CF allotment thief part 2: the Battle of Barbara and the Beansprouts

[YaMuvva]

Hi all, sorry I didn’t get a chance to post the link to this in the last thread, but it filled up too quickly.

So, another update

DH and I sat and had a looooong talk last night. We poured over every option, the pro’s and cons and the best and worst case scenarios. We thought of every possible situation that could arise from each option and we made a decision this morning.

it was actually the best/worst case scenario talk that clinched it.
Best case scenario for selling it to her was we get a little bit of money. Worst case is we have no allotment and the house possibly devalues.

Best case scenario for if we shared the land is that she is a pleasant plot neighbour and isn’t bitter that we are on the land that used to be ‘hers’ and doesn’t try to boss us about. But worst case scenario is that she remains bitter and makes our lives hell, interferes and our allotment space becomes an unbearable place to be.

Best case scenario for if we keep it to ourselves is we have the enjoyment of a long awaited allotment, one that makes a massive difference to DH’s MH and our general life enjoyment. Worst case scenario is that we make a neighbour - who is smart enough to find another plot or use her own generous garden - cross.

We figured that the worst case scenarios for all 3 weren’t worth risking the absolute best case scenario could bring.

So we are kicking her off.

We discussed letting her wait some months before making her leave or until the end of the growing season around about the end of September. But that when you consider the weather, that would mean we wouldn’t truly be able to enjoy the allotment in good weather for a whole year. I know it can still be enjoyed in horrible weather but the thought of missing out on a whole entire summer of gardening, relaxing and recuperating just feels too long. She has also indicated she will fight us - well she can try and she won’t win so I’d rather the ‘fight’ was a short one not a long one

We went to the plot this morning (no Babs in sight!) and took a soil test, took pictures, used that app to mark the plots (thanks to PP for the tips), and measured it and took pictures of the measurements/readings. From what we can tell she has root veg, fruit and a little herb garden patch, all growing fairly well considering the time of year. We didn’t disturb anything

Going to call the home insurers today to see if we can get legal cover and reclaim costs from the previous owner so solicitors can write her a letter - if not we will just instruct our current solicitors and make the reclaim too. I know we could do a letter ourselves but I really think a legal middle man would be worth the money. We will take solicitors advice on how much notice to give her - but it won’t be long notice. No point, may as well rip the plaster off now. We won’t be offering to buy the shed as I don’t want to be beholden to Barbara or have her make out to others that we stole the shed. We want a clean slate, to pick our own items.

I do feel bad that Barbara will be losing something that is so dear to her and that her ‘sanctuary’ will be taken away but the bottom line is it does not belong to her and she has known this for 10 years. She could have spent that 10 years, or even just the nine months since the house went on the market, to find another sanctuary. We are being selfish, we have been through unimaginable struggles and it’s time to just live for ourselves not a random neighbour. If that makes us a pariah in the community I can take it.

DH also messaged our police officer friend of ours this morning who said if the time comes to bin her stuff and dismantle the shed to call 101 and tell them “We are doing this, it’s our property and we will handle everything with care and bring it to her home” and then if she calls them saying we are stealing or damaging our property then we are one step ahead at least.

🤣🤣 North Yorkshire but not very far from W Yorkshire

Siobhan Finneran plays the woman who plays Camilla in the Windsors?
Do you mean Haydn Gwynne, who sadly died recently? I don't understand. Why is she in the story?

That's actually where I live....

Would the sequel be called ‘The Plot Thickens’?

Absolutely different circumstances entirely. OP bought the land, the land is hers. She doesn’t know Barbara at all, she owes her nothing, financially or sentimentally. The immoral one here is the previous owner, for trying to cover up the situation, but still taking the proceedings from it.

But did the previous owner try and cover things up or did she think she had given land to Barbara because she didn’t want it?
Previous owner didn’t mention it to estate agent which suggests she didn’t think it was hers?

I think you need to.let your police friend know that Barbara colluded with the seller and they buried the husband there.

Result - freshly dug allotment, no rhubarbara to remove and top dog status in the village

Maybe. Will have to get DH to pull a moonie next time we’re down there (we will be doing regular checks of it until she goes)

Or "Lost the Plot", or "Losing the Plot"

If Barbara is German, cuts hair and bakes this thread would have it all

Where on earth have you got ‘having an awful time in her private life from’?

My DH has been having an awful time in his private life! Frankly there were moments where I’d have been surprised if someone told me he’d make it to 2024.

Which is why we are living life for us now not anyone else

And when OP inevitably wins Barbara could look sadly just past he camera and say "I've lost the plot"

You should read my earlier post - 3 scenarios as to why Barbara is going to fight them so hard. I went into a lot of detail! 😉

I keep trying to get to the end of the posts, before I post, but the thread is being added to too quickly 🤣 I think in your position I wouldn’t be too quick to accept Barbara’s claim that she owns the shed, I’d ask her for proof of purchase. It’s on your land and if I were you I’d be a bit miffed if I paid her for it, only to find out it wasn’t her who purchased and erected it/had it erected. I also would take possession of my land as quickly as possible. Give a cheeky ‘F’ an inch and they’ll take a mile!

And honestly if the other allotment owners want to be horrible because we deigned to use the land we own then I don’t care for their friendship.

You never know they may be throwing a party at her leaving!

Someone else land is not Barbara safe haven
if you’re that bothered get big babs details from op and offer her sanctuary in your garden or buy big bab an allotment

I also live in North Yorkshire but very close to W Yorkshire! There are allotments near my house but pretty sure they are council ones and not plots of land...

I’m also gonna buy title deeds for other peoples houses in the street, it’s a small street so won’t cost a lot. Just to see if they have an extra land- thank you to the poster of the previous thread who suggested this.

The previous owner may have been being bullied by both Barbara and the garage-user and not felt strong enough to stand up to them. Not great, but understandable if she was becoming unable to cope with looking after herself. And it will have been noticed.

Do you think people in the UK don’t test their soil?

And it would have to star all the British favourites and have roaming views of the Yorkshire dales.

Of course you can squat in a residential property, ask anyone whose tenants have decided not to pay their rent and it's taken months and months to chuck the squatters out. It should be possible to get did of squatting tenants as soon as they choose not to pay rent.

Artisanal Toast smock and orthopaedic shoes 🤣🤣🤣

Off topic but Barbara and the Beansprouts sounds like a really cool 70s folk band.

Sorry this should read that Babs will be played by Siobhan Finneran or the Windsors woman

Tonbe clear - Siobhan Finneran is NOT Babs

Please don’t sue me Siobhan!