allotments

STYRBJORN · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 09:39 AM

I note that the Guvmint are planning to scrap 93-year old legislation requiring local councils to provide allotments for local residents. It is expected that most will be ploughed in and built on.

The Big Society gets another bit smaller.

Ric

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 02:34 PM

If this is so, it's very sad. Allotments are a part of our heritage and should be protected against development. So many people take pleasure in growing their own vegetables and socialising whilst doing so. It also supplies locally grown food- which is so important nowadays.

artdemole · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 04:18 PM

I Hope it causes an uproar.Not good at all.Good source of food,social activity and needs plenty of fitness activity.

Meta menardi · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 04:19 PM

It will be a tragedy if this does happen. Many allotments support a good wealth of wildlife, due to the rather pleasant ramshackle nature of sheds, hedges, rough ground, use of compost/manure and so on. Just a bit more tidying up.

STYRBJORN · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2011, 04:45 PM

Thanks for your reactions. It has long seemed to me that an allotment is a great way for a "Townie" to keep in touch with "Country". And now the Powers That Be want to destroy that link.

Ric

Tursiops2 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-05-2011, 08:14 AM

Where did you get this info? I find it hard to believe that even the Con-Dems could be so crass, you'd think they would have learnt a lesson from the forest sell-off fiasco! Time to start mobilising.

T2

STYRBJORN · #7 (**permalink**) 03-05-2011, 08:48 AM

Independent May 1st. 300.000 allotments at risk. It does actually fit with Con-Dom idealogy. The legislation was passed in Parliament, and could be seen as interfering with the freedom of locally elected councils to spend "their" money as they wish. If you want an allotment, get together with kindred spirits, buy your own plot of land . . . A-a-a-rr-gh. Major rant narrowly averted.

Ric

SheffieldLass · #8 (**permalink**) 04-05-2011, 12:04 AM

Thanks Ric for that

Exclusive: The end of the good life - Gardening, House & Home - The Independent

This is a part of the article (my addition in brackets to make it a bit clearer):

"The 1908 legislation (for provision of allotments) applies to England and Wales. In Scotland there is no such obligation, although the demand for land is not as great. The law does not apply in London because competition for space is so high.

Inviting responses from the public, the Department for Communities and Local Government says: "To date we have identified 1,294 statutory duties that central government currently places on local authorities, the majority of which arise from primary legislation – and we are aware that at this stage it is not a complete list.

"We are inviting you to comment on the duties and to challenge government on those which you feel are burdensome or no longer needed."

What I can't make out is whether this is a separate 'consultation' from the Red Tape Challenge which is also about 'burdensome' red tape, or part of that. This article gives the impression that it is separate, as the Department for Communities and Local Government seem to be behind this one, whereas the Red Tape challenge comes from the Cabinet Office. If so, what is going on with this government? How many 'consultations' are they trying to slip through and what weight will the public reaction carry?

I notice that DEFRA very quickly became aware of the hostility to the environment legislation being put on the 'red tape challenge' and tried to downplay it. And it looks as if the DCLG is doing the same with this. In which case the whole thing is a farce. Which is what the Institute of Directors seems to think of the Red Tape Challenge too - a waste of time and money.

My view is that we should take these things at face value and reply accordingly, not just assume it is a non-consequential distraction for the public.

STYRBJORN · #9 (**permalink**) 08-05-2011, 09:00 AM

The IoS today announced that the "Dig for Victory" campaign has succeeded in getting the guvmint to drop its plans and bring in new legislation to ensure that allotments will continue to be available. Present legislation will be simplified and red tape cut.

The guvmint were afraid of a backlash like the one over forest sales. Sheffield Lass has the right of it. Scream and shout NOW, don't give the blankety-blanks the chance to present us with a fait accompli.

Ric