Rules
- Details
- Published: Saturday, 09 May 2020 16:15
Allotment rules and tenant agreement page. Please read the terms and conditions and return a signed copy to the secretary.
TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR ALLOTMENT HOLDERS
1. The Association shall be known as the Park Ward Allotments Association.
2. The object of the Association shall be to rent land for the purpose of re-letting the same to members, to be cultivated as allotments
3. The business of the Association shall be conducted by a Committee (to include the Chair Secretary, and Treasurer), to be elected annually, five to form a quorum. Any vacancy arising during the year to be filled by the Committee. The Secretary shall summon a meeting of the Committee forthwith on receipt of a request signed by any three members of the Committee. The representatives of Park Ward in the Council shall be ex-officio members of the Association.
4. The annual rent for each plot of standard size 300 square yards to be £40; larger and smaller plots in proportion. A deposit of £50 shall be required per plot, returnable if the plot is left in good order when the tenancy terminates.
5. The yearly rent shall be due and payable on the last day in March and in the event of such rent remaining unpaid by this deadline in any year, without any sufficient reason being given, it shall be lawful for the Committee to expel the tenant and to recover from him or her the rent due in respect thereof, either by legal proceedings or otherwise.
6. In the event of any tenant neglecting to cultivate their plot properly, the Committee shall have power to terminate the tenancy by giving one month’s notice. (See cultivation rules, below.)
7. Unauthorised transfer of plots by tenants will not be recognised. Allotments vacated by the holders will be re-let by the Secretary.
8. The keeping of pigs and poultry on the allotments is prohibited, unless authorised by the Committee, and subject to the sanction of Lancaster City Council.
9. Each tenant shall agree to observe the rules of the Association
10. Complaints made by members shall be submitted to the Committee, whose decision shall be final.
11. If a tenant be found guilty of misdemeanour, the Committee shall have power to terminate the tenancy forthwith.
12. Except as otherwise provided by these Rules, no tenant shall receive less than one month’s notice to terminate the tenancy of any plot; but any tenant may vacate their plot by giving to the Secretary not less than one month’s notice in writing, expiring on the 14th day of February in any year. Failure to carry out this rule will render the tenant liable for a further year’s rent.
13. An Annual General Meeting shall be held, once a year, at which meeting the accounts of the year shall be submitted, a report made on the work of the year, and the officers and committees for the ensuing year appointed. All officers shall hold office until their successors are appointed.
14. A General Meeting of members shall be held within fourteen days from the date of receipt by the Secretary of a requisition signed by five members.
15. A notice posted for seven days at the entrances to the allotments, or at such other place or places agreed to by the Committee, shall be considered sufficient notice to the members of the forthcoming meeting.
16. No alteration of, or addition to, any rule shall be made, except at a General Meeting. Notice of any proposed alteration or addition must be given to the Secretary in writing at least fourteen days prior to the date of such meeting.
Cultivation Rules: From the start date of your tenancy agreement you have a 3-month period in which enforcement for non-cultivation is not applicable. After that time you will receive a 14-day notice to remedy if at least 75% of your plot is not in a good level of cultivation (see Additional Rules for definition of cultivation).
If you fail to improve the condition of your plot, receive 3 notices to remedy letters within 3 years, or fail to pay your rent by the deadline, you will be issued with a notice to quit. If you do rectify matters by the end of one month, the notice will be cancelled.
Additional Rules
1.Cultivation and Weed Control
The cultivated area is defined as the area that is cultivated for crop or flower production. Cultivation requires the tenant to regularly dig or mulch, or prune and weed 75% of the plot. Compost bins, glass houses, water butts, poly-tunnels and fruit cages are also included within the cultivated area, as are ornamental flower crops.
Allotments must be kept clean and maintained in a good state of cultivation (minimum 75%) and fertility throughout the growing season
An area that is annually cleared of weeds yet remains un-cropped during any one year will be considered as non-cultivated. The whole plot, including any uncultivated / leisure areas, must be kept tidy, safe and free from flowering weeds.
2.Trees and Invasive Plants
All trees, bushes and hedging on rented or vacant plots over the absolute height of 2 metres or 6 feet are in breach of allotment rules. Where established fruit trees are over 2m tall, and not impinging on other plots or causing any nuisance, the Committee will allow them to stay’.
Tenants must not cut or prune trees outside of their own allotment or plant any trees which will exceed an absolute height of 2 metres or 6 feet and/or to allow self-seeded trees to grow on their allotment.
Fruit trees are permitted but will normally be included within the 25% of non-cultivated area.
Tenants who have fruit trees that have grown above 2 metres will be served a notice instructing them to prune trees to an acceptable height or the Association reserves the right to prune back trees and charge the cost to the tenant.
All fruit trees must be selected to grow to around 2 metres. Trees should be grown on dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks and pruned so as not to exceed 2 metres in height.
