Held at Astley Bridge Cricket Club, 8th
April 2019
Present: 16 members representing 11 sites
Apologies: Carole Barlow (Sapling Rd.), Martyn
Swain (Rawlyn Rd.)
Please remember our blogsite at http://abas2014.blogspot.co.uk AND our new email at allotmentsbolton@yahoo.com
THE ABAS VISION STATEMENT
Abas exists to achieve fair treatment for all
plot-holders on allotments sites within the Bolton Borough boundaries. It seeks
to achieve this through effective representation of plot-holders and societies
to the Council and the provision of support to individuals and societies.THE ABAS VISION STATEMENT
Minutes of
the March Meeting
The
Minutes having been posted on the Association Blog-site and there being
no corrections anyone wished to make, or points anyone wished to raise or other
matters arising, the meeting moved to adopt the minutes as correct.
Matters
Arising
The March meeting highlighted the following
issues for the abas committee to take up with the Allotments SectionRoad Planings – sites requiring road planings have been advised to contact Allotments restating their needs – so far only Florence Avenue has responded
Amended OMA for Moss Lea – this is still on MR’s ‘to do’ list
Florence Avenue – “winter works” – Allotments are not sure what these are – they will check with FA – FA are resubmitting their requests
Tonge Moor – Allotments will check current documentation issued to TM
Keys – situation is varied – Allotments would be happy to see the “deposit” scheme extended to all sites
Settle Street – Allotment’s understanding of events differs from the site society’s – we have forwarded Allotment’s reply to the society.
PROGRESS
MEETINGS
Allotments have proposed that we hold a
Progress Meeting in late April or early May At this time Allotments should have the 18/19 out-turn figures and the 19/20 budget figures for discussion. Once again the costs of water usage will be critical (it’s about 30% of the Allotments budget)
The draft NAS Bullying Policy has been shared with Allotments, this should be discussed at the Progress Meeting
We will try to have the meeting in time for us
to report at the May abas meeting
Reporting on
Council Performance on BoT Notices
Stewart Draper (SXS) has been doing some work
on forms for collecting data on BoT2s, BOt3s etc. Jo Robson (TMR) has
volunteered to act as a guinea pig for the new system
Site Security
Following discussions at the March meeting the
secretary wrote (on 18th March 2019) to the Divisional Chief Inspector covering
the Bolton Area (C I Michael Russell) asking if time could be found for a
representative of GMP to meet with either our committee or (better still) to
attend one of our open meetings.
Suggested Issues for discussion were:
Problems getting through to the 101 line – we
have advised LiveChat on the GMP websiteWhat happens to incidents reported to GMP – e.g. shed break-ins? Both how are they recorded and what actions may or may not follow?
Is there any active process of collating incidents so that particularly vulnerable sites get identified?
What is GMP’s attitude to “allotment crime”? There is a concern that it is seen as petty vandalism but some incidents have cost plot-holders up to £2,000 in damage etc.
What (in GMP’s opinion) are the responsibilities of; The Police, The Council (who after all own the sites), Site Societies and individual plot-holders and what action might each take.
To date no
response has been received
GM SPATIAL
PLAN
The 8-week consultation period completed on
21st March.The Final Plan will be issued following consideration of the consultation results
Abas membership
The following sites given are in membership
They have 413 members out of 668 plots on their sites, there are 961 plots in Bolton on all sites
They have 413 members out of 668 plots on their sites, there are 961 plots in Bolton on all sites
Rawlyn Rd
Tonge Moor RdHaslam Park
Moss Lea
Settle St
Naysmith St
Sapling Road
Smedley Avenue
Harpers Lane
Shepherd Cross St
Tonge Fold
Green Lane (Horwich)
Dealey Rd
Florence Avenue
Clammerclough
There are individual members at
Firwood Rd.
Ainsdale Rd and Lever Park Avenue have not
renewed membership to date, Lever Park are recorded as having paid NAS subs.
Bolton
Allotment Competitions and Show
Abas will again run the Bolton Allotments Competitions; The Fairhurst, Greenhalgh and New
Tenant Trophies plus the Rosebowl for “Best Site” – judging will take place w/c
June 24th and w/c July 22nd – Entry Forms are now available – please note that
contact details for entries should be taken
On August 3rd, Abas will again organise the Annual Vegetable, Onion and Leek Show.
As in previous years Abas will be seeking
individual / society sponsorship of the Vegetable Show Classes. There will be
25 classes at £10 per class.
