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Access To Allotments Group

On this page

• In the News...
• Allotments in Parliament
• Thanks to...
• Extended Aims
• Aims
• Current position (Aug '08)
• Campaign Diary
• What does Wirral provide?
• What you can do
• Allotment legislation
• Resources
• Relevant publications
• Links
• FAQ's

Extended Aims

To act as a resource for other groups wishing to push for increased allotment provision.

Aims

This group formed in September 2007, to press for the provision of suitable and sufficient allotments for the residents of Wirral.

  • Wirral had, at that time, about 400 people on waiting lists for allotments.
  • Some of the most deprived areas of the Borough have no allotments.
  • Allotments combine outdoor exercise with social interaction, learning and skills, recycling and the production of healthy food. They contribute to environmental sustainability and biodiversity.
  • Local Authorities have a statutory duty to provide sufficient allotments if they believe that there is demand.
  • Wirral's proposed new Allotment Strategy 2007-2012 contained no mention of long waiting lists.

Current position (Aug '08)

Interviews will take place in mid-September for the Allotment Development Officer.

New Council waiting list figures show an increase from 359 to 528 individuals (excluding private sites) from January to August 2008. Although this is an increase of almost 50%, the normal seasonal increase at this time of year does slightly exaggerate the figures.

Council Officers intend to write to everyone on the waiting list to see if they still want an allotment. This should help reduce the list by eliminating those whose circumstances have changed over the last few years.

Campaign Diary

This is a brief description of our involvement. It neglects to mention the very significant communications to the Council from many other people concerned about allotments.

September 2007
  • Following a Transition Town West Kirby meeting, a group of people waiting for allotments got together to campaign for the provision of allotments on Wirral.

October 2007
  • The first "written representation" (See legislation, above) was sent as a petition to Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Chief Executive. It was copied to local Councillors, our local MP, Wirral Federation of Allotment Societies, and the NW Representative of the National Society for Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.

November 2007
  • Wirral's Allotment Strategy 2007-2012 (This is the November 2007 version), was presented to the Council's Culture, Leisure and Tourism Overview and Scrutiny Committee, where it was endorsed and referred to Cabinet for approval. It was disappointing that the document had no reference to very long waiting lists.

December 2007
  • A letter to Cabinet members was sent, expressing concern that the proposed allotment strategy had no reference to very long waiting lists.

  • No response from October's petition, therefore signatures collected for 3 further petitions.

1) A petition was sent from local health care workers based on the health benefits of allotments. allotments_NHS_petition.doc A councillor who is also an NHS doctor was asked to present this at a meeting of the Council.

2) A petition from local over 50's groups was sent. This was based on the health and social benefits of allotments to older people. allotments_over_50s_petition.doc This was presented at the same Council meeting by a local West Kirby councillor.

3) A petition was sent from Transition Town West Kirby outlining the environmental benefits of allotments. allotments_environment_petition.doc It was presented to the same Council meeting by the councillor who sits on the Cabinet as member for environment.

  • A press release was picked up by BBC local radio. The petitions were discussed on-air with Tony Snell at BBC Radio Merseyside, and this was reported on the BBC News website

January 2008
  • Transition Town West Kirby hosted a Food For Thought event, looking at the benefits of eating locally grown seasonal food. This included a talk by a local allotment holder on simple ways to grow your own food, and a talk about our allotment action group. As a result of this, many more people got in touch with the group, expressing frustration with waiting lists, uncared-for plots and funding in particular.

  • Approval of the Allotment Strategy by Cabinet was deferred.

February 2008
  • A meeting was arranged with council officers to discuss amendments to the Allotment Strategy. (Also attended by representatives from Wirral Federation of Allotment Societies and National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners) Following this a letter was sent suggesting amendments to include: (a) Statements describing in more depth current provision, waiting lists and lack of provision in some areas. (b) Actions to investigate potential funding sources, and address waiting lists. The main points of these suggestions were subsequently added to the Strategy.

March 2008
  • Wirral Councillors approved the allocation of £40,000 to "More and better working allotments" (Council meeting, 3rd March 2008) Some of this was to be spent on an Allotments Development Officer.

  • A letter was sent to members of the Culture, Leisure and Tourism Overview and Scrutiny Committe as background to considering the allotment petitions on the 12th March. Download letter as pdf file At this meeting the resolutions included: "that Cabinet consider a rolling programme of allotment improvements in future years." and "That the new allotments officer be requested to carry out the following tasks: (c) identify any additional allotment sites that are required and areas which currently have no allotment provision...."

