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luke
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Location: by the sea
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 Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject: Allotments thefts rise as credit crisis causes vegetable cri |
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| Quote: | Allotments thefts rise as credit crisis causes vegetable crimewave
Allotments have been targeted by vegetable thieves, as more people grow their own produce in response to the credit crisis.
Allotments have enjoyed a boom few years, with many people seeing their gardening as a way of saving on fruit and vegetable bills.
However, it would now seem that thieves are taking advantage of this green revolution.
Rhubarb, potatoes and onions were part of a haul stolen from an allotment in Cheslyn Hay, near Cannock, while other sites in the region have also reported thefts of produce.
Allan Rees, chairman of the National Society of Allotments and Leisure Gardening, is concerned the problem could get worse as the economic outlook worsens.
"Families are getting poorer and this is one way of putting food on the table," he said. "I believe they are being sold on. Thieves stole potatoes from my own plot and put the stalks back in place so it was two or three days before I noticed."
Lynda Foster, of the Cheslyn Hay Allotments and Cottage Gardeners Association, which manages the site, said: "It's heart-breaking."
Kelvin Brittain, a 52-year-old security officer who has a plot in Bushbury, Wolverhampton, said two wheelbarrow loads of rhubarb and beetroot had recently been plundered from a neighbouring plot.
Security has recently been beefed up at a West Bromwich allotments after a £6,000 project launched in the wake of a spate of thefts. |
from here
i've got my name down for an allotment but they reckon it can be between 6 months and 3 years!  |
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faceless
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Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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That's a real bastard stealing someone's veg. I'm guessing it will be some thief that's selling it to a restaurant or something.
Luke, is there not a law which says the council has to provide an allotment in a set period of time? I'd look into that if I was you. |
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SpursFan1902
Pitch Queen
Joined: 24 May 2007
Location: Sunshine State
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| How do allotments work? Do you have to pay for them...like rent or fees of some sort? Are they taxed, like property? Do you have to grow things on them or can you keep, say a bee hive or a dog kennel or use them for a storage area? |
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faceless
admin
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I think you have to pay a few quid towards general upkeep, but after that you can grow what you like as long as you don't sell it. I'm not sure about bees, but you'd not be able to do anything like use it as storage. |
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luke
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Location: by the sea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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| faceless wrote: | | Luke, is there not a law which says the council has to provide an allotment in a set period of time? I'd look into that if I was you. |
i'm not sure, but i was watching a hugh fearnley-whittingstall show recently and apparently if more than 5 people get together and request land thats not being used by the council they have to give it over! they converted this bramble covered wasteland in bristol in to a nice fruit and veg patch with an area for pigs ( and chickens i think ) 
| SpursFan1902 wrote: | | How do allotments work? Do you have to pay for them...like rent or fees of some sort? Are they taxed, like property? Do you have to grow things on them or can you keep, say a bee hive or a dog kennel or use them for a storage area? |
its under £30 for a whole patch ( 179 sqm and above ) for a year, or they're doing half plots for under £15
as for storage;
| Quote: | To ensure the safety of all tenants, no permanent foundations are to be laid preventing the ground being cultivated in the future. Neighbouring plots are not to be affected by shade. Written permission will be required to put up any structures. Tenants can return the blue request form, found in their welcome pack, or contact the Parks Office to obtain one.
Greenhouses have proved to be a problem with broken glass left embedded in the ground after any accidents or acts of vandalism. We strongly recommend the use of plastic polycarbonate instead of glass. |
they'd probably get a bit funny if you set up a dog kennel!  but a beehive i guess would be beneficial as they'd fly round pollinating everything ... but i'm not sure |
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SpursFan1902
Pitch Queen
Joined: 24 May 2007
Location: Sunshine State
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the info, Gents! I always wondered what the "lie of the land" was, so to speak, with allotments... |
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