CONDITIONS OF USE

1. On acceptance as a plot holder the plot holder will be provided with a key/keys to the RHAA site on payment by the plot holder of a deposit. Any key to the RHAA site remains at all times the property of RHAA. Loss of a key must be reported to the Secretary immediately and any deposit paid for the lost key will be forfeited. A fresh deposit shall be payable before a replacement key is is issued. All keys must be returned to an Officer of the Association on termination of tenancy. On return of the key/keys any deposit paid shall be refunded.

2. All tenants shall pay an annual amount which includes the plot rental and subscriptions to the RHAA and the NSALG Ltd. If payment in full is not made by 31st October there will be a 20% surcharge imposed and any concessionary rates removed. If any rent is not paid by the 11^th November the tenancy may be terminated automatically.

3. Written requests including plans must be made to the Secretary for permission to erect any greenhouse, shed, polytunnel or other structure before any work commences and all such structures shall be in compliance with the Council’s rules and regulations in force. . Any buildings erected shall not be unsightly or cause annoyance to adjoining tenants or to residents of adjoining properties and shall be well maintained.

4. Members will keep their plots clean, tidy and reasonably free from weeds, well cultivated and in a good state of fertility. Pathways and adjacent pathways to other plots should be kept as weed free as possible, internal hedges should be kept neat and not allowed to grow higher than 1.5 metres. Hedges should only be trimmed outside the nesting period. External boundary hedges are the responsibility of Gedling Borough Council and shall not be cut down. No more than 25% of the total plot area to be used for growing trees (tree area is measured by the canopy). All newly planted trees should be on dwarf root stock. Members are responsible for keeping up to the centre of any site roadway or paths bordering their plot free from weeds and obstruction.

5. Members shall permit any Officer or servant of the Association or the Council to enter upon and inspect the allotment garden at any reasonable time. Plots shall be accessible at all times.

6. The allotment garden should be kept free from broken glass, scrap metal, spikes or anything capable of causing significant harm to people or livestock. No barbed wire, razor wire or similar may be used on any part of the allotment plot.

7. Carpets, underlay and carpet tiles (as ground cover), tyres or any hazardous ground cover of any sort including hardcore and granulated glass, concrete and asbestos may not be brought on to the allotment site. No banned herbicides, pesticides or chemicals of any sort shall be brought on to the allotment site. Only oil and fuels for machinery maintenance to be brought on site. Chemicals and fuel should be stored in a locked shed or storage unit.

8. Members shall not cause nuisance or annoyance to any other member, to local householders or any members of the public, by encroaching upon or entering another plot, by obstruction, lighting bonfires outside designated times, by noise (including barking dogs), radios, etc. Children on site shall be supervised at all times by an adult and remain on the adult’s plot unless invited by other plot holders. Dogs shall be under control and remain on the dog owner’s own allotment while working. Any fouling to be removed and disposed of appropriately by the tenant.

9. Members must not plant trees, fruit bushes, runner beans or any other bulky crops in such a manner as to interfere with neighbouring plots and properties or to obstruct free use of roads and pathways. Existing trees must be kept cut back so as not to cause a nuisance.

10. Livestock must only be kept in accordance with Clause 12 Allotment Act 1950. Livestock must be kept in numbers and conditions as specified by RHAA and GBC. Information available from the Secretary.

11. Anyone wishing to keep bees on site must make a formal request to the Secretary and comply with the regulations.

12. All tenants must abide by the bylaws and regulations of the Severn Trent Water Authority (a copy of which is held by the Secretary). Under no circumstances must anyone tap into the Severn Trent Water Authority mains water supply. Connections must only be made from the official on/off taps and from no other point. Every effort must be made to avoid misuse and wastage of water i.e from faulty connections or leaking hosepipes. All hosepipes only to be used when the plot holder is present. All tenants will observe and abide by the rules of the Management Committee regarding the use of communal water supplies.

13. All tenants’ and visitors’ cars must be parked on the official designated car park, or a member must make provision on his/her own plot. Parking on the site access avenues is prohibited. There is a 5 mph speed limit on site.

14 Tenants shall use the allocated plot as an allotment garden only as defined by the Allotment Act 1922 (that is to say wholly or mainly for the production of vegetables, fruit and flower crops for consumption or enjoyment by the tenant and his/her family and for no financial gain).

15. Change of address or telephone number or email must be notified to the Secretary as soon as possible, as should ill health or any other reason for not keeping the plot clean. Failure to do so may invalidate the tenancy.

16. Members must not undertake to sublet, assign or part with the possession of an allocated plot or part of that plot without written permission of the Management Committee.

17. On relinquishing an allotment plot, that plot will be reallocated to a person on any waiting list in chronological order. Any tenant who wishes to transfer to another plot may request to be put on the transfer waiting list. Members will not assume the right to nominate another person as successor to that plot.

18. The Association shall on the termination of the tenancy be entitled to recover compensation from the tenant by virtue of Section 4 of the Allotment Act 1950 in respect of any deterioration of land caused by the failure of the tenant to maintain the land clean and in good state of cultivation and fertility.

19. Only an existing joint tenant will be permitted to continue the tenancy of a plot in the event of the other joint tenant's death or incapacitating illness. In the event of a sole tenant's death or incapacitating illness, there is no automatic transfer of the tenancy to any member of the plot holder's family. Anyone wishing to be a joint tenant must add their name to the general waiting list and will be offered joint tenancy only when they reach the top of the list.

20. No illegal or notifiable plants to be grown on site as specified under the Weeds Act 1959 or as controlled waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

21. The allotment garden may not be used for any illegal or immoral purposes and the tenant must observe all relevant legislation or codes of practice relating to activities they carry out on the allotment garden.

22. No abusive or aggressive behaviour will be accepted towards any tenant or visitor. The tenant is responsible for the actions of any person he/she invites on site.

23. Bonfires are allowed for the burning of materials from the allotment garden only. The tenant shall not bring or allow to be brought onto the allotment site any material for the purpose of burning such waste. Bonfires are only allowed when clocks are set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), when they may be lit after 3 pm in the afternoon and during the hours of darkness. All fires must be attended at all times and not cause annoyance to neighbouring residents or plot holders. All fires must be fully extinguished before leaving the site. No fires to be lit during British Summer Time.

24. The tenant shall not dump any refuse/rubbish of any kind on to the allotment site.

25. The tenancy shall terminate:

1. Automatically on the rent day after the death of the tenant, or

2. By the local authority giving the tenant at least 12 months previous notice in writing expiring on or before 6^th April on or after 29^th September in any year, or

3. By re-entry if the tenant is not duly observing the conditions of the tenancy, or

4. By re-entry if the tenant is in arrears for more than 42 days, or

5. The tenant giving RHAA 28 days notice in writing, or

6. On account of the allotments being required

(a) for any purpose (not being the use for agriculture) for which it has been appropriated under any statutory provision, or

(b) for building, mining or any other industrial purposes or for roads or sewers necessary in connection with any other purposes.

One month’s notice in writing will be served to the tenant’s last known address.

Any notice served on the RHAA will be sent to the last known address of the Secretary.

26. Appeals Procedure – any appeal against termination of tenancy must be made in writing and must set out the grounds for the appeal and be received by the Association Chairman within 10 days of the receipt of the notice of termination.