Fury as landlord demands council kicks gardeners off allotment

Gardeners have revealed their fury after a landlord demanded the council kicks them off a 130-year-old allotment. 

Nearly 70 allotment holders are being booted off their plots in Bath, Somerset, after the landowner served notice - sparking fears the land could be used for development. 

More than 60 green-fingered gardeners are being evicted from the site where allotments have been since 1894.

The site is owned by a distant relative of the original landowner who is not a resident of Bath.

Bath and North East Somerset Council was warned that the owner of Combe Down Allotments planned to terminate the lease.

The council said it has been trying to negotiate with the landowner but he refused to meet them.

The landowner's legal team has now sent the authority a notice to vacate the land by November 30 next year.

One concerned local wrote on Facebook: 'Very sad ! Are the council going to block any planning applications? That way the land is worthless.' 

Councillor Tim Ball said: 'This land has been used for allotments since 1894 and continues to be of significant social value for the community so this is a hugely disappointing decision.'

Renee Tyers, 68, has an allotment at the site and grows herbs, artichokes, courgettes, raspberries, strawberries, spring onions, asparagus, leak and kale.

She said: 'I absolutely love it it's just such an amazing privilege to have time and space to grow things for your own food.

'It's a very sad thought that the site might disappear really because it's been here for 130 year. It's a huge loss.

'It's a wonderful site. I live down the road so it's wonderful.

'It's been a great way to meet people in the community as well. I just really hope that we will be able to secure the site for the future.

'It's so good for your mental health and being outdoors. It's a really important part of my life now.

'I lost my husband so I live alone now so I have time to do these things because I'm not working anymore. It's a totally different way of life - it's really nice.'

Another added: 'It's all it's a terrible shame we don't understand why because no one's has been able to speak with the landowner.

'The whole community will be devastated everybody loves the space and the wildlife and the greenery of it.

'You make friends down there that you wouldn't have met in the village.

'You have a little community down there that you get to meet because they come from all over the village.'

The Bath & North East Somerset Allotments Association has been running a 'SAVE COMBE DOWN ALLOTMENTS' campaign.

It said: 'By an accident of history, the large allotment site at Combe Down has been held in leasehold since 1895.

'The site, along with the adjacent quarry and the Monkton School playing fields, is owned by a distant relative of the original landowner, who is not a resident of Bath.

'The site was originally procured by the Monkton Combe Parish Council to serve the workers in the Bath stone mines but, following city boundary changes in 1967, became the responsibility of Bath City Council.

'The Council has held rolling leases since that time. Unfortunately the owner of the land has recently given advance notice of his intention to end the lease in 2025.'

Councillor Ball added: 'We have explored all options to save Combe Down Allotments and we are continuing to do so.

'This has included exploring any statutory acquisition powers for the site.. We have also requested meetings with the landowner to understand why he wants the council to vacate the land.

'Unfortunately, all requests to meet have, to date, been declined through his solicitor.

'We are in negotiations to purchase the land and the council is also exploring alternative sites.

'We will continue to work with the allotment holders but we have to be realistic.

'There is no specific timeframe over which the obligation for the provision of an alternative allotment site must be satisfied.'

A spokesperson for Bath & North East Somerset Council said: 'Earlier this year the council wrote to allotment holders setting out the complex legal situation, the progress that the council had made to date, its willingness to engage with the landowner and its commitment to remain on the site so that the long history of food-growing and allotments afforded to the community of Combe Down could continue.

'However, following a successful nomination by a group of residents the council has added the site to its list of Assets of Community Value.

'The application - from the Unincorporated Friends of Combe Down Allotments - was assessed by the council and found to meet or exceed all criteria needed to be added to the list.

'Although the owner of an Asset of Community Value (ACV) is free to sell to any buyer of their choice, they cannot dispose of it without notifying the council of an intended disposal. Once such notice is received the following periods begin to run:

• A six week 'interim moratorium' period in which community interest groups or any other buyers can submit a written request to the council to be treated as a potential bidder. The council must pass the request onto the landowner; and
• If the council does receive such a request, a six month 'full moratorium' period. This period is intended to give a group time to assemble a bid and, if successful, complete the purchase.

'The ACV assessment for Combe Down allotments can be viewed on the list of Registered Assets of Community Value in Bath and North East Somerset which is managed and published by the council.'