Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => Allotment Movement => Topic started by: trinity on April 08, 2008, 11:26:40
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hi i am new hear and was just wondering how long every one had to wate for there plot? i have been on the wating list for 3 months for five sites (which i know is not that long but there are loads of abandond plots with the rent being paid on then on all the sites! and have been told i will have to wate around 6 year for a plot has any one elce experienced this? dose any one know of any thing i can do to get the council to do some thing about this as the allotment ofcer dose not seem interested. none of the sites have asotiations there are only 30 pepole in frount of me an it is the same number on each wating list and have been told it is the same people on all the lists the sites i am on the wating lists add up to around 350 plots and i would say around a third are a state ( no cultervaton at all that i can remember on most of the ones that are abandond for 10 to 15 years! any one have any ideas?
ps sorry about the speling
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Hi Trinity
Why don't you go to the Council with photos of the plots that aren't being worked (all of them) with their numbers and say that even if they are paying their rent - there is an obligation on the tenant's part to work the plot and keep it in good condition. The Council will get sick of you tramping up there and will maybe get something done.
When you go to the Council make sure that you are bright breezy friendly and 100% polite at all times. Make the people in the Council want to help you. Thank them profusely every time they make a suggestion.
Try and find other people that are on the list as hopefully they may help you and go along with you to the council and fire off letters to the Council suggesting that they do something about the tenants that are not looking after their plots (and also check your spelling!!!)
you could also contact The National Allotment Holders Association (not sure if that is the correct name) to see if they have any bright ideas or can write a letter to the relevant officer in the Council.
Good luck with it - I think you may have an uphill struggle - but you should succeed (eventually) if you have all the information in front of you and you are nicely persistent. Let us know how you get on.
Old Bird
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hiya, trinity, nice to meet you, good advice there from old bird, pester the allotment officer, e mail, mail and phone calls, they might get fed up enough to do something, just to shut you up ;D
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THANK U I WILL TAKE PHOTGRAPHS AND KEEP UP TO DATE (SORRY ABOUT THE SPELLING AGANE I AM ON MY DADS COMPUTER AN CANOT FIND THE SPELL CHECK)
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Hi Trinity Are you dyslexic?My stepdaughter and my son are.
I like Trinity: from the Matrix and also from Christianity (not that I'm Christian ... more of a barbarian! ;D ;D ;D. Good name!
It's awful when you have such problems getting an allotment. here in Edinburgh there are 1000+ plots and 1100+ people on the waiting lists.
It depends where you are how active the allotment committee are on making sure plots are worked, so the advice you have been given is sound! Keep asking, take photos, band up with others and make your voice heard!!
Also I believe that in England (others will correct me here) if 6 people go to the council and ask for an allotment site the council are supposed to provide it. No doubt they'd find reasons why not...
Good luck!!
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Hi,
Newbie here! It also looks like I'm going to have the same problem..
We rent our house and don't have a very big garden so I enquired about joining our local allotments!
I asked a member if there were any sites available and was told there were but they needed a lot of work, called the council and they said I would have to join the two + year waiting list.
I wonder how many people on the list are still waiting for a spot? I have heard that many people put their names down on more than one site and probably don't think about ringing the other sites to withdraw their application once they get somewhere
Such a shame as I would jump at the chance of having somewhere to grow some fruit and veg. :(
Guess I'm just going to have to be patient..
Best regards,
Lawrence
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YES I AM DYSLEXIC VERRY BAD AT ENGLISH (BUT AM GREAT AT ARTAN PRACTICAL STUFF SO DONT MIND) ALSO NOT SO GREAT WITH COMPUTERS HENCE NOT BEING ABLE TO FIND THE SPELL CHECK LOL
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Trinity we don't care about spelling here. Just interested in what folk are saying1 ;)
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yay, another one, my feller's dyslexic as well, he can't understand why they make it such a difficult word to spell..
hiya, lwbroome, welcome to the site ;D
p.s, there's a spell check at the bottom of your reply box if you want it :)
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I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO MY LOCAL PAPER AND IT HAS BEEN PRINTED!
