The cost to rent an allotment in Glasgow is set to rise by nearly 400% raising concerns that vulnerable and less affluent residents could be forced to give up their plots.
Glasgow City Council has said they will be increasing their rent rates for a full plot from £34.50 to £170 next year due to a "significant funding gap".
Rates for over 60s, students, and anyone in receipt of benefits will increase from £25 to £114 a year with the payments to be made on a one-off basis. A half plot will cost £85 instead of £17.25 and £68 instead of £12.50 for a concession. For a starter plot, the charge will be £51.50 up from £8.65.
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Concerns over the change have been expressed by plot holders themselves as well as local groups dedicated to making Glasgow more food-sustainable and improving access to fresh produce.
Maureen McKendrick, who has a plot at Budhill and Springboig, described the increase in pricing as 'ludicrous' and fears members of their tight-knit community will be forced to give up their plot.
She told Glasgow Live: "We have people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and ethnicities here. Some people work, some don't and some can't work but we all muck in and help each other out.
"I've had my plot for over eight years. There's a real community feeling but that will be lost because of this pay increase - some people won't be able to afford it.
"The council is saying they haven't put their prices up for years as their reason for this but why haven't they? We would all expect a year-on-year increase not a 400% rise in one year. Landlords would never be allowed to do that so why is the council?
"They're taking people for granted and seeing this as a quick way to make more money. We have had no formal communication from them, nothing in black and white outlining what we'll be getting as a result of the increase.
"We should be being celebrated, not being penalised for the council's financial failings."
"We're based in an area of deprivation. It's often hard to get £34.50 from someone at the end of the year never mind £170."
She added: "The health and social benefits of the allotments can't be overlooked. There are people who come here who would otherwise not see anyone, they would be completely isolated. During covid, being able to come was a lifeline for many people. We had people calling us up desperate to get a plot.
"It's hard not to see this as a way for the council to cut down their waiting list as it's so oversubscribed and they know this way people will be forced to give up their plots.
"We're not against paying more but we want transparency - we need to know where the figure has come from and what services we'll be getting in return for the money we're paying out.
"Currently, we get very little, we've had to apply for funding to put in a walkway, we asked for our gate to be painted and were sent a link to paint to buy ourselves and we do all our own admin. We're confused about what we're getting out of this."
There are currently 1657 allotment plots in the city with 1790 people on a waiting list to secure one of their own.
Under the Community Empowerment Act 2015, all local authorities were required to produce a food growing strategy. Through this, and to give more locals the opportunity to grow their own food, the council has identified a further 250 potential growing spaces in the likes of allotments, community gardens, and hedgerows.
On the launch of the Glasgow Food Growing Strategy 2020 - 2025, Councillor Anna Richardson emphasised the importance of the city's allotments as 'an essential outdoor space for many'.
She said sites such as allotments enhance local communities and bring "wider socio-economic benefits".
Cllr Richardson commented: "Producing more food locally will play an important role in our response to the climate and ecological emergency, by reducing the carbon footprint of our food system, while providing fresh and nutritious produce for Glaswegians."
Eleanor Dillon, Project Manager (Food & Climate Action) at Glasgow Community Food Network said the concession rate must be reduced to ensure equal access to food growing.
She said: "Allotments are a crucial part of the patchwork of growing activity needed to make Glasgow a more food-sustainable city. They foster vital skills in local food growing that we need in the face of the increasing impact the climate emergency is already having on the stability of our food system.
"The concession rate for Glasgow allotments must be reduced in order to ensure equitable access for the wider community to healthy, local food. A concession rate this high will be a barrier for many community members who will not only lose the ability to grow their own food but also the improved wellbeing and wider social benefits keeping an allotment brings."
Many plot holders have raised concerns over the change via the Glasgow Allotment Forum who also said they have had minimal communication on the fees.
Jenny Reeves, chairperson of the Glasgow Allotment Forum told Glasgow Live: "I'm very concerned about the increase. For quite a few people this will be very worrying as it comes in as a one-off payment.
"The people that will suffer will be the most vulnerable if they're forced to give up their plots. A lot of people are confined in high-rise flats and have no access to green space.
"For a lot of people, allotments are a haven, it's a stress relief and allows them to be in contact with things and nature. For a lot of people, it really is an essential part of life.
"The council has taken a very brutalist approach. Plot holders sign a contract for missives with the council, why weren't we contacted before the change was decided?
"It's beside the point what other local authorities charge. We've been shown no respect and no consideration.
"There's no transparency with what the council is obliged to do, there needs to be more clarity on what services we should be provided with as it differs from each location. It's extremely difficult trying to communicate directly with anyone there.
"We believe there should be some kind of negotiation before any fees are implemented."
A spokesperson for Glasgow City Council said that the increased fees will hopefully allow them to 'expand' the allotment service.
They said: "Allotment rental rates, including the standard, annual fee of £34.50, have been frozen in Glasgow since 2012 and are currently considerably lower than in other Scottish local authorities.
“Due to a significant funding gap, the council is required to make almost £50million in savings this year alone and a static approach to allotment fees is therefore no longer sustainable.
“The increase in allotment fees will not be applied until 2024/25 to give plot holders the opportunity to adjust to the change, which will bring Glasgow more in line with other local authorities.
“Fees will be set at a level that allows us to maintain and hopefully expand the allotment service, which is currently oversubscribed.
“Concessionary rates for over 60s, students in full-time education and anyone in receipt of benefits will continue to be available.
“We are also exploring options which would enable people to spread the cost of their allotment rent over the year instead of paying a lump sum.
“Our food growing strategy seeks to encourage growing in the widest range of settings, whether that be in allotments, community gardens, orchards, hedgerows or where ever growing might be possible.
“Over 250 spaces around the city such as in parks, on disused sports pitches, within the grounds for social housing and other places have also been identified as potential growing spaces.”
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