New allotment

chelle1990

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

Chelle where "south west" are you? I am in a similar location

Swindon?? I got a letter for ours, and we got to have a look before we accepted so i had the chance to say no, but i didn't want to wait too long as we've got tomato, pepper and a few other plants we where going to try plant in our small tiny itty bitty garden but now we have space Yay!

scottishblondie

queen_of_cheap wrote: »

Get yourself on the waiting list, and of some in the surrounding area if you can, you've got more chance that way

Just got a reply from one of the 4 I've enquired about via the council - expected waiting time is at least 8 years!!

Dizzy_Ditzy

chelle1990 wrote: »

Swindon?? I got a letter for ours, and we got to have a look before we accepted so i had the chance to say no, but i didn't want to wait too long as we've got tomato, pepper and a few other plants we where going to try plant in our small tiny itty bitty garden but now we have space Yay!

I'm in Bristol, so not too far away

Dizzy_Ditzy

scottishblondie wrote: »

Just got a reply from one of the 4 I've enquired about via the council - expected waiting time is at least 8 years!!

Not sure if it is the same, or even vaguely similar, but in England, if more than 6 "council tax" payers approach the council to create allotments, they have a duty to sort some out, or something along those lines. I remember reading it on my local councils website

wellused

scottishblondie wrote: »

Just got a reply from one of the 4 I've enquired about via the council - expected waiting time is at least 8 years!!

This is the second growing season that I have had my plot and admittedly I don't make the rules as there may be a good reason why they do it this way. I have formed an opinion based on what I have seen on my site. Although the majority of plots are cultivated there are still many on which the plot holder struggles to cultivate more than a fraction of their plot. Some plot holders have two or even three plots but cultivate only a percentage of one of them the other areas are used up by parking spaces, shed space, sitting out space, chicken run space. Raised bed space with wide pathway space between. The plot holder next to me only cultivates half his plot and has what seem to me as sub let the top of his plot to his neighbour on the other side, this area is left to couch grass which does get mowed but is left for the neighbours chickens to run on. Now some of these plot holders with multiple plots were established during a time when the site was under threat of development and many plot holders gave up the ghost which meant that the remaining people took on several plots to keep the numbers up, however now that there seems to be a shortage of plots I believe that the council should enforce a half plot or even quarter plot policy until the new plot holder displays their ability to cultivate a small area successfully. Now the site where I garden is well run with an active committee but even so there are probably many sites around the country which could cut the waiting lists by ensuring that the land is used more effectively.