The meeting was opened at 7pm by the Chair, Mrs Yvonne Toon who gave a report outlining the achievements and successes of the Association throughout the past year.
She reported that the 2nd Horticultural Show was held in August and exceeded all expectations with regard to entries and an enjoyable day was had by entrants and visitors alike. During the year the Association has organised a talk by Kelvin Mason on tips on “growing to show” and a trip to the National Amateur Gardening Show at the Bath & West Showground. Members had supported the trading hut throughout the year and although closed at present talks were taking place with various suppliers to obtain even better prices than previously. Yvonne stressed the need for support for the shop. She encouraged members to pass the word to friends and neighbours, even if they were not allotment holders but had a keen interest in gardening, to join as a full or associate member and benefit in purchasing their gardening requirements at excellent prices. Membership also gave the opportunity to obtain discounts at various shops in town.
She outlined how the Association had been involved with SDC in their five year Management Plan and how pleasing it was that the City Area Committee had agreed to make available the sum of £20,000 to fund various works. These included water facilities, notice boards, review of composting arrangements and perimeter fencing of sites. Regular contact with Reg and his team re unkept nuisance plots, evictions, waiting lists, and general maintenance and creation of new plots has taken place and hopefully, the waiting list will drop as new plots are released
Jenny Coleman, Treasurer summarised the financial situation and Councillor John Walsh addressed the meeting, explained his continued involvement with the Association and how a Liaison Panel had been set up with Wardens, the Association and SDC meeting quarterly to discuss and solve various issues as they arose. Reg Williams spoke briefly on the Management Plan and informed the meeting that allotments would come under the new City Council next April.
Yvonne was re-elected as Chair for the forthcoming year and the committee was also re-elected as a whole.
The trading hut off Coldharbour Lane re-opens on 31st January when it will be stocked to the brim with seed potatoes, onions, beans, packet seeds, compost, fertilisers – in fact everything required for the growing season!
