Local Development Framework – Draft Core Strategy
Response to the Consultation from Witney Allotment Association
Witney Allotment Association is made up of the 177 tenants who rent allotment gardens from Witney Town Council. In submitting this response we wish to support the interests of the 200 or so residents who are currently waiting for an allotment garden plus those likely to join their ranks as a result of the future growth of Witney.
We wish to draw attention to the fact that the Witney Town Council are currently drawing up leases to transfer management for the existing and any new allotment sites acquired by the Town Council to the Witney Allotment Association. The Association therefore considers itself to be a significant stakeholder and, as such, recognises its role in respect of Policy CS23:
Policy CS23: Green Infrastructure
“The existing green infrastructure assets of West Oxfordshire will be protected and enhanced ... particularly in areas of new development and/or where stakeholder/partnership projects already exist or are emerging.”
Since the population of Witney has more than doubled in the last 30 years, with no corresponding change in allotment provision, the existence of a substantial waiting list is no surprise. We anticipate that plans for 1,500 new homes with 1,000 concentrated in the strategic development area to the west, will add further pressure on the demand for allotment gardens in Witney.
We are heartened by the focus on the sustainable development of Witney and the recognition of the contribution made by allotment gardens to the green infrastructure; biodiversity; and to the health and recreation of the local population. Therefore, in our consideration of the Draft Strategy we wish to endorse the following points in particular:
Witney Community Infrastructure
4.11 “There is a specific need for further allotments – with a current waiting list of around 2 years. New residential development will need to make satisfactory provision of ... general amenity space and provision for biodiversity.”
(Please note the waiting list is now around three years.)
Policy CS6: West Witney Strategic Development Area
“Proposals for development should be consistent with the: ... provision for green space, including allotments.”
We agree that there is currently a stark mismatch between the supply of and demand for allotment gardens in Witney. The proposed development of the West Witney Development Area provides both added urgency and a new opportunity to prevent this position being exacerbated. The high cost of development land and the desire to provide affordable housing may imply a need for high density building. With small or non-existent gardens, the demand for communal allotment gardens might reasonably be expected to continue increasing.
Provision of allotment gardens is part of the recreational as well as green infrastructure and has appeal to a very wide age-range and across socio-economic groups. As such we endorse the views expressed in paragraph 8.35 of the draft strategy:
Sport, recreation and children’s play
8.35. “Play parks ... allotments and the like, while primarily designed for formal and/or
informal recreation purposes, all contribute to the District’s open space provision and fulfil
the multi-functionality of green infrastructure. Recreational open space [is] ... also fundamental to the quality of life and wellbeing of West Oxfordshire’s residents, contributing to community-life and bringing health and social benefits.
We also applaud the sentiments expressed in Policies CS5 & CS27
Policy CS5: Strategy for Witney
“Proposals for development in Witney should be consistent with the strategy which includes: ... ensuring that new development makes appropriate and timely provision for new education, health, green infrastructure and other community facilities.”
Policy CS27: Infrastructure
“Infrastructure to support existing and new communities will be delivered by working with relevant organisations and prospective developers ... Planning permission will only be granted for new development where the identified level and range of supporting infrastructure to meet the needs of the new development is already available or will be available in accordance with an agreed timescale.”
However, the lessons from history give us cause for concern. Land on the Madley Park development in Witney was designated as allotment garden provision but, in the very final stage of building development, proved unsuitable on account of soil chemistry. (We remain mystified as to why its suitability for the intended use was not assessed at the outset.) Although Witney Town Council received £400,000 earmarked for an alternative site no progress has been made and the Association continues to urge the Council to address this issue.
We are most anxious to ensure the difficulties encountered at Madley Park are not replicated at West Witney. As such we hope that West Oxfordshire District Council will, together with the Town Council, think creatively as to how the existing short-fall in allotment provision might be resolved using the framework of the Draft Strategy. We are also keen to ensure that Policy CS5 and CS27 results in the designation of suitable allotment land on the proposed West Witney Strategic Development Area before planning permission is granted. We would also expect to see a clear time-line for bringing such land into productive use at an early stage in the development plan given the pre-existing need.
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