Fight continues for improved facilities at Mill Lane Allotments

Plot holders at the Mill Lane Allotments site in Connah’s Quay say they have been calling for better site security and toilet facilities for years, but are still ‘fighting a losing battle’.

Despite saying they will raise the funds themselves, they still need council permission for the works to take place.

Bill Crease, chair of the allotment association, told the Leader: “I wrote to the council and asked their permission. I specifically said we don’t want them to fun the projects but can we have written permission they will let the works go ahead.

“It was discussed at committee level but in the minutes it says it has been referred to precept next year which from my understanding is when they ask for money from the taxpayers.

“So now there’s confusion. We understand things are tight and Covid has put pressure on everyone and everything so we have taken responsibility.

“Without throwing stones, I just want something done, but the council has had every opportunity to do it.

“I don’t think tax payers should be asked to pay for it, it’s our responsibility, we are capable of getting the money we just need written permission that these works can go ahead.”

Bill said the main concern for him is site security as many plot holders do not feel safe.

He added: “We had a serious assault on site earlier this year, forensics were there for three days.

“All the while it’s open for the public and there’s only a 4ft gate. No way can you call the site secure so site security is our number one priority.

“But then second to that is the toilets. We’ve had no facilities since the 90’s when it was first raised to the council and rejected.

“Toilets are very important to me as a result of radiotherapy it would be nice to have those facilities there and not drive rush home but I’m not the only one on site.

“We have Digging Deeside who have vulnerable people and not having those facilities is an issue. If we had those welfare facilities we could have the opportunity for educational activities and so on.

“I have a standing offer from a national company for solar panels which would allow us to have lighting and cameras.

“Then there’s the roadways. The bottom is a swamp every time it rains. We understand money is tight but we will pay for it, so why is it still not allowed?

“We just want to be able to do that. We go around in circles, it’s not even circles anymore. We have a lot of female plot holders who don’t feel safe.

“They see young people taking drugs and drinking alcohol and we’ve even had rough sleepers. We can’t seem to make progress with the council and when the council changes, we will have to start all over again.

“We just want confirmation that we have permission and we can do the works we need.”

In an email to the council, Bill wrote: "I believe it is now time for CQTC to fully understand that it is my belief that they are failing in their duty of care to me, as a tenant of the allotment site.

"We suffer thefts each and every year. The council are aware of this. Rough sleepers use the site over winter as a doss house. The council are aware of this.

"The area around the entrance is used habitually by drug users. The council is aware of this. Unauthorised visitors to the site use it as a drinking "den". The council is aware of this.

"Any member of the public can gain access to the site at any time. The council is aware of this. A very serious assault took place on the site earlier this year. The council is aware of this.

"The trees forming the boundary with the lane are a danger. This issue has been raised on a number of occasions. I am told a tree survey was carried out earlier this year (although I have seen no evidence of this)and all were declared safe. Clearly they are not. The council is aware of this.

"The car park at the entrance gate floods regularly, not as a result of the brook but from roadway and lane runoff. The council is aware of this.

"There can now be no question that for some reason, financial, personal, or political, that the council is unwilling to meet its duty of care requirements, as landlord, to me as a tenant. I believe it is also failing to meet its obligations under the terms of its lease from FCC, awarded under the CAT process, to me as a tenant.

"As the overarching landlord I am formally requesting that FCC take steps to either:-

"Ensure that their tenant, CQTC, immediately and with utmost effort resolve the known issues above OR revoke the lease on the grounds that CQTC have failed in their duty of care to me, as a tenant, and assume responsibility for tenants on the site."

A spokesman for Connah’s Quay Town Council said: “The allotment site is private property and as such is not ‘open for the public’. Anyone who enters the site without permission is trespassing and should be reported to the police.

“We will be conducting a survey of the site boundary once the foliage has started to die back later this year. Where any issues are identified, these will be addressed accordingly.

“We acknowledge that some allotment sites do have toilet provision, but also that others do not. There have never been toilet facilities for plot holders on our allotment site. All plot holders are aware of this when they sign their annual agreements.

“The Council has been approached by Mill Lane Allotment Association with a request to site a container on the allotments, and reference was made to this being for ‘welfare facilities’.”

The spokesman confirmed that the request was discussed at the town council’s Committee meeting in July.

They said: “Unfortunately it is not as straightforward as a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. The Council did commit to giving further consideration to the request as part of its annual precepting process.

“This decision was taken to allow a full and proper process to be undertaken before reaching any decision. Having to consider the location of any facility, its size, construction, and accessibility, there are likely to be recurring annual costs associated with the proposal such as cleaning, maintenance, and insurance.

“The precepting process allows Council to identify areas of spending for the coming financial year, and then consider how to fund these – whether via the precept or from other sources.

“The Council remains committed to positive dialogue with all plot holders, including those who are not members of Mill Lane Allotment Association. If any plot holder has any concerns, then they should raise them with the Town Clerk.”