Advice needed urgently. (V. long post)

[peeejaay]

Hi All
I urgently need some advice please to do with what my partner and I see as harrassment from our allotment society's committee. I enclose the letter we have received today, together with my response which I have not actually sent yet. Just to say that this seems to happen every year regardless of the condition of our plots. I used to be a committee member and always felt the lettings secretary did not warm to me shall we say. Just need some opinions and advice please.



According to the rules of the society, which you agreed to keep:
Members are required:
a) to cultivate and keep their plots in good order.

b) to keep in good order all paths surrounding their plots.
Also from the rules

In the event that a member does not adhere to these conditions of membership, the Committee is empowered to terminate the holder’s letting and to re-let the plot to someone else.

We have just had our site inspection. I am writing as formal letter as my internet connection is down at the moment. We have been monitoring your plot as we have been concerned that it is difficult to cultivate 15 rods when living at a distance from the site.

Having just inspected the plots we saw that among the weeds (rain plus holidays?), about 10 rods seem to have been cultivated. The other 5 rods is more overgrown. It seemed to those of us inspecting that 15 rods is too much and that 10 rods would be more realistically. We will be putting the situation to the committee at the next meeting for a decision.

Although it is 62A that is currently uncultivated, as you have a shed on this plot it seems logical that we relet 61B. Unless I hear to the contrary the inspecting team will recommend to the committee that we do so. If you keep plot 62 we would need to see it cleared before the February inspection.

I hope this seems reasonable. In the light of our waiting list of 48 we need to have all of our plots well cultivated.

(My reply)
I understand that on inspection our plots would appear weedy, however, today (before receiving this email) I have cleared two sections (I.e. Five rods). I do not understand how the committee can possibly think that 62a is uncultivated! It may not be chock-a-block but it is certainly under cultivation and contains namely 2 grape vines, perennial spring onions, Jerusalem artichokes, blackberries, rhubarb, asparagus, winter squashes, courgettes, cucumber, peas, sweetcorn, butternut squashes, curly kale, more Jerusalem artichokes, cabbage, chicory and tail ends of summer salad veg. Please explain how that qualifies as uncultivated.
Robin and I have spent more time down there this year than before and until just a month ago (the inclement weather being prevalent) I felt we had made real progress and would be applauded for our efforts. I also feel that there are many plots as bad if not worse than ours which leads us to the conclusion that we are being unnecessarily harassed, due to certain members of the committee being rigidly committed to the idea that if you live a further than average distance, then you will fail! I feel it necessary now to take advice from the A&GC and also approach the council about ***** Allotments treatment of ourselves. We do not want or intend to give up any of the plots we are working and would appreciate it if the society would bear this in mind in the future regardless of the size of your waiting lists.(End of my reply)

Thanks for any advice or info I can use.
PJ

[sewer rat]

It is difficult to respond to this query as I have no actual knowledge of the plots, or the committee and personalities involved.
However, if as you say, the committee regard a plot that contains as much as you say it does, as uncultivated, then maybe they aren't as familiar with some veg types as they think they are.
As regards weeds - tell them to come up and visit my 5 acres - I have literally thousands of veg plants in the ground, most healthy and growing well, but if you stand at the bottom of my tunnel and look across the field you can only see the red kale, savoy and winter cabbages and the tops of the Jerusalem artichokes - other than that you would think I was cultivating weeds.
One other point I cannot get my head round - why is distance from the lots so important - surely all that matters is that you maintain your plot, regardless of whether you are fiove or twent five minutes away

[Demeter]

It strikes me that they just don't want you to have 15 rods! I would suggest that you go and take some pictures of your plot, and also for comparison maybe some pictures of other plots that you feel are no better kept than yours. If things escalate and you do need to involve the council or anyone else it may be helpful to be able to show the state of the plots to them so that you can make clear what you are actually growing and how much the committee members are exaggerating when they say that your plot is "uncultivated" or that it is not in good order.

[BrideXIII]

never had a lottie, and can't STAND committees so i'ts likely I never will, but having read their letter to you, I am inclined to agree with the above, that they clearly object to you having so much room, when they want to give some to someone on their list.

take as many photo's as possible for evidence, and fight them all the way I say. also you could keep a short digital diary with a mobile phone, time and dated of each visit you make to prove attendence.

