Allotments 5 - Land for Allotments

Certain local authorities are duty-bound to provide allotments. In Kent in the recent past both Hextable Parish Council and Swanley Town Council have made allotments in parks by fencing small areas and dividing the land for baulks. Cumbria County Council (CCC) is the latest to be brought to my attention. CCC has leased land to Duddon Parish Council. It is let at a peppercorn for three years. If the allotments become established within that time the land will be conveyed to the parish council for a nominal sum.

 What are the principal features of an allotment scheme? I suggest the following:

Management:

• a quality management organisation - being the owner or headlessee of the land, eg the council,or a representative society (committee) of the allotmenteers;
• a constitution of any such society or committee;
• a clear set of management policies, covering such matters as capital improvements; insurances, notices to quit, rents, repairs;

Improvements to the Land

• a good fence;
• access point(s) which are restricted  to the allotmenteers and, if appropriate, the owner's management representatives, eg by padlock with digital access (rather than a key); 
• piped water laid on to the site;
• a shed on each allotment.

Equipment

• a water butt fitted to the shed guttering (to reduce piped water consumption);
• mower and strimmer to maintain the baulks.