I live in the village of Weston Rhyn, in the town of Oswestry, North Shropshire. In September 2006 I applied on line to Oswestry Council for an allotment. As I had not heard anything I rang the council to chase my application up and was given the number of the gentleman who allocates allotments - the number was his home number. He told me that I live 'outside the town boundary' (although my postal address is Oswestry) and can not have an allotment. As there are no allotments anymore in my village (the site was abandoned many years ago before I moved to the area) can anyone please advise on the best course of action to take to get allotments in my area? I am really keen to get an allotment!! Many thanks indeed.
Is the organiser a council employee?
I am not sure of the law on this but I would have thought if you are paying rates to Oswestry council you are entitled as much as anyone else within the councils boundaries.
Why I ask about the 'organiser' is I live (and all the neighbouring holders do) outside the town and we are OK but I must admit our last secretary once he got a little power earned his name of 'little hitler' by doing things 'his way' this could be a similar situation in your area.
See your local councillor........... with the elections coming up soon he/she might take up your case.
Its worth a go!
Just used a different name and address within the boundaries. They won't check.
Hi Tee Gee & ACE,
Many thanks for your helpful advice. I'm determined not to give up!! Best wishes, Bella.
Hi Bella, sorry to hear you've had problems getting allocated an allotment. I'd suggest contacting the council again and saying that he chap who's number you were given didn't seem to think you qualified for a plot, and ask the council to clarify their policy - as Tee Gee says, remind them that you do pay council tax & expect the same services regardless of where abouts in the town you live. See what they come up with? Best of luck x
Have same problem, though I have a Weston postal address I found out to my surprise I do not live in Weston but in the parish of the little village a couple of miles away. Weston council recently changed their rules and those of us just outside the boundaries can only have alottments if no one in Weston wants one. So I am now no longer well up the list. So I too no longer get an alottment. The village doesn't have any( well it is surrounded by farms).
Try your local councillor. Birmingham doesn't care whether you live in a city boundaries or now (just as well since it's only a couple of miles away) and I wonder how many places really would.
There's a ten year waiting list where I live (Camden Town, central London) so I went to the next nearest site in Cricklewood, which comes under the London Borough of Brent. I rang the guy in charge of allocations and as he explained, it didn't matter that I lived outside the borough, it was far more important that I was keen and would make good use of the plot.
Used to not matter about boundaries but got a letter just before Christmas teling me rules had changed
Quote from: ACE on January 16, 2007, 17:11:59
Just used a different name and address within the boundaries. They won't check.
Our society would Ace.. You need a utility bill if Your not known ..It comes of folks doing that and and then fly tipping a load of rubbish on and never being seen again..
Bella bend the ear of your local councillor he may help ....cheers Jim
Bella,
Get someone in the correct address boundary to apply for one as a sleeping partner. That way you'll get any official correspondance they send out.
Have you tried contacting the Nation Allotments Soc 01536 266576 or natsoc@nsalg.org.uk?
Phil
Apparently our society is having a discussion on this at the AGM in Feb. - not sure what's brought it on; perhaps the big increas in the waiting list
The present rule has no restrictions and we are to discuss:
1) keeping it the same
2) restricting it to very close by
3) restricting to specified postal districts
No impact on existing holders but would affect those on the waiting list
My personal opinion is that I think anyone who is prepared to turn up and do the work of keeping up the allotment to a reasonable standard should be allowed.
Hello Bella,
DONT waste your time contacting the national society of allotment and leisure gardeners they are absolutrly USELESS,they are only interested in taking your membership fees and giving the secretary a 50% pay rise virtualy every year and buying him a car,my site was members for 21 years and we had trouble with the council,the national society said there was nothing that they could do as they could not engage into a legal argument because it would cost too much.WE the plotholders got together and decided to fight the council at our own expense,we stuck together and WON,So much for the national society saying they couldnt do anything,i hasten to add we are no longer members,(would you be).if you want TRUE representation get in touch with theallotmentsandgardenscounciluk.org.uk they are the true people to represent ALL allotment holders.i wish you well with your quest to get a allotment,please keep us informed of any progress.....GOOD LUCK
Bella, don't give up, I tentively approached my local parish last year to find out what there was available as my site run by the local council has no water supply, I also approached the neighouring Council too. It didn't matter where I was I could have put my name down for both sites if I had wanted to join a very long list. Maybe it might be an idea to contact a local councillor and introduce them to the problems in your area, they were electected to represent the voters, so should be able to find out why you can't get a plot if there is one available. Good luck.
Bella, have you thought of applying for an allotment in the area where you work? Where I live, in Exeter, to qualify for an allotment, you either have to live within the city, or work in the city. A couple on a plot near me live in a village some distance away and can't get an allotment near their home, but as they work in Exeter they qualify for a plot here. They often come up for an evening after work (when the weather is better!) and bring their supper. We've even had some barbeques!
KK