[Two_Sheds]

After a happy and contented 4 years, I am now starting to have a few niggly problems. We have a rather big-for-his-boots chap joined our site and he's busying himself causing trouble.
I have cut down my allotmenting from 5 days to 2 per week, and now there are mutterings/whisperings on the jungle telegraph that I can't keep up my plot. also, my shed is apparently 2 inches too tall and 3 inches too close to the fence. They can take it down & move it if they like !

[Flummery]

Some people are like woodworm Two Sheds. They get into everything!

[Matt.]

Personally I think the committee's letter is fine and in no way can be classed as harrassment. They have merely viewed your plot and reported their findings in a generally factual way. I agree the comment about distance is wholly inappropriate but thats the only issue I think you can have. They've not given you notice only that they require a response and action by February which is a long time in anyone's book.

Your response is ok if a bit agressive. Stick to the facts about the cultivation you see is ongoing/ has been completed and try to arrange a face to face. State you want to keep the whole plot and possibly submit your plans for next year. Five rods isn't a huge job to clear especially in winter as the weeds die back. I won't even acknowledge the distance issue let alone make any comment.

I think you need to take a deep breath and read their letter again with a clear head. Your plot is still yours and all the committee are doing is acknowledging the waiting list and reviewing all the plots. I'd check with your neighbours as it could be a mass review and most people getting letters of this nature.

[rainbowminx]

Oh you poor thing! I would feel exactly as you do. I have only had my plot 5 months but have put so much muscle, sweat and above all love into it that to lose it , or any part of it, would break my heart!

It does sound to me as though they have a bee in their bonnet about the distance you are from the plot, and perhaps that they are getting pressure from people keen to move up the waiting list and are desperately scrabbling about to see who they can get land off to get that waiting list down. However, as much as I have sympathy for those on the waiting list, if you are working your plot and coping with the rods you have then you are surely within your rights to continue with it.

I think you have done the right thing in replying pointing out the things which are in the plot at the moment which may have been overlooked. Like someone else said, it is easy to think that a plot is full of weeds unless you know what is there! I would take photos of everything and send them (digitally if possible) for the committee to consider. I can't believe that given the evidence they would force you to give up your plot.

I understand totally how you must be feeling though, having put lots of hard work in and only got criticism back for it - kind of leaves a bad taste in the mouth doesn't it? Well, WE know you are doing good, and YOU know you are doing good, so don't let it sap your confidence or mar your enjoyment of your plot.

Kris

[Wren]

This is starting to concern me a bit.

It seems that quite a few people who actively work their plot , still fall victim too the snipping and bullying of more established plot holders clique.

This sort of puts you off the idea of becoming part of any attached allotment association. for want to avoid becoming the next target of them that think they own it all, before they make your allotment life a misery with their gossip[ an disapproving huffs, an looks.

I don't think keeping your head down an minding your own business will work in this case though. If you are sure you are not waisting your space then arrange meeting with the letter writer so you can go over your plots an discuss with her/ him their areas of concern.

wren

[Gwyndy]

I would echo what Matt has said -
Stay calm, stick to the facts, and do not become verbally aggressive in any correspondence.
Certainly take photographs of your plot and list all the crops that you have grown / are still growing.
Make sure that you comply with the site rules.
Don't try and defend yourself by attacking other allotment tenants. You will only end up with more "enemies".
If you do these things then there is no way that your Committee could justify taking land away from you. If they try then request a meeting and present them with the facts and ask them to defend their proposals.

Good luck.

[fwuffydragon]

I have to say that I agree with Matt. This looks like a fairly standard letter apart from the "distance from plot" comment.

Keep your response factual. They are probably looking at ways they can get more people off the waiting list and on to the allotment, so are trying to give people, who may be finding the maintenance of such a large area a bit much, the opportunity to give up a small part of their plot to make things easier for the plotholder and bring the waiting list down at the same time.

Doing the "walk round" just after a long period of bad weather (good for weed growth!) is a bit much, but they have given you till february to sort it out / make a decision, so they're not being entirely hasty about it.

I know our society has a "half plot" limit for new plotholders, and existing plotholders who have more than one full plot are being asked to consider scaling down a little. However, as far as I understand, as long as your plot is adequately cared for and of a similar standard to other plots they can't force you to downscale.

Hope it all works out OK for you.

[wykesmallholder]

hello twosheds what are correct limits on height and distance supposed to be or do you think that they are being picky because if the rules are as per standard planning loopholes if a structure has been up for 4 years and there has been no cause for concern by the local presiding council thenthe structure can stand and you are not obliged to take it down or alter it to comply