Author Topic: email campaign to save our lotties (Read 20067 times)

fat larry · « **Reply #60 on:** May 02, 2005, 09:22:10 »

thanks Gavin. Wouldn't mind if they were right about being rent-shy. I've offered to pay rent, they declined. Got bit incensed yesterday over there when I was repairing my poster asking people to phone me to see if they can help save the lottie. I repaired the carter jonas/church poster that was flapping in the wind (even though Carter Jonas tore my last one off!!!) and decided to write once more to the bishop...

(oh, and I found monty don's email, at the end of his weekly Observer column (DOH!) so will be asking for his support too this week)

To: christine.lodge@oxford.anglican.org
>
> Dear Richard
>
> I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but until we started kicking up a
> fuss about retaining the allotments (at Skimmingdish Lane, Bicester)
> there was no visual indication of who owned the land etc, which is at
> the end of the day, why we are now there as 'squatters'.
>
> Since then Carter Jonas have put up a poster which says: "These
> allotments are managed by Carter Jonas LLP on behalf of the Oxford
> Diocesan Board of Finance. All enquiries should be directed to Carter
> Jonas at the address above or telephone Ox 511444"
>
> I know of at least one person who has phoned them with regard to the
> allotments, only to be told they are not available for rent – which
> makes their letter a masterpiece of non-information, in my opinion.
>
> Looking into the history and legislation regarding allotments I believe
> local allotment authorities are required to show they have made all due
> efforts to make allotments a going concern before they are allowed to
> develop the land for any other purpose – I would have thought that
> morally that obligation should extend to trustees also?
>
> I believe we now have the general support of the local primary care
> trust, who know of allotments' physical and mental health benefits. I
> wonder if the church is aware of the Elder Stubbs allotment in Cowley,
> Oxford – which I believe was also originally a trustee site, and which
> now houses a thriving, vibrant community of allotment-holders as well as
> various mental health workshop groups, who sell produce and even make
> sustainable locally hand-made furniture.
>
> Something like that on a smaller scale, of course, in Bicester, would be
> a real asset to the town, and perhaps give us some positive publicity
> for once (I'm thinking of the ongoing asylum centre problems).
>
> Thanks for your time, and once again, sorry to embroil you in this but I
> feel your viewpoint will carry a lot of weight.
>
> Yours sincerely
>
>
>
>

fat larry · « **Reply #61 on:** May 02, 2005, 11:07:50 »

i do sound like boring old git at times though, don't I? ;)

caz 406 · « **Reply #62 on:** May 02, 2005, 11:20:54 »

Don't know what you mean zzzz....zzzzz.....zzz...zzzzz..zzz. ;D

Seriously though- you have got to get your points across without it sounding emotional and like a knee-jerk reaction. So I think you have got a good balance there.
Could you help me with my dissertation??!

gavin · « **Reply #63 on:** May 03, 2005, 00:06:07 »

Just a couple more to explore?

http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/churchcommissioners/pastoral/parsglebeadmin/parsglebeman/ - haven't checked the *.doc downloads, but some of the summaries look interesting/useful? Like "Notices to be served on relevant interested parties by Diocesan Boards of Finance before sale, exchange, lease ......"
"Representations against Parsonage and Glebe Matters
A flowchart outlining our procedures upon receipt of representations against ... the sale of diocesan glebe."

http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/churchcommissioners/pastoral/legislation/ -applicable legislation?

http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/churchcommissioners/pastoral/ - this seems to be the main root page for this kind of stuff?

What a bizarre load of legalistic mumbo-jumbo - designed and written for obfuscation? There's a lot to be said for mediaeval Latin - at least you know what you don't know :)

All best - Gavin

kitty · « **Reply #64 on:** May 03, 2005, 08:03:39 »

fat larry-if i may be so bold with this suggestion..i am a great believer in 'belt and braces' so i think you should open a bank account entitled 'Allotment rents'and put everyones yearly rent in there no-give them receipts-you act as treasurer-then there can be no....er..'misunderstanding' as to your groups intent-you must be seen to be willing to pay rent and not to be viewed as 'squatters'...it can be kept in the account til such time as the matter is settle-keep a proper written account of moneis taken too-if it comes to nothing and you get kicked off then everyone gets their money back,but if they let you stay thenyou can write a cheque to the church or whoever!

Moggle · « **Reply #65 on:** May 03, 2005, 09:18:25 »

That sounds like a really good idea Kitty :)

kitty · « **Reply #66 on:** May 03, 2005, 15:59:27 »

ta moggle!
not that carter jonas or the bish would stoop to underhand tactics or owt..ahem!#
dib dib dib.be prepared......

fat larry · « **Reply #67 on:** May 04, 2005, 19:42:04 »

our MP (until tomorrow??) Tony Baldry has an allotment and is sympathetic!! so we got Green MEP caroline Lucas and Conservative MP TOny Baldry ... if we can get a lib dem and labour bigwig on board we will have cross-party support!!!!

rach121 · « **Reply #68 on:** May 18, 2005, 01:29:53 »

Hi Lawrence
I emailed George Monbiot and he said:
'Hi Rachel, thanks for getting in touch. I might one day do a piece about allotments and perhaps include the info you sent, but can't justify a whole column about that one site. But good luck in fighting the Church. G

