- Dec 2, 2018
Following Merton's decision to turn off the water supply to the Site over Winter (see news item, 29 October 2018), by majority vote, the Management Committee has decided to lock access to the Shop's toilet block from today, the end of the season.
When the water supply is off, the toilets do not flush and, due to the actions of some inconsiderate users, become foul and unusable. That has happened during November. This is despite the attempts of the Committee to encourage considerate use.
When they are available and flushing, the toilets are kept clean by volunteers. It is not fair to expect or ask those volunteers to deal with the foul state of the non-flushing toilets.
The Committee knows that people visiting the Site during Winter value the availability of flushing toilets. If plotholders are concerned about the consequences of Merton's policy, a point of contact is the Merton Cabinet Member for Community and Culture, currently Councillor Nick Draper (St Helier ward).
- Dec 1, 2018
In recent days, a number of sheds on the Site were broken into and things were reported as taken from some of the sheds. The nature and extent of the damage suggests that the break-ins were systematic.
Please can plotholders with sheds check your sheds as soon as you can. Although it might not be as convenient if tools and any items of value are not stored in your shed, it is worth thinking carefully about the possible risks of storing such items in your shed.
- Nov 25, 2018
If you see someone block the bays, tell them "Please, stop!" Volunteers arrange free manure for the benefit of all plotholders. If the manure bay is blocked, deliveries cannot be made and the stables go elsewhere. All users of free manure suffer.
Last week, whether as a result of fly tipping or good intentions not thought through, large amounts of shredded tree waste were dumped in front of CPAGA's garage door and the manure bay. Volunteers had to spend their Sunday with shovels and barrows to clear the blockage. If you see somebody block the CPAGA garages, tell them "Please, stop!" If the garage doors cannot be opened, all plotholders who want to buy cheap compost, manure or fertilizers from the Shop suffer.
Under their agreements with Merton, each plotholder promises to not deposit any vegetable matter, refuse, or rubbish of any description on any land beyond the boundary of his or her own plot and to not obstruct any path set out by Merton for the use of plotholders. That includes the land and paths immediately in front of the bays and garages. If you see somebody breaking that promise, please ask them to stop and think again.
If any plotholder would like advice about how to compost green waste on their plot, do contact the Management Committee. Books and advice on composting are available in the Shop on Sunday mornings.
