Hartlepool allotment group claim they were unfairly evicted from town plot

The Burn Valley Allotment and Security Group grew fruit and vegetables for the community from a plot it shared off Blakelock Road until its tenant was served with a notice to quit last year.

Hartlepool Borough Council re-let the plot to a new tenant in the summer.

The security group maintain they were a partner of the plot and have written proof but the council continues to deny their claim.

John Hays adds equipment bought by grants the security group received is still on the plot including a trailer, greehnouse, alarm system and polytunnel.

He engaged town solicitors Tilley Bailey & Irvine over the dispute.

Mr Hays, 56, said: “We’re a partner in the garden. We should have been given first refusal.

"It’s in black and white. We know we are in the right.

“I love allotment life. I’m just so passionate about growing organic fruit and vegetables.”

Mr Hays says the security group were recognised partners with former plot holder Paul Slaughter.

The group have previously been supported by Councillors Tony Richardson and Christopher Akers-Belcher.

A letter from the council to the security group’s then secretary in September 2015 stated it was ‘already registered’ on the plot.

And a Partnership Registration Document was completed by the plot holder in 2014 – but the council says was not submitted.

It said: “In 2010/11, all parties with an interest in the plot, including Mr Hays, were removed from the tenancy agreement as partners in line with an offer made by the Council, so that the tenant could remain on the plot.

"This was accepted and the only person to remain on the tenancy from that point was the original tenant. The Security Group has never been registered as a partner on this plot, and neither it nor Mr Hays has, or has had, any legal right or interest in the land.

“The allotment plot in question is owned and managed by the Council, and when it became vacant it was let to the person who was next on the waiting list – in accordance with policy.

“Mr Hays was given a significant period of time – some 7-8 months (which started pre-pandemic) – to remove items from the land and was contacted in person and by letter repeatedly.

"In addition, he was also given an opportunity to claim property removed by the Council from the site.”

The council added anything left on a plot reverts to the possession of the landowner when a tenancy ends.

Mr Hays claims he has been threatened with eviction from his own plot after the council warned it would ‘enforce its rules and regulations’ following a notice of objection by the group pinned to the plot and Mr Hays putting a padlock on the entrance.

“I’m only the chairman of the club so why are they picking on me?” he said.

But the council responded: “It is simply not true that Mr Hays has been threatened with eviction for raising this issue.

“He has raised the issue several times over the last 12 months, both personally and through three different solicitors, and yet we would point out that he still remains a tenant.”

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