So I guess it's case of wait and see. I've been looking to see if there is a precedent for the church selling off Glebe land for commercial gain, I'll be in touch if I discover anything worth shouting about.
I'm interested to hear how the church will respond to the council though. And, in the meantime check out a website called www.powerswitch.org If what these guys are saying is accurate, we're going to need all the allotments we can get our hands on....
Rachelx

Ceri · « **Reply #69 on:** May 18, 2005, 07:39:34 »

Couple of minor strings to bows:

The environmental value of food miles - walking to allotment - flying beans in from Kenya - mmm

The other very trendy language at the moment is 'ecological footprints' - and having an allotment is very positive on this measure. (It's very basically the idea of lessening individual's environmental impact on the earth - as at the moment many people's usage of resources means we actually need several more earths to sustain our current ways of life in the western world.) Although the formulas used to work it out can be questioned scientifically, the theory itself is sound, and is a very good simple idea for the media to get hold of. I'm sure the diocese has an ecological footprint that could be lessened....

kitty · « **Reply #70 on:** May 18, 2005, 08:45:20 »

Quote

I'm sure the diocese has an ecological footprint that could be lessened....

look out ceri.they use to burn heretics remember! ;) ;D

Sarah-b · « **Reply #71 on:** May 18, 2005, 13:20:48 »

Larry - on the BBC web site, if you look at the local news pages - ie for each county: they claim to be intreested in local stories. Don't know if you have already tried this:

Do you have a news story for Oxfordshire? BBC News Online's local team would like to hear from you.
Your input means we produce better stories and can improve the quality and range of issues we cover.

The team, on duty seven days a week, are:

Brian Thornton
Anna Lindsay
David Fuller
Hannah Bayman
Malcolm Prior
Thelma Etim
We are based at Havelock Road, Southampton, alongside BBC South TV News.

If you have any comments about our coverage or a story suggestion, please send an e-mail to: south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk

Or contact us by post:

BBC News Online Southampton, Broadcasting House, Havelock Road, Southampton, SO14 7PW.

Or by telephone:

023 8037 4372/ 4399/ 4396

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #72 on:** May 18, 2005, 17:07:14 »

What about local radio? When my kids were caught in a civil war we got the story on the radio and in a Methodist newspaper. It's not hard to get publicity if you want it.

Merlins Mum · « **Reply #73 on:** May 18, 2005, 19:09:40 »

Thanks for the above suggestions. We have been getting some publicity in the papers but haven't explored the TV and radio options yet.

MM

Ceri · « **Reply #74 on:** May 19, 2005, 08:23:19 »

For that matter what about the Church Times, and an article for your diocesan newsletter - most diocese have a weekly 'paper'.

kitty - so that's what the lightening this morning is about - thunderbolts with free delivery!

kitty · « **Reply #75 on:** May 19, 2005, 08:26:59 »

fat larry and merlins mum
in

The Allotmenteers!

cert.pg

A thrilling tale of two allotmenteers fight for justice !
see their turnips grow!
thrill to the sound of slugs eating their lettuces!
gasp as the carrot fly and the bish of oxford is defeated!

i can see it all...hollywood.champagne receptions...autograph hunters.....*sigh* ;)

but will you still remember the little allomenteers when you're at the top? ;D

kitty · « **Reply #76 on:** May 19, 2005, 08:28:54 »

ceri-thats what you get fer messing wid da church!
there'll be an archdeacons head on the next pillow tomorrow morning! ;)

just the head .....nothing else.... :o

Merlins Mum · « **Reply #77 on:** May 26, 2005, 21:37:59 »

We thought you deserved an up-date.
The Town Council had a full meeting on the 16th and it was agreed they would send a letter to the Diocese encouraging them to allow a short-term lease on each of the allotment sites until they decide what they wish to do with the land. They would also enquire as to what their long term intentions are for that particular piece of land. In addition it was agreed that the Town Clerk should write to Cherwell District Council to receive confirmation of exactly what the land was allocated for in the local plan.
Since then we have received a statement from the Diocese in which they say
“· There is a question about the safety of part of this land, not least because of the recent development of the access road.
· There is a question about access and parking, as the site is close to a major road.
· There is also a question about the suitability of this site for allotments, as much of the land has been spoiled following the construction of the access road.

The Church has heard the request of those who are currently illegally squatting. We are consulting on the issues about which we are concerned, and we will make an announcement at a Press Conference in Bicester at 11.00 am on Monday 27th June 2005 as to whether we are able to grant some form of temporary, limited licence to cultivate.”
They also say “It is the local authority, not the Church, that decides on the future use to which land should be put.”

MM

Ceri · « **Reply #78 on:** June 02, 2005, 11:51:26 »

did you know the Bishop of Oxford is the patron of a green electricity and gas supplier

https://www.ebico.co.uk/about.htm

just a thought

Ceri · « **Reply #79 on:** June 02, 2005, 11:53:16 »

sorry, just re-read the website - it's not green, but it is fair trade so deemd ethical

News:

Author Topic: email campaign to save our lotties (Read 20067 times)