Village Allotments

May 2010

The Parish Council received a letter dated 12 April 08, with 12 signatures from people who had expressed an interest in renting an allotment.

Under the Allotments Act 1908, it was our statutory duty to provide an area of land that could be used as allotments.  

The Parish Council approached landowners with land close to the village centre and asked if they would look at renting it long term.  One landowner agreed, but the land in question was not ideal due to its location and drainage problems. 

Further land was identified, it had two owners, one was known, but no one knew the whereabouts of the other landowner.  A visit to the Land Registry identified the landowner and the Parish Council wrote to both landowners and it was agreed that the land which had been dormant for 20 years could be rented to provide allotments for the village.

An open meeting on the 11 May 09 took place and the Allotment Society was formed and key appointments filled.

Due to the land requiring work to bring it back to a condition suitable for allotments, the Parish Council agreed to pay the first year’s rent and a grant of £1000.00 was given to help with the costs of the work required.  As you can imagine land that has been dormant for 20 years required a lot of work, hedge cutting, weed killer treatment and finally cultivating the soil.

It became evident when starting the work that the area of land required a boundary fence that would ensure an animal free zone and deter vandals and thieves.

Hinstock Parish Council in conjunction with the Allotment Society obtained quotes for fencing and submitted a bid for funding to Shropshire Council’s Local Area Committee.  The bid was for £5924.50 and £5000.00 was awarded towards the fencing.  The Parish Council have agreed to pay the shortfall of £924.50.

The site has 14 plots in total - 6 full size and 8 half size.  There is however, currently only one half size plot still unallocated and once this has been taken, a waiting list system will be initiated.

The Allotments has seen new and old parishioners joining together and forming new friendship groups, it has given the community of Hinstock a new outlook.