How do I apply for an allotment?

matt987106

Yorkie1 wrote: »

I do a site walk every month or so and ensure letters are sent out by the council. On a site of over 150 plots we have less than 10% at any one time where there is cause for concern about the quality of gardening. Those people either pull their socks up or are kicked off. They don't get their refusal or failure covered up by sharing. Instead, someone else gets the chance to garden from scratch on their own, without having to compromise on their choices for gardening and without resenting the other person for their lack of input.

Charming attitude

so the old guy who has had a allotment for 20 years finds it hard because of old age / ill health, they cannot " pull their socks up " anymore, so instead of them sharing the plot they have had for 20 years with someone, they are kicked off

its ok though, as its the rules

xrjtg

In some areas there are allotments that are run directly by the council, and there are allotments that are run by allotment societies who rent the whole lot of the council and then run them independently. For the second type going to the site shop on a weekend morning is an excellent way of declaring your interest (and also give you the chance to have a look around, if you find yourself in the position of having more than one conveniently located site).

forgotmyname

Its not gazumping, If the council had been passing details on with such a shortage of allotments then why
was i able to goto the allotment and be offered the choice from several plots?

Why was i not told sorry we have a long waiting list and you must contact the council?

Its not like i knew the secret gardeners handshake or anyone on the site. Currently there is a waiting
list of 3 people who want sepcific plots for whatever reason. But there are still vacant plots.

The council are supposed to come round but seems they have cancelled several appointments already this year.
When asked for any repair work to be sorted answer is dream on.

Yorkie1

matt987106 wrote: »

Charming attitude

so the old guy who has had a allotment for 20 years finds it hard because of old age / ill health, they cannot " pull their socks up " anymore, so instead of them sharing the plot they have had for 20 years with someone, they are kicked off

its ok though, as its the rules

In those circumstances then of course the situation will be looked at compassionately. I should have stated that in my original post which was perhaps a little brusquely phrased.

We had one chap whose plot was pretty awful; he had gardened it for 50 years and it was only the thought of getting back on to it which was keeping him alive. Unfortunately he didn't manage it but his plot was kept available for over 2 years until he did die. He wouldn't countenance anyone sharing it with him though.

We've had another person who was openly telling other plotholders that he didn't want to garden his plot but wasn't prepared to give it up, whilst he was telling the allotment officer a completely different story about health and commitments. We gave him every opportunity to get back on the plot, over 2 years, but in the end he simply failed to turn up to the plot for 6 months and the council evicted him.

But those circumstances are few and far between. In my lengthy experience as plot secretary, it is generally the case that people have other commitments and don't prioritise the plot. Or have lots of good intentions but never quite get round to doing it.

In the meantime their plots get weedier and weedier, causing significant ongoing problems to neighbouring plotholders, and encouraging others to think that poor gardening is accepted.

They are offered the chance to downsize but rarely take it.

Eventually they are required to choose between improving or leaving. This will take at least 3 letters and 6 months, so hardly a surprise to them.

angelavdavis

forgotmyname wrote: »

Its not gazumping, If the council had been passing details on with such a shortage of allotments then why
was i able to goto the allotment and be offered the choice from several plots?

Why was i not told sorry we have a long waiting list and you must contact the council?

In many cases, the management of the allotment has been handed over to the allotment owners who have formed an association. This happened to me, I contacted the council and knew there was a 2 year waiting list for their sites. Knowing that the other allotment was self-managed, I contacted the allotment assocation to go on their list. They had a list that was 12 people long.

As it happened, it still took 2 years because the committee weren't as good at getting people to give up their plots (although this has improved now so I don't think the timescale is as long - although it now depends on the new holders and them sticking with it). I ended up being offered a council plot within days of being offered one on the self-managed site. I plumped for the self-managed site as it was larger and had more of a community.

lolly_896

I just had a look at landshare -

On of our local allotments has a 4 yr waiting list, but in fact it is 70% vacant but overgrown.

Says it all!

forgotmyname

lolly_896 wrote: »

On of our local allotments has a 4 yr waiting list, but in fact it is 70% vacant but overgrown.

Says it all!

Exactly. My allotment has had a change of committee and the current people are working hard in their spare time to ensure the allotment works.
Even little fundraising days to help pay for stock. Clearing areas that had not been used for many years.

Council probably dont have proper visits anymore and rely on the committee to inform them of vacant plots or overgrown ones.