Topic: Allotment challenges, your thoughts, please

[manicscousers]

Okay, been a weird week.
As secretary, at the moment, of our site. It falls to me to organise the insurance. We decided only to go with public liability as the sheds aren't locked with the necessary deadlocks and the only other things are the polytunnels.
So, on the thursday after Christmas, a 30' tall tree fell from the nearby culvert (not on our land) and part of it punctured a members polytunnel. I rang and was on the phone for 45 minutes to the council offices who couldn't decide if the land belonged to housing, was unadopted or part of the normal playing fields mowed by the council. I explained that the other half of the tree, the same height where it had split, was overhanging the public footpath, playing fields and where people walk their dogs.
I now have an irate plotholder asking if our insurance will cover her plastic cover and I'm sick of talking, I explained the situation to her last saturday and again on thursday night at our extraordinary general meeting about something else.
Fed up and ready to quit but thanks for reading my rant 

[Squash64]

I can understand how you are feeling Manics.  It doesn't seem to matter
how much we try to do the best for the site we can never please everyone.

We have two toilets on our site and both had Yale-type locks on the doors.
People were constantly forgetting their keys and then had to go looking for
someone to open the door for them.  When we had events to which the public
came it was the same problem.  I decided it would be a good idea to remove
the locks, (there were still locks on the inside of the doors.)

This didn't seem a big issue to me until I heard that two people had complained.
One (the man who wanted electric hand dryers last year) said that it was a
Health and Safety issue because if the interior lock got stuck then people
would be locked in the toilet. The other said that he had paid for a key (maybe
20 years ago, and probably less than £1) and what was he supposed to do
with the key now, throw it away??

I have reached the stage with Mr Hand Dryer where I am going to ask him to
put in writing every complaint he has about the running of the site. That should
keep him busy for a few days/weeks/years.

Your current problem is more serious than mine Manics but they are both things that
we should not be having to spend our time dealing with.  You have spent time
trying to resolve the situation and I bet it isn't appreciated by the person concerned.

I do like being the Secretary most of the time but sometimes I wonder why I am
doing it.  I'm sure you feel the same.

[pumkinlover]

Manics- I can only echo what Betty has written, I doubt if your insurance will cover it as most allotment insurance is designed to cover personal liability.
My feelings are that the dispute is between the plot holder and whoever owned the land the tree was on, you have done what you can on her behalf already. She has no right to take it out on you.
Betty- You have definably put me off any plans to have a toilet on our site People just are so spoilt and selfish at times. I have had to do the same with a member on our site and have told her to put her complaints in writing for the committee. That way they get minuted and hopefully I can just go on the site and not get another diatribe when she is that way out!
Like you both I feel like packing up as secretary quite often but hey ho we still carry on!

[Squash64]

I am thinking of putting a notice like this on the toilet door. 
What do you think?
 

WHY THE LOCK ON THE TOILET DOOR HAS BEEN REMOVED

[/u][/b]

MANY PEOPLE HAVE EITHER LOST, OR DO NOT BRING THEIR KEY WITH THEM WHEN THEY NEED TO USE THE TOILET.
IF THEY CANNOT FIND ANOTHER PLOT HOLDER TO UNLOCK THE DOOR THEN THEY ARE IN THE SH*T.

REMOVING THE LOCK REMOVES THE PROBLEM.

THERE IS STILL A LOCK ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR

.

IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS THAT THIS INTERIOR LOCK MIGHT MAL-FUNCTION LEAVING YOU LOCKED INSIDE THE TOILET THEN WE SUGGEST THAT YOU DO NOT USE THE LOCK BUT PUT A BRICK (WE WILL PROVIDE ONE) AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR.  OR HANG A FLAG (BRING YOUR OWN) OUTSIDE STATING THAT THE TOILET IS OCCUPIED.               
                                                                         
THIS LEAVES US WITH THE PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE HAVE PAID A DEPOSIT FOR A KEY WHICH IS NO LONGER IN USE.
THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS:-
•   HAND IN YOUR SET OF GATE & TOILET KEYS AND WE WILL REFUND YOUR DEPOSIT.  WE WILL THEN ISSUE YOU A NEW GATE KEY ONCE YOU HAVE PAID A DEPOSIT OF £20 FOR IT.

IN CASES OF SEVERE HARDSHIP CAUSED BY THE LOSS OF THE 50p OR £1 WHICH YOU MAY HAVE PAID AS KEY-DEPOSIT 20 OR MORE YEARS AGO, I WILL REFUND THE MONEY MYSELF FROM MY OWN POCKET.  AFTER ALL, I ALREADY PAY FOR THE TOILET PAPER, WASHING UP LIQUID, BLEACH, WASHING UP SPONGES  ETC.AND DO ALL THE LAUNDRY WITHOUT CHARGING THE ASSOCIATION SO A FEW MORE QUID HERE OR THERE ISN’T GOING TO BANKRUPT ME.  AND I DON’T CHARGE FOR THE TIME I SPEND DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS FROM  PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH THEIR TIME.

