Kitchen Garden Forum

Went to Aldershot over the weekend so I didn"t get over to the Allotment until today.Rumour has it that ageism has reared its ugly head on the site in the form that if you are on the waiting list and under a certain unstated age (they are asked their age when applying to go on the list) then you will most likely be offered a 10-perch site.Over that age a 5-perch site.
Apparently there are too many plots being worked by us "oldies" and the younger ones will be able to work the larger plots more easily because they are fitter!What a load of codswallop!Also, it is rumoured that plotholders are to be restricted to a maximum plot of 10 perch. None of our committee will comment on these rumours,and I"m wondering what excuse will be used to oust me from my 5-perch plot this year.
Roll in the A.G.M. Questions will be asked!!

Time to get yourself and a few other like-minded allotment holders onto the committeee, Snooky, then you can really shake it all up!

John

Council has already restricted us to maximum initial lets of 5rod.

Normal let is actually 2.5rod, but I've got 20rod myself due to wanting more ground before the current popularity of allotments kicked in.
Trouble is I really want to give some of the established plotholders extra ground, but am supposed to offer to newcomers first and there is a never ending list of twenty waiting.

The reasoning is rubbish. Older people on our site have immaculate plots as they tend to spend more time working them. Then there are plots taken by young people that are a mess - they have other interests and also hobs to concentrate on.

Equally there are plots kept ny older people that are messy and young people with very smart plots.

Age has nothing to do with it - it's the attitude of the person renting the plot. Our beighbouring plot was totally overgrown and taken by a retired couple. Within a week they had it cleared and set out and now win prizes for the best plot.

An interesting AGM I expect. At our allotments they halve all the plots that become vacant which is OK to get the waiting list down but you
soon outgrow it when you move into fruit & herbs as well.

Initially there was some talk about existing plots being broken up which
would have devastated me as I have 2 full ones which are full of vegetables, fruit and herbs. Luckily they have seen sense and left
us alone but if any existing ones are not worked the letters go out
pretty damn quick. As for age - what a cheek!! Like Glattotments says
it is attitude not age so get into that AGM fighting - human rights, ageism
you can find lots to support your case. As it has to be minuted there will
also be evidence - just right for age concern etc.

Good Luck - hope it is all rumour.

Westi

I would have thought that allocating the plots by age would break the existing law on age discrimination.

Sue the bu****s

Barney

Just another thought - do they intend to take some of the plot back when plot holders reach a certain age?

I would certainly kick up about this, if you have proof that it takes place. Certainly age is no barrier to application, you just have keen and not-so-keen gardeners.

The trouble with rulings like this is that they are made by a faceless unelected person.
We have local elections and the elected person becomes a councillor which means absolutely nothing. The councillors are unable to influence the day to day running of the council or most of the decisions made by the council. These decisions are made by the officials of the council who are totally unelected. So much for the superior way that the British conduct themselves and British Justice is a total myth.
JB.

Having just spent a couple of weeks in Hampshire I went to the site this morning,couldn't do much,heavy,drenching drizzle,but caught up with the gossip.
A new all-embracing policy in force according to my source Bigbelly Bob,all newbies restricted to 5 perch or less.So,if one of the larger plots is given up then it will be split up to reduce the waiting list,no matter how old you are.
One of the newbies complained to one of the committee that one of the oldies had let the weeds grow on his plot.It was pointed out to him that it was not weeds but green manure!
Another day in the life of an allotment site!

I have no qualification re this issue other than I'm a plotholder and with my OH took on our plot/s in our late forties.Age,gender ,race,religion what next sexual preference.Discrimination by "label" is totally ridiculous and also inefficient.Dividing plots to bring down waiting lists concerns me,our site has several smaller plots which while useful for some ,swiftly become too small for anyone who's serious about crop rotation and producing year round veg.If they decided I'd have to give up some of our plots they'd have to fight me first

Dear macmac, i think your plots will be quite safe then.