Allotment row tenants told to remove horses

Multiple plots at Ryton allotments are being used to keep horses, contrary to its rules

A group of disgruntled allotment tenants have posted recordings online of a fake committee meeting after the chair of the real committee told them to tidy up their plots and remove their horses.

The Ryton and District Allotment Society tenants in Gateshead claimed in the fake meeting they had ousted the real society's chairwoman and brought in a new committee.

Harry Hadfield, who keeps a young pony on his plot, said if chair Christine Rutter "wants us to move she's going to have to give us a stable somewhere".

Mrs Rutter said the allotments were supposed to be used for growing plants and could be at risk of closure by the land agent if the rules were not followed.

The breakaway group of tenants posted an audio recording of their meeting to local Facebook groups and claimed "the chair was voted out with a vote of no confidence".

"She [Mrs Rutter] can have her allotment but we want her removed as a steward and from running the allotment," said Mr Hadfield.

"We want things to be normal, the way it has been for years."

Details of the fake annual meeting were posted on the allotment notice board

An agenda for the fake meeting was posted on the allotment's notice board and reiterated the claim Mrs Rutter and the rest of the committee had been removed from their positions.

Another notice regarding an upcoming postal vote organised by the real allotment society was graffitied with the words "void" and "not legal".

The real committee has since posted an open letter which explained the other group has not been "elected through the proper channels" and had attempted "a takeover".

Christine Rutter said the allotments are to be used for growing vegetables and flowers

The disagreement began on 1 March when the tenants were sent letters instructing them to return their plots to allotment use and giving them one year's notice to remove their horses.

Under the allotment rules, 75% of the plots should be used for growing plants and vegetables while 25% can be used for other purposes, such as keeping chickens.

But Mrs Rutter said the argument surrounding the enforcement of the rules has led to her becoming the target of abuse and harassment while she visits the allotments.

Much of the upset has come about because many of the tenants, some of who have been there for 40 years, have never signed a lease and may have been unaware of the covenants.

The allotment society said the land is to be used to grow plants and keep chickens

Mrs Rutter is now working to make sure all tenants have signed a lease and are following the rules for the land's use.

She said the change in stance was prompted when she was contacted by the allotment's land agent who told her the allotments were not being used for their intended purpose.

She claimed many of the gardens are being used as businesses and horses are not supposed to be kept on the land, with the exception of two plots which are rented out specifically for that purpose.

"We have sympathy with the situation but we also, as a society, have to be doing what the rules say," she said.

Mrs Rutter said if the land agent inspected the plots the tenants "would probably have to say goodbye to the whole lot".