The site is managed by the Southern Allotment Society who have a responsibility to regularly inspect all plots to ensure that they are being cultivated regularly and used appropriately & safely.
Any that are not, must be reported back to GMCA who will then commence a two stage warning process directly with the plot holder. The society inspection team acting as Agents of and with full authority of the Council, undertake the monthly inspections and share the grades on the communal noticeboards outside the cabin.
The Society uses a five point grading system for inspecting plots and inspections are undertaken at end of each month from the months of February through to November each year and where grades are posted clearly on the noticeboard by the cabin. Grades & any plot photos are recorded against each plot in the membership database and available to the Council upon request.
The grading system:
1. Plot is fully cultivated
2. Plot is cultivated fairy well
3. Plot has some cultivation but needs attention / Plot boundary has encroached onto access road
4. In need of cultivation and in need of more crops
5. Plot has no cultivation or very little and needs a lot of work
Any plot that receives a grade of 3,4 or 5 will automatically receive a first warning notice from the Council after which the plot holder has 28 days to make considerable improvements to their plot.
If after 28 days, a plot is still graded at grade 3,4 or 5, the plot holder will receive a second and final warning letter from the Council and will have one more opportunity to make final improvements.
If after 28 days there has still not been any improvement to the plot and the plot is still graded 3, 4 or 5, the plot holder will receive a 28 day eviction notice from the Council to leave the site and remove any belongings from their plot or surrender these to the society thereafter. Plot holders who are evicted will be held financially responsible for the cost of any non-organic rubbish removal from their plot after eviction as per the terms of their lease.
If a plot holder cannot manage their plot because of a registered disability, serious illness or temporary physical limitation due to surgery, please get in touch with the committee who will always try to support where we can. In 2026, the society will be examining ways to set up an accessible community plot for plot holders who may still want to grow and cultivate crops but for whatever reason, find the the upkeep of a regular plot too difficult to maintain. Please keep an eye on this website for updates.
Curb appeal
Starting July 2025, the plot inspection team will also be inspecting plot/road boundaries and checking that vegetation/shrubbery/trees/items from plots is not encroaching onto the roads.
The plot boundary curb should be visible at all times and plot holders are responsible for ensuring that their plot ends where the curb/road begins. Plot holders where this requires action, will now automatically receive a grade 3 for their plot inspection score indicating that they will need to remedy the situation or the plot holder (regardless of cultivation standard) will be automatically downgraded to a 3 and will receive a 1st warning letter from MCC.