Protest as Caversham allotments could become burial space

The Henley Road Allotments provide a space for people to grow fruit and vegetables and do gardening, the site is situated next to the Reading Cemetery.

The allotments were originally established by Reading Borough Council using cemetery land. But now the council is running a consultation on turning the allotments back, as the borough is set to run out of burial space by 2030.

The possible loss of the allotments has sparked a protest, with youngsters Anya Crewe, Annabella Diaz, Melissa Crewe, and Leonie Davies Sinclair attending it alongside plotholders at the gates of the allotments accessed from Chiltern Road.

Anya Crewe, Annabella Diaz, Melissa Crewe and Leonie Davies Sinclair at the protest calling for the Henley Road Allotments in Caversham to be kept. (Image: UGC / Emilie Davies)

Anita Stone, one of the allotment holders at the protest said: "The loss of the allotments would take so much from the community including a local sustainable food source, the loss of habitat for protected species, the perfect support for people’s mental health and the loss to the charities and schools it supports. The burden of these losses will likely fall back onto the council.

"There are over 100 plotholders who will suffer."

It is understood that there are 108 plots at the allotments.

Ms Stone, 49, who lives in Lower Caversham supplied a photo of some of the produce she grows including tomatoes, potatoes and over vegetables.

Produce that Anita Stone has grown at her plot at the Henley Road Allotments in Caversham. (Image: Anita Stone)

Those who want allotments typically have long waits to secure a plot. The current waiting time for a plot at the Henley Road allotments is three years and four months. She said: "Personally it took me four and a half years to obtain my plot with substantial waiting lists remaining. The reassurances from the council that we will be found new local plots therefore seem improbable.

"There appears to be a fundamental failure in the functioning of the local Council if they do have to make the decision to take the allotment land for burial sites. This must have been a need that they would have been aware of, and they still have between seven and a half years to nine years available to provide alternatives.

Anita Stone with her key to the Henley Road Allotments in Caversham. (Image: Anita Stone)

"I would like the council to provide a long term solution, rather than choosing this option, which does not solve its problem, and causes so much damage to our community."

Ms Stone said she hopes that she could get a plot at the Ardler Road allotments in Caversham, but the current average waiting time is three years and four months.

A consultation on reverting the Henley Road allotments back into burial space is being held on the council's Go Vocal website, where people can make comments.

The deadline for responses is December 6. The responses will then be considered, with the council's policy committee making a final decision during a meeting in the new year.