Reading this earlier
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8193100.stm
makes me feel rather sorry for anyone on these waiting lists!
They did a piece on the BBC London News at lunchtime about it from a site at Highgate. It explained that Inner London boroughs are exempt from the provisions of the Allotments Acts hence the waiting lists in London.
Also said that you can cut £950 a year off your shopping bill growing your own fruit and veg!
I feel bad telling people they will probably wait over a year... :-X
Quote from: saddad on August 10, 2009, 15:16:18
I feel bad telling people they will probably wait over a year... :-X
me too,me to,although its more like 2,3 or even 4 at ours
We are running at 14 year wait !
What a nightmare!
I think the waiting list is 1 year - 18 months estimated at our place. The thing is that alot of the new tennants are quite keen and the main turnover was from new people only staying for 1 year so not sure how that is going to pan out. I am on the waiting list for another plot and have been on it for about 8 months. Think I am about number 7 or 8 now.
We have 60 plots and our waiting list closed when it hit 30. We only loose 2/3 a year on average so we could have a 10-15 year waiting list. Having said that the popularity could wither away in years to come. The crazy thing is that even though we explain why the list is closed - people still want to be added.
Quote from: BarriedaleNick
We have 60 plots and our waiting list closed when it hit 30. We only loose 2/3 a year on average so we could have a 10-15 year waiting list.
Our local site apparently has 89 plots (it looks a lot fewer to me!); the waiting list is around 60. If allotment turnover is similar to that at your site (scaled up: three to five), the wait might be as long as 15 years...
This is why I'm trying to persuade my local council (Sefton) to increase availability by opening a new site! Suitable land has been discovered, but converting this to allotments is not considered "cost-effective"...
Curse this infernal recession! :P
Quote from: BarriedaleNick on August 10, 2009, 17:20:59
We have 60 plots and our waiting list closed when it hit 30. We only loose 2/3 a year on average so we could have a 10-15 year waiting list. Having said that the popularity could wither away in years to come. The crazy thing is that even though we explain why the list is closed - people still want to be added.
our list is also closed acc ording to the council website,but they still pass my number on to people wanting plots,and im sure they dont mention the waiting list cos folk seem so sure they will be getting a plot when they call.
lists should remain open anyway,so that local authority knows what the current demand is,so they can provide more land ( yeah,right!)
i feel sorry 4 those who have all that time to wait. we have just got our allotment which by the way hadnt been cultivated since 1979, so you can imagine what that was like. but we have stuck at it and have now got it all cleared, a shed up and it all fenced off. and yesterday our first raised bed was done.what i cant work out is why people sign up for one then never do any work on it. we have a few were we are.
cant work out is why people sign up for one then never do any work on it. we have a few were we are.
Earthmother I think every site gets people like that, I think they like telling people they've got an allotment.We've had people on our site who hammered in 1/2 dozen wooden pegs and pushed a spade in (they didn't dig) and did nothing else for two years :o For me the biggest mystery is that they're allowed to get away with it >:(sorry to rant but it's my pet hate.ps Welcome :)
Earthmother a warm welcome to A4A!
Macmac there's at least one on my site, and I agree with what you say.
I had to wait thirty years, there are no local authority allotments here. Ours are now on the path of the proposed bypass. Hope the recession continues so that no one has any money to build one.
It seem to me rather frustrating that people are on waiting lists and then take over an allotment that has not been used for years.
I am sorry to say this because I know some people pay very little but the cheap price of allotments is certainly not helping.
And I also know that this is not a popular sentiment but some allotments look very scruffy. The ones in the next town, viewable from the main road, are quite a turn off for anyone considering letting their land for this purpose.
What we need is a directive from Brussels, maybe a grant from the EU. Contact your MEP. If landowners got grants for allotments they would spring up overnight.
We have about 40 new allotmenteers on our site and it will be interesting to see how many give up at the end of the first year. Most seem very keen but there is already a waiting list.
QuoteSuitable land has been discovered
I think that the answer is to become proactive in organising allotments. Suggest that instead of asking for allotments you find a site and then ask for a grant to get it started. Local authorities have a lack of money and many more pressing priorities. I don't know the exact figure for turning our site into allotments. One communal shed, a bit of plumbing, some fencing, and a gate, and a load of wooden marker posts.
