[Oliver]

She was looking for some information about allotment holders hanging on to the plots in the face of Councils trying to sell them off and came across this interview with Geoff Stokes, Secretary of the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners.
This site is very useful for first timers on a plot too - take a look.
She, who by some might be considered an old hand in both senses of the word , found it very useful.
BBC Gardening - Grow Your Own - NSALG ADVICE
Oops - nearly no dinner for me! Sorry :?  In fact I am probably older than Her!

[John]

Allotments are really enjoying a resurgence so hopefully the councils are taking note.
I can tell you that you can win these things easily as long as you get in quick before they have made their decision public. Once they have made it public they stand to lose face so you have to work much harder to convince them it will effect their re-election.
Another good tip for influencing councils is to work through the opposition. Give them a cause celebre to follow