Would you halve your plot size to reduce waiting lists?

[becslb]

Everyone has a right to be on the list whether they have a garden or not.

absolutely agree with this, and as to whether people with more than 1 plot should give them up am not sure I agree with this either, On our site there are a couple of people with 2 or 3 full sized plots, they took additional plots when allotmenting was not trendy or fashionable and if wasnt for the likes of these people our site would probably be under trendy flats now as they kept the site going when it was at its lowest point. So do they deserve to have their additional plots taken off them now not sure thats the right thing to do.

If they are using their plots to the full then no, it is wrong to take those plots away - as you say, they were probably the people who kept the site going and why should they be made to suffer for that!

[Shadylane]

Absolutely. How infuriating would it be to give up your second plot only to see someone let it get over grown and jungle like. I don't have a problem with people only being allowed to apply for a second if there's no waiting list, but people with existing plots should be left alone. I sometimes think I'd like a second plot (though i doubt I'd cope with it) but I would feel bad applying for a second one if there was a waiting list. I don't however feel guilty for having a plot and a garden. It's not that big anyway and full of slugs

[Currysniffa]

I was 18th on the list for the site where my second plot is and when the committee went down the list calling people to let them know there were plots available I was only the 3rd person to take one the rest either didn't call back or had changed there minds all six plots are taken now and there isn't a waiting list now, I'm going to stick my name down again in the summer

[Bramble_killer]

I am now in the 2nd year of a potential 6 year waiting list for the allotments in our area. Only half or quarter plots get offered here so I wouldn't give up any space if I was given one (especially since I've been waiting)

[Pickle]

As one of the people on the waiting list for a plot in Eastbourne I would never expect someone to give up half of their plot. I'm on the waiting list for just one site and would be happy to receive a half plot as I don't think that withmy other commitments I'd be able to put a whole plot to full use (much as I'd like to I have to be realistic). Fortunately the waiting lists are gradually going down. Last April I was 39th on the list, this week I'm 28th on the list and should be moving further up it as I know they have just offered some plots out this week.
I know that the councils plans are unpopular in asking if people would be prepared to give up half of their plot but if you read the article it is voluntary and if you want to hang on to your whole plot you can. Believe me, I'm not normally one to defend Eastbourne BC but at least in this instance they are trying to be proactive about reducing waiting lists and they are creating two whole new sites too so fingers crossed I'll have a plot before the year is out. I have told them I am prepared to take on an overgrown plot so with any luck I'll move up the queue a bit faster as people reject ones that aren't already pristine

[Tigara]

In our area all allotments are being automatically split into two when they become available, however its not making much difference, I have spoken to people on all 4 of the allotments I can reasonable get to on a regular basis and they say that that only 4 plots have become available (for splitting) in the last 5 years! If I'm lucky I might get an allotment about the same time my 4 kids leave home.

[Newton]

Keep the faith.....I joined my list in 24th position in July 2005. I got my half plot last November. The list is now over 100.

You can sometimes find a plot holder that needs a helper and you share the work and the produce. It also would ease the potential wait.

Best of luck anyway......

[Germinater]

I live in Eastbourne were this story origanated from and have just applied for a allotment and find I quite funny that a few people on the thread comment on the waiting list being down to a fashionable buzz from younger people wanting there own space to grow fresh food for there family ofcourse you will always get a few people realising that the reality of owning one and imaging have all that free food means a lot of very hard work but without all the new people wanting allotments the amount of space the councils have for allotments would dwindle .so little failure is needed along the way to have new committed allotent holders continue these site ...
Ps I have been told in Eastbourne because of this influxe of new interact they are now opening up old land that was previously disused and wasteland so fingers crossed I won't have to wait to long and good to know that this old overgrown land will now be put to a good purpose again and will shorten the waiting list../

[SawPaw]

Any full plot on the site where mine is automatically gets halved when re-let. I only have half myself and would like more space but at times I struggle to keep up with just the half. My ideal would be to get another full plot and use half plot for fruit, other half plot for polytunnel, herbs and wildlife pond and remaining half plot for veggies. I wouldn't expect anyone to give up any of there plot just to get the lists down.

[VirginVegGrower]

I have a half plot but there are currently two very neglected full plots and I am getting sick of staring at them. I have told the PC as have others - all to no avail. It sickens me.

[BigShot]

I don't think people are right to see themselves as "selfish" because they wouldn't give up half of their plot.
Half a plot is very tight on space if you want to grow space hungry crops like potatoes.

I've taken on a 2nd plot in completely the opposite direction to my original site because a half plot really isn't enough when you're attempting to be self sufficient in food as far as possible.

Expecting someone with a full, fully-used plot to give up half of their growing capacity really is unreasonable.

You can grow a LOT more food in a given space with different growing methods (square foot gardening is very space-efficient... but a lot more difficult to manage over such a large space) and while elements of that can carry over to allotments, I think it's unreasonable to *expect* someone with enough space to grow with conventional methods to learn a whole new system which *does* require more work when scaled up just to keep up with the food you've been growing for the people you're feeding.

Frankly, I think plot-splitting is a seriously lame response to councils failing in their duties. They were too quick to bulldoze and build on allotments in years gone by and are now unwilling to rectify the problem and so take the half-plot shortcut as a token gesture.

There are huge waiting lists in this area, including a site which could - literally - double in size without any serious clearing beyond the usual weeds on any derelict plot (and with long waiting lists that can well be left to incoming plotholders like I had to clear mine). It used to be double the size it is now, was halved in the allotment contraction yeasrs ago when people to an extra step back off the land, and even after years of growing waiting lists and in times where the local council was spraying money all over the place for pointless projects still remains at its reduced size.

Land is abundant in most areas. Halving plots is no answer.

[phil the shed]

we are planning a new site at present and the starting commitee have managed to plan into it 62
5m x 12.5m plots.
2/3 DDA compliant and 2 other raised bed plots
4 community plots
and we have had 102 applictions for these
hard innit?

[Pickle]

I live in Eastbourne were this story origanated from and have just applied for a allotment /

I'm in Eastbourne too. Which waiting list(s) are you on? I'm on Pig Lane and Roselands. Last count I was mid twenties for Pig Lane so had moved up the list about 9 places. Looking forward to them opening up the new sites so I'll hopefully get a plot :-)

[bubblewrap]

Give up half my plot no way the second word is "OFF"
I have 300+ sq yards & when I have finished planting out it will be full.
I could do with more land not less.

Allotment situation in Charnwood borough council area Plots 284 waiting list 236.

[Olorin2001]

On our allotment site this year, four plots were allocated to new people, two of those haven't showed their faces at all even though they have paid the rent, one has given up already, and the last is doing very well. The vast majority of people have no idea of the work involved (an hour a day, on average, once you got it under control) from the number of weed infested overgrown plots around the Southampton area I can only assume that being able to say you have an allotment is some kind of status symbol. To all those waiting for a plot I will say, that, out of ever 10 people on the waiting list, 5
will change their mind when offered a plot and another 4 will give up within two years. It is up to the councils to ensure that plots are cultivated to an acceptable standard, evict quicker, that would reduce the waiting list. On our site we have two people who turn up once or twice a year, do a bit of digging, plant a few veg which gets overgrown with weeds and dies, every year they get non-cultivatiuon letters and show up to do another few hours work, I question why they bother, and why the council allows them to get away with it.