MY LOCAL COUNCILOR HAS CONTACTED ME AND HAS SAID HE IS GOING TO TRY AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SITUATION (MAYBE JUST LOOKING FOR A VOTE ON THURSDAY BUT WE WILL SEE)
THEN I GOT A LETTER FROM THE COUNCIL ASKING IF I STILL WANT TO BE ON THE WATING LIST EVERY ONE ON THE LIST HAS RESEVED ONE!
TWO PEOPLE I KNOW THAT HAVE AN ALLOTMENT ALREADY HAVE HAD LETTERS SAYING THAT THERE PLOTS WILL BE INSPECTED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND IF IT IS NOT IN A GOOD CULTRVATED STATE THEY WILL HAVE A MONTH TO SORT IT OUT OR "ACTION WILL BE TAKEN"
ITS GREAT WHAT A BIT OF POLITE PESTERING CAN DO HOPEFULLY I WONT HAVE TO WATE 6 YEARS NOW SO WILL KEEP MY FINGERD CROSSD THAT THIS WILL MAKE A DIFERENCE
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congratulations, trinity, sounds like it's moving along ;D
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welcome trinity - I'm sure your persistence will be repaid. Sounds encouraging so far. Keep us posted on your progress.
twinkletoes
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Brilliant Trinity
Keep up with the pressure - sounds like you will be getting a plot soon! Fingers crossed for you.
Old Bird ;D
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Good luck... hope you get a plot real soon so you don't miss any of the season..
:)
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We only give them two weeks to sort their plots ot! :o :o :o ;)
Plot inspections 26/4/08 for me. (memo to self: time to sort out your own plot!!)
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I would not mind wating for a plot if the ones that are empty (with the rent being paid) had any sort of cultervation on them! there is an elderly gent in the plot next tho my uncles plot an every year my uncle an as many people as we can get together go and dig over all his beds for him (we did this today) and it only takes 3 hours well any way i was talking to this gent an the plot next to his is in a very sorry state and he says that he canot remember it being used in the last 20 years! at least now even with a council that canot be botnerd i am sure u can all agree that is just a bit much.
ps sorry for the rant just canot see the logic of it all
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Rant away and pester even more and you might just grind them down and a plot might just come your way, good luck, ahh Trin a monkey hanger I see. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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There are a number of plots on our site like that and even more on my old one.
It bugs the life out of me that they have such a brilliantely positioned plot with everything they need and then they pay the rent each year and probably use the shed as a storage space.
Many sites have a 'forgotten corner' where there are a number of plots that are in a very sorry state and usually very overgrown. If your not bothered about a challenge, find one of these plots and tell your allotment officer that you would be happy to take on one of the overgrown plots (many people on the waiting list would snub these plots as they see it as too much work and want to walk into a part functioning plot.
Thats what I did with my current plot. They even waivered the annual rent for this year! Best of all another lady has had the same idea as me and took up next door plot, she's racing ahead with clearing it and it gives me the sense of security that I have a commited neighbour who I can laugh about the hardships next year.
Good Luck,
Shane
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I have took many many photos today had to clime a few fences! ( not over just higher to get a good photo) and have sent them by email to the allotment officer with a request that i be considered for them. will go in person if i don't get a reply within a couple of days or so. yes i am a monky hanger and prowd of it lol
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Ahhh Trinity a monkey hanger after my own heart! Where abouts in the town are you from? I'm a true cod head through and through. Born and raised on the Headland (the REAL Hartlepool) only moved away last year as the missus made me lol.
Which Allotment site are you interested in? I had a plot up Chester road.
The allotment officer is spot on in Hartlepool too. I worked for HBC for a couple of years (sorry I'm one of the guys that implimented your alternate weekly collection service of household and recyclable materials hehehe)
Her name escapes me now but I have her phone number in my diary. Don't speak to the fella down there, he hasn't a skooby doo!
