ALSO
See the pictures below after the fire at Cowpasture...! and our
snaps page
Events
The next important event is the
Scarecrow Competition
on June 14th at 12.30pm
at Railway Hill site [we are going round the town
sites for this event so each gets a turn.]
Start looking out an outfit for your Scarecrow
NOW!
(then you can justify getting some new clothes
for the summer!!)
The PLOTHOLDERS
MEETING
The Plotholders meeting on May 22nd. was packed - well oer 100
people . members and non-members attended. Maurice Barber the
chairman introduced the meeting, welcoming everyone. He then
introduced Chris leffler, the Hon. Secretary, who outlined the
legal position.
He said that every citizen, ieffect, has a right to ask for an
allotment, and every local authority has a duty to provide for that
demand once at least six people have asked for one in a parish or
borough or twon. He outlined the interesting history of the
provision of Allotments and the laws which govern their existence,
use and the possibility of local Authoritiees trying to sell the
land on which they stand.
The basic position is that there are restrictions, that if there is
-as we have - full occupancy and other criteria are met, the
M<inister allows or dissallows a sale. There are also
restrictions on when a \Landlord [Council] can change tenancies and
terminate the contract. Basically they have to give 12 months
notice and not try to evict between April1 and 29 September -
protecting people's crops in the ground, even if not their winter
ones.
The chairman then introduced the Town Clerk, Mrs Susan Robinson who
outlined and gave a good deal of detai about the whole democratic
process in the matter. She explained that the District have no
option but to provide a plan to Government, and hos the Councillors
felt that their proposaal was the "least worst", and hos they had
put "Protection of allotment sites" as top of their list of
conditions.
She warned members and plotholders not to panic, and give up on the
basis that '#it is all going to be tarmaced over' &c., because
the plan if implemented is for a long term future, and if there are
big chanes in local Government organisation, which would be in the
next tow years, then there is another delay in the process.
It means that no one need fear for the very immediate future, and
lots of things can change.
The meeting heard that there have been over 2500 personal reponses
- mostly objections - to the schemes put forward, a most unusual
response level.
An article in the Advertiser for the week including 22nd. may,
indicates that there is a lot of support for a totallydifferent
site in Ttimley. The source of this is unknown to us, but it would
be a good thing for our allotments at Cowpasture.
The meeting closed happily with refreshments and a draw. A
number of non-members attending decided to take application forms
to join the association.
CL
Annual
Meeting
The Annual Meeting Report
The Annual Meeting on April
10th went off well, and several people have bothered to
say so to Maurice Barber, the new Chairman, after the
meeting.
Katrina Reid who had held the chair for
two years wanted to stand down, and Maurie, as we tend to call him,
was prepared not only to take the job on, but to announce that he
would lead the association in the fight to retain our Cowpasture
site in the face of the proposals to put houses there. He reckoned
he was the longest tenancy holder having held his plot since the
sixties.
Katrina in the chair reported on the past
year as a good year, with the Scarecvrow competition again, the new
Show and social Barbecues even if the winter meetings had not been
supported by those members for whom they were intended.
Chris Leffler as Hon. Secretary mentioned
the beautifully painted plates and ceramic onion which Hylton
Jeffries had made for the association as prizes, and thanked him on
behalf of the association.
Peter Jeffries presented a set of accounts
which shewed the association in good health at present, but he also
presented two scenarios which indicated that to stay healthy in
future we have to increase the subscription to £7.00 p.a.,
including NSALG membership and Insurance.
We welcomed Georgina Rose, Sarah Fitch and
Ray Martin onto the committee and thanked Brian Ranner for his
contribution over the years, now he has retired to let younger
people on.
Colin Nickerson, our retiring Regional
representative on the National Society spoke about the whole
process of defence of allotment sites, and gave a lot of detailed
information to follow up.
The meeting agreed to see if a Plotholders
defence meeting could be set up, and the committee noted this as
urgent agenda.
With discussion, refreshments and a draw
the meeting ended sociably about 2145.
This is a report, NOT the minutes, which will be approved
next year. Copies of the draft may be had from the Hon.
Secretary.
Produce Show July 12th.
2008 details also in May Newsletter
This is the second in our new series, and will be a bit bigger than
last year, we hope, but still a modest event. Rules are set out
below.
