Park Road Allotments Saved as Development Plans Rejected
‘Save the Park Road Allotments’ campaigners celebrate after Hounslow council’s Planning Committee voted to reject developer plans to build 80 properties on the three-acre site.
Last week, ‘Save the Park Road Allotments’ campaigners were in celebrations after Hounslow council’s Planning Committee voted to reject plans submitted by Northumberland Estates to build 80 properties on the three-acre site which make up the Isleworth Allotment gardens on Park Road.
In 2020, this green space was renewed as a Hounslow council Asset of Community Value. Speeches by Councillor Salman Shaheen, Councillor for Isleworth, members of the Park Road Allotment Association and The Isleworth Society told of the social and environmental losses that would be suffered if the small area of green space were to be concreted over.
It was the second time that plans submitted by the same development group had been rejected by the planning committee and campaigners hope that they will now admit defeat, rather than appeal the decision made on October 14.
Annie Aloysius who has a plot on the site shared her view on the outcome:
“I am over the moon that the Planning Committee decided to maintain Hounslow as a borough that does not develop green open spaces and that the bullying and intimidation tactics from the Northumberland Estates were exposed and not tolerated. We understand how frustrating this is for the Estates but rather than just close the allotments, which is what they plan to do, we really hope to be able to work together to find a mutually acceptable solution so that we can continue to cultivate and grow. The allotments continue to teach me and my family the power of community and give me hope for a better, greener future for all.”
Read more about the Save Park Road Allotments campaign here.
With funding from City Bridge Trust, London food growing network Capital Growth is delivering a three year project to support and promote the role urban food gardens can and should play in creating climate and community resilience. Part of the work will include developing a toolkit to help gardens to protect their growing spaces. The team is keen to collect stories and experiences of Londoners who are experiencing any threat to their growing space.
Published Monday 25 October 2021
Capital Growth: We believe everyone should have the opportunity to grow food as part of a healthy, resilient food system and we are working with our network of growers in London to make this happen.
