Well done Clare - how exciting!

I too have always thought the rule was that six people (on the register of electors) needed to apply together to the council, and the council were then obliged (ie not forced) to try (ie not necessarily succeed) to provide more plots.

I've looked into this again recently though - partly because a grape posted a link to a speech in parliament by Tony Baldry MP. Mr Baldry has proposed a bill to encourage councils to provide more allotments - even to include them as an obligatory part of the planning process (like they already do with 'affordable' housing).

To quote his speech: The 1908 Act states that if local authorities "are of the opinion that there is a demand for allotments...in the borough, district or parish the council shall provide a sufficient number of allotments to persons...resident in the borough, district or parish and desiring the same".

This doesn't mention the need for six people to write in, or for those people to contact the council together. I've spoken to Mr Baldry and he has no knowledge of these requirements. The act also says the council has a duty to provide alotments. Rather more binding isn't it?

If there are waiting lists for allotments, this in itself demonstrates 'that there is a demand for allotments'. If I were still on such a waiting list I would write to my local council to point this out. I might well do so anyway!

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