[Aunt Sally]

No not ammo (that's too agressive), just a calm sensible list of valid points 

[rusbli]

I get you 

Thanks all, you have certainly put my mind at ease.

[Chappers]

Let us know how you get on, and good luck.

Chappers

[redmolly]

Hmmm....do you have a local free paper??? I was reading ours yesterday (in Rhondda Cynon Taff). Seems there is a long waiting list of people for allotments and eviction notices are being sent out to residents over this way too!!! 

[kloggs]

Hi Rusbli,  Do you have an allotment rep? I would then get him to take up the case. Usually the rep is the direct contact to the council and they usually act on his recomendations.  Well all the very best and I hope everything gets sorted out soon. Regards  Kloggs

[Salmo]

That is unless the allotment rep has asked the Council to issue the notice.

 I imagine that usually the allotment rep would have a quiet word with the plotholder before any official warning letter or eviction notice was sent. That is their job is it not?

[rusbli]

Hi all,

I spoke to my allotment officer today and got the situation sorted. I explained about why I could understand why I had been sent an eviction letter and that I have made progress on the plot throughout the year and explained my reasons like, having the huge greenhouse to rebuild and that I had bindweed on the plot etc. He said that as long as he can see progress on the plot soon and that its dug over soon then he will be happy.

It just sounds like he was trying to send a letter to me to scare me and get the plot into shape. I'm just happy that I still have my plot and they are not going to evict me. I am going to have to start to try and get up there soon and do some work on it but my wife went to the midwife as she is overdue and look like my wife might be giving birth soon.

Thanks all

Russ

[binner]

nice one russ glad its sorted for you.

good look with the baby too, i just found out yesterday we are having a girl

[madcat]

That is good news.  

Now - protect your back and write back very very nicely, thanking him for taking the time to talk to you and explaining the situation.  Summarise the conclusion as you understand it and assure him that you will be taking his advice etc.  Keep it short and sweet, but what you are aiming to do is have in writing and on file what he agreed, any time windows and that he is backing off, but not in a way that will make him bristle up, backtrack and say "I didnt say that".  

Cynical, moi?  

Good luck to your wife .. here's hoping for a short labour and a healthy baby.  Got a name yet?

[mumofstig]

Glad it's sorted...you'll just have to tear yourself away from mother and baby to do some digging
What an excellent excuse

[rusbli]

Yes a letter would be a good idea.

As for baby names we are thinking of Finley for a boy and Grace for a girl. I might have to get a family member to give me a hand digging it over. Any advice on the digging? Some of the plot had bind weed so I need to remove that also.

Cheers

[noshed]

Try and keep the bindweed in a separate bucket if you can and then drown it in water. Just get a fork and start digging - I would divide it into 4' wide beds and do one at a time. Once you've done one and neatened the edges with a spade, the whole plot will look better. An optical illusion but it does work. Then just mark out the other beds and get a relative to do a bit each for a look at the baby.
Simples!

[rusbli]

With regards to layouts, I have been advised to divide the plot into 2 and have 4 beds going lengthways so I would have 8 beds in total. Also to divide the lengths into family's ie brassicas, root etc. Does anyone have any opinions suggestions on this? 

[Elcie]

Pleased to hear that you got it sorted out in the end.  Goes to show that a sensible conversation with the right person goes a long way.

[Aunt Sally]

Good news Rusbli.

Sent that letter that madcat sugested and get digging.  Little and often and your wife and baby won't even know you left the house