You all have the wrong end of the stick.
It is a combination of things.
Lack of Interest
Historically allotment usage was in decline, so councils were glad to let plots, not too worried about how well they were cultivated.
My council disposed of two large sites and moved remaining tenants to nearby(ish) sites.
New take on.
As allotments have become more fashionable or popular (depends on your view of the world) all the easier plots have been taken. What's left is the awkward plots.
Naivety
All too many of the new plotholders I see have no idea of the level of work needed, they see Monty Don on the telly do about ten minutes work a week and think they can do the same and have a "Berryfields" clean garden. Also all too many are not prepared to use weedkiller as an initial clearance, combined with lack of awareness how much time and effort are needed for the manual alternative
Lack of commitment
Various scenarios here, but this is the condensed high speed one. "After turning over an area the size of a couple of growbags, they come back the next week, see the regrowth, dig over the first bit again, return a week later see more regrowth and give up."
What does that mean.
Well, it was bad to start with, now it has a paying tenant on a years lease, who has said he/she is going to clear it and has made a visible start, but has now started to loose interest. With encouragement the actual giving up can be spun out for some considerable time. With a more severe attitude the new tenant could get a failure to cultivate letter withing a month or two......
In addition the dear old council has not yet adjusted its world view and does not want to scare tenants off, its plots are all "taken" so all is well with the world.
The answer is.
Watch out, your landlord is waking up, all those awkward people now wanting allotments and prepared to go to the bother of putting their name on a list and complaining when they find there are no vacancies.
Mine is now looking to maximum initial let size of 1/4 plots (2.5 rod) and being strict with all tenants about the cultivation rules, after having paid to have blackthorn cleared from a couple of plots, they are even looking to buy something to dig over other troublesome plots.
Remeber, no council makes any money on allotments, if they did then businesses would be competeing to set up and run allotments.
It is a combination of things.
Lack of Interest
Historically allotment usage was in decline, so councils were glad to let plots, not too worried about how well they were cultivated.
My council disposed of two large sites and moved remaining tenants to nearby(ish) sites.
New take on.
As allotments have become more fashionable or popular (depends on your view of the world) all the easier plots have been taken. What's left is the awkward plots.
Naivety
All too many of the new plotholders I see have no idea of the level of work needed, they see Monty Don on the telly do about ten minutes work a week and think they can do the same and have a "Berryfields" clean garden. Also all too many are not prepared to use weedkiller as an initial clearance, combined with lack of awareness how much time and effort are needed for the manual alternative
Lack of commitment
Various scenarios here, but this is the condensed high speed one. "After turning over an area the size of a couple of growbags, they come back the next week, see the regrowth, dig over the first bit again, return a week later see more regrowth and give up."
What does that mean.
Well, it was bad to start with, now it has a paying tenant on a years lease, who has said he/she is going to clear it and has made a visible start, but has now started to loose interest. With encouragement the actual giving up can be spun out for some considerable time. With a more severe attitude the new tenant could get a failure to cultivate letter withing a month or two......
In addition the dear old council has not yet adjusted its world view and does not want to scare tenants off, its plots are all "taken" so all is well with the world.
The answer is.
Watch out, your landlord is waking up, all those awkward people now wanting allotments and prepared to go to the bother of putting their name on a list and complaining when they find there are no vacancies.
Mine is now looking to maximum initial let size of 1/4 plots (2.5 rod) and being strict with all tenants about the cultivation rules, after having paid to have blackthorn cleared from a couple of plots, they are even looking to buy something to dig over other troublesome plots.
Remeber, no council makes any money on allotments, if they did then businesses would be competeing to set up and run allotments.
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