Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: LJB12 on September 13, 2010, 21:28:26
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Look what response I got from my town council in response to my request for an allotment!
You have been added to the waiting list and currently you are nr 45 on the waiting list.
The plots are being renewed for the year this month - so you will be moving up.
However with only 72 plots for such a long waiting list, it will be at least 3 years before we will be able to
offer you a plot. We will be back in touch when you get closer to the top of the list.
Please keep us informed if any of your details change.
THREE YEARS?!!? :o :o :o :-[
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It could be worse and it could be so much better.
Could they divide the empty plots up?
I got one on 2 weeks and rent free for six months.....
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Our site has had a waiting list which was cleared recently and now there are plots empty. Apparently people are finding growing your own too time consuming and too much hard work and giving their plots back ::)
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A lot of the newcomers on our plots have had letters about non-cultivation, so perhaps the TV programmes that made it look easy didn't work and many people have only been up 2 or 3 times and then given up, so next year more allotments to rent.
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Maybe I'm reading this wrong but if theres 72 plots and your no 45 that means there's more plots than people that want one ??? ???
As far as Swindon is concerned there shouldn't be any waiting lists at all. It drives me crazy to see this in the evening advertiser about 2 year waiting list when on my own site there are at least 4 uncultivated plots 2 of which haven't had anyone on them in the last 10 yrs to my knowledge and speaking to other reps in town they have the same problem. Plus all the old sites that could be reactivated if someone one in the parks department got their finger out and did their job properly. The system for evictions and lettings is to long winded in my view and needs a serious overall. As you can tell this is one subject sure to wind me up. Will now get off soapbox. I'm of to bed so wishing you all a very goodnight and sleep tight. Regards, Taurus. ;D
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Welcome to A4A LJB12. Sorry to hear you have such a long wait.
With various gardening programmes recommending themallotments are in fashion at the moment.
It is very hard when you have enthusiasm now to have to wait so long. Is there some way you can be growing in the meantime. Garden, walls, pots etc.
Whereabouts are you? Maybe someone will be able to provide more information about your area?
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Hi LJB12 and welcome to A4A. I'm afraid it's a bit like that on my site too. 100 plots and a waiting list of 50 means any newcomers are looking at a wait of 2-3 years. All our plots bar one are let and most are well maintained although there are 2 or 3 that we are monitoring closely because we aren't too happy with their condition. The one unlet plot has been offered to at least 7 people on the waiting list. It is basically a grassy area now (because no-one will take it) which we are keeping strimmed to keep the weeds down. It is fenced in on 3 sides but has no shed. If we can't get anyone to take it on we will clear it over the winter and try again. Lots of people are on our waiting list because the Edinburgh Council list is huge - over 1000 folk wanting allotments.
It's true that many people take on a plot and don't work it or don't realise how much work it will be. We have managed to persuade most of these people to give up their plots over the last 3 years so mostly now we have well worked plots and steady tenants.
It's hard, though, when you're keen to get going and there's nothing to be had.
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LJB12 welcome to A4A from me too :)
Like Digeroo said is there any way you can grow stuff in the meantime?
grawrc - the plot you described sounds like my plot when I took it on - I thought it was a bonus as there were only a few brambles. It's odd how different people view different things isn't it!
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I think there are other ways and means....I wouldn't stop there
Look around and see if any are managed by an association and not the council - it's easier to access people directly if there are.
I initially on a visit got told long waiting list, bla bla by one committee member who altogether had a very off-putting, dismissive manner, but after a very carefully crafted email to the person in charge of the list got put on the waiting list one day and was given one the next!!! I was in heaven :D still am....
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LJB12 welcome to A4A from me too :)
Like Digeroo said is there any way you can grow stuff in the meantime?
grawrc - the plot you described sounds like my plot when I took it on - I thought it was a bonus as there were only a few brambles. It's odd how different people view different things isn't it!
Yep! One guy actually told us he had expected it to be dug over ready for planting with a shed and a greenhouse!! :o :o
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Yep! One guy actually told us he had expected it to be dug over ready for planting with a shed and a greenhouse!! :o :o
People are funny - I read on another forum that someone on the waiting list was offered an allotment in the autumn but they turned it down because they only wanted a summer one, not a winter one :D ;D
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3 years isnt excessive in some parts of the country. The waiting list on my site is closed because it got too long. Try Landshare to get you going in the meantime.
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Looking at 4 years if you want one on our site, and that is with halving plots as they become vacant to get the list down quicker.
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Maybe everyone should start with 1/2 plot and if they keep it well they could graduate to a full plot after a year?
It would mean moving to another which would be a pain but at least it would prove they were serious about gardening.
