The field was originally called Higher Putts Park. It was an acre & a half and was purchased by the Hannaford family in the early 1920’s.
At this time legislation had been passed to set up protected status for allotments. We hold a copy of the conveyance document saying it was an allotment site when the Salcombe Town Council purchased it from Mrs Florence Hannaford in 1948 for the sum of £135.00.
In 2002 plans for a new housing development was proposed and this prompted the allotment holders & other interested residents to oppose the sale of the land.
Legally allotments were protected from development & their sale had to be approved by the Secretary of State if there were objections to the loss of the amenity value. Also under the legislation if a site was sold whilst in use as allotments a replacement had to be found.
The Bonfire Hill Allotment Association was formed in 2003 to object to the sale and it was led by Mike Johnstone OBE & Peter Howard who was a district councillor. There was a generous donation of £100 by a member to the Association which first met in May 2003 & had its first AGM in September 2003.
The Town Council backed the objections; so we have that early group to thank for our allotment field remaining in continuous use for 70 years or more. The forming of the Allotment Association has provided a structure for the management of the allotments.
The practical & administrative management of the site is in the hands of the allotment plot holders who elect a committee to oversee the site. All plot holders must be members of the Association. They pay a subscription to cover insurance & the running costs of maintaining the paths, fencing, etc. The committee collect the rents & oversee the letting of the plots on behalf of the Town Council who in return give a discount for this service. The Town Council as our landlords support us in many ways, such as removing plot holders who break the rules, tree management & boundary disputes.
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