Allotment Apathy.

[snooky]

After leaving my allotment this morning I drove to the local Wilkinsons and there I got into a conversation with a woman who had a plot on a different site to mine.

I was astounded to hear her say that she found it hard work and that she did not do much with it until she was sent a notice to cultivate or else.Her answer was to hire someone to turn it over for her she then said that she made an effort to plant it up but her bad back restricted her!!What a waste both of her money and the plot.It is only a 5-perch plot and no doubt some one would be glad of but this woman gave the impression that it was some kind of "trophy" and had to have because it was the trendy thing to have.Makes me mad to find that this attitude still exists.

[FelixLeiter]

It gets on my wick, too. She might not have a bad back if she goes out and uses it. Which depends on what's wrong with her back, of course. Mine gets bad if I sit on my arse for too long — a good day's digging soon sorts it. But it sounds like the council are on to her, so maybe soon it'll find itself tended by someone deserving. What was she buying in Wilko's anyway? Seed potatoes or cheap printer cartridges?

[Beryl]

I agree with you both. This is when it is essential to have a good warden on the ball or an allotment officer.

Beryl.

[Westi]

I have a bad back (2 prolapsed discs) but get on with it. It is always worse on the next day but is actually better the following day and yes I have to approach things a bit more hesitantly (and hysterically the old boys think), than I would like but I'm sure having lottie has made it stronger and I haven't had to have a day off work for about 3 years!

Anonymous phone call to the council maybe she should be easy to identify and just how many chances do they give?

Westi

[FelixLeiter]

just how many chances do they give?

For sure I've stated that this gets on my wick. But I don't think any whistle blowing is required. I think everyone deserves a second chance, and I'm willing to bet that in fact she was buying seed potatoes as a first step along the road to redemption.

[Kleftiwallah]

We had the misfortune of being downwind of a couple of weed strewn plots. A strip was turned over once a year (sometimes) to comply, eventually after constant nagging we now have a new set of allotmenteers who appreciate what they have.

Why, why, why does one have to nag those authorities until they get off their communal posteriors? I'm having a non-positive result about a disgusting dog mess strewn footpath. Cheers, Tony.

[Beryl]

Tony - re dog poo. I don't know if it is the same problem I had with neighbour but there is legislation in place requiring them to clear up the mess. I imagine the same would apply to a public foot path.
The maybe of help

Beryl.

Garden Accumulation
Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 it is an offence to allow large quantities of dog faeces to accumulate in your garden as it may cause a problem through smell, flies etc to your neighbours.

Hopefully any problem can be dealt with informally. If however, this is not the case the Environmental Health Service may serve an abatement notice under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. This would require the owner or occupier of the premises to clear the garden of all dog faeces and maintain it clear of dog faeces.

Failure to comply with the notice may result in prosecution in a Magistrates Court.

[glallotments]

It is amazing how many plots only clear up after a letter from the council but then they grow over again until they get another letter.

Our council has a six week policy that means after a letter you get six weeks to do something about it and if you make an effort it's forgotten about until the next time etc.

We also had a half plot on our site allocated to someone who never showed. It became overgrown and the guy with the adjoining half plot asked if he could take it on to be refused as 'there is a waiting list'. It's still not been allocated!

I think one problem is the council officials have allotments as a tiny part of their portfolio and just give it attention occasionally!

[Beryl]

And glallotments, the rent has been paid so why should the council put themselves out.

Beryl.

[glallotments]

And glallotments, the rent has been paid so why should the council put themselves out.

Beryl.

No rent paid on that one Beryl!

[Catherine]

On our site they have had to put gates on either end of the track to, in theory, stop dog walkers from traipsing through with their dogs and leaving poo behind. It had got to be a real problem on the little paths which divide our plots. Two weeks ago my OH and I were working on our plot and watched a chap walk up the track with a dog and climb over the closed and locked gate.

There is a plot close to our which, when the chap first came, we helped him clear, and he just keeps bringing more and more junk, which he burns. The smells last summer were awful. Once we had to ask him to put the fire out as we could not work on our plot for the toxic smell his fire was giving off. I am hoping that he doesnt come back this year.

Another chap only comes a couple of times a year, does a bit of digging and then goes away. He has never grown anything productive yet. He has had his plot about five or six years. When we see him he always says he is too busy so why doesn't he let it go to someone who can use it properly.

Mmm I think I got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Catherine, you are only saying what most people would think.