Allotments
Created by EmmaMy partner and I moved to Kingsway October 2008 and shortly after this time we put our names on the waiting list for an allotment in Gloucester. We were told that it would be about a year to 2 year wait.
We then found out that the Parish Council had secured land in Kingsway for allotments and we would be able to have one there when they have been completed – which was after all of the housing development had been completed – fair enough!
After waiting for about 6 months we enquired again with regards to an allotment in Kingsway thinking our names had been left off the list (or just forgotten) only to find out that the allotments still hadn’t been completed and no-one knew when they would be. In fact I was told "because of the recession, all the building work stopped, so it’ll be when all of that is finished".
Whilst I understand that it’s last on their "list", would it not make some sense to get it sorted so that people can get on with it?
(Or is it just me being too eager)!
I was wondering if anyone knew when the completion of the allotments will be?
It may sound silly but now is the time we should be ordering our seeds and winter vegetable plants and digging the ground and it would be nice to get an answer!
After all it is the "recession" and we’re just trying to save ourselves some money doing something we enjoy, and trying to be more "green".
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September 10th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Hi Emma,
Thanks for joining, and contributing
Yep… like everything else in Kingsway, it looks like the Allotments will be delayed for some time to come
The Parish Council are taking bookings (see our Residents Association page).
Baz_k has also been waiting but he recently managed to get a "share" in a friends allotment (not sure where), read more about it on his blog.
September 10th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Hi Emma,
The allotments on Kingsway are part of phase 4, and when you consider they are still working phase 3, then it gives you some idea.
What we have done is put ourselves on every list going, ran by the Council and hope something comes through soon. I am desperate to get a proper patch of my own to use and would love it to be on here. ‘Though the ground will be rubbish to begin with I should imagine!
My current patch is shared with friends and is in Tuffley, so not too far, and we are just getting sorted for next year, ‘though we have got plenty on the go so far, its a huge learning experience.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Hi all ,
I’m not sure if you have a garden or how big it is, but was wondering if you have tried to grow fruit and veg in planters or tubs? This is great for small areas and you can grow anything in them.
You may be surprised at how much you get out of them
September 11th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Hi,
I moved to Kingsway April 07 and put our name down on the allotment waiting list with Quedgeley Parish Council sometime that summer… Still waiting! As growing veg’ etc seems to have become more popular – rather than wait – just get on with things as someone else stated in blog. Use small part of garden if poss’ or tubs. Had copious amounts of tomatoes, strawberries, black and blue berries to mention a few, mainly grow in tubs. So ok leave your name on waiting list but use whatever space you have in the mean time….though watch out for the slugs mmmm!!!
September 11th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Thanks for the comments guys! It’s good to know I’m not the only frustrated person out there!
After completing the decking area in our garden we had some left over planks so made some veg planters, which is working well! Got loads of Brussels sprouts coming (much to my partners disgust)!
And we’re trying out some blueberries and also growing our own grape vines (Looking forward to the homemade wine in a couple of years)!
At the moment we help my parents out with their allotment in Stroud and in turn for half a days work we come away with a bag full of veg’ (we drive a hard bargain, but it is so worth it)!
I look forward to see you all on the Kingsway allotments soon (but obviously not too soon by the sounds of it)!
Emma
January 29th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Hello again everyone!
Didn’t we all have fun in the snow
Anyway, I wrote a letter to QUVL to ask about the allotments, and after a lot of "to-and-fro-ing" the general date I was given for completion of the allotments was… (‘drum roll please’)… 2013-2014
Grreeeeaaaaaattttttt… Not!
Anyway, I thought you would like to know what I had found out as disappointing as it may be!
Emma
January 29th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Hi Emma,
Well… that sucks
On the other hand, there’s just a chance that I’ll have started/finished fixing up my garden by then
Ahh well… Thanks for the update
June 28th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Hello Again,
I heard it mentioned that Baz had spoken with the developers with regards to bringing forward the date of completion for the Kingsway allotments. I was wondering if there is any news on that and whether the date I was given of 2013-2014 would be reduced?
Is anyone able to shed some light?
Em
June 28th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Hi Emma
You heard right – I am currently working with QUVL to bring the allotments forward and with any luck they should be in place by the end of the year. At this stage, don’t hold me to it, but it is looking good so far.
As soon as I know anything concrete, I will pass it on.
Baz
June 29th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Good evening Baz,
Thats great news!
Funny thing is I was only on the phone with the City Council yesterday asking when these allotments were being completed, and was told that it wouldn’t be until 2013/14! So to read this today is fantastic
I’ve been looking up about allotments on http://www.nsalg.org.uk trying to find a nearby allotment and found that if more than 5 people showed an interest to the local council then The Council had to find an area for allotments.
Maybe this could be of use if this if talks with QUVL fail to bring anything concrete.
Why not take look at the allotment website and see what you all think and maybe get together and see what we can do as a collective voice.
Kev
June 30th, 2010 at 7:01 am
Baz,
that’s fantastic news, fingers crossed this happens, but even if it’s end of next year that loads better than 2013/14!
Possibly ready by the end of the year? WOW!
Can’t wait to get down there now!
KEVGEE,
After a lot of chasing I managed to get the date out of QUVL and passed it on to the council because they had no idea! So I advised them that I was told 2013/14 but not to hold me on that!
YYYYAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:11 am
KEVGEE – I’m more than happy to kick up a fuss if Baz has no luck with QUVL! Count me and my other half in!
I heard from the council that there is something ridiculous like 160 people waiting for an allotment in Kingsway, and unfortunately I think my partner and me are near the bottom
although I’m hoping some of those people won’t want one/will have found one elsewhere and we will be able to get a plot. It would be very disappointing if we didn’t get one!
Is there any word about how many plots are likely to be available and whether we will be allowed fruit trees etc?
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:51 am
The allotments are still in discussion, and at the moment, there is no real idea of number or size yet (obviously one is dependant on the other)
I would not put too much store on that list just yet – One of the things I have learned about the Parish Council is that they have the right in law to run the Allotment, not the city so that puts a different slant on things. However, they will be popular no matter where the list is.
But why not do both approaches simultaneously, if you approach the parish Council with a number of names/signatures (more than 5), then Quedgeley is a big place, and this need could be addressed for Quedgeley people too. I would suggest, that getting some Quedgeley people involved too, and see what can be done.
August 18th, 2010 at 11:20 am
Baz/Kevgee,
How’s it going with QUVL?
Is there anything we can do to poke them into action?
Em
August 18th, 2010 at 11:23 am
Just a quick note, when the allotments are up and going, I would be happy to run a seed club – collecting orders, distributing the seeds/plants etc etc!
August 21st, 2010 at 11:04 am
We are hopeful in being offered an allotment too… the discussion from the residents meeting last night was helpful. The allotments are being brought forward from their original time-frame for residents. When we registered our interests 18 months ago, we had to register with two different registers: Gloucester City Council & The Parish Council. I was advised that The Parish Council’s Register was the main register to include yourself on but that would be for others to confirm or deny as there was some confusion at that time regarding who was in control of the main register?
August 24th, 2010 at 6:12 am
That’s great to know, something semi-confirmed.
I know we’re on the council list but if I remember correctly when we spoke to Qued Parish Council we were told to call Gloucester Council and put our names down there!
I’ll check with both this week I think!
I think it would be a good idea to think about starting an allotment association, especially as they haven’t been designed/built etc yet, that way we may have some influence over certain aspects of the allotments, such as distribution of water, that kind of thing.
I have no knowledge or experience in doing anything like seting up an association so if someone else want to ‘take charge’ and I will happily follow and help out where I can!
Em