Kitchen Garden Forum

I don't know whether something about this has already been posted but for the sake of risking repeating something I think it is worth mentioning.

The government are looking at reducing the burden on local authorities by reducing their statutory duties. One area being considered is the LAs duty to provide allotments.

Apparently the consultation period ends tomorrow so if you want to make a comment you need to act quickly.

See http://www.allotment.org.uk/garden-diary/1238/allotment-threat-act-now/ for more information.

A petition has been also started here http://www.petitions24.com/keep_the_obligation_to_provide_allotments_for_those_who_need_them

The following question was asked at PMQ's on Wednesday:

Mike Gapes (Ilford South) (Lab/Co-op):

More than 100 years ago, Parliament legislated to make sure that local authorities provided allotments. Healthy local food is a very good part of good British values. Why therefore are the Prime Minister’s Government scrapping the obligation on local authorities to provide allotments?

The Prime Minister: I was as concerned as the hon. Gentleman when I read that report. I immediately checked, and found that that is not the case. It is extremely important that allotments are made available. Many Members will find that when they ask about that in their constituencies there are massive queues for allotments, as many people want to grow their own vegetables and food and understand more about where food comes from. It is a great movement, and it has my full support.

A 'U-turn' or just 'they don't know what they're doing'?

eddy 50 .I rather suspect it was testing the water, they didn't bank on it being brought up in PMQT, with all those viewers watching on their TVs.

They do seem to test the water a lot don't they?

Hi All
I recieved this from the NSALG today

Regards

Kevin

Dear Member

Just to keep you updated on the progress of the review – this is the information that we have posted on our website:

The future of allotments secure

Following the request for all members and non-members to voice their opinions on the recent statutory review, the following information is from the DCLG website:

Published

1 May 2011

The Department responds to the claim in the Independent on Sunday that the review of local government's statutory duties could threaten the future of allotments.


A spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government said:


"This is simply untrue we will not remove statutory protections for allotments or any frontline services. However the Government is reviewing old and unnecessary duties imposed on councils in order to free them up from Whitehall red tape and as part of this we have published the full list of duties which includes allotments."


In Prime Minister's Question Time on 4th May 2011:


Mike Gapes (Ilford South) (Lab/Co-op): More than 100 years ago, Parliament legislated to make sure that local authorities provided allotments. Healthy local food is a very good part of good British values. Why therefore are the Prime Minister’s Government scrapping the obligation on local authorities to provide allotments?


The Prime Minister: I was as concerned as the hon. Gentleman when I read that report. I immediately checked, and found that that is not the case. It is extremely important that allotments are made available. Many Members will find that when they ask about that in their constituencies there are massive queues for allotments, as many people want to grow their own vegetables and food and understand more about where food comes from. It is a great movement, and it has my full support.

Our hard work and dedication has been successful and we would like to thank everyone who responded to our letters, emails calling all our members to respond to the review of statutory duties.

We will be vigilant and continue to communicate with the Department for Communities and Local Government and other organisations to safeguard the allotment legislation.

Donna McDaid

National Secretary

Town hall bosses sell 50,000 allotments off for redevelopment while 'grow your own' demand soars
By David Derbyshire

Last updated at 1:19 AM on 7th May 2011

Comments (1) Add to My Stories Share Town hall bosses have sold off or redeveloped more than 50,000 allotments in the past 15 years, despite soaring waiting lists and growing demand for ‘grow your own’ food.
A survey commissioned by the last Government – and then buried for five years – also showed that the number of allotment sites in cities, towns and villages fell by nearly 800 between 1996 and 2006.
The figures were revealed by planning minister Greg Clark as he pledged to boost allotments by giving communities powers to identify new sites and protect existing plots under the Localism Bill.

Sell off: Town halls have redeveloped more than 50,000 allotments in the past 15 years a new survey reveals
‘More and more people want to grow their own vegetables but sites are becoming unnecessarily difficult to come by,’ he said.
‘We need to stop this decline in allotments, especially as people are so eager to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
‘People who get behind neighbourhood planning and develop a plan have real powers to not only protect existing sites but create more plots for the whole community to enjoy.’
The number of allotments in the UK has fallen from its peak of 1.4million in 1949 to around 300,000 today.
Today 59 people are waiting for every 100 plots, in contrast to 1996 when there was an average of four people waiting for every 100 plots, and it may take ten years to get to the front of the queue.
Vegetable patch: The popularity of 'grow your own' has soared in recent years
The survey was commissioned from Derby University in 2005 by John Prescott’s Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, but it was never published.
Civil servants noted that questionnaires had been returned on just half the allotment sites in England, ‘which casts doubt on whether the findings presented in the report relating to sites are valid’.
Donna McDaid, of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, said: ‘There is growing interest in community-grown food, and allotments have an important role in providing space for groups to grow their own produce.’

Explore more:People: Greg Clark, John Prescott Places: United Kingdom

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1LeUvCkbD

Maybe knickers were twisted unnecessarily

New powers for the green fingered to protect allotments

I see it was published 7 May - interesting timing

The following article seems to imply that the government would have been happy to sneak the proposals through, hoping nobody would notice:

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 80970.html