A pensioner is "heartbroken" after being evicted from his allotment plot while he says he is recovering from health issues. 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, in a statement released 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, and it has taken personal and health issues into account.
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 blu.