- Mar 27, 2024
One matter discussed at the CPAGA-Merton meeting of 31 January 2024 was the problem of the management of non-green waste at the Site. Committee Members have, once again, brought the current and growing problem to the attention of the Allotment Administrator and Merton's Waste Enforcement team. The source of the waste is unknown but is suspected to be from both plot holders and non-plot holders. The origin of some of the waste is clearly outside of the Site.
Committee Members had identified that idverde's published contractual obligation was expressed in these terms: "The Contractor shall clear waste bays on allotments sites in Merton on a bi-monthly basis.", without any qualification about the content of the waste bays. However, idverde has asked that the waste bays not be used for non-green waste - notwithstanding that Merton's signs at the Site state: "Please place all rubbish - green and non-green waste - in the Rubbish Bay opposite."
Previous attempts by the Committee to report the non-green waste as fly tipping failed, as Merton removed those reports as soon as they were posted, without explanation. The Parks Team understood that Merton would not accept reports of fly tipping at allotment sites. However, Merton's Senior Enforcement and Inspection Officer (Interim) has now confirmed that an officer has been asked to investigate the non-green waste that can be attributed to a specific address outside of the Site.
There also appeared to be problems of communication. Plot holders new to the Site, seeking to clear existing non-green waste from their plots, reported that they had been told by the Allotment Administrator to dump the non-green waste elsewhere on the Site. This would have been appropriate only if idverde had made arrangements to clear the non-green waste soon afterwards.
- Mar 26, 2024
One matter discussed at the CPAGA-Merton meeting on 31 January 2024 was the experiment with combination locks at the two pedestrian gates to the Site. From the perspective of the Committee, the experiment was a failure as the locks were difficult for some to use - in particular, for people with eyesight problems or at dusk. There had been reports of people without a torch being trapped in the Site as dusk had fallen. The lock at the North gate had been damaged soon after its introduction, losing the button on the slider. Further, in practice, some people left the locks on their combination.
The lock at the South gate is now broken. A member of the Comittee has brought that to the attention of the Allotment Administrator, who has said that she has made arrangements for the broken lock to be replaced with an equivalent.
- Mar 26, 2024
One matter discussed at the CPAGA-Merton meeting on 31 January 2024 meeting was the repair and management of the brook ditch that runs along the western boundary of the Site. The water flowing along the ditch, when it is able to flow, eventually drains into Beverley Brook. Merton used to periodically clear the ditch of overgrown vegetation and dredge it, to keep it free flowing. This has not happened now for a number of years. In addition, the builders of a housing block on Coombe Lane have laid pipes along the ditch and pumped from their excavations beside the brook into the ditch, further adversely affecting its drainage. The Committee understands that damage to the ditch has increased the incidence of flooding of neighbouring plots.
During 2023, the Parks Team commissioned a report into the ditch as part of a wider investigation into the relationship between the Site and the neighbouring site.
The Committe understand that surveyors instructed by Merton were on the Site on 26 March 2024, looking at the ditch and its condition.
