Topic: Its hard to get an allotment

[alfie]

 I contacted my local parish council recently to ask if i could put my name down on the waiting list only to be told there arent any allotments in this area. The cost of buying land for this purpose i was told would be prohibitative.

So i called all the other local parish councils to be told that i wouldnt be able to go on their lists either because their own residents take priority which i fully understand.

One of my neighbours took pity on me and as they are elderly and have a lot of land allowed me a plot in the corner of their garden which i started in january and am eternally grateful for.

Can anyone give me any advice as to what to do next to secure an allotment as my present arrangements are not permanent. I have taken the step today of e-mailing my local councillor for advice.

has anyone else out there encountered a similar struggle ???

[saddad]

Not personally... we are on a private site...
 :-X

[theothermarg]

Becs who is a member here is in this position. she has her name down for the site I am on but,despite living a few streets away is out of the parish,her council does not have any. local residents take priority I,m afraid

marg

[foresterone]

I got my allotment from a local farmer who decided to allocate some land for the purpose. Try checking around because they are trying to diversify as it gets more difficult to make a profit out of general farming

[Robert_Brenchley]

That's a case of history repeating itself; town gardens began in the early 18th Century when landowners around towns discovered they could make more money by letting small plots to townies than they could from farming.

[OllieC]

You get about £200 an acre a year, letting good land for strawberry growing in Norfolk. How many 10 rod plots fit on an acre? It wouldn't take much for a nearby land owner to let an acre or two to a local authority... and earn more!

[springbok]

 I contacted my local parish council recently to ask if i could put my name down on the waiting list only to be told there arent any allotments in this area. The cost of buying land for this purpose i was told would be prohibitative.

So i called all the other local parish councils to be told that i wouldnt be able to go on their lists either because their own residents take priority which i fully understand.

One of my neighbours took pity on me and as they are elderly and have a lot of land allowed me a plot in the corner of their garden which i started in january and am eternally grateful for.

Can anyone give me any advice as to what to do next to secure an allotment as my present arrangements are not permanent. I have taken the step today of e-mailing my local councillor for advice.

has anyone else out there encountered a similar struggle ???

My local parish is exactly the same.  They told me they had never had allotments and never will.  I was told to try the next parish, which I did, who told me I was not entitled to an allotment as I didnt live in their  parish. 
Gave up in the end and just grow in the garden.

[devil4975]

we have plenty in nelson

[caroline7758]

What about the rule about having to provide allotments if 6 people want them, or is that an urban myth?
I'd try writing to your MP- they are so keen for us all to eat healthily after all!

[Eristic]

How many 10 rod plots fit on an acre?

16 x 10 pole plots to an acre. At £50 per plot it would be £800 per acre per year. It may be time for rents to rise a bit to cover costs such as these but the farmer would still be better off.

[Patrick King]

 

Local authorities must provide allotments where there is demand. They must take into consideration any representations made to them by 6 voters or rate payers resident in the area and provide sufficient plots.

i found this on the net but also heard it on a TV programme on Sky channel 258

[DenBee]

I went googling too, and found what Patrick found.  It's from the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908, Section 23.

This page details salient points of each Allotments Act.

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199798/cmselect/cmenvtra/560/56016.htm

[jo9919]

What about the rule about having to provide allotments if 6 people want them, or is that an urban myth?
I'd try writing to your MP- they are so keen for us all to eat healthily after all!

Yes, I was under this impression too. If I were you I would research the rules as best you can and then contact your local MP.

I'm currently on the 'waiting list'. I went on last year at number 40 and don't even dare to get near the top this year, but at least I'm on some sort of list.

Let us know how you get on.

Jo.

[ginger-root]

It is no myth about councils having to provide plots of land. Their excuse of Can't afford it would not hold up in court.
6 People resident in the parish and on the electral register need to apply in writing to the clerk of the council. If they answer to the negative. then you should take the matter up with the local District |c|ouncil who supervise the work of the parish.
They are legally obliuged to provide these plots. BUT you could end up like us in Brandon. When we called their bluff and quoted the law they dragged their feet for 6 years and are now trying to fob us off with a waterlogged plot.

[alfie]

Thankyou to everyone for the replies and all the information is invaluable to me.
I have contacted my local councillor via e-mail-and thanks to A4A for onfo on how to do that.
I had an initial reply which was a bit wishy washy and really annoyed me to be honest(Perhaps its because unless you really are into growing your own it can seem a low priority)However the coucillor has now taken note of how serious i am and is trying to be helpful.It seems i have two realistic choices- find 5 other like minded people or try to contact a local farmer/landowner wanting to make some cash renting a plot.So food for thought!
                 Meanwhile i am REALLY grateful to all your help and support-its inspiring! ;D ;D ;D
                           

[albacore1854]

There are plots at Tilmore and Sheet, not sure what the waiting list is like mind.
There were a few plots in Horndean, not sure if they still exist.

[sarah]

i would be interested to hear how you progress with this alfie. perhaps an idea might be to send a request for like minded people to the letters page of your local paper and see how much demand there is. i am sure you could find at least five other people as allotmenteering is becoming so popular.  keep us posted please. :)

[PurpleHeather]

BY LAW

Your local council has to provide land for allotments.

Write to your MP

[albacore1854]

But what exactly will happen to all this investment in fencing, roadways, water provision etc, when all the raised bedders give up in a year or two when it's no longer fashionable?

In the last year or so our site has had a waiting list, prior to that 1/3 of the 100 plots were taken.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Not all give up. Enough stay on my site to have improved the place noticeably over the last few years. If we can attract people, with all the hard slog involved in 600 square metre plots plus hedges, a more 'normal' allotment site with smaller plots should do fine. if too many people start giving up, divide the plots; we've split quite a few now, where the geography lends itself to dividing them, and it's been quite successful.