The waiting list for allotment allocation in Cheltenham is now over seven years as the clamour to rent a plot of soil to cultivate fruit and vegetables increases.
The Guardian reports how this pressure has led to an eviction notice being issued against sixty-one year old gardener John Weston for failing to keep his 30x15 foot Midwinter allotment in the right condition; as a result he has fallen foul of council tenancy laws.
Despite requests by Cheltenham Borough Council to clean up the plot it appears that enough was enough, The Guardian quotes CBC's eviction notice, "Since there has been little improvement and little evidence of active cultivation … a notice to quit both plots has now been issued.
"I hope you are not upset by this action and can understand that with such high numbers of people waiting for allotments, we are unable to continue tenancies where the plot is not being fully cultivated or maintained."
There are one hundred and fifty plots at the Midwinter site with eighty gardeners on the waiting list, which has built up since demand started to outstrip supply in April 1987.
There are eight hundred and fifty on the waiting list for all of Cheltenham but only twenty percent turnover in any one year - for full details of plots available and waiting lists for all of Cheltenham borough - click here.
For all the information on Cheltenham Borough Council's allotments - click here. For a map of all the allotment locations - click here.
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