Allotments in Gateshead??

[sheddy]

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone had a clue what the waiting lists or plot availability is like in Gateshead??

I've sent in an application to the council for 3 plots - one in Whickham and two in Swalwell, but so far am unable to get any info from the council as to whether any plots are available - or what the waiting list are like - or even if they are run by the council or an allotment committee (apparently the guy who looks after allotments at the council is off at the moment).

I got a postcard from the council saying my application had been received and is ''receiving attention/passed to the allotment secretary'' - that would sound like there is an allotment committee do you think?

I plan to pop down to the allotments to see if I can grab anyone's attention, but the plots on two of the sites are enclosed, so wasn't too keen to knock on anyone's gate!

Can anyone help?!

thanks in advance!!

[Snadger]

I have an allotment in the Newcastle area. This side of the water, the allotments are run by the committee at each site. The council charge us X amount for rates and as far as I know the only other bill we have to find is for the water supply which is metered.
The committee will charge an appropriate amount to the plot holders to cover both these costs. This puts the onus on the allotment committee to get as many plots let as possible, to keep costs down!
Because rates and water usage vary, you will find the annual rent varies from site to site.

Always fancied one of those at Swalwell by the river as I could indulge in my two main hobbies together, gardening and fishing. Must be good to cast a line from the edge of your plot! Ahhh Heaven!!!!

[sheddy]

Hi Snadger,

Many thanks for that - useful info!

Out of interest, can I ask how long you had to wait for a plot at Newcastle side?

E-mailed the council again about the waiting lists but still nothing back unfortunatley.

cheers!

[Snadger]

Newcastle allotments have a website where I found phone numbers for allotment secretaries for each site. I rang two or three and was met with hostility, rudeness and downright aggression! The numbers had not been updated and these guys weren't happy about it!

I emailed the council allotments officer who appologised profusely and sent me an updated list of local allotment secretaries after chasing the information up!

Once more I rang around about six in my local area and they said they would add me to the list!

Out of the blue, in early May last year (about 1 month after my initial inquiry)I got a phonecall saying there was an allotment available at Denton Dene!
When I met the secretary he showed me three, one of which I took!

A week or two later I got another phone call from another local site which was closer to where I lived but I already had one by then.

Our AGM and subs payment date is at the end of April so allotments normally become available after that. Not sure if all allotment associations lease year starts then but ours does and quite a few others do!

Having an allotment is a fashionable thing just now so vacant plots are hard to come by. Good luck with your search and I hope all goes well for you!

[sheddy]

Hi,

Thanks again for that - its given me a sense of hope! - I've fancied getting an allotment for years before finally deciding to go for one - wish I'd put my name down years ago now. I'll keep perservering! - got to get somewhere eventually. Its just very frustrating when you seem to have to drag info out of the council all of the time - think I might need to go to see them in person - can't get 'fobbed off' then!

As I say, I haven't even managed to find out if we have allotment committees yet! - have e-mailed the coucil asking if they are run by committees and whether they can give me their contact details - but no joy.

ps - is there any fish in the Derwent?! - I only normally see shopping trolleys etc!

thanks again

[shirlthegirl43]

Welcome to the vine Sheddy. Good luck getting a lottie.

[Geordie]

You might find this usefull:

