AN allotments association in Bury is bidding for £500,000 of National Lottery cash to see its base grow and grow.

Ambitious officers of Walnut Avenue Allotments Association want to throw off their traditional "cloth cap" image and establish a unique teacher-resource centre.

And if given the go-ahead, it will be used to teach the disabled and other interested novice, "green-fingered" gardeners the art of horticulture.

The association is one of only a handful in the borough to be awarded self-management status by Bury Council.

Secretary, Mel Smart said: "During the last two years we've run the allotments on this self-managed basis.

"This means we run the site on behalf of the council, who still own the land. Any money generated from the plot fees are kept within the association.

"The cash will allow us to pay bills and to carry out improvements to enhance the site," he added.

The contract for the Walnut Avenue allotments - originally established in 1916 - is for 15 years.

Now, however, members are hopeful the allotments will blossom into a bold teacher-resource area and attract potential National Lottery funding.

Mr Smart added: "We've been involved with Bury and District Disabled Advisory Council, Bury Council and others.

"We want to upgrade the site and take it into the next millennium for the benefit of the disabled, as well as the able-bodied, and to set up a teaching-resource area. We're trying to set up an area of land to one side where people can come down and learn about horticulture, whatever their abilities."

The association says it wishes to provide basic amenities on the site of the allotments, including disabled toilets, meeting room and other facilities within the teaching-resource area.

Mr Smart said: "We hope we can redevelop some of the land here and invite schools and community bodies to the site.

"We are trying to get rid of the 'cloth cap' image. We feel the teacher-resource proposal is a very good idea."

The association is preparing a detailed business plan which will form the basis for a Lottery bid which will be put together by town hall chiefs.

Mr Smart and his colleagues have already spoken to Euro MP Gary Titley and Bury North MP David Chaytor about their ambitious scheme.

"We hope to carry out the work in phases and we envisage the full cost will be £500,000. All the facilities, plus sewerage facilities, have to go on site.

"At present, we can't invite the disabled here because we don't have the amenities. In the long-term, we hope to provide permanent positions and maybe take someone on on a part-time basis as a caretaker."

Mr Smart added: "Ideally, we'd like to provide a designated area for people who don't have allotment facilities but who want to come along and look at what they can do on their own."

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