News from the committee

October 2010

Many, many thanks to all those who helped barrow and spread the tarmac on Wednesday. The track looks a lot better. Well done everyone!

The committee has agreed to keep the rent and membership fee unchanged for 2010. No rent increase for the third year running! Please note that the membership fee is currently less than it costs the association per member to join the National Allootment Association (NSALG), so this may have to be increased in years to come, but has been kept as low as possible in these difficult economic times. Rent collection will be in January for 2010. Please see details using this link.


We have received some timely and wise advice from KBC (Kettering Borough Council) on bonfires. Please read it by using this link.

A load of tarmac planings/gravel chippings will be delivered to the Scott Road field on Wednesday 28th October at 8:30 am. All volunteers to help spread them come along at any time after that.

We have also bought new  water troughs for Scott Road field. Anyone able to help install them , please contact Kev, Chris or Russell.

The new secure storage container for Scott Road is up and running. If you want to rent a space, please see Kev for a key.

July 2009

Rabbits have re-appeared on the Scott Road field. Thankfully, one of our members has been able to shoot some of them. Do not be alarmed if you see a man with a shotgun in  early mornings. He is protecting our veg from vermin.

May 2009



April 2009

The AGM was well attended and conducted its business efficiently. Members expressed their concerns about the recent arson attacks on huts at Scott Road. The committee is continuing to liaise with KBC and the Police and is redoubling its efforts to get a fence for this field. A new rule was adopted at the AGM, concerning vermin, such as rats. See the Rules page for details of this.

2009 AGM - 10th March

Annual General Meeting


 The 91st Annual General Meeting of the members of Kettering Allotments Association

was held on Tuesday 10th March 2009 at 7-45pm at the  Corn Market Hall.


To receive the committee report for the year ended 31st December 2008 and the balance sheet as of that date, 
to elect officers and to transact the general business of the association.

There are vacancies on the committee.
The following members retire and are eligible for re-election: -
B Mitcheson, G Elson, N Elson, T Munt, R Attwood, S Munt, D Johnson.

new members have been nominated for election:-

S.Ludwig, C.Hulston, N Glazebrook

Further nominations should reach the secretary by 4 pm on Monday 9th March

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email pumpkinking@ntlworld.com                   R.Attwood, Secretary

December 2008

You should be receiving your rent reminders and tenancy renewal agreements now. Please phone Dai or Russell if you have not received them by the end of December. It is very important that you fill in and sign the tenancy agreement. Send the agreement and your cheque for rent and membership fee to D. Johnson, 174 St John's Road, Kettering NN15 5AT

Download a spare form here

October 2008

Arrangements are being made for the 2009 rent collection. This will be due in January.
You will be invited to renew your tenancy by post. You will be asked to sign a form agreeing to our rules and returna cheque to the treasurer by 31st January at the latest. Cheques should be made payable to Kettering Allotments

If you don't have a cheque book account, you will be able to sign and pay on Friday 9th January between 6 -8pm at the Corn Market Hall.

Rents have not changed, full rate is £2.00 per pole and OAP rate is £1.50 per pole.

Annual subscription is £1.00 per member.

September 2008

Allotment Members urged to report vandalism.

Allotment members in Kettering are being urged to report all incidents of vandalism to the Police and get an incident number. A recent spate of criminal damage has affected many gardeners on several of the fields in Kettering. Members of Kettering Allotment Association have had crops chopped up, sheds broken into, glass smashed and even some chickens have been killed.

When the association secretary contacted the police to ask for extra patrols, they were very supportive and PCSOs are now including allotment fields in their patrols. However, it was disappointing to note that the victims have not all reported these crimes and obtained incident numbers from the Police.

It is essential that all crimes are reported and incident numbers obtained in of for the Police to be able to monitor the situation and plan their patrols.


AUGUST 2008

Hosepipe rule reminder for Northfield Avenue
It seems that some members of Northfield Avenue allotments were not aware of the hosepipe rule (Rule 12 - see rules on this website). It is forbidden to use a hosepipe to irrigate land or crops, and if any member does so, they will face disciplinary action. If anyone has any queries about this, contact the secretary.

New fences for Northfield Avenue and Windmill Avenue

Thanks to officers at Kettering Borough Council, we have new boundary fences and repairs to the old fences at the above two sites. It certainly improves the appearance of the allotment fields when viewed from the road. This work was paid for by KBC, and was no cost to the allotment association. A replacement gate is exoected to be intalled at Windmill Avenue in the near future.

