Should Allotments be limited?

[The Doctor]

It seems that waiting lists in some areas are getting longer and longer, so that some people have to wait ages to get a plot.

On the other hand, there are many people that have more than one plot, and some as many as three.

Should the number of plots that any one person has be limited, so that more people on waiting lists can get one?

I think if I was waiting for a plot and knew that other people had two or three plots on the site I was interested in I'd feel like it was a little unfair.

However, if there is a surplus on other sites it seems obviously better to have them cultivated by someone rather than left overgrown.

I haven't really made my mind up either way, (and I have a plot so it doesn't really affect me) but, I was wondering what others thought??

[nerobot]

Another question is: Should people without a garden have priority over those without?

[ClayGarden]

Maybe they should just be auctioned contracts and leave it to market forces. Has anyone said its human rights to have access to one yet?

[pigletwillie]

We have had this chestnut before. A few years ago our site (160 plots) was 40% empty and the council, rather than looking to give us a new lease were eyeing up the site to sell for building land as it was underutilised.

In an attempt to keep the site viable, quite a few people took on extra plots. We are now full and have a waiting list of 10, I have 3 and 1/2 plots. Is that right? well I think yes as unlike 40% of the newcomers who take on a plot and fail, my plots are all in good nick and have been improved with fencing, paths and a host of other facilities and will be well kept for the forseable future as I am not a "fashion" gardener or just dipping my foot in to see if I like it.

To accomodate newcommers we are now dividing plots so that we can offer half plots, with the ability to take on full plots if they are capable. A more telling policy will be to start kicking off those who rent a plot and then just sit on it, without undertaking cultivation, they choke the supply and are the main reason that most plots being taken on are choked up with weeds and brambles.

So, in answer to your question, if I got in first when times were hard and nobody was interested, why should I give up plots to accomodate somebody with no provenance or known gardening ability?

[Flummery]

I only have my half plot because one of our 2-plot men gave it up. He happens to be my next door neighbour so he knows I'm serious about veg growing and have tamed a large (and now non-existent) lawn to do it. I have half because although I was top of the list I knew my friend (2nd and only other occupant of list) was very keen so I agreed to take half. Another chap has 2 but keeps them immaculate so why should he give one up? I'm grateful to Him Next Door but told him I didn't want him to feel pressurised by the secretary to let one plot go. He and the other bloke had kept the ground cultivated and in good heart when there was no waiting list.

Difficult really. I'm glad he gave it up but I wouldn't have asked him to.

[zazen999]

On the other hand; the guy that has the plot to the left of me [I have the middle plot of 3 newly let out plots] already has 2 plots, but he doesn't live in the village. If I had found out that a non-resident with 2 other plots was given priority over me I'd have been pretty miffed. From what I hear he might be planning to widen his patch over mine [querying the plot sizes and allocation of space already]. Luckily I measured mine the day we got it; so I know exactly how wide it should be. Which is why i want to be there when they rotavate to make sure they put the paths back the way they were.

These things will always be run locally; by people who have lived there ages and who don't want to upset the apple cart; It's more by nagging and getting on people's nerves that 2 of us have our plots; and there's still more that could be made available if people were of a mind to do so.

[Novice Gardener]

Well I thought I'd give my opinion for what its worth. I'm on the waiting list at the moment but I would feel very uncomfortable if someone were forced to give up one of their plots to me. After all, it was theirs, and unless they volunteer to give it up, then I dont think their plot should be repossed unless its not been cultivated for 6 months or so. Also, imagine if you'd just been lucky enough to get a plot on a real nice site, everyone else looks after their plots and you're the newbie, wanting and welcoming any advice...... till you find out that one of the lottie holders was forced to give up one of his plots to you!!!! Not gonna be a very nice atmosphere is it? Nope, frustrating as it is, I'd rather wait my turn. As for the other question raised, no, I don't think people with no gardens should be given priority over those with a garden. In my opinion, it should be first come, first served.

