Annual plot inspections have begun – the method.

A Place To Grow Your Own

This yearly routine’s now under way, as foretold in the last few meetings Minutes, and as mandated under the PPAA’s Local Management Agreement with the Council.

The full process is described in detail here, but readers would perhaps like a few words about just how the people involved go about this.

Basically, it’s done – as far as possible – blind. That is, the site’s divided up into blocks, and Committee members are allocated plots as far away from their own as possible. This is to avoid, or to reduce the likelihood of any possible awkwardness with neighbours, and so on. This approach was decided on some years ago under previous Committees.

(The Council’s nominated Site Rep has delegated her share of the work to other Committee members, owing to the sheer size of the PPA site, and the corresponding burden of all the other work involved with it.)

The great majority of plots – as is almost always the case – aren’t expected to give any reason for concern at all, but where one appears badly neglected or deserted, dated photographs will be taken, and the plot holder contacted to ask if there were any difficulty of which PPAA Committee and the Council should be aware, so that where appropriate (e.g. because of a period of illness) allowances can be made or help offered (e.g. by passing on a request for assistance to those who offer it.)

The terms of tenancy apply to all plot holders equally, so if there should be a temporary difficulty which stops a tenant from maintaining their plot, then there needs to be some kind of workaround while the problem lasts – if it’s going to be anything other than for a short while.

The central purpose of the exercise is to support the full productive use of the site, and also to identify unwanted plots, so that these can be offered to people on the waiting list – who are keen to get gardening.

(Any questions will gladly be answered, either in the comments below, or, for anyone who wants to enquire privately, by email.)

PPA Website Team

3 thoughts on “Annual plot inspections have begun – the method.”

  1. Hi PPA.
    I have noticed there are a lot of plots on Riverside requiring serious attendance.
    If the tenant is unwell or simply unaware of work required for a plot when they first take it on you can’t be sure.
    Could something be set up so people from outside the allotments could help those unable but wanting to keep their environment space.
    Frank Berry

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    1. Good thinking Frank – or perhaps people on the waiting list could be offered a plot share first?

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      1. The new Tenancy Agreement that we’ll all be signing in a year or so’s time is going to be published soon – mid-May I think – as part of the Consultation.

        You’ll see that the issue of plots becoming neglected because unsuitable tenants take them on is covered quite comprehensively by a new approach.

        Incidentally, Frank, if you want to keep Jane on board then don’t let her catch you strimming that bank 😉…

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