REGARDING THE HOLE WHICH WAS LEFT WHEN THE LOCK WAS REMOVED - I REALISE THAT BLOCKING THIS MUST BE QUITE A SKILLED JOB AS NONE OF YOU HAVE MANAGED TO DO IT YET. WE WILL CALL IN A SPECIALIST FIRM AND ADD THE CHARGE TO YOUR ASSOCIATION FEE NEXT YEAR. I APOLOGISE IF ANYONE’S PRIVACY HAS BEEN INVADED WHILE THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE DOOR.

IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ME…….

[pumkinlover]

LOL! What is wrong with a bolt, I think we have one in our shed, shall I send it!
Definably do not give them the encouragement to complain about they do too much already!

I often feel like writing letters like this, in fact I often do but never send them, usually I find writing them quite cathartic and then move on........ till it starts again

It can feel very personal and that is when it is best to use the committee as a filter ( by asking them to write complaints to them rather than at you) . As secretary you are the most involved so it always is you that they blame. In reality they most likely go through life being miserable gits it is just unfortunate that because they have an allotment it gives them more opportunity. On your site because  of the wonderful facilities which you have it gives them loads more opportunities

We should have kept a record of all the stupid things people have done and said and written a book about it!!!

[elvis2003]

Hi all
To slightly change the subject, I was becoming increasingly unhappy as sec of our site, and eventually resigned following our AGM last summer, when a particularly annoying plotholder disrupted the whole meeting by being rude and obnoxious (he was the straw that broke the camels back) Now, FOUR commitee members,yes four, all retired, are sharing my previous role between them. It is very very hard sitting back and watching all my hard work fall apart,things are just not getting done properly, but there is no way I can go back. My dad told me never go back, and very sadly we lost him in November, so I best heed his advice! In short ladies and gentlemen....if you are starting to feel put upon and not enjoying your voluntary jobs anymore, walk away....you can then give your plots more time or volunteer elsewhere, as i am, you wont regret it!
Rach x

[elvis2003]

PS...Squash I love the sign! dare you to put it up! As I have said before, you shouldn't be out of pocket at all...you really should put in your receipts for cleaning materials and any other expenses
R x

[Ellen K]

Ah you need a thick skin in these sorts of jobs.... and to be able to see the funny side as S-64 does.

If you can put your hand on your heart and say that you are fair and honest, then do not waste one moment of your life on this carp.  Works for me!

[manicscousers]

Thanks for all the comments. I was already suffering after a particularly horrible personal attack that was sorted out last thursday at an EGM.
This started on saturday 
We're going to do the 'in writing' now, thanks for that.
I really enjoy organising things, since I retired, I need some mind stuff to do and I love the sign idea, go on, I dare you   

[kt.]

......So, on the thursday after Christmas, a 30' tall tree fell from the nearby culvert (not on our land) and part of it punctured a members polytunnel......  I now have an irate plotholder asking if our insurance will cover her plastic cover and I'm sick of talking,

On our site all plotholders are responsible for their own belongings regardless of what it its and this is stipulated in the tenancy and terms & conditions.  Simple answer - Act of God.  An exclusion in all insurances mostly.  Tell the plotholder to take it up with the council

[pumkinlover]

On our site all plotholders are responsible for their own belongings regardless of what it its and this is stipulated in the tenancy and terms & conditions.  Simple answer - Act of God.  An exclusion in all insurances mostly.  Tell the plotholder to take it up with the council

Or God ( as the wonderful Dave Allen would say  "who ever SHE is!!)

[cornykev]

Stick the sign up Betty, I would, I would add that they can hum a tune as well as the brickj and flag idea's.   

[Digeroo]

Fallen trees have a nasty habit of being considered an act of god so may not have been covered whatever the insurance.  It may be that what ever your insurance it would not have been covered.

If the person who owns the tree is negligent because they could see there was a problem with the tree then they are liable.

[manicscousers]

Given up with the council, we've moved or thrown back most of the small stuff, lots of bigger logs gone to people with wood burners and we've patched up the tunnel as best we can. Doesn't stop the owner moaning at me, though 

[digmore]

Manic,

Just carry on,  remember courtesy cost nothing. So when you say bugger off, take breath and say bugger off please and by the way, can I rely on your vote at the next AGM.

As for Betty, well done, in the face of adversity smile and say if you cant take a joke you should not have joined.

Digmore. 

[sarahbell]

A lovely letter!

I sort of have conversations with myself about how I should have dealt with people who are rude to me.
You do get a lot of flack as secretary.
I write it all down .. Because I might forget why someone is on the naughty list.

[Deb P]

I think we all join allotment committees with the hope and intention of improving things, but at that point rarely have an insight into how difficult the job can be and quite frankly how petty some folk are! I lasted five years, and have the greatest respect for those prepared to do any such role. I now enjoy just being on my plot, still grow stuff for the plant sales etc. but quietly let others have a go. 

Perhaps it's time to follow suit for a bit Betty? You sound somewhat unappreciated ( which is par for the course as well) you have more than done your bit!!!