Invasive plants such as bamboo, all types of willow and non-fruiting trees (including Christmas trees) are not permitted. The Association reserves the right to remove the trees or plants and charge the cost to the tenant.
3.Hedges and Ponds
Tenants are responsible for maintaining any hedge on or abutting their plot. They should be kept to a height no greater than 1.5 metres.
Hedges should not be cut back during the bird nesting season (1st March – 1st Sept.).
The maximum surface area for a pond is 1.5 sq. metres, and will be no deeper than 50cms. The pond area will be included as part of the non-cultivated area and should be temporary (i.e. not constructed out of concrete or hard landscape material).
4.Paths & Haulage Ways
Shared paths between two allotments must be maintained, kept cut and clear of obstruction at all times.
Tenants must ensure that all haulage ways have free access for other users. Haulage ways must not be obstructed by vehicles (apart from loading and unloading).
5.Structures and Fences
Sheds shall be included within the 25% area allowed for non-cultivation. Poly tunnels, glasshouses and fruit cages will be included within the cultivated area.
Any structure on the allotment must be temporary and maintained in safe order.
Tenants may put up one shed and no more than 2 greenhouses (including poly-tunnels) on their plot. Permission from the Association is required for poly-tunnels with size and layout agreed.
The maximum size of shed, greenhouse or polytunnel is 3 metres x 2 metres and 2.13 metres in height.
Any structure shall not be made from hazardous materials (e.g. asbestos) must be adequately secured to the ground, kept within the boundary of the allotment and not constructed over underground utilities (e.g. water supply pipes).
Fences adjacent to neighbours’ plots should not exceed 1 metre in height.
6.Water and Bonfires
Sprinklers are prohibited. Hose pipes may be used to water directly if hand held or to fill water butts, provided this does not prevent other tenants having access to water supplies.
Mains water will be available from April 1st to October 1st, subject to season restrictions and hosepipe bans.
Any form of unattended mains connected irrigation is forbidden.
All standpipes and water butts beneath standpipes will be considered as a common resource to be shared with surrounding tenants.
Bonfires are permitted for the burning of un-treated or un-painted woody waste only. The burning of plastics, tyres, carpets, laminated wood etc. is strictly prohibited. These materials should be removed from the site.
As smoke from a bonfire could cause nuisance to neighbours or the public, tenants must not light a fire within 50 ft (15.24 metres) of a highway, or during school hours.
Fires must be attended at all times until the material has burnt and the fire extinguished. Fires must be kept to a manageable size.
7.Waste Materials & Pollutants
Waste material from external sources may not be deposited on any part of the allotment site – i.e. fly tipping rubbish is prohibited.
Carpets must not be brought onto the allotment site.
The creation of concrete pad footings for sheds or greenhouses, or concrete pads for paving, or any solid brick and cement structure is prohibited.
Non-diseased vegetative matter should be composted and used on the tenant’s allotment. Diseased plants and perennial weeds can be burned in accordance with rules on bonfires.
Weedkiller should not be used
If a tenant leaves excessive materials on their plot, the Association has the right to clear such materials and reclaim costs from the tenant.
8.Dogs
Dogs on the allotment site must be kept on a short lead or otherwise restrained, e.g. by a fence
Tenants will ensure their dogs do not persistently bark or harass allotment tenants.
The burial of any pets or animals on any allotment is forbidden.
9.Site Safety, Security & Duty of Care
Tenants have a duty of care to others on the allotment site. This includes visitors, other tenants, themselves and wildlife
10.Unauthorized Persons and Visitors
Only the tenant, or person authorized/accompanied by the tenant, is allowed on the site.
The tenant is responsible for the behaviour of pets, children and adult visitors to the site.
Large parties of 12 or more people (except allotment events) and the playing of amplified music are forbidden.
11.Vehicles, Tents and Caravans
Motor vehicles may not be parked overnight or left on the allotment. Caravans and live-in vehicles are not permitted on the allotment site.
Tents and camping are not allowed.
12.Disputes and Harassment
No tenant may cause another tenant harassment, alarm or distress. Any use of violence, threats of violence or damage to another’s property will be grounds for immediate termination of the tenancy.
Unresolved disputes between tenants should be referred to the Association to investigate. The Association reserves the right to end the tenancy of both parties.
13.Plot numbering, Notices and Change of Address
Tenants must post their allotment number so as to be visible form the main path .
Responsibility for referring to the notice boards regularly lies with the tenant.
Tenants must inform the Association, in writing, of changes of address.
Signed………………………………………………………..(Tenant)
Date…………………….
Please print first name & surname……………………………………………………
Address……………………………………………....Post Code……………………
Email.………………………………………………...Tel or Mob……………………
Signed……………………………………………… (on behalf of the Committee)
Date………………….
Please print first name & surname……………………………………………………….