Feeling bullied off my plot

[Feral007]

Glad to hear the council is looking into it ASAP. Hope you get some joy out of it.
I agree with not doing anything (or saying anything) to set things off. If you have someone who can go down with you, or you can organise to meet that nice neighbour of yours down there so you know you won't be alone then I'd try and make an effort to put in an appearance a bit more often.
And I'd definately get a plan of action for what needs to be done next (starting with the drain being reinstated - I don't know if council will be able to make the neighbour do it or not) but if you have a nice plan put together and laminated even (seeing as it's so wet) it just shows that you are really ready to do what is suitable for this year. I'd prob keep a small file on a usb with what has happened, what you had left done. What has been done since by neighbour - but unless the neighbour who notified you re the spraying is prepared to stand up and say to the council you prob can't use that, and some photos. I'd keep the file just in case it's needed. But I wouldn't look at it too often as you'll only get upset about it if you do.
Onward and upward (and may the rain do the same).

[akashicdevi]

Thanks SarzWix, and Feral007.
The only site rules is the council tenancy agreement and they're not very detailed. We've only been in the process of getting a committee together recently (The vote was in April) and no constitution yet.
The tenancy agreement outlines the rules for eviction. A letter with notice to start cultivating in 28 days (no prescription of how much you need to get done, just "signs of cultivation") and if nothing happens, then a letter with eviction notice.
There is one clause in the council agreement about not being a nuisance to other plotholders, which is still vague and "nuisance" is open to interpretation, but my hunch is that this would fit anyone's definition of it.
The council lady didn't tell me her thoughts, but she sounded surprised. It didn't sound like this has ever happened before. I was thinking about it from a possible landlords perspective and i figured its similar to someone renting out a flat, and while their neighbour is away, they knock the adjoining wall down to make own flat bigger, flood the place, and not tell the landlord, whilst still only paying one rent. I still can't understand what he was thinking myself!!
I agree about some people shouldn't have power. If this is a sign of the future after two months in the job, i'm feeling sick to my stomach that i have to garden next to him. Need to put a permanent high bean trench in as a screen i think.

And I'd definately get a plan of action for what needs to be done next (starting with the drain being reinstated - I don't know if council will be able to make the neighbour do it or not) but if you have a nice plan put together and laminated even (seeing as it's so wet) it just shows that you are really ready to do what is suitable for this year. I'd prob keep a small file on a usb with what has happened, what you had left done. What has been done since by neighbour - but unless the neighbour who notified you re the spraying is prepared to stand up and say to the council you prob can't use that, and some photos. I'd keep the file just in case it's needed. But I wouldn't look at it too often as you'll only get upset about it if you do.
Onward and upward (and may the rain do the same).

Thats a great idea. I've got a zillion plans to be honest but they're all crammed in my head. I was prioritising finishing the clearing of the bindweed bit, but that drainage ditch is now top thing to sort out, It will end up effecting more than just my plot.
Oh, the spraying... They were witnessed doing it. A nice neighbour begged them not to because she knew i was organic and had been opting to go down the slower painful root of digging it all out and sifting. They just did it anyway...
The same person challenged them when he started digging and asked if he knew for definite i wasn't coming back and he just shrugged and said "I don't know".

[Feral007]

Ok I've just got one more thing to say, and hopefully my computer doesn't double post it like it's been doing all morning.

Reading that last post of yours - you need to network a bit more with the neighbours you have already got a good relationship with.
It is a community type thing allotments.
You don't have to live in each others pockets but you can trade phone numbers,
and keep in touch with each other.
If you were up to your allotment one one of your friendly neighbours was sick, called away
for work or family reasons, would you pitch in a little?
Would you be able to call someone and say 'I can't call the council/allotment committee, when they
get going, can you let them know for me?
It doesn't take much to have a friendly network system going if you make the effort to start it.
It's not about having to take over someone else's work, but occasionally doing them a turn, trading
veg, and being able to say - That person is away but will be back and is still using that plot. As opposed to them asking 'Do you know whether they are coming back?'
Just knowing that the plot holders are a loose network of people will make others stop and think before they try to take over.
United they stand - divided they fall is very true in a lot of cases. Nowadays people are often afraid of having too many people close to them. But there's no need, A Hi and Bye, and How's the wife/hubby, chooks n dog, sort of thing takes a minute and a smile.
That would be 1st up there with doing the drain.

[akashicdevi]

Good advice too Feral. I was definitely on good terms with everyone I had met down there, had swopped veg and tips with people, (even the guy i have a problem with. I gave him spare leek and parsley plants last year) but only one non-committee person had my number- the neighbour who tried to intervene. She was single handedly running the site as site secretary until she gave the role up this year. It got "stressful". (This is a lady who single handedly turned the site around from only 5 plots rented and the rest a jungle, to full occupation and everything ticking nicely... she can handle stress, she pretty much saved the site from being earmarked for closure and it had all gotten to the easier stage of keeping it all maintained... so i can't imagine what happened)

Bless her, she was desperately trying to contact me but i was literally out of it for a while. Phone off, lying in a dark room medicated to my eyeballs. I was having acute headaches that lasted months, constantly. Couldn't string a sensible sentence together so even if she'd gotten me i'd have just been able to offer confused gibberish. Was self conscious about that. (And to be honest, last thing i needed to hear at that point was the stress of "your plots been taken over!" ) Had double vision- couldn't see the computer to read emails. Was even getting sudden intermittant blindness which had me too scared to leave the house. I didn't know what to tell anyone anyway, whether it was life threatening or something that i'd get over. It took months of tests for them to rule out everything from brain tumour to MS.

