Wexford hopes to follow Enniscorthy’s lead by creating community allotment project

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Gardeners and fresh food enthusiasts from Wexford town are hoping to follow Enniscorthy’s lead by becoming part of an allotment project in the district. Since its formation in 2021, the Enniscorthy Community Allotments have become one of the most successful projects in the county, attracting like-minded individuals with an interest in growing fresh produce and being part of a thriving social group.

And at the February meeting of the Wexford Borough District, Councillor Tom Forde asked that a similar project be established in Wexford town.

"I ask that this council identifies suitable lands and deliver an allotment project within the district, potentially delivered in partnership with community groups or schools,” read Cllr Forde’s motion. “This would be in alignment with national policy where, under the Planning and Development Act 2024, local authorities are now required to prepare and include within their statutory development plans, a strategy for the reservation, provision, improvement and preservation of land for community gardens and allotments.”

Explaining why he’d submitted the motion, Cllr Forde said there was “huge demand” for allotments in Wexford town and that one only had to “look at the one in Enniscorthy to see how successful” this could be.

The motion was subsequently passed in the chamber and will now be forwarded to the council’s executive staff for further examination.