Stan Pennington allotment holders supported in fight to stay on site

As previously reported by the Star, tenants at the Stan Pennington Allotments site have been told by the landowners that they will need to leave the site by November 2023.

This decision has proved controversial as not only are allotments long acknowledged for their environmental, social, and mental health benefits, the Alder Hey Road site in Eccleston has been used as allotments for the best part of 70 years, and have 90 out of 93 plots currently occupied.

READ > Tributes pour in to a 'lovely person' and 'great boss'

Potential sale controversial due to 'covenant' on land

90 out of 93 plots are currently used on the allotment site (Image: Stan Pennington Allotments)

The decision to evict allotment tenants has also proved controversial as a covenant is said to have been put in place to protect the land during the sale from Pilkington Glass Recreational Club, to former Second World War veteran and avid gardener Stan Pennington in 2012.

Following Stan's death, aged 93, in 2018, the current land owners are said to have exercised a break within the contract to end the lease with 12 months' notice; informing tenants that they will need to leave the allotment site by the end of the year.

Action group formed to save the site

An action group has been formed to save the community space (Image: Stan Pennington Allotments)

As the allotment site is also used to create fresh produce during the cost of living crisis and is used by numerous social groups, plot holders have come together to form an action group to try and save the land from being sold.

After distributing leaflets and raising awareness of their campaign, an online petition has reached more than 2,600 signatures as residents have backed the holder's fight to save their plots.

As negotiations have continued with the landowners, allotment tenants have also gained the support of local councillors as they try to register the land as an 'Asset of Community Value' with St Helens Council; which would allow the holders to buy back and own the site if a sale does go ahead.

Allotment holders gain councillor's support

Windle councillors are backing the campaign to save the plots (Image: Councillor Mancyia Uddin)

Following a recent visit to the Stan Pennington allotments, Windle councillors David Baines, Lynn Clarke and Mancyia Uddin said they are "totally supporting" the campaign after witnessing how it is a "clearly much-loved and much-used" resource in the community.

Cllr David Baines, leader of St Helens Council, said: "Myself, Cllr Clarke and Cllr Uddin as Windle ward councillors are totally supporting the allotment holders and other groups who use the site in their efforts to save it.

"I've visited the allotment just last week and met representatives of the committee, plot holders and service users and it's clearly much-loved and much-used by many people. 

"We're supporting their efforts to have the site listed as an asset of community value, which would give them the opportunity to acquire the site should the owners decide to advertise it for sale.

"We hope to have good news on that shortly, but in any case we hope that the land owners will think again and work with the community to keep it as it is.

"We'll continue to do all we can to support those who cherish the site."

The 'Save Stan Pennington Allotments' petition can be found here.

The petition to 'Save Stan Pennington Allotments' has reached more than 2,600 signatures (Image: Stan Pennington Allotments)