On April 1st, the PHG&AS took over the management of the Derrell Road, Oakleigh St Michaels and Lower Penns sites on behalf of Torbay Council. This means that the Society will be undertaking many of the tasks previously undertaken by the council, including maintenance and plot inspections. Torbay Council will temporarily be responsible for the letting of plots, with the PHG&AS taking over full responsibility for this no later than April 1st 2009.
As part of this management process the PHG&AS committee will be sourcing funding for various improvement works around the sites. Self management means that at last you now have a say in how your site is run. If there is a certain project you feel is necessary on your site, please contact the Chairman, Secretary or Treasurer. Your feedback will ultimately decide what improvements take place on the sites.
Many allotment sites have very little access for the disabled so we are hoping to transform plot 3 on Oakleigh Allotments in order that we can welcome the more disables folk who are wheelchair bound by creating paving and easy to use, raised growing beds.
We are looking for more volunteers to join are workforce of helpers as we are here to help anyone that needs assistance to there plots. We know all to well that ill health comes to us all and if you are worried about your allotment plot becoming in need of a little TLC to bring it up to scratch, please let us know and help is at hand. Already our help has been asked for and a party of willing diggers turned up and assisted in digging and weeding. Please let us know if you are a willing helper
The former allotment site at Hollicombe in the Preston area of Paignton may soon be re-opened and under PHG&AS management. The site, which was recently included in a list of potential green field sites to be sold by Torbay Council, would be a 100% organic allotment site, managed under strict ‘green’ guidelines.
An official objection to the development was lodged by Rick Heyse, Allotments & Gardens Council, South West Regional Representative. PHG&AS Chair/ Secretary, Joe Wallis also submitted plans by the Society to re-open and manage the site.
The proposed instigation of the Hollicombe Alotments is moving in a positive direction. Our society is supporting an allotment society that has formed in and around the area of Hollicombe with the intention of self managing the site. We have assisted in the proposal forms submitted to the council and are awaiting the outcome of the second stage application.
This worthy project for the Hollicombe society will add valuable allotment plots to the area, fingers crossed for the future.
One of the many failures of the sites under management by Torbay Council was the lack of plot inspections and the lack of action following these. In fairness the council?s failings was due to the lack of allocated time, and little or no local knowledge of the plotholder. Many a time a plotholder has no doubt complained of a bad back or other ailments or excuses for not tending a plot, when in reality he or she is probably either at home or even down the pub.
As the PHG&AS is now managing the sites on behalf or Torbay Council, we will be carrying out three monthly plot inspections, normally at the end of the month. These inspections will be carried out using our own sliding scale grading system, allowing us to monitor improvement or deterioration of a plot, and take action where necessary. Every bone-fide allotment tenant will have the right to view the grade their individual plot or plots achieves, but the committee asks plotholders that do have genuine health or family concerns or the burden of a heavy workload to let a committee member know prior to an inspection. These comments can be noted at the side of the grading and may influence any decision.