I think we can all agree it’s been a remarkable year weather wise and it’s certainly caused some issues with our water bill, very definitely not helped by the outsourcing of non-domestic water charges to non-Severn Trent companies. A lot of time and effort has been put in by both Steve Yorke and Steve Williams to try to stop us from getting ridiculously large monthly estimated bills. This year has bought home though how vital it is for all gardeners to be collecting rainwater. If you have a building on your garden you should have a collection barrel rigged up. If you want help/advice just ask.
The Community work days have been frustrating in as much as a small regular team has turned up and some gardeners have taken jobs on themselves as a regular task. But it’s the same faces. There is no immediate chance of offenders coming and giving us a helping hand so we need to do maintenance and project work ourselves. Harry’s old gardens need converting and I am trying to be inventive on how this is achieved. We cannot afford to let gardens stand idle and have no income coming in. I am trying hard to get tenants on the two other gardens we have vacant. Over winter we will advertise some work days on the plots near the gate and try to blitz the work. Obviously, we wish to say a big thank you to those who do turn out to help.
As you are aware we are facing proposed rent rises. I am in the process of attending a series of 3 evening meetings with other associations and the council where rents and new leases are being discussed. How this will all turn out I honestly have no idea at the moment, but because everyone’s leases end at different times the council ideas could mean varying rents or charges between various associations. The current proposals for council direct let gardens would see 56p per sq meter, associations without new leases would be about the same, with a new lease it would be about 30p as a starting point.
The AGM next year will be on Sunday 17th March it is very important that you make the effort to come, or send a representative if you can’t. It was snowy this year but that does not really excuse such a poor turnout. If you want to keep the allotments going then you need to take an interest and have a say in what is happening. We need more active Committee members, it is very possible that we might have to fundraise to keep rents down which is one of the proposals the council has made, plus keeping the site well managed and tidy, we need fresh ideas and fresh faces and a bit less moaning when things don’t get done.
Steve Williams our Treasurer is standing down so we need someone to take on that responsibility as soon as possible. Our financial year starts on the 1st January, so before then would be ideal. Help and support will be given. This role is vital we cannot continue without a treasurer. For an informal talk about the roles responsibilities and how much time is needed please contact me.
If you wish to know any more about the committee, the council proposals and rent rises please feel free to ask me. Please keep your eye open for news and a possible early new year meeting/vote if any decisions are made on the lease over the next couple of months.
Jackie Medcalf
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Old Park Farm Garden Holders Association 