Disgusted Rant

[andrewo]

A friend of mine came around the other day, he is on a small allotment in the village by the church and he told me he was coming off and offered me his allotment. He then told me what they had been charging him over the last year, £100 for a half plot + upwards of £60 for water (the site is metered). He thinks (and I believe him) that they are trying to drive them off so property developers can tear down the lovely old vacant church and build houses but to do this they need a road, and surprise surprise the only place a road can go is through the allotments.

I felt sorry for my friend, he's had that allotment for 36 years and is being driven off because he just can't afford the costs, who could? I work full time but I couldn't pay this for half a plot! I want to know if anyone else has had experience of this underhand way of getting rid of allotments?

It angers me that these fools will takeaway 16 allotments for the sake of a few houses that no one can afford in the present market. Is it me or are councils and property developers just f***ing idiots? (apologies for the swearing and the asterixes). It really does anger me.

[piskieinboots]

Good GOD!!!

I pay £7 per year for a half plot with water included - I'm not saying that to make you feel worse, apologies if it does

[zazen999]

A friend of mine came around the other day, he is on a small allotment in the village by the church and he told me he was coming off and offered me his allotment. He then told me what they had been charging him over the last year, £100 for a half plot + upwards of £60 for water (the site is metered). He thinks (and I believe him) that they are trying to drive them off so property developers can tear down the lovely old vacant church and build houses but to do this they need a road, and surprise surprise the only place a road can go is through the allotments.

I felt sorry for my friend, he's had that allotment for 36 years and is being driven off because he just can't afford the costs, who could? I work full time but I couldn't pay this for half a plot! I want to know if anyone else has had experience of this underhand way of getting rid of allotments?

It angers me that these fools will takeaway 16 allotments for the sake of a few houses that no one can afford in the present market. Is it me or are councils and property developers just f***ing idiots? (apologies for the swearing and the asterixes). It really does anger me.

Yes they are.

[Nicos]

Is this a case for an ombudsman Andrew????

[jackie j]

I pay £18 for a half plot water is included.

[MaureenHall]

Come on Lynda and Bride, you need another "cause" to sort out!

I think it's absolutely atrocious, and I think I'd ask whoever is charging that amount of rent to justify it. As for the water, if it really is that expensive because of the metering, I'd ask them to disconnect it and do some water-saving projects instead. We haven't got water connected on our plots yet and we've all managed one way and another.

[SHAZSULL]

disgusting,i pay 26 £ over 60s cheaper,allotment holders have rights to,he should get the local paper involved & shame these shysters!

[SlugLobber]

I agree, an ombudsman is required. This sounds like a media story, to me. Perhaps the local paper or even a national would be interested in this underhand way of getting people off the plots? Are there other allotments nearby that you could ask the prices of, for reference? If the lots are Council Owned, then it would be surely deemed unlawful to charge multiple times the price of other plots, for the same facilities?

[SHAZSULL]

ALSO ,i know you dont want to move but they have to offer you an alternative,as well within a certain distance from that site.
but £200 for a plot seems very expensive isnt that defeating the object of the point of allotment!

[BrideXIII]

get a copy of the bills to prove the charges, then contact your local newspaper with the proof and your suspicions, see what they say about running an article.

then we can see what can be done.

[Glutton4...]

Contact 'Watchdog' that's just the sort of thing they love to get their teeth into. I bl**dy well would - that's just disgusting

[Snadger]

......................................... We haven't got water connected on our plots yet and we've all managed one way and another.

Sorry to deviate a little from the initial thread but:-

The only thing I've had to use mains water for this year is to fill my kettle!
We have mains water to every plot on our site which we pay dearly for as it's metered!

At the AGM I am going to suggest the water be cut off during the winter months maybe from beginning of November until end of February. This will probably be contested by the chook men, of which I am one, but my chooks have NEVER tasted mains water this year and are much better for drinking rain water I feel!

Mini rant over!

[kirsty b]

Thats awful Andrew. Go public. For once I'm speechless

[tricky]

That is discusting , i know exactly how this man feels
I say go to the press but be carefull , the press told everyone id got my plot back and lied
As for water charges get it cut off ,i always used my water butts
16 x £60 £960 water bill where we live its 105.5p per meter squared
somebodies making a nice profit
This sort of thing angers me

[Two_Sheds]

We have metered water on our site ... the bill is about £6 each per year.