I'd be interested in the collective thoughts on this.

Our site (north Bristol) has c.6 plots which haven't been touched in at least 3 years. The council have finally given the long absent plot holders notice however have advised me that they won't re-allocate the plots until they've cleared the sites. They have very limited resources and some of the plots are in an horrendous state. Mine took the best part of 3 months to clear, inc. the usual collection of broken glass, rusted metal etc.

So the question is:

a) should those people on the waiting list be given the choice of taking on an untidy plot, or
b) should the Council clear them first with the inevitable delays.

I'm mindful that we are on the verge of the peak planting season, and it would be such a shame to let another year go past with nothing happening.

If you want an allotment, you need to be prepared to clear it, I think. Perhaps they could have the first year/6 months at a reduced rate, while they clear it.

I don't think anyone would want allotment prices to go up to cover the costs of clearing all the overgrown plots.

I wouldn't expect it cleared. If it was particularly bad I would think it only fair that there was some lee way on when it was expected to be up and running and rent. We are a resourceful bunch and it is surprising how much supposed cack can be reused

Could you contact the council and local court services to see if they can get people on Community Service to clear the plots?

That way no council resources would need to be spent.

Good thinking - they have used 'community service' people before but they were unsupervised and basically just re-arranged the rubbish. The site they did partially clear wasn't allocated so within a few weeks it was back to square one.

Re finding stuff, I found some fab corrugated metal sheets and , er, what appears to be the front wheel off a road-roller which is now a fantastic incinerator.

I reckon the community service idea is an excellent plan!

If they say no to that though, I would ask the council to provide a skip.
Then see if you can't persuade a few plotholders to crack on with a slash burn weekend with an agreement that helpful finders keep useful items, get use of the skip and can share in the ash from the bonfire.

Bonfire idea may not work as they are banned on most allotments from April to October. In the day the parks department used to clear and rotavate before a new owner took over, now days however they don't have the money or the motivation. I negotiated a free years rent on my new plot with the backing of the site rep, as it was so covered in dross as many on the allotment had used it as a dumping ground as soon as it became known that it was vacant, despite the notices requesting them to stop.

My site let me pay half price for the first year while I cleared the dumped rubbish and the jungle.