Where Is The Big Heap, and how did it arise?
The very large pile – mainly of fly tipping – is on the southwest part of plot 50. Other parts of plot 50’s historic area have been, by proper process and recognised by the Council, assimilated into adjoining plots 48a and 48b, and the ever-growing heap is now encroaching on their long-suffering tenants – besides being an eyesore and source of weed nuisance to them.
The heap arose because some years ago, the then PPAA Committee had the well-intentioned idea – as an experiment – of using this plot’s shady portion as a collective composting heap. The idea was that volunteers would process the compost – as it rotted – into a useful product, and that it would be kept under control. However, it quickly became clear that the huge amounts of waste rapidly dumped there – and its containing general rubbish and not just biomass – could not be processed in that way, and so the experiment was abandoned – as publicised several times in previous Committee Minutes.
Human nature and wishful thinking being what it is though, along with the genie being well and truly out of its bottle, and thanks to a safety-in-numbers sense, quite numerous tenants have continued to fly tip their waste on this heap, rather than to comply with Provision 17 of their Tenancy Agreement.
It’s as well to make clear, that PPAA Committee would be acting completely beyond their powers if they purported or implied that they were able to waive any term in tenants’ Agreements. It’s perhaps the case then, with hindsight, that this experiment implied just that.
So to be absolutely clear once again, there are no collective composting areas anywhere on the PPA site, and people who tip their waste anywhere other than on their own plots or remove it from site are simply fly-tipping. This needn’t cause a serious difficulty for anyone however. During the growing season, Cardiff Council collect garden waste from domestic properties and they will, within reason, empty any number of the large white woven bags. PPAA Committee know of at least one plot holder who does not have a car, and who uses a cycle trailer to take their waste vegetation home for disposal in this manner.
What is proposed to be done?
PPAA Committee have decided to pay private contractors to remove the waste. It appears that two may be required – one to deal with the unrotted, “green” waste, and another to remove that which resembles soil. The cost will likely be well into four figures, so it will use a large slice of PPAA’s Annual Grant.
It is proposed to display notices on both gates, as well as by the site of the former heap itself, reminding all plot holders that there are no collective compost facilities, and that all such fly-tipping must cease promptly. The freed space will either be offered to the tenants of adjoining plots 48a and 48b, or form a reinstated plot 50 – in part or whole. So the land should become privately occupied in short order. All plot holders are expected therefore, to show it the due respect that they would for any other such occupied plot.
