The number of people in Renfrewshire wanting to grow their own fruit and veg because of the cost of living crisis is on the increase.

Figures released last week under Freedom of Information show that 123 are currently on a waiting list for the 351 council-owned allotments.

The increase in demand for spaces is being blamed on a combination of food shortages and rising prices.

Renfrewshire Council who owns the plots at six separate sites in Paisley, Renfrew and Erskine, were unable to say how long people were having to wait for an allotment.

However, a study by specialist furniture firm Oak Tree Mobility found an average waiting time of 31 months (almost three years) in Scotland.

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The study also found that 11,406 people are currently on waiting lists for council allotments across the country.

Edinburgh holds the record for the longest waiting time, with an average wait of 132 months, or eleven years, for an allotment. 

Renfrewshire Council charge £20 a year for a plot compared to an average of £46 across Scotland as a whole.

Oak Tree Mobility say demand for allotments has also soared since the Covid-19 pandemic.  

Marketing director Verity Kick said: "The findings underscore the pressing need for action to address the high demand for allotment plots and reduce extensive waiting times. 

"Allotments have several benefits for individuals and communities, as well as promoting sustainable food production. Particularly for older people, gardening is a great form of gentle exercise which can support mobility.

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“At a time of rising household costs and supply issues for fresh produce, more needs to be done to ensure people across the UK have access to these spaces.”

Across the UK 111,566 are on a council-managed waiting list for one of 121,759 plots. 

A 2022 survey on the state of local authority allotment services found that 87 per cent of local councils had experienced a noticeable increase in demand for allotment plots.

The Royal Horticultural Society reported a 20 per cent increase in seed sales in February 2023 compared to the previous year.

A separate survey conducted by YouGov has also revealed that 44 per cent of Britons plan on cultivating fruits and vegetables in their gardens or allotments this year.

A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Council said: “The waiting list for allotments in Renfrewshire has grown during the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.  

“We are working closely with local community groups to support the creation and development of new growing initiatives in Renfrewshire, including a recently completed new community growing space in Ferguslie Park and new allotment space in Johnstone and Erskine."