'Urgent' £290k allotments upgrade proposed

Urgent works are set to be carried out at allotments across Birmingham with a budget of nearly £290,000 if proposals are approved.

The city council has identified "urgent improvements" at 14 sites, including those in Stockland Green, King's Heath, Stechford, and Harborne.

The local authority wants to launch refurbishment projects within a budget of just over £288,000.

The proposals, which include securing boundaries and improving accessibility for plot-holders with disabilities, will be considered at a council cabinet meeting next Tuesday.

The proposed works would be funded through the Flo Pickering Memorial Fund, which is ring-fenced for allotment improvements only.

"This will potentially increase the number of people renting allotment plots, which in turn will increase the income generated through these allotments," the council said in a report.

The authority added that doing nothing would compromise the security of the sites and the existing road-surfacing would become "extremely dangerous".

The council's cabinet was recommended to approve spending £288,267 on the surfacing and fencing proposals at the sites.

The sites earmarked for the upgrade are:

• Bleak Hill Allotments, Stockland Green
• School Lane Allotments, Shard End
• Bramble Hall Hayes Allotments, Shard End
• Pool Lane Allotments, Garretts Green
• Francis Road Allotments, Yardley West & Stechford
• Coventry Road Allotments, Sheldon
• Uffculme Highbury Park Allotments, Brandwood & King's Heath
• Greenaleigh Road Allotments, Billesley
• Henlow Road Allotments, Highter's Heath
• Woodthorpe Road Allotments, Brandwood & King's Heath
• Strawberry Dene Selly Oak Allotments
• Coney Green Allotments, Longbridge & West Heath
• Pereira Road Allotments, Harborne
• Shaftsbury Road Allotment, Sheldon

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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