Quoteconverting this to allotments is not considered "cost-effective"...
You will just have to find the money to make it cost effective.
Digeroo I would hate it they increased allotment rents, we are on a small income and work our plot to capacity ,we also help other plot holders my OH strims , digs and builds sheds/greenhouses/compost bins all for nothing just to help out.We know several folk in a similar position who are good allotmenteers just because something costs a lot of money doesn't mean people look after it >:(
Maybe they should update the laws pertaining to the use and upkeep of allotments....make it contractual that they will be used and maintained..or taken off you....maybe after 1 or 2 years of no obvious attendance by their owners...
I only waited three months, but I made a nuisence of myself! My (half) plot was taken by someone who never did a stroke of work on it and made the excuse that he didn't have any tools! >:(
I've heard the suggestion of a CV and references, maybe not a bad idea!
Got mine within a week of applying to the local council - that was 18 months ago - there is now a waiting list on our site too.
Since I got mine there have been 3 starters and leavers - people seriously under estimate the amount of work it takes to get a plot under control.
We had to wait 3 and half years for ours. I've heard all plots in the town are occupied although there are at least three on ours (out of 16 - it's a small site) not being worked, two haven't been touched all year.
I agree with the comment about some people not realising what they are taking on. One on our site has four people "working" it. So far this year (they got it last year) they've stuck in a few raised beds which are now growing thistles, poppies and a few bolted lettuces. 90% of the site is barely touched. As far as I can tell they seem to use the site as somewhere to dump their garden waste. Plot doesn't need to be immaculate but you need to work at keeping it under control. They look at us and say "you've done well". That's because we work at it. Old boy next to me gets furious about their (lack of) efforts
When I decided to have a plot in 2001 I had a choice of about 8. Now, even though I have split plots and increased the number from 97 to 110 every plot is taken and the waiting list is currently about 30.
I think we all have newcomers who seriously under-estimate the hard work necessary to get a plot up & running. We are in the process of setting up Starter Plots for those with no experience: just 2 beds to look after and plenty of input from us. Hopefully, they will then be fired up to take on something larger next year.
It's also helping to reduce my 20-plus waiting list!
Quote from: Trevor_D on September 07, 2009, 08:12:46
I think we all have newcomers who seriously under-estimate the hard work necessary to get a plot up & running. We are in the process of setting up Starter Plots for those with no experience: just 2 beds to look after and plenty of input from us. Hopefully, they will then be fired up to take on something larger next year.
It's also helping to reduce my 20-plus waiting list!
I would be really interested to hear more about your Starter Plots Trevor.
After having a few newcomers take on half-size plots and then not bother with them, I am looking for new ways to do things.
How big will they be (in feet)? Will they be all together in one area, or dotted around your site? How much will you charge for them? How many will you have?
(sorry for all the questions, but it does seem like such a good idea)
.
The starter plots are still very much in the early stages - I signed one couple up yesterday and have a few more who are interested. We've actually had it in mind for some time, because we're getting a number of first-time gardeners sign up and we felt that we couldn't just hand them several square yards of neglected meadow and let them get on with it.
We're fortunate enough to have a plot which has been uncultivated for a number of years, but has several very substantial raised beds on it, plus a cold frame. So we're splitting that up to give 6 starter plots - each comprising 2 raised beds each about 12 feet by 4 feet, plus a share in the cold frame, a communal compost heap and a communal grass area with a few small fruit trees. No sheds or permanent planting allowed. They rent for a growing season, ie. from autumn to autumn (our normal year is January to January) and during that time they will be given help or tuition on a formal or informal basis, according to the individual's needs. We hope that as the year progresses they will start to feel constrained by the lack of space and want to take on a "proper" plot, but if they want to stay for a second season, that's fine. (If necessary, we might have to find another plot to use in the same way.)
The plot-holders concerned will also be responsible for maintaining their area, ie. cutting grass, keeping paths tidy and so on; initially we'll have a working party with them plus a few committee members to clear the whole area and get it up & running. As they are also signing the usual Terms & Conditions, they will be expected to help with general working parties over the whole site. So that way - we hope - they get the mutual encouragement of learning together, plus being drawn into the wider membership.
