To Your MSP

Subject: Response to Scottish Planning Policy 11

Dear

I am pleased to support the Scottish Allotments and Gardens response to SPP11 particularly as the draft consultation document states in paragraph 6: ' Areas for horticulture, such as allotments, can be of great value to the local community and offer benefits for the environment. They create an opportunity for local food production, encourage physical activity and healthy eating, offer a place to relax and to learn, and contribute to local biodiversity.'

I would like to see allotments identified as a separate category.

Gardens and gardening have not received the same level of support and funding as sports and sports facilities. In the long term I believe that a national body gardenscotland should be established for gardening development in Scotland. This would have the same role and responsibilities for gardening and gardeners as sportscotland fulfills for Sports. It would bring together the separate organisations involved with all forms of participatory gardening activities and would be responsible for the protection, promotion and development of accessible gardening for the people of Scotland. I believe that gardening presents similar recreational benefits for the individual as Sports, improves the local ecology, encourages healthy eating and in the case of allotments, has great community benefit.

I would like to see minimum standards that apply to accessible gardening opportunities to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to garden. Allotments should be close enough to homes to permit easy access by foot, carrying tools, organic wastes or produce. The guideline maximum distance s uggested is 200 m, taken as a feasible wheelbarrow or bucket-carrying distance. Local Plans should require all new brownfield housing development over a certain net density to include community garden space and appropriate management mechanisms.

Would you please forward this letter to Scottish Executive Development Department by November 1st 2006, for consideration in the final version of SPP11.

Yours faithfully,