SETTLE STREET ALLOTMENT ASSOCIATION (SSAA) Handbook for Plot Holders Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 1
Contents Introduction... 3 Annual Fees... 3 Applying for an allotment in Bolton... 4 Association of Bolton Allotment Societies (ABAS)... 4 Bee Keeping... 4 Buddy Scheme... 4 Constitution... 5 Community Orchard... 5 Community Workshop... 6 Cultivation... 6 Emergency... 6 First Aid... 6 Hens and Other Livestock... 6 Inspections... 6 Insurance... 7 Management Committee... 7 National Allotment Society... 7 Notice board... 8 Operational Management Agreement (OMA)... 8 Planning Applications... 8 Probation... 8 Smoke Nuisance... 9 Security... 9 Site Map... 9 Site Shop... 9 Tenancy Agreement... 10 Toilets... 10 Waste Land Cultivation... 10 Water Supply... 10 Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 2
Introduction Welcome to Settle Street allotments. This handbook has been produced to provide all plot holders with essential information and advice. The site is run on a community basis, so please remember to be considerate and ensure that your plot, your activity on it, and its surrounding paths do not pose a hazard or inconvenience to others. The post of Allotments Officer at Bolton Council no longer exists. Any queries should be sent in the first instance to the site secretary. If you do need to contact the Council, after you have spoken to the committee the contact details are: allotments@bolton.gov.uk (Bolton Council) Bolton Council Neighbourhood Services Environmental Services Ellesmere House Mayor Street Depot Wellington Street Bolton BL3 5DT Tel: 01204 334073 The preferred method of contact for the council is via email. Settle Street allotments also has a website where all information regarding the allotment site is stored. www.settlestreetallotments.talktalk.net There is also an email address which can be used to contact the association: settlestreetallotments@talktalk.net Annual Fees All plot holders are required to pay an annual fee. This is set at the AGM and is currently 10. This includes insurance, membership of Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 3
the National Allotments Society (NAS), and the Association of Bolton Allotment Societies (ABAS). Fees are to be paid annually to the treasurer. Applying for an allotment in Bolton There is a waiting list for allotments. You can specify a particular site or all sites in Bolton. Half plots are also available. Concessionary rates are available for the over 60 s, which is currently a 25% discount. Association of Bolton Allotment Societies (ABAS) ABAS is the focal point for expressing the views of the allotment community and putting forward ideas for the future. Meetings are held monthly and committee members from Settle Street attend and report to the rest of the committee. ABAS have their own website which can be found at: www.abas2014.blogspot.co.uk. Bee Keeping Beekeeping is allowed on allotments, but planning permission must be obtained from the Committee and Bolton Council. Buddy Scheme SSAA will register and monitor buddies - a buddy being a person who is helping an existing plot holder. Buddies should complete an Application form to be put on the waiting list. At the current time there is no future benefit accrued from being a buddy. Composting All waste vegetation should be composted or burnt. Where items are to be burnt this should be done with minimum smoke nuisance. (See later section). Compost heaps and manure dumps must be sited in a position so as not to be in direct view from the main path. They should be not be sited where they might cause an odour nuisance to nearby residential properties. Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 4
Constitution The constitution sets out the objectives, and governance of the SSAA. The objectives are listed here, and a full copy is displayed on the noticeboard. The Association will operate as a non-profit organization, to further the aims and objectives as follows: a) To cultivate all the allotment plots on the site to a high standard. b) To provide support, information, advice and guidance for all members to assist in the cultivation of their plots, in accordance with Bolton Council Rules and Regulations. c) To keep the site in good condition, by promoting good practice, and providing suitable facilities such as compost bins. d) To encourage a community spirit through good communication, and the organization of working-days and other social events. e) To protect and promote the biodiversity, landscape value and amenity value of the site. f) To stimulate interest in, and promote a greater understanding of horticulture and gardening among the local community and beyond. g) To provide opportunities for the public to learn about allotments and their cultivation. h) To foster good relations with residential neighbours, and local statutory & non-statutory bodies. i) To ensure that all members receive fair and equal treatment. Community Orchard The community orchard is located at the far end of the site next to the main pathway. Any donations of fruit trees or bushes would be appreciated. Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 5
Community Workshop This is located next to the gates at the Higher Swan Lane end of the site. There is no electrical supply to the workshop. If you wish to use the workshop, there is a large wooden bench and vice, but you must supply your own tools and generator. Keys are available from the Site Treasurer or Secretary. Cultivation The purpose for owning an allotment is to cultivate or grow your own produce. The SSAA Committee undertake a monthly site inspection to assess if each plot holder is actively cultivating their plot. If any member is judged to not be cultivating their plot then a warning will be issued. (See also Inspections) Emergency In case of an emergency please call 999. If an ambulance is required, the address is Settle Street Allotments site, Great Lever. Don Street Entrance. First Aid The First Aid box is located in the grey filing cabinet, second drawer down, in the toilets. Hens and Other Livestock Hens may be kept on allotments but planning permission must be obtained from the management committee. The keeping of cockerels is not allowed due to the disturbance they may cause to near neighbours. Inspections Each month during the growing season (March to November) the SSAA Committee carry out a site inspection. The purpose of this inspection is to assess whether plot holders are keeping to the Tenancy Agreement that was signed when they started on the site. The inspection covers cultivation, weeds, health and safety. If a plot is deemed in breach of any aspect of the inspection the plot holder will receive a warning. There are 3 stages of warning with Stage 3 being formal notification that your Tenancy Agreement has Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 6
