New twist in allotments campaign – many are unused
The fight to save Lincoln's allotment sites has been undermined by evidence that some are almost completely unused.
The neglect of allotments in the Ermine and in Greenbank Drive near Moorland Avenue has led City Hall to question whether they are a valid target for taxpayer funds.
-
Many plots are empty
While there are waiting lists for many of the most popular sites in Lincoln, only two of the 21 plots in the Ermine are in use, while just three of the 15 Greenbank plots are occupied.
The city's allotments are among a long list of services that could face the axe as Lincoln City Council moves to chop £6.5m from its budget to tackle dwindling Government cash settlements.
And Marc Jones, Conservative whip on the city council, said that it was important to allocate resources to those areas that needed them most.
"If there are allotments that almost nobody is wanting and any money can be freed from those sites to protect the rest of them, that's to everybody's benefit," he said.
Council bosses say no decisions will be made until June 2009.
And even if some of the less popular sites are cut loose, the council is legally bound to offer some allotments to residents.
For more on Lincoln's allotment sites, see Saturday's Echo.
12 Comments
View all
by Katherine, Lincoln
Monday, October 06 2008, 1:17PM
“Many friends of mine have considered taking on an allotment but due to the waiting lists they are told about by the council they are put off from applying for one. At the site of my plot there are numerous unused & overgrown plots, a situation which presumably arises due to mis-management by the council. Checks need to be in place to ensure people are actually using their plots, and they should be returned to the council if not, for others to use. Simple, and yet, strangely, this does not happen.”
by Anon, Unknown
Sunday, October 05 2008, 7:20PM
“Inevitably going to happen with the way things are changing in the world. Garden time.”
by Caroline, Moorland, Lincoln
Saturday, October 04 2008, 8:14PM
“One of the only outdoor activities my autistic son enjoys is gardening. Recently, we both decided we would love to have an allotment and grow our own vegetables.
We live close to the Greenbank Drive allotments and obviously, we were only too aware that these had been neglected by the council over many years. Unfortunately I never learned to drive and all the other sites in Lincoln are too far to walk to, especially when carrying tools and all the other gardening paraphernalia we need. So the only option was to rent one of the plots on Greenbank Drive.
I explained to my son that, since there is no gate and the fence has been almost completely broken down, maybe someone would vandalise our plot or steal some of our crops but he wanted to go ahead anyway. The site is a haven for wildlife and is so peaceful. My son just loves it! So just over 4 months ago I signed the contract for a plot on Greenbank Drive
Someone else had used the plot we chose not long before us, so it had been 'cultivated' and was not totally overgrown, but there are a lot of perennial weeds and half the plot is covered with a thick layer of bricks and rubble, (we think this may be the remains of some old pigsties). The soil depth over the front half of the allotment cannot be more than 1 to 2 inches, certainly not deep enough to grow vegetables in! The council must have been aware of this and also aware that they were thinking of selling off the land but they did not tell us and happily took the rent money anyway.
My son and I are not afraid of hard work and have both put in hours of back breaking labour to try to clear the plot. I have only recently heard about the council's plans.
My son has been having fun, planning what we will grow next year. I have spent money, not just on the rent but on compost to fertilise the incredibly poor soil. I am now left wondering whether the huge effort we have already made was a total waste of time. If the council do decide to sell I don't know how I will tell my son. He'll be so disappointed.”
by Lord Lucan, It a secret
Saturday, October 04 2008, 6:15PM
“Just show you what a load of wasted area we got in Lincoln! this, theater royal,waterside,university jobcentre,council office,police station, siemens & so on.”
by Lincolnmum, lincoln
Saturday, October 04 2008, 5:34PM
“Would it be possible for the unused allotments to be made secure and allow schools to take them over. Children of all ages would probably enjoy growing fruit and veg which they could sell on to raise funds for their school. Perhaps parents would also like to become involved, I for one would be willing to help.”