Page 12 - Demo

90th
history
DERBY
Derby had 5015 allotments in 1930,
half provided by the Council and half
by private owners and allotment associations. In this region there was
a rather large area belonging to the allotment associations as a result of the outcome of enterprise and foresight on the part of local plotholders. The allotments under the control of the Council were the worst managed; some were as much as 6s per 100 square yards plus 10d or 1s for water charges. A substantial proportion of the rent charged was swallowed up by excessive administrative expenses.
From time to time, allotment associations offered to take over the management of plots; however, the Council apparently stubbornly refused to entertain the idea. Derby became the only local authority of importance in the Midlands Counties which refused to entrust the management of the plots to local associations.
LEICESTER
For many years the city had been noted for the number of allotments and the enthusiasm with which the hobby of gardening was pursued. It was not only the largest, but probably the oldest allotment area in the country.
A great number of allotments had been swept away within the previous years but others of a more permanent nature had replaced them. In 1930 there were 15,000 under cultivation. The letting of land direct to allotment associations has prevailed for many years in the city on lease to about 20 associations.
EASTERN AREA
The allotment movement, so far as Cambridge was concerned, was perhaps the most completely organised body in the country. Every association in the town was affiliated with the National
headquarters and each one was also connected to Cambridge Allotments Council.
The Chesterton Allotment Society Ltd was the largest, having under its control 269 acres with a membership of 1200 and a rent roll of £1000.
This area experienced no difficulty in securing land for allotment purposes. The Allotments Committee of the Borough Council was supported by the Corporation and made full use of the powers conferred by the Allotments Act. In selecting land for the purpose, the needs and convenience of the applicants were the two dominating factors to influence the Corporation in their selection of land; the price of the land at this time was only a secondary
Six groups
of extra
allotments
totalling
75 acres
had been
purchased
and
earmarked
as
permanent.
The
average
rent paid
by the
of the most important social services which have been placed in the hands of local authorities”.
Bognor did make the fullest use of
its powers under the Allotments Act and doing what very few authorities did at this time, namely, selling land
to allotment associations on a 30 years’ instalment plan. Allotment associations in this situation were paying on average 6d per rod, per year and at the end of that period, the land became the absolute property of the Association. Many councils were doing their best to improve tenure conditions. Hove Corporation, leading up to
1930, purchased 78 acres of land for permanent allotments.
Hastings Corporation assisted allotment holders in a variety of ways by making available their Manual Training Centre, free of charge, to enable plotholders to make frames, greenhouses, garden sheds with the most up to date machinery. A large proportion of allotments in Hastings at this time were permanent and the average rent charged was 1s per rod and, where water was provided, an additional 2d was charged.
Undoubtedly, at this time Sussex was a pioneer of the tidy allotment campaign; the Allotment Amenity Scheme was
in its fifth year and it was making a marked improvement on the ugly hut and untidy plot.
WESTERN AREA
Bristol. This was described as one of the oldest, largest and best organised allotment centres. All the associations in the city and district, of which there were 18, were registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act. The land was leased either from the Corporation or private landowners and sub-let to the members ranging in size from 5 poles to 20 poles at an average rental of 1s per pole. These associations varied in size from having 50-800 members and the sites they controlled from 5 to 45 acres in extent. The
Cambridge consideration. plotholder
Six groups of extra allotments totalling 75 acres had been purchased and earmarked as permanent. The average rent paid by the Cambridge plotholder was 9d per pole and the average size of plot was 15 poles.
In Autumn each year the Allotments Council and the West Cambs Fruit Growers Association united in the organisation of a 2-day show. This was clearly recognised as one of the best exhibitions in the Eastern Counties.
SOUTHERN AREA
The allotment associations within Sussex met on a quarterly basis
under the auspices of the Sussex
Area organisation. This body achieved a considerable amount of work on behalf of the local plotholders and the movement generally. In the country districts, residents were well supplied with allotments and as a rule apathetic towards the movement. On the coast however, Brighton, Hove, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Hasting and St Leonards, the movement was extremely well organised. In 1930 the Town Clerk of Bognor interpreted the general attitude of local authorities; “If the allotment movement is properly fostered, it is one
was 9d per pole and the average size of plot was 15 poles
12 Allotment and Leisure Gardener