The plot next door seems to be turning into a creche....?!

[Snadger]

Your referred website is the "personal" view of Cambridgeshire County Council presumably), which does not allocate, own or run allotments as they are normally a Town or Parish Council function. See http://search.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/...870&provider=1 County Councils often have these flights of fancy about ways of improving communities, it seems to be a touchy-feely function of their planning policy departments.

I prefer to cite the govenment department responsible in law for allotments, or at any rate the acts of parliament that established allotments and also responsible for the approval or promotion of any future Westminster legislation relating to allotments.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1127687

That is the UK government view.

I will defer a MAJOR point to you VERY willingly, any Landlord can vary the terms and conditions that it applies to allotments that it rents out, thus your or my allotment site could quite legitimately allow a lawn, shed, and chairs. But I bet the rules would have to cater for "ASBO" behavior much as they should on a traditional site cater for "failure to cultivate".

For those who like it in plain I quote the website;

"What is an allotment?

An allotment plot is a piece of land, usually about 250 square metres in size, which can be rented for growing fruit and vegetables. The land is generally owned by the local council.
There are three key groups involved in the day to day running of allotments. They are:

• local authorities;
• allotment societies; and
• individual plot holders themselves."

Thanks Peter.....never was much good at tennis!

It's a shame A Plot Holders Guide wasn't handed out to all prospective tennants!

[poozie]

I'm feeling very lucky. Our allotment is owned by The Jockey Club who never sell off their land even though newmarket is in desperate need of housing. All land in town and around that has historically been used for horses cannot be built on, can only be used for horses and racing industry. We can use our allotment for anything other than untidy weeds and illegal plants. We could even keep pigs!

[Two_Sheds]

Good thread, good arguments both sides.
I think the problem here is not what is grown (fruit or veg) - it seems to be the noise nuisance. This isn't confined to allotments. I am living in a quiet little street that is unfortunately in between a rowdy pub and a rowdier nightclub. We are kept awake from 10pm till 3am every Friday and Saturday night by screeching screaming girls and wheel-spinning cars. Incidentally, my OH has just purchased an airgun ...

... Re: the loud radio...perhaps a well-aimed but accidental spraying with a hosepipe? I like the radio on while I am working, but I keep it low and next to me

[dexterdoglancashire]

My sympathies 2sheds - I really appreciate the quietness in my greenhouse and lottie. Methinks I would be using OHs airpistol on a frequent albeit, illegal basis if someone interrupted my "me time". I realise how lucky I am. Bernie

[poozie]

I sympathise totally Twosheds. I live just off Newmarket Highstreet in a quiet road but we are kept awake Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and on occasion Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights in the summer. We are a stones throw from the nightclub and a 'gentleman's' club isn't far away. Most of the time we sleep through it, even Alfie the dog doesn't stir but the other night we had a massive argument outside our house and our downpipe got broken and th e next morning there was blood on the pavement. The fight went on for at least half an hour but you get scared to stick head out of window because people are so aggressive (coked up normally). Police always turn up too late. We have had some right sorts. If its not fights, always outside our house because we are end of terrace, its couples shagging in churchyard opposite. Its often worse in the summer when racing is on.

People are so self centred now that they don't care how their actions affect others.

Oh well, roll on tonight...............

[dexterdoglancashire]

Just to give you poor grapes a bit of "light" relief...... where I work in a building surrounded by terraced houses....there have been several occasions where Ive seen "gentlemen" reliveing themsleves in the corner of the back garden opposite - what they dont realise is, they are on CCTV but I can also see through my window! Its not nice to see things like that! Some people!!! Bernie PS I dont think the owner knows! How on earth should I tell him!?!?

[vicki]

yeuch!
a friend of mine used to monitor the CCTV cameras and said its quite incredible what you see people getting up to!

[bubblewrap]

Just thought - your allotments could be inspected by Ofsted!!!!! (Only joking).

Surely OFLOT!

[Paulottie]

Interesting debate-lots of gray areas here as it encompasses social and housing issues

Some friends of ours moved to Switzerland recently and said that many people in flats had an allotment that they used as a garden -as in Germany. Although I see the benefit of this facility to a community; It is not the basic need of feeding your family. I am sure that my contract also said something on the purpose/philosophy of the tenancy- perhaps it was mainly aimed at not selling your produce? I'll try and find a copy and check.

I agree that a few flowers encourage insects, feed the soul and can be cut to brighten your home. Entirely reasonable...just as benefiting from your excess produce in a bartering/favour way -nobody cares- but 300 sq metres of cut flowers? that's floristry supply! aaaaachooo!...pardon me.

