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Post by wilbarra on Oct 9, 2015 15:41:13 GMT
WITH OUR PRIME MINISTER INTENDING TO GIVE THE BUILDING INDUSTRY CARTE BLANCH TO BUILD ANYWHERE THEY LIKE IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT TENANTS SHOULD INSIST THAT THE COUNCIL DO THE JOB THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO AS LAID DOWN IN THE ALLOTMENT ACT AND MAKE REGULAR MONTHLY CHECKS ON ALLOTMENT SITES. WHILE WE HAVE A TOWN COUNCIL WHO ARE ON THE WHOLE, COMMITED TO ALLOTMENTS THIS CAN CHANGE AND NOTHING IS MORE LIKELY TO LOSE A COMMUNITY THEIR ALLOTMENTS IS A LOT OF PLOTS NOT BEING WORKED. WHAT A LOT OF COUNCILLORS DO NOT REALIZE IS THAT THEY ARE ULTIMATLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE OF THE PLOTS AND CAN IN FACT BE TAKEN TO COURT AND FINED IF FOUND GUILTY OF NOT KEEPING THE PLOTS UP TO A REASONABLE STANDARD. ANY RATE PAYER AND I AM ONE, WOULD NOT BE TOO HAPPY ABOUT THAT. WHY THERE IS THIS RELUCTANCE TO ACT IS BEYOND ME. NO ONE WANTS TO SEE A STRICT REGIME WHERE EVERY THING IS SPICK AND SPAN AND NO ONE REALLY ENJOYING IT FOR THE SHEER PLEASURE OF BEING ON THE SITE. THAT IS NOT WHAT ALLOTMENTS ARE ALL ABOUT. BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT ONE TWO PEOPLE ARE GETTING AWAY WITH ALLOTMENT MURDER. LETS HAVE MORE EMPHASIS ON HELPING THE PEOPLE THAT TRY AND MUCH LESS ON GOING OUT OF THE WAY TO HELPING THE ONES DONT.
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Post by Stuart@AmericaLane on Oct 12, 2015 10:12:29 GMT
So a couple of similar posts here from Murray and Wilbarra on the topic of allotment care. I'll stick my thoughts on both threads here. Renting an allotment is a responsibility. We have a responsibility to the other plot holders to keep our own plots in good shape both to prevent the spread of disease and weeds that will inevitably spread if given the chance but also ascetically allotment sites are just nicer places to be when they look neat and tidy. As Wilbarra says we want to be relaxed and not feel under pressure every time a weed pokes its head up but each plot holder should take the responsibility to keep the general state of their plot maintained. There is also a responsibility to make good use of the plot as there are not enough plots to go around for all the people who would like one. It is selfish to keep hold of a plot and not use it when somebody else is being denied the opportunity.
I think we are doing fairly well in HH. The council do seem committed to providing allotments. Lets face it some councils couldn't sell them off fast enough so we are doing well in that respect. And I think the recent activities such as this forum, the notice board, the skip, all show an intent to run an active allotment community. Also I think we do pretty well on AL as most plots are kept in good shape. And they are fairly secure so we don't get fly tipping and those sorts of issues. But of course there are one or two that don't appear to have been worked for months. There are many reasons why plots don't get worked as frequently as they should so each case has to be dealt with individually. I was a classic example of the newbie who just didn't realise the amount of work required to keep things under control. So my plot in the first year or so was not up to scratch. But fortunately I was given a few chances and I am so glad I was because my plot has become very important to me now. I would hate to be without it. So a little gentle education for the newbies can help. Then there are established holders for reasons beyond their control can't work on the plot even if they wanted to. I'd be more than happy to step in and help maintain a neighbours plot if they are ill for example until they get back on their feet. So building up a good community spirit between the plot holders is important. However I do agree that there will be times where plots need to be reclaimed as the holders just don't work them sufficiently. And I therefore agree with Willbarra that the process for doing that needs to be enforced consistently and fairly. And the only way to do that is through regular and well documented inspections.
