We have been looking for land for ages local to where we live without success so we approached the local parish council regarding the overgrown allotments near to us that are well fenced and reasonably secure just under used. Told them we were interested in keeping goats and chickens as well as growing fruit and veg.
The parish office and site officer were very interested and agreeable and said that there were several plots available and there was no problem but said it would just have to go before the parish council for approval before we started BUT that's when the problems started ......
Our plan was discussed unofficially with a local councillor and then the questions started ........
Why did we want to keep goats? Err for milk and meat ..... you want to eat them
Err yes. Ok we will have to discuss this at a general meeting.
I have since been told I have to apply in writing for it to be discussed at a full meeting.Next Chickens how many do you intend keeping ? Not sure yet we have a long term plan for the place so the amount should go up and down. Up and down? Yes we want to keep them for meat and eggs. You want to eat them as well?? I must tell you that council policy is a maximum of 10 per plot under certain conditions. OK and the conditions are? Sorry don't know at present but you will be told IF you apply to keep them.
Now I was getting the impression that this persons thoughts was ....... why not use a supermarket like normal people.
By now we are peed off and I have two allotments that I think we are just going to end up growing fruit and veg on .... if they can agree to a small poly tunnel on each plot and a green house.
Originally I was told I could have five or six allotments for my smallholding if I wished by the site officer who was as keen as mustard to help and assist in any way he could including helping me with stock fencing in his own time and he even arranged for the two overgrown plots we have agreed to at present to be flailed to give us a head start with them.
To me it seems such a pity and waste of allotment land just sitting their becoming totaly overgrown and looking like waste sites putting people off even aplying for one but then again I don't think the council(s) really want to see allotments utilised because if they can discourage people from wanting them they become abandoned unused places but at the same time prime high value building land.
For us digging and planting is about to start now but I still live in hopes of a few animals.