NickInTheNorth
08-May-11, 21:39
Sunday 08/05/2011 2000
A very good meeting was attended tonight by individuals interested in allotments in Thurso as scheduled at 1830.
However at 1800 before the meeting was due to take place an even more interesting conversation took place, partly in the car park, and then inside the Ormlie Centre.
In essence an opportunity was put forward to establish allotments just a short distance outside of Thurso, on level grazing land, with an enthusiastic and supportive landowner. For those of you who know the area the land is located at the former Mossburn Cattery, next to the Garden Centre.
Discussions took place regarding the merits of either:
a) trying to persuade the council to fulfil their obligations under the various Allotments (Scotland) Acts, and in regard to their own recently adopted allotments policy
b) setting up an allotment association and working with a willing landowner prepared to provide what appears to be good land for allotments without dragging his feet for as long as possible
One of the people present was heavily involved in previous allotments in Thurso, and his information regarding previous dealings with the council on the matter of allotments was highly instructive. In short his experience was that the council had no enthusiasm for allotment provision, and would likely at best drag their feet in fulfilling their obligations. Having contacted the council myself on several occasions regarding allotment provision in Thurso I can only agree with his conclusions.
After due considerations of issues such as accessibility and transport, alternative locations within Thurso, site security and general desirability of being able to move forward without council feet dragging it was agreed by all present that the best course of action would be to try and reach an agreement with the landowner at Glengolly.
So as part of that process we want to ask anyone interested in having an allotment in Thurso if they would agree to proceeding with such a course of action.
If potential allotment tenants are happy for us to go ahead and negotiate for the Glengolly site then we will open discussions, and would hope to be able to call another meeting within a few weeks to formally constitute an allotment society to be the representative and management body of the allotments.
Other items discussed were wider community involvement, education, fund raising.
Please respond as soon as possible to advise if:
You are happy for negotiations to be opened with regard to Glengolly
You would like an allotment at Glengolly if the site is acquired
You would be happy to be on a management committee for the allotment association
You would like an allotment but believe that it should be located within Thurso and in conjunction with the Highland Council
A very good meeting was attended tonight by individuals interested in allotments in Thurso as scheduled at 1830.
However at 1800 before the meeting was due to take place an even more interesting conversation took place, partly in the car park, and then inside the Ormlie Centre.
In essence an opportunity was put forward to establish allotments just a short distance outside of Thurso, on level grazing land, with an enthusiastic and supportive landowner. For those of you who know the area the land is located at the former Mossburn Cattery, next to the Garden Centre.
Discussions took place regarding the merits of either:
a) trying to persuade the council to fulfil their obligations under the various Allotments (Scotland) Acts, and in regard to their own recently adopted allotments policy
b) setting up an allotment association and working with a willing landowner prepared to provide what appears to be good land for allotments without dragging his feet for as long as possible
One of the people present was heavily involved in previous allotments in Thurso, and his information regarding previous dealings with the council on the matter of allotments was highly instructive. In short his experience was that the council had no enthusiasm for allotment provision, and would likely at best drag their feet in fulfilling their obligations. Having contacted the council myself on several occasions regarding allotment provision in Thurso I can only agree with his conclusions.
After due considerations of issues such as accessibility and transport, alternative locations within Thurso, site security and general desirability of being able to move forward without council feet dragging it was agreed by all present that the best course of action would be to try and reach an agreement with the landowner at Glengolly.
So as part of that process we want to ask anyone interested in having an allotment in Thurso if they would agree to proceeding with such a course of action.
If potential allotment tenants are happy for us to go ahead and negotiate for the Glengolly site then we will open discussions, and would hope to be able to call another meeting within a few weeks to formally constitute an allotment society to be the representative and management body of the allotments.
Other items discussed were wider community involvement, education, fund raising.
Please respond as soon as possible to advise if:
You are happy for negotiations to be opened with regard to Glengolly
You would like an allotment at Glengolly if the site is acquired
You would be happy to be on a management committee for the allotment association
You would like an allotment but believe that it should be located within Thurso and in conjunction with the Highland Council