Eastney and Milton Allotment Holders Association

Eastney and Milton Allotment Holders AssociationEastney and Milton Allotment Holders AssociationEastney and Milton Allotment Holders Association

Eastney and Milton Allotment Holders Association

Eastney and Milton Allotment Holders AssociationEastney and Milton Allotment Holders AssociationEastney and Milton Allotment Holders Association
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Autumn Show 2021

Show Schedule 2021 (pdf)Download
Rules for Exhibitors 2021 (pdf)Download
Autumn Show Entry Form 2021 (pdf)Download

What's going on in 2021

June Update

Following the extension of Covid restrictions, we have had to postpone the Annual General Meeting. We have pencilled in Monday October 4th. Venue to be confirmed. 


We still expect to be able to hold the Autumn Show on August 22nd. The Show Schedule detailing all the classes available, together with the Rules for Exhibitors are available above.


May Update

Following the lifting of certain Covid restrictions, 6 members of the Allotment Association Committee were able to hold the first Committee Meeting of 2021 on Wednesday 6th May.


A number of events have now been planned for the rest of the year including a Litter Pick, the AGM and the Autumn Show - see events page for more details.


We will not be holding the Plant Sale as restrictions have not been eased enough. However plants will be available in the shop on Sundays and Tuesday as they become ready.


January Update

Happy New Year! The Committee and I hope you are all keeping safe and well and are looking forward to the new season with renewed enthusiasm!  Given that we have yet to hold our AGM, I thought it appropriate to update you on quite a number of topics:
Kings Seed Orders - Potatoes
The potatoes that some members ordered from Kings Catalogue last October have now arrived and should be collected as soon as possible.

Membership renewals
I would also like to remind everyone that the 2021 annual subscription of £4.50 is now due and that only paid-up members of the Association may purchase goods from the shop.
Shop Opening
From Sunday 24th January, the shop will open (09:30 – 11:30am) each Sunday and Tuesday.
However, in accordance with our Covid operating policy, restrictions will be imposed to ensure a safe environment exists for both customers and shop volunteers. Masks must be worn at all times and no more than one customer will be allowed inside the shop at any one time. Those waiting outside are reminded to observe the recommended social distance of 2m. Currently the number of shop volunteers is limited so there may be times/days when the shop will not be open – please bear with us and be patient. 

Following a delivery last Thursday, the shop is well stocked... composts (inc. peat free), growbags and manure. We also have a good selection of onions and shallots. Due to poor weather, our main seed potato order is still in Scotland but hopefully it will be delivered within the next two weeks. We will let you know when it arrives.

Annual General Meeting

Those of you who have been members for some time will be aware that traditionally, the AGM takes place in the middle of January. Unfortunately, due to current Covid restrictions, that has not been possible this year. The main AGM agenda items are the presentation of accounts, the selection of Committee members and the acceptance of the annual rate of subscription. 

I have viewed, and am happy with, the 2020 Balance Sheet which shows an excess of income over expenditure of £582.89; those current Committee members to whom I have spoken are content to continue, as am I. 

At our last meeting, the Committee agreed to recommend that the 2021 subscription should remain the same as last year’s £4.50 (£3 of which goes directly to the NSALG). 

Therefore, in the belief that there are no pressing/contentious issues to consider, your Committee has decided to postpone the AGM until late spring when hopefully, restrictions will have been eased - a date will be published later. (NB: It was suggested that the meeting could be held on Zoom but we decided to avoid this option if possible because Zoom meetings on a large scale are not easy to organise, not all members have internet access and of those who do, some are not familiar with Zoom technology.). 

Aquind

Before Christmas, I gave ‘evidence’, on behalf of the Association, to the Planning Inspector investigating AQUIND’s application to install an underground cable across part of the Allotment site. The points I made were noted but the investigation is still ongoing, and it is unlikely that we will hear what the Inspector’s recommendation is before the spring. Throughout, Aquind has been adamant that horizontal tunnelling should have little or no effect on our plots. Watch this space!   

