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Sheffield Allotments Face Closure Over Waterworks Project
22 Jan
Summary
- An 18-month Yorkshire Water project may force a Sheffield allotments charity to close.
- The charity received a compensation offer of £6,000, deemed 'miserly' by a local councilor.
- The group fears future funding loss due to the lengthy disruption of their operations.
An award-winning Sheffield allotments charity, Friends of Firth Park Community Allotments, has warned of its potential closure following an announcement by Yorkshire Water. The water company plans an 18-month construction project at the Brushes allotment site on Vickers Road, involving the installation of a stormwater overflow tank and sewage pumping station. This extensive work is part of a larger £3.2 million scheme.
The charity, founded in 2005 to promote food-growing skills, will be displaced by February 2nd, 2026. They have expressed profound disappointment with the offered compensation of £6,000, describing it as insufficient. The group fears that the 18-month hiatus will severely impact their ability to secure future grants, jeopardizing their long-term sustainability.
Beyond the financial concerns, the tenants face significant emotional distress, with the potential levelling of their cherished garden plots, specialist sheds, and polytunnels. The project's disruption also poses challenges for long-term plot holders who have integrated the allotments into their personal lives, with some living adjacent to the site.
