Warning letter being sent

[Borlotti]

Heard that warning letters have been sent out from the Council, and several people have been up and doing some digging.  I don't think anyone can complain about getting a letter as coming up to the plot once a year and looking at it is not good enough.  Hope I don't get a rude letter or will be most upset.  One can usually judge the workers and the people who play at it.  Just hope they get most plots cultivated, but that they don't make us all too regimented.

[Mr Smith]

Same here we had a visit  to our allotments from a councillor and a council official just over a week ago already two people have showed their faces for the first time this year,

[1066]

already two people have showed their faces for the first time this year,

I think what will be interesting is to see if they show their faces again after the initial warning!
1066

[saddad]

Sadly probably not, if it takes aletter to shame them into it. They've missed the most of the season.... 

[Old bird]

We have got a family who have two plots who - when they know a site inspection is looming have a general tidy up and make the place look as though it is a wok in action - then leave it.  To be fair to them they do turn up and put crops in - but they don't have the hang of weeding around what they have put in - so great drifts of weed seeds drift away from their plot onto other people's!

There are great big docks going to seed - grass in patches 3ft high - I really don't think that this registers with them!  I have tried to come up with helpful hints like the matriarch mother uses a new - cheap - fork the tines are about half to three quarters inch thick at the bottom - she digs a weed up - then gets it in her hand and manually takes the earth from around it and then puts weed into a pile!  Whereas most of us would dig with fork - bash earth out and then carry on!  The weeds are left on the ground with seeds spewing from them!   I also tried to show them how to do edging so that the grass path didn't just grow into their plot - well they set off - dug a channel all the way round and then left it - as a channel!! with grass on both sides!!!

Mother is one of those that does not appreciate help - so I have given up.

They all live in the same house - Mother, three grown up daughters, one has 3 children ranging from 14 - 3 the other one has one daughter 2 ish and they all squash into a 3 bed cottage!!!!  We have nicknamed her Mother Hubbard!

They are a lovely family so no problems with them really - just a little irritating!

Old Bird

 

[Robert_Brenchley]

A lot of people make an appearance when they get a letter, do enough to get it withdrawn, and disappear again. That's why it takes so long to get rid of them!

[starting out]

We got an allotment earlier this year and had to totally clear the plot as it hadnt been cultivated for years. We had to spend money on fencing and put a lot of hours in just getting rid of the 4 foot high weeds. We are there getting rid of weeds loads of times each week and spend pretty much the full weekend there too. As the season progresses it is becoming more and more apparent that actual plots that are 'taken' are just being left. Its frustrating to see they are already fenced off and have beds edged off with wood already but they are covered in weeds and not a soul has been near at all. We could have had that allotment and put it to much better use. As it stands everyone else is getting the seeds from their weeds as theirs is in the middle of a row. It is such a waste especially with people actively looking for plots they would love to work on.

[Uncle Joshua]

It may seem bad but I've now started taking photo's every month or so to show the council that plots arn't used in our site.

[Robert_Brenchley]

It may seem bad but I've now started taking photo's every month or so to show the council that plots arn't used in our site.

That's the way to do it. Evidence of continued neglect usually gets there in the end. Trouble is, by the time you get them off, the plot is usually in a terrible state for the next tenant.

[Emagggie]

We have an allotment clerk whose office is next to the site. I've had a moan about a certain plot holder next but one to me who has a flurry of enthusiasm twice a year and leaves the blight and weeds for the wind to distribute for the rest of the year. I was told to stop whingeing .
It beats me how these people get away with it Borlotti.

[cornykev]

We've had a few get letters, you'll just see a bit more of a few of them for a while.         

[ktlawson]

We have had several people evicted from their plot this past 2 months for non-cultivation.  Another 2 have had letters sent with warnings of eviction if their plots are not cleared.  This deadline is in 3 days!.  Neither have done anything but one has even paid the rent last weekend....  I am meeting her at her plot tomorrow to discuss options....

We have another 3 plotholders who will be getting a letter this week.  With a 5 year waiting list to get on our site,  the town-council have regular walk rounds (inspections), taking photos of uncultivated plots as evidence.  They then follow this up with one written warning. If this is ignored there is no second warning letter,  just a follow up letter  informing them that their plot is to be re-let with immediate effect.

I took on the job of Allotment Supervisor 6 weeks ago.  Today, as the middleman, I have another 3 people to try and contact prior to them getting a letter too.  Recent evictions have made many plot holders move their ass and plots that were once uncultivated... are now starting to take shape.

[Emagggie]

Wouldn't mind, but there are a few of us who would really like another 5 rod but are told we are unlikely to ever get it as we don't live in the parish, and parishoners will always be ahead of us. We all keep our plots in good order whereas it seems some locals don't, but get away with it I was told recently if I continued to dump my vegetation (weeds) on the spare piece of ground, I would be out. I watch others doing it but it's ok for them it seems.

[Old bird]

Borlotti Sounds like you are getting some action and not without time.  This is all it needs a few people on the ball and will do follow ups - rather than letting it drift until next inspection. 

Maggie - don't moan about  getting told off for doing something that you do and your neighbours also do.  Dumping weeds on a spare piece of ground is not a good idea in any one's book! If I was you  I would stop doing it and if your neighbours carry on - make sure that the - bods that be - know who it is and they will also get told off!

Dumping rubbish - anywhere is not acceptable in my book - why don't you use your compost heap - or dispose of your rubbish properly?

Old Bird

 

[Emagggie]

Don't do it any more Old Bird. The bods that be watch the locals do it and say nothing-which is why I did it in the first place, because I thought it was ok. My theory was that it would bio-degrade as I never put anything up there that wasn't veg matter. I had suggested an area was put aside for a burn up, but He said no. Absolutely no room on my plot for an incinerator and my compost heap is HUGE now. Not sure about weeds in compost. Will start another thread.
Sorry to highjack Borlotti.

[zac]

its nice to see that councillors are getting involved in your areas, in our area its done by the site committee boy dose that cause problems. i thing people listen to council as they can vote the committee of if they nag them.

[saddad]

Hi Zac, Welcome to A4A 

[Unwashed]

Dumping rubbish - anywhere is not acceptable in my book

It's not acceptable at all.

[flossy]

   I gave 3 wks warning I was leaving my plot  ---   7th April to be exact,    after many

   phone calls and being fobbed off by people who were holding the ' fort ' as someone had left !

   ---    they kindly asked for my keys, to be sent in the envelope provided [ which wasn't ]--

  last week !!!   20th June !! 

  Please, don't always blame the plot holder,

  floss xxx

[Emagggie]

Dumping rubbish - anywhere is not acceptable in my book

It's not acceptable at all.

No 'rubbish' has been dumped!! Only weedy stuff.It was a vast uncultivated area and I dare say that's where the weed seeds blew in from in the first place.When I took the plot on 4 years ago I had to clear it of weeds just like everyone else.I only did what every one else did and continues to do except I have been singled out with a verbal warning. I have an idea why and I will deal with it come autumn if it is not resolved by then. Please do not be of the opinion that I deliberately flout the rules and regs. Our site clerk moulds them to suit the occasion and the person.