Telferton Allotments

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 28 Dec 2003, 22:39

Does anyone know what the current situation is? I have heard different things - one person told me they were safe and the Council had bought the land and another (who has an allotment there) said the land is still owned by a developer, who can't, as yet, get planning permission for building...can anyone put me right?

With the upsurge in developers approaching Porty and any bit of land they can get their hands on, I think we need to watch out!

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 31 Dec 2003, 22:30

where are all you cyber fans! I'll have to reply to myself then - apparently the land is still owned by Bett Homes....any allotment holders from Telferton out there want to say anything about what the future may hold??

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 31 Dec 2003, 23:22

I'd love to know what's going on with Telferton Allotments. We contacted the Council regarding taking on an allotment and Telferton wasn't on the list - presumably because (as we now know!) it's not owned by them. How do you go about applying for an allotment there - can anyone enlighten me?

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 01 Jan 2004, 16:25

Hi, good to hear from an allotments interested person - I suggest you contact Cllr Lawrence Marshall, as he was the one who informed me the land is still owned by Betts Homes, and that he is in contact with allotment holders - lawrence.marshall@edinburgh.gov.uk or if you phone 200-2000 (Council main no) you can ask to be put through to him, (at the City Chambers where his office is) as the Cllr for this area, and leave a message or ask him directly if he is there.

- good luck - let us know what info you get back - don't know who else you can contact but suggest you could ring the Council section that deals with allotments and ask why Telferton isn't on the list, Carla

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 08 Jan 2004, 23:03

Thanks for that. I've emailed Lawrence so we'll see! Do you have an allotment?

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 09 Jan 2004, 23:56

No I don't - I'm too lazy even to keep my window box tidy! but I'm interested in allotments because they help keep a bit of green in an otherwise grey (espec in winter) city and make me feel they might be soaking up some of the noise and pollution - I'm also against the superstore planning app (see separate item on this forum) and a friend asked me what was going on with the Telferton allotments as she stays very near them and was worried about them being built on....

incidentally I've heard from someone who has a Council allotment that Telferton Allotments, because they are not Council owned, cannot be accessed in that way - I still think Lawrence Marshall is the person to contact to find out about this - or the bit of the Council that deals with allotments - who can tell you how to contact any group representing Telferton allotment holders and how to get a plot - but does anyone else out there know more????Carla

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 12 Jan 2004, 23:11

Thanks for pointing us in the right direction Carla. We're now on the waiting list thanks to a very nice man who emailed me and happens to be the Membership Secretary! Waiting list is approximately 2 years but hey, by that time our own garden might be fulfilling its potential and we'll be ready for a new challenge

Thanks again.

Kirstielove · Post by **Kirstielove** » 13 Jan 2004, 00:16

A friend of mine was told the same thing when he applied but was allocated one within the year. Your challenge might come sooner than you think

Kirstie

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 13 Jan 2004, 19:23

good to hear that - let's hear from any other budding or otherwise allotment holders - e.g. anyone who is involved in the Telferton allotment holders organisation on what the position re the land is or shouldn't I ask in case its at a sensitive time??

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 01 Feb 2004, 17:38

I read the following in the PCC Minutes last meeting:

"Lawrence Marshall Ã¢â‚¬â€œ The allotments at Telferton have been bought by a new developer at a price believed to be around Ã‚Â£750,000."

Can anyone enlighten us whohas bought them and what for?

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 01 Feb 2004, 21:38

I think we could probably have a good guess

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 02 Feb 2004, 21:43

well hopefully Lawrence can enlighten us - but in the meantime give us a clue Epycat?! I really don't know the situation there at all and so far haven't fished any Telfy Allotties onto this thread! C
If I hear from Lawrence I'll post it here -

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 06 Feb 2004, 00:04

I was just thinking along the lines of - why would anybody pay Ã‚Â£750000 for a piece of land and keep it as allotments? They'll want to try and build on it I would presume....... or am I just being cynical?

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 06 Feb 2004, 00:36

yes - you are right - speculation is the name of the capitalist game and maybe someone having a bet on getting to build there again - I haven't heard from Lawrence Marshall yet - how about people emailing him too on lawrence.marshall@edinburgh.gov.uk to ask what is happening there....

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 17 Feb 2004, 21:46

Reply from Lawrence Marshall which he said I could put on this website:

Telferton: Bett Homes are still the owners and haven't sold the site on
to a company called Davenport as was rumoured - their offer of Ã‚Â£750,000
was conditional on receiving planning consent for housing which, of course, has not been forthcoming!
At a CEC internal meeting of 22 January 2004, Mike Lowry of Estates
indicated that he had been in contact with Bett Homes re. a lease
agreement but they weren't interested in this.
We more or less decided to investigate pursuing a Compulsory Purchase
Order - subject to legal advice.
This carries a potentially pretty hefty financial risk for the Council
but will show to Bett Homes that we're serious.
I'll keep you posted.

Alastair · Post by **Alastair** » 23 Feb 2004, 20:28

Just to let you know: I'm an allotment holder, and am keeping in touch with Lawrence Marshall, and I've just registered on Porty online. Lawrence has confirmed today that the Council is taking legal advice on a CPO. A good thing. We'll have to see what comes of that - I hope they carry it through.

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » 23 Feb 2004, 22:13

at last an allotment holder and from Telferton and on the forum! that sounds like v good news re looking into a Compulsory Purchase Order by the Council to safeguard the allotments future - thanks Alastair - keep us in touch and anything any of us can do to help if at all - its good news for the community as a whole if the allotments are safeguarded - lets keep a bit of wildness and greenery in amongst all these developments being proposed - not that I am suggesting your allotment is wild but if I had one, mine would be......feel free to continue with a gardening thread if this keeps this alive! Good luck, Carla

Guest · Post by **Guest** » 23 Feb 2004, 23:51

Lawrence mentioned this at the CC meeting this evening. I think the problem arises in how the land is valued. The owners will be holding out for housing value while the Council would hope to have it valued as 'open space'. I think it might drag on for a while but I really can't see a happy conclusion.

Sorry, that was a bit downbeat. What do you grow anyway? Tell us all about it. How about free rhubarb for all forum users!

Lawrence Marshall · Post by **Lawrence Marshall** » 18 Mar 2004, 16:19

Bob,
I've just noticed this.
I wouldn't be so downbeat! It's certainly a long slog - 10 years for me now as one heck of an important issue! Even longer for many of the allotment holders!
The value of the land is the key to this - and key in turn to this are our planning policies re. allotments which I believe, with a little help from myself, are even more strongly pro allotments than they were all that time ago!
A Compulsory Purchase Order should help to break the current impasse - it's a risk but one well worth taking.

Lawrence

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 26 Jun 2005, 21:03

Just thought I'd resurrect this since I'm now an allotment widow. I'm sure the last time Lawrence spoke about this it wasn't looking like a CPO was very likely. Any updates anyone?

Talk Porty ~ Portobello