Action Briefing Oct 2003 - Nov 2003
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

Billesley Lane Allotments 'downsizing'

The sorry saga of Billesley Lane allotments continues. You’ll remember that these wonderful allotments are unfortunately owned by Moseley Golf Club who have decided that the allotments' time is up, to make way practice area. The Council attempted a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), and at the Public Inquiry the Inspector found in favour of the Golf Club.

Following this, having been pretty much advised by the Council that they had no option, Billesley Lane Allotments Association (BLA) agreed to a so-called compromise where after two years most of the site will be lost, with a quarter being kept in allotment use for 14 years.

However, now a judicial review has found the Inspector’s decision flawed, and ordered that the Council’s costs be paid (as are the Golf Club’s). So the allotment group feel strongly that suddenly the door could have been open for another CPO; if the deal had not contained a condition that no further CPO was sought.

So what happens next? BLA have requested that the Council allow them access to their legal advice on going for a second CPO. Watch this space for further news. If you play golf you might like to make your views known to Moseley Golf Club, and letters to the Council can’t do any harm either. Meanwhile, BLA wish to be known henceforth not as allotments but as Billesley Lane Allittlements Association, to reflect their downsizing.

Karen Leach