Council allotment inspectors - infuriating!

[buzzingtalk]

Recieved a letter today from the incompetant people who run the council allotment office (don't get me started!) saying I've failed my second inspection!! I never had a first one...and they are moaning that it is not 50% cultivated...It is covered in carpet to try and kill the years of neglect that has allowed brambles and bind weed, couch grass to grow. They left my plot for 3-6 years before i had it and now suddenly they are showing an interest! hypocracy at its finest

[Matt94]

I don't think they tell you when they do a plot inspection! Phone them tomorrow explaining your situation, I'm sure they will understand

[WendyC]

How frustrating for you when it looks like you are taking the sensible long term plan to kill off perennial weeds. As above definitely worth a phone call to explain your methods. What do they mean by 50% cultivation has it actually got to have crops on it. If so I'd don't many people will have that many crops this time of year. Good luck and try to keep your cool!

[buzzingtalk]

I think its meant to be 50% ready, either growing or ready to grow. it was a jungle when i got it and i spent a year digging out glass, flytipped rubbish and rotten carpet that bramble had grown through. i cannae get any more csarpet, so it will take a while...am going to have t omve the carpet back bit by bit. i have sent a long email just now, and will see what they say...but i suppose i would have failed my first one too, but no letter was sent?

[alldigging]

What do the rules say about inspections etc?


Cut crosses in the carpet and plant though it.

[greenishfing]

How long have you had the allotment and how much did you grow this year? Have you still got areas of weeds or is it actually weed free? Our council expect even their most neglected allotments to have had some crops after a year. We got one of the dreaded letters in our first year and ours had been a neglected dump for over 15 years. Are all the other plots on your site in pristine condition? Have your neighbours been complaining?

[lottie dolly]

At this time of year,most of the weeds are going to ground anyway,plus the year has been bad to keep control of things,good luck sorting it out,

[zazen999]

I'd forget the carpet and use cardboard.

I can't see many plots being 50% cultivated this time of year. Even ours has half the beds covered this year with cardboard or straw as 90% of our brassicas got eaten by slugs and I even had to resort to buying extras and THEY got eaten.

I'd respond with a phone call to ask whether they were aware of the state of it, that you have only had it x months, what 50% cultivation actually means in the first year of taking over a plot that was infested with X and Y - and what is the point of sending letters like this in the first year when they have handed over plots in disgusting conditions in the first place and if they ARE going to be this strict - perhaps they need to clear them before letting them out.

Also - were the sanctions for 'failing an inspection' spelt out at the start, and what is the sanction that you have been handed out?

[Thelma Sanders]

i spent a year digging out glass, flytipped rubbish and rotten carpet that bramble had grown through.

On ours, it's the same - after a year at least 50% should be dug over and have crops growing.....plus they don't allow carpet down here. Weed control fabric on the other 50% with crops grown through the holes keeps 'em quiet for a bit

[Aberdeenplotter]

Infuriating though it is, it is equally infuriating for surrounding plotters to have to cope with weeds coming from neglected allotments. Having said that, it is unfair to expect an allotment that's been neglected for many years to be brought in to a state of good cultivation in a single season. However, jobsworths will be jobsworths and as the others have suggested you should contact the Council to explain what you have done to date and what you intend to do to turn things around. Do it in writing so that you have a record of your exchanges with the Council. If you talk to them, follow up with a letter confirming what was discussed.

[WendyC]

If you had any before and after photos to show these would be handy to show progress.

[Two_Sheds]

Cut crosses in the carpet and plant though it.

No, no no ! Seriously, it will make the job ten times harder, because weeds WILL grow right through the carpet as it breaks down, and you'll then never get it all out.

If you use carpet, it should be moved frequently to stop weeds rooting into it.

[alldigging]

No, no no ! Seriously, it will make the job ten times harder, because weeds WILL grow right through the carpet as it breaks down, and you'll then never get it all out.

If you use carpet, it should be moved frequently to stop weeds rooting into it.

Oh ok hadn't thought of that. You've got a good point there.
Is there any carpet that is completely natural that would break down 100%?
I've only got a piece of carpet on my compost bin.

[veggiechicken]

Presumably 100% wool, undyed, with a hessian back, might break down completely........

[Two_Sheds]

Is there any carpet that is completely natural that would break down 100%?

As VC says, it would have to be of natural fibres. Just like anything organic, a wool/sisal/cotton rug or carpet will decompose eventually: anything synthetic, won't.