News
Allotment Meeting Notes 27 March 2010
Date Published: 21-04-2010
Allotment Meeting 27/3/2010 NOTES
32 tenants attended, plus Ken, Giles, Desmond and Janet
The meeting started at 10:45 for refreshments; 11:00 for discussion, and finished at 12:00.
A list of concerns noted from previous interviews and surveys was distributed and attendees were invited to raise which were of particular concern to them.
Refunds for deposits on Mill Meadow gate keys – Some tenants wanted to know how they would be refunded – it was explained that they should contact Eleanor and say whether they would prefer to have £5 off next year's rent or a £5 cash refund in exchange for their keys
Dog fouling – This is of particular concern at Love's Delight, crossed by three public pathways Some solutions suggested:
Dog fouling penalty signs are not visible enough and should be placed lower on their poles.
Signs requiring dogs to be put on leads through the allotments should be placed at entrances.
These regulations should be enforced by community police officers and the Council.
At Burnham Beeches allotments signs explaining the public health threat of dog fouling are proving effective.
Fencing was discussed by not agreed upon
Water – Love's Delight tenants asked for an additional tap at the northern end of the allotments
Hill House tenants also asked for an additional tap
It was suggested that the water be turned off from the beginning of October through February.
Appearance/ neglected plots – The Best Kept Allotment and Best New Allotment Tenant competitions were announced.
It was agreed that offering quarter-sized plots would enable people with limited time to keep up with the required work.
Tenants would be monitored more closely, and it was agreed that during the growing season tenants who had not worked their plots for three months would be reported, and during the fallow season plots left untidy for six months would be reported.
Enforcement was discussed – neighbouring tenants will help the Council keep track of neglect. Community police officers should be more visible in the allotments as well.
One tenant offered to write an introduction to allotment care for new tenants to enable them to maintain their plots properly.
It was suggested that if the Council were to provide a skip at the end of the growing season it would encourage tenants to leave their plots tidy.
It was suggested that a skip be provided before May for a tidy-up before the Best Kept Village judges arrived. Large pieces of rubbish by Love's Delight were cited. Tenants agreed to do the clearing up so haywardens would not be required.
The possibility of taking up perennially unused plots for community use was considered. Possible uses would be for a small community orchard at the top triangle of Love's Delight, seeding unused verges with wildflowers and creating a small pond to increase biodiversity, which is a remit for all parish councils.
Also the possibility of the Council reverting some grazing land by Hill House for additional alloments to replace redundant Love's Delight plots was raised.
A seating area was suggested; some people think benches attract vandals.
Communication -- The attendees were not interested in forming an allotment association but one tenant offered to set up an allotment holders' online forum.
The Council was asked to hold another meeting in June.
There was general interest in an end-of-summer event for a group effort at tidying-up combined with an outdoor BBQ.
It was requested that the contact list be updated as some people did not hear about the meeting or key deposit refunds.
It was also suggested that the plot maps be redrawn as the actual plot site boundaries are ambiguous in some cases.
Sheds
Half the attendees were in favour, half against. It was suggested that tenants could purchase low-lying plastic tool stores instead of sheds. No agreement was reached.
Bollard Key -- Weekend access to the key was discussed, and the Council will find a solution.
Other issues -- Part of the Hill House fence needs repair.
