Topic: Council's Responsibilities For Care Of Allotments

[Davy]

Our site plot holders have a meeting with the Council's Representatives tomorrow to discuss the formation of an Allotment Association.  Can any one advise as to what the Council has a responsibility to maintain, (am hoping they are obliged to maintain boundary fence).

Any advice regarding the formation of an Association or plot holder experience of change would be gratefully received?

I understand there are grants available for Allotment Associations are they very difficult to come by and where are the best places to apply?

[BAK]

If you have not done so already you need to decide what sort of control you want. This document from the Allotment Regeneration Initiative is useful ...

http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/documents/gardenersincharge.pdf

The ARI site has lots of other useful stuff, eg on grants ...

http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/

Re the Council's responsibilities, it is ultimately a matter of negotiation between the two parties ... the association on the one hand and the council on the other. The council may (or may not) want to offload all responsibilities on to the association, including the boundary fence. So you need to work out before any meetings just what you are aiming to get from them and what you are prepared to be responsible for.

If you end up being a full-blown association and you get the revenue from the plot holders then it may be difficult to expect the council to (part) maintain the site ... but who knows what you may be able to negotiate!

[kt.]

About 4 years ago we got a small but much appreciated lottery grant.  Our council maintains the perimeter bushes and trees that grow onto the public paths.  We are self contained pretty much for everything else within. Our rent is only £20 pa which I believe is good for what we get in return.  We also rent from the council a small building which we use as our lottie shop.  I believe we pay around £1000pa for this.

Some amenities we have requested from the council have been denied because our allotments belong to the local parish and not the council.

[Davy]

Thanks for information.