£25/pole rent

[Unwashed]

Another morning protesting outside the Town Hall.  The Newbury Weekly News covered the protest so I'll have my picture in the paper next week.

[tonybloke]

Keep bashing away, simon. there's bound to be some sort of election coming up, they might take notice then!!

[:(]

Another morning protesting outside the Town Hall.

Good for you!! Have you got other people supporting you? If youre the sole voice speaking out ab out whats not right its too easy for the *powers that be* to write you off as some kind of crank (or troll LOL!!!!!) and ignore you. Is your site behind you, other sites in the same position? 

[Unwashed]

Hi weequinie

I have a couple of supporters, but essentially it's a one-man protest.  My Society Committee meet tomorrow night so they might yet decide to organise a protest, but it looks unlikely.  The only other site association on the council's allotments are very much opposed to my protest.

Maybe that makes me a crank, I can't say.

I'm disappointed that people are prepared to put up with such unfairness, but in truth the average plot holder doesn't want to help with the site maintenance, isn't overly bothered if she isn't consulted on changes to the rules, doesn't particularly want to socialise on site, can afford a substantial rent increase, and can't be asked if the council pick on her plot neighbours.  She might just possibly not agree with everything the council do on site, but likely as not she doesn't believe it's any of her business and is frankly appalled at the thought of directly challenging the establishment.  All things being equal the few tenants who do get excited about some rule or other are already in the reactionary middle-english curtain-twitching clique who can already influence the rules and so are positively opposed to any kind of democratization that might weaken their personal control.

On the other hand, I believe that society is better if people are involved, so I want everyone on site to have an equal say in any change, and I want everyone to have an equal opportunity to get involved in the maintenance and administration, and although they might not want to initially, I believe they will want to be involved eventually given enough opportunity and encouragement.  I also insist that as a minimum the council need to behave fairly and lawfully, and if they won't I'm going to shout about it, and if they can't take criticism, well, that's their problem.

[:(]

Wasnt suggesting youre a crank, just that its easy for officialdom to dismiss a voice in the wilderness. Its great youre trying. If brave people hadnt spoken up for whats right there would still be slavery and children down the pits and no votes for women. Isnt there some kind of carrot you can dangle for plotholders to bring them along like something your site needs that you could get if you had control of your destiny? A toilet or a community hut  or somesuch whatever presses their buttons?