Plot Inspections

Recently, I was made aware by a number of plot holders that following site visits, Ashley Humphreys, the Council Officer responsible for allotments, had been in contact with them either by letter or phone about the state of their allotments. This activity appeared to be in contravention of an agreement between myself that a Committee member would always be in attendance during inspections. I have spoken to Ashley and he assures me that what he was doing was not an inspection as such but rather an Audit of the site (apparently an exercise that has been conducted at all sites across the City). 

No formal ‘Dirty Plot’ letters have been issued but he is becoming concerned about the number of plots that are not numbered, the amount of rubbish that is accumulating on some plots, the condition of structures such as huts etc and the blocking of footpaths. He has also received a number of complaints recently about people blocking the main paths with parked cars. Please take note. If any of this applies to you, please take appropriate action to remedy the situation. 

Wind Turbine = Electricity + Defibrillator

Those who pass the shop regularly will have noticed that we now have a wind turbine fixed to the roof of the storage container. The turbine provides electricity to light the shop and, more importantly, electricity to maintain the minimum temperature required to ensure that the defibrillator, which is now fitted on the wall next to the shop door, remains operative during the cold winter months. The acquisition and installation of the defibrillator, turbine and associated equipment has been undertaken by Committee Member Bill Chatband and his colleague Mike both of whom have devoted much time to the project. Thank you Bill and Mike! 

Onsite signage

At long last, and after a degree of persuasion, the Council recently replaced the signs attached to the site gates.  At each main entrance one new sign has now replaced a number of very old, shabby signs that often repeated the same message – improving considerably the initial impression given on entering the site. To maintain this favourable impression, I would ask that only allotment related notices are attached to the gates and that they (and any associated string/ties) are removed completely as soon as they are no longer relevant.  

Site security

Whilst on the subject of gates, I know that during the current pandemic some plot-holders have taken the view that, to reduce ‘unnecessary’ contact, the gates should be left open during the day. I and my fellow Committee members disagree with this strongly as it makes a mockery of the concept of a secure site. If you do not want to touch the gate with bare hands then the obvious solution is to wear a pair of gloves. I would ask everyone to abide by Council Policy and ensure that gates are kept locked at all times. 

Rubbish!

Finally, a plea which we make regularly but which we are forever having to repeat. Please, please, please, do not leave any rubbish, old pallets/wood or unwanted items in the vicinity of the shop - or anywhere else on the site. Last November we had to pay £150 (two months trading profit) to have the wood dumped opposite the shop removed. If you don’t want something then the probability is that nobody else does either so please, take your rubbish home with you. 

2021

Looking forward, and on the assumption that the vaccination programme is successful and is implemented in a timely manner, we intend to hold a plant sale in May and our annual show at the end of August. Dates will be confirmed later so please keep an eye on the noticeboards, website and our emails. Despite the Covid outbreak, last year was a relatively good growing year. Hopefully this year will be even better. The Committee and I hope that as many of you as possible get on to your allotments and take advantage of the many benefits that an allotment has to offer.  

Take care, 

Trevor Stark 

Chairman

Eastney and Milton Allotment Association

What's going on in 2020

Allotment Association Onsite Shop

The shop will close for the season on Sunday 29th November 2020. It will re open in the middle of January.

Letter from Portsmouth City Council 20th November

All members should have received a letter with update of the representations they continue to make on behalf of members to the Government Planning Inspectorate with regards to 'affected persons', the Book of Reference and the ability to make representations at the planning hearings. A copy can be found below.

PCC Letter Pg1 Nov (jpg)Download
PCC Letter Pg2 Nov (jpg)Download

Letter from Portsmouth City Council 20 Oct 2020

All member should now have received a letter from Portsmouth City Council detailing which plots and paths may potentially be impacted by the Aquind project. 


The letter and map (attached below) also detail the process to be used for raising objections to the specific planning requests made by Aquind as mentioned in other updates below.



Eastney and Milton Allotment Holders Association

Portsmouth City Council letter and map as mentioned above.

Map of Milton Allotments and Aquind Interconnector (pdf)Download
PCC Letter page 1 (jpg)Download
PCC Letter page 2 (jpg)Download

Letter from Aquind to our Chairman 20 Oct 2020

Our Chairman has received a letter from Aquind in response to the recent objections raised with regards to the updated planning notices published by Aquind.


