Congratulations you have a plot....oh no sorry you don't....Argh!!

[Tripmeup]

Hello and hope it works out for you!

[Bill HH]

Welcome, Ask for the name of the person who is supposed to be in charge, its amazing how things happen when they know you know who is making all these errors at your expense.

[Nicos]

Onion patch...hi there and welcome to the Vine!

Sounds like you are really being messed around!

Here's what I would do ...

Go to the site this weekend and see if anyone there knows the name of the guy who has the first plot ..or who he was most friendly with...if he's been there a while someone might know.
Once you know his name, try and find out where they live/ phone number via the internet and get in direct contact with them
Explain you are very interested in taking over the plot from them (which was in fact offered to you in error as you are the top of the waiting list )and say you are willing to pay 2014 rent for them as they clearly were unable to use it if they really don't feel they can keep it going anymore.
Offer to get in touch with the council if they agree..

Just be proactive. Some people just can't be ar$ed to return keys / terminate agreements and just need a friendly face to act on their behalf.
You never know...it might be worth doing the groundwork as no one else seems to be bothered to try and find out for you!

They may well want to keep it on having been recovering from an injury or something...but you don't know unless you speak with them!

And yes, it may well work! It did for me when we were after our second plot next to ours.
I even wrote the letter for them to sign to send to the council saying they had provisionally handed the keys to me ( I showed them the letter showing I'd enquired and that I had the plot next to them)giving my address for them to contact me if they wanted the keys returning!

I really think if I'd not bothered the plot just wouldn't have become available.
They were paying by standing order so even that was too much of a bother to cancel!

Sorry for the essay...but being proactive worked for me
Worth a try eh??

[Onion patch]

Quick update

Hi All - thanks for all the comments.

I have finally come to an agreement with the Council (after making them call the other two plot holders and getting promises that they will look after their plots better next year...) and have been offered a different plot. I have no idea where they found it all of a sudden or what they had to do to make it happen (nor do I really care at this point). It's a smaller plot but looks like a perfect little corner and has a good little shed on it too which is a bonus. It's also overgrown (surprise!!) but nowhere as bad as the first one I was offered. It's also on the "nicer" side of the allotment where a couple of people seem quite active. The site is kind of split in two if that makes sense.

Have to say though, if the plots don't see some action early next year I'll certainly make a nuisance of myself.

I've also been offered "first option" if another full plot comes up with the smaller plot then being available to the next person on the list.

So all is well - phew. Now - where is the note of my seed order that I had put on hold...

Have a great Friday - nearly the weekend!

[Nicos]

That's good news!

So when can you start?....piccies please...we love to see work in progress!

[bearded bloke]

excellent


Whoops was nearly very rude ............ Hello & welcome BTW

[veggiechicken]

Congratulations!! So pleased there has been a positive outcome after all that hassle.
As Nicos says - we need photos. We're a nosey lot

[Bigmallly]

Brilliant news, really pleased for you.

[alldigging]

Fab stuff - get taking photos!

[Onion patch]

Thanks all - pictures will follow!

And I just realised I didn't answer a couple of questions.

Noosner - I'm in Leeds and thanks to Zelenina for the onion patch song. I shall now be singing "I'm a lonely little petunia in an onion patch" ALL day! Great little song though - boohoo - boohoo

[Bren In Pots]

It sounds like your plot is in a better spot especially with those around you actually working theirs.

[Bigmallly]

You're lucky to find a 9 plot allotment in Leeds, I think ours had about 100 in Oakwood.

[Knight of Albion]

That's great news, Onion Patch. And the best possible result ... You got a plot and peace was maintained!

[Noosner]

That's fantastic news, Onion Patch, well done. Persistence won the day!

Ooh, as BM says, a 9-plot site sounds a real find in Leeds. I used to live in Burley and the site was much bigger there. Bestest of luck with it and happy tilling.

[Onion patch]

Onion Patch's patch 7, no 6 - no, no 5, definetely 5

So here are finally a couple of pictures from new plot no 5...



It's considerably smaller with a tall hedge and some trees on the north facing side but it should get pretty much full morning and midday sun so fingers crossed. Shed needs a couple of planks replacing at the back and a little paint at some point but other than that good to go.

There are signs of two beds. In the far corner near the shed they clearly had some potatoes (we still found a couple) and right at the front there are some very sad looking leftovers from an attempt to grow sweetcorn which didn't do very much for some reason.

Now the question is, do I wait a couple of weeks just in case the Council is going to change their mind again.....? Bless 'em.

Hope you are all having a good Sunday.