Hounslow council scheme aims to reduce allotment waiting lists

Hundreds of allotments are to be created in wasteland to help families tackle rising food costs. Scrubland big enough for 500 allotments is to be turned over to locals to grow their own food to help beat the cost-of-living crisis, while reaping the health and wellbeing benefits and encouraging younger generations to appreciate nature.

The Hounslow project will see 27 acres of public wasteland that is inaccessible or used for flytipping made available to residents for new allotments, community gardens and orchards.

to rise. At last count, there were 952 residents on the council’s allotments waiting list.

Cllr Salman Shaheen said: “Allotments are vital to the health and wellbeing of Hounslow’s residents.

“We want to ensure all residents who value and treasure the land have a space they can call their own. That is why we are bringing in measures to ensure the spaces on our sites, that are not being loved and cared for as they deserve to be, are improved and cultivated and given to residents on our waiting lists.

More than 300 SIM cards have been distributed to young care-leavers, refugees and vulnerable young people in Hounslow.

Founded in 1929, Hounslow Rotary Club works with young people in the care system and the members have become very aware of the practical and emotional difficulties faced by those with little family support.

The club applied to Vodafone UK’s charities.connected initiative for free Vodafone SIM cards to help young people overcome their digital isolation by facilitating their internet connectivity.

Hounslow Rotarians Brigitte Faubert and Bob Johnson handed over nearly 100 Vodafone SIM cards to Councillor Lily Bath, portfolio holder for children, learning and employment, and Chris Chalmers, director of

Hounslow Rotary Club’s Careleavers Project and needs such as sport programmes, IT equipment, mentoring, job talks, social events and outings.

Vodafone’s charities.connected initiative is open to any registered charity that would benefit from free connectivity, either to improve its own digital capability or to extend its services or help individuals and families to connect online. One SIM card provides 40GB data a month, plus free calls and texts, for six months.

Emma Reynolds, head of communications, sustainability and regulatory affairs at Vodafone UK, said: “We are committed to tackling digital exclusion. We hope that by providing free connectivity to Hounslow Rotary Club and other amazing charities across the UK who have such an enormous impact on their local communities, we can help create a more inclusive digital society.” www.hounslowrotary.club

The Grow for the Future scheme, launched by Councillor Salman Shaheen, cabinet member for parking, parks and leisure on Hounslow Council, will also set aside a plot of land on each of the 18 allotment sites for schools to use.

Hounslow has 1,950 allotment plots, but demand for a plot continues

“I’d like to underline our commitment as a council to maximising plots available to residents as we know that demand remains high. Beyond the 182 plots we expect to bring into use by March we are working on a new project to further increase allotment capacity across the borough.”