Aquind hope to provide clarity in response to concerns raised regarding the potential impact of

the Interconnector Project on the Eastney and Milton Allotments and the adjacent Milton

Locks Nature Reserve. 



Eastney and Milton Allotment Holders Association

Aquind letter as mentioned above.

Final Letter- Allotment Association (20 Oct) (1) (pdf)Download

Aquind Development Update 17 Oct 2020

We recently contacted our members to update them on the latest information that had been released by Aquind with regards to their Inter Connector Cable plans. Together with details on how objections could be raised to the overall plans via the public consultation process. 


Whilst there was very little notice given for this particular part of the process, we still have plenty of time to raise concerns and objections if you are one of the potentially affected plot holders.

 

Portsmouth City Council has been engaged since 2018, posting notices on all the entrance gates as they have received information from Aquind, as well as updating the Association. Aquind has also posted notices on the gates – the first one being in October 2018. As an Association our last contact with members was on 17th November 2019 inviting anyone who was able to attend a meeting with some of the Aquind team onsite on Friday 22nd November 2019.  Details were also posted on the various noticeboards around the site so any plot holders could attend, not just members of the Association.


As an Association we continue to be supported by the City Council and all allotment holders will shortly receive a letter from the Council with the latest updated map from Aquind and detailing which plots may potentially be impacted. It also contains details of the process to raise concerns and objections prior to the consultation hearings in December as well as contacts details for any additional support needed from the Council.


The issue has also raised the issue with the National Allotment Association and their legal team are currently reviewing the documentation released by Aquind.


Eastney and Milton Allotment Holders Association

Aquind Development - updated planning requests released 3rd Oct 2020

 As you are aware, Aquind is looking to lay a cable to supply electricity to the UK from France. The cable is planned to land at Eastney and travel up the eastern side of Portsea Island to the connecting station at Lovedean.


Aquind have asked the Government to approve this scheme using a Development Consent Order (DCO). This removes the ability of Portsmouth City Council to be the decision maker over this scheme. There is an ongoing process where the Secretary of State will ultimately give approval.


Portsmouth City Council has been engaged since 2018 along with other local Councils who are also impacted. The Council are obliged to co-operate with the process but are objecting to the scheme’s planned route.


Aquind has always stipulated that they plan to drill under the Milton Piece allotments – in plans released, public meetings and an onsite meeting at the allotments in 2019.


However, the most recent documents released (if agreed to), would give Aquind the right to clear anything and everything from certain parts of Milton Piece (including car park, shop, toilets, Community Plot) and possibly parts of Eastney Lake. Therefore whilst they may be able to install the cable without disrupting plots, they clearly also want the right to return and gain access to the cable should they need to for maintenance purposes. Which could again involve disruption to plot holders.


The latest plans can be seen here… https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN020022/EN020022-000461-2.2%20Land%20Plans.pdfWith the allotments shown on the final page.


The following link gives the definitions of the colours used on the maps… https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/ipc/uploads/projects/EN020022/EN020022-000477-4.3%20Book%20of%20Reference.pdf. See sections 2.1.1.3 & 2.1.1.5 and 2.7.1.3. 


As an Association we are awaiting a letter from the Council explaining what is happening and what we can do about it in terms of making representations through the Council to the Planning Hearing. They will also be writing directly to all plot holders who may be impacted, particularly as not all plot holders are members of the Association. Our Chairman is also contacting the National Allotment Association (NSALG).


However, in the meantime you can object to the plans on an individual basis, before Tuesday Oct 6th, by emailing aquind@planninginspectorate.gov.uk. You can also ask your local Councillors to object on your behalf and your local MPs.


This impacts a vast majority of the Milton area, so do also join the Keep Milton Green Facebook group for updates on other objections taking place locally.


 Eastney and Milton Allotment Holders Association 

Additional Information

Due to the current Covid19 pandemic there are no more events currently planned for the rest of the year.


The onsite shop is open in line with Government and Portsmouth City Council Guidelines.




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