I look forward to hearing back, Shane
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I AM FROM THE NORTH OF HARTLEPOOL (ROSSMERE WARD) AND A ON THE WATING LIST FOR STRANTON, BRIERTON LANE, STATION LANE, HASWELL AVENUE AND WOODCROFT
(I THINK I AM ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO DOSE NOT MIND THE TWO WEEKLY COLECTIONS MAKES IT MUCH EASER TO RICYCLE WITHOUT A CAR! ;D)
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;D i have just spoken to a very nice lady from the (council adult and comunity services)
she says i will probably take 6 to 12 months to get an allotment
she has highlighted me on the list as someone who is prepared to take a badly neglected plot and said she was sending the allotment officer out again to inspect the plots as she has had complaints off lots of people (sounded like she thought the allotment officer was a bit useless ;D ;D ;D) and said if she had any more complants that the allotment officer said where ok that she was going to inspect them herself :o.
so no allotment as yet :'(
but hopefully i will have one next year which sound so much better than 6 years.
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Trinity - you are doing brilliantly well and it just goes to show what a fair amount you can achieve by polite pestering!
Sounds to me like you will get a plot earlier than next year!
Good luck and let us know!!
Old Bird
;)
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Good luck with your plot Trinity, the OH comes from Hartlepool, so I'm up there a couple of times a year, better now the train from London stops in Hartlepool, by the way does the cold winds ever stop blowing. ;D ;D ;D
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YES THE COLD WIND STOPS IT TURNS IN TO W WARM WIND
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;D ;D ;D
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>:( Why are we waiting oh why are we waiting oh why oh why are..........
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr sorry a bit well a lot frustrated i know that at least 11 plots have been given out to people in the last couple of months but the waiting list has not changed at all i still have the same number of people in front of me ??? >:( ??? >:(
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I hate waiting lists to last time a called the council they said i was 10 on the list that was 2 months ago so i might have moved up the list since.
and my house is 10ft away from the allotment gates so its ideal for me i could look out the window and check on my lottie when i get it
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Keep up the Pressure Bright lights... it'll be worth it in the end... our lotties are over the back fence and it makes such a difference! ;D
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We've officially got about 20 on our waiting list but several at the top probably don't want plots any more; we thing the effective total is about 15. It may not be as bad as you think.
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We've officially got about 20 on our waiting list but several at the top probably don't want plots any more; we thing the effective total is about 15. It may not be as bad as you think.
Now that's what gets me annoyed.
Why do people keep their names on a waiting list when they no longer need to be.
First thing I did when I got my plot was contact all the waiting list's I was on and told them to take me off it as I had a plot now.
Funny thing is most allotment sites in Liverpool have a waiting list, but the site I am on does not and also has loads of empty plots.
Problem is most are that over grown people will not take them, I will take some pictures and show you what I mean.
But the thing is the Council have said if our Lottie site was to get a waiting list the Council will clear the over grown plot's
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I WOULD NOT MIND AN OVERGROWN PLOT ALL AT ALL THINK I WOULD TAKE A STRIP OF TARMACK IF THEY OFFERED ME IT AT THE MOMENT :o I WOULD JUST GROW EVERYTHING IN POTS WHICH I DO NOW BUT AM AT THE POINT THAT IF I GROW ANY THING ELCE IN IT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR TO GET IN TO MY TINY GARDEN :-[ I EVEN HAVE STUFF GROWING ON TOP OF MY KIDS WENDY HOUSE ;D
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:) :D ;D I had a phone call today from the allotment lady to check that i still wanted to be on the waiting lists i am on. She said their has been a lot of people not replying when she has offered them plots, so she is phoning everyone on the lists to check they still want to be considered, she also said it would be likely she would be able to offer me a plot soon (2-3 months or sooner :o) but it would be very neglected an would i like to go on the list for this ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D so hopefully i will be posting a new plot thread very soon.
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:) :D ;D I had a phone call today from the allotment lady to check that i still wanted to be on the waiting lists i am on. She said their has been a lot of people not replying when she has offered them plots, so she is phoning everyone on the lists to check they still want to be considered, she also said it would be likely she would be able to offer me a plot soon (2-3 months or sooner :o) but it would be very neglected an would i like to go on the list for this ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D so hopefully i will be posting a new plot thread very soon.
Hope so.
From reading this thread, if anyone deserves a plot it is you.
Good luck
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Thank you ;D I don't know if I deserve one more than any one else but I will keep pestering the council until I get one! If the allotments in my area where well used and I where having to sit on a waiting list, I would think fair enough. But most of them look like they could be the local land fill >:( and have 4 foot high weeds, so just really don't get why I can't have one when I would take one in any state.
