First they ignored me.

Then they laughed at me.
Then they attacked me.
Can you help  me win?

 

I stood up for vulnerable people – a 92‑year‑old war veteran, disabled plot holders, a gay man facing harassment.

The committee suspended the AGM. No elections. No democracy. The council did nothing.

Instead, I was trolled online – by people linked to committee members. The police are now involved (42/54633/26) .

The council refuses to release evidence. The ICO is involved. They are hiding the truth.

The Ombudsman is investigating (25 015 705).

How can the council decide to suspend an AGM – without talking to any of the affected plot holders? They didn't ask. They didn't investigate. They believed the abusers.

The evidence is public. See for yourself:

📄 See for yourself! click the evidence summary: https://file.fast/Epy2K/20260422-redacted-evidence-summary.pdf

439 people have signed. Every signature says: investigate, restore democracy, protect the vulnerable.

Will you help me win?

👉 Join 439 others & Sign Now: https://c.org/9jtfrDHdrV

— Paul

(Police: 42/54633/26 | LGSCO: 25 015 705 | ICO: IC‑496243‑L8J9)

 

Petition Story

I am a 67‑year‑old pensioner with Higher Functioning Autism and physical disabilities. My allotment was my peace – my only hobby. Then I stood up for vulnerable people, and my life became a battle.

I helped a 92‑year‑old war veteran who was going blind. He needed support to keep his plot. The committee stopped me. The site manager later admitted: "If you help him, we can't get his plot back."

I helped disabled plot holders threatened with eviction while recovering from surgery. The committee never asked about their health. They never offered reasonable adjustments.

I helped a gay plot holder facing homophobic harassment. The committee took no action.

For standing up for others, I became a target.

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The Committee's Pattern of Abuse

· Threats – "You have 7 days to remove your shed or it will be chopped up and put on the bonfire pile."
· Lies – They told me neighbours had complained about me. Those neighbours confirmed in writing they never did.
· Secrecy – They suspended the AGM. No elections for over a year. They cannot be voted out.
· Refusal of minutes – When I asked for meeting minutes, the secretary replied: "We have no requirement to, and will not be, providing you with committee meeting minutes."

This is a direct breach of their own constitution.

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The Council's Failure

Southend Council admitted in writing that the committee acts on its behalf. But when I reported the abuse, they did nothing.

· No witnesses were interviewed.
· No evidence was reviewed.
· My complaints were declared "resolved" – without any investigation.

The council has a C3 rating (the second lowest) from the Regulator of Social Housing for weaknesses in complaints handling and transparency. My case is not an isolated failure. It is part of a systemic problem.

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The Smear Campaign – And the Police

When I refused to be silent, the trolls arrived.

· A user calling himself "William Howard" posted 12 false comments in a single night, claiming I was convicted of a "£200,000 con."
· Other anonymous accounts coordinated to mock, smear, and intimidate anyone who supported the petition.
· I have since discovered that "William Howard" is connected to the committee's own Chairwoman.

I reported this to Essex Police. Crime reference: 42/54633/26.

The police are investigating. The trolls have not stopped – but now there is a record.

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The Independent Bodies Now Involved

· Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) – investigating the council's failures. Case reference: 25 015 705.
· Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) – reviewing the council's refusal to release evidence. Case reference: IC‑496243‑L8J9.
· Essex Police – investigating the online harassment. Incident: 42/54633/26.

Three independent bodies are now watching. The council still won't act.

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Who I Am

I was a bullied child. I didn't react the way other kids did. When everyone laughed, I didn't understand why. When everyone got upset, I sometimes felt nothing – then hours later, I'd feel everything all at once.

So I learned to be quiet. I didn't talk much. I watched. I tried to work out what I was missing.

I felt different from everyone else. I still do.

It took decades to find out why. I was late diagnosed – in my 60s – with Higher Functioning Autism. Suddenly, my whole life made sense.

Why I couldn't do certain things. Why I couldn't talk about certain things. Why I don't tell people anything – because I'm so worried about how they'll react. I don't want to upset anybody.

But here's what people don't see.

I am quite cold. I don't cry much. But I feel a lot.

Where someone else might cry, I might not go out for a week. Or I won't be able to talk about it. Or I'll be stuck wondering what to do next.

The thoughts pop into my head repeatedly. They strike me away from what I'm trying to do. And when something gets under my skin – like bullying – it keeps me awake. I end up sleep deprived. Stressed. Exhausted.

That's not weakness. That's autism. And I'm not ashamed of it.

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I Am Not Asking for Revenge. I Am Asking for Accountability.

I don't want money. I don't want a role on any committee. I don't want recognition.

What I want is simple:

· An AGM – so the committee can be voted on.
· A proper investigation – not the sham "Stage 2" response that dismissed my evidence without interviewing a single witness.
· Protection for vulnerable plot holders – so no one else has to go through what I did.

I have offered solutions. Simple, low‑cost accountability forms. A modular certification course for committee members. They ignored me.

So now I am asking you.

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What You Can Do

439 people have already signed. That's not a number. That's a community.

If you believe vulnerable people should be protected – please sign.

If you believe democracy should not be suspended – please share.

If you believe the truth matters – please act.

👉 Sign the petition: https://c.org/9jtfrDHdrV

👉 See the evidence: https://file.fast/Epy2K/20260422-redacted-evidence-summary.pdf

Police: 42/54633/26 | LGSCO: 25 015 705 | ICO: IC‑496243‑L8J9

Thank you.

— Paul