Hi, apologies if I've posted this in the wrong place,
About two and a half years ago I put my name down for a plot.
I was shown around the allotment and told that there was 4 plots coming up ( 2 new and 2 existing) but other people on the list would be given first refusal, he took my name, address and phone number and told me they would be in touch when something comes up.
I've been down to the allotments 'open days' on several occasions but haven't spoken to any of the committee (always looked busy) and haven't took it any further because I was told you can wait years for a plot.
However, I have found out(friend of a friend) that 2 people have been given plots who have been waiting less than 2 years, also 2 other plot holders have had second plots given to them.
I realise I should of probably been to see the committee more often, but I can't go now and start complaining, because I have no proof of either, when I put my name down or who was on the list before me.
Sorry for the long post, what do you think should be my first move ?
thanks
I think you need to speak to whoever allocates the plots as soon as possible. Are you sure the plots are allocated by the committee? Our committee has no control over that at all it is done by the Parish Council so it may be that you spoke to the wrong people in the first instance?
Do you remember who you spoke to ? Is the site council run or like ours self managed ?I would definately go back and speak to whoever you can find and phone the council if the're' in charge. From experience of the people in charge on our site ,they take notice of folk who politely "pester" on a regular basis.We have a shop which is run by the local horticultural society which we joined before we got our plot so we got to know many of the people invoved on the site,that way they got to know us and we weren't just a name on a list.Good luck :)Though i fear with the high demand at present i think you'll need it :(
You need to immediately contact the person who keeps the waiting list and find out where you are on this.
It could be that they have tried to contact you, without success.
Its difficult to say 'how long' you should wait for a plot because it will depend on the size of the site and how popular it is - in the last couple of years we've had about a 10% turnover of plots in a year but this year, we only had one plot given up - and we have a long waiting list, those near the top have been waiting for over a year.
Thanks all for your quick replies,
It said on the council web site to contact the allotment directly, so I believe It's self run.
Going down to see them just now, You can't normally get into the allotments because of the gates are normally locked, but they leave them open on the weekend.
Wish me luck :)
oh, and I think I should of posted this on the 'Allotment Movement ' board ::)
We have had problems with people on waiting lists becoming very irate with allotment committee's because of their long wait for a plot so therefore,anyone wanting a plot must register with the council and not the allotment committee anymore.
To give a plot holder another one when there is a waiting list is not on!
Welcome to A4A Trogg...
Hope you don't have to wait much longer. It is best to keep a high profile with regular (polite) enquiries... :)
On the other hand we had two plots to let on our site the manager sent out 14 letters before he got someone to reply so if you are really interested as other people have said go for the pester power option, the people who really want an allotment are those with a spade already in the car not those who what to go away and have a family discusion, good luck on getting a plot.
Just got back, they seemed to be a little confused on who I was, to be honest I don't think my name ever got into the book.
In hindsight I should of gone down and asked before, but I didn't want to bother them, just thought they would contact me when something came up :-\
They have a few events during the summer so I'll just keep on showing my face, also go in and see them around October time, when there is less interest.
Thanks for the welcome, only been a member since September 2007 :-[ but it's hard to post about anything if you don't have a plot :)
Polite pestering certainly helps. Our committee tend to give slightly higher priority to people who are willing to take on more difficult plots that have been neglected for a while and need rescuing. Having said that, we've had to close our waiting list until 2010 because demand has mushroomed and there are far too many people on it.
Are you on the waiting list now? How many people are ahead of you? Did they give you an idea of how long it might take?
I think you need to be a little more assertive if you really want a plot.
I would be tempted to play up the point that someone has failed to put you on the waiting list and ask politely what they intend to do about it? I think it would not hurt to point out that people you know who have waited less time have already got plots! I would even go as far to ask how long the person at the top of the waiting list has actually been on it....and if it's less than you ask to go to the top!! But that just me........I wouldn't have waited so patiently as you did!!! ::) ;D ;)
Welcome to A4A, trogg, as you can see we are a helpful bunch here, and we don't just talk about allotments!!!
Find out when the rent is due, usually at the end of the a year letters are sent out for plot holders to sign that they want the plot for the next year, and how much rent is due etc etc. That is often the point where some people decided to give up, or have given up already and don't renew.
Just ask what number you are on the waiting list, and contact them every couple of months or so, to find out how quickly you are working your way to the top. It may come round quicker than you think.
Good luck :) :) :) :) :)
Found out I'm number 11, didn't ask when I first went down to be put on the list. ::)
but was expecting 2 years.
I don't have any proof at the moment that anything has gone wrong.
