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Volume 5 November 2001
Please pin this on your bulletin
boards and get your plot holders
to read and contribute
Presidents report
The Glasgow Show
was held in Victoria Park,
Whiteinch on 23/24/25th August.
SAGS had a stall promoting the aims of the
society also all the produce that can be grown
on an allotment.
I would like to thank all who helped over the
three days it was run especially Judy, Eddy
and Tam.
I was amazed that a lot of children had never
seen a pea pod or corn on the cob.
Our stall was busy all the time and I was glad
that my team of experts could answer all the
questions.
Beechgrove Garden potting shed was next
door but I reckoned that we answered as many
questions as them.
Our stall was visited by many allotment
holders from all over Scotland.
On our display were photographs of
allotment sites including some old ones that
definitely caused a lot of interest.
We also had a load of pamphlets on organic
information supplied to us by the Henry
Doubleday Foundation and an array of fresh
vegetables supplied by Kelvinside and
Paterson Park allotments daily - organic of
course.
In a special ceremony, Councillor Alistair
Watson, Convener of Land services presented
the Stevenson Amenity Shield Winners and
Individual Trophy.
Scottish Parliament Local Government
Committee
The Local Government
committee of the
Scottish Parliament continued its enquiry on
18th September by interviewing witnesses from
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee city councils
(Aberdeen city council staff all had another
engagement.)
The report is on the Scottish Parliament web
site and also on the SAGS web site.
Herbert Coutts
the Director of Recreation
of Edinburgh City Council said,
"The committee may take the view that there
should be more allotment developments in
Scotland, particularly in the cities where land
values are high."
" I want to draw the committee's attention
to
the recent document, "Growing in the
community: a good practice guide for the
management of allotments", which was
published by the Department of the
Environment, Transport and the regions..-...
its good advice for allotments in England
applies equally well in Scotland.
"We want to improve the quality of the
allotments. That is why the council decided to
include more provision in its rolling capital
programme. The council is certainly
sympathetic to the needs of allotment holders.
Future funding will inevitably be influenced by
the results of the allotment strategy on which
we are working."
"We hope that the Local Government
Committee recognises the fact that allotments
make an important contribution to healthy
living. Why should an allotment site not be
regarded as a healthy living centre?"
We were heartened
by this positive attitude
towards allotments - which was shared, in the
main, by all the Council officials taking part
and look forward to the final report.
FEDAGA REPORT from EDINBURGH
Allotments are
always under threat, and in
Edinburgh none more so than the 19 plots at
Hawkhill.
Some men were seen looking at the site in
May 1999 and it was confirmed at our July
1999 meeting with the Council that there was
an interest from DF Wishart who have a
warehouse next door.
We vigorously opposed any sale of
allotments at that meting.
At our December
1999 meeting, the Council
reported no progress as Wishart had not been
able to find an alternate site.
Edinburgh Council have a rule (after a
successful threat to Telferton) that a developer
has to find another site locally so that there is
no loss of plots.
The Director
of Recreation asked the
Recreation Committee in January 2000 for
agreement in principal to the sale of Hawkhill
and the relocation of plot holders to an expanded
site at Pilrig public park.
This alternate site was to be provided by the
Council.
Press and Media
coverage followed and the
matter eventually came before the Executive in
September 2000.
The case was
referred to the Scrutiny Panel
later in September and FEDAGA were allowed
to speak.
It was agreed to sell the site on the basis that
plot holders were relocated to Pilrig, that only
Wishart would occupy the new warehouse and
that the Council had first option to buy the site
should Wishart wish to dispose of it within
10 years.
The Planning
Committee approved the new
Wishart warehouse in March.
By then the Pilrig option had fallen through
due to the level of objections.
In October the Executive were asked to "note"
that Wishart wished to sub let a "substantial"
part of the new warehouse.
Again FEDAGA were allowed to speak.
The case was continued to 20 November for
more information with the possibility of a further
Scrutiny Panel.
As things stand
at 8 November it would seem
that the requirement for Wishart to find a new
site has been ignored, that the requirement for
sole use of the warehouse by Wishart has been
ignored and that Wishart, who will purchase this
site for £130,000 without it going on the open
market, can sell to the highest bidder in 10 years.
Allotments are
always under threat!
George Sutherland -
President FEDAGA
Glasgow Allotments Forum
Glasgow City
Council through the direction
of John Conway from Land Services together
with SAGS have set up an Allotment Forum
for all the allotment sites in Glasgow.
The Forum will meet four times a year and
discuss matters affecting the sites.
Although it grew out of protests at the
sudden, very sharp increase in rents for the
plots announced in the Spring Budget, the
outcomes from the first two meetings have
been very encouraging.
