Grow Your Own Magazine

On the allotment site where I have my plot, plotholders are not allowed to put up a shed. When attending a recent parish council meeting I asked why this was the case. I was told 'that this is how it has always been'.

I am hoping that just because 'that is how it has always been' doesn't mean that the rules can't be changed. I have had a word with several of the other plot holders and they have all expressed a wish to site a shed on their plots.

I admit it is probably more of 'a bloke thing' but surely, sheds and allotments go together. If you were to ask almost anyone what they think of when you mention allotments I'm sure a sizeable majority would say 'shed'.

I was wondering if any of you had allotments on sites with similar rules and what you think might be the best aproach to getting the rule changed.

We have no allotment association, just a guy who looks after collecting the rents and liases with the parish council. I have contacted him and he did seem sympathetic and would now like hints and tips about what you think should be my next step.

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It is the doom of man, that they forget.

We're not allowed "permanent erections" on our site, and whilst I quite like gardening and my allotment, I'm not sure I'd go that far!

Part of the reasons cited for this is the risk of burglary and vandalism.

I admit, a shed or greenhouse would be helpful, but we seem to get along quite well without. Some folk have storage boxes, and others have those plastic greenhouses (well anchored against the winds).

Haven't really helped you have I?

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 11th June

http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style2,HeyWayne.png

We are just planning to put a shed up on our plot - mainly so I have somewhere for a wee (there are no toilets on site!). Its ok for the guys, they stand discreetly by the boundary hedge and pass the time of day but its a little more difficult for us 'ladies'!

I suspect that those sites which don't allow sheds are concerned with the risk of vandalism or that some are unsightly...this could certainly be said about some of the sheds on our site, but I think it adds to the character of the place.

Perhaps you could suggest that, if sheds are allowed, they are kept to a certain size? Some sites I know have sheds provided on each plot - so they are all identical. Would that be an option if you could get funding? Or, failing that, what about a communal shed with lockers for each plot holder?

I couldnt be without my shed. The first thing the allotment manager told me was that I could put up a shed if I wanted to and its outside my plot boundry like a few others near me. Not everyone on our site has a shed but most have. Bought mine brand new and paid to have it erected, OH had a new car so I had a shed !!!!

Ive just received my shed from forest products. A 6' x4' shed that we have to write a letter to the parish council for permission to erect. This is just red tape and they do restrict the sizes, but are ok on on this size. I have wrecked the back of my car taking tools etse every time i visit the lottie. With a shed i can cycle there and all my tools are at hand. Although we have had no vandals for some time, we have insurance for our homes, why not include the lottie items.

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good Diggin, Chuffa.

Thank you for your comments so far. I look forward to hearing what others have to say.

I just knew someone would mention 'permanent erections' and for some strange reason I thought it might be HeyWayne.

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It is the doom of man, that they forget.

Our parish council have recently changed the rules and have decided that we are allowed sheds. As there is no water available I was worried about how I would collect rainwater without a shed/guttering etc. Apparently before I arrived lots of people on the allotment, like you, wanted a shed for toilet/tools/water reasons so the council decided to alter the rules just in time for us new allotment holders to benefit.

Anyway, the upshot is that I am the first person to get a shed on our allotments, and it looks fabulous!!! I've been an allotment holder for a whole EIGHT days and had a shed after SIX! I got mine on our local freecycle so didn't even pay for it (other than sweat, backache and grunts, of course, oh and a box of eggs from our chooks which I gave to the kind lady who donated her shed!).

It sounds to me as though you have a good case to put to the parish council if the only reason they have is because it's always been that way. Best of luck! I LOVE my shed!

Hey, I don't like to disappoint!

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 11th June

http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style2,HeyWayne.png

I'm currently begging freecycle for a shed - the allotment's 20 minutes walk away, I have no car, so I'm really limited in what I can take up there. There's also the peeing thing - compost bin's to tall to squat over

As for sheds being a "bloke thing" - pish and tosh! Half the reason I got a lottie was because it was an excuse to get a shed, and last time I checked I was most definitely not a bloke. :P

The last bastions of male independance were the ability to make stew and have a shed. Now it seems, we are loosing these. Is nothing sacred.

As for the problem at hand, how about a petition from the plot holders

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If it ain't broke, don't fix it and if you ain't going to eat it, don't kill it

Surely you can argue for a shed on environmental grounds:

• it will reduce car journeys, because you wouldn't need to drive your tools up every time; so you could cycle instead
• you would use less water, because you could have guttering off your roof, and collect rainwater in butts
• you would also get more work done, because you could shelter from showers, instead of going home when it rains (& driving back again when it stops)

If the council is worried about unsightliness, they could specify sheds have to be of a specific size and type, and possibly colour (blue? )

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~ What do I think of Western civilisation? I think it would be a very good idea ~ Gandhi

Did you have a contract when you got your allotment that told you what you could and couldn't do. I guess the councils possible objection would be insurance and possible claims by vandals due to personal injury, but you can get private insurance to cover the cost of your sheds contents and potential damage due to vandalism.