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trinity - I do hope you get one soon, like you I'm currently waiting for a plot in my area but according to our council there is a 4 year waiting list even though there are loads of plots that are overgrown/neglected and uncultivated. According to what I have been told, not tending and keeping the plot neat and tidy is the main reason for revoking tenancy yet there are so many that are just becoming jungle wasteland whilst people are sitting on waiting lists for months and in some cases years at a time. i have told the council about all the 'empty' plots that I have so far found including the ones with the dreaded Japanese Knotweed, the advice I was given was to search for a private plot while I wait to reach the top of the council list.
Good luck I really do hope you get something very very soon. ;D
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I would take photographs of the overgrown plots and send them to every official you can think of and the local paper seems to work I have been told I will have a plot within a couple of weeks ;D
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Hey Trinity
Are any of those over grown plots in your area as bad as this one.
It is one of the over grown plots on our site here in Liverpool that I have mentioned.
Other sites have waiting list's but we don't.
People look at what is available and turn them down.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h100/good7saint/004-4.jpg
But the council have said they will clear the worst plots if enough people want them.
The plot on the photo is opposite mine across the path
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Why not contact your local "Allotment Regeneration Intuitive Mentor", he / she could well put you on the right track.
Squash man
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I would take photographs of the overgrown plots and send them to every official you can think of and the local paper seems to work I have been told I will have a plot within a couple of weeks ;D
Good suggestion trinity, we have already taken some pictures on one site and intend to take some on other sites in the locality.
Why not contact your local "Allotment Regeneration Intuitive Mentor", he / she could well put you on the right track.
Squash man
Is this the same as the Allotments Officer? If so I have already spoken and reported the unworked/empty plots to them.
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if you google allotment regeneration initiative, it's got lots of info, including the mentors
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good7saint they look pretty much like that just most are full of rubbish as well, but the council will do nothing to help if you actually manage to get them to give u one. they will provide you with a skip (well at some point probably when you have been there for six months) an that is about it ::)
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The Allotment Regeneration Initiative work on a volunteer basis, but in conjunction with "City Farms and gardens" and The Allotment and Leisure gardeners
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:(have phoned the allotment lady today she has not got round to sorting out the allotment allocations for the sight i am going to be offered so it is still going to be a couple of weeks :'(
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You know it seems as though people are dragging their heels but honestly I am site secretary and it's really hard to move folk on. I contacted someone in April and got no response so sent a recorded delivery letter at the start of June which has now been returned. So now I'm about to deliver another letter with 7 days' notice. meantime the dock is 2 foot high on the plot, the shed is falling down and the punters think I'm not doing my job!!! :o :o :o :o
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The allotment lady seems to be trying her best I was just hopeing to have a plot before the school summer holidays, when she phoned and told me that I would be offered one within a couple of weeks. as I have three small children and will have to take them to the plot with me most of the time,if they are not in school. so I was hoping to get rid of anything unsafe (nettles and rubish) before then and set up a small area for them to play in safely (have checked that it was ok to do this it will be a Wendy house and sand table with a fence around it.) I will have to arrange a baby sitter for while I get it cleared if I don't get it till the holidays well will keep ya all posted any way. and I will hopfull set a plot soon ;D
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I thought that it was all done and dusted trinity?! What a bummer!
Still keep up the pressure! I am sure you will win out!
Why don't you get the friends that you were helping yesterday with the nettles to look after your kids when you get the plot, in return for your help yesterday. I bet you can still feel the stings! They are really painful this time of year!
Old Bird
;D
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because she is going to help me clear the plot ;D my mum has said she will watch my kids and her hubby is going to take a day off work and watch hers (he is physically disabled and could not help clear weeds) I thought it was sorted as well just must be that my couple of weeks are two or three and the councils is some thing a lot longer ::) but hopefully not to long as i have seeds that will need thinning out within the next couple of weeks and have I no wear to put them.
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I hope you get good news regarding your plot tenancy soon trinity. :)
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arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
SORRY JUST HAD TO LET THAT OUT
no letter in the post today goitg to phone if i have not had one by fryday
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Know how you feel.
Lets hope you get one soon.
