Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association

OK ITS RAINED A BIT.

HOWEVER!!!!  The Water supply is not the problem its the cost of how much is being used that is the problem.

First of all a big thank you to those of you who have complied with our requests to cut back on water usage.  The amount of water being used is still being monitored on a daily basis. The amount of cubic meters of water used in comparison to other years is still high. If the heat wave continues without regular consistent rainfall this will have a massive effect on our ability to spend any money for the rest of this year and next year. Our bill is already well over the amount we put aside each year to cover the water charges. NO one should be using sprinklers or oscillators to water their gardens. We have considered a number of options the first of which was to ask for your support in reducing your own individual water consumption on site and we continue to ask you to do so.

1. No Sprinklers/Oscillators to be used.
2. Hose pipes can be used at the moment to fill water barrels and then the water used to fill watering cans. Which target crops better.
3. If you must use a hose because you have no storage. Target the plants. Watering a pathway is unnecessary!!  as is watering weeds which should be kept to a minimum to allow vegetables some chance to flourish.
4. Be realistic. Some crops will not produce edible plants now no matter how much you water them so let them die or wait for rain.
5. Water once a day and rotate what you water. Greenhouses and polytunnels only need watering every other day.
6. Do not under any circumstances leave the water running while you do something else and do not use anything that leaks.
7. Do not leave hose pipes attached to the taps if you are not using them.

The meter will continue to be monitored and if the dry weather continues into late August we reserve the option of reducing the supply or turning the water off completely. This has been a very strange year weather-wise, no one person has experienced different weather to the rest of us, this is your association and everyone should be pulling together and helping each other not acting in a self-interested way.

We will be looking at how we can keep our finances secure and if extra charges are needed as a one-off this year then they will be imposed. Baring in mind there has been no rise in water charges for many years we will be discussing that option. I am also thinking about how in the future we manage conditions like this. My preference is to ride this out and decide at the AGM next year what to do and when hopefully the council’s rent policy may be clearer.

BUT IF THE DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE TO PROTECT OUR FINANCES THEN THAT DECISION WILL BE MADE WHEN NEEDED.

Please support what we are trying to do.  

Jackie