Local Government | Bishopstoke Parish Council

The transfer of Bow Lake Gardens from Eastleigh Borough Council to Bishopstoke Parish Council, and its potential use, has been an ongoing issue for some time. Following recent discussions in council meetings, and speculation online, we would like to provide the following update.

Who owns the land?
Bow Lake Gardens is currently owned by Eastleigh Borough Council. The transfer of the land has not taken place yet.

What is required to provide a useable allotment site?
The site is not an allotment. It is designated as land to be used for allotments, but it is not in a state where it could be opened as a functional allotment site at the moment. There are multiple reasons for this. Among those reasons are: there are several steep slopes across the site which provide a risk to people who may fall down them; there are insufficient water standpipes on site; deer and other wildlife are regularly seen within the fenced area and would certainly eat any crops grown and the soil, whilst not toxic, is not particularly suitable for growing crops. These concerns have been regularly communicated to the Borough Council.

The site was supposed to be provided with safe access between the various different levels, in the form of ramps bound by sleepers. Additionally, the terraces should have been landscaped so that each of them is level enough for safe use of allotments. Fencing should have been constructed to prevent allotment tenants falling down the slopes. The site should also have had around ten standpipes. Only two were provided.

In order for the site to thrive as an allotment, the Parish Council believes that the external fence needs to be made secure against deer, rabbit and badgers. Although it has been built as described in the planning permission, it appears no thought was given to the type of fence that would be needed in such a rural setting. Additional top soil and soil improver would also benefit the site greatly.

The estimated costs of these works, excluding any top soil or soil improver, is around £100,000. The majority of this is for the groundworks to provide access ramps and level the terraces.

Eastleigh Borough Council has stated that it may be able to help with some of the costs of setting up the site, but no figure has been mentioned.

What is the ongoing financial situation?
It is estimated that if all allotments were in use (44 plots and 14 raised beds) the annual income of the site would be around £3,000. It is also estimated that the annual maintenance of the site would be at least £5,000. If the site were only partially full then the income would drop and the maintenance costs would likely rise, as unused plots need to be kept clear until they are rented again.

How many allotments does Bishopstoke already have?
Bishopstoke has three allotment sites already. Underwood Road has 134 plots, Jockey Lane has 35 plots and Sewall Drive has 28 plots and 4 raised beds, for a total of 201 plots. This is more plots per 1000 residents than the vast majority of local councils.

Does Bishopstoke need additional allotments?
Currently, we are able to offer new applicants a plot within weeks of applying. We allow people to specify if there is a site that they would prefer, but the Council makes it clear that waiting for a specific site can take longer. For example, tenants at Jockey Lane do not tend to give up their plots, and so the waiting time there is estimated at around 3-4 years, despite there only being 9 applicants waiting specifically for that site.

There are around 40 people on the waiting list at the moment. Almost all of them have been offered a plot but have not taken it up. Some have chosen to wait for a particular site, some have not responded to the offer of a plot, and some are waiting for a specific plot close to a plot they already rent. This is why we are able to offer new applicants a plot almost immediately.

There are 8 applicants remaining who wanted to specifically rent a plot at Bow Lake Gardens, and a further 5 who have Bow Lake as one of their preferred options. Everyone who applied for Bow Lake was offered the option to take a plot at Sewall Drive when it opened, and many accepted. Sewall Drive is less than a half mile walk from Bow Lake Gardens and has ample car parking space for those that would rather drive. There are also 2 applicants who wanted a raised bed at Bow Lake. We have four raised beds at Sewall Drive and 3 applicants waiting for them to be officially opened.

Is Bow Lake Gardens required to be an allotment?
No. Although the land is designated as allotment land in the agreement signed between the developer and the planning authority it is possible to apply to the Secretary of State for change of use. To do so, the applicant must provide evidence that the allotment site is not needed, and also evidence backing up the requested use of the site. Bishopstoke Parish Council has received a request from Bishopstoke Greening to use part of the site as a Community Garden and the Council felt that this could be a good way of ensuring the land could at least be used for something close to its original purpose. The Council would also not need to fund the set up of the space, or the annual maintenance of it as a community garden.

