Introduction
Do you have an appetite for helping community food growing opportunities to flourish in East Dunbartonshire?
Following engagement events in 2017 and a public consultation on the draft in 2019, work has been underway to finalise East Dunbartonshire's Food Growing Strategy.
The Strategy will outline the benefits of engaging in food growing activities and the Council's approach to delivering more opportunities for local communities.
The finalised Strategy will reflect the input gathered through the previous extensive consultation and engagement activities, as well as findings from site assessments, waiting list demand data and policy considerations.
An engagement exercise will take place to inform the finalised version of the Strategy and ensure that the proposed changes to be included adequately reflect and respond to the views previously shared on the draft Strategy.
You can get involved at a drop-in session or visit the East Dunbartonshire Food Growing Strategy consultation webpage – where you can view the proposed changes to the final Food Growing Strategy along with a summary of the Strategy - and have a say online between 31 July and 29 August.
Drop-in sessions:
- Thursday 14 August - 3-7pm – Kirkintilloch Town Hall (shared with the Local Development Plan 3 Call for Ideas and Sites Consultation)
- Tuesday 19 August - 4-8pm – Fraser Centre, Milngavie (shared with the Local Development Plan 3 Call for Ideas and Sites Consultation).
Councillor Paul Ferretti, Convener of the Council’s Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets Committee, said,
The Strategy’s vision, aims and objectives take into account local priorities and the views of our communities, gathered through early engagement exercises and consultation on the draft Food Growing Strategy.
“We are looking forward to hearing from local communities and individuals about their views on the finalised Strategy, which has been updated to reflect current food growing demand.
“Over recent years the popularity of growing our own food has increased. Many people are attracted by the health benefits associated with growing your own fruit and vegetables and potential reductions in food bills from locally grown produce as well as contributions to reducing their carbon footprint by reducing the distance their food has to travel.
"I hope as many people as possible can pop in or log on to find out more about the opportunities, benefits and support for food-growing projects in East Dunbartonshire."
All responses received will be taken into consideration to update the final Food Growing Strategy, which is being developed in response to the statutory duties set out in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
For further information about food growing and the Food Growing Strategy please email greenspace@eastdunbarton.gov.uk.
