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Allotment closure due to caronavirus

Hello
Despite Michael Gove saying allotment gardening is acceptable as a form of exercise under the lockdown rules my town/parish council has closed the allotments. Has anyone else been locked out of their allotment?
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  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I sympathise with you , but does any sane person believe a word Gove says?
    Devon.
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    Most allotments appear to be operational around my local area. Seems to conflict with the essential travel directive. People aren't allowed to go fishing or play golf. The allotment opposite my old house seems hell bent on having as many fires as possible including bringing rubbish to burn from their homes to the allotment.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    Our allotment is open just a few notices about handwashing and social distancing. Seems sensible to me we are all keeping well over 2ms apart. We are not allowed bonfires though which again seems sensible as there is a communal compost heap and I would not be so selfish as to pollute other people’s air in these difficult times. For some am open window is their only access to the outside 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I think it's a shame if allotments close. I don't think allotment gardening is frivolous activity and I would put it under the same umbrella as your daily 1 hour of exercise in a park - but you're doing it in an allotment and you are producing food for your family. It would be sensible for the allotment organisers to put measures in place to increase social distancing e.g. a rota of time slots or requiring masks to be worn.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    I agree in principle @WillDB but the issue is that you have to travel by car (mostly) to get to the allotment which is in direct conflict to the essential travel directive. You can argue that playing golf or whatever other past time folks partake in is often with social distancing in mind but all these activities have been banned mostly due to the essential travel component. The exercise you refer to starts when you leave your front door. You can walk or run to the park but you must not drive your car to get there. 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I don't think that's actually true, and also why wouldn't you be able to walk to the allotment?
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    I don't believe I've written anything that is not true.  Yes, if you can walk to the allotment then, under current Government guidelines, you can have your 1hr activity there including the journey to and from the allotment. 
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited April 2020
    The guidance says "We advise you to stay local and use open spaces near to your home where possible – do not travel unnecessarily." I can therefore drive to a local park / green space for exercise. In the spirit of the guidance, I am generally choosing to walk around the block and on local routes, but there are a couple of times during the week when I will drive five or ten minutes to a more open green space for exercise and dog walking, and I think that is reasonable.

    It would have been easy for the guidance to explicitly state 'do not use your car to visit parks etc' but they have chosen not to do so.


    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    You're being selective with what you are quoting there as I'm sure you know.

    Are you allowed to drive to a park for exercise?

    Under the current government guidelines, people should only leave their homes if necessary.

    This involves shopping for basic essentials, travelling for work, medical needs and for one form of exercise per day.

    However, while parks remain open for exercise, the government is advising people to refrain from driving to them if possible.

  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    I walk to the allotment and I stay there as long as I want. I don’t understand why outside exercise is limited to one hour? I see almost nobody and I stay away from others out of consideration to them, I am a key worker who uses public transport and am unableto maintain social distancing at work so I am afraid I am a lost cause but I keep away from other people to protect them as much as possible 
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