Vandals at Margaret Road

Vandal watch at Margaret Road. One of our members has responded to recent vandal problems at Margaret Road by keeping watch from their car at the gate in early evenings. This has already prevented several youths from climbing the gate. Please emailthe following address if you are able to help:-

Dkn72a@aol.com



Rat problems at Scott Road – July 2008

Several members have expressed concerns about rats at Scott Road. There has been a population explosion recently. We have taken the following action so far:-

•    We called in the pest control officer from Kettering Borough Council. He has placed poison bait in carefully chosen places.
•    The pest control officer is re-visiting to follow up.
•    Some of the bait is in long pieces of drain pipe, to prevent dogs, birds and other wildlife accidentally eating it. Please take care to avoid this bait.
•    Some allotment members have been setting traps and shooting rats with air rifles.
•    We are liaising with members with poultry and their neighbouring plot holders.
•    We continue to monitor the situation closely and the matter is on the agenda of the committee meeting this August.


Please email us if you have any comments or suggestions.


MAY 2008

Good news from KBC!  We have been awarded a grant to improve the fencing along the roadways at the Northfield avenue and Windmill Aevenue sites. Work will be carried out in the near future. Unfortunately our application to the Big Lottery Fund local food grant was unsuccessful. This was for fencing and gates at the Scott Road site. We are considering our options and await news of other applications in the pipeline.

Other news from the committee....



April 2008
The AGM was a success. The accounts are all in order and new consitution and grievance procedures were agreed. If you have any metters you wish the committee to consider, please ask your field steward to bring them to the meeting.
The field stewards and committee work hard to reduce any waiting lists and keep our fields fully let and fully worked. In 2008 we obtained a new piece of land from Kettering Borough Council to extend the Silver Acre (Scott Road) field. This added 20 more plots and cleared our waiting list. It was very hard work applying for grants to clear the land, getting it ploughed and measured out and organising rotovating of the soil.

At other times, the only way to reduce the waiting list is to remove an existing tenant. This is done with due process, following our rules. Occasionally a member/tenant informs us when he/she can longer continue, but often it is the field stewards who notice that a plot has become neglected. Enquiries have to be made (sometimes the tenant is ill, or another genuine reason) and opportunities are given for the tenant to clear the plot of weeds and cultivate the land according to the rules. This usually takes a few weeks or months.



March 2008

The Annual General Meeting is on Tuesday March 18th at 7.45pm at the Corn Market Hall. This is you chance to meet the committee, see the accounts and ask questions.

February 2008

We have now cleared and ploughed the new extra field at Silver Acre (Scott Road) and are letting out plots to those on the waiting list. A few plots are still available, if you want to start, now is the ideal time. Contact us for more information.


June 2007
Competition!

The Bradstock Cup
is awarded to the member with the best plot. The committee appoints judges who award the cup on the basis of following the Scociety Rules, keeping their allotment in good condition and growing a diverse range of plants. The judging will be done during July 2007.


New-Comer Awards

Certificates are awarded to those new members who have made an impressive start. Any new member since September 2006 is eligible. Judging will be in August 2007.


May 2007
The committee made an important decision at its May meeting. We agreed to join the NSALG (National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners. This will bring important benefits, such as
Watch this space for the details as we action this decision......

Free Water Buts!!!

The Secretary has negotiated a large number  of free water buts for us. We only have to arrange transport. If you have a contact with a truck or large van, please phone the Secretary on 01536 483398



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Changes to rent collection 2007 and 2008 - now ratified by AGM in March 2007

The committee agreed at its meeting in October 2006 to change the system of rent collection as detailed below. This is to make it easier to rent out plots that have not been paid for to new members before it is too late in the season for the new member to get much done.
Detailed reasons are listed below:-

1. Our association's accounts financial year is Jan-Dec
2. The Council is charging us extra rent for the field and this will make it easier to budget
3. Currently, if members do not pay in March, they are given until April to pay before they lose their plot and it may be re-let. However, by the time this is confirmed, Spring is already underway and weeds have grown on the untended plot, so the new member has much more work. The new member has also lost out on some valuable growing time in their first season. With the new system from 2008, we shall be able to confirm that a member has given up and re-let the plot to someone on the waiting list before the Spring season.



First change

That the annual subscription be increased to £1 per year, with effect from March 2007.


Second change

That with effect from 2008, the rental period be changed to January 1st - December 31st. Rent collection day(s) will be some time in January. Any plot not paid for by 1st February may be re-let to another member. The field stewards will be able to check all unpaid plots in February and re-let them before the Spring.

Third change

That rent for a new member taking on a vacant plot from September 1st 2007 onwards be reduced to half the annual rate. The full year's rent will then be due in the following January.
All of the above were put to the AGM in March 2007 and adopted after due process of voting.



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