A community-run orchard is at risk after Bradford Council raised the annual rent by 722%.
This follows district-wide allotment rent increases and removal of concessionary rates, imposed by Bradford Council.
Bowling Community Orchard was established in 2002 when the Environmental Education Service of Bradford YMCA (BEES) were approached by Bradford Council to be involved in a rescue package for the ‘dilapidated’ Bowling Park allotment site. Julia Pearson, founder of ‘Friends of Bowling Community Orchard’ and former BEES co-ordinator said: “They asked us if we’d work on this site. We wanted four plots – they said, take six.”
The Council granted the group 6 derelict plots rent-free, on the understanding that they would invest in the site. After extensive restorative work, BEES planted their first 40 apple trees in March 2003 and now have a mature, fruitful orchard.
With three plots added at a concessionary rate to make space for events and accommodate school visits, the 9-plot orchard is a long-standing community space for all-ages and abilities to get involved in gardening and plant-care.
Pearson said: “It’s great for schools, because you can deliver curriculum outdoors. But also, if [anyone] wants to come and learn, it’s a safe space.”
According to Council sources, fee and concessionary-rate changes were subject to a district-wide consultation; however, Pearson said: “They never got in touch; they just sent the invoices. That’s one of our upsets, really. Why didn’t they talk to us and work out a plan?”
A Bradford Council spokesperson has said: “The council had to make the difficult decision to remove the significant and longstanding subsidy which was in place for the allotments service. […] Following the district-wide policy review, several concessions which were previously in place have been removed”. This includes all concessions that were previously in place for community groups and subjects all groups with historic agreements to standard charges.
The only concessions remaining after the policy review are for those in receipt of specific means-tested benefits – universal credit, pension credit and disability allowance. Those no longer qualifying include pensioners not receiving benefits, schools, charities and community groups.
Where community groups previously had agreements with the Council, they have now been encouraged to apply for funding through the new Green Community Grants programme to cover their plot fees.
The council state that income raised from increased fees and concession removal will cover management of the allotment service, including the improvement of some sites. Separate funds have been allocated to support the improvement to seven allotment sites. They said: “This investment demonstrates the council’s commitment to improving the allotments service. Our aim is to return as many plots as possible back into tenantable use for the citizens of Bradford district.”
Friends of Bowling Community Orchard have launched a petition contesting the 722% rise. Pearson said: “We’re asking for them to recognise the initial agreement, and to honour that we set this up as a community space.”
“We’ve had council officers and elected councillors here and they say, ‘we can see the social outcomes, apply for funding.’ Well, we’re, just a handful of people who are busy trying to prune trees and make juice. I did 20 years of fundraising to try and keep a project going – I left because of that. It’s hard going, it’s not a sustainable way forward. Because you might get funding for a year, and then what happens next year?”
