Greenbelt - Updates... ... ...
Interesting things seem to be developing on the Greenbelt front..
4-08-11: Latest news on Greenbelt: Keep a close eye on this page from the West Myerton site, it's active and updated regularly with the latest news from various sources.
9-06-10: Greenbelt try to wriggle out of the proposed Bill to impose standards on Land Management companies: They say it doesn't apply because they own the land they're maintaining. If they own the land, why are we all being forced to pay for the maintenance of it then? They could sell it on tomorrow; would we still be expected to pay for it then? Herald Newspaper Article
26-07-10: Letter from the Scottish Parliament: Received a letter from Keith Brown MSP today, detailing their proposals for improving the state of affairs with Residential Property and Land Maintenance Companies. It also states that they are looking 'to explore if there is a role for the council to play in existing housing developments'. Yep, there is; take the land back and provide parity of service as you do for all the other council tax payers in the surrounding area. More details and info on how to submit any comments are on this page
9-06-10: First Minister Alex Salmond intervenes in dispute with Greenbelt: Herald Newspaper Article
03-03-10: Update from Perth court cases: Scroll down to section listed under title Perth Sheriff Court 3rd June 2010"
Lots of interesting debate on the blog page too. Some frighteningly unprofessional reaction apparently from the Director of Greenbelt on here too; signs of desperation from a wounded animal perhaps?
19-03-10: Public meeting to be held in Menstrie Church Hall (near Spar shop) on Friday 19th March 2010 at 7pm, organised by the West Myerton Greenbelt Action Group. All residents of Delph Wynd, and any other estates affected, are invited to attend.
12-03-10: Scotland on Sunday: Newspaper article on Non-Payment campaign - Read More...
17-02-10: Change of Tactics?: A warning posted on the West Myerton website about a potential new approach from Greenbelt on collecting payments.
04-01-10: Court News from Perth: Updates on the cases in progress between residents and Greenbelt
07-11-09: Greenbelt threatened with Closure: Herald Newspaper Article: This one is definitely worth watching...
06-11-09: Proposal to have Greenbelt Group Struck off. Not sure exactly what that means, for them or for us, but it will certainly be interesting to watch that one closely...
9-08-09: From the West Myerton site - "MacNabs Solicitors in Perth is currently working for Greenbelt Group and is aiding and abeting the company in attempting to extract cash out of homeowners for services not rendered. Please spread the word! The solicitor working on Greenbelt Group cases is Garry Sutherland."
New letters arriving soon then...?
5-08-09: Greenbelt fail to submit accounts. Also, another contractor is having problems getting paid - More info
16-06-09: Rumour and Speculation surrounding Greenbelt's current position... Prisoners being contracted to carry out work... New company being lined up to take over... More contractors withdrawing services...
16-06-09: Action urged on Land Maintenance - Press and Journal Article
10-06-09: Residents take on site maintenance rather than wait on Greenbelt's - Press and Journal Article
19-05-09: Greenbelt make into the charts - Plebble's Worst Performers
10-05-09: Greenbelt try to shut down Resident's Website... ! West Myerton Residents
10-05-09: It would seem it's not only us residents that are getting taken for a ride by Greenbelt... Contractor dispute
Plebble article published on BBC Watchdog Report - 21/04/09
LATEST... from Greenbelt Action Group website....
Apparently the Court Case scheduled in Stirling against a non-paying resident for Thursday 23rd April has collapsed as a result of Greenbelt withdrawing.
"We have learnt today that Morton Fraser, a firm of solicitors representing Greenbelt Group has resigned - they're in very good company - because Greenbelt Group's auditors resigned recently too.
Greenbelt's current tactic of coming the heavy with its customers appears to be backfiring badly. More people than ever appear to be contacting their local police force, lawyers, MPs, MSPs and councillors and saying "ENOUGH"!"
Other News...
...as well as other items on Facebook.
Also, there are an increasing number of Delph Wynd residents asking for action on this after this week's invoices looking for payment - for work not even started, and, on past experience, with little chance of being carried out.
Our local MP is also keen to hear of our progress too and I've had a number of contacts through this site about where we go from here, as well as kind offers of somewhere to hold meetings within the estate to discuss our options (I'll bring the kit-kats!)... anybody else up for sorting out these chancers once and f
or all?
In the meantime, why not rate your experience with Greenbelt as a business? Plebble is new website set up to do just this, anonymously if you wish, and without the need to register.
Link: Rate Greenbelt on Plebble
Register on site here for updates on what is being org
anised - we'll send out regular em
ails to all who do to keep you up-to-date.
Comments
The woods!
If Greenbelt OWN the woods why are we paying them to maintain their OWN property. No one pays me to maintain my property.
Also if our payment to them is supposed to include maintainance of said wood, why do they not keep it clear of broken glass, discarded beer cans, empty bottles of alcohol etc., etc., which are left behind by the youths/lasses who drink, swear, shout, urinate and damage the trees almost every weekend. The broken glass makes it a very unsafe environment for dogs being walked or children playing and if Greenbelt were diligent in their care of the land they should be aware that their property is being misused by these youngsters, and should be making every effort to prevent the nuisance they are causing to those residents who overlook the woods and have to endure this.
Obviously, the only conclusion to be reached is that they are unaware because they are not checking as regularly as they insist they are.
They have sent me an "agenda" of visits to the estate both last year and for 2010 but unless they clock in and out and some physical record is kept of their attendance and work, there is no way verification of their visits can be made. I have not paid our fee for last year to them for this reason, because I do not see a typed list as proof and I cannot see any real evidence of their land maintenance or seasonal works being carried out. Our dispute is ongoing.
Greenbelt
Greenbelt
Greenbelt have just emailed Ford in response to my email before Christmas. They have indicated a number of dates when their Contractors have been on the Estate but I'm not too sure if that is a good enough reason to start paying again.
Any comments from others in the same boat?
Re: Greenbelt
Hi Doe,
As far as non-payment goes it's up to everyone as individuals but the Greenbelt Action Group and the guys down in Menstrie are still advocating this as our main means of protest.
Just out of curiosity, do any of the dates tie-in with any of those on the Calendar we were keeping on site here? There's very little evidence of any substantial work being done - mainly fleeting visits to cut the patch of grass down by the access road, trimming of some shrubs around the entrance - but still the rubbish is lying in the communal areas and I think residents themselves are now maintaining these themselves.
The Menstrie estate is holding a public meeting soon to discuss this and they've invited us to come along and participate - I'll send out details to all registered members on the site soon.
Cheers for now,
Brian
Menstrie meeting
Hi Brian,
What time is the meeting? I can't find any notification of the time anywhere.
Re: Meeting
Good point John...
I've asked the Menstrie folks to provide details and will post these as soon as I get them.
Cheers!