Trustees at Hareham Gardens Allotments have received the go-ahead to build a new bridge across their brook.
It’s welcome news for the many gardeners who use it, since the current wooden bridge linking the 62 plots (pictured above with Plot 4 in the background) has begun to rot, leading to fears it may soon become unsafe. It’s set to be replaced with a ‘long-life’ concrete bridge.
Funding for the project has been secured from The National Lottery Community Fund, The Jones 1986 Trust and with help from Ruddington’s Rushcliffe Borough Councillors, Jen Walker, Mike Gaunt and Gary Dickman. All three donated cash for the bridge from their RBC community funds.
It’s the James Peacock Bread Charity that owns the allotments and which regularly makes donations of money and produce to Ruddington residents in need. The charity’s secretary, Peter Johnson-Marshall, explains: “The bridge spans a stream and gives safe access between the two halves of the allotment site. Current and future allotment wheelchair users, including a group of people with learning disabilities on Plot 4, will benefit from the bridge’s increased safety to get between the car park and their plot.”
Cllr Walker adds: “It’s great to see the group have achieved the funds required to fix the bridge and make the allotments accessible for all.”
The charity will now organise a contract for the work – which it’s hoped can be carried out this summer.