Any society who would like a presentation
about preparing items for the show please contact abas
Show Classes
Class 1 Best Display of 4 VegetablesOne of each kind selected from a list provided [space allowed 60cm X 45cm with no overhang of produce]
Class 2 Three Carrots [any type with 5-8cm of tops]
Class 3 Three Parsnip [with 5-8cm of tops]
Class 4 Three Onions dressed from sets under 250gr
Class 5 Three Onions dressed from seed under 250gr
Class 6 Three Onions dressed from seed 250gr and over
Class 7 Three Onions dressed one under 250gr one 250gr to 450gr and one over 450gr
Class 8 Two Blanched Leeks with foliage and roots
Class 9 Two Pot Leeks with foliage and roots, not to exceed 6” [15cm] to tight button
Class 10 Ten Shallots dressed under 30mm
Class 11 Ten Shallots dressed 30mm and over
Class 12 Three Red Onions dressed
Class 13 Heaviest Onion as grown complete with foliage and roots
Class 14 Four Tomatoes with calyces attached
Class 15 One Cucumber [with stalk]
Class 16 French Beans 6 pods [with stalk]
Class 17 Runner Beans 6 pods [with stalk]
Class 18 Peas 6 pods [with stalk]
Class 19 One Marrow [with stalk]
Class 20 Four Potatoes White
Class 21 Four Potatoes Coloured
Class 22 Three Beetroot [with 5-8cm of tops]
Class 23 One Cabbage [with 8cm of stalk]
Class 24 One Cauliflower [with 8cm of stalk and trimmed to show curd]
Class 25 One of any other type of vegetable not mentioned above
Entries allowed are Class One only one entry
per person
Classes 2 – 25 max of two entries per person
per class
NAS and
NWCAA
NWCAA have to date issued no minutes of the
meeting held at Crumpsall on February 10th despite repeated requests for the
abas chair. The next NWCAA meeting has been scheduled for 28th April in either
the Wirral or Liverpool – a calling notice for this meeting was received on
09/04/2019
There seemed to be a feeling that abas does
not sufficiently promote membership of the NAS. We therefore asked NAS for
suitable promotional materials for distribution to members. These materials have subsequently been received by the Secretary.
Grants and
Training
Information is available in the CVS Funding
Bulletin – copies through www.boltoncvs.org.ukAbas urge all member societies to become CVS members
CVS have issued details of their training and
events programme – see www.boltoncvs.org.uk
WHAT’S ON IN
2019?
5th May 2019 – Harpers Lane – Spring Event
1st June 2019 – Florence Avenue – Flower Sale
(12.00 – 4.00 p.m.)3rd August 2019 – ABAS – Annual Vegetable, Onion and Leek Show
NATIONAL ALLOTMENTS WEEK 2019 IS THE 12TH TO 18TH AUGUST
1st September 2019 – Harpers Lane – Open Day and Show
ANY OTHER
BUSINESS
The following issues were raised:-Tonge Moor Rd. – this site is effectively split into two parts by some houses
The main site (which is site managed by Tonge Moor Allotment Society) and a smaller block
The smaller block has plots numbered in the 50s and 60s.
It has previously been stated that this smaller block is not within the management remit of TMAS.
However, one of the tenants in that block has approached the TMAS Committee asking that those plots be considered as part of the whole site and that TMAS should site manage them as with the other plots on the main site.
There is concern that a number of these plots are not being adequately cultivated and the tenant fears that they may be ripe for development.
TMR is a Statutory Site, are these plots considered as being within the site’s protection area?
We have asked for the Council’s view on the request and the current position.
Tonge Moor Rd. – are still having problems
with the former tenant who has retained a key to the site. The situation is now
further complicated in that an existing tenant appears to have invited this
person back onto the site so he can help with watering when the existing tenant
goes on holiday. The Council have been informed as to this situation.
Moss Lea – Some housing is being built
adjacent to the Moss Lea access road. The activities of the builders have
created problems of access and affected the condition of the road. We have requested that Building
Regs (or another Council Department) ensure that the builders reinstate
the road to at least its former condition.
Moss Lea – Moss Lea feel that there are
discrepancies between Council records on who has what plot etc. and the
situation on the ground. Moss Lea feel this may be a more general problem. Moss
Lea would like to propose that there should be regular (say half-yearly)
exercises between Allotments and Societies to cross check records. Moss Lea
believe that information as to who has paid their rent should form part of
this.
It also
appears that “people” are receiving (and presumably paying) rent invoices
without signing and returning a Tenancy Agreement –we have asked for Allotments view in this.
Naysmith St (Horwich) – Naysmith St,
asked if the “self-help” scheme is still operating and if so could the Council
supply the Society with a short length of chestnut paling fencing material
(maybe 10-20 feet) to make repairs. An email has been sent to the Council.
Further to
this Abas is considering setting up
some kind of “wants and offers” scheme so that Societies can “swop” surplus
materials. This has been launched on the blogsite.
Sapling Rd. – is the Council still
supplying locks and keys to Societies?
Haslam Park – when is the water being
turned on on sites?
The minutes
of all meetings are posted on the blog site as soon as possible after the
event, we also post any other information we feel relevant to our members’
concerns
http://abas2014.blogspot.co.uk
MEETINGS SCHEDULE
The following meetings are planned
May 14th TUESDAY
June 10thJuly 8th
August 12th
September 9th
October 14th
NOVEMBER 11TH THE AGM
