Animal welfare and succession rights - have your say on proposed new allotment rules and regulations
Green fingered residents who may rent or wish to rent council owned allotments are being encouraged to have their say on proposed new tenancy agreement rules and conditions.
A key aspect of the consultation is about whether to increase or decrease the current five year co-worker succession period.
Currently, County Durham residents with an allotment tenancy can nominate a co-worker to which the allotment will be passed onto after after five year period, if the tenant agrees to give their plot up.
Before five years, plots are offered to people on the waiting list.
The Council have said any final decision must “balance fairness with compassion for tenants’ co-workers who may have an emotional attachment to a plot, and those on the waiting list which currently stands at more than 2,000 people”.
The Council is also looking for feedback on other proposals including allowing tenants with existing caravans on their plot to be allowed to keep them until their tenancy ends or the caravan is unusable, allowing larger structures on site for pigeons, and a clear stipulation that greenhouses and polytunnels count towards the 50 per cent ratio for cultivation areas.
The proposals also focus on regulating those tenants who keep animals.
Residents are asked to have their say on a proposed stipulation that animals cannot take up more than half a plot and ensuring “all relevant welfare laws are followed when tenants are given permission to bring certain animals, including hens, pigeons, rabbits, ducks and geese, on site”.
Cllr Nicola Lyons, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for communities and civic resilience, said: “We would encourage anyone who has an allotment or has an interest in allotments to have their say on our proposed changes to county-wide rules.
“The changes will help to keep plots manageable, promote animal welfare and balance the need for fairness with keeping each site tidy.
“We are confident that these proposed changes are positive and will help to make the rules around council owned allotments much clearer. This will benefit anyone who has an allotment in County Durham, so we are keen to gather as much feedback as possible.”
Any County Durham resident can have their say on the proposed changes by visiting the council’s online engagement platform.
All responses will be considered before a final decision on the proposed changes is made by the local authority’s Cabinet in the spring.