That's yer lot, as allotments are to become homes (From Gazette)

That's yer lot, as allotments are to become homes

3:00pm Friday 19th June 2009 in News By Andrea Collitt

ALLOTMENT holders are set to be ousted from their plots to make room for rows of semi-detached houses and an elaborate sports complex.

London developer Sandor Glausius has served Mistley allotment holders with notice to quit.

It means they have no choice but to vacate the site, off Harwich Road and adjacent to Shrubland Road and Furze Hill recreation ground, within a year.

Mr Glausius is planning to build a sports pavilion, gymnasium and rugby pitch on the land, along with 40 semi-detached homes – including some affordable housing.

A new road would also be built.

But the development would mean the 16 allotments being destroyed, prompting a special meeting to be called by Mistley Parish Council to discuss the situation.

Parish clerk, Richard Ling, said: “He has given us a notice to quit, which means we had to issue a notice to all allotments holders, and they are not happy with it.

“He hasn’t put in a planning application yet, but when he does he said he is prepared to provide us with some allotments somewhere else.

“Some people are quite hopeful we are going to get another decent allotment, but some people are very worried they are going to be turfed off completely and there won’t be a space for them.

“It is a bit worrying for everybody at the moment.”

Mr Glausius said the police, fire service and Mistley football and rugby clubs had given his vision their backing.

He remained tight-lipped about the cost of the scheme, but said he hoped cash could come from the Sports Council and private investors.

He said: “It is a nice village and I don’t want to change its character, but sport facilities for the weekend don’t change the character.

“We have come to the conclusion the allotments would accommodate 90 per cent of what is needed.

“It is our land. The lease expired 12 years ago, and we didn’t force them out.”

Mr Glausius said he planned to move the allotments 20 to 30 metres away. It would be a “minor inconvenience” to holders.