Local residents were under the impression that the Council had sold the site of the allotments in the 1990s for £3.5 million, and the Council has done nothing to dispel these rumours. Yet Mr Leech has recently discovered that the Council in fact never sold the site, and indeed still owns it.
Mr Leech is therefore calling on the Council to reopen the site to ease the area's chronic allotment shortages and help address the lengthy waiting lists for allotment sites that local residents are currently facing.
John Leech said, "This represents a real opportunity for the Council to help local residents who are faced with a long wait to secure an allotment site. I am astonished that having not sold the site, the Council has left it to grow fallow despite the queues of people wanting a plot."
"It seems particularly short-sighted given that that it comes at the same time as plans that throw into doubt the future of allotments at Bradley Fold. The Labour Council should in fact be increasing the number of allotments, which promote healthy eating and exercise, not jeopardising them."
1. For more information on John Leech's campaign, please contact his office on 0161 434 3334 or by email at leechj@parliament.uk.
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Previous news story: John Leech MP ensures you have your say on congestion charge (Wed 20th Aug 2008).
Next news story: As Gordon comes to town, new poll predicts that Lib Dems will hold Manchester Withington (Thu 25th Sep 2008).
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