So if not allotments, why is the Parish Council taking the land?
Bishopstoke Parish Council has been aware for a long time that there are concerns over development within Bishopstoke, and specifically that there are worries that Bow Lake Gardens could be sold to a developer for additional housing. This is the main reason that the Council have been working towards the transfer of the site – to ensure that it does not end up as another housing estate. To that end, the Council also publicly committed that it would not do anything with the land that would prevent it being an allotment in the future.

What about the future?
It is possible that demand for allotments may increase in the future, and the Parish Council may have sufficient funds to spend on the set up and maintenance of the site. In those circumstances, the Council would reconsider whether a fourth allotment site in Bishopstoke was warranted.

BISHOPSTOKE NEWS

SGN have provided us with the following information about the upcoming road closure on Fair Oak Road.

URGENT GAS NETWORK UPGRADE – FAIR OAK ROAD, BISHOPSTOKE

Following an assessment of the gas main along Fairoak Road, we have taken the decision to replace the existing ageing metal pipe with a new, durable plastic main. The current gas main was installed almost 100 years ago and now requires renewal to ensure the continued safe and reliable delivery of gas to local homes and businesses.

The work will involve replacing the gas main between the junctions of B3037 Alan Drayton Way and Haig Road. As part of the project, we will also replace any ageing metal service pipes serving adjacent properties where required.

Work is scheduled to begin on Monday 21 September and is expected to take approximately 12 weeks, with completion anticipated by Friday 11 December, subject to weather and operational conditions.

For the safety of our workforce and the public, Fairoak Road will be closed within the active work area. Resident access will be maintained at all times, and a clearly signed diversion route will be in place for through traffic. The closure will operate as a rolling closure, moving progressively along the road as each section of pipe replacement is completed.

Phase 1 - We will begin work at the junction with B3037 Alan Drayton Way, progressing towards Haig Road. This phase of the project is expected to take approximately four weeks.

Phase 2 - Once works reach the junction with Haig Road, the junction will also need to be temporarily closed. During this phase, we will replace the gas main at the junction and connect the new pipework to the existing gas network. We expect this phase to take approximately five weeks.

Phase 3 - Following completion of the junction works, both roads will reopen and we will move into the final phase of the project. This will involve replacing sections of gas main within the footpath between 230 and 270 Fairoak Road.

We appreciate that these essential works and temporary traffic restrictions may cause some inconvenience and would like to thank residents, businesses and road users for their patience and understanding.

If you have any questions about this work, please contact our customer team on 0800 912 1700, speak to the team on site, or visit https://www.sgn.co.uk/Contact-SGN for other ways to get in touch.

POTHOLE REPORTING

Hampshire County Council have provided a direct link to their website for reporting potholes in roads. We have been told that some potholes on Sandy Lane are about to be fixed as a direct result of being reported through this link. Please use this link to report any potholes you encounter in the road.

https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems

PHOTO SEARCH

Bishopstoke Parish Council is looking for photographs of the scenery around Bishopstoke. This could include landscapes, parks, iconic buildings, river settings or anything else beautiful within Bishopstoke.

The photos would potentially be used on our Facebook or website, or in Council newsletters and leaflets, and would be credited to the person who took them.

If you are interested in letting us use your photos please contact the Clerk, David Wheal, by emailing clerk@bishopstokepc.org.

ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR ALLOTMENTS AND TRAVEL TOKENS

As part of our efforts to improve the service we provide to the residents of Bishopstoke it is now possible to apply for either allotments or travel tokens online.

To apply for an allotment, please click here.

To apply for travel tokens, please click here.

WILDFLOWERS

Bishopstoke Parish Council would like to help any local residents that wish to enhance their local area by planting wildflowers. Often, the areas best suited for planting are owned by either Eastleigh Borough Council or Hampshire County Council. The Parish Council can help you get in touch with the right people to gain permission for your planting.

The Council may be able to support in other ways too. Anyone interested should contact the Clerk by emailing the Clerk.

Media Release - September 2026

Summer 2026 Newletter

Who Does What Wheel

If you are unsure of which Council is responsible for what services, please refer to the wheel below. We hope it helps put you in touch with the correct people.