Gardeners vow to fight work on land

Protestors from an allotment association have slammed the actions of developers working on a neighbouring bypass. Work is currently underway on the Sowerby Bridge relief road as part of the controversial multi-million pound Copley Valley regeneration scheme.

The route is next to Milner Royd allotments and last week, angry plot holders accused contractors of riding roughshod over the site and damaging property without warning. But the association now says that the problem has escalated further and staged protests in response to the contractors’ actions.

Andrew Smith, secretary of Milner Royd Allotment Association, said: “More damage has been caused to my own property and that of other allotment holders.

“The contractors waited until no-one was at the allotments, entered and damaged more property without any warning or going through the correct channels to contact allotment holders to arrange moving their property.

“We will not have anymore of our property destroyed without warning.

Mr Smith staged what he says was a non-violent sit in protest on his allotment land earlier this week.

Ian Gray, Calderdale Council’s director of economy and environment, said that the contractor has helped and worked with allotment holders to move property from the temporary working area, which will be in place for approximately six weeks while these works are completed.

He added that the council and contractor have updated the allotment association and individuals to advise of the planned works and timescales.