Last year (April 2024), Bolton Council agreed to pay the electricity bill for the amenity hut. Sapling Road is a statutory allotment site and is a “Class A” allotment. Bolton Council provide services to tenants on the site, namely, water, flush toilets and an amenity hut (with electric). The services provided by the Council are included in your rent. “Class B” allotments have water but no toilets and “Class C” allotments have no toilets or water and are charged a lower rent due to a lack of service provision. For some reason lost in the mists of time, Sapling Road Allotment Society had paid the electricity bill in the amenity hut for years and while Bolton Council agreed to take over the payment of the electricity bill last year, they “forgot” to pay the bills, and, as a consequence, the electricity meter has been removed by Eon Next.

The Council were unaware of this removal, but have now been informed and have told us that the meter will be restored. Bolton Council are waiting for an installation date and will pass this onto us as soon as they receive notification. The average cost of electricity in the amenity hut works out at around £6 per annum per tenant.