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In law, a 10 rod plot (that is about 250 sq M) is the standard size required to feed a family. In practice however many time poor folk now prefer smaller 1/2 plots...or less...matbe using raised beds etc. for intensive yield.... After a few years for some they realise that it is infact manageable and they may want more land.
The 1908 small holdings and allotment act established that local authorities have a duty to provide sufficient land (incl compulory purchase!) however it failed to establish a timeframe and this is the loophole for councils.
The allotments act 1922specified that it be used for non commercial growing and mainly Fruit and veg.... and that they should be limited to a 1/4 of an acre.(about 4 standard plots I think). For many years people took on more than one plot to stop empty land being sold off or turning to wilderness. I still have two plots...but then have never had 100% occupancy at the site. If it were every truly oversubscribed I would probably give some up.....the last manager had 4 plots!!...but it was only at 15% occupancy back then. often these people kept redundant sites going.
With the recent demand and demographic, many authorities seem to think they can get away with carving everything into smaller parcels. On the face of it, it may seem fairer to let more people have a go and of course, it is easy to accept anything (and overpay for it) if you are faced with a long wait. However this practice has quickly eroded and clouded everybody's rights (or knowledge of them)..and is now quickly becoming an accepted norm...not good news really.
But morally....whatever the rights...In areas of high demand if you already have some land... then I guess it would be inflammatory to be given another plot ahead of those with nothing.... Bit harsh, but in your heart you know that is probably fair!?
Perhaps they will accept that you can put yourself down for a full plot and give yours up when your moved? or perhaps find someone who is not coping, make friends and suggest you swap plots? then ask....or see if you can help them and use some of their land for some fruit? (careful as subletting is not allowed)...or look at offering to reclaim some land?
Best of luck, do hope you find somewhere for a fruit garden.
The 1908 small holdings and allotment act established that local authorities have a duty to provide sufficient land (incl compulory purchase!) however it failed to establish a timeframe and this is the loophole for councils.
The allotments act 1922specified that it be used for non commercial growing and mainly Fruit and veg.... and that they should be limited to a 1/4 of an acre.(about 4 standard plots I think). For many years people took on more than one plot to stop empty land being sold off or turning to wilderness. I still have two plots...but then have never had 100% occupancy at the site. If it were every truly oversubscribed I would probably give some up.....the last manager had 4 plots!!...but it was only at 15% occupancy back then. often these people kept redundant sites going.
With the recent demand and demographic, many authorities seem to think they can get away with carving everything into smaller parcels. On the face of it, it may seem fairer to let more people have a go and of course, it is easy to accept anything (and overpay for it) if you are faced with a long wait. However this practice has quickly eroded and clouded everybody's rights (or knowledge of them)..and is now quickly becoming an accepted norm...not good news really.
But morally....whatever the rights...In areas of high demand if you already have some land... then I guess it would be inflammatory to be given another plot ahead of those with nothing.... Bit harsh, but in your heart you know that is probably fair!?
Perhaps they will accept that you can put yourself down for a full plot and give yours up when your moved? or perhaps find someone who is not coping, make friends and suggest you swap plots? then ask....or see if you can help them and use some of their land for some fruit? (careful as subletting is not allowed)...or look at offering to reclaim some land?
Best of luck, do hope you find somewhere for a fruit garden.
What do you do if you are on a waiting list (number 36) and people have been on it since 2009 and are still waiting, but here's the rub, there are at least 20 plots that are empty or that have been so neglected they look more like fields, or the council has taken the topsoil and left them and they look like wildernesses? Man I spoke to said, be patient and was very nice, but I know these plots are there with some other allotmenteers putting their overspill onto them (can't really blame them) also a private enterprise has been given 12 plots! It's a big site, and some people have been there years and taken over generations of allotments it's just appalling that nobody seems to be bothered about giving these empty plots to anyone on the list. I suspect some kind of weirdness is going on but am clueless as to what it could possibly be! Why not give the empty plots to people? Why hold onto them? Am Baffled! 
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