Worcester City Council Reviews 

I am writing this review in respect of the allotment service, I have no issues with other departments. The allotment service is now, in my view, failing a large proportion of the tenants. The administration seem to operate in a wholly random fashion, resulting in some tenants feeling bullied and anxious. There is lack of communication and draconian decisions taken without consulting or considering the tenant deemed 'at fault 'with little time spent taking individual concerns and issues into account. Completely unreasonable actions like eviction from your plot are sent out to tenants with little/no understanding or empathy with individuals problems, sometimes these are quite severe, such as hospitalisation or family pressures. Issues of bullying and harassment on social media tenant on tenant are treated haphazardly, in one instance a tenant is told that the council do not get involved with such matters, in another incident, the individuals are summonsed to an investagtive meeting . Ad hoc and unreasonable/strange decisions on such things as rights of access, the allotment shop, how you tend your plot, what size shed/polytunnel is allowed and even a dictat on your on-plot pathways to be kept swept! have been heard of and unhappy tenants have been known to quit their plot rather than face any more pressure. This is unacceptable in this day and age when we all know how important outdoor exercise and interaction with fellow plotholders can be , especially to older folk, as well as the benefits of fresh vegetables and fruit. The allotment service has definitely taken a very strange, authoritarian turn over the last 5 years, it was much better previously, with inter-site competitions and displays at the local worcester show being supported by the council . I know that a severe lack of money in the council isn't helping but more kindly interaction with tenants and less of the strict rule of law ( which seems to vary according to who you are!) would make life much easier and happier for all concerned (including those who work in the allotment service)

There are a number of Plots on our Allotments site which have been left completely unworked for the entire year and in some cases for much longer. Why is this when there are apparently, according to the Council's website site, a number of people waiting to take on a plot. On looking around our site any visitor would be horrified to see as many at 10 or 15 plots whose level of cultivation is far below the City's required minimum standard. Why? Is this replicated on other sites?