I think your parish council just needs to be shown how it would not incur costs for them, and how they could restrict the shed size, and fabric. While also ensuring that future sheds on the site are only permitted by means of agreement of the council. I think it's very helpful to have one, I hate getting my boot filthy, and I much prefer to walk there (difficult when your carrying a spade, fork, watering can, and hoe)

Good luck.

Nothing at all! We can even pee on bonfires now!

Thanks every one. I will definitely try the 'environmental' and 'ladies privacy' angles.

However, as is so often the case, when I asked the guy who collects our rent if anyone else had contacted him regarding sheds he said no one else had spoken to him about them. All those plot holders that expressed a wish to site a shed on their allotment have gone quiet making it look as though I'm the only one making a noise.

I will have to try and galvanise them but don't want to be treading on anyones toes.

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It is the doom of man, that they forget.

Now I've seen it all. To coin a famous phrase, "I don't bl***y believe it"

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If it ain't broke, don't fix it and if you ain't going to eat it, don't kill it

Well, We don't allow sheds either. It is not that uncommon in villages. Whilst I originally thought this was silly I have grown quite used to it and since I took over on the parish council I have no desire to try and change things.

Although some of the above points may have validity in a town they may not wash with a parish council. You firstly have to understand that the PC have the views of all the community to balance, they aren't paid and largely want a quiet life.

You go home at night the neighbours must look on the site when your gone. I can't deny makeshift shanty-town sheds, polytunnels and miniature farms are unsightly to many (or certainly would be out of place on our picturesque site). Even if you wished to construct a super tasteful and expensive mini oak framed barn you will always be tarred by the above image. A council would not be able to grant permission on aesthetics by economics especially on allotments...'but he's got a shed.' would surely follow.

I also agree that locked sheds attract the curiosity to break in.. we have never had so much as a trowel pinched on our insecure site.. Also if the plot becomes unoccupied the shed may be abandoned. There is the problem of removal. Our PC make no profit from our site and certainly don't wish to spend anything.

I doubt the environmental issue would work in a village (in our case ninety percent of the tenants live five minutes away on foot) I actively discourage people bringing their vehicle down the grass entrance track... except if they obviously have a heavy load.

I doubt you could really claim that you need them for toilets in a village either.

We do however allow greenhouses. I think this might be you're best line of argument. However I shouldn't alienate the manager petitions and making his life difficult is less likely to bear fruit than persuading him of the benefits to the site or better still that he needs one!

They are allowed here because a previous allotment manager had one and thus a precedent was set. we now have four including mine... my predecessor built a base and abandoned one in the hedge. I spent quite some time removing the piles of broken glass, re-glazing and putting it up. It is now a very fine glasshouse and I have somewhere to store my stuff after six years...but to be fair the one person who had the original one allowed me to shelter there and i stored a couple of things in there...there were only 4 tenants back then we now have 17 plots.



Finally PC meeting are public meeting you have every right to ask the yourself.

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Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket. George Orwell
Paul

Not if you've got a woodburning stove and a kettle in it!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

I live in a tiny hamlet;26 houses, 1 pub, 1 farm. There are 6 allotments, all taken, all with a shed and greenhouses/polytunnels. We have no Parish Council. My lottie is in another hamlet 4 miles away;33 houses. There are 26 plots, all heve a shed and a greenhouse and/or a polytunnel. It is run by the Parish Council. The rules are, 60% of each plot must be cultivated in any given year and the plot must be no more than 25% covered structures.
I will never be able to understand why people make life difficult for themselves or go out of their way to make life difficult for others.
Allotments need a greenhouse and/or a polytunnel to start crops and a shed to store equipment and sit in while contemplating the plot. It's called tradition. We have lost so much 'Britishness' because it may offend those not native to British soil. Must we also loose the British allotment tradition because of a few beauracrats with a superiority complex?

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If it ain't broke, don't fix it and if you ain't going to eat it, don't kill it

Sadly we are not allowed a shed either.I do have a great beach hut however so that helps compensate Now if only I could shuffle it up the dual carrigway from Littlehampton........and sneak it in.

We're not allowed permenant erections either - to use HW's lovely term!! The Council only allow 11 month tenancies as well, because our site is earmarked for a road some dim and distant time in the future and they want to be able to get everyone off the site when funding for the road is available.

2 sheds were erected last year, as well as a beehive. For some reason, the bees got very angry and stung quite a few people - leading to a ban on all animals on site (as in no chickens or bees etc - I don't think there is an actual ban on bringing your dog with you). There was also a written clause in the old agreement about sheds but the 2 were ignored last year. However, this year the LA have insisted that they be removed - one bloke has taken his down and just made a little open-fronted shelter to sit in, whereas the other guy is still inisisting on keeping his. We just bring our tools every time, although I might try to get an old set to leave in a hidey hole up there (my gran doesn't use hers anymore and I might get the fork and spade she has in her garage).