The only a third party, who I haven't spoken to, that mentioned it to my mate (when he found out how long I'd been waiting) But I get the Impression he doesn't want to get involved .
We'll wait and see.
I did a similar thing, waited over a year for a plot with no news. Then thought I should show my face a bit more often so turned up most weeks to ask how things were going. It took a month or so after that to get a plot so agree that polite pestering/showing keenness may help.
On our site the waiting list is now around 4 years, longer if you want a plot to keep a few chickens as only 20% are allocated for this. I have just taken the role of allotment supervisor and get the new "waiting lists" in 2 weeks once all rents should of been paid.
I hope to allocate several plots after this date as it is usually when plots become vacant, rather than paying another years rent. Having walked round our site, I reckon about 7-9 plots are currently a wilderness but will see what happens or if anybody has a valid reason for uncultivated plots.
One final thought for you to think about: our council ruling is that if budding allotmenteers do not wish to take the offered plot, they go to the bottom of the list. With over 50 people on our waiting lists I do not expect to be short of takers.
I'd contact them via email, so you have proof of the date you registered.
Actually, that's a very good idea lewic :)
The allotments are only 5 minutes walk away, so I thought I'd pop down to see them rather that email or phoning them, but with hindsight .........
Yesterday I emailed 2 other sites, only a 5 minute drive away, and today I'm phoning 3 others, 1 only a 5 minute drive, the other 2 a 10 minute drive away and they have plots available according to the council web site.
But the last 2 are in a inner-city area, you can see the smashed greenhouses from google earth :(
Would of loved my nearest one, my youngest daughter came with me and wanted one herself :) some of the plots had 'childrens' gardens at the front, and the whole site looked well kept.
By the time I get one she'll be more interested in boys than Brussels sprouts :o
Hi trogg welcome to A4A as stated it takes as long as it does but will say one thing
When i obtained my plot i found out there was four people on the list before me but on speaking to the organ grinder found out this list had been in place for some time not one person on the list had bothered to go back and forth to keep in touch thus he scrapped the list and i had first refusal on two plots .
my point is i went back and forth at least three to four times and bugged him for a couple of weeks .
things might be a little different these days as everyone wants one
try and make freinds with the local plot holders have also found comming on a recomendation at times has a little weight behind it as well
Might sound a bit thick here but can someone explain to me how a waiting list works in regards to years,ie,if you are told the waiting list is 4 years,how do they work it out? :-\
Hi daileg, thanks for the welcome.
The theme I'm getting is, if you don't show your face often enough you pushed to the back of the queue.
I just thought they would contact you when you were top of the list :-\
anyway, made a few phone calls, no answer at one site (although I know it has a long waiting list), one site has no vacancies (although showing some available on their web site) and the last one has over 40 plots available :o but has a long history of vandalism including damage to every greenhouse and polytunnel on site :(
He also said that non of the plots were ready because the guys who are supposed to cut the grass on overgrown empty plots are refusing to do so, ???
Still, beggars can't be choosers :)
Going to have a look now.
Quote from: Fork on June 01, 2009, 10:50:13
Might sound a bit thick here but can someone explain to me how a waiting list works in regards to years,ie,if you are told the waiting list is 4 years,how do they work it out? :-\
My thread title ' How long should I wait for a plot' may look a daft question but I couldn't change it after I posted it .
I know it's one question that can't be answered.
It's all a bit of guesswork , if your 12th on a list and you have an average turnover of 4 a year, then you could expect to wait 3 years.
But, obviously not guaranteed.
Hi Trogg, and welcome to A4A from me.
I'd consider taking 1 of the unpopular plots but keep your name on the waiting list for the 1 you really want. particularly if its going to be a couple of years before anything good comes up, that way you can make a start at growing your own, but I know others would think differently ;D
Anyway good luck
1066
thankyou for the welcome 1066,
I've just got back from viewing the allotments with vacant plots, although in principle I can have a plot, until the grass has been cut, I can't. :-\
Apparently when the contractors started to cut the grass one of the workmen got hit by a brick that was thrown up by the machinery and may possibly loose an eye.
So the council are having an inquest and nothing will be done till it's over.
However, one of the allotment holders is having trouble looking after their plot and has asked the council if it could be divided in half, so it's a possibility I might have one soon, got to phone them at the end of the week .
Was told it would be best not to have a greenhouse but if I did then not to have glass :(, don't think there were any greenhouses on site.
So hopefully, my next thread will be 'What do I do now :o'
:)
Well done - hopefully :D
1066
Hi Trogg, I've been away so only just caught up with this thread, so welcome to the nut house, keep plugging away at the other plots, keep pestering without being a pest if that makes sense, good luck and by the way love the avatar. ;D ;D ;D