Farron calls on council to look at disused small plots for community allotments

Local MP Tim Farron has called on South Lakeland District Council to look at bringing small plots of disused land back into use as community allotments all over the South Lakes.

The demand for allotments in Kendal is still very high with a current waiting list of 107 people. The average waiting time is currently 12 months to 2 years. Kendal Town Council is responsible for managing 454 allotment plots across 17 sites within Kendal.

The Department of Communities and Local Government has today published advice on how councils and local people can get access to less conventional sources of land and green space to grow their own food. They have also provided suggestions for wider community involvement, helpful tips on how to get funding and examples of projects already in bloom.

Measures in the Localism Act like the new Neighbourhood Planning powers and Community Right to Bid give communities a way to takeover unmaintained public land or badly run allotments themselves.

Tim said: "I think the council can use these new powers to allow us to build more allotments and community gardens for local residents. I know that hundreds of people want a chance to grow their own fruit and veg and I want to see the council helping people to do that.