The Allotments Committee oversees the general management and maintenance of the allotment site and its tenants. This is a standing committee consisting of all parish councillors who have voting rights and two co-opted non-councillor members appointed in an advisory role with no voting rights. Meetings take place four times per year (March/June/September/December), on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.00 p.m.
The Ashington Coal Company began building a modern mining village in Lynemouth in 1921: "In addition to his front garden, each workman is entitled to an allotment, which can be used for keeping poultry, pigeons and other such things that a miner's heart delights in, as well as for raising garden produce. These allotments are situated some distance away from the houses in order that the residential portion of the estate may be kept tidy and free from unsightly erections. An area of 10 acres has been devoted to this purpose, each allotment comprising 484 sq. yards". Source: Colliery Engineering - August 1927.
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ALLOTMENT GARDEN FIRES
A bonfire must not be allowed to create a nuisance to other tenants or neighbours. Complaints about bonfires will be investigated and can result in a fixed penalty notice, legal action, and the termination of the allotment tenancy. It is illegal to burn waste from a commercial activity or to burn construction or demolition waste. Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service has suggested that anyone proposing to start an allotment garden fire should first inform their control room at: 01670 627599.
PAYING YOUR ANNUAL ALLOTMENT RENT
ALLOTMENT RENTS for 2023/24 will be due on Saturday 4th February 2023 but payment can be made in advance. The Parish Council has taken the decision that the collection of allotment rents will be done without recourse to cash payments as far as possible. Allotment holders are not expected to attend in person to pay their rent. The Parish Council is encouraging tenants to avoid using cash or cheque and to use contactless payment options to reduce the risk of transmission of infection and protect the health and safety of everyone involved.
THERE ARE VARIOUS WAYS THAT YOU CAN PAY
You MUST quote a reference for payment (name of allotment holder or plot number).
Online banking - electronic transfer can be made directly to the Council's account.
Standing Order payment. Anyone with a current account at a bank or building society in the UK can give a Standing Order instruction to make an automated payment.
Bank Transfer, Standing Order, Faster Payment, BACs using the account details supplied to individual tenants.
Postal cheques - quote a reference on reverse and send to: [address supplied to all individual tenants].
You cannot pay using a credit/debit card.
If you have any queries about paying your annual allotment rent, please contact the Parish Clerk on 07541 774763 or email: lynemouthparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk
SHOULD ANY ALLOTMENT HOLDER ALLOW THEIR RENT TO BE IN ARREARS AFTER SATURDAY 4th FEBRUARY 2023, THEN THAT TENANT MAY RECEIVE ONE MONTH’S NOTICE IN WRITING TO QUIT.
COMPULSORY MICROCHIPPING IN HORSES
Since 1st October 2020, owners or keepers of a horse, pony or donkey, now have a legal obligation to make sure that their animal is microchipped, registered with the Central Equine Database (CED) and that the details are kept up to date, and owners who fail to get their horses electronically chipped could face sanctions from their local authority and even a fine. The Parish Council has agreed that unannounced inspection visits by an animal welfare officer from Northumberland County Council (NCC) to provide enforcement of animal welfare legislation will take place in the coming months to enforce the legislation for non-compliance at the allotment site.
WATER CHARGES
The ground rent does not include any extra for the supply and use of free mains water. A major cost is water charges which are metered and have increased substantially over the past few years. The Parish Council treats allotments as a recreational activity and subsidises their provision but a separate charge (cost recovery) for water per plot may be considered at any time in the future.
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ALLOTMENTS: COVID-19 EMERGENCY MEASURES
IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT that anyone attending the allotments takes care to stay the appropriate distance from others, avoid body contact and wash hands at taps, do not wash hands or use detergents in the water tanks.
It is essential that no un-authorised people are allowed onto the plots for the duration of this emergency. The Parish Council's policy is that the security barrier at the allotment site must be locked at all times as people go in and out to help prevent unauthorised access.
Any plot-holder who is self isolating because a household member is ill with corona-virus should NOT be visiting the site.
Keep hand sanitiser in your shed and wash your hands regularly
Use hand sanitiser before opening and after closing any gate locks
Wash hands when you get home
Do NOT gather together for a chat even if you are 2 metres apart
Observe “social distancing” with each other 2-3 metres
If you take your children to the plot, ensure that they stay within its confines and do not run around on communal paths and spaces
Do not share tools
Minimise the contact with each other, for example no handshakes
Do not wash your hands in water troughs
It is recommended that any communal facilities are closed.
Bonfires - consider neighbours and do not burn anything during this covid-19 emergency. The site is surrounded by houses where vulnerable people may be getting their only bit of fresh air through an open window.
HOW TO APPLY FOR AN ALLOTMENT
If you would like to be added to the allotment waiting list, or require any information regarding the allotments, please contact the Parish Clerk who is the designated Allotments Officer - email: lynemouthparishcouncil@hotmail.co.uk
