The purpose of this site is to provide a central information service to all allotment holders of the above association.  Please explore the site and if you have any feedback please go to the contact page and speak to the author or the secretary.

Contact email:  opfgha.secretary@gmail.com

Under the Defra code of practice all hedges should have been trimmed by now, if not could members please get on top of this in the next 2 to 3 days.

The general meeting will be on the 14th of March at 11 am at the Poly Tunnel due to the 15th being Mother’s Day. It would be appreciated if as many members as possible could turn up to represent your allotment.

(Lisa sends her apologies for not making these minutes available for publication at the time they were written)


Present: Lisa Goulbourne, Winifred Kight online. Simon Hudson, Paul Hibbs, Steve
York, Diane York, Kay Graham, Barry Mitchell, Anne-Marie Newton,, Wendy Thomas,
Carol Briar,
Apologies: Anugaman Neupane.
Minutes taken by Lisa Goulbourne secretary.
AGENDA
●​ Discussed that Jo Tarrant came to the site. To discuss the lease and generally just look at the Allotments.
●​ Anne-Marie has volunteered as the treasurer and David Kirkham will step down. They have agreed to arrange to meet and do a handover.
●​ Went over the tenancy rule for dumping on site. And gave a warning that if anyone was caught it would be taken seriously.
●​ The Plot re inspections for those that got warnings will be happening on the 17th and 18th of October.
●​ We spoke about CCTV again, having spoken about it in previous meetings. We decided to take a vote of which was unanimous. We will take a look into how much it would cost and the best way i.e how many , where we put them and whether it would be cost-effective to Association.
●​ All plots have been let except for two.
●​ The leak on the water pipe on the bottom lane has been fixed. Steve has estimated that the leak cost the Association about £120 in waste water.
●​ Reminder that dogs must be on lead in communal areas.
●​ It was decided that work parties would be on the same day as burn day so that there’s more people available. The Association decided that it would be a good idea to order several tons of hard-core and stone to repair the main driveway.
●​ We have asked for help to do the car park halfway the main drive by anyone who can spare any time?
●​ Myself will contact the council to chase the report on the Top gate.
A.O.B
●​ Ask Parveen to audit the accounts.
●​ NSLG about re-registering the address for Allotments.
●​ Query water plus payments.
●​ Write up a small contract for disclaimer for tools borrowing.
●​ A discussion on R.B returning back to site as a plot holder was raised and we did take a vote on it. But on reflecting on previous minutes we also voted unanimously at the previous AGM that he was only allowed on site as a visitor. I believe this matter should go back to the AGM where there is more of an attendance of numbers to the meeting to touch on this issue again.

Meeting Update

Sorry about messing the date up on the previous post. This is what might happen when I write the post from a half remembered conversation. However the gist was correct in that there is a Committee meeting this week end and a general meeting in March.

The Committee have provided a formal statement:

There seems to have been a little confusion around the date of the next General Meeting, so we wanted to offer a quick update. To confirm, no GM has been arranged for Saturday the 28th. The Committee is currently working to set a new date that allows for the required 14 days’ notice, ensuring everyone has plenty of time to plan and attend.

Once the date is confirmed, we’ll share it along with the full agenda so everyone knows what to expect. As there will be quite a few items to cover, we’d really appreciate it anyone has anything that they wish the committee to add to the agenda for discussion please email the secretary by Thursday.

A further update will be provided next weekend, and we hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Upcoming Meetings

To avoid any confusion:

On Sunday 28th February there will be a Committee Meeting

At this committee meeting the date of the next general meeting will be decided (probably mid March)

Agenda Committee Meeting 25th January 2026

  • Council and gates
  • It’s a few Plot holders that still aren’t meeting standards. Follow up from warnings.
  • The rent situation
  • The trees, a few need to buy a professional. 
  • Banking. 

A.O.B

  • CCTV
  • Touch on lease
  • We need a chairman as Winifred has stepped down. 

Committee Meeting 25th January 2026 Minutes.

Present:Lisa Goulbourne, Winifred Beck, Anne-Marie Newton, Simon Hudson, Michael Graham,. 

Apologies: Anugaman Neupane, Paul Hibbs.

Agenda

  • After complaining to the Council and relentlessly about them not responding to the emails about our unstable gate, they have agreed to come and secure it at their cost. 
  • There are still a few plot holders that got warnings that are still failing.  If there is no significant change by the end of March. You could have to move forward to the next steps. 
  • Council sent out an asbestos guideline sheet which I handed out at the meeting. Michael also suggested it would be a good idea to put it on the main noticeboard.
  • Anne-Marie is working together with Dave to get a full handover. And is sorting out the rent payment.
  • We spoke about getting a professional tree surgeon to de-skirt the oak tree.
  • Forms are being filled in for the committee members for banking access. 

A.O.B

  • Need to take photos of the book fence attached your crime numbers to them and email to the Council. 
  • Winnifred has resigned as chair. 
  • Anne-Marie asked for information from the database to help with her account, which I will get over to her. 

We are now looking for a new chair, as well as a few new committee members. If you would be interested in helping the Association by serving as Chair or a committee member, please put your name forward to:

opfghasecretary@gmail.com

The water will be turned off in seven days (on Monday 24th) and switched back on in the Spring.

We have had plenty of rain recently, so your water butts and IBC’s should be just about full. Please ask if you need any help with Rainwater Harvesting.

Recycle Bay

The recycle bay is there for everyone to use: If you see something you want just help yourself, if you have something useful (like plant pots, seed trays, garden tools and so on) that you don’t want, put it in the recycle bay and someone else can use it.

Unfortunately someone thinks it’s OK to leave bags of rubbish in the recycle bay (next to the sign that says “No Rubbish”) and as a community we now have to clear it up.

What you can do:

If you see someone dumping rubbish, report it to the committee who will take appropriate action, which might be eviction.

If you see rubbish in the bays (or anywhere else on site) please take some of it home for your wheelie bin. If everyone takes a little the work is shared and it won’t be long before all the rubbish is cleared away.

Thanks

Steve

General Meeting for all plot holders. Please make an effort to attend as this is a chance to influence the running of the association.

  1. Site inspection by Council (Jo Tarrant) and re inspection
  2. We need a Treasurer
  3. Dumping on Site
  4. Plot re inspections on 17 and 18 October
  5. CCTV and Funding available to improve site
  6. Outstanding Plots
  7. Water: The leak on the bottom lane has been fixed and the water is back on. Steve estimates that this leak has cost the association £120 in wasted water. Sadly, a couple of people noticed the leak and didn’t bother to report it.
  8. Burning on your own plot. Burning days 5,6,7,8,9 Nov and 14 December
  9. Dogs on lead in communal areas
  10. Work Parties
  11. Car Park
  12. Top Car Park Gate
  13. Horse Manure and Guinea Pig
  14. Ideas to improve the allotments
  15. Road Stone
  16. AOB