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Originally Posted by mobertol
Twas an innocently asked question Neil - nothing was meant to be inferred.
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I know it was and I was being careful answering, I am involved with local community groups and I don't want people thinking I am commenting anything but my own person views. I do know the figures for last years expenditure and what was taken in rents but it is HBC's place to quote them not mine. Hopefully it will be mentioned at tonights meeting. I wanted to attend but its my son's confirmation at the same time so I wont make it. I don't like second hand information from biased parties.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mobertol
I know that there has also been quite an increase in demand for allotments all over the UK, from things seen on TV, and apparently a lot of people are now also keeping bees on them too which is a very good thing.
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That is part of the problem. A few years ago when people did not want allotments they were rented out at very low prices just so they were taken. Some tenants had more than one allotment because they were so cheap. Now there is a massive waiting list, about a year ago it was well over 100 for the allotments at Heys in Ossy alone. The Council have a legal responsibility to make allotments available for those who want them under an act of law. unfortunately there is no time limit placed on the local authority finding new allotments and this is the game Hyndburn are playing.
Looking at the tenancy agreement I have seen keeping bees on an allotment is not permitted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mobertol
Presumably most of the expenditure for regeneration is a one-off on improvements which will last for many years. Rent money coming in must cover a part of regular maintenance, but I can't understand why most of the work is done by outside contractors and not council parks staff -that would surely be cheaper.
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The Parks and Open Spaces Dept do not have the staff to do this work. They don't have enough staff or funding to look after our parks and green spaces to a reasonable standard either but that is another issue.