Just over three months have passed since Sally Savory raised the matter of the CIC and allotment management. She was writing from the perspective of South Undercliff allotments. My experience is of Love Lane allotments. At a time when food is becoming expensive and imports uncertain the "Family Garden" can make a considerable difference to well-being.
The allotment is not a hobby for people with nothing better to do with their time, it provides many benefits, not the least of which is is the casual and friendly companionship of other allotment holders. Advice is exchanged, help offered. OK its not a perfect paradise but it's on the way.
Sadly the current CIC does not seem to understand friendly persuasion. Security at Love Lane is a problem so we conducted a pretty thorough survey of the membership, the result of which was the purchase of locks and keys.
Everyone (well almost everyone) appeared happy. Imagine our surprise when we discovered one of the directors of the CIC removing the locks and replacing them with combination locks. There had been absolutely no consultation with the allotment holders. This behaviour has created confusion and unhappiness.
The ability to communicate in a clear and friendly manner should be a necessary quality in any manager. Has anything been learnt in the last three months?
