how many empty plots?

[bennettsleg]

Popped past my old plot the other night (on the way to the pub). before I left it 3 months ago, the Council's letter told me that there was a waiting list.  It's overgrown & uncultivated. 

There are recent posts talking about taking over weed-ridden plots and I'm wondering: how many plots on each site are lying dormant (ie: not touched this year)?

We've got one only.  The old site had about 4.

[bennettsleg]

[katynewbie]

 ;D

100% occupancy on our site! It's small, just 22 plots, and in a sought after area, secure and has a long waiting list. Other sites in the area are full, apparently, I know people desperate for an allotment and cannot get one, but I have seen a lot which look overgrown to me.

Mind you, people probably think that about mine :-[

[Mrs Ava]

Ours is only a small site, probably similar size to Katys.  100% occupancy and 6 people on the waiting list.  Of all the plots, 3 are looking unkempt - 1 has a good genuine excuse, the other 2 have an 'interesting' way of growing things.... :-\

[busy_lizzie]

Out of about 142 plots at our Site all are taken but two, which are in very bad condition.  However, because we have over 60 people on the waiting list, the committee decided to give eveyone the chance to jump the queue, and those that are willing to take on the challenge of the bad plots will have their names put into a hat and two names picked out. busy_lizzie

[supersprout]

Of the 35 plots on our site, about fifteen are vacant. There are sixteen plotholders, who hold around 20 plots between us. This is in Peterborough City Centre - I can't understand why plots are still vacant ???

[MrsKP]

there are three plots all within a reasonable distance from me, one didn't answer me (boooooooooooo!), one had it's waiting list closed and I'm currently 16th on the waiting list on the other one.  there are a couple of plots on mine that look seriously in need of some tlc and i think letters were going out to them, but even if they were re-let, i'd still be a long way off getting one. sign !   :-[

we need more plots in glasgow !!

[deboydoyd]

All plots taken on ours (about 30) and a waiting list as well!

[Money_Bunny]

A few empty plots on our site (2 right next to us!)

Some plots that are taken but have had nothing done with them this year and are just a tangle of weeds.

It would be nice to see someone taking on the empty plots but our goat does come in handy now and again at keeping some of the weeds down.

[ann hunter]

Volunteered - seemed like a good idea at the time - to be the only woman rep on our allotment committee!  I now know that we have approx 35 plots, all taken, and 7 peeps on the waiting list. Not allowed to have more than one plot, so the wait could be a long one :-\
Ann-Louise

[powerspade]

We have 18 plots on our site, and for the first time all are taken so we are about to move into a waiting list

[johcharly]

Out of 28 plaots we have 27 taken

[greenstar]

You're right Mrs KP - we desperately need more allotments in Glasgow. There are 70 odd plots on ours, all taken, and we're currently telling prospective plotters that they'll be  waiting  at least five years.  How to we get the council to provide more?

[MrsKP]

FIVE YEARS !!!!!!   :o :o :o :o :o :o

lordy, i hope my 16th place doesn't take that long, i've already got compost bins on order, a fruitcage waiting to be made and a dozen and one ideas.

i feel a letter coming on  8)

[supersprout]

You're right Mrs KP - we desperately need more allotments in Glasgow. There are 70 odd plots on ours, all taken, and we're currently telling prospective plotters that they'll be  waiting  at least five years.  How to we get the council to provide more?

Five years is unreasonable! If a body of peeps want plots and there are none to be had, maybe a campaign is in order? Advice available from http://www.sags.org.uk/. Is there a local councillor/s who would be interested in supporting a campaign? Don't assume the council will be hostile to the idea, European and local authority funding are possible sources of capital for land purchase/rental, they need to know that the demand is there and vocal. A good time to start - in Jan and Feb local authorities are often looking for ideas to use up unspent cash. It may be a long haul, but worth it. Good luck greenstar :)

[greenstar]

Thanks for the link SS, although I must say that I'm not feeling the need for a fight so much as we got our allotment in March.  I know I should take up the cause for Mrs KP and all those in her predicament.  I might have a problem with our local councillor - he's one of those shiny suited blairite wannabes, and frankly gives me the creeps.  I do know a Green MSP though...might start nipping his ear about it.  There is so much waste ground round here, that's obviously very fertile.  Trouble is  they're trying to build a motorway on it - right through the middle of the city.  Nice!

[Mrs Ava]

Thought I read in my allotment book that if 5 or more peeps within a close vicinity want an allotment, and there isn't one, then the council HAS to provide one.   :-\

[katynewbie]

 >:(

I heard that too EJ. We tried it before I got my current plot, load of us got together and petitioned the council. They said that they just did not have an area suitable!
Does not stop them granting planning permission all over the place for boxy houses and retail parks tho...grrrrrr

Rant over!

;)

[bennettsleg]

Does not stop them granting planning permission all over the place for boxy houses and retail parks tho...grrrrrr

Maybe because the land is worth more to them as retail parks, particularly if the land is council owned.  To grant space for use as allotments opens up a whole gamut of legal issues, particularly if you decide to build antoher giant tesco's ontop of the site that used to be a lump of derelict land... It's all skulduggery and apathy. :(

[amphibian]

There is just the one empty plot at my site, it is a mere 3 perch. However there are many thickets of brambles we pay rent on, as the allotments are long strips and at the far end is mostly bramble, none of us have yet taken the plunge.

I have no idea if there is a waiting list, I presume there is and people are waiting for a bigger plot that the teeny one that is free, but I am about to give up the broadest and best placed plot of all, 12.5 perch of it.

I wish whomever takes it on the best of luck with the deer and the council's YTS strimmer deadhead.

[katynewbie]

 :(

Amphibian...giving up your plot??? Is it the only one you have? Sorry, really nosey!

:-[