Polish allotment gardeners mobilize against government plans that could deprive them of land, seeking legal protections and financial relief.
PZD Fights to Protect and Expand Allotment Gardens
The National Board of PZD has taken decisive action to protect the interests of allotment gardeners in the face of new legislative projects. The Association proposes expanding legislative initiatives with mechanisms that will not only protect existing Family Allotment Gardens (ROD) but allow for their actual restoration and establishment of new ones.
The current problem is the gradual decrease in the pool of plots available to Polish families, resulting from gaps in property regulations. PZD emphasizes the need for solutions dedicated specifically to RODs to stabilize their legal and financial situation.
Proposal for Municipal Land Acquisition
One of the key proposals is to facilitate municipalities in obtaining land for new gardens. PZD suggests that properties from the State Treasury’s Agricultural Property Resource could be transferred free of charge to local governments for the purpose of establishing and operating RODs.
This is necessary because cities often refuse to restore previously abolished gardens, citing lack of appropriate land. The problem exacerbates the gradual elimination of RODs, and new regulations are meant to halt this process through government and local government cooperation.
Excessive Fees and Call for Preferential Rates
Another pressing issue is the drastic fees for perpetual use of land occupied by RODs. In some cases, gardeners are charged commercial rates (3% of land value), which is considered completely illogical given the statutory prohibition on conducting commercial activities in garden areas.
PZD warns that in such situations, “using a plot becomes a luxury they cannot afford.” The Association demands the introduction of a preferential annual fee rate of 0.1%, which would be adequate to the social function of gardens.
Historical Injustices and Legal Uncertainties
Gardeners are also fighting to correct errors from the 90s, when many ROD lands were subject to claims or ended up in the hands of companies such as PKP. The lack of appropriate regulations has resulted in thousands of people having disputes over the right to their plots for decades.
The proposed changes are meant to unlock the process of garden restoration and enable the regulation of the legal status of properties that are now burdened with unrealistic rates to be paid. The introduction of a special 0.1% rate would allow for rebuilding citizens’ trust in the state and securing the future of thousands of family gardens.
Modern Challenges and Statistical Decline
PZD recalls that contemporary challenges such as climate change and increased interest in allotments after the pandemic make protecting RODs more important than ever. The statistics are relentless: in the last 10 years, the area of RODs has decreased by about 400 hectares, meaning the loss of 12,000 individual plots.
The Association appeals to the entire gardening community for unity and support for the proposed changes. Only systemic solutions at the legislative level offer a chance to maintain the availability of plots for people with the lowest incomes and ensure a secure future for RODs.