Allotment inspections

The Council will formally inspect allotments during the main growing season and on an ad hoc basis throughout the year. We do this to benefit current tenants, people on the waiting list, the surrounding community and the local environment.

What we expect to find:

• all plots (including any greenhouses or polytunnels) to be fully worked and utilised for the ‘growing of produce to feed your household’
• the plot is clean, tidy and free from perennial and annual weeds or rubbish
• cultivation to cover 75% of the allotment plot within 12 months of starting the tenancy
• paths are neatly maintained, grass cut, free of weeds/rubbish and obstructions
• hedges and fences are cut and well maintained
• sheds and greenhouses are in good condition
• all the area available in greenhouses or polytunnels is being used
• the crops grown are clean, healthy and free from pest and disease.

As per allotment agreement, it is the plot holders responsibility to cleanse, repair and maintain all ditches, fences, gates and paths forming part of or adjoining the plot excluding the boundary fences of the Allotment Gardens.

We inspect our sites regularly to ensure that all plots are being fully worked and we will take appropriate action if plot holders are not working their plot in keeping with their tenancy agreement.

If you have a genuine reason why you can’t work your plot you must contact us as soon as possible to explain the circumstances.

Autumn 2024 Inspections

Carrying out an inspection often requires us to suspend the majority of other day to day operational activities such as letting out vacant plots. At present, the team are undertaking several priority projects to bring a number of currently unusable allotment plots back into use, letting out vacant plots and undertaking a full review of the current allotments policy. Following a review of our priorities, we’ve made the decision not to undertake the Autumn 2024 allotment inspection so we can focus on this work and make more plots available to the citizens of the district.

The next full allotment inspection will take place in Spring 2025, however, we will undertake ad hoc site inspections where we become aware of any issues.

In Spring 2025 we expect to find all plots meet the standards detailed above. Should your plot not meet the standards required at the time of the next inspection, you could be at risk of forfeiting your tenancy.