Scarborough councillors back allotment space increase to tackle hundreds stuck on waiting list

Scarborough councillors have backed calls for more allotment space to be created in the town in order to deal with a waiting list that has shot up during the pandemic.
By Carl Gavaghan, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Published 28th Jul 2021, 16:41 GMT
Updated 28th Jul 2021, 16:42 GMT
Providing allotments is a statutory obligation for the council and provides a modest income of around £3,000 each year.Providing allotments is a statutory obligation for the council and provides a modest income of around £3,000 each year.
Providing allotments is a statutory obligation for the council and provides a modest income of around £3,000 each year.

The borough council’s Places and Homes Overview and Scrutiny Committee today agreed to set up a task group to examine how and where new plots could be provided as more than 200 people are currently waiting for a site to come free.

The borough council currently operates allotment sites at Woodlands and Quarry Mount and both are full with between 150-250 on the list for one of the 97 available plots.

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At the meeting, councillors heard that Scarborough Borough Council is only responsible for provision in the town of Scarborough as it does not have a parish or town authority.

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The waiting list for allotment sites in Scarborough is between 150 and 250 people, with only 97 plots available.The waiting list for allotment sites in Scarborough is between 150 and 250 people, with only 97 plots available.
The waiting list for allotment sites in Scarborough is between 150 and 250 people, with only 97 plots available.

Allotment provision in the town was last looked at 10 years ago when a report went before the then council’s cabinet calling for more plots to be created but cabinet decided against supporting the proposal, the committee were told.

Cllr Bill Chatt said that more plots, particularly for the growing of food, needed to be provided.

He said: “I would like to see the provision for people to grow crops increase, I wouldn’t necessarily like to see more for pigeons and fowls because I think that they are well catered for at the moment, but I may be wrong.

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“But I do think the idea of people being out there growing their own cabbages and whatever is a fantastic idea.

“Last year, during the lockdown, I made my own jams out of fruit from my own garden, which is absolutely fantastic.

“I really loved it and it kept me busy for quite a while.”

Committee chairman Cllr David Jeffels said that it would be good for people’s physical and mental health to spend more time outdoors.

He added: “I think the benefit to mental health is particularly important in considering the provision of more allotments as it helps to give people a real purpose in life and gets them out into the fresh air, meeting other gardeners and chatting.”

The cost of an allotment is £52 a year and a task and finish group will now be created to look at allotment provision.

Related topics:ScarboroughScarborough Borough CouncilWoodlands