allotment taken away - conclusion (of sorts) post 668 onwards

[kiwirach]

i cant read that article at all sorry.....dont know how to enlarge these photo box thingies that come up when you click on a piccie.
any chance of a cut and paste job? or outlining the major points of the piece.

[BrideXIII]

i cant read that article at all sorry.....dont know how to enlarge these photo box thingies that come up when you click on a piccie.
any chance of a cut and paste job? or outlining the major points of the piece.

click on the attatchemnt pic, then when it comes up double click it ,it will open in a new window of its own, then you can use the mouse to enlarge it.

[kiwirach]

click on the attatchemnt pic, then when it comes up double click it ,it will open in a new window of its own, then you can use the mouse to enlarge it.

thanks for that bride...i didnt know you could do that.

[BrideXIII]

thanks for that bride...i didnt know you could do that.

well us computer geeks, you know........... i found out by accident

[tricky]

believe me when i say ive had no contact from the council either an apology , an offer of my plot back and as carlseawolf points out it wouldnt surprise me if they tried it again.
The only information ive had is from the scunthorpe telegraph. just been to tell my oh that we claim seperate and live seperate what a joke . i shall rise above it

[BrideXIII]

you continiue to amaze me, Tricky, i would be in hiding by now, but I must say, although we don't know you personally, others that do have posted in your support, so keep us in the loop, its been a real pleasure to have been able to help in some way

[FionaH]

The just been to tell my oh that we claim seperate and live seperate what a joke . i shall rise above it

Shame that one person had to get nasty, but theres always one Tricky. 1/100 supportive posts is nowt. As you said rise above and all that

[MaureenHall]

I've had an email reply from the newspaper.

Dear Maureen

Please see below news release below that explains action the council has taken about the allotment issue with Mr Baxter. Hopefully this answers your concerns.


Sarah Williamson
Senior Media Relations Officer
North Lincolnshire Council
Tel: 01724 296353
Mobile: 07717586353


N EWS

F ROM N ORTH L INCOLNSHIRE C OUNCIL North Lincolnshire Council - Home

PR 3733 7 November 2008

Deputy Leader calls for action after allotment error

Deputy Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, Len Foster, has called for more robust admin systems are put in place to help avoid communication errors to allotments holders.


Just last week, the council apologised for an admin error that meant a few people did not receive their letters informing them that the council intended to take back their allotment because they’d been neglected.


The council will now make improvements to its admin systems. It has also agreed to offer those affected new allotments on the same site – as a priority.


Cllr Len Foster, Deputy leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said:


"First I want to apologise for the inconvenience caused. The normal procedure is for the council to write to allotment holders informing them of the problems and of the date the tenancy will be terminated. But on this occasion, this did not happen. And that is unacceptable.


"What I want to see in place are better procedures to avoid this happening again. And as a goodwill gesture, I’m prepared to offer the allotment back to those affected and we are now in the process of contacting these people.


"But we must not forget that we intended taking them back for a very good reason. So there is a condition attached, that they must maintain the allotments and be subject to the usual inspections. And if we find that they continue to flout the regulations, we won’t hesitate to take them back."

For further information please contact: Sarah Williamson on 01724 296353

sarah.williamson@northlincs.gov.uk

[zazen999]

I've avoided responding for fear of swearing, but what really 'got' me was that they are insinuating that the plots were overgrown and out of time...when they were paid up until April. ie that the plot holders were in the wrong when it doesn't appear that they were.

Managed that without spitting feathers...phew

[ailsasyl]

So I am reading this right they have no warning, tidy up or else letter first? I've not got an allotment but from what I've read thought it was common practice before taking them off people

[smallblueplanet]

Two things really, one, as you say 'are plot-holders' given a warning and two, who decides what 'that they must maintain the allotments and be subject to the usual inspections' means? As SewerRat says earlier he grows weeds as well as crops...does everything have to look pretty-pretty then?

Is there a 'rule book' where these things are set out, so tricky doesn't fall foul of them again?

[mapcr77]

Is GYO going to follow up on the story?

If Tricky does get his plot back it would be a triumph for the Grapevine comminity that should be celebrated!

[jackie j]

Just tried to leave a comment but couldnt. Bride have you read the messagr from dave he would like you to tell him the name of the online comunity that is supporting tricky.

[kiwirach]

quoted from above...."But we must not forget that we intended taking them back for a very good reason. So there is a condition attached, that they must maintain the allotments and be subject to the usual inspections. And if we find that they continue to flout the regulations, we won’t hesitate to take them back."

.......................

so whoever is deciding which plots are overgrown and neglected doesnt know how to identify vegetables, fruits and weeds then?. tricky stated clearly he had things growing on his plot. sure, maybe some of the others may well be overgrown and neglected like there are on my allotment site, but by all accounts, trickys wasnt one of them.
this whole thing just stinks!.

[maytreefrannie]

Two things really, one, as you say 'are plot-holders' given a warning and two, who decides what 'that they must maintain the allotments and be subject to the usual inspections' means? As SewerRat says earlier he grows weeds as well as crops...does everything have to look pretty-pretty then?

Is there a 'rule book' where these things are set out, so tricky doesn't fall foul of them again?

I've also got the reply email from the Council - like you, I feel they are implying that the plot was not or may not have been kept as it should. Whereas it seems Tricky's plot was being maintained - I feel they should step up and apologise and I hope they do, not use this fuzzy language to cover their backs.

I'd like to know, like you, what they mean - for instance, does having a few clumps of nettles - which are highly nutritious and will grow anywhere as soon as you turn your back - put you in their bad books? And why were they selective - as it appears they left other plots which were less well kept alone?