Charlie Dimmock digs herself into a hole over call to shrink allotments
CHARLIE Dimmock has suggested allotments should be shrunk dramatically in size to allow more people to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
The TV gardener said plots could be split into four to slash waiting lists.
She also claimed allotments were so big many ended up covered in weeds, and said many people would rather grow exotic produce such as chilli peppers than runner beans.
Her comments sparked anger yesterday, with critics saying she should stick to garden ponds. They pointed out that the standard plot of 30ft x 90ft, or 250 square metres, was designed to feed a family of four for a year.
Former Ground Force star Miss Dimmock, 49, whose penchant for not wearing a bra once made her the gardening world’s most famous pin-up, told Amateur Gardening magazine: ‘A lot of plots are way too big for the average couple and if you halved them and halved them again, that would be more practical for many people.
‘I’m not suggesting throwing people off existing plots, but if a plot comes up, split it into a combination of allotment sizes to suit those who are going to be there either every day, three times a week, or one day over the weekend.’
There are approximately 330,000 plots in the UK, but the National Allotment Society says around 90,000 more at least are needed.
Waiting times in desirable areas have been known to be up to 40 years.
The number of Scots on a council waiting list for an allotment almost doubled to nearly 6,000 in three years to 2011 amid an explosion of cash-strapped families searching for ways to save money.
Gardeners also face a ‘postcode lottery’ across Scotland, with waiting lists massively oversubscribed in Edinburgh and South Lanarkshire.
Karen Kenny, president of the National Allotment Society, said: ‘It appears Miss Dimmock is of the opinion that allotments are for doing a bit of gardening and growing a few exotic fruit and veg. Not so. The standard plot of 250 square metres is specifically the size needed to feed a family of four for 12 months.’
Sean James Cameron, of The Horticultural Channel, said: ‘Charlie Dimmock should stick to dealing with garden ponds. If plots are reduced as she suggests, this wouldn’t be enough to feed the family dog, let alone the family.’
Allotments on local authority land are classed as either temporary or statutory. Councils can develop the latter only with the permission of the Secretary of State for the Environment.
Strict criteria must be met, though requests are rarely turned down. However, in a landmark case which took place last year – described as a ‘victory for the little people’ – allotment holders blocked a development proposal when the High Court stopped Watford Council from building on a 118-year-old site.
‘Too big for the average couple’