Andrée Frieze, Green Party London Assembly candidate, visited Park Road Allotments in Isleworth this week to support the campaign against the Northumberland Estate's plan to concrete over the site with seven blocks of flats comprising 80 dwellings.

The allotments are a designated Local Open Space in Hounslow Council's Local Plan and an Asset of Community Value.

The site is full of wildlife including several species of bat, badgers, hedgehogs, frogs, toads and newts.

The Northumberland Estate says it has offered to retain allotments on 30% of the site but plot-holders say they won't be given like-for-like replacements to cater for all existing occupants.

Andrée Frieze said: "These allotments are a haven for wildlife and a much-loved amenity for local people.

"It is a designated Local Open Space and I urge Hounslow Council to reject the planning application to build on this historical site."

Jon Elkon of Hounslow Green Party said: "Allotments promote a variety of benefits including enhancing people's physical and mental well-being and protecting and improving local biodiversity.

"The site is adjacent to All Saints churchyard and beautiful Isleworth riverside - one of the few remaining public areas retaining a consistent appearance over hundreds of years and which has attracted many visitors during the pandemic.

"New development here would ruin this local attraction at a time when hundreds of new homes are planned and under construction in nearby areas."

Promoted by Caroline Wren on behalf of the Richmond & Twickenham Green Party, 80 Fulwell Road, Teddington TW11 0RA.

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