Allotments in demand as the recession hits residents

A MASSIVE demand for allotments has gripped Sevenoaks as the recession bites.

Nearly 70 people are anxious to roll up their sleeves and cultivate their own plants and vegetables on the town's two allotment sites.

Vice-chairman of the Sevenoaks Allotment Holders' Association Alan Hogg said he was managing a waiting list of around 45 people for the plots off Quakers Hall Lane.

He said: "We have gone from a situation of two or three years ago of having plots empty to having a waiting list.

"In the last week I have actually managed to get six new people in.

"That's really by going to the people that have not been working there lately and telling them to make their minds up or halve the plot."

The plots near to Quakers Hall Lane, which are tended to by some 200 people, are owned by Sevenoaks Town Council. The council also owns an allotment site in Bradbourne Vale Road, for which there is a waiting list of more than 20 people. Town council clerk Linda Larter said there were no plans to expand on the current number of allotments. She said: "We are always bearing it in mind and we are looking at future developments.We are not actively doing anything about it at the moment because things can change very rapidly."

Mr Hogg said only people from the town could join the waiting list for allotments, and residents of outlying villages should contact their parish councils, which have a legal duty to provide allotment spaces.

Demand is also growing in other parts of the district, such as Halstead, where the parish council is negotiating with Sevenoaks District Council on taking over some land for the purpose. In Knockholt, 25 people are on the waiting list and the parish council is in the process of leasing land and getting planning permission to use it for allotments.

Parish council chairman Barry Page said: "The parish council issued a flyer to every house in the village, giving the idea we would supply allotments if there was a need and that was the reaction to it.

"I don't think the parish was any different from anywhere else, in that people like the idea because of taking an organic approach and growing their own vegetables."

See page 16 for comment.

Chipstead – 0, there are four empty plots

Dunton Green – one

Knockholt – 25

Otford – seven

Shoreham – five