If there were full occupancy in the area; I would be slightly annoyed that I would not be able to grow food on land given over to the purpose at the expense of a sea of 'leisure gardens.' But, by the same token, if there is spare land, it is best that it is being used -rather than seeding the other plots with groundsel or whatever and colloquially known as a 'wildlife area'

So on balance-is it not the responsibility of the Councils and developers to provide more leisure gardens? In many areas where they would certainly be beneficial to the community; yet,ith the resurgence of GYO it is surely important not to dilute the allotments intended purpose.

As far as kids on the allotments- I am both a grumpy old man and a father so I can see both sides of that arguement too. But, children our our future, and tolerance and understanding our aim . Really, despite the radio, it is better that the teenagers are there rather than robbing your car for drug money while your digging. Youngsters, are not responsible for themselves but, short of a licence to breed, it is difficult to see a solution to bad parenting. Isn't it our moral responsibility to nurture a child's interest it veg growing?

So, I'm perched resolutely on the allotment fence on this one!

[Pyewacket]

the plot next door seems..........

Blimey!!!! This is certainly getting everyone talking.

An allotment is surely for growing fruit, veg, flowers or for leisure. In medieval times towns people had a burgage plot which was basically an allotment, they were used not only for growing food but also for leisure.

We are living in a democracy and should be able to use our allotment for anything we like BUT we should also show respect for our fellow allotment holders. If that means we want to listen to loud music then the technology exists for us to do that without everyone within a 10 mile radius listening to our loud music.

Yes children should be at the allotment BUT their activites should be structured and supervised at all times. Too many parents these days think looking after your children means taking them out and then ignoring them or that we all want to gaze adoringly at the little horrors whilst they make an absolute nuisance of themselves. We dont! Maybe that childminder should explain how important worms are and what function they perform.

Too many people today trumpet their right to do something without considering their obligations to others around them.

I'm just going to climb down off my soapbox now and go and make some coffee.

[SarzWix]

Update...

Well, the noisy children part of my problem has gone away, albeit temporarily...
My sister visited over the weekend, and spotted that the corrugated material that next-door plot was using as a boundary/fencing (on the far side) is actually made from asbestos - she recently had to pay a specialist company nearly a grand to get rid of the same stuff which had been used to roof an outhouse. So I've very politely pointed it out to the neighbour and suggested she seeks advice from the council, and keeps the kids away from it in the meantime...
The radio is still an issue - the teenagers were there yesterday, all day, and even left the radio on while they went off to buy lunch... However, they are working hard, so i've kept my mouth shut (a miracle for me!) apart from telling them they're doing a good job... Perhaps gardening is teaching me patience after all??!!

[moggssue]

Well, I guess I just have to add my twopenn'oth worth even tho I dont (yet) have a lottie ... part of what brought me to gardening in the first place was the relaxation, peace and fresh air, as well as being given a love of the land from my dad. I think Sarah has every right to be annoyed, I would be too in her position. A lottie is surely one of the best learning experiences for youngsters if treated correctly (learning where food comes from, respect for others and for nature and so forth), but equally one of the most dangerous and irresponsible if treated incorrectly. A lot of what is wrong with society today is total lack of respect combined with selfishness and it really gets up my nose!! Hmmpph!

[Sebbster]

...... on reading this through before posting it comes across as angry - I'm not, I'm puzzled, and I would tuly like to hear your reasoning Sebbster.

Terry

Terry, quite simply, if you want to have an area to take kids to play, go to the playground and/or park in your area. That may sound harsh but that is what these areas are for and I wonder what would be said if I dug up a patch in one and planted potatos

I disagree and believe that allotments, by definition, are primarily for growing vegetables. Dont get me wrong, I have a pond and a few ornamentals also to make it more aesthetically pleasing and relaxing but in general mine is for veg.

Taking your own child to an allotment is part of the fun I agree. I take my son there when I can but he is controlled. Taking kids that are not even your own to play and make noise, well that's what parks are for.

[SarzWix]

Still demented...

I don't flippin believe it...!! Today the next door plot had 4 mothers, 7 toddlers, and 2 teenagers on it!! It's only a half plot, so it was bedlam. And the asbestos roofing material is still being used as fencing (overlapped, so it's rubbing whenever it's windy). I've pointed out the risk to the plot-holder's wife, but I don't think she's even told the other mothers about it.
I've got the mp3 player on charge, just gotta find some earphones that fit in my tiny lug-holes now...

[bubblewrap]

Our Lottie site has a childrens play area next to it people bring their kids down,the kid get to pay in safety while parents are "gardening"