ALLOTMENT rents in Evesham will be going up in 2018 after a two year freeze, despite a plea from one tenant who claims plot holders are paying above the national average for a ‘basic level of provision.’
Rents will now rise to £48 per year for plots without water and £65 per year for plots with water after councillors on Evesham Town Council’s Planning Committee voted in favour of the increase at their meeting on Monday (November 28).
After a two year freeze in 2016 and 2017, rents will rise from their current level of £46 for plots without water and £58 for plots with water.
Demand still remains for allotments in Evesham with a waiting list of two-and-a-half years for a plot.
At the meeting, Neil Cartwright, Chairman of Inches Lane Allotment Association, made a plea to councillors to make them think again about putting rents up.
“Nationally, this National Allotment Society survey suggests that two thirds of allotment holders pay rents of under £50 a year,” he said.
“This comparison suggests that Evesham is charging, already at £58, slightly over average rents for a rather basic level of provision.
“It’s questionable whether £58 a year is what ‘a tenant may expect to pay for what we’re now getting,’ to quote the Allotments Act 1950.
“I would suggest that you consider keeping rents in 2018 at the same level they are now. I’d also suggest that any surplus be accumulated be spent on improving allotment provisions.”
In response, Chairman of the Planning Committee Coun Richard Jones, said: “I know that allotments have been a bone of contention with regards to the fees.
“I know that we’ve been looking to provide additional space for allotments and there is a two-fold problem, one is finding the right land and the second problem is being able to afford it.”
Coun Alan Booth added: “We’re always looking for allotment land and when we do get it, there are a lot of costs and outlay. We still need an increase.”
