Allotments concerns

Bearing in mind the obvious implications, several tenants held an emergency meeting to plan a response, and while not all were present, the numbers were quite substantial.

The response said plot-holders themselves would like to be considered as alternative providers of essential services to ensure continued running of the allotments, possibly as a joint co-operative venture.

Unfortunately, the response from the council department responsible has been far from open or informative, and has done nothing to dispel fears of talks taking place between the council and other organisations.

There is grave concern that deals may be done with the private sector, seeking to maximise profit to the detriment of allotment tenants. We therefore want to put the following questions to Rother in the hope that there will be far more transparency about its intentions:

1. Why is the proposal for Ingram’s Farm (and possibly other similar proposals) being ignored?

2. Why is the department responsible not consulting all allotment tenants and keeping them fully informed as to what’s happening?

3. Why has the council already approached several outside organisations about alternative allotment services without consulting tenants?

4. Has the council fully considered its responsibilities and obligation to provide allotments as required by relevant Acts of Parliament?

We would welcome a response to our questions, as at present the only information we are able to glean is invariably as a result of one or more tenants approaching the council. Unfortunately, this is proving to be rather one-way traffic.

KEITH BELCHER (and BEN LITTLEJOHN)

Carfax Close

Sidley