MP calls for more allotments in Wirral to help families become self sufficient

Jan 7 2009 by Sue McCann, Bromborough and Bebington News

SOUTH Wirral MP Ben Chapman is forging ahead with his allotments campaign.

He recently took local activists to meet Baroness Andrews, the allotments minister, to take up the case for better allotment provision.

Mr Chapman said: “Allotments promote health and well-being. They are good for the environment and good for the economy.”

But he added: “However, in Wirral the amount spent on allotments, while welcome, is small.

“Here in the borough there are insufficient funds to provide adequate security or toilets.

“Despite obvious benefits, local councils are reluctant to act.

“In Wirral the waiting list for an allotment is 500-strong and some areas, including some of the most deprived ones, have no allotments at all.

“The council has given only perfunctory answers to successive petitions and representations on the subject. In one case it failed to respond altogether.”

Baroness Andrews said although existing legislation was “robust”, it was “not applied properly” by many councils.