Site reps from all over Hounslow met (online) again tonight. The feedback to the proposed changes ended on 19th March and there were 188 responses from 1900 lease holders. The council now analyses the main themes and they will report this back to all plot holders. From an initial observation the predominant area covered were some sort of concession for pensioners (not just those on pension credits), another look at the out of borough fee structure and there will also be a section on other suggestions as to how the process goes forward.
All lease holders will get a letter to keep them in the loop and the issues will be reviewed by the council via Cllr Chowdrey who has the remit for the allotments.
Remember that new charges win whatever form will only be from 2022, there will be some adjustment to the timing of bills going out as the council has to give lease holders 12 months notice of a significant change. The council would prefer to send invoices via email as this saves money and is more accurate, letters being prone to going astray or address details are wrongly recorded so if you do have email you will be in the loop if you let the council know your address.
Stefania the head of Parks and Allotments for Hounslow said that the issue of concessions for those who just don’t have much money but are not on benefits had been looked at and they have done a bench marking exercise and placed the new cost at an average level for London.
There is a capital investment plan and all allotments reps were asked for one thing they would like funded out to it. For many new or replacement gates was a priority and fencing was another. The Promenade could do with new gates and a new space to have compost, manure, wood chips deposited. Thames Road has the space – especially after the recent clear up, but the gates do need replacing.
Notice boards were also mentioned, on Promenade and Dukes Meadow there are site specific boards – but I can’t for the life of me find how to open them (any suggestions?)
A suggestion from another allotment site for a mobile shredder to get rid of green waste, I think would be welcomed by many, as was a quick response to clearing of fly tipping, which seems to be a bigger problem in other parts of the borough, although we are not immune in Chiswick.
The issue of toilets came up again, some sites want them and some definitely don’t. There is an ongoing committee process to try and get the council to fund making the trading hut toilet accessible from the outside and we may get some money for that.
It appears that solar panels and camera traps are becoming very popular. In Chiswick we are involved in an ongoing hedgehog monitoring project for led by London Zoo.
We meet again in a month so if there is an issue you’d like raised please get in touch at:
allotmentsrep@growchiswick.org – or see me at the trading hut most Sundays 11 – 12.