Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Council is keeping its distance
A national body for allotment holders is urging Canterbury City Council to take a greater role in the way the Victoria Park site is managed.
The council owns the allotments, but claims it is powerless to step into the dispute as it has devolved management to the St Dunstan’s Horticultural Society.
But the South West Counties Allotments Association (SWCAA), which represents allotment holders nationally, insists the council has a duty of care to those who rent plots.
In a letter to the city council, SWCAA director Ayesha Hooper said: “Selfmanagement only really works if the help and support of the council is still there, especially in cases like this.
“To read what has been happening to Mrs Parkin on this site is none other than shocking and should not under any circumstances be allowed to continue. You can not simply evict someone from their allotment because they are not liked or deemed a troublemaker or because they question how things are being run. The types of things that Mrs Parkin has been accused of are simply petty and ridiculous and no substantial evidence for any of the claims has been put forward.”
The council admits it is aware of the issues between the management committee and Mrs Parkin.
Spokesman Rob Davies said: “The St Dunstan’s Horticultural Society leases three allotment sites from the council – Mandeville Road, Whitehall Road and Victoria. We are aware of an ongoing dispute between a plot holder and the society at Victoria and will be looking into the concerns that have been raised.”