Plot hijacking or just poor record keeping?

[David]

hi all,

Having had a bad back for a week I hadnt been up the plot so on saturday last I was up there at 6.30 am with lots to do and plant. Imagine the shock I got when I found that someone had cut my grass edges and cleared some remaining winter rubbish from one end.

They had also pulled up my purple sprouting, put up wigwams using my canes, planted them with runner beans and elsewhere planted courgettes and sowed carrots.

All in the beds I had prepared on my rotation plan for other things!

Practically speechless I left notes with my number on for the mystery gardener to call and slunk off home.

Soon enough a pleasant chap called to tell me he had rented the plot from the council and he and his wife were beavering away. He was very disapponted to find I was still in residence and he would likely have to move off. No point in us falling out as neither of us it seemed were to blame.

Monday morning came profuse apologies from the council, no argument that I was the rightful 'owner' and a promise that they would be more careful in future. Why they didnt just check with the warden and spot that I had lots of stuff growing I dont know or why this new chap didnt think it strange that they were giving him a plot obviously under cultivation.

The post script and what turns this into a cautionary tale is that one of my neighbours who has been there a long time has told me that this has happened regularly over the years and I am the third one so far this year!

Watch your backs........

David

[peterf]

david, consider yourself very lucky i will quite gladly give him and her board and lodgings to beaver away on my plot up here in co durham.as long as when they've finished i can send them back down to you

[Compo]

It would make my blood boil, in true Mr Angry Style. but gotta feel sorry for them too, we have 22 plots in a small village and manage it on behalf of the parish council who leave us completely to it. I am vice chair of the association and know everyone on site, but I bet it is different for you
David, where you are, a good case for cutting out the council bureaucracy nonsense, the more they do the worse it gets in my opinion.

Power to the people!!

[David]

hi Compo

I'm wondering if there is a case for us forming an association and taking over from the council?

any advice on how that might be done?

Peter, They are tied up in my shed till Ive eaten the stuff they planted. If I send them up to you you cant take the shackles off or I think they'll run for it!