Reports of the Government looking into ways to make it easier to sell allotment land had seen Tory housing spokesman Paul Holmes accuse the Deputy Prime Minister as a : 'arch-hypocrite, the ultimate Nimby who thinks selling off everyone else's allotments is fine – just not in her back yard"

However, a government statement explained that the "rules on sales of assets have been in place since 2016 and they have not changed, and ministerial approvals were lower in 2024 than the average for previous years".

A North Herts District Council spokesman confirmed to Hitchin Nub News that "we have no plans to sell our allotments". 

Hitchin councillor Ian Albert explained that "NHDC will absolutely not be selling off any of its owned allotments or have even considered it. Just not happening". 

"In Hitchin, NHDC has Old Hale Way, Ransom's Rec and Burford Way to name three. We work closely with Hitchin Allotments Association and have provided grants for their youth work".

"Allotments have huge social and wellbeing benefits so a sale is unthinkable in my view".