Allotment owners facing eviction are not giving up

Chris Pearce said he "refuses to give up"

Allotment owners facing eviction say it is "a sad day" for their community, but they refuse to "give up".

A Liverpool-based landowner has served a notice on Bath & North East Somerset Council to quit the land at Coombe Down allotments in Bath - which opened in 1894.

For Jaqueline Burrows, the allotment owners have been family for 15 years. "Our son was four when we moved here - he's grown up here," she said.

"It's been fantastic to create friendships," Ms Burrows added.

The allotments opened in 1894

"It's great for your fitness mental health and general well-being."

She said it makes her feel "really very sad" that they are going to have to lose all 64 plots.

"We would miss the sense of community," she added.

Christopher Pearce from Friends for Coombe Down Allotments said they "knew it was coming" and "refuse to give up".

"I've had the privilege to work on this site for 40 years, I cannot believe it, it's been a joy to bring home the fruits of ones labour," Mr Pearce said.

"I was surprised the council could not pull something out of the hat. It was a shock.

"It's a sad day for Coombe Down and I think for the rest of Bath, but we're not giving up."

The Combe Down Allotment opened in 1894, but the landowner has now served notice that the long-term lease will terminate in 2025.

Bath and North East Somerset Council attempted to buy the land in a bid to save the site.

The council said all requests to meet with the landowner had been declined via a solicitor and plot holders were sent notice to vacate last week.