Community Allotments

St.Luke's Community Allotment Steering Group

would like to thank:

Meeting of St Luke’s Community Allotment Group

St Luke’s Church Hall – 4th February 2009 1pm to 1.45pm

Present: Victoria Bax, Jackie Jones, Norman Shields, Dennis Kerner, Terry Whitman,

Fr. James McCluskey, Gareth Gault, Jannine Speer. John Barber (from 1.40pm).

GG outlined background to this proposed project, offering to write and lead on a bid to Southend Together (the Local Strategic Partnership).

Noted:

•The City Farm idea had been rejected by residents.

•There is land behind Norwich Avenue which apparently has a 30 year ban on its use, although it would be easy for Connexions and school to access.

•The land at Temple Sutton Primary School was still available but there were concerns about security.

•The land at the back of St Luke’s Church Hall is being cleared by people under Probation Service supervision and will be maintained by them. JMc offered this plot as a starting point/pilot for the project as it was the right size, will be maintained regularly and is accessible to all.

•The ultimate aim is to produce fruit and vegetables for sale at a community co-operative and use by a Community Chef (tie-in with the Chef project).

•Support from ward’s three councillors should be sought.

•Although the banner is “St Luke’s” the understanding is that schools and residents of adjacent wards should be included.

•There are other funding pots apart from LSP:

oLottery Awards, as per handout, especially the ‘Local Food’ programme

oEvening Echo Grants

oAwards 4 All

oHorticultural Societies?

Agreed:

The pilot will be:

•Phase I: Pilot based at St Luke’s Church grounds.

•aim to offer sessions on specific days for children, older people, teenagers [JMc noted that a small part of his Administrator’s paid time could be allocated to organising rotas].

•be inclusive (raised areas, sensory areas)

•Phase II: aim to extend to the existing unused plots in local allotments,

•Phase III: Develop the unused land behind Norwich Avenue.

GG will prepare a draft bid and circulate for consideration and feedback from this group.

Follow up note – the outline information you already have will be used as supporting information to the main application to the LSP, therefore no need to circulate the funding application, But if you have any further ideas or input please contact me before 20.01.09.

Date of next meeting: 19th March 2009, 1pm at St Luke’s Church Hall (thanks to Fr. James for hosting meetings).

Funded by