Angela Rayner has given councils permission to sell allotments to raise money in a move condemned as showing “complete disdain” for “valued” green spaces. The Housing Secretary has granted local authorities “flexibility” to sell off some of their assets to fund day-to-day spending. This includes plots lovingly cultivated by thousands of Brits across the country.
Under the Allotment Act 1925, a local authority can’t sell, use or dispose of land for any other use except for allotments without go ahead from the Government. Since Labour swept into Downing Street, Ms Rayner has personally given the nod to the sale of eight allotment sites in England.
These include sites in Storrington, West Sussex, Ashfield in Nottinghamshire and a couple in Bolsover, Derbyshire, according to a report in the Telegraph.
Guidance issued in March by the Housing Secretary on selling off council-owned assets includes the sale of school playing fields.
Local Government Minister, Jim McMahon, has said authorities can use proceeds from “qualifying” asset sales to fund the costs of projects aimed at generating savings or cutting the cost of delivering services.
He said the Government expected all decisions to show value for money and to be in the best interests of locals.
On selling off school playing fields, a Government spokesperson said previously that this should only happen where “absolutely necessary”.
Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly, said the Government’s changes showed “complete disdain for protecting valued green spaces”.
He said: “Angela Rayner giving the green light for councils to sell off allotments is a kick in the teeth to local people who don’t have access to their own gardens.
“On top of the Labour Government encouraging councils to sell off their playing fields, it yet again shows Labour’s lazy embrace of building on parks and green spaces rather than places where homes are needed and wanted.”
A Government spokesperson said councils have been allowed to dispose of certain sites since 2016.
They added: “We know how important allotments are for communities and that is why strict criteria are in place to protect them as well as school playing fields.”