News / Roots Allotments
Police called to standoff at proposed allotment site again
A row over plans for an allotment site on the outskirts of Bristol has flared up once more after police were called to the area on Tuesday morning.
Roots Allotments had planned to build 700 allotment plots on the site but has faced criticism from local residents, who argue the site is already used by locals, and the huge allotment would have a damaging effect on the biodiversity of the field.
According to locals, construction workers arrived in the morning to erect a fence across parts of the field in Abbots Leigh, but were met with resistance from residents who attempted to block them from entering the field.
is needed now More than ever
Police arrived at the site at around 8:30 on Tuesday after receiving multiple calls, to find a number of people blocking access to the private land. The conflict was deemed a civil matter so the police left shortly after, a spokesperson told Bristol24/7.
Since then, locals and Roots have been engaged in a bitter stalemate, and the matter seemed put to bed when the company’s controversial plans were rejected in August.
North Somerset Council vetoed the plans, arguing Roots had attempted to avoid getting full planning permission by applying for an application for a certificate of lawful development.
But 600 people had already signed up for allotments on the site, and co-founder Christian Samuel feels hopeful his plans will get approval.
Samuel confirmed that Roots would apply again for a certificate of lawful development, this time without a planned car parking plot, and said he hoped to get people on the site as early as this month.
Main photo: Mia Vines Booth
Read next:
- Allotment company defends decision to build on meadow despite objections
- Bristol most difficult city to get an allotment in UK
- Controversial allotment on outskirts of Bristol rejected
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