Plot Holders' Information

The LLAA Management Committee

Management of the site

As we are private (not a Council run) allotment site, LLAA is self-governing and relies on its members to elect the Committee. Elections take place at our Annual General Meetings (AGM) to serve for two years. We have an AGM every year, usually in late November/early December, which all members are encouraged to attend.

Committee members meet monthly to discuss any LLAA business, and can be contacted either individually on their plots, by clicking the links below to email them or via letter to the Secretary which can be posted at the site hut. Written questions/requests should be directed to the Secretary and will be minuted and discussed at the next Committee meeting.

Current (as of December 2008) Committee members are:

A beautifully maintained plot

Maintenance of plots

All plots are formally inspected by the Committee member responsible for Plot Assessments and the Health & Safety member twice a year.

The rules state that plots must be kept in a state of ‘reasonable cultivation’. On this site, this is defined as at least 2/3rds of the plot under active cultivation. This is 2/3rds of the available earth space, so excludes permanent structures such as sheds, greenhouses and hard standing.

Orchard areas are counted as part of the actively cultivated area if they are fruit trees underplanted by grass which is kept in the manner of an ordinary lawn. Permanent lawn areas are not encouraged, but if pre-existing should not exceed 1/3 of the plot and be kept regularly mown.  Strimming of weedy unplanted areas does not count as active cultivation, and should be either dug over and cultivated or kept covered prior to cultivation to avoid weeds spreading to neighbouring plots.

Plots not achieving the required standard; members will be sent a letter informing them of this and given six months in order to remedy the matter. The plot will be reviewed again at the specified time period; if the plot still fails to reach the agreed standard the plotholder will be given notice to quit.

Keeping on top of things

We understand that there will be times in everyone’s life when maintaining a plot will not be the highest priority. If you find that you are unable to adequately keep on top of your plot for whatever reason, please do not let it gradually pass from being cultivated to uncultivated, and then on to being partly or completely overgrown.

Instead please inform any the Committee members of your situation as soon as practicable. Similarly, if you decide that you have to give up your plot, please inform the Secretary as soon as possible. There are many people on the waiting list for our site; please consider others by freeing up a plot that you are no longer cultivating.

Security

Security of the site is in all plotholders interests and is taken very seriously. Access to the site is for plotholders and their immediate family only for the purpose of working on your own plot. The two entrance gates must be kept locked after access, if the gate needs to be open for a delivery of manure etc. members are expected to wait by the gate and supervise the delivery, locking the gates afterwards.  The toilet block and door next to the main gates are kept locked, you will be given an access key that fits both (£5 from your deposit refunded upon return) when you take on a plot.

Practically all allotment sites in the land suffer from periodic vandalism or theft, and unfortunately LLAA is no exception. It is therefore sensible not to put temptation in anyone’s way, and all members should take reasonable steps to protect their property whilst on site. Keeping sheds in good repair and with adequate locks, removing one wheel from rotovators, keeping tools and other valuable equipment security marked (our Security Committee member can do this for you with SmartWater) and hidden from sight are all sensible precautions.

If you are unfortunate to suffer from either theft or vandalism it is important to report it to both the police and the Security Committee member. LLAA liaises with local Police as part of the Allotment Watch Scheme, and the Security Committee member can be contacted for consultation on any security issues you may have.