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WAA Comittee
WILLOWHALE ALLOTMENTS ASSOCIATION (WAA)
Chairman David Huntley
Secretary Ron Austin
Meeting on Tuesday, April 7th 2009
Members Present:
David
Ron
Bob
Percy & Anne
Fred & Edna
Dave Mitchell [New Member]
Apologies:
Yvonne
Tony
Pat
AGENDA
Address by Aldwick Parish Councillor John Bass.
The Chair welcomedJohn Bass who proceeded to give
an enthusiastic and positive reporton the developments
between the Willowhale Farm Residents Association
[WFRA] and Places for People [PfP].
WFRA have now included the allotments and plotholders
within their remit. John reported on the lack of provision
of allotments in the area considering the high level of interest
and the long waiting lists. He went on to report on the question
of ownership of the allotments where there appeared to be
no clear indication from the Land Registry. It appeared that
the original owners were the now-defunct GLC who sometime
in the 70’s had handed the managementover to Arun DC
who then passed them on to North British Housing Association
who were subsequently taken over by PfP.
Cultivation started informally in 1976 when Dave
Mitchell and his Dad started their plots. In 1980
the allotments became official and Fred has
documentation showing he was one of the original
plotholders and has continued ever since. In order
to secure a wide range of support John has written
to Monty Don [Soil Association] and the broadcaster
Alan Titchmarsh. He has also secured the interest
and support of our local MP Nick Gibb who attended
a meeting that was arranged with some of the top
management of PfP some three weeks ago and was
featured in the Bognor Observer. The PfP reps were
surprised to find that all the plots were now being
successfully worked as they had attempted to
portray them as abandoned. Since the consultation
by the developers last year John has collected more
than 200 objections to the proposals for the Estate
including the allotments.
John Bass has suggested two way forward for
the ownership of the allotments:
1. that they be transferred to Aldwick PC but this
could still leave them vulnerable to a council
looking to sell them
2. that they could be placed in a trust administered
by WFRA. They then could be leased back to Aldwick
PC for administration, maintenance and collection of
fees.
This was the preferred solution as it would mean that
no one could sell the land for development at some
future date. Grants could then be applied for from
local councils and the government.
The Nurseries tenancy agreement could serve as a
model for the orderly control of the plots.
At this point there was a proposal for the members to
empower WFRA to act on our behalf in all contacts with
PfP. This was carried unanimously.
Dave Mitchell was appointed liaison with WFRA to
report back.
It was clear that PfP do not own the allotments site but
they still collect rent and we should continue paying to
safeguard our tenancies. PfP are far more than a housing
association; they are national scale developers with a
highly paid management structure and are in the business
of making money.
Since the meeting between WFRA and PfP, PfP have
agreed to withdraw their proposals for the WF Estate
and there will be no planning applications for the next
18 months.
John stressed the openness of WFRA and the
transparency of their activities as listed on their
website which publishes the documentation.
John further suggested that we apply for membership of
a national association such as the National Assoc of
Allotment Holders and Leisure Gardeners. We pointed
out that an approach had been made by the previous
Treasurer but had been rejected on the grounds that we
were on private land and not council property. John
said that he would prefer to make another application through the WFRA on our behalf and we were all
in agreement that he should act on our behalf.
John further argued that we must be positive and not
negative in our dealings with PfP and that all plotholders
should be members of WFRA and at the time it is thought
that two were not and our Chair promised to approach
them to stress the benefits of a united front.
Further money from rentals fees John suggested should be
ring-fenced in order to provide a capital sum for the
improvement of facilities .
John was thanked for his presentation and the Secretary
agreed to pass on any correspondence received from PfP
to John to deal with.
John agreed to write to PfP over the need for fence to be repaired and for a new standpipe for watering.
John reminded us of the date for the WFRA Spring Fair
and could we contribute plants as a donation to the cause.
Thanks to Percy and Anne for refreshments and use
of their conservatory.
As there was no AOB the meeting closed at 5.05 pm.
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