The allotment representatives accepted that
John Conway was not responsible for the rent
rise and any action would have to be taken
through the Councillors.
John Conway has:
* appointed a new
Allotments
Officer, Lynn Gillespie.
* bought a software
programme to
manage the sites and track requirements with
a priority for water,toilets, security and
disabled access.
* promised he will
bring in long term leases
and security of tenure for sites.
* asked his managers
for lists of materials
surplus to requirements that could be available
for sites.
* agreed to work
with committees to access
funds for allotments.
He has also promised
that the Council will
vigorously implement the Policy ENV 14 in the
City Plan.
City Plan
The government is concerned about the
continued loss of allotments land and intends
to either amend legislation or issue guidance
requiring planning authorities to protect the
existing resource and take steps to increase
provision if there is a demand for it.
The Plan aims to reinvigorate the economic
social and physical realms of the City in ways
that are consistent with sustainable
development.
It proposes a target for the city-wide provision
of recreational green space of 5 hectares per
1000 population to be achieved over the 20 year
period to 2020.
Allotments are seen as having an important
and long standing relationship to communities
living at high density, with little or no provision
for sizeable private gardens.
Of the overall target, 0.05 hectares per 1,000
population is allocated for allotments and
reflects the area currently given to their use.
During the period of the Plan the Council
intends to protect those facilities in its ownership
and it will expect owners of private sites to do the
same.
Existing allotments are covered by the Green
Space designation on the Development Policy
Principles map.
Policy
There is a presumption in favour of retaining
all land that is or has been used for allotments.
Proposals affecting existing or proposed
allotment sites will only be considered if they
meet the criteria set out below:
(a) If the developer makes provision for an
equivalent (or better) replacement in the vicinity
of the existing resource.
The Council will have to be satisfied on behalf
of the users that all relevant matters including
location, access, aspect, soil quality, services
and fencing are being appropriately addressed;
and
(b) in assessing any changes or improvements
to allotment provision the Council will seek to
ensure that households have reasonable, safe
and easy access, particularly through walking
and/or cycling to the site.
Stevenson Amenity Shield Winners
1. Paterson Park Allotments -230
Points
2. High Carntyne Allotments-207 Points
3. Merrylee Allotments -191
Points
Individual Trophy Winners
1. E. Greb, High Carntyne -
85 Points
2. T Mcmurray - 84
Points
3. M. Hartman -83
Points
As you can see
it was a close
competition.
My thanks to all who took part
- six sites in all
I also thank the judges - I. Woolard
and E. Hobson of Edinburgh Council
Parks for their time.
It took from 8.00am until 7.00pm
so it was a long day for all concerned.
Committee SAGS
President: Bert Cook -
Paterson Park - 0141 562 6328
Vice President: George Duff -
Hamiltonhill
Secretary: Judy Wilkinson - Kelvinside
-0141 357 0204
Treasurer: Alison Black - FEDAGA
Members:
Eddie Docherty - Paterson Park
Ray Nixon - Belahousten
Harry Gunn - Cumbernauld
Liz McKinley - New Victoria Gardens
Gilbert Clark - Co-opted member
Sarah Watt - Holmlea
Jessie Clark - Richmond Place
Merlin Report
The committee
would thank Caitlin for the
work she has put into all the sites she visited
from Aberdeen to the Borders.
What a sight - backpack and mountain bike
plus her camera, Judy and I had the privilege
to be with her on a visit to Perth.
We had a wonderful day and were made very
welcome by Matt and his committee.
It was the first site I have seen without a
double glazed window, when I asked 'why aren't
there any?' they answered 'how would you like
to carry them over a bridge down steps?'
- I forgot to mention the allotments are on an
island.
Well thanks again, Caitlin, for all the research
and help you have given the Scottish Allotments
during the last year.
It has been a privilege to have known you.
A copy of the report is on the web
Ali Black
has been keeping a wildlife diary
at her West Mains allotment - the full report
is on the web.
Brid Primrose has also kept one on the
Kelvinside site in Glasgow - if any others are
interested please let Harry Gunn know and
share your experiences.
Ali writes,
I have been faithful to a belated New Year
resolution to keep a Wildlife diary of the
allotment, and am sharing my observations
with the aim of encouraging others to
celebrate the wealth of creatures, good, bad
and downright nasty, which share our urban
oasis.
I believe that allotment sites make a
significant contribution to biodiversity in
Edinburgh, and that promoting this aspect of
our site is another way of ensuring it's long-
term protection.
Most of my observations are made from my
plot.
Some species are so common that I almost
ignore them, so did not bother to record their
presence - will try harder next year!
