Lache residents can use community allotment until 2014

Mar 17 2011 Chester Chronicle

RESIDENTS in Lache have been told they can continue to use a local allotment patch until 2014.

The strip of land off Oxford Road has been used by local residents since 2009 when resident Bob McCombe along with the Lache Residents’ Association launched a ‘grow your own’ training scheme.

Residents have had the opportunity to learn a new hobby from a qualified horticulturist and in addition, they can even gain a recognised qualification from Reaseheath College.

Mr McCombe, who has led the project from the start, said: “Lache is in the top 1% for multiple deprivation in Cheshire, and I think the allotment project is a good example of local residents taking responsibility for improving their gardening skills, health, well-being, social cohesion and gaining practical Šhorticultural qualifications.”

The land was far from a garden however. Clearing the site of rubble and abandoned rubbish took over a week of solid, hard labour.

Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) sprang into action and cleared the area, free of charge.

In addition to the use of the land and its clearance, the scheme had already been awarded £1,000 from CDHT’s Community Intervention Budget (CIB) to help with the ‘start up’ costs.

CDHT’s Regeneration Team helped Mr McCombe gain planning approval for the greenhouse and a total of £5,000 was donated towards costs.

Carrots, beetroot and rainbow chard were on show when Lache Garden Village Allotment Project and Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) signed to agree that the land -owned by CDHT and originally outlined for building work- could be used by the project until September 2014.