Topic: MEP on the allotment case

[Digeroo]

I contacted my MEP and was pleased to get a response. 

http://www.grahamwatsonmep.org/news/000681/allotments_can_boost_farmers_income_and_promote_the_good_life.html

Thank you for your email of 15 December regarding EU support for allotments.

 As you rightly state, the allotment system, which is once again rising in popularity throughout Europe, often represents a much better and efficient use of land than if it were run as commercial farmland. This is especially the case when land would otherwise be used as a grazing field for cattle, which uses many more resources and produces much less than land used for the production of crops. I recently raised this point in the European Parliament.

 Supporting allotments would be good for the environment, consumers and farmers, as by growing crops in this way, the carbon footprint of food is reduced and organic methods protecting the land are often employed. This is not to mention the health benefits that gardening can bring. Farmers can also earn considerably more by renting small plots of land to individuals. I note that one farm in Cornwall claims to have increased their income on eight acres of land from £700 to around £12,000 per year.

 As such, by simply promoting the idea of converting farmland to allotments can great benefits can be brought to farmers, consumers and the environment.

 I have therefore written to Mariann Fischer Boel, the European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, to ask what the EU is doing to promote allotments to farmers, and whether Common Agricultural Policy funds can be used to support the conversion of land for this purpose.

 I shall be pleased to revert to you once I have received a response.

 Yours sincerely,

 
Graham Watson MEP
Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar

[Unwashed]

I'm not sure that's actually good news.  As things stand now a council has the power to compulsorily rent farmland at an agricultural rate of around £80/acre.  The farmer loses out because she can't crop that land, but the allotmenteer gets an affordable plot.  Council's up and down the country are already sitting on their hands rather than using this power, we hardly need a pro-landowner campaign talking up the rent to £1,500/acre, all we need is someone to put a rocket up the councils who are delinquent in their duty to provide a sufficient number of allotments.

[emmy1978]

Hmm, very interesting Digeroo. Keep us posted when he "reverts" to you!
Also is it just me or does £700 income on 8 acres of land not sound like an awful lot? By renting the land out they are now making £12,000. What were they doing on it before????

[Bugloss2009]

Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar

has something happened that we don';t know about?

[Mortality]

Nice, I hope they can do something for Plymouth with its 1200 people waiting for an allotment (2 year waiting list)

[tonybloke]

Hmm, very interesting Digeroo. Keep us posted when he "reverts" to you!
Also is it just me or does £700 income on 8 acres of land not sound like an awful lot? By renting the land out they are now making £12,000. What were they doing on it before????

growing agricultural crops?

[Digeroo]

Considering the problems that Unwashed is having with the lib dems in Newbury I am not convinced that they are committed to allotments but maybe to profit.  I decided to email my MEP because we got some I am great literature through the letter box.

However I must say that our arrangement here with a local farmer is going very well and though more expensive than some still coming in cheaper then Newbury.  He is certainly not making the equivalent of £12000 for 8 acres..