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phoned today councils allotment lady has been poorly :-[ trust me to be impatient said it will still be a couple of weeks :( but all my spare plants should be ok for at least another month in there grow bags (hopefully). Will just have to hold every one to there word that have said they are going to help me dig it over ;)
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Trinity - I would be jumping up and down by now! To me it sounds an excuse - the two week lark! They have done that to you twice now haven't they?
I would be a bit more in their face and ask directly if they actually have an allotment available or are they just keeping you at arms length with this two week excuse?
Keep going - but I think you may need to be a bit more "in their face"!
Old Bird
;)
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hi trinity. Take my hat off to you. Prepared to take on a well overgrown lottie and three youngsters to look after too. I do hope you get your dream soon and Old Bird is right - get in their faces at the Council. Sounds like they are putting this job to the bottom of the pile each time. Good luck and I am really looking forward to the post you make saying you have got it. You can then teach the little ones which plants are weeds and which they should leave alone.........
twinkletoes
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Hi Trinity, keep on nagging away, as Old bird says ask straight is there a plot and can you see it. On our site we have three new lotties, the plots were available but there was a six week admin period where the council sort out the paperwork and keys, what a load of crap six weeks admin. But our site sec has given them keys early so they could make a head start, the council are a waste of time, theres always someone new doing the job so theres never anybody who knows what there doing. >:( ;D ;D ;D
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I have seen all 11 plots( by climbing on the fence :o ) yes that's 11 (there is 3 times this in a state and only 72 plots on the sight) as she told me the numbers that where empty 3 of them have sheds on and one has a shed an 2 big greenhouses on but unluckily i don't just get to pick the one i want :( she said it is up to the allotment officer to assign me one :-\ but if i don't like it i will ask for the one I want, not that I think it will make a difference. and then she has to do the paperwork and then the officer has to check it !!! and then I will get to look at it (but only in the presence of the allotment officer) then if i want it there is more paper work !! then there is a chance I will get the keys ::) god I hate red tape >:( I am going to start being proactive again if i have not been offered one by next Monday
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>:( still nothing >:( >:( >:( this is so annoying ! how hard can it be to give me an empty allotment that has been empty well before I went on the waiting list ??? I think I will have to start taking photographs and writing to people again . I can understand them being complacent about the neglected ones as they are still getting the rent for but the ones are empty are just going to waste >:(
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trinity i was on the waiting list for our allotments since last sept, the lady of the council offered me a half plot that was not fenced off, so I went to see it and thought NOOOOO i have a 5yr old and she would run amok so i telephoned the lady back and said that it was no good etc etc
she was lovely and said she had a fencced in full plot that i could go and see, soooo off i went again overgrown but fenced in had no hesitation as I knew i might not be offered another on for months
so that was back in april i have now got a shed and 2x greenhouses, 1/3 is all dug and has veg in BUT the rest is like a jungle
So i dont really see what the red tape Id ring them back and get an answer :)
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Trinity - I so feel your frustration. In all this time (and I am talking about from when you posted on 11th April) you said your local Councillor said he was going to try and do something about the situation.....any feedback from him? About time, methinks, that you started badgering him too. Send him and your Allotment Lady a copy of the pics you took in April and up to date ones of the same plots. They are probably in a worse state by now and it will quite clearly demonstrate that they are not being worked and they should therefore arrange to terminate the tenancy agreement immediately with the current holder. They should at least have sent out a warning letter to those tenants whose plots you brought to their attention as not being worked at that time and in all the time that has since lapsed, the tenants should have carried out some work on their plots. Why not send the same information to the newspaper you wrote to before and see if they print this letter too....they might be tempted to do a article on it as it is a follow-up from April. Might be worth a try.
Keep your chin up and don't stop trying.
twinkletoes
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.......and don't forget to write all the names of the people you are sending that information to at the bottom of the letters so they all know who else has that information....... It might kick-start things for you.
twinkletoes
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As others have said Trinity start badgering with the lettters again and see if you can get an article in the the mail, the father in law has been in it twice in the last few months so I'm sure your storey would be worth a show, maybe you could say you knew the Darwins. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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good7saint...im on north sudley allotments...do you still have vacant plots at yours..i know someone who is desperate for one
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good7saint...im on north sudley allotments...do you still have vacant plots at yours..i know someone who is desperate for one
Theres about 20 or more empty with no waiting list.