Early one morning…
Early in the day the gazebos and tables are erected [we may well
be glad of the offer of one or two more pasting tables] Entrants
turn up from 1130 and fill in entry forms which will be there, and
arrange their entries. Exhibits are labelled by cards with names on
one side and an Exhibit Number on the other. Judging will be done
with only the Number showing. Afterwards the names will be turned
over and shewn.
Your “Tray”
The “old hands” will be about to help with the details of
presentation [the way to tie stems and such things which all count
in judging!]. You will be given a sheet of lining paper which is
the right size for putting your exhibit on – it is called a “Tray”,
but represents the space you are allowed. Fruit exhibits will go on
paper plates which the association will supply. Flowers need to be
in a vase, of course, but the vases will not be judged, only the
quality of the blooms.
You arrange your veg and fruits and flowers, and then either
hang about, go and do some hoeing or digging or shopping!
At 1230 the Judges will look at it all, and make their judgement
on a (relaxed)version of the Royal Horticultural Society rules.
What happened?
The judges will finish at 1.30 pm and the public and exhibitors
allowed back on site to see who has won what. This will last until
4.0 pm when you will be free to remove your exhibits. Last year we
had a cuppa on site and we shall do it again, in aid of funds.
The schedule
Vegetable class:
Any four from:
6 pods peas with stalk
4 pods Broad Bean 3 courgettes [without flowers, under 200 mm/8
ins]
6 pods dwarf bean
3 beetroot [trimmed to 3 in/75 mm stems]
3 carrots [ trimmed to 3 in/ 75 mm stems
3 potatoes [ all one variety]
1 marrow for table [ under 12 ins/300mm .]
3 Onion & three shallots [separate from Onion class] leaves
tied 2 ins/ 50 mm
1 cucumber.
all displayed on the “tray” provided and contained within its
confines
Onion class [special prize]
6 onions, [leaves tied] and 6 shallots [ leaves tied] on plate
provided
Flowers special prize
One vase of mixed flowering stems containing a total of between
5 and 10 stems, minimum of two kinds of plant. [e.g. 5
Chrysanthemum, 5 Calendula: could be three gladioli, 2 each of two
colours of chrysanthemum] Exhibitor provides vase which is not
judged.
Fruit [Challenge plate]
any two of the following:
6 raspberries with stalk and calyx [i.e. cut from plant]
6 Strawberries with stalk and calyx
6 bunches redcurrants
6 bunches black currants
six gooseberries
on the plate provided. leaves may be added but will not be
judged.
_________________________________________________________
Open Day and BBQ - Cowpasture on Sep. 6th.
Pumpkin Competition October 6th -measured circumference,
not weight.
Autumn meetings - to be announced
February Open meeting:
report
At the open meeting on Feb 28th. Karen Kenny the new Chair of the
Suffolk Society of Allotment & LEisure Gardeners surprised many
with the statistics about all the tiny living creatures in our
soil, the most basic ingredient not only of allotments but of
life.
Local Development plans
She also told
everyone who is concerned about the proposals for development in
the area, which many fear threatens Cowpasture Allotment site, how
to object and where to write, as well as going to meetings wherever
possible.
The "Our Snaps" page shews her cutting her
birthday cake, and Jane Leffler getting her to start the raffle
that day - and yes, she did get a prize, but not from putting her
own hand in!!
Partnership meeting
4th March. FDAA committee members had a
useful meeting with the Town Clerk about various concerns.
One was the proposed development, the next greatest concern is the
vandalism and theft from both Cowpasture and Ferry Road sites -
locks removed and tools and things stolen. Other sheds
were broken into but nothing aparently stolen.... FDAA are
looking into individual insurance or possibly group insurance as
ideas to meet this problem. Meanwhile plotholders are advised
to remove everything possible which is stealable or of interest to
thieves.
Shed fire - accidental.
We originally reported that sheds had been burned: that was true,
but we understand that the Fire Service said to one plotholder
that the fire was a single fire, not arson, but the result of a
bonfire being left overnight, the wind changed, and the fire caught
the nearest shed. This was on the plotholder's own plot, but
his neighbour's shed was up against it, or only a foot or two away
and that and the adjacent second shed on that plot were also
burned. Pictures of the damage below - it is sad to see a mower
reduced to a grey shell, hand tools with their handles bornt off
and nothing left of a newish shed.
