Allotments 4 All

OH rang me at work this afternoon to say there was a letter addressed to me from the allotment managing agents, so I asked him to open it.

I was delighted (to say the least) when he read that it was an offer of a lottie.  I got him to pick me up after work, and we drove round to see if we could view it.

We walked up and down both lanes which divide the allotments, but couldn't find it anywhere.  Then we spotted a narrow little lane which led down the back and obviously wasn't very well trod.  So we ventured down there.  And found it.

Luckily the gate was open, so we got to view it.  It was dreadful.  We found a chap in another allotment who said it hadn't been worked for 10 years.  We couldn't actually walk through it - I tried, and got ripped to shreds.

And then we found that the reason that the gate was open was because the allotment next door to it is being worked, but the lane is so blocked that the only way that man can get to it is through the one we were offered.  The allotments aren't open plan - they're all surrounded by high hedges.

Sadly, we've decided not to take the plot.  It's too remote for me to go there safely on my own.  And too inaccessible to be able to take things to it.  There isn't any storage, and short of carrying a shed there plank by plank on my shoulders, no means of creating any.

Now I'm just hoping that they aren't going to be mean to me and say that since I turned it down I can't have the next one that comes up.

Ah well, we'll keep on keeping on with the part-plot we're working on the same site.

:(

That must be very disappointing for you. However, you have very good reasons for turning it down, and should point out those reasons when you speak to them. Turning down a plot which has not been used for 10 years or so should not be a reason for you not being offered another one! I find that "pester power" works well...I work for a local council and know what i am talking about!!  ;)

Hope you get offered something else soon, don't lose heart!!

Thanks Katy.  :)

It's actually, I reckon, pester power that got me the offer in the first place.  These allotments are owned by a very large building company, and managed by a land factor company.  Apparently there's a covenant on them that they have to stay as allotments, otherwise as you can imagine they would have been a large housing estate some time past.  I've written twice to them asking for a plot, and finally got this offer.  So, as you say, I won't give up.

We could have coped with the work involved in bringing it up to scratch - possibly a flame thrower and a gallon of petrol might have done it, eventually  ;) - though it would probably take the rest of this year to do so.  But the idea that OH wouldn't want me to go on my own (come to that, I wouldn't want to go there alone), and the fact that we really couldn't get any supplies there, probably explain why no one else has been able to properly work the plot either.

Very sorry you have had your hopes raised Denbee, what a shame!  No one can possibly penalise you for turning down such a plot, no wonder it hasn't been cultivated for 10 years - it sounds dreadful!  You keep plugging away and you will win through in the end.  Do make a list of why you turned it down though  as they are very good reasons, and if anybody quibbles, you will have the information at hand. Hope you get offered a better one soon.   :( busy_lizzie

that is a shame and you do have my sympathies, but i thinkyou do right to turn it down, adn I dont think you should feel bad about that. You certainly need to be safe. Is there another allotment site in your area that you could put your name down for? does yur local council not own any? It sounds like the bilding company that owns the one you have tried doesnt care much about the plots and thats a real shame. good luck though and  i hope youdo find something suitable.

i think you where right to turn the disaster area down id say 2 gallon of petrol  ;D just to be on the safe side if the other chap has used it as a path to his whats to say he wouldn't of done that if you had took it keep pestering and good luck we hope you get a good one