  • Wirral's Allotment Strategy 2007-2012 (including amendments relating to addressing waiting lists) endorsed by Cabinet. (13th March 2008)

April 2008
The Awaiting Allotment Society (AAS) is formed to represent the views of those on the waiting list, and becomes afiliated to the Wirral Federation of Allotment Societies.

Wirral Council set up a steering committee to take forward the Allotment Strategy and to consider the role of the Community Development Officer.

Wirral Cabinet's agenda this month includes developing and implementing a Section 106 Policy. The accompanying Director's Report makes no mention of PPG17 or allotments, therefore a representation is made to Cabinet members. The matter is referred to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

July 2008
The post of Allotment Development Officer for 2 days per week is advertised.

Council Officers are drawing up a bid for a rolling programme of capital investment (£100k each year for the next 3 years) as requested by councillors of the Scrutiny Committee in March.

Letter to Councillors about including allotments as an issue in the development of Wirral's new S106 Policy.

What does Wirral provide?

Wirral Council's waiting list figures August 2008 show that most sites now have waiting lists.

The map shows Wirral's allotment provision by ward. Expressed as number of allotments per 1,000 population, using allotment occupancy rates as of 30/1/08

There is no national minimum provision standard, but most allotment strategies quote the 1969 Thorpe Report which recommends a minimum provision equivalent to 7 per 1,000 population. In addition, a study* published in 2006 showed that the national average provision was 7 plots per 1,000 population.

*Survey of Allotments, Community Gardens and City Farms, carried out by the University of Derby on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

What you can do

If you wish to show support for an improvement in Wirral's allotments, then please think about one or more of the following actions:

  • Get in touch with us. Email: margaretcampbell@doctors.org.uk We can make more difference if we all pull together.

  • Write to your own local Councillor - they want to know which things are important to local people. Find out who they are and how to get in touch.

  • Send a copy of your letters to your MP. Angela Eagle, Ben Chapman, Stephen Hesford, The RT. Hon Frank Field. Address to House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

  • Please tell us if you know of any unused Council land which could be used for allotments, especially if it has been allotment land in the past.

  • Attend Local Area Forums. Each meeting has a public question time, where you can ask anything relating to the Council. The Council wants you to tell them what issues are important to you.

Allotment legislation

For an overview of Allotment legislation, see Resources section, below.

For a brief response, this quote is taken from the Government's reply to a petition concerning allotment provision in 2007 - www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page12015.asp

"Planning Policy Guidance 17 (PPG17) requires that local authorities make provision for all types of open space that may be of public value. It also requires local authorities to undertake robust assessments of local needs for, and audits of, existing open space, sports and recreational facilities and to establish standards for new provision. It is expected that by implementing the guidance in PPG17, local authorities should make adequate provision for allotments.

Furthermore, 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 residents on the electoral register 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 decides that there is a demand for allotments; 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."

Resources

An overview of Allotment legislation can be found at the following link www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmenvtra/560/56016.htm

Download Wirral Council's Allotment Strategy 2007-2012 pdf file (Amended version, endorsed by Cabinet March 2008)

Wirral Council waiting list figures (as of Aug 2008). Download pdf file

If you would like to send your own petition, please feel free to copy and/or change any of ours wirral_allotment_petition.doc
allotments_environment_petition.doc
allotments_NHS_petition.doc
allotments_over_50s_petition.doc

An example of one local council's list of funding opportunities for Allotment Associations.

Relevant publications

  • Growing in the community: a good practice guide for the management of allotments
Second edition (March 2008) of this resource for allotment officers and associations. Provides an update on the policy framework, legislation and practice affecting allotment gardening.
This publication cannot be downloaded. It may be ordered from the following link:
Growing in the community: a good practice guide for the management of allotments

  • Allotments: A Plot Holders' Guide 2002
This guide is for anyone who rents, or is thinking of renting, an allotment plot. It outlines things you need to know and gives a list of contacts who can answer more detailed questions.
Allotments: A Plot Holders' Guide

  • Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs, Fifth Report
"Our recommendations include changes in legislation, policy and practice. We consider that the force of these measures will be lost if a piecemeal approach is adopted to their implementation. Only if the recommendations are introduced as a package will the Future for Allotments be assured."
'The Future for Allotments'

  • Government's response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's report
Government's response to The Future for Allotments

