This document is the response of the QED Allotments Group to Dartford Borough Council's Corporate Strategy Community Development Plan, and to the letter dated August 17, 1999 from the Head of Policy and Economic Development addressed to the Chair of the QED Allotments Group, which asked for comments on the Plan. Our comments are as follows:

1) We support the objective of the Plan.

2) We agree with the identification of the key issues, and would comment as follows:

A) Public Participation: We welcome measures to stimulate debate and encourage wider participation in the management of community facilities. The experience of participating associations in running allotment sites under devolved management schemes across the Borough constitutes an important resource for understanding the challenges and pitfalls of active participation in local management schemes. We also acknowledge the role that QED has played in enhancing the capacity of participating associations and individual allotment gardeners to make a positive contribution to debates on a range of environmental issues affecting the Borough.

B) Combating Social Exclusion: Allotments are accessible to all social groups, and are widely used to grow food by the elderly and other people on low incomes. Participating associations have been active in encouraging the take-up of allotments by people with disabilities, and have an obvious role to play in support of the concept of Healthy Living Centres.

C) Community Safety: One of the attractions of allotment gardening is the ability to enjoy exercise and grow food in the open air in comparative safety. On occasion this attraction can be undermined by the antisocial behaviour of unwelcome visitors. We have experience in working with the police and through QED to enhance the safety and security of allotment holders and their property, and look forward to greater achievements in this area, in support of the Community Development Plan.

D) Support for the Voluntary and Community Sectors: We acknowledge the important role of QED in helping participating associations to fulfil their responsibilities to members and to the wider community, and for this reason we would encourage the Council to maintain its support for the voluntary and community sectors.

E) Community Based Regeneration: We also welcome the Council's interest in this issue, and hope to make a contribution in future through further development of the activities of the QED Allotments Group, particularly through our membership of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens, a national organisation with an explicit mandate to support community regeneration through farms and gardens.

In light of the above, we therefore see ourselves as a natural partner organisation for the local authority in the pursuit of community development objectives.

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