Government's response to the petition for more allotments

[BarriedaleNick]

In response to an epetition for more allotments (and discussed in this thread http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,52133.0.html) the Government has posted this

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20100

I have read it twice and still can't see anything of any note - not that I was expecting too..

I love the provision of the universal get out clause...

there is no time limit for provision once it has been established that there is a demand.

[Robert_Brenchley]

They produce the same sort of self-serving answer every time. Where there's a serious lack of allotments, maybe the local press could help?

[powerspade]

How about a video on Youtube  and shame them

[Mr Smith]

I hope this post is not taken the wrong way but if more Ethnics or Eastern Europe people could get involved in the petition Gordy would be digging up Hyde Park on Monday morning,

[Robert_Brenchley]

I wonder whether that's true. I don't think my family would be exactly thrilled to be described as 'Ethnics'. You're ethnic as well.

[Mr Smith]

I'm not  Ethnic I'm an Alien,

[Unwashed]

I'm not  Ethnic I'm an Alien,

And a git.  Hope you don't take that the wrong way.

[Digeroo]

there is no time limit for provision once it has been established that there is a demand.

None here for 30 years.  Now have private ones - no sheds, polytunnels or chooks. But lovely views.
 
Why do they think people are signing petitions etc?  They are really out of touch.  Our  MP farms hundreds of acres.  Bet it would be more productive as allotments.

Our MP lives 200 miles and a 4+ hours drive from his constituency - so he is really in touch.

[taurus]

If there's such a demand why have we still got plots going begging here in Swindon ?  The council have kept them strimmed so there's no clearing to be done.  

[Melbourne12]

In response to an epetition for more allotments (and discussed in this thread http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,52133.0.html) the Government has posted this

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20100

I have read it twice and still can't see anything of any note - not that I was expecting too..

I love the provision of the universal get out clause...

there is no time limit for provision once it has been established that there is a demand.

I don't have much faith in the No 10 Petition facility, but really this was a very poorly worded petition.

"ALLOTMENTS are conspicuously few in the UK today and according to my research the government is breaking the law by not providing enough"

They're clearly not "conspicuously few".  Like Taurus in Swindon, we in Harrow have literally dozens of plots, including two whole sites, going begging.  If the petitioner is criticising some councils, and asking for Prime Ministerial pressure to be brought to bear, they should have said so.

If the petitioner had actually done his or her "research", they would have known that the government wasn't breaking the law.  That's why the response pointed out what the law actually is.

[Mr Smith]

I'm not  Ethnic I'm an Alien,

And a git.  Hope you don't take that the wrong way.

 Certainly not rather thick skinned and unwashed,

[redclanger]

Smelly git then

[Mr Smith]

Spot on Red clanger, hope your footy side have  a good season,

[cornykev]

Do they have a footy side Smithy.        

[Digeroo]

why have we still got plots going begging here in Swindon

Don't understand this, I tried to find one for a friend and all the waiting lists are so full they have closed them to new names.

[Melbourne12]

why have we still got plots going begging here in Swindon

Don't understand this, I tried to find one for a friend and all the waiting lists are so full they have closed them to new names.

Speaking from Harrow experience rather than Swindon, that's because the local council are an administrative shambles.  They don't know who is allocated to which allotment, or where the allotment boundaries are, never mind which allotments are free.

The best thing to do is to go and find an allotment site with several uncultivated plots, and ask the council to allocate one of them specifically.  Some may be under notice to cultivate, but some will be abandoned.  Just keep pestering them.