Allotments

[Inrockuptible]

I am more and more furious with my local council about the allotment provision. There are three sites within walking distance of my house and I have been on the waiting list for 2 years.
The councils information booklet states that any neglected allotments will be offered up, but in the one closest to me at least a third are derelict, and apparantly haven't ben tended for years. I have spoken to a few friendly allotment owners who find it disgusting and I have written to the council but I still have no luck. There is currently a waiting list of 134 people for 31 spaces in the one close to me, and I know those people would be doing so much more with it.

As there is a 4 year waiting list in our area there are inspections every few months by the council, and those not maintained are given warning letters then booted off if there is no improvement or a reasonable excuse. Some allotments have their own committees that control this; also it's best to find out the person in charge at the council & speak direct. Some detective work may be needed.
Good luck; I took mine on 5 years ago (no waiting list then) but it'd be very hard to get one here now.

I was lucky to get a plot last year and it's been a hard slog getting it sorted. I've planted onions, shallots, garlic and cabbage and have lots of seeds germinating.
The plot was full of rocks and stones and we've built raised beds. When I went to pay the rent our plot was on the map as 'Waste Ground'. i said if you don't change that asap I wil be very, very cross so it's now called Raised Beds. very Hyacinth Bucket!!

It is disgusting that they are just sitting there. A lovely lady I spoke to said her and the others had considered 'guerrilla gardening' the wasted plots and wait to see what happens.
I told her to go for it. There's no law against tending untended soil surely?

Sound like ours apparantly a 7 year list but this covers such a wide area and about 6 difernt groups , the woman at the town ghall doesn't seem to have a list for each one (even if one person was on all of themsurely it would be easier?)

I aske why so many were standing empty then and was told its 'cos some people get them so cheap they just pay up and then don't do and some are waiting for the council to rotovate them but the parks dept have been too busy to do them. I offered to do my own but apparantly thats not allowed

The one next to my Dads is empty we have said to the woman on the other side if she sees the people to say I will 'help' them with it and do some work and share the stuff , its not too bad atm but by the end of the summer will be overgrown

MrsWho There's bound to be a committee or society that runs things. Put pressure on them to ensure all plots are worked if not get local press involved.

They just say 'well it is someone new in charge , it will get sorted soon ' [rollseyes]

I've been there today as we walk past it on the way back from nursery, and a lovely man has offered me half his plot if I can give him a hand with his. He said his wife is quite unwell so he can't keep it up as he'd like and he needs a bit of help with the composting and uprooting. His patch does look a bit unkempt but he is growing some great things there.
I would love to, but will the council take offence at this, or just see it as a friendly arrangement?

The couinicl will take offence at sub-letting well a bloke here got in trouble for it but you could work something out as in you do the work and he get X amount of produce or something like that to avoid paying actual money (thats what I want to do)