Its fixable. It was all caused by a pinched nerve in my neck from poor posture working at a computer for years that had me craning my neck forward all the time. My neck muscles got weaker & weaker until my neck sorta got stuck in the wrong position and my nervous system went into meltdown.
The physio is brilliant, he cracked my neck back into place and I've got little exercises to build it back up again. There's already been a HUGE improvement. I can use a computer again. I'm already out in the garden pottering when its not bucketing.
AND he is encouraging me to get back into the gardening, as i need all the exercise i can get to build all my muscles back up, because i got very weak with months of inactivity.
All of this - I can supply the proof to the council to explain why i went awol and didn't contact anyone, that its out of character really. its not ideal, i maybe should have gotten someone else to call them and fill them in but... well, retrospect is great. I just wasn't expecting to come back to this either. Live and learn eh? Its been an eye opener for me

[Paulottie]

Stone the crows! If that was a bramble patch you deserve a medal. Well done for going down there too.

Having seen the piccies!! That's not just pinching a bit at the edges but a Hitler style invasion. WTF does he think he is doing. You can't just annex a plot and kill their crops. You have a rental contract on the land.... Chairman or not he needs evicting. Certainly he should not run the site

I am sorry but there is no way you can avoid confrontation on this one. You must not be bullied or feel you don't want to go there. Be strong and stand your ground. Pin the council woman down to time immediately for a visit. Preferably take a friend for support. Builders line and stakes will do...as suggested MARK YOUR PLOT. Take anything belonging to him and return it to his plot. Take more photos for evidence.

[kathycam]

Hi, sorry to hear of your troubles, sounds like the new power may have gone to the chairmens head a bit? And perhaps him taking over your plot was down to ignorance rather than anything bad. I suspect you must be localish to me, my allotment recently got independence. Our site has had a commitee for years and been running itself pretty much, whilst still been overseen by the council. Perhaps it would be useful for your allotment to visit before taking full independence? I know our chairman wouldn't act like that at all. Anyway best wishes with it, I'm sure it will be sorted out.

[bearded bloke]

Good to read your health problems are sorted & on the up & up

Well done on getting on with the pictures,contacting the council & most of all getting the site visit Now you know for sure what has happened to your plot & why you received the letter,but most importantly the council are now aware of the skullduggery & can act accordingly

Now if you can muster one more helping of courage,exercise the plan Zaz mentioned earlier,wander down with the wine & a couple of glasses,chat to the guy in a friendly manner (no need for animosity the council officials will do that for you) casually mentioning the letter that astounded you so much that you called the council office & they arraigned a site visit,check for trouser stains as he walks away

[lottie dolly]

Good grief,you certainly have been throught the wringer,good job they finaly found your problem,i know traped nerves anywere can wreack havock,with the help of peeps on here you will have some degree of support in all things relevant,there is no exuse for him spraying,especially as he was advised,lets hope the lady from council will sort it in record time,then this can be put to bed before next season,hte baddy should be made to put things wright on your plot,you maybe cheesed him of initially because you were doing better than him,how sad to get,


like the last line lol BB

[bearded bloke]

like the last line lol BB

Cheers LD,was as polite as I could word it,will be great if akashicdevi get to him first in an "innocent chat" that will have him stressing until the council contact him (it appeals to my twisted sense of humour)

[Glutton4...]

I still favour boppin' him on the schnoz! Glad you're on the mend.

[Paulottie]

Having seen this story develop i am convinced that I wouldn't give this chap the steam from my wee-let alone a glass of wine. I am sorry, but to remove covering, rotavate and set out crops...you might say 'thank you very much that was so kind of you'...and enjoy the look on his face. think this is beyond a joke.

In this case, Inspite of akashicdevi's wish to avoid 'confrontation'...with moving the path, spraying the fruit patch and doing so in brazen colusion with his committee chronies! this is a takeover bid and WAR!....Victory need to be swift and decisive ... otherwise he will be in a longterm position to make life that miserable that you'll leave anyway....atmospheres and wars of attriction (sp?) are not going to make for an enjoyable growing and recuperation.

I am not saying lose the upper hand by being angry or rude... but certainly plainly ask for an explination and press the issue with the council. Galvinizing a little support from a few neighbours might be good too...(don't whinge tho)

I think this is horrible and feel upset for you so am sure others on site will too.

[zazen999]

The idea of the wine was long before we knew the extent of his behaviour!

I'd be asking the council lady what the process is for an official complaint after seeing what he's actually done.

But I'd still cordon off my plot!

[binley100]

I think I'd mix his wine with a splash of comfrey tea........Am so glad we have hedges (well apart from the phone calls about cutting them I've just had to make )

[Paulottie]

^ couldn't agree more....(for a change Z)

[zazen999]

^ couldn't agree more....(for a change Z)

Easy now PL - you might rupture something.