Allotments No 16 - Rents No2 Waiting Lists

The longest estimated wait for an allotment that I have heard of is 42 years! If  Iwas in that position a look at the English Mortality Tables (Male) would not be worth the bother let alone the analysis of the men and women ahead of me in the queue - my snufferability is much shorter unless I can afford the new wonder drug..?

Other problems with waiting lists do not need writing about in detail merely recording. Theoretically they include:

• family succession: - if an allotmenteer dies or retires injured, the rules sometimes allow a member of the family to take on the plot;
• nepotism: - here the rules may allow a plot-holder's son or daughter etc to become a vacated plot occupier (as in schools);
• plot transfer or multi-plot holdings - the rules permit other allotmenteers transfer to a vacated plot or take a second or third plot (This is appropriate where there is no waiting list - plots are kept tidy etc.);
• 'old boys and girls' network: - here the rules allow a queue member to jump the queue because he/she knows an allotment association's committee member or two.

Most organisations have formal rules and an informal culture. Here the term "rules" is used like elastic. Some practices may be reasonable and some will certainly not be illegal; but some may not reflect traditional English fairness - all need to be transparent.