Allotments not for sale says Coleman (From Times Series)

Councillor Brian Coleman says Barnet's allotments are not for sale

7:30am Wednesday 1st September 2010 in News By Alex Hayes

THE councillor in charge of allotments in the borough has come out and said there are “no plans” to sell them off, despite the idea being floated in a draft document.

Barnet Council's draft estates policy mentions the idea along with the potential sale and re-leasing of libraries and other property the council owns in order to help ease budget pressures.

However, Councillor Brian Coleman says he is bringing forward “Big Society” plans to devolve the management of the borough's allotments to the management committees.

He told the Times Series: “I can categorically say we're not selling allotments, we're bringing forward radical plans to transfer them to the management committees.

“These plans will give them responsibilities for setting and collecting rents and everything else. The only time the council will step in is if they become overgrown.”

Cllr Coleman said the move would also see stronger management committees paired with weaker ones to run more than one site in order to promote better management.