Proportion of untended plots on your site?

[JohnMac]

With a waiting list of 60 on a site of 250 plots, our allotment association is pushing the Town Council to enforce the tenancy agreement regarding tending a lot. Currently we have 43 plots where less than 25% of the plot is being used to grow vegetables... The TC are now serving notices and offering plots.

So our current ratio of untended plots is 17%. Sounds far too high, but is a target of less than 5% realistic? What's the ratio on your site?

Thanks, John

[chris]

The new site I'm on has a zero tolerance.. as in to quote what I and everyone is told when taking a plot on - "You use it, or you loose it". No questions asked. I picked up a plot that wasn't cultivated for a month or so; so at least on this site it's a rapid turn around.

My old plot, that I've now decided to give up despite having planted it up had a long row of plots unused for 4 years, despite a 2 year waiting list. Not sure of the total number of plots - I'd estimate at 100-150. Quite annoying really.. I'd been number 3 on that list for a long time, and when speaking to the plot holders they have told me that it's been years since anyone took that plot on.

In your T&Cs, do you state that you need to grow fruit/veg? I know a few people on my new site have a large area of flowers.. not sure if this is because they do not have a garden, or like them as cut flowers or not - but ours has a month trial period where you need to bring at least a quarter of the plot into cultivation [no further definition of that though.. I guess it could mean 'plants', or crops?].

Personally, I think if you have the waiting list to fill almost 25% of your total plots I think a low threshold is within reason.. I guess it depends how strict the site is though. I'm much happier on the stricter site - which is why I've decided to let the other one go.

[Snadger]

40 plots on our site all payed for!

About 10 plots (25%) unused and derelict.

Not good I know, but since leaving the committee and not even attending the AGM in case I got seconded into a post, I am in no position to make gripes about it!

These things can only be resolved by a strong minded committee who aren't just happy to balance the books by taking plot holders money off them!

PS I think the Council as Landlord should shoulder some of the responsibility, and NOT just be happy to take an annual rent from the Association and leave the enforcement to the committee.

PPS We have about 20 people on waing list.

[Suky]

About 30 plots on our site and only 1 and 2 half plots in poor condition. One full plot is slowly being dug but it overgrows before he does anything more. The 2 half plots, both bordering mine, have tenants who are struggling, one with advancing age and the other with health problems. They are both under written warnings but the committee is slow to act and they will both be given the rest of the year before a decision is made.
There are only 3 on the waiting list but that is because our 'man in charge' doesn't like waiting lists.

[susieq100]

About 65 plots on our site and currently 14 or 15 untenanted. Well I am assuming they are untenanted since they are in a poor state with nothing planted on them for this season. I don't understand some folks - they invest often a great deal in terms of fencing, laying paths, buying manure, not to mention the time and effort in levelling and clearing, do some planting and then we never see them again!

[gothmaga]

Our site was only set up in Dec last year and has about 25 plots, I can't understand why but, there are a couple of plots which have had nothing done on them, why take on a plot and not use it when there are others who want one?

[T8Ter]

The site where I'm on the waiting list for (currently 7th, was 109th 3 years ago) has some plots looking unkempt with little or no cultivation that were in the same condition when I took a plot there 25 years ago, when a young family and work ties stopped me having the time to do my plot justice I gave it up. The council enforce a waiting list but I doubt any of them has ever visited the site to view the state of some plots. (This site has over 200 plots on it)

[Hans Mum]

- "You use it, or you loose it". .

that should be the mantra for all allotments

on our site we have a couple who are currently under a warning and we turned 2 of a few weeks ago. Both plots were relet on the same weekend one has been totally transformed and is looking brill (well done BM) the other i dont think theyve touched it and when they came to look at it they didnt mention they were going away or anything and i know theyre not cause I saw them a few days ago (not on the plot) some people like to say they have an allotment but not actually do anything with it

[Snadger]

....................... some people like to say they have an allotment but not actually do anything with it

Or worse still the 'yuppie's' mentioned in the newspapers a while ago who were paying lowly sods like mesen to landscape and maintain there plots...............deplorable!!!!!!!

[Alison]

The new site I'm on has a zero tolerance.. as in to quote what I and everyone is told when taking a plot on - "You use it, or you loose it". No questions asked. I picked up a plot that wasn't cultivated for a month or so; so at least on this site it's a rapid turn around.

Blimey, whilst I agree that you use it or lose it as a basic concept I think that a month not cultivating is too short a timescale. The plot holder could easily have been ill or have some personal circumstance to stop them doing much. I went away for 2 weeks on holiday last year which meant that I didn't go to the plot for 3 weekends which isn't much off the month it appears I'd have been allowed!

On our site we have 10 plots, in the 3 years I've had my plot there has been 1 plot that's never been used and has only just been taken off the plot holder which is far too slow. Having said that, I've met the new plot holder and he's not intending doing anything on it until he retires in the autumn so am not holding my breath on that one. There is another plot which hasn't had a lot done, last spring they had a good go but there's now weeds 5' highand last year's parsnips flowering away like nothing on earth. Not sure what's happening to that one. A final one which was looking good but the plot holder was ill last year and voluntarily gave it up at the end of the year. The new people don't seem to have done much apart from clearing what they didn't want. I did notice they've strimmed the whole plot the other day but will have to see how that one goes. The remaining plots are all in use in different ways and always have been since I've been on the site.

[arpoet]

when we had our open day i had a long walk with my video cam round our 120 plots and counted at least 20 (on my fingers and toes) untended plots and several not concomplying with council regs on veg/ flower ratio.
Many seem so over grown that the can't have been used for years, yet this spring, the guy next to me, who got his neglected plot just before us, spent an age clearing his and building growing terraces then digging in loads of hos muck and got his plot into production well before us. but, at the crucial time this year suffered health problem that put him in bed for several weeks, yet got a letter from the council telling him it must be at least 70% planted in the next month.
Some rules and rule makers are..... well.. you get my drift.
Roger