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Allotmenteers threaten strikes as rent hikes back on the table
Allotment campaigners have threatened non-compliance, rent strikes and eviction resistance after the council has suggested increases in plot charges could go ahead after all.
The Public Health and Communities Policy committee has announced it will debate ‘rent rises and water service charges’ at a meeting on Friday. The controversial proposals were originally brought to council by the last administration.
Bristol Allotmenteers Resist (BAR) formed rapidly in response to the proposed changes to allotment policy including rent hikes of up to 492 per cent in some areas, tree removal and extra charges for ponds, sheds and chickens.
is needed now More than ever
Campaigners were also concerned that the proposals were being rushed through without proper consultation, and that there were several failures of democratic process.
Protesters marched to City Hall earlier in the year to protest proposed changes to allotment policy – photo: Mark Simmons
The group, which has thousands of members, undertook actions including public meetings, a petition which secured 6,800 signatures provoking a debate at full council, and protest marches to City Hall.
78 per cent of the 3,000 respondents to a public consultation opposed the price rises, and the council eventually dropped the proposals in the run-up to May’s local elections.
Green councillors, then in opposition, had challenged the plans, branding them “ill-considered” and promising a rethink if they took control of the local authority.
Now BAR suggest that the committee “seek to push through exactly the same allotment rent rises which led to protests earlier in the year”.
They agree they are in favour of modest rent rises, but “would like to see a more participatory approach to decision making and investment in allotments as many feel the service has significantly declined under poor management”.
Dom Francis of Bristol Allotmenteers Resist said, “We are appalled to see exactly the same rent rises back on the table, minus even the previous concessions made by councillor Ellie King that rent rises would be spread over two years.
“A small cabal of council officers is determined to push through extortionate rent rises despite the exclusionary impact it will have on those on low incomes and vast public outrage.
“If these rent rises are voted through, we shall be organising a city-wide rent strike and the allotments office can see what impact that will have on their technocratic budgeting.”
A campaign billboard was installed in St Werburgh’s as part of the Bristol Allotmenteers Resist campaign – photo: Ursula Billington
BAR are calling on Green councillors, of which there are four on the public health committee, to reject the rent hikes.
“Allotmenteers were grateful for Green support during our campaign, we hope that will continue,” said campaigner Tim Beasley.
“Allotments campaigners are keen to work with Green and other progressive councillors, and council officers, on finding alternative solutions to allotments issues. But if these proposals are voted in I foresee conflict not collaboration.”
Demand for allotments is reportedly at an all-time high, with 7,260 people on waiting lists and only 4,200 current tenants.
Public Health committee chairman Stephen Williams said: “Providing enough allotment and food growing spaces for more people to have the opportunity to grow healthy, nutritious food for themselves and their families is an important part of our plans for the next 15 years.
“The city’s green spaces are much loved and highly valued, but we currently face huge challenges. Austerity and budget cuts have had a significant impact on our ability to deliver a quality service that meets everyone’s needs and this includes our allotment service.
“As a city, we need to achieve greater food equality, but we must consider the ways in which we can maintain and increase access to growing space, ensuring the service is sustainable with changes that are fair for existing and future tenants.”
The council says the higher charges will help improve the service, pay for more maintenance and repairs and provide an extra allotment officer.
But the report to the meeting said that while the new fees would raise an extra £206,000 a year, from £263,000 to £469,000, this was still £221,000 short of the full cost of operating the service of £690,000 and that unforeseen costs would have to come from the parks service budget.
Campaigners also worked to save Brislington Meadows from development, but the land has been sold and some of the money made has been allocated to the development of new allotment plots or upgrading existing sites – photo: Save Brislington Meadows
In a separate report to the committee, members are being asked to approve £2.3million from developer contributions and the sale of land at Brislington Meadows to create dozens more plots.
There will be 20 to 35 new allotments at Dovercourt Road and two or three large collective food growing sites, equivalent to 15 to 25 individual plots, at Cotman Walk former allotments, both in Lockleaze.
Money from land to be developed at Hengrove Park will be used locally to create 55 to 105 new plots at Oatlands Avenue allotments and upgrades to the paths and water network at Fortfield Road allotments.
About half the money from the Brislington Meadows sale has not yet been allocated because more work is needed to identify sites but it will be used similarly, the report said.
BAR have said they will continue to protest in order to avoid allotmenteers losing their plots due to unaffordability. They are asking people affected to email their councillors and submit statements to the committee.
Main photo: Mark Simmons
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