Now for the bad news most are very badly overgrown.
Although the council have said if enough people want them.
The council will clear the worst ones
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Sorry I took so long to reply had two teeth pulled out om Monday and have not been well :'( :( (long story dentist malpractice got compo and free dental care for 5 years with another dentist with the old ones paying :o) haven't done much really and half the council are on strike this week ::)
phoned the council lady on Monday (before the dentists) an she is on Holiday next week as well :-\ so i am really starting to get P%$£ off
will phone her first thing a week on Monday and if I don't get any joy will start kicking up a fuss. I would stat now but I have an infection from my teeth being pulled out and am not really well enough to do any thing at the moment.
She did say that she had sent out 9 eviction notices out to people who had cleaned up there plots :-\
cornykev I don't know the Darwins but I did go and view the house that he had supposedly been hiding in with a friend about 3 months before they got caught
:o ;D ;D ;D
have had to re-pot the plants I had in grow bags in to large pot and have had to put them in the front Garden as i have no space left in the back ::)
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blimey good7saint....ours was totally overgrown,very very bad,hadnt been touched for over a year so you can imagine,there was no offer from the council to clear ours,mind,we would have missed out on all the fun. do you mind telling me which site you are at,so i can pass the info on. you may enjoy this site too.....http://www.flickr.com/groups/liverpool_allotments/
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Here you are elvis
NEW AREA Higher Lane, L9 0151 521 3886
Most of them have not been touched for about 5 years.
I touched lucky, the one I got had only been left for 2
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double post but thought this thread might be interested in this -
meeting in government on allotments minutes-
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080722/halltext/80722h0011.htm
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Sorry there has been no update for a while have been ill and have not done any thing more towards getting a Lotty but am a lot better now so I am going to phone the allotment lady tomorrow and see how it goes from there :-\
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good7saint! Blimey I thought our 1st plot was bad when we took it on. People with those sort of plots should just be kicked off. If they are ill then they should ask for help dependant on their circumstances.
When we got out first plot about 5 years ago it was untouched for 5 years before that and made ot concrete soil and rubbish. A weeks hard work and 118 black sack of mushy compo and it as perfect! worms everywhere compared to none at the start.
trinity....still nothing this is so annoying ! how hard can it be to give me an empty allotment that has been empty well before I went on the waiting list
Have a go at them and tell them that. been empty since you where on the waiting list!!! Get that put in the paper and say the red tape is getting in the way of people growning their own organic produce and lessening envoironmental damage etc.
Sounds like you really deserve a plot.
We got ours straight away but soon after that there was a small waiting list which has grown and grown.
We ended up with 3 plots but gave one up and the guy that took it over I think, waited 18 months!!! the list is growing so I can see that something the UK over needs to be done to supply more plots to the demand required.
I think therre is an old law somewhere which states this too be true.
Good luck and hopefully soon you will have one but KEEP ON AT THEM. ring daily.
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Allotments have a protected status - and a spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government says that it aims "to deliver and protect allotments" and that "planning policy guidance is clear that new housing development should not be at the expense of losing recreational open space".
But it still remains a struggle to save the land from developers, says NSALG's Claire Willis. Untended plots are particularly vulnerable, and without legal protection she warns that "allotments would cease to exist".
"People pay lip service to wanting green space... but with the building programme going on at the moment, it looks as though we won't stop until everything is concreted over," she says.
How about ringing the council and to shorten the list you suggest that they half the plot sizes and 2 people share? At least more people can get hlf a plot, even if they end up with 2 halves in the end, better than nothing.
And to be honest, a whole one that is badly over grown is a lot of work to start with and often best covering half till you get the other half under control.
whilst you can start growing and then start on the rest bit by bit.
good luck...
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We do exactly that, regularly. Not all our plots can comfortably be spilt, but when one comes up vacant where the layout will work with two plots, we very often do split it.
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Hello,
new to the web site etc and have been reading all these postings. Is it just me or is it possible that the councils are not really wanting people to have allotments? Surely if they can say that the lotties are overgrown etc that there isn't the demand etc.....
I've recently swopped allotments, our council have bent over backwards to help and they are brilliant to lottie holders in different ways.
