Almost 70 allotment owners disappeared from their plots after 130 years | United Kingdom | News

Nearly 70 plot owners are being evicted from their plots, even though they have lived there for 130 years, after notifying the landowner.

64 green gardeners from Bath in Somerset are being evicted from an area where there have been allotment gardens since 1894.

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

Bath and North East Somerset Council has been warned that the owner of Combe Down Allotments plans to terminate the lease.

The city authorities said they tried to negotiate with the landowner, but he refused to meet.

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

Councilor Tim Ball said: “This land has been used for allotments since 1894 and still has significant social value to the community, so this is an extremely disappointing decision.”

Renee Tyers (68) has an allotment there and grows herbs, artichokes, zucchini, raspberries, strawberries, spring onions, asparagus, kale and kale.

She said: “I really like it. It’s an incredible privilege to have the time and space to grow plants for your own needs.

“It’s a very sad thought that this site could disappear because it has been here for 130 years. This is a huge loss.

“It’s a great site. I live nearby, so it’s wonderful.

“It was also a great way to meet people in the community. I just hope we can future-proof the site.

“It’s really good for mental health and being outdoors. It’s a really important part of my life now.

“I lost my husband, so now I live alone, so I have time for these things because I don’t work anymore. It’s a completely different way of life, really cool.”

Another added: “That’s it, it’s a real shame we don’t understand why because no one has been able to talk to the landowner.

“The entire community will be devastated. Everyone loves space, wildlife and greenery.

“You meet friends there that you wouldn’t meet in the village.

“You have a little community there that you can get to know because they come from all over the village.”

The Bath & North East Somerset Allotment Allotment Association operates

“SAVE PLOT” campaign

It said: “By historic coincidence, a large plot of land in Combe Down has been on lease since 1895.

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

The land was originally purchased by Monkton Combe Parish Council to serve Bath Stone Mine workers, but after the city boundaries were changed in 1967 it became the responsibility of Bath City Council.

“The council has maintained rolling leases since then. Unfortunately, the landowner recently gave advance notice of its intention to end the lease in 2025.”

Cllr Ball added: “We have explored all options to save Combe Down Allotments and continue to do so.

“This included examining any statutory entitlements to acquire the facility. We also asked to meet with the landowner to understand why they wanted the council to leave the land.

“Unfortunately, all meeting requests have so far been declined through his lawyer.

“We are conducting negotiations regarding the purchase of land, and the local government is also considering alternative locations.

“We will continue to cooperate with plot holders, but we must be realistic.

“There is no specific time frame within which the obligation to provide an alternative site for the plot must be met.”

A spokesman for Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “Earlier this year the council wrote to allotment holders outlining the complex legal situation, the council’s progress to date, its desire to engage with the landowner and its commitment to remain on the site to preserve its long history of growing food and allotments granted to the Combe Down community could continue.

“However, following a successful nomination by a group of residents, the council has added the property to its list of assets of community value.

“The application submitted by Uniincorporated Friends of Combe Down Allotments has been assessed by the council and found to meet or exceed all criteria necessary for addition to the list.

“While the owner of an asset of community value (ACV) is free to sell to any purchaser, he or she cannot dispose of it without notifying the council of the intended disposal. Upon receipt of such notification, the following periods shall begin to run:

*a six-week “temporary moratorium” period during which community interest groups or other buyers can submit a written request to the council to be treated as a potential bidder. The council must forward the application to the landowner; AND

*if the council receives such a request, a six-month “full moratorium” period. This period is intended to give the group time to submit an offer and, if approved, finalize the purchase.

“The ACV assessment of Combe Down allocations can be checked against the list of registered assets of community value in Bath and North East Somerset, which is managed and published by the council.”