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Post by wilbarra on Oct 13, 2015 8:56:15 GMT
AT THE ENVIRONMENT MEETING LAST NIGHT,IT WAS DECIDED TO RESUME THE ALLOTMENT INSPECTIONS. THESE WILL NOW BE DONE BY COUNCILLORS,LETS HOPE THEIR JUDGEMENT WILL NOT BE OVERRULED,AS HAS HAPPENED TOO MANY TIMES IN THE PAST. THIS PRESENT TOWN COUNCIL IS PROBABLY THE BEST IN THE AREA AS REGARDS THEIR ATTITUDE TO ALLOTMENT ISSUES AND THE TOWN CLERK IS TO BE PRAISED FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO PLOT HOLDERS. SO MUCH DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS REGIME. WE ALL AGREE THAT WE DONT WANT A REGIME WHICH WILL PUT NEWCOMERS OFF FROM TAKING A PLOT BUT ON THE OTHER HAND A THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE KEPT AS TO WHETHER A PERSON IS TRYING OR WHETHER A PERSON JUST CANT BE BOTHERED. IT IS NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THEIR ALLOTMENTS IMMACULATE THAT THE ALLOTMENT SCENE IS ALL ABOUT. FOR INSTANCE, IT IS ABOUT THE PLOT HOLDER WHO LAST WEEK,AFTER THREE OR FOUR YEARS OF TRYING TO GROW PRODUCE,HAD A SURPLUS AND GOT GREAT PLEASURE OF GIVING SOME OF THAT PRODUCE AWAY TO OTHER PLOTHOLDERS. IT IS ABOUT THE COUPLE WHO ONLY COME DOWN JUST ON A WEEKEND BECAUSE OF WORK COMMITMENTS AND THOUROUGHLY ENJOY BEING ON THE SITE. IT IS ALSO ABOUT THE PERSON WHO COMES DOWN THREE OR FOUR TIMES A WEEK MAINLY FOR THE CHAT. NONE OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD EVER WIN PRIZES FOR THE BEST KEPT PLOT BUT I WOULD DEFEND THEIR RIGHT TO AN ALLOTMENT FOR THEY ARE AS MUCH A PART AS TO WHAT ALLOTMENTS ARE ALL ABOUT AND ARE AS VALUABLE TO THE ALLOTMENT SCENE AS THE ONES THAT DO .
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Post by murrayc on Oct 14, 2015 14:19:03 GMT
Very good points and I thoroughly support them. I understood from that E & GP meeting that it was the intention that Town Hall officers and ground staff should be involved in the inspection process and I welcome this that they should have a deeper understanding of the issues that are raised on this forum. The more communication there is the fewer misunderstandings, and that will help to improve what is already a good working link between the allotment users and the Council.
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Post by wilbarra on Oct 14, 2015 16:43:46 GMT
SORRY MURRAY CANT AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS ONE. HAVING THE GROUND STAFF AND THE TOWN HALL STAFF ALL INVOLVED JUST WONT WORK . YOU NEED TWO PEOPLE ABOVE THE TOWN HALL STAFF AND ABOVE THE THE GROUND STAFF. NAMELY THE LANDLORDS. (i.e) THE COUNCILLORS. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU HAVE INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING THE LESS LIKELY ANY DECISIONS ARE MADE. REMEMBER THE OLD SAYING IF YOU DONT WANT TO GET ANYTHING DONE FORM A COMMITTEE. THIS PROPOSAL STRIKES ME AS VERY MUCH A COMMITTEE FORMING ACTION. MOST WELL RUN SITES GET BY WITH ONE AND AT THE MOST TWO PEOPLE DOING THESE INSPECTIONS. WHY CANT THIS COUNCIL? NOW I SUPPOSE I WONT GET ANY MORE OF MY FAVOURITE SWEETS FROM PAT!
