sheds on the plot

[snakeshack]

I managed to aquire a 6 foot by 4 foot shed yesterday for free, which needed a bit of work on the roof,so I emailed the local council to apply for permission for my shed asking for clarification on the rules for size,location on site etc.
Received an e-mail reply this morning saying sheds are not allowed on my site.
this surprises me as there are already two sheds present,thought the permission e-mail was just going to be a formality.
At least I didn't have to fork out for the shed though.

[Flummery]

Hmm.. difficult. You obviously don't want to dob in the people who have them. However, it makes you wonder how often the place is checked!

[Eyren]

Bummer! We only have a tool chest on our plot (cheap plastic thing from Sainsburys) - a shed would be nice but would take up valuable growing space

Perhaps you should email back requesting a copy of the full site regulations and tenancy agreement, just in case someone is fobbing you off with the quick and easy answer

[lynda66]

i would also mention the other 2 sheds, cos either they have permission or they don't

[Alison]

i would also mention the other 2 sheds, cos either they have permission or they don't

I wouldn't mention them, won't endear you to other plot holders if you start off by telling tales.

[snakeshack]

e-mailed again asking for clarification as to what constitutes a tool chest.
reply gave no answer as to that but informed me that there have been problems with sheds errected on site (I did'nt mention them)and was told the tenants have been told to take them down.
Have just come back from the allotment after three hours one of which was spent cursing and swearing at the rotavator I had borrowed (again).Met a tenant who I had not previously seen who is a proud shed owner!
He errected his shed without asking and had a complaint from the house at the rear that it was blocking her view.This is ironic as all the houses at the rear have rented the allotments at the bottom of their gardens and none are cultivated.The shed in question is six feet high and painted a neutral green.the houses cannot even see it as it is lower than the brambles and scrub on her "allotment".
I now cannot errect a shed and as site rep was trying to do the right thing,classic shot in the foot there then.
On a brighter note the other tenant helped me dig over 15-20 sq yds of bramble infested plot (what a top bloke) and is coming with me at the weekend to collect manure which we will share.
the council have told him to remove his shed,as site rep I don't know what to tell him,I will probably not be able to ""see"" it as it is so well camouflaged.
Any suggestions?

[SarzWix]

What a tough situation! Makes me appreciate how lucky we are with no restrictions on 'erections' on our site!
Perhaps you could petition for a change in the rules so that sheds within certain dimensions are allowed?

[snakeshack]

:madthe problem is unlikely to resolve easily I think,harrow council have had a grant for regenerating allotments this year and are going to have a purge on uncultivated plots.I can only see this irritating the local residents with their 100 ft deep bramble "fences".At least I am going to get a bridge over the river,gotta be better than lugging the "merry tiller" over a scaffolding plank.
All the other sites in the borough allow sheds up to a maximum of 8 ft by 6

[Eyren]

Sounds to me like the local residents rented the plots specifically to create distance between themselves and the allotments, out of sheer nimbyness - fingers crossed that the council evict them sharpish, even if it does create bad feelings.

I would write to the council by snail mail - harder to ignore! - asking why every other site is allowed sheds except yours. Are their situations so different? Is there some covenant on the land? If nothing else, it might put off the inevitable for a few months

[Snadger]

Dig a big hole........pop shed in hole............dig a stairway down to it.......problem solved! Nothing showing above ground!

[snakeshack]

Dig a big hole........pop shed in hole............dig a stairway down to it.......problem solved! Nothing showing above ground!

great plan but a bit close to the river.now have been told that the tool chest must not exceed 2 feet in height,possibility of 30 ft square tool chest then
Apparently I'm not allowed a greenhouse either.
this is starting to wind me up now wish I'd never asked.

[Eyren]

now have been told that the tool chest must not exceed 2 feet in height

That's just ludicrous! Where do they get these figures from? Are they going to ban bean wigwams and sweetcorn next because they are too tall???

Sounds like another candidate for naming and shaming in the local newspaper...

[snakeshack]

I am now asking for a comprehensive set of rules ,as I said before even if the shed was 10 feet high it would not be visible from any of the houses due to the state of the land between me and them.
As another piece of stupidity I can apparently keep chickens in a chicken house 8 ft x 6 ft with a similarly sized run.
don't get that either ,will wait for the documents to arrive

[Flummery]

Make a chicken house from a shed! (Then don't put chickens in!)

[Eyren]

Nice thinking, Flum!

Bureaucrats, eh? They obviously have nothing better to do than dream up stupid rules...