"amoffski" wrote

our plots are run buy forgetfull landlords who let plots to people who
arent even council rate payers knowingly .also they seem to take a lot
of interest in what sags mouthpiece judy wilkinson has to say yet she
not only is a private plot holder but does not speak for every plot
holder in glasgow and isnt even interested in what opinions we have
.the council is more in terested in ploughing money into awareness
this and awareness that but what about our plots wee need a money
infusion too :the council and others started a group calles glasgow
allottment fourum a couple of years ago but havent even resolved the
issues at the first meetings {this was originally called glasgow
allottment network after a lot of groundwork and talking to most of
the allottment reps it got highjacked by sags who where in cahoots
with the council heid honcos.

This sort of thing is quite common. The Council workers and Councillors very
seldom know anything about gardening let alone allotment gardening. They
therefore have to rely on informed people which is where your Scottish
Allotment Garden Society gets it's foot in the door.
Money for allotments is tight everywhere but our Government has demanded
that allotments are advertised so what little money there is tends to go in
this area.
Some within the Council will also see allotments as wasted land. With some
Councils these people are in the majority and allotments suffer lack of
funding etc., in order to drive people away so the land can be used for
something productive (in their mind), i.e. building.
Join SAGS yourself and persuade other plot holders to do the same then you
will have a voice in that body but you will have to go to their meetings,
listen, make notes, and ask questions etc, put them on the spot!
Alternatively start a local allotment society for all the sites in the
Borough/City, they have this in Windsor & Maidenhead, then the Council have
one local body (with clout) to talk with.
In Windsor the Council lease all the sites to the society and it's they that
then rent them out to the individual plotholders, so the Council have very
little dealings with the allotments. It's one large "self-managed" scheme.
Do your Reps have an annual meeting with the Council? They should demand it,
just them and the Council, no other outside bodies should or need to be
involved.
BTW we pay £79 pa for the normal 10 Rods.

--
Regards
Bob
In Runnymede, 17 miles West of London