At Bristol City Council's Cabinet meeting this evening, Marvin Rees and Ellie King approved the proposed increases in allotment rents. This decision was made despite the feedback from their own Consultation - with over 75% of responders saying they either disagreed or strongly disagreed with these rent increases - and in the face of strong opposition from those in attendance at today's meeting. It was sadly clear today, as it has been all along, that these rent increases were a foregone conclusion from the Council's side and there was never a possibility of them revising their decision in line with public response.

Our petition will be presented at the next Full Council meeting for debate; and I would like to personally thank everyone who has worked so hard on our campaign against these proposals. Despite the Council's decision today, I think we can feel assured that we did everything we could in the face of something that was never a fair fight. Thank you everyone for signing and sharing this petition, and I hope all your crops flourish and thrive!