This article looks at the past development of chicory to adulterate coffee and how this intertwined with coffee making it affordable to the working class before becoming a victim of energy costs in the 1970's only for a new industry forcing chicory to be developed in the 1980's.

Allotments  have a variety of forms and uses. They are important today as they were in the past. The purpose of them and their function may have changed, but as fiscal pressures become greater they may become even more significant to people by reverting to their original purpose: To enable those not receiving enough renumeration from their labours to support themselves and their families.

So in both Northumbria and Lincolnshire I see a reduction of income, hours and working opportunity for people as a direct result of government policy. Added to this is decreased job security and increased uncertainty combined with rising cost of living. Effectively all this is combining to increase hardship and poverty of working people.

They lie as thick as thieves, and they live like pigs.