Peterborough Council are hoping to sell land for development on ItterPark (Gunthorpe), this land contains 20 allotment sites that were decommissioned and have been unused and unneeded since 1992. An old piece of Government Legislation has resulted in permission from Government Office only being granted for the sale if the allotment sites are replaced. As such, the Strategic Planning Team at the Council has identified Gunthorpe Recreation Ground as a potential replacement site.
The local residents all understand the need for allotments as clearly the provision of land for families to grow their own fruit and vegetables is a good thing, especially in an economic climate when many are struggling to make ends meet. We also understand that Peterborough Council need to raise money to help fund future projects in the city.
The opposition is directed at the plot that has provisionally been selected, which is unsuitable for many reasons, especially when other sites have been identified by local residents that are potentially more suitable and there is the option of selling only part of the land on Itter Crescent and restoring the allotments on that site.
It became clear in November at a preliminary meeting held by the Strategic Planning Team that many local residents had been not received notification of the meeting and may be unaware of the proposals. In response, the local residents that were aware hand delivered leaflets to homes to raise awareness. This was followed by a petition in opposition of the proposal that currently stands at circa 400 signatures. A phenomenal local public response, I’m sure you will agree.
If you would like to give your support please attend the following:
This Tuesday – 16th February, 2010 the Peterborough Evening Telegraph is visiting the Park to do a press item with handing over the petition to Councillor Darren Fower. This will be at the John Clare Pub at 8.45 am. We would like as many people as possible to attend.
The petition is to be officially handed in at the Council Meeting on Wednesday 24th February, 2010 at the Town Hall at 7pm.
A further Neighbourhood Meeting is to be held on Monday 1stMarch at Ken Stimpson School Werrington., start time 7.30pm. This meeting is very important and we need as many people as possible to attend as all our Councillors will be in attendance.
At either meeting, we hope to be provided with an update, at this point no-one has been able to give us a progress report, despite this being asked for on a number of occasions by a number of residents.