Should people with a garden at home give up their allotments?

[jackie j]

When someone here gives up a large plot they are split into two half plots, I have a half plot and it is not big enough so I have put my OH's name down for a plot as we are not allowed to have a second plot in my name, it will be me doing all the work with a little help from him when I cant do something, which isnt very often. I havent told him yet lol.

[Matt.]

Its so ridiculous that this is even being mooted as an option for solving the lack of allotments. Folk with two or more plots (or a full one in some cases) just got to the queue first. Those who are newcomers will just have to wait or campaign to get more spaces made available. Like has been said so many times folk who have plots now often took them on in a very neglected state and have worked very hard to turn them into sucessful plots. As for giving up a plot if you have a garden what a joke. What next banned from using buses and trains because you have a car?

By the way if you want a plot there are plenty of spaces in Oxfordshire....

[bluemoon]

Would any council in their right mind do it anyway? Kick off a reliable tenant of many years standing and hand over a pristine plot to someone who might be gone in 6 months having first allowed it to run to weeds and before the rent bill arrived?
All these little 'schemes' people keep coming with make me really cross. Where were they when I took on my badly neglected plot, spent years clearing it, then took on another one in the same state to help keep the site viable and out of the hands of developers? Off on what was the current fad at the time, I suspect.

And Matt, I've heard local OAPs on a crowded bus wanting to kick people off if they had working legs!!!

[Couperman]

I voted No.

I have not had my plot long so I guess I am included in the 'Fad' Brigade

I put my name down thinking I would have to wait years and was offered one very local after only a few months and I accepted. My plot is not the tidiest or most productive I have seen but it is mine and will improve year on year.

I do have a garden at home but it is not suitable for growing veg as it doesn't get enough sun.

I think councils should be more pro-active in chasing people who clearly have lost the inclination to tend their plot rather that penalising those who run more than one well. The waiting lists would not be so long then.

[allotmentlady]

nononononononoNONONONONONONONO way............my escape, a garden is for the family, my allotment is for me!

[basketcase]

I voted other because...

I don't think that anyone who already has more than one plot and is cultivating it should have to give it up - even if they've got a garden. They've spent time, energy and often quite a bit of money getting it into good heart - often at a time when they couldn't be given away.

That said, I don't think they should be allowed to take on another - unless they're in one of the very rare areas where there's a negative waiting list!

Also, I think there should be some sort of system for checking that applicants for new plot don't have a garden they could use. Perhaps a 'points' system? Things like soil, aspect and children should be taken into account. However, as a person who only has a first-floor veranda, I wouldn't be impressed by "Oh but I only want to grow flower near my house/keep my lawn etc."

But that's just my 2 penn'orth.

[Sonata]

I don't see why people should have to give up multiple plots if they're keeping them properly. And just because people have a garden doesn't mean they'd want to dig it up to grow veg (although I did - DH won't let me dig up the lawn though).

I agree with those who are saying councils are trying to weasel out of things..but even though I'm probably joining in on the fad, I do think that those on the waiting lists should be pressuring their councils or campaigning to have more allotments.

That said, in a couple of years - I suspect the majority of allotmenteers will be those who've been doing it for years and even managing multiple plots.

[weekendwellies]

I don't see why people should have to give up multiple plots if they're keeping them properly. And just because people have a garden doesn't mean they'd want to dig it up to grow veg (although I did - DH won't let me dig up the lawn though).

I agree with those who are saying councils are trying to weasel out of things..but even though I'm probably joining in on the fad, I do think that those on the waiting lists should be pressuring their councils or campaigning to have more allotments.

That said, in a couple of years - I suspect the majority of allotmenteers will be those who've been doing it for years and even managing multiple plots.

Hear hear.

[Shadylane]

I voted other because...

I don't think that anyone who already has more than one plot and is cultivating it should have to give it up - even if they've got a garden. They've spent time, energy and often quite a bit of money getting it into good heart - often at a time when they couldn't be given away.

That said, I don't think they should be allowed to take on another - unless they're in one of the very rare areas where there's a negative waiting list!

Also, I think there should be some sort of system for checking that applicants for new plot don't have a garden they could use. Perhaps a 'points' system? Things like soil, aspect and children should be taken into account. However, as a person who only has a first-floor veranda, I wouldn't be impressed by "Oh but I only want to grow flower near my house/keep my lawn etc."

But that's just my 2 penn'orth.

So are you saying that if you have a garden AND children then it's ok for you to have a plot aswell, but if you choose not to have kids then it's tough, sorry you don't need a lawn you can use that??? Please tell me that's not what you're suggesting.

[Incy]

I voted other because...

