Douglas Council leader proposes allotments on brownfield sites

The leader of Douglas Council has tabled a motion that would extend the authority’s allotment scheme onto brownfield land, giving residents without gardens, such as those in flats or city centre homes, somewhere green to use.

Councillor Devon Watson said the plots could be used for growing food and plants or for creating habitats for wildlife, according to Manx Radio.

Ratepayers can already join a council waiting list for an allotment, and Mr Watson said he hoped the proposal would prompt more people to put their names down.

He told Local Democracy Reporter Emma Draper that, should councillors back the plan, it would be tested on a trial basis before being rolled out more widely.

Councillors are due to debate the motion at their January meeting. Details of which brownfield sites could be used, and how many plots might be created, have not been set out.