Allotment row over use of new container

A SQUABBLE over a new building at the Dunmow Jubilee allotments has threatened to thwart the recent progress made in gathering new members and improving the site.

The allotment committee has applied to Dunmow Town Council to install a new steel container in the middle of the site at Waldgrooms.

But councillor Milan Milovanovic said that he was very wary that allotment users were looking for some sort of clubhouse rather than a place to keep tools.

He said: "We should be very careful about what we allow to go on up there. This large new container could be easily used as a clubhouse. All it would take is a few fairy lights, a generator and some tables and chairs.

"I would be very uncomfortable with allowing it to happen without some strict conditions and a review after 12 months."

He added: "It should be purely for storage and we should determine from the outset what the use actually is."

However, town mayor Clive Smith argued that the council should take a more trusting view and let the allotment committee proceed.

He said: "We could always put some clauses in but I think we should just say yes.

"If we find out later down the line that they are misusing the container then we can always remove it."

The council agreed to let the container be installed on plot 50 at the allotments, but will review it in 12 months time.

Allotments committee chairman, Peter Weston, said: "We would like to see a clubhouse up at the site in the future, but we always respect council decisions those sorts of things because they are the landowners.

"We can say without doubt however that the new container will be used for storage only. It will be used by plot-holders who are located far away from the other container we have.

"We have a growing membership and we do need to expand to keep them happy. I am sure the council will try to assist us in doing so."

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