Ambitious Rossendale allotment project welcomed by MP (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Ambitious Rossendale allotment project welcomed by MP

5:00pm Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News

AN AMBITIOUS allotment project in Loveclough has been welcomed by councillors and Rossendale MP Jake Berry.

The site at Badgercote, off Burnley Road, has been leased by Rossendale Council to the members of Limey Valley Residents’ Association.

It plans to create an initial set of 24 full-size allotment plots with future expansion to provide a public park with paths, a pond, floral displays and a wildlife area.

Mr Berry visited the snow-covered site on Saturday with council leader Alyson Barnes and Goodshaw councillor Dorothy Farrington.

Darryl Nugent, chairman of the Limey Valley Allotments Association, who will manage the day-to-day running of the allotments, said: “Once the site is handed over, Andrew Connolly Demolition has generously given the association the use of a bulldozer and driver for a day to prepare the site.

“In addition to the allotments, part of the site will be landscaped to provide a public amenity area.

“There will be a phased programme of tree planting and it is expected that Incredible Edible Rossendale will have an on-site presence.

“It is expected that the project will be up and running by Easter this year.”

Some plots will be laid out for disabled users and others will be offered to community groups. Derrick Bartlett-Smith, chairman of the Limey Valley Residents’ Association, said: “We have worked tirelessly to get to this stage.

“The reason we set up LVRA was to protect our countryside and green belt areas and this is very much part of that.”

Mr Berry is advising the groups as they enter the process of applying for grants.

He has also pledged to accept an invitation to return later in the year when the allotments are laid out and the community area is taking shape.