A gardener from Carlton is scared he might lose his allotment after a disagreement over a seat he built. Graham Beaumont made a wooden shelter at his plot at Robin Hood Allotments last summer.
But, he says that a year later, the local Allotment Association asked him to remove it. During the argument, he claims an offensive comment was made about him by the committee.
He reported this, but the committee found no evidence of any rude remark or bullying. They told Mr Beaumont to say sorry for his claims.
But, he stands by what he says he heard and believes he made the allegations honestly. If he doesn’t apologise and move his seat by March 27, he will be given notice to leave.
This means he’ll lose all his plants and will have to take down his beloved arbour. He plans to take the issue to Gedling Borough Council, who own but don’t manage the site, if it happens, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
The Allotment Association, which manages the site, said it wouldn’t comment at this time, but the person accused of making the remarks said the claims were “false”.
He expressed his fears, saying: “I’m absolutely terrified that I’m going to lose the plot. Metaphorically and physically. It’s been absolutely horrendous. Stuff doesn’t usually bother me. But I am so down and distraught. I feel awful. It’s appalling and I’m devastated beyond words. When we got this plot it was a safe haven. Those comments have destroyed our happy place.”
Mr Beaumont thought he was in the clear with planning rules when he decided to build his arbour seat in summer 2022. He even emailed the committee to make sure.
When he didn’t get a reply, he assumed everything was okay and went ahead with the building.
The Site Lease for the Robin Hood Allotment Association states that members agree “not to erect or to permit or suffer to be erected on the Allotments any greenhouse, shed, growing tunnel or other structure without prior approval of the Council, save for such structures complying with the Council’s rules or regulations in force for the time being in this respect as notified to the Trustees. The erection of any such structures by the members should be approved by the Trustees.”
His structure stood for a whole year before he was approached by the new secretary of the committee. The secretary told him that the committee wasn’t happy with it and that he’d have to take it down.
During their conversation, the secretary mentioned an alleged comment – which Mr Beaumont found offensive – made by the committee about him.
Mr Beaumont first sent an email to the committee, which sparked a series of emails between him and the accused person. In these emails, he claimed there were more comments that he found offensive.
Next, Mr Beaumont, who works as a civil servant, made a formal complaint to the committee. The committee then asked an independent trustee to look into it.
After the investigation was done, the investigator told Mr Beaumont that she didn’t find any evidence of an offensive comment. However, she did say that the way the committee member wrote their emails should be different.
But when the report about the investigation came out, it didn’t mention this in its suggestions, according to Mr Beaumont.
Instead, the report said that Mr Beaumont should say sorry in writing for alleged wrongdoing. It even gave him a draft letter to use as a guide.
But Mr Beaumont said the argument has kept going.
From the start, Mr Beaumont’s stance was not to apologise. He still insists that he made the accusations honestly.
Because of this, he still won’t apologise or give up his seat.
He has now reported the committee’s behaviour and their request for a letter of apology to Gedling Borough Council.
The Robin Hood Allotment Association said: “The Robin Hood Allotments Association understands that Mr Beaumont has notified Gedling Borough Council of his intention to bring a complaint against the Association. If Mr Beaumont does choose to make a complaint, it will form part of a live investigation. The Association has no further comment at this moment in time.”
need to be looked into further they would not be commenting on any specifics until this was completed.
