Hi all,
Here’s the latest in my eviction saga. After today’s developments I would like to name and shame, but am not sure the admins would allow it.
Both the National Allotment Society and my local allotment federation have been very supportive of my case. The NAS is clear that my eviction is illegal and that I’m entitled to a fully independent appeal chaired by one of their regional reps.
My allotment committee, however, said they would only agree to this if they could still evict me at the end of it, whatever the outcome (!)
I’ve spent the last four months, with help from the NAS and my local federation, trying to engage my committee in mediation, but they have consistently refused to take part. They refused me any right of appeal or reply until yesterday, when they suddenly announced I had 24 hours until this evening to submit my evidence in writing to the trustees, via a third-party address, which was impossible. The appeal is being orchestrated by the same person who engineered my eviction, and I am not being allowed to speak to the trustees direct. I am told I will then receive a response (and guess what that will be!) via the secretary in writing. They had threatened to dispose of my hundreds of pounds worth of property this weekend, and my guess is that’s still what they plan to do.
The worst thing of all is that my local council - who have refused throughout to take any responsibility as it’s a self-managed site - have fully supported this action since yesterday, and don’t seem to see anything undemocratic about it at all. I am absolutely dismayed. Interventions from my local councillor and appeals to the chief exec of the council have made no difference.
Really, I’m utterly distraught.
