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COVID-19

Updated July 2021

The Lockdown in England has lifted but we still need to take care and think about those that are clinically vulnerable to the disease.

Covid -19 – The virus that causes COVID 19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks.  Some droplets are too heavy to hang in the air and they quickly fall and contaminate floors and surfaces. Other smaller airborne particles can remain in the air for some time. You can be infected by breathing in the virus if you are within close proximity of a person who has Covid-19.

Click Here to read English Government advice about staying safe and helping to prevent the spread of Covid 19, the advice below is based on the English government advice.

HANDS: FACE: SPACE: FRESH AIR

How can I ensure my family’s and everyone else’s safety at the plot?

Do not attend the plot if you have coronavirus symptoms or a family member is self-isolating, this includes people who need to isolate after returning from holidays abroad.

Continue to sanitise or wash hands regularly, especially before and after touching communal items such as the gate lock. Do not wash your hands in water troughs

I am self-isolating or quarantining and cannot go to the allotment and worried about losing my plot, what should I do?

Please make sure that you inform us if you are unable to visit the site, preferably in writing, so that they can make allowances for your situation.

 

 

 

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Hosepipe Use

REMINDER:

Hosepipes must only be used for filling water butts and containers.  You must not use them to directly water your plot.  Sprinklers are strictly prohibited.

This is for several reasons:

  • Using a hosepipe for extended periods means that other plot holders cannot get water.
  • Watering with a hosepipe is inefficient and leads to excessive water consumption, much of which is lost to evaporation.
  • Excessive water usage may lead to a water shortage and a hosepipe ban in times of drought.

The National Allotment Society website has more information on Gardening In A Drought which offers some helpful advice.

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Inspection Notices

Plot inspections have recently taken place across most sites.  Some tenants will have received a letter from us telling them that they need to improve the condition of their plot.  But what does this mean?  We ask that at least 25% of a plot is cultivated as set out below.

Weed Suppressant - York Allotments

The tenant must demonstrate that they are maintaining their plot in a cultivatable state. This means that they are:

  • making every effort to control weed growth
  • preparing the soil for sowing or planting
  • planting out new crops during the growing season or maintaining perennials such as fruit bearing shrubs or trees

The use of weed suppressant covering by tenants is permitted in the following circumstances:

  • to prepare an overgrown plot for cultivation (weed suppressant coverings should not normally be in place for more than 12 months)
  • on a temporary basis for small areas of the plot (not exceeding 50% of the total area) not currently being used for growing
  • in the event of a prolonged absence, either due to illness or circumstances beyond the plot holders control, larger proportions of covering are permitted providing the tenant makes arrangements for YACIO to be notified.
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GDPR – Important Information

As you may be aware the law on Data Protection is changing. Since we hold data about all of our tenants we need to be clear with you what data we hold, and for what purpose, and why we think this is legitimate.

We hold data that you supplied to us or to the City of York Council when you applied for a tenancy. This is basic contact information and may include other details such as your age or if you are on benefits. We use this information for the effective administration of the charity and to give us information which forms the basis of the contract (tenancy).

In addition to this we keep records of contacts we have with you; for example if you make an enquiry and we reply we keep a note of that enquiry and what we said in response.  This helps us run the charity effectively.

All of this information is held securely on a data base which is ‘GDPR compliant’.  This simply means that it is structured in a way that fulfills the requirements of the new laws on data protection. In future we will allow site secretaries to access records only for those tenants who have plots on their sites.  If the site secretary cannot access the database we might provide them with basic contact information for tenants on their sites as a printed list. They will keep this information securely.

If you give up your tenancy we will keep some information to help, for example should you reapply for an allotment.

Under no circumstances will we sell on your data to any other organisation.

We are taking advice as to whether there are circumstances under which the Emergency Services or City of York Council (as the Landlord) might oblige us to pass on your contact data.

If you have any concerns about our holding of your data or the use we put it to then do feel free to contact us.