[John]

Went to my lotty today and had some sad news.... the council is selling it off to British Airways (to be used as a car park) I have people on the lotty are saying they have found another space for us just up the road... but apparently the drainage there is appalling and is always flooding... so I dont know what to do now!!

You take paradise, put up a parking lot .. Joni Mitchell

Perhaps you could pressure the council to at least improve the drainage and provide some extra facilities as compensation?

[Aunt Sally]

This points out that your new allotments must be of a standard "suitable" for cultivation.  The land must be improved from the money received for the sale of the land.


Local Government Planning and Land Act, 1980 and Local Government and
Planning (Amendment) Act 1981 – Consolidated planning legislation which has
further influenced the forward planning of allotments.

The Council must safeguard existing land used as allotments. Development proposals resulting in the loss of
allotments should only be considered where:

1. There is evidence of long-term insufficient demand for continued use of land
as allotments

2. Suitable land is made available, either by retention or relocation, to replace
allotments that are in use

3. Where it is necessary to develop a site for other purposes, suitable sites are
made available to relocate tenants

4. Any proceeds from land sale is re-invested in developing the allotment
service.

[Dopey113]

That's interesting... ^^^ was talking to some plot holders, apparently they are going to fence the new site, and compensate for losses, like poly tunnels, and sheds, cultivate the land.

Don't know if they are going to put drainage in though, this new place is very boggy.  Had a letter from them and they said this season it's ok to cultivate the plots, and I think it will be a yearly thing until it's sighed for by BA, but we worked out they knew about this without telling us for almost 2 years.  If they do what they propose and the drainage, it could be better than what we have now.  The place is infested with vermin, rabbit and rat, mice, birds, but if its anything like what they promise and what they actually do. 

We have had lots of promises that they were going to do this that and the other, and always been let down, they talk a lot but don't do much.

Edited by Aunty to make more readable

[compostqueen]

You can fight! Allotments have rights enshrined in law

[franker]

It's such an awful state of affairs! Councils have been squeezed by this government to cut down on all the "unnecessary" services. Allotments were originally introduced by the council for unemployed men with families to support. Although that isn't the case these days it isn't right that it should come down to money because our government have spent billions on bank bailouts and millions on a war that the people of this country didn't want a part in...

[Aunt Sally]

It is sad, but 'statutory' allotments cannot be closed unless the government minister concerned agrees that they are surplus to requirements.

And that means NO waiting list and vacant plots.

[carlrmj]

  When I had my first allotment 25 years ago , it was eventually taken over for  extra space  for the graveyard

  next  to it .There were about 100 plots on the site .