Allotments should be encouraged, not sold off.

A couple of days ago I was telephoned by a resident who is interested in renting an allotment in Acton.  In Acton allotments are the responsibility of the Parish Council and so I put him in touch with one of the councillors from whom he could make further enquiries.  I fear, however, that he will not find himself the proud tenant of an allotment very soon since I believe that there is currently a waiting list.

Allotments have become much more popular now than they were a few years ago.  When I became a Trustee of the Braithwaite Trust, which looks after the two groups of allotments in Great Waldingfield, some six years ago there were a few vacant plots.  At that time new tenants were being sought from as far away as Sudbury.   This has all changed.   Higher living costs and also the appreciation that growing your own often allows you to enjoy fresher, better food have both contributed to  renewed enthusiasm for allotment holding.  In addition, people appreciate that fresh air, sunlight and gardening is very good for health, and there is the additional social benefit of getting to know fellow allotment holders.

To meet high levels of anticipated demand, Chilton Parish Council have been very keen to see a good number of allotments provided on the Chilton Woods Development.  We have lobbied hard for a higher allocation of land for this purpose with both of the prospective developers of the site.  At present, of course, the project is on hold, but when another developer emerges, we will be seeking to achieve the provision of a substantial patch of land dedicated to vegetable and fruit growing.

I was depressed to read an article in the Guardian yesterday (link here), saying that some local authorities are seeking to balance their budgets by selling their allotment land for building development.  Allotment holders are offered land elsewhere, but this is often very inferior to the plots that they have worked for many years, and in which they have invested a huge amount of time and energy.

Councils should realise that allotment holding serves a number of useful functions.  It not only encourages local food production and supports social cohesion, it also enhances people's fitness and wellbeing.   Now that the Government has given local authorities additional responsibility for the health of their residents I find it hard to see how selling allotments off in this way can be justified.