I don't think that anyone who already has more than one plot and is cultivating it should have to give it up - even if they've got a garden. They've spent time, energy and often quite a bit of money getting it into good heart - often at a time when they couldn't be given away.

That said, I don't think they should be allowed to take on another - unless they're in one of the very rare areas where there's a negative waiting list!

Also, I think there should be some sort of system for checking that applicants for new plot don't have a garden they could use. Perhaps a 'points' system? Things like soil, aspect and children should be taken into account. However, as a person who only has a first-floor veranda, I wouldn't be impressed by "Oh but I only want to grow flower near my house/keep my lawn etc."

But that's just my 2 penn'orth.

Sorry Basketcase, but I have a large garden and a child. I have part of the garden housing my greenhouse and we have squeezed as many raised beds in as we can (7 to be exact) whilst keeping the lawn for the football, cricket trampoline etc. ( my son is disabled so having access to space and sporting activities is crucial to him).
After 3 years of growing we have however run out of space and have put our names on the list for a local allotment so that we can grow more.
I hope we get one soon but would never ask the people who currently have plot/plots there to give theirs up for us.
I do resent the idea that I shouldn't be allowed a plot simply because I have a garden and grow there too!

[piskieinboots]

no no no no no no no no no .......

and no again - I didn't get here before the vote was closed

And once again.......no

and no again with brass bits on

By the way if you want a plot there are plenty of spaces in Oxfordshire....

indeed there are, plenty over on my site

[organic]

Would any council in their right mind do it anyway? Kick off a reliable tenant of many years standing and hand over a pristine plot to someone who might be gone in 6 months having first allowed it to run to weeds and before the rent bill arrived?

Err - I believe they would.
You've got to remember we're talking about government here. NOTHING they do is sensible. It's all saving face and being seen to be doing something. There's nothing "in their right mind" about it.
I guarantee that if something like that did happen the councilors responsible would be right into the local rags harping on about the steps they were taking to reduce the waiting lists for allotments, helping more people to grow their own food and stopping global warming dead in its tracks in the process.

They'd sidestep the real issue of lack of provision, make everyone who get a plot (or more likely half plot) happy as their expected wait of a few years has vanished and they now have a plot and run a better chance of re-election... which is all any of this is about to the vast majority of them.

Community, a sense of reality and good, honest, back-breaking effort mean nothing to the vast majority of politicians. They'll be seen to do something, bugger off, and anyone who's lost a plot they've slaved over or prevented from being built on can get stuffed.

All these little 'schemes' people keep coming with make me really cross. Where were they when I took on my badly neglected plot, spent years clearing it, then took on another one in the same state to help keep the site viable and out of the hands of developers? Off on what was the current fad at the time, I suspect.

Yea - I couldn't agree more.
Good on you and thanks for doing it, by the way.

It's a tough one for me as I have to travel a fair distance to my allotment, there are at least 4 closer to my house, one about a 3 minute walk away. I'm sure there will be a few people on there with multiple plots which kinda stings from the outside (especially as I'm not a fad type, new to it but have been wanting to grow my own for YEARS - just never even thought of allotments until recently - I just used to dream of having the space) but I do believe it's a bit of a fad for many and I understand them being reluctant to give plots up.

Really the councils just need to pull a finger out and fulfill their obligations!
Diversionary tactics like this whole idea are just avoiding that. Even if the one local site with the ability to expand doubled in size (it could) it still wouldn't clear their waiting list and there's about a 6 year list on another one too! Any councilors who try to get away with this idea as them doing something to shorten the lists should be hung out to dry.

And Matt, I've heard local OAPs on a crowded bus wanting to kick people off if they had working legs!!!

Now that did make me laugh.
A nice cheery point for me to finish a rather vitriolic post with.

[jackyspratty]

My friend and I have 2 seperate quarter plots on 2 different lotties. We share thelabour and produce between 2 houses sometimes more. I have a large garden which is quite water logged due to a beck, with a large concrete section on it where my friend has his polytunnel. Many plots are shared between a few people, and gardens are too. I just know it would be hard to do what we do individually and its not just for me.

[binley100]

NO NO NO . I've only had my lottie since March but its been invaluable for
a) growing veg. difficult at home with a dog unless I want to fence it all off. Which I don't. and
b) It's my get away from it all space where I can chill and potter or work hard as I choose.

I pay to rent it and as long as I use it then it should be mine.

So there.

[weekendwellies]

NO NO NO . I've only had my lottie since March but its been invaluable for
a) growing veg. difficult at home with a dog unless I want to fence it all off. Which I don't. and
b) It's my get away from it all space where I can chill and potter or work hard as I choose.

I pay to rent it and as long as I use it then it should be mine.

So there.

Here, here, well said binley