Today I met John. Irish fella responsible for wanting to form an association (voting forms form the council came through this week). Chatting with him by the car he informed me of why he wanted to form the association and take control of the allotment away from the council and into the hands of the plot holders. He informed me that allotment associations have access to various grants that can be used to purchase equipment such as rotavators that are not available to council run plots. He also vented his anger at the councils decision to raise the rents – doubling them from £52-£104 annually for a full size plot. He certainly conveyed a passion for his allotments.Most of what he said appeared above board and worthy of merit.
Being a new plot holder though I do still hold a slight reservation that associations may indeed be less than true when it comes to how the plots are managed and given out. Are they more likely to give a vacant plot to someone they know rather than to the person who has been on the waiting list longest. Because of this reservation maybe I will consider being an activ member of the association. Possibly taking on an administering roll so as to ensure the continued fairness in how the plots are offered. In order to obtain association status an 80% majority is required in the vote which I imagine will be obtained and the association will be formed.