Oldfoge

Meadowhall.

There are 2 issues. 1. If a business is taking place then it may require planning permission. It's a case of matter of fact and degree and based upon what you describe as a noisy, smelly and continuous operation then it is probable a material change of use has occurred. That is the change of use from a residence to a mixed use of residence and business. A complaint to the Enforcement section within the Planning Dept would be the normal course of action. 2. If the noise comes from, say, a hobby, [with no planning breach] then a complaint to the Council's Environmental Health Dept would lead to the noise/smell being monitored as a possible statutary nuisance.

Can recommend Lowes on Abbeydale Rd

Aaron. The allotment position at Rivelin Valley doesn't make sense. As anyone can see there are many unused plots [about 160 at the last count] and according to Council records the waiting list is around 170 - and it's been like that for the 2+ years since I was allocated mine. Over the winter the Council undertook works to sub divide large alloments and improve others -but the number of unused alloments seems the same. Whether this is due to the Council's inability to manage the supply and demand or tenants lacking the necessary energy to work an [inevitably] difficult plot I don't know. I suspect a bit of both. The plots at RV are potentially productive as I have found but all have problems and will require committment and determination -no allotment is easy at first. So if you like a challenge then apply. But remember just how big the the waiting list is so don't be too fussy as to what you would be prepared to accept.

Fresh blood may be welcome but unless the Council's Allotment function is allocated more staff resources the problems of derelict plots/waiting lists will continue. As Sanman says for one person to look after 3000 plots is ludicrous. The underlying problem is not the ability of an individul officer but the system of management and funding of the service. It is simply inadequate and unable to cope. To demonstarte this point I did a survey of the allotments at Rivelin [where my own allotment is surrounded by derelict plots] and counted;- only 38 allotments in use against 172 derelict [defined as having a min of one year's overgrowth and no crops]. Some of these are too far gone to be returned but I estimate about 100 are capable of immediate reuse. The Council's official waiting list for Rivelin is 170. The figures speak for themselves and whilst the circumstances at other sites will not be as extremethe disparity between derelict plots and waiting lists seems to apply to most sites. As managing and resourcing the Allotment Service is a management function [not the individual allotment officer] I submitted a formal complaint to the Head of Service and lobbied key Councillors. If anyone else shares my view as to where the heart of the problem lies can I suggest you press their own Councillors as the more earache Councillors and managers get the sooner the Allotment Service will be properly managed.

I'm not sure criticising the Allotment Officer is fair. The Council administers between 60-70 allotment sites and 000s of individual plots. That is a huge commitment for what I understand to be a small and understaffed service. This is made worse by the explosion in demand for plots so running the allotment service efficiently and in a way that reflects expectations is nigh on impossible. So, rather then bash the allotment officer who has to manage the situation as best he can I suggest anyone who is dissatisfied make their views known to those who actually allocate and administer funding of the allotment service, namely the heads of service and Councillors.

A useful post. I am puzzled. I would have thought that if the Allotment Office served a Notice to Cultivate an unworked site and that Notice was not complied with then an Eviction Notice would be served -and the allotment reallocated to the next on the list. I put this to the Council who confirmed they issued between 350 -400 Cultivation Notices per year. However, despite what appears a proactive approach the number of uncultivated sites remains high. By way of example 4 of the 6 allotments nearest mine [at Rivelin] are derelict and include several trees. If Cultivation Notices had been served then clearly they have not been complied with. Yet Rivelin has a growing waiting list. If a plot remains unworked following a Cultivation Notice what could possibly be the 'current policy' or justification that prevents Eviction Notices from being served. Surely, there can only be one reason why an Eviction Notice is not served and that is because the plot has been satisfactorally worked.

Like many I was puzzled at the apparant inconsistency between the number of unworked allotments sites [i have four next to mine at Rivelin Valley Road site] and the the long waiting lists. I had assumed, incorrectly as it turns out, that the cause was inaction on the Council's part in not being vigilent in withdrawing tenancies of unworked sites. So I wrote to the Council under the Freedom of Information Act requesting the number of Notice to Quits served since Jan 2006. The answer from the Allotment Office was surprising;- "I have looked through our records and find that we serve approximately 350 -400 Notice to Quits per year 25 to 30 are rescined due to the tenant paying the account or working the plot after illness." If that is the case then this apparantly high level of activity is at odds with what is seen as an under-resourced and overworked service. That said the problem of waiting lists and the numerous unworked sites remain. The problem stems from a lack of resources and this will not be resolved by pressurising a department that is simply not resourced to deal with the surging popularity of allotments. Resources are allocated [variously] by the Council/politicians/Department heads and not individual allotment officers who are expected to 'do their best' with limited resources. If anyone is sufficiently aggreived by the current problems -and I suspect there are many, then a more productive approach will be to lobby local councillors and ensure they are fully aware of the scale of problem.