Campaigning for new allotments

[Sonata]

I was talking to a friend/neighbour of mine about allotments and she has swung into action to get us some in our area.

Does anyone have any experience in setting them up? Are there any things we need to take into account or think about? Or resources on the web to help us with the planning?

We're just at the first meeting stage with our local councillors, looking at where they could be placed etc.

This is quite exciting!

[bluemoon]

I have absolutely no experience of this, sorry. But I would like to wish you the very best of luck. and I'm sure a knowledgeable grape will be along any minute.

[oldie]

The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners should be able to provide advice. Check the website - The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners, NSALG, Allotments, protect, promote, preserve, grow your own

[NOG]

I would wait till you have been given the land....cos i think it could be a long time before you get it.

[Dynamo]

I would wait till you have been given the land....cos i think it could be a long time before you get it.

It could be or it may not be. I see no problem in them getting things sorted out as early as possible if they can.

[JanieB]

As of Recreation & Open Spaces for our local council, one of my "pet" projects is to provide more allotments.

Many councils do not have the cash to buy land so the best bet is to use land you already own.

This can lead to conflict with your Unitary Authority or District Council who may have earmarked it for development (without telling you and without owning the land themselves).

Some private landowners are willing to lease land for allotments, but they are few and far between as it is nigh impossible to remove them once installed.

Once found you need to ask for Planning Permission for change of use.

The plots have to be marked out and prepared and water made available.

This is a very short resume of needs. Ask me if you need to know any more.

[Sonata]

Thanks everyone. It was an interesting meeting and I learnt more in that short session about the area than I had in the previous 18 months of living here!

The problem at the moment is finding suitable land. It is a rather green area, but we're surrounded by community woodland and areas set aside for development. I've looked on Google Maps to mark out green areas to question the council/whoever knows about each likely patch.

[Seaforth Allotments]

Kindred spirits!

Sonata,

My partner and I are in the same boat as you.

We live in Seaforth - most definitely not "a rather green area", but no less in need of allotment provision! There is already a (vaguely) local self-managed site, but with 60 on the waiting list for 90-odd plots, and very slow turnover, I feel that our chances of securing a plot any time soon are slim to none...

We've been on a waiting list for two years now.

I've also been speaking to local government (in the form of an extremely enthusiastic and helpful councillor); whilst there is land available, the issue here is cost - or rather, the cost-effectiveness of converting the site for use.

I've set up a blog to try to publicise my efforts, and hopefully provide a forum for local residents interested in the project... Let me know if your quest is successful.

(Perhaps we can share tips?)

All the best,

J

[Sonata]

Oh great, yes, I think we should swap tips! We're just looking for land at the moment, just need to get 6 people interested to get the council involved.

[Sonata]

Oooh things are looking good. We've got interest from the borough councillors, some funding and a couple of potential areas. We're off to look at a maybe site on Saturday.

I've made posters and flyers and have leafletted my own road so far, many more houses to hit though. I've got my two year old putting the flyers through the letterboxes.

[BumbleB]

That all sounds very promising. Well done with all your efforts. And your little one too, bless. Is there anyone else you can rope in to help with leaflets? I am not quite your area but I deliver for Avon, if you have someone like that who can put your leaflets out while they do their own might be an idea.

[Seaforth Allotments]

Oooh things are looking good. We've got interest from the borough councillors, some funding and a couple of potential areas. We're off to look at a maybe site on Saturday.

Ye Gods, that was quick!

Did your council find a large store of gold nuggets in the vicinity? Are the local councillors extremely well-off?!
How on earth did you manage to secure funding in so short a time?!?

I'm really very impressed...

I've made posters and flyers and have leafletted my own road so far, many more houses to hit though. I've got my two year old putting the flyers through the letterboxes.

I need to get the printing press whirring, by the sounds of it...
(Can I borrow the little'un? )

Good news and bad news here. The local council is finally conducting its 'strategic allotment review' (to sit in a shiny office with all the others); but I think it's going to take a long while before anything is done about it.

Still no sign of any funding for the site; however, I can appreciate that where money is tight, cost-effectiveness is key. I'm now looking into alternative sources of funding!

[Sonata]

What we did was get our local Borough Councillors involved. Our particular ones have really got behind it and have campaigned the county councillors on our behalf. In Kent, county councillors have £25k to spend as they see fit (not on duck moats and stuff!), and we've been very fortunate that our local one is also very keen on this idea. I expect it's luck more than anything.

Flyers and posters up would be good - maybe flyers to schools to send home to parents? That's what we're doing (which reminds me, I have schools to ring). So far, as of last night, my little helper and I put out 100 leaflets (4 to an A4 page) and got two responses (immediately!) - so that's worth a go.

I'll pop her in the post to you once we've done our leaflets! =o)

[Pumpkin Becki]

Well done Sonata! Ashford has already got several sites around the town, so I'm really impressed that you've been able to convince the councillors that we need more. Fantastic effort!!

P.S. I've just joined the 'Ashford Gardeners' too

[Pies]

I'm guessing that those that got letters to improve their plot on our allotment are indeed in danger of getting kicked off,I know there were 4 letters sent out.Such a waste of good land