The devastated gardeners uprooted the orchards that had been there for 130 years UK news

Nearly 70 plot owners were devastated to learn that the site owner was evicting them from plots that had been there since 1894.

Gardeners at Combe Down Allotments in Bath have said the landlord, a distant relative of the original owner, wants to terminate the lease.

Bath and North East Somerset council said it had been trying to negotiate with the man, who is not a resident of Bath, but he has refused to meet with them.

His legal team have now served the authority with a notice to vacate the land by November 30 next year.

Local councilor Tim Ball said: “This land has been used for farming since 1894 and continues to have significant social value to the community, so this is a very disappointing decision.”

Renee Tyers, 68, owns a plot there and grows herbs, artichokes, zucchini, raspberries, strawberries, scallions, asparagus, scallion and kale.

She said: “I absolutely love it, it’s an incredible privilege to have the time and space to grow things for your own food.

“It’s a very sad thought that the place could really go away because it’s been here for 130 years. It’s a big loss.

‘It’s a wonderful place. I live down the street so it’s wonderful.

Renee said the assignments have been a great way to meet people in the community, adding: “I just hope we can secure the site for the future.

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

“I lost my husband, so now I live alone, so I have time to do these things because I don’t work anymore. It’s a totally different way of life, it’s very nice.”

Another added: “It’s all a terrible shame, we don’t understand why no one has been able to speak to the owner.

“The whole community will be devastated. Everyone loves the space and the wildlife and the green 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 know because they come from all over town.”

Bath & North East Somerset Allotments Association has run a ‘Save Combe Down Allotments’ campaign.

He said: “By an accident of history, the large plot of land at Combe Down has been held on lease since 1895.

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

“The site was originally acquired by Monkton Combe Parish Council to serve Bath stone quarries but, following city boundary changes in 1967, it became the responsibility of Bath City Council.

‘Since then, the Council has entered into continuous lease contracts. Unfortunately, the owner of the land has recently given early notice of his intention to terminate the lease in 2025.’

Cllr Ball said the authority had explored “all options” to save Combe Down Allotments and would continue to do so.

He said: “This has included exploring the legal powers to acquire the site. We have also sought meetings with the owner to understand why the council wants the land off the ground.

“Unfortunately, all requests for a meeting have been refused, so far, through his lawyer.

“We are in negotiations to buy the land and the council is also exploring alternative sites.

“We will continue to work with the owners of the plots, but we have to be realistic.

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

However, the council spokesman said a group of residents from the unincorporated Friends of Combe Down Allotments had made a successful application to turn the site into an Asset of Community Value (ACV)

Although the owner of an ACV is free to sell to any buyer they wish, they cannot do so without officially notifying the council.

Once the notice is received, there is a six-week “temporary moratorium” period during which community interest groups or any other purchasers can apply in writing to the council to be considered as a potential bidder .

The council must forward the application to the owner, at which point a six-month “total moratorium” period occurs.

That period is intended to give the group time to put together a tender and, if successful, complete the purchase, the council spokesman said.

Contact our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check out our news page.

MORE: Full list of Waitrose concessions at risk after Dobbies closure

MORE: Full list of ‘much-loved’ garden centers closing 17 stores across the UK

MORE: The only major UK city that won’t get hotter in the future has been revealed

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.