In 1996 Hyndburn Borough Council placed Baxenden allotments in their Local Plan as an area of "special restraint", which meant that they were to be untouched for the next 10 years but could then be regarded as housing land. Baxenden residents were furious and lobbied the Council and had a public meeting opposing the plans.
Hyndburn Borough Council then had a rethink - they found that they already had sufficient land for housing needs and Baxenden Allotments were taken off their list of sites for future housing.

Perhaps it may also have been partly due to the fact that a Planning Guidance issued by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said that recreational land is sacrosanct and must not be built upon - allotments are, in our opinion, recreational land.
So Baxenden Allotments live to fight another day. Present indications are that the allotments will stay at least for the foreseeable future.
Thanks to everyone who supported our cause. To view the story and pics please click on the link to allotments.net below.

Link to Allotments.Net

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