Update On Long Leys “Community Hub” Project

Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback so far on the initial launch of the Community Right to Build project for a Shop, Community Centre & Allotment Growing Centre in Long Leys. We have had about a dozen people take the time to provide feedback and to ask questions on various aspects of the project.

To confirm again, this is the start of about 12 months of consultation and nothing is set in stone. We are acutely aware that much information needs to be gathered and considered before progress of any type can be made.

Next Steps

LLRA’s next step will be to issue a further communication in April, which will give much more detail together with information on timings for initial consultations with stakeholders. We are waiting for feedback from the hospital as to when we can resume meetings at their Discovery Cafe (the site has been out of bounds for visitors for the last two years for understandable reasons). We are also waiting for City of Lincoln Council and North Lincoln Horticultural Society to provide feedback from individual allotment tenants potentially affected.

Project Briefing Sheets

To support the consultation launch, several briefing sheets are being prepared, hopefully addressing most of the questions people may have, and summarised not to bombard people with too much detail. There is a fair degree of volunteer work involved in putting together all the material and proof reading etc, which is why these will not be released until April. Briefing sheet content will include LLRA’s work on projected traffic volumes and views on noise impact and a more detailed run through of why other sites were not available.

Two Quick Points

1. Several people, both residents and allotment tenants, have asked whether the project’s potential use of ten allotment plots set a precedent for other allotment sites in Lincoln? The simple answer is no, but in response, LLRA are releasing one of the Briefing sheets: 4 – Wider impact on Lincoln’s allotments. Apologies for including some of the legal aspects but this is necessary for those who want to understand in greater detail. Much of this information is also in the detailed project proposal, a link to which was previously provided.
   Read pdf Briefing Sheet 4 – Wider Impact on Lincoln’s Allotments  (opens in new tab)
   The paper covers:
   • The detailed challenges of getting Secretary of State Approval
   • Previous examples in Lincoln and who benefitted from them
     • Long Leys Road Site 1962 and the SEC Building (the photo below is a reminder to those who were in Long Leys in 2006).
     • Ermine Site 2016 and the upgrade of fencing, water supplies and drainage on Long Leys Road allotments
       
   • The detailed challenges of getting Secretary of State Approval
   • Previous examples in Lincoln and who benefitted from them
     • Long Leys Road Site 1962 and the SEC Building (the photo below is a reminder to those who were in Long Leys in 2006).
     • Ermine Site 2016 and the upgrade of fencing, water supplies and drainage on Long Leys Road allotments
       
2. There seems to be some confusion that the community hall would somehow be licenced premises or a regular pub type venue. Just to confirm this is not part of the proposal and there is no intention to offer licenced premises. Some of the reference sites LLRA members visited did have a “pop up” bar which is staffed by volunteers during monthly community events, and another has a weekly 2-hour coffee bar staffed by volunteer Baristas and a proper coffee machine. These two elements would be included in any consultation.

In the meantime, LLRA would be delighted to receive any further queries or feedback you have, via LLRA@Long-Leys.org and would expect to provide feedback during April.

Photo: SEC Building Long Leys Road circa 2006