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Post by murrayc on Oct 15, 2015 7:50:02 GMT
SORRY MURRAY CANT AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS ONE. HAVING THE GROUND STAFF AND THE TOWN HALL STAFF ALL INVOLVED JUST WONT WORK . YOU NEED TWO PEOPLE ABOVE THE TOWN HALL STAFF AND ABOVE THE THE GROUND STAFF. NAMELY THE LANDLORDS. (i.e) THE COUNCILLORS. THE MORE PEOPLE YOU HAVE INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING THE LESS LIKELY ANY DECISIONS ARE MADE. REMEMBER THE OLD SAYING IF YOU DONT WANT TO GET ANYTHING DONE FORM A COMMITTEE. THIS PROPOSAL STRIKES ME AS VERY MUCH A COMMITTEE FORMING ACTION. MOST WELL RUN SITES GET BY WITH ONE AND AT THE MOST TWO PEOPLE DOING THESE INSPECTIONS. WHY CANT THIS COUNCIL? NOW I SUPPOSE I WONT GET ANY MORE OF MY FAVOURITE SWEETS FROM PAT! Fear not, John, your sweeties are safe from any disagreement about means to an end! Seriously, I don't think that this represents a "committee" approach, which I agree would be fatal. I understood this to mean that the council official charged with communicating with allotment holders over poorly or negligently kept plots should have an understanding of why the councillors on their inspection had come to their decision so that any challenge could be met with knowledge of the facts. Once this system has been established then the official can be confident that the process is rigorous enough to deal with any further disputed decisions. I'm sure that the intention isn't to have gangs of people wandering around the plots in perpetuity: that would be to waste the time of our elected and paid officials!
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Post by wilbarra on Oct 16, 2015 10:03:43 GMT
STILL BEG TO DIFFER HAVING EVERYBODY INVOLVED ONLY JUST MEANS NOTHING GETS DONE AND EVERYBODY BLAMES EVERYBODY ELSE FOR NONE ACTION. SURELY IT IS BETTER TO HAVE TWO PEOPLE ABOVE THE ALLOTMENT HOLDERS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS TO MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS AND THEIR WORD BEING FINAL. SURELY IT IS BETTER TO HAVE THE LOCAL COUNCILLOR WHO IS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO HIS AREA PLUS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE WHO RUNS THE ALLOTMENT SITES DOING THE JOB OF INSPECTIONS THAN THE FAILED SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST. IF ANYBODY IS WORRIED THAT SOMEBODY WOULD LOSE THEIR PLOT THROUGH NOT BEING ABLE TO DO IT FOR REASONS OUT OF THEIR CONTROL EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE ONE IS GIVEN A WARNING THAT THEIR PLOT SHOULD BE CLEANED UP BEFORE THE NEXT INSPECTION IN THREE MONTHS TIME. I WOULD THINK THAT IS PLENTY OF TIME FOR GENUINE CASES TO BRING THEIR PROBLEMS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE AUTHERITIES SO THAT IT COULD BE RECORDED AND ACTION TAKEN TO HELP THE PERSON. ONE HAS ONLY TO SEE THE VERY FULL AND COMPRENSIVE REPORTS THAT STEPHEN HILLIER HAS BEEN PUTTING IN EVERY THREE MONTHS TO THE TOWN HALL AND THEY WILL KNOW THAT HE LEANS OVER BACKWARDS TO MAKE SURE GENUINE PLOT HOLDERS DO NOT FALL FOUL OF THE SYSTEM. JUST HAVING ONE OR TWO PEOPLE DOING THE INSPECTIONS WORKS IN MOST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE UNCLE TOM COBLEY AND ALL DOING IT IN AMERICA LANE. THAT SYSTEM FAILED US LETS NOT GO AND GIVE IT ANOTHER TRY. AFTER ALL WE WOULD NOT ASK CAMERON TO PHONE UP THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR AND SAY LOOK ,OLD GIRL YOU HAVE HAD TWO GOES AT WINNING A WAR AGAINST US AND LOST I THINK ITS ONLY FAIR YOU BE ALLOWED TO HAVE ANOTHER GO
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