Some of the creatures I cannot name,but I
have recorded their presence in the hope that
someone more expert will be able to identify
their precise nature.
I apologise in advance for my rather partisan
neglect of the "nasties".
I have tended only to record the good, the
pretty or the unusual -
I'm not much of a scientist.
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Sags Website :- https://www.sags.org.uk
The new Website at the above address is
now up and running barring a few glitches.
The temporary site at www.sags.freeuk.com
has been closed down and the files from that
site can now be accessed from the new
Website.
They are on the History & Archives page
under the section for Archival Material, just
scroll down to sags free uk files and click on
the "Link".
From this page you can also access the minutes
of the AGM 2001 by clicking "Minutes" at the
bottom of the page.
Go to the About
Sags page and you will see a
list of The Allotments Acts throughout the years,
No part of these Acts should be taken as current
Law as many of them have had sections or in
some cases the full Act repealed.
This list is an archive of the Laws on allotments
and is purely for historical information.
The list is not yet complete and I will be working
on this for some time to come.
Also on this page is a record of Wartime Defence
Regulations from 1939-1942 and again I will be
trying to find more of these in future.
Lower down this page will be records of SAGS
dealings with the Scottish Parliament, I may in
future move these files to a new page to be titled
Acts of Parliament as I feel that they do not fit
properly into any of the current pages.
All of the Acts of Parliament and the Wartime
Defence regulations can be read by clicking on
the title.
On the Other
Resources page there is a section
for Case Histories of Defending Allotment Sites,
(only one at present).
Click the "Cumbernauld Allotments" link to read
this file.
If any Member Association has had to deal with
a Council or Landlord who is trying to regain
control of allotments land we would like details
of this to build an archive of methods for dealing with
such problems.
Also on this page is a list of websites which
have
information of use to SAGS Member Associations
or have assisted SAGS. Click the "Links" to
access this file.
At this time there are only nine Member
Associations who have taken up the offer of having
there site details put on the web site and four of
these have only the site name without any details
shown.
Harry Gunn, Web Administrator,
Scottish Allotments and Garden Society
Gilberts Gong
Gilbert Clark has been awarded an MBE by the
Queen in the Birthday Honours list for services to
the community.
Gilbert has been
a tireless supporter of the SAGS
committee over the last years and we have benefited
from his sense, wisdom, and clarity of mind.
He has also served
12 other organisations in the
community - many thanks Gilbert - we are very
glad your contribution and tireless work has been
recognised.
AGM
We had a very successful AGM in June, saddened
only by the resignation of Jim Glencross as treasurer
due to other commitments.
However we are pleased that his position has been
filled by Ali Black.
After the AGM we had a workshop on "what
we
want from SAGS".
This led to a restructuring of the committee - we are
meeting only 4 times a year but have a number of
subcommittees which are working in the different
areas - Finance, Promotions and Publicity,
Campaigning, events, SASU, Newsletter,
Constitution etc.
This seems to be working well.
Setting out in Stirling: Of Cabbages and Kings
It’s not entirely true that my tour began in the sun.
A black cloud began to toss down drops as I crossed
over the River Forth footbridge. I hurried under the
railway line to a strip of floodplain land crowded
with huts and fences. Entering the allotments, I
could see James IV’s restored Great Hall glowing
on the castle hill.
To the north, the Wallace Monument threatened
to pierce the heavy sky. John Petrie greeted me
from his plot. ‘Looks like you brought the rain
with you’.
As the downpour drenched the earth, we sheltered
in John’s car to look at computer printout of his
plot plan.
The list of crops that John grew would become
familiar to me over the next few weeks. Cabbage,
Brussels sprouts, cauliflower. Shallots, onions,
leeks. Beet root, carrots, Swedes, parsnips
(the ‘small seeds’). Peas and broad beans.
A few rhubarb plants. A good fraction of potatoes.
These sturdy crops, I would learn, are the staples
of the Scottish allotment. A traditional plot produces
these vegetables in precise rows, on a strict ‘field’
rotation regime.
There is something faintly military about a
landscape made up of such identical patchwork
plots–each sprout at attention, upright and obedient.
But a closer look usually reveals the odd experiment,
tucked in behind the tattie patch (John tended
kohlrabi and calabrese trials). These traditional
plots embody the essence of adaptation to Scottish
conditions. Potatoes and root crops thrive in
the cool summers, producing reliable stores for
long winters. If I dwell on variety and innovation
in the rest of this report, it is not without an
appreciation for the old-school plotters. John’s Stirling
patch became my template for the ‘classic plot’–and
I would see hundreds more during my allotment travels.
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