Tony Tilley (right) and Dab Abbott (left) were shocked to hear plans for their allotment (Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
Eight UK sites have been approved for sale or repurposing by councils, following a decision by Angela Rayner, in what’s being referred to as the deputy PM’s ‘war on allotments.’. The move was disclosed in a parliamentary response last month and encompasses locations in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Kent, Hertfordshire and West Sussex.
Despite their inclusion in official government documents, some plot holders at Kingsway Allotments, in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, claimed they were unaware their site was among the eight earmarked until this week. Ashfield District Council clarified that government approval was required to convert parts of some sites into car parks, and it had no plans to transform the entire area into housing. However, its users expressed shock at not being informed earlier and voiced their dismay and devastation over the potential loss of any allotment site.
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Tony Tilley, 59, a six-year tenant at Kingsway allotments, cultivates a variety of produce, including potatoes, tomatoes, sweetcorn, cabbages and carrots. A lifelong resident of Ashfield, Tony expressed his outrage: “It is absolutely disgusting.
“This government – I cannot believe they didn’t even tell us. What can we do?
“We are going to fight it as best as we can. I am absolutely devastated.”
He cherishes spending time at the allotment site “all hours of the day”, enjoying the bird song and observing and feeding the local wildlife. Tony shared his fondness for the community spirit and natural beauty of his allotment, saying: “We are all here together as a community – everybody helps me as I have health conditions.
“I sit here in the morning and listen to the birds – bluetits and robins – there is all the wildlife here! We have hedgehogs, baby hoglets, foxes.”
Tony expressed his outrage at the proposed changes (Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
The decision by Rayner to sanction the sale or repurposing of eight allotment sites across England has sparked outrage, as Labour’s move to secure council budgets and make room for housing projects clashes with the green-fingered ethos of many Brits. The Allotments Act 1925 protects statutory allotment land from being sold off without the government’s approval, yet Rayner’s controversial approval has drawn flak from various quarters, including ex-Labour chief and gardening enthusiast Jeremy Corbyn.
Kingsway allotment holder Dab Abbott, 84, lamented the potential loss of his cherished plot where he’s cultivated “every vegetable” over the past 15 years. Abbott passionately stated that his allotment is his lifeblood, remarking: “Me being 84 and retired I go there everyday.
“It is better than watching TV day in and day out.” He continued, expressing his desire for an active lifestyle: “I don’t want that kind of life.
“I have been active all my life and that’s how I want to keep it. It gives me the drive to keep going.”
Keith Albon is one among many local residents furious at the local council’s plans (Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
He added: “Without the allotment I don’t know what to do.” Mr Abbott expressed his “shock and anger” upon learning that local allotments were at risk of closure.
He declared: “We have got to try and fight to keep them open.” Describing the close-knit nature of the allotment community, Mr Abbott noted how they exchange produce amongst themselves.
“They are all friendly people and we all have the same objective in mind to grow vegetables. It is a good outlet.
“The veggies you grow in the allotment are far superior than the ones in the supermarkets.” An avid aircraft enthusiast, Mr Abbott also enjoys using the allotment as a vantage point for his hobby.
He explained: “It is a space where I can sit there with my binoculars and watch the planes.” He voiced concerns about losing this cherished space, saying if the allotments vanish, he’ll be forced to consider transforming his small garden, which he’s reluctant to do.
Keith Albon, 72, who has cultivated his plot for 14 years, shared his distress: “I’m absolutely devastated that allotments are going. I grow everything there – all the vegetables that you can.”
Albon mentioned preserving his harvest, allowing him to enjoy his efforts well into the following year. “It is my basic hobby, I spend an awful lot of time there.”
Emphasising the significance of his allotment for his health, he concluded, “Very important for my health and wellbeing. If i wasn’t doing that I would be watching tv rotting away – that’s no good to me.”
A local allotment enthusiast spoke about the community benefits, stating: “Meeting with the other people that are down there and speaking with other people is good. And that all accounts to wellbeing.”
He shared his personal feelings on the matter: “If I wasn’t going down the allotment I’d feel a bit isolated.” The individual explained the lack of space at home for gardening: “There is definitely no room in my house.
“The back has a lawn on it and the front is blocked paved,” he concluded. Ashfield District Council confirmed they received government approval to convert some allotment plots into parking but reassured that the entire site was not being eliminated.
John Bennett, executive director of place for Ashfield District Council, said: “Following discussions with allotment holders, we agreed to repurpose two unused plots at Kingsway Allotments in Kirkby to provide much-needed parking facilities for existing users. This change of use was approved by the Secretary of State.
“This decision was made in direct response to feedback from allotment holders and aims to support and enhance their experience. The new parking facility has been completed, funded partly by the Council and partly by Lindum Construction as a social value contribution from their work on a nearby housing development.”
He assured the public about the future of the allotments: “The plots are not being sold off, and there are currently no plans to dispose of any further allotment sites.” The government documents also identified other locations including:
- Land at Spaxton Allotments in Spaxton, Somerset.
- Land at Wallingford Road Allotments, Wallingford Road, in Cholsey, Oxfordshire.
- Stapleton Garden Allotments, in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
- Ravenscroft Allotments, Browns Lane Storrington, in Horsham, West Sussex.
- Longlands Allotment, off Longlands, and Longlands (Oxcroft) Oxcroft Lane, in Old Bolsover, Derbyshire.
- Churchfield Allotment Site, in Wye, Kent.
A representative for the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) previously stated that local authorities should only dispose of allotments “where it is clearly necessary and offers value for money”. They continued: “We know how important allotments are for communities, and that is why strict criteria is in place to protect them, as well as school playing fields.”