Saving of our Allotment Sites

Recently Fortis Green Allotment site has been under threat of being sold from under them by their landlord Thames Water,  who were presumably looking for a developer to purchase the site.  Fortis Green had a petition which was available to sign to to support their bid to save their site from being yet another housing development.


It appears they have had a stay of execution for a while and they are looking into means whereby they could purchase the site from Thames Water, who may be giving them first refusal.  Clearly the amount of money required to purchase land in London is very high.  They are looking to raise funds by various means and have asked for suggestions.  They have formed a not-for-profit, limited company with charitable objectives, (see: http://www.savefortisgreenallotments.com/news.htm) and formed 'FRIENDS OF FORTIS GREEN ALLOTMENTS' to raise funds. Clearly they are looking at the obvious means e.g. Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food programme.


It is important that we all support their efforts to save their allotment site.  Too many have disappeared recently as a result of Councils and land owners regarding these areas as an easy way of boosting their coffers.  Of course selling the family jewels can only be done once, the asset is then gone for ever.  


It appears that Thames Water may be having second thoughts and may now have a different Idea of what they want to do.  However, the possibility still exists that the land could be sold to the highest bidder; the threat is still there.


I for one support the efforts of the plot holders at Fortis Green to attempt to save their site from development and I sincerely hope they succeed.