Council Urged To Extend Allotments Scheme

Councillor Patricia McCarthy said that the significant demand for plots at the newly launched Shannon Allotment Scheme, the first such scheme to be managed by the local authority, indicated the potential demand for similar schemes elsewhere.

The Independent Councillor first proposed making land available for the provision of allotments in County Clare in February 2006. Following this Clare County Council set about ascertaining the level of interest there would be in utilising such allotments. The 37 allotment plots in Shannon have already been reserved while a further ten applicants have been placed on a waiting list.

"I am delighted with the outcome, and that the day has finally arrived when allotments are once again available under a structured scheme for allocations", stated Councillor McCarthy.

She continued, "Clare County Council should now examine the possible extension of the scheme, if not at the current location then elsewhere around Shannon. Furthermore, the keen interest being expressed by local families wishing to cultivate their own fruit and vegetables indicates that the scheme would be successful elsewhere in County Clare."

Councillor McCarthy suggested that the expansion of the allotment scheme offered new employment opportunities.

"Clare Adult Learning Centre recently provided Horticulture Classes in West Clare, which proved to be extremely popular. I believe that the local authority should examine the possibility of working with the Centre to provide such classes in Shannon and elsewhere as this is an area with potential for self employment or direct employment opportunities going forward," she added.

-ENDS-

Note to Editor:
- Cllr Patricia McCarthy may be contacted at 087-4187132
- High-resolution images are also available on request. Please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or media@dunphypr.com

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900