Allotments 4 All

Well a big hello to everyone out there!!!!
Before I ask a really trivial question,( please don't laugh at it) let me introduce myself.

I'm Clair and after spending the summer with my two children 9 and 10 growing tomatoes, cuecumbers and salad in tubs squeezed into a small garden, we want to go the next step and have a small allotment.

I've phoned my local council who told me to speak to my parish council.
The parish have no allotments full stop.
I've read or heard somewhere that if enough people on their electoral roll write in and ask for an allotment that they are obliged to  make some land available.
Am I just suffering a bad case of wishful thinking, or is all or some of it true. I've spoken to some friends in the area and so far with this I know of two others who would also love to have a plot.

Here's an idea.. Perhaps you could find a nieghbour who does'nt garden thier garden, who'll let you use some of thier land in return for a few veg now and then... maybe you could put some kind of ad in the feeads?

I've heard somthing similar about parish council having to provide you with an allotment space if you ask for it, but i dont think its true.

If 12 (I think) people ask for plots, they do have to provide them. I don't know whether the rule is ever followed in practice.

i may be able to help here!
i have started to get the ball rolling here regarding some allotments and i have been told by the powers that be that it is a minimum of 6 people need to express an interest for a lottie. then they must look into it seriously.
where abouts are you? i dont know if it is different for different parishes but it is most definatley worth a few phone calls ;)

its 6 needed people, all on the electoral roll, the council have a statutory obligation under the allotment act to give you an allotment. Search for the allotment act, do some google research on it. This was a bit, big, political issue once...when people were poor....

However, if an authority believes there is a
demand, it has a statutory duty to provide a
sufficient quantity of plots and to lease them to
people living in its area. If local people feel there
is a need for allotments which is not being met,
they can get together a group of any six residents
who are registered on the electoral roll and put
their case to the local authority.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/690/AllotmentsaplotholdersguidePDF248Kb_id1127690.pdf

Just want to wish you the best of luck with regards to you getting an allotment.
We have 2 young children and got our allotment this year and the kids love it.
Goodluck!!!!!!!  ;) ;)