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Your lucky you don't live in Bournemouth !! our average wait on our site is now standing at 15 years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even when we clear it down at renewal time there are more adding to the list every week !!
We have been promised a new site will be opened soon but now the cut backs have hit i don't hold out much hope on that :(
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Flowersofshona2007 Are the kids on the list yet? ;D
For sites with waiting lists, a years probation on a starter 1/8 of a plot would allow everyone to see how committed you have to be. It would weed out the dreamers and tv gardening victims too. It is amazing how much you can grow in this area and how many different crops you can too.
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I've got our waiting list down to about 6 months now by cutting all plots in half as they become vacant. We now only offer 5 pole plots; but if they make a real go of it, they get first refusal if a nearby half plot comes up later.
And we've introduced Starter Plots: a pair of raised beds each about 12' by 4'. The first three tenants are now ready to move onto 5 pole plots, so - as they clear their crops from the starter beds - I can put the next three onto those plots.
We've talked several times about a formal probationary period, but this informal method does seem to be working. And the fact that there is a waiting list - plus regular plot inspections - concentrates people's minds on clearing and maintaining their plots!
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They split a lot of our plots in half and people are still not getting over there to keep them up to standard, some have left and they have been re let. Sid next to me is giving his up and keeping his smaller one, lots have had non cultivation letters, there have been about 6 newcomers this year, time will tell to see who's still there next year, we did have somebody who after coming to the top of the list about this time a few years ago said that they only wanted a summer allotment :( another said they don't remember putting their name down. ;D ;D ;D
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We've had - and still have - quite a waiting list for plots but have had several plots given back to us over the past few months (including people who have only had their plots for a few months) and recently when we've contacted people on our waiting list, we've had several instances where we find they no longer want a plot. For the past three plus years we've only offered five rod plots but anyone taking one on and successfully cultivating this can apply for another five rod plot
And Grawrc - we've also had someone who took on a plot but didn't do anything although they appeared several times to look at it - eventually they asked 'when will my plot be dug and ready for me to plant' - and when it was explained they had to dig it, we got a reply along the lines of 'well I'm renting this off the Council, surely they will dig it for me to start with, they can't expect me to dig all that' - and they didn't, they just left it, got an 'uncultivated plot' letter and then a termination letter!
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3 years does sound like a long time, my first plot had a waiting list of 10 years, but I got my plot after 3. The first people on the list may have changed their minds by the time they get to the top, or have got a plot somewhere else so the list might sort itself out quicker than you think. Fingers crossed for you!
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in Horley are waiting list is 5 years not sure how many people on there
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Maybe I'm reading this wrong but if theres 72 plots and your no 45 that means there's more plots than people that want one ??? ???
As far as Swindon is concerned there shouldn't be any waiting lists at all. It drives me crazy to see this in the evening advertiser about 2 year waiting list when on my own site there are at least 4 uncultivated plots 2 of which haven't had anyone on them in the last 10 yrs to my knowledge and speaking to other reps in town they have the same problem. Plus all the old sites that could be reactivated if someone one in the parks department got their finger out and did their job properly. The system for evictions and lettings is to long winded in my view and needs a serious overall. As you can tell this is one subject sure to wind me up. Will now get off soapbox. I'm of to bed so wishing you all a very goodnight and sleep tight. Regards, Taurus. ;D
THere are still some plots on Crowdies Hill unoccupied, I've got my name down for another one... hope it doesn't drag on the way the first one did....
chrisc
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i waited 2 years for my local plot could have had others but they were 5 miles away as opposed to 400 yards ,worth the wait in my book!
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i waited 2 years for my local plot could have had others but they were 5 miles away as opposed to 400 yards ,worth the wait in my book!
