Dear Editor,
I was surprised to read the letter from Cllr Katy Hofmann, leader of the Labour group on Stroud District Council.
Responding to her government’s agreement that some councils may sell off allotments to raise money, she states there is no such plan in Stroud District and that the Council is committed to preserving allotments.
While it’s true that the Green-led District Council actively supports policies to promote a more sustainable, local food system, Stroud District Council does not actually own any allotments – all sites are owned by town and parish councils. Cllr Hofmann is therefore in no position to give such an assurance.
Moreover, the limited powers of the district council’s planning committee – which Cllr Hofmann cites as a means of supporting allotments – are set to be further eroded by the Labour government’s latest planning reforms. These changes would “fast-track” most applications and bypass opportunities for democratic engagement.
Fortunately, Stroud Town Council, which owns the five allotment sites in the parish, is firmly committed to preserving them and will not be seeking to sell them off for short-term gain, as Angela Rayner has recently permitted elsewhere.
Sadly, in other parts of the country, facing funding cuts, councils may be tempted to follow these recent examples – sacrificing green and growing spaces for quick cash, at the expense of future generations.
Yours faithfully,
Cllr Adrian Oldman
Coordinator, Stroud District Green Party