I feel very sorry for you Trinity and hope that you have good news soon. :)
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Gillyflower58
welcome to A4A
lbb
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hiya, gillyflower58, nice to meet you ;D
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hi gillyflower58, welcome I hope u find this sight as usefull as I do ;D I think i is just a case of the allotment lady having (well in her opinion :() more important things to do and just really just not getting round to offering allotments out to people she seems to be at war with the allotment officer an spends half of any phone call complaning about what he has not done (maby just shifting the blame ???) I spoke to her on fryday and she said that she would get around to it as soon as possible!!! :-\ so I told her that if I have not been offered an allotment by next fryday, I am going to put a complaint in to the councils ombudsman, recontact the local paper and such, I am just totally frustrated and feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall >:(
all the allotments on the site I want to be on are half plots ( between 8 and 15 poles) any way as they are fitted in the space between the railway line and some houses, though some of the other sights I am on the waiting list for have great big 30 pole plots which I am sure a lot of people would be thrilled with half of one of then as I think that that would be to big for my needs or ability's and many other peoples as well
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Good luck girl, you keep banging away. ;D ;D ;D
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>:( still nothing !!!!!!!!!!! ::)
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Hi trinity - I can't believe you are still waiting. Have you written to your local MP and sent him photos of potentially available plots? Don't give up - keep pestering. And don't forget to send the same letter/photos to the Council woman and local paper(s) too. They can't all have their heads in an unmentionable place ::)
twinkletoes
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Have you tried making an appointment to see the allotments officer?
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hi trinity, I've just been reading through this thread and I really admire your persistence!
there are quite a few plots on our site that look completely abandoned and uncultivated but this year the council seem to be taking more of an interest and actually cleared three of the worst plots: 6 foot high brambles and used as the communal dump for several years. one of the plots was taken straight away by people as keen and enthusiastic as you sound, but the other two were left unallocated for ages. a couple of weeks ago they were split in half and now two of those four half-plots are now being used.
I got chatting to one of the people who has just taken on one of the half plots and she said she'd been pestering the council for months too: she took photos of all the uncultivated plots and went to see them or phoned them every week until eventually she got offered a plot. I think the others are right: if you've got the energy just keep on nagging and phoning and writing letters until eventually they'll give you a plot to shut you up and make you go away and leave them in peace! and if you're willing to take on an overgrown jungle that should work in your favour too. I think several people had been offered the vacant overgrown plots on our site but turned them down because of the state they were in.
keep on pestering and the very best of luck to you :)
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allotment officer what allotment officer ??? I have Left a total of 48 mesages :o on his answering mashing over the last 6 months and have not once had a reply ( have kept a diary of who I have contacted and when helps keep track of what I have and have not done) mind you all the stuff I have in pots are getting very big and I think I will need a removals van to take them to my plot if I ever get one ::) I am becoming quite friendly with some of the plot holders on the site I want to be on and they all are starting to make complaints about the state of the site ( by answer machine mesages or so i have been told) so maby something will get done because of that :-\
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Hang on in there Trinity!
I think you are still doing the right thing by banging on at them. See if you can find when they have an allotment committee meeting or a council meeting that allows member of the public in and you can then ask for your problem to be put to the full council.
If you do go to a meeting - be very careful that you take as much information as possible with you like photos of the unworked plots etc. and try very hard to be polite but firm! I am not best at that and tend to lose it a bit - then I lose the battle!
It would be good if you can get some of the allotment holders to go with you to give you a bit of backing - although it is asking a lot for them to do this - but maybe you could get them to sign a petition to get the site cleared of empty plots and worked properly.
Is there an allotment site representative? Speak to them - get them on side - if you can.
Keep going - sounds like you may not get your plants in this season but just wait for next year girl!
Good luck and keep us posted
Old Bird
;D
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allotment officer what allotment officer ???
I meant the lady that keeps fobbing you off on the phone. Is she not the allotments officer at the council?