Ditto... my old plot was OK fopr convenience I thought being halfway between work and home, but therefore four miles away from either.... the new one is less than ten minutes walk from my new house, there's a non-road cycle route there and it's easily in range if I feel like taking either of the rotavators over there then I cna just fire them up and walk them over.... indeed if I can get the big one running (a Howard 400) then I shoudl be able to do the whole "Good Life" thing and fit it with a trailer and drive it over whilst sat on a trailer of tools...... need to check the legality of that... I expect someone will say I have to register it or it'll need lights or something 9not hard on a 400, it has a PTO I can put an alternator on)
chrisc
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Ditto... my old plot was OK fopr convenience I thought being halfway between work and home, but therefore four miles away from either.... the new one is less than ten minutes walk from my new house, there's a non-road cycle route there and it's easily in range if I feel like taking either of the rotavators over there then I cna just fire them up and walk them over.... indeed if I can get the big one running (a Howard 400) then I shoudl be able to do the whole "Good Life" thing and fit it with a trailer and drive it over whilst sat on a trailer of tools...... need to check the legality of that... I expect someone will say I have to register it or it'll need lights or something 9not hard on a 400, it has a PTO I can put an alternator on)
chrisc
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Insurance, MOT and Tax too :(
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Ditto... my old plot was OK fopr convenience I thought being halfway between work and home, but therefore four miles away from either.... the new one is less than ten minutes walk from my new house, there's a non-road cycle route there and it's easily in range if I feel like taking either of the rotavators over there then I cna just fire them up and walk them over.... indeed if I can get the big one running (a Howard 400) then I shoudl be able to do the whole "Good Life" thing and fit it with a trailer and drive it over whilst sat on a trailer of tools...... need to check the legality of that... I expect someone will say I have to register it or it'll need lights or something 9not hard on a 400, it has a PTO I can put an alternator on)
chrisc
Insurance, MOT and Tax too :(
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Classic vehicle not capable of more than 3mph,. doubt there'll be a problem.... besides if they're going to get snotty about it I just won't be able to have a seat, then it becomes a horticultural tool in transit and not covered by the raod tax regulations at all....
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I was quoted 8 years 2 1/2 years ago with a waiting list of 90. I got my first on Friday..........
The woman in charge of allotting said a most people hadn't replied to the letter she had sent out, I was only the second to reply. So you might jump up the queue quicker
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I got my first on Friday
I should think that was a nice surprise. Good luck with your allotment.
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Ive been told by an acquaintance the waiting list is 30 years in Blackburn,Lancs.
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I was quoted 8 years 2 1/2 years ago with a waiting list of 90. I got my first on Friday..........
The woman in charge of allotting said a most people hadn't replied to the letter she had sent out, I was only the second to reply. So you might jump up the queue quicker
congrats on getting your plot! Its too hard to estimate how long people are going to wait,I just always tell them how long the most recent plotholder waited to give a rough idea.
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The waiting list here is endless. Although the local council have been looking for sometime they still have been unsuccessful in finding a site.
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have they got the cash to develop a new site digeroo?
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We just got our local council to provide us with new lotties. We formed an action committee and petitioned them, got a councillor on board and made a lot of noise locally. Not enough land for everyone that wanted one, but now we've started it should be easier to get the patch extended.
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I don't think they have any cash at all. But now we have some nice private ones I think that some of the interest is waning.
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Here in Harrow there is a surplus of allotments!
We need more people to take up the plots, or else we're going to lose some of the sites to housing development.
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I got my first on Friday
I should think that was a nice surprise. Good luck with your allotment.
It was Digerdoo and thank you.
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I don't think they have any cash at all. But now we have some nice private ones I think that some of the interest is waning.
you can plot the interest in allotments by the price of Merry Tillers on ebay, theres a direct Correlation. 3 years ago you paid £25 for a working one, now there up to £130ish. And attachments like a Ridger have gone up tenfold.
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Here in Harrow there is a surplus of allotments!
We need more people to take up the plots, or else we're going to lose some of the sites to housing development.
hope it get's sorted. terrible position to be in.
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I don't think they have any cash at all. But now we have some nice private ones I think that some of the interest is waning.
you can plot the interest in allotments by the price of Merry Tillers on ebay, theres a direct Correlation. 3 years ago you paid £25 for a working one, now there up to £130ish. And attachments like a Ridger have gone up tenfold.
Yeah... and Lord alone knows why, it's like trying to rotavate with a Springer Spaniel... why they think it'll be easier to use than one of the smaller Howards is beyond me....
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Yeah... and Lord alone knows why, it's like trying to rotavate with a Springer Spaniel... why they think it'll be easier to use than one of the smaller Howards is beyond me....
;D ;D ;D - I have a mental picture of a springer spaniel trying to rotovate now - and yes it's hilarious!!
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I live in South Bham.
I have a few choices of allotments. My first choice had a 2 year wait. My second choice was 18 months. My third choice - I called, there were 2 allotments available (one looked like the amazon), and so I took the other one. Essentially once the paperwork came, and I viewed the allotment and payed it, it must have taken me only 1 week.
Cannot believe my luck with some people have to wait 5 years. And my plot is bloomin big.
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It really is a lottery as to waiting lists. In Stratford upon Avon the list was about 3-4 years. Here in my new location of north Norfolk I applied and was offered a plot within 2 weeks. We now have another plot as a few hadn't even been touched and we wrote to the council to advise them of this.
My only advice would be to get a group together and harrass, campaign the local council.
I thought they had a legal duty to provide allotment space if enough people wanted them ?