Allotment hoders please a question?

[mothersmilkandherchickenseggs]

im trying to get an allotment from my local council so far no luck there is a waiting list but on recent inspection (by a very nosy me) many of the plots on the sight in qusetion are overgrown and apear derelict. My Dad who used to have three on this sight said to me that he had to sign an ageement to say he would 'maintain' his plots, did you have to do the same? surely if this is still the case these owners are in breech of there contract and should be dealt with leaving the way for me others who will look after the land better to have them. I only ask because i am desperate to have one and will argue anything to get one iyswim? (also tiss not fare to have unused plots when others want one). I appreciate each town council has different policys but im just trying to get an idea.
thankyou

[LaurieFairyCake]

It's a month too early to say they are derelict. I only cleared mine and redug last weekend and only cos it's the first tome I'm growing a couple of things from seed, otherwise at end of April I would do a weekend of planting grown on plants.

They do have policies generally and you get three warnings on our site.

[LaurieFairyCake]

I waited two years on the list for mine but a lot of sites are much quicker. Phone up and make sure you're on the list and where you are on it.

My friend up the road got hers within a month.

[mothersmilkandherchickenseggs]

im 34th on the list and am incontact with the lady who deals with it(may get in contact with the local allotment and liesure garden association aswell). Im just so desperate because i am soon to lose half my garden (to another shed for dh's work so it is a must) and its where all my veggies are i swear its the only thing that keeps me sane i shall be so sad to see it go

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

I have something in mine saying it has to be kept in a good state but am a bit hazy about what the procedure is if I don't. Mine is a private site though and we can't do things like use weed killers so might be a bit different. Have you had a look at the Landshare site in case there's something on there that might help ?

[AndiMac]

My allotment tenancy agreement says that all plots must be maintained in good stead. I got a "warning letter" in February asking politely if I couldn't look after it, to consider giving it up as there was a waiting list. I went down to see the parish clerk and slightly less politely told her that February wasn't exactly the best time to judge how well I looked after my plot. Matter was dropped for me, but I imagine it would normally take a couple of letters and then it would perhaps not be released whenever the plot rents came due. Do you know when the rents are due? As that is a likely time to try and get a plot.

The other thing I would do is go down to see whoever is in charge of the plots in person. Tell them that that you noticed that there were these overgrown plots and you were wondering if they were truly rented out or not? Note their numbers if you have them or give a detailed description of where they are. On our site, there were several plots not rented out simply because it was assumed that no one would want the work of clearing them! If you go and make it clear that you are happy to have that plot full of brambles, you might get lucky!

[PaisleyLeaf]

There's a few on ours that have got a bit like that but it's often that the holder is in ill health or in hospital and the committee are hoping they'll be back with us before they re-allocate what is often their one love.

[GnomeDePlume]

I'm on an old established field. Our rules are that a plot must be kept in good order however what 'good order' means is different for a plot compared to what you would put up with in a garden. New plot holders are normally given a probationary period. During that time plot holders may be asked to leave quite quickly. Once the plot holder is established then they are normally given a lot longer grace period before letters are sent out.

Dont lose heart, the majority of people who take on a plot will give it up very quickly. I remember when I first looked for a plot one of the gloom merchants on the site said that I would probably have to wait 20 years. I actually had to wait about 6 months.

While there may be a lot of people ahead of you some of thos people will not want a plot once it is offered. So long as you are flexible then a plot will eventually come up.

[WhereamI]

I waited 4 years for mine. I think many of these comments are valid and on our site there are some that have been seemingly left derelict for a while. I think this may be due to a number of reasons...ill-health/old age of holder; definitions of 'derelict' are grey in that one person's neglect is another's organic methods; that where I am, plots get transferred in the autum...I think because the rents are due then but also that it's less daunting than in spring or summer when weeds quickly spring up. Check out when they transfer plots and step up your enquiries in a regular but very friendly, very amenable way.

[Driftwood999]

Have you looked at the scheme that Hugh Fernley Whittingstall established, called Landshare they have a website and one day I had a browse and was amazed that there were plots on offer in my town. People with excess land that they would like to see maintained, offer it to like minded people to grow food on. Worth a look.