Falkirk Allotment Society

The rules of the society are in place to ensure the continued enjoyment and minimum inconvenience to all plot holders and local residents. Any resident of Falkirk District Council area is eligible to become a member, irrespective of age, sex, religion, colour, race or physical ability. Each new plot holder will be required to sign a lease on their plot at the beginning of their tenancy outlining the rules of the site and the details of the lease of their plot. This plot lease will be ongoing while the Falkirk Allotment Society holds the lease of the site. The lease will be terminated if the plot holder fails to obey the rules of the Society.

Rule 1 – Allocation of an allotment
A waiting list of potential plot holders is held by the Society. The list is drawn from the paid up members of the society in order of the date of payment of a one-off membership fee.

When a plot becomes available, the secretary will offer an allotment to a member in list order. Tenancy is restricted to one plot per household.

Tenancy of the plot will commence on the signature of a binding lease and payment of the annual plot rent within 30 days of signing the lease. Tenancy of the plot will cease if payment of annual fees does not take place on time annually.

Keys to the access gate to the site will be issued on receipt of a key deposit.

If a plot becomes available on another allotment site, a member may request to change site and this will be decided at the discretion of the committee.

Rule 2 – Maintenance of the allotment
Each plot holder must keep his or her plot in a condition which meets the standards set by the committee. This means that the ground will be cultivated, seeds or plants will be established and paths and structures will be maintained. It is the responsibility of the plot-holder to maintain sheds in a tidy, useable condition.

Each plot holder will be expected to contribute to the general upkeep of the whole site. The committee will decide annually on works to be carried out. Plot holders are unlikely to be unfit for these tasks but an individual may opt, at the discretion of the committee, to have a friend or relative carry out their portion of a group activity.

All plots and allotment areas are to be maintained on organic principles including weed and pest control.

Any organic weed or pest controls must be treated with due care and may not be stored on the allotment.

Rule 3 – Inspection of Allotments
One committee member and one plot-holder will inspect all allotments twice a year. The purpose of the inspections is to ensure that the allotments are kept tidy, in a safe condition and are cultivated to an acceptable standard. The term “acceptable standard” means that the allotment must be kept free of invasive weeds and be under obvious cultivation. 
The holders of allotments who do not meet the standard expected will be notified immediately in writing and verbally of any defects. They will be given 3 weeks to correct matters. If the points notified are not corrected within three weeks, and no acceptable reason or future assurance is given, then the Secretary of the Society will write to the allotment holder advising them that if matters are not corrected within 2 weeks of the date of the letter then the Committee of the Society will proceed to invoke termination of the Lease. 

Rule 4 – Refuse 
The allotment holders should compost all soft vegetative material on the allotments. Plot-holders are responsible for providing and maintaining their own composting facilities which will be subject to the same conditions as the rest of the plot. Bonfires are not permitted at any time. All hard waste must be removed from the site. No waste should be brought from outside and left in the allotment area.

(Falkirk District Council provides refuse facilities at Kinneil and Roughmute free of charge to district residents). 

Rule 5 – Meetings
The committee of the Society will call at least one meeting of the members during the growing season (1st April to 30th October) to deal with any general points needing discussion or problems which have arisen, and also to arrange for any work which needs to be done by the members on the allotment site.

Rule 6 – Sheds and Other Structures
Any structure on the allotment must be temporary and maintained in safe order, with a neat external appearance and condition. Sheds must be of the normal commercial type and be maintained to a reasonable standard by the plot-holder. Sheds should be a maximum of 1.8 by 1.2 m. In the interests of safety, no greenhouses, polytunnels or glass structures are permitted. For security, all allowable structures must be placed 2 m away from the perimeter and no items may be attached to the boundary wall or fence. 

Rule 7 – Trees, Training and Windbreaks
No trees or trellises which overshadow another plot are allowed on the site. 
Windbreaks between plots may not exceed 1 m in height. 

Rule – 8
Pets may not be brought on site, for the comfort and safety of all plot-holders and pets. Livestock and bees may not be kept on the allotment. 

Rule 9 – Sale of produce
Produce from the allotment is for the primary use of the family of the plot holder. No excess produce of the allotment may be sold to a third party unless as the result of a communal sale to generate funds and income for the Allotment Society during an open day.

Rule 10 – Tenant vacating their allotment
If a member decides to give up his or her allotment for any reason other than extenuating circumstances (e.g. illness, death) then that member must leave the allotment in clean and tidy condition. Within 2 weeks of the tenancy ceasing, the shed must be emptied and removed or arrangements made to sell it to the incoming tenant.. 
If tenancy ceases, the rent is non-refundable as it is calculated to ensure that all running costs for the site are met annually. 
All keys issued for the access gate must be returned to the Secretary on termination of the plot lease. If this does not occur, the plot holder will forfeit their initial key deposit. 

Rule 11 – Committee Decisions
The decision of the committee is final.