Community allotments to be set up in Dunvant
WE may be living in a world dependent on technology, but Swansea communities are starting to return to the simpler things in life.
Local growing schemes are starting to sprout up. First there was Vetch Veg and now Dunvant is coming over all green-fingered.
Swansea Council has set up the Grow Local scheme encouraging communities to find patches of land which could be turned over to allotments or beds.
A sum of £50,000 was set aside for the project in the council's budget and all councillors have been asked to suggest places — and members of the public can too.
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Dunvant councillor Jen Raynor said: "To encourage us all to eat healthier and take more exercise, Swansea Council has started its Grow Local scheme.
"A small south facing area of Dunvant Park has been identified as just right for food growing. The site will be securely fenced and provide approximately 20 small plots.
"Fresh out of the ground vegetables taste very different to supermarket varieties which have been developed for storage and appearance rather than flavour.
"I hope this will attract more people to the park, which I think is really underused at the moment. You only really see dog walkers in there.
Mrs Raynor said work on the outer fencing would hopefully start next week.
It is also hoped the whole community gets together to support the project in Dunvant much like at the Vetch which involves schools as well as organisations and members of the public.
Fellow ward member John Newbury added: "I have been looking for a site for allotments in Dunvant for many years. I support the idea of using part of the Park for food growing."
Mrs Raynor said there had already been a lot of interest from members of the public and that police community support officers would be patrolling the park including the new food growing area.
The officers have also offered to go along and help with the work in setting up the plots.
Mrs Raynor added: "As the Grow Local scheme develops throughout Swansea there will be opportunities for sharing how to cook ideas, and swap and sell schemes for fruit and vegetables."
Swansea Council cabinet member for sustainability Sybil Crouch has thrown her support behind the scheme, which she has been helping to develop.
She said: "This is a very welcome initiative. We are very keen to encourage communities across the city and county to get involved in local schemes to grow food to contribute towards a healthy lifestyle and a good time.
"The Vetch Veg project in Sandfields has demonstrated this very successfully, although these are different schemes. Vetch Veg is raised beds.
"I hope the community gets involved, but each project is different."
4 Comments
by sbey21
Monday, March 25 2013, 11:03PM
“As a Dunvant resident it would be nice to know why there hasn't been any consultation with the local community for their opinions or ideas on the proposed allotments. Both councillors are locals who have been voted in by the Dunvant community and perhaps should have got some local feedback before it was printed in your newspaper. (We get leaflets and visits when the elections are due).
Dunvant Park is an old established park which is not large. It has few facilities and unfortunately it has been allowed to fall into disrepair. However, it is well used by dog walkers and local children as a safe environment for them to play in. The councillors want to take part of this land from the local communities and give it over to the allotment holders, when it would be nice if the spare cash could be used to renew and improve the current facilities so all the local people could benefit not just the select few.
According to your paper the scheme is part of a Grow Local project following the success of the Vetch field allotments. The Vetch field was not a community park it was an old, disused football pitch. Our park is not waste ground just left abandoned; it is an established landscaped green belt, serving both the Killay and Dunvant residents. The population of both areas are increasing yearly so it is even more important to preserve and maintain the park. We have 5 local schools –Dunvant Primary, Olchfa comprehensive, Cila Primary, Hendrefoilan Primary and Penyfro School - so safe areas for children's play are vital.
With the obesity crisis in Britain at the moment councils should be encouraging more parents and children to use the park by adding facilities that all can enjoy, not just 20 allotment holders. I am not against allotments at all; I am against taking a local park and changing it for the minority, not the majority!
Another local resident has placed a petition in Binks newsagents and I urge residents and users of Dunvant Park to sign it, to help preserve the green belt of Dunvant Park, then hopefully the local councillors will take notice. Dunvant Park is the wrong place for the allotments.”
by Jack1
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 2:06PM
“Cllr Jen Rayner states the park is under used. This is because all of the activities listed on the entrances of the park have been taken away by the Council. It states Tennis, (courts removed and not replaced), Football, (dressing rooms left to fall into a state of disrepair, meaning the local teams now have to play in Gowerton), Cricket, (square no longer available), skateboard ramp, (taken out and never replaced), and the OAP hut, (demolished and never replaced).
If the Council actually replaced what was removed or spent money on upgrading existing infrastructure then obviously people would use it more, (probably too much common sense for the Council to realize that). Incidentally it is a false claim to say 'only' dog walkers use the park as though they don't have the same rights as other local people. On any evening or weekend there are, dog walkers, children playing, and bowls all taking place.”
by Jack1
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 2:03PM
“Cllr Jen Rayner states the park is under used. This is because all of the activities listed on the entrances of the park have been taken away by the Council. It states Tennis, (courts removed and not replaced), Football, (dressing rooms left to fall into a state of disrepair, meaning the local teams now have to play in Gowerton), Cricket, (square no longer available), skateboard ramp, (taken out and never replaced), and the OAP hut, (demolished and never replaced).
If the Council actually replaced what was removed or spent money on upgrading existing infrastructure then obviously people would use it more, (probably too much common sense for the Council to realize that). Incidentally it is a false claim to say 'only' dog walkers use the park as though they don't have the same rights as other local people. On any evening or weekend there are, dog walkers, children playing, and bowls all taking place.”
by dhux1952
Sunday, March 10 2013, 10:57AM
“This article was the first the local community knew about this. There is now great consternation as it not the right area for allotments. It will encourage young vandals and also increase the vermin population. Rats carry Lyme Disease and Canine lung worm.
We need an open meeting on this soon.
Please can a reporter do an article from the community's perspective?”