It’s pretty obvious that local councils are failing in their legal duty to provide sufficient allotments.The tighter economic climate, the steep rise in food prices and the shift in awareness of the importance of producing food 'yourself' makes the case for more allotments and community gardens even more urgent.
The national survey done by Transition Town West Kirby was based on 'Freedom of Information' requests to every main district council. In East Kent both Canterbury and Thanet managed to answer. Dover DC and Shepway just replied that was the responsibility of the Town and Parish Councils - which is true but demonstrates the lack of imagination in the stewardship of public space in the district.
Deal With It will be approaching all the Parish and Town Councils in the Dover District Council area to fill this information gap.
Canterbury City reported 14 sites with 730 plots and closed waiting list of 720 !
Thanet reported 12 sites with 929 plots and a waiting list of 430.
Bob Russell, MP for Colchester, has put down an early day motion (EDM 687) stating:-
"That this House welcomes the big increase in home-grown vegetables, with seed sales up 14 per cent last year; is pleased that the number of people wanting an allotment has increased by 20 per cent in the past 12 months; is concerned that according to the National Society for Allotment and Leisure Gardeners there are 100,000 people on waiting lists for an allotment; and calls on the Government, local authorities, other public bodies and private landlords to make land available for new allotments."
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