Allotment Share...opinions please :)

[northepaul]

Just wanted to update everyone and thank you all for the advice

I have thought long and hard about this, but in the end have decided NOT to take up the offer - as you all say it is totally unfair on the waiting list and I know I would not like it if I was in that area waiting for an allotment.

I have let her know and suggested she approach the council and ask them to find her some help from the waiting list.

I will just have to bite the bullet, although I know the wait is going to be 10+ years, and hope one day to have one of my own.

Thanks again

[SarzWix]

What a tough decision But, for what it's worth, I think you've done the right thing. Not even so much because of the waiting list issue, but just because I think you'd have ended up being 'shafted' before long - she is undoubtedly breaking the rules by sub-letting and if found out you'd have lost all your hard work
Hope that God/fate/karma rewards your patience really soon.

[northepaul]

What a tough decision But, for what it's worth, I think you've done the right thing. Not even so much because of the waiting list issue, but just because I think you'd have ended up being 'shafted' before long - she is undoubtedly breaking the rules by sub-letting and if found out you'd have lost all your hard work
Hope that God/fate/karma rewards your patience really soon.

Thanks SarzWix

[Madhouseof5]

I too think you have made the right choice. Also, don't lose hope. I had been on the list 2 years when I called in Jan this year, only to learn I had barely moved, was at number 63. At the end of April I had moved up to 31. I had a call 2 weeks ago telling me I was finally at the top of the list and I get my key next week. I thought I would be waiting forever. I was told the current economic climate meant a lot of people could just no longer afford to pay the rent in this area (this area was in the news in 2008 for the 400% increase in it's allotment fees). I did also notice in my contract that there is no sub-letting allowed on my site either.

I really hope that you patience is rewarded soon.

[Alison]

I was told the current economic climate meant a lot of people could just no longer afford to pay the rent in this area (this area was in the news in 2008 for the 400% increase in it's allotment fees).

Out of interest how much are you fees, we had a fairly big % increase this year but are still less than £30 for the year.

[zazen999]

I agree with what Sarz said; it would have been heartbreaking to do a load of work and the lose the plot one day through no fault of your own.

[chriscross1966]

Thanks for that Becki,
I will definately speak to the council about it. The problem is that Southampton City Council have actually been cutting down on allotment space and are selling it for redevelopment. (There is a clause in one of the government initiatives about providing more housing in the south, which means they can effectively ignore any protests.) So there are more people waiting and less spaces.
I will ask Sonata about her campaign.

They actually have a duty under the Allotments and Smallholdings Act of 1908 to provide them if there is a need .... it's one of a very small number of duties they actually have... if you get down to Parish or Borough level then it's the only duty they have.... they have powers to do a lot of things but very few duties (indeed, only one if they are a Parish or a Borough).....

chrisc

[chriscross1966]

I too think you have made the right choice. Also, don't lose hope. I had been on the list 2 years when I called in Jan this year, only to learn I had barely moved, was at number 63. At the end of April I had moved up to 31. I had a call 2 weeks ago telling me I was finally at the top of the list and I get my key next week. I thought I would be waiting forever. I was told the current economic climate meant a lot of people could just no longer afford to pay the rent in this area (this area was in the news in 2008 for the 400% increase in it's allotment fees). I did also notice in my contract that there is no sub-letting allowed on my site either.

I really hope that you patience is rewarded soon.

I think as long as allotments were ridiculously cheap then the people who strim them twice a year a put a row of spuds in would keep them.... when they're suddently 30 quid then they let them go, and April is one of the big allotment allocation times, October being the other one as far as I can tell....
April being the financial year end thingy and October being the end of the "big" growing season....
chrisc

[Madhouseof5]

Out of interest how much are you fees, we had a fairly big % increase this year but are still less than £30 for the year.

The site fees are 41.14 (can't find the pound sign on my new keyboard ) this year. I am on a site with no services to speak of. I know that the busier sites closer to my home, with services are over 100 quid.

[miffy]

I think you have made the right decision NorthePaul.
I had to wait two years to get my half plot and have just taken on another half plot as the person next to me couldn't keep up her plot.
Our rents at our lottie are 12.50 for half a plot and 24.00 for a full plot so very reasonable compared to others i have been reading about.
We have water and the council donate a skip twice a year for a spring and autumn clearout. We are an association but rent the land off the countil so maintain the site ourselves.
Hope you get a plot soon.