Ten-year wait for allotments highlighted (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Ten-year wait for allotments highlighted

7:30am Monday 16th November 2009 in Bradford By Marc Meneaud

Shipley Green councillor Martin Love at the Northcliffe allotments in Shipley

Grow-your-own enthusiasts in Shipley face a wait of up to ten years for an allotment plot despite other sites across the district standing empty, a report has revealed.

Waiting lists for allotment plots across the Bradford district vary wildly, with the shortest wait for prospective allotment holders between one and two years.

That is compared to more than 100 people who could face waiting up to a decade for a plot at Northcliffe Allotments in Shipley, according to the report to the Council’s regeneration and improvement committee.

Meanwhile, plots are standing empty at allotments in Sotchman Road, Manningham; Harewood Street, Barkerend; Cecil Avenue, Great Horton; and Legrams Lane, Lidget Green.

Shipley Green Party Councillor Martin Love described the situation as “unacceptable”.

He said the Council should be doing more to encourage more people to grow their own food.

He said he had hoped the Council would have expanded its allotment programme after he and his colleagues were successful in pressing for a one-off payment of £250,000 in the last Council budget for allotments. But that money has still not been spent.

The report proposes selling off an allotment in Beech Grove as part of a residential development, but adds: “If a decision were made to sell a statutory allotment site, the Council would be required to re-invest any sale proceeds to allotment provision.”

Coun Love said: “This is absolutely stupid. We should be encouraging people to grow their own food. It is healthy and good exercise.

“We would like the Council to look at some new sites and put in improvements at the existing allotments.”

Bradford Council’s regeneration and improvement committee meets at City Hall starting at 5.30pm tomorrow.

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