Your views sought on the future of allotments

The City of Edinburgh Council has released a new allotment strategy called, "Cultivating Communities: A Growing Concern," for consultation.

A council spokesperson said, "The new strategy identifies seven key objectives which will help address the increasing demand for allotments in Edinburgh, whilst ensuring the standard of current allotments remains high. An Allotment Strategy Implementation Plan has been developed, alongside the strategy, to guide the work of the allotment service over the next five years."

"The strategy also gives a list of potential allotment sites. These will also be consulted on through the Open Space Strategy consultation process. Our colleagues developing the Open Space Strategy will also be seeking suggestions for other potential allotment sites."

You can download the draft strategy by clicking here, and you can download the consultation questions here.

There's lot's of interesting allotment stats in the strategy. Did you know:

• There are more than 2152 people in Edinburgh on a waiting list for an allotment in Edinburgh - but there are only 1392 allotment plots in the city. 
• Leith, like other areas where there are a lot of tenements and little green space, is an area of very high demand. 
• There are more women than men allotment holders and just under 10% of the total number of allotmenteers are disabled. 
• Most allotment holders live with 2 miles of their plot.
• On average, allotment holders spend 10 hours per week tending their plot in the summer and 4 hours in the Winter.
• The net cost to the council for maintaining the allotments is just £15,000 per year, once income from rents is deducted. 

Given the huge demand for allotment plots, it's not surprising that the council is trying to get creative in finding land for people to grow on. One of the proposals for new allotment sites involves extending the allotment site on the edge of Pilrig Park. If you have views either way on this, then you may wish to respond to the consultation. 

And of course if you're on the allotment waiting list, and you're frustrated that you can't get a plot then perhaps you could consider helping out at the Persevere Community Garden.