We charge a rental of £5, (as opposed to £12 for a half-size plot) plus the usual up-front fees that all members pay: £5 to join, £5 for a gate key, £1 for a share and £4 per year for insurance & affiliation to NASLG.
Squash, if you want any more info, or updates on progress, pm me. All of this is in the early stages and we're prepared to amend as we go along.
We don't really have the room for starter plots but we are considering a six month probationary period (terminable on either side) and setting each new member up with a buddy, at least initially, to help them get started.
Hi
I've just logged on today so am totally new to this and not sure if anyone is interested but one of the reasons I joined, other than to get a few tips for my garden, is that my Mum lives in a lovely house with a good sized garden, Dad died earlier this year and the garden is too much for my Mum who is almost 80 but she doesnt want to move. I love gardening but working full time and with my own garden, dogs to walk and a 40 mile round trip I just cant give it the attention it deserves. It is crying out for someone to look after it, they have lived there for over 30 years and I can remember the days when Dad grew all his own veggies there. There is also a small shed and greenhouse included.
Mum lives just outside of Leeds (LS20) - is there anyone who would be interested in this plot to grow a few veg in exchange for tending the lawn every so often? Or does anyone know of a group that I can contact to arrange something like this.
Looking at this 40 year waiting list there must be hundreds of people waiting/looking for a plot and just as many elderly people unable to do their garden, not able to afford a gardener and with a lovely plot going to waste.
Thanks
Gathy
what a lovely idea
perhaps go along to the nearest allotment and ask there,i would suggest the potential person should be someone they know,for security reasons
good luck and let us know how you get on
rach
If there isn't a stampede of enquirers , have you thought of the landshare
project?
Some details here :- http://www.rivercottage.net/landshare/
and some more here :- http://landshare.channel4.com/
Regretably a little too far for me
Quote from: Gathy on September 07, 2009, 18:52:13
Hi
I've just logged on today so am totally new to this and not sure if anyone is interested but one of the reasons I joined, other than to get a few tips for my garden, is that my Mum lives in a lovely house with a good sized garden, Dad died earlier this year and the garden is too much for my Mum who is almost 80 but she doesnt want to move. I love gardening but working full time and with my own garden, dogs to walk and a 40 mile round trip I just cant give it the attention it deserves. It is crying out for someone to look after it, they have lived there for over 30 years and I can remember the days when Dad grew all his own veggies there. There is also a small shed and greenhouse included.
Mum lives just outside of Leeds (LS20) - is there anyone who would be interested in this plot to grow a few veg in exchange for tending the lawn every so often? Or does anyone know of a group that I can contact to arrange something like this.
Looking at this 40 year waiting list there must be hundreds of people waiting/looking for a plot and just as many elderly people unable to do their garden, not able to afford a gardener and with a lovely plot going to waste.
Thanks
Gathy
welcome to the site have you tried posting on http://landshare.channel4.com/ (http://landshare.channel4.com/) i'm sure you'll get takers as there are more growers out there than available land.
Quote from: TommyTomato on August 24, 2009, 20:15:11
Maybe they should update the laws pertaining to the use and upkeep of allotments....make it contractual that they will be used and maintained..or taken off you....maybe after 1 or 2 years of no obvious attendance by their owners...
It is not necessarily government law that dictates the rules. All plotholders do sign a contract and are given in writing, any amendments annually when they pay the rent.
Our site rules are decided by the town council. They also take into consideration suggestions from the allotment committee. As the allotment supervisor on our site, I sit on these meetings. It is not a dictatorship and plot holders do have a voice. I have asked many plotholders on our site for any suggestions they wish to be considered. Rules are reviewed every 2-3 years and are due for review next month.
Waiting lists for our site are currently 4-5 years. With waiting times as they are at present, it seems to of worked miracles because some plots that were not being cultivated to a satisfactory extent seem to of improved substantially this past 6 months... because nobody wants to lose their allotment for bad maintenance.....
Went to the site this evening as I've been away 2 weeks. Checked to see if the promised works had been done by the council.( wishfull thinking) All plots are supposed to be taken yet 4 still not being worked. Our bills come at the end of September,so will give them a month, if no show then ask the next 4 on the list.