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no she isn't :( she is just the person who offers out plots and collects rents I an not sure why the allotment officer dose not do this, or what he actually dose I will ask him if he ever answers his phone >:( The allotment lady ( sorry don't know what else to call her) works in the adult and comunity services department at the council
the allotment site I want to be on dose not have a committee or a representative ::) and is totally council run
thank you for the suggestion old bird I will find out when the next council meeting is
on a good note I have had
cauliflower, pea's, french beans and leak gravy with chicken
which have all grown really well in pots well apart from the chicken which was from the farmers market I don't think you could grow a chicken in a pot (well u probably could I just wouldn't eat it strictly a free range girl me ;D )
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good news ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
put in my written complaint to the council yesterday and said as it was my third complaint I was going to the indpendant ombudsman if i did not get a result ;) have just had a phone call from the allotment lady, she is sending me a list of the empty allotments and I need to go take a look and tell her which ones I would be willing to take on ;D ;D ;D ;D supposedly there is one person in front of me (tho how that happened I don't know) and one of them is getting turned in to an allotment for a local children's residential home and they have first choice
but it looks like i am finally getting am allotment ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
hopefully :-\
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Keeping everything crossed for you Trinity, really hope it works out for you. :)
Keep us posted!
T.
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yay!!! nearly there :)
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Trinity
I have fingers and toes tightly crossed for you!!
We will wait and see when you get your letter!
Old Bird
;D
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Probably take on an overgrown plot and they will give you a week to get it up to scratch then take it away and gove it to the next on the list!!!!!
That way they get rid of the list and get to keep a few overgrown plots :-X :-X :-X
Just kidding, hope you get one very soon... ;D
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Very good news! Persistence pays off. Good to know a plot is going to someone who will REALLY appreciate it! Let us know how it goes.
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Go for it girl, I'm going on my hols 8) soon so will proberly not be on line to congratulate you so best of luck, I won't be able to concentrate on my sunbathing, 8) relaxing by the pool, drinking all inclusive beers all day, strolls on the beach, pigging out on inclusive food all day, dancing, singing and an all round bloody good time worrying did she get it, did she not. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D 8) 8) 8)
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Trinity I really admire your persistance and think I have said this before, if anyone deserves a plot it is you.
Good luck hoping this is the end of the tunnel for you this time.
And after all the trouble you have had getting a plot when you do if you need any help clearing it just give us a shout on here and me and mrs good7 will willing make a journey to help.
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Hi all got my letter on Saturday morning as I said there are two people in front of me there are five to chose from on the site I would like to be on, my sister also got a letter ;D but she is tenth :( and only put her name down 2 months ago ??? two of them are very close together, (plots are half plots are plot 1a with 1 behind and so forth) which are plot 26 a and plot 27. plot 26 a is very good it looks as it has been cleared at the beginning of the season and plot 27 has chest high weeds and some rubbish but as it is Manley along a boundary line. I think it may be stuff that the next plot owner is collecting to build a cold frame of green house. plot 21 is available but is totally inaccessible due ti 12 foot high brambles on plot 22, 23 and 24 so I am not afraid of hard work I think that may be a no (it is also around 500 yards from the nearest accessible water tap :o ::) :o. plot 31 is around half the size of plot 26a and 27 but this may be a good plot for my sister as she works full time and I will be doing all her during the week watering ::) plot 46 is available and larger but is the last plot on a very long row next to a publick foot path and railway line and as the plots from 41 on are un worked i do not think i would feel safe working it alone so it will sadly have ti be a no.
i have been sent a letter for another sight (the plots are huge me and my sister would share ) that is a little further away which my uncle is on but i an 17th and there are 6 available I am going to have a look tomorrow as my uncle is getting a friend to open the padlocked gate (my uncle's is a different access gate to the ones that are empty for me tomorrow, so i will keep ya all informed
PS thank you for all your support it has been really helpfull :-*
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I just been to the other site there a a couple in the back row that are empty that are a little smaller than the rest which I have put on my I would take list but near the bottom. there are two larger ones that don't look too bad (maby a bit big ???) manly 6 foot high seeding grass that have been put right at the bottom of my list, I would take any if them if offered them though ;D but there are two at the bottom corner of the site and my uncles Friend said that they flood very badly (he sunk when he stood on one :o) so those are on my no list. sent off my preferences list so hopefully I will get a reply soon :-\
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No reply as yet. As the dead line for getting your replies in was the 18th I think I will wate till Monday (after the postman has been) then phone to see what is happening.