The Whitehill Allotment Society and Cambridge Allotments Network have released a statement on their website about the latest proposals in Cambridge United's planning application. Last week the club issued details of a compromise proposal to recover some bordering land which is currently overgrown or otherwise unsuitable for allotment use, which would actually give a net gain in usable plots despite the club's need to build on some to redevelop the South Stand.

The statement is available at the following internet address, which includes a map showing the areas which CUFC believe can be recovered and put into use as alternative allotment plots: http://allotments.net/allotments/Whitehill/possiblesolution.htm but the text is reproduced below for your convenience.

"Further negotiations between Cambridge United Football Club's officials, city councillors, planners and Whitehill Allotment Society (with support from Cambridge Allotments Network) took place last week following deferral of the Abbey Stadium redevelopment planning decision.

"For the first time since CUFC's planning application was made, the focus of negotiations turned to search for ways in which any proposed changes could actually benefit the gardeners of Whitehill Allotment Society.

"This change of direction makes it more likely that allotment gardeners could eventually support the planning application, but they would need to gain substantial benefits from the plan to compensate for the considerable inconvenience, disruption and net loss of designated allotment land, which could have been improved in future. The revised proposals still involve the loss of many top quality plots and allotment gardeners are strongly resisting any attempt to sweep their interests aside in a desperate rush to conclude the planning process. It's now being suggested that previously abandoned, poorly drained and overgrown allotment land to the west of the existing cultivated allotment site could be brought back into allotment use. Some of this land is currently fenced off outside the allotment site and forms an integral part of the wildlife corridor.

"The amount of work required to create equivalent quality plots in this overgrown area should not be underestimated. The land is waterlogged and sometimes under water in winter, there are some big and smaller trees and bushes, which create considerable shade and have extensive roots, which would stunt the growth of crops. The soil is riddled with powerful weeds including brambles, which cannot be removed quickly, except perhaps by scraping the top two feet of soil away completely and replacing this with two feet of virgin top soil over a new drainage system.

"A period of consultation is now taking place within Whitehill Allotment Society, and advice is being sought from environmentalists about the potential effects on the wildlife corridor where some of the land in question is situated.

"Previously voiced objections to the development still stand, particularly to the proposed loss of allotment land for commercial development and the derisory levels of compensation offered so far. However, if a suitable plan is drawn up that actually benefits the allotment society overall, with substantially improved compensation, permitting many more improvements than simply proper drainage and preparation of this previously abandoned allotment land, and if an environmental impact assessment determines that these proposed changes would be acceptable, then CUFC could achieve their objective with the agreement of the Allotment Societies."

Statement Ends.

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