Month: January 2023

… Manure Lovers

Your reliably hawk-eyed website reporters – you know we are – spotted this morning that there was an ongoing delivery of manure to site, so it would appear that the last delivery was not – as had been thought possibly the case – a one off.

…But Not Fly Tippers

Some plot holders have been adding materials to the hedge by the spine road. In some – but not all – cases this has been done responsibly, with lopped branches having been woven into it to increase security at weak points, supplementing the hard work being done by volunteers in this respect.

However, someone has also been adding constructional scrap timber, which is unsightly and, if anything, makes the hedge easier to climb.

PPAA are sorry if this was well-intentioned, but could the person(s) responsible kindly please stop doing this? It really is no more than fly tipping, and if it continues then the appropriate action will have to be taken.

Volunteers have removed it, and it’s now by the poly tunnel. It’s in fair condition and we hope that someone might be able to use it.

The Website Team understand that the following MailChimp email announcement has been distributed to plot holders who consented to email contact by Dan Phillips, PPAA Committee Polytunnel Co-ordinator and MailChimp Controller:

PPAA Expressions Of Interest For Polytunnel Beds 2023

You may be aware from the October Committee minutes that, as part of the work to improve site-wide facilities, the PPAA Committee agreed proposals to increase use of the polytunnel by building additional beds for plot holders, reducing storage in the polytunnel by utilising the adjacent shipping containers, while also retaining areas for plant sale preparation.

The key elements agreed were:

• The beds will be allocated for the growing season 1st March to 31st January to broadly align with plot tenancies (2nd Feb to 1st Feb) and allow bed holders to maximise use of beds over winter.
• The ballot will be held in February each year.
• We are moving to an allocation for two growing seasons (March to January) with 6 beds to be allocated for 24 months each year. As part of the transition, for 2023 the existing beds will be allocated for 12 months and the additional 6 beds (which will be built by a working group over the next month) will be allocated for 24 months.
• Conditions for entry to the ballot:
  • Entrants must be a PPAA plot holder with a valid council tenancy agreement for the coming year and be a paid-up member of the PPAA (£5.00 annual subs).
  • Only the plot holder named on the tenancy may apply and only one application per plot is allowed.
  • Successful candidates cannot sublet or transfer their plots to other plot holders.
  • A new ballot will be held each season. Half the beds will be allocated and drawn each year. If a bed becomes vacant during its allocated term it will be reallocated for the remainder of the term.
  • Successful applicants will be charged £5 pa towards polytunnel upkeep.
  • Should a successful candidate cease to be a tenancy holder then their grow bed will be forfeit and reallocated.
• In the event of a large number of applications, applicants who have already had a grow bed for two consecutive seasons will be ineligible for the draw.

Expressions of interest are sought from PPAA plot holders who meet the criteria. A single draw will be held for the current and new grow beds. As part of moving to a two-year allocation, the 6 existing beds will be allocated for 12 months and additional 6 beds that will be built by the working group over the next month will be allocated for 24 months. Volunteers are sought to build the 6 new beds and the other works.

Expressions of interest are requested by 1st February. To express interest and enter the 2023 draw, please message the Committee and confirm you accept the conditions above and include:

• Name
• Plot number
• PPAA subscriber for 2023/24
• Council tenancy fees paid for 2023/24
• Whether able to join polytunnel working party.

The draw will be held by 8th February and beds will be allocated from 1st March.

If you haven’t paid your subs yet, BACS transfer is the easiest way to pay, and the Committee’s preferred option. Further details here.

PPAA Committee

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PPA Website Team

Unfortunately for the site, the old mill stream from Llandaf runs under the PPA site road by the old clubhouse and then finally emerges by the Mill House – the private property behind the Riding School. The manhole ‘blows’ when the pressure of water gets too much e.g. with the current continuous heavy rainfall, and especially if there’s any obstruction further downstream. 

The Council have been made aware of the issue more times than I can count, and it’s – apparently – a work in progress, hindered by the fact that the cost of any remedial works spans the responsibilities of several different Council departments

The PPAA Committee would obviously advise caution in approaching this area at the moment. However at least the manhole cover isn’t in the culvert, so either it didn’t fall in, or, if it did, then someone has retrieved it. If so, then PPAA Committee express their sincere gratitude once again.

Sue Jones, PPAA Committee

While We Are Here

As an update on general website matters, we’d remind WordPress subscribers that although they’re notified of new items on the notice board and blog page, they’re not informed of updates to other website pages, of new ones published, and so on. There’s no direct connection between MailChimp and this website, though shared formal publications are arranged in consultation with PPAA Committee as appropriate.

In the interests of keeping the menu as navigable as possible – particularly for ‘phone users – some inactive pages which attract few views have been unpublished, and future items under those headings will be returned to this, the Notice Board and Blog page. If visitors considered that there were a continuing need for any of them, then they could easily be re-published, however.

Such work’s a continuing process, and so all are encouraged to browse the whole site from time-to-time.

PPA Website Team

Wendy wishes all a happy New Year, and reminds us that our subscriptions for 2023 PPAA membership are now due – payment advice is here.

She’s also renewed insurance for the year.