Allotments 4 All

Having spent some time reading the threads on this wonderful site, waiting to find out if I am going to get an allotment.
I wondered if everyones allotments came up for renewal at the same time.
The renewals in Preston are in April, from what I have been told.

This seems a little strange when everyone is busy planting and tendering the produce planted. If I get an offer of an allotment it is going to be a full year before I can get anything planted. (ok I now there is a lot of stuff I could do)

It would make more sense to me to have the renewals earlier in the year.

Is it only this area that does this at this time of the year or is there a reason for it? ::)

Really getting frustrated I walk past the allotments near me and everyone is working away. :(

Ron

Allotments near us (Hertfordshire) also have April renewals .... although we managed to get ours 2 weeks ago - which means having to do lots and lots of prep and digging is a short space of time inorder to get everything planted phew! So know the feeling.  :-\

Would be better to have October renewal  - weather still ok to get started in digging and prep - with lots of manure - with plenty of time to get planning !

september renewals here.

i'm sure if you get a plot there will be plenty of people on your site and here with spare plants to get you going if its too late to sow.

Jo

Our society rents from the council so our rents are paid by Mar 31st which is the end of the financial year..This doesn't mean if any one wanted a lotty they would have to wait till then to occupy it. If it was a previous tennanted one and the tennant informed us he no longer wanted it say in middle of July they wouldnt pay till the following March as the previous tennant would have paid the rent on that plot.
If it was a spare plot say in september they would be spared the rent till the following March,,,But the plot would be signed to them when they occupied it..
But if you are waiting to see if there are any spare plots then it would be April as it would be then when we found out the previous tennant hadn't paid their rent so no longer wanted it ..Hope  this makes sense .. jim

Our renewals are due in march/april too. I took my plot on in October and haven't paid, not due to pay until now.

Ours used to be April but someone at the council realised this was a bit daft and they moved it to October on the grounds that someone giving up in October leaves a plot which can be prepped over winter by a new tenant, whereas it's a lot harder to get someone in April as it's too late to get some (but not all) things going. I benefitted by this as I took mine on in May and didn't pay till October.

But now, if anyone takes on a plot mid-year, they do a pro-rata charge for the number of months they'll have it before next renewal.

We have a lot of newbies and things are looking really good up there now - I believe there's only 18 plots left to take out of 106 full plots (and a lot of those are halved).

Ron, don't be downhearted if you don't get a plot until mid-April.  I got a huge crop from my first summer, starting in May (and not having the benefit of advice like you get here - it was definitely a steep learning curve!).

moonbells

Yes MB- things are looking much better up our end (me and moonbells are on same site). It used to be deserted, but some hard work has happened and 2 really neglected plots have been transformed.
Maybe you'll come and visit one day?

And Ron - if you get a plot in April, there's loads of stuff you can put in - really, LOADS. If you get a plot, just stick your questions up on this forum and you'll get lots of help and advice. Let's just hope you get one....

Sarah

Thanks girls (moonbells & Sarah-b)
I will be asking a load of questions when the time comes.

Hope it is sooner than later, its the fresh air and friendship as much as the growing.
Everyone having the same interest must be healthy, happy place.

Thanks

Ron

Jim
I did reply to you but it seems to have gone astry. (try again)

You do make sense it must be a finaince thing here

Thanks

Ron

Slugcatcher   You can get a lotty any time if there are some available.  Go and have a look first to speculatively pick the one you want.  If someone has paid rent but not working it then you should be able to have it.  When I went for one I was told they were all paid up but it was obvious they were not being worked so I put my foot down and got one.  ;D

Ours are due in September.  I shall have to remortgage to find the six quid !

Quote from: wardy on March 30, 2005, 13:38:11
Slugcatcher   You can get a lotty any time if there are some available.  Go and have a look first to speculatively pick the one you want.  If someone has paid rent but not working it then you should be able to have it.  When I went for one I was told they were all paid up but it was obvious they were not being worked so I put my foot down and got one.  ;D

A lot of the plots up at ours weren't being worked, and with the renewed interest and sudden influx of newbies, the council started to follow the previously-ignored part of our contracts which requires them to be worked or they can give the tenant notice, and so sent a few letters asking absentees if they were intending to work their plots. Some folk were rather cross about this, despite having signed the contracts and blatantly ignored the rules! So we've also acquired some chastened folk back again, and to do them credit they're having a good go at reclearing their plots.

If you get hold of a contract and see if there's a similar clause, then you've probably got grounds for asking the council/whoever to write a letter to less than diligent tenants.

moonbells

I thought of that moonbells,
because there is an allotment at one of the sites not been worked for 2 years. I was told this by the sectary.
But with it being a small site I didn't want to start off by rocking the boat, there must be a reason for it not being worked. It isn't over grown because it has been covered.

Maybe within the next couple of weeks I will of heard something.

Thanks Sarah b for the invite, I might just take you up on that.

Thanks everyone

Ron

did you enquire with the secretary as to why this plot is not in use?

if you are not downright rude or pushy, i dont see why the secretary wouldnt tell you the reason.

when i enquired about my plot, i was told two plots were available but they could not be released immediately as the previous holders were both dying of cancer and were in hospices.
on what is now my plot, the son came and cleared the shed and the last crop so i could take it over (this is a few weeks back)
the other plot became fully vacant only two weeks ago after the lady passed away.

this i was told be the secretary - after all, it wasnt a secret or anything.

also, if you are interested in getting a plot, make it clear to the powers that be. even if everything is fine with the plot holder - if s/he hasnt worked the plot for two years, then maybe they are not interested anymore...in any case, they should not be surprised to lose the plot

just my thoughts
good luck
svea

currently due over here in coalville. (15 quid for a full lottie, half price if oap or on benefits).

CC

i live in preston
where are you trying to get on
yes april at moor park
but we took over a site about three months
if i can help any way let me no or send me a message
matt & helen

our fees are being collected now in April. Being in the cheapest council tax area has draw backs as you pay for everything else. our rents are £14.00 per rod! :o so for my lottie of 9 rods we have £120 to pay. stil cheap at that the level of enjoyment it gives and food it provides long pays for the £10/month of cost ;D.

we took on two allotments in the course of last year and still got a good crop of short term veggies. so jsut go fo it and consider allotments are for life not for xmas! (to take a ripoff of a pun)...its a long term investment.

hi folks just a short reply about allotment renewals ours is April & October



cheers settler

Quote from: Kevins299 on April 04, 2005, 21:01:24
our fees are being collected now in April. Being in the cheapest council tax area has draw backs as you pay for everything else. our rents are £14.00 per rod! :o so for my lottie of 9 rods we have £120 to pay. stil cheap at that the level of enjoyment it gives and food it provides long pays for the £10/month of cost ;D.

we took on two allotments in the course of last year and still got a good crop of short term veggies. so jsut go fo it and consider allotments are for life not for xmas! (to take a ripoff of a pun)...its a long term investment.

YEOWCH!!!

Where on earth are you?
Ours are only somewhere about  £20 per year for 10 rods.

moonbells

Just paid mine on Friday, £18.00   they are putting it up next year, to £18.45!
(worth every penny!)