Confusion over ‘empty’ allotments

HUNDREDS of allotment sites in Cardiff are standing empty, a councillor has said.

More than 600 allotment spaces in the city have been classed as vacant despite a current waiting list of 552 people.

A Cardiff council spokesman said vacancies can be caused by tenants vacating plots without formally surrendering their tenancy – leaving overgrown sites in need of maintenance.

In total, council teams manage 3,360 individual plots over 28 sites, of which 82% are let.

Splott councillor Jane Henshaw has now called on the council to consider using “unsuitable” and “overgrown” allotments for community-led renewable energy projects.

Coun Henshaw said: “There will always be a waiting list as people come and go but there are spaces that need a lot of attention and aren’t suitable for growing vegetables.

“Land is not always suitable – especially on the periphery of areas which aren’t premium sites.”

The Labour councillor said she had been approached by residents about the possibility of using allotment land to generate solar and wind power.

She said: “People come to councillor surgeries with problems but they also come with solutions as they have expertise that sometimes we councillors don’t have.

“One of the great things in Splott is that people are quite creative.

“There’s a general enthusiasm for it and if someone has a good idea I want to be able to make it possible.”

Responding to the oral question during a council meeting on November 30, cabinet member for leisure and culture Peter Bradbury said supply for allotments does not always match demand for spaces.

Under allotment policy only 30% of land can be covered by structures of any form, with planning permission needed for any development.

A spokesman for the council said waiting times for allotments had fallen by 50% since 2015.

He said: “We have increased the number of plots available in recent years and have also worked with local site associations to improve the turnover of plot lettings.

“Allotment plots are recorded as vacant for a number of reasons; for example, they may be undergoing work to bring them back into a usable state. Unfortunately some new allotment holders find the commitment needed to maintain an allotment is too great and vacate the site without formally surrendering their tenancy.

“This can result in the plot becoming overgrown before it can be offered to prospective plot holders.

“The re-letting process can then take a whole growing season to complete.”