Allotment man 'not growing enough'

A gardener claims he has been thrown off his allotment after 20 years because he does not grow enough vegetables.

John Weston, from Lansdown in Cheltenham, has tended two plots at the Midwinter allotments for two decades. The 61-year-old says he visits the land several times a week and grows potatoes, spinach, onions and lettuces.

But Mr Weston received a letter from Cheltenham Borough Council asking him to use more of the plots to produce vegetables or be turfed off if he doesn't improve the state of overgrown areas.

"I go down there regularly and, while the land is not covered in rows and rows of vegetables, it is designed as a rural retreat," he told the Gloucestershire Echo.

"I've been looking after those plots for the past 20 years and nobody has ever told me that I'm not growing enough produce on it until now. It might look wild, but it's got character and it produces enough crops to suit me."

Fiona Warin, Cheltenham Borough Council allotment officer, said: "The two plots are very overgrown, with a lot of weeds and rubbish and debris, and we have had complaints from neighbouring plot-holders. We have been speaking with Mr Weston for six months about the need to cultivate and maintain his allotment plots or give back the large areas not being used so that someone else can benefit.

"We have also spoken with him on site and explained that with so many people wanting a space to grow their own vegetables, we would not be able to continue his tenancies if the plots are not being properly used.

Cheltenham Borough Council said demand for allotments has increased as people look for cheaper ways to live off the land during the economic downturn.

"With the increase in demand for allotment plots we have tried to identify plots that are not being used so that they can be handed on to keen 'gardeners-in-waiting'," said Ms Warin.

"Now we have many people on waiting lists that visit our allotment sites and want to know why unused plots are not taken back and handed on to those who are waiting. We are doing our best to provide extra allotments to meet demand but this is not enough to cater for the hundreds now waiting for plots."