Allotments are ready thanks to community payback scheme
TENANTS lining up to be given an allotment at Lyme Green have had a glimpse of the plots they’ll be getting their green fingers on thanks to a Community Payback scheme.
Offenders being managed by the Cheshire and Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company spent five days on the badly overgrown allotment plot at Lyme View, cutting back overgrowth, removing rubbish and clearing weeds.
They were asked to work on the plot by Cheshire East Council, which has been working with Sutton Parish Council to transfer ownership of the allotments to the Parish Council.
Richard Christopherson, impact manager with Cheshire East Council’s partnership team arranged with Laura Henry, placement co-ordinator at the rehabilitation company, to bring in the team to tackle the overgrown plot at the allotment site.
The Community Payback team, led by supervisor Jon Moss, spent five days clearing the plot and while on site they regularly liaised with local councillors Kevin Hoines and Mike Horrox.
Now the Lyme View allotment plot is fit for use.
Coun Hoines said: “It is the first time I have had the pleasure of working with one of the Community Payback teams. The work they have carried out on the plot on this allotment has been superb, it is very much appreciated.”
Jon Moss said: “The team really enjoy these types of projects where they can see the difference they have made.”
Supervisor Ron Shaw, said: “It is evident that Jon and his team have worked tremendously hard and I must thank Marion Hoines for supplying refreshments, her homemade cookies are the best ever.”
Laura Henry said she was delighted to receive positive feedback.
She said: “It’s good to see where the work that one of our teams has provided has benefited the community.”
Richard Christopherson said that while the transfer of the allotments is ongoing, Cheshire East council will now let the plot.
He said: “Due to its size it may possibly be divided into two plots to meet the demand in the area.”
The Cheshire and Greater Manchester Community Rehabilitation Company is responsible for supervising offenders and ensuring they comply with their sentence.
Across Cheshire and Greater Manchester, offenders complete roughly half a million hours of Community Payback every year and the public can nominate projects.