I am writing in support of Patcham residents and the Horsdean allotments.

Brighton and Hove City Council is obviously not moving with the times. The number of people across the country who are crying out for their own allotment is increasing daily.

These allotments bring tremendous benefits.

HEALTH: Growing, tending and producing your own crops means food is fresher, healthier, safer and tastier. Freshly-picked food means less cooking and more vitamins and nutrients.

WELL-BEING: People who grow their own crops are fitter, healthier, happier and less stressed.

ENVIRONMENT: Food is produced locally and used locally. There is no transportation to pollute the environment and no chemicals used to keep the produce edible. Food is fresher so it requires less cooking time and therefore uses less resources.

ECONOMICS: Food grown on allotments is cheaper and often free because allotment tenants share their surplus crops.

EDUCATION: Many children now have no idea where the food they eat comes from. Keeping allotments ensures vital skills are passed on to others and to future generations.

Social Skills: Patience, caring, sharing and helping others.

Science: Soil structure, chemicals - their uses and effects.

Geography: Climate, micro-climates and weather patterns.

Biology: How plants and insects grow and live and how insects work.

Astrology: The effects of moon phases on weather, plants and insects.

COMMUNITY: An allotment provides a sense of community spirit. Lonely people meet and communicate with others and people share a beneficial common interest. Young and old work and learn together.

The council should be encouraging the opening of new allotments rather than closing existing ones. Tenants should not be forced to move elsewhere and have to start all over again when a park-and-ride scheme can go on any barren, unused, undesirable piece of land.

-Maureen Cook, North Chailey