Allotments 4 All

General => News => Topic started by: Unwashed on February 17, 2012, 20:40:24

Title: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: Unwashed on February 17, 2012, 20:40:24
The Southampton County Court has just ruled on the case brought by Alex Mullins, chairman of Eastleigh and District Allotments Association.  Very well done Sir, good on you for standing up for your members, and good news for the movement nationally I would suggest.

See the article here (http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9539190.Victory_in__unfair__allotment_rents_battle/r/?ref=rss).
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: pumkinlover on February 17, 2012, 20:46:45
Link not working
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: Flighty on February 17, 2012, 20:47:04
Good news!  Your link didn't work but I found it here -
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9539190.Victory_in__unfair__allotment_rents_battle/
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: ACE on February 17, 2012, 20:50:50
Can't get the link to work, but I caught it on the southern news tonight. Good for them.
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: grawrc on February 17, 2012, 20:56:22
Well done Alex Mullins!
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: Unwashed on February 17, 2012, 21:12:36
Link not working
Thanks, sorted.
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: elvis2003 on February 17, 2012, 22:18:09
well done that man  ;D
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: manicscousers on February 18, 2012, 10:10:00
Brilliant  ;D
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: Mikeakabigman on February 18, 2012, 11:27:54


Excellent, a great example for others in a similar situation.

Some of the comments from the public made my blood boil though  :(
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: Unwashed on February 18, 2012, 11:47:50
Some of the comments from the public made my blood boil though  :(
Yes, I saw that too.  There's a balance here.  A reasonable rent makes an allotment accessable to everyone, especially the not so wealthy who garden on a budget which has traditionally been quite a lot of us, but to tax-payers they see their council subsidising our hobby with their hard-earned cash and not everyone is bothered to understand the benefits of reasonable rents.  I'm really impressed that Alex Mullins of the Eastleigh and District Allotments Association went to the considerable trouble of challenging the legality of the increase because that should now ripple round every county, borough, and parish council in the country and peg all future increases without any more adverse publicity, but I also feel that we allotmenteers should do more to run our own allotment services under self-management arrangements so that we don't lean unnecessarily on the tax-payer.
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: Mikeakabigman on February 18, 2012, 12:06:25
Some of the comments from the public made my blood boil though  :(
Yes, I saw that too.  There's a balance here.  A reasonable rent makes an allotment accessable to everyone, especially the not so wealthy who garden on a budget which has traditionally been quite a lot of us, but to tax-payers they see their council subsidising our hobby with their hard-earned cash and not everyone is bothered to understand the benefits of reasonable rents.  I'm really impressed that Alex Mullins of the Eastleigh and District Allotments Association went to the considerable trouble of challenging the legality of the increase because that should now ripple round every county, borough, and parish council in the country and peg all future increases without any more adverse publicity, but I also feel that we allotmenteers should do more to run our own allotment services under self-management arrangements so that we don't lean unnecessarily on the tax-payer.

I do agree with you,
However, for me and many others I suspect, it is more than a just a hobby, I view it not only as a way to grow good quality fresh food, but also as a way of keeping fit and active both mentally and physically. I'm still on the waiting list for an Allotment, living as we do in a one bedroom flat since we retired, it will be a lifeline for us, having been used to a three bed house and large garden for most of our working life.(tied)
Further to this , everything  on the allotment will have to be done as economically as possible, large rises in rent would have a significant consequences for us.

Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: shirlton on February 18, 2012, 12:09:37
Nice when we see folks standing up for what is right Alex(and winning)
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: Unwashed on February 18, 2012, 16:24:14
I do agree with you,
However, for me and many others I suspect, it is more than a just a hobby, I view it not only as a way to grow good quality fresh food, but also as a way of keeping fit and active both mentally and physically. I'm still on the waiting list for an Allotment, living as we do in a one bedroom flat since we retired, it will be a lifeline for us, having been used to a three bed house and large garden for most of our working life.(tied)
Further to this , everything  on the allotment will have to be done as economically as possible, large rises in rent would have a significant consequences for us.
Yes, I see it like that too, but I understand how non-allotmenteering tax-payers see it, and when self-management can deliver a better service with little demand on the tax-payer I feel that we should all be open to the option and sensitive to the wider issues.
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: elvis2003 on February 18, 2012, 18:32:30
those people probably have children who attend schools...who pays for them?  ;)
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: cornykev on February 18, 2012, 19:56:20
Just had a look for myself and added a comment, well I just couldn't resist.   ::)
Title: Re: Eastleigh Rent Increase Unlawful
Post by: Kea on February 21, 2012, 17:58:15
We managed to stop our similar increase. Clever though that he used the swimming pool charges as a comparison. We used the fact that our neighbouring town same district council paid less for more as they have high fences and a locked gate preventing pedestrian access as well.
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