The Growth Project blooms again

Kellett Street Allotments under 10 feet of water when it was severely hit by the Boxing Day Floods

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The Growth Project at Kellett Street allotments was hit by a very wet and stormy patch in late 2015 with the threat of closure due to cuts in the Council's budget, and being submerged under 10 feet of water during the Boxing Day flood.

A spokesperson said: "Returning to the site after Christmas was heart-breaking. All the fences around the site had been washed away and everything that was not tied down had been destroyed by the water. Even the metal container - that was the size of a double garage - had floated hundreds of yards from its original position, squashing everything in its path.

"All of the vegetables that had been grown for over winter had to be composted because of the contamination risk from the flood-water.

"Essentially, it looked like there was nothing left to salvage especially after the project was broken into twice.

"However, friends and members of the Project pulled together and the clean-up began. As we were neither a business nor a householder, the project was not entitled to any compensation from the flood funds.

"RMBC Environmental Management have put back all the outside fences around the whole of Kellett Street allotments and have cleared up all of the rubbish dumped by the floods, whilst Rochdale Township has funded the major repairs for the project.

"The response to the threat of closure was amazing, and we would like to thank our councillors, our MP Simon Danzuk, the members the project and the public.

"The Council Cabinet met to discuss the proposed closure in February, and because of the overwhelming support for the Growth Project, it was agreed that funding would remain for the next 12 months.

"Amidst all of this turmoil, we received the amazing news that we have been accepted as part of the National Garden Scheme, and we are the only exhibit to have made it into the 'Yellow Book' in the Rochdale Borough.

"The Growth Project is opening for the first time under the scheme on Saturday 6 August from 11:30am - 4pm, and we hope we will be able to show the people of Rochdale and beyond that we are blooming once again."