News / allotments
Partial U-turn over controversial changes to allotments
Proposed changes to allotment tenancy rules, fees and charges “will not be taken forward in their current form” in the wake of widespread resistance.
The plans that could have seen allotmenteers forced to remove trees, fences, hedges and large play equipment have been shelved by Bristol City Council, with Labour cabinet member Ellie King admitting she shared some of the disappointment about the process.
However, proposed rent hikes and combined water charges could still be under the table, with the feedback “still being considered” before a renewed proposal goes to cabinet next month.
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The plans set out by the council in December included “significant” rent hikes, with the price set to more than double for many plots on sites with access to water.
Bristol Allotmenteers Resist campaigners, who formed a group to fight the proposed changes, remain insistent that decisions on increasing rents far in excess of inflation should be paused.
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More than 6,000 people signed a petition objecting to the proposed changes, while allotmenteers have staged protests outside City Hall, calling the plans “discriminatory” and “petty”.
Just two working days after the consultation on the proposed changes closed, Bristol City Council arranged a workshop for stakeholders on the plans.
However, this was hastily cancelled on Friday, when King, the cabinet member for public health & communities, sent a letter to allotment holders acknowledging the concerns and confirming a chunk of the proposals will be scrapped (at least in their current form).
In the letter, King said: “Everyone recognises the importance of a thriving network of accessible spaces for local people to grow healthy and sustainable food. Residents want a collaborative, equitable and financially sustainable parks and allotment service to deliver against these strategic priorities.”
She said there are mixed views on the proposed allotment rent increases, with wide acknowledgement that current rents do not even cover the cost of running the current service.
King continued: “There are significant concerns and objections to the proposed tenancy rule changes, and administrative fees and charges. I share some of the disappointment expressed about the process and understand and agree with much of the feedback received.
“In response to this feedback, and to allow for more meaningful engagement, I have agreed with the mayor and the parks service that the proposed changes to tenancy rules, fees and charges will not be taken forward in their current form.”
The letter added: “Given the pressing need to improve the offer from our allotments service to tenants through improved maintenance, communications and capacity, I am still considering the consultation feedback on the proposed allotment rents and combined water charges ahead of a final proposal coming to cabinet for decision in March.”
King said the council is committed to the principle of ensuring the city’s parks service is inclusive and accessible.
Proposed changes to allotment tenancy rules, fees and charges “will not be taken forward in their current form” in the wake of widespread resistance – photo: Rob Browne
In response to the letter, Dom Francis from Bristol Allotmenteers Resist, said “The campaign remains insistent that decisions on increasing the rents far in excess of inflation should be paused until after the elections. In order to give time for Equalities Impact Assessments (EIAs) to be conducted and for a cross-party scrutiny committee to go over them, ensuring proposed rises do not conflict with other policies.
“EIAs were deemed necessary by BCC in 2022 when they were proposing a more reasonable 25 per cent rent increase, so we don’t understand why they failed to publish new EIAs to help inform people’s consultation responses? We understand that members of the scrutiny committee plan to ‘call in’ the proposed rent increases, given they have failed to be consulted on them.
“As a campaign, we understand the need for a modest increase in rents, but can’t understand why the council has failed to implement any rises since 2018. Having spoken to many hundreds of allotmenteers and those on the waiting list, the overwhelming majority support increases in line with Bank of England inflation rates since 2018.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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