Topic: council has no interest in allotments

[greenthing]

Hi all
my council has no interest in making any new statuary allotments
we have no statuary allotments sites we have leisure gardens only
there is no requirement to cultivate the plots  the only requirement is to keep it clean and tidy
strimming it once a year meet there requirements
As a result we have lots of unused/ non cultivate plots
in the area , huge waiting list with lot of people who want  a big enough sized plots 
to grow veg
the council is now reducing the waiting lists by splitting  any plot that do become available
the average size plot is approximately 150m2
they are now splitting plot into 50m2 in size
the plot sizes are too small to grow enough to feed the average size family
I've taken it up with my councilor and MP
and I'm getting know where fast
other surrounding council have been securing funding and have been making new allotment sites
Even when the money for allotments on the table for the taking
the council showed no interest
is there anything else I can do to change the council policy
thanks ???

[tonybloke]

Firstly, welcome to a4a! where in the UK are you?


secondly, form an association, and join NSALG,    http://www.nsalg.org.uk/

have a look at ARI  they help folk in your situation,  http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/

let us know how you get on.
rgds, Tony

[Digeroo]

Even when the money for allotments on the table for the taking
the council showed no interest

Where is money on the table from?

Can you get a group together to apply for the funds and set up allotments?

[1066]

welcome to A4A greenthing, good advice given so far. The only other things I can think of is to start campaigning - set up a group and get vocal, or get yourself voted on as a councillor and change the policy / attitude from within (I  realise that is a longer term thing!), or contact any neighbouring councils with allotments to see how they go about things.
Good luck!

[greenthing]

Thanks for the replies

It's taken about ten years to get an old site re opened
another site that was disused  (they classed this  sites as garden plots)was sold off for building land when the council got wind of us trying to get it re opened .

We now have an association and a local councilor on board
The administration of the garden plot sites has been outsource to a private firm and
the policy come from the council .
The new site has sparked a lot of interest and demand for plots.

The surrounding council are positively encouraging allotments and seek funding
our council has a very negative attitude and policy's towards allotments .

The other councils have got some funding from NHS primary care trust towards allotments

thanks for the links