[Rich72]

Hello all

I have been on a waiting list for an allotment in Wakefield for ages. I keep contacting the office but they wont tell me where I am on the list, how often allotments become vacant etc. I am currently growing veg in my own tiny garden but am itching to get out there and do it on a larger scale. Does anyone have an allotment in Wakefield they would be willing to share? or anyone have any ideas on getting one quicker.

Thanks

[ANHBUC]

You might be better seeing if you could find an elderly person who has a garden they can't manage themselves.  They might let you use part for an allotment in exchange for you keeping all of their garden tidy and of course a few veggies thrown in.

Not sure how you would find them but help the aged might be a good place to start or your local council who might have elderly tennants in the same situation.

Good Luck

[Aunt Sally]

Does anyone have an allotment in Wakefield they would be willing to share?

All council run allotment sites completely ban sub letting of plots.  The tenant would get evicted !

You might be better seeing if you could find an elderly person who has a garden they can't manage themselves.  They might let you use part for an allotment in exchange for you keeping all of their garden tidy and of course a few veggies thrown in.

Not sure how you would find them

Try Landshare

http://www.landshare.net/

[Kleftiwallah]

Not being allowed to see the waiting smacks of big brother tactics.  Perhaps you should suggest it would ally your suspicions about letting their 'chums' jump the list !   I think that would get them shifting.     Cheers,   Tony.

[Aunt Sally]

There is no right to "see" the waiting list as the names and addresses would be covered by the data protection act but under freedom of information you should be told how many are on the list and where you are on it.

[Yorkie]

Aunt Sally is completely correct. 

The names and contact details of the people on the list are personal information, which is held subject to the provisions of the DPA.  Disclosure of those details is only permitted for certain purposes - and that is not one of them.  Unauthorised disclosure is a criminal offence ...

But, as AS also said, you should be told where you are on the waiting list (if all else fails, you are entitled to make a subject access request under the DPA for information relating to your position although there may be a small fee), and under the FoI Act you can ask questions about the length of the list and (if it doesn't take too much time to compile the answer) what the annual turnover is.

[Jamie Butterworth]

Which allotment waiting list are you on?

Ive phoned up numerous times and theyve let me kow where i am on each waiting list

[AnneB]

Also worth clarifying whether it is one list for all Wakefield sites or if they have a separate waiting list for each site.   I am in nearby Bradford.  The waiting list for the 2 sites closest to me was up to 160 people.  However, by being prepared to travel by car (10 min journey each way) I got a plot almost straight away.  Admittedly it was hideously overgrown with mare's tail, 2 sycamore trees, lots of broken glass and old carpet.  It is also in what would be described as a more challenging area with plenty of anti social behaviour.  However from what we understand the other sites closer to home suffer from theft and vandalism in just the same way despite being in a supposedly 'nice' area.

I did find that the council staff were quite hard pressed for time.  It is worth being friendly towards them and making sure they understand you are keen and know what work is required to maintain an allotment.   I got quite frustrated that they didn't seem to have a spreadsheet for waiting lists and would only let me have a place on a maximum of 3, but all turned out good in the end.

I now have a lovely productive plot on a small friendly site.  Good luck in your quest for the same.

[Rich72]

Thanks for replies guys.

Jamie...Im on waiting list for Stanley area.....Lee Moor Lane, Aberford Road and Ferry Lane.

Have joined landshare now hopefully will have myself a decent plot soon

[whiskywill]

Does anyone have an allotment in Wakefield they would be willing to share?

All council run allotment sites completely ban sub letting of plots.  The tenant would get evicted !

True in some cases. This is an extract from Brighton and Hove Council's policy on sub letting and, it appears, that this applies in many council areas.
"The tenant may share cultivation by registering a co-worker   . Co-workers must sign an agreement, countersigned by the tenant and sent to the council."
  

Unfortunately the strict ban on sub letting applies in Wakefield.

[Mr Rotavator]

Does anyone have an allotment in Wakefield they would be willing to share?

All council run allotment sites completely ban sub letting of plots.  The tenant would get evicted !

True in some cases. This is an extract from Brighton and Hove Council's policy on sub letting and, it appears, that this applies in many council areas.
"The tenant may share cultivation by registering a co-worker   . Co-workers must sign an agreement, countersigned by the tenant and sent to the council."
  

Unfortunately the strict ban on sub letting applies in Wakefield.

Your quote has nothing to do with sub-letting. It refers to co-worker(s); i.e. someone who shares the plot with the registered tenant (the other half, family member...), not a sub-tenant.

[Rich72]

Thanks to Aunt Sally.....I tried landshare and have a patch! Its relatively small at 36ft x 36ft but more than adequate for me.

Will take some work before its ready for planting up but hey

[DD.]

Well done Rich.

That's actually not a bad size to begin with, a lot of plot holders have smaller than that.

[Rich72]

Cheers DD

[mumofstig]

My allotment plot is smaller than that 

Lucky you