Inverleith Allotments, Edinburgh

This synopsis of notes from past Annual General Meetings provides a brief history of the allotments together with some of the major issues of the day.
28 April 1942

Committee formed including Kinnear Road allotments.
1952 First mention of the need to widen gate access for lorries.
1953 Agreement to join the Federation of Edinburgh and District Allotments and Garden Associations (FEDAGA). Kinnear Road allotments taken back by Fettes Trust.  Reallocation of Inverleith plots to dispossessed. Fencing was reported as inadequate (3 feet high).
1954 Manure obtained from Gorgie slaughterhouses.   New fencing installed on the North and West sides  (metal post and wire mesh) – Corporation to be asked to erect similar fencing on the East and South sides.
1955 Allotment hut erected.  AGM was moved here from the pavilion in Inverleith park.  Locks and keys purchased by the Association and members required to pay a deposit.
1957 Water flow problem reported to Corporation.   Gates often found unlocked.  Notices to be erected reminding members to lock gates.
1959 Refuse dump for hard waste constructed with corrugated iron beside the site hut.  Complaints about untended plots and potatoes being washed in water butts.  Noted that in 1942 when the Association was first formed, membership cards outlining various regulations had been printed which were now out of date.   Agreement to revise and reprint these.
1960 Corporation to be approached regarding the need for toilet facilities within the allotments (the ladies WC in the pavilion being closed for most of the year).  Proposed that this should be placed at “the rear of the yacht club building”.
1961

WC unlikely due to expense.  Instead, a new gate was proposed near to yacht club house to allow members to use facilities at bowling green clubhouse. New regulations had been drafted and passed unanimously.   Each allotment holder to be issued with a copy.  Cost of printing £3.10.0d.
1962 Dogs to be kept on a leash in the allotments.
1963 Plotholders next to the fence to be asked to keep huts and compost heaps away to prevent damage to fence and unauthorised entry.  Gate had now been installed near to yacht house, but problems using WC at bowling green clubhouse, which is closed on Sundays, the most popular day.  Issue to be raised with the Corporation.  Water supply raised again.  Notice boards suggested.  Secretary awarded honorarium of £5.
1964 One notice board acquired, another (second hand) to be purchased.  Further discussion of WCs and water supply.  Agreed to focus on latter.  Also agreed to increase member’s subscriptions from 3d to 6d per year.
1965 Corporation agreed to install new water pipe at cost of £300.  Decision awaited over future of allotments as the Corporation was minded to close allotment sites in parks.
1966 Water pipe still not installed.  Following representations, the Corporation agreed not to close allotments, but the decision would be reviewed in 5 years.  All members to keep their plots in a clean and tidy state.  A single strip of plots to the south of the site to be removed, and the plotholders relocated, due to reduced demand for plots.
1968 Water pipe installed.  Plots to be re-numbered and plan to be placed on notice boards.
1969 Complaint of refuse dump on one plot.  Fencing near to the main gates to be repaired and new posts installed.
1970 Fencing repair outstanding.  New arrangements in hand to let plots faster to prevent them lying empty.  Arrangements in hand to destroy rabbits.  Two lawn mowers presented for use of members.
1971 New fencing on the North and West not erected though promises from the Corporation had been made. Association fee to be raised from 5p to 10p.  Rabbits to be trapped.  Proposal to insure allotment hut agreed, as a number of park buildings had recently been set on fire.