Food growing strategy launched in Argyll and Bute

The leader of the opposition at Argyll and Bute Council has called for regular updates on the authority’s food growing strategy.

Members of the council’s business continuity committee approved the strategy at a meeting convened via Skype today.

But Cllr Sandy Taylor was keen to see an update on the impact of the strategy sooner than the proposed five-year review, asking whether updates could be given to the four area committees before then.

And Marina Curran-Colthart, biodiversity officer with the council, responded that such a measure could be possible.

Cllr Taylor asked during the meeting: “In about a year or two, could we possibly have some feedback on whether the strategy has done anything to promote interest in local community food growing?

“Members periodically have contact from constituents who would like to see the council provide more land, but that does not always manifest itself.

“Can we possibly report to area committees on interest in allotments going forward?”

Ms Curran-Colthart responded: “The waiting list is reported every year. We have a responsibility to do that in April of every year, as well as use of existing allotments.

“But it is a question we can ask, to give guidance on how inspirational the strategy is proving to be.”

Cllr Taylor then said: “That would give me a great deal of confidence on how we are working and how communities themselves are addressing this.”

In an introduction to the printed strategy, council leader Aileen Morton said: “As a rural local authority with 23 inhabited islands, we have a long-established culture of growing our own food, with its multitude of benefits from the availability of nutritious and affordable food to social, health and environmental benefits.

“I’m impressed with the variety and range of growing spaces we have in Argyll and Bute, including allotments, community gardens, school gardens, orchards, crofts allied with the use of vacant sites, adding life to otherwise forgotten spaces.

“As a council, we are committed to assisting individuals and community groups to achieve their goal of growing their own and have put in place a number of measures to help achieve this.

“Our community food growing strategy will contribute to Scotland’s wish to become a good food growing nation by enabling those people interested in growing their own to enjoy and benefit from nutritious, healthy food.

“I am pleased to promote our culture of growing our own food through the Argyll and Bute Council community food growing strategy and to acknowledge productive growing activity while also empowering people and community groups to take up the challenge.”