[Eyren]

I think if someone has a couple of plots and is keeping them in good repair, that's fine - some of our tenants have been on site for 30 or more years, so fair dues to 'em. On the other hand two plots ought to be enough for anyone - if there is a substantial waiting list, allowing a tenant the space to grow far more than they could possibly need seems to me like an indulgence (our lottie neighbour grows enough maincrop spuds to have to give them away to his grownup children).

I wouldn't agree about giving people with no gardens any special priority, either - modern estates have such tiny gardens (and such dreadful soil!) that it's hard to grow more than a few salad veg, even assuming your garden faces a direction that gets adequate sunlight. The days of suburban gardens as big as an allotment are sadly long gone for the majority of people...

[The Doctor]

In a situation such as PGW's, where I had taken on extra plots to keep the site viable and its income up and stop the council closing it, I think I would feel seriously agrieved to then have to give any of them up to someone else.

Especially if I was cultivating them and they were all tidy and being used. In this respect, it seems having one plot is too much for some people. My site has several plots that are apparently rented out, but have nothing but weeds growing on them. Our council periodically sends letters round saying they are going to do plot inspections, so all these lazy gits them just cut the weeds and grass so it looks like something is being done. It would be much more effective if the council did the inspections without warning!

Also, I can see the point that 40% of new plotholders don't stick with it. But that means 6 out of 10 do, and some of them may not be getting the opportunity. Some of these will have done it before, some not. Does previous experience really make someone more entitled to an allotment?

[jackie j]

On our site if you want another plot you put your name or your OH on the list and when you are at the top you are asked if you want said plot. Couldnt be fairer . I have a half plot and at the mo its more than enough but who knows i might put my name down again.

[Matt.]

Does previous experience really make someone more entitled to an allotment?

Of course it does. Somebody who has proven capability is always preferred. Life isn't fair like that and there is no way pretending otherwise.

However, if somebody is asking for a second, third plot when there is a waiting list it could be a difficult decision to make. I think first come first served rule should be applied. As for prioritising those with gardens thats as nuts as puuting vacant plots up for auction. Stand in line and wait your turn irrespective of your position in any other area of life.

The key thing is the rules should be stricter on booting out those who aren't keeping up on their end of the deal. We like all sites have those who are hardly ever there and their plots are now a mass of weeds. I have to mow a plot adjacent to mine to stop the weeds setting seed and blowing seeds all over the place? Its frustrating to say the least. They should be booted off and somebody new or existing can can take it.

[ClayGarden]

Does previous experience really make someone more entitled to an allotment?

I dont think it should. I dont think it should even be a considering factor (rather than the opposite). I think it should be down to just market forces to determine the demand. Its not like it is a human right to have an allotment.

[Speed Gardener]

I have three adjacent plots, having taken up plots a few years ago when the site was only 50% occupied. The selling off of land around here is always an issue, especially with council being strapped for cash. I keep them all under production, in fact, I'm maximising the use of space because I only have one shed, greenhouse and compost area for all three plots. There is a waiting list for our site but it seems only to take one season to go through the whole list. The council have at last got someone with a bit of zeal inspecting every quarter and several sleeping tenants have given up plots, either forcefully or through persistent reminders. In this day of waiting lists, removal of non-cultivators is the best way to keep the waiting list moving, it's not fair to kick people off just because they have more than one plot. I asked about their policy for multiple tenancy and was told there wasn't one, so nuff said.

[pigletwillie]

I totally agree Speed gardener, sleeping tenents are choking up our site and are now under the microscope with a view to either cultivate or your off.

Whilst I have multiple plots, none were allocated to me whilst there was a waiting list. In fact if you have a plot and want another whilst there is a waiting list, the list is serviced first which is only fair.

[Snadger]

Most councils leave it to the allotment committees to police the sites.

Committee men go to the allotment for the same reason as most of us do, not to be policemen.

Most allotment sites aren't run efficiently, never have been, and unless the council employ full time paid staff to run the sites as they should be, including evicting plot holders who are not utilising their plots, the status quo will continue!