A GREEN-fingered Dorchester woman is asking why there have been empty plots at an allotment in the county town when there is a waiting list of up to four years.

Johanna Wolff, 37, of Orchard Street, said she has been on the waiting list with Dorchester Town Council for more than three years but is yet to receive an allocated plot.

She said she was ‘astounded’ to discover there have been three unused plots at St George’s Road allotment when more than 78 people are on the waiting list for that allotment.

There are six allotments in the county town, with a total of 262 people waiting for a plot, and the mother-of-two said she is concerned that there may be a similar situation at those allotments.

Mrs Wolff, who lives with her two young children and husband Stephen, said: “There are three or four plots which have been growing weeds for six months at the St. George's allotments.

“I went into the office in North Square and they told me that no one had been there since last summer.

“I asked if I could have one of the allotments if they’re not being used, but I was told I was too far down on the list and they would have to go through their usual process.

“For the last few years that process seemed to work because I went from 90 on the list to 30 in two years, but this last year I have only moved one place.

“It upsets me that there are allotments available that haven’t been allocated when others are desperate to get an allotment.”

Mrs Wolff said the waist-high weeds are also causing problems for current allotment users.

She said: “People are very angry about the waist high weeds on the empty plots, whose seeds are now blowing around.

“It also means that when someone is finally given a plot, it will be extremely hard to get started.”

Council: Process takes time

A spokesman for Dorchester Town Council confirmed there were three empty plots at the St George’s allotments, but added that now only one remains empty. He also confirmed the waiting list was up to four years with a total of 262 people waiting for a plot in Dorchester.

The spokesman said: “There were three vacant plots at St George’s Road allotments which came about as a result of the plot holders giving up their tenancies. The plots have been offered out to those people at the top of the waiting list for that site and two out of the three have now been re-let.

“The third plot is still in the process of being offered but will be re-let shortly.

“As there is a long waiting list it sometimes means that the contact details for the people on it are no longer correct so the process can sometimes take a little while to complete.”

The spokesman added: “The council does inspect allotment sites throughout the year and allotments tenancies are terminated if it is found that the tenants are not keeping their plots fully cultivated.

“Unfortunately weeds do grow very quickly this time of year and the council will clear a plot if need be.”