New allotments get funding along with garden and events

New allotments at Lee-on-the-Solent are being planned by the council, following a decision by councillors last night [Wed 5 July].

They agreed to allocate funds to set up a new allotment site at Manor Way open space, with 65 plots, and infrastructure to include access, security and water.

The cost, £56,587, will come from contributions paid to the council by companies behind recent property developments.

Following the decision, made by the council's Policy and Organisation Board, the next major step for the project is a planning application.

Cllr Peter Chegwyn, Leader of the Council, said: "I'm really pleased that we're able to fund more allotment spaces in the borough. Demand for allotments has increased recently, with 102 people now waiting for a plot in Lee. This project is designed to help meet that demand while we work on ways of providing more access to allotments."

Councillors on the board also agreed funding for the development of a garden at Bastion No 1, near Trinity Green, which was part of the town's 17^th century defences. The garden, planned by the Friends of Bastion No 1, was allocated £11,636 from developer contributions.

Board members also agreed two amounts of funding to support the borough's Summer in Gosport events programme. £10,500 was allocated to Montserrat Events for the free Party in the Park on Walpole Park on 29 and 30 July, with plans for live music, a funfair, stalls, go-karts, a bouncy castle, food and drink and children's entertainment. £9,000 was allocated to the Stoke Road Community group to support their Stoke Road Community Festival on 16 September, with free children's activities, live music, food and drink planned.