Section 23 of the 1908 Allotments Act - Councils urged to act

Did you know that under Section 23 of the 1908 Allotments Act, the government has a legal responsibility to provide an allotment to anyone who wishes to have one?

The current demand for allotments, fuelled by sky high food prices, environmental concerns and popular cooking programs which promote healthy living, is not being met at local levels by councils who do not have the resources to increase supply.

Chairman of the Welsh National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardeners, Allan Rees, says that his members' patience is wearing thin and they have the finances to take on the local authority in a bid to force them, as is their duty, to provide more allotments.

Mr Rees, in reference to 1,000 people on an Welsh allotment waiting list, told the BBC website "I remind local authorities of Section 23 of the 1908 Allotments Act. You need to provide allotments. A thousand on a waiting list is no excuse."