Someone appears to have pinched my allotment :(

[Dorothy rouse]

Have the council given the squatter the wrong plot number?
Is the squatter supposed to be on the site somewhere or is he a complete unknown?

Sounds like it, poor person,if so he won't be a happy bunny!

[binley100]

We don't have this problem .......we show new tenants what there is (if there's more than one ) they choose and so we know . How can councils do stuff from a distance?

[Methe]

He's only been on the plot a few weeks. I got talking to a chap who was there when he went to have a look and he didn't know him, not that that means anything. There are not other recently let plots although there are some which don't look like they've ever been used.
It would be hard to mix up which was which it's a small site and when they sent me the letter offering it to me they sent me a map with it highlighted, no one could d mix them up unless they meant to.

[grahamR]

A warning to us here. We have fairly recently become self- managed and the Council allowed some bad habits such as folk passing on their plot to a friend with paperwork being way down the queue of considerations. We have now made it as plain as can be that all vacated plots revert to the Allotment Association for reallocation. Sadly, the last person to leave still made his own arrangements and told another plot holder he could have the vacant plot - no lease, no rent paid and work already done: guess who's going to have to sort it out... I ain't best pleased!



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[Dorothy rouse]

Wonder if they 'highlighted' the wrong plot? If you say some look they've not been used?

[Methe]

It's definitely the right plot. That was the first thing I checked. If anyone has the wrong plot it isn't me.

It does seem said he is an unofficial plot holder - either someone whos been 'given' the plot by a friend or an existing plot holder trying his luck. I'm not sure what will happen now

[veggiechicken]

How many plots are there Methe? If its not a very big site, somebody must know who he is.

[veggiechicken]

Another thing - you normally need permission to put up a greenhouse or shed. If he hasn't asked for permission it shouldn't be there.

[Methe]

18 or 19

The council are putting up notices to try and find out who it is. Council lady said "there is someone there who thinks he has the right..." And then tailed off. Probably doesn't bode well!

[Mikey]

We have a system on our site where the best plots are unofficially offered to other plotholders of standing first before being offered to the wider public. This generally ensures that the best kept plots remain so and the worst plots change hands quite often. This might be what has happened with you, and the council has not been made aware.

The problem with giving the best plots away to newcomers is you have no idea who will keep it well maintained and who won't, in years gone by you used to start at the worst point and slowly move to a better spot when you showed you were worthy of such a plot.

While we would all like a well maintained plot to start off with, generally what we get is an overgrown tip. Getting it to look tidy takes effort and a lot of new plotholders fall by the wayside before they ever get there.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

[Methe]

Thank you. This plot has obviously been well loved and used. It is also fairly big and in a good position. I wouldn't imagine the person who had it until August treated it well.

[zazen999]

Is this Irish Bob?

[Methe]

:-) yes it is

[ancee]

Have you seen the imposter Methe? Wondered if you'd asked him why he was on your plot. I'd say, "Ah, thanks very much for helping me, I really appreciate it!" Then, put down your deck chair and garden tools and start working on it!

[kathycam]

What a pain, I hope they sought it for you, I don't think councils are known to spend a lot of time sorting this out, but maybe if you bug them enough they will be forced to. Get down on a saturday, thats when most people seem to go, then you can do some "detective" work.