Allotments

Allotments - so much for so little

Benefits from an allotment

• Save Money! - Reduce your food bills year after year
• Fresh food you can trust - Grow organically or not!
• Improve your health with fresh air and gentle exercise
• Various Sizes from small to large
• Grow flowers and herbs - Brighten your home, or create a nature 'wild' area

For more information on allotments, including prices and availability please call 01635 35486 or email us on towncouncil@newbury.gov.uk.

Allotment Rules: July 2010

NEWBURY TOWN COUNCIL ("the Council") owns allotment land at the Allotment sites:-

• Wash Common, Newbury
• West Mills, Newbury
• Dairy Farm, Newbury
• Southby's, Newbury
• One Tree Park, Newbury
• Rented: - Parsons, Newbury

Whereas the Council wants to let the Allotment land for use as Allotments Gardens (Allotments), access is restricted to tenants ("Tenants") and their guests, Council Officers, Members and any Council nominated persons:

1. The Council Will

1. Appoint a site Steward for each Allotment sire
2. Divide the Allotment land at each Allotment site into plots (allotments) measured in both square metres and poles
3. Prepare a plan showing the Allotments and give each Allotment a separate number
4. Keep a register of vacant Allotments
5. Keep a waiting list of people who would like an Allotment
6. Allocate the Allotments fairly in accordance with the preferences set out below
   1. To people resident within the Newbury Town Parish boundary
   2. To people who do not have another Allotment
   3. If more than one person with equal priority would like to take over an Allotment the issue will be determined by drawing lots:
7. Maintain and manage the common areas of the Allotment sites and vacant plots
8. Provide a key (for a £10 deposit) for each Tenant
9. Provide adequate water supplies and a minimum of one tap in each Allotment site for use with chemical containers to avoid contamination of the water troughs
10. Promote Allotments to parishioners and actively encourage their take-up
11. Hold regular meetings with site Stewards
12. Respond to concerns of Stewards and Tenants
13. Identify neglected Allotments and give notice to the Tenant to cultivate the Allotment within 30 days or relinquish their Tenancy, unless there are mitigating circumstances such as illness, which has been advised to the Council
14. Fix the Rent for each Allotment having regard for its area and review its Rent once a year.

The Tenant will:-

1. Keep their Allotment clean, in good condition and in a good state of cultivation and fertility
2. Not dump arisings or rubbish on other Allotments or within the Allotment site
3. Compost all green matter in a container on their own Allotment or in a designated area if identified by the site Steward for a particular Allotment site or alternatively remove it from the Allotment site
4. Remove non-biodegradable rubbish such as glass, metal, & plastics from the Allotment site
5. Not use any water sprinkler system at any time at the Allotment site
6. Be responsible for the actions of all their guests, both children and adults, that are brought into the Allotment site and shall ensure that they do not cause any nuisance or annoyance to any other person; All children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. (This is to both maintain the security of the Allotment site and to promote quiet enjoyment of the Allotment site by all Tenants, but will only be enforced in response to complaints)
7. Not cause any nuisance or annoyance to any other person, including other Tenants
8. Not obstruct any of the paths and keep the adjoining path to the left and rear of the Allotment in good repair and regularly cut
9. Not without written agreement from the Council, cut or prune any timber or other trees, or take, sell or carry away any mineral, sand or clay
10. Before erecting any structure seek and obtain written consent from the Council, which will not be unreasonably withheld. These structures can be a maximum of 8 x 6ft with a height of no more than 8ft and must not cause and obstruction of light issues. (Consideration will be given to the erection of more than 1 structure)
11. Not use barbed wire or any other material that would be likely to cause injury on any area of the Allotment or Allotment site including any fence adjoining any path set out by the Council
12. Not keep animals on the Allotment except for hens (excluding cockerels) and rabbits
    1. Request permission to keep hens/rabbits on the Allotment from the Council (permission would only be withheld if there were serious concerns for health and nuisance)
    2. Only install and use hanging basket type feeders for food and water for hens/rabbits, to reduce the amount of food spread on the ground.
    3. Only erect raised hen/rabbit houses, not ground level type structures
    4. Ensure an area of at least 1/2 metre around the hen/rabbit run is clear of all vegetation
13. Not to keep hens/rabbits in such a way as to cause a nuisance or to be prejudicial to their welfare or a risk to health
14. Keep all dogs on a lead (exceptions will be made for guide dogs, hearing dogs and dogs for the disabled) within the Allotment site and when tethered the dog(s) are to be within the boundary of their owner's Allotment and all faeces must be cleaned away to off the Allotment site
15. Leave access clearance (a minimum of 1 metre) around the internal perimeter of an Allotment site hedge line to allow the Council to maintain the hedge and adjacent ditches
16. Not plant any trees without written consent from the Council (which will not be unreasonably withheld) to ensure that only miniature fruit trees and bushes may be planted; and keep all trees to a maximum height of 5ft (1.53m)
17. Not use any carpet or underlay on the Allotment. Black weed suppressant material may be used
18. Inform the site Steward in the first instance of any problem and, if still not resolved after a reasonable period of time, inform the Council
19. Cultivate their Allotment, where possible, with regard to wildlife, e.g.:
    1. Pest Control – choose disease resistant varieties, avoid chemicals, and slug pellets that will harm wildlife.
    2. Weed Control – pull by hand and use mulch in preference to weed killers.
    3. Soil Conditioner – the use of peat is destroying peat bogs and leading to the extinction of rare plant and animal species. Use organic compost where possible.
20. Not start any bonfires before 6pm or dusk (whichever is earlier), not leave bonfires unattended and be aware of wind direction to avoid smoke being blown towards local properties
21. Keep gates locked, at all times. This is for the safety of all Tenants and to ensure that the Allotment site is kept secure
22. Abide by the terms of the Agreement with the Council plus observe any guidance and recommendations which may be posted on the notice board or around any Allotment site and respect and adhere to any notices posted by the site Steward as an extension of the Council authority

Any serious, deliberate or continual breach of these Allotment rules could result in eviction by the Council.

The Tenancy Agreement for the allotment will be in writing.
All previous Allotment Rules are hereby cancelled.

Note:The Allotments are let under the Allotments Acts 1908 – 1950.

1st April 2010 to 31st March 2011

Please find the costings below.

£6.94 / (25m2) / pole / Year

1 pole = 30 1/4 sq yards or 25m2

Our Allotement Sites

For more information on allotments, including prices and availability please call 01635 35486 or email us on towncouncil@newbury.gov.uk.

Please click on the link below to download your copy of the allotments application.

• Application Form