Council and Government must work together to support allotments

12.00.00am GMT Wed 30th Dec 2009

Glasgow MSP Robert Brown has called on the Scottish Government to work with local councils to help find more allotments to meet growing public demand.

Mr. Brown made the call during a speech to the Scottish Parliament on Allotments, Community Gardens and Grow your Own Projects.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide sufficient allotments to meet public demand, but the Rutherglen and Cambuslang area has just 17 plots on one site at Richmond Place to serve a community of over 40,000 people.

The Richmond site is one of only two in the whole of South Lanarkshire Council area.

The popularity of the allotment plots means that applications from residents are held on a waiting list.

The demand for allotments has grown due to the healthy living agenda, an increase in popularity for organic food and a drive to save money with Grow your own Fruit and Veg schemes.

Allotments are now also popular because of the recognised benefits to physical and mental wellbeing.

Robert Brown said:

"The demand for allotments is increasing and far exceeds the supply - especially in urban areas - and Rutherglen and Cambuslang are no exception to this.

"Councils like South Lanarkshire have a statutory duty under the Allotments legislation to provide sufficient allotments to meet demand, but the duty does not always appear to be taken as seriously as it should.

The Scottish Government could take the lead by giving allotments a higher priority in Planning Guidance and advice.

Although the development of Council allotment strategies is a step forward, Councils themselves need to give allotments greater priority than in the past.

In the Cambuslang/Rutherglen area, as in some other areas, there is a community allotments group which is trying to identify a site for a new allotments development, but there are considerable difficulties with this, not least in actually identifying and acquiring a suitable site.

"The promotion of healthy and vibrant communities, coupled with a renewed interest in local, seasonal produce means that expanded allotment provision is vital.

"Growing your own fruit and vegetables can not only be cheaper, but healthier, and better for the planet too, with a reduction in our carbon footprint.

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