Village 'angry and upset' over allotment evictions

1 hour ago

Hannah MitchellNorth East and Cumbria

News image — Plot holders at Greystoke Allotments appealed the eviction date, but were told the landowners' position remained "unchanged"

Adam Day A group of people work together on plots at Greystoke Allotments. The sun is shining and groups of children and adults are looking at the plants. The allotment is bordered by tall, established trees and a dry stone wall. — Plot holders at Greystoke Allotments appealed the eviction date, but were told the landowners' position remained "unchanged"

Allotment holders have said they are "very, very sad" at losing their plots mid-growing season after an eviction notice was served by land managers.

Villagers have been tending allotments in Greystoke, Penrith, for more than a century but current tenants were given a six-month notice period in February to vacate their plots.

A planning application for a housing development on the land was submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council at the end of last year and has received numerous objections.

Tenants asked for an extension to allow them to harvest their produce but were told by land management company GSC Gray's the landowners' position remained "unchanged".

The proposals include four houses on the allotment site and about 39 more in the field behind.

The land is part of an estate historically owned by the Howard family, who established the Greystoke Community Allotments after World War One to help the village recover.

Adam Day, who has been a tenant there for 16 years, said the housing plans received "huge objections" from both residents and officials, over ecology, drainage, highways and flooding issues.

"So it's going to take a long time, I would think, for this planning application to be resolved."

Greystoke Parish Council and the Environment Agency are among those who have raised concerns.

Adam Day Adam Day, a man with grey hair and a beard, standing against a dry stone wall holding a basket containing vegetables from his allotment in Greystoke. He is wearing a dark t-shirt and smiling at the camera. — Plot holder Adam Day said the planning application had received "huge objections" from both residents and officials

Day said plot holders had appealed to land managers for an extension to the notice period as soon as it was issued, but only received a response in July.

"That's what's really upset everybody," he said.

"It's meant that we've had to leave crops in the ground, fruit on the trees, and as of last Wednesday, which was the eviction date, we've had to walk away and leave the site.

"It really needn't have been this way and we were very, very sad to leave."

Stuart Smith Pam Wood, a woman with fair hair wearing a blue jacket, standing in front of her allotment plot in Greystoke. In the background there are tall plants growing and she is smiling at the camera. — Pam Wood said it had been a "very difficult time" for those evicted from the allotments

Pam Wood held a plot at Greystoke for three years and said it had been a "very difficult time" for those evicted.

"We've spent a lot of love and energy and money and resources sowing the things that we've got in the allotment," she said.

"It was a very cold letter as well - there was a cheque included in the letter for £1.62, because we pay subs and we were only halfway through the month - so that was the residual amount.

"It was very black and white."

About 22 people tended to the allotments and the facility had recently recognised as an Asset of Community Value by the council.

Locals held a community open event at the site just days prior to the eviction, raising £130 for the local food bank.

"It's not just the veg or the flowers that I get back," Wood said.

"I hadn't held an allotment before and I've learnt an awful lot from the people around me, that have enabled me to literally grow.

"We have a lovely community and when you start to erode those pivotal hubs, that actually erodes the sense of community.

"It goes beyond just being upset and distressed - people are angry."

Pam Wood A garden bench surrounded by colourful plants such as lavender in an allotment plot in Greystoke. — About 22 people tended to the allotments before they were evicted

In a letter to residents in July, GSC Gray's said it "acknowledged the representations" made regarding the growing and harvesting season and had "carefully considered these points".

It continued: "However, given the wider position relating to the property, it is necessary to bring all agreements to a close as notified."

GSC Gray's confirmed it commenced management of the Greystoke Estate on 1 May 2026 and it "acts on behalf of the estate owner", but declined to comment further.

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