Our members worry about food security, and there are no allotments for locals who want to grow food. The lack of allotments is truly concerning, as Robert explains:
“Gardening in the city has never been more popular; and its benefits, such as contact with nature, fresh air and exercise, food security, and self-reliance, have never been more important. One traditional way of meeting these needs is to take care of an allotment; but in Edinburgh, allotments are like hen’s teeth.
• The council has 1,602 allotment plots, while as of November 2022 there were 5,658 people on the waiting list (up from 2,310 in March 2020; no doubt the pandemic is a big factor here.) Estimated waiting times are in excess of 8 years.
• The council has a legal duty under Section 112(1)(a) of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 to ‘take reasonable steps’ to ensure that the number of persons on the waiting list is no more than half of the total number of allotments. The same Act also requires the council to publish an annual allotments report.
• The council is in breach of both these duties, which is why we, a group of residents who have all been on the waiting list for at least a year, have submitted a formal complaint on this issue.”
Historical allotments on The Meadows
“If you are interested in adding your own name as a signatory, or have any other queries about our complaint, please drop us an email on allotment-waiting@proton.me.”
Meadows Community Gardens 