This incident adds weight to the Fire Service's advice, and that of
the Town Council as landlords, that all fires should be out before
you leave the site.
|
This [above][ is a general view of
the scene of the fire. The picture below shews what happens
to tools including mechanical ones in a
fire! |
The numbers maze ...
There is a proposal to renumber Cowpasture site,
because the numbering system is out of date and hopelessly
illogical to any but the initiated if you want to find a plot.
Details of what and how and when will be published by the Town
Council in due course. It will NOT affect Plotholders'
tenancies or boundaries, just the number by which the plot is
known.
The special Town Council meeting
A report
FDAA was represented at the special Town Council meeting on
11th march at the Walton Community Hall by the Vice
Chairman and the Hon. Secretary plus several members.
There was a large demonstration before the meeting, and a lot of
people were unable to get in, as the hall only holds 100 for Health
& Safety reasons. They could be heard making their views known
from inside the hall.
The meeting opened, after declarations of interest, with a
presentation by Mr. Brown the Planning officer for Suffolk Coastal
District Council, which is the body that will decide where any
building should take place, though it will take into account the
views of Felixstowe Town Council.
(see the Suffolk Coastal Dist. Council website
http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/planning/review/corestrategy/furtherissues/default.htm
go to the link to "Walton Village Hall presentation" to see the
slides)
He explained amongst other things the planning process under the
“Local Development Framework” as it is now called, and pointed out
that the evening’s meeting was only the first of three such
consultations. It was NOT a detailed planning meeting, but a means
of gauging the general approach, in the most general terms. Detail
was in place in the Seafront regeneration part of town, but not for
this aspect.
He also said that the slides he was presenting could be seen on
the Suffolk Coastal District Council website:
http://www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourdistrict/planning/review/corestrategy/furtherissues/default.htm
It was also pointed out by him and others that if no action and
no decisions were taken, they would be imposed from above. Inaction
was not a viable option.
Public speaks
There followed a half hour for public questions and comment,
with speeches limited to 3 minutes. The first speaker was from Save
Felixstowe countryside.
The Hon. Secretary of FDAA spoke second, as both Hon. Secretary
of FDAA and of Suffolk Society of Allotment & Leisure
Gardeners, which is the County Body and will support whatever FDAA
does.
He said. that while the association appreciated the pressures on
the Councils one of the functions of both associations was to
protect the interests of allotment holders. He therefore noted that
two of the areas on the diagram included allotment sites, namely
Cowpasture and Ferry Rd. He noted that the presentation had
mentioned protecting allotments, but said that both were statutory
sites, which meant that they were protected by the Allotment Acts,
and the Felixstowe Association and County Society would fight with
every means open to them under the law.
He also pointed out the value of allotment gardens to the
plotholders and the community, and added that if there are to be
some 3000 plus new people in the 1600 or more new homes in the
proposals, these people would also be seeking plots, and the
association would back them in demanding their statutory rights to
have plots within the ¾ mile of the main housing centre provided
for in the act. There would therefore be a need for more, not less
provision. The association therefore opposed the inclusion of areas
4 & 5 on the diagram.
To be fair, the presentation and subsequent speakers
acknowledged the need to protect allotments, and it is far from
certain which of the possible five areas will be finally chosen.
There was unanimity in opposing the area 5 – which is the part
round the Grove and next to the AONB and would include Ferry Rd.
site. We can safely assume therefore that that site will be
kept..
After that the balance of support by the Councillors seemed to
be for the area including Cowpasture.[Area 4] because it had two
roundabouts on its corners – the Dock Spur and the Candlet Road
one. However there is the new woodland and meadows to consider as
well as Cowpasture, we should remember, and there was a call to
extend the AONB to include the Grove and woodland.
The area between Walton and Trimley St. Mary was not favoured
because of its making continuous housing, and area 2, in Trimley
St. Martin was not discussed because it was outside Felixstowe.
There was a proposal to include for consideration an “area 6” in
St. Martins on the left going towards Kirton by the farm shop, up
to Innocence Lane.
It remains to remember that the proposals are for a plan which
will be in place for the next 16 years, and not for building next
week. Nevertheless it is important that all members write in in
person, using either the paper form or the online one, to
express their opposition to the possibility of losing allotment
land in areas 4 & 5, and supporting whichever other area they
feel will be best. Representations must be personal, not
collective, and on the form provided, and they must be at Melton
Hill offices by 28th March, which is the Friday after
Easter.
We urge every plotholder to make their voice
heard.