Waiting list for Bristol allotments grows by half in 3 months

One hundred people from outside of Bristol have allotments in the city, despite a waiting list of 1,400.

There has been a huge increase in demand for allotments in the city, with organic food gaining popularity and families looking to cut food bills in the recession.

In July, the Evening Post reported that 900 people were on the city council waiting list for plots, with waiting times of up to eight years.

In just four months, there has been a more than 50 per cent increase in the number of people standing line for their own plot of green space.

According to figures released by Bristol City Council, 100 non-Bristolians have plots in the city, although only 10 of those are on sites with waiting lists.

Of the 1,400 on the list, less than 20 are from outside of Bristol. The figures also show 63 Bristol tenants manage multiple sites, 140 between them.

Bristol is the third largest provider of allotments in the country with 4,100 plots spread out on 104 sites, some with hundreds of plots and others just a small handful.

To deal with the growing problem, the council has adopted a new allotment strategy, although it is still working on a way of addressing the issues of multiple or outsider plot holders.

The allotment strategy 2009-2019 aims to identify patches of derelict or surplus land where it can provide more allotment plots.

A questionnaire survey is due to be sent out this autumn with tenants' annual invoices.

The results will be used to develop the new policy for multiple and non-Bristol resident occupancy.

Many of the multiple plot owners took up their holdings over a number of years, and before having an allotment became as popular as it is nowadays.

Council spokesman Helen Hewitt said: "At the present time, we are still consulting on the policy with regard to tenants with multiple plots and tenants who live outside Bristol.

"We are also carrying out a survey of allotment tenants and prospective tenants via an online survey, which should be complete by Christmas.

"We will then take a further report to the Allotments Panel and executive in early 2010.

"Until this happens, the policy has not changed."