the vacant land nor the allotments site are designated as housing areas in the Neighbourhood Plan adopted last December. 3. Allotment sites are granted special protection by law and any change of use must be specifically approved by the Secretary of State The Town Clerk has asked that if anyone sees unauthorised persons looking around on the allotments site will they please contact the Council immediately by phone or email Tel: 01444 455694 www.haywardsheath.gov.uk
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Post by wilbarra on Jan 6, 2017 14:09:24 GMT
Dont hold your breath about the secretary of state He has proved just recently, at Newick, that he is just a puppet of the building industry and will do just what he is told to do by them.
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Post by jane on Jan 6, 2017 17:42:48 GMT
Thanks for the update Murray. Certainly hope we are safe and will certainly keep an eye open. j
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Post by wilbarra on Jan 8, 2017 11:44:31 GMT
Speculators wanting to build on the allotment site is nothing new. The late Paddy Henry, along with former councillor Richard Goddard fought off two attacks. In this case the suit brigade were seen on the piece of ground behind the allotment. Also there is a plan in motion to build right through from opposite the hospital and smash down everything in its path until they reach Lindfield. These people do not care a damn for anything or anybody and with M.P.s bowing to their every wish and the most corrupt judicial system in Europe bowing to their every wish and command they are very powerful people to deal with but they can be beaten if one is not frightened to stand up to them. In this case some things need to be born in mind. (1) Sewer and water pipes have already been laid to the piece of ground behind the allotment. (2)You need to know which side of the fence your local mid Sussex councillor is sitting on. (3) The same with your local M.P. My own view for what its worth is that this is a speculator wanting to make a lot of money and buy up the piece of ground behind the allotment site and use the allotments as an entrance road. A plan, by the way, which has reared its ugly head on more than one occasion.
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Post by murrayc on Jan 8, 2017 19:21:44 GMT
We'll be trying to find out more about who and what is being proposed and will publish it here and by contact with as many concerned plotholders as possible. In the meantime here is the link to your local Councillors www.haywardsheath.gov.uk/Who-is-my-Councillor-.aspx with details of the Wards they represent and their contact addresses, where posted. It would certainly be a good idea to contact them and to express your concern about your rights as a tenant and ratepayer and to ask them to clearly state their support for the protection of our rights.
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Post by wilbarra on Jan 8, 2017 22:38:26 GMT
Andrea Leadsome the secretary of state for the envinoment has just recently made a speech in which she states she is a friend of leisure and pleasure pursuits and all that entails. and that she is well aware that they are integral part of the british scene and way of life. Just how sincere is she i wonder
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Post by murrayc on Feb 23, 2017 17:16:32 GMT
The America Lane Plotholders Committee have made a representation to the Town Council seeking clarity about the future of our allotment land. Our letter to Councillor Jeffers, Chair of the Environment & General Purposes Committee, which is reproduced below, will be discussed by that Committee at their meeting at the Town Hall in Boltro Road on Monday night, 27th February and I will be attending to present it. The agenda for the meeting, including guidance by the Town Clerk and a map of the land is available on the Town Council website at this link www.haywardsheath.gov.uk/controls/DownloadDocument.ashx?docID=hp7778QTJFVJBCKNIC8822vSzl&aID=4958I will keep allotment holders informed of the results of the discussions. Dear Councillor Jeffers and Town Clerk We wish to express our very grave concern about the integrity and continued future of our allotment site at America Lane. We have been made aware that some individuals were recently seen in the area of undeveloped land beyond the fence at the far end of the site. When challenged by local residents they identified themselves as representatives of property companies with ambitions to develop that site. They also stated that access to the development would be gained through the allotment site. The recently adopted Neighbourhood Plan for Haywards Heath makes no provision for development in the area in question. Any encroachment on the allotment site would be both disruptive and destructive and would deprive the community of a major resource benefiting the health and leisure of the tenants, all ratepayers in Haywards Heath. We have a statutory right to the enjoyment of our tenancies under the various Allotment Acts, and the 1908 Act places a duty on Councils to provide a sufficient number of plots. We ask, through this Committee, that the Town Council gives an absolute assurance that it will oppose any development that may deprive allotment holders of their rights to peaceful occupation of their plots. In particular we ask that all Councillors also serving on the Mid Sussex District Council, which is responsible for fulfilling the Planning function, are mindful of the very strong wishes of this section of the community, and indeed of the wider community of Bentswood, who would be disadvantaged by additional infill development in an area where roads, schools and medical facilities are already stretched. Yours sincerely Murray Crump Chair, America Lane Plotholders Committee
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Post by murrayc on Feb 28, 2017 8:14:22 GMT
I'm pleased to say that our letter of concern and protest received a very sympathetic response from the E and GP committee at their meeting last night. Councillors assured me that there have been no applications nor talks prior to application about this vacant land. There was a concern that the Neighbourhood Plan specifically provided for green corridors within the town and that these should be observed. For legal reasons the committee is making a recommendation to the full Council that it should recognise a) That as landowner of the plot HHTC does not wish to sell this land b) That the Neighbourhood Plan has been adopted and should be implemented in full
We will be advised if there are any applications received that concern any infringement on to our site, and the committee is very much aware that any use of allotment land for other than the original purpose must be specifically approved by the Secretary of State.
