Pensioner ‘heartbroken’ over Bury allotment eviction notice

Derek "Bob" Haslam, 89, from Radcliffe, has had a plot at the Osborne Walk site for more than 10 years and told The Bury Times he attended the allotment every day to maintain to his flowers, plants and vegetables.

Bob was unexpectedly hospitalised last year which left him “laid up” for almost 12 months.

The retired builder claims that he contacted Radcliffe Self-Managed Allotment Association, which manages the site, to explain the situation and to pay his fees but said he was told that it was “too early in the year and to hang fire".

He said that was “reassured by the management team that the community gardeners would maintain the plot” while he was immobile but claims this did not happen.

However, on Tuesday night, the association said Bob has not worked on his plot for three years, it has carried out work on it three times, he has not paid site fees this year, it has taken personal and health issues into account and it has repeatedly sent correspondence about the situation to him.

The overgrown allotment patch (Image: Supplied)

Bob received a letter through his letterbox on July 16 informing him that he was being evicted with “immediate effect".

The letter states that “it is clearly outlined … that the necessary requirements are stipulated in order for your plot to be maintained and cultivated, and you have not complied with these requirements.”

Bob said: “I was heartbroken when I read the letter. It came out of the blue. They claimed that have sent me previous letters, but I didn’t get them because I was in hospital.

“The allotment is supposed to be a place of community. I am usually there every single day, no matter what the weather, and this feels very unfair.

“At my age, I’ll miss going there and feel like I’m being pushed out.”

Bob was unable to attend his allotment after being hospitalised and called the eviction notice very unfair (Image: Supplied)

The letter also said that “the committee has previously taken your personal circumstances into consideration and feel we have given you an adequate timeframe on those occasions and up until this time".

Bob said he has built up a community of friends at the site and credits his daily visits with “helping to keep his mind and body busy".

The allotments, which have 19 plots, are based at Osborne Walk as well as on Pilkington Road.

The association has given Bob 20 days to remove all of his tools and personal belongings from the plot, after which the items will “automatically become the property of the committee” from August 5.

Bob added: “I have thousands of pounds worth of stuff on the plot and can’t physically get there to move my things.

“It’s like a home from home. I used to go early in the morning and come home at night.

“I would help others and maintain communal areas. It gave me something to do every day.

“I don’t want to leave - I just need more time to get better.

“This whole situation has given me anxiety and no-one seems to want to listen to me.”

In response, a Radcliffe Self-Managed Allotment Association spokesperson said: "As a committee, we have taken any health or personal issues into account. This is the case with any plot holder on our site.

 "We have had to clear, dig over and strim Mr Haslam's plot three times over the past three years."

The allotment patch after being cut back by the association team (Image: Supplied)

The spokesperson added: "He was also offered a plot downsize, which he refused. He has not paid any site fees this year.

"It clearly states in his tenancy agreement and the constitution, both of which he has in his possession, and are signed, that a plot holder must maintain and cultivate the land. He has not done so.

"Those are the reasons why he has been served with an eviction notice, irrespective of age.

"Our committee has, and continues to work extremely hard, to improve our allotment site, applying for funding grants to improve it.

"We are in the process of creating an onsite community shop shed to provide free food to our local community.

"We have a school on site with a plot we have created free of charge for them.

"We also have a beekeeper on site."