Meeting with Gordon Banks MP
Picture of the Woodland 3-1-09
Picture of the Woodland 15-3-09
Picture of the Woodland 1-4-09 after 500 trees have just been planted
For more pictures - visit this gallery
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[Delph Wynd] residents say land deal is a waste Alloa Advertiser Article, 29 January 2009 Housebuilders urged to think again on deals with Greenbelt The Herald, 21 February 2009 |
Westhill residents heckle boss of firm over upkeep of open spacesPress and Journal Article, January 2009
Greenbelt's Growing Problems - Herald Newspaper Article, August 2008
Land Maintenance Companies - Westminster Hall Debate transcript
It appears there are numerous reasons why companies such as Greenbelt get away with their atrocious and shocking business dealings, but there are various bodies investigating the whole land management scheme and there will be national reports from these being published early this year that should carry some weight and continue the groundswell for long overdue change to the systems currently failing estates all over the country.
In the meantime, and with more relevance to the Delph Wynd community, Gordon Banks was more than happy to agree to write a strongly worded letter to Alex Middleton of Greenbelt forwarding our concerns and asking for a face-to-face meeting with us. He will also contact the local press to generate some continued coverage of this ongoing saga and, to that end, we will be encouraging as many residents to come along and voice their own views on our treatment by Greenbelt over the past five years.
There were other interesting points raised and discussed, on this issue and others affecting residents, but I'll leave some space here for others who took the time to come along to fill you all in on.
As usual, keep an eye out on the site here for news and developments on this matter as they occur.
Comments
2009 Bills
We've just received our 2009 bill.
This includes the amount that Darcy Quigley wrote to us about last month, and are also chasing us for, which can only be paid off through them as debt collectors (according to their letter). ???!!!???
I've also received and email from Fergus Cumming stating that he's following the discussions on the website with interest.
Hi Mr. Cumming. Here is a 'more specific' link to the litter you were unable to find on any of your recent visits - Google Map - click on the yellow spanner
He attached a couple of photographs to show what a good job they did at the end of the street pruning a dozen or so bushes; nothing about all the stone coping knocked off the walls and lying yards from the same spot though. He also calls into question the conversation that took place between him and another resident and asks me to retract the statement. A case of one person's word against another as far as I can see - and I now which one I have more trust in...
I wonder if he's also reading up on the comments over at our neighbours site in Menstrie -
http://www.spanglefish.com/westmyertonresidents/guestbook.asp
I know he's also been in communication with at least one other resident recently, answering a query from nearly 4 months ago.
There's also been a lot of planting done this week that sort of contradicts much of the communication from
Greenbelt that has said this land was already planted out (apparently by Persimmon, although I was under the impression it was Greenbelt a few years back...) and we weren't giving this time to develop. Mr.Middleton even included an informative leaflet with pictures to explain the process.
Is it me being cynical, or does this all look a bit too coincidental that there's a flourish of activity and communication and activity the week of the Bills going out?
I also received a letter today from our MP suggesting we should arrange another meeting to discuss things and I've also received another email with some interesting suggestions from another disgruntled Delph Wynd resident.
Lots to mull over, and my head's starting to hurt now....
Brian
greenbelt debt collection demand
hi all, I am another person in receipt of a 'Legal Notice' regarding non-payment of Greenbelt fees. I have paid them token amounts to match their token attempts at maintenance. Like everyone else I've tried and failed to make the point that their attempts at establishing wooded area behind the site have been pathetic. I was told by the guy in charge of our site that they tried planting trees but that it was wrong type of soil so the planting failed! I'd got his mob. number from a guy called Robert Patterson who is in charge of the Councils parks dept. Anyway I called this collection agency last weekend to advise them that I have no intention of paying any further monies and definately no 'late fees'. I did point out that some of the maintenance was 5 years late! Obviously these collection agencies arent interested in any queries they just want to know if/when youre going to pay. Suffice to say I've advised them it wont be anytime soon. I'd be interested to hear what others intend doing. cheers
Re: debt letters
Hi Billy,
I think Darcy Quigley are probably fairly clear on the level of dissatisfaction with us all over here, and they've had numerous replies and contacts from us all to say so. I'd also sent of a lengthy email to Mr. Middleton (cc' ing our MP and others) a week or so ago. No surprises that there's been nor acknowledgement or reply to this. So much for their improving customer relations.
I remember you having dealings with Greenbelt on site a few years ago, was this Mr. Middleton himself you dealt with? If so, do you still have any paperwork or communications from them about what they were promising to do?
Anything you have that jogs Greenbelt's memory on this might be useful, as the letter sent to Gordon Banks makes no mention of any of this...
Cheers for now,
Brian
Legal Notice
SNAP , we got ours today.
Is this the Godfathers final throw of the dice ?
And another...
...That's ours arrived too.
Looks like our only weapon (non payment) we ever had against Greenbelt - we can't sack them, we can't report them to anyone, we can't make them do the work they want paid for - isn't even working now.
Not sure where we go with this from here, but I'm damned if I'm going to pay for non-existent services and let this shoddy business walk all over us.
is there anyone else.........
Are we the only non payers???? thats what id like to know. 90 odd houses and only 3 with these notices.
Office of Fair Trading Report
The Office of Fair Trading has published its report on Property Management in Scotland.
Read the Press Release and the document at -
http://www.oft.gov.uk/news/press/2009/12-09
Section 6 deals with Land management in particular with a summary of their findings on this issue 7.23 and beyond.
Tonights entertainment is........
Well guys we have a legal notice hope your all not too jealous lol
Darcey Quigley and co are now collecting on the Greenbent jokers behalf all outstanding monies, which of course includes late fees.
Hang in there...
No sign of anything here today, but that's not to say there won't be. It might be worth contacting Gordon Banks and letting him know about this latest development and see what he thinks.
If it's any comfort Greenbelt's smug and 'laissez faire' operation might be getting a bit of a hit sometime soon... watch this space...
THANKYOU.
I would like thank all the residents , who came along to the meeting on tuesday. I think you will agree it was a very worthwhile exercise. A big thankyou also to Brian for keeping us all updated via the Delph wynd website. cheers mate. While our ongoing dispute with Greenbelt may take some time to find an agreeable solution, at least we have started the ball rolling. It is important now to keep up the momentum , so please try to keep all residents informed & encourage them to get involved , especially when we manage to get a face to face meeting with the GODFATHER himself Mr Middleton (Greenbelt) . Cheers for now Eddie Hughes.
Gordon Banks Letter
Just got back to find a very official House of Commons letter delivered, with Gordon's letter to Mr. Middleton within. They should have sight of this soon too so we'll await their response, and if anyone wishes to see a copy of the letter, just email brian@delphwynd.co.uk and I can forward you a copy.
Eddie, thanks for your comments and also for making all the arrangements for the meeting on Monday, much appreciated.
PS: Not so sure about the Godfather reference... I have more a picture of a Tony Soprano type, but with less morals and charm.
Greenbelt
Thanks for the update on what is happening re the above issue. I don't know whether I just missed it but if future meeting are being held to discuss this issue could the date and venue to published on the webpage. Thanks to those of you who took the time to meet with Gordon Banks and raise these issues.
John MacFarlane - 46 Delph Wynd