Newsdesk
Press Release - open letter
May 2003To: Chief Executives of East Kent local authorities
From: Steve Dawe, EAST KENT GREEN PARTY
The Government's allotment audit offers a variety of opportunities to local authorities seeking to raise recycling levels. Green pressure has put allotments on the Government’s agenda. Before May's local elections, the BBC revealed that the Green Party was the only political party with a policy on allotments. Now the government has ordered a national audit of allotments. (1) East Kent Green Party wants to see strong support for this from East Kent’s local authorities. There are a variety of justifications for making this a priority:
Allotment gardeners enjoy affordable fresh produce and tend to eat more fruit and vegetables than average, which is a health benefit. Also, using composted waste on allotments is a way of cutting waste-generation. Greater use of allotments would help local authorities meet recycling targets. Allotments are no longer the preserve of the retired male. Thirty years ago only 2% of allotment holders were women. Now women account for at least 20% of allotment tenants.(2) According to recent report, many new allotment holders are young mothers keen to grow chemical-free vegetables for their children."(3)
We are asking East Kent’s local authorities to respond positively to the Government'a audit, and request copies of any existing policy you may have on allotments, or notification if one is being developed. Elements which we believe should be present in such a policy include:
* Local authorities to provide more proactive support for allotments and to work to cut waiting lists, where they exist.
* New allotment sites to be created on brownfield land and within new housing estates.
* More public information on the availability of allotments and improved public education on the benefits of allotments.
* Allotments to be given much greater planning protection.
* Improved access and better facilities for disabled people, including raised beds.
* Allotment provision to be tailored to meet the needs of those who wish to take them up including different sized plots and ensuring provision is as close as practicable to all who would like them.
Steve Dawe 10 Hillbrow Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 4QH.
Notes:1. The Times 27.5.03. 2. Times ibid.3. Times ibid. A spokesman for Manchester Allotments (AMAS) told the Green Party's national Press Office recently that "Many more women with children have joined the allotment population, there is also a greater emphasis on organic gardening generally."
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