America Lane facilities

Hi Mick

Thanks for your questions and I have taken the liberty of moving it to a separate thread for this reply and any follow-ups.

Yes, we have one flushing toilet on the site,in a purpose built brick structure within the fence but close to the front gates. The Council take responsibility for any plumbing issues and plot-holders, notably two of the ladies on the site, ensure that it is stocked with loo paper and that the hand-basin is kept reasonably clean.

You will probably have seen the numerous posts about the skip supplied last autumn, following many discussions in recent years at annual allotment holder meetings. Yes it was supplied by the council, who did the same service for the Oathall allotments.

HELLO MICK ,
             HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS AND ALL AT VALE ROAD.
ALSO TO ANYBODY WHO HAS A PLOT ON ANY SITE,ANYWHERE.
ALTHOUGH BEING A CHELSEA FAN THE NEW YEAR IS NOT SO GOOD, FOOTBALL WISE AS I WOULD WISH.
  AS TO YOUR QUESTION REGARDING A TOILET.
AMERICA LANE HAS A TOILET BECAUSE THE SITE WAS ORIGINALLY A RUBBISH TIP IN THE DAYS OF THE
OLD CUCKFIELD RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL AND A TOILET HAD TO BE PROVIDED FOR THE WORKERS ON
THE TIP.
IT USED TO BE INSIDE A LARGE HUT UNTIL THE STORMS OF THE EARLY NINETIES BLEW THE HUT DOWN   
AND LEFT THE TOILET STANDING ALL ALONE AND UNCARED FOR .
         THE LATE COUNCILLOR PADDY HENDRY PRESSED THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME TO KEEP IT FOR THE
ALLOTMENT HOLDERS.
    AS FOR COST OF A NEW ONE FOR YOUR SITE HAVE YOU TRIED THE TOWN COUNCIL?
IF THEY WONT OBLIGE WITH ANY HELP OR MONEY THERE IS ANOTHER ROUTE.
IN 1964 THE THORPE REPORT ON ALLOTMENTS RECOMMENDED THAT ALLOTMENT SITES BECOME A
PLACE OF RECREATION AND LEISURE.
WHILE THAT REPORT WAS NEVER PASSED BY PARLIAMENT THE 1997 SELECT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED
THE SAME .
  WHAT HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH TOILETS ON ALLOTMENT SITES?
SIMPLE .
PLACES OF LEISURE AND RECREATION HAVE TO HAVE TOILETS PROVIDED.
   YOU WILL ALSO FIND THAT TONY BLAIR HAD HUGE CHUNKS OF THAT REPORT PUT IN EUROPEAN ACTS.
YOU WILL FIND THAT COUNCILS ARE NOW SUBJECTED IN MANY INSTANCES TO PROVIDING THE SAME
RIGHTS TO ALLOTMENT TENANTS AS ANY LANDLORD OF PROPERTY DOES.
 ALTHOUGH ALL THE ABOVE DEPENDS WHETHER THE LOCAL AUTHORITY  IS YOUR LANDLORD OR NOT                                                                                                 HOPE THAT IS OF SOME HELP.

                                                                            

hello mick
further to what i said
while any council would in all probability have to supply a toilet.
like any landlord of property,they would have the right to recover that cost
through higher rent.
strictly speaking they are only charging you rent for the use of the land, so with
any additions to that property they would have the right to charge you extra
for it.
I know this council has a lot of approachable councillors so why not get your
committee to approach your local councillors,rather than the town hall, and see if
they can do anything.
Also i think there is some sort of slush fund that most councils have, whereby they
can donate certain amounts to certain bodies if they think it is justified.
Can some of the work be done by plot holders?
I know that councils on the whole are more willing to help if people are willing to
pitch in also.
In the case of america lane the toilet was already there so was included when the
rents were first set.