Is there an "average" waiting time?

[StephenH]

I've just put my name down for one - 3 people waiting in front of me.. not in any rush, but as it's so close to the house I thought it'd be a good "investment".

Have mentioned I'd be happy to share one if there's such facilities to do so..

Probably a long way off, as how long is a piece of string, but looking forward to it.

Depends on the turnover where you are, but only 3 ahead of you sounds good. I applied to go on the waiting lists of three sites locally about a year ago, and was told then that I'd probably have to wait two to three years. A few weeks ago, I wrote to the council to enquire how my applications were getting on, and was told that I had 7 ahead of me on one site, 13 on another, and 45(!) on the third.

[flowerofshona]

Our site was running at 14 year wait with almost 100 0n the list but we had 12 plots to re let this year and after the normal call round by the membership sec and finding 12 to take the plots we are now down to 50 ish but going by normal years thats looking like 10 year wait all the other sites have pretty heavy waiting lists to but fingers crossed there will be a new site soon.

[StephenH]

10-year waiting list?! Blimy - Hemel Hempstead may be a crap town, but at least our allotment waiting lists are not too bad!

[weekendwellies]

I saw an article in our local news letter about allotments just around the corner from me which I didn't even know existed. I thought it was just waste land at the back of some garages. It is all walled in so you cant see unless your house overlooks the site, which mine doesn't. I was incredibly lucky to be offered a half plot straight away, the drawback being that it was previously waste land that I have spent the last year trying to clear bit by bit. Apparently there are about 10 on the waiting list now. The last new people I spoke to had been on the waiting list for a year. Whenever I get fed up of clearing soft-rushes and horsetail, I remind myself how fortunate I am to have an allotment at all.

[RoadCar]

I put my name down for an allotment in September or October, the woman said it could take just over a year I don't think there are many people waiting I hope not anyway lol. I may give her a ring sometime next week, so fingers cross

Daniel

[Allotment Nerd]

Waited about 7 years for the one I got in April. Well worth the wait though.

[chris]

Just emailed, and found out I've moved 10 places up on the site I'd really like - down to 9th now.. with people above me been on their a year now, so I'd estimate at the current turnover rate - 2yrs. Might be good though, as by that time I'll have known what "works" for me, and what doesn't, which what I'm growing at home.

I'm on about 6 other waiting lists though... bit of a quandry has passed through my head!

If i'm offered a plot elsewhere, do I take it and say nothing to my preferred site (big waiting lists all around - the one I'd really like is really close, be great for the little un to come over with me - rather than a 10/20 mins drive) - then when I get the chance for a plot on my preferred site, give up my current plot and move to the other? Knowing full well that I'd loose whatever crops I have there... it's selfish, but if I'm giving up my other plot if I get one... is it being selfish?

Ho hum, /me stews on it

[Jeanied]

Bit of a hypothetical dilemma, though, CM? Are the allotments all managed by different organisations?

[chris]

Yup! I'm 3rd on one, 9th on the one I'd like, and goodness knows on the others

[T8Ter]

Have you looked at why you're 3rd on the one, i.e facilities available,vandalism,etc etc? taking a plot in the wrong area could put a real dampener on your enthusiasm. There's nothing worse than having some scumbag ruin crops/steal tools/burn sheds etc.

[chris]

As far as I'm aware (going on what people from the area where the allotments are, that I work with) I've avoided all the rough parts of where I live... but not being from Wales I've no idea really. The others, I'd planned on having a look as / when I was offered them... The one I'm 3rd on isn't in that great an idea but there's not much vandalism there as far as I can tell.

Hadn't thought of facilities, thanks for that I'll have a look on my next trip down there.

[Alison]

I applied to several site but only ones that I knew were close enough for me to manage to visit sufficiently often. However, like you, I had a favourite. I got offered a plot on a different site first and took it like a shot as I wanted to get started. Then a couple of months later I got offered one on my preferred site, had an initial crisis and was advised on here to take on both. Totally ignored this advice as I knew I didn't have the time / energy to do both and realised that I'd hate to lose all the work I'd already done so have stuck with the first plot. Since then I've been very happy with this as I've discovered that there is quite a bit of site politics on the other site with a committee and all that stuff where as ours is much more laid back. Obviously you can only make the decision if the situation arises but there are usually pluses and minuses with all options.

[chris]

Well this one has turned up ! Had a call this morning asking if I was still interested as I'm next in line, and one is available. Going to look at it tomorrow. It's literally right behind my mother in laws property - they're moving though (phew!! ), so quite excited. I thought the chap was on about one which is next to my MILs - over the road, and say 100m down from her house.. wasn't really sure that behind her house actually was allotments (looked so run down when I peered through their back fence)

It's not the one I want, and it's a little further away than the one I'd like (which is 1mile away) - this one is 3miles away, but an easy route to get to - so cycling to it is an option once I've fixed my bike up too.

Water is on site, sheds and greenhouses are allowed - wasn't sure what else to ask.. Rent is £16/year, so even if the one I'd like turns up I'll keep this one until anything I've sown yields its harvest. Made my day really, as I was literally giving up hope of growing this year, as the only space I really have to grow is a side garden that is a building site at the moment as I've shifted about 3 tonnes of earth to make a new chicken run (had to dig down about 4' into the ground as it's sloped!)... by the time I've sorted the side garden I reckon it'll be about july at a push, so really would have missed the season.

Are there any pointers that I should look out for? Or questions I should ask?

I did ask if it was a half plot, and the chap laughed at me and said no, they're very large plots and I'll need to give it some attention as it's been neglected.

Have a load of spuds, that I was about to eat in all honesty too - as I'll be removing the veg beds in our back garden to make way for the little ones wendy house.

[T8Ter]

Nice one Chris, nearly three years for me and I'm still 31st

Sounds like "neglected" means a good bit of diggiong and weeding required, but I'm sure I'll have some spare plants over the next couple of months if you need something to fill it up. We're not too far away so you can pick them up.

[chris]

Thanks - hows your new job going?

I thought in Cardiff there were some going? One of the other Cardiff chaps who posts here was saying that his site had plots spare - but for me living in Caerphilly now, too far for travel. I did have it via PM, but cleared my inbox out so can't remember the chaps name!