Bristol Allotmenteers Resist! Fees Hike & Ridiculous Anti-Green Rules: Mal Sainsbury, Martin Summers

Hope you enjoy our three way discussion with Mal Sainsbury this evening - plus the ruminations of six or seven allotment holders speaking on Wednesday evening - my take: this is our land, the council are custodians, not private landlords
https://politicsthisweek.wordpress.com/2024/01/25/not-the-bcfm-politics-show-presented-by-tony-gosling-175/Show more

Petition: Objections to Bristol City Council's changes to allotment rules and rent https://www.change.org/p/objections-to-bristol-city-council-s-changes-to-allotment-rules-and-rent

Bristol City Council have begun a consultation on proposed changes to rules across their allotment sites, as well as proposing significant rental increases. Full information around these changes and the ability to respond directly to the Council during the consultation are available via this link: https://www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/bristol-allotment

Bristol allotment changes could force gardening grandma to destroy trees, pond and playhouse
She says she will give up her plot after 20 years, if the council's new allotment rules are approved
A grandmother looks set to lose the sanctuary she has created over 20 years of hard work if allotment rule changes go ahead. Eugenia Knight, who is almost 70 years old, is one of thousands to have signed a petition against Bristol City Council’s proposals to implement strict new rules and price hikes across the city’s allotments.

She will join hundreds of other allotment holders at City Hall this evening (January 24), all protesting changes which will see some children’s play equipment banned, most trees removed, deeper ponds drained of water and allotment fees doubled. Eugenia, who should be retired, continues to work two days a week because her state pension is not enough for her to live on while supporting family in Bristol and Argentina.
But she said if the increase in annual rent was the only change being implemented, she would find a way to pay the money. However Eugenia said she would not be prepared to chop down the trees on her allotment, which bear fruit and provide her with shade in the summer months, or drain her pond of water and kill the newts and frogs as they could no longer survive in the shallow waters.
Keeping the allotment has not been easy for Eugenia, who was scared she would lose her allotment during the pandemic when she had to go back to work full-time while still overcoming a recent battle with cancer. But she feels it is important that her grandchildren, who live next to a busy main road, have a space where they can play, grow food and learn about the importance of ecology.
Her eldest granddaughter Niyah, who is now 11-years-old, has become a keen gardener and has the skills in food growing that many adults wish they could have learned when they were younger. Eugenia says that if the new rules go ahead then her youngest granddaughter will not be able to learn and play at the allotment, which currently has trees for climbing, a playhouse and a patch of grass which provides a space for resting and having picnics.
Niyah, who lives by a by a main road enjoys spending time with her grandma helping out at the allotment.
Eugenia started renting her allotment in Fishponds' Thingwall Park around 20 years ago, after separating from her former partner. When she took on the plot it was completely overgrown with brambles but over the years she has worked hard to create a space that not only supports food growth but also has become a space to take her grandchildren, family and friends who enjoy the calmness of being around nature.
Eugenia said: “I have a playhouse for my granddaughters but they are saying that no play equipment is allowed. My daughter-in-law put it there when Niyah was two years old and it’s just stayed there and now it’s staying there for her younger sister.
“They live on top of a main road with loads of cars and it’s the only place we can take them to get a bit of fresh air and trees. The playhouse gives the children their own little area and they climb up the tree next to it and around the back by the bluebells- it’s like a whole secret garden for them where they can create their imaginary games."
The council's proposed rules state that toys that can be stored in a shed are permitted, but some large play equipment will be banned. This includes anything larger "8 ft / 2.1m high x 9 ft / 3m x 6 ft 1.8- 2m" and no more than two large items are permitted. The equipment must have manufacturer's CE certification and banned items include "homemade [play] items, trampolines and water play".
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-allotment-changes-could-force-9054363