Have your say on allotment policy

People are being invited to take part in a consultation aimed at maintaining key green spaces in County Durham.

Allotment tenants, waiting list applicants and residents are all urged to have their say, as Durham County Council reviews allotment provision. This includes looking at how the activities on them should be managed.

Cllr Ossie Johnson, Cabinet member for tourism, culture, leisure and rural issues, said: “Allotments are very special places for people.

“They allow them to produce their own fruit and vegetables, giving a sense of pride and a connection with nature. Allotments also offer health benefits, from improving diets to increasing wellbeing through spending time outside.”

The consultation will inform new policies clarifying what tenants will and will not be able to do on their allotments in the future.

Oliver Sherratt, Durham County Council’s head of direct services, said: “Allotments provide a great space for people to enjoy horticultural activities, and it is important that we protect them.

“We want people to help us maintain these important green spaces by taking part in our consultation to ensure allotments are available for those who genuinely want to grow food.

“Taking part will also help shape how and when new policies come in by establishing a set of transition rules to allow time for some non allotment activities to change.”

People can register their views until Sunday March 31 by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/consultation

Hardcopy surveys are also available at Durham County Council libraries and customer access points.

Durham County Council owns 159 allotment sites across the county, 106 of which are managed by the council and the further 53 sites managed by allotment associations on their behalf.