Sevenoaks Town Council temporarily prohibits bonfires at its allotments in Quaker’s Hall Lane

Published: 14 April 2020

Sevenoaks Town Council temporarily prohibits bonfires at its allotments in Quaker’s Hall Lane

Sevenoaks Town Council has made the decision to extend the period to prohibit bonfires at Quaker’s Hall Allotments until the 31st August 2020.

Bonfires are currently not permitted for the two months of July and August, so this is extending that prohibition by little more than two months. The Town Council hope that its tenants understand that this decision has been made to address current COVID 19 concerns that people have with breathing and the benefits to the wider community.

A few complaints have been received from plot holders and from residential neighbours about the amount of bonfires held during the COVID 19 lockdown, and because the virus adversely affects the lungs and breathing, they do not feel it is fair to encourage something which could potentially cause breathing difficulties.

There has recently been a huge upsurge in interest in renting an allotment, so there are many more people – including children – on the site than ever before.

The 11.5 acres of allotments, which are just off Quaker’s Hall Lane in the St John’s area of Sevenoaks, have been described many times as a ‘green lung’, and the Town Council is sure that tenants and local residents alike would like them to remain a lovely, clean and fresh place to take daily exercise in line with the government’s ruling, and to live alongside.

 Ruth King Allotments Manager