Driving to the Allotment Update

This is a very fluid situation with information and guidance changing on a daily basis. Today, the question was asked of our local councilor Dan Cohen if driving to the site was allowed. His reply was “As we know, for now, I’ve been advised that tending allotments is a legitimate thing to drive to” 31/03/2020

Update from the National (NAS) 1/4/2020

The government is presently advising the population to stay at home and practice social distancing, whilst being allowed to take one form of exercise a day. If working your allotment is to carry on being seen as legitimate exercise then it is imperative that plot-holders follow all the guidelines, allotment sites are as risky as anywhere else.

We think that now is the time to consider working your plot in isolation i.e. not with household members and if you can stay away for a few weeks to do so.

It is vitally important that you follow all the advice about social distancing and hygiene in the points below and not gather together on site.

Driving to the plot, we are aware that in recent days there has been conflicting statements from police forces about driving to your plot. A briefing has now been issued from the College of Policing and the National Police Chief’s Council that advises forces to :-

Use your judgement and common sense; for example, people will want to exercise locally and may need to travel to do so, we don’t want the public sanctioned for travelling a reasonable distance to exercise. ………………….. We should reserve enforcement only for individuals who have not responded to Engage, Explain, and Encourage, where public health is at risk.

If you need to drive a reasonable distance to get to your plot then this guidance would suggest that it is permissible to do so. However, please walk to the plot if at all possible

Read more here

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