Allotment gardening is hard work, but it also brings many rewards:
- providing fresh home grown vegetables, fruit and flowers for you and your family
- produce that is free from artificial additives
- meeting new people within similar interests
- enjoying a healthy outdoor life with gentle exercise – cheaper than joining a gym
- having a quiet place to relax and unwind.
Our Allotments
There are 15 allotment sites throughout Stevenage, providing over 600 plots for residents of Stevenage to rent.
- Almond Hill
- Ashdown Road
- Bandley Hill
- Broxdell
- Colestrete
- Eliot Road
- Fairview Road
- Greydells
- Hertford Road
- Lawrence Avenue
- Martins Wood
- Monkswood
- Oaks Cross
- The Muntings
- Walkern Road
All of our sites offer a range of plot sizes from 65m² to 250m². In most cases we offer new plot holders a smaller manageable plot to get started on.
The cost of renting a full plot is currently £14.25 per year. Concessions are available for those people who are over 60 years old, registered disabled and / or are unemployed.
Management of Allotments
The Council works in close partnership with the Stevenage Gardens & Allotment Association (SGAA) to manage and maintain the sites in Stevenage.
From April 2013 SGAA will manage the allotment administration function on behalf of Stevenage Borough Council. The allotment administration includes:
- Lettings
- Waiting list
- Invoicing and collection of rents and deposits
- Notices to Cultivate
- Notices to Quit
- Applications for allotment structures
- Enquiries and complaints concerning the above.
To apply for an allotment please complete the form available on the right. You will usually be offered a plot on a site close to where you live. However there is a waiting list on many of the sites, so you may have to be prepared to wait for some time before a plot becomes available. Alternatively if there are any available, you may prefer to travel to another site, elsewhere in Stevenage, to find a vacant plot.
Within five working days of receiving your application form, you will be sent a letter confirming that you have been placed on the waiting list. When a vacant plot becomes available you will be advised to contact the Site Agent so that you may arrange to view the vacant plot/s at the site and choose which one you would like.
You will receive an Allotment Agreement within five working days of confirming which plot you wish to take up.
Payment
Annual invoices are sent out each January. Interim invoices are sent out with any new Allotment Agreement issued.
When you receive your invoice there are three ways to pay for your allotment:
- Send a cheque to the SGAA Treasurer.
- Pay cash to the SGAA Treasurer.
- Internet payment
- Pay by cash or cheque at the SGAA allotment shop (Lawrence Avenue) on Saturday and Sunday mornings, 10-12 noon, during mid-February to late October.
Maintenance of allotment sites
Most of the works associated with the allotment infrastructure are carried out by the Councils own workforce.
The main grass paths are cut 7 times between April and October. The tops and outside of the hedges are pruned twice a year - once in the summer and once in the winter. Plot holders are required to prune the inside of the hedge adjacent to their plot.
There is water provision at all sites. The use of hose pipes and sprinklers is not allowed.
To report a problem with allotment maintenance please complete the online report form available via the link on the right. Your report will be investigated as soon as possible and, where necessary, the works will be completed.
Reports of Maladministration
Service failure complaints about the maintenance and development of the allotments will continue to be responded to by the Council, in line with the Council’s Complaint Procedure. Service failure complaints relating to the administration management function of the allotments will initially be managed by SGAA, but the Council will investigate any reported cases of maladministration by SGAA.
We will not usually look into a decision made by SGAA, just because you disagree with it. However, we will consider complaints about:
- SGAA not following the agreed procedures
- rudeness
- delay in taking action or failing to take action
- treating someone unfairly compared to others
- giving wrong or misleading information.
You should complain to the Council only if you have given SGAA a reasonable opportunity to comment on the complaint and resolve any problems. Link to page on making a complaint against SGAA.
Allotment Administration Complaints Procedure
A designated Allotment Relations Officer will be identified by SGAA. This officer will be the initial contact for any complaints about the administration function.
There are 3 stages to the complaints procedure:
Stage 1
Plot holders will contact the Allotment Relations Officer (SGAA) with the details of their complaint. The Allotment Relations Officer will record the details and acknowledge the complaint within two (2) days of receipt, stating who will deal with the complaint. The plot holder should receive a full response within fourteen (14) days.
Stage 2
If the plot holder is not satisfied with the Stage 1 reply, they may contact the Allotment Relation Officer (SGAA) to refer their complaint to Stage 2 of the complaint procedure. The Allotment Relations Officer will acknowledge the complaint within two (2) days of receipt, stating who will be dealing with the complaint. The plot holder should receive a reply within 15 working days.
Stage 3
Within 4 weeks of receiving the Stage 2 reply, if the plot holder is still dissatisfied with the SGAA response to their complaint they must contact the Councils Environmental Services to escalate the complaint. The Council will acknowledge the complaint and will reply, with a copy to the SGAA Allotment Relations Officer, within 20 working days.