Capital idea to meet allotments scarcity
garden-share scheme to be looked at
Published:
GREEN-FINGERED enthusiasts waiting for an allotment in Aberdeen might have their wait cut if the city council adopts a scheme like one newly introduced to Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh garden-share scheme was introduced as a solution to the shortage of land – more than 1,400 people are on the council’s waiting list for allotment space, with fewer than 90 getting a plot each year.
The scheme allows keen gardeners waiting for their own allotment to use the garden belonging to a less-able, elderly person for an agreed purpose, such as growing flowers, fruit or vegetables.
Aberdeen City Council have now said they might discuss the possibility of a similar garden-gardener pairing system, with 250 people across the city waiting for a plot.
A spokeswoman said: “Aberdeen City Council is setting up a group to work with representatives of allotment holders, and the Edinburgh City Council scheme is certainly something we could raise with them.”
Bill Robertson, assistant grounds maintenance officer for Aberdeen south, put the lengthy waiting list down to the popularity of television gardening programmes.
Garden plots provided by the council are scattered across the city, in areas of Kincorth, Northfield, Torry and Cults with the biggest areas being in Garthdee and on Craigton Road.
Mr Robertson said discussions into reducing waiting list times were ongoing.
In Aberdeenshire, there are also waiting lists for allotments at Ellon, Huntly, Inverurie and Kemnay.