File Ref - Address - No of Plots
1WAA Bank Avenue, Rear of North View, Whickham 1
1W Bank Top, Woodside, Ryton 12
5GAA Beggars Wood, Coach Road, Lobley Hill, Gateshead 36
1WAA Beech Grove, Garden House Cemetery, Lambton Ave, Whickham 23
1BQF Bill Quay Farm, Bill Quay 10
1W Blackhall Mill, Connolly Terrace. Blackhall Mill 8
1BG Bleach Green, Content Street, Winlaton 34
1GAA Brandling Terrace, Rear of Brandling Court, Felling 36
1GAA Breckenbeds, Breckenbeds Lane, Low Fell 33
2W Chester Gardens, Crawcrook 1
1WAA Cowheel, Wynyard Street, Dunston 11
1GAA Cowpath Farm, Stonehills. Pelaw 23
2W Crescent, High Spen, Rowlands Gill 23
2W Crown Terace, Rear of Crown Pub, Greenside 5
2GAA Deckham Hall, Hendon Road, Deckham, Gateshead 46
3GAA Duke of Cumberland, Sunderland Road, Felling 6
8aGAA Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead 2
3GAA Greenbourne Farm, Windy Ridge, Windy Nook, Gateshead 15
3W Green Grove, Woodside Lane, Woodside 8
4W Heartlands, Trent Street and River Street, Chopwell 69
4GAA Highfield Gardens, Rear of Avon Street, Deckham, Felling 51
2WAA Hurrocks, Derwenthaugh Road, Swalwell 56
2E Kibblesworth, Gardiner Square, Gateshead 17
9GAA Leam Lane (Ordinary) (Redemarsh) Felling 37
9GAA Leam Lane (Model) (Woodwynd), Felling 13
1E Leam Lane (Stock) (Redemarsh), Felling 15
5GAA Meresyde, Black Bull, Wardley 4
5W Mill Road, Blackhall Mill, Chopwell (sold 30.9.2003 re A Gornall)
1MISC. Miscellaneous, Blaydon/Ryton 14
5GAA Mulberry Street, Felling 35
2WAA New Sands, Beside Salt Heaps, Swalwell 22
6W North View, High Spen 26
8WA Path Head Lane, Off Hexham Old Road, Blaydon 6
6GAA Queen Victoria Street, Pelaw 12
6GAA Ravensworth Villas,Wrekenton, Gateshead 67
6GAA Ravensworth Villas, Pidgeon Site, Wrekenton, Gateshead 7
6GAA Saltwell,Saltwell Road, adjacent to cemetery, Gateshead 89
7GAA Sandown, Rear of Arkle Street, Bensham, Gateshead 64
3WAA School Side, Market Lane, Dunston 8
7W South Grove, (Crook Hill), Ryton 7
7W Stargate (Stargate Lane), Ryton 45

Allotments List

Local Environmental Services
Horticultural Services

7GAA Strathmore, Iona Road, Felling 49
7W Strothers Terrace, Hign Spen 41
1SHW Strothers Hill Wood, Orchard Avenue, Rowlands Gill 8
6W Summerhill, Blaydon 12
8W Thornley View, Rowlands Gill. 8
8W Twizell Avenue, Winlaton 27
3WAA Wellington Road, Dunston 17
2E West Cresent, Wardley 12
8W West and South Street, High Spen 20
9W Whinfield Works, Whinfield Way, Highfield 5
8A GAA Whinney House, Joicey Road, Gateshead 36
3WAA Whitegate Fram, Rear of Collingwood Pub, Dunston 13
8GAA Whitehills, Harbell Road, Beacon Lough, Windy Nook 40
4W Whittonstall Road, Chopwell 21
9W William Morris Avenue, Highfield 5
8GAA Windsor Road, Birtley 19
3WAA Workmans Back Lane, rear of Market Lane, Dunston 4
Total 1465

[sheddy]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the welcome and thanks for the list!

I did see the list on the council's website too - the 3 sites I've applied for are Beech Grove, Hurrocks and New Sands - they have a total of 101 plots between them - will just have to keep my fingers crossed!

It took me a week or so even just to find out who looks after them at the council - but it seems he's on leave or something - typical!

If I don't hear back this week, I'm planning to go in person next week (if the guy is back that is - and if he has an office!)

seems to take ages to get any info out of anyone, but they don't hang about for their council tax! - grumble, grumble!..

thanks again.

[Geordie]

It may be worth a trip to the allotment sites, as you may get informaton on vacant plots that the council officer may not have. Sunday mornings are always a good time.

[sheddy]

Hi Geordie,

Cheers - it might well end up with that. Trouble is, two of the sites seem fairly well enclosed by hedges so thought it might be a bit cheeky to knock on someone's gate - If I have a wander over though, I'm bound to catch someone coming in or out I guess - thanks for the Sun morning tip!