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Plot rules

There are rules governing the site. These are not excessive and are currently under review by the committee. Proposals for revisions will come to the 2009 AGM for approval.

The current rules are designed to protect the site, maintain standards and define the powers and duties of the committee. These are set out below:

  1. Title of Association. The title of the Association is Trap Grounds Allotment Association (TGAA).
  2. The Trustees The Association shall appoint three Trustees and all land occupied by the members is held under licence from the Trustees. On death or retirement of a Trustee, the vacancy shall be filled at the next Annual General Meeting.
  3. The Committee The Committee shall consist of the Chair, Treasurer, Secretary(s), Letting Secretary(s) and at least three other members.

Duties and powers of the committee

  1. The committee shall hold an Annual General Meeting giving due notice to members of the time and place. At this meeting, committee members shall be elected and an auditor appointed. The rules of the Association may only be changed at the AGM by majority vote. The quorum for the AGM shall be five.
  2. The committee shall have the power to appoint a member to fill any vacancy that may occur between AGMs.
  3. The committee shall issue all members with a copy of the Rules.
  4. The committee is responsible for fixing the amount of rents and any other levies that may be necessary, also for the letting of plots and the collection of rents.
  5. The committee may authorise payments for work or materials necessary for maintenance of the Association's property.
  6. Should the committee need to give any member notice to quit, two months warning notice of this will be given to that member. Holders of plots left unworked for two months or more may be issued with a letter enquiring if they wish to remain a member. If the plot remains unworked for a further month from the date of this letter, the committee may issue an immediate notice to quit.
  7. In the case of a persistent breach of any of the Rules listed below, the committee may dispossess a member of his/her allotment after issuing a seven-day notice in writing, giving reasons for the dispossession.
  8. The Committee may expel immediately any member found guilty of theft of produce from another member.
  9. The quorum for a meeting of the committee shall be three.

Rules for members

  1. Rents Members must pay their rents within a reasonable period of the AGM, which is when they become due. Rents should be paid at a time and in a manner directed by the Treasurer. Failure to pay will be taken to mean that the person concerned no longer wishes to be a member of the Association and their plot will be offered for re-letting.
  2. Care of plots and pathways Members must keep their plots in a reasonable state of cultivation. Adjoining pathways giving access to plots must be kept tended to a width of two feet. No large trees or blackberry bushes may be allowed on any allotment.
  3. Rubbish No rubbish may be dumped on any part of the Association's land. Unwanted vegetable matter must be burnt or composted, and other rubbish kept and put in the skip provided from time to time.
  4. Wells Members are responsible for the safe maintenance of any wells and for providing and maintaining a strong, raised well surround and cover. New wells may only be dug with the permission of the committee. Well water is the common property of all.
  5. Children Children are welcome on the allotments but must be carefully supervised by a responsible adult at all times.
  6. Consideration of other members Members must not cause any nuisance to other members, either from seeding of weeds, obstruction of paths, encouragement of vermin, use of bad language, loud noise or other misuse of land.
  7. Dogs All dogs must be kept on a lead.
  8. Gates Members must close gates on entering and leaving the allotments.
  9. Sub-letting Members may not sub-let their plots or any part of them.
  10. Sheds and greenhouses Members must get the committee's approval of size, material and siting of sheds or greenhouses before erecting them.
    ** See the proposed Draft Rules on Sheds below
  11. Other Members must accept the ruling and directions of the committee in all matters (including disputes) affecting the land.

Draft Rules on Sheds, to be discussed at the 2009 AGM

Sheds, greenhouses, fruit cages and other structures Members may erect sheds or any other structures up to the size 7ft by 5ft or the metric equivalent. Anyone wishing to erect something larger must apply in writing to the Committee. They will be invited to present their case to the Committee when it next meets. Sheds or greenhouses should not be erected less than 18 inches from a communal path in order to allow room for machinery to be operated on the paths. Sheds should be used solely for storing materials for use on the allotment.

The Committee offers the following guidance to members on the erection of sheds, greenhouses and other structures:

  1. Members considering erecting any structure on their plot are asked to consult their neighbours on the site and be prepared to compromise about the size and location of any structure.
  2. Where a full plot is sub-divided into smaller plots, only one shed may be erected on the full-plot area; it is suggested that this could be shared between the sub-plot holders.
  3. Members might generally like to consider shed-sharing with their plot neighbours in order to share the costs and reduce the amount of land used for the purpose. The Committee will look favourably at requests for permission to build sheds larger than 7ft by 5ft where they are to be shared.
  4. Members considering where on their plot to erect a shed might like to consider doing so on the highest point of the plot, thus reducing the risk of flood damage to their shed and its contents. For the same reason, placing sheds on sleepers or other supports makes sense.
  5. Members should be aware that there is a history of sheds being broken into on the site. It is not advisable, therefore, to store valuable tools or other items of value in wooden sheds.
  6. Members considering erecting greenhouses on their plot should be aware that such structures have invited vandalism in the past.
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