Can't get an allotment? Did you know this...

http://www.landshare.net/letsgrow/

I didn't know this. It seems that if you can't get an allotment, but can find five friends/neighbours to share with you, the council is obliged by law to get you one.

I think that's brilliant if its right. Not least because it could help build up friendships if you have to share, and I bet there's quite a few people kicking about who through old age, ill health or simply time constraints couldn't manage a whole plot themselves, but could easily manage a little bit and it.

 

I believe it was a law created during or after the war, so that familles could feed themselves.

I can imagine a lot of councils trying to wriggle out of it or giving you land where the old Radium Dial factory used to be.

 

Sounds like a good 'loophole' for getting a plot (or at least a plot on a plot!)

You can bet they will, they usually wriggle out of any hole they get themselves into.

I was planning on getting hold of our local allotment waiting list and posting to each of the people above me a letter asking them to remove their name. (along with a dose of anthrax) That way... Im next on the list.

Muahahahahaha

p.s. If you see a news report with this in it... My name is Ziggy and I live in Dorset.

 

Mmmm ! I'm not sure that's quite right Clueless.
I could be wrong but I think the situation is, if you have whatever number of people requesting land for an allotment, the Council have an obligation to give the matter their consideration - not quite the same as provide the land.
It's worth a good Google.

 

From what I recall seeing this issue debated elsewhere, the council do have an obligation to find suitable land for allotments if a certain number of people make the request.

As Ziggy mentioned, the law goes back to the "Dig for Victory" campaign. Later on, the government tried to encourage people to grow thier own food as much as possible to supplement food supplies after the war when people were struggling in the aftermath of the war.

I have always found that councils will goout of thier wayto avoid doing ANYTHING that remotely resembles doing anything to help the people they are supposed to serve. The very same grossly overpaid civil serpents that demand extortionate council tax from every homeowner and business in the country. While increasing our taxes they also decrease any kind of service we get for our tax money. (Lets NOT get into the making sure they have thier golden handsakes and platinum plated pensions.)

You can of course try to get the council to supply land for allotments. Personally I think you have more chance of growing a third eyebrow. The council will fall back on the favourites "We are cost cutting because of the government", "There is no suitable land available", "It is not a council priority at a time of budget cuts".

I did not even bother to ask. I just went and found my own piece of land. I got lucky, I hope you will too.

Chopper.

 

Here is a useful guide for you about alottments.

http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/documents/plotholdersguide.pdf

It goes through a lot of the legal requirements and throughout the document it quotes from certain acts...and gives the name of it so you can google it and read it.

There is also a lot of good info here http://www.nsalg.org.uk/ (National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners) definately worth a look.

Steve...