silly?

[raine]

I don't know if this is the right place to post this but-
does anyone know if the council can take a plot away if you move? I've recently moved house-it's not too far away so we still are maintaining the plot but we are under a different council. I'm going to inform them of the change of address but i just wondered if, because there is a waiting list, they might take it away? I've had the plot for 3 years and, although it's certainly not perfect we have done a half decent job on it and I really wouldn't want to start all over-what do you think?

[Two_Sheds]

I'm in a similar position. Some nosey b0ggers keep asking me where I live now (I've moved into the next town) - I know they have a view to nicking my lovely well-tended plot. One of the old boys travels in from much further away than I do, and he never gets any flak (maybe because his plot looks like Steptoe's yard)

However, there is nothing in my rules about having to live within a certain distance of the plot.

Check your rules

[snuffer]

I can't see there being any problem. Quite a few of the plot holders here live in other villages and not just in villages that don't have allotment sites. Some live a good six - eight miles away in a village that, until recently, had plots available and they have had no problem keeping their plots here.

[tootles]

There was a post here recently from someone who had been offered a plot 45 mins drive from home.
(I forget who, when or where - Scotland I think)

[allotmentlady]

i dont see it as a problem...........scary thought isnt it, wondering if it could be taken from you.......

[BarleySugar]

I agree with Two Sheds, check your rules. We are hoping to set up a new allotment site, and one of the rules will probably be that you have to live in the village. This is because if we want to apply for certain community based grants, we have to be serving the local community, not people from other towns or villages .

[jackie j]

I dont know about existing plot holders but since I got mine if you want an allotment you have to live within the boundry, so those living a couple of miles away even though they comes under the same district council it doesnt come under the town council.

[Peter]

Until last years ever ballooning waiting list our Town Council didn't give a stuff where plot holders lived, or moved to, provided they paid their rent and didn't annoy anyone.

Now no-one is accepted onto the waiting list if they do not live within the Council boundary.

Existing plot holders who are outside the boundary are unaffected and by extension I think so are any who move, but that has yet to be tested.

[bramble]

Raine, do you really need to notify them of the move?

[butter fingers]

where i live the general rule is that if you move out of the parish you lose the plot . Mind you thats if you are found out..as i have been told of people moving away and also getting a plot where they have moved to and maintaining both.

[Peter]

Raine, do you really need to notify them of the move?

So this tenant does not answer our letters.....

[MrsC]

My plot is under another council, 8/9 miles from where I live.

[Eyren]

Check your agreement, and if there's nothing in there about residency rules:

They still might be understandably worried that if you move further away, you are less likely to work on it. I would wait a bit and make sure you get the plot spick and span as soon as the weather clears up a bit, then tell them about the move after a few weeks. If you've already demonstrated your continued enthusiasm, it's going to count a lot in your favour

[Paulottie]

So this tenant does not answer our letters.....

I expect you can get the Post office to forward the mail or c/o a friend's address in the area. Just Pay your rent and water for next year and tend your plot.... not much else to write about anyway...lottie BBQ?

I agree with Peter, Ours is a village site and traditionally underpopulated....when you couldn't get tenants, the imperative was for many sites to prove their viability to protect against development.

As I had to maintain them otherwise, I then rented two plots to folk from other parishes. Whilst I wouldn't dream of trying to take back their plots now that allotments are the must have accessory; I would be unlikely to take on any other incomers at the moment.

Strictly, as I remember, the tenancy states that you must be from the parish but that was ignored.

Perhaps you are worrying unnecessarily over events that might not happen? Most sites and councils take forever to evict even people with a bramble patch who haven't been all year. Least said the better probably.

If it is likely that you will stay at your new address a long time then really it may be worth applying and seeing when/what you can get there anyway. Fairer and better in the long run.... but I wouldn't give up the old plot till you are settled there with an alternative.

[bluemoon]

Our council definitely can, it's in the tenancy agreement. But only if you move out of the area and no-longer pay your council tax to them. If you move within the area then you can keep your plot even if you are a good few miles away or there are other allotments closer to you. My mum's plot is a good half hour's drive from her as she wanted one near to us so we could help and loan her tools. This wasn't a problem as she still pays council tax to the same authority that we do, had she lived in the next village along though - about another mile - she wouldn't have been able to do this as they are under a different authority