Allotment Strategy (TDBC) - Taunton Deane Borough Council

More documents

Recommendations

Info

22 Allotment Strategy Taunton Deane Borough Council 7 Audit of allotment provision Wiveliscombe and West Deane 3,829 0.9816 2,564 Totals 108,241 26.0785 NSALG standard 27.66 2,555 * excludes allotment land not currently in use Wellington - all wards 13,483 4.4255 3,282 There are a number of issues arising from this data: People with no transport are unable to travel long distances for a plot In rural areas there may not be a sufficient number of people to make a site feasible, The LDF must make provision for new allotments in the wards with few or no allotments which are likely to have urban extensions eg West Monkton, Taunton Killams and Mountfield, East Wellington, Bishops Hull, Taunton Pyrland and Rowbarton, Staplegrove. Some wards have a significant population and known demand but no prospect of urban development eg Bishops Lydeard, Eastgate, Ruishton and Creech, Taunton Blackbrook and Holway, Taunton Manor and Wilton where efforts need to be made by the relevant council to fulfil demand Most Allotment Associations divide the plots to provide two smaller ones as these are more suitable to the needs of growers today. (A standard allotment plot is 10 yards by 30 yards which equals 10 poles, or about 250 sq metres (9m x 27m). This ancient standard size may be considered inappropriate now) 2. Accessibility or the location of allotments The location of allotments is important in relation to where people live and their ability to get to the site. Due to the difficulty of getting a plot many are now taken by people travelling quite long distances: for example Turners in Taunton has people from Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren. There is reluctance once a plot holder has invested time, money and energy in getting their plot in order, to move to a more local site even if one is available. So whilst getting a good distribution of sites is important especially to fill gaps where there are none at all, the supply has to be considered on the borough wide scale A Turners plot holder commented in the survey: “Travelling to and fro is quite time consuming and expensive so I feel that the rural areas of Cotford, Norton and Bishops Lydeard could do with more sites to accommodate villagers”
Taunton Deane Borough Council Allotment Strategy 23 Audit of allotment provision 7 Another Taunton plot holder said: “Although I live between Wellington and Milverton I was not able to get an allotment in either. As it is I work part time in Taunton and share the veg I grow plus rhubarb with several members of my family who live in Taunton and in exchange they give me hot dinners! Honest! ……..The Committee members have made me very welcome but for all that I feel it is sad that my efforts to get an allotment nearer to home have fallen on deaf ears” In terms of sustainability it is important that new sites are well located in relation to public transport and homes. 3. Quality There is no legal requirement for The Council to provide anything other than land for allotments – no fencing, paths or other facilities. An assessment of the quality of local allotment provision was undertaken by officers from Taunton Deane Borough Council in 2008 using both site visits and information provided by the allotment associations and managing organisations. Fourteen sites were involved and criteria assessed were maintenance and management, facilities, community involvement and promotion, sustainability and conservation. Overall the average score for quality is 45 out of 100 with the aspects most in need of improvement being facility provision and community involvement and promotion. The highest scoring site achieved 74 and the lowest 38. The difference between the minimum and maximum scores achieved highlight that some sites are of a much better quality than others. The scores were as follows: Table 7.2 Area Max score possible Average score achieved Max score achieved Min score achieved Management and maintenance 40 21 15 25 Facilities 20 7 9 7 Community involvement and promotion 20 7 11 3 Sustainability and conservation 20 10 14 8 From this work it appears that the areas to concentrate on for improving quality are facility provision and sustainability / conservation.
Page 1 and 2: Taunton Deane Borough Council Allot
Page 25: Taunton Deane Borough Council Allot

Allotment Strategy (TDBC) - Taunton Deane Borough Council

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?