  • Planning Policy Guidance 17 (2002)
Planning Policy Guidance 17 (PPG17) sets out policies needing to be taken into account by local planning authorities in the preparation of development plans. It requires local authorities to audit provision of open space, sport and recreation, and specifically includes allotments. The audit examines evidence of local demand. It sets standards for the quantity and quality of provision, and sets distance thresholds. It compares current provision against these standards. It goes on to provides a framework for determining the need for planning conditions or the negotiation of planning agreements.
Paragraph 33 says that "Planning obligations should be used as a means to remedy local deficiencies in the quantity or quality of open space, sports and recreational provision. Local authorities will be justified in seeking planning obligations where the quantity or quality of provision is inadequate or under threat, or where new development increases local needs. It is essential that local authorities have undertaken detailed assessments of needs and audits of existing facilities, and set appropriate local standards in order to justify planning obligations."
Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for open space, sport and recreation
and Assessing needs and opportunities: a companion guide to PPG17

What are 'planning obligations'? When a new property is built within the Borough a levy is charged by the Council, often referred to as either a Section 106 payment (from Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) or a developer contribution. The principle behind the levy is that additional houses cause an increase in population, which leads to an increase in demand for public facilities, such as roads, libraries, parks, allotments etc.

  • Survey of Allotments, Community Gardens and City Farms: Urban Research Summary No.23
This summary presents the key findings of the Survey of Allotments, Community Gardens and City Farms carried out by the University of Derby on behalf of Communities and Local Government1 (Communities and Local Government), published 28 September 2006.
Survey of Allotments, Community Gardens and City Farms

  • Living Places: Cleaner, Safer, Greener
Sets out the Government's approach to making cleaner, safer, greener public spaces.
Living Places: Cleaner, Safer, Greener

  • Leading the way: how local authorities can meet the challenge of climate change
A Local Government Association publication "Suburban food growing may seem marginal and inconsequential - until it is recognised as a way of reducing long-distance food transport, increasing resilience, giving a healthier diet, building moderate healthy exercise into lifestyles and a source of pleasure, fulfilment and co-operation - all at the same time."
Leading the way: how local authorities can meet the challenge of climate change

Links

Wirral Federation of Allotment Societies
Note new web address - www.wirralfedallotments.org.uk
WFAS hold regular meetings for Wirral allotment societies. . . .[details of meetings]

National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners Limited
www.nsalg.org.uk
NSALG is a UK nonprofit group aiming to minimise the loss of gardens for individual use.

Allotments Regeneration Initiative
www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari
ARI aims to publicise allotment regeneration and share good practice. Information about grants, network of mentors, seminars, training courses, local events, forums, newsletter, factsheets and information packs, etc

Local Food Works
http://www.soilassociation.org/Web/SA/SAWeb.nsf/localfoodworks_info.htm
Huge resource from The Soil Association. Covers allotments, benefits of local food, city farms & community gardens, community food projects, community supported agriculture, farmers' markets, funding, local food economies and much, much more.

Thrive
www.thrive.org.uk
A small national charity which aims "to research, educate and promote the use and advantages of gardening for people with a disability".

SWCAA
www.allotmentssouthwest.org.uk
Promotes the benefits of allotments and gardening and provides information, advice and guidance. The South West Counties Allotment Association aims to help all gardeners across the country.

FAQ's

Does the Council have a statutory duty to provide allotments?
Yes. If the council decides that there is a demand for allotments; they have a statutory duty to provide a sufficient number of plots. Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908.

Does the Council have to assess whether there is a demand for allotments in its area?
Written representations may be made to the local authority on the need for allotments by any 6 residents on the electoral register 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).

Local councils are also required to audit allotment provision as part of Planning Policy Guidance 17 (see under PPG17, above).

Does Wirral have any allotment vacancies?
Figures supplied by Wirral Council on 15/08/08 indicate that all sites now have waiting lists.

The shortest waits are at the following sites:
  • Carrodus - 36 Hoylake Road, Bidston
  • Shakeshaft - 11 Observatory Road, Bidston
  • Harris - 166 Prenton Road West, Prenton
  • Mountwood - 21 Borough Road, Prenton
  • Bebington Road - Rock Ferry
  • Molyneux - 19 Moore Avenue, Rock Ferry

The longest waits are at the following sites:
  • Ashton Park - 8 Westbourne Road, West Kirby
  • Grange Hill - 19 Grange Old Road, West Kirby
  • Newton Park - 35 Newton Park Road, West Kirby
  • Belvidere Road - 17 Belvidere Road, Wallasey
  • Earlston - 10 Earlston Road, Wallasey
  • Landican - 26 Woodchurch Road, Woodchurch

How do I apply for an allotment in Wirral?
Wirral Council's website has a section on allotments and a
page on applying for one.









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Last updated: 27 Aug 2008