Save our allotments!

Despite soaring waiting lists, however, allotments are being sold off. Budget cuts, high land prices and demand for housing has led to the redevelopment of over 50,000 allotments in the last 15 years, according to a survey by the last Government.

Up until May 2011, government ministers had been planning to abolish the legal protection of allotments under section 23 of the 1908 Small Holdings & Allotments Act. The 103-year-old statutory right to demand land for growing means councils have a legal obligation to provide ‘a sufficient number’ of allotments for local people. It had been on a list of red tape to be cut to reduce ‘unnecessary burdens’ on local authorities, and generated a huge backlash of opposition.

Now allotments will be safeguarded through the Localism Bill, providing communities with new rights and powers to protect existing sites and identify new ones. MP Bob Neill said:

“The Government is not and has no plans to change the rules requiring councils to provide allotments to local communities… As the Prime Minister said recently in Parliament, “it is extremely important that allotments are made available…it is a great movement, and it has my full support.”

For more information regarding renting an allotment visit Directgov.

Note:

• Section 8 Allotment Act 1925 protects land acquired specifically for allotments (statutory allotments), but land originally acquired for other purposes (temporary allotments) is not protected.

• London Boroughs do not have a statutory obligation to provide allotments because of the limited amount of land available.