been terminated and you must leave the site. Stage 1 and Stage 2 warnings are issued by the committee and Stage 3 is issued by Bolton Council. If there are any extenuating conditions that are impacting your ability to work your plot these should be made known to the committee as soon as possible. Insurance It is essential that we are covered by insurance. The annual fee paid by each plot includes insurance, which is renewed annually by the committee. Management Committee The committee of Settle Street Allotment Association (SSAA) has overall responsibility for the allotments and authorises any expenditure. Members are elected to the Committee at the Annual General Meeting. Minutes of meetings are posted on the notice board in the site car park. The committee meets monthly usually on the second Sunday of each month at 1.00pm in the community building. If you have any questions, concerns or problems they should be brought to the attention of a committee member as soon as possible. National Allotment Society (National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners Ltd) Divided into 9 areas of England, the NAS represents the interests of all allotment members. They publish a quarterly magazine which is available for 10 per year. Settle Street plotholders who have paid their subscription fees can receive help and advice by quoting their subscription number. The NAS also operates a seed scheme, in association with Kings Seeds. Seeds are available at half the retail price. Tel: 01536 317000 Www.nsalg.org.uk natsoc@nsalg.org.uk Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 7
Notice board The Notice board is located in the car park next to the inner double gates. Details of meetings, a map of the site and names of committee members are displayed on this board. These details are also published to our website. Operational Management Agreement (OMA) This an agreement made between Bolton Council and individual allotment sites giving the allotment site the authority to manage itself. Settle Street gained OMA on 15 August 2014. Planning Applications Any allotment tenant wishing to erect any new or replacement structure(s) on an allotment site must comply with the following conditions: Structures include sheds, greenhouses, polytunnels, cold frames, poultry houses and runs, shelters, fencing, gates or any other type of construction. The first step is to apply to SSAA committee for approval prior to commencement of the structure. All structures must be positioned a minimum of 2 feet from the boundary paths and fences for security reasons and to allow for maintenance. Doors in structures must not open onto boundary paths. Probation New allotment tenants are given a plot on a probationary period. The probationary period is 6 months. During this period new tenants are not charged for the plot. During the probationary period the new tenant is treated like any other tenant and will have their plot inspected each month and will be issued with stage warnings as required. After the 6 months has elapsed a decision as to whether or not the new tenant has passed their probation is made and the tenant is either given the plot or told that they cannot continue with the plot. If the tenant wishes to keep the plot they will then be invoiced for the rental by the council. Rubbish Disposal Broken glass can be deposited in one of the bins on the site marked GLASS. There are no wheeliebins on site now, so please take your rubbish home with you. Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 8
Smoke Nuisance Advice from Environmental Health Services states that garden waste should as far as possible be composted. Alternatively you can take your green waste to the Council s waste disposal points. Garden waste which cannot be composted may be burned following these guidelines: 1 Remember your neighbours 2 Dry any large woody cuttings before burning 3 Build a hot fire and load it frequently with small amount of waste to keep smoke to a minimum 4 Do not light a fire if the wind is going to cause the smoke to be a nuisance to anyone 5 Do not light a fire within one hour of sunset or leave it alight later then one hour after sunset 6 Do not leave the fire to smoulder. If necessary douse with water. 7 Do not leave the fire unattended 8 Do not add domestic rubbish, rubber, plastic or any other substance which will cause excessive smoke. Security Please make sure that the inner gates are kept locked at all times. Please ensure that you lock the outer gate if there are no cars in the car park. If you come across anyone on the site that is not known to you as a plot holder, you have the right to enquire who they are. Any relatives or friends of plotholders must be accompanied onto the site by the tenant. Site Map A plan of the site is displayed on the noticeboard and also published to our website. Site Shop This is located next to Plot 40. The shop opening hours and a list of what is for sale is displayed on the noticeboard. If the product you want is not available from the Site Shop, J Maher Ltd on Lever Edge Lane give 10% discount to plot holders for gardening supplies. Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 9
Stock Plots These are for keeping of livestock including hens and other fowl. At present there is one stock plot on the Settle Street Site. Structures on Transferred Plots When you terminate your allotment tenancy, you must remove any structure, building or debris from the allotment. If you do not remove these items, Bolton Council may remove these items and then charge you for doing so. In practice this rarely happens and the items are transferred to the new tenant. Tenancy Agreement When you take on an allotment, you are required to sign a tenancy agreement which is a legal document and must be witnessed. The document sets out the rights and responsibilities of Bolton Council and your rights as a tenant. Invoices for allotment rental must be paid by 1 st October each year for the year ahead. Toilets The toilets are located in the community building on the side facing the car park. A key is required to open the door. Please only turn the key once as the lock is a little tricky. There is a rota on the wall in the toilets for cleaning, and all plot holders are requested to leave the toilets in a clean state. Donations of toilet rolls and cleaning products, soap etc. would be appreciated. Please leave them in the toilets. Waste Land Cultivation The area of waste land at the bottom of the site is covered in Japanese Knotweed and it is the plan to eradicate this eventually as it is classed as controlled waste and must not be removed from the site. All parts of the plant must be burnt. Water Supply There are several water supply points on the allotment site. Please make sure that you switch off and disconnect your hosepipe when you have finished using it. The water supplied to the site is measured and Bolton Council receives a bill for this. Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 10
The supply is switched on in spring and turned off at the end of the season. The cover for the main stop cock must not be obstructed and is located on plot number 40. There may be a hosepipe ban in force if supplies run low. Settle Street Allotments Handbook / March 2017 Page 11