LIB DEM BACKS ALLOTMENT CALL FOR HEATON

12.00.00am GMT Tue 10th Mar 2009

Newcastle East Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Greg Stone has offered support to a call by Heaton residents for more allotment provision in the area.

Greg has received a petition noting that there is currently up to three-year waiting lists for plots in the area, following a resurgence in the popularity of allotments and of growing your own healthy food.

Existing sites at Armstrong Park and St Gabriels, Iris Brickfield, Thropton Terrace, and Walkergate Hospital are all full.

Local councillor Greg said: "I was pleased to receive a petition from local residents asking the council to investigate providing more sites in the area, and I will be presenting this to the Lord Mayor at the next meeting of the city council.

"The city council has provided a widely welcomed new modern allotment facility off Walker Road in recent years, but there is an acknowledged shortage in the Heaton area.

"The situation is not helped by the fact that there is a shortage of undeveloped land in the area, given the tightly packed terraces.

"As such I will be asking the council to explore the possibility of creating a new site on land close to Jesmond Dene or at Coach Lane."