Thousands Enjoy Spooky Goings On at Northfields Allotments

And show support in battle to stop development on part of the land

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Thousands of people turned out to enjoy a Halloween Pumpkin Trail at Northfields allotments on Saturday (29th October).

Rory Thomas writes:

The allotments were decorated from end-to-end with large looming spiders, spooky lanterns and pumpkins aglow, and the trees were strewn with cobwebs, and some had turned their shed spaces into little haunted houses. For the families who came along – many of whom were in costume - there was a Tombola, Face Painting, “Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin?” and a ‘Lucky Dip’, as well as hot soup, mulled wine and a BBQ.

In addition to celebrating the Autumn festival, the allotment holders are also fighting plans by local social housing charity, Pathways, to develop on 10% of the land - as proposed earlier this year. According to Pathways Chief Executive, Clive Wilson, they are seeking to ‘provide 110 new affordable homes’ (and 4 private houses for sale), and to decant 18 of their Dean Court residents onto Northfields Allotments as part of their “enabling block”. However, following a recent conversation with Mr Wilson, he added: “We think we can possibly reduce it to 5% of the site, though we need to do more detailed work”.  

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Shadow Home Affairs Minister, Rupa Huq, who was present at the celebration with Ealing Labour Councillor Paul Conlan, had the following to say: “It’s unprecedented numbers of people here tonight…apparently within the first seven minutes there were 237 people through the doors! And it just shows the strength of feeling of people against this proposed development. We’re against it because it’s a vital green lung here and there is a wider community function, as well as large number of endangered species”. She went on to say it would be ‘a backward step to lose this’.

On the recent suggestion by Mr Wilson that the proposed site might be reduced, Ms Huq said: “I don’t think we can sacrifice any of it. There are other ways of doing this”.

Pathways are planning to hold an exhibition at St John’s church on Mattock Lane on the 12th of November to demonstrate their revised proposal. When asked if they would be in attendance Ms Huq and Mr Conlan confirmed they would.

When asked where tonight’s proceeds would go, Nick Cash, operating a produce stall, said: “It’s partly to raise awareness of the problem we’ve got with Pathways, and to create a stronger community bond. But it’s also to raise money for a ‘fighting fund’ if we need lawyers”.

The atmosphere was generally jubilant and joyous, and there were many children in witch, and dragon, and skeleton costumes, running happily among the shrubs and bushes eating sweets and playing with their parents. And at one point bats were seen flitting overhead, perhaps from roosts here on the allotments. One little boy in a vampire costume was heard saying: “This has been the best Halloween party, ever!”.

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Christina Fox, chairman of the Ealing Dean Allotment Society, said: “Our Halloween Pumpkin Trail was a fantastic success and we were delighted that almost 2,000 people from across Ealing were able to join us. It was a great opportunity for local residents to enjoy the many benefits that Northfields Allotments provide to the community.

“Northfields Allotments is an important historic site dating back to 1832 and a vital part of Ealing’s natural heritage. Everybody involved with the allotments is devastated that the landlord Pathways has designs to build on the site. Our Halloween event has again demonstrated how important the allotment is to the community here in Ealing and how valued these green spaces are to those who live in this built-up part of West London.”

October 31st 2016

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