All about the allotments...

Who owns the Penwortham Holme West allotments?

The allotments are managed by Preston City Council for the benefit of all people living in Preston and the surrounding areas. You can find information from Preston City Council about the allotments here. The Penwortham Holme West allotments are one of 9 allotment sites managed by Preston City Council. South Ribble Borough Council also has 2 allotment sites in Penwortham.

What is the allotment association?

The allotment association is a group of tenants who work together to keep the site safe, secure and looking good. We also have social events throughout the year and a newsletter. The association is responsible for maintaining the on community hut (including a small not for profit shop). The community hut is a place where gardeners can socialise and get advice (welcome or not!!). The association is managed on a day-by-day basis by a committee of 8, who are voted in each year at the AGM. Any tenant is welcome to join the association. The current annual fee is £5.

Do I qualify to rent a plot?

Only people who live in Preston qualify for an allotment at Penwortham Holme West.  As a guide, if you receive your council tax bill from Preston City Council then you qualify, if you don't then you won't. Even though the allotments appear to be in South Ribble, the land is actually owned by Preston City Council.

How many plots are there at the site?

There are now 174 plots on the site. As of the 11th October 2011 there are 2 vacant plots, 18 plots with warnings to improve of which 4 have a final notice to quit. There are 110 people on the councils waiting list.. To find out more about allotments in Preston and to download an allotment application form please visit the Preston City Council website.

Where are the allotments?

The allotments are on Liverpool Road in Preston, close to the bridge over the River Ribble, on the opposite side to the playing fields.

How much does it cost to rent a plot?

For 2010/2011 the cost of renting a plot is £30 for a regular plot and £45 for a large plot. There is a 30% reduction for senior citizens, registered disabled and registered unemployed. If you have more than one plot, the discount only applies to your first plot.

How can I rent a plot?

In the first instance you should contact Preston City Council's Parks Department on 01772 903623 to register your interest. Your details will be added to a waiting list and the site rep for the allotments will be informed.

While there are plots available, there is also a waiting list. The site rep is currently making his way through the list and offering allotments to those who still want one.

The site rep contacts potential tenants according to the list supplied by Preston City Council. The site rep will contact you by telephone to arrange for you to visit the site to see the plots available. Site visits are usually arranged for a Sunday afternoon. The site rep will try and make contact three times before moving onto the next person on the list. If he recieves no response you go to the bottom of the list. It's therefore important to ensure that if you have moved house or changed your telephone number since your name was added to the list, then contact the council again to ensure your contact details are up to date. You might miss the opportunity to get an allotment!

Once the site rep contacts you, he'll make arrangements to meet at the allotments so that you can view what is available. Your potential allotment is likely to be very overgrown so be prepared for a bit of hardwork! Existing sheds or greenhouses are the property of the previous tenant so there is no guarantee that they will be left behind. The previous tenant might be willing to let you have the shed/greenhouse for a small fee, or, they might have decided to abandon the building, in which case, it becomes your responsibility. There is no help available for clearing an allotment, so you might want to enlist the help of your friends and family!

If after visting the site, you decide you want one of the plots, then the site rep will take your details and send a form to Preston City Council. The council will then send you two copies of the tenancy agreement (this can take up to 8 weeks). You sign both copies, keep one for yourself, and return the other, along with payment, back to the council.

If you decide not to take an allotment, your name will go to the bottom of the waiting list for this site.

Once you have your tenancy agreement, you can get in touch with the site rep to arrange to collect a key. Keys have to be paid for (£3.50) as the council does not provide one. When you collect your key, you will (for 2011) be presented with an information pack. This pack will hopefully help you start on your plots. Its full of useful advice and includes a free packet of seeds. The information pack is a gift from the allotment association (see below), and was produced using a grant. There are 50 welcome packs, so when they're gone, they're gone!

I've no experience in growing vegetables, would I being able to rent an allotment?

If you have enthuisiasm your half way there! Most people start out knowing nothing or very little about growing fruit and vegetables, but you'll learn as each season passes. Plus there are lots of other allotment holders with years of experience to help you out.

Don't forget that when you look around the allotment site all those wonderful plots you see are the result of years of hard work. Before you take on a plot consider the amount of free time you have available and the work that will be required both before and when you start growing your own. Looking after an allotment is not just a fair weather job, weeds grow very quickly! Allotments need all year round care to ensure a good season year after year.

I already have one allotment, can I have another?

The simple answer is yes you can, if you think that you can manage another allotment. However, you have to go on the same waiting list as prospective new tenants, and you must live in Preston.

Who can I contact about the allotments?

For information about joining the waiting list, please contact Preston City Council.