I'm following the invitation to respond via the website. It's not imediately clear where to respond, so apologies if this is in the wrong place. Feel free to move it. In fact I'd like you to print it as a response in your next newsletter.

Peter Wright's call for increasing allotment rents should not get editorial space. Isn't FEDEGA there to represent the interests of plot holders across Edinburgh. How many FEDEGA turkeys are there out there voting for Christmas? Get your act together FEDEGA and press for every pound support we can get from the Council.
Peter's emotive reference to 19th century "displaced agricultural workers" are historically hysterical. Here are some more recent hard facts:

Edinburgh allotment rentals have gone up by over 90% in the last 5 years.

Inflation, measured by the RPI, rose by under 14% in the same time.

If rents had gone up with inflation standard plot rents would be £34.20

They are now £57.50

In the light of this you should be calling for a rents freeze rents for the next 5 years.

Peter's view is a flawed one which is only explicable by reference to economic theories that are far removed from the day to day reality of the average allotmenter who doesn't need the extra stress of high rents on top of their battle against nature fast approaching. Fine if you're fit, retired on a comfortable pension and ready to dictate terms to your fellow allotment holders. Otherwise please restrict yourself to tending your own patch instead of queering the pitch for the rest of Edinburgh's allotment community. Many allotmenters are strapped for cash/suffering from ill health/short of time/juggling work and family responsibilities. I call on FEDEGA to repudiate Peter Wright's ideas as expressed in the last newsletter and to persue a policy of negotiating as low rents as possible while also reminding the council of their responsibilities.

Need I say more?

Malachy Cotter
Lady Road Site