MEP backs campaign to save allotments
April 2011: Allotments are part and parcel of almost every town in Britain. Tending an allotment is a great British tradition and many councils have a queue of people seeking to secure an allotment which they can use to provide food for their family.
As well as providing exercise for the plot-holders, looking after an allotment is also a social occasion with each town's allotments supporting its own special community, with people of similar interests all coming together to 'grow their own'.
But now allotments could be facing the axe as the Government has decided to undertake a "Review of statutory duties" with the aim of cutting the cost of running local authorities.
Cameron and his crew want to remove the statutory duty of councils to provide a sufficient number of allotments to meet the needs of local people.
Under the Allotments Act 1922 and subsequent Allotments Acts up until 1950, a local authority is required to maintain an "adequate provision" of land, usually a large allotment field, which can then be subdivided into allotment gardens for individual residents to tend for a low rent.
Allotments are a major community resource and we need to keep the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 Section 23 in place.
This piece of legislation is intended to ensure that Local Authorities provide a sufficient number of allotments for those in their area that want one.
It says:
(1) If the council of any borough, urban district, or parish are of the opinion that there is a demand for allotments . . . in the borough, urban district, or parish, . . . the council shall provide a sufficient number of allotments, and shall let such allotments to persons . . . resident in the borough, district, or parish, and desiring to take the same.
(2) On a representation in writing to the council of any borough, urban district, or parish, by any six registered parliamentary electors or persons who are liable to pay an amount in respect of council tax resident in the borough, urban district, or parish, that the circumstances of the borough, urban district, or parish are such that it is the duty of the council to take proceedings under this Part of this Act therein, the council shall take such representation into consideration.
Now this provision is under threat. There is a consultation in process, but this closes on 25th April 2011 so Nick Griffin wants all allotment holders and those who support the ideals of self sufficiency to act now and let the Government know that allotments are a vital asset to our communities and must be protected.
Please make you views known today by:
emailing your comments to: burdens@communities.gsi.gov.uk
or by sending a letter to:
Review of Statutory Burdens Team
Department for Communities and Local Government
3/H6 Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU
As well as providing exercise for the plot-holders, looking after an allotment is also a social occasion with each town's allotments supporting its own special community, with people of similar interests all coming together to 'grow their own'.
But now allotments could be facing the axe as the Government has decided to undertake a "Review of statutory duties" with the aim of cutting the cost of running local authorities.
Cameron and his crew want to remove the statutory duty of councils to provide a sufficient number of allotments to meet the needs of local people.
Under the Allotments Act 1922 and subsequent Allotments Acts up until 1950, a local authority is required to maintain an "adequate provision" of land, usually a large allotment field, which can then be subdivided into allotment gardens for individual residents to tend for a low rent.
Allotments are a major community resource and we need to keep the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 Section 23 in place.
This piece of legislation is intended to ensure that Local Authorities provide a sufficient number of allotments for those in their area that want one.
It says:
(1) If the council of any borough, urban district, or parish are of the opinion that there is a demand for allotments . . . in the borough, urban district, or parish, . . . the council shall provide a sufficient number of allotments, and shall let such allotments to persons . . . resident in the borough, district, or parish, and desiring to take the same.
(2) On a representation in writing to the council of any borough, urban district, or parish, by any six registered parliamentary electors or persons who are liable to pay an amount in respect of council tax resident in the borough, urban district, or parish, that the circumstances of the borough, urban district, or parish are such that it is the duty of the council to take proceedings under this Part of this Act therein, the council shall take such representation into consideration.
Now this provision is under threat. There is a consultation in process, but this closes on 25th April 2011 so Nick Griffin wants all allotment holders and those who support the ideals of self sufficiency to act now and let the Government know that allotments are a vital asset to our communities and must be protected.
Please make you views known today by:
emailing your comments to: burdens@communities.gsi.gov.uk
or by sending a letter to:
Review of Statutory Burdens Team
Department for Communities and Local Government
3/H6 Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU
