Residents applying for council allotments asked: 'Are you gay?

A survey that questions potential allotment-holders about their race, religion and sexual orientation has been slammed as "local authority nonsense at its worst". Would-be fruit and vegetable-growers are asked if they would like to answer a series of equality and diversity questions when making enquiries to City of Lincoln Council for a plot of land. The form also asks for people to specify other personal details about ethnicity, gender and disabilities.

Boultham Allotments Association assistant chairman Fred Hyde, 61, said: "It's damned intrusive. Why do they want to know all those details? All those people are doing is trying to grow some fruit and vegetables. If I got one through, I'd send it right back and would be advising my members to do the same."



Right-wing pressure group the Taxpayers' Alliance says it was alerted to the survey by a Lincoln supporter and questioned why any of these details were relevant for allotment holders. The group's grassroots manager Fiona McEvoy said: "This is local authority nonsense at its worst. Although it's easy to poke fun at, it is costing us money and taking up the time of officers within the council. As our supporter asked, who cares how many Christians or lesbians or black people want allotments?"

Alison Lewis, equality and diversity officer at the city of lincoln council, said: "We monitor equality and diversity purely to get an understanding of our customers and residents needs. The information is used to make sure we are providing the best, most appropriate level of service we can do. For instance, if the form reveals that we have a high number of elderly or disabled users, it may highlight a need to improve the accessibility of our allotments."