Kitchen Garden Forum

The other week SOME,NOT ALL plot holders where given letters tellin us that the committee have decided to put secondary locks on the main gates,at 9.00pm close and 10.oo am open.They inform us that they are doing this to stop robberies on the plot and they think the robbers are gaining access with a key,although i am for stopping theft,i think it is wrong that people who work shifts now have restricted access.A number of people rang the council reg this matter and the council told the committee that they arnt aloud to do this.
The sec of the com has now given SOME NOT ALL,plot holders another letter saying they are calling an E.A.G.M,even though this was not taken to the com,he went ahead and done this off his own back.
The majority of the people on our plot are retired,so this matter does not affect them and there are about 15 shift workers who this will affect and will be out voted by the others.
I was under the impression that we rent off the council and NOT the comm and that plot holders have access from dawn till dusk,and as the lighter nights are coming in we should be able to be down on our plots when it is light and until it gets dark.
CAN THE COM DO THIS TO US.? PLEASE GIVE ADVICE.

We all "buy"(pay a deposit )on a key for our site .
Why can't you folk be given the same option ?
We don't live in 9 TO 5 situation anymore.

I have already paid £10 for my key when i started my plot 9yrs ago

This sounds somewhat high handed Grock!
Are you in the NSALG?
Their legal advice team are very helpful.

We had a similar situation a few years ago when the committee decided to turn off the water in the middle of the day to save on consumption. Unfair on those of us who came on to the site during the day.
(I`m afraid that it was solved by me doing my old schoolmarm act and intimidating the committee member responsible until he changed the time clock. )

What about changing the lock and having members sign for their new key? It would be an expense but better than excluding plot holders from their plots. We have those security padlocks on our gates that trap your key unless you close the lock. Stops people leaving the lock open.
Don`t let the committee get away with this.

Have you got a constitution or set of rules?
How many members does it need to call an EGM?

Sorry I`ve waffled on a bit. Do let us know how you get on.

We had a similer problem some years ago, susspected ex plot holders helping themselves. Solution, change the padlock, all keys to be handed to existing plotholders only, £5 deposit for key, reufundable when vatcating plot. Problem solved.

If the council say that they can't it seems strange that they can go ahead. Does anyone keep livestock on your site as these people will need to feed them before they go to work - before 10.00a.m?

On our site people also have BBQs on their plots later at night so a 9.00 p.m. finish wouldn't go down well.

It seems changing the locks would be the best answer. They are lucky if this is allowed as our council wouldn't let us change our locks.

Hi Grock,

Hope you are keep well its been rather quite in your absence

In answer to you question The Committee run the site on behalf of the Council so its Yes & No, But as is the norm someone has jumped the gun and not thought this through. As it would take forever to answer all your Question's might I suggest the Following.

As I know the lay out of your site why don't you suggest that a cctv camera be mounted at your main gate and place the secondary locks on the other gates thus restricting everyone to use the main gate that way the committee get to find out who has keys.

Then the Secretary should and must write to all lapsed members informing them of the cctv has been installed on site and WHY also He should say that any keys not be returned for refund then steps will be taken to recoup the costs of resecuring the site at their expense,
These locks & Keys I believe cost in the region of £800-00 plus as these keys can only be cut by a professional locksmith and card holding member of your committee.

Our society use the same locksmith as your site as I got the number from Dave your secretary.
I do believe that they will be beating a path to the site to hand back their keys.

I fully understand the Committee's stance but it does not make it right to impose these kind of restrictions on the membership yet again it is a case of the minority ruling the majoirty.


Best Wishes & Kind Regards


Kevin

I would also like to point out that the thieving has suddenly escalated since this was proposed. Kind of convenient that is to my way of thinking.

I agree the thieving must be stopped (I personally despise thieves and liars and think all should be shot) but I refuse to be told when I can and cannot go to my plot.

If we have a barbie in the summer, it can be after 10pm when we leave. Or if we're sitting there watching the evening wildlife, time easily slips away.

The way it's being done is wrong and ther are people on there who have been told that they can have a spare key to the secondary locks, but others can't. It makes me puke

Thank you all for your replies,they have been very helpful.I will keep you all updated.If any one else has more ideas they would be most appreciated.

Morning Grock & Lizzie

It's coming up to ten years this month since I gave up the pleasures and frustrations of allotment gardening and moved to Wales, so perhaps I shouldn't enter this discussion

But these are my thoughts on the situation you describe:

Presumably you rent plots from Liverpool City Council; therefore your committee, even if acting as "agents" for the council cannot deprive some people of access to what they have paid for and I would hope the council steps in and sorts the matter out.

Unless your rules state clearly that access to plots is only available between 10am and 9 pm then the committee's actions in locking the site would probably be illegal - perhaps a rebate on the rent could be demanded by those excluded.

I can't suggest a way of "forcing" access before 10am, but, now the longest nights are here, those denied keys could perhaps stage a few mass sit-ins, dig-ins, barbecues etc until after dark. If they got locked in they could sue for wrongful imprisonment - or am I just getting too fanciful?

In any case this is a proposal I hope you can squash.

Fab idea Alan
very cool you gave up your plot to live in fab Wales,love the place.When i win the millions im gonna move there or may be i should just divorce my other half and marry a farmer
Your not a farmer are you?

The Grock in the Frock wrote:When i win the millions im gonna move there or may be i should just divorce my other half and marry a farmer
Your not a farmer are you?

'Fraid not Grocky - nor currently available

Just as small note for the person who remains unnamed from Lister drive Allotments
YES it is me (Lynn) and Liz who have been on this site asking for advise reg the locks,we are not ashamed to give our names unlike yourself,and if you have read the messages that the other members of this web site have posted,you will see how wrong it is to stop plot holders gaining access to their plots.

Well you are no good Alan !!!! Give us a shout when you are

Hello Grockie. What a dire situation! I was talking to our allotment secretary on Saturday about the situation on your site. He is considering a similar course of action on our site but ONLY with ALL plot holders approval and only one of our gates. The Allotments Officer has agreed to this.
A new plot holder had their poly tunnel stolen recently and the gate he is hoping to put an extra lock on, is the most vulnerable gate which larger vehicles can get in without anyone noticing. The other gate is in the street and several plot holders live there, so someone has always got their eyes and ears open for activity at night...no way can our gates be opened quietly.
Cheers.