There is a crisis in Ceredigion
regarding allotments . Currently , there are 70 people in Ceredigion
on the waiting list for allotments, and people are waiting for more
than five years . In an age where environmental issues are more
important than ever, and food prices are rising rapidly while incomes
are falling, allotments make more financial and environmental
sense than ever .
In addition to this , there are concerns about the condition of the existing allotments in Penparcau , following the floods last year .
Other schemes have been posed to deal with the problem , but there have been problems . There was strong opposition from local residents in Penparcau when the Town Council sought to establish new allotments next to those that already exist . In Waunfawr , the stumbling block was the local development plan . Also, it's clear that the county council isn't keen to establish new allotments; in fact would be keen to transfer existing allotments to community councils, if possible, which are more likely to win grants etc .
But a new idea has arisen , in general management committee meeting on the evening of 11/11/13 Aberystwyth Town Council, plans were presented, designed in collaboration with Aerystwyth University to establish many new allotments opposite PJM . That's a great development, which has its root in requests by students and staff for allotments . As the students are here almost always for three years only , there's no point for students to join a waiting list that is more than five years, as it is at the moment ! If allotments are built, around 110 plots will be built in the first phase , with a possiblity of approximately 150 else if lots of people want to have allotments .
There is potential to provide many more people with the opportunity to grow their own food, fairly locally and therefore save a lot of money too . If these allotments are established, it is possible to significantly reduce the waiting list, and that will be great for the town in general :)
This is not without challenges of course . The plots are 50 square metres , which is fairly large but less than some of the existing allotments in Penparcau . Of course , on the other hand, not everyone wants allotments of the size of some in Penparcau ! Also, if this project is led by Aberystwyth Town Council, administration of the project will take a lot of council staff time.
All in all, very happily, The town council welcomed the principle of the new allotments. The next step is to tidy up and work on the financial bid for the project . I hope we see new allotments in Aberystwyth in the near future, as an important contribution to the town and the world .
In addition to this , there are concerns about the condition of the existing allotments in Penparcau , following the floods last year .
Other schemes have been posed to deal with the problem , but there have been problems . There was strong opposition from local residents in Penparcau when the Town Council sought to establish new allotments next to those that already exist . In Waunfawr , the stumbling block was the local development plan . Also, it's clear that the county council isn't keen to establish new allotments; in fact would be keen to transfer existing allotments to community councils, if possible, which are more likely to win grants etc .
But a new idea has arisen , in general management committee meeting on the evening of 11/11/13 Aberystwyth Town Council, plans were presented, designed in collaboration with Aerystwyth University to establish many new allotments opposite PJM . That's a great development, which has its root in requests by students and staff for allotments . As the students are here almost always for three years only , there's no point for students to join a waiting list that is more than five years, as it is at the moment ! If allotments are built, around 110 plots will be built in the first phase , with a possiblity of approximately 150 else if lots of people want to have allotments .
There is potential to provide many more people with the opportunity to grow their own food, fairly locally and therefore save a lot of money too . If these allotments are established, it is possible to significantly reduce the waiting list, and that will be great for the town in general :)
This is not without challenges of course . The plots are 50 square metres , which is fairly large but less than some of the existing allotments in Penparcau . Of course , on the other hand, not everyone wants allotments of the size of some in Penparcau ! Also, if this project is led by Aberystwyth Town Council, administration of the project will take a lot of council staff time.
All in all, very happily, The town council welcomed the principle of the new allotments. The next step is to tidy up and work on the financial bid for the project . I hope we see new allotments in Aberystwyth in the near future, as an important contribution to the town and the world .
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