Tweet
t a link to a petition for more allotments on the advice page, along with a response from the goverment about their policy.
Thought i would post a bit of it here in case it is of any help to anyone who may miss it on the other thread.
Alan
Allotments are valuable green spaces and community assets. We are entirely committed to allotments for all the benefits they provide communities, including the opportunity to grow fresh produce in line with current thinking on healthy eating, organic food, exercise, fostering community cohesion, enhancing biodiversity, and providing educational opportunities and health benefits.
The provision of allotments is the responsibility of local authorities and they are uniquely protected in law. Under existing legislation (the Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908) there is a duty on local authorities (except for inner London boroughs) to provide allotments where they perceive a demand for them in their area. If an allotment authority is of the opinion that there is a demand for allotments in its area, it is required, under Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908, to provide a sufficient number of allotments and to let them to persons residing in its area who want them.
Written representations may be made to the local authority on the need for allotments by any 6 resident registered electors or persons liable to pay council tax, and the local authority must take those representations into account (section 23(2) of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908). The Council must assess whether there is a demand for allotments in their area. If the Council then decides that there is a demand for them, they have a statutory duty to provide a sufficient number of plots. In terms of the duty to provide under section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 there is no time limit for provision once it has been established that there is a demand.
In addition to the legislation, the planning system plays a role in protecting existing open space from development, and where appropriate, it can require a developer to make provision for particular types of open space where a deficiency has been identified.
Planning policy is contained in Planning Policy Guidance note 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation, 2002 (PPG17). PPG17, states that local planning authorities should make robust assessments of the existing and future needs of their communities for all open spaces of public value, which, by definition, includes allotments.
Communities and Local Government grant funds the Federation of City and Community Gardens to deliver activities that contribute to our green space agenda. Part of the grant has been awarded to deliver support and best practice around allotments. In addition, part of that grant goes towards funding the Allotment Regeneration Initiatives (ARI). ARI supports the development of best practice models for regenerating under used allotment sites or for finding alternative ways of maintaining allotments as publicly accessible open spaces. They also offer advice, mentoring and training services at a local level.
Baroness Andrews, the Minister with responsibility for allotment policy, hosted a meeting of allotment policy stakeholders on 20 February 2009. Attendees considered current trends, issues and priorities for action, as identified in a paper written by Dr Richard Wiltshire, an academic with expert knowledge on allotments. One of the key actions that came out of that meeting is to update the good practice guidance, Growing in the Community, and to provide a clear map of allotment law/guidance to ensure that all local councils are aware of their obligations and good practice in the provision of allotments.
The link for the petition is:
Petition to: Make enough ALLOTMENTS in the UK to at least match demand!. | Number10.gov.uk
Thought i would post a bit of it here in case it is of any help to anyone who may miss it on the other thread.
Alan
Allotments are valuable green spaces and community assets. We are entirely committed to allotments for all the benefits they provide communities, including the opportunity to grow fresh produce in line with current thinking on healthy eating, organic food, exercise, fostering community cohesion, enhancing biodiversity, and providing educational opportunities and health benefits.
The provision of allotments is the responsibility of local authorities and they are uniquely protected in law. Under existing legislation (the Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908) there is a duty on local authorities (except for inner London boroughs) to provide allotments where they perceive a demand for them in their area. If an allotment authority is of the opinion that there is a demand for allotments in its area, it is required, under Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908, to provide a sufficient number of allotments and to let them to persons residing in its area who want them.
Written representations may be made to the local authority on the need for allotments by any 6 resident registered electors or persons liable to pay council tax, and the local authority must take those representations into account (section 23(2) of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908). The Council must assess whether there is a demand for allotments in their area. If the Council then decides that there is a demand for them, they have a statutory duty to provide a sufficient number of plots. In terms of the duty to provide under section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 there is no time limit for provision once it has been established that there is a demand.
In addition to the legislation, the planning system plays a role in protecting existing open space from development, and where appropriate, it can require a developer to make provision for particular types of open space where a deficiency has been identified.
Planning policy is contained in Planning Policy Guidance note 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation, 2002 (PPG17). PPG17, states that local planning authorities should make robust assessments of the existing and future needs of their communities for all open spaces of public value, which, by definition, includes allotments.
Communities and Local Government grant funds the Federation of City and Community Gardens to deliver activities that contribute to our green space agenda. Part of the grant has been awarded to deliver support and best practice around allotments. In addition, part of that grant goes towards funding the Allotment Regeneration Initiatives (ARI). ARI supports the development of best practice models for regenerating under used allotment sites or for finding alternative ways of maintaining allotments as publicly accessible open spaces. They also offer advice, mentoring and training services at a local level.
Baroness Andrews, the Minister with responsibility for allotment policy, hosted a meeting of allotment policy stakeholders on 20 February 2009. Attendees considered current trends, issues and priorities for action, as identified in a paper written by Dr Richard Wiltshire, an academic with expert knowledge on allotments. One of the key actions that came out of that meeting is to update the good practice guidance, Growing in the Community, and to provide a clear map of allotment law/guidance to ensure that all local councils are aware of their obligations and good practice in the provision of allotments.
The link for the petition is:
Petition to: Make enough ALLOTMENTS in the UK to at least match demand!. | Number10.gov.uk
Comment