AIBU to raise this with allotment manager?

[Cheesehound]

I've got an allotment on a normally quiet, friendly site and have never complained about anyone before.

A neighbouring tenant has previously told me he wants to set up a community garden/kitchen project involving disabled people. It sounds well intentioned, but last weekend there were around 7-10 people working on his plot all morning, with multiple cars and a van arriving.

The van and one car were left on the avenue opposite the plot. We can drive onto site to unload, but vehicles are then supposed to be moved to one of the designated car parks. The avenue was blocked as a result.

Music was also being played loudly enough to be heard across a large part of the site. I actually ended up leaving my own plot earlier than planned because of the noise.

What concerned me most was that it felt less like people helping out on an allotment and more like an organised community project being run from the site. I overheard the tenant giving out the gate code over the phone, and later saw him leave while several other people stayed behind working on the plot.

I did think about asking for the music to be turned down, but I was there on my own and there were around ten people on the plot, so I didn't feel particularly comfortable approaching a large group of strangers.

I have absolutely no problem with community projects or with people helping on allotments. My concern is whether allotments are intended to be used in this way, whether non-tenants should have gate access, and whether people who aren't tenants should be on site after the tenant has left the site.

AIBU to raise it confidentially with the allotment manager, or should I mind my own business? 🤔

I have an allotment, and also an allotment agreement that tells me what I can and can't do. I would dig that out (no pun intended) and check which 'rules' the other allotment holder has broken. Giving out gate access codes should definitely be a big no no, as should playing loud music.

Not nice to be driven away from your bit of peace. You're right to want people to stick to the mutually beneficial code of conduct.

I wouldn't like this either but IMO it's always better to try and rectify things yourself first. The allotment manager wasn't there and you were, so of course you should have asked them to move the van and turn the music down. If they are rude to you or they don't do it, then you get the manager involved.

I am our Allotment site representative.

Our rules wouldn't allow this at all. You need to read your site regulations to know if they are breaking the rules or not.

Is your site privately owned or council-owned? Check your bylaws - my old allotment site wasn’t allowed to give plots to groups, just individuals. When this happened to us the council stepped in and sent eviction warning letters.

Mm, nice idea, bad application.

I'd speak to the person first and point out that you were prevented from accessing the site with your own vehicle, and the rule breaks. Suggest 2 or 3 people per visit, no music, vehicle removed, brought back to collect anyone with limited mobility.

If they aren't amenable to sensible suggestions THEN complain to the appropriate person. That way you've offered ways in which it could/would work, you're not going to be painted as 'so and so just hates the disabled'... more likely to get results!

@WiddlinDiddlinI definitely do not hate the disabled. I just want to make that clear! As far as I could see, and I know there are hidden disabilities, everyone was actively working on the site. My concern about people with disabilities using the site is for their safety - the ground is uneven, the allotment is far from assistance, and I’m no expert but I think you have to have the right insurance for sites where people with vulnerabilities are being supported.

On my site only the Plot Holders and up to 3 named helpers can work a plot - as long as the plot holder is there.

No-one is allowed to bring random chums in for any reason. Certainly no partying!!

Insurance will be the issue here. He won't be insured for group activities.

i have an allotment and there are two or three community plots on our site. Two are near the entrance/car park as one is specifically aimed at those with physical disabilities including limited mobility, and enables easier access. One is near my allotment. All are very much official.

I would check your allotment agreement as others have said and then actually I would check in with the site rep or - if you know the other person well enough, ask them if they have contacted the site rep to let them know of the plans and get agreement in place. If you do decide to go direct I would start , from the perspective of checking what the parameters and expectations are, and whether there is anything specific in place to enable community groups to work alongside solo plot holders effectively. I would certainly expect them to abide by the same rules as any other site holder (eg appropriate vehicle use; keeping noise down; not giving out codes).

I can see someof that could be harder for a community group and would have thought it’s down to the site manager to work through this with the plot holders effectively and how to manage it.

fwiw, the plot near us that is technically a community plot very quickly got to a point where only 3 people ever came often at differ t times and I think it is likely now to go back to being a standard plot - without lots of formal processes in place it’s tough to manage a community plot in such a way that works for lots of people imo, so it may well quietly go away as a problem (esp when the weather gets worse!)

(But just to stress the differnce in sites - I’ve been on two sites and one allowed dogs and one didn’t; one allows visitors and BBQs and one didn’t; one had VERY strict rules about sheds; hard structures and trees and one had none; one enforced strict rules on the amount of the plot given to veg and the other allowed a fully flower allotment; one allowed needs and one didn’t etc etc etc. so defo worth checking your agreement!

Did any of the people there actually appear to have any disabilities? I would just report to the allotment manager rather than approaching directly. Will they know it's you?

You are not wrong on any of these points. Definitely talk to your site committee, if you have one. People also go to their allotments for peace and quiet and having that number of people on one plot would definitely be disruptive.

No - by the looks of it I think they’re at the stage of getting the plot ready to accommodate people to garden and cook food on site. I spoke briefly to the tenant a few weeks ago who told me of their plans and back then I thought to myself that there would likely be some issues ahead.

Do you have a site rep?

But mostly a lot of people and noise annoy you?
I would complain anyway.