Like just about everywhere else in the country allotments in Edinburgh are extremely difficult to find. The Scottish Allotment Society has recently tried to make more land available for residents due to the dire shortage in the capital.

One site next to a railway has in the past been used for allotments. Unfortunately the land owners, Network Rail have insisted on charging an inordinate amount of money for the annual rent. The sum mentioned is in the region of £250 per plot which is nearly 10 times the average rent an allotment holder pays in Edinburgh.

The current waiting list for an allotment in Edinburgh is seven years, and less than 100 people get a plot each year. Even though the council has said that it will happily manage the plots, they will unfortunately have to pass on the rent imposed by network rail.

A comment from network rail has stated

“Network Rail is a commercial organisation. We have a duty to maximize our assets and invest any money made back into our railways”.

With the push to eat more healthily and to stay fit, some may say that the view of Network Rail is shortsighted because of the positive publicity they may get for the promotion of these allotments and the benefit the local community will receive.