If anyone becomes aware of more activity of this kind, or hears anything from residents, please let me know so that I can coordinate our response as a group. Our allotments are a source of great pride, to be enjoyed by us as ratepayers, and not to be carved up or despoiled to suit the interests of property developers.
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Post by jane on Mar 2, 2017 8:24:59 GMT
Thanks for the update Murray and well done!!
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Post by wilbarra on Mar 3, 2017 10:11:23 GMT
RE THE LAND AT THE BACK OF THE ALLOTMENTS. WHY DID THE COUNCIL IGNORE THE SUGGESTION OF MAKING A COMPULSORY PURCHASE ON THIS LAND AND EXTEND THE CEMETERY AND THE ALLOTMENT SITE. THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AROUND THE TIME THAT IT WAS FIRST MOOTED THAT THE COUNCIL WAS LOOKING FOR A NEW BURIAL GROUND. I MYSELF MADE THE SUGGESTION IN 2009 WHEN THE THEN COUNCIL,ON THE ADVICE OF CAROL PRESTON,DECIDED TO CUT PLOTS DOWN TO 2 1/2 ROD IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET THE LONG WAITING LIST DOWN. THE LATE PADDY HENRY MADE THE SAME SUGGESTION AT A POLICY AND FINANCE MEETING ROUND ABOUT THE SAME TIME. ONE WONDERS WHY THE SUGGESTION RECEIVED SUCH A LUKEWARM RESPONSE THEN. BUT THEN ONE MUSNT WONDER TOO MUCH ITS NOT FOR AN UNEDUCATED MORTAL LIKE MYSELF TO QUESTION MY SUPERIOR BEINGS. ALL I WILL SAY IS THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE WITH THE NEW TOWN COUNCIL THAN THERE WAS WITH THE OLD.
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Post by murrayc on Mar 20, 2017 12:36:17 GMT
For the benefit of everyone who has asked "What can we do if the developers do want to build on our plot and the council are overruled?" here is a link to the Statutory Guidance on Allotment Disposals www.gov.uk/government/publications/allotment-disposal-guidance-safeguards-and-alternatives1.5 Councils cannot dispose of statutory allotment land without the Secretary of State’s consent. Section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 states – “Where a local authority has purchased or appropriated land for use as allotments the local authority shall not sell, appropriate, use or dispose of the land for any purpose other than use for allotments without the consent of the Secretary of State”. 1.6 This consent "may be given unconditionally or subject to such conditions as the Secretary of State thinks fit, but shall not be given unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that adequate provision will be made for allotment holders displaced by the action of the local authority or that such provision is unnecessary or not reasonably practicable” (Section 8, The Allotments Act 1925 – hereafter referred to as “the Act” There are also four Policy Criteria that must be met: 1. The allotment in question is not necessary and is surplus to requirement; 2. The number of people on the waiting list has been effectively taken into account; 3. The council has actively promoted and publicised the availability of sites and has consulted the National Allotment Society; and 4. The implications of disposal for other relevant policies, in particular local plan policies, have been taken into account. The National Allotments Society has conducted several very effective campaigns in recent years. Their guidance and News stories are available here www.nsalg.org.uk/news-events-campaigns/protect-your-plots/
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