After years in the making, Kirton in Lindsey now have allotments again thanks to the work of Kirton in Lindsey Town Council.
Back in the 1920-1960’s the town had allotments across two sites, but allotments fell out of fashion, tenants were not forthcoming and the sites were closed.
In the early 2010’s residents began to contact the Town Council requesting allotment provision – the sticking point for enabling this was always finding land within the town which could be turned into allotments.
In 2017 a large-scale housing development on part of the former RAF Kirton in Lindsey site was approved for outline planning by the local authority, North Lincolnshire Council. As part of the approval, a 0.5 acre section of the land was to be given to the Town Council for the sole use as allotments for residents. This finally gave land to turn into a new allotment site.
The land given over had, in the later years of the RAF occupation of the land, formed part of a golf course for service men and women to make use of. In the time since the site was closed by the RAF in 2012 to the Town Council gaining ownership in 2018 a thick woodland had developed which needed clearance before anything could be done.
Due to the use of the land previously by the RAF a contaminated land survey was required to ensure the area was safe to be used for the purposes of allotments. This thankfully came back with the All Clear.
The land could then be measured out, the number of plots determined as well as areas for car parking, communal paths and water supply to the site for a tap. The Town Council fitted gates to the roadside entrance and the adjoining landowners put security fencing in place around their perimeter.
Due to the length of time passing from the initial clearance work, the required land surveys, security and training the land required clearance and rotavating by Town Council contractors and the generous voluntary support of local farmer, Graham Clements.
The Town Council then put in place a working group to develop documentation and move forward the construction of pathways and car parking and the marking out of the plots. Members attended a local training course in Hessle presented by the National Allotment Society to help better understand the responsibilities of having allotments.
The waiting list of residents which the Town Council had maintained since 2010 was worked through in order to confirm residents who remained interested in taking on plots. With ten plots available, they were soon filled and a meeting was arranged on site to show the prospective tenants the current position with developing the site into allotments. They remained keen and quickly signed up, able to choose their plots. The tenants agreed on an Allotment Liaison Representative between them to act as the link to the Town Council.
The new tenants were keen to help get the development of the plots moving and assisted the Town Council with ideas, suggestions and physical help including the installation of grass grids to protect the verge entrance into the site. Identical sheds were also provided for the tenants who installed their own bases and put them together. A WhatsApp Group was set up so that everyone could keep in touch as the site came together and the tenants were able to share ideas and help each other with knowledge.
The tenants starting using the site after signing initial agreements in September 2022, and the allotments were officially opened on 22 April 2023 by the Mayor of Kirton in Lindsey, Cllr Joy Kofoed, the President of the National Allotment Society Mr Phil Gomersall and our regional representative Paul Howgill. The President gave an opening speech highlighting the benefits for the tenants in forming an association. Kirton in Lindsey Town Council were delighted to have representatives of the Society at the event and thank them for the enthusiasm, advice and knowledge that they shared during the event.
The site is privileged to be named the Platinum Jubilee Allotments to mark the special year in which the site came into use, during the celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Due to the rural location, it can be found using the What3Words identifier ///:rave.marshes.strapping
Further information and waiting list
If you would like further details or to join the waiting list for an allotment plot,
please contact the Town Clerk via email to: enquiries@kirtoninlindseytowncouncil.gov.uk
or phone on 01652 648978
or call into the Town Council Office at the Diamond Jubilee Town Hall, High Street on a Tuesday or Thursday between 12noon and 4pm.
The Clerk is also available at other times via appointment.