Page 54 - ALG Issue 4 2020

huge expense, funded by Guildford residents involving not only highly paid professionals directly employed but also consultants. This latterly included specialist communication companies to promulgate the messages from GBC. Allegedly this was “defeated”
by a collection of “gardeners” with no resources, in 6 months. Throughout much has been made of “consultation” and “discussions” with residents and tenants. The “consultations” were actually presentations of decisions already made. The “discussions”, particularly with the Guildford Allotments Society (GAS), were against a fait accompli, and non-negotiable where the volunteer officers were forced to obtain the optimum outcome they could for the totality of allotments in the Borough. They did an outstanding job
to make the best of an impossible task. The development group at GBC were advised by GAS that their submission (delivered 2 months late) did not meet policy or criteria guidelines. Save BellfieldsAllotmentspointedout
that the proposals from GBC were unacceptable and probably did not meet policy and criteria. Most importantly the advice from the National Allotments Society (NAS) given in November warned that the submission probably did not meet policy or criteria.
Who are NAS? They are the advisory body to the Government on allotment
matters for England, established for
90 years, Patron the Prince of Wales. The advisor was their Chief Operating Officer, an in-house lawyer who has spent her working life dealing with legal issues relating to agricultural
and allotment land governed by UK Law. She is probably one of the leading authorities on allotment law in the country. All this advice was ignored by GBC. So, was the “Grand Plan” derailed by some scruffy gardeners on their tawdry site?
The plan was derailed because of the inept management by GBC and their unwillingness to listen.
The comments made in Dragon News implying that allotments in Guildford will be penalised in the future as a result are shameful. Local authorities have
a statutory obligation to provide and manage allotments. To threaten them is incompatible with that requirement. The Save Bellfields Allotments folk had the temeritytoexercisetheirrightsunder the law to protest against duress from those in authority. Nothing new there! I will give you a quote from the past;
“Was the earth made to preserve a few covetous, proud men to live at ease;
or was it made to preserve all of her children?” (Gerard Winstanley, founder of the True Levellers 1649).
So, was the “Grand Plan” derailed by some scruffy gardeners on their tawdry site?
Allotment holders want security of tenure. GAS wants a return to the excellent open working relationship between the Society and GBC. The development group need to progress essential house building. Perhaps discussion without entrenched positions could provide a way forward?
Alastair Watson
on behalf of SaveBellfieldsAllotments”
At the time of writing (September) there is no coherent response from GBC. It is clear that the only sensible course is to renegotiate.
SaveBellfieldsAllotments have been able to get a voice in the narrative that sways public opinion (not bad for some “gardeners” with no resources except felt tip pens, a PC but much more valuable, rights under the law and a willingness to fight). We need your help because many allotments are under threat throughout the country. Bellfields now ---younext?
Please visit: #Save BellfieldsAllotments or email: savebellfieldsallotments@ gmail.com
(Alastair Watson served as Chairman of GAS for 10 years and is currently
a member of the NAS Governance Committee)
Wincheap and District Allotment Association, Canterbury, Kent
My husband, Chris, has had an allotment plot for well over 40 years and during that time I have had a yearning to make a scarecrow for him, but with work and other commitments have never gotten around to it. However, last year in the spring of 2019, I realised that there were now more young families participating on the site and, as a retired teacher, I decided that it might be fun to make a character scarecrow for the
children to come and say hello to.
I duly set to with some wire, papier- mâché and old curtain material, and made a start.
I was aiming for Beatrix Potter’s Mrs Tiggywinkle, but couldn’t get the right shaped nose, so my scarecrow ended up as Mrs Bear from ‘Goldilocks.’ She worked hard on the allotment, and made a lot of friends, but I’m not sure that she scared any crows!
It was great fun, but now I’ve landed myself the job of coordinating an annual scarecrow event!
Cheryl Ives
My daughter Natasha and husband Chris with Mrs Bear
54 Allotment and Leisure Gardener