A COUNCILLOR labelled it a “joke” as to why green-fingered enthusiasts were charged such a low price for renting a plot at the Basins Allotments in Wellington.

Members of Wellington Town Council’s environment committee met on October 23 where they were discussing plans for future budgets.

But Cllr Keith Wheatley brought into question the suggestion to increase the allotment plot rent at The Basins by just £2 per year to £32 in 2025-26 and then £34 in 2026-27.

He laughed at the somewhat low prices involved in modern days when people were more than happy to pay a lot more for other services.

“It’s a joke,” he said. “People are more than happy to pay something like £7.99 a month for Amazon Prime, £8.99 a month for Netflix and £32 a month for Sky Sports – these are the sorts of payments people are making for everyday life.

“But yet it works out at about 60p a week for an allotment,” he scoffed. “I think my view on this is pretty apparent.”

Cllr Wheatley continued: “The whole philosophy of allotments has changed. It used to be the norm that you had an allotment to grow vegetables to feed your family.

“But when I’ve been down to the allotments I see people growing asparagus and artichokes – they aren’t the sorts of vegetables you feed your children!”

Cllr Sean Pringle-Kosikowsky said that he used to be an allotment-holder a number of years ago and said some allotmenteers were growing vegetables on a business basis.

But town clerk Dave Farrow said that using the allotment as a business was against the tenancy agreement and would like to hear about any commercial ventures.

There were concerns, however, that while the plot rent at the Basins Allotments was low, the planned cost at the new Longforth Allotments in Wellington would be a £100 per plot.

Environment committee chairman, Cllr Mike McGuffie, said there seemed to be a disparity between the charges for the new allotments and the existing plots.

As a comparison, Yeovil Town Council has agreed to set a £71.50 charge per plot at its allotments for the 2025-26 financial year.