After many years of friendly and mutually respectful relations with The National Trust staff at Dunster Castle, I let my house in 2009 and, in 2010 gave up my job and temporarily moved to Dorset to care for my elderly mother in her last years of life.  I returned to my Dunster home in 2013, and over the ensuing three years, it came to light that The National Trust had made illegal use of my property while I was absent and changed the long-term status of its adjacent land without consultation or notification. When objections were courteously raised, The National Trust responded with unfounded accusations designed to intimidate; harassment; coercive tactics and a downright refusal to accept its legal responsibilities.  The result has been a reduction in the value of my property, considerable loss of privacy and control and incalculable distress. There have also been reports of similar unpleasant and damaging behaviour towards other members of the community.

The National Trust has been my neighbour for almost 35 years and, in my experience, the people who work for The National Trust are mostly decent, pleasant and honourable.  In the past, there were times when the charity was heavy-handed in its dealings but, generally, it played its part within the local community that provided most of its workforce, not least in volunteer labour.

Undeniably, it is not always easy – or possible – to please everyone all the time but this is no justification to employ underhand practices to deny a voice to others and avoid moral and legal responsibilities.  The National Trust has been in existence long enough to have the correct governance with robust policies, procedures and codes of conduct relevant to their operations in place.  They should also have the proper oversight to ensure implementation in order to avoid the poor practice that causes harm and unfairly disadvantages others.  I can find no evidence that The National Trust has any such policies or procedures in place.

Please sign the petition and demand The National Trust introduces policies to prevent abusive and damaging behaviour towards members of the local communities in which it operates.

You can read more of my story on: www.ntneighbour.uk

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