Almost 70 plot holders uprooted their plots after 130 years | United Kingdom | news

Almost 70 plot owners are being ripped off their plots despite being there for 130 years, after the owner had given notice.

The 64 green-fingered gardeners in Bath, Somerset, are being evicted from the site where they have been since 1894.

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

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

The council said it had been trying to negotiate with the owner, but he refused to meet with them.

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

Cllr 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.

”It’s also been a great way to meet people in the community. I just hope we can secure the place 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 really nice.”

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

”The whole community will be devastated. Everyone loves space and wildlife and its vegetation.

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

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

Bath & North East Somerset Accommodation Association has been running a

“SAVE ASSIGNMENTS COMBE DOWN” 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 City Council has permanent lease contracts. Unfortunately, the owner of the land has recently given early notice of his intention to terminate the lease in 2025.”

Cllr Ball added: “We have explored all options to save Combe Down’s allocations and are continuing to do so.

”This has included exploring any legal power to acquire the site. We have also requested meetings with the owner to understand why he wants the council to vacate the land.

”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 awardees but we must be realistic.

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

A spokesman for Bath & North East Somerset Council said: “Earlier this year the council wrote to plot holders explaining the complex legal situation, the progress the council had made so far, its willingness of engaging with the owner and their commitment to remain on site so that the long history of food growing and allotments given to the Combe Down community can 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 awards, was assessed by the council and found to meet or exceed all the criteria required to be added to the list.

”Although the owner of an asset of community value (ACV) is free to sell to any buyer of his choice, he cannot dispose of it without notifying the council of an intended disposal. Once this notification is received, the following deadlines begin to count:

*a six-week “temporary moratorium” period in which community interest groups or any other purchasers may submit a written request to the council to be considered as a potential bidder. The council must forward the request to the owner; i

*if the council receives such a request, a “total moratorium” period of six months. This period is intended to give the group time to put together an offer and, if successful, complete the purchase.

“The LCA assessment for Combe Down’s allotments can be seen on the list of registered assets of community value in Bath and North East Somerset which is maintained and published by the council.”