Stroud Town Council

A plan that could see a doubling in the number of allotments available to people in Stroud has been approved by councillors.

Stroud Town Council currently provides five allotment sites in the town. Ten years ago many plots were lying empty. One of the sites had just five active users and was due to be sold for housing.

However a big increase in awareness and interest in food issues led by celebrity chefs and TV coverage, has meant all five sites are now full with waiting lists of over a year.

Local councillors have a legal duty to provide sufficient allotment space, and so five town councillors set up a working group. It looked at ways in which existing sites could be extended and the potential to develop new sites in a bid to meet the growing demand for allotments.

”The turnaround of interest from Stroud residents in growing their own food has been remarkable,” said Mayor Andy Read, one member of the working group. “It’s been great to see the ‘Full” signs go up, but there is now an urgent need to improve our allotment provision.”

Of the nine sites visited, six offered good possibilities. Three of the sites would enable the council to double its allotment provision for the town. Two of the sites would also be suitable for green waste composting.

The council has agreed to first draw-up more detailed plans to possibly extend two of its existing sites. It hopes that more details will be available in the Autumn.

Article added online 29th April 2011

Photo by Andy Read