How to contact allotment association?

[jenjen23]

Hi all, newbie here, I've posted in allotments wanted but will also post here in the hope that someone has advice.

I'd like to get an allotment and am trying to get hold of the village allotment association, but am really struggling! I contacted the parish council and they gave me contact details, but the person they said was in charge doesn't respond to emails or answer their phone. I've been to the allotment and spoken to a plot holder, who said that they are no longer in charge any way, but they weren't sure who is now! Any ideas on how to get in touch with the right people?! It feels a bit impossible, but there are definitely a few vacant-looking plots so I really want to register my interest.

Thanks

[alldigging]

Get back to the parish council person and let them know.
Put something in writing if possible that you'd like to go on the waiting list.

[Gillykat]

Keep pestering them! Our local council runs our allotments and the guy in charge is a devil to get hold of. I filled in an application form in July 2014 and heard nothing for six months. I then saw a small article about allotments becoming available so I rang them up that day and got the answer phone. I left a message and gave them 48hrs to call me back. No joy (this was Wednesday 20th Feb by then) so I rang them again and managed to get through to a real live human who took my details and said she'd get Mr B. to call me. He still hadn't rang by Friday so I gave him until midday and he rang at 11.10am! I arranged to go and see the plot ASAP (11.30am!) so he didn't get the chance to disappear again and by midday we had the keys to our plot

I'm a HUGE believer in politely pestering people

[Gillykat]

Forgot to add.....have you googled allotments in your town? I couldn't find out who to get in touch with in 2014 so typed in 'renting allotments in Alnwick?' and it came up with the link below

Allotments | Alnwick Town Council

Perhaps try that with your town/village? Somebody somewhere MUST know how to get your hands on one It is very frustrating when you see empty and neglected plots...it used to drive me spare

[jenjen23]

Thanks for the replies! I emailed the council contact back and said I couldn't get hold of who they told me about, but no response yet. The council phone number they provide says only tues and weds evenings so I'll call them next week. It is a small village so there isn't a great deal of info online any where, but hard to find real people/phone numbers too! I'll keep trying and will pop back up to the allotments, perhaps tonight, and see if there are some more people up there who might know, was quiet last time I visited.

[Coopers]

Slightly more aggressive but why don't you go and get confirmation on which ones are vacant and then email the same person and say I've been attempting to contact you with no luck to date I can only assume the allotment is no longer managed therefore if I don't here back within 3 weeks I will take it that I am correct and will start using a vacant plot.

[Alison]

Slightly more aggressive but why don't you go and get confirmation on which ones are vacant and then email the same person and say I've been attempting to contact you with no luck to date I can only assume the allotment is no longer managed therefore if I don't here back within 3 weeks I will take it that I am correct and will start using a vacant plot.

I'd recommend against this approach, you don't want to annoy them before you've got a plot. The first part about looking at which plots look empty however is good advice but please don't start using one of them before you get agreement.

[Nicos]

Seconded Alison.

Someone may well have paid for that plot for this year and not been officially given warnings about the state of it.
If you go and start working on it you may well be trespassing and forfeit everything you do.
Plus- as Alison says , you'll get on the wrong side of the council/committee and of course there may be someone else (who has been on the waiting list for ages) who is waiting patiently to gain access themselves.

Nope- an aggressive/ assertive approach will not stand you in good stead

[sparrow100]

Polite badgering though, that's pretty useful. Together with any brief info on why you are so interested, history of growing etc.

[bearded bloke]

What Alison said ^^

Also you need to think about why a plot can appear to be unworked, it could be that the plotholder is on holiday, ill, etc

[Gillykat]

Polite badgering though, that's pretty useful. Together with any brief info on why you are so interested, history of growing etc.

I did that when I spoke to the lady from the council - we had a lovely chat about gardening for a good ten minutes or so

Also you need to think about why a plot can appear to be unworked, it could be that the plotholder is on holiday, ill, etc

My neighbour spends six months of the year in Spain!!! I thought he was ill this year as I saw him in March then he disappeared completely until about a month ago when he turned up to dig up the spuds he'd planted in March! I think he's packing in his small corner plot this year so hopefully I will be able to reclaim it from the council as it used to be part of mine until previous tenant let T. use it.

Fingers crossed for you next week though - getting an allotment was the best thing I ever did...even if the sow thistle weeds have driven me to distraction at times

[jenjen23]

Progress report - I emailed the parish council again to say they had given me the wrong details, so they have now checked who is in charge and have given me the correct details (hopefully!). I've emailed and will wait a couple of days to see if they reply, otherwise will try ringing. The parish council seemed to think there is a waiting list, so don't want to be sneaky and jump in or anything! Fingers crossed my persistance will pay off!

[Gillykat]

Excellent news.....it's forward progress of sorts

Will continue to keep EVERYTHING crossed for you

[Coopers]

Oops sorry people my bad. I'm glad I checked in on this one as I nearly didn't. I wish I sanity checked my message before posting it. I didn't mean to imply use the plot is was more of a kick the person up the rear to reply to your messages. I do see how my message was read how it was, so apologies for lack of smileys or clarity i wouldn't want anyone to think that you should use a plot without checking...

[Coopers]

And having it signed off properly...

Nearly...

Geez I need to proof read my messages