FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 15/10/2010

New allotments in Hook are on the way after Hook Allotments Association has secured a site that could accommodate up to 120 plots for local residents. After a long search, the Association has secured 5.5 acres of land to the north of the village along the Reading Road just past Hook Garden Centre. A meeting at the Elizabeth Hall in Hook on Saturday 27thNovember at 4:00 pm will give those on the Association’s waiting list and others the chance to hear more about the plots that will be available and to apply for them. The Association hopes to have the new site up and running by early March, in time for people to grow their own food next year.

The land has been purchased by a member of the committee for the Association, who has then entered in to an agreement for the Association to buy the land over a period of time through rents, fundraising and potentially grants.

It is expected that the majority of people on the current waiting list (140 in total) will be able to rent an allotment as few people have asked for full size plots. Any shortfall in numbers will no doubt be taken up by gardeners in neighbouring villages as there are large waiting lists in Basingstoke and Deane and in Hart district generally.

“A lot of time and effort has been expended over the last 18 months to bring this venture to fruition,” says HAA chairman, Pete Comley, “People have been seeking allotment sites in Hook for many years in fact, including efforts by the parish council.”

With so much of the land surrounding the village earmarked for development the would be allotmenteers thought their chances of securing a site were nil.

Continues Pete, “Hart District Council undertook a review in 2006/7 on allotment provision and this included a review of Hook. They concluded that no suitable land was available, so we consider ourselves very fortunate to have found this land.

“As Hook is on the periphery of Hart district the planned allotments in Fleet, which we understand might provide only 100 plots, will not satisfy the demand for a list of 400 people - and that’s the people the district council knows about. It does not take into account people who are on parish or town council lists as well. There was little chance for Hook villagers ever having their own allotments on that site.”

People on the HAA’s waiting list have been invited to the meeting at the Elizabeth Hall in Hook on Saturday 27thNovember at 4:00 pm and any other members of the community interested in an allotment can also attend. For more information see HAA’s website at

Sue Hinton

01252 408820