Allotments – An Enduring Liberal Commitment.
In August 1908 the Liberal Government introduced the Smallholdings and Allotments Act which requires Parish, Town or in their absence District or Borough Councils to provide allotments if there is a demand from residents.
In 2011 Liberal Democrats believe allotments are more important than ever - they help to balance the family budget, reduce food miles and provide healthy food for all the family
The 1908 Act still operates and Liberal Democrat Councillors in Chapel-en-le-Frith and New Mills have been active in the last four years opening and re-opening allotments.
Chapel-en-le-Frith
During the early summer of 2010 a number of local residents contacted Chapel-en-le-Frith Parish Council to ask whether more allotment space could be made available. At the time there was a waiting list on the only Chapel allotment site, at The Courses. The residents came to a Parish Council meeting and made a presentation to Councillors during the 'Open Forum' item on the agenda and, following discussion by the Parish Amenities Committee, it was agreed to re-open, with certain conditions, The Leys site which had been closed for some years.
A total of 14 new plots were created, some full and some half, and these were let to local residents in June 2010. Some were offered to people already on the waiting list at The Courses site and others were taken up by local people who wanted to begin using an allotment to raise their own crops. The Leys site is now fully subscribed.
The Parish Council Amenities Committee, which looks after the allotments, and is chaired by Liberal Democrat High Borough Councillor Mike Harrison, also decided to take a look at its other allotment site in Dove Holes, where there were also a small number of people on a waiting list. By limiting leaseholders to a maximum of 2 plots it was possible to make some plots available to meet the additional demand.
We understand that there is no-one currently waiting for an allotment site in Chapel Parish area - but you may know differently!
New Mills
Liberal Democrat Chair of the Parks and Leisure Committee on New Mills Town Council, Alistair Stevens has worked closely with the New Mills Allotment and Gardening Society who now have two allotment sites being worked, one, Ollersett Avenue, well established and the other, Hague Bar, in the early stages of development.
In addition to the support of New Mills Town Council and advice from their parks department the allotment society has been awarded grant funding from NDVA (North Derbyshire Voluntary Action), Derbyshire Community Foundation and the New Mills Parade Fund towards development work on the Hague Bar site.
The society has also been awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund for the Wildlife Pond and Garden Project on the Ollersett Avenue site, which will enable them to finish the construction of the pond, planting of aquatic marginals and oxygenating plants, clearing and planting the area around the pond with wildflowers and grass and allowing it to become a haven for wildlife and insects and constructing a new dry stone wall between one of the cultivated plots and the pond area.
The Ollersett Avenue site was set up in 2005 and has 31 plots. The Hague Bar site was set up in 2010 in former paddock owned by the Council who have let it rent free for the first year while the society are enthusiastically developing it. All 23 plots have now been let but there is still a waiting list!
Glossopdale
The shortage of allotments in Glossop is acute and Glossopdale Action for Allotments (GAFA) is calling on local people to support its election campaign message - No More than Four Years Waiting for an Allotment
The Chair of Glossopdale Action for Allotments (GAFA), Mark Alix is calling for provision of a substantial number of new allotments across Glossopdale by the new High Peak Borough Council following the May elections.
Mark Alix says: "The demand is certainly still there. GAFA reasonably estimate that the combined waiting lists across Glossopdale (excluding Tintwhistle) total between 200-250 people, despite High Peak Borough Council preparing three new sites totalling 30 one-third of standard size allotments. We very much welcome the opening of a new site shortly near St Mary's Road (Glossop) with 9 new allotments but this site will be full on opening and already has a waiting list of over 30".
"GAFA believe that the new Council needs to create a strategic plan for its elected term to provide enough allotments to clear the waiting lists including the one at Jordan Street, Glossop within two to four years. High Peak Borough Council should also reconvene the Glossopdale Allotments Forum for quarterly meetings involving all the allotment associations to facilitate this. GAFA believe that no-one should reasonably have to wait more than four years for an allotment, and many people have been waiting for at least this period already. The law provides for situations where land is in short supply, as I know that the Council are already aware."
People can support the GAFA campaign by asking their councillors and candidates to commit to increased provision and by attending the election husting. They can also make sure they are on all the relevant waiting lists by contacting their local authority or visit High Peak Borough Council's website".
GAFA will be holding a husting with local election candidates at their General Meeting between 8-10pm on 20th April at Bradbury House, Glossop. Entry for non-members is £1.50 on the night or they can join GAFA for just £5 annual membership.
You can help Liberal Democrats Councillors by letting us know at info@highpeaklibdems.org.uk of any sites suitable for allotments in your neighbourhood.
Useful Links
Government Policy - Communities and Local Government
National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners - are campaigning to retain the legislation for allotments.