I see from the website that people ringing up for allotments are being told that none are available. This has also happened to me on several occasions.

Could this be some under-hand scheme to sell off the land.  It wouldn’t surprise me. First pretend that there is no interest in a certain piece of land, dispose of it on the quiet and then in a few years when no one is looking, sell it to developers.

What’s the value of land in the Harrow Borough? A pretty penny I’d say.

I wouldn't put it past them.

Either that or their just totally incompetent - difficult to say with the council.

I was also told that there were no plots available where I am.
They told me there was a waiting list but didn't say how many people were on it or how long I could expect to be on it for.

Interesting that the nearest allotment site to the council offices which deal with allotments in forward drive were sold off to developers 15 years ago.

There are a lot of concerns that councils across the country may be looking to sell off allotment land for development. Although there are Acts of Parliament which protect Allotments (See Allotment Act 1908) there is a point to be made here that if a council can prove that people are not interested in using allotment land for horticulture then they can seek permission from the Government Office for London for 'disposal' [of use] of the land. Usually a council seeking such a disposal would need to provide a site elsewhere within the borough for use as allotments - however if they can show that local people are not taking up plots then they could put forward the argument that no further land is required.
Over the last ten years there have been many cases, country-wide, of allotment land being sold off to enable a council to make a short-term financial gain but with the help of the NSALG and Local Allotment & Horticultural Societies (I'm thinking Harrow in LEAF here) there has been a marked decrease in these types of sell off's. I know the mantra of the previous chairman of Harrow in LEAF was "Use them or Loose them", which seems quite apt.

This is very worrying indeed.
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Ian

There are lots of unused plots at our site, Vernon Drive.  
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annie, new to allotmentting!

Hi Annie,

I wonder if you would be interested in becoming a rep for that site. Harrow in LEAF has a folder and a couple of jobs that it is currently asking it's reps to do. They are trying to get all the information on allotment sites in so as it can challenge the council records.

I know someone who is looking for a plot at that site but is currently getting nowhere with the council/

if you might be interested please e-mail info@harrowinleaf.org.uk

I know someone who was looking for a plot on Vernon Drive - I'll let her know there are definatly some available.

will email you about being the rep for vernon...why not!!!