On Monday 17th September 07 Cow Lane allotment holders began their first action against plans to bulldoze the site to make way for a new road as part of the Reading station upgrade.
See http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/08/377780.html for previous report.
Allotment holders where alerted to the arrival of surveyors gathering information for the new road design last week. To ensure this event did not go unnoticed allotment holders quickly mobilised to greet and dismiss the surveyors.
Most allotment holders were at work, however a small group managed to make a very visible presence at the gates to the allotment site. They erected a 10 metre long banner over the entrance, fashioned some makeshift placards and handed out 500 leaflets to passing motorists, many of whom where very supportive, hooting there horns and stopping to take leaflets. The usual sharp-witted rant of ‘Get a Job’ was only heard once towards the end of the day. Friends from Common Ground community garden and associated activists also turned up to show support.
One Landscape Architect had the audacity to turn up only to be turned away with a clear message that we intend to fight to save our allotments, and those companies involved would not be immune from action.
The allotments are under threat due to the closure of one of the Cow Lane bridges and a subsequent diversion of the road as a part of development plans for Reading station. The road will also affect the Reading Festival site, Mobile home residents and the Riverside Sports and social centre.
We also made it into our local rag ( http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/2015/2015224/protest_over_allotment_land)
Find out more about us and our campaign at www.cowlane.org.uk
Other allotment sites under threat!
www.lifeisland.org
www.eastleigh-allotments-association.org.uk