How long did you wait for yours?

[GreaterMarrow]

I waited just over 6 years for mine. Frustratingly, there are a number of plots on the site not being used. I was told by another allotment holder that it's because they were abandoned (and left in a very poor state) by previous tenants and the council won't put any resources into clearing them so that they can be offered to people.

[21up]

To be fair to committees, sometimes tenants aren't aware of what is going on behind the scenes to either get the plot vacated or find out what is going on with the tenant of what might look like a neglected plot and discuss with them whether they will be able to keep it. It takes 3 formal stages for our committee to terminate a tenancy and that can take about 4 months, but people are usually given a second chance.

I appreciate there are lots of horror stories about untended plots out there though. The ones in my borough tend to be the council-run ones where the maintenance/management has been outsourced to a gardening company. The self-managed ones are generally much better.

Ours is self managed and i think committes dont bother as long as you dont we have lots of neglected plots and a long waiting list.
we had one person it took 8 years to get them off just kept sending letter after letter and they took no notice.
committe just let it slide ,i took one in 0CT 14 and it had not been touched for many years you could not see over the weeds and brambles.
i am not a lover of this commitee
cheers peter

[Alison]

I was told by another allotment holder that it's because they were abandoned (and left in a very poor state) by previous tenants and the council won't put any resources into clearing them so that they can be offered to people.

That makes no sense, I don't see why the council should clear them and stories I've heard where they have usually involve weed killers and / or rotivation, both of which I would want to avoid. If it's true it's a stupid excuse.

[noviceveggrower]

I got in touch with my local council to see where my nearest site was and they sent me a few phone numbers of people to get in touch with.
Rang the guy at my site and explained who I was and why I wanted a plot. He did ask me quite a few questions reference commitment and expense. After a good chat we arranged to meet up later that week. This was February time so we had plenty of time to get organised to take the plot over in April.
We were shown several plots and there always seems to be a few empty. But I don't know about waiting lists.
Maybe people are giving them up around here because they think the recession is over and growing your own is going out of favour.

[spamvindaloo]

I waited around a year. The half plot I took on was overgrown and a bit of a state (uneven). Apparently the previous tenant abandoned it before taking on a full plot elsewhere on the site which he also left to get into a state. The half plot opposite mine also appears 'abandoned' after being rotavated, a shed erected and then nothing grown in it.

[hamamelis]

I waited a year for my first half-plot.

It was couch grass and not a lot else at the time, and the previous tenant had been required to give it up after doing nothing but setting an uncontrolled fire in an attempt to clear it. She wasn't asked to leave entirely though, and was my (somewhat uncomfortable as she clearly resented me being there) neighbour for the next 3 years.

Over that time I could honestly count the number of times she come down there to cut the grass and vanish again on my fingers, and she didn't plant a single thing in that time.

By the time she quit entirely, the waiting list had dropped to 0, so I took it on straight away to remake the full plot. It was overgrown with trees by that time, so no-one else wanted it anyway, but it's got a brilliant sneaky corner that should be great for keeping bees in.

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Thanks again for all the replies. Some interesting stories.

I was invited to visit the site whose waiting list I have joined, met a few of the plot holders who were a friendly bunch. It is an 18 plot site. They explained that they are frustrated with a few plot holders who just have not bothered and they pointed out 3 plots that are completely overgrown and a few people are on warnings.

I suggested that perhaps they should have a probationary period for new tenants which they thought was a good idea.

There are about 30 ahead of me in the queue. But, they said to keep in touch and pop by which I shall do to maintain my place and ensure that it progresses towards the front.

Cross your fingers for me that the 30 ahead of me have all moved or changed their telephone numbers and email addresses!

[skeggijon]

I didn't have to wait. I was driving past the allotments and saw a sign up saying they had vacancies, so rang up and had a choice of 3 plots.

[Snadger]

Thanks again for all the replies. Some interesting stories.

I was invited to visit the site whose waiting list I have joined, met a few of the plot holders who were a friendly bunch. It is an 18 plot site. They explained that they are frustrated with a few plot holders who just have not bothered and they pointed out 3 plots that are completely overgrown and a few people are on warnings.

I suggested that perhaps they should have a probationary period for new tenants which they thought was a good idea.

There are about 30 ahead of me in the queue. But, they said to keep in touch and pop by which I shall do to maintain my place and ensure that it progresses towards the front.

Cross your fingers for me that the 30 ahead of me have all moved or changed their telephone numbers and email addresses!

I suggested the probationary period scenario at last Saturdays Allotment Association AGM. We are having a committee meeting this month to sort the details out.

[buzzingtalk]

It took me 2 weeks from initial contact to signing a contract to get my plot in London! Like some have said on here, I did a bit of research on Google and found the names of people who deal with allotments and contacted them, explained my situation (long story short - I had to move from Norwich back to my mum's in London, mum lives in a flat with no garden, I had a 200sqM allotment full of lovely perennial plants that I desperately wanted to keep and move down to London with me) and also said that I'd had an allotment for 4 years as well as studying horticulture at college, so am a dab hand. I said I'd be happy with anything, even the worst plot available, and he got right back to me and invited me down to look at some pretty 'bad' plots. I took one on straight away, and it was no where near as bad as the one I waited 2 years for in Norfolk!

[TheChemist]

This thread was a really interesting read. Makes me think I should be a little more "hands on" in my approach to applying. I put myself on the waiting list via post, as suggested on the council website, but no reply. Absolutely desperate for a plot, but waiting lists are rumoured to be years