Page 59 - ALG Issue 3 2022

He would clear it with Gemma, get the work done by the company with the lowest bid, provide evidence it had all been done and then Gemma would make the payment direct from the grant fund to the company. At no time did any money pass through our allotment account.
The big job, of course, was turning the overgrown rubbish tip into seven plots. And before we could do anything, we needed to clear all the brambles, weeds, builders’ rubble, cans, bottles and plastic. The lowest bid for this part of the work had been made by a company, LJR Garden Services, run by one of our members. Elliot and his team set about cleaning up the mess.
Once the jungle had been cleared, Neath Construction brought in some plant and turned what was quite a steep slope in places into two levels. Unable to go back the way they had slid in,
they had to dig a way out for the heavy machine, but in doing so created a new path and entrance.
The total cost for the work done by both companies, begun in December 2020 and finished in March 2021, was £6,400, and Mike, who had acted as project manager, was now able to measure out seven new plots.
We also had to build paths, put up some fencing and install gates at the new entrance, so we used the remaining money set aside for the work to buy 10 tonnes of chippings, 200m of 100mm
x 20mm timber, four rolls of weed membrane and five Heras fence panels. The same team as before, led again by Clive, got the job done.
Two problems remained. First, the soil was very poor: clay and stones. So, we used grant money to buy 30 tonnes of top soil from Zoar’s Pond and Garden Centre, delivered on 14th February 2022 at a total cost of £1,500.
There was also an area of knotweed in the south-west corner. The best tender for this work was the council itself, the Swansea Council Parks Department. The manager, Chris Waters, came up and did the first spray in June 2021. A second and third spray will take place this June and next. They are confident the area can be used after that, but frustratingly until then one plot is out of action.
We turned our attention to the steps at the Kinley Street entrance. After Mike had conducted the very detailed risk assessment required, Neath Construction removed the existing steps, put in reinforced concrete ones with a change in direction halfway for safety and erected handrails. The job was started on 4th December and finished on 9th December 2021.
The best price we had for our final work, a 12m x 4m x 3.5m shed, was from Seven Sisters Sawmill (Sheds) who said they would deliver and erect it for £3290. To our surprise we first had to
The big job, of course, was turning the overgrown rubbish tip into seven plots. And before we could do anything, we needed to clear all the brambles, weeds, builders’ rubble, cans, bottles and plastic
get planning approval.
We paid the £230 fee and Mike provided the necessary information, including a large-scale block plan. Then Mike, Simon, Adam, Justin and former member Dai cleared the old shed, filling two skips (£500), and Clive created a base from 4 tonnes of chippings, 20 paving slabs, one roll of weed membrane, 40m of 150mm x 20mm timber and four bags of postcrete (total cost £420).
Seven Sisters came and did a great job; Clive (again) built a step and we’re going to coat the shed in wood preserver.
There are still things we’d like to improve about the allotment, but the whole site has been transformed. And most importantly seven new plots have been created when, as we all know and are glad to see, more and more people appreciate and want an allotment.
Our thanks to our suppliers and all the companies who did the work: Exall & Jones, LJR Garden Services, Neath Construction, Zoar’s Pond and Garden Centre and Swansea Council Parks Department.
And especially, of course, to the grant providers who made it happen: Church in Wales Community Grant, Swansea Council, Social Farms and Gardens and the Welsh government.
The Committee of Eastside Allotments
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 59