Request for City of Edinburgh Council to re instate concessionary lets for community food growing

This is a really good way for the council to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable communities

i believe more food should be grown locally by residents themselves. not only does this give people access to fresh veg and fruits but it also increase the community spirit and give a better understanding of everybody needs and aspiration. The rent for free council space should be keep free to encourage social community growth.

Please let common sense prevail!

i am 100% behind this petition as I believe more food should be grown locally by residents themselves. Thhis rent should clearly be kept at a low rate to encourage this community action. Best wishes,

I am sure there are other more cost effective ways for the Council to save much needed revenue than by disbanding worthwhile schemes like this. In today economic climate we all recognise the need to save money but I do not believe this is the way to do it.

Get a grip Edinburgh council if the community groups didnt work this land you would have to pay for its up keep

Whilst recognising that the Council needs to find ways of saving money - and indeed generating finances - it seems to me that consessionary lets for those who wish to make great use of land that can be usefully used for food growing is something that should be encouraged and supported. Good luck to the deputation.

Community gardening benefits both physical and mental wellbeing. Cost should not be a barrier, it is easier and better to grow strong communities than heal many broken and lonely people.

Surely the council should be encouraging this sort initiative and the benefits to health and community that would come from it?

Community Growing is needed to advance awareness of healthy eating & the feel good factor of outside occupation.

This is appalling how on earth does this help the counsels 2020 sustainability targets

We'd love to have access to growing space.

Totally agree that a citywide policy change is needed!!

So much for the councils commitment to 'make our city eden-burgh'. Come on give these projects half a chance there are enough barriers without crazy rents.

Sustainable food and local food growing lead to resilient communities and resilient communities are the future in an ever expanding world that is swiftly using up its resources.

please make this change,this work has so much potential.

The Council needs to think about the social, educational and environmental value these groups offer and support community groups working to grow local food.

This is absurd. It's not a myth or conspiracy theory that local community food growing is beneficial in so many ways. To put up such a significant barrier to it, especially to already economically marginalised communities, seems illogical. This comes from the current Scottish Government community empowerment bill consultation document: "173. Under existing legislation, where the local authority considers there to be a demand for allotments in their area, it is under a duty to acquire any suitable land for the purpose of letting as allotments". It goes on..."175. As set out above, local authorities will be under a duty to take steps to keep their allotment waiting lists to below a set target." and "Where there are currently local authority allotments, but these are not sufficient to satisfy demand, the local authority will be under a duty to keep waiting lists below a specified target, whether by acquiring land or otherwise. If either of the above duties are not met, the local authority must be able to demonstrate through the annual allotments report that they are taking all reasonable steps to meet the duty and provide reasons why it has not been possible." If concessionary lets are no reinstated, and this government legislation goes ahead, which it looks likely to, then the local authority will have to explain why this barrier is preventing more community food growing and therefore keeping allotment waiting lists high. I wholeheartedly support this deputation.

Agreeing to the deputation will clearly benefit communities in Edinburgh and sustainable food production and learning. Therefore there are clear social, educational and environmental results.

Prime agricultural land is rented at 2p per square meter and the council lets our poor quality grassland for 25p per square meter. That is no good at all!