Council steps into allotment battle

Council boss es are being asked to approve the use of compulsory purchase powers to ensure residents in a County Durham village continue to enjoy tending their allotments.

Durham County Council’s Cabinet is being recommended to agree to the compulsory purchase order on behalf of Wit ton Gilbert Parish Council.

The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, October 14, will hear that the 47-plot site has been used allotments since 1910 and is rented by the parish council and sub-let to residents.

Last summer, the landowners served the parish council with notice to quit the site by November of this year and the county council has been asked it to use its compulsory purchase powers to acquire the land on its behalf.

The site would transfer to the parish council should the purchase go through and it would be legally bound to meet the county council’s costs.

Talks aimed at voluntarily acquiring the land are ongoing.

The meeting will hear that the county council is satisfied there is a need for allotments in the area and that there is no suitable alternative site.

Councillors are being asked to approve a series of recommendations including making a compulsory purchase order.

Cllr Kevin Shaw, cabinet member for strategic housing and assets, said: “Allotments have very real health and social benefits.

"They provide healthy food, reduce carbon emissions by cutting deliveries and shopping trips, and increase social interaction. They also present educational opportunities for children.

“In this case, it is clear that there is genuine community desire for this land to continue to be used as allotments.”